《Elite Doting Marriage》 Chapter 1 The gleaming and spotless marble floor reflected Wen Xuxu¡¯s 1 slender figure. Both hands were holding Flourish & Prosper¡¯s latest cell phone model respectively and a blue folder was clamped under her armpit. She walked hurriedly towards the President¡¯s office. ¡°Sister Xuxu, why are you in such a hurry?¡± At Flourish & Prosper, it was an open secret that she and the boss had gone to the same kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and even the same university in B City. After graduation, she was personally hired by the elderly Chairman to be CEO Ren¡¯s secretary ¨C which meant that technically she was also President Yan¡¯s secretary. That was the reason why all the employees, excluding the older and more experienced superiors, addressed her as Sister Xuxu. Wen Xuxu smiled in acknowledgment and waved the cell phone. ¡°President¡¯s call.¡± She had already reached the entrance of the President¡¯s office in the midst of their conversation. She raised her hand and knocked twice. She unbolted the lock and pushed the door. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng 2 was nowhere in sight. The President¡¯s office was a deluxe suite which consisted of two rooms and a hall. Furniture in white and gray tones were chosen to achieve a simple and sleek European style. A smoky gray porcelain office desk was paired with a white swivel chair set against a series of French windows. One could peer from the windows to admire the view spanning half the city. No one answered her. Her gaze shifted towards the direction of the master bedroom. As expected, the door was ajar. ¡°Secretary Wen, are you listening? Why haven¡¯t you found President Yan yet?¡± Wen Xuxu was hesitating on whether she should enter the room and pass the phone to President Yan. The phone in her right hand indicated that there was an ongoing phone call. A sweet voice on the other end of the line was impatiently rushing her. Wen Xuxu frowned and replied irritably, ¡°Right away.¡± She set foot towards the master bedroom. ¡°President Yan, you have an urgent call.¡± Her voice preceded her presence and thus saved herself from the trouble of knocking. Before she could finish her sentence, she had already entered the room. A towering flesh-colored figure exited the bathroom at the same time. The so-called flesh-colored figure¡­ was stark naked. Momentarily helpless at the sight, she stood rooted to the spot. Her gaze was fixated on the man for a long time. ¡°Am I that attractive?¡± The masculine voice seemed to have cast a spell as it was filled with charm. Wen Xuxu came to her senses, her pretty face instantly turning crimson as if besieged by a rush of blood. She spun around with her back facing the muscular man. ¡°President Yan, Miss Ouyang called looking for you regarding an urgent matter.¡± After finishing her sentence, she threw the phone backward. The next second, she heard it fall with a thud. She had no idea where it landed, but it was definitely broken. Upon hearing the sound, Wen Xuxu felt extremely gratified. ¡®My eyes were tainted by you early in the morning,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t pretend to be shy. It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t seen it before.¡± President Yan appeared unruffled despite having been seen naked by the opposite sex. On the contrary, he mocked her in a composed tone. ¡°We¡¯ve showered together when we were kids, have you forgotten?¡± His voice sounded exceedingly attractive at this moment. It had a hint of a smile, an intoxicating one that was like taking a sip of vintage wine. Since they were young, Wen Xuxu had always regarded Yan Rusheng as a flirtatious rascal with a sharp, mean tongue. Chapter 2 If there were any disagreements between them, she had never bothered arguing with him. She simply used her fists. Regardless of the outcome, she was always the one who suffered. During the times she couldn¡¯t defeat him, she endured. Hence, she chose to put up with it for the time being. She hastily left Yan Rusheng¡¯s room after leaving the message. Wen Xuxu¡¯s mind was preoccupied the whole morning with what she¡¯d seen after she dashed into President Yan¡¯s room. No, that wasn¡¯t thinking. In fact, that scene felt like a curse that had been vividly etched into her mind. It¡¯s not as if you haven¡¯t seen it before. Didn¡¯t you touch it when you were young? Getting me to let you play with it? Tch, how dare he mention their childhood? She had been ignorant and clueless about the difference between men and women back then. Furthermore, back then she was¡­ Her expression darkened visibly after she recalled certain memories. She composed herself and took a deep breath. In her heart, she uttered, This is the first time I¡¯ve seen his body after he became an adult. After witnessing this incident, she was no longer her usual self. For instance, no matter what she did, she seemed out of sorts. It was nearing lunch time when Wen Xuxu¡¯s phone rang. She glanced at the screen which displayed the President¡¯s office number. The dark memories flashed past her mind once more, and she blushed right away. She put the receiver to her ear and answered softly, ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng chuckled upon hearing her tone. ¡°Are you Wen Xuxu in person?¡± Wen Xuxu frowned and thought, What did he mean by that? What was he implying by asking if it¡¯s her in person? He¡¯d grown up listening to her voice, how could he not recognize her voice? This guy was doing it on purpose. ¡°Yes, President.¡± Her voice went back to normal. He discarded his pleasant tone as well and said commandingly, ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Wen Xuxu responded and ended the call. She shut her eyes tightly and took a deep breath. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it any further. You¡¯ll forget it soon.¡± She knocked before entering Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. ¡°President.¡± Yan Rusheng sat on his luxurious chair facing a pile of documents waiting to be signed. He was perusing them when he heard Wen Xuxu address him. He raised his head and his face looked like a masterpiece sculpted by God himself. His features were sharp and prominent, especially his shrewd-looking eyes which radiated an unfathomable and mysterious charm. His white shirt complemented his good-looking face and it made his face even fairer. Golden rays of sunlight shone down on him through the French windows and made him sparkle. Everything else seemed plain and ordinary by comparison. As Wen Xuxu walked towards him, the scene from that morning appeared once again in her mind. Her face turned red again. She bowed her head slightly, her long curled eyelashes blocked her eyes from displaying any awkwardness and shyness. Yan Rusheng looked at her and said, ¡°Ouyang will reach the airport at 3 p.m. this afternoon. Fetch her and you know what to bring.¡± He lowered his head after instructing her and continued reading the documents. She had to handle his harem once again. How troublesome, she thought. Wen Xuxu grumbled to herself in her heart while responding earnestly, ¡°I got it, President.¡± Ever since she became Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary, the task she did most frequently was to handle his harem. This hooligan was a true womanizer. To reach the airport at 3 p.m., Wen Xuxu set off at 2 p.m. in her Audi Q7 which had been given by the company. Even though it was not yet the peak traffic hour, she was still slightly delayed on the road. Chapter 3 Upon reaching the airport at 2:50 p.m., she immediately parked the car at the side and got off the car with a bouquet of lilies. She sprinted towards the entrance as informed by Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s manager. People usually send red roses to profess their love. However, Yan Rusheng only sent lilies even when he was wooing Fang Jiayin in the past. Fang Jiayin was still a special person in Third Master Yan¡¯s heart. To this day, he would still explode with rage if anyone mentioned her name. It was unknown whether Yan Rusheng was saving the red roses for that special day in the future when he proposes to Fang Jiayin. While she was lost in her thoughts, she had reached the designated entrance. As she stepped inside, she saw Ouyang Qingqing surrounded by fans clamoring for photographs and autographs. Her manager and security guards were maintaining order and paving a way for her. Ouyang Qingqing walked with her head bowed and a slight smile on her face. Despite that, Wen Xuxu found her smile annoying. The security guards safely escorted Ouyang Qingqing and reached the exit. Wen Xuxu welcomed her with a smile. ¡°Miss Ouyang, President Yan sent me to fetch you.¡± She handed her the bouquet with both hands. Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s eyes showed a hint of disappointment for a brief second before she disguised it with a smile. She extended her hands to receive the flowers. ¡°President Yan still remembers me despite his hectic schedule, it really makes me feel bad.¡± Her angelic and sweet voice could melt the hearts of both men and women. Wen Xuxu remained silent and smiled instead. She was here on her boss¡¯s behalf to pick her up but it wasn¡¯t her duty to exchange polite remarks. When Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t respond, Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s expression displayed unhappiness. She gave her a furtive glare and strode ahead. Her high heels were at least 10 cm tall and each heel was as thin as a chopstick. As she stepped on the ground, ¡®dong dong¡¯ sounds were produced. Wen Xuxu was about to follow after her when Ouyang Qingqing suddenly slipped. ¡°Ahhh!¡± She twisted her foot. Her manager hurriedly abandoned their luggage and supported her. ¡°Qingqing, are you alright?¡± ¡°I twisted my foot, it¡¯s painful.¡± Ouyang Qingqing lifted her injured foot and she frowned in pain. ¡°Miss Ouyang, are you alright?¡± Wen Xuxu initially felt that she had no obligation to shower concern for Yan Rusheng¡¯s girlfriend on his behalf. Ultimately, she decided to do it instead. She stood beside Ouyang Qingqing and watched her with concern. There was a trace of coldness that shot across Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s eyes and she cast a look at her manager. Her manager understood her intention and she turned towards Wen Xuxu. ¡°Secretary Wen, I heard that your grandfather used to specialize in traditional Chinese massages. Could you help assess Ouyang¡¯s foot injury?¡± Her attitude was very polite and sincere. Wen Xuxu obliged immediately without hesitation. ¡°Sure thing.¡± The Wen family had specialized in Chinese medicine for generations. As a child, she had been exposed to Chinese medicine and naturally picked up a few massage techniques. She crouched and held her ankle with one hand and the other pressing gently against her foot. While she was massaging her foot, she kept asking Ouyang Qingqing if she was alright. Ouyang Qingqing lowered her head and suppressed a condescending smile. She peered down at her from a lofty position. ¡­ ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Wen Xuxu had just finished brewing some coffee and was about to bring it to the President¡¯s office when she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice. She didn¡¯t bother to knock and entered right away. Chapter 4 ¡°Yes, President Yan,¡± she answered as she walked towards Yan Rusheng and served him coffee with both hands. She inspected him swiftly and came to a conclusion. Her boss was furious right now. However, she was used to him pulling a long face in the morning. ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Yan Rusheng sat on his luxurious chair and glared angrily at the woman standing opposite him. He had a look that clearly showed that he wanted to strangle her. The drawer on his right wasn¡¯t closed properly as it was wedged with the newspapers he bought today before Wen Xuxu arrived. Wen Xuxu bowed her head and mumbled under her breath, wondering what she¡¯d done wrong again? She felt the urge to retort that he was the one who was stupid and his whole family as well, but she stopped herself after remembering that he was her boss. She had to swallow her pride. Yan Rusheng noticed her head hanging down with her cheeks puffed up. Unable to contain his rage, he gulped down the cup of coffee instead. Spat. He spat out the mouthful of coffee almost immediately. No¡­ it had been forcefully expelled out. The coffee splattered across the table and unfortunately, Wen Xuxu¡¯s face and white shirt were splattered with coffee too. She frowned and pursed her lips, looking like she had just tasted poop. Yan Rusheng angrily threw the cup to the floor and yelled, ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you trying to scald me to death?!¡± The coffee had been served immediately after being brewed. It was no doubt boiling hot. Wen Xuxu was indignant at the accusation and was unable to bear it any longer. She raised her head and retorted, ¡°The coffee was freshly brewed, how could it not be boiling hot? Why didn¡¯t you let it cool before drinking it?¡± Feeling worked up, Yan Rusheng exclaimed, ¡°Hey! Wen Xuxu, how bold of you to talk back to me!¡± ¡°Unreasonable.¡± Wen Xuxu glared fiercely at him before haughtily turning to leave. She had finally understood a certain principle, and that was¡ªbosses cannot be spoiled. The more they were spoiled, the more of a jerk they became. Yan Rusheng stared at Wen Xuxu¡¯s back, resisting the urge to hurl the ashtray on the table at her. ¡°Come back.¡± Wen Xuxu opened the door firmly as if she hadn¡¯t heard a thing and walked out of the room. After she left and closed the door, Yan Rusheng¡¯s anger had dissolved instead. He pulled the chair behind him and sat down lazily. He tugged at his collar and opened his drawer with the other hand to retrieve the newspapers. The headline was ¡ªQingqing returns due to filming, Third Master Yan welcomes her with flowers and a personal secretary to take care of her needs, making girls green with envy. Wen Xuxu was seen squatting and massaging Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s leg in the photo, in a seemingly humiliating manner. He would rather not have seen the photo if he were given the choice. After seeing the photo, he was overcome with rage and he crushed the newspapers with both hands and threw it into the trash can. ¡°She¡¯s been competing with me since we were young, I¡¯m already used to it!¡± He dialed his secretary¡¯s extension number. There was a beep and Wen Xuxu¡¯s voice answered, ¡°Yes, President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s anger had not yet abated, and he grimly instructed, ¡°Get me a glass of watermelon juice. I want it iced.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for Wen Xuxu¡¯s reply and ended the call. Wen Xuxu heard the beeping sound of the line being cut off. She frowned and rolled her eyes. What¡¯s the meaning of this? Does it mean that he¡¯s still angry? she wondered. He requested for iced watermelon juice. It must have felt unpleasant being scalded by the hot coffee just now. As she mulled over the earlier incident, she couldn¡¯t help but shake her head and smile. There was nothing she could do about it. She rose and went into the President¡¯s office. Chapter 5 She pushed the door and entered the suite. The bedroom door was ajar, but Yan Rusheng was nowhere in sight. The painful lesson from yesterday¡¯s incident had occupied a significant space in her mind. She abruptly stopped, left the watermelon juice on Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk, and hastily left. The next morning, Flourish & Prosper¡¯s president jilted award winning-actress Ouyang Qingqing for a young model. They were seen coming in and out of a grand hotel in town. This scandal occupied the headlines of all tabloids, entertainment magazines, and forums. Today was Flourish & Prosper¡¯s monthly executive meeting and the elderly Chairman was present too. An hour later, the meeting was still underway. Wen Xuxu was right outside the conference room and she paced to and fro in front of the windows. Flourish & Prosper¡¯s standard work attire for female employees: white shirt, wine red skirt, flesh-colored stockings, and a pair of 5-inch high heels. She had silky waist-length hair tied in a ponytail which resembled premium black silk. Her bangs covered her eyebrows, and she wore a pair of black spectacles which hid half of her face. Behind the transparent lenses, her perfect apricot-shaped eyes shone brightly and were as clear as crystal. However, anxiety was visible in her eyes. She glanced at her watch and the look of anxiety on her face intensified. ¡°It¡¯s already six p.m., why are they still inside?¡± She mumbled softly and raised her head again in the direction of the conference room. The door opened at the same moment and her heart leaped with joy. A smile could be seen from her eyes and her mouth was curled upwards. The conference room doors opened, an old lady nearly in her seventies appeared first. She was wearing a dark purple dress paired with a pearl necklace. She looked elegant and poised. The elderly lady walked out of the conference room and came to a halt. She looked at Wen Xuxu with a sharp gaze. Wen Xuxu¡¯s insides shuddered slightly. She smiled and greeted promptly, ¡°Chairman.¡± With hurried footsteps, she walked towards her. All of a sudden, the old lady frowned and sighed. ¡°Sigh . Xuxu, can you persuade him to behave? If he refuses to change his old ways, I won¡¯t be able to pacify the Board of Directors so easily.¡± Wen Xuxu felt ashamed. She was merely a secretary with no power over her boss. She deliberated carefully and replied, ¡°I believe President Yan knows his limits.¡± The elderly lady¡¯s expression darkened upon hearing her response. She retorted angrily, ¡°He couldn¡¯t care less! Today he has a fling with a model, tomorrow with an actress. This is infuriating.¡± The corners of Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. Actress ¡­ All of them were currently the hottest and most popular celebrities. She patted the old lady¡¯s back to soothe and console her. ¡°Chairman, calm down. This proves that President Yan is charming and attractive. You should be happy.¡± Wen Xuxu finished her sentence and pressed her lips tightly together, as if speaking against her conscience would hurt her tongue. ¡°Sigh, don¡¯t talk about him any further.¡± The old lady waved her hand to change the topic. ¡°Come over for a meal this weekend. I learned how to cook two new dishes recently, they¡¯re delicious.¡± She looked at Wen Xuxu with a kind smile. Wen Xuxu nodded and smiled. ¡°Sure thing.¡± ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± The old lady was about to say something when Yan Rusheng and a few others came out of the conference room. Wang Daqin¡¯s expression darkened once more when she saw her grandson. Chapter 6 ¡°President Yan.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded politely. Yan Rusheng stared at her with a sinisterly cold expression. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± The old lady standing in front of Wen Xuxu raised her head and glared at her grandson. She recalled reading the headlines from this morning and she felt like killing him. Yan Rusheng shifted his gaze from Wen Xuxu and looked at his grandmother. His cold expression revealed a slight grin. ¡°Did you eat explosives this morning?¡± Upon hearing that, the old lady raised her hand and hit him hard on his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill this rascal who has no respect for his elders.¡± She then changed her mind and said, ¡°I lose my temper whenever I see you, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Wen Xuxu watched as the elderly lady left and her eyes traveled to Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. ¡°President Yan, Miss Ouyang called to say that she¡¯s waiting for you at the usual place.¡± The usual place¡­ sounded very ambiguous. This morning, the news of Yan Rusheng¡¯s new lover had spread like wildfire across town. Ouyang Qingqing must have been feeling restless. Yan Rusheng stared at Wen Xuxu with a dark expression. ¡°Wen Xuxu, only report matters that are related to work during working hours.¡± He finished his sentence and walked towards the direction of his office. ¡°Noted.¡± Wen Xuxu trailed behind him. ¡°President Yan, you have a dinner appointment at Stellar Splendor Hotel with Bright Vision¡¯s President Zhang at eight p.m. You have to set off now.¡± ¡°Eight p.m?¡± He sounded slightly angry. Yan Rusheng stopped abruptly and slowly turned his head to look at Wen Xuxu. Wen Xuxu had continuously kept a distance behind him as she checked through Yan Rusheng¡¯s schedule. She didn¡¯t expect him to suddenly stop. Without warning, she slammed against his strong back. Her sharp nose knocked against his ribs, making tears well up in her eyes. She wasn¡¯t a delicate or frail person but the resulting pain was agonizing. As a result, her eyes involuntarily turned red. ¡°I see that you still haven¡¯t changed your bad habit of being reckless after all these years.¡± Yan Rusheng saw that Wen Xuxu¡¯s nose and eyes were both red as tears welled up in her eyes. She looked strikingly beautiful and he was suddenly filled with an inexplicable anger. He moved his hand towards her nose and pinched it hard as if he was trying to reinforce the pain. He said coldly, ¡°Your level of intelligence is worrying me.¡± Finishing his sentence, he rolled his eyes at her before turning to leave. She tried her best to suppress the pain from when he pinched her and stopped herself from yelling out loud. She rubbed her nose gently and fixed a glare on Yan Rusheng¡¯s haughty back. There was hardly anything else she could do at present, unlike in the past where she could tell him off if she wanted to. Ah¡­ These days my life is filled with resentment, I can barely endure it. After a while, Yan Rusheng realized that Wen Xuxu hadn¡¯t caught up to him. He stopped and turned. ¡°Why are you still standing there? Are you waiting for my invitation?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Wen Xuxu answered. She prodded her nose and walked moodily towards Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu were real-life examples of the saying ¡®What goes around comes around¡¯. When they were kids, she was taller than Yan Rusheng. She had learned some martial arts techniques from her grandfather, hence, Yan Rusheng was no match for her at all. As for academic results, Yan Rusheng¡¯s had always trailed just behind her¡¯s. Everything had remained the status quo until they were in their second year of middle school. Ever since then, it was as though Yan Rusheng was on steroids. He shot up at an alarming speed and his academic results surpassed her own. Chapter 7 She had been in second place ever since. After graduating from high school, they finally went to different schools. She was unable to use physical force to overcome him from then on. Occasionally, he even dragged her by her ponytail on the way home. He was her superior now which made it nearly impossible to make a comeback, unless she left Flourish & Prosper. Leave¡­ Was that possible? She lowered her head and pouted, a disheartened expression on her face. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows and asked her, perplexed, ¡°You have the ability to bump into people even when you¡¯re walking. With your stupidity, how could Jiang Zhuoheng have fallen for you?¡± He paused and switched the topic. ¡°At least he withdrew in time, otherwise his whole life would be ruined.¡± Wen Xuxu tightly clenched her fists and glowered at Yan Rusheng. She felt like ripping his face apart. Especially his mouth which was constantly spitting out malicious words. Anger and bitterness were written all over her face as Yan Rusheng laughed heartily at her annoyance. He looked at Wen Xuxu and asked, ¡°Do you feel like scolding me?¡± His tone sounded sincere. Wen Xuxu almost nodded in acknowledgment. Other than scolding you, I want to question your ancestors too. Why did they create a descendant like you? Her imagination ran wild with her dominance, but in reality, she was cowardly. Wen Xuxu gnashed her teeth in anger and finally conceded defeat. She shook her head, subdued. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± She spoke against her conscience¡ªshe felt so aggrieved! Bright Vision and Flourish & Prosper had been business partners for decades, and the Chairman and Mr Yan¡¯s grandfather belonged to the same generation. The elderly Chairman wore a dark blue, long-striped shirt and was sitting upright in his chair. Despite his age and white hair, he seemed energetic and active. A young lady in her early twenties was sitting beside him. She was wearing a white silk blouse and her light brown hair was tied in a ponytail. Her features were delicate and she looked well-behaved. ¡°Sorry to keep Grandpa Ming waiting.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and apologized once he entered the room. ¡°My apologies.¡± He walked towards Ming Zhongsheng while apologizing. Wen Xuxu followed closely from behind and led him to his seat. She pulled the chair next to him and laid the briefcase on the chair. ¡°Let me introduce my youngest granddaughter. Her name is Wen Xinyi.¡± As Yan Rusheng sat down, Ming Zhongsheng pointed at his granddaughter and continued his introduction. ¡°Xinyi grew up overseas and she just came back after graduating from university. She wants to start her career here, so do take good care of her in the future.¡± Although Bright Vision couldn¡¯t be compared to Flourish & Prosper, it was still one of the top-notch organizations. Surely, his granddaughter didn¡¯t need someone else to take care of her, right? It was evident that he had an ulterior motive and he was eyeing Flourish & Prosper¡¯s eligible bachelor¡ªPresident Yan. Even Wen Xuxu was aware of his motives, not to mention Yan Rusheng. He smiled at Ming Zhongsheng and said, ¡°Ansheng¡¯s cousin is my cousin too, I will take good care of her.¡± He used his relationship with Ansheng to his advantage and subtly labeled Wen Xinyi as a younger sister. He had made his stance obvious. Ming Zhongsheng was a shrewd businessman and he was as wily as a fox. He understood Yan Rusheng¡¯s message. There was silence for a second and he put on a pleasant smile again. He chose to feign ignorance. ¡°Then I feel assured with both you and Ansheng taking care of Xinyi. She will be able to adapt to a new environment soon.¡± He finished his sentence and raised his wine glass towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°I shall thank you in advance.¡± Chapter 8 Yan Rusheng raised his glass with both hands and clinked glasses with Ming Zhongsheng. He smiled and said, ¡°Grandpa Ming, you are too courteous.¡± He took a sip. The taste of the authentic northern liquor was extremely strong and spicy, and even more so when it flowed down the throat. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t have a liking for this particular liquor. However, Ming Zhongsheng loved it and he had to drink it with him. The old man, Ming Zhongsheng, favored liquor like this. Drinking half a bottle had no effect on him at all. He finished half a glass with a gulp and ate a mouthful of food while glancing at Wen Xinyi. He laughed and said, ¡°Xinyi, propose a toast to Rusheng.¡± Wen Xinyi was slightly embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed and they looked like two half-ripe apples. She raised her glass and stretched her hand towards Yan Rusheng politely. ¡°Mr. Yan, allow me to give you a toast.¡± Ming Zhongsheng frowned when he heard Wen Xinyi addressing Yan Rusheng as Mr. Yan. ¡°Address him as Third Brother, just like Ansheng.¡± Wen Xinyi¡¯s face turned even redder and she didn¡¯t dare to look him in the eye. The atmosphere turned awkward and Wen Xuxu was feeling vexed. If she knew this was a matchmaking session, she wouldn¡¯t have accompanied her boss. She was stuck here and now she had no reason to excuse herself. She lowered her head and concentrated on peeling her prawn instead. Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze moved towards her and saw that she was frowning. Her thoughts were as clear as day. He smiled slightly and there was a mischievous look in his eyes. That look was brief yet intriguing. Wen Xuxu had a habit when she was upset. She always frowned and destroyed anything that was in her hands. Just like he¡¯d predicted, the peeled prawn¡¯s flesh had been mutilated. ¡°Third Brother!¡± At this moment, Wen Xinyi who sat across him finally opened her mouth and murmured softly. Yan Rusheng looked at her holding a glass in his direction. He smiled in response and took a sip. He put the glass on the table and retracted his hand. His actions were graceful and elegant and it encompassed his unique untamed temperament. From the moment they entered until now, Ming Zhongsheng made sure that the conversation revolved around his granddaughter. However, Yan Rusheng kept replying in a patronizing tone to reinforce his attitude. Wen Xuxu had yawned countless times and couldn¡¯t wait to go back home to wash up and sleep. Ming Zhongsheng tried to keep the conversation going, clearly determined to make this matchmaking session a success. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t reject him explicitly; at this rate, they might end up staying there the entire night. Wen Xuxu yawned again, her long eyelashes were already damp with her tears. She glanced at her watch and it was almost 10 p.m. She had missed her television series, not to mention she wouldn¡¯t be able to rest early. ¡°Secretary Wen.¡± Wen Xuxu was feeling vexed when Yan Rusheng called her name. She looked up and her eyes lit up with anticipation. ¡°President Yan.¡± Was he going to tell her to leave? Yan Rusheng looked at her and murmured, ¡°President Ming has given us a treat, shouldn¡¯t you propose a toast to him?¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s face darkened instantly. Chapter 9 She gritted her teeth in anger and stared menacingly at Yan Rusheng. Wen Xuxu gave him a meaningful look to convey her message: Didn¡¯t he know that she couldn¡¯t drink at all? Don¡¯t you know I get drunk after a glass? People might be unaware of her low tolerance level for alcohol, but Yan Rusheng had seen her drink on countless occasions. How could he be unaware? He¡¯s doing this on purpose. Definitely. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Yan Rusheng feigned surprise and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Is toasting President Ming beneath your dignity?¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ She had been tougher than him when they were young, why didn¡¯t she murder him when she had the chance? It was too late to regret it now. Her vision shifted to Ming Zhongsheng and she smiled apologetically. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it that way. It¡¯s just that I am unable to hold my liquor well.¡± ¡°Your grandfather could easily drink more than what Third Master Yan¡¯s grandfather and I could have during our gatherings. You are his granddaughter, surely the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree?¡± Ming Zhongsheng had a kind smile but he sounded like he was challenging her. ¡°Are you looking down on me as an old man?¡± This girl had grown up with Third Master Yan and she was like a granddaughter to the elderly Mrs. Yan. Nevertheless, they weren¡¯t related by blood. This girl was quite pretty and capable. He had a hunch that if she stayed beside Yan Rusheng, she would be a hindrance to his plans. He had to find an opportunity to speak to the elderly Mrs. Yan regarding the marriage between their two families. His words were too serious and Wen Xuxu hesitated before lifting the glass in front of her. She had no choice but to propose a toast in this situation. As she raised her glass, Yan Rusheng unexpectedly raised his glass as well and said, ¡°My glass is full, you can drink from mine.¡± His tone was firm. This glass could fit two to three servings of liquor and it was already 70 percent filled. Just by looking at the glass, Wen Xuxu felt as though she was already intoxicated. She said, ¡°Let me do it myself.¡± She barely finished her sentence when Yan Rusheng stretched his hand under the table and pinched her thigh. His action was a warning for her not to defy him again! Despicable fellow! Wen Xuxu could barely control herself and grabbed the glass in anger. She smiled and looked at Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°President Ming, I can only drink a glass, this toast is to your good health.¡± In reality, she couldn¡¯t even finish a single glass. She gave it her best shot and held her breath as she downed the glass right away. She put down the empty glass and stuffed her mouth with food. She began to slowly chew her food with her mouth full. Alcohol had an instantaneous effect on her. Within ten minutes, her face looked like a freshly cooked prawn. She was completely red. Her head was spinning and she felt dizzy. Her throat was parched so she gulped down glasses of juice. Yan Rusheng glanced sideways and looked at her. He gave a gloating smile when he saw her symptoms. Great! He calmly turned his face towards Ming Zhongsheng and nodded politely. ¡°Grandpa Ming, Secretary Wen seems to be drunk. I need to send her home right away. My grandmother will blame me if anything should go wrong.¡± Everyone knew that Wang Daqin doted dearly on Wen Xuxu. Wang Daqin had even hired her personally for the job. Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary had to be Wen Xuxu. They grew up together so there wouldn¡¯t be any romantic feelings involved. Neither would there be a possibility of the secretary seducing her boss just like a drama series. Chapter 10 This reason sounded far-fetched and many found it hard to believe. However, Old Mrs. Yan¡¯s reason seemed legitimate indeed. Ming Zhongsheng wanted to persuade them to stay but hesitated because of Wang Daqin. He looked at Wen Xuxu, she was indeed completely drunk. ¡°Alright, we shall drink again next time.¡± In his heart he added, This girl shouldn¡¯t tag along the next time. She was a hindrance. That glass of liquor Wen Xuxu drank tonight was the most she¡¯d ever had ever since her high school farewell party years ago. Yan Rusheng supported her with his hand and lectured her relentlessly at the same time. ¡°For someone who can¡¯t drink, you were too reckless to down the entire glass all at once.¡± Third Master Yan was rather gleeful when he saw her drunken appearance. ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop your sarcastic remarks.¡± Wen Xuxu halted her footsteps and raised her head. She glared at him resentfully. ¡°You¡­ obviously know I can¡¯t drink and you still forced me to. You¡¯re a despicable person for using me every single time.¡± ¡°Secretaries are supposed to help their bosses in such situations,¡± Yan Rusheng said in a logical manner. Wen Xuxu drew closer to Yan Rusheng and peered at him. She was just about to open her mouth when she burped. He caught a whiff of alcohol in her breath. Third Master Yan looked disgusted and grimaced. He waved his hands and tried to disperse the smell away. ¡°Get away from me, Wen Xuxu. You don¡¯t behave like a lady at all.¡± ¡°Of course. In your eyes, no one else but Fang Jiayin can make the cut as a woman.¡± Wen Xuxu stood in front of Yan Rusheng. She swayed to and fro, looking as if she was about to collapse at any moment. Her eyes were still fixed on Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous face. Her sparkling eyes were reflected by the hotel lobby¡¯s light and looked like twinkling stars in the night sky. She looked lovely and alluring. Yan Rusheng heard Fang Jiayin¡¯s name and his expression turned grim and gloomy at once. He glowered at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you have crossed the line,¡± he said coldly. Furious, he walked away from her. Wen Xuxu felt a gust of cold, piercing wind. She turned around and stared at his snobbish-looking back. Her vision was blurry and she couldn¡¯t differentiate which was the real him among the numerous images she saw. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re a jerk!¡± She yelled and hollered recklessly at him. Her ranting echoed in the luxurious and spacious lobby. The hotel staff glanced at them inquisitively, wondering what had happened between them. After she ranted, Wen Xuxu moved unsteadily towards the exit. She left the lobby¡¯s revolving doors and a blast of cold wind welcomed her. Wen Xuxu crossed her arms and stared blankly at the traffic. She treaded carefully on the steps and struggled to flag a cab while she was still sober enough. Suddenly, a tall figure dashed in front of her. Wen Xuxu felt the temperature drop drastically. She slowly lifted her head to take a look at the man¡¯s face. Her eyes were filled with tears. ¡°Why?¡± Yan Rusheng stared at Wen Xuxu with a questionable look in his eyes. ¡°Why do you have to mention my taboo every single time you get drunk? And why do you always look at me like that and call me a jerk?¡± Both of them couldn¡¯t bear the sight of each other and bantered often when they were kids. He would constantly tease and pick on Wen Xuxu. Making her drunk at social gatherings and seeing her drunken state was what he did frequently. Chapter 11 Just a glass of liquor and she would transform into another person completely. She usually labeled him as a jerk or a piece of scum and it would sound like he¡¯d once let her down before. ¡°Since Fang Jiayin is your taboo, I have something that I must say.¡± Wen Xuxu waved her hands wildly in the air. ¡°Fang Jiayin¡­ Fang Jiayin¡­¡± She had a jubilant smile on her face and shouted Fang Jiayin¡¯s name repeatedly. She looked at Yan Rusheng and sniggered. ¡°No matter how attractive you are, Fang Jiayin still left you. As your longtime nemesis, nothing else delights me as much as this matter.¡± She waved her hands again and gleefully spun in circles while humming her favorite tune. Yan Rusheng had an annoyed expression. Right now he felt like strangling this woman who had been at loggerheads with him since they were young. Wen Xuxu was still spinning happily when Yan Rusheng extended his hand and grabbed her wrist. He menacingly drew closer to her. He glared fiercely and said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, there¡¯s no reason for you to rejoice since you were ditched by Jiang Zhuoheng too.¡± He finished his sentence and forcefully flung her hand away. Both were consumed with anger and started attacking each other¡¯s past. ¡°I admit it, so what?¡± Wen Xuxu raised her face and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve put the past behind me. How about you? I am much more of a man than you¡¯ll ever be.¡± Yan Rusheng sneered and he gazed at her chest for a second. ¡°I really can¡¯t tell that you are a woman.¡± There was nothing ladylike about her from the inside to the outside. She was as fierce as a tigress and used her fists to resolve conflicts instead of words. Other girls went through puberty at the age of fourteen but her figure still resembled an airport runway during high school. How can she be shameless enough to insist that she¡¯s a woman? Wen Xuxu smirked. ¡°Obviously you didn¡¯t notice, since Fang Jiayin is the only one who exists in your eyes. The rest of us are men.¡± The autumn wind was chilly and it roused Wen Xuxu¡¯s senses. She rubbed her face and was suddenly aware that she¡¯d lost control of her emotions. She didn¡¯t want to explain and chose to leave. Behind her, Yan Rusheng yelled in response, ¡°You¡¯re damn right! I do like Fang Jiayin. What about it?¡± ¡°Then you should have cherished her, why did you drive her away?¡± Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t stop walking, but neither did she turn back. She answered him with her back still facing him. ¡°If I were you and I couldn¡¯t forget her, I would have traveled to the four corners of the Earth to look for her.¡± They were used to attacking each other¡¯s weaknesses and rubbing salt in each other¡¯s wounds. Yan Rusheng heard what Wen Xuxu said and he became quiet. Why did he drive her away? He reproached and mocked himself. He couldn¡¯t even make his loved one stay by his side. If I were you and I couldn¡¯t forget her, I would have traveled to the four corners of the Earth to look for her. He repeated Wen Xuxu¡¯s words and his gaze moved and found her indistinct figure. Indeed, he couldn¡¯t be compared to this silly woman who could go with the flow. ¡­ The weekend was finally here. Wen Xuxu¡¯s choice of outfit¡ªa comfortable gray and white sweater. Chapter 12 There was a huge Azona cat logo imprinted on her sweater and she paired it with deep blue jeans and pink sneakers. Her hair was tied in her usual ponytail and she wore a pair of black glasses. This casual outfit made her look at least six years younger compared to what she usually wore to work every day. Anyone on the streets would believe she was a high school student in this outfit. She took a cab to the Yan¡¯s family mansion. She stood outside the steel gates and smiled at Wang Daqin who was busy removing weeds from her plants in the garden. ¡°Grandmother.¡± Wang Daqin heard her and raised her head happily. ¡°You¡¯re here, Xuxu.¡± She put her gardening tools aside and opened the gates. Wen Xuxu held her hand as they walked towards the house. ¡°Let¡¯s try the desserts I¡¯ve made.¡± She pulled her straight to the dining room and served Wen Xuxu a variety of her freshly-baked desserts. She waited for her comments. Wen Xuxu nodded in approval and complimented her desserts. ¡°Drink some water, be careful not to choke.¡± Wang Daqin had two sons and three grandsons, hence she had always dreamed of having girls in the family. She¡¯d always wished to have a daughter or a granddaughter. However, both her daughters-in-law didn¡¯t produce any more grandchildren after Yan Rusheng was born. Hence, she was overjoyed when her husband brought Wen Xuxu to their family years ago. Yan Rusheng¡¯s grandfather and Wen Xuxu¡¯s grandfather were old comrades. Years ago, there was a mud avalanche in Wen Xuxu¡¯s village and it destroyed their house and took her parents¡¯ lives. Only Wen Xuxu and her grandfather survived. Her family situation was pretty bad at that point in time. When Yan Rusheng¡¯s grandfather heard about their predicament, he offered his help immediately. Wen Xuxu was only four years old at that time and Grandfather Yan couldn¡¯t bear to see Wen Xuxu growing up in a harsh environment. He decided to adopt her. She was adopted at the age of four and ready to attend kindergarten. Wang Daqin doted on her dearly and made arrangements for her to attend the same kindergarten as her grandson Yan Rusheng. Xuxu began to adapt to her new life in the city. She was a bright girl and was well-liked by her teachers and classmates. Wang Daqin and Wen Xuxu became very close to each other. Grandfather Yan knew that his wife couldn¡¯t bear to part with Xuxu. After discussing it with Xuxu¡¯s grandfather, he invested in a traditional Chinese medicine clinic for Xuxu¡¯s grandfather to manage. Xuxu could then continue to stay in the city and Wang Daqin¡¯s love for Xuxu grew day by day. She selected the best schools for her and Xuxu didn¡¯t let her down. With her results, she was accepted by the second best university in the country. Xuxu¡¯s achievements were largely due to Wang Daqin. ¡°Thank you, Grandmother.¡± Wen Xuxu gave a wide smile as she ate the desserts. She was used to receiving special treatment and attention from Wang Daqin every time she came to visit her. Wang Daqin smiled. She loved everything about this girl¡ªher fair skin, red lips and the rest of her features as well. ¡°Xuxu, I haven¡¯t heard from your grandfather, what has he been up to?¡± Wen Xuxu smiled and answered, ¡°He¡¯s doing research on Chinese medicine and locks himself in the laboratory all day. He really treats himself as a postdoctoral scholar.¡± Chapter 13 ¡°Sigh, he¡¯s getting older. I guess you¡¯re the one he¡¯s most worried about.¡± Madam Wang spoke in a grave tone and shifted the topic. ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Xuxu had a puzzled expression as she looked at Wang Daqin with her mouth full. She tried being clever by feigning ignorance¡ªshe had already understood Wang Daqin¡¯s intentions. The topic of conversation always revolved around her marriage and happiness. Wang Daqin said, ¡°You¡¯re 24 years old and your grandfather must be anxious since you¡¯re still single.¡± As expected¡­ Wen Xuxu laughed and replied, ¡°No, he isn¡¯t. He¡¯s as busy as a country¡¯s president and he has no time to be worried about me.¡± She lowered her head and ate in silence. Her eyes were hidden by her long lashes and Wang Daqin couldn¡¯t figure out what was on her mind. So she decided to bend down as well and peered up to look at her face. ¡°Xuxu, do you have someone in your heart?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Xuxu raised her head nervously. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Wang Daqin straightened her back and leaned backward. She frowned and looked as if she was dissatisfied with her answer. ¡°So why aren¡¯t you dating anyone? Ah Heng has such desirable qualities and the Ming Family¡¯s second son has expressed his feelings for you. Why did you ignore them?¡± What she really wanted to ask was why hasn¡¯t Xuxu considered her youngest grandson? He possessed desirable qualities too. Wen Xuxu heaved a quiet sigh of relief and smiled foolishly as she scratched her head. ¡°We grew up together just like siblings and I didn¡¯t think too much. Right now, our careers should be prioritized while we¡¯re all still young.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu had barely finished her sentence when she heard someone sneering. A towering figure appeared. ¡°She doesn¡¯t pay attention to others? It should be the other way around.¡± Boss Yan walked in with a straight face and looked at Wen Xuxu with disdain and contempt. He was well aware of Wen Xuxu¡¯s slyness and her ability to hide her real personality in front of Wang Daqin, appearing like a docile bunny instead. So she had to endure Yan Rusheng¡¯s ¡®insults.¡¯ There was no doubt that Wang Daqin was on Wen Xuxu¡¯s side. She threw a dirty look at her grandson. ¡°If you were to be bankrupt and debt-ridden right now, what woman would throw herself at you?¡± His personality was the reason why Xuxu didn¡¯t have any feelings for him at all. He¡¯d bullied her since they were young and he was always surrounded by all kinds of women with dubious backgrounds. Why would Xuxu fancy him? This grandson turned out to be a disappointment despite her efforts all these years. Wen Xuxu almost burst out laughing. Madam Wang always had a knack for hitting the nail right on the head. Yan Rusheng strolled to the other side of Wang Daqin and was about to sit down when he heard what she said. He stopped and gestured towards his face and said in a high and mighty tone, ¡°With my looks alone, I could make a name for myself in the entertainment industry even without Flourish & Prosper as my backer.¡± He pointed at his head. ¡°And I possess both wisdom and looks, so women will naturally flock to me.¡± He finished his sentence and sat down. He moved the desserts away from Wen Xuxu and stuffed one in his mouth. Wang Daqin calmly replied, ¡°Then you¡¯d have to sacrifice yourself by offering your body to the old and ugly female directors.¡± Chapter 14 There was a long pause¡­ Boss Yan was about to swallow a pastry when he heard what his grandmother said. The pastry got stuck in his throat and he choked. His face turned red and he snatched Wen Xuxu¡¯s cup and took a huge gulp of water. He finally cleared his throat before sulking and throwing a disapproving look at Wang Daqin. ¡°Dear Madam Wang Daqin, are you certain that you¡¯re my grandmother?¡± She never took his side during his arguments with Wen Xuxu. Not even once. She had no qualms about insulting her own grandson because of Wen Xuxu. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure about this fact,¡± Wang Daqin replied in a deadpan manner and shifted her vision to the cup in Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. She smiled sneakily and said, ¡°Xuxu drank from that cup you¡¯re holding right now.¡± Poor Wang Daqin could even feel excessively thrilled by such an indirect kiss. If someday her grandson and beloved Xuxu got together, wouldn¡¯t she faint from happiness? Yan Rusheng acted nonchalantly and took another sip. ¡°She might be dumb, but it¡¯s not like she has any infectious diseases.¡± What did he mean by that statement? Despite her silent internal protests, she remained calm. Anyway, this wasn¡¯t the first time Yan Rusheng had insulted her; she couldn¡¯t be bothered to be provoked by his remarks. Furthermore, Madam Wang always helped to vent her anger on her behalf. Wang Daqin couldn¡¯t understand her grandson. Does he not have any feelings towards Xuxu whatsoever? She seemed to be an eyesore in his eyes and he constantly found fault with her. Other than that, she couldn¡¯t detect any trace of loathing from him. She heard that he never ate food that his girlfriends had touched with their cutlery. He didn¡¯t even allow them to sit in the front passenger seat. However, towards Xuxu¡­ Madam Wang Daqin had previously given up hope but she decided to persevere because of the cup of water. ¡°Xuxu, I met Ah Heng¡¯s grandmother at a gathering of old folks yesterday. She mentioned that he¡¯s coming back next month.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Wen Xuxu answered lightly. She bowed her head and she seemed rather down. The speed at which she chewed her food slowed down as well. Yan Rusheng glanced at her and assumed that she was feeling sorrowful. His eyes twinkled with satisfaction since the words had caught Wen Xuxu¡¯s attention. ¡°I heard that Jiang Zhuoheng dated a mixed girl who was the prettiest girl in school. She¡¯s also related to Country Y¡¯s royal family.¡± ¡°There is nothing superior about girls from foreign countries, girls from our own country are the prettiest,¡± Wang Daqin retorted. ¡°I like girls who are just like our Xuxu.¡± Wen Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s two-month relationship was known to the elders of the respective families. Wang Daqin was depressed for a period of time when she heard about their relationship. But she changed her opinion since she knew that Jiang Zhuoheng was a nice person. Most importantly, he treated Xuxu well. Everyone viewed their relationship positively, so news of their sudden breakup came as a surprise and no one knew the exact reason why. Xuxu explained vaguely that Jiang Zhuoheng was intending to further his studies abroad. Therefore, both of them came to a consensus to end their relationship. Everyone interpreted that explanation in a different way. Jiang Zhuoheng had jilted Wen Xuxu. Chapter 15 ¡°I¡¯m aware. Ah Heng emailed me last week.¡± It felt like her words were said in a fit of pique. She raised her head and retaliated with the following remark¡ª¡±Last month he asked me to check his graduation thesis which was all in English. I lectured him ruthlessly for that.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression changed subtly and he looked annoyed. This damned Jiang Zhuoheng was still keeping in contact with this lass after the breakup. What was he trying to do? Look how smug she looked. Wang Daqin was visibly shocked by Wen Xuxu¡¯s words. ¡°Are you still in contact with Ah Heng?¡± Since Ah Heng left for Country Y, they¡¯d never heard Xuxu mentioning the name Jiang Zhuoheng. Everyone assumed that their friendship had ended in a fit of anger. Who¡¯d have known they were still keeping in touch with each other? Wang Daqin started feeling anxious. Xuxu had become more and more outstanding these past three years and if that fellow Ah Heng returned, would he regret his past decision and court Xuxu again? Wen Xuxu answered her lightly, ¡°Actually, Ah Heng has been emailing me.¡± Wang Daqin replied absentmindedly, ¡°Oh.¡± She turned towards her grandson and glared at him furiously. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t accept it either. How could he endure Wen Xuxu being so smug in front of him¡­ ¡­ After dinner, Wang Daqin insisted that Xuxu could only leave only after having some fruits and desserts. Finally, after 9 p.m., she reluctantly sent her off. She held her hand as she sent her out. ¡°It¡¯s already rather late and you don¡¯t have to work tomorrow. How great it would be if you could stay for the night?¡± Wen Xuxu gave her a hug and the hug conveyed her endless gratitude towards Grandmother. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll come again soon. Besides, it¡¯s not far.¡± ¡°Go back earlier then.¡± Wang Daqin patted Wen Xuxu¡¯s back and gently pushed her away. She looked at the waiting chauffeur and instructed him, ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madam. I will,¡± the chauffeur replied respectfully. Wen Xuxu waved at Wang Daqin and got into the car. The chauffeur started the engine and the car left the courtyard, instantly vanishing from Wang Daqin¡¯s vision. Bright lights lit up the study room on the second floor and a tall figure stood on the balcony. As the car left, he was flooded with mixed emotions. His cell phone vibrated continuously in his hand. He finally opened the group chat with his old classmates, which he hadn¡¯t done in a long time. All of them had heard the news that Jiang Zhuoheng was coming back and everyone was discussing about a classmate gathering. The ones who never replied in the group chat were Wen Xuxu, Fang Jiayin, and him. Even Jiang Zhuoheng who was abroad replied occasionally. He slid his finger across the screen and looked at the list of participants in the chat. He stopped at the nickname ¡®Joyous news in the South¡¯. This was Fang Jiayin¡¯s QQ nickname and like her owner, it had disappeared for three years. Fang Jiayin, even Jiang Zhuoheng was coming back, haven¡¯t you been wilful enough? Yan Rusheng stared at the screen and he spaced out when someone suddenly mentioned his name in the group chat. He checked the message, it was from Jiang Zhuoheng. Third Yan, I¡¯m coming back next month. You and Xuxu will pick me up, right? Yan Rusheng first reaction was to reject his request. After a mere few years abroad, have you forgotten the way home? Get home yourself. He had never received anyone at the airport in his entire life. He was always the one who was being received. Jiang Zhuoheng replied: Xuxu was right. No one would be able to invite you, Honorable God. Chapter 16 Yan Rusheng read Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s reply and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He asked: Wen Xuxu said that she wanted to pick you up? Jiang Zhuoheng replied: Of course. Unlike you, she cares more about her friendships. Tsk. Wen Xuxu, is your pride that worthless? So much for boasting that she¡¯d put the past behind her. The heartless guy had abandoned her in the past. Now that he was coming back, she couldn¡¯t wait to reconcile with him again. This was too embarrassing. Boss Yan instantly sent her a private message: Wen Xuxu, you couldn¡¯t wait to throw yourself at Jiang Zhuoheng the minute he gets back? Wen Xuxu had the group chat hidden hence there weren¡¯t any notifications. But she did receive one from the private chats. Her cell phone vibrated and she rummaged in her bag to find it. The screen indicated a QQ message sent by Yan Rusheng. She was puzzled for a second. She slid her finger across the screen and read the message from Yan Rusheng. Her expression darkened instantly. Does that have anything to do with you? Wen Xuxu replied crudely. What had she done to express any desperation to throw herself at Jiang Zhuoheng? He¡¯s being ridiculous. Yan Rusheng replied: Of course it has nothing to do with me, but you¡¯re my company¡¯s employee. If I remember correctly, the second of next month is a Wednesday. We¡¯re all swamped with work right now so I won¡¯t allow any applications for leave nor taking time off work! Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ This fellow isn¡¯t having a fever tonight, is he? When did she say that she was applying for leave or taking time off work? She was feeling puzzled when her cell phone vibrated again. The message wasn¡¯t from Yan Rusheng. She glanced at the notification¡ªthe message was from Jiang Zhuoheng. Dear Xuxu, I¡¯m returning on the second of next month. You¡¯ll pick me up at the airport, right? He added a teeth-baring smiley emoticon at the end of the message. The second of next month¡­ Yan Rusheng had just mentioned this exact date too. You can¡¯t wait to throw yourself at Jiang Zhuoheng the minute he¡¯s back. Wen Xuxu understood the message in an instant and couldn¡¯t help but smile. She replied to Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s question: I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t. The boss just informed me that he won¡¯t permit me to apply for leave or take time off from work. Jiang Zhuoheng must have tipped Yan Rusheng off, saying that she would be picking him up. Yan Rusheng just couldn¡¯t bear to see her well and happy. If Yan Rusheng and Xuxu got back together, she would have a justifiable reason to mock him for being jilted by Fang Jiayin. Jiang Zhuoheng replied: As expected¡­ Wen Xuxu asked uncertainly: What do you mean by ¡®as expected¡¯? Jiang Zhuoheng: Nothing much. You don¡¯t have to pick me up but I¡¯ll be expecting you to treat me. Wen Xuxu: Of course. I¡¯ll treat you to a lavish feast when you get back. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled. After reaching home, Wen Xuxu showered and lay on her bed. She started watching her drama series. She received a message notification from her cell phone. She glanced at the screen, it was from Jiang Zhuoheng. Xuxu, go to the classmates¡¯ group chat. Classmates¡¯ group chat? Wen Xuxu¡¯s eyebrows lifted for a moment with apprehension before she recalled the group chat she had with her middle school classmates. The participants in the group chat were all her close friends from middle school. She¡¯d hidden the group chat three years ago and had been inactive ever since. Why was he suddenly messaging her to enter the group chat? A perplexed Wen Xuxu launched the QQ app and entered the classmates¡¯ group chat. The second she entered, she saw a red packet. She simply clicked on it without noticing the sender¡¯s name. It was a 520 1 red packet. After snatching the red packet, she realized that Jiang Zhuoheng had sent it. Did this fellow message her just so she¡¯d snatch the red packet? Besides, it was a huge 520 red packet. As she considered this, her face blushed slightly. Chapter 17 This is fate. We¡¯ve been asking Young Master Jiang to send a red packet for ages but to no avail. How ironic is it that Xuxu, who finally appears in the group chat after three years, would end up being the one to snatch the red packet instantly? If this isn¡¯t fate, what could it be? If this is truly Young Master Jiang¡¯s and Xuxu¡¯s fate, we will accept it. I agree, Young Master Jiang can simply just send us a bigger one as compensation. ¡­ Everyone was excitedly replying at the same time and it made Wen Xuxu¡¯s face turn hotter. On the other hand, Boss Yan was holding his cell phone in his hand without replying at all. He saw how everybody was raising a ruckus in the group chat and his expression was darker than the bottom of a saucepan. Bullshit fate. Ahh, she¡¯d been inactive in the group chat for three years. The minute she heard that Jiang Zhuoheng was coming back, she started responding again. As expected, she still missed him. Boss Yan felt unusually furious and almost smashed his cell phone. Wen Xuxu replied to everyone: Haha, it¡¯s a coincidence. It¡¯s purely a coincidence. A leopard never changes its spots. Same goes for this damned Jiang Zhuoheng who remains the same after so many years. He made a fool out of her in front of their classmates and now everyone has the wrong idea about her. She¡¯ll make him pay when she sees him! Xuxu is doing well with Third Master Yan these past three years and forgot about us. Everyone replied excitedly when Wen Xuxu responded. Wen Xuxu: I didn¡¯t, you¡¯ve all been just as busy too. Her classmates chimed in: When Ah Heng is back, we need to have a gathering to catch up with all the old classmates. Wen Xuxu replied: Sure thing. After she sent her message, someone suddenly sent a red packet. She had fallen into Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s trap earlier on by clicking on the red packet he sent. That created a misunderstanding, and so Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t dare to snatch the red packet again. She watched silently as everyone else snatched it. The red packets with random amounts of money were quickly snapped up by everyone. Everyone who responded had tried snatching it, even Jiang Zhuoheng got one. Wen Xuxu was the only one who didn¡¯t. The person who sent the red packet furiously threw his phone on the table. He picked up an exquisite cigarette case and took out a cigarette. After lighting it in his mouth, he started smoking gloomily. The balcony was dimly lit. His gorgeous face was enveloped by the smoke and there was an indescribable somberness. This scene reflected his current feelings. He finished smoking about half of the cigarette and then stubbed the burning end of it. He picked up the cell phone again and scanned through the group chat messages. Wen Xuxu was still chatting with the rest. When she appeared, the frequency of Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s responses increased too. Yan Rusheng exited the QQ app and dialed a number. ¡°Book a flight ticket for tomorrow to Country F, L City.¡± ¡­ Wen Xuxu had a quiet day on Monday. She wasn¡¯t as busy as usual since the big boss was away. For two days, she didn¡¯t see Yan Rusheng at all. On Wednesday, the moment Wen Xuxu stepped into the President¡¯s office, she could feel a gust of chilly wind coming towards her. Those who arrived early were working quietly at their workstations. Wen Xuxu could feel that something was wrong with the atmosphere. She glanced in the direction of Yan Rusheng¡¯s office entrance. As she¡¯d expected, his office door was ajar. This fellow had vanished for two days and he was back so early in the morning. Wen Xuxu had an uneasy feeling in her heart as she stepped closer and closer towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. She extended her hand and knocked on the door. Yan Rusheng sat on his luxurious swivel chair with his head bowed. He held a pen in his hand and it looked like he was signing documents. He wore a white shirt and sat there like an icy figure. He looked like a snow lotus from the sky mountains that seemed beyond one¡¯s reach. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t raise his head when he heard someone knocking. A cold voice sounded from inside. ¡°Come in.¡± Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t enter. Instead, she stood outside and asked him, ¡°President Yan, what would you like to drink?¡± Chapter 18 Initially, she wanted to enter the room but the big boss was obviously in a bad mood. She dismissed the idea since she might end up blasted into ashes the moment she walked in. She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to enter. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± He heard Wen Xuxu¡¯s voice. Yan Rusheng was holding a pen and he paused for a second. He raised his head to look at her. Both his eyes and his expression did not show a trace of warmth. Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°President, it¡¯s me.¡± Why was he looking at her like that? Yan Rusheng stared at Wen Xuxu for a long time in silence. Suddenly he said, ¡°I want coffee. Black coffee without sugar.¡± All he wanted was a cup of coffee after staring at her for a whole day. And he even had such a look in his eyes, he¡¯s insane! Wen Xuxu cursed Third Master Yan in her heart, but she nodded in response. ¡°Sure thing.¡± The morning passed by peacefully and the telephone on her desk didn¡¯t ring at all. Her colleagues left the office for lunch one after another. Wen Xuxu glanced at the time¡ªit was 11:40 a.m. She turned her head around to look at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office with her eyebrows knitted. Where was this guy these past two days? He shut himself in his office and didn¡¯t look for her the whole morning. This behavior is unusual. She was lost in thought when Yan Rusheng¡¯s office door suddenly opened. Yan Rusheng¡¯s tall and seemingly aloof figure appeared in sight. She hurriedly retracted her gaze and pretended to be busy by perusing a random document on her desk. Yan Rusheng shot a glance at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why haven¡¯t you bought lunch yet?¡± Everyone had gone out for lunch and they were the only ones left in the vast office. The atmosphere seemed to be extra chilly. ¡°President, what would you like to eat? I¡¯ll buy the food now.¡± Wen Xuxu got up hastily and closed the documents in her hand. She looked at Yan Rusheng with a professional smile that she¡¯d learned from an etiquette class. Her instincts were telling her that Third Master Yan had most likely been provoked by something in the past two days when he disappeared. She had best tread carefully around him. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression abruptly became a few shades darker. He said in a low tone, ¡°Since you¡¯ve forgotten about lunchtime, then don¡¯t eat lunch today.¡± He finished his sentence, spun around coldly and re-entered his office. Lunchtime¡­ Tsk. It¡¯s only 11:45 a.m. Lunchtime just started, alright? Wen Xuxu raised her hand and looked at her watch. ¡°It¡¯s only 11:45 a.m. now.¡± She felt the urge to remove her watch and dash into his office, then hurl the watch at his face so that he could look at the time properly. Bosses can¡¯t be pampered, seriously! She sat down, fuming with anger. Her stomach growled at this unfortunate timing. The board in front had Post-it notes pasted on it. One of the Post-it notes had the numbers for food deliveries. She held her cell phone in her hand. She hesitated for a period of time before putting her cell phone down again. ¡°It¡¯s just a meal that I¡¯m going to skip.¡± Xuxu turned her head in the direction of Third Master Yan¡¯s office and expressed her displeasure. ¡°Hmph.¡± If you as a man can tolerate skipping a meal, surely I as a woman can do that too? She tried to bury herself with work so that her hands and brain were simultaneously busy. In that way, she wouldn¡¯t focus on her hunger. The telephone finally rang after almost a day. Wen Xuxu was categorizing a pile of documents and she didn¡¯t look at the extension number. She reached for the receiver and answered with a ¡®Hello¡¯. Her eyes were still fixed on her pile of work. ¡°Wen Xuxu, brew some coffee.¡± A familiar fuming voice sounded from the receiver and Wen Xuxu¡¯s insides shivered furiously for a moment. She gathered all her effort to answer the call. ¡°Alright, right away,¡± she answered and put down the receiver. She stood up in a hurry and went to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office entrance. She knocked on the door. Chapter 19 A cold voice could be heard from within the room. ¡°Enter.¡± Wen Xuxu pushed the door and peered inside first. Yan Rusheng sat on his posh chair, his elbow propped on the arm of the chair. His forehead was pressed against the back of his hand. The three buttons on the collar of his white shirt were unbuttoned. He looked exhausted. ¡°President Yan.¡± Wen Xuxu walked quietly across the room and took Yan Rusheng¡¯s cup away. The cup which contained the black coffee from this morning was still unwashed. She held the cup and gazed intensely at Yan Rusheng. However, she remained silent. ¡­ ¡°Sister Xuxu, are you getting snacks for your afternoon tea?¡± There was a bakery selling western pastries next to the company. Many of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s employees patronized the shop in the late afternoon to buy pastries to accompany their afternoon tea. The moment she entered, Wen Xuxu met a colleague she knew and she greeted her warmly. ¡°Mm.¡± She nodded lightly in response and walked straight to the section displaying the pastries. She scanned through the display of pastries and pointed at a triangular mousse. She said to the staff, ¡°I¡¯d like a slice of this and please remove the cream and jam from the surface.¡± ¡°Miss, the cream and jam combination makes this particular mousse special. Are you sure you want to remove it?¡± The staff retrieved the cake from the display and asked Wen Xuxu uncertainly. Wen Xuxu nodded in confirmation. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want it. Thank you.¡± Just as she was about to pay, she glanced at the beverage section behind the cashier. She decided to get a carton of milk as well. The elevator reached the highest level and Wen Xuxu stopped for a moment after stepping out. She looked at the stuff in her hands and couldn¡¯t help but press her lips together. Usually, people are the sleepiest around this time in the afternoon. Everyone was holding a cup of coffee in their hands to keep themselves awake while working. The atmosphere was solemn and hushed as usual. Wen Xuxu walked to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and stood at the entrance, ready to knock on the door. ¡°I was in Country F the past two days and I¡¯m in a bad mood right now. Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.¡± From inside the room, Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice could be heard talking to someone, most likely on the phone. Wen Xuxu¡¯s extended hand abruptly stopped in midair and trembled for a moment. Her fingers curled tightly and she bowed her head, her eyelids drooping. She stared at the stuff in her hands and laughed at herself. ¡­ ¡°Sister Xuxu, I can tell that the President¡¯s afternoon meal came with curry sauce again.¡± Wen Xuxu leaned against the long bar counter along the office pantry wall. She was holding the mousse that she¡¯d bought earlier on. She devoured the mousse in big mouthfuls without a spoon. Her colleague had come in to get water and lightheartedly made fun of her. Wen Xuxu hated curry sauce. But Yan Rusheng loved to order food with curry sauce from time to time on purpose. There was an unspoken rule too¡ªas his secretary, Xuxu had to also eat whatever he was having for lunch that day. Whenever she had lunch with curry sauce, Xuxu wouldn¡¯t be full. She always had to sneak out and buy snacks to fill her stomach in the afternoon. Hence when her colleague saw her eating in the office pantry in the afternoon, she assumed that the President¡¯s lunch today had come with curry sauce. Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth was stuffed and she smiled foolishly when she heard this. It wasn¡¯t that she had lunch with curry sauce, she didn¡¯t even have a single morsel of food. She polished off half of her cake and opened the carton of milk. She took a few gulps and was about to continue eating. She glanced casually at the entrance and then immediately halted her actions. A pair of sinister-looking eyes were looking at her coldly, leaving her unable to continue eating. ¡°President Yan.¡± She froze for a few seconds before she recovered and hurriedly greeted Yan Rusheng. Chapter 20 When did he arrive? Why didn¡¯t she hear a single sound? His movements were as silent as a ghost and had almost scared her to death. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I thought I forbade you to eat as punishment? Did my words roll off like water off a duck¡¯s back?¡± Yan Rusheng yelled in a deep voice. He marched forward with his long legs and walked towards Wen Xuxu. An overwhelming gust of gloomy air approached her. Wen Xuxu looked up with her tiny face and looked at the man standing before her, watching her from a higher position. Unknown courage possessed her and she stared at him in a defiant manner. ¡°You said I can¡¯t eat lunch, but you didn¡¯t mention desserts.¡± There was an indescribable fury buried in her heart which was clamoring to explode. She wanted to unleash her rage. But she was a well-disciplined person and they were in the office right now. The man standing in front of her was her boss. She didn¡¯t want other people to think that she was given ¡®preferential treatment¡¯. She had an internal struggle and in the end, she quietly looked down. ¡°Sorry, I know I¡¯m in the wrong.¡± After she apologized, she turned around and threw her cake and milk into the trash can. She added, ¡°I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± Wen Xuxu clenched her fists and walked away from Yan Rusheng with a cold expression. Yan Rusheng watched her leave the office pantry with a frown. When she vanished from sight, he slowly moved his gaze away from her and looked at the trash can. He stared at the half-eaten mousse Wen Xuxu had thrown away. He knitted his brows even tighter as he felt gloomier. Her hot temper from being spoiled is getting worse. He had merely admonished her briefly and she had simply thrown the food away. As he looked at the glistening mousse, his stomach growled suddenly in response. Tsk. His stomach was such a letdown. ¡­ After starving for an entire afternoon, Wen Xuxu¡¯s top priority after work was to grab dinner. There was a stall near the entrance of the area and its business was extremely brisk during dinner time. She sat in a corner while waiting for her food, scrolling through her phone to pass the time. Her classmates¡¯ group chat came to mind. It¡¯d been days since she last entered the group chat after she unblocked it. She clicked on QQ and there were 99 unread messages in the group chat. She rarely chatted online and even when she did, she preferred WeChat. She hardly ever used QQ. She clicked into the group chat and the messages were still popping up. I¡¯m going to seek refuge with President Yan soon since times are hard. Tch. Don¡¯t pretend. In this group chat, we¡¯re the only ones chatting, Third Yan and the rest don¡¯t even show themselves. He¡¯s the President of Flourish & Prosper right now and his schedule is packed every day. Why would he have time for unemployed bummers like us? The participants in the group chat were all childhood friends of Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng. They were second-generation children of wealthy businessmen and government officials and the rest were their girlfriends and wives. They were merely joking when they said that they were having a hard time and had to seek other people for refuge. Wen Xuxu enjoyed reading their conversation but she didn¡¯t respond. He¡¯s busy? What nonsense is that? Yesterday we flew back on the same flight from Country F. This classmate didn¡¯t elaborate further but everyone already knew what that meant. Fang Jiayin left Yan Rusheng to further her studies in country F. She continued staying there to teach and this fact was known to their circle of friends. If Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t traveling for work, then Fang Jiayin must be the reason for his sudden trip to Country F. Third Yan, as your old classmate I don¡¯t mean to nag at you, but if you really want her back, stay away from those casual flings. It¡¯s childish. Someone had a loose tongue. He couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and stated the truth. When this someone took the lead, the second one followed suit. Return? What nonsense is that? You don¡¯t need that kind of woman. I agree. There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea and women are just like clothes. The more you treat her like a precious gem, the more she¡¯ll treat you badly. ¡­ Everyone started enthusiastically lecturing Yan Rusheng regarding ¡®political affairs¡¯. Chapter 21 Wen Xuxu thought that the whole situation was hilarious. Third Master Yan didn¡¯t respond at all¡ªhe could be having a romantic dinner with a celebrity or model right this moment. Yet they were all righteously lecturing him about values and morals. She had to say that these pampered playboys had nothing better to do and had too much free time to spare. She held her cellphone in one hand and the other propped against her cheek. She stared at the screen as the messages flashed past one by one. She was reading her messages with gusto when the messages suddenly stopped. She felt baffled the moment when her cell phone vibrated. She¡¯d received a QQ message from the person who had taken the lead in giving Yan Rusheng a ¡®political affairs¡¯ lecture earlier on. Feeling rather surprised, Wen Xuxu opened the message. Xuxu, I only nagged Third Yan for a bit so I can¡¯t believe he kicked me out of the group chat. Yan Rusheng was one of the group chat admins. Xuxu became gloomy. Yan Rusheng kicked him out but why was he messaging her privately? No wonder there weren¡¯t any more responses, it turned out that Yan Rusheng had kicked him out. All these people must have been tired of living? Where did they get the guts to mention and criticize Third Master Yan¡¯s most important person right in front of his face? They deserved to be kicked out. And he was merely kicked out. They might end up losing millions of dollars during the next gathering. She pretended to be offline and didn¡¯t reply to his message. But the other party was relentless and followed up with a second text: ¡°I joined the chat again. Can you notify Ah Heng for me to approve my access?¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless. She definitely wouldn¡¯t do it. These playboys spent their time in the group chat gossiping about others; it would be best if she didn¡¯t enter the group chat in future. She thought about it and was about to exit QQ when the guy messaged again. Everything¡¯s fine now. Thank you, Xuxu the great beauty. Everything was fine already? Wen Xuxu blinked her eyes in confusion and remained stunned for a second. She finally managed to react and entered the chat. Indeed, the group chat was buzzing once again and there were more than twenty messages within the blink of an eye. Our gentle Xuxu is still the best. I asked her to go to Ah Heng to grant us access and she did it without hesitation. It should be because Ah Heng treats Xuxu well and does her bidding. Ah Heng, the measurements of foreign women don¡¯t suit us, I think you¡¯d better hurry back home. Xuxu has been single these past three years, she must be waiting for you. No matter how I see it, the two of you make the most compatible couple. Someone specifically mentioned Jiang Zhuoheng in the chat. Me too. Us too. In a short span of time, everyone had announced their support for Jiang Zhuoheng and Xuxu¡¯s reconciliation. Wen Xuxu¡¯s face darkened considerably and she wordlessly frowned. When had she ever gone to look for Jiang Zhuoheng? This group of friends loved to make groundless accusations. She was about to explain when Jiang Zhuoheng suddenly appeared. Sure. Just a word and it created a commotion once again. Everyone began to mention Wen Xuxu in the group chat. Xuxu was frustrated since Jiang Zhuoheng was still being his old self. He was still as mischievous as before and loved to stir up trouble. She believed that the wisest thing to do now was to pretend she wasn¡¯t online. ¡°Tsk.¡± At this moment, Third Master Yan was reading the messages of those who supported Jiang Zhuoheng and Xuxu getting back together. He was livid. This fellow Jiang Zhuoheng loved to pit himself against him and now it was getting more noticeable. He¡¯d kicked that person out but Jiang Zhuoheng had pulled him in once again. What did he mean by that? He angrily smashed the cell phone on the dining table and grabbed a glass of water, drinking the entire glass in one gulp. The people at the dining table were taken aback by his sudden outburst of anger. ¡°Third Yan, why are you suddenly throwing a tantrum?¡± Wang Daqin stared at her grandson in bewilderment. Chapter 22 Her gaze shifted to Yan Rusheng¡¯s cell phone and she wondered what he could have seen to make him burst out in anger. ¡°Nothing much, I¡¯m full,¡± he coldly replied. Yan Rusheng stood up and retrieved his cell phone and then left the dining room. The people around the table watched as Third Master Yan left angrily. Everyone¡¯s shock and terror lingered for a long time before fading. Yan Rusheng was the youngest in the family and he was notorious for being hot-tempered. Previously there was an incident with a disagreement and he¡¯d flipped a dining table after a mere sentence. The elderly men were seized with anxiety when they¡¯d witnessed his earlier behavior. Their hands gripped the legs of the table, terrified at the thought of him flipping the table. Time flew by in the blink of an eye and a quarter of a year had already passed. Yan Rusheng sat right in the center of the spacious and grand conference hall. He listened intently to the quarterly reports from the various departments regarding the summary of their work achievements and the upcoming plans for the next quarter. Wen Xuxu sat behind him and was recording the meeting minutes. Flourish & Prosper¡¯s high-ranking executives included plenty of young employees like Yan Rusheng. However, among these people, regardless of looks, capability or temperament, Yan Rusheng remained unrivaled. This was the fifth quarterly meeting she¡¯d attended ever since she joined Flourish & Prosper a year ago. She recalled that around this time last year, she had just started working at Flourish & Prosper. Just like a situation of forcing someone to put a square peg into a round hole, Yan Rusheng had brought her into the conference room on her first day. Indeed as expected, she messed up her first task and had been severely lectured by Yan Rusheng. As she sat behind him, that was the first time she¡¯d seen a different side of Yan Rusheng. He was only a year older than her yet he was able to effortlessly handle and deal with a group of sly old foxes who had doubted his capability. He had rendered every single one of them speechless. That was the first time she became aware of herself and recognized the distance between them. It was far from just their family backgrounds but their capability as well. Both of her hands were on the laptop¡¯s keyboard and the typing sounds had never stopped even once. The head of the marketing department finished his report and went back to his seat. However, the typing sounds continued. Yan Rusheng scowled slightly and turned his head to look at the woman behind him. Her pretty face was covered by the fringe which just touched her eyebrows. He could only see the tip of her nose and her red lips which were curled up. Her knuckles were clearly defined and were as pale and slender as a scallion. Her movements on the keyboard were nimble. He recalled the first time she came to the meeting room and how flustered and helpless she¡¯d been. She¡¯d trembled in fear and when the meeting ended, she hadn¡¯t even recorded a single thing. By the second meeting, she had visibly improved and continued to improve after each attempt. As of now, tasks such as taking the meeting minutes were like a picnic to her. In the past year, she¡¯d never made a mistake at work and even the difficult and demanding Board of Directors praised Xuxu for her capability. In his heart, he admitted that if Wen Xuxu went to another company, with time she would be able to shine and excel. He was suddenly reminded of the message that Jiang Zhuoheng had sent in the group chat. Sure. What did that fellow mean by that? Was he really thinking of reconciling with this stupid woman? Jiang Zhuoheng returns and inherits family business¡­ This stupid woman would then be successful in both her career and love? If that day really came, Wang Daqin would scorn and ridicule him without mercy. ¡°My next phase of the plan is to conduct a field trip for inspection.¡± The head of the business development team stood in front of the projector and introduced the work plans for the next quarter. It started a debate. Chapter 23 ¡°Director Zhang¡¯s intention is to go to Haicheng City? ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I feel that this matter should be handled by your subordinates. At the very least, you shouldn¡¯t personally lead the first visit. The other party might assume that we regard the particular piece of land with importance and increase the price on purpose.¡± Everybody nodded and concurred with the statement. ¡°Yes, I agree, I think Director Wang¡¯s reasons make sense.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Their opinions were divided and their debate brought Yan Rusheng¡¯s thoughts back. He said abruptly, ¡°I think if Director Zhang makes a personal trip, it will not fully prove our sincerity towards purchasing the piece of land. I will need to make the trip there myself.¡± Gah! Everyone present was taken aback when they heard this and they all turned to stare at Yan Rusheng. The head of the business development department who mentioned the inspection trip smiled and looked at Yan Rusheng. He said, ¡°President, the purpose of this upcoming trip is only for an inspection, it is not yet certain whether we want that piece of land.¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then all the more reason for me to go. I will inspect the land to review if there is any value for us to develop that land. If there isn¡¯t, we¡¯ll be making a loss if we purchase it.¡± Everyone felt that a piece of land in the countryside that was worth a mere tens of millions of yuan wasn¡¯t important enough for the distinguished President of Flourish & Prosper to be present at the initial inspection. But as the company¡¯s President, he only wanted the best for the company. He wanted to be involved in all business matters regardless of the scale, they should be grateful for this. ¡°President Yan¡¯s reasons make sense too.¡± Those who had previously felt that the piece of land wasn¡¯t important enough for the director of the department to make the trip personally had now switched sides. All nodded in unison and agreed with what Yan Rusheng had said. Wen Xuxu sat quietly in a corner and didn¡¯t express her opinion. In her heart, Yan Rusheng¡¯s ways were unpredictable and he didn¡¯t play by the rules. Hence, wanting to make the arduous journey of traveling to inspect a piece of land that was worth tens of millions of yuan wasn¡¯t anything shocking. ¡°President Yan, when would you like to set off?¡± asked the head of the business development department. ¡°The first day of the month, so today,¡± Yan Rusheng replied without hesitation. ¡°We shall set off today.¡± When everyone heard him, they all had the same thought: This Third Master Yan was really efficient and driven during work. He meant what he¡¯d said¡ªwithout delay. ¡°Secretary Wen, book four flight tickets to Haicheng City without further ado.¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head to look at Wen Xuxu. ¡°You have two hours to head home to pack your belongings and accompany me to Haicheng City.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Why was the big boss in such a hurry? She raised her wrist to read the time, it was 10 a.m. ¡°Oh,¡± she replied and she took out her cell phone to book the tickets. There were three missed calls from Jiang Zhuoheng. She recalled that Jiang Zhuoheng was supposed to be back today at 7 p.m. When she mentioned that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t let her apply for leave, he chose another flight. His arrival was two hours after she was supposed to finish work so that she had enough time to pick him up at the airport. There wasn¡¯t any reason to reject him so she could only agree. They had confirmed their plans last night via text. Man proposes and god disposes. Who could have known that she¡¯d have to go on an impromptu work trip with Yan Rusheng? Regarding the promise to pick him up, she had no choice but to stand him up. Ah Heng, I¡¯m sorry. Yan Rusheng is bringing me on a work trip to Haicheng City today. I won¡¯t be able to pick you up, I¡¯ll treat you as an apology. She quickly sent Jiang Zhuoheng a text. Yan Rusheng shot a glance at her and a crafty, sly smile flashed in his eyes. His lips curled upwards; he was feeling pleased. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the air stewardess notified everyone that the airplane was getting ready for takeoff and reminded everyone to switch off their cell phones. The handsome man stared at the text he¡¯d just received before switching off his cell phone. He couldn¡¯t help but give a forced smile. Yan Rusheng, three years were enough! Chapter 24 ¡­ There were several flights departing for Haicheng City on a daily basis. Wen Xuxu booked the 1 p.m. flight and went directly to the airport after going home to pack her belongings. The first-class cabin had four seats, perfect for the four companions traveling together. Once Wen Xuxu boarded the plane, she put a sleeping mask over her eyes and slept the entire way until the plane landed. That piece of land was in one of the counties in Haicheng City. This particular county was located along the coast and it was in the early stages of development. Hence, the transport and road system wasn¡¯t that advanced. Set along the coast, this county had strong winds. Once they exited the terminal, Yan Rusheng put on his sunglasses and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his well-ironed trousers as he looked around impatiently. The car arranged by the real estate developer was late. Wen Xuxu had made several phone calls to rush them. The other party explained that there had been an accident, causing a traffic jam on the road. Third Master Yan heard the news and his mood worsened. His eyebrows knitted closer and closer together. ¡°We¡¯ll take a cab there ourselves. Go find a cab.¡± He¡¯d waited a while more but the designated car was still nowhere in sight. Yan Rusheng had lost his patience completely and instructed Wen Xuxu to get a cab. Wen Xuxu replied unhurriedly, ¡°This area only allow cabs to drop off passengers, no pickups are allowed. If we want to flag a cab, we need to head to the pickup area for passengers.¡± ¡°Shit! What a crappy airport.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darkened. He was used to cars waiting to pick him up, so this was the first time he¡¯d waited so long at the roadside for a car. To begin with, he was already in a bad mood. But he had to wait for a car which had yet to appear until now and take a cab instead. The second he heard Wen Xuxu informing him that they had to go elsewhere to flag a cab, he exploded with expletives. Wen Xuxu was secretly celebrating in her heart. This would teach him that he can¡¯t just hasten everything that he wanted. He gave up a comfortable office back at home to go on a work trip instead. More importantly, Flourish & Prosper considered this trip a trivial matter. Just like what the leaders had said, it wasn¡¯t even worth sending the department Director here personally. She wanted to know if this piece of land was really that valuable and worth developing? Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want to move at all, so they chose to wait for the car to pick them up. A black BMW that had been manufactured in China arrived. The chauffeur was a tanned man in his twenties with pearly white teeth. When he saw Wen Xuxu and the rest, he gave a genuine smile. Without a word, Yan Rusheng opened the door of the passenger seat and got in. Finally, his mood improved slightly but it darkened the instant he got into the car. He frowned and pinched his nose as he scanned the corners of the entire car. ¡°What did you put in here that has such a strong and fragrant scent?¡± He looked at the chauffeur with a look of dislike as he questioned him. He couldn¡¯t stand the pungent fragrance. ¡°President Yan, do you mean this air freshener?¡± The chauffeur took a small, reddish plastic container from the glove compartment and held it in front of Yan Rusheng. He didn¡¯t notice his expression and even offered to let him smell it. ¡°This is really aromatic and it¡¯s manufactured by the villagers. If President Yan likes it, I can give you a few more to bring back since I¡¯ve got plenty of these at home.¡± Third Master Yan felt like spewing more vulgarities at this particular moment. But he hesitated as he felt that this chauffeur seemed honest and sincere. If he swore at him, his conscience would bother him. Furthermore, Wen Xuxu would definitely look down on him. ¡°Thank you, but it¡¯s alright. Just focus and drive.¡± He suppressed his frustration and pushed the chauffeur¡¯s hand away. He turned and rolled down the car window and stuck his head out. Wen Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s pained expression and she gloated gleefully in her heart. What he hated the most¡ªthe smell of air freshener or perfume in the car, and women who love spraying on strong and pungent fragrances. Chapter 25 Among the women he¡¯d met, there were some who didn¡¯t even get the opportunity to dine with him and were rejected right away. It was simply because they had doused themselves with strong perfumes. Xuxu had a good rest on the flight. She felt exceptionally refreshed as she enjoyed Haicheng City¡¯s coastal breeze. There was a road at the airport that led them directly to the county. Along the way, they passed by villages and towns, and the highest building they spotted only had ten floors. After driving on the expressway for about an hour, they finally reached the exit to the county they were headed to. When they exited the expressway, they found themselves cruising on a tar road next to mountains and seas. The scenery was breathtaking. Next to the foot of the mountains and about 500 meters away from the sea, with a vast and magnificent view as far as the eye can see. It made people feel relaxed and refreshed. ¡°The tourism industry should be flourishing in this county, am I right?¡± Wen Xuxu looked at the chauffeur and asked him casually. The chauffeur nodded. ¡°Yeah. Every summer, people from other parts of the country like to flock here for vacation. However, we¡¯re surrounded by mountains so traveling is inconvenient. This county only has one road that leads outside. There¡¯s a long stretch of road ahead which is next to the sea. Whenever there are strong winds and heavy rain, both the roads on land and sea will be sealed off.¡± He paused for a while and added, ¡°However, part of the reason is due to the lack of support from the government. They embezzled all the funds.¡± Wen Xuxu listened and smiled without commenting. The chauffeur was straightforward and honest and he spoke the truth. However, the topic was about the government and their actions. It was advisable that she listened without making any remarks. Yan Rusheng and the Director of the business development department were also in the car and both of them had to deal with government officials. The road they were traveling on was only as wide as two vehicles. Wen Xuxu looked at it and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. As the saying goes, to create wealth, the roads must be paved first. If the roads weren¡¯t accessible enough, economic growth wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up. Flourish & Prosper needed to factor in the traffic conditions if they were going to invest in this place. She suddenly glanced at Yan Rusheng and realized his face was pale and he looked unwell. She suddenly recalled that he¡¯d get carsick easily. Especially if he was in a car sprayed with air freshener or perfume. Without fail, he would feel nauseous every time. ¡°Hi, how much longer do we have to travel?¡± Wen Xuxu anxiously asked the chauffeur anxiously¡ªshe was worried that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t be able to endure it any longer. The chauffeur said, ¡°We¡¯re almost there, about half an hour more.¡± Almost there¡­ Half an hour more. Wen Xuxu was frustrated with his reply and looked at Yan Rusheng. She was still worried and asked, ¡°President Yan, would you like some water?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it,¡± Yan Rusheng replied with frustration. His stomach was surging like a tidal wave and when he heard the chauffeur saying they still had half an hour left, his whole body immediately felt sick. Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. Since he¡¯d declined, the only option left is to endure, she thought in her heart. The car finally left the tar road next to the sea and drove towards a cement road. It wasn¡¯t as flat and smooth as the tar road, with bumps and hollows that were probably caused by large vehicles. This journey was the most torturous and agonizing moment in history for the precious Third Master Yan. The arduous journey took more than ten minutes. Amidst their anticipation, they finally reached the county¡¯s development zone which was along the coast. The car stopped in the courtyard and Yan Rusheng opened the door right away and got down. He dashed to the side of a flower bed, squatted and started puking. ¡°Blergh!¡± ¡°President Yan, are you alright?¡± Director Zhang of the business development department was stood behind Yan Rusheng and asked out of concern. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t reply. He pressed his throat and continued puking. His good-looking face was as pale as a sheet. ¡°President Yan, drink some water to rinse out your mouth.¡± Chapter 26 Wen Xuxu hastily took out a bottle of mineral spring water and squatted next to Yan Rusheng. She unscrewed the bottle cap and put the bottle near his mouth. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t hold the bottle, and instead opened his mouth directly for Wen Xuxu to feed him. Wen Xuxu had no choice but to oblige. ¡°Rinse out your mouth first, don¡¯t rush to drink it,¡± she instructed him gently as she gave him the water. Yan Rusheng glanced sideways at her and to his surprise, she was watching him with a gentle look. Was it an illusion? It must be an illusion. Since she was young, this stupid woman had always treated him with fierceness. How could she be watching him with a gentle look? Thinking of this, he squinted his eyes and his attitude became cold again. He stretched out his hand and snatched the bottle away from her. Tilting his head, he gulped down the water eagerly. After he¡¯d puked, he felt slightly more comfortable and his face gradually regained its color. The head of district development gave them a wide smile as he welcomed them. When he saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s vomit near the flowerbed, his expression fell slightly. He eagerly moved forward to express his concern. ¡°President Yan, what happened to you? Are you unwell?¡± He walked in front of Yan Rusheng and extended his hand for a handshake. Yan Rusheng upheld his pride and aloofness as the Third Master Yan and merely glanced at the district head¡¯s hand without accepting the greeting. ¡°Wen Xuxu, where is the hotel that we¡¯re staying in?¡± He didn¡¯t feel like saying anything right now and all he wanted was to have a good rest in the hotel room. The district head didn¡¯t wait for Wen Xuxu¡¯s reply and promptly nodded as he bowed. ¡°President Yan, we have arranged for you to stay at a five-star hotel, let me escort you to your room so that you may rest.¡± After he finished, he turned around and walked ahead to lead the way. The four people from Flourish & Prosper had the same question in their minds when they heard him. Is there a five-star hotel here? Of course, that would be the best. The group followed the head of district development. After leaving the District Development Office, they lost count of the number of times they¡¯d changed directions before they stopped outside of the entrance of a three-story building facing the sea. There was a wooden plaque with the words ¡®Coastal Five Star Hotel¡¯ hanging on the door. It was like dragons flying and phoenixes dancing. Wen Xuxu stared at the hotel¡¯s name and her mouth jerked twice without a sound. This ¡®five star¡¯ turned out to be different from the other ¡®five star¡¯. All she wanted to do was laugh as she didn¡¯t really harbor any other thoughts. She was fine with anything as long as she had a place to sleep. But it was a different story for the Third Master. When he heard of the five-star hotel, he was elated. However, when he stood before this ¡°Five Star¡± hotel entrance, the feeling of disappointment was substantial. The hotel entrance even had a few ducks waddling nonchalantly nearby. The occasional sounds of quacking could be heard as they leisurely moved around. Yan Rusheng scanned the surroundings of the hotel entrance with a glum expression. There was nothing in sight that could comfort him and the tightness in his chest intensified. Hence his eyes turned to the interior of the hotel which looked like a regular hotel¡¯s ¡®lobby¡±. It looked about 20 square meters in size. There was a fragrance hall that was facing the door, with incense drifting from the incense burner inside. It must be a local custom. The white floor tiles were matched with red wooden furniture. It was quite clean overall. At least it wasn¡¯t unkempt, so he felt marginally better. ¡°Xiaoling, Xiaoling.¡± The district head stood at the entrance and yelled in the direction of the interior room. A girl wearing a light yellow dress appeared from upstairs when she heard the yells. She was about 18 or 19 years old and was about 1.6 meters tall. The girl¡¯s skin was dark, probably due to the fact that she stayed near the sea. Her eyes were huge and bright. When she saw the district head, she gave a wide smile revealing a row of pearly white teeth. Her teeth were like pearls, dazzling and bright. Chapter 27 ¡°District Head Liu, are the guests here?¡± The girl¡¯s gaze was directed at Wen Xuxu and the rest. When she looked at Yan Rusheng, astonishment quickly flashed through her beautiful eyes. She forgot to retract her gaze and it stayed fixated on the aloof yet gorgeous features for a period of time. His gorgeous face was indeed a curse! Wen Xuxu glanced coldly at Yan Rusheng; his handsome face was still a little pale. As a result, he looked as if he had lost weight. A peculiar feeling swept past her heart and the softest part inside her felt like it was being touched by something. Yan Rusheng instinctively felt Wen Xuxu looking at him, and he turned his head abruptly, catching her off guard. She immediately panicked, not knowing where to look. Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips suddenly curled upwards and a wicked grin appeared at the corners of his mouth. Wen Xuxu felt that he could see through her completely and she clenched her fists, feeling uneasy. Damn it, she thought she was already immune to his devilish face after so many years. To her surprise, staring at his face had left her in a daze. ¡°Wen Xuxu, stop daydreaming.¡± Yan Rusheng bent his body and inched closer to Wen Xuxu. She was forced to move backward. ¡°Ahhh¡­?¡± Xuxu¡¯s heartbeat quickly started racing and a rosy tinge appeared on her fair cheeks. Her guilty eyes wandered around trying to escape and she refrained from looking into Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. She felt uneasy as she mulled over the meaning of his words. ¡°A gaze can¡¯t kill a person.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s waist was almost bent to a 90-degree angle before he stopped. He displayed a victorious posture as he looked at Xuxu, taking his time to say, ¡°You¡­ must be filled with hatred towards me, right?¡± What was that supposed to mean? Wen Xuxu did not understand and blinked her eyes. Why should she hate him? Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t answer and instead straightened his back and his tall body back to an upright position. His long legs strode forward as he entered through the door of the Five Star hotel. The second he entered, a strong fragrance assailed his nose. It was from the burning incense in the fragrance hall and he couldn¡¯t escape in time. He knitted his eyebrows severely and used his hands to disperse the air in front of him. Pinching his nose, he turned his head to give Wen Xuxu a meaningful look. Wen Xuxu was still in a daze and she didn¡¯t notice him looking at her. She hurried inside. She smiled as she walked towards the girl who came down the stairs. ¡°Where are our rooms?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The girl pulled back her gaze from Yan Rusheng¡¯s face and looked at Wen Xuxu, momentarily embarrassed. She pointed at the stairs with her hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s upstairs, let me lead the way.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Sure thing.¡± She followed the girl with Yan Rusheng behind her. District Head Liu, the business development director and the rest brought up the rear. Once they were upstairs, the girl brought them to the first room after turning left at the corridor. She opened the door and pointed towards the interior of the room. She introduced it to them by saying, ¡°This is the deluxe room, which has a bathroom with a bathtub.¡± Then she turned around and pointed at the rest of the rooms. ¡°The other rooms don¡¯t have any bathrooms but there are shared bathrooms in front and in the middle.¡± After he heard her, Yan Rusheng lifted his legs and went into the deluxe room without any hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest for a while, don¡¯t bother me unnecessarily.¡± He instructed them with his back facing the group, all four pair of eyes looking at him as he turned around and shut the door. After ignoring them all, he left them standing outside his room without a second thought. There was only one deluxe room and Wen Xuxu knew that he wasn¡¯t the type who would decline it. It was already beneath his dignity and status to be here, and he was already furious that he wasn¡¯t staying at a five-star hotel. If they didn¡¯t give him the deluxe room and he had to use a shared bathroom in the middle of the night, he would have gone bonkers after one night. However, District Head Liu was still here, so shouldn¡¯t he show him some respect? He should have at least greeted him. The girl led them to the rest of the rooms in a proper order. Wen Xuxu chose the room that was next to Yan Rusheng. The room size was about 20 square meters and had a bed, a computer desk, and a simple wardrobe. The walls were decorated with countryside style wallpaper; the bedsheets and blankets had the same style too. There were two windows at the front and back which were wide open. A strong breeze entered, causing the white curtains to flutter briskly. A wind chime hung in the middle of the room and it was strung together with sea stars and conches in different sizes. She liked it very much. After she greeted District Head Liu and the rest, she eagerly dragged her luggage into the room. There wasn¡¯t a Simmons mattress on the 1.5 meters bed. Instead, there was only a thin padding covering it which felt a little hard. She knocked on the bed plank with her fist and pressed her lips together. The bed was hard and stiff¡ªshe wondered if the young master would be alright. Chapter 28 Director Zhang and his secretary had a good sleep in their respective rooms too. Everyone reconvened in the evening when it was time for dinner. The dinner place was at this hotel as well. There was a huge courtyard at the back and it had many different varieties of tropical flowers and plants. There were four dining tables, each propped with a large green umbrella. Wen Xuxu was the first to arrive. She chose the first table on the right and sat down. Director Zhang and District Head Liu all arrived, one after another. Yan Rusheng was late. He¡¯d changed into a new outfit¡ªa white t-shirt with light gray three-quarter slacks. His usual gloominess was missing, and he looked as if sunbeams were shining on him. From top to toe, he radiated a youthful vibe. He had transformed from an overbearing President to a boy with a cheerful and sunny disposition. The glow from the sunset shone on half of his face, the light reflected in his charming peach blossom-shaped eyes. Time flickered and just like ripples in the water, they sparkled. Men were jealous of his looks while the ladies were mesmerized by him. Xiaoling, who had led them to their rooms earlier, came out of the kitchen with a notepad and pen. The minute she caught sight of Yan Rusheng, her tanned cheeks instantly flushed crimson and looked as if blood had rushed up to her face. Xuxu watched and observed the whole situation and she glanced teasingly at Yan Rusheng. His hands were hidden in the pockets of his slacks as he slowly walked over. He went straight to the seat next to Xuxu and sat down. He had probably showered as his body was emitting the mild and faint scent of body soap. After he sat down, he stared at Wen Xuxu. ¡°The bed is too hard, what kind of horrible hotel is this?¡± Sure enough¡­ She knew his precious body wouldn¡¯t be able to get used to the stiff bed. Xuxu gave a light reply, ¡°I know. I¡¯ll put a quilt on your bed later, so that it¡¯ll be more comfortable.¡± ¡°Which dish prices would you like to order?¡± Xiaoling walked over as she asked. She looked at Yan Rusheng and her crystal-clear eyes seemed to ripple, reflecting her racing heartbeat. It looked like this girl had grown up on this island and had never seen a handsome man before. Her actions were flustered and she didn¡¯t seem to know what to do after seeing such a good-looking man. In her heart, Wen Xuxu pondered and the lingering smile on her lips was thought-provoking. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a menu?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head and asked Xiaoling. Xiaoling shook her head timidly. ¡°No¡­ No.¡± She realized that Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression was darkening and she hastened to explain. ¡°Our menu goes according to the prices per table. The prices are $198, $298, and $398.¡± She gradually lowered her head and tightly held the pen in her hand, looking nervous. Wen Xuxu raised her head and looked warmly at Xiaoling. ¡°We¡¯ll have the $398 meal.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Xiaoling turned to Wen Xuxu and the anxiety in her eyes dissipated. She gave her a faint and shy smile. She wrote their order with the pen and nodded slightly with a smile. ¡°Please wait.¡± Wen Xuxu sat down and performed the usual routine when they dined out¡ªdisinfect the cutlery and cups with boiling water. She did this regardless of how grand or high-class the hotel or restaurant was. ¡°Secretary Wen is really attentive and thoughtful.¡± District Head Liu observed Wen Xuxu¡¯s actions and praised her with a smile. Wen Xuxu raised her head and smiled graciously at him. She¡¯d been with Yan Rusheng long enough and had gotten used to hearing such praises and compliments. Hence she was able to handle it easily and graciously. Yan Rusheng glanced at her and sneered. She always pretended to be gentle and virtuous in front of others, but in private she wasn¡¯t ladylike at all. Wen Xuxu tightly pressed her lips and brushed off his look with a smile. Anyway, he saw her as someone with no redeemable qualities and he couldn¡¯t stand her at all. The sky steadily darkened. The whole courtyard had colorful lanterns at the corners and there was a massive lamp hanging in the center which illuminated the entire courtyard. Dinner was served and the whole table was filled with local delicacies. It was mainly seafood dishes with fish, prawns, scallops and more. There were six seafood dishes and two types of vegetables. Yan Rusheng was pleasantly surprised to see the eight dishes served. He held his chopsticks and took a prawn. He looked at it carefully, put the prawn near his nose and sniffed it. He stuffed it in his mouth and then continued to eat mouthfuls of rice and vegetables. Although he was famished, his actions were still graceful. District Head Liu saw that he was enjoying the food and felt more relieved. ¡°President Yan, are you satisfied with the room you¡¯re staying in?¡± Chapter 29 Decades of hardship had left visible traces on his wrinkled face. He smiled pleasantly and looked at him with anticipation. If a gleam of satisfaction were to appear on Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold-looking face, he wouldn¡¯t dream of receiving a smile in return. He had a perpetual stony expression on his face, hence District Head Liu would have to choose his words carefully. Especially during the discussion regarding the investment. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t bother to raise his head and coldly replied, ¡°Dissatisfied.¡± ¡°¡­¡± District Head Liu began to sweat. He didn¡¯t expect Yan Rusheng to give such a blunt reply and without taking into consideration how the other party would feel. His reply was completely different from what was written in the script. How would he be able to continue reciting the scripted lines that he¡¯d prepared in advance? Director Zhang and his secretary were sitting opposite to them and they heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s stony reply. They lowered their heads and their mouths twitched quietly. Yan Rusheng was well known for his arrogance, aloofness and his malicious tongue. At every executive meeting, his words made some of the executives turn red with shame. Some even wished that they could jump out the window. District Head Liu was experienced in dealing with political matters and yet he couldn¡¯t even read facial expressions. He had failed to notice that the big boss had been frowning in disapproval the second he got off the car. Yet he still had the courage to ask if he was satisfied. Surely he wasn¡¯t expecting Third Master Yan to exchange pleasantries with him and say yes? If that were the case, then he should just head home to ¡®take a good look in the mirror¡¯ to determine if he was respectable enough. Wen Xuxu wasn¡¯t surprised at all. She knew what Yan Rusheng¡¯s answer would be. Holding her bowl, she finished her rice with the two unidentified vegetables. After finishing her first bowl, she took the ladle and was about to scoop up more rice. Yan Rusheng looked at her disdainfully and asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you be mindful of your own image?¡± A woman eating so much rice at night and furthermore, it was with a table full of people. She looked as if he¡¯d been mistreating her. Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand paused as she held the ladle. Instantly, she lowered her eyes dejectedly. She ignored Yan Rusheng and scooped up a bowl of rice in a resolute manner. She bent her head and ate her rice with composure. Sitting on the opposite side, District Head Liu observed the pair, a streak of shrewdness in his clouded eyes. This aloof president may treat his secretary coldly as well, but he certainly pays close attention to her, he thought in his heart. He even noticed that she was about to eat an extra bowl of rice. Right away, District Head Liu had an idea. ¡°I¡¯ve eaten my fill. President Yan, please enjoy your dinner.¡± Wen Xuxu finished her second serving of rice and put down the empty bowl. She smiled and greeted District Head Liu and the rest, then left the table. The sea breeze at night was stronger and there was a considerable difference in temperature between day and night. Wen Xuxu took a short stroll on the beach and returned to her room when she started feeling cold. She switched on the lights and saw the neatly folded quilt on the bed. She recalled Yan Rusheng¡¯s admonishment. After deliberating for a while, she walked to the bed, carried the quilt and left the room. Chapter 30 She went to Yan Rusheng¡¯s room and knocked on the door. There was no response. Earlier, she¡¯d seen Yan Rusheng and Director Zhang inspecting the area nearby when she was taking a stroll along the beach. He probably wasn¡¯t back yet. Xuxu opened the door and went in. She smoothed out and arranged the quilt on Yan Rusheng¡¯s bed. After she was finished, she was covered with perspiration. Her body was sticky and it was unbearable. She rushed to take a shower. Xuxu walked to the door and was about to switch off the lights when her gaze moved thoughtlessly in the direction of the bathroom. Eh? That¡¯s right, Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t back yet. She could take a shower in his room instead of using the common bathroom. Without further delay, she rushed back to her room to get her pajamas and a towel. She just needed to finish her shower before he came back. ¡­ Yan Rusheng and Director Zhang toured the vicinity for a while before heading back to their rooms. He didn¡¯t pay attention to the lights which had already been switched on. He¡¯d sweated earlier during the dinner. After entering his room, he went straight to the bathroom to shower and relax. He stretched his hand to push the door¡­ The bathroom door lock wasn¡¯t working and it seemed to be obstructed by something inside. He pushed again but the door wouldn¡¯t budge and he frowned with puzzlement. With a little more force, he pushed again¡­ and the door swung open. ¡°Ahhh¡­!¡± Wen Xuxu was standing under the showerhead and rinsing the bubbles away from her body. She hadn¡¯t heard Yan Rusheng at first and she screamed in fright when the door suddenly opened. She seized her dirty clothes to cover her lower body while the other hand covered her chest. The water from the showerhead flowed down from the top of her head. Both Yan Rusheng¡¯s body and expression were simultaneously petrified and he stood in a daze at the bathroom entrance. Wen Xuxu saw him standing there without moving with his eyes still staring at her body. She was both furious and embarrassed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, get lost! What are you looking at?!¡± Her face was as red as crimson. ¡°Why are you shouting? The other day, didn¡¯t you look at me as well?¡± He snapped out of his trance and his reaction was unbelievably composed. Before he left, his eyes wandered up and down her body once more in disdain. ¡°You have no curves at all, what¡¯s there to hide?¡± Saying that, he turned around and haughtily walked out. Wen Xuxu quickly put on her clothes. She dashed for the door after leaving the bathroom and took flight. After her tiny figure vanished from sight, Master Yan frowned in puzzlement as he bent his head to look at his lower body. Damn it! To his surprise, his body had a reaction when he saw that stupid woman¡¯s unattractive body. And furthermore, he had an urge to go to the room next door and do ¡®something¡¯ with Wen Xuxu. Countless women with various attractive figures had never managed to interest him, Yan Rusheng. How could he have a reaction at seeing Wen Xuxu, that stupid woman? Chapter 31 There must be something wrong with his body. Without a doubt. His body belonged to Jiayin exclusively and he could still remember their wonderful first night together to this day. Ah Sheng, I¡¯m in pain¡­ Even though he was quite drunk that night, he would never forget that gentle voice in his ears. Ah Sheng, I like you. Their relationship started in the first year of university but before that night, she hadn¡¯t been indispensable in his life. His friends were all attached and Jiayin had wooed him at that time. He needed someone to be his girlfriend and she was the prettiest in the entire faculty and had good grades. Hence, they got together. After that night, he was completely in love with Jiayin. In the past, he considered watching movies and having meals together as troublesome and boring. But to make her happy, he was willing to do anything. It was because of that sentence ¡®Ah Sheng, I¡¯m in pain¡­ Ah Sheng I like you.¡¯ He felt that that was the loveliest voice in the world and he seemed to have waited in anticipation for a long time. Furthermore, a woman had given him her most precious and wonderful first experience. All the more reason that he should cherish it dearly. Reminiscing of the past, he took the bathrobe from the bedside cabinet and entered the bathroom. After a cold shower, he sat on his bed even though his body was still wet. The second he sat down, he felt that something was amiss. He frowned in suspicion, lifted the bedsheets and found an extra layer of bedding. I knew it¡­ When he recalled Wen Xuxu¡¯s reply, the corners of his mouth curled upwards uncontrollably. He was satisfied and yet pleased at the same time. The difference in temperature here was different from what Wen Xuxu had expected. The temperature at night was about 12-13 degrees. She woke up feeling frozen since she had given her quilt to Yan Rusheng. She opened her luggage but there wasn¡¯t anything she could use as a quilt. She resorted to using a towel to cover her tummy which was the area that was most vulnerable to the chill. Chapter 32 She resorted to using a towel to cover her tummy which was the area that was most vulnerable to the chill. Early in the morning, Yan Rusheng woke up to the sounds of the fishermen¡¯s horns. He decided to inspect that piece of land without further ado so that he could leave this pathetic place by today. He didn¡¯t want to spend an extra second in this place. The sun rose and the weather gradually turned warm. Wen Xuxu had specially packed a long beach skirt for this work trip. She paired the blue floral skirt with a fitting white t-shirt. She walked on the beach with the wind blowing at her long skirt, befitting the scene well. She had an SLR camera hanging around her neck as she followed Yan Rusheng closely. The district head was leading the way ahead and highlighted the strengths of the area as they walked. ¡°President Yan, look at the sea. During the summer, the brilliant blue seawater will attract many tourists who want to escape from the heat.¡± ¡°Ah-choo!¡± Wen Xuxu suddenly sneezed, disrupting District Head Liu¡¯s speech. ¡°Sorry.¡± She bowed her head to express her apology. After she sneezed, her nose still felt itchy so she used her hand to rub it. ¡°That mountain over there is also our¡­¡± ¡°Ah-choo!¡± District Head Liu was still in the middle of his speech when Wen Xuxu sneezed once again. ¡°Secretary Wen, are you alright?¡± District Head Liu looked at her and asked out of concern. Wen Xuxu rubbed her nose and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s probably the sea breeze that¡¯s making my nose itch. Don¡¯t mind me.¡± The hand that was rubbing her nose moved to her temple. Her temple felt a little painful. Could this be a symptom of the flu? After walking for a distance, they finally reached the land that Flourish & Prosper wanted to invest in and develop. It was a huge coconut forest that faced the deep blue sea. The size of the land was probably about thousands of acres. The wind blew and the leaves of the coconut trees swayed and produced loud sounds. The sight of it was magnificent. Yan Rusheng removed his glasses and looked at this huge coconut forest. No matter how endlessly District Head Liu talked about the advantages of developing this piece of land, his shrewd eyes didn¡¯t reveal any intention of agreeing. He pressed his lips together, his thoughts unfathomable. Wen Xuxu stood beside him and took photos with the camera. Yan Rusheng abruptly turned his head to look at her with a stony expression. ¡°Come explore with me,¡± he said coldly, his hand pointing to the coconut forest. He strode towards the direction of the forest after giving that command. ¡°Oh,¡± Wen Xuxu responded and her footsteps followed him unhurriedly. Director Zhang and the rest were about to follow when they heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice ahead. ¡°All of you may head back first and wait for me.¡± The group halted their footsteps and looked at each other before looking at the figures of the couple who were ahead. They looked so compatible. Chapter 33 District Head Liu couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and turned to Director Zhang standing beside him. ¡°Director Zhang, is Secretary Wen a relative of President Yan?¡± Director Zhang smirked in his heart. The secretary and boss¡­. are relatives? He had phrased his question tactfully. ¡°Closer than relatives.¡± He replied to District Head Liu and turned around to head back with his secretary. He gave an ambiguous answer so that District Head Liu¡¯s imagination could run wild. ¡°Ahhh¡­?¡± District Head Liu opened his mouth absent-mindedly. Closer than relatives? Isn¡¯t that¡­ Feeling enlightened, his eyes sparkled and with a smile, he ran after director Zhang. ¡­ The coconut forest was too vast and it felt like they had entered a maze. The distance between each tree was about two meters and every tree was full of unripe green coconuts. Wen Xuxu took photos along the way. They went on a straight route for about half an hour before they made their way out of the coconut forest to the other side. They were still near the coast after walking dozens of meters. There were several wooden houses on the shore, with nets and fishing tools hanging on the doors. ¡°If the government can spend more effort developing the roads, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about breaking even.¡± Wen Xuxu looked at the magnificent sea and sighed. Such a beautiful place was hidden away, its value wasted. Her footsteps headed towards the wooden houses. Yan Rusheng remained on the spot with his hands in his slacks. He looked at Wen Xuxu¡¯s slender back and furrowed his brows. The look in his eyes deepened. Wen Xuxu took a few photos of the wooden houses. ¡°Wen Xuxu, did I ask you to take photos of this useless stuff?¡± Yan Rusheng walked over from behind; he still couldn¡¯t bear the sight of her. Wen Xuxu brushed off his comment and continue taking photos of whatever she liked. She drew closer to a little wooden house as she was interested in an old wooden boat in front of the door. She lowered her camera and took two photos of the wooden boat. Her cell phone suddenly rang. She put down her camera and rummaged through her bag for her phone. The call was from Jiang Zhuoheng. She placed the phone to her ear and answered the call. ¡°Hello, Ah Heng.¡± When he heard this name, Yan Rusheng retracted his gaze from the coconut forest. He looked at Wen Xuxu with his eyebrows knitted closely together. He looked vigilant and his eyes showed annoyance and anger. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be able to reach home tonight.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to pick me up, I¡¯ll be with Yan Rusheng and the rest.¡± ¡°Um¡­ alright then.¡± It was unclear what Jiang Zhuoheng had said to leave Wen Xuxu with no choice but to compromise. Yan Rusheng listened intently but he couldn¡¯t hear anything. She hung up and Wen Xuxu lowered her head to stare at the little wooden boat. She pressed her lips tightly as if she had a special feeling towards the wooden boat. Chapter 34 The Third Master was struck with an idea and coldly said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, let¡¯s row a boat.¡± ¡°Ah¡­?¡± Xuxu raised her head in surprise and looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Our flight is in the afternoon so we have to head back now and set off for the airport.¡± This fellow was really unfathomable, why was he thinking of rowing a boat? Didn¡¯t he loathe this place? And how he¡¯d wished that he had a pair of wings so that he could fly back home immediately? ¡°I am very interested in this piece of land and I want to inspect and check if there are additional resources in the vicinity.¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at the unique mountain which District Head Liu had mentioned earlier. The mountain was about 200 meters away from the shore. What he said seemed plausible. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the surroundings near the mountain.¡± ¡°But the air tickets¡­¡± Wen Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold expression and decided to swallow her remaining words. They were merely air tickets, it¡¯s just money. At the most, they didn¡¯t want it. Even though she had stopped talking, Yan Rusheng reprimanded her sternly. ¡°We¡¯re here to inspect, how can we go back before our work is completed?¡± He finished his sentence and walked towards Xuxu. He reached down and grabbed the sides of the wooden boat. With a spurt of strength combined with determination, he dragged it towards the sea. ¡°Hmph!¡± Tch, who was the one who ordered her to book the earliest flight home this morning? Now he was twisting his words and accusing her of being irresponsible. The boss¡¯s mouth was really fickle-minded and he always said whatever he wanted. She watched as Yan Rusheng dragged the wooden boat across the beach and when he was nearing the seawater, she snapped out of her trance and dashed after him. ¡°President Yan, this boat belongs to someone else.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like a good idea to just drag it away. Yan Rusheng dismissed her concerns and thought differently. ¡°We¡¯re just borrowing it for a while, it¡¯s not as if we won¡¯t come back.¡± If you borrow something, shouldn¡¯t you inform the owner and ask for the owner¡¯s permission first? He wasn¡¯t borrowing, it was obviously stealing or snatching. Wen Xuxu frowned and stared in vexation at this unreasonable man. He had confidently and forcefully defined his action of ¡®stealing¡¯ as ¡®borrowing¡¯. There was nothing she could do to change his mind. Yan Rusheng had dragged the boat into the water. He climbed in and sat down in the middle of the boat. Xuxu¡¯s unwillingness was written all over her face. Yan Rusheng yelled at her, ¡°Why are you still dawdling? Hurry up!¡± The thief even wanted an accomplice! Yan Rusheng¡ªin this lifetime she was trapped by him. Despite Xuxu¡¯s dissatisfaction, she was used to obeying Yan Rusheng¡¯s commands, no matter how unreasonable they had been this past year. She hurried forward and at the same time she took off her sandals. She walked barefoot to the boat, threw her sandals into it and jumped in. The boat was small and it swayed furiously when they climbed in. Xuxu grabbed the sides of the boat composedly and sat down. The expression in her eyes was calm. Chapter 35 They both climbed onto the boat and sat down. Yan Rusheng gazed at Wen Xuxu and told her, ¡°You¡¯ll row the boat.¡± Xuxu had expected this and showed no signs of surprise. However, upon scanning the entirety of the small boat, there was no sign of a boat paddle at all. So what was she supposed to row with? But at this point in time, Yan Rusheng had already used his hands to push the boat off the beach, and the boat inched little by little into the sea. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you planning to row?¡± Yan Rusheng watched as Xuxu sat there motionless. As she sat there unmoving, he egged her on without restraint. ¡°President Yan, I would like to row too, but how am I supposed to row without a boat paddle?¡± Xuxu lamented. ¡°Ah!¡± It suddenly hit him. He didn¡¯t bring a boat paddle with them. He scanned the shores and realized that the previous users of the boat had a boat paddle outside their doorstep. Just as he was deciding whether he should get back on shore to get the boat paddle, the door opened, and out came a plainly dressed middle-aged lady. The lady saw the boat paddle upon opening the door and realized that the boat was gone. Instinctively, she turned her head towards the sea. Yan Rusheng felt an unsettling feeling surge through him. ¡°Wen Xuxu, hurry¡­¡± He reached out and grabbed her slender wrist, his eyes widening as he stared intently at the shore. Wen Xuxu had her back to the shore, so she was oblivious to what was happening. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked as she turned her head back puzzledly. Before she knew it, a blood-curdling scream shot through the air. ¡°Catch them!! They stole my boat!¡± One lady jumped into the sea, furiously trying to get to them. Wen Xuxu trembled with fear. Seeing how pressing the issue had become, Yan Rusheng used his hands as boat paddles and paddled as hard as he could. He arched his back and reached for the deep waters, trying to ride the waves to move the boat forward. To his relief, the boat started advancing further away from the shore at a pretty good speed too. As the boat went further into the deeper waters, the lady chasing after them was having more difficulty in trying to get to the boat. Xuxu was just about to open her mouth to try to explain that they had only wanted to borrow their boat to go check out the mountain on the other side, and that they were not trying to steal the boat. But Yan Rusheng¡¯s scolding voice suddenly cut her off. ¡°Stupid woman! Why are you staring into space for? Help me row the boat!¡± He stared intently at Wen Xuxu, anger radiating off him. What an idiot. I wish I could throw her into the sea and feed the sharks. We¡¯re being chased but she¡¯s just sitting there doing nothing, Yan Rusheng thought to himself. ¡°Oh.¡± Wen Xuxu subconsciously started mimicking Yan Rusheng as she used her hands as paddles as well to row the boat. After the uproar, the neighboring families stepped out of their houses. Some of them held poles and feather dusters. They were ready to take on a fight. All of them held their stances, asserting their dominance. Upon seeing this, Wen Xuxu knew they were done for. This time, they would not be able to get away with stealing this boat. They were in too deep and no one could help them. Chapter 36 At this moment, she only had one thing on her mind¡ªRUN! The other party dragged a boat into the sea and started rowing ferociously towards them. Xuxu panicked. She gathered her skirt in her hands and rushed to the end of the boat. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Yan Rusheng was appalled by her actions. He thought that she was planning to jump off the boat. He looked anxious. ¡°We¡¯ll move faster if I use my legs!¡± Xuxu answered. She sat down at the edge of the boat and plunged her legs into the water. ¡°Not only can we paddle faster with our legs, we can also distract the lady with the splashes.¡± Unable to keep her eyes open, the lady slowed down. ¡°Quick! Chase them!¡± The lady was desperate as she turned to look at her friends for help. As all of them were fishermen, they had the advantage. They hurled their poles towards the couple, and in a matter of seconds, the wooden boat scooted forward and came to a complete halt. They also had two people on their boat¡ªone holding a pole, the other a paddle¡ªand they rowed as fast as they could towards the couple. Seeing that they were fast approaching, Xuxu¡¯s heart was in her mouth. She fluttered her legs even more and shouted, ¡°Ah Sheng, hurry up! They¡¯re heading towards us!¡± Having heard what she said, not only did Yan Rusheng not pick up his pace, he came to a complete stop. He gazed at Xuxu. Her face was flushed, her eyes gleaming with excitement instead of fear. From a young age, no one had dared to bully her. She just never seemed like an ordinary lady. Just like this moment, even though she was being chased, she wasn¡¯t afraid. Instead, she bravely faced the problem with courage in her eyes. If it were Jiayin, she would have been scared to death and would have run into his arms, shuddering in fear. ¡°Let¡¯s see where you guys can run to!¡± The enemy¡¯s boat had already come close. Their faces beamed with victory. One of them raised his pole and hurled it towards Wen Xuxu. Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth gaped open, her pupils dilating. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes widened, staring nervously at the pole that was flying towards them. He rushed towards Wen Xuxu. Xuxu reacted. She reached out for the pole just before it hit her and gave it a strong push. The other parties had let their guard down, thinking that they had the upper hand. But to their horror, the pole went straight towards them, catching them off balance. Since most of them made a living from fishing, Wen Xuxu wasn¡¯t afraid that they¡¯d drown. She seized the opportunity and grabbed the pole, throwing it towards the opponent¡¯s boat. The moment their opponents drew back, Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng continued rowing forward, increasing the distance between them. Chapter 37 ¡°Idiot! That pole was flying straight for you! Do you want to die?¡± Yan Rusheng was scared out of his wits, and he flared up at Wen Xuxu. It had been a close call. If the pole had hit her, that idiot would have been paralyzed. Wen Xuxu had avoided the pole by a narrow margin. Hearing Yan Rusheng¡¯s ridiculous howls, she felt her face burning with anger. She raised her head and blurted out, ¡°The pole was coming for me and not you, you pampered little fellow, why are you the one feeling mad right now?¡± Truth be told, he wished she was dead so that no one would rebel against him. He thought of her as an eyesore. She was right, so why was he so worked up? Yan Rusheng lamented at the way he felt. Yan Rusheng pondered for a while, then came up with an explanation. ¡°If anything happened to you, Wang Daqin wouldn¡¯t give me a good time.¡± She¡¯s the apple of her eye, so if anything were to happen to her, Wang Daqin would not let him off so easily. Upon hearing this, Wen Xuxu sniggered to herself. Indeed, he won¡¯t even let me have another bowl of rice. Only a blind man would believe that he could be so nice to me. In the past when they had their meals together, Fang Jiayin would only finish half a bowl of rice to maintain her figure. Yan Rusheng would always force her to eat more. Wen Xuxu was good at hiding her emotions. She suppressed all of her feelings and looked towards the boat that was chasing them. Yan Rusheng looked at Xuxu¡¯s small face, suddenly feeling a baffling sense of guilt. He reached out for the pole in Xuxu¡¯s hand, stuck the pole into the waterbed and pushed the boat forward. As the boat reached the shore, they got off the boat and ran up the hill. ¡°Ah-choo!¡± Wen Xuxu sneezed all the way up, rubbing her nose in between sneezes to soothe the itchiness. All of a sudden, a snake slithered out of the bushes. ¡°Ah!¡± Wen Xuxu let out a shrill scream, her nostrils flaring as she shut her eyes. As if she were some acrobat, she jumped onto Yan Rusheng¡¯s back, hugging his neck and tightening her legs around his waist. When she was at the zoo, she was brave enough to pet a tiger. But when it came to snakes, she could sense nothing but fear. Yan Rusheng was taken aback, and once again, he felt mad. However, his intuition was telling him that for Wen Xuxu¡ªsuch a brave, courageous woman¡ªto climb onto his back, she must be feeling really scared. His compassion took over. ¡°I¡¯m here. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± It sounded like he was scolding her, but those words brought nothing but comfort to Wen Xuxu, reminding her not to be afraid. Chapter 38 Xuxu felt a surge of warmth spread through her body. She tightened her arms around him and laid her head on his back. Each beat of his heart was etched clearly into her mind. ¡°There are so many snakes. I¡¯m scared, mom.¡± ¡°Daddy and Mommy are here, there¡¯s no need to be afraid, Xuxu.¡± Memories from the past flooded into her head. There were mountains and rivers back at her old town, and every family had a little boat of their own. The boat was an indispensable part of their lives, as they used it for transport and fishing purposes. Xuxu was still young back then, and so she didn¡¯t have a clear impression of her parents. But that one day her parents brought her to her relatives for a wedding dinner had been deeply etched in her mind. The need to row across the river was a bad omen. Just when the boat reached the shore, snakes slithered out of the bushes from all directions. She was so afraid she darted into her mother¡¯s arms. Xuxu¡¯s mother held her in her arms and assured her that there was nothing to be afraid of. Upon hearing her mother¡¯s comforting words, Xuxu was no longer afraid. Indeed it was true that parents are the ones who would hold the world up for their children if the world should ever crumble. However, she did not have especially strong feelings when the world actually did. As she gradually grew older, she realized what she was missing. She realized that whenever she felt afraid, there would no longer be open arms for her to run into. If she got into trouble, there would be no one else to help her get out of it. Throughout these years she would constantly be reminded of her mother¡¯s words. As she grew older, she yearned even more for her mother¡¯s comfort. Her arms were still tightly wrapped around Yan Rusheng, so tight that it made him breathless. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you trying to kill me?¡± He craned his neck back, furrowing his brows. He was in an uncomfortable state and he wanted to shake her off. She was scared out of her wits and had started shivering. He felt that the situation was unbearable. She wasn¡¯t even afraid of fights or robberies¡ªwhy was she so afraid of a snake? This was the first time she¡¯d let her guard down and showed him her flaws. Realizing this, Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart went out to her. Yan Rusheng was annoyed that he was showing compassion for Wen Xuxu, but at the same time he felt slightly accomplished. As a woman who always put up a strong front, she finally needed his help. ¡°Is the snake gone yet?¡± Wen Xuxu quivered in her speech, still clinging onto Yan Rusheng. Her legs couldn¡¯t support her. She hadn¡¯t seen a snake for many years, and she would get goosebumps every time she saw one on television. Yan Rusheng scanned his surroundings¡ªthe snake was gone. Initially he wanted to say ¡°Yes¡±, but instead he said ¡°No¡±. Chapter 39 A sly gleam flashed past his shrewd and piercing eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and leave then.¡± Wen Xuxu was about to loosen her grip when she heard Yan Rusheng telling her that the snake was still around. Her arms quickly tightened around him and she closed her eyes. The image of the vibrant yet disgusting patterns of the snake slithering in the bushes appeared again. With that thought, she trembled from head to toe, feeling too weak to walk. Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips curled with a crafty smile. He marched ahead with his long legs and headed towards the peak of the mountain. He nonchalantly crossed his arms and warned Wen Xuxu as he walked. ¡°Hold on to me tightly. I won¡¯t care if you fall.¡± Wen Xuxu opened her eyes and saw a winding path lined with overgrown weeds. She bit her lips in hesitation, wondering if more snakes would appear. After they walked for a while, Yan Rusheng¡¯s footsteps abruptly stopped and he turned to glance at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you making me carry you on purpose?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Xuxu denied and shook her head. She earnestly continued, ¡°I¡¯m really afraid of snakes.¡± She turned around and looked behind them. Without realizing it, they had climbed quite high and were far away from the foot of the mountain. She released her hands, landed on her feet and fixed her clothes. She looked at Yan Rusheng with an apologetic expression in her eyes. ¡°Hurry up, stop delaying time.¡± Yan Rusheng rushed her impatiently and coolly turned around. ¡°I¡¯ll walk in front.¡± Wen Xuxu dashed ahead of Yan Rusheng. She felt safer walking in front. The mountain wasn¡¯t that high so it didn¡¯t take much effort for them to reach the summit. The mountain summit was bare with fencing around the edges. There were pavilions and stone benches for people to rest. Inside the pavilion, they were able to enjoy the view of the county, island, and the entire palm forest. ¡°This would be a great place to watch the sunrise and sunset.¡± Wen Xuxu held onto the fence as she looked at the vast sea, smiling with excitement and joy. Yan Rusheng sat on the bench and observed the entire view of the island as he mulled over the investment. Hearing Wen Xuxu¡¯s thoughtful musings, he pulled back his gaze from the island and moved lazily towards Xuxu. Xuxu had untied her ponytail and was swinging her damp hair as she enjoyed the gentle sea breeze. Her eyes were closed and she looked blissful. Yan Rusheng watched Wen Xuxu with a keen and intense gaze. Fleeting and breathtaking moments tended to catch a person unaware. For a brief moment, he had the sudden urge to hug that body that had never appealed to him before. However, as soon as this thought materialized, he immediately quashed it down. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what do you think of this place?¡± Yan Rusheng rose up and walked to Xuxu, and he looked at the vast and magnificent sea. He promptly diverted his attention. Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a good place.¡± She immediately withdrew her gaze and turned to Yan Rusheng. She then altered the direction of her words. ¡°However, it doesn¡¯t mean that this is a good place to invest in.¡± Chapter 40 She felt that the road and traffic conditions were a huge obstacle. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond. Instead he wore a faint, unfathomable smile. Xuxu stole a glance at him and remained silent. Suddenly she could feel a chill in her body, triggering a wave of goosebumps all over her. She instinctively crossed her arms tightly and her body shivered with cold. ¡°Ah-choo!¡± She sneezed without any warning. ¡°Are you catching a cold?¡± Yan Rusheng peered at Xuxu, detecting that something was wrong with her. He placed his palm on her forehead. This action surprised Xuxu. All these years, Yan Rusheng had rarely shown such a warm and pleasant side of him. Especially after Fang Jiayin left, which had worsened his temper. However, he¡¯d ¡®taken care¡¯ of her several times today and she couldn¡¯t get used to his sudden change. ¡°I think it¡¯s probably just a minor flu, it¡¯s alright.¡± Xuxu retreated a few steps backward without thinking. She felt as if the warmth from Yan Rusheng¡¯s palm was still lingering on her forehead. She lowered her head as her cheeks flushed red. Yan Rusheng seemed to recall something and he knitted his brows. ¡°You didn¡¯t get a quilt from that dark-skinned girl last night?¡± She was already sneezing away when they met in the morning. If she¡¯d caught a cold, it couldn¡¯t be from getting soaked in the water earlier on. Dark-skinned girl! The corners of her mouth twitched twice and she thought to herself, If Xiaoling heard him say that, she¡¯d feel so hurt by his words. And she even prepared an extra fried egg especially for him in the morning. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine after drinking some warm water.¡± Her voice was faint and almost inaudible. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Yan Rusheng said lightly and turned to head back. Wen Xuxu pursed her lips and gazed at the vast sea with a look of longing in her eyes. Her mouth twitched, but she had no choice but to turn around. Yan Rusheng glanced from the corner of his eyes and he caught the longing expression on Xuxu¡¯s face by accident. He looked at the sea, pressed his lips without saying a word and began the descent. Wen Xuxu walked in front of Yan Rusheng with hurried footsteps. ¡°Snake!¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng yelled in shock behind her. ¡°Ahhh! Where is it?!¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s instinctively stepped backward with both hands around Yan Rusheng¡¯s waist. She climbed up his body and grasped him like he was a life-saving straw. Her legs had gone soft. This time she was facing Yan Rusheng and her slender arms clutched his back forcefully. Her hands were cold with sweat and she began to slide down. Her legs had finally mounted on his thighs after much effort. However, it seemed that her efforts would be going down the drain again. Yan Rusheng lowered his head and looked at her with amusement. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you really that afraid of snakes?¡± Her fair and plump cheeks were resting on his chest and this feeling was so damn comfortable. Instantly, he felt his body beginning to tighten once again and turn stiff. Especially a specific part of his lower body which was sporting the most obvious reaction. And it was already erect against his rationality. Oh! Heavens! Why did he lie about a snake to this stupid woman? Wasn¡¯t he creating trouble for no reason? Chapter 41 She told him how she¡¯d felt when she saw the snake. Yan Rusheng¡¯s throat felt parched and he unconsciously raised his hands to embrace the woman hanging onto his body. His brain¡­ was losing control. His heart was beating with loud ¡®thumps¡¯ , and it felt as if it was trying to escape through his skin. Wen Xuxu¡¯s face was lying on his chest at this moment. Hence she could clearly feel Yan Rusheng¡¯s heartbeat and it seemed unusual. She realized that their current positions were too intimate. She released her hands and moved back from his body. But she didn¡¯t dare to look down, afraid that the snake might be underneath her feet. ¡°Ah Sheng, is the snake gone?¡± She looked at Yan Rusheng and asked in a trembling voice. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes sparkled for a moment and he narrowed his eyes to look at Xuxu¡¯s tiny face which was no bigger than a palm. It felt like he was examining her features, and yet at the same time, it seemed like he was reminiscing as well. The gaze was too sharp and intense and it made Wen Xuxu feel apprehensive. She asked softly, ¡°Wh¡­what¡¯s wrong?¡± Why was he looking at her with that expression? Was he angry at her for hugging him when she was afraid just now? Wen Xuxu felt uneasy as she tried to interpret Yan Rusheng¡¯s thoughts. His cold voice sounded from above. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you address me as either Yan Rusheng or Third Yan in the future.¡± After saying so, he lifted his legs and coldly walked past Xuxu. In that instant, Wen Xuxu felt that her insides were being ripped apart by Yan Rusheng¡¯s words. It felt so painful that she gasped for breath and she quivered as she breathed. Her hands hung loosely by her thighs. She clenched her fists and dug her fingers into her flesh. ¡°Sorry!¡± She replied with equal coldness. In future, she would never again address him wrongly in a moment of confusion. He didn¡¯t remind her and so she¡¯d forgotten. Ever since that day, that affectionate nickname had belonged solely to Fang Jiayin. Yan Rusheng halted his footsteps and glanced at her from the corners of his eyes. Xuxu had on an indifferent expression and she looked at him with neither inferiority nor superiority. As he¡¯d said, no matter how hurtful the words may be, it could never hurt Wen Xuxu who was as tough as a man. Both of them continued their descent in silence and when they reached the foot of the mountain, a problem arose. The boat was missing! The spot they were at was about 200 meters away from the shore. If they were to swim across, with Wen Xuxu¡¯s stamina she¡¯d never make it across. Their cell phones were on the wooden boat and they had no way of contacting someone. Yan Rusheng found a rock and sat down. He looked at the other side of the shore and was deep in thought as he frowned. ¡°Ah-choo!¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s sneeze brought Yan Rusheng¡¯s attention back to her. She walked to his opposite side and found a rock to sit on. She glanced at him with a cold and detached look in her eyes. ¡°If you can swim across then you should swim back first. I¡¯ll wait here for you to get help.¡± ¡°If someone should swim across, that person should be you. Why should it be me?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at the indifferent look in Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Her current expression was a far cry from the gentle and pitiful expression she¡¯d had on earlier when she was leaning on his body. Chapter 42 In his heart, frustration started building up for no reason. He felt like lashing out. Wen Xuxu shrugged. ¡°Then there¡¯s no other way, swimming is not within a secretary¡¯s job scope.¡± Her clothes were a little damp and there wasn¡¯t any sunlight at the foot of the mountain. As she sat here, her body started to shiver once more. She bent her legs and rested her chin on her knees. Her arms tightly hugged her legs, curling her body into the shape of a ball. Her head was spinning and her flu symptoms worsened. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you alright?¡± Yan Rusheng turned around and saw that Wen Xuxu was huddled over and shivering. He was about to reproach her when he changed his mind. He stood up and moved towards her, stretching out his hand to touch her forehead. ¡°Your forehead feels icy.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded in response and took a breath. She continued, ¡°All the more reason I can¡¯t swim across to get help.¡± She had a helpless smile on her face. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°You make it sound as though I love to torment my staff.¡± Was he that unkind? He obviously knew that she was unwell, how could he make her swim across to get help? Anyway, she was the one who suggested that he should swim across to get help. He only said that he wouldn¡¯t do it but he didn¡¯t insist that she should swim across as well. Wen Xuxu remained silent and smiled instead. She wanted to ask, But you do, don¡¯t you? He obviously does, alright? He was always bullying and tormenting her. After her body felt cool for a period of time, Wen Xuxu began to feel warm and slowly her body temperature increased. Her cheeks, forehead, and body were all burning up. She slowly bent her body and lay on the rock. A shiny rock, that was what she wanted. ¡°Hey, Wen Xuxu don¡¯t sleep here. You have already caught a cold.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed Wen Xuxu¡¯s slender arms and pulled her up. He could feel that her body was getting hotter. He glanced at the sea and a determined look glowed in his eyes. Then he glanced at Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu, sit here and wait but don¡¯t fall asleep. Beware of the snakes.¡± Wen Xuxu heard the word ¡®snake¡± and she sat up energetically as if she¡¯d been injected with steroids. The next second, she heard a ¡®splash¡¯ and droplets of water splattered on her face. After she collected herself, she peered at the sea. ¡°Yan Rusheng¡­¡± Xuxu stood up anxiously and yelled loudly towards the sea. Around ten seconds later, Yan Rusheng¡¯s head emerged from the water; he¡¯d already swum several meters. Although this place was close to the coast and the waves were quite gentle, Wen Xuxu was still worried. She was concerned about Yan Rusheng¡¯s stamina or the probability of unexpected accidents. Her heart was in her mouth until she finally saw that Yan Rusheng had reached the coast, gradually alleviating her worries. Her four limbs were weak and aching and she knew that she was running a fever. She stepped back, slowly slumped down and sat on the rock. She lowered her head and saw a pair of casual white leather shoes. Yan Rusheng had removed the shoes and placed them on the rock he¡¯d sat on just now. Chapter 43 I don¡¯t mind if you address me as either Yan Rusheng or Third Yan in future. Yan Rusheng¡¯s harsh and cold reminder flashed through her mind. She used both hands to cover her face, feeling a stinging pain in her eyes. Your name is Xuxu and I am Rusheng. If we put our names together it will be¡¯xuxurusheng¡¯ 1 I don¡¯t want to be associated with you in any way, so don¡¯t call me Rusheng or don¡¯t call yourself Xuxu. Who wants to be associated with you? Then in future I shall call you Ah Sheng just like how I call Ah Heng. Ah Sheng¡­ Ah Sheng¡­ ¡­ ¡°Hey Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re still running a high fever. Don¡¯t sleep here.¡± Wen Xuxu fell asleep while she was in the midst of reminiscing about those youthful memories. There was a familiar voice in her ear calling her name. She opened her eyes drowsily and a blurry face appeared. Who was that? Such a gentle voice, it could only be Ah Heng. When she was unwell, Ah Heng was the only one who spoke to her in a soft and gentle voice. ¡°Ah Heng, Ah Heng, is that you?¡± She stretched her hands and grabbed his arm. There was a warm smile on her face and her eyes shone with glittering and translucent tears. Her burning hands held firmly to his arm and he felt his heart clench. However, he was crestfallen when he heard her addressing him as Ah Heng. ¡°Wen Xuxu, Jiang Zhuoheng has abandoned you. Where has your pride gone off to?¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth in anger and withdrew his arm from Wen Xuxu¡¯s grasp. ¡°Yan Rusheng?¡± Wen Xuxu finally recognized his voice in that moment and woke up from her stupor. She opened her eyes to look at Yan Rusheng¡¯s face and she was a little shocked. Yan Rusheng had straightened his back and he towered over her with his eyes peering down. He seemed like an ice statue emitting a threatening draught of cold air. When he saw Xuxu¡¯s gaze looking at him, his lips curled. He remarked tauntingly, ¡°Why? Were you hoping for Jiang Zhuoheng to surprise you by appearing on this island?¡± This stupid woman was too naive. Did she think that she was acting in an idol drama? Wen Xuxu was used to his taunts and sarcasm and curled her lips indifferently. She didn¡¯t respond, instead she turned to look at the water. A wooden boat was by the shore. ¡°Get on the boat,¡± Yan Rusheng commanded her and he jumped in first. The boat swayed violently. Xuxu put her foot forward. but she was hesitant to board. She wanted to wait for the swaying to die down a little before getting on. However, Yan Rusheng promptly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the boat with force. ¡°Stop dawdling and get on.¡± Wen Xuxu grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand in shock and looked at the boat. When the boat had stopped swaying, she released his hand, found a suitable spot and gingerly sat down. After she sat down, she propped up her cheek with one hand and looked at Yan Rusheng who was rowing the boat opposite to her. She asked him curiously, ¡°Where did you get this boat?¡± The fishermen had mistaken them as thieves earlier on. Hence, even if the fishermen chose not to chase and hit them, they definitely wouldn¡¯t lend them a boat. Chapter 44 ¡°Why do you care so much?¡± Yan Rusheng crudely replied. His chin was slightly lifted and he seemed to look both arrogant and awkward at the same time. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t look carefully at Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression and withdrew her gaze. She thought in her heart, Why should she care so much? Yan Rusheng always finds a way to get what he wants. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he got an airplane to fly here. As she thought of this, she turned around and sat facing the same direction as Yan Rusheng. The boat sailed slowly towards the shore¡ªXuxu couldn¡¯t wait to get down. Her feet stood in the warm seawater where the sunlight had shone on. She bent her waist and scooped some water to splash on her burning face. It felt especially refreshing! Yan Rusheng dragged the boat onto the shore and the ¡®sha sha¡¯ sounds could be heard when the base of the boat rubbed against the sand on the beach. Wen Xuxu turned her head and saw Yan Rusheng holding the edges of the boat. The expression on his gorgeous face now looked ferociously distorted. Pulling the boat seemed to have been too strenuous for him. She grew suspicious and started to wonder. For someone as fit and strong as Yan Rusheng, pulling a small wooden boat wouldn¡¯t require a lot of strength, would it? She was lost in her thoughts when an elderly lady wearing a blue shirt and a huge grass hat on her head came out from the direction of the coconut forest and walked towards them. Her mouth was uttering words, probably in the local dialect which Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t comprehend. She frowned with curiosity and shock. She was curious about what the elderly lady was saying to Yan Rusheng. She was shocked when Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression grew annoyed and helpless. When did he get to know this elderly lady? How did they know each other? The elderly lady walked to Yan Rusheng and she pointed at the coconut forest with one hand, the other on her waist. She seemed to be yelling at Yan Rusheng about something. That voice was quite a distance away and yet it was deafening. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll do it right away.¡± Yan Rusheng let go of the boat, straightened his back and walked unwillingly towards the direction of the coconut forest. What was happening? Wen Xuxu followed Yan Rusheng curiously. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng paused and stared at her in anger. ¡°Hurry up and go back to eat your medicine. Do you want to die of a fever?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Wen Xuxu replied and halted her footsteps. But she couldn¡¯t stop worrying as she looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°But you¡­¡± Yan Rusheng cut off the question she was about to ask. ¡°I asked you to head back first, why are you saying ¡®but¡¯?¡± Tsk, alright¡­ she¡¯ll go back first then. Why did he have to lose his temper? Did he accidentally swallow some explosives when they were looking for the boat on the shore? In Wen Xuxu¡¯s heart, she was mumbling about the criticisms she couldn¡¯t voice out loud. She gave him a curt reply, ¡°Alright, I know.¡± She raised her feet and continued to walk towards the coconut forest. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me asking you to go back first?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s yells seemed like a ticking bomb which was aimed at Wen Xuxu. This time around, his tone was more irritable. Wen Xuxu stopped and glanced at him innocently. ¡°I¡¯m heading back. Didn¡¯t we walk through the coconut forest just now?¡± Chapter 45 Shouldn¡¯t she go through this forest first in order to head back? ¡°Then you go ahead first.¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at the coconut forest and allowed Wen Xuxu to enter first. He assumed an unyielding manner and looked as if he¡¯d wait until she was gone. What was this fellow up to? When Wen Xuxu passed by Yan Rusheng, she glanced sideways and examined him with suspicion. Even though she was really curious, she couldn¡¯t bear to hear Yan Rusheng yelling at her again. Xuxu entered the coconut forest and walked forward on a straight path. After walking for a while, she cautiously turned back. The old lady and Yan Rusheng had entered as well but they took a different route in the coconut forest. What were they doing? As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. There was a mischievous gleam in Xuxu¡¯s eyes and she turned around with light and quiet footsteps. She walked to the place where Yan Rusheng and the old lady had turned into and she stretched her neck to peer in that direction. She could hear the old lady¡¯s voice rumbling about something, but she couldn¡¯t see them. Her feet walked in the direction of her voice. ¡°I know, two baskets. You¡¯re really naggy.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng¡¯s frustrated voice could be heard and Wen Xuxu¡¯s heart gave a violent shudder. She stretched her hand to hold a coconut tree for support and looked ahead. Yan Rusheng held a long pole in his hand and he pointed it towards a great coconut tree. There was a sickle at the top of the pole. He held the pole and struck forcefully with his arm. A coconut fell from above and he continued to repeat this process. One coconut followed by another and the old lady watched with her face tilted upwards. Occasionally, she gestured with her hands to give instructions to Yan Rusheng. Wen Xuxu stared in astonishment, her eyes huge and her mouth was wide open. It was an unimaginable sight to see Yan Rusheng plucking coconuts for the old lady. Why? Both his hands had never even touched a broom before. From elementary to high school, she had done his classroom duty on his behalf. And now he was helping the old lady pluck coconuts and being ordered around as he worked. Third Master Yan had always led a luxurious and privileged lifestyle. He wasn¡¯t someone with compassion and kindness who would unconditionally pluck coconuts for an old lady out of respect for the elderly and love for children. She was feeling doubtful when two more middle-aged women arrived. They glanced at the coconut tree that Yan Rusheng was plucking coconuts from. Then they turned around and mumbled words to the old lady. One of them was wearing plain blue clothes and she looked particularly familiar to Wen Xuxu. Especially her voice¡­ Xuxu tried to recall her identity when she suddenly remembered! She was the one who accused Yan Rusheng and her of stealing her boat and she had jumped into the sea to chase after them. Why would Yan Rusheng be with them? Did they demand that Yan Rusheng pluck coconuts as compensation for stealing the boat? But this wasn¡¯t possible as well. Given Yan Rusheng¡¯s temper and character, no one could coerce him into doing things he didn¡¯t want to do. And with his skills, it would be child¡¯s play to deal with these few women. Chapter 46 But what could be the real reason? Xuxu looked puzzledly at the man who was frowning with annoyance yet had an air of helplessness on his face. She was struck with a thought and her heart softened. Where did you get this boat? Why do you care so much? Surely he hadn¡¯t agreed to pluck coconuts for them in exchange for the boat? She really couldn¡¯t believe that Yan Rusheng would give in to the women¡¯s demands in exchange for borrowing the boat. But other than this possibility, she couldn¡¯t think of another reason. After going through four trees in short order, Yan Rusheng put his pole down as it seemed like he¡¯d gathered enough coconuts. He reached down and began to put the green coconuts into a basket that had been prepared in advance. The women were huddled together at a corner and they kept gesturing at him. They had either criticized him for being too slow or the coconuts weren¡¯t good enough and so on. ¡°There¡¯s one more here.¡± The old lady spotted a coconut at the back of a coconut tree and screamed at him in anger. ¡°I saw it!¡± Yan Rusheng snapped impatiently. His white t-shirt was stained with sand and soil and when had his unbelievably good-looking face ever been this dirty? ¡°Pfft. ¡± She saw that Yan Rusheng had furrowed his eyebrows, causing deep wrinkles on his forehead. He was obviously unwilling yet he was left with no choice¡ªhe looked like a young daughter-in-law who was being bullied. Xuxu couldn¡¯t stop herself from laughing. She leaned against the coconut tree and watched him, this prideful man who had always treated others with contempt, squatting subserviently to pick the coconuts from the ground. Her heart softened at the sight. Despite being an occasional jerk, Yan Rusheng suddenly didn¡¯t seem so terrible and callous. ¡°Two baskets, all filled.¡± He put the coconuts into the baskets, straightened his back and harshly informed the group of women. Wen Xuxu¡¯s head was spinning due to the fever and she was about to doze off as she leaned on the tree. When she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice, she opened her eyes. She knew that he was getting ready to leave, so she turned around and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction of the coconut forest. Despite having to endure the hardship, that fellow was bent on preserving his pride. He sent her away first because he was afraid that if she knew he was being detained by these old women to pluck coconuts, she would ridicule him. If he knew that she returned to snoop around, he would definitely explode with anger and throw a tantrum. Wen Xuxu darted out of the coconut forest without stopping. She stepped barefoot on the beach and her soles were burning. Suddenly without warning, her legs gave way and her body softly collapsed. What a strong smell of medicine! Wen Xuxu wrinkled her nose and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a rusty IV drip stand with medicine bottles hanging from it. Her head felt heavy and dizzy and her vision was still blurred. She pressed on her temples and gradually regained consciousness. Was she at the hospital? She scanned her surroundings and saw empty and neat beds on both sides. ¡°How did I get to the hospital?¡± After she was sure that this was a hospital, Wen Xuxu mumbled doubtfully to herself as she tried to sit up. Chapter 47 Her head felt heavy and she shook her head gently, feeling slightly better after. She raised her head to look at the IV drip stand with the empty bottles. She looked down at her hand which had been secured with medical tape¡ªshe should already be done with the IV drip. She could only recall running out of the coconut forest. She couldn¡¯t remember anything else after that. Who sent her to the hospital? Knock knock knock. Xuxu was in a state of confusion when someone knocked on the ward¡¯s door. She looked at it and said, ¡°Come in.¡± Someone turned the doorknob and gently pushed the door open. A head peered in first and there was a fawning smile on an old, portly face. ¡°Secretary Wen.¡± Wen Xuxu saw the visitor and was surprised. ¡°District Head Liu¡­?¡± ¡°Secretary Wen, are you feeling better?¡± District Head Liu pushed the door and entered. He was holding a basket of fruits as he walked towards her with a face full of concern. He approached the bedside and bowed to Wen Xuxu with a humble attitude. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t understand his actions. Shouldn¡¯t this old fellow be fawning over Yan Rusheng? Why was he here to curry favor with her? ¡°District Head Liu, where are President Yan and the rest?¡± She wanted to know how she got to the hospital and what time it was right now. Why didn¡¯t she see any familiar face around? That Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t take Director Zhang and the rest of them back first and left her behind on this island, did he? As she wondered about this possibility, she began to feel uneasy. She had nothing with her right now since she¡¯d left her phone and purse on that wooden boat. If Yan Rusheng did leave her alone here, what should she do? The reason why she thought of this possible scenario was because she knew Yan Rusheng too well. It was very likely that he¡¯d do something like this. They were at a summer camp in their second year of high school. He purposely didn¡¯t wake her up when she overslept in the morning and he left alone. District Head Liu smiled and replied, ¡°President Yan is likely still exhausted from carrying you all the way back. He¡¯s resting at the hotel right now.¡± Wen Xuxu was stunned after hearing his words and she raised her head. Yan Rusheng was the one who sent her to the hospital? And he carried her¡­ It was unbelievable, but District Head Liu didn¡¯t look like he was lying. Did Yan Rusheng eat the wrong medicine today? ¡°Secretary Wen, these locally grown fruits are all freshly plucked.¡± District Head Liu placed the fruit basket on the bedside cabinet and tore the outer wrapper. He took a banana, peeled the skin and then handed it to Wen Xuxu with both hands. His fawning smile remained unchanged. Wen Xuxu looked at the banana in District Head Liu¡¯s hands and her mouth twitched silently. Did District Head Liu eat the wrong medicine as well? His service was way too considerate and attentive. He was so enthusiastic that she would feel bad if she rejected his offer. Furthermore, she was feeling hungry. After debating it for a few seconds, she took the banana and smiled. ¡°Thank you, District Head Liu.¡± She fixed her eyes on the banana for a while, awkwardly opened her mouth and took the first bite. Chapter 48 District Head Liu¡¯s massive body loomed in front of her. The smile on his face was particularly unpleasant to look at as it seemed more despicable than ingratiating. Xuxu pointed at the bed opposite to her and said to him, ¡°District Head Liu, please take a seat on the bed.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± District Head Liu walked to the opposite bed and sat down. Wen Xuxu was finally able to relax and she ate the banana feeling less awkward. She continued to eat with her head bowed. She heard District Head Liu speak up again on the opposite side. ¡°Secretary Wen, you have no idea. When President Yan sent you here, you had a fever of 39.5 degrees and almost reached 40 degrees.¡± Having a 39.5 degree fever wasn¡¯t anything too serious actually. His tone was exaggerated and sounded as if she would have died if Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t send her to the hospital in time. Wen Xuxu furtively gave District Head Liu a contemptuous look and she gave him a vague grin. ¡°Haha.¡± District Head Liu continued talking without noticing Wen Xuxu¡¯s expression. ¡°President Yan¡¯s face was so pale from anxiety when he sent Secretary Wen here, it made me and Director Zhang feel alarmed as well.¡± Wen Xuxu kept smiling foolishly. ¡°Haha.¡± What was this fellow trying to imply? Was he trying to give credit to Yan Rusheng? It didn¡¯t seem right¡­ Xuxu was about to take another bite of the banana when she suddenly understood. Slowly, she turned her head and looked at District Head Liu. Did he get the wrong idea about something? District Head Liu noticed Wen Xuxu looking at him and he sighed enviously. ¡°Secretary Wen, as President Yan¡¯s childhood sweetheart, your relationship makes one envious.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Indeed, this old fellow was mistaken! Tsk. Even if they were really childhood sweethearts, why would he envy them at his advanced age? Xuxu was dumbfounded and lightly explained, ¡°My relationship with Yan Rusheng is purely that of a superior and a subordinate. It isn¡¯t what you¡¯re imagining.¡± What was that look in his eyes? How did he jump to the conclusion that she and Yan Rusheng had feelings for each other? He was just blindly lavishing praises and trying to curry favor with her. District Head Liu smiled ambiguously. ¡± I understand that youngsters like to conceal their relationships nowadays. Don¡¯t worry, my lips are sealed.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ She finally understood why this beautiful place was developing so slowly. The leaders¡¯ thinking in this county was in a different league compared to others. Forget it, there was a barrier in communication. Why should she waste her time and effort explaining when it just made her look guilty the more she talked? She finished the banana and it helped to replenish her sugar level. Wen Xuxu¡¯s dizziness was slowly ebbing away. After returning to the hotel, she went up and stopped outside Yan Rusheng¡¯s room, knocking on the closed door. Yan Rusheng¡¯s pleasant voice called out from the room. ¡°Come in.¡± The lazy tone in his voice was mixed with a tinge of exhaustion. Chapter 49 The image of a helpless and disheveled-looking Yan Rusheng plucking coconuts in the coconut forest appeared in Wen Xuxu¡¯s mind. It was hilarious and adorable and¡­ made her heart ache. She couldn¡¯t help it as the corners of her mouth curled up. She grabbed the doorknob, twisted it and gently opened the door. Yan Rusheng was lying lazily on his bed and a laptop was placed on his legs. His eyes were fixated on the laptop screen and he was in the middle of a video call. He raised his head, glanced at Xuxu and he furrowed his eyebrows. His lethargy was gone in an instant as he pulled himself together and put on his usual cold and grim expression. Both of them had been competing in various fields ever since they were young. Young Master Yan had only ever displayed the impregnable and aloof side of him in front of Xuxu. There had once been an incident in kindergarten where she had knocked him down and then beat him up badly. When he cried on his way home to complain, she put a hand on her waist and pointed the other one at his nose, scolding him for being a frightened weakling. After that incident, he felt that the disgrace of being humiliated and despised by a young village girl in front of his classmates should never happen again. Having experienced it once was enough. Since then, he¡¯d set two rules for himself. In front of Wen Xuxu, he can bend his p*nis but not his waist. Secondly, he can bleed but he can never let himself cry. So even when he fell from a tree and broke one of his ribs, he¡¯d never once shed a tear. He¡¯d remained firm and determined for nearly twenty years. As the years passed, he had constantly surpassed her even to this day, where she was now his subordinate and had to bow before him. Oh no, this stupid woman didn¡¯t surrender willingly because he¡¯d defeated her. She entered Flourish & Prosper to fulfill Wang Daqin¡¯s wishes. He was certain that if it wasn¡¯t for Wang Daqin, she would never have stayed at Flourish & Prosper and let him order her around. This was the reason why his satisfaction and his desire to conquer had not yet reached its culmination. Therefore¡­ before she fully surrendered to him, how could he easily give her up to reconcile with her dearly missed first love and lead a blissful life? An image flashed past the Third Master¡¯s mind¡ªWen Xuxu in a white gown with her hand on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s arm. The couple entered, accompanied by the wedding march as they walked down a red carpet. Xuxu was smiling with happiness and bliss. Oh! That image made him feel horrible¡ªhe would never allow it to happen! He had never forgotten how she¡¯d pointed at him with that arrogant expression, just like a shrew. With this thought, Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze went back to the laptop screen and he said decisively, ¡°Book a ticket for Secretary Wen too, I¡¯m bringing her along.¡± Wen Xuxu raised her eyebrows in shock. Where was he bringing her? Before she could open her mouth, Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice sounded once more. ¡°Wen Xuxu, fly with me to S City tomorrow.¡± His tone was dictatorial and commanding. S City! Hearing the name of the city, Xuxu¡¯s expression changed. She felt like something was tugging at her heart. Dejection swept over her, and her eyes were downcast. She lowered her head and replied softly, ¡°Oh.¡± She swallowed back the words ¡®thank you¡¯, which she had almost voiced out. Yan Rusheng fully observed the change in her expression and felt displeased. True enough, when she heard that she¡¯d be going to S City with him, she immediately displayed a lifeless expression. Hmph. Thinking of rushing back to reunite and reconcile with her first love, that will never happen! ¡°Pack your things, we¡¯ll set off for the airport in a while.¡± After instructing her, he withdrew his gaze. Chapter 50 Wen Xuxu nodded, conceding to him. ¡°Now I know.¡± She turned around and walked away. She shut the door carefully. As she closed the door, she looked towards the bed and saw a smile spread across his face, a pleased look in his eyes. She took a deep breath and mumbled inwardly, ¡°Jerk.¡± Why did she have to witness their joyous reunion? Yan Rusheng is such a jerk! She was in a sour mood. She shut the door, retracted her hands and ran towards her room. District Head Liu had prepared a pile of local specialties as a gift. He said hello to Yan Rusheng, and lastly to Wen Xuxu. ¡°Secretary Wen, this is our local selection of exported sea cucumbers. Please bring them home for your elders.¡± He shoved an exquisite box packed with twenty sea cucumbers into Wen Xuxu¡¯s hands. With a humble smile he said in a flattering tone, ¡°Just a small gift, I hope you won¡¯t mind.¡± Wen Xuxu forced out a smile. Bribery works, but it shouldn¡¯t be directed at her! There was nothing between her and Yan Rusheng that went beyond business ties. What kind of gaze is this old man giving them? She looked down at her box of sea cucumbers and shoved them back to District Head Liu without further consideration. ¡°This is such an expensive gift, so I will not take it. It¡¯s the thought that counts.¡± ¡°This packaging¡­ must have been imported. It should have cost you a lot of money.¡± If they were just some fruits and nuts, she would have accepted the gift without a thought. ¡°It¡¯s not that expensive, as long as secretary Wen likes it. ¡± District Head Liu passed the box back to Wen Xuxu. ¡°For the elders back home.¡± Wen Xuxu continued to decline the gift. ¡°They do not need the extra supplements.¡± Forcing her to accept a bribe in front of her bosses, this old man must be trying to dig her own grave. ¡°Extra supplements won¡¯t do any harm.¡± District Head Liu was very insistent, and he pushed the sea cucumbers back to Xuxu. Wen Xuxu and District Head Liu threw both boxes of sea cucumbers around as if they were burning hawthorns. ¡°My grandfather gets a nosebleed after consuming supplements, you should keep them, District Head Liu.¡± She gave the boxes one final push towards District Head Liu, turned around and headed for the car. District Head Liu reached out for Wen Xuxu and managed to stop her. ¡°Sea cucumbers are not like normal supplements. They dispel heat, so they¡¯re suitable for your grandfather.¡± F*ck. She was looking for reasons to reject the gift, but she ended up giving herself extra reasons to accept the sea cucumbers instead. Wen Xuxu was at a loss for words. She furrowed her brows and answered, ¡°District Head Liu, these two boxes of sea cucumbers would be wasted on me. There is nothing going on between President Yan and I. His girlfriend is overseas and will be back soon. When she¡¯s back, you can give these to her instead.¡± She finished her speech, struggled free from District Head Liu¡¯s grip, and made a run for the car. She turned on the air conditioner in the car, heaving a sigh of relief. She finally got rid of that strange old man. Yan Rusheng got into the car, dressed in a clean white shirt. He took the passenger seat. Upon seeing Xuxu inside, he shot her a look of warning and then beckoned the driver to start the car. Before the car could drive off, there was a knock on the window. Wen Xuxu looked out of the window and then cringed in horror. District Head Liu was bending forward, his face stuck to the car window. He gave her a smile and signaled for the window to be rolled down. Chapter 51 Was this old man ever going to give up? Xuxu cursed under her breath and rolled down the window. ¡°Secretary Wen, I don¡¯t know her name or number, so I have no idea who to send this to. Please deliver this to her on my behalf.¡± District Head Liu pushed both boxes of sea cucumbers into the car. He then hurriedly instructed the driver to drive off, ¡°Stay safe on the road!¡± The driver stepped on the accelerator as per instructed, and the car drove out of the garage. District Head Liu waved at the departing vehicle, his eyes crinkling into a smile as he let out a devilish grin. To think you can outwit me¡­ Hmph! It was all right. Why would President Yan humble himself to help those laborers in the coconut farm just to borrow a boat? She had a fever. Why would President Yan come down personally to bring her back, and be worried about her? He had thoroughly looked into this. To trust that she wasn¡¯t trying to hide anything from him? Nothing gets past his blazing eyes of steel. ¡­ Wen Xuxu looked at the boxes of sea cucumbers resting on her lap, trying her best to speak but to no avail. She must be delirious. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what did that old man give you?¡± Yan Rusheng turned back curiously. He saw Wen Xuxu and District Head Liu¡¯s tussle just now¡ªwhatever he tried to shove to her, she had profusely declined. The windows were up, and they were quite far away, so he didn¡¯t manage to hear what the commotion was about. ¡°Sea cucumbers.¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly passed the sea cucumbers to Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan, District Head Liu said these supplements are for you.¡± These sea cucumbers were for his girlfriend anyway, so passing them to him wouldn¡¯t make any difference. No matter what it was, she would not accept those gifts. Yan Rusheng instantly saw through her lie and warned her sternly, ¡°I treat lying very seriously.¡± He was sure that he heard that old man mention something about numbers and names, and wanting her to pass the sea cucumbers to someone else. And that person was definitely not him. She had the audacity to pass these boxes to him? ¡°F*ck!¡± Wen Xuxu bit her lip, contemplated for a while and then eventually decided to speak the truth. ¡°District Head Liu mistook me as your girlfriend, and he insisted on bribing me with these gifts. I already clarified that there was nothing going on between us, your girlfriend is overseas and will be back soon, so he¡­ he¡­¡± Yan Rusheng had already heard what was coming next, he didn¡¯t need her to repeat it. ¡°What kind of gaze?¡± Boss Yan shot her a condescending look. Yan Rusheng would never choose a girl like Wen Xuxu to be his girlfriend. Wen Xuxu also added, ¡°Indeed! What kind of gaze?¡± Besides, it didn¡¯t really bother her that someone had mistaken her as his girlfriend. Director Zhang, who was sitting beside them all this time, said to himself: A good kind of gaze! Boss Yan started to get a little motion sick from the car ride. However this time, there was no smell from the pungent air freshener, so he only felt nauseous and didn¡¯t vomit. When they arrived at the airport, Director Zhang¡¯s secretary proceeded to handle the paperwork and they were ready to depart within ten minutes. Once they reached the capital city, Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu would then transit to Country F, where they would then bid goodbye to Director Zhang. There were still two more hours until their 8 p.m. flight. They had a simple dinner and then headed to the VIP lounge to wait for their next flight. Yan Rusheng picked up a magazine and started flipping through it excitedly. Chapter 52 Xuxu fished out her phone from her bag and then realized that the battery was dead. District Head Liu had retrieved the bag she¡¯d left at the boat and not a single thing was missing inside. She was quite touched by that. ¡°Excuse me, would it be possible for you to help me find a charger?¡± She waved to the service attendant who walked past her and asked. She had checked-in her charger with her luggage. The service attendant saw her phone, smiled at her and answered, ¡°Sure thing, please wait for a while.¡± Yan Rusheng shot her a look and was tempted to stop the service attendant from getting her a phone charger. Such eagerness to get in touch with her first love, so unbecoming. After connecting the phone to the charger, it instantly lit up. A few missed calls and text messages. The missed calls were all from Jiang Zhuoheng. As she was about to read the text messages, her phone rang. [Jiang Zhuoheng] showed up on her caller ID. Her lips curled as she answered the call, ¡°Hello, Ah Heng.¡± Yan Rusheng, who was sitting to her right, heard her greeting. He was instantly alert and stared at Xuxu as if he was policing her. Before he could disapprove, Xuxu jumped up excitedly. ¡°Is this real?¡± Her eyes shifted to the door of the VIP lounge and started walking towards it. Forgetting that her phone was connected to the charger, she was stopped in her tracks by the cord. She looked back and made eye contact with a narrowed pair of dark pupils. Why was he looking at her like that? Boss Yan hid his emotions, and he stared at Xuxu for a while. Finally, he contemptuously withdrew his gaze and continued to browse through his magazine. His sleek fingers gripped the paper, the details of his finger as clear as crystal under the soft lighting of the VIP lounge. He sat there with poise, exuding a sense of elegance. Wen Xuxu initially wanted to speak to him, but sensing that he didn¡¯t care about her whereabouts, she continued her phone conversation. The phone call was still ongoing. ¡°Xuxu? Are you still listening?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng questioned anxiously, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you replying?¡± ¡°Oh, I just left the lounge,¡± Wen Xuxu answered. She pulled open the door and stepped outside. She walked towards the glass railing and glanced at the passersby in the main lobby. ¡°Xuxu, can you spot me?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s voice echoed from the phone. His tone was excited. ¡°Nope, I can¡¯t.¡± Wen Xuxu looked at the escalator and continued walking towards it. Suddenly, she felt a strong hug on her waist from behind. At first, she was stunned, and her face turned white. After a few seconds, a smile spread across her face, and her eyes filled with excitement and joy. ¡°Xuxu.¡± A familiar voice, deep and comforting, greeted her. The sounds stopped, tangled and died away¡­ In that instant, everything around them seemed to stop, including their heartbeats. After a moment of silence, that comforting voice once again stirred up he heart. ¡°It¡¯s been three years, how are you?¡± Wen Xuxu nodded gently. ¡°I¡¯m good. Ah Heng, how have you been?¡± She took a small step forward and turned around. She faced the tall and suave man standing right in front of her. Although he was dressed in ordinary casual wear, he couldn¡¯t hide his aristocratic temperament, strong jawline, beautiful face, and that pair of deep phoenix-like eyes. Chapter 53 Three years ago when he left, his rough and unkempt hair covered his ears. He was childish and looked like a boy who had just attained his youthful charm. He faced the midday sun, dragged along his ordinary luggage and waved at her from the school gate. He had said, ¡°Xuxu, I won¡¯t be coming back for the next three years. In the meantime, please treat yourself kindly and take good care of yourself.¡± Back then three years had sounded like an eternity, and the uncertainty of whether she¡¯d forget him pounded in her heart. Would she forget him by then? She returned to her hostel room in tears and wanted to beg him to not leave. However she was certain that she couldn¡¯t hold Ah Heng back from his dreams, she couldn¡¯t be so selfish. In the blink of an eye, three years have passed by unexpectedly. His sleek physique was now rid of his childish self, and the corner of his eye beamed captivatingly. Other than that, he was also a graceful and charming man. Xuxu pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes shining in the light. Before she could say anything, she was choked with emotion. Jiang Zhuoheng kept his eyes on her, scrutinizing her face, eyes, careful to not let a single detail go. Suddenly, he reached out and held Wen Xuxu in his arms, tightening them around her, as if he wanted to fuse them as one. A hug and a simple ¡°I miss you¡±, was not enough to make up for all the longing she¡¯d for the past three years. He lowered his head and shut his eyes, his nose leaning against Xuxu¡¯s hair. He took a deep breath and took in the light fragrance of her hair. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m back.¡± Although deep and gentle, those words carried a hint, as if there was a hidden meaning in them. Wen Xuxu stood on her toes and looked up. She propped her chin on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s shoulder, sobbed and nodded, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re back.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s appearance reminded her of a series of unhappy events that flashed across Xuxu¡¯s mind. If Ah Heng hadn¡¯t left back then, things wouldn¡¯t have been so tough on her. But she was glad that she hadn¡¯t kept him back, as she had no right to be that cruel and selfish towards him. Perhaps it was the excitement of a long-awaited reunion or the reopening of memories from a locked chest¡ªtears began to fill Xuxu¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m curious. Since you¡¯re both so in love, why didn¡¯t you two decide to leave together?¡± A cold voice shot through the silence, breaking the touching atmosphere of this reunion. There was clear sarcasm in the cold tone. The suave man had his hands in the pockets of his tuxedo as he casually walked towards the couple. An evil smirk spread across his face. Jiang Zhuoheng was stunned when he heard his voice. He released his grip from Wen Xuxu, and turned towards the guy walking towards them. Both pairs of eyes met! He raised his lips, and a smile was plastered on his face. He blurted out, ¡°Yan Rusheng, what a small world. I¡¯m finally back after three years, and here you are going on a business trip. Are you deliberately avoiding me?¡± His eyebrows twitched slightly, and he was smiling mysteriously. ¡°What are you trying to imply?¡± Yan Rusheng defended himself, as if Jiang Zhuoheng had seen through him. He blinked his eyes at Jiang Zhuoheng and asked suspiciously, ¡°Why would I want to hide from you?¡± His tone had unexpectedly heightened; he sounded nervous. Jiang Zhuoheng grinned and gave Yan Rusheng a pat on his back. ¡°Rusheng, I was just joking, why so anxious?¡± Chapter 54 Was he anxious? Yan Rusheng thought about what he said, was he getting anxious? Was he anxious? How did this rascal know that he was anxious? ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you for three years, you¡¯re becoming less of a man.¡± At this point, Third Master Yan was in a terrible mood, and his vicious tongue returned. Young Master Jiang was born with white and tender skin, and so he was constantly mistaken for a young girl. As he grew older he became more enchanting, causing jealousy among both men and women. Yan Rusheng would always insult his face first, followed by his heart and his mind. When he was young, Young Master Jiang would go home crying after being insulted. One time, after being bullied by Young Master Yan in front of a big crowd, Young Master Jiang felt so anxious that he pulled down his pants to show everyone his penis, and cried out loud, ¡°This proves that I¡¯m a man and not a woman!¡± Times had changed, his crystal heart was no longer fragile. It had grown to become as hard as steel. He was calm and collected towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s insults. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment, I have indeed become more handsome.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at him and sighed, his eyes full of disdain. He looked towards Wen Xuxu¡¯s face. It was as small as a palm, and stained full of tears. Her small apricot-like eyes glittered with tears. Promising! Seeing the state she was in, Yan Rusheng felt a fire burning within him. He was tempted to scold her. Three years ago, that man had left her here alone and never returned even once. How could she throw herself into his arms just because he was back? Such a disgrace to Wang Daqin¡¯s name, such a lack of backbone. Wen Xuxu ignored Yan Rusheng¡¯s prejudiced gaze and she smiled at Jiang Zhuoheng. All the hurt from the past was swept under the carpet. She asked, ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng took out an ash gray handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the tears off Xuxu¡¯s face. He remarked, ¡°I went to Rusheng¡¯s house and asked his grandmother. She called the office, and they told her that you were coming back in the afternoon, so here I am.¡± Both of them were still comfortable with each other even after their long separation. Nothing had changed between them. Upon seeing this scene, Yan Rusheng looked up as if he¡¯d been blinded by the scorching sun, trying to avoid taking another glance at this atrocity in front of him. As he said that, Wen Xuxu started to beam with pride, her eyes glued to that little bastard¡¯s face. It was as if she had completely forgotten how he¡¯d dumped her from the beginning, completely forgetting how she hid in her hostel room without any willpower to live. Her friends had to send her food to sustain her life. After a slap and a date, she happily returned to him, wagging her tail like a puppy. F*ck f*ck f*ck! He couldn¡¯t stand to watch this anymore. ¡°There¡¯s still time to catch up after the business trip.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Wen Xuxu, his words as cold as ice. Hearing that, Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s arms froze. He asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You guys are going on a business trip again? Where?¡± He¡¯d only just returned, and he had a countless number of things to tell her. If his mother hadn¡¯t personally gone down to the airport to force him home yesterday, he would have taken a transit flight to Haicheng City. Without waiting for Wen Xuxu¡¯s reply, Yan Rusheng answered immediately, ¡°That¡¯s an important secret.¡± Both hands were still in his pockets. He stood tall and proud. Such a load of lies, they must be going to S City to look for his first love, Fang Jiayin. Chapter 55 And bringing her along was immoral, who knew what he was up to? Wen Xuxu unleashed a tirade of criticisms in her heart. After a while, she smiled and said to Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°Ah Heng, I¡¯ll be traveling to Country F but I¡¯ll be back soon. When I return, I¡¯ll give you a proper treat to welcome you back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re both going to Country F?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng seemed to recall something and narrowed his eyes with suspicion. ¡°Going to S City?¡± Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± An icy look flickered in Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s eyes. He looked at Yan Rusheng and his tone became cold. ¡°I heard that Fang Jiayin is in S city, are you going to look for her?¡± A chilling look flashed past Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes as well and he raised his eyebrows in displeasure. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, what was that tone you just used?¡± To his surprise, Jiang Zhuoheng had questioned him. Did he, Yan Rusheng, need to report to him his whereabouts or what his plans were? ¡°Rusheng, as your friend, I would like to borrow Xuxu for a few days.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng put his hands on Wen Xuxu¡¯s shoulders and looked at him with a faint smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s possible.¡± Yan Rusheng responded with a curt finality, ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± He didn¡¯t even bother to give him a reason, and simply said no. Respecting another person¡¯s dignity¡ªhe could take that into consideration when he was in a good mood. If he wasn¡¯t, no one could make him change his mind. And now, he wasn¡¯t in a good mood. The atmosphere was a little awkward and cold, Wen Xuxu was afraid that Jiang Zhuoheng would really fall out with Yan Rusheng because of her. She hastily put on a smile to ease the tension. ¡°Ah Heng, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± At this moment, there was no doubt that Yan Rusheng would never agree to let her leave with Jiang Zhuoheng. There wasn¡¯t a need for them to argue about it. Anyway, he wouldn¡¯t be leaving after his return this time. There would be plenty of time for them to meet and catch up with each other. ¡°Remember to contact me once you¡¯re there.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng lowered his head and kissed her gently on her forehead. However, his eyes were blazing with coldness. Xuxu, you should have been cherished and tenderly loved. Wen Xuxu looked down and nodded lightly. Jiang Zhuoheng stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks and watched as Wen Xuxu entered the boarding gate. There was an unfathomable expression in his deep and slender eyes. Before Wen Xuxu turned around a corner, she glanced back. At the same time, Yan Rusheng witnessed it. He looked at her and sneered. ¡°Since you can¡¯t bear to part with him, why didn¡¯t he bring you along with him to study abroad in the first place?¡± Wen Xuxu spun around to glare at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you think I didn¡¯t want to?¡± After responding, she gritted her teeth and hurried to board the plane. Earlier, she had nearly exploded with the hidden emotions she¡¯d been enduring for a long time. ¡°Hmph, what¡¯s the use of thinking?¡± He watched as Xuxu stomped away in anger, feeling furious himself. She had looked at Jiang Zhuoheng with tenderness and love and had been so gentle. When she was with him, she flew into a tantrum right away. Why? She was his secretary and rightfully he should bring her with him on work trips. This was within her job scope, what right did she have to lose her temper? Even if she was with another company, would the boss grant her leave to go on dates? The moment Wen Xuxu boarded the plane, she wore an eye mask and neck pillow to sleep with. She hadn¡¯t eaten anything in more than ten hours. The airplane landed just as it was beginning to get dark in S City. The second they stepped out of the arrival gate, a Caucasian man in a black suit welcomed them with a smile. He came to them and bowed respectfully, then introduced himself, ¡°Young Master, I am Venars. Miss Mu Li sent me to pick you up.¡± He had golden locks, blue eyes, and a sharp nose, but he could speak Chinese fluently. When he finished his introduction, he extended his hand towards a black limousine by the roadside. ¡°This way please, Young Master.¡± Miss Mu Li¡­ Chapter 56 Upon hearing this name, Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had the same expression. Their mouths twitched and their faces fell. Xuxu frowned. Wasn¡¯t that Yan Rusheng¡¯s mother? Miss Mu Li¡­ wasn¡¯t that Second Madam Yan? Wasn¡¯t she teaching at a prestigious university in Country Y? Why was she in Country F? She turned around and cast a questioning glance at Yan Rusheng. Other than a slightly dark expression on his face, he didn¡¯t look surprised at all. Was he already aware that the second madam was in S City? She was already at this advanced age and had a grown-up son¡ªhow could she still be Miss Mu Li?! Yan Rusheng ridiculed his own mother in his heart and with a glum expression, he walked ahead with his long legs towards the black limousine. Wen Xuxu followed closely behind and got in. Once inside, she realized that this filthy-looking car was a Bentley. The car¡¯s exterior was a far cry from the interior of the car. Yan Rusheng fastened his seatbelt without uttering a single word. If he wasn¡¯t going to talk, Xuxu wouldn¡¯t start a conversation with him as well. The chauffeur Venars put their suitcases in the trunk and then started the engine. He turned his head and took a glance at Wen Xuxu. He smiled and asked, ¡°You should be Miss Wen, right?¡± Wen Xuxu smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, I am Wen Xuxu.¡± Venars spoke as he drove. ¡°Miss Mu Li was overjoyed when she heard that you were coming and she personally made breakfast.¡± ¡°Eh!¡± Wen Xuxu was rather taken aback, how did Aunt Mu Li know she was coming? She hadn¡¯t seen Aunt Mu Li in more than a year, how did she know she would be coming? She looked at Yan Rusheng who was sitting in the front passenger seat. His eyes were closed and he had a frown on his face. Who knew if he was carsick or simply felt that the conversation between Xuxu and Venars was too loud. ¡°Miss Mu Li said that Miss Wen is a distinguished guest and I can see that she wasn¡¯t exaggerating. You are really quite pretty.¡± Venars looked at Wen Xuxu through the rearview mirror and praised her sincerely. Third Master Yan, who was sitting on the front passenger seat, opened his peach blossom-shaped eyes. He turned his head and looked at Venars with a frown. ¡°Did she become more talkative recently?¡± Talking so much to a chauffeur. Then he turned to glance at Wen Xuxu with a look filled with dislike. Hmph! Pretty? How come he couldn¡¯t see her beauty at all? Wen Xuxu ignored him and treated it as jealousy. Since they were kids, the Yan family had been very nice to her except for Second Master Yan and Third Master Yan. Aunt Mu Li still remembered her even though they hadn¡¯t met for more than a year. She was really touched. The sky was a brilliant blue with fluffy white clouds. The black Bentley traveled swiftly on the huge highway and they passed by rivers and mountains. Throughout the journey, Wen Xuxu used her camera to take pictures of the scenery. She had forgotten that she¡¯d been unwilling to come here and how she almost teared up on the flight because of her resentment. The car entered a small town in S City with individual houses. Hardly any rubbish could be seen on the road. ¡°Young Master, Miss Wen, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± Venars drove the car into the courtyard of a grand villa and stopped. He unfastened his seatbelt and got off. As she unfastened her seatbelt, Wen Xuxu looked around her to size up the surroundings. In her heart, she sighed in astonishment and then with sentimentality. The villa in front of her wasn¡¯t as big as the one owned by the Yan family and it wasn¡¯t as grand. But it exuded a different charisma from the house back in their country. Cozy and comfortable! There was a lush green lawn in the courtyard with brilliant purple and bright red flowers and plants. Yan Rusheng got down from the car and closed the door behind him with a¡®bang¡¯ . Chapter 57 Wen Xuxu finally reacted, unfastened her seatbelt and opened the car door. ¡°Where is Xuxu, Xuxu ah¡­¡± A beautiful lady dressed fashionably rushed out of the house. When she saw Yan Rusheng, her footsteps quickened excitedly, wishing that she could fly instead. At first, Yan Rusheng was feeling a little pleased inside his heart. However, when the beautiful lady opened her mouth, his handsome face fell immediately. She wasn¡¯t eagerly looking forward to his arrival but instead, it was that stupid woman. He sneered at Wen Xuxu who just got off the car and he was extremely displeased. ¡°Aunt Mu.¡± Wen Xuxu sprinted towards the beautiful lady. The two of them hugged each other naturally when they met. ¡°Good girl, let me see if you grew taller.¡± Mu Li patted Wen Xuxu¡¯s back, her smile and tone were both brimming with affection. She gently pushed her away and surveyed her from head to toe. ¡°Aunt Mu, I¡¯m already more than 20 years old. How can I possibly grow any taller?¡± Wen Xuxu looked at Mu Li¡¯s face and she was so happy that she could hardly close her mouth. ¡°But undeniably, you are getting younger and prettier indeed.¡± It wasn¡¯t exaggerated at all. If she didn¡¯t mention anything, no one would be able to guess that this gorgeous lady in front of her was already over 40 years old. The perfect oval-shaped face was still taut and firm and her eyebrows were shaped like slender willow leaves. She had a sharp nose and a pair of crystal clear peach blossom-shaped eyes that could captivate anyone if she blinks. If anyone were to ask why Yan Rusheng so good-looking, they would know the answer after seeing his mother. As he watched Wen Xuxu and Mu Li being so affectionate, Yan Rusheng felt that even his eyebrows and eyes were a hindrance. He frowned and spoke impatiently, ¡°Miss Mu Li, can you explain to me exactly what¡¯s going on?¡± Mu Li turned to look at her son and asked puzzledly, ¡°What do you mean by what¡¯s going on?¡± Yan Rusheng crossed his arms. ¡°Why have you reverted your identity back to Miss Mu Li again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m single, if I¡¯m not Miss Mu Li then am I an elderly woman?¡± Mu Li raised her voice. ¡°In future, you¡¯re not allowed to call me Mom in front of outsiders.¡± ¡°Single?!¡± Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng shrieked at the same time, their eyes opened wide. ¡°But no, have you both settled the matter already?¡± Third Master Yan was no longer calm as his hand grabbed Madam Mu Li. It was a little unbelievable. The two of them had spent half of their lives together, how could they be so rash and reckless? Mu Li raised her chin and mumbled in response, ¡°I have been enduring that old fellow for the past few years.¡± She sounded as if she¡¯d done everything that she could possibly do. Yan Rusheng stared at her wordlessly. ¡°He¡¯s older than you by just two years.¡± She just tried to rely on her youthful and gorgeous face to pass off as someone younger. How shameful! Mu Li curled her lips. ¡°You seem like your dad.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°That¡¯s just being mature and steady.¡± That was his dad, alright? ¡°He was so naggy,¡± Madam Mu Li continued to highlight her ex-husband¡¯s flaws. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Rusheng sneered in reply. ¡°If he didn¡¯t nag at you, did you expect him to nag at someone else?¡± ¡°Are you here today to stand up for him?¡± Mu Li was getting impatient and she raised her head to stare at her son. ¡°It¡¯s alright if he looks old and I can tolerate it even if he¡¯s a little naggy. However, he didn¡¯t know his own limitations and got himself a mistress. I won¡¯t tolerate that.¡± That was the final blow which had led to her being single once again. She didn¡¯t despise him and he should be grateful and thank his lucky stars. Instead, he followed the trend of having other women on the side. If she could tolerate this, what couldn¡¯t be tolerated?! Yan Rusheng spoke gently, ¡°He said that you were mistaken and he wants to explain.¡± Chapter 58 ¡°The mistress already found her way here, and he still denied it.¡± Mu Li was overwhelmed with agitation and the pitch of her naturally became higher. She rolled up her sleeves, put a hand on her waist and pointed the other one towards the courtyard entrance. She hollered at Yan Rusheng, ¡°Get lost!¡± To her surprise, this wretched kid had actually believed that old man¡¯s lies. And he was even speaking up for him. It gave her a headache and broke her heart. ¡°Aunt Mu, gracefulness!¡± Wen Xuxu held Mu Li¡¯s elbow and whispered in her ear to remind her. ¡°You said that girls have to be graceful.¡± She used to fight with Yan Rusheng frequently in the past and returned home covered in dirt. When Aunt Mu helped her to shower, she would always say this: ¡°Xuxu, girls have to be graceful and elegant. Don¡¯t engage in physical fights.¡± She was too young at that time to understand what being graceful meant. She finished her sentence and furtively cast a meaningful glance to stop him from continuing. Even though she didn¡¯t understand what Aunt Mu Li meant by being single right now, but she could tell that she was currently fuming. To advise her at this time would be tantamount to adding fuel to the fire. ¡°Xuxu is right.¡± Madam Mu Li¡¯s hand brushed her curly long hair and raised her chin slightly. She took her time and said, ¡°I won¡¯t lower myself to you and your father¡¯s level.¡± In a split second, she transformed from a common shrew to a dignified and elegant noblewoman. Yan Rusheng looked at her and smiled helplessly. His eyes were filled with affection. He took a step towards her and held her elbow, pacifying her softly, ¡°Grandmother¡¯s blood pressure rose because of you two. Let¡¯s not argue anymore, alright?¡± It had been a long while since he had spoken so gently. Wen Xuxu involuntarily looked in his direction and noticed a helpless smile at the corners of his mouth. Unexpectedly, she thought about what she¡¯d seen yesterday at the Five Star Hotel in the coastal county. He had faced the laptop screen with the same expression. Could it be¡­ She had the wrong idea? In her heart, the burdensome shackles which had affected her emotions were suddenly unlocked. Her mood became considerably lighter and cheerful. ¡°When you go back, ask grandma to change that high blood pressure tactic of hers. It¡¯s been used too often.¡± Mu Li linked hands with Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu on each side. Her mood improved significantly in an instant. Wen Xuxu used the opportunity to change the topic. ¡°Aunt Mu, I heard that you¡¯ve personally cooked us a few dishes?¡± She looked at Mu Li and her eyes sparkled. She looked as if she could hardly wait to taste the food. The truth is, she really couldn¡¯t wait. That was because the flight had lasted more than ten hours and she only had a few sips of water. She was famished and it felt like her belly was as flat as her back. When food was mentioned, her stomach gave her away and growled in protest. ¡®Gululu¡¯ sounds could be heard coming from her body. She used her hands to awkwardly cover her stomach. ¡°Haha, I haven¡¯t eaten anything the whole day. I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°You silly child, you should have said earlier that you were starving. It¡¯s nothing embarrassing.¡± Mu Li raised her hand to lightly knock Xuxu¡¯s head and reprimanded her affectionately. Wen Xuxu smiled with fondness and nodded. She thought, But you have to give me a chance to say it first. The moment they got off the car, the mother and son had been bickering and it had been intense and fiery. If she¡¯d suddenly said ¡°I¡¯m hungry¡±, that would have been too strange. ¡°You didn¡¯t eat any food on the flight and now you say you¡¯re hungry?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at her coldly and sneered. ¡°What a pretense!¡± She had always acted cutely as a pampered child and pretended to be pitiful in front of the women in the family. But the women all fell for her antics, their intelligence level must be really low. He withdrew his hand from Madam Mu Li and entered the house with vigorous strides. Chapter 59 ¡°Third Yan, what kind of attitude was that?¡± Mu Li yelled at her son¡¯s cold and haughty back. ¡°Why are you so ungentlemanly?¡± She gave him a fierce look of contempt for bullying a girl. Next, she looked at Wen Xuxu again. Every single action and facial expression had revealed her evident adoration and affection for Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared your favorite sweet and sour fish, sweet and sour pork ribs, sweet and sour lotus root¡­¡± She had listed many sweet and sour dishes in one breath. ¡°¡­¡± In the beginning, the corners of Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth merely twitched. Then the tip of her eyebrows began to twitch as well and her expression turned darker. ¡°Aunt Mu, you¡¯ve remembered wrongly. I hate sweet and sour dishes the most.¡± If this person wasn¡¯t Aunt Mu who had doted on her dearly, she would have suspected that she was doing it on purpose. Ever since she was a kid, she had never eaten sweet and sour dishes. Even Yan Rusheng knew this. ¡°Hmph? Really?¡± Mu Li knitted her eyebrows and tried to recall. Suddenly she remembered. ¡°Yes yes yes. I remembered wrongly, you love spicy food.¡± As she said this, she smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Look at the words like and dislike, they only have a slight difference of a few letters.¡± Wen Xuxu could neither laugh nor cry. It¡¯s true that the words like and dislike only differed by a few letters, but the disparity was huge once you added or took away those letters. ¡°Aunt Mu Li, it¡¯s alright. You cooked for me personally and I¡¯m very touched.¡± She held her elbow tightly and the feeling of affection after a long period of absence was back. She remembered that Aunt Mu Li had never entered the kitchen in the past. She cared greatly about her looks and she said that the smoke from all the cooking would turn her into an old and haggard woman. Not only had she entered the kitchen now, but she had even learned to cook difficult dishes like sweet and sour pork ribs. Xuxu saw her in a whole new light. Mu Li smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll cook again.¡± By the time they went through the door, Yan Rusheng had already entered the house, changed into comfortable loungewear and came down from the stairs. He shot a glance at the two women who looked like mother and daughter, turned around and went to the dining room. The interior design of the house matched well with the rural and idyllic charm of this country; it was cozy and homely. It made one feel like staying here after a single glance. Mu Li sent someone to bring Xuxu upstairs and put away her luggage. Then she could also change into comfortable clothes and proceed downstairs for dinner. The room was more than 20 square meters in size and it was clean and tidy. The bedsheets and blanket were all in her favorite color. She could tell that Aunt Mu Li had specially prepared all of it. She scanned the room and opened her wardrobe to put away her luggage. She saw clothes already hanging inside and the style and colors were suitable for young girls. This¡­ was prepared for her too? Xuxu felt so touched that her eyes glistened with tears. She took out loungewear from her suitcase and changed into them. By the time she went downstairs, Yan Rusheng had started eating. When he saw Xuxu entering, Yan Rusheng turned to look at her and the corners of his mouth twitched coldly. Wen Xuxu was perplexed. Why was he smiling in such a crafty and sinister way? ¡°Wen Xuxu come over here. Pretty Madam Mu Li made the most delicious sweet and sour pork ribs, sweet and sour fish¡­¡± He pointed at the dishes on the table and introduced them one by one. This was called gloating at someone¡¯s misfortunes. Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ ¡°Yan Rusheng, shut up.¡± Mu Li walked out of the kitchen wearing a lovely floral apron and her hands were holding two simple dishes. She stared at Yan Rusheng and chided him. After she put down the dishes, she was still angry so she knocked him on the head again. ¡°You wretched boy, ever since you were a kid you¡¯ve always bullied Xuxu.¡± That was absolutely right. Wen Xuxu gave a thumbs up for Madam Mu Li in her heart. Chapter 60 He bullied her? He had merely given someone a taste of their own medicine. Yan Rusheng snorted coldly to express his displeasure. ¡°Xuxu, quickly come and eat. I¡¯ve cooked two more dishes for you.¡± Mu Li pulled the chair next to Yan Rusheng, pulled Wen Xuxu over and pressed her down to take a seat. She then scooped out rice and soup for her with enthusiasm. Third Master Yan didn¡¯t receive the same treatment. Once Mu Li had Wen Xuxu settled, she walked across to sit on the opposite side of the table. She picked up her chopsticks and smiled happily as she glanced at Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu. Both of them were busy eating and didn¡¯t notice the ambiguous expression in Mu Li¡¯s eyes. No matter how she looked at it, they looked really compatible. Madam Mu Li was very pleased and sighed emotionally in her heart. ¡°Aunt Mu Li, your cooking is really yummy.¡± Wen Xuxu tried a few of the dishes and praised Mu Li with sincerity. Mu Li gave a humble smile. ¡°These are just some casual dishes. If you like, you can stay for a longer period and I¡¯ll cook for you every day.¡± After hearing that, Yan Rusheng raised his head and looked at her. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to work?¡± She was barely 50 years old, she hadn¡¯t reached the age of retirement, had she? Mu Li raised her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ve already divorced that old man and got half of his assets. There¡¯s no need for me to worry about anything for the rest of my life, so why would I need to work?¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ Before you got the divorce, did that old man starve you or left you to freeze? Or did he not give you a sense of financial security? ¡°I think I should give myself a fresh start.¡± Mu Li curled her fingers like an orchid and gently touched her face. Her demeanor was full of bewitching charm as she said, ¡°A fine woman like me shouldn¡¯t waste so much time on that greedy old man. I should have started searching for my happiness long ago.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Initially, Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t want to interrupt their conversation, but Madam Mu Li¡¯s words made her burst out into laughter. She spat out a mouthful of rice. She quickly grabbed some tissues and apologized to Mu Li as she cleaned the table. ¡°Aunt Mu Li, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Really, she made it sound like searching for her happiness once more was an honorable matter. In her heart, the divorce had made Second Uncle Yan seem like a housefly on a dining table. Why was she remembering how Aunt Mu Li and Second Uncle Yan couldn¡¯t stop addressing each other as ¡®dear¡¯. ¡°Xuxu, what I¡¯m saying is true. Don¡¯t laugh.¡± Mu Li looked seriously at Wen Xuxu. ¡°A person can¡¯t be inflexible and stubborn. Be open-minded, so for anyone who didn¡¯t cherish you in the past, you should never take them back again. Even if he kneels or begs for forgiveness, you should never be soft-hearted.¡± As she spoke, her eyes shot a meaningful glance at Yan Rusheng. It was so swift that Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t manage to catch it. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t think too much and asked with a smile, ¡°Are you saying that even if Second Uncle Yan went down on his knees and begged for forgiveness, you won¡¯t change your mind?¡± Mu Li threw her a contemptuous look. ¡°Of course, do you even have to ask?¡± A good man doesn¡¯t backtrack¡ªonly a disgraceful man would. She immediately turned to look at Yan Rusheng and smiled. ¡°Third Yan, do you agree?¡± This¡­ meaning was too obvious. Not just Yan Rusheng, even Wen Xuxu understood what she was trying to convey. ¡°Keke.¡± She coughed twice and stood up with two dishes in her hands. ¡°I spat rice on these dishes. I¡¯ll throw it away and cook two more dishes.¡± If Madam Mu Li were to provoke Yan Rusheng later on, she would definitely become cannon fodder. She¡¯d better hurry and leave this dangerous place. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Mu Li quickly stood up and leaned forward to grab Xuxu¡¯s arm. ¡°Third Yan and I don¡¯t mind. Don¡¯t throw it away.¡± Anyway, she wasn¡¯t hungry. It didn¡¯t matter if she ate it or not. Chapter 61 When did he say that he didn¡¯t mind this stupid woman? Alright, he admitted that if Wen Xuxu hadn¡¯t said that she spat rice on the dishes and if Madam Mu Li hadn¡¯t said that sentence, indeed he didn¡¯t think that he would mind. Whenever she went out, Wen Xuxu always liked to put a water bottle in her bag. If he was thirsty halfway on the road, he would save himself the trouble by drinking from her bottle. He¡¯d never once thought that he ¡®minded¡¯. Like he¡¯d said to Wang Daqin, that stupid woman didn¡¯t have any infectious diseases and neither did she have feces in her mouth. There was no reason for him to mind what she touched. But this exception only applied to this stupid woman. The women he met outside would try to offer him food with their chopsticks, and he¡¯d never taken a single bite. He¡¯d never thought of the reason why. It could be from when they were kids¡­ and too innocent to know anything and thus, the habit was formed. They often shared popsicles, drank from the same glass, and had even bathed together. Even though his memory of them bathing together was fuzzy, but they did bathe together. What he did mind was her low intelligence quotient, her poor emotional intelligence, and her character which was as tough as a man. Other than that, the rest was acceptable and she could even be considered as outstanding. Madam Mu Li had said it in that way, so even if he could eat, he decided not to. Young Master Yan pondered this in irritation. He put down his chopsticks with a dark expression. Wen Xuxu watched his actions and turned to Mu Li, her lips twitching. She seemed to say, ¡®Look at him, how could this fussy fellow not be looking down on her?¡¯ She insisted on taking the dishes and throwing them away. Then she went to the kitchen, fiddled with the ingredients and was prepared to cook something new. ¡°Xuxu, don¡¯t bother yourself with this. Let me do it.¡± Mu Li entered the kitchen and saw Wen Xuxu holding some tomatoes, cucumbers, and beef. She had placed them on the chopping board and was about to slice them up when Mu Li hurriedly pulled her away. Wen Xuxu refused to put the knife down and turned around with a smile. ¡°Aunt Mu Li, go out and take a rest. Let me display my cooking skills too.¡± She finished her sentence and pushed Mu Li out of the kitchen. She was really serious. Mu Li tried to convince her but in the end, she couldn¡¯t make her change her mind. And so, she let Xuxu have her way. ¡°Then be careful when you cut the vegetables.¡± She turned around to leave and closed the kitchen door gently. Yan Rusheng was still sitting serenely at his original position, looking as if he didn¡¯t have the slightest intention to leave at all. When she saw him, Mu Li started fuming again. ¡°You rascal, you have no idea how many times the both of you have tasted each other¡¯s saliva since you were kids. Now that you¡¯ve grown up, you want to start being fussy about it?¡± She was still angry and she poked the back of his head forcefully. This was indeed his real mother. Otherwise, who else would dare to touch Third Master Yan¡¯s head like they were kneading dough to make pastries, hitting and patting his head whenever she felt like it? Yan Rusheng let her have her way, constantly keeping in mind what his father had instructed him to do. ¡°Xiaosheng, Dad is begging you. Please make Mu Li happy so that Dad can have a chance to explain. Remember to coax her until she¡¯s in a good mood. Once she¡¯s happy, it will help settle everything more easily.¡± Tsk. He felt furious at recalling how his dad had spoken in a meek and submissive tone! Can¡¯t he behave like a real man? His blood runs in him too. It¡¯s enough that his dad had to be so submissive, but now he was being dragged into this too. Young Master Yan eyed the beautiful lady beside him with a look of displeasure. ¡°Rascal, what¡¯s with that expression in your eyes?¡± Mu Li interrogated Yan Rusheng with knitted eyebrows. She merely told him off and he started glaring at her with resentment in his eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell this expression is filled with love?¡± Young Master Yan smiled instantly. Chapter 62 He hid his resentment and bitterness and smiled innocently. ¡°Don¡¯t try to pacify me with your glib tongue, all you know is how to annoy me. And you¡¯re still claiming that it¡¯s love.¡± There wasn¡¯t a mother who wouldn¡¯t like having their child sweet talk her, especially from a good-looking son. Madam Mu Li was just like any other mother. She had scolded her son, but actually, she didn¡¯t mean it. The smile in her eyes couldn¡¯t be hidden. In the kitchen, sizzling sounds could be heard. The ingredients were in the wok! Mu Li glanced in the direction of the kitchen, and through the frosted glass door, she could see the tiny figure bustling inside. Her heart was filled with an indescribable fondness. She pulled out the chair next to Yan Rusheng and sat down. She inched closer to him and asked softly, ¡°Son, you¡¯re already 25, when are you going to give me a grandchild?¡± He didn¡¯t even have a wife and now they were discussing about grandchildren. Wasn¡¯t this too early? To an ordinary family, it would indeed be too early when marriage wasn¡¯t even on the cards and there was no sight of a potential daughter-in-law. But to the Yan family¡ªto Mu Li and Wang Daqin¡ªthe matter had already been delayed for too long. So this time, it was a make-or-break matchmaking attempt! ¡°You wish for a grandchild?¡± Usually, when they talked about this topic, Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression would definitely turn cold. This time around, his expression wasn¡¯t cold. Instead, he was smiling and it seemed that there was room for discussion. He effortlessly lured in Mu Li to bite the bait. She nodded furiously like a hen pecking at its food. ¡°Uh huh, of course.¡± After a short pause, she eagerly said, ¡°Mom has already enjoyed what I should have enjoyed in this lifetime. I¡¯ve also experienced what a person should have experienced. The last part is to watch you get married so that I can take care of my grandchild.¡± Sigh, this was a sorrowful topic¡ªa sorrowful topic of conversation for both her and Wang Daqin. ¡°I thought you wanted to find your happiness again?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows as he tried to conceal his smile. ¡°Having a grandchild will only hinder you on your search for happiness. How can I do something so unfilial?¡± He leaned back lazily, his arm resting on the back of Mu Li¡¯s chair. He looked at her with a refreshing smile. Had she fallen into her own trap? Mu Li frowned secretly and her eyes shifted around. She then smiled, seeming to have found an excellent explanation. ¡°If I have a grandchild, I won¡¯t be thinking of looking for my happiness. A grandchild would be more important.¡± What nonsensical happiness would she look for anyway? The man she¡¯d shared a bed with for decades had turned into an old man and even he couldn¡¯t be trusted. How could she count on a younger man who would be more likely to succumb to temptation? She wasn¡¯t that naive. Yan Rusheng withdrew his arm and said in a considerate manner. ¡°I think it¡¯s better not to. Since you loathe Yan Shanghong so much, then since he¡¯s the child¡¯s grandfather, to a certain degree the child is going to look like him. It would be asking too much for you to take care of a child who looks like someone you hate.¡± He looked fixedly at Mu Li, pausing for a while before he continued with his eyebrows raised, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°Third Yan!¡± Mu Li clenched her fists and punched the table. She looked at her son and gnashed her teeth in anger. ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, right? You¡¯re still trying to put in a good word for the old man.¡± The conversation had led to this and she finally realized that this rascal was helping his dad using another tactic. ¡°I¡¯m being wronged!¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s blinked his peach blossom-shaped eyes pitifully and he had an innocent expression on his face. ¡°What I¡¯ve said is the truth, which sentence doesn¡¯t make sense? His expression seemed to ask, ¡°Do you dare to say you don¡¯t hate the old man right now? Are you certain that your future grandchild won¡¯t resemble his grandfather even a little?¡± Chapter 63 Mu Li¡¯s mouth twitched and she thought about it. Indeed, it did seem to make sense. She knitted her eyebrows and her hand supported her cheek. The expression in her eyes was filled with an internal struggle and conflict. Yan Rusheng could see right through her thoughts and he displayed a sorrowful expression again. ¡°My parents¡¯ marriage is a mess, as a son I¡¯ll be traumatized.¡± In order to not let his father down, he was going all out. Bah! Be traumatized? What nonsense is that? He was no longer a child who would be affected by his parents¡¯ separation. He was already 25 years old and mature in all aspects. He was fully capable of being in charge, and he had the audacity to mention having a psychological trauma. He¡¯d traveled such a long distance because his father had sent him here for a negotiation. He was afraid that a divorce at such an old age would affect his reputation. Alright, for the sake of her daughter-in-law and grandchild, she had to make a sacrifice. After her internal struggle, Madam Mu Li said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to continue. I¡¯m willing to give him a chance to explain to me in person. And he needs to provide evidence.¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng¡¯s response, she continued, ¡°However¡­¡± She glanced quickly at the kitchen and there was a sly gleam in her eyes. ¡°You need to stay for a few more days to fulfill your duty as a son. I¡¯ve raised you for so many years but now we¡¯ve grown apart.¡± At this moment, the kitchen door opened. As Xuxu carried out two dishes from the kitchen, she overheard Mu Li¡¯s request. She interrupted them, not having any bad intentions. ¡°Aunt Mu Li, President Yan and I have been away for several days. As it was an impromptu decision, there are work-related matters that were left unfinished and some of the matters are more difficult to handle.¡± All of the company matters that require Yan Rusheng¡¯s attention went through her first. She remembered clearly which were the ones that had been put on hold. Some of them were really quite difficult to handle. Previously when he said that he was coming to S City, she assumed that he was coming to look for Fang Jiayin, so she remained silent. If she knew that he was coming to look for Aunt Mu Li, she would have suggested that they return to the company first to settle the difficult tasks before coming over. She reached the dining table as she finished her sentence, bending down to place the dishes on the table. Then she turned around and went back to the kitchen. ¡°Wen Xuxu, the truth is you can¡¯t wait to go back to meet Jiang Zhuoheng and you¡¯re just using company matters as an excuse.¡± She heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s sarcastic words from behind her. Wen Xuxu¡¯s hands, which were hanging loosely by her thighs, clenched tightly into fists. She took advantage of the fact that her back was facing Yan Rusheng and she gnashed her teeth in anger with a resentful glare. She couldn¡¯t understand why he was so concerned and bothered whenever she met Ah Heng. Was it because he really couldn¡¯t bear to see her being so happy? Just because Fang Jiayin had jilted him, he had decided to devote himself to her for the rest of his life. Did that mean that everyone else needed to be single their entire life as well? This guy was being more unreasonable than usual. At the mention of Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s name, there was a fleeting look of surprise in Mu Li¡¯s eyes. Then she shot a glance at Yan Rusheng again. Yan Rusheng had turned his back, his chin raised upward, and he was staring coldly at Wen Xuxu. He had a solemn look of disdain. A meaningful smile appeared on Mu Li¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, Ah Heng is back?¡± Her gaze traveled to Wen Xuxu once again. ¡°Yup.¡± Wen Xuxu turning around to smile at Mu Li. ¡°He came back two days ago. But I was on a work trip so I haven¡¯t had a chance to treat him to welcome him back.¡± Mu Li was very understanding and she nodded. ¡°Then you should hurry back. Ah Heng is a good kid. He¡¯s so gentle and doting. I¡¯ve always thought that the both of you would have a bright future.¡± This sentence wasn¡¯t entirely fake or spoken against her conscience. Chapter 64 If the old madam and Mu Li didn¡¯t have such selfish motives, they would definitely entrust Xuxu to Ah Heng. He would be the perfect person to take care of Xuxu for the rest of her life. Yan sneered coldly and ridiculed her, ¡°Suitable to be treated as a replacement.¡± Compatible? He couldn¡¯t see how they were compatible at all. Mu Li looked at Yan Rusheng reproachfully. ¡°Third Yan, don¡¯t you know how to talk at all?¡± ¡°I¡¯m full, so I¡¯m going to sleep now.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly got up, causing a chilly gust of wind when the tall figure straightened himself. His eyes swept past Wen Xuxu with a frosty glance and he marched out of the dining room. Young Master Yan had an indescribable feeling of anxiety and restlessness¡ªhe felt miserable. Once upstairs, he slammed the door with a loud ¡®bang!¡¯ . Even Wen Xuxu and Mu Li who were on the first floor could hear it. ¡°I really have no idea what this guy is trying to do.¡± Mu Li rolled her eyes at the ceiling. Logically, her son shouldn¡¯t be so dumb to the extent that he didn¡¯t realize he¡¯d fallen in love with someone? Because if he didn¡¯t like her, why did he even lose his temper? ¡°Aunt Mu Li, don¡¯t mind him. He can¡¯t bear the thought of me being happy.¡± She wasn¡¯t angry even though Yan Rusheng had mocked her. On the contrary, she even calmly consoled Mu Li. ¡°He¡¯s just seeking revenge for all the times I bullied him when we were kids. Ever since he¡¯s had the upper hand, he couldn¡¯t bear to see anyone else being friends with me. I¡¯m used to it.¡± During the third year of middle school, a male classmate who excelled academically liked to study and revise with her. When Yan Rusheng found out, he threatened the classmate that if he continued to hang out with her, he¡¯d inform the teacher that they were in a relationship. At that time, Yan Rusheng held an influential status in the eyes of the teachers as he was wealthy, intelligent, and handsome. The male classmate didn¡¯t dare to defy him so he distanced himself from her. Yan Rusheng was the most selfish person she had ever met. He was already with Fang Jiayin at that time but old habits die hard. Even when Ah Heng was wooing her back then, he would still try to interfere. He told them right to their faces that Jiang Zhuoheng had bad taste for liking a masculine girl who only knew how to study. Not to mention the other guys who were interested in her. He¡¯d intercepted countless love letters. She really was used to it after so many years. She thought she would have to wait until he got married and settled down. Then he wouldn¡¯t have time for her anymore. ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s been hard on you.¡± Mu Li patted her shoulders and said bitterly, ¡°This wretched son, I¡¯ll definitely make him take responsibility for you.¡± He didn¡¯t want it himself, but he wouldn¡¯t let others have it too. What kind of person is that? ¡°Hmph!¡± Mu Li¡¯s words had startled Wen Xuxu and she unconsciously averted her gaze. ¡°Take responsibility? Take¡­ take responsibility for what?¡± Xuxu lowered her head and stammered. She didn¡¯t know where to put her hands so she decided to hold a pair of chopsticks. She put the food inside her mouth and chewed absentmindedly. Mu Li grabbed one of her hands and held it earnestly. She said tenderly, ¡°He ruined your friendships and he constantly interrupted your relationship. He needs to be responsible for you.¡± Immediately, she spat out another threat, ¡°If you¡¯re not getting married, then he¡¯s not allowed to marry anyone too!¡± Her tone was unyielding. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Wen Xuxu raised her head to look at Mu Li and she didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°If he¡¯s not getting married, then I won¡¯t be able to get married for the rest of my life. I think if he marries someone, then he won¡¯t have the time and energy to bother about the feud we¡¯ve had since we were kids.¡± Her gaze fell dejectedly, her eyes like a clear spring with despondent ripples stirring within. Her long eyelashes covered her eyes and Mu Li couldn¡¯t read her expression. Chapter 65 ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± She assumed that Xuxu had lowered her head dejectedly from the thought of Third Yan bullying her since they were kids. Feeling sympathetic, she consoled her. ¡°Grandmother and I dote on you the most and we will always support you.¡± As the saying goes, familiarity breeds fondness. Having been together for more than a decade, why hadn¡¯t they fallen in love with each other yet? Instead, they seemed to equally loathe the other. Or could it be that love begets hate? It couldn¡¯t go on like this¡ªshe had to use this opportunity to test the two of them. If they didn¡¯t have any feelings for each other, then she would persuade the old madam to give up on the hope they¡¯ve held on to for so many years. Not having met for more than a year, they naturally had a lot to catch up on. Nonetheless, she considered that Xuxu would be exhausted after the long flight, so she sent her upstairs to rest. Xuxu was feeling very weary indeed. Traveling by plane, car, boat, and on foot these past two days had drained her. Once she returned to her room, Wen Xuxu collapsed on the comfortable bed and didn¡¯t feel like getting up. But she hadn¡¯t showered and she¡¯d been in an enclosed space with loads of people on the flight for such a long period. It would be too filthy if she didn¡¯t shower. And so she dragged her tired body and entered the bathroom. ¡­ Yan Rusheng finished his shower, wearing a white bathrobe as he lay on a rattan chair on the balcony. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at the sky, which was littered with stars. A faint trace of sorrow could be seen in the furrows of his eyebrows. On the round table next to him, there was a slip of rectangular paper under a glass of milk. An address in S City was written with the street number and building unit number. The four corners of the paper were fluttering as the breeze entered through the windows. He turned his head and stretched his hand towards the glass of milk. He saw the slip of paper beneath the glass and he froze momentarily. His hand with its clearly defined knuckles hovered in midair. What was so good about this place? What attracted you to it? You made up your mind to abandon me just so that you could come here. Anger flickered in his eyes. He picked up the glass of milk resolutely and the paper was blown away by the breeze. ¡°Xiaosheng, aren¡¯t you sleeping yet?¡± He heard Mu Li¡¯s voice behind him. It sounded gentle, unlike her usual tone towards him. Yan Rusheng turned his head. Mu Li pushed the door to enter and closed it gently. She moved towards him. Even though Mu Li didn¡¯t knock before entering, Yan Rusheng was nonchalant about it. ¡°Getting ready to sleep,¡± he answered her, putting down his glass of milk and standing up. He closed the windows and drew the curtains. Mu Li stood behind him and her gaze accidentally landed on the slip of paper on the floor. She could easily read the illegible words written on it. There was a sharp pain in her heart¡ªwhat kind of girl was she to be able to make her son so devoted to her? Suddenly, she felt that she and the old madam had been too selfish with their intentions all these years. It was too unfair to Xuxu. After he drew his curtains, Yan Rusheng turned around and saw Mu Li looking troubled. He raised his eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s so late now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not here just to check that I¡¯m asleep?¡± He finished his sentence, walked past her towards the bathroom and grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste. He left the door unlocked and Mu Li followed him. She leaned on the door frame and watched him. ¡°If you¡¯re busy with work, then go back with Xuxu tomorrow. Anyway, I¡¯ll be heading back soon.¡± ¡°One more day won¡¯t make much of a difference,¡± Yan Rusheng casually replied, shooting a glance at Mu Li. He was wondering if Wen Xuxu had said anything to make Mu Li persuade him so that she could hurry back and reunite with Jiang Zhuoheng. Chapter 66 But he wasn¡¯t going to let her succeed. ¡°It¡¯s meaningless to stay for just one more day. When you have more time in future then you can accompany me for a longer period.¡± Mu Li frowned and she spoke in a serious and earnest tone. ¡°You¡¯ve just taken over Flourish & Prosper not too long ago. This transition phase isn¡¯t easy, don¡¯t let your grandmother worry too much.¡± There was a tinge of guilt in her tone too. Ever since Xiaosheng was a kid, the old madam had trained and educated him to be the successor of the company. When he grew up, he specialized in business management and had to juggle his studies with his training. Both Mu Li and his dad had completely washed their hands of him so that they could set off to pursue their childhood dreams and their ideal lifestyle. This was what they owed him, and furthermore, the Yan family wasn¡¯t an ordinary family. Yan Rusheng was brushing his teeth when he paused. She had rarely revealed her real feelings in front of him. ¡°I got it.¡± He nodded and mumbled incoherently with a mouth full of toothpaste foam. Mu Li curved her lips and she smiled with relief. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room, rest early.¡± She turned and left. She had opened the door when she recalled something. She turned towards the bathroom. ¡°Do you know why Xuxu gave up the opportunity to further her studies at Country Y a few years ago? At her question, Yan Rusheng turned to look at Mu Li with an amused expression. It seemed like he¡¯d heard something hilarious. ¡°She gave up the opportunity to study in Country Y?¡± Wasn¡¯t that her dream since she was a child? Gave up? Did she admit it herself? That stupid lass didn¡¯t look like someone who liked to boast. Mu Li could tell from Yan Rusheng¡¯s response that he was clueless about this matter too. She was even more puzzled. ¡°Last month in Country Y, I met Xuxu¡¯s university teacher, Professor Zhou at an educational exchange at J University. He mentioned it to me and I was stunned. I didn¡¯t know that you had no idea as well.¡± They had grown up together as kids. Even though they were like enemies they paid close attention to each other at all times. That¡¯s why they understood each other very well. How could he be unaware of why Xuxu had given up the opportunity to study abroad? It was such an important matter. It required the school¡¯s recommendation for admission and there were only three names. ¡°She never mentioned it before.¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. He was surprised and yet also felt curious and puzzled. He knew Professor Zhou as well; he was Wen Xuxu¡¯s university teacher. It was quite unlikely that he was lying. However, Wen Xuxu giving up the opportunity to study overseas was such a major matter. How could he be completely clueless? ¡°Oh dear, what a pity.¡± Mu Li saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s baffled expression¡ªhe really didn¡¯t know anything about it. She didn¡¯t continue asking. She sighed with pity and left. Yan Rusheng quickly scooped some water into his mouth and gargled. After wiping the sides of his face with a towel, he left the bathroom and walked to the sofa. Sitting down, he grabbed his phone and switched on his laptop. He made a phone call while simultaneously typing out his laptop password. ¡°It¡¯s me, Yan Rusheng.¡± After dialing a number, someone picked up. He immediately asked, ¡°Do you know why Wen Xuxu gave up the opportunity to study in Country Y back then?¡± ¡°Tsk. Would I ask you if I knew?¡± The person was still talking when Young Master Yan swore and hung up. Next, he continued to dial another number and asked the same question. Yan Rusheng tried calling a few of his close friends to ask them. But everyone said they didn¡¯t know anything about it. ¡°Get lost, you are full of nonsense.¡± This was the last phone call. After making several calls, no one had been spared from his sharp tongue. After being scolded, the young master on the other line was sullen. ¡°No, but Third Yan, so what if Wen Xuxu gave up the opportunity to study overseas? How is this any of your business? Why are you so agitated?¡± Chapter 67 ¡°And how is this any of your business?¡± Young Master Yan retaliated with annoyance and he pressed the end call button with his thumb. This night ended up being a restless one. Young Master Yan contacted everyone he knew including those he hadn¡¯t contacted in years, just to find out why Wen Xuxu had given up on the opportunity. As for Wen Xuxu, she couldn¡¯t sleep due to the jet lag. They finally fell asleep at dawn, but Mu Li woke them up at around 10 a.m. They both woke up with dark circles under their eyes. Wen Xuxu felt a throbbing pain in her temples. It must be due to the lack of a good night¡¯s sleep and being in a new environment. As she ate her breakfast, she kept rubbing her temples. Yan Rusheng kept glancing at her occasionally. He¡¯d spent an entire night trying to solve the mystery but to no avail. Why did this stupid woman give up the opportunity to study abroad? Once they finished their breakfast, Mu Li sent them off. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyebrows were closely knitted throughout the entire journey and he seemed to be conflicted about something. Wen Xuxu decided not to provoke him. She slept once she was in the car and did the same during the flight. She read for a while, ate her meal and slept. The air turbulence during the flight didn¡¯t affect her sleep at all. She slept the entire way until they reached the capital. It was nearing dusk in the capital. The western sky was full of red and rosy clouds and the view was charmingly serene. Wen Xuxu pushed the luggage trolley and left the arrival hall, with Yan Rusheng walking ahead of her. The chauffeur picking them up welcomed them with a smile. He walked past Yan Rusheng and bowed. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng replied with an ¡®mm¡¯, his expression deadpan, and without halting, he walked straight to the car. Wen Xuxu followed him to the car and sat behind him as usual. The chauffeur was putting their luggage into the trunk while the two of them sat in silence inside the car. Both of them had always been like this. Except for work-related issues, Wen Xuxu never took the initiative to start a conversation. When the chauffeur was in the car, she opened her mouth and said, ¡°Zhao Song, drop me off when you reach Pingyang Road.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± the chauffeur replied and started the engine. ¡°Are you going home?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, suddenly turning to look at Wen Xuxu. There was a tinge of agitation surrounding his tone that he was unaware of. Xuxu¡¯s grandfather had opened a traditional Chinese medicine clinic at Pingyang Road. Her own apartment was in that area too. Wen Xuxu looked warily at Yan Rusheng. ¡°It¡¯s so late now, are you expecting me to go back to the company?¡± She would definitely decline. These past few days had drained her completely. Yan Rusheng nodded and replied, ¡°Oh.¡± He turned back, propping his elbow on the window to support his head. He seemed to be in deep thought. He thought they would see Jiang Zhuoheng once they landed. To his surprise, he didn¡¯t come to fetch the stupid woman. That was strange. Wen Xuxu felt that Yan Rusheng had been acting weird throughout the entire journey. He looked perturbed and seemed bothered by something. Was he still troubled about Fang Jiayin? Sometimes she felt that she knew him very well, and there were times she felt she didn¡¯t understand him at all. If he was crazily in love with a person or item, he wouldn¡¯t have cared about the method he used to get what he wanted. That was his character and style. It had been three years; Fang Jiayin¡¯s photo was still on his bedside cabinet in his room. This proved that he still loved her very much. However, he already knew Fang Jiayin¡¯s whereabouts yet didn¡¯t take any action. This had baffled her. The car moved steadily and the sky was dark when they reached the urban district. Chapter 68 They returned to the crowded and bustling city that was full of the pressure of striving to succeed. Wen Xuxu dragged her luggage into ¡®Old Wen Traditional Chinese Massage Clinic¡¯. She could smell the familiar scent of traditional Chinese medicine when she entered. The shop front was about 50 square meters and the required materials and equipment for traditional Chinese massage were all neatly arranged. The floor was clean and gleaming. The lights were switched on but there was no one in sight. ¡°Grandfather!¡± Wen Xuxu raised her head and and yelled at the second floor. She put her luggage down and was about to head upstairs. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re back.¡± A voice responded from the second floor and a young man of around 20 appeared by the stairs. He was a scrawny boy with tanned skin and beautiful features. When he saw Wen Xuxu, the young man¡¯s face lit up with a bashful smile. Wen Xuxu smiled and waved at him. ¡°Qi Lei, where¡¯s my grandfather?¡± ¡°Master has just finished work, he¡¯s having dinner now.¡± Qi Lei pointed to the back and smiled in response. He was Old Wen¡¯s disciple. He came from the village and had been here for two years. He was younger than Xuxu by three years. He and Old Wen both stayed in the clinic. The young fellow came from a village, he was sensible and could cook well. Whenever Xuxu finished work on time, she would join them for dinner. ¡°Which bad lass has arrived?¡± An old man¡¯s voice suddenly called out from upstairs and it didn¡¯t sound too friendly. ¡°Hmph.¡± Wen Xuxu stomped up the stairs. She stomped heavily on the wooden steps, the thudding sounds of ¡®deng deng deng¡¯ signaling her presence. When she arrived upstairs, she could smell the stench of alcohol. She frowned and hastened her footsteps. ¡°You old fellow, drinking secretly whenever I¡¯m not around.¡± Xuxu pointed at the elderly man sitting at the dining table. She showered him with vicious scoldings. ¡°With your advanced age, aren¡¯t you afraid of the dreaded three illnesses?¡± She walked up to him and without a word, she snatched away the wine bottle and glass right in front of him. The upstairs area was the same size as downstairs. There was originally only the ground floor, but after renovating the place, it was divided into two floors. The suite room was partitioned into two rooms and a hall. Everything was kept clean and neatly arranged. Xuxu had stayed here at first. However, when Qi Lei arrived, Old Wen got an apartment for Xuxu and ¡®cast¡¯ her away to the new place. ¡°You bad lass, constantly cursing me to get the dreaded three illnesses. Does it benefit you if I get them?¡± Old Wen may be nearly 80 years old with a head of white hair, but he was still full of energy. Especially when he quarreled with Xuxu; his voice and imposing manner always triumphed over hers. Wen Xuxu loudly replied, ¡°If you do get the three illnesses, I¡¯ll wreck every brewery in the country.¡± ¡°Braggart.¡± Old Wen rolled his eyes, giving her a scornful look. ¡°I¡¯m not bickering with an unreasonable old man with no principles.¡± Wen Xuxu playfully stuck out her tongue. ¡°I¡¯m famished, I¡¯ll eat first.¡± After declaring this, she sat across Old Wen and carelessly put aside the wine glass and bottle. ¡°You¡¯re such a freeloader, only coming here for free meals.¡± Old Wen held his chopsticks once again. He discreetly peeked at Wen Xuxu and his hand was like a crab crawling sideways towards the wine glass. Wen Xuxu sensed it and looked down at Old Wen¡¯s aged and wrinkled hand. She raised the tip of her eyebrows. ¡°Hmm?¡± Old Wen quickly pulled back his hand. He was annoyed. ¡°You¡¯re such a bad girl, you should be looking for a boyfriend instead. Unlike other people who supervise their husbands, you supervise an old man like me every day.¡± He put down his chopsticks and looked despondent. Chapter 69 Wen Xuxu said firmly, ¡°Even if I supervise my husband in the future, I won¡¯t leave you alone.¡± ¡°Xuxu, let¡¯s talk about your husband then.¡± Old Wen stretched his neck and looked at Xuxu with enthusiasm. His cloudy eyes were shining. ¡°When will I get to carry my great-grandchild?¡± This was the topic he was most interested in. Wen Xuxu was speechless. ¡°¡­¡± Why was everyone around her so concerned about her lifelong happiness lately? Was she really getting too old? Why did she feel that her middle school, high school, and university days happened not too long ago? But as she pondered, she realized it had been more than a year since she¡¯d completed her postgraduate studies. In a few more days, she would be 25 years old. Indeed, the time had arrived¡­ to discuss about marriage. No wonder grandfather and the rest were so concerned about her. Xuxu held her rice bowl and grew melancholic. ¡°Xuxu, do you have someone in your heart?¡± Old Wen ditched his usual mischievous demeanor and asked Xuxu seriously. Unconsciously, there was a subtle probing tone mingled in with his seriousness. ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Xuxu raised her head and stared blankly at Old Wen. Grandmother Yan had just asked her the same question not too long ago. The words they used were exactly the same and their tone was almost identical. Why were they wondering whether she had someone in her heart? There were countless people who were 25 years old and most of them hadn¡¯t found the right person. Wasn¡¯t that the reason for being single? Or¡­ was the person in her heart too obvious? Old Wen used to be an army scout when he was younger. Even though decades had passed, his observational skills were still very sharp. He caught the guilty expression in her eyes and in his heart, he had his answer. ¡°If you really have someone you like, you don¡¯t need to tell me who he is. I won¡¯t ask any further.¡± He laughed and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve always trusted your taste.¡± Old Wen¡¯s words made Xuxu blush, a red flush creeping up her face. She had a mouthful of rice and pursed her lips to rebuke him, ¡°Grandfather, discussing a topic like this will affect digestion.¡± She knew that grandfather had understood her thoughts and he had the answer to his question. ¡°Eh!¡± Old Wen sighed and spoke in an earnest tone, ¡°Ever since your parents and uncles passed away, you¡¯re my only worry left in this world. Now that I¡¯m already 80 years old, I might depart this world at any day. If you don¡¯t have someone to rely on, how can I go in peace?¡± Even though these words sounded quite somber, there was a smile on her grandfather¡¯s face. Perhaps there was a time when he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the unexpected. But now that he¡¯d reached this old age, it was normal to let nature take its course. Wen Xuxu¡¯s eyes began to feel warm as she looked at this old man with white hair. Her eyes began to well up with tears. She frowned. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? You haven¡¯t seen your great-grandchild yet so you can¡¯t die. Grandmother will scold you if you do.¡± After she spoke, she bent her head and continued eating broodingly. Old Wen saw that her bowl was empty and he added more food into her bowl. ¡°Ah Heng came by this afternoon with a huge box for you. He said that it was a present he bought overseas.¡± He spoke in a gleeful tone which didn¡¯t conceal his fondness for Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°He even brought two bottles of wine for me and we drank together this afternoon. This guy is perfect, there is nothing to nitpick about him.¡± Chapter 70 Jiang Zhuoheng had always been known as an obedient child. Being born from a family that had been wealthy for numerous generations didn¡¯t affect his conduct, and in any case, he had a clean record. He would stay at school from morning to night, and he was always at top of his class. Although it only lasted for a mere two months, when they both started dating in City B, many people were updated with the news. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s family were open-minded and had no problems with their relationship. They had been supportive throughout. The only person who didn¡¯t approve of them being together was Yan Rusheng. ¡°Oh,¡± Wen Xuxu grunted, keeping her head bowed low. She understood, her grandfather was trying to test her relationship with Jiang Zhuoheng. Since her twenty-fifth birthday was just around the corner, her grandfather was feeling quite eager, so much so that he couldn¡¯t sit still. ¡­ It was close to nine when dinner ended, Wen Xuxu dragged a box in one hand and used the other to carry the big box from Jiang Zhuoheng back to her apartment. She pushed open the door and turned on the lights. The familiarity of home hit her immediately, warming up her heart as she stepped into her humble abode. She placed Jiang¡¯s box on the floor, shut the door and kicked off her flats. She skipped happily into the shower. After a few minutes, she wrapped herself in her bathrobe and stepped out of the shower, her hair still wet from the luxurious bath she just took. She carried her hairdryer to the sofa and dried her hair while catching up on some television shows. Home was definitely the most comfortable place on earth. After blow-drying her hair, she lay on the sofa, letting out a sigh of relief. Beep! Her phone vibrated from an incoming message. Xuxu picked up her phone¡ªJiang Zhuoheng had sent her a message. Xuxu, have you reached home? Something came up tonight, so I won¡¯t be able to pick you up from the airport. Sleep early and rest well. Goodnight. Although it was only a short message, it gave her a lot of comfort. Xuxu felt a rush of heat to her face. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s voice rang out in her head. It¡¯s been three years, how are you? Wen Xuxu, are you okay? She wasn¡¯t sure how to answer. Back then she was desperate, thinking that she was still young and had time to wait. Now she was 25 and couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer. Was she going to keep being stubborn? She put down her phone and slipped into her slippers. She took the pink box from Jiang Zhuoheng and untied the butterfly knot to unveil the contents inside. She lifted the cover, and her eyes brightened. Inside was a snugly wrapped white dress with puffy sleeves, a lace trim at the neckline, and cufflinks. Xuxu put down the lid, took out the paper protector and lifted the dress. It was the perfect length. Her eyes were brimming with tears. What¡¯s there to be jealous about? It¡¯s just Snow White. When you grow up, I¡¯ll get you a dress way nicer than hers and you¡¯ll look great in it. Xuxu, if I return after three years and you¡¯re still single, be my princess again, okay? How much good had she done in her past life to let her meet Jiang Zhuoheng in this life? Even if it was a small assurance, he was sure to go through with it. That night, Xuxu thought of a lot of things¡­ After returning to the office post business trip, Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu were too busy to even have meals. One fine day, the office seemed calm, as per usual. It was time to get off work, everyone had left. Wen Xuxu was packing up her things and was about to leave the office. She turned back and saw the President, fast asleep on his desk. She contemplated for a while and decided to wake him up personally. Chapter 71 Yan Rusheng groaned from inside his office. ¡°Come in.¡± Xuxu pushed open the door and stood rooted to the spot¡ªshe had no intention of stepping into the room. ¡°President Yan, it¡¯s time to leave, so if there¡¯s nothing else I¡¯m heading off.¡± Yan Rusheng looked up from a stack of files and frowned slightly. ¡°Have you finished your work?¡± Wen Xuxu frowned as well. ¡°There¡¯s so much work to do, I couldn¡¯t possibly finish it all in a day.¡± She did not hide her unhappiness and showed how irritated she was through her tone. ¡°Wen Xuxu! How dare you¡­¡± Yan Rusheng wanted to chide Wen Xuxu, but he suddenly thought of something and ridiculed, ¡°Oh right, you¡¯re not alone now, someone¡¯s waiting for you elsewhere.¡± Ever since Jiang Zhuoheng returned, her attitude towards Yan Rusheng had changed completely, solely because Jiang Zhuoheng had her back. Wen Xuxu smiled coldly and left without giving him an answer. She said¡ª¡±Bye¡±¡ªand closed the door behind her. Looking at the closed door, Yan Rusheng was tempted to throw his ashtray at it. He felt so agitated all of a sudden. Looking at the pile of work left undone, Yan Rusheng was no longer in the mood to carry on. He took out an exquisite box of cigarettes from his drawer and was about to light one up. ¡°President Yan, smoking is bad for your health. The Chairman wants me to keep an eye on you to prevent you from smoking.¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s nagging still rang in his ears. He was stunned and his hand froze. His thick eyebrows twisted. Idiot, keep your eyes on Jiang Zhuoheng. Stay out of my business. Young Master Yan tended to hold grudges, so he lit up his cigarette and started smoking. He rested his head on the director¡¯s chair, cigarette in one hand, and his other stroking the middle of his eyebrows. After a long day of work with no rest, he was exhausted. Halfway through his cigarette, he put it out. As per usual, he would finish a cup of water after his smoke. But to his horror, the cup was empty. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± He shouted at the door like never before, but no one was there to answer him. He then realized that Wen Xuxu was gone. Although he was upset and incredibly angry, he still dragged his body to the pantry for water. Taking sips in between, he walked back to his desk when suddenly his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and picked up the phone immediately, pressing it closely at his ear. Several elated voices from a few Young Masters could be heard from the other side of the line: ¡°Third Master Yan, we got Professor Zhou¡¯s personal number! When are you going to treat us as thanks?¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s face sank and he snapped, ¡°Cut the bullsh*t, send the number to me now.¡± The person on the other line didn¡¯t dare to make another joke and agreed. After hanging up, Yan Rusheng received the number immediately. Yan Rusheng dialed the number, and after a few rings, a warm and deep voice answered. ¡°Hello, may I ask who this is?¡± ¡°Professor Zhou, this is Yan Rusheng. Do you remember me?¡± ¡­ Wen Xuxu reached the office on time as per usual, but Yan Rusheng was nowhere to be found. To her surprise, she didn¡¯t see him for the entire afternoon. In the past, every time he went out on a business errand, he would bring her along. If not, he would at least let her know of his whereabouts. ¡°Come look! President Yan is in the headlines again!¡± Wen Xuxu had been busy catching up with all the work left undone because of the business trip, so she was excited to see what was going on. President Yan is in the headlines again? Xuxu raised her eyebrows in amazement and searched the Internet out of curiosity. Indeed, in the entertainment section, Yan Rusheng¡¯s picture filled the headlines. Chapter 72 Third Master Yan Caught Drunk Leaving a High-End Club. A lot of photos were attached to the headlines. Yan Rusheng Dragged Out of the Club, Drunk as stated in the headlines. Xuxu¡¯s heart sank with disappointment. She curled her lips scornfully, closed the tab and locked her screen. It had been ten days since she¡¯d been to the Yan house. The butler greeted her with enthusiasm as always. ¡°Missy, you¡¯re here.¡± The old butler smiled cordially and greeted Xuxu, then happily informed the rest in the house, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Missy is here.¡± She had lived in the Yan house for a few years, so the elders had treated her as their own and called her Missy. Hearing the butler, Wang Daqin flew happily out of the house in plain clothes, wearing a pair of reading glasses. ¡°Xuxu is really here.¡± She smiled at Xuxu. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call before coming? I would¡¯ve gotten Aunt Zhang to whip up some of your favorite dishes.¡± She held Xuxu¡¯s hands and led her into the house. Wen Xuxu looked at Wang Daqin¡¯s wide smile, and she hesitated. ¡°Aunt Zhang, Xuxu is here, cook up a few more dishes!¡± Wang Daqin shouted towards the kitchen as they stepped into the house. She directed Xuxu to sit down and looked at her with concern. ¡°I heard from Director Zhang that you were running a high fever back in coastal county, and you¡¯ve become so skinny.¡± Director Zhang has such a big mouth! Blaming Director Zhang under her breath, she answered, ¡°He was exaggerating, I only caught a cold.¡± She lowered her head and looked at Wang Daqin¡¯s hands that were tightly holding hers. She felt guilty. ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯m here because I have something to tell you.¡± Although it was difficult to bring up, she¡¯d thought about it for the past few nights and had decided to inform her of the news. She never liked to beat around the bush, but she was afraid of disappointing the old lady. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Wang Daqin looked at Wen Xuxu suspiciously. She was shrewd and wise from all her years of experience, how could she not have noticed that something was amiss? She saw how hesitant Xuxu was so she gripped her hands even tighter. She said encouragingly, ¡°Whatever it is, you can tell me. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± ¡°I would like to leave Flourish & Prosper.¡± Wen Xuxu immediately spoke her mind. She went straight to the point. Upon hearing the news, Wang Daqin did not show any signs of shock, neither did her gaze waver. She was still cheerful as she asked in a light tone, ¡°Can you tell me the reason?¡± Wen Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief, and then mustered up her courage, ¡°Grandmother, I once gave up one dream to chase after another, and I worked hard for it. Right now, I would like to chase after a new dream.¡± She was serious. ¡°Ok, I support you.¡± Wang Daqin didn¡¯t dissuade her from her decision, neither did she disapprove of it¡ªshe was supportive. ¡°Young people should be driven and must dare to chase their dreams. I thoroughly support your decision, and will always back you up.¡± Her words made Xuxu feel comforted but guilty at the same time. ¡°Thank you, Grandmother.¡± Her eyes were red and she gave Wang Daqin a big hug, which was more than words could ever convey. Grandmother, you might not know this, but I really wanted to follow the path you tried to pave for me. But after all these years, it was all just wishful thinking. Chapter 73 Since the food had already been prepared beforehand, Xuxu had to have dinner before she left. Dinner wasn¡¯t ready yet, so Wen Xuxu and Wang Daqin chatted on the sofa while waiting. After having a few drinks, she went upstairs to use the bathroom. Although she no longer stayed at the Yan house, Wang Daqin still kept her room the way it was when she was here. Her room was on the second floor to the right. When she walked past the study, the door opened and she was grabbed by the neck and hauled inside. She wanted to let out a scream when suddenly firm lips pressed over her own. The thin touch made her dizzy. Her eyes opened wide, and she forgot where she was. Rich dominance filled the air, and time seemed to flow backward. That gentleness was short-lived, and he¡¯d made a vow. Memories replayed like a scene from an old movie. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Xuxu finally woke up from her shock, her small hands curled into fists. She hurled punches at the back of the guy in front of her. ¡°Don¡¯t scream. If you do, I¡¯ll tape your mouth,¡± the guy warned softly, withdrawing his lips from hers. His low, hoarse voice was unexpectedly gentle, surprising the both of them. A set of strong hands held Xuxu by the shoulders, pinning her to the wall. Wen Xuxu¡¯s eyes were blazing with anger, and she bit her lip. She looked both resentful and annoyed. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re such a stupid woman. Have you never had any experience with men? Jiang Zhuoheng only needed to wave at you and you happily wagged your tail for him,¡± Yan Rusheng said insultingly as he stared coldly at Wen Xuxu. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business whether I¡¯m stupid or not.¡± Wen Xuxu held back her tears, and raised her voice at him, ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t have much experience with men, only pigs.¡± She stood on her toes and bit Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Umph!¡± Yan Rusheng let out a bitter sigh and stared at her with furrowed brows. ¡°Why do women like to bite men¡¯s shoulders?¡± All you women¡­ Yan Rusheng, have you had a lot of experience with women? Or was Fang Jiayin good with her mouth? Wen Xuxu smiled coldly and took the chance to push Yan Rusheng away. She was ready to leave the room. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t care less about the ache on his shoulder. He reached out for Wen Xuxu¡¯s ponytail and pinned her to the wall again. He forced another kiss on her. He used this tactic to prevent her from screaming. However, it was humiliating to her. Who would have thought? Kissing her made it impossible for him to let go. Wen Xuxu furiously resisted and her hands were sore from all the hitting. Yan Rusheng still showed no intention of letting go. It was only until she started gasping for air that he decided to release her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you are such a disappointment.¡± Yan Rusheng took advantage of his height and looked down at her small frame, his eyes full of rage. ¡°You always act like such a proud peacock in front of me, but let me tell you this¡ªWang Daqin raised you, and she¡¯ll never allow you to make another mistake by arrogantly leaving Flourish & Prosper¡­ No way!¡± Young Master Yan, I was raised by Wang Daqin, so she¡¯s the only one I would disappoint. Since when was this ever your business? Not allowing her to make another mistake¡­ ¡°Hmph!¡± Wen Xuxu nodded her head, her manner self-deprecating. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll never allow myself to make another mistake again, so President Yan¡­ I¡¯ve decided to leave Flourish & Prosper.¡± She raised her head and looked stubbornly at Yan Rusheng. Chapter 74 He was fighting back the temptation to kiss her again. He was upset about how proud and arrogant she was, and how she never regarded anyone in her eyes other than herself. He wasn¡¯t sure what was so good about Jiang Zhuoheng, why was she putting all her eggs in one basket? The battle had been lost, but she still hadn¡¯t given up. Did she want to repeat the same mistakes again? Such stupidity! ¡°Wen Xuxu, I dare you to try.¡± Yan Rusheng clenched his teeth, his hazy eyes staring intently at her. ¡°If I say you¡¯re never leaving Flourish & Prosper, then you will never, ever leave Flourish & Prosper.¡± He withdrew his hands and coldly left the room. Xuxu was still leaning against the wall. She knelt down slowly and buried her head in her knees. Every part of her shivered. She was at the Yan house, she shouldn¡¯t be letting out her emotions here. She shouldn¡¯t be bawling her eyes out here. She took a mere two minutes to adjust her emotions and regain her composure. She helped herself up and walked out as if nothing had happened. Ever since the children of Yan house had moved out, Old Lady Wang only ever got to have dinner with them once or twice a week. Apart from the usual Yan Rusheng and Wang Daqin at the table, there was now Wen Xuxu as well, who livened up the atmosphere. Wang Daqin was elated¡ªshe tended to focus all her attention on Wen Xuxu every time she visited. Throughout the dinner, Wang Daqin didn¡¯t eat much, but concentrated on acting the host for Wen Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, next time you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll get Aunt Zhang to make whatever you like to eat.¡± Wang Daqin told her gently, serving up a bowl of soup to Xuxu. ¡°I will.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded in agreement and finished the soup in a few gulps. She put down her bowl and wiped her mouth with a small towelette. ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯m full. I still have things waiting for me at home, so I¡¯ll be heading off now.¡± She stood up as she spoke. Wang Daqin followed her. ¡°Do you want to stay for some fruit?¡± Wen Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Maybe next time, I really have to go now.¡± Wang Daqin was dejected and answered with a nod. Although she couldn¡¯t bear to let her go, she didn¡¯t want to force her. ¡°Alright, remember to visit when you¡¯re free.¡± She turned back to look at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Third Master Yan, the chauffeur had some family stuff to settle, why don¡¯t you send Xuxu home?¡± There was no room for negotiation. ¡°Grandmother, no¡­¡± Wen Xuxu wanted to decline, but her words were cut off by Yan Rusheng¡¯s firm ¡°yes¡±. He said it without any emotion. Wen Xuxu was surprised that Yan Rusheng would agree to send her home. She turned towards him feeling stunned. He had already stood up and had both hands in the pockets of his sweatpants. His cold, bloodshot eyes were aimed at her, and he smiled proudly. He was a thousand times bigger than her. She seemed so small, like an ant or a rodent. I will not allow you to continue your ways, to keep committing mistakes ever again. Yan Rusheng¡¯s insults rang in Wen Xuxu¡¯s ear, and she felt a shiver down her spine. Perhaps in his eyes, she didn¡¯t deserve any more respect than a rodent. Only Fang Jiayin was deemed worthy of his respect. She was elegant, beautiful, and possessed many talents. Fang Jiayin was good in her studies, spoke with elegance and she always dressed well. She basked in the limelight back in high school and had been well-liked by the masses. Even other aristocrats like Yan Rusheng had treated her like a goddess, being at her beck and call. Chapter 75 ¡°Xuxu, remember to visit often.¡± Wang Daqin reminded her as she parted with her reluctantly. She didn¡¯t want to make her worry so Wen Xuxu pursed her lips and stayed silent. She nodded lightly and turned around to leave the dining room. Wang Daqin watched Wen Xuxu¡¯s slender back intensely. She was already indifferent about gains and losses and she understood that when the time came to give up, she had to do it. But in the end, this person was Xuxu. The future mistress of the Yan family might need to assume the same responsibilities that Wang Daqin had when she was younger. For her and Mu Li, Xuxu was the ideal person in their hearts. The day her husband had adopted her, she¡¯d stood in the middle of the living room wearing a clean, plain blue dress. Her head faced upward and a pair of sparkling black eyes looked back at her. Xuxu¡¯s attitude was neither humble nor arrogant and she seemed fearless. Wang Daqin instantly liked her very much and she was astonished that a little girl from a village could seem so unyielding and tough. After that disaster, many children became orphans. Psychologists were sent by the country to counsel the children. They were afraid that the little girl would be traumatized too. They were prepared to engage a psychologist to counsel her. However, she overheard Xuxu chatting with Aunt Zhang one day. Aunt Zhang had asked her about her ambitions. She said, ¡°I want to study hard so that I can earn lots of money to support my grandfather because my father is dead.¡± She was only four years old; her pronunciation was unclear and she spoke in an innocent and childish tone. After hearing what she had said, the rims of her eyes started to burn and she knew that she probably wouldn¡¯t need a psychologist. There was another incident when she hit Rusheng and he cried. Rusheng came back to complain but she wasn¡¯t intimidated. Instead, she called him cowardly and said that he was worse than a girl. She had a hand on her waist with the other pointing at Rusheng as she scolded him. She witnessed the situation and quietly observed them from a corner so she wouldn¡¯t alarm them. When she saw their interaction, she didn¡¯t feel sorry for her grandson. She simply felt like laughing. To her surprise, Rusheng no longer cried after that. Even when he broke a rib, he merely frowned in pain. Since they were kids, she¡¯d been like a source of positive energy surrounding him and had influenced him tremendously. She thought their love for each other had started to sprout long ago. Sigh, things don¡¯t always turn out as planned. ¡­ Yan Rusheng drove his car out from the garage. A black Mercedes S600, luxurious in a subtle way. Wen Xuxu stood at the entrance on the lowest step. Her hands were holding the Coach handbag she¡¯d bought half a year ago. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail and she was wearing the company attire; a white shirt paired with a black skirt outlined the curves of her body clearly. She was shrouded by the warm yellowish light shining on her body. She stood quietly and it made her look even tinier. The breeze blew and messed up her hair. She lowered her head and casually smoothed back her hair. This casual movement had unexpectedly made Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart start pounding due to her gentleness. His eyes quivered and he had a slightly tender expression. The next second, he went back to looking as cold as ice. It¡¯s not that she wasn¡¯t gentle, neither was she unaware how to act like a little girl or to show her softer side. It¡¯s just that¡­ she was unwilling to display it in front of him. Xuxu¡¯s original words were: She had fallen in love with a guy for many years. From the first awakening of love until now, she made a bet with herself and gave up the opportunity to go overseas to further her studies. To take a gamble to see if that person had her in his heart. Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman. He didn¡¯t stay for your sake and didn¡¯t return even once in the past three years. Of course, he didn¡¯t love you. Chapter 76 Since she had lost the gamble, why couldn¡¯t she have some integrity and accept her loss? Now that he¡¯s back, you should have snubbed him and openly ignored him. Tsk, he flared up again at the thought of it. She only knew how to be proud in front of him. No matter where he went, there would be a throng of women throwing themselves at him willingly. In spite of everything, the woman closest to him had her eyes on someone else instead. She deserved to be dumped! Young Master Yan was fuming and he stepped on the accelerator. His car sped towards Wen Xuxu. He slammed the brakes and the wheels rubbed fiercely against the ground. As a result of the friction, the tires left long marks of about half a meter on the driveway. Wen Xuxu had just lowered her head when the car stopped abruptly in front of her, the brakes screeching with a loud warning. Her face was pale with shock and her first reaction was to look at the driver¡¯s seat. Yan Rusheng¡¯s malicious-looking eyes stared at her menacingly. Wen Xuxu secretly sighed with relief. She went down the stairs and walked to the back of the car and stretched her hand to open the door. ¡°Sit in front.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice sounded from the front of the car in a commanding tone. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t obey and opened the back door resolutely. She got in and closed the door. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you sure are getting bolder. You thought that by leaving Flourish & Prosper, you can start ignoring my instructions?¡± Young Master Yan was seething with anger and he turned around to stare at her with gritted teeth. He started the engine, stepped on the accelerator and left the courtyard. He sped onto a wide road. Yan Rusheng stole occasional glances at Wen Xuxu through the rearview mirror. It was dark inside the car and he could only catch a glimpse of her dewy eyes. Her eyes were glittering like obsidian. She didn¡¯t speak and neither did he. They remained silent throughout the whole journey. The roads in the capital were still slightly congested at around 8 p.m. The car stopped at a traffic junction. Yan Rusheng took out his cigarette case from the cabinet, took a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He gloomily started smoking. White wisps of smoke started to pervade the air in the car. The strong smell of tobacco delved straight into Xuxu¡¯s nose. She dispersed the air in front of her with her hands, opened the car window and turned her face outwards. The lights turned green and Yan Rusheng stubbed out the cigarette after two or three puffs. The car moved forward once again. Wen Xuxu glanced at him and suddenly asked, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you won¡¯t permit me to leave Flourish & Prosper. Is it because if I leave Flourish & Prosper, I will no longer be your secretary and subordinate and you won¡¯t be able to get your revenge?¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply, she continued, ¡°If I¡¯m no longer working at Flourish & Prosper as your subordinate, you won¡¯t be able to feel superior and have a sense of achievement in front of me?¡± In the darkness, she straightened her back and watched the man in front with a subtle look of resigned expectation. ¡°Yes.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in a straightforward manner. ¡°So Wen Xuxu, I won¡¯t let you leave Flourish & Prosper.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded and responded lightly. So that¡¯s why he¡¯d kissed her so angrily. Yan Rusheng was merely using his usual method of punishing disobedient women to humiliate her. If she was gone, he wouldn¡¯t be able to make things difficult for her anymore. He¡¯d assumed that she had reconciled with Jiang Zhuoheng. He would no longer have someone who¡¯d gone through the same heartbreak he¡¯d experienced when he was dumped by Fang Jiayin. Wen Xuxu fell silent and she positioned her elbow on the car window to support her head. She stared out the window and everything seemed to look sad and dreary in her eyes. The car entered the district where Xuxu¡¯s house was in and he stopped at her apartment entrance. A tall figure had been standing for a long time outside the apartment¡¯s electronic door. Chapter 77 When they caught a glimpse of the figure, both Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were slightly astonished. Yan Rusheng¡¯s car plate number was too eye-catching. After scanning it, Jiang Zhuoheng walked towards them immediately. Wen Xuxu quickly opened the door and got down. ¡°Ah Heng, why are you here?¡± As she spoke, she fumbled for her house keys and completely forgot about Young Master Yan who¡¯d sent her home. He had personally driven her back despite the distance and she didn¡¯t even bother to tell him goodbye and just led her old flame into her apartment. Was she that impatient? Third Master Yan was very unhappy. He unfastened his seatbelt and got down as well. He trailed behind Wen Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng, catching up to them with a few steps. Wen Xuxu unlocked the electronic door and Jiang Zhuoheng pulled it open. ¡°I was eating around the area just now and I passed by your place. So I thought I¡¯d stop by for a while since I haven¡¯t visited your new place yet.¡± Young Master Yan glared at the back of Young Master Jiang¡¯s head with a look of disdain. Tch, just passing by. What an unoriginal excuse. He followed behind them and entered the elevator. Xuxu only realized that someone was following them after they entered. She turned her head and saw Yan Rusheng. She was startled and puzzled. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why didn¡¯t you go back?¡± Yan Rusheng replied casually, ¡°I¡¯m thirsty, I want water.¡± He was still wearing the ash gray sports loungewear he¡¯d worn at home. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants. He looked relaxed and comfortable. Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Was he trying to make use of this time while she was still Flourish & Prosper¡¯s employee to order her around? If you¡¯re thirsty, there¡¯s a convenience store just outside the apartment with a wide selection of beverages. Jiang Zhuoheng knew from the start that Yan Rusheng was behind them. Since Xuxu didn¡¯t realize it, he certainly wouldn¡¯t inform her about his presence. Only then did he leisurely shift his gaze towards him, surveying him for a moment. ¡°Rusheng, thanks for sending Xuxu back.¡± His deep and ethereal phoenix-like eyes were unreadable. His lips were curled casually, displaying neither hostility nor friendliness. A famous overseas designer had designed his outfit. He wore a pair of black handmade trousers paired with a white shirt and he looked slender and tall. He exuded an indescribable air of elegance especially with that subtle languid smile at the corners of his eyes. Most importantly, Wen Xuxu was also wearing a white shirt and a black skirt. Both of them were in formal attire and looked like couple outfits. Young Master Yan was sullen and he smiled insincerely. ¡°She is my secretary, sending her back is what I should do.¡± None of your business. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s smile deepened at the corners of his eyes. ¡°Ever since I came back, you and Xuxu have been traveling. We didn¡¯t even get to have a meal together, so let¡¯s meet up with An Sheng and the rest when you¡¯re free.¡± Yan Rusheng still had an insincere smile on his face. ¡°Go ahead and plan it out, I¡¯ll definitely join you.¡± Actually, his friendship with Jiang Zhuoheng was considered the closest when compared to the rest of their friends. But due to Wen Xuxu, both of them could never be frank with each other. They had always exchanged snide and sneering remarks. When Jiang Zhuoheng and Wen Xuxu started dating, Young Master Yan had babbled about Xuxu¡¯s flaws to Jiang Zhuoheng. His intention was to break them up. However, Jiang Zhuoheng wasn¡¯t bothered by his words, and instead he had repeatedly carried out public displays of affection with Xuxu in front of Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. Young Master Yan felt that Young Master Jiang hadn¡¯t taken their friendship into consideration. Jiang Zhuoheng was his good buddy and yet he got together with Xuxu despite knowing that he disliked her. In the middle of the conversation, they had reached the elevator. Chapter 78 Wen Xuxu entered the elevator first with Jiang Zhuoheng and Yan Rusheng following after. One stood on Xuxu¡¯s left, the other on her right. Both men had heights over 1.8 meters and Xuxu who was about 1.6 meters tall was sandwiched between them. It looked unbalanced. Both were like the highest peak above sea level. Xuxu could feel the pressure and tension in the air and it was unbearable. Fortunately, she was staying on the seventh floor, so it didn¡¯t take too long. The elevator doors opened and Xuxu was still the first to exit. She opened her door, switched on the lights and changed into her bedroom slippers. She reached to get her shoes and was about to place them on the shoe rack when she felt a chill emitting from the entrance. She raised her head! ¡°Why are the two of you blocking the entrance?¡± She frowned in bewilderment, her eyes wide. Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng stood side by side at the door, right under the door frame. Both of them were so tall and muscular, Xuxu wanted to ask if they felt cramped. But they seemed to be doing it out of spite. She decided against saying anything since she might end up becoming cannon fodder if she interfered. She arranged her shoes and walked into the room by herself, throwing her bag on the sofa along the way. She entered her bedroom and came out around three minutes later. She had changed into her pajamas which had the cartoon character Doraemon printed across her chest. Both Jiang Zhuoheng and Yan Rusheng had entered the apartment and were sitting on the sofa. They seemed to have made themselves at home. One was switching television channels with the remote control, the other reading a magazine. Relaxed and leisurely. When they heard the sound of the door opening, they simultaneously glanced towards Xuxu¡¯s direction. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what is that thing?¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at the picture on her chest. Both his eyes and mouth were twitching as if he was about to burst out laughing at any moment. ¡°It¡¯s Doraemon, don¡¯t you know?¡± Wen Xuxu could see a gleam of mockery in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes, but she chose to turn a blind eye. She walked towards the water dispenser and opened the cabinet below it. Taking out the cups, she poured two cups of water, then placed them in front of Jiang Zhuoheng and Yan Rusheng. ¡°If you want water, then hurry up and drink it so that you can go back soon.¡± She put the cup down and said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± She turned around and went to the bathroom. Was she trying to chase him away? Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell immediately. He turned to glare at the bathroom door which was already shut. His malicious-looking eyes gleamed with a contrasting combination of fire and ice. He put the cup to his mouth and gulped down the water. Then he rose and left with heavy footsteps. He didn¡¯t even say goodbye. Yan Rusheng had never been chased away by someone before; this would be a first. Stupid woman, let¡¯s see how much longer you can stay smug! Wen Xuxu was showering when she heard the door being slammed with a loud¡®bang!¡¯ . She shook with fear. What happened? She washed away the foam on her body, putting on her clothes before going out. Her first reaction was to look at the sofa and saw that only Jiang Zhuoheng was there. Was that guy already gone? She peered at the bottom of the shoe rack. Indeed, Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoes were gone. ¡°He can just leave, why did he have to slam the door?¡± she mumbled grumpily and walked towards the sofa. Jiang Zhuoheng saw Xuxu walking towards him and the corners of his mouth had an affectionate smile. He said jokingly, ¡°Slamming the door was to refresh his presence.¡± If Young Master Yan had been in a corner eavesdropping on them, he would have retorted, ¡± Tsk, Jiang Zhuoheng you despicable guy. How dare you speak ill of me to that stupid woman behind my back?¡± Chapter 79 Wen Xuxu sat down beside him and avoided talking about Yan Rusheng. ¡°Seems like a foreign climate is favorable. You¡¯re even fairer than before.¡± ¡°Can I say that after three years, I still haven¡¯t gotten used to everything there?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng became serious and he looked intensely at Xuxu¡¯s petite face. His thoughts were written plainly on his face and he gradually inched closer to Xuxu¡¯s face bit by bit. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to do in this situation. When Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s lips almost touched hers, she abruptly exclaimed, ¡°Ah Heng!¡± Her pitch became higher, completely revealing her nervousness. Jiang Zhuoheng stopped short when he was about 4 to 5 centimeters away from Xuxu¡¯s lips. He saw the nervous and flustered look in her eyes and he smiled gently at her. ¡°Xuxu, foreign climates are indeed favorable. The air is fresh and the environment is great.¡± It¡¯s a pity you weren¡¯t there. No matter how good it was¡­ what¡¯s it got to do with me? He put his hand around Xuxu¡¯s waist and his head rested lightly on her shoulders. Wen Xuxu looked sideways at him with a tender expression. ¡°Ah Heng, we were both really silly.¡± ¡­ ¡°F*ck!¡± Young Master Yan was raging with fury and he had no outlet to vent his anger. He forcefully kicked at the car door before opening it. He got in and pressed the ignition button. The luxury car¡¯s engine was remarkably gentle and it was almost soundless. Before he stepped on the accelerator, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from looking at Xuxu¡¯s window. The lights were still switched on. Stupid woman, she didn¡¯t even realize that she just invited a wolf into her house. She even chased him away. Just wait and see, that wolf would devour her by tonight. Pure stupidity! After reprimanding Wen Xuxu in his heart, he stepped on the accelerator. The car reached the intersection ahead and he made a sharp turn and drove towards the entrance of the district. His mind was completely focused on the scene where Jiang Zhuoheng and Wen Xuxu were standing together. And so he didn¡¯t notice the traffic light or when he ran a red light. He only realized it after the deed was done. He was out of luck tonight as the traffic police were on the opposite side of the road. Speeding past a red light in the middle of night implied the strong possibility of drunk driving. The traffic police obstructed his path a distance away and waved at him. Young Master Yan usually abided by the traffic rules and he was polite and courteous. But he was in a bad mood today. So when the traffic police blocked his path, he suddenly had the strong urge to hit them with his car. He managed to press the brakes in time. But after stopping his car, he didn¡¯t get down. Knock knock knock. The traffic officers knocked on his car window and bent down to peer inside. Yan Rusheng rolled down the window impatiently. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± That expression on his face seemed to be warning others not to come near to him. Indeed, most of the people who drove luxury cars were the same. They were usually bad-tempered with cocky attitudes and liked to flaunt their wealth. They didn¡¯t care about the laws and regulations. Young Master Yan had been stereotyped as an upstart without a proper upbringing by the traffic officer. The officer didn¡¯t fear power and wealth and he said in an unquestionable manner, ¡°Mister, you sped past a red light, please exit the vehicle for an investigation.¡± Young Master Yan bellowed, ¡°What¡¯s there to check for speeding past a red light?!¡± What¡¯s done was done. ¡°Please show me your driving license.¡± The traffic officer was firm and unyielding. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want to hit the headlines for speeding past a red light. He frowned and unwillingly fumbled through the glove compartment for his driving license and passed it to the traffic officer. The traffic officer took his driving license and his eyes swept past the license holder¡¯s name. He didn¡¯t manage to conceal his astonished expression This¡­ this¡­ so he wasn¡¯t an upstart. He looked at the man¡¯s face again¡ªno wonder he felt that he looked familiar earlier on. Chapter 80 Yan Rusheng observed the change in expression on the traffic officer¡¯s face and he knew he must have recognized him after seeing his name. He smiled and raised his eyebrows. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± The traffic officer pretended to be composed and shook his head. He returned his driving license back to him and gave Yan Rusheng a ticket. ¡°You sped past a red light, this is your ticket. Please cooperate by letting us test your alcohol consumption.¡± As he spoke, he held the breathalyzer instrument. He put it near his mouth. ¡°Open your mouth and blow.¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t bother arguing¡ªall he wanted was to get this over with and go home as soon as he could. He opened his mouth and blew twice. The traffic police officer read the reading on the screen. ¡°20, this is categorized under a DUI. Please follow us to the traffic police department.¡± Huh? Follow them to the traffic police department? Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t believe his ears, his eyes widening as he yelled, ¡°What is this 20 about?!¡± It was the first time he¡¯d taken a test for alcohol consumption and he wasn¡¯t familiar with the breathalyzer. Earlier, during dinner, he was feeling moody about Wen Xuxu¡¯s matters. Indeed, he had consumed alcohol, but it was really a small amount. Surely it wasn¡¯t serious enough to be sent to the traffic police department? ¡°You were driving under the influence of alcohol, please follow us to the traffic police department,¡± the traffic officer repeated once more. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Young Master Yan cursed in a fit of anger. To be sent to the traffic police department just for running a red light, isn¡¯t this traffic police officer being too dim-witted? He leaned back on his seat and crossed his arms, having no intention of getting out of his car. ¡°Young Master Yan, please cooperate with us,¡± the traffic officer said in a frank manner. ¡°Call my secretary¡­¡± There was a gleam in Young Master Yan¡¯s eyes. He suddenly sat upright, a crafty smile at the corners of his lips. He turned to look at the traffic officer. ¡°I¡¯ll call my secretary to handle this.¡± As he spoke, he reached for his phone and dialed the number of that ¡®stupid woman¡¯. It rang for a while before she picked up. A familiar voice answered, ¡°Hello, President Yan.¡± Xuxu¡¯s voice sounded sluggish and she seemed to have just woken up. Yan Rusheng was startled, he¡¯d only been gone for a short while yet she and Jiang Zhuoheng and had already switched off the lights and continued? At the thought of it, he became indescribably irritated. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯ve sped past a red light. I¡¯m being detained by the traffic police and accused of drunk driving. Come over immediately.¡± With a commanding tone, he didn¡¯t give Wen Xuxu a chance to say no. When she heard Yan Rusheng say that he¡¯d been detained by the traffic police, Wen Xuxu widened her eyes in shock. ¡°What? Drunk driving?¡± She hurriedly fumbled in the dark for the light switch, switched it on and left the bed. She hastily changed her clothes and left her apartment. She flagged down a taxi and as she reached the traffic junction, Xuxu could see Yan Rusheng¡¯s Mercedes S600 from afar. He was surrounded by the traffic police. When the taxi had crossed the road and stopped, she paid the driver and ran towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s car in a hurry. ¡°Officers.¡± She politely greeted the traffic officers who were surrounding the car. Then she glanced towards the guy in the driver¡¯s seat. He folded his arms and leaned against the seat in a relaxed manner just like a boss. He didn¡¯t looked anxious or worried. She was both angry and amused. She turned around and smiled at the traffic officers. ¡°Officers, I¡¯m his secretary. I think there must be a misunderstanding as our President Yan would never drink and drive.¡± At night, they had set off together, he couldn¡¯t possibly have consumed alcohol in the short period after he¡¯d left her house. ¡°He did drink, but it wasn¡¯t drunk driving,¡± the traffic officer confidently corrected her. He showed Wen Xuxu the breathalyzer and pointed at the reading. ¡°20.¡± Chapter 81 Xuxu wasn¡¯t surprised or nervous at all and her smile remained unaffected. ¡°20 is still within the legal drinking limit. Mr. Officer, if you can give us a chance, I promise we won¡¯t make the same mistake next time.¡± This fellow was really out of luck. She saw him merely drink a little during dinner, just a little red wine. What a coincidence for him to be noticed by the traffic police. Oh, but he did mention over the phone that he¡¯d sped past a red light. If so, then he can¡¯t blame it on luck¡ªit was obviously his own fault. ¡°We will definitely pursue this matter. I hope that people like you who drive luxury cars can take into consideration the lives of other people. At the same time, cherish your own life too.¡± ¡°Of course, definitely.¡± Wen Xuxu smiled and promised the traffic officer. ¡°We¡¯ll keep your words in mind. Please be rest assured.¡± After giving her promise, she turned around and extended her hand into the car. She took the ticket that the traffic officer had given to Yan Rusheng earlier on and read the details. She calmly retrieved her purse from her bag and passed 400 yuan to the traffic officer. ¡°This is for the fine, we¡¯re sorry for the trouble.¡± As the saying goes, if someone has already smiled to apologize, one couldn¡¯t bear to hit the person back. Furthermore, she was such an understanding and pretty lady. The traffic officer¡¯s expression softened slightly and he extended his hand to receive the money. But his tone was still solemn. ¡°We will still issue the demerit points. Don¡¯t ever make the same mistake again; cherish your life and the lives of others.¡± When he gave this statement, he looked at Young Master Yan. Young Master Yan was already miffed at seeing Wen Xuxu bowing and apologizing humbly to the traffic police. This traffic officer still had the guts to lecture him. His face fell instantly. ¡°Wen Xuxu, hurry and get in the car now.¡± Wen Xuxu heard him and didn¡¯t dare to dawdle. Bidding farewell to the traffic officers, she went over to open the driver¡¯s door. She looked at the man who was wearing an annoyed expression. ¡°President Yan, please get down and let me drive instead.¡± Based on her understanding of him, this was a telltale sign that he was about to erupt. If this issue had escalated and he really went to the traffic police department, the company executives would be notified. The unlucky one wouldn¡¯t be Yan Rusheng and would more likely be this upright traffic officer instead. If he went to the traffic police department, he would surely hit the headlines tomorrow. She didn¡¯t want to blow things out of proportion. The words of those people who relayed government propaganda online as well as the keyboard warriors were all too vile. She didn¡¯t want them to take advantage of this opportunity to reap any profits. Yan Rusheng got down from the car and stood up. There were four traffic officers and the tallest officer was still half a head shorter than him. His eyes moved around and scanned them coldly. His aggressiveness was overwhelming. His aura was too strong to be ignored. Wen Xuxu grabbed his shirt and gently tugged. ¡°President Yan, please get in.¡± She was exasperated. Would it kill him to just forgo his temper and arrogance sometimes? He glanced sideways at the woman beside him and he caught the worried expression in her eyes. Mm¡­ He decided to be tolerant and listen to her for once since she¡¯d forsaken Jiang Zhuoheng to come to him. The demerit points weren¡¯t a big deal, since he usually wouldn¡¯t get the chance to accumulate demerit points. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s grab a bite.¡± Strangely, his mood had suddenly improved. He walked towards the front passenger seat and as he turned around, he still had a faint, sly smile at the corners of his mouth. He opened the door and as his large body went in, Xuxu could feel the front passenger seat sinking down. Chapter 82 She started the engine without delay. After the traffic police were out of sight, she began to slow down. She stopped the car slowly by the road and turned towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan, if you stop speeding past the red light, then there¡¯s no reason for the traffic police to keep an eye on you.¡± She unfastened her seatbelt while she talked. Yan Rusheng saw that she was about to get out of the car and his expression fell instantly. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to lecture me.¡± He unfastened his seatbelt as well and he got down before Wen Xuxu did. He walked with heavy footsteps to the driver seat and stood by the door. He eyed the tiny woman ominously as she got down from the car. This fellow is really¡­ temperamental! In that short span of time, she hadn¡¯t said much except for her tactful reminder about not speeding past red lights and to obey the traffic rules. Was there a need for him to pull a long face? Wen Xuxu criticized him quietly in her heart and she immediately retreated to the sidewalk. She understood him too well and he was in an ugly mood now. There was a possibility that he would step on the accelerator straight away and drive off at lightning speed. Therefore, she should retreat to a safe zone first. As expected¡­ Young Master Yan slammed the car door after getting in and he stepped on the accelerator. The car whizzed past and was out of Wen Xuxu¡¯s sight in seconds. He didn¡¯t even put on his seatbelt. Wen Xuxu watched as the Mercedes S600 vanished out of sight. She had came a long way to settle the dispute between him and the traffic police. How could he be okay with leaving a woman behind by the roadside? If it was Fang Jiayin¡­ No, if it was Fang Jiayin, how could he bear to let Fang Jiayin handle the traffic police herself? Yan Rusheng, the days of you torturing me should come to an end soon. ¡­ The next day, Wen Xuxu submitted the letter to formally tender her resignation. Yan Rusheng¡¯s attitude was unchanged, he tore the letter right in her face. She ignored him and turned around to leave. Even though she was sure that she¡¯d be resigning, she couldn¡¯t leave without a proper handover. This was Flourish & Prosper, and for the sake of certain people, she couldn¡¯t be so irresponsible. Grandmother and Aunt Mu Li had treated her just like family. So she had to wait until Grandmother found a replacement for her so she could do a proper handover before leaving. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t look for her the whole morning. She was happy with the peacefulness that came with it and spent her time organizing the details of the handover for the next secretary. She assumed that since Grandmother had promised to let her resign, there would be someone to replace her very soon. She was certain that Grandmother would already have someone in mind to replace her as Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary. At noon, the rest of the employees went out for lunch one after another. Wen Xuxu switched off her computer and grabbed her cell phone. She walked to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and was just about to knock on the door. The door opened at that instant! Slightly startled, she raised her head. Yan Rusheng looked down, his deep and serene eyes fixating on her face which was no bigger than a palm. His gaze emitted an eerie chill. She opened her mouth and asked, ¡°President Yan, what would you like for lunch?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you sure about leaving Flourish & Prosper?¡± Yan Rusheng answered her with another question instead. Seeking for her confirmation, his eyes narrowed with a dangerous gleam. Wen Xuxu unconsciously gripped her hands in fear. She had no idea what Yan Rusheng was planning to do when she answered. After all, he was so bad-tempered, it was possible that he might hit her. He was no longer that kid from before; if he really did hit her, he could knock her out with just a punch. But she wouldn¡¯t let herself be subdued by force and she wasn¡¯t about to revoke her resignation just because she was afraid that he might hit her. She couldn¡¯t continue staying here and let him take his revenge on her, treating her as a tool so he could feel better about himself. Chapter 83 Grandfather was getting on in years and it looked like she was no longer at an age where she could be adventurous and reckless. Therefore she had to take this step in order to start a new life. After making her decision, she took a deep breath and nodded lightly. ¡°Yes.¡± Even though he had anticipated her answer, the moment when she nodded her head, he couldn¡¯t suppress his unfathomable feelings of irritation and unwillingness. ¡°Alright, you can get lost now.¡± Yan Rusheng suppressed his voice, pointing at the President¡¯s office door. Lifting his feet, he coldly walked past Xuxu. Wen Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s rigid back. Suddenly, her tears were like a flood which had burst through the gates, instantly flowing down in torrents. She bit her lips and lowered her head, using her hands to cover her face. It¡¯s over, Wen Xuxu! Taking advantage of the lunch hour while her colleagues were out for lunch, she packed up her belongings and left the President¡¯s office with two huge boxes. She stood at the door and turned back to bid goodbye to the desk she¡¯d sat at for more than a year. Wen Xuxu stood by the road and waited for a taxi. The sunlight was glaring and it was hard to open her eyes. Even though she was in the city, there were only office buildings nearby. There wasn¡¯t any malls or hospitals in the vicinity, so it was difficult to get a taxi. She stood around for quite some time but there still wasn¡¯t a taxi in sight. ¡°Pretty lady, where are you going? Do you need a lift?¡± Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice behind her. ¡°Ah Heng? Why are you here?¡± Xuxu turned her head to look at the elegantly-dressed man and asked in surprise. Jiang Zhuoheng joked, ¡°That¡¯s because I knew that a certain pretty lady couldn¡¯t get a taxi, so I¡¯m using the opportunity to strike a conversation with her.¡± Wen Xuxu obviously didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Tch.¡± But it was possible that he had specially come to look for her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and walked towards Xuxu. He took the boxes from her. He saw that Xuxu was sweating. Raising a knee to support the boxes, he used his other hand to take out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away her perspiration. Naturally, Wen Xuxu raised her hand and took the handkerchief to wipe it herself. As she wiped, she acted in a pitiful manner. ¡°I was fired by my boss, so I¡¯m jobless now.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng could tell from her pitiful expression that she was just being playful. The smile on his face became more affectionate. ¡°I heard that Miss Wen was a good secretary. Currently, I¡¯m looking for a secretary, the annual salary is one million yuan.¡± Even though he knew that Xuxu would never agree, in his heart, he couldn¡¯t help but hope that she would anyway. Wen Xuxu smiled. ¡°I thought that with our close relationship, Young Master Jiang would pity a poor girl like me and give me a large sum of money for my retirement.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng raised his eyebrows and replied back with a mixture of seriousness and humor. Wen Xuxu raised the blue handkerchief and swept it lightly across Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s not worth standing and joking here on such a warm day.¡± Then she pointed at the two boxes in his hands and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t manage to pass these to my replacement. I¡¯m going to go to Grandmother¡¯s house with these documents so that she can pass it to the next secretary.¡± Yan Rusheng had been adamant about not letting her go this morning but he had changed his attitude in the afternoon and took the initiative to let her leave. Grandmother must have pressured Yan Rusheng somehow. Nonetheless, she had to personally make the trip to her place to inform her. The car stopped outside the entrance of the Yan family¡¯s mansion. Xuxu poked her head out of the car and the housekeeper instantly opened the courtyard gate when he saw her. Chapter 84 The car entered the courtyard and stopped outside the stairs of the entrance. Wen Xuxu unfastened her seatbelt and got out of the car to open the trunk, retrieving the two boxes inside. Jiang Zhuoheng followed after and bent down to carry the boxes. Both of them walked towards the house together. ¡°Grandmother!¡± There was no one in the living room when they entered. Wen Xuxu changed her shoes, walked to the staircase and yelled in the direction of the upper floor. When she heard her yell, Wang Daqin appeared at the landing of the stairs on the second floor. ¡°Xuxu is here.¡± She glanced at Wen Xuxu then glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng who stood beside her. Her smile froze on her face for a split second before she continued with a chuckle, ¡°Ah Heng is here as well.¡± Holding the handrail of the staircase, she quickly descended. She was 80 years old but her nimble footsteps were like that of a younger person. Once she descended the stairs, she asked Aunt Zhang to serve them tea. Then she held Xuxu¡¯s hand and led her to the sofa. ¡°Ah Heng, take a seat. Why are you standing there?¡± Wang Daqin and Xuxu sat down, with the former beckoning Jiang Zhuoheng to sit down as well. She asked him about his family. ¡°What is your grandfather doing recently? I haven¡¯t heard from him in days.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and replied, ¡°He¡¯s been going to Grandfather Ming¡¯s place to play cards.¡± When Wang Daqin heard him, she was filled with jealousy and envy. ¡°That old fellow Ming Zhongsheng is enjoying life now. Both his granddaughter-in-laws are so capable. He doesn¡¯t have to handle the company matters personally now.¡± The group of elderly folks who had belonged to the same generation and had deeper ties with each other didn¡¯t have much to say about their sons. But when it came to their grandsons, there would definitely be endless comparisons. Everyone yearned for their grandson to be the most outstanding and capable when compared to the rest. If someone¡¯s grandson suddenly had a tiny achievement, they would love to call and inform every single one of their friends. Jiang Zhuoheng heard Wang Daqin¡¯s words and he shot a glance at her hand which was holding Wen Xuxu¡¯s tightly. The corners of his mouth had a meaningful smile. He replied, ¡°Your first and second daughter-in-laws are capable as well.¡± Wang Daqin sighed. ¡°Sigh, there are still flaws in an otherwise perfect thing!¡± After that, she turned to look at Wen Xuxu. The more she looked at her, the sadder she felt and the more reluctant she was to part with her. Her thoughts were too obvious and it made Wen Xuxu feel slightly embarrassed. ¡°Grandmother, there is nothing you lack. Both of your granddaughter-in-laws are very capable too. Both First Uncle Yan and Second Uncle Yan are filial and quite reliable. You¡¯re very blessed.¡± The words were meant to coax her but Wang Daqin¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°Hmph. It makes me furious when you mention the name Yan Shanghong. He doesn¡¯t need me to worry about him? A divorce at his age, how shameful.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Her mouth deserved to be smacked for rubbing someone¡¯s nose in it. Both Aunt Mu Li and Second Uncle Yan used to be so loving in the past that she had forgotten about their divorce. She pointed hastily at the two boxes she had brought from the office to change the topic. ¡°Grandmother, I have formally tendered my resignation today and President Yan has approved. Since the new secretary hasn¡¯t reported for work yet, I brought over all the handover documents. I prepared them carefully, please pass them to the new secretary.¡± After hearing this, Wang Daqin became sorrowful once again. ¡°Xuxu, are you not going to reconsider?¡± She was still unwilling to part with her; who else could be better than Xuxu whom she had raised since she was a child? ¡°Grandmother, I won¡¯t be so busy in future. That means I¡¯ll have more time to accompany you, right?¡± Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to disappoint the old lady. She held her hand and consoled her. ¡°In future, I¡¯ll come by every other day for meals. If you want to travel, don¡¯t forget to bring me along as well.¡± Chapter 85 In her heart, this white-haired elderly lady standing in front of her was just like her real grandmother. Their family had showered her with so much kindness. She would never forget it in this lifetime and she would never let herself forget. She¡¯d be as filial to her as she was with her grandfather. ¡°Really?¡± Wang Daqin¡¯s eyes sparkled and she smiled. ¡°Then I should really plan a vacation. Make it next month then, accompany me.¡± If Wen Xuxu won¡¯t stick to Third Yan then she could stick to her instead. Then all hope won¡¯t be lost. The corners of Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°¡­¡± This elderly lady really knew how to grab an opportunity¡­ ¡°Xuxu, where do you feel like going?¡± The elderly lady was still her decisive and swift self, similar to how she had managed the company years ago. She questioned Xuxu without delay and began to discuss their upcoming trip together. She was as happy as a child. ¡°Hmph!¡± Wen Xuxu gave a silly smile. ¡°Grandmother, you can decide, I¡¯ll just follow you since I¡¯m clueless about the interesting places.¡± Earlier, she had spoken without giving it much thought. In fact, the thought of traveling had never crossed her mind. She had just lost her job, and she had no idea what her next job would be. But if Grandmother had a destination in mind and she wanted her to go, she would definitely agree. Wang Daqin nodded. ¡°Alright, let me call Mu Li tonight. She¡¯s always traveling, so she can give us suggestions. I will update you later.¡± After saying this, her eyes shifted to the two boxes that Xuxu had brought. She scanned through the boxes and saw that they were packed with documents and folders. Everything was neatly organized and every document was properly labelled. She felt a pang of sadness again. There would never be another girl as thoughtful and attentive as Xuxu whom she had brought up since she was a child. She was obviously tailor-made to perfection to be the Yan family¡¯s granddaughter-in-law. The main culprit was that disappointing Third Yan who had always bullied her. How infuriating. Rumble¡ª Wen Xuxu held the cup of rose tea and took a sip. Her stomach began to rumble without any warning. She rubbed her belly and smiled awkwardly at Jiang Zhuoheng and Wang Daqin. ¡°Xu¡­¡± Wang Daqin wanted to ask Wen Xuxu if she had taken her lunch yet when she was interrupted by Jiang Zhuoheng in an untimely manner. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s grab lunch.¡± He grabbed Wen Xuxu¡¯s other wrist, then he smiled and nodded at Wang Daqin. Next he pulled Xuxu to her feet. All his actions seemed calm and unhurried but Wang Daqin didn¡¯t have ample time make a counter move. ¡°You¡¯re both already here, why bother eating outside?¡± Wang Daqin got up as well and finally found a chance to say something. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled. ¡°Grandmother Yan, I¡¯ve been back for days but Xuxu has been occupied with work. The two of us haven¡¯t had the chance to eat a proper meal. Do grant me my wish.¡± After saying this, he held Xuxu¡¯s hand and walked towards the door. Wang Daqin opened her mouth but she was speechless. As a result, she could only watch them leave. She was about to chase after them but she couldn¡¯t think of a better reason to make them stay. As she watched them disappear from her sight, she stomped heavily in frustration. ¡°Atrocious fellow!¡± He was too cunning, just like his grandfather. If her grandson Third Master Yan had focused half of his efforts and attention on Xuxu, Jiang Yicheng¡¯s grandson wouldn¡¯t be in the picture. Eh! She could only expect better from someone else. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, you became crafty after a few years abroad.¡± After she got in the car, Wen Xuxu narrowed her eyes with a smile that didn¡¯t seem like a smile. She fixed her gaze on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s cold and elegant face. He started the engine and glanced at her. He feigned ignorance. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chapter 86 Wen Xuxu¡¯s smile abruptly vanished and she said seriously, ¡°You actually rejected Madam Wang Daqin. Are you tired of living?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng frowned in protest. ¡°I¡¯m innocent. Everyone knows how much I love and care for the elderly.¡± He knew the old madam too well. If he hadn¡¯t talked over her attempts to say something, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to bring Xuxu out today. ¡°Oh, please,¡± Wen Xuxu replied and she leaned back. She raised her hands and stretched herself. Then she touched her belly and yelled, ¡°Stop this nonsense and let¡¯s hurry up and grab some food! I¡¯m so famished that my chest is as flat as my back.¡± She never had to suppress herself in front of Jiang Zhuoheng. Even though they hadn¡¯t seen each other in three years, everything remained the same. Just as if they had never been separated. She thought, if Fang Jiayin came back, would Yan Rusheng be the same? ¡­ The Mercedes S600 which exuded a low-key elegance turned into the courtyard. The car lights illuminated the courtyard. The car door opened and a tall man got down. With a casual push, he closed the door with a ¡®bang¡¯ . He strode forward with his long legs and walked towards the house with heavy footsteps. His entire body emitted an eerie hostility that seemed to warn others to stay away from him. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to change his shoes and walked directly towards the staircase. ¡°Third Young Master.¡± When the servants saw him, they didn¡¯t even dare to raise their heads. They simply greeted him and retreated. Wang Daqin was in the dining room making a fruit salad with Aunt Zhang. When she heard someone calling out ¡®Third Young Master¡¯, she walked out with a peeled apple. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± She stood at the dining room entrance and yelled at Yan Rusheng who was now upstairs. He heard her but Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t pause in his footsteps. In fact, he purposely quickened his pace to spite her. Wang Daqin was impatient. ¡°Hey, this wretched fellow is setting himself against me.¡± She raised her hands and hurled the apple in her hand at Yan Rusheng. Recently, she¡¯d been practicing line dance moves together with Aunt Zhang, and the time she¡¯d spent hadn¡¯t gone to waste. She had amazing arm strength¡ªthe apple flew far and accurately hit Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. Yan Rusheng finally halted his footsteps but his expression became colder. He turned his head and looked at the old lady standing downstairs who was smugly crossing her arms and looking up at him. ¡°What have I done to make you dissatisfied again?¡± She had wanted to support that stupid woman, and he had listened to her. What was she dissatisfied with? To actually throw an apple at him! ¡°Why didn¡¯t you respond when I called your name?¡± Wang Daqin questioned him resentfully. How dare he disregard her? This fellow¡¯s temper had definitely gotten worse. Yan Rusheng smirked coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t you already have a well-behaved granddaughter? Wen Xuxu? I thought I was invisible to you. Did you call me?¡± He became bitter when the subject was brought up. He¡¯d already sworn to himself that he wouldn¡¯t let that stupid woman get away so easily. But this old lady had used his grandfather¡¯s last words to threaten him and therefore he had to approve that stupid woman¡¯s resignation. Young Master Yan grew angrier at the thought of it. He felt that he was burning up even though he only had a shirt on. He grabbed his collar and tugged at it forcefully. As a result, the crystal buttons were pulled off and they fell with a clatter as they scattered on the floor. Some bounced to the bottom of the stairs while the other buttons ricocheted off the wall and flung a distance away. Wang Daqin¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you trying to provoke me?¡± In the past no matter how she¡¯d reprimanded him, all he did was slam the door and leave the house. When he returned, he would take the initiative to apologize to her and admit his mistake. However this time he had clashed with her directly. This was also the first time he¡¯d ever openly lost his temper with her. Chapter 87 The elderly lady narrowed her eyes and she locked gazes with Yan Rusheng, whose eyes were blazing with fury. She finally came to a conclusion¡ª Xuxu has left Flourish & Prosper and he¡¯s gone mad! Sure enough, she had guessed it right. This was a wonderful outcome! Madam Wang Daqin was overwhelmed with excitement and she wished she could cheer and applaud. She buried her thoughts at the bottom of her heart and raised her feet to climb the stairs. As she climbed she said, ¡°Our family adopted Xuxu out of kindness years ago. But when I insisted on sending her into the company to be your secretary, I did harbor a selfish motive.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows with doubt. Selfish motive? Wang Daqin¡¯s eyes gleamed with a sly expression and she said earnestly, ¡°Xuxu is intelligent, brave, tenacious, and trustworthy. Furthermore, I brought her up myself so I understand her too well. I bet that there¡¯s no one else more suited to be the future mistress of Flourish & Prosper¡­¡± She stopped and deliberately paused to examine Yan Rusheng¡¯s reaction before she continued, ¡°And so, I arranged for her to assist you, hoping that the two of you would fall in love with each other over time. But more than a year has passed and you still detest each other. As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to the water but you can¡¯t make it drink. I¡¯ve thought it through, and we cannot hold Xuxu back anymore.¡± She had reached Yan Rusheng when she finished talking. A strong stench of alcohol had entered her nose. She raised her eyebrows and inched closer to smell him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, how much did you drink today? You reek of alcohol, are you trying to kill me with the stench?¡± As she scolded him, she used her hands to disperse the air in front of her nose with disdain. She had purposely jumped to another random topic. She wanted to observe if Yan Rusheng would respond to the former or the latter topic. ¡°You mean you¡¯re hoping that I¡¯d get together with that stupid woman, Wen Xuxu?¡± Yan Rusheng looked like he¡¯d just heard a hilarious joke as he stared at Wang Daqin with an incredulous smile. ¡°That was my original plan, but the two of you didn¡¯t share the same intention. So I think I should give up.¡± The corners of her mouth sunk and she couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Sigh, since you can¡¯t marry a good wife then you need to marry a woman who can help you strengthen Flourish & Prosper¡¯s position in this industry.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled coldly. ¡°That¡¯s why you arranged for Ming Ansheng¡¯s cousin to enter the company and be my secretary. Do you expect me to marry her as well?¡± Wang Daqin¡¯s expression turned solemn and cold. ¡°Third Yan, don¡¯t forget your identity. That Fang Jiayin almost caused you to give up on yourself. I won¡¯t pursue that matter but even if she comes back, it¡¯s impossible between the two of you. So you should abandon those thoughts now.¡± Her tone was unquestionable. After saying her piece, she waved her hand and continued ascending the steps. Fang Jiayin was Yan Rusheng¡¯s taboo. The reason why she was a taboo was because his heart would ache whenever her name was mentioned. The woman had cautiously whispered ¡®I like you¡¯ in his ear, in an almost docile manner. How could she abandon him? How could she bear to hurt him? What had gone wrong? He assumed that something must have gone wrong somewhere, that he must have done something wrong to upset her. Just that he hadn¡¯t realized it. Reaching the second floor, Wang Daqin then turned to throw a cold glance at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Xuxu brought over all the documents related to the handover this afternoon. It¡¯s in the study; tomorrow I will personally hand them over to Xinyi.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her and it brought him out of those painful memories and back to the present. He raised his head to look at her, but she was already out of sight. Ah, Wen Xuxu, how thorough and considerate of you. She had clearly left Flourish & Prosper because she was ungrateful and wanted to fulfill her own selfish needs. But now it had suddenly become his fault. Chapter 88 He went upstairs to the study and the two conspicuous, huge boxes were placed on his desk. He walked towards them and bent his head to peer inside. Stacks of folders were clearly labeled, and each folder was packed with neatly arranged documents. He extended his hand and retrieved a huge book of sticky notes and starting reading it casually. President Yan likes to drink coffee with milk and sugar. If he requests for black coffee, it means that he¡¯s in a bad mood, avoid him if you can. President Yan doesn¡¯t like to hear people asking why or giving excuses. Remember to request for permission before entering the room in the office. President Yan has a special interest, beware of venturing into a minefield¡­ One last reminder¡ªif President Yan wants you to handle his new fling, remember to bring a bouquet of lilies. No red roses! Good luck to you! She drew a smiley face at the end. Stupid woman! She was actually attempting to create rumors to mislead his new secretary by saying he has a special interest. In fact, he wanted to ask her what she meant by ¡®a special interest¡¯. Young Master Yan grabbed his cellphone and gritted his teeth in anger as he dialed Wen Xuxu¡¯s number. It rang for some time before she answered. Initially, he could only hear noises in the background before he heard Wen Xuxu saying ¡®Hello¡¯. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you at an entertainment place?¡± He heard noises that obviously belonged to places like a pub or a bar. Wen Xuxu, you¡¯ve revealed your true personality now that Jiang Zhuoheng came back. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to question her about the special interest? Why should he care about her whereabouts right now? ¡°Yes, Ah Heng and I are at Ocean Pearl. What do you want?¡± Xuxu yelled over the phone, thinking that Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t hear her. Hmph. That fellow Jiang Zhuoheng had indeed broadened his ¡®knowledge¡¯ after a few years abroad. He had upgraded his methods of seducing women. Ocean Pearl was the only bar in the capital city which focused on love and romance as the theme. Entering the bar was like entering a rose manor. It was known as the cleanest and most respectable entertainment place as only couples patronized the place. So there wasn¡¯t a need for ladies to accompany other men for a drink. There was a seven-star hotel next to the bar, and both places were managed by the same person. On Valentine¡¯s Day, the bar seats and the hotel rooms were bundled and sold as a package. Its reputation was supposed to be the cleanest but in fact, it was the dirtiest. Feelings resembling refusal and jealousy surged in Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. He interrogated Wen Xuxu over the phone. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you celebrating how you¡¯ve escaped my clutches at Flourish & Prosper? Don¡¯t you normally collapse after a glass?¡± Wen Xuxu stood at a quieter corner in the Ocean Pearl bar. She held the phone against her ear and the other hand was propped against her forehead. She asked impatiently, ¡°Oh please, can you get straight to the point?¡± It seemed like this young master was still unclear about the situation. She was no longer his secretary, so why did she have to be interrogated by him? ¡°What special interest do I have?!¡± Yan Rusheng was almost bellowing, and his voice seemed to quake by the end of his sentence. ¡°Huh!¡± Wen Xuxu was stumped for a moment. Then after seeming to recall something, she controlled her laughter and feigned ignorance. ¡°What special interest do you mean? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Ah Heng is calling me, so I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± After saying that, she didn¡¯t wait for Yan Rusheng¡¯s yells to travel to her ears and she hung up immediately. Then she playfully stuck out her tongue at the cellphone screen. ¡°Who called?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng had suddenly appeared behind her out of nowhere. She was shocked and asked him, ¡°When did you get here? You scared me.¡± Chapter 89 Xuxu patted her chest and admonished Jiang Zhuoheng before she answered his question. ¡°Yan Rusheng called, he sounded unhinged.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng replied lightly and put his hands tenderly around her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll send you home, it¡¯s getting late.¡± Hearing that, Wen Xuxu glanced at the time on her phone. It was almost 10 p.m., indeed it was getting late. On their way back, the windows were rolled down. Xuxu¡¯s hand supported her cheek and she peered outside. The nightscape of the bustling city flitted past her eyes. The gentle breeze brushed against her face. The residual noise from the bar had finally vanished in her head and her mind had calmed down. Jiang Zhuoheng was focusing on driving and they didn¡¯t talk at all in the car. The car entered the neighborhood and stopped right outside her apartment. She unfastened her seatbelt and asked him, ¡°Do you want to go upstairs for a while?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng shook his head. ¡°Nope, it¡¯s too late.¡± It was indeed getting late so Xuxu didn¡¯t insist. ¡°Then drive carefully on the road, good night.¡± She got down and closed the car door. Standing next to the car, she bade him goodbye with a smile. ¡°Rest early.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng lowered his head and looked at her with a deep gaze. ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu nodded. She turned around to walk towards the apartment and fumbled for her keys at the same time. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Suddenly, she heard Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s voice call out. It sounded like he had mustered all his courage to profess his love. Xuxu was stunned and she slowly raised her head. Then she gradually turned to look back. The sound of the engine started with a ¡®vroom¡¯ and the white Audi vanished out of her sight as quick as lightning. She stood rooted to the ground. She regained herself only after the car had turned back and drove past her once more. The cellphone in her bag rang out; it was a text notification. Xuxu took out her cellphone and glanced at the screen. The text was from Jiang Zhuoheng. She tapped on the text. If you agree, wear the Bestlove I gave you to your birthday party. If you still haven¡¯t decided, I¡¯ll continue to wait. Wen Xuxu was embarrassed. If he hadn¡¯t added that last sentence, it didn¡¯t sound so bad. He would continue to wait¡­ Ah Heng, I¡¯m feeling pressured¡­ She clutched her phone and looked up at the starry sky, a melancholic gleam in her eyes. Grandfather, do you really want me to get married? ¡­ Xuxu reached home, and as usual, after she had changed into her slippers, she went straight into the bathroom. After she¡¯d finished showering, she put on her bathrobe and walked to her bedroom. She sat at her dressing table to dry her hair. The loud hum from the hairdryer disrupted her mood and thoughts. She decided to switch it off and placed the hairdryer on the dressing table. Pulling open the dressing table drawer, she retrieved a dark red wooden box placed inside. The box was sealed with a tiny golden lock. She got up and went to the bedside cabinet to search for a bunch of keys. She found the smallest key and used it to open the wooden box. Inside the box, there was a golden-yellow plastic ring. It was covered with bits of black mold. Xuxu put down the box and took out the ring. After she put it on her little finger, she raised her hand in front of the mirror. There was a bitter smile at the corners of her mouth. The bride and groom may now exchange the wedding rings¡­ You may now kiss the bride¡­ I¡¯m not kissing her, she¡¯s so fierce. Third Yan, you have to stick to the rules of the game. You¡¯re the groom and Xuxu is the bride. Alright, it¡¯s just a kiss. Kiss! The black box of her memories had been opened. Xuxu stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror. She raised her other hand and touched her cheek gently. Chapter 90 You¡¯re not allowed to hang out with those student union guys ever again. You¡¯re mine¡­you¡¯re mine¡­ ¡°Sigh!¡± She broke her train of thought and sighed deeply. Her gaze landed once again on the ring around her little finger, and she mocked herself with a smile. Wen Xuxu, it seems that you really did get the wrong idea. She removed the ring and stuffed it back into the wooden box. She closed the lock and returned the box to its original location. Holding the bunch of keys, she removed the key to the wooden box, then rose from her seat and walked to the window. She opened the windows, pulled back her arm, and then threw the key away with all her might. She was pummeling those beautiful and fond memories which were all nothing more than just her wishful thinking. She¡¯d pursue a brand new life once again. ¡­ She had nothing to do after she resigned. Other than being able to wake up naturally everyday, Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t get used to her new lifestyle. After waking up and eating breakfast, she lay on her sofa to watch television. The drama series she used to be addicted to didn¡¯t seem as interesting after she stopped watching for a few days. She picked up the remote control and turned off the television. The big living room became quiet all at once. She stared at the black television screen in a daze. If only love was like chasing a drama series. After a while, just switch it off once you¡¯ve lost interest. ¡®Falling in love with you was my fault, but I couldn¡¯t bear to leave¡­¡¯ Her cell phone¡¯s familiar ringtone started ringing. It was on the coffee table and she stole a glance at the screen. It was an unknown number and the call was from the capital city. Who could it be? Puzzled, she held the phone and put it near her ear. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, guess who it is?¡± A lively voice belonging to a young woman sounded from the other end. Xuxu felt that the voice sounded familiar but she couldn¡¯t seem to recall who it was at the moment. ¡°Your voice sounds familiar, give me some hints.¡± A dissatisfied voice responded, ¡°Wen Xuxu, how could you have forgotten me?! When we were in high school, I even helped you beat Yan Rusheng up.¡± Wen Xuxu recalled and her face revealed a delightful smile. ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± She had transferred to their class in the second year of high school and she was the only one who had dared to help her retaliate against Yan Rusheng. Zhou Shuang replied grudgingly, ¡°Seems that your conscience is still intact and you didn¡¯t forget me completely.¡± ¡°After everyone graduated from high school, we all went our separate ways. It was hard to keep in contact.¡± Wen Xuxu had a tinge of regret and apology in her tone. ¡°I heard that you went to an university in Europe?¡± ¡°I called you as soon as I came back. Let¡¯s meet for lunch.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t find a reason to reject Zhou Shuang¡¯s sudden invitation. She could only agree. ¡°Hmmm¡­ alright.¡± Since she was also feeling bored at home. After she had hung up. Wen Xuxu went to the room to change. The weather was great and it was warm outside. She chose a light yellow dress with sleeves that ended at her elbows. The light yellow dress complemented her originally fair skin and it made her look even fairer and more exquisite. The dress ended below her knees and she tied her long silky black hair in her usual ponytail. Her ponytail was sleek and simple and the yellow dress exuded an air of playfulness. She radiated with a youthful liveliness. She waited outside the entrance of the mall where she was supposed to meet Zhou Shuang. Her eyes darted in all directions and glanced at the time occasionally. She hadn¡¯t seen her in six years. So she wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d be able to recognize the girl who had helped her to deal with Yan Rusheng at first sight. She was bursting with excitement and anticipation. ¡°Hey, Wen Xuxu! How did you manage to do that? You haven¡¯t changed a bit after six years and you still look like you¡¯re a high school student.¡± Behind her, someone forcefully slapped a hand on her shoulders and she heard a familiar voice. Chapter 91 Wen Xuxu was shocked for a moment before she turned around joyfully. ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± The girl was wearing an orange chiffon sweater and had a bob hairstyle. She spread her arms wide and hugged her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, it¡¯s been so long!¡± ¡°It really has.¡± Wen Xuxu returned the hug. After lunch and an afternoon of shopping, they both began feeling closer to each other once again. Thanks to the Yan family, she had attended prestigious schools ever since she was a child. Her classmates were either the children of high-ranking officials or rich entrepreneurs. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother was a diplomat and her father was a businessman. Both of them were stationed overseas. She was an only child and had spent her whole life not knowing what the word ¡®thrifty¡¯ meant. She dragged Xuxu to all the luxury brands in town. Bags, shoes, and clothes. ¡°Xuxu, what do you think of this bag?¡± They passed by Hermes and Zhou Shuang spotted a pink bag at the display window. She pulled at Wen Xuxu excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s quite nice.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded at first before she saw the bag¡¯s brand. Her mouth twitched involuntarily. Fortunately, she knew what Zhou Shuang was like. If not, she would have thought that her friend was bringing her to these expensive stores to provoke her on purpose. She couldn¡¯t see herself buying any of the items in this mall. It¡¯s not that she couldn¡¯t afford them; she just couldn¡¯t bear to buy them, and she wouldn¡¯t let herself buy them. The price of the cheapest pair of shoes was equivalent to half of her monthly salary at Flourish & Prosper. She had worked for merely a year and her savings were limited. Not to mention that she was jobless now. Even if the item¡¯s cost was only in the hundreds, she would still need to consider it before buying something. After she got Xuxu¡¯s approval, Zhou Shuang put her hand around hers and dragged her towards Hermes. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s take a look inside.¡± Xuxu could tell from her expression that she was determined to get it. She felt that as her friend, she was obliged to stop her from squandering her money whenever it was appropriate. ¡°Shuang, let¡¯s go, I¡¯m famished.¡± She pouted and touched her belly. They had shopped for hours after lunch and it was getting dark. ¡°I¡¯ll just take a look.¡± Zhou Shuang was adamant about entering the shop. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t retreat and ended up following her inside. She scolded her as they walked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you buy it when you were overseas? You came back here to splurge instead. The money saved from the tax refund, are you afraid it will attack your wallet?¡± Zhou Shuang turned around and hugged her waist, behaving like a spoiled child. ¡°But you weren¡¯t there to accompany me when I was overseas.¡± Wen Xuxu calmly gave a knock to her head. ¡°So mushy.¡± ¡°Welcome.¡± A pretty salesgirl welcomed them the second they stepped in. She was wearing an outfit from the brand¡¯s current season. The salesgirl swiftly surveyed Zhou Shuang and Wen Xuxu and she decided to focus her attention on Zhou Shuang. She smiled and nodded. ¡°Miss, please feel free to browse around. Most of our designs are from the current season.¡± Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t want to buy anything so naturally, she didn¡¯t feel like browsing. She was not only hungry but exhausted too. ¡°Let me hold it, you take your time.¡± She stretched her hands out to hold Zhou Shuang¡¯s shopping bags and then walked towards the white leather couch inside the store. ¡°This bag looks really pretty.¡± Xuxu had just sat down when she heard a familiar voice at the entrance. She automatically turned her head and saw a tall and pretty lady walking in. She wore a sexy red floral slip dress which ended above her knees. She had a pair of long and attractive legs which even girls couldn¡¯t help wanting to pinch. She was with a man wearing a blue shirt. Looks-wise, she was like a fresh flower which was stuck on a heap of cow dung. But if it comes to who had a fatter wallet, that was an entirely different story. Chapter 92 A trace of surprise flashed past Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Usually, it was common to bump into celebrities at luxury stores. And she couldn¡¯t believe that she actually bumped into one on this rare occasion that she¡¯d gone out shopping. Once the pretty lady entered through the door, two salesgirls immediately went to welcome her with bright smiles. ¡°Miss Ouyang, we haven¡¯t seen you in a while. You¡¯ve become prettier.¡± Ouyang Qingqing gave a faint smile and her eyes swept past the two salesgirls. ¡°Let me take a look at the pink bag at the display window.¡± She spoke in a lazy voice that oozed with overwhelming sexiness. Before she had finished speaking, the salesgirl who was serving Zhou Shuang had already retrieved the pink bag from the display window and was about to hand it to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Miss Ouyang, please hold on. There is another customer who is looking at the bag right now.¡± The salesgirl pointed at the couch and smiled as she continued. ¡°Please look at the rest of the collection or perhaps you can take a seat. I¡¯ll get you a cup of water.¡± She gave a meaningful look at the other salesgirl, instructing her to serve some water. ¡°I shall wait then.¡± Ouyang Qingqing raised her chin slightly and walked towards the couch. She sat beside Xuxu. Xuxu bent her head to look at her cellphone and Ouyang Qingqing didn¡¯t notice her. ¡°Miss Ouyang, please have a drink.¡± The salesgirl held a cup of rose tea and served it with both hands to Ouyang Qingqing. Zhou Shuang who was carrying the bag in front of the mirror glanced casually at the couch and her face fell immediately. ¡°Where is your store manager?¡± She turned to ask the salesgirl coldly. The salesgirl noticed her expression had changed and she became nervous as she didn¡¯t know what had happened. ¡°That person is our store manager.¡± She pointed at the salesgirl who had followed Ouyang Qingqing. Everyone in the store including Wen Xuxu were startled by Zhou Shuang¡¯s sudden questioning tone. She raised her head and glanced at Zhou Shuang who looked unhappy. She had been using her cellphone this whole time and hadn¡¯t noticed the situation. Did the salesgirl say something that offended Zhou Shuang? The store manager who was crouched in front of Ouyang Qingqing looked at Zhou Shuang. Compared to the rest of the salesgirls who were visibly shocked and alarmed, she seemed more composed. ¡°Miss, is anything wrong?¡± Zhou Shuang stuffed the bag back in the hands of the salesgirl and walked furiously towards the couch. ¡°Your service attitude is atrocious, I¡¯d like to make a complaint.¡± The store manager rose and walked towards her, maintaining a polite smile on her face. ¡°Miss, what have we done that has made you dissatisfied?¡± As they stood facing each other, Zhou Shuang pointed at a clueless Wen Xuxu who was sitting on the couch. She questioned the store manager, ¡°My friend is sitting there as well, why haven¡¯t you noticed her? Why didn¡¯t you give her a cup of water?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Xuxu broke into a sweat from embarrassment. It wasn¡¯t a big deal if they didn¡¯t serve her water; she wasn¡¯t thirsty anyway. Alright, this wasn¡¯t about thirst. This was about discrimination. But she really didn¡¯t mind. Just when Xuxu was about to persuade Zhou Shuang, Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s surprised voice sounded in her ear. ¡°Secretary Wen¡­?¡± Wen Xuxu turned to look at Ouyang Qingqing and she had a fake smile on her face. ¡°Miss Ouyang.¡± Ouyang Qingqing scanned her from head to toe and gave her a disdainful smile. ¡°Ah, I wondered who was sitting here.¡± The man accompanying her glanced at Xuxu and asked Ouyang Qingqing, ¡°Qingqing, do you know her?¡± Ouyang Qingqing straightened her back and flipped back her hair with her hand to display how her class and status was a cut above the rest. She closed her lips to smile at the man, then replied, ¡°Previously at the airport, the paparazzi photographed her helping me put on my heels. She¡¯s Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary.¡± Chapter 93 Huh? Helped her put on her heels? She had sprained her foot and asked her to assess how bad the injury was. Why was she saying that she¡¯d helped her put on her heels? Xuxu widened her eyes and almost choked on her own saliva. With a grim smile, she stared at Ouyang Qingqing. Why didn¡¯t this woman just say that she helped her carry her shoes? Then she would have more reason to be boastful. Actually, from the moment she first saw Ouyang Qingqing, she realized that the expression in her eyes had clearly contained hostility towards her. She wasn¡¯t in the least surprised. When Yan Rusheng dumped her, she had pestered him repeatedly and she had been the one to handle her on Yan Rusheng¡¯s behalf. This entire year at Flourish & Prosper, in order to help Yan Rusheng settle his ¡®harem¡¯, she¡¯d lost count of the number of celebrities she had offended. But actually, she was just a secretary who acted on her boss¡¯s orders. Why did she have to find fault with a secretary like her? Oh, wait. She was no longer Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary. If she continued to vent her anger on her, she would feel too aggrieved. ¡°Hey, I wondered who was it. Isn¡¯t this the female lead of some sleazy movie?¡± Initially, Xuxu was going to brush off her comments but Zhou Shuang had retaliated. She crossed her arms with her chin slightly raised; she looked languid and haughty. Not to mention Ouyang Qingqing who had come from a common and humble background and got to her current status due to the industry¡¯s ¡®unspoken rules¡¯. All the staff at Hermes had excellent qualifications and they had to speak at least two languages. During the rounds of stringent interviews and tests, they were carefully selected among the applicants. Speaking of their appearance, they were on par with the daughters of the rich and noble families. However, when being compared to a lady like Zhou Shuang who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and had a proper upbringing, apparently there was still a huge difference between them. Ouyang Qingqing heard what Zhou Shuang said and she instantly blushed crimson. She stood up and pointed at her furiously. ¡°Who are you saying acted in a sleazy movie?!¡± She was an award winner at the previous X awards ceremony. How could she have acted in a low-class movie? Zhou Shuang scornfully surveyed Ouyang Qingqing from head to toe. ¡°Oh my, do you think you deserve to wear the shoes that Xuxu carried for you? I think you¡¯re unworthy of even licking the soles of Xuxu¡¯s shoes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me to lick the soles of her shoes?¡± Ouyang Qingqing sneered at her and laughed. ¡°She¡¯s just Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary. Even if it¡¯s Yan Rusheng, I don¡¯t care what he thinks about it.¡± ¡°Ha, woman, your arrogance is overbearing if you think you can disregard Yan Rusheng,¡± Zhou Shuang ridiculed her, ¡°You¡¯re just an actress who relied on the industry¡¯s unspoken rules to climb your way up. The only difference between you and those women standing under the bridge is your asking price.¡± Xuxu was at a loss. To think that after six years, this girl was still so sharp, outspoken and completely unafraid of offending people. It seemed like she wouldn¡¯t care even if it was the emperor. ¡°You¡­¡± Ouyang Qingqing flew into a rage out of humiliation and she raised her hand, looking like she was about to hit someone. Xuxu observed the situation and she hurried forward to stop her. She moved agilely to grab Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s wrist and pushed her back with force. She turned her face and looked at Ouyang Qingqing with a smirk. ¡°Miss Ouyang, use your mouth instead of your fists. Are you trying to grab the opportunity to use us to appear in the headlines again?¡± Zhou Shuang had tried to help by defending her. So no matter what, she wasn¡¯t going to let her be at a disadvantage and refused to fumble the ball at this time. Besides, she had suffered a lot since Ouyang Qingqing had deliberately made things difficult for her in the past. This should help her vent her anger to compensate for all the previous times. The salesgirls stood at the side and no one dared to make a sound. Both parties seemed to be important and influential. Furthermore, both were esteemed customers so offending either one wouldn¡¯t be a good idea. In the event that they got into a physical brawl and smashed the items in the store, they were confident that these two would be able to compensate them for their losses. Chapter 94 When she heard the word ¡®headlines¡¯, Ouyang Qingqing was jolted to her senses. She adjusted her clothes hastily and said in disdain. ¡°Tch. What¡¯s there to flaunt about? On the surface no matter how impressive Yan Rusheng may seem, it can¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s impotent.¡± ¡°Impotent?¡± Zhou Shuang gasped in surprise. The minute the salesgirls heard this shocking news, everyone became attentive and they were all ears, waiting for some gossip to be revealed. Third Master Yan¡¯s looks were perfect and his muscular figure resembled a bodyguard. He was the most sought-after wealthy and eligible bachelor in the entire capital city. How could he be impotent? ¡°Hmph!¡± Ouyang Qingqing snorted with contempt. ¡°He only dates women but doesn¡¯t sleep with any of them. Doesn¡¯t this prove that he¡¯s impotent?¡± What? Yan Rusheng never sleeps with the women he dates? Everyone, including Wen Xuxu, was stunned when they heard the shocking news. She hadn¡¯t been aware of this at all. Ouyang Qingqing noticed everyone¡¯s reactions and she could tell that nobody knew. Tsk tsk. She clicked her tongue and shook her head. ¡°Sigh, I don¡¯t understand why there are so many women who are still trying to seduce him when he can¡¯t even satisfy their basic needs.¡± Saying this, she directed a meaningful look at Wen Xuxu with her eyebrows raised. Wen Xuxu halted her train of thought and looked at Ouyang Qingqing. She taunted her, ¡°Miss Ouyang. With President Yan¡¯s status, do you think that any random woman can climb into his bed?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for the retorts Ouyang Qingqing was about to spew out from her mouth. She swiftly continued, ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep with him, but that doesn¡¯t mean that others didn¡¯t. And that doesn¡¯t mean that he has a sexual disorder. It only means that you¡¯re unworthy of climbing into his bed.¡± When she finished her sentence, a piercingly cold gleam streaked past her bright eyes. It was as sharp as a knife and it swept across the other woman. Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s face was initially crimson red, before it turned dark and finally green. In any case, they had grown up together. She couldn¡¯t let this woman spread wild rumors about Yan Rusheng today, at least for Grandmother¡¯s sake. How could Yan Rusheng be impotent in that area¡­ Just as expected, it was only because in his heart, no one else but Fang Jiayin was worthy enough to climb into his bed. She¡¯d had her suspicions before this. How could he change his girlfriends every other day when all he could think about was Fang Jiayin? So he tried to use this method to provoke Fang Jiayin and make her appear once more. Apparently, his love for her ran deep. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯ve slept with him before.¡± Ouyang Qingqing was consumed with anger and she had forgotten about her status as a popular actress in the industry. ¡°But isn¡¯t it true that a secretary¡¯s job includes sleeping with her boss? You don¡¯t look like a decent woman, how many times have you slept with Yan Rusheng?¡± Slap! Before Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s could finish her sentence, a slap had landed with full force on her delicate face. Wen Xuxu had turned pale and the hand she¡¯d used to hit the other woman was still hovering in mid-air. Her entire body was trembling. She glared at Ouyang Qingqing, her eyes brimming with tears. The staff members were all speechless with shock. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu.¡± Zhou Shuang realized that Xuxu wasn¡¯t herself and she grabbed her hand which was still frozen in midair and her other hand tapped her face nervously. ¡°Xuxu, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Wen Xuxu gradually lowered her eyes and said softly, ¡°Zhou Shuang, let¡¯s go.¡± As she said this, she turned around and walked towards the entrance. Behind her, Ouyang Qingqing couldn¡¯t be bothered with her image any longer as she shrieked at her, ¡°You¡¯re a sl*t, stop pretending to be noble and pure! I¡¯ll make you pay for slapping me!¡± She had a sharp and unkind expression on her face and all the salesgirls were dumbstruck. Chapter 95 Was this really the sweet-tempered, compassionate, and generous Miss Ouyang Qingqing who had often appeared at charity galas? Why did she seem like a commoner shrew? Xuxu left the mall and her frail body was instantly exposed to strong gusts of wind. She lowered her head and walked pensively towards the roadside. The wind had messed up her hair. Zhou Shuang carried her numerous shopping bags from the day¡¯s shopping and she followed silently behind her. When they reached the roadside, she finally opened her mouth, ¡°Xuxu, let me send you home.¡± The two of them had been friends for five years, yet Xuxu¡¯s thoughts were still a mystery to her. She could never fathom what was on her mind. Was she feeling happy or upset? But Xuxu¡¯s personality was similar to hers. If she wanted to talk about it, she would have opened up even if she didn¡¯t ask. If she didn¡¯t want to say anything, it just meant that she didn¡¯t want anyone to know. Wen Xuxu shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll take a taxi home. Drive carefully on your way back.¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t insist. ¡°Alright, you be careful as well.¡± Sigh, it should have been a pleasant day. But someone had to intrude and stir up trouble. How disgusting. She parted ways with Zhou Shuang and Xuxu sat in the taxi. The night breeze couldn¡¯t blow away her melancholic thoughts. The taxi dropped her off at the entrance to her district and she walked absentmindedly towards her building. She intuitively turned around the corner, and then turned once again¡­ ¡°If a person bumps into another person, it¡¯s considered a criminal offense.¡± She heard a familiar voice ahead which belonged to a man. Xuxu snapped out of her daze and lifted her head in surprise. ¡°Ah Heng?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng stuffed both hands in the pockets of his trousers and smiled at her. The distance between them was barely a footstep apart when Jiang Zhuoheng suddenly took another small step towards her. As a result, they were so close to each other that they could clearly hear each breath the other person took, as well as their heartbeats. ¡°Where did you go? I was waiting here for nearly an hour.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s gentle voice fell softly from above her head. Xuxu raised her eyebrows and responded, ¡°Didn¡¯t you already know where I was?¡± Due to their five years of friendship, both she and Zhou Shuang weren¡¯t likely to forget each other. But even so, it was doubtful that she¡¯d go so far as to contact her immediately after she¡¯d landed just to ask her out for lunch and shopping. How did she get her phone number? And she hadn¡¯t asked a single thing about her personal life¡­ All these had indicated that she had come prepared. Jiang Zhuoheng knitted his eyebrows in confusion and asked a question in return, ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°Ah Heng, thank you.¡± Wen Xuxu looked at Jiang Zhuoheng with a faint smile that seemed to carry a tinge of exhaustion. ¡°Thank you for always looking out for me.¡± She¡¯d enjoyed spending the day with Zhou Shuang, despite how it was later ruined after meeting Ouyang Qingqing and the subsequent unhappy events. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled at her affectionately. ¡°Silly lass, I wanted to try the tea that you brewed.¡± Xuxu nodded and took out her keys to open the door. After reaching her apartment, she brewed a cup of tea for Jiang Zhuoheng and took a can of beer from the refrigerator. Jiang Zhuoheng saw her with the beer and was surprised. ¡°Wen Xuxu, did you forget that you usually collapse after a glass?¡± But it was more surprising that Wen Xuxu would even have beer in her house. This wasn¡¯t logical at all! Wen Xuxu walked towards Jiang Zhuoheng and lowered her head to look at him seriously. ¡°Ah Heng, if I¡¯m drunk, close the door after you leave.¡± Without waiting for Jiang Zhuoheng to respond, she brought the beer with her to the bedroom. Jiang Zhuoheng sat there, bewildered. He was torn between laughing and crying. What did she mean by ¡®if she¡¯s drunk¡¯? It will definitely happen, alright? Alright, since she wanted to drink and get drunk, he¡¯d let her do whatever she wants. Young Master Jiang wanted to stay and take care of Xuxu, but when he went to knock and open the door, he realized that Xuxu had locked it. Chapter 96 He grabbed the doorknob and his mouth curled up with a bitter smile. Wen Xuxu, it¡¯s my fault for loving you so much. Wen Xuxu was knocked out after a can of beer. She was sound asleep until she was jolted awake by the sounds of knocking. She opened her eyes and realized that it was already morning. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, why are you here?¡± ¡°Is it weird that I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°Did you stay here the whole night?¡± ¡°Is it weird that I stayed here the whole night?¡± What happened? At first, Wen Xuxu was still feeling sleepy. But when she heard the conversation between the two men outside, she became fully awake. She grunted, sat up and flung the blanket away. Without bothering to put on her bedroom slippers, she dashed out of her bedroom¡­ ¡°Why are you two in my house?!¡± She saw the two men standing in the living room and Xuxu gave a scream of surprise. She walked towards them. Can anybody tell her, what was going on? Last night, she had downed a can of beer and she had no recollection of the events after that. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re awake.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s back was initially facing her and he turned around after hearing her voice. He had his usual gentle smile on his face. He was wearing Wen Xuxu¡¯s floral apron and was holding a spatula in his hand. He had rolled the sleeves of his white shirt up to his elbows and he looked just like a good domestic husband. ¡°You¡­ didn¡¯t go home last night?¡± Wen Xuxu pointed at Jiang Zhuoheng and asked uncertainly. He must not have gone home since he was still wearing the same shirt as yesterday. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled lightly and explained, ¡°You drank too much and I was worried that you might need my help. So I stayed.¡± Saying this, he strode forward with his long legs and approached Xuxu. He gently smoothed and tidied her bedraggled hair. ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, brush your teeth and wash up before you have breakfast.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making breakfast?¡± Wen Xuxu was astonished and turned her head towards the kitchen. She hadn¡¯t used the kitchen in a long time. Basically, all she did was heat up the food she bought. The refrigerator didn¡¯t even have eggs, what ingredients did he use to make breakfast? ¡°Hey, why is your refrigerator empty?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng frowned and admonished her affectionately. ¡°Even your yogurt has expired, how can you live like this? No wonder you can¡¯t gain weight.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Wen Xuxu was distracted for a moment before she gave an awkward smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you could cook.¡± It was surprising to see a guy like him who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth be capable of cooking. She recalled that he didn¡¯t know how to cook when he left years ago. ¡°I knew that you couldn¡¯t cook, so I purposely learned how to do it.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng curled his lips. He sounded like he was joking but the expression in his eyes was dead serious. Wen Xuxu knew that he wasn¡¯t a smooth-talker. The main reason he¡¯d said this was because Yan Rusheng was present. Ming Ansheng had said it before¡ªwhen it comes to Wen Xuxu, Jiang Zhuoheng will become a petty man who holds grudges and acts extremely protective towards her. Hence every time in front of Yan Rusheng, he would excessively flaunt his affection for Xuxu. It might be because he was still irritated over what Yan Rusheng had said to him about her flaws and shortcomings. In her heart, Xuxu pondered for a moment before smiling sweetly at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Breakfast made personally by Young Master Jiang, I will definitely eat a lot later. I¡¯ll wash up first.¡± Saying that, she and walked towards the bathroom. So¡­ she had completely ignored his presence the whole time he stood here? Yan Rusheng was unable to suppress his anger as he stared at Wen Xuxu. Both of them were facing each other right now. Chapter 97 Her loose cartoon pajamas had enveloped her tiny frame. As she walked, she scratched and tugged at her messy hair, a result of her rolling in bed the entire night. Her movements were sluggish as she dragged her fair legs forward. The look in his eyes was too scorching and Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t ignore it. When she was about to reach the bathroom, she glanced at him composedly and asked, ¡°Why are you here so early in the morning?¡± It wasn¡¯t a weekend today, shouldn¡¯t he be in the office right now? Why did he come to her place? ¡°Wen Xuxu, get over here.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng strode forward with a huge step. He seized Wen Xuxu¡¯s wrist and dragged her into the bathroom. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t even have time to react before the bathroom door was already closed and locked. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng hastily rushed forward but he was still late by a second. He pounded on the bathroom door with his fists. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?¡± Inside the bathroom, Yan Rusheng had leaned against the door. The pounding sounds irked him even more. He turned his head and spoke to the man outside. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, can you get a grip on yourself? If I really wanted to do something to Wen Xuxu, do you think you¡¯d still stand a chance?¡± These words sounded conceited but Jiang Zhuoheng stood dumbfounded next to the door. He was right. If Yan Rusheng had really wanted to do something to Wen Xuxu, what could he, Jiang Zhuoheng, do? The pounding stopped suddenly and a subtle tinge of satisfaction swept through Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. When Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t hear any movements outside, she started growing uneasy. She stared furiously at Yan Rusheng. ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the line.¡± She looked like a feisty kitten who was about to explode. Reaching out with her hands, she grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders and used all her strength trying to pull him away from the door so she could unlock it. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Yan Rusheng held her waist with his hand and subdued her effortlessly. He lowered his head and gave a warning in her ear. His deep voice accompanied with the scent of fresh peppermint lingered around her ear. Her body gave an involuntary shudder. The next second, his pleasant voice could be heard above her head. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re blushing.¡± There was a hint of teasing in his smile and it made her blush from her cheeks to her earlobes. She lifted her head angrily. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what exactly do you want?¡± Why did he like to embarrass her using such methods? They¡¯d held grudges against each other for years, wasn¡¯t that enough? ¡°Wen Xuxu, it¡¯s all your fault. Now my scandal with you has been spread across the whole country.¡± Yan Rusheng still had a smile on his face but his voice had turned cold. ¡°My scandal with you?¡± Wen Xuxu raised her head and stared incredulously at Yan Rusheng. What scandal did they have? Could it be¡­ yesterday at the mall, she and Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s argument had been photographed and the media had already spun their stories with the photos? Other than that, she couldn¡¯t think of another reason why she and Yan Rusheng would be accused of a scandal. Yan Rusheng was watching her and his deep eyes revealed contempt. Xuxu¡¯s heart felt like it was being pierced with painful jabs. With a sudden burst of unknown strength, she pushed away Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands. Then she took several steps back. ¡°Then all the more reason why you shouldn¡¯t be seen at my house. We¡¯ve just been accused of a scandal and you¡¯re at my house the next morning. Doesn¡¯t this validate the rumors?¡± She stepped forward, grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s elbow and pushed him to the side to open the door. ¡°Hurry up and leave. I don¡¯t want the paparazzi stalking me every day.¡± Chapter 98 But no matter how she pulled, dragged, or tugged, the man simply remained immobile and stood at the same spot. Feeling discouraged, she began to loosen her grip on him. However, at the same time, Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand suddenly moved forward to grab hers. Then he forcibly pulled her body towards him so that she was left leaning closely against him. She could distinctly feel his breath above her and it was cold enough to make her shiver. Then came his chilly voice. ¡°If Grandmother asks you over for a meal and pushes me to take responsibility for you, don¡¯t compromise and agree.¡± So it turned out that Grandmother had been pressuring him. He was at his wit¡¯s end so he was here to give her a heads-up first. Hadn¡¯t he always treated her this way? Wen Xuxu, shouldn¡¯t you be used to it? Don¡¯t be sad and don¡¯t cry. Don¡¯t feel upset. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m not even a little bit interested in you. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xuxu flung his hand away forcefully. She lifted her face to look at Yan Rusheng; the look in her eyes and on her face were both insufferably obstinate. When Yan Rusheng heard that Wen Xuxu wasn¡¯t even a little interested in him, there was a strange feeling that streaked through his heart. That feeling made him want to smash something. He even felt like grabbing her and teaching this aloof and arrogant woman a painful lesson. So many years had gone by, why did she have to appear so arrogant and aloof in front of him? What right did she have? And what did she have to act that way? These emotions made him feel terrible. ¡°That¡¯s great to hear,¡± he said coldly, then turned around to open the door and strode out. After leaving the bathroom, with a few large steps he had already reached the main door. He pulled the door and slammed it shut behind him. The house went abruptly quiet and the silence was uncomfortable. Wen Xuxu was in a daze as she stood in front of the mirror to look at herself, her thoughts whirling around. After she had composed herself, she washed up and left the bathroom. Jiang Zhuoheng had already left too. Two plates of a sumptuous and nutritious breakfast were prepared and placed opposite of each other on the table. There was a Post-it note beneath one of the plates. The handwriting was beautiful and distinct. I¡¯m off to work. Go out for some fresh air after breakfast. Zhou Shuang has just returned and she doesn¡¯t have anything to do. You can ask her out anytime. ¡°Silly fool!¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s eyes glistened and she casually stuck the Post-it note to the edge of the table. Then she sat down to enjoy the specially-prepared breakfast made by the man who had loved her so much. Being loved and doted on was too blissful. ¡­ Yan Rusheng rushed down the stairs. The luxurious Mercedes S600 was parked at the roadside facing Xuxu¡¯s apartment unit. He exited from the electronic door and took out his car keys. He got off the steps and was about to cross the road when a white Audi suddenly came speeding towards him from his right. He agilely retreated backward and his heart pounded furiously in shock at the same time. His gorgeous face turned pale for a second before it gradually regained its color. The white Audi came to an abrupt stop in front of him and the window slid down. The man inside the car stared at him coldly. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, are you mad?!¡± Yan Rusheng suppressed the impulse to open the door to drag and beat up the man who¡¯d shocked him. He pointed at him and yelled in a rough voice. He wasn¡¯t in a good mood to begin with. ¡°Yan Rusheng. You¡¯ve been bothering Xuxu with these acts of kindness. What¡¯s that all about?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng propped his elbow on the car window as he scrutinized Yan Rusheng with a probing look. He didn¡¯t wait for him to respond as he continued to ask, ¡°Have you fallen for her after all these years of her being by your side?¡± Chapter 99 This was his greatest fear, but he impatiently wanted to confirm it. Yan Rusheng blanked out upon hearing his question, but after a while, he chuckled. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, that sounds like the greatest joke of the century.¡± His voice was mixed with laughter, but when Yan Rusheng heard it, it sounded disconcerted. Wen Xuxu¡¯s stubborn demeanor barged into his mind. No, this cannot be. He can¡¯t have feelings for that idiot. Jiayin is the only one he will ever love in his life. ¡°Is it?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s lips curled and whispered faintly, ¡°That¡¯s good, before my engagement with Xuxu, I want to make sure that you¡­¡± He paused intentionally, his gaze fixated on Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep dark pupils. He emphasized each word, ¡°Are you captivated by Xuxu¡¯s charms¡­?¡± He withdrew his gaze after finishing his sentence. He looked at the road ahead, pressed onto the accelerator and zoomed away from Yan Rusheng¡¯s line of sight. Are you captivated by Xuxu¡¯s charms¡­? Even after Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s car was out of sight, Yan Rusheng never moved from where he stood. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s last sentence echoing countless times in his mind. He snorted. Since when did Wen Xuxu have any charms? No¡­ Wait! What did that punk just say? Did he just mention that he was getting engaged to that idiot? Following that thought, he immediately fished out his phone and dialed a number out of his contacts list. ¡°Did you receive Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s engagement invitation?¡± A shocked voice came from the other side of the line, ¡°He¡¯s getting engaged?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything¡­¡± Yan Rusheng chuckled. ¡°Never mind.¡± He hung up the call and looked towards the seventh floor, where Xuxu lived. Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m not even a little bit interested in you. Don¡¯t worry. Hmph, idiot, soon you¡¯ll realize how wrong you were in your judgment! ¡­ Upon leaving the lift, Yan Rusheng walked towards the crowd gathering outside his office. ¡°What happened here?¡± His low, cold voice could not be ignored. The crowd dispersed, and everyone moved back to their seats. Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze swept the entire room and landed on his secretary. He asked, ¡°Qiao Jian, what happened?¡± Eyes narrowing, he started to walk towards his office. ¡°President Yan, Secretary Wen, she¡­ in your office¡­¡± Qiao Jian pointed at something inside as he tried to force the words out of his mouth. ¡°Why are you stammering?¡± Yan Rusheng reprimanded. He was already in his office, and he looked around. In a matter of seconds, his suave face sank into a dark mess. ¡°President Yan¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡± A beautiful lady stood by his table. She looked at him, her face ashen with fright. Her sleek finger pointed towards a small goldfish flopping on the ground. Her voice sounded shaky, ¡°I saw that the water was a little filthy and wanted to¡­ to change the water.¡± The floor was flooded with water, and glass shards were everywhere. Yan Rusheng landed a heavy smack to his head. Heavens! Wang Daqin, it must be your doing, you must have done this on purpose. Bringing over a girl who had no business being here. He had been looking for reasons to send her away but none of them were credible enough. Now, he had found his reason. She broke his precious fishtank and tried to kill his favorite goldfish. This was the worst crime anyone could ever commit in Flourish & Prosper, which warranted only one punishment: The Death Penalty! Chapter 100 ¡°Okay, that¡¯s alright.¡± Yan Rusheng lengthened his stride and walked deeper into his office. He made an ¡®okay¡¯ sign with his fingers and raised it up high. That tone and expression; he was obviously trying to hide his unhappiness. He was exuding a sort of coldness, and Wen Xinyi¡¯s face was as white as a sheet. She bit her lip and stepped back in fear. Her legs pressed against the walls of the office, and that¡¯s when she knew there was nowhere else to run. She grabbed the ends of the table tightly with her hands, so hard that her veins were showing. With every step of Yan Rusheng¡¯s approach, Wen Xinyi felt the tense atmosphere in the air. It was suffocating. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to do it,¡± she stuttered with fear. ¡°I¡¯ll get you another fish tank, and another butter¡­ butterfly fish.¡± Her voice shook, just like how her body quivered. Her eyes showed nothing but fear. As Yan Rusheng inched closer, her ashen cheeks flushed red. Yan Rusheng was one step away from Wen Xinyi before he stopped in his tracks. He stood rooted to the ground, his steely eyes fixated on her. Although she was born into a noble family, Wen Xinyi faced Yan Rusheng as if he was a snow-capped mountain, so high up that she couldn¡¯t conquer it. She had to tilt her head upwards to meet his line of sight. Wen Xinyi¡¯s small frame shivered again, as Yan Rusheng fixed his gaze on her. ¡°Secretary Wen, please leave my office right now.¡± All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice rang above her head. Wen Xinyi lifted her head and watched Yan Rusheng, her eyes glistening with tears. She looked as if she was about to cry. She was unwilling to leave and was also feeling a little embarrassed. Yan Rusheng ignored the scene under his nose, and repeated his words coldly, ¡°Secretary Wen, please leave my office right now.¡± He raised his pitch, scaring Wen Xinyi. She bit her lip and left, holding back her tears. She¡¯d been pampered since she was a child. This time, her crystal heart had definitely shattered. Covering her mouth, she ran to the toilet in tears. ¡°Qiao Jian!¡± Yan Rusheng shouted while walking towards his office chair. He couldn¡¯t care less how Wen Xinyi left his office, or where she had gone. He just hoped that she would go home and never step into his office again. That would save him a lot of mental stress. ¡°President.¡± Qiao Jian walked in, careful not to tread on Yan Rusheng¡¯s nerves. He scanned the surroundings and felt embarrassed. Yan Rusheng flipped through the newspapers on his table, his head stayed low. ¡°Get someone to come and clean this mess up.¡± From his tone, Qiao Jian could tell that he wasn¡¯t in a good mood. ¡°Yes,¡± Secretary Qiao answered, and left the room immediately. ¡°Wait.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped him in his tracks. He straightened his back, eyes still fixed on the newspaper article in front of him. The heading was different, but the gist of the article looked similar. Third Master Yan and his young lover, Secretary Wen. Third Master Yan¡¯s separation with his ex-lover. They even reported the long-lived rumors about Wen Xuxu and him that they¡¯d tried to hide. His thick brows furrowed, and as he stared at the picture of Wen Xuxu¡¯s palm on Ouyang Qingqing¡¯s face, his heart ached. Secretary Qiao held his breath and didn¡¯t dare to say a word. He waited quietly for his big boss to say something. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng looked up and sniggered. He looked at Secretary Qiao and said, ¡°Contact the producer stated here, I¡¯d like to invest in a movie.¡± Chapter 101 Huh? Wasn¡¯t Flourish & Prosper in the electronics and property industry? Is it expanding to the movie industry as well? Yan Rusheng saw Qiao Jian standing there frozen in shock and he frowned with displeasure. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡± ¡°Oh yes. I¡¯ll do it right away, President.¡± Qiao Jian nodded and didn¡¯t dare to dawdle any longer as he hurried away. Soon, news of Flourish & Prosper venturing into the movie industry was everywhere¡ªonline, in newspapers, on television¡­ The news had spread but Yan Rusheng hadn¡¯t given an official confirmation. In the evening, Flourish & Prosper was swarming with reporters. The second he set foot outside, Yan Rusheng was surrounded by reporters like bees to honey. ¡°President Yan, I heard that Flourish & Prosper is entering the movie industry. Is this true?¡± ¡°President Yan, can you please let us know why the sudden interest in investing in a movie? Is it because of Miss Ouyang?¡± There was a long pause¡­ The questions came one after the other just like a firing machine gun. Yan Rusheng nodded graciously. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve especially invested in this movie for Miss Ouyang. And I¡¯ve hired the country¡¯s most famous director and ¡®action¡¯ choreographer. It¡¯s not convenient for me to reveal any concrete details regarding this movie right now, thank you.¡± He finished his statement and smiled politely for the reporters¡¯ cameras, bedazzling all the female reporters who were present. The security team dispatched all their guards to block the reporters and secured a path for Yan Rusheng to leave. The reporters continued to relentlessly take photos of Yan Rusheng¡¯s poised and confident-looking back until he got into the car. The guards retreated and the reporters chased after his car for some distance before giving up. ¡°Pfft, haha¡­¡± In the capital city, there was a bar called ¡®The First Wealth¡¯. It was filled with bright neon lights and the entire bar screamed extravagance and prosperity everywhere. Two girls sat at an inconspicuous corner. A short-haired girl dressed sexily and with heavy makeup was pressing her hands against her belly. She was laughing loudly without a care about her image at all. Another girl sat opposite of her who seemed rather low-profile in comparison. She was wearing a sleeveless light blue dress with her hair tied in a ponytail. She seemed incompatible with the bar¡¯s noisy ambiance. She pressed her lips as she stared wordlessly at the girl who was laughing non-stop. ¡°You¡¯re so easily amused.¡± She lowered her head to read the newspapers once again; she really couldn¡¯t find anything hilarious about it. Wasn¡¯t it simply a movie investment by Flourish & Prosper? And Yan Rusheng had bought the script, so he¡¯d be personally involved with making changes to the script. ¡°Oh dear, I can¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Zhou Shuang was tearing up from laughing too hard and she tried to catch her breath. ¡°This Yan Rusheng is too impressive! Altering the script himself to tailor-make a role for Ouyang Qingqing¡­ And he even hired a famous action choreographer.¡± After saying this, she guffawed once again. ¡°The¡­ the funniest thing is that the editor of this newspaper even added a quotation mark to the word ¡®action¡¯.¡± Wen Xuxu scoffed with a loud ¡®pfft¡¯ when she heard her. But she hastily pressed her lips and smiled secretly. In the photo, Yan Rusheng was smiling at the cameras. He had seemed gracious and polite but that pair of deep and quiet eyes had a smile which gave off a warning of hostility and danger. Ouyang Qingqing didn¡¯t know the real Yan Rusheng yet. She must have experienced the industry¡¯s unspoken rules several times before barely managing to attain the tiny amount of success she had today. It seemed like she was destined for destruction soon. This was the real Yan Rusheng; the cold, haughty and aloof facade wasn¡¯t him. The real him¡­ was a person who, if you offended him, would destroy everything that you have. She had insulted and spread rumors about him publicly¡ªshe was obviously declaring that she was making light of him. Chapter 102 Just like how Zhou Shuang was arrogantly ridiculing her. ¡°Do you think Yan Rusheng is seeking revenge on your behalf? Or is he doing this for himself?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s laughter gradually died down as she held the colorful and vibrant cocktail in her hand. She lightly grazed the wine glass with her lips as she looked at Wen Xuxu with curiosity. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t even give any thought to this question and simply rolled her eyes at her. Nonsense. Yan Rusheng hates me so much, why would he seek revenge for me? It was obvious that his own ¡®manly pride¡¯ had been insulted. He was merely defending his own ego. Zhou Shuang frowned in suspicion. ¡°But before this, didn¡¯t he ditch this woman because she made you publicly massage her foot? Wasn¡¯t he infuriated because it hit the headlines?¡± Even though she was abroad, she still paid close attention to her home country¡¯s news. Wen Xuxu raised her eyebrows in an unconcerned manner. ¡°And then? I didn¡¯t even meet the young model he dated and didn¡¯t he quickly ditch her too?¡± Zhou Shuang hadn¡¯t seen him that morning when he¡¯d come to her place to look for her. She didn¡¯t know that his expression was full of loathing, as if it was an utterly shameful and unbearable thing to be caught in a scandal with her. Furthermore, a movie investment would cost at least tens of millions¡ªYan Rusheng would be insane to spend millions just to get even on her behalf. ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Shuang acknowledged her reasoning but she felt that something was amiss. She was still skeptical of Yan Rusheng and Xuxu¡¯s relationship. Ever since she transferred to their school and got to know their group of friends, she had felt this way. She had always sensed that they didn¡¯t really hate each other but she couldn¡¯t find a shred of evidence at the same time. A female singer with a neutral voice had finished singing a sentimental English song. She bowed deeply to the audience with her guitar on her back and left the stage. Wen Xuxu and Zhou Shuang suddenly fell silent. Their eyes wandered around the bar looking at all the people. Some were partying with alcohol, and others were drinking to drown their sorrows. Xuxu felt bored, probably due to the fact that she couldn¡¯t drink. ¡°Today is our tenth wedding anniversary and I¡¯ll be singing a song for my wife. Ten years ago, I sang this song to woo her outside her university dorm. I would like to thank her for staying by my side these past ten years; through poverty or riches¡­¡± A middle-aged man¡¯s voice appeared from the stage as he expressed his heartfelt feelings. It attracted everyone¡¯s attention. A slightly plump guy wearing a blue striped shirt stood on the stage with a microphone. He was gazing at a corner with a blissful and contented smile on his face. Xuxu followed his gaze and it led her to a lady in black. The bar was dimly lit so she couldn¡¯t clearly make out her features. She could only see her holding a rose and had the same blissful smile on her face. The lights changed color and the soft and slightly sorrowful melody began playing in the background. It was a song that most were familiar with, ¡®Love Letter¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s a pity love isn¡¯t a few drops of tears, neither is it a few love letters. In that case, it would seem a little cruel¡­¡± Xuxu was fully immersed as she listened to the song. When the song reached its climax, she couldn¡¯t help but hum along. The song ended and the wife went on stage to give the rose to her husband. There was a round of raucous applause and a few mischievous youths were whistling enthusiastically. Xuxu¡¯s soul seemed to have left her body and floated elsewhere. ¡°Xuxu, follow me.¡± Suddenly, Zhou Shuang stretched her hand and grabbed Wen Xuxu¡¯s arm. She started pulling her towards the stage. Xuxu sensed what she was up to and immediately protested, ¡°Zhou Shuang, stop fooling around.¡± Chapter 103 Has she gone mad? She didn¡¯t want to go to that spot with all the limelight on her. ¡°I remember that you can sing very well. Come on, don¡¯t be shy.¡± Zhou Shuang was determined to drag Wen Xuxu onstage so she could display her singing skills. She used all her strength to pull her. When she saw that Xuxu was completely uncooperative, she raised her head and whistled to rally the support of the good-looking guys sitting at the tables nearby. ¡°Handsome guys, my sister here has a really good voice. Do you want to hear her sing?¡± She often patronized such places and was already a wily old fox in such situations. Fighting and dating¡ªshe had done it all since she was in junior high school. ¡°Yes, we do!¡± The guys were all cooperative and whistled flirtatiously in response to Zhou Shuang. But their eyes were fixated on Xuxu. With everyone looking at her, Wen Xuxu¡¯s face was flushed from the crowd¡¯s attention. She glared fiercely at Zhou Shuang. This crazy woman. Being crazy alone wasn¡¯t enough and now she was dragging her along. Zhou Shuang took advantage of the opportunity and pulled her onstage. Xuxu wasn¡¯t someone who suffered from stage fright but she didn¡¯t really like such places. She would have preferred to stay at home and read her elaborate romance novels. Two pretty girls were onstage, heightening the excitement in the atmosphere. There were endless whistles and cheering directed at them. ¡°We should be having fun and going crazy at this age. Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re already 25 this year, have you ever let loose before?¡± Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t using the microphone yet. Her tone was serious yet regretful as she asked Wen Xuxu the question. 25 years old; she was actually already past the crazy and wild age. That age should be for 18 or 19-year-olds. Had she ever let loose before? Xuxu asked herself in her heart. Can I count that time as one? ¡°Come on, let everyone witness how charming you are.¡± Zhou Shuang removed the microphone from the stand and stuffed it in Wen Xuxu¡¯s hands. ¡°Just like how we partied and let loose at the karaoke before our college entrance exams. Tonight, we¡¯re in charge of this stage.¡± They hadn¡¯t met in six years and she was still so obstinate and tenacious. But every time Xuxu was lost in thought, Zhou Shuang could always see an expression that didn¡¯t belong to people of their age. It was as though she had gone through plenty of hardships in her life. Every time she smiled, it wasn¡¯t genuine. It gave people the feeling that she had deep-seated worries in her heart. Xuxu lowered her head and stared at the microphone. Her tiny hands seemed a little pale under the purple lighting. She took a deep breath and the crowd all fell silent at the same time. ¡°I¡¯ll sing a song ¡®I Do¡¯ by Jewel.¡± Wen Xuxu grasped the microphone and brought it close to her mouth. Her sweet and pure voice made the audience feel as though they were drinking nature¡¯s spring water. It relaxed their bodies and minds. She finished her sentence and the sound system staff immediately found the song¡¯s accompaniment. The melody of the song began and Xuxu¡¯s mouth curled lightly into a faint smile. Her inner confidence didn¡¯t need to be deliberately shown. Her expression in her eyes and smile were enough. ¡°We¡¯ve been doing this war dance together for some time, I know¡­¡± When Wen Xuxu started to sing, Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t in the least surprised to see that many faces in the crowd had looks of surprise and astonishment. Xuxu had always been like this; she could always amaze others. ¡°Third Yan, isn¡¯t that Wen Xuxu?¡± A few men had just come out of the VIP area and were talking jovially as they walked. The man walking in front had noticed the girl singing onstage. Startled, he halted his footsteps. Then he turned around to look at the man wearing a white shirt trailing behind him. Yan Rusheng heard him and he immediately glanced in the direction Ming Ansheng had pointed at. Surprise flashed across in his eyes at first, followed by astonishment. That gentle voice which carried a tinge of stubborness entered his ear. When he first listened, he couldn¡¯t recognize it. After he savored the voice carefully, it suddenly seemed so familiar. Chapter 104 He put his hands inside the pockets of his well-ironed trousers. He pressed his lips together, and his gaze seemed distant. The guys beside him couldn¡¯t figure out what was on his mind. ¡°Eh, I didn¡¯t know that she had a talent in this area.¡± Ming Ansheng curled his good-looking lips and propped his elbow on Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders. He was gawking with interest at the tiny woman singing on stage. When he raised his head and saw that familiar figure earlier on, he was very surprised. But compared to someone else¡¯s expression, his astonishment wasn¡¯t worth mentioning. A bespectacled man looked fearlessly at Yan Rusheng and solemnly commented, ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯re way too stingy. After all, she¡¯s still your childhood sweetheart and yet the salary you¡¯ve given her couldn¡¯t even be compared to a bar singer¡¯s.¡± His implication, of course, was that Wen Xuxu had felt that her salary was insufficient, hence she had changed her job to be a bar singer. As he said this, he adjusted his spectacles in an elegant manner. Regardless of his appearance or manner of speech, he exuded an air of refined and educated charm. He seemed to be saying, ¡®I¡¯m not making fun of you, neither am I trying to provoke you intentionally. I¡¯m seriously feeling indignant on Miss Xuxu¡¯s behalf.¡¯ They could distinctly feel that the temperature was rapidly falling but they brazenly continued and took turns to tease Yan Rusheng. The guys in this group were all famous, eligible and wealthy bachelors in the capital city. They were the partners that all the ladies in the capital city coveted. No matter the circumstances, the charm and class they exuded naturally couldn¡¯t be concealed. It attracted every lady in sight. Some of the people in the crowd had shifted their gaze towards them. They couldn¡¯t see their faces clearly in the dimly lighted bar, but they were certain that these weren¡¯t ordinary people. ¡°Cause love is a game until it¡¯s played and if it¡¯s lost, it can¡¯t ever be saved¡­¡± Xuxu had a lively and bright expression as she sang onstage. Her smile was natural and she looked satisfied with her confidence. How long¡­ no, how many years had he not seen it? Yan Rusheng stood there and the gleam of subtle fury in his eyes was unconsciously doused. Her enchanting peach-blossom-shaped eyes brought to mind the melting snow and they twinkled with a warm light. He was aware that Wen Xuxu could sing well and her English was excellent too. But he never knew that she could sing English songs so well. The meaning of the lyrics¡­ Because love is like a game. Once it starts, there is no ending. If it fails, there¡¯s no starting over¡­ He looked at the woman who was engrossed with singing and his eyes narrowed. His expression began to turn cold once again. Aside from work, she had never displayed her other strengths and talents in front of him. It seemed like¡­ No, it didn¡¯t seem like. She couldn¡¯t be bothered¡ªcouldn¡¯t be bothered to reveal them in front of him. ¡°Ansheng, as her ex-classmates, shouldn¡¯t we send over a bouquet of flowers?¡± The other young masters had not ceased their teasing and it seemed that they were still excited. Yan Rusheng suddenly withdrew his cold gaze and glanced sideways at the guys beside him. That expression in his eyes was as sharp as a knife and it silenced them in a split second. ¡°The girl standing beside her, isn¡¯t that Zhou Shuang, the female hooligan?¡± Suddenly, the refined and handsome bespectacled guy pointed at Zhou Shuang who was standing beside Xuxu and he cried out in surprise. Another person smiled and replied, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her. A few days ago, the childhood sweetheart fought with the ex-girlfriend actress and it hit the headlines. She was photographed as well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s such a rare occasion to meet our ex-classmates, we definitely need to treat them to a glass or two.¡± Ming Ansheng curled his lips with mischief. The refined bespectacled guy looked at Yan Rusheng seriously. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Third Yan have something to attend to and needs to leave now?¡± With that, Young Master Yan had quietly clenched his fists. Chapter 105 F*ck. He really felt like punching this pretentious person whose refined appearance was just a facade. He turned his head to look at the elegant man and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing planned tonight.¡± ¡°Alright then, it¡¯s settled.¡± Ming Ansheng was someone who enjoyed having fun with friends. He turned to the refined man and said, ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re in charge of inviting the two beautiful ladies. We¡¯ll go in to make arrangements first.¡± After he had instructed him, he grabbed Yan Rusheng by the waist and turned around to head back. Xuxu finished her song and the cheering and whistling were much louder compared to before she¡¯d gone onstage. Holding the microphone, she bowed to the audience naturally. ¡°Thank you, everyone.¡± She put the microphone back in the stand and turned to hold Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand giving her a smile. ¡°Shuang, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded her head. ¡°Zhou Shuang, thank you.¡± After they exited the stage, she suddenly whispered in her ear to thank her from the bottom of her heart. She felt really happy tonight¡ªit had been a long time since she had felt so relaxed. Zhou Shuang prodded her head with her finger. ¡°If I didn¡¯t save you, when would you start to live for yourself?¡± Wen Xuxu curled her lips to show a bitter smile, but she didn¡¯t deny her words. ¡°Pretty lady, you sang that song really well.¡± Suddenly a man in his twenties holding a furry doll blocked their way. He smiled at the doll and gave it to Wen Xuxu. ¡°This is for you. If it¡¯s alright with you, can I have your phone number?¡± Without waiting for Xuxu¡¯s reply, Zhou Shuang snatched the toy away and examined it. It was soft and had nothing interesting about it. She threw it back to Xuxu. Xuxu returned it to the guy and smiled. ¡°Thank you, but this is more suitable for you.¡± After she rejected him, she stuffed the toy back in his hands and turned to leave. The guy grabbed her and said. ¡°Alright then, I don¡¯t need you to give me your number. Your song was too good to be free, so treat this as a thank-you gift.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t want to be seen entangled with a stranger in public so she accepted the gift and said thanks. She pulled Zhou Shuang towards their previous seats. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Merely a few steps later, someone blocked their way again. He looked refined and cultured. Zhou Shuang pointed her finger at the guy in front of them and surveyed him carefully. ¡°Eh? Aren¡¯t you¡­ you¡­¡± A familiar face, but she couldn¡¯t recall his name in that moment. ¡°Lu Yinan,¡± Xuxu said calmly. Zhou Shuang finally remembered. ¡°Oh¡­ that pretentious guy who loves to show off, Lu Yinan.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Young Master Lu was also speechless¡­ You¡¯re the one who¡¯s a pretentious show-off, you and your whole family. Forget it, he wouldn¡¯t stoop to the level of a female hooligan. Lu Yinan maintained his elegance and refined air as he looked at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯m here with Ansheng, Xu Ming, and the rest and we all saw you just now. They sent me over to invite the both of you to join us in one of the private rooms.¡± He knew that Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t get along. Hence he was wise enough not to mention his name. ¡°Alright.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded and agreed without hesitation. Wen Xuxu was a little hesitant but it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t want to join them. Although Lu Yinan didn¡¯t mention Yan Rusheng¡¯s name, she knew them too well to know that Yan Rusheng would definitely be present. ¡°Come on, everyone¡¯s waiting.¡± He didn¡¯t give her time to hesitate and Lu Yinan turned to lead the way. The name of this bar was The First Wealth because literally all the patrons of this bar were wealthy. Even if they weren¡¯t, they were brought by someone who was. Chapter 106 For instance, Xuxu was brought by Zhou Shuang, the wealthy patron. There was a marked difference between the VIP area and the common area outside. It further reinforced the ¡®wealthy¡¯ theme. The carpet was in a rich gray color and stepping on it felt like one was walking on fluffy clouds. As they went deeper inside, the VIP area exuded an exceptional charm of a completely different world. The individual private rooms had high-end and impressive-looking doors. Even the waiters walking along the corridors were attractive and possessed excellent figures. Lu Yinan walked to a private room at the side and stopped. ¡°Young Master Lu.¡± The good-looking waiter smiled and greeted him with a nod. He opened the doors of the private room. ¡°Xuxu, come in.¡± Seemingly afraid that Wen Xuxu would escape, Lu Yinan grabbed her elbow and pulled her into the private room. Then as a formality, he said to Zhou Shuang, ¡°Please enter.¡± That instant when Xuxu was being dragged into the private room, she felt that she was being taken to a wolf¡¯s lair. The room was shrouded with smoke and it seemed to gleam with gold. It gave off the impression of an extravagant and luxurious lifestyle. Once she entered, she was caught off guard and fell towards the couch where a man was staring at her with a deep gaze. She was momentarily distracted and her body gave an involuntary shiver. Yan Rusheng was leaning lazily on the couch as he looked in her direction. Everyone present came from prestigious and affluent families, yet he was the most outstanding and superior one of them all. ¡°Xuxu, Zhou Shuang, come over here and take a seat.¡± Ming Ansheng stood up, beckoning them with a wave as he warmly welcomed them. Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t someone who paid attention to formalities. Even though they hadn¡¯t met in six years, she behaved as though they had just hung out together yesterday. ¡°Xuxu, come.¡± She grabbed Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand and pulled her towards the couch. ¡°Take a seat, what do you want to drink? I¡¯ll get the waiter.¡± Even though he was already engaged, Young Master Ming still preserved his usual gentlemanly character of taking care of beautiful ladies. Once he stood up, the seat next to Yan Rusheng became empty. Zhou Shuang pulled Wen Xuxu and without much thought, she pressed her down to sit next to Yan Rusheng. Then she sat beside her. Xuxu had showered before Zhou Shuang had dragged her out. She had washed her hair and her body was laced with the sweet scent of shower gel. The fragrance entered Yan Rusheng¡¯s nose and instantly his breathing became uncontrollably heavy. His alluring peach-blossom-shaped eyes slowly glanced sideways. Wen Xuxu¡¯s palm-sized face came into sight from the corner of his eyes. Suddenly, a hand materialized in front of his eyes. The arm was right in his face and it blocked his view. It was particularly an eyesore. He knitted his thick eyebrows unhappily and his eyes held a strong, murderous aura as he glared at the owner of the hand. Young Master Lu didn¡¯t notice him at all and his gaze flitted across him and landed on Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, we haven¡¯t seen each other in ages, right? Tonight, will you drink a few glasses with your old classmates?¡± He held a glass of red wine which had just arrived and he passed it to Xuxu. Xuxu shook her head to turn him down. ¡°Lu Yinan, you know that I get drunk after a glass.¡± She can¡¯t drink, and everyone was aware of this. This fellow had offered her a glass of wine. He must want to make her tipsy on purpose and see her drunken antics. Lu Yinan smiled and replied, ¡°That time at Ah Heng¡¯s farewell party in B City, didn¡¯t you manage to hold your liquor well?¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression changed subtly and a mixture of complicated emotions swiftly flashed through her eyes. At the mention of Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s farewell party, Lu Yinan suddenly recalled something. He looked at Xuxu and asked curiously, ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. Where did you go after you got completely drunk that time? When we were about to leave, Ah Heng searched everywhere and he couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Chapter 107 Xuxu was stumped for words and then she gave a forced smile. ¡°I¡­ I went back to school alone.¡± When she finished explaining, she grabbed a random glass of liquid and lowered her head to take a sip. Cough cough¡ª She only realized that it was wine after the liquid had entered her mouth. By then it had already flowed down her throat, causing her to cough violently several times. She placed the glass back on the table and pulled a few tissues to cover her mouth, coughing lightly a few more times. A beam of faint purple light was cast on her small frame, enveloping her entirely. Her eyes were looking slightly downwards and her long curled eyelashes seemed to glow with a layer of gorgeous purple. They looked lovely and attractive, like gleaming butterfly wings. Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze was firmly fixated on her tiny face. His thoughts traveled back to the night of Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s farewell. Their group of friends had been hanging out since they were kids, and they had brought their girlfriends along on that night. And of course¡­ Jiayin. Everyone was partying and enjoying themselves and they took turns to force each other¡¯s girlfriends to drink. However, they were all aware that Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t hold her liquor at all. Furthermore, with Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s repeated warnings, no one dared to force her to drink. Eventually, all the girls who were present ended up drunk. She was the only one who sat at a corner, and unknown to the rest, she¡¯d been drunk too. I¡¯ve loved a person for many years. From the first awakening of love until now, I made a bet with myself and gave up the opportunity to go overseas to further my studies. To take a gamble to see if he has me in his heart. He recalled what Professor Zhou had told him and the expression in his eyes became thoughtful and serious. That night, how exactly had she felt? He came to a sudden realization¡ªthey were both remarkably alike in certain areas. No, she seemed to be more obstinate than him. Even if she had felt pain to the point of being suffocated, she hadn¡¯t yielded and begged him not to leave, nor did she admit defeat. As for him, he clearly knew where that woman was and if he was willing to go to her, she would definitely return. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to take that step. So Wen Xuxu was the winner in this aspect. Even though she didn¡¯t yield, Jiang Zhuoheng still came back to her. He was as loyal and devoted to her as a pet dog and circled constantly around her. That morning Jiang Zhuoheng had appeared in front of him wearing her floral apron with a spatula in his hand. To his surprise, he was slightly envious and jealous of him. But he thought to himself, if Fang Jiayin were to return to him someday, would he be like Jiang Zhuoheng? Would he have donned an apron and entered the kitchen to cook for her? The answer was no, he despised that type of man. Then why was he envious and jealous? He mulled over the question for a long time before he arrived at a conclusion.Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman, you have no right to be proud of yourself. Third Master Yan¡¯s logic and thoughts were exceptional indeed. ¡°I admire girls like Xuxu who aren¡¯t pretentious at all.¡± Lu Yinan saw that Xuxu had choked and coughed, yet he didn¡¯t shower her with concern. Instead, he spied an opportunity to tease her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need any persuasion and drinks without any hesitation. She even drank from Third Yan¡¯s glass.¡± He was the only son of a family of famous and prestigious lawyers in the capital city. Even though he wasn¡¯t a lawyer himself, he had definitely inherited his eloquence from his family genes. He appeared to be decent and refined yet his mouth was more poisonous than a scorpion. His eloquence could even revive something that was dead. He was bent on teasing Wen Xuxu and so he didn¡¯t even give her a chance to open her mouth. ¡°Third Yan has an obsession with cleanliness but he doesn¡¯t mind sharing with you. Since you lived with him under the same roof when you were kids, feel free to use his glass.¡± After teasing her, he raised the glass that Xuxu had just put back and passed it to her. The drink she¡¯d sipped on earlier wasn¡¯t just wine, it was Yan Rusheng¡¯s wine? Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t believe what she¡¯d heard. She lowered her eyes and stared at the glass which Lu Yinan was holding. She didn¡¯t stretch her hand out to receive it. Chapter 108 Yan Rusheng saw her staring at his glass with her eyebrows knitted tightly together. She looked utterly upset, making Young Master Yan feel that his self-esteem had been seriously wounded. In his heart, he snorted coldly with contempt. He thought to himself, ¡®I didn¡¯t mind sharing the drink with you and yet you look upset and terrified.¡¯ So he stretched his hand out to snatch the glass away. ¡°Who says I don¡¯t mind sharing with her?¡± Next, there was a clattering sound and the glass had landed in the trash can. Wen Xuxu pressed her lips together with an indifferent expression on her face. She had perfectly concealed the billowing emotions in her heart. ¡°Hey!¡± Lu Yinan was flabbergasted for a moment and hastily retracted his hand in the next moment. He felt that Yan Rusheng had gone overboard. It wasn¡¯t just him, Zhou Shuang felt the same way too. She helped get a new glass for Wen Xuxu and poured some wine for her. ¡°Don¡¯t lower yourself to an egomaniac¡¯s level.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Xuxu received the glass but then put it down again. She looked at Zhou Shuang and smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t drink. If I drink, you¡¯ll need to take care of me. Instead, you should drink to your heart¡¯s content. If you get drunk I can still send you home.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite true.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded in agreement and went to drink with the others. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ve requested another drink for you.¡± Ming Ansheng entered the room with a pink drink. He gave her a full bow and presented the drink to Xuxu in a gentlemanly manner. Wen Xuxu received the pretty goblet with its pale blue straw. Her throat was quite dry after singing that song earlier. She didn¡¯t give it much thought and after thanking Ming Ansheng, she began to drink from the straw. Zhou Shuang was enjoying herself with Xu Ming and the rest and they were all singing. There was an empty seat next to Xuxu and Ming Ansheng smoothly sat down. He saw that Xuxu was drinking the beverage he¡¯d ordered and his mouth curled up with a devilish smile. Yan Rusheng was used to observing the people and his surroundings carefully and he realized that Ming Ansheng had been overly attentive. He stole a glance at Ming Ansheng and he managed to detect that devilish gleam in his eyes. As expected¡­ Next, his gaze shifted to Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand which was holding the goblet. He silently admonished her. Stupid woman. She wouldn¡¯t even realize if someone had sold her. Wen Xuxu had fixed her attention on Zhou Shuang, Xu Ming, and the rest as they played and snatched at the microphone. Unknown to her, the two guys at her side were harboring different thoughts about her. The size of the goblet was quite large but the beverage it contained was too little. She drank everything in one gulp and put the glass down. ¡°Xuxu, how was the drink?¡± Ming Ansheng looked at Wen Xuxu and crossed his legs elegantly. He pretended to ask casually. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t give it much thought and nodded. She replied honestly, ¡°It¡¯s quite nice, but there¡¯s not a lot to drink.¡± This means that it wasn¡¯t enough¡­ Ming Ansheng was secretly rejoicing in his heart. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll get another glass for you.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for Xuxu to stop him and immediately stood up and strode out of the room. Yan Rusheng stared suspiciously at Ming Ansheng¡¯s back as he vanished from sight. He got up immediately and walked towards the entrance. ¡°You¡¯re wasting your effort on those useless methods. As your buddy, trust me and you won¡¯t go wrong. Make sure she¡¯s yours first before you propose. The probability of success will definitely be higher than you proposing to her first.¡± Young Master Ming was at the common bar counter in the VIP area making a phone call. He was absolutely unrestrained about imparting his knowledge of wooing ladies to the friend over the phone. He was completely unaware that a pair of malicious-looking eyes were staring at him with a murderous glare. ¡°Anyway, regardless of whether you¡¯re coming or not, I¡¯ve already given her a drink with a lot of alcohol in it. If you really can¡¯t come to the bar now, I¡¯ll help you to the end by sending her to your place later.¡± Chapter 109 ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll try to stall for time. Come as quickly as possible.¡± If a stare could kill, Young Master Ming would have died countless times in that short span of time. The man behind him withdrew his gaze when he saw that Ming Ansheng was about to hang up. He turned around soundlessly and walked back to the private room. The door opened and sure enough, the tiny woman who was still sitting up before he left was now lying down on the couch. Her petite body lay there with her hands properly placed on her belly. She was sleeping peacefully and didn¡¯t seem like she was drunk. With big steps he strode towards her, bending down to pick her up. He casually carried her handbag too and without a word to the others, he turned around and left. Suddenly a gust of wind blew towards them when they stepped out. It was accompanied by a chilly breeze coming in their direction. The woman in his arms felt the chill and curled her body. In that instant, Yan Rusheng was struck with a pang of guilt and he almost flung her away. He lowered his head to look at her¡ªshe was still sleeping peacefully as if nothing had happened earlier. ¡°Stupid woman, I¡¯m going to sell you off.¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and reprimanded her fiercely. However, his voice was soft and he spoke cautiously. He put Wen Xuxu down when he was near the car. He supported her with one hand and with the other opened the car door, and then stuffed her inside. The next second he rushed to get in the car, and after starting the engine he drove off in a rush. Stopping the car at a red light, Yan Rusheng stole a glance at the sleeping woman through the rearview mirror. She was still lying in the same position when Yan Rusheng had laid her down. Her body was tightly curled up with her ponytail loosened and hanging limply. It made one feel like protecting her. Oh, damn it. To his surprise, his heart had been pounding for some time after seeing this scene. And god damn it, why did he ¡®abduct¡¯ her? Young Master Yan was well aware that his action was classified as an ¡®abduction¡¯. But he had already ¡®abducted¡¯ her, so he couldn¡¯t possibly send her back, right? He was feeling vexed at the moment when suddenly his cellphone rang. He glanced at the screen and as expected, it was from Ming Ansheng. He answered the call and Ming Ansheng¡¯s anxious voice instantly sounded over the phone. ¡°Third Yan, where did you go? Have you seen Xuxu?¡± Young Master Yan looked back guiltily to check on Wen Xuxu. He responded after he saw that there weren¡¯t any signs of her waking up anytime soon. ¡°She¡¯s tipsy and kept pestering me to send her home.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ming Ansheng asked skeptically. Yan Rusheng immediately adopted his Young Master Yan¡¯s usual authority and command and retorted in a low voice, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m lying to you? You don¡¯t know how irritating she is.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ming Ansheng believed him. ¡°Are you sending her back home or to your place?¡± Despite knowing the answer, Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Why are you so concerned about her?¡± Ming Ansheng replied honestly, ¡°Ah Heng is looking for her.¡± Yan Rusheng originally wanted to say that he was sending Wen Xuxu back to her own apartment. The words were already in his mouth when he unexpectedly changed his mind. ¡°I¡¯m a little tipsy as well, so I won¡¯t be heading to her place. I¡¯m going straight back home, and anyway the old madam has been clamoring for Xuxu to visit her these past few days.¡± When he used the old madam as a reason, Ming Ansheng instantly deflated like a balloon. ¡°Alright then.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up and a cunning look flashed through his eyes, the corners rippling with evilness. After reaching the entrance of the courtyard, he made a turn and the car entered the courtyard slowly. Chapter 110 He got down and proceeded to open the back door. He grabbed her legs and carelessly dragged her out. But he didn¡¯t seem to realize that Xuxu was wearing a dress. When he pulled on her legs, her dress slipped upwards, revealing her fair thighs. Young Master Yan¡¯s head was bent down and he caught sight of this alluring sight. He swallowed and a huge ball of fire seemed to appear in his body, burning deep inside of him. At this moment, the butler came rushing out. ¡°Young Master.¡± Yan Rusheng immediately reacted and turned to stop him. ¡°Don¡¯t come over.¡± He bent down and helped Wen Xuxu adjust her dress, not daring to handle her so carelessly anymore. He decided to simply carry her instead. ¡°Get her bag and bring it to me.¡± He instructed the butler and then carried Xuxu into the house. It was already late at night and most of the servants were asleep. Only the living room had lights on and it was dimly lit. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t pause and he proceeded to the second level. He entered Wen Xuxu¡¯s room and threw her on the bed. Wen Xuxu¡¯s lithe body landed on the bed, bouncing slightly a few times. Her arms were twisted in an uncomfortable position and she flipped over. The alcohol made her feel bothered and suffocated, and her mouth was mumbling something inaudible. Yan Rusheng lowered his eyes to look at her and he knitted his eyebrows. His eyes contained a faint smile. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± On a sudden whim, he wanted to hear her inner heartfelt thoughts while she was tipsy. He bent down and inched closer to Xuxu¡¯s face, then called her name softly. She heard someone calling her and Xuxu pouted in response. ¡°Ah Heng¡­ I¡¯m thirsty¡­¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s face fell in an instant. ¡°Stupid woman, open your eyes and look at me.¡± That guy had used such a despicable method and yet she was still thinking about him. Wen Xuxu apparently heard him; she actually obeyed his command and opened her eyes. Her vision was fuzzy and her cheeks were rosy. She looked charmingly naive and Young Master Yan¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help pounding again. He gawked at her red lips and he felt an impulse to get closer¡­ and closer to her¡­ ¡°Get me some water, will you?¡± Wen Xuxu suddenly grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and begged him pitifully. ¡°I¡¯ll let you die of thirst,¡± Yan Rusheng reproached her sternly. ¡°Stupid and pitiful.¡± But when he saw her current state, his compassion overpowered him instead. He got up to get water for her. Suddenly, Wen Xuxu stretched her hand to clutch his wrist and pulled him forcefully. Yan Rusheng was caught off guard and he lost his footing. He fell on the bed and then his breathing became sluggish. Young Master Yan was afraid that he might lose control of himself and do something to Wen Xuxu¡­ the woman he loathed. So he hastily raised his head. But he had barely moved away when Wen Xuxu stretched out her hands and put them around his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t leave.¡± Her clear and bright eyes were brimming with tears. She looked at him with an intense and sorrowful gaze. Her breath carried an intoxicating scent. Oh¡­ this bothersome and stupidly alluring woman. Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart had begun to stir as he fixed his eyes on that tiny face. To his surprise, he was thrilled and felt a strong desire to possess her. No, this feeling isn¡¯t right. It must be an illusion. He needed to leave now. If not, his legendary reputation might end up tarnished because of her. Chapter 111 The person beside him seemed to sense that he was going to leave. Her hands refused to let him go and she hugged him tightly, pulling him towards her. Her kiss smelled faintly of the sweet taste of alcohol, and her lips attacked him in all directions. The feeling was damn good and it disrupted his consciousness. Stupid woman. You can¡¯t hold your liquor and yet you fool around after getting drunk. He¡¯d teach her a lesson tonight as punishment and see if she would dare to randomly accept unknown drinks from other people in the future. Young Master Yan found an ostentatious excuse for himself¡­ to go along with Xuxu. As he embraced her, to his shock, he discovered that she was actually so thin? So tiny! It was really hard to visualize her as the fierce and tough little shrew she used to be. He started to respond to her advances. Even though he didn¡¯t have much actual ¡®combat experience¡¯ in this aspect but he was naturally gifted. In just a short span of time, he had reached the level where he could effortlessly handle the flow. His wicked-looking eyes were still fixated on her own watery ones. Her eyes seemed to shimmer, causing his to glow with a fierce light. There was a powerful desire in his heart and he was consumed with that desire to swallow and devour her entirely. To his surprise, that desire felt strangely familiar. ¡­ ¡°Young¡­¡± Aunt Zhang was holding the handbag the butler had handed over to her and was delivering it to Wen Xuxu¡¯s room. Xuxu¡¯s door wasn¡¯t closed and Aunt Zhang was about to call for Yan Rusheng when she reached the room. She raised her head and saw the sight of Yan Rusheng lying on top of Wen Xuxu. Her eyes stared in shock and she pressed her lips tightly, halting her footsteps all at once. She was astounded for a moment before she snapped out of her trance. She quietly retreated from the room with light footsteps. Her eyes beamed with excitement when she recalled the sight of them lying on the bed. Wang Daqin came out of the toilet at that moment and she heard Aunt Zhang¡¯s movements. She walked out to check if Yan Rusheng was back and noticed Aunt Zhang who was sneakily backing away from Xuxu¡¯s room. Then she realized that the lights in Xuxu¡¯s room were switched on. She was puzzled and was about to walk towards her. ¡°Zhang¡ª¡± ¡°Shhh.¡± Wang Daqin had just opened her mouth when Aunt Zhang turned around and hushed her, signaling her to be quiet. Instinctively, Wang Daqin pressed her lips tightly. She waited until Aunt Zhang was in front of her before she asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Third Young Master¡­ he¡­¡± Aunt Zhang held Wang Daqin¡¯s hand and led her to the stairs. She was too thrilled to speak coherently. If she informed the old madam about this good news, her blood pressure would definitely shoot up from sheer happiness. When she saw that Aunt Zhang couldn¡¯t piece the words to string a proper sentence, Wang Daqin became extremely anxious. ¡°What happened to Third Young Master?¡± She obviously came out from Xuxu¡¯s room, but what did that have to do with Third Yan? Aunt Zhang was still dawdling with her words and Wang Daqin started feeling impatient. She halted her footsteps and wanted to turn back to take a look for herself. Aunt Zhang hastily reached out to stop her. ¡°Third Young Master was lying¡­ lying on top of Miss Xuxu. They were¡­ lying in bed kissing.¡± After she finished her sentence, she blushed. Oh dear, an old lady like her had actually witnessed the couple doing¡ª cough cough . How embarrassing. ¡°Really?¡± Wang Daqin widened her eyes and tightly grasped Aunt Zhang¡¯s arm with excitement. Even though she hadn¡¯t witnessed the scene herself, her eyes were beaming with more excitement and delight than Aunt Zhang. Her eyes swiveled towards Xuxu¡¯s room and she wanted to take a look personally. Aunt Zhang nodded and she reassured her. ¡°Yes, I saw everything clearly. Both of them were embracing and the young master was lying on top of Miss Xuxu.¡± She was positive that what she saw was true. ¡°Oh dear, I can¡¯t take it anymore. Aunt Zhang, get my blood pressure monitor.¡± Wang Daqin grabbed her arm, one hand pressed against her forehead. Chapter 112. He’s too Proud And Overbearing Happiness had dawned too quickly and it caused her blood pressure to shoot up. Aunt Zhang covered her mouth and chortled. ¡°Old Madam, look how happy you are.¡± She had worked for Wang Daqin for decades and obviously knew her very well. Wang Daqin had spared no effort to matchmake the two kids. ¡°They left the door open?¡± Wang Daqin stole a glance in the direction of Wen Xuxu¡¯s room. She really felt like taking a peek. ¡°Yes.¡± Aunt Zhang was embarrassed at the thought once more. ¡°The kids nowadays are really liberal.¡± They have no moral principles. ¡°Being open-minded is good, open-minded is good.¡± Wang Daqin was grinning from ear to ear, unable to conceal her happiness. She pulled Aunt Zhang away and sat on one of the steps. ¡°Tonight I¡¯ll sit here and stand guard. No one is allowed to enter the second level and disturb them.¡± And then she started to picture the scene in Wen Xuxu¡¯s room on her bed. Aunt Zhang was speechless¡­ Old Madam doesn¡¯t have any moral principles as well! ¡­ Wen Xuxu was kissing him in a domineering way. It had never crossed Yan Rusheng¡¯s mind that Wen Xuxu would have such a mischievous and wild side to her. She was so adorable he¡¯d lost control of himself. A voice inside of him kept egging him on to make this woman his! Wen Xuxu¡¯s face had turned scarlet red and her eyes were half-closed the entire time. The expression in her eyes held a tinge of sorrow. Yan Rusheng suddenly recalled something and his expression changed. His hands and passionate kisses stopped at the same time and he raised his head. He gazed at Wen Xuxu¡¯s face with flames of jealousy blazing in his eyes. ¡°Wen Xuxu, look at me. Look at me and say my name.¡± She had looked at him just now and said ¡®Ah Heng, I¡¯m thirsty¡¯ . Right now, was she mistaking him for Jiang Zhuoheng again? It had to be. She loved Jiang Zhuoheng so deeply that she¡¯d given up the coveted opportunity to study abroad. He feared that her love for him had reached a point beyond rationality and logic. In that case, how could she willingly sleep with any random guy? He clearly knew the answer but he was expecting something else in his heart. ¡°Haha, Ah Heng. Aren¡¯t you silly?¡± Wen Xuxu lifted her lips and a beautiful smile bloomed tenderly at the corners of her mouth. The man lying on top of her was frozen stiff. His gorgeous face had turned icy cold in an instant. ¡°So you¡¯ve been longing for Jiang Zhuoheng this whole time?¡± The corners of his mouth twitched unhappily. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re shameless.¡± Yan Rusheng coldly berated her and stood up. He turned around and left without looking at her. That towering figure was full of pride as usual. He was like a lofty skymountain that seemed beyond one¡¯s reach. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­¡± Only when Yan Rusheng had vanished out of sight, did she gingerly whisper the nickname she once thought had only belonged to her. I don¡¯t mind if you address me as either Yan Rusheng or Third Yan in future. She was clear of her feelings when she was tipsy even though her mind was befuddled. When he had roused her just now, she looked at his face and had an overwhelming urge to embrace him. She wanted to relive an old dream once more. She thought to herself, Did he forget? Did he forget about that promise? Would he be able to remember if they could do it all over again? However she suddenly became clear-headed. The previous time he¡¯d been drunk, but this time he wasn¡¯t. He had loved Fang Jiayin deeply; how could those words he uttered be meant for her? She knew that he had left furiously because he felt that he was just a replacement. He was too proud and overbearing. But Ah Sheng, I feel the same way too. Even if he¡¯d desired her tonight, it was only because she had seduced him first. He had reacted like any normal man would react in such a situation. Even if they had continued, in order to fulfil her desire of reliving that dream from three years ago. Chapter 113. Why Was It So Fast? He¡¯d been thinking of Fang Jiayin in his heart as well. Yan Rusheng returned to his room to take a cold shower. He put on a white bathrobe and came out with still-wet hair. When he saw how delicate and adorable she¡¯d looked earlier on, he had fallen into her trap and had been unable to extricate himself. To the extent¡­ to the extent that his heart had thumped wildly. It was what Wang Daqin had been yearning for, for him to keep her by his side forever. But the ridiculous thing was, that side of her belonged to Jiang Zhuoheng. It only belonged to Jiang Zhuoheng. Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve degraded yourself to such a low level. How could your heart pound for that stupid woman? ¡°In this case, seeing my great-grandchild next year shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°Congratulations, Old Madam! Your wishes have come true.¡± ¡°Thank you for congratulating me¡­¡± Yan Rusheng appeared on the stair landing and found the two old ladies sitting on the steps. They were happily discussing about some great-grandchild. The icy expression on his face transformed into surprise. ¡°Grandmother?¡± In the middle of the night, this old lady was still awake and she was wearing something weird. And what was she doing on the stairs? When she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice, Wang Daqin turned her head in shock. ¡°Third Yan, why are you done so quickly?¡± She surveyed him from head to toe, and her eyes finally landed on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. The edges of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth was slightly reddish. She smirked in her heart when she visualized how intense the situation must have been between the two kids. But it had only been less than twenty minutes, why was he already done? ¡°What?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned as he was clueless about what the old lady was asking him. ¡°What do you mean by so fast?¡± Wang Daqin held the staircase railing for support as she climbed towards him. She sized him up and mumbled doubtfully to herself, ¡°Such a young age and he¡¯s been working out every day. His body looks fit and robust. Why¡­ why was it so fast?¡± Perhaps he lacked nutrition? Yan Rusheng was extremely vexed and he didn¡¯t feel like deciphering the old lady¡¯s thoughts right now. He grew rather impatient when he was being pulled by her to listen to her mumble. ¡°Grandmother, what exactly are you talking about?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Wang Daqin shook her head. ¡°Never mind, tomorrow I¡¯ll bring you for a consultation to see if there are any ways to help you.¡± Cough, cough. He hadn¡¯t been able to last long for their first time. So he must be feeling inferior too. She wondered if Xuxu would mind. The old lady had a worried look and Yan Rusheng was perplexed. But he paid no attention to her and went downstairs. Wen Xuxu woke up sometime after 8 a.m. the next day. She showered and found some of her old clothes in the closet. She chose a puffy pink shirt and paired it with a long white skirt. She dried her hair before heading downstairs. Wang Daqin was holding a feather duster in the living room and as she cleaned, she hummed her favorite tune. She seemed to be in an excellent mood. ¡°Grandmother,¡± Wen Xuxu called for Wang Daqin who was joyfully busying herself with cleaning. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re awake.¡± Wang Daqin turned and beamed cheerfully at Wen Xuxu as she sized her up. Look at her, look at her. Her Xuxu was still the loveliest, with her long silky hair and rosy cheeks. She cast the feather duster aside and walked towards Xuxu. Holding her hand, she led her into the kitchen. She walked and yelled at the same time, ¡°Aunt Zhang, heat up the bird¡¯s nest porridge! Xuxu is awake!¡± Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice drifted out from the kitchen. ¡°I got it.¡± Grandmother had always doted on her but she felt that today the expression in her eyes seemed weird. It was¡­ a little ambiguous. Chapter 114. Sympathy Tactic They reached the dining room and Wang Daqin shoved Xuxu towards the chair that she had just pulled out. ¡°Take a seat first, the bird¡¯s nest porridge will be ready soon. If you feel like eating anything else, just inform Aunt Zhang to cook it for you.¡± After saying this, she walked into the kitchen. Wen Xuxu stared suspiciously at Wang Daqin¡¯s back. What¡¯s happening right now? Aunt Zhang came out of the kitchen with the bird¡¯s nest porridge and served it carefully. ¡°Miss Xuxu, the bird¡¯s nest porridge is ready. It¡¯s neither too hot nor cold, you can eat it right away.¡± She had on a smile that was identical to Wang Daqin¡¯s¡­ filled with ambiguity. ¡°That¡­ Aunt Zhang.¡± Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity anymore and asked, ¡°I wanted to ask, what happened to Grandmother?¡± Aunt Zhang frowned but then flashed another smile. ¡°You silly girl, she¡¯s just happy and overjoyed. What else could it be?¡± Wen Xuxu was frustrated. She had eyes, so of course she could tell how happy she was, alright? She just wanted to ask why she was so happy and gleeful? ¡°Aunt Zhang, the person who sold the soft-shelled turtle said that you must stew it once it¡¯s slaughtered. That way, the effect of the boiled soup will be maximized. If you delay the timing, the effects won¡¯t be as good.¡± Wang Daqin came out of the kitchen and instructed Aunt Zhang at the same time. Aunt Zhang nodded. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll slaughter it now.¡± Soft-shelled turtle? Effects? What was it for? Wen Xuxu was nonplussed as she looked at the two old ladies. She asked, ¡°Whose body isn¡¯t well?¡± Wasn¡¯t boiled turtle soup supposed to nourish one¡¯s body? ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Wang Daqin denied, shaking her head guiltily. ¡°No one is unwell. I just felt that both you and Rusheng have been working too hard recently. It¡¯s just to replenish your health.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless. She had already left her job, so how could she be working hard? Recently, other than eating and sleeping, all she did was enjoy herself. ¡°Xuxu, actually there is something I want to tell you.¡± Wang Daqin walked to Wen Xuxu and sat beside her. She had a helpless look on her face. ¡°Xinyi¡­¡± She was afraid that Wen Xuxu had no clue who Xinyi was so she began to explain. ¡°She¡¯s Xiaosheng¡¯s current secretary. She doesn¡¯t have any work experience so she keeps making mistakes at work. The Board of Directors received some negative feedback about her so I would like you to return to Flourish & Prosper to guide her for a period of time.¡± Then she reached out to grab Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand, enveloping it with the warmth from her palm. ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling then forget it. I¡¯ll think of something else instead. That old fellow Ming sent Xinyi to me as a friendly gesture. I can¡¯t simply send her back in such a short span of time. I need to wait for a while before I send her away with a suitable reason.¡± She had used her trump card¡ªa sympathy tactic. As expected, Wen Xuxu looked down and started to mull over her suggestion. Wang Daqin took advantage of the moment and tightened her fingers. The warmth from her palm felt like it was stroking Wen Xuxu¡¯s heart and she caved. She nodded her head lightly. ¡°Alright.¡± How could she not know Wen Xinyi? She was Ming Ansheng¡¯s cousin. Furthermore, she had met the bashful girl when Yan Rusheng had brought her along on his matchmaking session. She figured that Grandmother wouldn¡¯t have asked her if she could think of an alternative. Just as mentioned, the Ming family had sent her. Their intention was obvious and if unless they gave a suitable reason, it would be tantamount to slapping the Ming family¡¯s face if she was sent back. ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you,¡± Wang Daqin responded gratefully. ¡°At the crucial moment, Xuxu, you¡¯re always the most considerate. If only Xiaosheng had half of your thoughtfulness.¡± With Xuxu by his side, she could rest easy. Even though Wen Xuxu had agreed, she still had some reservations. ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯m alright with going back. But President Yan might¡­ have objections.¡± Chapter 115. You Can Represent President Yan She had left on her own accord. Given his arrogant personality, it would be quite impossible for him to accept her return. Not to mention yesterday night they had¡­ ¡°Hmph!¡± Wang Daqin snorted loudly and said briskly, ¡°He won¡¯t dare to raise any objections, I¡¯m still the chairman of Flourish & Prosper after all.¡± Wen Xuxu fell silent. Oh, right. The old madam is the chairman and also Yan Rusheng¡¯s grandmother. After lunch, Wang Daqin personally sent Wen Xuxu to the company. Wang Daqin wore a forest green dress with sleeves that ended at her elbows. She held a black LV handbag, and a white pearl necklace hung around her neck. With her domineering aura, she stood in front of the reception desk at Flourish & Prosper¡¯s main hall. ¡°Chairman.¡± ¡°Chairman.¡± All the employees walking in and out, including the security guards and front desk staff, nodded and greeted her. Wen Xuxu followed behind her and all pairs of eyes were staring at her as well. There wasn¡¯t anything strange about the chairman coming to the company. In fact, everyone was more curious about why the chairman had brought the president¡¯s ex-secretary along. Wen Xuxu wore the outfit she had put on in the morning. Her pink chiffon shirt was paired with a long white skirt that ended at her ankles. On her feet was a pair of white shoes and she had tied her hair in a ponytail. She looked extremely approachable. They entered the elevator while countless pairs of eyes stared at them. The elevator went straight to the top floor. The door opened and Wang Daqin exited first. She waited until Wen Xuxu exited the elevator before she took hold of her wrist. Then they walked hand in hand together and appeared in front of the president¡¯s office staff. ¡°Chairman.¡± The staff in the president¡¯s office poked their heads out from their individual workstations when they saw Wang Daqin walking in. Everyone stood up and greeted her politely. Wang Daqin scanned everyone briefly and then she pulled Wen Xuxu to the front. She said to everyone, ¡°This is Secretary Wen, I believe there isn¡¯t a need for me to introduce her.¡± Her ordinary tone subtly revealed an imposing aura which made people yield naturally. Did this mean that Secretary Wen was coming back to work? Everyone¡¯s gazes moved as one and saw that Wang Daqin was still holding Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand. And in their hearts, they were well aware of the situation. Wen Xinyi had been brought in personally by Wang Daqin as well, but she hadn¡¯t held her hand then. But today, she was openly holding Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand. This gesture was to inform everyone that there was a difference between the two secretaries and they needed to weigh the importance. Secretary Wen Xinyi may have a strong backing and came from a wealthy family¡ªand everyone had various theories about her relationship with the president¡ªbut to the chairman who was also the president¡¯s grandmother, this particular Secretary Wen seemed to have a higher status in her heart. Wang Daqin was satisfied with everyone¡¯s reaction. She had wanted this effect so that everyone would know that Xuxu was ranked first in her heart. She paused for a moment before she continued speaking. ¡°Xuxu is here to assist Secretary Wen. If President Yan isn¡¯t around, you may look for Secretary Wen Xuxu regarding all matters. She can represent President Yan.¡± Her¡­ her status had been elevated! She can represent President Yan; what does that mean? Everyone simultaneously moved their vision to Wen Xuxu¡¯s face again. What had happened in these past few days since Secretary Wen¡¯s resignation? Why was she able to represent President Yan all of a sudden? Wen Xuxu frowned and thought in her heart, If you¡¯re asking me, then who should I consult? She was bewildered too, alright? ¡°Chairman, to represent the President, I¡¯m afraid this is too serious a matter.¡± She was only back temporarily to teach the new secretary and she wasn¡¯t even considered as a permanent staff member. To represent the president when he wasn¡¯t around carried a tremendous amount of stress. Wang Daqin turned her head to look at her with a mysterious smile. ¡°Xuxu, I have my own reasons.¡± Of course, she would never have said ¡®It¡¯s because you¡¯re my granddaughter-in-law, the future mistress of Flourish & Prosper.¡¯ Chapter 116. Even If You Disagree, You Still Have To Agree Wen Xuxu nodded in response. Even though she wasn¡¯t sure of the old madam¡¯s reasons for doing so, but she was being so secretive about it, and it seemed like she was hatching up a grand scheme. Anyway, she would only be here for a short period of time as requested by the old madam. She would do whatever was instructed of her. ¡°Grandmother?¡± Just then, Yan Rusheng came back. Dressed in a formal shirt, he looked well-groomed as usual, and he appeared elegant and dapper. When he saw Wang Daqin and Wen Xuxu, he was rather startled by their appearance. He hastened his footsteps as he walked towards Wang Daqin. His eyes briefly scanned Wen Xuxu for a moment, his expression cold and detached. Xuxu pressed her lips together. She wasn¡¯t wearing any makeup and her pretty face had a soft radiance to it. A pair of bright and clear eyes shone with a hint of a smile, resembling a budding lotus waiting to bloom in a pond. It wasn¡¯t breathtaking but it was rather alluring in a fresh and refined way. It seemed to give off a neither close nor distant feeling. Yan Rusheng¡¯s thoughts traveled back to how she¡¯d looked yesterday night. His heart surged with waves of frustrating emotions once more. His new secretary Wen Xinyi was holding a blue folder as she tailed him closely. When she came to face Wang Daqin, she nodded and greeted her. ¡°Chairman.¡± Wang Daqin acknowledged the greeting and nodded kindly. ¡°How were the past two days? Have you gotten used to it?¡± Wen Xinyi timidly lowered her head and softly replied, ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s alright.¡± She didn¡¯t dare to say that she wasn¡¯t used to it at all. Not to mention that Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t taking special care of her at all, unlike what Grandfather had promised. Compared to feeling aggrieved, she was more unwilling to be sent back. Wang Daqin observed Wen Xinyi¡¯s fear and she calmly smiled without batting an eyelid. ¡°Xinyi, I¡¯ve brought Secretary Wen to guide you. During this period, learn from her and I believe you¡¯ll be able to perform well.¡± Even though she would pay a visit to the company once a month, she was well aware of everything that happened. Especially for the president¡¯s office¡ªshe would be notified of any minor issues. So she was clearly aware of the girl¡¯s mistakes and behavior in the company. Wen Xinyi¡¯s performance these past few days was something she had expected. To stay beside Yan Rusheng, you could never have a fragile heart. If you have one then sorry to say that it will be shattered soon. The only people he would pardon and tolerate¡ªhis mother, grandmother, and the precious person in his heart. Clearly, Wen Xinyi wasn¡¯t one of them. As she thought of this, she dragged Wen Xuxu to her side. She thought to herself, This is the most precious one in Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. Anyway, there wasn¡¯t any concrete evidence yet, but yesterday they had indeed slept together. He had dated so many female celebrities before this and he hadn¡¯t even touched any of them. This meant that in his heart, Xuxu was different from the rest. These two rabbits who had caused her so much worry had finally realized that the best person was still the one right before their eyes. She had almost given up on them. Yan Rusheng heard her and he frowned. ¡°You want her to come back to Flourish & Prosper?¡± He slowly turned to look at Wen Xuxu. When Xuxu saw him looking at her, she curled her mouth into a smile. She smiled naturally and magnanimously with a hint of mischief. Yan Rusheng could detect a hint of provocation from her smile and he was vexed. What was this stupid woman treating Flourish & Prosper and the president¡¯s office as? On what basis could she come and go as she liked? Ahem. To borrow the old madam¡¯s words¡ªbased on the fact that she is the future mistress of Flourish & Prosper and also the cherished person in your heart. Wang Daqin nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I disagree.¡± Yan Rusheng flung his hand coldly and walked with large strides towards his office. Wang Daqin directed some words at his back. ¡°Even if you disagree, you still have to agree.¡± She was his grandmother and her imposing manner was a shade more domineering. Chapter 117. Im Not The Big Gray Wolf After Yan Rusheng entered his office, he slammed the door shut. Wang Daqin ignored him and turned around to console Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, go ahead and do what¡¯s needed. I will back you up.¡± This wretched fellow had already slept with her. Why was he acting all high and mighty and pretending to be noble now? Wen Xuxu smiled sanguinely and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandmother. Anyway, I¡¯m only here to share the experience and knowledge I gained this past year with Miss Wen.¡± After her statement, she turned to glance at Wen Xinyi and continued, ¡°Miss Wen is smart and witty, she¡¯ll be able to understand how to handle President Yan¡¯s matters.¡± Wen Xinyi smiled bashfully and her face blushed crimson. Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Such a bashful and shy lady had been sent to assist Yan Rusheng. Didn¡¯t her family realize that they were indirectly destroying their precious granddaughter? ¡°With you to guide her, I can rest assured.¡± Wang Daqin patted the back of Xuxu¡¯s hand affectionately. Her smile revealed her pearly white teeth and also carried slyness and an ulterior motive. She sent someone to arrange a seat for Wen Xuxu which was adjacent to Wen Xinyi. In the car¡­ The old lady was using her laptop to hold a video call with Miss Mu Li who was currently overseas. She updated her regarding her decision to send Xuxu back to Flourish & Prosper. Mu Li was slightly worried. ¡°Won¡¯t you be subjecting Xuxu to an abyss of suffering?¡± Wang Daqin replied earnestly, ¡°If there isn¡¯t suffering, how can true love be revealed?¡± Mu Li retorted with disdain, ¡°Mother, you are too despicable.¡± Wang Daqin glared at her angrily. ¡°Mrs. Yan, take note of your words!¡± Mu Li snorted coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve already divorced your son, please address me as Miss Mu Li instead.¡± Wang Daqin chided, ¡°Both you and your son need to be taught a good lesson.¡± ¡­ Wen Xuxu had been working in the President¡¯s office for over a year. She was amiable and had a pleasant and cordial relationship with her colleagues. Everyone still felt familiar with her after her return. Once she sat down, several people came over to greet her. ¡°Sister Xuxu, we had a bet two days ago that you would definitely be back.¡± Wen Xuxu frowned. ¡°But I¡¯m not the big gray wolf.¡± Actually, she wanted to ask why they were so sure that she would be back. Her colleagues smiled in response. ¡°Sister Xuxu, you¡¯re still as funny as ever.¡± The atmosphere in the office unconsciously began to lighten up. Wen Xinyi had been here for a few days and these people only spoke to her for work-related matters. Even if they bumped into each other during breaks, they only nodded their heads. As she sat beside Wen Xuxu, Wen Xinyi observed how all their colleagues were happily chatting with Wen Xuxu. The corners of her mouth sunk in disappointment. She felt that she was an outsider. But in fact, she really did seem like an outsider. What should she do? ¡°Secretary Wen, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Wen Xuxu accidentally glanced at Wen Xinyi and saw that her head was lowered. She seemed worried and Xuxu decided to show her some concern. Wen Xinyi heard Wen Xuxu calling her and she immediately raised her head and gave a smile. ¡°Nothing much, I¡¯m just thinking of what to eat for lunch.¡± Wen Xuxu could tell from her guilty look that she wasn¡¯t telling the truth. But she had simply thrown her a casual question without much thought so it didn¡¯t really matter if she was hiding something. In her bag, her phone suddenly started ringing. She withdrew her gaze and placed the bag on her lap rummaging inside for her phone. Suddenly she discovered a furry doll in her bag. She recalled that a young guy had given it her at the bar last night. She felt that it was a hindrance so she just placed it on her desk. Finding her phone, she saw that the caller was Jiang Zhuoheng. Chapter 118. Someone Gave It To Me She placed the phone to her ear and answered the call. ¡°Hello, Ah Heng.¡± ¡°I drank too much last night. Grandmother told me that Yan Rusheng sent me to his place.¡± ¡°Alright, see you tonight.¡± After chatting briefly with Jiang Zhuoheng, she hung up. Suddenly she realized that a pair of eyes was staring at her. It was Wen Xinyi. She turned her head and met that pair of woeful-looking eyes. Her heart pounded quickly for a moment and in that instant she felt a cold gust behind her. But she pasted on a smile immediately. ¡°Secretary Wen, why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°That doll is adorable.¡± Wen Xinyi pointed at the furry doll in front of Wen Xuxu and remarked softly. The smile on her delicate face had a trace of gentleness. Hmph! Yet her eyes were staring at her with jealousy and loathing. Was it just because of this furry doll? Wen Xuxu suddenly felt that she was making a fuss about nothing. She took the doll and gave it to Wen Xinyi. ¡°You can have it if you like.¡± Wen Xinyi declined. ¡°No no no, this is very expensive.¡± Was this doll expensive? Wen Xuxu frowned and scanned the doll carefully. But there wasn¡¯t anything special about it. Who cares? Anyway, she wasn¡¯t interested in such furry toys so she should give it to someone who likes it. ¡°Just take it. I didn¡¯t buy it, someone gave it to me at a bar yesterday.¡± Then she placed the doll on Wen Xinyi¡¯s desk. Wen Xinyi took it and stuffed it back into her hands again. ¡°I already have a collection of these dolls at home. There isn¡¯t nearly enough space for more.¡± After hearing that, Wen Xuxu retracted her already extended hand. She thought in her heart, Since she said that she has too many at home and there isn¡¯t any more space, then that means she doesn¡¯t want it any more than I do. And so, she put the doll in a corner of her desk and got back to work. Yan Rusheng had deliberately wanted to make things difficult for her. Thus when Wang Daqin left, he summoned Wen Xinyi into the office and gave her a huge load of work. When it was time for lunch, the colleagues raised a ruckus and insisted on treating Xuxu to a meal. It was hard to decline their kind hospitality so Wen Xuxu implored them to head downstairs first. She organized her work, separating those that were completed and those unfinished first. Then she rose to leave the office. Wen Xinyi was still busy typing away on her keyboard. Xuxu asked her courteously, ¡°Secretary Wen, do you want to join us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll eat with President Yan later.¡± Without turning around, Wen Xinyi shook her head with her eyes fixed on the computer screen. ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Xuxu pressed her lips and replied in an indifferent manner. ¡°Then I¡¯m off for lunch.¡± After working together the whole morning, she could feel that Wen Xinyi didn¡¯t really like her. It wasn¡¯t a problem as long as she treated her with the basic formalities and manners. After Wen Xuxu had left, Wen Xinyi¡¯s fingers gradually slowed down. She turned her head to look at Xuxu¡¯s seat. With an indignant pout, she glared at the doll. Grandfather instructed her to make sure Yan Rusheng liked her, but the man couldn¡¯t even be bothered with her. Her cousin had clearly said that Yan Rusheng loathed this woman. But why was he still bringing her home? ¡°Secretary Wen, why haven¡¯t you bought lunch?¡± Suddenly, she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice from behind her. Terrified, she got up hastily. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go and buy lunch now.¡± After she responded, she didn¡¯t ask what Yan Rusheng wanted for lunch. She grabbed her purse guiltily as she was afraid that Yan Rusheng could read her mind. After Wen Xinyi had left, Young Master Yan walked to Wen Xuxu¡¯s desk and looked at the furry doll with a frown. Someone gave it to me at a bar yesterday¡­ Chapter 119. Lets Make A Deal Did someone give it to her? Who gave it to her? He reached for the furry doll and sized it up with contempt. He noticed a label on the doll¡¯s head and his face fell. Indeed, it wasn¡¯t cheap. So who had given this to her? This person really had no foresight. There were so many beautiful ladies at the bar and he had chosen this stupid woman. Without warning, he gave it a squeeze with his long and slender fingers and the cute doll became deformed. ¡°So childish.¡± With a strong feeling of dislike, Young Master Yan threw the little doll into the trash can below Xuxu¡¯s desk. The pathetic doll had transformed from a luxury item to trash in an instant. When Wen Xuxu came back from lunch, she didn¡¯t notice that the doll was missing. She tore up a pile of useless documents and bent down to throw the pieces of paper into the trash can. She accidentally caught sight of the doll inside. Eh? She took out the doll from the trash can, brushing off tiny bits of paper. She grew suspicious; how did the doll end up in the trash can? Wen Xinyi was holding a bag of trash as she came out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. She noticed Wen Xuxu holding the doll and seemed to be mulling over something. Jealousy gleamed in her eyes once more and she pouted her mouth. ¡°Secretary Wen, President Yan is asking for you.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Wen Xuxu to respond and immediately walked to the elevator with the trash bag in her hands. Wen Xuxu raised her head and stared intently at Wen Xinyi¡¯s back. Her eyebrows were knitted with sullenness. Secretary Wen, why are you looking at me like that? That doll is adorable. Did she throw away the doll? The president¡¯s office wasn¡¯t that big and the cleaning staff wouldn¡¯t start cleaning at this time. Even if the cleaning staff came, they had no reason to throw her stuff away. When she left earlier on, the doll was still on her desk. Only Wen Xinyi was in the office. Except for her, she couldn¡¯t think of another suspect. But why did she throw her doll away? Did¡­ did she get the wrong idea about something? Wen Xuxu suddenly recalled the scandal she had with Yan Rusheng a few days ago. She was instantly enlightened and understood why Wen Xinyi didn¡¯t seem to like her. She said it before, but she really hadn¡¯t done anything to offend Wen Xinyi. Why was she treating her with animosity? So the reason was because of Yan Rusheng. Then she must be the one who threw the doll away. She was torn between laughing and crying. This young girl was too inexperienced. If she didn¡¯t like seeing her around, then she should work harder to fulfill her duties as Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary. Throwing her stuff away was too childish. The minute Young Master Yan came out of his office, he saw Wen Xuxu staring at that annoying doll with a helpless smile. He already had an icy-cold expression on his good-looking face and now it became even colder. ¡°Wen Xuxu, weren¡¯t you informed that I wanted you to come in?¡± Who was this person who gave her the doll? And it was important enough for her to retrieve it from the trash can. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming.¡± At Yan Rusheng¡¯s words, Wen Xuxu put the doll down and stood up. Yan Rusheng turned around stiffly and re-entered his office with Wen Xuxu following behind. As a habit, she closed the door after she entered. Yan Rusheng walked to his desk and sat on his swivel chair. With both hands resting on the arms of the chair, he looked at Xuxu. He said nonchalantly, ¡°Wen Xuxu, let¡¯s make a deal.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Xuxu was stunned and stared blankly at him. Deal? The words from Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth sounded interesting. At least in the past, he had always ordered her around as though he had the right to. Today he had actually used the word ¡®deal¡¯ which had surprised her. She was curious about what he wanted her to do. Chapter 120 ¡°Help me send Wen Xinyi away.¡± Yan Rusheng stated frankly what he wanted Wen Xuxu to do. ¡°Ah.¡± Wen Xuxu chuckled in her heart. So he wanted her to handle his ¡®harem¡¯ again. Even though Wen Xinyi¡¯s background was different from the celebrities and models he had dated before, but like the rest, she desired to become Yan Rusheng¡¯s woman. So in essence, they were the same. His heart belonged to someone else so he wouldn¡¯t truly love her, let alone marry her. So he had to send her away like all the other women who had hoped to be his Third Madam Yan. The expression in Xuxu¡¯s eyes darkened but she recollected herself almost instantly. She said lightly, ¡°Grandmother sent me here to guide her with the hope that she¡¯ll stay.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows coldly. ¡°Does that mean you won¡¯t agree to the deal?¡± A barely noticeable look of annoyance swiftly flashed through his eyes. This stupid woman had always obeyed and followed his orders when it came to these matters in the past. This time around, he had euphemistically worded his request but she had her nose high up in the air and was using the old madam as an excuse. Xuxu lifted her chin slightly and gave an unflinching rejection. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Yan, I can¡¯t do it.¡± She didn¡¯t want to deal with such matters on his behalf anymore. She would never do it again. With a cold sneer, Yan Rusheng threatened her callously, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I hope you don¡¯t regret what you¡¯ve said.¡± ¡°President Yan, what were you going to offer to convince me to accept?¡± Even though she had made up her mind not to help him, she couldn¡¯t help but ask him this. But after she asked the question, she regretted it immediately. She should have kept her mouth shut. Young Master Yan suddenly spoke in a raised voice, ¡°Wen Xuxu, how dare you try to negotiate terms with me?¡± He glared at Wen Xuxu, looking like he could hardly believe his ears. Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Young Master, can you stop being hilarious? You initiated a deal, so shouldn¡¯t a deal benefit both parties? Sure enough, she didn¡¯t expect much from this ¡®deal¡¯. But he was aware that she was no longer officially his secretary so it was hard to give her commands. He was merely using a tactic to spare himself from begging her for help. This stupid fool, he should have a bargaining chip to persuade me to agree to the deal. She wasn¡¯t dumb enough to accept it. Since he was loaded, he could have offered a million or two. She might have agreed. She noticed his expression darkening and he looked like he might hurl his ashtray at any minute. Xuxu¡¯s insides shuddered and she thought that it¡¯d be best if she left now. ¡°President Yan, if there¡¯s nothing else then I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Taking her leave, she turned around and strode towards the door. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng spoke in a tone of ¡®compromise¡¯ from behind her. Yes, it was a ¡®compromise¡¯¡ªhe wasn¡¯t admitting defeat. ¡°Wen Xuxu, help me with this and I¡¯ll put in a good word for you to Jiang Zhuoheng and persuade him to get engaged with you soon.¡± Wen Xuxu halted her footsteps; her body was frozen stiff. ¡°How does that sound?¡± Yan Rusheng saw that she had stopped in her tracks. He assumed that she was interested and was mulling over his offer. His delight was mixed with an unfathomable emotion. It was a familiar feeling of annoyance. What¡¯s so good about Jiang Zhuoheng? At any mention of his name, this woman can¡¯t even move. Xuxu took a deep breath and turned around unhurriedly. She looked at this man with beautiful features and smiled briefly. ¡°Thank you, President Yan, but there¡¯s no need for that.¡± And with that, she left without turning back. She walked with confidence and determination, her long skirt billowing around her. The office door opened and shut once again and everything instantly quietened down. Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest tightened with gloominess for no apparent reason. Chapter 121. Miss Wens Fragile Heart He pondered over the reason for his gloominess. He finally concluded that it was because Wen Xuxu had rejected his deal. No¡­ she had rejected his compromise. He opened his drawer and took out an exquisite cigarette case. He put a cigarette in his mouth. He lighted it and began to smoke gloomily. Actually, he didn¡¯t enjoy smoking and only smoked occasionally when he was in a bad mood. Wen Xuxu was buried in work the whole afternoon. She glanced at the pile of documents and thought of what Yan Rusheng had wanted her to do earlier on. Then she thought of Wen Xinyi¡¯s attitude towards her today. Suddenly it dawned on her that the reason why Wang Daqin had made her come back wasn¡¯t merely just to guide Wen Xinyi and get her familiarized with the job scope. Xuxu held her cup as she pondered, her eyebrows knitted. Suddenly, Wen Xinyi¡¯s feeble voice sounded in her ear, ¡°Secretary Wen, President Yan has two dinner engagements to attend tonight but their timings have clashed. What should I do?¡± She was holding Yan Rusheng¡¯s weekly schedule and was looking at Wen Xuxu with anxiety and misery. Xuxu ceased her thoughts and turned to look at her. ¡°You should have asked President Yan for instructions regarding such matters first to determine which is the more important one to attend.¡± She spoke in her usual tone, but to princesses like Wen Xinyi who were soft-spoken with fragile hearts, indeed she had seemed fierce by comparison. Wen Xinyi looked down and replied softly with an ¡°Oh¡±. Since she was feeling aggrieved, she elaborated, ¡°President Yan did instruct me that if the two parties called, I had to accept right away.¡± Wen Xuxu felt quite helpless. Even though she didn¡¯t say much, it looked as though she had bullied her. Therefore she adopted a gentler tone, ¡°Then you should consult President Yan to cancel one of the engagements.¡± Wang Daqin, you¡¯ve pushed me into a pit of fire. ¡°Alright.¡± Wen Xinyi bit her lips and nodded, still looking as if she¡¯d been wronged. Wen Xuxu curled her lips. Still, she should get herself out of this as soon as possible. She wouldn¡¯t be able to handle this messy situation. Wen Xinyi clutched the schedule in her hands and entered Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. When she came out, her eyes were brimming with tears. Her lips were pursed and anyone could tell that Yan Rusheng had lectured her. Whenever Yan Rusheng used to flare up in the past, she could hear everything from her desk. However, she hadn¡¯t heard anything just now. He¡¯d probably admonished her lightly with a few harsh words. Sigh, her fragile heart was too delicate. In her heart, Wen Xuxu shook her head. She pretended that she hadn¡¯t seen the other secretary and continued working. Wen Xinyi approached Wen Xuxu. ¡°Secretary Wen, President Yan said that both dinner engagements are important. Since we have agreed to them, we can¡¯t reschedule.¡± Wen Xuxu frowned. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± She received the schedule from Wen Xinyi and analyzed the two dinner engagements. The corners of her mouth twitched silently a few times. Both appointments would be really hard to postpone. One was with the mayor and if her guess was right, it must be related to the state land in Chengdong district. The company had begun to bid for the development rights a year ago when she just joined. Could it be canceled? Regardless of how prominent Flourish & Prosper was, the mayor wasn¡¯t someone who had the time to wait for Flourish & Prosper to reschedule an appointment. The other client was a princess from Country Y who had mentioned last year that she would be making a trip here sometime this year. She was the founder of an electronics brand in Country Y. Even though she seemed to be here as a guest but actually the purpose of the visit was to discuss a collaboration. She had finally made time to make the trip so they couldn¡¯t possibly invite her to come again next month. Wen Xinyi should have delayed the appointment with the mayor when the two appointments had clashed. But it had already been accepted and it was almost the end of the day. If they called to cancel now, the mayor might be offended. ¡°Is it really very troublesome?¡± Wen Xinyi noticed Xuxu had fallen silent. She choked on her words and large pearl-like teardrops began rolling down her cheeks. Chapter 122. It Was The First Time He’d Tried To Clarify Wen Xuxu was lost for words as she looked at her. ¡°Why are you crying? President Yan didn¡¯t blame you either, so let me discuss this with President Yan first.¡± Wen Xinyi¡¯s fragile heart was really too delicate. If she continued like this, it would save Yan Rusheng the effort of thinking of ways to send her away. It was only a matter of time before she¡¯d leave willingly. Wen Xinyi rubbed her eyes dismally. ¡°Did I¡­ did I cause a lot of trouble?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little tricky but it doesn¡¯t mean that we can¡¯t solve it,¡± Wen Xuxu consoled her. Next, she took the schedule and proceeded to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. ¡°Come in.¡± Yan Rusheng answered in his usual cold tone. Xuxu pushed the door to enter. ¡°President Yan.¡± When he heard her voice, Yan Rusheng raised his head from the pile of documents and eyed her frostily. ¡°President Yan, do you have any plans regarding the two dinner engagements tonight?¡± Wen Xuxu asked as she walked towards him. Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows and questioned her instead, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be proposing a solution since you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Wen Xuxu continued, ¡°The dinner with Country Y¡¯s princess is 40 minutes after the mayor¡¯s appointment. I will head over there and stall for time.¡± She spoke without beating around the bush. ¡°Oh.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in approval. Usually, he had no objections when it came to work-related matters proposed by Wen Xuxu. Furthermore, the proposals she had suggested were basically aligned with what he had in mind. The bottom line was, the two of them did think alike. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make the preparations now.¡± Wen Xuxu turned around to leave. Yan Rusheng called her suddenly, ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Wen Xuxu responded and looked at him. ¡°President Yan, do you have any further instructions?¡± Yan Rusheng stared at her blankly for quite a while. Oh, wait¡­ Why did he call her? Earlier, when she was about to leave, he¡¯d called her on impulse. He deliberated for a moment before he responded, ¡°Make sure you handle it well.¡± ¡°If I do, is there a reward?¡± Wen Xuxu asked casually. She blinked her apricot-like eyes and the corners of her eyes gleamed with a mischievous smile. ¡°There is.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at her and he couldn¡¯t help but soften his expression and tone by a notch. ¡°I¡­ am not such a demanding boss.¡± This was the first time Young Master Yan had tried to clarify something about himself in front of Miss Wen. Once the words were out of his mouth, his entire body quivered and a wave of goosebumps appeared. Tch. He had actually tried to explain to this stupid woman. Why was he trying to clarify what kind of a person he was to her? Miss Wen secretly rolled her eyes in her heart. She really couldn¡¯t see how he wasn¡¯t demanding. Yan Rusheng read the expression in her eyes and deciphered her inner thoughts. He felt appalled at his ¡®clarification¡¯ earlier on. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you get back to work?¡± He raised his volume but the cover-up only made matters worse. Wen Xuxu replied ¡°Oh¡± and left resentfully. In the evening, Yan Rusheng left with Wen Xinyi to meet the mayor first. The appointment with Country Y¡¯s princess was scheduled 40 minutes after the first appointment so she would set off slightly later. Xuxu didn¡¯t feel like heading home and decided to use the extra time to finish her work. She frowned at seeing the huge pile of work on her desk and sighed heavily. She wondered if Wang Daqin had purposely sent her back to handle all the unfinished work. Some were completed but were then rejected by Yan Rusheng. Since Wen Xinyi wasn¡¯t up to the task, why couldn¡¯t they hire a new replacement? Her cellphone suddenly rang, startling her. She glanced at the screen and it displayed Yan Rusheng¡¯s name. She picked up immediately. ¡°Hello, President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Are you in the office?¡± Wen Xuxu could tell from his tone that he was in a rage right now. She had a hunch that he must have come across something that had pissed him off. Chapter 123. A Lifetime She answered softly, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m in the office.¡± Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°Someone accidentally bumped into me at the restaurant so now my shirt is stained. Go to my closet and get me a new shirt.¡± As expected¡­ Xuxu glanced at the time; it was currently an hour before from the scheduled appointment with the princess. She calculated the traveling duration needed to commute between these two places before she agreed. ¡°Alright.¡± An hour was sufficient and it wouldn¡¯t be too rushed. After she hung up, she went to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and entered his bedroom. As she entered, she was greeted by a familiar whiff of an indistinct and fragrant scent. It was Yan Rusheng¡¯s perfume and it made her heart pound instantly. The table and chairs were all spotlessly clean and the white bedsheets and quilt were arranged neatly. She unconsciously looked towards the head of the bed and as usual, saw a silver necklace hanging there. The pendant had the words ¡®A lifetime¡¯ inscribed on it. The corners of her mouth slowly sank and she looked down forlornly. She spun around and walked to his closet. She opened the closet door and held her breath but to no avail. Her heart still trembled. All of his shirts were white with the only difference being in the buttons and design. They were all arranged neatly from the first to the last. He loved the color white¡ªit was the color of his furniture, bedsheets, quilt, and even his underwear. When they attended school during the summertime, he always wore a white t-shirt with light blue jeans and a pair of white track shoes. Then he would lie in wait at the school entrance, his bag slung over one of his shoulders. He liked to find trouble with her using all sorts of excuses. Regardless of whether it was a sunrise brimming with vitality or a poignant sunset, he shone brilliantly like the blazing sun. Every time he saw her, the corners of his mouth would twitch lightly and wickedness would instantly creep up his gorgeous face. It was both elegant and playful. During winter, his white down coat was even whiter than snow. He would frown and yell at her, ¡°Wen Xuxu, what took you so long?! Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m freezing?¡± Then she would stare at him fiercely and retort, ¡°Did I ask you to wait for me, Young Master?¡± Xuxu¡¯s slender and fair hand gently caressed each of his white shirts. It was as if she was stroking his face. He could be an occasional jerk but whenever she turned back and saw him frowning and commanding her as though it was his right to do that, she couldn¡¯t help but cave in to his demands. I must have owed him a debt in a past lifetime , she thought to herself. She snapped out of her memories and sighed helplessly. She knew it¡­ she should never have come back. She chose his favorite shirt with sky blue crystal buttons and folded it neatly. She put it in a bag and closed the closet. She had used too much force when she pulled the door and accidentally opened another as a result. The other compartment was filled with Yan Rusheng¡¯s suits and trousers. She was about to close the door when her eyes accidentally swept past something. Her expression turned blank and surprise streaked past her bright eyes. At the same time, it felt as if warm currents were silently flowing from her heart. You stupid woman. If you can¡¯t drink then don¡¯t. Look at how you¡¯ve puked on yourself, so sloppy and filthy. I¡¯m warning you, remember to take your filthy clothes away tomorrow. It¡¯s disgusting. It might be an ability she had acquired over the years, but regardless of how drunk she was, she would always be half-awake. So every time she was drunk, she would store in her brain what she or others had said to her. Especially him¡­ Chapter 124. Not of Her Own Volition She had never imagined that she would one day see her clothes together with his in the same closet. A white blazer and skirt were hanging from a clothes hanger and nestled among his other suits. Wang Daqin had bought her that outfit from an expensive brand when she first entered the company. He didn¡¯t mention a thing after the incident and she assumed that he had thrown it away. Hence she didn¡¯t ask him about it. Xuxu¡¯s arms were propped up against the car window. She looked out and felt the cool night breeze against her face. She¡¯d never realized that this bustling city had such a beautiful night view. To be secretly in love with someone meant that even if he accidentally glanced at you from a crowd, you would feel overwhelmed with joy. ¡°Third Master, I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t keep standing here, get lost.¡± Wen Xuxu held the bag with Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirt and found the specific room he had mentioned earlier. The moment she opened the door, she could hear Yan Rusheng¡¯s angry voice. A staff wearing the hotel uniform opened the door; there was a tag on his chest with the title ¡®General Manager¡¯. A young man in his thirties had probably been lectured by Yan Rusheng earlier on as his face was as red as a pig¡¯s liver. Xuxu greeted him with a brief nod and walked past him. Once she entered, she spotted Yan Rusheng whose upper body was naked. He was sitting on the couch facing the door and she could see a huge red patch on his back. Wen Xinyi stood behind him and was applying something on the red patch. Xuxu became anxious when she saw this and hurried forward. ¡°President Yan, what happened to you?¡± Didn¡¯t he say that someone bumped into him? But why was he hurt? She scrutinized the red patch on Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. It looked like something had scalded him. Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to reply, Wen Xinyi pouted her mouth and grumbled to her, ¡°We met a mistress fighting with a man¡¯s wife. The mistress accidentally bumped into President Yan with the cup of hot water she was holding.¡± Her watery eyes were glistening and she looked like a child. As she spoke, her hand accidentally trembled. Yan Rusheng twitched his eyebrows in pain. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± He turned to look at Wen Xinyi. ¡°Give the medicine to Wen Xuxu. Go to the restaurant now and call me once the mayor arrives.¡± After hearing this, Wen Xinyi was rather unwilling to obey his instructions. Her mouth pouted in resentment. She looked down at the ointment and then stole a glance at Wen Xuxu. The glance was filled with a staggering amount of hatred. Xuxu pressed her lips tightly with a wide-eyed expression on her face. Did she assume that she was willing to apply ointment for this young master? This was definitely a job that would invite nothing but trouble. She saw Wen Xinyi¡¯s expression and feared that she might start crying again. After some deliberation, she looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan, I¡¯m running out of time so I need to leave now.¡± She got ready to leave. Yan Rusheng frowned and shouted coldly, ¡°Since time is running short then hurry up! What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s mouth sank down and she looked helplessly at Wen Xinyi. Miss, please understand. I¡¯m not doing this of my own volition. But she noticed how fearful and careful Wen Xinyi had been when she was applying the ointment just now. She thought that if she left, who knows how he would reprimand her. This young girl had a fragile heart. It would look bad if she decided to run away from the dinner engagement after being reprimanded. Xuxu pondered for a moment before she reached out to take the ointment from Xinyi¡¯s hand. ¡°Secretary Wen, let me do it, since President Yan has trusted you to receive the mayor alone. Keep it up.¡± Wen Xinyi¡¯s eyes lit up brightly with excitement and it seemed as if she¡¯d found a way out of an impossible situation. Wen Xuxu smiled and blinked her eyes. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ve been with President Yan for more than a year and I¡¯ve never received a guest by myself.¡± Chapter 125. Did I Say I Would Consider? ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave everything here to you then.¡± Wen Xinyi cheerfully passed the cotton swab to Wen Xuxu. Xuxu smiled briefly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry and go ahead.¡± She turned to look at Wen Xinyi as she left in a lighthearted manner. In her heart, she finally heaved a sigh of relief. Indeed, a fragile heart does need a little cajoling. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you didn¡¯t seem like someone who knows how to cajole a person.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice spoke up from behind her. Mockery was evident in his tone. She ignored his mocking words as she walked to take a look at his back. The scalded part was red and blisters had started to appear on the wound. She screamed at him, ¡°You¡¯ve been badly scalded! Why didn¡¯t you go to the hospital?¡± Earlier, she hadn¡¯t realized how serious his wound really was due to the distance and dim lighting. Yan Rusheng grunted coldly, ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± It sounded like he had answered in a fit of pique. Xuxu frowned. ¡°This will leave a scar.¡± As she replied, she used the cotton swab to dab on some ointment and started to apply it on his wound. Although she was very gentle and careful as well, it was different from the docile Wen Xinyi who had trembled. Her actions were filled with a tenderness that stemmed genuinely from her heart. Even her tone became gentler. Yan Rusheng was stunned by her carefulness, thinking that it was an illusion. Did this stupid woman drink before she came? Or was she treating him as Jiang Zhuoheng again? His thoughts traveled back to the previous night and a feeling of annoyance erupted once more. He retorted snappily, ¡°Even if it leaves a scar, you won¡¯t be able to see it.¡± Wen Xuxu took into account his injury and the fact that she was in a relatively good mood at the moment. And thus she chose not to bicker with him. She smiled. ¡°It¡¯s true I won¡¯t see it. But Fang Jiayin is so delicate, I¡¯m afraid she might feel frightened if she sees your scar. Then it would be harder for her to get back together with you.¡± Yan Rusheng exploded, ¡°Wen Xuxu, will you die if you can¡¯t provoke me for a moment?!¡± He stretched out his hand and clenched a pillow, ready to aim and hurl it at Wen Xuxu¡¯s head. The second he raised his arm, he saw Wen Xuxu looking at him with an innocent expression and he instantly paused. He released the pillow and spoke in his usual tone. ¡°Wen Xuxu, delicate women are more lovable. You¡¯re as tough as a man, so who would choose to love you?¡± Hearing this, Xuxu burst out laughing. She replied in the midst of her laughter, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, President Yan.¡± ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± Yan Rusheng turned to glare at Xuxu. ¡°Just carry on applying the ointment.¡± His good-looking face couldn¡¯t help but blush red. Then he turned his back towards her and mumbled under his breath, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you so chatty before.¡± It was true that between them, she was the more passive one and wouldn¡¯t initiate a conversation. As Wen Xuxu mulled over the reason, she thought that she had talked more because she was in a rather good mood today. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Both of them had fallen silent for a while before Yan Rusheng spoke again. Xuxu responded with a ¡°Mm¡±. This situation rarely happened between them. It was ordinary, peaceful and to a certain extent¡­ harmonious. He called her name nonchalantly and she replied to him casually too. It was unlike how she¡¯d always responded to him: formally with a ¡°President Yan, is there anything you would like to instruct me to do?¡± He asked, ¡°Regarding the matter I mentioned to you this afternoon, have you considered it?¡± The matter he¡¯d mentioned that afternoon? Xuxu raised her eyebrows in puzzlement as she tried to recall. Finally, she did and then replied, ¡°Did I say I would consider it?¡± Was there something wrong with her memory or was he having trouble comprehending? Didn¡¯t she reject him outright regarding that deal which didn¡¯t benefit her in any way? Chapter 126. Its Pointless Talking to You Nicely ¡°President Yan¡­¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡­¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head to glare at Wen Xuxu. He was about to yell at her when he heard Wen Xinyi¡¯s voice outside the room. His eyes gleamed shrewdly for a moment as his mouth curled into a devious smile. His long arm went around Wen Xuxu¡¯s waist and pulled her towards him. As he¡¯d expected, Wen Xuxu fell and landed on his lap. Wen Xuxu widened her eyes in shock. She opened her mouth but then couldn¡¯t utter a single word. Yan Rusheng had instantly pressed his lips against hers, sealing them. Oh¡­ Wen Xinyi opened the door with the room card. ¡°President Yan¡­¡± She entered just in time to witness the scene of Yan Rusheng embracing and kissing Wen Xuxu. Her footsteps and voice ceased spontaneously. Within a few seconds, her eyes were brimming with tears. Both of Wen Xuxu¡¯s hands were tightly restrained by Yan Rusheng and her lips sealed. She could only move her legs. When she saw that Wen Xinyi was about to cry, she stomped her feet impatiently and made ¡®ooh ooh¡¯ sounds signaling her violent protests. This flirtatious womanizer had developed an addiction to kissing her forcibly and had been doing it frequently ever since. Wen Xinyi was rooted to the spot for some time, yet Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of letting Wen Xuxu go anytime soon. Instead, he increased the intensity of the kiss. ¡°Waah¡­¡± At last, Wen Xinyi stomped her feet and ran away in tears. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you pervert!¡± Wen Xuxu was overwhelmed with anger and distress as she used all her might to shove Yan Rusheng away. She leaped to her feet and wiped her mouth furiously as she hollered at him, ¡°You¡¯re crazy, why do you keep kissing me?!¡± Yan Rusheng spread his hands and his face had an expression that said ¡®What I do is how it should be¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s pointless to talk to you nicely so I had to resort to force.¡± ¡°Every time you do something for yourself, can¡¯t you take other people¡¯s feelings into consideration?¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s eyes were stinging with bitterness. If he kept this up, she would only sink further and cling to him! After yelling at him, she grabbed her bag and stomped heavily towards the entrance in a huff. The second she left the room, she glanced to the left and right but there was no sign of Wen Xinyi anywhere. Anyway, it was none of her business, so she strode towards the elevator. Nonetheless, she still had to receive the princess from Country Y¡¯s since it was a part of her job. She needed to separate her private matters from her work so that it wouldn¡¯t affect her professionalism. She left the hotel and took a deep breath as the cool breeze blew against her. After calming herself down, she set off for the restaurant. It was rare to see Young Master Yan being yelled at. Not only was he not offended, he was even smiling with satisfaction. He¡¯d finally managed to provoke Wen Xuxu once again. There was a slight aftertaste of the kiss in his mouth and he couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips. To his surprise, he was feeling somewhat dissatisfied and longed for more. He knew that the mayor had arrived when Wen Xinyi came looking for him. He bent down to reach for the bag Wen Xuxu had brought over. He took out the shirt and unfolded it. His mood lightened once more when he saw the buttons on his favorite shirt. He couldn¡¯t deny that the person who knew him best in the entire world was without a doubt Wen Xuxu. There wasn¡¯t time for him to delve further into his thoughts as he hastily put on his shirt to meet the mayor. ¡­ Wen Xuxu reached the restaurant where she was supposed to meet the princess from Country Y. She glanced at the time; there were a few minutes to spare. When she was in the car, she had requested the chauffeur to switch on the lights so that she could apply some simple makeup. Earlier, she had borrowed cosmetics from a colleague before she ended work. After applying some color to her lips, she untied her hair. Then she re-styled her hair into a bun for a more refined and elegant look. She didn¡¯t usually put on makeup but her skills were on par with a makeup professional. Chapter 127 She would put on makeup if her work required it. Like Yan Rusheng had said, she was a woman who could do everything by herself. Her partner would only feel that his presence was redundant. After completing her hairstyle, Xuxu smiled in satisfaction at her reflection. According to the time she¡¯d planned out, she was sitting in the private room five minutes before the scheduled appointment. Four minutes later, someone knocked on the door. She rose immediately and wore a smile as she opened the door. A middle-aged woman with golden locks and blue eyes appeared in front of her. ¡°Princess Lu Fei, welcome,¡± Xuxu fluently greeted her in English. She extended her hand for a handshake and introduced herself. ¡°I¡¯m President Yan¡¯s secretary. My name is Wen Xuxu.¡± She had done some research on the princess before the visit, and that included finding out how she looked like. Therefore, she could instantly recognize the woman as Princess Lu Fei, the guest Yan Rusheng was supposed to meet tonight. Princess Lu Fei extended her hand gracefully and shook Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Please enter.¡± Xuxu bowed and gestured towards the interior. She stole a glance from the corner of her eyes towards the area outside of the door. She was surprised that the princess had traveled such a long way from her country alone. Just as she wondered at it, two other men appeared. One looked like he was about the same age as Princess Lu Fei. He was an Asian with black hair and black eyes. The other guy seemed to be in his twenties with golden hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a turquoise-blue striped shirt paired with beige pants. He exuded a dignified and aristocratic charm. ¡°Welcome.¡± Wen Xuxu greeted the men and introduced herself once again. ¡°Wen Xuxu?¡± The golden-haired man used his height to his advantage as he towered over her, surveying her with interest. He seemed to be intrigued by her name. Wen Xuxu raised her head to look at him and nodded with neither inferiority nor superiority. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Wen Xuxu.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± The golden-haired man suddenly muttered Yan Rusheng¡¯s name and his smile grew wider with lingering interest. After mulling something over for a while, he smiled and asked, ¡°I remember that there is a Chinese idiom: ¡®vivid and lifelike¡¯. What is your relationship with Yan Rusheng?¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time someone had asked her about this. Xuxu was already used to it. She shook her head and smiled politely in response. ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence. Our relationship is merely that of a superior and subordinate.¡± Compared to the question he¡¯d raised, she was more surprised that the golden-haired foreigner knew of their idioms. ¡°You¡¯re very pretty.¡± Foreigners were always very generous when it came to compliments¡ªespecially towards ladies. Wen Xuxu smiled gracefully. ¡°Thank you. Please, come in.¡± After they sat down, Princess Lu Fei introduced her entourage. The middle-aged man was her secretary and the golden-haired man was her son, Charles. Wen Xuxu explained to them regarding Yan Rusheng¡¯s tardiness and used his injury as the reason. Before she arrived, she had researched online about Princess Lu Fei¡¯s interests and knew that she loved cats. Once they sat down, she steered the topic towards cats. Earlier on, she had done some last-minute cramming with cat information she found online, all so that she could chat about her interest with her. When there is a common topic to talk about, time can quickly fly by. It was true that foreign men were extremely gentlemanly. When Xuxu and Princess Lu Fei were chatting, the two men sat in silence and listened earnestly. When they talked about something interesting, they would laugh along to match the atmosphere. Chapter 128. You’re Lovelier Than a Cat As they chatted, Xuxu would furtively glance at her watch from time to time. It had almost been an hour¡ªwhy wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng here yet? She had no idea that after she sat down, a pair of eyes were looking at her and sizing her up from across her seat. That pair of eyes stayed fixated on her at all times to capture every subtle expression and movement. As time passed by, the anxious expression on her face became more obvious. The owner of that pair of eyes seemed to have found an opportune moment as he smiled and interjected. ¡°Secretary Wen, other than cats my mom enjoys playing the piano and dancing too.¡± Charles¡¯s deep voice sounded from opposite of her. Perhaps it was because he had kept silent the whole time, but when he finally spoke, Xuxu turned towards him in surprise. His lips curled slightly and he nodded at her in a gentlemanly manner. Next, his gaze landed on Princess Lu Fei. ¡°Mom, I¡¯d like to invite Secretary Wen for a dance. Can you play a song for us?¡± Dance¡­? This sudden change of topic was unexpected. Just moments ago, they were still talking about cats. Xuxu felt that she couldn¡¯t keep up. ¡°Of course,¡± Princess Lu Fei answered graciously and she stood up. She walked towards the white piano by the window. ¡°Secretary Wen, may I invite you to dance with me?¡± Xuxu barely had time to react before Charles came to her, gracefully extending his hand towards her. She thought to herself, His mom has already gone up to play the piano, how can I reject? Tonight¡¯s dinner engagement was extremely important. If she didn¡¯t handle it properly and offended these distinguished guests, Yan Rusheng would most likely swallow her alive. Anyway, dancing wasn¡¯t too much of a big deal. ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure.¡± Xuxu placed her hand in his as she rose elegantly. She walked with him to an empty space in the private room. Princess Lu Fei began playing the piano and chose a graceful waltz tune. After she entered the third grade in elementary school, she took singing and dancing classes. She didn¡¯t really excel at dancing but she wasn¡¯t too bad. Her long white skirt seemed especially fitting for this dance. Every spin made her look like a blooming white lotus. Her soft body coupled with her agility had pleasantly surprised her dance partner Charles. He lowered his head to look at her tiny face. Smiling gently, he said, ¡°If I¡¯d known you were a great dancer, I would have invited you earlier. Then you wouldn¡¯t have had to accompany our dear Princess Lu Fei by talking about such a boring topic.¡± Hearing what he said, Xuxu raised her head in shock. Her eyes met Charles¡¯s blue eyes, his lips held a faint smile. It felt as though he¡¯d seen through her thoughts. She smiled guiltily. ¡°Haha, actually cats are quite adorable.¡± It had indeed been boring as she wasn¡¯t interested in pets. It was already tough enough to take care of herself, let alone a pet. When she chatted with Princess Lu Fei earlier on, it had all been a purely high-sounding speech. Charles slightly raised his eyebrows. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you¡¯re lovelier than a cat?¡± Wen Xuxu could tell that he was flattering her. She was slightly embarrassed. ¡°Mr. Charles, you¡¯re good at cracking jokes.¡± Her fair cheeks blushed with a tinge of red and they resembled a budding flower; beautiful and alluring. This bashfulness was exclusive to Asian ladies and astonishment flashed past Charles¡¯s eyes as he stared at her. He was momentarily entranced, and thus forgot to move his feet, causing Wen Xuxu to step on him. He didn¡¯t feel any pain but Xuxu was startled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for stepping on you.¡± She instinctively bowed her head to look at Charles¡¯s feet and he followed suit. ¡°It¡¯s alright since it¡¯s my fault.¡± Chapter 129. Of Course You Cant His hands were holding Xuxu¡¯s slender waist tightly. Like a docile woman, she lowered her head. It looked as though she was deliberately trying to bury her head in his embrace. The door opened at that moment and a suave and handsome man entered. He saw the situation in the room and his expression froze instantly. His thick eyebrows knitted tightly together in an instant. Argh, this damn stupid woman. He¡¯d merely asked her to stall for time, not to be a dance hostess and prance around with men. That golden-haired man was wearing such a lewd expression¡ªand which part of her was he staring at? Young Master Yan moved at lightning speed and raced to the couple who were dancing to the tune of a romantic waltz. Without thinking about it, he stretched his hand to grab Wen Xuxu¡¯s slender arm and forcefully pulled her into his embrace. Then he proceeded to the next logical step by putting his hand around her waist. He looked at the golden-haired guy with a superficial smile. ¡°Mr. Charles, it¡¯s been a while since I last saw you.¡± Xuxu was caught by surprise and didn¡¯t even have time to react as she fell into another man¡¯s embrace. Moments later, she heard a familiar voice above her. She secretly heaved a small sigh of relief but still, she was very uncomfortable being embraced by him in this way. She wanted to free herself but in light of the circumstances, she resorted to making subtle movements to remind this young master to let go of her. Stupid woman, didn¡¯t she enjoy being embraced by another man just now? Now that he was the one embracing her, she started acting all coy. Hmph. He wasn¡¯t going to let her have her way! Not only did Yan Rusheng not loosen his grip, his arms tightened around her as he maintained his superficial smile. Charles stole a glance at Wen Xuxu¡¯s waist which Yan Rusheng was tightly holding onto, and a faint and mysterious smile appeared on his face. He responded casually, ¡°President Yan, your secretary is very lovely and pretty.¡± He didn¡¯t conceal his admiration for Xuxu and he couldn¡¯t keep his eyes off her. This greatly annoyed Young Master Yan and his arm tightened its grip as a result. ¡°Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Charles. Sorry, I¡¯m late.¡± He diverted the topic and directed his attention towards Princess Lu Fei who was walking towards them. He nodded politely towards her. ¡°Princess Lu Fei, welcome.¡± Princess Lu Fei came up to him with both arms outstretched. He understood how foreigners greeted each other. And so he had to let Wen Xuxu go and hug Princess Lu Fei as a formality. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry for making you wait so long.¡± With his apology, the matter was brushed aside and he continued, ¡°Did Secretary Wen manage to give you a proper welcome?¡± He walked with Princess Lu Fei towards the dining table as he spoke. Xuxu walked behind him and she unconsciously glanced at the area on his back with the burn. Her eyes were filled with worry. She wondered if the blisters had burst and thought how painful it must have been to put on his shirt. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± Charles suddenly called her name and she snapped out of her thoughts. She moved her eyes away from Yan Rusheng¡¯s back and towards Charles. ¡°Yes, Mr. Charles?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so nervous,¡± Charles reassured her with a smile. ¡°I was just wondering if I can address you as Xuxu?¡± Of course, you can¡¯t! Young Master Yan clenched his hands into fists which were stuffed in his pockets. He frowned once again. ¡°Of course.¡± Argh, this stupid woman was constantly making him worry. She was always friendly to everyone. From the way this guy had hugged and embraced her, he could tell that this golden-haired guy harbored ill intentions towards her. And in just a few hours, he had successfully gotten close enough to address her directly as Xuxu. Chapter 130. Why Do I Need To Coax Her? She wasn¡¯t in the least bit demure or coy. Everyone sat down and naturally Wen Xuxu sat next to Yan Rusheng. As usual, she helped him to disinfect his cutlery and cup with boiling water. Charles sat opposite; his attention was focused on her as he watched her every movement. Her slender arms were as fair as porcelain and every movement she made seemed so graceful and natural in his eyes. Young Master Yan had nearly flown off the handle, almost flipping over the table during dinner. ¡°Wen Xuxu, as a woman don¡¯t you know how to be coy and demure?¡± Once they were in the car, Young Master Yan began to chide Wen Xuxu out of frustration. Xuxu had barely sat down when he abruptly started reprimanding her. She was unable to make heads or tails of it, so she snapped, ¡°Did I do anything wrong?¡± How was she not coy and demure? What did she do? He was really ridiculous. ¡°You danced with Charles¡­¡± Yan Rusheng stopped midway through his accusation. He paused for a bit before he adjusted his tone. He interrogated her with a seemingly strong air of condemnation, ¡°Did you inform Jiang Zhuoheng before you danced with Charles?¡± He thought, You¡¯re already attached and you¡¯re still flirting with other guys. Wen Xuxu was speechless. ¡°¡­¡± The dance itself was actually a pure and beautiful thing. Why had his words transformed it into something that was offensive and shameful? She retorted in a surly tone. ¡°He isn¡¯t so petty.¡± Young Master Yan frowned in displeasure. Does that mean that he was petty? He was riled up by her words. ¡°Wen Xuxu, the minute Jiang Zhuoheng came back, your words started growing bolder.¡± Before Jiang Zhuoheng came back, she wouldn¡¯t retaliate at all when he lectured her. But now she would argue with him and talk back to him at the slightest thing. She was like a pet puppy¡ªdoing whatever she wanted with her owner backing her up. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. Ah Heng is back so I now have someone to support me. What can you do about it?¡± Since he insisted on thinking this way, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to correct him. With arms akimbo, she stared fiercely at him with widened eyes. ¡°Young Master, what do you want exactly? Are you looking for trouble?¡± Yan Rusheng turned to look at her and he couldn¡¯t help but recall the incident where she had mercilessly walloped him. She looked exactly like she did back then and had on the same identical expression. Every time he recalled that incident, he felt humiliated and ashamed. How he wished he could strangle her to death. History had repeated itself today but he realized that he wasn¡¯t as angry as he¡¯d expected. In fact, he felt that she was quite¡­ adorable! Cough . It must be an illusion. This stupid woman possessed nothing else but stupidity and clumsiness. She wasn¡¯t in the least bit adorable. He couldn¡¯t understand what Charles saw in her that made him compliment her for being lovely and pretty. He seriously doubted his aesthetic sense. ¡°Grandmother asked you to drop by for soup.¡± It was rare for Young Master Yan not to be as overbearing as usual. She had assumed that he would yell at her. The change in topic was really¡­ Xuxu refused. ¡°I won¡¯t be going, it¡¯s too late.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askance at her and scoffed. He thought in his heart, It doesn¡¯t matter if you go or not, who cares? ¡­ ¡°Third Yan, why are you alone? Where¡¯s Xuxu?¡± The moment Yan Rusheng came home, Wang Daqin rushed to welcome him. She was wearing floral pajamas and had an ecstatic expression on her face. ¡°She went home,¡± Yan Rusheng replied coolly and changed into his slippers. Then he stomped towards the stairs. ¡°I thought I asked you to invite her over to drink some soup? Why did she go home?¡± Wang Daqin followed him and nagged him incessantly. ¡°You must have angered her again, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯ve already told you that girls need to be coaxed. Don¡¯t you dare treat Xuxu the same way you treat your ex-girlfriends. If not, I¡¯ll definitely beat you to death.¡± Yan Rusheng halted his footsteps, turning around to frown at this old lady. ¡°Why do I need to coax her?¡± Chapter 131. He Wasnt Out Of His Mind He wasn¡¯t out of his mind. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about, you audacious boy?¡± Wang Daqin raised her hand in a fit of anger and slapped Young Master Yan on his shoulders forcefully. ¡°You¡¯re the one with the problem and Xuxu didn¡¯t even mind. How dare you act all high and mighty now?¡± You were done in less than half an hour and you still dare to put on airs in front of Xuxu. When she thought of this, worry engulfed the old lady once more. She yelled towards the kitchen. ¡°Aunt Zhang, have you re-heated the soup? Third Yan is back, serve the soup now.¡± Yan Rusheng was really curious about this special soup. The old lady had specifically called him in the afternoon and told him to come home for the soup. And she had called a few more times to remind him repeatedly in the evening. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s ready.¡± Aunt Zhang walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of steaming soup in her hands. She smiled happily as she served it to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Young Master, the soup is ready to be drunk.¡± There were scallions and ginger in the soup and he could smell it from afar. Yan Rusheng remained motionless and merely peeked at the bowl. Other than the scallions and some slices of ginger in the whitish soup, there weren¡¯t any other ingredients. It resembled a fish soup. But his instinct told him that this wasn¡¯t an ordinary fish soup. If it was, the old lady wouldn¡¯t have made such a big fuss over it. ¡°What is this soup?¡± he asked. Wang Daqin took the bowl instead and pushed it towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth. ¡°I spent this entire afternoon preparing this soup. Drink more since it¡¯s beneficial to your health. You¡¯ve been overexerting yourself at work recently and you¡¯ve lost weight. It makes my heart ache.¡± Yan Rusheng moved his head back and squinted at the soup with dislike. He tried to retreat, but Wang Daqin extended her hands towards him. ¡°Drink it.¡± It was an order. ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng knew that if he didn¡¯t drink the soup tonight, she wouldn¡¯t leave him alone. He received the bowl and drank down the soup in one gulp. Other than a slightly pungent smell, the taste was relatively good. In the end, he had to drink that exact soup every night when he got home. When he questioned her about the soup, her lips remained tightly sealed. All the servants remained secretive about it as well. After almost a week, Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand it any longer after seeing that the seat next to her was still vacant. She went to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. ¡°President Yan, do you want to check on Secretary Wen? She¡¯s been absent from work for days.¡± Without beating around the bush, she brought up the issue the moment she entered. She was back to teach and guide Miss Wen as requested by Grandmother. But why did it feel like she¡¯d been reinstated instead? If she didn¡¯t bring up this matter and Miss Wen didn¡¯t return, did it mean that she had to continue being his secretary? Yan Rusheng raised his head and stared at her impassively. He said in an unquestionable manner, ¡°She¡¯s not reporting to work because of you. So before she comes back, you have to fulfill her duties properly as my secretary.¡± Young Master, do you think it¡¯s a good idea for you to be so overbearing? ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡­¡± Xuxu wanted to shoot back but she couldn¡¯t verbalize the word ¡®kiss¡¯. So she began to stammer, ¡°Y-you just had to provoke her with that method! I tried to advise you but you didn¡¯t care about the consequences.¡± She wasn¡¯t bound by a contract so she could leave any time she wants. But of course¡­ Wang Daqin was the main reason why she couldn¡¯t be so irresponsible and simply leave. Just like before, unless Yan Rusheng chased her away. Young Master Yan slammed the table and hollered at Wen Xuxu with a stony expression, ¡°Wen Xuxu, how dare you shout at me in my office?!¡± Chapter 132. Third Master Has a Nosebleed She had never raised her voice at him in the past. Young Master, a real man doesn¡¯t boast about his past achievements. Why bother bringing it up? ¡°President Yan, you¡­ you have a nosebleed!¡± Wen Xuxu suddenly screamed, her eyes wide with shock. She pointed at Yan Rusheng¡¯s nose and again said, ¡°You have a nosebleed!¡± As she screamed, she headed towards Yan Rusheng. He got a nosebleed? Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows in disbelief. Why would he suddenly get a nosebleed? He touched his nose gently and saw the blood on his fingers. Feeling just as startled, Young Master Yan leaped to his feet. Oh my god! What was happening to him? Instinctively, he glanced at Wen Xuxu¡¯s chest. She was dressed so conservatively, and furthermore, he had seen her naked before so that couldn¡¯t be the reason. Her figure wasn¡¯t attractive enough to result in a nosebleed. It was the first time in his life that he had a nosebleed. What could be the reason? Yan Rusheng¡¯s nose started to steadily drip with blood. Seeing this, Wen Xuxu hurriedly pulled some tissues and placed it near his nose. ¡°Raise your head upwards.¡± Young Master Yan obeyed and raised his head. And just like a statue, he stood there and allowed Wen Xuxu to help him stop the bleeding. The disparity in their height was too vast and Xuxu had to tiptoe so that her eye level could reach his nose. But this posture was too exhausting to maintain for long. ¡°Sit down, I can¡¯t really reach your nose.¡± She grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms and pushed him down. Yan Rusheng sat down and instantly Wen Xuxu felt more comfortable. ¡°Look at yourself. You got a nosebleed because of excessive internal heat. Stop throwing tantrums so frequently.¡± As she wiped away the blood, she chided him gently with a faint smile. Yan Rusheng looked at her eyes as he listened to her. To his surprise, he felt an indescribable peace within himself and a part of his heart began to soften somewhere¡­ He leaned back so that he was almost lying flat on his back. Xuxu had to bend forward and her slender fingers inadvertently brushed against his skin several times. His heart started pounding uncontrollably. Why was he reacting like this? It shouldn¡¯t have happened. The blood kept dripping endlessly and Xuxu couldn¡¯t stop the flow. Yan Rusheng¡¯s neck grew stiff and uncomfortable from maintaining the same position. He was about to change into another position to stretch himself. A slight movement from him and instantly Wen Xuxu spoke in a commanding tone, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± It was accompanied by her fierce stare. Young Master Yan¡¯s mouth sunk and he obediently¡­ fell silent. His head fell back once again. F*ck. As the saying goes, a man who loses his position and influence may be subjected to many indignities. It was merely a nosebleed and not some incurable illness. Why did he have to listen to her commands? ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡­¡± It took him awhile to realize it and he was annoyed. He opened his mouth with the intention to yell at her. At the same time, Xuxu suddenly berated him softly again. ¡°Summer is almost here and your body will accumulate heat more easily. You have to control your temper, look at how much blood you¡¯ve lost.¡± After she said her piece, she showed him the tissues which were stained with blood. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes merely skimmed over the tissues before his gaze landed on Wen Xuxu. He looked intently at her bright eyes, her beautifully curled, red lips and slightly raised eyebrows. For no reason, he could feel his body getting hotter. Damn it, he was reacting to this stupid woman again. He quickly averted his gaze elsewhere but Xuxu had bent her back at a sharper angle at the same time. His gaze landed on the depths beyond her slightly open collar. ¡°Why is the blood flow getting thicker now?¡± She had almost succeeded at stopping the nosebleed. But strangely, the blood was suddenly spurting out like a flood once again and Xuxu was at a loss. Chapter 133. Unable To Tell Good From Bad Young Master Yan averted his gaze once more and he could feel his body burning. He shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Didn¡¯t I told you not to move?¡± Wen Xuxu frowned and stared at him. She continued to chide him, ¡°If you move again, you¡¯ll need a blood transfusion at the hospital.¡± She had used nearly half a box of tissues and the blood still hadn¡¯t stopped dripping. What exactly was wrong with him? She began to get worried. ¡°Should we go to the hospital?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head and rejected her suggestion instantly. ¡°No.¡± After a curt reply, he randomly grabbed a folder and crossed one leg over the other. He placed the folder on his thighs to cover a certain part of his body. ¡°Your nose is still bleeding, can¡¯t you stop thinking about work for a moment?¡± Wen Xuxu continued to lecture him in a low voice and there was a tinge of gentleness in her tone. As she said this, she attempted to take away the folder that was resting on Yan Rusheng¡¯s thighs. Yan Rusheng sensed her movements and he held on tightly to the folder. Raising his head, he shouted, ¡°Wen Xuxu, what are you trying to do?!¡± He was extremely vexed. A part of him was already erect. Oh¡­ This was so embarrassing. He could never, ever let that stupid woman find out, if not she would mistakenly assume that she¡¯d caused this reaction. Even though he had no idea why his body was so sensitive today, but he was sure that it wasn¡¯t because of that stupid woman. Xuxu was worried about his health and refused to indulge him any longer. She looked at him solemnly. ¡°Your nosebleed is getting worse and you still want to work? Are you tired of living?¡± After she finished lecturing him, she attempted to snatch the folder from him again. Yan Rusheng instinctively avoided her and jerked forward. Unfortunately, his head bumped right into Xuxu¡¯s chest. The contact made him feel like saying one word¡ª F*ck! ¡°Wen Xuxu, get back to work now.¡± Both hands gripped the folder tightly as he covered that crucial part of his body. He stared at Wen Xuxu with fury in his eyes. If she didn¡¯t leave soon, he was afraid that it wouldn¡¯t be just a nosebleed anymore. Damn it. No matter what, he would find out the cause behind his nosebleed and that uncontrollable desire. He had been together with this woman for years and nothing like this had ever happened before. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you can¡¯t tell good from bad!¡± Wen Xuxu pouted her mouth in exasperation and angrily shoved the tissues at his chest. She turned to leave in a huff. When she finally disappeared from his sight, Yan Rusheng heaved a sigh of relief. He flung the folder on the desk and looked at his erect body part. He cursed violently in his heart. His hands pressed against the arms of the chair and he rose, heading straight for his room. Standing under the showerhead, Yan Rusheng allowed the icy water to cool his burning body. If he didn¡¯t vent it out right now, he was afraid he might end up ¡®crippled¡¯ in the future. He shut his eyes and raised his head. Ah Sheng¡­ Ah Sheng¡­ I like you¡­ He reminisced about an old dream and his ears rang with the voice that still tugged at his heartstrings even now. He tried to visualize the scene in the dream to help him vent his desires. Look at yourself. You got a nosebleed because of excessive internal heat. Stop throwing tantrums so frequently. Yan Rusheng, you can¡¯t tell good from bad! Tch, what was this situation? Startled, Young Master Yan opened his eyes. Feeling vexed, he clenched his fists and punched the wall. Unexpectedly, he had fantasized about Wen Xuxu, that stupid woman. Chapter 134. Do You Have To Expose Your Friend Like This? The last image in his mind that popped up was Wen Xuxu¡¯s flushed face, and right now¡­ He slowly lowered his head and looked down at his body which was boiling with desire. He flipped out. No¡­ this isn¡¯t real. There must be something wrong with his body. He needed to do a checkup at the hospital. Young Master Yan came out of the bathroom and changed into a set of clean clothes. When he exited his office, his gaze unconsciously moved towards Xuxu. She was staring at the computer screen and her slender fingers were busily typing away. When he thought of that embarrassing incident in the bathroom, he quickly averted his gaze, his expression guilty. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m heading out.¡± He informed her in an impassive manner. By the time Xuxu looked in his direction, the towering figure had walked a distance away. ¡°What was that all about?¡± she uttered perplexedly to herself with a pout and helplessly shook her head. She decided that it would be wiser not to ask too many questions, otherwise she¡¯d end up suffering his wrath once more. In the hospital¡­ ¡°Hahahahaha¡­¡± Lu Yinan was wearing a white gown and sitting on a swivel chair. His hands were pressed against his belly and his handsome face was twisted with laughter. The man sitting opposite him looked somber and gloomy, just like the sky before a terrible storm. ¡°Are you done laughing?¡± He gritted his teeth and glared harshly at Young Master Lu who was laughing hysterically. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he still needed Lu Yinan, he would have demolished his decent-looking office. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you said you got a nosebleed when you looked at a woman today? And you¡­ you¡­¡± Lu Yinan was having a hard time catching his breath in the midst of his laughter and he could barely string enough words to form a sentence. ¡°And you relieved yourself in the bathroom, hahaha¡­¡± The entire incident was too hilarious and if he had the choice he would have updated his friends in the group chat right away. He needed to warn them how harmful it could be to abstain from sexual relations¡­ Third Yan was the perfect example. He had remained chaste for Fang Jiayin and his seemingly robust body had deteriorated to a stage where he could fantasize about a random woman and start having nosebleeds. But he obviously didn¡¯t have the courage to do that in real life. He was satisfied with just the thought of it. ¡°If you continue laughing, I¡¯m going to demolish your hospital,¡± Yan Rusheng warned him in a deadly tone. Hearing this, Lu Yinan came to a stop with a grunt. He straightened his back and cleared his throat in an austere manner. ¡°Hmmm, from my years of experience as a doctor, this condition of yours¡­¡± He had yet to finish his sentence when Yan Rusheng abruptly interrupted, ¡°You¡¯ve only just graduated and obtained your medical license!¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ Tsk, do you have to expose your friend like this? Young Master Lu cursed silently in his heart before he began to examine the patient properly. He looked at Yan Rusheng and asked, ¡°Have you been staying up late recently?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°No.¡± His schedule had been rather disciplined as of late, especially since Wen Xinyi was gone. Lu Yinan continued, ¡°Before you had a nosebleed, did you watch any erotic movies or novels?¡± As he asked, he began to record some notes on the patient¡¯s file. Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows and threw the question back at him. ¡°Do you think I would watch that senseless stuff?¡± His gorgeous face was overcast with gloom by then. Lu Yinan thought that it was idiotic of him to ask him this question as well. Why would Yan Rusheng touch that vulgar stuff? He pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°Have you been eating anything nourishing recently?¡± Yan Rusheng was about to shake his head when he suddenly thought of something. He narrowed his eyes and there was a gleam of suspicion. He answered hesitantly, ¡°The old lady has been forcing me to drink this whitish soup every night. The smell is a little pungent though. She said it¡¯s supposed to nourish my body since I¡¯ve been working too hard recently.¡± Chapter 135. Can You Guess What Will Happen? ¡°Whitish soup? Pungent? To nourish your body?¡± Lu Yinan repeated the traits Yan Rusheng had mentioned. He instantly had his answer. ¡°Soft-shelled turtle soup!¡± He raised his head and his eyes blazed with excitement. ¡°The old madam gave you soft-shelled turtle soup.¡± As he said this, he burst into laughter again. Of course, he wasn¡¯t going to tell him that there would definitely be other tonics included in the soup. ¡°Soft-shelled turtle soup?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and wondered what that was. He recalled the soup that Wang Daqin had been feeding him these past few days. So it was soft-shelled turtle soup? ¡°Cough¡­ cough.¡± Lu Yinan covered his mouth and stifled his laughter. He spoke in a low voice, ¡°That soup is meant to treat kidney deficiencies and to boost a man¡¯s sex drive¡­ It¡¯s commonly known as a treatment for impotence.¡± Oh my god! Young Master Yan heard Young Master Lu¡¯s words and his hands grabbed his head. He looked at the ceiling in exasperation. Why are you done so quickly? You¡¯re the one with the problem and Xuxu didn¡¯t even mind. How dare you act all high and mighty now¡­ This old lady got the wrong idea about him and that stupid woman! And she even¡­ even suspected that her grandson was impotent. Luckily he went to consult Lu Yinan today. If he had continued drinking that soup, he would have died from blood loss. ¡°Third Yan, I¡¯m curious about the woman you fantasized about in the bathroom. Can you tell me who she is?¡± He was really curious and dying to know. Yan Rusheng leaned back lazily and rested his elbows on the arms of the chair. He supported his forehead with a finger and narrowed his peach blossom-shaped eyes maliciously at the bespectacled and elegant-looking Young Master Lu in his white gown. Lu Yinan gripped his pen tightly when he caught his eye. Although he was fearful of that malicious and sinister glint in his eyes. He was really¡­ really dying to know. ¡°Was it that young model who was with you at the club a few days ago?¡± he persisted bravely. He would persevere until he reached his goal. ¡°If the whole country knows that Young Master Lu is a quack¡­¡± Yan Rusheng curled his lips coolly and emphasized every word. ¡°Can you guess¡­ what will happen?¡± He delivered his threat and grabbed an exquisite vase from the desk, raising it high up in the air. ¡°Third Yan¡­¡± Lu Yinan opened his mouth but before he could utter another word, he heard the sound of something shattering. The vase had been sacrificed. The lily in the vase lay quietly on the floor. Glass shards were scattered everywhere. ¡°I got it! I¡¯ll keep quiet about the fact that you fantasized about a random woman! Get lost, now!¡± The elegant Young Master Lu had lost his temper too. He yelled at Yan Rusheng and pointed at the door. If he didn¡¯t scram, this whole office would be in danger. ¡°You should have said so earlier, then I wouldn¡¯t have dropped your vase accidentally.¡± As he spoke, he stood up to leave. He glanced at the glass shards on the floor and shook his head in pity. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ If he didn¡¯t leave soon, he¡¯d end up vomiting blood at any minute. ¡­ When Yan Rusheng got home that night, Wang Daqin intercepted him at the foot of the staircase with the soup in her hands as usual. When he saw the soup, he was reminded of that morning¡¯s embarrassing incident and he almost smashed the bowl. He would definitely not drink the soup anymore but at the same time, he didn¡¯t want to listen to the old lady¡¯s nagging. He took the bowl and brought it upstairs and lied to her, saying that he would drink if after changing his clothes. After knowing that the reason for his nosebleed was due to the soup, he heaved a sigh of relief. And luckily¡­ luckily he hadn¡¯t developed an unwanted obsession with Wen Xuxu, that stupid woman. Chapter 136. The Huge Difference In Height Is Adorable For the next few days, he would take the soup upstairs to ¡®drink¡¯ it. ¡°This afternoon, Mrs. Liu from next door complained that our Huang Bao was harassing her Xiao Ke again.¡± ¡°Nonsense. My Huang Bao is a purebred, why would it like a scrawny dog?¡± ¡°I was perplexed as well. Huang Bao usually plays in the courtyard but it¡¯s been running out in the afternoon these past few days.¡± Yan Rusheng came home from work and went upstairs to change. On his way down to the dining room to get some iced water, he could hear Wang Daqin and Aunt Zhang talking about their pet dog ¡®Huang Bao¡¯ before he reached the entrance. He overheard their conversation and halted his footsteps. He held his breath and went upstairs again as quietly as he could. He had just stepped onto the second floor when a huge, shaggy brown dog came out of his room. When the dog saw him, it raised its tail immediately and wagged happily. At the same time, the dog raced towards Yan Rusheng. When it came to him, the dog wagged its tail even more vigorously. Yan Rusheng looked at the dog with a faint apologetic smile. ¡°It¡¯s been tough on you.¡± Otherwise, he would be the one bleeding from his nose every day whenever he sees that damned woman. ¡­ After work, her colleagues bade Wen Xuxu goodbye one after another. She finished packing her bag and rose to leave the office. Jiang Zhuoheng had gathered their ex-classmates for dinner tonight, including her and Zhou Shuang. The elevator door opened when it reached the first floor. There was a towering figure at the entrance and her mouth opened slightly in surprise. ¡°Ah Heng, why did you come here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng replied softly with a faint smile at the corners of his lips. He wore a light pink shirt paired with gray and white checkered retro pants which ended at his ankles. His outfit was casual yet it exuded maturity. He strode forward and naturally extended his hand towards Xuxu. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu glanced at her hand which Jiang Zhuoheng was holding and she pressed her lips together. After deliberating for a split second, she tightened her grip around his hand and nodded slightly. Grandfather did say that Ah Heng was a good man and Xuxu could be entrusted to him for the rest of her life. Ah Heng, if you¡¯re willing, please give me more time! They walked out of Flourish & Prosper hand in hand. A man wearing a white shirt stood on the steps behind them. As he watched the couple leave, he sneered in contempt, ¡°She¡¯s so short, they don¡¯t look compatible at all.¡± ¡°Eh? Isn¡¯t that Secretary Wen?¡± ¡°Oh, so it is. Who¡¯s that man beside her? He looks so handsome.¡± ¡°President Yan.¡± The female employees were watching and talking about Wen Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng. They greeted Yan Rusheng politely as they walked past him and continued talking about the couple. ¡°The huge difference in height is so adorable.¡± ¡°Look, that handsome guy drives a Bentley.¡± The two female employees walked further away and Young Master Yan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tighter. The huge difference in height is adorable¡­? It was the first time he¡¯d heard of this. One was so tall and the other was so petite, in what way did they look adorable? It didn¡¯t look coordinated at all. Why are the women behaving like this nowadays? What was so great about driving a Bentley? I have several sports cars in my garage. Young Master Yan thought haughtily to himself. His phone rang suddenly and he fished it out. He glanced at the screen and it displayed Ming Ansheng¡¯s name. He answered the call, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Third Yan, join us for a gathering tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng rejected him without hesitation, ¡°Not going.¡± Chapter 137. How Disappointing And Anguishing It Was! ¡°Ah Heng¡¯s been back for some time and it wasn¡¯t easy to get everyone together tonight. Are you going to fumble the ball?¡± ¡°Do you mean Jiang Zhuoheng will be there?¡± Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes as he looked afar. The white Bentley had driven out of the parking lot and was speeding away as Yan Rusheng looked at it. Ming Ansheng answered him with a yes and his tone carried a hint of disapproval. ¡°So you¡¯ll be letting us down if you don¡¯t come.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go,¡± Young Master Yan agreed reluctantly. The places that they frequented were usually the capital city¡¯s expensive and luxurious bars or clubs. It would only take a glance across the vast car park to see that it was occupied with cars that were worth millions. Young Master Yan was usually the most important guest at a party and he was always the last to arrive. It was no exception this time around. He ate his dinner and showered before heading out. By the time he reached the bar, it was well past eight. Closing his car door, he strode elegantly towards the entrance of The First Wealth. Two pretty ushers were overwhelmed with excitement when they saw him and forgot to open the door. Tonight, The First Wealth was really honored by the presence of some of the most famous and wealthy bachelors in the capital city. And each was more charming than the one before. Yan Rusheng ignored the ushers¡¯ infatuated expressions and stretched his hand to open the door himself. ¡°Hey, Third Young Master.¡± The moment he entered, he heard someone calling him. He turned his head in the direction of the voice. A tall lady dressed in a body-hugging black and white striped dress was heading towards him. She was wearing high stilettos and as she sauntered forward, her slender waist swayed seductively. Yan Rusheng watched as the beautiful and voluptuous lady tried to pander to him. But his peach-blossom-shaped eyes displayed a deadpan expression. When the lady came up to him, he calmly straightened his body. His lips remained tightly pressed with no intention of speaking to the lady. The beautiful lady stopped about a footstep away from him and her hand which was holding her handbag wound around her own waist lazily. The light eyeshadow enhanced her seductive eyes and she surveyed him in an alluring manner. ¡°Third Young Master is really heartless. You really meant it when you said you wouldn¡¯t contact me again.¡± It sounded like they were close friends teasing each other when they met. Yan Rusheng curled his lips. ¡°Miss Wu, the entertainment industry is dangerous. Don¡¯t venture on the same path as Ouyang Qingqing.¡± The faint smile on his lips turned frosty. What he hated the most was strangers pretending to be chummy with him, especially women. And specifically, women who doused themselves with strong perfumes. The beautiful lady turned stiff when she heard him. Her expression had frozen at his coldness. Before she could react, the towering figure had already left a distance away. The same path as Ouyang Qingqing¡­ it was a dreaded nightmare for all the celebrities who had ¡®dated¡¯ Third Master Yan. Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve used so many women and dumped them the minute you were done, all for Fang Jiayin. How disappointing and anguishing it was! Xuxu clutched her cellphone and hid in a dark corner until Yan Rusheng was gone. Then she began to walk in the same direction. Almost everyone had come today and the number of people had exceeded those who attended Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s farewell party years ago. All of them were close friends who had played together since they were young. All of them were the young masters and mistresses of wealthy and prestigious families. Xuxu sat beside Jiang Zhuoheng the entire time. Since she couldn¡¯t drink, Jiang Zhuoheng had been drinking on her behalf for the toasts. ¡°Xuxu, this can¡¯t go on. We¡¯ve barely started and Ah Heng is already tipsy. How can we continue with the party?¡± Chapter 138. He Was Unexpectedly Snubbed A few of them began to raise a ruckus in order to force Xuxu to drink. Even though Wen Xuxu was witty and smart, she was still considered green when compared to these crafty and shrewd young masters. She saw that Jiang Zhuoheng was already tipsy. If he continued drinking, he would soon collapse. She pressed her lips tightly as she hesitated. Jiang Zhuoheng suddenly stretched out a hand and grabbed her waist. ¡°I¡¯m alright. If I really get drunk, just make sure you send me home.¡± The music was really deafening in the private room and he had to inch closer to Xuxu¡¯s ear and raise his voice. The people who were close to them all heard him. Someone immediately joined the ruckus and added, ¡°Then you two should get drunk together and we can send the both of you home together. Look how perfect it is.¡± He gave his suggestion and everyone burst into laughter. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Anyway, it¡¯s the same if we send either one or two. You should both get drunk and we¡¯ll just send the two of you home together. It¡¯s perfect.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. It¡¯s perfect.¡± Everyone started to chime in. She was, after all, still a girl and this atmosphere was making her feel awkward. She lowered her head as her cheeks flushed. Jiang Zhuoheng knew that she was feeling uncomfortable so he raised his head to glare fiercely at Ming Ansheng who had the loudest voice. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re already engaged, shouldn¡¯t you go home earlier to sleep instead of talking nonsense here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here because of you, my good friend. I¡¯m concerned that you can¡¯t sleep without a partner so I¡¯m trying to help you.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows meaningfully at Jiang Zhuoheng with an ambiguous smile. Jiang Zhuoheng aimed a kick at him. ¡°Go away.¡± Ming Ansheng was agile and avoided his kick. Then he turned to look at Wen Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, if you really don¡¯t want to drink, you have another option.¡± Naturally, Xuxu asked him what this ¡®option¡¯ was. Even though she was sure that these guys weren¡¯t going to let her off so easily, she still wanted to know what the alternative to drinking would be. She felt that any option would be better than letting her drink. It was because every time she got drunk, both her heart and body would end up hurt! Ming Ansheng glanced at Xuxu with a sly smile. ¡°If you kiss Ah Heng once, he can be excused from one glass. Since all of us haven¡¯t met in ages, we have to go one round to propose a toast to him. So please count the number of people who are present tonight and that¡¯s the number of kisses you have to give to Ah Heng.¡± He had barely finished talking when someone emerged from the crowd and started clapping in support. ¡°I absolutely agree with this idea.¡± That voice was sharp, clear and loud. Xuxu frowned in disapproval and gave a stare to ¡®hush¡¯ the owner of the voice. Yan Rusheng was sitting on the couch at a corner. He supported his forehead with a hand and the other held an exquisite wine glass. Needless to say, he was in a bad mood. This was the first time he¡¯d felt like he was being snubbed at such a gathering. But reflecting back on it, it felt like it was always this way at previous gatherings. He would choose a seat and watch the rest of them. After they had their fun or grew tired, they would then come to him for a drink or two. But this time, he wasn¡¯t content to just sit at a corner. Unfortunately, no one among that group of rascals managed to take note of his presence tonight. Especially that female hooligan who had such a loud voice, his eardrums were bursting because of her. He couldn¡¯t understand why she came back to force her presence on them when the foreign environment was more favorable. Due to Zhou Shuang¡¯s statement earlier, Young Master Yan¡¯s hatred for her had rocketed and was now off the charts. He could barely control his urge to throw his wine glass at her heavily powdered face. He¡¯d settle this old debt with her someday. Feeling frustrated, he gulped down his wine in one go. Chapter 139. Look For Baidu If You Have a Proble ¡°Oh¡­ that¡¯s great. Continue!¡± Suddenly, the sounds of laughter and cheers erupted from the other side of the room. Yan Rusheng stole a glance in that direction, catching a scene that froze both his actions and the expression on his handsome face. His fingers unconsciously loosened its grip. The wine glass slipped from his fingers and fell with a loud crash on the floor. He snapped out of his reverie and glanced at the floor. The dim lighting shone on the glass shards and as they reflected the light, the shards flickered. To his surprise, he found it extremely annoying. The shattering sounds of the wine glass had caught everyone¡¯s attention. Someone quipped jokingly, ¡°Third Yan, why did you smash your glass?¡± ¡°F*ck. Which of your eyes saw me smash it?¡± Yan Rusheng stood up furiously and swore. His rage frightened everyone and even the music stopped. What just happened? Young Master Yan snapped out of his anger and realized that he was going a little overboard. He cleared his throat. ¡°The old lady kept calling and said that something¡¯s come up at home. I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± And without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he immediately marched out of the room. His footsteps seemed hasty. Wen Xuxu frowned as she watched him leave. She thought to herself, Why was he throwing a tantrum again? The old lady said something came up? He was obviously angry. After Yan Rusheng had been gone for some time, only then did everybody gradually get over his rage. ¡°Did that guy learn from Xuxu and drink too much by himself?¡± Ming Ansheng pointed at the closed door and shook his head in amusement. Xuxu rolled her eyes silently in her heart. She thought, That young master lost his temper and she still ended up being targeted. Yan Rusheng headed straight for the washroom and stared at his reflection in the mirror. The image of Wen Xuxu kissing Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s cheeks kept replaying in his mind. She had bashfully closed her eyes. He couldn¡¯t get rid of the image in his head¡ªit felt like a curse. It was tormenting him to the point of frustration. He turned on the tap and bent down to splash his face with water. He must have drunk too much. It had to be. The moment he stepped out of the washroom, he had the sudden strong urge to drag Wen Xuxu from the private room and send her straight home. Of course, logic eventually defeated this urge. Once he got home, he showered and went to bed. That kissing image still haunted him like a curse and he couldn¡¯t sleep. It should be the most comfortable season of the year but he was sweating from frustration. The more he forced himself not to think about it, the more he did. ¡°This is crazy!¡± Yan Rusheng yelled and swore in frustration. He sat up vexedly and switched on the lights. He got down and walked towards the sofa. After switching on the laptop which was on the coffee table, he opened a browser. He recalled Wen Xuxu had said to ¡°Look for Baidu if you have a problem¡±. His fine-looking fingers began flying across the keyboard. ¡®If you see a woman that you hate kissing another guy and you feel extremely frustrated, what could be the reason?¡¯ His long fingers finished typing and he pressed enter. Answers came tumbling out instantly and it was from a variety of websites. He chose one randomly and it was from a website called ¡®Gossip From The Corners Of The World¡¯. The person¡¯s description wasn¡¯t identical but he had garnered plenty of replies which had different solutions to his problem. Young Master Yan deliberated for a second before he decided to write a post too. The first step was to register an account and he needed a nickname. He casually typed ¡®Xuxu¡¯ and the system generated the idiom ¡®xuxu rusheng¡¯. Chapter 140 When he saw the idiom for his nickname, he cursed in his heart. F*ck. Why did he type that stupid woman¡¯s name? His brain didn¡¯t seem to belong to him tonight, he had no control over it at all. In the end, he still used ¡®xuxu rusheng¡¯ as his nickname. The excuse he gave himself was that he didn¡¯t want to waste his brain cells thinking of a new one. ¡®If you see a woman that you hate kissing another guy and you feel extremely frustrated, what could be the reason?¡¯ He sent the post and sat cross-legged on the sofa. He was waiting for the night owls from all over the world to answer his query. A short while later, he received a notification. Young Master Yan excitedly refreshed the page and there was indeed a message. The first one was from ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯: Hi Brother, are you an alien? What was that supposed to mean? Yan Rusheng read the message and he frowned in puzzlement. He furrowed his eyebrows and replied: What do you mean? ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯ typed: Obviously, you¡¯ve fallen for her. Don¡¯t TV dramas often have a similar plot involving childhood sweethearts? When they were young, they were at each other¡¯s throats like enemies. But in fact, they had fallen for each other. ¡°Impossible!¡± Young Master Yan read the reply from ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯ and he shouted in disbelief. How could he have fallen in love with that damned woman? It was absolutely impossible. He typed agitatedly and replied to ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯: It¡¯s impossible. That woman is stupid and fierce. In terms of taste and character, I¡¯m way out of her league, alright? Furthermore, he still had Jiayin in his heart. With regards to her leaving without a goodbye, he was indeed still furious with her. But this had nothing to do with his love for her. The angrier he was, the more he cared for her, right? ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯ typed: Young man, I know it¡¯s hard for you to accept the truth right now. I do pity your predicament but¡­ the truth is, you love her. Of course¡­. I am against you being a third party and breaking up a loving couple. Bullshit. This is irrelevant. Young Master Yan was livid as he replied to her. Then he closed the laptop with a slam. He stood up and walked in a huff towards the bathroom. Third party and loving couple? What kind of nonsense was that? It made no sense whatsoever and it was impossible for him to have fallen in love with that stupid woman, Wen Xuxu. Not in this lifetime. ¡­ The next morning, Xuxu reported to work early. She glanced at Wen Xinyi¡¯s empty seat and sighed helplessly. She was still absent. She was depressed at the thought of Wen Xinyi being absent for a week. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t even bother and furthermore, Wang Daqin wasn¡¯t looking for a replacement. It didn¡¯t seem right for her to keep staying on indefinitely as a replacement. Xuxu cursed silently as she walked towards her seat. She sat down, stored her bag away and switched on the computer. While she waited for the computer to power up, she played with the furry doll that she¡¯d chucked away at a corner. She pouted and chided herself, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have promised Grandmother, now I¡¯ve boarded a pirate ship and it¡¯s too late to get out.¡± Pirate ship? Did that mean my Flourish & Prosper is a pirate ship? Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t sleep at all last night after what ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯ had said. So he came to work early that morning. He was about to brew some coffee for himself. The moment he opened the door, he heard Wen Xuxu complaining to the doll. His gorgeous face immediately fell and he glared furiously at the furry doll. ¡°Wen Xuxu, black coffee with no sugar.¡± Behind her, Xuxu heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice and got a shock. She spun around. ¡°President Yan, why are you here so early?¡± Chapter 141 Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows and gave her a frosty look. ¡°Do I need to report to you when I come to work early?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Xuxu shook her head and got up hurriedly to receive the cup from Yan Rusheng. Then she proceeded to the office pantry. Black coffee without sugar¡ªthe young master wasn¡¯t in a good mood today. The thick black coffee looked bitter just by the smell of it. Xuxu knocked on Yan Rusheng¡¯s office door. He was sitting on the couch with his laptop, his attention focused on the screen. ¡°President Yan, your coffee is ready,¡± Wen Xuxu announced softly, walking towards him with the coffee. Yan Rusheng looked up the second he heard her voice. He promptly closed his laptop. He looked nervous. What¡¯s going on this with this guy today? Xuxu sized up Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression. He didn¡¯t look very good, was he feeling sick? Yan Rusheng noticed her staring at his face and he frowned. ¡°What are you looking at, Wen Xuxu?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Wen Xuxu stopped her train of thought and put down the coffee. She said, ¡°President Yan, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head back to work.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a stony ¡°Mm¡± and didn¡¯t even look at her. He sipped the coffee and the bitter taste lingered around his mouth. He disliked this taste but the bitterness was able to numb his senses, thus helping him to forget his woes. After Xuxu closed the door behind her, Yan Rusheng opened his laptop once more. He¡¯d been browsing a psychological clinic¡¯s website and was currently chatting with an expert from the clinic. To be specific, he was consulting him regarding psychological issues. The expert said: You¡¯ve fallen in love with the woman who¡¯s been with you for years. This further proves that psychologically, you are normal. If you didn¡¯t fall for her, it would seem more abnormal by comparison. ¡®Xuxu rusheng¡¯ asked: If I¡¯m normal, why do I get a reaction when I see that stupid woman? Why do I feel frustrated when she kisses another guy? The expert answered: According to what you¡¯ve described, your love has progressed to a stage where you¡¯ll suffer from agony and grief if you see her with another guy. ¡®Xuxu rusheng¡¯ retorted: Bullshit, you¡¯re a quack who can¡¯t even diagnose a simple problem. How dare you call yourself an expert? The expert said: Sir, please don¡¯t resort to personal attacks. There really is nothing wrong with you psychologically. The expert typed: Sir, are you there? Heed my advice and acknowledge your own feelings. Be brave and face them. Love isn¡¯t shameful. The expert continued: Mister, there¡¯s really nothing wrong with you psychologically. But if you continue to suppress your feelings for her, psychologically you will develop a problem. When Young Master Yan read the expert¡¯s last message, he spat out the coffee in his mouth at the screen. He put down his cup and his long fingers typed nimbly: Get lost! After aggressively replying to the expert, he promptly exited the website and closed his laptop. He drank the remaining coffee in one gulp. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t look for her for the whole morning. When it was time for lunch, Xuxu got ready to head to his office. At that moment, she heard his voice behind her. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± ¡°President Yan, I was just about to ask what you wanted to eat for lunch.¡± Xuxu stood up and walked towards him with a smile. She wore a white shirt and had tucked it into a black body-hugging skirt. It enhanced the curves of her body perfectly. When she walked closer to him, Yan Rusheng stole a glance at the top of her head as he recalled what the female employees were gushing about yesterday. Chapter 142. That Must Be It The huge difference in height is adorable. If that statement was true, then if they stood together then their proportions would look adorable as well, right? ¡°President Yan, is there anything on top of my head?¡± As Xuxu asked him, she brushed her hair uncertainly. If not, why was he staring at the top of her head? ¡°Nothing.¡± Yan Rusheng snapped back to his senses and shook his head. A flush was creeping up his handsome face. Oh my god! How could he have visualized himself with that stupid woman? It¡¯s the fault of that quack and ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯. They had brainwashed him. That must be it. Xuxu was certain that Young Master Yan was feeling troubled today but she also knew that he would never confide in her. To avoid his wrath, she had better behave herself properly today. And so she decided to turn a blind eye and instead, gently asked, ¡°President Yan, what would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go out for lunch together.¡± Yan Rusheng straightened his back as he replied back in a slightly awkward tone. ¡°Huh?¡± Xuxu was a little taken aback. She stared at Yan Rusheng with her mouth hanging open. She asked uncertainly, ¡°President Yan, did you just say you wanted to head out for lunch?¡± She had worked at Flourish & Prosper for over a year. Other than heading out for lunch for work purposes, he had never dined out during lunchtime before. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows and glanced at her coldly. ¡°Yes, is there a problem?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head out then.¡± Xuxu instantly held her tongue. She thought to herself, It¡¯s getting harder to figure out what he¡¯s thinking these days. Both of them entered the elevator and exited side by side. As they were leaving through the main doors of the building, Yan Rusheng suddenly recalled how Jiang Zhuoheng held Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand yesterday when they left through these doors together. They were holding hands as they walked towards the setting sun¡­ Right now, Xuxu was standing at a lower step and she was facing the bright sun. She was lovelier than a flower¡­ He was startled by his thoughts and immediately put a stop to it. His long legs began to hastily stride forward as he walked ahead of Xuxu. This whole district was crowded with office buildings and naturally, there were a variety of restaurants downstairs which ranged from Western to Chinese cuisines. Yan Rusheng shot forward like an arrow and it seemed as though he had found his target. Thus she didn¡¯t ask and simply trailed behind him. ¡°Wen Xuxu, any recommendations?¡± Young Master Yan suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Xuxu. She was flabbergasted! So he didn¡¯t know where he wanted to go this whole time. Xuxu¡¯s legs were sore so she was feeling a little grumpy. She¡¯d trusted him, yet he was asking her to recommend a restaurant instead. She could only chide him in her heart and didn¡¯t dare to display her discontent. ¡°President Yan, what do you feel like eating?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t answer and he raised his head. He saw a Chinese restaurant right in front of their eyes and without hesitation, he walked in. It was lunchtime and the whole restaurant was crowded. At that moment, he began to regret his decision to head out for lunch. Wen Xuxu followed him and entered. ¡°President Yan, let¡¯s find a table before we order.¡± As she said this, her eyes were darting around looking for an empty table. ¡°Over there.¡± She saw an empty table and pointed at it happily. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It was a tiny space. She rushed forward in the direction of the table and Yan Rusheng stared at her back with a brooding expression. He thought, If Fang Jiayin were here, she would tell him softly, ¡®Ah Sheng, it¡¯s too crowded here, let¡¯s go somewhere else¡¯. Yes, they were both similar as they disliked crowded and noisy places. She would never raise her voice at him even if they had an argument. All she did was look at him with watery eyes and perhaps cry while saying that he¡¯d bullied he Chapter 143. He Felt Like Chopping Off His Hands This happened often; whenever he looked at Wen Xuxu, he would be reminded of Fang Jiayin. They were clearly as different as day and night but inadvertently, he could always see Jiayin¡¯s shadow in her. It was obviously an illusion, but he had no idea why he felt this way. ¡°President Yan, please order.¡± They sat down facing each other, and Wen Xuxu handed the menu to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng lowered his head and concentrated on the menu. His thick eyelashes covered his beautiful eyes. Xuxu looked at him, seeming to have fallen into a trance. Thinking back, this would be the first time they had dined out with just the two of them. When they were in B City, Fang Jiayin would always join them if they met up for meals on weekends. Or there would always be someone else. In the capital city, they rarely had the chance. Other than social engagements, they wouldn¡¯t appear at the same table together. ¡°Get the waiter to take our order.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head. ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Xuxu responded, coming back to reality. She waved in the direction of the cashier. ¡°Waiter, we would like to order.¡± The waiter came over, and Yan Rusheng ordered everything that caught his eye. He had an excellent memory, and he could remember anything after he¡¯d seen it once. After he read the menu seriously, he closed it and rattled off the seven dishes in one breath. Seven dishes for the two of them. What an extravagant waste! Xuxu thought in her heart. However, the young master was unexpectedly kind enough not to order any dishes with curry. In fact, she liked most of the dishes. The waiter left the order note on the edge of the table and left. Wen Xuxu began to disinfect the cutlery and cups. Her expression was serious every time she performed her duties. She would repeat the process at least three times. Yan Rusheng supported his chin with both hands as he looked at her. Her round and bright forehead was perspiring, probably due to how far they¡¯d walked earlier on. He involuntarily pulled out tissues from the box. ¡°President Yan, do you want some tea?¡± Xuxu raised her head and asked him softly. Just like how she¡¯d watched him earlier, his head suddenly jerked back. Yan Rusheng looked slightly guilty, and he used the tissues in his hands to wipe his own forehead. ¡°Yeah.¡± He replied back in his usual nonchalant manner and then stole a glance at Xuxu¡¯s forehead, feeling upset with himself. Oh my god! Earlier on, he had actually felt like wiping away the stupid woman¡¯s sweat. He felt like chopping off his hands! Wen Xuxu poured a cup of tea and put it in front of him. ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s a little hot.¡± She reminded him gently and removed her slender, fair hands from the cup. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Yan Rusheng stared at Wen Xuxu intensely, and his voice gave away how unbelievably surprised he was. Xuxu¡¯s hand quivered at his yell, and she stared at him in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Why was he so flustered? It gave her quite the fright. ¡°Nothing.¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. She had merely given him a reminder in a tone that was gentler than usual. He was strangely overwhelmed by her tender affection and had almost grabbed her tiny hand. He wanted to ask if she did the same things when she was with Jiang Zhuoheng¡ªdisinfecting the cutlery or cautioning him in a gentle tone. Yan Rusheng, your illness is getting serious. ¡­ Xuxu enjoyed her lunch eating the dishes she liked. She finished her rice and began eating the rest. Yan Rusheng saw that her bowl was empty and questioned her, ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating anymore?¡± Chapter 144. I Was Afraid That You’d Mind ¡°I was afraid that you¡¯d mind,¡± Xuxu replied casually and continued eating without batting an eyelid. Yan Rusheng felt a rush of indescribable emotions when he heard her. He gave a sideways glance at Xuxu¡¯s tiny face as he tried to probe further. ¡°Why are you afraid that I¡¯d mind?¡± His sparkling eyes held a subtle trace of expectation. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mind ever since we were kids?¡± Xuxu raised her head to look at the man opposite her as she blinked her shining black eyes. Her mouth was full of food, and her cheeks were bulging. She looked adorable. Young Master Yan¡¯s heart softened, and he couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips. He softly replied, ¡°Just eat.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. That guy had just smiled at her? That smile was like a blooming flower in spring, and it tugged at her heartstrings. Throughout the entire meal, the two of them faced each other and were secretly surprised by one another. They were used to treating each other with animosity. They both felt awkward when their interactions became pleasant. On their way back, Wen Xuxu walked in front of him and kept a one-meter gap in between her and Yan Rusheng. He stared at her back as he recalled what ¡®Big Sister From The Ends Of The World¡¯ and the expert had said. His gaze became brooding as a result. ¡®You have fallen for her¡­¡¯ ¡®You have fallen for her¡­¡¯ These words were etched firmly in his mind like a curse. He thought of the strange emotions and reactions he had developed for her during this period, and he too began to suspect¡­ But this wasn¡¯t logical at all. He clearly loathed her, and furthermore, he liked girls who were gentle and delicate like Jiayin. Had he really fallen for her after all these years? If that were true, that would be too embarrassing and terrible to hear. He had to destroy this budding thought as soon as possible before it gets too obvious or someone else gets wind of it. ¡­ His black Mercedes S600 reached the mansion, turned into the courtyard and stopped. He opened the door, got off the car and slammed the door shut. With heavy footsteps, he walked into the house. ¡°Wang Daqin, don¡¯t try to send me away with all this superficial talk! I¡¯ve already notified you in advance. The moment you agreed to let Xinyi enter Flourish & Prosper, the marriage between the two families was more or less confirmed. Why is Yan Rusheng acting in that way? Are you doing this on purpose to make things difficult for Xinyi?!¡± Once Yan Rusheng reached the entrance, he could hear an old man shouting inside the house. He hurried towards the door and glanced in the direction of the sofa. He frowned in annoyance and the expression in his eyes revealed impatience and dislike. Old Grandpa Ming was facing the old lady with an unhappy expression. Beside him was Wen Xinyi, and Yan Rusheng¡¯s look of impatience and dislike was directed at her as well. He thought he had expressed his intentions clearly and assumed that she¡¯d understood the message when she hadn¡¯t turned up for work these past few days. This young lady really isn¡¯t likable at all. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him when he comes back, and of course, I¡¯ll make him answer to Xinyi.¡± Wang Daqin knew they were in the wrong and so her usual shrewdness had vanished as she talked to Ming Zhongsheng. In her heart, she was actually overwhelmed with delight and excitement. Wen Xinyi said that Third Yan had been kissing Xuxu half-naked in the hotel. She had no idea that the two kids had already progressed to this stage. And this old lady had been completely in the dark. ¡°Grandpa Ming.¡± Yan Rusheng changed his shoes and put on a smiling expression as he walked towards the sofa. Wen Xinyi raised her head after hearing his voice, her eyes sparkling. She could hardly contain her excitement in that instant. Chapter 145. Returned To Her Youthful Days As Wen Xinyi watched the towering figure walking closer, her eyes showed a mixture of complex emotions. How could she not have fallen for such an outstanding man? Ever since she understood grandfather¡¯s intention, she had been praying fervently that she could be with him soon. She shared the same assumption her grandfather did¡ªonce she entered Flourish & Prosper, it meant that Yan Rusheng had accepted her. She had overlooked the fact that he¡¯d had countless scandals before, but¡­ but he had actually kissed his ex-secretary in a hotel room while she was with him. She knew that it was because the woman was too scheming. That woman had deliberately lured her away so that she could seduce Yan Rusheng. But she wouldn¡¯t let Xuxu get her way. Just like her grandfather had said, she had taken this step, and she couldn¡¯t back down so easily. That woman was just a girl whom Grandmother Yan had pitied and had adopted her when she was young. She wouldn¡¯t lose to Xuxu in either qualifications or appearance. Furthermore, she far surpassed Xuxu in terms of family background. Yan Rusheng walked towards Wang Daqin and sat down beside her. On the surface, he wore a faint superficial smile. Beneath that smile, his feelings were cold and aloof. He had no qualms about dropping the smile on his face as he looked at Wen Xinyi. His tone sounded almost condescending. ¡°Miss Wen received an excellent education from a young age. Didn¡¯t you know that you need to apply for leave if you¡¯re going to be absent from work? Or officially tender your resignation before leaving?¡± He straightened his back, his expression deadpan. ¡°I haven¡¯t settled the score with you yet, how dare you play the blame game with such audacity and confidence!¡± Ming Zhongsheng pointed at Yan Rusheng, and his face was ashen. ¡°Grandfather Ming, you¡¯re getting on in years. You shouldn¡¯t get agitated so easily.¡± He faced Ming Zhongsheng and resumed his usual indolent attitude. Putting his arm around Wang Daqin¡¯s shoulders, he continued casually, ¡°Look at our Old Madam Yan, her vigor and complexion have returned to her youthful days.¡± Wang Daqin elbowed him after hearing this. She scolded him even though she didn¡¯t really mean it, ¡°This child can never be serious.¡± But she was thinking smugly in her heart, ¡®Indeed, her ideal granddaughter-in-law would soon be marrying into their family, and naturally, a great-grandson would be on the way too.¡¯ It caused her to smile in her sleep so of course her complexion would be radiant, and she¡¯d be filled with energy. ¡®Bang!¡¯ Ming Zhongsheng slammed the coffee table forcefully. ¡°The reason I lost my temper was because this wretched fellow has infuriated me. In what way is my Xinyi lacking? And you had to humiliate her in that way?¡± He recalled how Xinyi had come home looking so aggrieved and told him what had happened at the hotel, and he could barely stop himself from smashing Yan Rusheng with a cup. If it were Lu Yinan or Xu Ming or any other person, he would definitely have done so. But towards Yan Rusheng, he did have his reservations. He knew Yan Rusheng too well. Even though he always had a smile on his face, he was, in fact, the most arrogant and ruthless among those kids. So if he wanted to take advantage of his seniority, he had to make sure he grasped and handled the matter well. If he didn¡¯t, he might not be able to back down gracefully. ¡°Grandfather Ming, could you please explain?¡± Yan Rusheng replaced his smile with an innocent expression as he faced Ming Zhongsheng. Ming Zhongsheng interrogated him. ¡°What¡¯s happening between you and your ex-secretary?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression changed subtly, and his superficial smile was now tinged with mockery. ¡°Grandfather Ming, why are you suddenly interested in my private affairs?¡± ¡°Third Yan, don¡¯t you try to play tricks and feign ignorance in front of me. Your grandmother and I have come to an agreement. We confirmed the arranged marriage between the two families the minute you agreed to let Xinyi enter Flourish & Prosper. I¡¯ll overlook your previous ¡®glorious achievements¡¯, but from now on, you need to be faithful to Xinyi. This concerns the reputations of both families.¡± Chapter 146. Dont Push Your Limits Feeling impatient with Yan Rusheng¡¯s antics, Ming Zhongsheng bluntly stated what was on his mind. He knew clearly that each new generation would surpass the previous one. He would be overestimating his own capabilities if he chose to play a game of wit or tried to exchange words with the young generation. Especially with the third grandson of the Yan family. ¡°Arranged marriage?¡± Yan Rusheng pretended to be shocked. ¡°What arranged marriage? Why wasn¡¯t I informed?¡± He turned to look at Wang Daqin. Wang Daqin was shrewd, and she knew how to act in tandem with her grandson to help him get out of this fix. She decided to push all the blame onto herself. ¡°Third Yan, this is all my fault since I didn¡¯t tell you beforehand. At your age, you should be getting ready to settle down. Xinyi is a nice girl, so I¡¯ve discussed with Grandfather Ming about the arranged marriage in private.¡± After she finished speaking, she paused. Then she reproachfully hit Yan Rusheng the head. ¡°Why are you dating Xuxu in secret? If you told me earlier that you two were in a relationship, why would I bother to look for a girlfriend for you?¡± Both her tone and actions were brimming with affection for her grandson. Naturally, Wen Xinyi didn¡¯t understand her. However, Ming Zhongsheng wasn¡¯t a fool. He understood Wang Daqin¡¯s words and her intentions. His face fell as he questioned her, ¡°Wang Daqin, what do you mean?¡± Wen Xinyi was getting anxious too. Wan Daqin was obviously trying to renege on her promise. Wang Daqin chuckled in response. ¡°Old Ming, what could I possibly mean? Our efforts would go to waste if the two kids can¡¯t get along. It¡¯s not as if the marriage is for us, don¡¯t you agree?¡± At her words, Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s wrinkled face flushed a crimson red. He straightened his back and glared at Wang Daqin. He spoke sternly, ¡°Wang Daqin, you aren¡¯t getting any younger. Shouldn¡¯t you know how to discern the severity of the matter?¡± Wang Daqin cackled. ¡°Sigh, what age are we living in now? Don¡¯t be so uptight and old-fashioned. I¡¯m merely stating an example, and you¡¯ve gone red.¡± She¡¯s proved herself to be the Wang Daqin of the Yan family. Despite her age, her craftiness remains unchanged. Yan Rusheng stifled his laughter as he thought to himself. After being mocked in his advanced age, Old Grandfather Ming¡¯s pitch became higher as he tried to cover his awkwardness and embarrassment, ¡°The matter between the two kids has been settled. Old Lu and the rest were already informed, and we can¡¯t change this.¡± Wang Daqin deliberated for a minute before she suggested, ¡°Old Ming, how about this? Let Xinyi continue to work at Flourish & Prosper for a period of time so that the two kids can try spending time together. At the same time, Xinyi can use this opportunity to learn and improve. If there are still no sparks between them, I¡¯ll announce Third Yan as the one with a problem, and Xinyi rejected him as a result. What do you think?¡± It would be best if all the women in the world know that Third Yan is ¡®handicapped¡¯ in that area. Then they could all leave him alone, and Xuxu wouldn¡¯t have to worry about him being seduced away. Ming Zhongsheng hesitated for a long time after he heard her suggestion. He finally gave a grudging nod. ¡°Sounds alright.¡± But he continued to state another condition, ¡°But you have to make Wen Xuxu leave Flourish & Prosper.¡± The moment he finished talking, the Yan grandparent and grandchild answered differently. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°No.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice was louder than Wang Daqin¡¯s, and his tone was unyielding. Without any hesitation, he had answered decisively. ¡°Hmph!¡± Ming Zhongsheng looked at Yan Rusheng as he scoffed coldly, ¡°Third Yan, don¡¯t push your limits.¡± Yan Rusheng said deliberately, ¡°Miss Wen is a dignified young mistress, so it¡¯s beneath her status to be my secretary to run errands and make me coffee. If she wants to take the opportunity to learn, I can pull some strings and arrange for a position that isn¡¯t too taxing for her at Flourish & Prosper.¡± Chapter 147. The Effects Were Worrying This should be enough to uphold the Ming family¡¯s reputation. The atmosphere began to freeze, and Wang Daqin was delighted yet worried. She was delighted that Third Yan had taken Xuxu¡¯s side, yet worried that he might really fall out with Ming Zhongsheng. After all, he was still his elder, and they had been family friends for generations. Furthermore, they had business dealings with each other. There were too many connections to take into consideration. If they really clashed because of this, neither family would benefit from it. She decided to interrupt to ease the tension. ¡°This sounds feasible too. Our Third Yan is very picky¡ªbeing his secretary isn¡¯t an easy job.¡± She pondered and continued. ¡°How about we send Xinyi to the PR department? The position of the deputy director is still vacant.¡± She looked at Yan Rusheng; it wouldn¡¯t work if he disagreed. Yan Rusheng remained silent, his expression cold. That meant he agreed. The old lady smiled and turned to Wen Xinyi. ¡°Xinyi, the PR department represents our company¡¯s image. And there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with the President. Is this alright with you?¡± If she were a smart girl, she would react tactfully in this situation by agreeing. Wen Xinyi wasn¡¯t very willing, but she wasn¡¯t that dumb either. She nodded her head gently. Her hands which were placed on her knees were clenched tightly into fists as she tried to suppress her grievances. The deputy director of the PR department¡ªit sounded somewhat fair to his granddaughter. Most importantly, she had already agreed, and so Ming Zhongsheng fell silent. ¡°Then that¡¯s settled. Third Yan, you¡¯d better take care of Xinyi at work in the future.¡± After Ming Zhongsheng had instructed him coldly, he stood up and told Wen Xinyi, ¡°Xinyi, let¡¯s go.¡± Wang Daqin rose instantly and grabbed Ming Zhongsheng by his arm. ¡°Old Ming, let¡¯s have dinner together before you leave. The kitchen is preparing it right now.¡± Ming Zhongsheng sneered coldly and flung her hand away. ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. I can¡¯t afford to eat your precious rice.¡± He knew clearly in his heart that her suggestion of finding a suitable position and letting the two kids interact was made out of consideration of their relationship. That way, he would have a way to retreat without losing face. But this wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d come for today. His main motive was to confirm the arranged marriage in one way or another. But no matter how relentless and fierce Ming Zhongsheng tried to appear, he was counterattacked effortlessly the minute this young kid came back. If they had dinner together, he couldn¡¯t guarantee that he wouldn¡¯t flip the table if he didn¡¯t manage to swallow this insult. Wang Daqin¡¯s mouth twitched before she smiled once again. ¡°Old Ming, what are you talking about? It¡¯s rare for you to drop by and dinner is almost ready. How could you leave without eating?¡± Ming Zhongsheng snorted. ¡°Wang Daqin, you¡¯ve been using your brain your entire life, shouldn¡¯t you take a break? Isn¡¯t it tiring to keep using it?¡± Did she really think that he was a fool? Wang Daqin was deflated. ¡°Alright, alright. Go ahead and leave then.¡± After walking Ming Zhongsheng and his granddaughter out of the house, Wang Daqin returned in high spirits. Yan Rusheng was about to head upstairs. She stopped him hurriedly. ¡°Third Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng paused, turning around to look at her puzzledly. ¡°Call Xuxu to come over for dinner.¡± Wang Daqin spoke as she walked. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Why are you asking her to come when it¡¯s so late?¡± This silly boy. If it¡¯s late, then she can stay over for the night. She wanted to know if the soft-shelled turtle soup was really working since he¡¯d been drinking it for days. But Xuxu hadn¡¯t popped by to stay for the night, and he hadn¡¯t stayed out either. The effects were worrying indeed. Chapter 148 ¡°I miss her. Give her a call!¡± Wang Daqin commanded him. What are these two kids trying to do? The moment they got off the bed, they seemed to turn into enemies at the mere mention of the other¡¯s name. A tinge of bitter sorrow surfaced in the old lady¡¯s eyes. If this carried on, when will she be able to have her great-grandchild? ¡°Alright,¡± Yan Rusheng answered half-heartedly and went up the stairs. Wang Daqin stared intensely at her grandson¡¯s aloof and cold-looking back and then sighed heavily. Looks like she needed to do something drastic! Yan Rusheng finally made it to his room after a long and exhausting day. After showering, he changed into a set of comfy loungewear and lay on his bed. He accidentally caught sight of the photo frame by the head of his bed, and his gaze lingered on the photo. In the photo, a gentle girl with shoulder-length hair was smiling at him. She stood on the university campus field wearing a bright red t-shirt which made her beautiful face even more alluring. He reached out slowly to take the photo frame. As he stared at the girl in the photo, his eyebrows furrowed depressingly. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you have no guts.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, you can¡¯t tell good from bad!¡± The image of Wen Xuxu¡¯s fierce face suddenly materialized, and his heart jolted as a result. Why was he reacting this way? How could he think of that stupid woman while looking at Jiayin¡¯s photo? He raised his hand to touch his forehead. Was he gravely sick? At that moment, his cellphone rang from the drawer. The familiar ringtone broke up his anxious thoughts, and he slid out of his bed to get his cellphone. He casually tossed the photo frame into the drawer. Then he closed it. He took out his phone and saw the name ¡®Stupid Woman¡¯ on the screen. To his surprise, he was a little excited and couldn¡¯t wait to pick up her call right away. But he resumed his usual nonchalant and cold tone when he answered. ¡°Why did you call?¡± Wen Xuxu responded over the phone, ¡°Grandmother said you were looking for me?¡± Indeed, that old lady never stops until she reaches her goal. Young Master Yan thought to himself helplessly, and his tone unconsciously softened, ¡°Nothing much, we¡¯ll talk tomorrow in the office.¡± By this time, he had already walked to the window as he admired the beautiful night scenery. He was unexpectedly worried that his attitude might make her angry, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep well tonight. Young Master Yan¡¯s expression turned grave as he thought. ¡®It¡¯s over, I¡¯ve been poisoned by this stupid woman.¡¯ How could Miss Wen, who was on the other line, have any idea how complicated this young master¡¯s feelings were right now? She lightly replied, ¡°Alright then.¡± It was clear from her tone that she was about to hang up. A sudden impulse coursed through him, and Yan Rusheng asked nervously, ¡°Are you going to sleep now?¡± She didn¡¯t notice his nervousness as she grudgingly complained, ¡°Young Master, your secretary left me with so much work to follow up. I¡¯ve been working overtime at home for a week. How can I sleep early?¡± ¡°Then hurry and complete them. If you can¡¯t finish, you¡¯re not allowed to sleep.¡± Young Master Yan continued being haughty and hung up without another word. During dinner, he kept staring at the dishes, seemingly preoccupied with his thoughts. Concerned, Wang Daqin asked, ¡°Third Yan, are you alright?¡± Yan Rusheng recovered himself and shook his head guiltily. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Sigh, I thought Xuxu would be here. I prepared her favorite spicy pickled fish. In the end, that girl didn¡¯t turn up.¡± The old lady looked at the spicy pickled fish in disappointment. Chapter 149. This Action Was Too Insane ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Rusheng grunted in contempt. ¡°I¡¯ll feed Huang Bao instead!¡± Ignoring Wang Daqin¡¯s exclamations, he stood up and grabbed the spicy pickled fish. He left the dining room and went upstairs. He went around looking for Huang Bao, but it was nowhere in sight. Thus he went back to his room and left the fish on the coffee table¡­ Young Master Yan was really ill, seriously ill. He closed his eyes as he lay in bed, but even after tossing and turning, he still couldn¡¯t fall asleep. It was just like yesterday. The smell of the spicy pickled fish pervaded the air. He opened his eyes and sat up. After switching on the light, he stared at the fish. ¡®I¡¯ve been working overtime at home for a week. How can I sleep early¡­¡¯ Wen Xuxu¡¯s complaints echoed in his ear, and he instantly turned his head to glance at the clock. It was barely 11 p.m. He suddenly made an important decision in his heart. He stumbled out of bed and went downstairs, casually getting a huge black plastic bag before going back to his room. He stuffed the spicy pickled fish inside. He carried the bag downstairs. The servants were all asleep, and only the living room was dimly lit. Yan Rusheng crept towards the main door. ¡°Third Young Master, did you enter the kitchen just now?¡± Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice sounded behind him, and Young Master Yan was startled. He almost flung the bag away out of nervousness. He turned around and said in denial, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°Young Master, where are you going at this time of night?¡± Aunt Zhang walked towards him, and she eyed the bag he was holding with suspicion. ¡°What¡¯s that in your hand?¡± ¡°Trash.¡± Yan Rusheng gripped it tightly and retreated, his expression looked guilty. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep so I wanted to take a stroll and throw the trash while I¡¯m at it.¡± Aunt Zhang understood and nodded. ¡°Sigh. Nowadays young people like you are under massive pressure, so it¡¯s easy to have insomnia. Don¡¯t take too long, it can be quite chilly outdoors.¡± ¡°Yeah, I got it. Go ahead and sleep first.¡± Young Master Yan was getting impatient and waved his hand at Aunt Zhang. He left the house with the bag and walked in the direction of the garage. Wasn¡¯t he going for a stroll? Why is he heading for the garage? Aunt Zhang was wondering to herself when the familiar Mercedes S600 swooshed past before her eyes. Why did he lie that he was taking a stroll when he was clearly going for a spin? ¡­ The black Mercedes S600 stopped outside Xuxu¡¯s apartment. The handsome guy sat in the car and raised his head to peer at the apartment on the seventh floor. The lights were still on. He was feeling vexed and started to question himself. ¡®Why did he come here with a plate of damned spicy pickled fish?¡¯ This decision was too insane. But he was already here, so wouldn¡¯t it seem crazier if he didn¡¯t go up? He deliberated for a while before he grit his teeth and got down from his car. He went to the front passenger seat to grab the fish. After locking the car doors, he strode towards the lift. He pressed Xuxu¡¯s apartment number on the video screen. When his face appeared on the screen, Wen Xuxu thought she saw a ghost and shrieked. ¡°Are you Yan Rusheng?!¡± If he isn¡¯t Yan Rusheng, who else can it be? Did she think that it would be Jiang Zhuoheng? At the thought of it, Young Master Yan was utterly perturbed. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few hours since you last saw me and you can¡¯t recognize me? Hurry and open the door.¡± The electronic door opened and he went in. One hand was holding the bag with the fish, and the other was clenched into a fist. Wen Xuxu stood at the door and opened it immediately when she heard him knock. The towering figure appeared before her, along with an intense aura that surrounded him. And¡­ the smell of spicy pickled fish. She stared at his good-looking face which was looking rather gloomy. He seemed to be in a bad mood, and so she hesitantly asked, ¡°President Yan, why are you here?¡± Chapter 150. The Car Ran Out Of Fuel She was wearing pink cartoon pajamas, and her hair was tied in a bun. Her bright-looking eyes were slightly red and watery probably due to sleepiness. She looked adorable yet a little pitiful at the same time. As Yan Rusheng looked at her, he had an overwhelming urge to give her a hug and protect her. But he regained his rationality almost immediately. ¡°Fish. The old lady asked me to bring it.¡± With his eyebrows slightly knitted, he passed her the huge plastic bag. He looked extremely impatient and unwilling. Fish? Xuxu peered at the plastic bag and realized that it was a huge trash bag. ¡°What fish is this?¡± She took the plastic bag and mumbled in confusion to herself as she opened it. After she realized what was inside, she raised her head in shock. ¡°Spicy pickled fish?¡± Why did the old madam ask him to bring the fish in a trash bag? ¡°You¡¯ve already seen it, so why are you still asking so much?¡± Young Master Yan retorted impatiently and entered the house. Without removing his shoes, he went towards the sofa. After Xuxu closed the door, she held the fish in her hands and walked to the sofa too. She left the plastic bag on the coffee table and took the fish out. The spicy pickled fish looked good, but¡­ She stole a glance at the big trash bag, and she felt rather depressed. Why didn¡¯t she put it in a proper container instead of using a trash bag? Was the old madam trying to test her appetite? Yan Rusheng saw her staring at the fish with her eyebrows furrowed, looking as if she despised it. He abruptly flared up, ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating?¡± He had specially made a trip in the middle of the night¡ªhow could she despise the fish? ¡°Yeah,¡± Xuxu said. ¡°I¡¯ll get a pair of chopsticks.¡± She rose and went to the kitchen, but she was swearing at him in her heart. It¡¯s just some fish, why is he losing his temper again? Even though the fish in the trash bag looked unappetizing, but she had to admit that it tasted great since it was cooked by Aunt Zhang. Xuxu heartily enjoyed the fish. Aunt Zhang had added plenty of chilies as she liked it spicy. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from eating even though she protested that it was too spicy. Beads of perspiration began rolling down her sharp nose. Her plump face was already crimson red due to the spiciness. Yan Rusheng lay sprawled on the sofa with a hand supporting his head. He lazily watched her as she ate, and a smile of satisfaction and contentment appeared on his face. His mood was exceptionally good at the moment. He wasn¡¯t feeling frustrated, and neither was he agitated. There was a wonderful feeling inside of him, and he even thought that it would be perfect if time could stop at this moment. He lifted his hand slowly and placed it on his chest where his heart is. What should he do¡­ It seems like he¡¯d really fallen in love with this stupid woman. This bothersome and alluring woman. ¡°President Yan, aren¡¯t you heading back soon?¡± Xuxu was almost done eating when she suddenly thought of Yan Rusheng. She turned her head towards him and asked uncertainly. She was slightly startled. ¡°President Yan, what are you doing?¡± Was his heart feeling unwell? Why does he have an ¡®I¡¯m dead¡¯ expression while clutching at his heart? Yan Rusheng immediately put down his hands and snapped out of it. He answered casually, ¡°The car ran out of fuel.¡± He didn¡¯t give it much thought when he blurted that out. He had no idea why he¡¯d spun such a lie. But by the time he realized it, the deed was already done. It was quite impossible for Young Master Yan to drive a car that was low on fuel. Even though Xuxu didn¡¯t quite believe it, she didn¡¯t have any reason to doubt him as well. If not, why would he lie saying that the car was out of fuel? She concluded that he was telling the truth; his car had indeed run out of fuel. ¡°Then what are you going to do?¡± she asked. Chapter 151. He Lost To Her Again Young Master Yan surveyed Xuxu¡¯s tiny living room and said reluctantly, ¡°Although your apartment is a little too small and dirty for my liking, I¡¯ll have to put up with it for tonight.¡± Xuxu overlooked his criticisms towards her apartment and focused on the crucial piece of information. She screeched in horror, ¡°You¡¯re staying at my place?!¡± Did she hear wrongly? Yan Rusheng straightened his back and looked at her in disdain. He responded coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t feel flattered by my presence. I¡¯ll ask Aunt Zhang to disinfect my clothes tomorrow when I get home.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Young Master, you¡¯re too narcissistic! ¡°It¡¯s a small issue, so can¡¯t you just call the chauffeur to send you home?¡± Since he despised her tiny apartment, then he should hurry up and get lost! Even if he didn¡¯t, she wasn¡¯t going to allow him to stay for the night. Since she had made up her mind, there shouldn¡¯t be any unnecessary entanglements between them. She didn¡¯t want to disappoint herself and Ah Heng as well. He was rejected. He was unexpectedly rejected. Young Master Yan¡¯s ego was seriously bruised. He stood up and glowered at Wen Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m just kidding with you. Did you really think that I would lower myself by staying at your dog kennel for the night?¡± Your house is a dog kennel, not mine! Xuxu berated him in her heart and then she said nonchalantly, ¡°Let me send you downstairs.¡± She already knew this; how could he possibly stay at her house? Not mentioning the capital city, even if Young Master Yan was overseas and wanted to go home, he could do so immediately. How could he be trapped just because his car had run out of fuel? If she were Fang Jiayin, he might have made up an excuse to stay for the night. But she wasn¡¯t Fang Jiayin. Young Master Yan became despondent once more, even more then when he arrived. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t speak nicely to her after all that had happened. He snapped back, ¡°It¡¯s not as if I can¡¯t take the lift myself. Why do I need you to send me off?¡± He strode towards the door, opened it and promptly left. The door shut violently with a loud slam, and Xuxu¡¯s tiny body gave an involuntary jerk. What¡¯s wrong with him now? She stared at the door that Yan Rusheng had just violently slammed, and she blinked in confusion. She just couldn¡¯t understand why the Third Young Master had lost his temper. ¡°Seems like he¡¯s going through menopause,¡± she muttered softly and turned around to look at the remains of the fish. She grew even more perplexed. How did Grandmother manage to convince him to send the fish in the middle of the night? ¡­ If he knew this was going to happen, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen to make the trip. He didn¡¯t manage to get anything out of it, and he was even scorned by that stupid woman. Young Master Yan berated himself, thoroughly regretting his decision. He sped all the way back home. That night, he suffered from insomnia again. He didn¡¯t sleep well for two consecutive nights, and as a result, his face looked a little pallid. After Xuxu brewed the coffee, she sent it to him. He didn¡¯t acknowledge her presence and just kept his head lowered. Thus, she didn¡¯t say anything as well after placing it on his desk. She turned around and left quietly. Yan Rusheng lifted his head just in time to see her disappearing from his office. An unfathomable expression started to fill his deep and wicked-looking eyes. She still loathed and despised him, just like she did when she was young. If¡­ he was just thinking what if the day really comes, and he loved her like what that quack had described? To the extent that he would end up in agony¡ªwhat should he do? While Jiang Zhuoheng was away, she hadn¡¯t developed any feelings for him. Now that Jiang Zhuoheng had returned, it was nearly impossible now. She only had Jiang Zhuoheng in her heart and eyes. And he¡¯d always thought that he would only love Fang Jiayin. Regarding this, he had lost to her again. Chapter 152. A Dog That Lived Like a Prince Three years had gone by, and she was still steadfast in her love. However, he¡­ had wavered. He had no idea when he¡¯d started to waver. He only knew that Wen Xuxu had entered his heart, even to the point that he felt nothing when he thought of Jiayin. He had no idea how far away his current feelings were from that quack¡¯s description; to feel agony and grief if he ever lost her. He was determined not to sink any deeper. He had lost once in love¡ªhe would never allow himself to lose a second time. ¡­ Just like yesterday, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t look for her in the morning. When it was lunchtime, she was about to go to his office when her cellphone rang. It was Wang Daqin. She answered, ¡°Grandmother.¡± ¡°Xuxu, come over for dinner tonight. And you¡¯re not allowed to refuse,¡± Wang Daqin ordered her loudly. Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°Alright, if not you¡¯ll have to send me a plate of fish again.¡± She couldn¡¯t disappoint the old lady every time. And she needed to talk about her replacement. She would urge the old madam to make a decision, whether they had to look for a new one or to get Wen Xinyi back. She wanted to leave as soon as she could. Wang Daqin questioned her doubtfully, ¡°I sent you a fish? What fish?¡± Wen Xuxu clarified, ¡°It was already so late yesterday, and you still made President Yan send the fish to my place.¡± This old lady¡¯s memory seems to be failing; it only just happened yesterday. Wang Daqin was surprised. ¡°Huh? Third Yan said that he was going to feed it to the dog?¡± In a split second, Xuxu¡¯s pretty face turned darker than the bottom of a saucepan. She clenched her hand on the table, curling it into a tight fist. She increased her strength until the veins on the back of her hand were about to pop out. Yan Rusheng, you just wait! In the restaurant¡­ ¡°Miss Wen, your food is ready. It¡¯s 500 yuan.¡± The young waiter placed the takeaway bags in Xuxu¡¯s hands and smiled puzzledly. ¡°Why did you order only ribs today?¡± Yes, Secretary Wen had ordered sweet and sour pork ribs, white gourd with pork ribs, red braised pork ribs, roasted lamb chops¡­ She held the takeaway bags as she grinned at the waiter. ¡°Recently, we have a pet dog in our office. It loves to eat ribs.¡± There were two big bags, and her shoulders were drooping down due to the weight. ¡°Haha!¡± The waiter nodded as he remarked. ¡°Pets nowadays are really living the good life.¡± Xuxu chuckled. ¡°I agree. The dog in our office lives like a prince, and it¡¯s very picky about everything including eating, sleeping, and pooping.¡± The waiter replied enviously, ¡°How blissful it must be.¡± ¡­ Young Master Yan walked to the coffee table and looked at the table of dishes placed by Xuxu. He furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what are you doing?¡± He pointed at the dishes of ribs, trying to quash his anger as he questioned Wen Xuxu. Xuxu looked at him with an innocent expression. ¡°President, please tuck in.¡± Of course, he knew that it was lunchtime. But that stupid woman had taken the initiative to buy a variety of ribs, and she was still trying to feign ignorance. He could tell that she had something up her sleeve. Young Master Yan contemplated as he spoke coldly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me before buying lunch?¡± ¡°President Yan, I realized that you¡¯ve been looking unwell recently. So I took the liberty of buying more meat and ribs to nourish your body.¡± Xuxu lowered her head and pressed her lips together as she pretended to look timid. ¡°If I asked for your permission, you would be picky about the food.¡± So she was concerned about his health. Yan Rusheng heard her explanation and his anger instantly dissipated. He saw how Xuxu looked nervous, and his heart softened with happiness and satisfaction. Chapter 153 ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± he said gently. After saying so, he bent to sit down. He picked up the sweet and sour pork ribs with his chopsticks and began chewing gracefully. Wen Xuxu had a devious and sly gleam in her eyes. She gnashed her teeth as she repeated in her head. ¡®Little dog, little dog, hurry up and chew the bones.¡¯ She remained standing, causing Yan Rusheng to raise his head and ask, ¡°Wen Xuxu, why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Xuxu smiled and declined him with a random excuse, ¡°I¡¯m on a diet.¡± This food is especially for the dog living a privileged lifestyle. How could she eat it? ¡°Ha! You¡¯re on a diet?¡± Yan Rusheng ridiculed her as his eyes moved to her chest. ¡°If you lose any more weight, it¡¯ll be impossible to differentiate your front from your back.¡± This stupid woman is really dumb. She¡¯s already as skinny as a stick, and she still wants to go on a diet? Xuxu gritted her teeth in anger. To him, she¡¯d always been an eyesore, wasn¡¯t she? Her figure, character, demeanor¡­ and then everything else. Fang Jiayin was always the best and the most perfect in his eyes. So why am I so angry right now? When she thought of this, the anger in her eyes instantly dissolved. She spoke impassively, ¡°I¡¯ll leave first. Let me know once you¡¯re finished, President Yan.¡± She turned around, ready to leave. Yan Rusheng called her suddenly, ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± She stopped in her tracks and glanced sideways at him. ¡°President Yan, is there anything else?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve bought so much. Isn¡¯t it a waste if you don¡¯t eat?¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at the feast and ordered her stonily, ¡°Come over and finish everything.¡± Stupid woman, when can she stop making him worry about her? If she¡¯s thinking of skipping meals to go on a diet, she¡¯s really courting death. Xuxu became anxious. ¡°You¡¯re forcing me to eat when I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡± He was interfering with an employee who wasn¡¯t eating lunch. Wasn¡¯t this a blatant attempt to make her life difficult? Yan Rusheng mouth twitched coldly. ¡°Your fragile body might faint from hunger. If you¡¯re hospitalized, who will you end up inconveniencing?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xuxu bit her lips, and her eyes were stinging a little from bitterness. ¡®Yan Rusheng, do you have to spew malicious words towards me every time?¡¯ ¡®Can¡¯t you co-exist with me just for a few days?¡¯ ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming over?¡± Yan Rusheng rushed her impatiently. ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu nodded and suppressed her negative emotions. Her voice was slightly hoarse. She retraced her steps and sat on the sofa. She began drinking the soup with huge gulps. Young Master Yan began to feel relaxed when she started eating. He had no idea why he enjoyed watching her eat. He thought that¡­ it was adorable. It was enjoyable to watch her; a feeling he¡¯d never had when it came to Fang Jiayin. No one had told Young Master Yan that if you truly loved someone, you¡¯d be able to accept everything about her. He saw that she had almost finished the soup and his face fell. ¡°Wen Xuxu, if you finish the soup, then what am I going to drink?¡± He finished his sentence and attempted to snatch the bowl from her. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you were the one wanted me to eat to prevent wastage! Isn¡¯t it better if I finish everything?¡± Xuxu exploded and put the bowl back on the table angrily. She wiped her mouth without a care and stared at Yan Rusheng fiercely. Actually, he knew that she didn¡¯t feel like eating and had purposely forced her to eat. Usually, he never said a word when there was a feast of delicacies before him. Alas, he had suddenly decided to be thrifty today. It was all her fault for deciding to return. She knew that he¡¯d treat her this way and she could have rejected Grandmother¡¯s request. Her sudden explosion of fury left Young Master Yan speechless and more than a little helpless. He hesitated for a while before he stammered, ¡°I-I just wanted you to leave some soup for me, why are you throwing a tantrum?¡± Chapter 154. Congratulations! He said it with a grumbling tone that was unjustified and straight to the point. When she was a child, she had pointed at him and told him that he didn¡¯t have any guts. He had looked down and cried like a child, feeling very wronged. Like a punching bag. Ever since that incident, this was the first time he¡¯d shown any weakness in front of her. He wouldn¡¯t yell at her even when she shouted at him. She caved in and said gently, ¡°There¡¯s still some soup left. Please take your time to drink it, President Yan. I¡¯ve had my fill.¡± She pushed the bowl of soup towards Yan Rusheng. She got up and walked towards the door. Yan Rusheng stared at her petite back. He¡¯d seen her from this view countless times. But this time, he felt a sense of distance from her. After the door opened and closed, that petite figure disappeared. He slowly withdrew his gaze and sighed deeply in his heart, trying to remove thoughts of her from his mind. She had waited for Jiang Zhuoheng all this time, while he only had Fang Jiayin in his heart. He thought that after spending so much time with her, perhaps he¡¯d started forming a false sense of dependency and that it was just something that he¡¯d gotten used to. Perhaps, if they no longer maintained contact or stopped seeing each other, this feeling would naturally change. ¡­ Wen Xuxu only received the news this afternoon that Wen Xinyi had returned to the company as the deputy director of the public relations department. She held a glass of water and leaned back lazily against a chair, gazing at Wen Xinyi¡¯s original seat. Since Wen Xinyi¡¯s returning to the company, why didn¡¯t she continue being President Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary? Why did she choose to work in the public relations department instead? Could it be true that the old lady has another person in mind for the position of President Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary? Sigh. I can¡¯t understand. I should ask the old lady when I see her tonight. Xuxu retracted her thoughts. She sat up straight and put down her cup before getting back to work. When it was time to leave work, Wen Xuxu packed up, carried her handbag, and left her seat. She walked towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and hesitated for a while, but decided not to knock on his door in the end. She left without saying goodbye to him. It was already summertime, and the period of daylight was getting longer. At five o¡¯clock in the evening, the sun was still shining brightly. She left Flourish & Prosper and walked towards the bus stop. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice calling her from behind. Wen Xuxu stopped in her steps and turned around, smiling slightly. Wen Xinyi wore a pink mid-sleeved dress and carried a pink Hermes bag in her hand. She also wore a pair of Chanel pumps on her feet. From her clothes, one could sense that she was from a wealthy family. With a cold look, she walked towards Xuxu menacingly. Looking unconcerned, Xuxu stared as Wen Xinyi walked towards her with hate-filled eyes. ¡°Wen Xuxu, Yan Rusheng will not marry you. Grandmother Yan has already agreed to our marriage,¡± Wen Xinyi declared arrogantly. Her grandfather had said that once this woman was removed from Yan Rusheng¡¯s side, only then would Wen Xinyi be able to rise up the ranks. This was because she was currently just a spare tire in the eyes of Yan Rusheng¡¯s grandmother. Her grandfather had put it very bluntly to her, and at first, she couldn¡¯t accept it. But after weighing the merits, she was willing to temporarily be a spare tire if she could get her hands on an outstanding man like Yan Rusheng. Someday, she would be able to rise up the ranks. With a calm look in her eyes, Wen Xuxu smiled gently and said, ¡°Congratulations.¡± Her response left Wen Xinyi visibly startled. She had thought that Wen Xuxu would feel sad and jealous and didn¡¯t expect her to react so calmly. Was she overconfident or simply nonchalant? Chapter 155. Merely Still A Sparrow No, how could she not be bothered by it? She must think that Yan Rusheng likes her, that¡¯s why she¡¯s behaving so calmly. At the thought of it, she raised her tone, ¡°Please leave and don¡¯t put Grandmother Yan in a difficult position.¡± She could only use her voice to cover up her lack of confidence. Xuxu put on a nonchalant look and said, ¡°Miss Wen, you¡¯re so understanding.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Wen Xinyi snorted, ¡°Don¡¯t pester Yan Rusheng again. I know that you two grew up together, but if he really liked you, he would have married you a long time ago. If you had any sense of self-awareness, you wouldn¡¯t even think about marrying him.¡± The look on Xuxu¡¯s face changed. She looked at Wen Xinyi, smirked and said tauntingly, ¡°Miss Wen, I¡¯ve underestimated you.¡± Had she not seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn¡¯t have believed that Wen Xinyi, such a fragile lady who cries at the slightest thing, could be so sharp and mean with her words. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you tell? You¡¯re just like a servant to him.¡± Even though you were adopted by his family as a child, you¡¯re merely a sparrow.¡± Thinking that she¡¯d managed to hurt Xuxu with her words, Wen Xinyi continued smugly, ¡°He and I belong together.¡± After hearing Wen Xinyi¡¯s words, Xuxu didn¡¯t get angry and instead smiled. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, Miss Wen.¡± She paused for a moment and continued, ¡°I hope that you and President Yan will get married and have children soon.¡± After which, she turned around and strolled leisurely towards the bus stop. Yan Rusheng, the whole world feels that we don¡¯t belong together. Yet, I¡¯m still foolishly waiting for you after all these years. ¡­ Xuxu alighted from the bus and walked towards the beautifully lit Yan family¡¯s mansion. She stood at the courtyard entrance. For the first time, she felt as if she was about to enter into another world. The butler saw her through the corner of his eyes and immediately exclaimed, ¡°Madam, Missy is here!¡± He was shouting and opening the door for Xuxu at the same time. Actually, Xuxu had the keys to the Yan¡¯s residence. Wang Daqin had insisted on giving her a set of keys, but she had never carried it with her before. ¡°Thank you, Butler Qin.¡± Xuxu entered and thanked the butler politely. She then walked towards the house. ¡°Xuxu!¡± Wang Daqin greeted her cheerfully. After taking a glance at Xuxu, Wang Daqin looked behind her and asked curiously, ¡°Where is Third Yan?¡± Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°He was still in the office when I left and should still be occupied with work.¡± ¡°Quickly, come into the house.¡± Wang Daqin held Xuxu¡¯s hand, and they both laughed as they walked towards the house. Each time the elderly lady held on to her hand, Xuxu would feel a sense of familiarity and affection. She couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip. As they walked towards the sofa and sat down, Wang Daqin suddenly looked at Xuxu and smiled ambiguously. ¡°Xuxu, was yesterday¡¯s spicy pickled fish good?¡± Xuxu nodded her head and said, ¡°It was delicious. I knew it was cooked by Aunt Zhang.¡± If this elderly lady hadn¡¯t told me the truth today, everything would have been just fine. ¡°It was specially made for you.¡± Wang Daqin smiled and heaved a sigh of relief, ¡°Eh, it was so unexpected¡­ that Third Yan would bring it to you in the middle of the night.¡± Perhaps the nourishing effect of the turtle soup gave that rascal the vigor and vitality. Thus, he wasn¡¯t able to restrain himself. Wen Xuxu looked at the smile on Wang Daqin¡¯s face. She really is a gossip¡­ This elderly lady must have misunderstood. She must be thinking about things that are immoral. Actually, she knew her grandmother¡¯s thoughts. Despite her humble background, her grandmother didn¡¯t despise her and instead doted on her. Chapter 156. Wouldnt Have Waited Until Today She should have made her decision clear right from the start so her grandmother wouldn¡¯t get her hopes up. She felt especially guilty about this. Xuxu mulled over this and spoke softly, ¡°Grandmother, I heard that Wen Xinyi started working in the public relations department today. So do you have anyone in mind to take over the position as President Yan¡¯s secretary?¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Daqin was surprised. ¡°Xuxu, don¡¯t you understand my intentions?¡± Given Wen Xuxu¡¯s intelligence, Wang Daqin assumed that her own actions had already been very obvious. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°If things could work out between us, I wouldn¡¯t have waited until today.¡± She held on tightly to her grandmother¡¯s hands. With a hint of sadness and regret in her voice, ¡°Grandmother, rest assured. Even if we¡¯re no longer staying together in the future, you are still my dearest grandmother.¡± This fact would never change. Those words pierced through the elderly lady¡¯s heart. ¡®If things could work out between us, I wouldn¡¯t have waited until today.¡¯ Right from the beginning, she had been well aware of this and had also given it serious thought. But she refused to give up. Somehow, she felt that they were meant for each other and Xuxu was destined to remain with their family. ¡°Xuxu, you and Xiaosheng¡­¡± Xuxu knew what the old lady wanted to say and she interrupted her with a smile, ¡°Grandmother, I think you¡¯ve misunderstood. All this time, we¡¯ve only maintained a working relationship between us.¡± She knitted her eyebrows and continued jokingly, ¡°Our personalities are incompatible, and we argue too much. I don¡¯t suppose you want to see us ending the relationship on a bad note in the future right?¡± Although her tone was relaxed and normal, the old lady could tell that she was firmly determined. Furthermore, Wen Xuxu¡¯s words had rendered her speechless. Indeed, they were both so full of themselves. But she still hadn¡¯t given up hope, ¡°Didn¡¯t you two¡­¡± Without elaborating further, she pointed at Xuxu¡¯s mouth. It was obvious what she was referring to. If they didn¡¯t have feelings for each other, they wouldn¡¯t have kissed. And both times, they were caught red-handed. How do you explain that then? Xuxu wasn¡¯t aware that Aunt Zhang saw her kissing Yan Rusheng that time when she was drunk. But she was aware of the other incident in the hotel, which was witnessed by Wen Xinyi. Feeling wronged, she explained to the old lady, ¡°He doesn¡¯t like Wen Xinyi, so he used me to drive her away. Now, Miss Wen hates me to the core, and I¡¯m quite upset at being caught in the crossfire.¡± Wen Xinyi left crying after witnessing the incident at the hotel. Surely, she must have gone home to tell her family. Judging by his character, surely Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather would have spoken to Grandmother about it? She understood Yan Rusheng too well. He had finally driven Wen Xinyi away, and he definitely wouldn¡¯t let her return to the President¡¯s office. On the contrary, Grandfather Ming was a very boastful person. There must have been a great deal of publicity when his granddaughter joined Flourish & Prosper. He must have also publicized the marriage with the Yan family. But his granddaughter had joined Flourish & Prosper for only a week and left. No matter who was the cause, he must have felt embarrassed. If her guess was correct, letting Wen Xinyi join the PR department was a joint decision between the old lady, Yan Rusheng, and Grandfather Ming. At the PR department, she was given a decent position. This saved her some face. Even if the marriage between the two families didn¡¯t work out, they could just put the blame on Yan Rusheng. However, no one was sure if the vulnerable-looking Miss Wen would be able to control her emotions and not fall deeper for Yan Rusheng. Chapter 157. He’ll Be Alright Indeed, after hearing what Xuxu said today, it really seemed impossible. But that¡¯s not what she should be worried about, right? ¡°How can my Xuxu and my Rusheng not be together?¡± The old lady sighed. She had hidden these words in her heart all this while. The old lady¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡®If things could work out between us, I wouldn¡¯t have waited until today¡¯ ¡­ She finally realized how impossible it was for Xuxu and Rusheng to be together after all. Her words were like millions of arrows piercing through Xuxu¡¯s heart. They also left Yan Rusheng in a daze. He had just stepped inside and was standing at the entrance, looking in the direction of the sofa. Wang Daqin¡¯s words kept ringing in his ears. Like having a sharp knife twisted into his heart, each breath he took left him in agony. ¡®According to what you¡¯ve described, your love has progressed to a stage where you¡¯ll suffer from agony and grief if you see her with another guy.¡¯ The psychologist¡¯s word suddenly came back to his mind, leaving him terrified. No, this is impossible. Just recently, he was still waiting for Fang Jiayin¡¯s return and almost wanted to look for her while he was in Country Y. How was it possible to fall so deeply for another woman within such a short time? He turned around and leaned lifelessly against the shoe rack. ¡°What? I¡¯ll come back immediately.¡± Suddenly, Xuxu¡¯s voice could be heard coming from the other side. This disrupted his thoughts, and he walked in anxiously. ¡°Grandmother, Qi Lei called saying that my grandfather fell down the stairs. I need to go now.¡± Ashen-faced, Xuxu bade Wang Daqin goodbye while walking towards the door. ¡°How could this have happened?¡± Wang Daqin was also in a state of shock and walked hurriedly with Xuxu. ¡°Was he sent to the hospital?¡± Xuxu said, ¡°The ambulance has just arrived. I¡¯m going to the hospital directly¡±. Her voice was trembling slightly, and she looked panic-stricken and helpless. Qi Lei was crying uncontrollably over the phone as well. Grandfather¡¯s injuries must be serious. ¡°Which hospital?¡± Suddenly, a towering figure appeared, grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the door. At the courtyard, the headlights of the black Mercedes S600 were turned on. The front passenger seat door opened and she was shoved inside. Yan Rusheng got into the car and started the engine. He stole a glance at the woman seated on the passenger seat. She was like a wounded bird, and he just had to protect her. Suddenly, he leaned over. Not knowing his intentions, Xuxu instinctively straightened her back and held her breath, her body stiffening. ¡°Your grandfather exercises regularly to keep fit, so he¡¯ll be alright.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s long arms crossed over to Xuxu¡¯s body, helping her to fasten her seatbelt and at the same time, consoled her. His voice was soft and gentle. Xuxu gave a sniffle and burst out crying. ¡°I¡¯m scared. I was so young when my parents got into an accident. At that time, there were so many people around me, and I could hear people weeping everywhere. I cried too, even though I didn¡¯t know why they were crying. Grandfather hugged me and said, ¡®Xuxu, you¡¯ve got to learn well when you¡¯re staying at Grandfather Yan¡¯s home. Your parents are no longer around. When I¡¯m old, I¡¯ll be counting on you to support me¡¯. And so, I wiped away my tears and left with Grandfather Yan.¡± She lowered her head. Tears streamed down her face and fell onto the back of her hands. ¡°There was this one time, I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet and saw Grandfather holding on to my father¡¯s photo. He was weeping so bitterly, so afraid of what would happen to me if he were to suddenly leave.¡± Chapter 158. How Much Alcohol Did That Old Man Drink? If Grandfather were to suddenly pass away, what would happen to her? She wouldn¡¯t have any blood-related family members in this world anymore. Though she was well aware that this fateful day would come sooner or later¡­ ¡°Wen Xuxu, then¡­¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng started to talk and then paused. A tearful Xuxu looked at him with a puzzled expression. Let¡¯s be together¡­ When these words almost reached his mouth, he suddenly became sober. With or without Jiang Zhuoheng by her side, she wouldn¡¯t even consider him. So how was it possible for them to be together? He was feeling vexed and then corrected himself. ¡°Why don¡¯t you think on the bright side? Haven¡¯t you always been a lively person?¡± He looked uncomfortable and awkward. It was so rare for this young master to offer words of consolation to someone. Xuxu smiled and wiped off her tears. Still choking with emotions, she said, ¡°Drive faster. To Harmony hospital.¡± For the rest of the journey, neither of them spoke again. Even though he was worried about Old Master Wen¡¯s condition, throughout the journey, Yan Rusheng was feeling joyful deep in his heart. This was because Xuxu was seated at the front passenger seat. While they shared the same car frequently, yet this was such a rare occasion¡­ he as the driver while she was the passenger. He didn¡¯t think it had ever happened before. Every time she rode in his car, she would open the back door right away. When they arrived at the hospital, Old Master Wen was still undergoing surgery. Qi Lei was anxiously pacing up and down the surgical suite. When Xuxu caught sight of him, she quickened her pace and asked anxiously,¡± Qi Lei, how is my grandfather?¡± Qi Lei heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. He looked worriedly at the surgical suite and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. The doctor hasn¡¯t come out yet.¡± He still looked very pale. Knowing that he must be badly shaken, Xuxu reached out and lightly patted him on his back to console him. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Qi Lei. Grandfather will be alright.¡± ¡°Sister Xuxu, I didn¡¯t take good care of grandfather.¡± He held onto Xuxu¡¯s hand and started blaming himself. ¡°If only I had followed your instructions and stopped him from drinking alcohol, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen down.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Sometimes, even I can¡¯t hold him back. So stop blaming yourself.¡± Xuxu looked at Qi Lei and smiled gently. It was all thanks to Qi Lei for staying by grandfather¡¯s side these two years, taking good care of him on her behalf. They were just like ¡®siblings¡¯ who were comforting each other fondly. Totally unaware that a pair of malicious-looking eyes were staring at them as they held onto each other. This rascal! You can go ahead and blame yourself but is there a need to hold her hands? And still refusing to let go. Master Yan had the urge to give Qi Lei a quick slap. He clenched his fist tightly and punched his own legs, trying his best to restrain himself. At this moment, the doors of the surgical suite opened suddenly. A doctor in a white robe walked out. Xuxu quickly rushed forward, ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my grandfather?¡± The doctor removed his mask while saying, ¡°Oh man! The stench of the alcohol nearly intoxicated me!¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ How much alcohol did that old man drink? ¡°He has a slight fracture on his right calf and a crack in the bone of his right arm. He also has a slight concussion to his brain.¡± The doctor explained the old man¡¯s condition to Xuxu. ¡°Sigh. Given his age, if it weren¡¯t for his sturdy body, the pain would be too much to bear.¡± After hearing from the doctor that her grandfather was out of danger, Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief. But at the thought of it, just how painful could this bone fracture be? Chapter 159. This Old Fellow Couldnt Be Any Better She immediately felt sorry once more. ¡°Doctor, how is my grandfather?¡± ¡°He¡¯s alright, but he¡¯ll need some time to recuperate,¡± the doctor cautioned her once more. ¡°Remember, he¡¯ll need to abstain from smoking and drinking during this recovery period.¡± Xuxu nodded and promised that she would. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take note of it. I¡¯ll make sure he doesn¡¯t smoke or drink.¡± He had almost frightened her to death, so she would personally supervise him during his recovery. The old man was being pushed out of the operating theater, and when he saw Xuxu, he pretended to be fast asleep. Compared to the pain in his leg, he was even more fearful of his granddaughter¡¯s incessant nagging. He was transferred to the bed when they reached his ward. His eyes remained tightly shut. Xuxu crossed her arms as she stood by the bedside. She looked at the old man who was still pretending to be asleep and spoke calmly. ¡°Stop pretending. There¡¯s no way you¡¯ll be able to drink in the future.¡± The old man heard her, and his eyelids fluttered open. He glared at Xuxu and scolded her, ¡°You wretched lass. Can¡¯t you show me some concern before lecturing me about my mistakes?¡± Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°Grandfather, so you¡¯re aware and conscious of your mistake.¡± ¡°I¡­ You¡­¡±The old man was left tongue-tied against her accusation, and he started sputtering. Feeling anxious, he decided to change the topic entirely. ¡°Third Yan, why are you here?¡± He stared at Yan Rusheng in shock. ¡°¡­¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s face fell. What does the old man mean by asking why I¡¯m here? Old Wen didn¡¯t wait for him to respond and he glanced at the door. He sounded rather resentful. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Ah Heng here? Didn¡¯t you tell him that I was injured and asked him to visit with some gifts?¡± The doctor was right, this old fellow couldn¡¯t be any better¡­ Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth furiously as he thought in his head. He was still thinking of gifts when he was already injured. Furthermore, it was already late at night, wasn¡¯t he afraid that he¡¯d get indigestion after eating? There was a long pause¡­ Wen Xuxu was dumbfounded as she looked at the energetic-looking old man who was lying in bed. ¡°Rest well now. You almost frightened me to death.¡± She knew that he didn¡¯t want her to be worried about him. And so he was putting on an act by trying to be his usual jovial self. But she wasn¡¯t a gullible three-year-old kid who would be duped so easily. She had learned traditional Chinese massages before. So she knew how painful bone fractures can be. ¡°Shit!¡± The old man suddenly recalled something, and he yelled. ¡°I forgot to lock the clinic when I left. Hurry back and lock the door.¡± Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched as she thought in her heart. I¡¯ve underestimated this old man¡¯s health. He¡¯d drunk so much and fractured his leg due to a fall. Despite everything that had happened tonight, he could still remember that he¡¯d forgotten to lock the door. ¡°I¡¯ll stay and look after you.¡± She glanced at Qi Lei. ¡°Let Qi Lei head back to the clinic.¡± The old man interrupted Qi Lei before he could reply. ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient if you stay. Let Qi Lei stay instead.¡± Xuxu mulled over his words and felt that he was right. He couldn¡¯t move his body, and if he needed to go to the toilet, it would indeed be a little inconvenient for her to take care of his needs. She deliberated for a moment before saying, ¡°Then let me stay with you for a short while.¡± ¡°Are you going to pay for my losses if a burglar breaks into my clinic?¡± The old man rolled his eyes at Xuxu and pushed her with his uninjured hand. ¡°Hurry back to the clinic and lock the door. I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± After he finished talking, he shut his eyes and pressed his lips tightly. It seemed that he was bent on not saying another word tonight. Xuxu couldn¡¯t change his mind, and so she turned around to face Qi Lei. ¡°Qi Lei, I¡¯ll leave him in your care. I¡¯ll take over in the morning.¡± She glanced at the empty bed beside theirs. It should be vacant since the bedsheets were neatly arranged. ¡°Sleep on that empty bed for tonight.¡± Chapter 160. You Have a Pair of Repulsive And Vile Hands Qi Lei bashfully nodded. ¡°Okay. Sister Xuxu, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Even though it had been two years since he came to the capital, he still seemed like an innocent and shy youth who had just arrived from the countryside. This was because he hadn¡¯t had the chance to venture out and experience the city. Xuxu looked at him with an affectionate expression in her eyes. ¡°Thank you so much. You should rest early too once the old man is asleep. Don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± Yan Rusheng witnessed everything, and he furrowed his eyebrows glumly. Why was she so gentle to everybody except for him? Towards him, she was always so fierce and as proud as a peacock. Cough. Why not change his mindset instead and interpret it as her treating him differently from the others? ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Xuxu glanced at her grandfather with a slightly worried look. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ll visit you tomorrow morning.¡± Old Wen didn¡¯t open his eyes. ¡°Remember to ask Ah Heng to visit me with some gifts.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Young Master Yan was about to bid him goodbye when he heard the old man¡¯s words. He clammed up instantly, then turned to leave after sneering at the old man in his heart. After exiting the ward, he walked away with quick strides. By the time Wen Xuxu stepped out, he had already reached the next corner. He didn¡¯t seem to have any intentions of slowing down, so she didn¡¯t bother to call out to him. She was already surprised enough when he decided to send her to the hospital. It never crossed her mind that he would be sending her home. After she closed the door gently behind her, she walked towards the elevator. It was a peak hour for the office workers who had just finished work. The hospital elevator was packed with people, and it was hard to make their way in. Another elevator went down before his eyes, and it added another wave of fury in Young Master Yan who was already fuming. He glared at Wen Xuxu who was still taking her time reaching the elevator. He yelled, ¡°Stupid woman, you¡¯re so slow even when you¡¯re walking!¡± Another elevator opened its doors, and Yan Rusheng grabbed her arm without another word and hauled her inside. The whole elevator was filled with people being squeezed together. After she gained her footing, Xuxu raised her head to look at Yan Rusheng in surprise. ¡°I thought you left.¡± Young Master Yan responded coolly. ¡°If the elevator hadn¡¯t just arrived, do you think I would choose to wait for you?¡± He felt like biting his tongue off after he said those words. If he didn¡¯t choose to wait for her, he would have entered the previous elevator that had fewer people. Xuxu merely smiled at that indisputable truth. When the elevator stopped, and the doors opened, a swarm of people rushed in as though there was a morning event at a supermarket. Xuxu¡¯s petite body was almost buried among the crowd. Suddenly she could feel someone pinching her butt. She was about to turn around to take a look when that hand moved towards her waist and attempted to delve into her skirt. She jerked her head violently, and a man in his mid-forties was staring at the lower part of her body with a lewd smile. Xuxu remained composed as she raised her foot and stomped down heavily. Thankfully it was the company¡¯s rule that female employees had to wear heels. Although it was only three or four inches tall, its destructive power was still substantial. The man jumped and screamed in pain when she stomped on his foot. He glared angrily at Wen Xuxu. ¡°You wretched woman, why did you step on me?!¡± Ha! He still has the guts to raise his voice! Xuxu¡¯s gaze brushed across him and retorted coldly, ¡°You have a pair of repulsive and vile hands.¡± The two of them began arguing, startling rest of the people in the elevator. They had no idea what the argument was all about. To her surprise, that man wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated by her, and he even stared at her chest with a lecherous expression. He bellowed and swore, ¡°You damned b*tch. Aren¡¯t you trying to seduce guys by wearing this outfit in the elevator?¡± Chapter 161. A Fearful Xuxu Was Adorable Slam! He had barely finished his sentence when he was punched brutally in the face. Yan Rusheng parted the crowd with his hands. After he pushed the rest of the people to the side, everyone was huddled together, and suddenly there was an empty space around him. His malicious-looking eyes were glaring at the shameless man who had molested Xuxu. His eyes had a dangerous gleam. ¡°Who are you? Why did you hit me?¡± The man touched his face with one hand, and he used the other to point at Yan Rusheng who was closing in on him. He began to retreat, and his legs started trembling. ¡°It¡¯s Third Master Yan from Flourish & Prosper¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s really him! He looks exactly like the photo, it must be him.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Someone recognized Yan Rusheng, and they started making a commotion excitedly. The lecherous-looking man couldn¡¯t back away anymore, but his trembling body was still trying to retreat. ¡°Don¡¯t assume that I¡¯m afraid of you. I¡¯m going to report this to the police.¡± Yan Rusheng sneered coldly, ¡°Before the police arrive, let me maim both of your hands.¡± His good-looking lips twitched ruthlessly, and his hand hooked around the man¡¯s arm and twisted it. There was a loud ¡®crunch!¡¯ , and a second later, the man¡¯s bloodcurdling screams echoed loudly in the elevator. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t give him a chance to catch his breath before he proceeded to hook around his other arm. ¡°Ah Sheng, don¡¯t!¡± Wen Xuxu cried out anxiously, blurting out the intimate nickname she¡¯d concealed deep in her heart. She realized almost immediately and corrected herself. ¡°President Yan.¡± If this matter was escalated and brought to the police¡¯s attention, it was still relatively easy to handle. The troublesome part lay with the media since they would definitely blow up what happened. No matter what, it would affect Yan Rusheng and the company. Yan Rusheng looked at the petite hand clutching his arm, and an affectionate smile flitted briefly on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Xuxu held her breath when she heard that gentle and deep voice. ¡°Ahhhh¡­.¡± The lecherous-looking man tried to sneak an attack on Yan Rusheng by kicking him when he wasn¡¯t looking. But before he could, Yan Rusheng had noticed it. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t twist his arm this time around; he broke two of his fingers instead. Everyone in the elevator witnessed Yan Rusheng¡¯s violent and unfeeling actions, and they all shuddered and broke into a cold sweat. This person had ruthlessly broken that man¡¯s arm. That lecherous-looking man gave a shriek and lost consciousness. The elevator reached the ground floor. Everyone scrambled to leave, and the people bumped into Wen Xuxu and almost tripped a few times. Everyone in the elevator left, leaving her, Yan Rusheng and the unconscious man on the floor. She felt helpless. She had no idea what to do. Somewhere above her, Yan Rusheng¡¯s gentle voice was heard. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you don¡¯t seem to be as tough as I thought.¡± Earlier on, she had blurted ¡®Ah Sheng, don¡¯t!¡¯ with a tinge of fear. At the precise moment he heard her, a special and familiar feeling had struck him. He thought that a fearful Xuxu was¡­ adorable. When she corrected it to ¡®President Yan¡¯, it was the first time he had ever regretted something so much. He had regretted how he¡¯d warned and forbidden her on that island from calling him by that nickname. His voice carried a hint of warmth, just like an intoxicating vintage wine. Xuxu was slightly startled as she lifted her tiny face. She stared at Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous countenance which seemed to resemble an exquisitely sculpted masterpiece by God. The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips curled with a warm and vibrant smile. His peach blossom-shaped eyes were slightly arched, holding a rare tenderness. Against the bright lights in the elevator, Xuxu¡¯s soft face was even rosier than usual¡ªas enticing as a ripe apple. As Yan Rusheng stared at her, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. Chapter 162. How Could You Tell That I Want To Kiss Her? He couldn¡¯t help but lower his head and inch slowly towards Xuxu¡¯s alluring face. A strong and familiar scent floated towards her and Xuxu could only retreat backward until she had reached the wall of the elevator. Her burning palms were pressed against the cold surface. Her palms started sweating, and it heated up the area that she touched. Her cheeks seemed to be ablaze as his fiery gaze was fixated on her face. It was so hot that she felt like placing her face against the cold surface of the elevator too. Young Master Yan suddenly pressed his palms against the elevator and confined the tiny woman standing in front of him with his hands. This action stunned Xuxu as she peered upwards with an innocent and helpless look on her face. Oh my god! That expression was way too seductive, and Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t help but move closer to Xuxu¡¯s lips. At the same time, his mind began racing for an excuse to give after the deed was done¡ªin order to preserve his pride he would explain that he didn¡¯t mean to kiss her. Should he say that she had seduced him? Nah, she would definitely deny it. ¡°Young man, that guy has already fainted from the pain. If he¡¯s dead, you¡¯ll be executed. Hurry up and save him first, leave the kissing for when you get home.¡± An elderly lady¡¯s kind voice called out from outside the elevator. She broke Young Master Yan¡¯s train of thought and destroyed that beautiful and alluring moment. Both of them were jolted back to reality. ¡°Why would you think that I wanted to kiss her?¡± Young Master Yan turned around to glare at the elderly lady with her ¡®kind intentions¡¯. ¡°I merely caught a whiff of something sweaty, and I suspected that it was coming from her! I just wanted to confirm it by smelling her.¡± It was too embarrassing. He didn¡¯t even get what he wanted, and he¡¯d already been humiliated. That elderly lady was disconcerted by Yan Rusheng¡¯s yells. After a long while, she responded with an ¡°Oh!¡±. As she turned around to leave, she mumbled under her breath. ¡°He was gutsy enough when it came to beating up that guy. Why is he refusing to admit it when he obviously wants to kiss that girl?¡± Young Master Yan had an exceptional sense of hearing, and he heard everything the elderly lady had mumbled to herself. He felt even more exasperated. Why are the elderly so annoying nowadays?! Xuxu slid down the wall, and she slipped out under Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms. She kept her back to him, and her cheeks were flushed crimson. Her heart was beating so wildly against her ribcage; it seemed that it would jump out at any minute. Earlier, she¡¯d thought the same thing that elderly lady did. The thought of him wanting to kiss her was so wonderful that she could hardly contain herself. She had almost closed her eyes in anticipation of his kiss. Thankfully, that elderly lady¡¯s timely intervention spared me from this guy¡¯s ridicule and contempt. As she thought of this, she lifted her arm to smell her armpits. It seemed like there really was an odor. But it was getting hot recently, and wasn¡¯t it normal to sweat a little? She didn¡¯t believe that he never sweated at all. Xuxu felt indignant as she thought of his accusation. She felt like shouting, ¡®Yan Rusheng, your body stinks as well!¡¯ He had humiliated her in front of so many people. The surgeon and nurses came to move the lecherous man to receive surgery. Yan Rusheng briefly explained the situation to them. When he turned around, Xuxu was gone. He dashed outside and stood at the main entrance of the hospital. His eyes darted around searching for that tiny figure. There were throngs of people, but she was nowhere in sight. He was getting anxious yet furious at the same time. He had dealt with the guy on her behalf and stayed back to handle the situation. And this woman didn¡¯t even bid him goodbye and just left. How ungrateful was she? But he¡­ he had disappointed himself since he was still worried about her. There were a lot of foreigners in the vicinity around her grandfather¡¯s clinic. She was so dumb, what if she met some punks or criminals? Chapter 163. Your Worries Are Unnecessary ¡®You damned b*tch. Are you trying to seduce guys by wearing this outfit in the elevator?¡¯ The words of that lecherous man suddenly echoed in his ear, and he couldn¡¯t help feeling worried again. He quickly took out his car keys and hurried to the parking lot. F*ck! Which idiot came up with that b*llshit rule about wearing tight-fitting clothes to work?! ¡­ At the clinic. Wen Xuxu sat on the deck chair which her grandfather had brought from his village. She was holding a plate of pan-fried buns, and her lips were smeared with traces of grease. Every time she finished one, she would lick her fingers with relish as though she didn¡¯t want to waste a single bite. Jiang Zhuoheng descended the stairs with a glass of milk when he caught sight of her licking her fingers. He furrowed his eyebrows and patted her lightly on her back. ¡°Don¡¯t do that, it¡¯s dirty. Here, have some milk.¡± He placed the glass of milk on a stool and dragged another over to sit beside Xuxu. He watched her closely with interest as she devoured the food hungrily. Xuxu glanced at him and paused before offering him one. ¡°Try one, it¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so good about junk food?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng looked at the pan-fried buns with slight disdain. ¡°How are pan-fried buns junk food?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him and stuffed one into her mouth. She couldn¡¯t fit the whole bun in, and the sauce started leaking from her mouth and rolled down her chin. Jiang Zhuoheng hastily wiped her mouth with tissues and said reprovingly, ¡°Wen Xuxu, can¡¯t you learn to eat more gracefully?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not graceful by nature,¡± Xuxu protested as she snatched the tissues away from him. She stuffed another one in her mouth to spite him. Oh great, now her mouth was puffed up like a huge bun. There wasn¡¯t any space left inside her mouth, and she had trouble chewing. She tried to swallow the food slowly, but she ended up¡­ choking. She blinked her eyes and hurriedly spat out the food. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Jiang Zhuoheng started laughing at her bad luck. He patted her back and offered her the milk. ¡°Quick, drink this.¡± Xuxu gulped down the milk, and after a while, she gradually started feeling better. Her eyes were glistening from all the choking, and her face fell when she realized that Jiang Zhuoheng was still snickering. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, I almost choked to death, and you¡¯re still laughing at me.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m in the wrong. Carry on eating,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng apologized as he held the plate of buns in his hands. He placed one near her mouth and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner so you should eat more.¡± He looked at her with his slightly arched phoenix-like eyes, and his smile was filled with affection and tenderness. Xuxu abruptly realized how close he was when she felt his warm breath on her face. She was slightly startled by the realization, and she hesitated between letting him feed her or receiving the bun with her hand instead. Their eyes stared at each other, both lost in their own thoughts. Yan Rusheng, your worries are unnecessary! The man standing outside the door mocked himself after hearing the laughter inside the clinic. He withdrew his gaze and walked back to the black Mercedes. ¡°Ah Heng, thank you.¡± Xuxu smiled as she received the bun from Jiang Zhuoheng. She thought her actions seemed natural, but to Jiang Zhuoheng, he could sense something else. ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s your birthday next week.¡± Mustering his courage, he opened his mouth to speak. The expression in his eyes still flickered from a lack of confidence. Xuxu paused her chewing and replied softly, ¡°Ah Heng, I often questioned myself. What¡¯s so good about him? He has a bad temper, and he¡¯s in love with someone else. Do you ask yourself the same question? What¡¯s so good about Wen Xuxu even though she¡¯s still thinking about another person?¡± Chapter 164. I Wont Be Able To Stay With Him Till Hes Old Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and shook his head gently. ¡°I¡¯m willing to because you are Wen Xuxu.¡± Xuxu stared at him intently. ¡°Ah Heng, this might sound a little conceited, but you¡¯re too good for me. I¡¯m not worthy of your love.¡± Her eyes started to well up with tears, her expression full of sorrow and melancholy. ¡°Give me a chance, and give yourself a chance.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng gripped her hand and placed it on his chest. He was sincere and firm as he pressed on. ¡°I¡¯m not going to force you to make a decision. I¡¯ve waited for three years, and I don¡¯t mind continuing to wait.¡± Sigh. Xuxu sighed lightly. ¡°Ah Heng, if I can give you a complete¡­ perhaps I¡¯ll be able to live with a clear conscience. But I¡­¡± But her current self was unworthy of his love. Hearing this, Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s expression froze. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± He looked at her sorrowful face, and he was at a complete loss. He had always wanted to ask her: why did she give up the chance to study abroad in Country Y? Why wasn¡¯t there any news of her in school in the three years that he was away? He wanted to probe further; to ask if there was another reason. This question had been bugging him for three years, and he finally seemed to have found the answer tonight. As he reorganized his thoughts, Xuxu¡¯s exhausted voice sounded once more. ¡°You¡¯re the one person in my life that I never want to lose. Even more than him.¡± If they had crossed the line and gone beyond their friendship, everything would no longer be the same. She added, ¡°I won¡¯t be able to stay with him until he¡¯s old, but that person can¡¯t be you either.¡± These few days she had been playing with the notion of wearing the white princess dress on her 25th birthday. But every time she delved deeper into her thoughts, she hesitated and gave up. The relationship between them should remain pure. There was very little that she could afford to lose anymore. Jiang Zhuoheng squeezed her hand. ¡°Xuxu, don¡¯t pressure yourself.¡± Others might not understand her but he could. They¡¯d both been playing a role for the other. Because this person is Xuxu, so I won¡¯t give up, he thought to himself. ¡­ Before the sun rose the next day, Xuxu had already reached the hospital. She was holding some breakfast in her hands as she walked to her grandfather¡¯s ward. The door of the ward was ajar. She glanced inside, but to her surprise, her grandfather was nowhere in sight. A cleaner was tidying the ward, and Xuxu walked towards her. ¡°Auntie, may I know where is the patient in this ward?¡± Grandfather had just undergone surgery yesterday, and he couldn¡¯t move around. So he couldn¡¯t have gone to the toilet or taken a stroll. Where did the old man go? She got more anxious at the thought. The cleaner replied, ¡°They transferred him to a deluxe suite last night.¡± Transferred? Deluxe suite? Who transferred him? Xuxu quickly called Qi Lei. Qi Lei informed her about the new ward, and she rushed there without delay. Before she reached the ward, she could hear the old man¡¯s resounding and loud voice. ¡°I¡¯m not playing with you anymore. What¡¯s the point if you keep giving in to me?¡± When Xuxu heard her grandfather¡¯s voice, she heaved a sigh of relief. Then she heard another familiar voice coming from the ward. ¡°Grandfather, when did I give in to you?¡± His jovial voice was mixed with a subtle trace of exhaustion. Xuxu widened her eyes in surprise and hastened her footsteps. The suite was clean and spacious, and her grandfather was lying on a huge and comfortable bed. He was lying sideways with a chess set in front of him. Apparently, the outcome of the chess game was clear. Chapter 165. It Was Bad Judgment Alright? Jiang Zhuoheng sat beside the bed as he smiled helplessly at the old man. Xuxu was about to step foot into the ward when Qi Lei came out of the bathroom with a basin of water. He didn''t notice Xuxu had arrived as he walked towards the bed. He said casually, "Grandfather, Sister Xuxu just called saying that she couldn''t find us in the original ward." "What?! That lass is here?" The moment the old man heard that Wen Xuxu was around, he seemed like a mouse who had just spotted a cat. He hastily lay down properly on his back. "Hurry and put away the chess set, she will nag me non-stop if she sees it." After he instructed them, he closed his eyes. But he thought of something else and added, "If she comes, tell her I''m still resting and ask her not to bother me." Qi Lei put the basin on the cupboard beside the bed, and Jiang Zhuoheng scooped out a towel. He stole a glance at the old man who was pretending to be asleep. Smiling slyly, he asked, "Didn''t you keep nagging me, asking why she wasn''t here yet? Now that she''s on her way, you don''t dare to see her anymore?" After he said his piece, his eyes darted towards the door and his sly smile widened. "She nags too much," the old man grumbled as he kept his eyes closed. "Then I shall nag at you properly today." Wen Xuxu put on a false pretense as she strode towards him sternly. The old man''s eyelids twitched, but he refused to open his eyes. Xuxu chuckled when she saw him. "Alright, don''t do it next time. The doctor says you need to rest well. You''re already so old, don''t you wish to recover soon and walk by yourself in the future?" Then she glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng. "And you! His accomplice!" "I¡­" Jiang Zhuoheng was about to explain when the ''fast asleep'' old man suddenly coughed twice. Young Master Jiang clammed up, and he was left with no choice but to admit that he was an accomplice. Xuxu certainly knew that the old man had forced him to play chess. She didn''t probe further and instead asked Qi Lei to join them for breakfast. So after Jiang Zhuoheng had sent her home yesterday, he returned to the hospital to settle the transfer of wards. And he''d even stayed overnight to accompany Grandfather. After Xuxu heard what Qi Lei said, she couldn''t help but sigh heavily in her heart. After breakfast, the nurse came over to check on her grandfather and to change his drip. After the nurse left, the old man waved his hands at Wen Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng. "Alright, time to leave and do what you''re supposed to do." He frowned at them as though he was frustrated by their presence. Jiang Zhuoheng glanced at Qi Lei and couldn''t help worrying. After some consideration, he said, "Grandfather, I''ll hire a caretaker for you." Old Wen heard him and snapped, "I''ll be happier if you can get me a companion!" There was a long pause¡­ "Don''t mind him, you should go to work first." Xuxu turned to face Jiang Zhuoheng. "I''ve applied for leave today, and later I''ll let Qi Lei head back to rest." She had barely ended her sentence when the old man interrupted. "Aren''t you quitting in a few days'' time? You shouldn''t be taking leave then. If not, Wang Daqin will chew me out for being troublesome and holding you up." There was a long pause¡­ Grandmother wasn''t that callous. In fact, he was the one fabricating her words. The old man didn''t wait for Xuxu to reply and continued, "You''re so clumsy and so clueless about everything. If you were to take care of me, I might die sooner than expected. Go back to work and earn some money to support me instead." Only two people in the whole world would complain that she was clumsy. One was Yan Rusheng; the other was this old man. Those who said that Wen Xuxu was clumsy had bad judgment alright? Chapter 166. The Company Has Abolished The Rule She knew that the old man was afraid that she would watch over him strictly, which was why he wanted to chase her away. She was determined not to let him have his way. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m staying here today no matter what you say.¡± ¡°If you send Qi Lei back, what do I do if I need to use the toilet?¡± The old man questioned her in a huff. ¡°Hmm!¡± Xuxu was stumped for words. If Qi Lei wasn¡¯t around, what would she do indeed? Qi Lei interjected, ¡°Sister Xuxu, you should go to work. I slept well last night since Brother Ah Heng stayed with Grandfather for the whole night. Later I¡¯ll take a nap when Grandfather is asleep too.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­ Alright then.¡± Xuxu pressed her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll pop by after work.¡± The old man seemed to be fine and other than chatting with him, there was nothing much she could do for him. But apparently, the old man didn¡¯t want her to stay as well. She instructed Qi Lei, ¡°You must immediately update me with any news, alright?¡± Before Xuxu closed the door behind them, she glanced at her grandfather with a worried look. Jiang Zhuoheng said reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already reminded the staff. They will take special care of him.¡± ¡°Ah Heng, thank you,¡± Xuxu thanked him softly. They both left together. It was half-past ten when Xuxu reached the office. Several colleagues were huddled closely together and seemed to be discussing something. ¡°What are you all talking about?¡± She looked at the group of people with a smile as she walked towards her desk. The crowd immediately gathered around her desk. ¡°Sister Xuxu, we can start wearing pretty outfits to work in the future.¡± After hearing this, she stopped and looked at them curiously. ¡°What do you mean?¡± A plump colleague replied gleefully, ¡°We just received a notice saying that the company has abolished the rule of wearing standard work attire to the office. In the future, we just need to be presentable.¡± Xuxu asked in surprise, ¡°Really?¡± According to her understanding, wearing the standard work attire had been a company rule for years. Why was it abolished all of a sudden? ¡°Look how happy you are. Seems like you¡¯re happier about this than meeting your idol,¡± joked another colleague as she teased the plump lady. ¡°For skinny girls like you, it doesn¡¯t really matter. But to plump girls like me, this is a huge blessing. You have no idea how uncomfortable it is to wear tight-fitting clothes to work every day.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t really listen to the rest of the conversation. She lowered her head and stared at her outfit. She couldn¡¯t help thinking about what the lecherous guy had said in the elevator yesterday. ¡®Aren¡¯t you trying to seduce guys by wearing this outfit in the elevator?¡¯ Did Yan Rusheng¡­ But even if she were the reason, it wouldn¡¯t be just for her sake alone. He must have been thinking for the safety of all the female employees in the company. Anyway, wasn¡¯t she supposed to leave soon? Wen Xuxu curled her lips as she mocked herself for reading too much into it. Besides having lunch together, Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t interact much. After work each night, Xuxu went to the hospital to have dinner with her grandfather. Jiang Zhuoheng would pick her up after work at around 8 p.m. to send her home. They repeated the routine for the next few days; she would head to the hospital in the morning, then to work, and then back to the hospital in the evening. Then Jiang Zhuoheng would fetch her after leaving work and send her home. Occasionally they would have dinner together. Tonight, she was back home earlier as Yan Rusheng watched her draw the curtains by the window. Her silhouette changed from clear to blurry. Chapter 167. Pretending To Be Classy Yan Rusheng had no idea why he had this insane urge to come here every night. Jiang Zhuoheng would send her back home, and he would only catch a glimpse of her alighting from the car. But if he didn¡¯t see this scene every day, he would feel frustrated. He would be anxiously wondering if Jiang Zhuoheng had gone up with her, and what they were doing in her apartment and so on. He lit a cigarette, and he forgot all about it until it burnt his fingers. He threw it away hastily. He lifted his head once more, and the lights were switched off in that apartment on the seventh floor. He pressed the ignition button, and the black Mercedes gradually disappeared into the darkness. ¡­ Wen Xuxu could sense that Young Master Yan was feeling troubled these past two days. He didn¡¯t even bother finding trouble with her. And he seemed to be avoiding her on purpose. She wondered if she was imagining things. He¡¯d also ordered his assistant to brew coffee for him these past few days instead of her. It was almost noon. Xuxu propped a hand against her cheek as she stared puzzledly at the closed door to the President¡¯s office. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Hearing a familiar voice in front of her, she quickly reeled in her thoughts. She stared in astonishment. ¡°Young Master Ming.¡± Ming Ansheng wore a black shirt, and he seemed more mature and collected as compared to his usual self when he was partying and having fun. ¡°I came here to settle some stuff. Since it¡¯s almost lunch time, I wanted to look for you and Third Yan.¡± He smiled as he walked towards her. Since he was Wen Xinyi¡¯s cousin, Xuxu had a hunch that Wen Xinyi would be going too. ¡°Since you¡¯re here to look for President Yan, I won¡¯t be joining you guys today.¡± Having lunch with friends should be pleasant. But she didn¡¯t particularly feel like watching Miss Wen as she put on her fragile facade. ¡°It¡¯s rare for me to pop by and you still want to reject my lunch invitation.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows disapprovingly. ¡°Why? Are you afraid that I¡¯ll ask you to foot the bill?¡± Xuxu denied it, quipping in a half-joking, half-serious manner, ¡°That¡¯s not true. It would be my honor to treat Young Master Ming.¡± Ming Ansheng shrugged. ¡°Tsk. Don¡¯t be so pretentious. I know you¡¯d never agree so easily.¡± Although she wasn¡¯t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she possessed the nobility and dignity of a daughter from a wealthy family. And she seemed to be unfathomable and distant at times. She was the shrewdest, most courteous woman he had ever met, and she always had a superficial smile that was difficult to read. Xuxu smiled. ¡°Young Master Ming, you think too highly of me.¡± ¡°How¡¯s your progress with Ah Heng?¡± Young Master Ming suddenly became nosy. The change in topic was really¡­ Xuxu was dumbfounded for a moment before she recollected herself with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s still the same between the two of us.¡± Ever since Ah Heng came back, everyone was concerned with one question¡ªwill she get back together with Ah Heng? She didn¡¯t want to explain to anyone about Ah Heng and her. And there was no need to explain to anyone about their relationship. Ming Ansheng pressed on, ¡°I heard that he¡¯s choosing a ring.¡± Xuxu was slightly startled by his words, but her smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Young Master Ming, the minute you started gossiping, your demeanor and airs of a young master just vanished.¡± Ming Ansheng leaned carelessly against Xuxu¡¯s desk with his hands stuffed in his pants. He looked more like a delinquent. ¡°Why should I pretend to be classy and refined? I¡¯m not Third Yan.¡± His tone sounded utterly disdainful. Xuxu was unable to restrain a smile. She thought in her heart, ¡®Young Master Ming is really brilliant and brutally honest.¡¯ ¡°Ming Ansheng, is your company going to collapse soon?¡± Suddenly a cold voice was heard from the President¡¯s office. Chapter 168. If She Knew... Xuxu¡¯s heart shuddered with fear. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t agree with Young Master Ming¡¯s last sentence. Ming Ansheng¡¯s face turned pale when he heard his voice but quickly recovered himself. He spoke lightheartedly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I was here to ask for a meal? Why are you cursing my firm?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at him coldly, ¡°Since you¡¯re so free, I thought your company must have collapsed.¡± He turned around and went back into his office. ¡°I¡¯m here to have lunch with you!¡± Ming Ansheng trailed after him and yelled. He turned towards Xuxu. ¡°Miss Wen, the great beauty, do me a favor and join us later.¡± Xuxu smiled and agreed to his invitation. She would look snobbish if she rejected him again. Today, she wore a pair of sapphire blue tight-fitting pants which lengthened her already-long legs. She paired it with a white chiffon shirt. Her outfit was both adorable and work-appropriate. She walked beside Yan Rusheng and listened to him chatting with Ming Ansheng. As usual, Yan Rusheng wore a white shirt with black pants, befitting his demeanor and sense of class as the President. Xuxu was starting to wonder if Wen Xinyi would be absent from this lunch when she saw her waving at them in the restaurant. ¡°Brother Sheng, this way,¡± Wen Xinyi beckoned with a slender hand, and she wore a cheerful smile on her face. The instant she saw Wen Xuxu, her mouth twitched noticeably with jealousy. Xuxu noticed the change in her expression as she followed after Yan Rusheng. The classy western restaurant still had plenty of empty tables before noon. The trio sauntered towards Wen Xinyi and their table. Without hesitation, Ming Ansheng sat down promptly next to Wen Xinyi. Their table was by the windows and Xuxu saw that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t intend to sit inside. And so she took the liberty of taking that seat. The moment she sat down, she smiled at Wen Xinyi who was sitting opposite of her. Wen Xinyi¡¯s eyes clouded with jealousy for a moment, but she still managed a small smile. She wore an emerald-green, puffy-sleeved shirt, and her long, straight black hair fell past her shoulders. Her bangs touched the tips of her eyebrows, and she looked bashful and demure as she faintly smiled. Xuxu had no idea how Wen Xinyi managed to act with such confidence. Wasn¡¯t she a little afraid that she would relay what she¡¯d said to Yan Rusheng? Or did Wen Xinyi think that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t believe her words? Or perhaps¡­ she knew that she wouldn¡¯t mention anything? ¡°Xinyi, what did you order?¡± Ming Ansheng asked Wen Xinyi. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you liked, so I haven¡¯t done it yet,¡± Wen Xinyi murmured softly, and she passed the menu to Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan, please order.¡± When she looked at Yan Rusheng, her delicate face instantly flushed crimson. Yan Rusheng peered at the menu, and without a word, he pushed it towards Wen Xuxu. He¡¯s pushing me towards the depths of fiery suffering! Xuxu lamented deeply in her heart as she flipped the menu. She glanced at it for a minute before she told the waiter. ¡°Two sets of medium-well classic steaks. For the desserts, we¡¯ll have them without cream or jam.¡± She passed the menu to Ming Ansheng after ordering. ¡°Without a doubt, Xuxu is still the one who understands you the most.¡± Ming Ansheng received the menu as he casually directed the words at Yan Rusheng. But these seemingly casual words had caused tidal waves to surge in the hearts of the rest. Yes, he had admitted long ago that Xuxu was the person who understood him the most in this world. But her understanding of him excluded his inner feelings and sentiments towards her. If she knew, how would she react? Chapter 169. Why Must It Be Wen Xuxu? She would definitely ridicule him by saying, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve fallen for me despite always mocking me for being stupid, clumsy, and silly.¡± She would probably add on ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be devoted to Fang Jiayin?¡± or¡°It¡¯s only been three years, and your love has wavered already?¡± So why did it have to be Wen Xuxu? Lately, he¡¯d been asking himself that repeatedly. If he really wanted to have a change of heart, he could have chosen any of the numerous women he¡¯d had flings with. But why must it be her? Anybody else but Wen Xuxu. Then he wouldn¡¯t feel so conflicted and reducing himself to such a pathetic state. Yan Rusheng lowered his head, and his thick eyelashes blocked the wild and raging emotions in his eyes. He needed to restrain himself. Wen Xinyi held a fork as she gritted her teeth with fury. She glared vehemently at Xuxu with jealousy and envy. Jealousy exploded inside of her the moment she saw Xuxu sitting next to Yan Rusheng. She had to get this woman away from Yan Rusheng. She should be the one with the most compatibility with him. In the future, the person who understood him the most would be her as well. Miss Wen vowed to herself in her heart but she was unaware that her desires and thoughts were reflected on her face, Her delicate face was enveloped by jealousy, and it made her look chilling and hateful. Xuxu witnessed everything, and she remained unperturbed as she replied to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your secretary know what you like to eat? If she doesn¡¯t, then you should fire her for being incompetent.¡± She¡¯d put on a false pretense, but to Yan Rusheng she seemed perfectly composed. It was merely because she was his secretary, that¡¯s why she understood him so well. Everything about him from his habits, temper, and preferences. He meant nothing to her in her heart. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression fell once again. Fortunately, there was Ming Ansheng who managed to liven the atmosphere with his wit and humor. ¡°Xinyi, Xuxu is a girl with rare talent. I can¡¯t compare to her sometimes.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at Xinyi with a smile. ¡°If you want to stick around Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ll have much to learn from Xuxu.¡± He had spoken earnestly. Wen Xinyi heard his advice and her expression changed subtly. She smiled and nodded. ¡°Brother Sheng, you¡¯re right. Grandmother Yan did say I have a lot to learn from Sister Xuxu. I was planning to treat her so that I can win her over.¡± After she spoke, she looked at Wen Xuxu with a bright and seemingly innocent smile. Xuxu replied calmly, ¡°Miss Wen studied abroad, and she¡¯s quite knowledgeable. It¡¯s too modest of her to say that she wants to ask me for advice.¡± ¡°Sister Xinyi, what I¡¯ve said is true.¡± Wen Xinyi pouted with her rosy cheeks. She had successfully maintained her pretense of a well-behaved and sensible little girl. Her behavior today was a far cry from how she¡¯d threatened and warned her the other day. Xuxu sniggered in her heart. If possible, she didn¡¯t really want to label this delicate and pretty girl as a white lotus who seemed pure on the surface but was twisted and dark on the inside. She pressed her lips tightly and kept quiet. She wore a fleeting and faint smile which seemed to keep others away. Wen Xinyi was unhappy when she saw her smile, and a glint of hatred flashed in her eyes. She turned to Ming Ansheng and pouted with woeful-looking eyes. ¡°Brother Sheng, it seems like Sister Xuxu is rather unwilling to take me in as her disciple.¡± Without waiting for Ming Ansheng to respond, she smoothly switched the topic. ¡°But I can understand why. Sister Xuxu and Brother Heng are currently dating. Couples who are in love are usually busy.¡± She then acted as though she¡¯d suddenly recalled something. ¡°Oh! I overheard you talking to grandfather yesterday that Brother Heng was choosing an engagement ring?¡± Hearing her words, Yan Rusheng paused from cutting his steak. He slowly lifted his head to look at Xuxu. Xuxu turned towards him at the same time. Eyes meeting, they gazed at each other as their deep, complicated feelings began overflowing from inside. The two of them had always concealed their real emotions from each other. Chapter 170. Never Resort To Dirty Tricks They gazed at each other for what seemed like half a century. ¡°Wen Xuxu, it seems like your long wait has finally paid off.¡± Yan Rusheng broke the silence first as he curled his lips without any emotion. It was hard to tell if he was mocking or teasing her. Regardless of the reason, her heart still sank with a heavy thud. Xuxu frowned as she slowly looked down. Her fingers had turned cold because¡­ they were connected to her heart. She quietly took a deep breath to readjust herself. She smiled and replied, ¡°Miss Wen, it looks like you¡¯re very interested in me.¡± It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t know how to pretend or act, she just couldn¡¯t be bothered. But if someone wanted to challenge her, she definitely wouldn¡¯t disappoint that person. She saw Xuxu with that innocent smile on her face, and Wen Xinyi¡¯s expression changed immediately. She stole a glance at Yan Rusheng guiltily. Yan Rusheng was concentrating on cutting his steak with his cutlery. He was the epitome of grace and elegance as his hands, with its clearly-defined knuckles, cut the steak. He was used to cutting the steak first before eating it. He had developed this habit because of Wen Xuxu. When she was young, she liked to peel off the skin of the melon seeds before she enjoyed them. She still had this habit now. Someone once said that a man is his most charming and attractive when he¡¯s focused on doing something. It was precisely what Yan Rusheng was doing right now. It rekindled her jealousy, making Wen Xinyi even more desirous to possess him,. ¡°I merely heard Brother Sheng and Grandfather talking about it.¡± She looked at Wen Xuxu with a child-like and bashful smile. She paused before continuing, ¡°When you get married to Brother Heng, I¡¯m willing to be your bridesmaid.¡± Xuxu answered with a smile. ¡°If that day really comes and Miss Wen is willing, it would be my pleasure.¡± The gentle tone in her soft voice was like a feather teasing and tickling Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. He was about to explode. He wanted to yell, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I dare you to try and marry Jiang Zhuoheng. You¡¯re mine!¡± But he knew he could never say these words in this lifetime. He could only wish that his feelings for her were an illusion. And he prayed that they would vanish soon. Of course, this lunch wasn¡¯t pleasant. They left the restaurant, and Xuxu walked ahead first. Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng were discussing the stock market with Wen Xinyi listening intently to their conversation. Occasionally, she would interject and agree with what Yan Rusheng had said. Yan Rusheng had only briefly expressed his opinion, and Wen Xinyi had bashfully become smitten with him for a moment. Ming Ansheng smiled and said teasingly, ¡°Xinyi, everything that Yan Rusheng says is correct, am I right?¡± ¡°Brother Sheng, you¡¯re so annoying.¡± Wen Xinyi lowered her head shyly, and she turned red. Her thoughts were too obvious, and Yan Rusheng was beginning to feel annoyed with her. He hastened his footsteps and walked ahead. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, and he seemed distant. Ming Ansheng stared at his back, and his eyebrows were knitted with worry. ¡°Brother Sheng, what are you looking at?¡± Wen Xinyi saw that he was gazing at Yan Rusheng in a daze and she waved her hands in his face. Ming Ansheng withdrew his gaze and told her seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t try to use any connections around Yan Rusheng. You have to learn from Wen Xuxu. And never resort to dirty tricks, especially around Yan Rusheng.¡± He knew quite well that Yan Rusheng would never accept Xinyi. But Grandfather and Xinyi were still adamant. Chapter 171. She Was Already 25 Years Old All he could do to help was to remind her of what she could or couldn¡¯t do. As the saying goes, persisting in evil brings about self-destruction. When Xinyi had purposefully mentioned Ah Heng earlier in the restaurant, she thought that nobody would see through her intentions. Yan Rusheng had wanted to use Wen Xuxu as a way to make her back off. But she was still fervently mentioning Ah Heng in front of him. She was way too ambitious, and everyone present was aware of her tricks. Wen Xinyi heard Ming Ansheng¡¯s warning, and she stole a glance at Wen Xuxu. Her expression was filled with disdain. What was so good about her? She was using her relationship with Grandmother Yan, taking advantage of her affection in order to stay by Yan Rusheng¡¯s side. If that wasn¡¯t the case, how could she have entered the President¡¯s office immediately after her graduation? She wasn¡¯t even qualified to enter through the doors of Flourish & Prosper. ¡°Xinyi, Yan Rusheng is not the guy for you,¡± Ming Ansheng sternly announced. He could tell that Wen Xinyi was getting more ambitious since her jealousy was evident on her face. If this continued, she might resort to using dirty tricks. He was being tactful and had already sugar-coated his words. If it were anybody else, he would have simply said that she couldn¡¯t manage or handle someone like Yan Rusheng. They didn¡¯t even think that Fang Jiayin could do it, even though she was such an impressive girl. Wen Xinyi was incensed by his bluntness. ¡°Brother Sheng, we¡¯ll only know if we¡¯re compatible after getting together. I have confidence in myself.¡± She had received an excellent education and upbringing. Her family background and looks were equally outstanding, and therefore she should be compatible with an outstanding man like Yan Rusheng. ¡°Xinyi, if you stubbornly cling to your own ideas, I can only remind you of one thing. Most importantly, never provoke Wen Xuxu.¡± Ming Ansheng gave this warning which Wen Xinyi wasn¡¯t able to accept or comprehend fully. He hastened his footsteps after Yan Rusheng. ¡°Hmph,¡± she snorted, and crossly stamped her foot as she watched Ming Ansheng leave. In what way was she inferior to Wen Xuxu? Why was Brother Sheng on her side as well? ¡­ ¡®The bride and groom may now exchange the wedding rings.¡¯ ¡®The groom may kiss the bride.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not kissing her, she¡¯s so fierce.¡¯ ¡®Third Yan, you have to stick to the rules of the game. You¡¯re the groom, and Xuxu is the bride.¡¯ ¡®Alright, since it¡¯s just a kiss.¡¯ The handsome man who looked as beautiful as a painting sat on a deck chair at the balcony. His toes touched the ground occasionally as he rocked back and forth. He had a flashback of two young children playing house. The girl and boy were wearing garlands made of wildflowers and branches on their heads. A group of friends witnessed their union as they put a toy ring on each other¡¯s finger. He couldn¡¯t bear to return to reality and wake up from those precious and carefree memories. Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re mine. Don¡¯t you dare try to seduce other guys¡­ He opened his eyes violently and abruptly. That sentence echoing in his mind¡­ he seemed to have said it before. Knock knock knock. Someone knocked on his door and interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Enter,¡± he said carelessly and recollected his emotional state and mood. Wang Daqin strolled in. ¡°Third Yan, it¡¯s Xuxu¡¯s birthday next Wednesday. She¡¯s turning 25, so I want to plan something elaborate and grand. 25th birthday¡­ Wen Xuxu¡¯s turning 25. Time really flew past. As he mulled it over, Yan Rusheng suddenly felt despondent. He snapped to and replied casually, ¡°It¡¯s up to you to decide.¡± Wang Daqin bent down to peer at him. ¡°I¡¯m here to seek your opinion. Should we hold the celebration at home or at a hotel?¡± The old lady was both excited and thrilled. At the thought of Wen Xuxu turning 25 years old, Yan Rusheng became annoyed for no reason. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask her directly?¡± Chapter 172. Lets Hold It At The Hotel He was neither Jiang Zhuoheng nor her boyfriend. Why should he concern himself with her birthday? His frustration could be heard from the tone of his voice. Wang Daqin knitted her eyebrows. ¡°I just want to give her a pleasant surprise.¡± Why are you so irritated about this? Yan Rusheng ran out of patience. ¡°As you wish. She¡¯s so dumb, and she has a poor sense of taste. Even if you held the party in a bathroom, she would still be over the moon.¡± Wang Daqin pulled a long face and was speechless. ¡°In the future, you¡¯ll be spending your birthdays in a bathroom.¡± ¡°On my 25th birthday, I seem to recall celebrating it with just a random cake.¡± Young Master Yan was clearly annoyed, and he was acting up deliberately. He was only a few months older than Xuxu. Yet, this old lady didn¡¯t even fuss over his 25th birthday. That dumb woman must have resorted to using tricks to win over other people¡¯s hearts. First his flesh and blood mother, then Grandmother, and now¡­ him. ¡°You rascal! Why should a man like you be so particular about your own birthday?¡± Wang Daqin continued, ¡°Don¡¯t you know that when girls turn 25 years old, there¡¯s an extraordinary significance to it?¡± This question piqued Yan Rusheng¡¯s curiosity. He raised his head and looked at the elderly lady. ¡°What extraordinary significance?¡± ¡°When girls turn 25 years old, they reach another milestone of their lives¡ªthey¡¯re of marriageable age,¡± the elderly lady spoke earnestly and gave a deep sigh, ¡°In the blink of an eye, Xuxu is already 25 years old, and Wen Daozheng has also advanced in years.¡± These words made him feel as if he was younger than her. At the age of 25, they had reached another milestone in their lives¡ªthey were of marriageable age¡­ Marriageable age. In other words, yearning to get married? So, they were getting married. Yan Rusheng quickly closed his eyes and sank into deep thought. Both his feet tapped the floor every now and then, causing the rocking chair to sway gently to and fro. Both his hands were relaxed on the armrest, the index fingers tapping on it casually. The elderly lady saw him with lips pursed and kept quiet. She decided not to stay any longer. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore. I¡¯d rather consult Ah Heng for his opinions instead.¡± Since the day Xuxu chatted with her, the elderly lady finally accepted the situation. Now that the children had all grown up, it would be best to let nature take its course where matters of the heart were concerned. She just hoped that while she¡¯s still alive and well, she would be able to see the children settle down and get married. This was especially so for Xuxu, so that she could find someone whom she could rely on. ¡°Let¡¯s hold it at the hotel. It¡¯s no longer a novelty to hold it at home.¡± The elderly lady had yet to reach the door when she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice from behind her. This sounded like a casual suggestion without any serious thought given to it at all. Wang Daqin stopped in her tracks and deliberated. ¡°I¡¯d better consult Ah Heng. Since it¡¯s Xuxu¡¯s birthday, he would surely have made some plans. So it¡¯s better to run it by him first instead of proceeding with our plans and putting Xuxu on the spot.¡± After finishing her sentence, she opened the door and walked out of the room. As the room door closed again, Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t help but feel vexed. Since she wasn¡¯t going to take his suggestion, why bother asking him? Since she planned to consult Jiang Zhuoheng, why didn¡¯t she approach him in the first place? ¡­ A new secretary had yet to be found. Wen Xuxu had no choice but to continue as the president¡¯s secretary. There was a senior management meeting on Thursday evening, just before the end of working hours. Just like in the past, Yan Rusheng would always be the last person to arrive after all the department representatives were present. As usual, he was dressed in a white shirt with matching trousers and walked dashingly into the conference room. Wen Xuxu followed him from behind, clutching his laptop in her hands. As she stepped inside, she came upon a familiar¡­ no, it was an extremely familiar face. Wen Xinyi. Chapter 173. Secretary Wen Had Dozed Off By right, as a department¡¯s assistant manager, she was not fit to attend this meeting. But no one, including Xuxu, was surprised when she showed up today. Who didn¡¯t know that she¡¯d used family connections to get into Flourish & Prosper? Who didn¡¯t know that she was the granddaughter of Bright Vision¡¯s chairman? News of the linked marriage between the Yan and Ming family had spread like wildfire. She would be the future mistress of Flourish & Prosper. Thus, her presence in the company¡¯s senior management meeting shouldn¡¯t be baffling. After Yan Rusheng was seated, Wen Xuxu took her seat beside him. She switched on her laptop. The meeting had commenced. The meeting began with a discussion about the fundamentals and concluded with updates about the company¡¯s new product launch symposium. ¡°How is the preparation from the PR department coming along?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Wen Xinyi and asked. Wen Xinyi answered quickly, ¡°I¡¯ve already uploaded the proposal onto the shared drive.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Xuxu immediately retrieved Wen Xinyi¡¯s proposal from the company¡¯s shared drive and positioned the laptop in front of Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng ran a quick scan but didn¡¯t miss out on the important details. After reading it, he glanced at everyone in the room with his malicious-looking eyes. He pursed his lips and didn¡¯t utter a word. No one could guess what he was thinking. As the person in charge of the PR department, Wen Xinyi deliberated for a moment, smiled and said, ¡°The product we¡¯re promoting this time is targeting people between 10 ¨C 30 years old. Youthfulness is the theme for this conference, and the current hottest and most popular celebrities will be invited as special guests.¡± She paused and examined Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression. He was looking in her direction with his lips pressed together. He didn¡¯t raise any objections or suggestions. Her confidence soared, and she continued speaking. The PR department spent more than a month drafting this proposal, and she¡¯d worked overtime to make revisions. With her clear and proficient explanation, the rest of the leaders nodded with approval and praise. After she finished talking, she stood up and nodded humbly at everyone. ¡°This is the detailed proposal from our PR department regarding the new product launch symposium. I hope to receive better suggestions from all of you.¡± With a modest and courteous attitude, she had gotten a stamp of approval from the company¡¯s senior leaders. ¡°Assistant Manager Wen¡¯s proposal is perfectly done with meticulous care.¡± ¡°Yes, I feel that it¡¯s quite excellent.¡± At that moment, everyone started to see her in a different light. Before this, there were rumors from the President¡¯s office that she was incompetent, that she was fond of throwing tantrums and shedding tears. After all, she got into Flourish & Prosper with her family connections and was eyeing to be the mistress of Flourish & Prosper. Thus, no one was astounded. But now, rumors about her didn¡¯t seem true. She wasn¡¯t an incompetent flower vase. She did have some capabilities. Unknown to everyone, Wen Xinyi¡¯s disdainful attitude towards Wen Xuxu was intended to catch the eyes of Yan Rusheng. She had put in so much effort to gain his approval. While everyone was commending her, she looked at Yan Rusheng with eyes of anticipation. Yan Rusheng moved his lips slightly, getting ready to speak. Through the corner of his eyes, he glanced at Xuxu in astonishment and turned his head. Wen Xuxu was leaning against her chair with her head lowered, her thick and long curly eyelashes remaining still. Yes indeed. Secretary Wen, who had always maintained a conscientious work attitude, had dozed off. Her grandfather had been staying at her apartment after his discharge. These days, she was working from morning till night. Coupled with overtime and tending to her grandfather, she only had five to six hours of sleep a day. Chapter 174. Inch Closer Bit By Bit On normal days when there were matters on hand to occupy her, she didn¡¯t feel tired. But sitting there, she just couldn¡¯t overcome her exhaustion. Everyone¡¯s gaze followed Yan Rusheng¡¯s and shifted towards Wen Xuxu. Seeing her asleep, everyone murmured incessantly. This¡­ this Secretary Wen is too bold and outrageous, falling asleep in the middle of a meeting. Of course, regardless of the comments made, they were not as exaggerated as Wen Xinyi¡¯s remarks. She looked at Wen Xuxu who was sleeping soundly, and a sense of resentment flickered in her eyes. Falling asleep while she was speaking was a form of mockery to her. ¡°Yan¡­¡± She opened her mouth and yearned to complain to Yan Rusheng. Before she could continue, Yan Rusheng raised his arm and interrupted her, ¡°The meeting is adjourned now.¡± His voice was faint and inaudible, with the intention to curtail the conversation. Even while he was speaking, his gaze was still on Xuxu¡¯s face which looked peaceful in her sleep. The hint of a tender smile gradually filled his charming peach blossom-shaped eyes. Those present were likened to the corporate world¡¯s white bone demons¡ªthey were all extremely treacherous. They only regarded their brains as tools of the trade to help them earn a living. After Yan Rusheng had spoken, they understood immediately that he didn¡¯t want to wake Secretary Wen from her sleep. Each and every one of them took their things and left the room quietly without even bidding Young Master Yan goodbye. The people left one after another except for Wen Xinyi who took her time packing her things; she wasn¡¯t willing to accept this setback. She endured so many late nights preparing this proposal just for today. Yet, it was ruined by Wen Xuxu. As she thought about this, she glared at Xuxu menacingly. Unexpectedly, Yan Rusheng suddenly looked at her direction. She immediately lowered her head in guilt, stood up reluctantly and left the room. Wen Xuxu, bear this in mind. I won¡¯t let you succeed. After Wen Xinyi left, Yan Rusheng boldly fixed his gaze on Wen Xuxu¡¯s body, admiring her peaceful countenance. He was calm and unruffled. Suddenly, Xuxu¡¯s head moved a little. Yan Rusheng guiltily averted his gaze and smoothly reached for a file to hold in his hand, pretending to read through the documents. He stole a glance at Xuxu from the corner of his eyes. She raised her head, tilted her neck to one side and continued to sleep peacefully, with no intention of waking up. He slowly turned his head to look at her again as she sat sound asleep. This was a sight that warmed and calmed his heart. He leaned to one side, propping an arm on the back of the chair and supported his head with three fingers. His handsome face smiled tenderly. Even time felt gentle. She must be having a dream. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and curled her pursed lips. She looked so lovely and adorable that it tickled his heart. He couldn¡¯t resist the urge to inch closer to her bit by bit. He especially loved the sweet fragrance emitting from her body, be it from the scent of her shower gel or the washing detergent she used. It teased his racing heart. His lips finally touched her tender red lips, and his heart melted. He pressed his lips against hers, fixing his eyes on her gorgeous face. Wen Xuxu, when I draw closer and closer to you, can you keep still without hiding away? The cellphone on the table suddenly vibrated and smashed this beautiful moment. He frowned with displeasure and withdrew his lips from Xuxu. Swiftly, he picked up the phone and pressed the end-call button. He had a sudden thought: ¡®I should take a photo of this lovely and serene-looking Xuxu while she sleeps.¡¯ Chapter 175. Ill Come Shortly Looking at this familiar woman from his phone¡¯s camera, Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t help but stare blankly. So much so that he sincerely thought, ¡®How wonderful it would be if time could stand still right now!¡¯ He took more than ten shots of her sleeping and then scrolled through all of them. Each picture warmed his heart and delighted his eyes. Even though she slept sitting down, she looked satisfied with her sleep. Xuxu gave a lazy yawn and slowly opened her eyes. She almost wanted to raise her hands and stretch herself when she suddenly remembered that she was in the middle of a meeting. Her eyes opened wide. Staring at the empty conference room, she almost fell off her chair. ¡°I¡­ I, I fell asleep?¡± She stared blankly, speaking to herself. ¡°Where is everyone? Where are they?¡± She looked beside her¡ªeven Yan Rusheng¡¯s seat was empty. Oh no! Wen Xuxu, you idiotic fool! How could you fall asleep in the middle of a meeting? She tapped her head and reproached herself; she almost felt like dying. There were so many people around. With all the sounds going on during the meeting, how could she have slept through it? Tch, Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re a pig! It couldn¡¯t be¡­ Why didn¡¯t Yan Rusheng wake her up? If she had dozed off during the meeting, then with his temperament, he would have struck her head with a file or something hard. She had initially woken up in a daze. But now, the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she became. She shook her head and decided not to ponder over it. Perhaps she should give that guy a call and sound him out. She felt that just a call would make him yell. Xuxu thought it over. She took out her cellphone and made a call to Yan Rusheng as she stood up. Looking at the time on her phone, she was shocked again. It was already past 7 p.m. The meeting had started around 4 p.m., and she only remembered a small segment of it. This meant that she¡¯d been asleep for at least two hours. It suddenly occurred to her to look out of the window. The sky was already dark. Oh, damn it! The lights on this floor were still switched on. The call got through, and she placed her phone by her ear while walking in the direction of the President¡¯s office. She was mentally prepared for Yan Rusheng to yell at her. Her phone rang twice, and someone answered the call from the other end. Yan Rusheng replied with an exhausted tone, ¡°Are you awake?¡± Perhaps it was because of his fatigue, but his voice sounded hoarse yet exuded a tinge of gentleness. Xuxu opened her mouth in amazement and thought, ¡®Did he take the wrong medicine?¡¯ ¡°That¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, President Yan,¡± she stammered apologetically. ¡°I fell asleep in the middle of the meeting.¡± The voice at the other end of the line was faint and inaudible. She lowered her head and raised her hand to scratch it. She felt vexed. This time, she deserved to be scolded. ¡°Wait for me in my office. I¡¯ll come out shortly.¡± Once again, Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice could be heard coming from the other end of the line. His tone was still gentle and calm. Xuxu suspected that she¡¯d misheard him. She looked at the screen of her phone with uncertainty. It was indeed an actual call made to Yan Rusheng. But why didn¡¯t he flare up and criticize her? She was still feeling puzzled when Yan Rusheng ended the call. She walked towards the President¡¯s office. She felt uneasy because Yan Rusheng hadn¡¯t yelled at her and she was utterly confused. As she walked, she tried guessing the reason why Yan Rusheng was so calm. Suddenly, it turned pitch-black before her eyes. ¡°Ah¡­¡± She shrieked in fear. Within seconds, she broke out into a cold sweat. She had just reached the side of the elevator. There were no windows, and her surroundings were pitch-black. She couldn¡¯t even see her fingers in front of her. She was so frightened her legs turned soft. This moment brought to mind the horror scenes she had watched before, the ones that took place in an office setting. Chapter 176 She ran forward with all her might and took out her cellphone at the same time, then turned on the flashlight. The brightness from the flashlight illuminated the pitch-black environment in an eerie way that made her hair stand on end. Tsk. Why was there a power cut at this time? This is so unlucky. With one breath, she ran to the President¡¯s office, opened Yan Rusheng¡¯s office door and went in. The series of French windows in Yan Rusheng¡¯s office allowed some moonlight to enter and lit up the room a little. She closed the door and leaned her back against it, gasping and panting. Her white blouse was soaked through with her perspiration. Ring ring ring¡­ Suddenly, ringing sounds from some phones could be heard coming from the outside. Not one but numerous phones ringing at the same time. This scenario resembled that of a written Taoist voodoo which was supposed to hasten a person¡¯s death. Xuxu had barely composed herself when she panicked again. She pressed her back and palms against the door with all her might. The ringing tone of the phones lingered in her mind. Following this, Yan Rusheng¡¯s office phone also rang. This must be a prank. Someone must be deliberately trying to scare her. She told herself this. She was dying to pick up the phone and yell at the caller, but her legs felt wobbly, and she couldn¡¯t move. She slowly crouched down and sat on the floor. With trembling hands, she held onto her phone and dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. She placed the phone to her ear, and all she heard was a voice saying that the other party was engaged in an ongoing call. The phones outside didn¡¯t stop ringing. Xuxu dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number a few more times. He was still engaged in an ongoing call. She was crestfallen. She gazed coldly at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office desk, summoned her courage and stood up. She walked over and answered the phone on his desk. ¡°Damn you. What are you trying to do?¡± After she finished her scolding¡ª bang! ¡ªshe flung the phone away. Her body fell back onto Yan Rusheng¡¯s wide and comfortable chair. The phones outside continued to ring. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± Suddenly, the office door flung open and a tall figure dashed in. With the flashlight in his hand, he shone it at Wen Xuxu who was sitting at his desk. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re such a jerk.¡± Xuxu got up and rushed towards the tall figure while crying. When she stood in front of him, she made a fist and struck his chest with all her strength. ¡°It was wrong of me to doze off in the middle of the meeting. You can punish me, scold me or even criticize me. But why did you have to play such a prank to scare me? Didn¡¯t you know I was scared out of my wits?¡± She hit him while crying at the same time. Her emotions were clearly out of control. Yan Rusheng heard her sobbing and complaining. His heart skipped a beat. He reached out his arms and embraced her. His heart ached for her, and he blamed himself. ¡°It was all my fault. Don¡¯t be afraid anymore.¡± ¡°I hate you.¡± Xuxu buried her head in Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest and sobbed loudly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to like me, but why do you have to torment me?¡± Her hands gripped the sleeves of his shirt. She hated him and hated herself even more. She had been with him for so many years, but he didn¡¯t have a trace of affection for her. Yet, she was still steadfastly in love with him. Yan Rusheng felt her tiny body shivering. She must be badly frightened. He didn¡¯t know how to comfort her, and the only thing he could do was to embrace her tightly. So it turned out that Wen Xuxu was also afraid of the dark just like any ordinary woman, except that she was a little tougher and more obstinate. He patted her head lightly with his warm palm. There was a hint of tenderness in his voice. ¡°In the future, I¡­ won¡¯t bully you anymore.¡± Chapter 177. She Isnt The Only Woman In The World But Xuxu was drained, and no matter how gentle he was, her heart had already turned cold. Xuxu cried for the longest time until her voice had gone hoarse. She had never cried like this before. Not even when he appeared in front of her holding Fang Jiayin¡¯s hand all those years ago. Even when she was utterly heartbroken and anguished, she had never cried like she did today. It¡¯s just as she said; it didn¡¯t matter if he didn¡¯t like her but he shouldn¡¯t trample on her love for him in this way. She pushed him away and wiped her tears carelessly. She choked out the words, ¡°I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯m sorry for falling asleep at the meeting today.¡± Even her apology contained neither inferiority nor superiority. All these years, she had only yielded herself to him once. She had given everything she had. She walked past Yan Rusheng and headed for the door. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m still single so how can you marry someone else?¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her arm suddenly. Immediately after he finished talking, he lifted her effortlessly and carried her in his arms. Then he proceeded to the sofa with heavy footsteps. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?! Let me go!¡± Xuxu cried as she struggled to escape from him, her punches landing wildly on Yan Rusheng¡¯s body. He threw her on the sofa and in the next second, he pressed his whole body down on hers to restrain her. Xuxu yelled at him, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re a b*stard¡­ you¡­¡± Yan Rusheng cupped her face with his hands, harshly sealing her lips with dominance. A bloody and salty taste spread their mouths. One of them had cut their lips. Her body was so soft and how he wished he could bury her inside him. Then she would belong to no one else but him after that. Xuxu desperately tugged at his back and shirt. Muffled sounds of protest escaped her mouth. She looked at the man wrapped around her. He seemed more like a vicious beast, and her tears began rolling down again. Slap! This slap had landed forcefully on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face with all the strength she could muster. It contained her years of hate and love for him. The crisp ringing sound of the slap, accompanied by the stinging pain, brought Yan Rusheng back to his senses and jolted him out of his irrationality. He jerked his head back violently, and there were shock and panic in his eyes. He looked at the woman lying beneath him; she was sobbing uncontrollably. The lights suddenly switched on. Wen Xuxu was completely in tears, and her eyes were red and swollen. Her lips were bleeding. She stared at him with cold bitterness and despair. Yan Rusheng felt like his heart had been ruthlessly whipped and was momentarily stunned. He hastily wiped away her tears. ¡°Wen Xuxu¡­¡± He wanted to say, ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t marry Jiang Zhuoheng.¡± But Xuxu didn¡¯t give him the chance to continue. ¡°Fang Jiayin isn¡¯t the only woman in this world. To all the women that you don¡¯t love, you should have treated them and me with some basic respect,¡± she told him hoarsely. Her voice and expression were devoid of any warmth. She shoved him aside and sat up. Yan Rusheng sat beside her with his elbows on his lap. He lowered his head, and he seemed visibly battered. Xuxu glanced at him sideways. ¡°You might be willing to wait for Fang Jiayin, but I¡­ I won¡¯t wait with you anymore.¡± After saying her piece, she turned to leave. ¡°Wen Xuxu, most of the cancer patients are diagnosed only in the final stages.¡± When Xuxu heard Yan Rusheng mumbling behind her, she hesitated briefly before leaving with determination. Chapter 178. Wen Xinyi Was Fired Yan Rusheng watched her as she disappeared from his sight. He continued to mumble in his heart. Like how my feelings for you were unnoticeable from the start. I didn¡¯t recognize the clues, and by the time I realized it, I¡¯d sunk so deep I was beyond saving. His whole body leaned back as he tilted his head up and closed his eyes. ¡®You might be willing to wait for Fang Jiayin, but I¡­ I won¡¯t wait with you anymore.¡¯ She had waited for Jiang Zhuoheng to return and had reached the age when a girl wants to settle down. Everything was falling into place¡­ ¡­ ¡°Secretary Wen, are the lights working upstairs?¡± Wen Xuxu exited the elevator and bumped into the security guard on duty. She bent her head and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± But the guard noticed that she had cried and smiled. ¡°So Secretary Wen is afraid of the darkn. No wonder! The moment President Yan realized that there was a power failure, he sprinted up the stairs in complete darkness.¡± The guard thought that she was afraid of the dark and had cried as a result. After taking in his words, Xuxu lifted her head in surprise. Didn¡¯t Yan Rusheng switch off all the lights to scare her? She was dumbfounded as the guard continued, ¡°Secretary Wen, President Yan was so anxious just now that he dropped his takeaway food. I picked it up, but it¡¯s probably ruined.¡± It turned out that he went to buy dinner¡­ It seemed that she¡¯d wronged him. But even then, what difference did it make? It didn¡¯t change the fact that he was being selfish and overbearing, did it? He¡¯d said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m still single so how can you marry someone else?¡± So was she obliged to stick with him as long as he stayed single? ¡°Secretary Wen?¡± The guard saw that Wen Xuxu seemed distracted and he waved a hand in front of her face to get her attention. ¡°The food is smashed, should I still send it up to President Yan?¡± Xuxu came out of her stupor and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll eat it.¡± She raised her feet and walked towards the entrance. As she passed by the reception desk, she caught the smell of spicy pickled fish. She stole a glance at the container on the reception desk and smirked. Yan Rusheng, I¡¯ll never fall for your tricks ever again! ¡­ The next day, Wen Xuxu came to work as usual, but she arrived an hour later. She could feel the strangely quiet atmosphere the minute she stepped foot into the President¡¯s office. Everyone sat at their respective workstations with their heads lowered. Even the sound of their typing seemed hushed. Something was amiss, and she instinctively glanced at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. The frosted glass door was shut. She assumed that the man inside the office was in a bad mood today and someone had already become cannon fodder. She pressed her lips tightly at the thought and continued to make her way to her desk. Suddenly the doors to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office opened, and Wen Xinyi came out. Anyone would feel sorry for her after seeing her sobbing so pitifully. Of course¡­ Xuxu didn¡¯t feel that way at all. She was merely astonished and stopped in her tracks to observe her. Wen Xinyi spotted Wen Xuxu and stopped as well. She walked towards her and stared at her with immense hatred. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯ll make you pay for this.¡± Xuxu was perplexed when she heard her. Why was it her fault when Wen Xinyi had come out crying from Yan Rusheng¡¯s office? Wen Xinyi disappeared after throwing those words. Xuxu frowned dubiously as she turned to watch her walking into the elevator. She only found out about Wen Xinyi being fired that afternoon. And it was specifically ordered by Yan Rusheng. She had no idea what Wen Xinyi had done to anger Yan Rusheng to make him disregard all ties and fire her in such a high-profile manner. Chapter 179. You Should Conduct Yourself With Dignity As Xuxu had predicted, Ming Zhongsheng and Wang Daqin stormed into the office in the afternoon. Miss Wen was fired in the morning, and the two elders had promptly arrived in the afternoon. Everyone was waiting for the show to begin. Ming Zhongsheng had an intense murderous look on his face as he looked towards Wen Xuxu. Wang Daqin attempted to shield her and reminded him, ¡°Old Ming, don¡¯t drag other people into this. Go to Third Yan directly.¡± Who could the other person be except for Wen Xuxu? ¡°Hmph!¡± Ming Zhongsheng grunted loudly. And he charged towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Before he entered, he couldn¡¯t help but turn to glare fiercely at Wen Xuxu. Xuxu turned a blind eye to this and remained unperturbed. She was puzzled though. Yan Rusheng was the one who bullied the grandfather and granddaughter, so why were they venting their anger out on her? ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and go inside.¡± Wang Daqin feared that Ming Zhongsheng would be unable to contain his anger and lash out at Xuxu. She opened Yan Rusheng¡¯s office door and shoved him inside. She didn¡¯t stop him from coming to the company and had offered to accompany him. She wanted to settle the issue today since she was the one who allowed Wen Xinyi to enter Flourish & Prosper in the first place. But she didn¡¯t know that it would end up this way; the news of Third Yan publicly firing Wen Xinyi had surprised her greatly. Based on her understanding of her grandson, no matter how much he disliked Wen Xinyi or how much he wanted to drive her away, he would have never given the order to fire her in his name. Even if the Ming and Yan family weren¡¯t friends for generations, he would have taken into consideration his friendship with Ming Ansheng. He was intentionally shaming Wen Xinyi; Wang Daqin had a hunch that she must have crossed the line. ¡°Third Yan, what do you mean by this?!¡± Ming Zhongsheng bellowed at him the moment he set foot in his office. Yan Rusheng lifted his head from the pile of documents in front of him and looked at Ming Zhongsheng. His expression was frigid, and from his attitude, it was clear that he didn¡¯t welcome him at all. ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng couldn¡¯t catch his breath and almost passed out when he saw his reaction. He clutched at his chest as he breathed heavily. His expression looked terrible. Wang Daqin went to support him. ¡°Old Ming, take note of your blood pressure and don¡¯t forget that your heart is weak too. If anything happens to you here, my Third Yan will be in trouble.¡± Ming Zhongsheng shot her a vicious glare. ¡°Wang Daqin. I¡¯m not here to joke around with you today.¡± He shoved Wang Daqin with force and almost caused her to stumble. Feeling alarmed, Yan Rusheng slammed his desk. He shouted, ¡°This is Flourish & Prosper! Chairman Ming, please conduct yourself with dignity!¡± Wang Daqin and Ming Zhongsheng were stunned and flabbergasted. Both pairs of eyes were staring at Yan Rusheng; his handsome face looked displeased, and there was a furious glint in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re being too condescending and disrespectful. No matter how established Flourish & Prosper is, you can¡¯t possibly dominate and dictate everything.¡± A young man was shaming him and treating him with disrespect, and it infuriated Ming Zhongsheng. He lashed out at Yan Rusheng and declared, ¡°From now on, Bright Vision will sever all business dealings with Flourish & Prosper. I shall see how capable you are then.¡± He flicked his sleeves and left in a huff. Ming Zhongsheng was getting old but not stupid. He knew there would be a falling out with Yan Rusheng and if the argument had dragged on, his pride would be completely crushed. ¡°Old Ming.¡± Wang Daqin watched as Ming Zhongsheng walked away furiously and she was at a loss on what she should do. She wanted to chase after him, but she was more interested to know why Yan Rusheng had suddenly fired Wen Xinyi. If she knew the reason, it would be easier to resolve the problem. Chapter 180 Wang Daqin followed Ming Zhongsheng out the door and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw him leaving the office. She was worried that he might find trouble with Xuxu. ¡°Third Yan, can you explain why you fired Wen Xinyi?¡± After making sure that Ming Zhongsheng was gone, she closed the door and walked towards Yan Rusheng. She had a hunch that Xuxu was the reason, which was probably why Ming Zhongsheng had such a deep hatred towards her. ¡°In future, stop meddling with the company affairs and don¡¯t arrange a random person to assist me.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s anger had yet to dissipate entirely. He pulled out his drawer and took out a cigarette case, then gloomily lit a cigarette. The wispy white smoke from the cigarette shrouded his face, and it made him look even more somber and moody. He seemed to be very troubled. Wang Daqin approached him, pulling up a chair to sit across from him. With a serious look, she asked him, ¡°Is it because of Xuxu?¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows tightly and replied with impatience, ¡°It¡¯s not about her.¡± Every time her name was mentioned, it felt like his heart was being squeezed. His eyes darted around trying to avoid her gaze, and Wang Daqin noticed it. Seeing that, the old lady had the answer in her heart. A cryptic smile flashed through her cloudy but shrewd-looking eyes. Due to his guilt, Yan Rusheng felt a little suspicious of her expression. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± ¡°Xiaosheng, tell me honestly. Have you fallen in love with Xuxu?¡± Wang Daqin went straight to the point. The cigarette in Young Master Yan¡¯s hand quivered a little, and the ashes scattered to the floor. The other hand gripped the arm of the chair, and he fidgeted uneasily to try to mask his guilty conscience. Then he smirked with contempt. ¡°Do you seriously think that I have such bad taste?¡± Was he being too obvious? Young Master Yan was very guilty and nervous right now. Wang Daqin¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t leave his face, and she analyzed every word, action and any subtle changes in facial expression. She was grinning gleefully in her heart. To her surprise, it didn¡¯t take much to sound him out. To think that she had brainstormed for so long trying various methods and had even thought of drugging them both. Just a simple question ¡®Have you fallen in love with Xuxu?¡¯ had done the trick and made him reveal everything. ¡°Huang Bao said it didn¡¯t eat the spicy pickled fish,¡± the old lady spoke solemnly as she tried to stifle her laughter. There was a long pause¡­ That damned woman had to report something so trivial to this old lady about sending her a fish! Young Master Yan was completely embarrassed, and he silently swore at Wen Xuxu. Wang Daqin grinned. ¡°The photo of that woman is no longer at the head of your bed. Doesn¡¯t this prove that you¡¯ve forgotten all about her and that you¡¯re ready to pursue a new relationship?¡± Yan Rusheng was startled when he heard her. He recalled looking at Fang Jiayin¡¯s photo a few days ago, and after receiving a call, he couldn¡¯t remember anything else after that. That photo had been placed at the head of his bed for nearly four years. When it vanished out of the blue, to his surprise, he didn¡¯t feel anything. Yan Rusheng was stumped for words, and a flush crept up his handsome face. Look at him! My Third Yan¡¯s blushing from embarrassment! This is the first time I¡¯ve seen him act this way. Wang Daqin saw her handsome grandson¡¯s crimson-red face and her eyes were filled with affection. But at the same time, she was resentful towards him for failing to meet her expectations. ¡°You wretched boy, there¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about even if you like her. Furthermore, Xuxu is such an outstanding girl.¡± No wonder she¡¯d felt that he was treating Xuxu differently these days. He had kissed her and went to her place just to send her dinner. And when he heard that Old Wen was hospitalized, he¡¯d looked so anxious that he sent Xuxu to visit him immediately. Chapter 181. The Husband And Wife... This¡­ was something worth celebrating! The old lady felt as if spring had arrived and flowers were blooming everywhere. Her enthusiasm and passion had been revived. Young Master Yan blushed even harder and continued lying through his teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not in love with her. Stop worrying about such silly things at this age.¡± This old lady was way too annoying. ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t force you. It¡¯s Xuxu¡¯s birthday next week, and Ah Heng is planning a celebration for her at Beautiful Metropolis Hotel. It¡¯s a perfect occasion to profess his love and propose to her,¡± the old lady explained in detail, and she sighed dramatically. ¡°Sigh, wooing a girl depends on courage and initiative. If a guy can¡¯t put aside his ego and pride, then he¡¯s doomed to weep at a corner.¡± She pressed her palms against her knees and acted as if she was about to stand up and leave. Yan Rusheng grew irritated and restless by her incessant nagging. ¡°Will you please leave if there¡¯s nothing else?¡± The old lady noticed the irritation in his voice and chided him. ¡°Wretched boy, what is that attitude towards me? I¡¯m still the Chairman of Flourish & Prosper.¡± ¡°Then Madam Chairman please take over my job. I¡¯m willing to be replaced by you.¡± Yan Rusheng rose and gestured at his chair with a smile. Wang Daqin heard his sarcasm and waved her hands. She lamented bitterly, ¡°You heartless boy. You¡¯re not even half as filial as Xuxu. I¡¯d better build up my relationship with Ah Heng since Xuxu will be marrying him in the future. Then I can count on the husband and wife to take care of me.¡± The husband and wife¡­? The moment Young Master Yan heard these few words, he erupted with jealousy. He began to visualize Wen Xuxu becoming Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s wife as she put her arm around his. As she donned an apron and busied herself in the kitchen. And a kid was calling her his mommy and Jiang Zhuoheng his daddy. Then the three of them went to the zoo together¡­ The scenes he visualized made him feel terrible. ¡°Hurry back home.¡± He grabbed Wang Daqin¡¯s elbows and nudged her towards the door. He grew even more frustrated and conflicted after he digested his grandmother¡¯s words. He had a strong desire to throw Wen Xuxu over his shoulder, carry her to his room and just throw her on his bed. And after the deed was done¡­ These past few days he was besieged with the same thought¡ªopen the door and drag her in by force. ¡°Tonight, Xuxu and Ah Heng asked me out for dinner. And we¡¯ll be shopping for Xuxu¡¯s present together,¡± the old lady informed him cheerfully. Every word seemed to stab at Yan Rusheng viciously, and it almost drove him mad. He knitted his eyebrows and glanced at her leg. He said rudely, ¡°Isn¡¯t your leg in pain? Why are you still running around at night?¡± ¡°The pain is gone as long as I¡¯m happy.¡± Wang Daqin held on to Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulder as she swung her leg around with gusto. She gave Yan Rusheng a look that seemed to say, ¡®Can you see this? It isn¡¯t painful anymore.¡¯ Yan Rusheng ignored her, and after opening the door, he shoved her outside. ¡°Go back. The chauffeur is waiting.¡± He didn¡¯t completely shut the door, but instead left a gap for him to peek outside. He knew that the old lady would definitely look for Xuxu. True enough, Wang Daqin strolled towards Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, are you busy?¡± She walked towards Xuxu and smiled happily when she saw her. ¡°Chairman, are you going back soon?¡± Xuxu stood up immediately when she saw Wang Daqin approaching. In the company, she always addressed her as Chairman. Wang Daqin replied happily, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m about to head back.¡± She had barely finished when Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Wen Xuxu, come in for a minute.¡± Chapter 182. The Document Is Upside Down ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu stole a glance at his office when she heard him. Yan Rusheng stood at the door and looked at her sternly. She looked troubled as she glanced back at Wang Daqin. Wang Daqin nodded and nudged her. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯m leaving anyway.¡± She could no longer conceal her grin. She hurriedly turned around and gave Yan Rusheng a bright smile. Young Master Yan secretly sighed with relief when the old madam finally left. He spun around and went back to his office. He¡¯d barely sat down when his cellphone vibrated. He threw a careless glance at the screen. The text was from Wang Daqin, and he immediately clicked it. I forgot to mention. No one else can profess your love for you. Did that mean that she wasn¡¯t going to tell Wen Xuxu that he was in love with her? He had never doubted this old madam¡¯s intelligence. He may have vehemently denied it, but she would have definitely seen through his lies. He was mulling over their conversation when Wen Xuxu knocked and entered. ¡°President Yan.¡± She spoke softly with her head lowered. She looked awkward. After all, the incident had happened only yesterday, and furthermore, it was in this room. If it were anyone else, the person wouldn¡¯t even have reported for work. Of course¡­ if it were anyone else, she definitely wouldn¡¯t resist Young Master Yan. That¡¯s why Wen Xuxu had always been regarded as a person with integrity and principles in the eyes of the elders and their friends. She had never once let her emotions affect her studies or academic results. The same applied to her job¡ªprofessionalism was something she firmly believed in. Yan Rusheng raised his head to look at her with the same awkwardness, his face flushing red again. He cleared his throat solemnly. ¡°Get me a cup of water.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded, and she reached out to get his cup. Her fair and slender fingers seemed to be gently caressing his heart. He said abruptly, ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Wen Xuxu jerked a little as she looked at him. He was glancing at her hand with his head bowed. His thick eyelashes hid his eyes. That slight curve at the end of his eyes was more beautiful than a seductress. ¡°Ahem, I¡¯m sorry about last night.¡± Young Master Yan mustered all his courage to say those words. After he apologized, his gorgeous face flushed crimson red. Xuxu was so surprised that Yan Rusheng had said sorry to her. He actually knew how to apologize¡­ This was the first time she had ever heard him apologizing to her. She noticed how red his face had become and knew how hard he must have struggled to utter these words. As she thought of this, she gave a faint smile and brushed it off. ¡°I¡¯ve already forgotten about it.¡± Her casual tone and the brief reply made Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart sink in disappointment. He replied lightly, ¡°Then we¡¯re good.¡± Within such a short period of time, she was able to forget everything and brush it off casually; this just proved that he didn¡¯t mean anything to her. She couldn¡¯t even be bothered to hate or loathe him. Xuxu filled his cup and presented it to him. ¡°President Yan, here is your water.¡± ¡°Mmm. You may leave,¡± Yan Rusheng instructed her and began to peruse a random document. ¡°President Yan.¡± Suddenly, Xuxu¡¯s voice fell above him. He jerked his head and frowned slightly. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The document is upside down,¡± Xuxu said, her face unreadable as she pointed at the document he was holding. Yan Rusheng was speechless as he lowered his head. His face immediately darkened. Chapter 183. I Warned You When he lifted his head again, Wen Xuxu was already at the door. Young Master Yan curled his lips as he watched her quickly slip out. A smile as tender as a blooming flower appeared on his face. Wretched girl! At Bright Vision. ¡°If I see you hanging out with Third Yan in future, I¡¯m going to break your legs.¡± Yan Rusheng had humiliated Ming Zhongsheng at his company, so he came to his own company to look for his grandson and to vent his anger. He paced lividly to and fro in Ming Ansheng¡¯s office with his hands behind him. When had he, Ming Zhongsheng, ever been humiliated before? His granddaughter was fired, and if the news got out¡­ No, everyone in the industry already knew. How could he ever walk with his head held high again? ¡°Sigh.¡± Ming Ansheng sighed helplessly as he pushed his work aside. He walked towards Ming Zhongsheng and held him by his elbow, directing him to the couch. ¡°Grandfather, can we be more rational about this?¡± How could he simply sever all ties with Yan Rusheng or Flourish & Prosper? He knew that the old man had said it all in a fit of anger. It was the same for half of the threats he¡¯d uttered. ¡°Rational?¡± Ming Zhongsheng sneered loudly as he pointed at Wen Xinyi who was still weeping. He rushed at Ming Ansheng and asked him, ¡°Then was he being rational when he fired Xinyi?¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at the sobbing Wen Xinyi after he heard him. Compared to his grandfather¡¯s rage, he was much more composed. ¡°I don¡¯t need to know what happened and I can already hazard a guess.¡± Third Yan may look like he¡¯d gone overboard, but in his heart, he knew that Xinyi must have done something even more serious to have angered and provoked him. Otherwise, he would have at least taken their friendship into consideration even after overlooking the ties between the Yan and Ming family. Wen Xinyi raised her face dampened with tears and stared at Ming Ansheng who was walking towards her. Ming Ansheng lowered his head and asked her solemnly, ¡°Xinyi, did you provoke Wen Xuxu?¡± Wen Xinyi¡¯s eyes darted away and avoided him, and she hurriedly bent her head. She shook her head lightly as she stammered, ¡°I-I¡­ didn¡¯t.¡± She was nervously clenching her hands. ¡°Hmph!¡± Ming Zhongsheng snorted aloud in disdain. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about provoking her? She¡¯s just a young girl from the countryside who the Yan family took in. Did she really think that after a few years, she could just elevate her status by marrying Yan Rusheng?¡± Ming Ansheng stared at his grandfather coldly. ¡°Not everyone is as prejudiced as you.¡± His own emotions were mingled with his reply. He hated hearing Ming Zhongsheng criticizing and looking down on others; it always left him feeling frustrated. ¡°Now that you¡¯re all grown up, you¡¯re even helping outsiders to infuriate me.¡± Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s anger hadn¡¯t abated yet, and he was close to hitting Ming Ansheng. Wen Xinyi hurried forward to stop him. ¡°Grandfather, please don¡¯t do this.¡± She gripped Ming Zhongsheng tightly as she wept. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t fight anymore with Brother Sheng.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to make you angry.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t want to quarrel with his grandfather in the company. And even though he loathed his behavior, Ming Zhongsheng was still his grandfather. He adjusted his emotions and sat down. He said, ¡°Wen Xuxu is the apple of Grandmother Yan¡¯s eye. Anyone can see that. And it¡¯s not just the old madam, who doesn¡¯t like her in the entire Yan family?¡± If Third Yan and Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t already have someone they loved respectively, she would have long been the third young mistress of the Yan family by now. After he said his piece, he looked at Wen Xinyi who had cried until her eyes were swollen. He couldn¡¯t bear to be harsh to her when he saw how pitiful she was. He spoke gently, ¡°I¡¯ve warned you not to provoke Wen Xinyi. Did you forget what I said after just a few days?¡± Chapter 184. Why Was He Going To The Suburbs At Night? Wen Xinyi wasn¡¯t about to take this lying down, and she raised her voice. ¡°She went overboard by falling asleep during the meeting. Do you know how much time and effort I spent preparing the proposal?¡± Ming Ansheng could hardly believe his ears. Wen Xuxu rarely made any slip-ups during work, and she was always very meticulous. Why would she doze off during a meeting? As he narrowed his eyes in suspicion, Wen Xinyi was choking up with emotion once again. ¡°Yan Rusheng even stopped the meeting halfway so that she could sleep in peace. We all had to sneak out of the room like thieves.¡± Ming Ansheng felt even more shocked¡­ He¡¯d always known that Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu¡¯s loathing for each other wasn¡¯t real. After all, they had grown up together since they were kids; even if there weren¡¯t any romantic feelings between them, they were still like family. With the exception of Fang Jiayin, who possessed a special spot in Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart, any woman who provoked Wen Xuxu would never escape unscathed. Ouyang Qingqing was an excellent example. But Yan Rusheng had always protected Wen Xuxu in a subtle way. Why did he do it so obviously this time around? He¡¯d stopped the Board of Directors meeting just so she could continue sleeping¡­ An ancient story suddenly popped up in his mind, of a king who replaced his queen with his beloved concubine¡ªFire Beacon Of The Warlords. However, Wen Xuxu wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng¡¯s beloved concubine, Baosi. Young Master Ming furrowed his eyebrows, deep in thought. He was oblivious to the rest of the conversation between Wen Xinyi and Ming Zhongsheng. ¡­ ¡°Wen Xuxu, get me coffee.¡± It was nearly evening, and Yan Rusheng came out of his office with his cup. ¡°Prepare yourself. We¡¯re going on a trip to the suburbs tonight.¡± Xuxu was about to take the cup when she heard his instructions. She glanced at him doubtfully. Why is he going to the suburbs at night? Usually, his social engagements went through her first. She didn¡¯t recall seeing anything on his schedule tonight. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice broke her train of thought. ¡°I¡¯ve just received news. It¡¯s the mayor¡¯s daughter¡¯s birthday.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu felt bewildered for a moment. Why was the young master attending the mayor¡¯s daughter¡¯s birthday celebration? She remembered that he didn¡¯t attend the mayor¡¯s birthday previously and merely sent a gift over. Yan Rusheng lifted his eyebrows coolly. ¡°Why are you still standing here? Go get me my coffee.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu received the cup from him and rose to head to the pantry. ¡°Stupid woman.¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head behind Xuxu¡¯s back, and there was a sly glint in his eyes. No matter how he looked at Wen Xuxu now, he felt that she was beautiful and attractive. Without a doubt¡­ it was imperative that he eliminated Jiang Zhuoheng first. ¡­ Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t call for the chauffeur and drove them there instead. As usual, Xuxu sat at the back. He drove to a carpark at the basement of a shopping mall. Wen Xuxu was puzzled. ¡°President Yan, aren¡¯t we going to the suburbs? Why are we heading to the mall? Yan Rusheng parked his car and turned around to answer her. ¡°How can we go empty-handed to a birthday party?¡± Without waiting for her response, he unfastened his seatbelt and got off the car. It was unimaginable for him to buy a present¡­ for the mayor¡¯s daughter. Xuxu was flabbergasted. Not only was he attending the celebration, but he was even selecting a present for the mayor¡¯s daughter personally. After Xuxu got over her shock, she felt her heart turning cold. Chapter 185. Let Her Try It On If I remember correctly, the Mayor¡¯s daughter is turning twenty this year. She looked at the man who was waiting for her outside the car. The corners of her mouth sank slowly. ¡°Wen Xuxu?¡± After waiting a while without seeing Wen Xuxu get out of the car, Yan Rusheng opened the car door impatiently and prompted her. ¡°Why are you dawdling?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu collected herself and took her time to get off the car. ¡°Walk quickly.¡± All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng grasped her by the wrist and dragged her towards the direction of the elevator. ¡°President Yan¡­¡± Xuxu stared at the arm being grasped by Yan Rusheng. She held back her words and shifted her gaze to his face. Under the dim lights, the outline of his handsome side profile and jawline was exceptionally attractive. He blatantly dragged her up the escalator and, before everyone¡¯s eyes, held her hand while maneuvering through the crowd. When they reached the first floor, Yan Rusheng stopped short at a jewelry shop. He turned to look at Wen Xuxu. ¡°What gift would be suitable for the Mayor¡¯s daughter?¡± Xuxu looked down slightly and replied with nonchalance, ¡°I don¡¯t know her so I wouldn¡¯t know the kind of gifts she¡¯d like.¡± In the past, he hadn¡¯t shown much interest towards those top models and celebrities. But he seemed to be serious this time. She felt disappointed and at the same time grateful. Grateful because Fang Jiayin was no longer the reason for his selfish and imposing behavior towards other women. Grateful because, just like herself, Yan Rusheng had also sorted out his thoughts. This way, Aunt Mu Li and Grandmother didn¡¯t have to worry about his marriage anymore. She looked down, and her curly eyelashes blocked her eyes, preventing Yan Rusheng from reading her expression. He probed further, ¡°If it was your birthday, what gift would you hope to get?¡± After he finished his question, his eyes gleamed with a faint trace of anticipation. ¡°I¡­¡± Wen Xuxu bit her lips and hesitated for a moment before replying lightly, ¡°I¡¯m not her, and she¡¯s not me. Whatever I like may not be what she likes. Why don¡¯t you call her and ask?¡± With that, she withdrew her hand from Yan Rusheng¡¯s grip before he could react. Lowering her head, she looked at her wrist which was now red. The residual warmth from his palm still lingered. To her surprise, Yan Rusheng grabbed her wrist again. ¡°Then pick one that you¡¯d like.¡± Holding on to her wrist, he entered the jewelry shop. The salesgirl recognized Yan Rusheng from the corner of her eyes. Her eyes beamed and she swiftly went forward to welcome him. ¡°Young Master Yan, how can I help you?¡± After asking, she glanced quickly at the sight of Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu holding hands. She started having shrewd thoughts in her mind. Instead of waiting for Yan Rusheng to speak, she smiled and said, ¡°A necklace had just arrived at our shop yesterday. There are only nine such limited edition necklaces in the world, and we have yet to display it. I feel that this necklace is very suitable for Miss Wen.¡± As a result of her association with Young Master Yan, Wen Xuxu regularly had chances to appear in the entertainment news and remained in the limelight. Therefore, she was not at all surprised that the salesgirl could recognize her. But the salesgirl appeared to have misunderstood, and she needed to set matters straight. ¡°We¡­¡± She had just opened her mouth when Yan Rusheng cut her off. ¡°Take it out and let her try it on.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The salesgirl nodded her head with a smile. Pointing to the high stools in front of a cupboard, she gestured respectfully to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Please take a seat with Miss Wen.¡± Wen Xuxu took a glance at the shop logo. It was an upscale foreign brand. At this moment, Yan Rusheng released his grip from her hand. She sat on the high stool, lowered her head and stared at the dazzling and sparkling jewelry displayed in the glass cabinet. Chapter 186. Everlasting And Unchanging Every piece was highly priced. With only nine pieces in the world, the price would be even more exorbitant. She was lost in thought when the salesgirl walked towards them with a bright smile, holding a red-colored square box in her hands. ¡°Young Master Yan, here is the necklace.¡± She spoke as she placed the box down, opening it gingerly. A piece of the dazzling diamond necklace was presented before their eyes. At one glance, other than being a bit more sparkling, it looked rather ordinary. The salesgirl put on a pair of black gloves and took out the necklace from the box. She pointed to the pendant on the necklace and introduced it to Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu. ¡°This necklace was intricately designed by our in-house chief designer. It has a simple, yet romantic, name known as ¡®Until The End Of Time¡¯.¡± She removed one glove and pointed to one of the diamonds. ¡°This diamond is in the form of a rose. It¡¯s made up of nine pieces of hand-carved, heart-shaped diamonds interlinked together, signifying how love lasts until the end of time¡ª everlasting and unchanging.¡± Xuxu gazed at all the small and dazzling heart-shaped diamonds; she was lost in thought. ¡°Xuxu, this was a present that Ah Sheng gave me on Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day. Is it pretty?¡± ¡®A lifetime¡¯. A few days before Fang Jiayin left, it was Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, and he¡¯d given her a necklace. It was the same one hanging on the headboard of his office bed. When she went away, the necklace was left behind. She¡¯d always thought that this necklace was intentionally left as a remembrance for Yan Rusheng¡ªso that he could be reminded of her at every moment. If this was true, then she had succeeded. That necklace had been left hanging on the headboard ever since the day she left. This proved that he had never forgotten about her. But it¡¯s been three years, and she had yet to return. Perhaps she had been too judgmental. ¡°Young Master Yan, try it on Miss Wen.¡± The salesgirl handed the necklace to Yan Rusheng with both hands. Upon hearing that, Xuxu raised her head. She smiled and waved her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Let him look and decide for himself because it¡¯s not for me.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at her coldly. ¡°I¡¯m just letting you try it on for a while. Why are you spouting so much nonsense?¡± After that, he took the necklace from the salesgirl and got down from the stool. Walking over to Xuxu¡¯s back, he encircled his hands around the front of her neck. The diamond pendant which signified ¡®until the end of time, everlasting and unchanging¡¯, fell slowly between Xuxu¡¯s collarbone. As it fell, the coldness from the metal touched her warm skin, slowly penetrating her body. She clenched her fists and silently endured the urge to pull off the necklace. She was unaware that the man putting on the necklace for her currently exuded an ineffable gentleness on his face, his eyes filled with deep and intense affection. If only she knew, then everything would have changed. ¡°Miss Wen, the necklace looks so good on you.¡± Yan Rusheng arranged the necklace around Xuxu¡¯s neck. The salesgirl brought a mirror and placed it in front of Wen Xuxu. She smiled and said, ¡°This necklace seems to have been tailor-made for you. It especially suits your disposition.¡± The salesgirl flattered her in hopes of making a sale. Of course, Wen Xuxu wouldn¡¯t be taken in. After just one glance, she couldn¡¯t wait to pull the necklace free from her neck. ¡°President Yan, you¡¯ve seen enough. Please remove it from me now.¡± The moment she stretched her arm to her back, after barely touching the necklace clasp, a large hand caught hers. ¡°Put it on for a little while longer. Try out the quality to see if it¡¯ll oxidize or lose its color.¡± Chapter 187. Purchase And Be Entitled To Free Rings Young Master Yan¡¯s alluring voice could be heard from behind her. Xuxu¡¯s twitched her mouth and frowned, speechless. ¡°¡­¡± All the salesgirls around them heard what Young Master Yan said, and their faces turned darker than the bottom of a saucepan. Young Master, this joke isn¡¯t at all funny. This is an international brand. This is a platinum diamond necklace. Oxidize? Lose color? If you weren¡¯t Third Yan, we definitely would have thought that you were trying to be funny. ¡°How can it lose its color? This item is too precious. If I dropped the necklace, I wouldn¡¯t have the means to pay for it.¡± Wen Xuxu was determined to remove the necklace from her neck. Young Master Yan turned impatient. ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you see me as such a demanding person?¡± Actually, in the past, he had been rather¡­ demanding. If you¡¯d known it, you wouldn¡¯t be acting this way. He didn¡¯t give Xuxu a chance to speak and turned to the salesgirl. ¡°How much?¡± The salesgirl smiled and replied, ¡°1.99 million yuan.¡± What? This necklace costs 1.99 million yuan? Hearing this price, Wen Xuxu hurriedly removed the necklace and cautiously placed it back into the box. The salesgirl observed Xuxu¡¯s reaction upon hearing the price and thought that it was too costly for her. Immediately, she said, ¡°Our shop is currently running a promotion. Any couple who makes a purchase of over a million yuan will be entitled to a free pair of Ocean series couple rings worth 100,000 yuan.¡± Young Master Yan pretended to be disdainful about it. ¡°Bring the rings over so I can take a look.¡± But in his heart, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that this was a fabulous promotion. ¡°Alright. Please wait a moment.¡± The salesgirl nodded and immediately retrieved a pair of couple rings from the display counter. She placed the rings before Yan Rusheng. ¡°This is the pair. It¡¯s our best seller from the Ocean series.¡± There were two platinum diamond rings¡ª one large and one small¡ªinlaid in foam wrapped in black flannel. Both pieces matched the other and looked exquisite. Young Master Yan fixated his gaze on the male version of the ring while lightly touching the ring finger on his left hand. His heart was tickled, and he was eager to give it a try. Nevertheless, he managed to restrain himself. ¡°Wrap them all up.¡± With that, he took out his wallet and pulled out a random credit card for the salesgirl. Xuxu secretly stole a glance at the two jewelry boxes stacked on top of each other. The corners of her tightly pursed lips slowly sank. Once again, she felt that he¡¯d really set his heart on this matter. After the bill, the salesgirl placed the rings and necklace in a delicate box and then handed it to Yan Rusheng with both hands. With a humble nod, she said, ¡°President Yan and Miss Wen, please take care.¡± Yan Rusheng shot a glance at the box but didn¡¯t reach out to receive it. Instead, he turned his head to look at Wen Xuxu. ¡°Hurry up and take it.¡± Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t think too much and swiftly reached out to receive it. Whenever both of them went out to purchase something, she was always the one to carry it. They walked out of the jewelry shop, one following the other, and at once, Yan Rusheng set foot towards the mall¡¯s exit. Xuxu was bewildered. She assumed that he¡¯d forgotten that his car was parked in the basement. She instantly quickened her pace and caught up to him. ¡°President Yan, your car is parked at the basement.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. I don¡¯t need you to remind me.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced coldly at Xuxu and didn¡¯t halt his steps. He spoke as he walked, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep well last night because of all your crying, and I¡¯m having a headache right now. Let¡¯s go take a walk first.¡± Just his face alone was enough to catch people¡¯s interest. But when he deliberately raised his voice, he captivated everyone in the mall into turning their attention on him. Xuxu felt embarrassed. She lowered her head and cursed this man in her heart. Chapter 188. Brother, We Really Are... ¡°We could go for a walk if you want. There¡¯s no need to mention about last night. If the gossipers heard this, it could cause a misunderstanding.¡± Ahem. This was exactly what Young Master Yan wanted. ¡°Handsome man, colored photo stickers for you?¡± Just as they were about to walk out through the mall¡¯s entrance, a little girl who looked about 15 had blocked their path; she was holding some promotional fliers. The words on the promotional fliers were ¡®Feel beautiful as you volunteer¡¯. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t pay much attention to the fine print at the bottom. Photo stickers? This was a fad from so many years ago. He frowned slightly and instantly rejected her. ¡°No.¡± What a joke. It¡¯s so absurd to take such kiddish photo stickers in public. He was firm, and the little girl knew it was no use to plead with him. Thus, she shifted her attention to Xuxu. ¡°Sister, have a photo sticker taken. This will benefit two children from impoverished areas and provide them with a day¡¯s worth of warm rice.¡± Afraid that she wasn¡¯t convinced, the little girl pointed to the telephone number printed on the flier and the WeChat QR Code. ¡°This is the telephone number of our charity foundation. If you have doubts, you can give them a call to verify it, or you can scan the QR Code to check out their website.¡± Xuxu lowered her head and looked at the promotional flier. There were pictures of shabbily-dressed, dark-skinned children with chapped lips. She hesitated for a moment and then nodded her head. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Stupid woman. Anyone can tell that it¡¯s a scam.¡± Feeling exasperated, Young Master Yan berated her as Xuxu followed the little girl into the photo sticker shop. This stupid woman made him worry constantly. Why is she so naive and gullible? He had no choice but to follow after her. After Xuxu went in, the little girl didn¡¯t photograph her at once. Instead, she handed her a very old notebook and pen. ¡°Sister, please leave your telephone number and name. Come and join us at our future charity events if you have the time.¡± Glancing at the little girl¡¯s shining black eyes, Xuxu could feel her sincerity. Well, it won¡¯t hurt anyone. So why not? Be it genuine or not, she was helping someone. She smiled and took the pen and notebook. ¡°Alright.¡± She swiftly wrote down her telephone number and the words ¡®Yan Xu¡¯ at the name column at the back. In the past, whenever she came across similar survey questionnaires¡ªespecially on days with extreme temperatures¡ªshe usually couldn¡¯t bear to decline and would always fill in the name ¡®Yan Xu¡¯. She signed it quickly, and as a result, some of her handwriting was illegible. Yan Rusheng saw those two words and recalled a song, ¡®Your name is my family name.¡± His eyes curved like crescent moons and he was on cloud nine. At that instant, he felt that this little girl was particularly adorable. After Xuxu wrote her particulars, the little girl lifted the curtain covering the booth of the photo sticker machine, and Xuxu stepped in. The little girl briefly explained the process and stepped out. Yan Rusheng leaned against the frame of the glass door. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his trousers, looking indolent and casual. He gazed at the little girl as she walked out from the curtain and beckoned to her. She was terrified and walked towards him timidly. ¡°Brother, we really are¡­¡± She tried to explain, but Yan Rusheng cut her off. ¡°Shhh!¡± He pointed to the old notebook that Wen Xuxu had written in and whispered, ¡°Bring over that notebook and pen.¡± Hearing his command, she didn¡¯t dare to dawdle. She swiftly brought over the pen and notebook to Young Master Yan. Chapter 189. Your Name Is My Family Name Yan Rusheng snatched it over and flipped to the page with Xuxu¡¯s information. He stared at the words ¡®Yan Xu¡¯ and smiled craftily. He took the pen and added the word ¡®Wen¡¯ between ¡®Yan¡¯ and ¡®Xu¡¯. His handwriting was small because of space constraints. After he was done writing, he closed the notebook and returned it to the little girl. ¡°Done. You can keep it now.¡± ¡­ Xuxu looked at herself from the camera lens. Since there wasn¡¯t anyone around, she began making various expressions and poses, completely unrestrained. Tongue sticking out, wry face, peace sign. It had been many years since she¡¯d posed like this, and they brought back a sense of childish innocence once more. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you giving birth inside?¡± Xuxu was pouting and preparing to take a photograph of her awfully adorable expression when suddenly the curtain was pulled apart and a tall figure dashed in. Feeling shocked, her hands trembled and accidentally pressed the button of the remote control she was holding. With Young Master Yan¡¯s sudden intrusion, even the camera was caught off guard and captured an image of the two of them together. The photo sticker was developed, with Xuxu looking embarrassed and stunned in the photo. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyebrows were furrowed, and he was visibly impatient, but it didn¡¯t change the effect of the photo. In Xuxu¡¯s eyes, it was an amusing sight. She pointed to their photo in the monitor and smiled. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you look miserable.¡± ¡°Haha. Do I?¡± Young Master Yan raised his eyebrows sinisterly and took a step towards Xuxu. All of a sudden, he clasped her face with both hands and gave it a tight squeeze. Poor Xuxu. He abused her pretty face to the point of distortion. She knitted her eyebrows in rage and glared at this hateful man. ¡°Yan Rusheng, take your hands off.¡± Her pronunciation was unclear since her mouth had been squeezed into an elongated O shape. Feeling overwhelmed with anger and anxiousness, she pummeled his shoulders with her tightly clenched fists. Yan Rusheng looked at her and grinned. ¡°That pouting expression just now wasn¡¯t at all adorable. This is more lovable.¡± With that, he straightened Xuxu¡¯s face to face the camera which by now, had automatically switched to shooting mode. Xuxu fumed when she saw the state that she was in and cursed him. ¡°Damn you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me take a picture of you.¡± Yan Rusheng used his elbow to press the shoot button, and the photo was developed. After which, he released his grip. Xuxu¡¯s face felt numb and painful. She massaged it as she viewed the photos on the monitor. Her expressions were warped, but that man was beaming from ear to ear. In contrast, her presence appeared to merely compliment his handsome-looking face. She lowered her head and pouted as she gnashed her teeth in resentment. To Yan Rusheng, this appearance was just too cute. He couldn¡¯t help but tease her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re usually so frigidly arrogant. It turns out that¡¯s just been a pretense.¡± If he hadn¡¯t barged in just now, he wouldn¡¯t have known that the aloof and arrogant Wen Xuxu could also pout in such an adorable manner. Perhaps she only revealed her childlike nature when she was with Jiang Zhuoheng. Probably, when Xuxu and Young Master Jiang were together, that childlike nature would emerge instantly. There was a sudden shift in his mood, and he was no longer as composed. ¡°You¡¯ve been dawdling inside until now. Just how many dumb poses have you taken?¡± After finishing his sentence, he stretched out his hands to rummage through the photos that Xuxu took before he came in. He didn¡¯t intend to tease her, but he just couldn¡¯t wait to take a look. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Young Master Yan had barely touched the keyboard when Wen Xuxu jumped on his back. She wrapped both arms around his neck, one hand pinching his nose, one hand pinching his cheek. Chapter 190. Wen Xuxu Is His Xuxu looked at the screen and smiled with satisfaction. She raised her leg and used her toes to press the button. Her actions from jumping on his back to taking the photo were done seamlessly without an ounce of hesitation or delay. After the photo was taken, she jumped down from his back and shoved him aside. She was relieved after the photos were printed. Although he was ¡®secretly attacked¡¯, Young Master Yan wasn¡¯t in the least bit upset. Instead, there was an entrancing smile on his face. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯ve grown bolder.¡± He suddenly stretched his hand and hugged her waist from the back, murmuring in her ear with his deep voice, ¡°How dare you touch my face?¡± He looked at her with affection and tenderness. Ever since she couldn¡¯t defeat him in high school, she would jump on his back whenever she felt anxious and mount a sneak attack on him when he wasn¡¯t looking. Even though they didn¡¯t see eye to eye with each other at the time, their actions and words could be pretty intimate without a hint of unease. But at some point in time, both of them began to drift apart. To be specific, it was Xuxu who began to grow distant from him. She no longer burst into his room without knocking or climbed on his back triumphantly when he wasn¡¯t looking. Perhaps it was because they¡¯d grown up and understood the differences between a man and a woman. Just now, she had suddenly jumped on him. Her expression and posture were exactly like how she¡¯d used to be. His heart was attacked with billowing waves, and in that moment, he had one domineering thought¡ª Wen Xuxu is mine. This thought intensified when he hugged her soft and petite body. Xuxu was shocked when he suddenly hugged her. She was about to scream when his alluring voice and minty breath numbed her senses. Her mouth fell agape as she dazedly stared at the screen. Yan Rusheng took the opportunity to take a few more photos of their intimate position. Xuxu snapped out of her daze and raised her leg to kick him forcefully. She forcibly shoved him away, then lifted the curtains to escape. She ran out of the mall without even stopping once. Eventually, she finally stopped to catch her breath, bending down to hold her knees for support. The image of Yan Rusheng hugging her swirled through her mind repeatedly. Yan Rusheng, why? Why do you have to give me false hope? Are you that determined to push me beyond redemption? ¡°Wen Xuxu, why are you running away?¡± Yan Rusheng was right behind her, his tone sounding vexed. Xuxu straightened her back and turned around. She beamed at him and bragged, ¡°Yan Rusheng, it couldn¡¯t be helped since I¡¯m more fortunate than you. Even if you don¡¯t congratulate me, I¡¯ll still be happy.¡± Her hands which were hanging limply by her sides gradually tightened into fists. She mocked herself quietly, The more you brag, the more you try to hide something you lack. It was completely true. Yan Rusheng halted in his tracks when he heard her. His hands which were holding the jewelry box shivered a little, and it almost slipped out of his grip. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t look at him and simply stole a glance at the box in his hands before turning around. She looked away. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. We should leave for the birthday celebration now if you don¡¯t want the mayor¡¯s daughter to be upset.¡± She finally knew why she was bragging out of spite earlier on. It was because he was such a jerk for making her witness how thoughtful he could be to other women. She was furious with him¡­ They used to be so unguarded, so close. But now he just fooled around and made intimate gestures towards her as if nothing had happened. Perhaps, he had no idea that person was her. Chapter 191. He Wanted Both Her And Her Heart Yan Rusheng stared at her back, and he was strangely composed. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I don¡¯t believe in fate. I only believe in myself.¡± I¡¯ve decided that I want you, so you have to be mine. Wen Xuxu¡¯s body went rigid. Although he sounded calm, she felt that his proclamation seemed to be filled with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back.¡± Yan Rusheng walked towards Xuxu with an intense look in his eyes. He knew that it would be difficult to keep her forcefully by his side, but winning her heart would be just as difficult. But he wanted both her and her heart. Xuxu was surprised by his words. ¡°Aren¡¯t you attending the birthday celebration?¡± Yan Rusheng snorted loudly and said in exasperation, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your fault for taking such a long time at the photo booth? I¡¯ve received word that the celebration has ended.¡± She was flabbergasted! She¡¯d spent such a short time at the booth, why was he pushing the blame onto her? Xuxu swore at him secretly in her heart. Then she pointed to the jewelry box and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you giving her the present?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already said we¡¯re heading home first. Stop nagging.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her arm in a boorish way and impatiently rushed her. ¡°Hurry up, I¡¯m starving.¡± This time around, he shoved her into the front passenger seat. Xuxu didn¡¯t think too much of it and simply fastened her seatbelt. During the journey back home, he played the usual English songs from the CD. The traffic conditions were still slightly congested. As she listened to the music and was lost in her own thoughts, she gradually fell asleep. After Yan Rusheng stopped at her apartment, he¡¯d planned to head up together. But after hearing that her grandfather was staying with her, he abandoned the thought immediately. He thought¡­ he¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities in the future. It had been such a pleasant evening; buying a necklace and taking photos together. He didn¡¯t have to end the day with a disapproving look from Xuxu¡¯s grandfather. ¡­ The black S600 came to a stop, and Yan Rusheng got off the car. He strode with lighthearted footsteps towards the house. ¡°Third Young Master is back.¡± The servants all bowed and greeted him respectfully. ¡°Mm.¡± He acknowledged their greetings with a nod and headed towards the stairs without stopping. The servants felt overwhelmed by his friendliness tonight, and they stared in disbelief at the young master¡¯s back. Incredibly, Third Young Master had nodded at them and even responded. ¡°Third Yan is back?¡± Wang Daqin had an excellent sense of hearing, and she heard the servants from the upper floor. She immediately left her room. She bumped into Yan Rusheng at the stairs and noticed that he seemed to be in a hurry. She stopped him and asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Looking for a love token,¡± Young Master Yan replied curtly and continued ascending the stairs. ¡°What?¡± Wang Daqin grabbed him and asked excitedly, ¡°Whose love token is it?¡± If it¡¯s for Xuxu, she will help to search. If it¡¯s for someone else, she will help to destroy. Yan Rusheng halted and glanced at the old lady, then smirked crudely. ¡°Just as you¡¯ve wished.¡± ¡°You really are my good grandson.¡± The old madam patted Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders gently as her face beamed with a bright smile. Then she asked puzzledly, ¡°What love token do you have with Xuxu? Why haven¡¯t I heard about it?¡± When did these two kids pledge their love for each other? Yan Rusheng ignored her question and continued climbing to the third floor. The third floor was basically a terrace with a built-in sunroom. Some of the plants which couldn¡¯t survive outdoors during winter would be moved here. Chapter 192. A Love Token After turning around a corner on the third floor, one would come across a storeroom. It was filled with Yan Rusheng¡¯s old toys, books, and study notes. He stopped outside the storeroom and turned the doorknob. The strong odor of aged paper greeted him. He tried to disperse the smell by waving his hands in front of his nose as he proceeded inside. Wang Daqin followed closely, and she scrutinized the messy room. She scolded him, ¡°Third Yan, how can you carelessly throw aside a love token that belongs to you and Xuxu?¡± He didn¡¯t value Xuxu at all. But she was even more curious about the love token and couldn¡¯t wait to see it. ¡°Hurry up and find it.¡± Yan Rusheng had a good habit of being tidy. Even when he¡¯d outgrown certain toys, he still kept and packed them away neatly. Thus, he instantly found his target and walked straight towards a large green box. He opened the cover, and there were countless little colorful toys inside. Some were so tiny that it would be easy to miss it if one dropped on the floor. He bent and rummaged through the stuff inside. But there was simply too much stuff, and he couldn¡¯t see everything. He decided to lift the entire box, and with a swift move, he tipped the box over. The contents fell to the floor and rolled everywhere. ¡°Third Yan, what exactly is this love token?¡± Wang Daqin peered at the huge collection of small toys with apprehension. This fellow must be playing a trick on her. These were just toys he¡¯d played with when he was a kid. She¡¯d almost thrown this entire box away during the last round of spring-cleaning. Yan Rusheng was concentrating on looking through the pile of tiny toys, and he ignored Wang Daqin. ¡°Did you see a purple ring?¡± He spoke after some time and asked Wang Daqin. ¡°It¡¯s plastic.¡± Wang Daqin frowned as she tried to remember. She was certain that she had no memory of this purple ring that Yan Rusheng had mentioned. ¡°I can¡¯t remember any plastic ring.¡± Suddenly, she pointed at the box behind Yan Rusheng which contained all sorts of remote-controlled vehicles. She exclaimed, ¡°Eh? Isn¡¯t that Xuxu¡¯s favorite doll?¡± Yan Rusheng spun around instantly, his gaze following the direction she was pointing at. His eyes lit up. ¡°Found it.¡± He rose and picked up the doll which was lying among the toy cars. There was a purple plastic ring hanging around the doll¡¯s neck by a red thread. ¡°You mean this?¡± The old lady squinted at the plastic ring in Yan Rusheng¡¯s palm; she looked slightly disapproving. Yan Rusheng gazed at the doll. Wen Xuxu had tied the doll¡¯s golden hair beautifully. He stroked the white princess dress that the doll was wearing. ¡®Snow White¡¯s dress is so beautiful.¡¯ ¡®When I grow up, I¡¯ll buy an even more beautiful dress for you.¡¯ Young Master Yan was dwelling deeply in his memories when Wang Daqin interrupted, ¡°Third Yan, Xuxu and Ah Heng are in love with each other. Are you planning to be the third party?¡± Without waiting for his reply, she nodded as she answered herself. ¡°But anyway, you really are the third. You¡¯re merely living up to your title.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Young Master Yan¡¯s face fell and his eyes swept across this churlish old lady. He marched out without a word. ¡­ The next day, the rumors of Young Master Yan dating his childhood sweetheart¡ªand secretary¡ªhad circulated around the whole country. There were photos as evidence; Young Master Yan gifted his childhood sweetheart a 1.99 million yuan necklace and had even selected couple rings. Not only that, both of them had acted as a sweet couple and took photos at a photo booth. This piece of news had snagged the headlines of entertainment sections in all the newspapers and magazines¡ªeven the capital city¡¯s financial magazines. The capital city¡¯s most famous, eligible, and wealthy bachelor had finally gone public with his relationship. This drove all the single people mad with jealousy and envy. Chapter 193. Is Your Brain Really Working? Wang Daqin was drinking milk and reading the newspapers during breakfast. At the same time, she couldn¡¯t stop expressing her opinions about the articles. ¡°These reporters love spinning stories without clarifying the truth with those involved. It would be too unfortunate if Ah Heng sees them and gets the wrong idea.¡± There was a hidden meaning behind her speech. Sitting across from her, Yan Rusheng lifted his head slightly. He asked her with mild interest, ¡°According to you, what should the truth be?¡± Of course, he was aware that the old lady was indirectly rebuking him for his actions. But she should at least hide the enthusiasm and excitement in her eyes. Wasn¡¯t she just saying empty words then? Wang Daqin continued to stare at the article with an enormous photo of Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, pretending to mull over it. She said lightly, ¡°I think Xuxu fell into your trap.¡± Her tone was certain. ¡°She¡¯ll definitely settle the score with you.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned without denying her statement. He¡¯d always labeled her as a stupid woman, but he¡¯d never once doubted her intelligence. The woman he liked would definitely possess both looks and intelligence. ¡°Third Yan, can you be any more heavy-handed? You were just buying a birthday present for her.¡± Wang Daqin voice rose in pitch due to anxiousness. ¡°Will you get pregnant if you put aside your pride for once?¡± Even though she didn¡¯t know the details of the entire situation, she was sure that Xuxu was unaware that the necklace was meant for her. That was because when Yan Rusheng came home last night, the necklace and rings were still with him. As she deliberated, her gaze swept past the newspapers articles once more. She thought shrewdly, ¡®These photos don¡¯t look like they were taken by some random passerby since they ended up in the financial magazines as well. This matter has blown up.¡¯ She didn¡¯t rule out the possibility that her grandson had plotted the entire scheme. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell that I¡¯m wooing her?¡± Yan Rusheng lifted his eyebrows as he questioned the old madam. At the same time, he dabbed the corners of his mouth gracefully with a napkin. Wang Daqin was anxious. ¡°Then you should profess your love.¡± If he doesn¡¯t take action soon, Xuxu will become the Jiang family¡¯s daughter-in-law. Regardless of the outcome, he should put in his utmost effort to fight for her. Young Master Yan replied disdainfully, ¡°Professing my love for her is so childish.¡± ¡°You¡¯re afraid of being rejected, aren¡¯t you?¡± The old lady hit the nail on the head; Young Master Yan pressed his lips tightly together. After holding back for some time, he lowered his head. ¡°Eat.¡± ¡­ It was the weekend, and Xuxu woke up sometime after 8 a.m. The first thing she did every morning was to draw the curtains and check her phone. She opened her bedside drawer and retrieved her phone. She was startled to see dozens of missed calls. The calls were from Zhou Shuang and Jiang Zhuoheng. Xuxu¡¯s felt her heart squeeze when she saw the missed calls. She figured that something bad must have happened. She hurriedly returned Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s call. Jiang Zhuoheng picked up and asked, ¡°Xuxu, are you awake?¡± His voice didn¡¯t sound any different; he was cheerful as usual. Xuxu asked puzzledly, ¡°Why did you call so many times so early in the morning?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going on a walk with your grandfather. We¡¯ll be back soon, so eat your breakfast first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She hung up, but she was still a little doubtful. Then she called Zhou Shuang back. The second Zhou Shuang picked up, she rattled on without even saying hello. ¡°You worthless lass! How can you give up Jiang Zhuoheng for a guy like Yan Rusheng? He¡¯s a snob, and he has too much pride! Is your brain really working?¡± Chapter 194. Its Devastating For All The Single People Xuxu¡¯s heart fell with a thump after she took in Zhou Shuang¡¯s words. She began to feel uneasy. Her voice rose in pitch to hide her guilt. ¡°What do you mean? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Did Ah Heng say something to Zhou Shuang? But Ah Heng wasn¡¯t someone who would blabber, especially if she didn¡¯t want him to. He would never do something like that. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t tell me you still don¡¯t know? You¡¯re on the headlines, and you¡¯ve become famous overnight. All the newspapers and websites are circulating with rumors of your budding relationship with Yan Rusheng.¡± Zhou Shuang sneered coldly, ¡°It¡¯s indeed a blessing. The diamond necklace, ¡®Until The End Of Time¡¯, worth 1.99 million yuan, and the ¡®Ocean series¡¯ couple rings along with a loving couple shot. It¡¯s devastating for all the single people.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Xuxu shrieked, her eyes widening in shock. ¡°Are you saying that Yan Rusheng and I have hit the headlines for buying that necklace?!¡± Oh my god, is that true? Without waiting for Zhou Shuang to answer, she hung up and went online. As expected, the front page of the search engine browser had news about her and Yan Rusheng in the entertainment section. ¡®Third Master Yan and Childhood Sweetheart/Secretary¡¯s Relationship Exposed.¡¯ The photo of Yan Rusheng putting the necklace on her at the jewelry shop was particularly blinding. ¡°How did this happen?¡± She clicked the link and scanned through the article. It was an account of the events that happened last night at the mall. The media had spun a story about her as Yan Rusheng¡¯s childhood sweetheart. It was a romantic tale of a President and Cinderella which included snippets of their real-life stories. And they added that she had finally entered the family as their official granddaughter-in-law after being an adopted child bride of the Yan family. She felt extremely upset when she read this line. What adopted child bride? She climbed up the ranks? The article had depicted her as a scheming and cunning woman. The photos were secretly taken from the mall all the way until Yan Rusheng dropped her off at her apartment. She finished reading the Cinderella story with her as the main character. Xuxu sat on the bed with her cellphone, utterly dazed. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She thought the whole matter seemed strange. Even if the paparazzi were around, it was normal for them to snap a few photos. But they had followed them throughout the whole journey, and the article was written like a novel. The story, which consisted of at least a few thousand words, had emphasized heavily on her journey of climbing up the ranks and how she finally secured her position. In a nutshell, it implied that she had courted Yan Rusheng relentlessly. She narrowed her eyes, and there was a gleam of shrewdness. She clicked on her phone¡¯s screen and entered her mailbox. She searched for an email from some time ago. She¡¯d previously had dealings with the mayor due to the bidding of a piece of land owned by the government. She¡¯d done her research on the mayor beforehand and knew that he had a daughter. The daughter had just turned 20, and she even knew her name. That email consisted of the mayor and his daughter¡¯s information. It clearly stated that the mayor¡¯s daughter¡¯s birthday was on the 28th of October. Her birthday was still months away. Xuxu gripped her phone tightly as she gnashed her teeth. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± ¡®Wen Xuxu, I don¡¯t believe in fate. I only believe in myself.¡¯ That guy did this on purpose¡ªeverything was deliberately planned. She quickly changed into her clothes and went to wash up. Without eating breakfast, she took her bag and left the house. ¡°Xuxu, where are you going?¡± She had just stepped out of the elevator when she bumped into Jiang Zhuoheng and her grandfather. Jiang Zhuoheng was pushing her grandfather in a wheelchair, ready to head back home. ¡°I need to head out to settle some stuff,¡± she replied as she walked towards them. She looked furious and upset. Jiang Zhuoheng could tell from her expression. ¡°Are you going to the Yans?¡± Chapter 195. Grandfather Is Really Mad Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t mentioned the Yans, I would¡¯ve forgotten about it.¡± The old man in the wheelchair lifted his head and lectured her. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you and Third Yan? These rumors are getting out of control. Ah Heng is kind and gracious enough to overlook it, but you have to take note as well.¡± ¡°Grandfather, this is all a misunderstanding.¡± Xuxu lightly brushed aside the topic of her and Yan Rusheng. Then she turned towards Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Ah Heng, can I trouble you to take care of Grandfather for a while? I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng replied, ¡°Let me send you there after I bring Grandfather upstairs.¡± Xuxu declined his offer. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll go by myself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say no. Just let Ah Heng send you there,¡± Old Wen chided her once more. ¡°If certain matters need to be set right, do it properly. I hate it when young people are indecisive when handling their issues.¡± After he said his piece, he turned his wheelchair around and was about to leave. Xuxu was slightly shocked to see him flaring up. Grandfather was really angry this time. He¡¯d always been jovial and cheerful from what she remembered. It had been many years since he got mad at her. She couldn¡¯t understand why Grandfather was furious. But she always felt that he didn¡¯t like Yan Rusheng very much. And he preferred that she wouldn¡¯t entangle herself with him romantically. The previous time she had a scandal with Yan Rusheng, he chided her when she went to his place for dinner. But he still had a smile on his face. The old man turned again and moved his wheelchair by himself. Seeing this, Jiang Zhuoheng grabbed the handles of his wheelchair. ¡°Grandfather, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back to the clinic!¡± he snapped gloomily as he grabbed the wheels of the wheelchair, about to continue forward. ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t be mad anymore.¡± Xuxu turned around and looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m not going there anymore. Let¡¯s go home.¡± After saying this, she grabbed the wheelchair and said again, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± The old man grunted in satisfaction and his expression softened. After they got home, Jiang Zhuoheng played chess with him while Xuxu ate breakfast. The breakfast spread included food that both she and her grandfather liked to eat. She pressed her lips together, and she grew melancholic. Jiang Zhuoheng had brought over the food from his house, and he had clearly chosen them with care. ¡°This doesn¡¯t count. I was distracted by other matters on my mind, and I didn¡¯t focus.¡± The old man was shamelessly trying to wriggle his way out from losing the game. Xuxu turned and saw the old man¡¯s bright smile¡­ it was from his heart. Then she looked at Jiang Zhuoheng who wore a helpless smile. ¡­ ¡°Ah Heng, let¡¯s go to the supermarket. The fridge is almost empty.¡± After Xuxu finished her breakfast and cleared away everything, she walked to the sofa and spoke to Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng heard her and agreed without any hesitation. ¡°Alright, Let¡¯s bring Grandfather along.¡± He had barely finished when the old man declined. ¡°I want to take a nap. You two go on ahead.¡± He waved his hands and pushed his wheelchair back to his room. ¡°Let me help you to your bed then.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng rose to accompany him inside. Xuxu came out from her room, and they met up in the living room. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s eyes swept over her briefly; she wore a light gray loose top with a pair of black pencil pants. Her hair was tied up. It was different from what she wore earlier, and it made her look even more petite. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu walked over and linked her arm around Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s arm naturally. Chapter 196. She Thought That She’d Hidden It Well Jiang Zhuoheng was stunned by Xuxu¡¯s gesture. He looked at the arm she was holding, and his deep and slender eyes contained shock and surprise. Raising her head, Xuxu smiled sweetly at him. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng managed to restrain the burgeoning excitement and emotions in his heart and nodded. They stepped out of the elevator and got in the car. Once inside, Xuxu spoke to him earnestly. ¡°Ah Heng, I may not be able to love you as much as you love me.¡± She even¡­ she didn¡¯t even have any romantic feelings towards him. She lowered her head nervously, and her lips clamped together tightly. With renewed conviction, she raised her head, ¡°I know I¡¯m selfish, but if you¡¯re willing, I won¡¯t let go of you unless you decide that you don¡¯t want me anymore.¡± The first time, she¡¯d put her lifelong dream and youth at stake. This time, she¡¯d take a gamble with the man in front of her along with their years of friendship. Ah Heng, I really can¡¯t afford to lose again. ¡°Xuxu, not every marriage has to go through a passionate and spectacular romance. Most importantly, I love you.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng took her hand and held it tightly. He looked at her with overflowing tenderness and love. ¡°I told you that I¡¯m willing to wait until you¡¯re tired and you want to settle down. If you wish, you¡¯re always welcome to return to me at any time.¡± He stroked her head with affectionate, and his lips curled as he tenderly consoled her. ¡°Throw away whatever reservations you have. Why should we care about other things if it¡¯s true love? I¡¯m already overjoyed and satisfied that you¡¯re willing to give me a chance.¡± Wen Xuxu replied mischievously, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave everything to you, including the changing of light bulbs and gas in my house.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you use natural gas?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng teased and started the engine after fastening his seatbelt. ¡­ At the Ming¡¯s house. Wen Xinyi saw the news about Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu, and she angrily tore the newspapers into shreds. She threw them in the air and shouted, ¡°Wen Xuxu, go to hell!¡± Yan Rusheng had fired her just yesterday, and it had spread through the industry. As a result, Grandfather was utterly humiliated. Due to that, she had cried the entire night, and she still hadn¡¯t fully recovered. She couldn¡¯t believe that the two of them had gone public with their relationship on that very night. It was tantamount to slapping her and her grandfather once again. Wen Xuxu, I¡¯ll never let you get away with this. She clenched her fists and swore, a malicious expression distorting her face. Xuxu carried the grocery bags from the supermarket and went back home. She opened the door and saw her grandfather sitting on his wheelchair, changing the TV channels with the remote control. The old man heard her opening the door and turned his head in her direction. She was startled and asked, ¡°Grandfather, how did you get up by yourself?¡± She quickly removed her shoes and placed the grocery bags down. ¡°I¡¯m not crippled, why can¡¯t I get up by myself?¡± the old man replied harshly, and he seemed to be in a bad mood. Was he still fuming? Xuxu mumbled aggrievedly, ¡°I really had no idea about the necklace. The media started all the rumors.¡± She was worried that the old man would explode if she said that Yan Rusheng had tricked her. To her surprise, his expression softened. He looked at Xuxu tenderly. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯ve stayed with him for so many years that even I can feel the hardship and fatigue you¡¯ve endured.¡± She was dumbfounded when she heard him. ¡°Grandfather¡­¡± Her grandfather knew. Incredibly, he knew everything all along. She thought that she¡¯d hidden it well, that nobody would ever find out. ¡°Ah Heng is a good man. I won¡¯t have any worries if I hand you over to him.¡± Chapter 197. She Would Definitely Be Touched The old man said somberly, ¡°Your grandmother and I met through a traditional matchmaking session. When we got married, I was still in the army, and of course, there weren¡¯t any romantic feelings between us. If it weren¡¯t for the natural disaster that tore our family apart, your grandmother and I would have grown old together with our children and grandchildren.¡± He ended his speech, and his tone had a tinge of sorrow. Grandfather had never bared his heart to her before. Xuxu looked at his face and his white hair, and suddenly she could feel her eyes brimming with tears. She stretched her hand to grip his arm tightly. But she seemed to have lost her voice as though a hand was clutching at her throat. It took a while before she collected herself and smiled back at the old man. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be happy with him.¡± So the reason why Grandfather disliked Yan Rusheng was all because he knew how she felt. He was being protective of her. She felt really guilty. Young Master Yan missed Xuxu badly during those two days. The longing was almost excruciating. He wanted to go to her place, but he was afraid of meeting her grandfather. Thus, he drove to her apartment and just like before, he could only catch a glimpse of her drawing the curtains. He came to work earlier than usual on Monday, and he entered his office excitedly. As the saying goes, a person will be in high spirits if there is a happy occasion. He donned his usual outfit of a white shirt and black pants, seemingly on cloud nine. There was a faint smile on his gorgeous face, and he looked like a breath of warm spring wind. Even the security guard at the entrance felt his heart pounding when he saw him. The cleaner was still tidying and cleaning the President¡¯s vast office. When she saw Yan Rusheng walking in, she instantly bowed in fear. ¡°President Yan, I¡¯ll be done in a minute.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, take your time,¡± Young Master Yan replied gently. The cleaner was stunned as she watched the towering Young Master Yan walk past her. She was overwhelmed with surprise and happiness. Yan Rusheng reached his office and turned the doorknob. He couldn¡¯t help but steal a glance at Xuxu¡¯s desk. He spun around and walked towards her desk. It was exactly like how he¡¯d imagined; clean and tidy. All the documents were labeled specifically into neat categories. He smiled with fondness and affection. His excellent mood wavered the second he spotted the furry doll on her desk. His smile vanished instantly. ¡°Let¡¯s see how many times you can survive.¡± Young Master Yan fiercely grabbed the innocent doll and walked towards the cleaner. Without hesitation, he dumped it into the trash bag on the cleaner¡¯s trolley. With that, he¡¯d callously settled his and the doll¡¯s feud for Xuxu¡¯s affection. The truth is, Young Master Yan was the one forcefully vying for Xuxu¡¯s affection. The cleaner couldn¡¯t understand why the boss had thrown away Secretary Wen¡¯s doll. She felt that it was a pity to throw such a cute doll away, but there was nothing else she could do. She didn¡¯t dare to reveal any expression on her face. Yan Rusheng returned to his office and found the coffee machine he hadn¡¯t used in a long time. He brewed coffee for himself since he was in a good mood. After pouring out a cup, he savored the fragrance of coffee permeating the air. Taking a sip gracefully, he smiled in satisfaction. He turned around to look at the flask of coffee and thought¡­ if he gave a cup to that stupid woman, she would definitely be touched. He glanced at the clock, it was 8.50 a.m. Without further ado, he had to put the coffee on her desk now while the office was still empty. If someone spotted him, how embarrassing would it be? Chapter 198. Do You Really Hate Me That Much? He went outside to get Xuxu¡¯s cup and even disinfected it with boiling water before filling it with coffee. An adorable cute cartoon fox character was printed on her cup. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from taking a sip from her cup, and as he licked his lips, he wished he could continue drinking. His alluring lips curled with satisfaction at how good it tasted. Young Master Yan placed the cup of coffee on Xuxu¡¯s desk and went back to his office. But he wasn¡¯t in the mood to work. Colleagues started to stream in one after another, and he heard them greeting each other. Young Master Yan leaned back on his swivel chair and placed his hands on his chest. God, his heart was pounding rapidly. He really wanted to know how touched Xuxu would be when she saw the steaming cup of coffee on her desk. But he was afraid that she would poke fun at him. He¡¯d never tried this hard to win someone over before, let alone for a woman. When he was dating Fang Jiayin, he had never taken the initiative. When they went out on dates, everything¡ªsuch as movies, shopping, and dinner¡ªhad all been planned by her. He merely accompanied her. Unlike this stupid woman, he had to rack his brains to conjure up a feasible excuse just to buy her a birthday present. Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re such a bothersome and stupidly alluring woman. She¡¯d always frolicked around him ever since they were kids, and she had never disappeared from his side before. Knock knock knock. Someone knocked on the door suddenly, and Yan Rusheng snapped out of his daze. He straightened his back and got his act together. He spoke in his usual voice. ¡°Enter.¡± He bent his head and started to pore over a document. As he¡¯d fervently wished and hoped, it was indeed Wen Xuxu. She wore a pure white dress which stopped at her knees. The sleeves reached her elbows, and the dress was cinched tightly at her waist. She wore a pink headband, and her hair was let down loosely. Her appearance looked fresh and exuded an elegant and cultured charm. It delighted Young Master Yan¡¯s senses and left him astonished. By the time he got over his delight, Xuxu was already standing in front of him. She was holding a white envelope, which she passed to Yan Rusheng with both hands. ¡°President Yan, this is my formal letter of resignation. I might not be Flourish & Prosper¡¯s official employee, but I feel that it¡¯s more appropriate to give you formal notice.¡± She spoke calmly, and she seemed strangely unapproachable and distant today. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression froze abruptly. The rippling fluctuations of anticipation and excitement in his heart were snuffed out instantaneously. He faced the tiny woman, and his peach blossom-shaped eyes blazed with chilliness. ¡°So you¡¯re here to resign?¡± ¡°President Yan, please stop all these ridiculous tricks. I want to apologize for all the times I¡¯ve provoked you in the past.¡± Xuxu spoke composedly, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of emotion in her tone. After saying her piece, she placed the resignation letter in front of Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng jerked his head slightly upward and raised his eyebrows. ¡°What things have I done that seem like ridiculous tricks to you?¡± His tone exuded an eerie chilliness which enveloped Xuxu. Xuxu looked into those eyes that shone like emerald black jade. Her heart jerked violently as fear crept and spread across her entire body. But she didn¡¯t give away her fear as she maintained her calm visage. She continued to appear unperturbed, and her expression remained impassive. ¡°Yan Rusheng, we¡¯ve grown up together, and I¡¯ve always harbored deep affection towards you¡­ like we¡¯re a family. But because of your circumstances, I was forced to stick by you. Do you really hate me that much?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng stood up and his palms pressed against the desk. Inching closer to her, he raised his voice. ¡°If I hated you so much, then I¡¯d¡­¡± Feeling terrified, Xuxu panicked and gripped the desk with all her strength. A blinding gleam flashed across Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. Chapter 199. That Childish Fellow His sentence trailed off as he peered at his desk. His fingers tightened gradually, and he took a deep breath to compose himself. He was using every ounce of his determination to suppress his growing emotions. It took a long while¡­ long enough to savor a cup of coffee, take a puff or perhaps to muster his courage to profess his love. ¡°Get lost¡­¡± He lifted his head, and his face had an apathetic expression. He pointed at the door. ¡°Wen Xuxu, get out of here and don¡¯t look back.¡± His reaction wasn¡¯t what Xuxu had envisioned; she thought that he would ridicule her maliciously. But he didn¡¯t and merely asked her to get out. Xuxu nodded briefly, ¡°¡­Goodbye.¡± She turned around decisively and walked out without a second look. Yan Rusheng stared as the door closed little by little. He could no longer control his temper, and he grabbed the cup and hurled it away angrily. The cup smashed against the wall and shattered to pieces. Xuxu¡¯s hand was still on the doorknob when she heard the loud shattering sound. Her body trembled badly. ¡°Sigh.¡± With a soundless sigh, she walked away. When she reached her desk, she was greeted with the sight of a cup of coffee. Feeling slightly surprised, she picked up the cup¡ªthe coffee was still piping hot. She scanned the entire office. People were walking around; some were busy working while the rest were chatting leisurely. Who could it be? This ¡®situation¡¯ had never happened before. Subconsciously, she felt that something was missing from her desk. The furry doll which she¡¯d placed near the stationery container in the corner was missing. She couldn¡¯t help but grin; that childish fellow. It must¡¯ve been him the last time too. She was still deep in thought when her colleagues began convening towards her one after another. ¡°Sister Xuxu, your relationship with President Yan was really well-hidden.¡± ¡°What do you mean by well-hidden? Even a fool could sense that President Yan treated Sister Xuxu differently, alright?¡± ¡°Sister Xuxu, don¡¯t forget to invite us to the wedding.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always said that President Yan and Sister Xuxu are a perfect couple. ¡®XuxuRusheng¡¯; how wonderful.¡± ¡­ Everyone began to chime in and gossiped without giving Xuxu a chance to clarify the misunderstanding. She peered at them helplessly and felt that she could only clarify after they stopped talking. ¡°Aren¡¯t you all supposed to be working?¡± An abrupt cold voice traveled from behind Xuxu. In the midst of the hubbub and excitement, everyone promptly scattered like mice that had spotted a cat. They scrambled back to their workstations as fast as they could. Xuxu hastily sat down and switched on her computer. Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze swept past Xuxu, and he left the office. He emanated arrogance from head to toe. A new secretary reported for work the next day. It was a guy who had just graduated. Xuxu began the handover process to the new male secretary as she carefully and conscientiously went through every single detail with him. Then she handed the rest of the documents to Yan Rusheng¡¯s assistant and briefed him as well. She didn¡¯t hover around. After packing her belongings, she promptly left. She stepped out of the building, and the sun was blazing without mercy. Standing on the stairs, she took a deep breath. This time around, she would never return again. Once she made up her mind, she would definitely sever all ties without a second thought. From the moment she left his office to when she walked out of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s main entrance, every step was taken with resolution. She didn¡¯t even hesitate and pause for a second. She¡¯d used that same resolution when she put on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s ring. Chapter 200 Yan Rusheng stood tall before the French windows. A pair of malicious-looking eyes stared at the tiny woman who was slowly disappearing from his sight. A part of his body was hurting; it was¡­ his heart. He¡¯d felt bitter for a few years over Fang Jiayin¡¯s departure. But he¡¯d never felt anything like this before. To the extent that he¡¯d wanted to forsake his pride to beg Xuxu. Xuxu reached the roadside and left in a taxi. Goodbye? Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes, and a cold gleam flashed through his eyes. The corners of his mouth curled with a wicked grin. ¡­ Both parties had already parted ways, but rumors of their relationship were still rife. It rained heavily on Wednesday, and even the heavens didn¡¯t seem to be cooperating. Xuxu was huddled on the sofa watching TV when she dozed off. After some time, she was jolted awake by her phone. She stretched to reach for her phone sleepily. Wang Daqin was calling her. ¡°Hello, Grandmother.¡± She placed the phone to her ear, and her sleepy voice sounded slightly sluggish. ¡°Xuxu, are you still sleeping?¡± Wang Daqin asked in a gentle and kind tone. Xuxu rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall as she replied, ¡°I fell asleep while watching TV. Grandmother, why are you looking for me?¡± Wang Daqin replied affectionately, ¡°Silly girl, it¡¯s your birthday today. I¡¯m on my way to pick you up.¡± With those words, Xuxu felt her heart clenching, and there was a prickly sensation in her nose. She hadn¡¯t forgotten that it was her birthday today; she just felt that the rain made everything seem a little sorrowful. Just like that fateful day when the natural disaster happened. The sky was as gloomy as today, and the rain poured down heavily. Her parents had left for work early in the morning, and that was the last time she ever saw them. After she turned 10, she couldn¡¯t help but recall a fuzzy image of her mother on her birthdays. The birthday of a child is the day of suffering for the mother. She was struck with this mournful thought on her birthday this year. Perhaps it was because the weather conditions were similar to that fateful day years ago. After some time, she managed to keep her emotions in check and replied cheerfully, ¡°It¡¯s too troublesome. I¡¯m happy to receive your blessings, Grandmother.¡± ¡°Do you feel that I¡¯m too old to join the celebration?¡± ¡°Grandmother, of course that¡¯s not what I meant! Alright then, I¡¯ll pick you up, and we can go out for a meal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m almost at your apartment.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu peered out the window¡ª the rain was reduced to a drizzle. ¡°Okay,¡± she replied and hung up. Then she went to her room to change. She opened her closet, and the first thing that caught her attention was the gorgeous white princess gown. She stroked the gown gently. The ring was exceptionally dazzling on her fourth finger, and it matched quite well with the white gown. ¡®Xuxu, marry me. I don¡¯t need you to love me the same way you love him, nor do I wish it. But I can give you what you want; happiness and comfort.¡¯ She curled her lips as she brushed against a pink chiffon shirt next to the gown. Without hesitation, she took it out and changed into it. She matched the pink shirt with a pair of white pants which ended at her ankles. She put on some light makeup and wore a pair of silvery wedge heels. Such a lovable girl would win the heart of any elderly person. Wang Daqin thought to herself as she watched Xuxu walking towards her. She felt despondent all of a sudden. ¡°Grandmother,¡± Xuxu greeted her cheerily as she opened the door. She kept her umbrella and climbed inside the car. Chapter 201. Roses Are A Must Wang Daqin spotted her ring the minute she got in the car. Immediately she became even more downcast. ¡°Sigh, Third Yan is such a disappointment.¡± She berated him as she placed Xuxu¡¯s hand in hers. She touched the ring lightly and stroked the diamond, then said with contentment, ¡°But I know Ah Heng is a good man. Even though I feel regretful that you didn¡¯t end up with Xiaosheng, but at least you¡¯ve found a good partner to spend the rest of your life with. I can rest easy then.¡± Xuxu smiled without a word. The car moved steadily on the road. She wasn¡¯t aware where they were headed to, but she was certain the old madam had made prior arrangements. The intensity of the rain fluctuated throughout the day. Yan Rusheng was bothered by the rain, and he couldn¡¯t set his mind to do anything. ¡®Third Yan, today is Xuxu¡¯s birthday. Ah Heng¡¯s family will be joining the celebration this evening. I¡¯ll be representing Xuxu¡¯s family tonight, so I¡¯ll leave it to you to decide if you¡¯re attending.¡¯ Grandmother had called an hour earlier, and her words echoed in his ears. He held a cup of bitter coffee in his hands as his thumb stroked the rim of the cup absentmindedly. His fingernails gleamed under the light as though they¡¯d been polished with wax. He had a faraway look in his eyes which resembled black jade. The whole city seemed to be shrouded with gloom as the rain poured down from the heavens. It reflected his current emotional state. ¡®The bride and groom may now exchange the wedding rings.¡¯ ¡®You may now kiss the bride¡­¡¯ It was strange, but the more you tried not to think of something, the more it haunted and pestered you. The storm grew heavier as the rain lashed against the window panes. The sound of the raindrops seemed to be goading his heart as it throbbed in his chest. Finally, he couldn¡¯t take it any longer and stood up. Knock knock knock. Suddenly, someone knocked. Yan Rusheng was arranging the important documents on his desk when he heard the knocking on his door. He responded curtly, ¡°Enter.¡± His assistant Qiao Jian entered. ¡°President Yan, the PR department has just delivered the latest proposal, and they urgently require your approval.¡± Qiao Jian reached Yan Rusheng and handed him the document. Yan Rusheng received it and scanned through it briefly. After swiftly signing his approval, he passed it back to Qiao Jian. ¡°I¡¯m leaving first. Don¡¯t let anyone enter my office.¡± ¡°Noted.¡± Qiao Jian obeyed and was about to take his leave. Yan Rusheng suddenly stopped him. ¡°Qiao Jian.¡± ¡°Yes, President Yan?¡± Qiao Jian turned around slowly, looking ready for his instructions. ¡°Hmmm, what are the things needed to profess your love for someone?¡± Yan Rusheng quickly blushed, and there was an uneasy expression on his face. Usually, he was the one being courted. It was the first time he¡¯d tried to rack his brains to please a woman. Other than the fact that he couldn¡¯t put aside his pride, he was a little lost. Qiao Jian glanced at the boss¡¯s blushing face, and he felt the urge to tease him. But he didn¡¯t have the courage. ¡°Roses are a must.¡± ¡°Roses?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and repeated uncertainly. ¡°What¡¯s the probability of success if I use roses?¡± Does that stupid woman even like roses? If she likes it, I can damn well give her an entire rose manor. Forget it, he¡¯d just use a bouquet for this occasion. Qiao Jian was perplexed. ¡°President Yan, I thought you already selected wedding rings with Secretary Wen?¡± Why did he need to profess his love? Furthermore, he was still worried about the probability of success? Without waiting for Young Master Yan to reply, he continued, ¡°I know, President Yan. You must be planning a proposal. Then you¡¯ll definitely need a bouquet of roses.¡± Chapter 202. This Must Be A Nightmare Qiao Jian had barely finished talking when Young Master Yan¡¯s face turned as black as the bottom of a saucepan. ¡°Get out.¡± He shot a murderous glare at Qiao Jian and pointed at the door. Qiao Jian was secretly praising himself for his quick-wittedness when the boss snapped at him in anger. It frightened him out of his wits, and even his facial muscles twitched in shock. Without a second thought, he spun around and bolted for the door, instantly disappearing like a wisp of smoke. Yan Rusheng took out his wallet from the drawer and opened it. He retrieved the purple plastic ring. His gaze landed back on the photo in his wallet. The playful woman was on his back, and she was smiling as happily as a kid. He stroked the photo tenderly, his mouth twitching. Suddenly, he spoke in a malicious and tyrannical tone, ¡°Stupid woman, I don¡¯t care if I have to snatch you away.¡± ¡­ The car stopped outside Beautiful Metropolis Hotel, and the valet rushed forward hurriedly to greet them. Xuxu got down first. The rain hadn¡¯t stopped, so she opened an umbrella to support the old madam as she got off the car. The chauffeur rolled down the window and waved at the valet. ¡°I¡¯ll park the car myself.¡± In order not to hold up the vehicles behind him, he drove away immediately. All the cars had their headlights on due to the heavy rain. After the chauffeur drove away, Xuxu held onto Wang Daqin as they headed inside together. She gestured at the white car behind them to signal them to stop for a while so that they could cross over. Without warning, a black car suddenly overtook the white vehicle, and the dazzling headlights shone mercilessly at them. Instinctively, Xuxu used her hand to cover her face. At this moment, a pair of hands pushed her away forcefully. ¡°Xuxu, get away!¡± She propelled forward by a few steps and fell to the ground. Before she had any time to react, an ear-piercing screech filled the air; it was the sound of wheels being rubbed against the ground. There was a loud bang, and the black car smashed headlong into the hotel¡¯s marble pillar. ¡°Old Madam!¡± The scream seemed to pierce through Xuxu¡¯s heart, and the echoes lingered on for the longest time. ¡°Grandmother!¡± She spun around wildly and seemed to have entered a nightmare. The old lady who had always comforted her since she was a kid was lying in a pool of blood. She scrambled to reach her, then gripped her hand and put it on her face. ¡°Grandmother.¡± Wang Daqin¡¯s fingers lightly tapped Xuxu¡¯s eyes, and her lips were moving. It seemed that she had something to say. ¡°Grandmother, this must be a nightmare. It¡¯s a nightmare. We¡¯re going home, once we get back home, the nightmare will be over.¡± Xuxu wept as she wrapped her arms around Wang Daqin. ¡°Miss, the ambulance is here.¡± Suddenly Xuxu felt that her arms weren¡¯t holding anything anymore. She turned to see Grandmother lying on a stretcher. She was jolted back to her senses. ¡°Grandmother¡­¡± A scream filled with agony and grief penetrated the air, and it seemed to shake the entire capital city as well. ¡°Grandmother, nothing can happen to you. We¡¯re supposed to go on a vacation.¡± Xuxu threw herself at her grandmother and clenched her hand tightly. She saw that her eyelids were fluttering as she moved her lips. She put her ears close to her mouth. ¡°Grandmother, what do you want to say? I¡¯m here, I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Xuxu¡­ Rusheng¡­¡± Wang Daqin eyelids fluttered for the last time before closing peacefully, as if all had been settled. ¡­ Xuxu didn¡¯t let go of Wang Daqin¡¯s cold and frigid hands. No matter what anyone said, she couldn¡¯t take in a word. The doctors wanted to cover the old madam with a white cloth, but she didn¡¯t allow them to. She knelt beside the bed, and her tears were gushing out endlessly like a spring. Chapter 203. You Owe Her This Final Wish ¡°Grandmother!¡± Yan Rusheng dashed frantically into the icy-cold mortuary and witnessed the old lady lying there in a serene state. He stared blankly at her, utterly dumbfounded. After some time, he regained his footsteps and moved forward, one step after another. The bloodstains on the old lady¡¯s face had already been properly cleaned off, but as Xuxu was reluctant to let go of the old lady¡¯s hands, the hospital staff weren¡¯t able to put on burial clothes for her. Staring at grandmother¡¯s headful of gray hair that was tainted with streaks of blood, Yan Rusheng fell to his knees. His eyes were welling up with tears. She had raised and groomed Yan Rusheng¡ªa man who was widely acclaimed by all. Yet, he hadn¡¯t been there at her final moments; he wasn¡¯t there when she left with so much pain and suffering. ¡®You rascal. Get married and grant me a great-grandson, then my life will be complete.¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t your life complete only after you get to cuddle your great-grandson?¡± He knelt down and inched towards the bedside, his eyes bleeding with pain as the tears just poured out. This was the first time he¡¯d broken down from grief. The hospital chief who had been standing by the side hesitated for a moment. With light and quiet footsteps, he walked towards Yan Rusheng. The hospital chief looked at him and pointed to Xuxu. ¡°Third Young Master, please persuade the Miss. A further delay¡­ any further delays wouldn¡¯t be good.¡± Having heard this, Yan Rusheng slowly shifted his gaze to Xuxu¡¯s hand which was grasping tightly onto Wang Daqin. Their hands holding onto each other¡­ His eyes flinched for a moment. All of a sudden, he reached out and grabbed hold of Xuxu¡¯s wrist. Xuxu looked at him. She shook her head and pleaded sorrowfully, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t separate me from Grandmother.¡± She knew in her heart that this was the last time Grandmother would hold onto her hand. The sight of Grandmother¡¯s warm and gentle hands holding onto Xuxu and saying, ¡®Our Xuxu is the most well behaved and obedient¡¯, would never happen again. The sight of Grandmother¡¯s warm and gentle hands hugging Xuxu and saying, ¡®Don¡¯t be afraid. Grandmother will stand up for you¡¯, would never happen again. The sight of Grandmother¡¯s kind and pleasant face smiling at her and saying, ¡®Xuxu, I¡¯ve prepared your favorite dishes. I¡¯m waiting for you to come back for dinner¡¯, would never happen again. Yan Rusheng pretended that he couldn¡¯t see her tears nor hear her gut-wrenching sobs, and he coldly turned his head away in a detached manner. At the same time, he forcibly pulled Xuxu¡¯s hands away from Grandmother¡¯s. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer, and her grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable emotions. She got up and leaned on the corpse that had now turned frigid. ¡°Grandmother, I was wrong, I was wrong.¡± She shouldn¡¯t have been born on this day. She shouldn¡¯t have celebrated her birthday. She should have stopped her from going out in this pouring rain. Her gut-wrenching sobs echoed in the room, and the sound could tear a person¡¯s heart. The medical team also broke out into silent sobs. ¡°Missy, please restrain your grief.¡± Clearly, Xuxu had lost control of her emotions. The staff pulled her away immediately. However, she still adamantly refused to let go of those hands. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Yan Rusheng yelled at her. He bent down, scooped her up and carried her out. He placed Xuxu down on a chair by the front door. Xuxu turned around and leaned back, continuing to bawl her eyes out. Her wails could be heard throughout the hospital. ¡°Wen Xuxu, there is only one path ahead of you.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s harsh and cold voice could be heard. She raised her head slowly, her eyes filled to the brim with tears. ¡°Marry me.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at her coldly. His pursed lips moved slightly, and he spilled out these two words without a trace of emotion. Xuxu was startled. Once more, Yan Rusheng said to her with a trace of coldness, ¡°Remember this. You owe her this final wish.¡± Chapter 204. My Woman ¡°Understand.¡± Xuxu nodded her head without a trace of hesitation. ¡®Xuxurusheng¡¯. These were Grandmother¡¯s last words in this world. As Yan Rusheng had said, this was Grandmother¡¯s last wish. There was no way she could ever repay what she owed Grandmother. She was also not in the position to reject, nor did she have the grounds to. She should be grateful to Yan Rusheng, grateful to him for giving her a chance to make up and repay for this loss. So even if he didn¡¯t bring this up, she also wouldn¡¯t have the audacity to wish for something that overstepped one¡¯s boundaries. That very night, all the members from the Yan family rushed down to the capital city. The sound of wailing echoed throughout the night. Everyone¡¯s heart-wrenching sobs tore through Xuxu¡¯s heart. She remained seated in the same posture, without moving an inch. At some point, the tears stopped. Or perhaps, the tears had run dry, leaving only a tear-stained face. ¡°Xuxu, go back and rest.¡± The eldest daughter-in-law, Jiang Qinglian, kept vigil through the night, her voice hoarse from crying. She walked over to Xuxu and wiped her tear-streaked face with a handkerchief. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. Grandmother was already aged, and it was only a matter of time, just¡­¡± Her voice broke, tears gushing out from her eyes once more. If only she hadn¡¯t met with such misfortune and left in this way. Yan Rusheng also kept vigil for the night. Without a wink of sleep, coupled with excessive grief, he looked dreadfully haggard. He came out and walked straight to Xuxu, disregarding Jiang Qinglian. He bent down and grabbed Xuxu by her arm, dragging her up. ¡°Wen Xuxu, let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu¡¯s hands were icily cold, and at that instant when his hand touched hers, he was overwhelmed with compassion. He shifted his hand down a little and wrapped it around hers. ¡°Third Yan, where are you bringing Xuxu to?¡± Seeing Yan Rusheng¡¯s forceful behavior, Jiang Qinglian feared that he would vent his anger on Xuxu because of his grandmother¡¯s death and turn aggressive. She caught up to them immediately. Yan Rusheng ignored her and pulled Xuxu downstairs with swift steps. ¡°Third Yan¡­ Third Yan¡­¡± Jiang Qinglian¡¯s anxious shouts could be heard. Xuxu didn¡¯t want to worry the elders and thought of turning back to reassure Jiang Qinglian. But Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t give her the opportunity and dragged her downstairs with one breath. A car was waiting at the entrance. After going down the flight of steps, he opened the car door and was about to shove Xuxu inside. ¡°Third Yan. Xuxu.¡± A familiar voice could be heard coming from the side. Yan Rusheng¡¯s chilly breath turned colder. He grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand even tighter, fearing that if he loosened his grip, she would escape and run into the arms of someone else. He turned and looked in the direction of the voice and gave a sharp warning. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, don¡¯t ever show up in front of my woman again.¡± ¡®My woman¡¯. He¡¯d raised his voice as if he was taking an oath. Jiang Zhuoheng, who was standing a few meters away, was stumped for words. He gazed at Xuxu who seemed to have been forcibly pulled into Yan Rusheng¡¯s embrace. Xuxu lowered her gaze slowly and pursed her lips as if tacitly agreeing. Without waiting for a further reaction from Jiang Zhuoheng, Yan Rusheng shoved Xuxu into the car and quickly got in after her. The car door closed with a ¡®bang!¡¯ . ¡°Start the car,¡± Yan Rusheng instructed the chauffeur, unable to tolerate a further delay. The car moved off and reached the intersection ahead. It made a turn and drove past Jiang Zhuoheng. He closed his eyes slowly. He knew that after tonight¡¯s brief encounter with Xuxu, it was no longer possible to be with her. Chapter 205. Marriage Comes Only Once In A Lifetime Perhaps, from the moment the accident took place, all of this had been destined. ¡­ ¡°The bride and groom, please put on a wide smile. Marriage comes only once in a lifetime.¡± In the Civil Administration office, the photographer from the photo studio was unaware of the situation and felt anxious when he saw the expressions on Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. He especially wanted to say that ¡®You look like you¡¯re here to attend a memorial service rather than a marriage registration¡¯. Exactly. The bride¡¯s eyes were red and swollen, and she was clearly overwrought. Obviously, she had bawled her eyes out. As for the groom, he looked as if he¡¯d just come out of an ice house. His expression was frozen still as if he was suffering from facial paralysis. Furthermore, both of them were so distant from each other. Marriage comes only once in a lifetime¡­ When Yan Rusheng heard this statement, he subconsciously raised his hand and placed it on Xuxu¡¯s shoulders. His large and thick palm was warm to the touch, and her body stiffened awkwardly. There were no changes to their expressions, and they remained distant. The photographer shook his head in disbelief. ¡± Sigh. Let me remind you again. This is a wedding shoot. When I press the shutter, this image will be printed on your wedding certificate, and it will be there forever.¡± He decided not to waste his breath anymore to persuade the couple to smile or to stand closer. So he aimed and press the shutter. The camera flash flickered after which he signaled to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng with an ¡®OK¡¯ sign. Before he could even retract his hand, a satisfied smile could be seen from the corners of his mouth. ¡°This is more like it. You both look so good together, and you¡¯re even lovelier when you smile.¡± The photographer lowered his head to look at the photo he¡¯d taken of Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, all while sounding like a broken record. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu were puzzled by the photographer¡¯s words. Yan Rusheng only felt that he was such a nag and an eyesore. It wasn¡¯t until they both received their marriage certificates that they fully understood the meaning. It turned out that both of them happened to smile at the same moment. This was because¡­ this image would be printed on their marriage certificate forever. Now bearing a different status, Xuxu showed up at Wang Daqin¡¯s funeral which was being held over three days. As the granddaughter-in-law, she knelt at the funeral hall together with Yan Rusheng for three days and three nights. During these three days, she stared fixedly at Wang Daqin¡¯s portrait. It was as if she was replaying an old movie. Memories of grandmother¡ªdating back to the day Xuxu was brought to the Yan¡¯s family¡ªcame flooding back to her mind. Tears streamed down continuously. Just before Wang Daqin¡¯s body was cremated, Xuxu could bear it no longer and collapsed. She must have slept for a long time. The moment she opened her eyes, she felt as if the world was spinning. This uncomfortable feeling took a while to subside. Where was she? Staring at the room which looked familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar, Xuxu¡¯s head cleared up immediately. She sat up with a grunt and shook her head which was still spinning. Her gaze swept through the entire room once more. Why was she lying on Yan Rusheng¡¯s bed? ¡°Grandmother?¡± At the thought of Grandmother, she lifted the blanket and got down the bed, her feet bare. With a heavy head and a weakened body, she was in a state of disequilibrium and nearly took a tumble. She staggered a few steps before stabilizing herself. At once, she opened the door and ran out, still barefooted. ¡°Grandmother.¡± She ran on and on towards the staircase. In the brightly lit hall, many people were seated on the sofa, and all were dressed in black. Xuxu¡¯s heart sank to the floor. She held onto the staircase handrail to support herself and then sat on the stairs, motionless. This is a dream. This is not a dream. She tilted her neck and leaned her head against the metal railing. Her eyes were rapidly filled to the brim with tears once more. Was Grandmother really gone? ¡°Xuxu.¡± Mu Li¡¯s gentle and soothing voice could be heard coming from below. Chapter 206. Bear My Children Wen Xuxu opened her eyes and looked over. Mu Li stood below the staircase wearing a black dress, looking up at her with her head raised. Within a span of a few days, this elegant and beautiful-looking Aunt Mu seemed to have rapidly aged. Feeling guilty, Xuxu cried hard. ¡°Sob¡­¡± She buried her head between her legs, completely unable to accept the truth of Grandmother¡¯s demise. It had happened too unexpectedly, and it was all because of her. It was utterly impossible for her to allay her guilt. ¡°Xuxu, don¡¯t cry anymore.¡± Mu Li went upstairs and sat beside Xuxu. Feeling sorry for her, she gave her a hug. ¡°Grandmother doted on you the most. If she saw you in this state, she¡¯d be heartbroken.¡± As she said this, tears also fell down her cheeks. She had always been proud of her mother-in-law, Wang Daqin. Not only was she a successful career woman in the corporate world, but she was also a virtuous mother-in-law who had built a harmonious household. Two sons, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. Yet, there were no tussles among the family members nor did any of them vie for power and inheritance. Choking with emotions, Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Grandmother is gone. I¡¯m the cause of her death.¡± ¡°Accidents are always unexpected. Don¡¯t reproach yourself.¡± Mu Li wept and said, ¡°You¡¯ve always been a filial child. In the future, lead a happy life with Xiaosheng.¡± Now that the two children were finally together, the old lady should have passed on with no regrets. However, having come together this way, she couldn¡¯t help but worry about their marriage life ahead. ¡°Aunt Mu Li!¡± Xuxu buried her head in Mu Li¡¯s bosom and wailed. Back then, when her parents had suddenly passed away, she was still ignorant about human relations and the ways of the world. But now, she was well aware of the pain and grief one felt when a close family member departed. Lightly pushing Xuxu away, Mu Li went on to wipe off her tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore. Third Yan left to send your grandfather home, and he should be back soon.¡± Having said that, Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering figure could be seen coming in from outside. He was also dressed in black. As he entered through the door, he caught sight of Mu Li and Xuxu sitting at the staircase; Xuxu was sobbing hard like a child. Without changing his shoes, he walked directly to the staircase. He went upstairs and noticed that Xuxu was curled up tight and barefooted. She looked so small and pitiful, and he couldn¡¯t bear to scold her. ¡°Xuxu, Third Yan is back.¡± Mu Li gently patted Xuxu on her back and turned her head towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°Have you sent Xuxu¡¯s grandfather home?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Yan Rusheng replied with a nod. He reached down and lifted Xuxu from Mu Li¡¯s arms. With his back facing downstairs, he gave out a command with a trace of coldness. ¡°Send up some porridge.¡± After that, he climbed up the stairs and carried Xuxu into the room, laying her down on his bed which was full of his scent. Just when he was about to withdraw his arms from her, Xuxu grabbed them without warning. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. ¡°Yan Rusheng, we¡­¡± Yan Rusheng interrupted her before she could finish. ¡°We¡¯re already married. You¡¯re now Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife. You must bear in mind that you¡¯re already a married woman and your husband is Yan Rusheng.¡± He paused for a moment and continued, ¡°This is now your permanent home. However unwilling, you¡¯ll have to share the same bed with me and bear my children.¡± His voice was cold, and his words served as a warning to her. Devoid of any trace of warmth and emotion. When Xuxu heard the word ¡®children¡¯, her face turned as white as a sheet, and she clenched her fingers subconsciously. Yan Rusheng could clearly sense her unusual behavior and looked down at her tiny hand which was still gripping his arm. ¡°Why? Are you not willing?¡± Chapter 207. A Post-Wedding One Year From Now ¡°Nothing.¡± Xuxu shook her head lightly and then nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± She released her grip and withdrew her hand slowly. Knock knock knock. Knocking sounds could be heard coming from behind. Yan Rusheng turned around and took a glance at the door which was left ajar. As instructed, the servant brought some food up. When the servant walked over, Yan Rusheng extended his hand and said, ¡°Give it to me.¡± With both hands, the servant presented the bowl to Yan Rusheng with a humble nod. ¡°Third Young Master, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± The servant left the room and closed the door lightly. Yan Rusheng looked at the bowl of porridge. It was a bowl of bird¡¯s nest porridge that he¡¯d instructed them to prepare earlier. He stirred it lightly, scooped out a spoonful and brought it towards Xuxu. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± His tone was still as cold as before. Xuxu was startled and looked at Yan Rusheng without moving her mouth. ¡°Can¡¯t get used to me feeding you?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows. His words were filled with a tinge of ridicule. ¡°Or do you prefer to be fed by Jiang Zhuoheng?¡± Xuxu shook her head and hurriedly wiped away her tears. She stretched out her hands to take over the bowl. ¡°I¡¯ll help myself.¡± Perhaps Grandmother¡¯s sudden demise had numbed her grief-stricken heart, but she actually showed no traces of sadness or emotion towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s mocking ridicule. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t make things difficult for her and passed the bowl to her. The temperature of the porridge was just right. Xuxu lowered her head and ate, one sip after another. You have to eat, you have to take care of your health, you have to¡­ bear children. At the thought of having children, her hand trembled briefly and her thick eyelashes fluttered slightly like a pair of butterfly wings. She kept the mouthful of porridge in her mouth before letting it slowly slide down her throat. ¡°I¡¯ve already discussed the wedding details with your grandfather. We¡¯ll hold a post-wedding ceremony one year from now.¡± After a period of silence, Yan Rusheng suddenly opened his mouth to talk again. He stood up as he spoke. Out of habit, he stuffed both hands into his pockets, indicating that he was about to leave. Xuxu paused. With lips pursed, she answered lightly with an ¡°Mm.¡± Her obedience and submissiveness left Yan Rusheng even more annoyed. He suppressed his anger and turned around to go. When there wasn¡¯t any trace of desire, there wouldn¡¯t be a need to pursue. This goes to show that she didn¡¯t have the slightest trace of feeling for him. ¡®Old Mrs. Yan¡¯s Sudden Demise¡ªThird Young Master and Childhood Sweetheart Registered Their Marriage¡¯. This piece of news occupied the headlines of every major newspaper for almost a month before eventually dying down. However, this pair of lovers¡ªwho in the eyes of the public, had finally gotten married¡ªhad been sleeping apart for a month. For one whole month, Yan Rusheng had been sleeping in the guest room while Xuxu slept in Yan Rusheng¡¯s bedroom. After Wang Daqin¡¯s funeral, the rest of the Yan family members who were men of position, all left one after another. Mu Li stayed on for the longest period of time and had just departed on Monday as she had pressing matters to attend to at the university that she was teaching. The huge dining table was now left with only the two of them. Yan Rusheng had hired a nutritionist who would prepare a variety of delicious and nutritious dishes for Xuxu. They sat down facing each other, appearing to be strangers and not making any eye contact. Aunt Zhang stood by the side and looked at them. Her thoughts subconsciously traveled back to Wang Daqi. She gave a sniffle, and her eyes turned red. She rubbed her eyes and sighed. If only Old Madam were still around, this dining room would be filled with life and laughter. These two children would definitely be bickering and refusing to submit to each other. After Yan Rusheng finished his meal, he dropped his chopsticks, wiped his mouth and stood up to leave. Xuxu saw that he was about to step away and mustered her courage to speak, ¡°Come back to your room to sleep tonight. I¡¯ll sleep in my usual room.¡± Chapter 208. Are You Prepared? Yan Rusheng halted his footsteps for a moment when he heard Wen Xuxu. He balled his hands into fists before he turned around to look at her. He replied, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m simply giving you time to adjust to your new life and for you to recover your health. I don¡¯t intend to sleep in separate rooms for long.¡± His lips curved with a faint cynical smile. ¡°Or are you trying to remind me¡­ that you¡¯re ready to make a baby with me?¡± A tinge of mischief was mingled in his tone. Xuxu¡¯s face blushed red immediately, and the redness spread down to her neck. She bent her head nervously and stuffed a piece of beef into her mouth, chewing it vigorously to hide her awkwardness. As Yan Rusheng watched her, his heart involuntarily softened. ¡°That¡¯s our room.¡± His declaration was a significant and sobering reminder to her. He marched out of the dining room with big strides. Xuxu raised her head in time to catch a glimpse of Yan Rusheng as he turned around a corner. Her face was still crimson as she frowned. Aunt Zhang spoke up again, ¡°Miss, you should eat more. The more chubby and plumper you are, the better.¡± The old servant heard Yan Rusheng saying ¡®make a baby¡¯ earlier, and she was overjoyed. Her grief had turned into happiness in a split second. She hurriedly scooped more rice into Xuxu¡¯s bowl. Xuxu was speechless. ¡°¡­¡± After dinner, Xuxu entered Grandmother¡¯s bedroom as usual. There was a familiar smell of ointment that still lingered inside. Every time she took in this scent, she felt a stinging sensation at the tip of her nose. Grandmother¡¯s belongings were either packed or thrown away. Only two photos still remained on the headboard. One was a picture of Yan Rusheng and Xuxu when they were kids, the other was a graduation photo taken when she got her Masters. ¡°Sigh.¡± She sat in front of the desk for a while and sighed mournfully before leaving the room. She peered at the floor with puffy eyes as she walked out of the room. Coincidentally, Yan Rusheng was just leaving his study as well. But Xuxu didn¡¯t notice Yan Rusheng as she shut the door silently behind her. Yan Rusheng was about to walk towards her when his phone rang. He sneaked a peek at Xuxu before returning to his study. The cellphone was on his desk, and after glancing at the screen, it made him narrow his malicious-looking eyes. He answered the call and placed it by his ear. A person spoke up on the other line. ¡°Third Yan, I¡¯ve checked the background of the culprit. He¡¯s a fugitive on the run, currently wanted by the public security bureau of Cheng Zhou City for committing robbery and murder. Before the accident happened, he deposited half a million yuan into his wife¡¯s bank account.¡± When he heard this, Yan Rusheng turned livid as he pressed his fingers on the table. His fingernails left scratches on its surface. ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± he responded coldly. ¡°Help me check on a person¡¯s whereabouts a few days before the accident too¡­¡± ¡­ After Xuxu took a hot bath, she put on a bathrobe and walked out of the bathroom barefooted. She caught a whiff of tobacco and furrowed her brows. Before she even had the time to think, a familiar face appeared right in front of her. Yan Rusheng leaned lazily against the door frame. The top buttons on his white shirt were unfastened, and the shirt was hanging loosely on his body. His muscular chest was revealed as he held a lighted cigarette in his hand. Chapter 209. I Wont Leave Xuxu was caught off guard, and she stood frozen in front of him as he stared at her with his languid and deep eyes. Her heart skipped a beat in that split second. She stood barefooted as she stared at him blankly. Both of them were just inches apart, and Yan Rusheng peered closely at her palm-sized face. He could even see the pores on her skin. Xuxu clenched her bathrobe nervously as she felt the chilliness on the floor spreading from her feet. After being barefoot for too long, she began to stand on the balls of her feet. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t seem to realize that she was actually nervous as he locked his gaze on her face. He seemed to be searching for something. Xuxu got more uneasy and finally spoke up, ¡°Why¡­ why are you here?¡± This was his room. Isn¡¯t it normal for him to come to his room? She felt stupid after asking the question, and she scolded herself silently. Yan Rusheng took a puff and didn¡¯t answer her. Then he threw her a question as the wisps of smoke circulated the air. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯d really like to know how long it¡¯ll take for you to forget a person.¡± His handsome face was shrouded by the thick and gloomy smoke. His deep eyes appeared to be rippling lightly with certain suppressed emotions, almost seeming to resemble fear. Xuxu was worried that something terrible had happened. She ignored his question. ¡°Did anything happen to you?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, in this lifetime, you belong to the Yan family. Even if you die, your spirit will still belong to the Yan family.¡± Yan Rusheng flicked the cigarette away and stubbed it with his toes. His hands forcefully pinned Xuxu against the wall. She didn¡¯t have the chance to react as he pressed his lips roughly against hers. His breath had the scent of tobacco and a hint of fresh mint. Coupled with his kiss, it assailed and engulfed Wen Xuxu completely. All this happened without warning and she couldn¡¯t even catch her breath. She had a hunch that he was feeling troubled tonight; something must have happened. He was still fine during dinner and had acted normally. In a short span of time, Xuxu could feel Yan Rusheng¡¯s breathing becoming deeper. Her heart had melted with his touch, and she couldn¡¯t bear to push him away. She raised her hands subconsciously and embraced his waist. He could feel her delicate and soft skin beneath that bathrobe. His body gave an involuntary shudder, and he increased the intensity of his kiss the next moment. Her heart and person, he wanted it all. Wen Xuxu¡­ is mine. ¡°Unless you chase me away, I won¡¯t¡­¡± Xuxu finally had the chance to speak up as Yan Rusheng moved his face away. Her voice was reduced to a whisper. ¡°I won¡¯t leave.¡± She had said the same words to another guy a few days before. How ironic and ridiculous, she thought to herself. But this time around, she really had no other way out. Despite not knowing what would happen in the future. Unless Yan Rusheng chased her away. She felt extremely guilty for giving Ah Heng hope and yet letting him down once again. Yan Rusheng heard her confession, and his actions paused in surprise. He gradually turned his head and watched the tiny face which was flushed red from his kisses. Her words reassured him beyond anything else as though she had given him a tranquilizer. He didn¡¯t try to kiss her as fiercely as before. Instead, he quietly embraced her and rested his head lightly on her shoulders. The words echoed in his mind once more¡ª Unless you chase me away, I won¡¯t leave. Xuxu could feel that he was drained. ¡°I can go back to work if you let me.¡± Chapter 210. Its Inconvenient Today Since Grandmother was gone, she wanted to share his burdens. ¡°I¡¯m taking a shower.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t answer her question. Instead, he straightened his back and went to the bathroom. He closed the bathroom door and shortly after, the sounds of splashing water were heard. Xuxu grew nervous as he¡¯d always used the bathroom in the guest room these past few days. He slept in the guest room as well, but today¡­ he came back to his room. And¡­ She touched her lips which still seemed to burn with his residual passion from earlier on. Her hands were damp with cold sweat. She changed into her pajamas and went to the balcony. She took a seat on a deck chair and gripped the cup of warm milk to warm her hands. How should she tell him? ¡°Time to sleep.¡± She heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep voice, and it sounded¡­ annoyed? Xuxu mumbled softly, but she didn¡¯t stand up. She began to drink the milk slowly. She didn¡¯t dare to look back. She heard his footsteps coming towards her, and her heart was in her mouth. She gulped the milk nervously as she tried to calm herself down. ¡°Are you waiting for my invitation?¡± She heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice above her. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡­ It¡¯s inconvenient today.¡± Xuxu rose and finally managed to answer him. Her tone and the expression in her eyes were sincere and honest. The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°How is it inconvenient?¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he¡¯d caught a glimpse of the trash can earlier on and noticed how she was covered from head to toe, he would have suspected that she had intentionally made up an excuse to reject him. ¡°I-I¡¯m¡­¡± Xuxu blushed in embarrassment, and she began to splutter. ¡°In Biology, we learned that every month, a woman has to¡­ cough¡­ ¡± She held on tightly to her pajamas as though it was a life-saving straw. Regarding this intimate topic, Miss Wen was still rather conservative and bashful. Yan Rusheng observed her shyness, and it made him rather pleased and gleeful. ¡°Continue. What happens every month?¡± He had no intention of letting her off the hook so easily. Tonight he had mustered his courage to enter their room, but to his dismay, it wasn¡¯t the right day. Xuxu lowered her head, and her scarlet face turned a few shades redder. She spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°My menstrual period is here, so¡­ can you please wait?¡± Furthermore, she wasn¡¯t ready as well. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell. ¡°Wen Xuxu, in your eyes, what kind of a person am I?¡± If he knew that it was inconvenient for her, would he force her? Was he that heartless and cold-blooded? Xuxu was terrified by the sudden shift in his mood. She couldn¡¯t comprehend why he¡¯d turned cold. She lowered her head even more and didn¡¯t utter another word. She used to be so full of pride in front of him. She never gave in to him and neither did she fear him. But now she didn¡¯t deserve to anymore. She was afraid that he might chase her away in a fit of temper. She feared that due to her carelessness, she would lose the chance to repay Grandmother for her kindness. It wasn¡¯t enjoyable squeezing a soft tangerine. Yan Rusheng felt that Wen Xuxu was like a soft tangerine right now. She used to be as proud as a peacock, and he was frustrated by the change in her personality. Now that she¡¯d ¡®softened¡¯ and allowed him to prod and squeeze her in any way he liked, he was even more irate. He didn¡¯t want her like this. But they had come this far, and this might be the only way to make her stay by his side for the rest of her life. ¡°Go sleep.¡± He watched her in silence for a long time before giving up. He should give her more time to adapt. As time passed by, she¡¯d be able to adapt to her new identity as Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife. Chapter 211. Did She Plan on Holding Her Bladder? Yan Rusheng turned around and lay down on the bed. He shut his eyes, and it looked like he wasn¡¯t planning to say another word. Xuxu¡¯s eyes trailed over his good-looking face, and after struggling internally for a while, she tiptoed cautiously to the other end of the bed. She gingerly lifted the blanket and laid herself down as carefully as she could. She lay sideways with her back facing Yan Rusheng. She moved closer to the edge, and any movement she made could cause her to fall off the bed. It was the first time someone had lain next to him on his bed. Never in Yan Rusheng¡¯s wildest dreams did he see himself sharing a bed with Wen Xuxu one day. And as husband and wife, no less. ¡®You¡¯re like a tigress. No one will marry you when you grow up.¡¯ ¡®Yan Rusheng, I dare you to repeat yourself!¡¯ He glanced askance at the tiny woman who was sleeping so cautiously at the edge of the bed. His expression was filled with tenderness. He was worried that Xuxu might not be able to sleep at night. So Yan Rusheng consulted a Chinese physician to prescribe some medicine to calm her nerves and to nourish her body. She would take it with milk before she slept. For Xuxu, even though the person lying next to her was someone she loved and feared, she couldn¡¯t suppress the drowsiness that washed over her. She quickly fell asleep despite being on tenterhooks. Yan Rusheng observed her how her body undulated as she breathed. He knew she was fast asleep when her breathing became regular and steady. He moved¡­ and inched slowly towards her. He didn¡¯t want to wake her up and merely wanted to move closer so that he could smell the fragrance in her hair. He took a lock of her hair and twirled it between his fingers. He could hardly contain himself just by breathing in her delicate scent. Unexpectedly, he gradually felt calm and peaceful as he listened to her steady breathing. Wen Xuxu, you promised that you¡¯ll never leave me. ¡­ Drinking a glass of milk did help her to fall asleep, but the drawback was that she needed to relieve herself at night. Xuxu opened her eyes drowsily as she fumbled for the light switch. Suddenly she felt that something had wrapped around her waist¡ªYan Rusheng! She jolted awake instantly and moved her hand under the blanket towards her waist. She felt his buff arm and her heart pounded fiercely. Biting her lips, she carefully withdrew her outstretched hand. She endured it until Yan Rusheng woke up and left the bed, then she scrambled out from the covers and dashed into the toilet. But she was unaware that the bedroom door wasn¡¯t completely closed. A pair of eyes watched her affectionately as she bolted for the toilet. ¡°Stupid woman.¡± If he didn¡¯t wake up, was she planning on holding her bladder forever? The toilet lights switched on, and Yan Rusheng closed the door, feeling at ease. After a while, she came out of the toilet and went back to bed. It was barely 5 a.m. in the morning. He was up so early. She glanced at the door and mumbled under her breath. She lifted the blanket, and the entire bed showed traces of them rolling around. She couldn¡¯t help but move towards the area which Yan Rusheng had slept on last night. The pillow still smelled faintly of him¡ªa light fragrant scent. When she woke up hours later, she realized that she was hugging Yan Rusheng¡¯s pillow. And she embraced it tightly. She released the pillow guiltily and scanned the room. After making sure that the room was empty, she heaved a sigh of relief. It was almost time for lunch when she woke up. She washed up and left the room. ¡°Be careful and don¡¯t damage the cupboard.¡± After she exited the bedroom, she saw two men transporting Grandmother¡¯s bed out from her bedroom. The butler stood nearby, monitoring and instructing them. She rushed forward to stop them. ¡°Where are you taking Grandmother¡¯s bed?¡± Chapter 212. It Was Instructed by Third Young Master She peered inside the room after questioning the butler. Not just the bed, the rest of the furniture had also been taken out. As she looked at the bare room, her nose pricked with a stinging sensation and her eyes started to glisten. Why did they have to remove Grandmother¡¯s stuff? The butler replied, ¡°Miss, I was instructed by the Young Master to convert Old Madam¡¯s bedroom into a playroom. And he asked me to start today.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why? There are so many rooms in the house.¡± As she said this, her tears started rolling down. The butler saw Xuxu tearing up and he rubbed his eyes to stop his tears from falling as well. He consoled Xuxu and said, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t be too upset. When Old Madam was alive, she has always yearned for Third Young Master to get married and give her great-grandchildren. By converting her bedroom to a playroom, I¡¯m sure Old Madam would be very happy.¡± Xuxu looked back at the room once again when she heard the butler¡¯s explanation. In that moment, her watery eyes lit up with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re right. Grandmother would be happy to know.¡± Her heart still ached as she thought, If only Grandmother was around to witness this. But how could that happen? Grandmother had used her life in exchange for her marriage with Yan Rusheng. After lunch, Xuxu received a call from Zhou Shuang inviting her to go to the orphanage to do volunteer work. This time around, she finally accepted. She changed into casual clothes in neutral tones and went down to find Zhou Shuang waiting for her. Zhou Shuang sat on the couch, and she was browsing a financial magazine that Yan Rusheng would always read. ¡°Zhou Shuang,¡± Xuxu called out as she stood behind her. Zhou Shuang put the magazine away and looked disapprovingly at Xuxu. ¡°It¡¯s so hard to ask you out. I even have to pick you up personally.¡± During this period, she¡¯d frequently tried to make plans with her to cheer her up. Today was the first time she succeeded. Zhou Shuang began to scrutinize Xuxu¡¯s outfit from top to toe. Her eyebrows were furrowed. ¡°We¡¯re going to the orphanage to do volunteer work, so we¡¯ll be with a bunch of kids. Can¡¯t you wear something more vibrant instead?¡± Xuxu peered down at her own outfit when she heard her feedback. ¡°Isn¡¯t this okay?¡± ¡°Of course not! Hurry and change into something more colorful.¡± Zhou Shuang stood up and gave Xuxu a nudge. Xuxu couldn¡¯t change her mind, and she nodded. ¡°Alright then, if you don¡¯t mind waiting. I¡¯ll head upstairs to change.¡± She turned around to go upstairs and entered her old room. Most of her clothes were still in her own apartment. Her old bedroom only had some clothes that she¡¯d worn previously. She had bought them together with Grandmother. The colors of these clothes would definitely win Zhou Shuang¡¯s approval. It had been some time since she¡¯d stayed in her old room, and even though the servants often opened the windows for air circulation, it still gave off a hollow and uninhabited feeling. She walked to the wardrobe and opened it. Her bright and clear eyes widened in surprise. What happened? Where were all her old clothes? The wardrobe was filled with a variety of colorful clothes, and they were all brand new. Her old clothes were all gone. ¡°Aunt Zhang.¡± She decided to look for Aunt Zhang. Aunt Zhang heard her calling and responded, ¡°Miss, are you looking for me?¡± Xuxu stood at the stairs and pointed in the direction of her room. She asked Aunt Zhang, ¡°Where are all my old clothes?¡± ¡°Third Young Master asked me to donate all your old clothes.¡± Aunt Zhang continued to elaborate calmly, ¡°The clothes were all donated this morning. The current clothes in the wardrobe were all prepared by Young Master. He informed me that everything is washed and you can wear them straight away.¡± Chapter 213. Kindhearted Person Donated? Xuxu raised her voice slightly. ¡°Why did he do that?¡± She had merely worn the clothes once or twice; why did he donate everything without asking for her permission? Aunt Zhang shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure as well.¡± How could she read Young Master¡¯s mind? Xuxu gave a helpless sigh and returned to her room. She was lost in thought as she stared at her clothes. Was he trying to remind her to detach herself from the past? Yan Rusheng, years have gone by. Did I hide it too well or could it be that in your eyes, it¡¯s impossible to see another person? Finally, after much deliberation, she chose a fuchsia-colored sleeveless dress with a modest V neck. The dress was made of a soft silky material, and it fell down beyond her knees. She hadn¡¯t donned such a bright color in a while, and it captivated everyone. Aunt Zhang immediately showered her with compliments. ¡°Young Master has excellent taste, this dress looks fabulous on you.¡± Zhou Shuang who was sitting on the couch added cheekily, ¡°The young madam of the Yan family is so pretty, even if she doesn¡¯t wear anything, she¡¯ll still look eye-catching.¡± Aunt Zhang nodded without fully absorbing her words. ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡­¡± Then she snapped to after realizing what she meant, but it was already too late. She smiled awkwardly at Xuxu. Xuxu frowned and shot Zhou Shuang a disapproving glare. Wretched girl, how dare you tease an old lady. ¡°Let¡¯s go, pretty lady.¡± Zhou Shuang grabbed her arm and sized her up. ¡°I really couldn¡¯t tell that arrogant man Yan Rusheng would have such good taste when it comes to selecting clothes for ladies.¡± She shook her head and clicked her tongue. ¡°Indeed, he has plenty of experience with the ladies.¡± No wonder Young Master Yan was always worried about Xuxu hanging out with Zhou Shuang. He knew that she would speak ill about him behind his back. Xuxu smiled and brought up a new topic. ¡°Why did you think of volunteering at the orphanage?¡± When she received her call inviting her to be a volunteer, she was slightly taken aback. Zhou Shuang did have her kind and loving side, but she wasn¡¯t very patient. The young kids at the orphanage might be a handful¡ªwould Zhou Shuang be able to cope? ¡°You sound as if¡­¡± Miss Zhou questioned Xuxu indignantly. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for someone as kindhearted as me to volunteer at an orphanage?¡± Xuxu saw that Zhou Shuang was about to turn defensive and she wisely backed down. Concealing her doubt, she smiled, ¡°Kindhearted person, let¡¯s hurry up. If not, the day will be over by the time your kindness reaches the orphanage.¡± Zhou Shuang drove a black Land Rover SUV which suited her ¡®macho¡¯ personality. The traffic conditions were smooth in the afternoon, and the car soon entered the suburbs in no time. The vehicle entered a loop and continued traveling on a broad tar road which was lined with tall white poplar trees. There weren¡¯t many buildings, and the white poplar trees made one feel more relaxed. It was her first time seeing an orphanage in real life, and it was the same as what she saw on TV. The steel doors were all rusty and old. The old-looking, two-floor building was painted with a light yellow color and decorated with a few cartoon characters. It could be due to the warm weather, but the vast cemented area was empty. All they could see was a few basic facilities for children to play in. If she hadn¡¯t entered the Yan family years ago, what kind of a life would she and her grandfather be living in? Xuxu stood under the blazing sun and surveyed the orphanage. She was lost in her thoughts and forgot all about the heat. ¡°Xuxu, come and help me.¡± Zhou Shuang spoke up and interrupted her thoughts. Chapter 214. She’s An Aunty, Im The Sister ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± Xuxu answered Zhou Shuang and turned around to see her pulling out bags of stuff from the car trunk. They¡¯d bought snacks for the kids along the way, and Zhou Shuang had prepared clothes for them beforehand. She rushed over and carried two bags which were stuffed with clothes, then walked to the orphanage¡¯s entrance. The guard was a benevolent-looking elderly man who seemed like he was in his sixties. Zhou Shuang announced her name, and he opened the gates immediately. He even volunteered to help Xuxu carry in one of the bags. When they entered, the kids had just woken up, and they were all either using the toilet or washing up. The innocent kids were all excited when they heard that someone had brought them new clothes and snacks. Zhou Shuang and Xuxu distributed the candies. The happy atmosphere infected them as well as they smiled happily with the children. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t resist popping one into her mouth when she saw the variety of colorful sweets. All the children were well-behaved, and they queued up without creating a commotion and simply took one each. As they distributed the sweets, the matron who seemed to be in her fifties took pictures from a corner. They would record heartwarming moments like these so that they can teach and remind the children about gratitude. Xuxu sat on one of the wooden stools that the kids made and studied the youngest girl in the crowd. She was probably about three years old, and she wore a pink dress that someone had donated. Her curly locks were in a mess, looking as if they were struck by a bolt of lightning. Her face was chubby and fair, and her eyes were especially bright and round. Her eyes sparkled as if they could talk. The little girl was focused on savoring her candy and didn¡¯t notice that she was being watched. She licked her candy, and her face and chin were covered with saliva. Xuxu managed a tiny smile when she saw her contented and blissful face. Finally, after she had almost finished her candy, the little girl lifted her head and looked around. She saw Xuxu who was smiling kindly at her. Without any shyness, her tiny legs strode over to Xuxu. She held the candy which was almost gone and put it near Xuxu¡¯s mouth. ¡°Sister, please eat.¡± Her voice was sweet and adorable, and it melted Xuxu¡¯s heart. She carried her and settled her on her lap. She brushed her messy hair and responded, ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can eat it.¡± She had barely finished when Zhou Shuang spoke in slight disdain. ¡°You¡¯re already married, how can you be a sister? Don¡¯t you feel ashamed pretending to be young?¡± She moved towards Xuxu and knelt in front of the little girl. She pinched her chubby cheeks and corrected her. ¡°She¡¯s an aunty, I¡¯m the sister. I¡¯m the prettiest and youngest sister, alright?¡± The little girl didn¡¯t answer her as she pointed at Xuxu. ¡°Sister, do you call her Aunty as well?¡± What she meant was, I called you Sister and yet I called her Aunty. Should you call her Aunty as well? This complicated relationship¡­ ¡°Haha¡­!¡± Xuxu burst out into laughter. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face fell. She thought to herself, how are kids so smart these days? She could even come up with such a complex piece of logic. ¡°Huanhuan, you can¡¯t be rude.¡± The matron walked over and gently lectured the little girl. She bent down and scooped the girl up from Xuxu. Chapter 215. Are You Thinking Of Killing Someone? Xuxu shook her head and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Actually, she¡¯s very sensible.¡± While she was talking, the little girl had gone back to join the rest of the children. Xuxu¡¯s eyes began to look wistful. ¡°I really couldn¡¯t tell that you liked children so much.¡± She smiled when she heard Zhou Shuang, but didn¡¯t say a word. Then Zhou Shuang continued, ¡°Since you like kids, then you should hurry up and have a child with Yan Rusheng. Even though his personality isn¡¯t great, but he does have superior genes. Yan Rusheng and your child will naturally possess both looks and intelligence.¡± ¡°Of course, the prerequisite is that he shouldn¡¯t be as pretentious as his dad.¡± She rattled on without noticing that Xuxu was looking at the little girl among the children. Her tiny figure seemed so adorable yet so pitiful in their midst. The child she would have with him would naturally possess both looks and intelligence¡­ She mulled over Zhou Shuang¡¯s words and sighed despondently. ¡­ Flourish & Prosper. Yan Rusheng stared at the computer screen which was playing a video from a surveillance camera. His expression was hostile, and his malicious-looking eyes shone with a murderous gleam. The video ended and he retrieved his cigarette case from his drawer and lighted a cigarette. Another hand was resting on a pile of phone records and bank transaction statements. His hands were balled into fists, and every tendon seemed to pop up. Wisps of white smoke resembling white frost seemed to freeze the atmosphere in the room. There was a man in a black t-shirt who sat facing Yan Rusheng. His handsome face contained a fearful expression. ¡°Third Yan, are you thinking of killing someone?¡± But his tone didn¡¯t betray his fear. ¡°Why would I kill someone?¡± Yan Rusheng lifted his eyebrows coldly and glanced at him. He paused for a second before continuing, ¡°Commander Mu, you should oversee this matter to the end.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mu Qingteng twitched his lips. ¡°Third Yan, your demands are becoming more unreasonable.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips together, tightly knitting his thick eyebrows. He had a ruthless and savage-looking expression. Mu Qingteng yielded and waved his hands. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll help you watch over this matter until the end. I got this.¡± If he really let Yan Rusheng have his way, he would definitely make the culprit pay with his life. He pressed against the arms of the chair and stood up. As an army commander, he exuded an aura of unyielding resolution and grace, and he had a dignified and upright personality. He turned to leave, and something came to his mind. He looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I won¡¯t get involved with Ansheng¡¯s side. Don¡¯t throw me under the bus when the time comes.¡± Yan Rusheng stayed silent, but Mu Qingteng didn¡¯t expect him to reply. After he said his piece, he marched out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. ¡­ The black S600 made a turn in the courtyard, and Yan Rusheng switched off the engine. He came out from the driver¡¯s seat and walked hurriedly towards the house. ¡°Third Young Master is back.¡± He entered the living room to see Aunt Zhang walking out from the dining room. He responded with a curt ¡®mm¡¯ and asked, ¡°Has she eaten?¡± Usually, he came home straight from work, but today it was already past dinner time. Aunt Zhang knew the ¡®she¡¯ that he was referring to. ¡°I was about to contact her. She went out with Miss Zhou this afternoon, and she hasn¡¯t returned.¡± He furrowed his eyebrows with displeasure. ¡°They were out the entire afternoon?¡± Chapter 216. He Doesnt Want This As he spoke, he sat down on the couch and starting dialing Xuxu¡¯s number. At that moment, the butler announced. ¡°Missy is back.¡± Yan Rusheng locked his cellphone screen and put it down, then rose to walk to the door. The second he caught sight of that petite figure, he was slightly startled. To his surprise, she was wearing the dress he¡¯d bought for her. She was smiling and seemed cheerful. And she did look more energetic and fresh. The corners of his mouth curled up subconsciously when he saw her in the dress, feeling satisfied with his taste in clothes. ¡®She went out with Miss Zhou this afternoon, and she hasn¡¯t returned.¡¯ Aunt Zhang¡¯s words rung once more, and his face fell immediately. Xuxu noticed the abrupt change in his facial expression and her heart lurched as a result. She slowed down instinctively. Yan Rusheng towered over her as she stood below the steps, peering down at her from a lofty position. He snapped coldly, ¡°Where did you go this entire afternoon?¡± Xuxu answered timidly, ¡°I went to the orphanage in the Chengdong district with Zhou Shuang. The children insisted on having dinner with us.¡± So they went to the orphanage. Yan Rusheng¡¯s bubbling jealousy evaporated instantly, and his tone softened. ¡°In the future, call home to inform the servants if you¡¯re not coming back for dinner.¡± He turned around after speaking. ¡°Mm,¡± Xuxu mumbled as she watched his back. She felt that this fellow was getting more unpredictable. Yan Rusheng stopped at the entrance of the dining room and said, ¡°Come over and eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten at the orphanage.¡± Xuxu rubbed her full belly. Seeing how satisfied and contented she looked, Yan Rusheng was struck with a flash of jealousy as he thought of a bunch of kids eating with her at the orphanage. ¡°Even so, come over and drink some soup.¡± He was frowning impatiently, and he sounded as if there wasn¡¯t any room for discussion. Xuxu feared that he would flare up and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Everything had changed between the two of them. One of them would have to give in so that they could maintain this marriage based on ¡®Grandmother¡¯s final wish¡¯. Not to mention, she was indeed the culprit behind Grandmother¡¯s death and made them lose the core of their family. She no longer had the right to raise her head up high before another Yan family member. Especially Yan Rusheng. She would bury the hidden feelings she had for him deep in her heart forever. That way, she will could preserve the last remaining shred of her dignity. She constantly reminded herself that their marriage was just to fulfill Grandmother¡¯s final wish. No matter how gentle or thoughtful he was to her, she shouldn¡¯t harbor any unnecessary hope. She watched Yan Rusheng as he placed a bowl of soup in front of her and said lightly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Then she held the bowl and drank a big mouthful. Yan Rusheng looked at her and asked coldly, ¡°Can¡¯t you take note of your image as a woman?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu obeyed and placed the bowl down. She picked up a spoon and slowly drank her soup in a demure manner. Slam! Yan Rusheng slammed his chopsticks on the table and without waiting for Xuxu¡¯s response, he angrily left the dining room. He didn¡¯t want this; he wanted the original her. Not someone submissive and docile without a temper. Xuxu watched him furiously walk away, and she frowned gloomily. Chapter 217. What Happened? What was wrong with this fellow now? Was he experiencing menopause? She pouted and cast her spoon aside. She held the bowl and drank the soup directly from it. She finished and smacked her lips in satisfaction before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She had fun with the children in the afternoon, and she hadn¡¯t felt so cheered up in ages. She decided not to hold a grudge against him regarding his terrible attitude for fear it would affect her current mood. She finished the meal and helped Aunt Zhang clear the dishes away. Aunt Zhang declined her help, but Xuxu insisted. She put on a floral apron and a pair of gloves to scrub the dishes. And she scrutinized each piece of cutlery under the light before disinfecting them. After washing the dishes, she saw Aunt Zhang kneading dough at another corner. ¡°Aunt Zhang, why are you kneading dough this late at night?¡± She went over and peered curiously at Aunt Zhang as she kneaded it skillfully. Not only was she an excellent cook, Aunt Zhang was also skilled at making food from flour. She would always make the skins for the dumplings herself. She could make buns and steamed rolls too; nothing was too daunting for her. Aunt Zhang spoke cheerfully as she kneaded. ¡°Third Young Master didn¡¯t eat much during dinner earlier on. I¡¯m afraid he might be hungry later, so I¡¯m making him some handmade noodles for supper.¡± She remembered that when she had just entered the Yan family, Aunt Zhang was young and plump. Years flew by, and her skin had become sunken and wrinkly. She and Yan Rusheng both loved eating her handmade noodles, which tasted delectable. Xuxu stared at Aunt Zhang¡¯s wrinkled hands, and a sudden whim hit her. She snatched the dough from her and grinned. ¡°Let me help you.¡± Aunt Zhang didn¡¯t stop her, and instead guided her step by step. Except for controlling the heat, Xuxu effortlessly mastered the technique and cooked the noodles to perfection. Under Aunt Zhang¡¯s guidance, she managed to make a bowl of handmade noodles from scratch. Xuxu garnished it with some scallion, and she burst with pride when she saw her masterpiece. ¡°Aunt Zhang, what do you think of this?¡± She pointed at the noodles with satisfaction as she tried to fish for compliments from Aunt Zhang. Aunt Zhang gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°Miss, you are indeed capable, be it at the workplace or in the kitchen.¡± Her mission complete, Xuxu felt pleased. She passed the bowl to Aunt Zhang. ¡°Hurry and bring it upstairs, I¡¯ll do the dishes.¡± Aunt Zhang, however, didn¡¯t take it. ¡°Let the servant wash them. You should send this personally to Third Young Master.¡± Both of them finally had some ¡®development¡¯ after so long. Aunt Zhang needed to create more opportunities for them to get closer to each other. A wonderful and timely opportunity such as sending supper to her husband would be wasted if someone else were to do it. Most importantly, that bowl of noodles had been prepared by Xuxu; it was extra thoughtful. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Xuxu glanced at the bowl and hesitated. She nodded as though she was forced to. ¡°Alright then.¡± She couldn¡¯t guarantee he would eat it if she were the one to send it up. As expected, Yan Rusheng was in the study. After she got his permission, she entered the room. Sitting at his work desk, he stared at the computer screen while moving the mouse. He held a cigarette in the other hand as his peach blossom-shaped eyes squinted at the screen with a frown. He seemed to be troubled. The smell of tobacco pervaded the air in the room. Xuxu slowly strolled towards him as she tried to decipher what was on his mind. He¡¯d been acting strangely and looked troubled ever since dinner yesterday. What had happened? Her footsteps became louder, and Yan Rusheng moved his vision away from the screen towards Xuxu who stood in front of him. Chapter 218. What Does This Have To Do With Having Children? He was taken aback to see Xuxu holding a bowl in her hands. ¡°You didn¡¯t eat much during dinner, so Aunt Zhang made you some handmade noodles.¡± Xuxu gave a light explanation as she placed the bowl in front of him. From the bowl, the fragrance of sesame oil and scallions entered his nostrils. It was a familiar smell that he could recognize even with his eyes closed. He glanced at the noodles and waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Take it away and don¡¯t bother me.¡± This fellow¡­ Xuxu wasn¡¯t sure how she managed to muster her courage to raise her voice at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to have a child?¡± She instantly turned crimson. Young Master Yan looked at her in confusion. What does this have to do with having children? ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be the only one taking care of my health, and¡­¡± Xuxu swallowed before she lashed out again. ¡°And, as you know, our child might inherit your bad temper.¡± She chided him in one breath and stomped away immediately before Yan Rusheng could respond. She suddenly agreed with Zhou Shuang¡¯s reasoning. If they really had a child, he or she mustn¡¯t inherit his bad temper¡ªit was just as bad as a woman going through menopause. Yan Rusheng stared after her fleeing figure. He recalled the words she¡¯d used and his face turned glum. Our child might inherit your bad temper¡­ Was she implying that he had a bad temper? But their child¡­ who will the child take after? Hmmm, the child should look like him indeed. And his or her personality too. That stupid woman doesn¡¯t have any strengths so she should just be responsible for giving birth to their child. He was feeling gloomy, but as he visualized their future child, his mood lightened up considerably. ¡®Ssss¡¯ Immersed in his daydream, the cigarette he was holding soon burned his finger. He threw it away in a hurry. Knock knock knock. Someone knocked again, and he glanced at the door, thinking to himself,¡®Stupid woman how dare you come again.¡¯ He straightened his back and sat up, prim and proper. Then he answered, ¡°Come in.¡± The door swung open, but it was Aunt Zhang instead. Aunt Zhang asked, ¡°Third Young Master, have you eaten the noodles? I¡¯ll wash the bowl if you¡¯re done.¡± His eyes glinted with a flash of disappointment, and he became frustrated. ¡°I¡¯m not eating, bring it away.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Aunt Zhang¡¯s mouth drooped with disappointment as she saw the bowl of noodles which hadn¡¯t been touched at all. She mumbled as she stretched out her hands. ¡°Miss¡¯s fingers were accidentally clamped a few times while making the noodles. Such a pity to dump the whole bowl.¡± Even if you¡¯re not eating, I¡¯m obliged to let you know how much effort Miss had put in. Hmph! What? Wen Xuxu made the noodles? A flash of surprise streaked past Young Master Yan¡¯s eyes. Without hesitation, he snatched the bowl of noodles from Aunt Zhang. ¡°Since it¡¯s a pity to throw away, I¡¯ll try a few mouthfuls later.¡± He dismissed her. ¡°You may leave first. I¡¯ll bring the bowl downstairs after I¡¯m done.¡± Aunt Zhang was bewildered by his actions. Earlier on, he didn¡¯t want to try the noodles, and now without warning, he¡¯d snatched the bowl back like a bandit. Why was it so hard to understand the mindset of youngsters these days? ¡­ At the Ming¡¯s house. After dinner, the Ming family was having dessert together. Being the core of the family, Ming Zhongsheng sat at the center of the couch. Everyone was huddled around him harmoniously as they chatted and ate. His eldest grandson, Ming Anyong, played chess with him. Wen Xinyi was the only girl among his grandchildren, and he doted on her immensely. Chapter 219. Im Not Afraid Wen Xinyi had always occupied the seat next to her grandfather for all occasions. Even at a casual family gathering like this, she sat beside Ming Zhongsheng as she held a fruit platter. When her grandfather made the occasional wrong move, she would caution him on time. ¡°Grandfather, you can¡¯t make this move.¡± After analyzing the opponent¡¯s strategy, Wen Xinyi hurriedly stopped Ming Zhongsheng just as he was about to place his chess piece. Ming Zhongsheng was saved by her timely warning. ¡°Yes, Xinyi is such a smart girl.¡± He withdrew his piece. ¡°Old Sir, there are many police officers outside the house! They¡¯re here to investigate a case!¡± The butler rushed into the room, gasping for breath as he broke the news. Everyone was shocked and startled. They stared at each other in confusion, not knowing what was going on. Even though he might have used some unscrupulous methods while handling his business, it wasn¡¯t serious enough for the police to come knocking late at night. Clatter! Wen Xinyi dropped the fruit platter on the floor, and it fell with a loud clatter. Everyone turned towards her. Her face was drained of color, and Ming Anyong asked her out of concern, ¡°Xinyi, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Wen Xinyi smiled and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering why the police would come here.¡± As she said this, she brushed her hair subconsciously, and her eyes darted elsewhere. The smile on her face was rigid and unnatural. Everyone¡¯s attention was focused on the police officers, and thus they didn¡¯t notice Wen Xinyi¡¯s abnormal reaction. ¡°To investigate a case?¡± Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s face fell, and his tone was somber and cold. He rose and walked out of the room with a stony expression. Everyone scuttled after him closely. Ming Zhongsheng walked to the door and was enraged to see the police in the courtyard. He had stayed in this mansion for over twenty years, and it was the first time the police had paid him a visit. ¡°Let them in,¡± he instructed the butler and returned to the sofa. He wanted to know why the police had come knocking so late at night. Everyone had followed the old man while Wen Xinyi quietly sneaked upstairs. But Ming Ansheng appeared from a corner and blocked her way. She gasped, and her face turned pallid. ¡°Brother Sheng! You almost scared me to death, jumping out of nowhere.¡± She patted her chest as she admonished him. Without waiting for Ming Ansheng to speak, she was about to head back to her room once again. Ming Ansheng grabbed her slender arm and turned to question her, ¡°Xinyi, what are you afraid of?¡± That shrewd pair of eyes blazed at her, but Wen Xinyi tried to avoid him. She lowered her head and stammered, ¡°I-I¡¯m not afraid.¡± ¡°No?¡± Ming Ansheng refused to believe her. ¡°Really! Brother Sheng, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Wen Xinyi pouted indignantly. But she still avoided his shrewd-looking eyes. Whether it was looks or capability, Ming Ansheng was the most outstanding one among all the grandchildren in the Ming family. Even among the countless famous and wealthy bachelors in the capital city, he was one of the finest. Earlier on, he stood on the stairs and observed Wen Xinyi¡¯s every movement and expression. She was obviously hiding something. ¡°Chairman Ming, we suspect that your granddaughter Wen Xinyi is involved with the manipulation of a car accident. We would like her to head back with us for investigation.¡± Chapter 220. How Could You Be So Audaciously Reckless? They could hear the arrival of several police officers from the first floor. Wen Xinyi¡¯s legs turned wobbly, and her face was now ashen. Her whole body was trembling. ¡°Manipulated a car accident?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s deep and slender eyes narrowed with a sinister gleam. He gritted his teeth and glared at Wen Xinyi. ¡°Did you have anything to do with Yan Rusheng¡¯s grandmother¡¯s car accident?¡± His tone was measured and unyielding. No wonder Third Yan had called earlier to say something cryptic and baffling. ¡®Ming Ansheng, when there is a start, there is always an end.¡¯ ¡°Ahhh¡­ no! It wasn¡¯t me!¡± Wen Xinyi shook her head fervently, but her expression had betrayed her guilt. She said again, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I didn¡¯t!¡± Wen Xinyi¡¯s reaction had reaffirmed Ming Ansheng¡¯s suspicions. He couldn¡¯t control his emotions any longer. ¡°Wen Xinyi, how could you be so audaciously reckless?!¡± He lashed at her to unleash his fury and released his grip on her arm. He didn¡¯t flinch when she collapsed on the floor. Turning his head away, he walked past her and strode to his study. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Grandmother Yan¡¯s death would be related to his family. Yan Rusheng aside, even Ming Ansheng had wanted to strangle Wen Xinyi just now, and he was her cousin. ¡°Bullshit. Our Xinyi is such a kindhearted person who couldn¡¯t even bear to step on an ant. How could she be involved in fabricating a car accident¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng was defending Wen Xinyi with all his might. It was then that Ming Ansheng¡¯s yell resonated and reached the first floor, his voice covering the old man¡¯s words. Everyone looked up simultaneously. ¡°Chairman Ming, we are here based on our investigations protocol as we¡¯ve recently received a report. Please cooperate.¡± The police officer remained firm. He looked poised and ready to head upstairs. If the Ming family continued to resist, the police officers would have to resort to force. Ming Zhongsheng was affected by Ming Ansheng¡¯s yell and lost a fair bit of his confidence. However, he was still adamant that his granddaughter was a demure and delicate girl who wouldn¡¯t commit a crime. He turned to Ming Anyong. ¡°Go get Xinyi.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Anyong swiftly ascended the stairs and came back down. Wen Xinyi trailed behind him with her head lowered. She seemed to have diminished in size. The instant Ming Zhongsheng saw her, he had the answer in his heart. Wen Xinyi reached the first floor and looked at the officers. Each of her steps took much effort as she slowly walked forward. Finally, she stopped and didn¡¯t dare to move forward. The police officers swarmed around her in the next second. ¡°Wen Xinyi, you¡¯re suspected of being involved with the manipulation of a car accident. Please follow us to the police station.¡± Wen Xinyi stumbled backward in fear and looked at Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°Grandfather, I¡­I didn¡¯t do it. I really didn¡¯t.¡± Anyone who wasn¡¯t a fool had the answer in their heart the minute they saw her. Just a while ago, the whole family was still spending time together happily. But now, everyone remained dumbfounded, and no one stepped forward to defend her. How could someone so fragile and delicate like Xinyi have committed such a crime? Everyone was also curious to know the identity of the car accident¡¯s victim. Just as everyone was speculating, Ming Zhongsheng spoke up. ¡°Which car accident?¡± But he seemed to already know the answer. The police replied, ¡°Flourish & Prosper¡¯s Chairman Wang Daqin¡¯s fatal car accident.¡± Everyone at the scene, including Ming Zhongsheng, turned as pale as a sheet as their hearts pounded violently. ¡­ Young Master Yan, who initially had no appetite at all, finished the entire bowl in no time. He smacked his lips, and incredibly, he felt that it wasn¡¯t enough. He glanced at the bowl, and it dawned on him that it had been a while since he last drank the coffee she brewed. Chapter 221. You Should Rest Early Too Yan Rusheng dialed Xuxu¡¯s number the second he was struck with the thought. Xuxu had just showered and was about to drink her milk when her phone rang. She frowned instantly when she saw the caller. Couldn¡¯t he just yell for her since they were both at home? She answered and adopted her professional secretary tone, addressing him politely as ¡®President Yan¡¯. ¡°Get me some coffee.¡± Yan Rusheng instructed her firmly. He wanted to drink coffee at this time? Did he intend to stay awake throughout the night? Xuxu cursed him silently, but she obeyed with a ¡®Yes¡¯. Other than being meticulous and capable at work, Xuxu possessed the qualities of being a good and loving wife. Every time she brewed tea or coffee, she would carry it out seriously, step by step. The tea and coffee she brewed were the best that Yan Rusheng had ever tasted, and no one else could compare. One glance at the fragrant coffee, and he knew that she had added more milk. Xuxu rushed to explain when she saw his glum expression. ¡°Coffee isn¡¯t good for the heart, especially when you drink it at night. For the sake of your health, you should reduce your caffeine intake.¡± She glanced at his ashtray which was littered with cigarette butts. She persevered, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t smoke so much either.¡± She spoke tactfully as she looked at Yan Rusheng with raised eyebrows. ¡°For the sake of having a healthy child, I suppose President Yan should be able to make this tiny sacrifice?¡± She pursed her lips with a faint innocent smile. Her gentleness and smile brought on enormous tidal waves in Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. Now that she was speaking casually about children, did it mean that she was starting to accept him? Or did she merely want to complete the task of having a child? Anyway, it was a good start, wasn¡¯t it? At the thought of this positivity, every single pore in his body began to feel excited. He decided to overlook the fact that she had added more milk as he savored the coffee with relish. ¡°Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Wen Xuxu peered at the pile of work and asked Yan Rusheng earnestly. Yan Rusheng declined with a surly look. ¡°Sleep early.¡± Xuxu rejected and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy.¡± She knew Grandmother had always yearned for them to be together so that she could be his able assistant, both at home and at the workplace. So she shouldn¡¯t just concentrate on getting her health back and having kids. She needed to share his workload at Flourish & Prosper too. Except for the day before, he¡¯d recently been working late in the study. As for her, she¡¯d been resting for an entire month. It was time for her to move forward. ¡°Stupid woman, I¡¯m asking you to sleep early. Why are you still here?¡± Young Master Yan resumed his usual boorish and burly attitude toward her. He looked as if he would splash her with coffee if she didn¡¯t leave soon. Xuxu retreated hastily. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m going back to the room. You should rest early too.¡± She had merely asked him a casual question, yet it resulted in Young Master Yan¡¯s restlessness. You should rest early too¡­ Was that stupid woman throwing a hint with her sudden concern? He couldn¡¯t sit still and had the urge to barge into their bedroom. Feeling vexed, he began to light up yet another cigarette. He reclined lazily on his chair. The top buttons on his shirt came apart, exposing his chest, as though it knew that its owner was feeling frustrated. Chapter 222. It Doesnt Matter If Its a Misunderstanding Yan Rusheng took a few puffs before he suddenly recalled Wen Xuxu¡¯s advice earlier. ¡®You shouldn¡¯t smoke so much.¡¯ ¡®For the sake of having a healthy child, I suppose President Yan should be able to make this tiny sacrifice?¡¯ On a whim, he threw the cigarette into the trash can and even trashed the cigarette case as well. He really couldn¡¯t focus on his work and decided he was done for the day. He stood up and left the study. Yan Rusheng twisted the doorknob and pushed the door quietly. Xuxu was sitting at the balcony drinking milk. She seemed to be deep in thought and didn¡¯t even notice that he was standing behind her for some time. It¡¯s so late in the night¡ªis she thinking of Jiang Zhuoheng? Young Master Yan¡¯s expression turned cold, and he bent down. The next second, he was lifting Xuxu off the chair and carrying her in his arms. He went straight for their bed. Caught by surprise, Xuxu didn¡¯t even get a chance to respond before she was being thrown on the bed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?!¡± she shrieked in fear. Shrinking back, she stared at the man lying on top her. When did he arrive? Why didn¡¯t she hear a single sound? ¡°Making a baby.¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth as he replied. His long slender fingers started to unfasten the crystal blue buttons on his shirt. His aura resembled a savage beast. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯ve already told you. I¡­ it¡¯s inconvenient for me these next few days,¡± Xuxu spluttered fearfully, shaking her head in alarm. Yan Rusheng sounded unconcerned as he said, ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient now, then you should start preparing by familiarizing yourself with my body in advance.¡± He pounced on her once again. Her tiny body gave him a wonderful and soft sensation. Every time they were in such an intimate position, he had an overwhelming urge to bury her inside him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, please don¡¯t do this.¡± Xuxu felt suffocated as she lay beneath him. It wasn¡¯t his weight that was pressing down on her; she felt smothered from his aura and warm breath. The feeling was exactly the same as three years ago. ¡°Then who do you want it to be?¡± Yan Rusheng bit her earlobe as he whispered in her ear. His warm breath relentlessly attacked the sensitive nerves in Xuxu¡¯s body in an oppressive way. She bit her lips and frowned in agony. Her hands were clenching the bedsheets tightly. Yan Rusheng noticed her expression and felt that she looked like someone who was waiting in agony for the death penalty. A feeling of rage flashed through him. He paused his actions and got up. He stood by the bed and threw her a cold look. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m not planning to force myself on you. Why do you have on such a tortured expression?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Dumbfounded, Xuxu opened her eyes. When did she have such an expression? ¡°Go to the company with me tomorrow morning.¡± Yan Rusheng commanded before he left in a huff. He¡¯d make sure that she¡¯d stay by his side 24 hours a day. Let¡¯s see if she has the time to think of another man then. As Xuxu watched him leave, she sighed deeply. Yan Rusheng, the furthest distance on Earth isn¡¯t life and death. It¡¯s a fact that you aren¡¯t aware that I¡¯m in love with you, even though I¡¯ve stayed by your side all these years¡­ When you aren¡¯t around, I think of you. When you are around, I wish I could keep staring at you. In such a case, why would I think of another man? Is it because I don¡¯t mean anything to you? So to you, everything I do is wrong. Then let¡¯s keep it that way. It didn¡¯t matter if it was all a misunderstanding. It was better than revealing her real feelings towards him. That would only make her seem even more pathetic. Chapter 223. When Have They Ever Been On Good Terms? Young Master Yan left not because of his pride, but because he remembered how agonizing yesterday was. He immediately took a cold shower when he left their bedroom in the morning. So he was determined that during the few days while Xuxu was ¡®inconvenient¡¯, he would be better off sleeping in the guest room. If not the consequences would be catastrophic! He might not be able to douse his burning desire. He would wait until she was ready, and then he would torment her mercilessly. He would make sure she didn¡¯t have the spare energy or time to think of other men. ¡­ From Xuxu¡¯s perspective of yesterday, Yan Rusheng¡¯s command before he left was a favor. She was fretting over the possibility that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t allow her to return to work. She had lost a lot of weight this month. And since she hardly went out, her appearance seemed rather frail and dispirited. She selected a white sleeveless chiffon shirt and a pair of orange pants among the clothes that Yan Rusheng had bought for her. To look brighter and more fresh, she put on light makeup and tied her hair up. She managed to attain her desired look. When she entered the dining room, Yan Rusheng was eating his breakfast while reading a newspaper. His actions were graceful as he ate the food elegantly with his fork and knife. He spotted Xuxu as she walked in, his eyes glancing casually at her. To his utmost surprise, he was greeted with such a lovely sight which lit up his eyes. His chewing paused momentarily as a result. He stared at Xuxu in mild disbelief and infatuation. ¡°Good morning, President Yan.¡± Xuxu smiled daintily at Yan Rusheng. President Yan¡­ Did she have to use such a formal title to address him? Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell, and his demeanor turned cold. ¡°Do you know what time it is now?¡± After chiding her, he continued impatiently, ¡°Hurry and eat your breakfast.¡± He bent his head, speared a small piece of bacon with his fork and put it in his mouth. Slightly fuming with rage, he gritted his teeth, thinking that he had rather good taste. Just see how good she looks in that outfit. She feels like a changed person, full of vitality and radiance. No, it was because he knew her figure well. And he was aware of her measurements and the colors that complemented her. Once he started visualizing her body, he couldn¡¯t help remembering that wonderful sensation of touching her soft skin and found himself captivated by the memory. His body, which had remained chaste for the last few years, began to writhe uncontrollably at the thoughts running in his mind. He wondered if Jiang Zhuoheng had also felt the same intense, fiery desire for Xuxu when they were together¡­ Suddenly his face turned frigid, and he sneaked a peek at her. How far exactly had she and Jiang Zhuoheng progressed in their relationship? Wen Xuxu seemed to sense that he was looking at her, and she lifted her head. She caught his gaze in mid-air. She bent her head once again when she noticed his hostile and sullen expression. Obviously, she was clueless that the young master opposite her was teeming with jealousy. She assumed that he was just being his usual self and regarded her as an eyesore. Both of them remained silent as they ate their breakfast. Yan Rusheng drove the car out from the garage while Xuxu waited for him at the steps below the main doors. The car stopped right next to her. Subconsciously she walked to the back of the car. Yan Rusheng snarled angrily, ¡°Do you intend to inform the entire company that we aren¡¯t on good terms?¡± Xuxu paused abruptly in her tracks. Right away, she understood. However, in her heart, she silently derided him. When have they ever been on good terms? Anyway, even if they weren¡¯t, they had to consider the big picture. For fear of any consequences that might arise, they should act as loving newly-weds in front of outsiders. She retracted her hand, and without a word, she went to the front passenger seat and sat inside. Chapter 224. I’ll Allow You To Address Me As Hubby Although they had scandals before, but to outsiders, there wasn¡¯t any doubt regarding their relationship. Registering their marriage was also the next logical step too. But it was their first time walking side by side when entering Flourish & Prosper, now officially as husband and wife. Only then did everyone realize how compatible they looked. When everyone saw the couple, they began to understand the notion of a perfect match made in heaven, and how they were an ideal pair¡­ ¡°Good morning, President Yan. Good morning, Lady Boss.¡± The moment they stepped in, everyone rushed to greet them. Everyone changed the way they addressed Xuxu. It was no longer Secretary Wen or Miss Wen. They addressed her as Lady Boss or Madam. At home, Aunt Zhang and the rest of the servants still addressed her as Miss. It made her feel extremely awkward and uneasy when the employees addressed her differently in relation to Yan Rusheng. Her face blushed, and she lowered her head. She followed closely next to Yan Rusheng without a word. Both of them strode towards the elevator. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng reached out and held her hand domineeringly. He seemed to be declaring his possession of the woman next to him. This woman was his. Xuxu stared at him, slightly startled. His expression remained indifferent and unreadable. His strides remained steady, as if holding her hand was something natural that he did every day. They reached the elevator, and it opened instantly. After people streamed out of the elevator, Yan Rusheng walked in while holding Xuxu¡¯s hand. The rest of the people who were waiting for the lift were conscientious and decided to wait for the next one to arrive. Even though they were the only ones in the elevator, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t seem to have any intentions of releasing her hand. Cough, cough. She cleared her throat and spoke up. ¡°President Yan, aren¡¯t our actions a little too deliberate?¡± Yan Rusheng swung his head towards her, and a scornful smile played at the corners of his lips. ¡°You think that I was putting on a show?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Wasn¡¯t he acting? Her heart pounded as she brooded over his words in her head. He sneered coldly and leaned close to her ear. ¡°I¡¯m helping you get accustomed to your new identity as Flourish & Prosper¡¯s lady boss.¡± He pressed on, ¡°To help you accept the fact that you¡¯re married, I¡¯ll allow you to address me as hubby in front of outsiders.¡± The moment he uttered the word ¡®hubby¡¯, his heart began to tingle. He yearned for her to address him as hubby right away. ¡°Thanks,¡± Xuxu replied airily. How many women in the country have wanted him as their husband, and she was the only one to receive this exclusive privilege. Just a mere thank you wouldn¡¯t suffice; she should kneel and bow to express her gratitude for his supreme graciousness. What was this attitude?! Yan Rusheng furrowed his brows furiously, and he was about to lash out at her when the elevator reached their office. He flung her hand away fiercely and walked out of the elevator. This stupid woman doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her! Xuxu trailed behind him and watched as he stormed off in a fury. Yan Rusheng, if you can¡¯t promise me anything, then don¡¯t give me hope. ¡­ Wen Xuxu entered the president¡¯s office and saw that another colleague was occupying her previous desk. She realized that Yan Rusheng hadn¡¯t informed her of her work tasks. However, Yan Rusheng arranged for her to brew tea and to handle a few calls that were diverted from his secretary the whole morning. Regarding the scheduling of his social engagements, Yan Rusheng gave her free rein. When it came to his declaration, Young Master Yan really walked the talk. He made sure that Xuxu was in his office, within his sight the entire day except for toilet breaks. Chapter 225. Get Familiar With Each Other Lunch had always been bought by the secretary. As usual, both of them sat on the sofa with a few dishes set before them. They picked up the peppered beef fillet unanimously with their chopsticks. Seeing this, Xuxu subconsciously retracted her chopsticks. She couldn¡¯t believe it when Yan Rusheng picked up two slices of beef fillet and placed it in her bowl. He remained silent. As for Xuxu, she was pleasantly surprised but didn¡¯t utter a word. This harmonious atmosphere was hard to come by, and they didn¡¯t want to wreck it. After lunch, Xuxu stood up and was about to clear away the lunch boxes when Yan Rusheng suddenly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Wen Xuxu, let¡¯s take an afternoon nap.¡± Without waiting for Xuxu¡¯s response, he stood up and dragged her towards the room. A nap was something of an extravagance to Yan Rusheng. All these years, he had never taken a nap in that room. He was always working his socks off at the office every day. Whenever there were any business engagements or entertainments, he would return home only during the wee hours. At most, he would have a smoke on the sofa and take a brief rest. It¡¯s always lonely when one is at the top, especially at such a young age. In the eyes of others, Yan Rusheng had already obtained success. But in his heart, he was constantly striving to take it up a notch. Xuxu hung her head and submissively allowed Yan Rusheng to drag her into the room. Everything still looked familiar to her. She couldn¡¯t help but take a glance at the bed. The necklace was still hanging there. Each time she looked at it, her heart would skip a beat. Only this time, he was holding her hand when he went inside. Was heaven ridiculing her? With stiff movements, she withdrew her hand from his palm. She had a compulsion to grab him by the collar and rebuke him. Having already made a lifetime promise to someone, why was he still trying to stir up her heart? Why couldn¡¯t they maintain their marital relationship and fulfill the intended obligation of that marriage? What exactly did he want? Was he putting up a show for his deceased grandmother to see? By now, she realized that she had over-estimated herself. Without a shadow of a doubt, it was impossible for her to be with Yan Rusheng wholeheartedly. Just like the night when he¡¯d barged into her room and kissed and hugged her, just like how he¡¯d prepared an entire wardrobe of new clothes for her, just like that afternoon when he¡¯d suddenly held her hands in public. Each and every time, her imagination would run wild. Did he loathe her less? In time, would he also develop feelings towards her? The more she retaliated, the more Yan Rusheng wanted to subdue. He wanted her to grow familiar with everything about him¡ªeven if she didn¡¯t love him, he just wanted her to be familiar with him. His natural disposition was that of an overbearing person. If the soft approach didn¡¯t work, then he would get tough. Without giving her a chance to speak, he bent down to carry her and threw her on the bed. After which, he walked back and closed the door. The sky was clear and bright. Young Master Yan loosened his shirt buttons one by one right before the eyes of his newly wedded wife. A physique so flawless and perfect, just like the Orient sunrise, and presented so gorgeously before Xuxu. Xuxu stared at him with widened eyes wide, and she reacted in the same way as the night before. She kept a tight grip on the bed sheets¡ªas if a great catastrophe was about to befall her. Perhaps, he had already expected that she would react in this manner. Or perhaps she would be furious beyond measure. Yan Rusheng curled his lips and broke into a broad smile. He bent his waist and patiently lowered his body down in a leisurely manner. Xuxu¡¯s entire body was shaking profusely. His smile became charmingly wanton, and he said teasingly, ¡°After all these years, you should know my external appearance by heart. It¡¯s about time we get to know each other¡¯s bodies.¡± Chapter 226. Didnt You Want To Take An Afternoon Nap His body couldn¡¯t hold it any longer, and he swiftly pressed it down. Although they were separated by a piece of wispy chiffon fabric, they could still feel each other¡¯s body warmth. What ought to come, would come¡ªXuxu closed her eyes as a sign of defeat. But even with her eyes closed, she could still sense the necklace swaying above her head. Yan Rusheng pressed kisses against her crimson cheeks and neck. She wondered if his lips were too soft or if her instincts had gone awry. Somehow, she felt that he was being exceptionally gentle. ¡°You¡¯re mine, and you¡¯ll be with me forever¡­¡± ¡°Ah Sheng!¡± All of a sudden, Xuxu opened her eyes which were wet with tears. Suddenly, the man in front of her froze. He could tell from the uneven tone of her voice that she was crying. He grew anxious when he saw her tears. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± He wiped off her tears with his palm. His actions were domineering without the slightest trace of tenderness. However, it was a little unbelievable that he didn¡¯t lose his temper. ¡°I¡¯m just feeling overwhelmed with all these thoughts running through my mind,¡± Xuxu replied hoarsely, and she brushed off his hand. Mustering her strength, she pushed him away and turned to roll to the other side of the bed. It felt like her words were said in a fit of pique. Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t about to let her off with just that. He shifted closer to her back and wrapped an arm around her waist, pressing his lips against her ear. With a tinge of jealousy in his tone, he asked, ¡°So, what kind of thoughts came to mind? What were you upset about?¡± His breath grew more intense and warm. Xuxu¡¯s heart was tickled, and at the same time, she felt stupefied by his question. She wanted to break free but found no room to escape. She could only bite her lips and bear with it. She frowned and refused to answer him. Since he¡¯d already forgotten about it, she would think of it as just another beautiful dream in her life. In this lifetime, she wouldn¡¯t reveal it to him nor would she divulge it to anyone else. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t question her further¡ªhe knew that it had something to do with Jiang Zhuoheng. Even though he had his suspicions, he wasn¡¯t ready to hear her admit that she was thinking of Jiang Zhuoheng while lying on his bed. But the words ¡°Ah Sheng¡± brought him much comfort. At least, she didn¡¯t blurt out Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s name like the last time she was drunk. He felt smug about it. The lips which were pressing on her ears moved once more. ¡°Say that to me again.¡± It was the first time he¡¯d heard her calling out ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯, and it felt so soothing to his ears. It evoked the same feelings in his heart. He waited expectantly. Say that again? Xuxu frowned perplexingly. She thought for a moment and recalled what she said. She shot an annoyed glance at him. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what Fang Jiayin calls you?¡± There was a tinge of jealousy in her tone. He was ecstatic upon hearing this. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± With a sparkle in his eyes, he embraced her waist tightly and teased her, ¡°Stupid woman. You¡¯re the one who said it first.¡± To think that she¡¯d stopped saying it after he told her not to. If she was such an obedient girl, why was she still thinking about another man after he forbade her to? ¡°And I¡¯m the one who met you first,¡± Xuxu mumbled and paid no attention to the man who was feeling immeasurably satisfied with himself. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t make out what she was mumbling about and asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Xuxu closed her eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to take an afternoon nap?¡± I think I heard her mumbling about meeting someone? Yan Rusheng was baffled. Ironically, people tended to focus on minute details, overlooking the big picture. Chapter 227. How Troublesome Xuxu managed to have a peaceful and uneventful afternoon nap. She opened her eyes and stared at the digital clock on the bedside cabinet. The time was 3 p.m. Startled by the time, she sat up swiftly. No one was beside her. Oh my goodness. How could I have slept for so long? She chided herself as she got off the bed to smooth out the quilt. When she lifted the quilt, she was astonished to see flecks of red on the spotlessly white bed sheets. Turning her head around, she deliberately reached behind to feel her back. Oh no! Yan Rusheng had carried her to the bed, and she¡¯d slept without changing into a new sanitary napkin. What should I do now? ¡°How troublesome!¡± She knotted her eyebrows in annoyance. ¡°It¡¯s all his fault for wanting to take an afternoon nap.¡± She grumbled and walked to the wardrobe at the same time, opening the wardrobe door to an array of white shirts and black trousers. There was only one outfit that belonged to her. It was the white blazer suit she saw the previous time. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice came from behind her. His voice was a sea of calm without the slightest trace of emotions. Even then, Xuxu was startled as if she¡¯d been caught red-handed. She frantically closed the wardrobe door and spun around to explain. ¡°I wanted to look for a suitable set of clothes to change into.¡± ¡°I forgot to prepare one for you.¡± Yan Rusheng walked over and examined her clothes. He raised his eyebrows, a look of bafflement on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She wouldn¡¯t have looked through his wardrobe for an outfit without a valid reason. Without waiting for a response from Xuxu, he seemed to have recalled something. He smiled mischievously, a glint of humor in his eyes. Although it wasn¡¯t apparent, Xuxu caught him. She pressed her lips tightly with a resigned look on her face. What a sorry sight. ¡°Haha!¡± Yan Rusheng burst out laughing. His candid laughter sounded so pleasing to the ears. It had been a long time since he¡¯d caught her in such a sorry state. Xuxu frowned and stared at him menacingly, but this didn¡¯t dampen his cheerful mood. After a few laughs, he opened the wardrobe door and took out a white shirt. He also took out a pair of boxers from a drawer and handed them to her. ¡°Change into these and pass me your clothes. I¡¯ll have them sent out to be cleaned.¡± He stopped provoking her, but there were traces of a faint smile around the corners of his mouth. Xuxu looked at him, stunned. ¡°You want me to change into your clothes?¡± Did she hear wrongly? But he was so mysophobic! ¡°Why?¡± Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°You don¡¯t like them?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Xuxu shook her head. She took the clothes from him, feeling grateful in her heart. ¡°Thank you, President Yan.¡± Under such good weather, the clothes would quickly be dried. But she didn¡¯t reach out to take the boxers. With a laugh, she declined him. ¡°Forget about this. It¡¯s not necessary.¡± ¡°You plan to walk around half naked?¡± Yan Rusheng deliberately pointed to the lower half of her body. Xuxu blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s alright. There¡¯s really no need to wear them. I can bear with it and get changed when I¡¯m home.¡± She wanted to tell him that his boxers weren¡¯t suitable for her, but it was too awkward for her to mention it. ¡°Wen Xuxu, put them on,¡± Yan Rusheng ordered her. ¡°Mm.¡± In the end, Xuxu chose not to argue with him, and she reached out to receive the boxers. Chapter 228. Stopped Dead In Her Tracks She stared at the boxers in her hand. She not only couldn¡¯t stick on the sanitary napkin, it was also too big for her to wear. Young Master Yan¡¯s expression had softened from satisfaction, his eyes brimming with affection from just looking at this bashful little woman. Very slowly, Xuxu turned around and walked to the bathroom. Young Master Yan impatiently urged her on from behind. ¡°Hurry up and get changed. When you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll have someone bring your clothes to the laundry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can wash them.¡± Xuxu turned to shake her head at him. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t insist. Given the situation, he¡¯d rather not have other people wash the clothes. Yan Rusheng kept silent, and Xuxu knew that he had tacitly agreed. She smiled and proceeded to the bathroom. Her discreet but unintentional smile would have been an alluring sight to Yan Rusheng. He turned around and elegantly walked towards the bed. Lifting the quilt, a smear of red greeted his eyes. He had a perverse urge¡­ to snap a picture of it. Hm¡­ This was a fantastic idea. In the future, he could even use this to mock her. Thinking of this, he swiftly went out to grab his cellphone and took a few pictures. The photos were saved in the same password-encrypted photo album as the photos taken during the meeting when Xuxu fell asleep. He opened the photo album and couldn¡¯t help but scroll through those photos he had taken before. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you help me please?¡± Suddenly, Xuxu¡¯s voice rang out from behind him. Young Master Yan¡¯s hand trembled with guilt for a moment. Hastily, he locked his cellphone and feigned impatience. ¡°What do you want?¡± Xuxu stuck her head out from the bathroom. With a fawning smile, she asked, ¡°Can you get me my bag, please?¡± She forgot that she¡¯d kept the sanitary napkin in her bag. ¡°Wait,¡± Yan Rusheng replied and walked towards the door. A moment later, he came in with Xuxu¡¯s bag in hand. Xuxu opened the bathroom door just enough to wedge part of her body through. When Yan Rusheng walked in, she had already stretched out her hand in anticipation. Seeing her eager pose, Yan Rusheng decided to tease her. He paused his steps just when she was almost about to grab it. He watched her with a mischievous smile. He¡¯s so infuriating! Xuxu stomped her feet impatiently. ¡°Hurry up and give it to me.¡± Young Master Yan feigned ignorance. ¡°Give what to you?¡± This guy¡­ he¡¯s just a downright punk. Xuxu¡¯s face turned red again. ¡°Give me my bag.¡± Yan Rusheng nonchalantly replied with an ¡°oh¡± and slowly took two steps forward. Xuxu quickly stretched out her nimble hand towards the bag. To her surprise, he anticipated her move and managed to dodge her. Failing to catch hold of her bag, Xuxu lost her balance and fell. Falling flat on her face. With mock admonishment, Yan Rusheng said, ¡°I was about to give it to you. Why are you so impatient?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu gnashed her teeth and clawed at the floor. ¡®Dong.¡¯ Her bag dropped before her eyes. When she looked up, Yan Rusheng had already turned around. With one hand stuffed into the pocket of his trousers, he gracefully strode towards the door. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect your butt to be so flat too.¡± He suddenly said this just before he reached the door. Upon hearing it, Xuxu instinctively reached behind to feel her back before stopping dead in her tracks. After the towering figure had left the room, she clenched her fists and pounded the floor. Tsk! He¡¯d made a fool out of her. Chapter 229. Give It To You If You Like It¡¯s true. She had never been reduced to such an embarrassingly pathetic state before. It was because of her period that she¡¯d been left in such an awkward situation today. When Xuxu put on Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirt, it covered her thighs. She didn¡¯t take heed of Yan Rusheng¡¯s instructions and continued wearing her own panties, but she wore his boxers over it. She washed her pants and hung it on a hanger to dry by the window. After that, she replaced the bedsheets with a new set and folded up the soiled one, intending to bring it home to wash. While she was changing the bedsheets, she subconsciously thought of the necklace that was hanging on the headboard. Xuxu paused and raised her head to look at the words ¡®A Lifetime¡¯ on the pendant. She held it up with her hands and gently stroked the tiny diamonds on the pendant with her thumb. The dazzling brilliance pierced her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you if you like.¡± Yan Rusheng had suddenly come in while she wasn¡¯t looking. His tone was lazy and nonchalant. ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± With a tinge of guilt, Xuxu let go of the necklace and continued to change the bedsheets. As she knelt on the bed and bent her waist, the position had lifted her butt up. Under the big loose shirt, the silhouette of her body¡¯s curves was partially visible, inviting one to have lustful thoughts. Yan Rusheng accidentally caught a glimpse. He felt a lump in his throat and had the impulse to hug her from behind. He quickly shifted his eyes away to divert his attention. ¡°It¡¯s certainly not as beautiful as the necklace ¡®Until The End of Time¡¯.¡± As he finished his sentence, he had reached the headboard and pulled down the necklace. Placing it on his palm, he lowered his head for a moment. After that, he casually threw it on the bedside cabinet as if it wasn¡¯t precious or significant to him. ¡°But you¡¯ve always hung it there, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but question him. She instantly regretted it and chided herself. So he hung it in his room¡ªwhat did that have to do with her? She sounded a little emotional. Even though Young Master Yan didn¡¯t discern the hint of jealousy in her tone, it was enough to put him in a cheery mood. He took a glance at the necklace once more and said indifferently, ¡°That year, it was almost Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day when Wang Haiming gave this necklace to me. He¡¯d personally designed ten similar necklaces, but they weren¡¯t put on sale. He gifted the necklaces to all his couple friends. That¡¯s why Fang Jiayin also owns a similar necklace.¡± Xuxu was stunned upon hearing this. ¡°It was from Wang Haiming?¡± Although she didn¡¯t associate much with Wang Haiming, she did have some understanding about him because he was a good friend of Yan Rusheng¡¯s in B City. His family owned a corporation dealing with precious stones and jewels. It was one of the leading enterprises in the country¡¯s jewelry industry. If this necklace was from Wang Haiming, then why did Fang Jiayin say that her necklace was a gift from Yan Rusheng on Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day? She¡¯d even said that Yan Rusheng had chosen it with her and it was a limited edition item. Yan Rusheng was pleasantly pleased with her reaction. He smiled slightly and feigned surprise. ¡°Were you thinking otherwise¡­?¡± He was on cloud nine at the thought of her jealousy. As expected, his conjecture was right. As long as she didn¡¯t maintain contact with Jiang Zhuoheng, she¡¯d be able to accept their marriage and get used to being his wife. This sign of jealousy proves that she¡¯s slowly accepting this role, didn¡¯t it? All in all, this is a good start. Xuxu lowered her eyes and took a quick glance at the necklace. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head as she replied flippantly, ¡°I¡¯m not thinking of anything. I just felt that Wang Haiming was very generous. Even if his family is in the jewelry business, there¡¯s no need for him to do that much.¡± Chapter 230. Was He Trying To Explain? She couldn¡¯t help but believe Yan Rusheng was telling the truth¡ªthere wasn¡¯t any reason for him to lie after all. But why was he telling her all this? It sounded like he was trying to explain. Even more startling was the fact that he¡¯d mentioned Fang Jiayin¡¯s name. But his expression and tone didn¡¯t betray a hint of his emotions. She was baffled! Yan Rusheng pressed his lips, a slight curl at the edge of his mouth. It resembled a budding snow lotus¡ªso beautiful and pure that it seemed beyond her reach. His eyes were twinkling with a faint smile too. Xuxu immediately avoided his gaze for fear that she might end up captivated. ¡°Watch TV then.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke after some time, and he opened a drawer. He took out a remote control and threw it over to Xuxu. He was about to turn and leave when a thought struck him. He added, ¡°If you don¡¯t feel like watching TV, you can help me by organizing the documents which need my signature.¡± He scanned Xuxu¡¯s lower body, and a faint playful smile appeared in his eyes again. ¡°No one would dare to enter my office without knocking first.¡± Grandmother was the only one who would, but she¡¯s not around anymore. He left the room and shut the door behind him. Xuxu was left bewildered and intrigued by the drastic changes in his behavior. What¡¯s going on? He was still ridiculing her before they took that nap. Xuxu switched on the TV; a melodrama was playing on one of the capital city¡¯s channels. She didn¡¯t switch channels as both her heart and mind weren¡¯t focused on watching TV right now. She stared in fixation at the necklace with the words ¡®A Lifetime¡¯ on the bedside cabinet. She lost track of time, and finally, her aching neck jarred her back to reality. They were entering the hottest period of summer and the days were the longest during these months. It was already past four, and yet the sun was still shining brightly. Xuxu put down the remote control and left the bed. She forgot that she was still wearing Yan Rusheng¡¯s boxers and the moment she stood up, it fell from her waist to her ankles. She lowered her head and looked at the white boxers. This was really embarrassing¡­ She decided against wearing it since his shirt was huge. Her former work attire usually ended somewhere above her knees anyway. She scooped up Young Master Yan¡¯s boxers and washed it before leaving it out to dry. Her pants were half-dried already. In such hot weather, she wouldn¡¯t mind wearing them in that state on a normal day. But it was currently an inconvenient time for her, so wearing a damp pair of pants wouldn¡¯t be a wise decision. So she could only wait. If you don¡¯t feel like watching TV, you can help me by organizing the documents which need my signature¡­ Xuxu decided to leave the room upon recalling Yan Rusheng¡¯s words. He had already promised that no one would barge into his office without seeking permission first, especially with everyone aware of their relationship now. So if she was still feeling bashful while wearing his clothes, it would seem too pretentious. After much deliberation, she walked to the door and opened it. She quickly scanned the entire office¡ªYan Rusheng was at his desk, and he was focused on his computer screen. She made sure that no one was outside before she set foot inside the room. She walked towards Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Give me all the required documents, I¡¯ll go over them on the couch.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her and lifted his head. Exhaustion was clearly shown on his face. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but berate herself. She had rested for so long and didn¡¯t manage to help him in any way. It was her first day back, and she had only caused him more trouble. Chapter 231. Lets Go Home That stain on the bed was another troublesome thing that she had caused. ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded slightly and passed Xuxu the stack of documents which were right in front of him. Xuxu received it with both hands and walked to the couch. Silence resumed in the spacious office after they returned to work. One sat at the desk and the other on the couch. Other than the occasional sounds of typing and rustling of papers, both of them worked in silence. When it was nearly time to end work, Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary came knocking on the door to inform him. Xuxu heard him and retreated into the bedroom. She went to check on her clothes. They weren¡¯t entirely dry when she felt them, but it shouldn¡¯t pose a hindrance even if she put them on now. She quickly put on her pants hastily and removed Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirt. Knowing his obsession with cleanliness, she felt that she should wash it. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Yan Rusheng entered the room. Xuxu spun around with the shirt in her hands and then replied, ¡°I want to wash your shirt.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± Yan Rusheng said firmly and then softened his tone. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s go home.¡± Let¡¯s go home¡­ These words caught both Wen Xuxu and himself by surprise. He had spoken in a casual tone, and it felt like they had traveled back to the past when Xuxu was staying with the Yan family. He had never done his classroom duties back at school. Whenever Xuxu was on duty, he would arrogantly sit on his desk like a boss, his legs crossed as he impatiently told her to get a move on. After Xuxu was done, he would leap to his feet lightly and say to her, ¡°Hurry up, let¡¯s go home.¡± Even though he sounded different now, the casualness was the same. Xuxu regained herself after a moment and nodded hastily. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She looked at the shirt in her hands before saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll wash it at home.¡± She stuffed the shirt into a bag which contained the bedsheets and went back to get her handbag, then said, ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a curt reply. They left the bedroom. After they got out of the elevator, they walked side by side like how they did in the morning and stepped past Flourish & Prosper¡¯s doors. But the two figures¡ªone towering and the other petite¡ªseemed to look more harmonious than they did that morning. Except for the President, there was no one else above Xuxu in terms of the hierarchy as she shared the same office as him. Everyone was speculating if the two of them were really working in the office the entire day. Various rumors were rife. Some of them were saying that Young Master Yan and Madam might be doing something else when they were tired from work¡­ Of course, these rumors were restricted within the company, and no one dared to leak them out. This entire week, they would accompany each other to the company and go back home together. It was almost six, but the sun was still shining strongly. Xuxu stood on the steps as usual while she waited for Yan Rusheng to drive the car over. Her phone rang, and her heart violently skipped a beat when she saw Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s name displayed on the screen. Her face turned slightly pale. She answered the call with a soft ¡°Hello¡±. It had been a long time since she¡¯d last heard his voice. ¡°Xuxu, are you done with work?¡± He sounded exhausted, causing Xuxu to suddenly feel a tingling sensation at the tip of her nose. She suppressed the guilt she felt towards him and spoke composedly. ¡°I just finished up, and I¡¯m about to head home. Have you been busy?¡± The last time she met him was at Grandmother¡¯s mourning hall, and it was more than a month ago. They hadn¡¯t kept in contact since then. Chapter 232. Was He Going To Sleep Here Tonight? She wanted to call Jiang Zhuoheng, but she didn¡¯t know what to say to him. How should she explain herself? That she had caused Grandmother¡¯s death? That she broke her promise to him because she needed to fulfill her grandmother¡¯s final wish? Or should she say that Yan Rusheng had coerced her? They all sounded like excuses and even the mere thought of saying them felt pretentious. ¡°My workload has been crazy lately,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng replied in his usual gentle tone. Other than a hint of exhaustion, he sounded fine. ¡°But I came back to take over the business, so it¡¯s normal to be busy during the transition.¡± ¡°No matter how important work is, don¡¯t forget to rest and take care of your health,¡± Xuxu reminded him gently. They didn¡¯t chat for long before Jiang Zhuoheng excused himself by saying he had something on. Coincidentally, Yan Rusheng¡¯s car had exited the car park and was driving towards her. After ending the conversation and saying their goodbyes, Xuxu stored her phone away. Yan Rusheng parked in front of the steps¡ªXuxu went around the car and slid into the front passenger seat. Yan Rusheng glanced at her as she fastened her seatbelt. ¡°Who was on the other line that made you smile so happily?¡± Did she look that happy just now? Puzzled, Xuxu tried her best to recall. She didn¡¯t need to conceal the truth. ¡°Ah Heng called.¡± They should be frank with one another now that they were together. There was nothing to hide about the phone call, and it would only make her seem guilty if she tried to conceal it from him on purpose. Hearing her answer, Yan Rusheng became gloomy. But he soon recovered almost instantly. He consoled himself; at least she didn¡¯t lie to him. Wen Xuxu had always been like this, and this was one of the traits he admired about her the most¡ªher candidness! Wen Xuxu was just that kind of person, so he understood clearly that she was telling the truth. And it was not because she couldn¡¯t be bothered to lie to coax him. After dinner, Yan Rusheng headed straight for the study while Xuxu retreated to the bedroom. She took a shower, then started reading a book in bed. ¡®Snap¡¯ The door swung open softly, but since Xuxu wasn¡¯t too engrossed with her book, she noticed it. She glanced at the door and was slightly surprised to see Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng had decided to be patient for the time being seeing as their relationship had finally shown some improvement. As the saying goes, once the conditions are ripe, success will come naturally. Therefore, he moved back to the guest room a few days ago and hadn¡¯t entered the bedroom for some time. He started unbuttoning his shirt as he walked in, a weary expression on his face. Tossing his phone on the sofa, he walked to the bathroom. ¡°Help me get my clothes.¡± There wasn¡¯t anyone else in the room but Xuxu. It took a while for Xuxu to fully take in his words¡ªher body started feeling jittery. Was he going to sleep here tonight? ¡°Wen Xuxu?¡± Xuxu was nervously trying to decipher Yan Rusheng¡¯s thoughts when she heard him shouting for her again. ¡°Coming!¡± There was no time to think about it, so Xuxu went to the wardrobe. She took out a pair of his pajamas and underwear and yelled towards the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯ll place them on the sofa!¡± ¡°Bring it in here.¡± ¡°Come out and take it yourself.¡± Xuxu bravely rejected Young Master Yan¡¯s command and threw the clothes on the sofa. ¡°Alright.¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s voice sounded from the bathroom. Xuxu felt how incredible it was that he¡¯d actually listened to her. Blinking her eyes, she stood at the same spot as she could hardly believe her ears. On the sofa, Yan Rusheng¡¯s cellphone started ringing. Chapter 233. Why Did You Come Out? She glanced at the phone¡ªit was the one with his private line. Without a second thought, she yelled at the bathroom. ¡°Yan Rusheng, your phone is ringing!¡± ¡°Answer it.¡± Yan Rusheng promptly told Xuxu to pick up the call without even verifying the caller¡¯s identity. Xuxu replied back with a ¡°Yes¡± and walked over to the sofa. Ming Ansheng was on the other line. The instant she saw the familiar name, she picked up the phone without any hesitation. She said naturally, ¡°Young Master Ming.¡± There was a dead silence for a few seconds before Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Xuxu?¡± Xuxu interpreted it as him asking for Yan Rusheng¡¯s whereabouts. She said, ¡°Yan Rusheng is in the shower.¡± ¡°Oh, seems like you¡¯re¡­ co-existing quite well with Third Yan.¡± Ming Ansheng sounded both curious and doubtful. Xuxu lightly brushed off his question. ¡°Young Master Ming, thank you for showing concern for your old classmate despite your hectic schedule.¡± She felt that Ming Ansheng would definitely be a little judgmental about her marriage with Yan Rusheng. After all, his grandfather had put in so much effort to link their two families together through marriage. Now everything had gone down the drain. Not to mention how Wen Xinyi was badly humiliated at Flourish & Prosper that time. He was her cousin, and he would definitely feel protective of her. ¡°C¡¯mon, Wen Xuxu. We were ex-classmates, after all. Do you need to be so distant with us?¡± Ming Ansheng lamented bitterly. Even though he¡¯d changed his tone, Xuxu could still tell that he was deliberately trying to conceal the doubt in his voice. She wasn¡¯t sure what he was trying to get out of her, and just assumed that he was still upset over her marriage with Yan Rusheng. But she felt that this matter was between her and Yan Rusheng. Other than Ah Heng, she wasn¡¯t accountable to anyone else. She was certain that even if she didn¡¯t marry Yan Rusheng, he never would have agreed to marry Wen Xinyi. He wasn¡¯t someone who would accept an arranged marriage or be restricted by such matters. ¡°I¡¯m being wronged, Young Master Ming. How have I been distant with you? I can¡¯t wait to get on your good side.¡± She still spoke in her usual straightforward tone, but she seemed to be keeping others at arm¡¯s length at the same time. ¡°C¡¯mon. You¡¯re exactly like Third Yan. Now I truly understand that the two of you are a perfect match.¡± Ming Ansheng sounded a little frustrated, but it didn¡¯t seem like he was joking with her. He hesitated before continuing, ¡°Get Third Yan to call me back when he¡¯s free.¡± Xuxu agreed and hung up. ¡°Wen Xuxu, where are my clothes?¡± She was just about to put the phone down when Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded once again. She raised her head¡ªher face blushed red all the way to her neck in an instant. She stared blankly for a while before she croaked out, ¡°You¡­ why did you come out?¡± Looking innocent, Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me to get my clothes myself?¡± Yes, I did say that, but I didn¡¯t mean like this?! He was doing this on purpose! Xuxu frowned and stammered. ¡°Then why¡­ why didn¡¯t you put on your clothes?¡± ¡°How can I wear clothes if I don¡¯t have them with me?¡± Yan Rusheng closely scanned his body with a conceited expression. Then he raised his eyebrows mischievously. ¡°What do you think? Acceptable?¡± Even Xuxu¡¯s hands had turned red by now. Her emerald jade eyes seemed to ripple with moisture, gleaming like crystal-clear water. She was struggling between feeling embarrassed and upset. ¡°Still looking at my body? Want to touch it?¡± Yan Rusheng moved towards her with deliberate steps, a tantalizing and playful smile on his lips. After a moment of blinding realization, Xuxu finally managed to react and berated herself for standing motionless on the spot. She whirled around, and her body trembled against her will. ¡°The clothes are on the sofa. Hurry and put them on.¡± Chapter 234. What’s Troubling Him? Xuxu quickly covered her eyes with one hand. This was the second time she had seen him naked excluding the times when they were still kids. Her face seemed to be on fire, and the mortifying thing was that she couldn¡¯t seem to get rid of the image of his beastly state in her mind. It haunted her like a spirit. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what ridiculous thoughts are you thinking of right now?¡± His deep and hoarse voice was overflowing with masculine charm¡ªhe had suddenly right next to her. Xuxu shivered uncontrollably as she instinctively moved a step away to dodge him. ¡°Where are you trying to hide?¡± Knowing that she was about to flee, Yan Rusheng wrapped his arm around her slender waist. He exerted some strength and pulled her soft body into his embrace. He bent down and stared fixedly at this woman he had coveted and desired for a long time. His eyes were filled with sheer determination. Xuxu blushed shyly at his advances. But deep within her heart, her well-hidden feelings were pulsing as they began to stir. From her first awakening of love, she had fallen hard for this young rascal who shone brilliantly like the sun. It was this very person who was embracing her so tightly right now. It would be a lie if she said that she didn¡¯t harbor any expectations. But¡­ at the thought of their marriage, and their relationship in reality¡­ She became dispirited once more. She constantly reminded herself that their marriage was to fulfill Grandmother¡¯s final wishes, and she needed to produce grandchildren for the Yan family. But now that they were about to embark into the next stage in their relationship, she actually cared and wondered if he had her in his heart. She cared very much that her love for him throughout the years had turned into something more complicated. ¡°Ming Ansheng called earlier, you should call him back.¡± Xuxu dodged his gaze as she tried to escape from his arms at the same time. Yan Rusheng originally had a mischievous and wicked smile. But it froze upon her words and his expression abruptly turned dark, resembling ominous dark clouds gathering before a storm. The sudden transition of his expressions gave Xuxu enormous pressure. And it was frightening enough that she stumbled back a few steps. ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked gingerly, looking worried about him. Why did his expression change after I said that Ming Ansheng called? Weren¡¯t they close friends? Did they have a fight recently? Hearing her concerned voice, Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression softened a little. He turned to look at her with a tender gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll call him now, so you should sleep first.¡± He scooped up the clothes that Xuxu had placed on the sofa and grabbed his phone. He put them on while he made his way out. His body seemed to be weighed down by a heavy burden. What¡¯s troubling him? Yan Rusheng shut the door after him, and Xuxu stared at it in a daze. After snapping out of it, she sighed softly. Ming Ansheng¡¯s call allowed her to escape from that situation earlier, something that she was grateful for since she wasn¡¯t feeling ready. She lay on the bed, still deep in thought. She was still drinking the medicine that the Chinese physician had prescribed for her take every night. And she slept well each night with a glass of milk too. She didn¡¯t read, neither did she use her phone. Her thoughts revolved around some random, trivial stuff and soon, she dozed off. ¡­ Around midnight, the door opened softly, and a tall figure entered the room. Fearing that he might wake the sleeping woman, he removed his bedroom slippers and treaded carefully towards the bed. Xuxu caught a whiff of alcohol in her dreams, but she was too sleepy to wake up. The man¡¯s deep eyes glittered like obsidian in the darkness. He gazed affectionately at Xuxu who was sound asleep. Chapter 235. A Woman Represents a Mans Status And Reputation He reached out for the bedside lamp switch and adjusted it to the dimmest light. This way, he can see her features more clearly and admire her lovely, quiet face while she¡¯s asleep. ¡®Judging by how Xuxu talked to me earlier, I assume you¡¯re still keeping her in the dark about the truth behind Grandmother¡¯s accident? ¡®Third Yan, you¡¯ve changed. In the past, you never wavered in your choices. Even if you did, you always made a decision within a day. But this time around, you¡¯ve hesitated for so long. What are you afraid of?¡¯ He drew back to get a closer look at Xuxu¡¯s face. As he gazed at her long eyelashes, he could feel her rhythmic breathing. Wen Xuxu, what am I afraid of? If you knew that I¡¯m the main culprit who caused Grandmother¡¯s death, and I almost¡­ caused you harm. What will you do? Will you leave? And go back to Jiang Zhuoheng? I know you won¡¯t, at least for Grandmother¡¯s sake. But I¡¯m still afraid that you won¡¯t be as obedient as you are now. I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ll revert back to your old self and keep me away by being as proud as a peacock. I¡¯m afraid that I won¡¯t have any reason to stop you from meeting Jiang Zhuoheng, who you¡¯ve waited for so long. He slowly straightened his back without averting his gaze from Xuxu¡¯s face. His gaze became more intense and solemn. He knew that he was being selfish. But what could he do? He was completely defeated by her. Their relationship was finally improving. Perhaps after some time¡­ just a little more time will do. ¡­ The new business quarter had begun for the company, and all the departments started to get busy once again. Meetings were scheduled every other day. Xuxu seemed to have assumed the role of Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary once again. She sat beside him at every meeting and like before, she would help him to prepare in advance. For nearly two months, one was hardly seen without the other. The leaves were changing color and summer was fading away. Everyone began to opt for long-sleeved outfits, and after lying in wait outside the company, Zhou Shuang managed to drag Xuxu away to go shopping. Coincidentally, Yan Rusheng had a dinner engagement that night. If not, no matter how much effort Zhou Shuang put in, she wouldn¡¯t be able to snatch Xuxu away from Young Master Yan. It was after dinner time on a Friday, and the mall was bustling with crowds at 7 p.m. Even though this mall specialized in luxury brands, there were still throngs of shoppers crowding the stores. ¡°Every time we shop, I¡¯m the only one buying stuff. You¡¯re just like a nanny following me around,¡± Zhou Shuang admonished Xuxu who only casually browsed for items. ¡°You used to comment that the prices are too expensive. But now you¡¯re Third Madam Yan, the lady boss of Flourish & Prosper. Nothing is too expensive for you, am I right?¡± After saying her piece, she scrutinized Xuxu¡¯s clothes. Xuxu came directly from work, and she was wearing a rather modest and simple outfit. As expected, Miss Zhou started criticizing her once more. ¡°Look at what you¡¯re wearing! Even though your marriage¡­¡± She stopped herself in time when she realized that she was touching on a forbidden topic. She brushed it off and pressed on. ¡°But a woman represents a man¡¯s status and reputation. You¡¯re representing Yan Rusheng right now. Surely you don¡¯t want the paparazzi to snap photos of you with some caption saying ¡®Third Madam Yan is being snubbed¡¯ ¡­ am I right?¡± She rattled on without pause with no intention of stopping anytime soon. Xuxu threw her a nonchalant glance, feeling annoyed by her incessant nagging. She frowned helplessly. ¡°Alright, alright. You¡¯re absolutely right. Then just point out the stuff you think is suitable for me.¡± Other than shutting Zhou Shuang up, she felt that her words indeed sounded reasonable. Regardless of the reason behind their marriage, to outsiders, she is still Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife. She is representing him when she¡¯s outside. Chapter 236. The Orange One Looks Better And the paparazzi were indeed like what Zhou Shuang had described. They could spin creative stories out of any subtle facial expression made by the targets they captured. ¡°Alright, there¡¯s still hope for you.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded, satisfied. She reached out and held Xuxu¡¯s arm. Her goal had changed tonight; she would select clothes for Xuxu. A few steps later, she found her ¡®target¡¯. ¡°That orange jacket on the mannequin would look good on you.¡± Zhou Shuang pointed at the window display at Zara and commented loudly while gesturing at the jacket. Xuxu stole a glance at it¡ªit was indeed really bright and colorful. She rejected her immediately. ¡°It¡¯s too flamboyant, I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Argh, your looks are so attractive and lovely, yet you always choose such tacky and dull outfits.¡± Zhou Shuang eyed Xuxu¡¯s clothes, seizing the chance to take issue with them. ¡°Since you¡¯re married to Yan Rusheng, you have to think of ways to keep him devoted to you! Don¡¯t regret it if he ends up casting you aside in the future.¡± Xuxu gave a rather bitter smile when she heard her advice. In her heart, she was quietly derisive. Yan Rusheng is like a fortress, how would I be able to defend it? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Shuang dragged her forcefully towards the shop. She said to the salesgirl nearest to her and pointed at the orange jacket. ¡°Get her that jacket in the smallest size.¡± The salesgirl recognized Wen Xuxu immediately, and her eyes lit up. She knew that this was a customer with deep pockets¡­ She hurriedly obliged. ¡°Sure, please give me a minute.¡± ¡°That jacket is from our latest Autumn collection. There are two colors; orange and white.¡± The salesgirl brought one in the smallest size and displayed the jacket to Xuxu and Zhou Shuang. ¡°Then we¡¯ll try out both.¡± Zhou Shuang took charge while Xuxu was trying on the orange jacket. Xuxu¡¯s complexion was naturally fair, and most colors looked good on her, especially bright shades like orange. But she usually didn¡¯t choose such vibrant colors. Today, she wore a pair of beige pencil pants which ended at her ankles. It matched perfectly with the jacket and accentuated the curves of her petite figure. Zhou Shuang slyly sneaked behind her and reached out to untie Xuxu¡¯s hair while she wasn¡¯t looking. With her agility, she managed to succeed in her first attempt. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Startled, Xuxu turned to chide her, her silky black hair flowed and billowed around her as she spun. Her action of flipping her hair was even more elegant than a hair advertisement. She looked youthful with her hair tied up, but when she let her hair loose, she exuded a womanly and naturally alluring charm which was captivating to the eye. ¡°Look¡ªlook at you! You look so pretty when you let your hair down.¡± Zhou Shuang gestured at the mirror with a bright grin. ¡°You sure like to joke around.¡± Xuxu glared at her and removed the orange jacket. Then she tried on the white one. As she looked at her reflection, there was a faint smile playing at the corner of her mouth. She still preferred the white jacket. In that moment, her phone rang in her bag which Zhou Shuang was holding. Zhou Shuang rummaged in the bag for the phone and glanced at the screen. ¡°Your hubby is calling.¡± Xuxu heard her and turned slightly red. She glared at Zhou Shuang with disapproval and picked up the call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°The orange one looks better. It suits you more.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep and gentle voice filled her ear. It was as intoxicating as taking a sip of vintage wine. Chapter 237. Ten Miles Of A Spring Breeze Cant Even Hold A Candle To Him ¡°Huh?¡± Xuxu was shocked by his words, and she frantically scanned her surroundings like a radar. She didn¡¯t spot his familiar figure but knew that he was nearby. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was feeling surprised or something else, but she just couldn¡¯t wait to see him. Without realizing it, she was unconsciously revealing her child-like side. ¡°Where are you? Why are you hiding in some corner and spying on me? Or did you send someone to tail me?¡± She knew that he wouldn¡¯t; he wasn¡¯t someone who would do that. ¡°Are you that eager to see me?¡± His voice sounded once more, and this time round, he sounded even more light-hearted and cheerful. There was an unnoticeable trace of joy in his voice. He¡¯d been peering at the crowds of shoppers and had casually looked around. So, he had no idea how he could have spotted her from such a distance away behind a glass barrier. A smartly dressed man with exquisite features stood on the highest floor of the mall. He leaned lazily against a reinforced glass barrier near the escalators. His black emerald-jade eyes sparkled with adoration and affection at the tiny woman who was searching for him on the third floor. ¡°Nope, I don¡¯t want to. I just want to know how you knew what I was doing and how you managed to do it.¡± A sweet and childish voice replied. He chuckled softly, his mellow laughter sounding richly masculine. Ten miles of a spring breeze can¡¯t even hold a candle to him. Forget it, he won¡¯t tease her anymore. He knew that someone as aloof and righteous as her didn¡¯t enjoy being teased. She could hold her curiosity well and didn¡¯t succumb easily when she was being teased. It was best to stop at an appropriate time. He casually changed the subject. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± His gaze had never left Xuxu for a second¡ªshe was the brightest star in this entire mall. How could he be so oblivious to her all these years? Or had he really fallen for her after all those years she¡¯d stayed by his side? ¡°Yup, I ate dinner with Zhou Shuang.¡± Xuxu stopped pressing him regarding his whereabouts. He gritted his teeth with annoyance¡ªwasn¡¯t she curious about how he knew what she was doing? Didn¡¯t she want to know where he was right now? Didn¡¯t she want to see him? He reminded himself that ¡®Wen Xuxu¡¯ was always like this, and his surging emotions began to calm down. She was reserved and cold and treated everyone in the same way. Most women liked to gossip, hanker after luxury items or fantasize about celebrities. But she always seemed to be without such desires. It was hard for a person to win her favor. He had no other way since he was the one who fell for her first. Yan Rusheng stared at the tiny figure from afar, shaking his head as he scoffed at himself. He suppressed his displeasure towards her and gnashed his teeth. He said gently, ¡°I¡¯ve just finished my dinner, and I¡¯m on the top floor. Since I¡¯m almost done here, you should join me.¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Xuxu glanced at the time and hesitated. She replied, ¡°If you¡¯re entertaining a guest, then I shouldn¡¯t intrude. Let me know when you¡¯re about to leave, we can go home together if it¡¯s not too late.¡± She really didn¡¯t enjoy going to these social engagements where she had to put on pretenses just to entertain clients. She¡¯d attended way too many of them in the past year, and sometimes it felt like she was losing sight of her real self. Even though she was still doing her secretarial duties, Yan Rusheng would always bring his other secretary along¡ªshe was secretly pleased with this arrangement. ¡°Wen Xuxu¡­¡± Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t hold in his anger any longer, and he was close to flaring up. But he didn¡¯t get to finish his sentence when Zhou Shuang came back from the ladies room. She rushed towards Xuxu excitedly. ¡°Xuxu! Xuxu, I heard that Weng Meimei is right here in this mall!¡± Chapter 238. Who is Weng Meimei? Xuxu frowned and furrowed her brows. ¡°Who is Weng Meimei?¡± She tried to recall the names of the celebrities that she knew of but no memory of ¡®Weng Meimei¡¯ popped up. ¡°Oh my god, are you an alien?!¡± Zhou Shuang frowned disdainfully. ¡°She just received the Best Actress award¡ªthe great beauty, Weng Meimei!¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes silently. ¡°So what¡¯s she got to do with me?¡± She continued talking to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yes, what did you want to say?¡± She heard him saying her name just now, but he was interrupted midway. His fury extinguished, Yan Rusheng replied airily, ¡°Nothing.¡± He spoke again, ¡°I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m about to leave. Remember to buy both the orange and white jackets. And buy a few more, you¡¯re not allowed to come home without spending at least 200,000 yuan.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ She suddenly felt sullen¡ªhe was even taking control over her spending! How much stuff did she have to buy to reach 200,000 yuan? This jacket was only around 1,000 yuan. Luckily, she only grumbled silently in her heart. Who knows how badly other people would scold her for not appreciating such an extravagance. She decided to stay silent, but then Yan Rusheng raised his voice to prompt her with a threatening tone. ¡°Oh,¡± Xuxu replied gloomily and hung up. What should she buy with 200,000 yuan? Zhou Shuang saw her gloomy expression and asked her worriedly, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xuxu shook her head and turned towards the salesgirl. ¡°Wrap up both the orange and white jackets, please. Thank you.¡± She¡¯s buying both? Zhou Shuang stared at Xuxu in amazement and figured that something was wrong. Xuxu pretended not to notice Zhou Shuang¡¯s look of amazement as she withdrew her credit card. She passed it to the salesgirl gracefully, just like how a wealthy lady of a prestigious family should be. Xuxu carried on shopping at several more brands and only selected the high-end ones. But¡­ the most expensive item that she came across was about 10,000 yuan, which was still a long way from her target. She really couldn¡¯t bear to spend so much money. ¡°I heard that Weng Meimei is at the top floor. I love that action movie she acted in, let¡¯s go take a picture with her!¡± ¡°The prettiest policewoman on screen is upstairs! Should we go and take a look at her? I want her signature!¡± There was a long pause¡­ After they passed by the elevator, they could both hear the excited voices of Weng Meimei¡¯s fans heading upstairs. ¡°Xuxu, let¡¯s take a look as well.¡± Zhou Shuang was a fun-loving person, and she was itching to join the fans in their fun. Weng Meimei¡¯s image was notable as she acted in such roles like a policewoman or a special forces soldier which were popular with the general public. Especially for a tough and tenacious girl like Zhou Shuang. Xuxu didn¡¯t pay much attention to celebrities, and she hardly watched movies at the theaters. She preferred to watch movies at home with her favorite snacks. She was rather unwilling, but Zhou Shuang was insistent, so she had no choice. And so she was unwillingly dragged upstairs by Zhou Shuang. The news of Weng Meimei having dinner on the top floor of the mall quickly spread, causing crowds to flock to the restaurant. Everyone wanted to meet the award-winning actress in person. To prevent a commotion, a team of security guards was dispatched to maintain law and order. They blocked the restaurant¡¯s entrance to prevent anyone from entering. ¡°For everyone¡¯s safety, please leave the premises.¡± But hardly anyone heeded their advice¡ªthey remained outside the entrance waiting for their idol. Chapter 239. The Whole Restaurant Has Been Booked ¡°This is a rare opportunity to meet Meimei! We want to take a picture with her!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! We¡¯re her die-hard fans!¡± ¡°Meimei, I loved your role as a drug pusher in the movie!¡± Several young and fashionably dressed girls who looked less than twenty years old were standing outside the restaurant, waving and yelling with excitement. Being fascinated with idols or celebrities was a hobby of the teens. Even though Zhou Shuang did admire the actress, she wasn¡¯t crazy to that extent. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡ªit¡¯s too crowded.¡± Wen Xuxu nudged Zhou Shuang and tried to move away. Seeing the crowd had dampened Zhou Shuang¡¯s initial enthusiasm. She nodded in agreement. ¡°I heard that Meimei is having dinner with Third Master Yan.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Third Master Yan get married recently?¡± ¡°A charming and capable lady like Meimei would make even a married man fall for her.¡± The two girls were about to turn and leave when they overheard some fans gossiping about Yan Rusheng. Xuxu paused when she heard them and stole a glance at the restaurant. But it was too packed with people, and she couldn¡¯t see anything beyond the crowd. But she already had the answer in her heart. He was indeed here, and he also didn¡¯t bring his other secretary along. So he was on a dinner date with a celebrity actress. Hmph! Xuxu looked away from the scene, curling her lips as she mocked herself. She was glad that she hadn¡¯t been dumb enough to go to the restaurant. ¡°Hmph! So Weng Meimei is having dinner with Yan Rusheng?¡± Zhou Shuang heard the murmurs among the crowd, and her pretty face with heavy makeup fell instantly. She grabbed Xuxu furiously and wanted to barge into the restaurant. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look.¡± Xuxu stopped her. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s continue shopping instead. Why should I care about him?¡± Her indifferent attitude made Zhou Shuang hesitate. But she thought about it a little more. Even though their marriage was a forced and hurried one without love as a foundation, but since they¡¯re officially husband and wife, then they should be loyal to each other. What¡¯s he doing, bringing another woman on a date so publicly? She could barely contain her anger, so she pulled Xuxu back once more. ¡°No, you can¡¯t leave! You¡¯re his lawful wife, so you have to go in there and see it for yourself.¡± Miss Zhou exerted all her strength and managed to drag Xuxu to the restaurant¡¯s entrance. But they were stopped by the security. ¡°Miss, I understand that you¡¯re eager to meet your idol. But please respect her privacy and don¡¯t intrude.¡± ¡°Bullsh*t idol! We¡¯re nobody¡¯s fans! We¡¯re just going in for a meal.¡± Miss Zhou didn¡¯t give a damn about that actress anymore. She waved her hand and said crossly, ¡°Let us in.¡± Looking agitated, the security guard replied, ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make things difficult for us. The whole restaurant is already booked, and they won¡¯t be accepting other customers tonight.¡± ¡°Ha! The whole restaurant¡¯s been booked?¡± Zhou Shuang crossed her arms and glanced at the restaurant. She sneered loudly, ¡°How lavish.¡± Wen Xuxu peered at the name of the restaurant and pressed her lips tightly, the corners of her mouth sinking down imperceptibly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She nudged Zhou Shuang softly. ¡°Why should we leave?¡± Zhou Shuang ignored her nudges and angrily questioned the guard. She pointed at Xuxu¡¯s face. ¡°Do you see her? I¡¯m sure you can recognize who she is.¡± The guard scanned Xuxu¡¯s face, and someone else answered on his behalf. ¡°That¡¯s Third Master Yan¡¯s childhood sweetheart¡ªand his newly-wed wife.¡± Chapter 240. Will He Care? At this moment, the crowd was making a commotion as they stood by to watch this interesting new development. Xuxu didn¡¯t enjoy showing off, nor did she like being in the limelight. And furthermore, if her face and identity were of any use, he wouldn¡¯t be on a date with another woman so flamboyantly. And he¡¯d even booked the entire restaurant. As she thought of this, her heart gradually began to sink. ¡°Zhou Shuang, if you won¡¯t leave, then I will.¡± She flung her hand away and turned around. She was emitting such a chilly aura that the crowd parted silently for her to pass by without any obstacles. Zhou Shuang hurried after her, but she didn¡¯t stop berating Yan Rusheng. ¡°That damned womanizer, he hasn¡¯t changed his awful habit of flirting around.¡± While she was overseas these past few years, she often read news about his scandals with models and actresses every other day. Xuxu stepped lightly towards the escalator. She saw Herm¨¨s the moment she stepped onto the following floor. After seeing the luxury brand, she was suddenly lit up with a fiery whim and walked inside. When she entered, the salesgirl rushed to welcome her. Xuxu ignored her as her gaze swept past all the display items. Then she pointed at a handbag among the row of displayed bags. ¡°Wrap up that red handbag, please.¡± Then she turned her head towards another bag made in a classic design. ¡°And that one too.¡± The sales girl looked incredulously at her. ¡°Madam, the two handbags are 88,000 yuan and 120,000 yuan respectively. Are you sure you want to get both?¡± Not to mention the salesgirl, even Zhou Shuang was astounded by her sudden spendthrift decision. Did something provoke her? Oh¡­ right. Her husband booked an entire restaurant to have dinner with another woman. Even though their marriage was a loveless one, but this concerned her dignity and pride. It was indeed maddening. Zhou Shuang furrowed her eyebrows tightly at the salesgirl and asked defensively, ¡°Why? Are you afraid that we can¡¯t pay?¡± She turned to look at Xuxu and gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re finally doing something cool! Since he¡¯s willing to book a whole restaurant just to have dinner with another woman, then you should shop till you drop! It¡¯s best if you can bankrupt him so that other women won¡¯t be able to spend his fortune.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face screwed up in fury at her words, and she felt like strangling her friend. Was she afraid that no one else would find out that her husband was on a date with another woman? At Zhou Shuang¡¯s statement, the salesgirl hastily calculated the total sum of Xuxu¡¯s items. Xuxu whipped out her credit card and didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid when she saw that the bill amounted to more than 200,000 yuan. Deep in her heart, she was rather distressed over her purchases, but why? Perhaps it was because she¡¯d just spent so much money, or maybe¡­ She continued buying random stuff and shopped all the way down. By the time she reached the first floor, she had finished shopping at most of the prominent luxury brands. She walked out of the mall and a bustling and vibrant city night scene greeted her. Both hands were bursting with her purchases, yet her heart felt empty. What have I done? Who am I angry with? What am I expecting? What does it matter even if I buy the entire mall? It¡¯s just money¡ªwill he care? She felt extremely drained the minute she got home. She dumped all her shopping bags on the sofa without a second glance. After taking a shower, she rested against the deck chair and stared blankly at the inky, starry sky. ¡®Grandmother, I miss you.¡¯ ¡°Wen Xuxu, didn¡¯t I ask you to wait for me?¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng appeared, his voice sounding slightly drunk with a tinge of annoyance. Chapter 241. She Began To Have Expectations Xuxu remained motionless and shut her eyes, pretending not to have heard him. But he was moving towards her, and she could hardly continue the act. She decided to open her eyes when he was about to reach her. ¡°I was tired, so I came back with Zhou Shuang first,¡± she replied coldly and stood up. She grabbed the empty glass and turned around, then walked determinedly past Yan Rusheng towards the door. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng reacted quickly¡ªhe spun around and intercepted her. Caught off guard, she fell into his embrace when his arm pulled her towards him. He bowed his head, and his deep eyes resembled an ancient abyss of a dark spring pool. Xuxu couldn¡¯t decipher his emotions right now. But as he inched towards her with his warm and intoxicated breath, he emitted a slight chilliness as well. It signaled that he was angry. Why is he angry? Is it because I didn¡¯t wait for him just now? She peered at him with a puzzled expression. She felt that she understood him less and less as the days went by, even though they practically spent every day with each other. During this period, he wasn¡¯t exactly gentle and loving towards her, but he wasn¡¯t as malicious as he was before. She thought that he was like her; both immersed in their respective roles in this marriage. As their relationship gradually changed, they should be able to coexist in harmony someday. But tonight she finally woke up from her fantasy and realized that she was being too naive. He hadn¡¯t changed himself because of her¡ªhe had merely halted his plans. Perhaps the headlines tomorrow would be that of Third Young Master Yan booking an entire restaurant as he enjoyed dinner with a beautiful actress. But Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do by embracing me and gazing at me so intently right now? Without realizing, her eyes started glistening, and she quickly rubbed her eyes. She tried to escape from his grasp. ¡°Yan Rusheng, let go of me first if you have something to say.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, I really feel like strangling you.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t release her but instead tightened his arms around her. And next, his warm, inebriated breath advanced towards her. It overpowered her senses, and she held her breath, pressing her lips together. His soft, cold lips met hers as expected, and she felt a shiver run down her body. She clenched her fingers nervously¡ªshe felt her eyes stinging while bitterness grew in her heart. What do you mean by this? What do you want exactly? Yan Rusheng¡¯s tongue began to lightly caress her pressed lips and lingered there. ¡°Xuxu, open your eyes and look at me,¡± he said gently with his deep voice, and his breath heated up again. His transition dissolved Xuxu¡¯s determination as she gritted her teeth. She opened her eyes unwillingly as sparkling and translucent tears fell down, dampening her long eyelashes. She reached out and hugged Yan Rusheng tightly. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­¡± She buried her head in his chest and bawled loudly. The words ¡®I love you¡¯ seemed to stop inside her mouth every time she tried to say them out loud, as if a hand was clenching her throat. Once she expressed her love for him, there would be no turning back. She thought that she could quietly play the role he was expecting from her¡ªto be his lawful wife and to give Grandmother their grandchildren. She thought that she could continue acting like before. To stay beside him and remain nonchalant about his flings. But it never dawned on her that as their relationship progressed, she would sink even deeper. She began to have expectations and emotions. Chapter 242. What Should He Do Next? She thought that she could continue acting like before. To stay beside him and remain nonchalant about his flings. But it had never dawned on her that as their relationship progressed, she would sink even deeper. She began to have expectations and emotions. ¡°I¡¯m just joking, why are you crying?¡± Yan Rusheng was a little tipsy, and he was indeed furious with her before he entered the room. He wanted to barge in and question her¡ªhe¡¯d set enough of his pride aside that he was almost kneeling in front of her. Why was she pretending not to see it? But the moment he saw her tearing up, he became flustered. He had no idea how he¡¯d been reduced to this pathetic state. The pain he¡¯d felt when Fang Jiayin left him three years ago paled in comparison to being in love with this woman he was too afraid to confess to. Xuxu heard her own unrestrained sobs and realized that she had lost her self-control. She composed herself and backed away from Yan Rusheng. She lowered her head and wiped her tears away. She choked back a sob as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t joke about this kind of thing again or I¡¯ll think you¡¯re being serious.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you act so cowardly before,¡± Yan Rusheng replied helplessly as he brushed and tidied her damp hair. When his fingers touched her head, she felt a faint, electric current pulsing through her. Xuxu shivered lightly and wanted to escape. But Yan Rusheng wrapped his arms around her waist once more, pulling her towards him forcefully so that she was tightly pressed against him. He lowered his head, and his mouth met Xuxu¡¯s alluring and inviting lips again. This gentle kiss was filled with longing. And neither of them could control themselves any longer. The bed was behind Xuxu, and Yan Rusheng pushed her back gradually towards his goal. Finally, he was successful, and he pressed her down with his crushing weight. Xuxu was suddenly jolted to her senses by his actions and opened her eyes in shock. She reacted by grabbing his arms. Yan Rusheng paused and raised his head. Desire filled his eyes as he glared at her with displease. She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m not ready yet, and I¡¯m scared.¡± She was fully awake now as she looked at the man lying on top of her. Xuxu seemed like a bird easily startled by the mere twang of a bow, and her body was trembling badly. Yan Rusheng had no idea what she was afraid of, but he saw the state that she was in¡ªhe couldn¡¯t bring himself to force her. Their relationship had finally seen some improvement, and he didn¡¯t want to ruin it by doing this. After some contemplation, he withdrew his hands with reluctance and slowly sat up. He¡¯d always thought that he wasn¡¯t the type of man who couldn¡¯t control his desires. But every time he faced this stupid woman, he could barely contain himself. Argh! Damn it, what do I do now? It doesn¡¯t look like taking a cold shower would solve my problem. ¡°Yan Rusheng¡­ are you okay?¡± Xuxu peered at him and sensed that he was in agony right now. Even high school students were familiar with such things. Furthermore, she had been through this before, and she knew how agonizing it would be for a man to stop halfway. But she was really afraid, afraid of how he would view her from now on. Earlier on there were tidal waves surging in his heart. Now she was speaking to him so worriedly, her voice sounding so gentle and lovely. It was another fatal blow to Young Master Yan, and he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold back if he looked at her. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife now¡ªwe¡¯ll have to do it sooner or later. So, this won¡¯t happen next time.¡± With his back facing Xuxu, he gave her a cold warning and left for the bathroom. Chapter 243. I Have A Big Problem Furthermore, she had been through this before, and she knew how agonizing it would be for a man to stop halfway. But she was really afraid, afraid of how he would view her from now on. Earlier on there were tidal waves surging in his heart. Now she was speaking to him so worriedly, her voice sounding so gentle and lovely. It was another fatal blow to Young Master Yan, and he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold back if he looked at her. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife now¡ªwe¡¯ll have to do it sooner or later. So, this won¡¯t happen next time.¡± With his back facing Xuxu, he gave her a cold warning and left for the bathroom. Xuxu could tell from his steps that he was currently suffering and she couldn¡¯t stand knowing that she disappointed him. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife now¡ªwe¡¯ll have to do it sooner or later.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s words kept ringing in her ears. Dejection swept over her and she sighed with remorse. Sigh. He¡¯s right. As she mulled over it, she mustered up her courage and suddenly stood up. Barefooted, she walked towards the bathroom. Sounds of gurgling water could be heard coming from inside. With a spurt of energy, she pulled open the door. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what are you doing!?¡± The door was suddenly flung open. Yan Rusheng stood under the shower in shock. Instinctively, he covered his private parts with his hands, then turned around to scream at the woman standing at the door. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Wen Xuxu lost all her courage after hearing Yan Rusheng roared at her. She pointed at him and stuttered in fear. ¡°I just wanted to check on you to make sure that you¡¯re okay.¡± She felt like killing herself after saying that. What could even happen to him? At the most, he was just trying to restrain himself. Her exquisite face turned so crimson it looked like it would start bleeding. Yan Rusheng felt that if he could still restrain himself at this point in time, then he was really impotent. ¡°I have a big problem.¡± His hoarse voice was mixed with a tinge of frustration. ¡°Come over.¡± His commanding tone didn¡¯t give any room for refusal. ¡°Oh,¡± Xuxu replied and walked in obediently. Each step forward felt painful as both her legs were shaking profusely. Yan Rusheng grew impatient with her sluggish steps, and he took a step towards her. He hauled her into the shower, pushing her back against the wall. After it was over, Xuxu swung her limp and painful arm¡ªher face was scarlet. Yan Rusheng draped a towel over himself and went out. He thoughtfully closed the bathroom door after him. Turning his head, he let out a sigh of satisfaction as he looked at Xuxu¡¯s silhouette through the frosted glass. Oh damn it. She only helped me with her hands and I¡¯m already so satisfied. When the real battle comes around, won¡¯t it feel like paradise? So, it would be better to take things further. As Young Master Yan thought about this, he instantly held back the smile on his face and walked towards the wardrobe, keeping a straight face. Opening the wardrobe door, he took out a bathrobe before putting it on. He walked over to the bed, sat down and leaned against the headboard. Suddenly, Xuxu¡¯s cellphone rang from the bedside cabinet. He glanced at it unintentionally. It was a message from Zhou Shuang. The message was short and could be read without having to launch the cellphone screen. Did Yan Rusheng the rascal come home? Don¡¯t be upset. Tomorrow, you can also book an entire restaurant and have a meal with an attractive young man. Yan Rusheng, the rascal¡­ Just reading the word ¡®rascal¡¯ already provoked a rage of fury in his heart. Where did she get the courage to egg his woman on into finding an attractive young man for a meal?! Xuxu must no longer associate herself with this hooligan or else she¡¯ll be led astray. Wait a minute¡­ Don¡¯t be upset? What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Chapter 244. Many Cant Wait To Throw Themselves At You Yan Rusheng draped a towel over himself and went out. He thoughtfully closed the bathroom door after him. Turning his head, he let out a sigh of satisfaction as he looked at Xuxu¡¯s silhouette through the frosted glass. Oh, damn it. She only helped me with her hands, and I¡¯m already so satisfied. When the real battle comes around, won¡¯t it feel like paradise? So, it would be better to take things further. As Young Master Yan thought about this, he instantly held back the smile on his face and walked towards the wardrobe, keeping a straight face. Opening the wardrobe door, he took out a bathrobe before putting it on. He walked over to the bed, sat down and leaned against the headboard. Suddenly, Xuxu¡¯s cellphone rang from the bedside cabinet. He glanced at it unintentionally. It was a message from Zhou Shuang. The message was short and could be read without having to launch the cellphone screen. Did Yan Rusheng the rascal come home? Don¡¯t be upset. Tomorrow, you can also book an entire restaurant and have a meal with an attractive young man. Yan Rusheng, the rascal¡­ Just reading the word ¡®rascal¡¯ already provoked a rage of fury in his heart. Where did she get the courage to egg his woman on into finding an attractive young man for a meal?! Xuxu must no longer associate herself with this hooligan or else she¡¯ll be led astray. Wait a minute¡­ Don¡¯t be upset? What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Young Master Yan had finally noticed the keywords, ¡®book the entire restaurant¡¯ . Instantly, he was struck with a thought, and he sat up excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s all because of this!¡± At that same moment, Xuxu strode out of the bathroom while putting on an oversized bathrobe. She saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s uncontrollable excitement and asked curiously, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing. Come here and sleep.¡± Yan Rusheng gestured to her while observing her eyes, which held a look of fondness and warmth. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and walked over, baffled. The flushed skin on her porcelain face had yet to fade. When she walked over to the bedside, Yan Rusheng reached out and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her close to him and rested her head on his other hand. Without waiting for her response, he switched off the light and planted a tender kiss on her forehead. ¡°Go to sleep.¡± ¡­ That night, Xuxu slept on Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm with an unprecedented peace. It was rare for him to still be sleeping by her side when she woke up. Xuxu looked up at the man who was still sound asleep¡ªhis eyebrows, his eyes had appeared countless times in her dreams. They spent every day with each other. Countless times, she had imagined him lying beside her when she woke up. Yet now that this had day arrived, she didn¡¯t have a sense of satisfaction. In fact, she wasn¡¯t even feeling at ease. ¡°Wen Xuxu, good morning!¡± Xuxu was deep in thought when the man suddenly spoke. His voice sounded sleepy and hoarse. Her eyes flickered in shock. She swiftly shifted her gaze and turned over, with her back facing him. Yan Rusheng turned in her direction and embraced her tiny waist. ¡°I was really pleased with your service last night. So today, I¡¯ll bring you out for some fun.¡± He was clearly teasing her. Xuxu blushed. She elbowed this man behind her who was so full of nonsense the moment he woke up. ¡± Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re shameless! I don¡¯t need you to take me out to have fun.¡± She wasn¡¯t a child, so why would she need him to accompany her? Seeing her crimson face, Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t about to let her off. ¡°How? The moment I heard your voice, I¡¯m feeling that urge again.¡± This just proved that men basically couldn¡¯t control their desires. Even if the woman lying next to them wasn¡¯t someone they loved, it wouldn¡¯t affect their physiological reaction. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed at the same time. ¡°There are many women who can¡¯t wait to throw themselves at you.¡± Chapter 245. You Dare To Hesitate? After she said those words, she felt that she was being unreasonably pretentious. She turned around sheepishly to find out if Yan Rusheng had sensed something. Yan Rusheng was an astute man, and nothing could escape him. When Xuxu suddenly turned around, he instantly closed his peach-blossom-shaped eyes, leaving only a faint smile on his face. One wouldn¡¯t have easily noticed this. Xuxu saw his closed eyes and assumed that he hadn¡¯t detected the hint of jealousy in her words earlier. ¡°Today, aren¡¯t you¡­¡± She attempted to change the subject when Yan Rusheng suddenly opened his eyes. The moment he did, Xuxu realized how close their bodies were, not more than a few inches apart from each other. So ridiculously close that she could see every pore on his face and feel his breath. Yan Rusheng frowned slightly. ¡°Wen Xuxu, how can there be such a woman like you? Shoving your husband into the arms of other women.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the tinge of jealousy in her voice, he would have moved closer and did it to her. This dumb woman couldn¡¯t be pampered further, or she¡¯d be even more pompous. Shoving your husband into the arms of other women.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t shoving you.¡± Xuxu bit her lips and hesitated for a moment before continuing, ¡°But, do I have the right to control you?¡± Even if she had the right, he also wouldn¡¯t allow her to exercise it. If she held a place in his heart, there wouldn¡¯t even be a need to control him. Wen Xuxu, are you running a fever or are you mental? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re cultivating an expectant heart. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, then I will give you this right.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s tender and charming voice rang in her ears. This was like a dream come true, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to hear it anymore. Feeling awkward, she struggled to break free and withdrew herself from his embrace. In a flash, she rolled over to the other side of the bed and got off. ¡°I¡¯m awake now. I¡¯ll be visiting the orphanage with Zhou Shuang today.¡± Xuxu informed him as she walked towards the wardrobe. Yan Rusheng sat up lazily and leaned against the headboard. Calm and unruffled, he looked at the little woman whose back was facing him. Her tiny frame was dressed in an oversized bathrobe as she stood on the dark-brown wooden floor. It made one feel like protecting her. ¡°Keep me company and sleep in for a bit. I don¡¯t feel like going to work today.¡± He originally intended to go back to office this weekend. But because he was feeling cheerful today, he suddenly thought of staying home with her. Or do just what other husbands would normally do¡ªaccompany his wife to go shopping. Just as long as he could be with her. Xuxu paused when she heard this. She didn¡¯t know how to respond to his sincere request. It was indeed rare for him to rest on a weekend. Even if he was home, he would be cooped up in the study room the entire day. Even though they had been sharing the same bed for some time now, but each morning, he was already away from her side by the time she opened her eyes¡­ Yes, indeed, a day like today was really hard to come by. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I want you to come here and sleep in with me, and you dare to hesitate?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s imperious temper was brewing. Hearing a slight change in his tone, Xuxu had to think on her feet. She turned around and knitted her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I want to go downstairs for some food.¡± In any case, she just didn¡¯t want to lie down on that bed¡ªshe knew how easily she forgot herself in front of Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t make things difficult for her and calmly replied, ¡°Then let¡¯s go together.¡± Chapter 246. Stand Her Up This Week He sat up, placed his feet on the floor and got off the bed, his movements swift yet graceful. His cool, silky bathrobe didn¡¯t show any traces of wrinkles even after a night¡¯s sleep. Last night, he¡¯d slept like a baby. ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu nodded her head. Before Yan Rusheng could walk towards her, she took a step back and retreated to the bathroom, locking the door after her. With her usual lightning speed, she changed and washed her face. All morning, Aunt Zhang kept pacing in front of the staircase. After seeing Yan Rusheng and Xuxu emerge from their room, she was so ecstatic that she almost clapped her hands. During this period, she had been observing their development, and she could finally see a glimmer of hope. When she saw the amicable behavior between Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, she felt so relieved that tears stung her eyes. Old Madam, your wish is finally coming true. ¡°Aunt Zhang, what are you doing here?¡± Xuxu reached the staircase and noticed Aunt Zhang secretly wiping away her tears. She thought Aunt Zhang was nursing a grievance and asked with concern, ¡°Why are you crying here all alone?¡± Aunt Zhang shook her head and smiled. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I¡¯ve witnessed the happiness between Missy and Third Young Master and just felt glad for Old Madam.¡± Besides Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, the sudden demise of Grandmother had left the most impact on Aunt Zhang. Perhaps, her grief had even surpassed Xuxu¡¯s. She had been a faithful companion to Grandmother, almost inseparable. Xuxu held Aunt Zhang¡¯s hands and also broke into a sniffle. ¡°Aunt Zhang, you¡¯re getting on in years. Leave the chores to the others, or you can even get me to do them for you. Don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± She wanted to contribute more to the Yan family. And she believed that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t object since he didn¡¯t care about such trivial matters in the first place. ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± Aunt Zhang switched the topic. ¡°Please go and have your breakfast.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu nodded. Yan Rusheng, who had been standing beside her, suddenly held her hand. Without uttering a single word or glancing her way, he held her hand and walked down the stairs. Seeing this sight, Aunt Zhang couldn¡¯t contain her joy and deliberately retreated to the side, giving the couple some personal space. While Yan Rusheng and Xuxu were having their breakfast, Aunt Zhang also instructed the servants to leave the couple alone and not to wait upon them by the side. After Yan Rusheng finished eating, he put down his cutleries and gazed at Xuxu who was sipping her porridge. With an unhurried tone, he asked, ¡°You spent 400,000 yuan last night?¡± Upon hearing this, Xuxu¡¯s hand trembled for a brief moment, and she almost dropped her spoon. I spent 400,000 yuan last night? Did I really do that? Oh, gosh. How did I end up spending so much money? ¡°Mm, you were indeed obedient.¡± Young Master Yan saw her reaction and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you out for lunch today, and you can continue to shop.¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡°¡­¡± She thought that he was about to lecture her for being a spendthrift. Who¡¯d have thought that he would let her continue with her shopping spree today? Are these his true thoughts or is he making fun me? Xuxu examined his charming eyes. He was so good at masking his thoughts and emotions that she couldn¡¯t read him at all. Since he was hiding something from her, she¡¯d prefer not to question it. She replied, ¡°I already made plans to visit the orphanage with Zhou Shuang.¡± Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Just stand her up this week and let her go alone. You can go with her next week.¡± Chapter 247 Xuxu stared at him, speechless, ¡°¡­¡± It would be so impolite to stand someone up. Yet, he was still acting so haughty and said it in such tyrannical tone. If Zhou Shuang hears of this, she would definitely bad-mouth him even more. Him wanting to bring her out for lunch was probably just to accompany him for his social engagements. If so, she¡¯d prefer not to go. ¡°I¡¯ve already promised the children from the orphanage that I¡¯ll be visiting them again, and it¡¯s been some time since I last went there.¡± So no matter what I say, she¡¯s still visiting the orphanage today? Yan Rusheng was annoyed. ¡°Wen Xuxu, it¡¯s not a good idea to disappoint me.¡± He had pushed away all his business engagements just to be with her because he wanted a taste of what it¡¯s like to spend the weekend with her as husband and wife, just like any ordinary couple. And she had the gall to turn him down. ¡°Sigh. You¡­¡± Xuxu mulled over her what to say and stopped short. Of course, she should be the one giving in, yet she¡¯d almost acted beyond the status of their relationship. She lowered her head and continued to sip her porridge. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you next week.¡± All of a sudden, she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice from across her, but this time, his tone had softened. Xuxu was startled. She raised her head in astonishment and stared blankly at his charming face. After a period of silence, she asked uncertainly, ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯ll come with me to the orphanage next week?¡± Young Master Yan examined her reaction and raised his eyebrows smugly. ¡°Are you overwhelmed with joy?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes. If he hadn¡¯t asked this question, she really would have been overwhelmed with joy. But after hearing it, that feeling had instantly vanished. She lowered her head and curled her lips in disbelief. This guy was too full of himself. After breakfast, Xuxu called Zhou Shuang and explained the situation to her. As expected, Miss Zhou was exasperated after hearing that she was being stood up and the culprit was Yan Rusheng. She immediately bashed him, her mouth rattling on like a machine gun. Xuxu listened patiently before hanging up the phone. ¡­ ¡°Why are you dawdling when you haven¡¯t even put on your makeup?¡± After changing her clothes, Xuxu emerged from the room. Dressed in a casual outfit, Yan Rusheng appeared at the entrance of her room. When he saw her coming out, he knitted his eyebrows impatiently and chided her. It was rare to see him donning a casual white T-shirt and gray Adidas sports shoes instead of his usual formal work attire. He leaned languidly against the door frame, both hands stuffed into the pockets of his pants. At this moment, Xuxu felt as if time had turned back more than ten years ago. That year, they had just graduated from high school, and Grandmother had enrolled them for summer camp. The morning before they set off, Xuxu had also taken her own sweet time to pack her things in her room. When she opened the door, he¡¯d just burst into her line of sight unexpectedly. Similarly, he had also dressed casually as he leaned against the door frame of her room. It made her heart pound with eagerness. Back then, he¡¯d also berated her in the same fashion. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years gone by. Should that same old scene reappear now, she would still feel awestruck by his breathtaking splendor. But what was so good about him? He had a malicious tongue, was a hypocrite and a womanizer, his heart was with someone else, and he was also a perpetual liar. He was so loathsome, yet she still loved him. A sudden thought flashed through her mind. Should I be jumping with joy because I can still stand beside him right now? Regardless of his status, she was Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife, and they shared the same bed at night. In the future, they would bear and raise children¡­ She mocked herself as she thought about it. Wen Xuxu, how far will you lower yourself? Chapter 248. Take One Step At A Time ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± The sound of Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice broke her train of thought. She was jolted back to the present. With a shake of her head, she gave him a faint smile and answered, ¡°Nothing much. Let¡¯s go.¡± She linked her hand around his arm, naturally and casually. In those few minutes, she came to a conclusion. If she kept harping on the fact that she would never be able to win his heart, she¡¯d just be creating unnecessary trouble and agony for herself. She should treasure what she has now. That would be the best thing to do¡ªto take it one step at a time. Her actions were a pleasant surprise for Yan Rusheng. His delight was immeasurable, and every single cell in his body seemed full to bursting from excitement. He was forced to rack his brains just to deal with this stupid woman. A smart woman would use whatever method possible to please a man like him. But this stupid woman was incorrigible¡ªa fact that only left him feeling frustrated and upset. ¡­ If Young Master Yan wanted to purchase something, there would be no room for negotiation. Their first stop was the largest mall in the capital city. The mall carried a collection of the world¡¯s most premium and expensive luxury brands. It was Xuxu¡¯s first time going there. She had heard of it before¡ªonly the wealthiest millionaires would step foot in this mall. Yan Rusheng led her straight to the third floor which was the highest floor in the entire mall. They passed by a few brands and the price tag on every item made her insides shiver. When they reached the third floor, Yan Rusheng pulled her to a sales counter labeled with the name ¡®Private Customization¡¯. Xuxu only saw these two words and didn¡¯t notice the English brand name next to it. The minute they entered, a salesperson welcomed them. She had a tag on her chest with the words ¡®Store Manager¡¯ printed on it. ¡°Third Master, why have you come by personally today?¡± The store manager was around 25 years old, and her appearance and sense of class were exceptional. With a customer like Yan Rusheng, her eyes still glinted with excitement even with years of life and work experience under her belt. Xuxu mocked herself silently; she shouldn¡¯t have gone out with him. He keeps attracting unwanted attention from the ladies. She knew that this pretty store manager was quite close to him based on her greetings and manner of speaking. At the very least, he should be a regular customer. At the thought of this, she sized up the store manager once more. The manager wore a body-hugging uniform which wasn¡¯t too feminine, and her features were perfect. She grew rather uneasy the more she looked at her. She unintentionally tightened her grip on Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. The store manager chatted briefly with Yan Rusheng, her gaze filled with infatuation. After a few seconds, she shifted her gaze towards Xuxu. Xuxu saw her looking at her, and she straightened her posture so that her chest was sticking out. With a slight lift of her chin, she moved herself closer to Yan Rusheng. Her series of actions seemed to declare that this man was her husband. She had no idea what had come over her. Yan Rusheng merely said that he¡¯d go to the orphanage with her next week. And to her surprise, she was practically falling at his feet. ¡°Third Madam Yan is here as well. Please take a seat inside.¡± The pretty store manager didn¡¯t notice Xuxu¡¯s intentions and even welcomed her warmly. Xuxu suddenly felt that she was being too petty and ridiculous. She released her grip on Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and followed the store manager to a white leather couch in the middle of the shop. Yan Rusheng settled down next to her and instantly, another salesgirl hurried forward. ¡°Third Young Master, Third Madam Yan, what would you like to drink?¡± ¡°Water.¡± ¡°Water.¡± They answered together in a heartbeat. Slightly startled, they both looked at each other simultaneously. Chapter 249. Couple Series ¡°Third Master Yan and Third Madam Yan are truly in sync with each other.¡± The salesgirl took advantage of the situation to fawn over them and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll fetch your water immediately; please wait.¡± In sync¡­ Yan Rusheng watched Xuxu closely as he mulled over the salesgirl¡¯s comments. Actually, he was aware that they were alike in many aspects, but he didn¡¯t want to admit it back when he hated her guts. Truth be told, he liked his desserts without any cream or jam, and he didn¡¯t really like curry as well. Thinking back, I¡¯ve actually spent so much time and effort hating this stupid woman. To the point that I even chose to eat stuff that I dislike just to spite her. This damn woman has been tormenting me since she was a kid. ¡°Third Young Master, these are our latest designs. You may request to customize them as you like.¡± The store manager brought him the booklet and began to introduce the designs. She flipped the pages and elaborated on each design. Xuxu finally understood that this shop stood by its name ¡®Private Customization¡¯, and it really customized every design especially for their customers. Only then did she notice what brand this counter belonged to. Most of Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirts and suits were from this brand. She had been Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary for over a year and had handled most of his matters. Everything except when it came to buying clothes. She only knew that he loved the color white and crystal blue buttons. But she hadn¡¯t really noticed the brand that he favored. ¡°Pick one that you like.¡± The pretty store manager was describing the details of each design when Young Master Yan took the booklet from her and passed it to Wen Xuxu. Wen Xuxu blinked at the booklet on her lap, and without thinking much, she passed it back to Yan Rusheng. ¡°You should choose.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face turned glum as he intertwined his fingers together. He placed his hands on his lap with no intention of taking back the booklet. I¡¯m already making such an obvious gesture, and she still doesn¡¯t appreciate it. What an ungrateful woman . Sensing the awkward situation, the store manager smiled brightly to ease the tension. ¡°Third Madam Yan, our brand has rolled out a new ¡®couple series¡¯ for the Autumn collection. Would you like to take a look at it together with Third Master?¡± She took back the booklet from Xuxu. Couple series¡­ Xuxu interpreted it as couple outfits. She inwardly reproached herself. When Yan Rusheng was dating Fang Jiayin all those years ago, they had passed by a Nike store on their way back to school. On display was a couple-sweatshirt design in the same color for both men and women. Fang Jiayin fell in love with the sweatshirt and pestered Yan Rusheng to buy it. He only used one word to reply back to her¡ª childish! He always looked elegant and classy, so wearing couple outfits was something meant for adolescent 18-year-olds. He would never bring himself to wear them. Three years ago, he didn¡¯t give in to Fang Jiayin¡¯s demands. Three years later, why would he put on a couple outfit with her then? Furthermore, she didn¡¯t really like the idea of couple outfits. To the media and everyone else, they would be mistaken as flaunting their affection and love for each other. She didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid despite the store manager¡¯s enthusiastic recommendation. But unexpectedly, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t share her thoughts¡ªhe became interested in the couple series. ¡°This looks interesting.¡± He pointed at a checkered design. ¡°But the skirt is too short.¡± ¡°The length of the skirt can be customized to the customer¡¯s preference.¡± Chapter 250. Why Should She Feel The Pinch On His Behalf? The store manager could sense Yan Rusheng¡¯s interest in the couple series and immediately saw a wonderful opportunity. ¡°This checkered series uses white as the base color. The gray and white combination is suitable for both men and ladies.¡± ¡°They look stylish and classy when paired with black pants. They¡¯re suitable for any occasion.¡± They¡¯re suitable for any occasion¡­ Yan Rusheng immediately thought of the new product launch press conference at the end of the month. If both of them attended the conference in matching outfits, wouldn¡¯t it be awesome? ¡°We¡¯ll take it.¡± He turned to look at Wen Xuxu for her opinion. Xuxu was completely startled¡ªshe was dead positive that he wouldn¡¯t wear the couple outfits. To her surprise, he had changed. She was curious to know what was so special about the couple series for it to attract Third Young Master¡¯s attention. She stole a glance at the pictures, but she felt that the design wasn¡¯t really that unique or eye-catching. It looked like just another ordinary trendy outfit. But there was a picture below with a male and female model standing together wearing the couple outfits, and they instantly exuded the charm and appeal of the clothing. This couple outfit was meant to be worn by a couple, and the synergy effects were evident. She stared at the picture for a long time and observed that the unique point of the outfit lay in the gray checkered design. After realizing the brilliance and exquisiteness of the design, her eyes seemed to explode with fireworks. She found herself falling in love with the couple outfits and couldn¡¯t bear to avert her eyes away. Great! She likes it! Yan Rusheng saw the visible admiration and approval in her eyes, and he curled his lips, apparently pleased with himself. He immediately glanced meaningfully at the store manager. She understood his message and had her staff take Xuxu¡¯s measurements without further ado. After Xuxu¡¯s measurements were taken, the store manager looked at Yan Rusheng and asked politely, ¡°Third Young Master, should I use your usual measurements?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in response. ¡°Alright then.¡± The store manager went to get the bill and presented it to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Young Master, this is the fee for the couple outfit customization, the total is 30,000. We will send it to your address within a week.¡± Only 30,000 yuan? Xuxu didn¡¯t look at the bill, but when she heard the price, her jaw dropped in surprise. At such a high-end mall, the customization fee is only 30,000 yuan? It really is a steal. Yan Rusheng received the bill and passed it to Xuxu. ¡°You keep it then.¡± When he heard the store manager state the fee, he quietly observed Xuxu¡¯s expressions and guessed that she would react this way. Everything was just as expected¡ªit put him in a more joyful mood. Xuxu received the bill and was about to fold it before putting it away. Yan Rusheng¡¯s amused voice sounded again, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to only be 30,000 pounds.¡± What? 30,000 pounds?! Xuxu heard the word ¡®pounds¡¯, and her hand trembled. The bill almost slipped from her fingers. She unfolded the bill and examined the bill carefully. She was blown away¡­ Indeed, it was 30,000 pounds. She knew the answer all along. At such a high-end mall, how can the customization fee for two outfits only be worth 30,000 yuan? This 30,000 wasn¡¯t the figure that she¡¯d assumed it to be. It was nearly 300,000 yuan, and she almost died from shock. Yesterday she had already spent 400,000 yuan. Xuxu lowered her head as she tried to hide her frustration. Yan Rusheng was tickled at the sight of her expression. ¡°The restaurant I went to last night was good. Let¡¯s go there for lunch.¡± Suddenly, Xuxu didn¡¯t feel the pinch anymore. She¡¯d only spent a few hundred thousand with his credit card. But he had booked an entire restaurant to enjoy dinner with a celebrity and probably went shopping with her afterward. He most likely spent a million yuan in one night. So why should she feel the pinch on his behalf? Chapter 251 After thinking it through, she folded the bill carelessly and chucked it into her bag. It looked like she was keeping some random receipt from the supermarket. The staff in the shop interpreted her casual actions as the natural conduct of the wealthy. Xuxu shifted her gaze to Yan Rusheng who seemed to wear a lingering shadow of a smile on his good-looking face. She declined casually, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like having Western cuisine for lunch.¡± ¡°You knew that I went to a Western restaurant yesterday?¡± Yan Rusheng feigned a look of surprise. When he heard her response, it only reaffirmed the speculations in his heart, making Young Master Yan really pleased and satisfied. Indeed, time will change everything, including a person¡¯s heart. Xuxu coldly rolled her eyes at him. ¡°The fact that you booked an entire restaurant to have dinner with the beautiful actress Weng Meimei has spread across the city. Perhaps even the whole country or even the whole universe is aware.¡± She read the headlines this morning, including the details of the situation and the restaurant. The paparazzi had captured and described the dinner date in detail, so it was no longer a secret. With the news report, she could face his questions while still looking unperturbed. Yan Rusheng saw her clear and unfeeling eyes and a flash of disappointment streaked through his heart. The feeling was faint, but it pricked his heart and left him vexed. He didn¡¯t believe that he¡¯d gotten the wrong idea; Zhou Shuang¡¯s text had made it clear that Xuxu was angry over his dinner with Weng Meimei. No doubt, being composed was one of her strengths. If she was deliberately trying to hide it, she wouldn¡¯t reveal a single thing that would give her jealousy away. Young Master Yan consoled himself, and his mood lightened considerably. Without thinking much about all the eyes focusing on him, he held Xuxu¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go get some lunch.¡± They left the shop, and Xuxu sneaked a peek at Yan Rusheng tightly holding her hand. Then she moved her eyes upwards to his body. His casual outfit brought out his youthful and sunny disposition. From any angle, he looked extremely attractive. She couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip around his hand. When she saw their fingers intertwined together, she felt that they looked like a couple in love and out on a date right now. Even though she knew it was a one-sided illusion on her part, nevertheless it lifted up her mood, and she walked beside him cheerfully. ¡­ Yan Rusheng led Xuxu to a nearby restaurant¡ªthe signboard at the restaurant¡¯s entrance showed that they specialized in spice food, which made Xuxu feel a little touched. They entered the restaurant, and she heard him exchanging words with the waiter. She realized that he had already reserved a private room. So he said those things at the ¡®Private Customization¡¯ shop on purpose? But why? Why did he intentionally suggest that they dine at the restaurant he went to last night? Was it because I was too obvious with my jealousy last night and he realized it? Xuxu began to get restless and uneasy at her suspicions. She timidly looked at Yan Rusheng, and from her position, she could only see half of his face. She couldn¡¯t read anything from his expression. Thus, she tried to recall everything that happened last night after he got home. But she couldn¡¯t seem to think of anything suspicious. And as she concentrated on her thoughts, her face began to heat up, and she slowly started to blush crimson. She had no idea how she¡¯d managed to muster enough courage to act like that yesterday. ¡°It¡¯s broad daylight¡ªwhy are you letting your imagination run wild when you look at me?¡± Yan Rusheng turned around and noticed the tiny woman next to him was staring at his lower body. She was blushing and obviously thinking of something improper. Her bashful expression stirred up his heart once again. Chapter 252. Meeting The Award-Winning Actress This damned woman; so she liked to look at his private parts in broad daylight. But at night in bed, she turned all coy and refused his advances. He was starting to doubt that she was putting on a pretense, and deep inside of her, she wanted it too. Xuxu was jolted back to reality by Yan Rusheng¡¯s accusation. She hastily looked away and wanted to bury her head in a hole out of sheer embarrassment. This was too embarrassing. ¡°Third Master, this is the private room that you reserved.¡± The waiter brought them to the second floor and opened the door for them. The theme of the private room exuded a vintage and antique charm, similar to the style of the rest of the restaurant. The huge round table could seat a dozen people. Xuxu pulled out a random chair to sit down, and Yan Rusheng settled on the chair next to hers. Knock knock knock. The waiter was about to serve them tea when someone knocked lightly on the door. Yan Rusheng stole a glance at the closed door and replied lightly, ¡°Come in.¡± The person pushed the door gently, and a tall and beautiful lady appeared. She had short, cropped hair and wore a black t-shirt with dark blue tight jeans. Her tiny face with beautiful features embodied perfection. Xuxu widened her eyes in shock. Isn¡¯t this¡­ Yan Rusheng¡¯s rumored fling, Weng Meimei? ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry to keep Third Young Master and Third Madam Yan waiting.¡± Weng Meimei entered and walked towards the table. She smiled and apologized to the couple. Her manners and way of moving were natural and gracious. Yan Rusheng smiled too. ¡°It¡¯s alright, we came early.¡± Weng Meimei sat opposite of Yan Rusheng and Xuxu, and her gaze landed on Xuxu. By this time, Xuxu had already erased all traces of shock and was wearing a smile to hide her emotions. ¡°Third Madam Yan, it¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Weng Meimei greeted her sincerely. She responded and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you too.¡± Earlier on, the store manager at the private customization shop had merely glanced at Yan Rusheng, and she had already felt hostile towards her. Now she sat facing Weng Meimei, his rumored fling, but she could hardly summon any animosity towards her. It was really bewildering. She felt that Weng Meimei was looking at both Yan Rusheng and her in the same way. It was different from those models and actresses he had dated before. Xuxu mulled over this quietly while Weng Meimei turned towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Young Master, I went through the contract with my manager last night. We don¡¯t have any issues to raise, so we can sign the contract according to your schedule.¡± Yan Rusheng lightly interjected before she could finish, ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch first.¡± The waiter standing at the back immediately shot forward like an arrow and presented the menu to him. ¡°Third Young Master, this is our menu.¡± Yan Rusheng naturally passed the menu to Xuxu as he always did. Xuxu didn¡¯t decline and casually flipped through the menu before ordering the dishes she liked. And without saying anything else, she ordered spicy pickled fish. She placed the menu on the glass turntable and looked at Weng Meimei who was sitting across from her. ¡°Miss Weng, what would you like to eat?¡± She rotated the turntable so that Weng Meimei could reach for the menu. Weng Meimei quickly chose a few dishes and placed her order. ¡°My new movie is having its premiere tonight. I have two tickets for Third Madam Yan and Third Master. I¡¯m not sure if the genre is to your liking, but I hope that the two of you can turn up tonight.¡± Weng Meimei retrieved two tickets from her bag and passed it to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. Chapter 253. Dont You Have Anything To Ask Me? Xuxu¡¯s eyes swept over the ticket¡ªthe movie title was ¡®Hi, Miss Undercover¡¯. She recalled seeing advertisements promoting this movie at bus stops, online sites, and through various media platforms recently. She didn¡¯t notice who was playing the main lead and realized it only after she received the movie tickets. ¡°How could we decline such a nice gesture from Miss Weng?¡± Yan Rusheng extended his hand gracefully to take the movie tickets and nodded, his demeanor was gentlemanly. He glanced at Xuxu and passed the tickets to her. ¡°Keep it with you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu stored the tickets away in her bag. She thought to herself; this Miss Weng isn¡¯t a simple lady. She managed to make this arrogant guy exchange pleasantries with her. If it were anyone else, he wouldn¡¯t even be bothered to look at the ticket and would definitely give her a curt and cold reply. He might even decline their invite right on the spot. But today, he personally took the tickets from her and not only that, he was even conversing politely with her. Xuxu knew that he wasn¡¯t planning to bring her to support Miss Weng¡¯s movie and these two tickets would probably go to waste. Anyway, she didn¡¯t really care since she didn¡¯t particularly feel like going to the movie theater. She was probably past that age of feeling disappointed. Thus, she wasn¡¯t even harboring any expectations in the first place. Xuxu lowered her head as she ate, lost in her thoughts. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice interrupted her musings. ¡°Xuxu, our company is inviting Miss Weng to be the guest for our new product launch press conference. You¡¯ve been overseeing this project from the start, so you should get to know Miss Weng as well.¡± The guest for the new product launch press conference? Xuxu raised her head and shifted her gaze to Weng Meimei. The actress had a coy smile, and she looked enchanting and charming. It was a stark contrast to the aggressive image she had on screen. If Xuxu were a man, she probably wouldn¡¯t reject a lady like her. If Yan Rusheng ended up choosing her and Xuxu was the outsider, she would even applaud him for having exceptional taste. But what did he mean by acting like this? He¡¯d chosen a restaurant that served her favorite dishes, but he had also asked his rumored fling to join them. Was he trying to make sure that the lawful wife only-in-name must co-exist with his mistress? This didn¡¯t seem like his style. Combined with his earlier statements, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that he was trying to clarify his relationship with Weng Meimei. He wanted to tell her that last night¡¯s dinner with Weng Meimei had been purely about business. But this sounded both incredulous and ridiculous in her mind¡ªwhy would he need to explain himself to her when he met other women? But her heart was beating wildly at this seemingly ridiculous illusion. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± He saw that she¡¯d fallen silent and her mouth wasn¡¯t chewing her food anymore. Yan Rusheng frowned slightly, looking perplexed as he questioned her. ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xuxu shook her head and gracefully raised her glass. She said to Weng Meimei, ¡°It¡¯s an honor to be able to invite Miss Weng.¡± Weng Meimei raised her glass as well and smiled. ¡°Third Madam Yan, thank you for thinking so highly of me. It¡¯s my honor and pleasure too.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t speak; instead, Xuxu and Weng Meimei started conversing politely. Weng Meimei didn¡¯t stay for too long before she excused herself. After Weng Meimei left, Xuxu moved the plate of spicy pickled fish towards her and began hungrily picking up the food. She was thoroughly enjoying the meal as she focused only on her food and nothing else. It seemed that nothing else was as important as the spicy pickled fish. Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, and he glared at her angrily. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t you have anything to ask me?¡± Chapter 254. Do I Look Like Someone Who Doesnt Keep His Promises? He had already made it so obvious, and with her brains, she should understand that the dinner with Weng Meimei yesterday was purely for business. At this time, shouldn¡¯t she look a little happier or try to curry favor with him? Why wasn¡¯t she reacting at all? And her attention was still fixated on that damned spicy pickled fish. ¡°What should I ask you?¡± Xuxu raised her head, looking confused as she stared at the young master beside her. She really had no idea. ¡°You¡­¡± Her innocent-looking eyes left Young Master Yan exasperated and flustered. At this crucial moment, his pride got in the way once more. Hmph! Since you don¡¯t care about what I do, why should I continue being nice to you? Especially since you keep ignoring me all the time! ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask me if I want to eat some spicy pickled fish?¡± His original question was, ¡®Don¡¯t you have any questions about my relationship with Weng Meimei?¡¯ She was dumbfounded! It turned out to be something so trivial. Noticing how worked up he was, she assumed it would be something important. Xuxu responded sullenly, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like this dish?¡± She picked up a piece of the tender fish and stuffed it inside her mouth. She was savoring the taste with a doe-eyed expression. ¡°Just keep eating then.¡± Young Master Yan completely lost his appetite and he flung his chopsticks away. He got up and left the room. He met a waitress outside and instructed her to help him get a pack of cigarettes. When Xuxu left the room, he was leaning lazily against the wall holding a lighted cigarette in his hand. His thick eyebrows were furrowed as if he was extremely frustrated. Did he suffer from mood swings like a woman does every month? It was merely a few days, and his mood swings had come back again. She had only forgotten to ask if he wanted to share the fish¡­ She pondered for a moment before opening her mouth and saying resentfully, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to dinner and order an entire plate of spicy pickled fish for you. Is that okay with you?¡± She stomped angrily towards the direction of the stairs after saying her piece. Hey! This stupid woman¡¯s temper is getting worse! Young Master Yan threw the half-smoked cigarette on the floor without a second thought and strode over to Wen Xuxu. ¡°Check what time the movie starts and which theater it¡¯s at.¡± He was upset with himself the second he finished speaking. He was waving the white flag just like that? His cell phone vibrated with an incoming text. He took out his phone and glanced at the screen. The text was from Weng Meimei. ¡®Third Master, the movie is at 3 p.m. Enjoy your date.¡¯ Yan Rusheng flushed a little when he saw the text. Is it considered a date if a man wanted to watch a movie with a woman? ¡°Are you watching the movie?¡± Xuxu turned to stare at Yan Rusheng in surprise. Young Master Yan saw her and guiltily locked his phone. He quickly masked his guilt by looking composed. ¡°Do I look like someone who doesn¡¯t keep his promises?¡± Xuxu pressed her lips to refrain from commenting. She rummaged for the movie tickets and took a glance. ¡°It starts at 3 p.m. at Theater X. That¡¯s close to my place.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at the time¡ªit was almost 2 p.m. ¡°We should be on time if we leave now.¡± He held her hand and walked down the stairs. He¡¯d revealed a hint of his eagerness¡ªXuxu watched him in astonishment. At the same time, it gave Xuxu the courage to clear her doubts. ¡°Yan Rusheng, were you trying to explain what really happened yesterday by inviting Weng Meimei for lunch just now?¡± Her heart pounded furiously the moment she asked the question. Chapter 255. How Dare She Fall Asleep By this time, they had reached the ground floor and exited the restaurant. Bathed in sunlight, her tiny, exquisite face was filled with expectation. Without concealment. Yan Rusheng halted his footsteps and nodded at her in a serious manner. ¡°Yes.¡± He knew that this stupid woman had already figured it out. Damn it, why was she forcing him to say it if she already knew? His succinct reply made Xuxu¡¯s world turned brighter and more beautiful instantly. ¡°Oh.¡± She pretended to blink her eyes nonchalantly. ¡°Actually your taste in women had improved by leaps and bounds. Weng Meimei¡¯s looks and class are far more superior as compared to those actresses like Ouyang Qingqing.¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s blushing face fell immediately. This woman was really¡­ going overboard with her criticism. Xuxu smiled brightly instead, ¡°Young Master, the movie is at 3 p.m. and since it¡¯s the weekend today, the traffic could be congested.¡± ¡°Hurry up then.¡± Young Master Yan gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her along. Weng Meimei gave them VIP tickets and there were the only ones watching at this time slot. She had sincerely wanted to treat them to a movie and it¡¯s nothing much booking the entire theater for them. And furthermore, he was Third Young Master. Xuxu wasn¡¯t in the least surprised when she saw that they were the only ones in the theater. She was thoroughly enjoying the comfortable and squashy seats like the ones in the first class cabin on a flight. She put on the 3D glasses and waited for the movie to begin. The seats were spacious and Yan Rusheng and her were seated comfortably. The first scene began with Weng Meimei¡¯s character fighting with a dozen of men clad in black in a mansion. The scene was thrilling. She didn¡¯t particularly enjoyed this genre as she preferred those youthful themes. It could be due to her own experience; she was often overly engrossed when watching such movies or reading novels. She had watched ¡®A Small Thing Like First Love¡¯ repeatedly. The plot was similar to what she had gone through before. Xuxu stared at the huge screen, slightly restless. In the end, she dozed off. The fighting scenes carried on for some time. Finally there was an emotional scene in the night whereby the male and female lead were kissing passionately in the car. Young Master Yan¡¯s body started to stir. He turned around and saw the tiny woman beside him had tilted her chin and her mouth slightly open. She was apparently asleep. His handsome face fell when he saw her. It was so rare for them to watch a movie together and the emotional scenes finally appeared. How dare she fall asleep! His hands were balled into fists as he suppressed an overwhelming urge to storm off. Indeed, it¡¯s impossible to think of romance and intimacy with this dumb woman. He suppressed the ball of fury in him and Young Master Yan¡¯s attention went back to the huge screen. The emotional scene was over and the fighting had resumed. Since Weng Meimei had guessed that he was planning a date, why did she give him tickets to such a thrilling action movie? He was doubting her real motive. His interest was doused and he decided to tilt his head and sleep as well. When Xuxu woke up, she realized that she was lying on top of Yan Rusheng on the spacious and comfortable seats. She looked at their surroundings and sat up in shock. Yan Rusheng was originally fast asleep but was jolted by her sudden movement. He opened his peach blossom-shaped eyes sluggishly and sleepiness was still evident. He saw a startled-looking Xuxu sitting on top of him and his lips curled seductively. ¡°Wen Xuxu, if you can¡¯t control your desires and decide to ask me for help, I will satisfy you on the account that we are now husband and wife. But can you stop having such lewd thoughts about my body when I¡¯m not looking?¡± Chapter 256. Ill Try My Best To Atone For My Sin She had lewd thoughts about his body when he wasn¡¯t looking? Xuxu heard his accusation and almost vomited blood due to exasperation. Wasn¡¯t she the one who had fallen asleep first? She had no inkling of anything that happened afterward. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not interested in your body at all.¡± Her eyes swept across Young Master Yan¡¯s chest scornfully and she stood up. She adjusted her clothes before striding towards the exit. Yan Rusheng turned cold because of Xuxu¡¯s words. ¡°Then whose body are you interested in?¡± He got up and he caught up to her in no time with the advantage of a pair of lanky legs. She grabbed her arm and warned her. ¡°You have to keep in mind that you¡¯re my wife now. You can only think of me.¡± Xuxu halted and turned around. She lifted her head and looked at him with sparkling eyes. ¡°How about you?¡± She had overlooked his feelings and love and tried her best to fit into her role in this marriage. Why should he care about her feelings and love then? Recently, both of them were getting immersed in their roles. Shouldn¡¯t they continue in this way to sustain this marriage? He had suddenly customized couple outfits, brought her out for lunch and a movie, and even clarified his rumors with another woman¡­ All these made her overjoyed and left her with hope and expectations. But she didn¡¯t dare to harbor hope easily. To expect him to forget Fang Jiayin whom he had yearned for these years. She didn¡¯t dare to hope that he would be able to forgive her for causing Grandmother¡¯s death. Or to hope that he would lessen his loathing towards her all within these few months. As he had once promised her that they would never be apart. But he appeared hand in hand with another woman in front of her at the next moment. She had chased him relentlessly all these years and all these had proven that he had made the promise to the wrong person that night. She was merely a substitute for another woman. She took a deep breath but spoke lightly. ¡°Yes, without Grandmother, I wouldn¡¯t be here today. But I¡¯ve caused her death and this is what I owed her and the Yan family. I¡¯ll try my best to atone for my sin.¡± She flung his hand away as she said, ¡°Sorry, but my heart is in my body. It¡¯s mine.¡± She finished and turned to walk hastily away. She loved him, but he wasn¡¯t everything in her world. Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand hovered in mid-air and he watched Xuxu vanished from his sight. She was prideful, cold and unyielding. She had instantly and callously extinguished his determination and passion to court her. He thought that her behavior last night had meant that she had accepted him. That¡¯s why he mustered his courage to explain to her and even asked someone for movie tickets. To his surprise, she only wanted to make amends and even asked him not to get his feelings involved. He wanted to chase after her and say, ¡®Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m the one who caused Grandmother¡¯s death. You don¡¯t owe us anything and you don¡¯t need to atone for anything. You can leave now.¡± But he remained rooted to the ground; he was afraid that she might really heed his words and never return. ¡­ His car made a turn and entered the courtyard. In a split second, he stopped the car outside the main doors. The car owner got down and slammed the door behind him. ¡°Wen Xuxu isn¡¯t back yet?¡± Yan Rusheng asked the butler the moment he entered the house. He exuded an eerie and chilly aura and his expression was gloomy and dark. The butler shivered a little before answering politely, ¡°Young madam isn¡¯t back yet.¡± Then a doubt shot across the butler, ¡®Didn¡¯t you go out with Young Madam this morning?¡¯ Yan Rusheng remained mum and changed into his slippers. He strode over to the living room. He was about to ascend the stairs when a servant called out to him. ¡°Third Young Master.¡± He paused as his gaze slowly turned towards the servant. ¡°A parcel came for the young madam this afternoon.¡± She held a small box and walked towards him. Chapter 257. Did She Meet Any Crooks? Her parcel? Yan Rusheng received the box apprehensively, retraced his footsteps and sat on the sofa. She had always used the company address for her online purchases. It was the first time she had parcels sent to the house, he thought to himself as he glanced at the parcel. The sender was from ¡®Tiny Stars Orphanage¡¯. Was it the orphanage that she and Zhou Shuang had visited previously? Why would the orphanage send her something? He couldn¡¯t hold back his inquisitiveness and ripped the parcel open. When he opened the box, he saw a red hand-woven bracelet with two colorful little bells dangling from it. The bells were decorated with some cartoon characters. At the first glance, he felt that this was too childish. His thoughts didn¡¯t linger long on the bracelet as he rummaged inside the box for a card and photos. Words were written in untidy handwriting on the card. ¡®Sister Xuxu and Sister Zhou Shuang, thank you for your kindness. We hope that you will stay happy and pretty.¡¯ It ended with a huge smiley face. Yan Rusheng remained stony-faced as he stared at the smiley face. It was childish indeed, and his heart didn¡¯t soften at all. He started to flip through the photos and Xuxu was smiling brightly in every of the photos. Yan Rusheng paused when he saw a photo of Xuxu hugging a three-year-old-girl as they sat on a stool. In the photo, Xuxu was hugging a disheveled-looking little girl and the girl¡¯s whole attention was on her candy. Xuxu¡¯s eyes were looking at the little girl¡¯s hair and surprisingly, that gaze made him feel that she was¡­ filled with motherly love. As his fingers gripped the photo tightly, he settled himself back against the sofa. His eyes remained fixated on the photo with a deep and intense expression. Did women naturally possess motherly love? She didn¡¯t have any kids but why were her eyes overflowing with motherly love? He raised his other hand and gently caressed Xuxu¡¯s face in the photo with his thumb. He noticed how gentle and protective she was towards a child. Unexpectedly, he began to get jealous for his future children and for himself. When will she be able to treat him in this way too? But he was sure of a fact¡ªshe loved children. Even though he didn¡¯t witness it in person, but every expression and smile was genuine in the photos. After he pored through the photos, he returned everything back into the box. He stared at the box with an intense gaze with slightly knitted eyebrows as he entered a protracted period of deep thought. Wen Xuxu, if we have a child, will our relationship improve? Maybe she would fall in love with him if they have a child together. Hmmm, this sounds like a good plan. And he doesn¡¯t have to waste so much effort to highlight his strengths to her in order for her to fall in love with him. To deal with a stupid woman who is unable to tell good from bad, he had to be overbearing and simply tyrannical. Perhaps due to a feasible plan or the photos¡­ His mood lightened up considerably. ¡­ After Yan Rusheng had showered, he waited eagerly for her to be back so that he can carry out his plan. But the sky was getting dark and Xuxu wasn¡¯t back yet. He stood by the windows in the study as he stared at the entrance of the courtyard. The anxiousness in his eyes began to burgeon. As seconds and minutes passed by, he began to start worrying. He was worried if Xuxu met any bad guys, or perhaps she went to meet Jiang Zhuoheng¡­ Infinite possibilities went through his head in a split second and finally he couldn¡¯t control it any longer. He strode over to his desk and dialed Xuxu¡¯s number on his phone. Chapter 258. As Long As Its Worthy When he heard the dial tone from the other end of the line, he heaved a sigh of relief. At least it ruled out the probability of her being in the hands of crooks. The phone rang for quite a while before someone answered. It was a familiar voice that he had missed . ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Yan Rusheng asked with a frown. Her voice sounded as if she was munching on something in her mouth. Xuxu replied, ¡°I planned to call you after my dinner. I am at my grandfather¡¯s house. Qi Lei had returned home as his Grand Aunt Lei had passed away. As my grandfather¡¯s movements are still not nimble, I intend to stay with him for the next few days.¡± So she won¡¯t be returning home tonight? Oh no, not only tonight. It would be for the next few nights. He turned and took a glance at his laptop screen. The downloading of the latest blockbuster movie was completed. He had made plans to watch it with her tonight, but it was not possible anymore. He was upset that his plans were wrecked had the urge to smash up his phone in anger. ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng fought hard to suppress his emotions and answered lightly. After pausing briefly, he added, ¡°Let grandfather know that I¡¯ll visit him when I have the time.¡± He used to use ¡®your grandfather¡¯ to refer to Xuxu¡¯s grandfather. But now, he referred to him as ¡®grandfather¡¯ so naturally. Xuxu listened intently and remained silent for a while before replying, ¡°Okay.¡± After they hung up, Xuxu continued with her dinner. Grandfather, who was sitting opposite her, asked inquisitively, ¡°Was the call from Third Yan?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at her grandfather, suggesting to him that he was asking the obvious. If it wasn¡¯t him, then who else could it be? The old man added, ¡°Grandfather keeps forgetting to ask you, how is the progress of your relationship?¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡°¡­¡± He was already over eighty years old yet still such a busybody, trying to inquire about the private lives of others. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t tell him about the progress of her relationship with Yan Rusheng. Since he had a lack of respect for others, just let him be anxious about it. The old man saw her furrowed eyebrows. Sensing that she was trying to avoid his question, he chided her. ¡°You bad lass. You may find grandfather a nag now. But when I pass on just like Wang Daqin, you will not have anyone else to nag at you.¡± At the mention of Wang Daqin, Xuxu was upset again and she slowed down her chewing. She lowered her gaze and took a while to recompose herself before raised her head again to look at grandfather. ¡°Grandfather, what was the least dignified thing that you¡¯ve done?¡± She deliberated for a while. Without waiting for the old man to respond, she rephrased her question. ¡°Or, what is your minimum acceptable standard with regards to one¡¯s self-dignity?¡± Upon hearing this, the old man answered coldly, ¡°Hm, I¡¯m unable to comprehend the warp thoughts and inclinations of the young. As far as my own principles are concerned, I will not consider about any minimum standards if I feel that something is worthy.¡± As long as it¡¯s worthy. Worthiness. How do one measure worthiness? Was he worthy? It was still inconvenient for grandfather to move around. Xuxu applied for a few days of leave until Qi Lei returns. During the day, the old man insisted on opening his shop and Xuxu was unable to stop him. For two consecutive days, only close friends came and showed concerned to the old man, but no patients came for consultation. Perhaps they were aware that the old man was unwell and not in the condition to treat patients. ¡°May I know if Wen Xuxu is around?¡± Xuxu was on the second floor when she heard an unfamiliar voice asking grandfather about her. She was startled. She hurried downstairs. Chapter 259. Most Capitalists Are Cruel And Sly ¡°Who are you and why are you looking for her?¡± The old man glared warily at the tall and sturdy man who was dressed in black. When Xuxu came down, she examined the man and asked, ¡°I am Wen Xuxu. May I know who are you?¡± She scrutinized him for a while and was certain that she didn¡¯t know him at all. When the man heard Xuxu¡¯s voice, he shifted his gaze towards her and spoke politely, ¡°Hello Miss Wen. My old master wants to invite you for tea.¡± His old master? Is he someone influential? Xuxu was even more puzzled. ¡°Who is your old master?¡± The man replied respectfully, ¡°My old master is the Chairman of Bright Vision.¡±s Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather¡­ A streak of surprise flashed past Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Why was that old man looking for her? ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Ming Zhongsheng.¡± Old Master Wen who was in the wheelchair spoke slowly and closed his turbid eyes. He seemed to be deep in thoughts. Xuxu¡¯s gaze swept past her grandfather. She had no idea what her grandfather was thinking but she was even more curious why Ming Zhongsheng was looking for her. She was aware that it was futile to ask this man as he was merely a messenger. So she went straight to the point. ¡°Where is Chairman Ming?¡± ¡°My old master¡¯s car is parked across the road.¡± The man pointed to a black recreational vehicle at the opposite side of the road. Xuxu took a glance at the car and nodded her head. ¡°Alright.¡± She was about to turn around when grandfather suddenly berated her. ¡°Why are you so obedient? Are you a dog? You are so easily beckoned by others.¡± ¡°Grandfather¡­¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather traveled all the way to look for me, so there must be something important. Let me go over for a.¡± while.¡± The old man replied coldly, ¡°Why would an old capitalist like him be looking for you?¡± Xuxu¡¯s grandfather hated those who placed personal gain before everything else. Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather was one such person. In the past, she tried to correct the old man¡¯s feudalistic mindset, but to no avail. Since this didn¡¯t affect his life, she left it as it was. Xuxu twitched her mouth and stared blankly at the old man in the wheelchair. Then she smiled at the man and said, ¡± I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s go.¡± After she took a few steps, the old man¡¯s cold voice could be heard saying, ¡°Remember this. Most capitalist are cruel and crafty. There must be something up his sleeves. Be careful not to fall into his trap.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Xuxu smiled and shook her head without stopping in her tracks. She crossed the road and walked towards the black vehicle. The man who was with her, opened the car door and said politely, ¡°Please.¡± The interior of the car was lavish. Ming Zhongsheng was dressed in a grey shirt and had a pair of reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. There was a black glass coffee table in front of where he was seated and a tea set was placed on the coffee table. Xuxu was startled when she saw Ming Zhongsheng. He had lost so much weight within a few months. His hair had turned completely white too. He must have been dealt a big blow by something major that had happened during this period. Xuxu got into the car and walked towards Ming Zhongsheng. She smiled and greeted him, ¡°Hello, Chairman Ming.¡± She had only met him for a few times. Each time, she was an eyesore to him and he disdained and despised her. Chapter 260. I Really Dont Know Other than the most important person in her life, she wasn¡¯t bothered by their words or actions towards her. Ming Ansheng used to say that she was acting all high and mighty. But the truth was, she chose to adopt a light hearted perspective of his comments and didn¡¯t allow them to affect her. Even now as she was standing before Bright Vision¡¯s patriarch, her attitude was still cool and collected, showing no traces of humility or arrogance. ¡°Come over here and take a seat.¡± Ming Zhongsheng pointed to the seat beside him and beckoned Xuxu. His voice carried a hint of exhaustion. Xuxu could sense an extreme weariness in him as he spoke. She sized him up as she walked towards him. There weren¡¯t any dramatic news about the Ming family lately. So, what¡¯s the matter with this old man? His sudden visit was so grand yet mysterious. ¡°Chairman Ming, may I know the purpose of your visit?¡± Xuxu asked Ming Zhongsheng bluntly. She was worried about her grandfather who was alone at the shop yet curious at the same time and didn¡¯t want to be kept on tenterhooks. She smiled graciously and her tone was gentle and courteous. Ming Zhongsheng frowned and looked displeased. ¡°Stupid lass, given your wisdom, can¡¯t you guess the purpose of my visit today? There was a sudden change in Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s emotions, yet Xuxu still looked calm. She shook her head and spoke with tranquility in her voice, ¡°I really don¡¯t know. If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have asked.¡± ¡°I came to look for you because of Wen Xinyi.¡± At the mention of Wen Xinyi, Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s voice softened and sounded a little meek. When he looked at Xuxu, there were no more traces of his icily arrogance and contempt in his eyes. ¡°I know that Xinyi went overboard this time and she don¡¯t deserve to be pardoned. On account that she¡¯s still young, I plead with you and Third Yan to be magnanimous and let her off.¡± Upon hearing this, Xuxu was even more bewildered. ¡°Chairman Ming, I don¡¯t understand what you are talking about. What happened to Wen Xinyi?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng paused in astonishment. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Xuxu doubtfully. ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± How was it possible? It was such a serious matter. How could she not know? Hmph. Ansheng was right. This stupid lass is full pretense. He humbled himself to go and look for her, yet she took advantage of the situation and feigned ignorance, making a fool out of him. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡± Xuxu sounded sincere and looked serious. ¡°Please come straight to the point. I¡¯m worried about my grandfather who is injured and alone at home.¡± Ming Zhongsheng narrowed his turbid looking eyes and stared suspiciously at Xuxu. She didn¡¯t seem to be lying. ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡± Without waiting for Xuxu to respond, he continued, ¡°Xinyi feigned the car accident and knocked down Third Yan¡¯s grandmother by mistake. How can you not know about this?¡± He still couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡®Boom¡¯ Wild thoughts blasted through Xuxu¡¯s mind and the look on her face changed. She was stunned and stared blankly at Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s wrinkled face There was a lump in her throat and she couldn¡¯t find her voice. Ming Zhongsheng was alarmed at Xuxu¡¯s reaction. She didn¡¯t know! This stupid lass really has no idea of the entire matter. How could this be possible? Chapter 261. Pay With Her Life For Committing Murder ¡°What did you say?¡± After a long period of silence, Xuxu finally opened her mouth. Her neck was tilted to one side, and her body trembled briefly. Her crystal-clear eyes suddenly froze with a layer of bone-chilling grimness. She clenched her fists tightly, and a murderous aura sprung up from within her. Ming Zhongsheng¡ªthe all-powerful man in the business world¡ªwas filled with traces of fear, and he fought hard to compose himself. ¡°Xinyi was arrested after Wang Daqin¡¯s funeral. Didn¡¯t Third Yan tell you about it?¡± He was still brooding over the fact that Xuxu didn¡¯t know the truth of Wang Daqin¡¯s death. Yan Rusheng had gone to great lengths and sought help from his contacts just to suppress this matter and prevent it from leaking to the media. But Ming Zhongsheng had had his misgivings. Back then, when Xinyi had merely pulled a prank on Xuxu to scare her, Yan Rusheng chased her out of Flourish & Prosper which eventually became high-profile news that spread like wildfire. But this time, a life was lost. Xinyi had caused the death of his grandmother. Yet, he handled it with so inconspicuously. Other than letting Xinyi suffer and being tormented in jail, he didn¡¯t divulge any further details to the public. Otherwise, even if Ming Zhongsheng exhausted all his connections, it still wouldn¡¯t be possible for him to suppress this matter. Having a murderer in the Ming family, they would inevitably be at the receiving end of various public opinions and condemnation¡ªsuch a scandal would greatly impact their family. It also wouldn¡¯t be possible for him to help Xinyi even with his connections. ¡°Chairman Ming, your granddaughter is a murderer, yet you still have the gall to come and plead with me.¡± Xuxu¡¯s lips quivered as she continued coldly, ¡°She¡¯s nothing but vicious and deserves to be hacked to pieces.¡± Ming Zhongsheng had a sinking feeling that Xuxu would react aggressively towards him, but she did not. There was only a murderous aura encircling her as if she was about to explode with rage. ¡°She doesn¡¯t deserve to be forgiven. But her actions were only because Third Yan was too heartless, which drove her to commit such a grave mistake.¡± At the mention of Yan Rusheng, Ming Zhongsheng couldn¡¯t restrain his emotions and started getting worked up. In his heart, Yan Rusheng had destroyed his granddaughter¡ªhis only beloved granddaughter. ¡°She¡¯s already an adult.¡± Xuxu suddenly stood up like a volcano that had just erupted and the vehicle jolted. Bending down, she leaned towards Ming Zhongsheng. There was a flash of coldness in her eyes as she gnashed her teeth. ¡°She has to pay with her life for committing murder.¡± She straightened her back and was preparing to leave. Suddenly, Ming Zhongsheng begged her, ¡°Please persuade Third Yan to let Xinyi off. I will send her overseas and forbid her to return to this country again.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t turn back to look at him. With a voice filled with ice, she replied without hesitation, ¡°As long as I¡¯m still alive, I¡¯ll make sure Wen Xinyi pays for it with her life.¡± When Ming Zhongsheng heard this, he lost all hope. They were indeed brought up by Wang Daqin. Regardless of which aspect, this stupid lass and Third Yan were so astonishingly similar. Where matters of the heart were concerned, there was no leeway. Both appeared to be noble and virtuous and so icily arrogant. No one would be able to discover their weaknesses. It would be so difficult to deal with such people. No wonder Wang Daqin wanted to keep the girl by Third Yan¡¯s side. With her assisting him, Flourish & Prosper would undoubtedly head towards a glorious future. Ming Zhongsheng had already known that it was hopeless to beg Xuxu to persuade Yan Rusheng, but he couldn¡¯t bear to see his granddaughter spending the rest of her life in jail. He knew that there was no way to conceal the truth forever, and that it would all come to light one day. Chapter 262. Dont You Care About Your Life? Wang Daqin was an influential person in the business world. If the cause of her death were made public, it would inevitably cause an uproar. Should that happen, Bright Vision¡¯s reputation in the business world would go downhill. So, he must not let it happen. He stared at Xuxu¡¯s back with his turbid-looking eyes and spoke sincerely, ¡°The Yan and Ming family have maintained close ties for many years, and Wang Daqin and I have had countless business dealings with each other. Her death has certainly brought me a lot of grief and guilt.¡± His voice was choked with emotion. ¡°Xinyi is not a murderer and didn¡¯t plan on killing anyone. She was just filled with hatred for Third Yan for his heartlessness and wanted to vent her anger, which resulted in this horrific accident.¡± Xuxu turned her head upon hearing this and frowned coolly. ¡°Having said all this, you just wanted to tell me that Yan Rusheng was the real cause of my grandmother¡¯s death, am I right?¡± Ming Zhongsheng didn¡¯t deny it because this was his exact sentiments. If Third Yan hadn¡¯t gone overboard, none of this would have happened. Third Yan didn¡¯t feel that he was in the wrong and had pushed all the blame to his granddaughter. This was something that Ming Zhongsheng couldn¡¯t take lying down. By any means possible, he must save Xinyi. He stared at Xuxu, his eyes full of schemes. ¡°You married Third Yan out of guilt, but he doesn¡¯t have you in his heart. His girlfriend is currently overseas, but she¡¯ll be coming back soon. Do you want to end up dumped by him after you bear him a child?¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Xuxu snickered, her lips curling into a cynical smile. ¡°I finally know why after all these years, Bright Vision is still inferior to Flourish & Prosper. This is because, compared to my grandmother¡­¡± She paused deliberately and then continued word-by-word. ¡°You¡­ fall¡­ far¡­ short¡­¡± After dropping that statement, she turned and got out of the luxurious vehicle, not giving a damn about Ming Zhongsheng. Her steps were firm and heavy. She strode on, one step after another. As she walked down the busy road, the sounds of ear-piercing horns came from both directions. As she reached the side of the road, she suddenly stopped in her steps. She looked at a car that was fast approaching her and ignored the angry honking of its horn. Knock me down. Knock me down, so I no longer have anything to do with him again. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what are you trying to do?!¡± All of a sudden, a familiar figure flashed in front of her face. He yelled at her as he pulled her into his embrace. It was Ah Heng, who had never before lost his cool with her. Xuxu saw that he¡¯d turned pale with fright and broke into laughter. ¡°I was just lost in my thoughts. Why are you so anxious?¡± She spoke calmly as she withdrew from his embrace. She owed him too much and had failed to live up to her promise. She didn¡¯t deserve to let him dry her tears again. Since she wasn¡¯t dead, then she¡¯d better live her life well. Why did he cruelly keep the truth from me? Was it to make me live in guilt in the Yan family? Grandmother saved her life. Even if she had to work her fingers to the bone for the Yan family, she would do it without a word of complaint. Jiang Zhuoheng looked at the playful-looking Xuxu and thought of her disheartened look from earlier. She could be so adorable and yet so hateful. Forget it. Since you don¡¯t want to say anything and don¡¯t want me to know, I¡¯ll pretend not to know. ¡°Next time, pay attention when you¡¯re crossing the road and don¡¯t space out so much. Don¡¯t you care about your life?¡± His tone was filled with his usual affection and tenderness, mixed with a tinge of regret. Chapter 263. She Wasnt That Afraid Anymore Earlier, he¡¯d been so terrified and shocked to see her standing motionless by the road. Her face looked like she was seeking death. When he dashed over, he had the crazy thought that if he didn¡¯t manage to pull her back in time, he would die together with her. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Xuxu changed the topic as she walked towards her grandfather¡¯s clinic. Jiang Zhuoheng strode beside her and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to visit Grandfather. It¡¯s been days since I last saw him.¡± Xuxu¡¯s mood lightened up considerably as she chatted with Jiang Zhuoheng. And she gradually forgot that she¡¯d tried looking for death just minutes ago. ¡°Crap!¡± She could hear her grandfather¡¯s voice even before she entered. Xuxu grinned while thinking of the unfortunate person who was being ¡®duped¡¯ by her grandfather to play chess together with him. Old Wen had the title of ¡®Chess King¡¯ in the vicinity. No other chess-lover in this area could beat him. So to play chess with him would be to look for trouble intentionally. Xuxu saw the elderly man who was playing chess with her grandfather and smiled brightly at him. She greeted him, ¡°Grandfather Zhang, you¡¯re here to play chess with my grandfather again.¡± ¡°Xuxu is here.¡± Grandfather Zhang nodded with a bright smile as well, and his gaze landed on Jiang Zhuoheng who stood beside Xuxu. ¡°And Xiao Jiang is here as well, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± Startled, Xuxu turned to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Do you know Grandfather Zhang too?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled mysteriously but didn¡¯t reply. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing quite well, I suppose.¡± Xuxu clenched her fist as she punched him lightly on his shoulder. She knew what had happened even without him saying anything. He probably dropped by a lot after she got married to Yan Rusheng. Her heart was filled with an explicable gratitude. But the more he did for her, the deeper her feelings of regret and guilt towards him. ¡°Alright, alright. Stop killing all my soldiers. My army is almost defeated and you¡¯re still being so callous.¡± Old Master Wen ignored his pleas as he continued to destroy all his pieces till he was left with just a ¡®knight¡¯ and two soldiers. Without checkmating the king, he merely hopped around with his ¡®knight¡¯ to prolong the other man¡¯s suffering. Grandfather Zhang nearly flipped over the chess set out of sheer frustration. After Grandfather Zhang left, Jiang Zhuoheng took over and accompanied Old Wen for a game. Both of their skills were on par but the old man constantly kept protesting. Xuxu leaned back on the rocking chair, and at times she would peek her head out from the book to uphold the peace. She saw how her grandfather would grab Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s hand and try to wriggle his way out using his age to his advantage. He would also lecture him affectionately, acting like his elder or a grandfather. The expression in her eyes turned thoughtful. If it weren¡¯t for the accident, would she have such a cozy and comfortable life with him right now? Her phone rang with a text notification. Xuxu snapped out of her musings and glanced at the screen. The text was from Yan Rusheng. She could read the entire message from the screen. ¡°I¡¯m going to Country Y for a business trip. Stay at your grandfather¡¯s place for the next few days.¡± She averted her eyes from the screen after reading the text, covering her face with her book. ¡®¡­ he doesn¡¯t have you in his heart. His girlfriend is currently overseas, but she¡¯ll be coming back soon. Do you want to end up dumped by him after you bear him a child?¡¯ Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s words echoed in her mind once more. She didn¡¯t forget that the old man had selfish motives. For Bright Vision and his granddaughter, he would have investigated both her and Yan Rusheng¡¯s private matters. Fang Jiayin should be coming back soon¡­ But she wasn¡¯t that afraid or worried over her impending return. At the thought of them possibly flaunting their love right in front of her, her heart didn¡¯t ache as much as it did before. ¡­ Chapter 264. Sad And Dreary Qi Lei came back on Friday, with his suitcase bursting to the brim with local products from his village. Wen Daozheng started feeling sentimental as he looked at the items Qi Lei brought back with him, sighing deeply as he fiddled with them. Xuxu knew that her grandfather missed his old village dearly. Other than her, all of his family and relatives had been born there¡­ and had died there as well. For the sake of Xuxu, he came to this foreign city at his advanced age. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to adapt to the city life. She stared at the old man and said half-jokingly, ¡°Grandfather, a few days ago, I read online that our hometown has become more well-developed and it¡¯s really beautiful now. If we can¡¯t make a living in the city anymore, we can return to the village to open a TCM clinic.¡± Without waiting for the old man¡¯s reply, Qi Lei cheered in approval as he unpacked his stuff. ¡°Sister Xuxu, that¡¯s a great idea! I can continue to be Grandfather¡¯s apprentice then.¡± He had barely finished his sentence when the old man woke up from his reminiscence. He chided her, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Then he gave Xuxu a stern glare. ¡°A married girl is like spilt milk¡ªit can¡¯t be retrieved. Where do you think you¡¯re going to? Flourish & Prosper isn¡¯t better than a TCM clinic?¡± He put down the local products and pressed his hands down on the stool next to him to support his weight. He tried to get up slowly. Xuxu and Qi Lei saw him struggling and rushed forward to help him. With one person on each side, they supported him back to his wheelchair. ¡°As the saying goes, a fallen leaf will return to its roots one day.¡± Xuxu poured some water for her grandfather and gave him a sentimental smile as she passed him a glass of water. Grandfather felt that her sentiments shouldn¡¯t belong to someone of her age and it somehow felt like she¡¯d gone through many hardships in her life. He gripped her hand¡ªit was rather heartbreaking to think of this. His large, wrinkled hand patted her hand tenderly. ¡°I¡¯m getting old. It¡¯s fine if you want to go somewhere else, just don¡¯t leave me behind.¡± Xuxu could feel her eyes brimming with tears and her nose getting stuffy as she spoke in a hoarse voice. ¡°I¡¯d be struck by lightning if I ever left you behind.¡± Grandfather smiled and released his grip. He turned to Qi Lei. ¡°A few days ago, our neighbor Aunt Liu said that she has someone to introduce to you. You¡¯re in luck, young man.¡± Hearing this, Qi Lei instantly turned red. He shook his head bashfully. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m not in a hurry.¡± Then he looked up at Xuxu nervously. Xuxu teased the young boy, ¡°Young man, it¡¯s always a good thing to meet someone new. Why are you looking at me? Are you so excited that¡¯s why you¡¯ve lost track of your direction?¡± Qi Lei turned even redder as he scratched the back of his head. He smiled shyly. ¡°Nothing¡­ nothing much.¡± Xuxu saw his bashful expression and decided to stop her teasing. Sigh, he¡¯s still so shy even after living in the city for almost three years. ¡­ On Saturday, Xuxu and Zhou Shuang agreed to visit the orphanage together. Zhou Shuang came to pick her up, carrying a light piece of luggage in her hands. She was planning to head back to the Yan¡¯s mansion after their trip to the orphanage. Yan Rusheng was going to be away for three days and other than the text he sent the other day, they hadn¡¯t contacted each other since. It was as if they weren¡¯t husband and wife. Getting off a loop, the car traveled smoothly on a wide road in the suburbs. The trees that lined the road had withered leaves that constantly fell, making everything seem sad and dreary. Somewhere far away, the seasons should be changing as well. The car stopped outside the entrance of the orphanage. Xuxu opened the door and got down first to walk to the car trunk. ¡°Shuang, open the trunk.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re both here?¡± Xuxu heard a familiar voice and spun around. ¡°Ah Heng?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng wore a black set of casual sportswear, which served to elongate his figure. His good-looking face seemed to glitter brilliantly as beams of sunlight danced on his face. Chapter 265. I Dont Even Have A Man He walked casually towards Xuxu, a faint smile playing around his mouth. ¡°Why are you so surprised? Are you so doubtful of my kindness?¡± Xuxu quickly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not doubting your kindness, I¡¯m just surprised that you had the time.¡± And it was so early in the morning. If she didn¡¯t go to the orphanage, she probably would have just woken up by now. She peeked at the rising sun and suddenly realized that she had gotten lazier. Her biological clock had always worked well when she was younger. But now, she needed an alarm clock just to stop her from sleeping until noon. She felt that after moving to the Yan¡¯s mansion, she was somehow sleeping longer and the quality of her slumber had improved. Jiang Zhuoheng raised his brows. ¡°It¡¯s Saturday today, so why wouldn¡¯t I be free?¡± Zhou Shuang got off the car and saw the two of them chatting away happily. She said reproachfully, ¡°Are you two here to chat?¡± In the midst of her sentence, she had reached them and was opening the car trunk with gusto. The trunk was filled with clothes and presents stuffed in various bags for the children. She reached for two heavy bags and passed them to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°There you go. Today we¡¯ll leave all the heavy labor to you.¡± The bags were filled to the brim with clothes, and she had struggled to carry them¡ªJiang Zhuoheng received the bags and hauled them away with ease. ¡°Naturally, I should contribute my strength when I¡¯m with the ladies.¡± He smiled lightly in a refined and gentlemanly manner. ¡°You are indeed promising, and someone worthy to be taught.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded, apparently pleased with him. Then she passed another bag to Xuxu. Seeing this, Jiang Zhuoheng stopped her. ¡°Leave it there¡ªI¡¯ll come back for the rest of the bags.¡± He then hastily darted towards the orphanage. Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand hovered in mid-air as she watched Jiang Zhuoheng leave. She sighed ruefully and said, ¡°Sigh, he¡¯s such a good man. But why doesn¡¯t he like me? Why does he like being tortured?¡± ¡°Are you sure it wouldn¡¯t be torture for him if he started liking you?¡± Xuxu raised her eyebrows and pretended to be skeptical. She looked at Zhou Shuang and continued, ¡°You¡¯re so valiant and strong; a weaker guy would die at your hands from all the bullying.¡± She sized up Zhou Shuang from top to toe with a meaningful glance. Zhou Shuang noticed Xuxu¡¯s gaze resting on her chest, and she hurriedly covered it with her arms. She glared resentfully at Xuxu as she frowned. ¡°Hey Wen Xuxu, you have such evil thoughts!¡± Xuxu retaliated by feigning innocence. ¡°How am I evil? You¡¯re the evil one.¡± ¡°Tsk. I don¡¯t even have a man, and I¡¯m a prim and proper maiden. Why would I have evil thoughts?¡± Zhou Shuang raised her eyebrows wickedly. ¡°But you¡¯re different¡­ how far have you gone with Yan Rusheng?¡± She didn¡¯t bother to wait for Xuxu¡¯s reply and carried on speculating. ¡°You guys have been married for nearly three months, am I right? That guy might be arrogant and full of himself, but as long as he¡¯s a normal man, he should have his desires. For instance, in the middle of the night¡­¡± Xuxu furrowed her brows tightly as her expression darkened¡­ She really wanted to strangle this nonsense-spewing woman. Zhou Shuang wisely stepped back but continued to tease Xuxu relentlessly, her mouth moving like a damaged tap that wouldn¡¯t stop. Jiang Zhuoheng heard Zhou Shuang from afar, and he paused in his tracks. How far had they gone? Actually, he already knew that it was impossible for him and Xuxu. He was mentally prepared to envision Yan Rusheng and Xuxu starting a family together. He began to step forward¡­ and every step seemed to tread on his own heart. It was heavy, sad, and painful. Chapter 266. The Boss Was In A Bad Mood Right Now It had almost been a month since Xuxu¡¯s last visit and the children rushed towards them happily as if the ladies were their own family members. Previously, Xuxu came with Zhou Shuang. This time around, there was a tall and handsome big brother accompanying them. And they even brought more presents with them. Everyone was cheering and yelling happily to express their keen excitement. ¡­ ¡°Hurry up.¡± The black Mercedes S600 sped all the way from the airport. The gorgeous guy sitting in the front passenger seat had eagerness written all over his face as he urged the chauffeur to speed up. After urging him once more, he tilted his head down to look at his cell phone¡¯s wallpaper. A woman¡¯s peaceful sleeping expression tugged at his heartstrings. That callous, stupid woman didn¡¯t even contact me throughout the four days I was gone. She didn¡¯t even reply when I put aside my pride to let her know I¡¯d be away for the next few days. Nevertheless, he was still anxious to return home as swiftly as possible, and this thought plagued him relentlessly throughout the entire trip. It even kept him sneaking glances at her aloof-looking face. His trip was originally planned for a week, but he shortened it to four days. So he didn¡¯t inform her beforehand. He had promised to make a trip to the orphanage with her on Saturday. So he had specifically chosen this return flight so that he could get to the orphanage before she did. With this thought, he looked behind him at the seats filled with bags of toys and snacks he had bought overseas. Since she likes children, I¡¯ll have to pander to her liking. He thought that they would be able to dispel their misgivings in this way. It was autumn, and orange leaves were falling everywhere. They reached the suburbs in the capital city, and occasionally he would spot farmers harvesting their golden crops. He saw such lovely and charming sights all around him. He rolled down the window and spotted a courtyard right ahead of them. He could hear the children¡¯s joyful laughter from a distance. It lightened his mood considerably, and his heart unconsciously filled up with hope. This is going to be a wonderful day! The car stopped slowly outside the entrance of the orphanage. Yan Rusheng peeked his head out of the car and spotted a Land Rover. He seemed to have seen Zhou Shuang driving this car before. Are they already inside? He pushed the door to exit from the car and informed the chauffeur, ¡°Bring in the things from the car.¡± After instructing him, he walked eagerly towards the orphanage¡¯s rusty doors. ¡°It¡¯s Sister Xuxu¡¯s turn!¡± the children shouted. ¡°Brother Ah Heng will carry Sister Xuxu across the river!¡± Yan Rusheng stopped abruptly as his face fell. He was a few steps away from the door when he abruptly remained rooted to the ground. His eyes traveled to the source of the ruckus. A group of children was standing at the playground in the middle of the courtyard. They were all holding hands as they queued up in a procession. Everyone was watching the man and woman standing in front of them. The man and woman stood facing each other, smiling helplessly, not knowing what they should do next. He turned around coldly and walked back to the car. ¡°President Yan¡­¡± The chauffeur was holding the bags as he trailed after him. He stopped midway through his sentence when he saw him walking back. He was terrified when he chanced upon Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression as he swept past him. There was a chilly and aloof aura emitting from Yan Rusheng which seemed to assail his senses. His instincts warned him that the boss was in a bad mood right now. Yan Rusheng got in the car and slammed the door. The chauffeur hurried back and dumped the bags in the back seat. Then he hastily went back to the seat and started the engine. But he didn¡¯t drive off immediately. Chapter 267. We Are Husband And Wife The chauffeur looked at Yan Rusheng with an expectant expression. ¡°Drive,¡± Yan Rusheng instructed him coldly. The children¡¯s laughter invaded his ears mercilessly, and he closed the car windows to shut out the noise. As the car left the orphanage, he didn¡¯t turn to look back at all. ¡­ Zhou Shuang sent Xuxu back home and dropped her off outside the entrance of the courtyard. It was already late in the evening as the children had refused to let them leave earlier on. She stood outside the courtyard and peered at the mansion. She was rather startled to see that the lights in the study on the second floor were still lit. Did he come back? ¡°Miss, welcome home.¡± Xuxu was still staring into the distance when the butler opened the doors and greeted her warmly with a smile. She snapped out of her thoughts and nodded politely at the butler, then walked towards the courtyard. It had been a week since she left the place, and a strange and unfamiliar feeling crept past her as she stepped into the courtyard. Standing in the middle of the courtyard, she scanned her surroundings. She thought rather mockingly to herself that this grand mansion and everything inside it truly didn¡¯t belong to her. So unfamiliar¡­ isn¡¯t this how I¡¯m supposed to feel? She strode towards the house that had provided her with warmth but had also given her sorrow. ¡°Miss, you¡¯re finally back.¡± Xuxu changed into her bedroom slippers and had just entered the living room when she met Aunt Zhang coming down from the stairs. Aunt Zhang looked at her with knitted eyebrows, a worried expression on her face. ¡°What happened?¡± Xuxu paused for a second before she guessed what the problem was. Yan Rusheng must be back and had thrown a tantrum when he saw that she wasn¡¯t home yet. ¡°Third Young Master is back, and he asked if you came home these few¡­¡± Aunt Zhang stammered and then stopped half-way. Xuxu knew that she was worried. She smiled and reassured her, ¡°I got it, don¡¯t worry.¡± She went up the stairs and headed towards the room that she used to stay in when she was younger. She decided to take a shower and change her clothes for now. She didn¡¯t plan on leaving the room, so she locked the door before entering the bathroom. Since she didn¡¯t bring a change of pajamas into the bathroom, she went back into the bedroom wrapped in a towel. She opened the door and walked out, and as she turned around¡­ a terrified expression crossed her face. ¡°You¡­!¡± She opened her mouth, but before she could utter another word, a towering figure had appeared right in front of her. His strong arms were wrapped tightly around her tiny body. Without giving her a chance to react, they both collapsed on the soft bed. Xuxu caught a whiff of alcohol and frowned as she turned her face away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?¡± She gripped his shoulders nervously as she tried to push him back, struggling to escape. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife, so what do you think I¡¯m trying to do?¡± Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes wickedly as he stared at Xuxu. His lips curled into a contemptuous smile. ¡°Tonight, let me see how pure you really are.¡± With that statement, he lowered his head and forcefully pressed his mouth against Xuxu¡¯s alluring rosy lips in a domineering way. The scent of blood spread through their mouths. But he didn¡¯t stop¡ªinstead he became more aggressive as he grabbed the towel and pulled it away from her body. With the towel gone, he lowered his head to admire her alluring figure. ¡°No¡­!¡± Xuxu frowned as she cried out desperately. She tried to push away this man who seemed to have lost his mind. ¡°Yan Rusheng, please, I beg you! No, please don¡¯t!¡± Chapter 268. You Should Atone For Your Sins Together With Me ¡°No¡­¡± Xuxu frowned as she cried out desperately. She tried to push away this man who seemed to have lost his mind. ¡°Yan Rusheng, please, I beg you! No, please don¡¯t!¡± The more she begged him not to and the more she resisted, the more incensed Yan Rusheng became. His mind was swirling with images of her smiling at Jiang Zhuoheng at the orphanage today. He was close to exploding with jealousy. Why did I have to fall in love with Wen Xuxu? Why is she always so icy and cold with me? Why did she have to smile at another man? Xuxu was raining random punches everywhere on his body, so he decided to grab both her hands. He clasped her hands together securely and fixed them above her head. ¡­ He wasn¡¯t in the least bit gentle towards her. ¡°Ahhh!¡­¡± Xuxu screamed in pain as her tears rolled down desperately. The moment he realized that he wasn¡¯t her first man, Yan Rusheng exploded with jealousy and lost his last shred of sanity. ¡°Jiayin¡­¡± Suddenly, she heard him muttering another woman¡¯s name in her ear. Oh! Xuxu felt like her heart was being pierced by thousands of arrows and the pain was agonizing. Her tears dampened the bedsheets, and she couldn¡¯t stop sobbing. Her eyes were filled with deep despair. After all these years, what she received in return was this humiliation. ¡­ Yan Rusheng carried Wen Xuxu into the bathroom and placed her in the bathtub. He adjusted the water temperature and soon warm water gushed out and filled the tub. He stood beside the bathtub wearing his bathrobe and peered down at her from above. From the beginning until now, she had remained in such a state¡ªsobbing and looking completely distressed. His ego and pride had never suffered such a crushing blow before in his entire life. Yan Rusheng had always gotten what he wanted, with the only exception being her. Earlier, when he had entered her body, he saw the look of despair and pain in her eyes, and it stabbed at his heart mercilessly, destroying his pride and dignity. At that moment, he was certain that she must be thinking of someone else. So in the heat of his jealousy, he said Fang Jiayin¡¯s name to spite her on purpose. What shocked him greatly him was her response after she heard him uttering Jiayin¡¯s name. Her reaction was so intensely violent that he was pleasantly surprised for a moment. It even made him forget his jealousy and disappointment that he wasn¡¯t her first man. But he was jarred back to reality in the next moment. As the proud Wen Xuxu, she lay beneath a man and was being treated as another woman; how humiliated she must have felt. ¡°You should have known that this would happen someday from the moment we got married. So Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t try and pretend to be a victim.¡± His voice was cold, devoid of any warmth. ¡°Even if you¡¯re unwilling, you still need to fulfill the initial purpose of this marriage.¡± Incredibly, she curled her lips into a smile that was full of mockery. She raised her head and peered at the man who towered over her like a divine being. Her voice was equally cold as she said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you should atone for Grandmother¡¯s death together with me.¡± Her words froze Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression and even his entire body. He nodded slowly after comprehending her words fully. His voice was hoarse and weak. It¡¯s a good thing that she understands! She said they should atone for their sins together, so it meant that she didn¡¯t intend to leave. As long as she stayed by his side, it didn¡¯t matter how she felt about him. After Yan Rusheng agreed, he turned around to walk out of the bathroom. Xuxu heard the door close shut almost immediately. Chapter 269. It Couldnt Thaw Her Stony And Frigid Heart Her words froze Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression and even his entire body. He nodded slowly after comprehending her words fully. His voice was hoarse and weak. It¡¯s a good thing that she understands! She said they should atone for their sins together, so it meant that she didn¡¯t intend to leave. As long as she stayed by his side, it didn¡¯t matter how she felt about him. After Yan Rusheng agreed, he turned around to walk out of the bathroom. Xuxu heard the door close shut almost immediately. She raised her head as she slipped down slowly, allowing her body to be submerged in the water. No matter how warm the water was, it couldn¡¯t thaw her stony and frigid heart. Yan Rusheng, let¡¯s atone for our sins together. ¡­ After that day, Xuxu moved back to her own bedroom. And Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t step into her room at all. During mealtimes, they sat across from each other as usual, but there wasn¡¯t any interaction between them. Xuxu was aware that he was slightly obsessed with cleanliness. How would he be able to accept a blemished woman as his wife? She resumed her normal routine; going to work, going home after work, and continuing her responsibilities as his secretary. They went to work and went home together every day. No one suspected that something was wrong with them¡­ Even Zhou Shuang, who was Xuxu¡¯s only close friend in the capital city, was kept in the dark. On a Sunday afternoon, Xuxu was preparing some materials at home for a meeting the next day. Suddenly she received an urgent call from Zhou Shuang informing her that Tiny Stars Orphanage was in trouble. She hung up and left immediately in a cab, leaving her work half-finished. Xuxu saw Zhou Shuang¡¯s car parked outside the orphanage. She hurriedly knocked on the doors, and the guard opened them immediately when he saw her. Several people were standing in the courtyard, including the matron and Zhou Shuang. She didn¡¯t recognize the rest of them. A lady wearing a black dress with long permed hair was facing the matron. The matron¡¯s usual benevolent expression was replaced by anxiety. Xuxu strode over to them hastily and overheard their conversation. ¡°The children are already used to living here. Where can we move to on such short notice? Besides, there are too many children.¡± Matron Huang furrowed her eyebrows tightly as she watched the children, a look of affection in her gaze. Countless pairs of innocent black eyes were peering at them curiously from the windows. She really couldn¡¯t bear to leave them. The middle-aged lady in the black dress raised her head. ¡°Matron Huang, when we signed the contract all those years ago, I leased this place to you for two decades. At the time, I wanted to support your aspiration and passion, so I lowered the rental fee. But now, the government is taking this piece of land back, and we have no way of opposing them. If I were to empathize with you, then who will empathize with me?¡± She spoke sharply and heartlessly. Zhou Shuang, who was standing next to Matron Huang, couldn¡¯t control her temper any longer. She gestured at the children and raised her voice at the middle-aged lady. ¡°You have children as well! They¡¯re well-fed and taken care of. But how about these kids? What should they do now?¡± The middle-aged lady turned her head to face Zhou Shuang and sneered with contempt. ¡°Young lady, you¡¯re wrong about that. Since you¡¯re so kind-hearted, why don¡¯t you use your house as an orphanage to shelter these kids?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do that!¡± Zhou Shuang blurted out. She was the type of person who could do anything once she lost her temper. She turned to the matron. ¡°If they force us to leave, then we¡¯ll leave. I¡¯ll find a suitable place for the kids.¡± Chapter 270. Re-sell It To Me Zhou Shuang stared ruthlessly at the middle-aged lady and gritted her teeth. ¡°The twenty-year lease hasn¡¯t expired yet. I¡¯ll see you in court for breach of contract.¡± Matron Huang held on to Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand, her eyebrows knitting from apprehension. ¡°Miss Zhou, I¡¯ve set up this orphanage for more than ten years. This place¡­¡± Xuxu slowed down her steps and stared at them¡ªshe seemed to know what was going on. She assumed that Matron Huang couldn¡¯t bear to leave this place. Furthermore, it wasn¡¯t easy to relocate to a new place since the resettlement would involve various procedures and administrative work. Zhou Shuang had only said it in a fit of anger. The children wouldn¡¯t be able to get used to living in a bustling city. Over here, the huge land allowed them to rear poultry and plant vegetables. This helped reduce their expenses, and the children would get to eat fresh and healthy food. Secondly, the air here was fresh as the place was far from the city, and it provided a peaceful environment for the children¡¯s education. Xuxu interrupted Matron Huang¡¯s conversation. ¡°Zhou Shuang, stand aside.¡± She shot a disapproving glare at her friend and shifted her gaze to the middle-aged lady. Xuxu smiled faintly at her. ¡°Sister, how may I address you?¡± Before the middle-aged lady could answer, Matron Huang introduced her. ¡°She is Madam Wu, the daughter-in-law of Professor Wu. She is the one who leased out this piece of land and the entire orphanage to me.¡± Xuxu smiled at the middle-aged lady again. ¡°Hello, Madam Wu.¡± Madam Wu smiled suspiciously at Xuxu, scrutinizing her for a long period of time. There was still a trace of doubt in her eyes. ¡°You are?¡± The look on her face seemed to suggest that Xuxu looked familiar to her, but she couldn¡¯t recall who she was. ¡°I am Wen Xuxu. Perhaps Madam Wu may have seen me in the newspapers or online.¡± Xuxu smiled and sounded exceptionally confident in her reply. One couldn¡¯t help but respect her. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Wen Xuxu, Flourish & Prosper¡¯s Third Madam Yan?¡± Madam Wu¡¯s jaw dropped, and she stared at Xuxu with a look of astonishment in her eyes. Xuxu calmly nodded her head, her attitude humble. ¡°Yes.¡± Madam Wu turned to look at Matron Huang disapprovingly. ¡°Matron Huang, what is the meaning of this?¡± She assumed that Matron Huang was using her connections to get the upper hand. Xuxu could see right through her thoughts and explained lightly, ¡°Madam Wu, please don¡¯t be mistaken. I came here to visit the children and coincidentally, you were discussing about the land lease. Since I¡¯ve overheard your discussion, I couldn¡¯t look on without saying a word.¡± She paused and continued, ¡°I overheard that the government is taking back this piece of land at a high price. May I know how much the government is willing to pay?¡± After hearing Xuxu¡¯s explanation, the fury in Madam Wu¡¯s eyes vanished, and she raised three fingers at Xuxu. ¡°Thirty million yuan.¡± Xuxu was in shock. This piece of land is worth thirty million yuan?! Even though this place was remote and far, it was still part of the capital city where land prices were extremely costly. If the developer commercialized this piece of land, it would certainly be worth it. She maintained her smile. ¡°Before the government acquires this land, could you resell it to me?¡± Zhou Shuang, Madam Wu, and Matron Huang were all startled. ¡°Hey, Wen Xuxu! It¡¯s thirty million yuan!¡± Zhou Shuang shrieked and pulled Xuxu to one side. Chapter 271. Dont Tell Him About This If it was only three million yuan, Yan Rusheng could easily issue a cheque with his eyes closed. But 30 million yuan was too exorbitant. Not that Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t afford this amount. But given their current strained relationship, Zhou Shuang felt that he had no reason to do that. ¡°It¡¯s alright, let me find a way,¡± Xuxu reassured Zhou Shuang with a mysterious grin. Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart was tickled. This woman must be up to something . As expected¡­ her thinking is as warped as Yan Rusheng¡¯s. ¡°So how about it?¡± Xuxu turned and rejoined the crowd, raising her eyebrows confidently. Madam Wu replied, ¡°The government has plans to develop this area. Even if you buy over the land at 30 million yuan, it still won¡¯t be possible to save the orphanage.¡± She seemed to be wavering in her decision. It would be less complicated to sell the land to Wen Xuxu than with the government. Only a fool would reject this. Xuxu twitched her eyebrows. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be my problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to sell it to you¡­¡± Madam Wu paused for a moment and then continued earnestly, ¡°But this site has already been put up for development, and we¡¯ll need to sort out the formalities at the government office.¡± Of course, she was aware of this. But seeing the innocent faces of the children, she couldn¡¯t look on without lifting a finger. She was convinced that she could lend a hand in this matter. Xuxu answered confidently, ¡°As long as Madam Wu agrees to sell this site to me, I will think of a solution.¡± Xuxu made a verbal agreement with Madam Wu. If she could raise the money and settle the formalities with the government within a week, Madam Wu would transfer the ownership to her. After Madam Wu left, Matron Huang clutched Xuxu¡¯s hand gratefully, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her tears were the best proof that she couldn¡¯t bear to leave the orphanage and the children. Xuxu was even more determined to lend a hand. Xuxu looked at the children amusing themselves on the field and let out a frustrated sigh. There was a tinge of sorrow in her tone. ¡°Hey, how are you going to raise 30 million yuan?¡± Zhou Shuang asked Xuxu eagerly once they got into the car. Without waiting for Xuxu to respond, she took a guess of her own. ¡°Are you planning to get help from Jiang Zhuoheng?¡± But that wouldn¡¯t make sense. Given Xuxu¡¯s personality, if she had to choose between Jiang Zhuoheng and Yan Rusheng, she would definitely approach Yan Rusheng. This was just a feeling that she couldn¡¯t explain. ¡°Don¡¯t make any wild guesses. It¡¯s 30 million yuan, not 3,000 yuan or 3 million yuan. Don¡¯t tell him about this, do you hear me?¡± Xuxu warned Zhou Shuang seriously. She already owed Ah Heng too much. How could she bother him again? Xuxu put on her seatbelt once the car reached the highway. She looked at Zhou Shuang and said, ¡± Send me back to my apartment.¡± She looked out the window and propped her cheek with one hand, deep in thought. Seeing Xuxu lost in her own thoughts, Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t probe further. When Xuxu reached home, it was already dinner time. She entered the door when Yan Rusheng came down from the stairs, and they both glanced briefly at each other. Aunt Zhang attended to them and ushered them into the dining room. There was a sumptuous spread on the table, including Xuxu¡¯s and Yan Rusheng¡¯s favorite dishes. Both of them behaved like students entering the classroom as they took their own seats, facing each other. ¡°Ah-choo!¡± Xuxu was about to scoop up some rice from the bowl when she let out a loud sneeze. Chapter 272. Sleeping All Alone She rubbed her itchy nose while glancing at Yan Rusheng at the same time. She didn¡¯t manage to cover her nose before she sneezed, and her saliva must have sprayed onto the dishes. She was afraid that Yan Rusheng would feel disgusted, but instead, he gracefully picked up the chopsticks with his fair hand and leisurely proceeded to savor his favorite dishes. His appetite wasn¡¯t in the least bit affected by her unglamorous sneeze. ¡°Missy, the weather has been cold these past few days. I¡¯ll have someone change your bedding with a thicker quilt. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice suddenly sounded in her ears. Pausing for a moment, she raised her head to glance at Aunt Zhang, then smiled and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no need to change them. It¡¯s not cold at all.¡± But Aunt Zhang tried to insist, ¡± It¡¯s better to change them. The weather has turned chilly, and you¡¯re sleeping all alone. You¡¯ll definitely feel cold.¡± There was a hidden meaning in her words. After she said this, the old lady glanced swiftly at Yan Rusheng. Lately, these two children had been sleeping in separate rooms, and they hadn¡¯t exchanged a word to each other. Anyone could tell that they were in the middle of a cold war. Sigh. This is so worrisome. Xuxu feigned ignorance and smiled at Aunt Zhang. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I¡¯m cold.¡± They¡¯re both acting like complete strangers. Aunt Zhang sighed in dismay and left the dining room. After Aunt Zhang left, Yan Rusheng lifted his eyes to take a peek at Xuxu. She was chewing on the ribs in a graceful and unhurried manner. She was wearing a jade pendant and bangle that looked familiar. He recognized both of them¡ªthey were gifted by Grandmother. Wen Xuxu had been wearing the jade pendant since she entered their family and had only taken it off when she went to university. The bangle was also a gift from Grandmother. It was given to her right before his eyes, on the night before they left for university in B City. Back then, when Grandmother said that the bangle was a family heirloom, it sounded like the usual comments from an elder. But the truth was, Grandmother had already been thinking of making them a couple. But after receiving the bangle, Wen Xuxu had never worn it. So what¡¯s the occasion today? Why is she putting on both pieces of jewelry? Yan Rusheng was in a perplexed state of mind for the entire night. ¡­ Yan Rusheng¡¯s male secretary was on sick leave for a few days, so Xuxu had to take over his duties. She was buried in work the entire day. It was already past their working hours, and everyone in the office had left. She could finally have a breather and a glass of water. She put down the glass, then took a glance at the time on her laptop screen. After she turned off the laptop, she walked over to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and knocked on his door. Pushing open the door, she saw Yan Rusheng buried in a pile of documents. ¡°President Yan, we have a dinner appointment at 6.30 pm with Country Y¡¯s princess at Beautiful Metropolis. It¡¯s time to set off now.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head, took a look at the clock on the wall and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the door.¡± Xuxu was about to close the door. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng stopped her. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Xuxu turned her head and gave him a puzzled look. ¡°Anything else?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Who are the representatives from Country Y?¡± ¡°Only the princess, her son, Charles, and her secretary,¡± Xuxu responded. Chapter 273. No Need To Sign This Contract Anymore ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded thoughtfully and waved Xuxu away. ¡°You can go home first.¡± Go home first? Xuxu was a little startled. Did you forget that your other secretary is on sick leave today? She pondered briefly and tried to remind him gently. ¡°Secretary Chen is not around.¡± Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows in annoyance. ¡°I know, but I want you to go home first.¡± Seeing that he was about to lose his cool, Xuxu stopped short and replied with an ¡®Okay¡¯ before leaving. She also wasn¡¯t in the mood to attend any social engagements. Thus, it was a good thing that she didn¡¯t have to go with him. ¡°President Yan, didn¡¯t your secretary come with you?¡± ¡°The distance is too far, and she gets motion sick.¡± As he sat in the car earlier, he remembered the time he visited Princess Lu Fei in Country Y. Her son, Charles, was greatly disappointed when he saw that Xuxu hadn¡¯t joined them. Over dinner, he repeatedly talked about Xuxu without concealing his admiration for her. This silly woman, you keep attracting unnecessary attention from all the men. ¡­ In a big and luxurious private room. Yan Rusheng went unaccompanied to meet his three associates, and the meeting started off with the usual exchange of conventional greetings. ¡°President Yan, I¡¯m very happy to see you again.¡± Charles shook Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand and then stole a glance behind him. His deep blue eyes revealed a hint of disappointment. ¡°Didn¡¯t Secretary Wen come with you?¡± This guy is so annoying. The look on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face changed. He feigned a smile and replied, ¡°My wife hasn¡¯t been feeling well these past few days.¡± There was a worried look on Charles¡¯ handsome face. ¡°What happened to Secretary Wen?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply and asked with deep concern, ¡°I should pay her a visit one day.¡± No further explanation needed. Young Master Yan¡¯s face turned black. ¡°¡­¡± Are foreigners so insensitive to the facial expressions of Chinese people? He had purposely raised his tone when he said ¡®my wife¡¯, and yet he continued to show excessive concern for his woman. Didn¡¯t he feel that it was inappropriate? ¡°Mr. Charles, please take a seat.¡± He restrained his displeasure and sat down. The collaboration with Country Y had already reached the final stage of discussion, which was the contract signing. Princess Lu Fei was here especially to sign the contract. The document was placed on the table. Charles was about to sign on the dotted line when he suddenly stopped. He raised his head and looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I would like to add one more clause to the contract.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡°What clause do you wish to add?¡± His patience was running out. If it weren¡¯t for the sake of an international collaboration, he would have fallen out with them during his last trip to Country Y because of Charles¡¯ eager concern for Wen Xuxu. They had already reached the contract-signing stage, yet he was still requesting to add on another project. Well done, Charles! ¡°The person-in-charge of this new clause will be your secretary, Wen Xuxu.¡± He told Yan Rusheng straight to his face, without attempting to conceal his affection for Wen Xuxu. The Chinese believed that familiarity breeds fondness, but he believed in love at first sight. He couldn¡¯t forget Wen Xuxu, this unique oriental lady with her air of arrogance and aloofness. It was love at first sight for him. Indeed¡­ I should have fallen out with him much earlier. Yan Rusheng held the contract in his hands and stared at Charles. His rakish lips slowly evoked a chilling radiance. ¡°Mr. Charles, there¡¯s no need to sign this contract anymore.¡± He tore the contract into shreds and threw the pieces up into the air. Chapter 274. I Was Wrong. Please Dont Push Me Away How dare he have the audacity to keep thinking of my woman! Just thinking about it is infuriating! Princess Lu Fei and her secretary panicked, their faces draining of color. However, Charles remained nonchalant and maintained his graceful stance. Looking at the shreds of paper that had fallen onto the table, he cast a glance at Yan Rusheng and smiled. ¡°President Yan, do you know what the consequences of this will be?¡± Yan Rusheng scoffed at him with disdain. ¡°There are no consequences that I, Yan Rusheng, can¡¯t bear.¡± With that, he rose to his feet and looked down coldly at Charles like a dictator. ¡°Let me warn you: there will be severe repercussions if you don¡¯t stop thinking about my woman.¡± Having said that, he turned and walked off, totally disregarding the apologies from Princess Lu Fei and her secretary. ¡­ Sitting in the car, Yan Rusheng looked at the second floor¡ªhis bedroom was pitch black. Feeling gloomy, he took a puff and sipped on his beer. He didn¡¯t feel like getting off the car or going into the house. He didn¡¯t want to face her frosty indifference. After a dozen cans of beer, he was feeling quite tipsy. Knock knock knock. The butler was feeling concerned when he saw Yan Rusheng sitting in the car for so long. He ran out of the house and boldly knocked on the car window. ¡°Third Young Master.¡± Yan Rusheng opened the door and got off. Head spinning, he tried to holding on to the car door to steady himself. A strong stench of alcohol wafted from his body. The butler knew that he¡¯d had too much liquor and swiftly supported him. ¡°Third Young Master, you¡¯ve had too much to drink. Let me help you into the house.¡± The living room was brightly lit, but no one was in sight¡ªYan Rusheng¡¯s heart was filled with unbearable emptiness. He tugged at his shirt collar as he walked inside, inadvertently ripping off a few buttons. With the help of the butler, he walked unsteadily towards the staircase. ¡°I¡¯ll go up myself.¡± Yan Rusheng pushed the butler away and held onto the handrail of the staircase. He staggered upstairs. Once he was upstairs, he turned left and passed the study room before reaching his room. He was about to open the door when he suddenly turned around and headed towards a room that was located diagonally opposite to his. Without knocking, he opened the door which wasn¡¯t locked. The other people in the house heard the door open, and they went hurriedly to the door as well. Yan Rusheng swung open the door and saw the woman that he wanted to hug so badly and take possession of. He loosened his grip from the doorknob, took a step forward and embraced her tightly. He was completely hammered. As he struggled to keep his balance, his heavy body slumped over her. Xuxu was shocked by his sudden embrace. The harsh stench of alcohol on his body triggered her memories about that fateful night, and she broke out into fear. She pressed her hands against his chest and shoved him away. Suddenly, his hoarse voice sounded in her ears. ¡°Xuxu, I was wrong. Please don¡¯t push me away.¡± His lips lightly brushed against her neck, and his soft breath heated the sensitive nerves in her body. ¡°You¡¯re drunk. Let me go.¡± Instinctively, Xuxu tried to resist¡ªthat night was still vivid in her mind. The words ¡®Jiayin¡¯ had thoroughly banished her to the depths of hell. The moment he drew closer to her, she kept feeling that he was humiliating her. No¡­ it¡¯s not a feeling. I¡¯m sure of it. ¡°I¡¯m not letting go.¡± Yan Rusheng tightened his embrace, acting like a child. Xuxu had caught the eyes of so many men, and he was afraid of losing her if he let her go. ¡°Did the contract signing go smoothly?¡± Xuxu was afraid that he would force himself on her again, so she attempted to change topics to distract him. Chapter 275. Leave If Youre Not Discussing Anymore! Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t entirely drunk; he just didn¡¯t want to be sober. If he were sober, he wouldn¡¯t have had the courage to go to her room, nor would he hug or apologize to her. When he hugged her just now, he could feel her body trembling. Fear was evident in her eyes as well. Was she really traumatized by what he did that night? ¡°I¡¯m not signing.¡± He relinquished his grip and tottered to the bed. Xuxu was startled by his reply. ¡°Why?¡± Did he get drunk because something went wrong with the contract? He had spearheaded this project with Country Y ever since he took over the reins of the company. Furthermore, he had made countless trips to Country Y because of the project. He had invested time, effort, and resources into this project and it was practically almost ready to begin. How could he just say that he wasn¡¯t going to sign the contract? Xuxu had already brushed aside her fear aside the minute she started thinking of work-related matters. She trailed after Yan Rusheng and kept pressing him for an answer. Yan Rusheng sat down on her bed and leaned lazily against the headboard. Xuxu sat in front of him, and he gazed at her, unsmiling. ¡°Charles wanted to add an additional clause and change the representative from our side to you. Do you think I would agree to that?¡± Xuxu frowned with puzzlement and thought to herself, Why would Charles ask to change it to me? We¡¯ve only ever met that one time. Yan Rusheng smirked when he saw her puzzled expression. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you shocked too? You¡¯re such an ordinary woman, yet you¡¯re so eye-catching to other men.¡± He turned to his side, his back facing her, and pulled her blanket over his head. Xuxu looked at him calmly, ¡°Since I¡¯m so ordinary, then exchanging me for a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars is a good deal.¡± After hearing his reply and according to her understanding of him, he had definitely fallen out with the other party earlier today. Even though he didn¡¯t have any feelings for her, he was a man filled with arrogance and pride. How could he allow himself to use a woman, his lawful wife to win a contract? So she wasn¡¯t in the least bit surprised by his decision. She was merely worried about the consequences it would bring since the Board of Directors had been eagerly anticipating the commencement of this project. Xuxu was still fretting about what would happen if they failed to sign the contract and how he¡¯d answer to the Board of Directors. Yan Rusheng peeked his head out from the blanket and looked at her, seething with anger. ¡°Yes, so I¡¯m also blind.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded when she heard his confession. ¡®You¡¯re such an ordinary woman, yet you¡¯re so eye-catching to other men¡­¡¯ No no no, Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t overthink it! She shifted her wandering mind back to the important matter once more. ¡°Let¡¯s look for Princess Lu Fei and talk things over tomorrow.¡± Since they were married, she had to play her part when it came to Flourish & Prosper¡¯s matters. This project with Country Y had a significant impact on the company, and she couldn¡¯t sit by and watch him being ruled by his emotions. Yan Rusheng sneered, ¡°I¡¯m not discussing it anymore. I don¡¯t care about the contract.¡± Xuxu flared up. ¡°Yan Rusheng, then leave if you¡¯re not going to talk about the contract!¡± ¡°If I agree to discuss it, does that mean that I don¡¯t have to leave?¡± Young Master Yan asked softly. His peach-blossom-shaped eyes shone like exquisite black jade, sparkling as he blinked. He seemed to be acting like a spoiled child. Xuxu was speechless. ¡°¡­¡± His behavior tonight must be due to his pride being threatened and provoked, and he couldn¡¯t take it lying down. That must be why his brain was malfunctioning. Yan Rusheng gradually shut his eyes as Xuxu watched him. And his breathing became regular and deep. Xuxu was aware that a drunk man was really dangerous, especially when that man¡­ was Yan Rusheng. She thought that it would be unwise to antagonize him right now. She was about to get up and head to the guest room when she caught sight of Yan Rusheng¡¯s feet. He was still wearing his leather shoes, and it had already stained her floral bedsheets. Chapter 276. It Would Be A Disgrace If People Found Out She furrowed her eyebrows and watched his gorgeous face as he slept. With an involuntary sigh, she bent down to remove his shoes and socks. She grabbed both his legs and pushed him back on the bed, which required much effort. Yan Rusheng lifted the blanket after she left. He was quite pleased when he saw that she¡¯d removed his shoes and socks. Guess she doesn¡¯t hate me that much. ¡­ Yan Rusheng glanced at his empty cup and dialed Xuxu¡¯s extension number. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± It was his assistant, Qiao Jian, who picked up. ¡°President, the madam left the office after lunch. She said that she won¡¯t be coming back today.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned at his reply and asked irritably, ¡°Who did she ask permission from?¡± But he hung up snappily before Qiao Jian could reply. Immediately, he dialed Xuxu¡¯s number. The call went through, but it rang for some time before Xuxu answered, ¡°Hello, President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her addressing him formally, and it made him even grouchier. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Xuxu replied calmly, ¡°I have something going on in the afternoon, so I¡¯m taking the rest of the day off.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Yan Rusheng stopped himself before he could lecture her. He paused and pondered for a few seconds before softening his tone. ¡°Come home early tonight.¡± Madam Mu Li seemed to find out from a source that they weren¡¯t speaking to each other. She called early in the morning to give him a good dressing-down. Her advice included, ¡®Women are made of water, so a man has to be gentle because all women like men who are gentle.¡¯ But he disagreed with the saying since Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t seem to be made of water. But indeed, she did like effeminate men like¡­ Jiang Zhuoheng. And so, he decided to give it a try. Unsurprisingly, Xuxu was startled to by his gentleness. It took a while to collect herself before she responded, ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up and was about to get some water for himself when his phone rang. Lu Yinan was on the other line. Why¡¯s that quack looking for me at this time of day? He picked up the phone, but before he could utter a word, Lu Yinan began to splutter eagerly, ¡°Third Yan, when did your wife start doing charity work?¡± Charity work? Yan Rusheng frowned without comprehending his question. ¡°What charity work?¡± ¡°Oh dear, looks like you¡¯re clueless about this.¡± Young Master Lu sounded excited and continued, ¡°There¡¯s a charity auction at Central South Plaza today. Your wife seems to be auctioning off her jade bangle and jade pendant to raise funds for Tiny Stars Orphanage. Yishan is the organizer for today¡¯s auction, and she called to inform me when she saw the auction¡¯s name list.¡± Jade bangle and jade pendant¡­ Yan Rusheng recalled that his grandmother had indeed gifted Xuxu a bangle and pendant. No wonder she was looking for them a few days ago. Damn it, how dare she auction off Grandmother¡¯s stuff?! That stupid woman is too heartless! If she needs a donation, she could have come directly to him. If she really needed to auction something off, she shouldn¡¯t have chosen those two items. How much value could the items be worth? For that paltry sum of money; it would be a disgrace if people found out. Argh, that stupid woman keeps making me worry! Young Master Yan decided to put his work aside as he rushed to Central South Plaza for the auction. There was a huge turnout at the event, and Yan Rusheng recognized many familiar faces. They were all Flourish & Prosper¡¯s partners and clients. He spotted Wen Xuxu in the crowd as she sat in the front row. She was looking intently at the stage, and he gritted his teeth when he saw her. He felt a strong urge to drag her away with everyone watching. But¡­ he decided to find a more secluded corner to observe instead. Chapter 277. Replacing The Originals With Fakes I¡¯ll give her¡­ the shock of her life! It would be better if his presence ended up surprising her. Everyone¡¯s attention was focused on the auction items displayed on stage. There was a calligraphy painting which had a history of more than a hundred years. The screen displayed that all proceeds from this item will go towards funding an elementary school. Many avid calligraphy lovers began to bid enthusiastically. ¡°Third Brother Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng found a spot at one of the corners near the toilet. His gaze was fixated on Wen Xuxu who was sitting in the first row. It had been a long time since he¡¯d heard someone addressing him in this way. He turned his head towards the direction of the voice. A tall and slim woman wearing a formal outfit sauntered towards him with a smile. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. ¡°Yishan.¡± Lu Yishan came to him and gestured towards Xuxu¡¯s direction. She asked teasingly, ¡°Since you¡¯re loaded with money, why didn¡¯t you give some to Third Sister-in-Law? Even if she wanted to raise money for charity, can you bear to see her appear in public?¡± That¡¯s exactly how I feel! Yan Rusheng was already fuming because of this. Now that Lu Yishan was bringing it up once again, his rage intensified. But he remained composed, and his smile didn¡¯t waver at all. He replied nonchalantly, ¡°Since she¡¯s here to sell her items, isn¡¯t it more interesting if I bid for them?¡± Lu Yishan grinned when she heard him. ¡°Third Sister-in-Law deliberately looked for those partners who plan on using this auction to curry favor with Flourish & Prosper. If you insist on bidding for her items, aren¡¯t you being overly reckless?¡± What? Startled, Yan Rusheng glanced at the cluster of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s partners. So it¡¯s like this¡­ Stupid woman, you¡¯ve learned to be craftier, taking advantage of your connections. Or is it because of your new identity as the lady boss of Flourish & Prosper? He¡¯d suspected that something was amiss when he saw those familiar partners of Flourish & Prosper. And basically, anyone who attended the auction today was at the top of their organizations¡¯ hierarchy. They wanted to use this opportunity to fawn over her. If she¡¯s willing to take advantage of these connections, does that mean that she¡¯s no longer against our relationship anymore? At the thought of this, he could hardly contain the joy and excitement bursting inside of him. He instantly thought that she¡¯d done an excellent job in exploiting these connections. These partners and their corporations had reaped so much profit from Flourish & Prosper that they should have enough to buy several jade shops. The meager sum of money they were taking out to support his wife¡¯s kindness and her charity cause was something they should do anyway. But the jade bangle and jade pendant¡­ can¡¯t be auctioned off. Even though he knew that they would gift it to Xuxu again after bidding for it, that dumb woman would never accept it. The accessories were given by his grandmother to her granddaughter-in-law. She had prepared quite a lengthy speech when she took out her jade bangle, and she had obviously tried to imply that the bangle was supposed to go to her granddaughter-in-law. Yan Rusheng thought of his grandmother and hurriedly instructed Lu Yishan. ¡°Go get me another jade bangle and jade pendant and replace them with the items on stage.¡± Lu Yishan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound right, does it?¡± Wasn¡¯t this replacing the original with a fake? Yan Rusheng sneered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Isn¡¯t she here just to take advantage of the partners? The items aren¡¯t what¡¯s important.¡± Lu Yishan agreed and nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get to it right away.¡± Yan Rusheng decided not to bid for the items and strode over to the first row with everyone eyeing him. He walked right up to her and blocked her field of view entirely. Xuxu raised her head to look at the obstacle in front of her and her mouth widened in shock. It took her some time before she managed to utter, ¡°You¡­ why are you here?¡± She knew that he would find about it sooner or later, but she didn¡¯t think that it would be so soon. Worried, she¡¯d lowered her voice, afraid that he would flare up and ruin her all her efforts even before her items went up for bidding. Chapter 278. A Long Way From 30 Million Yuan These partners were here because of Yan Rusheng and Flourish & Prosper. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t answer Xuxu¡¯s question and instead threw a casual glance at the people next to her. They immediately understood his meaning, and they sprang up from their seats. ¡°Thank you,¡± Young Master Yan said politely and settled down on the seat next to Xuxu. He saw fear flickering in her eyes, and he said with gritted teeth, ¡°I see you¡¯re becoming more capable.¡± She still dared to do this despite her fear. Xuxu was afraid that Yan Rusheng would mess things up, so she decided to pander to him. She put on a bright smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ll buy the land under your name and give it to the orphanage.¡± Under my name? Stupid woman, do you really think I care about that? Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell, and he asked, ¡°What land?¡± Sounds like a great deal of money. Xuxu replied honestly, ¡°It¡¯s the orphanage that Zhou Shuang and I went to. The government is using 30 million yuan to buy that piece of land. But the matron and the children at Tiny Stars Orphanage are all used to the place, and they can¡¯t bear to leave. They seemed really pitiful, so I wanted to buy that piece of land for them.¡± Yan Rusheng gave her a gentle smile. ¡°You like children?¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression turned dark as she lowered her head. She remained silent. ¡°If you like children, then let¡¯s have one of our own,¡± Yan Rusheng said with a serious expression as he reached out to tightly grab her hand. Xuxu was startled and shocked by what he said, and she jerked her head upwards. She gazed into his deep eyes. Their eyes met, with both of them trying to understand what the other person was really thinking about. To outsiders, they looked like they were gazing at each other lovingly. Third Young Master and Third Madam Yan are indeed very loving¡­ The cameras zoomed in on them and captured their expressions from different angles. Due to Yan Rusheng¡¯s presence, the bidding process intensified when Xuxu¡¯s items came up. Xuxu was sullen when she saw the jade pendant on stage. It was obviously not hers¡ªshe had a shrewd feeling that Yan Rusheng must have swapped it out earlier on. Since the jade pendant had been swapped, without a doubt, the jade bangle would be as well. She heard the crowd bidding enthusiastically for her items, and she heaved a sigh of relief. She thought that the items didn¡¯t really matter since these bidders were here because of Yan Rusheng. At the thought of this, her mood lightened up considerably. She threw a glance at Yan Rusheng. The lavish crystal chandeliers gave off a warm light, casting its glow over his exquisite and clearly-defined features. His deep and enigmatic-looking eyes resembled a lotus pond shining under the lovely moonlight. Amidst that beauty and gentleness, he exuded a unique aura of dominance. She was greatly surprised to see him sitting quietly at the auction. When he appeared in front of her, the first thought that popped up in her head was¡ª ¡®I¡¯m finished!¡¯ ¡°Alright, congratulations to the mister over here who successfully made a bid of two million yuan for the jade pendant owned by Flourish & Prosper¡¯s lady boss!¡± Xuxu¡¯s ¡®jade pendant¡¯ was bid by one of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s partners for two million yuan. Even though the amount was still a long way from her target of 30 million yuan, but it was a good start. She would get there somehow. The next item was her jade bangle. The starting bid was half a million yuan, which was ten times the amount of the jade pendant. She had to set the starting bid higher in order for her to reach her target of 30 million yuan. People started bidding for the bangle, and Young Master Yan gave a satisfied smile. At last, the bid started to increase by the tens of thousands which was beyond Xuxu¡¯s expectations. When the bidding reached 2.3 million yuan, Yan Rusheng whispered in her ear and teased her lightly, ¡°It¡¯s still a long way from 30 million yuan.¡± Chapter 279 His sudden warm breath assailed her senses, and Xuxu¡¯s body went limp against her will. She turned to look at him and saw that his face was merely inches away from hers. He had a shadow of a smile on his face which was alluring yet wicked. When he saw Xuxu turning her face towards him, he inched even closer. ¡°If you give me a kiss right now, I¡¯ll give you the rest of the money.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Xuxu declined him coldly and moved her gaze back towards the stage. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t lose his temper because of her attitude; instead, he became more shameless. ¡°How about I give you a kiss instead?¡± Xuxu dodged him the second he started moving closer to her. ¡°We¡¯ve already exchanged rings and went through the wedding ceremony when we were kids. Since we¡¯ve already kissed each other back then, an extra kiss now wouldn¡¯t make a difference.¡± He knew that he¡¯d done wrong. The person who loved more than the other person in the relationship needed to be more tolerant and make more sacrifices. He had finally accepted the truth. You still remember our wedding ceremony when we were still kids¡­ Xuxu¡¯s heart thumped wildly when he mentioned their childhood. She clenched her fists tightly, and her eyes seemed to shimmer with flickering rays of light. That night, he had completely pushed her out from his world. She should close her heart and world to him completely as well. So she shouldn¡¯t think, look, or miss him at all. Xuxu¡¯s thoughts swirled silently into a mess, and it took her awhile before she finally calmed her heart down. Her eyes resumed its usual aloofness. The jade bangle had reached 3.1 million yuan. The two items added up to an approximate 5 million yuan. It was indeed far from her target. The host concluded the bidding, and there was a round of applause. Xuxu stood up suddenly and went to the stage. She walked up unhurriedly and stood before the audience to give a courteous bow. ¡°Earlier, I auctioned off two items, and all proceeds will go to Tiny Stars Orphanage. This was only possible because of the kindness and generosity shown by everyone here.¡± Xuxu bowed again with gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your support. I¡¯m really grateful.¡± Her bow made all the Flourish & Prosper¡¯s partners rather panicky. This lady was the wife of President Yan, and everyone could tell how much he loved and doted on her just by seeing how he acted towards her earlier on. Spending money to support her charity work was a kind of investment, and it would be totally worth it. But she was now standing on stage to bow and thank them. What would happen if this made President Yan annoyed or displeased? According to reliable sources, Young Master Yan was very protective towards his loved ones. ¡°Third Madam Yan, you¡¯re being too serious. For the sake of charity, everyone should do their part.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite sorry that I didn¡¯t manage to bid for those two items earlier on. I¡¯ll donate 1 million yuan then!¡± Those partners who didn¡¯t manage to bid for Xuxu¡¯s items began to outdo each other with their donations. ¡°I¡¯ll donate 1 million yuan as well!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll donate 600,000 yuan!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll donate 2 million yuan¡­¡± Everyone started raising their voices, and it caused a commotion. But amidst the confusion, Xuxu was mentally recording the amounts they were shouting out. It had added up to more than 10 million yuan, and with the sum she had earned from her two items, she would get nearly 20 million yuan. She needed another 10 million yuan to reach her target. Her expression was filled with the utmost gratitude, and she kept bowing to the audience. The shouting began to gradually die down. Suddenly, a cold and serene voice sounded from the first row. ¡°I¡¯ll donate 10 million yuan.¡± That person was Young Master Yan. Chapter 280. Third Young Master Is Really Too Cool In the auction hall, he lazily leaned back against the white chair as he crossed his legs gracefully. His hand was propped against the back of the chair, stroking the corners of his eyebrow with a finger. His posture was beguiling, but it couldn¡¯t conceal his innate arrogance and domineering aura. His massive and towering figure made the chair seemed minuscule by comparison. Everyone¡¯s attention turned towards him, and they knew that 10 million yuan was simply nothing to him. But how did he make it sound so dominant and cool? They made donations too! Everyone watched as Yan Rusheng slowly stood up. He turned around to face the crowd and gave a faint smile. ¡°Thank you to everyone for supporting my wife¡¯s charity work with your generosity.¡± His succinct thank-you speech made all the partners of Flourish & Prosper feel flattered and left them overwhelmed with joy. Frankly speaking, the one or two million dollars of yuan they donated was nothing much to Flourish & Prosper. In the past, the partners had to bow and fawn over him with all sorts of gestures. But he was aloof, haughty, and cold; just like a snow lotus atop the sky mountains. To think that today he would thank them publicly. It was the first time they had seen Young Master Yan being so polite and courteous. This transformation must be credited to¡­ his wife. Everyone gained a deeper revelation of how doting and loving Third Young Master was towards his wife. If they wanted to pander to Flourish & Prosper, they should simply focus their efforts on his wife. While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Yan Rusheng strolled leisurely to the stage and walked towards Xuxu. He looked at her with a tender smile. ¡°Hello, Wife.¡± This was the first time he had addressed her this way, and it shocked even himself when he realized how natural he had sounded. Xuxu¡¯s mouth gaped with stunned surprise. Her eyes seemed to be covered by a veil, and she could neither see nor understand him. He seemed to be dead serious with this act of gentleness, and it had devastated the seemingly impenetrable defense she had set up against him. After banishing her to the depths of hell, he was now giving her a glimmer of hope once again. Yan Rusheng, is this how you plan on seeking revenge? By torturing me? ¡°I¡¯m going to kiss you if you don¡¯t leave the stage.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored Xuxu¡¯s reaction as he held her hand and whispered in her ear. Xuxu was wise enough to think of the bigger picture. She knew that she couldn¡¯t fling Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand away and that the 20 million yuan worth of donations were all because of Yan Rusheng¡¯s presence. Since he had volunteered to join, then the two of them would have to put on a good show. She followed him as they left the stage. The host spoke up, ¡°Third Young Master and Third Madam Yan¡¯s have truly made everyone envious of their love.¡± Xuxu heard his words and instinctively stole a glance at their hands¡ªYan Rusheng had increased his grip, and now their hands were clasped tightly together. Is this love? This is obviously an illusion; everything is so unreal. ¡°Let¡¯s carry on with the auction then.¡± The host began to introduce the following bidding item. ¡°The next item was contributed by a beautiful lady who has just returned from her stay abroad. She used this violin to participate in countless performances. She even used this very violin to perform for the Queen of Country Y, who has signed on the violin as well.¡± ¡°This beautiful lady has only just returned last week. The main objective for her return is to focus on charity work, and for her first order of business, she went to the poorest village in the northwest part of our country. She is now auctioning her violin to raise funds for the children¡¯s education in this village.¡± Xuxu heard this introduction, and she was filled with respect for this violinist. Chapter 281. The Return Of An Old Flame Not only did she have a heart full of compassion, but she was also talented. While she was lost in her thoughts, Yan Rusheng had already dragged her back to her seat. They shifted their gazes towards the violin in the glass display cabinet on the stage. They were stunned and flabbergasted. Subconsciously, Xuxu withdrew her hand from Yan Rusheng¡¯s grip. She rose and walked towards the exit of the auction hall¡­ Yan Rusheng snapped out of his trance and swiftly got up from his seat without a second thought. He hurriedly chased after her and held her hand tightly without giving her the chance to fling it away. Everyone was baffled. One moment they were being so lovey-dovey, the next moment, they seemed to have fallen out with each other. Under everyone¡¯s puzzled eyes, Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng stormed out of the auction hall. She mustered all her strength and flung his hand away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, Fang Jiayin is back.¡± That violin¡­ she could recognize it even if it were reduced to ashes. Besides being a top student, Fang Jiayin was also a talented violinist that everyone admired. She had invited Xuxu to watch her performances countless times. The violin in the glass display cabinet at the auction hall was the one that belonged to her. There was a goldfish ornament hanging on it which had been a gift from Yan Rusheng, and the side of the violin was specially engraved with their initials ¡®FY¡¯. Even though the two initials were tiny, they caught her eyes in one glance. She was also convinced that Yan Rusheng saw them as well. Finally, this would all be coming to an end. She would also be able to set herself free again. Indeed, Fang Jiayin had returned. Yan Rusheng had also seen her and the violin. However, he showed no signs of having any emotions towards this woman who dumped him three years ago and left without a word. He only had eyes for the woman who was standing before him right now. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s back, but why are you having such a strong reaction?¡± Yan Rusheng narrowed his wicked-looking eyes and sized her up. The Xuxu that he knew had always been cool-headed. But when she saw the violin and realized that Fang Jiayin had returned, she left emotionally, oblivious to the stares from the crowd. This would be one of the very few times that she had lost control. What was the cause of her sudden outburst? Xuxu trembled with guilt. She finally realized that she had lost control of her own emotions. ¡°I¡­¡± She was about to explain when suddenly, a refreshingly sweet voice came from the front. ¡°Ah Sheng, Xuxu.¡± Hearing her name and this familiar voice, Xuxu pursed her lips. She clenched her fist and then relaxed. She shifted her gaze to the front without showing any signs of surprise. A tall and slender lady was dressed in an orange-colored blouse and white skin-tight pants. Donning a pair of silvery pink stilettos, she walked towards them with graceful and unhurried steps. She looked exactly the same as she did three years ago. Her looks hadn¡¯t aged a bit, and her complexion was still as fair and as exquisite as porcelain. Her straight and black, waist-length hair fell past her back. She exuded a prominent sense of elegance from within. During their university days, she was both the boys¡¯ angel and goddess. To everyone, Fang Jiayin was the one deemed most compatible with Yan Rusheng. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth curled up, revealing a magnanimous smile. ¡°Jiayin, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Her tone was light and ordinary, coupled with a calm look in her eyes. Chapter 282. Her Mindset Was Still The Same This is the real Wen Xuxu. But why did she react like that when she saw the violin? As Fang Jiayin approached them, Yan Rusheng lifted his eyes from Xuxu. There were still traces of doubt and reluctance in his eyes. He turned his head and shifted his attention to this woman whom he¡¯d once fallen head over heels with. A cold gleam swept past his eyes. He had once thought about strangling her if she ever appeared before him again. He wanted to find out why she¡¯d left without saying goodbye, and if she would run away again. The words ¡®Ah Sheng, I like you¡¯ had tormented him for three years, causing him countless days of sleepless nights. Whenever he thought of her low, gentle voice, there would be a sense of unfathomable gloominess in his heart. But now, when he heard her voice and thought of her love confession, his heart¡­ wasn¡¯t moved at all. This could only be because of Wen Xuxu, who was standing beside him. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out to embrace Xuxu¡¯s waist as he looked at Fang Jiayin with an air of aloofness. ¡°Fang Jiayin, what a coincidence.¡± He uttered those words without a hint of warmth as if he was speaking to someone who was merely an acquaintance. His strong hands were wrapped tightly around her waist, giving off a feeling of intimacy. Xuxu had a sudden thought. He was ditched by Fang Jiayin three years ago. Given his pride, no matter how much he yearned to reconcile with her, he would still practice self-restraint for now. For sure, he would wait for Fang Jiayin to plead with him, to apologize to him, and to heal his wounded pride. When she saw the violin, she finally understood that he came today because of Fang Jiayin. She was angry for allowing herself to be moved by his actions, but she felt even more annoyed by his selfishness in using her because of Fang Jiayin. Even now, he was still making use of her to provoke Fang Jiayin. Wasn¡¯t he tired of using such a childish method all the time? She didn¡¯t retaliate. After experiencing an emotional roller-coaster earlier, she was now in a state of composure. ¡°It really is a coincidence. I saw the two of you while I was leaving my car and thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me.¡± Fang Jiayin sounded natural and gracious as if they were merely long lost friends. From her tone, one couldn¡¯t sense any hints of reluctance and fondness towards Yan Rusheng. Xuxu was a little startled. She had been brooding over Fang Jiayin¡¯s departure all this while but had never once thought that it was because she no longer had feelings for him. Was there some misunderstanding between them? She snapped out of her misgivings and lightly smiled at Fang Jiayin. ¡°When did you get back?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been back for more than a week.¡± Fang Jiayin pursed her lips and swept her gaze across Xuxu¡¯s waist. ¡°I saw the news about your marriage and wanted to congratulate you but was afraid that I¡¯d be labeled as pretentious.¡± Xuxu had never expected Fang Jiayin to take the initiative to talk about her marriage to Yan Rusheng. She sounded sincere and indifferent, and she couldn¡¯t discern if she had any hidden motives. Forget it. I have no wish to guess her inner thoughts nor be concerned about their future. There used to be a popular saying, ¡°There¡¯s no way to wake a person feigning sleep, just like you cannot move a person who doesn¡¯t love you.¡± Her mindset was still the same¡ªto let nature take its course. If he chose to leave, she would not keep him. If he chose to stay, she would not allow herself to be surprised. Chapter 283. Whatever For? As long as he didn¡¯t provoke her unduly, she could calmly accept his womanizing ways. This was because¡­ she was used to it. Xuxu kept her thoughts to herself and smiled at Fang Jiayin. ¡°You must have advanced quite a lot after being abroad these past few years.¡± Fang Jianyin¡¯s face was radiant, and she looked even classier than before. Furthermore, she had even performed at the palace of Country Y. One could well imagine that she must have reaped great achievements while staying overseas for three years. ¡°Mm.¡± Fang Jiayin nodded her head. ¡°I did pretty well.¡± Then she turned to look at Yan Rusheng. The sun was shining on her pretty face, making it appear even more captivating and causing her enticing lips to shimmer lustrously. Yan Rusheng was fiddling with Xuxu¡¯s hair, twirling it around his fingers. His actions were filled with pure affection and tenderness. He was intensely focused, oblivious to Fang Jiayin¡¯s gaze. The look on Fang Jiayin¡¯s face changed, and she retracted her gaze. With her lips tightly pursed up, she took a deep breath and looked at Xuxu. ¡°I have other matters to attend to and can¡¯t chat for long. Let¡¯s meet up for a meal when we have the time.¡± Having said that, she took out her cell phone from her pink wristlet. As she unlocked her cell phone screen, she said to Xuxu, ¡°Give me your phone number. I¡¯ll ask you out when I¡¯m free.¡± Xuxu found it hard to reject her straightforward request¡­ and since they used to hang out before, she couldn¡¯t find a good reason to reject her. After Xuxu gave her phone number to Fang Jiayin, she left a missed call for Xuxu so that she could save her number in her phone book. ¡°I¡¯ll go in first. We¡¯ll keep in touch.¡± Fang Jiayin stuffed her cell phone back into her wristlet. She waved at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, turned around and headed back to the auction hall. When she was nowhere in sight, Xuxu pushed away Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand and cast him a cold look. Without a word, she walked towards the auction¡¯s temporary office. She had yet to accomplish today¡¯s task. ¡°My wife, where are you going?¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t care less about his own image, and he yelled loudly at the obstinate and arrogant Xuxu. His mind had been so muddled up that night that he¡¯d called out Fang Jiayin¡¯s name. Now that she was back, he had to take care not to antagonize Xuxu again. Or else, at the slightest annoyance, she would definitely assume that it was because of Fang Jiayin. She could even use this excuse to break away from him. Thus, he had to be thick-skinned right now. When Xuxu ignored his shout, he hurriedly chased after her. Damn it! I just don¡¯t get it. My ex-girlfriend came back, but why do I have to feel threatened about it? Shouldn¡¯t she be the one to feel insecure instead? Oh¡­ do I feel threatened because she doesn¡¯t care if I don¡¯t love Fang Jiayin anymore? He had almost caught up with Xuxu when his cell phone suddenly rang. He took out his phone and saw it was Lu Yinan on the other line. He quickly answered the call. Lu Yinan sounded excited on the other side. ¡°Third Yan, I have some news to share! You¡¯ll be over the moon when you hear this!¡± Young Master Yan followed after Xuxu as he took the call. ¡°If I¡¯m not thrilled by the news, you¡¯re done for.¡± Lu Yinan continued, ¡°Your first love Fang Jiayin is back!¡± Yan Rusheng stopped in his tracks upon hearing this and gritted his teeth. ¡°Lu Yinan¡­¡± This guy has the audacity to call to tell me this. Whatever for? ¡°I know you¡¯re feeling overjoyed right now,¡± Young Master Lu continued talking on the other line without detecting that Young Master Yan was about to explode with rage. ¡°She¡¯s now at the same place as your wife. Do you think they end up meeting each other?¡± Chapter 284. Stupid Woman, You’re The Cause Of It Yan Rusheng struggled to compose himself. ¡°Thank you for your concern. I¡¯m in the same place too. My wife and I have already met her.¡± He sounded calm and seemed to take joy in the face of a possible calamity. ¡°So what happened? Yishan just sent me a photo. Your Yin Yin looks even more beautiful now.¡± Having said this, Lu Yishan twisted his words again. ¡°In any case, Xuxu is our close childhood friend, so you shouldn¡¯t let her down. She and Ah Heng were so happy together¡­¡± Young Master Yan was at the end of his patience and couldn¡¯t wait for him to finish his sentence. ¡°Get lost!¡± With that, he hung up haughtily. Xuxu went to the auction¡¯s temporary office to complete the relevant paperwork and then left in a huff. Given her current relationship with Yan Rusheng, it was awkward for her to face Fang Jiayin. Furthermore, if it weren¡¯t for Yan Rusheng, neither of them would have gotten to know each other. But then, she didn¡¯t feel the need to explain to Fang Jiayin about her relationship with Yan Rusheng either. If there was a need to explain, Yan Rusheng should be the one to do it. What she could do now was to avoid the possibility of meeting up with her. Yan Rusheng followed her like a leech, then exploded with rage when he saw her trying to hail a cab. He walked towards her and carried her over his shoulders without a word. He carried her while walking toward the mall¡¯s car park, chiding her at the same time. ¡°You¡¯d rather take a cab instead of taking our car. Don¡¯t you need to pay for hitching a cab?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Being publicly carried in such a manner, she wasn¡¯t about to accept it without any resistance! Xuxu struggled to break free, kicking her legs with all her might as she rained punches on Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. ¡°Yan Rusheng, Fang Jiayin isn¡¯t with us right now, so she¡¯s not going to see what you¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s too early to say¡­¡± Young Master Yan deliberately stopped short and then continued, ¡°Who knows, she might be hiding in a corner and watching us. If we don¡¯t show more affection to each other, she might assume that she still stands a chance.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu sneered in her heart. Isn¡¯t that what you want? To let her think that she still stands a chance so that she¡¯ll come and plead with you to get back together? Sensing her silence, Yan Rusheng turned and shot her a glance. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Yan Rusheng quickened his pace, and they reached the mall¡¯s underground car park in no time. Since there was no one in sight, Xuxu stopped struggling. Her soft and flexible body was sprawled over Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders. She continued to play dumb. When they reached the car, Yan Rusheng let her down. He opened the door to the front passenger seat and shoved her inside. When she was in the car, she looked at him viciously. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t you think that your way of thinking is too childish? Your behavior too.¡± ¡°Stupid woman, you¡¯re the cause of it.¡± Yan Rusheng glared at her and then started the car. He stepped on the accelerator and drove the car out of the car park. Even now, couldn¡¯t she sense his feelings and thoughts towards her? Since she chose to think otherwise, then he¡¯d let her be. Even if he tried to express his love for her and said ¡®Xuxu, I love you¡¯, she wouldn¡¯t believe it either. Until then, he would continue to prove his love for her with his actions. The car drove up a bend; the traffic was smooth as it wasn¡¯t the rush hour yet. When they reached the office, it was already past office hours. Almost everyone in the President¡¯s office had left, except for Qiao Jian. Assistant Qiao gave a quick brief update to Yan Rusheng and Xuxu on some work-related matters and then left the office as well. Chapter 285. My Wife, Please Pay Qiao Jian had just stepped out when Yan Rusheng emerged from his office. He looked at Xuxu who was about to turn on her laptop and said in a commanding tone, ¡°Wen Xuxu, come in.¡± Baffled, Xuxu turned to look at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yan Rusheng said sternly, ¡°You wasted my time this entire afternoon. Come and help me translate some documents.¡± A trace of coldness shot across Xuxu¡¯s eyes. I wasted your time this entire afternoon? You could have used a better reason to find fault with me. Of course, since it was work related, it didn¡¯t really matter to her what type of work she had to do. ¡°Alright,¡± she replied with a nod and followed Yan Rusheng into his office. Just as he turned around, a sly gleam flashed past Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes and his alluring crimson lips curled into a weird grin. He walked over to his desk and handed over a stack of documents. ¡°If you can¡¯t finish going through these documents by tonight, you can¡¯t go home.¡± Xuxu took the documents and scanned through them, her lips twitching. It really didn¡¯t matter to her what time she went home. She sat down at the sofa with the documents and didn¡¯t look at Yan Rusheng again. Silence resumed in the office. The sky turned dark, and nightfall came. Xuxu was buried in her work and forgot about dinner until her stomach began to growl. She placed down her pen and rubbed her rumbling tummy with her hands. She lifted her head and stole a glance at Yan Rusheng. He was also immersed in his work and had lost track of time as well. His fingers were typing away on his laptop¡¯s keyboard at lightning speed and didn¡¯t seem to feel hungry at all. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Knock knock knock. Before she could take a peek at the door, she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice saying, ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and a young lad dressed in a restaurant¡¯s uniform walked in with two white plastic bags in his hand. ¡°Hello, President Yan. This is your food delivery order.¡± Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng, startled. When did he place an order for food? This wasn¡¯t his usual style because she was always the one to place a call for food delivery. Xuxu was staring into space when Yan Rusheng said, ¡°My wife, please pay.¡± In front of the food delivery guy, he addressed her as ¡®my wife¡¯ so naturally and so affectionately¡ªXuxu was in a daze for quite a while. She snapped out of her trance and nodded at the food delivery guy. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll get the money.¡± She got up and walked out to retrieve her purse which she¡¯d placed on the table outside. The delivery guy followed after her. After she made the payment, Xuxu showed the delivery guy out of the President¡¯s office before returning to Yan Rusheng¡¯s room. When she entered, she saw that Yan Rusheng had already laid out the dishes on the coffee table. Seeing Xuxu walking in, he smiled and waved at her. Xuxu was baffled. Somehow, she felt that something wasn¡¯t right but couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. Seeing all the appetizing dishes, Xuxu rubbed her rumbling tummy and decided to tuck in first. She walked over and sat down next to Yan Rusheng before picking up a pair of chopsticks to devour the food. Yan Rusheng had ordered from her favorite restaurant, and all the dishes were to her liking. She ate to her heart¡¯s content until her stomach was full to bursting. After resting for a while, she dragged her exhausted body to clear away the food boxes and then poured herself a glass of water from the pantry before continuing with her work. Both of them went back to their quiet selves. From time to time, the sound of Yan Rusheng typing away on the keyboard could be heard as he stared intently at the laptop screen. Chapter 286. Left With No Choice It¡¯s often said that a man is the most charismatic when he¡¯s focused on something. In the past, Xuxu didn¡¯t think that he looked particularly charming when she watched him work. But tonight, she was unable to avert her eyes away from his face for some strange reason. She simply couldn¡¯t concentrate on her work, no matter how hard she tried. She felt that there was a ball of fire burning inside of her. Her body seemed to get hotter no matter how many cups of cold water she drank. As she looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s good-looking face, she kept visualizing his naked body. She realized that she could no longer control her own thoughts, and the expanding ball of fire seemed about to explode. Xuxu blinked her eyes as she stared at the man who was concentrating on his work. Xuxu had a sudden strong urge to embrace him, and this urge woke her up in an instant. She widened her eyes abruptly. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what did you put in my food?¡± Her tone was full of certainty. This was the only explanation for her sudden abnormal behavior. ¡°Whatever reaction you have, it just means that it worked,¡± Yan Rusheng replied casually as his lips curled seductively. The corners of his eyes sparkled with a wicked gleam that was tempting to her. Xuxu stared at his devilish expression, and her face immediately turned crimson. She gnashed her teeth furiously, grabbing an ashtray as she aimed it at Yan Rusheng. ¡°To hell with you!¡± There was a crashing sound as the ashtray hit the computer that Yan Rusheng was using, and the computer was smashed as a result. She rose and fled towards the door. ¡°Hmph, are you thinking of leaving?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked coldly as he stood up. In a split second, he was in front of Xuxu. In the next moment, he tossed her body over his shoulder. Without giving her a chance to retaliate, he immediately swaggered towards the bedroom. Xuxu screamed in fear, ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?! Put me down!¡± Her eyes were bulging with rage and anxiousness. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it for days, and in the end, I realized that I had to¡­¡± Yan Rusheng spoke as he walked towards the bed. Pausing deliberately, he threw Xuxu on the huge bed. He surveyed her coldly before continuing, ¡°Force¡­ you¡­¡± Xuxu jumped out of the bed and instantly scrambled to her feet. She retreated with caution and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Yan Rusheng.¡± But her body was resisting her willpower as it became warmer by the minute. She had the insane urge to rip his shirt apart, and her hands gripped the bedsheets nervously. He had used so much effort to drug her, so how could he possibly do nothing? Yan Rusheng ignored Xuxu¡¯s pleas and acted swiftly. It was a game of seduction to Xuxu right now. She swallowed her saliva several times as she eyed the man who was inching towards her; there was a hungry expression in her eyes. Yan Rusheng was very pleased with her behavior and reaction, and his devious smile widened. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xuxu panicked and pointed angrily at the man who was taking off his clothes to seduce her. ¡°You¡¯re despicable, shameless, and a piece of scum!¡± ¡°You leave me with no choice,¡± Yan Rusheng said sorrowfully. ¡°We¡¯ve been married for more than three months, but you¡­¡± His gaze shifted downwards and landed on her stomach. ¡°There¡¯s still no good news, and you won¡¯t even cooperate.¡± Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures. Hearing this, Xuxu covered her belly with her hands. She poured out the grievances that she¡¯d hidden deep in her heart. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ll get retribution for bullying me this way!¡± Chapter 287. Did He Think In This Way Too? Xuxu heard him and covered her belly with her hands. She poured out her grievances which was hidden deep in her heart. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ll get retribution for bullying me in this way.¡± Her tears gushed out. She bent down, laid on the bed and began to sob loudly. Yan Rusheng heard her cries and his heart softened. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t touch you if you¡¯re unwilling. Why are you still crying?¡± He turned around with the intention of leaving. He had barely taken a few steps when Xuxu grabbed a pillow and hurled it at his back. ¡°You¡¯re a jerk, a horrible jerk.¡± Her aim was accurate this time. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng turned back and sprang forward with a huge step. He pressed the sobbing Xuxu down beneath him and looked at her tenderly while he wiped her tears away. Due to the drug, Xuxu¡¯s defense against him had long been crushed when she felt his warm breath. The more he helped to wipe her tears, the more heavily she sobbed. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± She pouted and her voice was filled with grievances. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t control himself any longer and he kissed her. Because of the drug, Xuxu instinctively hugged Yan Rusheng back. Other than calling him ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯, she didn¡¯t say anything. Yan Rusheng kept calling her name repeatedly in her ears. Every time he called her, he seemed to hold back his words due to hesitation. Xuxu bundled herself up with the blanket when it was over. She laid on the bed, weary and limp. She shut her eyes and didn¡¯t reply Yan Rusheng at all. She only had one thing on her mind: they just needed a child in their marriage¡­ She heard the sounds of water in the bathroom and soon after, came the sounds of the wardrobe being opened. Shortly, the door was opened. She knew that Yan Rusheng had left. Only then, did her eyelids flutter. She stared at the ceiling in a daze. ¡®Do you want to be abandoned by the Yan family after giving them a child?¡¯ The words of Ming Zhongsheng echoed once again and billowing waves surged in her heart. Suddenly Yan Rusheng had yearned for a child with her. Was it because Fang Jiayin was back? That night he had called Fang Jiayin¡¯s name when he was drunk. She could only imagine how much he had missed her. Now that Fang Jiayin was back, everything he had done for her today and his abrupt gentleness towards her were for the sake of having a child with her. So that he would be able to fulfill grandmother¡¯s final wish. Then he could finally return to Fang Jiayin and she would be redundant in the Yan family and finally, abandoned by him. Did he think in this way too? Xuxu couldn¡¯t take it lying down when she thought of this. He had hid the truth about grandmother¡¯s death from her and for his own selfish motives, he had drugged her. He didn¡¯t take any pity on her, so why should she give him what he had wanted? Yan Rusheng, you promised that you would atone for your sins together with me! It seemed like she had seen the light at the end of the tunnel and Xuxu seemed to be revived like a character in a game. She was bursting with fighting spirit. She got up, walked to the bathroom and stood under the showerhead. She allowed the water to attack her body mercilessly. After she had washed away her humiliation and sweat, she put on Yan Rusheng¡¯s bathrobes and went back to the bed. She was too exhausted and fell asleep the minute she laid on the bed. She seemed to hear a familiar voice whispering to her in her dream, ¡®Xuxu, I love you.¡¯ But she was too sleepy and she couldn¡¯t differentiate whether it was a dream or reality. She forgot everything when she woke up the next morning. Xuxu opened her eyes; the man next to her was still in deep sleep. She stole a glance at him and lifted the blanket gingerly as she felt for the edge of the bed. Chapter 288. Ill Try My Best But she was too sleepy and she couldn¡¯t differentiate whether it was a dream or reality. She forgot everything when she woke up the next morning. Xuxu opened her eyes; the man next to her was still sound asleep. She stole a glance at him and lifted the blanket gingerly as she felt for the edge of the bed. Her feet had barely landed on the ground when a pair of hands grabbed her by the waist. ¡°Sleep a little longer.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s hoarse and sleepy voice interrupted her. ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy anymore.¡± She pushed him away and stood up. She picked up her clothes and went to the bathroom. A short while later, she came out of the bathroom, fully dressed. ¡°I¡¯ll go get breakfast.¡± She spoke at the same time she walked towards the door. She threw him a careless glance when she walked past the bed. That careless glance made Yan Rusheng felt slightly disappointed. When would she stop being so cold and aloof to him? When Xuxu came back with breakfast, Yan Rusheng had just came out of the bathroom after showering. He was wearing the bathrobe that Xuxu had worn yesterday. His hair was wet and messy and it further accentuated his clearly-defined features. He noticed Xuxu staring pensively at him in the middle of the room while she held the food in her hands. She seemed troubled as she knitted her eyebrows. He paused for a moment before his eyes lit up with a grin. ¡°Are you thinking that I¡¯m too handsome so yesterday wasn¡¯t simply enough?¡± Xuxu snapped out of her daze and gave him a contemptuous look. She raised the bag of food and asked, ¡°Do you want to eat in the room or outside?¡± ¡°You decide.¡± Yan Rusheng rubbed his hair with a towel while walking towards Xuxu. There wasn¡¯t a table in the room so Xuxu said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat outside then.¡± She turned around. Yan Rusheng flung his towel away suddenly and embraced her tightly from the back. Without giving her a chance to react, his lips inched towards her ear and he whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s do some exercise before eating.¡± His deep voice was filled with warmth and gentleness. And his warm breath¡­ The peaceful and beautiful morning was disrupted as a result¡­ Xuxu shuddered involuntarily as she retracted her neck to avoid him. But Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t give up as he kissed her neck. Then he slowly moved his hands upwards from her waist and caressed her chest. His aggressiveness mingled with gentleness gradually made Xuxu lose every ounce of her determination. His built arms tightened around her but her heart began to feel empty and anxious. Perhaps he was too tired as well; he remained quiet and motionless. She couldn¡¯t understand what was on his mind. She wondered if his heart¡­ was still here, with her. For a long time¡­ till Xuxu¡¯s eyelids began to droop with sleepiness before Yan Rusheng broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the land regarding the orphanage yesterday night. The government is indeed developing that area and the orphanage is located at one of the core areas. It won¡¯t be easy to acquire that piece of land.¡± Xuxu was startled to hear that Yan Rusheng had put in so much effort regarding the piece of land she wanted to acquire. She was already aware that this issue was indeed tricky. ¡°I know.¡± She nodded and spoke softly but unyieldingly. ¡°But since I¡¯ve given my word to help, I¡¯ll try my best.¡± She thought of the children in the orphanage and became melancholic. ¡°When I saw the children, they reminded me of myself. And I can¡¯t help but think of those children who didn¡¯t even have the chance to be born¡­¡± Chapter 289. Give Me A Kiss She thought of the children in the orphanage and became melancholic. ¡°When I saw the children, they remind me of myself. And I can¡¯t help but think of those children who didn¡¯t even have the chance to be born¡­¡± She mocked herself silently when she suddenly realized that she had talked too much. He had merely briefly mentioned about the orphanage and incredibly, she had opened her heart to him unwittingly. Xuxu swallowed the rest of her words. And she looked out of the window despondently. ¡°What did you say?¡± When she stopped talking halfway, it made Yan Rusheng tingle with curiosity about her unfinished words as he whispered into her ear. His hands was casually wandering around her body and he was thoroughly enjoying the wonderful sensation that her body and curves were giving him. ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xuxu shook her head and turned around. ¡°I¡¯m going to the government¡¯s office today so I¡¯ll need to take leave for the whole day.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Yan Rusheng approved with an immediate nod but he seemed to have something else to say. Xuxu remained impassive, waiting for him to continue. Yan Rusheng glanced at her slightly raised eyebrows with a hint of contempt revealed in her eyes. He knew that she was aware that there were strings attached. His eyes sparkled with a grin and he pointed at his lips. He said shamelessly, ¡°You have to give me a kiss, if not I won¡¯t approve your leave.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ When did this fellow become so childish, shameless¡­.and clingy? Where did his arrogance and pride go to? Xuxu stared at his eyes for a long time, and she couldn¡¯t believe he could be so thick-skinned. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± Wasn¡¯t he afraid that Fang Jiayin might find out and get jealous as a result? Yan Rusheng blinked. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell that I¡¯m trying to improve our relationship? And to give you a chance for me to fall in love with you?¡± Xuxu remained mum as she stared at the ceiling. She really couldn¡¯t tell at all. She rolled her eyes at him and gritted her teeth. ¡°You just seem like a childish and narcissistic rascal.¡± She didn¡¯t regard his words as anything important and had the intention to ignore him. She grabbed his hands that was wrapped around her waist and tried to pry his hands away. But he wasn¡¯t cooperative and tightened his grip instead. ¡°You imprudent woman, must I use force on you?¡± He secured her with one hand and the other hand moved downwards slowly. Xuxu could sense danger so she immediately turned around and gave him a light peck on his lips. Her lips tasted as sweet as honey and Yan Rusheng savored the lingering taste of the kiss by licking his lips. His face lit up with a wide and smug smile. His expression was interpreted as devious and lewd in Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Her face fell and she glared at him impatiently. ¡°Can you let go of me now?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve kissed me, of course I have to return you a kiss as reciprocity.¡± He spoke in a playful manner and it made Xuxu¡¯s heart pound wildly. ¡®You fierce lass! Why did you kiss me?¡¯ ¡®Since you¡¯ve kissed me, of course I have to return you a kiss! Do you know how to reciprocate?¡¯ The man drew Xuxu closer for a passionate kiss and he was lost in thought. It didn¡¯t resemble her gentle kiss earlier, neither was he as impatient as he was last night. He seemed to be savoring something delicious and was enjoying himself thoroughly. Xuxu could feel his lower body undergoing some changes. If she didn¡¯t stop him in time, she might not be able to leave for the entire day. Chapter 290. I Can Only Say I Have No More Regrets ¡°Enough.¡± She pushed him away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t force me to send evidence to Fang Jiayin.¡± Yan Rusheng shrugged. ¡°Do you need a camera?¡± Without waiting for Xuxu to respond, he thought of an interesting idea he carried on talking. ¡°How about we do this; let¡¯s take a picture now. You send it to Fang Jiayin and I¡¯ll send it to Jiang Zhuoheng. Let¡¯s guess how they would react.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, she used all her might to push him away and jumped off the bed. The series of actions was seamless. She grabbed the blanket and threw it around her body before she picked up her clothes to go to the bathroom. ¡­ To have dealings with the government wasn¡¯t an easy task and Xuxu was well aware of the fact. It would take countless attempts to succeed. She walked out of the building and sighed heavily. Thanks to Flourish & Prosper and Yan Rusheng, she wasn¡¯t left out in the cold but still, she was rejected politely by them. The sun shone brightly and the piercing sun rays made her feel lost. She had no idea what would be her next step; what did she need to do in order to help Tiny Stars Orphanage and to protect the children¡¯s home. Xuxu was lost in thought when a familiar voice jolted her back to the present. ¡°Xuxu.¡± The more you tend to avoid someone, the more likely you are to bump into the person at unexpected timings or places. It caught her off guard completely. She looked at the direction where the voice sounded and she smiled lightly. ¡°Jiayin.¡± Fang Jiayin wore a tight white dress with a wine-red blazer. Her luscious straight hair rested neatly past her shoulders. She looked at Xuxu with a graceful and natural smile, just like her personality. She walked up to Xuxu and Fang Jiayin asked her, ¡°Are you here regarding government-related matters?¡± ¡°Yup. How about you?¡± Xuxu nodded and asked her casually. Fang Jiayin showed Xuxu the documents and materials inside the transparent folder she was holding. ¡°I¡¯m starting a music school specializing in violin classes, so I¡¯m here to settle the paperwork.¡± The documents contained her certificate as a musician and a qualified teacher from an established and prestigious arts institution in Country F. ¡°Congrats! Your dream finally came true.¡± Xuxu congratulated her from the bottom of her heart. Fang Jiayin smiled briefly. ¡°I can only say I have no more regrets.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know how to feel about Fang Jiayin¡¯s statement. Doesn¡¯t she have any regrets when she gave up Yan Rusheng who had loved her so deeply? But she doesn¡¯t have the time to decipher what was on her mind. Anyway, if Yan Rusheng doesn¡¯t chase her away, she will never leave on her own accord so that they can be together. Her impression of Fang Jiayin wasn¡¯t exactly that pleasant, but neither did she harbor any ill feelings towards her. So she didn¡¯t hate Fang Jiayin; just Yan Rusheng who had treated her so cruelly. She retracted her thoughts and smiled back, ¡°Then you should get going.¡± She felt that there wasn¡¯t a need for her to catch up with Fang Jiayin. Other than Yan Rusheng, both of them had nothing else in common. ¡°It¡¯s nearly evening.¡± Fang Jiayin glanced at her watch. ¡°I doubt that I would be able to get my stuff done today. Shall we have dinner together since we¡¯ve bumped into each other?¡± Xuxu¡¯s first instinct was to decline but neither did she put on an awkward expression. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not as I¡¯ve something on. Let¡¯s fix another day.¡± Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t insist and nodded. ¡°Alright then.¡± Chapter 291. Just Couldnt Bear To Let Go ¡°Goodbye.¡± Xuxu waved at her and headed towards the carpark. After walking for a short distance, Fang Jiayin¡¯s voice could be heard again. ¡°Xuxu, don¡¯t be over-sensitive. I¡¯ve always felt that you and Ah Sheng are the most suited for each other. I¡¯ve never thought of turning back when I chose to let him go.¡± Xuxu stopped in her steps. Since she had no intention of turning back, why was there a need to make it known to her? There seemed to be some hidden meaning in her words. Xuxu turned her head as she mulled over this and smiled genuinely at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. I¡¯m not being over-sensitive.¡± Having said that, she turned back and continued walking ahead. She was driving Yan Rusheng¡¯s car that day. When she got into the car, she turned on the radio to a random channel and drove off in a jiffy. ¡®On 11 October, there will be a Charity Musical Performance at Capital City Musical Theatre by musician Fang Jiayin, who has just returned from abroad. Tickets on sale now. Log on to the organizer¡¯s website to snatch your tickets now¡­¡¯ Xuxu turned on the radio to mask the feeling of emptiness in the car. At the end of a song, there was a radio advertisement promoting Fang Jiayin¡¯s Charity Musical performance. A flash of surprise flashed past her eyes and she curled her lips coldly. When one¡¯s a gem, their life would forever have a positive glow. Be it during university days or after graduation, Fang Jiayin was always noticeably outstanding. She realized that she was incredibly exhausted after the car finally pulled to a stop after two hours on the road. Her energy was totally drained and her body felt so limp and painful that she found it tedious to even open the car door. Damn it. It¡¯s all Yan Rusheng¡¯s fault for tormenting her early in the morning. She cursed him in her heart and vented her frustration by slamming the car door. Dry and withered leaves fall continuously from two huge trees outside the dilapidated old metal gate. As she approached the gate, she caught sight of cartoon drawings on the walls of the two-story building. A heartwarming smile filled her face. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go in as the children were having their afternoon nap at this time. She stood outside the gate for a while before turning around and walked aimlessly along the high walls of the orphanage. She felt that she wasn¡¯t one who was full of love and compassion for people, but towards these children, she just couldn¡¯t bear to let go. She hoped that they could have a home that¡¯s filled with warmth, to have a good future and to have a life worth living. The size of the orphanage was about five to six hundred square meters which wasn¡¯t considered big. She walked to a rustic looking cemented road at the back of the orphanage. White poplars lined both sides of the road and facing the road was farmland that was filled with newly sprouted green wheat plants. This place is the common border of three cities and their suburbs were also well developed. As a result, this piece of land is a gem. Once the government relaxed their regulations, there were bound to be many investors eager to bid for this piece of land. ¡­ Xuxu took a walk for a while. When she returned to the orphanage, the children were already awake. Each time she was there, the children would cling on to her persistently. Everyone couldn¡¯t wait to share their daily routines and happenings with her. She would listen to them patiently. It was at such moments with the children that made her felt the most relaxed and all her burdens would be lifted. The weather had turned chilly and the children all donned long sleeves. Little Huanhuan, being the youngest, would always have the privilege to sit on Xuxu¡¯s lap and act cute. Chapter 292. Came To Fetch You Home For Dinner ¡°Miss Xuxu, can you tell me the story about the Little Red Riding Hood.¡± She looked up and saw a pair of big dewy eyes looking at her with anticipation. Xuxu frowned. ¡°Little Red Riding Hood again?¡± She had told her this story umpteen times. Could she request for other stories? The little girl insisted only on the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Xuxu couldn¡¯t change her mind, so she had no choice but to oblige. Even though she had retold the story for more than ten times, each time, the children would listen with rapt attention. Their big round eyes and innocently looking faces would be looking at her intently. To ensure that all the children could hear her, Xuxu would deliberately raise her voice during her storytelling time. Yan Rusheng heard her voice the moment he got off his car. She was talking about the part where the big bad wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood and he listened keenly. He walked with quiet steps to the entrance of the orphanage as if he was fearful of startling someone. When he reached the door, he saw a group of children sitting on wooden chairs and all of them was gathered around Wen Xuxu. Other than Xuxu¡¯s voice, no other voices were heard. An auntie from the orphanage had left the door opened when she went out to dispose of the rubbish. Without a second thought, he went in. He had barely taken two steps when a security guard walked out of the guard post and scrutinized him. ¡°Who are you? Who let you in?¡± The security guard spoke bluntly because he came from the countryside. Young Master Yan¡¯s face turned black. He frowned and glared at the security guard coldly. ¡°None of your business.¡± Young Master, was there a need to be so arrogant? He is the security guard here. You barged in without registering yourself at the guard post and you still behave so arrogantly. Seeing his nasty behavior, the security guard asked him to leave. ¡°Go out, go out. Casual strangers can¡¯t step into this place freely.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was a casual stranger? And he was being chased away? Young Master Yan turned livid. ¡°You old fellow¡­¡± Suddenly, Wen Xuxu¡¯s admonishing tone came from behind. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± She had already seen him the moment he came through the door and had wanted to see how he would get past the security guard. But she had over-estimated this fellow. He was so arrogant and couldn¡¯t possibly possess the virtue of respecting the old and cherishing the young. When he heard Xuxu¡¯s voice, Yan Rusheng stopped himself from berating the security guard. But he couldn¡¯t take it lying down and stared at the security guard viciously. He turned around and looked at Xuxu. His good-looking face was full of warmth and there was a tinge of affection in his eyes. It was as if he wasn¡¯t the one who was rude and disrespectful. ¡°My wife.¡± He strutted towards Xuxu. The group of children stared at him curiously with their innocently looking eyes. If he didn¡¯t put on a smiling face at this moment, he would deem to have sinned. Hence, he put on such a stiff and unwilling smile that Xuxu couldn¡¯t even bear to look at him. When he walked nearer to her, she asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I came to fetch you home for dinner.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Xuxu with no lack of affection in his eyes. Xuxu was a little startled. Has this fellow gone wacky? He only wanted to fulfill grandmother¡¯s wish and have a child with her but was there a need to put in so much effort to achieve it? Could Fang Jiayin be tailing him? Of course, this was just a joke in her heart. Even if Fang Jiayin still carried a torch for him, it was unlikely for him to go to such extent. Chapter 293. Went All Out ¡°Miss Xuxu, who is this uncle?¡± Little Huanhuan asked curiously and turned and looked at Yan Rusheng with pouted lips. Uncle? They called her sister and yet addressed him as uncle? Young Master Yan furrowed his eyebrows and took a step towards little Huanhuan. He bent down and corrected her sternly. ¡°Don¡¯t call me uncle. Call me brother-in-law.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Yan Rusheng¡¯s stern expression instilled fear in little Huanhuan and she cuddled next to Xuxu. With her arms wrapped around her legs, she asked timidly, ¡°Sister Xuxu, who is this brother-in-law? I don¡¯t like him because he is too fierce.¡± He was too fierce? How dare this filthy little fellow despise him. In addition, that old fellow at the door had the audacity to call him a casual stranger. Tsk. Both the old and the young in this orphanage were so hateful. Young Master Yan received two crushing blows consecutively and was in a nasty mood. But the thought of Xuxu valuing these children so fondly, he had no choice but to endure. Oh my god! How aggrieving! ¡°Little beauty, let brother-in-law give you some money to buy sweets.¡± He grinned and took out his wallet from his pocket and handed a hundred yuan to little Huanhuan. ¡°Call me brother-in-law.¡± What a shallow nouveau riche. It makes one felt like giving him a tight slap! Xuxu gave a black face and clenched her fist tightly. Gnashing her teeth, she stared at Young Master Yan. ¡°No, Huanhuan don¡¯t want the money.¡± Huanhuan shook her head without a trace of hesitation and answered in a sweet and innocent tone. Xuxu could hold it no longer and and hit Yan Rusheng on his hand that was holding the money. ¡°Yan Rusheng, enough.¡± Yan Rusheng stood up lazily and and stuffed the money back into his wallet in an unhurried manner. He looked at Xuxu and said, ¡°My wife, let¡¯s go back for dinner.¡± He barely finished his sentence when the group of children exclaimed innocently, ¡°Sister are you the wife of Brother-in-law? Does Brother-in-law know the game of the Pigsy bringing his wife for a piggyback ride?¡± Without waiting for a response from Yan Rusheng, another child immediately added, ¡°Only Brother Ah Heng knows.¡± Then someone echoed, ¡°Yes, Brother Ah Heng is so awesome. He knows the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and also knows how to play the game of the Pigsy bringing his wife for a piggyback ride.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s turned darker than the bottom of a saucepan. How dare these little devils compare him with Jiang Zhuoheng. Obviously, they meant that he wasn¡¯t as smart as him. This is enough! ¡°Of course Brother-in-law knows how to play and sing.¡± Yan Rusheng broke into a smile all of a sudden. Xuxu gazed at Young Master Yan¡¯s sudden change in facial expression and twitched her mouth. Xuxu was speechless. Earlier on, when his face turned darker than the bottom of a saucepan, she thought that he was about to explode with rage and wanted to stop him. But she nearly fell off the chair when she saw him exuding so much patience for the first time. Even if it was towards his own mother or grandmother, he hadn¡¯t shown so much patience to them before. Hearing this, the little fellows were brimming with excitement in their eyes. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Then come and play with us the piggy back game ok?¡± ¡°Piggyback the wife and sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star at the same time.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ She was worried for the safety of the kids yet couldn¡¯t help but visualized the scene of Young Master Yan piggybacking the children and singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star at the same time The mere thought of it caused her to burst out laughing. Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and answered the children sinsterly, ¡°OK.¡± In order to defeat Jiang Zhuoheng and secure a place in the hearts of the children, he¡­ went all out. Chapter 294. She Didnt Dare To Think Anymore Since there weren¡¯t any paparazzi here, no one would take pictures of him without his knowledge. When she heard him say ¡®OK¡¯, Xuxu stared at Yan Rusheng with her eyes and mouth wide opened, seemingly startled. Was he really that icily arrogant and pampered Yan Rusheng who had mysophobia and a malicious tongue? The little girls were familiar with the rules of the game and had already stood in line, waiting for Yan Rusheng to piggyback them while the boys retreated to the side. ¡°Sister Xuxu, quickly come over and line up.¡± The little fellows were eagerly waving at Xuxu but she stood rooted to the ground. Xuxu stole a glance at Yan Rusheng who was standing in front of the queue. She found it peculiar that he didn¡¯t play by the rules today. She was still feeling baffled when she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice from afar. ¡®Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are¡­¡¯ Xuxu was astonished when she saw Yan Rusheng piggybacking little Huanhuan and walking around the field willingly. His euphonious voice made the nursery rhyme sounded exceptionally flavorful. Xuxu looked at his tall and large body which made little Huanhuan appeared exceptionally petite on his back. There was a smile on his face. Looking at this scene brought tears to her eyes. The rules of the game were for Yan Rusheng to piggyback every girl and walk around the field while singing. It¡¯s sister Xuxu¡¯s turn now.¡± All the little girls had taken a ride except for Xuxu. The children and he were waiting in anticipation for Xuxu¡¯s turn to arrive. Yan Rusheng walked over to Xuxu with a mischievous smile on his face. ¡°My wife, it¡¯s your turn.¡± He had been addressing her as ¡®my wife¡¯ these few days and this made Xuxu uncomfortable and awkward. ¡®You can skip my turn and don¡¯t have to piggyback me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s beyond your control.¡± Yan Rusheng replied coldly. He bent over and carried her up in a skillful but domineering way. Xuxu¡¯s body swayed for a moment and instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and squeaked, ¡°Ah¡­Yan Rusheng.¡± Yan Rusheng turned and rolled his eyes at her. ¡°Why are you hugging me so tightly and screaming so loudly? What a pity that we are not on the bed!¡± This hooligan! Xuxu looked at his fair-skinned neck and without warning, bent down and sank her teeth on him.¡± ¡°Ouch.¡± Yan Rusheng let out a painful shout but he still chose to let her vent her frustration. It was good news to him if she was willing to vent her frustrations or bore a tinge of emotions towards him. She could hit or scold him or even throw an ashtray or pillow at him. At least, she wasn¡¯t indifferent. Xuxu placed her bite on him for quite a while before releasing her jaws. There were deep teeth marks on his neck and any deeper, it would bleed. She didn¡¯t utter a word after that and merely pouted her lips and let out a childish harrumph. Yan Rusheng¡¯s tone was full of affection. ¡°No wonder you are born in the year of the dog. The previous scar caused by your bite is still there.¡± As Xuxu recalled about that time where he was also badly bitten by her, her eyes reddened. With a sniffle, she gave a curt reply, ¡°Don¡¯t keep talking about the time of our youth. It was all in the past.¡± Those were all in the past? When Yan Rusheng heard the way Xuxu brushed off their past memories, his heart skipped a beat. But he still kept his smile on his face. ¡°We were childhood sweethearts and innocent playmates. Don¡¯t you have any thoughts about these?¡± Xuxu shook her head instantly. ¡°Not at all.¡± Perhaps, she would have borne some hope and anticipation before learning about the truth of grandmother¡¯s death or before the night when he yelled another woman¡¯s name while pressing her down. But now, she didn¡¯t dare to think anymore. Chapter 295. Children, Well Done! In the past, if only he could piggyback her in the same manner and asked if she had any thoughts about the things that happened during the passage of time. She would definitely be overwhelmed with joy and wouldn¡¯t hesitate to say once more ¡®Ah Sheng, I like you.¡¯ But it was all too late. Young Master Yan¡¯s confidence had been dealt a bit blow and he felt a sharp pain in his heart. With a forced smile, he said, ¡°I know that I¡¯m too outstanding for a stupid woman like you.¡± ¡°Yes indeed¡­¡± Xuxu smiled meaningfully. While Yan Rusheng was carrying the little devils on his back, he couldn¡¯t wait to get them off his back. But when it was time for him to piggyback Xuxu, he wished that the road ahead never ended. Each time Xuxu visited the children, they would always pester her to stay for dinner before she left and it was no exception this time as well. Hence, Yan Rusheng would also be staying for dinner inevitably. He knitted his brows when he saw the bowl of carrots and cabbage. There was a look of distaste on his face. Was this food meant for rabbits or human consumption? Xuxu read his mind. She walked over to him and whispered, ¡°Eat them and be a good role model for the children.¡± ¡°Sister, why are there red marks over there?¡± All of a sudden, a child who was seated opposite her pointed to an area below Xuxu¡¯s neck and exclaimed in shock. Xuxu was bewildered and reached out to feel that area. ¡°Red marks?¡± She tugged at her blouse¡¯s collar and bent her head to take a look. Her face turned crimson immediately. There were a few red and purplish hickies below her collarbone. She immediately pulled up her collar. But it was too late. The children had seen them and asked with concern, ¡°Sister Xuxu, what are those marks? Are they painful?¡± ¡°Let me give them a blow.¡± A boy who was seated near her walked over to Xuxu all of a sudden and courageously offered to blow at ¡®the wounds¡¯. Before Xuxu could react, Young Master Yan¡¯s face turned black and stared menacingly at the boy. You rascal, how dare you take advantage of his woman. Then he looked at the rest of the children and gave them an innocent smile. ¡°Those were strawberries planted by Brother-in-law. They won¡¯t hurt.¡± Little Huanhuan queried doubtfully, ¡°Brother-in-law knows how to plant strawberries?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Then could you plant one for Huanhuan?¡± Huanhuan tugged at her the collar of her blouse forcefully and revealed her chubby neck. ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± This created a sudden wave of commotion in the canteen. ¡°Uh!¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched when he saw a group of children tugging at their collars and rushing towards him. Xuxu gloated gleefully by the side. Well done, Children! Yan Rusheng cast a glance at her and caught her watching his predicament in interest. A gleam of shrewdness flashed across his deep-set eyes. With his nimble hands, he grabbed Xuxu¡¯s neck and drew her to his side. He gazed at all the children devilishly. ¡°Let me teach you how to plant.¡± With that, he lowered his head and aimed his lips at the target¡ªXuxu¡¯s neck and kissed it. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you are such a pervert. What are you trying to do in front of the children?¡± As Xuxu was unable to break free from his strong grasp, she pounded on him recklessly. For a long long time¡­ till he was almost suffocated before he let her go reluctantly. Chapter 296. Radio Station Another bright and fresh red hickey appeared on Xuxu¡¯s neck. Yan Rusheng pointed at his masterpiece and proclaimed proudly to the children. ¡°Look, there it is.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened unanimously with utmost admiration and all of them nodded furiously like a hen pecking at its food. ¡°Brother in law, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ If they really had a child in future, she would never be able to entrust their child to him. Will the child inherit his rascal-like genes¡­ Nonetheless, even though she wasn¡¯t really that touched by his sudden arrival, she saw how patient he was with the children. And that softened her heart a little. Yan Rusheng drove the car while Xuxu sat in the front passenger seat on the way back. The cool wind entered through the windows and kept them alert. Xuxu stared out of the windows, peering into the darkness. The roads in the suburbs weren¡¯t lit with any lights and the trees by the sides of the road cast eerie-looking shadows It would have frighten her if she was alone. Suddenly a white tiny figure dashed out from the withered bushes that lined the road. It gave Xuxu such a shock that she retracted her gaze immediately. Only after traveling several meters did she turn around to take a look. However, she didn¡¯t manage to see anything. She recalled the white figure and the fear in her eyes lingered on as she wondered silently. ¡°When did you become so timid? You were frightened by a rabbit?¡± Yan Rusheng broke the silence with a grin. But to Xuxu, it sounded like he was mocking her and she couldn¡¯t take it lying down. She whipped her head around agitatedly. ¡°How did you know it was a rabbit?¡± ¡°What else can it be? A ghost?¡± Yan Rusheng turned to face her, feeling amused. Xuxu ignored him but her fear was dissipated. She turned on the radio station as the silence unsettled her. She retracted her hand after turning it on and she continuing gazing into the distance. The male DJ¡¯s voice was masculine, mellow, and rich and it could touch the listeners¡¯ hearts. ¡®Mister, our expert has understood the situation that you¡¯ve explained. He will be analyzing the cause of it.¡¯ ¡®Firstly, your partner has allowed you to seek help regarding your problem. You said that you were married for three years and you¡¯re 30 years old this year. Indeed, it¡¯ll affect both your mood and health, not to mention your marriage. You can¡¯t blame her for being unhappy with you as well. I¡¯m sure she does have your best interests at heart.¡¯ ¡®If it¡¯s what you¡¯ve described, it does sound rather serious. You should get it treated as soon as possible without any delay.¡¯ What are they talking about? Xuxu¡¯s face blushed crimson as she allowed her thoughts to run wild. She switched off the radio. How can the radio station be so brazen and bold these days? ¡°Why did you switch it off?¡± Young Master Yan had noticed for some time that Xuxu was embarrassed as he saw her tightly-clenched fists fidgeting restlessly. How could he give up this opportunity to tease her? He pretended to glare at her with displeasure. Then he switched on the radio once more. The expert continued with his advice and kept mentioning the topic of impotence. As time passed, Xuxu felt extremely uncomfortable especially with Yan Rusheng beside her. Chapter 297. Oh My God, What Did She Say Just Now? ¡®If you and your partner heed my advice, I can guarantee that with the medicine that I¡¯ve prescribed and with three rounds of treatment, your problem will be solved¡­¡± Xuxu could no longer endure listening to the expert and she stretched out her hand to switch it off. Unexpectedly, her hand was intercepted by Yan Rusheng midway as his huge hand tightened around her slender wrist. She raised her head and glared at him angrily. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re a pervert! It¡¯s not as if you¡¯re impotent.¡± Her words had barely left her lips when she froze in shock¡­ Oh my god, what did she say just now? That word? Not only had her face and neck turned red, her body seemed to be ablaze and all she wanted was to find a hole to bury herself. It¡¯s that damned expert¡¯s fault for mentioning impotency repeatedly. It felt like a wretched curse as it lingered in her mind and made her blurt out unwittingly. Without any warning, Yan Rusheng stepped on the brakes and the car stopped. He had a wicked grin and his deep eyes gleamed in the darkness with a lustful expression. He unfastened his seatbelt and inched neared to Xuxu. ¡°Hmmm¡­ you¡¯re right. I¡¯m very normal, and furthermore¡­¡± He stretched the last syllable and Xuxu could feel his warm breath dangerously close to her as she moved away instinctively. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s really normal.¡± He lifted his eyebrows meaningfully. Xuxu knew exactly what he meant and her face blushed once more. Anxious, she could only cry out loudly. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re simply disgusting and lewd!¡± How could he have a reaction just by listening to the radio? And to her utter shock, the ¡®evil¡¯ word appeared in her mind once more¡­ It¡¯s that wretched expert¡¯s fault. Why didn¡¯t the country censor such a radio program and wasn¡¯t it inviting people to commit even more crimes by allowing it to be broadcast at night? Her palms were covered with cold sweat as her body began to shiver slightly. Even though it wasn¡¯t her first time, she was still very coy and reserved when it came to such intimate matters. Young Master Yan felt that her bashful expression was irresistibly adorable and he had the urge to make her even more shy. Why didn¡¯t he realize how alluring and lovely she was in the past¡­ to the extent that he couldn¡¯t control his feelings for her anymore. At the thought of it, Yan Rusheng moved forward a little and as he had planned, he managed to touch the tip of Xuxu¡¯s nose. The wicked and seductive smile remained on his face. His deep voice sounded, ¡°Did you hear what the expert said just now? You should be pleased and thankful that your husband is a normal man.¡± Xuxu heard him and her eyes darted everywhere in the car as long as she didn¡¯t have to meet the wicked-looking expression in his eyes. She used her hands to push him away. ¡°Don¡¯t be so shameless. We are on the road and someone might pass by.¡± She intended to chide him but to Yan Rusheng, it simply sounded like coquettish flirting. ¡°In the car¡­¡± His smile resembled a blossoming poppy which was filled with evilness as he paused for a second. His seductive lips began moving once more. ¡°I want to try it with you.¡± What? Xuxu widened her eyes with a mixture of fear and shock. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m warning you. Don¡¯t you dare attempt to do anything.¡± She scanned her surroundings nervously; even though this road in the suburbs was quite secluded, it didn¡¯t mean that it was completely void of vehicles. And there could be villagers nearby too. If they were caught, how embarrassing it would be. ¡°I have no other choice. Other than wanting you right now, there isn¡¯t anything I want.¡± Without giving her a chance to retaliate, he kissed her rosy lips. ¡°Mmm¡­ Mmm.¡± Xuxu struggled and protested with muffled sounds. Chapter 298. How Could You Let Me Down? If they were caught, how embarrassing it would be. ¡°I have no other choice. Other than wanting you right now, there isn¡¯t anything I want.¡± Without giving her a chance to retaliate, he kissed her rosy lips. ¡°Mmm¡­ Mmm.¡± Xuxu struggled and protested with muffled sounds. This fellow! Rascal! Her fists landed on his back repeatedly and relentlessly. Yan Rusheng ignored her protests and carried on with his wishes. But he didn¡¯t stop at that. Immediately after they got home, he got to work once more by ¡®tormenting¡¯ Xuxu till she could hardly open her eyes. Only then did he cease. The harder he tried, the more defensive Xuxu became. After Yan Rusheng left to take a shower, her eyelids slowly fluttered. She climbed out of the bed and wobbled to the sofa where her bag was. She rummaged for a box of unopened medicine and swallowed it quickly. ¡°Stupid woman, your stamina is really horrible. You¡¯ll have to start working out day and night from now on.¡± Yan Rusheng came out of the bathroom just when Xuxu had finished her medicine. She stuffed the box hurriedly back into her bag and swung around to face him. She put on her usual aloof expression to conceal her guilt and fear. ¡°You are really sick.¡± She slung the bag across her shoulder and strode towards the door. Yan Rusheng grabbed her. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Xuxu replied coldly. ¡°To take a shower and sleep in my room.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his brow and anger flickered in his eyes. ¡°This is our room. Which room are you going to?¡± He had already acknowledged his mistake but she still insisted on throwing a tantrum. What did she want exactly? ¡°I¡¯m going back to my own room.¡± Xuxu looked askance at him and was about to leave once more. ¡°Seems like we can still carry on as you still have the strength to bicker with me.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t bother to argue with her and carried her instead. He threw her on the bed and immediately crushed her tiny body with his entire weight. He looked at her intently with a piercing stare. Xuxu tried to struggle and break free but he caught her hands. He spoke up gently. ¡°I¡¯ve already admitted my mistake. What else do you want? Huh?¡± Xuxu refused to look at him. ¡°You¡¯re not in the wrong so there¡¯s no need apologize to me.¡± She knew that he was referring to that night where he had taken her by force against her will. He must have realized that he had gone overboard, but he didn¡¯t realize what he had done had hurt her the most. If he didn¡¯t, then admitting his mistake didn¡¯t seem to mean anything. She had only one thought ¡ª to bind them together till death! ¡°That day I went to the orphanage and saw you with Jiang Zhuoheng¡­¡± Yan Rusheng stopped midway and seemed to have lost his tongue. Xuxu was startled by his confession and she gazed at his blushing face. ¡°You went?¡± She had only gone to the orphanage with Jiang Zhuoheng once so she could recall instantly. It was that fateful night when he had banished her to the depths of suffering once more. But she had never once thought that he would actually go to the orphanage. ¡°Didn¡¯t I promise to go with you on Saturday?¡± Yan Rusheng rebuked her with displease. Then he carried on with a hint of childishness. ¡°But I didn¡¯t think that you had planned a rendezvous with your old lover. How could you let me down?¡± His jealousy erupted like a volcano once more at the mere thought of that scene. Xuxu frowned, utterly bewildered. ¡°Why?¡± She didn¡¯t understand him. Didn¡¯t they get married just to fulfill grandmother¡¯s final wishes? Then why should he uphold the promise that he had made to her? Yan Rusheng was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± The reason he had taken her by force was because he saw her with Jiang Zhuoheng. He was her legal husband and he must have felt that his pride was crushed by them. That was why he decided to punish her. Chapter 299. The Husband Will Follow The Wife Yan Rusheng was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± The reason he had taken her by force was because he saw her with Jiang Zhuoheng. He was her legal husband and he must have felt that his pride was crushed by them. That was why he decided to punish her. But why did he call Fang Jiayin¡¯s name when he laid on her that night, completely drunk? That night three years ago, she had stayed by him because she had misunderstood his intentions. Yan Rusheng saw her eyes flickering, seemingly troubled. He gave a gentle peck on her forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. Since I¡¯ve married you, I won¡¯t think of anyone else. You¡¯re forbidden to do so as well.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if she could understand what he was trying to say. He was afraid of rejection and he wasn¡¯t able to muster his courage for a second time if he was rejected. So this was how he had planned to profess his love for her. ¡®Xuxu, don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. I¡¯ve given up on Yan Rusheng three years ago and I¡¯ve no intention of reconciling with him¡­¡± After she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s confession, she was instantly reminded of what Fang Jiayin had said to her in the afternoon. Did they rehearse beforehand? Even their tone sounded so similar. Xuxu smirked coldly as she remained quiet. She insisted on going back to her own room and Yan Rusheng had no choice but to let her have her way. But the next day, he brought all his belongings including his clothes and pajamas over to her bedroom. Xuxu was still asleep when Yan Rusheng entered with his belongings. She almost lashed out at him out of frustration. ¡°Although this room is smaller than mine, a smaller space means it¡¯s more soundproof.¡± Yan Rusheng quipped playfully as he surveyed the surroundings. This warm orange wallpaper doesn¡¯t really fit Xuxu¡¯s personality. He thought to himself. But all these were unimportant, as long as she was sleeping in the same room as him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± Xuxu burst out as she sat up. She was simply too exhausted yesterday so she slept without drying her hair. Her hair was in a mess after a night¡¯s sleep. She was wearing the Doraemon pajamas which she had brought over from her own apartment. Yan Rusheng was tickled by her appearance as he smiled affectionately at her. His tone sounded gentle and tender but to Xuxu, it sounded devious and indecent. ¡°Since the wife doesn¡¯t follow the husband, the husband has no choice but to follow his wife instead. Since we¡¯re here in your territory, you shall take charge in the future.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ Even though she already knew that he was a jerk, he was also aloof and haughty at the same time. But why was he so shameless and absolutely brazen now? Yan Rusheng ignored her and began hanging his clothes inside Xuxu¡¯s wardrobe. When he saw his clothes next to hers, it comforted and delighted him. There was still a pile of work to be done at work so she simply didn¡¯t have the time to bicker with him at that moment. Xuxu decided to let him have his way and went to wash up. They were swamped with work since they didn¡¯t manage to clear their work yesterday. Everyone left on time, leaving only Xuxu and Yan Rusheng in the office. They were separated by a wall and neither of them had the time to even leave their desk. Only when the lamps started lighting up on the streets did Yan Rusheng leave his desk. He opened the door and heard busy typing sounds. Chapter 300. You Can Look At Me In Any Way You Like He decided not to disturb her as he crossed his arms to observe how focused and serious she was while she worked. He leaned on the door frame, waiting for her to notice him. This was the first time he had watched her so patiently and quietly from behind as he waited for her to complete her work. To his surprise, this process was thoroughly enjoyable. He realized that he was always fierce, impatient, and stern towards her. How he had regretted his past actions upon reflection. Xuxu finally stopped typing as she stared at the screen. She heaved a heavy sigh of relief and mumbled to herself. ¡°At last, it¡¯s done.¡± She stretched out her hand to reach for her cup and began poring over the document she had just finished. Suddenly she realized that they was a pair of eyes staring at her and she paused. Yan Rusheng knew that she was aware of his presence and spoke up. ¡°Wen Xuxu, go get prepared and accompany me to a social engagement.¡± He strode across the room towards Xuxu. Xuxu turned to look at him, slightly puzzled. ¡°But you have no schedule today.¡± ¡°I just fixed it.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a curt reply as he leaned against the wall next to her desk. Xuxu agreed with a curt response as well before she saved the document. Then she hastily arranged her stuff tidily before grabbing her bag. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Today, she wore a white mid-sleeved chiffon shirt and paired it with the orange jacket she had bought with Zhou Shuang. She wore a pair of black pencil pants and black flats. It was comfortable and stylish, suitable for any occasion. But Young Master Yan scanned her outfit and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Change into another outfit.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my outfit?¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Even if I want to, I don¡¯t have any clothes here.¡± She had always taken into consideration that she might have to accompany him for schedules in the evening. Therefore, she always tried to spend some time coordinating her outfits so that it was formal enough for different occasions. ¡°Follow me.¡± Yan Rusheng pulled Xuxu by her wrist and walked towards his office. He opened the door and headed straight for his bedroom. ¡°Why did you bring me to your bedroom?¡± She had been tormented for the past two nights and instinctively, fear enveloped her the moment she saw a bed. The first thought she had was to protest. Her fear and anxiety was apparent to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we are rushing for time right now. If you want it, I¡¯ll make sure you are completely satisfied when we get home tonight.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Was this the same Yan Rusheng that she knew? Was his brain invaded by worms these two days? Why couldn¡¯t he stop mentioning about that for the past two days? But she could rest easy after he assured her and she went into the room with him. Yan Rusheng relinquished his grip on her hand and opened his wardrobe. He took out two outfits and threw them on the bed. ¡°Change.¡± He began to unbutton his shirt. Xuxu stared at the clothes he had just taken out and her mouth was left slightly open as a result. Wasn¡¯t this¡­ the couple outfits they had customized at the shop some time ago? This had slipped her mind and she had completely forgotten about it till he brought them out today. By then, Yan Rusheng had already undressed and Xuxu saw his buff body the second she raised her head. Her face started burning. She stared at it for a few seconds before averting her eyes hastily. Yan Rusheng wore the shirt and started buttoning unhurriedly. He quipped as he looked at Xuxu playfully, ¡°Every part of my body is yours now. You can look in any way you like, so what¡¯s there to be embarrassed about?¡± Chapter 301. I Thought You Couldnt Stand Him? ¡°Who wants to look at you?¡± She raised her head and glared indignantly at him. She strode over to pick up her clothes and went to the bathroom. She knew that Yan Rusheng would never let her leave if she didn¡¯t wear the couple outfit today. So she decided to hold her tongue instead. Yan Rusheng ceased his teasing as time was running out. The slim-fit short-sleeved checkered shirt was paired with a black skirt. And according to Yan Rusheng¡¯s specifications, the skirt was altered and ended at Xuxu¡¯s knees. And they had added creases to the sides of the skirt to make it slightly puffy. It accentuated her body curves unlike the original design. And a customized design gave off a more playful charm. She twirled around in front of the mirror as the corners of her mouth curled in satisfaction at her reflection. She wondered how would he look with the outfit. Anyway, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t look good. She had never seen him dressed badly before and even if he put on an old ragged shirt, he would still be able to look good. Yan Rusheng spoke impatiently and broke her train of thought. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you done?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m.¡± Xuxu answered and glanced one last time at her reflection before opening the door. The door opened and their eyes met at the same time as they glanced at each other. A streak of surprise flashed past their eyes simultaneously. Yan Rusheng stuffed his hands in the pockets of the black pants. He had tucked in his checkered shirt inside his pants and completed his outfit with a LV belt which exuded a low-key poise. The outfit accentuated his lanky and muscular figure perfectly. His sharp features seemed to have softened by the checkered design of the shirt. Xuxu stared at him and was momentarily lost in a trance. ¡°My wife, you¡¯re really beautiful.¡± This was the first time Yan Rusheng had lavished Xuxu with such a generous compliment. And it was also the first time he had spoken directly from his heart about how he felt towards her. She looked really breathtaking with her long and luscious locks and exquisite curves. She was so beautiful that he had a sudden whim to turn down his schedule and throw her on the bed. Xuxu was rather shy and blushed red. After all this was the first time he had complimented her. She said softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She walked past Yan Rusheng and he held her hand naturally. She had apparently overestimated her defenses against him as she was secretly happy that he had complimented her. She couldn¡¯t even bear to shake his hand off. She got in the car and fastened her seatbelt and gradually her heart began to stop pounding wildly. She looked at Yan Rusheng and asked, ¡°Who are we having dinner with?¡± ¡°The Committee Secretary.¡± Yan Rusheng started the engine as he answered her. Committee Secretary? Xuxu frowned when she heard his reply. ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t stand him?¡± The Committee Secretary had always attempted to meet Yan Rusheng but he had declined all invitations. And precisely because he had declined to meet with him, acquiring the piece of land in Chengnan had required much more time and effort. Yan Rusheng questioned her instead. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that I shouldn¡¯t let my emotions get in the way?¡± Xuxu snorted in contempt. ¡°Tch.¡± When had he become so obedient? Yan Rusheng smiled and didn¡¯t reply. After a long and exhausting day, she finally managed to take a break and Xuxu¡¯s eyelids started drooping. Yan Rusheng nudged her when he saw that she was about to doze off. ¡°We will be there in 15 minutes.¡± It would be harder to wake her up if she fall asleep. He switched on the radio. ¡°Listen to the radio. You can sleep after we get home.¡± Chapter 302. I Can Sense Jealousy Xuxu heard the word ¡®radio¡¯ and the word ¡®impotent¡¯ sprouted in her mind instantly once more. The radio program last night had taught her a painful lesson and she didn¡¯t want that to happen again. With this thought, she stretched out her hand to switch it off. ¡®On 11 October, there will be a Charity Musical Performance at Capital City Musical Theatre by musician Fang Jiayin, who has just returned from abroad. Tickets on sale now. Log on to the organizer¡¯s website to purchase your tickets now¡­¡¯ Her hand paused in mid-air when she heard the commercial promoting Fang Jiayin¡¯s charity performance Yan Rusheng observed her keenly and turned his head to gaze at her with an intense stare. He spoke casually, ¡°Are you planning to snatch up those tickets using your phone?¡± Xuxu sneered. ¡°Do I need to? I can simply ask her for tickets and I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll oblige.¡± She wasn¡¯t interested in the musical at all as she wasn¡¯t gifted in that area. In the past, she always felt like dozing off when she heard Fang Jiayin play the violin. For the sake of Yan Rusheng, she had to pretend to look interested. She thought of how she used to be; why was she so silly? Yan Rusheng scoffed. ¡°What¡¯s so good about a musical? If you like it, I can play the piano at home for you.¡± Xuxu clicked her tongue as she quipped, ¡°Why do I recall someone praising Jiayin that she had played the violin really well and that he likes it very much?¡± Usually, women seemed to enjoy saying one thing and mean another, but it appeared as though men did the same as well. Fang Jiayin had left for three years and traces of her presence still lingered in his life. And he had uttered her name in a drunken stupor that night. And now he was pretending that he didn¡¯t care at all. She really didn¡¯t know why was he acting. Yan Rusheng grinned. ¡°Hey¡­ why do I sense jealousy?¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him and averted her eyes to the view outside, determined to ignore him. Yan Rusheng glared at the radio with annoyance. It was the damned radio¡¯s fault, why did they advertise about the musical. He had himself to blame as well. Why did he turn on the radio when their journey would take less than 15 minutes? He had brought this upon himself. They reached a grand and exclusive clubhouse and he parked the car outside it. Yan Rusheng held Xuxu¡¯s hand as they walked into the clubhouse. The hall was spacious and splendid and there was a garden right in the center. There was a small bridge with a stream and it resembled an ethereal paradise. The waiter hurried towards them. ¡°Third Master, Third Madam Yan.¡± This grand clubhouse was near the company and Xuxu had come here umpteen times to receive clients. The waiter led Xuxu and Yan Rusheng to the private room. They held hands all the way and Xuxu was wise enough to hide her unwillingness in such places where countless pairs of eyes were watching them. And the paparazzi could be among them. If not, they might start spinning stories about them. They reached the private room and Yan Rusheng excused the waiter. ¡°You may leave.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± the waiter replied respectfully and bowed before leaving. Yan Rusheng knocked on the door and a middle-aged man¡¯s voice replied politely, ¡°Please come in.¡± He turned the doorknob and pushed the door. The middle-aged man was sitting on a light brown leather couch and he held a cigarette in one hand. He was plump and bald and didn¡¯t look too likable. The minute he saw Yan Rusheng and Xuxu, he smiled and greeted them cheerily. ¡°President Yan, Madam Yan.¡± Chapter 303. This Matter Is A Little Tricky ¡°Secretary Liu.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded politely and greeted him briefly. Xuxu greeted Secretary Liu as well. They sat around a round table. Yan Rusheng was always discreet and cautious when meeting government officials. Hence there wasn¡¯t any waiters in the private room, so Xuxu had to serve them drinks. Yan Rusheng and Secretary Liu chatted briefly before they embarked on the topic of Flourish & Prosper acquiring the land in Chengnan. Then, they began to discuss regarding the country¡¯s current development as well. Xuxu sat quietly and she would give a smile when Secretary Liu occasionally glanced at her. ¡°Secretary Liu, I heard that the government is planning to develop the land in Haishan near the North city district? I heard that they are attracting investors, how is the progress so far?¡± After beating around the bush, Yan Rusheng had finally brought up the main topic. Haishan area near the North city district¡­ Isn¡¯t that where Tiny Stars Orphanage is located in? Xuxu studied Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression with bewilderment as she tried to guess what was on his mind. Why was he so concerned about that piece of land? He had asked Secretary Liu about the government attracting investors; was he interested in bidding for that piece of land as well? Secretary Liu questioned him instead. ¡°Why? Is Flourish & Prosper interested in that piece of land as well?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded casually. ¡°Of course, that piece of land is valuable.¡± Secretary Liu laughed heartily and said, ¡°Haha, the government does have plans indeed. But it¡¯s still too early to discuss about attracting investors.¡± Then, he glanced and surveyed Xuxu briefly before smiling, ¡°Since Young Master Yan has gotten news of the government¡¯s plan for the piece of land, you must be aware that we have not actually started working on it?¡± Xuxu heard him and sneered silently in her heart. He must have gotten news that she had gone to the government¡¯s office. And she had assumed that Yan Rusheng had requested to meet him because of her. Shouldn¡¯t Secretary Liu have guessed that since Yan Rusheng had rejected his invitation to meet him regarding such a huge project in Chengnan; therefore, why would he be so uptight about the land that was worth only 30 million yuan? Yan Rusheng glanced at Secretary Liu and his mouth curled with a polite and elegant smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be frank with Secretary Liu then. Today I have a favor to ask of you.¡± Secretary Liu nodded. ¡°President Yan please carry on. I will definitely help if it¡¯s within my ability.¡± ¡°Tiny Stars Orphanage is located on the piece of land in Haishan area which the government is planning to acquire for 30 million yuan.¡± Yan Rusheng paused before glancing at Xuxu. Then he continued composedly, ¡°My wife is trying to purchase the land from the owners and needs the government¡¯s approval. I will need your help then.¡± Secretary Liu wasn¡¯t in the least surprised but felt rather awkward. ¡°This¡­¡± Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng in surprise and she was visibly touched. So he had offered to meet Secretary Liu because of the orphanage? There was a warm sensation surging in her heart and that feeling was indescribable. Yan Rusheng saw that Secretary Liu had fallen silent for quite some time and he smiled before continuing calmly. ¡°I know that this is a little tricky, but I know that Secretary Liu is an expert at handling such matters. Just a few days ago, a refinery in Bei Wu Huan was reported to have polluted their surroundings. Didn¡¯t Secretary Liu manage to resolve it? Hence, I¡¯ve faith in you.¡± Secretary Liu¡¯s face fell abruptly. ¡°President Yan!¡± His hand on the table was balled tightly into a fist instantly. Chapter 304. This Is Such A Coincidence Xuxu began to get anxious as well. How dare this fellow threaten the committee secretary. He was being too rash and impudent. How could he ask for help with such an attitude? But she noticed Secretary Liu¡¯s ugly expression and it seemed that making threats appeared to be more effective than pleading with him. Secretary Liu had turned purple-red with rage when Yan Rusheng interjected, ¡°Please don¡¯t worry as I won¡¯t interfere with the process. But when it¡¯s time to attract investors, please do me a favor and let me know.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Being both crafty and shameless, he had executed both perfectly. But to be honest, wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng the most charming right now? Secretary Liu pondered for a long while before he managed to suppress his anger and resentment and managed a slight smile. He looked at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°President Yan, I¡¯ve noted your request. And I¡¯ll try my best to support Madam Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± After they finished discussing, he notified the waiters to serve the food. The waiters began serving the food. Secretary Liu spoke up suddenly, ¡°President Yan, I¡¯ve asked my niece along to join us for dinner. She just came back from abroad and I¡¯ve been too busy to meet her. And finally tonight I¡¯ve some time to spare. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Why should he mind when the matter had already been settled? He intended to finish the meal quickly and excuse themselves. So who cares how many others were joining them. Just then, Secretary Liu glanced at the door and smiled. ¡°She¡¯s here.¡± Instinctively, Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng turned towards the door and both were startled when the person appeared. She was really fated to meet Fang Jiayin everywhere she went. Xuxu smiled grimly and her gaze swept past Yan Rusheng¡¯s face¡­ Fang Jiayin and him were still fated to be. Fang Jiayin always seem to be able to shine wherever she went. She wasn¡¯t sure about the others but she was always attracted by her. Her outfits, appearance and aura were so striking that no one could ignore her presence. Today, she was wearing another tight-fitting black dress which ended at her ankles, paired with a pair of silvery white heels. Her perfect figure would shine if she was on the walkway and her figure was comparable to professional models. ¡°Uncle, am I late?¡± Her voice preceded her presence and she got a shock when she saw Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng, Xuxu?¡± One could tell that she was really shocked and surprised by the expression on her face. Xuxu pressed her lips tightly and nodded lightly at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Jiayin.¡± When Secretary Liu saw their expressions and how they had addressed each other, he quipped in surprise, ¡°Xiaoyin, you know President Yan?¡± ¡°We were university classmates.¡± Fang Jiayin briefly summarized her relationship with Yan Rusheng and she began walking to the table. She pulled the chair next to Xuxu and sat down. Secretary Liu laughed. ¡°This is such a coincidence.¡± His niece and Yan Rusheng were university classmates. Judging from how she had addressed Yan Rusheng earlier on, they seemed close. In this case, he would have ample opportunities to get close to Yan Rusheng. The upcoming election for the post of the Committee Secretary was around the corner. Yan Rusheng was the cream of the crop amongst all the young and distinguished businessmen in the capital city. His vote was of paramount importance. Furthermore, plenty of entrepreneurs and clients who had business dealings with Flourish & Prosper followed closely behind Yan Rusheng. Chapter 305. We Havent Been On The International News Yan Rusheng had initiated this meeting today and he had a hunch that it was because his wife had wanted to acquire the land for Tiny Stars Orphanage. He had planned to wait for him to start the ball rolling and then he would pretend that the matter was tricky before agreeing to his request. Unexpectedly, he had threatened him right away. But based on the present circumstances, he had to put his pride aside and swallow his anger in order to build a diplomatic relationship with him. Even if he didn¡¯t want his vote, he had to consider that Yan Rusheng had a hold on him. Yan Rusheng definitely had concrete evidence if he was confident enough to threaten him. Yan Rusheng¡¯s first reaction when Fang Jiayin arrived was to observe Xuxu¡¯s reaction. He was frustrated by her sudden arrival. Why didn¡¯t she mention in the past that she had an uncle who was working as a government official in the capital city? He hoped that this dumb woman wouldn¡¯t jump to the conclusion that he had deliberately brought her to meet Fang Jiayin. The room fell silent and Fang Jiayin glanced at Secretary Liu before turning to Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. She smiled as she asked, ¡°What happened? Did I interrupt your discussion?¡± ¡°No, you didn¡¯t. Join us for the meal,¡± Secretary Liu laughed and replied Fang Jiayin before picking up his chopsticks. He urged Yan Rusheng and Xuxu to eat as well. There was a plate of sirloin right in front of Yan Rusheng and he silently picked up a piece and placed it in Xuxu¡¯s bowl. All this time, he didn¡¯t look at Fang Jiayin at all. Xuxu looked at the tender sirloin for a moment and without a thought, she picked up some vegetables and placed it inside Yan Rusheng¡¯s bowl. ¡°You eat too.¡± She had no idea why she did that but there was a fleeting thrill coursing through her as though she had just sought revenge. Years ago, Fang Jiayin had always served Yan Rusheng with food and smiled affectionately at him all the time while Xuxu was around. After that thrill had faded, she felt that she was being too childish. They were in love at that time; wasn¡¯t it normal for them to serve each other food? And she didn¡¯t do it on purpose to show her at that time. So by seeking revenge now was simply too ridiculous and unreasonable. But her little ¡®revenge¡¯ had made Young Master Yan overjoyed and he had the urge to kiss her on her cheeks. But he was wary that she might assume that he had done that to show Fang Jiayin. So he scrapped the idea. ¡°President Yan and Madam Yan are truly well-deserving of their reputation for being loving towards each other.¡± Secretary Liu noticed their interactions and immediately seized this opportunity to talk to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng shot Secretary Liu an approving look at the topic he had raised. This old fellow was indeed quite witty and knew how to pander to him. Fang Jiayin interjected with a smile and said, ¡°I agree. I even read about them on the news when I was overseas.¡± Xuxu heard her and recalled reading about them on the local websites. But she didn¡¯t see them appearing on the international news though. Yan Rusheng¡¯s flings these years had been reported frequently and Fang Jiayin must have followed his news regularly. Even though she appeared calm and natural, as though she had put the past behind her and had forgotten all about Yan Rusheng, Xuxu¡¯s instincts told her that the truth wasn¡¯t so simple. A woman¡¯s intuition is very accurate and she believed hers. So the more natural and composed she seemed, the more she felt that she was hiding something. Of course, she had hoped that she was just projecting her shortcomings on someone else and that she was simply too sensitive. Xuxu continued eating as though she wasn¡¯t paying any attention to the conversation. Her expression didn¡¯t betray her thoughts at all. Yan Rusheng looked at Fang Jiayin with a haughty expression. He smirked lightly. ¡°Miss Fang, you must be joking. Xuxu and I haven¡¯t been on the international news.¡± Chapter 306. She Wont Allow Them To Reveal Their Love Even though Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t love Fang Jiayin anymore, his pride won¡¯t allow him to forgive her so soon. Especially when he was ditched by a woman. Yan Rusheng had no idea how Fang Jiayin managed to muster her courage to appear before him once again. And she had, on so many occasions, pretended that nothing had happened between them and had put on such a calm and composed facade. A fleeting swift streak of awkwardness appeared in Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes and disappeared almost instantly. She smiled and explained, ¡°I browse the local news quite often.¡± ¡°No wonder.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t conceal the contempt in his voice. ¡°Seems like Miss Fang is very patriotic and constantly checks our country¡¯s news regularly.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Indeed, this haughty man¡¯s pride was untouchable. If he nabbed a chance to retaliate and to take offense, he would definitely make his enemy pay. But he still obviously loved her, why did he attack someone he loved? Wasn¡¯t he worried that his pride might push her further away once more? She glanced askew at Fang Jiayin. She was indeed much stronger than she had imagined. Yan Rusheng had mocked her maliciously but her expression remained unchanged. ¡°Ah Sheng, are you mocking me?¡± Fang Jiayin frowned and sounded as though she was hurt by his remarks. But her expression didn¡¯t seemed to reflect her sadness at all. No one could fathom her thoughts. Xuxu was stuck in the middle between them and the words they exchanged went past to and fro. She was tired simply from listening to their banter. ¡°Sorry, I need the ladies.¡± She rose and nodded at Secretary Liu sitting opposite, and left the room. Would they be more comfortable and honest if she wasn¡¯t in the room? She wouldn¡¯t give him up. But preventing them from interacting and meeting was not something that she would do. Yan Rusheng, in this lifetime you have to fulfill grandmother¡¯s last wishes and let your conscience prick you. You have to endure the pain of denying your beloved woman the title of your legal wife. But for now, she wouldn¡¯t allow them to reveal their love. Yan Rusheng watched as Wen Xuxu left the room. He knew that she wasn¡¯t going to the toilet and had merely conjured an excuse. He was frustrated by her action; did this woman have the wrong idea about them again? Apparently she wasn¡¯t jealous of them. So did she leave to give him and his ex-girlfriend space so that they could be alone? This damned woman. They had consummated their marriage and so many days had gone past. She had still insisted on pushing him away without a second thought about their marriage. The more he thought, the more vexed he became. He sent Wen Xuxu a text: ¡°Seems like I didn¡¯t shower you with enough ¡®love¡¯ these few days, since you¡¯ve time and effort to think of other stuff.¡± At this time, Secretary Liu who had just finished making a call, walked up to them with an apologetic expression. He said, ¡°President Yan, I¡¯m so sorry. I have some urgent stuff to settle and I need to leave now.¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s mind was fixed on Xuxu and simply didn¡¯t pay any notice to him at all. Even if he wasn¡¯t leaving so soon, he was planning to excuse himself and Xuxu. ¡°Secretary Liu, please go ahead.¡± He nodded at Secretary Liu and glanced at him briefly. Then he turned back to his phone. He waited for Wen Xuxu¡¯s reply. ¡°Jiayin, I¡¯m leaving first. Come visit your aunt when you¡¯re free.¡± Secretary Liu picked up his bag and bade Fang Jiayin goodbye. Chapter 307. Thank you Miss Fang For Your Concern ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Jiayin nodded lightly and said politely. ¡°Uncle, be careful on the road and drive carefully.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Secretary Liu waved his hand and turned to Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan, let¡¯s meet again soon.¡± Yan Rusheng merely twitched his lips lightly in response. After Secretary Liu left, only Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin were left in the room. Without hesitation, he stood up to leave. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, Miss Fang.¡± He bade Fang Jiayin goodbye and stood up to retrieve Xuxu¡¯s jacket before leaving. ¡°Ah Sheng, you¡¯ve changed so much after you got together with Xuxu.¡± Fang Jiayin blurted out as she stared at the clothes that Yan Rusheng was wearing. Yan Rusheng understood what she was trying to convey. Yan Rusheng smiled and spoke as though his transformation was something to be expected. ¡°It¡¯s normal to change for the one you love.¡± He knew that she was referring to the couple outfits he and Xuxu had donned today. When they were dating, she had also bought couple outfits. But he had refused to wear them. At that time he felt that a man and a woman wearing the same clothes was not displaying how loving a couple was; he simply labeled it as childish and ridiculous. But now he wished that he could wear the same outfits with the stupid woman everyday. Then everyone would know that she was Yan Rusheng¡¯s woman. And those guys who had designs on her would back off and retreat as far as possible. When he was together with Fang Jiayin, he had never once harbored any desire towards her. Other than that unforgettable night ,where she had professed her love for him. This was completely different from being with Wen Xuxu; how he wished he could kiss, hug and embrace her all the time. Was it because of the difference in era between years ago and now? As he mulled over, Fang Jiayin spoke again. ¡°Treat and love Xuxu well, she had a tough time too.¡± ¡°I feel that Miss Fang isn¡¯t in any position to advise me on how I should treat my wife.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows and an icy smile appeared on his face. ¡°What do you think?¡± She had left without a word and he had tasted the agony of being left behind. The three years of pure suffering was enough to compensate the first night they had together. So it wasn¡¯t right that they remained entangled with each other anymore. And if they meet in future, they should treat each other like strangers. Fang Jiayin bowed her head and smiled bitterly. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry because I left without a word years ago.¡± Suddenly she raised her head and looked at Yan Rusheng determinedly. ¡°But I don¡¯t regret my decision and I still think I am right.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and looked at her piercingly. ¡°I also think that you¡¯ve made the right choice. If you didn¡¯t leave, I wouldn¡¯t have realized that I have Wen Xuxu beside me.¡± Even though he had said these on impulse just to to preserve his pride and ego, he soon realized that he had really meant what he said. He really had to thank Fang Jiayin for departing years ago; if not, he wouldn¡¯t have a chance with Wen Xuxu in this lifetime. Everyone says that first love is the most unforgettable and the most regrettable. But if he had missed Wen Xuxu, it would be his greatest regret. Fang Jiayin gave a sincere smile. ¡°In this case, I can rest my mind.¡± ¡°Thank you Miss Fang for your concern.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around and walked towards the door. Chapter 308. Im Brother-in-law, Not Uncle His back was tall and straight, and his footsteps decisive without any longing or hesitation. ¡­ Xuxu was sitting on the couch at the reception area in the main hall, chatting with a mixed blood little boy of about five years old. They were chatting in English and Yan Rusheng could hear her laughter from afar. He couldn¡¯t make out their conversation so he hastened his footsteps to check out the identity of this person she was chatting with. The moment he saw that the person was of the opposite gender, his face fell immediately. Xuxu¡¯s back was facing him and didn¡¯t know that he was walking towards her. When the little boy saw Yan Rusheng, he pointed at him and told Xuxu. ¡°Sister, your boyfriend is here.¡± Xuxu lifted her brow and was amused. ¡°Huh? You know my boyfriend?¡± She had assumed this playful boy was joking and didn¡¯t take his word seriously. Because she didn¡¯t have a boyfriend. The little boy told Xuxu when Yan Rusheng stood behind her. ¡°This uncle is wearing the same clothes as you. My mommy said that only couples wear couple outfits.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Xuxu was stumped for a second before she spun her head around. Yan Rusheng was leaning lazily against the couch and he had a hand stuffed in his pocket and the other was holding her jacket. He looked imposing indeed. He lowered his head and peered at her with knitted eyebrows, apparently annoyed. ¡°I thought you went to the ladies?¡± Xuxu shrugged and pouted. ¡°The bathroom wasn¡¯t working upstairs so I came downstairs instead.¡± ¡°Sister, your boyfriend is really handsome but I am much more handsome. The little boy praised Young Master Yan and himself at the same time. Xuxu laughed at his remarks. ¡°You mischievous boy. He might seek revenge as he is really petty.¡± She had mocked and teased him in front of an outsider and Young Master Yan¡¯s expression turned even gloomier. The little boy asked naively, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t a man be broad-minded?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Xuxu burst out in laughter when she heard the boy¡¯s innocent words. ¡°You are right, but there is always an exception.¡± The little boy nodded but he didn¡¯t understand Xuxu fully. He turned to look at Yan Rusheng with a look of contempt. ¡°Uncle, a man needs to be broad-minded.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned with displeasure. ¡°Wretched boy, are you tired of living?¡± The little boy widened his huge, sparkling eyes in disbelief. ¡°Uncle, how can you terrorize a kid? You are indeed very petty.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ Why are the kids so annoying these days? If he carried on squabbling with this boy, he might uphold his ¡®petty¡¯ reputation and throw him out of the building. With this thought, he stretched out his hand to grab Xuxu¡¯s wrist. ¡°Wen Xuxu, it¡¯s time to return home and sleep.¡± Xuxu had been sitting here waiting for him to return together so she stood up cooperatively. Then she waved at the boy. ¡°Tim, I¡¯m leaving. Bye bye!¡± ¡°Bye bye, Sister!¡± Tim smiled politely at him before turning to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Uncle, Mommy said a man has to treat a woman gently.¡± Young Master Yan glared at him sinisterly and corrected him, ¡°You should address me as Brother-in-law, not Uncle.¡± Xuxu was speechless and rolled her eyes at him. This fellow was simply too petty and calculating. Why did he have to correct how the boy had addressed him? Did he think that being addressed as an uncle sounded too old? Chapter 309. There’s No Need To Be So Excited But¡­ After they left the clubhouse, Xuxu asked, ¡°Yan Rusheng, why didn¡¯t you ask him to call you Brother instead of Brother-in-Law?¡± ¡°Are you seriously dumb or just pretending to be?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned as he gazed at the tiny woman beside him. ¡°If he addressed you as Sister, shouldn¡¯t I be Brother-in-Law?¡± Momentarily stunned by his answer, Xuxu lowered her head. She replied softly with an ¡°Oh.¡± So this was why her heart was starting to soften against her will. She didn¡¯t want to guess the motive behind his strange behavior these past few days; why was he repeatedly trying to tear down her defenses against him? Her heart had undergone all kinds of heartbreak and suffering. She felt that she was almost indestructible now. And even though she¡¯d been badly hurt by him before, didn¡¯t she manage to recover? So what do I have to fear? Why should I guard against him? She managed to enlighten herself once more that night, and her spirits were lifted. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± She rubbed her belly, peering at Yan Rusheng with her sparkling eyes. Yan Rusheng thought that the stars in the sky couldn¡¯t compare to her brilliantly twinkling eyes. And his mood lifted when he heard her talking so sweetly to him. He reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her towards him. Then he lowered his head to give her a light kiss on her forehead. He chided her affectionately, ¡°Serves you right for skipping dinner to chat with a boy.¡± Xuxu was astonished by his sudden actions. Incredibly, he was behaving so intimately with her in a public place. In the past, he used to say that those who publicly display their affections by hugging or kissing their lovers were childish pieces of scum who were a disgrace to society. Their actions also brought shame to themselves. So could she now label him as a childish piece of scum who brought disgrace to society as well? ¡°Childish scum who disgraces society.¡± Just as Xuxu thought the words, she ended up blurting out. Then she continued indignantly, ¡°I was being generous enough to give you some private time with your beloved.¡± Yan Rusheng glared at her coldly. ¡°You¡¯re not me, so how do you know who my true love is?¡± Then he mulled over her previous sentence. ¡°Childish scum who disgraces society?¡± Why did this sentence sound so familiar? Xuxu instantly changed the topic to prevent him from remembering it. ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m so famished right now. How I wish I could eat the fried vermicelli at that stall next to Yizhong! I wonder if it¡¯s still open?¡± Her words had successfully distracted Young Master Yan¡¯s attention, and he let go of her waist. He grabbed her hand instead. ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± Xuxu really admired her ability to find ways out of impossible situations. Even if there was a possibility of a greater danger lurking behind that door, at least it meant a brand new beginning, and it was better than being confined to the same spot. A tall figure watched Xuxu and Yan Rusheng as they left through the doors. Her forlorn-looking eyes were filled with sorrow. Fang Jiayin, you knew this would happen, right? ¡­ The car entered a back alley at Yizhong. A few stalls were still open, but there was a stall that was preparing to end its business for the day. A lady in her mid-fifties wearing a dark red shirt and an apron was shifting a carton of milk. Xuxu recognized the old lady and nudged Yan Rusheng excitedly. She pointed at her. ¡°Look! Isn¡¯t that our old English teacher¡¯s wife?¡± This entire stretch of shops was operated by the families of the Yizhong¡¯s teachers. Yan Rusheng glanced at the lady and said lightly, ¡°Yeah, I see her. There¡¯s no need to be so excited.¡± Chapter 310. Satisfy Your Trashy Taste ¡°She was very nice to me back then.¡± Xuxu smiled fondly when she reminisced about her past memories spent here. Yan Rusheng coldly glanced sideways at her. ¡°Her son was very nice to you as well.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Their English teacher¡¯s son had tried to woo her before and used to bring delicious food from their house for her. But this was something that happened years ago; how could this guy still remember it? Xuxu was feeling rather sullen when Yan Rusheng sneered with contempt and spoke again, ¡°That glasses guy really had a bad sense for poetry. The love letter he wrote was worse than an elementary school essay.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xuxu stared in shock at the man¡¯s malicious criticism. ¡°How do you know he wrote me a love letter?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep eyes gleamed slyly. ¡°Dear Xuxu, from the first time I saw you in school, I couldn¡¯t seem to get you off my mind. I really like your smile because you look really pretty. And your results are so good too. I wanted to profess my love for you, but I don¡¯t have the courage to do so¡­¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, that¡¯s enough!¡± Embarrassed, Xuxu used her hand to cover Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth. She glared at him fiercely. ¡°How dare you peek at my letter?¡± To be frank, she didn¡¯t read the letter that the English teacher¡¯s son had given her. He had asked someone to pass the letter to her, and she had stuffed it casually inside her bag. It happened during their exams, and she eventually forgot about the letter. Oh right! Where did I put that letter? She eyed Yan Rusheng suspiciously. ¡°Yan Rusheng, not only did you peek at my letter, you even looked through my bag!¡± Young Master Yan denied it at once. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± He would never admit that he frequently rummaged through her bag in secret. And that he doodled on her books in secret as well. Xuxu certainly didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Hmph, there¡¯s no way anyone would believe you!¡± Why would the letter disappear without a trace? ¡°Who would want to look at that stupid letter?¡± When he recalled that Xuxu had attracted the attention of the boys in school due to her talent, Young Master Yan was instantly engulfed with jealousy. He changed the topic and said with reproaching, ¡°The stall is still open, so do you still want to eat? If not, we¡¯re heading home.¡± And it looked like he was ready to turn the car back. Xuxu glanced at the stall and saw that it was still open. There were plenty of tables and customers. She hesitated for a moment. ¡°Hmmm, there are too many students. Forget it then.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Wen Xuxu, didn¡¯t you used to do anything just to eat a plate of this fried vermicelli?¡± Xuxu raised her voice at him. ¡°That¡¯s because that girl from the third class was way too unreasonable!¡± Do I seem like the kind of person who would fight with someone over food? Then she continued to scold him bitterly, ¡°Besides, it was all your fault.¡± Yan Rusheng feigned innocence. ¡°What did that have to do with me?¡± Xuxu retorted, ¡°If she hadn¡¯t fallen for your looks, why would she find trouble with me?¡± Other than that unreasonable girl, she had helped countless naive young girls to pass him love letters. He really causes a calamity everywhere he goes with his damned looks. Yan Rusheng was amused by her accusation. ¡°Even if she liked me, what did that have to do with you?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes and yelled, ¡°How would I know!¡± As they bickered, the car arrived at the entrance of the fried vermicelli stall. Yan Rusheng parked the car and looked at Xuxu. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, we might as well satisfy your trashy taste.¡± Chapter 311. The Handsome Third Young Master Who Didnt Have Any Friends Xuxu snapped at him, ¡°You¡¯re the trashy one, including your whole family!¡± Her tone of voice and expressions were child-like, and it prompted Yan Rusheng to look at her with affection as he removed his seatbelt. ¡°Hm, my entire family, including your beloved Aunt Mu Li, Madam Jiang Qinglian, and¡­ yourself.¡± After that, he cracked a self-congratulatory grin. Without giving Xuxu a chance to retort, he opened the car door and walked towards the fried vermicelli stall. Knowing that the stall would be full of students, Xuxu felt uncomfortable about going in. But after seeing the self-centered and finicky scion walk towards the stall in a calm and collected manner, she decided to shoo off her awkward feelings. She got off the car, and nonchalantly followed behind Yan Rusheng. ¡°Come in, there are still seats inside,¡± the stall owner said without paying them any attention. She was busy clearing away empty plates while greeting her customers at the same time. It was just as she predicted; the moment she and Yan Rusheng walked in, kids in uniforms shifted their attention towards them. Yan Rusheng stopped in his steps and waited for Xuxu to catch up. After that, he grabbed her hand and led her towards an empty table. ¡°Prince Charming is so handsome!¡± one of the female students spoke in a hushed tone. ¡°Isn¡¯t your Prince Charming XXX?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like him anymore. There are too many negative rumors about him lately.¡± As they maneuvered through the rows of tables, the girls around them stared at the scion¡¯s scowling face and were completely smitten by him. Noticing this, Xuxu sneaked a glance at Rusheng and silently reprimanded him for stirring up a commotion. Yan Rusheng¡ªwith his hands still wrapped around Xuxu¡¯s¡ªwalked towards a table on the last row. He flashed Xuxu a knowing grin as they took a seat and said, ¡°Do you feel especially honored to be seen together with me?¡± Xuxu was completely dumbfounded. You¡¯re so narcissistic! She didn¡¯t bat an eyelid, and instead called out to the busy stall owner, ¡°I want to order a bowl of fried beef vermicelli with extra garlic.¡± ¡°Alright, just one bowl?¡± the stall owner responded without even looking at her. But when she finally lifted her head up and saw Xuxu¡¯s face, there was a fleeting look of surprise in her eyes. ¡°Oh, aren¡¯t you Xuxu?¡± The stall owner started to walk towards the couple seated on the last row. ¡°Yes.¡± Xuxu was surprised. ¡°You can still recognize me after all this time?¡± After she graduated from high school, it had been more than ten years since she last set foot in this place. Although the stall owner had seen numerous batches of students come and go, Xuxu was surprised that she still knew her by her face. Especially how the stall owner addressed her, it gave Xuxu a sense of familiarity and affection. For many years, she had avoided coming back to this place, afraid that bad memories would resurface and open new scars. Because in the six years that she spent studying in Yizhong, this was the place where she first fell in love and first had her heart broken by someone who didn¡¯t love her back. It was definitely a place where she had invested a lot of her emotions in, making it more than just nostalgic¡ªit was unforgettable. Xuxu thought: I don¡¯t know what came over me today, but I just wanted to go over and take a look. ¡°Of course, I remember,¡± the stall owner replied. She offered Xuxu a smile before shifting her gaze towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°And he is¡±¡ªshe stopped and pondered for a bit¡ª ¡°Third Young Master?¡± she said with a bit of uncertainty in her voice. Young Master Yan was thoroughly displeased that the stall owner took her time in recognizing him. His good-looking face was already enough to stir people at their seats; isn¡¯t he more worthy of recognition than anyone else? Even so, he acknowledged the stall owner by flashing her a faint smile, after which he resumed his aloof attitude. What a rude guy. Xuxu glared at him and asked, ¡°Do you want to eat?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Not eating.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have one bowl.¡± Xuxu looked up and smiled at the stall owner. ¡°He¡¯s the handsome Third Young Master who doesn¡¯t have any friends. You should quickly update your Weibo account!¡± Chapter 312. Our Stands Are The Same ¡°Oh gosh! He actually came to our school for fried vermicelli! He¡¯s so down-to-earth.¡± There was a long pause. Everyone started making a commotion as they talked about them in excited voices. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu ignored them. They were used to this kind of attention and were naturally unconcerned. At the age of thirteen or fourteen years old, these kids were already such busybodies. The fried-beef vermicelli was served, and the savory smell alone was enough to whet one¡¯s appetite. Xuxu couldn¡¯t wait to tuck in. She sank her chopsticks into a piece of beef and shoved it into her mouth, chewing with satisfaction. Look how attractive she is. Young Master Yan rolled his eyes at her. ¡°What a chowhound.¡± Having said that, he picked up the biggest piece of beef on the plate with his chopsticks and put it right into his mouth. Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Hey, Yan Rusheng, I thought you weren¡¯t eating?¡± ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll give it back to you.¡± He removed a small piece of beef from his mouth and grinned devilishly at Xuxu. Xuxu was dumbfounded. Not only did he eat her beef, but he also went ahead and devoured her vermicelli! They ate and bickered at the same time. It was as if they had traveled back in time, back to those¡­ lovely years. Those busybodies around them looked on, green with envy. ¡­ As Xuxu had predicted, the board of directors started inquiring about the contract with Country Y. At the board meeting, those old men whom Young Master Yan hated immediately got to the heart of the matter. They requested to know why they failed to sign the contract when discussions had been going so smoothly. Yan Rusheng merely replied, ¡°Flourish & Prosper does not lack funds.¡± They were stunned. Who in their right mind would refuse more money? Furthermore, this was Flourish & Prosper¡¯s first major international venture. No one would simply accept that they had lost the deal. Thus, those old directors, who had always been fearful of Yan Rusheng, came to a common agreement: they would spare no effort to accuse him of misconduct. There was a look of annoyance on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face as he leaned back lazily on his chair. Knitting his eyebrows, he listened to those old fellows berating him one after another. He suddenly felt an urge to flip the table. However, he chose not to do it. Not because he was restraining himself, but because it was impossible to flip up the conjoined table. Sitting beside him, Xuxu could sense his aura getting colder, and his patience was running out. She deliberated for a moment and then stepped forward to explain. ¡°Uncles, there is still some leeway for this matter. Let me discuss it with President Yan again, and then we¡¯ll give a satisfactory answer to everyone.¡± ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s not that we don¡¯t trust you, but this is no small issue, and it concerns everyone¡¯s interests,¡± a board director replied to her, and then added, ¡°President Yan must give us a satisfactory explanation today.¡± ¡°Yes, I agree,¡± another one piped up. ¡°We are aware of the situation. This problem was a result of President Yan¡¯s personal interest.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu waited for everyone to calm down before opening her mouth to speak. ¡°Regardless of where the problem lies, we still need to find a solution. Even if President Yan gives you an explanation, would you be able to recover the incurred damages?¡± She smiled reassuringly, looking at everyone¡¯s faces. They were still not satisfied. ¡°President Yan needs to present his stance.¡± Having said all that, they just wanted Yan Rusheng to make things clear to them. ¡°My stance is¡­¡± All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng spoke in an unhurried manner. This made Xuxu apprehensive; she pinched his thigh in secret and shot him a warning look. She smiled at everyone again and said, ¡°President Yan¡¯s stance is the same as mine.¡± Hearing this, everyone nodded reluctantly. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we look forward to your good news.¡± Chapter 313. Do You Care About Me That Much? They knew that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t give them a favorable response. But they couldn¡¯t take it lying down just because he was such an autocrat. Xuxu stood up and bowed respectfully to them. ¡°Thank you, Uncles, for your trust.¡± When the Board of Directors meeting had ended, most of the old fellows left in twos and threes, except for a handful, who took their time to leave. These were the ones who possessed a relatively larger portion of the company shares and had a cordial relationship with Wang Daqin before her passing. Acting out of her own initiative, Xuxu wanted to explain the matter to the directors, and this led Yan Rusheng to be filled with rage, but he refrained himself from displaying it. At the end of the meeting, he left in a fit of pique. Xuxu stayed behind to tidy up. Those few old directors who were still in the conference room walked over and spoke to her earnestly in their capacity as elders. ¡°Xuxu, you and Third Yan have been married for some time now. Any plans to have a child?¡± ¡°Yes. Perhaps having a child will help to tame that arrogant and stuffy guy.¡± At the mention of this subject, Xuxu¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Haha¡­ let nature take its course.¡± Given his temperament, would a child be able to subdue him? Will there be anyone in this world who can really subdue him? she thought to herself. After sending off those esteemed directors, Xuxu returned to the president¡¯s office and saw that the door to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office was shut tight. She knew that he was blaming her for taking matters into her own hands. ¡°Sigh.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but groan as she walked over to knock on his door. Yan Rusheng responded coldly, ¡°Come in.¡± Xuxu gingerly pushed the door open and saw Yan Rusheng sitting on his luxurious chair, facing a pile of documents. He knew that it was Xuxu. But he didn¡¯t raise his head to look at her because he was still fuming at her. ¡°Do you want a drink?¡± Xuxu walked over and asked softly. This fellow could be so childlike at times. So if she took the soft approach with him, he might be easier to talk to. ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped what he was doing and raised his head. He furrowed his eyebrows, and his infuriated stare darted straight at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯d like to hear how you intend to explain to those old fellows.¡± In reality, he didn¡¯t have to owe anyone an explanation. Those old fellows were minor shareholders, and the sum of their shares was only a third of the Yan family¡¯s shareholdings. If he ever decided to take over their shares, he could just do it effortlessly. But the old lady valued their comradeship. On account of their past contribution to the company, she entitled them to receive dividend payouts from Flourish & Prosper without having to lift a finger for the company. Yet, they had the audacity to reproach him and demand an explanation from him. Hmph. They¡¯re just forcing me to unify the company under my sole rulership. ¡°Grandmother¡¯s last wish was for me to assist you in the company. I can¡¯t possibly go against her wish and let you continue with your wilful ways.¡± She looked at Yan Rusheng seriously; her words were earnest and determined. ¡°I just can¡¯t do it.¡± She wasn¡¯t being pretentious. Since the day she married him, she took on the duty of shouldering the success or failure of Flourish & Prosper with him. She hoped that Grandmother would be able to look down from heaven and witness Flourish & Prosper¡¯s glorious splendor. ¡°Wen Xuxu¡­¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and replied, ¡°That damned Charles. How dare he covet my woman and blatantly disregard me?¡± At the mention of Charles, his malicious-looking eyes turned chillingly cold. It seemed like there was some deep-set blood feud between them. Xuxu blinked her eyes and responded in a playful tone, ¡°Do you care about me that much?¡± Chapter 314. Dont Let Emotions Rule Your Head In reality, she couldn¡¯t differentiate what was genuine or fake anymore. Lately, they had been spending time together like a couple passionately in love, and she could no longer decipher his thoughts and motives. Perhaps his acting skills were improving. Hearing Xuxu¡¯s query, Young Master Yan gritted his teeth even harder and glowered at her. ¡°You¡¯re a stupid woman who doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡± He wouldn¡¯t be bothered about her if he didn¡¯t care for her in the first place. He wouldn¡¯t have spent his time on childish activities or put in an effort to romance her. Silly woman! ¡°Hmph!¡± He was using the same words to insult her again. It was either ¡®stupid woman¡¯ or ¡®silly woman¡¯. Couldn¡¯t he call me something else? But each time he chided her as a stupid woman, she found it¡­ very endearing. She broke into a smile. ¡°Are you being foolish? Even if you did make me go to him, I wouldn¡¯t allow you to do that. I¡¯m not your commodity, so you can¡¯t just throw me away to any random person you choose.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Rusheng snorted with contempt. ¡°He won¡¯t even get the slightest chance.¡± Otherwise, even if it were a contract to save the world, he would still go ahead and destroy it. Xuxu was dumbfounded. This guy! He¡¯s as stubborn as a mule. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give a call to Country Y tomorrow and see if we can mitigate this matter. Since there are mutual gains to this cooperation, I believe they will also reconsider.¡± Having said that, she walked over and took his empty cup. ¡°Do you want to drink water or something else?¡± Yan Rusheng held on to her wrist and glared at her sternly. ¡°Wen Xuxu, let me warn you. If you dare to get in touch with that caucasian in private, I¡¯ll skin you alive.¡± Wen Xuxu knitted her eyebrows, ¡°Can you not let your emotions rule your head?¡± ¡°You slept too early last night.¡± All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng brought up a new topic. He grasped her hand forcefully, and she fell onto his lap. His breath drew closer, and his soft lips and nose brushed against her cheek as if he was taking in the scent of his prey. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment. Xuxu¡¯s face felt tickled. She pulled back and resisted. ¡°Yan Rusheng, it¡¯s working hours right now, and we¡¯re still in the office. Please behave yourself.¡± Her voice sounded so soft as if she was protesting playfully. ¡°Then let¡¯s go into the room.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep voice seemed to have bewitched her senses. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to admonish him. Yan Rusheng wrapped Xuxu¡¯s legs around his waist and strode towards the room. Oh my goodness. He means it! Xuxu widened her eyes in horror. She pounded on his back with all her might. ¡°Hey Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t fool around! We have so much work waiting for us to finish.¡± Yan Rusheng lowered her head and looked at her firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything else more important than making a baby.¡± Having said that, he flung Xuxu onto the huge bed. Then he pressed his body against hers. Xuxu let out a shout, ¡°Yan Rusheng! Can¡¯t you be more reasonable and not do this in broad daylight?!¡± Yan Rusheng smiled devilishly. ¡°I wanted to experience doing it in the day.¡± Xuxu shot him a look of disdain. No one would believe that he¡¯d never done this during the day before. ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop fooling around. The curtains aren¡¯t even closed.¡± She looked out the window and caught sight of some birds flying in the clear and boundless sky. Chapter 315. What A Pity ¡°Wen Xuxu, you don¡¯t have to be shy,¡± Yan Rusheng remarked. ¡°If you want me to draw the curtains, you could¡¯ve just told me.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, ¡°Get lost!¡± Yan Rusheng only laughed warmly. ¡°Be patient.¡± He got up and walked towards the window. Xuxu was speechless. Why was this guy always feigning ignorance and twisting her words? Initially, she hated doing such a thing in the office under broad daylight. But taking into consideration the contract with Country Y, she resigned herself and went all out. She hoped that she could coax this Young Master and keep him in high spirits so that he¡¯d listen to her. The consequence of doing such a thing during the day was¡­ to work overtime. Everyone in the office had already left, and Yan Rusheng instructed Xuxu to bring her work to his office. As usual, one sat at the work desk while the other sat on the sofa. Both of them buried their heads in their work without disrupting each other. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng¡¯s cell phone rang. He shifted his gaze from the documents to his cell phone. Lu Yinan was on the other line. For him to be calling him at this hour; this quack must want to have fun. He put down his pen and reached for his cell phone. Massaging his temples, he waited for Lu Yinan to speak. ¡°Third Yan, let¡¯s meet tonight at The First Wealth. See you there!¡± Just as he predicted. He rejected him without a second thought. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± After his relationship with Xuxu had improved, he¡¯d been going home right after work, snuggling up with her at their house. He even enjoyed watching boring and childish soap operas with her. ¡°Don¡¯t be such a bore,¡± Lu Yinan said, ¡°Today¡¯s Ansheng¡¯s birthday, and he felt too awkward to call you personally.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s birthday? Yan Rusheng thought about it for a moment. ¡°You go ahead first.¡± The crime committed by Wen Xinyi had nothing to do with Ming Ansheng. He had a great deal of trust in their friendship of twenty years. But Ming Ansheng had been blaming himself and didn¡¯t have the courage to face him. Furthermore, Yan Rusheng was someone who wouldn¡¯t take the initiative to keep in touch with his friends. So if he didn¡¯t show up tonight, Ming Ansheng would get over-sensitive again. He gazed at Xuxu after he hung up. She was sitting cross-legged on a floor mat in front of the coffee table. Holding a pen in her hand, she appeared to be seriously engrossed in something. ¡°My wife, let¡¯s go.¡± This title came naturally to him now, and he would even address her like this during business engagements. ¡°Wait a minute. I still have something to finish,¡± Xuxu replied without raising her head. ¡°Ming Ansheng is celebrating his birthday today.¡± Yan Rusheng waited for Xuxu to respond after he said this. He assumed that women tended to be more narrow-minded and she would fear that he might take it out on Ming Ansheng because of Wen Xinyi. Hearing this, Xuxu stopped her writing and replied coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Just as he¡¯d predicted! He didn¡¯t want to force her since she wasn¡¯t eager to go. After mulling it over, Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Then I won¡¯t go too.¡± ¡°You can go ahead.¡± Xuxu raised her head and looked at him. ¡°Ming Ansheng is a nice guy. It will be a pity if your friendship of twenty years is ruined because of this.¡± Even though she knew clearly in her heart that this matter had nothing to do with Ming Ansheng, she didn¡¯t want to go because the sight of him would remind her of Wen Xinyi. Furthermore, she was also exhausted and wasn¡¯t in the mood for such an occasion. Yan Rusheng felt comforted. She understood him the most and knew his deepest thoughts. ¡°Then let me send you home first.¡± He stood up and walked over to Xuxu. Xuxu shook her head, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my work yet. You leave first, and I¡¯ll make my way home later.¡± Chapter 316. Youll Have Your Chance To Drink Later ¡°Go home. You can finish it tomorrow.¡± Yan Rusheng walked over and wanted to pull her up from her chair. Xuxu pushed him away and said, ¡°These have to be handed in tomorrow, so I have to finish it by tonight. Just go on ahead.¡± Unless there was an emergency, she didn¡¯t have the habit of leaving her unfinished work until the next day. Tomorrows were infinite, and it would just be a vicious cycle. Yan Rusheng knew he couldn¡¯t persuade her to leave once she set her mind on finishing her work tonight. But he was worried about her going home alone so late at night. ¡°How about this? You wait for me here, and I¡¯ll come back and pick you up later.¡± Xuxu considered his suggestion and agreed. ¡°Alright then.¡± Anyway, she had a feeling that she would be staying until after midnight which was when their gatherings usually ended as well. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Yan Rusheng straightened his back and gave her another reminder. ¡°Don¡¯t go home alone; it¡¯s not safe to flag a cab here at night. Wait for me.¡± Xuxu frowned as she waved her hands, pretending to be impatient. ¡°I got it, don¡¯t be so naggy.¡± After Yan Rusheng left, she was the only one left in the vast, spacious office. She glanced wistfully at Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk and stared at his swivel chair. She couldn¡¯t help wearing a gentle and fond smile as she gazed at it. If she didn¡¯t have to think about tomorrow at all, everything would be perfect. ¡­ They often had gatherings at The First Wealth. It was common to bump into celebrities there, and everything from the decor to the furnishings was aligned with the word ¡®first¡¯. Everyone was present, and as usual, Yan Rusheng arrived late. Some of the playful and noisy friends began clamoring for his punishment and began stuffing drinks into his hands. They dragged him forward and made him sit beside Ming Ansheng. After he sat down, he glanced at the birthday boy. As usual, they could interact with just an expression. And as expected, both of them nodded at each other simultaneously. With the drinks in Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands, a voice said, ¡°Third Yan, take the initiative and drink these three glasses.¡± His friends circled around him and goaded him persistently. Yan Rusheng bent to look at the glasses and gave a slight smile before saying calmly, ¡°My chauffeur isn¡¯t here today. I¡­ can¡¯t drink too much.¡± He put the glass to his lips and took a tiny sip. Obviously, his friends wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook so easily. ¡°Bah! You won¡¯t drink because your chauffeur isn¡¯t here? This is so unlike you, Third Yan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Are you afraid that you can¡¯t go home tonight?¡± ¡°Yeah, just drink up. If you refuse, you¡¯re breaking our rules, and we won¡¯t accept that!¡± ¡°Three glasses.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll drink two on his behalf.¡± He raised the glasses and gulped them down instantly. ¡°Ming Ansheng, did you want to drink that bad?¡± ¡°Sure, but don¡¯t be so impatient. Tonight¡¯s your birthday so you¡¯ll have your chance to drink later.¡± Everyone began closing in on Ming Ansheng. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s just a few glasses. I¡¯ll drink.¡± He gulped down the entire glass as well. They always drank hard liquor at their gatherings. If they gulped three glasses of these drinks one after another, their first reaction would be a burning sensation in their throats. He placed the wine glass back on the table and looked at his friends. ¡°How was it? Satisfied?¡± Then he speared a piece of fruit with a fork and began chewing it slowly. At this time, the door opened, and a person walked in. ¡°Ah Heng is here.¡± Chapter 317. Third Yans Old Flame Yan Rusheng turned his head towards the door, and his expression darkened. Jiang Zhuoheng wore an ash-gray shirt with a tie. His smile had a hint of exhaustion, and it looked like he¡¯d had a long day at work. A few people swarmed around him the minute he stepped in, similar to how they had flocked around Yan Rusheng earlier on. ¡°You¡¯re even later than Third Yan! We just punished him with three glasses, so you know what to do!¡± In this group of friends, not everyone was as busy as Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng. Most of them were wealthy bums leading lavish and carefree lifestyles. Some of them were the second generations of wealthy families whose ancestors had battled in wars and fought valiantly. Jiang Zhuoheng looked at the guys surrounding him, and he smiled in resignation. ¡°I can¡¯t decide, so you guys do it for me.¡± ¡°For the sake of fairness, double it,¡± someone quipped. A few others yelled in agreement, ¡°Yes, make it double!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled helplessly at the thought of six glasses. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can escape, right?¡± The group of friends smiled wickedly and then patted his shoulders. ¡°Ah Heng is the most understanding.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded and sat down. Mimicking their earlier treatment of Yan Rusheng, they began pouring drinks and prepared the six glasses for him just like servants serving their master. He gulped the six glasses down one after another and didn¡¯t stop at all. He gulped down the last glass, and the room erupted with raucous applause and cheers. This guy is just showing off! Everyone else was raising a ruckus while Young Master Yan sat quietly at a corner. He glanced contemptuously at Jiang Zhuoheng who had just drunk six glasses. He¡¯s only showing off. If we were really competing, my drinking capacity would far surpass Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s. I¡¯m better than Jiang Zhuoheng at everything, so I just don¡¯t understand why that stupid woman fell in love with that guy and not me? She remained faithful and devoted to that wretched feminine guy all these years. And she even gave up the opportunity to study abroad for him and pined for his return for the three whole years. He snorted with disdain at the thought of it, then raised the wine bottle and poured himself a drink. He gulped it down in one go. Rather than bitter, the alcohol tasted sour in his mouth as it flowed down his throat. Ming Ansheng who was sitting next to him seemed to read his mind, and he inched closer. Amused, he remarked, ¡°Eh, so is Xuxu not here tonight because you were afraid that the cowherd would meet the weaving maid? [2. The cowherd and the weaving maid are a pair of lovers being separated by the milky way who can only meet once a year]¡± Cowherd and the weaving maid? Yan Rusheng¡¯s face darkened instantly, and he glanced menacingly at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, are you seeking death?¡± How dare he say my wife and that feminine fellow are separated lovers?! Even if that stupid woman is the weaving maid, I should be the cowherd instead! Never in a lifetime would that feminine fellow be the cowherd! But Ming Ansheng¡¯s guess was right; tonight he didn¡¯t want Xuxu to come because he knew that Jiang Zhuoheng would definitely be here, He didn¡¯t want them to meet. So when he asked her earlier, he was actually afraid that she might agree. ¡°Hey, hey! Guess who I bumped into outside.¡± Lu Yinan went out to make a phone call, and when he returned, he seemed eager to make everyone notice his presence once more. He raised his voice excitedly to attract everyone¡¯s attention. Someone interjected, ¡°Who? Your old flame?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an old flame indeed.¡± Lu Yinan smiled maliciously and without his usual gracefulness. He paused, and then looked at Yan Rusheng as he continued. ¡°But it¡¯s not mine. It¡¯s Third Yan¡¯s old flame.¡± A fool would know who this person was. Chapter 318. Youre Finally Acting Like A Man ¡°I bumped into her recently when I was having dinner a few days ago. She seemed prettier and appeared to be very graceful too.¡± ¡°After a few years overseas, indeed she became more attractive.¡± ¡°Hmph, so what if she did? That ruthless and callous woman is a curse to any man.¡± When Fang Jiayin left three years ago, Yan Rusheng drowned his sorrows with alcohol every night. He also picked up the habit of smoking during that period too. They all grew up together, and it was the first time they had seen him so dejected and depressed. So everyone started unanimously detesting Fang Jiayin to show their friendship. Previously, everyone regarded her as their goddess. ¡°Are we here to celebrate Ming Ansheng¡¯s birthday or to gossip about women?¡± The usually reticent Jiang Zhuoheng had spoken up, and he sounded rather cold and annoyed. Everyone had some basic understanding of Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu¡¯s unexpected marriage. They all thought that Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng were the perfect couple. But alas, Grandmother Yan¡¯s last wishes had split them up. Wen Xuxu was already married to Yan Rusheng, but they kept harping on Yan Rusheng¡¯s old flame. No wonder Ah Heng had flared up; he was usually very protective of Xuxu. He must have felt that talking about Fang Jiayin was unfair to her. Immediately, everyone changed to another topic. ¡°Ming Ansheng, it¡¯s your birthday today. Shouldn¡¯t you give a toast to each person here?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled, ¡°Naturally, I will.¡± He was already prepared to get totally drunk tonight. It was rare for everyone to meet up at a gathering. And not just him; it seemed like no one else would be spared from drinking tonight. Ming Ansheng started toasting everyone and created a commotion as a result. Jiang Zhuoheng sat at a corner with a glass in his hand, gazing at Yan Rusheng who was sitting a short distance away. Yan Rusheng could sense Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s stare. As he turned his head, their eyes met. Both of their expressions seemed to freeze as they eyed each other coldly. In Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart, Jiang Zhuoheng was also one of the culprits behind Wang Daqin¡¯s death. If he hadn¡¯t planned a birthday celebration for Xuxu, Grandmother wouldn¡¯t have left the house. Even though he knew that there was no way of escaping that accident or foreseeing it¡­ it was either Grandmother or Xuxu¡­ Both of them were lost in their own thoughts, and their loud surroundings seemed to have no effect on them. After a while, Jiang Zhuoheng curled his lips and raised his glass towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Yan, it¡¯s been a long time since we had a drink together.¡± He didn¡¯t raise his voice, but Yan Rusheng could still hear his every word despite the chaos and noise. He pressed the wine glass to his lips and took a sip. The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips curled into a cursory smile. ¡°No matter how hard you train, you can never beat me at drinking.¡± He grabbed the nearest wine bottle and began pouring the wine directly into his mouth. His competitor was Wen Xuxu¡¯s first love, the man who made her experience her first awakening of love. She had loved him for years, and he couldn¡¯t rest easy at the thought of it. I have to prove that I¡¯m stronger and better than him! Jiang Zhuoheng was a mild-tempered person with little desire to compete. He didn¡¯t even raise his voice when he lost his temper. But when he heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s taunts, something exploded inside of him, and he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He started pouring alcohol down his throat too. The strong liquor burned his throat, but his heart burned even more. The alcohol spilled down their chins and down their chests as they competed against each other. Everyone quickly fell silent, and all eyes were staring at them in disbelief. These two love rivals were finally at war! Yan Rusheng had started drinking earlier, and he finished first too. He put down the bottle and watched Jiang Zhuoheng as he finished his as well. He smirked with contempt. ¡°Ha. Jiang Zhuoheng, you¡¯re finally acting like a man.¡± Chapter 319. The Beginning Of A Catfight He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Jiang Zhuoheng sneered coldly, ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to be as pretentious and overbearing as you.¡± Was this the beginning of a catfight between these two men? Ming Ansheng was worried that they might come to blows after they finished competing with each other. He quickly settled himself between them and smiled to ease the tension. ¡°It¡¯s my birthday today, why are the two of you holding the wine bottles and drinking everything?¡± As he spoke, he gave Lu Yinan a meaningful glance; he wanted him to help distract one of them. Lu Yinan understood his intention and sat down immediately. He wrapped an arm around Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s neck. ¡°I heard that you have a younger cousin who just came back from overseas. I hear she¡¯s really pretty, so you should bring her along to meet us next time.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng rolled his eyes at him. ¡°You really live up to your reputation of being ¡®refined scum¡¯.¡± He came here on an empty stomach and drank six glasses in one go. And then he chugged down an entire bottle as well. Without warning, he was suddenly hit by the effects of the alcohol. His head felt like it was about to explode, and he slumped dazedly against the couch. He raised his head towards the ceiling as he massaged his temples. His throat and stomach seemed to be on fire, and it was evaporating every drop of moisture in his body. Yan Rusheng drank slightly less than he did, plus he had a higher tolerance for alcohol compared to Jiang Zhuoheng. But his condition wasn¡¯t any better; his world seemed to be spinning too. But he remembered that he had to head back to the office to pick up Wen Xuxu. And besides, I can¡¯t lose to Jiang Zhuoheng in front of everyone. With this thought and determination, he pressed against the table and got up slowly. He staggered to his feet and after a while, managed to straighten his back and regain his footing. Then he glanced arrogantly at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°My wife is waiting for me at the office. I need to leave now.¡± He waved his hand as he informed them. Ignoring everyone else, he lifted his feet and walked clumsily towards the door. Everyone was worried about him leaving alone since he¡¯d drunk so much. ¡°Third Yan, ask your chauffeur to pick you up instead,¡± Ming Ansheng suggested as he stood up. Yan Rusheng waved his hand at him. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± He was really fine, just that his head was spinning right now¡­ He stretched out his hand to open the door, but the second he walked out of the room, he had to hold the wall for support. The other hand was pressed against his forehead¡ªhe couldn¡¯t walk any further. Oh no¡­ I feel really tipsy. ¡°Ah Heng was right. You¡¯re so pretentious.¡± Ming Ansheng had followed him closely from behind and saw that he could hardly support himself. He sighed heavily, ¡°I¡¯ll help you get a taxi.¡± He held Yan Rusheng¡¯s elbow and supported him as they walked. In the main hall, there was a tall lady singing on stage. She had short cropped hair and wore a casual outfit. Yan Rusheng stopped in his tracks as he gazed at the singer. Xuxu had also performed a song on this stage. He closed his eyes to remember the song that she sang at the time. She sang that song with so much emotion! Her voice was so naturally lovely, and it left everyone intoxicated. Damn it, why did she let so many people hear her voice? Ming Ansheng saw how drunk he was and took the opportunity to tease him, ¡°What happened? Do you like that girl singing on stage now?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Yan Rusheng opened his eyes and glared fiercely at Ming Ansheng. He strode toward the main entrance. He swayed dangerously to and fro and couldn¡¯t seem to stop wobbling. He refused to let Ming Ansheng touch him. Ming Ansheng walked behind him anxiously, afraid that he might slip and fall. Third Young Master drank too much and fell down in a bar. If this piece of news were to come out tomorrow, how would the cold, arrogant, and prideful Third Young Master be able to raise his head up high? How would he be able to face people? Chapter 320. This Nickname Is Exclusive To Her The alcohol effect hadn¡¯t kicked in completely, and Yan Rusheng felt his footsteps getting more surreal by the minute. He felt like he was treading on clouds and this made him anxious. ¡°Wait for me here; I¡¯ll go get a taxi.¡± Ming Ansheng walked with him through the doors and let him rest by a tree outside the bar. He left to flag a taxi by the roadside. Ming Ansheng drank quite a bit earlier, and his footsteps weren¡¯t that steady either. I¡¯m drunk. Really drunk. Yan Rusheng stuffed both hands into his pants and rested his weight entirely against the tree. He lifted his head and shut his eyes. ¡°Ah Sheng!¡± A gentle voice called out from behind him, and the way the lady addressed him melted him instantly. A tall and slender figure appeared in front of him, but he could only see her long hair. He caught a whiff of the light fragrance emitting from her body. It was barely noticeable. He curled his lips in satisfaction. ¡°Stupid woman. Jiang Zhuoheng is in a worse state than me.¡± He lurched forward and embraced the woman in front of him, mumbling under his breath. Fang Jiayin held him instinctively. ¡°Ah Sheng, you drank too much.¡± Even though she was 1.7 meters tall, she still struggled to support Yan Rusheng who was nearly 1.9 meters tall and also huge and muscular. And her heels were quite high, so she kept stumbling. Yan Rusheng stretched out his hand and grabbed her waist. ¡°Wen Xuxu, say ¡®Ah Sheng, I love you¡¯.¡± He wanted to hear it again¡­ He hasn¡¯t been this drunk in a long time, and his consciousness was ebbing away. Fang Jiayin¡¯s pretty face fell as she gazed at Yan Rusheng who was resting against her. Her eyes began brimming with tears. She spoke in a slightly trembling voice, ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯m not Xuxu.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not Wen Xuxu¡­¡± Yan Rusheng held Fang Jiayin as he slowly straightened his back. He raised his head sluggishly and stared at her. He said with a trace of annoyance, ¡°This nickname is exclusive to her, you¡¯re not allowed to call me that.¡± He pushed her away forcefully and kept muttering, ¡°This nickname is hers¡­ she¡¯s mine.¡± He leaned back against the tree, but his head kept swaying due to giddiness. ¡°I¡­¡± Fang Jiayin bit her lips, her eyes filled with tears. ¡°I¡¯m no longer allowed to use your nickname anymore?¡± ¡°Third Yan, the car¡¯s here.¡± Ming Ansheng found a taxi and waved at him from the roadside. Fang Jiayin quickly wiped away her tears and retrieved two tickets from her bag. She stuffed it inside Yan Rusheng¡¯s pocket. ¡°Ah Sheng, these are tickets to my concert. Will you come together with Xuxu?¡± This nickname ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯ could always soften Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. He smiled and nodded lightly. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ah Sheng.¡± Fang Jiayin turned her tears into a smile as she supported Yan Rusheng. ¡°You¡¯re drunk, let me help you into the car.¡± He had barely taken a few steps when Ming Ansheng caught up to them. ¡°Fang Jiayin?¡± Ming Ansheng was slightly startled to see Fang Jiayin, and his gaze landed on Yan Rusheng¡¯s elbow that she was holding up. He hurriedly pulled Yan Rusheng towards him. ¡°Let me help him instead.¡± Even though Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu got married to fulfill Grandmother Yan¡¯s final wishes, but nevertheless, they were a married couple now. Paparazzi always lurked around in this area, and they might be photographed. Who knows what kind of a misunderstanding it would cause. Chapter 321. If I Knew This Would Happen, I Would’ve Gone With Him Regardless of whether they were in love; if the husband was entangled with another woman¡­ and that other woman was an old flame which he had loved deeply, it would be a great offense. Fang Jiayin let go of Yan Rusheng and told Ming Ansheng, ¡°Be careful, he¡¯s completely drunk.¡± Her tone was overwhelmed with concern and love. Ming Ansheng gave a brief smile in response. Just like the rest of the friends, he was hostile towards Fang Jiayin because of what she did to Yan Rusheng. So he didn¡¯t intend to talk to her. He supported Yan Rusheng as they walked towards the roadside. Fang Jiayin watched as Yan Rusheng left, and her sparkling black eyes began glistening with tears once more. ¡®This nickname is exclusive to her, you¡¯re not allowed to call me that.¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, can I call you Ah Sheng like how Xuxu does?¡¯ ¡®Okay.¡¯ Till this day, she could still vividly remember the gentle smile he wore when he agreed to let her call him in the same way as Wen Xuxu. He had gazed at her with overflowing affection and love. She was well aware that he didn¡¯t belong to her, but she still harbored hope. Fang Jiayin sighed helplessly as she stared at the night sky. Ah Sheng, I still can¡¯t let you go. ¡­ Wen Xuxu was just finishing up her work when her phone rang. Ming Ansheng was on the other line. Ming Ansheng informed her that Yan Rusheng had drunk too much, and he had sent him home in a taxi. He had already informed the taxi driver about his home address and wanted Xuxu to inform the butler to wait at the entrance. Feeling exasperated, Xuxu replied, ¡°I got it.¡± That guy! He insisted that she wait in the office for him, but in the end, he got drunk. If Ming Ansheng hadn¡¯t called, she would have waited for nothing. She hurriedly called back home and informed the butler to wait for Yan Rusheng at the entrance. It¡¯s late at night, and he¡¯s dead drunk in a taxi. Isn¡¯t he afraid of being kidnapped since he¡¯s such a well-known billionaire? Now I¡¯m all worried because of him! Xuxu hurriedly packed her belongings and went downstairs. She met two of the security guards who were on the night shift. The guards saw that she was about to leave and walked towards her. ¡°Secretary Wen, the President informed us that he would be picking you up. So please wait for him.¡± Initially, everyone had addressed her as Lady Boss. But it sounded too awkward, so she requested that they continue to address her as Secretary Wen or Sister Xuxu. Xuxu smiled. ¡°He drank too much and went home first. Don¡¯t worry, I can go home by myself. Thank you for working so hard.¡± ¡°Then let me wait with you at the roadside.¡± The security guard refused to budge and followed her closely from behind. Xuxu waved her hands and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± She saw the guard¡¯s uneasy expression and silently chided Yan Rusheng in her heart. That guy really knows how to make a fuss. Am I seriously that delicate? Due to Yan Rusheng¡¯s special instructions, the guard insisted on walking with her and left only after she got on the taxi. Xuxu dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number, but no one answered. She heard the busy tone and furrowed her brows anxiously. From what Ming Ansheng said, it seemed that he was completely drunk tonight. She was worrying whether the taxi driver had managed to send him back home safely. She couldn¡¯t get through to his phone and started to get anxious. Then she called the house once more, but the butler said that Yan Rusheng still wasn¡¯t home yet. She held her phone and alternately dialed between Yan Rusheng¡¯s number and their house. And soon, her phone battery was dying. She paused and gazed outside once more. She sighed in frustration. ¡°Sigh, if I knew that this would happen, I would¡¯ve gone with him.¡± As she grumbled under her breath, her phone rang. Chapter 322. The World Isnt Such A Bad Place She glanced at the screen anxiously, and the name ¡®Yan Rusheng¡¯ appeared. She answered immediately. Without waiting for him to speak, she began lecturing him, ¡°Yan Rusheng, where are you? Why did you take a taxi when you¡¯re drunk? Do you know how dangerous it can be at night¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t finished talking when Yan Rusheng interrupted her, ¡°Wife¡­¡± The familiar¡ªand drunk-sounding¡ªdeep voice softened her heart in an instant when she heard him addressing her as ¡®wife¡¯. Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to continue berating him and spoke gently instead. ¡°Have you¡­ reached the house?¡± There was a long pause¡­ The lack of response made Xuxu anxious. ¡°Hello? Yan Rusheng¡­ Hello¡­?¡± After several attempts to get a reply from him, she stopped when she heard his deep breathing sounds. She knitted her eyebrows and called out for him once more. Just as she was about to hang up and call the house again, the butler¡¯s voice sounded from the other line. ¡°Miss, it¡¯s me. Third Young Master has just arrived home, and he has already fallen asleep.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I got it. Please carry him back to the bedroom.¡± She hung up, and a wave of exhaustion seemed to envelop her in a rush. She propped her elbow against the window and began rubbing her forehead gently. The taxi driver spoke up in front, ¡°I heard rumors saying that Third Young Master and his wife are rather aloof and cold?¡± He seemed to decide that they weren¡¯t like the rumors had described. Xuxu twitched her mouth silently¡­ She knew that she¡¯d lost control of herself just now. She lowered her head awkwardly and gave a soft chuckle. But she really didn¡¯t think that she was aloof; in fact, she was very agreeable. She had no idea how those rumors started. Suddenly, the taxi driver interrupted the silence. ¡°Actually, the world isn¡¯t such a bad place. Usually, those articles report the taxi drivers as the victims.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ This uncle is really quite petty! She was only venting her frustration just now! ¡­ By the time Xuxu got home, it was almost midnight, and she went up to the room promptly. She recently moved her belongings back to Yan Rusheng¡¯s bedroom. The stench of alcohol assailed her nose the moment she stepped in. She frowned and used her hand to disperse the smell in front of her nose before stepping inside. Yan Rusheng was sprawled on the bed and hugging a pillow. He hadn¡¯t removed his shirt, and he looked¡­ charmingly innocent. Xuxu was half-exasperated, half-amused by him, and she shook her head helplessly. She walked over and stared at Yan Rusheng. With a sigh, she murmured, ¡°You really made me worry.¡± She bent down and used all her strength to flip Yan Rusheng over. Then she began unbuttoning his shirt, gradually revealing his muscular chest. His fair skin was slightly red due to the alcohol. The sight was too alluring. Xuxu watched as his chest moved with every breath he took, and her face turned red as well. After unbuttoning his shirt, she removed his belt and started removing his pants. This was her first time removing his clothes. She had no choice, but still, she felt rather bashful. She covered him with the blanket. As she prepared to get off the bed, she glanced casually at Yan Rusheng and her gaze landed on his lips; red and parched as a result of the alcohol. Chapter 323. So Comfortable Her heart skipped a beat, and something seemed to possess her at that moment. She inched closer to the man who looked so seductive in his sleep. She carefully kissed his mouth, and his parched lips weren¡¯t as moist as how they usually felt. Incredibly, her mischievous side was revealed. Even though Yan Rusheng was drunk, but he could still feel a moist sensation on his dry lips. ¡°Mm,¡± he groaned softly with satisfaction. Xuxu was shocked when he made a sudden movement. Her face backed away from his lips, and she straightened her back swiftly. Feeling guilty, she jumped off the bed. She stood by the bed and clutched her pounding chest with her eyes wide open. Oh my god! What did I just do? Did I just sneak a kiss from Yan Rusheng? After Xuxu abruptly backed away, Yan Rusheng realized something had disappeared. He waved his hands wildly in the air as if he was trying to grasp something. ¡°Water¡­¡± Hearing this, Xuxu hurriedly poured a glass for him. But how was he supposed to drink while he was lying down? ¡°Yan Rusheng, sit up so you can drink the water.¡± After a moment of hesitation, she decided to try waking him up first. ¡°So thirsty¡­¡± But without any surprise, trying to instruct a totally drunk man was like talking to a wall. Xuxu put the glass down and bent to grab Yan Rusheng¡¯s elbow in an attempt to lift him up. Without warning, Yan Rusheng suddenly stretched out his other hand and grabbed her. He exerted enough strength to make her fall on him¡­ She fell onto his chest, and in the next moment, he turned his body around and collapsed on top of her. And instinctively, his lips crushed hers without giving her the chance to catch her breath. Within a few moments, she was intoxicated by his passion and his warm breath which smelled strongly of alcohol. ¡°You¡¯re mine¡­ We¡¯ll be together forever¡­ And you¡¯re not allowed to talk to anyone.¡± Yan Rusheng kissed her domineeringly as he gave her commands. Hearing his words, Xuxu widened her eyes with a jolt. She stared transfixed at the man lying on top of her, and her eyes began to glimmer with tears. She bit her lips, and her throat seemed to close up; she couldn¡¯t utter a sound for a long time. After what seemed like an eternity, she managed to whisper, ¡°Can you¡­ say my name?¡± Apparently, Yan Rusheng had simply been mumbling to himself just now, and he wasn¡¯t fully aware of his surroundings. He wasn¡¯t talking to her. Xuxu gazed with disappointment and sorrow at the man who had just stirred up her heart. Tears streamed down her cheeks and onto the bedsheets. Yan Rusheng, did you know that those were the exact words you said to me as you lay on top of me that night? Will you forget all of this when you wake up tomorrow? After a series of whirlwind emotions, even Xuxu was drained of all her energy. She rested her head on Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest as she listened to his calm, beating heart. It¡¯s so comfortable! ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡± Yan Rusheng licked his lips and grumbled repeatedly. Xuxu raised her head and gazed fondly at him. ¡°I¡¯ll get you water.¡± She held the glass of water in her hands and turned to look at him. For a moment, she was stumped since she knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to hoist Yan Rusheng up into a sitting position. After some thought, she made up her mind and drank a mouthful and quickly moved her mouth to his to feed him the water. The corners of her mouth curled into a tender smile. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­ I love you.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyelids fluttered, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn¡¯t open his eyes. Xuxu wrapped Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirt around her and walked to the bathroom. Although there wasn¡¯t anybody else in the room, she didn¡¯t mind walking around naked. Chapter 324. Crucial Piece Of Information Xuxu wrapped Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirt around her and walked to the bathroom. Although there wasn¡¯t anybody else in the room, she didn¡¯t mind walking around naked. She picked up Yan Rusheng¡¯s pants which were lying on the floor. She began checking through his pockets as she walked toward the laundry basket. What¡¯s this? She felt something in his pockets and frowned. She stretched her hand into the pocket and pulled it out. As she realized what it was, the expression in her eyes flickered. ¡®On October 11, there will be a charity musical performance at Capital City Musical Theater hosted by musician Fang Jiayin, who has just returned from abroad¡­¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s so good about a musical? If you like it, I can play the piano at home for you.¡¯ She loosened her grip and Yan Rusheng¡¯s pants fell to the floor. How ironic¡­ she was fooled twice by him in the same exact way¡­ Behind his gentleness¡­ lies a lethal weapon! ¡­ Yan Rusheng slept until it was nearly noon, and he woke up with a throbbing headache. It took him a while before he managed to sit up. The bed was empty, but apparently, someone had slept next to him last night. He smiled and got off the bed. After a quick shower, he put on his bathrobe before drawing back the curtains. He stood at the balcony and gazed outside as he dried his hair. Without realizing, the leaves on the trees had started to wither. Was it because there was a loved one beside him, so he was too preoccupied with her to notice the transition of seasons? He smiled at the obvious answer. After drying his hair, he turned around to go back into the room. He accidentally caught sight of the drawer next to his bed. What¡¯s that? There were two pieces of paper on the drawer; he paused before he strode towards it. The smile on his face froze when he saw the tickets. Why are there tickets to Fang Jiayin¡¯s concert? Did that dumb woman really ask Fang Jiayin for the tickets? No, it couldn¡¯t be¡­ she¡¯s not interested in music. Then did Fang Jiayin contact her and give them to her? At the thought of that possibility, his face fell. But¡­ if Fang Jiayin had given the tickets to Xuxu, why did she place them here? What was that supposed to mean? He was certain that Xuxu had deliberately placed the tickets on the drawer, but he couldn¡¯t understand why. He didn¡¯t want to waste time thinking about it and proceeded to change his clothes. He went downstairs where Aunt Zhang informed him that Xuxu had left. Aunt Zhang also revealed something else; yesterday Xuxu went back to her own room to sleep. This is a crucial piece of information! Yan Rusheng called Xuxu as he drove. It was still peak hour, and the roads were slightly congested. After putting on his Bluetooth speakers, it took a while before Xuxu answered, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, did Fang Jiayin look for you? Yan Rusheng asked her without beating around the bush, his tone probing. Wen Xuxu replied curtly, ¡°No.¡± She sounded distant, so similar to how she used to speak to him a long time ago. She didn¡¯t? Yan Rusheng frowned in confusion. ¡°Then¡­ how did you get the tickets?¡± ¡°It fell out from your pockets,¡± Xuxu replied coldly, but now with a slight trace of doubt. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t catch that as he was baffled by her answer. It fell out from my pockets? Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows tightly, still no closer to understanding any of this. Chapter 325. Luckily She Didn’t Go Why would he have tickets to Fang Jiayin¡¯s concert in his pockets? It was Ming Ansheng¡¯s birthday yesterday. But he didn¡¯t recall meeting Fang Jiayin. Wait a minute¡­ ¡®Guess who I bumped into outside?¡¯ ¡®But it¡¯s not mine. It¡¯s Third Yan¡¯s old flame.¡¯ Fang Jiayin was also at The First Wealth yesterday. Did he bump into her after he got drunk? He hastily hung up Wen Xuxu¡¯s call and proceeded to dial Lu Yinan¡¯s number. It rang for a while, but no one picked up. He tried calling Ming Ansheng. He guessed that they had partied till dawn, so all of them must still be asleep. Either no one picked up, or their phones were still switched off. ¡°F*ck!¡± When not a single call got through, Yan Rusheng threw his phone on the passenger seat in frustration. He stepped on the accelerator and sped on the slightly congested road without a thought for other drivers or the traffic police. ¡­ Xuxu was filled with doubt just like Yan Rusheng. Holding her phone, her eyebrows knitted tightly together. She gazed at the screen and soon she was lost in thought. Judging from Yan Rusheng¡¯s tone, he didn¡¯t sound like he was feigning ignorance. And he didn¡¯t have any reason to. But the tickets had indeed been in his pockets. All she needed to do was ask if Fang Jiayin had been at Ming Ansheng¡¯s birthday celebration yesterday, and the truth would be out. She began scrolling through the list of names for Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s number. Ah Heng would definitely attend Ming Ansheng¡¯s birthday celebration . She pressed the dial button. But immediately, she ended the call. This was something so trivial¡­ she shouldn¡¯t bother Ah Heng over this. She was about to call Ming Ansheng instead when her phone rang. The screen displayed an unsaved number which seemed distinctly familiar. After staring at the screen for a few seconds, she picked up and put the phone to her ear. She said ¡®hello¡¯ politely. The familiar voice belonged to a lady. ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s me.¡± A streak of surprise flashed past her eyes, but her voice and tone remained unruffled. ¡°Hi, Jiayin.¡± ¡°Last night Ah Sheng drank too much, so I¡¯m afraid it slipped his mind. I gave him two tickets to my concert and invited both of you to attend. He agreed, but I wanted to let you know as well. Both of you have to attend, alright?¡± Fang Jiayin sounded like she was talking to an old friend, and Xuxu couldn¡¯t detect any insincerity in her words. But if she didn¡¯t have any ulterior motives, why did she call me then? Xuxu tried to decipher what was on Fang Jiayin¡¯s mind, but she couldn¡¯t understand any of this. Fang Jiayin was still waiting patiently for Xuxu¡¯s reply, so she put on a tiny smile. ¡°If our schedules are free¡­ then we¡¯ll be there.¡± She couldn¡¯t be bothered finding out the intentions behind the two tickets. But she was sure of one thing; Fang Jiayin was there yesterday. Sigh, luckily I didn¡¯t go. Otherwise, it would be awkward if I left or stayed behind the party. Fang Jiayin continued chatting casually, but Xuxu wasn¡¯t really listening anymore. She hung up and stored her phone away. She looked at the pile of work waiting for her and decided that she had no time to think about other stuff. Didn¡¯t I promise to remain indifferent no matter what happens? Yan Rusheng rushed to the company and saw Xuxu the minute he stepped foot inside the office. Chapter 326. Let Me Remind You Hastening his steps, he walked towards her. ¡°I¡­¡± He attempted to explain himself but couldn¡¯t find the words. He knew Xuxu wouldn¡¯t lie when she said that the two tickets fell out from his pockets. The only logical explanation he could think of was that Fang Jiayin might have slipped the tickets into his pocket during his inebriated state last night. But that explanation would only bring up more questions. Meeting his ex when he was dead drunk¡­ Xuxu intended to ignore him, but he kept hovering around her. With his tall physique, his presence was too hard to ignore, and she couldn¡¯t work in peace. Thus, she put down her pen and looked at him, pretending to be baffled. ¡°President Yan, what do you want?¡± At that instant, she realized that he¡¯d buttoned up his shirt wrong. But since his shirt was tucked in, it wasn¡¯t immediately obvious. Yan Rusheng had done up his buttons wrong. This was the first time she saw him be so sloppy in his dressing. He¡¯s probably suffering from a hangover and can¡¯t think straight. She pursed her lips tightly and tried to hold in her laughter. She somehow took delight in his misfortune. It was fitting payback for having a good time with his ex. Yan Rusheng had his mind set on proving his innocence to Xuxu and didn¡¯t give a damn about his appearance. ¡°I understand that you went back to your bedroom last night?¡± he asked while scrutinizing Xuxu at the same time. He wondered if she went back to her room because she was upset over the two tickets. Otherwise, what else could the reason be? They were still fine before he left the office yesterday. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and retorted coldly, ¡°The whole room reeked of alcohol. If I didn¡¯t leave, I¡¯d probably drown in the fumes.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± There was a tinge of disappointment in Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply. ¡°I had a drink too many last night, so I have no idea how the two tickets got into my pocket.¡± He explained calmly as he walked back to his office. So, it was just my wishful thinking. She¡¯s not at all upset or jealous. If she were bothered by it, she would¡¯ve torn up the tickets and flushed them down the toilet. Ahem, Young Master, not everyone is like you. He heard Xuxu say from behind him, ¡°Fang Jiayin called earlier. She wanted to remind you to go to her musical performance.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped in his steps upon hearing this. He tightened his fists and knitted his eyebrows somberly. What exactly is Fang Jiayin trying to do? When he was back in his office, he dialed Ming Ansheng¡¯s number, and someone answered. ¡°Hello, Third Yan.¡± Ming Ansheng answered drowsily. He was obviously still in bed. ¡°Did I bump into Fang Jiayin last night?¡± Yan Rusheng asked point-blank. ¡°No¡­¡± Ming Ansheng answered right away and then corrected himself. ¡°I think yes. When I sent you out last night, you met her at the entrance. I went to flag a cab for you, and when I came back, I saw her supporting you. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Chapter 327. New Problems Complicating An Issue True enough¡­ I met her while I was drunk and¡­ Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t answer Ming Ansheng¡¯s query and rudely hung up the call. He swung his chair around to face the windows. With one arm on the armrest, he propped up his forehead with two fingers and looked ahead at the clear and boundless skies, frowning while deep in thoughts. Ah Sheng, it hurts¡­ Suddenly, that pitiful voice sounded in his ears and gripped his heart. Images of someone lying beside him that fateful morning flashed across his mind¡­ the woman covered with hickeys on her body. His malicious eyes turned increasingly serene and distant. Fang Jiayin, three years ago, you left willfully without a word. But now, you returned so conspicuously. Just what are you up to? He didn¡¯t believe that Fang Jiayin gave him those two tickets without any motives. Perhaps he was skeptical because he really treasured his current relationship with Wen Xuxu. The more he cared, the more he feared any new problems arising that could ruin their relationship. Fang Jiayin, we haven¡¯t met for more than three years. Is it time for us to sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk? ¡­ The elegant teahouse was situated at a historic old alley in the city center. A lady dressed in a light orange blouse and harem pants sat at a window seat on the second floor. Her long and silky raven black hair fell neatly past her shoulders. Her fair hands were cupping a blue and white porcelain teacup, and the hint of a peaceful smile could be seen from her flawlessly beautiful face. A pair of vivid-looking eyes stared out of the window. Knock knock knock. Several knocks on the door interrupted her train of thoughts. She turned around and noticed that the door was already opened. She smiled at the person. ¡°Lu Yinan.¡± Among their group of friends, the word ¡®refined¡¯ had always been used to describe Lu Yinan, not because his style of clothing resembled that of a scholar, but because he owned a teahouse and was fond of performing tea ceremonies. This teahouse was owned by him, and it was located in one of his family¡¯s most expensive courtyard houses in the capital city. ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± Lu Yinan greeted Fang Jiayin with a smile. ¡°Jiayin, Third Yan hasn¡¯t arrived?¡± He received a call from Yan Rusheng while he was at the hospital, requesting for his help to invite Fang Jiayin out. He acted swiftly on his request and didn¡¯t dare to dawdle. Although he managed to ask her out, he was still worried and came over to take a look. He closed the door gingerly and walked towards Fang Jiayin. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s busy,¡± Fang Jiayin replied quietly. She brought the cup to her mouth and sipped her tea slowly. Lu Yinan took a seat opposite her and deliberated for a moment before saying, ¡°He and Wen Xuxu are getting along very well.¡± Fang Jiayin lifted her head and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not what you think.¡± ¡°Sigh. ¡± She abruptly heaved a sigh, and her tone became somber. ¡°I can tell that they¡¯re getting along very well with each other. Xuxu is the most compatible with him.¡± She looked out the window again. There was a gleam of melancholy in her eyes. Lu Yinan fixated his eyes on her and hesitated for a while before asking, ¡°Pardon me for asking. But why did you leave without saying goodbye back then? Don¡¯t you know how depressed Third Yan was back then?¡± Fang Jiayin retracted her gaze from the window and looked at Lu Yinan, whose good-looking face was filled with doubts. She smiled at him and asked, ¡°Young Master Lu, if your girlfriend always brought her childhood friend along on your dates¡­ what would you do?¡± Chapter 328. The Onlooker Sees More Of The Game She had already made it very obvious. Without a second thought, Lu Yinan understood her meaning. ¡°You¡¯re referring to¡­ Xuxu?¡± Besides Wen Xuxu, who else could be called Yan Rusheng¡¯s childhood friend? Was Fang Jiayin jealous of Xuxu? Is that why she left without a word? ¡°His heart wasn¡¯t with me.¡± Fang Jiayin lowered her head with a bitter smile. ¡°Even though I¡¯m surrounded by male friends every day, he didn¡¯t seem to care and never asked me about it. Yet he always poked his nose into Xuxu¡¯s affairs and quietly chased away all the guys at school who hung out with her.¡± As she talked about her relationship with Yan Rusheng, she finally broke her silence about the things that she had kept in her heart. ¡°Every time we went out for dinner, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to drive for an hour to the restaurant near Xuxu¡¯s school, because Xuxu didn¡¯t like to travel too far for her meals. ¡°When we were together, the words that he mentioned the most were ¡®Wen Xuxu, that stupid woman¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s no joke, really. The onlooker sees more of the game.¡± She shook her head and broke into a bitter smile. Tears could be seen welling up in her eyes. Lu Yinan was stumped, and he stared blankly at Fang Jiayin. ¡°So you mean¡­¡± Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t continue further. To this day, everyone thought that Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu were opposing factions that constantly fought since they were kids. They would never suspect that he carried a torch for her. So this means that Xuxu is Third Yan¡¯s actual love interest? And she¡¯s the one he loved right from the beginning? Oh my god! This is a shocking discovery! Perhaps Third Yan wasn¡¯t even aware of this. Fang Jiayin stole a glance at Lu Yinan who was obviously still in shock. Although there was still a smile on her face, her voice started to choke with emotion. ¡°One day, I finally came to this realization. I¡¯m an outstanding person, and I have my pride. So why do I still want to stay with a man whose heart is with another woman?¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s the reason.¡± Lu Yinan nodded his head in understanding and looked at Fang Jiayin with concern. By then, her eyes were already wet with tears. Without delay, he passed two pieces of tissue paper to her. ¡°We¡¯ve misunderstood you this whole time.¡± These past three years, whenever someone mentioned Fang Jiayin, they would use the word ¡®heartless¡¯ to describe her. But unknown to all, she had been shouldering all this pain by herself. Yes, it was true. This was exactly Third Yan¡¯s behavior. Whenever Wen Xuxu was around, his eyes would be fixated on her, watching her attentively and correcting her mistakes. When they gathered at a table for a meal, he would always remember how many bowls of rice Xuxu had eaten. If she consumed more than two bowls, he would keep tabs on the total number. Besides Xuxu, those childhood friends that they grew up with were all careless and reckless men who had failed to realize that Third Yan was especially caring towards Xuxu. ¡­ ¡°When we were together, the words that he mentioned the most were ¡®Wen Xuxu, that stupid woman¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s no joke, really. The onlooker sees more of the game.¡± Yan Rusheng withdrew his hand and turned around to lean against the wall. Fang Jiayin¡¯s words kept ringing in his ears. Is that really true? Xuxu is the only one in my heart¡­ But he did have feelings for her when they were together that night; it was an unforgettable night for him. He¡¯d loved her. He was even head over heels in love with her before. Accompanying her for dinner and to the movies, holding hands together; they were the couple that everyone at school envied. But what she said was true. Whenever Xuxu was with someone from the opposite sex, he would find a way to get rid of that person. Other than Jiang Zhuoheng and Ming Ansheng whom they grew up with, there were no other men in her life. Chapter 329. Hes Not As Good-Looking As Me But wasn¡¯t it because he hated her and didn¡¯t want her to enjoy being in a relationship like other people? Indeed, each time they picked a restaurant near her school, it was because she was too lazy to travel too far for her meals. It was also because Grandmother had always reminded him to bring her out for meals. His mind was now in a whirl, and he could no longer differentiate what his motives were for interfering with Xuxu¡¯s life all these years. Did it really take him so many years to realize that the one he loved was Xuxu? If so, then what about his feelings towards Fang Jiayin? He went home feeling really baffled. The moment he stepped into the house, the person that caught his eye was the woman who constantly made him worry. He stood at the door and gazed intently at her. Xuxu had just eaten her dinner. She was wearing her cartoon pajamas, and her freshly washed and blow-dried hair was as smooth as silk. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, she was holding a book on the philosophic theory of encouragement. Her bright and clear eyes were glued to the television screen. What¡¯s she watching that¡¯s making her look so fascinated? Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep eyes were filled with tenderness. With a slight smile, his face resembled a blooming flower in spring, ever so bright and charming. Wen Xuxu, what should I do? It seems like you¡¯ve already been etched in my heart a long time ago. When did that happen? He had stolen so many letters and destroyed stalks after stalks of flowers from her admirers simply because he didn¡¯t want to give room for other people to enter her life. ¡°Third Young Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Yan Rusheng was staring at Xuxu and lost in thought when Aunt Zhang interrupted him with her voice. He snapped out of his daze and gave a dissatisfied glare at Aunt Zhang who was on the second floor. After which, he began walking towards the sofa. As he moved towards Xuxu, he asked, ¡°Which soap opera are you into this time?¡± He stood right in front of Xuxu and blocked her view of the television screen. It happened to be the climax of the television program, so Xuxu anxiously pushed Yan Rusheng aside and craned her neck to see the screen. ¡°Move away and don¡¯t block my view.¡± Yan Rusheng turned back and glanced at the television. It was airing the latest melodrama about an immortal knight and had just reached the part where the male lead¡ªin his billowing shirt¡ªdescended to save the female lead who had fallen in dire straits. The male lead¡¯s makeup was skillfully done and made him look dashing. But without makeup, Yan Rusheng felt that the male lead¡¯s natural looks were a far cry from his. He turned back and looked at Xuxu with a frown. ¡°He¡¯s not as good-looking at me.¡± Nowadays, people watched melodramas because of the attractive male leads. But since she already had an extremely attractive man in her life, was there a need for her ogle those men on TV? Young Master Yan was really too narcissistic. Xuxu rolled her eyes at him and didn¡¯t respond. Before their marriage, he was aloof and arrogant. But now, he was just childish and shamelessly unreasonable. And at times, an overbearing hypocrite with a malicious tongue. There wasn¡¯t a time where his behavior had been¡­ normal. Did this mean that he was now more amiable and approachable than before? Did she prefer the more aloof and arrogant him? As Yan Rusheng mulled this over, he swiftly withdrew his smile and said in a cold low tone, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman. Hurry up and go back to the room and warm my bed.¡± Chapter 330. Is This A Promise? Xuxu was speechless. ¡°Yan Rusheng, where did you go tonight? Did you take the wrong medicine?¡± While they were busy talking, the episode ended. As she listened to the closing song, Xuxu put down her books, raised her hands and stretched herself. Nowadays, she was completely unreserved even in front of Yan Rusheng and was no longer concerned about her own image. Yan Rusheng seized the opportunity and scooped her up effortlessly. Then he turned and walked towards the staircase. Aunt Zhang was just about to come downstairs when she met them at the middle landing. Xuxu¡¯s face turned crimson, and she hurled punches at Yan Rusheng with all her might, berating him softly. ¡°Hey Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re such a pervert! Aunt Zhang is staring at us.¡± Aunt Zhang grinned and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Missy. My long-sightedness has gotten worse lately, so I can¡¯t see very clearly.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ When they were back in their room, Yan Rusheng pinned Xuxu down on the bed and fixed his eyes on her face. His gaze was too affectionate, causing Xuxu to blush. She swallowed her saliva and turned her face away from him. ¡°Where did you go after you left work? Did something provoke you?¡± She sounded awkward, and her voice quivered uncontrollably. Somehow, she felt that Yan Rusheng was not his usual self tonight, and his gaze was filled with an unfathomable heat. It made her heart pound wildly. ¡°Stupid woman.¡± Yan Rusheng low and gentle voice suddenly entered Xuxu¡¯s ears. Feeling tickled by it, she let down her guard. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve snatched you from him.¡± Upon hearing this, Xuxu opened her eyes abruptly, and her body jolted for a moment. She stared at the man in front of her, shocked and baffled. What¡­ did he say just now? Yan Rusheng leaned to the side and lay down next to her, his finger brushing gently against her face. ¡°Xuxu, should we have a child?¡± With a child, she would hold a special place in his heart and their family would be complete. Xuxu stared blankly at him. ¡°Do you really want to have a child with me?¡± Or do you want it because it was Grandmother¡¯s last wish? ¡°I want you more.¡± Yan Rusheng laughed softly and started to caress her cheeks. ¡°Let me think how many children we should have.¡± ¡°How about one every year? ¡°Never mind. After pregnancy, I¡¯d need to be abstinent for ten months. We should have one every two years instead. ¡°Forget it. Just one boy and one girl will be enough. Having too many children will affect our couple time, and they might even fight over their inheritance when we grow old.¡± Yan Rusheng stared at the ceiling and mumbled to himself. Xuxu continued to stare at him with blankly. When she heard the words ¡®when we grow old¡¯, there was a twinkle in her eyes. Is he saying that we¡¯ll grow old together? He¡¯s talking about our old age! Our old age! Is¡­ this a promise from him? ¡°You¡¯re not drunk this time. You¡¯re being perfectly sober when you said that to me.¡± Xuxu turned around with her back facing Yan Rusheng and mumbled those words. Thinking back, they had been getting along very well with each other when compared to the past. They left the house together every day and no longer showed their cold faces to each other. He also hadn¡¯t yelled at her for a long time. Chapter 331. Overbearing Presidents Methods He obviously thinks that kids are annoying, but he was still willing to accompany her to the orphanage. He even spent time playing games that he deemed were too childish. Not only that, but he made effort and spent time to help her acquire the land for Tiny Stars Orphanage. He also accompanied her to the fried vermicelli stall and didn¡¯t mind sitting among students ¡ª he even ate the food that he usually despised. And on the weekends, he stayed home and watched some boring dramas with her. So, who cares if he had done all these out of love or not? But¡­ at least it wasn¡¯t just to show Fang Jiayin. He was really trying hard to improve their relationship. This was proof that he indeed wanted to spend a lifetime together with her, right? As she pondered, her mouth morphed into a blissful, satisfied smile. Her heart¡­ seemed to have been revived. She felt that same feeling she had when she first fell in love with him. ¡°What did you say?¡± Yan Rusheng heard her mumbling, but he couldn¡¯t understand a word. He lifted his head to look at her. Xuxu smiled bashfully and nudged him. ¡°Nothing much. Go take a shower.¡± Take a shower? Was she planning to wait for him? The scion, suspecting something, stared at the tiny woman. Happiness had dawned too quickly and it was too good to be true. ¡°Are you going to lock yourself in your room while I¡¯m in the bathroom?¡± She had done it several times before. She saw his wary expression and Xuxu could hardly suppress a smile. ¡°Oh ya, where are the tickets that Jiayin has given you?¡± She didn¡¯t mention about yesterday night, but apparently, he still had his mind on it. She blinked her eyes, trying to feign innocence. She was obviously teasing him. The scion tried to suppress his anger as he glowered, ¡°stupid woman, stop saying empty words!¡± She finally admitted that she was angry because of the tickets. And she lied saying that she had left the room because she couldn¡¯t stand the stench of alcohol. This dumb woman was lying through her teeth. After an intense and passionate night, both of them went to work late. It was the first time that both President Yan and Madam Yan were late for work. The young madam¡¯s neck had a faint hickey ¡ª and it might¡¯ve been the reason why they were late for work. The moment Xuxu stepped into the office, she received plenty of inquisitive stares. She had a hunch that it had something to do with her appearance. Immediately, she went to the ladies¡¯ comfort room to take a look. She spotted a hickey on the right side of her neck almost instantly. That wretched Yan Rusheng! No wonder he kept grinning at her for no reason earlier that morning. She had assumed that he was teasing her for taking the initiative last night. She gritted her teeth and silently cursed him in her mind repeatedly. She woke up too late this morning. She couldn¡¯t even manage to brush her teeth properly, let alone take a good look at herself in the mirror. That wretched Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t even warn her about what he had done. She was wearing a white collared shirt, and so she pulled up the collar to at least cover the embarrassing mark. She left the ladies¡¯ comfort room in search for a scarf to wrap around her neck. ¡°It sounds like it. President Yan must have done something wrong to make Sister Xuxu angry.¡± ¡°How could that even be possible? Didn¡¯t you see them coming in late today? And that ¡®love mark¡¯ on Xuxu¡¯s neck¡­¡± ¡°Well, what do you know? An overbearing person like our President Yan ¡ª say , don¡¯t you think him asking for forgiveness wouldn¡¯t be so ordinary? He must have thrown her on the bed and made the woman beg for forgiveness instead.¡± ¡°That makes sense. The overbearing presidents in most love novels all act in that way.¡± There was a long pause¡­ In the President¡¯s office, a cluster of workers was eagerly gossiping about her and Yan Rusheng. When she overheard the content of their conversation, Xuxu blushed crimson. What did they mean by the overbearing President would have forced the woman till she begs for forgiveness? Chapter 332. Where Is That Dumb Woman? Does it mean that she begged Yan Rusheng for forgiveness in bed? She treaded carefully towards them and noticed that the most gossipy female colleague of the office was holding an entertainment newspaper. Xuxu had a hunch that there would be an article of her and Yan Rusheng. ¡°Hi, Sister Xuxu.¡± One of the colleagues caught sight of her and addressed her immediately. Everyone else scampered back to their desks and within seconds, started working once more. ¡°Wasn¡¯t everyone having fun gossiping just now?¡± Xuxu eyed the culprits and her mouth curled to a rather frosty smile. They trembled in fear and lowered their heads even further down, and they didn¡¯t even dare to breathe loudly. They had flocked together to gossip during office hours; naturally, they would be berated by the administrator if they were caught. Xuxu returned to her desk and the first thing she did was to check her phone for any articles about her and Yan Rusheng. She clicked a website and the first thing that appeared on the home page was a huge, eye-popping article about them. The headline was ¡®Third Young Master and Third Madam Yan Suspected To Have Quarreled¡¯. The content was: Yesterday morning, someone caught sight of Third Madam Yan driving to work alone, looking forlorn and miserable. Third Young Master, who was usually hardworking, arrived during lunchtime. He stopped right outside the company¡¯s entrance and dashed right in. He didn¡¯t even realize that his shirt was buttoned wrong. The night before, someone spotted Third Master hugging a lady outside The First Wealth, and Third Master seemed to be drunk. Many people online believed that Third Young Master had stayed overnight at the lady¡¯s place and was caught by Third Madam Yan. Hence in the morning, he had rushed to apologize to her, and that¡¯s why he had buttoned his shirt wrongly in fluster. He was hugging a lady outside The First Wealth¡­ That should be Fang Jiayin. A photo was included and she fixed her gaze on Yan Rusheng who was outside The First Wealth that night. Yan Rusheng was hugging Fang Jiayin in the picture, with his head resting on her shoulders. His whole body seemed to be totally dependent on her. And Fang Jiayin¡¯s hands were wrapped around his body, as she had her eyes on him. They seemed too intimate with such a position. In the photo, Yan Rusheng looked drunk indeed. But who was he thinking of when he embraced Fang Jiayin so tightly? He came home to sleep that night, but after seeing the photo of Yan Rusheng hugging Fang Jiayin ¡ª the woman he had loved so deeply ¡ª she realized she wasn¡¯t as forgiving as thought she would be. Under those circumstances, what else could they have done? Feeling a little stuffy, she left early for lunch together with her colleagues. Yan Rusheng waited for Xuxu in his office. When she didn¡¯t come looking for him, he decided to call her extension line up. But no one picked up. He slammed his phone on the table and frowned in frustration. ¡°Where is that dumb woman?¡± It was 12 noon, was she planning to skip lunch? He rose and peered outside his office, it was empty outside and no one was in sight. Xuxu¡¯s desk was tidy and neat, and it didn¡¯t seem like she went away for a short break. Yan Rusheng dialed her number and Xuxu finally picked up after a few more rings. ¡°Hello, President Yan,¡± her muffled voice was heard over the phone. It seemed that she had her mouth full and couldn¡¯t speak properly. Young Master Yan knew that she was eating. He gritted his teeth in silent fury. ¡°Wen Xuxu, how dare you go out for lunch without informing me?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°I¡¯m eating at the canteen. Do you want to join?¡± Chapter 333. Why Are You Trying To Be Difficult? What? She went to the canteen? Didn¡¯t she know that he hated that place? He had only been there once, and it was almost two years ago, and after that, he swore that he would never step into his own company¡¯s canteen ever again. He could never forget how a person had vomited all the contents of his stomach onto his plate. After that incident, he felt so disgusted that he almost fell ill. He never set foot in the canteen after that day again. And he fired that employee. This stupid woman had deliberately gone to the canteen. It was obvious that she was trying to infuriate him on purpose ¡ª did he do something wrong again? ¡°I¡¯m not going, come back now,¡± he commanded her. Xuxu was holding a fork and was eating a fruit salad. She replied coolly, ¡°I¡¯m almost done. Do you want me to bring back some food for you? The fruit salad is very fresh.¡± She could hear Young Master Yan heaved a deep breath loudly on the other line. It was a warning sign that he was about to explode. His expression right now¡­ should be ugly and bitter? She suddenly felt delighted at the thought of it. If she wasn¡¯t in a public place, she would have burst out laughing. Her colleagues were all green with envy as they thought about how loving the scion and his wife were. She merely went out for lunch and he had already missed her. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± As what Xuxu had guessed, Yan Rusheng indeed exploded. He ended the call without waiting for Xuxu¡¯s response. Young Master Yan paced to and fro in his office before calling for takeaways. When Xuxu came back from the canteen, she returned to her desk and didn¡¯t proceed to enter Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Tea break came around and Young Master Yan could no longer endure it. He held his empty cup with one hand, while the other dialed Xuxu¡¯s extension number. Xuxu answered promptly, ¡°President Yan.¡± ¡°Black coffee without sugar.¡± He hung up instantly. He glared at the telephone. ¡°Dumb woman, black coffee without sugar. You should know what it means.¡± Knock knock knock. Someone was knocking. Yan Rusheng sat upright and said in a monotonous voice, ¡°Come in.¡± Xuxu walked in, taking her precious time. ¡°President Yan.¡± She didn¡¯t close the door, walked to Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk, and stretched her hand to take his cup. Yan Rusheng grabbed her wrist and had a firm grip on it. ¡°Why are you trying to be difficult?¡± Xuxu shook her head in denial and put on an innocent expression. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± She jerked her hand away from his grip with force. She swiftly grabbed his cup and then turned to leave. Yan Rusheng stopped her by grabbing her and pulling her towards him. But Xuxu was able to grab the corner of the table instead, refusing to allow Yan Rusheng to do what he liked. She was furious and turned to blaze at him. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± Did he read the news? Or had he simply assumed that she wouldn¡¯t be interested to know about his news with other women? Yan Rusheng raised a brow, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Did you see the news about us this morning?¡± They were both late for work so she wasn¡¯t sure if he read the news today. And he wasn¡¯t the one to habitually check the news on his phone. ¡°News?¡± Yan Rusheng was perplexed. Were they on the news? He had rushed to the office this morning and furthermore he had urgent stuff to handle. He didn¡¯t have time to read the newspapers yet. He opened his drawer and retrieved all the newspapers. The headline ¡®Third Young Master¡¯ caught his attention immediately. Chapter 334. Unless She Doesnt Love You When he read about how he had wrongly buttoned his shirt, his good-looking face darkened in a split second. If Qiao Jian hadn¡¯t pointed out that his shirt was buttoned wrong that day, then he would have worn that shirt all day long. He raised his head and glared at Wen Xuxu. He could hardly contain his rage as he knew how observant she was. He had stood in front of her yesterday and he would never believe that she didn¡¯t notice his shirt. She purposely refused to remind him so that he would be a laughingstock to everyone. He really felt like strangling her. Yan Rusheng inwardly seethed in anger. He then continued reading. Did he hug a lady outside The First Wealth? Moreover, stayed at the lady¡¯s place? He scrutinized the photos carefully and it was indeed taken outside The First Wealth. He was seen embracing a woman. And that woman was actually¡­ Fang Jiayin! He lifted his head to look at Xuxu and began to clarify, ¡°That night I was drinking with Jiang Zhuoheng and we were competing against each other. And I was totally drunk and¡­ I really didn¡¯t know this happened.¡± ¡°You had a drinking competition with Ah Heng?¡± Xuxu widened her eyes in disbelief, ¡°How was Ah Heng?¡± Yan Rusheng could hold his liquor much better than him. If he was drunk to that extent, what had happened to Ah Heng? He was usually so gentle and she couldn¡¯t imagine him finishing an entire bottle. It didn¡¯t seem like something he would do. She looked at Yan Rusheng with contempt. Needless to say, this fellow must have provoked him. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Rusheng snorted loudly with disdain. ¡°Of course he collapsed on the spot and couldn¡¯t even stand up.¡± As he finished talking, he furrowed his eyebrows, ¡°Stupid woman, why are you even concerned about him?¡± He sounded sinister and dangerous. But Xuxu wasn¡¯t afraid and looked at him dead in the eye, ¡°So you can do whatever you want and I¡¯m not allowed?¡± She flung his hand away, took his cup and left without looking back. Yan Rusheng understood her underlying message behind her words and his mood was lifted as he watched her leave. ¡°Petty woman! You¡¯re jealous!¡± He had wondered why she left for lunch early with her colleagues. So the reason must be because of the article. The scion was feeling euphoric. He leaned back in his swivel chair and rested a hand on his forehead with a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He stroked his eyebrow absentmindedly. He was thinking¡­ How should he appease this jealous woman? This was no easy feat and he needed to seek an expert¡¯s help. He immediately dialed Lu Yinan¡¯s number. The call got through and Lu Yinan answered, ¡°Hello, Third Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°A woman is jealous right now, what should I do to appease her?¡± Lu Yinan snorted with disdain. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you simply say that Wen Xuxu is jealous?¡± Yan Rusheng corrected himself. ¡°Wen Xuxu is jealous right now.¡± ¡°Flowers, present, dinner, and a movie. Coax her and cheer her up,¡± Lu Yinan said everything in one breath. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°She doesn¡¯t like those stuff.¡± Why would that dumb woman like these clich¨¦ and overused stuff? ¡°Have you done those things for her?¡± Lu Yinan questioned him sharply, ¡°How do you know she doesn¡¯t like them? A woman would like a man to send her flowers, shower her with presents and take her to a romantic candlelight dinner ¡ª unless she doesn¡¯t love you.¡± She should have some feelings towards him right now, if not why would she be jealous? Chapter 335. Dont Switch Off Your Phone When You Go Out So if he did all of those that Lu Yinan had mentioned, would she like it? Yan Rusheng hesitated at first but then decided to give it a try. ¡°What kind of flowers are more suitable?¡± Young Master Lu was exasperated. He sighed heavily with a sentiment. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I finally understood the reason why Fang Jiayin left you years ago. You don¡¯t even know which flowers should you give a girl. She had indeed endured enough.¡± After he vented Fang Jiayin¡¯s woes on behalf of her, he continued immediately, ¡°Get roses which represent passion. I really reckon that your IQ allocation for romance has been swallowed by your other areas of IQ.¡± Young Master Lu half-guided and half-criticized him, ¡°Even though you haven¡¯t brought a woman for a candlelight dinner before, surely you¡¯ve seen it on TV, right? After dinner, bring her home to watch Fifty Shades of Grey, you will have an unexpected surprise.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you the movie after I get home from work. Watch it after you¡¯ve finished your candlelight dinner.¡± Yan Rusheng was earnestly listening to his advice. When Lu Yi had finished, he replied saying he understood. He ended the call and started searching for places fit for a candlelight dinner. He also intended to buy flowers and a present. All of these were currently more important than his work piling up on his desk. After he had settled everything, only then did he began to start working once more. Lately, these days, both of them worked overtimes ¡ª even ¡¯till late evenings. When the clock struck six, Yan Rusheng arranged all his files. He then rushed to the bathroom for a quick fix of his appearance, before marching out looking and feeling like a debonair. He opened the door to the office and in a haste scanned over to Wen Xuxu¡¯s desk. But his face drained in a matter of seconds, and the smile he had on his face turned to stone upon knowing that Wen Xuxu was nowhere in sight. Moreover, her desk was clean and tidied up, even her computer was already switched off.Where is she? Stupid woman, how dare she flee! His face was contorted with rage. He flipped out his phone and dialed Wen Xuxu¡¯s number. Only to find out that her phone was switched off. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t let me find you.¡± He gripped his cell phone and marched with heavy, angry steps towards the elevator. ¡­ The whole capital city was basking in the vibrant and bustling nightlife, but Yan Rusheng found himself weaving in and out of traffic; driving aimlessly searching for her. She wasn¡¯t home, neither was she with her grandfather or Zhou Shuang. She wasn¡¯t at the orphanage as well¡­ so where could she be? ¡­ How was Ah Heng? Wen Xuxu, if only you were just taking a stroll somewhere to vent your anger¡­ Xuxu reached home and unconsciously lifted her head to peer at the study on the second level. From where she was, she could see that it was brightly lit. She heaved a heavy breath before she began to trod across the yard. She entered the house, changed into her slippers and went upstairs. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Just when she had turned around, she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s baritone-rich, cold voice echoing in front of her. She stopped in her tracks and peered upwards. Yan Rusheng stood at the study¡¯s entrance, with his hands stuffed in his loose and comfortable white loungewear. His dark, jade-like eyes were fixed on Xuxu¡¯s palm-sized face ¡ª as if he didn¡¯t want to miss any single expression from her. Just when Xuxu was about to open her mouth, he interjected and said, ¡°Don¡¯t ever switch off your phone when you go out. I couldn¡¯t find you anywhere earlier.¡± He thought to himself, ¡°No matter where she goes and who she meets, she would still need to come back home, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 336. He Wanted Him Gone Xuxu heard him and somehow his concern for her made her heart melt. She explained, ¡°My battery died.¡± After a little bit more explanation, she walked up to him and embraced him with all her might. She meekly rested her head on his chest. ¡°Ah Sheng, everything is great right now.¡± All his rage, jealousy, and grievances all vanished with her embrace. Yan Rusheng stretched his hands and hugged her back. He then bent his head to kiss the top of her head. He thought to himself, ¡°Xuxu, everything¡­ is indeed great!¡± ¡­ Yan Rusheng was swamped with work lately. He held a mouse in his hand and a cup in the other. His eyes darted from end to end on the computer screen as he read through Flourish & Prosper¡¯s stock analysis. In the midst of his work, the office door swung open without a prior knock. Yan Rusheng remained unbothered for he already knew who it was that had stepped inside his office. ¡°President Yan, Mr. Charles from Country Y would like to have dinner with you at the Beautiful Metropolis Hotel, 7 p.m. tonight.¡± Wen Xuxu shut the door after her then walked towards him. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t even need to think twice. He then said to Xuxu, ¡°Ask him to scram.¡± Xuxu halted her steps and glared fiercely at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go,¡± Yan Rusheng said, he was hell-bent with his decision. ¡°Stop wasting your time, I won¡¯t meet him.¡± He would rather die than meet the man, otherwise he might end up beating him to a pulp if he saw him. Xuxu didn¡¯t coerce him and spoke in a relaxed manner, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll meet him myself instead.¡± She turned around to leave. This dumb woman dared to threaten him! Yan Rusheng glowed in rage as he looked at her retreating figure. He knew that if he didn¡¯t agree, she would really meet him. So¡­ he gnashed his teeth. With threat seething through his voice, he told her, ¡°I can¡¯t promise you that I would behave like how you would have expected.¡± Xuxu spun around happily and met Yan Rusheng eye to eye, she was glowing in excitement and satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re going there to discuss business, not to yield to him.¡± Yan Rusheng could not help but feel miffed when he saw Xuxu¡¯s giddy, exuberant expression etched on her face. Is this how he was going to be subdued by Xuxu from now on? He was having reluctant thoughts in his mind, but in the end, gave in and barked out a command, ¡°Come here.¡± Xuxu blinked but she didn¡¯t move. Instead, she asked cautiously, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at his rosy lips ¡ª the corners of his mouth curled into a playful smile. ¡°This is the condition in return.¡± What condition was that? Does Flourish & Prosper belong to the Yans or Wens?! She had worked so hard for Flourish & Prosper and he still wanted to discussconditions with her. Wen Xuxu was dumbstruck with what Yan Rusheng had to say. He stared at him and said, ¡°You¡¯re really shameless.¡± She sighed in defeat, went forward and bent her body before giving him a quick peck on the lips The series of actions was seamless. It was too swift for Yan Rusheng to enjoy the kiss as she immediately left after. He licked his lips to savor the lingering aftertaste of the kiss. He enjoyed it thoroughly and wished that he could taste it again. Every time they had such intimate encounters, the feeling was too wonderful for words. He felt like he was getting addicted. ¡­ In a luxurious private room, two gorgeous men of different nationalities shook hands, each with a different attitude. ¡°Hi, Mr. Charles.¡± Yan Rusheng gripped his hand tightly and stared at him with hostile brooding between them. He just could never tolerate someone who had an interest in his woman. His mood right now was exactly how he felt when he saw the wretched guys in school sending Wen Xuxu love letters; he also wanted him gone. Now he finally understood how possessive he could be. Chapter 337. He Liked What She Had Said Charles maintained his gentlemanly manners and smiled at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I heard that President Yan wasn¡¯t willing to meet me?¡± ¡°Indeed, I didn¡¯t want to.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t even try to lie. ¡°The reason I¡¯m here was that I was curious to why you had the cheek to request a meeting with me again.¡± His malicious tongue was well-known in the industry. Charles smiled and then replied, ¡°I had dinner with your wife last night, and she shared with me a beautiful story.¡± Yan Rusheng was startled by his words. So that dumb woman was with this man yesterday? So that friend wasn¡¯t Jiang Zhuoheng? ¡± Damn it, ¡± Yan Rusheng cursed in his mind. He was so sure that he had already forbidden Xuxu to meet this golden-haired fellow by herself, and yet she still had the gall to pay no heed And look at how smug he looked right now after boasting about his dinner date ¡ª with his wife. But then again, it was a bit of a relief that the person she met up with was Charles and not Jian Zhuoheng. Meeting Charles was purely work-related, but Jiang Zhuoheng¡­ Charles sighed before he spoke, ¡°Unfortunately, the story hasn¡¯t ended yet. Though, I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped his train of thoughts and eyed him menacingly. ¡°What does that story have to do with you meeting me?¡± He was wondering anxiously in his heart. What was that story? Why didn¡¯t she mention anything to him regarding a story? It definitely wasn¡¯t Little Red Riding Hood! ¡°Today, I¡¯ve especially come to apologize to you, President Yan. Previously, I have made an unreasonable request, I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Charles sat down and proposed a toast to Yan Rusheng as a mark of his sincerity. ¡°According to your customs, I shall drink this first.¡± He gulped the entire glass of red wine. What kind of story could have made this man regret and feel ashamed of his actions? Yan Rusheng was really dying to know, in spite of this, he still refused to ask Charles. The evening went by smoothly, and much to the scion¡¯s surprise it was peaceful. Maybe it was because Charles was calm and apologetic, and he even wore a smile in the whole duration of their dinner. As the saying goes, if someone has already smiled to apologize, one couldn¡¯t bear to hit the person back. And this meal was coordinated by Wen Xuxu, he couldn¡¯t bear to disappoint her. After their dinner, Charles brought up the topic of the contract and said that he would personally head down to Flourish & Prosper tomorrow to sign the contract. It was almost 10 p.m. when Yan Rusheng reached home. Xuxu was leaning against propped pillows and was watching a drama on her laptop. The door swung open, and when she saw Yan Rusheng coming in, she left her drama and closed the laptop. She scrambled out of the bed and said, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± She caught a whiff of alcohol as she walked towards him. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll get your clothes for you.¡± Just when she turned around, Yan Rusheng hugged her from the back. He said, ¡°You¡¯ve become bolder. How dare you meet a man behind my back?¡± Xuxu knew that he was referring to the dinner she had with Charles yesterday. Without feeling any shame, she replied, ¡°I asked another man out for dinner for the sake of my man.¡± He liked what she had said! Yan Rusheng smiled in satisfaction, he then inched nearer to her earlobe. ¡°What beautiful story did you tell him that he retracted his request and apologized over and over again?¡± He was thinking about the story during the entire evening. And he could hardly wait to listen. Xuxu pouted and smiled with mystery etched on her lips. ¡°Make a guess.¡± Yan Rusheng was tipsy and Xuxu was in his embrace. He could smell her body scent and at this moment, he felt incredibly contented. ¡°If I could make a guess, why would I ask you?¡± He frowned and continued, ¡°Anyway it isn¡¯t some fairytale, tell me now.¡± Chapter 338. She Wanted To Try Fighting For Herself This Time Round Xuxu bent her head and gazed down at the arms around her waist. Her mouth curled with a blissful smile. ¡°That was¡­ My Lucky Star.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you off the hook tonight if you don¡¯t tell me.¡± Yan Rusheng could tell that Xuxu didn¡¯t want to tell him, so he lifted her up and walked towards the bed. He flung Xuxu on the comfy, spacious bed, and followed then after. He just laid next to her, his arms propped against the bed to support his weight. He didn¡¯t rush to attempt anything. Instead, he just fixed his gaze on Xuxu.. Xuxu could feel her heart pounding wildly inside her chest. She bit her lips and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when the story has ended, alright?¡± ¡°That depends on your performance then.¡± Yan Rusheng immediately pounced on her after giving her a devious smile. ¡­ The contract with Country Y was finally signed. The Board of Directors were once again impressed with Xuxu¡¯s capability. They didn¡¯t probe further regarding the process. They simply knew that she had kept her promise that she made at the meeting. The deal with Country Y had brought Flourish & Prosper to greater heights and glory. Naturally, more came flocking to fawn over Flourish & Prosper. When afternoon tea break rolled around, Xuxu made a cup of oatmeal for herself. As she was absentmindedly stirring her cup, she was also skimming through some documents. Her phone suddenly rang, taking her attention off of the document. She took a quick glance over her phone screen and then picked it up immediately when he saw who it was. ¡°Hello, Secretary Liu,¡± she spoke over the phone as she began to walk towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. She hazarded a guess that Secretary Liu called regarding the acquisition of the land for Tiny Stars Orphanage. It wasn¡¯t such a good idea to discuss with him in the main office, so she rushed towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s private office instead. It had been a long time since Madam Wu and Xuxu turned in the required documents for acquisition, and it had been that long since they waited for the authorities¡¯ approval. But after a long time of waiting, Madam Wu called Xuxu earlier that morning to inform her that the authorities called her. She intended to call Secretary Liu after work to inquire about the progress, but Seretary Liu beat her to it. Secretary Liu answered, ¡°Madam Yan, The land for Tiny Stars Orphanage has been settled. When would you be able to sign the contract with the landowner?¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy. ¡°That¡¯s great! Thank you so much, Secretary Liu.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, it¡¯s my honor to be of service to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange with Madam Wu tomorrow.¡± She could only rest easy after the contract¡¯s been signed, so she had to settle this quickly. ¡°Sure.¡± Secretary Liu continued, ¡°Anyways, just wondering, are you and President Yan available tonight? I¡¯ve just came from a meeting and I finally have some free time. The President have always been generous to me and I just want to return the favor by inviting you both to dinner.¡± Xuxu politely refused, ¡°Secretary Liu, you¡¯re too courteous. We¡¯ve sought your help so naturally, we should be the ones to give you a treat. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Besides, both she and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t like having connections with corrupt government officials like he was. Furthermore, she was Fang Jiayin¡¯s uncle ¡ª naturally, she wouldn¡¯t try to associate herself with him. After that night merely three years ago, she yielded to circumstances and never once more fought for her own good. But now that she has what she had always dreamt of, she wanted to at least try and fight for herself this time around. It would seem perhaps that she was simply deceiving herself if she had prevented them from meeting each other. But that was better than her suffering in pain as she watches them relieve fond memories together. Chapter 339. Why Are You Envious Of Them? ¡°It seems that Madam Yan isn¡¯t keen on going for dinner.¡± Secretary Liu laughed in response. ¡°Secretary Liu, that isn¡¯t the case. I¡¯m buried with work lately.¡± Xuxu made use of her work commitments as an excuse. Actually, she wasn¡¯t entirely using it as an excuse to brush him off. She was indeed preoccupied with work but of course, she would still be able to make time for a meal if she wanted to. Secretary Liu didn¡¯t insist further. ¡°Next time then.¡± Xuxu nodded her head and answered in a patronizing tone, ¡°Alright.¡± Just then, Secretary Liu recalled something. ¡°By the way, regarding that piece of land, the government have already started sourcing for potential investors. If things developed smoothly, the land might be expropriated by early next year.¡± So fast? Xuxu was startled. They were just talking about taking back this piece of land and then relocating the inhabitants. Every procedure involves a tedious and significant amount of work. Yet, the land would be expropriated by early next year. Wasn¡¯t this too soon? She was dumbfounded for a moment but still managed to smile in response. ¡°Got it. Thank you, Secretary Liu.¡± Early next year¡­ It was already November. This meant that in a few months¡¯ time, Tiny Stars Orphanage would probably be demolished. She had initially intended to take possession of the land first so that the government would not demolish the entire place within the next two years. She would then have ample time to think of ways to relocate the children. But with only a few months left, it would be quite challenging to handle the matter at hand. Yan Rusheng raised his head and saw Xuxu walking in with her phone in her hand. She looked forlorn and troubled. He rose and beckoned her to come. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xuxu sighed as she snapped out of her daze. ¡°Secretary Liu called to inform that we can start the paperwork for the land possession.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°That is good news.¡± But there must be some negative news too. He waited for her to continue. Xuxu heaved another heavy sigh. ¡°He also revealed that by early next year, the land might be seized by the government. There¡¯s still a huge chance that the orphanage may still have to be demolished.¡± Yan Rusheng put on a smile as he tried to console her. ¡°You still have time. Isn¡¯t it till next year?¡± Xuxu was worried sick. ¡°It¡¯s only a few more months to go. I¡¯d better inform Matron Huang to source for a new location. For what use would be those lands that they¡¯re eagerly trying to expropriate them? Perhaps they¡¯re going to build new factories? All these have to be taken into consideration.¡± When rural farmlands are opened up for redevelopment, the site would often be used to build factories ¡ª and these factories cause so much pollution in the area. If so, then what sense does it make to find a nearby location to set up an orphanage? Yan Rusheng held her by her waist and walked her towards the sofa. ¡°I envy those children,¡± he remarked all of a sudden. Bewildered by his statement, Xuxu raised her head and looked at him. ¡°They are pitiful orphans. Why are you envious of them?¡± Yan Rusheng cast a sideways glance at her and with a hint of jealousy in his tone, he said, ¡°They are always in your heart and you are always so concerned and worried for them.¡± He withdrew his arm from Xuxu¡¯s waist and took a step towards the sofa and sat down. Xuxu was taken aback. She looked at the scion and somehow had mixed emotions about his jealousy ¡ª she could not deny that she was exasperated and at the same time amused. If he only knew that he has always held a special place in her heart ¡ª she was also full of concerns and worry for him. Would he¡­ go wild with joy? Ahem. Forget it. Let bygones be bygones. Now that they were already together, the past was no longer important, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°You are no longer a child and yet you still make people worry for you constantly,¡± she teased, and sat down next to him. ¡°If you admit that you are a child, I¡¯ll concern myself with your daily routines such as eating, sleeping, and shitting.¡± Chapter 340. She Was Obviously Embarrassed ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to concern yourself with such details. You just need to¡­¡± Yan Rusheng shifted his gaze to Xuxu¡¯s tummy and curled his lips in a devious manner. With a nonchalant tone, he said, ¡°You just need to worry about my life and our plans to make babies.¡± His heart began to stir as he said that. He grasped Xuxu by her waist and pressed his lips on hers. This fellow! He¡¯s at it again! Xuxu pressed her hands against his chest and shoved him away. ¡°Nobody wants to make babies with you.¡± She jumped to her feet and ran out of the office. If she didn¡¯t put a stop to it, he would have started his hanky panky business again in the office. This dirty-minded fellow, his brain must have been infested with worms. Yan Rusheng stared at Xuxu¡¯s retreating figure. Dumb woman . She was obviously embarrassed. As he mulled over it, his lips curled upwards as if by instinct. ¡­ Later that day, Xuxu made arrangements with Madam Wu to transfer the title deeds of the land at the government office. By the time they came out of the government office, it was almost lunchtime. Xuxu had intended to buy Madam Wu a meal as she had done her a great help by agreeing to transfer the land ownership to her. However, Madam Wu declined her invitation as she had other appointments. She didn¡¯t insist and both of them parted ways at the entrance of the government office. Holding her car keys, Xuxu made her way to the carpark. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice calling her and she stopped in her steps. She curled her lips and laughed to herself. Goodness, gracious! Was heaven ridiculing her? She had so many friends in this large capital city, yet she hardly bumped into any of them. But, she would randomly just run into Fang Jiayin time after time. The click-clacked sound of high heels behind her grew closer. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but sigh and then turn around. Fang Jiayin smiled as she approached her. ¡°Jiayin, what a coincidence.¡± Fang Jiayin wore a black and white striped, figure-hugging harem pants, and a white shirt paired with a black coat. The wind lifted up her tresses and she radiated a feminine charm even from a distance. She was holding a Thermos jar in her hand and a smile was plastered on her face as she walked. ¡°My auntie made some soup for my uncle and wanted me to bring it to him and I saw you the moment I parked my car.¡± She shifted her gaze to the document holder in Xuxu¡¯s hand. She then asked out of concern, ¡°Did matters go smoothly?¡± Xuxu nodded her head without hesitation. ¡°Everything is settled.¡± ¡°Then shall we have lunch together? Please don¡¯t turn me down.¡± Fang Jiayin held her hand with enthusiasm. She then joked, ¡°If you turn me down again, I would assume that you are treating me with animosity.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips. ¡°Why would I?¡± She has no feelings of animosity towards her except for a hint of envy and jealousy. She was envious that Ah Sheng had loved her deeply before, and that she was his first love. She had no idea why Fang Jiayin insisted on having a meal with her, but she had a hunch that she wanted to have a casual chat with her. So she agreed. As it wasn¡¯t lunch hour yet, the western restaurants weren¡¯t crowded with diners. Fang Jiayin flipped through the menu from front to back, and then back to the first page. She ordered the restaurant¡¯s signature steak. After which, she handed the menu to Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, see what you would like to order.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t fancy western cuisine, so she didn¡¯t bother thoroughly skimming through the menu. She placed the same order as Jiayin. Chapter 341. The Majority Are Compliments Shortly after they placed their orders, the waiter served them their drinks first. Fang Jiayin had a cup of coffee, while Xuxu had hot chocolate. Soon enough, the sweet smell of hot beverages permeated the air. Fang Jiayin stirred her coffee with a teaspoon. She glanced at Xuxu and asked, ¡°Do you want some red wine?¡± Xuxu shooked her head lightly. ¡°I have a low tolerance for alcohol.¡± She jolly well know her threshold for alcohol. ¡°I know. I am just teasing you.¡± Having said that, she took a sip of her coffee and continued blasting Xuxu another question. ¡°Are you now able to drink beyond one glass of wine without getting drunk?¡± Xuxu smiled in her response. ¡°I don¡¯t get drunk but just a little tipsy.¡± ¡°You are really bad in holding your alcohol,¡± Fang Jiayin commented, ¡°but be it one glass or one bottle, the extent of your drunkenness is almost the same.¡± This was indeed very true. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but break into a burst of laughter. ¡°You¡¯re right. I will be struggling to keep my balance and would need someone to hold on to. I¡¯ll also be spouting gibberish.¡± Although she had a very low tolerance for alcohol, she had yet to be intoxicated to the point of unconsciousness. ¡°The most memorable was during Ah Heng¡¯s farewell party. According to Ah Sheng, that was the only time where you had a drop too much.¡± Fang Jiayin was sipping her coffee and casually talking at the same time. ¡°He said that you must had felt heartbroken and the next day, he was nagging incessantly ¡®Wen Xuxu, that dumb and useless woman¡¯ .¡± At the mention of this matter, Xuxu had an awkward smile on her face. She sighed and then said, ¡°Those are embarrassing matters of the past and they¡¯re not worth a mention.¡± She lowered her head and stirred her hot chocolate with a straw. Feelings of insecurity and inferiority bubbled up to the surface, and she tried her best to hide it. During that time, Yan Rusheng was still Fang Jiayin¡¯s boyfriend. Yet, that night when he kissed or hugged her, she didn¡¯t shove him away but instead, went all out to pander to him. Although she knew in her heart that she had misread the cues back then, it didn¡¯t change the fact that she tried to pass off as Fang Jiayin before. And this is why she did not want to cross paths with Fang Jiayin. It wasn¡¯t just solely because she and Yan Rusheng used to have feelings for each other in the past, but because Xuxu felt guilty towards the girl. ¡°Xuxu, Ah Sheng has changed so much because of you,¡± Fang Jiayin said with a smile. Xuxu felt the embarrassment crept up to her bones when she heard Fang Jiayin said that ¡ª she even felt selfish and felt ill. As compared to her cautious and defensive nature, Fang Jiayin was undoubtedly much better than her. She was gentle, soft-spoken, beautiful and talented, one who was deemed as the darling of the heavens. Furthermore, Yan Rusheng¡¯s childhood friends and even the entire school had regarded them to be the most compatible. In terms of their intellect and looks, they were a match made in heaven. She had grown up with Yan Rusheng. Though their names were often put together by people, no one had ever mentioned that they would make a compatible couple. It was only after they got together that people started complimenting them. She lifted her head and smiled faintly. ¡°Really?¡± Yan Rusheng had indeed changed a lot. But one tends to change with times, don¡¯t they? She would just assume that he had changed because of her. Only then would she strive to keep him by her side and never let him go. Their steak was served and both of them still chatted as they ate. Fang Jiayin shared with Xuxu some interesting things that happened to her while she was overseas. Jiayin shared her initial struggles in adopting a new environment¡ªlet alone overseas¡ª and the challenges she faced in her studies. She told Xuxu about the people she met and how open-minded and carefree they were, and the places she had visited, and even the activities she participated in. Chapter 342. Dont Like Xuxu was full of envy as she listened on. Furthering her studies overseas had always been her childhood dream. When she gave up that opportunity, she wept for an entire night. Looking back, she felt that she had done her grandfather wrong and also felt sorry for herself that her hard work in mastering the English language had gone down the drain. Yet, whenever she was beside Yan Rusheng, she would feel that if she had made the decision to leave for another country, she wouldn¡¯t be able to see him every day. It was truly bliss for her to see Yan Rusheng and share moments with him, even if she had to see his long face on a daily basis. Somehow, it didn¡¯t really matter. At most, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. If she also left the country, especially after Fang Jiayin had left, then Yan Rusheng would be all alone in the city. ¡°Xuxu, you have always liked Ah Sheng, am I right?¡± It was a very blunt, out-of-topic question, one that caught Xuxu off-guard that it made her hands ¡ª which were holding on to the cutleries ¡ª tremble for a moment. She recomposed herself swiftly, raised her head, and smiled at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Is there something that I¡¯ve done which caused you to have some misunderstanding?¡± A pang of guilt filled her heart once more. Did Fang Jiayin leave without a word because she had found out something? That night¡­ After all, being such a darling of the crowd, she got the rights to be arrogant and willful. ¡°No, don¡¯t be too sensitive.¡± Fang Jiayin shook her head lightly and smiled at her. ¡°I just felt that both of you are so exceptionally good together. You two grew up together, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s no reason for you two to not fall in love with each other over time.¡± She sounded earnest but somehow, there¡¯s a tiny bit in Xuxu¡¯s heart that tells her that Jiayin was being sarcastic. ¡°You are so exceptionally good. There¡¯s no reason for you two to not fall in love with each other over time.¡± In the eyes of her elders and classmates, she was indeed excellent and outstanding. But he had never developed any feelings towards her after all those years. The Ah Sheng that she loved had fallen for another woman instead. So, what did this prove? It just goes to show that in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes, she isn¡¯t any better than Fang Jiayin. Xuxu dismissed Fang Jiayin¡¯s words with a laugh. Then, Xuxu looked at Fang Jiayin, it was her turn to ask. ¡°Jiayin, pardon me for asking. Why did you¡­ leave without saying goodbye?¡± That was the last thing that she wanted to know, and yet somehow curiosity got the best of her. She wanted to get to the bottom of it once and for all. ¡°It¡¯s for the sake of pursuing my dreams. Romance is not my everything,¡± she spoke and then shoved a piece of steak into her mouth. She was being casual with her answer. ¡°That¡¯s why I said that you and Ah Sheng are the most compatible with each other. If I remained by his side, it would mean that I would need to give up pursuing my dreams for a better future, because knowing Ah Sheng, he would definitely want to start a family.¡± A streak of surprise flashed past Xuxu¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you¡­ like children?¡± Fang Jiayin stopped her chewing momentarily and shook her head with a smile. ¡°Nope.¡± She lowered her head and continued slicing her steak. On the way back to the office, all that Xuxu could remember was Fang Jiayin¡¯s cryptic smile, and the words ¡®Nope¡¯ kept ringing in her ears. She sensed that there must be a hidden story from the past for Jiayin¡¯s distaste for having children of her own. Being a teacher, she always poured out her heart and soul in charity works because of the children she worked with. So how could she dislike children? It didn¡¯t make any sense. Furthermore, if she loved someone, wouldn¡¯t she want to bear him children? She wasn¡¯t sure if she was merely creating unnecessary trouble and agony for herself. But she just couldn¡¯t set her heart at ease. ¡­ It was already past 2 p.m. when she returned to the office and she saw that the door to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office was closed. Hence, she didn¡¯t bother to walk over to his office and went back to her own workstation. She sat down and turned on her laptop. While waiting for the system to start up, she closed her eyes to recompose her emotional state and peace of mind. Stop thinking too much and just focus on work. Chapter 343. Couple Time It was the start of winter and the days got shorter. The sun had already set before 5.30 p.m. For the entire afternoon, Xuxu buried herself with work. Yan Rusheng on his end was busy as usual and didn¡¯t step out of his office. ¡°My husband didn¡¯t allow me to purchase and confiscated all my cards.¡± ¡°My boyfriend also stopped me, but I don¡¯t care. I just want to buy because I¡¯ve been waiting for Singles¡¯ Day shopping spree for a long time.¡± ¡°You ladies are wastrels.¡± ¡°You men are stingy.¡± It was finally time to clock-off and call it a day. As the employees packed up, they were teasing each other while having a light-hearted chit-chat at the same time. It was time to de-stress after a hard day¡¯s work and everyone had a relaxed smile on their faces. Singles¡¯ Day! Xuxu took a glance at the desktop calendar on her table. The upcoming weekend would be November 11. ¡°Wen Xuxu? When did you come back?¡± She was lost in her thoughts when Yan Rusheng¡¯s puzzling voice was heard coming from behind. He also sounded annoyed. Xuxu snapped back to reality and turned around to look at him. She said, ¡°I came back around 2 in the afternoon.¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his brows and appeared even more displeased. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you come in and greet me?¡± ¡°I was busy,¡± Xuxu said, pointing to the pile of documents on her desk. This dumb woman. He had thought that after settling the paperwork at the government office, she would go deliver the good news to the orphanage and won¡¯t be returning to the office so soon. Hence, he stayed in his office the entire afternoon. But who would have known that she had returned so early? As Young Master Yan thought over it, he got more infuriated. ¡°Busy is not an excuse. Do you know that I almost died of thirst this afternoon?¡± Xuxu was speechless. She knitted her eyebrows and said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you drink water when you were thirsty?¡± Was he retarded? He didn¡¯t even know how to drink water by himself when he was thirsty? He was obviously nitpicking on her. ¡°No one poured water for me,¡± Yan Rusheng raised his voice. Everyone in the President¡¯s office heard him, and all of them had a slight disdain in their hearts towards the president. He knew very well that the office was filled with people ¡ª all he needed was to make his request known and everyone would try to outdo each other to bring him a glass of water. How could he say that no one poured water for him? If anyone was an outsider looking in, they wouldn¡¯t have thought that he was acting like a spoiled child on purpose, and would assume that the employees of Flourish & Prosper were arrogant and refused to pour a glass of water for him. This fellow. Has he gone crazy again? He¡¯s not even afraid that his employees would make a joke out of him. Xuxu¡¯s eyes awkwardly swept across the entire office. It was moments like this that Yan Rusheng could easily see right through her thoughts. He then glared at the employees who were taking their own sweet time to pack up and hollered at them, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone home? You won¡¯t be paid for overtime.¡± His imposing voice could send shivers down a seven feet man. Everyone hurriedly nodded their heads. ¡°Oh yes. President, we will leave right away.¡± In a flash, everyone left except for the both of them. Seeing how her colleagues disappeared as fast as rabbits, Xuxu turned to glare at Yan Rusheng. Her face was dark with irritation. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you tell?¡± Yan Rusheng had a wicked grin on his face. ¡°I am trying to empty out the office to create alone time for us.¡± Xuxu was so flabbergasted. Why did this fellow become so erratic suddenly? Always aloof and arrogant before others, yet shameless and unreasonable behind their backs. Yan Rusheng spun around and leaned against Xuxu¡¯s desk. With his arms crossed on his chest, he gazed lazily at Xuxu. ¡°You settled the paperwork till around 2 p.m.?¡± Xuxu replied as a matter of fact, ¡°It was settled before 11 a.m. but I ran into yourtrue lov e by coincidence and she invited me to have lunch with her. It was hard to decline her hospitality, so I had lunch with her and came back around 2 p.m.¡± Chapter 344. Stop Fooling Around Yan Rusheng pretended to be confused by her statement. ¡°Aren¡¯t you my true love?¡± ¡°Hmph, this stupid woman.¡± She was trying to set up a trap for him. Xuxu jerked her head up when she heard his confession, her eyes sparkling with emotion. She stared at him with immense passion, before calling out, ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± She had unconsciously clenched her hands into a tight fist. With Xuxu staring at him with such an intensity, it was only then that Yan Rusheng felt awkward ¡ª he realized that he was too honest with his statement earlier. He straightened his back and raised his voice to conceal his inward awkwardness. ¡°Why did you eat with her?¡± ¡°Do you feel guilty?¡± Xuxu queried. She assumed that guilt might have had something to do with Rusheng suddenly feeling iffy. But then again, even if he really was, his confession lifted up her spirit. And it was all thanks to his, ¡®Aren¡¯t you my true love?¡¯. In any case, he still indirectly admitted it. Yan Rusheng snorted loudly without care. ¡°Why should I feel guilty? I¡¯m just concerned that you might feel uncomfortable if you meet her.¡± ¡± Tch . And why should I be? It¡¯s not as if I didn¡¯t know how loving both of you were in the past.¡± Yan Rusheng deliberately inhaled and exhaled loudly, and then flashed a bright smile. ¡°I think someone is jealous.¡± Xuxu ignored his teasing and continued, ¡°What if Fang Jiayin left three years ago because she had problems with her health and she didn¡¯t want you to know? Or perhaps grandmother had secretly forced her to leave by giving her a sum of money?¡± Yan Rusheng gave her a snobbish look. ¡°There must be something wrong with your brain. Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± ¡°What if what I said was true?¡± Xuxu gripped his elbow tightly and yearned to hear the answer. She really wanted to know what he would do if those circumstances were true. Yan Rusheng raised his brow and stared skeptically at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you afraid?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for her to respond and laughed. ¡°You¡¯re afraid that I would reconcile with Fang Jiayin if she was indeed forced to leave me.¡± His tone was certain and confident. His laughter made Xuxu blushed red. She shook her head profusely. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Her denial didn¡¯t affect Yan Rusheng in the slightest bit. Although he stopped laughing, his black emerald-jade eyes were still sparkling as he looked at her tiny face with a shadow of a smile. It seemed as though he was trying to bore a hole through her and it made her feel uneasy. ¡°I¡¯ll go get some water,¡± she excused herself and stood up. She took a step, changed her mind, then backtracked again. She aimed at Yan Rusheng¡¯s leg and swiftly kicked him hard. Then she fled. After some distance, she stopped and turned around to pull a face at Yan Rusheng. It amused the scion that he found himself chasing after her. He managed to catch up and then caught her by wrapping his massive arms around her waist. He snuggled against her with his chin on her shoulder, and his lips inched closer to her neck. ¡°Try denying it again.¡± Xuxu nudged him with her elbow. ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop fooling around.¡± ¡°Call me hubby first.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± ¡­ It seemed that by drinking a glass of hot water, her cramps gradually seem less painful. With an empty glass in her hand, Xuxu sat still near the windows. It was just one of those days when Xuxu would gaze at the sky and get lost in her own thoughts. Yan Rusheng, being the sneaky fellow that he was, walked behind her in tiptoes and realized that she hadn¡¯t noticed his presence at all. He thought of just standing there and waiting for her to notice, but even after waiting for some time, she never moved nor acknowledged him. Getting impatient, he went up to her and whispered, ¡°What¡¯s so fascinating outside that you didn¡¯t notice that I was standing behind you.¡± Chapter 345. Chronic Problem His voice scared Xuxu out of her wits. She grabbed her chest and furiously glared at the man towering over her. She shrieked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you make any sound when you came in! You scared me!¡± Yan Rusheng straightened his back and sat on the corner of a desk. He then stuffed his hands in the pockets of his pants. ¡°Were you thinking of something shameful and was afraid of letting me know?¡± he asked in a frigid manner. He had been standing behind her back for a good amount of time. Wen Xuxu was usually observant, and it was so unlike of her to not realize. ¡°What do you suppose am I thinking of?¡± Xuxu turned her chair around to face Yan Rusheng. She lifted her face and looked at him with a calm demeanor. Upon seeing her face, the scion¡¯s own twisted with anxiety and worry. ¡°Why do you look so pale?¡± He stretched his hand towards Xuxu¡¯s face. Xuxu intercepted his hand in mid-air. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll be fine soon.¡± When her hand made contact with him, he was startled to the brim ¡ª Xuxu¡¯s hand felt cold to the touch. Without haste, he gripped her hand tightly and blurted out a series of questions, ¡°Why is your hand so cold? Are you feeling unwell? I¡¯ll bring you to the doctor.¡± He pulled Xuxu close to him. Xuxu refused and shook her head profusely. ¡°I¡¯m alright, it¡¯s just a chronic problem. Don¡¯t worry.¡± She then withdrew her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°What chronic problem?¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her elbow and pulled her back. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I know anything about this?¡± Was she unwell these few years? But it couldn¡¯t be. Her face was so pale and her hands were clammy and cold. Why didn¡¯t he notice anything if it was so serious? Xuxu snapped, ¡°It¡¯s a woman¡¯s chronic problem, do you have to probe further?¡± There was dead silence in the air. Yan Rusheng finally understood what it was and he looked rather disappointed. Even though it was fleeting, Xuxu still noticed it. She couldn¡¯t deny that felt the same way as well¡­ disappointed and frustrated. ¡°I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± She bent her head and sounded a little forlorn. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t release his grip but instead embraced her tightly. ¡°Is it still painful? I can give you a massage.¡± His palm swiftly went further down and to her abdomen. He then began to massage it gently with the palm of his hands. His warmth seemed to penetrate through layers of clothing that it somehow warmed and soothed Xuxu¡¯s cramps. She couldn¡¯t bear to break free from his grip and leave him, so he just allowed him as he pleased. His hands continued to massage her abdomen that was still throbbing with pain. Time ¡­ if only it could stop at this moment. But the clock didn¡¯t stop ticking and Xuxu realized that the afternoon was almost over. ¡°I need to get back to work and I need to leave on time later. Grandfather is brewing soup for me with a carp that he had caught.¡± She wriggled out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s grasp. ¡°Not bringing me along?¡± Yan Rusheng decided to let go of his hands around her waist but instead gripped her hands, which, not much to his surprise were still cold. ¡°If you don¡¯t feel well go to the room and just rest.¡± Xuxu pushed his hand gently away and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I know my health well.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you bring me along to visit your grandfather?¡± Yan Rusheng pretended to be upset. Xuxu smiled. ¡°If you want to.¡± This scion was obviously unwilling. Yan Rusheng twitched his mouth. ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll pick you up tonight.¡± Of course, he was still reluctant to go. The last time he went to Xuxu¡¯s grandfather¡¯s place to look for her, he received yet again a cold and hostile treatment from the old man. Chapter 346. Im Not A Kid ¡°Look at you,¡± Xuxu laughed as noticed Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression. ¡°I knew you don¡¯t even have the guts to go.¡± Yan Rusheng decided to threaten her, ¡°Wen Xuxu, if you don¡¯t leave now, I won¡¯t control myself.¡± ¡°Control himself? ¡± Xuxu was baffled for a moment before comprehension dawned on her. She shrieked at him, ¡°Shameless!¡± She scurried away. ¡°This stupid woman gets bashful so easily!¡± Yan Rusheng inwardly berated Xuxu as his eyes trailed after the girl¡¯s retreating figure. And though he found Xuxu acting absurd, it was still adorable to his liking. ¡­ Xuxu sat opposite to Old Master Wen in the clinic. She was currently watching her grandfather check her pulse rate on her wrist. Feeling all anxious, she asked, ¡°Grandfather, how is it? Is there something wrong with my body?¡± The old man retracted his hand and shook his head. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything wrong. Just avoid cold foods and eat more red dates, red beans, and brown sugar.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xuxu sighed with relief but she was still slightly worried. ¡°Should I do a checkup at the hospital?¡± It had already been two to three months and never have they used any protection. Wasn¡¯t it because something was wrong? The old man noticed how Xuxu was worried, and he understood that to a level that his heart began to ache for his granddaughter. ¡°Silly girl,¡± he started to console her, ¡°some things shouldn¡¯t be rushed. The more you take it easy, the easier you will be able to conceive. Besides that, Third Yan and you are still young, what¡¯s the rush?¡± Was her anxiety¡­ very obvious? Xuxu bent her head to hide her embarrassment. She chastised him instead, ¡°That¡¯s because you have been nagging for a great-grandchild.¡± She was indeed more anxious than she should be. She thought that by having a child with Yan Rusheng, it would bring them closer together. It would also strengthen the foundation of their marriage. But she was still doubtful of Yan Rusheng¡¯s love for her ¡ª even if he had treated her well and made her happy and blissful. After all, he had loved Fang Jiayin so deeply before, that light traces of the girl were still evident in his life even after three long years have passed. Before, she was so scared and apprehensive thinking that if she bore him a child, he would definitely dump her afterward. But now that the tables have turned, of course, for the better, she badly wanted a child right there and now. The old man snorted loudly, and chided, ¡°Right! If I knew any better, you¡¯re the one who is anxious to see how your child with that wretched fellow would look like.¡± Slightly offended with what her grandfather had said, Xuxu frowned. She exclaimed, ¡°Grandfather!¡± He smiled this time. ¡°You¡¯ve finally gained weight. It looks like Third Yan is treating you well.¡± ¡°You can tell?¡± Xuxu was surprised as she pinched her own cheeks. She was chubbier? Why didn¡¯t she notice it? ¡°If not, then why are you in a hurry to bear him children?¡± he said in a teasing manner. Xuxu turned beet red. She glared at the old man, pretending to be furious. ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you. I shall look for Qi Lei and drink the fish soup.¡± The fish soup was ready on the second floor. She ascended the stairs and the fragrant smell of the soup welcomed her. She hastened her footsteps. ¡°Qi Lei, your cooking skills have indeed improved.¡± She walked to the table and picked up a pair of chopsticks, she then began eating. Qi Lei scooped some soup into the bowl and passed it to her. ¡°Sister Xuxu, be careful. It¡¯s still hot.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xuxu received the soup and thanked him in delight. She couldn¡¯t wait to try the soup as she looked at the bowl eagerly. She took her spoon and was about to take a sip of the soup when Qi Lei reminded her once more. ¡°There might be bones. Be careful.¡± Xuxu looked at him in amusement, ¡°Qi Lei, I¡¯m not a kid.¡± Chapter 347. Water Being Splashed Qi Lei let out a bashful laugh, revealing rows of pearly-white teeth. He was still that bashful kid. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°You¡¯re such a thoughtful person. When you get married in the future, your wife would be a very happy wife.¡± And without surprise, the boy turned red in embarrassment. He scratched the back of his head and put on an awkward smile as he said, ¡°sister Xuxu drink the soup slowly. I¡¯ll go downstairs to get grandfather.¡± He then scurried out of the room. Xuxu snickered as she looked at Qi Lei trying to evade such awkward intervention. ¡°This boy is really too shy.¡± It was a good thing that she called earlier in the morning to inform that she was coming over tonight. Qi Lei prepared all of her favorite food. She tasted all of the dishes and every single one was delicious. ¡°You came at the right time. I won a bottle of good wine from my friend, let¡¯s drink together today.¡± ¡°Grandfather, I can¡¯t drink today as I¡¯m driving today.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can sleep here if you do get drunk.¡± There was a long pause¡­ ¡°Ah Heng?¡± Xuxu was halfway through her dinner when she heard Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s voice. She turned towards the direction of where his voice came from. Jiang Zhuoheng was supporting Old Master Wen and they¡¯ve just reached the floor. ¡°Ah Heng, why are you here so late?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was wearing a suit and seemed like he had dropped by after work. He looked at Xuxu and joked, ¡°I have paid a sum of money for my meals.¡± The elderly man walked to the table, picked up a pair of chopsticks and waved it eagerly at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Come and sit down. There is a feast tonight and we can drink to our hearts¡¯ content.¡± He bent his back and opened a cupboard behind the dining table to get a bottle of liquor. Xuxu cleared her throat loudly. ¡°Last month during your checkup, the doctor said that you can neither drink nor smoke.¡± The old fellow spun his head around to peer at Xuxu with a grin. ¡°But Ah Heng is here. I need to drink with him.¡± Xuxu turned towards Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Ah Heng, are you going to drink?¡± He had absolutely no intention of drinking as he seemed to have barely recovered from that night where Yan Rusheng had challenged him at Ming Ansheng¡¯s birthday gathering. Ah Heng shook his head profusely at Xuxu and said, ¡°I think I¡¯m going to pass.¡± He then turned to the old man and smiled to appease him. ¡°Grandfather, let¡¯s not drink tonight. I¡¯ll play chess with you after dinner instead.¡± The old man seemed to have deflated and closed the cupboard grudgingly. He straightened his back slowly and then turned to glare at Xuxu. Annoyance seethed through his teeth as he said, ¡°Wretched lass. Can¡¯t I have just a glass of drink?¡± Xuxu remained firm. ¡°Not even half a glass.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t come back for dinner in future since you don¡¯t even pay for your meals.¡± The old man was utterly annoyed and sat down. Jiang Zhuoheng sat down between Grandfather Wen and Xuxu. Xuxu took an empty bowl and scooped rice for him. She looked at Jiang Zhuoheng and asked, ¡°Why? Do you often come here for dinner?¡± She had a hunch that he did drop by quite frequently. The old man intercepted before Jiang Zhuoheng could reply. ¡± Hmph! He is better than my own granddaughter who is like water being splashed. At least he comes once or twice a week, but you hardly come more than twice a month.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ How could he ridicule his own granddaughter? Jiang Zhuoheng, however, was enjoying the banter between the grandfather and granddaughter. The clinic was bustling with noise and fun. Just then, Xuxu¡¯s phone rang and it was from Matron Huang. She picked it up without wasting any time. Chapter 348. Why Do You Always Have to Bump Into Him? ¡°Hello, Matron Huang.¡± Something must have happened to the orphanage since she phoned so late. ¡°Xuxu,¡± Matron Huang sounded anxious over the phone, ¡°little Huanhuan has contracted chickenpox and she is running a high fever now. The town hospital referred us to a hospital in the city instead. I¡¯m taking her there now, but the thing is I have to go back to the orphanage after because only Aunt Wang is there to take care of the rest of the kids. If it¡¯s alright with you, can you watch over Huanhuan for the night?¡± She then paused for a while, afraid that she was troubling Xuxu too much. ¡°I can take over in the morning once I¡¯ve settled the kids in the orphanage.¡± ¡°Of course! Which hospital is it? I¡¯ll go over now.¡± Xuxu was already descending the stairs. ¡°Xuxu, what happened?¡± Grandfather Wen yelled from the back, he sounded worried. ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t worry. Something urgent must have come up at the orphanage. I¡¯ll accompany her.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng assured the old man and rushed after Xuxu. Xuxu had already walked over to where she last parked her car when Jiang Zhuoheng caught up with her. ¡°Did something happen to the orphanage?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Matron Huang said that Huanhuan has chickenpox and she is running a high fever. She is being transferred to a hospital in the city and asked me to take care of her tonight.¡± When Ah Heng heard of Huanhuan¡¯s condition he became worried. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you. Let¡¯s hurry,¡± he said and opened the back door of the car. ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± Xuxu nodded and got in. Jiang Zhuoheng started the engine and sped off. Yan Rusheng had just reached the clinic in his black Mercedes when he spotted Xuxu¡¯s white Audi a distance away. His face fell immediately. He took out his phone and was about to phone Xuxu when it started ringing. Xuxu was calling. He waited for a few seconds before answering. ¡°Hello, where are you?¡± Xuxu spoke over the phone ¡°Don¡¯t fetch me at the clinic. I¡¯m on my way to the hospital for an emergency. Little Huanhuan is ill, her fever is high, and Matron Huang wanted me to look after her for the night.¡± Little Huanhuan¡­ Yan Rusheng recalled that little girl with curly hair from the orphanage. Worry took over him when he heard the news. ¡°I¡¯ll head over as well.¡± ¡°You should go home and rest.¡± Xuxu politely refused and continued, ¡°You haven¡¯t rested much these few days. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow morning.¡± Yan Rusheng understood that she was concerned for him but somehow he felt rather glum instead. ¡°Alright,¡± he replied in a somber tone and hung up. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why do you always have to bump into Jiang Zhuoheng every time you visit your grandfather?¡± All of Yan Rusheng¡¯s happiness evaporated into thin air in a matter of seconds when he saw how both Xuxu and Ah Heng got into the same vehicle and sped away. He initially thought that Xuxu would yet again be coaxing and dragging him to come up and have some fish soup with her grandfather when he arrived. He rummaged for his cigarette case and started smoking which he hasn¡¯t done in a long time. As he puffed some smoke out, he stared into the distance where the car had vanished. His eyebrows were furrowed tightly together. ¡­ The doctor helped Huanhuan to do a series of checkups to ensure that she was alright. The matron left after making sure that she was alright. Huanhuan¡¯s fever began to subside after a nap. She got a pleasant surprise when she saw Wen Xuxu. Chapter 349. What Should She Do? ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± The little girl was grinning. Her fever had gone down but she still seemed pale and weak. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached when she saw how her body was full of red spots. ¡°Huanhuan, do you still feel uncomfortable?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Huanhuan shook her head feebly. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I don¡¯t want the injection and I don¡¯t want to take some medicine.¡± Xuxu saw how the little girl trembled at the mention of injections. She smiled fondly as she spoke in a reassuring voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. There won¡¯t be any injections.¡± ¡°Huanhuan, you¡¯re awake.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s voice echoed over the room. He had sent Matron Huang off, and as he heard Huanhuan¡¯s voice, he rushed back to the room to greet the little girl. Huanhuan¡¯s eyes twinkled and widened in both surprise and happiness when she saw him. ¡°Brother Ah Heng!¡± It felt surreal. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng stood next to Xuxu. He then winked at the little girl on the bed. ¡°This is great. I can see both Sister Xuxu and Brother Ah Heng when I¡¯m sick,¡± the little girl naively exclaimed. Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng were torn between crying and laughing with the little girl¡¯s innocent remark. They were both trying not to give in to the urge of pinching her chubby cheeks. Coincidentally, both reached out their hands¡ªto pinch Huanhuan¡¯s cheeks¡ª and somehow ended up accidentally bumping each other. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s hand froze in mid-air while Xuxu retracted hers. ¡°I¡¯ll get a warm towel for Huanhuan to clean her face,¡± Xuxu said with a smile. ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded and proceeded to lay his hands on Huanhuan¡¯s cheeks. His heart¡­ raced to the clouds when he touched Xuxu¡¯s hand earlier. After Xuxu had wiped Huanhuan¡¯s face and fed her with some food, the little girl fell asleep once more. She sat at the edge of the bed as she carefully tucked the little girl in with a blanket, making sure she was warm and comfortable. Jiang Zhuoheng noticed how Xuxu¡¯s every little action were filled with love and affection for the child. He, who was at the sides, fixed his gaze at Xuxu¡¯s face and was lost in a daze. The moment Xuxu lifted her head, she met Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s deep, sharp eyes, and somehow her heart skipped a beat. She curled her lips into another smile, and said to him, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, you should go back.¡± She took a quick glance at her watch and realized that it was indeed late. It was almost midnight. Jiang Zhuoheng offered her a soft smile in return. ¡°The doctor said that Huanhuan¡¯s fever might return so we should monitor her closely. You take a nap first, I¡¯ll watch over her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not tired. You should go home and rest.¡± She really wasn¡¯t tired. Jiang Zhuoheng huffed and sternly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t be so stubborn. You don¡¯t look very well yourself, I don¡¯t think you can endure a night without sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only 25.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°And it¡¯s just for a night, I will be fine.¡± She pushed Jiang Zhuoheng gently towards the door. ¡°You are the Chairman now and your workload is so heavy. You are the one who shouldn¡¯t stay up all night.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t want her to worry so he relented. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go home now but I¡¯ll be back tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu nodded and bade him goodbye. After Jiang Zhuoheng had left, she and Huanhuan were the only ones left in the ward. She was about to sit down when her cramps began acting up once more. ¡°Shit!¡± She froze on her place when she thought of her cramps ¡ª worse, she forgot to bring her sanitary pads. She should have gone to the convenience store while Ah Heng was still around! It had completely slipped off her mind as she was too worried about Huanhuan. What should she do? Xuxu was fretting over this when her phone started ringing. She rummaged for her phone inside her bag. She glanced at the screen; Yan Rusheng was calling. Chapter 350. His Looks Were Too Charming Indeed She answered the call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll buy supper for you,¡± Yan Rusheng asked in his usual deep and stoic voice. ¡°No¡­¡± Xuxu had planned to refuse as she didn¡¯t want to trouble him at this time of the night. But she suddenly thought of the sanitary pads and she changed her mind abruptly. ¡°Just buy me anything. And I need you to bring me something else.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­ sanitary pads,¡± Xuxu felt a little awkward and so she just whispered, ¡°I forgot to bring it today.¡± Young Master Yan was a little awkward as well and uttered, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll buy them.¡± Xuxu prompted, ¡°You don¡¯t have to buy. I have some at home. It¡¯s inside the drawer in the bathroom.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Yan Rusheng said lightly and hung up. Dumb woman, how dare she refute his claims that she was unladylike. How could she forget something as essential as a pad at a time like this? Lucky for her, if he did not call and planned on coming over, what could she have done? As the scion reversed his car, he couldn¡¯t help but think of how clutter-brained his wife was. Though at the very least, Yan Rusheng was glad that Xuxu didn¡¯t ask Jiang Zhuoheng to run a personal errand for her at the convenience store At the thought of this, he felt cheered up. After waiting for her for more than two hours, the dumb woman didn¡¯t disappoint him indeed. He was certain that Xuxu had chased Jiang Zhuoheng away, and he didn¡¯t leave on his own accord. He reached the convenience store in front of the hospital and parked his car outside. He then walked towards the store with long, confident strides. The automatic glass doors slid open when he neared it. The sleepy storekeeper sitting at the counter heard the sound of the doors opening and widened her eyes. Her sleepiness vanished instantly when she saw him. She rose hastily and bowed slightly. She smiled at Young Master Yan who had just entered. ¡°Hi, what are you looking for?¡± The convenience store was the same as supermarkets; customers would select the items and bring it to the counter for payment. There wasn¡¯t any need for the storekeeper to serve customers. His looks worked like magic, again. ¡°Where are the sanitary pads?¡± Yan Rusheng scanned the shelves briefly with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Even though he just asked a young girl about something so embarrassing, he still appeared nonchalant and composed. He hasn¡¯t stepped into a convenience store in such a long time. So he was completely unfamiliar with the product placements and didn¡¯t know where to find specific items. The storekeeper was slightly shocked and repeated, ¡°You¡­ you want to buy sanitary pads?¡± She seemed like she could hardly believe that such a handsome man with such an overwhelming aura would be buying sanitary pads. Yan Rusheng turned his head to the storekeeper and lifted his brow coldly. ¡°Yes?¡± But little did she know that this handsome guy had quite a bad temper. The storekeeper blushed and pointed at a shelf. ¡°It¡¯s on the last shelf over there.¡± Yan Rusheng walked over to the shelf without a single word, grabbed some items and strolled to the counter to pay. The storekeeper was visibly trembling when the scion came back with the sanitary pads. He placed them at the counter and waited. Chapter 351. Everything Is Here The storekeeper gave a cursory glance at the sanitary pads in Young Master Yan¡¯s hands and her mouth involuntarily twitched. This gorgeous guy had actually bought all the brands in the store¡­ And a variety of different sizes and uses. ¡°Hi. The total is 76.20 yuan.¡± Yan Rusheng took out his wallet and gave her 100 yuan. As he waited for his items to be packed, he casually caught sight of a stack of exquisite-looking chocolate next to the counter. The boxes were shaped like a heart and it had a picture of an adorable bear. He picked one up and examined it. The storekeeper turned to where the scion¡¯s gaze landed. When she realized that he was looking at the chocolates, she quickly tried to promote the sweets. ¡°Mister, we have a promotion for that chocolate. It¡¯s on a 20% discount and if you buy two boxes, you will get a cuddly bear for free.¡± She retrieved a box which contained a furry bear from the back of the stack of boxes. ¡°Discount? There is a freebie if you buy two?¡± The scion was rather irritated when he heard these. Did he look like someone who needed to buy items at a discounted price, let alone with a freebie? He glanced at the furry bear and a past memory suddenly popped into his head. He remembered the furry doll that he had thrown away before, and that it belonged to Wen Xuxu. That dumb woman did seem to like such childish and fluffy stuff. He puffed up his chest and said, ¡°Give me two boxes then.¡± There was a long pause¡­ ¡°Yes, right away.¡± The storekeeper quickly scanned the boxes of chocolates and placed them into a bag along with the sanitary pads. She passed it to him and said, ¡°Thank you and have a nice day.¡± Yan Rusheng received the bag and left right away. As the storekeeper stared at the towering figure, she had a hunch that she had seen this handsome man before¡­ he looked so familiar. Young Master Yan held the bag and walked to the ward that Xuxu had told him. He twisted the doorknob and went in. When Yan Rusheng strode in the room with his long, unwinding legs, Xuxu was still dabbing Huanhuan¡¯s forehead with a damp cloth. The little girl¡¯s fever seemed to have returned, unfortunately. ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± she said as she turned to where Yan Rusheng was. After getting an acknowledgment from him, she then went back to wringing the cloth and trying to simmer down Huanhuan¡¯s fever with it. Yan Rusheng sounded rather piqued as he looked at her. ¡°Can¡¯t you just hire a nurse to take care of her?¡± He saw how attentive and gentle she was towards Huanhuan. And somehow, he felt a twinge of jealousy on behalf of his future children. Xuxu didn¡¯t stop her movements and continued taking care of Huanhuan. She replied, ¡°Why should we hire a nurse? A nurse wouldn¡¯t be as attentive as me.¡± He had an urge to strangle this dumb woman who couldn¡¯t appreciate his good intentions! Young Master Yan cursed at her repeatedly in his mind but he appeared unperturbed on the surface. ¡°Your face is as pale as a sheet.¡± Right away Xuxu thought of the stuff that she had asked him to bring. She stammered, ¡°That¡­ the¡­ did you bring it for me?¡± She was embarrassed and blushed crimson. She hung her head low. Having her menstruation wasn¡¯t anything embarrassing between a married couple. But she just couldn¡¯t seem to look at Yan Rusheng in the eye. It was probably due to the fact that they had grown up together and both of them were so prideful by nature. And suddenly they found themselves so intimate with each other and she seemed to have transformed into a meek and docile woman in front of him. The entire situation she was in made her rather bashful and awkward. ¡°Everything is here.¡± Yan Rusheng appeared nonchalant and casually passed the bag to her. Deep down he was also feeling awkward. Earlier on, he had been so confident and calm when he bought the sanitary pads at the store. But he had no idea why he became so coy when he looked at her. Chapter 352. Dumb Woman, Youre Really Stupid! Past memories of how they had bickered flashed across his mind. Never had he imagined that one day, he would be buying sanitary pads for Wen Xuxu. Xuxu responded with a curt ¡®oh¡¯ and took the bag from him. She rose and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the bathroom.¡± Then she disappeared out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s sight. ¡°The hunter cut the wolf¡¯s belly with a pair of scissors and rescued Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.¡± ¡°Brother-in-law, you forgot to mention that the hunter put lots of stones inside the big bad wolf¡¯s belly.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu walked in and overheard Yan Rusheng reciting a story to Huanhuan who was apparently awake. And he had just finished the story. She heard Huanhuan¡¯s reminder and glanced instinctively at Young Master Yan¡¯s good-looking face. Even though she could only glimpse half of his face, she could feel the gloom emitting from him. This prideful scion had always despised and mocked others¡¯ IQ. Now, he had revealed to a kid that he couldn¡¯t even remember a fairytale. ¡°Why did you ask me to tell you the story when you already knew the story by heart?!¡± The scion glared resentfully at Huanhuan who was looking rather weak. Huanhuan responded with thorn coating her voice, ¡°Brother Ah Heng wouldn¡¯t have said it wrong!¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ ¡°This fellow Jiang Zhuoheng!¡± His wretched presence was really everywhere. Xuxu had indeed overestimated the scion¡¯s patience and she could not help but smile at the sight in front of her. She walked towards them and asked, ¡°You bought chocolate as well? Is it for me or for Huanhuan?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced fleetingly at the boxes of chocolate and replied, ¡°It¡¯s on discount so it¡¯s cheap.¡± Xuxu mumbled to herself softly, ¡°No wonder. I was puzzled why you became so thoughtful and even brought along a present to visit Huanhuan.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ again. Did he really need a discount to buy some boxes of chocolate? Did she think that he was some middle-aged woman waiting outside the entrance of a supermarket to snatch some discounted groceries? Of course, he had bought them because she likes furry toys! The main thing was the furry bear, alright! How could she not get that? ¡°Dumb woman, you¡¯re really stupid!¡± ¡°But this furry bear is really cute, it¡¯s perfect for Huanhuan.¡± Xuxu dangled the bear in front of Huanhuan and smiled as she asked, ¡°Do you like it?¡± Young Master Yan opened his mouth wordlessly as he stared at the bear. He had gotten the bear by mustering up some unknown courage to buy some discounted chocolate at a store which he rarely even goes to ¡ª and yet here she is, casually giving the bear to someone else! This stupid woman was really driving him to an early death. Xuxu placed the bear on Huanhuan¡¯s pillow and turned on her heels to face Yan Rusheng who was still sitting there as if having no intentions of leaving. She asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back?¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here to accompany you. You sleep first.¡± His tone was unyielding. Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows tightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You haven¡¯t had a good rest these few days. Hurry back home.¡± Yan Rusheng remained still. She went over to pull him and gripped his arm. ¡°You should go. I won¡¯t go to the office in the morning, so you should head to work early. Don¡¯t be late.¡± Yan Rusheng was startled when he felt how cold her hand was. Why was it so cold? Stupid woman, her health wasn¡¯t that good to begin with and she still wanted to stay up the entire night. ¡°Wen Xuxu, go and sleep now.¡± He didn¡¯t bother to argue with her anymore and lifted her right away. He strode towards the couch and placed her on it. Then he removed his blazer and placed it over her. ¡°Err¡­¡± Xuxu wanted to say something but Yan Rusheng pressed his lips against hers and sealed them effectively. Chapter 353. Mention The Pot That Doesnt Boil ¡®Oh¡­.¡¯ She scrunched her brows and glared at him. She then stretched out her hand to push him away. At that moment, Yan Rusheng had already backed away and he straightened his back. He appeared unruffled and said, ¡°Close your eyes and sleep now. If not, it wouldn¡¯t be a kiss anymore.¡± He threatened her with a glare. Xuxu didn¡¯t dare to challenge him back and closed her eyes immediately. She didn¡¯t want him to do anything inappropriate in front of a child. Yan Rusheng curled his mouth in satisfaction and turned around to sit by the bed. ¡°Remember to check Huanhuan¡¯s temperature later,¡± Xuxu said. She was still worried and couldn¡¯t help but remind Yan Rusheng again. ¡°Hmm.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and stretched his long-fingered hand to touch Huanhuan¡¯s forehead. Her fever seemed to have subsided. His huge hand brought warmth to Huanhuan and she dropped her guard against him. She blinked her innocent-looking eyes and asked, ¡°Brother-in-law, where is Brother Ah Heng? Did he leave?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± The little lass bought up a question that he had been itching to ask. Now he doesn¡¯t have to rack his brain to come up with an excuse to ask Wen Xuxu about Ah Heng. He turned his head to look at Xuxu and feigned ignorance before asking, ¡°Wen Xuxu was Jiang Zhuoheng here?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Why did Little Huanhuan have to bring up Jiang Zhuoheng? Why did she have to mention a pot that doesn¡¯t even boil? Xuxu clammed up and closed her eyes tightly. Yan Rusheng sneered under his breath when Wen Xuxu remained silent ¡ª indeed, she was guilty. He rose from where he was seating and strode over to the couch. He continued to interrogate her. ¡°Weren¡¯t you at your grandfather¡¯s place in the evening? Or did you sneak off to meet Jiang Zhuoheng?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ This young master was really ridiculous. He really does have a wild imagination. ¡°Did I guess correctly?¡± Yan Rusheng stood in his height and gazed down at her. Xuxu could feel the temperature decreasing rapidly and pretending to be asleep was no longer an option. She opened her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows. She grumbled, ¡°I thought you ordered me to stop talking and sleep?¡± Yan Rusheng gazed at her in a serious manner and interrogated her once more. ¡°Why did Jiang Zhuoheng come to the hospital? How did the two of you meet?¡± Xuxu honestly answered, ¡°I met him by coincidence at Grandfather¡¯s place. Then I received Matron Huang¡¯s call and I told him about Huanhuan. So he decided to come along with me. That¡¯s all.¡± Yan Rusheng snorted coldly. ¡± Hmph. Coincidence. Everything seems to be a coincidence.¡± Xuxu was irritated at this point. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe.¡± She turned her body around, with her back facing him. She shut her eyes close, with no intention of talking to him anymore. She had indeed met Jiang Zhuoheng by coincidence. Her conscience was clear and she didn¡¯t feel guilty at all. And what right did he have to question her? There were plenty of coincidences between him and Fang Jiayin as well. They had met outside a bar and were caught in a tight embrace. ¡°Yes. Anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Yan Rusheng said in a harsh, raspy voice while he stood in all his height. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if I believe or I was mistaken, you don¡¯t care at all,¡± he thought to himself. To Xuxu, she interpreted his words differently. Anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter to him whether she had explained or not. Yan Rusheng settled himself back into his seat. Huanhuan fell silent as she noticed the tension between them and hurriedly closed her eyes. The room fell silent. After some time, Wen Xuxu turned around to check on them. And her heart melted at the sight! Yan Rusheng was fast asleep as he rested his head by the edge of the bed. His massive body was arched in an uncomfortable position and she felt sorry for him. She rose and trod gingerly towards him. She held the blazer in her hands and placed it over him carefully. Chapter 354. Does This Short-Change The Little Girl? She looked at Yan Rusheng who was sound asleep and at that instant, she couldn¡¯t bear to lift her gaze from him. ¡­ Xuxu woke up the next day and found herself lying on the sofa with Yan Rusheng¡¯s blazer draped over her body. She was worried about Huanhuan¡¯s fever last night and kept vigil by her bedside. What happened after that was a blank to her. Yan Rusheng must have had carried her over to the sofa. She looked towards the bed and saw that little Huanhuan was still sleeping like a baby and the wooden stool next to the bed was empty. She wasn¡¯t certain if Yan Rusheng had left, so she took out her cell phone and dialed his number. The line got through and a deep cold voice sounded on the other side. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Xuxu whispered, ¡°Are you in the office?¡± She had no idea if he was still raging over the matter yesterday. But from his tone of voice, she could sense that he was either still angry or upset. Yan Rusheng replied with a short hum and didn¡¯t continue any further. Xuxu moved her lips but hesitated a few times before speaking her mind. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep well last night. Catch a nap when you are back in the office.¡± She figured, when both are at loggerheads, one party ought to give in first. He had brought supper for her in the middle of the night and stayed behind to accompany her in the hospital which was overwhelmed with the stench of medicine. Yet, she was the pretentious one. She ought to have kept separate issues apart and shouldn¡¯t have allowed her emotions from one matter to affect another. After all, he had already done his best. Yan Rusheng softened his tone. ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be all. Let¡¯s end the call¡±. Xuxu was about to hang up when Yan Rusheng suddenly added, ¡°I spoke to the doctor before I left and he said to continue observing her. If her fever subsides this morning, we can bring the little girl home to recuperate.¡± Without a second thought, Xuxu said, ¡°It¡¯s better to remain in the hospital. There are too many children in the orphanage, and the matron mentioned before that the children have not taken their vaccination. Also, the orphanage is too far away. If there¡¯s an emergency, it will be troublesome.¡± ¡°Bring her home then,¡± suggested Yan Rusheng. ¡°Aunt Zhang and the rest have more experience than you in taking care of children.¡± Xuxu widened her mouth in shock. ¡°You mean¡­ bring her back to our home?¡± Did she heard it wrong? He allowed her to bring Huanhuan home? As he was obsessed with cleanliness and Huanhuan had contracted chickenpox, the thought of bringing her home didn¡¯t even cross her mind. But beyond any doubt, she couldn¡¯t return to the orphanage until she¡¯s made a full recovery, and it was also impossible to remain in the hospital. She thought of putting her up with grandfather for two days and let Qi Lei take care of her. But it would be inconvenient for her to travel to work daily. If she could bring her home, that would be ideal. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded annoyed again on the other line. ¡°Does this short-change the little girl?¡± Xuxu shook her head instantly. ¡°No, no. Then I¡¯ll observe her this morning. Once the doctor gives the green light, I¡¯ll bring her home this afternoon. Thank you, Ah Sheng.¡± Hearing her obsequious tone, Yan Rusheng¡¯s mood felt better instantly. He replied with another soft hum and hung up. ¡­ The moment she ended the call, Jiang Zhuoheng arrived with breakfast. When he entered the door, he saw Xuxu holding her phone and chuckling to herself. This was a sight that was seldom seen and he was astonished. She must have just spoken to Yan Rusheng over the phone. Only he has the ability to control her emotions. He stared at Xuxu and felt despondent for a moment. Jiang Zhuoheng drew back from his thoughts and chuckled. ¡°Why are you on cloud nine this early in the morning? Found some money?¡± Chapter 355. Would Their Relationship Be Better Than the Present? Xuxu raised her head and looked at him, visibly startled. ¡°You are here so early.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng walked towards her and answered, ¡°Yes, but I need to return to the office shortly.¡± He walked up to her and handed over the food. ¡°Your breakfast. Eat up, quick.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have rushed over since you¡¯re so busy. Aren¡¯t you tired of getting caught in the morning hour traffic jam?¡± Xuxu chided him out of concern. She then stretched out her hands to receive the bag. She opened the bag and peered inside. It was steamed dumplings and pig liver wild vegetable porridge. ¡°Did Huanhuan run a fever yesterday night?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng shifted his gaze to the bed and observed Huanhuan who was still sound asleep. Xuxu replied, ¡°No, she didn¡¯t. But whenever her temperature would start to spike up, I dabbed her forehead with a damp cloth. Her temperature didn¡¯t rise after that. The doctor also said that if her fever is kept at bay, she can be discharged.¡± As Jiang Zhuoheng listened on, he got worried. ¡°The orphanage is located far away, and as what Matron Huang mentioned yesterday, some of the children at the orphanage have yet to be vaccinated against chicken pox. So, it¡¯s not yet safe for Huanhuan to return until she¡¯s made a full recovery.¡± He pondered for a moment and said, ¡°How about¡­ let me bring her home? There will be people at home to take care of her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Xuxu shook her head and answered cheerfully. ¡°Yan Rusheng allowed me to bring Huanhuan home.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was stunned for a moment and vacillated, ¡°Was that why you were so overjoyed earlier?¡± Although he was unsure if her elation was due to that, somehow he had a hunch that it wasn¡¯t far off. Xuxu pressed her lips together and remained silent, seeming to agree tacitly. Jiang Zhuoheng lowered his head and curled his lips bitterly. ¡°So Yan Rusheng, how could I ever compete with you?¡± In her heart, one of them had already emerged a winner. ¡ª Little Huanhuan¡¯s condition was stable for the entire morning, with no signs of the fever spiking up. And so, Xuxu was able to bring her home when afternoon rolled around. When they arrived at the Yan family¡¯s mansion, the little girl was struck in awe the moment they entered the courtyard. ¡°Sister Xuxu, your house is so magnificent.¡± The three-year-old child was obviously thrilled. A pair of crystal clear eyes resembling two black gems darted around with sheer excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s go in quickly. The wind is too strong and you can¡¯t afford to catch a cold.¡± Xuxu bent over and scooped Huanhuan up, blocking her face from the wind with one arm. Aunt Zhang heard the butler announce that Xuxu was back and scurried out of the house. ¡°Missy, you are back.¡± She greeted Wen Xuxu and looked at Huanhuan who was in her arms. A kind and pleasant smile appeared on her face unknowingly. ¡°She must be Huanhuan.¡± ¡°Hello grandmother, I am Huanhuan.¡± Little Huanhuan had good manners and was also very smart for her age. She already knew how to address an elderly such as Aunt Zhang. Her sweet voice tickled Aunt Zhang¡¯s heart and she was bursting with joy. ¡°Hello. Come in quickly. It¡¯s cold outside.¡± They strode into the house together and Xuxu placed Huanhuan down after that. The little girl removed her shoes by herself and ran free as a bird in the living room. ¡°Having a child in the house livens up the atmosphere. ¡± Aunt Zhang looked at Huanhuan and added hopefully, ¡°How nice if you and Third Young Master had a child of this age. I will still be able to take care for you for a few years.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She gazed at little Huanhuan¡¯s petite figure. She was merely as tall as her thighs. How nice if you and Third Young Master had a child of this age¡­ If they had a child, how would their life be? Would their relationship be better than the present? Chapter 356. Obviously Getting On In Years Perhaps¡­ if grandmother wouldn¡¯t have left so soon, she wouldn¡¯t have left with many regrets. She just couldn¡¯t get grandmother¡¯s last words out of her mind. While she was mulling over this, little Huanhuan had already run to the staircase. She pointed to the second floor and said in a sweet and innocent tone, ¡°Sister Xuxu, can I go upstairs?¡± At the age of three, her pronunciation was unclear and hearing her lispy pronunciation would melt one¡¯s heart. ¡°Of course you can.¡± Xuxu nodded her head with a smile and took a step towards her. The doctor advised that Huanhuan could only take bland food. Since she won¡¯t be returning to the office in the afternoon, Xuxu went to the supermarket to buy some groceries. Yan Rusheng came home and heard voices of adults and children coming from the kitchen. He changed into his slippers and walked with quiet steps to the dining room entrance. In the kitchen, Xuxu was wearing a floral print apron and julienning the carrots in front of the stove. After taking Huanhuan home, Xuxu gave her a sponge bath and changed her into a set of clean clothes. Xuxu then had her naturally curled hair tied up into two braids. The child was already in good spirits as she was no longer running a fever, and added to that, the red blisters on her body started to heal. Xuxu brought her a stool and let her sit by her side. Looking at the shredded carrot, the little girl pouted her lips, ¡°I don¡¯t like to eat carrots.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu took out a stalk of vegetable from the basin and teased her, ¡°Then just have green vegetables.¡± She knew that most children didn¡¯t fancy greens and carrots. As expected, Huanhuan knitted her eyebrows. With pouted lips, she shook her head. ¡°Huanhuan don¡¯t like to eat green vegetables either.¡± Xuxu said firmly, ¡°Green vegetables and carrots are nutritious. You cannot be picky about food.¡± ¡°Huanhuan likes to eat Kentucky fried chicken.¡± After saying this, the little girl turned to Xuxu with a look of anticipation. She was so full of wits. After beating around the bush, all she wanted was to request for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Xuxu smiled in response. ¡°Those are junk food.¡± ¡°But the television commercial said that it¡¯s delicious.¡± Huanhuan¡¯s lips sank and she whispered, ¡°Huanhuan had never eaten before.¡± She lowered her head and her legs dangled restlessly from the chair. She looked so pitiful in her petite frame, and oh how Xuxu wished that she could bring her to savor the fried chicken immediately. There were not so many outdoor activities for the kids at the orphanage and were mostly limited to weeding the grass at nearby farmlands. Visiting the town or city for Kentucky Fried Chicken was seemingly impossible. With so many children, it was also impractical to order takeaways and add it to their everyday diet. Even though Kentucky Fried Chicken was junk food, which child in the city hasn¡¯t eaten it before? Xuxu stopped working on her chores and patted Huanhuan on her head. ¡°If you behave, I¡¯ll bring you to eat after you¡¯ve fully recovered.¡± ¡°Great. That¡¯s great.¡± Huanhuan clapped her hands ecstatically. Her puerile laughter infected the entire house. Yan Rusheng, who was standing at the door also curled his lips subconsciously. This little thing¡ªshe¡¯s just so promising that even junk food could bring her so much joy. He leaned lazily against the wall of the kitchen entrance and looked at the adult and the child. He couldn¡¯t bear to lift his eyes off them. ¡°Third Young Master, why are you standing here?¡± All of a sudden, Aunt Zhang walked over. There was a long pause¡­ Yan Rusheng stared at Aunt Zhang with a look of annoyance. Why must this old lady always appear at the wrong time and kill the beautiful scene? Standing there without uttering a word, it was obvious that he was snooping around. She was definitely getting on in years and lacking the ability to make discerning judgments. ¡°Brother-in-law is back. ¡± Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice was deafening and startled both of Xuxu and Huanhuan in the kitchen. Chapter 357. Quickly Have A Baby When Huanhuan saw Yan Rusheng, she slid down from her chair instantly and lept at him. Xuxu told her earlier that this house belonged to her and brother-in-law, and that she should talk to him in an ingratiating manner whenever he was around. Once brother-in-law was pleased with her, he would buy her a lot of delicious food. Xuxu smiled and shook her head in disbelief when she saw little Huanhuan¡¯s enthusiasm towards Yan Rusheng. Food could really play a significant role in enticing a child. The little girl ran over to Yan Rusheng and hugged his leg. She tilted her head up and looked at him, ¡°Brother-in-law, sister Xuxu will bring us to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.¡± ¡°What do you mean sister Xuxu will bring them? ¡± pondered Yan Rusheng. He didn¡¯t need Xuxu to bring them over. Young Master Yan was displeased with the words used by the little girl. He bent over, pinched her tiny face and corrected her. ¡°It should be me who¡¯s going to bring both of you there.¡± Xuxu took it as a grain of sand, thinking that he was only kidding. Why would a guy like him be even bothered to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken with them? ¡°Can you please bring her out? I am still preparing dinner and it will be served shortly.¡± She shooed them out of the kitchen. ¡°What delicious dishes have you prepared?¡± Yan Rusheng rose to his height and straightened his back. He shifted his gaze to what Xuxu was cooking and saw vegetable and meat sprawled all over the chopping board. His face instantly brightened up. He gingerly walked over the counter and picked up a piece of vegetable from a cooked dish before shoving it into his mouth. He chewed for a little while, and without holding back his critic, he shot Xuxu a disapproving look. ¡°Bad.¡± Xuxu was furious. ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡ª Early Friday morning, Xuxu brought Huanhuan back to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor said that she had made a full recovery. Other than foods that are too stimulating for her, she was free to consume all others. She called Matron Huang and told her the good news. Since Huanhuan¡¯s already better, Matron Huang would be picking her up this Saturday. However, Xuxu was a bit reluctant about letting her go. After discussing with the Matron, they¡¯ve agreed that she will personally send Huanhuan back on Sunday night. When they left the outpatient clinic, Xuxu asked Aunt Zhang and the driver to bring Huanhuan home as she needed to return to the office. After giving instructions to Aunt Zhang, she lowered her head and smiled at Huanhuan. ¡°Huanhuan, be a good girl and follow grandmother Zhang home. We¡¯ll buy new clothes and have Kentucky Fried Chicken tomorrow.¡± Huanhuan nodded her head sensibly. ¡°Mm. Bye-bye, Sister Xuxu.¡± Under the brilliant morning sun, the little girl¡¯s tender face was bursting of energy. Her energy resembled the bright sparkle of a green emerald¡ªshe was indeed a bright spark. Xuxu caressed her chubby cheeks and pursed her lips, her eyes flickered with mixed feelings. ¡­ Early Saturday morning, Xuxu brought Huanhuan out. As Yan Yusheng was still busy with a videoconference with his business partners, Xuxu just gestured that they were already heading out. After they had settled inside the car and fastened their seat belts, Xuxu¡¯s phone received a message from Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯ll look for you later.¡± Those words made Xuxu feel all warm inside. She replied a quick ¡®ok¡¯ before she started the engine on. She made plans to meet up with Zhou Shuang that day, and so she didn¡¯t bring the chauffeur and the servant along. Zhou Shang was returning from overseas travel, she should reach the capital city at around 10 in the morning. Hence, she could only meet up with Xuxu and Huanhuan in the afternoon. For the whole morning, Xuxu took Huanhuan for a stroll. She bought the little girl some new clothes and some tidbits, too. She also grabbed a few more for the children back in the orphanage. When 1 in the afternoon rolled around, Zhou Shuang met up with Xuxu and Huanhuan at the shopping mall. They brought Huanhuan to the children¡¯s playground at the Kids¡¯ Zone. Only children were allowed in, and so adults have to stay outside to wait. Huanhuan had already sped off like a bullet to the playground when Xuxu called out to her to be careful. Zhou Shuang looked at her and pulled an ambiguous smile. ¡°Since you like children so much, you better have a child with Yan Rusheng quick.¡± Chapter 358. 11 November Xuxu cast a sideways glance at her. ¡°Such matters can¡¯t be rushed.¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly hugged her and whispered into her ears, ¡°Get Yan Rusheng to work hard tonight.¡± Xuxu blushed and nudged her with her elbows. ¡°Bad girl.¡± ¡­ The next few weekends were neither too idle or busy. Yet this particular weekend was packed with back to back engagements. Yan Rusheng was sitting in the backseat, he was massaging his swollen temples. The car stopped as it approached the red light. He glanced at his watch. It was almost 5 p.m. ¡°Hurry up.¡± He demanded at his chauffeur in urgency. When the traffic light turned green, his chauffeur sped off. It was already the almost the evening rush hour, and worse there was a commotion that caused a traffic build-up. When the car came to a halt again, Yan Rusheng tilted his head¡ªfrustrated with what was happening. He was getting more and more impatient as the time ticked on. It seemed that there was a gridlock situation ahead, and a crowd had gathered a few meters away¡ªwhich got increasingly bigger by the seconds. ¡°President, there seemed to be a commotion at the Capital City Musical Theatre causing the congestion.¡± The chauffeur¡¯s voice echoed in his ears. He then knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Take a detour.¡± ¡°Quick. It¡¯s really Chen Yuxi.¡± ¡°Yuxi! Yuxi!¡± Two young ladies ran past their car in sheer excitement. They were calling out someone¡¯s name as they ran. ¡°Yuxi? Who¡¯s that fellow?¡± It must be some superstar. Yan Rusheng had lost touch with the entertainment industry and couldn¡¯t care less, he was already tied up with work and basking in Xuxu¡¯s love. The chauffeur took a quick glance behind him and seemed to panic on his seat. ¡°Oh dear. Traffic has already piled up behind us too.¡± Yan Rusheng also turned his head around to look, only to find out that the traffic behind them came to a standstill in just a few seconds. There was no way to make a detour even. He clicked his tongue and pounded his fists on the car door. He was already fuming in anger and anxiety. He glared at the swarm of people ahead of him. Those people came from both sides of the road, and were up on their toes all excited! There was also a throng of security and traffic police rushing to the traffic to maintain order. But that didn¡¯t change the situation, it was still chaotic as ever. Unceasing shouts and ear-piercing shrieks started filling the air. Even from where Yan Rusheng was, he could hear chants. ¡°Who is Fang Jiayin? How dare she compete with our Yuxi?¡± ¡°Exactly. She¡¯s only an insignificant violinist trying to create a hype for herself in the name of charity.¡± As their car neared a pavement, the conversation of every pedestrian could be distinctively heard. When Yan Rusheng heard the content of the discussions, his eyes flickered in astonishment. ¡°Fang Jiayin! Compete?¡± 11 November, Charity Musical Performance at Capital City Musical Theatre by musician Fang Jiayin, who had just returned from abroad Today is exactly 11 November. What was happening? He lifted an arm slowly and propped it on the car window. He held his chin with the same hand and looked pensively at the crowd. The crowd went into a frenzy and it was beyond what the police could handle. Arrogant voices of Chen Yuxi¡¯s fans filled the air even more. ¡°Everyone could see that Fang Jiayin¡¯s car had already made a turn in the midst of a large mob of Chen Yuxi¡¯s fans who were blocking the road. ¡°But so what? The fans were fiercely protective of Chen Yuxi. Even the person-in-charge of the theatre would rather side with the fans than offend them. All these, in the hope that Fang Jiayin¡¯s car would make way for Chen Yuxi. ¡°Exactly. That Fang Jiayin was merely a musician with only a handful of fans. Even if her performance is canceled, it would still be a far cry from Chen Yuxi¡¯s. ¡°She had just returned from overseas and if she had given way to Chen Yuxi today, how will she be able to ride-out in future. Chapter 359. Carry On Being Prideful The driver and his passengers from the car beside Yan Rusheng¡¯s own stepped out and started to join in the commotion and chatted excitedly about the situation. Yan Rusheng overheard their conversation and his eyes flickered. ¡°One day, I finally came to this realization. I¡¯m outstanding and I have my pride. So why do I still want to stay with a man whose heart was with another woman?¡± He then thought, ¡°Fang Jiayin, perhaps the only compensation I can give you is to let you¡­ carry on being prideful.¡± He lifted his head, opened the car door and got down. The moment Yan Rusheng stepped out of the car and let his presence be known to everyone around, it¡¯s as if the sun became even more dazzling. He strode towards the crowd with long, confident strides. His aura began to radiate so brightly. ¡°It¡¯s the Third Young Master from the Yan family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s him, Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President.¡± ¡°Wow, he must be here to support Yuxi.¡± Everyone¡¯s attention started to divert to him instead. The crowd in front immediately stepped aside to draw a path for him to walk on without any obstacles. He began to get a clear understanding of the situation; two cars were stopped at the carpark entrance of the Capital City Musical Theater. The white car had already turned direction and the dark gray Mercedes seemed to have sped and rubbed against the white car¡¯s side mirror. But the owners of the two cars didn¡¯t step down. Only a well-dressed young man was relaying information to the traffic police and the theater¡¯s person-in-charge. ¡°Miss Fang, please cooperate and step out of the car.¡± A traffic police officer stood beside the white car¡¯s passenger seat. He was peering inside as if he was talking directly to a person. His voice was booming and rigid as if he was of the military force. A woman¡¯s voice spoke from inside the car. ¡°I changed direction correctly without flouting any traffic rules.¡± Although she sounded rather impatient and enraged, she didn¡¯t raise her voice at all. It had fully exhibited her excellent upbringing and character. It was Fang Jiayin! ¡°Miss Fang, regardless of who is in the wrong, shouldn¡¯t you come out to settle it personally?¡± Another police officer walked to the side of her car and his eyebrows were knitted tightly together. He spoke rather impatiently, ¡°Miss Yuxi¡¯s manager had already agreed to follow us to the police station regarding this incident.¡± Go to the traffic police department? If she made a trip to the police station, she would have missed her musical entirely. Siding with the rich and powerful was common in the society. And upon recalling this, Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips twitched coldly. ¡°The cause of this minor accident is so apparent and yet it had caused such major traffic congestion. I¡¯m amazed by the capability of the police force.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s sarcastic remarks sounded as clear as a bell in the crowd. One could even hear the authority and dominance in his voice. His aura along with his words seemed to spread among the crowd. His voice also seemed to have stopped the commotion for a brief moment as everyone¡¯s eyes turned to his sound. But it was only short-lived, for the crowd stirred up a commotion once more. ¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s Third Young Master from the Yan family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s him! Why would he be here?¡± ¡°Take a picture of him! He used to date lots of popular celebrities and I¡¯m sure he is here to support Yuxi.¡± If his history was to be taken into consideration, everyone would be quick to assume that the Scion was here to support Yuxi. The heated discussion continued but Yan Rusheng let it pass his ears. He strolled towards the two cars. No one among the security or the police force dared to stop him. They all knew who he was and what his social standing was. Even the traffic police officer, who earlier on spoke rather impatiently to the owner of the white car, had put on a smile. He seemed considerably friendlier and more polite. Chapter 360. I Was On The Way To Meet Her The police officer turned and nodded at Yan Rusheng politely. ¡°Third Master, the car owners are both well-known people so it can be a little tricky. Hence, it has caused a traffic jam. We¡¯re trying our best to settle this as fast as possible.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± A tall, svelte lady stepped out from the white car and looked at Yan Rusheng with her eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°Jiayin.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond to the traffic police officer, instead, he smiled warmly at Fang Jiayin who had just gotten down from the car. He looked at her and asked with a frown, ¡°I thought your musical is starting at 7 p.m.? Was I too early?¡± He didn¡¯t raise his voice but his words were being communicated from the front to the back of the crowd. Everyone realized that the Third Young Master wasn¡¯t here to support the popular celebrity Yuxi. Instead, he was here for the relatively unknown musician who had just come back from abroad. Yuxi¡¯s fans were disappointed. Fang Jiayin smiled awkwardly. ¡°There was a minor collision¡­ as you can see.¡± Yan Rusheng hummed in response and nodded. He was about to respond when Yuxi¡¯s manager walked up to him and smiled brightly. ¡°Hi, Third Young Master.¡± Yan Rusheng took advantage of his height and peered slightly downwards at him. He said with arrogance coating his voice, ¡°Do I know you?¡± The manager snorted loudly. A mere sentence from Yan Rusheng and Yuxi¡¯s manager was utterly embarrassed. And in the whole duration that he stood there, an awkward expression was etched on his face. Everyone who overheard them gasped with shock. The Third Young Master was well-known for being arrogant, aloof and condescending, and by some grace, everyone had the opportunity to witness it for themselves. ¡°This¡­¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at the police officer before pointing at the angle where the two cars had collided. ¡°I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t need to enlighten you if it¡¯s really that tricky to settle it?¡± scoffed Yan Rusheng in a derisively manner. The traffic police officer shook his head profusely. ¡°There isn¡¯t a need.¡± How would he have the guts to side with Chen Yuxi regardless of her fame or how established her company was? The backer of the other party was the President of Flourish & Prosper, Third Young Master of the prominent Yan family. He would be a fool to offend him. And most importantly, there wasn¡¯t anything tricky about this collision. It was clear who the culprit was. Yan Rusheng ignored the traffic police officer and turned to Fang Jiayin. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Jiayin nodded. She could hardly contain the joy and excitement in her voice. She walked to Yan Rusheng and she couldn¡¯t help but recall about their wonderful memories as she stood beside him. She reminisced about how they had walked on the familiar paths in the campus through several seasons together. A strong breeze pulled her back from the happy memories to the present. She looked at Yan Rusheng and asked softly, ¡°Xuxu isn¡¯t with you?¡± ¡°I was on the way to meet her but the roads were blocked.¡± He wasn¡¯t here to attend her concert. Fang Jiayin understood him and a streak of disappointment flashed past her eyes. ¡°Oh.¡± She turned around and looked at the stretch of the road which was being congested. The traffic police had begun to disperse the crowd. ¡°I reckon the roads would clear up soon.¡± Yan Rusheng said in a hushed tone, ¡°Since I¡¯m here, I¡¯ll go in for a short while.¡± Was he planning to attend her concert? Even though she knew that he had said this just so she could still preserve her pride in front of all the inquisitive onlookers, she was beyond grateful and happy that he was willing to help her. Fang Jiayin lowered her head and suppressed the burgeoning emotions in her. ¡°Thank you.¡± Both of them didn¡¯t speak a word as they walked towards the entrance of the theater. Yan Rusheng trailed after Fang Jiayin as they head towards the theater hall. Chapter 361. Its A Pretense Due to Yan Rusheng¡¯s presence, the person-in-charge and the theater staff were all very cooperative and did their best to prepare for Fang Jiayin¡¯s performance. He sat at the first row along with a few famous violinists from abroad. Fang Jiayin was already up on the stage donned in her long, red gown. The lights shone on her, illuminating her very presence on the stage. She closed her eyes, completely immersed in her craft. Even the audience was immersed in her performance as well. Only the sound of her enchanting music echoed throughout the theater hall. ¡®Ah Sheng, did I improve as compared to the previous time?¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, did I play well?¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ As these flashbacks popped into the front of his mind, he didn¡¯t seem to have seriously listened or admired the way she played the violin. He only assumed that he should love everything that she loves. So it was only appropriate for him to be interested in her music as well. He started comparing the differences between accompanying Fang Jiayin, while she played the violin, with accompanying Wen Xuxu, as she watched her boring and childish dramas. Even though he had no interest in both, the feelings he had while doing both were different. If it¡¯s a pretense when he feigned interest in her music, then what about¡­ his love for her? They were so intimate when they were still together, and her confession always had his heart racing wild. On top of that, they had given each other their very firsts. How should he explain this? And yet, he was so certain of his feelings for Xuxu¡ªshe was irreplaceable. If that was the case, then he shouldn¡¯t have some more lingering feelings for Fang Jiayin. But he still couldn¡¯t forget the first night they shared together. Was this the magic of the unforgettable first time? ¡°Thank you, everyone.¡± Fang Jiayin finished her performance and bowed to the audience. The entire hall and the stage became brightly lit. Yan Rusheng snapped out of his reverie and glanced at his watch¡ªit was almost 9 in the evening. He then whipped out his phone in a hasty manner. The disappointment was evident on his face when there wasn¡¯t any texts or missed calls. He inwardly berated Wen Xuxu. Stupid woman, can¡¯t she give him a call if she didn¡¯t see him? He quickly sent a text. ¡®Xuxu, it¡¯s getting late. Go home first.¡¯ ¡°I was just informed by the staff that they have invited the children from the school that I¡¯ve volunteered at previously. I¡¯m really overjoyed to hear this.¡± Fang Jiayin choked with emotion on stage. Yan Rusheng glanced at the stage as a knot of children, who were dressed in a rather shabby attires, walked to the platform from the backstage. They were also accompanied by a lady. He glanced at the children who were all tanned and were of different ages. Pairs of bright black eyes stared at the audience timidly. It made one¡¯s heart ache. The children rushed towards Fang Jiayin when they saw her. ¡°Teacher Fang.¡± Fang Jiayin knelt down and embraced them with joy. When Yan Rusheng saw that scene unfold in front of him, he smiled as it reminded him of Xuxu and how she had treated the children at the orphanage. Although Xuxu¡¯s care for the children seemed more sincere and genuine, it was undeniable that Fang Jiayin was too. But if one was to look closer, Xuxu had a strong motherly instinct when it comes to the kids. As he thought of Wen Xuxu again, he took a glimpse of his cell phone. There was still no reply from her. She must be having a good time with that little lass, and with that he became restless. The children on stage were singing a song to thank Fang Jiayin. Fang Jiayin¡¯s couldn¡¯t help it, her eyes were starting to glisten with tears. After the performance ended, Yan Rusheng went to the backstage to bid Fang Jiayin goodbye. Chapter 362. Help Me Answer The Call He stood at the door and watched as the children surround Fang Jiayin. She embraced each one of them, stroked their hair and helped them to adjust their clothes. Even though she wasn¡¯t like Xuxu who had exhibited motherly love, it was clear to anyone that she loves children. He reckoned that most women like children. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Fang Jiayin saw Yan Rusheng, she extricated herself from the children and smiled at him. Yan Rusheng said from a distance. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Jiayin nodded. She beamed, ¡°Thank you so much for your help today.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips and remained quiet. He glanced at the children once more before turning around to leave. He strode away with grace and poise and without any hint of hesitation. Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes sparkled with overflowing emotion as she watched him leave. ¡­ Yan Rusheng got into the car and dialed up Wen Xuxu. After ringing her phone for some time, she finally answered. ¡°Hello,¡± Xuxu answered in a whisper, ¡°Huanhuan is still asleep.¡± Yan Rusheng unconsciously lowered his volume too. ¡°Xuxu, where are you now? I¡¯ll head over to where you are.¡± ¡°We are almost home. See you at home.¡± Yan Rusheng responded with an ¡®uh¡¯ and she promptly ended the call. He stared at the screen gloomily. The little lass had stayed at their house for only a week, and yet here he was, altogether neglected by Xuxu. If they have kids in the future, wouldn¡¯t he surely be invisible in Xuxu¡¯s eyes? The scion began to fret about his place in his wife¡¯s heart. The car drove out of the underground car park and to the main road, which, earlier that afternoon was heavily congested. Suddenly, the sight reminded him of something important. He needed to explain to Xuxu about what had happened earlier today. Everything that happened today, he reckoned that the next morning¡­ No , he might not need to wait until tomorrow. It might already be on the headlines tonight. Hence, the first thing to do is to explain and clarify every little bit to the stupidwoman. Otherwise, she might be mistaken again, and he would be left alone during lunch at work¡­ again. He immediately went online to search for news about him. Without any surprise, the entertainment news was filled with the events that had occurred at the Capital City Musical Theater today. His name was highlighted. He had already guessed how the media had spun ridiculous stories with hearsays. Once the car entered the courtyard, he immediately stepped out and dashed into the house. He slipped off his shoes and hurried upstairs. He bumped into a servant and asked, ¡°Is Madam back?¡± The servant nodded. ¡°Yes, she is in the room.¡± Yan Rusheng continued to ascend the stairs and went to Xuxu¡¯s room. When he found out that it was empty, he heaved an inaudible sigh of relief. That would mean that she should be in their bedroom, proving that she wasn¡¯t mad at him. He turned around and entered the bedroom. The bathroom was locked and the sound of water splashing could be heard. ¡°I love to shower and my skin is clean. Oh, oh, oh¡­¡± Xuxu and Huanhuan were singing. Yan Rusheng grinned when he heard them. His worries were vain as she seemed to be in good spirits. But he couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility that she might not have the time to browse the news yet since she was busy with the little lass the entire day. As he pondered about the possibilities, Xuxu¡¯s phone rang. He looked around the room for her phone. Her phone was in her bag sitting atop the sofa. ¡°Wen Xuxu, your call,¡± yelled Yan Rusheng towards the bathroom. Xuxu replied loudly, ¡°Help me answer the call.¡± Chapter 363. You Dont Like Children? ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng walked over and rummaged for her phone inside the bag. The phone had stopped ringing. It was Jiang Zhuoheng. His face fell when he saw his name¡ªhostility and jealousy were evident in his eyes. Why did this fellow call her so late at night? He was still in the midst of analyzing Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s intentions when a text came in. ¡°Today I was too busy and couldn¡¯t leave early. Tell Huanhuan that I¡¯ll see her tomorrow. Sleep early.¡± Did that mean that Wen Xuxu had called him today? Yan Rusheng stared at the text as fury blazed in his eyes. She didn¡¯t call him the entire day to ask if he was busy, or even to ask if he was done with work. The sound of the flowing water stopped. Yan Rusheng placed the phone back in Xuxu¡¯s bag, and it seemed heavy so he took a look at the contents inside. He accidentally caught a glimpse of a hidden unzipped compartment. Was this stupid woman feeling unwell again? What medicine was she taking? He stretched his hand to retrieve the medicine and he read the words printed on it. His expression froze and his heart felt like it was being yanked from all sides. Xuxu¡¯s bag slid out of his hands and fell to the floor with a loud thud. ¡°Who called?¡± Xuxu was carrying Huanhuan out of the bathroom when she saw Yan Rusheng holding her medicine. Her body gave an involuntary violent shudder. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face was contorted with rage and his eyes resembled shattered black icicles. Even though they stood a distance apart, Xuxu could still feel an intense chill emanating from him and the silence was stifling. It frightened her. He watched her intensely as he held the medicine in his hands. He was unusually calm when he spoke as though he was suppressing his emotions. ¡°Wen Xuxu, explain to me. What is this?¡± ¡°I¡­ Ah Sheng, I¡­¡± Xuxu released Huanhuan from her arms. She turned around, slightly trembling as she walked to the door. She opened it and said softly to Huanhuan. ¡°Huanhuan, go outside and play.¡± Huanhuan nodded her head. ¡°Okay.¡± She closed the door after Huanhuan left. Before she could turn around, Yan Rusheng had already stomped towards her and pressed the medicine forcefully on her chest. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± His roar seemed to rattle the entire house. Xuxu instinctively took a step backward, startled and terrified by his outburst. Luckily the door was behind her, if not she would have lost her footing. She leaned against the door for support as Yan Rusheng advanced on her. His menacing and ice-cold aura seemed to envelop her entirely, leaving her feeling suffocated. She lifted her head and shook her head in submission. She opened her mouth but she didn¡¯t know what to say. Should she say that she didn¡¯t want to see him getting back together with Fang Jiayin? Or say that she was afraid of being dumped by him after having children? Hence, she had made the mistake by impulse? But Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t give her any time to hesitate. He grabbed and lifted her chin with force. He glared at her, his sinister-looking eyes seemed to be overflowing with wrath. He gritted his teeth and mocked, ¡°So your love for children was just a pretense.¡± There wasn¡¯t any trace of warmth or gentleness in his eyes or voice. And Xuxu¡¯s heart felt like it was being repeatedly lashed by his callous words. Her fair face was turning purplish from his tight grip and her voice seemed to be choked inside her throat. Yan Rusheng paused before continuing, ¡°Or perhaps you like all children except for mine and yours? That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t want to have children.¡± Chapter 364. How Could He Do That To You? ¡°Err¡­.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t speak at all and all she could do was to shake her head profusely. Her eyes brimmed with tears. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I doubt you will cherish my heart even if I give it to you.¡± There was an abnormal calmness in Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice. As his words washed over her, Xuxu¡¯s tears began rolling down from her eyes. She felt helpless as she looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. She realized that she could see¡­ sorrow and sadness in his eyes? She stared blankly at him in disbelief. Was it another illusion? Yan Rusheng relinquished his grip on her face. He grabbed her arm and shoved her aside. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want kids, I won¡¯t touch you anymore.¡± After he had spoken what he had to say, he wrenched the door open and left in a huff. ¡°Ah Sheng, I didn¡¯t say I don¡¯t want our children.¡± Xuxu bawled as she leaned against the wall and slumped to the floor slowly. ¡°Ah Sheng, I really wanted to have children with you. And I¡¯ve really tried so hard.¡± She covered her face with her hands and wept loudly. Since you don¡¯t want kids, I won¡¯t touch you anymore¡­ No, please don¡¯t. Yan Rusheng¡¯s words echoed once more and Xuxu shook her head in despair. She rose and left the room. She opened the study¡¯s room, but there wasn¡¯t any sight of him. She quickened her steps towards the stairs. Aunt Zhang saw her and asked, ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± ¡°Where is Ah Sheng?¡± Xuxu stopped and asked her in a hurry. Aunt Zhang knew that she used to address Yan Rusheng as ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯ but she hasn¡¯t done so in recent years. Aunt Zhang paused for a moment before answering her. ¡°You mean Third Young Master? He just left.¡± She noticed Xuxu¡¯s face which was filled with tears and asked. ¡°Did the both of you quarrel again?¡± ¡°No wonder Third Young Master had left with such an angry expression.¡± She thought to herself. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t reply Aunt Zhang as she scurried down the stairs and dashed out of the door. But Yan Rusheng had already driven off. She didn¡¯t hesitate and bolted back to the bedroom to get her phone. She tried calling Yan Rusheng though she didn¡¯t expect him to pick up. And indeed, he didn¡¯t. There were two missed calls; it was from Jiang Zhuoheng and Zhou Shuang. And there was a text from Jiang Zhuoheng. It was the text that Yan Rusheng had read earlier on. But she didn¡¯t have the mood to read the text now¡­ She texted Yan Rusheng with her trembling hands. ¡®Ah Sheng, please come back will you?¡¯ She doesn¡¯t care about her pride anymore. After her text was sent, her phone rang. Xuxu glanced eagerly at the screen. But it was Zhou Shuang. Disappointed, she picked up the call and answered with a choked voice. ¡°Shuang, I¡¯m a little busy now. Can we talk next time?¡± ¡°I knew you would definitely be affected.¡± Zhou Shuang quipped angrily even though she wasn¡¯t aware of the situation. ¡°Yan Rusheng is a jerk! How could he do that to you?¡± Xuxu was rather startled as she questioned her. ¡°You knew?¡± She had just fought with Yan Rusheng, why would Zhou Shuang be aware? Even if Yan Rusheng had gone to Lu Yinan, the news wouldn¡¯t have spread so fast to reach Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang said, ¡°Their news is everywhere online. How could I not know?¡± Xuxu was puzzled. ¡°Online? They?¡± What was that supposed to mean? Zhou Shuang was baffled when she realized that Xuxu had no inkling of what had happened. ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you cry because you saw the news of Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin? I called and asked Lu Yinan. He said that the woman was Yan Rusheng¡¯s girlfriend back in university right?¡± Chapter 365. Hurry Up And Go Home Fang Jiayin! News? ¡°Shuang, I need to hang up now.¡± She said goodbye to Zhou Shuang in a haste and hung up. Xuxu clicked on an online website and a news article about a collision that happened outside the Capital City Musical Theater was on the front page. ¡®With Third Master as her backer, musician triumphs reigning goddess.¡¯ She took a deep breath to prepare herself mentally when she saw the headlines. She clicked to read the contents of the article. The gist of the article depicted how Fang Jiayin¡¯s car had collided with Chen Yuxi¡¯s car outside the Capital City Musical Theater¡¯s carpark. The traffic police and the theater¡¯s person-in-charge had initially sided with Chen Yuxi, but Third Young Master came out of nowhere to support the musician who came back from overseas and gloriously defeated the reigning goddess and the rest. Then Yan Rusheng attended Fang Jiayin¡¯s musical and left only after it had ended. So he went to Fang Jiayin¡¯s musical. That was why he didn¡¯t manage to meet her and Huanhuan. So this was the real reason¡­ She had waited at Kentucky¡¯s for him and didn¡¯t dare to call him as she thought that he might still be busy. She should have guessed that he would never go to such places. Nonetheless, she was still hoping that he would really appear and kept waiting for him. Her phone slipped from her hands and fell to the ground. She ignored it and her knees gave way as she collapsed next to the sofa. ¡®What¡¯s so good about a musical? If you like it, I can play the piano at home for you.¡¯ ¡®I really didn¡¯t know why there were the tickets in my pocket¡­¡¯ ¡°Ah Sheng, in that case, why did you try to change our relationship?¡± she pondered. ¡°Didn¡¯t we get along fine previously?¡± He didn¡¯t need to lie to her if he didn¡¯t intend to change. To sustain this marriage, she would continue to stay by him just like how she did before. Then she wouldn¡¯t harbor any expectations or hope! Xuxu clutched her chest and it felt painful to just to breathe. It was as if thousands of arrows had just pierced through her heart. ¡­ Two gorgeous men sat in the middle of a noisy bar and naturally they stood out amongst the crowd. Countless ladies kept trying to strike a conversation with them but they immediately retreated when they realized who they were. These two men were simply out of their league and way too dangerous. Lu Yinan didn¡¯t really enjoy such public places where people could openly gawk at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He snatched the glass from Yan Rusheng as he furrowed his eyebrows. He chided him softly, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you have gone overboard this time. Look at the news of you and Fang Jiayin. Quoting Yishan¡¯s words, the scene is exactly what would have happened in those idol dramas or romance novels. And it usually happens to the main male and female leads.¡± Furthermore, shouldn¡¯t he be at home trying to coax his wife instead of drinking at a pub? It seemed like he was the one who was feeling aggrieved instead. ¡°Shut up.¡± Yan Rusheng motioned at Lu Yinan to stop his lecture and warned him coldly. Then he began drinking once more. Lu Yinan was about to snatch the glass away but Yan Rusheng had gulped the entire glass in seconds. ¡°I can shut up but can you stop drinking? Hurry up and go home.¡± Young Master Lu slid down from his seat as he grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms and pulled him from his seat. ¡°Get lost.¡± Yan Rusheng shoved him away as he slumped back on his seat once more. Lu Yinan felt helpless. This guy had simply asked him out for a drink but refused to divulge anything at all. Looking at the state that he was in, he must have quarreled with Wen Xuxu. ¡°Did you fight with Wen Xuxu?¡± At the mention of Wen Xuxu¡¯s name, Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart tugged painfully. He remained mum and merely took another huge gulp. Chapter 366. She Wont Be Coming Home Tonight Lu Yinan had the answer when he saw his expression. He sighed heavily. ¡°You¡¯ve indeed quarreled with her.¡± Once Yan Rusheng had made up his mind, no one among his circle of friends are to stop him. So, the only thing Lu Yinan could do was to watch him helplessly. Yan Rusheng began stacking the empty glasses like a pyramid¡ªvelvety remnant of the liquor was still visible in the transparent glasses. They shimmered and flickered under the light. It felt like a dream! Just like how the time they had spent together these months¡­ At the thought of it, an icy gleam streaked across his eyes, while his finger¡ªwhich was then tapping the table lightly¡ªlunged forward and flicked the glass sitting on the middle of the pyramid with brute force. The pyramid of glasses came crashing down with a deafening smash, some were shattered, some just rolled away. The bartenders and waiters around the periphery of the bar were all startled by the sound of glasses breaking. Everyone turned towards the source of the noise. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored everyone else as he stumbled to his feet. He turned around, and on his drunken stupor, he staggered towards the exit. Lu Yinan followed him, and with no time to waste, he assisted his drunken friend. ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± ¡°To the office.¡± Yan Rusheng pushed Lu Yinan away and fumbled for his keys in his pocket. He dragged his feet to his car and opened the door. ¡°Are you still planning to drive in this state?¡± Lu Yinan grabbed his wrist and shoved him in the back seat instead. Lu Yinan took over the front seat and started the engine. At that moment, Yan Rusheng changed his mind abruptly and mumbled, ¡°Home.¡± Lu Yinan glanced at him through the rearview mirror and sneered, ¡°Looks like the famous Yan Rusheng does fear a certain someone.¡± It seemed like he wasn¡¯t completely drunk. Even if he didn¡¯t say anything, he would have sent him home anyway. If he didn¡¯t, how would Wen Xuxu feel? ¡­ The splendid-looking mansion was illuminated with lights. But he didn¡¯t feel any warmth when he stepped into the house. Only God knew how hard he had yearned for a child with her so that it would bind them tightly together in this marriage. Hmph! He smiled bitterly to himself. To think that she¡­ didn¡¯t even care. He didn¡¯t even switch on the lights in his bedroom. But just as he had expected, the bed was empty and the bedroom was cold and silent. He sauntered across the room and sat on his bed, after which he laid on it, burying his head with the pillow and trying to shut his eyes. For the first time in his life, he didn¡¯t feel like showering. He simply plopped on his bed and fell asleep. ¡­ The next morning, Xuxu sent Huanhuan back to the orphanage. And she didn¡¯t go home the entire day. The sun had set but still, she was nowhere in sight. Yan Rusheng stood by the windows in the study. He looked past his windows and beyond the courtyard till past midnight. Only then did he turned away. He knew that she won¡¯t be coming home tonight. He returned to his bedroom and took his wallet from the drawer¡ªhe retrieved the old plastic ring that he had hidden. He put the ring on the tip of his finger and raised his hand. The ring shimmered as the light shone on it. This ring seemed to have the power to transcend time as it brought him back to his childhood, for he started fondly reminiscing about the times he had played together with Wen Xuxu. He always wanted to beat her at everything and to surpass her. It was the main reason why he had worked so hard and constantly challenged himself to exceed expectations. Although he knew that his achievements were largely due to Grandmother¡¯s efforts. But if Wen Xuxu hasn¡¯t appeared in his life, he might not have had the motivation and determination to work so hard. He could be like some of his friends, simply squandering their family fortune away. This woman had affected and influenced him for more than two decades and possibly his entire life. Yet, he didn¡¯t notice it at all throughout these years. Chapter 367. Memories Yan Rusheng removed the ring and clenched it tightly. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what should I do with you?¡± ¡­ She hadn¡¯t come back to her old apartment in months. Xuxu sat cross-legged on the chair of the balcony. The vicinity was dim and she watched as the lights in the last few shops went out. She slowly diverted her gaze and turned her head towards a red wooden box. The lock on the box seemed to be wrenched open with the lock hanging. She took a plastic ring from the box and wore it on her finger. She stared at it for a while, and after some time, she removed it and placed it back inside the wooden box. After which, she shut the lid of the box firmly, leaving the box in its original locked state. She placed the box back on the table and sighed heavily. Sigh! Memories. Seemed like some things are meant to be part of her memories. ¡­ The next day dawned. The atmosphere around Flourish & Prosper seemed suffocating. It was because Yan Rusheng, the overbearing President, had recently saved a damsel in distress. The news about it spread like wildfire. And the President and the lady boss came to work separately. To makes matters worse, they didn¡¯t interact at all! Both seemed to have transformed into workaholics all of a sudden. Separated by a wall, they buried themselves with work. And coincidentally, both of them had chosen to ignore each other and thus started a silent war. They maintained this state for more than half a month and everyone in the company, especially the employees in the President¡¯s office, were all walking on broken glass¡ªeveryone was that tensed. Xuxu always was always the first to clock out and leave. She¡¯d drive the Audi Q7, which was given by Wang Daqin under the company¡¯s name. December rolled around the corner, and the trees were almost bare with just a few withered leaves hanging on for their dear lives against the bitter wind. Sidewalks were filled with a thin layer of autumn frost. But, it always melt away whenever the sun claims the high sky every morning. The roads were always crazily congested in the morning, especially on Mondays. Xuxu left the carpark of her apartment and stopped at a red light. She was coming to a halt behind another vehicle when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and it was from work. She put on her Bluetooth speakers to answer the call. ¡°Hello. Alright, let me check.¡± Xuxu reached out to her side and took her bag that was lying on the empty passenger seat. She took out a document, and once she had found the contact number she was looking for she made a quick call. ¡°Please make sure that everything is arranged by today so that we can be in time for the Christmas event.¡± ¡°I¡¯m driving now. I¡¯ll call you back once I¡¯m in the office.¡± She then ended the call. The traffic light had already turned green. Oh dear, the car owner behind her must be swearing at her right now. She was about to check her rearview mirror before advancing forward. Bang! She barely had time to check the mirror when her car jerked violently forward¡ªit made a loud bang. He collided with the steering wheel as her car advanced with force. She was fortunate enough that she didn¡¯t get flustered and stepped on the accelerator, instead she stepped on the breaks making her car stop. She opened the door and got off the car. ¡°I will bang you to death, b*tch! The light has already turned green and you didn¡¯t move off.¡± Xuxu hadn¡¯t even managed to straighten her back when she got down the car when a woman started yelling at her. Initially, she was prepared to apologize to the car owner, but, the moment she heard the woman cussing at her she herself was overwhelmed with anger. She slammed the drivers¡¯ seat door shut and stomped towards the woman. The woman had already gotten off her car. She was wearing a sapphire-blue shirt and looked like she was in her forties. She strained her eyes on Xuxu as she marched towards her. Chapter 368. In Two Hours Time The rear of the car was dented and the exhaust pipe was damaged beyond repair. The other party was a spacious BMW X series and the extent of the damage was also serious. After assessing the condition of both vehicles, Xuxu looked at the owner of the BMW. ¡°So did you crash into my car on purpose?¡± Her tone was calm and devoid of emotion. ¡°Yes, a female driver with poor and reckless driving skills deserved to be hit,¡± ranted the owner of the BMW. ¡°It¡¯s the morning rush. Aren¡¯t you asking for trouble when you decided to obstruct the road?¡± The woman continued spewing out words, and she almost sounded like a man. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was answering a call earlier,¡± Xuxu explained in a gentle tone, and offered a smile. She then swiftly changed the topic. ¡°But you hit my car on purpose and because you were acting in a fit of pique, you¡¯ll have to bear the responsibility.¡± There was still a smile on her face but her tone was no longer gentle, and it carried a piercing chilliness. As they were obstructing the main road, the traffic situation came to gridlock and the drivers behind them honked incessantly. Without waiting for the arrogant BMW owner to speak, Xuxu added nonchalantly, ¡°How about this, let us first each take some photos and then we shift our vehicles to the side of the road while waiting for the traffic police to arrive.¡± Having said that, she returned to her car and swiftly took out her cell phone and took photographs of the current positions and the extent of the collision between the two cars. After that, she walked towards the vehicles that were held up at the back and politely gestured an apology to them. Without taking a second look at the BMW owner, Xuxu walked back to her car and moved her vehicle to the side of the road. The owner of the BMW stood rooted on the same spot, fuming mad. She pointed to Xuxu¡¯s car and hollered at it. But the drivers at the back stuck their head out and scolded her. She had no choice but to move her car away. Xuxu had just stopped her car by the road shoulder when the traffic police came. The BMW also drove to the side of the road slowly. Once out of the car, the owner caught hold of the traffic police and defended herself in a fit. Xuxu stood on the side. Without uttering a word, she waited patiently for the traffic police to interrogate her. The traffic police examined both cars and requested for the collision photos from Xuxu. ¡°Alright, both of you please follow me to the traffic police department to settle this matter.¡± After a brief interrogation, the traffic police instructed Xuxu and the BMW owner while keeping the recorded notes. ¡°My apologies officers, I have an important company meeting to attend.¡± Xuxu glanced at her watch. ¡°I¡¯ll go over there in two hours¡¯ time.¡± Hearing this, the BMW owner exclaimed in a sharp and mean tone, ¡°That won¡¯t do. I have the time now but two hours¡¯ later, I¡¯ll be busy.¡± Ah, at the time of the accident, she ranted that she¡¯s in a rush, yet now, she flipped her words. She was obviously getting confrontational. Xuxu cast a sideward glance at her and retorted with a chilling tone, ¡°You have no choice.¡± After that, she nodded politely at the traffic police officer and without taking a second look at the BMW owner, she headed towards a bus stop. And it wasn¡¯t an ideal place to flag a cab. ¡°Third Young Master, isn¡¯t that the Madam?¡± The chauffeur caught sight of Wen Xuxu who was attempting to flag for a cab by the road. Yan Rusheng looked in the same direction as the driver. Indeed, Wen Xuxu was attempting to flag a cab. She must have felt cold in her mid-length woolen jacket. She even wore the hoodie on. There were a few people trying to flag a cab at the same place, but he spotted her with ease for Xuxu stood out the most¡ªher dress was eye-catching. Chapter 369. How Could She Not Feel It? He frowned in bewilderment for a moment and instructed his chauffeur, ¡°Drive over and take a look.¡± ¡°Ok,¡± replied his chauffeur. He then switched lanes slowly, driving the car to the side of the road and stopping in front of Xuxu. Xuxu was startled when she saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s car. The passenger seat window rolled down slowly and a man peered out. ¡°Get into the car.¡± With a commanding tone, he ordered her to get into his car without even asking any more questions such as where her vehicle was, or why she was flagging for a cab. It was a real challenge to flag down a cab early in the morning and if she continued to waste her time here, she would definitely be late. Without any objections, Xuxu took a step towards the car, opened the door and got in. The heat mode of the air condition was turned on. Xuxu¡¯s face and hand, which had then turned ice cold from the chilly wind, slowly began feeling warm again. Due to a sudden change of temperature, her face turned redder than before. She removed the hood and unbuttoned her jacket. ¡°Young Madam, didn¡¯t you drive in the morning?¡± the chauffeur asked in bewilderment. Yan Rusheng busied himself with the newspaper, but obviously, he wasn¡¯t concentrating on reading it at all. After hearing what the chauffeur had to ask, he couldn¡¯t help but twitch his eyelids and listen on to what Xuxu had to say. ¡°Yes, I did drive, but the car got into some problem half-way to work,¡± Xuxu answered without lifting her head. The chauffeur turned around and glanced at her with concerned eyes. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Xuxu shook her head and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She took off her jacket and drew out a set of documents from her bag and began to go over it. The chauffeur didn¡¯t probe further and focused on driving the car. Yan Rusheng tilted his head upwards and looked through the rear mirror, but he could only see a part of Xuxu¡¯s shoulder. Both of them had not taken the same car to the office for the last odd twenty days. Every day, she would leave the house earlier than him. Now that they were both in the same car, she was so quiet, as if her existence wasn¡¯t there to begin with. She could even do her work as if nothing had happened between them. He, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t even concentrate on reading a single word from the newspapers. Was this the difference between loving and not loving someone? ¡­ Throughout the journey to the office, neither of them sparked a conversation. They both got off the car at the main entrance of the office. The moment she alighted from the car, Xuxu¡¯s cell phone rang. She answered the call while going up a flight of steps at the entrance. ¡°Mm. President Yan and I had already arrived.¡± ¡°After the meeting, I have to head out again. Please reschedule my morning tasks to the afternoon.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be all.¡± After she ended the call, she hastened her steps and went through the turnstile. Seeing her figure moving further and further away from him, how he wished he could grab hold of her. However, his hands felt like they have been banded together, and he was unable to extend them. Even Fang Jiayin could tell that his heart was with her. Yet, how could she not feel it? The could only be one reason. She did not care. After a span of twenty days, the boss and the lady boss took the same car to the office for the first time. Everyone guessed that they have met in the middle, and have dispelled any enmity between them. The moment Xuxu reached the office, she dashed towards the bathroom. She had felt a stabbing pain on her forehead earlier after knocking it against the steering wheel. When she looked into the mirror she saw a red, swollen bruise on her head. She went to the fridge and took a bottle of cold beverage. She wrapped it with her scarf and placed it on her forehead. ¡°Miss Xuxu, what happened to you?¡± asked a colleague from the President¡¯s office, she sounded worried. She had just walked at the moment Xuxu placed the beverage on her head. Xuxu pressed her lips together and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I knocked my forehead accidentally.¡± After saying this, she removed the cold beverage and looked into the mirror once more. The swelling was still visible but the redness had subsided a little. The colleague took a glimpse of it and exclaimed, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s swollen.¡± Chapter 370. Change ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Xuxu smiled calmly and placed the cold beverage back on her forehead. After applying it for about ten minutes, the swelling subsided but there was still a tinge of redness. One look and you could tell that it had knocked against something. She raised her hand and glanced at the watch on her wrist. It was already past 9 a.m. She sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t bother about it anymore.¡± She mumbled to herself, turned on the tap and washed her hands. After which, she drew a piece of tissue to wipe her hands with. She raised her head and saw from the mirror that someone was standing behind her. It was a towering figure with a dark and gloomy expression. She was taken aback. When did this person come in? Why didn¡¯t she hear a single sound? He almost frightened her to death! Moments later, she regained her composure and her racing heart calmed down. She lowered her head and crushed the tissue paper into a ball and threw it into the trash can. She turned around and walked past the man whose hand was stretched out before her. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her wrist all of a sudden. Xuxu froze and halted her steps. She turned her head and stared at the Yan Rusheng¡¯s sharp eyes. Her palm-sized face left him vexed yet composed. Looking at his gloomy face, Xuxu frowned in bewilderment. ¡°Are you alright. President Yan?¡± Yan Rusheng glared at the red patch on her forehead and asked coldly, ¡± What happened to your forehead?¡± Was he showing concern for her? Xuxu curled her lips. One couldn¡¯t tell if she was mocking at him or laughing to herself. ¡°I knocked my head by accident but it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Her voice was distinctively cold and distant. Yan Rusheng raised his other hand which was hanging loosely by his thighs and pinched her lower jaw. He lifted up her jaw and she had no choice but to look at him in the eyes. A chilly breath covered her face. She knitted her eyebrows and glared at him, she did this all without uttering a single word. To her surprise, Yan Rusheng also didn¡¯t say a word and released her suddenly. He turned around as if with no care and left with heavy steps. But he hated himself for not being able to regard her as invisible, just like how she did. Since they were young, they were hardly seen without the other. Yet, why is it that he was always the one who chased after her footsteps, and also the one who lost his heart to her, too? He hated her nonchalant look and it¡¯s almost driving him insane. Seeing his figure disappeared, Xuxu spun around and turned on the tap, she started splashing water onto her face repeatedly. It was not until she ran out of breath¡­ and the energy to cry, did she stop. She pressed her hands on the basin table top and lowered her head, allowing the water to trickle down her face. Her mouth was wide opened, gasping and panting. ¡­ At the conference room. After all the departments had discussed their matters, the PR department handed over their meeting documents to Xuxu. Xuxu passed them over to Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan, please take a look at this finalized proposal for the Christmas event.¡± Yan Rusheng took the documents and after flipping through two pages, his expression darkened. ¡°Chen Yuxi?¡± He noticed Chen Yuxi¡¯s name printed on the VIP list of the Christmas event. Images of the commotion outside the Capital City Musical Theatre, that caused a massive traffic standstill, flashed through his mind. He didn¡¯t have a favorable impression of her. Seeing his reaction towards ¡®Chen Yuxi¡¯, she subconsciously gripped her pen tightly in her hands. She nodded her head lightly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Change.¡± Yan Rusheng closed the documents and flung it back to Xuxu. Xuxu¡¯s heart skipped a bit. She held back her emotions and looked at him calmly. ¡°Why?¡± Just because Chen Yuxi had offended Fang Jiayin before? Chapter 371. My Pleasure Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t give much thought and answered according to his impression of Chen Yuxi. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a good image.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips and suppressed her grievances but she found it hard to yield to him. Refusing to take it lying down, she replied, ¡°President, the VIP name list was already confirmed two months ago and you had also agreed and signed for it.¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his brows and raised his voice. ¡°Now I want it to be changed.¡± As Xuxu held her breath, her body trembled briefly. After recollecting herself, she suppressed the billows of bitterness, nodded at Yan Rusheng and replied calmly with an ¡®ok¡¯. After that, she stood up suddenly, swept her gaze across the conference room and added lightly, ¡°Everyone, I have other matters to attend to and have to leave now. Regarding President Yan¡¯s request about the change in VIP, I¡¯ll leave it to the PR department to attend to it.¡± Without casting a second look at Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression, she grabbed her things and turned around to leave. Yan Rusheng looked at the back view of the obstinate figure and flung his pen away in a fit of anger. His good-looking face was shrouded with gloom. The atmosphere in the meeting room was tensed beyond words and everyone could feel their hearts in their throats. They were initially curious why President Yan decided to replace Chen Yuxi all of a sudden. But after witnessing his argument with Wen Xuxu, everyone came to realize the root cause of their recent fall-out. Their boss was Fang Jiayin¡¯s backer for the incident at the Capital City Musical Theatre. The arrogant celebrity who scorned Miss Fang was none other than Chen Yuxi, the reigning goddess. Now the scion was even biased and demanded to replace Chen Yuxi. If they were in the shoes of the lady boss, they would also be infuriated too. Really! This was too much! ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡± Yan Rusheng tugged at his collar in frustration. His towering frame suddenly stood up with a sheer force that it managed to topple the chair behind him. Everyone shuddered and held their breath as they watched him leave the conference room. When Yan Rusheng returned to his office, Wen Xuxu had already left. Her desk was neat and tidy. ¡°After the meeting, I have to head out again. Please reschedule my morning tasks to the afternoon.¡± He stopped in his steps when he reached Xuxu¡¯s desk and recalled her earlier phone conversation, the one where she said that she needed to head out again after the meeting. So, she wasn¡¯t annoyed with him. ¡­ After settling the morning traffic incident, it was already lunch time when Xuxu stepped out of the traffic police department. The outcome of this tussle was without a doubt, the fault of the BMW owner. The investigations revealed that she had knocked Xuxu¡¯s car on purpose. Furthermore, Xuxu was the lady boss of Flourish & Prosper. So who would dare to hold her responsible for such trivial traffic dispute? The automobile service shop towed her car away for repair and she headed to the road to flag for a cab. Standing in the chilly wind, she wrapped her jacket tightly around her tiny frame, and her face turned red from the cold. All of a sudden, the cell phone in her pocket rang. She whipped it out and stole a glance at the screen. She was startled to see Charles name displayed on it. Why was he calling her? Could it be due to work-related matters? Xuxu answered the phone with misgivings. ¡°Hello, Mr. Charles.¡± ¡°Oh, you have arrived in the capital city?¡± ¡°It would be my pleasure.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± While she was in the midst of her conversation with Charles, she managed to flag down a cab. After she hung up, she instructed the driver, ¡°Please proceed to the World Trade Center.¡± ¡­ The cab arrived at the capital city¡¯s World Trade Center Lobby One passenger drop-off point. Chapter 372. Hell Be Overcome With Jealousy If I Take One More Look At You Xuxu paid her fare and alighted from the cab. A foreign man, who was impeccably attired in Western clothes, stood at the entrance of lobby one and was looking around. When he caught sight of her, his good-looking face revealed a gentlemanly smile which was unique to the westerners. He sauntered towards her with his long, winding legs. ¡°Xuxu, I haven¡¯t seen you in a while and you are still as attractive.¡± He stood in front of Xuxu as he showered her with praises. He extended his hand for a shake, being a gentleman and all. ¡°Mr. Charles, you flatter me.¡± Xuxu also smiled and extended her hand to return the gesture. Charles examined Xuxu¡¯s face and furrowed his brows all of a sudden. ¡°But your face seems to look pale.¡± Xuxu quipped, ¡°I¡¯m under too much work pressure, unlike Mr. Charles who¡¯s so carefree.¡± ¡°A beautiful woman like you must know how to strike a balance between work and rest.¡± Charles grinned widely. His gentle voice sounded like a breath of spring wind which was pleasing to the ears. Although his pair of blue eyes looked deep and distant, he was simple and didn¡¯t make one feel that he¡¯s an unpredictable person. Whenever there¡¯s a smile on his face, you¡¯ll see his eyes smiling too. He¡¯s just that genuine. Xuxu had a thought. Being friends with such people would make one feel relaxed. She chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s go for dinner.¡± Xuxu stretched out her hand and gestured politely to Charles. ¡°Please.¡¯ Charles nodded his head. ¡°Sure.¡± Both of them chatted happily as they walked through the turnstile. Charles had already reserved a private room in advance. It was located on the highest floor and although the room wasn¡¯t big, the view was excellent. Standing at the window, one could have a bird¡¯s eye view of the capital city. When the waitress brought them their freshly brewed tea, Charles¡ªbeing corteous and gallant¡ª served the first cup to Xuxu. Xuxu received the cup and replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t have many friends in this country so I should be the one to thank you instead, for having dinner with me.¡± ¡°Regarding the previous matter, I¡¯ve not had the chance to buy you a meal, so I¡¯m grateful for this opportunity.¡± Xuxu raised her cup and smiled politely at Charles. ¡°Which matter?¡± Charles widened his eyes and looked at Xuxu in confusion. He picked up his cup and sipped his tea casually. Xuxu replied, ¡°For the collaboration between Flourish & Prosper and your esteemed company, I¡¯m grateful for the honor and respect that you have given me.¡± She knew that he had not taken the matter to heart. But if he had not given in magnanimously, the collaboration between Flourish & Prosper and Country Y would not have been successful. She would also not be able to fulfill her promise to the Board of Directors. Importantly, this collaboration had brought Flourish & Prosper to greater heights. This was grandmother¡¯s wish. Charles finally understood what Xuxu was driving at. ¡°Regarding that matter, I was the presumptuous one.¡± Xuxu chuckled and changed the subject. ¡°How long will you be staying this time?¡± ¡°Are you willing to be my tour guide and show me around? I have a lot of time on my hands.¡± Charles shrugged his shoulders mischievously. He paused for a moment. His mouth sunk and he shook his head. He sighed. ¡°I think it¡¯s impossible. Yan Rusheng is so narrow-minded and he will be overcome with jealousy if I take one more look at you.¡± Indeed, interacting with such people made one felt at ease and relaxed. ¡°Mr. Charles, you are too humorous.¡± Xuxu had a good laugh. ¡°There is still freedom in my life. We are friends and if I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll be most willing to be your guide. Even if I am occupied, I will definitely recommend a reliable tour guide to you.¡± The dinner with Charles was pleasant and enjoyable. When the stepped out of the entrance, Charles¡¯s car had already arrived and his assistant opened the car door for him. Chapter 373. Ill Treat Everyone To Afternoon Tea Xuxu bade him farewell. ¡°Bye.¡± Charles nodded and added in an earnest tone. ¡°I hope we will have another chance to have a meal together.¡± He grinned as he continued, ¡°It would be a good idea to ask Yan Rusheng to come along so that he won¡¯t be jealous.¡± Xuxu could only smile at him. She had a pleasant conversation with him and she didn¡¯t want it to end on an unhappy note. ¡°Let me give you a lift.¡± Charles gestured towards his car and looked at Xuxu. He remembered that she didn¡¯t drive today so she would have to flag for a taxi. ¡°Thank you.¡± Xuxu thanked him first before declining his offer. ¡°We are headed in opposite directions. I¡¯ll get a taxi.¡± Charles didn¡¯t insist. ¡°Then be careful on your way back. Have a good day.¡± He waited for Xuxu to walk away before going on his way. As she sat in the taxi, she looked past the window admiring the view. Even during winter, the capital city was still bustling and vibrant. It wasn¡¯t affected by the transition of seasons and certainly wasn¡¯t affected by anyone¡¯s mood. In this world, no one would die without another. ¡­ Even though the inner world of a person might not be as vibrant as before or perhaps had turned dreary. But then, it shouldn¡¯t affect his or her desire to keep living. Just like her, she had wanted to strive for the best, to improve herself constantly. Charles had said that a woman needs to strike a balance between work and rest, especially for a beautiful woman. And he had twisted it by saying that a smart woman doesn¡¯t need to prove her capability using her work performance. That would only mean that she had lacked confidence. She had a hunch that Charles must have gotten wind of the situation between Yan Rusheng and her. Even though they weren¡¯t on the headlines, news articles of them online or in the newspapers could still be constantly seen. Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin¡¯s past relationship were being dug out by the media as well. So it¡¯s not surprising if Charles knew. She didn¡¯t even have time to meet Zhou Shuang recently. She just kept burying herself with work. Her daily routine: head to work, work late and end work. She didn¡¯t relax or enjoy a meal outside of work. She assumed that she was leading an ordinary lifestyle right now as she could face him calmly every day. But she knew in her heart that their relationship had not progressed. Neither did it went back to how it was in the past. She was just deluding herself all along. After a meal with Charles, her mood was lifted at least to an extent. It felt as if someone had parted the dark gloomy clouds away to allow the sunbeams to stream in. A smart woman doesn¡¯t need to prove her capability using her work performance. That would only mean that she had lacked confidence¡­ She began to wonder if Charles had pondered earnestly regarding this advice. ¡­ ¡°Sister Xuxu, the report you have instructed me to do yesterday is already completed. I¡¯ve placed it on your desk.¡± Wen Xuxu had barely sat down when her assistant came over. As she unbuttoned the buttons on her coat, she smiled brightly at her. ¡°Okay, thanks for working hard.¡± Her female assistant was surprised when she saw the smile on her face. She had started work almost a month ago and she had never seen Xuxu smile. Her assistant was slightly overwhelmed and nodded. ¡°This is what I¡¯m supposed to do.¡± ¡°You may go.¡± Xuxu noticed her expression and she knew how everyone in the office was feeling jittery and suppressed recently. Then she looked at the rest of them. ¡°I¡¯ll treat everyone to afternoon tea.¡± Everyone started chattering and the mood was lifted in the office. ¡°That¡¯s great! Sister Xuxu hasn¡¯t given us a treat in a long time.¡± Chapter 374. Sister Xuxus Treat ¡°Yes, I agree. Let¡¯s order from First Love later.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu agreed readily. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to work now.¡± She sat down and started working immediately. During the tea break, everyone was really happy. The main reason wasn¡¯t because of the treat but rather, the atmosphere was pleasant and enjoyable. They had coffee, tea, pastries, and desserts. ¡°Hey, the strawberry flavor is for Sister Xuxu. You¡¯re a guy! Why are you drinking it?¡± A male colleague who was holding a cup of strawberry milkshake was stopped by the ladies. Everyone started admonishing him. Xuxu grinned. ¡°Let him have it, I don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°Hi, President Yan.¡± At this time, someone called a name that made everyone shivered in fear. Everyone turned to peer outside simultaneously. A towering figure, with a sinister aura surrounding him, walked towards them. It brought the atmosphere in the office back to a freezing point in a split second. Some of them bowed their heads as they tried to sneak back to their work stations. ¡°President Yan, this strawberry milkshake is for you. It¡¯s Sister Xuxu¡¯s treat.¡± A young female colleague who had snatched the strawberry milkshake away suddenly mustered all her courage and presented it to Yan Rusheng. All of them took a deep breath collectively. And they were silently awestruck by her bravery. Even Xuxu was in awe. Her mouth twitched involuntarily. That female colleague was the most talkative and lively among all of them in the President¡¯s office. They didn¡¯t expect her to be so fearless too. Yan Rusheng halted his footsteps and turned around, without much enthusiasm, to look at her. Everyone held their breath anxiously. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± However, Yan Rusheng simply declined her offer and continued walking away. Only after he entered his office, did everyone breathe normally again. Everyone turned to gape at the female colleague who had offered him the milkshake. ¡°Wang Xiaoya, you are really fearless.¡± ¡°You almost scared the shit out of me.¡± Wang Xiaoya lifted her chin smugly and glanced at Xuxu. She grinned cheekily. ¡°Look! If President Yan knew that Sister Xuxu had given us a treat, he wouldn¡¯t lose his temper at us.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ so you¡¯re using Sister Xuxu as your shield.¡± ¡°But I reckon you¡¯re right. With President Yan¡¯s mood lately, he would have definitely flared up if he saw us enjoying ourselves in the office. However, he just walked away without lecturing us.¡± All of them were engaged in their conversation, and Xuxu simply listened to them. She could only smile hearing their conversation. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. But it doesn¡¯t necessarily apply to everything. Yan Rusheng was looking past his office window on his break, it was already getting dark. He rose from where he was sitting, took his cup, and walked over to the water dispenser. He was massaging his temples as he walked. He filled the cup and then stood by the French windows. He stared into the distance blankly¡ª the city¡¯s lights were reflected in his deep eyes. But his mind was swirling with images of Xuxu¡¯s serene face. His phone interrupted the silence and broke his train of thoughts. He walked across the room, back to his desk. When he saw Ming Ansheng¡¯s name displayed on the screen, he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to meet them tonight. He placed the cup that he was holding on the table and answered the call. ¡°Third Yan, what time are you going to arrive? Everyone is waiting for you.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice was full of urgency and impatience. ¡°On my way.¡± Yan Rusheng replied. Chapter 375. She Didn’t Want To Have Two Accidents In A Day He hung up and dialed his chauffeur¡¯s number and said, ¡°I¡¯m ready to leave now.¡± He marched across the room. He opened the door and as usual, the first thing he looked at was Xuxu¡¯s desk. Judging from how clean and tidy her desk was, she had already left. Xuxu often times stayed longer in the office than him, but today was different, it was as if the tables have turned. Every time he would step out of his office, he would briefly glance at Xuxu as she worked quietly in her desk, and somehow it had become his daily habit. But this time, since Xuxu was already out and about, his heart felt like there was a gaping hole in it¡ªsomething was really missing. ¡­ ¡°President Yan, Young Madam¡¯s car had a collision with another car this morning.¡± Yan Rusheng had barely taken his seat when his chauffeur spilled the information about Xuxu. He turned to the man, feeling all anxious as he fastened his seatbelt. ¡°How was she?¡± He suddenly recalled seeing Xuxu with a bump on her forehead this morning. The bump must be due to the collision this morning. He heaved a sigh of relief. The chauffeur shook his head in response. ¡°Young Madam is fine. The collision happened before we met her this morning.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Yan Rusheng answered in a breeze. After fastening his seatbelt, he leaned back and gazed out of the car window. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what must happen to you in order for you to realize that you need me?¡± Would she ever need him in this lifetime? ¡­ ¡°Today must be such an exceptional day for you to ask me out for dinner and shopping. What are you up to?¡± Zhou Shuang bombarded Xuxu with questions as she drove. She couldn¡¯t understand why Xuxu asked her out for dinner all of a sudden. To put it simply, she was extremely flattered by her initiative. Because for nearly a month, she had called her for at least ten times asking her to go out for dinner. And yet Xuxu would reject her every single time, using work as an excuse even. It then came to a point that she gave up. But to her pleasant surprise, Xuxu finally called her. Was this girl even trying to play a game with her? Xuxu frowned and pretended to be hurt by her words. ¡°So I¡¯m the kind of friend who is simply using you?¡± Zhou Shuang smacked her head when she heard her. She gnashed her teeth and replied, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you search your soul first? There must be a reason why I would think in this way.¡± Xuxu grinned. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve neglected my beloved concubine due to work recently.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you feeling unwell?¡± Zhou Shuang feigned a look of terror upon her face as she glanced at Xuxu. ¡°Or did your brain sustain an injury?¡± She stretched her hands towards Xuxu¡¯s forehead. Xuxu shoved her hand away. ¡°You¡¯re the one who is unwell. I was afraid that my frequent rejections would have affected you and you might do something silly.¡± Zhou Shuang clicked her tongue. She didn¡¯t believe her at all. ¡°Only a fool would believe you. Something must have happened.¡± Xuxu just smiled. What happened? Actually, nothing did. She was just merely moving on from an unhappy stuff. The car weaved in and out of the traffic and Xuxu leaned against her seat. Only when she finally stopped to take a breather, did she realize how tired she was¡ªboth physically and mentally. Zhou Shuang¡¯s phone kept beeping with several text notifications. She had one hand holding the steering wheel; while the other hand was holding her phone. When Xuxu saw her trying to reply to the texts, she couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°Hey! Can you please be careful?¡± The traffic jam was really horrible and all the cars were very close to each other. If they weren¡¯t careful, they would bump into another car easily. This morning she had just gotten into an accident, and although she wasn¡¯t injured, she was traumatized by it. She didn¡¯t want to have two accidents in a day. Chapter 376. Let’s Go Somewhere Else Instead Zhou Shuang glanced at her, looking quite offended. ¡°Look at how apprehensive you are. Don¡¯t you trust my driving skills?¡± Without waiting for Xuxu to reply, she made a sharp turn and then she stepped on the accelerator. Their car squeezed in between a white car and a bus. Then she used the same way to overtake a few more vehicles in front of them. This crazy woman! Xuxu gripped the safety handle for her dear life. She threw some death glares at Zhou Shuang who seemed to be enjoying herself. ¡°Are you seeking death? Stop fooling around!¡± Zhou Shuang glanced at Xuxu, raised an eyebrow, and then shot her a mischievous grin. ¡°It has been a while since I¡¯ve last practiced. And finally today, it got exciting.¡± In the midst of her words, she changed direction once more. There was a loud engine sound as her Land Rover expertly weaved in and out of the traffic. It frightened the traffic police who were patrolling the road. ¡°Hurry, there is a Land Rover with the car plate number XXXX speeding dangerously. Please get ready to stop the car.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± A traffic police officer on standby received the urgent message. Just after he dropped the call, he saw the Land Rover drive past him in a flash. He was stunned for a second but managed to snap to his senses quickly afterward. He relayed the current situation to his fellow officers at the next junction. ¡°The white Land Rover with the car plate number XXXX, please pull over.¡± When Xuxu heard the police siren blasting from behind them, she was overcome with worry that Zhou Shuang¡¯s license may be revoked by the authorities. She could also hear a voice being amplified using a megaphone. Despite the windows being closed, she could hear everything clearly. White Land Rover with the car plate number XXXX? She widened her eyes in shock as she stared at Zhou Shuang. A white Land Rover, wasn¡¯t that their car? She quickly turned her head to look behind them, sure enough there was a traffic police officer mounted on a motorbike. He was trailing them closely and was loudly hollering at them. ¡°Stop the car now . We have set up a roadblock ahead, you can¡¯t escape.¡± You can¡¯t escape¡­ Why does it sound like they were chasing criminals? The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth began to twitch involuntarily. Her hands held tightly to the safety handle. She glanced at Zhuo Shuang again, and that¡¯s when she realized that the woman may have entered a frenzied state. When Zhuo Shuang heard the siren and the traffic officers warning, her eyes lit up with a rather perverted streak of excitement. It seemed¡­ extremely exciting to her. ¡°Watch me closely as I overtake everyone else.¡± Zhou Shuang winked cheekily at Xuxu with a playful grin. Then she turned on the radio. ¡°Let me play some exciting music.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ This woman had gone mad, and tonight, they probably have to go to the traffic police department. Or they might end up at the police station. ¡°Take note of others¡¯ safety and properties!¡± She knew she couldn¡¯t stop her, hence she had to resort to reminding her about everyone¡¯s safety¡ªincluding theirs. Anyway, they had already challenged the law enforcers and the traffic rules. It doesn¡¯t make any more difference whether they stopped now or in another section of the road. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else instead.¡± They reached an intersection and Zhou Shuang quickly swerved direction. They exited the main road and continued speeding on a slightly less congested road. Xuxu¡¯s heart was in her mouth and she felt that she couldn¡¯t keep up with her speed. The traffic police officers were following them relentlessly. And they kept yelling at them to stop. ¡°Oops. Seems like the excitement is ending.¡± Zhuo Shuang could see roadblocks being erected from afar. There were also lights to signal them to stop, and of course, she began to slow down. She halted to a stop when she reached two meters away from the roadblock. The police officer who was following them finally caught up. He stopped and removed his helmet. He pounded a few times on Zhou Shuang¡¯s car window. Chapter 377. Check The Wanted Criminals In The Country ¡°Get down now.¡± He sounded furious. How could he not be? It was a dangerous and tiring journey chasing after them for a long distance. Xuxu and Zhou Shuang unfastened their seatbelts, glanced at each other before getting off the car. The young traffic police officer pointed at Zhou Shuang. He raised his voice to admonish her, ¡°Both of you had ignored traffic rules and neglected the safety of others as well as your lives by speeding! This is a serious offense.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Shuang bent her head looking like a child who knew that she had made a mistake. She humbled herself down. And it was a stark contrast to the mad woman who had purposely sped to challenge the traffic police officer just earlier on. Xuxu glared at her with an intensity of a higher degree. Deep down her heart, she was silently chiding her for putting up a pretense. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Because of both of you, we have deployed extra officers?¡± Xuxu was inwardly cursing Zhou Shuang repeatedly in her head when the police officer sternly lectured them. She jerked slightly and hurriedly nodded. ¡°Yes, I know. We understand that we have made a grave offense.¡± She didn¡¯t check her fortune and luck for today. If she had known that this would happen, she would have worked overtime and head home to eat the dinner that Aunt Zhang had cooked. It would have been a peaceful night. After the young traffic police officer gave them a good scolding, another traffic police car arrived with the superintendent. The superintendent looked like he was in his forties and the first thing he did when he got off the car was to berate all the traffic police officers. He scolded them for doing such a bad job, for it had taken them such a long time to stop a car. The traffic police officers remained silent. Xuxu and Zhou Shuang felt extremely guilty when they heard how they were being scolded. Both of them couldn¡¯t wait to dig a hole and bury their heads. Then the superintendent turned to them. ¡°Both of you needs to go to the police station for an investigation.¡± Zhou Shuang and Xuxu raised their heads, feeling perplexed. ¡°Why should we go to the police station? Isn¡¯t this under the traffic police department?¡± ¡°Both of you have broken the law.¡± The superintendent answered coldly. ¡°Oh.¡± Both of them seemed to deflate in seconds and lowered their heads in guilt. Throughout the journey to the police station, Xuxu kept her head down. She wasn¡¯t as well-known as celebrities. But she was still worried that someone might recognize her. At that moment, she was most afraid of the media getting wind of her being detained. She would be finished. When they reached the police station, Xuxu continued to keep her head down. An officer was using a breath analyzer to check if Zhou Shuang was drunk. Another officer walked over and sat opposite of Xuxu. He held a notepad and a pen, ready to record her statement. ¡°Your name.¡± The police officer sounded as if he was interrogating her. Xuxu replied softly, ¡°Wen¡­ Wen Xuxu.¡± The officer noticed her stammering and immediately got suspicious. He paused as he surveyed her from head to toe. Then he turned around to his colleague and instructed him. ¡°Check if there is a wanted criminal in the country by the name of Wen Xuxu.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Wanted criminal in the country? She bit her lips nervously as she clenched her fists. ¡®Pfft.¡¯ Zhou Shuang was in the midst of doing a test but she couldn¡¯t stop herself from bursting out into laughter when she overheard the interrogation. She pressed her belly as she howled in laughter. Xuxu glared at her angrily and she raised her leg and aimed a kick at her chair. How dare she laugh! If it wasn¡¯t for her, she wouldn¡¯t have landed herself in a police station. Moreover, be suspected for being a wanted criminal! The police officer asked her about her age, address and more. Chapter 378. Why Is This Fellow Here? After recording a brief statement, he stood up and looked at Wen Xuxu and Zhou Shuang. ¡°Please give a call to your family members to come over.¡± His tone was firm. Hearing this, Zhou Shuang nudged Xuxu¡¯s arm with her elbow and whispered, ¡°You make the call. My parents are overseas and if they find out that I¡¯m in the police station, I¡¯m finished.¡± She would definitely be forced to leave the country and chances of her returning would be slim. Xuxu frowned. ¡°Who should I call?¡± This question was, which family member should she call? Zhou Shuang answered instantly. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not calling.¡± Knowing that both of them were still having a silent war, Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t insist further for her to call Yan Rusheng. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to contact your grandfather.¡± Xuxu¡¯s mouth involuntary twitched. She turned her head towards the woman next to her. She gnashed her teeth and then lashed out at her, ¡°You are insane. My grandfather is already past eighty years old.¡± If she were to call him in the middle of the night and informed him that she¡¯s in the police station, he would be so panic-stricken that his blood pressure may rise. So how could she have the heart to ask him to come and bail her out? Even if she had to be detained for fifteen days, she also shouldn¡¯t call and cause the old man alarm. Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes. ¡°I am just saying.¡± How would she dare to request for an elder to come? If something were to happen to him, she would live in guilt forever. After deliberating for a while, she added, ¡°How about¡­ giving a call to Jiang Zhuoheng?¡± ¡°Cannot.¡± Xuxu shook her head once more. She didn¡¯t want to bother him every time she got into trouble. Zhou Shuang snorted coldly. She raised her chin haughtily. ¡°Then we shall spend our time here since we have yet to sleep in a detention cell.¡± It really didn¡¯t matter to her. As long as her parents didn¡¯t find out about this matter. But it¡¯s another story for Xuxu. She had to go to work and there were many matters to take care of in the office. Furthermore, she was married and if she spent the night outside, people would start searching for her. Even if it wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng, Aunt Zhang and the butlers would be anxious too. What should she do now? Who should she call? ¡°You, come over for a moment.¡± The police officer, who was sitting in front of the computer checking on the list of wanted criminals in the country by the name of ¡®Wen Xuxu¡¯, suddenly waved at the other police officer who recorded Xuxu¡¯s statement. There was an unusual look on his face. The police officer who recorded the statement felt nervous as he looked at the unusual expression on his colleague¡¯s face and swiftly went over. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Look at this. Is it her?¡± The officer who was checking on the information pointed at the computer screen and then pointed at Xuxu. His colleaguet stared at the computer screen and then took a look at Xuxu. He was visibly startled. ¡°Oh! They look alike.¡± ¡°Quickly give a call to the chief.¡± Xuxu was fretting over who she should call to bail her out and didn¡¯t pay attention to what the officers were fussing about. With a worried frown, she lowered her head. After a while, she sensed that something was amiss. She then raised her head and looked in all directions. She was confused as to why no one have come and urged them to make their phone calls. She turned and looked at Zhou Shuang and her face instantly turned darker than the bottom of an overused saucepan. Zhou Shuang was seated on an uncomfortable chair in the police station. With her head raised, mouth opened and eyes closed, she was breathing calmly. She had fallen asleep! Was she a pig? How could she possibly fall asleep in such a circumstance? ¡°Third Master, where is Third Madam Yan?¡± Third Master? Xuxu froze when she heard this appellation and footsteps were heard coming from behind. Oh no, why is this man here? Chapter 379. Fined 2000 yuan She lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut. She clenched her fists nervously and her palms were covered with cold sweat. ¡°Wen Xuxu?¡± A lovely resonant voice could be heard coming from behind her. But somehow the voice trembled slightly as if it was trying to conceal some emotions. Xuxu mustered all of her courage and looked up at the man who now stood in front of her. His narrow eyes were filled with fury. She broke out in cold sweat but after recollecting herself, she opened her mouth and called out faintly, ¡°President Yan.¡± She tried her utmost best not to cut a sorry figure for herself. ¡°I heard that you were speeding on a congested road?¡± questioned Yan Rusheng as he furrowed his brows. Slowly, he shifted his gaze to Zhou Shuang. The fury in his eyes was even more glaring. Zhou Shuang was awakened by the voice of the police officer, and at the same time, Yan Rusheng walked in. She knew at this moment, she had to brace herself up and be fully prepared to face Yan Rusheng¡¯s tyrannic nature. She was fully aware that she had no choice but to submit to him. This also meant that she had to tear down her pride and show her obsequiousness. Miss Zhou, a lady who was able to give and take, haggled with herself and grinned at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, let me explain. We were rushing to the hospital because my grandaunt had a sudden heart attack and was admitted to the hospital. The traffic police had misunderstood us.¡± But the truth was, she didn¡¯t have a grandaunt, to begin with. After she finished explaining, she held back her smile and pulled the most innocent look at the uniformed police officer standing next to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng also turned to the police officer and offered him a cold, faint smile.¡±Chief Wang, you heard her. This is an exceptional situation.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± Chief Wang nodded repeatedly, after which he stopped, there was a look of awkwardness painted on his face. ¡°But¡­¡± Knowing what was on his mind, Yan Rusheng interrupted and nonchalantly said, ¡°I know. Just do what you need to do.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of putting Chief Wang in a difficult position. He just felt that he needed to teach this dumb woman a lesson for failing to treasure her life. He didn¡¯t want her to be let off so easily. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t learn her lesson. Chief Wang was extremely gratified. ¡°Third Master is a highly principled man.¡± He had to give a face to Yan Rusheng, but he also needed to do the necessary. Yan Rusheng smiled lightly and lowered his gaze down to look at Xuxu. But Xuxu looked down and didn¡¯t want to make any eye contact with him. She knew that he must be gloating at her misfortune. But she also wanted to leave this place badly. So if she continued to behave pridefully, then she would be a pretentious bit*ch. For the penalty, Zhou Shuang was given twenty demerit points and fined 2000 yuan. She was also required to swear an oath before the national emblem and vow to abide by the traffic rules in the future. These were supposed to be handled by the traffic police department but instead they went through with the formalities. ¡°Yan Rusheng, thank you very much.¡± Once they stepped out of the police station, Zhou Shuang thanked Yan Rusheng with a smile but there wasn¡¯t a hint of sincerity in her tone. Yan Rusheng placed both his hands into his pockets and clenched his fists tightly. He clearly knew that it was the idea of this female hooligan to speed. Wen Xuxu would never be involved in such irresponsible acts. Zhou Shuang pretended to not notice that Yan Rusheng¡¯s good-looking face had turned cold. She rubbed her tummy nonchalantly and groaned, ¡°I¡¯m so hungry.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. She had given so much trouble to the country¡¯s government officials in just one night and had also made a trip to the police station. Yet, she still had the cheek to care about her tummy. Just like how she sat sleeping at the police station earlier. Chapter 380. Mu Li Was On The Line Really had no idea what was on her mind. No one paid attention to her but Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t allow the awkward silence to affect her. She looked at Yan Rusheng curiously. ¡°Yan Rusheng, how did you find out that your wife was in the police station?¡± Xuxu gave a look of disdain to Zhou Shuang who had been mumbling to herself all these while. She was really astounded with this girl. Couldn¡¯t she sense that he didn¡¯t want to talk to her? This woman. Didn¡¯t she have the slightest self-awareness? Zhou Shuang clicked her tongue, she was obviously unhappy with Yan Rusheng¡¯s attitude and said coldly, ¡°Why are you putting up a pretense? No matter how pretentious you are, you still came in the end.¡± Finally, Yan Rusheng could bear it no longer and halted his steps. He gave a sharp glare at Zhou Shuang who kept jabbering on and on. His narrow eyes were burning with fury as he continued glaring at her. ¡°Shut up!¡± If Wen Xuxu had met with a mishap today, even if Zhou Shuang were to perish with her, he still wouldn¡¯t let her off. Yet, here she was, she still had the audacity to irritate him. The egoistic Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t allow Yan Rusheng¡¯s remarks to hurt her, or rather, she wasn¡¯t in the least affected by it. She stopped talking to him, moved over to Xuxu¡¯s side and whispered in her ears, ¡°Look, it¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t care. He was actually concerned about you.¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and was speechless. How could she tell that he was concerned about her? Just because he came and bailed her out? Even if that¡¯s the case, it was his duty¡ªthey are still husband and wife. If the news of Yan Rusheng¡¯s lawful wife being detained at the police station leaked out, how could he walk with his head held high again? ¡°I just can¡¯t understand you.¡± Zhou Shuang looked at Yan Rusheng, who had walked further and further away from them and sighed. ¡°You said that you won¡¯t divorce him. This means that you will stay with him forever. But do you intend to spend your life with him in this manner?¡± She turned and took a glance at Xuxu and paused for a moment. Then she went back to being cheerful again. ¡°If I was in your shoes, either I leave or I¡¯ll think through with how to make him fall in love with me.¡± Xuxu merely smiled at the indisputable truth which she had said. If it¡¯s Zhou Shuang, she is certain that she she would do that. But she wasn¡¯t Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t her either. She remained silent and Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t continue talking as well. She parted ways with Zhou Shuang at the entrance of the police station. The had initially planned to have a feast followed by shopping. But it was already the middle of the night and her stomach was still empty. She saw Zhou Shuang boarded a taxi and before Xuxu could retract her gaze, Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand grabbed hold of her arm all of a sudden and he used the other hand to open the passenger seat door. ¡°Get in.¡± After Xuxu got into the car, Yan Rusheng released his grip and closed the door. He then walked over to the driver¡¯s seat. Once he was in the car, he started the engine while putting on the seatbelt. Throughout the journey, neither of them talked and the atmosphere inside the car was as cold as ice. When they reached home, they entered the main door one after another. ¡°Second Madam, please wait a moment. Third Young Master and Madam are back.¡± ¡°Third Young Master, Madam is on the line.¡± Yan Rusheng walked over to take the call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°No, just got home.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu¡­¡± Xuxu had just changed into her slippers when she heard her name being mentioned in the phone conversation between Yan Rusheng and Mu Li. She got anxious immediately. Was this fellow intending to tell Aunt Mu Li about her night at the police station? As she mulled over this, she looked at Yan Rusheng with pleading eyes, begging him not to reveal tonight¡¯s matter to Mu Li. Chapter 381. You Dont Have To Worry About Us Ha, was she begging him? Yan Rusheng smirked coldly. Hearing no response from Yan Rusheng from the other line, Muli sounded anxious. ¡°Third Yan, what happened to Xuxu?¡± She was anxious, and it had caused her to raise her voice. Yan Rusheng on the other hand had increased the volume of his receiver giving Xuxu¡ªwho was only a few steps away¡ªa chance to hear their conversation clearly. She wasted no time and shook her head at Yan Rusheng right away. She didn¡¯t want Aunt Mu Li, who was overseas, to worry about her. They had already spared her from most worries, but when she found out about their arguments, she had been calling them every night. Furthermore, she had already tendered her resignation over there and planned on coming back to the country. It was all because of them! Yan Rusheng replied calmly, ¡°She¡¯s alright. We just got home.¡± Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief and gave him a look of appreciation. But Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t be bothered as he had no intention to inform Mu Li right from the start. He was her flesh and blood and he clearly knew that she would worry if she found out. So how could he bear to tell her the truth? It¡¯s only this dumb woman who didn¡¯t trust him. He lowered the volume of the receiver and Xuxu could no longer hear what Mu Li was rattling about over the phone. She raised her feet and was about to head upstairs. Yan Rusheng called her all of a sudden. ¡°Wen Xuxu, come to the phone.¡± Xuxu replied ¡®Oh¡¯ and retracted her footsteps. She reached for the phone and answered, ¡°Mother¡­¡± Since young, she was used to calling her Aunt Mu Li. Now that she had to address her as ¡®Mother¡¯, she felt a little awkward. Each time she had to call her ¡®Mother¡¯, she found it hard to say it out loud. Madam Mu Li¡¯s deep sighs could he heard over the phone. ¡°Xuxu, can you reconcile with Third Yan? I know that he¡¯s the one at fault and I¡¯ve been calling him every night to reprimand him.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu had the urge to tell her that the ball wasn¡¯t in her court and it wasn¡¯t up to her to decide on the reconciliation. Then who has the authority to decide? It seemed that it wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng either. That¡¯s the reason why each time the word ¡®reconciliation¡¯ was mentioned to her, she had no idea where to begin. She was really clueless where to start. She pressed her lips together and remained silent. Mu Li let out another sigh. ¡°That boy always make me worry. I¡¯ve decided to to purchase an air ticket for tomorrow¡¯s flight. When I¡¯m back home, I¡¯ll teach him a good lesson and take him in hand.¡± Xuxu got anxious. ¡°No, Aunt¡­ Mother. We are getting along very well. You don¡¯t have to come home.¡± Because of them, she had already tendered her resignation to the university. Being a teacher had always been her dream. If it wasn¡¯t because grandmother gave up her retirement and Yan Rusheng took over the company at a young age, she wouldn¡¯t be able to pursue her ambition. She was already filled with guilt and if she continued to wear herself out because of them, Xuxu wouldn¡¯t know how to face her. Mu Li spoke in a serious and earnest tone. ¡°Silly child. There¡¯s nothing more important than you and Xiaosheng. Seeing the two of you in this current state, I can¡¯t set my mind at ease too, so it¡¯s better for me to come back and take a look at the both of you.¡± Xuxu sounded anxious. ¡°But I don¡¯t want you to come back. You don¡¯t have to worry about us.¡± She didn¡¯t want her beloved Aunt Mu Li to give up her passion because of her. ¡°We have always been like this.¡± She added. ¡°Since young, we have always been bickering with each other and couldn¡¯t see eye to eye.¡± Refusing to hear what she was saying, Mu Li continued talking. ¡°I will purchase an air ticket and fly back tomorrow. I¡¯ll accompany the both of you for a few days and then return to school for a meeting the following week.¡± Chapter 382. Spicy Pickled Fish Noodles After hearing what she said, Xuxu was more adamant not to let her come back. ¡°It¡¯s much of a rush and stressful for you. Please don¡¯t put yourself through so much trouble. I¡¯ll pass back the phone to him, okay?¡± The flight home would take more than 20 hours. It would be too exhausting for her. ¡°Then you must give me your word that you¡¯ll have a good talk with the Third Yan, okay?¡± All of a sudden, Mu Li no longer sounded eager to return. Xuxu reluctantly responded with an ¡®Okay¡¯. She had no choice even though she knew that Mu Li was resorting to desperate measures, just in case she really does come back. She was definitely capable of suddenly appearing in front of her and Yan Rusheng. So, she would rather not take the gamble. ¡°Our Xuxu is still the most obedient.¡± Mu Li laughed joyfully. ¡± Go take a quick shower. I¡¯ll communicate with the both of you via video call in a while.¡± Communicate with them via video call¡­? Without giving a second thought, Xuxu replied swiftly, ¡°I¡¯ve not taken my dinner. Let¡¯s have the video call tomorrow instead.¡± Perhaps, communicating with them individually via separate video calls would be even better. ¡°I missed both of you too much, so please let me have a quick look at you,¡± requested Mu Li. There was a trace of melancholic longing in her voice. Xuxu didn¡¯t have the heart to reject her because when she said that she missed them, she¡¯s definitely not faking it. She nodded her head and answered lightly, ¡°Okay.¡± Her tummy was rumbling after she ended the call. She placed her hand over her tummy as she looked at the clock in the living room. It was already past 11 p.m. She had yet to have her dinner. Just then, the meticulous Aunt Zhang walked out of the dining room and she saw how Xuxu had shown her hunger through her actions. She made a quick guess that she was famished, She then smiled at her. ¡°Missy, Young Master had instructed me to cook spicy pickled fish with handmade noodles and it is almost ready.¡± Spicy pickled fish with handmade noodles? That was her favorite noodles. But was it really Yan Rusheng who had instructed it? If someone else had told her, she would have believed right away. But since it came from Aunt Zhang¡¯s mouth, inevitably, she would have her suspicions about the old lady¡¯s motives. Xuxu frowned and looked at the elderly lady¡¯s pleasant smile. Only by scrutinizing her, would she be able to detect if there were any traces of craftiness & hidden agendas in her smile. She thought, if it wasn¡¯t the old lady who had updated Aunt Mu Li on a daily basis, given that she¡¯s in Country Y. then how could Aunt Mu Li be so well-informed about the details of hers and Yan Rusheng¡¯s life? But she understood that the elderly lady meant well, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have been so worried for them. ¡°Let me get changed first before eating.¡± After that, she shuffled on her feet and moved towards the staircase. Once upstairs, she hurriedly removed her tight fitting clothes and changed into comfortable home wear. She felt more relaxed after that. She went downstairs and headed straight to the dining room. When she set foot on the dining room, the first thing she saw was a man slurping on his noodles¡ªit astounded her. ¡°Why was he eating noodles too?¡± ¡°Missy, quickly come over and have your noodles before it turns lumpy.¡± Aunt Zhang carried a piping hot bowl of noodles out from the kitchen and greeted Xuxu when she saw her. Xuxu looked at her and nodded. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She walked over and sat facing Yan Rusheng. Be it day or night, they had always been sitting in this manner at the dining table, facing each other and eating their meals without uttering a word. ¡°There were some leftover noodles and Third Young Master suggested to cook spicy pickled fish to go with it.¡± Aunt Zhang served the bowl of noodles and placed it in front of Xuxu. She specifically stressed that it was Yan Rusheng¡¯s idea to cook spicy pickled fish noodles. She was obviously hinting to Xuxu that he was accommodating her. Xuxu pursed her lips. This old lady must have been instigated by Madam Mu Li. In the past, she would only stand by and looked on anxiously. But now, she had the courage to take actions. Yan Rusheng stopped eating for a moment and glanced at the old lady who was cunningly smiling. Chapter 383. Wasnt He Accommodating Enough? It was the elderly lady who said that there were some leftover handmade noodles, and she also decided to cook spicy pickled fish noodles. Also, she had added that if he was really hungry, he should just put up with it this time. So how did he ended up accommodating Wen Xuxu? He ignored them and ate his noodles in low-spirits. Xuxu, on the other hand, finished her bowl in no time. She pulled some tissue and dabbed her mouth. She then said to Aunt Zhang, ¡°Aunt Zhang, you should rest. It¡¯s getting late and you should take care of your health.¡± Aunt Zhang answered from the kitchen. ¡°Okay, I will. I will rest in a bit.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room first, rest early.¡± Xuxu informed her and turned around to leave. After taking a few steps, she stopped abruptly. She stood there stiffly as a thought came up to her mind. When she turned around, she saw Yan Rusheng who had just finished eating. She gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Thank you for tonight.¡± She was grateful to him for bailing her out from the police station. And even more thankful that he didn¡¯t tell Aunt Mu Li what had happened. She said her piece and was about to continue walking forward when Yan Rusheng spoke. ¡°If the police station didn¡¯t call to inform me, you¡­ would you have still contacted me?¡± Or would she choose to remain detained than to seek help from him? Or perhaps if the police haven¡¯t informed him, then would she have called for Jiang Zhouheng? Regarding her minor accident this morning, didn¡¯t she remain silent throughout their journey? Xuxu lowered her head and fell silent. Her silence answered his question. Yes , if the police haven¡¯t informed him, she wouldn¡¯t have called him. If only the dynamics of their relationship hadn¡¯t changed. If only he had never given her warmth. If only¡­ Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t reappear. But alas, there wasn¡¯t any ifs. She had gone back to the initial phase of their marriage by pretending to be his wife-in-name, with no feelings involved. She would try to be independent. But if she can¡¯t, she told herself that, as long as she tried her best, she would be able to. In this case, she wouldn¡¯t have to depend on him. And in the next time she was in trouble, she wouldn¡¯t feel helpless or disappointed when he wasn¡¯t around to hold her. And¡­ she wouldn¡¯t mind the fact that he used his power and influence to protect and shelter her, he had already done the same thing for another woman anyway. Finally, she realized how greedy she was. She couldn¡¯t stand the thought of a different woman occupying even a tiny spot in Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. Yan Rusheng, on the other hand, clenched his fists as he tried his best to suppress the raging and violent beast inside of him. He knew he would be appeased if she just softened the look in her eyes, but no, even until now, she simply refused to yield to him. Xuxu didn¡¯t halt as she turned around to stride out of the dining room. After she left, Aunt Zhang came out of the kitchen. Yan Rusheng¡¯s back was facing her so she didn¡¯t see the terrible and furious expression he had on his face. She walked towards him and said earnestly, ¡°Third Young Master, Madam said that a man should give and take. A man should give in to a woman and furthermore, she is your wife. There¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of.¡± She stood beside him and when she glanced at his face, the old lady was alarmed and terrified by his expression. She clammed up and proceeded to promptly removed her apron as she left the dining room. Yan Rusheng was left alone. He took out his cigarette case and began smoking. Aunt Zhang words echoed once more in the empty room. Wasn¡¯t he accommodating enough? To his own wife? Chapter 384. This Matter Seemed Grave Had she ever considered herself to be the wife of Yan Rusheng? When she took contraceptives, did it ever came to her mind that she was actually killing their child? If she didn¡¯t want kids now, she could have told him. He would be willing to wait. But why did she have to hide it from him? It was because her heart doesn¡¯t belong to him. So she couldn¡¯t trust him with anything or at any time! ¡­ Xuxu went back to her room and fretted over the request that Mu Li had made, she had wanted to do a video call with both her and Yan Rusheng. She deliberated for some time before making up her mind to send her a text. She told her that Yan Rusheng was still having supper and she was simply too tired to wait for him. She didn¡¯t wait for her reply and switched her phone to silent mode. She then threw her phone aside and covered herself with the blanket. She slept soundly till morning. The thrilling adventures she had yesterday with Zhou Shuang drained her thoroughly exhausted. Xuxu took a quick glance at the time and was shocked¡ªit was already past 9 a.m. The only thing on her mind right now was that she was late for work. She hasn¡¯t been late in quite a long while. She hastily washed up, skipped breakfast and bolted out of the house. Actually, there really wasn¡¯t a need for her to rush. Even if she didn¡¯t go to work for a day, no one would dare make a fuss or dock her salary. But then again, she believed in being disciplined and setting an example for all the employees. So as long as there weren¡¯t any special or urgent situations that cropped up, she would always reach work on time. Since her car was still at the repair shop, she could only flag a cab. It was only after 10 in the morning that she reached the office. The moment she entered the building, she could feel that something was amiss. Everyone seemed to be extra careful and the atmosphere was tensed. The ominous gut feeling she had intensified since the office seemed extremely quiet. Even the sound of keyboard typing seems muffled and careful. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked as she strode across the office. Wang Xiaoya¡ªthe source of the latest gossips in the office¡ªscurried towards her. ¡°Sister Xuxu, have you seen the news today?¡± ¡°Today¡¯s news?¡± Xuxu frowned and thought to herself. Was she on the news again? Was the paparazzi alerted to the speeding incident yesterday? But Yan Rusheng already settled it yesterday, surely it couldn¡¯t have leaked. Or perhaps Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin had another scandal? But somehow, her instincts told her that it seemed like a grave matter. In the midst of her suspicions and guesses, she reached her desk. Wang Xiaoya went back to her desk and passed her the newspapers. ¡°Sister Xuxu, take a look at this. I wonder which immoral media outlet reported this.¡± ¡°What was the news exactly?¡± Xuxu received the newspapers and started reading. The headlines wrote, ¡®Third Master Exchanged Wife for a Billion-Dollar Contract¡¯ In utter shock, her eyes widened and a gasp escaped her mouth as she read the headlines. She immediately darted her eyes to the photo below. It was a photo of her and Charles having dinner at the World Trade Center, and another with them caught entering the Beautiful Metropolis Hotel together. Then she proceeded to read the contents of the article. ¡®According to a reliable source, Third Young Master¡¯s childhood sweetheart had offered herself to Charles, the youngest son of Princess Lu Fei of Country Y in exchange for a billion-dollar contract. Charles is also acting as the CEO regarding the contract that they¡¯ve signed. Third Madam Yan was caught entering a hotel with Charles a month ago. And recently, they were caught having dinner at a specialty restaurant located in the World Trade Center. Their dinner lasted for nearly three hours.¡¯ Chapter 385. I’ll Go This Time ¡®Other than that, rumors are rife that their marriage was being forced upon by the Yan family to fulfill the final wishes of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s ex-chairman Wang Daqin. According to a reliable source, Wen Xuxu was fostered by the Yan family and brought up as their future daughter-in-law but apparently, Third Young Master¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t with her. With his old flame¡¯s return, it seemed that their marriage is falling apart. There has been a conjecture that besides getting the contract for the company, the young madam had done this on purpose to seek revenge upon her husband for having a fling with his old flame.¡¯ Xuxu finished reading the entire article and she was livid. Her fingers were clenched tightly together as a result. Her whole body trembled as she crushed the newspapers. Her bright eyes looked like tiny consolidated fragments of ice¡ªpiercingly cold and sinister. Wang Xiaoya was alarmed by the look on Xuxu¡¯s face and she shuddered uncontrollably. This wasn¡¯t just about her scandal with Charles. Someone was intentionally plotting to sow discord between her and Yan Rusheng. They wanted to bring down Flourish & Prosper and to tarnish Yan Rusheng¡¯s reputation. Fury blazed inside of her as she threw the crushed newspaper into the trash can. She pulled her chair and sat down. She switched on her computer and then said to her assistant sitting opposite to her, ¡°Mi Ling, get me some water.¡± ¡°Yes, right away.¡± Her assistant stood up instantly and received the cup from her hands. Xuxu leaned against her chair and held a pen in her hand. She was in deep thoughts, trying to guess who the culprit behind this article was. It¡¯s true that the media loves spinning stories. But they wouldn¡¯t have dared to publish an article like this without taking ethics into consideration. She thought to herself, if Yan Rusheng read this article, he would even be angrier than she was. But will he believe her? Yan Rusheng¡¯s male secretary brought a document to Xuxu and said, ¡°Sister Xuxu, the marketing department sent this document and they need President Yan¡¯s signature.¡± Xuxu¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by his voice and she threw a fleeting glance at the document in his hand. She lifted her head and told him. ¡°You can bring it in. There isn¡¯t a need to report to me in the future regarding such matters. You¡¯re his secretary so you should report to him directly.¡± She wasn¡¯t his secretary anymore. She had no official job title and that was the reason why she didn¡¯t want her own office. She just wanted to stay and share his workload with him. There was nothing personal about this decision. ¡°Noted,¡± he answered and turned around to walk to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Xuxu changed her mind abruptly and called him back. ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll go this time.¡± She rose from her seat and took the document from the secretary. She walked to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and knocked on the door. ¡°Enter,¡± sounded a chilling voice from inside the room. Xuxu held her breath and turned the doorknob, she could hear that he was talking on the phone. When Yan Rusheng saw Xuxu, he then said to the person on the other line, ¡°If there is nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± He ended the call and placed his phone on the desk. He glanced at her with a distant and rigid stare. Xuxu walked to his desk and passed him the document. ¡°The marketing department needs your signature for this document.¡± ¡°Did you meet Charles yesterday?¡± Yan Rusheng received the document and asked Xuxu as he flipped the pages. His head was lowered and she could neither see his face nor his eyes. She had no idea what was on his mind right now. He was calm, collected and sounded aloof. There wasn¡¯t any trace of emotion in his tone. At this moment, Xuxu became apprehensive and fearful. She knew him too well to know that this matter had indeed crossed his boundaries. Chapter 386. Surrounded By Reporters She had no idea how he would react. But she believed that he could definitely tell that this news article wasn¡¯t purely just a scandal. But she wasn¡¯t entirely certain that he would believe her. She fell silent for some time before nodding her head. ¡°Mm.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand, which was holding the pen, paused for a fraction of a second before signing the document swiftly. He passed the document back to Xuxu. ¡°You may go.¡± He didn¡¯t even look at her. He was mad at her! He didn¡¯t believe her? Xuxu received the document and left, feeling disappointed. For she had initially come in to sound him out regarding the article and to check if he believed her. ¡­ The entire building seemed to be overcast with ominous gloomy clouds, and the atmosphere seemed strained and tense everywhere. Everyone in the company seemed to have left work on time today. Xuxu didn¡¯t have the mood to stay back after work hours and like everyone else, she packed her belongings and left on time. It was sunny and cloudless during the morning but the weather changed without any warning in the afternoon. Just like how Flourish & Prosper was today. She was wearing a dark red down jacket with a hood. After she got to the entrance, she put on the hood over her head. A blast of wind brushed past her when she exited the building. It made her flinch and cross her arms tightly. She descended the steps and walked towards the road, planning to flag a taxi. Suddenly, several reporters jumped out from behind the shrubs and bushes, and a few more from behind the pillars. They converged towards her and stood in front of her to block her way. Everyone was holding a recorder as they mercilessly fired questions at her. ¡°Third Madam Yan, do you have anything to clarify regarding the online and newspapers articles of you and Mr. Charles this morning?¡± ¡°Can you update us on what you and Third Master have in mind regarding your future plans?¡± ¡°A source has stated that you started an intimate relationship with Mr. Charles because you were jealous of Third Master and his old flame. Is that true?¡± ¡°Third Madam Yan, can you please elaborate more?¡± Several cars were parked at the lot outside the entrance and more reporters came tumbling out. Xuxu was caught off guard and soon, she was surrounded by them. As the reporters bombarded her with harsh and cutting questions, she couldn¡¯t face them calmly no matter how mentally strong she was. She furrowed her eyebrows in anger as she stared at them. She didn¡¯t answer any of the questions. ¡°Third Madam Yan, don¡¯t you have anything to clarify? We¡¯ve been waiting for hours and we didn¡¯t see Third Master coming out. Is your marriage with him as bad as what the rumors had described? Is your marriage on the verge of breaking apart?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Third Madam Yan, please tell us more.¡± They relentlessly pushed their recorders towards her mouth as dozens of eyes gawked at her. Xuxu felt that her brain seemed to be exploding as she surveyed them in circles. Flourish & Prosper¡¯s security guards were already trying their best to evacuate the reporters. But the reporters were relentless and determined. They refused to budge and continued to stick closely to Xuxu. Xuxu scanned her surroundings once more and she accidentally caught sight of the building¡¯s revolving doors. Her heart tugged painfully as she froze. A tall figure stood there silently watching and observing everything through the glass. She smirked coldly to herself and retracted her gaze from him instantly. ¡°Leave me alone.¡± Xuxu stared coldly at the reporters in front of her. Her words were like numerous sharp swords¡ªcold and piercing. The reporters felt a sense of foreboding. Chapter 387. Missed A Chance To Save The Damsel In Distress But they still didn¡¯t bear to leave. ¡°Third Madam Yan, please say something.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Xuxu stared fiercely at the reporter who had just opened his mouth. She said rather threateningly, ¡°I¡¯m not a celebrity who needs to maintain their image or reputation. If you continue to block my way, don¡¯t blame me for being nasty.¡± She stretched both of her hands and pulled apart two persons in front of her. She paved a way for herself in the midst of a crowd of reporters and charged forward. Her warning left the reporters hesitant and no one dared to block her way anymore. She wasn¡¯t a celebrity so she didn¡¯t need to take care of her image, neither did she need fans to protect her. Even if she called the security guards to beat them up, no one would be able to accuse her of being snobbish, neither was she afraid of losing fans. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes were fixed on a tiny figure that seemed to exude determination and tenacity. If she had gazed at him for a second time, he would have gone out to save her. But she didn¡¯t. And she seemed undaunted by them. ¡­. Xuxu finished dinner and went to the living room instead of her room. She held a bowl of fruit and sat on the sofa as she watched TV. Today she came home early and it wasn¡¯t time for her drama yet. She watched the news for a while before deciding that it was too boring. She switched channels randomly from advertisements to cartoons and back to the news again. ¡°Recently, Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President, Young Master Yan was caught in countless scandals. Everything seemed to resemble the storyline of an idol drama. He was caught in yet another predicament before the previous scandal had passed. Today, it was revealed that Third Madam Yan was photographed entering a hotel with Charles. He is the youngest son of Country Y¡¯s Princess Lu Fei. They were behaving intimately in public. At the same time, news of the Third Young Master¡¯s old flame was brought to light again. And this person was none other than Fang Jiayin who was in a car accident outside the Capital City Musical Theater recently. And Third Young Master was seen defending her at the scene. Early this morning, several reporters were seen waiting outside her apartment.¡± The screen switched to a scene whereby Fang Jiayin had just come out of her apartment and was surrounded by reporters. She was wearing a white coat and her long straight hair tumbled loosely. Her beautiful face registered shock and surprise when she saw cameras and recorders being shoved to her face. The reporters swarmed towards her as she tried to retreat. She was wearing heels and she almost stumbled as a result. Apparently, she didn¡¯t expect this situation to happen at all. ¡°Miss Fang, do you have anything to comment regarding Mr. Charles and Third Madam Yan?¡± ¡°You¡¯re labeled as a mistress, do you feel aggrieved?¡± ¡°Miss Fang, since you have returned for good, do you intend to reconcile with Third Young Master?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Without ceasing, the reporters attacked her with questions, just like the situation that Xuxu had encountered earlier that evening. Fang Jiayin retreated all the way back to her apartment entrance. The panic and shock didn¡¯t fade from her face as the camera flashes continued to flicker on and off. She seemed so lost and fragile and in need of protection. Xuxu leaned on the sofa and stared at the screen. She had a rather bitter smile on her face. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve missed a chance to save the damsel in distress.¡± ¡°Everything is untrue. Why should I care at all.¡± Fang Jiayin finally broke her silence. Even though she sounded annoyed, her voice was still soft and she didn¡¯t sound fierce at all. She stretched her hands to push the reporters away. ¡°Please go away.¡± She didn¡¯t manage to do so, and so she decided to push her way forward. She bent her head and her hair covered her face. Even Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to see her in such a sorry state. ¡°Seems like their marriage is falling apart. What are your views?¡± The reporters didn¡¯t give up. Chapter 388. They Could Only Go Through Them Finally, Fang Jiayin ran out of patience and lifted her head to glare at the reporters. She said sharply, ¡°No one here is qualified to judge or comment about their marriage. Even if this is part of your job, please speak appropriately and take note of your accusations.¡± She took out her phone from her bag and raised her voice. ¡°If you don¡¯t leave me alone, I¡¯m calling the police.¡± They heard her threat and finally, the reporters gave up and let her leave. Then the TV screen returned to the studio once more. Xuxu turned away from the screen and then proceeded to pick up another slice of fruit. Suddenly, she felt a cold and ominous aura from her back. She turned around feeling uneasy. A towering figure stood silently behind her. Her heart gave an involuntary jerk and suddenly a pang of guilt struck her. But she was just watching the entertainment news, so there was nothing she should feel guilty about¡­ Yan Rusheng tilted his head downwards and stared at her with an aloof expression. He watched her intently without a sound and a plethora of emotions could be seen in his eyes. Xuxu was no longer interested in watching the drama, so she put the remote control down. She held the fruit bowl in her hands and stood up. Yan Rusheng broke the silence and said, ¡°My mom just made a video call and she is looking for you.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Where?¡± Yan Rusheng replied lightly, ¡°In the study.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu nodded and walked in the direction of the staircase. Aunt Mu Li must have seen the news and she was sure that she would believe her. But the news may have made Aunt Mu Li worried. She reached the second floor and the door of the study was ajar. Xuxu entered and walked towards his desk. Yan Rusheng¡¯s laptop was switched on and she glanced at the screen. A beautiful face appeared on the screen. She gave her a dazzling smile and waved happily at the screen. ¡°Aunt Mu Li.¡± Mu Li heard how Xuxu addressed her and she lifted her brow, looking unhappy. ¡°Huh?¡± Xuxu instantly corrected her mistake. ¡°Mother.¡± She still wasn¡¯t used to addressing her as Mother and often forget. ¡°Where is Yan Rusheng?¡± Mu Li was scanning the entire room to look for her son. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Xuxu was about to reply that he was downstairs when Yan Rusheng appeared at the door. He entered the room and closed the door after him. She turned her head back to the screen and said, ¡°He is here.¡± ¡°I saw the news today. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself.¡± Mu Li sighed heavily and continued, ¡°Zhang Kailong just called your dad. You should be aware that both of you are representing Flourish & Prosper. Get along well and live in harmony and don¡¯t give others a chance to pressure or attack us.¡± Xuxu was startled and alarmed when she heard that the Board of Directors had contacted his parents. But she knew that since they didn¡¯t dare to approach Yan Rusheng, they could only go through them. This matter had concerned the reputation of Flourish & Prosper and the impact was significant. The Board of Directors would definitely not idle and do nothing to salvage the situation. Mu Li spoke again. ¡°From tonight onwards, both of you are not allowed to sleep separately. Do you understand?¡± The moment Xuxu heard her, she turned to look at Yan Rusheng instinctively. Yan Rusheng remained impassive and the expression in his deep eyes was unfathomable. Hmph. She only thought of him when she couldn¡¯t handle his mom. Only then would she willingly push the decision-making to him. To his surprise, Mu Li turned to look at him as well. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± He heard his mother¡¯s summon and Yan Rusheng immediately bent his back so that his face could appear on the screen. He said with a stoic expression, ¡°What?¡± Mu Li frowned with displease. She chided him, ¡°What¡¯s with your expression? Did you forget what I¡¯ve told you earlier on?¡± Chapter 389. Strictly Observed Each Other’s Boundaries ¡°Professor Mu, any other instructions from you?¡± Yan Rusheng remained indifferent and his outstretched hand was already holding the mouse. ¡°If there is nothing else, I¡¯m ending the call.¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Mu Li commanded him in an unquestionable tone. ¡°To make sure that both of you will be sleeping in the same room, I¡¯ve decided to leave this video call active. Move your laptop to your bedroom now.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. She would be monitoring them? Why did Aunt Mu Li have to take such drastic measures? Yan Rusheng frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± ¡°Your dad was just discharged from the hospital. Do you want him to get admitted again?¡± Mu Li had an ugly expression on her face right now. Unexpectedly, Yan Rusheng became frustrated as well. ¡°How do we sleep with the video call on?¡± Mu Li deliberated for a while and agreed silently as well. She decided to forgo that idea and instead came up with something else instead. ¡°Then give Xuxu a kiss in front of me right now. That will be sufficient to satisfy me.¡± She raised her cup to take a sip of water while she stared intently and patiently at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. ¡°If you¡¯re not afraid of developing a sty in your eyes, then do as you deem fit.¡± Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth with determination as he glared fiercely at his mother. He turned to face Xuxu and he cupped her tiny face with both hands. The next second, he swooped towards her swiftly. What happened? Xuxu widened her eyes in shock and was momentarily paralyzed. This fellow was being serious! And he really kissed her in front of his mother! After overcoming her shock, she began to push him away, hitting him wildly on his chest. But Yan Rusheng had used a hand to press her down forcefully and she was totally helpless against him. Upon witnessing this intimate and passionate behavior between her son and his wife, Mu Li began to blush. ¡°Oh dear. This son of mine is really shameless.¡± After chiding her son, she ended the video call promptly. Yan Rusheng immediately relinquished his grip on Xuxu when the call ended. His action was too abrupt and thorough, and Xuxu¡¯s body felt empty in an instant. Her heart felt like it was being emptied as well. ¡®Since you don¡¯t want kids, I won¡¯t touch you in future.¡¯ He had vowed that he would never touch her again. In reality, this was what she had wanted, wasn¡¯t it? Now they had set up boundaries between them, and both have strictly observed their respective boundaries. Xuxu lowered her head, walked past him and left the room. However, the consequences of the scandal with Charles had a far more significant impact than she could imagine. ¡­ On the next day, after lunch, she received a call from the authorities in Haicheng city. She was told to make a trip there to discuss the relocation of the orphanage. They were starting to hunt for investors and they needed to settle this matter soon. She had completely forgotten about the orphanage during the busy period. After hanging up, Xuxu informed her assistant and hastily left for Haicheng city in her car. When she reached her destination, a young man wearing a suit came forward to greet her. He bowed and said, ¡®Mrs. Yan, you¡¯re here. District Head Jia has instructed me to receive you.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Xuxu replied politely and followed him up the stairs. She didn¡¯t know whether this sudden relocation matter had anything to do with the rumors about her strained relationship with Yan Rusheng. Previously, the authorities in Haicheng city were always very polite and patient with her. They had promised that they would wait for the other areas to confirm about their relocation first before they discuss with her regarding Tiny Stars Orphanage¡¯s relocation. It had only been less than a month and they were getting restless. Humans were all realistic in general. There was indeed a vast difference between having a powerful backer and having none. Chapter 390. Not Within Flourish & Prosper’s Considerations ¡°Mrs. Yan, this way please.¡± The young man led the way and knocked on the District Head¡¯s office door. He bowed slightly once more and gestured her towards the door. Xuxu smiled at him and thought to herself, ¡°At least their intentions weren¡¯t so obvious.¡± ¡°Alright, my guest is here and I have to hang up.¡± A middle-aged man, who was obviously balding, was sitting on a desk that was located by the windows. He still had his grip on his phone when Xuxu entered the room. He greeted her and promptly ended the call. He rose and smiled graciously at Xuxu. ¡°Mrs. Yan, you¡¯re here. Please take a seat.¡± He turned to glance at the young man standing by the door. ¡°Xiao Zhang, brew some tea.¡± Xuxu waved her hands to reject him. ¡°District Head Jia, there is no need to make such a fuss.¡± After briefly exchanging pleasantries, they walked to a vintage-looking black couch and sat down. Xuxu had taken some time off from work and she had left abruptly earlier on. Hence, she didn¡¯t beat around the bush as time was rather tight for her. ¡°District Head Jia, previously I thought that the investors would only come in next year?¡± He seemed rather awkward and explained. ¡°That¡¯s true but I¡¯ve received orders from my superiors that this relocation matter had to be settled first.¡± Xuxu could tell that he was indeed in a difficult position. Orders from his superiors¡­ That should be the city government. Who could it be? Who was the person trying to put pressure on her, more so, creating hurdles by taking advantage of her current strained relationship with Yan Rusheng. But she didn¡¯t have time to guess the identity of the culprit at the moment. The most important thing was to settle Tiny Stars Orphanage¡¯s relocation. After briefly deliberating, she smiled at District Head Jia. ¡°This news came too abruptly and I have no time to prepare for it at all.¡± Although she knew that the orders had come from his superiors and it had nothing to do with him, she wanted to attempt finding a way to resolve this problem. It was already winter and if the kids had to relocate as soon as possible, it would be too tough and harsh on them. ¡°This relocation has to happen sooner or later.¡± He was quite apologetic as he explained, ¡°I understand that Mrs. Yan is concerned about the children. But if the government is attracting investors to invest in a project, they won¡¯t change their plans just because of an orphanage.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, I understand this very well.¡± She paused before deciding to change her approach. ¡°But there hasn¡¯t been any cases of an immediate relocation without giving ample notice. It¡¯s rather unreasonable, and not to mention, this is an orphanage with children we are talking about.¡± She stated the facts hoping to gain his sympathy. If this didn¡¯t work out, she would have to use a ¡®stronger¡¯ approach. ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded. ¡°This is indeed quite rushed but I¡¯m merely following orders.¡± ¡°I just wanted to ask if your superiors are from the city government?¡± Xuxu probed. She was quite sure about it but she wanted to confirm her suspicions before she could approach the right person. He laughed loudly. ¡°I will not hide from you. Indeed, this is a direct order from the city government. Before the end of the year, the relocation has to happen.¡± Without waiting for Xuxu to reply, he consoled her by saying, ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t have to be too worried, Mrs. Yan. If Flourish & Prosper manage to successfully bid for this project, then you wouldn¡¯t face any issues at all.¡± ¡°Flourish & Prosper?¡± Xuxu smiled lightly and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not within Flourish & Prosper¡¯s considerations and we have no intention of joining the bidding.¡± Even though this piece of land was located at a strategic position, Flourish & Prosper is currently in the midst of planning a few major projects with some still at the initial stages. Chapter 391. Miss Zhou Tong Their ongoing projects include the Coastal County Holiday Resort, the newly-signed collaboration with Country Y to build an electronics factory, as well as the real estate project with Chengnan. Flourish & Prosper simply had no time to consider new projects. Resources, manpower, and finances will all be fully utilized. District Head Jia seemed bewildered. ¡°How could it be? I saw Flourish & Prosper on the name list as one of the competitive bidders.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t believe what she had just heard. ¡°Flourish & Prosper? Are you serious?¡± To be able to bid for that piece of land, the bidder would definitely be a prominent and huge corporation. And there couldn¡¯t be a second Flourish & Prosper in the industry. More so, she had been handling almost all of the projects in the company recently, and she was aware of their progress as well. How would she be kept in the dark regarding the bidding of such a huge piece of land that was worth billions? District Head Jia nodded fervently and reassured her. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s definitely Flourish & Prosper. Third Master personally came twice and we even had a meal together. He mentioned that he intends to develop a large-scale amusement park on that piece of land.¡± Yan Rusheng came personally? Develop an amusement park¡­ District Head Jia continued blabbering but Xuxu was no longer listening. She seemed to be lost in a reverie as she recalled how Yan Rusheng had played with the children at the orphanage. The scenes of how he sang with them, carried them¡ªit all flashed across her mind. He wasn¡¯t a patient person, especially towards children and animals. ¡®How about one every year¡­¡¯ ¡®No way. After pregnancy, one needs to practice abstinence for ten months. We shall have one every two years instead.¡¯ ¡®Forget it. Just one boy and one girl would be enough¡­¡¯ ¡®I really envy those children. You care for them so much and showered them with concern¡­¡¯ ¡®Yan Rusheng, what is the reason for you doing this?¡¯ Flourish & Prosper didn¡¯t have any plans to develop an amusement park in these recent years nor in the past. Looking at the current situation, if they were to successfully acquire this piece of land, their resources would be overly-stretched. How was he planning to deal with the investment and even the construction development in the later stages? ¡­ The journey to and fro took more than four hours and it was almost evening when Xuxu reached the office. Loud thuds were produced as her heels stepped on the marble floor, it had resonated in the splendid and spacious hall. Her hands were stuffed in her jacket and her head was bent down as she walked absent-mindedly towards the elevator. As she reached the elevator, the elevator coincidentally arrived at the ground level. Several employees from Chairman Zhang¡¯s office began to tumble out of the elevator There were two unfamiliar faces who haven¡¯t appeared in the building before. One of them was a slim and petite lady who had thick makeup on her face. She wore a black coat with a cape and she had short cropped hair shaped like a mushroom. Her tiny, perfect-looking face ended with a sharply pointed chin. Xuxu scrutinized her carefully and realized that she had often seen her on TV. She had just endorsed a famous brand of chocolate recently. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± Everyone from the elevator greeted Xuxu amiably. She smiled and nodded lightly. ¡°Third Madam Yan.¡± After everyone was almost out of the elevator, Xuxu heard someone calling her when she was about to step inside. She lifted her head and saw a man dressed in a foppish way. He was standing beside the female celebrity she had seen earlier on. Usually, in such situations, he was probably the manager. She gave a slight smile but remained silent. The last person stepped out of the elevator, it was Qiao Jian. He hurriedly introduced Xuxu to the new comers. ¡°Sister Xuxu, this is Miss Zhou Tong from AB Company and her manager Aill.¡± Xuxu bowed her head and replied politely, ¡°Hello.¡± Chapter 392. Why Are You All Still At Work? She knew Zhou Tong by face since she appeared on TV quite often, but she never caught her name once. Nevertheless she had a shrewd idea as to why she was here at Flourish & Prosper. Yan Rusheng had indeed dated many celebrities and models before, but he had never brought them to the company premise. Hence if a celebrity was there, it must be because of endorsement deals. Aill smiled and stretched his right hand. ¡°Third Madam, I¡¯ve long heard of your name.¡± Xuxu threw a fleeting glance at Aill¡¯s hand but she didn¡¯t return his handshake. She merely nodded and replied curtly, ¡°You¡¯ve flattered me.¡± She stepped into the elevator. And then pressed the elevator button without a second look. ¡°Third Madam is indeed as aloof and arrogant as what others have said.¡± Even though the elevator¡¯s doors were closed, she could still hear Zhou Tong¡¯s sarcastic remarks. Xuxu threw a glance at the elevator door and lowered her head, her eyes glistening in an instant. The elevator stopped with a ¡®ding.¡¯ She took a deep breath, raised her head and stepped out. She walked straight to the comfort to try and compose herself before stepping into the office. ¡°If it¡¯s fame, Chen Yuxi is definitely more popular and well-known than Zhou Tong in the country. But if it comes to class and status, Zhou Tong will definitely beat Chen Yuxi hands-down. She graduated from a famous and renowned overseas music school. She had studied abroad and furthermore, she comes from a prestigious family. President has good taste indeed.¡± ¡°I heard that she was friends with the violinist Fang Jiayin and they studied in the same school overseas.¡± ¡°It¡¯s likely that she was recommended by Fang Jiayin.¡± Two female employees from another department were gossiping secretly in the comfort room. Xuxu paused and hesitated as it wasn¡¯t in her nature to eavesdrop. She walked inside and stared at them coldly. She interrupted them by saying, ¡°Why are you all still at work?¡± Both of them glanced at her, flustered. They bowed their heads, ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± After greeting her, they tried to flee immediately. Xuxu glanced askew as they dashed past her. She reminded them coldly once more. ¡°In future, you¡¯re not allowed to gossip about others in the office.¡± ¡°We got it.¡± They nodded hurriedly, hastened their footsteps and were out of her sight in seconds. ¡®She graduated from a famous and renowned overseas music school. She had studied abroad and furthermore, she comes from a prestigious family. President has good taste indeed¡­¡¯ ¡°Yes indeed, Yan Rusheng. Your have excellent taste and foresight. It¡¯s too easy for you to make a choice.¡± She stood at the basin and splashed water on her face to refresh herself. After which, she returned to the office and sat down at her desk to continue with her unfinished work. Yan Rusheng¡¯s office was silent and the lights weren¡¯t switched on. She wasn¡¯t quite certain if he was still inside. But she didn¡¯t knock on his door either. The silence in the office was stifling. Time flew past and she finally completed her work for the day. It was almost 10 p.m. After tidying her desk, she rose from her seat and her stomach began to growl loudly. She rubbed her belly and smiled bitterly to herself¡ªshe had forgotten all her hunger. Yan Rusheng¡¯s office was already dead silent when Xuxu glanced over as she grabbed her bag. He must have long been gone. The winds were chilly and strong, so she wrapped herself tightly with her coat. The security guards were worried about her safety and one of them escorted her to flag a taxi. After she got inside the taxi, she felt better as the warm air from the heater enveloped her. She bent her head and unzipped her coat. Chapter 393. Because You Liked It ¡°Where would you like to go?¡± The taxi driver turned around to ask her. Xuxu raised her head. ¡°Go¡­¡± She was about to mention her home address when her stomach started to growl, and so she changed her mind in a split second. ¡°Go to Yizhong¡±. The traffic was smooth at this time. The car¡¯s radio was tuned to a music station. A quiet and somewhat sorrowful song resounded in the car. ¡°When love turns to ice, everything would be peaceful. When the tears run dry, only determination is left. Exile myself to the border of the night and let dawn draw near to me step by step. My longing heart has turned to ashes. I¡¯m really tired and have no more strength¡­¡± My love for you has nowhere to go. If I can to leap onto roofs and vault over walls to find you, any grievances need not be explained. As long as you hold me tight. If the cloud knows, the night lingers at every thought of you¡­¡± Only the heart is left praying and you wouldn¡¯t know¡­¡± She slightly lifted her head as she listened intently to the sorrowful melody. The lyrics spoke to her heart and somehow she wasn¡¯t aware that tears started to brim on her eyes. If you knew, but you wouldn¡¯t know. My painful yet happy memories from those years. Classes had just ended not too long ago and a few eateries were flourishing with customers. Xuxu alighted from the taxi at a distance away from a fried vermicelli shop. She then strolled leisurely towards it. ¡°Her son treated you better.¡± ¡°You specky, your handwriting is atrocious and your love letter seems like a primary school essay.¡± ¡°Do you feel honored to be with me?¡± Memories were beautiful but such were always short-lived. A walk down memory lane evoked memories of the past. Within a few days, although things remained the same, people changed. Certain emotions and feelings of despondency were dug up with the place she was in, but she was already accustomed to such heartaches. Let her be the only one to remember this place. Without realizing, she had already reached the fried vermicelli shop, and it was bustling with customers like the usual. Most of the customers were students less than twenty years old and everyone carefree smiles etched on their faces. They were giggling and bantering with each other. There was a certain point of time that she was just like them. And during that time, she had developed feelings for him and it was not at all bitter, unlike now. She never thought about what would lie in the future at that point of time. She thought that as long as she stood shoulder to shoulder with him in their studies, she would be able to remain by his side. It sounded so easy, so as long as she worked hard. ¡°Aren¡¯t you Xuxu? Why are you standing there? Come in quickly.¡± Xuxu stood under the streetlights, facing the entrance of the fried vermicelli shop. The stall owner was about to carry the cutleries out to wash when she caught sight of her. She was jolted back to reality and smiled at the stall owner as she walked into the shop. Even though the heater in the shop was not turned on, the atmosphere felt comfortably warm. She walked right inside, and as if the heavens all planned it, all the tables were occupied except for the one where she and Yan Rusheng previously sat on. She walked over and sat down. The stall owner went over and greeted her. ¡°What would you like to eat tonight?¡± Without hesitation, she smiled and answered, ¡°The usual fried beef vermicelli.¡± ¡°You and Third Young Master are interesting. He had just left after finishing a bowl of fried beef vermicelli, and then you came right after.¡± The stall owner laughed. ¡°It would have been better if you two came together.¡± Xuxu looked at the stall owner clear surprise written on her face. ¡°He¡­ came?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The stall owner nodded. ¡°He left less than half an hour ago.¡± She sighed. ¡°Why would a young master like him love dining at such a small eatery? It must be because he likes you.¡± Chapter 394. Fallen Ill Xuxu smiled and remained silent. In her mind, she thought, every two to three days, she and Yan Rusheng would appear on the newspapers headlines. Regardless of how busy the lady boss was or how uninterested she was in entertainment gossips, she ought to have known what happened. She knew that she was expressing her concerns. Indeed, in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes, these were junk food and he wasn¡¯t interested in it even in the slightest bit. ¡°Must be because you liked it.¡± Was it really because of her? It puzzled her as to why Yan Rusheng would even come down to her favorite vermicelli stall out of the blue¡ªjust like how she could not understand why he wanted to shoulder a huge burden to bid for the land in Haicheng City. Her mind was preoccupied with such thoughts that she couldn¡¯t even have her meal in peace. The thought was tormenting her, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it, and yet she didn¡¯t have the courage to continue dwelling on it. It was rare that after only a few mouthfuls of the fried vermicelli, she lost her appetite. She prepared her money and walked towards the entrance to pay the stall owner. ¡± Tch , a fickle minded woman, she¡¯s not suited to be with Third Young Master.¡± ¡°Precisely. Fang Jiayin is obviously more compatible with him.¡± ¡°Heard that she managed to climb to her current status after sweet talking the elders in the Yan family. Such unscrupulous methods.¡± With the new millennia, the younger generation had foul mouths that gossipy women could not even compare. The things they said and the words they said were simply amazing¡ª their boldness could not be underestimated. Even though she was standing near them, they had no scruples to point fingers at her. Xuxu stopped in her steps and shot a vicious glare at the group of girls who were making comments about her. The girls took notice of the glare that was thrown their way, and yet there weren¡¯t any traces of guilt in their faces. In fact, they were behaving overbearingly as if they were talking facts. All these pretty, innocent faces. She clenched her fists tightly, suppressing all her grievances and fury before she continued walking ahead. It was snowing outside and the temperature had dropped to almost zero degrees. If she had to resort to unscrupulous means, after that fateful night of pain, she would have become Yan Rusheng¡¯s lawful wife. But she didn¡¯t. She did nothing. She had no idea how long she had walked. When she finally saw the luxurious villa, she shivered even though her body was soaked with sweat. She entered the house and went upstairs straight away without looking at the time. Passing by the study room, she saw that the room door was open. She stopped in her tracks¡ªa cold stare greeted her. Looking at the towering figure, it was the first time in so many days that she didn¡¯t try to resist nor pretend. She even had the urge to say, ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯m exhausted. Can you give me your love, even if it¡¯s just a little?¡± Yan Rusheng fixed his gaze on her exhausted face for a moment before coldly looking away. Xuxu also retracted her gaze and hung her head despondently, after which she walked feebly to her room. She stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to wash over her body and make her feel warm. She was too drained to even blow dry her hair. She went straight to bed in her bathrobe, laying and snuggling under the quilt with her hair dripping wet. The next day was a weekend and she slept till noon. When she woke up her head felt dizzy and heavy, and her throat was scratchy and sore. She had fallen ill. Good. She could finally have a valid reason to take a rest. Having slept in her wet hair, her silky long hair turned into a pile of messy ¡®bird¡¯s nest¡¯. No matter how she brushed, her hair was curling and sticking out all over. Chapter 395. Remember To Take Your Medicine As she didn¡¯t eat much over dinner yesterday, she was so famished that she didn¡¯t have the patience to continue tidying up her messy hair. So she ended up tying them up into a bun. She removed her bathrobe and changed into a set of white home wear with a small cat print on it. Although she was ill, she still felt relaxed. She stuffed her hands into her pockets and sauntered out of her room. Once she got to the first floor, Aunt Zhang happened to walk out of the dining room. The elderly lady smiled pleasantly at her. ¡°Missy, I was about to check on you if you had woken up. Come and have your lunch now.¡± Xuxu nodded her head and respond with an ¡®Ok¡¯ before heading straight to the dining room. She stumped for a moment when she entered. Yan Rusheng was sitting there and he also wore a set of white home wear. He looked so dashing as he picked up a piece of vegetables with his chopsticks. When he saw Xuxu, he paused in his actions and lowered his head. After which, he continued eating. Xuxu walked over to her usual seat and took a glance at the dishes on the table. Aunt Zhang painstakingly prepares all her favorite dishes every day, and true enough, there was the spicy pickled fish on the table. She couldn¡¯t wait and pulled out a chair and sat down. She picked up the chopsticks in front of her and took a piece of pickle and placed it in her bowl. After blowing at it, she shoved it into her mouth. She was about to pick up a piece of fish when Aunt Zhang reminded her warmly. ¡°Missy, I¡¯ve added a lot of chili to the fish today. It¡¯s better for you to eat some other dishes first as your stomach is empty.¡± Xuxu smiled and nodded her head. ¡°I got it.¡± The moment she opened her mouth, she was surprised. Her voice was¡­ extremely hoarse. She reached out to feel her throat and pressed it gently with her fingers. Her throat felt pain even when she pressed it lightly. ¡°Missy, what happened to you?¡± Aunt Zhang walked over to her and asked her with anxiousness laced unto her voice. ¡°Have you caught a cold?¡± Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°I think so.¡± When she woke up, she knew that she had caught a cold and had a sore throat. But she didn¡¯t expect it to be so serious. Not wanting to worry Aunt Zhang, she said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ll take some medicine later and should recover soon.¡± ¡°You must be freezing last night.¡± Aunt Zhang¡¯s heart ached as she looked at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯ll make you some ginger tea later and you must also take some indigo root.¡± After the old lady finished saying her piece, she took a glance at Yan Rusheng who was sitting opposite to Xuxu. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh. She could only look at these two children giving each other their cold shoulders every day. If only the old madam was still around. ¡°Don¡¯t busy yourself. I¡¯ll go upstairs and take some medicine after I¡¯ve finished eating.¡± It took Xuxu some effort to talk as she had lost her voice. She looked at Aunt Zhang and maintained her smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be going to visit grandfather in the afternoon and won¡¯t be taking dinner at home.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Aunt Zhang nodded but feeling worried, she reminded her again, ¡°You must remember to take your medicine.¡± She finally set her mind at ease and went back to her chores. Aunt Zhang¡¯s concern and affection always reminded her of grandmother, the grandmother that she missed very, very much. Xuxu trained her eyes at Aunt Zhang¡ªwho had a slight hunchback¡ªand then retracted her gaze to continue eating. She was a self-disciplined person but whenever she saw her favorite dishes in front of her, she couldn¡¯t resist the temptation. Even if her throat was on fire, she continued picking the spicy pickled fish with her chopsticks. The fish was piping hot and she blew at it as she ate. Slap! Yan Rusheng suddenly put down his chopsticks, or rather, slammed his chopsticks hard on the table. Chapter 396. I Have Nothing To Hide Xuxu trembled in shock and when she raised her head to look at him, he had already stood up and walked out of the dining room. She stole a glance at his bowl. He had only taken a few mouthfuls of rice and hardly touched the dishes. Why did he suddenly throw his temper? Was he so sick of her to the extent that he no longer wanted to share the same table with her for meals? Sigh. How long more could their relationship go on if they had to continue living in such a state? ¡­ After dinner, Xuxu drove a white Mini Cooper¡ªa car that she seldom drove¡ª out from the garage and left the house. Today¡¯s weather was gloomy and the temperature seemed to have plunged by a few degrees all of a sudden. Steadily, she stopped the car by the roadside, carried her bag and alighted from the vehicle. She headed towards her grandfather¡¯s clinic. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± She could hear Qi Lei calling her from afar. She lifted her head and looked towards his direction and quickened her footsteps. The young man was dressed in a black woolen sweater with the clinic¡¯s white robe draped over him. He must have just finished treating a patient as his mask was still hanging over his ears. ¡°Where¡¯s grandfather?¡± Xuxu asked as she walked closer to him. Qi Lei pointed to the house. ¡°He should be inside.¡± Xuxu replied with an ¡®Ok¡¯ and was about to walk inside when Qi Lei stopped her all of a sudden. ¡°Sister Xuxu, please wait a moment.¡± Cautiously, he stole a glance in the direction of the house and leaned closer to Xuxu. He whispered a warning to her, ¡°Grandfather is fuming mad. If you didn¡¯t come, he was prepared to go and look for you.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°I got it.¡± Without a doubt, grandfather must be enraged over her scandal with Charles. When the news was out on the first day, he already called her to ask about the ins and outs of the matter. At that time, the news didn¡¯t mention about her ¡®resorting to unscrupulous means to marry Yan Rusheng¡¯ and the elderly man comforted her as he was worried that she would be emotionally affected by this matter. But now that the rumors have spread like wildfire, the elderly man must be extremely anxious. ¡°Grandfather.¡± Xuxu entered the door and greeted him. The old man wasn¡¯t seated at the counter. She was about to head to the second floor when the old man suddenly appeared at the staircase landing on the second floor. He was presentably dressed. One look and you could tell that he was about to leave the house. He looked at Xuxu with a calm and collected look. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°This is my parental home. Why can¡¯t I come back?¡± Fortunately, she came. The elderly man had all along harbored all kinds of discontentment towards Yan Rusheng and had always been cautious about him. And Yan Rusheng was someone who absolutely had no patience even towards his flesh and blood grandmother and mother. If grandfather found his way there, the matter would have been blown out of proportion. ¡°Come with me to the newspaper office now. I want to ask them if they saw it with their own eyes. Otherwise, they shouldn¡¯t report such groundless conjecture.¡± Grandfather¡¯s feet had already regained their nimbleness and his agility is no less than that of a young person as he walked down the steps in a tumultuous manner. As he stood in front of her, he grabbed her hand and dragged her along. Xuxu flung off his hand. ¡°Grandfather, let them write whatever they want. I have nothing to hide.¡± When the old man turned back and looked at Xuxu again, his face had already turned ashen and there was a look of worry in his eyes. ¡°Third Yan this scoundrel. I must ask him today. In what way is my granddaughter not good enough for him?¡± Hearing this, Xuxu could feel her eyes brimming with tears and she hugged her grandfather. ¡°Grandfather, I am alright.¡± Even though she said that she was alright, her tears had already raced down her cheeks. It wasn¡¯t because she was indifferent but even if she were to be nursing a grievance, no one would feel sorry for her. That¡¯s why she chose to put on a pretense and behaved nonchalantly. Chapter 397. Useless Grandfather stroked her head affectionately. ¡°Silly girl. In what way is he better than Ah Heng? Although our family is indebted to the Yan family, if only I¡¯ve known that you will suffer so much, even if we had to become beggars, grandfather wouldn¡¯t send you to the Yan family in the first place.¡± Xuxu recomposed her emotions and pushed grandfather away. She smiled while wiping away her tears. ¡°Grandfather, what¡¯s the point of saying these? If I¡¯ve not entered the Yan family at that time, I should be toiling at the farmland now, constantly exposed to the sun till my skin is charred. I don¡¯t want that type of life.¡± After wiping away her tears, she looked up at the old man. Her eyes were red and her voice still choking with emotions, ¡°One look and one can tell that someone is jealous over Flourish & Prosper¡¯s collaboration with Country Y. Hence all these started due to a power struggle. Please don¡¯t drag Ah Heng into this matter.¡± ¡®I have nothing to hide¡¯ was only a self-consolation. Any celebrity or famous personality, including her, would be affected by such scandals. No one would remain cheery and open-minded. Grandfather understood her and replied coldly with a sigh, ¡°Ah Heng had already guessed that someone started all these and he was afraid that he might create further baseless gossips for you. Hence lately, he calls to check on me daily.¡± Whatever Xuxu had mentioned earlier, Jiang Zhuoheng had already stated his view with regards to the situation with him over the phone. It had to be the doings of their business competitors who were jealous over Flourish & Prosper and resorted to such despicable method to embarrass them. But he was angry with Third Yan because he didn¡¯t stand up for Xuxu and protect her in this current situation. He was angry that of all people, his ex-girlfriend had to come into the picture to further embarrass Xuxu.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop talking about this.¡± Xuxu held the elderly man¡¯s hand and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s rare that I¡¯m sick and I want to use my illness as an excuse to demand your attention.¡± She grabbed his hand and walked towards the counter as she spoke. It suddenly dawned on Old Master Wen that she sounded different. He suddenly became worried. ¡°What happened to your voice?¡± Xuxu pouted her lips and gave a dissatisfied rebuke. ¡°You kept saying that you are concerned for me yet it took you long enough to realize that my voice sounded different.¡± She coughed lightly and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve caught a bad cold. That¡¯s why I came here to look for some medicine.¡± Grandfather frowned and cast a sideway glance at her. ¡°At this stage, there¡¯s no point taking Chinese medicine. Quickly take a western pill and sleep.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to take Western medicine.¡± Xuxu shook her head and shifted her gaze from grandfather. Her voice was reduced to a whisper. ¡°I will not take Western medicine.¡± ¡°My child, why are you so¡­¡± Grandfather poked Xuxu¡¯s head unsympathetically. ¡°Useless.¡± Xuxu stuck out her tongue mischievously. ¡°I thought you used to say that Chinese medicine can also strengthen one¡¯s body?¡± ¡°Why do I have such a dumb and useless granddaughter?¡± Grandfather couldn¡¯t help but felt sorry for her. ¡°I¡¯ll go and prepare the medicine and get Qi Lei to boil it for you. After drinking, please go home quickly and have a good sleep.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Xuxu playfully rubbed her head on grandfather¡¯s shoulder like a kitten. Grandfather let out a sigh. ¡°You always cause me to worry.¡± Xuxu knew from the start that Chinese medicine was bitter. But it was only after drinking it that she realized that it was even worse than what she imagined. She had to hold her breath and force it down her throat. Grandfather looked at her expression which appeared worse than swallowing poison and snapped. ¡°You asked for it.¡± Xuxu merely smiled at the indisputable truth which he had said. Indeed, she asked for it. At this juncture, she was still holding on to self-delusion. Chapter 398. I Want To Bear Your Child She finished the Chinese medicine, rested for a while in the clinic before going back to her apartment. She reached home and retrieved a book in her drawer that she had read halfway previously. Then she went to the balcony. It was so much cozier and comfortable to stay at home than to endure the bitter winds outside. Her flu was really getting worse and her head throbbed painfully. She didn¡¯t feel like reading her book anymore. She placed the book down and went back to her bedroom. She pulled the blanket over her and fell into a deep sleep instantly. ¡°So noisy.¡± Her phone kept ringing and annoyed her. She stretched her hand to push her phone further away from her and flipped her body over. She pulled the blanket over her head once more. But her phone wouldn¡¯t stop ringing for a long time. And after a brief interval, it would start ringing again. Which wretched idiot was calling and had disrupted her sleep!? Xuxu was extremely annoyed and flung her blanket away irritably. She reached sleepily for her phone on the drawer and with her eyes still shut, she answered the call. ¡°Hello¡­¡± Her hoarse and sleepy voice sounded like she was in a daze. She answered the call just to stop it from ringing. After saying ¡®hello¡¯, she didn¡¯t respond anymore. Neither did she listen to the person on the other line. ¡®Slam!¡¯ The phone slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. ¡­ ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you want to die?¡± In her dream, Xuxu could feel a cold hand caressing her burning forehead. It felt chilly and oddly comfortable. And the voice in her ear was pleasant that it brought her some comfort. She stretched her hand to grab the person¡¯s hand tightly and refused to let go. ¡°Mm¡­¡± She tossed and turned as she tried to find a cooler spot so that she can sleep comfortably. But no matter how many times she rolled to a new spot, it became warm almost instantly. She was frustrated and furrowed her eyebrows. She pouted and mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s so hot.¡± She tugged at her collar as she complained. She was wearing a shirt and a camisole beneath it. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± The pleasant voice sounded above her once more and the next moment, she was being carried by someone. She caught a faint whiff of a familiar scent and that familiarity seemed surreal. She clutched at the person¡¯s collar and whined. ¡°Ah Sheng, I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital. I don¡¯t want to take medicine.¡± I want to bear your child, a healthy child. I don¡¯t want to take medicine anymore. ¡°Why are you refusing to go to the hospital? Do you know how high your temperature is right now? Do you want to burn yourself to death?¡± That familiar voice chided her and Xuxu felt aggrieved. She burrowed further into his embrace and whimpered. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­ Ah Sheng¡­¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± The man¡¯s deep voice sounded furious and it seemed that he was trying badly to suppress his emotions. A pair of deep blazing eyes was staring steadily at the tiny woman in his embrace. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you have been calling my name unconsciously. Why did you call me?¡± Did this prove that she cares about him? In that case, why? Why did she take contraceptives secretly? Why couldn¡¯t she trust him? ¡°It¡¯s so bitter.¡± He fed her with medicine but she spat it out because it was too bitter. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want Western medicine, you can only take the bitter Chinese medicine.¡± Yan Rusheng glared at the woman lying on his arm and gnashed his teeth. He glanced at the dark brown medicine and judging by the smell, it must be exceedingly bitter. He hesitated for a moment before making up his mind. He took a mouthful and immediately he pressed his lips against hers and transferred the medicine into her mouth. After making sure she had swallowed the medicine, he continued to feed her using this method. Chapter 399. How Did Her Fever Subside? After feeding her the medicine, Yan Rusheng used the method that Xuxu had used to help bring down Huanhuan¡¯s fever. He wrung the towel repeatedly and patiently wiped the warmest parts of her body. Until her body temperature started to go down and when she finally fell into a deep slumber, only then did he heave a sigh of relief. Xuxu slept peacefully and Yan Rusheng gazed at her intently. A plethora of emotions was churning in his eyes. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what must I do for you to fall in love with me?¡± As he pondered, he stretched out to hold her hands and slowly wrapped his own over hers. Xuxu¡¯s hands, as compared to his, were so much tinier and softer than his own. If he knew that he would grow to love her so deeply, he would have made use of the numerous opportunities he had in the past to win her love. Xuxu could feel that her hand was getting warmer and she frowned slightly as she tried to retract her hand. Sensing her movement, Yan Rusheng immediately let go of her hand and stood up. He stood by the edge of her bed and gazed at Xuxu once more. Then he turned to go round the bed and walked to Xuxu¡¯s dressing table. He pulled a chair and sat down. There were plenty of tiny ornaments on Xuxu¡¯s dressing table and he examined them one by one. There was a pile of cosmetics and some furry little figures and pendants. He seemed to gain a better understanding of what Wen Xuxu was fond of. It seemed that this was his first time inside her chamber¡ªher real personal chamber. After examining the stuff sprawled on the table, he pulled and opened the drawer. There were fewer items inside; a photo album, a locked diary, and a red wooden box. He was attracted by the red wooden box, perhaps due to it being locked. He took it and gave it a shake. Something was rattling inside. What was it inside? He used his long finger to prod at the tiny lock and he had a sudden unethical whim to pry it open. He was curious enough to know what was inside the box. Did Jiang Zhuoheng give her something¡ªfor her to cherish it like a precious treasure? But eventually, he didn¡¯t cave into his whim. Of course, he didn¡¯t do that, but not because he felt that it wasn¡¯t right for him to rummage through someone¡¯s belongings. Rather, he was afraid that the cherished item inside might give him a huge blow. He returned the box to its original position and closed the drawer. He strode back to the bed and stretched his hand to feel Xuxu¡¯s forehead. Her fever had almost subsided. Xuxu was perspiring and Yan Rusheng dabbed lightly at the beads with some tissues. It was already dawn and the weak sunlight was shining in through the windows. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he took it out. He took his eyes off Xuxu and glanced at the screen and proceeded to walk out of the bedroom. ¡°Mm. Okay, I got it.¡± ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± He ended the call quickly and Yan Rusheng went back to Xuxu¡¯s room as he pushed the door carefully. She was still sound asleep and she looked peaceful. His heart seemed to have softened at the sight. He shut the door quietly after him and turned around to leave. ¡­ Xuxu felt that she had slept for a century and when she woke up, her entire body was aching badly. She felt weak and limp as well. She knew that she must have had a high fever. But¡­ how did her fever subside? She blinked as she mulled over the question. She fumbled for her phone and got a shock. It was already 12 p.m¡­ and it was Sunday. Chapter 400. Beginning To Not Understand You Oh dear, she had slept for nearly 24 hours. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you a pig?¡± She scrambled to her feet and the first thing she thought of after 24 hours of sleep, was to rush to the toilet. After she came out from the toilet, she caught a strong familiar scent of Chinese medicine. She glanced at the drawer near her bed and there was an empty bowl on top. There was still some dark brown residue left in the bowl. Someone came to feed her with medicine. That would explain why. She knew it. She was having a high fever and it¡¯s impossible for the fever to subside on its own. It was a miracle that she didn¡¯t burn to death. It must be her grandfather. ¡°Grandfather? Is it you?¡± Xuxu opened the door and heard some movements from the kitchen, and so she made her way there. The person in the kitchen heard her. He craned his head out and called out, ¡°Sister Xuxu, it¡¯s me.¡± It was Qi Lei. Xuxu smiled at him. She was running a fever the entire night and both her smile and voice were pretty weak. ¡°Qi Lei, did my grandfather take care of me last night?¡± Qi Lei was holding a bowl of porridge and shook his head as he walked. ¡°No, it¡¯s Brother Third Yan.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xuxu was thunderstruck when she heard him. Her face was screwed up in disbelief and confusion. ¡°You mean Yan Rusheng came last night?!¡± Did he feed her with medicine? How could that have happened? ¡°Yes, he did. He came to the clinic last night to get your apartment keys.¡± Qi Lei continued, ¡°He left only in the morning.¡± ¡°No, but¡­¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t quite believe her ears. She stared at the floor and seemed to be mumbling to herself rather than asking Qi Lei. ¡°Why would he be here?¡± And he had stayed overnight to take care of her. The last time she saw him at home, he had given her the cold shoulder even when she looked at him in such a pitiful state. Qi Lei shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°Brother Third Yan must have been very concerned about you since he stayed overnight. When he came to the clinic yesterday, he had rushed out after collecting the keys.¡± Xuxu replied vaguely with an ¡®oh¡¯ for she was too preoccupied with her own thoughts. She went to wash up and after coming out of the bathroom, she still hasn¡¯t fully recovered from the shock. Qi Lei had cooked porridge for her and two other dishes. She enjoyed the meal thoroughly. She was almost done with her lunch when she suddenly thought of something. She slammed her chopsticks and bowl on the table and then darted to her room frantically. She went to her dressing table and pulled the drawer. She had never been so relieved when she saw that her diary and the wooden box remained locked and still in their original positions. Thank god that fellow didn¡¯t do any snooping around again, like what he did in high school. He didn¡¯t unlock her diary nor her wooden box. Her secret was still safe. Feeling relieved, she went back to the living room. After lunch, Xuxu went to the clinic. After drinking the medicine that Grandfather had brewed for her, she went home shortly. She waited all afternoon ¡¯till dusk but Yan Rusheng was still nowhere in sight. When she finished her drama, the courtyard was still empty. He could still be busy with social engagements. Xuxu peered outside and yawned widely. She decided not to wait any longer, stood up and went upstairs. Actually, she had no idea why she was waiting for him. So what if she had waited ¡¯till he came home? What should she even say to him? Thank you for taking care of me yesterday night? Or to ask him why did he take care of her yesterday? No matter how she phrased her question, she felt that it was too pretentious. She sighed and then thought, ¡± Yan Rusheng, I feel that I¡¯m beginning to not understand you.¡± She couldn¡¯t understand him. What was he trying to do or what was on his mind? If he didn¡¯t have her in his heart, then why did he do all of that? Chapter 401. First Uncle’s Sudden Visit Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t return the entire night. Early next morning, Xuxu saw an extensive article on the front page of the newspaper describing how Charles had clarified their relationship via a press conference yesterday. And he had sternly declared to the media outlets that if they don¡¯t stop spreading rumors, he would be taking legal action against them. The press conference lasted for only five minutes and every sentence he made was in her defense. In the photo, Charles was wearing a jewel-blue suit and he appeared poised and composed in front of the cameras. His innate elegance and grace radiated from head to toe. But his usual gentle eyes had turned cold and intense. Xuxu could tell from his expression that he was enraged. He had really flared up this time. She finished reading the article and the corners of her mouth curled up. She was incredibly touched and grateful. Judging from this, Charles was indeed a true friend. Xuxu drove to work and when she reached the building, all the employees she met in the hall greeted her continuously. She nodded at them with a smile. Today, her footsteps seemed more hurried than usual as she wanted to get to her office as soon as possible. She walked together with a knot of employees towards the elevator and a middle-aged man called her loudly from behind her. ¡°Xuxu!¡± Wen Xuxu halted her footsteps and turned around. She saw the man and after a moment of shock, she beamed brightly at him. ¡°First Uncle!¡± It was Yan Rusheng¡¯s eldest uncle, Yan Weiye. He wore a dull gray blazer and matching trousers. He was nearing 60 years of age but he still stood tall and energetic. She hurried towards him and asked, ¡°Why are you here so early?¡± When she was a child, she didn¡¯t get to spend much time with Yan Weiye. The last time she saw him even was at her grandmother¡¯s funeral. When she had just entered the Yan family, he was busy managing Flourish & Prosper and he always needed to travel for work. So he was hardly at home. But she remembered fondly that he would always get her a gift when he came back from his work trips. Sometimes, it was something delicious or simply a small ornament. He didn¡¯t even get anything for his two sons. In a nutshell, the Yan family had been incredibly kind to her. She could never forget their kindness and how indebted she was to the whole family. Other than devoting herself to the Yan family, she had nothing else to repay them with. She surveyed Yan Weiye from head to toe and she said with concern, ¡°First Uncle, you seem to have lost a lot of weight.¡± Yan Weiye grinned and stroked his face. ¡°I¡¯ve been very busy lately and didn¡¯t have much time to rest.¡± Xuxu peered at the door and asked, ¡°First Uncle, did you reach the capital city this morning?¡± If not he would have certainly gone home. ¡°I¡¯m here to settle some stuff in the capital city.¡± Yan Weiye continued, ¡°I was too early so I decided to drop by and look for you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu nodded and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs then.¡± However, Yan Weiye didn¡¯t budge and said in a hushed tone instead, ¡°Let¡¯s go to a cafe nearby.¡± His smile and expression turned awkward and Xuxu guessed that he had something to say to her. She agreed, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± The cafe was quite empty at that time of day. Wen Xuxu found a table at the corner. They both settled in with Yan Weiye sitting in front of Xuxu. They requested for two glasses of water. After settling down, Xuxu decided to start the ball rolling as she was afraid that Yan Weiye might not be able to broach the topic. ¡°First Uncle, do you have something to tell me?¡± Yan Weiye was startled when he heard her and shook his head. He mocked himself, ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m getting old indeed. I can¡¯t seem to hide my thoughts from you.¡± Chapter 402. The First Time She Didn’t Control It Xuxu smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright. First Uncle, please say everything that¡¯s on your mind.¡± If he was feeling hesitant, most likely it was bad news. She tried to prepare herself mentally for whatever he had to say as her thoughts whirled rapidly. Since she had been so straightforward, Yan Weiye chose not to beat around the bush as well. ¡°The rumors concerning Third Yan and you are spreading like wildfire. It¡¯s affecting the company¡¯s image and reputation.¡± He pulled a heavy sigh and helplessly continued, ¡°It doesn¡¯t just concern our company. Today Princess Lu Fei from Country Y had called and said that it¡¯s affecting the royal family¡¯s reputation as well. This might affect the collaboration between us and them. They hope that you can clarify the rumors and apologize at a press conference.¡± Xuxu was stumped for words. She tried to open her mouth to respond but her throat seemed to be choked. She felt particularly upset and wronged in front of the man who was almost like a father to her¡ªsomeone who was always so kind and warm to her. ¡°But everything is just a rumor, it¡¯s not true.¡± She didn¡¯t understand why she had to pay attention to such ridiculous rumors and even had to apologize for it. So many celebrities had scandals before and she didn¡¯t see them clarifying at press conferences, not to mention making an official apology. Why did she have to do that? Xuxu¡¯s eyes began to sting and were turning slightly red. Yan Weiye was quick to console her when he saw her expression. ¡°Xuxu, don¡¯t be upset. I¡¯m not saying that I don¡¯t believe you.¡± Xuxu pressed her lips tightly as she tried to compose herself. She nodded lightly and said with a quivering voice, ¡°Alright, let me take some time to consider this before I give you a proper reply very soon.¡± She thought that for the sake of Grandmother, the Yan family and everyone who loved her. Those reasons were more than sufficient. ¡°Xuxu, I know how hard this is for you.¡± Yan Weiye stretched his hand to pat Xuxu¡¯s shoulder. He couldn¡¯t bear to look at her in the eye, especially that Xuxu¡¯s own orbs were red in a grievance. He intended to console and advise her by saying that since she had been elevated to such a high and prominent status, sometimes she would have to do things that were not of her own volition. But he forced his words back. Xuxu managed a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m part of Flourish & Prosper now, so I should do my part.¡± Yan Weiye nodded in appreciation. ¡°I know you¡¯re an understanding child.¡± After chatting for a short while, they left the cafe. Though the sun was shining, the cold winds were brutal and piercing. Xuxu walked towards Flourish & Prosper¡¯s building with a heavy heart. Her good mood was destroyed. ¡°Sister Xuxu, this document needs your signature.¡± ¡°Sister Xuxu, the PR department just called saying that they need to make a trip to the event venue in the afternoon.¡± The moment she stepped in, her colleagues took turns to report to her. ¡°Sister Xuxu¡­¡± ¡°I got it!¡± She lashed out and everyone was baffled on their feet. The office became hushed in a split second and the silence was ear piercing. Pairs of eyes were staring at her apprehensively. After a moment of blinding realization, she instantly regretted how she had allowed her emotions to affect her at her workplace. She felt terrible and frustrated. This was the first time ever¡­ that she wasn¡¯t able to control her emotions. She slumped into her seat and used her hand to wipe her face. She raised her head to look at her colleagues who stood around her. She massaged her temples as she apologized, ¡°Sorry, please carry on.¡± She lowered her head and proceeded to switch on her computer. She began to pore through a document on her desk. She needed to find something to do, to distract her and to give herself time to calm down. Xuxu didn¡¯t let herself have a moment of rest the entire day. Chapter 403. It Should Be Due To Love Xuxu came out of the office pantry with a cup of water. She settled in her seat and glanced at the time. It was almost 5 p.m., almost time to clock off. She leaned against the back of her chair as she tilted her head and shut her eyes. Her eyelashes and eyelids were slightly quivering. Sigh. She couldn¡¯t stop whatever that was coming, and she would have to do whatever that needed to be done. She sighed heavily in her heart and Xuxu¡¯s eyelids fluttered open. She placed the cup down and took her cell phone. She stood up, grabbed her bag and left the office while making a call. ¡°I¡¯m Wen Xuxu. I¡¯m on my way.¡± She walked with heavy but determined footsteps. ¡­ Jincheng City. ¡°President Yan, the young madam had called for a press conference. She had apologized to Country Y for the scandal between her and Charles.¡± Qiao Jian had entered Yan Rusheng¡¯s room with a laptop in his hand after knocking on the door. He was quick on his footing towards Yan Rusheng who was buried in work. After Yan Rusheng heard him, the pen he was holding jerked and stopped violently in mid-air. His gorgeous face seemed to be instantly clouded by a layer of gloom. Qiao Jian placed the laptop in front of him and it was playing a video of Wen Xuxu at the press conference in the capital city. She stood in front of the camera as beams of lights mercilessly flashed at her. Nevertheless, she stood tall and straight and displayed neither inferiority nor superiority. She fluently answered all the questions asked by the reporters and appeared unruffled and composed. But Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart seemed to be clenched tightly. She was the prideful and aloof Wen Xuxu. She was Wen Xuxu, a person who was always able to stay levelheaded and indifferent. Why would she care about such rumors? And she had chosen to apologize and clarify at a press conference. His face was screwed up in concentration as he tried to guess what had happened. After a while, he had the answer in his heart. A chill air emanated from him and his eyes seemed to resemble a condensed layer of ice. ¡°Get prepared, we¡¯re returning to the capital city.¡± His tone was decisive. He got up and walked towards his wardrobe. Qiao Jian peered out of the windows and he hesitated for a second before saying carefully. ¡°President Yan, it¡¯s already getting dark¡­ Are we really going back right now?¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head and lifted his brow coldly. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± He stretched his hand, removed a coat from the wardrobe and put it over him. Qiao Jian didn¡¯t dare to dawdle any longer and went to prepare. ¡­ In the dining room, Xuxu was drinking the ginger soup that Aunt Zhang had cooked for her. She had added coke to the soup and the heat made it no longer fizzy, leaving only sweetness. For best results, Aunt Zhang had added more ginger to the soup to cure Xuxu¡¯s flu. But as a result, it became spicier and it irritated the latter¡¯s throat when she tried to drink it. ¡°I can¡¯t drink this, my throat hurts.¡± She placed the bowl down and touched her throat, pretending to whine in front of Aunt Zhang. Actually, she didn¡¯t intend to drink the soup at all. But because Aunt Zhang brewed the soup personally for her, she couldn¡¯t bear to waste her efforts. Aunt Zhang didn¡¯t force her after Xuxu complained about the soup. She then said, ¡°Then forget the soup, drink more water then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs first.¡± She stood up and was about to leave the dining room. ¡°Third Young Master is back.¡± A servant announced his arrival. Was he back? Xuxu lifted her head in surprise and Yan Rusheng, who was dressed impeccably, had already appeared at the entrance of the dining room. When she saw his gorgeous face, a streak of happiness flashed past her eyes fleetingly, but it was too swift for anyone to notice. That happiness stemmed from her heart and she couldn¡¯t control it. Yan Rusheng gazed at her and stared at her aloof-looking face. It was only then that he did questioned himself. It was so late and he was travel-worn and weary from the journey, why exactly did he rush back? If there needs to be a reason, he thought that¡­ it should be due to love. Chapter 404. I Really Feel Like Strangling You Yan Rusheng won¡¯t be able to remain calm regarding anything that involved Wen Xuxu. He had been like this for as long as he could remember. He hated himself for being like that and hated her for being the cause. But there was nothing he could do. ¡°Third Young Master, I guess you haven¡¯t eaten dinner. Miss has just finished and the dishes are still warm,¡± Aunt Zhang said with a tinge of excitement when she saw Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng retracted his gaze from Xuxu¡¯s face and nodded at Aunt Zhang promptly. ¡°Mm.¡± Then he entered the dining room. Xuxu stared at the ground with her lips curled as she ridiculed herself. Why did she feel that she had become the type of wife who had waited grudgingly for her husband to come home only to dote and shower her with love after being away for a long time? Even if she felt that way, she reckoned that he couldn¡¯t be bothered. He had merely taken care of her for an entire night while she was unconscious. If everything he did was because he had truly loved and cared for her, he wouldn¡¯t have defended and protected Fang Jiayin in public. And he had even insisted on changing the VIP for the Christmas event. And needless to say, he wouldn¡¯t have agreed to her making an apology at the press conference. Just months ago, Yan Rusheng had torn the billion-dollar contract for her sake. But months later, he had made her bow to pressure, to appease others and for the sake of the billion-dollar contract. Hence, she shouldn¡¯t be harboring hope anymore. She simply cannot withstand the agony and pain from falling from paradise to hell once more. She continued to walk out of the dining room. Yan Rusheng watched her as she walked past, fury blazed in his eyes instantly. He leaped to his feet and caught up with her swiftly with a few steps. He grabbed her violently and pinned her against the wall. Both Wen Xuxu and Aunt Zhang were both shocked and terrified by his sudden rage. The bowl Aunt Zhang was holding dropped to the floor with a clang. ¡°Third Young Master, what are you doing?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes swept across her coldly. ¡°Get out.¡± He said it with an absolute authoritative tone. ¡°Third Young Master¡­¡± Aunt Zhang moved forward as she was afraid that Yan Rusheng might hurt Xuxu judging from the terrible and incensed expression on his face. Xuxu gave her a meaningful glance. ¡°Aunt Zhang, just leave first.¡± If Yan Rusheng really wanted to hurt her, how could an old lady like her be able to stop him? She might get hurt as well. Aunt Zhang wasn¡¯t entirely at ease but she could only oblige and leave. After Aunt Zhang left, Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and menacingly inched nearer to Xuxu¡¯s face. His angry and heavy breaths landed directly on her exquisite-looking face. She raised her chin slightly with her lips pressed tightly together. She looked undaunted as she stared back at him. She looked as though she was taunting him. But she was actually shivering with fear deep inside. She had no idea what Yan Rusheng wanted and why he abruptly lost his temper. All she knew was that he was raging and was exceedingly mad right now. Usually, the aftermath of such intense rage and wrath brought serious repercussions. Just like that fateful night, he had pinned her down while calling Fang Jiayin¡¯s name. As if a beast inside of him was being unleashed. ¡°Wen Xuxu, aren¡¯t you usually aloof and proud?¡± Yan Rusheng sneered at her as he inched threateningly closer until they were nose to nose with each other. ¡°I really feel like strangling you.¡± As long she was willing to yield to him, he could shelter and protect her from any storms. But she would rather shoulder the burden all by herself and was even willing to bow her head to others. She would rather do all of these than to yield to him. She had always shown him the coldest and cruelest side of her. Xuxu kept her head tilted without a word. She didn¡¯t want to ask, neither did she want to know what she had done to infuriate him to this extent. Both of them stared at each other with intent and strong gazes as they remained deadlocked for a while. Finally, Yan Rusheng relinquished his grip. He turned around and stormed off. Chapter 405. Ive Loved The Wrong Person The next morning, both of them sat opposite each other at the dining table as usual. The room was silent except for the occasional sounds produced by the cutlery brushing against the plates. Xuxu finished her breakfast first and after dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she got up to leave. Yan Rusheng suddenly quipped, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you should be glad that you called my name when you were unconscious. And not¡­¡± He deliberately paused and lifted his head to look at Xuxu. He sneered coldly with contempt. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng!¡± ¡°What? She had called his name when she was unconscious? What else did she say?¡± Xuxu was struck with a pang of uneasiness. Hence she kept her head lowered so that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t notice and said nonchalantly, ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯ve always assumed.¡± He was the one who had spun stories about how Ah Heng and she were deeply in love, and that he assumed that she had never forgotten Ah Heng. It was because she wasn¡¯t in the least important to him, that¡¯s why he could be so indifferent as he tormented and taunted her about her relationship with Ah Heng. ¡°Hmph. Really?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked coldly as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how deep your love for Jiang Zhuoheng is. Since we are husband and wife now and after all, and we have grown up together, I feel that I¡¯m obliged to enlighten you.¡± He placed the napkin back on the table and stood up. His malicious-looking eyes stared at Xuxu intently. ¡°What is so good about Jiang Zhuoheng and why is he worthy of your love? Was he really worth it to make you give up the opportunity of studying abroad and used it as a stake to see if he truly loved you? Now that you¡¯ve been attacked by rumors and berated by everyone, where is he?¡± His angry accusations echoed in the dining room. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xuxu bellowed at him and her tears gushed out instantly. He knew¡­ he had found out that she had given up the chance to study abroad. But¡­ he does not know who the person she had given it up for. But it was clear that this was her Achilles heel and he had callously ripped her wound open. ¡°What happened? Did I touch a raw nerve?¡± Yan Rusheng saw her tears and realized that he didn¡¯t feel the sense of achievement and triumph he had expected to have when he had riled her up on purpose. He seemed to become more frustrated instead. His smile was full of sarcasm and scorn. ¡°Years ago, didn¡¯t you choose to give up the opportunity? You¡¯ve always dreamt of going overseas to study. To think that your dream was worth so little that you could forgo it just for someone whose heart wasn¡¯t entirely with you.¡± ¡°Damn Jiang Zhuoheng, how could he not cherish her.¡± How he wished that she had given up the opportunity for him. Xuxu bawled and yelled. ¡°Yes! I have loved the wrong person for years. So it serves me right and I deserve to bear all the consequences.¡± She turned around and bolted out of the room. He saw her vanishing from his sight and it was the first time Yan Rusheng had regretted his words so much. He wanted to chase after her but his feet seemed rooted to the ground. This was not what he wanted. ¡­ She was in despair and so she cried. But Xuxu still needed to get back to work. She tuned out her emotions while drinking a cup of coffee and dived back to work with a smile. ¡­ In the studio, a pretty lady stood in front of the cameras. She wore a bright red dress with a sharp V shape that revealed her beautiful back and accentuated her wonderful figure. She was able to display different poses for the camera, be it seductive, sultry or aloof. The photographer kept snapping away and he wore a satisfied smile throughout the shoot. ¡°Okay, done!¡± After the last shot, he gave a thumbs up to the pretty lady. Chapter 406. Being Willful Is Selective Based on the Person All the staff in the studio began to get busy once more as they went about with their respective tasks. One of the staff, who was in charge of editing the photos, was browsing through the photographs. She sighed with admiration and envy as she praised the model. ¡°Miss Zhou Tong is indeed classy and she looks perfect from any angle.¡± The photographer took a sip of water and interjected, ¡°Yes and she doesn¡¯t accept advertisements from small companies. If she didn¡¯t have the capability and looks, how would she dare to be so willful and selective?¡± He turned his head to look at Wen Xuxu. ¡°Secretary Wen, why don¡¯t you take a seat and browse through the photos to see if it¡¯s satisfactory?¡± No matter how they raved about the photos, the boss still had the final say. Xuxu smiled and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m not really an expert with these.¡± She had casually browsed through the photos earlier on with the staff, and from an outsider¡¯s perspective, every single photo seemed perfect. It seemed like the editing was quite unnecessary. Furthermore, she wasn¡¯t here to check on the photo shoot as she doesn¡¯t have time to go through such tiny details. She had merely wanted to check on the overall progress. ¡°Secretary Wen, you should still take a look. If there is any problem, please voice it out now as I won¡¯t be coming to re-shoot the photos again,¡± someone said in a haughty and cold tone. It turned out to be Zhou Tong. She was stroking her hair lazily. She seemed to have changed out of her red dress and was wearing her own clothes. She wore a loose black top and a pair of dark red leather boots. She sauntered slowly towards them. Xuxu glanced askew at her and smiled lightly. ¡°Miss Zhou is really a woman of character.¡± She spoke ambiguously. The corners of Zhou Tong¡¯s mouth curled widely. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to, in front of Third Madam Yan.¡± She had reached the computer and stood next to Xuxu. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and appeared indolent and sultry. The smell of strong perfume on her body assailed Xuxu¡¯s nostrils and it smelled pleasant. This was the first time that she had smelled such a strong scent of perfume and she wasn¡¯t disgusted by it. She ignored Zhou Tong¡¯s words and turned around to the person-in-charge from the PR department. She instructed her, ¡°The publicity photos must be ready as soon as possible and the PR department must confirm the billboard design by the end of this week.¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡± Xuxu patted her on her shoulder and spun around to leave the studio. She wore a pair of black short boots with heels about 3 inches tall. Her footsteps sounded calm and stable as she stepped across the room. It had reflected her current emotions. Zhou Tong turned her head to glance at Xuxu as she curled her lips in disdain. ¡°Other than being so condescending, I can¡¯t see any other strengths.¡± She said it in a normal tone of voice and without a care if anyone else was listening. Her manager was rather edgy and anxious when he heard her. He frowned and whispered in her ear. ¡°My dear lady, please don¡¯t be so willful. You need to be careful when treading around certain people.¡± That woman was Third Young Master¡¯s wife and even though how strained their relationship might be, she was still his official spouse. The female head of the Yan family and Flourish & Prosper. Zhou Tong sneered, ¡± Hmph , I simply can¡¯t stand people who are pretending to be pure and lofty.¡± Xuxu overheard her. She smiled to herself bitterly. ¡°Pretending to be pure and lofty? Shouldn¡¯t she be talking about herself?¡± She had seen so many celebrities this past year at Flourish & Prosper¡¯s various events and Zhou Tong was the most stubborn one she had met. Chapter 407. Why Should I Be Angry? Just like what others have said, Zhou Tong had the right to be willful. Furthermore, she was chosen by Yan Rusheng. She walked out of the studio and instantly felt much better since the lobby wasn¡¯t as cold as it was inside. She put on her jacket, as she still felt chilly, while walking towards the elevator. ¡°Xuxu.¡± A familiar voice echoed in front of her. Xuxu halted on her footsteps and looked up. A familiar person with her usual gentle smiling face came into view. She said lightly, ¡°What a coincidence.¡± This was the first time Xuxu had crossed paths with her after the entire ruckus with Yan Rusheng. Then she recalled that when she had just came back, they bumped into each other on several occasions. If not, she would be have been very surprised to hear her voice. Fang Jiayin was wearing a white woolen jacket with a pair of wine-red leggings. On her feet was a pair of black knee-high boots. Her long hair, which resembled a premium black silk tumbled loosely around her shoulders and her back. She exuded a mature and intelligent womanly charm. She strode towards Xuxu and pointed at the studio, which Xuxu had just come out from. She smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m meeting Zhou Tong for lunch.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu stretched her hand and pointed inside. ¡°The shoot is over.¡± What she truly meant with what she said was that she can look for her friend now. And if she delved deeper, it also meant that Xuxu didn¡¯t really feel like talking to her at the moment. Fang Jiayin nodded. ¡± Mm , okay.¡± But she didn¡¯t seem to have any intentions to end the conversation. So, Xuxu spoke again, ¡°I¡¯ve something on so I¡¯ll leave first.¡± She was about to leave when Fang Jiayin interjected. ¡°Xuxu, are you angry with me?¡± Xuxu heard her and turned her head. She feigned ignorance and asked, ¡°Why should I be angry with you?¡± In reality, she really couldn¡¯t find any reason to be angry with her. She didn¡¯t do anything. ¡°That time¡­¡± Fang Jiayin wore an apologetic expression as she expounded, ¡°I¡¯m talking about that time when Ah Sheng helped me regarding the collision outside Capital City Musical Theater. It was really a coincidence that we met each other. He did mention that he was on the way to look for you. But¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t able to finish her sentence when Xuxu cut her. ¡°It¡¯s already over.¡± She didn¡¯t want to listen to any explanation regarding both of them. But, Fang Jiayin rattled on, ¡°Xuxu, I know that both of you aren¡¯t talking because of that incident. I wanted to call you to explain but, I was afraid that you might feel that I¡¯m being pretentious. ¡°Chen Yuxi was really unreasonable and went overboard that time. Ah Sheng helped me because we are old friends. It¡¯s the media who had twisted the facts and exaggerated everything. Please don¡¯t believe them,¡± she implored. ¡°Old friend?¡± Xuxu heard her and she almost burst out laughing. It seemed like she didn¡¯t understand Yan Rusheng well enough. She had left without a word years ago and they had ended on such an unhappy note. So how could they possibly remain as friends after reuniting? In such situations and with Yan Rusheng¡¯s personality, anyone who had abandoned or humiliated him, it would be considered kind and benevolent of him not to destroy or add insult to her injury. But he had declared his support for her openly in public and offered his help. There were only two possibilities; firstly, he hadn¡¯t gotten over her and his feelings for her were rekindled. That¡¯s why it had invoked his protectiveness towards her. The second possibility was that he felt that he had owed her. He was a person who always clearly distinguished the good from the bad and love from hate. Obviously, it wasn¡¯t the latter so the only reason could only be the first possibility. Chapter 408. It Was Just Wishful Thinking ¡°So it¡¯s really not worth it, if your misunderstanding with him continues because of this incident. You¡¯re really important to him. When he was drunk at that time¡­ that time when I met him outside the bar. He was drunk but he had called your name while looking at me.¡± Fang Jiayin kept explaining in such an earnest tone, that it sounded very moving and enticing. But Xuxu simply didn¡¯t want to listen to her anymore. She cut across once more. ¡°Jiayin, thank you for being so concerned about us but, I¡¯m really fine.¡± Her patience was evidently running out. Fang Jiayin bowed her head and looked reproachful. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have come back, right?¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t help herself to smile. ¡°That¡¯s too serious. Everything is destined and love can¡¯t be forced. I admit that I¡¯m a logical person especially in the matters that concern love.¡± If there was a third party right now, she would have thought that Fang Jiayin was putting on a show to garner pity and sympathy from others. She would have labeled her as a white lotus who seemed pure on the surface but was twisted and dark underwater. But they were the only people around and she can¡¯t fathom what was on her mind. She paused before continuing, ¡°True love can weather any storms, and it will definitely not be swayed or affected by a third party. So this has nothing to do with your return.¡± She spoke sharply and firmly and her message was concise. She gave no chance for Fang Jiayin to explain further. Fang Jiayin forced a smile and said, ¡°Xuxu, you are always so wise. I¡¯ve always admired how composed and rational you are.¡± Xuxu curled her lips. ¡°Actually, your courage three years ago was more admirable.¡± Admiring her was one matter, regretting her decision was entirely another matter. So, she admired her courage but didn¡¯t regret her own decision. She turned her head and strode towards the elevator without any word. As she left, Zhou Tong bounced out from the studio and smiled brightly at Fang Jiayin. ¡°You¡¯re here! I was about to call you.¡± Fang Jiayin nodded at her briefly before catching a glimpse of Xuxu as she vanished out of sight. She stared afar with a mixture of deep and complex emotions. Then she spun her head around and said to Zhou Tong, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Tong put her arm around hers and proclaimed happily, ¡°Earlier on I managed to ask Yan Rusheng out for lunch. He will meet us directly at the restaurant.¡± Fang Jiayin furrowed her eyebrows and chided her. ¡°Why did you call him?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s to eat!¡± Zhou Tong quipped as though it was the only expected answer. ¡°What else can we do at a restaurant beside eating?¡± Fang Jiayin knocked the back of Zhou Tong¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re really looking for trouble.¡± In reality, excitement and joy were surging in her eyes. Zhou Tong shook her head mischievously. ¡°I do admit that I love to seek trouble. It¡¯s a treat for both my eyes and stomach to have a handsome guy eating with us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really¡ª¡± The two girls were walking only a few steps behind her. Xuxu immediately stepped into the elevator when it arrived. The doors closed before Fang Jiayin and Zhou Tong appeared. Movie and lunch. Sounds like they were about to relieve their sweet memories from their university days. Xuxu ate lunch outside and she drove at a leisurely speed on the way back to the office. She switched on the radio and it was playing some trendy songs. How she wished she could drive aimlessly without facing her troubles. But, this was reality and it was just wishful thinking on her part. She found a parking lot in the car park. She unfastened her seatbelt and got off the car. The sun was still shining brightly with blasts of frosty winds. Chapter 409. How Can It Be? After returning to the office, she immersed herself with work that she had even forgotten to rehydrate herself with water. She had yet to recover from her flu and was frequently interrupted by her cough. At times, she would be hacking continuously, too. She clutched her chest and went into a coughing fit. Her throat was dry and tight. She reached for her cup and shouted for her assistant who was seated opposite to her. ¡± Mi Ling¡­¡± She had barely finished speaking when Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice sounded behind her. ¡°Qiao Jian, work has been hard on everyone lately. Please arrange for an afternoon tea and let everyone take a break.¡± Xuxu was baffled when she heard his voice and turned to look at him. He didn¡¯t step out of the office all these while? Wasn¡¯t he was supposed to meet them for lunch? While she was still in her state of shock, the previously tensed atmosphere in the office had already turned relaxed and lively. ¡°Thank you, President Yan.¡± ¡°All hail to President Yan.¡± Everyone chimed in and praised Yan Rusheng, while Xuxu retracted her gaze slowly. Perhaps she was stirred by the sudden change in the office atmosphere that her mood had also become considerably lighter and cheerful. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to work first,¡± Yan Rusheng instructed them and as he walked back to his office. His eyes deliberately swept past Xuxu. He closed his office door. Qiao Jian arranged for afternoon tea from First Love, the same place which Xuxu bought them their treats before. A well-known brand name amongst the Western-styled pastry shop. Everyone in the President¡¯s office, including Xuxu, had a share of the afternoon tea. ¡°Miss Xuxu, this is yours.¡± Qiao Jian personally brought Xuxu¡¯s share over to her and left the rest of the afternoon tea at a common area for the rest to help themselves. ¡°Rock sugar fritillary bulb with pear.¡± ¡°First Love doesn¡¯t sell such dessert,¡± Xuxu muttered suspiciously while she attempted to open the plastic bag that was holding the dessert. She was a regular customer of the First Love outlet near her office. Hence, she was familiar with their array of food and beverages. Qiao Jian smiled without hesitation all of a sudden and bent over to whisper into Xuxu¡¯s ears, ¡°President had specially instructed me to buy this for you.¡± Xuxu raised her head in surprise and looked at Qiao Jian who was beaming. ¡°How can it be?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t want to believe. Yesterday night, he was so fierce and mean to her. How could he change so drastically overnight? The plastic bag was torn open and indeed, it revealed a container that didn¡¯t belong to First Love but another dessert brand instead. As her throat was uncomfortably dry, she inserted the straw and started drinking without hesitation. Qiao Jian stood beside her and looked around sneakily and then glanced at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office door. He bent over and inched closer to Xuxu and whispered, ¡°Sister Xuxu, pretend that I didn¡¯t tell you this. President Yan and I were at Jincheng City yesterday and we were supposed to be back on this afternoon. But, after he found out about your apology at a press conference, he was overcome with rage and changed his itinerary. We rushed back last night instead.¡± ¡°He was overcome with rage after finding out about her apology at the press conference? Why?¡± A perplexed Xuxu looked at Qiao Jian. ¡°What do you mean? Wasn¡¯t the apology at the press conference his idea? Even if it wasn¡¯t, he must have consented to it. So what was he mad about? Was he unhappy because her apology wasn¡¯t earnest enough or her words of apology were inappropriate? Qiao Jian knitted his eyebrows anxiously. ¡°My dear lady boss, can¡¯t you see?¡± Such an intelligent man, yet why was he reacting so strongly on this? He was about to lower his voice to explain to Xuxu about Yan Rusheng¡¯s rage when a voice behind him spoke and sent shivers down his spine. Chapter 410. Could Only Blame Himself for Not Taking a Firm Stand ¡°Qiao Jian, why haven¡¯t you brought in the document that I requested?¡± Qiao Jian stood up swiftly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll bring it over now.¡± After his swift reply, he didn¡¯t dare waste any more time and went back to his work station to retrieve the document. After which, he walked over to Yan Rusheng and handed it over to him. He smiled at him obsequiously. Yan Rusheng shot him a cold glance. ¡°You seemed to be very idle. This afternoon, go over to Jincheng City to deliver the documents.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Jian was shocked. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± No one liked to go on a work trip as it¡¯s always on a rush and exhausting. Yan Rusheng ignored Qiao Jian¡¯s reaction and looked at Xuxu who was holding the dessert in one hand and casually sipping on her drink. Then, he averted his gaze to the documents in front of her. He had the urge to call out to her but, he restrained himself in the end and went back to his office and shut the door. Xuxu put down her dessert and was about to sign on the documents when the telephone on her desk rang. ¡°Please come in.¡± A familiar voice sounded on the phone. Instinctively, she turned her head and looked at the President¡¯s office and answered, ¡°Ok.¡± After ending the call, she walked over to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and strongly pushed the door open. She closed the door lightly after she entered and walked towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng halted his work and picked up his glass of water, drinking and talking to Xuxu at the same time. ¡°Today is Lu Yinan¡¯s grandfather¡¯s ninetieth birthday. Go and get ready.¡± ¡°You are bringing me along?¡± Xuxu asked in astonishment. After hearing Xuxu¡¯s query, Yan Rusheng stopped drinking and stared coldly at Xuxu. ¡°We are still husband and wife.¡± Did she think that he would bring someone else instead? She sounded so calm and collected and not in the least concerned. ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°What about the birthday gift?¡± She wanted to ask if she needed to prepare the birthday gift when Yan Rusheng interrupted her. ¡°Already arranged. You just need to get yourself ready.¡± ¡°I got it!¡± After answering him, Xuxu didn¡¯t ask further and left his office. When her figure disappeared, silence and emptiness resumed in his office. Yan Rusheng put down his glass and rummaged through his drawer for his exquisite metal cigarette case. He drew out a cigarette from it and stuck it in his mouth. He lighted it and started smoking. Cigarette smoke pervaded the air and his body was gradually enveloped by the smoke. The entire office was shrouded with gloom. Bought dessert for her, she didn¡¯t believe. Going to bring her out for social engagement, she was astonished. There was nothing else he could do anymore. He could only blame himself for not being able to take a firm stand. ¡­ Since she didn¡¯t have to prepare for a birthday gift, Xuxu waited until it was clock-off time, after which, she went to the bathroom to put on some light makeup and redo her hair. She assumed that since Lu Yinan¡¯s grandfather was from the military force and had fought in wars before, he must be a rigorous, simple person. Hence, her overall appearance must be in good taste and appropriate for the occasion. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t bother to change into a fancy attire. She took a look at herself in the mirror and was pleased. With a smile, she took a deep breath and turned around. She raised her head and was caught off-guard by a pair of abstruse eyes. A look of astonishment flashed across her face. Opening her mouth in shock, she caught sight of a man leaning on the marble wall of the bathroom entrance staring at her. His sudden intrusion evoked a thousand layers of emotions in her. Yan Rusheng was smartly dressed in his suit. One hand was stuffed into his pocket while the other hand was holding on to a cigarette. There were wisps of white smoke in the air and a long piece of cigarette ash had already accumulated on the cigarette. It seemed that he didn¡¯t smoke much. Chapter 411. As If It Was Tailor-Made His eyes and crimson lips were indescribable, languid and flirtatious. Xuxu was dumbfounded for a moment before she recovered and frantically averted her gaze from his face. ¡°I¡¯m ready. We can leave now.¡± Yan Rusheng responded with an ¡®Mm¡¯ . His naturally nasal voice was exceptionally attractive. He straightened himself and threw the cigarette into the ashtray portion of the trash can before turning around to leave. Xuxu followed after him. Looking at his towering back, her heartbeat was ineffably erratic. She lowered her head and gripped the beige colored striped sleeves of her blouse. ¡°You intend to wear that outfit to the birthday party?¡± When they were back in the office, Yan Rusheng halted his steps and suddenly spun around to look Xuxu. He knitted his eyebrows. He was obviously dissatisfied with her outfit. Xuxu replied, ¡°We¡¯re attending an elderly man¡¯s birthday celebration, not a wedding or an engagement party.¡± She was implying that there was nothing wrong in attending the birthday celebration in her current outfit. ¡°We are attending grandfather Lu¡¯s ninetieth birthday. It will be a grand affair with guests from all walks of life and you intend to wear your woolen blouse¡­¡± Yan Rusheng paused and glanced at the pair of black ankle boots on Xuxu¡¯s feet. His charming voice resounded again, ¡°And this pair of boots to socialize with the guests? ¡°You should have told me earlier.¡± Xuxu lowered her head and mumbled to herself as she looked at her own outfit. If it was indeed as grand as what he had mentioned, then it would definitely be inappropriate for her to appear in this outfit. ¡°Come with me.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her hand all of a sudden and dragged her into his personal office. When they were inside, he continued dragging her towards his room. Xuxu gritted her teeth in pain as he had grabbed her wrist with too much strength. He released his grip only when they were in his room. By then, her wrist had already turned red. She frowned and massaged her wrist with a look of annoyance. Yan Rusheng took out a bright purple box from his wardrobe. He turned around and saw Xuxu frowning with her lips pursed and noticed her bruised wrist as well. He realized that he had grabbed her in a boorish way and hurt her. He felt guilty and chided himself. Hence, he softened his tone. ¡°Change into this. I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± After he finished saying his piece, he threw the box onto the bed and strode out of the room, closing the door after him. Xuxu looked at the box and knew without a doubt what was inside. She walked over and opened the cover. It was a sleeveless orange-red sheer gown with a v-neck which, was extremely soft to feel. It was a simple dress with no ornaments on it. This was actually a style that she liked. But, in such chilly weather, even if the heater was turned on, one would still easily catch a cold wearing this. Sigh. Just have to endure the cold. If she didn¡¯t change into it, he would be unhappy again. After some deliberation, Xuxu carried the gown to the bathroom and changed into it. It fitted her perfectly as if it was tailor-made for her. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. Clearly, this gown was more presentable for the grand occasion. She wondered who chose this gown for her. Could it be him? But how was it possible? ¡°Are you ready?¡± Yan Rusheng spoke impatiently. ¡°Lu Yinan just called.¡± Xuxu snapped out of her daze and responded loudly, ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± She grabbed the clothes that she had changed out with one hand and opened the bathroom door with the other hand, stepping out barefooted. Chapter 412. Wasnt He Aware That She Was Only Wearing A Sheer Piece Of Gown? Yan Rusheng pushed the door open and entered. When he saw her current state, he knitted his brows. ¡°Are you bringing your pile of clothes along as well?¡± Xuxu answered casually, ¡°I¡¯ll leave them in the car and bring them home later.¡± She couldn¡¯t possibly leave them in the office. After Yan Rusheng heard this, a trace of annoyance flashed across his eyes. She had always drawn a clear line between them. Since this was his room, it should also be her room as well right? Is she so full of resentment towards him that she didn¡¯t want to leave her clothes in his office? Since they were about to leave for an elderly man¡¯s birthday celebration, he didn¡¯t want to ruin the atmosphere between them and he let her have her way. He shifted his gaze to Xuxu¡¯s bare feet. He couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and chided her, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing your shoes? Wasn¡¯t there a pair of shoes in the bathroom?¡± Xuxu lowered her head and stood on tiptoes. Like a child in the wrong, she answered with an ¡®Oh¡¯. Seeing her in that sort, Yan Rusheng caved in and spoke in a gentler but without any emotion in his tone of voice, ¡°The shoes and waistcoat are in the wardrobe.¡± As usual, Xuxu answered with an ¡® Oh¡¯ and walked towards the wardrobe. There was a woolen waistcoat hanging inside and a shoe box was placed on the rack beneath it. She bent over to retrieve the box and opened it. Inside it was a pair of silvery-white stilettos which, was about 8 cm high. She had never worn such high stilettos before. When she saw it, her first instinct was fear. She was fearful that she couldn¡¯t manage with that pair of stilettos. ¡°The heels are too high. Don¡¯t blame me if I make a fool of myself and embarrass you.¡± After saying that, she took out the shoes from the box and begun wearing them. Yan Rusheng looked at her and thought to himself, ¡± Wasn¡¯t she a capable person who could handle anything in a breeze? So why couldn¡¯t she even manage a pair of heels?¡± However, he felt accomplished and was subtly satisfied with himself. While he was still mulling over it, Xuxu had already put on the stilettos. Her 1.6-meter frame shot up suddenly in those heels. She straightened herself and looked at Yan Rusheng. The heels were too slim and she had problems maintaining her balance. Hence, she walked gingerly across the hall. A smile appeared on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face but it vanished soon after that. He said, ¡°If you are of making a fool of yourself, then don¡¯t walk around too much later.¡± Xuxu was astounded. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that he was irking her on purpose. How could she just sit through the entire birthday celebration? Forget it . As long as this Young Master allowed it, then she would be happy to oblige. She wouldn¡¯t even need to go around putting on a superficial smile at everyone. The weather had turned chilly for the past two days and it was especially freezing at night. Even if she put on a fur waistcoat, it wasn¡¯t enough to withstand the cold. The moment they left Yan Rusheng¡¯s office, Xuxu wrapped her arms around her body and sheepishly followed behind Yan Rusheng. The car was waiting at the entrance of the company. When the chauffeur saw Yan Rusheng and Xuxu walking out, he got off the car hastily and opened the car door for them. They were greeted by a blast of cold wind the moment they stepped out of the entrance. The air felt more chilly than before and Xuxu made her way into the car in a scurry. When she got into the car, she closed the car immediately without hesitation. Young Master Yan had not boarded the car and his good-looking face darkened instantly. She must have thought that he will be taking the front passenger seat. This woman simply didn¡¯t know what she¡¯s in for. Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth and opened the car door. He didn¡¯t get into the car immediately but peered down at Xuxu coldly. Xuxu lifted her head to look at him innocently. She had no idea why he got angry again. She wished that he could quickly get into the car and closed the door. While he was dressed in thick warm clothes, wasn¡¯t he aware that she was only wearing a sheer piece of gown? Chapter 413. You Are Getting More Well Behaved When he watched her sitting there unmoving, Yan Rusheng frowned and retorted, ¡°Do you want me to sit on your lap?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu swiftly shifted her buttocks to the other side. She thought that he was taking the front passenger seat. When Yan Rusheng got into the car, he shut his eyes. Just when Xuxu thought that he had planned to remain silent, his charming voice resounded again. ¡°Untie your braids. This hairstyle doesn¡¯t match your attire.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Even though she felt that he was too bossy and overbearing at times, she still obeyed. She didn¡¯t want to allow a small matter to affect her mood and emotions. Although she didn¡¯t like to let down her hair he seemed to like it that way. She had also never seen Fang Jiayin tying up her waist long hair too. Her long hair resembled a waterfall that flowed down in torrents. It emitted a faint scent of the shampoo fragrance. Just breathing in the scent, Yan Rusheng felt that it smelled better than any other perfume. Could it be because beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder? He lowered his head and curled his lips. ¡°That sounded so cheap!¡± Xuxu took out a comb from her bag and with gentle and graceful strokes, she combed from top to bottom. Yan Rusheng perched his arm on the window and pressed his forehead against the back of his hand. He looked intently at the woman beside him. Dressed in orange and coupled with her silky long tresses made the aloof woman appear especially attractive and delightful to watch. How wonderful it would be if she belonged solely to him. ¡­ When Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu arrived, the ballroom was already full of people and most esteemed guests had already arrived. When they entered the ballroom, someone greeted them with a warm smile. ¡°President Yan, Madam Yan.¡± As they walked along the red carpet, guests came up to greet them. Xuxu was afraid of tripping over her heels and held onto Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm tightly. Yan Rusheng placed his other hand on the back of her hand. Everyone was startled to see them as an affectionate and harmonious couple. Rumors had it that the both of them could no longer get along and that they loathed each other. But, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. What was happening? Old man Lu was a patriotic, retired soldier, and a traditional man. Hence, the entire ballroom was decorated according to Chinese customs, with red as the main theme. At the end of the red carpet was a stage with a backdrop made up of silk. There was an eye-catching word of ¡®longevity¡¯ on it. The crowd gathered at the stage and they were laughing and talking. Yan Rusheng held hands with Xuxu and walked through the crowd with a smile on his face ¡°Grandfather Lu.¡± When he heard his voice, the elderly man who was dressed in a deep red colored Tang suit and holding a walking stick, looked at them amidst the crowd. His wrinkle-filled face instantly brimmed with a kind smile. ¡°Third Yan is here. I was just asking why you weren¡¯t here yet.¡± Yan Rusheng withdrew his hand from his pocket and walked over to the elder man while holding Xuxu¡¯s hand. He smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m here. My apologies for arriving late.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Old man Lu waved his hand and averted his gaze to Xuxu. He laughed and said, ¡°The wife of Third Yan is getting more well-behaved now.¡± Xuxu smiled lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t tease me Grandfather Lu.¡± Old man Lu pointed his finger at her. ¡°When your grandmother was still alive, she always sang praises about your capabilities to us.¡± Without giving Yan Rusheng and Xuxu a moment to think about their grandmother, he joked with her. ¡°Xiao Nan also grew up with you. But, why didn¡¯t you become my granddaughter-in-law?¡± The crowd howled with laughter. Lu Yinan looked at the elderly man and pointed at Yan Rusheng and teasingly said, ¡°Grandfather, Third Yan is well known for being petty. So please don¡¯t talk nonsense. I fear that he will take revenge on me in private.¡± Chapter 414. Head-Over-Heels In Love Old man Lu stared at him. ¡°You are the useless one. You are already twenty-something and still don¡¯t have a girlfriend.¡± Lu Yinan knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Today is your birthday. Can you not say such things?¡± For children in such families, their parents usually couldn¡¯t wait to see them off and have children once they are of marriageable age. So since he¡¯s still single, it¡¯s unavoidable that he had to face constant nagging at home. Old man Lu snorted coldly, ¡°Are you afraid of embarrassing yourself?¡± Lu Yinan nodded humbly. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Your grandson is full of problems and no girls like him. That¡¯s why he can¡¯t find a girlfriend.¡± Just at that moment, a crisp sounding voice could suddenly be heard coming from the crowd. ¡°Brother, I thought I heard that your were dating a doctor from the Department of Urology in the hospital?¡± Department of Urology! Hearing this, everyone looked at Lu Yinan with a strange look in their eyes. Young Master Lu coughed and his face turned red with embarrassment. He pushed up his spectacles and responded, ¡°No, I¡¯m not dating anyone. Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Yan Rusheng, who was not fond of cracking jokes in public opened his mouth all of a sudden. ¡°You are using the opportunity to seek treatment at the Urology Department for your private matters.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± The crowd laughed out loud. Xuxu pursed her lips and smiled secretly and she accidentally caught sight of herself locking hands with Yan Rusheng. ¡°This fellow. He¡¯s too much!¡± How could he crack such jokes in the presence of all the elders. He simply didn¡¯t know his limits. Young Master Lu gnashed his teeth and glared at Young Master Yan. ¡°Bad friend.¡± The laughter gradually died down and Old man Lu looked at Lu Yishan who had just joined them. ¡°Yishan, aren¡¯t you hosting your girlfriends upstairs. Why have you come down to join in the crowd?¡± ¡°I came down to look for third sister-in-law.¡± Lu Yishan warmly wrapped her arms around Xuxu. ¡°Third sister in law, we are short of a mahjong player.¡± ¡± Erm. ¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to play mahjong.¡± Wasn¡¯t this a game played by those idle old men and old women? Lu Yishan dragged her off. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We can teach you.¡± Old man Lu said, ¡°I think you must be conspiring with your girlfriends to cheat your Third sister-in-law of her money.¡± Lu Yishan glared at the old man and pouted. ¡°Grandfather, am I such a person?¡± While the grandfather and granddaughter were bantering with each other, Yan Rusheng took the opportunity to lean over and whisper into Xuxu¡¯s ears. ¡°Go and enjoy yourself. I¡¯ll go over and look for you in awhile.¡± As their distance from each other slowly grew apart, she could still feel his warm breath on her neck and it felt as if a feather was tickling her. She was so tickled that she wanted to pull back her neck. She slightly pulled back and nodded with a faint ¡® Ok ¡®. Lu Yishan turned back and saw both Xuxu and Yan Rusheng whispering to one another. She then raised her voice on purpose as she said, ¡°Look at the both of you. You are not allowed to go upstairs together ok?¡± After saying that, she dragged Wen Xuxu away. Xuxu had difficulties walking in her stilettos and stumbled in her steps when Lu Yishan dragged her. They had already reached the stairway but Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t set his mind at ease and kept gazing at her. Suddenly, someone placed a hand on Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulder and a sloppy voice resounded in his ears. ¡°Great lover, follow after her if you are worried¡± Another voice came from the other side. ¡°Exactly. Look at his pair of ardent eyes.¡± Some pampered young masters started teasing him. ¡°I can¡¯t stand her coquettishness.¡± ¡°I think you are too head-over-heels in love with Wen Xuxu already.¡± Young Master Lu knitted his eyebrows and smiled in an enchanting and flirtatious manner. Chapter 415. Gossip Place Yan Rusheng retracted his gazed from Xuxu who had already gone upstairs and coldly glanced at both men on his left and right. ¡°If you don¡¯t shut your mouth, you will not live to see tomorrow¡¯s sunrise.¡± Lu Yinan pretended to be scared and begged for forgiveness. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry Young Master Yan. We¡¯re just fooling around with you. Please be assured that we will not shoot our mouth off in front of Xuxu. After all, professing your love to the girl cannot be done by anyone. It¡¯s more sincere to do it yourself.¡± After saying that, he turned and looked at Ming Ansheng and the rest and knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Do you all agree?¡± Everyone nodded their heads. ¡°Exactly. Whoever started the trouble should end it. Even if we were to take his place, Xuxu wouldn¡¯t believe too.¡± Those young masters started to chime in and couldn¡¯t stop at it. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t be bothered with them and was preparing to leave the ¡®gossip place¡¯ . All of a sudden, someone asked, ¡± Why hasn¡¯t Ah Heng arrived?¡± Yan Rusheng halted his steps! That¡¯s right, in his busy state, he had forgotten about that fellow. He had forgotten that he should be present in such occasion. He swept his gaze around the entire ballroom, but didn¡¯t catch sight of Jiang Zhuoheng. It¡¯s already so late and he wasn¡¯t here yet. Would he still be coming? That man is fond of pretending to be well-behaved and well-mannered in the presence of the elders. Hence, being late wasn¡¯t his style. He snorted. ¡°It¡¯s better that he didn¡¯t come.¡± ¡°His flight landed at the capital city at 7 p.m. and would probably reach about 8 p.m.¡± Lu Yinan glanced at his watch. ¡°Arriving soon.¡± When Ming Ansheng heard this, he smiled meaningfully. ¡°Let¡¯s also play mahjong later. It¡¯s been a long time since we last played.¡± While both of them were talking, Yan Rusheng had already walked far away from them. Ming Ansheng looked at his back and yelled, ¡°Third Yan, where are you going? Let¡¯s play two rounds when Ah Heng arrives!¡± Young Master Yan didn¡¯t stop in his steps and walked to the buffet area. He took a glass of red wine and walked towards the stairway. After office hours, they went straight to the party and had not taken a bite. It¡¯s almost 8 p.m. and he wondered if there were any food being served upstairs. He hated himself for lacking guts, but he couldn¡¯t help but worry for her. ¡°Secretary Liu, it¡¯s my honor to have you here. Forgive me for not going out to meet you.¡± Yan Rusheng held the wine glass with one hand and placed the other hand into the pocket of his trousers. His steps were casual and graceful as he maneuvered through the crowd. He heard Father Lu greeting the guests at the entrance cheerfully and looked in his direction. There was a look of astonishment in his eyes. Secretary Liu brought his wife and¡­ Fang Jiayin. This wasn¡¯t what he expected. ¡°Barrister Lu, you are too courteous. I am the one who came late.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not late.¡± ¡°Madam Liu.¡± ¡°She is my niece, Jiayin.¡± ¡°The young lady who had just come back from abroad. I¡¯ve long heard about her.¡± ¡°Uncle Lu, you flatter me.¡± Fang Jiayin wore a coral blue gown and a white knitted shawl that was draped over her shoulders. Her long tresses flowed past her shoulders and she looked gentle yet impressive. She looked at Father Lu and nodded politely. Her voice was clear and sweet-sounding. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t halt his steps. He merely stole a glance and continued walking up the stairs. ¡°President Yan.¡± Suddenly, someone shouted at him from behind. It was Secretary Liu. He stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly. Secretary Liu had already begun walking towards him with gleeful steps. He greeted calmly, ¡°Secretary Liu.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to pay you a visit and what a coincidence to run into you here.¡± There was a fawning smile on Secretary Liu¡¯s face. In the presence of Yan Rusheng, he neither put on an aura nor grandeur of a key government official of a big city. Chapter 416. Miss Fang is so Smart Ahh, the entire capital city seemed to know that he would attend old master Lu¡¯s birthday celebration. This was such a coincidence! Yan Rusheng sneered in his heart and asked nonchalantly, ¡°Why is Secretary Liu looking for me?¡± Secretary Liu didn¡¯t expect to address him in such manner. His expression stiffened, but quickly lightened the atmosphere by laughing heartily again. ¡°It¡¯s regarding that piece of land in Haicheng city. My superiors had given orders that the relocation matter must be settled by the end of the year.¡± Yan Rusheng smirked coldly. ¡°I thought Secretary Liu is already the head of department.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Secretary Liu froze with guilt for a moment. ¡°President Yan must be joking.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± At this moment, Fang Jiayin walked over. Carrying a small pink purse in her hand, she walked with elegant steps even in her high heels. When they heard her voice, Yan Rusheng and Secretary Liu looked in her direction at the same time. ¡°Jiayin, President Yan and you were old classmates. Have a chat with him.¡± Secretary Liu pulled Jiayin over to Yan Rusheng and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go over there to greet some familiar faces.¡± Having said that, he patted Fang Jiayin meaningfully on her shoulders. Fang Jiayin remained silent and there was a faint smile at the corner of her smile. She looked at Yan Rusheng with her watery and vivid eyes. She moved closer to him and asked softly, ¡°Where¡¯s Xuxu? Didn¡¯t she come with you?¡± After asking, she swept her gazed around the ballroom, hoping to catch a glimpse of Xuxu. Yan Rusheng replied nonchalantly, ¡°She¡¯s upstairs.¡± ¡°Oh¡±. Fang Jiayin nodded her head and looked at Yan Rusheng again. ¡°You were planning to go up and look for her?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in response. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Then go ahead.¡± Fang Jiayin smiled and replied graciously, ¡°I¡¯ll go and look for Lu Yinan and the rest.¡± Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng happened to walk over at the same time. ¡°Jiayin.¡± Fang Jiayin looked at them and grinned. ¡°Young Master Lu.¡± Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng walked over to Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin one after another. Ming Ansheng leaned against the handrail of the staircase, facing Fang Jiayin and examined her from head to toe. There was a smile on his face, but it wasn¡¯t genuine. ¡°Miss Fang, what a coincidence.¡± He was different from Lu Yinan. He took over his family business right after his graduation. The people he had met, the things that he had gone through, and the social circle that he was in touch with were more complicated. His thoughts were definitely more scheming than Lu Yinan¡¯s. Fang Jiayin¡¯s sudden appearance had turned the harmonious relationship between Yan Rusheng and Xuxu upside down. Although it appeared to be a coincidence and that her life had also been constantly bothered by the public and media since then, somehow, he sensed that she wasn¡¯t that innocent. Furthermore, he was still baffled over the reason for Fang Jiayin¡¯s sudden departure and for turning away from Yan Rusheng. Hence, there was an ill-feeling in his heart. Unlike Lu Yinan, he wouldn¡¯t let his guard down towards her. ¡°Young Master Ming.¡± Fang Jiayin and Ming Ansheng greeted each other lightly. Maintaining a smile on their faces, their attitudes were neither humble or arrogant. Lu Yinan patted Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders suddenly and said, ¡°Just nice. We wanted to play mahjong but Third Yan wasn¡¯t interested and we are short of one player. Jiayin, come and join us.¡± Fang Jiayin waved her hand and rejected the suggestion. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to play mahjong.¡± Lu Yinan stretched out his hand and held one to her. ¡°We can teach you.¡± Fang Jiayin smiled and shook her head. ¡°I really don¡¯t know how to play. Even if you were to teach me, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to learn it.¡± ¡°Miss Fang is so smart. You¡¯ll be able to learn it fast.¡± Chapter 417. She Is Indeed Quite Haughty and Aloof Ming Ansheng gave Yan Rusheng a meaningful glance and said casually, ¡°Both of them don¡¯t know how to play, let¡¯s guess who will learn it first.¡± Yan Rusheng knew obviously who were the ¡®both of them¡¯ he was referring to. At the mention of Wen Xuxu, he couldn¡¯t help but become worried once more. She had never played mahjong before and furthermore, she had to play with some strangers. She would definitely feel uncomfortable. Lu Yinan grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm suddenly and said, ¡°Third Yan, Ah Heng isn¡¯t here yet. You can play on his behalf first.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not playing.¡± Yan Rusheng shoved his hand away. ¡°I¡¯m heading upstairs.¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t force him and instead turned around to tell Ming Ansheng. ¡°Let¡¯s find someone else without waiting for Ah Heng. Yishan said that she wanted to introduce her friends to Ah Heng. Let Yishan entertain him later.¡± He spoke casually but someone was listening intently. Lu Yishan was planning to introduce her friends to Jiang Zhuoheng. It had to be the ladies who were playing with Xuxu right now. Does that mean that Jiang Zhuoheng would be heading to the room where Xuxu was in later? At the thought of this, Yan Rusheng changed his mind abruptly. ¡°What time will he be here? I¡¯ll just play for a few rounds.¡± Lu Yinan looked perplexed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that you weren¡¯t playing?¡± Lu Yinan was the pampered and precious young master in the Lu family, who was doted by Madam Lu and his older sisters. He was naive and innocent by nature, so how would he be able to fathom Yan Rusheng¡¯s complex mind? Ming Ansheng was different. He had a shrewd hunch the second he noticed Yan Rusheng¡¯s subtle frustrated expression. Even though he knew what was on his mind, he remained silent as he tried to conceal his grin. ¡°Forget it then, go look for someone else.¡± Yan Rusheng was about to leave. ¡°Third Yan.¡± Lu Yinan stopped him. ¡°He said he will be here at 8 p.m., but even if there was a traffic jam, he should be here latest by 8.30 p.m..¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and feigned impatience. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lu Yinan and Fang Jiayin walked ahead first with Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng trailing behind them. ¡°You have to set a good example first before expecting that of others!¡± Ming Ansheng edged closer to Yan Rusheng and whispered in his ear. Yan Rusheng turned his head and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ming Ansheng laughed. ¡°The smart Young Master Yan doesn¡¯t know what I mean?¡± Young Master Yan pressed his lips tightly and seemed to struggle for a while before speaking once more. ¡°Call Jiang Zhuoheng and ask him what time would he be here.¡± He said as softly as he could to make sure that only Ming Ansheng could hear him. Ming Ansheng smirked at him. ¡°I really can¡¯t tell.¡± He took his phone out of his pocket and stared at the phone for a moment before he shook his head and sighed heavily. ¡°I really can¡¯t tell at all.¡± Who would have thought that the arrogant and condescending Yan Rusheng would be afraid of someone? And incredibly, he was afraid of Wen Xuxu whom he had despised and hated ever since they were kids. Ming Ansheng dialed Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s number. Jiang Zhuoheng said that he would arrive in 15 minutes. After ending the call, Ming Ansheng stretched his arm and put it around Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You have made up with him?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and glanced askew at him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, are you becoming like Lu Yinan?¡± He gave his shoulder a shrug and Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm slid off. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t back off as he put his arm on his shoulder once more. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what other misunderstandings you had with Wen Xuxu. But, just like what the elders have said, Wen Xuxu is a good lady. Although she is indeed quite haughty and aloof sometimes¡­¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head and glared at him. He snapped and cut across him, ¡°Do you mean she has to smile at everyone she meets?¡± Chapter 418. Then You Should Marry Me Wouldn¡¯t she seem like a silly love-struck woman if she smiled at anyone and everyone? ¡°¡­¡± Ming Ansheng stared at Yan Rusheng with disdain. ¡°Your protectiveness is too excessive.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored his comments and hastened his footsteps. No one can criticize or judge his woman. Ming Ansheng caught up with him. ¡°Third Yan, Wen Xuxu is a good girl. Treat her well.¡± Yan Rusheng pretended to be bewildered by his words. ¡°Didn¡¯t you used to dislike her?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Ming Ansheng pressed his lips, stumped for words. Yan Rusheng said coldly, ¡°Ming Ansheng, I¡¯m warning you. Wen Xuxu marrying me, it¡¯s an inevitable fact. It has nothing to do with your family.¡± He paused and he seemed even more solemn and serious. ¡°And one more. I have to remind you to take note of your family members¡¯ conduct.¡± Ming Ansheng knew what he meant and he was guilty and grateful at the same time. ¡°Third Yan, thank you.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯m not pursuing the matter.¡± They had reached the room and Lu Yinan went in before them. The door was ajar and Yan Rusheng strode inside without further ado. Ming Ansheng stared at his back as he knitted his eyebrows tightly. He was troubled and worried. He stopped outside the room and whipped out his cell phone. He dialed a number and when the person on the other line answered, he said promptly, ¡°Ask Grandfather not to attend Grandfather Lu¡¯s birthday celebration tonight.¡± After instructing the person, he hung up promptly. Then he went in. Lu Yinan and Fang Jiayin had sat down around the mahjong table. Yan Rusheng walked to the table and sat down. Ming Ansheng sat down next to Yan Rusheng. The auto table began to dispense the mahjong tiles and Young Master Lu began to set rules. ¡°Jiayin doesn¡¯t know how to play so we shall play two rounds without involving any money. As for the stakes¡­¡± When it came to money, Fang Jiayin instantly spoke up, ¡°I shall say this in advance, I only have a thousand yuan. If the few young masters are playing with huge sums of money, I won¡¯t have money to pay if I lose.¡± Although she had declared that she was poor, her words didn¡¯t sound as if she was stingy or petty. She didn¡¯t feel embarrassed at all and her tone sounded natural. ¡°Can¡¯t you be more promising? The first thing on your mind is about losing. ¡°Lu Yinan grabbed some tiles and continued. ¡°Third Young Master will lend you a couple of million yuan.¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes swept past Yan Rusheng swiftly. Yan Rusheng lowered his head as he stared at his tiles. It seemed that he didn¡¯t hear what Lu Yinan was saying or perhaps he was just ignoring him. She peered at Lu Yinan and smiled. ¡°Young Master Lu, could you lend me a couple of million yuan instead?¡± Young Master Lu nodded promptly. ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Jiayin pouted. ¡°But I¡¯m penniless.¡± ¡°Then you should marry me to repay me.¡± Young Master Lu stretched his hand to grab a mahjong tile. Suddenly he could feel the atmosphere turning quiet and he lifted his head. He saw Ming Ansheng glaring at him with a pair of malicious-looking eyes. Only then did he realize that he had gone overboard with his joke. He turned to look at Fang Jiayin and laughed. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Fang Jiayin shook her head as she bent her head to look at her tiles. ¡°But Young Master Lu, you seemed to have revealed your true personality.¡± Lu Yinan was puzzled. ¡°What true personality?¡± ¡°Pretending to be refined.¡± Fang Jiayin grinned at him and suddenly she quipped, ¡°I think I¡¯ve won.¡± Chapter 419. He Isn’t So Petty Both Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng turned and stared at her in surprise. ¡°You won?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes swept swiftly across Fang Jiayin¡¯s tiles and he grinned. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t?¡± Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t believe him and turned to glance at Yan Rusheng, blinking her eyes doubtfully. ¡°Ah Sheng, is it true?¡± Yan Rusheng who wasn¡¯t paying attention to the game, lifted his head when he heard Fang Jiayin¡¯s voice. He glanced at her tiles and nodded his head. At this exact moment, someone opened and pushed the door. ¡°I¡¯m only here to learn from you guys, the next time I¡¯ll¡­¡± The two people outside the door stopped talking when they saw the people inside the room. Xuxu spotted Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin together and her expression froze. Complex feelings rose and surged inside of her. Everybody seemed to turn rigid and forgot to react as they didn¡¯t expect her to turn up so abruptly. After struggling to conceal her feelings, Xuxu feigned nonchalance and smiled. Then she turned to look at Jiang Zhuoheng who was beside her and teased, ¡°Look, they already have four players and yet you say that they were waiting for you. You¡¯ve thought too highly of yourself.¡± Actually, she was the one who had thought too highly of herself. Her eyes were glistening slightly with tears as she struggled to put on a brave front. Jiang Zhuoheng glanced at her with an affectionate smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m hungry anyway. I¡¯ll go look for some food.¡± He turned around to head downstairs. He wanted to hold her hand and bring her away from this place. But, he clearly knew that he could not. She wouldn¡¯t endure such a burden. Hence, he left alone. If he didn¡¯t see her¡­ everything would be fine. Xuxu gazed at Ah Heng¡¯s back as he walked away. That feeling was so familiar. He had turned around countless times in front of her in the past. Yan Rusheng snapped to his senses and stood up. He strode towards Xuxu and pointed at the direction which Jiang Zhuoheng had left. ¡°I¡¯m just a replacement for him.¡± He had originally planned to explain, but his tone was simply too calm. To Xuxu, it sounded as if he was merely stating a fact. She smiled lightly. ¡°He said he had rushed over the minute he landed. I guess he must be tired, you should play on his behalf.¡± She really shouldn¡¯t expect anything from the words he had thrown out so casually. As soon as he had given her some warmth or gentleness, she would plunge in without hesitation, back to his embrace. Again and again. She had never learned her lesson. Yan Rusheng heard her and rage blazed inside of him. ¡°If he is tired, then forget about playing.¡± She had openly showed her concern for that man in front of him and everybody else. Ming Ansheng sensed that the atmosphere wasn¡¯t right and stood up hastily. He walked towards Xuxu and Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s stop playing. Since we were all planning to just play two rounds.¡± Then he proceeded to turn around and chided Lu Yinan, ¡°I already told you to wait for Ah Heng, but you had to force Third Yan to replace him. Great! Now Ah Heng isn¡¯t too happy.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know but they knew that Yan Rusheng was afraid that she would misunderstand. No matter how naive Young Master Lu was, he knew how to play along at this time. He quipped, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he isn¡¯t that petty.¡± ¡°Xuxu.¡± Fang Jiayin stood up gracefully and strode forward. Xuxu answered graciously as well, ¡°Jiayin.¡± Fang Jiayin smiled as she said, ¡°When I just got here with my uncle, Lu Yinan pulled me along to play with them as they were lacking a player.¡± Not only Lu Yinan, even Ming Ansheng felt that she was very tactful. She had explained and clarified subtly that Yan Rusheng had nothing to do with her attending this birthday celebration. Although Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t have much interaction recently, rumors of their relationship were still widespread. Chapter 420. Play a Few Rounds With Them Under such circumstances, anyone would have speculated that Fang Jiayin was at this celebration because of Yan Rusheng. And by some coincidence, Yan Rusheng was sitting at the same table together with her. Lu Yinan felt a pang of remorse as he chided himself in silence. He really shouldn¡¯t have forced Yan Rusheng to replace Ah Heng. Xuxu said, ¡°I was playing mahjong upstairs too.¡± Fang Jiayin and Xuxu was facing each other with Yan Rusheng in the middle, forming the shape of a tripod. Ming Ansheng was observing their entire interaction and his brain started to come up with a plan He lightened up the mood in the room with a grin and suggested, ¡°How about we continue with the game. Xuxu can play with Third Yan sitting behind acting as her coach.¡± This was a great opportunity for them to mend their relationship. Yan Rusheng replied coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not playing.¡± He proceeded to hold Xuxu¡¯s hand, seemingly about to leave. He assumed that Ming Ansheng purposely offered the suggestion of letting Xuxu and Fang Jiayin sit at the same table. So to make it seem as if the scandal and misunderstanding between them weren¡¯t serious enough. Ming Ansheng noticed Yan Rusheng and blocked his way. He continued with a grin. ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯ve declared earlier that your wife was unusually smart and she would definitely learn it quickly. I want to witness the results of her labor from her mahjong session earlier on with the rest of the ladies.¡± Yan Rusheng was certain that he didn¡¯t say anything like that. But, being the intelligent Young Master Yan, of course he understood Ming Ansheng¡¯s intention. He was slightly uncomfortable but he didn¡¯t object to it. Fang Jiayin heard Ming Ansheng and she stole a quick glance at Yan Rusheng who was holding Xuxu¡¯s hand. She pressed her lips tightly. She smiled lightly. ¡°You guys go ahead. I should go look for my aunt and uncle. If not they will lecture me for disappearing.¡± ¡°Miss Fang, we¡¯ll be short of one player if you leave. Don¡¯t be such a spoilsport.¡± A triumphant-looking Ming Ansheng grinned even though he had said his piece differently. In his heart, no matter how loving Third Yan and Fang Jiayin were during their university days or how close she was to his group of friends, she was no longer part of them anymore. Her presence itself was a sharp thorn in Xuxu and Third Yan¡¯s marriage, one which will only bring them harm. Fang Jiayin deliberated for a moment. ¡°Should I get Young Master Jiang over?¡± ¡°Mm, let¡¯s get Ah Heng over then.¡± Ming Ansheng wore a look of fear on his face. ¡°That guy is the best among us when it comes to mahjong. I¡¯m intimidated by him.¡± Fang Jiayin was surprised when she heard him. ¡°Really? Young Master Jiang doesn¡¯t seem like someone who enjoys gambling.¡± Lu Yinan corrected her promptly, ¡°This isn¡¯t gambling, it¡¯s recreation. He doesn¡¯t talk much but he is really brainy.¡± Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan took turns to praise how intelligent Jiang Zhuoheng was. Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t take it any longer and sneered, ¡°He¡¯s not as smart as what they¡¯ve described.¡± He admitted that fellow was indeed intelligent, but as compared to him¡­ he¡¯s still far behind. ¡°Hey Third Yan. You seemed to have forgotten. You are his¡­¡± Ming Ansheng paused on purpose as he lifted an eyebrow with a significant glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng glared sharply at him and he lowered his head to whisper to Xuxu. ¡°Play a few rounds with them.¡± Then he proceed to pull Xuxu towards the mahjong table without giving her a chance to protest. How could he miss this perfect opportunity to ruffle Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything and I¡¯m starving.¡± Xuxu rubbed her belly and furrowed her eyebrows. She pouted her mouth, looking pitiful. She was really famished. She was whining without any intention to Yan Rusheng. But, it softened his heart instantly. He crookedly glanced at her hand which, was rubbing her flat tummy. It had been a long while since he had looked at her properly and she seemed to have lost weight again. Argh , this stupid woman had made him worry constantly. Chapter 421. The Meeting Between the Love Rivals Was Exceptionally Hostile Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart ached when he heard that Xuxu was hungry.¡± He frowned and glared at Lu Yinan. ¡°Lu Yinan, is this how your family treats their guests?¡± The corners of Lu Yinan¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Young Master Yan, if you want me to instruct someone to prepare food for your wife, just simply say it. Why must you phrase your words with a layer of hidden meaning for people to decipher your real thoughts?¡± Communicating with this guy was really tiring. He had to use his brains all the time. Fang Jiayin was completely neglected as she stood at a corner, looking exceptionally lonely. ¡°Jiayin, do you want some food?¡± Lu Yinan asked her casually as he walked past her. Fang Jiayin composed herself and smiled at Lu Yinan. She shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± She began to move on her feet and followed Lu Yinan out of the room. The pair of heels that Xuxu was wearing was really sapping her energy away, so Xuxu settled herself on a chair. Ming Ansheng walked over and sat next to her as he shuffled the mahjong tiles on the table. He looked at Xuxu as his twinkling eyes shone with craftiness. ¡°I want to witness how impressive a married couple can be playing as a team.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°But, I don¡¯t even know how to play.¡± She really had no clue how good Yan Rusheng, Jiang Zhuoheng and the rest were at mahjong. After she had moved out of the Yan¡¯s house, she rarely joined their gatherings. Even if she did join them, usually they would drink, play billiard, smoke or sing at bars. She had never seen them gamble before. Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°Ask Third Yan to bring you along during our gatherings and you¡¯ll soon be an expert as well.¡± When he finished his sentence, he gave a significant glance to Yan Rusheng who was standing behind Xuxu¡¯s chair. Wen Xuxu remained silent and smiled instead. Ming Ansheng had attempted to link her and Yan Rusheng together repeatedly. Even a fool would have understood his intentions. But, he was unaware that the conflict between them and their strained relationship was different from other ordinary loving couples. What they needed to improve their strained relationship wasn¡¯t advice from an outsider. Rather, it was love and feelings for each other. They were lacking in these and even if they reconciled, it was just a show for outsiders. ¡°Look here! I¡¯ve brought Ah Heng over. Today let¡¯s see if Ah Heng is truly invincible or if the husband and wife team will prevail.¡± Lu Yinan had gone to take some food personally for Xuxu and dragged Jiang Zhuoheng along as well. Jiang Zhuoheng wore a smoky-gray suit with a blush-pink shirt inside. He was tall and charming. His hands were stuffed in his pockets as he was dragged along against his will by Lu Yinan. ¡°Ah Heng.¡± Xuxu leaned against the chair and smiled brightly at Jiang Zhuoheng. Her hair brushed against Yan Rusheng¡¯s suit. Yan Rusheng looked at her, but her eyes were focused on Jiang Zhuoheng¡ªher curled long eyelashes with a pair of inverted crescent eyes¡ªshe looked happy. Without giving Yan Rusheng time to respond, Jiang Zhuoheng marched into the room as his eyes swept past swiftly across Yan Rusheng. He glanced at Xuxu with a gentle and tender smile. The two of them had completely ignored his presence and Yan Rusheng observed how they were gazing at each other. His good-looking face seemed to freeze with a layer of icy frost, he clenched his fists. He was struggling to suppress the blazing fury and jealousy inside of him. He bent down and pulled a chair towards him before sitting down. He sat close to Xuxu. ¡°Aren¡¯t we playing?¡± He put his hand around Xuxu¡¯s waist as he questioned Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan. The jealousy was overflowing and the meeting between the love rivals was exceptionally hostile. Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan eyed each other in agreement as they tried to stifle a grin. Chapter 422. Youll Lose the Game If You Continue Being Distracted ¡°Xuxu, I randomly chose some food for you.¡± Lu Yinan passed her a plate full of food. Xuxu received the plate and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± After Lu Yinan sat down, Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°It has been quite a while since the four of us sat down to play. Same old rules?¡± Lu Yinan shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t object as well. Ming Ansheng looked at Yan Rusheng. Xuxu seemed puzzled. ¡°What old rules?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that these fellows were such hardcore gamblers that they even had their own rules. She was curious about those rules and how big was at stake. However, Yan Rusheng remained mum and didn¡¯t object as well. So no one answered Xuxu¡¯s question about the rules. But, she was someone who was able to suppress her inquisitiveness so she didn¡¯t press them for an answer. After Ming Ansheng made sure that no one raised any objections, he began to throw the dice. Xuxu rose and said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°You should play and I¡¯ll eat my food.¡± ¡°You play, I¡¯ll feed you,¡± firmly said Yan Rusheng as he pushed her back to her seat. Xuxu stared at his aloof-looking face and was shocked beyond words. He wanted to feed her? In front of all so many people? And these were all their friends who had grown up together with them! Did she hear wrongly? When Yan Rusheng saw that Xuxu didn¡¯t respond, he thought that she didn¡¯t want to display their intimacy in front of Jiang Zhuoheng. He frowned unhappily and questioned her solemnly, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Didn¡¯t she just ignore his presence and gazed lovingly into Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s eyes earlier on? Then he shall behave intimately with her as though there were no one else in the room. Xuxu could feel a murderous and dangerous aura emitting from Yan Rusheng, and his deep and sinister-looking eyes terrified her. She was afraid that he might do something crazy in front of them. She could only nod and agree. ¡°Okay.¡± She turned around and started to shuffle her tiles. Jiang Zhuoheng sat opposite and the speed of the game was really fast. As a new player, she was one or two steps behind their speed. They had more than a dozen tiles each and everyone took their tiles promptly and smoothly when it was their turn. She was already slow to begin with and wasn¡¯t used to the game, and yet Yan Rusheng slowed her down even more by constantly feeding her with food. She was severely distracted. Her fair hands fumbled as she tried to arrange her tiles. ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious, take your time.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng could sense that she was nervous and gently reminded her. ¡°Let me do it.¡± Yan Rusheng all of a sudden spoke up as he inched closer to her. He stretched both of his hands and enveloped Xuxu as he took his time to arrange the tiles. Instinctively, Xuxu glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng. She felt awkward, upset and sorry. She knew that Yan Rusheng had done this on purpose, but there was nothing she could do to stop him. ¡°You¡¯ll lose the game if you continue being distracted.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke once more, his voice was cold and deep. It served as a timely warning to her as well. Xuxu immediately snapped out of her thoughts and concentrated on her tiles instead. Yan Rusheng speared a piece of beef and fed her. Although Xuxu felt that he was being too ostentatious, she had no choice but to accept it. She felt like a puppet as he controlled her every movement¡ªfrom how he instructed her to ditch or take a tile to how he fed her with every bite. Xuxu stared at her tiles and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t advise her this time round. After pondering about her next step, she threw out a tile. ¡°This.¡± The second she put down the tile, Jiang Zhuoheng who was sitting opposite of her revealed all his tiles. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve won.¡± Chapter 423. Puked Jiang Zhuoheng proclaimed happily as he stretched his hand to take the tile that Xuxu had just discarded. ¡°What! Your luck is ridiculous. This was the last remaining tile!¡± Lu Yinan stared in disbelief at Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s. He frowned and looked rather unconvinced. ¡°Ten tokens each.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng extended his hands towards Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng. From what Yan Rusheng could tell, Jiang Zhuoheng was feeling exceedingly smug and pleased right now. Of course, his mood wasn¡¯t exactly pretty at that moment, but he controlled his emotions well. A fleeting smile played around his mouth and he seemed unconcerned. He took the fork, speared another piece of meat and delivered it to Xuxu¡¯s mouth. Xuxu lowered her head to count ten tokens and stretched her hand to pass it to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Here, ten tokens.¡± Throughout the game, they had been playing with tokens so she didn¡¯t know how much money did each token represent. She gave it out rather enthusiastically each time. The chandeliers on top of them shone and illuminated Xuxu¡¯s fair hands. Her neatly trimmed fingernails on her beautiful and slender fingers sparkled in the light. Yan Rusheng gazed at her hands and had a sudden whim to grab her hands and envelop them tightly with his. He noticed Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s outstretched hand, ready to collect Xuxu¡¯s tokens and he couldn¡¯t take it any longer. He hastily stretched his hand to collect the tokens from Xuxu, and slammed it down in front of Jiang Zhuoheng. The atmosphere in the room turned freezing cold in a split second. Xuxu¡¯s hand hovered in mid-air for a while before she retracted awkwardly. ¡°You guys carry on. I need to go to the comfort room.¡± She simply couldn¡¯t stay in the room any longer. She stood up quickly and went around the table, past Yan Rusheng. She grabbed the hems of her dress, strode quickly to the door, and disappeared out of sight in no time. She went out of the room and searched for the comfort room. Two fashionably-dressed ladies in the bathroom were chatting near the basin. They greeted Xuxu politely when they noticed her walking in. ¡°Mrs. Yan.¡± Xuxu held the hem of her dress with one hand and the other clutching her chest. She stole a glance at them but remained silent. Without stopping, she walked towards the cubicle. Yan Rusheng kept stuffing her with food earlier and she had gobbled the food down in a rush. The food seemed to be stuck around her chest area and she felt very uncomfortable. She was afraid of puking the instant she opened her mouth. The minute she went inside, she slammed the door and starting puking and flushing the toilet simultaneously. The loud flushing sounds covered the sounds of her puking so no one knew that she was feeling unwell. ¡°Look. So the rumors are right. She had simply ignored us with that aloof attitude even when we tried to greet her.¡± ¡± Tch . How could she be so arrogant? She is just Third Madam Yan in title.¡± ¡°How could it be? Didn¡¯t you see how loving she was with the Third Young Master tonight?¡± ¡°Everything is just for show. I heard that they sleep separately at home and Third Young Master doesn¡¯t even touch her. She is like a living widow.¡± The two wealthy madams who had greeted Wen Xuxu earlier on took it to heart that Xuxu had ignored them. They looked at the closed door and criticized Xuxu viciously. From a dark corner, a pair of malicious-looking eyes which resembled a bottomless abyss was glaring intensely at them with a glacial expression. Xuxu puked out all the food she had eaten earlier on and her head was spinning. She had to hold the wall for support to get out of the comfort room as she wobbled in her heels. She went to the basin and turned on the tap. The water was warm and she gargled her mouth. Then she straightened her back and pulled some tissues to clean her hand. She rested against the basin and took a deep breath. Chapter 424. The Song Has Ended In the hall, a waltz tune sounded. She could visualize how the hall would look like with all the couples happily dancing to the tune. But then again, all she wanted to do was to stay out of it. She lifted her head and gazed at the towering figure heading towards her. She bent her head and a bitter smile appeared on her face. It seemed too much to hope to just stay at this spot for a moment longer. Yan Rusheng had a cigarette in his hand as he strode towards Xuxu. He noticed that she looked rather peaky and he frowned. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Xuxu replied softly and shook her head. She threw her tissues into the trash can and straightened her back. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She thought to herself, ¡®Just endure it for a while more, the celebration will be over soon.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s go get some warm water.¡± Yan Rusheng flicked his cigarette away and held Xuxu¡¯s hand as they left for the main hall. He walked leisurely, and for Xuxu, the gesture was thoughtful enough. Several couples were huddled closely together in the main hall, dancing away to the beautiful tune. There were married couples, lovers, and others merely dance partners. Yan Rusheng instructed a waiter to get a glass of warm water. Xuxu took a few sips of the water and her face regained some color after resting for a while. ¡°Follow me.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng took the glass away from her hand and conveniently placed it on the table behind them. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t have time to react when Yan Rusheng grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the middle of the hall. Of course, she knew that he wanted to dance with her. ¡°My heels.¡± Wen Xuxu peered down to look at the heels she was wearing. She wasn¡¯t confident as she couldn¡¯t even walk properly in those heels. It would be harder to keep herself steady if they were to dance. Yan Rusheng ignored her protests and wrapped his long arm around her slender waist. He didn¡¯t care about the traditional waltz posture at all. They quickly stepped into the dance smoothly and became the center of everyone¡¯s attraction. Yan Rusheng embraced Xuxu tightly and kept their bodies close together. Several times, he lifted her off from the ground and made a complete turn as he swung her around. Xuxu was very anxious and her hand gripped tightly onto Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm for fear of falling. Her waist-length hair flowed and swayed along as they danced. She raised her face and glanced at Yan Rusheng. He was gazing into her eyes and tenderness was billowing in his deep black eyes¡ªtenderness that swept past her heart gently and brought about ripples in her heart. This was the first time they had danced together. And such an intimate dance to boot. She had no idea that he could dance so well, and even the expression in his eyes was so precise. Gradually, Xuxu began to forget about her fear and trusted Yan Rusheng not to let her fall. After the song ended, everyone else stopped. But Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t seem to have the idea of letting go of Xuxu yet. All pairs of eyes were staring at them and Xuxu began to feel embarrassed. She whispered to remind Yan Rusheng, ¡°The song has ended.¡± She was blushing scarlet. Yan Rusheng stopped abruptly and released his hands from Xuxu¡¯s waist. But in the next moment, he swiftly cupped Xuxu¡¯s face with both hands and pressed his lips against hers. In front of so many strangers, friends, and acquaintances¡­ Xuxu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and her eyes darted around in shock. She wanted to push him away, but she didn¡¯t dare to be too obvious about it. However, Yan Rusheng had no intention of letting her go. One of his hands pulled her towards him and steadied her body. He smirked coldly as he stared a distance away. Chapter 425. Forgotten All About Him Xuxu followed the direction of Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes and she caught a glimpse of a lonely-looking figure as he turned to depart. Her eyes slowly turned red and glinted with tears. She retracted her gaze to glare at the man standing in front of her. She was embarrassed yet livid. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes shone coldly, and he finally moved his face away from Xuxu. His hand which was hugging Xuxu¡¯s waist earlier on moved upwards to her shoulders. He turned around and surveyed each and everyone who was present. He emitted an aura of arrogance and dominance. His low and deep voice resonated loudly in the spacious hall. ¡°Let me formally introduce my wife once again. Those who weren¡¯t sure, please look at her carefully and bear this in mind.¡± He paused and shifted his glance towards the two ladies standing together. His eyes displayed a murderous beam. ¡°Those who love to gossip unnecessarily behind others¡¯ backs, beware. Someday, you might not be able to keep your tongue.¡± The two culprits shivered violently and looked down guilty. They didn¡¯t dare meet Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. Other than the two of them and Yan Rusheng, no one else knew what happened. Xuxu glanced at the two ladies in confusion. Even a fool could tell that Yan Rusheng had said this to warn everyone present, and specifically directed at the two ladies. But why? She sized up the two ladies and recalled that she had bumped into them earlier on at the bathroom. Needless to say, they must have gossiped about her and Yan Rusheng, and he had caught them red-handed. Yan Rusheng averted his gaze and moved towards the main VIP table. Seated there were Old Master Lu and another elderly man¡­ Ming Zhongsheng. The corners of his mouth curled with a callous and cold smile. ¡°I do not wish to read anything about my wife on the newspapers tomorrow.¡± He paused deliberately and enunciated every word clearly to serve as a warning. ¡°Bear¡­ the¡­ consequences¡­ yourself.¡± At his proclamation, everyone turned their heads towards Ming Zhongsheng with a bewildered expression. The Mings and Yans were family friends for generations. Even though the attempt to link their families by marriage had failed and it had caused some unhappiness. But wasn¡¯t that matter already settled? What was Third Young Master up to? Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s wrinkled face turned red and he wanted to yell at him. But he took into consideration the venue and occasion and was afraid that he might not be able to extricate himself out of this embarrassing situation later. He suppressed his burgeoning rage and remained silent, allowing others to make wild guesses. ¡°Ansheng, what¡¯s this all about?¡± Lu Yinan whispered in Ming Ansheng¡¯s ear and asked him. Ming Ansheng turned solemn and downcast as he glared at Ming Zhongsheng, his old and wrinkled grandfather whom he had doted on and loathed at the same time. He had already warned him before. Will the old man only stop after he had destroyed his friendship with the Third Yan? Not only Lu Yinan, but even Xuxu also couldn¡¯t understand why Yan Rusheng was glaring at Ming Zhongsheng when he made that warning. She lifted her head and glanced askew at Yan Rusheng, looking perplexed. He can be quite condescending at times, but he doesn¡¯t usually embarrass people in public. Especially when this person was Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather. ¡®I do not wish to read anything about my wife in the newspapers tomorrow¡­¡¯ ¡°Newspapers? News?¡± A sudden thought hit Xuxu and she was enlightened instantly. She opened her mouth in shock. Her scandal with Charles¡­ That culprit behind the attacks on Yan Rusheng and even Flourish & Prosper. Could it be¡­ Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather?! She couldn¡¯t think of any other possibility. Now that she had mulled over the matter, Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather was indeed suspicious and most likely had an ulterior motive. She had been constantly guessing who was the culprit behind the attacks on Flourish & Prosper¡¯s image, and the one who had so viciously tried to tear her marriage with Yan Rusheng apart. She had even thought that the culprit might be Fang Jiayin. She had forgotten all about him¡ªMing Ansheng¡¯s grandfather. Chapter 426. He Is Truly Flawless And Exceptional Ming Zhongsheng had looked for Xuxu personally and even forsaked his pride just to beg her to let Wen Xinyi off and to not pursue the matter. But she had rejected him straightaway. He had already disliked Yan Rusheng due to the failed linked marriage between their two families. Xuxu quietly analyzed all these facts in her heart as she stared blankly at Ming Zhongsheng. The old man sat there with an ugly and sullen expression on his face. Then she stole a glance at Ming Ansheng and he was looking towards their direction, looking at Yan Rusheng. Even though his expression wasn¡¯t that obvious, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess. He looked helpless and seemed to be trapped between his grandfather and his friend. Xuxu bent her head and she didn¡¯t want to consider anyone¡¯s feelings right now. She wasn¡¯t that magnanimous to begin with. No one could possibly understand what she had gone through these few days. Furthermore, Charles was an innocent party and he had been dragged into the matter. ¡°Whatever I¡¯ve said tonight, I¡¯ll make sure to stand by it.¡± Yan Rusheng concluded in his usual cold and deep voice. The whole hall was hushed and the chilly atmosphere seemed to freeze everyone¡¯s breath. With the exception of Xuxu who was feeling warm all over especially her heart. Unconsciously, her body inched closer to Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest as she leaned against him. It wasn¡¯t him who had suggested that she should make an apology at the press conference. He was kept in the dark all along. After saying his piece, Yan Rusheng embraced Xuxu with his arms and nodded at Old Master Lu politely. ¡°Sorry, Grandfather Lu. I¡¯ve used up your time at your birthday celebration. I would like to apologize to you once more.¡± His tone softened and the mood lightened up considerably. Suddenly, a crisp and clear voice sounded from the second floor. ¡°Third Brother Yan, a verbal apology wouldn¡¯t suffice.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at her with a faint smile. ¡°Then what does Miss Lu propose?¡± Lu Yishan wore a white evening gown and she walked down the steps with a hand holding the hems of the gown. She looked at Yan Rusheng as she spoke, ¡°I heard that you can play the piano really well.¡± Yan Rusheng immediately understood her and nodded promptly. ¡°Alright, I shall play a song for Grandfather Lu to express my apology.¡± He held Xuxu¡¯s hand and they walked towards the piano. The pianist hurriedly stood up and gave them his seat. Everyone was looking at them in anticipation they reached the piano. Yan Rusheng bent his head and whispered in Xuxu¡¯s ear. Xuxu bit her lips and nodded lightly. She bent her body to sit down, leaving a bigger space for him. Yan Rusheng bent his back as well and sat down beside her. Both of them placed their hands on the piano and gazed at each other simultaneously. A familiar happy tune sounded in the hall and it lightened up the mood instantly. ¡°Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you¡­¡± With them playing the tune, everyone else clapped along to the rhythm. Even Old Mr. and Mrs. Lu, who were sitting at the VIP table, couldn¡¯t help but join in and sang along. The couple sitting at the piano seemed to have rehearsed this performance beforehand. They complemented each other perfectly and were perfectly in sync. This rapport they shared gave them a pleasant surprise as well. Two pairs of hands on the piano; the bigger pair of hands had clearly-defined knuckles, while the smaller pair was soft and supple. Even their hands seemed so compatible. Who else would dare say that they weren¡¯t loving at all? Not compatible? ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s impossible to find a second man like Third Young Master in this entire world.¡± ¡°I second that. He is truly flawless and exceptional.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true love indeed for this pair of childhood sweethearts.¡± Fang Jiayin watched Xuxu and Yan Rusheng and heard the compliments from people around her. The wine she was drinking seemed exceedingly bitter. Chapter 427. Avoiding Him On Purpose Her beautiful eyes seemed to be lost in the depths of an abyss. ¡°Everything is destined and love can¡¯t be forced.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you really think so?¡± There was an enigmatic smile on her face and suddenly, she tilted her head and gulped down an entire glass of wine. Secretary Liu, who was sitting beside her, inched closer and whispered, ¡°Jiayin, don¡¯t drink so much.¡± His eyes swept past Yan Rusheng swiftly and said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t see how the current Young Madam Yan is better than you.¡± ¡°The Young Madam Yan now¡­¡± Fang Jiayin threw a glance at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. Her expression was unfathomable. She placed the glass down. She turned to look at Secretary Liu as she rubbed her temples. ¡°Uncle, when is the celebration ending? I have a slight headache and I would like to go home first.¡± She ignored his previous comment and declined to divulge her thoughts to him. Secretary Liu answered sternly, ¡°Old Master Lu is an esteemed and prominent figure. How can we excuse ourselves from his birthday celebration now?¡± He stole a glance at the piano and the music had stopped. Yan Rusheng held Xuxu¡¯s hand as they stood up together. A scheming and sly gleam flashed past Secretary Liu¡¯s eyes and he inched once more towards Fang Jiayin¡¯s ears. ¡°You can play the violin very well. Why don¡¯t you perform a song for them?¡± Without giving Fang Jiayin a chance to protest, he grabbed her by her arm. He turned around to the next table where Old Master Lu was. He said with a smile, ¡°Old Master Lu, my niece has just came back from abroad and she is a great violinist. She would like to perform a song for you as well.¡± Fang Jiayin was annoyed by Secretary Liu¡¯s suggestion. She flung her hand away. ¡°Uncle!¡± With an apologetic expression, she turned to Old Master Lu. ¡°Grandfather Lu, sorry I¡¯m not feeling well today. Hence, I shall not embarrass myself. I¡¯ll perform for you another time.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Old Master Lu smiled benevolently at Fang Jiayin. ¡°If you¡¯re unwell, ask Yishan to bring you upstairs to take a rest.¡± Lu Yishan was just standing beside him and he gave her a meaningful glance. Lu Yishan responded right away and walked to Fang Jiayin. ¡°Miss Fang, please follow me.¡± Fang Jiayin rejected politely. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m just feeling a little stuffy. I¡¯ll take a walk outside.¡± She bowed at Old Master Lu graciously and turned around to walk towards the door. The second she raised her head, two familiar figures appeared a short distance away. She was stunned for a second time and then quickly wore a smile. ¡°Ah Sheng, Xuxu, that performance had showcased the perfect rapport between the both of you.¡± When Xuxu heard Fang Jiayin calling him ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯, she withdrew her hand instinctively. Yan Rusheng¡¯s grip on her hand suddenly became empty and he glanced at her. Xuxu had already put her hands behind her back, avoiding him on purpose. His face immediately fell. Secretary Liu came towards them with a bright smile. ¡°President Yan, you and your wife put on such a great performance earlier on.¡± Yan Rusheng vented his anger at Secretary Liu and with an scornful expression, he said, ¡°To Secretary Liu, that should be considered as just a good performance.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. How could this fellow embarrass the capital city¡¯s committee secretary in front of so many people? Furthermore, he was Fang Jiayin¡¯s uncle. Secretary Liu¡¯s smile transformed into an awkward expression in a split second. He turned to glance at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Jiayin, you should chat with them.¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s face fell as well and she didn¡¯t respond. Earlier on when Secretary Liu had dragged Fang Jiayin to fawn upon Old Master Lu, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had witnessed the scene. Chapter 428. Wasnt Life Abroad Good? Fang Jiayin really does surprise her sometimes. She seemed delicate and demure on the outside, but she was actually tenacious and brave deep down. And she was decisive and unyielding as well. She really excelled at everything. No wonder Yan Rusheng had fallen in love with her and was devoted to her for the past three years. Secretary Liu turned to leave and Fang Jiayin glanced at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng with an awkward expression. ¡°Ah Sheng, Xuxu, I¡¯m feeling unwell¡­¡± Xuxu suddenly cut across her. ¡°I¡¯m a little thirsty. I¡¯ll go get a drink.¡± She turned to leave promptly and walked towards the tables. Yan Rusheng glared at her with resentment and anger as he prepared to chase after her. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Fang Jiayin called him suddenly. He halted his footsteps and turned around to look at her. He pressed his lips as he waited for her to speak. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t always be so fierce towards her.¡± Fang Jiayin furrowed her brows and said softly, ¡°Be gentle towards a woman. Take a softer approach and perhaps you¡¯ll find that the problem can be easily solved.¡± Her sparkling black eyes glinted clearly under the light. She appeared sincere and straightforward. Yan Rusheng pressed his lips once more, as though he had given her an answer. Then he spun around to look for Xuxu, but she had vanished out of sight. He surveyed his surroundings and there was no sight of her anywhere. He didn¡¯t see Jiang Zhuoheng as well and he began to feel moody. He strode across the hall towards the entrance. And he bumped into Lu Yinan. ¡°Third Yan¡­¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand towards him and said impatiently, ¡°Give me a cigarette.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yinan noticed that Yan Rusheng was in a bad mood and he was wise enough not to say anything. He retrieved an exquisite cigarette case from his pocket and passed it to him. Yan Rusheng opened the cigarette case and placed a stick in his mouth. He lighted it as he walked out. After exiting the hall, the freezing wind blew towards him. He took a few puffs and was covered by wisps of smoke as he hastened his footsteps down the stairs. This was one of the Lu family¡¯s mansions and they used it occasionally for parties or celebrations. In the middle of the courtyard, there was a fake hill with a splendid and majestic fountain. Yan Rusheng held his cigarette and stuffed his other hand in his pocket. The temperature outdoors had dropped beyond zero degrees but surprisingly, he didn¡¯t feel cold at all. He stood beside the fake hill as he peered at the vast night sky. He was admiring the moon as he mocked himself silently. ¡°My heart is with the moon, but alas, the moon shines somewhere else instead.¡± He had yearned to be her refuge and harbor but she doesn¡¯t even cherish him at all. ¡°I won¡¯t do that.¡± ¡± Hmph! You must think of your parents!¡± Suddenly, he heard a woman and a man arguing behind the fake hill. Even though their voices were hushed, Yan Rusheng could still recognize their voices. He was slightly startled and he took a detour towards the source of the commotion. A short and plump man vanished around the other side of the hill. A tall and slender woman stood there. Sensing his presence, the woman turned around and faced him. When she saw that the intruder was Yan Rusheng, Fang Jiayin was startled and stared at him in shock. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± After a while, she lowered her head nervously. Yan Rusheng strode towards her as he gazed at Fang Jiayin, feeling suspicious. He questioned her, ¡°What are you doing here with Liu Changjun?¡± ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s nothing.¡± Fang Jiayin turned to look at her feet as she shook her head. She rubbed her eyes as she answered him. She seemed rather aggrieved. Yan Rusheng could tell that Fang Jiayin was troubled but he didn¡¯t press further. He took another puff and turned to find a flat spot around the fake hill. He leaned lazily on it. After taking a puff, he glanced at Fang Jiayin, ¡°Wasn¡¯t life abroad good?¡± Chapter 429. Lovey-dovey Yan Rusheng¡¯s tone was calm and nonchalant, as though he had simply asked a casual question. Fang Jiayin took a deep breath and inhaled deeply. She said, ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t have come back. I¡¯ve caused trouble for you and Xuxu the minute I did.¡± Her voice sounded like she had just cried. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡± Yan Rusheng explained then he paused before continuing, ¡°Liu Changjun isn¡¯t a good person.¡± She lifted her head and her eyes sparkled for a moment. She was startled to hear that from him and she nodded her head lightly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± She lowered her head once more and her hair fell and tumbled across her shoulder, covering the sides of her face. She was wearing a thin outerwear over her dress and she seemed cold. Yan Rusheng saw her in that state but he remained silent. He threw the cigarette on the ground and stubbed it out with his feet. He stuffed his hands back into his pockets and left her. The guests began to leave one by one as the celebration ended. Xuxu wore a sleeveless light fur jacket draped over her shoulders and she stood by the entrance¡¯s pillars. She watched as a black Audi leave the courtyard. After the Audi vanished out of sight, she retracted her gaze. She bent her head and let out a heavy sigh. As she turned around to go back to the mansion, she bumped into a ¡®flesh-colored¡¯ wall. She raised her head and her eyes met another pair of cold-looking ones. After getting over her shock, she said to him, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Wait for me here.¡± Yan Rusheng instructed her and turned to go back to the mansion. After informing the Lu family that they would be leaving, he came out of the mansion to see Xuxu still standing there with her arms crossed. She was shivering badly and she tried to hug herself tightly. He was quite furious when he saw her. ¡°Can¡¯t you get inside if you¡¯re cold?¡± Xuxu stared back at him innocently, ¡°You were the one who asked me to wait here.¡± He saw her freezing in the cold and she seemed so docile that he didn¡¯t have the heart to berate her anymore. He gnashed his teeth with frustration and anger. ¡°I¡¯ve also forbade you not to talk to Jiang Zhuoheng, but didn¡¯t you still exchange lovey-dovey looks with him?¡± As he berated her, he removed his blazer and put it over her shoulders. Xuxu immediately covered herself tightly with the blazer to feel the residues of his warmth. A moment ago she was still shivering from the cold. But the next instant, she felt warm all over. She lifted her head and seemed to regain her strength to reason with him. ¡°We¡¯ve grown up together. Do you expect me to treat him like a stranger?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, those lovey-dovey eyes was what I meant.¡± Yan Rusheng could barely suppress his anger anymore. This stupid woman had merely disappeared from his sight for a short while. And when she returned, she had turned into a sharp-witted woman. Xuxu snorted with contempt. ¡°Weren¡¯t you having an intimate conversation with Fang Jiayin in the garden by the fake hill just now?¡± Yan Rusheng replied promptly with a clear conscience. ¡°That was a coincidence.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu bent her head and walked down the steps towards the car. He trailed after her and and surveyed her from head to toe, feeling bewildered. Why did he have a feeling that she had seemed to change after just a while? The chauffeur was waiting in the car and he hastily got out when he saw them. Xuxu got in first but she didn¡¯t shut the door after her this time, instead she moved further in. Yan Rusheng was pleased and bent his body to get into the car. The car tilted substantially to his side when he sat down. The heater was switched on in the car and Xuxu removed the blazer and placed it on her thighs. Chapter 430. Ate the Wrong Medicine? Both of them were seated one body length away from each other and were lost in their own thoughts. They remained silent in the car just like when they first came. Shortly, drowsiness hit her and Xuxu¡¯s eyelids felt heavy. ¡­ The car drove into the courtyard and Yan Rusheng reminded the chauffeur to stop the car slowly and gently. The car steadily pulled to a stop afterwards. The chauffeur unfastened his seatbelt, opened the car door and gingerly got out of the car. Yan Rusheng also followed suit and got off. He walked over to the other side of the car and opened the door. Being gentle with his actions, he carried Xuxu out of the car. With Xuxu¡¯s level of sensitivity, he thought that a gentle nudge would wake her up. If she did wake up, he would let go of her. To his surprise, she didn¡¯t. She was sound asleep and her head was nested on his chest. The moment he entered the door, he carried Xuxu straight to the second floor without even removing his shoes. When he saw the servants, he gave them an eye signal from afar, hinting them to not to make any noise. When they were upstairs, Yan Rusheng hesitated for a while before walking towards Xuxu¡¯s bedroom. Her room door was open and when he was about to step intside, the person in his arms suddenly wrapped her hands around his waist. His breathing became sluggish and the stifling desire in his heart was suddenly aroused. He looked at Wen Xuxu. There was a faint smile on the corner of her mouth as she inched her face deeper into his arms. Damn, stupid woman. How dare she feigned sleep! What exactly was she doing? What did she want? ¡°Are you seducing me?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice fell above her. Xuxu remained silent and didn¡¯t reveal her face. She just kept snuggling into his arms incessantly. Keeping silent meant that she had tacitly agreed, but Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t exactly pleased. He continued to stride forward to her room and made his way to her bed in huge steps. He threw her onto the bed and turned around to leave decisively. Xuxu raised her head and watched as Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering figure disappeared. She was saddened beyond words. When she saw him and Fang Jiayin in the garden, she was overwhelmed with fear¡ªfearful that she might lose him one day. She wanted to put in her utmost effort to keep him closer to her. She wanted to try out Zhou Shuang¡¯s style, to let him fall head over heels in love with her. ¡­ Morning came and everything outside was covered in snow. Yan Rusheng had already washed up and changed into his working suit. He came downstairs and was dumbstruck when he walked into the dining room. Xuxu was dressed in a long pink woolen sweater and a dark green apron was wrapped around her. Her raven long hair was loosely tied up and some strands of hair fell over her forehead. She was absorbed in setting up the dining table. She lifted her head and caught sight of Yan Rusheng and broke out into a dazzling smile. ¡°You¡¯re awake. Breakfast is almost ready.¡± After saying her piece, she turned back to the kitchen. Yan Rusheng was dumbfounded for a long time before snapping out of his daze. Were his eyes playing tricks on him? He strode with huge steps to the kitchen entrance and saw the busy little figure. Indeed, he wasn¡¯t seeing things. But¡­ can someone tell him what was happening? ¡°Did this dumb woman take the wrong medicine today?¡± Xuxu brought out two glasses of milk from the kitchen and paid no regards to Yan Rusheng¡¯s stare. After putting the glasses of milk on the table, she hurried back to the kitchen and dished out the breakfast. There were two sets of identical breakfast laid opposite to each other. She said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°Breakfast is ready. Try and see if you like it.¡± As it had been a while since she stepped into the kitchen, she wasn¡¯t too confident of her culinary skills. Chapter 431. Leave Immediately Xuxu removed her apron as she spoke and walked over to the dining table to sit down. Yan Rusheng was filled with misgivings as he took a seat and looked at the food before him. There were two slices of toast, two slices of bacon, and a sunny side up. He looked closely and realized that the sunny side up was heart-shaped. The corners of his mouth twitched twice. His heart itched with curiosity. He couldn¡¯t decipher what Xuxu was up to as her changes were too drastic. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t poison your food.¡± Xuxu teased him when she saw Yan Rusheng staring at his food. She stuffed her mouth with a toast until her cheeks resembled a huge bun. Yan Rusheng raised his head and shot her a look of annoyance. He picked up his fork and knife and began eating in a relaxed manner. He placed the bacon between two slices of toast and left the sunny side up on the side of the plate. He didn¡¯t know what came over him but he couldn¡¯t bear to the eat the sunny side up when he saw that it was heart-shaped. In the past, Xuxu always was the one to finish eating first. But today, she didn¡¯t stand up to leave right after she had finished. Instead, she remained on her seat. Propping her cheeks with both hands, she watched as Yan Rusheng ate and admired his graceful eating manner. Yan Rusheng stole a glance at Xuxu¡¯s infatuated eyes and his mood just got better and better. Yesterday night, she took the initiative to seduce him and this morning, she specially made breakfast for him. Was this dumb woman fawning over him? Or was she touched by his actions at grandfather Lu¡¯s birthday celebration yesterday night? Xuxu¡¯s change was too drastic, and Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t sure of her intentions. Hence, he decided to remain calm and observe her for the next few days. Yan Rusheng chewed on his food as he tried to figure out Xuxu¡¯s thoughts. ¡°My car is still under repair so I¡¯ll hitch a ride from you to work in the next few days.¡± Xuxu, who was seated opposite him, suddenly spoke and gave him a startle. He raised his head and his eyes flickered in shock. He paused momentarily before speaking, ¡°I¡¯m not going back to the office today so let the chauffeur send you there.¡± He sounded normal without any traces of emotion. Xuxu responded with a curt ¡®oh¡¯. There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll drive the Mini Cooper.¡± Yan Rusheng took a look at her, remained silent and continued eating. ¡°Third Young Master, was the breakfast made by Missy delicious?¡± Aunt Zhang walked in just when Yan Rusheng was about to finish eating. She was overjoyed when she saw that his plate was empty. ¡°Quite ordinary,¡± Yan Rusheng casually replied Aunt Zhang. The taste was indeed really ordinary, but his mood was extremely cheery. After swallowing his food, he put down his fork and knife and took a sip of the milk. After that, he pulled a piece of tissue and wiped his mouth as he instructed Aunt Zhang, ¡°Please gather everyone in the living room. I have something to announce.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu and Aunt Zhang were puzzled, wondering what Yan Rusheng was up to. By gathering everyone in the living room, was he planning to hold a family meeting? Despite her curiosity, Aunt Zhang didn¡¯t query further and carried out Yan Rusheng¡¯s instructions accordingly. In the living room. All servants of the Yan family stood in a row, except for the butler, Aunt Zhang and four youngsters comprising of one male and three females who were in their twenties. Yan Rusheng came out of the bathroom. The atmosphere turned tense. He walked over to the row of servants and gazed coldly at them before saying, ¡°In a while, collect your wages from the butler and then pack your things and leave immediately.¡± Chapter 432. So It Turns Out That We Have The Same Thinking Wen Xuxu, who had walked out with him, was in a state of shock. Was this fellow insane again? Why did he ask all the servants to leave all of a sudden? Third Young Master¡¯s words were like an imperial edict. Once he had spoken, no one dared to challenge but merely nodded their heads in concert and answered with a ¡®yes¡¯ even though they were bewildered by their sudden laid off. When everyone had left, perplexed to her wits, Xuxu walked over to Yan Rusheng and asked, ¡°Why did you give them the pink slip all of a sudden?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at him and knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that there were too many servants in this house?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. But she didn¡¯t say that they should be laid off. Though, somehow she knew for sure that this wasn¡¯t the reason for laying off the servants¡­ There must be more to this than meets the eye. Yan Rusheng added, ¡°Aunt Zhang is getting on in years. Moving forward, you¡¯ll need to assist her with the household chores.¡± Was he planning not to hire any more servants? Aunt Zhang usually only took charge of cooking of meals, and the rest of the chores were handled by the servants. So does he mean that she had to manage all the household chores in the future? So, this meant that she had to go to the office in the day and returned home at night to be the housekeeper and servant? Was this his purpose for sacking all the servants? To come up with some ways to torture her? As Xuxu tried to analyze the situation according to her own logic, her voice choked with emotions. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I want to rip open your heart to take a look.¡± To see what was on his mind and what exactly wanted. In the presence of outsiders, he was burning with passion for her. But when it¡¯s just them, he was cold and heartless. He had done so many heartwarming things for her behind her back, and just when her passion was set aflame, he always had to pour cold water on her. She found him unpredictable and difficult to understand. She didn¡¯t have the courage to advance further, yet couldn¡¯t bear to retreat either. Xuxu averted her cold stare from Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, turned around and headed for the second floor. Actually, handling household chores is nothing too difficult for her. If she sees it in a new light, it simply meant that she was just doing the household chores just like what the rest of the women are doing in their families. If they can handle it, why can¡¯t she? ¡°Wen Xuxu, so it turns out that we have the same thinking.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice sounded in the background. So, it turned out that both of them wanted to take a peek at each other¡¯s heart. After hearing what he said, Xuxu¡¯s expression merely froze for a moment and continued heading for the second floor. ¡­ It was already the year-end and everyone in the office were busier than usual. Xuxu had just sat down on her seat when her assistant came over with a huge pile of work for her. ¡°Leave it here. I¡¯ll go to my meeting first.¡± She put down her bag and instructed her assistant before hurrying to the conference room with the meeting documents in hand. It was a small scale meeting with the PR and other related departments, discussing the Christmas program. All the related department heads were already waiting in the conference room. When they saw Xuxu entering, they greeted her one after another. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded at them and sat down. The PR Department Person-in-Charge placed a document in front of her. ¡°Sister, this is the workflow and progress for the past few days.¡± Xuxu took it and glanced through while she spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s cut the long story short.¡± A huge pile of work was waiting for her to handle. Xuxu looked at the document, and her face turned dark. She turned to look at the person from the PR department who handed over the document and frowned. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t the outdoor shoot carried out yesterday?¡± Chapter 433. Enraged The person replied, ¡°There were some changes to Zhou Tong¡¯s schedule, and she was overseas.¡± Slam. Xuxu closed her documents and flung them hard onto the conference table. This Zhou Tong was getting more rampant. The atmosphere in the conference room turned freezing cold in a split second. This was the first time where everyone felt a tremendous amount of stress in a meeting hosted by Xuxu. Even their breathing was cautious. Xuxu stood up and furiously left and bought the documents along with her. Back to the office, she walked straight to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Without knocking on his door, she twisted the doorknob, pushed the door open and walked in. The man was seated serenely on his luxurious swivel chair, sipping his coffee and reading the newspapers. Xuxu was filled with inexplicable anger. She was working her socks off while he was idling and enjoying himself. She walked over and threw the documents she was holding in front of Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you take charge of the Christmas event yourself.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand which was holding the coffee¡ªmomentarily trembled¡ªcausing the coffee to swirl in the cup. He raised his head and frowned slightly. ¡°Wen Xuxu, have you gone crazy early in the morning?¡± As the door to his office was left open, he tried to lower down his voice as much as possible. He was curious with what caused Xuxu to explode with rage as she had always been a tolerant and self-controlled person. Xuxu raised her voice again. ¡°I¡¯m unable to wait upon the big shot that you¡¯ve engaged. You can serve her yourself.¡± After yelling at him, she spun around and left. Deng deng deng. The thudding sounds of her foot-steps revealed her current fury and frustration. ¡°The big shot that he had engaged?¡± Yan Rusheng knitted his thick eyebrows, and he was truly baffled to an extent. He lowered his eyes at the documents which Xuxu had flung onto the table and saw the label on it¡­ Christmas Event. And he suddenly realized¡­ ¡°Zhou Tong!¡± Yan Rusheng immediately gave a call to the PR Department to understand the situation. He found out that Xuxu was raging because Zhou Tong had altered the outdoor shoot schedule without permission. But what¡¯s this got to do with him? Why did she lose her temper at him? As the President of Flourish & Prosper, must he also get involved in his company¡¯s commercial shoot? Thinking back on the wrath on Xuxu¡¯s face, he stifled a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m unable to wait upon the big shot that you¡¯ve engaged. You can serve her yourself¡­¡± Not many people could provoke Xuxu to that extent. Even towards those women that he had flings in the past, no matter how difficult it was to deal with them, she was able to handle them effortlessly and patiently. She had never once lost her cool. But towards Zhou Tong¡­ was it because he had insisted on replacing Chen Yuxi? Hmph. It better be this, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t let her off lightly. How could she have the audacity and courage to flare at him early in the morning? Yan Rusheng called the PR Department again and instructed them to get in touch with Zhou Tong. If she didn¡¯t come back at once for the outdoor shoot, he would not hesitate to replace her even if it meant a breach of their contract. No celebrity had ever behaved so arrogantly towards Flourish & Prosper. Furthermore, she had enraged his wife. Her mood had been wrecked early in the morning and for the rest of the day, she was in a bad mood. Xuxu pulled a long face the entire day and coupled with the morning flare-up, the atmosphere in the office wasn¡¯t pretty as well. In the afternoon, she held a cup of hot water and sat at her table, frowning in pain. ¡°Sister Xuxu, this is the report that you requested.¡± Mi Ling handed her a set of documents and was astonished when she saw her face. ¡°Sister Xuxu, why do you look so pale?¡± Xuxu shook her head lightly. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± She put down her cup of water and took the documents from Mi Ling. Mi Ling responded with an ¡®Oh¡¯ but was still concerned. ¡°But you really look as pale as a sheet. Why don¡¯t you take a rest?¡± Chapter 434. Overslept Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m alright. Go back to your work.¡± After Mi Ling left, Xuxu picked up her cup of hot water to warm her chilly hands. Her tummy was in so much pain that she couldn¡¯t concentrate on her work. After tidying her desk, she stood up and walked towards the door while informing Mi Ling at the same time, ¡°Mi Ling, I¡¯m going out for a while. Give me a call if there¡¯s anything urgent.¡± ¡­ At the clinic, Old Master Wen took Xuxu¡¯s pulse and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve told you umpteen times not to touch cold water, but you wouldn¡¯t listen. Now, your body is even colder.¡± Xuxu quibbled, ¡°I didn¡¯t touch cold water.¡± This time around, the pain was indeed worse than before and her body felt even colder. Before she left the house this morning, she had used cold water to clean the house, wiped the table and washed hers and Yan Rusheng¡¯s clothes and personal items. With all of these, she couldn¡¯t let grandfather know, and she didn¡¯t dare too. Furthermore, grandfather wouldn¡¯t believe her words. The elderly snorted coldly to express his displeasure. ¡°Grandfather knows your condition very well. I¡¯ll boil some soup to warm and nourish your body. Go home and have a good sleep after drinking.¡± Xuxu smiled cheekily. ¡°Thank you, grandfather.¡± Grandfather concocted some medication for her. He added in dark brown sugar and ginger and got Qi Lei to boil them for Xuxu to consume. It was winter. Grandfather¡¯s reclining chair was decked with a thick layer of a woolen cushion, giving it a warm and cozy feel. Xuxu lay on it while sipping on the hot bowl of soup; she finished drinking it in no time. She handed the empty bowl back to her grandfather who was sitting beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve finished drinking.¡± ¡°Every time you feel unwell, you would come back and look for grandfather.¡± Grandfather took the bowl from her and reprimanded her affectionately, ¡°Since that fellow is so good, why didn¡¯t you look for him when you are unwell?¡± Xuxu knew who ¡® that fellow¡¯ grandfather was referring to. She fawned over her grandfather with a laugh. ¡°Grandfather is my intimate cotton jacket .¡± The old man¡¯s face darkened and stretched out his hand to hit her hard on the head. ¡°You have no respect for your elder.¡± ¡°Ouch! Grandfather, I know I¡¯m wrong.¡± Xuxu retracted her neck and pulled the blanket higher over her. After drinking the soup which her grandfather had made, her tummy was no longer in pain. She hadn¡¯t been back for a long time and her trip home felt so much warm that she couldn¡¯t bear to leave. As she laid on the reclining chair, drowsiness began to take hold of her. She had intended to catch a wink before heading back to the office, but by the time she woke up, the sun had set. Xuxu glanced at the clock and swiftly leaped to her feet. ¡°It¡¯s almost 6 p.m.¡± Grandfather heard her yell and stuck his head out from the second floor to look at her. ¡± So what if it¡¯s past 5 p.m.? Why are you so flustered?¡± ¡°I need to go back now.¡± Xuxu reached for her bag as she spoke. Without biding a proper goodbye to Old Master Wen, she dashed out of the door. She left her car in the office and had taken a taxi to her grandfather¡¯s house. Since she didn¡¯t have the time to go back and retrieve it, she flagged a taxi instead en route to her home. Just as she had expected, she was stuck in the rush hour jam for more than an hour and arrived home only after 7 p.m. The house was brightly lit. Xuxu swiftly changed into her slippers and headed straight for the kitchen. She walked past the dining room which was empty and quiet. The kitchen was also spick and span, which was exactly the same when she left home this morning. She found her apron and put it on swiftly. She opened the fridge and rummaged through the ingredients before taking out a few items and threw them into the basin. Chapter 435. Third Master Personally Cooking ¡°Missy, you¡¯re finally back.¡± Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice suddenly resounded in her ears. ¡°I¡¯m home late.¡± Xuxu turned around and took a glance at Aunt Zhang. Aunt Zhang knitted her eyebrows and looked worried. Out of concern, Xuxu asked, ¡°Aunt Zhang, is anything the matter?¡± Before Aunt Zhang could reply, a chilly voice was heard from outside the kitchen. ¡°Wen Xuxu, so you are aware that you had to come home?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering figure appeared in the dining room. As Xuxu had anticipated, his expression was gloomy. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare dinner right now.¡± Xuxu turned on the tap and began washing the vegetables. Aunt Zhang wanted to extend her a helping hand, but after taking a look at Yan Rusheng, she didn¡¯t dare to and looked helpless. After some hesitations, she spoke cautiously to Yan Rusheng, ¡°Third Young Master, let me help Missy. It¡¯s running late so it¡¯s better to get dinner ready quickly.¡± From the tone of her voice, Xuxu could sense that Yan Rusheng must have instructed her not to help out. Yan Rusheng was trying all means to torment. Xuxu didn¡¯t want to put the elderly in a difficult position, so she turned around to smile at her. ¡°Aunt Zhang, I don¡¯t need your help. I should be able to get a few simple dishes done quickly.¡± Aunt Zhang kept looking at Yan Rusheng, waiting for him to nod his head. ¡°Aunt Zhang, you may go,¡± Yan Rusheng instructed Aunt Zhang. He then marched in with his long legs into the dining room. He walked over to Xuxu and saw that she was washing the vegetables. Her pair of soft and supple hands were soaked in the water. He knitted his eyebrows lightly. ¡°Do you call yourself a woman? Don¡¯t you know how to wash vegetables?¡± His deep voice suddenly echoed in her ears and his warm breath could be felt. Even though it sounded like a reprimand, Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart softened at that instant. She stood up straight. Without waiting for her to respond, Yan Rusheng pulled her to one side all of a sudden. ¡°Let me do it for you. Watch and learn from it.¡± He unbuttoned his sleeves and rolled it up before putting his hands into the basin. He looked immeasurably confident in that manner. Xuxu was in awe as she looked at the man standing before the basin. She looked at Yan Rusheng taking his time to pull apart the vegetables by the stalk, and washing them gingerly. She stared at him ¡¯till her eyes nearly popped out of her head. ¡°Why are there only vegetables?¡± Yan Rusheng finished washing the vegetables and his eyes swept past the stove. As he couldn¡¯t find any traces of meat, he turned around and queried Xuxu. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s already so late. Just eat a simple dish and make do without meat.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored Xuxu. ¡°Go to the fridge and bring out some meat.¡± His tone was decisive. Xuxu didn¡¯t want to argue with him over this and answered with an ¡® Ok¡¯ . She turned around and walked to the fridge and was about to take out some meat. ¡°Wait a while,¡± Yan Rusheng interrupted her actions all of a sudden. Xuxu turned her head and gave Young Master Yan a puzzled look. ¡°What do you want again?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it out myself.¡± Having said that, Yan Rusheng walked over to the fridge, took out the meat and walked back to the basin. Xuxu followed after him and examined him with uncertainty. ¡°Are you¡­ cooking?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Any problem with that?¡± ¡°Um.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I have no problem with that.¡± He made it seem as though he was an expert in cooking. She had known him for so many years but had yet to see him wash a bowl. Just when Yan Rusheng threw the meat into the basin, his cell phone suddenly rang. But both his hands were wet and oily from handling the meat. He turned and looked at Xuxu. ¡°Take it out and answer the call for me.¡± Chapter 436. I’ll Speak to You Instead Xuxu lowered her eyes and looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s pocket where the cell phone was placed. She deliberated for a split second before answering with an ¡®Ok¡¯. She walked over and stretched her hand into his pocket and could feel his body warmth. Her heart skipped a beat. She felt for the phone, grabbed it and was about to her hand from the pocket. Yan Rusheng suddenly took a step forward and leaned against the basin. Xuxu¡¯s hand was sandwiched in between. As the back of her hand was against the basin in an awkward position, she felt some pain. She knitted her eyebrows and stared at the man in annoyance. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°What?¡± Yan Rusheng feigned ignorance and looked down. He saw that Xuxu¡¯s hand was sandwiched in between and shot her a look of apology. ¡°It was unintentional.¡± Xuxu withdrew her hand from his pocket and glared at him in fury before averting her gaze to the cellphone screen. The call was from an unfamiliar number. This was Yan Rusheng¡¯s personal number. So who could the unfamiliar caller be? Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng with uncertainty and asked, ¡°It¡¯s a private number. Should I answer the call?¡± ¡°Answer it.¡± Yan Rusheng did not raise his head and went on to take the meat from the water and placed it on the chopping board. He was attentive and patient with what he was doing. As instructed, Xuxu answered the call. ¡°Hello, I am President Yan¡¯s secretary. May I know who¡¯s on the line?¡± Yan Rusheng heard Xuxu¡¯s self-introduction and shot her a ¡®You are an idiot¡¯look. ¡°Dumb woman .¡± Didn¡¯t she know that that was his personal line? And yet she sounded so official! Was she dying to draw a line to their relationship? ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s me, Fang Jiayin.¡± A familiar voice of a woman sounded from the other line. The voice was soft and gentle even when she was speaking to her. Xuxu¡¯s eyes momentarily turned gloomy. She replied nonchalantly, ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ll pass the phone to him.¡± She stretched out her hand and was about to hand the phone to Yan Rusheng. Fang Jiayin stopped her at that instant. ¡°You don¡¯t need to pass the phone to him. I¡¯ll speak to you instead.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu placed the phone back to her ear and remained silent. Fang Jiayin said, ¡°I haven¡¯t been feeling well and had been seeing a doctor at Country Y. Yesterday, Zhou Tong accompanied me to Country Y and said that your company was looking for her. Was Ah Sheng unhappy with her?¡± So she called because of Zhou Tong. Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng, who was cutting the meat carefully and wasn¡¯t at all concerned about who the call was from. Xuxu replied, ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about this.¡± She really wasn¡¯t aware that the company was looking for Zhou Tong or whether Yan Rusheng was unhappy with her. But Fang Jiayin sounded as if she didn¡¯t believe and continued explaining to Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m really sorry for delaying your work progress. It¡¯s all my fault. She will definitely be back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Jiayin, my apologies.¡± Xuxu said, ¡°I¡¯m no longer in charge of this matter. It¡¯s better you speak to President Yan directly.¡± With that, she placed the phone on the chopping board and turned around to leave. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t pick up his cell phone immediately but stretched out his hand to Xuxu and stopped her instead. He looked at her apron and said, ¡°Give me your apron.¡± After that, he picked up his cell phone and placed it to his ear and answered softly, ¡°Hello.¡± Xuxu deliberately tried to move farther from Yan Rusheng as she didn¡¯t want to hear the content of his conversation with Fang Jiayin. ¡°I got it. Get her to rush back as soon as possible. Wen Xuxu will be unhappy if the work is delayed.¡± Chapter 437. You May Go First ¡°Mm.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke briefly to Fang Jiayin and ended the call. He looked at Wen Xuxu with arms wide open and said, ¡°Tie the apron for me.¡± Just like an ancient emperor waiting for his slave to help him put on his clothes. Xuxu had already gotten used to Yan Rusheng¡¯s unreasonable and tyrannical requests. She obeyed his instructions and went forward to tie up the apron for him. This was the first time she saw him in an apron. Dressed in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, coupled with a green apron with small cartoon character print, it made him appear less stern. At one look, it did made him seem like a family man. Leaning against the stove, Xuxu appeared enthralled as she sized up Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng suddenly turned his face sideways and looked at her sharply. ¡°These few days, you have been attempting to seduce me.¡± His tone was full of certainty. Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°You have been thinking too much.¡± She admitted that she did wish he would carry her into his room that night. But ever since then, she didn¡¯t harbor further thoughts. She had been busy with work and household chores and even had to work overtime at night. Hence, she absolutely had no time to think of other matters. ¡°Zhou Tong will be coming back tomorrow to resume filming, so don¡¯t be angry anymore.¡± Yan Rusheng diverted the topic all of a sudden. ¡± Ha .¡± Wen Xuxu lowered her head and laughed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter whether I¡¯m angry or not.¡± The outdoor shoot was supposed to take place yesterday. But their entire event planning and work progress had to change just because Zhou Tong was Fang Jiayin¡¯s friend. This is the first precedent. Since Yan Rusheng took over the management of Flourish & Prosper, it was the first time that such a thing had happened. Regardless of how big shot one was, no one dared to put on such airs when they were collaborating with Flourish & Prosper. All of them had to adhere to Flourish & Prosper¡¯s schedule. Yan Rusheng could sense a tinge of jealousy from Xuxu¡¯s tone of voice, but he wasn¡¯t certain with what she was jealous about. He pursed his lips and remained silent and continued to slice the meat. The atmosphere hushed down. Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s pair of hands that were cutting the meat into thin slices¡ªhe was really good at it. She was surprised. Had he learned it somewhere? ¡°Why are you staring at me? You may go first.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly turned and frowned at Xuxu. After saying that, he put the meat slices into a bowl. He continued cutting the rest of the vegetables with joy. It really made him seem like an expert. He appeared mysterious. And since Xuxu didn¡¯t feel like staying in the kitchen, she might as well go. Xuxu shrugged and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go up first.¡± After informing Yan Rusheng, she left the kitchen. When Xuxu had left, Yan Rusheng walked quietly to the kitchen door, stuck his head out and looked around. After that, he closed the kitchen door and went back to the kitchen counter to pick up his cell phone. He then searched for a webpage. He typed in the words: ¡®Recipe for making poached meat slices¡¯ and pressed enter to search. A list of search results for poached meat slices recipes appeared instantly. A smile appeared on his face. He opened up a webpage randomly and followed the method step by step. ¡­ Xuxu returned to her room and turned on her laptop. After settling some emails, she looked at the time. An hour had passed. ¡°Is that fellow still cooking?¡± Had he burned down the kitchen? She stood up and hurried out of her room. When she reached the staircase landing, Aunt Zhang was about to walk up the stairs. ¡°Missy, Third Young Master wanted me to inform you to come down for dinner.¡± The elderly was beaming and in a joyful mood. Chapter 438. A Womans Duty Xuxu answered with an ¡®Ok¡¯ and she walked down the stairs leisurely. When she entered the dining room, she gasped in astonishment and it took her a while to return to her senses. ¡°Missy, Third Young Master cooked an array of delicious dishes.¡± Aunt Zhang knew that Xuxu was shocked that Yan Rusheng could cook and purposely added, ¡°I¡¯ve seen Third Young Master grew up and yet I wasn¡¯t even aware that he can cook.¡± Yan Rusheng walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of soup in his hands and then he saw Xuxu. With a look of satisfaction, he said, ¡°We can eat in now.¡± He walked over to the dining table and placed the bowl of soup down with care. After that, he removed the apron, put it aside and sat down. ¡°When did you learn how to cook?¡± Xuxu sat down opposite to Yan Rusheng and there was a look of doubt on her face as she looked at the dishes on the table. Yan Rusheng was even smugger. ¡°There¡¯s nothing that I cannot handle.¡± It all depended on whether he wanted to do it or not. Xuxu rolled her eyes in secret. ¡°Just look at how smug he was right now.¡± She picked up a mouthful of shredded potatoes and shoved them into her mouth. The tasted was unexpectedly¡­ delicious. She felt a little jealous. Why was he always so capable of handling every matter so well? And so effortlessly too. Xuxu savored every dish, and each tasted just the way it should be. Both of them lowered their heads and ate. The atmosphere was quiet as usual but no longer chilly. ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you have any comments about my dishes?¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly lifted his head and asked Xuxu. He was unhappy that she ate on without offering any words of compliments. This was his first time cooking and had painstakingly prepared so many dishes. Xuxu raised her head and feigned ignorance. ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± Must she show him a thumbs up and praise him with utmost admiration that his dishes were delicious? Must she praise him that he was the most capable and outstanding? Could he stop being so arrogant? ¡°Dumb woman. She had the audacity to feign ignorance!¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at the dishes on the table and instructed Xuxu in an unquestionable tone, ¡°Look carefully. From tonight onwards, there must be at least the same number of dishes during every meal. On weekends, more dishes must be added too.¡± The dinner that she had prepared these two days comprised of only simple fare, just to go through the motion. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and appeared gloomy. ¡°Where do I find the time? I have so many things to do in the day and even have to work overtime at night.¡± Yan Rusheng responded, ¡°Handling household chores is a woman¡¯s duty.¡± Xuxu rebutted him casually, ¡°Doting on your wife is also a man¡¯s duty.¡± After saying that, she realized that she had blurted it out without thinking much. She lowered her head and chided herself. One must love his wife before he could dote on her. He didn¡¯t love her and found joy in tormenting her instead. He just wanted to gather pieces of evidence about her. Instead, just a call from Fang Jiayin resolved the matter about the spokesperson delaying the company¡¯s event planning and progress. His attitude towards both ladies was different. After some deliberation, she added, ¡°If you find my dishes not up to your liking, you can consider employing two persons.¡± ¡°If there are too many people in the house, it will invite unnecessary gossips.¡± Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Do you want the whole world to know that both of us can¡¯t get along with each other?¡± He was right too, but it didn¡¯t matter to her if many people knew about this. He was the one who¡¯s trying hard to build the affection between them, even if it was just an illusion. Slam . Xuxu put down her chopsticks and looked at Yan Rusheng. Her eyes were covered with a layer of gloom. ¡°If something is bothering you, can¡¯t you just speak your mind?¡± Chapter 439. Improving Their Relationship Xuxu stood up as she got ready to leave. Yan Rusheng pointed at her and gave her a stern warning. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t you dare try to leave.¡± Xuxu saw his expression and was slightly fearful of his wrath. Despite feeling extremely aggrieved, she didn¡¯t move an inch. ¡°Finish that bowl of rice and soup before you leave.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at Xuxu¡¯s bowl and softened his tone. ¡°In the future, just prepare two dishes and a soup. I¡¯ve already instructed the butler to hire new servants.¡± The tensed atmosphere began to warm up as Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t sound so stern anymore. In reality, Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to leave after Yan Rusheng prepared all those dishes. She just couldn¡¯t contain her anger at that moment and felt that he always had to keep things from her. It seemed like he was treating her like a fool and she was mad at herself for being outwitted by him all the time. She picked up her chopsticks again and began to eat. After dinner, Xuxu began to clear the table. Yan Rusheng grabbed her wrist suddenly. ¡°Don¡¯t do household chores anymore. I¡¯m not such a harsh and unfeeling person.¡± He loosened his grip a little and his hand naturally slid down to grab Xuxu¡¯s hand. As he had expected, her hand was cold. His words to Xuxu were as soft and warm as his hand. Xuxu could only stare blankly at him. After a while, she snapped out of her daze and pulled her hand away from his. She said lightly, ¡°It¡¯s alright since the water is warm.¡± She bent her head and continued to clear the dishes. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you left me no choice.¡± His warm breath came dangerously close to her and Xuxu didn¡¯t have time to react before Yan Rusheng hugged her. He increased his strength and hugged her tightly so that she didn¡¯t have any room to escape. Yan Rusheng spun her around and pressed her against an empty space on the table. He bent over immediately and kissed her lips¡ªthe pair that had been tempting him all this while. His kiss was passionate, domineering and persistent. Xuxu¡¯s hands, which were hovering helplessly in mid-air, began to relax as she coiled them around Yan Rusheng¡¯s waist. She embraced him and didn¡¯t want to let him go. Only when Yan Rusheng felt like he was close to suffocation, did he reluctantly move his lips away from Xuxu. Although he didn¡¯t want to part, his actions were decisive as he instantly straightened his back. Xuxu¡¯s lower body was still lying on the dining table, and her face was crimson as she breathed heavily. Yan Rusheng looked at her as he lifted an eyebrow. He said coldly, ¡°How could you still insist that you didn¡¯t seduce me?¡± Her response to his kiss was irrefutable proof. Xuxu rolled her eyes, and she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She slowly straightened her back as she intended to ignore him. ¡°Admit it. You¡¯ve been lonely sleeping by yourself at night.¡± Yan Rusheng inched forward to her ear and whispered. His warm breath tickled her and sent goosebumps all over her body. Xuxu¡¯s senses were heightened as a result, and instinctively, she tried to shrink her body and recoil away from him. Then she furrowed her eyebrows and wore a disdainful expression. She eyed the man who had seemed so nonchalant but was full of licentious and immoral thoughts. She yelled at him, ¡°Jerk!¡± She stomped out of the dining room. Yan Rusheng lowered his head and peered downwards. Actually, he was talking about himself. He had missed the feeling of her soft body during the long nights to the extent that he couldn¡¯t fall asleep. If this goes on, he would go berserk. Perhaps he really needed to reflect and improve their relationship. Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep eyes stared at the dining room¡¯s entrance with a glint of determination. ¡­ The next morning, Xuxu was woken up by the alarm. She washed up, brushed her teeth and changed her clothes. She went downstairs for breakfast. She walked into the dining room and got quite a shock. Breakfast was already ready. Chapter 440. Why Did She Start To Harbor Hope and Expectations Once More? ¡°Aunt Zhang.¡± Xuxu assumed that breakfast was prepared by Aunt Zhang as she strode towards the kitchen. But Yan Rusheng came out of the kitchen instead. He was wearing Xuxu¡¯s green apron and holding two cups of milk in his hands. His eyes lazily swept past Xuxu. ¡°Lazy woman, get ready to eat breakfast.¡± He placed the cups on the dining table and removed the apron. He sat down and started eating without hesitation. Xuxu didn¡¯t have time to react. Was she still dreaming so early in the morning? She was feeling mystified by Yan Rusheng¡¯s actions as she sat down and surveyed his gorgeous face. Yan Rusheng noticed that she didn¡¯t move and knitted his eyebrows. ¡°You left work early yesterday. Are you planning to be late today?¡± Xuxu promptly responded with an ¡®uh¡¯ and started drinking her milk. Her eyes were still fixed on Yan Rusheng. Why did he abruptly transform into a family man? This was simply too unimaginable. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good recently. Take my car to the office.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly spoke up once more. He sounded so casual and nonchalant that one couldn¡¯t tell that they weren¡¯t on speaking terms. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°Are you trying to mend our relationship?¡± Yan Rusheng abruptly paused his movements and glared at Xuxu. ¡°You think too much.¡± ¡°Stupid woman. Why did she have to spell it out when he had been so obvious?¡± Xuxu pouted. ¡°Then this should be the last breakfast then.¡± Young Master Yan was enraged. He slammed his knife and fork. He lashed out at the tiny woman opposite of him. ¡°Wen Xuxu! I¡¯m going to eat you up if you don¡¯t gobble down the food right now!¡± Last breakfast? Did she really want to break off with him? What a way to start this morning! Xuxu¡¯s heart pounded violently, and she didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. She began to bolt her breakfast. Xuxu decided to take Yan Rusheng¡¯s car after a long hiatus. Finally, Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President and his wife came to work together. Surprisingly that news didn¡¯t hit the headlines. Yan Rusheng was very upset about it and he felt like calling up those media outlets. They had reported what they shouldn¡¯t have and even added juicy details to it. And now he wanted them to report the things that they should but they didn¡¯t. He had a sudden whim to exterminate all of them. He lighted a cigarette and took a few puffs. But he stubbed it out soon as he wasn¡¯t in the mood. A text notification lighted up the screen and he glanced at it. He grabbed his phone and clicked on the text. ¡®President Yan, the bidding will be on the 15th. Please get ready.¡¯ Yan Rusheng read the text and didn¡¯t reply. He placed his phone down as he rested against his swivel chair. He rested an elbow on the arm of the chair as he started to mull over the matter. He stretched his hand once again to reach for his phone and dialed a number. When it got through, he spoke immediately, ¡°Come to my office this evening and help me to prepare a tender document.¡± He hung up promptly after instructing the person. He stood up and went to retrieve his coat. With heavy footsteps, he left his office. ¡­ Xuxu went with the colleagues from the PR department to check on the progress of the outdoor filming. It was dark by the time she got home. When she entered the mansion, she walked straight to the kitchen. ¡°Missy, you¡¯re back. Hurry and eat your dinner.¡± She was disappointed to see only Aunt Zhang in the kitchen. But wait¡ªwhen did she start to harbor hope and expectations once more? Xuxu retracted her thoughts and smiled at Aunt Zhang. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wash my hands first.¡± She turned around and ascended the stairs. She washed her hands and changed into comfortable attire. Chapter 441. Afraid of Being Disappointed Aunt Zhang pulled a chair for Xuxu when she saw her. She scooped some rice while saying, ¡°You came home late today, you must be famished.¡± Xuxu frowned when she saw the old lady. She chided her gently, ¡°Aunt Zhang, it¡¯s getting cold lately and your back is always aching. Didn¡¯t I tell you not to do all these chores?¡± Aunt Zhang smiled at her and said, ¡°Third Young Master called earlier to say he will be working late tonight and won¡¯t be coming home for dinner. He added that you would also come home late and asked me to cook dinner for you.¡± Xuxu was startled to hear that. ¡°He called home?¡± She walked towards the chair and sat down. She picked up her chopsticks and began absentmindedly eating her rice. She couldn¡¯t understand why Yan Rusheng changed so drastically. Was it really like what she had joked with him in the morning? That he had wanted to mend their relationship? But what about Fang Jiayin? ¡°Missy, why are you only eating your rice and not the rest of the dishes?¡± Aunt Zhang reminded her gently. ¡°Eat more vegetables.¡± Xuxu hummed in response and halted her train of thoughts. She decided to focus her attention on the delicious spread that Aunt Zhang had prepared. ¡­ Xuxu wasn¡¯t quite sure when Yan Rusheng arrived home that night. She went to bed at midnight, but he wasn¡¯t home at that point yet. When morning came, she saw Yan Rusheng in the dining room. He was wearing the green apron on his waist again, more so, breakfast was already on the table. He had dark bags under his eyes and it was clear that he had stayed up late. ¡°Good morning, Wen Xuxu,¡± greeted Yan Rusheng. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Did he eat the wrong medicine these past few days?¡± as she thought to herself. This was the first time he had ever greeted her in the morning. ¡°Come and have breakfast,¡± said Yan Rusheng. Xuxu pondered for a moment before wording her question carefully. ¡°Yan Rusheng are you alright? Did something happen?¡± His drastic transformation alarmed and scared her. ¡°I have something to tell you,¡± said Yan Rusheng. He walked around the table to her usual seat and pulled out a chair for her. ¡°Come over to eat your breakfast first.¡± ¡®I have something to tell you.¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s heart sank the second she heard him. Was this really their final and last breakfast? She contemplated the possibility and sat down, feeling uneasy. She picked up her cutlery, but she had already lost all her appetite as she stared at the sumptuous breakfast. ¡°I¡¯ve already gotten the government¡¯s bidding price for the land in Haicheng City.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly spoke from the other end of the table. Xuxu raised her head and stared at him in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t quite believe her ears. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡®The land in Haicheng City?¡¯ To her utter surprise, he indeed had the intention to acquire the land. ¡°I¡¯ve already gotten the government¡¯s bidding price for the land in Haicheng City,¡± he repeated once more. He had paused before he continued, ¡°The bidding is on the 15th. I¡¯ve already gotten someone to prepare the official document.¡± His eyes twinkled with excitement as he waited in anticipation for Xuxu¡¯s response. Xuxu, on the other hand, frowned. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t you know the company¡¯s situation right now?¡± She still wasn¡¯t sure why Yan Rusheng had the sudden intention to acquire the land. And she didn¡¯t want to know why. She was afraid of being disappointed. Of course, trying to guess his intention towards the acquisition was an entirely different matter from her agreeing with the bid. ¡°Weren¡¯t you worried about Tiny Stars Orphanage? And weren¡¯t you afraid that they might build a factory near the area and cause air pollution? If the land becomes ours, you don¡¯t need to fret anymore. Besides, that piece of land is a good investment. It will definitely reap profits in the future,¡± said Yan Rusheng. Chapter 442. What Has It Got to Do With Them? Slam! The wall of defenses that surrounded Xuxu¡¯s heart seemed to have crumbled all of a sudden. Her eyes sparkled with emotion as she continued looking at him. He had really done this for her¡ªfor Tiny Stars Orphanage. It was the only reason that she could think of. But to hear it from him directly, it felt more like a confirmation. She was shocked, surprised and touched ¡­ Her feelings were indescribable at that moment. Yan Rusheng was very pleased and satisfied when he saw Xuxu¡¯s expression. ¡°Do you feel that you¡¯ve painted the wrong image of me in the past? And now you¡¯re feeling guilty and sorry? Do you feel that you¡¯ve been too petty, whereas I¡¯m generous and magnanimous?¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Would he die if he stopped being arrogant and narcissistic for once? Although she was really touched, reality brought her back to her senses. She said, ¡°However, the company can¡¯t afford to cope with any additional projects right now. So I would still need to disapprove.¡± She can search for another location for Tiny Stars Orphanage. She would definitely be able to find an ideal place for them in the capital city. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell when he heard her disapproval. He coldly said, ¡°I¡¯ve already decided. Have you ever seen me change my mind?¡± After a brief pause, he added, ¡°Except for you.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know what he was referring to, but shrugged it off for it wasn¡¯t the right time to decipher it. ¡°This is about billions¡ªnot millions¡ªof yuan. Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t you know about the company¡¯s current situation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll still have my way,¡± he confidently said. ¡°What¡¯s the bidding price?¡± Xuxu asked. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Between three and four billion.¡± Xuxu seemed to be instantly enlightened. The price of the land was fairly reasonable, given that it was situated between a few major cities. However, with Flourish & Prosper¡¯s current situation, resources and manpower were stretched. After they acquire the land, they have to take into consideration that they have to attract investors. She pondered for a moment before asking him, ¡°What about the Board of Directors?¡± The directors have always preferred a safer approach, and they definitely would not agree with taking such a risky venture. They have a few ongoing and upcoming projects. If any problems with the finances should arise, they would be in deep trouble. Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°What has it got to do with them?¡± Xuxu was speechless. How could he ignore the rest of the directors and go ahead with his own decision? This guy¡¯s arrogance knows no boundaries. But she knew that even if he insisted on his way, the Board of Directors won¡¯t be able to change his mind. Xuxu persisted and said, ¡°I¡¯m still not in favor.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored her and said, ¡°Stay back after work tonight. We will be preparing the document.¡± Xuxu responded with a curt ¡®oh¡¯ and didn¡¯t say a word afterward. ¡­ After Xuxu ended work, she stayed back as what Yan Rusheng had requested. Actually, there wasn¡¯t anything she could help them with. Yan Rusheng went through the specific details and requirements with another person as they prepared for the bidding. She fell asleep on the couch and when she woke up, it was already dawn. Yan Rusheng was seated at his desk as he scanned through some documents. Xuxu sleepily rubbed her eyes and looked around the room. The person who was with them earlier had left. She rose and went to his desk. ¡°Have you finished with the preparations?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. He passed her the document that he was holding to Xuxu and said, ¡°Take a look.¡± Xuxu received it and flipped to the first page. She ignored the details and went straight to the bidding price he had prepared. Chapter 443. Not Allowed To Do It At Home Naturally, it was an astronomical figure, but it was still within what Xuxu had forecasted. She frowned as she closed the document. She gazed at Yan Rusheng, looking helpless. ¡°Are you that determined to get it?¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± Yan Rusheng curtly and sharply said. Xuxu pressed her lips tightly and placed the document on his desk. She said softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± She knew that it would be nearly impossible to change his mind. However, she had to try her best not to allow him to make decisions so recklessly. Yan Rusheng watched as Wen Xuxu walked out of his office. He opened his mouth to stop her as he felt that perhaps, they shouldn¡¯t go back home at all. But he decided against it and clammed up. He retrieved his coat and trailed after Xuxu. He had taken the initiative this time, and it really took all of his determination. The winds were strong and freezing outside. Xuxu had wrapped her coat tightly around her as she stood on the steps of the entrance, waiting for Yan Rusheng to drive over. The lights of the car got nearer and a glint of sorrow flashed past in her eyes. Does he still blame her for taking contraceptives? If she confessed and clarified, would he believe her? But she still wasn¡¯t sure of his feelings towards her. Yan Rusheng stopped the car in front of the steps. Xuxu snapped out of her thoughts and stretched her hand to open the back door. She quickly went inside. Before she could even settle down properly, Yan Rusheng suddenly sped off at an alarming speed. Xuxu managed to hold on to her seat to keep herself from falling off just in the nick of time. She got annoyed after getting over her shock.¡±Yan Rusheng, are you trying to scare me to death?¡± Yan Rusheng glared at Xuxu through the rearview mirror. He looked glum with his lips pressed tightly together. He didn¡¯t say a word. It was dark inside the car, and Xuxu couldn¡¯t see Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression at all. But she was certain that he was furious over something. The explanation she had prepared earlier on, she swallowed it back. They didn¡¯t speak in the entire drive. Once they reached home, Xuxu went back to her room right away. She showered and slept. Morning came and surprisingly, Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t in the dining room. The table was empty as well. It made the room seem cold and lonely. She guessed that Yan Rusheng must still be sleeping. He had been working late these few nights. She was about to step into the kitchen. Aunt Zhang intercepted her as she hurriedly said, ¡°Missy, Third Young Master had just left. He said that we¡¯re only allowed to buy breakfast in the future and you¡¯re not allowed to do it at home.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu felt glum when she heard her. It was his decision not to enter the kitchen. But how could he insist and demand that of others as well? This fellow¡¯s overbearing personality had elevated to new heights. Forget it. It¡¯s a blessing in disguise if he forbade her to enter the kitchen. She was too lazy to cook anyways. Xuxu drove the car out of the courtyard and dialed her assistant¡¯s number. ¡°Miling, I¡¯m not coming to work in the morning, but I¡¯ll be around in the afternoon. Call me if there¡¯s anything urgent.¡± She instructed her and hang up. She drove to a huge supermarket, bought several bags of snacks, and loaded everything in the car trunk. She then drove to the suburbs. It had been some time since she had visited the children and everyone was excited to see her. They crowded around her as they tried to hug her. ¡°Sister Xuxu, I miss you so much.¡± Little Huanhuan was the youngest, but she had managed to squeeze through the crowd to reach Xuxu. Her hands were coiled around Xuxu¡¯s thigh tightly as though she was afraid that someone might steal her away. Chapter 444. Will She Be Able to Tie Him Down? Xuxu knelt down and kissed Huanhuan¡¯s chubby cheeks. She was somehow caught in a trance as she looked into her pair of innocent-looking and sparkling eyes. She snapped out of it a moment later and smiled. ¡°I miss you too. Did you behave yourself or were you naughty?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the best-behaved,¡± Huanhuan said unabashedly and proudly. Xuxu stretched her hands and pinched her chubby cheeks. ¡°Little lass, then you shall have a candy.¡± She stood up and unwrapped the bags of candy that she bought and started distributing them. She absentmindedly watched the kids happily eat their candy; her eyes seemed to grow deeper the more she got lost in her thoughts. The kids were still happily chowing down their snacks and had started to compare the flavor and design of their sweets with their friends. Liveliness and innocence filled the whole place. Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to disrupt them, so she left quietly. She met Matron Huang outside the entrance and said softly, ¡°Matron Huang, I have things to take care of, so I need to leave early.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just get here?¡± Matron Huang said. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to stay a little while more?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll drop by again soon.¡± She turned her head and glanced inside once more. ¡°Nowadays, it¡¯s rare to see a young person like you who are so patient towards kids.¡± Matron Huang saw the longing in her eyes. After some careful deliberation, she continued, ¡°You should have a child soon at this age. It will strengthen your marriage.¡± She didn¡¯t say more. Xuxu pressed her lips and responded with an ¡®uh¡¯ firmly. Would a child help to tie him down along with their marriage? She bade Matron Huang goodbye and drove off. She switched on her GPS, and she soon found her destination. The car stopped outside a farm with a courtyard that seemed like it was newly built. A tall wall surrounded the spacious courtyard, and in the middle of the yard was a stood a two-story building. The courtyard seemed empty and cold as though it was vacant. The gates were locked, leaving Xuxu to scrutinize the place from the outside. ¡°Are you Miss Wen?¡± A voice belonging to a middle-aged man sounded behind. She turned around and saw a man wearing a dark blue jacket smiling at her. She smiled politely. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Hello. I¡¯m the owner of this house. My name is Zhao Hu.¡± He extended his hand for a handshake at his introduction. Xuxu shook his hand and said, ¡°Hi, Mr. Zhao.¡± ¡°Let me open the door and bring you in for a tour.¡± After exchanging greetings, he took out the keys and opened the courtyard gate. Xuxu stepped into the courtyard and walked around the house which stood in the center. The courtyard was more spacious than it looked like from the outside. After the tour around the courtyard, Mr. Zhao opened the door of the house. Xuxu took a tour of the entire house including the second floor. The house was empty, with just a sofa in the living room and an old TV. After the short tour ended, Zhao Hu surveyed her expression and asked, ¡°How was it, Miss Wen?¡± Xuxu remained nonchalant without expressing any emotions. ¡°I will contact you once I¡¯ve considered.¡± Zhao Hu nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait for your confirmation.¡± Deep down, Xuxu liked the house very much. It was designed spaciously enough, an ideal place for an orphanage. Chapter 445. It Wasn’t His Voice As long as she was able to change Yan Rusheng¡¯s mind. As she drove back to the city, she had been thinking hard of ways to change his mind about the bidding for the land. She knew he certainly wouldn¡¯t change his mind so easily. Xuxu went straight to his office. She rapped on the door and when there was no response, she decided to barge in. Qiao Jian made his presence at the right time. ¡°Sister Xuxu, President Yan just went to Country Y.¡± ¡°Went to Country Y?¡± Xuxu was startled. She then turned around and looked at Qiao Jian. ¡°When did he leave? Qiao Jian responded, ¡°I just sent him to the airport. His dad seems to have fallen seriously ill.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Xuxu was visibly anxious. She then hurriedly fumbled for her phone in her bag and saw that there was an unread text from Yan Rusheng. ¡°My dad had a heart attack, so I¡¯m flying to Country Y immediately. Call me if you need me and take good care of yourself.¡± She called him right away after she read the text. But there was no response. The flight must have already taken off already. Xuxu was already worried about her father-in-law¡¯s condition, and it made her even more anxious when she couldn¡¯t reach Yan Rusheng. So she promptly dialed Mu Li¡¯s number instead. ¡°Hello, mother.¡± Once Mu Li answered the call, Xuxu asked her, ¡°What happened to father?¡± Mu Li said, ¡°He¡¯s getting ready for an operation.¡± Mu Li sounded far from her usual cheerful, energetic self. When she heard about her father-in-law¡¯s condition, she got even more anxious. ¡°I¡¯ll book an air ticket right away.¡± Mu Li stopped her. ¡°Your first uncle and Third Yan are already here. You should stay at home and wait for our news. The company is so busy during this period, and if you come here as well, I¡¯m afraid that things would go out of hand.¡± Although she knew that Mu Li was right, Xuxu hesitated. The end of the year usually was the busiest time of the calendar. If both Yan Rusheng and her weren¡¯t around in the company, then the working staff won¡¯t be able to proceed with their projects. She paused and continued, ¡°Then let me know if there are any updates.¡± For the whole day, Xuxu was worried about her father-in-law. She had wanted to call Mu Li for updates, but she was afraid that she might add on to her anxiety. So she kept calling Yan Rusheng instead. It was almost midnight when his phone was finally switched on. Yan Rusheng answered with an exhausted and weak ¡®hello.¡¯ He must have been extremely worried and anxious in the whole duration of his long flight. When Xuxu heard his voice, she got emotional. ¡°Ah Sheng, how¡¯s father¡¯s condition?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I just met the chauffeur. He is having his operation in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Okay. When you reach the hospital, send me a text.¡± ¡°Okay. Sleep early.¡± How would she be able to keep her promise to Yan Rusheng, though? Her father-in-law¡¯s operation was in the afternoon in Country Y, that would mean that it would be happening at that moment, too. She anxiously held on to her phone as she waited in her room. The clock went ticking and after some time, she walked out of her room. As she walked towards the staircase, she could see that the living room was pitch-dark. She switched on the staircase lights, and it illuminated the living room as well. She descended the stairs and walked to Wang Daqin¡¯s photo. She gazed at her benevolent-looking face, and soon tears brimmed on her eyes. ¡°Grandmother, you must bless Second Uncle so that he can have a successful operation.¡± Xuxu prayed to Wang Daqin for her father-in-law. She stood there ¡¯till her legs were numb before she decided to rest on the couch. She clenched the phone tightly in her hands. She slowly drifted to sleep on the couch, and soon Aunt Zhang¡ªwho wakes up earlier than the rest¡ª woke her up. She was jolted awake, and she hastily glanced at the time. It was almost dawn, so she hurriedly dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. It had rung for some time before it got through. But the voice from the other end wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice. Chapter 446. Can’t Find Another Way to Vent Her Anger ¡°Hello.¡± Xuxu froze and her phone almost slipped out of her hands. She wasn¡¯t able to respond for a long time. The person on the other line couldn¡¯t hear her properly, and asked gently, ¡°Is this Xuxu? Uncle had just finished his operation and his condition is stable. Ah Sheng just sent his mom back home to rest, and he forgot to bring his phone along.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± Xuxu replied coldly and was about to hang up. She was trying to remain calm and composed, but her free hand was clenched tightly on her clothes. At the very least, she needed the person on the other line to think so. ¡°Xuxu, I was in S city and heard that Ah Sheng¡¯s dad is going for an operation. That¡¯s why I came over to visit him.¡± That familiar female voice earnestly tried to explain to Xuxu. Xuxu replied softly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain. I understand.¡± She promptly ended the call. She placed the phone down on the coffee table. Xuxu rested her elbows on her thighs. She used both hands to cover her face as she tried to calm herself down. Why was it so hard for her to take a step and fight for the person that she wanted? Aunt Zhang walked towards Xuxu and noticed that something was wrong with her. She said softly, ¡°Missy, are you feeling unwell? Why did you wake up so early?¡± Xuxu took a deep breath and removed her hands away from her face¡ªher eyes were bloodshot. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She tilted her head down and shook lightly. She stood up and slowly walked towards the stairs. Fang Jiayin had informed her that her father-in-law¡¯s condition had stabilized, so there wasn¡¯t a need for her to be worried. Besides, a pile of work waiting for her. Although she may not be the person who will stand next to him in the future to reap the fruits of their labor, she still needed to help him protect Flourish & Prosper, right? That was the original intention for their marriage, and it was her responsibility. ¡­ Xuxu was exhausted after an entire day of work. She stood by the French windows in Yan Rusheng¡¯s office as she gazed outside. A gray mist seemed to have enveloped the surroundings. Unconsciously, she had already finished a cup of coffee. She stared at her empty cup and turned around to walk towards the desk. As she sat, her tiny body nestled comfortably on his swivel chair. She then busied herself with work once more. It was to keep herself from letting her imagination run wild. Because the more she thought about it, the more pathetic and pitiful she thought of herself. Time flies when one was occupied with work. When Xuxu raised her head again, it was already past 10 p.m. It was already morning in Country Y. Xuxu considered for a moment before dialing Mu Li¡¯s number. After it got through, Mu Li¡¯s voice sounded over the line. ¡°Xuxu, aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°How is Second Uncle?¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°The doctor said that he had stabilized. There is no need for you to worry.¡± Xuxu softly said ¡®oh¡¯ and pressed her lips as she was lost for words. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why can¡¯t I get through to you despite calling for so many times today?¡± Suddenly a man¡¯s voice sounded, and the tone of his voice made Xuxu upset. She replied coldly, ¡°The reception is bad.¡± ¡°Where have you been the entire day? Why is the reception bad?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, his voice laced with suspicions. ¡°Did you block my number?¡± Xuxu evaded his question. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Well, she had indeed blocked his number. She admitted that it was childish but other than doing this, she couldn¡¯t find another way to vent her anger. Chapter 447. It Was Beneath Her Dignity She really had no other way to deal with Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t press on regarding her phone number being unavailable. ¡°I won¡¯t be going back these few days. Don¡¯t forget to attend the bidding on the 15th.¡± Xuxu really had the urge to ask him. Didn¡¯t Fang Jiayin inform him that she had called earlier this morning? How could he be so bold and shameless to ask and instruct her instead? But in the end, she didn¡¯t mention or ask anything. She said softly, ¡°I got it.¡± ¡­ Since Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t at home, Aunt Zhang secretly made breakfast for Xuxu every morning. Xuxu was drinking a glass of milk while reading the newspapers in the morning. As she read through an article, she mockingly smiled to herself. ¡®Yan Weihong suffered a sudden heart attack and was hospitalized for an operation. Third Young Master flew to Country Y immediately and was reunited with his old flame as they accompanied his father. Meanwhile, his official spouse remained in the capital city to oversee company matters. Majority of the comments online have mocked Third Young Master for being a truly successful man. As he flaunts his relationship with his old flame in public, his wife remains faithful to him at home deeming him victorious. He is an excellent example of a modern man enjoying the joy of having several wives like men in ancient times.¡¯ Included in the article was a photo of Fang Jiayin and Yan Rushen waiting outside the operating theater. She was blatantly ridiculed in the news article. But it was the truth. She sent Yan Rusheng a text. ¡®I didn¡¯t think that the paparazzi overseas were so professional. Congratulations. You¡¯re on the international news. If I decide to venture into the entertainment industry, I will definitely become famous with your help.¡¯ ¡°Fang Jiayin, no matter how innocent or naive you are, I really can¡¯t trust you anymore.¡± It¡¯s not that Xuxu doesn¡¯t know how to resort to tricks, it¡¯s just that she felt that it was beneath her dignity. After sending the text, she placed the phone down, crushed the newspaper, and then threw it into the trash can. ¡­ At a hospital in Country Y. Yan Rusheng read the text that Xuxu had sent and immediately went online to search for the news article of him. When he saw the article with Fang Jiayin, he began to read in detail. His gorgeous face fell instantly. Even a fool could tell that someone was trying to spread rumors again. He immediately called Fang Jiayin, and he coldly spoke when she picked up. ¡°Let¡¯s meet and have a talk.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯m already back in the capital city,¡± Fang Jiayin apologized and continued, ¡°I saw the news as well, it¡¯s all my fault. I will handle this.¡± Her soft voice sounded humble. A streak of suspicion flashed past Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll explain to you some other time.¡± Fang Jiayin hastily ended the call. The call was disconnected, Yan Rusheng frowned upon this. He suspected that something was amiss. He felt that Fang Jiayin sounded fearful over the phone, and it seemed like someone else was beside her. He had no time to decipher Fang Jiayin¡¯s thoughts, and the most crucial thing right now was to explain and clarify to Wen Xuxu. Her text was full of scorn. It seemed like she was really provoked and furious this time. And for the first time, after reading such an article, she had a huge reaction. Deep down, Yan Rusheng was overjoyed. He decided to call Wen Xuxu again. But her line was still unavailable, and he reached her mailbox instead. He was quite certain that Wen Xuxu had blocked his number, and he turned annoyed in an instant. ¡°This dumb woman.¡± How dare she blocked his number. He glanced at the time, and she should be at home at this hour. Yan Rusheng pondered for a moment before calling back home. Aunt Zhang picked up and informed him that Xuxu had just left. Chapter 448. Stop Texting Me He wasn¡¯t sure if she had indeed really left the house. Even if she was in cahoots with Aunt Zhang, there was nothing he could do about it right now. ¡­ The moment Wen Xuxu reached the office¡¯s entrance, a strong and aromatic fragrance of roses assailed her nostrils. She scanned her surroundings to look for the location of the roses. ¡°Who is so blissful to receive roses early in the morning?¡± Wang Xiaoya, who was always on top of things in the office, quipped, ¡°Other than Sister Xuxu, who else could it be?¡± Xuxu was surprised. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°99 passionate and fiery red roses early in the morning. We are all going crazy with envy.¡± Wang Xiaoya continued with a pair of misty eyes and walked over to Xuxu¡¯s desk. She was holding a huge bouquet of red roses, and she lifted them up dramatically. ¡°Dang, dang, dang¡­¡± Xuxu widened her mouth, apparently dumbfounded. She strode quickly to her and swiftly sized up the roses. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°Who sent this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s addressed to you, and you didn¡¯t know? So how would I know?¡± ¡°I think it must be President Yan.¡± ¡°It has to be! Other than President Yan, who would dare send our lady boss red roses?¡± Everyone began to chime in, and they were absolutely sure that it was Yan Rusheng who had sent the roses. Xuxu always thought that they were right; otherwise, who else besides Yan Rusheng would dare to send her flowers? But at the same time, she could hardly believe that the bouquet was from Yan Rusheng. He had never sent a woman roses before, not even Fang Jiayin. She didn¡¯t know that when he was dating Fang Jiayin years ago, he seemed to have never sent her flowers. Xuxu paused for a moment before extending her hands to reach for the bouquet of roses from Wang Xiaoya. There were 99 roses, and it was quite a handful to hold them. She placed her bag down and put the bouquet on her lap to look at it properly. There wasn¡¯t any card or message attached. She became curious and looked around to face her colleagues. ¡°Who received the flowers? What did the courier say?¡± ¡°The courier said that the roses were bought by a man online and he said to send it to Wen Xuxu of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s Office of the President. The identity of the man is anonymous.¡± Seemed like the mysterious guy didn¡¯t want her to know who he was. Hmph . Since he wanted to remain anonymous, then she shall remain cool about this matter. Xuxu bent down to look for a place to place the bouquet. She stood up with her cup and went to the pantry to get some warm water. When she got back to her seat, her cell phone¡¯s screen was lit up. She glanced at it, and there was a text from an unknown number. ¡®Stupid woman, have you received the roses? Still angry?¡¯ Based on the words ¡®stupid woman¡¯ alone, Xuxu had already guessed who the mysterious man was. There wasn¡¯t anyone else who addressed her as ¡®stupid woman¡¯ except for Yan Rusheng. Indeed, it was this fellow. Unconsciously, the corners of her mouth curled slightly up, and she reached for her phone. She replied, ¡®Who are you?¡¯ She decided to feign ignorance about his identity. ¡®Seems like you are getting bolder now. How dare you block my number and still ask who I am?¡¯ Xuxu chuckled as she held her phone and typed swiftly. ¡®If you don¡¯t reveal your identity, then stop texting me.¡¯ He replied almost instantaneously. ¡®It was a coincidence meeting Fang Jiayin at the hospital as she was there for a checkup too.¡¯ Was he trying to clarify? Xuxu pretended to be unruffled by the article although deep down, she wanted to hear his explanation. She typed, ¡®You don¡¯t have to explain to me. It has nothing to do with me.¡¯ Yan Rusheng texted, ¡®Pretentious stupid woman.¡¯ And he followed up with another text. ¡®If you really want to enter the entertainment industry, I¡¯ll make sure you are on the news every day.¡¯ Chapter 449. Third Master Sending Roses For The First Time Xuxu retorted, ¡®You¡¯re used by too many people. I don¡¯t want you!¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®How dare you despise me!¡¯ Xuxu was trying to imagine Young Master Yan¡¯s expression right now. He must be seething with anger. She was delighted as she continued to visualize his expression. Her phone suddenly rang. Xuxu stretched her hand to receive the call. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s Wen Xuxu.¡± After she hung up, she saw that Yan Rusheng had sent her several more texts. The content of the texts was the same. ¡®Stupid woman, how dare you ignore my texts.¡¯ Xuxu rolled her eyes at the phone. This arrogant fellow! So what if she refused to reply to his texts? Why does she have to reply with urgency when he calls her? She took her time before replying to his text. ¡®Fang Jiayin needs you. Shouldn¡¯t you rush over?¡¯ Yan Rusheng typed. ¡®You¡¯re jealous, I get it. You don¡¯t have to reiterate with every text.¡¯ He sent another text promptly. ¡®Every time I meet here, it¡¯s really a coincidence. Would you believe me if I explain to you?¡¯ Xuxu replied, ¡®No .¡¯ Actually, she believed that they had met by coincidence the past few times. But what about exchanging Chen Yuxi for Zhou Tong? But she was most surprised that he was willing to clarify. ¡®What do you want? Why did you do so much for me? Why did you send me roses?¡¯ She really wanted to know, and she hoped that he would say it. Yan Rusheng answered, ¡®Because I love you.¡¯ However, when Xuxu saw the words, she surprisingly didn¡¯t feel anything. Her first instincts were to brush it off like she didn¡¯t believe him. She said, ¡®Yan Rusheng, can we have a proper talk?¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®After I¡¯m back.¡¯ Xuxu read the last text and didn¡¯t reply anymore. Xuxu was fully immersed in the scent of the roses the entire day. It was really hard to carry such a huge bouquet. After work, she still brought it back home. This was the first time Yan Rusheng had sent her flowers and also the first time that he had sent roses to a woman. Perhaps there wasn¡¯t any special meaning, but to her this significance was paramount. When she reached home, she requested for a vase from Aunt Zhang and put the roses in her bedroom. Xuxu finally had a good sleep that night with the aromatic smell of roses. ¡­ She caught the scent of roses the next morning when she stepped into the office. She merely thought that it was the residual smell of the roses from yesterday and ignored it. ¡°Sister Xuxu, you are making us all green with envy!¡± Wang Xiaoya rushed towards her with a mysterious and cheeky smile. Xuxu frowned and looked at her. ¡°What happened again?¡± ¡°Today it¡¯s another 99 passionate and fiery red roses¡­¡± Wang Xiaoya pointed at Xuxu¡¯s desk. Xuxu hastened her footsteps towards her desk, and indeed, another huge bouquet was lying on it. The corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily. This crazy fellow was addicted to sending her flowers. The bouquets must be really expensive. But did he really think that it was a good idea to waste money like this? Xuxu carried the roses and inched her nose forward to smell it. The fragrance filled the entire room, and her face lit up with a blissful smile. She placed the roses back gingerly on an empty spot on her desk. She rummaged in her bag for her phone and sent Yan Rusheng a text. ¡®Congrats, I¡¯ve unblocked your number.¡¯ After sending the text, there wasn¡¯t any response. Xuxu started to get busy once more and forgot about the text. During lunch, she grabbed her phone and Yan Rusheng had already replied. Chapter 450. Within Two Days, You Have Already Yielded To Me? ¡®So, you are as superficial as those women. A shallow dumb woman!¡¯ She read the text sent by Yan Rusheng and frowned and queried him disapprovingly, ¡®In what way am I shallow?¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied her instantly, ¡®Roses are so common and yet you liked them so much. So you must be an intolerably tasteless person.¡¯ Xuxu was speechless. She rebutted him, ¡®Since you know it¡¯s so common, then why did you send them? You are even more tasteless.¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®I¡¯m just trying my luck and to my surprise, within two days, you have already yielded to me.¡¯ Xuxu was speechless¡­ again. Did he mean that she had forgiven him too soon? What exactly was going on in this fellow¡¯s mind? How she wished that she could rip open his brain to take a peep. ¡®Wen Xuxu, it¡¯s pouring over here in Country Y.¡¯ Yan Rusheng texted all of a sudden. Xuxu merely replied with an ¡®Oh¡¯ . She thought that when Yan Rusheng talked about the weather all of a sudden, he was preparing for what he was going to say after that. But after waiting for quite some time, he didn¡¯t send over any further text. She grew impatient and asked, ¡®So?¡¯ Yan Rusheng responded with another text. ¡®Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that it¡¯s pouring over here.¡¯ There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu nearly spits her saliva onto her laptop screen. ¡­ Over the next, few mornings, a bouquet of roses would be waiting for Xuxu in the office. And her mood got better and better each day. Although Yan Rusheng had a sharp tongue, she admitted that he always nailed it to the point. Indeed, she couldn¡¯t resist his daily bouquet of roses and caved in. It was another huge bouquet today. Xuxu had just sat down at her desk when she received a text on her phone. As expected, it was from Yan Rusheng. ¡®Dumb woman, I¡¯ve added one more stalk of rose today. Don¡¯t forget to go for the bidding at 1 p.m. today.¡¯ Xuxu was reading intently in the first part of the text and neglected what he said in the second half. ¡°Added one more stalk today?¡± She turned and looked at the bouquet placed next to her feet. It was impossible for her to count and verify all the roses in the bouquet. So she just let it be if that¡¯s what he said. Xuxu retracted her gaze and looked at the calendar on her desk. It was the 15th of the month. She pursed her lips and was secretly glad that Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t in the capital city at the moment. By the time he returned, everything would have been cast in stone. At the most, he would fly into a rage but wouldn¡¯t possibly kill her. After mulling over it, Xuxu reached for her cell phone and dialed Zhao Hu¡¯s number. ¡°Mr. Zhao, let¡¯s meet for lunch at 1 p.m. today and sign the contract.¡± She arranged to meet Zhao Hu for lunch at a Chinese restaurant near her office since she was too held up by her work. All the terms and conditions had been clearly understood and discussed, and the contract was successfully signed. After lunch, Xuxu came out of the restaurant and headed straight back to the office. As it was lunchtime, the office lift operation was extremely busy transporting people up and down. Xuxu stuffed her hands in the pockets of her cardigan and looked down at her feet. Ding. The lift arrived. She lifted her head and saw two familiar faces looking at her. They were definitely not Flourish & Prosper¡¯s employees. Xuxu was dumbstruck. The two persons walked out of the lift and smiled at her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± ¡°Miss Fang.¡± There was a distant smile on her face. She changed the way of addressing her and no longer called her ¡®Jiayin¡¯. ¡°I accompanied Zhou Tong to pick up something.¡± Fang Jiayin pointed to the Zhou Tong, who was next to her. She wore a faint smile on her face and her voice was soft and gentle as usual. She seemed not to have taken notice that Xuxu had deliberately distanced herself from her. Xuxu conveyed her meaning more apparently and said, ¡°Miss Fang, please take care. I won¡¯t be seeing you out.¡± Chapter 451. Who Won? After that, she raised her feet and was about to enter the lift. Fang Jiayin stretched out her hand and tugged at her blouse lightly. She whispered, ¡°Xuxu, are you still angry?¡± Xuxu turned her head and smiled coldly at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Miss Fang, you are so strange. What¡¯s it got to do with you whether I am angry or not?¡± Before this, she felt that she was cultured and fragile, but in reality, she was brave and candid. Her impression of Jiayin wasn¡¯t exactly pleasant, but neither did she harbor any ill feelings towards her. But now, she could be wrong. Fang Jiayin seemed to give her a feeling that she¡¯s a white lotus who seemed pure on the surface, but was twisted and dark on the inside. Fang Jiayin continued to speak softly, ¡°Let me explain. I happened to be in S City and heard that uncle was undergoing an operation. Hence, I went over to visit him.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve said before that you have no intention of turning back when you chose to let him go. But I can¡¯t seem to see this,¡± Xuxu answered sharply. ¡°Instead, what I witnessed was time after time you appeared before Yan Rusheng and me to make your presence felt.¡± She could no longer believe that Fang Jiayin had no more feelings towards Yan Rusheng. She even suspected that there was more to it than meets the eye when she left Yan Rusheng. Now that she¡¯s back, she wanted a reconciliation with him. Fang Jiayin hung her head even lower. ¡°I know you are disturbed by my presence.¡± She appeared awfully pathetic. However, Xuxu didn¡¯t feel sorry for her at all. ¡°Since you are aware, then stay away from us.¡± Being kind to someone brought disservice to oneself. Vying wasn¡¯t her style. Other than Yan Rusheng, she couldn¡¯t care less about any other things, and yet people had been taking advantage of this to achieve their goals. And this didn¡¯t rule out the possibility that Fang Jiayin was one of such people. If it wasn¡¯t because of the news in Country Y, she would restrain herself and would tolerate it. Fang Jiayin remained silent despite Xuxu rallying her up against the wall. Zhou Tong, who was observing the entire incident couldn¡¯t stand to watch it any longer. ¡°Miss Wen, Jiayin is gentle and quiet by nature. So please don¡¯t be too overbearing.¡± Wen Xuxu shot a glance at her and ridiculed her, ¡°This is Flourish & Prosper. Miss Zhou, who do you think you are?¡± She didn¡¯t bother to haggle with her when she deliberately provoked her on the past few occasions. She believed what the media had reported, that she had no status in the Yan family and was a pushover who was easily manipulated by people. Hence, Zhou Tong didn¡¯t expect Xuxu to rebut her in the presence of the Flourish & Prosper¡¯s employees. Her face turned red from embarrassment and she couldn¡¯t find her words to refute Wen Xuxu. After taking one more look at them, Xuxu entered the lift without talking further. She pressed the lift button, and the door closed. She heaved a long sigh of relief. She mulled over what had happened. Was she too harsh? She felt like one of those evil women characters depicted in novels, those who threatened and scared off the true love of the male lead behind their backs. No, she wasn¡¯t one of those. To prove that she wasn¡¯t one of those evil women characters, Xuxu sent a text to Yan Rusheng the moment she stepped into her office. ¡®I ran into your ex-girlfriend at our office lift lobby a moment ago, and I had a showdown with her.¡¯ After the message was sent out, a reply came after a long wait. Yan Rusheng returned a voice message instead. ¡°So who won?¡± His voice sounded lazy and hoarse, and one could tell that he had just woken up. It suddenly dawned on Xuxu that it was night time in Country Y and she must have woken him up from his slumber. She pondered briefly and felt somewhat sorry. ¡°Nothing much actually. Go back to sleep.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°How¡¯s the bidding coming along?¡± Chapter 452. Dont Be Smug Xuxu felt a sense of guilt. ¡°Go back to sleep. We¡¯ll talk after you wake up.¡± Yan Rusheng sent another voice message to Xuxu right after. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I want to hug you to sleep.¡± His sexy and lazy voice carried a tinge of childishness. Xuxu faced darkened all of a sudden. This fellow was revealing his true colors again. But his voice was inexplicably charming. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from listening to Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice message again. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I want to hug you to sleep.¡± After listening to it a second time, his childish voice revealed a tinge of tenderness that titillated her heart and she blushed. There was a long pause¡­ ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± Qiao Jian¡¯s voice sounded in her ears all of a sudden. Xuxu shuddered for a moment and hastily locked the screen of her cell phone. She raised her head and awkwardly looked at Qiao Jian. ¡°Since when have you been standing there.¡± Qiao Jian replied, ¡°After you had listened to President Yan¡¯s voice message.¡± He stood upright and pursed his lips, obviously trying hard to refrain his laughter. Of course, Xuxu wasn¡¯t taken in by him. If it was after that, how would he have known that the voice message that she was listening to was from Yan Rusheng? Her face turned even redder, and she cleared her throat. ¡°What do you want?¡± It was all Yan Rusheng¡¯s fault for sending such an inappropriate voice message to her in broad daylight. ¡°I need your signature on this document.¡± Qiao Jian handed the document to Xuxu. Xuxu reached out to receive it. ¡°Alright.¡± She scanned through the contents and signed on it before returning it to Qiao Jian. ¡°Sister Xuxu, I didn¡¯t expect President Yan to behave coquettishly.¡± Qiao Jian walked over to Xuxu and bent over to whisper into her ears before receiving the documents from her and ran off. Staring at the back view of Qiao Jian escaping, Xuxu was annoyed yet embarrassed. Her prim and proper image in the eyes of her colleagues was going to be ruined by this hooligan. Xuxu did not reply Yan Rusheng further. As Young Master Yan had been disturbed from his sleep, he couldn¡¯t return to slumberland anymore and kept harassing Xuxu with his text messages. Her cell phone kept beeping intermittently, and Xuxu couldn¡¯t concentrate on her work. She knitted her brows and looked at the screen of her cell phone. Her heart was tickled, and she couldn¡¯t refrain herself from picking up her cell phone to look through each of his messages. She finally replied to him, ¡®Yan Rusheng, can you stop it? How am I going to concentrate on my work if you keep disturbing me?¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®This goes to show that your heart is not on your work. Otherwise, you could have turned off your phone. Or mute it? Or throw your phone away?¡¯ There was a long pause¡­ As expected, when she gave him an inch, he wanted a foot. ¡®Don¡¯t be so smug.¡¯ Xuxu gritted her teeth and sent another reply to Yan Rusheng. She took his ¡®advice¡¯ and muted her phone, placed it on the table and turned her head away from it. Frankly speaking, she felt fearful for not attending the bidding. She looked at her desktop calendar. Her brows knitted together in worry. But because of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s situation, she had to let down his good intentions. After her cell phone was switched to a silent mode, Xuxu gradually began her work. She worked non-stop ¡¯till it was almost time to clock-off. Xuxu poured herself a cup of hot water and held it in her hand. She huddled in her swivel chair and looked at the French windows, blissfully enjoying the scenic winter view of the capital city. Over the next few days, she spent her afternoons working in Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. As the environment was peaceful, her work productivity also soared. It seemed that she had the thought of erecting a private office for herself too. Chapter 453. Yan Rusheng and You Are Birds of a Feather Knock knock knock. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Xuxu turned around and whipped her head towards the door. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and Qiao Jian was standing at the entrance. ¡°Sister Xuxu, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be knocking off soon.¡± Xuxu stole a glance at the time on her laptop, and it was already past 5 p.m. She nodded at Qiao Jian and said, ¡°Alright.¡± After that, she moved her chair closer to the desk, put down her cup of water, and picked up her cell phone. There was a long train of messages on her screen display which were all from Yan Rusheng. There were also a few missed calls. She took a look at the messages from the Third Master Yan. Each one was a threat. Xuxu curved her lips and lowered her gaze to the last message. ¡°What shall I do now? I couldn¡¯t wait to embrace your stark naked body.¡± There was a long pause¡­ See, he was at it again and this time, he was even more blatant and shameless. Xuxu¡¯s face turned darker than the bottom of a saucepan. She ignored Young Master Yan¡¯s brazen messages and exited out of the chat. She went on to check on a couple of missed calls. There were four missed calls. There was one each from Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng, and two from Zhou Shuang. When she saw Zhou Shuang¡¯s number, it dawned on her that they had not seen each other for a long time already. Since the speeding incident, Zhou Shuang has not contacted her. Ever since she returned to the country, the girl had been so unpredictable. She¡¯s either bothering her on a daily basis or go on a disappearing act. As she thought about this, she dialed Zhou Shuang¡¯s number and pressed the speaker button. After a few rings, someone picked up the call. ¡°You¡¯ve finally returned my call. Otherwise, I would have to make a trip to your office to look for you.¡± As Xuxu had anticipated, Miss Zhou¡¯s voice was bursting with energy as usual. As the call was on speaker mode, she reckoned that everyone outside the office could hear her. She knitted her eyebrows and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Shall we meet?¡± Zhou Shuang asked in response. Xuxu was confused. The latter suddenly sounded anxious over the phone, and it made her think that something grave had happened. She replied in annoyance, ¡°Not going to meet up.¡± The last time they met, they ended up at the police station, and so she didn¡¯t want to meet her again this time. Zhou Shuang broke into a cynical smile. ¡°I heard that your man¡¯s not home lately. So shall we make use of this opportunity to go on a hot date?¡± Xuxu¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I find that you and Yan Rusheng are birds of a feather.¡± Both are downright hooligans. ¡°Let¡¯s hang up. Goodbye!¡± Without giving Zhou Shuang a further chance to talk, Xuxu ended the call. She recalled Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s missed call alert, and deliberated for a moment before dialing his number. Someone answered the call the moment it got through. It was Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s warm and gentle voice. ¡°Xuxu.¡± ¡°Ah Heng, I¡¯m sorry to have missed your call. My phone was on a silent mode,¡± Xuxu briefly explained. Jiang Zhuoheng replied, ¡°I just wanted to find out how you have been doing recently.¡± Each time she heard Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s tender voice, her heart was heavy and filled with pain. What should she do so to make Ah Heng give up? She badly wanted for him to let go, but she felt that she¡¯s not fit to say that to him. She pretended to answer in a light-hearted manner. ¡°I¡¯m doing well.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng lightly answered. All of a sudden, there was silence between them. As the seconds ticked by, Xuxu held on to the phone and could hear Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s breathing on the other line. Jiang Zhuoheng suddenly opened his mouth. ¡°I went to the orphanage two days ago. Matron Huang said that you had also visited them a few days back too.¡± Chapter 454. Why Did You Call My Name? At the mention of the orphanage, Xuxu couldn¡¯t wait to pour out her worries to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Yes, the government is pressing us to relocate the orphanage. I was scouting for a suitable place and dropped by to visit the children at the same time.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng responded, ¡°Don¡¯t be too anxious because there¡¯s no need to relocate the orphanage.¡± Without taking his words to heart, Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°How could it be possible? The government has been pressing us on this matter countless times.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng replied cautiously, ¡°I¡¯m just saying that there might be a possibility, so don¡¯t worry too much about it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore.¡± Xuxu diverted the topic. ¡°Have you been busy lately?¡± It¡¯s been too long that they had a good chat. Each time they ran into each other, it was under awkward circumstances, and the usual greeting would seem like a grave sin. This time, though, they had a hearty chat. When Xuxu arrived at the office that morning, the strong rose scent permeated the air. She felt engulfed by a romantic atmosphere. As it was only a few more days to the Christmas event, Xuxu was swamped with work. All of a sudden, a notification popped on her phone. She took a glance, and without a doubt, it was from Yan Rusheng. She was typing away on the keyboard with one hand and used the other hand to open up the message. ¡°Wen Xuxu, it suddenly occurred to me that you have not addressed me as ¡®husband¡¯ since the day we got married.¡± There was a long pause¡­ ¡°What the heck?¡± She was working her socks off, and there he was, idling overseas and had nothing better to do. Xuxu was fuming. ¡°I heard from Aunt Mu Li that Second Uncle is recovering well. So can you get yourself home?¡± Yan Rusheng texted: ¡± Why can¡¯t you just say ¡® Ah Sheng, I missed you. Can you come home soon?¡¯ You are just being coquettish by pretending to be reserved.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but feel that there was a major communication barrier between them. She locked the screen of her cell phone with no intention of having any further conversation with Young Master Yan. Unexpectedly, her cell phone rang. ¡®Yan Rusheng¡¯ showed up on her caller ID. Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows and answered the call reluctantly. ¡°When will we know the result of the Haicheng City land bid?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s first words were regarding the outcome of the land bidding in Haicheng City. Xuxu felt a sense of guilt, and answered timidly, ¡°It¡¯s still early.¡± If Yan Rusheng found out that she had given up on the bidding, he would definitely fly into a rage. As he¡¯s currently overseas accompanying her father-in-law, she didn¡¯t want to let him know for the fear of affecting his mood. She¡¯ll let him slaughter her when he¡¯s back. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I¡¯ll give a call to District Head Jia to find out.¡± Xuxu panicked. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. I¡¯ll give a call to him instead in a short while. You rest easy and take good care of father. You finally had a chance to accompany him, so don¡¯t worry about work.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, you really are becoming more understanding.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice was filled with a subtle trace of affection. ¡°Actually, there wasn¡¯t a need to ask as I¡¯ve already put everything in order before I left. Once the document is submitted, Flourish & Prosper will definitely win the bid.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu gradually lowered her eyes. As she heard Yan Rusheng sounding so confident and enthusiastic, she felt sad. ¡°Regarding the matter that I¡¯ve spoken to you earlier, what¡¯s your consideration?¡± Xuxu was puzzled. ¡°Which matter?¡± Earlier, when he opened his mouth, he only spoke about the bidding. What else did he say? Yan Rusheng slightly coughed. It seemed that he was embarrassed to say it again and took a while before speaking softly, ¡°Call me. Huh?¡± Xuxu suddenly recalled the text message that he had sent and blushed. He spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°We¡¯ll talk when you return.¡± Both of them felt embarrassed over the phone and the atmosphere turned ambiguous gradually. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why did you call my name when you were unconscious that time?¡± Chapter 455. President Yan is Gracious and Generous After a while of silence, Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep voice sounded again, and he was full of expectations. ¡°I¡­¡± Xuxu bit her lips and couldn¡¯t quite speak. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you after you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re shameless.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly chided her, and Xuxu got annoyed. ¡°How am I shameless?¡± Yan Rusheng scoffed at her, ¡°You wanted to force me to go back earlier, but you¡¯re not admitting.¡± Xuxu twitched her mouth and without a word, she hung up. This arrogant fellow, he shall continue being smug all by himself. ¡°Why did you call my name when you were unconscious that time?¡± Xuxu held on to her phone absentmindedly as she repeated Yan Rusheng¡¯s question. She stared at her feet as she smiled bitterly. ¡°Ah Sheng, if you only knew how many times I¡¯ve dreamt of me wearing a wedding gown and walking down the aisle with you. Would you have ridiculed and laughed at me?¡± ¡­ Capital City¡¯s airport. It was dusk, and the sky was tainted red by the setting sun. The airport was bustling and crowded as it was near the festive periods of Christmas and New Year. Yan Rusheng came out of the terminal and saw Qiao Jian who had come to fetch him. He passed him his bag and asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t tell her about my return right?¡± As Qiao Jian shook his head, he solemnly swore, ¡°President, I swear that I didn¡¯t tell lady boss anything at all.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in satisfaction. He strode towards the car with hurried and excited footsteps. ¡°President Yan.¡± Someone called him suddenly, and he halted his footsteps. He made a side glance. A bald man was ardently walking towards him. ¡°It¡¯s indeed really you.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at him with a slightly cold and haughty look. ¡°Secretary Liu.¡± His voice was cold. The expression in his eyes was the same as well. Secretary Liu was holding a black briefcase, and he was full of smiles as he stood in front of Yan Rusheng. ¡°I just came back from a meeting in another county. You must have just arrived, I presume?¡± Yan Rusheng coldly glanced at Secretary Liu, and there was a hint of contempt in his voice. ¡°Secretary Liu is really observant. Nothing can escape your eyes.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Secretary Liu heard him, and his body trembled slightly. He hastily averted his eyes from Yan Rusheng¡¯s face and didn¡¯t dare to meet his eyes again. ¡°I only heard that you were overseas. I wasn¡¯t too sure.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re busy, I shall not delay you any further,¡± Yan Rusheng casually said. He then turned around. Secretary Liu looked at him with a devious and sly gleam in his eyes. Trying to sound puzzled, he asked him, ¡°Some time back, you¡¯ve inquired me regarding the land in Haicheng City. But why didn¡¯t Flourish & Prosper participate in the bidding?¡± Yan Rusheng heard him and stopped in his tracks. He stared at him with misgivings. ¡°Secretary Liu, do you mean that Flourish & Prosper didn¡¯t bid for the land?¡± Secretary Liu nodded profusely. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Yan Rusheng clenched his hands tightly in his pockets. He had a slight smile on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t feel like acquiring the land anymore. After all, Flourish & Prosper is already at the top of the game and we can¡¯t possibly swallow the entire pie all by ourselves. We should let others have a taste of it as well, right?¡± Even if he was at the brink of exploding, he still managed to control his emotions well. There wasn¡¯t a hint of emotion on his face, and Secretary Liu couldn¡¯t detect anything as well. He glanced down with suspicion. After a brief moment, he smiled and lavished fawning words on him. ¡°President Yan is gracious and generous.¡± Chapter 456. Youve Learned How to Lie Yan Rusheng looked at that superficial smile on Secretary Liu¡¯s face and he felt disgusted. He ignored him and strode off towards his car. The lights were lit along the way back to the mansion. When the butler saw the car coming, he immediately opened the courtyard gates. The car swerved and entered the courtyard and stopped outside the steps. A man alighted from the car. He straightened his back and then glanced at the door. Gloom seemed to be cast on the exquisite features on his gorgeous face. ¡°Third Young Master.¡± The butler hurried towards him with a smile. Yan Rusheng replied coldly, ¡°Is Wen Xuxu back?¡± The butler answered, ¡°Missy just got home a while ago.¡± Yan Rusheng promptly strode towards the doors and opened it to enter the house. There was a huge difference in the temperature between the house and outdoors. He started to unbutton his coat as he changed out of his shoes. ¡°Hahaha, they are so funny.¡± Laughter was coming from the living room. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows tightly to this. He peered inside, towards the sofa. Wen Xuxu was wearing a pink fluffy pajama as she sat cross-legged on the sofa. She was laughing as she held a bowl of fruits in her hand. She just showered so her hair was still damp. It tumbled loosely on her back, and along with her pink fluffy pajamas, she seemed like a child. Aunt Zhang was laughing together with her. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression turned even icier and his hands were clenched tightly into fists. He stormed angrily into the living room. His aura was too overwhelming, that even Aunt Zhang and Wen Xuxu immediately sensed his presence almost immediately from where they were seating. They turned their heads around. Xuxu saw him and her jaw dropped slightly. ¡°You¡­ why are you back?¡± Yan Rusheng was wearing a glum expression, but he ignored her and continued to march on. He walked past the sofa and never once paused on his steps. He went to the stairs. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xuxu put on her bedroom slippers hastily and jumped up to catch up with him. She trailed after him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He didn¡¯t even call back to inform her that he was coming back. Now he ignored her and seemed so aloof. What happened? Yan Rusheng finally paused and turned his head to look at Xuxu. Normally when they stand side by side, the top of Xuxu¡¯s head would barely reach his shoulders. Now that he was standing a step higher than Xuxu, he was towering over her. From Xuxu¡¯s angle, he was peering at her from a lofty and overbearing position. As she observed the cold and distant expression in his eyes, Xuxu shrunk back in fear. She had a shrewd hunch about why Yan Rusheng was so angry. Someone must have informed him about the bidding. If not, he wouldn¡¯t have ignored her and wouldn¡¯t seem so angry. Yan Rusheng snorted coldly, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you are really getting bolder and you¡¯ve learned how to lie.¡± Indeed, he knew! Xuxu bit her lips. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± yelled Yan Rusheng at the top of his voice, cutting Xuxu¡¯s response. ¡°Do you know how much effort and time I¡¯ve spent on bidding for the land in Haicheng City?¡± Xuxu shrunk even more and nodded meekly. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± She already expected him to throw a tantrum over this matter, but she didn¡¯t expect it to be so sudden and abrupt. It had caught her completely off guard. Yan Rusheng sneered coldly and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°What do you know?¡± Xuxu bit her lip and mustered all her courage to lift up her head. She looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s face which had turned a delicate shade of green. She spoke a little louder, ¡°But I had to think for Flourish & Prosper as well. Flourish & Prosper can¡¯t take the risk.¡± Chapter 457. Dont Behave Like a Woman Yan Rusheng became even more livid. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything, so how would you know that Flourish & Prosper is taking a risk?! First Uncle¡¯s company is investing in Flourish & Prosper if we acquired that land. What risks am Itaking?¡± Xuxu widened her eyes in surprise, and for a moment her throat seemed to be choked with something. She couldn¡¯t utter a single sound. First Uncle was managing a company that belonged to his wife. If Yan Rusheng had sought for First Uncle, it meant that he indirectly sought help from an outsider. Usually, it was others who begged or tried to pander to him. He could even reject a major collaboration with Country Y without a second thought, and would even wait for the person to apologize to him first. Now, he had gone to seek help from others¡­ just for that piece of land. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me after all.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold voice carried a tinge of disappointment. He spun around after that and continued to ascend the stairs. ¡°Ah Sheng, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Xuxu watched his retreating back, and suddenly she came back to her senses. She ran up the stairs in haste. Feeling anxious and at a loss for words, she extended her arms and embraced him from the back without thinking. Yan Rusheng¡¯s body went rigid. All nerves in his body seemed to have tightened immediately at her touch. Xuxu breathed deeply and expounded, ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that you went to First Uncle regarding the land. So I¡¯ve found another location for the orphanage, and it¡¯s even better than the previous location.¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head and stared at her. ¡°It¡¯s the fact that you don¡¯t believe in me.¡± He moved his hands as he tried to pry off Xuxu¡¯s arms away from his waist. But to his surprise, her frail and tiny body was much stronger than it seemed. He didn¡¯t manage to pull her hands apart. ¡°Didn¡¯t you bid for the land to help me solve the problem of relocating Tiny Stars Orphanage? I¡¯ve found a solution.¡± Xuxu pressed her face to Yan Rusheng¡¯s back and tightened her grip around his waist. She intended to act shamelessly with him. She had already planned what she wanted to do. She couldn¡¯t think of any way to appease him, and so like before, she shall act in the same way as he did. Yan Rusheng spun his head around. He rolled his eyes at her. ¡°Don¡¯t think too highly of yourself. I¡¯ve merely seen the potential for profit in that piece of land.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You¡¯re lying.¡± If she wasn¡¯t working in Flourish & Prosper, wasn¡¯t working beside him and didn¡¯t know the current situation in Flourish & Prosper, she might have believed that he was interested in that land because of its potential. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re really shameless.¡± While Xuxu was still talking, Yan Rusheng took this to his advantage to pry her arms apart. He then moved away quickly. Xuxu went forward but failed to catch him. She saw how Yan Rusheng had walked away, and she became troubled. They had gotten along well these few days while exchanging texts. She knew he was still furious at the moment. Even though she had given up on the bidding for the sake of Flourish & Prosper, there was no denying that she had indeed lied to him. It was only right that he was angry with her. The most pressing matter was to appease him right away. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t come out of his room. Xuxu couldn¡¯t make him open the door, so she went back to her room to text him. ¡°Don¡¯t behave like a woman and lock yourself in the room when you¡¯re angry.''¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t you want to know why I¡¯ve called your name while I was unconscious? Open the door and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± She sent him several texts but Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t reply at all. Xuxu leaned against the headrest of the bed as she hugged her knees. There wasn¡¯t any notification from her phone at all. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to hug you when you¡¯re not wearing any clothes¡­¡± She suddenly recalled the text that Yan Rusheng had sent her two days ago, and she began to hatch a plan! Chapter 458. Get Out Her eyes lit up with determination. She grabbed her phone and climbed off the bed. She opened her wardrobe and took out a set of black lingerie that she had bought recently. She went to the bathroom to change into it. She stood in front of the mirror and put a hand on her waist as she tried to pose seductively. She snapped a few photos. She carefully examined her sexy photos. Earlier on, she was quite decisive when she took the photos, but now that she was about to send them to Yan Rusheng, she began to hesitate. After all, she wasn¡¯t such an open-minded person. Xuxu bit her lips. After an intense struggle with herself, she firmly made up her mind and sent the photo to Yan Rusheng. She went back to her bed, feeling extremely nervous and jittery after the photos sent. She had no idea how Yan Rusheng would react after seeing the photo. Would he think that she was shameless or would it result to whatever result she had created in her mind? But Yan Rusheng continued to be unresponsive. She felt dejected and finally understood that pestering someone needed both talent and skills. Sigh. Forget it. His anger would dissolve soon. Xuxu heavily sighed inwardly. She stretched out her hand to put her phone on top of her bedside drawer. She turned off the lights and pulled the blanket over her. She was swamped with work the entire day, and after a short while of letting her thoughts run wild, she fell into a deep sleep. She woke up only when the alarm rang the next morning. The moment she woke up, she opened the door and dashed out without even brushing her teeth. She went to Yan Rusheng¡¯s room and twisted the doorknob. Somehow she knew that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t be in his bedroom. She pushed the door open, and just as she expected, his bed was neat and tidy. The room was clean, but it seemed rather cold as though no one slept in the room last night. She sighed and closed the door feeling disappointed. She washed up and went downstairs. Aunt Zhang informed her that Yan Rusheng had left. It seemed like he was waging a silent war with her¡­ In the whole duration of the morning, she didn¡¯t see Yan Rusheng at all. After sending the photo to him last night, she was too embarrassed to knock on his office door. She started regretting her out-of-the-blue decision that she had recently made. How could she even think that she¡¯d be able to shamelessly seduce him with a sexy photo? Xuxu pulled her hair out of frustration. This was the first time that they were separated for almost half a month, and it was the longest period ever. He had sent her a bouquet of roses several days in a row, in a bid to win her over with his sweet and thoughtful gesture. Just like what he had said, her defenses against him had crumbled. There were a few nights where she almost bought an air ticket on impulse to fly over to look for him. She had finally waited till he returned, but she didn¡¯t even manage to have a proper look at him. She wondered if he had lost weight or not. After lunch, Xuxu sat at her desk with a hand supporting her cheek. She stared in a trance at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office with a gloomy expression. Suddenly the door swung open. Yan Rusheng¡¯s head popped out from the door and peeked outside towards Qiao Jian¡¯s desk. ¡°Qiao Jian, come in for a minute.¡± He called Qiao Jian and went back to his office. Xuxu summoned all her courage and scrambled inside. ¡°President Yan, do you want a glass of water?¡± God knows how hard it was for her to pander to someone. Especially Yan Rusheng, the man whom she had absolutely refused to admit defeat ever since they were children. She stood behind Yan Rusheng as her hands gripped her clothes tightly. She was slightly blushing as she bowed her head. She felt embarrassed because of the sexy photo. ¡°Get out,¡± said Yan Rusheng in a cold tone of voice. He was sitting on his luxurious swivel chair, and his face was void of emotions. Chapter 459. Easily Impatient Xuxu lifted her head. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what should I do in order to appease your anger?¡± She didn¡¯t have much experience trying to pacify a person. Yan Rusheng raised his voice, ¡°I asked you to get out.¡± Xuxu observed his expression, and it seemed to imply that he would be throwing stuff if she doesn¡¯t get out immediately. She considered the possibility and decided to leave. They remained in that state for the next two days. There were two more days to Christmas. Xuxu was having a meeting with the team-in-charge and the invited guests for the upcoming event. They had scheduled the meeting in the afternoon to fit the guest¡¯s schedule. The company also included the planning of the annual meeting, which was a huge affair, on the agenda as well. Flourish & Prosper would be placing more emphasis on the annual meeting as well. The preparation work was intensive, and there were many matters to be involved. Xuxu went straight to the point and highlighted the main matters. She then allowed various departments to delegate jobs among themselves. Since Xuxu was not the type to beat around the bush, meetings usually conclude in half an hour, while the longest one was an hour. ¡°You may all be dismissed,¡± Xuxu informed everyone and began to pack her stuff. Everyone stood up and left the conference room after packing their stuff. ¡°Miss Wen.¡± Xuxu was on the way out of the room when Zhou Tong, the guest for the event, intercepted her. She didn¡¯t address her as ¡®Third Madam Yan¡¯ like how her manager did. Instead, she addressed her as ¡®Miss Wen¡¯. With an unhurried tone that was filled with contempt. Xuxu halted her footsteps and spun her head around. Zhou Tong had already walked up to her. Xuxu raised a brow and asked, ¡°Miss Zhou, is there anything else?¡± Zhou Tong had her arms crossed as she stood in front of her. She began to flick her hair and smiled as she said, ¡°Nothing much, I¡¯m just wondering what kind of a woman you are.¡± Xuxu smiled icily. ¡°Miss Zhou, you seem to have too much free time.¡± She turned around and continued on her way. Much to her surprise, Zhou Tong followed her back to the President¡¯s office. Xuxu sat down at her desk and stole a glance at Zhou Tong. Other than that, she ignored her presence. She knew that she wasn¡¯t the one Zhou Tong was looking for. All the colleagues in the office saw Zhou Tong, and they created quite a commotion. Some were excited, the rest were curious and they started whipping out their cell phones furtively to snap pictures of her. Qiao Jian noticed Zhou Tong heading towards the office and stood up casually. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Tong smiled at Qiao Jian. ¡°Assistant Qiao, I¡¯m looking for President Yan.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Jian nodded curtly and turned around to walk to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and knocked on the door. ¡°Enter.¡± Yan Rusheng answered from his office. Qiao Jian turned the doorknob to enter and came out almost immediately. He stood at the entrance and bowed lightly to Zhou Tong. ¡°Miss Zhou, President Yan invites you inside.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Tong politely thanked Qiao Jian. She puffed her chest out with her chin raised. She walked into Yan Rusheng¡¯s office with a haughty posture. Once inside, Qiao Jian closed the door after her. ¡°Nothing much, I¡¯m just wondering what kind of a woman you are¡­¡± Xuxu was reminded of the statement that Zhou Tong had made earlier in the conference room. It seemed to have a cryptic meaning. She had a hunch that during their first encounter, her hostility towards her was because of Fang Jiayin. She also guessed that the reason why she was here to look for Yan Rusheng was also because of Fang Jiayin. If she was her old self, she wouldn¡¯t even be bothered to decipher a stranger¡¯s thoughts. But now, she seemed to have become easily impatient, insecure, and more narrow-minded. Chapter 460. Is This Really Important to You? Zhou Tong was in Yan Rusheng¡¯s office for about 15 minutes. All the while, she maintained her haughty pose; chest and chin held high as she exited. Soon, Yan Rusheng came out of the office with his blazer hanging on his arm, looking like he was heading out. Xuxu watched as he walked out of her sight, and her eyes began to get sorrowful. She looked down and sighed quietly to herself. How much determination must she take in order to take another step? How much effort must she put in for her to enter his heart? Yan Rusheng came back to the office before 3 p.m. and went straight to his office. He stayed inside for the rest of the afternoon. The colleagues began departing one after another when it was time to knock off. Xuxu started feeling hungry and decided to call it a day. She casually glanced at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and clenched her hands tightly as if she was making a tremendous decision. After some hesitation, she mustered her courage and went to his office. ¡°Come in.¡± Yan Rusheng answered, and Xuxu pressed her lips tightly. She recollected herself before pushing the door. The man inside had his head lowered in a pile of work. She said softly, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, are you going home?¡± ¡°You head home first,¡± Yan Rusheng promptly responded without even a glance at her. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth sank, and she responded with an ¡®oh¡¯despondently. She left the room and shut the door after her. Before she went to his office, she had intended giving him a hug, cling unto him by his neck to pacify him. If she took the initiative to apologize, would it resolve the misunderstanding? But when she saw how he had his head buried in work without sparing her a glance, she found herself struggling for a good amount of time¡ªand she just couldn¡¯t do it. She knew exactly what was the reason for her reluctance. She had been too aloof and haughty towards him all these years. Suddenly, she had to transform into a docile and meek woman in front of him. She couldn¡¯t quite bring herself to do that. Initially, she was really hungry but as she faced the food on the table, her appetite had vanished. She bolted down a few mouthfuls and left the dining table. She walked out of the dining room and went to the sofa. She waited till it was half-past ten but Yan Rusheng was still nowhere in sight. Sigh. She took a deep breath, put on her bedroom slippers, and went back to her room. The next morning came, and Xuxu had no idea what time Yan Rusheng came home last night. Xuxu entered the dining room only to find him sitting at the table reading a financial newspaper and eating breakfast. She was stunned for a moment. She strode across the room and asked, ¡°What time did you come home yesterday?¡± Yan Rusheng placed the newspaper down and smirked coldly. ¡°Is this really important to you?¡± Xuxu bit her lips and glumly said, ¡°I waited for you till after 10 p.m.¡± She didn¡¯t have the heart to anything, not even watching her favorite drama. How could it be unimportant to her? She sounded like she was complaining and Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows tightly. He coldly snorted. ¡°Then should I be flattered?¡± Xuxu walked to the opposite side of the table and remained standing. She pouted as she pitifully gazed at the man who was full of sarcasm towards her right now. ¡°Ah Sheng, can we stop being like this?¡± She thought that even though he was furious with her, he would definitely understand the reason why she had made that decision. Perhaps he could throw a really huge tantrum or maybe give her a severe punishment. At least it was better than him keeping a distance away from her and ignoring her presence. She was really at a loss. Yan Rusheng spoke suddenly. ¡°Do you know who the winning bidder of the piece of land was?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She had already given up on the bidding and naturally, she wouldn¡¯t be interested to find out who won the bidding. Chapter 461. Madam Yan Is Kind-Hearted Yan Rusheng said, ¡°The Jiang Corporation.¡± His shrewd-looking eyes surveyed Xuxu¡¯s face closely and intently at her every expression. ¡°The Jiangs?¡± Xuxu frowned. Baffled, she asked, ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s company?¡± Yan Rusheng sneered and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°If not which other Jiang corporation could have the ability to do that?¡± Deep down, he heaved a silent sigh. Seemed like she was kept in the dark about this matter. ¡°I really had no idea,¡± Xuxu gloomily replied with her eyebrows furrowed. She pulled her chair and sat down. She picked up the cutlery and was about to start eating when a thought suddenly hit her. ¡°Are you suspecting that I¡¯ve given up on the bidding because I was aware of this matter?¡± This fellow was really petty, he might really have assumed that she was aware. Without any trace of emotion on his face, Yan Rusheng threw her a question, ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± As expected¡­ Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you stop being so petty? Doesn¡¯t this sound ridiculous?¡± She lowered her head and began to eat. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, the orphanage might not have to be relocated.¡± Xuxu suddenly recalled what Jiang Zhuoheng spoke to her over the phone the other day. She had no idea that the Jiang Corporation was bidding for that piece of land, so naturally, she didn¡¯t take his words to heart. Her heart sank instantly. ¡°Did Ah Heng really bid for the piece of land because of Tiny Stars Orphanage?¡± Almost immediately she squashed the idea. No, he wouldn¡¯t. That piece of land was worth billions of yuan. The Jiang Corporation must have seen the investment potential in that piece of land as well. After reassuring herself, Xuxu finally started on her breakfast. Yan Rusheng was gazing at her and the expression in his eyes turned soft. The corners of his mouth subconsciously curled into a smile. After breakfast, both of them went separately to work in their own cars. Xuxu reached the office first but Yan Rusheng was nowhere in sight. When it was almost 11 a.m., there was still no sight of him anywhere in the building. ¡­ ¡°I¡¯m looking for your lady boss Wen Xuxu. I¡¯m her friend.¡± ¡°Please hold on and I will inform her.¡± Yan Rusheng had just entered through the entrance and saw a middle-aged man standing in front of the front desk. He was holding bags of unknown stuff, and he heard him saying he was looking for Wen Xuxu. He frowned and hastened his footsteps towards him. He stole a glance at the stranger and proceeded to question the receptionist, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The receptionist replied promptly, ¡°President Yan, this gentleman said that he is Madam¡¯s friend and he needs to meet her.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu¡¯s friend?¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head slowly to the middle-aged man, and his shrewd-looking eyes began to size him up from head to toe. When did that stupid woman get to know this person? Why was he unaware? The middle-aged man recognized Yan Rusheng and gave him a curt bow. ¡°Hi, President Yan. I just came back from a work trip from X City, and bought back some of the local delicacies for Madam Yan.¡± He lifted the bags of stuff to show Yan Rusheng. ¡°What¡¯s that? And there¡¯s a stench!¡± Young Master Yan, who was obsessed with cleanliness, caught a whiff of a pungent stench. He frowned and quickly took a step back. He continued surveying him from head to toe and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Zhao Hu,¡± he replied instantly. ¡°Madam Yan is kind-hearted, and she had helped me out of a fix. I¡¯m very thankful to her, and I didn¡¯t know how to express my gratitude.¡± Yan Rusheng eyed him suspiciously. ¡°What do you mean?¡± That dumb woman had expanded her charity business? Even helping adults? Chapter 462. How Much Longer Does This Fellow Intend to Be Angry at Her? Zhao Hu expounded, ¡°Recently there were some issues with my company, and I¡¯ve met some cash flow problems. I was urgently selling off one of my houses in the suburbs. That place is quite secluded and currently, there aren¡¯t any plans to develop that area. So no one was interested in buying the land for a long time. Fortunately, Madam Yan appeared and because of her help, my company managed to get out of the crisis. I¡¯m extremely grateful to her.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already found a more suitable place.¡± Yan Rusheng recalled Wen Xuxu¡¯s words, and a smile flitted across his face. After contemplating for a moment, he remained emotionless and only replied with a soft ¡®uh¡¯. He glanced at the bags on the man¡¯s hands and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll convey your message as she isn¡¯t in the office right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble President Yan then. This is something small to express my gratitude.¡± Zhao Hu lifted his hands and presented the delicacies to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng frowned immediately when he caught a whiff of the foul stench again. His face crinkled as he pinched his nose with his fingers. ¡°Oh god!¡± This fellow wanted him to hold these smelly bags. He didn¡¯t want to linger any longer, so he stretched his hand and received the bags. ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°Thank you, President Yan. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Zhao Hu bowed and turned around to leave. Yan Rusheng looked down at the bags in his hand after Zhao Hu left the building. ¡°President Yan, Madam is in the office.¡± The receptionist spoke softly to remind him, and Young Master Yan glared at her. ¡°If I say she isn¡¯t around, then she isn¡¯t.¡± The young receptionist shrunk back in fear and instantly bowed her head, and said no more. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng exited the elevator and strode into the office with heavy footsteps. Everyone greeted him promptly. ¡°President Yan.¡± Qiao Jian was about to photocopy some documents when he saw Yan Rusheng. He glanced at the bags that he was holding. ¡°What are those bags for?¡± Yan Rusheng stole a glance at Wen Xuxu and a devious gleam streaked across his eyes. He looked at Qiao Jian and said with an indifferent expression, ¡°I picked these up outside. Everyone may choose something they like.¡± Then he stuffed the bags in his hands. Qiao Jian hurriedly supported the bags with his hands, and a stench assailed his nostrils. He frowned and knew that Yan Rusheng was lying that he had picked up these. President Yan would never take something that someone else had thrown away. Yan Rusheng stuffed his hands back into his pockets after dumping the stuff to Qiao Jian. He walked rather gleefully back to his office. Xuxu stood up and intercepted him mid-way. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded at her with a smile. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you really have unique foresight and taste.¡± She had bought a house no one else had wanted. When he heard Zhao Hu describing the place as secluded, and furthermore there weren¡¯t any plans to develop that area, he really had an impulse to slap him. Was he implying that his wife was a fool? Xuxu gazed at him, feeling puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He had sprung out a comment like that; why did she have unique foresight? Yan Rusheng ignored and brushed her question aside. ¡°Did you make the arrangements for the event tomorrow?¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°I¡¯m going to the venue at 2 p.m. today.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a vague nod and without another word, swept past Xuxu. Xuxu gazed at him feeling frustrated. How much longer does this fellow intend to be angry at her? Chapter 463. She Had Been So Initiative She had been so initiative. ¡­ The Christmas event was going to be held at a large digital shopping mall. On the day of the event, many key representatives from the electronics products industry will be attending along with the media. They had been busy with the preparations for this event for almost half a year. After inspecting the place, Xuxu went to the hotel to check the venue for the annual meeting. The buildings were near each other, and so she was able to reach the hotel in a few minutes. She entered the majestic, grand-looking main hall of the five-star hotel, then proceeded to walk towards the direction of the stairs. The annual meeting venue was going to be held on the second floor, which Flourish & Prosper had already booked. The door to the meeting room was facing the elevator, and it was left ajar. From that view, one could see the events company was still decorating the hall. ¡°Line these balloons around the edge of the hall. We will be spreading the red carpet over here and will be placing the baskets of roses on both sides.¡± The PR Department in-Charge was giving instructions as Xuxu walked in. Xuxu was startled as she surveyed the entire room. ¡°Manager Wang, what¡¯s going on? Why are there so many balloons?¡± She looked at the PR Department Manager as she questioned him. She had gone through the detailed plans regarding this event, and all these roses and red carpet weren¡¯t part of the initial plans. Manager Wang replied promptly, ¡°President Yan came this afternoon and instructed us.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t quite believe what she had heard. ¡°He came in the afternoon?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Manager Wang promptly answered and proceeded elsewhere to direct the rest of the staff. ¡°So that fellow had been here the entire morning?¡± Xuxu peered at the surroundings; it was filled with streamers and colorful balloons, and it made her confused. This fellow had neglected the crucial and important work, instead, he came just to interfere with the event¡¯s decorations. He must be out of his mind! Didn¡¯t he say that this kind of style was cliche and childish? He had merely gone abroad for less than a month. Why did he become this childish? The sun was already setting when Xuxu left the hotel. The whole city was bathed in bright city lights as Christmas was approaching. Shiny and twinkling Christmas trees adorned the streets. Xuxu wrapped her coat tightly around herself as she walked on a bustling street. She was looking for food to warm herself up. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± She walked past a western pastry shop when a figure appeared suddenly in front of her and blocked her path. She looked at the cheerful and bubbly girl. She smiled brightly at her. ¡°Yishan.¡± Then she proceeded to scan the clothes that Yishan wore. She noted that she was wearing an apron from the western pastry shop. Xuxu was puzzled and asked her, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Obviously, she knew that Miss Lu wasn¡¯t working at the shop. Lu Yishan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s Christmas tomorrow. I¡¯m making chocolate for my boyfriend.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you buy them at a supermarket?¡± Lu Yishan frowned. ¡°How can store-bought chocolates be compared to handmade ones? Chocolates represent overflowing and passionate love. I have to do it myself for it to be meaningful.¡± Chocolates represent overflowing and passionate love. The advertisements only mentioned the delicious taste, it didn¡¯t say anything about love. Xuxu was pondering over this when Lu Yishan suddenly grabbed her hand. ¡°Third sister-in-law, why don¡¯t you make some yourself and give it to Brother Third Yan? Giving chocolate to a man is the best way for a woman to profess her love.¡± As she spoke, she dragged Xuxu towards the shop. ¡°Really?¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I aware of this?¡± ¡°Giving chocolate to a man is the best way for a woman to profess her love¡­¡± It was the first time she had heard of it. Lu Yishan continued, ¡°A man sends roses to a woman. A woman gives a man chocolates. Third sister-in-law, you really don¡¯t know romance at all.¡± Chapter 464. He Had a Hunch That It Was Way Longer Than That Xuxu was dragged by Yishan into the pastry shop. The storekeeper was beaming on her feet and came to greet them. ¡°Miss Lu.¡± Lu Yishan instructed her, ¡°Give my third sister-in-law an apron. Also, prepare a set of ingredients and the necessary equipment for her.¡± Xuxu could barely utter a word. Although her heart was already stirred by Lu Yishan¡¯s words. She was itching to give it a try. ¡°Chocolates represent overflowing and passionate love¡­¡± ¡°Ah Sheng, will you be able to understand?¡± Xuxu was a fast learner, and she could pick up things easily. The storekeeper briefed her about the steps, and she managed to succeed at her first attempt. She chose an ordinary mold in the shape of a heart. She was very conscientious during every step of the chocolate-making process. ¡°Third sister-in-law, are you done? I¡¯m going to put mine in the fridge.¡± Lu Yishan peeked over Xuxu¡¯s shoulders and this made Xuxu slightly tremble in shock. She hastily covered the chocolates in the mold and glanced at Lu Yishan. ¡°I¡¯ll be done in a minute!¡± ¡°Ha! Seems like you¡¯re being secretive.¡± Lu Yishan turned her head away. ¡°I¡¯ll choose a box.¡± After Lu Yishan was gone. Xuxu placed her chocolate carefully inside the fridge. She went to the storekeeper and asked, ¡°How long will it take?¡± The storekeeper replied, ¡°Five to six hours.¡± ¡°That long?¡± Xuxu frowned and deliberated for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll drop by tomorrow then.¡± At least she wouldn¡¯t need to hide the chocolate at home and furthermore, this shop was near the hotel. ¡°Third sister-in-law come and choose a box.¡± Lu Yishan stood at the counter and waved at Xuxu eagerly. Xuxu strode towards her and scanned the designs of the boxes. Then she smiled at Lu Yishan, ¡°I think I¡¯ll skip choosing one today.¡± ¡­ ¡°Aunt Zhang, where are the scissors?¡± Xuxu asked Aunt Zhang who was watching TV. ¡°I¡¯ll get them for you.¡± Aunt Zhang rose and went to the kitchen. She found a pair and passed it to Xuxu. ¡°Why do you need the scissors? It¡¯s already late.¡± ¡°I need to do something.¡± Xuxu gave an enigmatic smile and took the scissors from her. Then she ascended the stairs with quickened footsteps. Yan Rusheng heard movements from the study, and he peeked his head out. He was just in time to see Xuxu closing her bedroom door. He furrowed his eyebrows and decided to leave his study. He paced to and forth outside Xuxu¡¯s room. Why did she return to her room immediately after she had come home? He went back to the study and glanced at his phone. There weren¡¯t any missed calls or unread texts from her. He gripped his cell phone, feeling frustrated. He had spent so much effort on her, and she didn¡¯t even bother! ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re dead!¡± ¡­ The man stood in the center of the living room, in a formal suit. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, and he looked dapper and dashing. His features were exquisite. He looked elegant and well-groomed. His head was slightly bowed as Xuxu gazed at him from the second floor. She unconsciously entered a trance. Suddenly, the man raised his head. His eyes were deep and piercing, and he gazed back at the woman. She wore a white V-neck dress which ended at her knees. She draped a bright red coat over her gown and paired it with black leggings. Her long locks tumbled beautifully past her shoulders. She had applied light makeup. She appeared rather aloof and distant. However, she suddenly smiled, and it seemed to dazzle Yan Rusheng in that split second. Surprise flashed past his eyes and he was entranced by her. When exactly did this woman enter his heart? Months ago? Or a few years? No, he had a hunch that it was way longer than that. Chapter 465. Miss Zhou, Are You Alright? ¡°Ah Sheng,¡± Xuxu opened her mouth and called the man standing below. Then she descended the stairs. ¡®Ah Sheng, wait for me.¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, do you think I look nice in this?¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, Ah Sheng, Ah Sheng¡­¡¯ How long had it been since he heard her addressing him in that way? From her child-like voice evolving into a sweet, pure voice. All the way till now¡­ This woman¡ªWen Xuxu¡ªhad been beside him for more than two decades. Longer than anyone else in his life. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Xuxu stood before Yan Rusheng. He snapped out of his trance and gazed at her. He looked into her clear-looking and sparkling eyes, and he couldn¡¯t help but give her a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then he put his hand around her waist and led her towards the main doors. Xuxu¡¯s hands, which were hanging by her side, were clenched into fists. She tightened and loosened her grip hesitantly as her mind wildly raced. She heard his deep voice above her. ¡°Just do it if you¡¯re thinking of hugging me. I know that you have been longing for my body these few days.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. She had indeed wanted to hug him but when she heard what he had said, the desire instantly vanished without a trace. Yan Rusheng tightened his grip around her waist as he beamed brightly at her. Xuxu lifted her head and stared at him. ¡°You¡¯re not going to continue playing games with me?¡± Before he answered, Yan Rusheng gazed at the sky. ¡°The weather is good today.¡± If he continued playing with her, he was afraid that he might go overboard and produce disastrous results instead. ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuxu burst into laughter and punched him forcefully on his chest. Both of them left the house in high spirits. The butler who stood near the gates peered at the sky, feeling gloomy. Today¡¯s weather was so dreary and snowflakes were falling everywhere. ¡± What kind of good weather is this?!¡± ¡­ Yan Rusheng held Wen Xuxu¡¯s hand as they entered the event venue. Security measures were heightened at the venue, and security guards were stationed everywhere on the ground level of the mall. ¡°President Yan.¡± The minute they entered, someone came forward to greet them. Xuxu felt that there were still plenty of smart and good-looking young people in the electronics industry. The event this year was different from the previous years. Those who previously attended were mostly middle-aged men. Xuxu followed Yan Rusheng around. Flourish & Prosper was the main organizer for this event, and as the host, they would need to entertain their guests. The event started at 10 a.m. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu stood on the stage to start the event officially as countless of cameras flashed at them. Everyone noticed how they had their hands held tightly together. Next, their VIP guest came on stage. Zhou Tong wore a royal blue gown which accentuated and flaunted her voluptuous figure. She went on stage and smiled at Yan Rusheng before turning around. While Xuxu was conversing with another celebrity guest, she took the opportunity to step in between Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, succeeding in separating them. Yan Rusheng turned around and glanced at her, looking annoyed. After that fleeting look, he suppressed his anger and continued to smile for the cameras. Inviting celebrities to such events was to garner more publicity and attention. The task of the guests was to stand on stage and smile for the cameras. Not forgetting, they would need to mingle with the rest of the guests, too. After the event, Zhou Tong smiled and bowed for the cameras. She proceeded to leave the stage. Xuxu gazed at Zhou Tong¡¯s back and a streak of coldness flashed past in her eyes. She turned around and strode towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan.¡± ¡°Ahhh!!¡± Zhou Tong gave a sudden shriek and she fell with a loud crash. Xuxu spun around and saw the fallen Zhou Tong on the floor. She gaped in shock and bent down immediately. She extended her hand to pull her. ¡°Miss Zhou, are you alright?¡± Chapter 466. Unintentional Everyone, especially the media, was flustered when the famous celebrity tripped. Cameras flickered on and off with such intensity than ever. As she laid on the ground, Zhou Tong lifted her head. Her eyes were blinded by constant flashing of lights, and her two hands were clenched into fists in fury. ¡°Get lost!¡± Zhou Tong rejected Xuxu¡¯s help even though the latter haven¡¯t touched her. Xuxu stumbled backward. Luckily, someone held on to her tightly just in time. ¡°Be careful.¡± A pair of strong arms supported her slender waist. She took advantage of it and leaned even more for a short moment. A sly smile flitted across her face. She then straightened her back and proceeded to help Zhou Tong again. She asked, ¡°Miss Zhou, are you alright?¡± ¡°Why did you step on my gown?¡± Zhou Tong was utterly embarrassed after she had fallen to the ground in front of everyone. She was livid with anger as she questioned and glared at Xuxu. ¡°I¡­ Did I step on your gown?¡± Xuxu shook her head, feeling flustered. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I really didn¡¯t!¡± She glanced at her surroundings, then at the flashing lights with a pitiful and innocent expression, as though she was trying to seek help from the crowd. ¡°Miss Zhou, your gown is way too long. Even if Third Madam Yan stepped on it, it must have been unintentional.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Everyone agreed in chorus towards Wen Xuxu¡¯s claim. How could they not remember who Wen Xuxu was? Even if they didn¡¯t witness the entire incident, since she was Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife, they would naturally flock to her side to support her. A fool would only stand on the wrong side and offend Yan Rusheng. Zhou Tong bit her lip. Her expression hardened. She glanced once more at Yan Rusheng. Earlier on, she felt someone stepping on her gown which had caused her to fall. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu were the only ones standing behind her. Needless to say, she ruled out the possibility of Yan Rusheng stepping on her gown. So who else could it be other than her? Yan Rusheng remained indifferent as he tilted his chin, not sparing her any glance. ¡°Then I might have tripped over your gown accidentally,¡± Xuxu chimed in and apologized sincerely to Zhou Tong. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry.¡± Zhou Tong glared at her innocent expression. Hatred was evident in her eyes, but she knew that it wasn¡¯t the right time for her to flare up. She could only accept her fall with grudges. With enough inward deliberation, she pulled a smile and directed it to Xuxu. She decided to chide herself, ¡°I was too angry when I fell earlier on. I must have wronged Miss Wen so I hope you don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± ¡°Miss Zhou, you¡¯re too kind,¡± Xuxu blamed herself instead. ¡°I wasn¡¯t being careful and caused you to fall before so many reporters and guests.¡± If she didn¡¯t mention about the reporters and guests, Zhou Tong would have been able to suppress her anger. Now, she was going mad with anger and hatred that she could hardly carry on with her pretense. ¡°As long as Miss Wen doesn¡¯t take it to heart.¡± She forced a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯ll head backstage to change.¡± She turned around with her hands holding the hems of her gown. She walked gingerly down the stairs. ¡°Let me help you.¡± Xuxu chased after her and grabbed her slender arms. She constantly reminded her to walk carefully and slowly. As both of them walked away from the crowd, Zhou Tong threw her a long and calculating look. ¡°You did it intentionally, am I right?¡± ¡°Yes, I did,¡± Xuxu admitted it candidly. Her lips icily curled upwards. She inched closer to Zhou Tong¡¯s ears. ¡°You¡¯ve tried so hard to make things difficult for me, so I¡¯m just going to let you know that it¡¯s almost effortless for me to swiftly crush you if I wanted to.¡± Every word she said was callous and cold. Zhou Tong froze and she was shivering with fear deep down inside of her. She had no idea why was she afraid when Wen Xuxu had merely thrown out some threatening words. Chapter 467. So Loving She instinctively understood that Wen Xuxu was much more scheming and shrewd that she had appeared to be. ¡°I¡¯ll leave Miss Zhou here then. Are you able to walk?¡± Wen Xuxu relinquished her grip on Zhou Tong¡¯s hand as she stared at the bottom part of her gown. Zhou Tong gave a fleeting smile. ¡°Thank you, Miss Wen, for your concern.¡± Her voice was seething with hatred and fury, and she strode forward without further ado. Wen Xuxu spoke up once more, ¡°Keep in mind¡­ I¡¯m Mrs. Yan!¡± She gracefully spun around and returned to the stage. When she faced the reporters and the cameras, she was gracious, demure, and gentle. Standing amidst the crowd, she appeared to be a dignified daughter of a prominent family who had displayed graciousness and humility. When Zhou Tong fell earlier, she had rushed to help her. Instead, Zhou Tong refused her help and she almost stumbled and fell. Furthermore, Zhou Tong questioned her and accused her of doing it on purpose. It was rumored Third Madam Yan was cold and aloof. She was very direct and straightforward regarding her likes and dislikes and wasn¡¯t pretentious. So her concern towards Zhou Tong must have been genuine, and it showed how gracious and magnanimous she was. As compared, the popular celebrity Zhou Tong appeared petty. Xuxu strode back to Yan Rusheng as countless pairs of eyes looked at her with approval. She put her arm around his naturally. Zhou Tong went back to change into a brilliant red Western-inspired gown and changed her hairdo. After freshening up, she appeared looking fabulous again. She began to chat with several directors from different companies. She stole a glance at Xuxu while she was conversing with them. At the same time, Xuxu was also looking at her. Their eyes met and she raised her chin haughtily, looking proud and dignified. The young and good-looking men around her seemed to make her more dazzling and illuminated her in the crowd. One shouldn¡¯t be compared to another. But as she compared herself to Xuxu, she felt that her glory and pride had substantially diminished. After lunch, many of the guests started leaving. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu stood at the hotel entrance to bade them goodbye. When everyone had left, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were the only ones left at the door. Yan Rusheng inched towards her and affectionately whispered, ¡°You¡¯re gradually displaying your real personality.¡± Xuxu instantly comprehended the meaning behind his words although she feigned ignorance. ¡°What personality?¡± ¡°Your hidden scheming and petty side,¡± Yan Rusheng said with a sly smile as he embraced her tightly. This fellow really didn¡¯t give a damn about where they were right now. Xuxu shyly and nervously peered around as she answered him, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you are talking about.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yan Rusheng pinched her waist and gradually added more strength. Xuxu was in pain and felt ticklish at the same time. But she stopped herself from yelling. She continued her pretense, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°As compared to the indifferent and aloof side of you, I like the petty side of you.¡± Yan Rusheng snuggled up to Xuxu as his lips brushed against her soft and supple neck. His voice turned hoarse and tender, and it was seductive. He used his soft lips to brush against her skin and succeeded in tempting Xuxu and himself at the same time. Xuxu was flustered and raised her hands to grab Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms hastily. She looked at him, as her eyes lit up with eager anticipation. ¡°What did you say?¡± He said he liked her? Did she hear him wrongly? Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t understand why she was overwhelmed, neither did he understand her sudden anticipation. He grabbed her waist and bent his head to kiss the tip of her nose. ¡°You are more enchanting and alluring when you¡¯re being petty and jealous.¡± He sounded so ambiguous and loving. Chapter 468. Like A Thief Xuxu closed her eyes and enjoyed his warm breath smothering her as she broke into a gentle smile. Was this¡­ a dream? The guests at the main hall of the hotel couldn¡¯t refrain from whipping out their cell phone to snap a picture of the two of them kissing in public. ¡­ After the event ended, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng went back to the office. Before Young Master Yan went into his office, he pressed his lips on Xuxu¡¯s ears. He then whispered, ¡°Since there¡¯s a huge pile of work before us, billing and cooing can only happen at night on our bed.¡± His words made her face turned red with embarrassment, and for the entire afternoon, her face was especially rosy. Since that day was the company¡¯s annual meeting, everyone, including Yan Rusheng, knocked off punctually. He took his coat with him and then strode out of his office, his eyes lingering on Xuxu¡¯s spick and span desk. Her seat was already empty and her laptop was turned off. It all indicated that the owner of the seat had already left. ¡°President Yan.¡± Just then, Qiao Jian walked over. Yan Rusheng averted his gaze towards him with a look of annoyance. ¡°Did Wen Xuxu say where she went?¡± Qiao Jian could sense that he was raging on the verge of raging right now, and so he answered cautiously, ¡± ¡°Madam didn¡¯t mention where she was going. She merely only said that she had something to attend to and left.¡± ¡°How long had she left?¡± Yan Rusheng asked as he whipped out his cell phone to dial Xuxu¡¯s number. Qiao Jian looked at his watch and answered, ¡°She left about half an hour ago.¡± After dialing Xuxu¡¯s number, Yan Rusheng flung his coat¡ªwhich he had been holding with the other hand¡ªat Qiao Jian. He then strode towards the door with huge steps. The call got through. Young Master Yan asked in annoyance, ¡°Wen Xuxu, where are you?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°I¡¯m already at the hotel.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng hung up without a word. Qiao Jian followed after him and tried to keep up with his pace while exerting extra effort. Seeing his boss looking so anxious and worried, he felt scorned. So what if she had left earlier? Lady boss is already an adult, and she couldn¡¯t possibly lose her way. Was there a need to behave in this manner? Getting all worked up! Would he die if he¡¯s away from lady boss for even a split second? ¡­ Xuxu walked into the main hall of the company¡¯s annual meeting place and was stupefied. She scanned the surroundings¡ªred carpet, balloons, roses, bow-shaped floral door¡­ Why did she feel that she was attending a wedding reception instead? Many employees of Flourish & Prosper had arrived, and everyone was looking elegant and beautiful at their company¡¯s annual meeting. Xuxu walked farther in, and a floral basket filled with colorful roses caught her eye. Each rose looked beautifully alluring. While she was engrossed in admiring the roses, someone called out to her, ¡°Sister Xuxu, you have arrived.¡± It was Manager Wang from the PR Department. Xuxu looked at him and nodded. She asked, ¡°Do you know where President Yan¡¯s room is?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Manager Wang replied. ¡°President Yan¡¯s room number is 204 and I have his room card.¡± As he said that, Manager Wang took out a wallet from his pocket and passed the room card to Xuxu. Xuxu received it and said, ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± After thanking Manager Wang, she turned around and left the hall with the room card in her hand. Since the company had booked the entire floor, every high-ranking executive from various departments was given a room for them to rest. Xuxu found Room 204 and gained access using the room card. Even though it was her husband¡¯s room, she somehow felt guilty and walked in stealthily¡ªlike a thief. It was a splendorous and majestic suite. Xuxu stepped on the soft carpet with her high heels without making a single sound. She drew out a red heart-shaped box from her bag and walked around the entire room. Chapter 469. Too Slipshod, I Don’t Agree In the end, she decided to place the box at the coffee table, because from her understanding of Yan Rusheng, he would definitely take a nap on the sofa when he came into the room. She walked over to the coffee table, bent over, and gingerly placed down the box on the table in such a way that the printed side of the box was facing the sofa. She gave the box a kiss and then looked at it with endearing eyes. ¡°Ah Sheng, I love you.¡± After years of being hidden inside her heart, she finally was able to express those words. She wasn¡¯t as nervous as she had imagined, but rather, she was filled with anticipation. ¡­ Everyone was allowed to bring their friends or relatives to the company¡¯s annual meeting, which the majority of them did. As the hall was brimming with people, Xuxu found a quiet corner to settle down. She was holding and swaying a glass of red wine in her hand with a certain hesitation. To some, drinking wine requires a certain degree of courage and determination, especially for¡­ her. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± As Xuxu was lost in her thoughts, a familiar male voice was heard coming from behind. He sounded infuriated. As she turned her head, the man had already stood on her side. His charming face was darker than Justice Bao. What happened again? Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and looked at the man. He seemed to be on the verge of exploding. ¡°What have I done to irate Young Master again?¡± Yan Rusheng walked closer to Wen Xuxu and berated her. ¡°Who gave you the permission to leave first?¡± Upon hearing the reason for Yan Rusheng¡¯s rage, Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°I thought it was due to some grave matters. I came earlier to see the work arrangements.¡± Was there a need to behave in this manner just because of this small matter? Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you inform me before you left?¡± Xuxu found it amusing. ¡°Why are you so anxious? I¡¯m not a three-year-old child. I won¡¯t get lost and neither will I run off.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Just before Yan Rusheng could continue to berate Xuxu, a voice laced with laziness was heard coming from behind him. ¡°Third Yan, I know that you have a strict upbringing. But shouldn¡¯t you save some face for Xuxu, especially in the presence of so many people?¡± Xuxu was startled to see a certain group of men walking towards them. This was their company¡¯s annual meeting, so why is it that the group of Young Masters was present as well? Lu Yinan led the group and strolled leisurely towards Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. He then stood beside Yan Rusheng, raised his eyebrows and laughed. ¡°Two days ago when you called to invite us to your company¡¯s annual meeting, was it intended for us have a glimpse at how Third Young Master lectures his wife?¡± He called and invited them two days ago? Xuxu couldn¡¯t make head or tail out of the conversation. She stared blankly at the group of Young masters who were Yan Rusheng¡¯s childhood friends. Everyone was present, including¡­ Jiang Zhuoheng. Seeing Jiang Zhuoheng, she seemed to have understood something all of a sudden, and she almost burst out laughing. ¡°Get lost!¡± Yan Rusheng menacingly glared at Young Master Lu. He took a step closer to Xuxu and embraced her waist instinctively. When all of the Young Masters stood together, each having their own merits, they made an impressive sight. Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t want to further grapple with this bunch of Young Masters as they were not on the same frequency as her. Thus, she found an excuse to leave. Looking at Xuxu¡¯s slender back view, Lu Yinan walked over to Yan Rusheng and asked curiously, ¡°Third Yan, you had this place decorated in this manner and even called us over. What are you up to?¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to respond, Ming Ansheng speculated. ¡°Are you making use of this opportunity to hold a post-wedding with Xuxu?¡± Hearing this, Lu Yinan gestured with a wave. ¡°This is too slipshod and random. I don¡¯t agree.¡± Chapter 470. Never Seen You So Petty Someone continued, ¡°It¡¯s someone else¡¯s wedding. So what if you disagree?¡± Yan Rusheng fixated his gaze on the little woman as she maneuvered through the crowd. As he listened to the incessant teasings, he placed one hand on his chest and the other hand was pressed against his forehead, his fingers gently stroking his temples as he broke into a mysterious shallow smile. Gradually, he no longer paid attention to the conversations of the crowd. ¡­ ¡°Xuxu.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng left the group of Young Masters and found Xuxu eating at a corner. He called out softly while walking towards her. He then conveniently leaned against the sofa that Xuxu was seated at. He was holding a half-empty wine glass with one hand, and the other hand was casually stuffed into his pocket. He stood behind Xuxu and looked down at the crown of her head, her forehead, and her pair of thick, curly lashes. When Xuxu heard Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s voice, she raised her head to smile at him. ¡°Ah Heng.¡± The sullen look in Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s eyes vanished, and he also broke into a smile. ¡°I heard that the event organized by Flourish & Prosper today was a success and all credit should go to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to hearsay!¡± Xuxu humbly responded. ¡°The credit goes to everyone. I¡¯m not fully capable of handling the event single-handedly.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled without commenting. He looked down and brought the wine glass to his lips and took a sip. Xuxu couldn¡¯t decipher what was on his mind. She also didn¡¯t know what else to say to him. Suddenly, a chilly voice interrupted and broke their silence. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, you are always finding opportunity to be near to my wife. It¡¯s time to rid of this habit of yours.¡± Xuxu was speechless as she looked at the man who was storming towards her. She had the urge to strangle him. Jiang Zhuoheng coldly sneered, ¡°Can¡¯t Xuxu continue being my friend even after she¡¯s married?¡± ¡°Of course you two can still be friends¡­¡± One could obviously hear a hidden meaning in Yan Rusheng¡¯s response. Xuxu feared that his malicious tongue would go out of control, and she swiftly averted the topic to stop him. ¡°There are so many beautiful ladies in the company waiting for a chance to have a drink with President Yan. You should be out there to show your appreciation to your employees.¡± Yan Rusheng flashed a devilish smile towards her direction. ¡°You are the only one that I value.¡± Oh my god! This fellow was too corny! Was he even Yan Rusheng? Hearing the two of them bickering with each other, Jiang Zhuoheng found an excuse to leave. After Jiang Zhuoheng left, Yan Rusheng sat down beside Xuxu. ¡°What were you two chatting about?¡± ¡°Just because I left the office without informing you, doesn¡¯t mean that you need to be overly anxious.¡± Xuxu gave the man beside her a side glance. ¡°Please, stop it. I¡¯ve never seen you this petty before.¡± He knew that Ah Heng would be there, and he was afraid that she¡¯d run into him if ever she arrived early to the venue. Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t all that surprised that Xuxu could read what was on his mind. He asked, ¡°Do you prefer that I don¡¯t have any reaction when I see you in the company of another man?¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°You are overreacting.¡± All of a sudden, she recalled something. She swiftly took out an item from her little purse and passed it to Yan Rusheng. ¡°This is your room card.¡± As Yan Rusheng took the card from her, he asked, ¡°Does this mean that you have a room all to yourself?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xuxu nodded as if she was stating a known fact. ¡°I am also a high ranking executive of the company.¡± The truth was when she was planning the room arrangements before, they hadn¡¯t reconciled yet. Hence, she arranged separate rooms for both of them. Chapter 471. A Lifelong Mistake to Have Met Young Master Yan Yan Rusheng added, ¡°As the lady boss of the company, shouldn¡¯t you be more prudent with the company¡¯s expenditure?¡± He reached out to her from the back and embraced her waist. Xuxu wiggled her body awkwardly and spoke with a hint of jealousy, ¡°No matter how meticulous and careful I am with the company¡¯s expenditure, I can¡¯t write off the penalty fees for breaching the contract to replace a celebrity as the company¡¯s spokesperson.¡± When Yan Rusheng heard this, he burst into laughter. ¡°You are indeed petty.¡± After that, he turned his head, pressed forward to Xuxu¡¯s ears, and whispered, ¡°Chen Yuxi was replaced because of her character, and it has nothing to do with others.¡± His voice was laced with a hint of a smile, and it made him sound especially gentle and even more attractive. He put down his wine glass and embraced her with both hands. Even though her petite frame was covered with layers of clothes, the intimate feelings of embracing her were still as wonderful. He just couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. Xuxu turned away from him in a huff. She looked at him through the corner of her eyes and sneered coldly, ¡°Oh, others? Who is this ¡®others¡¯ that you are talking about?¡± In his heart, was Fang Jiayin considered as ¡®others¡¯? She wanted to know badly. But she knew that if she continued to press him while he¡¯s embracing her, she would appear to be petty and pretentious. ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡± Yan Rusheng stroked her waist with his huge palm. His warm breath revealed a dangerous signal. Xuxu understood his hooligan antics and wanted to push him away to escape. But Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t give her an opportunity to do so. One look at her, he already knew her intention. Just when she was about to stand up, he pushed her down with all his might and crushed his body on to her. ¡°Don¡¯t feign ignorance.¡± Without giving her a chance to retaliate, he pressed his lips firmly onto hers. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xuxu turned rigid and her eyes widened in shock as she stared intently at the man¡¯s deep-set eyes. Xuxu thought, ¡°This is too much! This fellow is getting more blatant and unrestrained.¡± She clenched her fists tightly and hurled punches at Yan Rusheng with all her might. She nervously scanned the surroundings as the huge hall was filled with people. Her heart was almost in her mouth. What happens if someone caught them in the act? ¡°Quickly, take a look.¡± ¡°President Yan is so amazing. He can persevere for so long.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so thrilling. Live telecast from President Yan and Madam.¡± ¡°Boss and lady boss publicly displaying their affection.¡± What she had feared came true. People started noticing them and were making a commotion as they watched the couple. Although the voices were mainly full of adoration and envy, Xuxu¡¯s face turned crimson as if besieged by a rush of blood. She closed her eyes tightly and all she wanted was to find a hole to bury herself. However, the man on top of her didn¡¯t seem to have any intentions to stop. She was extremely annoyed and so she hit him hard with her knee. The man groaned out loud, his charming face turned crimson instantly. He lifted his head and looked at Xuxu. This stupid woman was so vicious. How dare she kicked him hard at that spot? As there were so many pairs of eyes looking at them, Young Master Yan refrained himself from lashing out at her even though he was in intense pain. He could only purse his lips and wait for the pain to subside. Xuxu finally found the opportunity to push him away. She hastily scrambled to her feet. She lowered her head and frantically tidied up her hair and clothes. Would everyone misunderstand that she was the one who possessed strong desires for that kind of thing and couldn¡¯t control herself? It seemed that it was her lifelong mistake to have met Yan Rusheng. Because of him, her image and integrity had been tarnished. As compared to Xuxu, Yan Rusheng was calm and unruffled in the midst of the chaos. He tidied his shirt while licking the area of his lips which Xuxu had bitten. He felt pleased with himself. Chapter 472. Definitely Not Enough Everyone still fixed their gaze on the two. In fact, the crowd just got larger and larger. Xuxu was just too embarrassed to even raise her head. Yan Rusheng shot her a glance and then turned to show his cold face to the crowd. ¡°To those who are standing there watching, each one is to pay 500 yuan for viewing fees. If you don¡¯t pay, then you need not report to work next month.¡± He sounded laid back yet determined and haughty. Everyone in the crowd instantly clammed up and hastily took flight. It was only a few seconds of the live telecast and there wasn¡¯t even any in-depth content. So why is he charging them viewing fees? Those ¡®hot performances¡¯ in the fitting room also didn¡¯t command any fees. So why was President Yan so mean? He was indeed an indisputable blood-sucking capitalist. Everyone was criticizing him quietly, but no one had the courage to challenge him. It¡¯s difficult to find a job nowadays, especially from a high threshold enterprise like Flourish & Prosper. So even if they were reluctant to, they better pay up the 500 yuan. Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched non-stop. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you are downright shameless.¡± She glared at Yan Rusheng with a look of disdain, stood up furiously and stomped off. The ¡®deng deng¡¯ sound of her footsteps sounded increasingly farther. He had gone too far with his behavior this time and yet, he didn¡¯t feel a sense of shame when the public caught him in the act. He even had the cheek to collect viewing fees from the people. Other than Yan Rusheng, no one else would do such a thing. Yan Rusheng raised his wineglass again and leaned on the sofa while lazily crossing his legs. He watched with interest as the little woman furiously made a quick exit. What should he do? Just looking at her back view warmed his heart, and it delighted his eyes. Till now, he couldn¡¯t understand why he would fall in love with Wen Xuxu¡ªthis dumb woman. He had never had a good impression of her ever since they were young. Once, he even warned her not to harbor any feeling towards him just because there were circulating rumors about them. But who would have expected that he would fall head over heels in love with her in the end? How he wished he could abandon his status and image and hover around her at all times. They had known each other for over 20 years and spent more than 10 years by each other¡¯s side. Weren¡¯t these enough? The answer was definitely not enough. He wanted¡­ Yan Rusheng looked intently at the tiny-figured woman who had disappeared into the crowd and slightly smiled. A lifetime! ¡­ Yan Rusheng and the few Young Masters went into the card room to play for a few rounds. When he came out, he couldn¡¯t find any trace of Wen Xuxu in the hall. ¡°Manager Wang.¡± He caught sight of Manager Wang from the PR Department and waved at him. Manager Wang hurriedly walked over and greeted him with a smile. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Wen Xuxu¡¯s room?¡± Since she wasn¡¯t in the card room nor at the hall, he assumed that she must be resting in her own room. Manager Wang politely replied, ¡°Madam¡¯s room is at Room 208.¡± Without a word, Yan Rusheng strode towards the entrance with vigorous steps. On his way out, he took a glance at the room directional signage and found his way to Room 208. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng was about to turn towards the direction of Xuxu¡¯s room when a familiar woman¡¯s voice called out to him all of a sudden. He stopped in his tracks and turned towards the voice. There was a fleeting look of surprise in his eyes. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Tong was wearing a khaki colored long dress with a little fur jacket, and she was holding a bright pink Chanel clutch bag in her hand. She wore light makeup and walked gracefully towards Yan Rusheng. A tall lady was beside her. Chapter 473. You Should Be Recuperating at Home She was overflowing with beauty, and it hinted a simple yet elegant smile. Against her pale skin, her gentle looking eyes looked exceptionally lovely and alluring. Her waist length hair hung loosely over her shoulders. Along with her causal-looking white knitted blouse, she exuded a graceful and intelligent womanly charm. Just looking at her made one feel at ease. Her skinny jeans fitted snugly around her slender legs. She followed behind Zhou Tong with light, graceful steps. As she walked over to Yan Rusheng, she gazed at him and then gently called out, ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Yan Rusheng answered faintly without a trace of warmth in his tone. ¡°You¡¯ve just been discharged from the hospital and recuperate at home.¡± His intention was very obvious. Both Fang Jiayin and Zhou Tong understood. ¡°I¡­¡± Fang Jiayin bit her lips and appeared awkward. ¡°I know that I shouldn¡¯t be here¡­¡± Before she could even finish her words, Zhou Tong suddenly interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m the one who dragged Jiayin here. She just got discharged and was feeling bored at home. Since today is Christmas Day and everywhere is in a festive mood, I got her to accompany me here.¡± She smiled as she explained to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t look at Zhou Tong nor responded to her explanation. With complex emotions imbued in his eyes, he directed all that to Fang Jiayin instead. He remained silent for a while before speaking, ¡°Since you are here, so be it.¡± It¡¯s good that she¡¯s here too. Perhaps from now on, she would let go completely. Fang Jiayin looked down, and with a hint of delight in her eyes, she raised her head and looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng, Merry Christmas.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips and said, ¡°You can go in but it¡¯s pretty crowded and noisy inside. You may not be used to it.¡± Fang Jiayin chuckled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just go to the hall and take a seat.¡± After that, she lowered her head and looked rather disappointed. Zhou Tong felt sorry for her. She held on to her arm as she consoled her, ¡°Since we are already here, let¡¯s go in for some fun. Aren¡¯t you feeling bored after staying in the hospital for so long?¡± Of course, she could also tell that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want to let Fang Jiayin appear in the presence of his employees. If Fang Jiayin were to walk in, she would definitely create unnecessary attention. Furthermore, there were scandals about them before. But she deliberately wanted her to go in. That evil Wen Xuxu was so detestable. How could she make a fool out of her in the public? She just couldn¡¯t take it lying down. ¡°I¡¯m feeling giddy, and the hall is the right kind of quiet for me.¡± Fang Jiayin made up an excuse to reject Zhou Tong. After that, she looked down and supported her forehead with her hand, looking like she¡¯s unwell. Yan Rusheng looked at her and seemed to have recalled something. He took out a room card from his pocket and handed it to Fang Jiayin. ¡°My company had reserved an extra room. If you feel unwell, you can take a rest there.¡± Anyway, he had no intention to stay in that room. So he let her have it. Knowing how her brain works, he believed that she would take the chance and stay in that room. For the last three years, he was mad at her for leaving without a word. But now, he realized that he was the one at fault. Thinking back, she had invested everything into their relationship, and what he had given her was only an illusion. If she hadn¡¯t left, he wouldn¡¯t have discovered that Wen Xuxu was the one he loved. Thus, towards her, he felt guilt and gratitude at the same time. But since she was already here, he couldn¡¯t chase her out. He could only make arrangements for her without causing any misunderstanding to Xuxu. ¡°Ok.¡± Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t decline and took the room card from Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. Chapter 474. Do You Think Im an Idiot? Zhou Tong saw that Fang Jiayin had accepted the room card from Yan Rusheng and couldn¡¯t take it lying down. ¡°Jiayin, since you¡¯re already here, let¡¯s go in and have a bite. You haven¡¯t had your dinner, right?¡± Yan Rusheng viciously glared at Zhou Tong and coldly said, ¡°Miss Zhou, if you run into my wife again, please address her as Mrs. Yan.¡± This wretched woman. She had the audacity to scheme against him time and time again! Looks like it¡¯s time to knock her down with a peg or else she won¡¯t know her limits. Yan Rusheng¡¯s remarks took aback Zhou Tong. She immediately pressed her lips together and remained quiet. Fang Jiayin looked at the room number on the card and double checked the room directional signage before replying Yan Rusheng with a smile, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll go and take a rest.¡± She looked at Zhou Tong and said, ¡°Zhou Tong, go and have a bite. I¡¯ll be in room 204. Come to the room and look for me before you leave.¡± Zhou Tong had no choice but to oblige and nodded her head. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go in and show my face before going over to look for you.¡± Since she¡¯s Flourish & Prosper¡¯s current spokesperson, she had requested in her contract to attend tonight¡¯s annual meeting, all for the sake of publicity and boosting her popularity. Fang Jiayin replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright. You can stay on and have fun since I¡¯ll be taking a nap.¡± After that, she turned around and headed for Room 204. Yan Rusheng followed behind Fang Jiayin. They were going in the same direction since Xuxu¡¯s room was just a few doors from Fang Jiayin¡¯s. When Fang Jiayin arrived in front of Room 204, she swiped the card to open the door. She walked in and then closed the door after her. Yan Rusheng heard the door closing and stopped in his steps. He knitted his eyebrows and looked towards the direction of the door. After that, he raised his feet and continued walking forward. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± All of a sudden, Fang Jiayin called out to him from behind. He stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at her. Bewildered, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a box of chocolates in your room. Can I eat them?¡± Fang Jiayin raised the pink heart-shaped box in her hand and asked Yan Rusheng with a smile. Chocolates? Yan Rusheng glanced at the box and without thinking further, he nonchalantly answered, ¡°It must be from the hotel. You can have them if you like.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Fang Jiayin was delighted. ¡°Thank you.¡± After that, she closed the door. ¡°Third Yan, I heard that Fang Jiayin is here too?¡± Yan Rusheng was about to continue walking ahead when he ran into Lu Yinan. The moment he saw him, Lu Yinan immediately asked about Fang Jiayin. Yan Rusheng pointed to the room behind him and said, ¡°She¡¯s in Room 204.¡± ¡°She came just in time. We¡¯re short with one player.¡± Lu Yinan walked up to Yan Rusheng and whispered, ¡°Why did you invite her here?¡± Weren¡¯t there enough scandals about the two of them recently? Yan Rusheng coldly glanced at him. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m an idiot?¡± ¡°I also thought it was impossible.¡± Lu Yinan tapped Yan Rusheng lightly on his shoulder and nodded his head. ¡°Ok, got it. As your brother, I¡¯ll help you out of your misery.¡± Yan Rusheng threw him a cold look and then ignored him. He continued walking and turned towards Room 208. ¡­ ¡°Ok, I got it. Rest assured that I¡¯ll bring him home for dinner tomorrow. Please remember to get Qi Lei to buy more food.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay. Then just feed him salted vegetables.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be all. Let¡¯s end the call.¡± Chapter 475. Hes Never Seen Xuxu Behaving in This Manner After more than 10 minutes of coaxing, Xuxu finally managed to persuade her grandfather and made him happy. She was standing along the staircase and felt herself shivering after she hung up the call. She swiftly turned around, opened the door of the staircase, and walked into the corridor. The corridor was warmer than the staircase. But she hesitated when she heard laughter coming from the hall. After that, she looked down and proceeded to unzip her bag to put away her phone. After that, she searched her bag for the room card. She took a quick glance at the room number before heading to the respective room. Suddenly, her phone rang from inside her bag. She took it out and saw that the caller was Yan Rusheng. Her eyes revealed an innocent smile. She answered the call. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Where are you? It¡¯s starting soon.¡± Yan Rusheng sounded furious over the phone that it made Xuxu move her phone slightly away from her ears. She knitted her eyebrows in bewilderment and asked, ¡°What is starting?¡± She walked as she talked. ¡°Oh, Young Master Lu. I really don¡¯t know how to play mahjong. Please count me out.¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from where she was. Xuxu raised her head, looked over, and her expression froze. Even though Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice was exploding with fury over the phone, she didn¡¯t really pay attention to the rest of the conversation. She was dumbstruck for a moment and her face turned sullen. After that, she hung up without a word. She raised her feet and stomped furiously towards a pair of people engaged in a tussle outside Room 204. ¡°I¡¯m not going. Have some chocolates,¡± spoke Fang Jiayin as she unwrapped the pink heart-shaped box in her hands. Suddenly, someone¡¯s hand reached out and snatched the box over from her. As the action was too violent, the hard corner of the box scratched her face. ¡°Ah!¡± Fang Jiayin let out a yell. She pressed her hand lightly on the scratch. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Lu Yinan turned around and looked at the woman in question. He was apparently shocked. Xuxu looked gloomy and terrifying. He¡¯d never seen Xuxu behaving in this manner. ¡°Xuxu. I¡­¡± Fang Jiayin looked at Xuxu as she continued to press her hand on the wound. There was an inexplicable grievance on her face. Without giving her a chance to explain, Xuxu snorted coldly, ¡°Get lost!¡± Her voice trembled uncontrollably as she said that. After that, she turned and walked away. She walked past a trash can and threw the heart-shaped box into it. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Lu Yinan was baffled by her reaction but gave chase because he knew that she was fuming. Lu Yishan happened to walk out of the card room and saw him. She called out to him from afar. ¡°Brother, what took you so long?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng and Ming Ansheng also followed suit and came out of the card room. Everyone was astonished when they saw Fang Jiayin holding on to her face with reddened eyes. Ming Ansheng rushed forward and asked Fang Jiayin, ¡°Miss Fang Jiayin, what happened?¡± Feeling aggrieved, Fang Jiayin tried to explain, ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± She stammered and almost choked on her words. Lu Yinan saw the situation and explained on her behalf, ¡°Don¡¯t know what came over Xuxu. Fang Jiayin was holding a box of chocolates in her hand and all of a sudden, Xuxu marched over furiously and snatched away the box of chocolates and threw it into the trash can.¡± ¡°Chocolates?¡± Lu Yishan heard Lu Yinan and exclaimed, ¡°Was it the box of chocolates that third sister-in-law had specially handmade for Third Brother Yan?¡± Hearing this, everyone was astonished. Suddenly, a towering figure appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Yishan, what did you say?¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed Lu Yishan¡¯s shoulder and stared at her with his malicious-looking eyes. He was also in a state of shock. Chapter 476. You Deserved to Be Shot a Million Times! Lu Yishan got a fright when she saw his expression and stuttered, ¡°Yesterday¡­ yesterday, Third sister-in-law and I ran into each other at a nearby hotel. I told her that men usually expressed their love for women by sending roses, whereas women usually give chocolates as an expression of their love. So she¡­ she personally made a box for you.¡± Before Lu Yishan could finish her words, all of a sudden, someone grabbed Yan Rusheng by his collar. ¡®Thump.¡¯ A fist landed hard near the corner of his mouth and blood oozed out from his mouth. Following this, Jiang Zhuoheng pushed him against the wall. He was exploding with rage and was glaring at him with his vicious-looking eyes. He yelled at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you don¡¯t deserve Xuxu¡¯s love.¡± After yelling at him, he raised his fist again. Ming Ansheng and the rest immediately went forward to stop him. ¡°Ah Heng, don¡¯t be like this.¡± Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan each grabbed hold of one of Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s arm in an attempt to pull him away from Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng widened his eyes in shock. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve Xuxu¡¯s love¡­¡± He suddenly snapped out of his trance and violently pushed Jiang Zhuoheng away. He spun around and ran towards the direction of the hall. People crowded the hall. He walked in, frantically maneuvering and combing through the crowd like a crazy man. No. Wen Xuxu must be angry, hurt and disappointed. She must have left. As he mulled over this, he turned and dashed for the entrance. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng exited the entrance of the annual meeting hall and anxiously walked towards the staircase. When he reached the flight of stairs, he was about to push open the door when he bumped into Qiao Jian. Yan Rusheng anxiously asked, ¡°Have you seen Wen Xuxu?¡± Qiao Jian replied, ¡°I came to inform you that I ran into Madam in the hall earlier. She was leaving.¡± Before he could finish his words, Yan Rusheng had already disappeared in a flash and headed for the first floor. ¡®Yan Rusheng, you deserved to be shot! You deserved to be shot a million times!¡¯ With one breath, Yan Rusheng dashed to the car park and realized that Xuxu¡¯s car was no longer there. He hurriedly took his car keys and unlocked his car door. He pounded his fist on the steering wheel while berating himself before driving off. He turned and swerved the car, he then stepped on the accelerator. His car sped off at rocket speed and disappeared from the hotel in split seconds. Yan Rusheng put on his blue-tooth and dialed Old Master Wen¡¯s number. When he heard the old master¡¯s voice, he composed himself and said, ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s me, Third Yan.¡± ¡°Third Yan?¡± Old Master Wen was shocked to receive a call from Yan Rusheng. ¡°Why did you call me?¡± This was because Yan Rusheng had never once called him. Yan Rusheng had wanted to ask Old Master Wen if Xuxu was at his place. But he had doubts, he reckoned that Xuxu must still be fuming mad and feeling sad, and thus, she wouldn¡¯t return to Grandfather¡¯s home and cause the elderly undue worry. He also didn¡¯t want to cause worry to the elderly. Hence, he smiled and said, ¡°I just want to wish you Merry Christmas.¡± Over at the other end of the line, the elderly man was insensitive and poured a wet blanket on him. ¡± Hmph! This is a celebration of the West, so what has it got to do with me?¡± After saying that, the old man asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Xuxu? She called earlier to say that the two of you will be back at my place for dinner tomorrow?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and replied, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll visit you tomorrow.¡± After a short and casual chat with the elderly man, he found an excuse to end the call and dialled Xuxu¡¯s number. As expected, Xuxu didn¡¯t answer his call. There were glistening Christmas trees along the streets. At the mall, children were holding on to sticks of fireworks, and maneuvering happily through the crowd. Chapter 477. Handsome Man, Come in and Have a Chat There were lovers locking hands and people dressed as Santa Claus while distributing presents. Christmas spirit filled everywhere. With one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand propped up his chin, Yan Rusheng gazed intently at the road ahead of him, watching the snowflakes falling softly from the sky. ¡®This is your room card.¡¯ ¡®Do you mean you have a room of your own?¡¯ ¡®Of course¡­ I am also a high ranking executive of the company.¡¯ ¡®Women usually give chocolates as an expression of their love¡­ she personally made a box of chocolates for you.¡¯ ¡®Yan Rusheng, you don¡¯t deserve Xuxu¡¯s love.¡¯ All of a sudden, he stepped hard on the accelerator just before the traffic light turned red and sped past a junction. The snow started becoming heavier by the minute, and everything was covered in snow. Yan Rusheng rolled his car window down, allowing the chilly wind to numb his senses. His entire body was trembling profusely as he sneaked a peek out of the window. He thought, ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s so cold. Where are you now?¡± ¡­ Yan Rusheng called home a few times, and Aunt Zhang¡¯s usual responses were ¡®Missy is not home yet.¡¯ ¡®Knock knock knock.¡¯ He stopped by Xuxu¡¯s apartment first and stood outside her door knocking. But there was no answer. Earlier when he was downstairs, he saw that the lights to her apartment weren¡¯t turned on. Thus, he wasn¡¯t sure if she was in the house. But other than her own apartment, he couldn¡¯t think of any other places that she would go to. From his understanding of her, she wasn¡¯t one who would take the initiative to share her personal thoughts and troubles with others, be it happy or sad thoughts¡­ Especially sad thoughts. So he reckoned that she wouldn¡¯t go looking for her best friend too. ¡®Knock knock knock.¡¯ Yan Rusheng stopped for a moment before rapping on the door again. ¡°Why do you keeping knocking on the door so late at night? Do you know that your knockings hindered my climax?¡± A young man who was wearing only a pair of boxers stood at his door and yelled at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng froze for a moment and turned back to take a look. That man howled at him again, ¡°What are you staring at? Useless fellow. If she ignores you, can¡¯t you look for another one?¡± ¡°Well done.¡± Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth and nodded at the man who yelled at him. His voice sounded extremely icy. All of a sudden, he reached out and grabbed the man¡¯s arm, hauling him to one side before dashing straight into his home. Following that, he slammed the door hard after him. ¡®Knock knock knock.¡¯ Yan Rusheng had locked the man out of his home. He shouted at the top of his voice, ¡°Damn it! I asked you to change a woman and you had the cheek to enter¡­¡± ¡°If you dare to touch my woman, you will not live to see the sunrise tomorrow!¡± The man¡¯s shouts didn¡¯t threaten Yan Rusheng in the slightest bit. He strode across the living room with huge steps. The door to the master bedroom was opened and he walked in. Pieces of clothes were strewn everywhere in the room. It was a promiscuous sight. The woman who was lying on the bed, seeing that a stranger had barged in, instinctively pulled the quilt over her body. She shrieked, ¡°Ah¡­ Who are you?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Yan Rusheng sharply looked at her. The woman trembled in fear and immediately pressed her lips together. When she saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, a streak of surprise flashed past her eyes. Yan Rusheng walked out of the room and into the balcony. ¡°Handsome man, it¡¯s cold outside. Come in and have a chat.¡± The woman suddenly jumped out of the bed, stark naked. Chapter 478. I Love You! She ran after Yan Rusheng. Without turning his head, Yan Rusheng pointed at the silly love-struck woman behind him and yelled at her to get lost. His loftiness took aback the woman, so she stopped in her tracks as if a sudden paralysis struck her. After that, Yan Rusheng stretched out his hands to open the balcony window. A gust of cold, piercing wind rushed in. He held on to the window frame and leaped forward with a huge step. The woman witnessed this, and it scared her out of her wits. She rushed forward and looked out of the window and saw that Yan Rusheng had already climbed onto the air-conditioner rack. She shouted, ¡°Handsome man, what are you trying to do? It¡¯s dangerous.¡± They were on the eighth floor of the building. ¡°If you don¡¯t get lost, I¡¯ll throw you down,¡± half yelled Yan Rusheng at the woman. He took quick steps and continued to feel his way around the air-conditioner rack next door. ¡­ His perseverance finally paid off. Yan Rusheng climbed into Xuxu¡¯s house like how he¡¯d planned it. He was lucky that Xuxu didn¡¯t lock her window from the inside. Her room was pitch-black. He pulled out his cell-phone from his pocket and switched on the flashlight. He shone the light at her bed and saw it was neatly arranged. There was no one in sight. Perhaps she really didn¡¯t come at all? Yan Rusheng was feeling a little despondent as he walked out of her bedroom. He switched on the light first before heading out. He was about to walk towards the room opposite to Xuxu¡¯s bedroom when he accidentally glanced at the living room sofa. He stopped in his steps, and his heart skipped a beat. ¡°Xuxu,¡± he called out. His heart ached as he took a few, huge steps towards the person curled like a ball on the sofa. He knelt down beside her. Xuxu was motionless. Yan Rusheng was reaching out his hands to caress her face when his phone fell out from his hand. It landed on the floor with a loud ¡®thud.¡¯ ¡°Xuxu.¡± He threw himself over her and embraced her tightly. ¡°Xuxu.¡± ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng whispered her name to her ears without ceasing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± He held on to her tightly. Her petite body was shivering in cold. He said, ¡°You can scold me, just like how you used to. You can call me a scoundrel or scold me in any way you want.¡± But just don¡¯t ignore him and remain silent or turn her back coldly against him. Xuxu heard the man chiding himself and she could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears gushed out from her eyes. She shouldn¡¯t be reacting this way. Wasn¡¯t she already used to his hurting behavior? Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart ached for her, and he reached out to wipe away her tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore.¡± He had never imagined that he would feel so heartbroken when he saw Xuxu in tears. They were always at loggerheads, showing each other their coldest and cruelest side, and hiding their weaknesses from each other. They constantly wanted to prove themselves to be stronger than the other person. This had already become a habit. As a result, he had overlooked his innermost feelings. Xuxu remained silent while Yan Rusheng attempted to clarify himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t enter the room at all. I didn¡¯t know that the chocolates were from you.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you still love Fang Jiayin?¡± Suddenly, Xuxu turned her head and looked at Yan Rusheng, with tears streaming down her face. Without hesitation, Yan Rusheng shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t love her.¡± After that, he leaned forward and whispered into Xuxu¡¯s ears, ¡°I only love you!¡± With all his affection, he confessed his deep love to the woman he had grown up with. Chapter 479. You Have Two Choices I love you! In between sobs, Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°Me too.¡± Without waiting for a response from Yan Rusheng, and though she was choking on her emotions, Xuxu added, ¡°I was the one who called you ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯ first.¡± Each time she heard Fang Jiayin addressed him as ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯, she felt a sharp knife twisting into her heart. She used to have a humble thought that even if he didn¡¯t love her in this lifetime, even if he didn¡¯t belong to her¡ªshe will remain contented with the rights that belonged to her alone. She thought she had all the rights to the nickname ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯. But one unfortunate day, after being in a relationship with him for a few years, Fang Jiayin suddenly took over her one and only right. Since then, it has become a sole right under Fang Jiayin. ¡®Even if you addressed me as President Yan or Yan Rusheng, I wouldn¡¯t mind.¡¯ After Yan Rusheng heard Xuxu¡¯s words, he suddenly recalled that time when they were on the island. He remembered the words he had told to her. He embraced her even more tightly. ¡°Besides you, I will allow no one else to address me this way in the future.¡± Xuxu remained hushed and her tears cascaded down her cheeks once more. Her warm tears depicted the joys and sorrows she had tasted all these years of being by his side. Large pieces of snowflakes fell quietly from the sky and the snowfall grew heavier. It covered up the entire city beneath a deep coat of snow. Xuxu clung on tightly to her lifelong dream and looked at the falling snowflakes. Perhaps the hard times were over, and good times were just beginning, and she felt that this winter was no longer as cold as before. ¡­ They both embraced each other tightly, nestled on the small sofa. ¡°When did you start falling for me?¡± After a stretch of silence, it was Yan Rusheng who suddenly opened his mouth. Without waiting for Xuxu to answer, he sought to make a guess. ¡°You had given up your studies for Jiang Zhuoheng, so it shouldn¡¯t be around that time. You must have fallen for me gradually after he left.¡± Every word of Young Master Yan revealed his narcissistic self. After saying that, he drew Xuxu even closer to him. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, that rascal. If I were him, guilt and self-blame would ultimately consume me that I would jump out of the building,¡± he said with traces of envy and hatred coating his voice. Xuxu smiled, remained silent, and changed the topic. ¡°Then when did you fall for me?¡± What happened in the past, let it stay in the past. Let the past only remain as her secret and fond memories. There¡¯s no longer a need to bring it up again and caused him more distressed. ¡°Let me guess.¡± Xuxu also followed suit and fought to answer before he could. ¡°It must be after Fang Jiayin left that you started falling for me.¡± Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Don¡¯t be a copycat.¡± All of a sudden, he shifted over and pressed his body on to Xuxu and planted a peck on her tender lips. He sensed that the conditions were right tonight. To his surprise, the moment he pressed his lips onto hers, Xuxu shoved him away with all her might. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t assume that I¡¯ll not pursue the chocolate issue.¡± Yan Rusheng rolled down the sofa and sat on the soft mat below the coffee table. He looked at Xuxu and fawned over her. ¡°But you have already thrown away the chocolates into the trash can. It¡¯s all my fault, and I¡¯ll try my best to make it up to you later, ok?¡± Xuxu face turned red in embarrassment. ¡®This hooligan!¡¯ She added, ¡°You have two choices. Either you retrieve the box of chocolates from the trash can, or¡­¡± She paused and couldn¡¯t find the words to continue. Yan Rusheng laughed. ¡°Or what?¡± Chapter 480. Don’t Force Me ¡°Kneel on the remote control.¡± Xuxu mumbled, ¡°Turn on the TV with the remote control facing it. Kneel on it and make sure that the screen remains the same and you don¡¯t change the channels.¡± Young Master Yan twitched his mouth and his face immediately darkened. How dare she force him¡­ kneel! Did he hear wrongly? ¡°If you don¡¯t kneel or if you couldn¡¯t do it, then you can get lost.¡± Xuxu stood up and pointed at the door. She then lowered her head to look at him. Having said that, she got up on her feet and headed to the bathroom. She was determined. Yan Rusheng reached out to touch his knees and felt annoyed. This dumb woman, how dare she makes the President of Flourish & Prosper, the Third Young Master of the Yan family go down on his knees. She¡¯s getting overboard. He needed to get tough with her; it seemed. As he mulled over this, he stood up and walked to the bathroom. He couldn¡¯t open the door as she had locked from the inside, so he pounded at it vehemently. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you don¡¯t kneel, you can get lost.¡± Wen Xuxu shouted impatiently from the bathroom. Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and threatened through his teeth. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t force me.¡± After that, he clenched his fist into a ball and prepared himself to continue knocking. Suddenly, the door opened. Wen Xuxu stood before him. She leaned against the door frame and coldly looked at him. ¡°I made the chocolate personally and the box too.¡± Her calm tone was a blend of emotions and feeling aggrieved. Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart skipped a bit. She had handmade everything. Every step and procedure was a demonstration of her love and feelings for him. If he didn¡¯t retrieve it, he wouldn¡¯t deserve her forgiveness. Furthermore, they had finally reconciled and were basking in love. Given her obstinate personality, if he came down hard at her without appeasing her anger, she would definitely pull a long face again over the next few days. After some deliberation, Young Master Yan dismissed the thought of forcing himself at her. He took a deep breath and lightly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll look for the chocolates.¡± He spun around and walked towards the main door. He consoled himself as he walked. Once he finds the box of chocolates, they could spend an unforgettable Christmas together. He was about to open the door when suddenly someone knocked. No, not knocked but profusely pounded on it. The loud thumping sound was deafening to the ears. ¡°What happened?¡± Xuxu rushed out of the bathroom and looked towards the main door with fear in her eyes. It¡¯s already late. Who could it be? Besides grandfather, who else would go looking for her? Furthermore, the knockings were so violent. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyes together and then unlocked the door in annoyance. He flung it wide open, and it revealed a man wearing only a pair of boxers. The latter had menacingly charged at him with a chopper in his hand. When Xuxu saw this, she opened her mouth in shock. ¡°Rascal, are you tired of living? How dare you seduce my woman?¡± The man waved his chopper at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng coldly glared at the man before he grabbed him by his wrist and gave it a hard twist. A loud groan echoed, followed by a loud, desperate yell from the half-naked man. Yan Rusheng then raised his feet and kicked the man hard on his leg. ¡®Thump.¡¯ The man dropped to his knees. Yan Rusheng gripped the man¡¯s wrist tightly with no intention of letting go. It distorted his wrist, and he was in immense pain. Any slight movement by Yan Rusheng would add to his agony. Chapter 481. Couldnt Find the Chocolates ¡°Ah¡­ my arm is broken.¡± The man didn¡¯t dare to act rashly and turned to look at Yan Rusheng¡ª it frightened him. His face turned pale in pain. The chopper fell off from his hand. And he was no longer as fierce and imposing as when he first came. He cried and begged Yan Rusheng to let him off. ¡°Handsome man! I beg you to release your grip. My arm is broken.¡± Yan Rusheng looked down at him and gave him one more loathe-driven kick before releasing his grip, making the man drop to the floor in pain. Before the man could turn over, he lifted a foot and stepped on his back. He stared at him with malice burning in his eyes¡ªhe looked as arrogant as ever. ¡°Who¡¯s the one who¡¯s tired of living? Huh?¡± His tone was faint, and yet it brought a piercing chill. This left the man terrified to his wits. He kowtowed in response, ¡°It¡¯s me, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡®Dong, Dong,¡¯ could be heard as the man¡¯s forehead touched the ground. ¡°Get lost!¡± Yan Rusheng yelled with all the hate he could muster. He then lifted his feet from the man. The man bore the pain, and he frantically scrambled off. Yan Rusheng slammed the door shut and turned around to look at Xuxu. Xuxu finally snapped out from her shock. Earlier on, she was dumbstruck upon witnessing how Yan Rusheng had stopped that wretched half-naked man from pounding profusely on her door. This fellow! How could he be so heartless and overbearing yet exude a charm at the same time? At that instance, she suspiciously looked at the man who had left her so smitten. ¡°Yan Rusheng, he said you seduced his woman?¡± Before Yan Rusheng came in, she overheard a commotion that took place outside her door. She guessed that the ferocious man with the chopper must be the same person who hollered at him while Yan Rusheng was rapping at the door earlier. But seducing his woman¡­ what did he mean? Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°This is not important.¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows, feeling baffled. ¡°Then what¡¯s important?¡± There was a look of concern on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s important is that your place is no longer safe to live in. You better come home with me, just in case the man comes looking for you.¡± He took a step forward, grabbed hold of Xuxu¡¯s tiny wrist, and dragged her out of her apartment. Xuxu flung his hands away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you can¡¯t find the chocolates, then I¡¯ll remain in my apartment forever.¡± After that, she immediately shoved him out of her home with all the might she could muster. She left him standing outside the door. ¡°Remember to lock the door and windows!¡± reminded Yan Rusheng with a helpless tone. He could only give out a concerned reminder from the outside. Xuxu immediately placed her ear at the door and heard his footsteps. She stood on her toes and peeped through the door hole. Yan Rusheng had already walked to the lift and had pressed the button. Looking at his towering figure, she coldly snorted in her heart. But when she turned around and leaned against the door, she revealed a blissful smile on her face. Snowflakes continued to fall from the sky and the temperature was freezing. But, Wen Xuxu, you cannot be soft-hearted. ¡­ When Yan Rusheng stepped out of the lift, he swiftly whipped out his phone and dialed a number. As he walked, he spoke over the phone. ¡°Quickly rummage through the trash can outside of Room 204. Look for a pink heart-shaped box of chocolates.¡± The moment she stepped out of the main entrance of Xuxu¡¯s department, a gust of piercing wind welcomed him. Immediately he turned his head and tucked, raising his shoulders. ¡°Tsk.¡± In the still of the night, with snowflakes fluttering all around, he couldn¡¯t believe that he had to rummage through the trash can instead of enjoying the comforts of his home under the warm embrace of a beauty. How ironic! After spewing vulgarities, Yan Rusheng wrapped himself tightly in his suit and strode down the stairs to the car park. ¡­ Yan Rusheng rushed back to the hotel. When he came out of the lift, Qiao Jian greeted him. ¡°President Yan, I couldn¡¯t find the box of chocolates you¡¯d mentioned.¡± Chapter 482. I Dont Believe That Its So Jinxed Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows skeptically, ¡°How can it be?¡± Amid their discussion, he reached the trash can sitting diagonally across Room 204. Someone had already opened the cover of the can. He peered in and could easily see the rubbish in it. There were only some plastic bags and balls of tissue paper. He spun around and asked Qiao Jian, ¡°What about the rest of the trash can? Did you go through them?¡± ¡°Yes, I went through all,¡± he answered in fear and trepidation. ¡°Young Master Lu also said Madam had thrown the chocolates into this trash can.¡± Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes in suspicion and pondered for a moment. ¡°Check with the hotel if they had changed the trash bags around that time.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Qiao Jian nodded his head and instantly went to look for the hotel manager. Along the way, he briefly explained the situation to the manager. When he saw Yan Rusheng, the manager greeted him politely, ¡°President Yan, our hotel empties the trash can three times a day and the last round is at 10 p.m.¡± 10 p.m.? Yan Rusheng took a glance at his watch. Oh, dear! It¡¯s already past 10 in the evening! That would mean that after Xuxu threw the chocolates into the trash can, they changed the trash bag after! As he mulled over it, he asked again, ¡°Where did they put the rubbish after having been cleared off?¡± The hotel manager replied, ¡°It was just loaded onto the rubbish truck, ready to send off.¡± Yan Rusheng immediately said, ¡°Search through every bag of rubbish right now. I must retrieve the box of chocolates.¡± After that, he hurriedly walked towards the staircase. The rubbish was still in the hotel premise, so that meant that there was still a chance of finding it. The hotel manager didn¡¯t dare to dawdle and nodded his head continuously. ¡°Yes. Yes, I will see to it immediately.¡± The hotel sent half their team of cleaners to search through every bag of rubbish carefully. There were bags of rubbish from the guests¡¯ rooms, corridors, kitchen, hall, toilets¡­ It called for a tremendous effort to rummage through all the bags. Even after the cleaners painstakingly searched through for half an hour, they still couldn¡¯t find the box of chocolates. Yan Rusheng stood beside the rubbish truck and looked at the mountainous pile of rubbish. After that, he withdrew his hands from his pockets and said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe that it¡¯s jinxed.¡± He bent over and rummaged through a trash bag. He found nothing. He threw it away and continued looking through bags after bags. Everyone was dumbstruck when they saw this sight. Qiao Jian froze for a moment but quickly overcame his shock. He rushed forward to stop him. ¡°President Yan, what are you doing? Stop rummaging them.¡± The hotel manager and the various department supervisors also joined in to dissuade him. ¡°President Yan, I had carefully looked through every bag of rubbish.¡± Because of this, Yan Rusheng felt even more bewildered. He commented in anger, ¡°The box of chocolates couldn¡¯t have flown out of the trash can, right?¡± The hotel manager shuddered in fear. He lowered his head and didn¡¯t dare to utter a word. ¡­ The chocolates were still nowhere! Yan Rusheng lit a cigarette in his hand and leaned on the sofa in his hotel room, puffing away. Those young masters seated around him were more calm and unruffled. In fact, all of them appeared to be gloating over his misfortune. Yan Rusheng stubbed out the cigarette halfway and took out a new one, preparing to light it. Lu Yinan reached out and grabbed his wrist to stop him. And out of concern, he spoke, ¡°Third Yan, don¡¯t smoke too much. It¡¯s bad for your health. So be it if we lose the chocolates. It¡¯s also useless for you to be puffing away.¡± Chapter 483. Isn’t There Another Option? Ming Ansheng continued, ¡°Xuxu said you had to use all means to find the chocolate?¡± Yan Rusheng coldly glanced askew at him, and his expression seemed to imply¡®why did you ask if you¡¯ve already guessed it?¡¯ He remained silent as if he admitted it. Everyone lowered their heads to stifle their laughter. Ming Ansheng, who was best at controlling his emotions among them, suppressed his laughter. With an indifferent expression, he spoke, ¡°But since we can¡¯t find it, why don¡¯t you properly apologize to Xuxu and coax her with some sweet words?¡± He had barely finished his sentence when someone else chimed in, ¡°Yes, I agree. Women all cave in when a man coaxes them.¡± Yan Rusheng surveyed them in slight contempt and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Do you reckon Wen Xuxu is a common and foolish woman?¡± He had indirectly implied that their women were all dumb and are easy to dupe and coaxed by them. All of them were speechless. He was obstinate and refused to admit that he was in the wrong. ¡°Since it¡¯s lost somewhere, what should we do?¡± Ming Ansheng looked at Yan Rusheng with a worried expression. Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t help but criticize Xuxu. ¡°This Wen Xuxu is really too stubborn and unreasonable at times. This woman isn¡¯t someone easily controlled or subdued.¡± Yan Rusheng heard his criticisms, and he gave him a long and cold look. ¡°You also grew up with her, why didn¡¯t she fall for you?¡± He had killed two birds with one stone; protecting his loved one and proclaiming that he wasn¡¯t someone ordinary as well. Lu Yinan was dumbfounded! ¡°Third Yan, we support you doting on your wife. But you need to exercise control. How can you defend her so blatantly with no reason at all?¡± Since they were childhood friends, Lu Yinan didn¡¯t want to mention the past and expose him. Who was the one who would always frown and display an expression of loathing at the mention of Wen Xuxu? Who had claimed that Wen Xuxu wasn¡¯t a woman and said she didn¡¯t behave like one at all? And who said that the one who marries her eventually would be jinxed for a lifetime? Yan Rusheng ignored Lu Yinan and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Ming Ansheng rose as well and followed him. ¡°Third Yan, are you sure you¡¯re able to go back without the chocolate?¡± He continued without waiting for him to respond. ¡°Isn¡¯t there another option?¡± Another option? Yan Rusheng suddenly halted his footsteps and became more annoyed. ¡°No!¡± He rebutted Ming Ansheng and left without looking back. He would rather die than let them know that Xuxu wanted him to kneel as punishment. And this punishment was way too perverted. He had no clue how she thought of such a way to torment and torture him. ¡­ There was a quiet alley behind the hotel, and the snow fell silently. Someone parked a black car at the end of the alley. There was a woman sitting inside wearing a coat with a cap on her head. She lowered her head. Suddenly, someone opened the front passenger seat door and a middle-aged lady entered. Snow covered her body, and her hands were holding a black plastic bag. She retrieved a heart-shaped box from inside the bag and passed it to the woman. ¡°This is what you asked me to find,¡± she spoke with due respect coating her words. The woman sitting in the driver¡¯s seat received the box after staring at it for some time. Her fair and soft hands held the box as she sized it up. She coldly sneered and said, ¡°Handmade chocolate?¡± Her pleasant voice contrasted with her cold and callous tone. She ripped the box apart and after opening the window; she dumped it outside. Chapter 484. This Snow Is a Good Omen She started the engine and the wheels of her car crushed the heart-shaped box as she drove off. Instantly, the box was flattened and squashed together with the snow. ¡­ The snow fell for several hours and the ground glistened as a result. Snowplows cleared the snow constantly but the roads were still congested. By the time Yan Rusheng reached Xuxu¡¯s apartment, the sky was beginning to turn bright. The night he had dreamt and fantasized about had vanished. He stopped his car but left the engine and heater running. He adjusted his seat and laid down on it as he propped his hands behind his head. He gazed absent-mindedly at one of the windows in the building. He knew that she wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook easily since he didn¡¯t manage to find the chocolate. She must be exhausted after such a long night and he reckoned that she should be fast asleep. He might disturb her sleep if he went up. Would he be forced to¡­ kneel? As he mulled over the possibility, one of his hands touched his knee subconsciously. From the time he was born till now, he had never knelt before except at Grandmother and Grandfather¡¯s funerals. Of course, excluding the time he had fallen when he was still a boy. Young Master Yan¡¯s eyebrows were knitted closely together. He was debating silently between appeasing his wife¡¯s anger or to uphold his young master¡¯s reputation and pride. ¡°I made the chocolate personally and the box too.¡± He recalled how Xuxu had gazed at him earlier on. She must have struggled to muster her courage and determination when she decided to profess her love for him. Since she was a person who was usually so prideful and doesn¡¯t take the initiative. So¡­ if he really knelt on the remote control, it shouldn¡¯t be too embarrassing if this matter was kept a secret between the two of them? He recalled about the past; it seemed that he had never yielded to her ever since they were children. And furthermore, in the past year, he had been using all sorts of methods to torment her. So¡­ Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth with determination. ¡°I shall kneel!¡± After making up his mind, he sat up abruptly and grabbed his phone to dial a Country Y¡¯s number. A middle-aged woman answered from the other line, sounding anxious. ¡°Wretched boy, why did you call me so early in the morning? Did something happen?¡± It was normal that she was worried. It was barely dawn in the capital city and the smart Madam Mu Li would naturally assume something bad had happened. The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched. He hesitated before speaking. ¡°¡­ Professor Mu, when the TV is switched on with the remote control facing it, how do I ensure that it wouldn¡¯t change channels or that the screen remained the same if a person stepped on the remote control?¡± Madam Mu Li shot back, feeling annoyed. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Why do you want to step on the remote control?¡± Yan Rusheng was frustrated and momentarily lost for words. He remained patient and said, ¡°I¡¯m saying if.¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°Unless the remote control isn¡¯t working or the batteries are dead. This is the only way.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes lit up with an ecstatic expression. ¡°You are truly a professor, Madam Mu Li.¡± He hung up immediately without waiting for Madam Mu Li to answer. ¡®The remote control isn¡¯t working or the batteries are dead¡­¡¯ why didn¡¯t he think of this? He laid back down and closed in eyes in contentment. ¡­ After taking a catnap, Yan Rusheng opened his eyes. The snow had stopped falling and everywhere was glistening. He was in a really good mood. Yesterday they had begun with a heavy snowstorm, so the snow is a good omen. He opened the car door and straightened his back when he got out. Although he didn¡¯t sleep the entire night, his gorgeous face still glowed with vigor and elation. He adjusted his suit slowly. He raised his head towards the same window and a devious and sly smile flitted across his face. Wen Xuxu, I will use my body to let you know of the consequences of being so proud of me. Knock knock knock. Chapter 485. She Was So Unique and Special Xuxu couldn¡¯t fall asleep earlier on, and when she finally slowly dozed off, someone had the audacity to knock on her door. It had her extremely frustrated. She flipped over and covered herself with a blanket. She planned to ignore the fellow who had disturbed her sleep so early in the morning. Knock knock knock. The person continued to pound on her door, and she couldn¡¯t ignore it any longer. She sat up, exasperated and annoyed. She flung her blanket away and jumped off the bed. She dragged herself across her bedroom. She stretched her hand to open the door and peered at the man standing outside. She lazily leaned against the door frame as she gazed at him with lack of sleep imbued in her orbs. She pouted in protest. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?!¡± She messed up her hair out of sheer frustration. She was wearing loose-fitting pajamas which ended at her knees, revealing a pair of fair legs. Yan Rusheng sized her up from head to toe, and it had challenged his self-control. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re so shameless. Trying to seduce me first thing in the morning.¡± His words jolted Wen Xuxu awake. She shrieked, ¡°Scum!¡± Her face fell after berating the man. She suddenly stretched her hands and pushed him backward. Then she hastily shut the door. He had pounded on the door for a good amount of time, and he had barely set foot inside her house when she slammed the door right on his face. It seemed like everything was a dream for Young Master Yan. How dare this dumb woman reject and refuse him? After snapping out of his trance, he stretched his hand to pound on her door once more. But no matter how he pounded, Xuxu simply refused to open the door. Xuxu rested against the door with her arms crossed across her chest. She listened to the vicious pounding sounds and lectured him fiercely, ¡°Yan Rusheng, did you find the chocolate?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t find it, but didn¡¯t you give me a different option?¡± Yan Rusheng muttered in a low voice. He had barely finished when the door wrenched open. The woman doubtfully eyed him. ¡°Kneeling on the remote control?¡± Young Master Yan turned red and furtively glanced around. He glared at Wen Xuxu as he gnashed his teeth. ¡°Stupid woman, lower your volume.¡± He was about to step foot into the house when Xuxu blocked his path. She wore a nonchalant expression and reminded him coldly, ¡°You have to kneel for an hour and the screen must remain unchanged. You can¡¯t remove the batteries or do anything to the remote control.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ He had indeed underestimated this woman¡¯s intelligence. His attempts were futile! He furrowed his eyebrows, apparently frustrated. ¡°Do you believe that in the slightest that I would use force against you right away?¡± When she had opened the door earlier on, this thought automatically seized him. Xuxu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Yan Rusheng, the moment you succeed, I will return home immediately.¡± She shoved him back once more and closed the door. Yan Rusheng heard the door slamming, and he was livid. But what else could he do? Just like what Lu Yinan had said, Wen Xuxu isn¡¯t a woman he could subdue or control so easily. Hence why she was so unique and special. He stared at the closed door and sighed heavily. He turned around and walked to the elevator. ¡­ It was already Christmas and colleagues had prepared presents for each other. Xuxu arrived a little late and saw a few boxes on her desks. She knew that they must be from her colleagues. ¡°Thank you.¡± She scooped everything up and smiled brightly at them. She pulled her chair and sat down. ¡°Is Miss Wen Xuxu around?¡± Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice sounded from outside. Xuxu raised her head, looking slightly puzzled. A scrawny-looking man was holding a bouquet of red roses. He surveyed the entire office. Chapter 486. Speak of the Devil When Xuxu saw the roses, the first person who popped into her mind was Yan Rusheng. She raised her hand and waved at the guy. ¡°I am Wen Xuxu.¡± The delivery guy walked towards her and said, ¡°Miss Wen Xuxu, this bouquet is for you.¡± He passed both invoice and bouquet to Xuxu at the same time. After acknowledging that she had received the bouquet by signing on the invoice, the delivery guy left. Xuxu gazed at the huge bouquet of roses and it left her exasperated. Under her breath, she muttered, ¡°This fellow.¡± Even though he was loaded, he shouldn¡¯t recklessly spend his money. She bent her body and was about to place the roses on an empty spot when someone announced President Yan¡¯s arrival. Xuxu raised her head, and the towering figure had appeared next to her. She picked up the bouquet and showed it to him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°A woman professes her love by sending chocolates, while a man sends roses to profess his love. Stupid woman, I am giving you a taste of being courted by me.¡± Yan Rusheng lazily leaned against her desk as he gazed at Xuxu with an eyebrow lifted. ¡°How do you feel? Do you like it?¡± Xuxu thought, ¡°Why should I like it! You insolent fellow!¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched, and she felt like hurling the bouquet at him. But then again, they were at their workplace. He was the president of the company, and she can¡¯t do anything rash in front of all the employees. She grudgingly forced a smile. ¡°Thank you, President Yan.¡± Then she rolled her eyes in her heart and placed the bouquet on the floor. ¡°I feel so envious of President Yan and Sister Xuxu. They are so loving.¡± ¡°Nowadays, it¡¯s rare to see childhood sweethearts ending up together.¡± ¡°Sister Xuxu is a role model for all women seeking a successful career and marriage.¡± Two female colleagues were excitedly chatting at the photocopier as they watched how Yan Rusheng and Xuxu interacted with each other. They were both green with envy. They spoke softly, but Yan Rusheng and Xuxu still overheard their conversation. Yan Rusheng curled his lips, feeling pleased. He suddenly bent and inched towards Xuxu¡¯s ear. With his deep baritone voice, he said, ¡°Good morning my childhood sweetheart wife.¡± A red flush rose from Xuxu¡¯s neck to her cheeks. She shyly bent her head, stretched her hands, and pushed Yan Rusheng gently. ¡°Hurry up and leave. I have work to do.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go to Grandfather¡¯s place for dinner tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng gave her blushing cheek a peck, after which he straightened his back. He strode across the room, back to his own office. Xuxu felt her whole face was burning. Only after Yan Rusheng had walked past her, she slowly turned her head to glance at him. As he walked away, he exuded an aloof and haughty charm. But just seconds ago, he was teasing her. ¡°Good morning, my childhood sweetheart wife!¡± When she recalled how he had addressed her so tenderly, Xuxu¡¯s eyes sparkled with happiness and contentment. ¡°Luckily, I gave up everything in the world except for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad I have waited till this day.¡± ¡­ Work swamped both their entire day; they barely had time to talk to each other. During lunch, however, they had time together and briefly chatted. It was a busy period for everyone. Even in the late evening, everyone crowded the workplace. Gradually, the colleagues left the office. Xuxu casually glanced at the time and it shocked her. ¡°It¡¯s already past seven.¡± Oh dear, it¡¯s so late. Grandfather will definitely lecture her. She hastily saved all her work and switched off her computer. At that moment, her phone rang. The screen showed that her grandfather was calling. Speak of the devil. Chapter 487. Time Will Never Turn Old and Our Love Will Stay Immortal She grabbed her phone and promptly answered the call. She propped the phone in between her shoulder and neck as she was tidying her desk at the same time. ¡°Grandfather, work delayed me. I¡¯ll be there in a short while. Eat first if you¡¯re hungry.¡± ¡°No, no. He really wanted to go, but I was the one who was late. He¡¯s already ready and is waiting for me.¡± ¡°Got it, bye-bye.¡± She ended the call and grabbed her bag. She stalked towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s office, and knocked on his door as a habit. Yan Rusheng¡¯s pleasant voice called out from the room. ¡°Come in.¡± Xuxu pushed the door and peeked her head in. She called out to him, ¡°Yan Rusheng, hurry up. My grandfather is getting angry.¡± Yan Rusheng immediately shut down his laptop and got his coat. Xuxu turned around, and she accidentally caught sight of the bouquet of roses on the floor. After a brief contemplation, she walked over and picked up the bouquet. In an air-conditioned room, the roses still look fresh and lovely. Yan Rusheng frowned when he saw Xuxu holding the roses in her hand. ¡°Do you intend to bring them along? It¡¯s so heavy.¡± Xuxu looked at the bouquet. She then pouted. ¡°Grandfather doesn¡¯t have a good impression of you.¡± Yan Rusheng understood why she wanted to bring the roses along. He replied simply, ¡°You are thoughtful indeed.¡± The old man only has one granddaughter, and he cherished and doted on her. If the old man knew that he had treated his granddaughter well, he reckoned that he easily would accept him more. But he still felt aggrieved as he put his arm around Xuxu¡¯s waist. He frowned with contempt. ¡°What¡¯s so good about that fellow Jiang Zhuoheng? From head to toe, he is just a pretentious guy.¡± Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows and gave the man a deathly glare. ¡°Why do you keep comparing yourself with Ah Heng? Talking behind someone¡¯s back will make your tongue grow longer. Beware!¡± Yan Rusheng lifted his eyebrows with a glum expression. ¡°Wen Xuxu, how dare you defend Jiang Zhuoheng with no second thoughts?¡± ¡°All right.¡± Xuxu clenched her fists and punched him lightly on his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t be so unreasonable.¡± This narrow-minded fellow had obviously deemed Ah Heng as a prick and an eyesore. If he knew the truth, what would happen? Xuxu couldn¡¯t conceal her grin as she thought of it. Even though she was peering at the ground, Yan Rusheng could still see how her lips were curled. He realized that she was smiling gleefully, and his eyebrows became knitted than ever. ¡°Wen Xuxu, who are you thinking of?¡± Xuxu glanced at him and beamed. ¡°I was just wondering if grandfather would pull a long face when he sees you later.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ It¡¯s possible that the old man would do that. Until now, he did not understand what offense he had made to make the old man detest him so much. ¡­ There was a heavy snowstorm yesterday, and the amount of traffic police had doubled that day. The traffic was crawling on the congested roads. Xuxu sat on the front passenger seat as she rested her head against the window. She dozed off listening to a sorrowful love song playing on the radio. ¡®Sometimes, sometimes, I do believe that everything comes to an end¡­ reunions and separations¡­ nothing lasts forever¡­¡¯ At a traffic junction, the car stopped at a red light. He glanced at the woman who was sound asleep next to him. Her luscious and curled eyelashes cast a shadow on her face. It was peaceful, quiet, and lovely. Wen Xuxu, time will never turn old and our love will be immortal. ¡­ They reached the clinic just before 9 p.m. Fortunately, the distance between the clinic and the company wasn¡¯t too far. Chapter 488. Xuxu Forbade Me From Bringing The car pulled to a stop on the road opposite the clinic. Yan Rusheng gave Xuxu a nudge. ¡°Xuxu, we¡¯re here.¡± Xuxu slowly opened her eyes when she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice. Upon realizing that they came to a total stop, she had completely woken up. She immediately straightened her back and looked outside the car window. When she saw her grandfather¡¯s clinic, she eagerly removed her seatbelt and pushed open the car door. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Xuxu alighted from the car and closed the door behind her. Once she got out of the car, her body uncontrollably shivered since the temperature outside had dropped lower. She couldn¡¯t wait to go into the house. Looking at her petite frame, Yan Rusheng almost wanted to call out to her. But in the end, he just helplessly shook his head and alighted from the car. He opened the back passenger door and bent over to retrieve the bouquet of roses. Since he had brought the bouquet along, might as well make use of the opportunity to show off in front of the Old Master. He held the roses in his hand and followed behind Xuxu with unhurried steps. Yet he reached the shop almost at the same time as her. ¡°Grandfather,¡± Xuxu called out to her grandfather as she pushed aside the PVC strip curtain when she stepped in. Yan Rusheng also followed suit when he went in. ¡°Grandfather.¡± He spoke as he walked over to Xuxu. ¡°Mm.¡± Old Master Wen glanced askew at Yan Rusheng while having a straight face. He then dropped his gaze to the bouquet of roses in his hands. He knitted his eyebrows before he coldly spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone giving flowers to an elderly. If you¡¯ve bought two bottles of wine instead, I¡¯d believe that you were sincere.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ Both of them had the same expression on their faces upon hearing her grandfather¡¯s comments. The elderly was already advanced in age and yet still so humorous. ¡°Grandfather, the flowers are for Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng walked over to Xuxu and handed the flowers to her. He then turned to smile at the Old Master. ¡°I wanted to bring along some wine I recently brought, but Xuxu forbade me as she mentioned that you were not supposed to drink at the moment.¡± Xuxu lifted her head and shot the charming man a confused look. Since when did he buy the wine? And when did she ever stop him? This insincere fellow! How could he use her as an excuse to cause animosity between her and her grandfather? Well done! Yan Rusheng shot her an innocent look as if telling her that she truly was the one who stopped him from bringing the wine. ¡°This stupid lass has made a mountain out of a molehill. My health couldn¡¯t be any better.¡± Old Master Wen stared at Xuxu. ¡°One fine day, you¡¯ll drive me to my grave.¡± Xuxu retorted, ¡°Grandfather, your words are too serious. I wanted you to quit drinking because I¡¯m concerned about your health.¡± Having said that, she discreetly stretched her hands to the back and viciously pinched Yan Rusheng on the thigh. ¡°How dare you set me up!¡± She didn¡¯t show him any mercy, but Yan Rusheng remained nonchalant and looked at Old Master Wen with a modest smile. ¡°Also, since grandfather enjoys playing chess and researching on Chinese medicine, I sought a friend¡¯s help to get you a chess set and two entry tickets to the Capital City¡¯s Chinese Medicine Ancient Books Exhibition organized the Chinese hospital in January. You can bring Qi Lei along to the exhibition.¡± As he spoke, Yan Rusheng took out two tickets and an exquisite-looking box from the pockets of his black coat. He politely handed them to Old Master Wen. It astonished Xuxu when she saw him took out the two items out of nowhere¡ªit was as if he was a magician performing some magic tricks! When did this fellow prepare all these? Why was she unaware? Chapter 489. Only Go as Far as Holding Hands The Old Master looked at the two items in Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands and gleamed with delight. He first took the two entry tickets to the Chinese Medicine Ancient Books Exhibition and fondly surveyed them. After that, he took the wooden box and gave it a shake before suspiciously looking at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Is this Chinese chess? Why is it so small?¡± It also sparked Xuxu¡¯s curiosity, and she wanted to ask how a set of chess could fit in such a small box. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°That is a collectible, and carved out of sheep-fat-jade.¡± What? Xuxu and Old Master were no longer calm after hearing it. If it¡¯s carved out of sheep-fat jade, then it must be extremely costly. In an instant, the Old Master felt that the box carried an extraordinary weight, and his curiosity got the best of him. He couldn¡¯t wait and so he opened the box, eager to look at the chess set carved out of sheep-fat jade. Upon opening it, the sheep-fat-jade chess pieces, which were no bigger than a ten cent coin, caught his eye. Xuxu also went over to touch them. Other than the engraved words, every chess piece felt glossy and smooth. She lifted her head at Yan Rusheng with a startled look on her face. ¡°When did you buy this? How much does it cost?¡± Yan Rusheng lightly smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a gift for grandfather, so whatever the price, it¡¯s worth it.¡± Xuxu scorned at him in her heart. A real bootlicker! But she had never imagined that he would put in so much effort to prepare a present for her grandfather. How could one not feel touched by it? ¡°This gift is too expensive. I don¡¯t want it.¡± The elderly man looked at it, closed the cover of the wooden box, and returned it to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t take it back. ¡°Grandfather. It¡¯s a thought from me.¡± Xuxu also tried talking her grandfather out of it. ¡°Grandfather, do accept it since it¡¯s already purchased. If you don¡¯t want it, who else could we give it to?¡± Being such an arrogant man, who knows what he would think if her grandfather refused to accept the gift that he had bought with all sincerity? Old Master Wen wasn¡¯t an unreasonable man. After his granddaughter¡¯s persuasion, he nodded his head and accepted both gifts. ¡°Anyway, when I¡¯m gone, all these still belong to you both.¡± The elderly man turned around and walked towards the stairs as he said that. ¡°Let¡¯s have our dinner. Qi Lei had just reheated up the dishes.¡± After hearing grandfather¡¯s lamentation, and thinking back to all the hardships and years of sufferings that her grandfather had been through, Xuxu had an uneasy feeling in her heart. She thought of grandmother. And she feared the day would come when her grandfather would leave her. ¡°Let¡¯s have our dinner.¡± After finding a place to put down the roses, Yan Rusheng walked back to Xuxu and held her by her waist. ¡°I¡¯m hungry and tired. Let¡¯s go home and sleep after our dinner.¡± Xuxu lifted her head and rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Don¡¯t assume that I¡¯ve forgiven you. If you don¡¯t kneel on the TV remote control, we will only go as far as holding hands.¡± After that, she raised her feet and walked ahead of Yan Rusheng. There was a long pause¡­ That damn remote control. Whoever came up with the idea for men to kneel on the remote control ought to be shot. He racked his brains to think of ways to kneel on the remote control without changing the channels of the screen. He even went online to check and realized that he was already outdated. This method of punishment had existed long ago. But those women were even more vicious. If the channel switched once, the man would receive a tight slap. Comparatively, his wife was kinder. ¡°Why are you still standing there?¡± Xuxu had already reached the upper floor when she realized that Yan Rusheng was still taking his own sweet time downstairs. She knitted her eyebrows and looked troubled. She asked, ¡°What are you thinking of? Have you no intention to take your dinner?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head and looked at her. He gnashed his teeth and replied, ¡°Thinking of how to savor you.¡± Chapter 490. Not Allowed to Drink After waging a cold war for so many days¡ªeven though they still lived under the same roof¡ªhe could only fantasize about it instead of carrying out the actual ¡®combat experience¡¯. It really wasn¡¯t easy for a normal man to handle. There were many occasions where he just wanted to forsake his pride and break down her door just to have her. But as usual, he halted his footsteps as he struggled with the thought. Now that they just had a heart-to-heart talk and professed their love for each other, he could finally love her openly. But she had the cheek to tell him they could only go as far as holding hands. At that moment, he couldn¡¯t help but hurl profanities in his heart. ¡°This hooligan!¡± And hooligans rarely paid attention to situations. Xuxu¡¯s face instantly turned crimson. She turned and looked towards her grandfather and Qi Lei. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that they were still in the kitchen. Luckily, they didn¡¯t hear it. Otherwise, it would have been extremely embarrassing. She hurried down the stairs and walked towards Yan Rusheng. She pinched him hard on his arm and gritted her teeth. She threatened him, ¡°If you dare to spout nonsense in my grandfather¡¯s home, you won¡¯t even get a chance to kneel on the remote control.¡± After that, she turned around and walked off in a huff. Yan Rusheng gave chase and grabbed hold of her wrist. ¡°If I behave myself, does it mean that I don¡¯t have to kneel on the remote control?¡± Or perhaps, change a new way and kneel on the washboard instead? ¡°Sure thing.¡± Xuxu nodded and agreed without hesitation. However, Young Master Yan didn¡¯t go wild with joy because he understood Xuxu too well. She wasn¡¯t one who would compromise so easily. He pressed his lips together and waited for Xuxu to continue with her sentence. As expected, Xuxu¡¯s voice sounded in his ears again. ¡°Kneel on instant noodles and make sure they don¡¯t break into pieces.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched uncontrollably. Not only has the Internet caused so much trouble to people nowadays, but it has also brought him tremendous suffering. What washboard or motherboard¡­ all these suggestions suck! When a woman is bent on giving her man a hard time, each method would even be more tormenting than the previous. That¡¯s why Confucius once said that ¡°Only women and villains are difficult to raise.¡± Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows and said, ¡°Let me try kneeling on the remote control tonight then.¡± Given his weight, he would surely crush the instant noodles in split seconds. Amid their conversation, they reached the second floor. There was an impressive spread of dishes on the table. Xuxu flung off Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand and eagerly walked over to the table. She picked a piece of prawn with her fingers and shoved it into her mouth. The sauce leaked from her mouth and as she chewed on it; she used her thumb to wipe off the sauce from the corner of her lips. Seeing this sight, it took Yan Rusheng aback. He knew at times that she wasn¡¯t ladylike when it comes to eating. But it was the first time he saw her behaving so crudely at the meal table. Xuxu was about to pick at another dish with her bare hands when Old Master Wen shot her an angry stare. ¡°Where are your manners? Don¡¯t you have food to eat at home? You behave as if you¡¯ve not eaten for many days.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Young Master Yan gnashed his teeth and glared at the woman who couldn¡¯t stop licking her thumb despite being chided by grandfather. It was as if she was being ill-treated by his family. Didn¡¯t she have all that she wanted to eat at home? Just look at her. She was a far cry from her usual cool and aloof self. Stupid woman. She was slowly revealing her true colors to him. ¡°Ah Heng can hold his liquor well.¡± Old Master Wen bent over and took out a bottle of wine from a small cabinet below the dining table. He then said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°Third Yan, let me also test your tolerance for alcohol today.¡± Xuxu glanced askew at the elderly man beside her and warned sternly, ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t even think of finding excuses to drink. He has to drive later and can¡¯t drink any alcohol.¡± After saying that, she snatched the bottle of wine from the Old Master¡¯s hand. Chapter 491. Youngsters Need to Wake up Early ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes gleamed with a sly expression as he looked at the grandfather and granddaughter combo bantering with each other. He strode towards the Old Master and pulled a chair for him. ¡°My tolerance for alcohol is much better than Jiang Zhuoheng.¡± After that, he looked at Xuxu and said, ¡°Since it is Christmas, let me have just a glass with grandfather.¡± Xuxu was firm. ¡°No way. Not even a glass.¡± After having said that, she gave Yan Rusheng a stern look of warning. He hasn¡¯t even served his punishment by kneeling, and he still dared to disobey a second time. The look in her eyes seemed to tell Yan Rusheng, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to savor me?¡± However, Yan Rusheng felt that his concern would please Grandfather first. He deliberated for a moment before smiling and said, ¡°If I have a drink too much, then I¡¯ll just stay over for the night.¡± Grandfather immediately nodded his head in agreement. ¡°Precisely, both of you can return to her apartment.¡± Xuxu looked at the elderly man with a look of disdain. Didn¡¯t he disapprove of this fellow? How could he forgo his principles for alcohol? ¡°You can only drink a little.¡± Xuxu finally relented and put down the bottle of wine. She fully knew that grandfather wasn¡¯t an alcoholic. If he was one, he would drink daily when she¡¯s not at his place, and Qi Lei wouldn¡¯t be able to stop him. He was just overjoyed to see her. Yan Rusheng twisted open the wine cap and poured a glass for his grandfather. Xuxu, on the other hand, stood looking at them from the side. They drank glass after glass, and when the wine bottle was already half empty, Xuxu shouted for them to stop. But with drinking, it¡¯s difficult to stop once it¡¯s started. It¡¯s inevitable that he would drink excessively, especially when he wanted to prove to the Old Master that he could hold his liquor better than Jiang Zhuoheng. At the end of the dinner, the Old Master¡¯s wine cabinet was empty, and Young Master Yan collapsed. ¡­ Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t know how long he had slept. When he slowly opened his eyes, it was pitch-dark. His head was throbbing! He knocked his forehead lightly with his hand and massaged his temples. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± Yan Rusheng took a sniff and detected a strong herbal smell looming in the air. Where was he? He regained his senses and suddenly sat up. His peach blossom-shaped eyes surveyed the unfamiliar room. Through the gaps between the curtains, he noticed that the sky outside was still slightly dark. Yan Rusheng was trying to recall what had happened last night when an old man¡¯s voice sounded in his ears. ¡°Third Yan, I didn¡¯t expect a young chap like you to wake up before me.¡± Following that, a figure rose beside him. ¡°Youngsters must wake up early and should not be lazy.¡± Young Master Yan froze in shock! Was he still in his grandfather¡¯s clinic? And did he share a bed with this old fellow the entire night? No wonder there was a stench of Chinese herbs. ¡°Third Yan, get up quickly and come with me for exercise downstairs.¡± While Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t accept that he had shared the same bed with the Old Master, he had already changed into his exercise clothing and got off the bed. A brief period had passed before Yan Rusheng spoke. ¡°Ok, got it.¡± He slowly got off the bed and wore the clothes he had on the day before. Although it wasn¡¯t soiled in any way, he considered it a dirty piece of clothing if it was worn and not cleaned. He scanned through the bed he had slept on. A dark gray bed sheet and quilt covered it. The position that he had slept was awkward. After that, he surveyed that entire room¡ªit wasn¡¯t considered big. Even though the furniture in the room had an antique vibe to it, they were neatly arranged. The room was also spick and span. Chapter 492. Your Grandson-In-Law Is So Handsome! Till now, he still couldn¡¯t believe that he had spent the night here together with Wen Xuxu¡¯s grandfather. Excessive drinking indeed botched things up. He has yet to bed her and now¡­ Yan Rusheng felt vexed and annoyed. But what¡¯s done cannot be undone, and he had to accept it. Moreover, it seemed that the Old Master had changed his negative impression of him. He consoled himself as he strode towards the room entrance. All of a sudden, Old Master Wen returned and stood at the door. He was hurrying him. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± He quickened his steps as he went forward to the Old Master. The Old Master averted his gaze towards the bed behind Yan Rusheng and frowned. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you smoothened out the quilt?¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± It stunned Yan Rusheng. Why must he do that? He almost blurted out this question: ¡°Why was there a need for him to make the bed?¡± The Old Master could tell from his expression that he wasn¡¯t willing to make the bed, and so he coldly commented, ¡°Do you want me to make the bed and smoothen out the quilt for you instead?¡± Yan Rusheng could sense that something didn¡¯t sit right with the elderly man. He immediately nodded his head and replied an ¡®Okay¡¯ before walking back to the bed to pick up the quilt and fold it. He could hear the Old Masters¡¯ stern reproach coming from behind. ¡°A man¡¯s attitude is important. Whatever he does, he must do it seriously with all his heart and soul.¡± Yan Rusheng fully understood that he was reminding him to smoothen out the quilt properly and make the bed neatly. Young Master Yan gnashed his teeth and glared at the quilt. Luckily, he had taken part in a summer camp before and underwent military training. They trained him in making the beds and folding the army quilts. But other than the training, he didn¡¯t have to make his bed on normal days. Thus, he lacked the skills and is not familiar with the steps. This made the Old Master annoyed again. ¡°All you rich young lads are the same. You don¡¯t have to lift a finger to do any household chores.¡± Yan Rusheng bent over and surveyed the bed with his radar eyes. The moment he spotted creases, he would swiftly smoothen them out. This was the first time in his entire life that he had to do housework under close supervision. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯ve got me wrapped in the palm of your hand!¡± He scrutinized the bed a few times and ensured that it was neat and tidy before straightening his back. He then looked at his grandfather with a reluctant smile. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m done.¡± The Old Master lowered his gaze and inspected the bed. He answered, ¡°Mm. Come down and work out with me.¡± He got up on his feet and walked out of the room before Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng guessed that the Old Master¡¯s exercise regime was nothing interesting. At most he thought it only composed of jogging and simple body stretches using the neighborhood¡¯s exercise equipment. It had never crossed his mind that maybe it would be a clich¨¦ and conventional. Looking at the group of elderly men and ladies waving and playing with their swords, Young Master Yan was dumbstruck. This old man had brought him to learn taiji moves with a bunch of old folks. ¡°Third Yan, why are you still standing there?¡± Old Master Wen had already joined the group of old folks. He smiled and waved at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Quick, come over.¡± Yan Rusheng had the thought of leaving, but as he remembered that he was Xuxu¡¯s grandfather, he hesitated. It was for the first time that he felt indecisive over something he didn¡¯t like or feel enjoy doing. Old Master Wen¡¯s shout caught the attention of all the old men and old ladies. ¡°Hey Old Wen, is he your new disciple?¡± The Old Master laughed and shook his head. ¡°No, he is my grandson-in-law.¡± There was a subtle trace of pride in his tone. ¡°Oh my! Your grandson-in-law is so handsome.¡± ¡°Your grandson-in-law is so filial to have accompanied you for morning exercise. Those rascals of mine couldn¡¯t be bothered, and would sometimes disappear for a month or two.¡± Chapter 493. I Promise There Wont Be a Second Time All the elderly ladies took turns praising Young Master Yan with envious expressions. Their flattery overwhelmed the Old Master. ¡°It¡¯s still quite okay.¡± Yan Rusheng stood at the same spot without moving an inch. An old lady holding a long sword waved at him. She smiled brightly and said, ¡°Young guy, come over.¡± She scurried over to Yan Rusheng, and when she reached him, she gripped his arm before enthusiastically pulling him towards a group of ladies. ¡°Our group lacks young people like you who can add vitality and energy.¡± Since he had a good-looking face, all the elderly ladies gave him special treatment. They volunteered to teach him taiji moves. And they kept mentioning their grandsons and grandsons-in-law and compared them with him. As he surveyed their smiling faces, Young Master Yan was crumbling from the inside and he was nearing a breakdown. He was the tallest in the group, and along with his stiff and rigid movements, he stuck out like an eyesore in the group. ¡°Old Wen, your grandson-in-law looks really familiar.¡± ¡°I also share the same sentiment.¡± The morning exercise was over and everyone packed up to leave. Before leaving, several elderly ladies swarmed around Old Master Wen. They were fervently discussing seeing Yan Rusheng on the news. Yan Rusheng hastened his footsteps amidst the ruckus. When he got back to the clinic, he immediately bade Old Master Wen goodbye and excused himself because of urgent company matters. He had no intention of staying any longer in that place. ¡­ Loud and thunderous pounding sounds assailed Xuxu¡¯s ears. She struggled to open her eyes and popped her head out of the blanket. She furiously gnashed her teeth as she stared at the ceiling. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re dead meat.¡± She leaped off the bed and glimpsed her alarm clock. It had just struck 7 a.m. She heavily stormed towards the door and wrenched it open. Before she could catch a proper glimpse of the person in front her, a towering figure¡ªreeking of alcohol¡ªadvanced on her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re so dead.¡± Yan Rusheng came up to her and tightly grabbed her shoulders. He pushed her towards a wall and seconds later, he had crushed her lips with his. Xuxu widened her eyes in surprise as she looked at the man kissing her. What happened? Shouldn¡¯t he be the one who¡¯s dead? He had pounded on her door early in the morning! She tried to shove him away, but he was way too strong for her. She gathered all her strength, but he didn¡¯t even move an inch. The kiss quickly got out of hand given that he hasn¡¯t touched her in days. Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands went to Xuxu¡¯s back, wrapping her tightly in his embrace and pressing their bodies together. His kisses trailed downwards¡ªlips moving to her chin and neck. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you don¡¯t stop, never think of stepping foot into my house ever again,¡± Xuxu reprovingly said while giving him a stern glare. Her words froze Yan Rusheng and his movements stopped. He raised his head and watched her stern expression. He cast all aggressiveness aside in a split second. He gave her a weak smile as he hugged her. ¡°Xuxu, just forgive me this time all right? I promise there won¡¯t be a second time.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t budge and solemnly said, ¡°You will only cherish and treasure something if you worked hard to earn it.¡± How could he possibly know how much effort, expectation, and determination she had invested while making those chocolates? When she saw Fang Jiayin holding the box of chocolates, it was as if a hand had cruelly and heartlessly wrench off her heart away from her. She believed it when he said that he loved her. Because he was Yan Rusheng and if he didn¡¯t care about a person, he wouldn¡¯t have put in any effort. Chapter 494. It Broke the Second My Knees Touched It When he declared that he had no more feelings towards Fang Jiayin, she was hesitant to believe him. Even if he had no intentions to enter that room, why did he have to give the box of chocolates to Fang Jiayin? Didn¡¯t he think of her when he gave them to Fang Jiayin? Maybe Fang Jiayin was still someone special in his heart. She can¡¯t wipe it from her mind and forgive him. Yan Rusheng turned slightly colder. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re getting unreasonable.¡± He had already tried his best, what more did she want from him? Did she really want him to kneel and beg her for forgiveness? ¡°All women are unreasonable. It¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t dare to be one in the past,¡± Xuxu said with a heavy tone as she pushed him away and spun him around. She tried making things difficult for him. And in a nutshell, as a woman, an innate vanity provoked her. She only wanted to know how patient he can be towards her. She had spent more than a decade staying by his side, watching in agony with how he had treated another woman with patience and tolerance. It was entirely her own decision for this one-sided love¡ªher own choice if she had to feel inferior and lowly. But in a relationship, all she wanted was more of him and his love¡ªall of his love to be exact. Xuxu turned around and slowly walked away. One step¡­ two steps¡­ three steps¡­ ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t blame me if the remote control gets damaged.¡± The voice she had been expecting sounded, and she halted her footsteps. The next moment, he walked into the living room with determined and heavy footsteps. Xuxu gradually happily broke into a smile. She continued to stride forward into her room. She shut the door. Just as the door was about to close, she caught a glimpse of the man in her living room. He was holding the remote control facing the TV as he switched it on. She happily grinned and closed the door. ¡­ ¡®Shatter!¡¯ Xuxu had tidied her bed and had already changed into a new outfit. She was about to leave the room when a loud shatter sounded from outside. In her shocked stupor, she shivered for a moment before she wrenched the door open and ran out. She saw a towering figure with his back towards her. With heavy footsteps, he walked towards the door. He forcefully opened the door, walked out, and slammed it behind him. Xuxu stood in her room and studied the shattered remote control. She walked in a daze and knelt down. She collected all the pieces and picked them up one by one. Wen Xuxu, this was his usual temper. ¡­ Xuxu hailed a taxi to the company, and she reached the office at 8 a.m. The President¡¯s office was empty except for the cleaning lady. She walked to her desk and stowed her bag away. She went to the pantry to get a glass of water and walked back to her desk. ¡°Wen Xuxu, come over.¡± The President¡¯s office door swung open, and a man was calling for her at the door. Startled, Xuxu looked over to him. He had worn a white shirt and a pair of black pants like yesterday, but apparently, the suit he was wearing today was well-ironed and clean. She frowned. ¡°What do you want?¡± Her intention was to ignore him, so she continued walking back to her own desk. Yan Rusheng swiftly darted across her path and blocked her way. ¡°The quality of your remote control is really inferior¡­¡± He paused and surveyed his surroundings. After making sure they were alone, he opened his mouth and whispered, ¡°It broke the second my knees touched it.¡± He immediately blushed crimson. Chapter 495. What Wish Do You Want To Make? Xuxu was half-exasperated, half-amused as she looked at him. She said, ¡°Stop giving excuses for your failed attempts. It¡¯s a fact that you¡¯ve failed.¡± This callous, stupid woman, he really felt like strangling her! ¡°I¡¯ll try again tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng was itching with anger. He turned around to head back into his office. Xuxu suddenly called him, ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Yan Rusheng spun his head. He irritably responded with, ¡°What do you want?¡± Xuxu saw his expression and couldn¡¯t suppress her grin. ¡°Have you eaten breakfast?¡± ¡°I know you haven¡¯t.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice was full of affection. He grabbed Xuxu¡¯s wrist and dragged her towards the office. ¡°Aunt Zhang sent bird¡¯s nest porridge over especially for you. She asked when you were planning to return home.¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°Tell her that I won¡¯t be coming home so soon.¡± ¡°Are you really trying to drive me crazy?!¡± Yan Rusheng gripped her wrist with more force, and he really longed to strangle her. ¡°This annoying, stupid woman!¡± he thought. Yan Rusheng shut the door after they entered and pointed at the container. He said to Xuxu, ¡°It¡¯s over there, hurry up and eat it.¡± Xuxu responded with a vague ¡®oh¡¯ and walked over. She opened the container and the warm steam gushed out. The delicious smell wafted around and she took a deep breath to relish it. ¡°Smells so yummy!¡± She took the spoon and eagerly ate a mouthful. Yan Rusheng gazed at her as she ate with a blissful expression. He affectionately smiled at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re such a glutton.¡± She displayed such an adorable side of her whenever she sees food. But why did she put on such a nonchalant facade in the past? He loved seeing her like this as it made her so endearing and lovable. Xuxu snorted with her mouth full and ignored his comments. She held the container tightly, thoroughly enjoying the food. ¡°I wonder how it would be like if we go to Country Y during this season.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly spoke, and he seemed to mutter to himself, yet asking Xuxu at the same time. Xuxu thought briefly before answering, ¡°It should be great since it is spring and flowers should be on bloom everywhere.¡± She immediately thought of Yan Weihong and looked at Yan Rusheng. She softly asked, ¡°How is father¡¯s recovery?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go on New Year¡¯s Day.¡± Yan Rusheng rose and walked towards Xuxu. Xuxu stared at him in surprise. She doubtfully asked, ¡°Are you saying we are going to Country Y together on New Year¡¯s Day?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and sat down next to her. He sighed once more. ¡°I heard that the wishing well outside the royal palace entrance grants wishes. So I have to make a trip.¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched. ¡°You want to go to Country Y¡­ to make a wish?¡± Didn¡¯t he say that he didn¡¯t believe in superstitions at all? Yan Rusheng lazily rested on the couch with his hands propped behind his head. He intently stared at her as he scrutinized her face. He looked troubled and gloomy. He had become superstitious all because of her. Xuxu saw Yan Rusheng frowning as though he was deep in thoughts. She became curious and asked, ¡°What wish do you want to make?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at the container and didn¡¯t answer her directly. ¡°Aunt Zhang said that she would send you something nutritious every day. She wants you to nurse your health so that we can have a child.¡± When he mentioned about children, Xuxu¡¯s face fell and she lowered her head. Didn¡¯t he say that he didn¡¯t believe in superstitions at all? ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Every single time Yan Rusheng heard her addressing him with this affectionate nickname. He felt that it was extremely precious and rare. Nowadays, she had only occasionally used this nickname. His heart softened, and he answered gently with ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Xuxu kept her head bowed as she struggled to get her words out. ¡°I¡¯ve only taken that medicine once. I was afraid that after I gave birth to our child, you would leave me.¡± Chapter 496. She Was Stupid and Silly It took Yan Rusheng aback as a plethora of emotions flashed past his peach blossom-shaped eyes¡ªshock, happiness, surprise¡­ He straightened his back. He then grabbed her violently on the shoulders to jerk her around to face him. ¡°What did you say?¡± His deep and pleasant voice sounded rather quivery because of his heightened emotions. Xuxu kept her head bowed. It was harder than what she had imagined trying to explain to him. She softly mumbled, ¡°I¡­ I said I was scared.¡± Without waiting for her to finish her sentence, Yan Rusheng hugged her tightly, feeling overwhelmed with emotions. How he wished he could bury her inside of him. ¡°Wen Xuxu¡­¡± He nestled his head in her hair and neck as he took in the light and fragrant scent that exclusively belonged to her. ¡°Stupid woman, your stupidity is beyond redemption.¡± So, it was his fault for being unable to cast aside his pride. He was unwilling to bare his heart to her, and that¡¯s why she had been so paranoid and worried. If he had expressed his feelings for her sooner, they wouldn¡¯t have so many misunderstandings between them. ¡°Damn it!¡± And he had done so many hurtful things to her during this period. Yan Rusheng could no longer suppress the surging emotions and happiness inside his heart. He embraced the foe that he had despised since he was a child. It had never crossed his mind that she would explain and clarify regarding the contraceptives. The moment he professed his love for her, he felt that everything that had happened in the past didn¡¯t matter anymore. What he wanted was Wen Xuxu¡¯s future and a brand new wonderful beginning for both of them. But when he heard her confessing that the reason she took contraceptives wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want his child, rather she was afraid that he would divorce her, he had never imagined that he would be so emotional. He could distinctly feel his eyes glistening. He wondered, even more, when he had fallen for this woman? Perhaps it had happened way earlier than he could recall. If that¡¯s not the case, why couldn¡¯t he extricate himself? Yan Rusheng used too much strength and Xuxu felt that she was getting breathless. She attempted to shove him away by pressing her hands against his broad chest. Yan Rusheng immediately relinquished his grip. With determination and confidence, he said, ¡°I will definitely pass the remote control test.¡± He assumed that she had pushed him away because of the chocolate incident. She must still be mad at him. To pacify her, he will try his best to pass the seemingly impossible task. With this, he had already decided. As long as it was what Wen Xuxu wanted, he would be able to. Xuxu erupted into a fit of laughter. She didn¡¯t answer and instead turned around to continue enjoying her breakfast. She thought silently to herself, ¡°This guy is really too adorable and silly at times.¡± Yan Rusheng saw her smiling with her head bowed. His heart seemed to tingle. ¡°What are you thinking of that you seem so happy?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± But the more she tried to suppress her laughter, the louder she burst out laughing. She lowered her head, and her mouth was still full of porridge. Yan Rusheng thought to himself, ¡°How can he use just use the word stupid to describe this woman?¡± She was stupid and silly! He lazily lay back once again as his long-fingered hands stretched towards Xuxu¡¯s face. He gently and absent-mindedly stroked her blushing cheeks. He lightly remarked, ¡°We have been together for several months, and you¡¯ve only taken the contraceptives once. But you didn¡¯t get pregnant. This means I didn¡¯t work hard enough.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. Here he was, being a shameless scum once again. A playful and sly smile flitted across Yan Rusheng¡¯s face as he emphasized his words. ¡°From now on, I will work hard¡­ try my best¡­ and do my best.¡± Xuxu wanted to retort, ¡®President Yan, can you behave appropriately in the office? Why did it feel like they would film for an X-rated movie in the office?¡¯ Chapter 497. Torturing an Unattached Person Like Me? Xuxu couldn¡¯t take Young Master Yan¡¯s relentless teasing any longer. So she grabbed the container and poured the porridge directly right into her mouth. Yan Rusheng stared at her moving throat as she gulped down the porridge. It flabbergasted him! Was this really the aloof woman who had treated everything with nonchalance and indifference? ¡°I¡¯ve finished my breakfast; I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± She placed the container down on the coffee table and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She abruptly stood up to leave. Yan Rusheng was left alone, feeling rather stunned. ¡­ ¡°May I know if Wen Xuxu is around?¡± Xuxu stepped out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and heard someone asking for her. She was full of doubts as she peered towards the source of the voice. Her face fell. A scrawny guy was holding a huge bouquet of roses at the door. She stole a swift glance at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office before turning back to face him. She replied, ¡°I am.¡± It was the deliveryman from yesterday. ¡°Your roses.¡± He passed the bouquet to her along with the invoice for her to sign on. After Xuxu had signed it, he took it back and left. ¡°Stupid woman, I¡¯m letting you enjoy the feeling of being courted by someone¡­¡± Xuxu stared at the roses as she recalled what Yan Rusheng said yesterday morning. She could only helplessly sigh. This guy had bipolar personalities: he could either be as cold as ice or as warm as sunshine. If this carried on, she will go crazy. ¡°Sister Xuxu, is it really a good idea for you and the President to flaunt your love around? You¡¯re tormenting all single people, like us!¡± Her colleague gazed at her with an envious look. Xuxu promptly replied, ¡°Serves you right for not getting married when you¡¯re already 28 years old.¡± She held the bouquet in her hands and walked back to her desk. She placed the bouquet on the floor. She bowed her head and stole a swift glance at the roses. Actually¡­ being courted by someone she loved was indeed a wonderful feeling. After work in the evening, Xuxu secretly left the office without Yan Rusheng knowing. She had promised to meet Zhou Shuang. But if Yan Rusheng knew, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed her to go. It was the peak hour and roads everywhere were crazily congested with traffic. After nearly an hour, Xuxu finally managed to exit the main road. The sky was getting dark by the time she met Zhou Shuang. Bright lights illuminated the street, and she caught sight of a pretty girl with a short bob, waving at her from a distance away. It was quite chilly that night. Xuxu shivered as she wrapped her coat tightly around her. She strode towards Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang beamed at her and put a hand around her neck. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she sized Xuxu up. ¡°Why did you take the initiative to go on a date with me today? Do you have an ulterior motive?¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯ve neglected my beloved concubine. I was afraid that you might do something silly.¡± As she said that, she pulled her arm away from her neck. She had rejected Zhou Shuang way too many times, and she couldn¡¯t believe that Xuxu would ask her out without any motive. ¡°Oh please, I heard that you and your husband had shown too much public display of affection recently. You must be trying to show off how loving and blissful your married life is. You¡¯re simply torturing an unattached person such as I.¡± Xuxu was speechless. Did she think that she and Yan Rusheng were running a professional agency to torment people? She looked at Zhou Shuang and curiously lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Where did you hear that from?¡± Zhou Shuang extended her hand and pinched Xuxu¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Look at how rosy your cheeks are! That¡¯s the result of you being showered with love.¡± ¡°Hooligan!¡± Xuxu brushed her hand aside and raised her voice. ¡°Do you still want to have dinner together? If not, then I¡¯m heading home! It¡¯s freezing!¡± Chapter 498. Whats This Situation? Zhou Shuang knew that Xuxu really meant what she said. Hence, she gripped her arm tightly. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s eat steamboat.¡± She pulled her towards the shopping mall ahead of them. After dinner, Xuxu took out her phone. It rather puzzled her when Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t call her at all. However, there was a text on the screen from Yan Rusheng. ¡®Tonight I¡¯m eating dinner with Ming Ansheng and the rest. Prepare the remote control and wait for me.¡¯ Xuxu read the text and erupted into laughter. ¡°This silly fool.¡± She replied, ¡®You drank quite a bit last night. Take note of how much you drink tonight.¡¯ Yan Rusheng promptly replied after receiving Xuxu¡¯s text. ¡®They are forcing me to drink. Maybe you should come over and be my shield.¡¯ Xuxu replied with the word ¡® Scram¡¯ and stowed her cell phone back into her pocket once more. She turned around to look for Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang was walking towards her from the counter. She linked arms with Xuxu and said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go sing some songs. And I haven¡¯t been drunk in so long.¡± Xuxu glanced at her watch; it was already past 8 p.m. She didn¡¯t really feel like going to other entertainment places. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I think I¡¯ll skip.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so eager to plunge back into your husband¡¯s bed?¡± Zhou Shuang teased her. ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten all about your friend when you got married.¡± She sighed. ¡°We haven¡¯t met in almost half a year, and you want to go home right after dinner.¡± Xuxu was speechless. Was she going home just for that? All hooligans¡¯ brains are structured the same way indeed. Other than eating, sleeping, and work, that was all they could think of. But Zhou Shuang had exaggerated when she said that they hadn¡¯t seen in half a year, although there was a certain degree of truth when she said that they haven¡¯t seen each other for quite some time. Her parents were both abroad, and she doesn¡¯t have many friends and relatives in the Capital City. Xuxu was her only confidante but because of work, she couldn¡¯t meet her often. She mulled over it and nodded slowly. ¡°Alright then. But not too late since I have to work tomorrow.¡± Zhou Shuang promised her. ¡°Okay.¡± Both of them found a nearby bar and went in. Usually, they would find seats in the main hall but since Zhou Shuang wanted to sing tonight, they chose a private room. And they ordered a dozen beers. Xuxu couldn¡¯t drink at all and she felt intoxicated when she saw the beers. In the private room, Zhou Shuang held a microphone and a can in her other hand. She sang to her heart¡¯s content. ¡®I want your love even if I¡¯m dead¡­¡¯ Xuxu covered her ears as she felt her eardrums were bursting. Zhou Shuang finally finished a song and slumped back on the couch. She gulped down an entire can of beer. Seeing how forthright she was, Xuxu¡¯s body felt numb. ¡°Your song.¡± Zhou Shuang pointed at the screen. Xuxu glanced at the screen and she had chosen the song ¡®I Only Care About You¡¯ by Deng Lijun. The genre of her song and Zhou Shuang¡¯s were as different as day and night. She stood up and walked to the corner with a microphone stand. She sat on a high chair and sang. Her melodious voice echoed in the private room. While she was fully immersed in the song she was singing, a waiter came in. Zhou Shuang sneakily whispered something to the waiter. Soon after, three young and good-looking guys wearing bar uniforms came in and spoke to Zhou Shuang. Xuxu couldn¡¯t hear their conversation. She only saw Zhou Shuang nodding and then the three guys sat down. Two of the guys drank and the other guy began choosing songs from the songbook. What¡¯s this situation? Chapter 499. Did You Enter The Wrong Room? Xuxu watched them, feeling baffled. She blinked her eyes several times. After she had finished her song, she immediately walked to Zhou Shuang. She glanced askew at the two handsome young guys sitting next to her friend. She then inched towards Zhou Shuang¡¯s ear. ¡°Who are these people? Why are they sitting here?¡± Zhou Shuang loudly responded, ¡°I asked them to accompany us. It¡¯s too boring with just the two of us.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell. This woman was seeking death. She was about to scream at her when Zhou Shuang suddenly stretched her hand, grabbed her wrist, and pulled Xuxu. ¡°Sit down and listen to them sing.¡± Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows and sternly said, ¡°Get them to leave quickly. If not, then I¡¯m leaving.¡± Did this woman damage her brain? She had called these guys to accompany them. If Yan Rusheng caught wind of this, he would peel her skin off. Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re only singing and not doing anything else. Do you really reckon your husband won¡¯t be getting someone to accompany him while he drinks and sings outside?¡± ¡°Would he find someone to accompany him?¡± Xuxu contemplated the possibility of whether Yan Rusheng would really get a hostess to accompany him. He was so picky, so by right, he wouldn¡¯t touch any random woman¡­ But she wasn¡¯t entirely sure, because every time Yan Rusheng would go out, his gang of young masters loved to party and have fun. And a majority of those young masters were a flirt and loved to fool around. So she couldn¡¯t be sure if Yan Rusheng would remain unaffected by them. And at that moment, he was with his group of friends. The more Xuxu mulled over, the more anxious she became. She rummaged for her phone in her bag and dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. He didn¡¯t pick up, so she sent him a text. ¡®Have you finished dinner?¡¯ After her text sent, someone handed her a can of beer. ¡°Pretty lady, drink some.¡± Xuxu spun around as she stared at the owner of the hand. Both the man and heryoung master at home had peach blossom-shaped eyes. But her young master¡¯s eyes were crystal clear and could seduce her soul within seconds. But this pair of eyes right in front of her seemed more detestable by the minute. She suddenly became distant. She coldly said to the man, ¡°Take it away.¡± Then she glanced at Zhou Shuang again. ¡°If you don¡¯t get them to leave, then I will. You can enjoy their company all by yourself.¡± She grabbed her bag and was about to rise. Zhou Shuang knew that she was being serious and had to give in. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± She had merely called a few guys to accompany them. Zhou Shuang was more open-minded than Xuxu and furthermore, she had studied overseas for several years. Her line of thinking was definitely different from the latter. She held on to Xuxu as she cast a glance at the men. ¡°Go out first. I¡¯ll pay you for a full hour.¡± They stood up and politely bowed to Xuxu and Zhou Shuang. ¡°Ladies, please have a good time.¡± Then they turned around and walked towards the door. Suddenly, someone wrenched the door open. In fact, they had banged against the door. Three men and a woman rushed in right away. Xuxu couldn¡¯t catch a proper glimpse of their faces and only heard them saying, ¡°Do not move. We¡¯re the police!¡± Each of them said the same exact words. Police? Xuxu was stunned and she glanced at Zhou Shuang sitting beside her. Zhou Shuang shrugged and shook her head, showing that she was clueless as well. ¡°Mr. Police Officers, we are only singing songs. I think you¡¯ve got the wrong room. We¡¯re not involved in any shady or illegal dealings,¡± explained Zhou Shuang to the officers with a smile. ¡°We are from the Public Security Bureau. Someone reported that drugs and prostitution were involved in this bar.¡± Chapter 500. You Were the One Who Asked Me Out This Time ¡°Wh¡­ What?!¡± Xuxu was stumped for words. Drugs? Illegal prostitution? Zhou Shuang tried her best to explain to the officers, but she only used the same old few reasons. ¡°We are here to sing, and we are not involved in any illegal dealings. We really are not involved in any illegal dealings!¡± The only thing that came to Xuxu¡¯s mind was¡ªthey were dead! ¡­ ¡°Get down the car and stop dawdling.¡± Xuxu and Zhou Shuang, along with several other men and women, were being hustled down the car by the police officers. When they got to the police station, one officer pointed at an empty space and ordered them around. ¡°Everyone, squat by the corner near the wall. Talking is not allowed.¡± Xuxu and Zhou Shuang bent their heads and followed the rest to the corner. For fear of being recognized, Xuxu kept her head bent, and her back ached as a result. They were near the entrance, and the door was ajar. The brutal winds entered through the doors and everyone trembled badly because of the cold. ¡°You and you. Come over for a urine test. We also need to record your statements.¡± A police officer lifted his leg and kicked the buttocks of the two women in front. One of them was wearing heels, and she fell to the ground. The scene that they witnessed was quite violent, and Xuxu was fearful. She had always been calm and positive whenever she met in any situations. But when she entered the police station, she couldn¡¯t even lift her head. If someone recognized her and snapped a photo of her, someone was bound to make an issue. ¡®The Third Madam Yan from the Yan family apprehended by the police in a bar late at night¡­¡¯ This headline will definitely be explosive. One by one, they were called up for interrogation, checking of criminal records, testing for drugs and more. The group of suspects dwindled in size. Xuxu felt that she and Zhou Shuang would be next in line. She stole a glance at Zhou Shuang and her mouth twitched silently when she saw her. This fellow had incredibly been so composed, and was even drawing circles on the ground with her finger! Xuxu seriously contemplated about aiming a kick at her. She inched nearer to her as she gritted her teeth furiously. ¡°Why do we end up at the police station every time we meet up? Don¡¯t contact me in the future, and I declare that our friendship is over.¡± Zhou Shuang lifted her head and gave her an innocent look. ¡°You were the one who asked me out this time.¡± There was a hidden meaning: ¡®I haven¡¯t blamed you and you had the cheek to start it first.¡¯ Then she thought of something and she frowned. ¡°I just remembered that you were the one who had asked me out previously. So I should be the one asking you in the future to prevent any similar incidents from happening again.¡± Xuxu heard her conclusion and was about to explode. She almost bit her teeth off. ¡°Alright! If we will meet next time, we can only meet at my place.¡± Previously, Zhou Shuang had insisted on speeding on a congested road and she wouldn¡¯t listen to Xuxu no matter how hard Xuxu tried. So they ended up at the police station. Tonight, she had insisted on going to a bar after dinner, and she had to request a few guys to accompany them. Based on these pieces of evidence, she still dared to play the blame game. Alas, she had chosen the wrong friend. If it wasn¡¯t because Zhou Shuang had asked guys over to their room, she would have called Yan Rusheng at the bar earlier on to seek his help. But she didn¡¯t dare to do so now. If he knew that they went to a bar accompanied by young men, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to imagine how furious he would be with her. Not to mention the consequences of his wrath. The more she thought of it, the more fearful she became. ¡°You and you. Come over.¡± Finally, in the midst of Xuxu¡¯s anxiety, an officer came towards them. He pointed at her and another plump man with a commanding voice. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t she with Zhou Shuang?¡± Xuxu gloomily thought. Chapter 501. I Can Finally Sit On a Stool Xuxu was deep in her thoughts when suddenly, Zhou Shuang extended her arms and tightly held on to her. She made a pitiful expression to beg the officer. ¡°Mr. Police, can you please not separate us?¡± This plea had tugged Xuxu¡¯s heartstrings, and she nodded fervently in unison. ¡°Please allow us to stay together.¡± But she kept her head bowed. ¡°Why do you have so many requests? Go to a corner!¡± the police officer screamed that his piercing voice almost ruined Xuxu¡¯s eardrums. He was extremely bad tempered. And it seemed that he was about to kick Xuxu like how he kicked the rest. Zhou Shuang noticed him, and he withered her hand that had held on to Xuxu¡¯s earlier. She grabbed the police officer¡¯s raised leg instead. ¡°Mr. Police Officer, please calm down. Rashness is a devil.¡± She had heard from Lu Yinan that Yan Rusheng was recently extremely protective of Xuxu. Deep down, fear overcame her senses when she realized that they were being brought to the police station. She wasn¡¯t afraid of the police. Rather, she was afraid of Yan Rusheng. If they hurt Xuxu in any way, she reckoned that it would be impossible for her to meet Xuxu in the future. The police officer saw his leg being grabbed by Zhou Shuang, and this made him livid. He forcefully flung her hand away and shrieked. ¡°The officers are settling this matter, how dare you be uncooperative!¡± At this sentence, the police officer kicked Zhou Shuang away, and it left her sprawling on the floor instead. It horrified Xuxu and she turned ghastly white. She was about to pull and help Zhou Shuang. But who would have expected that she would scream? ¡°The police officer is hitting us! Hurry up and record this! The police officers are using violence to force us to admit to our crimes!¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched, and she retracted her hand immediately. Her screams alerted everyone in the police station and everyone spun around to look at them. And someone really whipped out his phone to record. The rest of the police officers hastily got up to stop them. ¡°Stop! Who dares to create trouble at the police station will be detained for 24 hours!¡± Zhou Shuang screamed again, ¡°The police officer is threatening citizens¡­¡± Xuxu covered her face, feeling ashamed that this person was her friend. She had irritated the police officers, and they were aware of their violence towards the suspects when handling cases. So they caved in and pointed to the people next to them. ¡°The two of you, come over now.¡± When the police officer led the other two people away, Zhou Shuang scrambled to her feet and nudged Xuxu. ¡°Hurry and call Yan Rusheng now so that he can bail us out. No one had recognized you yet, and he could hush this matter.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re feeling afraid?¡± Xuxu sternly stared at Zhou Shuang. She coldly said, ¡°I¡¯m not calling him. You must stay here with me for the night.¡± She wanted her to remember this harsh lesson and to make sure that nothing of the like happens again. Zhou Shuang nonchalantly shrugged and remained expressionless. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it since I¡¯m not afraid of hitting the headlines. Anyway, I¡¯ve not been on the news before so thanks to you I¡¯ll have a taste of how it feels to be on the headlines.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ She had underestimated how brazen and reckless this woman can be! She sighed. Should she call Yan Rusheng for help? Xuxu was in a dilemma as she quietly surveyed her surroundings. Aside from her and Zhou Shuang, three sexily dressed ladies were with them. ¡°The two of you, come over here.¡± Xuxu was still deliberating when another police officer shouted at them and waved. Zhou Shuang heard the police officer and sprang to her feet instantly. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I can finally sit on a stool.¡± She brushed her bottom and walked with big strides towards the officer. Xuxu stared at Zhou Shuang¡¯s back and was visibly exasperated. This woman¡¯s guts and nerve were extraordinary. Chapter 502. Its Good That Weve Cleared the Air They sat in front of the officer, ready to get their statement recorded. ¡°Raise your head.¡± The police officer barked a command at Xuxu as he looked at her. Xuxu softly responded with an ¡®uh¡¯ and slowly lifted her head. She was nervous and her hands clenched tightly into fists on her lap. When she revealed her face, it didn¡¯t surprise her when the police officer looked visibly stunned and dumbfounded. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± ¡°Shhh.¡± Xuxu whispered, ¡°Please lower your volume.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ okay,¡± he indistinctly mumbled and nodded. He was nervous and anxious as he stammered. ¡°You¡­ hmmm. .. wait here.¡± His tone was completely different. He stood up and walked to a different desk and whispered to a colleague who was recording a suspect¡¯s statement. She noticed that the other police officer instantly widened his eyes. As he glanced at Xuxu, she quickly lowered her head to conceal her face. The two officers had a hushed and quick conversation. One of them left with his phone to make a call. After he came back, he politely said to Xuxu, ¡°Our chief invites you to his office.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this situation?¡± Xuxu was dumbstruck for a moment before nodding. ¡°Oh¡­ Okay.¡± She knew that this Chief wanted to pull some strings under the table. Even though she detested such behavior, she knew that she was innocent and her conscience was clear. Going to the Chief¡¯s office was much safer as the chances of being recognized were much lower than staying in the main office. The police chief¡¯s office was spacious, but plentiful drawers and cupboards occupied it. The officer gestured towards a black leather couch. He politely said to Xuxu and Zhou Shuang, ¡°Have a seat and I¡¯ll get you a drink.¡± Then he turned around. Zhou Shuang watched as he left and sneered in disdain. ¡°These people are so two-faced.¡± Xuxu turned her head and fiercely glared at her. ¡°Shut up.¡± The door abruptly swung open. A massive and tall middle-aged man entered. He was slightly bald, and he was wearing a thick leather jacket. They knew he was the police chief. Otherwise, who would have dared to enter the Chief¡¯s office without knocking? Xuxu sized him up quietly in her heart and revealed a brief smile. The middle-aged man walked towards her and nodded. ¡°Madam Yan.¡± ¡°Chief,¡± the police officer addressed the middle-aged man. He was holding two cups of water and moved towards the coffee table. He placed the cups before Xuxu and Zhou Shuang. The chief gave him a look, and he immediately nodded and left the room. ¡°Chief, it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Xuxu rose and politely nodded. The police chief said, ¡°Have a seat.¡± Then he strode over to his desk. Xuxu didn¡¯t sit down but trailed after him instead. As she walked, she explained, ¡°Mr. Chief, my friend and I were singing at the bar, and we were really clueless that there was a problem with the bar.¡± ¡°I know, and I¡¯m aware of the situation.¡± The police chief nodded and settled down on his chair. He put on an apologetic expression as he faced Xuxu. ¡°My men had apprehended you by mistake, and I¡¯m terribly sorry for what has happened.¡± It seems as though his words had instantly lifted a massive burden off of Xuxu. ¡°It¡¯s good that we¡¯ve cleared the air.¡± She wanted to ask if they could leave but felt that it was too direct and hasty. She hesitated for a while and felt apologetic. She said, ¡°Since this is a misunderstanding, I would like to trouble you to explain to the rest of the officers about this matter.¡± The Chief understood her immediately and smiled. ¡°I understand. I will make sure that this matter is kept under wraps and I¡¯ll inform all of them.¡± Chapter 503. Weve Known Each Other Since High School ¡°Thank you, Mr. Police Chief.¡± Xuxu thanked him and asked, ¡°Can I leave with my friend now?¡± She had to get home before Yan Rusheng caught wind of this. If she was late, he would definitely be suspicious. ¡°Madam¡­¡± The police chief was about to respond when he caught a glimpse of a man standing behind Xuxu. His smile widened. ¡°President Yan.¡± After addressing the man, he rose and immediately walked over. ¡°President Yan?¡± Xuxu went numb, and her feet rooted on to the ground¡­ ¡°Crap! Didn¡¯t he promise not to make this public? Why did he ask this fellow to come?¡± ¡°Chief Wu.¡± An incredibly familiar voice sounded. Xuxu¡¯s hands clenched tightly into fists. Her palms were wet with perspiration. ¡°Oh no! Oh no!¡± He strode over. Xuxu could feel her entire back assailed by a gust of a chilly draught. She bent her head and gritted her teeth with a frown. ¡°Wen Xuxu?¡± His pleasant and deep voice exuded a hair-raising coldness that froze her from head to toe. He stood next to Wen Xuxu. Xuxu shrunk her neck and nodded softly. ¡°Mm.¡± A storm was brewing. It wasn¡¯t just her who felt it, but even police officers could tell from the aura that exuded from Yan Rusheng. The atmosphere became tensed and strained in an instant. Xuxu¡¯s palm was sweating, and so she slowly loosened her fists and instead nervously gripped on her clothes. She bit her lips, waiting for Yan Rusheng to explode. ¡°Yan Rusheng, hurry up and fetch your wife back home. It¡¯s time for me to head home. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Zhou Shuang abruptly rose and walked to Yan Rusheng. She faked a yawn to match her statement. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face contorted with rage the second he heard Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice. He glared fiercely at her and yelled, ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± White-hot anger leaped inside of him as he gnashed his teeth. His malicious-looking eyes were bitter and cold. His sudden outburst terrified Zhou Shuang, it made her tremble. She composed her face once more into a smile. ¡°There is no need to thank me for giving you this opportunity to protect your wife. Don¡¯t ask why but I¡¯m a selfless and noble friend.¡± She halted her footsteps when she was a few steps away from Yan Rusheng. She raised her hands and waved. ¡°I¡¯ll get going first. Have a good rest when you reach home. The night is still young.¡± She instantly turned around, quicker than a bunny. Zhou Shuang had just reached the door when Yan Rusheng coldly spoke, ¡°Chief Wu, I¡¯m bailing out my wife only. I don¡¯t know who the other woman is.¡± Chief Wu heard him and immediately yelled, ¡°Xiao Wang, come in! Take this woman for a urine test and make sure you interrogate her properly.¡± ¡°F*ck!¡± Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t control her temper any longer and halted her footsteps. She turned around and pointed at Yan Rusheng. She raised her voice to chide him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you cocky and pretentious jerk! How dare you say you don¡¯t know me? We¡¯ve known each other since high school! There was once I almost used a broom to stick it up your buttocks! Have you forgotten?¡± This woman¡­ Xuxu bent her head to stifle her laughter. She bit her lips to try to contain it. Was there anyone on earth that Zhou Shuang wouldn¡¯t dare to berate or lecture? She didn¡¯t need to lift her head to see the expression on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. It would be exceedingly ugly and terrible. The incident that Zhou Shuang had mentioned was true. She was on duty with Zhou Shuang and Yan Rusheng was waiting for her. Zhou Shuang and Xuxu held a broom and a mop respectively, while Yan Rusheng sat comfortably on the teacher¡¯s desk. He was peeling shells of a melon seed which he had bought specially for Xuxu. He had impatiently rushed her. He crossed his legs like an arrogant young master. Chapter 504. Hilarious After Zhou Shuang had finished cleaning the classroom, she turned around and much to her horror, the floor was littered with melon seed shells. She wasn¡¯t known for her patience, hence she raised the broom to hit Yan Rusheng. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t outrun Yan Rusheng, so what she did was she threw the broom and aimed it at him like a dart. Coincidentally, the tip hit Yan Rusheng¡¯s buttocks. Of course, she ended up in a terrible state as a result of infuriating Young Master Yan. He had pulled chunks of her hair. There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu could distinctly feel that the temperature in the room had dropped a few more degrees. After relishing in the satisfying memory, she started to feel worried about Zhou Shuang. Can¡¯t this fool just swallow her anger for once? She chose to offend Yan Rusheng, wasn¡¯t her intention was to get out? ¡°Chief.¡± Xiao Wang came as Chief Wu had instructed. The police chief pointed at Zhou Shuang. He then commanded, ¡°Bring her out for an investigation.¡± ¡°Yes, right away,¡± the officer promptly answered and looked at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Shuang.¡± Xuxu was getting anxious. She was about to hold on to Zhou Shuang, but she knew that it would be futile if Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t render his help. She turned around to plead with Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± She softly pleaded, biting her lips as she gazed at him. ¡°There¡¯s no room for discussion.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face was as hard as metal, and Xuxu felt that it dashed all hopes she had. She extended her hand and tugged gently at his sleeve. ¡°Ah Sheng, I was the one who asked Zhou Shuang out tonight. If not, we wouldn¡¯t have ended up here.¡± Xuxu¡¯s words didn¡¯t move Yan Rusheng at all. Instead, it was Zhou Shuang who felt touched by her words. ¡°Xuxu, in this lifetime, it¡¯s enough that I have a friend like you. It¡¯s worth even if I die now.¡± It seemed that Zhou Shuang was already saying her final words with full, overwhelming emotions. ¡°Stop pleading with him. I¡¯ll be alright. Remember this, I can die or bleed, but I will never beg the pretentious and cocky Yan Rusheng for help.¡± She turned around and said to the police officer, ¡°Hurry up.¡± Young Master Yan, still incensed, watched as Zhou Shuang walked away. He yelled, ¡°Hilarious!¡± It had Xuxu exasperated. She thought to herself, ¡°She isn¡¯t just hilarious. She was the perfect example of it!¡± Although Zhou Shuang seemed too able to take it in stride, Xuxu couldn¡¯t leave her in the lurch. She stole a glance at the police chief. He caught her eye and smiled to ease the tension. ¡°I¡¯ll head out to arrange some matters. President Yan and Madam Yan, please sit and have a good talk here.¡± He turned to leave the room and closed the door after him. Now that they were alone in the room, Xuxu stretched her hands and grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s. She acted coquettishly to get him to help her. ¡°Ah Sheng, don¡¯t be like this. Zhou Shuang is a girl, and we didn¡¯t even do anything illegal in the first place.¡± Xuxu got implicated by that female twice and was apprehended. Now, she still spoke up for her friend. It made Yan Rusheng livid as he stared down at Xuxu. Hi lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Do you want to stay here with her?¡± Most importantly, that female hooligan had berated him in public and revealed such an embarrassing incident in front of strangers. He had already shown mercy by not adding any more crimes on her record that could cause her to be locked in for several more days. Xuxu could understand his fury. ¡°I¡­¡± She wanted to defend Zhou Shuang once more, but Yan Rusheng cut across her. ¡°Home.¡± He knew that she wouldn¡¯t listen to him, so he placed his arm around her waist as he pulled her along. This fellow was determined to leave Zhou Shuang here and Xuxu was desperate. ¡°Ah Sheng, let me go.¡± Chapter 505. Can You Piggyback Me? Yan Rusheng ignored her struggles and led her out of the office. They bumped into Chief Wu. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Where is the back door?¡± ¡°Over here, you may leave from the canteen.¡± Chief Wu gestured towards a direction as he led the way. They exited from a door and walked along a dim road. They entered the canteen, and he sent them all the way to their car. Slam! Yan Rusheng slammed the door after pushing Xuxu into the car. Chief Wu bade him goodbye, and he nodded in response. He went around the car and started the engine. Xuxu turned around to face Yan Rusheng. She was getting angry. ¡°How do you expect me to face Zhou Shuang in the future?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t intend for that to happen,¡± Yan Rusheng replied casually. ¡°Speeding, drinking at a bar and getting men to accompany you. Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re really getting brazen.¡± He knew everything. Xuxu deflated, and she clarified, ¡°I protested against her idea.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke again. ¡°So you shouldn¡¯t meet Zhou Shuang the female hooligan ever again.¡± His tone was decisive. ¡°She isn¡¯t as bad as you¡¯ve pictured.¡± Xuxu pouted, feeling indignant. ¡°You can hang out, drink, and party all night long with your friends. But she¡¯s the only friend I have.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at her and his heart softened. ¡°If you stop pleading on her behalf, she would be out in less than an hour.¡± Xuxu beamed at him. ¡°I got it.¡± She clammed up. Yan Rusheng said nothing more. Instead, he would occasionally catch glimpses of her. She was quiet and seemed to have reverted to her usual state of aloofness. It made her seem distant, yet his heart began to stir once more. A thick layer of ice covered the roads, and all vehicles were crawling over it. Stopping and inching forward. Sleepiness washed over Xuxu and she propped an arm against the window while supporting her head with a hand. ¡°Xuxu, we¡¯ve reached.¡± She didn¡¯t know how long she slept before Yan Rusheng woke her up. Xuxu¡¯s eyelids sleepily fluttered. She asked, ¡°We¡¯re here?¡± She was about to open the door to get down when she noticed an unfamiliar surrounding. With doubt clouding her mind, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s this place?¡± It was dim outside, but she was certain that it wasn¡¯t her apartment, neither was it the Yans¡¯ mansion. She was confused. Yan Rusheng unfastened his seatbelt and peered at Xuxu. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? It¡¯s the other end of the street at Yizhong.¡± Xuxu looked and studied the street closely. She smiled. ¡°Oh yeah.¡± She rubbed her eyes. ¡°But I¡¯m not hungry at all. I¡¯m so sleepy, and I just want to sleep.¡± He had definitely brought her here for food. He couldn¡¯t possibly have brought her out for a spin. Yan Rusheng had already opened the car door when he heard Xuxu. He lifted an eyebrow and said, ¡°Thanks to you, I didn¡¯t have dinner at all. Shouldn¡¯t you grab a bite with me?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t answer, but she started to unfasten her seatbelt. There was a drastic change in the temperature outdoors, and it made Xuxu shiver. Yan Rusheng walked towards her and held her hand. That gesture made Xuxu feel warm all over. Xuxu raised her head to look at the towering man next to her. ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯m freezing, can you piggyback me?¡± Didn¡¯t this happen to all the pairs of childhood sweethearts? The boy would always carry the girl on his back. Yan Rusheng heard her request and deliberated for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll put you down if someone spots us.¡± Xuxu happily nodded. ¡°Okay!¡± She went to Yan Rusheng¡¯s back and climbed on him. Chapter 506. Continue Kneeling Then Xuxu¡¯s hands hooked themselves around his neck with nimble and swift movements. She then wounded her legs around his waist. Without Yan Rusheng¡¯s help, she tightly clung on to him all on her own. Xuxu¡¯s weight was nothing to Yan Rusheng, leisurely walking with ease. The brutal and piercing winds mercilessly swept across her. It made her pull her shoulders up. She planted her face on Yan Rusheng¡¯s back trying to steal some of his warmth. Layers of clothing separated them, but she could still feel the warmth emanating from his body. Her slight movement tickled Yan Rusheng, and he couldn¡¯t differentiate whether it was his heart that was being tickled or his skin. He tightened his grip on Xuxu¡¯s legs. He gnashed his teeth and said, ¡°Stupid woman. You are beginning to pout and act more coquettishly with me.¡± This feeling was great¡ªWen Xuxu needing and depending on him waswonderful. He felt they ought to be like that from the start. It was how a normal couple should be. Did they take the wrong approach in the past? Xuxu pouted and mumbled softly, ¡°I¡¯m making up for the times that have passed.¡± Only God knew how many times she had gazed at him when she was exhausted or feeling drained, silently wishing that he would allow her to depend and lean on him. If he did, she would feel overjoyed. She seemed to whisper to herself, and Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t hear and understand her clearly. He spun his head and asked, ¡°What?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Nothing much.¡± She tightened her hands around him. Even though it was freezing cold and snow was relentlessly falling everywhere, twinkling stars still littered the sky and the moon shone brightly. It made her wonder and look forward to how the day would be like tomorrow. Gazing absentmindedly at the stars, she rested her head on Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in response. ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°When you hang out with those young masters at entertainment places, what do you usually do?¡± After she had blurted the question, she immediately straightened her back. Her gaze fixed intently on the side features of Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. Zhou Shuang remarked that when men go to such places, they would hire hostesses to accompany them. Though she felt that Yan Rusheng might be a little bit of a flirt sometimes, he was someone who had strict standards and wouldn¡¯t like any random woman. She was quite confident about it, but somehow it still worried her that his friends might have requested the company of hostesses and forced one upon him. Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°Drinking, playing cards, playing billiard, and singing.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xuxu thoughtfully answered. She resumed lying on his back again. She uttered mostly to herself, ¡°A group of guys just singing and gambling? Doesn¡¯t sound very fun to me.¡± There was a subtle trace of her trying to probe more into the matter. Yan Rusheng could tell, and he had a shrewd hunch that the female hooligan must have introduced this idea to Xuxu when she asked for the company of those men. If not, she must have injected such suspicions into her mind. A devious smile appeared on his lips. He said, ¡°They ask for hostesses as well.¡± She knew it. Xuxu frowned and asked, ¡°Are they all sexily dressed and wearing thick makeup?¡± Yan Rusheng said it on purpose. ¡°Not necessarily. There are other types which are rather attractive.¡± He still dared to defend those hostesses, and it made Xuxu upset. ¡°Why are you qualified to criticize Zhou Shuang and me when you are doing the exact same thing when you hang out with your friends? You¡¯re allowed to and I¡¯m not? You¡¯re too unreasonable!¡± Yan Rusheng could no longer suppress his laughter and grinned. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Xuxu pouted her mouth, feeling resentful. ¡°At first I felt like forgetting all about the remote control punishment since you¡¯ve helped me tonight and carried me across the street.¡± What she meant was that she had cast aside her initial idea, and he will have to continue kneeling then. Chapter 507. Old Classmates Upon hearing what Xuxu had said, he was beyond flabbergasted. What had he missed out on? Did he missed the chance to hug her to sleep tonight? ¡°Wen Xuxu, get off my back now.¡± Without warning, he loosened his grip. Luckily, Xuxu was nimble, and she grabbed hold of his neck in time. It prevented her from sliding down his back otherwise her buttocks would have suffered from the fall. When her feet landed to the ground, she glared at Yan Rusheng with a frown. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you insane? Are you trying to make me fall to my death?¡± Yan Rusheng flashed her a disapproving look. ¡°Dumb woman, I really wanted to make you fall to your death.¡± She had thought of forgiving him and didn¡¯t inform him in advance. He spun around and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He gloomily strode forward with a few heavy footsteps. Xuxu watched him walk away, and she couldn¡¯t suppress her laughter. His behavior somehow tickled her insides, making her grin from ear to ear. She trailed after him, and although both of them were walking at the same pace, the distance between them became farther apart. They had walked like that countless times before, in the same exact way. She used to try her best to chase after him. When she was young, she had a silly thought, if she could finally catch up with him, they would be together. And so, she decided to run after him¡ªtried her best time after time. When she slowed down to her usual pace, a huge sum of distance would separate them in no time. Repeatedly she¡¯s run after him, and whenever she¡¯d catch up with him, but he would just shake her off and continued on for several reasons. Until such time that Fang Jiayin appeared who often trailed behind him like a shadow. He would hold Fang Jiayin¡¯s hand as they walk together. It was then she finally understood the principles of love. If one half of the couple didn¡¯t cooperate in a relationship, it won¡¯t work out no matter how hard the other half tries. ¡°Ah Sheng!¡± yelled Xuxu at the towering figure ahead of her as she snapped out of her daze. She began moving on her feet to chase after him, wanting to hold his hands as they walked together. ¡°Xuxu?¡± An unfamiliar voice belonging to a man called her. Feeling puzzled, she halted her footsteps and turned around to where the voice came from. There was a stall right beside where she was standing. It still had its lights on. Soon, she recognized that it belonged to her past English teacher. A lanky bespectacled man came out from the stall. He was wearing a pair of thick shoes as he rushed forward to greet her with a smile. ¡°Are you Wen Xuxu?¡± the man asked with apprehension. He surveyed her from head to toe. ¡°Yup, I am.¡± Xuxu sized him up as well. ¡°You must be Zhao Zheng.¡± The English teacher¡¯s son. When he realized that Xuxu still remembered him, Zhao Zheng seemed visibly emotional. ¡°Yes! I didn¡¯t expect you to remember me.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°We are old classmates, why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Zhao Zheng heard her, and he stretched his hand to scratch the back of his head. He appeared to be simple and honest. ¡°What are you doing here so late in the night?¡± Xuxu pointed at the fried vermicelli stall ahead. ¡°I missed the food here, so I came over.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded and suddenly, he sorrowfully sighed. ¡°Xuxu, I didn¡¯t expect you to marry Yan Rusheng.¡± Xuxu smiled weakly and didn¡¯t respond. In fact, she had no idea how to respond to his statement. In reality, when old classmates meet each other years later, they would usually chat about each other¡¯s marriage or relationship status or ask about each other¡¯s career progress. Other than these few common topics, it would end up like now¡ªawkward and silent. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the top student who scored the best at English in our class?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice, with a tinge of sarcasm layering over it, preceded his presence. Xuxu recalled how Yan Rusheng had previously mocked Zhao Zheng for his poor writing style. His love letter was of amateur-level as if it was an elementary school essay. Chapter 508. Shake WeChat Yan Rusheng was being petty. Xuxu had a hunch that he had never forgotten that Zhao Zheng once courted her before. Zhao Zheng and Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng who was headed towards them. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Yan Rusheng stood beside Xuxu, his hands naturally found their way to her waist. He stared at Zhao Zheng with a polite smile. ¡°Did your mom pass down the business to you?¡± Zhao Zheng didn¡¯t notice the hostility in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes, so he innocently smiled back. ¡°My mom is unwell these past few days, so I¡¯m here to help out at night. I¡¯m currently teaching at T University.¡± When he mentioned that he was teaching at T University, he sounded different, as though he was flaunting and proving himself to them. Yan Rusheng heard him. He displayed a surprised, worshiping expression. ¡°You¡¯re already a professor.¡± Hmph. He was merely a professor, and he had the cheek to boast before his woman. But Zhao Zheng didn¡¯t catch the contempt in his tone. ¡°I¡¯m not that capable yet.¡± Who knew if Zhao Zheng was truly being foolish or he was pretending to be? He couldn¡¯t decipher Yan Rusheng¡¯s sarcasm and still insisted on talking about his career. Xuxu could no longer bear it, and she cut across their conversation. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m starving. Let¡¯s catch up next time, alright? We¡¯ll make a move first.¡± She waved her hands at Zhao Zheng and grabbed Yan Rusheng. However, Zhao Zheng suddenly asked, ¡°Xuxu, are you still using the same QQ number?¡± Xuxu promptly nodded and replied, ¡°Yup, I am.¡± She was still using the same QQ number, but she hasn¡¯t been active for a long time. She wasn¡¯t fond of texting and if she needed to, she preferred WeChat. Did this fellow just displayed interest to develop further with his wife? The petty Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t help but turn around. He looked at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Teacher Zhao, can you keep up with the times? QQ is already outdated.¡± Zhao Zheng unabashedly asked, ¡°So what¡¯s the trend now?¡± Yan Rusheng grinned. ¡°Shake WeChat. Previously, Lu Feijie hooked himself with someone using this app.¡± This fellow! The corners of Xuxu¡¯s involuntarily mouth twitched. She pinched Yan Rusheng secretly. How can he bully him just because he was na?ve and honest? Zhao Zheng recalled something when he heard Yan Rusheng talking about WeChat. He then rummaged for his phone. He said to Xuxu, ¡°Oh yeah. Xuxu, let me add you on WeChat. I just met up with Xiao Yifang, and she was asking about your contact. Old classmates can catch up more often with this app in the future.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ His intention that night was to bring his wife there to move her as they reminisce memories through the seasons together, not to give this bespectacled fellow an opportunity to meet his wife. Boasting about being a university professor, asking for her QQ number and adding her on WeChat! He had the urge to hurl his phone across the ocean. Xuxu, however, had a different sentiment. After all, they were old classmates, and they hadn¡¯t met in so long. Xuxu felt obliged to agree as he had merely wanted her contact. She smiled and said, ¡°My WeChat number is the same as the QQ¡¯s one. You can add me using that.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand tightened its grip around Xuxu¡¯s waist. He turned around with her, then pushed her forward so that she could walk in front of him. After a short distance, he turned around and saw Zhao Zheng using his phone as he walked back to his stall. That fellow must be searching for Xuxu¡¯s WeChat account right now. Yan Rusheng bent his head and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s bag. He rummaged through her belongings to search for her phone. Chapter 509. President Yan, Youre Really Pretentious! ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± asked Xuxu as she tried to snatch her phone back. Yan Rusheng deftly avoided her hands as he swiped across her screen. He clicked on WeChat, then switched off the function that linked her account to the QQ app. Then he went back to the home screen to search for the QQ app. When he found it, he pressed on it and held on. Xuxu helplessly watched as he deleted the app right before her eyes. She slapped her hand against her forehand, exasperatedly wondering how petty he could be. She grinned and asked, ¡°Why are you so defensive? Are you feeling threatened because of lack of self-confidence? Are you afraid?¡± ¡°You mean I¡¯m afraid of that bespectacled idiot?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression showed that he seemed to have heard a joke. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t be ridiculous. From head to toe, even my hair is finer than his.¡± Confidence was clearly etched on his gorgeous face. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ Yan Rusheng expounded, ¡°I¡¯m just worried that if you hang out with such people, it will affect my status.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded again¡­ ¡°This fellow was being utterly shameless!¡± She frowned and retorted, ¡°But I¡¯ve already told him that he can search for my contact via Wechat. What do I do if he can¡¯t find me?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned with annoyance. ¡°Are you that concerned about your image in front of him?¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ These two matters were entirely different, weren¡¯t they? She realized that when this man gets unreasonable, he would act like a pampered child and she cannot knock any sense into him. Xuxu decided to brush it aside and walked away. Yan Rusheng watched her as a satisfied smile flitted across his face. ¡°This dumb woman ! At least she knows her boundaries.¡± He made up his mind to attempt the remote control test again tonight! ¡­ Xuxu reached the fried vermicelli stall and lifted the cloth at the entrance to enter. The stall owner, who was clearing the tables, smiled when she saw her. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Xuxu smiled at her. ¡°Hello, were you busy today?¡± As she talked, her eyes darted around looking for seats. The stall owner replied, ¡°It¡¯s too cold, so the students all went home after school.¡± She continued, ¡°What would you like to eat tonight?¡± Xuxu peered at the huge menu hanging on the wall and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have a bowl of pork vermicelli soup.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Then she caught sight of Yan Rusheng entering. She smiled and asked him, ¡°Young Master Yan, are you having the usual?¡± It puzzled Xuxu when she heard the stall owner. ¡°What does he usually order?¡± It sounded like he had patronized this place on a regular basis. The stall owner grinned and said, ¡°Xuxu, you have no idea. Recently, Young Master Yan came here for a few consecutive nights¡­¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly interrupted the stall owner. ¡°Ma¡¯am, today Wen Xuxu is paying.¡± ¡°Tonight let me treat both of you instead.¡± The stall owner loudly declared. She knew that Yan Rusheng had interrupted her because he didn¡¯t want Xuxu to know. She was very tactful and decided to leave with the dirty bowls and utensils. Yan Rusheng sat down opposite of Xuxu. Xuxu gazed at him and queried, ¡°Yan Rusheng, why did you frequent here before?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± He bowed his head and used the napkins to wipe the table. Xuxu persisted. ¡°Is it because of me?¡± A smile appeared on her face and in her eyes. Yan Rusheng glanced at her and his good-looking face was blushing crimson. He continued to deny. ¡°Wen Xuxu, stop thinking so highly of yourself. I came here because I fell in love with their food. It has absolutely nothing to do with you.¡± Xuxu sneered loudly with contempt. ¡°President Yan, you¡¯re really pretentious!¡± Chapter 510. It Would Be Damaged Sooner or Later Yan Rusheng can be more pretentious and coy than a woman at times. Xuxu waited eagerly for the food. Since they were the only customers left, their food arrived rather quickly. They served the dishes steaming hot. She quickly had a mouthful, and then she stole a glance at the man sitting opposite to her. His fine hands were holding a pair of chopsticks and ate his food with his full attention. He didn¡¯t even pick out the scallion. He used to despise such food and labeled them as junk food. ¡°Ah Sheng has changed a lot because of you¡­¡± Fang Jiayin had mentioned this to her before, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile in disbelief. After finishing their meal, Yan Rusheng sent Xuxu back to her apartment and parked his car outside the building. He got down and went to the car trunk to retrieve a black plastic bag. Xuxu heard some clattering sounds inside the bag when he lifted it up. She curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± Yan Rusheng ignored her and continued to walk towards her unit. Xuxu trailed after him as she eyed the bag in his hand. She entered and exited the elevator after him as well. Xuxu took out her keys to open the door. Her apartment was warm. She removed both her coat and shoes. Yan Rusheng cast his leather shoes aside and walked to the couch without further ado. He carelessly tipped the contents of the bag onto the couch. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Xuxu asked as she shuffled over to where he was. Her jaw dropped when she saw the stuff on the couch. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that every single one of these remote controls here can¡¯t bear my weight.¡± He had selected universal remote controls that had to be paired with her TV before it can be used. Xuxu stood silent as he got to work. ¡°Wen Xuxu, aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Yan Rusheng jerked his head as he glared at Xuxu. How embarrassing it was for him for her to witness all of this. ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu contained her laughter and walked to her room. She knew that if she was present, he wouldn¡¯t even budge an inch. Slam! Xuxu entered the room and changed into her pajamas. All of a sudden, the door loudly slammed¡ªthe man who had slammed the door close just lost his temper again. She bolted outside, but the man had already left. She leaned on the door frame and grinned to herself. He must have failed. ¡­ For the next two days, Yan Rusheng came over to try, but the results were the same. He went back home in a huff each night. Xuxu was worried for her door. At this rate, it would be damaged sooner or later. After a long day at work, it had completely drained Xuxu¡¯s energy. She walked back from the pantry and saw that there was no one else left in the office. Yan Rusheng had left right on time that day, claiming that he had an important matter to attend to. She wasn¡¯t able to ask him since work gobbled up all her attention and time. She returned to her desk and gulped down the glass of water. After which, she grabbed her bag to leave after switching off her computer. Her phone rang when she reached the elevator. She glanced at the screen and picked up immediately. ¡°Hello, Matron Huang.¡± ¡°Xuxu, have I mentioned to you before that the capital city is organizing a New Year¡¯s Day Charity Gala? The orphanage will participate and the kids hope that you can attend to cheer them on. It¡¯s on the 29th of this month at the Capital City Musical Theater.¡± Xuxu agreed immediately. ¡°Alright, sure!¡± Chapter 511. Yan Rusheng, I Want You to Disappear! Matron¡¯s Huang¡¯s delightful voice sounded over the phone. ¡°That¡¯s great. Let me inform the rest of this good news.¡± Xuxu smiled. But something had her concerned. She asked, ¡°Matron Huang, the weather has been pretty chilly lately. The children need to keep themselves warm and avoid falling sick. You must take care of yourself too.¡± Throughout the entire elevator journey, Xuxu fondly thought of the innocent-looking kids from the orphanage. It somehow made her feel depressed. She had no idea why she just couldn¡¯t get that matter out of her mind. It must have been because she had gone through what the other young ladies had experienced before. Even if there were regrets, didn¡¯t she already possess the long-term opportunity to make up for them? After coming out of the lift, Xuxu rummaged through her bag in search for her keys. She stopped when she heard a noise resembling someone hammering nails through a wall. She lifted her head and saw that her neighbor¡¯s door was wide open. There was a messy stash at the front door such as pots, bowls, ladle, basin, blanket and so on¡­ ¡°Were they preparing to move places?¡± Xuxu walked over to take a quick peek at the house; it was very bright and yet relatively empty. At one glance, the flooring and wallpaper looked brand new. She sensed that this family paid attention to interior details. Briefly recalling a memory, when she first brought her house, the same family had already stayed at their unit. Two years later, the house still looked well maintained as if it were brand new. She didn¡¯t linger outside her neighbor¡¯s flat for long. With her keys, she walked past that messy pile to her house and opened the door. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Xuxu got a shock when she opened the door. There was an additional door in her living door. Someone had constructed it at the wall diagonally facing the sofa. She hastily moved towards the door which had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. As she scrutinized it, her face instantly darkened. A smartly dressed man stood at the door entrance. He had one hand on the door frame as he lazily leaned his whole body against the door frame. When he noticed that Xuxu¡¯s startled expression had turned into a look of annoyance, he calmly smiled. ¡°Hello, I am your new neighbor who had just shifted in today. My name is Yan Rusheng.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xuxu howled at the man and hurled her bag hard at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, go to hell.¡± After that, she turned around and entered her room in a huff. As Xuxu sat on her bed, she couldn¡¯t believe that her living room transformed within a day, with an additional door that connected her home to her neighbor¡¯s unit, even! ¡°Oh my god! Is this a dream?¡± She buried her head in her hands and felt like smashing that fellow with a wooden stool. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± the man yelled at the door to Xuxu¡¯s room, he had flung the door open. He stood at the entrance as he loomed over Xuxu who sat on her bed. He had the audacity to look for her? Xuxu swiftly scooped a pillow and hurled it at the door. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I want you to disappear immediately.¡± He had sneakily taken possession of her neighbor¡¯s house, and God knows, the important matter which he mentioned earlier that required his attention was actually to tear down her wall. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t care less about Xuxu¡¯s attitude and fury¡ªhe treated them as non-existent. He dawdled towards her as if nothing happened and said, ¡°Since we¡¯ll be neighbors from now on, shall we have a feast to celebrate?¡± Xuxu placed one hand on her forehead and the other hand pointed to the door. Without looking at his face, she became unusually calm and said, ¡°Please disappear from my sight at this instant.¡± She needed to calm down. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I don¡¯t like women who are too pretentious.¡± This fellow is born an egomaniac. Well done. Today, he had refreshed his shamelessness to a new level. Chapter 512. Stupid Lass, Ill Give You One More Chance. Xuxu found it pointless to carry on the conversation with him. She realized that she¡¯ll be the one at a disadvantage in the long run. Hence, she decided to lay on the bed and turned her back against him. She gave him a ¡®regardless of what you say, I¡¯m not going to bother about you anymore¡¯ attitude. ¡°Dumb woman. You¡¯ll definitely regret it,¡± Yan Rusheng confidently said. He then turned around to leave. As she heard the man¡¯s heavy footsteps sounding more distant, Xuxu closed her eyes and paid no further attention to them. She had 2 slices of bread and a huge glass of water before she knocked off, hence, she didn¡¯t feel hungry and went to bed even though she was still fuming. Xuxu woke up in the middle of the night, and she felt the thirst rise up her throat. The heater was turned on, and it made the air dry. She drowsily rolled about on her bed for a while when she suddenly thought of Yan Rusheng. Her eyes widened, and she instantly sat up. She lifted her quilt, got off her bed, and scurried out. It was pitch-dark outside. Navigating her way around, she extended her hands in search for the switch. When she turned it on, the door was the first thing that caught her eyes. ¡°This¡­ isn¡¯t a dream. It¡¯s real.¡± Xuxu moved forward to take a peek at the neighboring house. The light from her house partially illuminated it. ¡°Yan Rusheng?¡± He said that he had shifted over that day, but she wasn¡¯t so sure if he was still around. Hence, she tried calling for him, but all she heard was her own echo. As the house was empty, the echo was extremely loud. She felt goosebumps and instinctively wrapped her arms around her body. She spun around and frantically went to the water dispenser to pour herself a glass of water, after which she took gulps after gulps. She dashed back to her room with lightning speed, locked her door, and snuggled under her blanket. ¡°Damn that Yan Rusheng.¡± Tomorrow she will ask someone to seal up that door. That matter made Xuxu extremely mad. When she saw him in the office the next day, she pulled a long face and didn¡¯t speak to him at all. She didn¡¯t set foot into his office the entire morning, too. Yan Rusheng appeared to be fuming too and cast a straight face at her. Instead of letting Xuxu order him his takeaway for lunch, which she usually does, he had Qiao Jian do it. Qiao Jian brought the food into Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. He stood at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office desk and looked at him before opening his mouth cautiously. ¡°President, it seems that Madam hasn¡¯t taken her lunch. Shall I order one more set for her too?¡± Yan Rusheng sneered in response. ¡°Let her fend for herself.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± His response stumped Qiao Jian for a moment. He figured that the two of them must be at loggerheads again. But they had only made peace a few days ago. Why are they arguing again so soon? As his subordinate, he felt that he had the responsibility to share his boss¡¯ worries and concerns. With a trembling voice, Qiao Jian spoke, ¡°President, every woman loves surprises and romance. You can consider giving Madam a surprise.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng raised his head at Qiao Jian, took a packet of tissue, and flung it hard at him. ¡°Get lost!¡± To create surprises for her, he bought a house, demolished a wall, and even personally designed the interior. But that dumb woman just didn¡¯t know what was good for her. He invested so much effort yet she didn¡¯t appreciate it. ¡°Ahem, young master, are you sure that was a surprise and not a scare?¡± Qiao Jian knew that he had accidentally stepped on Yan Rusheng¡¯s toes, and he hurriedly left the office. Yan Rusheng put down his work and leaned back against his chair, his arms across his chest. He looked at his desk calendar with knitted eyebrows; he appeared to be in deep thoughts. After some time, he gave out a helpless sigh and his expression softened. ¡°Stupid lass. I¡¯ll give you one more chance.¡± ¡­ Today is the 29th, which is the day of the New Year¡¯s Day Charity Gala. Chapter 513. Double-Boil the Soup Longer to Make It Tastier Xuxu left the house in bright-colored clothes that morning. When it was time to knock off, she carried her bag and left the office together with her colleagues. She didn¡¯t bid goodbye to Yan Rusheng. Xuxu left the office after estimating the traveling time she required during peak traffic hours. She arrived at the theatre just in time for admission. With the admission ticket on her hand, and instead of entering the theatre together with the crowd, she went backstage to visit the kids from the orphanage. They were in the midst of putting on makeup and preparing to take center stage later. According to Matron Huang, the performers that night were mostly children from various welfare organizations, along with a few famous celebrities. A charity auction will also take place. All organizations who will perform will receive a donation of 10,000 yuan. Xuxu found her way to the makeup room for Tiny Stars Orphanage. Before she could even open the door, she could already hear laughter and giggles coming from the room. Without her realizing it, the corners of her mouth slightly curled up. She opened the door with a gentle push, and instead of going in, she stood at the door to gaze at the little fellows. She found little Huanhuan among the crowd. The little girl stood out with her red princess dress and her neatly braided hair. On her forehead was a star-shaped tattoo, too. She simply looked adorable with her chubby face. This little girl was turning 4 soon. She hadn¡¯t seen her for several days, and she seemed to have grown taller. Do kids at this age grow especially fast? Xuxu leaned against the door frame. She fixed her eyes on little Huanhuan¡¯s face as she was lost in her own thoughts. ¡°Xu¡­¡± Matron Huang was about to call out to her when she happened to turn around and caught sight of Xuxu. Xuxu immediately placed her index finger against her lips. ¡°Shhh!¡± Even though the children knew that she was coming, she still wanted to create an element of a surprise for them. She made an eye signal to Matron Huang and then closed the door. ¡°Matron, why isn¡¯t Sister Xuxu here yet?¡± ¡°She will definitely be here. Perhaps you¡¯ll be able to spot her when you go on the stage later.¡± ¡°Really?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu leaned across the door and overheard the conversation between the matron and the children. The children¡¯s clear and innocent voices were infectious that Xuxu¡¯s lips broke into a mischievous smile without her knowing. With the admission ticket in her hand, she entered the dimly lit theatre. She found her seat number and sat down. It amazed her that the huge theater was packed with an audience to the brim. She sat at the second raw, almost near the stage. She had forked out a hefty price just to get a good seat so she could surprise the children with her presence when they take the stage. When the event organizer drew the curtain open, it had signaled the start of the performance. Hope Primary School, a school located in a remote village, was the first to perform. They were all girls and stood in two rows as they sang their local folk song. The girls¡¯ age were ranged from 5 to over 10 years old. Their voices resembled the melodious chirping of the mountainous lark, so pure and crystal clear. Xuxu patiently watched every performance from her seat. ¡­ The kitchen to his new home was tiny, and Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering figure made it appear cramped. He stood in front of the stove holding a pot cover with one hand and sampling the double-boiled soup with a spoon using the other hand. He was pleased with the taste. He shifted his gaze to the laptop beside him. ¡°The taste is just right. Do I need to turn off the fire?¡± A beautiful lady appeared on the laptop screen. She was dressed in silky purple pajamas and leaned lazily on her bed headboard. When she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s query, she knitted her eyebrows and affectionately chided him, ¡°Stupid son. Be more patient. You need to double-boil the soup longer to make it tastier.¡± Chapter 514. Stupid Woman, You Are Too Blessed Yan Rusheng ignored his mother¡¯s chiding. He asked again, ¡°So what should I do next?¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°Marinate the steak. It has to be marinated beforehand.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Yan Rusheng responded and immediately followed Mu Li¡¯s instructions. From the screen, Madam Mu Li could see her son donning on an apron as he went about in the kitchen. She felt relieved and yet could feel a pang on her heart at the same time. With underlying jealousy hinting on her voice, she commented, ¡°I gave birth to you and raised you, but I have yet to even taste your cooking.¡± Yan Rusheng had a straight face on as he answered. ¡°I will only cook for Wen Xuxu.¡± There was a long pause¡­ His response broke Madam Mu Li¡¯s heart. At that moment, however, she was thankful that she knew how to swim; otherwise, if she fell into the water with Wen Xuxu, she would definitely drown! Yan Rusheng¡¯s nimble, thin fingers were gently marinating the two pieces of steak. He was deep in focus on what he was doing. Even Madam Mu Li was mesmerized at the sight of him. All of a sudden, she asked, ¡°Son, tell me the truth. Have you ever cooked for that Fang lady before?¡± Yan Rusheng rolled his eyes at her. ¡°You have nothing better to do.¡± Is there a need to ask? The answer was definitely no . If he had cooked for her before, he didn¡¯t have to get her to teach him today. After saying that, he turned off the screen. He felt that he could already independently handle the rest of the task. After he marinated the steaks, he took out a frying pan and some newly purchased plates from the kitchen cabinet. There were two heart-shaped prints on each plate. He couldn¡¯t resist, so he planted a light kiss on the plate. A smile of joy and satisfaction lit up his face. ¡°Stupid woman, you are too blessed.¡± From head to toe, Young Master Yan was immeasurably confident and full of himself. ¡­ One performance followed by another, and finally, it was Tiny Stars Orphanage to take the spotlight. Xuxu braced herself and gave her full attention to the little kids as they went up in an orderly fashion. After some dolling up, all of them looked exceptionally bright and radiant. Xuxu lifted her hands and waved at them with all her might. The children seemed to have telepathic powers, for they simultaneously moved their vision towards her. The moment they saw Xuxu, they pranced and jubilantly cheered on stage. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± The children seemed to have forgotten that they were supposed to perform on stage, instead, they pointed to Xuxu and joyfully called out to her. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ The entire audience turned to look at her. She shyly lowered her head. Somehow she regretted to have sprung a surprise for the kids. Luckily, when the music came on, the performance began and everyone averted their attention to the stage. As Huanhuan was the youngest, she held the microphone and sang while the rest of the children danced around her. Xuxu was so engrossed in the performance that when it ended, she longed for more. As the little children walked down the stage, they eagerly waved at her. She also smiled and waved back and mouthed an ¡®I¡¯ll see you later¡¯ to them. Following that, the emcee went on stage and announced the next segment. ¡°The next segment is by a female musician, Fang Jiayin. She¡¯s the sponsor for the children from Hope Primary School and will perform with them The Hope Song .¡± When Xuxu heard the emcee¡¯s introduction, the smile on her face instantly froze. ¡°Fang Jiayin is also here?¡± But as her involvement in charity work was highly profiled, it shouldn¡¯t be surprising that she would appear on such occasions. The emcee left the stage after his introduction and the lights in the theatre changed into a dusky color. A group of children separately went up from both sides of the stage. They were dressed in jade-green costumes, resembling little elves. Some of them rolled up the stage while the rest hopped and jumped up the stage. Chapter 515. You’re Back In a span of seconds, the lightings on the stage changed again. Soft violin music poured forth slowly into the background, but the violinist was nowhere in sight. As Xuxu fixed her eyes on the stage, the red curtain pulled open bit by bit. It revealed a woman dressed in a deep red cheongsum 1 . Her silky jet black hair tumbled loosely over her shoulders, and she appeared elegant on stage. She captivated every soul. Her hands moved gracefully on the violin fret. Her eyes were closed¡ªshe was fully absorbed in her performance. The audience started whispering to one another. All of them only spoke compliments about her grace and poise. Xuxu retracted her gaze from the stage. With her head lowered, she curled her lips in self-mockery. She just couldn¡¯t bear hearing people¡¯s praises for Fang Jiayin. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you are so petty that you¡¯re even looking down upon yourself.¡± Paying no heed to such conversations, she rose from her seat and left with her head lowered. After she exited the theatre, she didn¡¯t look for Matron Huang and the children, and instead, she headed for the bathroom for she had drunk too much water before she came. When she found the bathroom, she went in and closed the door. ¡°Your niece is so promising. She¡¯s not only beautiful but talented and kind-hearted as well.¡± ¡°Tsk. What¡¯s the use? She can¡¯t conceive, so she can only love and care for other people¡¯s child.¡± Xuxu was about to push the door open after she had done her business, but she stopped after hearing some footsteps. Soon, a conversation erupted between two ladies. She had no idea why but her instinct told her that the ladies were referring to Fang Jiayin. Like a busybody, she stopped in her steps and started to eavesdrop. ¡°Hey, what nonsense are you talking about? She looks so good, so how can she not be able to conceive?¡± ¡°Nowadays, young ladies do not know what self-love is. They engage in pre-marital sex, get themselves pregnant to the point of almost losing their lives. At that time, if not for Old Liu, she wouldn¡¯t even get the chance to go overseas. But who would¡¯ve known that she turned ungrateful upon her return and kept getting into a head-on clash with Old Liu.¡± ¡°Really can¡¯t tell. She seemed to be one who knows her boundaries.¡± Xuxu leaned against the partition in a state of shock. Her eyes were wide opened, and her face turned pale. ¡°Nowadays, young ladies do not know what self-love is. They engage in pre-marital sex, get themselves pregnant to the point of almost losing their lives.¡± No. No. No. Fang Jiayin wasn¡¯t the one that they were talking about. She must be thinking too much. Xuxu waited for the ladies to leave the bathroom before opening her door. With one breath, she ran from the escalator to the basement carpark and found her car. After she got in, she started the engine and stepped on the accelerator. She told herself repeatedly that Fang Jiayin wasn¡¯t the one that they were talking about. However, she knew the answer clearly in her heart. As it was already after the peak traffic hour, the Audi Q7 traveled at full speed on the road. Xuxu stopped the car as she approached a traffic light and took out her cell phone to dial Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. ¡°Xuxu.¡± The line got through and Xuxu heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep voice. Xuxu recomposed her emotions and tried her best to speak calmly. ¡°Ah Sheng, where are you?¡± ¡°New house.¡± Xuxu understood the two simple words Yan Rusheng had uttered. She hung up and sped off. At times, waiting could be blissful, but it could also be fretful. This would depend on one¡¯s feelings during the period of waiting. Xuxu watched as the floor number indicator in the lift changed by the seconds. But even a split second felt too slow for her. When the floor number changed to 8, she sped out of the lift before the doors could open fully. She opened the door with her keys in a hasty manner. What welcomed her ears was a romantic and relaxing tune. A subtle humming sound from a man could also be heard at the same time. Xuxu stared blankly for a moment before walking towards the new door in a daze. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Chapter 516. Everything Seems to Be a Dream The man was dressed in his usual clean white shirt and well-ironed trousers. But this time, he had an ash-grey colored apron around him. Seeing this, Xuxu could no longer suppress her emotions. Her eyes turned red as she gazed at the man who looked as beautiful as a painting. ¡°Ah Sheng, I love you.¡± The profession of her love was the original version that she had kept in her heart all these years. ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯ve loved you for many years. From the first awakening until now, I¡¯m loving you more and more.¡± It stumped Yan Rusheng for a second when he heard Xuxu¡¯s sudden profession of her love. The next moment, she rushed forward, wound her arms around his neck, and kissed his lips as she stood on her toes. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Why was she so affectionate all of a sudden? And so self-initiated?¡± Yan Rusheng thought. To Yan Rusheng, this was the first time that Xuxu took the initiative to kiss. It was such a deep kiss that he didn¡¯t know how to react at that instant. By the time he had snapped back to his senses, he could no longer contain himself. He embraced her petite body, pushed her against the wall, and fiercely pressed down his lips onto hers. He was still holding a spatula in his hand. ¡°Wait a while, my precious.¡± Yan Rusheng seemed to have recalled something. He carried Xuxu up with both hands while his lips still tightly pressed onto hers. He walked towards the kitchen. In a moment of passion, a man would yell whatever mushy appellation that came to his mind. It baffled Xuxu when she heard Yan Rusheng calling her ¡® my precious ¡®. She didn¡¯t have any raised goosebumps. Instead, it seemed that his honey smeared hand had simply brushed across her heart. When they reached the kitchen entrance, a burnt smell entered her nose. Yan Rusheng quickened his steps, and at the same time, his kiss got more intense. He reached the stove and swiftly turned off the fire. After that, he carried Xuxu and turned around. Pushing her against the sink, he pressed his body down slowly. Xuxu awkwardly responded. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu¡­¡± The man¡¯s deep hoarse accompanied by his heaving panting caused Xuxu to sink deeper time after time. His long-felt need was finally satisfied, but he didn¡¯t want to stop and wanted it again and again. ¡­ ¡°Stupid lass. I know that your willpower is not firm, but I didn¡¯t expect it to bethat weak.¡± Yan Rusheng lay sideways next to Xuxu. He supported his head with one hand while twirling Xuxu¡¯s hair with the other. His charming peach blossom-shaped eyes were fixed on her flushed face as if to tease her. Xuxu¡¯s face became redder when she heard this and bashfully looked away. Still pretending to be mistreated after gaining a favor, this fellow was a typical example. The man whispered into her ears again, ¡°Seems that I¡¯ve bought the house and prepared the candlelight dinner in vain.¡± In order to create a romantic surprise for her, he pushed the trolley and went in search of ingredients at the supermarket just like any other person. When he thought of this, he had the urge to give it to her another hundred times just to make up for himself. Xuxu glanced askew at him and furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Are you regretting it?¡± Never in her wildest dream did she imagine that Yan Rusheng would cook for her. He was even so patient with her. Everything¡­ seemed like a dream. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng dived under the blanket and reached for Xuxu¡¯s hand. When he caught hold of her soft and slender hands, he wrapped it around with his huge palm. He asked, ¡°What has defeated your willpower?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes in annoyance. ¡°Yan Rusheng, get lost if you continue to behave so smugly.¡± He just couldn¡¯t stop when he got all smug and arrogant. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng lowered his head and pressed his lips on her ear. ¡°You said that you didn¡¯t long for my body, but I think you desired for it more than I do with yours.¡± His gentle break sent an electrifying signal down to Xuxu¡¯s body. Her face turned red with embarrassment as she bashfully pushed him away. ¡°You stinky hooligan!¡± Chapter 517. There Were Only Things That One Didnt Think Of After chiding him, she turned over to the other side of the bed and kept a distance from him. She covered herself with the quilt and sat up. Her hair was in a mess, and the traces on her body were ambiguous. Yan Rusheng lazily leaned against the headboard and calmly looked at the woman who was searching for her clothes. Perfect body contours coupled with the bashfulness of a little woman¡­ Why didn¡¯t he notice Wen Xuxu right from the beginning? Why didn¡¯t she belong to him right from the start? A streak of jealousy flashed past Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. He turned and grabbed her, pressing her down and fiercely kissing her. What should he do? As the thought of Jiang Zhuoheng popped into his mind, a twinge of jealousy overcame his senses. He felt for Xuxu¡¯s hands and locked his fingers with hers as if telling her that in this lifetime, he would grip her heart tightly and never let it waver. Xuxu resisted for a moment but soon caved in. As Yan Rusheng advanced bit by bit, his eyes were flaming with sparks of jealousy. He wanted to ask: ¡°Wen Xuxu, why didn¡¯t we fall in love earlier? Why didn¡¯t we belong to each other solely?¡± That night, they exhausted all their energy. Lying on the bed, her chest moved up and down with every breath she took. Xuxu recovered her energy after quite some time. As she rubbed her tummy, she turned and face the man beside her. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Yan Rusheng narrowed his charming peach blossom-shaped eyes and his lips mischievously curled up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you full after I¡¯ve fed you for so long?¡± ¡°Stinky hooligan. You never changed.¡± Xuxu raised her fist and hurled punches at his chest. As her energy had drained out earlier, her punches resembled balls of cotton wool falling on his chest and they didn¡¯t manage to deliver the effect that she wanted. Instead, it almost ¡®provoked¡¯ him again. Yan Rusheng reached out and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s wrist. He teasingly looked at her. ¡°Dumb woman, let me eat something and regain my strength first. You can seduce me again later.¡± After that, he lazily sat up and got off the bed barefooted. He walked out of Xuxu¡¯s sight, stark naked. Xuxu expected him to proceed to the bathroom to take a shower. He was sweating profusely earlier and being mysophobic, taking a shower was a must for him. All of a sudden, she recalled something and shouted, ¡°Yan Rusheng, come back right now.¡± A lazy male voice sounded from the outside. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°The curtains outside are not drawn.¡± Xuxu put on her slippers and got off the bed as she spoke. She picked up Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirt from the floor and covered her petite body with it. The man was calm and collected as usual. ¡°Others can see but cannot touch. So why are you so afraid?¡± It baffled Xuxu. By the time she ran out, Yan Rusheng was already out of sight. She looked at the balcony, and he had already drawn the curtains. When were they drawn? She didn¡¯t hear the sound of the curtains being drawn earlier. She was feeling puzzled when Yan Rusheng suddenly called out to her from the bathroom. ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you want to shower together?¡± Instinctively, Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t want. You shower by yourself.¡± Her entire body was aching all over. If she were to take a shower with him, things could happen again. Xuxu put on the pajamas that she wore yesterday and entered the next room from the new door. The lavish crystal chandeliers were switched on, and they shimmered and flickered under the light. From the looks of it, from the flooring and wallpaper to the furniture in the house, they were all brand new, yet they didn¡¯t give off the slightest stench. She had no idea how Yan Rusheng did it but she knew one thing¡ªmoney talks. There were only things that one didn¡¯t think of, but there¡¯s nothing that one couldn¡¯t handle. Chapter 518. Her Bad Habits Were Multiplying Xuxu scanned the living room and walked towards the dining room. The size and structure of this apartment were the same as hers. The long dining table had a plate of fruit salad, a bottle of red wine, two glasses, and two candles. Xuxu smiled out of sheer happiness. This fellow had indeed put in plenty of effort. The ambiance was really great. He seemed to have gone to the kitchen earlier on to switch off the gas stove. What was cooking in the pot? She walked towards the kitchen. The brand new pot had two slices of steak which were almost done. By then, it should have gone cold. She walked over and turned on the gas. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and flipped the steak to warm it up. Yan Rusheng saw no sight of Xuxu in Xuxu¡¯s apartment. So, he went to his and heard sizzling sounds coming from the kitchen. He looked in the kitchen¡¯s direction and walked with hushed footsteps. His eyes lit up with surprise when he peeked in. Her luscious black locks ended at her waist and his oversized shirt¡ªthat she was wearing¡ª hid her petite body. She seemed even more seductive and alluring. Especially in the way she was flipping the steaks with a serious expression on her face. No words could describe how gentle she looked at that moment. He walked over and hugged her tightly from the back. ¡°Stupid woman. Are you trying to make full use of everything and me tonight?¡± Yan Rusheng scared the wits out of Xuxu when he suddenly entered. After she had calmed down, she could feel his warm breath as she recalled what he said. A flush of red rose from her neck to her cheeks in rapid motion. ¡°Stop being so shameless. Go out quickly!¡± She nudged him with her elbow. Yan Rusheng was famished too, so he knew better not to disturb Xuxu. He playfully pinched her thigh and left. Xuxu brought the steaks out after she finished reheating it. A romantic and relaxing tune soon filled the living room. Yan Rusheng was standing by the dining table and swirling a bottle of red wine. He had already lighted the candles. Xuxu¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw this scene. She walked towards him with the plates, and Yan Rusheng passed a wineglass to her. ¡°Stupid woman, let¡¯s have a good meal.¡± Then he lifted his glass and clinked Xuxu¡¯s glass. The sound of the wine glasses was crystal-clear and pleasant, and it had Xuxu momentarily dazed. Her eyes started to glisten as she watched the man he had loved for more than a decade. ¡°Yan Rusheng, will we be together for a lifetime?¡± No matter what happens in the future, you won¡¯t release my hand? No matter how much someone else loves you, you wouldn¡¯t be moved by her? Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Who else would want a dumb woman like you except for me? Or were you counting on Jiang Zhuoheng?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ Here it comes once again. He had to mention Jiang Zhuoheng again. If she told him then all along that he had been jealous of himself, how would he react? But this memory was too much for her to recollect and look back once more. ¡­ The aftermath of their passionate night resulted in body aches and leg cramps. She couldn¡¯t get up in the morning. ¡°Wen Xuxu, if you don¡¯t get up now, I will throw you from the balcony.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice rang in her ears, and it kept disrupting her dreams. Xuxu frowned and whined. ¡°I¡¯m too exhausted. It¡¯s the weekend, and I want to sleep in.¡± She flipped over and tightly hugged her pillow. She dived deeper into her blanket. Stupid woman, her bad habits were multiplying. She was pretentious, lazy, arrogant, crude, aloof¡­ Chapter 519. It’s Decided Xuxu had countless flaws, and Yan Rusheng deduced that the old Wen Xuxu had hidden her true, raw self¡ªso well that even he couldn¡¯t tell despite growing up together. Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth. ¡°Then I shall inform Madam Mu Li that you don¡¯t miss her at all, and you don¡¯t want to visit her.¡± Xuxu immediately opened her eyes when she heard him. She spun her head to look at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what did you say?¡± Without waiting for him to answer, she promptly sat upright. She grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm with excitement brooding inside her. ¡°Are we really flying to Country Y?¡± ¡°The flight is at 11 a.m.¡± Yan Rusheng stood up and left the room. 11 a.m. flight? What Yan Rusheng said had momentarily stunned Xuxu. She stole a glance at the clock. It already was ten minutes to ten. From her apartment to the airport, the drive would take about half an hour with no traffic jam. It was already the weekend and the roads are expected to be slightly congested in the morning. She reckoned they would need at least 45 minutes. It also meant that she only had 20 minutes to wash up, change her clothes, and pack her baggage? She jumped off the bed and her body wasn¡¯t aching anymore. ¡­ On the flight, the first-class cabin was empty except for both of them. Xuxu had a hunch that Yan Rusheng had booked the entire cabin. But she decided not to question him as it was an irrefutable fact. Besides, it was too late for changes. The flight would take more than half a day and Xuxu used this opportunity to catch up on her sleep. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t disturb her. He switched on his laptop and worked. The more Xuxu slept, the drowsier she became. She only woke up twice, to grab a bite and to use the comfort room. The plane landed safely hours later at Country Y¡¯s capital airport. It was almost evening by the time they landed, and the sun was setting. They got on the designated car, and Yan Rusheng instructed the chauffeur. ¡°To S hotel first.¡± Xuxu curiously looked at him. ¡°Why are we going to the hotel?¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡± We are sending the luggage there.¡± Sending their luggage there? It puzzled Xuxu and so she questioned him again. ¡°Why do we need to stay at the hotel?¡± Aunt Mu Li had a huge house. With a deadpanned expression, Yan Rusheng said, ¡°If we stay with them, they will disrupt our progress.¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. But she heaved a quiet sigh of relief that the chauffeur couldn¡¯t understand their language. If not, his mind probably would run wild. She protested, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to stay at a hotel. There are too many strangers around.¡± This trip was a long-awaited one, and she wanted to spend time with Aunt Mu Li and Second Uncle. Yan Rusheng refused to oblige and said in an unyielding tone, ¡°But the strangers won¡¯t disturb us. It¡¯s decided.¡± Xuxu protested a few more times to no avail. The chauffeur didn¡¯t listen to her, so she had to give up. The biggest difference between Country Y and back in the capital city was cleanliness. The streets were clean with no sight of litter anywhere. The air was fresh, too. The weather was cool, although the breeze was slightly warm, simply wearing a sweater was already enough in that kind of weather. Xuxu looked out of the windows as she watched the building they passed by. Suddenly, she thought of something and spun around. ¡°Yan Rusheng, the wishing well outside Country Y¡¯s royal palace that you¡¯ve mentioned, did you mean Charles¡¯ home?¡± Yan Rusheng retorted, ¡°That¡¯s not his house, and it has nothing to do with him.¡± Xuxu quipped, ¡°But his mother is a princess.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. With no trace of amusement in his voice, he said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, is the reason you got excited was because of the foreigner with blue eyes?¡± Chapter 520. Well Leave After Dinner Jealousy coated every word that came from Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth. Xuxu was speechless. Yan Rusheng can really twist her words, and he was more unreasonable than a woman. Xuxu turned away from the man and back to the window as she admired the scenery. Country Y had busy and bustling streets, and there were fanciful, unique-looking buildings everywhere. Under the setting sun, the whole city seemed so surreal and beautiful. The car left the busy and bustling part of the city and stopped outside a splendid-looking hotel which resembled a grand castle from outside. There was a fountain outside the entrance and the chandeliers illuminated the whole hotel. It gave off a luxurious and extravagant charm. The chauffeur got down and brought out their luggage from the trunk. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng remained in the car, the latter had her back facing him. She was giving him the silent treatment for insisting to stay at the hotel. Why did he insist on staying at the hotel when they could stay with his parents? Yan Rusheng glanced at Xuxu as he studied her expression. He grinned and ignored her. He decided not to allow her to have her way every single time; otherwise, she would become too pampered. These past few days, he had almost become a hen-pecked husband. Women occasionally threw tantrums, and this does not exempt Wen Xuxu. Though, in her tantrums, she¡¯s able to display an adorable expression while maintaining a pout. The chauffeur came out of the hotel and started the car once more. Xuxu continued to peer out of the window. It was already dark by the time they got to Aunt Mu Li¡¯s mansion. The second the car stopped in the courtyard, Xuxu pushed the door and jumped to her feet. A beautiful, elegant lady came out of the house wearing a dark purple knitted dress. She had draped a white shawl around her shoulders and her short hair was beautifully curled. No one could tell her real age from her appearance. When she saw Xuxu and Yan Rusheng getting out of the car, excitement and joy stirred in her charming peach blossom-shaped eyes. She walked hastily towards them. ¡°Xuxu!¡± She headed towards Xuxu and her every actions and gesture revealed how much she liked this daughter-in-law of hers. ¡°Aunt Mu Li.¡± Xuxu hurried towards her and gave her a tight hug. Happiness overwhelmed her as she lifted the old lady up and swung her in circles. She carefully put her down on the ground and surveyed her from head to toe. Finally, her eyes darted to her hair and she immediately became startled. ¡°Why did you cut your hair?!¡± She still had long hair two days ago when they had a video conversation. When they had a conversation over a video chat two days ago, she still had long hair. Mu Li brushed her hair lightly. ¡°To welcome both of you, I went to the salon this morning. Do I look pretty?¡± She spun around so that Xuxu can take a better look. ¡°So ugly,¡± said a lazy voice, ultimately cutting across Xuxu and Mu Li¡¯s chat. The person who commented promptly walked away with his hands in his pockets. He did not wait further for Mu Li¡¯s reply. Mu Li glared at the haughty-looking back and yelled, ¡°Wretched son! Tonight, you shall sleep on the streets. Don¡¯t you dare sleep at my house!¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t halt, instead, he quipped, ¡°It¡¯s fine with me since I don¡¯t intend to stay at your house. We¡¯ll leave after dinner.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Mu Li was breathless with anger. But she composed her face into a smile when she saw Xuxu. ¡°At last, you¡¯re finally here with us. Both your dad and I missed you so much.¡± She held her hand and led Xuxu into the house. The house was spick and span. Although Mu Li might be a little forgetful and careless at times, she was thoughtful and patient. French windows filled the entire mansion and the choice of furniture was all European-inspired. She also had her art pieces displayed all over the house. A light scent pervaded the air and Xuxu took a deep breath. She said, ¡°Aunt Mu Li, your place is wonderful and I can¡¯t bear to leave every time.¡± Chapter 521. You Will Know the Consequences Mu Li suddenly furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Huh? What did you address me as?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Xuxu was startled and realized what she had said. ¡°¡­.Mother.¡± She really couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it over the phone. It was even harder now that she had to say it while facing her. She immediately bowed her head feeling all bashful. Mu Li saw that Xuxu was blushing. She solemnly quipped, ¡°You have to get used to it. If the next time you make this mistake again, I¡¯ll punish you.¡± Xuxu nodded and responded with an ¡®uh¡¯ . ¡°I¡¯ve waited for years for you to address me as Mother. If your grandmother was still¡­¡± Mu Li accidentally spoke of Grandmother, and she hastily cut off mid-way. She changed the topic. ¡°Go up and say your greetings to your Father. I¡¯ll go to the kitchen to make sure everything is ready.¡± She released Xuxu¡¯s hand. The latter agreed with a smile, and she happily went up the stairs. She walked towards the master bedroom and the door was ajar. ¡°But it can¡¯t be helped. Your uncle is bent on bringing his illegitimate children and their mother into the family.¡± ¡°I have no other way but to let you handle this matter.¡± ¡°I understand, tomorrow I will look for them and have a chat with them.¡± Xuxu stood outside the room. She was shocked upon hearing Yan Weihong and Yan Rusheng¡¯s conversation. ¡®Your uncle is bent on bringing his illegitimate children and their mother into the family¡­¡¯ She thought, ¡°What¡­ what did he mean? First Uncle had a mistress?¡± Xuxu used a hand to hold the door for support while her mouth was open in utter shock. How could that have happened? First Aunt was such a nice person, and the couple had been so loving throughout their marriage. Cough, cough. Yan Weihong coughed all of a sudden, and it jolted Xuxu back to her senses. She adjusted herself and walked into the room with a smile. ¡°Second Uncle.¡± Yan Weihong was lying on the bed. He looked refreshed and energetic; his recovery after the operation must have gone well. The moment he caught sight of Xuxu, he smiled and waved at her. ¡°Xuxu, come over quickly.¡± Then he turned to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Pull a chair over for Xuxu.¡± Young Master Yan frowned. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she have hands?¡± He wasn¡¯t her servant. If he helped her get a chair, it would seem like he had pampered her too much. Yan Weihong was upset with his son¡¯s attitude. ¡°You have to dote on Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng rose and glanced at his father lying on the bed. ¡°Our family traditions and practices are all ruined by you.¡± Yan Weihong mulled over the meaning of his son¡¯s words; he took a short while to comprehend what he meant. He glared at him with his eyes burning with anger. ¡°Wretched son! What do you mean?¡± Xuxu understood what Yan Rusheng had said, and she glared at him crossly as well. This fellow really dared to say anything that comes to his mind with no respect for his elders. Second Uncle doted and loved his wife too much. Alright, she was trying to contain her laughter although it wasn¡¯t a joke. She felt that it was normal for a man to dote on his wife. But how would Yan Rusheng be like his father and dote on her like how his father had doted on Aunt Mu Li? They had an entirely different start to their relationship. Aunt Mu Li was different from her. Aunt Mu Li was the type of woman who was born to be doted on, and she had the right since her husband loved her so much. However, it was only recently that Xuxu had finally gotten what she had yearned for, and she was still on tenterhooks that this happiness might slip through her fingers¡ªthus, it might end up only as a cherished memory. She decided not to mull over it, and Xuxu shook her head to prevent herself from letting her imagination run wild. She pulled the chair and smiled at Yan Weihong. ¡°Second Uncle, ignore him. He is a pampered young master.¡± ¡°Wretched lass, you are getting bolder because you have your backers?¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t take her criticisms lying now and knocked her forcefully on her head. He continued, ¡°You will know the consequences after dinner.¡± Chapter 522. I Don’t Dare To Yan Rusheng left after giving Xuxu a warning. Xuxu knew that Yan Rusheng was being subtle with the way he phrased his warning because of Yan Weihong. If it was Mu Li in the room, he would say that she would suffer the consequences at night. She felt that there was a need for her to have a serious conversation with him. Even if he chose to be shameless, he needed to take any situation into consideration. ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s been tough on you.¡± Yan Weihong retracted his gaze after Yan Rusheng left. He watched Xuxu with a benign expression. Xuxu lightly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± ¡°Since you were a child, I¡¯ve always known you were sensible. In fact, you were always more sensible than Third Yan,¡± Yan Weihong earnestly remarked. ¡°Like what you¡¯ve said, we have spoiled him since he was born, and that might be the reason why he isn¡¯t too thoughtful or doting towards you. Give him more time and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to change him.¡± He sounded absolutely certain and confident. ¡°I know.¡± Xuxu bowed her head and smiled to herself. She said, ¡°Actually, he has changed a lot.¡± To her, it was already a miracle that he had managed to change. It never once crossed her mind that she would one day witness a different side of him. Yan Weihong chatted with Xuxu regarding Yan Rusheng and the current situation at Flourish & Prosper. A short while later, Mu Li came to get Xuxu for dinner. A fine feast was waiting on the table, and Mu Li personally prepared most of it. After dinner, Mu Li went upstairs to accompany Yan Weihong. Xuxu sat on the sofa to watch a rerun of a drama that she liked. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng came barging into the living room and snatched the remote control away without warning. She raised her head with an annoyed expression. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?!¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he changed it to a local sports channel that broadcasted a live basketball match. He held on to the remote control and bent to sit down beside Xuxu. It riled Xuxu up. She argued with him. ¡°I was watching my drama first. Why did you change the channel?¡± She stretched her hand in an attempt to snatch the remote control away. ¡°Wen Xuxu, be quiet. It¡¯s a live broadcast.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes were glued to the screen. He used his palm, forcefully pushing her face way to stop her from talking. Xuxu fell on her back as a result. She furiously scrambled to sit up, looking like a feisty cat who was about to explode. Without a second thought, she hurled her whole body towards the unreasonable man and yelled. ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯re too atrocious!¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t expect her to pounce on him. To be precise, he didn¡¯t think that she would be so bold and dared to act like this in his parents¡¯ house. He fell to the floor due to her weight, and she sat on top of him. Regardless of how anyone looked at their current predisposition, it was too embarrassing. ¡°Wen Xuxu. Stop putting on a fa?ade when you¡¯re obviously trying to seduce me.¡± Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth and put the remote control down. His hand gripped the sides of Xuxu¡¯s waist. He tickled her with force and didn¡¯t care that she was a woman. ¡°Ahh¡­ Haha¡­¡± Xuxu writhed in pain and in being tickled as she sat on top of Yan Rusheng¡¯s body. ¡°Do you still dare to attack me? Huh?¡± Yan Rusheng stopped to stare at her with raised eyebrows. Xuxu¡¯s face was warm and as red as a tomato after laughing for some time. Then she recalled that this wasn¡¯t her apartment and they need to tone it down. ¡°I don¡¯t dare to,¡± she conceded in defeat. She well knew that competing to see who was more brazen and shameless with Yan Rusheng would be foolish of her. If he really dared to do something to her on the sofa, would he even care if anyone else in the house saw them? Chapter 523. You Really Have a Bad Foresight After Xuxu waved the white flag, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t make things difficult for her anymore. ¡°Wretched lass. It seems like you¡¯re not so foolish after all.¡± He affectionately chided her as he tightly grabbed her waist once more. He swiftly sat up and gave her a kiss on the lips before she even realized it. Her lips felt a fleeting cold touch. After Xuxu snapped back to her senses, the man had already relinquished his grip. He was grinning with satisfaction while turning his attention back on the TV screen. She bashfully bowed her head and turned her body so that she sat next to him. ¡°Both of you can continue to ignore our presence and use this living room freely.¡± Suddenly Mu Li¡¯s teasing voice broke the silence. Xuxu blushed even harder. ¡°Did Aunt Mu Li witness everything?¡± This was too embarrassing. Mu Li walked towards them, and Xuxu kept her head bowed. ¡°Xuxu, the best way to counterattack is to be shameless as well. The more bashful and rigid you are, the more he will attack your shortcomings.¡± Mu Li walked to the sofa. She bent to glance at Xuxu with a straight face. ¡°Since he is shameless, then you need to be more shameless than him. If you are just like him, then he won¡¯t find it meaningful to tease you anymore.¡± Her statement made Xuxu dumbfounded. No wonder she was a professor; she could turn a topic like this into serious advice. She suddenly felt that Yan Rusheng was a chip off an old block. He resembled Mu Li in terms of character and appearance. Second Uncle was a gentle and graceful man. And he was reticent and introverted. She didn¡¯t seem to recall hearing Second Uncle saying anything to tease Aunt Mu Li in public. He had always acted like an upright gentleman even in front of their family members. So Yan Rusheng¡¯s shameless, sly, and roguish traits must have been from Aunt Mu Li¡¯s genes, and somehow, the genes must have mutated. ¡°I¡¯ll get some water.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand the burning embarrassment any longer and gave a random reason so that it could excuse her from the room. However, Yan Rusheng extended his hand and held on to her wrist. ¡°Stay with me to watch this match.¡± He pulled her back, and Xuxu slumped back on the sofa again. ¡°I¡¯ll help your dad to shower now.¡± Mu Li fondly watched the young couple, and tactfully excused herself. Xuxu kept sneaking glances at Mu Li until she vanished from sight. It was only after she left that she had heaved a sigh of relief. Yan Rusheng broke the silence and commented, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re not someone who should be shy and bashful.¡± He meant that she wasn¡¯t reserved at all. Xuxu shrieked. ¡°Get lost!¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes were still fixed on the screen. One player wearing a blue jersey threw the ball into the hoop but he didn¡¯t score! Hence, he switched off the TV. ¡°Their skills can¡¯t even be compared to 10 percent of mine.¡± Xuxu threw him a contemptuous look. ¡°Boastful.¡± Yan Rusheng rose and coldly glanced at her. ¡°From junior high school, Jiang Zhuoheng failed to defeat me.¡± He was fine when he didn¡¯t mention it, but now that he did, jealousy surged once more. ¡°So Wen Xuxu, you really have a bad foresight.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ She gazed at the jealous man and Xuxu burst into laughter. Yan Rusheng went upstairs and came down after a brief moment. He bent and grabbed her hand without a word. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu certainly knew where they were going. ¡°Are we leaving like this? I¡¯ll go up and inform them.¡± ¡°I just did,¡± Yan Rusheng impatiently spoke. He then dragged her out. Xuxu didn¡¯t believe him entirely, so she asked again, ¡°Really?¡± After a lot of anticipation, they finally made a trip there. How could Madam Mu Li allow them to leave without any protests? She would definitely lecture him. Chapter 524. It Topples One’s Expectations While she was still pondering over it, Yan Rusheng had already dragged her to the door. Yan Rusheng took out Xuxu¡¯s shoes from the cabinet and threw it on the floor. ¡°Change into them.¡± After that, he also changed into his own shoes. ¡°Hey, let me go up and bid them farewell first,¡± Xuxu said as she turned around. Yan Rusheng held on to her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I want to bring you to the wishing well in the palace. The place is¡­ very beautiful.¡± It moved Xuxu¡¯s heart when she heard this. This was her second visit to Country Y. The first visit was in a rush and she didn¡¯t have the chance to tour around the country. Visiting the palace of Country Y was every girl¡¯s dream, especially those who hoped to marry the prince and live in the palace as a princess. Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡°Okay?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu was delighted and changed into her shoes in a rush. A black car was waiting in the courtyard. It was the same car that picked them from the airport. Yan Rusheng took out the car keys and unlocked the car door. Being a gentleman, he opened the passenger door for Xuxu. As Xuxu bent over to enter the car, Mu Li shouted from inside the house. ¡°Third Yan! You ungrateful man. You rarely come back for a visit¡­¡± ¡°Get into the car, quick,¡± Yan Rusheng said, cutting Mu Li¡¯s word before Xuxu could finish listening to what she had to say. And he closed the door with a bang. Following that, he walked with hasty steps to the driver¡¯s seat and started the engine. He stepped on the accelerator, and the car sped out of the courtyard at rocket speed. From the car¡¯s rear mirror, Wen Xuxu saw Madam Mu Li chasing after them and she felt bad. She turned and glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I thought you had already bid goodbye to Dad and Mum?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded without a hint of guilt. He nonchalantly continued, ¡°But I didn¡¯t say that they agreed.¡± Faint! Xuxu was lost for words and knitted her eyebrows. He¡¯s driving her up the wall. However, something else made her even more furious. Yan Rusheng drove the car straight back to the hotel, saying that he wanted to rest as he was exhausted after over 10 hours of flight. He said he would bring her to the wishing well another day. Xuxu simply wanted to trample him to death. Didn¡¯t he say that he was tired and wanted to rest in? But why did he shove her onto the bed like a hungry wolf? But all thanks to Young Master Yan for making full use of the night and repeatedly wearing her out. Otherwise, with the time difference, she won¡¯t be able to fall asleep. She slept right through the next day. The curtains were drawn shut, and she could only peek through the bottom to have a sense of the time of the day. As it was still dim, it probably wasn¡¯t morning yet. Xuxu stretched out her hand to switch on the bedside lamp. She then turned to look at the man beside her who was still in deep sleep. This was the first time that he was totally unaware that she had woken up. She quickly dimmed the lights and lifted the quilt before gingerly getting out of bed. But by the time she walked out of the bathroom, Yan Rusheng was already awake and he leaned sleepily against the bed, half naked. ¡°Did I wake you up?¡± Xuxu asked as she walked over to the bed. Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°No.¡± After that, he suddenly lifted the quilt and got down from the bed. He had no qualms about presenting his stark naked body before Xuxu¡¯s eyes. She widened her mouth and was dumbstruck for a moment before averting her gaze from it. ¡°Goodness. Could this fellow be¡­ more discreet?¡± Even though they were already in such an intimate relationship, but such stark nakedness still didn¡¯t appear right. And it toppled one¡¯s expectations. Chapter 525. You Can Be A Fashion Designer Yan Rusheng could tell that Xuxu was embarrassed, but he ignored her. He slipped into the hotel slippers and strode past her with huge steps to the bathroom. Then, splashing sounds of water could be heard coming from the bathroom. Yan Rusheng took a quick shower and came out with a bathrobe wrapped around him. Both bath towels and bathrobe that they used were brought from home. Xuxu went back to lie on the bed and played with her cell phone. Yan Rusheng took a glance at her and said, ¡°Get changed. I¡¯m bringing you to City H.¡± After that, he walked over to the wardrobe, opened the door and took out a set of clean clothing. ¡°City H?¡± Bewildered, Xuxu asked, ¡°Why are we going there?¡± She knew that City H was in Country Y, and it was near City S. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss with them tomorrow¡­¡± After Xuxu finished asking, she suddenly thought of the conversation between Yan Rusheng and Yan Weihong yesterday. She immediately nodded her head. ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll get changed right now.¡± As she had left in a haste, Xuxu only packed a few pieces of clothing in her luggage. Now that she opened it and had taken a second look, she realized that all her clothing was not suitable for the climate in Country Y. She knitted her eyebrows and sighed. ¡°I should have checked the weather beforehand and packed my luggage accordingly.¡± She chided herself while rummaging through her luggage. Yan Rusheng lowered his eyes and took a look at her small luggage. There were two casual tops and a black down-feather jacket. After thinking over it, he walked over to the bedside table and gave a call to the service desk. ¡°Send a piece of Chanel dress in the smallest size to Room 1203. It must be the latest orange colored, round neck, knee-length dress.¡± After giving his instruction, he hung up the call. Xuxu heard what he had instructed. She wanted to stop him, but it was too late. She said, ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s not delay further. I¡¯ll just wear whatever I have and purchase some later if I come across any suitable ones.¡± ¡°There are various branded boutiques within the hotel.¡± Yan Rusheng was buttoning his sleeves when he spoke. Hearing this, Xuxu answered with an ¡®Oh¡¯ and didn¡¯t say anything further. She had forgotten that some high-end hotels are similar to international airports. They also had many branded boutiques conveniently located in the perimeter. Soon, the doorbell rang. The hotel service staff walked in with a Chanel box in his hand. The service staff walked over to Xuxu and handed it to her. ¡°Here¡¯s your dress.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xuxu received it with both hands and responded with a smile. The service staff bade goodbye to Yan Rusheng and left. Xuxu removed the dress from the box. It was a round neck, orange-colored, long sleeve dress made of cotton. She examined the dress and held it to her body to measure. The length of the dress was appropriate, and it came to her knees nicely. It looked exactly like what Yan Rusheng had described over the phone. She raised her head to look at him, apparently stunned and at awe. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you can be a fashion designer.¡± Yan Rusheng remained silent and continued tidying his clothes. Xuxu went to the bathroom to change into her orange-colored Chanel dress. She took a look in front of the mirror¡ªher dress fitted her to a tee. The round collar revealed her collarbone nicely. ¡°Are you done?¡± The door to the bathroom was suddenly pulled open. The man stood at the door and gazed at her. Although he was rushing her, there wasn¡¯t any trace of impatience on his face. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Xuxu nodded her head and spun around to leave. When Yan Rusheng saw her frontal view, he broke into a smile. After that, he went back to the wardrobe and took out his luggage. He opened it and took out an exquisite black rectangular box. He walked over to Xuxu again and opened the box. A dazzling necklace appeared before Xuxu¡¯s eyes. She opened her mouth wide in astonishment. ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­ isn¡¯t this that ¡®Until The End Of Tim e¡¯?¡± Chapter 526. Was He Embarrassed? She once accompanied him to get that necklace, and she thought that it was meant for the Mayor¡¯s daughter¡¯s birthday gift. Yan Rusheng remained silent. All the while he took out the necklace and threw the box aside. After that, he put on the necklace on Xuxu¡¯s slender neck. The cold pendant brushing against her skin tickled her senses. She nodded and mumbled indistinctly to herself. She intently looked at the pendant which was made out of nine pieces of small diamonds. It dazzled under the lights of the crystal chandeliers in the room. She stretched out her hand and held the pendant with her fingers. She then raised her head to look at the man who was trying to clasp the necklace for her. There was a look of doubt across her face. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why did you put this necklace on me?¡± ¡°Done.¡± Yan Rusheng turned and faced Xuxu after he had clasped the necklace. He embraced her waist and stared at the necklace on her neck for quite some time. He looked pleased and said, ¡°This way, you¡¯ll be able to compliment my status.¡± He didn¡¯t directly answer Xuxu¡¯s question. He held her hand and walked towards the door. After grabbing Xuxu¡¯s bag that was hanging on the clothes stand, they walked out of the room hand in hand. Xuxu looked down and was still brooding over the necklace on her neck. She could overlook his past, his intimate relationships with other women, and even when he had¡­ She could disregard all these, but she didn¡¯t want to own things that didn¡¯t rightfully belong to her from the start. At the time they purchased the necklace, Grandmother was still well. They weren¡¯t married at that point yet and had been constantly at loggerheads, too. So, with these, she was certain that the necklace wasn¡¯t meant for her in the first place. As Xuxu thought over it, she had the urge to remove the necklace when Yan Rusheng whispered into her ears all of a sudden. ¡°The necklace was meant for you right from the beginning.¡± After hearing this, Xuxu was quite baffled that she stopped in her steps. She held up her necklace and blankly stared at the man before her. An expression of doubt still clouded her eyes. ¡®It¡¯s the Mayor¡¯s daughter¡¯s birthday. Help me pick a birthday gift according to your preference.¡¯ At that time, it was almost her 25th birthday as well. So could it be¡­? There was a sudden sparkle in Xuxu¡¯s eyes, and she opened her mouth. ¡°Are you saying that this¡­¡± Yan Rusheng cut her off and continued on her behalf. ¡°It¡¯s meant for you, stupid woman!¡± After that, he held back her hand and continued walking forward. Xuxu was usually a quick thinker, but this time her reflexes were too slow. It was only after Yan Rusheng had dragged her along a few steps that she came back to her senses. In an instant, she grinned from ear to ear. She looked at the side contour of Yan Rusheng¡¯s flawless face and realized that his face was flushed. Was he embarrassed? Yan Rusheng took a peek at Xuxu, he could tell that she was feeling immeasurably satisfied. However, he was flushed with embarrassment and felt annoyed. ¡°Grandmother forced me.¡± Xuxu responded with an ¡®Oh¡¯ and continued gazing at the heart-shaped pendant. A genuine smile appeared across her face. As long as its original owner wasn¡¯t someone else¡­ ¡­ The car was already waiting at the hotel entrance. When the chauffeur saw them walking out, he calmly and politely opened the car door for them. Xuxu got into the car and accidentally caught sight of the prominent Chanel logo at the other end of the hotel. The mannequin at the window display was wearing a¡­ wasn¡¯t that the dress that she¡­? She lowered her head and looked at her dress. Wasn¡¯t that the dress that she was wearing? She seemed to have instantly understood something. If he hadn¡¯t paid special attention to it, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to describe it in such great detail. As she thought of this, she turned and stared blankly at the man next to her. After Yan Rusheng had closed the door after him, he noticed that Xuxu was staring at him and looked her in the eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Xuxu lightly shook her head, retracted her gaze, and stared intensely at the dress on her body once more. Chapter 527. Cute Handkerchiefs This petty man had advantages too; he was attentive. The drive from City S to City H would take about 4-5 hours. In Country Y, the traveling time hinged upon the speed of the car, and it wasn¡¯t dependent on the traffic condition. Since she had been tormented to the point of exhaustion last night and had to wake up early in the morning, Xuxu fell asleep during the car ride and more so, had the best of it. By the time she woke up, they had already reached the city area of City H. As she looked out of the car window, she raised her hands to stretch. The car had turned into a vintage looking street. On both sides of the street, there were vintage architectures that bored traces of Country Y¡¯s rich and unique cultural style. Xuxu eagerly fished out her cell phone and snapped a few shots. ¡°Young Master Yan, we have arrived.¡± As the car reached the end of the vintage street, the chauffeur reduced speed and turned his head to look at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head and pointed to a family restaurant a few meters ahead before saying, ¡°Stop the car in front of the restaurant ahead.¡± The chauffeur drove over and stopped the car outside the restaurant. ¡°Let¡¯s get down and have lunch,¡± said Yan Rusheng. After that, he alighted from the car with Xuxu following behind. The two of them randomly ordered some food from the restaurant to fill their growling stomachs. Xuxu was slurping on her dessert while Yan Rusheng was looking out of the window with a cup of coffee in his hand. The golden rays of the afternoon sun shone right through the glass windows, forming a golden layer on his eyebrows and eyelashes, causing them to glow. Each time Xuxu looked at him, she held back her words. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng retracted his gaze from the window, placed down his cup of coffee, and looked at Xuxu. ¡°You stay here and have a drink. I have something to attend to and will come back shortly.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Xuxu nodded her head and didn¡¯t ask further. If he would attend to First Uncle¡¯s matters, she felt that it wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to be present. After Yan Rusheng left, Xuxu finished her dessert and left the restaurant too. The vintage architecture styles in Country Y captivated her, and she wanted to take a few more photos as a memento. It was a long street with many intersections. With the cell phone in her hand, Xuxu took photos as she walked. She was glad that she was wearing flats and a pair of soft white pumps that refreshingly matched the color of her dress that day. Coupled with her long, straight hair tumbling loosely over her shoulders, she looked just like a typical oriental lady. The streets were filled with different unique cultural flavors, and there were also many ethnic souvenirs on sale. They could be seen everywhere along the street, but Xuxu wasn¡¯t keen on those little things and merely stood at the door to take some photos. ¡°This is so cute.¡± She finally kept her phone when she passed by a shop selling handkerchiefs. She showed a keen interest in the things inside the shop. There was an assortment of handkerchiefs with different cat prints on them, and each piece was adorable to the eyes. She fondly examined each piece and couldn¡¯t bear to let them go. ¡°Hello, we can imprint your favorite pictures or words on them.¡± A salesperson walked out and explained to Xuxu with a smile. Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°I got it.¡± She raised her head and looked through the rest of the handkerchief designs in the shop. There were big and small colorful ones, but after looking through all of them, she only had eyes on the cat print handkerchiefs in front of her. She looked at them once more and thought of the pictures or words to be imprinted on the handkerchiefs. After that, she decisively pulled off two pieces. One had a picture of a sleeping cat while the other was a feisty cat who was about to explode. She handed the two handkerchiefs to the salesperson. ¡°I want to imprint some words on them.¡± Chapter 528. Your Way of Striking A Conversation Lacks Creativity The salesperson made an ok sign and took out a pen and paper for her to write down the words. Actually, the process was simple and similar to the customization of printed T-shirts in her own country, but the quality of the materials was better. After they were done with the printing, they washed it on the spot, blew dry and have it ironed to ensure that there weren¡¯t any changes in the colors. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± The salesperson handed the printed handkerchiefs to Xuxu. ¡°Thank you.¡± After Xuxu had received them, she lowered her head and looked at them as she walked out of the shop. Her fingers caressed the four printed words at the corner of the handkerchiefs: xuxu rusheng. ¡°Be careful!¡± Suddenly, an anxious male voice called out to her from her front. Instinctively, Xuxu stopped in her steps, raised her head and looked towards the direction of the voice. She was dumbstruck. How could there be such a beautiful¡­ man in this world? She had no idea if she should describe him as a boy or a man. He was at least 1.8 meters tall and wearing a set of black casual clothes. His jet black and naturally curled hair were neatly combed. He had a pair of charming abstruse eyes. At one glance, he appeared to be mixed blood but upon scrutiny, there weren¡¯t any distinctive features of a Westerner. He was carrying a backpack and holding an SLR in his hand. Standing under the midday sun, the rays pierced his abstruse-looking eyes and he could hardly open them. Below his sharp nose, his aureate lips curved into a sunny smile. Xuxu momentarily paused and calmly retracted her gaze. She lowered her head and noticed the doorstep next to her feet. She finally understood, and she raised her head to smile at him. ¡°Thank you.¡± After thanking him, she lifted her legs and crossed over the step. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± the man shouted again out of the blue. His voice startled Xuxu. She stood still and shot a puzzled look at the man. ¡°You are very beautiful,¡± praised the man as he looked at Xuxu. After that, he held up his SLR and said, ¡°Let me take a photo of you.¡± Xuxu heard him and instinctively wanted to reject him. But before she could speak, the man had already pressed the shutter with his slender finger. Actually, having a shot taken wasn¡¯t much of a big deal, especially since she¡¯s overseas. The boy already took the photo, so she didn¡¯t fuss over it. She crossed over the doorstep of the handkerchief shop and was preparing to continue exploring the vintage street. The man who earlier had taken her photo walked up to her. He asked with a smile, ¡°May I know your name?¡± Xuxu nodded without hesitation. ¡°Sure¡± Without waiting for the man to respond, she switched her words. ¡°But I can also choose not to let you know.¡± Having said that, she rolled her eyes at him. So as it turned out, one could also encounter such old fashion pickup lines overseas. The man shrugged his shoulders and with a look of regret, he said, ¡°It¡¯s a pity not being able to know the name of such a beautiful lady.¡± After saying that, he looked at the camera on his hand and scrolled to the photo he had taken earlier. Xuxu ignored him and continued snapping photos with her phone as she walked. But the man kept following after her. He secretly took photos of her from time to time. Xuxu hastened her steps in an attempt to lose him in the crowd, but to her surprise, the fellow was unwilling to give up. She stopped in her tracks and frowned in annoyance. ¡°Little boy, your way of striking a conversation lacks creativity.¡± However, the person beamed even more! Looking at his two deep-set dimples, one would easily fall for it if they weren¡¯t careful. He said, ¡°You have fallen for my appearance. Actually, I¡¯ve already graduated from university.¡± ¡°You are still a child to me,¡± Xuxu spoke. Having no further intention to bother about him, she raised her feet and continued. Chapter 529. Its Too Difficult to Communicate with This Fellow She realized that it was also about time for her to return to the restaurant. Otherwise, Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t be able to find her when he went back. ¡°You are Chinese.¡± The man pointed at Xuxu as he spoke in Chinese, however, it sounded awkward, as if he wasn¡¯t fluent. He shot Xuxu a look of surprise, although his voice sounded far different from being surprised. After all, Xuxu looked like an oriental lady from head-to-toe. It didn¡¯t surprise Xuxu when he spoke in Mandarin. She calmly replied, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Chinese too.¡± The man knitted his eyebrows and was curious of Xuxu¡¯s reaction. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you surprised?¡± Perhaps he was brought up overseas and wasn¡¯t used to speaking in Mandarin. Hence, he switched back to English. Xuxu pressed her lips together while looking at his naturally curled hair. ¡°What¡¯s there to be surprised about? Your raven black hair, which resembles hog bristles. It doesn¡¯t make you look like a Westerner at all.¡± In Country Y, there were Chinese tourists and ethnic Chinese everywhere, so it was not at all that surprising to run into someone of the same nationality. Just like when she was back in the Capital City, she would run into a foreigner almost every day. ¡°Hog bristles?¡± The man stretched out his hand to touch his hair. Without shame in his words, he asked, ¡°What hog bristles?¡± Looking at his na?ve expression, Xuxu could hardly suppress her laughter. She wondered if she was being too unethical when she used Mandarin to tease a fellow countryman who was clueless about the Chinese language. Would she appear to be too unpatriotic? But this fellow was getting on her nerves by incessantly following her. As she mulled over it, she pointed to his charming face and sternly warned him a second time. ¡°Don¡¯t keep following me, or I¡¯ll call the police.¡± But the man wasn¡¯t intimidated. ¡°Is this considered as meeting an old friend in a foreign place? Don¡¯t be so cold. Shall we exchange names?¡± Without waiting for Xuxu to respond, he introduced himself in faltering Mandarin. ¡°My name is Su Yan. The character Su refers to Suzhou while Ya n refers to speech.¡± Why was this fellow jabbering on and on at her ears? What was he up to? Why was there a need to strike a conversation when he was so good-looking? He¡¯s obviously up to no good. As Xuxu thought to herself, she halted her footsteps again. She then turned around to look at Su Yan with all seriousness she could muster. ¡°Little rascal, do you know the meaning of old friend ?¡± Su Yan innocently blinked his eyes and shook his head as he waited for Xuxu to enlighten him. Xuxu clarified, ¡± Old friend refers to a long-time friend, and meeting an old friend in a foreign place means meeting a long-time friend at a place far away from home. Thus, we are not considered old friends but just fellow countrymen. Do you understand?¡± She explained in detailed English. Su Yan nodded with an oh . ¡°I got it. Are you here on a vacation?¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ It¡¯s too difficult to communicate properly with this fellow. Forget it. The best way to disregard a person is to completely ignore him. Thus, she turned around and continued walking ahead. This time around, she let Su Yan rattle on. Once she returned to the restaurant, everything would be fine. Su Yan followed her all the way and continuously took photos of her. One moment, he¡¯ll be bouncing to her left and the next moment, he¡¯ll be on her right. Occasionally, he¡¯ll run in front of her and take pictures of her front profile. It was tranquil along the vintage-looking street. The lady was dressed in an orange dress and white flats. The wind blew and messed up her hair, so she raised her hand and tucked them behind her ears. Such casual action of hers revealed her aloof and dignified aura. Su Yan stared blankly for a moment at the lady from his camera lens. After he had snapped out of his daze, he swiftly pressed the shutter. ¡°Smile a little.¡± He felt that if this lady were to smile more, he could find a sense of warmth from her. Chapter 530. A Nice Name Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and glared at him. ¡°Su Yan, please stop following me. If my husband sees you later, you¡¯re dead.¡± She wasn¡¯t trying to scare him. When an old classmate requested her WeChat number, he fiercely scowled at him. So if he sees a handsome young man trying to chat her up, and given his petty nature, not only would he smash his camera, he would mercilessly wallop him as well. ¡°You¡¯re married?¡± Su Yan had a look of unbelief on his face. ¡°You look young and don¡¯t look like you¡¯re married.¡± As he said that, he scrolled back to the photo that he had taken earlier. ¡°You are absolutely stunning, too wonderful to behold.¡± As he looked at Xuxu¡¯s photo, Su Yan lavished unceasing praises on her. ¡°Has anyone ever told you this? One can easily fall for you right from the first sight.¡± After that, he raised his head to look at Xuxu. Suddenly, his eyes nervously flickered. ¡°Move away quickly.¡± A tricycle¡¯s brake seemed to have malfunctioned. It was fiercely charging down at Xuxu from the back. The people on the tricycle nervously sounded the bell when they saw that it would almost run into Xuxu. Before Xuxu knew it, Su Yan had taken two huge steps towards her and immediately grabbed hold of her. Her waist length hair whirled mid-air, like a blooming black lotus that gave off a mild fragrance. The tricycle sped past them. Su Yan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at Xuxu with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s the brand of the shampoo that you¡¯re using? It smells so nice.¡± When she could hear his breathing, Xuxu realized that both of them were barely inches apart. She immediately pushed Su Yan away. Su Yan furrowed his eyebrows and groaned in pain. ¡°Ouch.¡± He raised one of his shoulders and Xuxu realized that there was a big hole near the underarm. Was it torn when the tricycle brushed past him? She swallowed her anger and asked out of concern. ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡± She briefly recalled how he had teased her earlier, and because of it, she didn¡¯t want to go too near him. If he didn¡¯t suffer any serious injuries, she would have left him. Anyway, it was because of him that she was standing at that position and almost got knocked down by the tricycle. ¡°I¡¯m dying soon.¡± Su Yan stretched out his hand to cover the torn area. He looked as if he was in great pain. He was exaggerating, and it didn¡¯t shake Xuxu even for a bit. ¡°I believe your family members are nearby. So if you¡¯re really dying, they will definitely come and look for you.¡± After saying that, she cheekily winked at Su Yan, turned around and strode with huge steps towards the direction of the restaurant. Su Yan shouted with displeasure from behind. ¡°I¡¯ve saved your life twice, so please tell me your name in return.¡± Xuxu pretended not to hear and continued walking. The man got rid of the painful expression on his face and looked at the lady disappearing farther and farther away. He curved his lips and aimed his camera at the petite back view. Su Yan thought to himself. ¡°An aloof and immaculate lady must surely have a nice name.¡± ¡­ Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t there when Xuxu returned to the restaurant. She stood outside the restaurant and was about to dial his number from her phone. Just then, her phone rang, and the call was from Yan Rusheng. She placed her phone to her ears and answered, ¡°Are you done?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Walk 50 meters to the right. I¡¯ll be waiting for you by the side of the road.¡± Walk 50 meters to the right? Xuxu turned and looked towards the right side. She immediately caught sight of the towering figure. She broke into a smile as she hung up the call and ran towards his direction. Chapter 531. This Is The Mistake That Most Men Would Commit Yan Rusheng watched her. When she had almost reached him, he withdrew his hands from his pockets and walked towards her. Xuxu wasn¡¯t expecting him to meet her halfway, and she couldn¡¯t stop in time and instead crashed straight into him. He conveniently held her in his arms and looked at her with furrowed brows. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you are becoming more unrestrained that you can¡¯t wait to throw yourself at me in public¡ªand in broad daylight.¡± He had obviously calculated how Xuxu would not be able to stop on her tracks on time, so he hastened his steps towards her. Even though Xuxu felt resentful, she let him have his way. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I couldn¡¯t wait to throw myself into your arms because I love you too much.¡± Yan Rusheng curled his lips in satisfaction and his expression seemed to say:¡°Dumb woman, you are wiser now.¡± He didn¡¯t push on to tease her. Instead, he turned to embrace her waist while shoving his other hand into his pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu deliberated for quite a while before lifting her head to look at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Have you settled your matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already settled,¡± responded Yan Rusheng as he looked ahead. He appeared to be in deep thoughts. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but ask again, ¡°Did it go smoothly?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head lightly. ¡°It didn¡¯t.¡± After that, he retracted his gaze, looked down and helplessly said, ¡°That woman is critically ill.¡± Did he know that she had already found out? Or perhaps, he didn¡¯t have the intention to hide it from her right from the start? Xuxu briefly pondered over Yan Rusheng¡¯s intention, then she thought of the words he had just mentioned. Worried, she asked, ¡°What¡­ what are her plans?¡± One would never expect life to be so dramatic. She thought that such matters would only happen in TV dramas or novels. ¡°It isn¡¯t up to her.¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows as he spoke. ¡°First Uncle is bent on bringing his two illegitimate children back to the country.¡± When Xuxu heard this, she felt extremely angry. ¡°Then how does he plan to settle them? Did he even spare a thought for First Aunt?¡± First Aunt was her immediate concern. The lady must be feeling very sad. All these years, she was a good and dutiful wife to First Uncle; neither fighting nor vying within the Yan family. Finally, when it was time for her to enjoy life, she had to face such vexing matters. How would she be able to endure it? As Xuxu mulled over this, she couldn¡¯t help but cry out against the injustice Jiang Qinglian was facing. ¡°First Aunt is such a nice person, and I would never expect First Uncle to do such a thing.¡± She just couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe it. Yan Weiye seemed to be a considerate and honest person. Who would have thought that he had a mistress and even had children with her? Mother and children¡­ it seemed that he had more than one illegitimate child. If this were to happen to that woman, would she be able to accept it? Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°This is the mistake that most men would commit.¡± What Yan Rusheng said annoyed her. She chided, ¡°So you also intend to make such a mistake?¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to respond, Xuxu looked down all of a sudden. ¡°If this happened to us one day, I¡­ will not beg you to stay.¡± Her voice turned soft but her determined tone made Yan Rusheng nervous. He believed that she would walk out without a second look if he let her down. He unconsciously tightened his grip around her waist. ¡°Wen Xuxu, in this lifetime, don¡¯t even think of leaving me.¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth as he said that. Xuxu didn¡¯t lift her head; the corners of her mouth curled up with bliss. Horrible scum. This was his lifetime promise to her¡ªhe would never let her down. Chapter 532. As a Man, He Cant Go Back On His Word Both of them leisurely strolled from one end to the other end of the street. The chauffeur, as instructed by Yan Rusheng, waited at the end of the street for them. When he saw them heading towards the car, he scurried to open the doors. Yan Rusheng was about to get in the car when Xuxu grabbed his arm. ¡°Yan Rusheng, let¡¯s take a photo as a memento.¡± Who knows if they would be able to come back here again. Besides, she really liked this vintage street. Yan Rusheng turned to glance at the street behind them and frowned. ¡°What¡¯s so special about this? It¡¯s just an ordinary street.¡± Xuxu knew that he didn¡¯t enjoy taking photos, especially in public. She beamed sweetly at him. ¡°There is nothing special about the street, but the most important part is you being here with me right now.¡± As the saying goes, ¡°Know your opponent well, and you will never be defeated.¡± Being appreciated so sincerely by his own wife, Young Master Yan was secretly gloating with joy. He wore a smile and his finger affectionately brushed against the tip of her nose. ¡°Stupid woman, you are wise indeed.¡± He took Xuxu¡¯s phone and passed it to the chauffeur. ¡°Help us take a picture.¡± He grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand and retraced their steps back onto the street before stopping. Suddenly he bent and scooped Xuxu up. He then shouted to the chauffeur. ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu¡¯s heart seemed to leap out in shock when Yan Rusheng lifted her off the ground. The sensation was like that of taking a roller coaster ride. She tightly clenched his shirt. After the shock died away, she admonishingly glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Can¡¯t you be normal?¡± Why did he always have to resort to such unexpected tricks? ¡°Those cliche couple pose where the man put his arm around a woman¡¯s shoulders is so boring. Why should we take a photo like that?¡± Yan Rusheng swiftly bent his head after he had answered her. She proceeded to give her a kiss on her red rosy lips. If they were to take a photo, then they would have to attempt something different. Something passionate. ¡­ By the time they head back to S City, it was already dusk. The car entered the city, and Yan Rusheng allowed the chauffeur to leave so that he could drive. The capital city of Country Y wasn¡¯t any different from their capital city. Brilliant, bright lights filled everywhere¡ªit illuminated everything it could touch. The car window was open, and a gentle, comfortable breeze entered the car. Xuxu¡¯s eyelids sleepily began to flutter. When she woke up once more, she glimpsed what was ahead. Her mouth was wide open; shock and excitement flashed past her eyes. ¡°This is¡­¡± Xuxu pointed at the magnificent, well-illuminated building ahead of them. She was about to say something when Yan Rusheng cut across. ¡°Silly lass, the palace wishing well you¡¯ve always dreamt of visiting is right ahead.¡± It¡¯s really the royal palace. The place where countless women had dreamt of. But why did this wishing well became something she had looked forward to? It was Yan Rusheng who had wanted to make a trip to Country Y for this wishing well. Xuxu decided not to argue with him and instead, she dreamily gazed at the royal palace which seemed to have popped right out of a fairytale. It overwhelmed her with emotions. It was too breathtaking and beautiful. Pictures didn¡¯t do it any justice. The car couldn¡¯t enter the compound any further, so Yan Rusheng and Xuxu walked towards it. The entire royal palace was built according to Country Y¡¯s traditional style. The erect and imposing gates had soldiers standing guard outside. No tourists could enter beyond the stipulated boundaries, and they could only admire from a distance away. Yan Rusheng stuffed his hands inside his pockets and leisurely trailed after Xuxu. He wasn¡¯t interested in the royal palace. But since he had promised Xuxu to bring her here, he felt that as a man, he can¡¯t go back on his word. Chapter 533. Yan Rusheng, You’re a Jerk! Wasn¡¯t this just a building? What¡¯s so special about it? He couldn¡¯t understand why all the women were so excited and screaming so unreservedly. Young Master Yan stole a glance at several ladies who were excitedly pointing at the palace and exclaiming at the top of their voices. Contempt was evident in his peach blossom-shaped eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the wishing well.¡± After snapping a few photos of the palace, she decided that it would suffice, so she stowed her phone away. She turned around to see Yan Rusheng staring a distance away. She followed his line of vision, and her eyes fell upon several ladies who had black hair and were sexily dressed. Upset, she furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Are they really that pretty?¡± Yan Rusheng knew that she was jealous, and he grinned. He retracted his gaze and looked at Xuxu. He nodded and answered, ¡°Yes, but they¡¯re not as pretty as you.¡± He held her hand and led her to the wishing well. There was a huge crowd of people around the wishing well, and an exquisitely carved statue stood in the middle of the well. It was a beautiful statue of a goddess. Xuxu observed the people around them so that she could make a wish as well. It seemed to be the same as back in their home country whereby they had to throw a coin. The only difference was that it was a free wishing coin. The person will have to hold it tightly, shut their eyes, and pray silently in their heart. Then they can throw the coin into the wishing well. Xuxu managed to get a wishing coin and she tightly shut her eyes. She then silently prayed in her heart. Yan Rusheng suddenly whispered in her ear to playfully tease her. ¡°Do you know what type of wishes this wishing well commonly grants?¡± Xuxu wasn¡¯t aware, but she noticed that devious smirk on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face and she instantly knew that he would say something inappropriate. She decided to ignore him and continued to make her wish. However, Yan Rusheng lingered around her and he whispered once more in her ear. ¡°Those who are yearning for a child.¡± Then he straightened his back, and he grinned from ear to ear. Xuxu¡¯s cheeks and ears turned red, and she was so embarrassed that she didn¡¯t dare lift her head. Did she talk in her sleep, and he overheard her? If not, why did he¡­ such a coincidence¡­ She bit her lips and opened one eye to steal a glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng spoke once again. ¡°The reason Country Y built the palace here was because of this wishing well. The royal family hopes that the people in their country would flourish, and hope that the country would be glorious and prosperous for generations.¡± Xuxu widened her eyes when she heard him. She eyed him apprehensively. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Miss Wen was unbelievably naive this time around. Yan Rusheng pretended to be shocked. ¡°Wen Xuxu? Are you seriously praying for a child?¡± His eyes glittered with mischief as he gazed into her innocent-looking eyes. Xuxu furiously clenched her fists and punched Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re a jerk!¡± How could she have believed his nonsense and in return, tricked into revealing her wish? This horrible scum was incorrigible. Yan Rusheng threw her wishing coin into the well and lifted her off her feet. He whispered seductively into her ear, ¡°If you are wishing for a child, shouldn¡¯t you beg me instead of the goddess?¡± He carried Xuxu and walked to the car. Xuxu was so embarrassed. She chided him, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re a liar and scum!¡± It lifted Yan Rusheng¡¯s spirits when he heard her chiding him so coquettishly. He had thoroughly enjoyed teasing her. ¡­ They went straight to the hotel, although Yan Rusheng was the one who decided on it. Xuxu kept repeating that she wanted to head to Mu Li¡¯s house, but the man had the final say. Chapter 534. Despite Thoughtful Planning When they reached their hotel room, Yan Rusheng quickly made way for the bathroom. When he finished, he found Xuxu sitting on the couch in the outer room. She looked starkly pale as she clutched her belly. The expression on his face immediately fell as he hurried towards her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My stomach is hurting.¡± Xuxu¡¯s lips turned pale too, and she was perspiring from her forehead. She stretched her hand to tightly hold his arm. Instead of his arms, Yan Rusheng felt as if it was his heart that was being squeezed. He used his hand to tightly hold Xuxu before scooping her up. He carried her to their room and gently put her on the bed. He tugged a blanket and tenderly draped it over her. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a glass of warm water.¡± He turned around, and Xuxu suddenly grabbed his wrist. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± As she grabbed his warm hand, she suddenly felt a stinging sensation in her nose. Her eyes glistened. Yan Rusheng turned around to look at her¡ªhis heart ached. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling cold.¡± Xuxu choked on her words. ¡°Can you not leave?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to get a glass of warm water, alright?¡± Yan Rusheng lightly patted her hand, speaking gently as he could. ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu nodded and relinquished her grip. She watched as Yan Rusheng left the room. She stretched her hand under the blanket and stroked her belly with a heavy heart. An indescribable sorrow struck her; Why was it so difficult for her to have a child? Was it just like what Grandfather said? That she should let nature take its own course, for impatiently rushing it would only produce the opposite of the desired results. But how could she be certain that her grandfather said that just to console her? Yan Rusheng returned with a glass of water and placed it on the bedside drawer. He sat near the edge of the bed and helped Xuxu sit up and rest against the bed frame. He reached for the glass of water and passed it to her. ¡°Drink it up it should relieve your pain.¡± Xuxu nodded and slowly sipped the hot water. Her other hand was clutching at her belly and her face still remained pale. Yan Rusheng suddenly got up and took off his bathrobes. He got into bed and sat beside Xuxu. He took her hand away and put his palm on Xuxu¡¯s belly instead. Then he slowly massaged her belly. The warmth emanating from his palm seemed to work. Perhaps it was Xuxu¡¯s mind playing tricks on her, but the pain seemed to have alleviated. She rested against his chest, and a sudden pang of disappointment hit her once again. She wanted to confide in him and tell him her worries¡ªhow she had yearned for his child. Sigh. Yan Rusheng gloomily sighed in her ear and it made Xuxu snap out of her thoughts. She turned to look at him. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Yan Rusheng reassured her as he gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. ¡°Sleep now.¡± ¡°Crap!¡± In the future, he would need to take note of the days she would beunavailable . The quack Lu Yinan said that in order to make babies, they would need a relaxed and comfortable environment. Hence, he had made plans in advance regarding this ¡®baby project¡¯ and brought her overseas. A change of environment should lead to a change in her mood, and this could be their honeymoon as well. But despite thoughtful planning, it had slipped his mind to take her menstrual period into consideration. Xuxu slipped back under the blanket and she flipped her body so that she could face Yan Rusheng. Her thigh accidentally brushed against a certain sensitive part of Yan Rusheng¡¯s body. A seemingly comfortable yet agonizing groan suddenly sounded from the top of her head. She knew where she had accidentally brushed against, and her face flushed crimson at the thought of it. She decided to turn away from him. A pair of hands wound tightly around her waist as his lips stroked her ear tenderly. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu¡­¡± He repeatedly whispered, and Xuxu seemed to have melted. Chapter 535. Who Came? ¡­ Because of the time difference, Xuxu woke up before dawn again. Yan Rusheng was still sound asleep, so she got off the bed as quietly as she could. She switched on her laptop and started working. After Yan Rusheng had woken up, they hurriedly grabbed a bite before heading to Mu Li¡¯s place. They didn¡¯t visit her yesterday, and that made Madam Mu Li bitter and upset. When they got into the car, Yan Rusheng felt that there was something in his pocket. He stretched his hand to reach for it. Upon pulling it out, he realized it was a neatly folded handkerchief. He unfolded it. On it, there was a picture of a sleeping cat with four words at a corner: ¡®xuxu rusheng¡¯. He dangled the handkerchief in front of Xuxu. He raised an eyebrow while feigning ignorance. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why do I have a handkerchief in my pocket?¡± Xuxu snapped at him. ¡°You obviously know!¡± Who else would stuff things inside his pockets but her? And who else would dare to touch his precious and expensive clothes? Yan Rusheng lightly smirked. ¡°Did you give me this?¡± He brought the handkerchief back to his nose and sniffed it. ¡°It has a stupid woman smell on it.¡± ¡°Give it back if you don¡¯t want it.¡± Xuxu tried to snatch the handkerchief away. Yan Rusheng grasped the handkerchief tightly in his palm. He lazily quipped, ¡°It¡¯s quite childish and cliche, but since you gave it to me I will still cherish it.¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Carry on gloating then.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped his teasing. He carefully folded the handkerchief and kept it inside his pocket once more. Xuxu contemplated for a moment before she sternly barked out a warning. ¡°If you lose it this time, I will not let you off.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled as he promised her. ¡°I will keep it with me every day as if I¡¯m keeping a miniature Wen Xuxu in my pockets.¡± Xuxu chose to overlook the second part of his sentence and was rather pleased with his promise. ¡­ They were able to enjoy three days of holiday all because of New Year¡¯s Day. They left two days before the occasion since it was already time to head back to work. They had a quick meal at Mu Li¡¯s place before rushing out to catch the flight back home. It was already midnight when they reached the capital city. Qiao Jian came to fetch them. Xuxu couldn¡¯t get a wink of sleep throughout the flight, so sleepiness washed over her once they got inside the car. Yan Rusheng¡¯s cell phone rang when they were almost home. The ringing slightly annoyed Xuxu, but she continued her nap after shifting to a different sleeping position. Yan Rusheng glanced at the screen and silenced it. He caught a glimpse of Xuxu before answering the call. He muttered, ¡°Why did you call?¡± ¡°Get a nurse over. I¡¯m too busy.¡± Yan Rusheng had briefly instructed the person over the phone and hung up. Xuxu woke up once again despite Yan Rusheng¡¯s hushed conversation. She sleepily rubbed her eyes and noticed that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t look too happy. It puzzled her, and so she asked, ¡°Who called?¡± Yan Rusheng managed a brief smile and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s work.¡± The car entered the courtyard. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were surprised to see the house still brightly lit. Aunt Zhang was a very thrifty person and she wouldn¡¯t have switched all the lights on since the only person at home with her was the butler. The butler opened the courtyard gates when he saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s car approaching. A silver Mercedes was parked in the courtyard, and the headlights were so bright that they couldn¡¯t clearly see the car plate. Chapter 536. First Aunt Is Here ¡°Who came?¡± Xuxu was puzzled as she pushed the car door open. Yan Rusheng got down from the other side. They walked together towards the white Mercedes to look at the car plate. ¡°C City.¡± ¡°First Uncle!¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng looked at each other, and then simultaneously exclaimed the moment they saw the plate. They quickly strode back to the house. ¡°First Madam, it¡¯s getting late. Why don¡¯t you take some rest upstairs first?¡± The chandeliers illuminated the whole living room. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng could hear Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice when they got to the door. ¡± First Madam?¡± As if their minds were on sync, Yan Rusheng and Xuxu looked at each other once more. They had a hunch with regards to First Aunt¡¯s abrupt visit. The reason might have been because of First Uncle¡¯s illegitimate children and his mistress. Xuxu kicked off her shoes and swiftly made way inside the house. ¡°Aunt Zhang, you should take some rest first. Don¡¯t mind me.¡± Jiang Qinglian was sitting on the sofa. She wore a black shirt and her curled hair tied up in a ponytail. It had been some time since Xuxu last saw her, and she seemed to have lost weight. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached a little at the sight of her. ¡°First Aunt.¡± She called out to her and hastened her footsteps. Jiang Qinglian¡¯s eyes went wide with happiness upon hearing Xuxu¡¯s voice. Her stressed out face broke into a smile. ¡°Xiaosheng, Xuxu, both of you are back.¡± However, her smile seemed rather forced. Her voice was hoarse as though she had screamed for some time, too. Xuxu felt a pang of sadness. She could somehow understand how First Aunt was currently feeling. She sat down beside her. She tightly held onto her arm. ¡°First Aunt, did you come here alone?¡± Jiang Qinglian answered, ¡°With my chauffeur.¡± Xuxu felt slightly more relieved when she heard her. From C City to Capital City, the journey would take around seven hours. If First Aunt had made the trip alone¡ªeven though she had made it safe and sound¡ªXuxu wouldn¡¯t be able to rest easy. ¡°Have you both eaten?¡± Jiang Qinglian raised her head to look at Yan Rusheng. ¡°We ate on the flight,¡± promptly answered Yan Rusheng as he sat down next to Xuxu. Jiang Qinglian stole a quick glance at Xuxu before she hesitantly opened her mouth. ¡°Xiaosheng, you¡­ have you met them?¡± Xuxu¡¯s heart seemed to clench when she heard Jiang Qinglian¡¯s question. The way she mentioned ¡®them¡¯ , it was as if it took a tremendous effort on her part to do so. She knew who she was referring to, and she felt that Jiang Qinglian¡¯s heart must have felt like being stabbed when she mentioned them. When she saw Yan Rusheng behaving intimately with another woman before, she could taste the agony of her heart slowly breaking to the extent that she could hardly breathe. It was even worse when she heard that he almost had a child with another woman. The agony must have been worse for Jiang Qinglian¡ªher husband had other children with another woman! For so many years, she had been kept in the dark. How would she be able to accept the fact that she was sharing her husband with another woman? Yan Rusheng lightly nodded. He then honestly answered, ¡°Yes, I have.¡± Xuxu watched Jiang Qinglian, and she seemed to have quivered a little. She wanted to stretch her hand to support her. But she knew that this concern was redundant as it would make her look even more pitiful. ¡°First Aunt, I¡¯ll get the luggage inside. You should chat with him.¡± Xuxu stood up and walked towards the door. But Yan Rusheng had already informed Qiao Jian earlier for him to place the luggage at the door. Chapter 537. Their Finances Are Stable Xuxu went to get their luggage. ¡°Your uncle insisted on getting them here?¡± Jiang Qinglian¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke. It was as though she had been suppressing her emotions with Xuxu¡¯s presence earlier on. Xuxu stopped at where she was. Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°Regarding this matter, I will definitely seek your opinion.¡± He was sincere and earnest. Overwhelmed, Jiang Qinglian suddenly grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. She seemed to be pleading with him. ¡°Xiaosheng, I don¡¯t wish to see them.¡± She knew that if Yan Weiye were to fetch them back, he wouldn¡¯t bring them to C City. Instead, he would arrange for them to stay in the Capital City and to enter Flourish & Prosper. Therefore, Yan Weiye would still need Yan Rusheng to agree. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Yan Rusheng promptly nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°No matter what First Uncle¡¯s request is, I will stand on your side.¡± ¡°Xiaosheng, thank you.¡± Instead of feeling relieved or happy, Jiang Qinglian frowned when she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s promise. She bowed her head and sighed heavily. ¡°But if that¡¯s the case, your uncle might go over to them instead.¡± She didn¡¯t want her husband to leave her. By then, Xuxu thought that women are really foolish. First Aunt still couldn¡¯t bear to leave First Uncle despite knowing the truth. She thought to herself, ¡°If First Uncle were to return to her right now, First Aunt would definitely reconcile with him regardless of his affair or his illegitimate children.¡± But even if she was this forgiving and even¡­ so submissive, the man didn¡¯t even budge. She had seen so many rich men in her life. Regardless of their age, it seemed that only Aunt Mu Li and Second Uncle seemed to be the only couple that had remained steadfast to each other. ¡°Yan Rusheng, will you make the same mistake someday?¡± If one day he would find out that a woman had his child before, and that she couldn¡¯t give birth to a child in the future. What would he do? She used to understand him very well, but now that she wasn¡¯t a mere onlooker, she couldn¡¯t be certain anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I¡¯m on your side.¡± Yan Rusheng still insisted in an unyielding tone. To Jiang Qinglian, that reassurance from him was paramount. Although they weren¡¯t fighting over the family fortune, it doesn¡¯t mean that they don¡¯t care at all. Furthermore, the people who will share the inheritance with them were her husband¡¯s mistress and her children. She had already snatched her husband away, was she intending to take away the family fortune and property as well? She couldn¡¯t take it lying down. Jiang Qinglian fell silent for a moment before speaking once more. ¡°Are they doing well?¡± Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°Their finances are stable.¡± Jiang Qinglian wore a rather mocking smile. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t they be? Your uncle flies there so often and it has been some time since I¡¯ve last seen him.¡± A woman like her was considered a complete failure. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t know how to console someone, and he was usually a reticent man. Today he had spoken so much to reassure Jiang Qinglian, and it somehow had substantially consoled her. He said, ¡°Rest early, tomorrow I¡¯ll ask Xuxu to tour you around tomorrow.¡± He stood up and walked towards the door. Xuxu heard his footsteps, and she walked inside. She glanced at Jiang Qinglian. Jiang Qinglian stood up and smiled weakly. ¡°I¡¯ll go up and rest now. Both of you should turn in early too.¡± She turned around and left. Xuxu tiptoed to whisper in Yan Rusheng¡¯s ear. She warned him and reproached, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve promised to stand on First Aunt¡¯s side. Don¡¯t you dare waver.¡± Chapter 538. Bitterly Disappointed Yan Rusheng looked at Xuxu and spoke with a slightly mocking tone. ¡± Ha. The Wen Xuxu who doesn¡¯t enjoy meddling in others¡¯ affairs is now sticking her nose into this matter.¡± Xuxu retracted her gaze and eyed him. She was hopping mad. She lectured, ¡°How can you put it in this way? This concerns both First Aunt and First Uncle. How can I feign ignorance?¡± If it was someone else, she would definitely not bother. Even if she bumped into a woman fighting with a mistress over such matters on the street, she would always choose to walk away from the scene. Yan Rusheng weakly smiled and used his hand to ruffle her hair with affection. ¡°Silly lass! Hurry and take a shower and rest early. You must be freezing.¡± He grabbed her hand and true to what he said; it was indeed cold. ¡­ ¡°Alright, I shall grant you your wish! Let¡¯s get a divorce!¡± Slam! Xuxu was fast asleep when she was jolted awake by a yell and the sound of a door slamming. ¡°First Aunt!¡± she thought. She instantly widened her eyes and immediately sat up. The bed was empty. When she touched the space beside her, it wasn¡¯t warm anymore. ¡°Yan Weiye, you¡¯re too much!¡± Jiang Qinglian shouted at the top of her voice once more, and then it was followed by her heart-wrenching cries. Xuxu flung the blanket away and didn¡¯t even bother putting on her bedroom slippers. She bolted for the door, barefooted. After wrenching the door open, she ran out of the room but the corridor was already empty. The cries were coming from First Uncle¡¯s bedroom. She scurried across to the room and was about to knock on the door. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have much time left. How can I leave the children in the lurch? They¡¯re my children and even if this is my mistake, they are innocent. I have an obligation to protect them and secure their future.¡± Yan Weiye¡¯s voice sounded from the room, and Xuxu¡¯s hand hesitantly hovered in mid-air. ¡°If she didn¡¯t give birth to the children, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered from poor health.¡± Jiang Qinglian remained silent as Yan Weiye carried on trying to persuade her. His words peeved Xuxu. What did he mean by she helped him bear his children? Was First Aunt barren? All of his words callously stabbed First Aunt¡¯s heart. ¡°Qinglian, I¡¯m sorry. I just want to fulfill my duty as a father.¡± Jiang Qinglian snorted. ¡°Duty as a father? All these years, you¡¯ve been secretly taking care of them. And you¡¯re saying that you didn¡¯t fulfill your duty?¡± ¡°Mother has been keeping an eye on me, so I haven¡¯t met her in more than a decade. I only recently went to visit her because her health is rapidly declining.¡± Not only Jiang Qinglian was shocked, but it also left Xuxu dumbfounded. So it meant that Grandmother had already known that First Uncle had a mistress? Jiang Qinglian asked the burning question that Xuxu wanted to ask as well. ¡°You mean mother¡­ knew this all along?¡± ¡°Yes, she knows all along. And she had been preventing us from meeting.¡± ¡°So you mean Mother knew of the children¡¯s existence?¡± ¡°Yes. There was a year I didn¡¯t return home for quite a long period. It was because Mother had given me a beating that it left me hospitalized.¡± ¡°Yan Weiye, get out. I want to be alone.¡± Jiang Qinglian seemed overwhelmed by emotion, and her voice quivered. But she seemed to have calmed down. However, Xuxu could tell that she was suppressing herself and it was agonizing for her. Grandmother! Xuxu¡¯s eyes glistened, and she finally understood why Grandmother managed to take care of her family. She had everyone in harmony. She was firm, upright, and strict. And if she was not mistaken, the kind and filial First Aunt would have accepted this arrangement. Xuxu had always respected and loved First Uncle. But the mistake that he had made left her bitterly disappointed. First Uncle obviously knew his wife too well. She was the one who had stayed beside him for decades, hence he knew what her weakness was. Chapter 539. What Made You Feel So Insecure? ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you want to die?¡± A man came down from the stairs and made his way towards Xuxu. She was startled upon hearing his chiding voice. She then spun around to face him. Yan Rusheng was dressed impeccably, and he seemed to have just returned from somewhere. She asked, ¡°Where did you go? It¡¯s barely dawn.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes swiftly darted around before he responded. ¡°I had an urgent matter.¡± He bent down and his expression turned stern when he saw that she wasn¡¯t wearing anything on her feet. ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you know how cold it is? Do you want your stomach to hurt again?¡± He lectured her before lifting her off her feet. He had already raised his feet to go back to their room when suddenly, Jiang Qinglian¡¯s room swung open. Yan Weiye came out and was shocked to see Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. He stammered, ¡°Why are the two of you awake at this hour?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t look at Yan Weiye, instead, she tried to catch a glimpse of Jiang Qinglian. However, her view was blocked by the bathroom. She struggled in his embrace as a sign for Yan Rusheng to put her down, but the latter didn¡¯t oblige and instead carried on walking forward. He ignored Yan Weiye too. After they had entered their room, he used his foot to shut the door after them. Xuxu wound her hands around Yan Rusheng¡¯s neck and give him a quick peck on his lips. It startled Yan Rusheng, and he began to wonder why his woman suddenly became so proactive? Xuxu gazed at him with a satisfied smile. ¡°This is to reward you since you¡¯ve done well. To a man who had an extramarital affair, we need to give him the cold shoulder so that he can reflect on his mistake.¡± Yan Rusheng snorted and his eyebrows knitted closely together. ¡°Didn¡¯t you praise First Uncle often?¡± He continued to walk towards the bed. Xuxu frowned and said, ¡°Being nice to me and having an extramarital affair are two separate issues.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and remained mum. He walked to the bed and gently tugged Xuxu in bed. ¡°It¡¯s still early. We should catch a nap.¡± He began to undress. Xuxu watched him and asked, ¡°Why did you head out just earlier? What did you do? It¡¯s so early.¡± Yan Rusheng briefly paused before giving her a fleeting smile. ¡°Something happened to Lu Yinan.¡± Xuxu answered with a vague ¡®oh¡¯ and didn¡¯t press on. She could tell that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t really want to say more. Besides, she wasn¡¯t interested to know what happened to Lu Yinan, anyway. Yan Rusheng changed into his loungewear and went to the other side of the bed and collapsed on it. Xuxu cuddled against him with his hand wrapped around. She then shut her eyes close. Yan Rusheng absent-mindedly gazed at the woman in his embrace. She gradually fell asleep, but her hands were still tightly clenched on his clothes as though she felt insecure. He frowned slightly and began to ponder. ¡°I was afraid that you would divorce me after I have your child¡­¡± Although she said nothing, he could tell that she seemed different from her usual self. She gave in to his demands and was initiative. He wasn¡¯t clear as to what had happened to her, but he could tell that she desperately wanted a child. She was so disappointed when her period came while they were on vacation. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what made you feel so insecure? Did Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s departure leave such a huge and lasting impact?¡± Chapter 540. Ill Wait For You In The Car Why did Jiang Zhuoheng pop into his mind? He had yearned to have Wen Xuxu all to himself Yan Rusheng stared at Xuxu and fell into a stupor for a while. He flipped his body around and grabbed his phone. He quickly typed a text and sent it. ¡®In the future, you have to take care of her matters by yourself. Don¡¯t bother me anymore.¡¯ He deleted the text after sending it and stowed his phone away. He then switched off the bedside lamp, and turned around to lie down on the bed facing Xuxu. ¡­ Xuxu and Yan Rusheng slept through until 10 a.m.,and they were obviously late for work. They were already late, anyway. Yan Rusheng told Xuxu not to be anxious but the latter couldn¡¯t help herself. They were swarmed with work and there was a huge pile of work waiting for them. After washing up, she changed into her clothes and left the room first. She peeked at Yan Weihong¡¯s room and hesitated. She strode across and walked to their door and knocked. No one responded. ¡°Missy, First Master and First Madam are downstairs.¡± Aunt Zhang called out to her from the stairs. ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu nodded and turned to walk towards the staircase. She peered at the living room from the landing and saw Yan Weihong and Jiang Qinglian sitting on the couch. The TV was on and they were watching the financial news. Wen Xuxu softly trod down the stairs. Both of them weren¡¯t aware of her presence. ¡°First Aunt.¡± She reached the couch and addressed Jiang Qinglian, while she ignored Yan Weiye. Jiang Qinglian spun her head and smiled at her. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re awake.¡± Xuxu was a little embarrassed. ¡°I slept in today.¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal to be tired after a trip. You should rest more.¡± Jiang Qinglian smiled at her. ¡°Go and get some breakfast, it must be cold by now.¡± Her spirits seemed to be better as compared to yesterday. Sigh. Xuxu sighed quietly to herself. ¡± Why do women have to be so silly and foolish? They can be easily taken in by a man¡¯s lies and sweet talks,¡± she thought to herself. Any decision her First Aunt would make, she will give her full respect. Though she felt sorry for her plight, this was still her marriage¡ªshe had no right to interfere. ¡°Wen Xuxu, have you eaten breakfast?¡± Yan Rusheng descended the stairs and sternly looked at her. Xuxu said, ¡°I was waiting for you.¡± She ran up to Yan Rusheng and pulled him along with her to the dining room. Aunt Zhang already had warmed up the breakfast after seeing that both were already awake. She placed the food on the table as they entered. ¡°Third Young Master, Missy. Please have your breakfast, I¡¯ve just warmed it up.¡± Xuxu smiled and responded. ¡°Thank you Aunt Zhang. Don¡¯t tire yourself and get some rest.¡± ¡°Alright, leave the plates here after you¡¯ve eaten. I¡¯ll clear them later.¡± Aunt Zhang removed her apron and left. After Aunt Zhang left, Xuxu flung Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand away in a huff. ¡°Looks like First Aunt has given it. All men are despicable!¡± Feeling aggrieved, Yan Rusheng protested, ¡°What do you mean all men? It has nothing to do with me.¡± Xuxu pouted. ¡°I don¡¯t care, you still have to stand on First Aunt¡¯s side.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled helplessly. ¡°Eat your breakfast.¡± She was an intelligent woman, didn¡¯t she knew that this would happen? When they were almost done with their breakfast, Jiang Qinglian walked in. She halted her footsteps when she was at the door and glanced at Xuxu. Xuxu gulped down the rest of her milk and informed Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯ll go get my bag and I¡¯ll wait for you in the car.¡± Chapter 541. Her Character After Xuxu got in the car, Yan Rusheng came out not too long after. The second Yan Rusheng got in, Xuxu inched near him. She asked, ¡°What did she say?¡± Yan Rusheng fastened his seatbelt. He answered, ¡°It¡¯s likely that we will have two new family members in our house soon.¡± As she had expected, First Aunt had caved in. Xuxu replied softly with an ¡® oh ¡® and it was evident that she was upset with the outcome. Yan Rusheng knew that Xuxu felt it was unfair to First Aunt. He explained, ¡°First Uncle would like them to stay in our first before he searches for a new place to settle them in. But it depends on you since you¡¯re the new female owner of the house.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Xuxu laughed softly and brushed his words aside. ¡°They should stay here. Grandmother had tried to protect First Aunt all these years and had forbidden First Uncle to meet his mistress and the children. After all, there are still Grandmother¡¯s grandchildren, and I¡¯m sure she would want to accept them into the family.¡± Grandmother had always longed for a granddaughter. She had one, but she couldn¡¯t openly acknowledge her. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t, but her conscience and her right upbringing prevented her so, These years, the old lady had buried this matter deep in her heart and kept it a secret. She had wanted to protect First Aunt and First Uncle¡¯s marriage and family. How difficult it must be? Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t speak. He put his hands on the steering wheel, while his eyes were fixed on Xuxu, silently studying her expression. His gaze became more intense and deep. ¡°But we need to hire more helpers to assist Aunt Zhang. She won¡¯t be able to cope, and her health is deteriorating¡­¡± Xuxu raised her head to look at Yan Rusheng, only to find out that he was gazing at her. She paused mid-way in her sentence and stammered. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong?¡± Why was he looking at her with such an expression? She felt uncomfortable. Yan Rusheng snapped out of his thoughts and curled his lips into a brief smile. He started the engine. He knew that given the time, Wen Xuxu will definitely be as capable as Grandmother, perhaps even surpassing her one day. ¡­ Jiang Qinglian went back to C City with Yan Weiye on the same day. Yan Rusheng came in with a glass of milk and saw Xuxu staring pensively outside of the window. He furrowed his eyebrows, and his expression became serious and worried. He walked over and passed her the glass of milk. Then he hugged her tightly. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Xuxu retracted her gaze and peered at the glass of milk instead. She breathed deeply before speaking. ¡°How sad do you think First Aunt had felt when she accepted the arrangement?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still thinking about this?¡± Yan Rusheng bent his head and nestled his face into her hair and neck. After some time, he tapped her hand gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much. Drink the milk and rest early.¡± He knew that Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t understand the reason Jiang Qinglian had accepted the arrangement. She was so aloof and prideful. If something like that happens, she would definitely leave without a second thought. Jiang Zhuoheng went overseas for three years and she didn¡¯t even look for him at all. This proved how headstrong and determined she was. Xuxu walked to the bed with her glass and Yan Rusheng leaned against the windowpanes as he gazed at her. He studied the expression on her tiny face, and her eyes seemed to be shrouded with a layer of fog. He realized that often, he couldn¡¯t understand what was on her mind. Like how she had given up the opportunity to study abroad because of Jiang Zhuoheng. Come to think of it; he really had no inkling on how she could have done that. She clearly had the chance to leave with him. And with her character, she wasn¡¯t the type who would give up such a rare opportunity and to give up on her dreams altogether, just to take a gamble and see if a man truly loves her. Chapter 542. So Youre Really Married Xuxu was such a rational and level-headed person at all times. Why would she follow such a foolish method? Did something happen to her that he was unaware of? He wasn¡¯t sure if the feeling was jealousy or something else, but he had always brooded over the fact that she had given up the opportunity to study abroad for her first love. From the first awakening of love until now¡­ Wen Xuxu, your love for Jiang Zhuoheng was so deep. ¡­ ¡°The two of you will stay here first. Your third brother and third sister-in-law are currently staying in this house. Both of you need to listen to them.¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng could hear Yan Weiye¡¯s voice the moment they stepped into the house. ¡°The two of you¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression froze before recalling what Yan Rusheng had told her this morning. To her surprise, they were already in the house. She bent down to retrieve her slippers and changed into them. Yan Rusheng entered the house first, with Xuxu following closely behind. ¡°Third Yan is back.¡± Yan Weiye saw Yan Rusheng, and he wore an awkward smile. He raised his hand and gestured to the people beside him. ¡°They are Su Yue and Su Yan. Then he pointed at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu as he introduced them to his children. ¡°They are your third brother and third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu looked at the man who was wearing a white down shirt and a pair of black casual pants. The moment she recognized him, her jaw dropped with utmost shock. How could such a coincidence happen in real life? Why was her life so dramatic these days? It was just like those idol dramas? ¡°You¡­¡± Su Yan was shocked to see Xuxu as he pointed at her. His mouth was wide open, and he sputtered before breaking into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± His gorgeous face seemed to be quite childlike, especially when he smiled. His smile resembled bright and splendid sunshine. He excitedly walked over to Xuxu and didn¡¯t even notice Yan Rusheng at all. ¡°As I¡¯ve said, I¡¯ll definitely meet you again.¡± Su Yan shook her shoulders with overwhelming emotions. Their unexpected reunion overjoyed him. ¡°I¡¯ve already developed your photo, and I had the thought of publishing it on the newspapers to look for you!¡± He rattled on all by himself. Xuxu reacted by laughing awkwardly but instinctively, she caught a glimpse ofthe man. As expected, his expression was glum. He lifted an eyebrow as he eyed her. He seemed to be asking, ¡®Wen Xuxu, what¡¯s happening? Can you explain to me?¡¯ Yan Weiye softly coughed when he noticed that Su Yan was overly friendly and excited towards Xuxu. After he had caught a glimpse of Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression, his heart sank and he immediately broke the tension. ¡°Su Yan, you know your third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yan was startled. ¡°Third sister-in-law?¡± He despondently slouched as the corners of his lips sank with disappointment. ¡°So you¡¯re really married.¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, and he strode towards Xuxu in no time. He put his hand on her shoulders. He coldly said to Su Yan, ¡°What were you thinking about?¡± Without waiting for Su Yan to reply, he grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand and went upstairs. He passed by Yan Weiye, and he halted his footsteps. He coldly glanced at him. ¡°Everything I¡¯ve agreed to is because of First Aunt.¡± It served as a reminder and a warning. ¡°I know.¡± Yan Weiye nodded, knowing fully well that he was in the wrong. He no longer spoke like an elder. ¡°In the future, I¡¯ll have to trouble the two of you to take care of Su Yue and Su Yan.¡± Xuxu caught him stealing a glance at her again. Xuxu had remembered that he was the uncle who used to stroke her hair and would always have candy for her. Chapter 543. Move Back to the Apartment Xuxu remained mum as she bowed her head. ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law.¡± Behind Yan Weiye, they heard a sweet and pleasant female voice. But it was evident that fear coated her voice. Xuxu¡¯s eyes traveled past Yan Weiye and landed on the girl behind her. Astonishment streaked across her eyes. The girl was about 1.6 meters tall, and she was as fair as snow. She had tied her naturally wavy hair into a neat ponytail, with her fringe covering her forehead. Her dewy eyes brightly sparkled, and just like her voice, her eyes seemed fearful as well. Xuxu quietly exclaimed in her heart; ¡°How could such a beautiful and lovely girl exist in real life?¡± She gazed at Su Yan once more, and immediately she thought of how beautiful their mother must be to have given birth to such beautiful children. First Uncle and Second Uncle weren¡¯t particularly handsome. Yan Rusheng had fully inherited Aunt Mu Li¡¯s genes to be so good-looking. She looked at the girl¡¯s innocent-looking face, and Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but smile at her. Yan Weiye saw that Xuxu seemed to treat Su Yue differently, and he took advantage of that. He pulled Su Yue towards her and smiled. ¡°Su Yue, your third sister-in-law was always on the top of her class when she was still in school. You can seek her help in the future if you need to.¡± Su Yue obediently nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She was probably around 18 years old, and her voice still sounded tender and immature. Then she timidly looked at Yan Rusheng, but the latter put on an aloof expression as he haughtily eyed her. Su Yue hastily retracted her gaze and then nervously clenched her hands as a result. ¡­ ¡°Wen Xuxu, women have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and they have no determination.¡± He entered the room and without shutting the door, Yan Rusheng began to mock and lecture Xuxu. Xuxu knew that he was referring to the situation where she offered Su Yue a smile. She glared at him in response. ¡°After all, she is still your younger sister.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t press on and instead interrogated her. ¡°How did you get to know Su Yan?¡± After speaking, his eyes darted to Xuxu¡¯s shoulders with an annoyed expression. The fellow had dared to touch his wife while he was present. He was just like that guy from Country Y. Xuxu honestly answered, ¡°The day we went to H City, while you went to First Uncle¡¯s house, I strolled around and happened to bump into him on the streets. It was just a random encounter.¡± Her bright eyes suddenly revealed a cheeky and playful expression. She fixed her gaze at his face that was about to erupt with anger. ¡°You can¡¯t even spare a look at your cousin, can you?¡± Although she was just asking, her tone was firm. Yan Rusheng looked at Xuxu and gave her a stern warning. ¡°As long as it¡¯s the opposite gender, you have to stay far away from them. Especially those who harbor ulterior motives towards you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu nodded and gave a rather helpless look. ¡°But we will be staying together in the future. It¡¯s inevitable that we will need to interact with each other. And isn¡¯t he going to Flourish & Prosper soon?¡± She had contemplated for a moment before an idea struck her. She said, ¡°Perhaps I should move back to the apartment.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Yan Rusheng furiously gritted his teeth at the tiny woman who was looking so smug. He suddenly stretched his hands and swiftly lifted her up. He walked with big strides to the bed and flung her on it. He wasn¡¯t in the least gentle with her. Without giving her a chance to escape, his massive body crushed her and pinned her down. Chapter 544. Learn From Your Third Brother and Third Sister-In-Law Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand traveled down to Xuxu¡¯s waist and he pinched her. Xuxu shrieked out in pain. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you pervert!¡± ¡°Are you fine now?¡± Yan Rusheng asked as his hand swiftly traveled downwards. ¡°I¡¯m not fine. Get off me.¡± Xuxu blushed once more. She used her elbow to nudge the man lying on top of her and then buried her face with a blanket. Yan Rusheng knew that she was lying through her teeth. He inched towards Xuxu¡¯s ear and then opened his mouth to bite her earlobe. He fiercely said, ¡°Hmmm, how dare you lie to me? I won¡¯t let you off tonight.¡± He flipped Xuxu over with a swift and skillful movement. His lips crashed onto hers the next moment without giving her a chance to retaliate. Then he tightly interlocked his fingers with hers. And he couldn¡¯t wait to entwine every inch of his body with hers at that instant. Knock knock knock. Just when it became more heated and passionate, someone knocked on the door. It jarred Xuxu back to her senses when she heard the rapping on the door. She abruptly opened her eyes and frantically tried to shove Yan Rusheng away. They were still waiting for them to have dinner. Oh dear. Yan Rusheng turned his head towards the door and angrily responded. He yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t knock on the door again!¡± His hoarse voice was trying to suppress his burgeoning desire. The knocking stopped. Xuxu couldn¡¯t push Yan Rusheng away and her punches landed wildly on his shoulder and back. ¡°Yan Rusheng, get off me right now! It must be Aunt Zhang outside right now.¡± How could he stop at this crucial moment? Yan Rusheng said, ¡°We¡¯ll do it once.¡± He ignored Xuxu¡¯s protests, and he began to kiss her neck with his kisses slowly trailing downwards. Their fingers were still tightly interlocked. Xuxu vehemently rejected him. ¡°No!¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head and teased her. ¡°Then let¡¯s do it twice, shall we?¡± His statement had Xuxu dumbfounded. This fellow really had the ability to twist her words and make it so shameless¡ªjust like his personality. In the end, they made everyone wait for more than half an hour. This was the first meal that Xuxu and Yan Rusheng shared together with Su Yue and Su Yan. Aunt Zhang had prepared a feast for the occasion. Yan Weiye sat at the center spot, and it was usually occupied by Wang Daqin. Ever since she passed away, it was left vacant. A sudden wave of sorrow attacked Xuxu when she saw the seat being occupied by someone else. She bowed her head and absentmindedly ate her food. Until now, she hasn¡¯t been able to get over Wang Daqin¡¯s death yet. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu sat beside each other, while Su Yue and Su Yan sat across them. The atmosphere seemed strained and stretched. ¡°Su Yan, you have to learn from your Third Brother and Third sister-in-law when you start work in the future.¡± When dinner was almost over, Yan Weiye broke the silence and spoke up. Su Yan raised his head and eyed Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. He responded vaguely, sounding rather unwilling. Then he bent his head and continued eating. ¡°Xuxu, your First Aunt is pestering me to go back soon. So I¡¯ll leave tonight.¡± Yan Weiye looked at Xuxu and smiled. ¡°Yueyue is starting school tomorrow. Can you help me send her to school tomorrow morning?¡± Xuxu glanced at Su Yue and she was at a loss at what to say. She was afraid that if she rejected him, First Uncle might delay his return. And she didn¡¯t want First Aunt to feel uneasy. She nodded rather unwillingly. ¡°Alright.¡± She shall agree for the sake of First Aunt. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t speak at all during dinner, and he left abruptly after eating. Xuxu watched as he strode away, and she was silently pleased that he was quite loyal. He had portrayed a much more obvious stand than her. Chapter 545. Her Saintly Instincts After Yan Rusheng left, Su Yan looked at Xuxu and suddenly spoke. ¡°Third sister-in-law, does he suffer from facial nerve paralysis?¡± He glanced at the door of the dining room¡ªwhich Yan Rusheng had passed through¡ªto show who he was referring to. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. She thought to herself, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Su Yan¡¯s Chinese quite bad? Why would he use such a difficult term?¡± If Yan Rusheng overheard what he said, a huge uproar would ensue. Xuxu didn¡¯t answer, but Yan Weiye was fast to reprimand his son. He gave him a disapproving look and chided him solemnly. ¡°Su Yan, I forbid you to say that of your Third Brother.¡± Su Yan merely shrugged and said nothing. Though his attitude looked rather rebellious. Xuxu saw the look Su Yan had, and she had a hunch that he wasn¡¯t someone who was easy to manipulate or order around. ¡­ Xuxu¡¯s biological clock adjusted itself back after the drastic time difference. She woke up before eight in the morning. Yan Weiye flew back to C City yesterday evening, so only the four of them was present for breakfast. Since Xuxu had promised Yan Weiye to send Su Yue to school, Yan Rusheng left for work alone. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu left her room after changing, and a figure swiftly appeared before her. ¡°Ahhh!¡± She got a nasty shock and instinctively stepped backward. She clutched her chest as she glared at Su Yan who was cheerily smiling at her. She yelled, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Su Yan¡¯s mood was unaffected by her wrath, and he grinned from ear to ear. ¡°I finally got to know your name. Xuxu.¡± He bent his head and uttered to himself. ¡°I knew it.¡± Xuxu frowned and suspiciously asked, ¡°What did you know?¡± ¡°I knew you would have a beautiful name.¡± Su Yan lifted his head to survey her face and lavished praises on her. ¡°You look prettier with your hair tied up. Just like how lively and vibrant your name is.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes and ignored his praises. She raised her feet and stomped past him. ¡°Xuxu, I will take good care of Yueyue.¡± Su Yan loudly proclaimed in a determined and serious manner. Xuxu halted her footsteps, and she knew it¡ªthis Su Yan wasn¡¯t an ordinary guy. ¡­ Xuxu drove her Audi Q7 to send Su Yue to school. Yan Weiye had enrolled Su Yue into the best school in the capital city where all the wealthy families sent their children to. She was in her third year of senior high school, and she would take her college entrance exam in the following year during the summer. But the education system differed from the ones abroad. Would Su Yue be able to cope? Would she be able to understand the lessons? Xuxu couldn¡¯t understand why Yan Weiye had made arrangements for her to attend school in the capital city. Many families had chosen to send their children, who were of similar age as Su Yue, to further their studies abroad. Su Yue sat on the front passenger seat, and she had her head bowed throughout the journey. She was quiet and her fingers were nervously intertwined tightly together. ¡°Su Yue, we¡¯re almost there,¡± informed Xuxu as she pointed to the school ahead. Su Yue raised her head and glanced at it and softly responded. ¡°Aren¡¯t you excited?¡± Xuxu felt that she was abnormally quiet, and she couldn¡¯t stop herself from asking. Su Yue bit her lip as though she was struggling internally. Xuxu noticed it and reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± ¡°Everyone said that I was an illegitimate child and they dislike me.¡± Su Yue suddenly spoke up in a faint and hushed tone. It startled Xuxu to hear that. She gazed at the girl; she was barely an adult. Xuxu gently patted her head when her saintly instincts kicked in. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with what they say.¡± Chapter 546. Be Deliberate in Counsel and Prompt in Action Xuxu¡¯s advice and concern seemed to comfort Su Yue as the corners of the latter¡¯s mouth curled up. She nodded her head in response. Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief and retracted her hand. She diverted her concentration back on the wheel once more. ¡°Third sister-in-law, can we be friends?¡± Su Yue raised her head and asked Xuxu. Be friends? Xuxu was momentarily startled, and she glanced askew at Su Yue in confusion. Su Yue¡¯s dewy and bright eyes were filled with anticipation. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already address me as third sister-in-law?¡± They were considered to be sort of¡­ family? Although she didn¡¯t want to admit and wished that they didn¡¯t exist, wasn¡¯t it already a fact? ¡°I don¡¯t have any friends.¡± Su Yue bent her head with her mouth pouting with pity. Xuxu couldn¡¯t stop herself from pitying this lovely girl. If Grandmother was around to witness how Su Yue was, no matter how protective she was towards First Aunt, she would definitely adore this granddaughter of hers. ¡°You¡¯re Su Yue, don¡¯t bother with what people say. People will like you as long as you work hard. So you have nothing to worry about.¡± She really doesn¡¯t know how to console people. Ever since she was a child, she can only depend on herself when she was troubled or unhappy. When her parents passed away, Grandfather said something to her. He said, ¡°Xuxu, your parents, uncle, and aunt are no longer here. When I¡¯m old in the future, no one will be around to support and take care of me. So you have to study hard and support me in the future.¡± These words were her driving force, and she felt that at any time, her grandfather¡¯s words were more effective than any encouragement. Su Yue heard what Xuxu had to say, her eyes sparkled with emotion. ¡°Really?¡± Xuxu pressed her lips tightly and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± In the morning, luxury and branded cars packed the school entrance. Most of the students were sent off to school by their chauffeurs. Xuxu stopped at a parking lot outside the entrance and unfastened her seatbelt. Although Su Yue looked delicate and demure, her actions were swift and nimble. She opened the door and jumped out of the car as her ponytail danced to and fro. At that moment, Xuxu thought of a Chinese proverb, ¡®Be deliberate in counsel and prompt in action.¡¯ Su Yue was wearing a red coat with a pair of black pants. She gripped the handle of her schoolbag as she smiled happily at Xuxu. Her fair and tiny face was turning red because of the strong gusts of wind. ¡°Come on.¡± Xuxu told Sue Ye as she locked the car door. She turned around and led the way. She walked to the entrance and took out Su Yue¡¯s student card. After registering it, she went into the school with her. It was a prestigious school, and the architecture and environment were all exceedingly posh and impressive. Xuxu felt that the children weren¡¯t juststudying here; rather, they were enjoying this lifestyle. She and Yan Rusheng also attended a similar school like it, but it paled in comparison to this school. It was built recently, and the elementary school to senior high school were all on the same campus. Xuxu brought Su Yue to the office. The door was already ajar and there were two people standing in front of the desk, engaged in a conversation. She extended her hand and knocked on the door. ¡°Enter.¡± The person in the room answered before raising his head to peer at them. The middle-aged man wearing a gray coat was momentarily stunned when he recognized Xuxu. Seconds later, he recollected himself and wore a smile. ¡°Young Madam Yan.¡± He placed the documents that he was holding on his desk and instructed his assistant. ¡°You may leave first, we shall discuss again.¡± His assistant nodded and turned around. When he walked past Xuxu, he politely nodded at her. Chapter 547. The World Is Too Small Together with Su Yue, Xuxu entered the door and a middle-aged man approached them. He took a look at Su Yue and asked with a smile, ¡°She must be Su Yue?¡± Yan Weiye must have spent a bomb and went through many back doors to send his daughter to this school. This school leader must have also known a lot about Su Yue. Hence, Xuxu wasn¡¯t at all surprised when the middle-aged man confidently recognized the lady beside her to be Su Yue. She smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, she is. You must be Director Wang.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, I am.¡± Director Wang nodded. ¡°Su Yue¡¯s school transfer paperwork is already completed. Every day after school dismissal, there will be a tutor to coach her in her schoolwork to ensure that she learns well.¡± Xuxu lightly replied, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± This was so true¡ªwith money, everything is possible. Since they had accepted a foreign student with a little understanding of the school syllabus¡ªwho will also take the upcoming college exam¡ªthe school had to follow up on her progress. This was because the school placed a high emphasis on grades. At that school, most teachers were overseas graduates who had gone through countless rounds of examinations¡ªsome even had to pull a few strings to get through. Over 80% of their students land into the top local or overseas universities each year, too. Hence, the school had gained a lot of public praise and interest. The Director rubbed his hands together as looked at Su Yue. He then turned to Xuxu. He smiled as he said, ¡°Let me bring Su Yue to her class.¡± Xuxu lightly nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble Director Wang.¡± Hearing this, Su Yue lifted her head and looked at Xuxu with sparkling eyes. Xuxu gave her an encouraging smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Su Yue was overjoyed. ¡°Thank you, Third sister-in-law.¡± Her Mandarin wasn¡¯t fluent, but it was much better than Su Yan¡¯s. Xuxu had no idea why she was so soft-hearted towards this little lass. She thought, ¡°If she wasn¡¯t First Uncle¡¯s illegitimate daughter or if she had grown up lawfully in the Yan family¡­¡± She would definitely be the little Missy everyone in the Yan family cherished and tenderly loved. She would be the apple of everyone¡¯s eyes. It was likely that Yan Rusheng would also dote on her dearly. As for Xuxu, she seemed to have taken Su Yue¡¯s place. She grew up under the love and protection of the elders in the Yan family, including Yan Rusheng¡¯s two big brothers. She trailed after Su Yue, who occasionally would turn her head to look at her, as if fearful that she would suddenly disappear. Xuxu felt sorry for her. She thought, ¡°What kind of life did this little lass lead when she was living with her mother in Country Y?¡± Did Yan Rusheng say that their finances were stable? While she was mulling over this, they had reached Su Yue¡¯s classroom. Xuxu stopped at the door while Director Wang brought Su Yue in and led her up the rostrum. Looking at Su Yue as she stood on stage, all the boys and even some girls gleamed with excitement. Even though Su Yue was still feeling nervous, she didn¡¯t turn to look at Xuxu anymore. Instead, she fought hard to maintain her smile. Xuxu smiled with relief and turned around to quietly leave. She thought of Su Yue as she walked and felt something lacking about her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± A familiar voice called out to her from the front. Xuxu snapped out of her thoughts and halted her steps as she looked ahead. Was she living a life of drama lately or was this world too small? Looking at the figure tripping towards her, Xuxu put on a filial smile. ¡°Miss Fang.¡± They haven¡¯t met for many days, and she seemed to have lost a lot of weight and looked exceptionally pale. Chapter 548. Your Presence Is Really Everywhere ¡®Nowadays, youngsters enter into relationships, cohabit and get themselves pregnant¡­.¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng would definitely want to start a family once he got married.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t you like children?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t.¡¯ Xuxu glanced at Fang Jiayin and fixed her eyes on her perfectly flawless face. She was pregnant with Ah Sheng¡¯s child before. Just how many intimate moments had they spent with each other? Did Ah Sheng also call her ¡®precious¡¯ in the heated moment of passion? Did he also tightly lock his fingers with hers when they were together and told her that he wanted to spend a lifetime with her? She clearly knew that she should disregard all these because harping on them won¡¯t change anything. But as the thoughts cloud her mind, she felt a tug on her heartstrings. Fang Jiayin¡¯s departure back then had Xuxu brooding over the reason for it. She had sensed that her reason for leaving without a word wasn¡¯t that simple. Now, she finally had the answer. She thought if Fang Jiayin had deeply loved Yan Rusheng before, if she was pregnant, she wouldn¡¯t have gone for an abortion or kept the abortion from him. If the baby was really gone, the only reason could be because of a miscarriage. Xuxu had the urge to ask Fang Jiayin¡ªto figure out what kind of person she was exactly and to find out what she really wanted. She had let him go because she loved him too deeply. But was she in deep regret now all because she loved him too much as well? If some mishap didn¡¯t happen to Fang Jiayin¡¯s baby, Yan Rusheng¡¯s world would have no place for Xuxu at all. Xuxu inwardly chided herself. Should she be cruelly and selfishly glad that their child was gone? Or that Fang Jiayin could no longer bear children? ¡°Xuxu, why must you behave so distant with me?¡± Fang Jiayin looked at Xuxu with sadness in her eyes. Xuxu was tired of her usual statement, and she felt turned off. She snapped, ¡°Miss Fang, given our current status, I feel that it is inappropriate for us to remain friends.¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes briefly twitched. She gasped in utter shock. ¡°Are¡­ are you afraid that I¡¯ll snatch Ah Sheng away from you?¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Won¡¯t you?¡± Without waiting for Fang Jiayin to respond, she raised her feet and walked past her side. ¡°Teacher Fang, you are early today.¡± ¡°Teacher Fang.¡± When Xuxu heard how Jiayin was addressed, she halted her steps for a moment. Her lips icily curled. ¡°Fang Jiayin, your presence is really everywhere.¡± When Xuxu got home, she didn¡¯t mention to Yan Rusheng that she had run into Fang Jiayin. She only wanted to strive harder to love him more. ¡­ Two strangers have now intruded their lives, and so they were more careful with their choice of words at home. They used to flirt and banter while watching TV in the living room before. But now, Xuxu had to force Yan Rusheng to restrain himself even when he didn¡¯t want to. Su Yan didn¡¯t immediately join Flourish & Prosper as he was busy. He left the house early and returned late daily. By now, they had already moved in for a week. Xuxu was curious about what he was doing every day. He looked worn out each time he came home, but when he saw her, he would beam brightly at her. Since he didn¡¯t start a conversation with her, she didn¡¯t want to take the initiative to talk to him as well. Needless to say, Yan Rusheng would not take the initiative either. And so, Su Yan and Su Yue had slowly become part of their lives or at least part of Xuxu life. After dinner, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng each went into the study room and the bedroom separately, working in front of their laptops. At around ten in the evening, Xuxu felt tired and gave a lazy stretch. After that, she got up and was about to go over to ask Yan Rusheng to come back and sleep. When she opened the door, she jumped up in shock for a figure was already standing in front of her. ¡°Su Yue, it¡¯s already so late. Why are you standing here?¡± Chapter 549. This Child Is Giving Me Lots of Mental Stress She refrained from scolding her just because she was Su Yue. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue bit her lips. She seemed to have something to say but found it hard to bring it up. Xuxu softened her tone. ¡°What happened?¡± Su Yue whispered, ¡°My school will hold a Parent-Teacher Conference.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu responded with an ¡®oh¡¯ . Why was she so shy about it? There¡¯s nothing embarrassing about the Parent-Teacher Conference. But she guessed that she wanted her to attend the event. Regardless of how busy the parents are, they have to be present at the Parent-Teacher Conference. She asked, ¡°When will it be?¡± Su Yue sensed that Xuxu had the intention of attending the conference, and so she sounded more energetic. She looked up at her and said, ¡°It¡¯s tomorrow after school.¡± Xuxu considered her work schedule for tomorrow then asked with a smile, ¡°Your brother isn¡¯t free to attend?¡± Su Yue lightly shook her head. Xuxu furrowed her brows and deliberated for a while before replied. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there tomorrow afternoon.¡± Su Yue was beaming with joy and stretched out her hand to hold Xuxu¡¯s. ¡°Thank you, Third sister-in-law.¡± It surprised Xuxu. She looked down at Su Yue¡¯s hand, which was visibly smaller than hers. Her fingers were as long and slender as scallions. She too wrapped her hands around the latter¡¯s tiny hands. She pulled an affectionate smile at her. ¡°Go to bed now.¡± ¡± Mm. Good night, Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue nodded and turned around to return to her room. She was wearing a set of loose pajamas that enveloped her tiny body, and her hair was jet-black. She looked well behaved and obedient. Xuxu leaned against the door frame and gazed at Su Yue. There was still an affectionate smile on her face. She thought, ¡°Grandmother, if you were still around, you would definitely like her very much.¡± ¡°Have you fallen for her?¡± All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice came from her front. Xuxu snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him. ¡°I was about to ask you to come back to sleep.¡± In the midst of her sentence, Yan Rusheng had already reached her side. He tightly embraced her waist in a domineering way and pressed his body firmly against hers. He looked down at her and the corners of his mouth curled with a playful smile. ¡°Why? Can¡¯t sleep without me?¡± Xuxu stole a quick glance at Su Yue¡¯s room. Seeing that her room door was already closed, she playfully pushed him away. ¡°Don¡¯t be shameless. Your words may lead Su Yue astray if she hears it.¡± ¡°This child is giving me lots of mental stress.¡± Yan Rusheng felt annoyed. With his hands encircling around her waist, he lifted Xuxu off the ground and carried her into the room. He threw Xuxu onto the bed, and she turned around and immediately snuggled under the quilt. ¡°Let¡¯s sleep. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± With that, she turned her back to face Yan Rusheng and closed her eyes. But she knew very well that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t let her off. In the next second, he pressed his heavy body onto hers. ¡°Don¡¯t you want a child?¡± Xuxu¡¯s felt a sudden flush of embarrassment and she whined for a while. But in the end, she caved in and was exhausted beyond measure. It was indeed helpful to boost her sleep. Xuxu slept through the night like a baby and woke up the next day, full of vigor. By the time they reached the office, every employee had already arrived. She walked over to her desk and sat down. As she turned on the laptop, she stared at the few documents on her desk which had been sent over in the morning by various departments. All of a sudden, she recalled something and yelled for her assistant. ¡°Mi Ling, reschedule all my afternoon meetings to tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Her assistant had just responded when suddenly, a familiar male voice sounded. ¡°You have something going on in the afternoon?¡± Xuxu raised her head. The man was glowing with satisfaction. With both hands stuffed in his pockets, he leisurely walked towards her. Chapter 550. You Cant Leave Before the Matter Is Settled She said, ¡°Yueyue has to attend a Parent-Teacher Conference this afternoon.¡± ¡°You seemed to be enjoying a sense of superiority in your role as a parent?¡± Yan Rusheng leaned against the wall next to Xuxu¡¯s desk and ambiguously looked down at her with his deep and serene looking peach blossom-shaped eyes. Xuxu coldly snorted. ¡°Stop your sarcastic remarks. Yueyue belongs to whose family again?¡± After saying that, she wanted to grab Yan Rusheng¡¯s wrist. But who would have thought that he would suddenly withdraw his hands from his pockets, to which Xuxu caught hold of his pockets instead? Without thinking further, she hauled hard at it. ¡°Please get back to your work now, there are so many things to do.¡± She retracted her hands and placed them back on the keyboard. She stared at the laptop screen and was determined to ignore him. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng bent over and whispered into her ears, ¡°If you have the urge this early in the morning, we can always go into the office. Please don¡¯t try to remove my clothes in front of everyone.¡± Before Xuxu could even blush, he pressed his lips on Xuxu¡¯s face and gave her a quick peck. After that, he straightened his back and cheerfully walked into his office. ¡°This loathful fellow!¡± Xuxu touched the area which Yan Rusheng had kissed and bashfully berated him in her heart. It was barely four p.m., but Xuxu was already preparing to turn off her laptop and tidy her desk. ¡°Mi Ling, if President Yan asks for me when he¡¯s back, let him know that I left early.¡± She instructed her assistant as she walked past her desk, and hastily left as she was afraid that there would be a traffic jam. But most of the time, the more one feared of something, the more it would happen. As it was Friday, there is bound to be a traffic jam as early as four in the afternoon. Time ticked away by the minutes and seconds. There was slight congestion at every traffic junction, and this made Xuxu more anxious. How she¡¯d wish that she could just get down and walk instead. Finally, the red light turned green, and Xuxu stepped on the accelerator. She wanted to overtake the car in front of her. Without notice, the car suddenly increased its speed with the intention of overtaking as well. ¡°Gosh!¡± Xuxu narrowed her eyes and swiftly activated the turn signal. But it was already too late. The bumpers of the two cars had already brushed against each other. ¡®Bang!¡¯ The other car immediately pulled to a stop, and she had no choice but to stop too. As she unfastened her seatbelt, she took out her sunglasses from the glove compartment and put it on before getting out of her car. The owner of other car was a middle-aged man. When he saw that Xuxu was a lady, he sarcastically remarked, ¡°I knew it was a lady driver.¡± ¡°The traffic police are here, so let them handle it.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t bother to argue and pointed to the traffic police who was speeding towards them on a motorcycle. It was a busy road and traffic police were maintaining traffic control on both sides. When they saw the accident, they came over immediately. When the traffic police arrived, the first thing they did was to take photos of the accident. After that, the male driver started explaining the details of the situation. Xuxu kept looking at her watch, her patience was already burning up. Su Yue would be dismissed from school at 4:40 p.m. If there wasn¡¯t any traffic jam, it would only take her approximately 20 minutes to travel from the office to her school. But now, half an hour had passed, and she was only midway to her destination. It¡¯ll take her another 10-15 more minutes to reach. Even if she were to run continuously, she would still be late. As Xuxu thought over it, she opened the car door and took out a Post-It-Note and pen. She wrote down her phone number and handed it to the traffic police. ¡°I¡¯ll leave my car here, and this is my contact number. Give me a call once you have decided on the settlement.¡± Hearing this, the male driver wasn¡¯t pleased. ¡°That won¡¯t do. You can¡¯t go off before this matter is settled.¡± The traffic police officer who was busy taking down the statement also nodded in agreement with the male driver. Xuxu was about to flare up when her cell phone rang. She swallowed her words and rummaged through her bag for the phone. The screen displayed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. Chapter 551. What Is a Parent-Teacher Conference? She placed the phone to her ears and anxiously answered, ¡°Yan Rusheng, where are you?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I am near Flourish & Splendor. When will your Parent-Teacher Conference end?¡± Flourish & Splendor was the name of Su Yue¡¯s school and Xuxu was bursting with excitement after she heard him. ¡°That¡¯s great! I am stuck in a traffic jam and won¡¯t be in time to attend the Parent-Teacher Conference. Please quickly go on my behalf, otherwise, you¡¯ll be late.¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t believe his ears and raised his voice. ¡°You want me to attend the Parent-Teacher Conference?¡± Xuxu had anticipated that he wouldn¡¯t agree at once, so she tried to pander to him. ¡°Ah Sheng, I know that you¡¯re the best.¡± This was the first time that she¡¯d resort to such mushy words to seek his help. Young Master Yan was overwhelmed with joy. ¡°Wen Xuxu, make sure you remain as gentle to me in the future.¡± After that, he instantly hung up. Looking at the words ¡®Dumb woman¡¯ in his call records, he gnashed his teeth but at the same time, brimming with affection. Dumb woman. He couldn¡¯t believe that he had to attend the Parent-Teacher Conference on her behalf. ¡­ As it was the day of the Parent-Teacher Conference, the school opened up the carpark to the public. Each car that entered had to register their plate number and have their photo taken. Fingerprints were recorded as well. When Yan Rusheng heard all these requirements, he had a sudden whim to exterminate the security crew at the entrance. The school gate was wide opened, and cars had already formed a long queue on both sides of the road, waiting for security checks. Yan Rusheng was driving a champagne-colored Bentley, a car that he seldom drove. Among the many luxury cars, he wasn¡¯t too conspicuous. Besides waiting at the traffic light, this was the first time that he had to queue in such a manner. He got impatient after a while, but as it was already embarrassing for him to attend the Parent-Teacher Conference, he didn¡¯t want to stir up further trouble and create unnecessary attention. Hence, he had no choice but to wait patiently in the queue. When his cell phone suddenly rang, he retracted his gaze and looked at the caller ID. It was Ming Ansheng. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± As he was already feeling impatient, he had answered the call with irritation clear on his voice. ¡°Who angered Young Master Yan?¡± Ming Ansheng sounded as if he was gloating over the situation and this irritated Yan Rusheng even more. ¡°Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t dare to make fun of him again and returned to his main reason for calling. ¡°Where are you? Let¡¯s have dinner tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng gave him a curt reply. ¡°At a Parent-Teacher Conference.¡± When Ming Ansheng heard this, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡± Ha. When were you promoted to a parent? An illegitimate child?¡± ¡°Get lost,¡± barked Yan Rusheng, he then hung up. The car inched forward very slowly and finally, it was his turn at the security check. He wound down his window and faced the camera at the security booth. A security officer brought a pen and paper to him. ¡°Mister, please sign and leave down your fingerprint.¡± After he had instructed him, he stole a glance at Yan Rusheng¡¯s face and was startled. Yan Rusheng swiftly signed on the paper and left his fingerprint. After that, he put down the pen and drove straight into the campus. After he¡¯d parked his car, he dashed for Su Yue¡¯s classroom. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± When he reached the stairs, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. Yan Rusheng stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction of the voice. Annoyed, he knitted his eyebrows. Fang Jiayin sensed it and apologized at once. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡­¡± Yan Rusheng cut her off. ¡°I¡¯m here to attend my cousin¡¯s Parent-Teacher Conference, and I¡¯m running late.¡± Having said that, he went up the stairs taking two steps at a time. He disappeared at lightning speed before Fang Jiayin. Fang Jiayin remained at the same spot as she gazed at the empty staircase with a deep and complicated look in her eyes. Chapter 552. A Little Lass of Few Words ¡­ Most of the students had already gone home, while the rest stayed back to wait for their parents who were attending the conference. Su Yue stayed behind to wait for Yan Rusheng. Xuxu had called her earlier and explained that she was running late. She had already informed Su Yue that Yan Rusheng would be there on her behalf. Holding on to her textbooks, she sat on a chair next to the greenbelt below her classroom as she revised that day¡¯s lessons. ¡°Are you Su Yue?¡± Suddenly, a gentle female voice echoed in front of her. Su Yue lifted her head and looked in the voice¡¯s direction. A tall and lanky woman smiled and walked towards her. When she saw the teachers pass hanging on her neck, she stood up and politely smiled at her. The woman dawdled near and Su Yue saw the name on the teachers pass. She lightly addressed, ¡°Teacher Fang.¡± Fang Jiayin amiably smiled at Su Yue. ¡°I am your Third Brother¡¯s friend, and I¡¯m also a teacher here. I¡¯ve heard from your Third Brother that you are studying in this school, but I had no chance to meet you so far.¡± As Su Yue wasn¡¯t good with words, she merely smiled at Fang Jiayin and remained silent. A strange expression flashed across Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes and she immediately smiled again. ¡°I¡¯ve just seen your Third Brother, but I¡¯ve never expected him to attend your Parent-Teacher Conference.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°My Third sister-in-law told him to come.¡± She sounded anxious as if trying to prove or express something. As Fang Jiayin looked at Su Yue¡¯s big dewy eyes that had a glint of stubbornness, a streak of surprise flashed across her eyes. She quipped, ¡°I really can¡¯t tell that he¡¯s so obedient to your Third sister-in-law.¡± There was a smile on her face, but it wasn¡¯t genuine. Fang Jiayin thought, ¡°Yan Rusheng, I just couldn¡¯t resign myself to the fact that you¡¯ve changed immeasurably because of her.¡± Su Yue nodded in confirmation with a ¡®Mm¡¯. Fang Jiayin smiled and diverted the topic. ¡°I am the school¡¯s violin teacher. You can look for me if you want to learn the violin or you can also approach me if you encounter problems with your school work.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to learn the violin.¡± Su Yue shook her head and continued, ¡°My dad says that my Third sister-in-law is a top student.¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s facial expression changed when she heard what the girl had to say. Her pair of shrewd-looking eyes doubtfully surveyed Su Yue¡¯s face, which was no bigger than the size of her palm. This meek-looking little lass didn¡¯t appear to be as na?ve as what she had thought. She deliberated for a moment before saying, ¡°I still have something to attend. If you need help in school, you can look for me or give me a call if I¡¯m not around.¡± Su Yue merely nodded and remained silent. Fang Jiayin couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. With pursed lips, she turned around to leave, a streak of coldness flashed across her eyes. With pouted lips, Su Yue tilted her neck to one side and gazed at Fang Jiayin¡¯s slender back view. All of a sudden, a deep, charming male voice sounded in her ears. ¡°Little lass, do you know who you¡¯ve just offended?¡± Su Yue retracted her gaze from afar and turned around, only to meet a handsome face before her very eyes. She bewilderedly blinked as if asking: ¡®Who are you?¡¯ Looking at her expression, Ming Ansheng burst out laughing and a trace of affection could be heard in his laughter. He walked over to Su Yue and introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m your Third Brother¡¯s friend. My name is Ming Ansheng.¡± Su Yue responded with an ¡®oh¡¯ and didn¡¯t continue further. Hey, this little lass was indeed a person of few words and wasn¡¯t deliberately provoking Fang Jiayin earlier. Chapter 553. As Long as You Agree Ming Ansheng surveyed Su Yue and added, ¡°That woman was your Third Brother¡¯s ex-girlfriend and your Third sister-in-law¡¯s love rival.¡± Su Yue merely responded with an ¡®oh ¡® and returned to sit on the wooden bench. She picked up her textbook and continued with her revision. Young Master Ming couldn¡¯t take it lying down that he was being ignored and treated as invisible by a kid. He walked over and was about to sit next to Su Yue when she suddenly raised her head and stared at him with her crystal-clear eyes. ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m revising my work.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Ming Ansheng froze, and the corners of his mouth twitched twice. Uncle? He wasn¡¯t being ignored. Instead, he was being despised, despised as being old. After a long while, he came back to his senses and finally sat down. He looked at the little lass and corrected her. ¡°I am the same age as your Third Brother.¡± Su Yue continued to look down and ignored Ming Ansheng. She knitted her eyebrows and had her eyes fixed on some notes that she had recorded on a page of her chemistry textbook. Ming Ansheng could tell from her expression that she had difficulty understanding. He raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Having a hard time understanding the text?¡± Without waiting for Su Yue to reply, he took the textbook from Su Yue¡¯s hands and pointed to the section that Su Yue was staring. He started to teach her. Su Yue turned her head and looked at Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± All of a sudden, she let out a shout and raised one hand towards Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. Her fingertips were icily cold. It stumped Ming Ansheng and all the nerves in his body seemed to have tightened immediately at her touch. The Parent-Teacher Conference lasted 30 minutes, and it was quite a tormenting ordeal for Yan Rusheng. He felt that the teacher was spouting gibberish and almost left halfway through. ¡°I¡¯m done. So do I go straight home or wait for you?¡± Yan Rusheng spoke to Xuxu over the phone as he descended the stairs. When he reached the first floor, he lifted his eyes and saw Ming Ansheng and Su Yue at the wooden bench. It stumped him for a second and the next moment, his handsome face turned as black as the bottom of a saucepan. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you again.¡± He briefly ended the call with Xuxu and strode with huge steps towards the wooden bench. ¡°Ming Ansheng, are you very free?¡± Ming Ansheng heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s furious voice and felt guilty for a moment. He withdrew his gaze from Su Yue¡¯s face and looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°The Parent-Teacher Conference ended so fast?¡± Su Yue immediately retracted her hand and lowered her head. Yan Rusheng walked over to Ming Ansheng and suspiciously examined him. The wise Ming Ansheng knew exactly what he wanted to ask. He was smiling as he explained, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand. I chanced upon your ex-girlfriend talking to your cousin, and she had difficulty understanding her schoolwork, so I took the chance to guide her.¡± After that, he turned and looked at Su Yue. Just as he was turning his head, his shrewd eyes caught sight of Su Yue who was trying to restrain a cheeky smile. ¡°This little lass. She did it on purpose!¡± Young Master Ming¡¯s face instantly turned darker than Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. ¡°If you dare harbor twisted thoughts about her, Wen Xuxu will definitely eat you up.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly whispered a stern warning into Ming Ansheng¡¯s ears. After hearing this, Ming Ansheng grinned and replied, ¡°As long as you agree, I¡¯m more than willing to let Xuxu eat me up.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression turned chilly. ¡°Scram!¡± He haughtily shot back at Young Master Ming and reached for Su Yue¡¯s wrist to pull her up. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 554. She Was the One to Ignite This Time Bomb Yan Rusheng had dragged Sue Yue along. The latter suddenly turned her head and made a cheeky expression at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Old uncle, serves you right for being so annoying.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ Xuxu finished settling the dispute and rushed directly to the school to meet Yan Rusheng. Ming Ansheng tagged along, and after a brief discussion, they decided to have dinner together. Xuxu suggested steamboat. There was a famous, old steamboat restaurant in the capital city. It was always crowded with customers. They only had a huge private room left, and it felt especially empty with only the four of them. Xuxu disinfected Yan Rusheng¡¯s cutlery and cup after they had ordered. She warmly smiled at Su Yue who was sitting beside her. She asked in a concerned tone, ¡°Yueyue, did you make any new friends in school today?¡± Then she focused her attention back on disinfecting the cutlery again. ¡°Mmm.¡± Su Yue nodded. She then happily said, ¡°Teacher Fang mentioned that if I was interested in learning how to play the violin, I can look for her. And she volunteered to help me with my studies too. She is such a nice person.¡± Xuxu abruptly froze and gradually turned her head. She looked at Su Yue with a suspicious look. ¡°Teacher Fang?¡± Of course, she knew who Su Yue was referring to. Other than Fang Jiayin, there won¡¯t be anyone else. A puzzled surprise streaked across Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. ¡°Fang Jiayin went to look for Su Yue?¡± he thought. ¡°The lady who spoke to Third Brother was the pretty Teacher Fang,¡± answered Su Yue as she pointed at Yan Rusheng. She looked so innocent and harmless. Not only did Fang Jiayin look for Su Yue, she even met Yan Rusheng? Xuxu turned to gaze at Yan Rusheng with a questioning look. Yan Rusheng immediately explained, ¡°I met her in school, and we merely said hello.¡± Ming Ansheng, who was sitting across from them, could barely stifle his laughter and was doing a rather bad job. He stole a glance at Su Yue¡¯s innocent-looking face. Her huge bright eyes were secretly harboring evil within. Su Yue seemed to know that Ming Ansheng was looking at her. She spun her head around and gave him a look of warning. Ming Ansheng broke into laughter. This young lass wasn¡¯t even 20 years old, and within a day she had outwitted him and Third Yan. He had underestimated her. Wen Xuxu could see through Fang Jiayin¡¯s plot. She was trying to use Su Yue to get close to Yan Rusheng. She seemed to be everywhere and anywhere. But why didn¡¯t she reveal the truth? She could have told Yan Rusheng that she had his child. And because of that child, she became barren as a result. Didn¡¯t she stand a greater chance to win him back with this reason? Xuxu really couldn¡¯t fathom what was on Fang Jiayin¡¯s mind. She really had no idea. ¡­ Xuxu lay in bed as she absentmindedly gazed at the man sitting at the balcony with his laptop. She was overwhelmed with a plethora of emotions. Fang Jiayin¡¯s schemes seemed to be more well-devised that she had imagined. She was wondering if she should tell Yan Rusheng about Fang Jiayin. If she were the one to ignite this time bomb, would it be better? Yan Rusheng lifted his head and met her eyes. He gazed at her for a moment before breaking into a smile. He softly said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu retracted from her thoughts and pressed her lips. She was hesitant as she had no idea how he would react or what he would do. She was unsure if Yan Rusheng still had Fang Jiayin in his heart. She knew that he hadn¡¯t completely forgotten about her. She was afraid that¡­ Yan Rusheng became piqued with interest, and he shut his laptop. He walked to Xuxu and asked, ¡°What is it that you¡¯re having a hard time telling me?¡± At that moment, Xuxu raised her head with a sudden burst of courage. She stared at him with all seriousness she could muster. ¡°There is something I want to tell you.¡± Chapter 555. Dont Miss Out Any Yan Rusheng turned solemn as well. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xuxu¡¯s hands were tightly clenched on the bedsheets, and she knew that whatever that was supposed to come would come, eventually. She didn¡¯t want to live her life worrying about it. Even if Yan Rusheng really decided to go back to Fang Jiayin out of pity and because of this reason. What else could she say? At the thought of this, she said with determination, ¡°Ah Sheng, Fang Jiayin and you might have had a child before. And because of this, Fang Jiayin¡­ might not be able to conceive again.¡± She felt that a huge burden was lifted off her shoulders once the words left her mouth. The worst scenario that could happen was Yan Rusheng reconciling with Fang Jiayin. Then she would just pretend that nothing had happened before. For over 10 years, didn¡¯t she pretend that nothing had happened as well? Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t quite believe his ears. He widened his eyes and stared at her. ¡°What did you say?¡± Fang Jiayin likely had his child before? ¡°No, this is impossible,¡± he thought. Yan Rusheng bent his back, and he gripped Xuxu¡¯s shoulders tightly. He vehemently shook his head. ¡°Xuxu. this is impossible. Don¡¯t imagine things.¡± He bent his head and kissed Xuxu lightly on her forehead as though he was trying to reassure her. Xuxu lifted her head and gazed at him. ¡°Nothing happened between you both?¡± They were together for three years. Surely something must have happened between them? ¡°I¡­¡± It left Yan Rusheng dumbfounded. He was definitely at a loss. He had no idea how to explain about that one and only time that he had slept with Fang Jiayin. ¡°Ah Sheng,¡± Xuxu softly called out. She extended her hand to stroke his face with tenderness. Her mouth was curled with a gentle smile, and she said, ¡°I¡¯ve kept this matter in my heart for a long time. I knew that one day you would find out.¡± She placed her hands back on her lap and looked at him dead serious in the eye. ¡°I just want to know how you would react, and what you would do after you heard this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± Yan Rusheng still didn¡¯t believe her. They have slept together only once, how could she be pregnant? He gazed at Xuxu in disbelief, and he raised another question. ¡°How did you find out?¡± Xuxu said, ¡°I came to know it accidentally.¡± She didn¡¯t tell Yan Rusheng that she had heard it from Secretary Liu¡¯s wife. But that wasn¡¯t important. Most importantly, she was sure that Fang Jiayin was pregnant before. She just didn¡¯t know what had happened after that. Yan Rusheng denied her claims once more. ¡°Impossible.¡± He couldn¡¯t quite explain why he didn¡¯t believe her or perhaps he couldn¡¯t accept it. The fact that he had a child with Fang Jiayin. Xuxu might not care about this matter, but he cared about her feelings. As for Fang Jiayin¡­ He stretched his hands and wound them around her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± This hug conveyed his regret and love towards her. So this was the reason for her recent change. Wen Xuxu was so fearful of losing him. ¡­ Yan Rusheng quietly got off the bed when she was fast asleep. He stood by the bed and deeply gazed at Xuxu before leaving the bedroom. He opened the study room and walked in without switching on the lights. The faint moonbeams shining through the window illuminated the study room. He walked to his desk. He settled himself on his chair and took out his cigarette case. He put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. The flame from the lighter provided some light before it extinguished in the next second. He took a puff and exhaled the smoke. He dialed a number on the telephone. ¡°Help me check the records at all clinics and hospitals in B City in the gynecological section. I want information on Fang Jiayin from three years ago. Don¡¯t miss out any of the clinics or hospitals.¡± Chapter 556. I Dont Know How to Do My Homework Yan Rusheng put down the phone. His expression was solemn and heavy in the darkness. Fang Jiayin left without a word three years ago. Could it really be the reason that Xuxu had told him earlier? That they had a child after that night? Yan Rusheng sat for a long time with a cigarette in his hand. It burned ¡¯till the end of the cigarette butt, and the burning sensation jarred him back to the present. He promptly threw it away in the ashtray. He fell silent once more and turned on his laptop. He opened a mailbox he hadn¡¯t used in almost a year. There was an unread email sent to him on the 14th of February this year. The sender¡¯s nickname was ¡®Quietly Waiting Jiayin¡¯ . When he saw it, Yan Rusheng was taken aback. After Fang Jiayin had left three years ago, she didn¡¯t contact him at all. He would regularly check this mailbox every day for the past three years. But every time he checked, there was nothing else except for some spam mail. After New Year¡¯s Day last year, he decided that he would no longer check his emails anymore. He had resolved to forget about Fang Jiayin and her gentle profession of love. He wanted to forget about their precious first night together. Even though he had recurring dreams about that night, and that he longed for her and he missed her badly, he was still resentful and enraged. However, he endured it. He didn¡¯t bother checking on Fang Jiayin¡¯s whereabouts or news about her. Years later, however, an old classmate from B City informed him about Fan Jiayin¡¯s address. Despite that, he didn¡¯t visit her even once even if he was in Country Y. Before he fell for Xuxu, he had a thought that as long as Fang Jiayin willingly returned to him, he would accept her. But right now, his heart, mind and his entire world could no longer hold another person. There was nobody else he wanted except for Wen Xuxu. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t read the email, instead, he immediately trashed it without a second thought. God must have wanted him to end up with Wen Xuxu, that was why Fang Jiayin had chosen to leave on her own accord. If he had read this email, things might have ended up differently. Then he proceeded to delete every email he had with Fang Jiayin. Fang Jiayin had always sent him lengthy emails. Although his replies were succinct, he had thought of keeping those emails forever. Just like how one would keep a young handwritten love letter given by someone during the beautiful rainy season. ¡®Ah Sheng, I¡¯m in pain¡­¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, I like you.¡¯ Yan Rusheng covered his face with his hands as he repeatedly tried to brainwash himself. He thought, ¡°Forget about that night and her gentle voice. Forget everything.¡± No matter what had happened, it was already in the past. He was certain that all he wanted now was Wen Xuxu. ¡­ Xuxu woke up the next morning and saw that the other side of the bed was already empty. Yan Rusheng was nowhere in sight. Both of them had a habit of waking up early, she didn¡¯t think too much of his disappearance. It was the weekend, and she decided to laze in bed with her phone. Knock, knock, knock. Suddenly, someone was rapping on the door. Xuxu casually glanced at the door. She promptly responded, thinking it must be Aunt Zhang. ¡°Come in.¡± Someone turned the doorknob and pushed the door gently. A little face appeared. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue gave Xuxu a sweet smile as she stared at her. Xuxu was startled to see her but after a second, gave her a smile in response. ¡°Were you looking for me? Come in.¡± She beckoned to her. Su Yue pushed the door and walked into the room. She was hugging a notebook and textbook. She shut the door after her and strode across towards Xuxu. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do my homework.¡± Chapter 557. The Teachers Really Like Me Now So Su Yue was there to consult her regarding her homework. She stole a quick glance at the clock; it was barely eight in the morning. Even though she was a hardworking student, she tend to laze in bed on weekends until late morning or lunch. Especially during winter. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you sleep for a little for more? You don¡¯t have school today.¡± Xuxu patted the bed. ¡°Sit here.¡± Su Yue sat down and put her books on her lap. She started flipping the pages as she mumbled, ¡°I have to go to school later, and I don¡¯t understand what the teacher said during class yesterday.¡± She turned to look at Xuxu with a sad frown. She seemed distressed and troubled with the pout that she was wearing. When Xuxu saw how Su Yue was fretting over her studies, she couldn¡¯t help but blame Yan Weiye once again. He hadn¡¯t fulfilled his duty as a father in more than ten years. Then he had suddenly appeared and claimed that he wanted to be responsible for them. He didn¡¯t think of what¡¯s suitable for them or what they truly wanted beforehand. He had merely acted according to his own wishes. Su Yue was delicate although she was sensible and thoughtful. While Su Yan, on the other hand, was different from his sister. First Uncle said that he would enter the company on the second day after they had moved, but it had already been more than two weeks. Not only did he not join the company, but he wasn¡¯t at home every day. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu thought that since he had just returned, they should give him so time to adapt. So they decided not to inform First Uncle. ¡°What are the questions? Come over here and I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Xuxu lifted her blanket and beckoned to her once more. Su Yue didn¡¯t hesitate and climbed onto the bed and happily sat next to Xuxu. Su Yue isn¡¯t used to speaking and understanding Chinese, but she was a fast learner; it only took Xuxu to explain once, and the younger girl could grasp it. Xuxu thoroughly explained using Su Yue¡¯s notes. She looked at her and asked softly, ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She then closed her books and said, ¡°I will eat breakfast now. I have a tutorial class later.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m getting up too.¡± Xuxu lifted her blanket and got down. She entered the bathroom to wash up while Su Yue left first. Aunt Zhang said that both Su Yan and Yan Rusheng left early in the morning. Yan Rusheng had a lot of work to do and clients to meet, so it was hardly surprising that he left early. Su Yue and Xuxu were the only ones at the dining table. Su Yue ate her food slowly and gracefully. She tore the bread into smaller pieces and slowly stuffed them into her mouth. Xuxu watched her, and her heart went out to this young and petite girl. She smiled. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯ll send you there later.¡± The chauffeur went out with Yan Rusheng that day. She hasn¡¯t had the time to go out in a long while. She could take the chance to walk around while Su Yue was having a tutorial class. She then could fetch her home later. Su Yue raised her head with her mouth stuffed full of bread. She shook her head. ¡°Third sister-in-law, today is your day off and you should rest. I can go there myself.¡± Xuxu was firm. ¡°It¡¯s settled, I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t reject her offer anymore, and she was secretly pleased. Xuxu sent her car for repairs after the accident yesterday. She drove Yan Rusheng¡¯s car; his black Mercedes. Su Yue immediately took out her textbook when she got on the car. Xuxu watched her and gave her a soft reminder. ¡°You¡¯ll be tired if you keep studying all day long.¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright. If I work hard, people will like me. My teachers really like me now.¡± Chapter 558. Who Would Have Known Wen Xuxu remained silent and smiled instead. She thought the na?ve Su Yue would never know that it was because of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s connection that the teachers liked her. It was at a high-end office building in the city center that her tutorial class was to take place. The classes were jointly organized by Rong Hua¡¯s school teachers. The lessons were superb and so was the course fee. Xuxu stopped her car in front of the office building entrance. She was about to unfasten her seatbelt to accompany Su Yue to her class when Su Yue stopped her. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I can go up by myself.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu didn¡¯t insist and instructed her with a smile. ¡°Be careful then.¡± After Su Yue entered the office entrance, Xuxu started the engine and drove off in a jiffy. ¡­ Su Yue waited at the lobby for the elevator. When it arrived, the door opened, and a crowd rushed out. ¡°Yueyue.¡± A gentle voice called out to her from within the crowd. Su Yue looked towards the voice¡¯s direction and the corners of her mouth slightly curled up. ¡°Teacher Fang.¡± Fang Jiayin came out of the elevator together with the crowd and walked towards Su Yue. She looked at her amiably and said, ¡°Are you having your weekly tutorial here?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Grabbing the shoulder straps of her school bag, she glanced at the elevator and seemed to hint to Fang Jiayin that she was in a rush. However, Fang Jiayin continued to smile at her. ¡°I come here often, but I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡± Su Yue looked down and interlocked her fingers, like the usual. With her lips pressed together, she remained silent. Upon seeing the younger girl¡¯s body language, Fang Jiayin¡¯s expression briefly changed, but she was able to recover with a smile. ¡°What time does your class end?¡± Su Yue softly answered, ¡°12 noon.¡± Fang Jiayin replied, ¡°Let me treat you to lunch then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue gave a wide smile and agreed without hesitation. Fang Jiayin was pleasantly surprised, but as she pondered deeper, she felt that the reason the younger girl acted strange around her was because of her age¡ªshe was only in her teens. Being an illegitimate child was as good as being born into a single parent family. Thus, they tend to be reclusive or act eccentrically. Girls around her age tend to be similar; They love to look pretty, love to have fun, love to eat, drink and be merry. There was definitely an angle of attack. It overjoyed Fang Jiayin. ¡°I¡¯ll look for you later. Which level are you at?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°13th floor.¡± Without any further thoughts, Fang Jiayin nodded. ¡°Alright. Go to your class first and I¡¯ll wait for you on the 13th floor later.¡± Having said that, she waved goodbye to Su Yue. ¡°See you later.¡± After that, she turned around and headed for the main entrance of the office building. Su Yue looked at Fang Jiayin¡¯s back view and pouted with an innocent expression in her eyes. ¡®Ding¡¯ the elevator stopped. She recollected her thoughts and strode into the elevator. She pressed on the 13th-floor button. When the elevator reached the designated floor, the door slid open, and she waltzed out. Standing at the lift entrance, she surveyed the surrounding and her gaze landed on the signboard that says¡®safety exit.¡¯ The corners of her mouth slightly curled up. She followed the direction of the signboard and found a staircase, after which she continued heading upstairs. ¡­ B City. After a five hours¡¯ drive, Yan Rusheng was back in B city. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Fortunately, for him, he wasn¡¯t one to concede to defeat easily. Otherwise, he would have been absent at every stage of Xuxu¡¯s growing-up years. Back in those days, he heard from grandmother that Xuxu wanted to take an entrance exam in B City¡ªevery college student¡¯s dream city to study in. The university that he went to was one of the top universities. Xuxu¡¯s grades were exemplary, and he initially thought that she would enroll in the same university. Instead, she applied for another, one that he had considered enrolling in before. Chapter 559. Underground Hospital Back then, he only wanted to prove that he was more capable than her and neglected all other aspects. If he knew only earlier. Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t any more ifs. Yan Rusheng placed one hand below his chin and looked out of the car window. Although the winter air in B City wasn¡¯t as dry compared to the capital city, it was equally cold. ¡®Wen Xuxu, why do you keep haunting and pestering me? Thankfully, we are finally not in the same school.¡¯ ¡®Tch. Who wants to be in the same school as you? In the future, you¡¯ll be in A University while I¡¯m at X University and we¡¯ll each mind our own business¡¯.¡¯ When he found out that she had applied for X University, he was exasperated for the entire summer vacation. But his pride prevented him from making use of his connection to change something that he desired. During that summer vacation, whenever Wen Xuxu visited the Yan family, he had a strong urge to strangle her. Come to think of it, was he really exasperated back then? All of a sudden, the cell phone rang, and it snapped Yan Rusheng out of his thoughts. He glanced at the caller ID and immediately picked up the phone to place it to on his ear. ¡°President Yan,¡± addressed the person on the other line. He then reported the findings to him. ¡°We¡¯ve searched through all hospitals in B City. Only the First People¡¯s Hospital and one local hospital has records of Fang Jiayin¡¯s medical history, but she didn¡¯t visit either hospital during the period that you¡¯ve mentioned.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng suspiciously narrowed his eyes. ¡°Nothing at all?¡± Was it possible that Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t find out about her pregnancy while she was in B City? But during that stretch of time, they met up daily, and she didn¡¯t leave B City. Or perhaps she wasn¡¯t even aware that she was pregnant when she left, and only found out about her pregnancy when she was overseas? But no matter how he racked his brains, he still couldn¡¯t understand why she had left without a word. He couldn¡¯t sleep a wink last night, so he started massaging his temples with his hands and didn¡¯t speculate further on that. He thought that if it was true, he could definitely trace out the clues. He was bent on finding out the truth so that everything would come to a clear resolution. Even if he had let Fang Jiayin down, he also wanted to find out the truth and come clean with Xuxu. He didn¡¯t want her to bear a grudge against anything. While he was mulling over this, Yan Rusheng heard the man speaking again over the other line. ¡°But I also found out something. Since there were many elite schools in B City, there were many underground hospitals that specialized in ¡®settling accidents¡¯ for students, too.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng suddenly stopped massaging his temples and opened his eyes wide. Underground hospitals that specialized in ¡®settling accidents¡¯ for students¡­ He said, ¡°List down all their addresses for me. I¡¯ll personally check them out.¡± An underground hospital could be the best bet. ¡­ ¡°That girl told me that she should be on the 13th floor.¡± Fang Jiayin walked around the 13th floor and knocked on the doors of a few tutorial classes to check, but Su Yue was nowhere in sight. She only knew that the tenants of that building were mainly educational centers, half of which were tutorial centers. Every week, after teaching her two violin classes, she would leave immediately. Thus, she wasn¡¯t sure if there were other types of tutorial classes on other levels. It was by sheer coincidence that she ran into Su Yue that morning, and it had caught her off guard too. She chanced upon a cleaner at the lift and walked towards her. She politely asked, ¡°Auntie, I would like to ask if there are only five tuition centers on this level?¡± The cleaner nodded in response. ¡°Yes, but there are more upstairs.¡± After that, the elevator sounded with a ¡®ding¡¯ and the door opened. The cleaner walked into the elevator with her pail and mop. Chapter 560. The Lift Doesnt Have Direct Access Since she couldn¡¯t locate her, she left and entered the lift with the cleaner. ¡°Teacher Fang.¡± Fang Jiayin was looking down. Her mind was preoccupied with the thoughts of Su Yue when someone in the lift suddenly called out to her. She looked up and saw a middle-aged man in glasses, and she was visibly shocked. ¡°Teacher Wu, why are you here?¡± Teacher Wu smiled. ¡°Teacher Chen and I are holding tuition classes on the 14th floor.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Fang Jiayin nodded. ¡°I¡¯m also teaching violin lessons on the 14th floor.¡± All of a sudden, she seemed to have recalled something and asked Teacher Wu, ¡°You mentioned that you were holding tutorial classes with Teacher Chen upstairs?¡± Teacher Chen was also a teacher from Flourish & Splendor School. So Su Yue should probably be in his class? Teacher Wu nodded. ¡°Yes, and our students are mostly from our school.¡± Fang Jiayin continued asking, ¡°Then¡­ is Su Yue in your class?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Teacher Wu added, ¡°That child has problems with her learning and President Yan must pay more attention to her.¡± As the teacher spoke about Su Yue¡¯s learning progress, Fang Jiayin knitted her eyebrows and looked worried. ¡°You¡¯re right. After over 10 years of overseas education, she won¡¯t be able to adapt to our country¡¯s education system within a short span of time.¡± ¡°But that child is very hardworking and smart.¡± As they chatted, the elevator reached the first floor. ¡®Ding¡¯ . Fang Jiayin looked up at the number on the screen and smiled at Teacher Wu. ¡°We¡¯ve reached.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Teacher Fang.¡± Teacher Wu stepped out of the elevator before her. Fang Jiayin stood in the lift and her face gradually turned gloomy. She had no more intention to step out of the elevator. After everyone had gone out of the elevator, she pressed the lift button for the 14th floor. As it was already lunchtime, a heavy movement of people squeezed in and out of the elevator. Within a short while, people rushed in the elevator and Fang Jiayin was squeezed to one side. She lowered her head; there was a faint trace of coldness in her eyes. That little lass. Was she making a fool out of her? They have just met. So why was she doing this to her? Did Wen Xuxu instigate her? By the time it reached the 14th floor, the elevator had already been empty. Ding.The indicator sounded and the lift door opened. Fang Jiayin raised her feet and was about to step out when she caught sight of a tiny figure. It momentarily stunned her. She then smiled amicably. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue¡¯s hands were stuffed in the pockets of her pink down-filled coat, and she was standing outside the elevator. When she saw Fang Jiayin, her childish face broken into a smile. ¡°Teacher Fang.¡± ¡°Why did you tell me that you were on the 13th floor when you are on the 14th floor instead? I almost couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Fang Jiayin stepped out of the elevator and looked at Su Yue. It sounded like words of reprimand, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of reproach in her tone. Instead, there was a trace of fake affection. Su Yue answered in a calm and collected manner. ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you. The elevator that I took this morning doesn¡¯t have direct access to the 14th floor, and I had to transfer to another elevator on the 13th floor.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A streak of coldness flashed past Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes. Her hands hung loosely at the side, tightly clenching her fists. This bad lass. She was obviously making a fool out of her. But she continued to put on a smile on her face, and her voice was gentle and approachable like the usual. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Let¡¯s go have lunch. You must be famished.¡± With that, she held Su Yue¡¯s hand while reaching out to press the lift button with the other hand. When they stepped out of the lift, Fang Jiayin was still holding on to Su Yue. As they walked towards the main entrance of the building, she smiled at her and asked, ¡°Yueyue, what would you like to have for lunch?¡± Chapter 561. Why Are You Squatting There? A well-behaved Su Yue answered, ¡°I am fine with any type of food.¡± Fang Jiayin replied, ¡°Shall I bring you to try out authentic Korean barbecue?¡± She thought that since teenage girls nowadays were crazy over K-pop, it must be no exception for Su Yue. However, Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Burnt barbecue meat is a carcinogenic food and we must not eat them.¡± Indeed, burnt meat definitely contains carcinogens, to which Fang Jiayin readily agreed. After careful deliberation, she made another suggestion. ¡°How about Japanese cuisine?¡± Su Yue looked down and whispered, ¡°My dad said that during the Japanese occupation of China, they killed many Chinese in the war.¡± Did she mean to say that if they were to eat Japanese food, they were considered unpatriotic? Fang Jiayin furtively gritted her teeth. It seemed that the girl wasn¡¯t sincere about having lunch with her, and instead was fooling around with her. She shot Su Yue a cold stare. ¡°Teacher Fang, shall we have Kentucky Fried Chicken instead?¡± All of a sudden, Su Yue lifted her head and innocently grinned at Fang Jiayin. Fang Jiayin wasn¡¯t expecting her to raise her head. She frantically hid her cold look and masked it with a smile. ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue was overjoyed. ¡°Teacher Fang is the best. My Third sister-in-law said that KFC is junk food, and she has forbidden me to eat from there.¡± So it turned out that the little lass went one big round just to get her to bring her to Kentucky Fried Chicken. It made Fang Jiayin feel much better in the end. This girl was full of wits. Why couldn¡¯t she simply say what she wanted to eat? Was it because she was afraid that she would be like Wen Xuxu¡ªsomeone who¡¯d give her food restrictions? At the thought of this, Fang Jiayin felt much more at ease. She held on to Su Yue¡¯s hand once again. ¡°All these are groundless hearsay from people. Fast food is very common in our country.¡± Su Yue lowered her head again and remained silent. The two of them left the office building. Fang Jiayin stood at the entrance and looked around the surrounding before turning back to Su Yue. ¡°There isn¡¯t any Kentucky Fried Chicken nearby. Let¡¯s go somewhere else to eat. You wait for me by the roadside while I retrieve my car from the carpark.¡± Su Yue obediently nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Although it was a sunny day, the temperature was still below freezing point. The moment Su Yue stepped out in the open, her face turned red because of the strong gust of wind. She pulled up the hood of her down-filled coat and covered her head before she stuffed her hands into her pockets. She walked towards the roadside with her head tilted down. When she reached the side of the road, her toes accidentally rubbed against the ground and it tore the front leather of her boots. She immediately squatted down and reached out to feel the broken part. Her eyebrows knitted and her heart sank. Xuxu purchased the boots for her a few days ago. It had cute owl prints on it, and she loved it so dearly. She had been wearing this pair of boots daily for the past few days and couldn¡¯t bear taking them off her feet. Suddenly, a small black sports car stopped in front of her. The driver¡¯s seat window slowly wound down, and a familiar male voice could be heard coming from the car. ¡°Little girl, why are you squatting there?¡± Su Yue raised her head and caught sight of a man¡¯s face. She pouted as she stood up and then haughtily looked elsewhere. Ming Ansheng looked at Su Yue with amusement. ¡°Is there any enmity between us?¡± The two of them had only met twice, and he was sure that he didn¡¯t offend her at all. Why was she treating him with animosity? With his looks¡ªthough not every girl would be smitten with him¡ªit was still unlikely for him to turn people off. It perplexed Ming Ansheng when a pair of crystal clear eyes suddenly looked at him. Her pretty face broke into an innocent, harmless smile. ¡°Uncle, did my Third Brother ask you to pick me?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Ming Ansheng was completely baffled. Chapter 562. I Dont Like Teacher Fang At first, he couldn¡¯t understand Su Yue¡¯s question, but when he accidentally glanced at the rear-view mirror, it all became apparent to him. He had a helpless smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He nodded at Su Yue. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Su Yue, quickly come over.¡± Fang Jiayin drove her car out of the carpark and stopped right behind Ming Ansheng. She stuck her head out of the window and waved at Su Yue. Ming Ansheng got down from his car. Looking at the innocent expression on Su Yue¡¯s face, he was at a loss of what to do. ¡°You bad lass.¡± He lightly smacked her head, his actions and tone brimming with affection. After that, he turned around and looked at Fang Jiayin who was in the red car behind his. There was a distant smile on his face. ¡°Miss Fang Jiayin.¡± ¡°Young Master Ming.¡± Fang Jiayin saw Ming Ansheng and a streak of surprise flashed past her eyes. She got down from her car and walked towards them with a smile. When Fang Jiayin stood in front of them, Su Yue apologetically looked at her. ¡°Teacher Fang, my Third Brother got his friend to pick me up, so I won¡¯t be able to have lunch with you.¡± Ming Ansheng heard this and immediately interjected. ¡°How about having lunch together then?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s alright.¡± Fang Jiayin shook her head and looked at Su Yue with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to lunch another time.¡± She didn¡¯t like to associate herself with Ming Ansheng. She always had a bad impression of him; she saw him as an incomprehensible and treacherous two-faced guy. Whenever he stared at her, it felt as though he could see through her. Often time it made her uncomfortable and ill at ease. Su Yue nodded with an ¡®Mm¡¯ and looked down again like the way she always does. She was so well-behaved that it was almost impossible to detect her flaws. But Fang Jiayin could sense that the girl was deceiving her. She had wasted her entire morning, and the lass had taken her on a bumpy ride. Fang Jiayin had no idea if Su Yue had already told Wen Xuxu about how they had run into each other at school yesterday. Could it be that Wen Xuxu talked bad about her to Su Yue? But knowing Xuxu, even if she hated her, she wouldn¡¯t make use of a child to get back at her. It was one of the many that she was jealous of and hated about Xuxu. She seemed to behave nonchalantly all the time, and yet she always emerges as the winner every time. When she was still with Yan Rusheng before, Wen Xuxu always earned what she deserved. But for her, all that she received was a mere facade. Su Yue! She refused to believe that she couldn¡¯t handle this little lass. Fang Jiayin placed both hands on the steering wheel and glanced at the road ahead. A determined look glowed in her eyes. ¡­ Ming Ansheng surveyed the little lass as he drove. From the moment they got into the car, she kept staring at the hole on her boots with a worried frown. He curiously asked, ¡°It¡¯s only a pair of boots, and you can always purchase another pair if you¡¯d like. Why are you so bothered by it?¡± Su Yue raised her head and looked at him in a hostile manner. The girl snorted, and it made Ming Ansheng stumped for a moment. He said nothing wrong, so why was this girl staring at him this way? ¡°I don¡¯t like Teacher Fang,¡± Su Yue suddenly remarked. ¡°Uhm.¡± Ming Ansheng was baffled again. Weren¡¯t they talking about her boots? This sudden change of topic was not anticipated. He kept up with her and nodded his head with understanding. ¡°I can tell.¡± She already made it so obvious, and he wasn¡¯t stupid too. As Ming Ansheng mulled over it, he asked Su Yue out of curiosity. ¡°Why do you dislike her?¡± Chapter 563. Thank You, Young Master Ming ¡°This is because Third sister-in-law and I are good friends.¡± Su Yue looked out of the window. There was a gleam of melancholy in her eyes. It was because she and her Third sister-in-law were good friends? Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°What logic is this?¡± But when he thought deeper, what she meant could be; ¡®My Third sister-in-law and I are good friends, while she and Teacher Fang are love rivals. So naturally, I should dislike her.¡¯ Her innermost feelings weren¡¯t easy to comprehend, but finally, Young Master Ming understood. Although it did require some effort to understand her words. But at least for that day, she wasn¡¯t as arrogant and as aloof from the previous time they were together. And he actually felt thankful and pleased? Ming Ansheng thought that he had been too serious for an extended time already, and now he had finally found someone who made him feel relaxed. At the thought of this, he looked at Su Yue again and asked, ¡°How did you and Fang Jiayin meet? Why are you here?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I came here for tutorial.¡± ¡°Gold Wing Building?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s tone was certain. It was a well-known office building in the capital city that focused on education-related services. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Ming Ansheng was baffled. ¡°How did you come here this morning? Didn¡¯t the chauffeur send you here? Why are you alone?¡± Even if Third Yan didn¡¯t show concern for his cousin sister, Wen Xuxu wouldn¡¯t have treated her the same way too. This little lass had just returned from overseas and wasn¡¯t familiar with the places in the country. Even conversing in Mandarin was a chore for her. So how could they rest easy and let her venture out alone? Su Yue answered, ¡°My Third sister-in-law sent me this morning.¡± Wen Xuxu wouldn¡¯t have allowed the girl to travel so far by herself on public transport¡ªhe knew in his heart that she really wouldn¡¯t. Following that, he asked again, ¡°Why didn¡¯t she pick you up then?¡± Su Yue nodded her head. ¡°Yes, she said to wait for her at the lobby after class.¡± ¡°Su Yue!¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s face darkened, and he hastily stepped on the brakes and stopped the car by the roadside. He turned and looked at Su Yue. ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Ansheng had just opened his mouth when Su Yue¡¯s phone rang. The ringtone of her phone was a melodious English song by a male singer. ¡± Shh !¡± Su Yue placed her index finger to her lips. Ming Ansheng immediately clammed up. He stole a glance Su Yue¡¯s phone screen and the caller ID showed ¡®Third sister-in-law ¡®. He felt sullen. The call was from Wen Xuxu! Why was the little lass being so secretive? It was as if they were having a secret rendezvous. Su Yue answered the call. ¡°My Third Brother¡¯s friend said that he would bring me out for lunch.¡± What? Ming Ansheng opened his eyes wide and stared at the little lass. When did he say that he would bring her out for lunch? He had only agreed to let her use him as an excuse to escape. ¡°It¡¯s the same uncle as yesterday.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue passed the phone to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle, my Third sister-in-law wants to talk to you.¡± ¡°Why did you call me uncle again?¡± Young Master Ming placed his hand on his forehead, feeling all helpless. The seniority was a total mixed up. He received the phone from Su Yue and placed it to his ear. ¡°Hello.¡± Xuxu had intended to go mall shopping, but she went to the office in the end, and work held her up. She was holding the phone with one hand, and the other hand was typing away on her laptop. ¡°Young Master Ming, I am held up by some matters and had forgotten to pick Yueyue. She said that she happened to run into you, and you¡¯ll be bringing her for lunch. I¡¯ll go over and pick her up later.¡± ¡°¡­ Alright.¡± Ming Ansheng reluctantly answered. She could hear Xuxu¡¯s smile over the phone as she thanked him. ¡°Thank you, Young Master Ming.¡± After settling Su Yue, Xuxu continued with her work in peace. The office was especially quiet on Saturdays. Whenever she goes to the company for overtime during Saturdays, she would be so wrapped up in her work and would sometimes forget her meals. ¡­ Chapter 564. Search Page By Page ¡­ Yan Rusheng brought along a few people, and they checked each underground hospital and clinic according to their respective address stated on a piece of paper. As these hospitals and clinics weren¡¯t officially registered, most of them didn¡¯t have proper record systems. It was difficult to check past records. Some had digital records via their computer system, while others had paper-based records or worse, they didn¡¯t have clinical records for their patients at all. Yan Rusheng stood at the door and eyed the signboard of a small clinic ¡®Universal Love Clinic¡¯. After visiting several clinics hidden in the depths of dingy alleys and grimy old districts, this clinic looked rather respectable as compared to the previous ones. He strode towards the door and walked into the clinic. Two of his men began to interrogate the middle-aged female doctor who was sitting at the desk. ¡°I really cannot find a patient¡¯s record or particulars from three years ago,¡± pleaded the doctor. She continued to explain, ¡°We only started recording via computer system last year. In the previous years before that, we didn¡¯t.¡± Yan Rusheng walked up to the desk and peered down at her with a rather malicious expression. He coldly said, ¡°How about the paper records?¡± The doctor looked at him as she attempted to put on a brave smile. ¡°Our clinic is so small, how could I keep records from years ago? I must have thrown them away.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her explanation and his eyes glinted coldly. In an even icier tone, he said, ¡°Since this place is so small, it must be running an indecent business. Why not close it down?¡± He eyed the two men. One of them promptly raised her laptop and looked as if he was about to smash it. She saw him and she immediately sprang forward to stop him. She spun her head, and with a pleading look, she said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°Please don¡¯t do this! Young Master, although we are small, we have never made any mistakes.¡± Yan Rusheng coolly lifted an eyebrow. ¡°What does making mistakes and running an indecent business have to do with each other?¡± He had just finished his sentence when there was a loud crashing sound. The laptop fell to the floor and smashed into pieces. The female doctor shrunk and finally spoke the truth. With a quivering voice, she said, ¡°We have computerized the patient records from the past few years. But we just scanned their records so we can¡¯t search for their names via the system. I have to search page by page.¡± Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°Then search it page by page.¡± The female doctor had a rather helpless expression on her face. ¡°There must be thousands of patients within these years.¡± Then she timidly glanced at the shattered laptop on the floor. ¡°Find it,¡± coldly commanded Yan Rusheng in an unyielding tone. He pulled a chair towards him and settled down. He had been going through clinics after clinics for the whole day, and they only managed to work after something was smashed. The doctor didn¡¯t dare to dawdle and instead, she started to search using a different computer. She flipped through the scanned copies like how one would when flipping through photographs. Yan Rusheng sat behind her as he stared at the computer screen. ¡°Although the records were all scanned together, we sorted it according to the year.¡± The doctor moved her mouse around as she flipped through the records. ¡°From this record onwards, it should start from three years ago.¡± Yan Rusheng looked more intently at the screen, determined not to miss out any. ¡°Wait.¡± Yan Rusheng abruptly spoke. He couldn¡¯t quite believe his eyes. The doctor was startled that it made her jump. She looked at him and asked. ¡°This?¡± Chapter 565. It Couldnt Be Her ¡°The previous page,¡± Yan Rusheng said. He took the mouse and flipped to the previous page. Yan Xu?! 21 years old! He saw the name and age of the patient, and his heart seemed to involuntarily jerk. His expression was frozen in shock. The doctor read the name on the screen, and she turned to the man looking puzzled. ¡°This is Yan Xu, not the Fang Jiayin you were looking for.¡± She tried to take the mouse away from him to continue searching. Yan Rusheng raised his voice. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± His voice had turned dry and hoarse. After some time, his Adam¡¯s apple moved and there was a slight change in his expression. No, it couldn¡¯t be her. The doctor observed Yan Rusheng¡¯s reaction and asked meekly, ¡°Do you know Yan Xu?¡± Yan Rusheng was intently staring at the name as his lips tightly pressed together. He didn¡¯t seem to have heard her. The doctor retracted her hand and turned her chair so that she could fully face Yan Rusheng. ¡°I still remember this girl.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her and gradually turned towards her. He was apparently still in a daze. After the doctor had observed him and decided that it was safe for her to continue on, she expounded, ¡°She had suffered a miscarriage and came to the clinic begging me to save her baby. She was bleeding badly, and I didn¡¯t dare to take her in. I advised her to go to a proper hospital instead, but she refused. I had no choice as she was adamant on staying at my clinic.¡± ¡°She¡­¡± Yan Rusheng opened his mouth but his voice seemed choked. He managed to utter after some time. ¡°Which school was she from? Do you have any idea?¡± It can¡¯t be her. She was so intelligent. Even if¡­ she had slept with Jiang Zhuoheng, she wouldn¡¯t let her future be affected by having a child. She was begging to keep her child? No, it couldn¡¯t be Wen Xuxu. No matter how much she had wanted to marry Jiang Zhuoheng, she wouldn¡¯t resort to such tricks. She was so perfect, why did she undergo so many suffering? Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands were tightly clenched together into balls of fists. He became more certain the more he exerted strength. He was certain that this person wasn¡¯t Wen Xuxu. The doctor shook her head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure. She didn¡¯t talk much, and she looked frail and weak.¡± She paused and sighed. ¡°But her determination and willpower amazed me. She had lost her baby, yet she was begging me to save it. Later when she laid on the operating table, she gritted her teeth and didn¡¯t utter a sound despite the pain.¡± Yan Rusheng kept reiterating to himself. ¡®This Yan Xuxu wasn¡¯t Wen Xuxu. It couldn¡¯t be her.¡¯ She would only use this pseudonym when she was filling up something unimportant, such as signing up for some promotions. Why would she use a pseudonym at a hospital? But the doctor¡¯s words painfully tugged at his heartstrings, and his heart was in pain. He asked again, ¡°She¡­ did she have long hair?¡± At that time, Wen Xuxu had long hair that almost reached her knees. The doctor tried to recall and nodded after a moment. ¡°She had a really long hair and she was quite pretty. I remember that she had a tiny oval-shaped face although it wasn¡¯t that distinct.¡± She said in a rather empathetic tone, ¡°Usually the girls who come here are accompanied by their boyfriends or friends. But she was alone. She slept here for the night and left the next day. I reckon that she knew that her baby was gone, if not she would have gone to a proper hospital and not to a clinic like mine.¡± She suddenly thought of something. ¡°Oh yeah, she spoke with a capital city accent.¡± Chapter 566. To Give His Everything To This Stupid Woman After he had heard the doctor¡¯s words, another wave of shock crashed over Yan Rusheng. He couldn¡¯t sit any longer, so he walked out with heavy footsteps. He left the two men he had tagged along with him to the clinic. He went to his car and started the engine. In no time, the car vanished out of sight. ¡®She already had a miscarriage and was still begging me to save her baby¡­¡¯ ¡®But her determination and willpower amazed me¡­¡¯ ¡®She didn¡¯t talk much and she looked frail and weak¡­ She had really long hair and she was quite pretty¡­¡¯ The traffic was smooth-sailing when afternoon came, and so Yan Rusheng stepped on the accelerator without care. He sped past countless cars. All car owners trembled in fear as Yan Rusheng sped past¡ªhe was dangerously fast. The doctor only gave a brief description of the young girl, but he already had the answer in his heart. He didn¡¯t need any more evidence. ¡®Wen Xuxu, was this the reason why you gave up going abroad for your studies?¡¯ ¡®Wen Xuxu, was this the reason why you hid in the dormitory for half a month, looking like you were close to death?¡¯ Yan Rusheng sat in the car and gazed at the campus. How many times had he sat here, waiting and watching as she came out of the building with her eyes darting around? She was obviously so fragile and delicate, and yet she was so obstinate and strong. He hated and loved her dearly at the same time. This was without a doubt Wen Xuxu. What other proof did he need? ¡®Usually, the girls who came were accompanied by their boyfriends or friends. But she was alone. She slept here for the night and left the next day¡­¡¯ The doctor¡¯s words echoed again and again in his mind as if it was a curse. His eyes were blazing with fiery sparks. He had already filled the ashtray in his car, by then he had finished the last cigarette in the packet. Yan Rusheng suddenly started the engine once more. The capital city¡¯s nightlife was bustling and booming with excitement. At that time of the evening, his champagne-colored Bentley weaved in and out of traffic on one of the busiest roads in the capital city. He didn¡¯t give a damn even if he was caught speeding by numerous speed cameras. He only had one thing on his mind right now. To go home to Wen Xuxu. To give his everything to that stupid woman. The car stopped outside a grand mansion, and he switched off the engine. He stretched his hand and retrieved a new packet of cigarettes. He lighted one up and started smoking. His pair of abstruse-looking eyes were fixed on the rearview mirror. The expression in his eyes was cold and sinister. The mansion was brightly lit and laughter could be heard from inside. There were children and elderly folks in the house. Suddenly, a strong beam of light shone from the back and was reflected by the mirror. It was blinding and Yan Rusheng used his hand to block the light. Once he caught a glimpse of the car through the rearview mirror, his face fell. He pushed the door open and alighted from the car. He walked to the driveway and stood in front of the white Audi that was gradually slowing down to a stop. The man driving the white Audi saw Yan Rusheng standing in his way and his expression became cold as well. He abruptly stepped on the accelerator. Yan Rusheng stood rooted to the spot, without moving an inch. There was a loud screeching sound as the wheels fiercely rubbed against the ground. The white Audi abruptly came to a stop, inching dangerously close to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng coldly walked over and wrenched the door opened. He pulled the man out from his car with his fist ready. Without a word, he punched the man¡¯s gorgeous face with all his strength. He didn¡¯t give the other person any chance to retaliate. Instead, he followed his punch with another vicious one. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that Jiang Zhuoheng was tough and strong by nature, and that he worked out every day, Yan Rusheng¡¯s first punch would have made him collapse. After enduring two punches, Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t hold back and fought back. Chapter 567. Wasnt Xuxu Already Married? Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s punch landed right on the side of Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. They then grabbed each other and fell to the ground as they exchanged vicious blows. The Jiang¡¯s family butler heard the commotion and came scurrying out to the courtyard. He saw the two of them on the ground before his eyes darted to Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s car. He was flustered. He shouted, ¡°Isn¡¯t this First Young Master?¡± He yelled towards the direction of the mansion. ¡°Madam! First Young Master is fighting with someone!¡± The whole Jiang family rushed out when they heard the butler. The old Jiang master held on to his walking stick as he trailed after his family. Neither Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng wanted to stop¡ªthey were both raging like beasts at that moment. The Jiang family members couldn¡¯t pull them apart. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The old Jiang master stumbled towards them. The light from the lamp illuminated both Jiang Zhuoheng and Yan Rusheng, both of which were still jostling with each other. He bellowed, ¡°What are you two doing?! If you don¡¯t stop now, I will beat both of you to death!¡± The old man was incensed, and he almost collapsed because of anger. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Grandfather!¡± Everyone crowded around to support the old man. Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng finally stopped when they heard their frantic voices. Yan Rusheng, who had gained the upper hand earlier on, raised his head to glance at Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s grandfather. He released Jiang Zhuoheng and stood up. Then without a word, he walked back to his car. ¡°Third Yan!¡± The old man yelled when Yan Rusheng walked past him. Yan Rusheng halted in his tracks and looked at the old man. ¡°Grandfather Jiang.¡± His voice was distant when he greeted him. He then continued to stride towards his car. Jiang Zhuoheng got to his feet, and he used his palm to wipe away the blood on his face. He stared at Yan Rusheng with a dangerous and livid expression as he got into his car. Yan Rusheng opened his car door and coldly glared at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°From today onwards, Wen Xuxu has nothing to do with you. You don¡¯t deserve to even look at her.¡± He got in, started the engine, and sped off. The Jiang family were left feeling baffled. All of them gradually got over the shock as Yan Rusheng¡¯s car vanished out of sight. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s mother gazed at Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s face. When she saw him bleeding badly from the corners of his mouth, she stretched her hand to wipe the blood away. She whimpered, ¡°Ah Heng, why did you end up fighting with Third Yan?¡± His father was confused, too and he chided him, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Xuxu already married to Third Yan? Why did you¡­¡± His sentence was cut across mid-way by the old man. He yelled at everyone, ¡°Everyone go back into the house! Why is everyone still standing here?¡± His command was like a royal edict and no one dared to defy him. Everyone began to scramble back to the house. ¡°Ah Heng, come inside. I¡¯ll put some medicine for you.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s mother grabbed his hand as her heart was aching to see him bleeding. ¡°Ah Heng,¡± said his grandfather in a harsh and serious tone. ¡°Wait.¡± His mother paused for a second and relinquished her grip on his hand rather unwillingly. After everyone had left, Jiang Zhuoheng and his grandfather were the only ones left in the courtyard. The old man seemed pensive. He solemnly said, ¡°After Chinese New Year, Xiaoxiao will be back from her studies. I want you to get engaged with her.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng immediately protested. ¡°Grandfather¡­¡± ¡°There is no room for discussion.¡± The old man rebuked Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s protests in a firm and forceful manner. To stop his grandson from protesting, he left for the house with his walking stick. Chapter 568. Ive Already Taught That Jerk a Lesson On Your Behalf Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s grandfather walked unhurriedly as he talked. ¡°Xuxu is indeed a good girl. But no matter how good she is, she is already part of the Yans. You¡¯ve tried your best, and I¡¯m sure you have no regrets. A man cannot merely focus on relationships¡ªyou have heavier burdens to shoulder.¡± The old man entered the house and Jiang Zhuoheng was left standing alone. What was left with him were his grandfather¡¯s words. In the cold wind, Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s body seemed to tremble a little after hearing his grandfather¡¯s heartfelt words. His tightly clenched fists gradually loosened their grip. ¡­ ¡°Wen Xuxu, where are you?¡± Yan Rusheng arrived home expecting to see Xuxu. However, Aunt Zhang informed him she wasn¡¯t home yet, and she had left the house with Su Yue this morning. He guessed that Xuxu must have brought Su Yue out to play. He didn¡¯t take his shoes off when he stepped into the house earlier. After knowing that she wasn¡¯t home, he immediately turned around and went back to his car. As he started the engine once again, he dialed Xuxu¡¯s number. ¡°I¡¯m in the office. Where have you been the entire day?¡± Xuxu¡¯s exhausted voice traveled from the other line. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Wait for me there.¡± ¡­ Xuxu frowned and felt gloomy when he abruptly ended the call. This fellow had disappeared without a trace for the entire day. Now, he sounded as if he was in such a hurry. What was going on? He didn¡¯t even give her a chance to talk. After silently scolding him, Xuxu put down her cell phone. She casually glanced at the time and was startled. ¡°Shit!¡± It was already seven in the evening! She hastily dialed Ming Ansheng¡¯s number. ¡°Hello, Young Master Ming. Sorry, work had me busy, and I lost track of time. Is Yueyue home yet?¡± ¡°Alright, I got it. I¡¯ll come by your house with Yan Rusheng to fetch her later.¡± She went to the pantry to get a cup of water and then went back to her desk. She couldn¡¯t help but yawn a few times. She had been busy with work the whole day, and it was only when Yan Rusheng called her over the phone that her work got disrupted. After that, she had already lost her focus and couldn¡¯t seem to concentrate more on her work. So she switched off her computer and tidied her desk. She took a nap on the couch while she waited for Yan Rusheng. Within seconds, she fell asleep because of exhaustion. ¡°Go away¡­¡± She grumbled with her eyes open. Xuxu had just fallen asleep when a kiss woke her up. She shifted around with her back facing the intruder. Yan Rusheng saw the side of her face, and the lazy smile on Xuxu¡¯s lips drawn him in. He couldn¡¯t help himself and kissed her once more. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± His deep and gentle voice was alluring and seductive. Xuxu couldn¡¯t sleep peacefully, so she opened her eyes. She grumbled once more as she glared at him. ¡°Where did you go? You disrupted my sleep the minute you got here.¡± When she finished grumbling, she realized that Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips were torn and there were scratches near his chin. Her eyes widened in shock as she gingerly touched his face. She anxiously asked, ¡°What happened to you? Did you fight with someone?¡± He must have gotten into a brawl with someone. Yan Rusheng grabbed Xuxu¡¯s slender wrist instead. He gave a rather cheeky smile. ¡°Dumb woman, I¡¯ve already taught that jerk a lesson on your behalf.¡± Xuxu frowned and looked confused. ¡°What¡­ who is the jerk?¡± She then apprehensively asked, ¡°You¡­ did you fight with Jiang Zhuoheng?¡± He had always treated Ah Heng as an eyesore and assumed that she had given up her studies abroad for Ah Heng. But come to think of it, hadn¡¯t he always assumed so? Why did he teach him a lesson today? Did they have a gathering today and exchanged blows after a quarrel? Chapter 569. You Are a Dumb Man But wait, Ming Ansheng was with Yueyue the whole day. Young Master Ming would never miss any of the gatherings. Xuxu couldn¡¯t comprehend what was going on when Yan Rusheng became solemn once more. He warned her in a dictatorial manner, ¡°Wen Xuxu, from today onwards you¡¯re not allowed to think of Jiang Zhuoheng.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Ah Sheng, I love you.¡± ¡®I¡¯ve always loved you.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t imagine what would happen if he realized that the ¡®jerk¡¯ he kept harping on was actually himself. What reaction, expression, or action would he have? She had endured everything alone, and everything was already over. Xuxu felt that she should continue to conceal the truth and tuck it away in her heart. Only she and the heavens shall know. ¡°You dumb woman. It¡¯s your luck that you met me.¡± Yan Rusheng bent his head to kiss her once more. His torn lips bled once again. She could taste the blood, but Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but worry about Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Ah Heng¡­ were his injuries worse than yours?¡± Both of them were of similar build, and their strength was at par as well. Ah Heng was more gentle and wasn¡¯t as fierce as him. Hence ever since they were both children, whenever they fought, Ah Heng was always at a disadvantage. Yan Rusheng immediately pulled back from Xuxu¡¯s lips with a frown. He glared at her and hollered, ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Xuxu instantly clammed up and wondered what exactly was wrong with him. First, he fought with Jiang Zhuoheng. Then he came back and adopted such a gentle tone with her. She suspected that she might be dreaming. ¡°In the future, your heart, eyes, your entire life can only have me as your man,¡± tenderly said Yan Rusheng. He suddenly took her hand, and he looked her in the eye. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched when she heard his heartfelt words. She said cheekily, ¡°Our country doesn¡¯t allow a wife to take more than one husband, anyway.¡± The fellow was acting abnormally that day. Earlier on, his gentleness was suddenly replaced with his usual overbearingness, and now, he was saying such moving words. Yan Rusheng knew that she had said that on purpose and his face fell. ¡°Dumb woman, you really don¡¯t know how to play along.¡± Then he stood up and strode out of the room. Xuxu quickly rose and scrambled to catch up with him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, where are you going?¡± In a rather annoyed tone, Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Home.¡± Xuxu said, ¡°No you can¡¯t! We have to fetch Yueyue.¡± They had already reached the elevator by then. Only then did Yan Rusheng remember about Su Yue. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°She is at Ming Ansheng¡¯s place,¡± Xuxu replied as she pressed the elevator button. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Why is she with him?¡± When did that lass become close to Ming Ansheng? ¡°It¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll tell you more when we get in the car.¡± The elevator arrived and Xuxu stepped in. Yan Rusheng followed her, his gaze glued to her back. Why? Why wasn¡¯t he her first love? At that thought, he gnashed his teeth with jealousy. ¡°You are a dumb woman.¡± She almost tormented herself to death for loving such a jerk. Xuxu glared at him as she was being chided for no apparent reason. She retorted, ¡°You are a dumb man.¡± Then both of them chuckled at the same time. The elevator reached the ground floor when Yan Rusheng¡¯s phone rang. He extended his hand into his pocket for his phone. He glanced at the screen and stole a swift glance at Xuxu. He released her hand and picked up the call. ¡°Speak.¡± His footsteps quickened, and he walked ahead of Xuxu. When Xuxu came out, Yan Rusheng had already hung up. With his eyes glued to the screen, he seemed to be in a trance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu asked, looking concerned. Yan Rusheng stowed his phone back in his pocket and smiled at Xuxu. He grabbed her shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± His huge hand tightly gripped her shoulders. ¡°We¡¯ve found out that during that period Fang Jiayin had indeed visited a gynecologist in a county in B City. The records show that she was pregnant for six weeks¡­ ¡± Chapter 570. Then I Shall Try It Myself Then Six weeks¡­ it was around 40 days. The timing coincided indeed. It had Yan Rusheng in a daze as he stared at his feet. ¡°What are you thinking of?¡± Xuxu continued, ¡°Who called just now?¡± She had a feeling that his silence had something to do with the phone call. Yan Rusheng broke into a grin. ¡°I was just thinking that your stupidity might be passed on to my son.¡± She had Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s baby and suffered a miscarriage. So did Fang Jiayin¡­ Both of the children were gone. It was a selfish thought, but he was glad that both of them were gone. Just like their couple name ¡®xuxu rusheng¡¯, Wen Xuxu was destined to be his. Xuxu was indignant as she fiercely glared at the man standing beside her. ¡°In any case, I was always among the top from elementary school all the way to university. How can I be dumb?¡± ¡°Stupid and dumb.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± ¡­ ¡°What¡¯s the matter again?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his head and glanced at the little lass who had an unhappy look on her face. He was barely done coaching her with her homework, and now she was acting up again? Basically, he had done nothing other than being her tutor for the entire afternoon. ¡°I¡¯m famished! Why didn¡¯t you buy me food?¡± Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows and boldly questioned Ming Ansheng. Upon hearing her cry of anguish, all of Ming Ansheng¡¯s facial muscle involuntarily twitched. He had a hunch that if he continued to stay with the lass for another two days, his heart might start to fail. ¡°I asked you earlier, and you said you didn¡¯t want to eat.¡± It was just minutes ago, definitely not more than ten minutes. If she went home and complained to Third Yan for not providing food for her, Third Yan, with his mean tongue, would definitely accuse him of abusing a minor. And probably add on that he was so stingy to the extent that he couldn¡¯t spare his sister a mouthful of rice. Su Yue quipped, ¡°I said I didn¡¯t want to eat rice.¡± The corners of Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched. He thought to himself, ¡®If you don¡¯t want rice, then shouldn¡¯t you say what you want to eat?¡¯ He nodded patiently. ¡°Alright then, what do you feel like eating? I¡¯ll call someone to send the food here.¡± He grabbed his phone. ¡°I feel like eating tomato and egg instant noodles,¡± Su Yue calmly said. ¡°I saw that you have tomatoes and eggs in the fridge. And just now we bought a bag of instant noodles.¡± As he glanced over his couch, it had Ming Ansheng dumbfounded. Chips, cake, and fried chicken were sprawled all over his coffee table. All junk food. And when had his apartment been so messy before?! Now she was even thinking of wrecking his kitchen? Forget it. The couple would soon be here to fetch her, let her do as she wished. He would just get a cleaner to clear up the mess later. Ming Ansheng briefly contemplated and gestured to Su Yue. ¡°Go ahead.¡± He put his phone down, and he decided to leave Su Yue alone and went back to work. Su Yue answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know how. You cook for me.¡± ¡®Huh?¡¯ Young Master Ming glanced at the little lass beside him and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Do you mean that I have to cook instant noodles for you?¡± He hasn¡¯t done any of the work that he was supposed to finish that day. He brought her to buy fried chicken, then to the supermarket to get her chips, and when they got home, he coached her with her homework. Being her uncle was no easy feat, wasn¡¯t it? If there was a contest for best guardians, he would be eligible for it. Now she even had the cheek to command him to cook instant noodles for her. And she didn¡¯t even phrase it tactfully or used a gentle tone. ¡®I don¡¯t know how. You cook for me!¡¯ It was literally a command. And most importantly she was looking at him with such a haughty expression. She was Third Yan¡¯s sister indeed. Even the way she seeks help from others was so forceful and confident. Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°If you are at home, do you dare to ask your Third Brother to help you with your homework or to cook noodles for you?¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°Then I shall try it myself then.¡± Chapter 571. Who Did You Fight With? Su Yue turned around without another word towards the kitchen. He looked at her hand that was hanging by her sides; they were slender and looked as if it only touched exquisite things. If she accidentally scalded herself, his crimes would be unforgivable. Sigh! Young Master Ming heavily sighed to himself and stood up. He spoke to Su Yue, ¡°Yueyue, let me do it instead.¡± He rose and caught up with her with huge strides. He stepped into the kitchen. Su Yue stopped at the entrance of the kitchen and vaguely responded with an¡®oh.¡¯ Ming Ansheng was already used to her pride and eccentricity, so he didn¡¯t expect that she would thank him or be grateful to him. Ming Ansheng rolled up the sleeves of his red shirt and tied an apron around his waist. He opened the fridge and took out eggs and tomatoes. As he cracked an egg, he looked at Su Yue and began to nag. ¡°Young people nowadays are getting more pampered and spoiled. Look at you. You can¡¯t even cook instant noodles.¡± His cousin Xin Yi couldn¡¯t even wash her own plates. Su Yue ignored Ming Ansheng. Her huge dewy eyes stared intently at the eggs in the bowl. As Ming Ansheng stirred the eggs, she instructed him. ¡°I want the eggs to be well-cooked.¡± Ming Ansheng was half-exasperated and half-amused. ¡°You really have plenty of demands.¡± Su Yue clammed up and leaned against the door frame to wait for her food. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ Someone pressed the doorbell, and Su Yue considered for a moment before she decided to open the door. Two familiar faces appeared in sight. Her eyes swiftly brushed past Yan Rusheng¡¯s aloof-looking face and landed on Xuxu. Her cold and expressionless face finally broke into a smile. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu stepped into the house. She pulled an apologetic expression and said, ¡°Sorry, I was caught up with work earlier on. You must have waited for quite some time.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± ¡°The noodles are ready. Su Yue, hurry up and eat it.¡± He called out to Su Yue. The noodles were ready, and Ming Ansheng carefully brought the bowl out from the kitchen. Then he caught sight of Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. ¡°Hey! Finally, you guys are here.¡± Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were astonished to see Ming Ansheng wearing an apron and holding a bowl of steaming noodles. He quite resembled a good and homely man. ¡°Young Master Ming¡­ you¡­¡± Xuxu walked towards him and eyed the bowl in his hands. ¡°Tomato and egg instant noodles?¡± She bent her head to sniff the noodles and gave Ming Ansheng a thumbs up. She lavished praises on him. ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe that the capable Ming Ansheng could cook so well, too.¡± It annoyed Yan Rusheng when he heard Xuxu praising Ming Ansheng. He had once cooked a feast for her, but she didn¡¯t say anything to him. Ming Ansheng grimaced as though he had suffered a great deal. ¡°Your little sister had forced me to, so I had no choice. Hurry up and fetch her home after she has eaten.¡± Xuxu felt sorry when she heard him. ¡°Sorry to trouble you this afternoon. She still isn¡¯t familiar with the capital city, and she doesn¡¯t speak much. I¡¯m worried she would have trouble getting home all by herself.¡± She always felt that Su Yue¡¯s personality was quite eccentric. Su Yue only smiled at her and was cold and distant towards everyone else. And she didn¡¯t talk much to anyone as well. A few days ago, she brought her out to buy a pair of shoes. The salesperson asked her several times about her shoe size, but she bent her head and ignored her questions. Su Yue only answered when Xuxu asked her. ¡°It¡¯s not much trouble, actually.¡± Ming Ansheng brushed it aside and looked at Su Yue. He pushed the bowl towards her. ¡°Hurry up and eat.¡± Su Yue held the bowl of noodles in her hands and went to the dining table. ¡°Eh? Third Yan, who did you fight with?¡± Ming Ansheng turned around from Su Yue and finally had time to look at Yan Rusheng properly. He saw a bruise near his mouth and the wounds on his face. The wounds were obviously from a fight. Chapter 572. If You Can’t Find It, You’re Dead Meat Yan Rusheng threw Ming Ansheng a dirty look and entered the room without removing his shoes. Ming Ansheng was amused as he watched him haughtily walk away. He slowly shook his head. ¡°Who is this fearless guy who was bold enough to hit our Young Master Yan?¡± Xuxu stifled her laughter and reminded Ming Ansheng under her breath. ¡°He is very petty. If you still tease him, he might punch you.¡± Ming Ansheng agreed with her and chuckled. Then he did some elaborate gestures and invited Xuxu in. ¡°Young Madam Yan, this is your first time entering my humble abode. Please enter.¡± ¡°Crazy!¡± Wen Xuxu walked farther in and saw the junk food on the coffee table. She stole a glance at Su Yue and pressed her lips. ¡­ Su Yue woke up too early that morning, so after a long day, she fell asleep after she got in the car. Xuxu gazed at Su Yue for some time with a frown. She couldn¡¯t help but worry about her. She wasn¡¯t sure what kind of life she lived during the years they were overseas. They might have been financially stable but what about their personal life? ¡®They say I¡¯m an illegitimate child¡­¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s words rang inside Xuxu¡¯s head once more and her heart ached for her. To be frank, Su Yan and Su Yue did nothing wrong. Who could even choose their own parents? Xuxu mulled over these questions and she turned to look at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Can you talk with Su Yan tonight and see what he has been up to recently?¡± Yan Rusheng replied with a dull tone, ¡°He can do whatever he likes.¡± He displayed his usual nonchalant attitude towards the siblings. Xuxu frowned in disapproval. ¡°Can you at least try? Don¡¯t let First Uncle worry about them.¡± Of course, she wasn¡¯t afraid that First Uncle would be tired. She wanted him to take his focus off Su Yue and Su Yan so that he could focus on his two sons and wife. In that way, at least it would be a consolation to First Aunt. ¡­ Xuxu finished her milk and sat on the bed watching a TV program. The door swung open and Yan Rusheng walked in. She asked him, ¡°How was it? Su Yan isn¡¯t home yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve called. He is not coming home tonight,¡± Yan Rusheng answered as he began to unbutton his shirt. He looked visibly tired. Xuxu knew that he wanted to shower, so she climbed off the bed and went to his wardrobe. ¡°Does he have friends in the capital city?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Yan Rusheng took his bathrobe from Xuxu and entered the bathroom. Xuxu picked up his clothes from the floor and was about to throw it into the laundry basket when she decided to check his pockets. There was only his cell phone. She pouted and grumbled, ¡°This fellow. He said that he would bring it around with him.¡± Yan Rusheng came out of the bathroom and put the bathrobe on his body without fastening it. He was drying his hair with a towel as he walked towards the bed. Xuxu sat on the bed and watched him as he walked over. She questioned him, ¡°Yan Rusheng, where is the handkerchief?¡± Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°I was about to ask you. You¡¯re the one who checks my clothes every day. Did you throw the handkerchief away when you were rummaging through the pockets?¡± Xuxu heard him and she became anxious. ¡°Yan Rusheng, did you lose it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Yan Rusheng was certain. ¡°It should be somewhere in the pockets of one of my pants. I¡¯ll look for it another day.¡± Xuxu gritted her teeth in anger. She warned, ¡°If you can¡¯t find it, you¡¯re dead meat.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned at her mischievously. ¡°Why not let me¡­¡± He didn¡¯t wait for Xuxu to react and strode towards her in no time. Then he flung her onto the bed. ¡­ During breakfast, Xuxu was staring at the cover of the magazine she held in her hands called ¡®Grand Fashion¡¯. There was a gorgeous and youthful model on the front cover. Chapter 573. Merely a Photographer ¡®The gorgeous fashion icon Su Yan has agreed to be Grand Fashion¡¯s Director of Photography and he will be in charge of their offices in Asia. Su Yan will also be their chief photographer.¡¯ Su Yan? Grand Fashion¡¯s new Director of Photography? Did she read the title wrong? Grand Fashion was a globally well-known huge fashion magazine. It would be an achievement for those who learned photography to be one of their photographers¡ªnot to mention the Director of Photography. Was this guy on the cover page really the Su Yan that she knew? Yan Rusheng coldly sneered when he noticed Xuxu¡¯s astonished expression. ¡°It is just an improper occupation.¡± He lowered his head and continued to spread jam on his bread. Xuxu ignored his criticism and raised her head towards Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, does your brother really love to take pictures?¡± When she saw him in H City, he had a professional-looking camera with him. Now that she recalled, he seemed to be really interested in taking photos. But she thought he had majored in financial management? A renowned magazine such as Grand Fashion, a pioneer in leading fashion trends, would surely have high standards and expectations about their staff¡¯s professional experience and qualifications. Furthermore, for the position of Director of Photography and chief photographer. She couldn¡¯t quite comprehend, but it sounded like he was really capable and talented. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Yan Rusheng put the bread on Xuxu¡¯s plate, and he seemed to be aware of the doubts that Xuxu had. He slowly spoke, ¡°He does have qualifications in photography, and he won an international photography competition.¡± Xuxu was flabbergasted that her mouth was hanging wide open. ¡°What?! He won an international photography competition?¡± Yan Rusheng snorted in contempt. ¡°What¡¯s there to brag about? He is merely a photographer.¡± There was a long pause¡­ The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. Merely a photographer¡­ It was nearly impossible to get his approval and recognition! ¡®I will take good care of Yueyue¡­¡¯ Xuxu ate the bread in silence as she stole occasional glances at the magazine. She recalled what Su Yan had declared on the second day the siblings entered the Yan¡¯s family. Even though his tone was casual, it couldn¡¯t hide the light and capability that he possessed. She knew from that moment Su Yan was someone difficult to control or manipulate. ¡­ Su Yue had to attend tutorial classes again during the weekends. After breakfast, Xuxu sent Su Yue for her classes at the same building. She didn¡¯t leave after dropping Su Yue, instead; she walked around at a nearby shopping mall. When it was 12 noon, she went up to her classroom. The classroom was full of students. They all seemed cultured and educated children from wealthy families. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu beamed at Su Yue as she trailed after the crowd. Su Yue heard Xuxu¡¯s voice and her aloof face broke into a smile. She hastened her footsteps. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Are you hungry? Drink this first.¡± Xuxu passed her a bubble tea she bought. Then she stretched her hand to carry her bag. But Su Yue pushed her hand away and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can carry it myself.¡± Xuxu smiled and didn¡¯t insist. They walked towards the elevator, and Su Yue kept her head lowered as she sipped her bubble tea. ¡°Su Yue!¡± A boy was calling for Su Yue from behind. Su Yue seemed to not have heard him as she continued to keep her head lowered. Xuxu paused and glanced at Su Yue with a worried look. She stretched her hand to stop her. ¡°Yueyue, your classmate is calling you.¡± Su Yue lifted her head and finally stopped. She turned around to look at the boy walking towards her with a smile. The boy was about the same age as her. He wore a pair of Nike track pants and a black woolen pullover. He was lanky and fit. Chapter 574. Hurt Far More Than Two Women? When he saw that Su Yue had turned towards him, he picked up his pace and practically ran towards her. ¡°My birthday is next Friday, and I want to invite you to my party.¡± Su Yue looked down and remained silent as she sipped her bubble tea. It gave people the feeling that she was extremely aloof. There was a trace of awkwardness on the boy¡¯s face. Seeing this, Xuxu smiled and nudged Su Yue¡¯s arm. ¡°Yueyue, your classmate wants to invite you to his birthday party.¡± Only then did Su Yue casually open her mouth. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not going.¡± Seeing his invitation being turned down, the smile on the boy¡¯s face slowly vanished, and disappointment was written all over his face. It had Xuxu thinking that since Su Yue was used to being neglected by people when she was still in Country Y, she developed the habit of being indifferent to people around her. The other day, she was gleefully telling her that her teacher liked her. But why was she displaying a different personality in front of others? It must not continue on like that. Su Yue must have more contact with people, and she needed to socialize more. As Xuxu mulled over this, she offered a smile to the younger girl and she said, ¡°Yueyue, your classmate is sincere about having you in his party. He will be disappointed if you didn¡¯t turn up.¡± Hearing this, Su Yue raised her head to look at her and blinked. ¡°Third sister-in-law will you be going with me too?¡± ¡°That depends if your classmate wants to invite me.¡± Xuxu looked at Su Yue as she responded. Anyone could tell that this chap is thinking of wooing Yueyue. But Xuxu on the other hand, her intention was for Yueyue to socialize more. She wasn¡¯t encouraging her to start a relationship at a young age. The classmate excitedly nodded his head. ¡°Yes, sure!¡± As all of them were going down, they entered the same lift with Su Yue¡¯s classmate. In the lift, Su Yue grasped Xuxu¡¯s arm with one hand, while holding the bubble tea with the other. She was chewing on the straw, too. There were other classmates in the lift, and at one glance, Su Yue seemed incompatible with the rest, who all were laughing and talking to each other. Xuxu sighed as she thought, ¡°I must pay attention to this girl¡¯s character and her psychological issues.¡± After they got into the car and fastened their seatbelts, Xuxu looked at Su Yue and said, ¡°Yueyue, let me take you out for some fun.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± Su Yue elatedly nodded her head without even asking where they were going. She seemed to trust her in particular, and she had no idea why. After staring blankly at Su Yue for a while, Xuxu started her car engine. ¡­ ¡°We¡¯ve reached.¡± When they reached their destination, Xuxu stopped her car and turned to smile at Su Yue. She got a shock when she saw Su Yue¡¯s face. ¡°Yueyue what happened to you?¡± Su Yue lowered her head and tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay in an orphanage.¡± Upon hearing this, Xuxu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She reached out to hold Su Yue¡¯s hand when she saw her anxiously kneading it. She gently comforted her. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m just bringing you to visit the children in the orphanage. I¡¯m not sending you there to stay.¡± It had her thinking, there was a need for her to find out more about this girl¡¯s life in Country Y. Why was she so fearful about the orphanage? ¡°Is it true?¡± Su Yue lifted her head and looked at Xuxu with tears in her eyes. She too wrapped her hands tightly over Xuxu¡¯s, still in fear. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Xuxu reassuringly nodded as she sympathetically stroked Su Yue¡¯s head. ¡°We have a home, so why would I send you to the orphanage?¡± Seeing Su Yue in this state, Xuxu loathed Yan Weihong even more. Did he hurt far more than two women? She felt that in any circumstance, it shouldn¡¯t be the reason for a man to overstep his boundary. It¡¯s wrong to be involved in an extramarital affair, and it¡¯s an unpardonable mistake. After Xuxu¡¯s reassurance, the fear in Su Yue¡¯s eyes gradually disappeared. The moment they got off the car, they heard the children¡¯s giggles and banter in the courtyard. Chapter 575. Sister Moon Xuxu couldn¡¯t wait any longer and hastened her footsteps. Was there some joyous occasion that led the children out for some fun despite such bitterly cold weather? ¡°Hey, Xuxu is here.¡± The security guard at the orphanage was visibly shocked, and yet pleasantly surprised when he saw Xuxu. He promptly opened the courtyard door. ¡°Mr. Ah Heng had just arrived too.¡± Xuxu was rather startled. ¡°He¡¯s here too?¡± The security guard nodded in return. ¡°He arrived less than 10 minutes ago.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu stretched her hand and held on to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s go in quickly.¡± Su Yue¡¯s hand was icy cold. She timidly surveyed the surrounding of the orphanage. Xuxu leaned over and whispered into her ears, ¡°I¡¯m very good at making chocolates. Tonight, I¡¯ll make some for you when we get home.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Su Yue happily nodded her head. She had completely let down her guard. In the courtyard, a group of children was playing some games. They joined hands and formed a circle around Jiang Zhuoheng. It was now winter. Everyone bundled up like a haystack and their cheeks had turned as red as an apple from the cold. Jiang Zhuoheng was wearing a suit with a down-filled coat pulled over it. A piece of red cloth blindfolded his eyes. He was fumbling around with both his hands stretched out in front of him. The children encircled him, and one of the children was wearing a cap with a red flag. At a glance, Xuxu could easily tell that Young Master Jiang was trying to feel for the red flag. She looked at Su Yue who was next to her. Su Yue fixed her eyes at them, but there wasn¡¯t a trace of expression on her face. She seemed to be disinterested. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± All of a sudden, a sharp-eyed child from among the group of children, spotted Xuxu and squealed in delight. ¡°It¡¯s really Sister Xuxu.¡± ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± Instantly, all attention turned away from Young Master Jiang and everyone flooded towards Xuxu. Xuxu smiled and squatted down to receive warm hugs from the children. She hugged each one who excitedly jumped on her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng trailed behind the children and walked towards Xuxu with a smile. When Xuxu heard Jiang Zhuoheng calling out to her, she raised her head and looked over. Noticing the bruise at the corner of his mouth, she raised her voice on purpose. ¡°Hey, is it the trend to have wounds on one¡¯s face?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Zhuoheng instinctively reached out to feel his bruise. He lowered his head in embarrassment. ¡°Sister Xuxu, brother Ah Heng said he had a fight with a jerk and beat him up. What is a jerk?¡± ¡°Brother is so awesome.¡± All the little children raised their heads and curiously looked at Xuxu. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ Was Jiang Zhuoheng being influenced by Yan Rusheng or was he giving him a taste of his own medicine? Yan Rusheng often put him down in her presence. She knew that Ah Heng was thin-skinned, and she mustn¡¯t over tease him. She stood up and held Su Yue by her hand and introduced her to the children. ¡°I¡¯ve brought a sister today.¡± The children¡¯s vision moved simultaneously towards Su Yue. ¡°Wow, this sister is so pretty.¡± When they saw Su Yue¡¯s exquisite face, they continuously lavished praises on her with words that they were familiar with. Xuxu added, ¡°This sister¡¯s name is Su Yue.¡± Immediately, one child from the crowd fought to speak. ¡°Sister Moon.¡± Sister Moon? Xuxu momentarily paused when she heard the nickname. She looked at Su Yue and spotted her curled lips. She could sense that she adored this nickname. Hence, she smiled and said to the children, ¡°Alright, you can address her as Sister Moon.¡± Xuxu stirred Su Yue around. She gradually warmed up and blended into the children¡¯s joyful spirits. ¡°Ah Heng, why are you here?¡± Xuxu took the opportunity to have a chat with Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng lightly answered, ¡°I came over to settle some government-related land matters and took the chance to visit the children.¡± Chapter 576. Third Master Dont Look Too Happy ¡°The Jiang Corporation has great foresight to have gained such a valuable piece of land.¡± Xuxu fixed her eyes on Su Yue and the children, and it revealed a look of yearning. Jiang Zhuoheng blankly stared at her for quite a while before answering with a smile. ¡°All thanks to Flourish & Prosper for granting us this favor.¡± There was a hint of self-mockery in his smile. The two of them stood side by side against the chilly wind and looked at the giggly kids, both lost in their own thoughts. ¡°President, Secretary Liu is here.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s assistant suddenly came and leaned over to whisper into Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s ears. Xuxu realized someone was near them when she heard some noise. She looked over and saw that it was Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s assistant. She smiled at him. ¡°Hu Yang.¡± Hu Yang was Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s secretary and also their classmate from elementary school. He was Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s distant relative, and he came from a well-to-do family. After graduating from the university, he joined the Jiang Corporation. He was now Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s right-hand man with boundless prospects ahead of him. Hu Yang smiled politely at her in return. ¡°Miss Wen.¡± He kept his greeting formal and distant while Xuxu remained silent. She gradually averted her gaze back to the children. She was aware that Hu Yang didn¡¯t have a good impression of her all these years. This was because since they were young, Jiang Zhuoheng loved being around her, but Hu Yang¡¯s sister, Hu Xiaoxiao, liked Jiang Zhuoheng since they were children. Even the Jiang family¡¯s elders also adored Hu Xiaoxiao. In the end, Jiang Zhuoheng rejected her and the elders in the Jiang family respected his decision. Until this day, he didn¡¯t marry and Hu Xiaoxiao remained overseas, refusing to return nor get married. It was likely that Hu Yang was treating her with animosity because of his sister. Jiang Zhuoheng was observant and could tell that Hu Yang brushed off Xuxu on purpose. He frowned with displeasure and chided him with a low voice. ¡°You could have just called me instead.¡± Hu Yang¡¯s expression slightly changed, and he looked down. ¡°Pardon me for being presumptuous.¡± There was a sullen look on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s face and he remained silent. He looked at Xuxu and said gently, ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ve other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Xuxu waved at him. ¡°Go and attend to your work. I¡¯ll stay on and let Yueyue play for a while more.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng lightly nodded. As he turned around, he intently gazed at Xuxu once more. Perhaps in the future, there¡¯ll be lesser opportunities for him to look at her in such an innocent manner. ¡­ Xuxu and Su Yue had fun at the orphanage until the sunset. By the time they reached home, the skies had turned dark. Xuxu changed into her slippers and removed her coat when she entered the house. The house was brightly lit, indicating that Yan Rusheng was already home. ¡°Missy and little Missy, you¡¯re back.¡± The two of them met Aunt Zhang in the living room. Aunt Zhang greeted them. Before she pointed to the dining room, she said, ¡°Quickly go and have your dinner. Third Young Master and Young Master Su Yan also just came home.¡± Xuxu looked at the cautious look on Aunt Zhang¡¯s face and leaned over to whisper. ¡°Aunt Zhang, did something happen?¡± From her understanding of Aunt Zhang, something must have happened. ¡°Nothing.¡± Aunt Zhang shook her head and continued, ¡°But Third Young Master doesn¡¯t look too happy.¡± As expected¡­ Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°I got it.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and strode towards the dining room. Su Yan was home early today. Does Yan Rusheng¡¯s troubled look have anything to do with Su Yan? Xuxu attempted to guess as she walked. When she reached the entrance of the dining room, she heard the clinking of the bowls and porcelain wares and suddenly, her heart stiffened. She took in a deep breath and strutted in cheerfully. ¡°Both of you are back early tonight.¡± She took a swift glance at Yan Rusheng before fixing her eyes on Su Yan. Chapter 577. Where Have You Been The Entire Day? Su Yan¡¯s gorgeous face revealed a bright and sunny smile. ¡°Xuxu.¡± He didn¡¯t address her as Third sister-in-law and called her by her name most of the time. His beige colored sweater complimented his warm personality, and he looked exceptionally cheerful which was a stark contrast to Su Yue. ¡°Brother, why have you become a photographer? Mommy will be unhappy.¡± Su Yue leaned over to Su Yan and worriedly frowned at him. She placed one hand on the table and anxiously clenched her fist. Xuxu noticed this as she calmly walked towards Yan Rusheng and sat beside him. Su Yan smiled and stretched out his hand to pat Su Yue¡¯s head. ¡°Yueyue, in the future, do the things that you like to do.¡± Then he bent his head to continue eating. ¡°Where have you been the entire day?¡± After Xuxu sat down, Yan Rusheng cast a sideways glance at her and asked with a deep voice. Without hesitation, Xuxu replied as a matter of fact, ¡°In the morning, I sent Su Yue for her tutorial class, and then brought her to the orphanage in the afternoon.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng suddenly tightened his grip on his chopsticks as if he was exercising immense self-restraint. Gradually, he loosened his grip. He remained silent throughout as he calmly picked up some of Xuxu¡¯s favorite dishes for her. The atmosphere at the dinner table hadn¡¯t been so silent and stifling for a long time. After dinner, Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu went upstairs together, only that Xuxu trailed behind him. When they were upstairs, Xuxu was about to open her mouth to talk to Yan Rusheng when he suddenly retreated to the study room and closed the door after him. Xuxu was locked out of the room, and she blankly stared at the closed door, astounded. What happened again? Without rhyme or reason. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue also went upstairs. Xuxu was trying to guess what had happened to Yan Rusheng when she heard Su Yue calling her. She turned around and smiled, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done my homework today.¡± Su Yue held the books in her hands and pouted. Xuxu understood that she didn¡¯t know how to do her homework and smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you.¡± ¡­ It was the countdown to the New Year, and the entire capital city was overflowing with the joyous festive spirit. Xuxu knocked off early that night. She wanted to give Su Yue a surprise and went to school to pick her up without telling her. When she arrived at her school, she was just in time for school dismissal. Snowflakes were fluttering down from the sky. She parked her car and entered the school after registering her visit and walked towards the classrooms. Students carrying their school bags were streaming out of the classrooms in groups of three or four. Xuxu looked in all direction as she walked, fearful of losing Su Yue. When she reached the staircase, she raised her feet and was about to go upstairs. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± All of a sudden, a thrilled and happy voice came from above. Xuxu curled the corners of her mouth affectionately and looked up. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue hurriedly descended the stairs and ran to Xuxu. She held onto her hand and was over the moon. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It was very chilly and Su Yue¡¯s tiny face turned red from the cold. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached, and she held her hand and was preparing to leave. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Before she arrived, she had already thought that she may run into Fan Jiayin. Lo-and-behold, she actually bumped into her. When Xuxu heard the familiar voice calling her name, she had the urge to ignore. But she felt that if she reacted this way, it would seem that she¡¯s afraid of her. ¡°Miss Fang.¡± In the end, she halted her steps and pensively looked at Fang Jiayin. She was wearing a yellow colored woolen jacket. The cold breeze was running through her long flowing hair and it made her pretty face turned rosy. ¡°You¡­¡± Just when Fang Jiayin was about to speak, the cell phone in her pocket suddenly rang. She fished out her phone and glanced at the caller ID. After that, she gave a nod to Xuxu and answered the call. ¡°Hello.¡± Chapter 578. Can You Send Me Home? Fang Jiayin was talking on the phone as she walked towards the classroom. ¡°I picked up a handkerchief at my house. There is a picture of a cat on it. Is it yours?¡± Xuxu was stunned and her expression abruptly froze. She remained rooted to the ground. ¡®Yan Rusheng, where is your handkerchief?¡¯ ¡®I won¡¯t lose it.¡¯ ¡®It should be somewhere in the pockets of one of my pants. I¡¯ll look for it another day.¡¯ ¡®I picked up a handkerchief at my house. There is a picture of a cat on it. Is it yours?¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s eyes were glistening and slightly turned red. Su Yue looked at her and then threw a glance at the staircase. She seemed to recall something. A streak of anger and hatred appeared in her eyes. She extended her hand to grab Xuxu¡¯s sleeves and gently tugged it. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t want to give her emotions away with Su Yue around, she felt that it would tremendously affect the younger girl. She took a deep breath to recompose herself. Then she broke into a brief smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and began walking. The icy snow fell on her face and eyelashes. The cold seemed to have penetrated her heart as well. Su Yue intently stared at the side of Xuxu¡¯s face and she became solemn and cold. Xuxu didn¡¯t say anything, so Su Yue bent her head and mulled to herself. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯ll treat you to a feast.¡± Xuxu drove to a posh Western restaurant and informed her that they were eating outside today. Su Yue was overjoyed as usual. ¡°Great!¡± Xuxu parked the car and brought Su Yue into the restaurant. She ordered several expensive dishes and even ordered a bottle of premium red wine. It was dinner time, so the restaurant was crowded. They sat at a table near the windows. Their food came, and the waiter helped Xuxu pour some wine in her glass. He wished them a fine evening before leaving. Xuxu held her wineglass as she gazed at the red liquid swirling inside. Under the warm lighting, the wine sparkled. Although she had a smile on her face, her eyes seemed masked with a layer of frosty ice. She stared at the wineglass for a long time, but in the end, she placed the glass on the table. Su Yue was surprised by her actions and Xuxu knew what she was thinking of. She smiled and shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t drink at all. I¡¯ll be drunk after a glass.¡± Su Yue quipped, ¡°You can drink a little.¡± Xuxu brushed her words aside. ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s eat.¡± She extended her hand to pick up her cutlery and gracefully started cutting the steak. Her cell phone kept ringing in her bag, but she ignored it. When Xuxu didn¡¯t pick up, Su Yue¡¯s phone rang instead. Surprisingly, Su Yue was even more nonchalant than Xuxu. Her phone was on the table, and she didn¡¯t even bother to glance at it. Both of their phones took turns to ring and finally after some time, it stopped. Xuxu grabbed her wineglass again and Su Yue lifted her head to look at her. Xuxu smiled and asked, ¡°Yueyue if I¡¯m drunk, can you send me back home?¡± Su Yue was confident and vigorously nodded. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu broke into a contented smile and gulped down the entire glass of wine. She was extremely sensitive to alcohol. Her body reacted quickly at the first sip. She was giddy and she certainly she couldn¡¯t drive in that state. Su Yue supported her and they took a taxi. ¡­ Xuxu stood outside the courtyard and the lights in the luxurious, grand mansion were reflected in her eyes. The lights seemed to be like sparkling stars in the night sky for they glowed brilliantly. And gradually, her eyelashes were glistening with tears. ¡°Miss is back.¡± The butler saw them and immediately opened the gates. Su Yue held Xuxu¡¯s hand as they walked across the courtyard and all the way to the house. ¡°Where did you go?¡± The moment Xuxu entered the house, she bumped into Yan Rusheng. She raised her head to stare at the towering figure standing before her. Her eyes were gleaming with an unbending expression which she hasn¡¯t used in a long while. Chapter 579. I Wish That She Would Disappear Yan Rusheng was shocked when he caught a whiff of alcohol. ¡°Did you drink?¡± He bent down and inched closer to sniff her mouth. Xuxu shoved him away and clung on to the wall for support. She changed into her slippers and walked towards the direction of the staircase. She was tipsy so her footsteps were unsteady. Yan Rusheng angrily stomped after to interrogate her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, where did you go this evening? And you even drank?! Why didn¡¯t you pick up your phone?¡± Xuxu halted on her steps as she slightly swayed on the spot. Her gaze swept past Yan Rusheng. ¡°Do I have to report to you regarding my whereabouts?¡± She continued walking and finally reached the staircase. She held onto the railing for support as she began to ascend the stairs. Yan Rusheng grabbed her by her wrist and yelled, ¡°Did you eat explosives?¡± She didn¡¯t pick up when he called, came back home late and drunk, and now she was lashing out at him for no apparent reason. ¡°Yan Rusheng, get lost.¡± She flung his hand away with all her might. ¡°I¡­ I need some time to cool down.¡± She went up the staircase. Su Yue was silently trailing after them all this time. Her gaze fixed on Xuxu. Her attitude and words provoked Yan Rusheng. He bellowed at Su Yue to vent his anger. ¡°Go down! If not go back to your room!¡± Su Yue got a shock and quickly bent her head. She used a hand to grab the railing for support. Xuxu was furious and raised her voice. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you crazy? Why did you shout at her?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond, and he simply lifted Xuxu and put her over his shoulder. He began climbing the stairs. Su Yue watched both of them and her eyes were filled with worry. Yan Rusheng carried Xuxu all the way back to their room and threw her carelessly on the couch. Then he glanced at her from a lofty position and snapped, ¡°Wen Xuxu, say whatever that¡¯s on your mind.¡± Xuxu sat up and glared back at him. She coldly replied, ¡°Where is the handkerchief? Didn¡¯t you say that you would be able to find it? Have you found it after so many days?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Yan Rusheng helplessly smiled and lifted his eyebrow. ¡°You are throwing such a huge tantrum with me over a handkerchief?¡± Ha! It¡¯s just a handkerchief! Xuxu heard him casually dismissing her, and for her part, it felt like she was being stabbed. Her eyes turned red as she mocked herself for being too serious. ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s how petty I am. It¡¯s just a handkerchief. Even the chocolate that I used to profess my love was personally destroyed by Fang Jiayin, so it doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s one more handkerchief.¡± She stood up. She slowly and unsteadily staggered to the bed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yan Rusheng was perplexed as he grabbed her arm. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Xuxu looked him and in a calm voice, which was unusual for her, she said, ¡°Did you meet Fang Jiayin in private after we returned from Country Y? Not even once?¡± Her accusation stumped Yan Rusheng for words. He knew that Xuxu must have found out about something, and before he could try to explain, Xuxu furiously flung his hand away. She shouted, ¡°Yan Rusheng, I hate her! I¡¯ve always hated her right from the beginning and how I wished that she would disappear!¡± After yelling, she ran past Yan Rusheng and bolted for the door. She ran all the way back to her own room and angrily locked it. Perhaps under the influence of alcohol, she started bawling loudly and uncontrollably under her blanket. A little figure stood outside her room and her dewy eyes were also glistening with tears. ¡­ The snow fell for several days. Su Yue slung her school bag on her shoulder after school and walked towards the arts building. The beautiful sound of the violins ended and a pleasant voice sounded. ¡°We have finished our lesson for today. Don¡¯t be lazy and remember to practice at home.¡± Chapter 580. Doesnt She Always Listen To You? ¡°We got it, teacher!¡± The students from the violin class streamed out of the classroom. Lastly, a tall and svelte figure sauntered out of the classroom, looking refined and graceful. Fang Jiayin was startled to see Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°Teacher Fang, do you still remember that you wanted to buy me dinner?¡± Fang Jiayin was surprised by her initiative and smiled as she nodded. ¡°Certainly!¡± She was actually racking her brains for an excuse to ask her out. Su Yue seemed overjoyed. ¡°Thank you, Teacher Fang.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Your Third Brother is my good friend.¡± Fang Jiayin casually put her hand around Su Yue¡¯s arm as they walked out towards the school¡¯s carpark. Su Yue suggested steamboat even before Fang Jiayin asked. There was a steamboat restaurant near Flourish & Splendor School that was always crowded during dinner time. They queued for some time before they managed to get a table. Each of them had a pot to herself, and Su Yue ordered the spicy steamboat. She intently stared at the bottom of her steamboat pot as the soup began to bubble. Fang Jiayin began to add the ingredients into the pot. ¡°Yueyue, the rice cakes you ordered.¡± Fang Jiayin held the plate as she was about to pour it in. Without warning, Su Yue grabbed the soup ladle, scooped the boiling soup and splashed it on Fang Jiayin¡¯s face. Fang Jiayin was caught off-guard as an amount of soup splashed right on her face. ¡°Ahhh! Ahhh!¡± She jumped up in pain. She clutched her face and screamed at the top of her lungs. ¡°My face! My face!¡± The boiling soup had scorched almost her entire face¡ªher face was doomed to be disfigured. The customers around their table were all flustered and shaken up. Soon, they surround their table. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The waiters and restaurant manager scurried over. Su Yue coldly gazed at Fang Jiayin who was still shrieking in pain and agony. Su Yue seemed filled with immense hatred towards Fang Jiayin as her hands were clenched tightly into fists. The restaurant staff immediately dialed for the police when they realized what had happened. The police arrived shortly. Fang Jiayin was sent to the hospital while they arrested and brought Su Yue to the police station. Xuxu was working overtime in the office. When she was about to switch off her computer, her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at her phone; it was an unknown number. She answered, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡­ The police station seemed extra solemn and cold at night. Xuxu got off the car and shot like an arrow towards the police station. Her eyes frantically darted around. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Su Yue saw her and rose. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Yueyue, why did you do such a silly thing?¡± Xuxu hugged Su Yue for some time before pulling away. She looked at the police officer beside Su Yue. ¡°She is still a minor. Before they press charges against her, may I take her home first?¡± The police officer nodded. ¡°Yes, her guardian can sign here and bail her out for the time being.¡± He pushed a document towards Xuxu for her to sign. Xuxu took a pen and was about to sign. ¡°Who said that she could go home?¡± Suddenly a cold and aloof voice sounded from the door and his aura was imposing. Xuxu¡¯s hand, which was holding the pen, trembled a little. She turned towards the direction of the voice. The man¡¯s gorgeous face was cold and unfeeling as he strode towards her. ¡°Yan Rusheng¡­¡± Xuxu walked towards him and they met midway. Yan Rusheng paused and coldly looked at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, doesn¡¯t she always listen to you?¡± Xuxu was shocked to hear his accusing tone. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chapter 581. Thirteen Years of My Youth After Xuxu threw Yan Rusheng the question, she began to laugh before he could answer. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± As she laughed, her eyes were slowly turning red. She clenched her fists as she beat her chest. Her punches became stronger as she said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡­¡± The rest of her sentence seemed choked, and tears brimmed her eyes. She clenched her teeth to stop her tears from spilling. Su Yue hurriedly stretched her hand to stop her from hitting herself. She cried as she said, ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± Yan Rusheng heard Xuxu¡¯s mournful and bitter laughter, and it jolted him back to his senses in a split second. A sudden flash of insight hit him and everything seemed clear at once. He looked at her and was dumbstruck. He was suddenly hit by a fear that he had never known. He stretched his hand towards her¡­ She suddenly turned around and grabbed a pair of scissors from the pen container on a desk. ¡°Xuxu!¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be rash!¡± Several anxious voices sounded at the same time. Yan Rusheng rushed forward as he attempted to snatch the scissors away. But Xuxu swiftly avoided him. The next moment, she grabbed the end of her ponytail, shut her eyes, and cut it. She cut away thirteen years of her youth. Her tears gushed down. Su Yue almost fell apart when she saw Xuxu cutting off her hair. She collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud as she covered her head with her hands. She cried in pain. ¡°I hate third parties and mistresses! Why must they exist? If there are no mistresses, there won¡¯t be any illegitimate children. And if there are no illegitimate children, I won¡¯t be sent to an orphanage¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s heartbreaking confession shocked everyone who was present. It broke their hearts. Yan Rusheng blankly stared at Xuxu. The latter was smiling bitterly. ¡°I am trading thirteen years of youth, in which I¡¯ve stayed by your side, in exchange for Su Yue¡¯s safety.¡± Then she picked up her hair and threw it into the air. Her locks dramatically fell to the ground. Xuxu walked through the mess without a trace of longing. ¡®I am trading my thirteen years of youth, in which I¡¯ve stayed by your side¡­¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s words echoed in Yan Rusheng¡¯s ear as he stood there in a daze, watching as she walked farther and farther away. It felt as though the entire world was leaving him. ¡°Third Yan!¡± Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng had rushed to the police station when they received the news. Both of them were shocked and stunned to see Su Yue kneeling on the floor in a pile of hair. They rushed inside without a second thought. ¡°Don¡¯t come here!¡± Yan Rusheng bent his head as he stared at the hair on the floor. He squatted down slowly and stretched his hand to pick up the hair. The officers realized what he was doing. They quickly found him a clean bag for him to collect the hair. Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng stopped in their tracks to watch him. Although they were clueless to what had just happened, they knew that the hair must have belonged to Xuxu. Ming Ansheng was jolted back to his senses as he glanced at Su Yue who was kneeling on the ground, pitifully sobbing. He hastily went to her, avoiding Yan Rusheng in the process. He bent down and gently said, ¡°Little lass, get up quickly.¡± He extended his hand to help her, but she was obstinate and refused. So he had no choice but to carry her forcefully against her will. He easily lifted her petite body. It made his heart ache. Yan Rusheng was still picking up Xuxu¡¯s hair on the floor, and he made sure to collect every strand that he could see. After collecting her hair, he carefully sealed the bag. He stood up and glanced at Su Yue who was still in Ming Ansheng¡¯s arms. ¡°Send her home on my behalf.¡± He turned around to leave. Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan rushed towards him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what exactly had happened?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t seem to hear them as he continued walking. He got in his car and started the engine. The snow kept falling, and the ground was all covered with a layer of frost. Chapter 582. Dedicated To My Xuxu Rusheng The apartment was empty. Two candle stumps could still be seen on the dining table. Yan Rusheng knew that this time, she wouldn¡¯t be coming back to her apartment to wait for him. But he had no idea where would she go either. And even if found her, would she still go back to him? Yan Rusheng hastened his footsteps towards the apartment next door¡ªXuxu¡¯s house. Even though the house was warm, it still felt empty and cold, as if without a sign of life. He hurried past the empty couch, straight into Xuxu¡¯s room. He switched on the lights. Her clean floral bed sheets were still slightly messy on her bed as they had previously left in a hurry. Wen Xuxu simply pulled it over her bed, and it remained untouched. His eyes scanned the entire room. Even though it was what he had expected, he couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed. He turned around to leave. ¡®I am trading my thirteen years of youth, in which I¡¯ve stayed by your side¡­¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s cold and desperate words sounded once more. He held onto the door for support before turning his head to glance at the dressing table. He hesitated and paused for a moment before walking over to her dressing table to open her drawer. The red wooden box and the locked diary he saw before were still in her drawer. He picked up the diary and used an eyeliner pencil on the dressing table to pry the lock open. There was a folded poster of an idol drama that she loved. Although it had turned yellowish, it was still rather well-preserved. ¡®Dedicated to my Xuxu Rusheng¡¯ The first page only had several words. But those words seemed to have wreck Yan Rusheng¡¯s world entirely. He slowly laid back on the chair, feeling dazed and overwhelmed. His thumb tenderly stroked the words. Xuxu had learned calligraphy since she was ten so her handwriting was beautiful. The strokes were elegant and well-defined. He still stopped at the first page as he didn¡¯t have the courage to flip the pages. ¡®When I joined the summer camp that day, I came out of my room after changing my clothes. And he was right outside standing when I opened the door, and I had no idea why the look on his face bothered me for days. He was so detestable, but why do I keep thinking of him before I sleep every night? It¡¯s so annoying! Hahahaha. This is my first entry, and I don¡¯t know what else to write. I shall sleep.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m so dead! I seemed to have fallen for that annoying rascal! My heart beats so quickly every time I see him now. I want to move and stay with Grandfather so that he wouldn¡¯t know that I like him. If he knew, he would definitely tease me and be very smug about it¡­¡¯ ¡­ ¡®Today I overheard him chatting with Ah Heng and the rest. He mentioned that he wanted to go to X university. I was thinking that the four years of university life might be the last few years I can stay with him. Getting into X university isn¡¯t challenging for me at all. Dear arrogant Ah Sheng, why can¡¯t you aim higher and choose A university instead?¡¯ ¡®Today is the last day before exams. After we had finished revising, Aunt Zhang gave us each a bowl of green bean soup as usual. I gazed at him as the sunshine streamed in from the window. It made him shine, and he seemed exceptionally warm and handsome at that moment. I suddenly thought of how we have to pretend to go through a wedding ritual and exchange rings when we were kids. I almost felt like asking the arrogant guy; if I grow my hair till waist-length, can you marry me again? Whenever I think of that I feel so embarrassed! Luckily I wasn¡¯t so impulsive at that time¡­¡¯ ¡®Exams ended! And just like fate had arranged, I¡¯ve come to the last page of this diary. It has been five long years. If Ah Sheng finds out that I¡¯ve been in love with him for the past five years, he would definitely break into laughter¡­¡¯ Chapter 583. Xuxu, Im Sorry Yan Rusheng closed the diary and unconsciously, his eyes turned red. He covered his face with his hands, and it had carried a lingering scent of aged paper. This diary acted as a time capsule which brought him back to the innocent and unforgettable past which they could never return to. In those years, they were inseparable. He used the same way to pry the locked wooden box. A purple moldy plastic ring greeted his eyes. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t control his tears any longer. Tears filled his eyes and covered his eyelashes. He picked up the ring and there was a photo underneath it. That photo was the only photo they had officially ever taken together. It was taken when Grandmother celebrated her 70th birthday, and she had commanded them to take a picture together. He picked up the photo. There were some neatly handwritten words behind it. It painfully stung his eyes as he read it. ¡®The farthest distance in the world isn¡¯t life and death. It¡¯s when you don¡¯t even know that I¡¯m in love with you, even when I¡¯ve always been by your side.¡¯ He had always thought that he was intelligent and brilliant, but all along he had been a foolish and stupid fool. During the five years, every entry in her diary was lively, positive and zealous. She wrote, ¡®That fellow had gotten first place during the exam and I was in second place. I was unhappy at first. But when I saw his smug expression when he walked past me¡­ he looked quite handsome indeed.¡¯ She wrote another entry. ¡®So many girls like him and gave him love letters. It¡¯s so annoying to see but fortunately, he never read any of their letters.¡¯ She wrote again. ¡®He had grown taller again. Why didn¡¯t I? If I don¡¯t grow taller, he will look down on me in the future.¡¯ There was another entry. ¡®I need to be at least as hardworking as him as I wasn¡¯t born as smart or talented like him. I need to work harder so that I can stay beside him for a few more years.¡¯ She continued, ¡®Recently there is an idol group named ¡®F4¡ä and everyone is swooning over them. But I don¡¯t think that they¡¯re more good-looking than Ah Sheng. His smile could ruin a city, and another smile from him could overturn an entire country.¡¯ She wrote in another entry. ¡®The arrogant Ah Sheng might never know for the rest of his life that Wen Xuxu, the girl he loathed had liked him so much in the past.¡¯ Yan Rusheng looked at the photo as he recalled Xuxu¡¯s diary entries. Every confession mercilessly tugged at his heartstrings. He smiled as his vision became even more blurry. Xuxu, wasn¡¯t I affected and influenced by you¡­ and my entire life too? Until that moment, he finally understood; his pride and arrogance had hoodwinked his heart. He had attributed his utmost attention and focus towards her as jealousy and hatred. ¡®You all go ahead. I really don¡¯t feel like going.¡¯ ¡®Yan Rusheng, why do you have to drag me along to your dates?¡¯ ¡®But I knew you first¡­¡¯ ¡®I called you Ah Sheng first.¡¯ ¡®Wen Xuxu, doesn¡¯t she always listen to you?¡¯ He finally realized how hurt she must have felt when he accused her. From the day that he held Fang Jiayin¡¯s hand ¡¯till the day he had called out Fang Jiayin¡¯s name while lying on top of her in bed¡ªhe had caused her so much pain and suffering in the last seven years. What does he have to do to gain her forgiveness and for him to atone for his sins? Perhaps he wouldn¡¯t even have the opportunity to love her anymore. Yan Rusheng pulled out Xuxu¡¯s eyeliner and used it to write a few words below the words that Xuxu had written. ¡®Xuxu, I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡­ Yan Rusheng aimlessly drove around for the entire night in the capital city. He had no idea where would Xuxu be. He didn¡¯t want to go back home when Xuxu wasn¡¯t around. He placed his head on the steering wheel and closed his eyes when his phone rang. It jolted him awake. After he glanced at the phone, he saw that it was his house number. Chapter 584. Please Conduct Yourself With Dignity He knew that it was impossible, but he still answered the phone with full anticipation. ¡°Hello, Xuxu.¡± However, it was Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice on the other line. ¡°Third Young Master, there are a few police officers at our house. They have come to take little Miss to the police station.¡± A hint of disappointment flashed across Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. He faintly replied, ¡°I got it. Get them to wait for me, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± He swiftly ended the call and started his car engine. A few police officers were seated in the living room. When they saw Yan Rusheng stepping inside, they stood up in unison and smiled to acknowledge him. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored them and swept a glance at Su Yue who was seated at the sofa with her head bowed. Su Yan was standing next to her, calmed and composed, without a trace of concern on his face. Yan Rusheng averted his gaze from the siblings and turned to the police officers. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± He spoke as he walked. The lead police officer gave a helpless smile. ¡°The family members of the victim, Fang Jiayin, had already lodged a police report. Thus, we have to go by the books and bring Miss Su back to the police station for investigation.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡°I got it. Please go back first and I¡¯ll personally bring her over in a while.¡± Hearing this, Su Yue subconsciously reached out to grab Su Yan¡¯s arm in an anxious manner. Without giving Su Yan a chance to reassure her, Yan Rusheng walked over to her and asked, ¡°Have you had your breakfast?¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Go and have your breakfast,¡± Yan Rusheng lightly answered. As compared to before, his voice and tone exuded much more warmth and tenderness. Su Yue lifted her head and looked at him in astonishment, but he had already walked away from her and headed for the staircase. ¡­ Yan Rusheng changed into a new set of clothes and rushed to the hospital. Secretary Liu and his wife were seated outside the ward. When he saw Yan Rusheng, Secretary Liu stood up and walked towards him. ¡°President Yan, even though she¡¯s your sister, what will happen to Jiayin¡¯s face? Her mum had already passed out a couple of times.¡± Yan Rusheng coldly raised his eyebrows. He then directly exposed Secretary Liu¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Secretary Liu, are you making use of this matter to negotiate terms with me? Or are you purely attacking me?¡± If it wasn¡¯t because he¡¯s the capital city¡¯s committee secretary, would the police dare to go over to his house early in the morning? Even if it¡¯s for matters relating to murder and arson, they would have to give him a call to inform him beforehand. ¡°President Yan, you don¡¯t have to watch what you eat, but you have to watch what you say.¡± With a strong sense of justice, Secretary Liu said, ¡°I am now acting in the capacity of Jiayin¡¯s uncle and not as a secretary.¡± Clatter! Suddenly, there was a loud clattering sound of a fallen metal basin coming from the ward. It caught the people outside in a shock. The next moment, a woman¡¯s frenzied shouts and piercing shrieks could be heard coming from inside. ¡°Get lost! All of you get out of my sight and no one is to come in.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to come in. I want you to get lost. Do you hear me?¡± Yan Rusheng took a step towards the ward¡¯s door and was about to open the door when Secretary Liu suddenly rushed over to stop him. ¡°Jiayin is emotionally unstable, and it¡¯s better for President Yan not to go in and agitate her further. This child is already quite pitiful.¡± Yan Rusheng coldly replied, ¡°Secretary Liu, please conduct yourself with dignity.¡± With that, he shoved Secretary Liu aside. As Secretary Liu was slightly plump, he took a stumble but lucky for him, his wife caught hold of him in the nick of time. Yan Rusheng pushed the door open. There were two nurses patiently persuading the woman sitting on the bed. The woman¡¯s entire face was wrapped in bandages, revealing only her eyes. ¡°Miss Fang, you need to be put on an IV drip, otherwise there might be a risk of infection.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want it. Get lost.¡± Fang Jiayin pointed to the door and hollered at the nurses. Her tresses were in a complete mess. Chapter 585. And Because of It, His Heart Broke. The hospital gown hung loosely on her body; she was all skin and bones. As he watched her, Yan Rusheng was overwhelmed with guilt¡­ only guilt. He thought, regardless if it¡¯s pretense or even a short-term illusion, he¡¯s still in the wrong. He didn¡¯t know what love was. He still felt that he had let Fang Jiayin down. ¡°Jiayin.¡± Yan Rusheng stepped into the ward. When she heard his voice, Fang Jiayin immediately covered her bandaged face with her hands. She frantically shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t come over, don¡¯t come over.¡± She turned her face away and pulled a blanket over to cover herself from head to toe. ¡°Ah Sheng, don¡¯t come over.¡± Fang Jiayin hid under the blanket, her voice quivering. When Yan Rusheng walked over, he bent down and caught hold of one corner of the blanket. He attempted to pull it off, but to no avail as Fang Jiayin was gripping it tightly from the inside. Since she was emotionally unstable, he didn¡¯t dare to exert too much strength. ¡°Please calm down.¡± He comforted her calmly. ¡°The doctor said that the wounds on your face are superficial. If you comply with treatment, there¡¯s a possibility of a complete recovery.¡± Fang Jiayin still refused to reveal herself and started wailing under the blanket. ¡°Ah Sheng, I can¡¯t face anyone anymore in the future. I¡¯m disfigured!¡± Yan Rusheng assured her. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to help you make a full recovery.¡± Hearing Yan Rusheng¡¯s comforting words, Fang Jiayin slightly calmed down, but she was still choking on her words. ¡°Ah Sheng, I know that you are consoling me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already asked people to get in touch with the best skin reconstructive hospital overseas.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible, not possible to make a full recovery.¡± Fang Jiayin got agitated and shivered under the blanket. Yan Rusheng placed his hands under the blanket and gently patted her on her shoulders. ¡°Trust me.¡± This worked and Fang Jiayin hushed down. She slowly lifted the blanket and summoned her courage to look up at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng, if I¡¯m disfigured, will you despise me?¡± Her pair of eyes were red and puffy, and the stored tears almost spilled out of her eyes. Yan Rusheng smiled and looked at her with firmness. ¡°You will definitely recover.¡± Definitely and a must. He had to ensure that Su Yue is safe and sound in a way where he would no longer remain obligated to Fang Jiayin. After Yan Rusheng had comforted her, Fang Jiayin agreed to cooperate with the doctor and nurses and undergo treatment. ¡­ ¡°President Yan.¡± ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng stepped out of the lift and hurriedly walked to his office. When he stepped inside, his gaze landed on the seat that was nearest to his office. The person he¡¯s looking for was nowhere in sight, and his breathing became sluggish. This time, she was bent on severing all ties with him. Regardless of how they quarreled in the past or the extent of their cold war, she would still report for work as usual and would keep her emotions in check at work. Yan Rusheng, you have hurt an unyielding Xuxu and caused her to leave with disappointment. Even if you¡¯re shot a million times, you won¡¯t be able to make up for it. The cell phone in his pocket suddenly rang. He retracted his gaze from Xuxu¡¯s desk and fished out his phone. The caller was Lu Yinan. He hurriedly answered the call as he turned around to walk towards the direction of the lift. Lu Yinan said, ¡°Zhou Shuang said that Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t look for her nor contacted her.¡± Yan Rusheng halted his steps and replied, ¡°I got it.¡± He had already anticipated this. She¡¯s an obstinate person and would never approach anyone when she¡¯s down. And because of it, his heart broke. Chapter 586. There Wasnt A Slight Trace From Her After some deliberation, Yan Rusheng decided to make a trip to the clinic to take a look even though he knew that Xuxu would never look up her grandfather. After he had stopped the car, he unfastened the seatbelt, got off the car and shot like an arrow towards the clinic. He pushed aside the PVC strip curtain and saw grandfather seated at the bar counter. He was playing on his computer. He opened his mouth and asked directly, ¡°Grandfather, is Xuxu at your place?¡± He asked as he walked in. The old man averted his gaze away from the computer and looked at Yan Rusheng. Seeing his anxious and worried look, the elderly man hurriedly stood up and moved towards him. ¡°She¡¯s not here. Did the two of you quarrel?¡± Just as he had anticipated! He already knew the outcome, but it still disappointed and worried him. It was painted all over his face. He shook his head and responded, ¡°No.¡± She wasn¡¯t at the apartment, and she didn¡¯t look for Zhou Shuang. She was also not at grandfather¡¯s place and couldn¡¯t have looked for Jiang Zhuoheng either, so where could she have gone? The capital city is so huge, but she only knew a few friends. One night had already passed. She was all alone out there, and they heard not even the slightest news from her. Xuxu, where are you? ¡°Grandfather, I have something on and will make a move first.¡± Yan Rusheng was burning with anxiety. He turned around to leave. ¡°Come back.¡± The old man grabbed hold of him. With furrowed eyebrows, he calmly spoke, ¡°She called this morning. The two of you must have quarreled.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes sparkled. He excitedly spun around and grabbed hold of the old man¡¯s hand. ¡°Grandfather, what did she say over the phone?¡± There was news, as long as there¡¯s news. Instead of responding to Yan Rusheng¡¯s query, the old man looked at him and raised a question using a stern voice. ¡°Third Yan, tell me the truth. Did you bully my Xuxu again?¡± ¡°Grandfather, I¡­¡± Yan Rusheng lowered his head. ¡°I have broken her heart and made her sad.¡± Yan Rusheng had expected the old man to lecture him. The old man unexpectedly sighed. He earnestly said, ¡°Xuxu had invested a lot for your sake. All these while, she refused to say and I won¡¯t say anything on her behalf either. I¡¯m already advanced in age and have not much time left. Before I passed on, I hope that the two of you will lead a happy life.¡± Yan Rusheng remorsefully lowered his head. ¡°I¡¯ve let Xuxu down.¡± Seeing him in this state, the old man didn¡¯t say any more harsh words, but his tone was still unpleasant. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re aware. In her call, she merely asked if my health was good and nothing else. Quickly go and look for her. Once you¡¯ve found her, come back for dinner together.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡®Once you¡¯ve found her, come back for dinner together.¡¯ Would he still have a chance? Seeing how Yan Rusheng had hastily left, the old man furrowed his eyebrows and cursed softly. ¡°This bad lass now knows how to run away from home after an argument. Finally, she has some backbone.¡± Qi Lei stood at a corner and laughed. There¡¯s no other grandfather who would encourage his granddaughter to run away from home after a quarrel. ¡­ In this vast capital city, aimlessly looking for a person is as if finding a needle from a haystack. Yan Rusheng combed all the streets of Yizhong and every place that they¡¯ve been to. Not here, not there, she was nowhere in sight. She had already cut off her hair and the past, so why would she still come here? Memories filled the place. Ming Ansheng and the rest helped him to check the airport, train stations, and bus stations, but there were no records of Xuxu¡¯s ticket purchase. Yan Rusheng grew despondent. He sat in the car¡ªtobacco stench had already filled it. A week had passed. Xuxu seemed to have disappeared into thin air and there wasn¡¯t a slight trace from her. Chapter 587. The Things That He Owed Her The cell phone just kept ringing, and it was almost sunrise. The ringing of his phone awakened Yan Rusheng. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number. Could something have happened to Xuxu? A bad hunch first flashed across his mind. He swiftly picked up his phone and answered the call. ¡°Hello.¡± He could hear a man¡¯s voice from the other end of the line. ¡°President Yan, Jiayin is kicking up a fuss. We¡¯ve agreed to set off for Country M today, but she¡¯s going through an emotional roller-coaster again, crying and refusing to go.¡± It was Secretary Liu. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Let her come to the phone.¡± ¡°She¡¯s making a scene now.¡± Secretary Liu barely finished his sentence when Fang Jiayin¡¯s wails could be heard coming from the other end. ¡°Don¡¯t want, I don¡¯t want to see anyone. I don¡¯t want people to see my face.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t utter another word and hung up the phone. He stroked his eyebrows and started the car engine. ¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. Mother, I want to go home. Bring me home.¡± When Yan Rusheng arrived at the corridor of Fang Jiayin¡¯s ward, her heart-wrenching cries penetrated the air. He walked over and stood at the door. The ward was overcrowded with Fang Jiayin¡¯s parents, Secretary Liu and his wife, the doctor, and nurses. ¡°President Yan.¡± The sharp-eyed Secretary Liu was the first to notice Yan Rusheng. When Yan Rusheng stepped in, Fang Jiayin¡¯s parents shot a hateful glance at him. But they didn¡¯t dare voice their resentment. They merely gritted their teeth and swallowed their pride. Yan Rusheng ignored them and looked at Fang Jiayin who was on the bed. He spoke to the rest as he walked over to her. ¡°Please go out first. Let me speak to her in private.¡± His cold voice carried a hint of exhaustion. Fang Jiayin¡¯s parents looked at each other while Secretary Liu shot an intense glance at them. After taking a look at Fang Jiayin, all of them left the ward, worried. The door closed after everyone left, and it was only Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin who were left in the ward. Fang Jiayin had slightly calmed down. She buried her head in between her knees, sobbing softly. Yan Rusheng walked over to the bed and lowered his eyes at her. ¡°Jiayin, if you go overseas to seek treatment for your face, you will recover faster and better.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng, look at my face.¡± Fang Jiayin lifted her head all of a sudden. Her face was full of soft blisters, which looked even more horrifying after applying the medication. Even for Yan Rusheng, he was in shock after stealing a glance at it. Fang Jiayin stretched out both hands, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to feel her face. With tears in her eyes, she choked on her words. ¡°It¡¯s so scary. I don¡¯t want to face people, and I don¡¯t want you to see me in this state.¡± After she had finished her sentence, she looked down again. Yan Rusheng was visibly startled, but he didn¡¯t forget the purpose of his visit. He asked, ¡°There¡¯s still a long road ahead of you. Do you intend to hide yourself from people for the rest of your life?¡± He sighed with an apologetic expression on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve let you down.¡± Perhaps, if he had let go of his pride sooner and handled his relationship with Xuxu in a proper manner, it wouldn¡¯t have resulted in that situation. Fang Jiayin shook her head. ¡°No, it has got nothing to do with you.¡± As she was saying this, she tightly gripped the bedsheet with both hands which were under the blanket. It was all because of Wen Xuxu. It¡¯s all the fault of that sl*t. She must have instigated the little brat to hurt her. ¡°Jiayin, be good and undergo treatment,¡± Yan Rusheng responded lightly. ¡°I can provide you with financial support which I know that you don¡¯t require. But this is all that I can do for you.¡± Pregnant, miscarriage, barren. The things that he owed her were innumerable, yet he didn¡¯t feel sorry despite his guilt. But towards Xuxu, even if he knew of her previous pregnancy¡­ Yan Rusheng seemed to have recalled something and widened his eyes. Xuxu was once pregnant! Chapter 588. I Will Drop the Lawsuit Was the name ¡®Yan Xu¡¯ not referring to Xuxu? It¡¯s impossible. With his reasoning and intuition, he was certain that Yan Xu was Xuxu. But who did the child belong to? He knew that perhaps she became bitterly disappointed with him midway and wanted to give up. But he refused to believe. He refused to believe that her two months¡¯ relationship with Jiang Zhuoheng would develop to that extent. Xuxu, what actually happened back then? Fang Jiayin had no idea what had caused Yan Rusheng to be lost in his thoughts, but she had an uneasy feeling in her heart. She was crying as she said, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have left without a word. I shouldn¡¯t have left you, but I had no choice. I¡­¡± Yan Rusheng cut her off all of a sudden. ¡°Jiayin, you have good intentions and I am extremely grateful to you. Hold on to your aspiration and don¡¯t lose yourself.¡± If she didn¡¯t leave, he thought, even if he found out that he had fallen for Wen Xuxu, it would still be too late. Now that she suddenly came back and repeatedly irked Xuxu, her intention was obvious. At the end of it, all he wanted was to part with her without any hard feelings. After all, he was the one who gave her hope, and that was his greatest mistake. He was reluctant to let go of the precious memories of their gentle first night. He remembered how it was bursting with fireworks. Thus, he was reluctant to forget that gentle profession of love. ¡®Ah Sheng, I like you.¡¯ He had always thought that the profession of love was what he had been waiting for. But come to think of it, perhaps, he had been waiting for Xuxu all these while instead. There was a sudden flash of understanding and it all became clear to him. Yan Rusheng lowered his eyes and lightly gazed at Fang Jiayin. ¡°I love Xuxu, from then until now. Almost everyone could tell while I¡¯m the only one who was completely in the dark. I won¡¯t get back with you out of sheer guilt, otherwise, it would be unfair to you and I believe that you¡¯re too conceited to want that to happen too.¡± His cold and distant tone caused Fang Jiayin to shudder suddenly. Her head remained lowered. She spoke softly. ¡°I know. You don¡¯t have to feel guilty towards me. I¡¯ve done everything out of my own accord, even loving you was my own choice.¡± Yan Rusheng assured her, ¡°Adhere to treatment and you will definitely regain your looks and be able to hold your head up high again.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ah Sheng.¡± Fang Jiayin took a sniff and raised her head. She looked at Yan Rusheng with reddened eyes and smiled brightly. ¡°I¡¯ll drop the lawsuit. I won¡¯t make things difficult for Su Yue.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled with relief. ¡°Thank you.¡± This was the first time he earnestly thanked Fang Jiayin. Fang Jiayin forced a smile. ¡°Actually, this was what you had wanted.¡± It was because of old times¡¯ sake, otherwise, he could have forced them to drop the lawsuit with his own means. Yan Rusheng pursed his lips and remained silent. When she didn¡¯t hear a further response from Yan Rusheng, Fang Jiayin clenched the bedsheets tightly with her hands. ¡°Wen Xuxu, three years ago, you¡¯ve destroyed my life as a woman and now, you¡¯ve ruined my face. I will not let you lead a good life,¡± she thought. ¡­ ¡°Yinyin, why are we dropping the lawsuit? How can they push people around just because they are powerful and influential?¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s mother angrily said while they were in the car on the way to the airport. She felt sorry for Fang Jiayin and held her hand. Secretary Liu who was seated in front, turned back. ¡°Alright sister, since she doesn¡¯t want to save her own face, it¡¯s no use talking further. Ungrateful wretch.¡± Fang Jiayin ignored him and looked down. A trace of gloominess flashed across her eyes. The car arrived at the airport and pulled to a stop at the departure terminal. Secretary Liu and his wife remained in the car. It was only Fang Jiayin¡¯s parents alighted. ¡°Uncle, please drive slowly when you go back.¡± Fang Jiayin got down from the car and gave a word of concern to Secretary Liu. Without waiting for Secretary Liu to respond, she closed the door behind her. Chapter 589. Youre Such a Heartless Woman Fang Jiayin¡¯s parents brought out several items of luggage from the car trunk. She would need several extensive surgeries in Country M, and she would be staying there for a long period. Fang Jiayin wore a cap, oversized sunglasses, and a surgical mask as she walked in between her parents. Since it was a festive period, people crowded the airport. Fang Jiayin¡¯s parents were afraid that someone might bump into their daughter. They told her, ¡°Yinyin, go over and take a seat there. We¡¯ll settle the check-in.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Jiayin nodded. She walked over to the waiting area and was fiddling with her phone as she walked. ¡°Hey! Isn¡¯t this Miss Fang, the great beauty?¡± Suddenly, a cheeky voice belonging to a man sounded behind Fang Jiayin. It made her freeze. She hastened her footsteps when she snapped out of her shock. As she walked, she adjusted her cap and pulled it lower to hide her face. But that man didn¡¯t want to let her escape, and he hurried after her. When he caught up with her, he overtook and blocked her path. The man was about 1.78 meters tall and his hair was dark red. He wore an orange pullover. He was considered quite good-looking as he stood in front of Fang Jiayin, except for his wretched smile. ¡°Great beauty, aren¡¯t you going to say hello to an old classmate? Isn¡¯t it quite rude of you to simply walk away?¡± Disgust and loathing flashed past Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes behind the sunglasses. She kept her head bowed, and with a husky voice she replied, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± She raised her feet and prepared to continue walking forward. The man playfully smacked her buttocks, and his smile became more lewd. ¡°Look at how voluptuous your figure is, I will never forget it in this lifetime. How can I possibly recognize the wrong person?¡± Fang Jiayin was livid and turned around to glare at him. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± The man grinned at her. ¡°I¡¯ve recently read about you on the newspapers, and I realized how famous you¡¯ve become! I have always wanted to look for you. Do you know how much I¡¯ve missed you these years?¡± Fang Jiayin was disgusted at the man. She screamed, ¡°Scum, get lost!¡± The man wasn¡¯t angry at all even when he was being screamed at. Instead, he smiled. ¡°When you embraced me that night and urged me to use more strength, you weren¡¯t so fierce.¡± Fang Jiayin nervously glanced at her parents standing a distance away. Then she glared at the man and said in a hushed voice, ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± The man burst into laughter. ¡°You¡¯re really quite capable, aren¡¯t you? Did you manage to get back with Yan Rusheng?¡± Fang Jiayin frowned. ¡°Nonsense. Don¡¯t say ridiculous stuff.¡± ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you be with me? At least I can still¡­¡± The man was about to put his hand around Fang Jiayin¡¯s waist. Fang Jiayin flung his hand away. ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°Yinyin.¡± At this moment, Fang Jiayin¡¯s parents walked towards them after settling the documents. They saw the stranger standing with Fang Jiayin and politely asked, ¡°Who is this?¡± Before Fang Jiayin could answer, the man introduced himself politely. ¡°Hi Aunty, I¡¯m Jiayin¡¯s university classmate. My name is Qin Shaomin.¡± Her parents smiled. ¡°Hello, nice to meet you.¡± Qin Shaomin was about to continue the conversation with them when Fang Jiayin cut across him. ¡°Dad, Mom, can you wait for me over there? I need to talk to my classmate.¡± Her parents simply nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± After her parents left, Fang Jiayin¡¯s face fell as she furiously gritted her teeth. ¡°What exactly do you want from me?¡± Qin Shaomin feigned an expression of being hurt. ¡°You¡¯re such a heartless woman.¡± ¡°My face is disfigured now. Do you still like me? Do you still want me?¡± Fang Jiayin stretched her hand suddenly and removed her mask. With her disfigured face, she menacingly inched towards Qin Shaomin. Chapter 590 The moment Qin Shaomin glimpsed Fang Jiayin¡¯s face, it drained his face of color. His mouth hung open and fear lingered in his eyes for a long time. Fang Jiayin smiled as she had succeeded. It took some time for Qin Shaomin to snap out from his shock. ¡°A few days ago, I read that someone splashed boiling water on your face at a restaurant. I had presumed that the news article was a fake.¡± Fang Jiayin sneered. ¡°Now that you know that it¡¯s true that my face is disfigured. Won¡¯t you hurry and scram?¡± Qin Shaomin erased his lewd smile and instead, pity clouded his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I believe that you will recover and regain your looks. Jiayin, I really like you very much. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that my family business had gone bust in the last few years, I would have gone to Country Y to look for you.¡± When she looked at Qin Shaomin¡¯s face, hatred consumed her. She felt like killing him. If it wasn¡¯t for that night¡­ Fang Jiayin opened her mouth to say something nasty to Qin Shaomin, when a sudden thought occupied her mind. She quietly began plotting a scheme in her mind. She asked, ¡°Qin Shaomin, do you really love me?¡± Qin Shaomin saw that Fang Jiayin had finally changed her attitude towards him, so he happily nodded. ¡°It¡¯s true! After I¡¯ve slept with you that night, I just don¡¯t feel interested in other women.¡± His real personality was revealed once again. Fang Jiayin detested the words from his mouth. ¡°Shut up and close your stinky mouth!¡± She paused and continued softly. ¡°Wen Xuxu is the reason my face is like this, that bitch. Help me find her and let her have a taste of being disfigured too.¡± Qin Shaomin heard her and couldn¡¯t quite believe his ears. ¡°I thought she seemed to be quite kind-hearted? She doesn¡¯t look like someone so evil to me.¡± Fang Jiayin glared at him. She snapped, ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m the evil one?¡± Why was everyone praising that bitch? She had always maintained that pretentious aloofness and arrogance. In reality, she was just a slut. She had schemed to sleep with Ah Sheng while he was drunk. She had done so many despicable things; why wasn¡¯t anyone aware of her true character? ¡°I don¡¯t mean it that way. How can you be someone evil?¡± Qin Shaomin hastily explained, ¡°But at least you need to tell me where are you heading to.¡± Fang Jiayin quipped, ¡°I¡¯m going for reconstructive surgery overseas and I¡¯ll recover very soon.¡± It overjoyed Qin Shaomin. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Fang Jiayin coldly replied, ¡°If you don¡¯t help me to seek revenge, don¡¯t ever think of looking for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a few connections in the capital city. I¡¯m meeting them to discuss some business opportunities during my trip. I¡¯ll definitely help you to vent your anger.¡± Qin Shaomin patted his chest as he promised her. He suddenly stretched his hand to snatch Fang Jiayin¡¯s cell phone. He then used her phone to call his own number. He hung up after his phone rang. He returned the phone back to Fang Jiayin and gave her a lewd smile once more. ¡°Darling, I¡¯ll wait for you to come back to my embrace.¡± Fang Jiayin held on tightly to her phone as she coldly glanced at him. She swept past him without another word. ¡®Wen Xuxu, Qin Shaomin! A b*tch and a b*stard, both of you can go to hell together!¡¯ If she can¡¯t get what she wanted, the best way to make her anger dissolve was to make them destroy each other. ¡­ Early in the morning, all the employees in the Jiang corporation were swamped with work. It was the last working day of the year. The elevator went straight to the top floor. The door opened, and Yan Rusheng gloomily walked towards the President¡¯s office. Everyone turned to look at him the second he set foot inside the office. When he was about to reach Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s office, Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s secretary hurried towards him. ¡°President Yan.¡± They were acquaintances and Yan Rusheng nodded at him. ¡°Is Jiang Zhuoheng in?¡± Chapter 591. Wen Xuxus Foolishness Has Reached Greater Heights Hu Yang answered, ¡°President Jiang went for a meeting. He should be back soon.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng?¡± Speak of the devil. Jiang Zhuoheng had just returned from his meeting. His voice rang behind Yan Rusheng. Their eyes met when Yan Rusheng turned around to face him. The atmosphere became abnormally tensed and strained all of a sudden. Nobody dared to openly ogle at the President of Flourish & Prosper, who had made such a surprise visit, anymore. All of them bent down and began to work. Jiang Zhuoheng walked past Yan Rusheng with an apathetic expression. Yan Rusheng stiffly trailed after him. Both of them entered Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s office one after another. Hu Yang followed closely behind and when they entered the room, he stood outside to shut the door. Jiang Zhuoheng glanced at him. He then instructed, ¡°Tea is not needed.¡± Hu Yang bowed and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Once the door was shut, Yan Rusheng impatiently spoke to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Did something happen to Xuxu that year?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng froze before gradually turning around. He wasn¡¯t sure what Yan Rusheng was referring to. He coldly said, ¡°Third Yan, make yourself clear.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve found out that Xuxu¡­¡± Yan Rusheng began to stammer since he knew that Xuxu had deliberately concealed the truth, and he knew Jiang Zhuoheng was also kept in the dark regarding this secret. ¡°That year¡­ Xuxu was pregnant when you just left for your studies abroad.¡± He had barely said his last word when Jiang Zhuoheng rushed towards him. The man bellowed, ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± White-hot anger leaped inside of Jiang Zhouheng. A swift and heavy punch landed on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face after. Jiang Zhuoheng used almost all of his strength with his punch. Yan Rusheng stumbled a few steps backward and almost lost consciousness. Jiang Zhuoheng came up to him once more as he grabbed his collar. His face contorted with rage as he swooped down on him. ¡°What you have owed Xuxu, you can never repay her in this or the next lifetime!¡± His eyes flashed scarlet and incredibly, it was slightly glistening with tears as well. His raging reaction baffled Yan Rusheng. ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡± He knew that Jiang Zhuoheng must have known something; he definitely knew who the father of Xuxu¡¯s child was. Jiang Zhuoheng pushed Yan Rusheng to his desk as his tears began to well up. ¡°Do you know how much she made others worry for her? I asked myself often, how can such a strong and determined person exist in this world?¡± ¡°She was such an outstanding girl. Why did she have to waste her youth on a jerk like you? Do you know how she felt every time you appeared together with Fang Jiayin before her?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng raised his voice. ¡°You don¡¯t know, but I do! It¡¯s just like how I¡¯ve always stood beside her, but her eyes would always be looking at you.¡± ¡°My heart would ache every single time when I saw how heartbroken she was. She would brush it off lightly and said that she was fine. She always says that once you¡¯re married, she would find a man who would love her very much, and that man would love her like how she loves you.¡± ¡°On the surface, it may seem that she argues with you often but in reality, she always let you have your way. Who would be so patient to painstakingly scrap off all the cream on top of the cake every single time? When you go out for meals, will your Fang Jiayin remember to instruct the waiters in private to not add scallions to all the dishes and not put potatoes in potato curry chicken?¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, all these didn¡¯t happen in just one or two years. It spanned for more than a decade!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng blew up and had exploded this time around. His years of rage, regrets, and sorrow were all vented on Yan Rusheng. ¡°Wen Xuxu¡¯s foolishness has reached greater heights.¡± He relinquished his grip on Yan Rusheng¡¯s collar. His voice had trembled so much because of his fury, and it only proved how much he had doted and loved Xuxu. Chapter 592. He Finally Felt It Yan Rusheng stood there in a daze. It was as if every word that Jiang Zhuoheng had said, pierced his heart like how a needle would. He came to realize that he had lived his life in vain for nearly 20 years. He had been so muddle-headed and an absolute jerk. He even began to despise himself. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s voice sounded once more. ¡°Someone saw Xuxu coming out from your room on the second morning of my farewell party.¡± Yan Rusheng froze with his eyes wide open. He remained rooted on the spot. ¡­ ¡®Ah Sheng, I¡¯m in pain¡­¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, I like you.¡¯ ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± Yan Rusheng had a bottle of beer in his hands as he clumsily staggered into the house. He went straight into a woman¡¯s embrace, and put his arms around her. ¡°Xuxu¡­ Xuxu.¡± He bent and rested his head on the woman¡¯s shoulder. He repeatedly mumbled Xuxu¡¯s name. It was the name etched on his heart. It had been more than 10 days, and it was already New Year¡¯s eve on the next day. Xuxu seemed to have vanished into thin air. ¡°You silly boy, finally you¡¯re looking for Xuxu. Look carefully, I¡¯m your mother,¡± reproved Mu Li as she pushed him away. But the next second, her hands supported him by holding onto his arms. She had watched how her son had fallen into despair in the last days. She softly chided, ¡°If you¡¯ve known this would happen, why did you do something that would hurt her?¡± She heavily sighed as she wondered to herself. Why did these two kids end up in this way? Yan Rusheng pushed Mu Li away. He held on to the wall for support as he clumsily tried to remove his shoes. He walked into the living room with his socks on. ¡°Third Brother.¡± A tiny figure came towards him. Yan Rusheng managed a tiny smile as he stretched his hand and affectionately stroked her head. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Even this young lass knew how good Xuxu was even though she barely knew her for a month. She had tried her best to protect and defend Xuxu. Yet, he had hurt her repeatedly. Su Yue raised her head as she watched him with a pair of sparkling eyes. ¡°Third Brother, don¡¯t drink so much in the future. Third sister-in-law doesn¡¯t like it when you drink.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her soft reminder, and he broke into a wide smile. He nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± In the future, he would only do the things that Xuxu liked. He tottered as he went towards the staircase. He clumsily swayed as he ascended the stairs. He wrenched the door open and switched on the light. Inside the bedroom, Xuxu¡¯s stuff was still as they originally were. Her pajamas were on the couch and her diary on the table at the balcony. A book that she had recently been reading was on top of the bedside drawer. A bookmark peeked out of the book. It was almost as if she was still staying in the room for the past few days. But he couldn¡¯t feel her presence at all nor did her smell linger. Originally, he was supposed to have a complete Xuxu. She had strived so hard to stay by his side for so many years. ¡®I have fallen in love with this one guy for many years. From the first awakening of love until now¡­¡¯ Yan Rusheng hugged Xuxu¡¯s pillow, and he buried his head with it. There was a faint scent of her hair, but it felt almost surreal. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu¡­¡± The person who had accompanied him for the past 20 years had vanished without a trace. What it felt like to be heartbroken; he finally felt it. ¡­ It was Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve. The sound of firecrackers filled the air early in the morning. The whole capital city was bustling and everyone was in a festive mood. People were all rushing home to spend the night with their loved ones. He was the only one aimlessly driving around. ¡°She didn¡¯t come back, but she called earlier this morning. You should go home.¡± ¡°Third Yan, just let her be. She needs to recuperate and recharge.¡± The evening was getting dark. His cell phone continuously rang, but he didn¡¯t pick up. He continued to drive back home. Chapter 593. Happy Chinese New Year There were two huge lanterns hanging at the entrance, both of which were lit. There were rhyming couplets hanging on the gates. Since it was still Grandmother¡¯s mourning period, they had specifically selected the couplets. There were two long strings of firecrackers in the courtyard as well. Yan Rusheng drove his car into the courtyard and stopped. Aunt Zhang came out and saw him. She was rather excited as she yelled, ¡°Second Madam! Third Young Master is back!¡± Mu Li and Su Yue came running out of the house when they heard Aunt Zhang. ¡°Third Yan¡­¡± ¡°Third brother!¡± It was Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve, and they had assumed that he wouldn¡¯t be coming home. Yan Rusheng gave them a fleeting tiny smile and walked into the house. Yan Weihong was already in the dining room. He was wearing a dark brown woolen shirt with a pair of gold spectacles. He merely threw a casual glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng addressed him. ¡°Father.¡± Yan Weihong grunted in response before continuing in his deep voice. ¡°Hurry and sit down. Your mother prepared all this for the entire afternoon.¡± Mu Li and Su Yue sat down as well. Mu Li suddenly said, ¡°Xuxu called earlier just now.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head in anticipation. The corners of Mu Li¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything else other than wishing your father and me a Happy Chinese New Year.¡± Yan Rusheng softly mumbled ¡®oh¡¯ . It wasn¡¯t much of a surprise that Xuxu would call his mother. She was someone who was able to differentiate between what was important and what was not. She had always tried her best not to let the elders worry. It was New Year Eve and she would definitely call back since she was alone somewhere. Because of Su Yue and Su Yan, Yan Weiye¡¯s family didn¡¯t come over for dinner. Grandmother and Xuxu were absent as well. Yan Weihong had to abstain from alcohol as he had just recovered from his surgery. So there were only soft drinks and water on the table. The atmosphere was dull and solemn that night. Usually, the butler and Aunt Zhang separately ate from them, except for reunion dinners. But this year, they quickly ate and excused themselves. Yan Rusheng, Mu Li, Su Yue, and Yan Weihong were the only ones left. After dinner, Yan Rusheng took out a red packet and gave it to Su Yue who sat beside him. ¡°Yueyue, you¡¯ve grown a year older.¡± Su Yue happily received it. ¡°Thank you, Third Brother.¡± Yan Rusheng gave her an affectionate smile, and a thought struck him. ¡°Where is Su Yan?¡± Su Yue answered, ¡°My brother left yesterday. He said he wanted to make use of the holidays to tour the southern part of China.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a weak smile and didn¡¯t respond. He glanced at Mu Li and Yan Weihong who was sitting across them. He was about to excuse himself. They could hear Aunt Zhang¡¯s happy laughter. ¡°Young Master Ming, Young Master Lu, both of you are early.¡± ¡°Aunt Zhang, Happy Chinese New Year!¡± ¡°Happy Chinese New Year to you, too!¡± Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan entered the dining room amidst the chatter. Both young masters were casually dressed in bright colors, and they seemed more vibrant and lively. ¡°Uncle Yan, Aunt Mu Li, Happy Chinese New Year!¡± They entered and wished both Mu Li and Yan Weihong at the same time. Yan Weihong nodded in response. Mu Li beamed at them. ¡°Young lads, have you both eaten your reunion dinner?¡± Lu Yinan answered, ¡°We had an early dinner.¡± ¡°Su Yue, you¡¯ve grown a year older. Finally, an adult!¡± Ming Ansheng walked to Su Yue and gave her a red packet. He affectionately stroked her head at the same time. Lu Yinan noticed it, and he wasn¡¯t quite pleased. ¡°Hey, Ming Ansheng. What kind of friend are you? Why didn¡¯t you remind me to prepare a red packet as well?¡± Chapter 594. I’m Not Sure Either Everyone broke into laughter, while Yan Rusheng was the only one looking void of expression. They talked for a while more in the kitchen before adjourning to the living room. ¡°Come and have some fruits. I¡¯ll go do my stuff and leave you young people to chat.¡± Mu Li brought out a platter of fruits and placed it on the coffee table. Mu Li sent the servants home for Chinese New Year; only Aunt Zhang was left to cook and to clean up. Hence, Mu Li was busy the entire day. ¡°Third Yan, did Xuxu go overseas?¡± ¡°But she would need to take a plane. Even if she took a cruise, there would still be a record of her departure.¡± ¡°Will she be at her grandfather¡¯s place?¡± They sat down and discussed. Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes as he frowned. He firmly shook his head. ¡°No, she won¡¯t.¡± Was it because he didn¡¯t know or understand her well enough? Was that why he had no idea where she would be? He was completely clueless and had no idea where to start. Lu Yinan spoke after mulling over the possibilities. ¡°Didn¡¯t she call back? Are we able to track the location of her phone?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes instantly lit up. ¡°Yeah!¡± Yan Rusheng closed his eyes as he leaned backward on his chair, apparently not listening to them. ¡°Host X hasn¡¯t been home for years to be with his family. He had to host the Chinese New Year show. That¡¯s why tonight our production crew has specially invited his parents over to our show.¡± The TV channel was introducing a touching segment about the importance of family ties. Parents! Yan Rusheng abruptly widened his eyes and straightened his back. His sudden action took Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan by shock. ¡°What happened? You frightened us!¡± ¡°Did you guess the place Xuxu might be at right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure either.¡± Yan Rusheng rose and hurriedly dialed a number on his phone. ¡°Qiao Jian, book the earliest flight to N city.¡± Both Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan coincidentally glanced at each other. How could they have left out that place? N City¡ªit was Xuxu¡¯s old house in the southern part of China. Yan Rusheng hastily packed his belongings and changed into a white woolen shirt and jeans. He held a piece of small luggage in his hand while the other grabbed a coat. Just then his phone rang. ¡°The earliest flight is tomorrow afternoon?¡± ¡°How about trains? Any motor vehicles?¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡­ A small town rested quietly in the southern part of China. Mountains surrounded it, and the weather was cold and wet. The town had a quiet and traditional charm. There were roadside stalls selling all sorts of candies and firecrackers. The festive atmosphere was strong. A gorgeous man wearing a black and white coat with a blue shirt underneath was walking through the town. He was carrying a huge backpack on his back with a camera hung around his neck. He had followed this short-haired girl for two streets, but she didn¡¯t notice him at all. She was too engrossed with buying food and snacks from the roadside stalls. The girl wore a white thick pullover and a pair of dark red leggings. She wore brown boots and slung a black bag on her shoulder. Her hands were filled with candies and snacks. She stopped again at a stall as her eyes greedily stared at the food. The man stopped in his tracks as well. He broke into a wide smile. His smile looked as bright as the sun. He raised his camera and took a photo of the girl. Finally, the girl sensed that someone was watching her. She turned around. Her tiny and exquisite face finally appeared in the frame. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Chapter 595. Where Can I Find the Log Bridge? The man pressed the shutter with his long slender finger. He had captured a shot of her charm and beauty as she turned back to look over her shoulder. A beautiful smile tenderly bloomed at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Su Yan!¡± Wen Xuxu looked at the man behind the camera and her eyes widened in shock. Her mouth was hung open, and there was a candied hawthorn fruit in her mouth. Su Yan put down his camera and smiled as he waved at the woman opposite him. ¡°Hey Xuxu, what a coincidence.¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. China is so huge, yet they still ran into each other in such a remote and desolate place. Su Yan beamed at her. ¡°We have telepathy.¡± As he was always full of nonsense, Xuxu decided to brush him off and continued walking ahead. The stinky tofu seller immediately shouted for her. ¡°Hey young lady, your stinky tofu.¡± Xuxu suddenly remembered that she had bought a set of stinky tofu. She turned back and smiled at the peddler, slightly embarrassed. ¡°Oh, I had forgotten.¡± She rummaged through her bag for money as she spoke. Before she could fish out her money, a fine-looking hand handed a 10 yuan note to the stall owner. ¡°You can stop looking for it.¡± Su Yan¡¯s charming voice sounded. Curling her lips, Xuxu zipped up her bag. She asked, ¡°It¡¯s the New Year. Why are you here?¡± Su Yan stretched out his hand to receive the stinky tofu from the stall owner. As Xuxu¡¯s hands were full, he continued to hold it for her. Both of them chatted as they walked. ¡°I purposely came here, hoping to bump into you.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Xuxu shot him a condescending look before finishing the last candied hawthorn on the stick. Su Yan looked at her. ¡°Do you intend to remain in this place?¡± As he still wasn¡¯t comfortable speaking in Mandarin, he broke into English again. Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°None of your business.¡± She had no idea how Su Yan managed to track her down. Since this was her hometown, it wasn¡¯t surprising if he had thought of coming here to look for her. Su Yan knitted his eyebrows. ¡°I really want to be your friend and show concern to you. Can you not behave so defensively towards me all the time?¡± Xuxu glared at him being so annoying. ¡°Tch, who says I¡¯m defensive?¡± Su Yan smiled. Both of them silently walked for a while before Su Yan spoke again. ¡°Yueyue misses you.¡± An image of Su Yue¡¯s tiny face flashed across her mind. It made her heart ache when she thought of the words she said at the police station. She said to Su Yan, ¡°You have to take good care of her as she¡¯s not as cheerful as you.¡± Su Yan raised his head and looked at the cerulean sky. There was a gleam of melancholy in his deep-set eyes. ¡°She stayed at the orphanage until she was 10 years old.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips and remained silent. She already had a hunch that Su Yue went through a tough childhood. Su Yan took a deep breath and retracted his melancholic thoughts. Looking at Xuxu, he broke into a smile again. ¡°I heard that it¡¯s very special to watch the sunrise and sunset in Donghai during this season.¡± Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s very special because your mucus will flow non-stop and you¡¯ll be frozen.¡± Su Yan broke into a burst of laughter, and his attractive dimples made an appearance. He raised his eyebrows at Xuxu. ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡± ¡°You hit the demon¡¯s path while I cross the log bridge.¡± Xuxu strode forward in huge steps. Su Yan trailed behind her and curiously asked, ¡°Where can I find the log bridge? Is the demon¡¯s path a road? Where can I find this road?¡± Xuxu covered her mouth and couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing. Although this fellow had problems conversing in Mandarin, he couldn¡¯t be so bad to that extent. He must be putting on a pretense. Chapter 596. A Beautiful Place Xuxu continued walking forward while Su Yan followed behind, snapping away on his camera as he walked. Snap. His camera snapped away non-stop. After taking a number of photos of the streetscape and local culture, Su Yan aimed his camera at Xuxu again and zoomed in on her. He didn¡¯t press on the shutter and merely looked at her through the camera lens. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s go on a trip together. I¡¯m serious about this. As I¡¯m not familiar with this place, you can be my tour guide.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not familiar either because I¡¯ve not been back for many years.¡± Xuxu finished the food in her hands. She hung her bag over her wrist before shoving both hands into the pockets of her down-filled jacket. She then tilted her head up at the sky. A deep blue sky on a clear day. It was a sight hardly seen in the capital city. Her eyes brilliantly sparkled like the dazzling stars. She pursed her lips. She seemed to be enjoying every moment in this place. Su Yan momentarily paused before clicking away on the shutter. He captured a shot of Xuxu. Xuxu continued to walk on while Su Yan quietly followed behind. The two of them walked away from the bustling town and set foot onto a stone bridge. The first thing that greeted their eyes was an emerald green lake surrounded by the mountains. Xuxu stood still. She gazed at the center of the lake with a look of dismal. She frowned. Su Yan had no idea why she was ladened with grief. The front and back of the place were unblocked. The rustling cold wind ruffled her silky short hair. Her face and nose turned red. Su Yan extended his hand. He wanted to smoothen out her frown and remove the heavy burden in her heart. But his hand abruptly stopped in mid-air. He thought to himself, some beautiful things are best just admired¡ªcapture the moment and bury it in the heart. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Donghai in the afternoon.¡± All of a sudden, Xuxu turned her head. As she brushed off her messy hair from her eyes, she looked at Su Yan as if she had made an important decision. Having a free photographer on the trip didn¡¯t seem like a bad deal after all. Su Yan deliberated for a moment before nodding his head with a smile. ¡°Okay.¡± He would definitely jump at the chance to capture captivating landscapes with his camera. Xuxu didn¡¯t utter a word and continued walking forward by herself. When they got down the bridge, Su Yan caught up with her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me about the purpose of my trip here?¡± Xuxu asked in a calm and collected manner, ¡°Why?¡± Su Yan stood silent. He said, ¡°Xuxu, your life must be very dull.¡± Xuxu laughed. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± She didn¡¯t have any focus in her life and had no special interests. Come to think of it, her life was indeed dull. They passed through a winding path on a mountain and climbed up the mountain. Su Yan quipped, ¡°Your hometown is beautiful.¡± Xuxu proudly nodded her head.¡±Yes, it¡¯s a beautiful place.¡± ¡°You are even more beautiful.¡± Again, Su Yan¡¯s camera zoomed in on Xuxu. Xuxu rolled her eyes at him being annoying. The latter grinned before moving his camera away to another direction. There was a big cemetery above with thousands of tombs. Each tombstone looked identical. Su Yan put down his camera. His expression turned solemn and his heart felt heavy, befitting the scene. Xuxu walked towards her parents¡¯ tombstones and kneeled down. She reached out to touch the rough tombstone. Only her parents¡¯ names were inscribed on it. There weren¡¯t any names of their children. ¡°Dad and Mom, I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯m not sure when I¡¯ll be back again to visit you.¡± From the bag on her wrist, she took out some snacks that she had bought earlier and placed them before the tombstone, item by item. ¡°These are the popular snacks from our town. I¡¯ve tried them and they¡¯re delicious.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll definitely take good care of grandfather.¡± Chapter 597. The Heavens Could Not Tolerate It Any Longer She inched her body forward and planted a gentle kiss on the tombstone. The scattering images of her parents flashed across her mind, and tears started to sting her eyes. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for that natural disaster, you would still be around and I would be by your side. How wonderful it would be.¡¯ ¡­ The flight was in the afternoon. By the time it reached N City, it was already past 2 p.m. Yan Rusheng hailed a cab to the county in Xuxu¡¯s hometown. The town rested in a mountainous area, and the tallest building was only about 20 storeys high. As it was the New Year, the local culture and customs flaunted the streets and everywhere else in the small town. Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering figure maneuvered through the bustling streets swarmed with people. Roadside stalls and hawkers could be seen everywhere. Just his handsome look and dignified aura were enough to catch people¡¯s interests, and with a piece of luggage in tow, one could definitely tell that he¡¯s from another part of the country. Along the way, he repeatedly attracted the attention of the local girls. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Suddenly, he caught sight of a petite girl wearing a pink down-feather jacket. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail that extended to her waist. He excitedly gave out a shout and abandoned his luggage before eagerly dashing forward. Wild with joy, he caught hold of the girl¡¯s arm and was about to haul her into his arms. ¡°Ahhh. what are you trying to do?¡± With Yan Rusheng¡¯s grip, the girl screamed in fear. The commotion attracted the attention of the people around them. After seeing the girl¡¯s face, Yan Rusheng instantly released his grip and profusely apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± He turned around and went back to retrieve his luggage. ¡°Crazy man,¡± the girl yelled at him from behind. He lowered his gaze, and his heart was tainted with bitterness. ¡®Xuxu, I¡¯ve forgotten that you no longer have long hair.¡¯ Facing a large cemetery full of identical tombstones, Yan Rusheng felt helpless. He wasn¡¯t sure if Xuxu had returned to that place, wasn¡¯t even certain if Xuxu ever visited here. But since he¡¯s already there, he had to visit the place. He dragged his luggage and combed through the tombstones one by one. Yan Rusheng stopped in his steps and looked at the snacks that were left untouched in front of the tombstone. He bent down and opened up a bag of chestnut. He extended his hand into the bag; it was still warm to the touch. His heart excitedly started beating and seemed that it would jump out any minute. ¡°Xuxu.¡± He straightened up and scanned the surroundings once more¡ªaround him were hills and mountains. ¡°Xuxu.¡± He shouted at the top of his lungs. As long as she appeared before him, he would be willing to do whatever she wanted him to. But the only response he got was the echo of his own voice. ¡°Father, Mother! I¡¯m sorry.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around, dropped to his knees and kowtowed three times before Xuxu¡¯s parents¡¯ tombstone. He¡¯s felt sorry to have let Xuxu down for so many years, and he felt sorry to have broken her heart time and again. He combed the entire town and every hotel. He had finally managed to track down some information, but alas, the person had already checked out more than an hour ago. Xuxu had stayed in this hotel for more than 10 days. In fact, she had been here all this while. Such a highly probable place, yet it came to his mind only at the very last. Not only did he need to reflect on his own mistake, but he also deserved to be shot too. The town was bustling with activities in the day and tranquil at night. The shops were all closed for business early. Yan Rusheng still dragged his luggage and walked around aimlessly. She had been staying in the town for more than 10 days and left just when he arrived. Was it fated to happen that their paths would cross, and yet they¡¯re not destined to be together? It must be that the heavens could not to tolerate it any longer¡ªthey didn¡¯t want anyone to find her. Chapter 598. The Feeling Wasnt Particularly Fantastic The hotel in the town was small but well kept. Yan Rusheng dragged his luggage into the room. It was the hotel that Xuxu first stayed at and also the room that she had stayed before. The hotel concierge said that a guest had already made an online booking and insisted on having the room when he arrived in the morning. The room had a balcony that overlooked the landscape of the town. Yan Rusheng had compensated the customer ten times the cost before he agreed to forfeit the booking and transferred it to him. There was a swing chair hanging at the balcony, and it faced the streets. A small wooden table rested on the side along with two porcelain coffee cups atop it. Yan Rusheng put down his luggage and walked over to the balcony. As he stretched his hand out to lightly push the swing, a gentle and affectionate smile subconsciously spread across his face. Images of Xuxu seated cross-legged on a swing chair appeared in his mind. In that scene, the sun rays shone onto her as she read her favorite book. She was all laid-back and peaceful. As he pondered over this, he bent over to sit on it. Because of his towering figure, he awkwardly sat on it. Both of his hands cautiously gripped the sides of the swing chair, a bit fearful that the chain supporting it would snap. It was his first time sitting on a swing chair, and it resembled closely to a pet¡¯s cozy den. He thought, ¡°This type of chair must be specially designed for women.¡± With his toes touching the floor, he gently tried swinging it. The feeling¡­ wasn¡¯t particularly fantastic. Slowly but surely, he was no longer fearful. Under the bright streetlights, the town at night appeared shrouded with mist. The lofty man leaned his head to the side of the swing chair and thought of the person that he was longing for. Gradually, he fell asleep. ¡­ It was barely dawn, but the town was already starting to bustle with noise and excitement. Yan Rusheng opened his eyes and realized that he had slept through the night while seated on the swing chair. After so many days, this was the first time that he had slept through the night. Perhaps it was because of it that he was able to sleep through the night while seated. He got up and took two steps towards the window. He looked down as he raised his hands to stretch himself. There were countless men and women along the streets, half of which were tourists while the other half was made up of the local stall owners and hawkers. ¡°Ah-choo!¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly sneezed without warning. He took a sniff and his nose was blocked. He deduced that it must have been because he slept on the swing chair for the entire night without any blanket to cover himself with. The air-conditioner in the southern part could not be compared to the heaters in the northern. The temperature wasn¡¯t well-distributed, and the quality wasn¡¯t good either. Yan Rusheng quickly washed up and changed into a new set of clothes. He prepared to leave and continue looking for Xuxu. He thought that since she didn¡¯t go back on the eve of the New Year, she definitely wouldn¡¯t return to the capital city any time soon. He didn¡¯t even use any of the things that he had brought along in his luggage as the hotel had prepared all the toiletries. In the past, he rarely used them, even if it¡¯s from a 7-star hotel. Again, Yan Rusheng dragged his luggage and walked along the busy street. Even though the place underwent rehabilitation after a natural disaster took place over 20 years ago, its unique cultural flavors remained. There were fewer people at both ends of the street as compared to the middle part. As he walked, he stole glances at the shops located on both sides of the street. He wondered if Xuxu had changed hotels because she was tired of staying in the same one. She probably might be still in town, too. There was an old photo studio that was crowded with people. Yan Rusheng stopped in his steps and raised his head to look at the name of the photo studio ¨C ¡®Historic Photo Studio¡¯. There were endless streams of people walking in and out. Chapter 599. Quickly Share Them On Moments As he was there to look for Xuxu, he didn¡¯t have any intentions to be a tourist. And so, he had no idea why such a photo studio could attract the attention of many. ¡°All these were old photographs taken 20 years ago.¡± ¡°These were photographs of the rescue operations at the mudslide.¡± ¡°This was the Prime Minister of our country back then.¡± Two people had come out of the photo studio. They looked around and discussed the photos they had taken. Yan Rusheng was about to turn around to leave when he heard the discussion. He spun around and stepped into the photo studio, carrying his luggage. The interior of the photo studio was much spacious and longer than expected. Warm lights shone on some photographs. Police cordons were also present, they surrounded some photos to prevent people from going near. Yan Rusheng scanned through each photograph as he maneuvered through the crowd. ¡°These are the orphans that had lost both parents in the disaster.¡± ¡°This boy who¡¯s being carried by the Prime Minister is now the top millionaire in our country. He started his business venture after dropping out of high school and when he became rich, he contributed greatly to our county. He built the bridge over there.¡± A tourist guide uttered a commentary. Yan Rusheng followed behind the group of tourists, and his gaze moved according to the direction pointed by the tour guide. Looking at the photo that the tour guide was currently pointing to, a streak of surprise flashed across his eyes. ¡°Excuse me.¡± He let go of his luggage and pushed the crowd aside to move closer to the photograph. In the photo, there was a little girl standing behind the boy and the Prime Minister. She had short hair and was wearing a dress. Her pair of crystal clear eyes were still so vivid and lifelike after so many years. As Yan Rusheng suddenly charged in, everyone¡¯s attention fell on him. When they saw his face, many were captivated by him and was in awe. ¡°Isn¡¯t he¡­ isn¡¯t he¡­¡± The people in the town hardly left their homes nor paid attention to the entertainment news. Most of the foreign tourists were from the city, and they were the ones who were always meddling with their cell phones. Hence, at one glance, they could recognize Yan Rusheng¡¯s face right away. A few young girls covered their mouths and shrieked at the same time. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the Third Young Master of Flourish & Prosper?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s him. Earlier, he appeared in the news together with that lady violinist.¡± ¡°He was involved in many relationships with various celebrities and award-winning actress.¡± ¡°He¡¯s more charming in person.¡± ¡°He looks so dashing in his business suit.¡± Everyone started chatting about him absolutely unrestrained as if he didn¡¯t exist. And taking photographs of him at the same time. It was the first time Yan Rusheng had stood in a crowd. More so, he allowed strangers to take photographs of himself while they gossiped about his past love affairs. Some girls even went forward to take photos with him without even asking for his permission. He pulled a straight face and made people feel he was extremely annoyed and offended by their disrespect. ¡°Quickly share them on Moments. It¡¯s simply awesome.¡± After they had finished taking the photographs, the young ladies immediately showed them off to their friends on Moments. As Yan Rusheng appeared in various magazines and TV interviews, he was considered a public figure. Thus, taking photos of him wasn¡¯t an infringement of his personality rights. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t bother and only wanted to leave the place as soon as possible. He looked at the photo again and without further hesitation, he stretched forth his hands to take the photo frame and pushed his way out of the crowd. ¡°Someone had snatched the photograph. Third Young Master snatched the photograph.¡± Someone from the crowd shouted. Upon seeing this dramatic scene, the fashionistas and gossipers started snapping away on their cell phones. Chapter 600. It Really Was Just a Couple Of Shots Yan Rusheng walked towards the door with no obstruction when suddenly, a 60-year-old man stepped in from outside and blocked his path. ¡°Mister, these photos are the historic relics of our town. You are not allowed to take them away.¡± The old man smiled and politely explained. ¡°You must count your blessings that I didn¡¯t sue you for infringing on my personality rights,¡± Yan Rusheng responded coldly. He carried his luggage and prepared to leave. The old man shifted his steps and continued to block his path. ¡°Oh? What do you mean?¡± Yan Rusheng pointed to the little girl in the photo. ¡°The girl in the photo is my spouse.¡± She¡¯s my wife. After saying those words, he came to a sudden realization. His heart started to palpitate. There was also a baffling sense of pride. He used to address her as ¡®my wife¡¯, ¡®my woman¡¯. These were the common ways that men would address their girlfriends when they were in a relationship. However, the term ¡®spouse¡¯ was formal and official. It normally appears when one is filling up a form or used in formal introductions. Xuxu was his spouse. Xuxu was his spouse. Yan Rusheng was emotionally stirred up, and he mumbled to himself. Hearing this, the old man laughed and spoke nonchalantly. ¡°The girl in the photograph came a few days ago, and she didn¡¯t have any objections. Furthermore, the photographs had been on display for so many years, and I¡¯ve never heard anything about infringement of personality rights.¡± He paused for a moment and switched the topic without giving Yan Rusheng a chance to speak. ¡°Young man, you can have this photograph if you want. You don¡¯t have to be so brash with your words.¡± ¡°Then can I have this photo please?¡± Yan Rusheng softened his tone without any hesitation. He wanted the photo. He didn¡¯t want his Xuxu to be displayed like an exhibit for everyone to see. Especially when it was such a precious photo of her when she was young. ¡°Alright.¡± The old man agreed right away. But Yan Rusheng knew that there must be a condition attached. So he pursed his lips and remained silent, waiting for the old man to spell out his terms. ¡°I have a condition.¡± As expected, Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows and smiled. The old man smiled and continued, ¡°Be the spokesperson of our shop.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression turned cold and aloof. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t sell my face.¡± With that, he raised his feet and decided to barge his way out. The old man managed to stop him. ¡°Then you can¡¯t take this photo away.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows coldly. ¡°What if I insist?¡± Face to face with this President¡¯s overbearing and strong aura, the old man was calm and collected. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you the condition. You just need to upload some of your photographs onto our website to help us garner more publicity.¡± Yan Rusheng twitched his eyebrows and his expression turned even colder. All the tourists in the shop stopped looking at the photographs and fixed their attention on him as pressed his lips together. Everyone felt anxious for the old man. After all, the Third Young Master was capable of wrecking this small shop anytime. There¡¯s nothing that money couldn¡¯t do. ¡°Alright.¡± However, everyone¡¯s jaw dropped when Young Master Yan nodded in agreement. A trace of annoyance flashed past his eyes and his face remained aloof-looking. ¡°I¡¯ll only give you half an hour.¡± ¡­ It was really just a couple of shots. This was the first time that Yan Rusheng donned a shoddy suit. Although the quality of the material was rough, and it had made him uncomfortable, it didn¡¯t affect the effect of the photos. He still looked all poised and elegant. However, the gel on his hair was the most unbearable that it made him feel like puking. Chapter 601. May Your Business Prosper Yan Rusheng stood outside the entrance of the photo studio. He posed in front of the photographer¡¯s camera. The onlookers increased as they crowded around the photo studio. The owner of the photo studio hired several police officers to maintain control. ¡°Come on, look at me!¡± After snapping a few photos, the photographer displayed a victory pose. He urged Yan Rusheng to mimic him. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell! Was this fellow trying to play a trick on him? How dare he make him do such childish poses? The photographer realized that Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t moving and opened his mouth to urge him. ¡°Hurry up, after this, we are done.¡± After this, they are done¡­ Yan Rusheng heard him and gritted his teeth with determination. He raised both hands and made the victory poses. ¡°Smile!¡± shouted the photographer. Yan Rusheng forced a rather fake smile. Was he even considered a photographer? Even old photographers aren¡¯t so childish and ignorant like him! The photographer had said that it would be the last photo, and Yan Rusheng immediately removed the outfit to change back into his own clothes. He picked up his luggage and was about to make a move. He ignored everyone¡¯s curious expressions as he gloomily walked towards the entrance of the small town. ¡°Young Master Yan, please hold on!¡± The photo studio owner came rushing after him. Yan Rusheng halted his footsteps and waited for the old man to catch up. He knitted his eyebrows and cast a puzzled glance at the latter. He was holding a red scarf in his hands. He said, ¡°Yesterday, Xuxu came to visit me and she left the scarf here. Please return it to her.¡± He handed the scarf to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng looked at the red scarf and his heart skipped a beat. He extended his hand to receive the scarf and instinctively, he bent and sniffed the scarf. It was soft and there was a faint scent on the scarf. It made him long for more. A gentle smile appeared on his face. ¡°I¡¯m so grateful to you, Young Master Yan. Our business hasn¡¯t been doing well these two years.¡± The old man smiled at him. He also meant to clarify that he was being forced to use Yan Rusheng as their ambassador to boost business. Yan Rusheng stole a glance at the photo studio, and people crowded around it. This old man still had the cheek to say that his business was bad? The old man guessed Yan Rusheng¡¯s thoughts, and he explained, ¡°We had an event these few days and for 200 yuan, we help customers take photos of the entire town. That¡¯s why we had an increase in customers.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond to his explanation, and instead, he asked, ¡°She¡­¡± He was afraid that the old man didn¡¯t know who he was referring to, so he rephrased his question once more. ¡°I mean Xuxu. When she dropped by, did she mention that she was leaving this town soon?¡± The owner was perplexed. ¡°Didn¡¯t the two of you come together?¡± Yan Rusheng tilted his head and slightly frowned. The owner guessed what happened, and he gently smiled at Yan Rusheng. ¡°She said that she and her friend would be going to the beach. The nearest beach should be Donghai.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Mister, may your business prosper.¡± So Xuxu went to the beach¡­ His sudden wishes surprised the owner. By the time he snapped out of it, the tall young man was already several meters away. The old man shook his head with an amused expression. ¡­ The beach was the best place to watch a sunrise and Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but agree. She watched as the sun gradually rose and lit up the entire sky. It felt as though the sunlight was slowly entering her heart bit by bit as well. After watching the sunrise, her mood turned substantially better. Chapter 602. Your Expression Seemed So Excruciated During winter, it was an entirely different feeling to walk on the beach and feel the cold wind blowing against your cheeks. Usually, one would be bundled up in thick coats and boots. Especially when it was just after dawn when the coasts are still literally frost and ice. Su Yan held his camera and took pictures of the surroundings. But Xuxu still occupied a majority of his photos. His camera focused on Xuxu¡¯s face once more, and he zoomed in. After pressing the shutters, he smiled and pointed at Xuxu¡¯s nose. ¡°You have a running nose again.¡± Xuxu immediately wiped her nose as she grudgingly admonished Su Yan. ¡°Isn¡¯t this your fault? Why do we have to wake up so early just to catch the sunrise?¡± Su Yan grinned. ¡°Are you denying that you have caught such a rare and beautiful sunrise?¡± Xuxu bit her lips and didn¡¯t deny. She walked forward while Su Yan lagged behind her. The distance between them gradually increased. Her figure became smaller as he watched her through his lens. ¡­ Yan Rusheng checked online and found out that to get to the beach from the town it would take a four-hour drive. Taking the high-speed rail would take him only an hour. And it meant that taking the train would be a wiser option. There were several train timings to the beach, and fortunately, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t wait for long before the train came. Even though it was already the second day of the Chinese New Year, there were still throngs of commuters taking the train. Yan Rusheng squeezed into a crowded elevator. He bought a seat in the commercial cabin, so it was less crowded and much easier to get on the train. He stowed his luggage away and was about to sit down when his cell phone rang. He whipped out his phone; Lu Yinan was on the other line. Without hesitation, he picked it up and sat down after saying ¡®hello¡¯. Lu Yinan¡¯s ¡®anxious¡¯ voice sounded from the other line. ¡°Third Yan, are you being coerced by someone over there? Do you need backup?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned with annoyance. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Why did you stand there like a wax figure and took photos with strangers?¡± Lu Yinan was obviously trying to stifle his laughter. Yan Rusheng was irate and raised his voice. ¡°Scram!¡± He knew that the photos would be circulated. But he didn¡¯t think that it would be so fast. He was about to hang up after lashing out at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan finally burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha! And you took such cheesy photos! A victory pose! I have never even tried it in my life.¡± His sarcasm outraged Yan Rusheng, and he didn¡¯t feel like listening to Lu Yinan¡¯s voice for another second. He ended the call. The train started rumbling and moved off. Yan Rusheng peered out of the windows, looking melancholic. ¡®Xuxu, I know that I have committed an unforgivable sin. But it¡¯s impossible for me to give you up.¡¯ His phone rang again. Yan Rusheng glanced at his phone and it was Ming Ansheng this time around. He frowned and instantly ended the call. Without surprise, just like Lu Yinan, he must have called to tease him about the photos he took at the photo studio. He received a text almost instantly from Ming Ansheng. ¡®Third Yan, what¡¯s the situation over there? Are you being controlled? Your expression seemed so excruciated.¡¯ There was a long pause¡­ These two fellows must be in cahoots! He ignored the text and continued to admire the nature and scenery as it swiftly flashed past. It was barely two minutes when his phone rang again. Feeling annoyed, he had half a thought to switch off his phone when he saw that it was Su Yue. Chapter 603. We Can’t Waste Did this lass call to express her ¡®concern¡¯ as well after seeing those circulated photos of him? Yan Rusheng was wondering as he picked up the phone. Without waiting for him to speak, Su Yue loudly exclaimed, ¡°Third Brother! My brother just uploaded a photo on Weibo. There was a figure in his photo which looked like Third sister-in-law.¡± Yan Rusheng straightened his back with excitement. ¡°Send it to me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue promptly ended the call. Yan Rusheng anxiously stared at his phone. It had been more than two weeks since he had last seen her. He would have had no idea if she had gained or lost weight. No, how could she possibly gain weight? She was so heartbroken when she left. Finally, his phone rang again. Yan Rusheng clicked Su Yue¡¯s text and instantly, his heart seemed to be viciously tugged. In the photo, there was a girl with short hair. Even though she was bundled up in a thick coat, she still seemed frail and tiny. She lost weight. Xuxu had indeed lost weight. Xuxu¡­ Xuxu¡­ his Xuxu. Yan Rusheng lightly caressed the photo. How he wished he could enter the photo to embrace her. These two weeks, he could only think and miss her. The excruciating pain of not being able to reach out to her was indescribable. He finally understood that this was love. He couldn¡¯t see her and it was heartrending. Donghai town was a popular tourist spot, and it was a beautiful place to catch the sunrise. Many tourists would flock there to catch a glimpse of the famed scenery during summer. Su Yan and Xuxu stayed at a fisherman¡¯s place. During the summer, the fishermen would open up their houses to welcome the tourists as a source of income. During winter, they would rely on fishing to supplement their income. Tourism boosted their incomes, and the fishermen lived a comfortable lifestyle. Their houses on the beach were like mini-mansions with two or three levels. In the morning, their breakfast comprised of prawn crackers and porridge. The prawn crackers were fried that it was crispy and crunchy. Xuxu had three servings. Su Yan didn¡¯t like seafood too much. After he had a bowl of porridge, he sat and watched Xuxu as she ate. He observed how she tore another prawn cracker with relish. Su Yan jerked his head and teased her. ¡°If I didn¡¯t witness this for myself, I wouldn¡¯t believe how much you could really eat.¡± Xuxu continued eating as she answered, ¡°We¡¯re setting off in a bit. If you get hungry midway, don¡¯t expect me to wait for you on the road.¡± Su Yan furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°We have just reached here, and it¡¯s too rushed to leave after watching the sunrise.¡± ¡°It¡¯s winter now, and we can¡¯t swim in the freezing waters. Besides catching the sunrise, what else can we do here?¡± Xuxu cast him a doubtful glance before diverting her attention back on her food. Su Yan quipped, ¡°I haven¡¯t taken enough photos.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°You should come in summer again. There will be beautiful ladies flocking to you, and you will enjoy snapping away until you get a nosebleed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that stuff.¡± Su Yan bent and turned on his camera to admire the sunrise photos he had taken that morning. ¡°Blergh!¡± Xuxu felt queasy all of a sudden and she wanted to throw up. She hastily grabbed the bowl of porridge and drank a mouthful. She felt much better after drinking the porridge. She shoveled the last bit of the prawn cracker in her mouth. Su Yan watched her and the corners of his mouth twitched. ¡°You¡¯re still eating when you already feel like puking.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t waste food.¡± Xuxu picked up her spoon and continued eating. Su Yan was silent. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Blergh!¡± Xuxu had barely placed the bowl on the table when her stomach churned once more. It felt different from earlier on. Everything she had just swallowed, including the porridge, seemed to be gushing out from her mouth. Chapter 604. Do You Have Any Other Dreams? Xuxu placed her bowl down, dashed to a trash can and began puking. ¡®Blergh¡­ Blergh¡­¡¯ She had been eating non stop for half an hour, and now she had puked everything out. Su Yan got her a cup of water and anxiously passed it to her. ¡°Rinse out your mouth with this.¡± He gently patted her back. As he patted, he began to lecture her softly. ¡°Look at you. No matter how delicious the food is, you shouldn¡¯t binge-eat. Now it¡¯s all wasted when you puked it out.¡± Xuxu ignored him and rinsed out her mouth. But unexpectedly, she puked out some other stuff as well. It was some yellowish stuff. It struck Xuxu with a thought as she eyed the trash can in a reverie. Su Yan¡¯s heart was aching. He admonished her, ¡°If you continue eating like this, your health will be at risk.¡± Xuxu snapped out of her reverie and glared at Su Yan. ¡°Be quiet, will you?¡± She stood up and went to the dining table. After sitting down, she dabbed her mouth with tissues. She grabbed another prawn cracker and began savoring it once more. Su Yan shook his head helplessly when he saw her. Xuxu ate only a little and didn¡¯t puke afterward. She had already packed her bag. After breakfast, she lugged it out from her room. When she left the capital city, she didn¡¯t bring anything along. All her belongings were what she had bought along the way. Su Yan traveled light too; a huge backpack and a camera. They bade the fisherman goodbye and left for the bus stop. It was a sunny day that morning, it lifted up her mood. Xuxu¡¯s face was facing the sun, and she had a bright smile. Su Yan was rather surprised. He quickly snapped a photo of her. He liked to take photos of beautiful scenery and people. He would admire them in his free time. ¡°Xuxu, come over to help me when we get back to the capital city,¡± Su Yan suddenly said. Xuxu cast him an apprehensive look, but she continued walking. ¡°You mean Grand Fashion?¡± She continued without waiting for Su Yan to answer. ¡°I don¡¯t help others to organize their personal life nor to take care of miscellaneous stuff.¡± She had indirectly rejected him. She knew that Su Yan wasn¡¯t joking, so she gave him a firm and thorough rejection. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to go to Grand Fashion,¡± Su Yan said patiently. ¡°I want you to be the lady boss of my photography company.¡± What he said had startled Xuxu. But she still spoke in a calm tone. ¡°You opened your own company?¡± This fellow was really unfathomable. How could he have done so many things within a month? Su Yan nodded. ¡°Mmm.¡± Xuxu grinned. She asked, ¡°Do you know the meaning of a lady boss?¡± Su Yan was about to answer when Xuxu cut across him. ¡°It means that she is the mother of the boss.¡± She suppressed a grin as she tried to maintain a serious expression. Regardless of how bad Su Yan¡¯s Chinese was, he knew the definition of a lady boss. He turned solemn and serious. ¡°I¡¯m not joking with you. You help me manage my company, and I¡¯ll leave everything to you. You can do whatever you want and like.¡± He continued again. ¡°Xuxu, other than love, do you have any other dreams? Or things that you want to do.¡± Other dreams¡­ A bitter smile played around Xuxu¡¯s mouth for a moment before a bright smile replaced it. ¡°Certainly! Earn more money!¡± That was everyone¡¯s dream by instinct. Su Yan looked at her with a serious expression. ¡°You can consider my proposal.¡± Chapter 605. Are You Pregnant? Xuxu smiled in response. ¡°Thank you for the offer, but I¡¯m not considering any jobs right now.¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll welcome you any time after you¡¯ve made up your mind. You can leave any time as well. Treat this as a well-deserved break for your soul.¡± Xuxu tightly pressed her lips and kept mum. They reached the bus stop and the bus going to Donghai train station came on time. They boarded the bus and paid for their ride. Xuxu found an empty seat and sat down, while Su Yan stood beside her. He held on to the handrail for support as he watched her closely. ¡°Where shall we go next?¡± Xuxu pondered for a moment before answering. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the capital city.¡± Su Yan was rather taken aback. ¡°So soon?¡± The nearby cities had famous tourist spots. Their original plan was to tour all these cities before heading back home. Xuxu peered down at her hands. She then mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m a little tired, and I miss my grandfather as well.¡± Her hands unconsciously touched her tummy as mixed emotions swirled in her eyes. The bus journey to the train station takes about more than an hour. It also briefly stopped at certain stops. Xuxu became a little giddy as the ride was a little bumpy. Her stomach was churning once more. She leaned against the window and covered her mouth with a hand. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± asked Su Yan anxiously when he noticed her pale face. Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I might have eaten too much this morning, and it could be indigestion.¡± She had barely finished speaking when she felt something gushing from her throat to her mouth. She stopped herself from puking. She gave Su Yan a look and pointed at the bus driver. Su Yan hastily shouted, ¡°Stop the bus!¡± After the bus driver had stopped the vehicle, Xuxu bolted for the exit. Once she got off the bus, she held onto a lamppost for support and started puking. Su Yan watched Xuxu and finally, a thought struck him. He asked her rather apprehensively, ¡°Xuxu, are you¡­ pregnant?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t answer and rummaged through her bag for wet tissues. She pulled out one and wiped her mouth. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s walk there.¡± Su Yan was startled. ¡°Walk?¡± They had traveled half an hour by bus earlier on, and they still had at least half an hour before reaching the train station. If they commute on foot, they will need more than an hour. Xuxu answered softly, ¡°Let¡¯s walk for a while.¡± The thought of taking the bus ride made her feel like puking once more. Su Yan nodded. He glanced at her backpack and then stretched his hand to take it from her. ¡°I¡¯ll carry it for you.¡± Seeing how frail and weak she looked, it seemed that a strong gust of wind would sweep her off her feet. Xuxu felt really terrible, and her bag was heavy with her belongings. She didn¡¯t reject and passed it on to him. Su Yan turned on his GPS. He began to navigate their way. His phone rang and Su Yue was calling. He glanced at Xuxu before answering the call. He whispered, ¡°Hello.¡± He purposely slowed down so that Xuxu would be ahead of him. ¡­ Before reaching the beach, one could already catch a whiff of the salty seawater. Yan Rusheng sat in a taxi. He was too restless to admire the scenery. He asked the driver, ¡°Is this place huge?¡± He wasn¡¯t chatting but merely trying to check the popular tourist spots so that he could analyze which places would Xuxu might be. ¡°Yes,¡± the driver answered. ¡°But if you want to catch the sunrise, the good spots are limited.¡± Yan Rusheng asked again, ¡°Is it crowded in winter?¡± It was his first time taking a taxi and chatting with a driver. He tried his best to be courteous for fear that the driver might get annoyed with his questions. Chapter 606. Dont Let Your Heart Suffer Any Grievances The driver replied, ¡°It¡¯s less crowded in the winter since it¡¯s too cold to swim. Usually, the tourists are here to admire the sunrise in the winter.¡± The coastal roads were clean and wide. Yan Rusheng understood why tourists would flock there. He slumped back on the seat. He didn¡¯t sleep the whole night well, and his flu began to get worse. His head felt heavy. He massaged his forehead and temples, trying to analyze where would Xuxu be at the moment. ¡®In the winter, tourists could only catch the sunrise¡­¡¯ He suddenly thought of something. He turned his face towards the driver. ¡°Please turn back.¡± His sudden request had the driver taken aback. In doubt, the driver asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Go to the airport¡­¡± Yan Rusheng stopped mid-way and abruptly changed his mind. ¡°No, go to the train station. Back to the train station.¡± The driver was now confused. ¡°The train station earlier?¡± Yan Rusheng forgot that every city had several train stations. He asked, ¡°How many train stations are there in Donghai?¡± ¡°Donghai City Train Station and Donghai South Station,¡± the driver patiently elaborated. ¡°The one I picked you up earlier was the Donghai South Station. It¡¯s newly built, so it has high speed rails and motor vehicles. There are trains too but not as many. Donghai City Train Station is the older station, but it also has high speed rails.¡± Yan Rusheng contemplated for a short moment before speaking in a determined manner. ¡°To the old train station.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The driver nodded, and he made a detour after a traffic junction. Yan Rusheng leaned back on the seat and shut his eyes. His head was painfully throbbing again. He lightly bumped his fist on his forehead. ¡®Ah Sheng, let¡¯s take the train and we can sleep on board. Sleeping on the train should feel like sleeping in a cradle that¡¯s being swayed. We can also admire the scenery of various cities. How wonderful!¡¯ ¡®You can take the train if you like, I¡¯m won¡¯t. Why should I waste my time on such a long journey?¡¯ Xuxu, you¡¯ve always given in to me in the past. Hopefully, you haven¡¯t changed because what I know about you was simply too little. ¡­ Su Yan couldn¡¯t bear to see Xuxu walk for such a long distance. So, he flagged for a taxi after a while. Xuxu had puked out everything in her stomach, and she barely had any strength left. He was worried that she might get carsick, so he advised her to sit in the front. She removed her scarf and unzipped her coat. She propped her head against the car window and promptly shut her eyes. ¡°Xuxu, did you use your phone recently?¡± Su Yan had asked. Her eyelids fluttered as she lazily answered, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± Actually, she had been using her phone, but with a different number. Su Yan glanced at his phone and said, ¡°Yan Rusheng went to N City, to the town we just left.¡± Xuxu kept her eyes closed. Her eyelids didn¡¯t even flutter as she fell silent. Su Yan was about to pass her the phone, but when he saw that she didn¡¯t respond at all, he retracted his hand. He said, ¡°Xuxu, I feel that your previous lifestyle was too restrained. You¡¯ve never done the things that you like. I reckon that other than the slaves in medieval times who didn¡¯t have freedom, everyone else should be able to do whatever they like. People should force themselves to do the things they don¡¯t enjoy doing. In a nutshell, don¡¯t let your heart suffer any grievances.¡± Xuxu kept her eyes closed with her lips tightly pressed together. She remained impassive. Don¡¯t let your heart suffer any grievances¡­ After mulling over his words, her mouth curled with a bitter smile. Chapter 607. Definitely Cant Miss Her Xuxu admired Su Yan¡¯s way of thinking, but¡­ she didn¡¯t really yearn for it. Perhaps it was because he had lived abroad for many years, and the culture differed from theirs. He would naturally be influenced to be more open-minded and positive. Other than traffic junctions, the taxi didn¡¯t stop but traveled smoothly. Xuxu could take a nap without being interrupted and woke up only when they reached the train station. It wasn¡¯t a peak season, so there weren¡¯t too many tourists and the station wasn¡¯t very crowded. They had arrived at N city on a bus ride. Her entire journey consisted of bus rides or taxi rides. That way she could avoid leaving any traces of her presence at the rail network and at the same time, she could also enjoy the scenery along the way. Earlier on, they had already booked the train tickets back to the capital city. Su Yan carried his backpack on his back. He also carried Xuxu¡¯s bag in his hand as they got down from the taxi. Although it wasn¡¯t crowded, they could still see a few commuters around. There was a queue at every automatic ticket vending machine. ¡°Xuxu, wait for me here. I¡¯ll go collect the tickets.¡± Su Yan placed the bags beside Xuxu and left to join the queue. Xuxu took her phone from her bag and glanced at the time. Whenever she had free time during the trip, she would choose to read instead of using her phone to read about the news. She had already bought three books during this trip. It had been a few days since she last read any articles, and she would instantly tune herself out regarding any news articles and choose to ignore the updates. Just like usual, the moment she switched on her phone, there were several news article notifications. Today¡¯s notifications included a familiar name, and she chose to overlook it. ¡­ ¡°What time is the train? Is it at the Donghai City train station?¡± Yan Rusheng reached the station, but he didn¡¯t get down from the taxi. After the person on the other line answered and confirmed with him, he hurriedly opened the door. Without glancing at the taximeter, he gave several hundred yuan to the driver. He strode with big steps towards the train station while he was still on the line. ¡°11.50 a.m.?¡± ¡°I got it.¡± After he had verified the information, eagerness and anticipation could clearly be seen on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. He bolted towards the train station. They had already helped him check Xuxu¡¯s purchase of ticket record. He was right after all¡ªshe had chosen the old train station, and this was the right one. This time, he definitely can¡¯t miss her. The news cheered up Yan Rusheng. His eyes frantically darted around. Amidst the crowd, he was looking for the person he had been dearly missing. ¡­ After reading Zhou Shuang and Su Yue¡¯s texts, Xuxu stowed her phone back inside her bag once more. She raised her head and glanced at Su Yan who was still in the queue. It seemed like he would still take a while. She opened her bag and took out her water bottle. She was just about to drink some. ¡°Son, don¡¯t be so playful. Be careful! Stop¡­¡± An anxious voice belonging to a woman sounded behind her. Instinctively, Xuxu turned around and saw a boy on a scooter as he was coming in her direction at a high speed. Her eyes were huge with shock. She hastily avoided him in time. But her movements were too big that she spilled most of the water from the bottle in her hand. The floor was slippery, and she missed her footing and fell backward. Chapter 608. To Completely Break Away From Him ¡°Ahh!¡± screamed Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu!¡± A towering figure sprinted towards her, and he was as quick as lightning. A pair of strong, muscular arms caught her in time. A body pressed towards her. Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief. Her legs were rather wobbly that she couldn¡¯t stand straight. Her hands instinctively grabbed on to the man¡¯s clothes as her body gave an involuntary shudder. At that moment, overwhelming fear, terror, and anxiety seized her. She gasped and breathed deeply. The man gently and lightly patted her back. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Another hand held on tightly to her slender waist. It didn¡¯t seem to have the intention of letting go. Instead, he tightened his grip. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu¡­¡± Earlier on, Su Yan heard her screams in the crowd and without a second thought, he immediately ran over to her. When he saw what had happened, his voice and footsteps simultaneously stopped. After adjusting her emotions, Xuxu used her strength and shoved the man away. Without even looking at him, she turned around and walked towards Su Yan. ¡°Did you get the tickets?¡± She caught a glimpse of the tickets and the identity cards he was holding. She grabbed hers from his hand and took her bag. She walked with big strides towards the ticket inspection counter. It was still an hour way before the train would arrive. It would arrive at 11:50 pm. Xuxu found an empty seat near the counter and sat down with her bag beside her. She kept her head bowed with her fingers interlocked on her lap. ¡°Xuxu.¡± The man walked over and stood in front of her. His head was bowed too and although he watched her from a lofty position, he didn¡¯t seem domineering nor arrogant. Instead, he looked like a kid who had done something wrong. As he scrutinized her short hair, it was painful to even breathe. Xuxu was motionless and didn¡¯t respond at all. Yan Rusheng glanced at the sides and people had occupied the seats. So he decided to kneel down, in front of Xuxu. Xuxu was sitting as he knelt in front of her, so she was slightly taller than him. He lifted his head and gazed at her. She seemed cold and her bright eyes were devoid of any warmth. His gaze traveled down to her hands, and he extended his own. He wanted to hold her for a second to make sure that she was real. Just as his hand was about to reach hers, Xuxu violently retracted her hands. She was staring at him. There wasn¡¯t a trace of hatred or grievance. There was hardly any emotion in her eyes. She calmly said, ¡°When we get back, let¡¯s settle the divorce.¡± She sat composed and there wasn¡¯t a trace of reluctance or unwillingness. Her statement dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. But he ignored Xuxu¡¯s protest and grabbed her small palm. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± He didn¡¯t care that the onlookers were staring at them right now. He had cast away his pride as he knelt before Xuxu. His apology sounded like a plea. No matter what he had to do, as long as he could get Xuxu back, he would do it. He was the only one who knew how tormented he had felt in the last few weeks when she wasn¡¯t around. She had stayed by him for more than twenty years, and it had developed into a habit. Wen Xuxu had become an irreplaceable part of his life. ¡®Xuxu rusheng¡¯. How could he still be complete without Xuxu? ¡°Don¡¯t talk here.¡± Xuxu coldly retracted her hand. She was still aware of people¡¯s inquisitive eyes staring at them. She didn¡¯t want to be in the spotlight. If someone was to take their photo, it would circulate once again. She didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with him, never in her life again. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you have to break away from Yan Rusheng completely,¡± she thought to herself. Chapter 609. Stop Talking To Me Su Yan leaned against the glass door at the waiting area. He took his camera and snapped a few photos of the busy scene. He then diverted his lens towards Xuxu. He watched them from his camera lens. He then pressed the shutter button. An announcement sounded from the system, reminding them to get their tickets ready. Su Yan put down his camera and walked to Yan Rusheng. He said to him, ¡°Give me your identity card, I¡¯ll help you get your ticket.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at him and nodded. He passed him his identity card without a word. The passengers began to move when they heard the announcement. Everyone seemed to be in a rush as they moved quickly. Xuxu was about to get up and join the crowd. But she hesitated when she saw how the passengers were shoving and pushing each other. She thought that she should wait until they all have boarded the train. The people sitting next to her had already vacated their seats. Yan Rusheng stood up and sat beside her. He watched her cautiously and quietly. ¡°There you go!¡± Su Yan got his ticket and hurried towards him. He passed on the ticket and identity card back to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng took a brief look at the information on his ticket. His bed was in carriage No. 10. Then he glanced at Xuxu¡¯s ticket. It was also carriage No. 10 and to his surprise, her bed was connected with his. He looked at Su Yan in surprise. Su Yan held his camera as he faced the ticket inspection counter. Yan Rusheng stared at Su Yan in deep thought. Xuxu waited until most of the passengers had entered the train before she rose to her feet. She dragged her bag towards the counter. Yan Rusheng trailed after her and tried to help her with her bag. Without surprise, she rejected his help. Xuxu didn¡¯t make a sound even when they got on the train. Soon, it started moving off. The three of them were staying in a carriage. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng shared the bottom beds while Su Yan took the top bed. Another elderly lady took the top bed. Xuxu removed her coat. She hugged her knees as she sat on the bed. She put on her earphones and turned her head out towards the window. ¡°It¡¯s my first time taking this kind of train!¡± Su Yan ran to the front and back before returning to their carriage. ¡°It¡¯s awesome!¡± He collapsed on Xuxu¡¯s bed and sat down. Yan Rusheng stared at Su Yan as he sat across them. He thought to himself, ¡®It¡¯s everyone¡¯s first time on this train, anyway.¡± Xuxu removed her earphones and spoke to Su Yan. ¡°Su Yan, can you go back to your bed? I want to sleep.¡± She pulled the blanket and adjusted her pillow before lying down. She turned to face the wall. Su Yan quipped, ¡°But you haven¡¯t eaten lunch, eat something before sleeping.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t budge as she replied with her back facing him. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating. Stop talking to me.¡± The carriage fell silent at once. Su Yan climbed back to his bed and laid down. Yan Rusheng remained seated with an arm propped against the table as he watched Xuxu. She was lying down with her earphones, and she was quiet. The door swung open, and it broke the silence. Yan Rusheng instinctively glanced at the door. The elderly lady that they shared carriage was back. The elderly lady was holding a water bottle as she glanced at Xuxu. She glanced at her bed before looking at Yan Rusheng. She looked at him and smiled brightly. ¡°Young lad, my leg is hurting again. Can you exchange beds with me?¡± Chapter 610. Its Definitely Not So Easy Yan Rusheng heard the old lady¡¯s request, and he stole a glance at Xuxu. He contemplated for a second before nodding in agreement. ¡°Okay.¡± The old lady fervently thanked him. ¡°Thank you so much! Thank you, young lad.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips and didn¡¯t reply. He grabbed his coat and put it on top of the bed. He vacated the space for the old lady. He had felt giddy after freezing for a night. Furthermore, he had been traveling in a rush the entire day and couldn¡¯t eat much as well. The second Yan Rusheng stood up, he felt his world spinning. He grabbed the edge of the bed to steady himself while another hand rubbed his temples. After a while, his giddiness began to subside. ¡°Young lad, what¡¯s wrong?¡± When Yan Rusheng almost stumbled earlier on, the old lady witnessed it and came to express her concern. Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He curtly replied before he climbed up to the top bed. He was too tall, and the bed was too cramped for him. He had to either bend his legs or curl his body to be able to fit into space. Su Yan faced the same problem as well. From Donghai back to the capital city, the journey would take about 17 hours. It would be a long, arduous ride. He wanted to talk to Xuxu. He would be contented even if he just sat beside her or just to gaze at her. But he was afraid that it would infuriate her. He had already said that he wouldn¡¯t do the things that she disliked. Yan Rusheng quietly laid down as he listened to the sounds of the train. The ride occasionally got rather bumpy. His nose was blocked, so he had to flip his body once in a while. He felt giddy and sleepy. After tossing and turning for some time, he finally fell asleep. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Su Yan woke up after a short nap, and he quietly stole a glance at Yan Rusheng. Then he turned to gaze at Xuxu with a tender expression on his face. He was quiet and careful as he propped his arm below his face. He gazed intently at the girl who was sitting cross-legged below, reading a book. In his heart, Xuxu was still a girl to him even though she was married, and she was older than him. The sunlight streamed in from the windows and shone on her. She didn¡¯t seem so aloof and cold anymore. She was wearing earphones, and she looked so immersed in her book. She seemed to be in her own world. Her slender and fair fingers flipped the pages after some time. Her everything, even a strand of her hair, was perfect and so wonderful. Su Yan¡¯s heart wildly pounded just like the first time he had seen her. He saw her at a restaurant in H city, and the feeling was exactly the same as what he was feeling now. Quiet, clean, beautiful, sweet, lovely, and laid-back. What made her into such a perfect and wonderful woman? She was almost flawless. But no one was perfect. It wasn¡¯t normal. So her perfection carried a tinge of sorrow. He thought to himself, ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be like this when she was younger. Something must have happened.¡± Su Yan¡¯s eyes traveled back to Yan Rusheng, and he began to get worried for him. She was someone who could conceal her emotions and thoughts so well. She had loved a person for more than 10 years and now that she had turned away¡ªshe appeared so unruffled and calm. Her self-control seemed to have reached a rather insane level. No wonder no one knew that she was secretly in love with Yan Rusheng for years. So it wouldn¡¯t be easy for Yan Rusheng to win her back and to salvage this crisis. Chapter 611. Don’t You Dare Mistreat Him Xuxu finished reading the entire chapter and her eyes felt tired. After placing a bookmark in between the pages to mark her place, she put the book away and yawned before turning her eyes to the window. Her gaze accidentally swept past Su Yan. She was visibly stumped for a moment before regaining her composure. Su Yan grinned and waved at her. ¡°Good afternoon, Xuxu.¡± Xuxu disregarded him and averted her gaze away from his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did you ignore me again? How have I offended you?¡± Su Yan got up and leaped down from his bed. ¡®Dong.¡¯ ¡°Oh my!¡± Su Yan was about to move closer to Xuxu when he heard a scream behind him. He turned and looked behind. The old lady seated on the bed was leaning against the wall. She was patting her chest with one hand, and her face was pale from fright. When Su Yan turned to look at her, the old lady loudly berated him. ¡°You rascal, are you seeking death? You almost scared me to death when you suddenly jumped down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± politely apologized Su Yan. After that, he turned and looked at Xuxu again. He was just in time to catch a smile appearing on Xuxu¡¯s face. He walked over and said, ¡°How nice to see you smile, so don¡¯t bother to conceal it.¡± Xuxu ignored him and replied nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯m going to have my meal. Do you want to join me?¡± It overwhelmed Su Yan with joy to have received her invitation. He thought that he might have heard wrong and reconfirmed with her. ¡°Are you inviting me to have a meal with you?¡± ¡°Forget it if you¡¯re not keen.¡± Having said that, Xuxu placed her feet on the floor. She put on her shoes as she tidied up her clothes and hair at the same time. She took her purse and was about to walk out. Su Yan immediately responded, ¡°No, of course, I¡¯m keen. I¡¯m famished.¡± He stole a glance at Yan Rusheng, who was on the upper bed. He was still and sleeping soundly. He had no intention to ask him along. Otherwise, everyone wouldn¡¯t be able to have their meals in peace. The two of them left the room. The restaurant was next to carriage No. 10. As it wasn¡¯t mealtime yet, there were only a few people in the restaurant. Xuxu moved forward and found a table. She sat down with Su Yan facing her. When both of them had taken their seats, Su Yan looked at Xuxu. ¡°Speak. What do you want to say to me?¡± Hearing this, Xuxu was visibly started. ¡°How do you know that I have things to say to you?¡± Su Yan rolled his eyes at her. ¡°First, you ignored me and then you invited me for a meal all of a sudden. I¡¯m not brainless, so obviously I know that you couldn¡¯t have suddenly changed and become so warm towards me.¡± Xuxu smiled and didn¡¯t deny. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone that I threw up.¡± Su Yan was not in the least surprised and asked, ¡°You intend to hide it from him?¡± Xuxu pressed her lips together and remained silent. Seeing the determined look in her eyes, Su Yan answered with an ¡®ok¡¯ and curled his lips. ¡°I¡¯m not one who tells tales or betrays people.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Xuxu chuckled and withheld further comments. Su Yan knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Why did you laugh?¡± He felt a little guilty. Without waiting for Xuxu to respond, Su Yan looked at her tummy. ¡°But if you are really pregnant, the little fellow in your tummy is also my brother too. So don¡¯t you dare mistreat him.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ If one who grew up in a foreign country wasn¡¯t well-versed with the local language, then so be it. But when it comes to the family hierarchy between countries, how could there be such a huge discrepancy as well? She didn¡¯t correct Su Yan¡¯s mistaken notion about the family hierarchy. The waiter brought over the menus for them to take a look. There were only a few dishes available. Xuxu ordered a tomato and egg soup, hot and sour potato, and a beef brisket potato stew. Chapter 612. Im Not a Doctor Those were enough for two people. ¡°Order two more items.¡± Su Yan suddenly snatched the menu. ¡°Add one more braised Crucian carp and a shiitake mushroom with choy sum.¡± After that, he handed the menu back to the restaurant waitress. Su Yan knew what was going on in Xuxu¡¯s mind. She had pressed her lips together and didn¡¯t utter a word any further. The food arrived. Xuxu picked up her chopsticks and heartily tucked in. She had thrown up all her food earlier. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t puke again after polishing up two bowls of rice. After they had finished eating, Su Yan turned and signaled to the waitress at the bar counter. ¡°Waitress, bring over some takeaway containers. I want to pack the leftovers.¡± His dashing looks made the young waitress¡¯ heart skip a beat, and she blushed with embarrassment. She swiftly brought over some empty containers. Su Yan filled up three containers with the leftover food. He then ordered another bowl of rice from the waitress to take away as well. Xuxu didn¡¯t wait for him and left. She had no idea why stories in television programs and novels always portrayed family and love relationships of the wealthy to be so complicated and cold. Yet, the members of the Yan family had perfectly shown that family relationships are of greater importance than anything else. After she had eaten her fill, Xuxu didn¡¯t immediately return to her room. Instead, she stood at the room door and gazed out of the window. It was 3 p.m. and the sun broke through the clouds. The sun rays fell on the crops on the farmland outside. She raised her hands and stretched herself. ¡°Xuxu, why are you standing here?¡± Su Yan came back from the restaurant after packing the food. He had barely finished his sentence when the train hit a railway junction and swayed for a moment. Xuxu immediately reached for the door frame to balance herself. Su Yan furrowed his eyebrows again. ¡°You better go in quickly and sit down.¡± After saying that, he pulled the door open and went in. But Xuxu didn¡¯t follow suit and continued to look out of the window. ¡°Old Third Master, time for your meal.¡± Su Yan¡¯s voice sounded in the room. The way he addressed him could make one burst out laughing. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Su Yan shouted at Yan Rusheng. Seeing no reaction from him, he gave him a nudge. ¡°I¡¯ve brought some food for you. Do you want to eat?¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly lifted his hand and impatiently shooed him away. ¡°Get lost.¡± His voice was hoarse and dry as if he hadn¡¯t drunk for a long time. Su Yan frowned and felt something was amiss. He stretched forth his hand and touched Yan Rusheng¡¯s forehead. ¡°It¡¯s burning.¡± ¡°You are running a fever.¡± He grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulder and turned him over to lie on his back. He saw that his face had turned red from the fever. ¡°Scram.¡± Yan Rusheng was drowsy and impatiently responded. ¡°So noisy. Leave me alone.¡± Su Yan could tell that he was spouting nonsense. As he didn¡¯t have any experiences taking care of someone, he cast a look at Xuxu who was standing outside. ¡°Xuxu, he¡¯s running a fever.¡± When Xuxu heard this, she turned around at looked at Su Yan. She nonchalantly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor.¡± After that, she turned back and continued looking outside. Witnessing Xuxu¡¯s attitude, Su Yan figured that she might have really turned callous and didn¡¯t care anymore. After some deliberation, he said, ¡°Let me ask the train attendant for some fever medicine.¡± It felt like he was mumbling to himself and at the same time saying to Xuxu. He left the room and walked towards the direction of the dining carriage. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu¡­¡± Initially, Yan Rusheng was sleeping soundly but was awakened up by Su Yan. Perhaps he was feeling uncomfortable from the fever. He licked his lips and kept tossing and turning on the bed. It seemed that he couldn¡¯t find a comfortable position. He was murmuring Xuxu¡¯s name, and his voice was hoarse as if his vocal cords were burnt and had cracked. Xuxu stood still and fixed her eyes on the frost covered field; her expression was cold and distant. Chapter 613. Please Watch Over Him For A While ¡°There are so many commuters on the train and the journey takes more than 10 hours. How can there be no fever medicine available at all? This is ridiculous.¡± Su Yan went to ask for a fever medicine but without success. He grumbled as he walked. One could tell that he was worried. When he passed by Xuxu, he halted his steps and noticed that she was still calm and collected. He resumed his steps and entered the room. ¡°Third Brother, sit up quickly and have some water.¡± Xuxu¡¯s cup was on the table. Su Yan conveniently took it and placed it in Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. He attempted to prop him up on the bed. ¡°You are too noisy. Get lost.¡± Yan Rusheng brushed off Su Yan¡¯s good intentions and forcefully shoved his hands away. The cup of water spilled all over the place. After that, he gripped the blanket between his legs. He turned around with his back facing Su Yan. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu, don¡¯t make a noise.¡± He repeatedly called out Xuxu¡¯s name. Su Yan knew that Xuxu must have appeared in his dreams because he had been thinking about her all day long. The fever must have made him muddle-headed and dazed. But in the face of this situation, what should he do? He felt helpless, yet he couldn¡¯t ignore Yan Rusheng¡ªhis body was burning. Hence, he turned his eyes to Xuxu once again. ¡°Xuxu, can you teach me how to bring down his fever?¡± Before Xuxu could respond, the old lady on the next bed suddenly spoke. ¡°Bring some warm water over. Do you have a towel as well?¡± Su Yan looked at the old lady and immediately nodded. ¡°Yes, I have a towel.¡± He took his bag down from his bed and rummaged through it for a towel. Following the old lady¡¯s instructions, he wet the towel and placed it on Yan Rusheng¡¯s forehead. After a while, the old lady spoke again. ¡°You¡¯ll need to rinse the towel and reapply.¡± Su Yan acted according to the old lady¡¯s instructions and repeatedly ran back and forth. After half an hour, the old lady got down from her bed. She stretched out her hand to feel Yan Rusheng¡¯s forehead. She exclaimed, ¡°Oh dear. He¡¯s still running a high fever and can¡¯t do without medication.¡± Su Yan got anxious when he heard this. ¡°But there isn¡¯t any fever medicine on board.¡± In his anxiousness, his non-fluent mandarin sounded even less fluent. ¡°Dear commuters, our train is arriving at¡­¡± Just then, there was an announcement informing that the train was approaching the next stop. Hearing the announcement, Su Yan thought for a moment and dashed out. A train attendant, who was dragging a piece of luggage, walked out of a room from the other end. He immediately ran up to him. ¡°Comrade, may I know for how long will the train be stopping at the next station?¡± The train attendant replied, ¡°It¡¯s a major station. Hence, it will stop for approximately 7-8 minutes.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Su Yan thanked the attendant in English before asking again, ¡°Is there any pharmacy at the train station?¡± When the train attendant heard Su Yan asking for a pharmacy, he asked with concern. ¡°What happened?¡± Su Yan said, ¡°My friend is running a high fever, and the temperature doesn¡¯t seem to be going down.¡± The train attendant replied, ¡°Oh. You can approach the train manager to help you ask around for any fever medicine available.¡± Su Yan asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a pharmacy at the train station?¡± When it comes to medication, he felt that it¡¯s unsafe to consume it if it¡¯s not supplied by the carriage. ¡°Hey!¡± The train attendant thought for a moment and nodded his head. ¡°There is a sickbay, so there could be some fever or flu medication.¡± Su Yan smiled and thanked him. ¡°Thank you.¡± The train had pulled to a stop. He went back and walked over to Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯m getting off the train to buy medicine for him. Please help me watch over him for a while.¡± He knew very well that Xuxu wouldn¡¯t respond with the answer he wanted to hear. Hence, he didn¡¯t wait for her to reply. He immediately turned around and walked towards the door. Chapter 614. I’ve Been So Silly All These Years The train arrived at the station. Since it was a major station, there were throngs of commuters leaving and boarding the train. Xuxu saw that there were new passengers coming on board, and she didn¡¯t want to block the aisle. Hence, she turned around and went back into the room, closing the door behind her. She took two steps forward and sat down on her bed. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu¡­¡± On the upper bed, Yan Rusheng was still muttering her name with a hoarse voice. She leaned sideways against the bed. She picked up her book, leisurely flipping it open. ¡°Miss, he is running a high fever and you still have the heart to read?¡± The old lady couldn¡¯t stand to watch it any longer when she saw that Yan Rusheng was in terrible agony. Xuxu heard this, and she widened her eye. She coldly looked towards her direction. When the old lady saw her cold and distant attitude, she didn¡¯t continue talking. Instead, she got up and walked towards Yan Rusheng to feel his forehead. ¡°My goodness, he¡¯s really burning. What if he gets brain damage from the fever? He¡¯s such a handsome chap, and if his brain gets damaged, he may not even know who his wife is.¡± The old lady empathetically mumbled as she took the damp towel from the table. She proceeded to place it on Yan Rusheng¡¯s forehead. After that, she returned to her own bed and sat down. She was still mumbling after she sat down. ¡°The more I look at this fellow, the more I find him familiar. It¡¯s as if I¡¯ve recently met him.¡± Meanwhile, Yan Rusheng was still murmuring without ceasing. ¡°Water, Xuxu, drink water.¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyelids twitched, and she stopped flipping the pages of her book. ¡°Miss, since the two of you came together, can you give him some water?¡± The old lady couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. She said to Xuxu, ¡°My leg is painful, so I can¡¯t climb up.¡± Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows and looked at her cup on the table. Su Yan¡¯s cup was next to hers. She got up and picked up Su Yan¡¯s cup. When she opened the lid, it was empty inside. She poured the water from her cup into Su Yan¡¯s cup. She stood up on her bed, placing one foot on the table. As Yan Rusheng was facing the wall, Xuxu could only see the side profile of his face. His hand was hugging the blanket, and his feet were dangling off the bed. Su Yan had also helped remove his socks earlier. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± shouted Xuxu before passing the cup of water to him. There wasn¡¯t the slightest response from the person on the bed. She yelled at him once more. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± After waiting for a while, he was still unresponsive. Xuxu stretched out one hand towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s forehead. When her icy fingertips came into contact with Yan Rusheng¡¯s forehead, he finally responded. He reached out and grabbed hold of Xuxu¡¯s hand. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu.¡± He called for her as he turned his head. As he narrowed his charming peach blossom-shaped eyes, tears were seen glistening in his eyes. Xuxu had the urge to immediately withdraw her hand, but to her surprise, Yan Rusheng held on tightly and refused to let go. He pressed his burning face onto Xuxu¡¯s hand and drowsily groaned, ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m sorry to have let you suffered.¡± ¡°It turns out that you have always been the one, always been the one¡­¡± ¡®You¡¯ve always been the one I loved, and this never changed.¡¯ ¡°Yan Rusheng, let go of my hand,¡± howled Xuxu in a low voice. She could not withdraw her hand. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng opened his eyes and looked straight at Xuxu¡¯s tiny face. His eyes were bloodshot. ¡°Xuxu, do you know that I¡¯ve been so dumb?¡± So dumb that he couldn¡¯t tell two people apart. He even picked the wrong person. Not only had he broken Xuxu¡¯s heart and made her sad for so many years, but he had also been outright silly all these years. ¡°Let go of my hand.¡± Xuxu was emotionally unmoved by his words and instead, she tried to withdraw her hand with force. Chapter 615. Not a Bad Idea to Go About With Ones Nose in the Air ¡°Drink water.¡± Yan Rusheng let go of his hands and flipped over to lie on his back. Xuxu placed the cup at his bedside. She then made her way back to her bed and sat down. She leaned against the wall hugging her legs with both hands and looked out of the window. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± The old lady suddenly shrieked in astonishment. Xuxu got a shock and turned to look at her. She saw the old lady holding her cell phone in one hand while pointing to Yan Rusheng with her other hand. Her eyes sparkled with excitement and joy. Xuxu hazarded a guess why the old lady had reacted that way. She must have read about Yan Rusheng, and when she saw his photos on the internet, she must have recognized him straight away. She pressed her lips together. ¡°The medicine is here.¡± Just then, Su Yan returned with two boxes of medicine. He was gasping for breath. The train had also started to move off at the same time. Thankfully, he made it back to the train in the nick of time. ¡°Third Brother, take your medicine.¡± Su Yan poured the medicine onto his palm. As he was tall enough, he only needed to stand on tiptoe. His towering figure blocked Xuxu¡¯s view. She lay sideways with her back facing them. She had no intention to bother about any other things. To everyone¡¯s surprise, he didn¡¯t lose his temper nor hollered at them. Yan Rusheng took his medication cooperatively. The train swayed back and forth. Xuxu narrowed her eyes, and her eyelids gradually turned heavy as the sky turned dark. Su Yan was still worried for Yan Rusheng. He didn¡¯t return to his own bed and sat at the edge of Xuxu¡¯s bed while randomly scrolling on his cell phone. ¡°Young fellow, is this lady Xuxu?¡± All of a sudden, the old lady sat up and moved to the edge of her bed as well. She sat opposite him while pointing to Xuxu. Su Yan was startled. ¡°How do you know?¡± The old lady grinned. ¡°My granddaughter loves to pay close attention to the news that involves the two of them.¡± Su Yan was dumbfounded and merely laughed before lowering his head. She continued staring at his phone. The old lady inched closer to him and deliberately lowered her voice. ¡°What were they arguing about? That young lad was running such a high fever, yet she doesn¡¯t seem to care about him.¡± Su Yan was speechless. This old lady was a real busybody. He replied, ¡°This is a way of flirting. Auntie, you won¡¯t understand.¡± Just in case the old lady asked further, he stood up and went over to feel Yan Rusheng¡¯s forehead which a layer of perspiration covered. Since he was young, he seldom catches a cold, and the number of episodes that he did could be counted on his fingers. But from the little experience that he had, he knew that when one started perspiring, it¡¯s a sign that the fever was coming down and the person would be out of danger. Hence, he heaved a sigh of relief. After he had gone to the bathroom, he climbed back to his bed. However, there were certain matters that couldn¡¯t be avoided no matter how much one tried to escape. The old lady on the lower bed leaned against Su Yan¡¯s bedside and stared at him. ¡°Young man, what¡¯s your name? How are you related to them? Why have I not seen you in the news before?¡± Her questions came one after the other, just like a firing machine gun. The corners of Su Yan¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched, and he was speechless. Before Su Yan could respond, an impatient voice came from behind the old lady. ¡°Old lady, you are very noisy.¡± His voice was hoarse and sounded nasal as well. When the old lady heard this, she turned her head just when Yan Rusheng flipped to the other side. His back was already facing her. ¡°Indeed, as what the rumors say. He has no manners!¡± The old lady gave Yan Rusheng a fierce look of contempt before returning to her own bed. Su Yan chuckled to himself. He thought to himself, ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s not a bad idea to go about with one¡¯s nose in the air, especially when dealing with a nosy old lady.¡± Chapter 616. It Seemed Like He Had Never Given Her ¡®What were they arguing about? That young lad was running such a high fever, yet she doesn¡¯t seem to care about him.¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, I¡¯ve peeled the outer layer of the pill. Hurry up and eat your medicine.¡¯ ¡®If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that your whole body was burning, and that Grandmother would be devastated if you die from a high fever, do you think I would care about you?¡¯ What had he done to make Xuxu so bitterly disappointed in him? What had he done all these years? Thinking back, he had done so many things to hurt her. It served him right that Xuxu doesn¡¯t care about him. Xuxu wasn¡¯t in the wrong. After Yan Rusheng had snubbed the old lady, she quietly went back to her bed. Silence fell on the carriage once more.The only sound echoing around was the sound of the train moving. Yan Rusheng was perspiring all over, and he hasn¡¯t had any food all day long. His head felt exceedingly heavy, so he held on to the hooks on the wall for support. He sat down and leaned against the wall. There was only one lamp that switched was on, and it cast a dim light in the carriage. Su Yan was facing the wall, he was hiding under the blanket to use his phone. Yan Rusheng stretched his hand to reach for the bottle and at one glance, he knew it belonged to a man. He twisted the cover and took a sip before gulping down the rest of the water. His throat felt like it was being seared. He finally realized how thirsty he was after he finished gulping down the water. He put the cover back and looked out of the window. Occasionally, the train would travel past lamp posts. The light briefly illuminated the loneliness and sorrow in his eyes. His fever hasn¡¯t fully subsided, and his hair and clothes were all wet with sweat. He removed his woolen shirt and what remained was a thin shirt. He remained seated until Su Yan switched off his phone and went to sleep. Only then did he climbed down the bed. After getting down the bed, the first thing he did was to glance at Xuxu¡¯s bed. His heart involuntarily jerked. Xuxu had switched on a lamp and sat on her bed with her earphones. She sat cross-legged with her head resting against the head of the bed. She was staring out of the window. Her dewy eyes slowly blinked. And as he watched her, he wondered what was on her mind. ¡°Xu¡­¡± Yan Rusheng was about to speak when he stopped himself. In the end, he bent his head and turned around to leave the carriage. He silently shut the door after him. He was the one who had brought this upon them. And now, it was simply an extravagant hope just to be near her. Yan Rusheng went to the bathroom and washed his face. He returned to the carriage, but he remained outside the door. As he stood there, he peered out into the darkness. After a short while, the broadcast announced that they were reaching the next stop. Yan Rusheng went into their carriage after hearing the announcement. Xuxu still sat in the same position. She was quiet as she stared out of the window. It made his heart ache. All these years, she had been suffering in silence with all the joys and sorrows that he had brought on her. No, was there even joy? It seemed like he had never given her any. He didn¡¯t climb up his bed. Instead, he sat down at the edge of Xuxu¡¯s bed. He quietly gazed at her as she gazed out of the window. Sometime later, Xuxu removed her earphones and laid down to rest. Yan Rusheng remained seated as his eyes followed her. The final station was at the capital city, and the announcement was made early. They reached the capital city at around dawn. ¡°Time to change ticket.¡± The train officers abruptly opened their carriage door and yelled. Xuxu had just fallen asleep when she was jolted awake. She gave a shudder, and Yan Rusheng was vexed with the train staff. Chapter 617. Her Stomach Was Emptied From All The Puking Yan Rusheng¡¯s icy-looking eyes swept past the train officer. The middle-aged lady originally had her eyes on his face, but the moment she saw him glaring at her, terror struck. She immediately diverted her eyes. ¡°There.¡± Xuxu¡¯s sleepy voice echoed. It was soft and gentle. Her voice was enough to stir his heart and it made it pound faster. He turned around, and Xuxu was holding her ticket towards the train officer. She sleepily rubbed her eyes with another hand, looking half-asleep. It seemed like God had removed the veil that had covered his eyes. Finally, he could see how wonderful and perfect Xuxu was in his eyes. He wasn¡¯t able to stop and extricate himself from feeling like this. He clenched the bedsheets and resisted an overwhelming urge to embrace her. ¡°Sir, your ticket.¡± Su Yan and the elderly lady had already handed over their tickets. Yan Rusheng was the last one left. The intimidation and shock that the train officer felt earlier haven¡¯t worn off, so she spoke to him rather timidly. Yan Rusheng remained silent as he passed the ticket from his pocket to the lady. ¡°Thank you.¡± She returned his ticket and gratefully thanked him. The sky was still dark outside. As they were reaching their final destination, all the passengers began switching on the lights and began washing up. Xuxu got out of bed. She took her toothbrush and toothpaste with her. She didn¡¯t sleep well during the night, so she used the cold water to pat her puffy eyes. She brushed her teeth and took a gulp of water to rinse her mouth. Suddenly, she felt an urge to puke. ¡°Blergh¡­¡± The train made a sudden bumpy movement. Her stomach began churning and jerking as a result. She threw the cup down, covered her mouth and turned around to enter the toilet. The toilet door was just about to shut. The person hasn¡¯t locked the door, so she dashed over to pull it open. A towering figure stood inside, but she didn¡¯t have time to care about him. She bent and faced the toilet bowl and began to puke. ¡®Blergh¡­ Blergh¡­¡¯ She was already feeling nauseated, and the smell of the toilet made it worse. She had emptied all the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl. Suddenly, a huge hand gently stroked her back and began patting her. Xuxu¡¯s body turned rigid and the next second, she heard a familiar voice. ¡°Xuxu.¡± A gentle, husky, deep and tender voice. Xuxu fidgeted and stretched her hand to hold on to the basin. She slowly stood up. She turned on the tap and cold water gushed out. She scooped some water and splashed it on her face. She already emptied her stomach, but the nauseous sensation still felt horrible. In that tiny cramped space, they barely stood a step apart. Yan Rusheng was beside Xuxu, and he could feel that Xuxu was feeling cold all over. He stretched his hand but didn¡¯t dare to touch her. She didn¡¯t eat yesterday up until that moment. She barely had the strength to stand up. Xuxu used her sleeves to wipe off the water beads on her face. She then slowly turned around. Yan Rusheng stood tall in her path. She raised her head and looked at him. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Yan Rusheng saw that she was stark white, and it had reminded him of how much she had puked earlier on. He was worried and anxious. ¡°Xuxu, you¡­¡± Xuxu impatiently cut across him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you not block my way?¡± A crease appeared in between her eyebrows, and she squeezed her way out, past him. There were people waiting outside the bathroom, but her toothbrush and toothpaste were still inside. Chapter 618. Then How Exactly Did Xuxu Survive All Those Years? Xuxu squeezed in between the crowd. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°Make way.¡± To her surprise, Yan Rusheng suddenly overtook and went ahead of her. Xuxu was puzzled. She had tried so hard to do so, but he had parted the crowd so easily. It was as if the people had automatically paved a way for him. Yan Rusheng went inside the bathroom and took out her toothbrush and toothpaste. Then he passed the items to her. She kept her head bowed, received the items, and turned back to the direction of her carriage. Yan Rusheng trailed after her, and they entered the room one after another. After entering the room, Yan Rusheng instantly grabbed Xuxu¡¯s cup. Before she could say a word, he left the room. He filled it with hot water and placed it carefully on the table. ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± Xuxu sat near the edge of the bed as she brushed her hair. Yan Rusheng watched her, and he suppressed an urge to speak to her. In the end, he pulled out his luggage from under the bed. He took out his toothbrush and toothpaste and left for the bathroom. Xuxu stared at the cup in a daze and frowned. Her eyes were swirling with complex emotions. ¡®Snap.¡¯ She heard someone pressing a camera shutter button, and it broke her train of thoughts. She raised her head and a face happily beamed at her. ¡°Good morning, Xuxu!¡± Su Yan joyfully waved at Xuxu and with a quick movement, he jumped off his bed. He bent to sit beside Xuxu and took out his camera to show Xuxu the photo he had taken earlier. ¡°Look, he looks like a¡­ poor little¡­¡± Su Yan wasn¡¯t that proficient in Chinese yet, and he took some time to recall the phrase he wanted to use. ¡°Poor little tramp.¡± He pointed at the screen with the photo of Yan Rusheng passing the cup to Xuxu. He shook his head and scorned him. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look like the President of Flourish & Prosper at all, nor does he have the air of a Third Young Master of the Yan family.¡± He praised Xuxu and gave her a thumb up. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re too awesome. Even the old fellow is afraid of him.¡± Old fellow? Xuxu heard him. For a while, she was confused. She then hazarded a guess about the ¡®old fellow¡¯ he was referring to. Su Yan wasn¡¯t someone who would concede to defeat so easily or be manipulated by others, so how would he acknowledge a man who had let his mother down? Furthermore, he had never fulfilled his duty as a father. She pressed her lips and didn¡¯t respond. The announcement rang once more when they were about to reach the final destination. Yan Rusheng came back after washing up. He saw Su Yan sitting close to Xuxu and seemed to chat with her rather intimately. A streak of jealousy and hatred flashed in his eyes. Then he bent down and curled his lips as he mocked himself. This scene had made him jealous and angry? He was jealous? Then how exactly did Xuxu survive these years? ¡°I¡¯ll go wash up.¡± Su Yan hastily kept his camera when he saw that Yan Rusheng was back. He dragged his bag and took out his stuff. After Su Yan left, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were the only ones left in the room. Yan Rusheng held his toothbrush and toothpaste in one hand and a food container in another. He had bought porridge. ¡°Xuxu, I bought porridge for you,¡± he said as he passed her the container. Xuxu didn¡¯t take it from him. Instead, she lightly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating, thank you.¡± She rose and packed her belongings. She lifted her cup and poured the water away into the trash can before throwing it carelessly with the rest of the belongings. Yan Rusheng heard the water being poured into the trash. He tightly clenched his fists to contain the surging pain in his heart. Chapter 619. Angry Yan Rusheng thought to himself, this was what he deserved, and he deserved even more punishment. The train finally began to slow down as the announcements rang at repeated intervals. The announcements included gentle reminders and blessings. Xuxu carried her bag and pulled her luggage. She was preparing to leave the carriage. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Su Yan came back after washing up. He realized that Xuxu was all ready. He threw his belongings carelessly inside his backpack. Then he extended his hand without asking Xuxu and snatched her luggage away from her. ¡°I¡¯ll help you to carry. It¡¯s crowded outside, be extra careful as your shoes are slippery. Watch your steps as you walk.¡± His careful and deliberate reminders attracted Yan Rusheng¡¯s attention. A crease appeared between his eyebrows as he cast a puzzled look at Su Yan. Su Yan raised an eyebrow, and seem to throw it back at him. He seemed to ask what happened. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes traveled to Xuxu¡¯s tummy and recalled how she had puked earlier on. He stood there in deep thoughts. Xuxu silently glared at Su Yan before snatching back her luggage back from him. She strode forward without hesitation and left the room without a second look. ¡°Oops. She is angry.¡± Su Yan shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Yan Rusheng hastily darted after her and followed her closely. For fear of infuriating her, he kept a small distance away from her. Throngs of commuters were leaving the train, and there were people alighting from other trains too. The air wasn¡¯t that well-circulated underground. A strong stench of some local produce, presumably salted vegetables, suddenly permeated the air. Xuxu caught a whiff of the smell, and she became nauseated once more. She quickly covered her mouth and hastened her footsteps. Yan Rusheng knew that she wasn¡¯t feeling well, and he caught up with her with several big strides. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu continued to quicken her pace. Yan Rusheng shot a swift look at her feet, and he became anxious and worried. ¡°Look! Isn¡¯t that Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President and his wife?¡± ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s really them!¡± ¡°He is so handsome! Take a photo quickly!¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had frequently appeared on the news, so it wasn¡¯t a surprise that someone would recognzied them in a public place. The crowd began to jostle and push their way towards them. The people nearest to them started the ball rolling and began to whip out their phones. Xuxu bowed her head, and her hand was still covering her mouth. She hated these situations. Every time she was at a slightly crowded place, she would be thrown in the limelight when spotted. Xuxu couldn¡¯t control her nausea any longer when she reached the exit near the ticket counter. She sprinted to a trash can and started puking. Actually, there wasn¡¯t anything left in her stomach but this perpetual nauseous feeling made her constantly feel like throwing up. She had experienced this some years ago¡­ Her energy had drained after throwing up and she couldn¡¯t stand up by herself. She pressed her palm against the wall for support. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s outstretched hand was about to hold Xuxu, but she instantly pushed his hand away. Within those few minutes, he felt that she seemed to have shrunk once more. He tried to get close to her again, but she rejected his help once again. Yan Rusheng was helpless. He knew that if Xuxu was adamant on refusing, it would have adverse effects if he tried to use force. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± Two familiar figures strode towards her and gave her a warm welcome. It startled Xuxu, and it took several seconds before she could put a weak smile on her face. ¡°Aunt Mu Li.¡± Her eyes traveled to Yan Weihong who stood beside Mu Li. In a rather reproachful tone, Xuxu said, ¡°Second Uncle Yan hasn¡¯t made a full recovery. How can you make him travel so far in the morning?¡± Mu Li grabbed her hand and smiled warmly. ¡°We are here to fetch you.¡± Chapter 620. I’ll Just Eat One Xuxu smiled and bowed her head. ¡°I can take a taxi back home myself.¡± ¡°Stop standing here, let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Weihong spoke, and Xuxu didn¡¯t dare to oppose him. It was dawn, and the sky wasn¡¯t even fully lit up, yet they had brought Second Uncle Yan to make sure she didn¡¯t turn them down. ¡°Give me the luggage.¡± Mu Li took the luggage Xuxu was carrying, and she linked both of their arms. They walked ahead while Yan Weihong and Yan Rusheng trailed after them. ¡°I knew this disaster would happen.¡± Yan Weihong stared at Xuxu as he berated Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond and quietly sighed to himself. Yes, he had caused this disaster! Then he thought of something and cast a doubtful glance at Yan Weihong. ¡°Why are both of you here?¡± ¡°Third Yan, you really need to pick up some tips from Su Yan in the area of coaxing and wooing girls. He is so much more thoughtful than you.¡± Yan Weihong smiled and pressed on. ¡°He said that you were running a high fever, and Xuxu had been throwing up during the journey. So he called us late last night and asked us to send a chauffeur here.¡± ¡°But your mother understands Xuxu too well. She won¡¯t get in the car if we send the chauffeur.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in comprehension. If he was a thoughtful man, he wouldn¡¯t be clueless about Xuxu¡¯s feelings all these years. If he knew, they wouldn¡¯t end up like this. They had parked the car outside the train station, and it was a short distance away. The chauffeur saw them coming and rushed to help them with their luggage. Mu Li opened the door for Xuxu to get in first while she followed closely behind. She was about to shut the door when Yan Rusheng stopped her from doing so just in time. Mu Li glared at him. ¡°You can take another car with Su Yan. This car is full.¡± She shoved his hand away and shut the door after her. She promptly instructed the chauffeur. ¡°Set off.¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows, feeling frustrated as the car sped off. This wasn¡¯t something that a birth mother would do! Xuxu felt extremely unwell during the ride and felt queasy again despite her stomach being empty. Her face was rather pallid. She propped her head back on the seat and didn¡¯t talk. Mu Li noticed her and didn¡¯t speak at all. She quietly placed a jacket over her legs. The two cars entered the courtyard one after another. Xuxu bolted for the kitchen once she was in the house. She opened the fridge and found some tomatoes. After washing it, she began eating it hungrily. Mu Li saw Xuxu eating the tomatoes as she walked out of the kitchen. She rushed to stop her. ¡°Xuxu, this is too cold for your body, your stomach won¡¯t be able to take it.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just eat one.¡± She pulled a chair and sat down as she gobbled the tomatoes with relish. Mu Li sat down on a chair next to her as her eyes sparkled. In a serious manner, she said, ¡°Xuxu, tell me honestly. Are you pregnant?¡± Her voice hinted excitement. Xuxu paused and hesitated. She bent down and quietly said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± With what she had experienced before, she could only hazard a guess. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± Mu Li stopped mid way and took a deep breath. ¡°No matter what happens, I hope that you will be happy. Everything else is not important. Our relationship will not be affected no matter what happens.¡± Xuxu bowed her head and a warm current seemed to be coursing through her body. Chapter 621. Lets Settle The Divorce Papers Xuxu kept mum and ate the tomatoes in silence. Aunt Zhang had cooked some porridge for her. After finishing it up, she went back to her room. She took a shower and then collapsed on the bed. When she woke up, the sky was still dark. She walked out of her bedroom and went to Yan Rusheng¡¯s room. She knocked on the door. No one responded, so she presumed that no one was inside. She turned the doorknob, and gingerly pushed the door. The curtains were all drawn tightly, and not even a ray of sunlight could stream in. Xuxu switched on the lights. She glanced inside the room and got a shock. Buried underneath the blanket was a man. She could hardly see his head, and only a tuft of his hair could be seen peeking out from the blanket. Xuxu deliberated for a moment before striding across the room. She walked to the wardrobe and opened it as quietly as she could. She bundled up all clothes in a pile and took them out. Then she shut the door gently once more. A man¡¯s husky voice sounded from behind. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu panicked and tried to leave quickly. The man swiftly jumped off the bed and hugged her from behind. ¡°Xuxu, don¡¯t go.¡± Yan Rusheng buried his face near her neck and hair. His burning body startled Xuxu. She used her elbow to shove him as hard as she could. ¡°Yan Rusheng, let me go.¡± Everyone should be asleep by now, and she didn¡¯t want to wake anyone up. Yan Rusheng was like a child as he wrapped his arms tightly around Xuxu¡¯s waist. He began to act shamelessly. ¡°Don¡¯t go Xuxu. I know I¡¯m in the wrong.¡± Even though layers of clothing separated them, Xuxu could feel that Yan Rusheng¡¯s temperature was exceptionally hot right at that moment. She used all her strength and struggled once more, but it was to no avail. She turned her head and her chin brushed against his hair. It annoyed her, so she admonished him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t behave like this. We¡¯re both adults.¡± ¡°Xuxu, please don¡¯t leave me alright?¡± No matter what Xuxu said¡ªno matter how harsh or bad her attitude was towards him¡ªYan Rusheng didn¡¯t care. His hand wounded tightly around her, and he had refused to let her go. He had let go of all his pride and arrogance and everything he used to care about. Xuxu remained indifferent. Without blinking, she said to him, ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± She was so cold and distant. Every word from her mouth was like an icicle that mercilessly pierced through Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. He was really afraid of losing her, and so he tightened his grip once more. ¡°Please don¡¯t, Xuxu.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, I believe that you should know my character quite well,¡± continued Xuxu. She sounded unconcerned and cold. ¡°Tomorrow morning, let¡¯s settle the divorce papers.¡± She threw the pile of clothes on the floor and pushed him again once more. With several big strides, she left the room. Yan Rusheng knelt down in a daze as he stared at the fallen clothes. He began to pick them up one by one. ¡®Yan Rusheng, I believe that you should know my character quite well¡­¡¯ If he didn¡¯t understand her well, why would he be so fearful and terrified? Her obstinateness and persistence, how harsh she can be to herself, her unyielding determination¡ªhe had witnessed all of them. When she snipped off her hair, her determination had culminated. It seemed impossible to reverse the situation. But he could never let her go again. A year or two. Perhaps one, two or three decades. Or possibly his entire lifetime. Because the only one who could stand next to him was Xuxu. There would only be Rusheng with Xuxu around. Yan Rusheng collected all her clothes and placed them back one by one into his wardrobe once more. Chapter 622. His Heart Sank to the Bottom of the Pit ¡­ It was the 4th day of the first calendar month, and it was a rare sunny day in the capital city with no trace of haze. Xuxu woke up early. During breakfast, she threw up everything as usual. Seeing her present state, Mu Li felt excited and yet sorry for her. As she gently patted Xuxu¡¯s back, she looked at Yan Weihong and said, ¡°Weihong, let¡¯s bring Xuxu to the hospital for a checkup.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can go there myself. Second Uncle has yet to make a full recovery, so don¡¯t torment him.¡± Anyway, there really was a need to visit the hospital for a checkup. Regardless if it¡¯s a yes or a no, she¡¯ll decide on which step she should take after the results are out. Mu Li said, ¡°Then let me go with you.¡± A voice suddenly came from the outside. ¡°I¡¯ll go with both of you.¡± Yan Rusheng was wearing a set of grey and white home lounge wear. He had been running a fever two nights in a row, and he seemed to have lost weight. He had barely finished his sentence when Mu Li shot him a nasty glare. ¡°You stay out of this. It¡¯s none of your business. You haven¡¯t even recovered from your flu.¡± She turned back and looked at Xuxu again with a smile. There was a stark difference in her attitude towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll go together.¡± Without waiting for Xuxu to respond, she immediately stood up and went outside. She shouted as she walked. ¡°Old Liu, drive the car out and bring us to City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital.¡± Xuxu looked at Mu Li¡¯s back view and wanted to call out to her, but alas, her vomiting episode had sucked the strength out of her body. Seeing her so insistent, she let her have her way. All parents think alike. As long as one wasn¡¯t wicked beyond redemption, they would long to see a reconciliation rather than a separation. But she felt grateful that Aunt Mu Li didn¡¯t try to persuade her, which meant that they had given her the personal space she needed to make her own decision. Xuxu went upstairs to change and decided to carry a bigger bag today. When she went down, Mu Li was already ready and waiting in the living room. Yan Rusheng stood next to Mu Li. When she saw Xuxu coming down, Mu Li smiled and went forward. ¡°After the checkup at the hospital, let¡¯s go shopping. Since your dad became ill, I haven¡¯t had the chance to shop upon my return to the country. I haven¡¯t even bought any New Year presents for both of you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need anything, so don¡¯t have to buy.¡± The two of them walked as they talked. Xuxu deliberately walked past Yan Rusheng. She spoke softly when she passed him. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the entrance of the Civil Administration Office this afternoon.¡± She didn¡¯t stop in her tracks and only slowed down her steps for a little bit. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng turned and tried to grab hold of Xuxu. But she happened to pick up speed just in time. He failed to grab her. Seeing her so determined, his heart sank to the bottom of the pit. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu had just stepped out of the door when Su Yue suddenly came running over. The little lass was dressed in a newly bought red color down-filled garment. Her naturally curled locks were tied up into a bun. It made her look even more dainty and cute. She excitedly ran towards Xuxu and held on to her hand. ¡°Brother said that my nephew is in your tummy. I want to go with you too.¡± She stretched out her hand. She gingerly and affectionately massaged Xuxu¡¯s stomach. Xuxu looked at her innocent-looking face and smiled, but didn¡¯t say a word. But deep inside, she gnashed her teeth. That damn Su Yan! He had the nerve to say that he was not one to tell tales or betray his friends. He¡¯s an ultimate liar! ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue happily held Xuxu and went down the stairs. After taking a few steps, she turned her head back and winked at Yan Rusheng. Chapter 623. You’re Pregnant Yan Rusheng slightly curled his lips. A complicated smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. He intently gazed at Xuxu¡¯s tiny figure. ¡­ At the hospital, the doctor looked at the lab test results as he adjusted his spectacles. He smiled at Xuxu. ¡°The results show that you¡¯re in your first trimester of pregnancy. As it¡¯s still at the early stage of conception, the ultrasound scan won¡¯t be able to detect the fetus yet. Come again next week for another scan.¡± After that, she handed the test results to Xuxu. Xuxu lowered her head and stared at the results. She pursed her lips and frowned. There were complex emotions imbued in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant. That¡¯s great!¡± Behind her, Mu Li couldn¡¯t contain her joy. After her burst of excitement, she became worried. ¡°Oh dear, it¡¯s not good. I¡¯m going to be a grandmother soon.¡± Even Su Yue, who wasn¡¯t fond of expressing her feelings, felt amused with her contradictory emotions. The next moment, Mu Li looked at the doctor with a look of worry. ¡°Doctor, each time she eats, she throws up. So, what should we do?¡± Seeing Xuxu in that manner earlier in the morning, her heart ached. The doctor replied, ¡°This is a pregnancy symptom, and it isn¡¯t a cause for concern. One might throw up after eating, but they may eat again after vomiting. This is normal for expecting moms.¡± Mu Li nodded her head. ¡°Okay, I got it. Thank you, doctor.¡± The doctor smiled. She took out a pregnancy health booklet, after which she jotted down Xuxu¡¯s response. She asked, ¡°Is this your first pregnancy?¡± Xuxu looked down and was slightly hesitant before answering lightly with an ¡®Mm¡¯. Her hands on her laps clenched into ball of fists. The doctor asked again, ¡°For your subsequent prenatal examinations, do you intend to follow up at our hospital?¡± Xuxu hesitated even longer this time. She pursed her lips and remained silent. Mu Li inched towards her and whispered, ¡°Xuxu, the hospital chief is my classmate, and this hospital specializes in this area. I suggest that you remain with them, but I¡¯ll leave the final decision to you.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Her tone sounded different from earlier. Her response was a straight-forward as if she had already arrived at a decision. When Mu Li heard this, she heaved a sigh of relief in her heart. After the checkup and settlement of paperworks, they left the hospital afterward as it had already been lunchtime. Mu Li said, ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping together. I want to get presents for the two of you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to.¡± Xuxu shook her head and gently replied, ¡°I really don¡¯t need anything now. I want to visit grandfather as I¡¯ve not visited him during the new year.¡± Mu Li didn¡¯t make things difficult for her. ¡°Alright, let the driver send you there. I¡¯ll take a taxi home with Yueyue.¡± Without giving Xuxu the opportunity to reject, she proceeded to open the car door and shoved her in. Xuxu didn¡¯t reject either. She wound down the window and bade good bye to Mu Li and Su Yue. She then asked the driver to start the car. In the car, she took out her cell phone and dialed a number. It was a number that wasn¡¯t stored in her phone but was etched in her mind. ¡°Hello, two in the afternoon. I¡¯ll wait for you to arrive¡­¡± After that, she instantly hung up without waiting for the other party to respond. ¡­ From the car, Xuxu saw a ¡®business as usual¡¯ signage hanging at the door of her grandfather¡¯s clinic. She chuckled and shook her head. This old fellow was indeed dedicated to his work. It was only the 4th day of the month, and he had already opened his door for business. She sighed. Perhaps he didn¡¯t even rest during the new year holidays. The car came to a steady stop. Xuxu smiled at the driver and said, ¡°Thank you. You may go back first.¡± Chapter 624. Move Back to the Apartment She said so as she opened the car door. After she had finished her sentence, she alighted from the car and closed the door behind her. She turned around and headed for her grandfather¡¯s shop. As she pushed aside the strip curtain, she saw Qi Lei dressed in his white robe. He was occupied with his chores. The house suddenly brightened when Qi Lei looked towards the door. He saw Xuxu and then beamed with delight. ¡°Xuxu is back.¡± He immediately put down his work and moved towards Xuxu. Xuxu smiled and said to him, ¡°Qi Lei, Happy New Year.¡± ¡°The bad lass is back.¡± When Old Master Wen heard Xuxu¡¯s voice, he eagerly stuck his head out from the second floor. Yet when he saw her, he deliberately put on a nonchalant look. ¡°You were away for so long. You didn¡¯t even bring me a present now that you¡¯ve returned?¡± Xuxu looked at him. ¡°Yes I did, but I didn¡¯t bring it along with me. I¡¯ll send it over tonight.¡± The elderly went down. ¡°You are coming over again tonight?¡± Xuxu smiled in a relaxed manner. ¡°I¡¯ve moved back to my apartment.¡± ¡°Wretched lass. How can I not be worried for you?¡± The old man lightly smacked her head. His action and tone of voice sounded helpless. He obviously didn¡¯t want to see Xuxu and Yan Rusheng¡¯s marriage ending in a divorce. But he felt that the haughty Yan Rusheng needed to experience more setbacks to steel himself. Otherwise, he would never know how to love someone. Hence, when he heard that Xuxu had moved back to her apartment, he didn¡¯t object. After that, he looked down at Xuxu¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Then why are you back today? To wish me a Happy New Year? Where is your stuff?¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Can you not be so realistic? I¡¯m here to ask for a free meal. Is there anything to eat? Any? I¡¯m famished.¡± She hugged her grandfather¡¯s arm with one hand and pressed her other hand on her tummy, behaving like a spoiled child. ¡°Nothing.¡± The elderly shook his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t even bother to bring me New Year gifts and still have the cheek to come and be a freeloader. Go and buy your own food.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu lowered her gaze to her tummy and deliberately spoke with a sour tone. She sighed. ¡°Look at your great grandfather. He doesn¡¯t even want to feed you.¡± The elderly got all excited. ¡°Wretched lass, what do you mean?¡± He dropped his gaze to Xuxu¡¯s tiny belly. Xuxu curled her lips. ¡°Looks like you are really getting on in ears, and your hearing has deteriorated too. I will not repeat what I¡¯ve just said as you won¡¯t understand, anyway.¡± With that, she withdrew her hand from the old man¡¯s arm and walked over to the rocking chair which was decked with a layer of woolen cushion and sat down. Her toes occasionally touched the ground as she rocked back and forth. She closed her eyes. The corners of her lips broke into a crafty smile. ¡°How wonderful!¡± The elderly recollected himself and joyfully clapped his hands. He looked at Qi Lei and immediately instructed, ¡°Qi Lei, quickly go and prepare a bowl of noodles for Xuxu and warm up the chicken drumsticks for her as well.¡± Qi Lei also came to a sudden realization. He swiftly nodded his head. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Wretched lass. How many months already? Let grandfather take your pulse.¡± The elderly man pulled a stool over and sat beside Xuxu, forcibly pulling her hand over to feel her pulse. He¡¯s going to have a great-grandchild soon, and no amount of words could describe his joy. Xuxu retracted her hand and looked at the elderly man and said, ¡°I¡¯ve just been to the hospital for a checkup, and I¡¯m only four weeks pregnant. So you don¡¯t have to show off your medical skills yet.¡± The old man knitted his eyebrows. ¡°You have doubts with my expertise?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t dare.¡± The elderly man didn¡¯t pursue further and asked, ¡°Then why did you move back to your apartment? There are so many people in his house to look after you. You shouldn¡¯t be staying alone.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°It¡¯s alright if youngsters nowadays are fake and spoiled. But you have gone through so many hardships in the village, so how could you be so pretentious too? Even grandmother who was pregnant back then also continued toiling at the fields.¡± Chapter 625. Would He Still Be Able to See This Ever Again? How would Xuxu be so weak or frail? The most dangerous thing would probably be food or medicine¡­ She had been absentmindedly tapping her fingers on the table. She paused for a bit. The old man was taken aback. ¡°How did you know that your grandmother worked in the fields?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. She then spun her head away from her grandfather with the intention of ignoring him. Her words didn¡¯t entirely assure the old man. ¡°This society is still pretentious after all. So how could you not be?¡± Xuxu closed her eyes and didn¡¯t respond. She finished her noodles. Xuxu comfortably settled herself on the deck chair afterward. Every time she visited her grandfather, she would feel peaceful and contented after a meal¡ªeven if it was merely a bowl of rice. Grandmother was no longer around, and this was the last place she could seek warmth from. Even though Aunt Mu Li and the rest of them treated her well, they were still different from a naggy elder. ¡­ Mu Li and Su Yue entered the house to find Yan Rusheng resting on the sofa with his eyes closed. His expression seemed rather despondent. Mu Li walked over to him after removing her shoes. She sat down and started solemnly giving him a piece of advice. ¡°Son, you¡¯ve voiced out your suspicions about Xuxu¡¯s character, and this had infuriated everyone including the Gods. Even I think that Xuxu shouldn¡¯t forgive you. But on the account of my future grandson, I want to encourage you not to give up. The child is your hope, and it depends on what you do.¡± Yan Rusheng heard his mom and his eyelids fluttered. Other than that, he didn¡¯t respond. A crease appeared between Mu Li¡¯s eyebrows and she trudged on. ¡°You have to cast your dignity and pride away. Be patient and abandon your fiery temper.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips as he listened intently to the huge clock in the living room. ¡®Dong¡­ dong¡­¡¯ Two in the afternoon. I¡¯ll wait for you to arrive¡­ She said that she would wait until he appeared. She was coercing him to agree to the divorce. ¡°Mother, what time is it now?¡± Yan Rusheng finally spoke. Mu Li was bewildered as she blinked her eyes. She glanced at the clock before answering him. ¡°One p.m., why did you ask?¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and rose. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and slumped towards the staircase. He went to his room and opened his wardrobe. His blazers and shirts were all neatly arranged. His pullovers and sweaters were folded and placed in a pile. Xuxu had folded and arranged all these clothes, and he didn¡¯t move them at all in her absence. He pulled the drawer. Both their socks were all bundled up and placed together. Would he still be able to see this ever again? He randomly chose a pair and closed the drawer. Then he put on a shirt and a blazer. He appeared well-groomed and suave as he descended the stairs. ¡°Third Brother, are you heading out?¡± Su Yue was about to head upstairs when she saw Yan Rusheng. She was curious to see him formally dressed. It was the fourth day of the Chinese New Year. He didn¡¯t have to go to work. Yan Rusheng nodded vaguely and continued his descent. He walked past Su Yue without a word. ¡°Third Yan, where are you going to?¡± Mu Li found it weird that Yan Rusheng dressed so formally. Actually, he normally dressed like that, but something felt off about him that day. His expression was solemn and serious. Yan Rusheng lightly replied. ¡°I¡¯m going out for a short while.¡± He didn¡¯t stop. ¡­ Xuxu took a taxi to the Civil Administration Office. She stood at the bottom of a long flight of steps as she peered at the building. It was a sunny and bright day, and the sun almost dazzled her eyes. Chapter 626. The Civil Administration Office Is Closed Xuxu used a hand to shield her eyes from the blazing sun. She took a deep breath and began her ascent. Even though each of her footsteps felt heavy, there wasn¡¯t a hint of hesitation. After climbing a few more steps, she peered towards the entrance of the Civil Administration Office. She furrowed her eyebrows with a puzzled look. ¡®Sh*t, where was everyone?¡¯ ¡®Why was it deserted?!¡¯ Xuxu didn¡¯t give up, and she put her face against the glass door and peered inside. It was literally¡­ empty. A thought dawned on her. Today was¡­ the fourth day of the Chinese New Year. Was it still a Public Holiday? She whipped out her phone and checked on various search engines. She typed ¡®Is the Civil Administration Office open on the fourth day of the Chinese New Year?¡¯ The answers were unanimous: No. Xuxu was frustrated and embarrassed. She had always regarded herself as someone who was meticulous and bright. Why did she forget about the public holidays during Chinese New Year? Originally, she didn¡¯t seem to realize that it was Chinese New Year. If she didn¡¯t notice that the building was empty, it would have completely slipped her mind that it was still Chinese New Year. ¡°Xuxu.¡± A familiar voice belonging to a man sounded. Xuxu glanced towards the direction of the voice and saw Yan Rusheng was walking towards her. He was formally dressed in a suit, and he had put on a black coat. He looked clean and well-groomed. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked, and the sunshine enveloped Yan Rusheng entirely. The sunshine seemed as though it was bribed to make him glisten and dazzle. Xuxu softly replied, ¡°I forgot that today is the fourth day of Chinese New Year. The Civil Administration Office is closed.¡± The news secretly thrilled Yan Rusheng. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± He was over the moon. Great! It had slipped his mind that today was the fourth day of Chinese New Year. Why would the Civil Administration Office be open? Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ ¡°Another day then.¡± Xuxu bent her head as she softly spoke. Without hesitation, she walked past Yan Rusheng and descended the stairs. Yan Rusheng turned around and followed her. ¡°Are you going home?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t respond to Yan Rusheng¡¯s question as she stared at her feet. Even though it was a sunny day, there was still a light breeze. It seemed to ruffle Xuxu¡¯s locks and made it dance. Every time Yan Rusheng¡¯s saw Xuxu¡¯s hair, his heart would throb with pain as though something invisible attacked it. Xuxu was quiet and so was Yan Rusheng. He walked a step behind her without a word. It was by the roadside that Yan Rusheng parked his car, where Xuxu also had to flag a taxi. Xuxu extended her hand to flag down a taxi. Yan Rusheng interrupted and gestured to his car. ¡°Xuxu, where are you going to? I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Whenever he spoke to her, it was as if he would deliberate for a while. He would carefully phrase his words before speaking, as well. He thought, ¡°This must be love. When a couple has an argument, they would take the initiative to apologize and try their best to coax the other party. Neither of them should remain proud, and wait for the other party to admit their mistake.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Xuxu replied curtly and just then, a taxi stopped in front of her. She got in and shut the door. Yan Rusheng watched her as she went into the taxi. He was still quite happy even though her attitude remained the same. He was relieved that it was the fourth day of Chinese New Year and that the Civil Administration Office was closed. He was happy that they didn¡¯t sign the divorce papers that day, and he felt comforted that Xuxu was still his wife. She was still his official as his spouse. He felt that heaven was on his side and had given him another chance for him to make things right. He opened his car door and started the engine as he raced after the taxi in front. Chapter 627. A Change of Environment, a Change of Mood From now on, he would chase after Wen Xuxu. Just like the Chinese idiom ¡®xuxu rusheng¡¯, Xuxu was placed in front while Rusheng was at the back. Xuxu returned to the house and she heard sounds in the living room. After removing her shoes, she peeked her head from the front door and glanced inside. Yan Weihong and Mu Li were sitting on the sofa watching TV. Yan Weihong held the fruit platter while Mu Li ate. Occasionally, Yan Weihong would feed Mu Li with a piece of fruit. She had witnessed these scenes often. Second Uncle Yan was known for loving and doting on Aunt Mu Li. ¡°Aunt Mu Li, Second Uncle.¡± Xuxu entered and shot them a bright smile. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re back. Come and have some fruits.¡± In the past, with Mu Li around, Yan Weihong doesn¡¯t usually speak. And there weren¡¯t many opportunities for him to talk as well. But today, to Xuxu¡¯s surprise, it was Yan Weihong who spoke first. He gestured to the fruit platter as he smiled at Xuxu. Madam Mu Li gave a furtive glare at the man beside her. All men were the same. They would forget about their wives when they have their grandchildren. She took a piece of fruit and popped it inside her mouth. Then she beckoned to Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, come over.¡± Xuxu sat down beside Mu Li, and the latter carefully chose a pear from the platter for her. ¡°You have to eat more fruits. From tomorrow onwards, I¡¯ll make sure you have chicken soup and bird nest porridge to eat every day. Look at how skinny you are.¡± Xuxu shyly smiled. Her relationship with the Yan family wasn¡¯t just simply tied to Yan Rusheng. With Mu Li, she felt as though she was her daughter. Yan Rusheng opened the door and entered the living room. It startled Yan Weihong and Mu Li when they saw him. They glanced at Xuxu, looking puzzled. They don¡¯t understand why they came back together. Xuxu looked at Mu Li and Yan Weihong and softly spoke, ¡°Aunt Mu Li, I have something to tell both of you.¡± She seemed rather nervous and apprehensive as though she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the words. Mu Li observed her, though her smile remained unchanged. ¡°Just say it.¡± Xuxu solemnly said, ¡°I intend to move back to my own apartment.¡± She said it bluntly and in a forthright manner. Mu Li smiled in response. ¡°That sounds good. A change of environment, a change of mood.¡± She stretched her hand and gripped Xuxu¡¯s shoulders as though she was silently giving her encouragement and support. Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing her response. It comforted her. ¡°Thank you, Aunt Mu Li.¡± But deep down, she knew that she wasn¡¯t really whole-heartedly supporting her, neither was she on the same side as her. She knew that Mu Li wasn¡¯t supportive of her getting a divorce. She may appear to be insensitive and loud sometimes, but Xuxu could never beat her in terms of craftiness and wit. She couldn¡¯t understand what was on her mind and what she was ¡®plotting¡¯. ¡°Do you have anything to pack?¡± Mu Li continued, ¡°I¡¯ll help you. I can send you there as well. When do you intend to leave? Your apartment hasn¡¯t been occupied for quite some time. I can go over and help you tidy the place.¡± Yan Weihong had a sudden impulse to punch his wife when he saw how enthusiastic and supportive she was of their daughter-in-law moving out. He felt that no matter what the circumstances were, to allow his pregnant daughter-in-law to move out wasn¡¯t right. She had no one to take care of her and it isn¡¯t safe. He wore a smile. He spoke, ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s inconvenient for you to move out and stay alone by yourself. Aunt Zhang is at home, and we are here too. All of us can help to take care of you.¡± He quietly slipped his hand towards Mu Li¡¯s back and pinched her hard. Madam Mu Li frowned and shot him a murderous glare. This old fellow was too realistic. For the sake of his grandchild, he had used force on her. True enough, a man does indeed place more importance and emphasis in their future generations and carrying their family line. Chapter 628. Unless the Boss Is a Fool Xuxu pretended not to have seen the couple passing furtive glares to each other. She gently nodded and hummed. ¡°I¡¯ll leave this afternoon.¡± Mu Li quipped, ¡°Sure. Go ahead and pack your belongings. I¡¯ll arrange with the chauffeur.¡± She stood up and walked towards the door. Xuxu rose too and then left for the stairs. Yan Rusheng watched Xuxu. He opened his mouth soundlessly several times, but he couldn¡¯t utter the words he wanted to say. He told himself that it was alright. Just like what Mu Li had said, as long as he didn¡¯t give up. Xuxu dragged two pieces of luggage from her room that she already packed last night. At the staircase landing, she bent over and was about to carry her items of luggage down the staircase. Yan Rusheng spotted her and scurried towards her. ¡°Xuxu, let me do it.¡± This time around, he didn¡¯t wait for Xuxu and snatched her luggage from her. And in a blink of an eye, he quickly descended the stairs. Madam Mu Li stood downstairs as she quietly observed them. The corners of her mouth curled with satisfaction. This wretched son didn¡¯t disappoint her after all. It had been a month since she last stepped into her apartment. There was a layer of dust everywhere, and it was stuffy since all windows were closed. Xuxu changed into her bedroom slippers before opening the windows. Mu Li dragged the pieces of luggage and trailed after her. It was the first time she went over to Xuxu¡¯s apartment. He eyes wandered around to survey the entire place. She saw the wall opposite of the couch and stared at it with curiosity at the back of her mind. She walked over to the door which connected Xuxu¡¯s apartment with the one beside it. She inspected and sized up the apartment next door. She couldn¡¯t understand it and frowned. ¡°Xuxu, what kind of design is this? Why is your unit connected to the apartment next door?¡± The apartment next door had some simple furniture, and the rest of the space was empty. Her voice echoed around the entire house. ¡°Yan Rusheng bought that unit,¡± casually answered Xuxu as she tied an apron around her. She then walked out of the kitchen. She held a rag in her hands and cleaned the table. Mu Li heard her and secretly grinned as she turned her face away. But when she turned around to face Xuxu once more, she immediately wore a rather aloof expression. She snorted. ¡°I¡¯ll find someone to seal that door this afternoon. We need to prevent that fellow from moving in and sneaking into your house.¡± Xuxu bowed her head and smiled without speaking. She was rather amused. She knew that Aunt Mu Li was hinting at her that Yan Rusheng would move in soon. Mu Li walked over and took the rag from her hands. ¡°Go take a rest. I¡¯ll clean up.¡± Xuxu straightened her back as she stuffed her hands into the pockets of the apron. ¡°Why are all of you so uptight? I¡¯m not so frail or delicate! Many pregnant women carried on working until they gave birth.¡± Mu Li became sensitive at the mention of the word working . Her hands stopped moving, and then she looked at Xuxu in all seriousness. ¡°I have to let you know. Don¡¯t even play with the idea of going out to work. Regardless of what is going to happen, the child inside your stomach is my grandchild. It has nothing to do with Third Yan.¡± Xuxu bit her lips. Indeed, she had revealed her thoughts with just a casual sentence. She remained silent, and Mu Li was even more certain of her hunch. A crease appeared between her eyebrows. ¡°Those pregnant women had to work because they had no choice. Our family isn¡¯t like them. We can afford to support you. If your grandmother was around, she wouldn¡¯t agree with you working as well.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ She used grandmother as her tactic since Mu Li was certain that Xuxu won¡¯t go against grandmother. Mu Li suddenly sighed. ¡°Anyway, no company would hire you since you¡¯re pregnant. Why would they allow a new employee to go for confinement leave shortly after they¡¯ve confirmed the person? Unless, of course, the boss is a fool.¡± Chapter 629. The Sound of a Man’s Cough It dumbfounded Xuxu. She had forgotten all about this tricky issue. Who would hire a pregnant woman? She bent her head and gazed at her own tummy as she mocked herself. She belonged to the group of the elderly, the weak, the sick, and now, the pregnant. ¡°Just concentrate all your energy on the baby. I will support you. We don¡¯t need any money from Flourish & Prosper.¡± Mu Li gently patted Xuxu¡¯s tummy. ¡°My salary can easily support you and the baby. I¡¯ll ensure that you¡¯ll have a comfortable lifestyle.¡± Xuxu was touched by her gesture. She softly said, ¡°I still have my own savings.¡± She had received a fixed salary while she was working at Flourish & Prosper. She didn¡¯t spend much except for expenses like her electricity bills and daily expenses. Since she had been staying with the Yan family in recent months, she had saved up most of her salary. It should sustain her for some time. But she wanted to find something to do to occupy her time. If her expectations weren¡¯t that high, it should be relatively easy to find a job. Mu Li nodded. ¡°Okay. Let me know if you need my help.¡± She cleaned the entire house¡ªeven changed the bedsheets and blanket. Mu Li took her own promise seriously, and she had someone seal up the door. She left after making Xuxu¡¯s dinner. She suggested hiring a helper, but Xuxu didn¡¯t agree to it. Though in the end, both of them gave in. Xuxu agreed to hire a part-time helper who would help her clean the house twice a week. After dinner, Xuxu sat in her balcony with a book and started reading. ¡®Slam!¡¯ There was a loud noise outside the door. The noise had pulled her out from the exciting story she was reading. ¡®Cough¡­ cough.¡¯ Then she heard indistinct sounds of the door opening followed by the sound of a man¡¯s cough. But her attention was re-diverted back to her book as she flipped the pages. She was tired although it was barely nine in the evening. Perhaps she was drained after traveling for so many days. She yawned as waves of sleepiness crashed over her. She put the book down and went to the toilet. Then after switching off the lights, she closed the bedroom door and strode across to draw the curtains. Her eyes casually swept across the windows next door, and she saw how the room was dimly lit. She turned her head, drew the curtains, and climbed into her bed. ¡®Cough, cough.¡¯ She could still hear the man¡¯s constant coughs. Xuxu switched off her bedside lamp. She pulled her blanket over her head. She couldn¡¯t remember how long had she tossed and turned before she fell asleep. She slept through the entire night. The next morning, she sluggishly walked through her room and entered the bathroom. She began to brush her teeth. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ She heard the sounds of the doorbell but wasn¡¯t sure if it was hers. She paused and listened intently once more. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ She became certain that it was hers. She peeked her head out of the bathroom and yelled at the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± No one answered, and it made her frown. She had a hunch who the person was, and so she decided to ignore it. She continued to brush her teeth. The doorbell rang shortly once more. She became annoyed and stomped out with big strides. She wrenched the door open. But no one was outside her door. She saw a thermal container on the floor near her door when she was about to close it. At a glance, she somehow understood, and so she turned to glance at the door next door. She ignored the container and shut the door. She cooked two eggs for herself and heated a glass of milk. As expected, she threw up everything she ate. Chapter 630. Made Her Look Younger by a Few Years She slumped beside the toilet bowl as she flushed the toilet. She turned melancholic as she listened to the flushing sounds. Her symptoms were exactly like what she had experienced years ago. At that time, she had thrown up everything she ate. She experienced such agony, but it filled her heart with anticipation and excitement. She was looking forward to bringing up her child alone. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ The doorbell rang again. After rinsing her mouth, Xuxu left the bathroom. She didn¡¯t speak and instead, wrenched the door open. No one was in sight. When she glanced to the floor, there was a huge bag of fruits. She didn¡¯t immediately shut the door this time around, and instead, she leaned against the door frame as she entered a daze with her focus set on the fruits. After a while, she retreated into her house and closed the door. Xuxu felt she was like an animal hibernating in the winter as she huddled on the couch watching TV. Earlier on, she ordered plenty of snacks and fruits online. She would take a nap when she felt sleepy. When she was awake, she would either read or watch TV. This was her first time living like that, and it didn¡¯t seem as boring as she had thought it would be. She wondered if it was because she was pregnant. At night, Xuxu climbed into her bed with a book. She could still hear a man coughing, and it seemed more serious than the other day. The coughing sounds distracted her. So she decided to switch off the lights and draw the blanket over her. After tossing for some time, she finally fell asleep. Xuxu could have slept a while more if she hadn¡¯t received a call. She glumly furrowed her eyebrows and stretched her hand to grab her phone. Her eyes remained shut as she picked up the call. ¡°Hello¡­¡± Her sleepy voice gave away that she was still half-asleep. A tinkling and resounding voice admonished her. ¡°You are getting lazier. It¡¯s already almost afternoon, and you¡¯re still asleep!¡± It was Zhou Shuang, and it jolted Xuxu awake. She turned her body and sat up. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and slowly. She frowned and was still upset with her for disturbing her sleep. ¡°Stupid girl, why did you call?¡± She guessed that she had nothing important. She only probably had called to ask her out. Zhou Shuang quipped, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re back from your trip? Let¡¯s meet?¡± As expected¡­ The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth slightly twitched. ¡°I¡¯m not heading out. But if you insist, then you can come to my place.¡± Every time she went out with her, a disaster would happen without fail. Actually, she wasn¡¯t afraid of meeting her outside. She was just feeling sluggish and lazy. Every part of her body seemed to be in an idle mode, and she didn¡¯t even feel like leaving her bed. Zhou Shuang happily agreed. ¡°Sure, then it¡¯s fixed. I¡¯ll come over to your place for lunch. Cook a yummy feast for me.¡± She immediately hung up. Xuxu seemed jolted awake once more when she realized that she had hung up. What did she say? She was coming over for lunch? And she was waiting for a feast? This woman really made her speechless with her cockiness. How dare she instruct a pregnant woman to cook for her? Xuxu put her phone down. She lazed for a while more before getting up. She drew her curtains¡ªa habit she always does every morning. It was a bright and sunny day as she stood by the windows admiring the scenery outside. She put out her hands to do a bit of stretching. Her short hair, coupled with the cute pajamas she had on, made her look younger by a few years. The man next door was dreamily staring at her through the windows. An affectionate smile flitted across his face. Xuxu faced the mirror as she brushed her teeth. She felt nauseous once more, but not as bad as yesterday. Chapter 631. Ill Put It Back ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ The doorbell rang again and Xuxu paused. She briefly glanced at the door and then continued to brush her teeth. Seconds later, the doorbell rang once more but she still didn¡¯t open it. Just like yesterday morning, she ate two eggs and drank a cup of milk. She threw up and her stomach felt better after she had emptied it. She wiped the tables and cleaned the floor. Then she settled herself comfortably on the couch and watched a drama. There were plenty of orange skins on the coffee table. Her mouth was already full, but she had started peeling another orange. ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ The doorbell sounded once more. She threw a casual glance at the door, and it fell silent for a few seconds. When it went quiet, she glanced back at the TV screen. Her phone, which was on the coffee table, rang. Zhou Shuang was calling. She placed the orange on the table and answered the call. ¡°Wen Xuxu! Did you fall asleep again? Why aren¡¯t you opening the door?!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Xuxu was shocked. So, Zhou Shuang was outside the door right now? ¡°Coming,¡± she hastily answered and stood up. Zhou Shuang had put on thick makeup. Her outfit was striking and extravagant as usual. She wore a black rich velvet coat and a pair of shiny leggings. Xuxu stared at Zhou Shuang¡¯s lips which seemed to be in a color that was neither red nor purple. It confused Xuxu, and so she burst out. ¡°Are you frozen, or that¡¯s the color of your lipstick?¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes. ¡°Obviously¡­¡± She paused midway. Xuxu raised an eyebrow. Zhou Shuang continued, ¡°Of course I¡¯m freezing.¡± She shrunk her neck and shuddered before entering the house. She spoke as she shivered. ¡°I¡¯m frozen! I thought that it would be a warm day since the sun is out. I didn¡¯t think that it would be so cold outside.¡± Xuxu shut the door after her. She then strolled after Zhou Shuang and noticed the bags that the latter was holding. There were fruits, cakes, and pastries. She teased her and said, ¡°Why did you bring so much stuff? Are you here to wish me a Happy New Year?¡± Zhou Shuang casually said, ¡°I didn¡¯t buy these. I saw them outside your house, so I brought them in for you.¡± She raised her eyebrows doubtfully. ¡°You didn¡¯t order these?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± But she was quite certain she knew the person who had ordered these. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Shuang frowned and shrugged. ¡°I thought you ordered these and forgot to open the door for the delivery man, so he must have left it outside.¡± She turned around was about to walk to the door. ¡°It must be for your next-door neighbor. I¡¯ll put it back.¡± Xuxu grabbed and stopped her. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already brought them in, you should eat it. If you bump into the person next door, you might be mistaken as a thief.¡± The na?ve and simple Zhou Shuang pondered and mulled over her words. ¡°You¡¯re right, serves the person right for not collecting it in time.¡± Xuxu slyly smiled. Zhou Shuang put the bags on the coffee table and opened them. The fruits were all freshly imported from overseas. She examined the label on a dragon fruit. When she saw the shipping details, she exclaimed, ¡°Your neighbor is a fine connoisseur! Everything is imported, and they¡¯re all freshly plucked¡ªbarely two days ago!¡± As she exclaimed, she began peeling the skin of the dragon fruit. Chapter 632. Stinky, Pungent! Xuxu smiled. ¡°Eat more if you like it.¡± Without looking at Xuxu, Zhou Shuang sat down on the sofa. She lifted one leg and rested it on the coffee table. Seeing what drama series was playing on the TV channel, she clicked her tongue and shook her head. ¡°This is a tasteless melodrama for teenagers.¡± ¡°Then what is considered tasteful?¡± Xuxu went over and sat beside Zhou Shuang. She picked up the half-eaten orange and continued eating away. Zhou Shuang quipped, ¡°Watch more foreign films. It will improve the quality of your thinking.¡± She looked at the orange in Xuxu¡¯s hand and added, ¡°Don¡¯t eat that anymore. Try this imported stuff instead.¡± She took out another orange from the bag as she spoke. Xuxu declined. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can eat it. I¡¯m not interested in imported stuff.¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t give it much thought and placed the orange back in the bag. After that, she raised both legs on the sofa and huddled up at one corner. Looking at Xuxu, she asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you bored staying at home every day?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I can read and watch TV programs. Not bored at all.¡± Zhou Shuang had no idea that Xuxu was pregnant. She said, ¡°You¡¯re right. You can settle down and bear children.¡± The two of them lay on the sofa. They hardly moved an inch the entire day. Zhou Shuang ate her fill from the stash of tidbits that she had ¡®picked up¡¯ at the door. When she was about to leave, it struck her that Xuxu didn¡¯t cook her, neither did she offer her a glass of water. It was her first time in her home, even! ¡°I¡¯ll come again tomorrow. You have to buy more food to serve me.¡± After slipping her shoes on, Zhou Shuang opened the door. Before she left, she had turned and bade good bye to Xuxu who was still lazing on the sofa. After that, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. When she turned around, the lift had just arrived. The lift door was already opened. Zhou Shuang raised her feet and was about to step in when a familiar figure walked out of the all of a sudden. She lifted her head and grinned. ¡°Hey, Yan Rusheng.¡± Yan Rusheng took a glance at Zhou Shuang¡¯s heavily powdered face. He knitted his eyebrows without even bothering to conceal his disgust. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I came to visit Xuxu.¡± Zhou Shuang replied and asked, ¡°And why are you here, too?¡± It annoyed Yan Rusheng when he heard her question. ¡°None of your business.¡± Xuxu was his wife. Wasn¡¯t it perfectly normal for him to come over? Zhou Shuang hummed and then twitched her lips. She decided not to continue talking to Yan Rusheng. In the midst of the conversation, the lift went down again. Yan Rusheng averted his gaze to the big plastic bag that Zhou Shuang was holding. He could easily see the contents in the bag¡ªthey were fruits and bread. However, he found the bag extremely familiar. Wasn¡¯t this¡­ It suddenly hit him, and so he frowned. ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°It¡¯s some fruits and snacks.¡± Zhou Shuang looked down and opened the bag before asking Yan Rusheng. ¡°Do you want to have some?¡± Xuxu mentioned that she didn¡¯t fancy the stuff, and Zhou Shuang could either bring it home or help her to throw it away. Of course, she knew that he wouldn¡¯t be interested to eat them either. She was deliberately just teasing him. This pretentious fellow always behaved as if the entire world owed him money. Yan Rusheng frowned and a trace of annoyance flashed across his eyes. His lips remained tightly pressed with no intention of speaking to her. He lifted his legs and walked past Zhou Shuang. The strong smell of perfume and cosmetics assailed his nostrils. Those were obviously prominent luxury brands, but they smelled so cheap the moment she used them. Stinky, pungent! After Zhou Shuang entered the lift and the lift door closed, Yan Rusheng fished out his keys and opened the door. Chapter 633. Lost In Deep Thoughts Before he stepped in, he had taken a glance at Xuxu¡¯s door and restrained his steps with great effort. In the end, he strode forward into his own house. When Yan Rusheng reached home, he didn¡¯t close the door. Instead, he went straight to his room and opened his room window. After that, he went back to the living room and turned on the TV and the Hi-Fi system. The next moment, he took off his jacket. He was wearing a coffee-colored sweater on the inside, and it made his complexion appear even fairer. He entered the kitchen, took out the apron and tied it around him, looking just like a good domestic husband. ¡®Each time when love draws near, it seems like it¡¯s embracing you tightly. She stirred up your heart, blocked your eyes so that you don¡¯t know where to go¡­¡¯ ¡®After that, I¡¯ve finally learned how to love¡­¡¯ ¡®Please allow me to fall to the ground like a speck of dust, using silence to bury the past¡­¡¯ ¡­ Liu Ruoying¡¯s album was repeatedly playing in the background. It was her favorite album when she was in middle school. At that time, there were only a few songs in her MP3 player. She repeatedly listened to them, and somehow. she never grew tired of them. Xuxu lay on the sofa and covered herself with a blanket. The music from next door brought back six years of her middle school memories, which she didn¡¯t want to recall. It made her depressed. The sky turned dark. She had eaten too many fruits and didn¡¯t feel like moving nor have the urge to look for food. She drowsily closed her eyes, but she just couldn¡¯t sink into a deep sleep because the music playing next door was too loud. Xuxu lay huddled on the sofa until about it was eight in the evening. When her tummy rumbled, she had no choice but to get up. She dragged herself lazily to the kitchen. When she opened the fridge, it suddenly dawned on her she had been ordering food online for the last two days. She scratched her head in a moment of frustration and chided herself. Why was she so lazy? If she allowed her laziness to continue, she could just starve to death. She thought, since she hadn¡¯t stepped out of the house for the past two days, might as well visit grandfather and have something to eat at his place. Xuxu mulled over this and then went into her room to change. As she couldn¡¯t consume medicine while she was pregnant, she wrapped herself tightly to avoid catching a cold. She walked to the door and took out a pair of shoes from the shoe cabinet, one hand holding on to the cabinet for support. All of a sudden, she realized that the music next door had stopped playing, and it was quiet. Without giving much thought to it, she opened the door. The first thing that greeted her eyes was microwavable lunch boxes neatly stacked up on the side of the door. There were different dishes in each box. Instinctively, she shifted her gaze next door. The door of the next-door apartment suddenly opened, and a man carried out a thermos jar. He was wearing a coffee-colored sweater and indigo blue jeans. She had bought them for him, but he didn¡¯t have the opportunity to wear them after she bought them. That day was the first time she had seen him in those clothes. Yan Rusheng hesitated for a moment before awkwardly saying, ¡°I¡¯ve cooked dinner. You can eat now.¡± His voice was dry and hoarse. Following that, he handed the thermos jar to Xuxu. Xuxu looked down and softly replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Thank you.¡± She closed the door behind her and strode towards the elevator. Yan Rusheng gazed at her from behind. He pressed his lips together, looking a little forlorn. After Xuxu had entered the lift, and the door closed, Yan Rusheng spun around and looked at the boxes of food on the floor. He smiled and bent down to pick them up. Xuxu leaned against the wall of the elevator. She stuffed both her hands into the pockets of her down-feathered jacket; she was lost in deep thoughts. ¡­ The next day, while Xuxu was brushing her teeth, the doorbell rang as usual. When she opened the door, there was a thermos jar on the floor. It was the same jar that Yan Rusheng held in his hands yesterday. Chapter 634. Did She Also Do the Same? She took a glance at it and shut her door. Zhou Shuang called to say that she would arrive at her place during lunchtime. She felt bad that she didn¡¯t prepare lunch for her yesterday, and it just so happened that she wished to drink some soup. Hence after breakfast and all the puking, Xuxu changed into a new set of clothes and got ready to visit the supermarket to buy some groceries. There was a huge supermarket about three bus stops away and the bus leaves from the entrance of her district. Xuxu estimated the time to leave her house and when she would arrive at the entrance. The bus did arrive just in time. With bustling energy, she hurried up the bus. As there were no available seats, she found a less crowded place to stand. Early in the morning, old men and women, who had grocery bags on their hand, would crowd the supermarket bus. Everyone would be enthusiastically discussing the prices of eggs and vegetables sold in the supermarket. Just when the bus door was about to close, a tall figure suddenly dashed in. All the elderly men and ladies in the bus, including Xuxu, shifted their gaze towards the man. The man was impeccably dressed in a suit. His gorgeous face was glowing with vigor and elation. At that instant, he became a bright and dazzling star amongst the bus of old folks. He got up the bus and walked straight to Xuxu. When he stood beside her, a familiar scent of faint perfume assailed Xuxu¡¯s nose. She looked down and noticed the pair of shiny leather shoes on his feet. He was holding on to the safety handle with one hand, and instead of shoving the other hand into his pocket, like the usual, it hung loosely next to his thigh. The bus came to a stop when it arrived at the next bus stop. As more people crowded the bus, everyone briefly swayed when the bus pulled to a stop. ¡°Xuxu, be careful.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched out his long arm to hold on to her, protecting her. With more people boarding the bus, space was getting tighter, both their bodies pressed closer together. Xuxu lowered her head and pressed both hands on his chest to shove him away, but it was to no avail. People around them kept swaying to and fro. ¡°Don¡¯t move because I¡¯m afraid that you will be squished.¡± The man¡¯s gentle voice sounded above her. Xuxu tugged at his shirt and lowered her eyes, her eyelashes lightly quivered. Yan Rusheng looked down at with tenderness in his eyes. There was also a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. ¡­ When they arrived at the supermarket, Xuxu pushed the trolley around. Yan Rusheng, who was also pushing a trolley, trailed behind her. They were only less than two meters apart. He deliberately slowed down his steps so that he could look at Xuxu¡¯s tiny figure from behind. In the past, when they were walking together, he was always walking faster than her. He had never once seriously admired her back view. Back then, did she also do the same, watching him from behind? Whatever Xuxu placed in her trolley, Yan Rusheng also took the same. Hence, during payment, their identical bills caught the attention of the cashier. The young cashier lifted her head in surprise. When she saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, her cheeks turned beet red instantly. Her eyes brightly sparkled. ¡°Third¡­ Third¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Yan Rusheng placed his index finger to his lips and made a ¡®silent¡¯ action to the cashier, signaling to her to lower her voice. After that, he took out his credit card and handed it to her. ¡°Quick.¡± He turned back and looked at Xuxu who was carrying two big bags of groceries and was almost reaching the lift lobby. After paying the bill, Yan Rusheng immediately caught up with Xuxu. He held his groceries bags with one hand and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s shopping bags over from her. He shouldered all the weight for her. Chapter 635. They Become Cheap When Used on Your Body Xuxu raised her head and looked at him. As they were in the elevator, she didn¡¯t put up a struggle. When they stood in the elevator, they made an impressive sight that people whipped out their cellphones and snapped away. Actually, while they were in the supermarket earlier, many had already taken notice of the couple and deliberately trailed after them. Even though Xuxu disliked it, she had already gotten used to it. Since they were just taking a snapshot and not doing anything with it. When they stepped out of the lift, Yan Rusheng immediately let go of his hand. As usual, they walked, one following the other. The woman was cool-headed and graceful, while the man looked suave and an epitome of grace and elegance. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± As Zhou Shuang was walking out of the lift with her head lowered, a man¡¯s creepy voice called out to her from the front. She raised her head and saw a man¡¯s towering figure right in front of her. Instinctively, she stepped backward and glared at Yan Rusheng¡¯s gloomy yet handsome face. ¡°Hey, Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°You come over.¡± All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng stretched out his hand and grabbed hold of Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm. He dragged her into his house without exerting much effort. Following that, he slammed the door hard after him, and then he let go of Zhou Shuang. ¡°What are you doing? What are you doing?¡± Zhou Shuang hugged her arm tightly and looked vigilantly at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Is this your apartment?¡± Yan Rusheng coldly furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Any problem?¡± Without giving Zhou Shuang an opportunity to speak, he pushed her from the back and shoved her into the bathroom. Pointing to the basin, he spoke to her with a commanding tone. ¡°Wash away all the thick powder and colors on your face. Also, think of ways to get rid of the perfume on your body.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Why must I listen to you?¡± This chap is a pervert. What has her makeup got to do with him? Yan Rusheng pointed at her and he fiercely warned, ¡°If anything goes wrong with my son, then be prepared for your body to be chopped into pieces and thrown into the Pacific Ocean to be fed to the sharks.¡± ¡°What, what?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s words made Zhou Shuang dumbstruck. ¡°What do you mean your son? What has your son got to do with me?¡± Puzzled, she blankly stared for a while before asking, ¡°No, since when do you have a son?¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to reply, she carried on speculating. ¡°You have an illegitimate son?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face darkened, but he reminded himself not to be bothered by this female hooligan¡¯s intelligence. There were only a few women who could match up to Xuxu¡¯s intellect. It seemed that Xuxu didn¡¯t reveal her pregnancy to this female hooligan. After mulling over it, he added, ¡°Xuxu is pregnant. Your body is loaded with harmful chemicals, and you need to wash them off. Or else, don¡¯t even think of stepping into her house.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Shuang buried her head in her hands and gasped in astonishment. ¡°Oh my goodness, that fellow is pregnant.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want to waste further breath on her. He turned on the tap and said, ¡°Zhou Shuang, in the future when you meet her, you are not allowed to put on makeup and especially your perfume. It¡¯s cheap and pungent.¡± ¡°Go to hell. These are international luxury brands.¡± Although Yan Rusheng¡¯s words annoyed Zhou Shuang, she felt that he had a point too. Indeed, pregnant women shouldn¡¯t come in contact with cosmetics. Hence, she had them washed off. Otherwise, this fellow won¡¯t allow her to step into Xuxu¡¯s house. She was aware that Yan Rusheng was capable of causing her to be unable to make a living in the capital city; hence, there was nothing she could do. Sigh! Yan Rusheng looked at her with contempt. ¡°They become cheap when they¡¯re used on your body.¡± ¡°You are spouting gibberish.¡± Zhou Shuang raised her head and glared at Yan Rusheng with a wet face. Yan Rusheng ignored her. He turned around, walked to the bags of groceries, and took out a small box. He returned to the bathroom and handed it to Zhou Shuang. Chapter 636. You Look Better Without Makeup Zhou Shuang received it and took a glance. The words ¡®makeup remover¡¯ made her burst out laughing. She looked at Yan Rusheng and teased, ¡°Eh, Yan Rusheng, you are really thoughtful.¡± Yan Rusheng clenched both fists and viciously gnashed his teeth. If he won back Xuxu¡¯s heart one day, he would definitely kick this female hooligan out of Xuxu¡¯s life. ¡­ ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ The doorbell incessantly rang, and Xuxu hurried out of the kitchen. ¡°Coming, coming.¡± Other than Zhou Shuang, no others would ring the doorbell in that manner. With a spatula in one hand, Xuxu opened the door. Without a doubt, Zhou Shuang was standing at the door. And she was visibly startled. ¡°Eh?¡± As Xuxu fixed her eyes on Zhou Shuang¡¯s face, Zhou Shuang instinctively reached for her face and frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Out of curiosity, Xuxu asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you put on makeup today?¡± From what she remembered, this fellow would never leave home without her makeup, yet she was barefaced. At the mentioned of her makeup, Zhou Shuang fumed and replied with annoyance in her tone. ¡°Tch, it¡¯s your man¡¯s fault.¡± Her man¡¯s fault? It bewildered Xuxu. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Of course, she knew that the ¡®man¡¯ Zhou Shuang was referring to was Yan Rusheng. Zhou Shuang spoke resentfully, ¡°I came with makeup, but when I reached your doorstep, he pulled me into his house. He commented that my makeup and perfume were full of chemicals and would bring harm to his son. If anything were to happen to his son, he would throw me into the Atlantic Ocean to feed to the sharks.¡± She curled her lips and continued, ¡°I forgot which ocean he was referring to, but it was a vicious threat from him, anyway.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu got rid of all the expression on her face and calmly replied with an ¡®oh¡¯. After that, she turned around and went back to the kitchen. Zhou Shuang followed behind her and queried, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that the person living next door was Yan Rusheng? Huh?!¡± Xuxu remained silent and Zhou Shuang asked again. ¡°The big bag of snacks yesterday was from Yan Rusheng, right?¡± At the mention of that bag of snacks, Xuxu secretly stole a grin. Even though it was a secret grin, the hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth didn¡¯t escape Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes. Zhou Shuang walked to Xuxu¡¯s back and smacked her hard on her head. ¡°Wretched lass, how dare you to trick me? I was wondering why that pretentious guy surveyed the contents of the bag I carried yesterday.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu couldn¡¯t control her laughter. She said that she didn¡¯t do it on purpose, and also didn¡¯t expect her to bump into him. ¡°Actually, you look better without makeup.¡± What she said was the truth. She couldn¡¯t understand why Zhou Shuang had to put on heavy makeup all the time. Although she was an average-looking woman, she had a fair complexion, a pair of big bright eyes, a tiny face and good features. Her heavy make-up face made one grow weary of looking at her. So, it¡¯ was so nice to see her in her bare face. It was so refreshing and ladylike. Not only did she look soothing to one¡¯s eyes, but she would also definitely feel comfortable to have around, too. She had used makeup before, hence the layer of powder and various chemicals on her face indeed made her feel unbearable. Zhou Shuang looked down and leaned back against the wall. She pouted and angrily spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve dated a guy when I was studying still studying overseas. In the end, he left me for an older woman.¡± Although she didn¡¯t continue further, Xuxu could roughly guess what she was driving at. Zhou Shuang came from a wealthy family. So if she fell for a man, it wouldn¡¯t be because of money. Hence, the man must have left her for the other woman because of the older woman¡¯s charm, not her wealth. Chapter 637. Dont Get Me Into Trouble She looked at Zhou Shuang with a look of contempt. ¡°You¡¯re so foolish.¡± You¡¯re so foolish¡­ These words made her heart skip a beat. Sometimes when people are talking about others, aren¡¯t they also referring to themselves? Xuxu suppressed her emotions and pulled Zhou Shuang along as she changed the topic. ¡°Quick, come and help me with the cooking. The soup is already done.¡± She handed a bunch of vegetables to Zhou Shuang. She then said, ¡°Help me pluck and wash the vegetables while I handle the fish.¡± Zhou Shuang took over the vegetables and glared at Xuxu with knitted eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s so hard to get a meal from you.¡± She turned on the tap, and the sounds of splashing water resounded. Suddenly, she seemed to have recalled something and tossed an annoying glance at Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, why didn¡¯t you tell me that you¡¯re pregnant? Do you still regard me as your friend?¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask, and I¡¯m too shy to tell you.¡± Zhou Shuang glanced askew at her, unamused. ¡°So fake.¡± But she knew Xuxu too well. Given her character, she would bottle up everything in her heart and wouldn¡¯t take the initiative to pour out her personal matters to others. Be it happy or sad¡ªshe would face it alone. Zhou Shuang mulled over it and sighed. ¡°Eh, since you¡¯re already carrying his child now, don¡¯t be too hard on the child¡¯s father. I can tell that he¡¯s sincere about making atonement and is being especially attentive towards you. You don¡¯t wish for the child to be born into a broken family, right?¡± She could already tell from his thoughtful observation that her makeup would cause harm to Xuxu. This fellow had indeed transformed into another person. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Do you still want to have lunch? Why have you become so talkative?¡± She wanted to evade the topic, but Zhou Shuang had no intention to let her off. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t put on a pretense anymore. Actually, you have already fallen in love with Yan Rusheng.¡± She leaned closer to Xuxu and raised her eyebrows like a busybody. Xuxu glared back at her. ¡°Wash it quickly. Otherwise, don¡¯t put the blame on me if you have nothing to eat.¡± Zhou Shuang sighed. ¡°Since you¡¯ve fallen for him, why are you still putting up a struggle? More so, be looped into trouble with that woman¡ªthe one involved in a scandal with Yan Rusheng?¡± She furiously clenched her teeth. ¡°If I were in your shoes, I would lead a happy and blissful life with him just to infuriate that slut and wreck that damn white lotus.¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°You are evil. Get out now. I don¡¯t need your help anymore.¡± She pulled Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm and shoved her out of the kitchen. This fellow must have drunk some love potion when she was next door and got bewitched. Her grit was no longer steadfast. Xuxu pushed Zhou Shuang out. When she was about to close the door, Zhoe Shuang blocked the door with her quick hands. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. You better stop cooking, too. You¡¯re pregnant with the future small boss of Flourish & Prosper, a royal baby. Don¡¯t get me into trouble.¡± Xuxu menacingly glared at her as a warning. ¡°Scram then!¡± After that, she forcefully slammed the door and turned around. She couldn¡¯t help but reach out to feel her little flat tummy. A mixture of complicated emotions flashed past her eyes. ¡­ Over the next few days, the doorbell would ring every morning when Xuxu was brushing her teeth. Occasionally, she would open her door to take a peek, and there would be a thermos jar on the floor. At mid-day, a big bag of snacks and fruits would appear. She disregarded them all. By the 8th day of the month, the designated public holidays were over. All trades and professions had resumed their usual operations. Xuxu was curled up on her sofa early in the morning. She was staring at a marriage certificate in her hands. She reached out to touch the seal located at the bottom of the photo with gentle fingers. In the photo, there was a slight smile on the man¡¯s face. It was a genuine smile that she had seldom seen on his face. Chapter 638. He Didn’t Go on a Work Trip Xuxu sighed deeply and stood up with determination. She grabbed her bag and left for the door. After opening the door, she walked out and turned to the unit next door. She pressed the doorbell. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ The door immediately opened. The owner saw Xuxu and a streak of surprise flashed across his eyes. ¡°Xuxu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu¡¯s initiative to look for him had taken him aback. But when he noticed how well-dressed and neat she looked, he had a hunch with what was in store for him. His heart sank deeply. Xuxu glanced at the man¡¯s gorgeous face and casually said, ¡°The Civil Administration Office is open today.¡± He already knew what she was going to say. But amid his disappointment, he had planned his strategy. He slightly frowned and feigned an awkward expression. ¡°Today is the first day of work, and the Board of Directors are waiting for me to hold a meeting. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have the time.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu nodded and lowered her head. ¡°In that case¡­ in the afternoon then.¡± She turned around to go back to her house. Yan Rusheng suddenly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu spun around. Yan Rusheng was trying to say something, but instead, pressed his lips. He finally opened his mouth after a brief moment. ¡°I¡¯m going to Jincheng City for a work trip this afternoon. I would only be back after a few days.¡± Xuxu heard what he said, and she lightly answered, ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you to be back.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and reluctantly relinquished his grip. ¡­ Xuxu wasn¡¯t sure what she had done the entire day. When she reflected, besides eating, she simply slept the day away. She didn¡¯t even read anything. Gradually, she had trouble sleeping at night. Her throat felt parched and bitter, and so Xuxu sat up. She stretched her hand to turn on the lights when she caught a glimpse of light outside her window. She got down and walked to the windows. She slightly lifted the curtains and saw that the room next door was still lighted. Was he back? ¡®Cough¡­ cough.¡¯ The sound of a man coughing traveled to her ears, and it sounded like he had tried his best to stifle his cough but failed in the end. Xuxu suddenly thought of what he said, and she unconsciously clenched her wrists. So, she didn¡¯t imagine that she had heard coughing sounds in the night. It would mean that he didn¡¯t go on a work trip. She put down the curtains and trod gently back to the bed. She stretched her hand, fumbled for her phone, and turned on the torchlight function before leaving her room. She poured a glass of water and gulped it down. Then she went to the sofa with a second glass without switching on the lights. She furrowed her eyebrows as she stroked her tummy. She fell into a daze with a glass of water in her hand. Xuxu didn¡¯t sleep much that night. She switched on a lamp and flipped the pages of a book without actually reading its contents. When it was almost dawn, she finally felt sleepy. She placed the book on the table and was about to return to her room to sleep. When she reached the bathroom, she heard the sound of a door opening. It was from next door. Xuxu trod carefully to the door and looked through the peephole. The man was dressed in a formal suit as he stood outside the elevator. Her heart involuntarily pounded. The man entered the elevator, and when the doors were about to close, she glimpsed the man¡¯s visibly tired face. Xuxu turned around and leaned against the door. Her heart continued to beat quickly. ¡­ The doctor said that she could go for an ultrasound scan in a week. Xuxu discussed with Mu Li, and they went for a checkup after ten days. It was the tenth day, and Mu Li came early in the morning. She knocked on Xuxu¡¯s door. Xuxu didn¡¯t sleep well for the past few nights, and she only managed to fall asleep in the morning. After being woken up by Mu Li, she felt as if she were still half-asleep. She didn¡¯t even have the energy to brush her teeth. Chapter 639. Youre Carrying Twins Mu Li saw her and seemed to find her rather pitiful. ¡°Maybe you should sleep a while longer. We can go in the afternoon.¡± Xuxu refused. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll wash up now.¡± She walked to the bathroom. When she came out, Mu Li had prepared milk and bread for her. Before eating breakfast, she took out a tomato from the fridge. She ate both tomato and a slice of bread at the same time. Mu Li thought the tomato, which Xuxu had taken out from the fridge, was too cold. She frowned and lightly chided her, ¡°Xuxu, why do you like eating such cold tomatoes? You¡¯ll get a stomachache if you eat it first thing in the morning.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t look at her but continued munching on her tomato. She quipped, ¡°It¡¯s fine. That time I¡­¡± Mu Li eyed her suspiciously. ¡°What do you mean by that time?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xuxu realized that she had a slip of tongue. So, she casually brushed it aside. She instantly diverted the topic. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we register before heading there for a checkup?¡± It was a smooth transition to a different topic. Even the shrewd Mu Li didn¡¯t realize that Xuxu led her along. ¡°We don¡¯t need to. President Wang has helped us to register in advance so we can go there any time. We don¡¯t need to queue for the ultrasound scan as well.¡± Xuxu nodded after hearing her. She then grinned with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s good to have connections.¡± ¡°Hurry up and drink your milk.¡± Mu Li affectionately smiled at her and she rose. ¡°I¡¯ll help you tidy your room.¡± She turned around almost instantly. Xuxu saw how adamant she was and so she didn¡¯t protest. ¡­ Mu Li heard the doctor¡¯s diagnosis, and she scrutinized the results of the ultrasound scan in disbelief. It overwhelmed her with excitement. ¡°Doctor, are you saying that our Xuxu is carrying twins?¡± The news was simply too exhilarating. She felt light-headed as though she was in a dream. The doctor seemed affected by her excitement and he smiled brightly. ¡°Yes, you heard me correctly. It could either be both boys, both girls or even a girl and boy.¡± Twins¡­ a girl and a boy¡­ Mu Li grabbed Xuxu with her emotions bursting. She hugged her. ¡°Oh my god! This is wonderful! Our Xuxu is really capable.¡± The man standing outside was listening to the conversation with excitement when he felt slightly indignant when he heard Mu Li¡¯s compliments. Hmph! Clearly, it was her son who was capable. He was going to be a father of two children. The corners of his mouth unconsciously curled as he visualized a happy scene. He was really overjoyed¡­ and ecstatic. ¡°Hello, Old Yan. I have a great piece of news for you.¡± ¡°Xuxu is carrying twins!¡± ¡°Certainly. How can the ultrasound scan results be wrong?¡± ¡°Take note of your blood pressure. I need to get going, we¡¯ll talk tonight.¡± ¡­ ¡°Hello, is this President X? Have you approved my retirement request?¡± ¡°I¡¯m anxious because my daughter-in-law is pregnant with twins. I need to take care of her.¡± ¡°Haha, thank you for the well-wishes. Same goes to you.¡± ¡­ ¡°Hello¡­¡± Madam Mu Li made several phone calls in the car. She was broadcasting the news that her daughter-in-law was pregnant with twins. She was flaunting how blessed she was to have a daughter-in-law and future grandchildren. To put it plainly, she was boasting to everyone she knew. Xuxu rested her head against the car window. She grinned with amusement as Mu Li made another call. Mu Li had clearly promised her that Xuxu would have nothing to do with Third Yan. But when she introduced her to others, she kept mentioning that Xuxu was her daughter-in-law. Mu Li wanted Xuxu to move back with her for a few days, but Xuxu rejected. So, Mu Li sent Xuxu over to her grandfather¡¯s clinic. It had been some time since Xuxu went out, so she stayed at the clinic until it was already late at night. Grandfather said, ¡°Let Qi Lei send you home.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I can go home myself. It¡¯s just a short distance away. Besides, Qi Lei must be tired after a long day.¡± Chapter 640. Supper ¡°Sister Xuxu, I¡¯ll send you home.¡± Qi Lei took off his huge white coat in a hurry and hastily followed after Xuxu. When they neared the door, Xuxu pushed him backward and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, you should rest early. You¡¯ve been working hard the whole day.¡± But Qi Lei insisted. ¡°I¡¯ll just send you to the entrance of your area.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t reject him again. The wind was rather strong at night, so she hurriedly placed the hood of her coat over her head. She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her coat and walked ahead of Qi Lei. There were many foreigners in the area, and many roadside stalls were open for business in the evening. However, when the stall owners closed their stalls, their rubbish would be strewn everywhere. A strong gust of wind would scatter the rubbish everywhere. It was almost nine in the evening, and some stalls were still open. They walked past a stall selling dumplings, and the delicious smell wafted to Xuxu¡¯s nostrils. Xuxu halted her footsteps and greedily stared at the pot of delicious-looking dumplings as the steam rose from the pot. Her stomach began to grumble. Qi Lei saw Xuxu staring at the pot. He was rather amused, and so he asked, ¡°Sister Xuxu, do you still feel like eating dumplings?¡± Xuxu grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to supper.¡± She walked to the stall and said to the owner. ¡°Give me two bowls.¡± Then she saw the rows of food displayed as well. She added, ¡°Give me some beancurd and a tea leaf egg as well.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the stall owner responded cheerily. The corners of Qi Lei¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Sister Xuxu, are you sure you can finish everything?¡± They just ate dinner earlier at seven p.m. Xuxu turned to glance at Qi Lei, and instead, asked, ¡°Do you want to eat anything else?¡± Qi Lei shook his head profusely. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± He might even have difficulty swallowing a dumpling. The stall owner had set up a tent-like temporary shack on the pavement using some plastic covers. He had squeezed three tables inside. Although it was cramped, it was cozy and warm. The lamp post cast a dim light around them while there were two lamps providing light inside the tent. Xuxu & Qi Lei walked into the tent. There was a couple sitting at one of the tables. They took the table beside theirs. The stall owner shortly came to them with two steaming bowls of dumplings, and Xuxu could hardly wait to tuck in. She scooped some soup with a spoon. She blew at it before sipping it. ¡°Boss, give us three bowls.¡± The voices belonged to a group of men, and their presence alerted Xuxu. Everyone glanced outside. Three huge and burly men stood at the stall. They proceeded into the shack after ordering. Xuxu sat facing the entrance of the shack. She caught a glimpse of their appearance when she looked up. They all had brightly dyed hair with cigarettes in their hands. They looked like hooligans as they sauntered haughtily. Xuxu didn¡¯t like the smell of cigarettes, and somehow it intensified after her pregnancy. When the men entered the room, smoke shortly filled the space. When they walked nearer to them, she felt nauseous, and she immediately covered her mouth and nose. She frowned before turning her head away from them to avoid the smoke. She had an obvious look of dislike on her face. She attracted the attention of one of the three burly men. He suddenly stopped and bent his head to glare at her menacingly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you looking down on me?¡± Chapter 641. Splash at Her Face to Disfigure Her Sensing trouble, Qi Lei hurriedly stood up. He hastily explained, ¡°Hi, Mr. handsome guy. No, you¡¯re mistaken. My sister is pregnant, and she is sensitive to the smell of cigarettes. She is not looking down on you.¡± He had barely finished talking when one of the men grabbed him by his collar. He sneered with a malicious expression etched on his face. ¡°What has this got to do with you? Are you asking for a beating? Huh?!¡± ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Xuxu bravely stood up. She looked at them straight in the eye. ¡°Let him go.¡± ¡°Wow, this b*tch is quite fierce.¡± The man looked at Xuxu¡¯s tummy with a rather sinister gleam. ¡°Too bad you¡¯re already pregnant. I¡¯m not interested in pregnant women.¡± Xuxu felt even more nauseous after hearing his disgusting words. Qi Lei was incandescent with rage. The next second, he clenched his fists and his punch landed forcefully on the man¡¯s cheek who had his hands gripping his collar. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The man was caught off-guard, and he almost collapsed with Qi Lei¡¯s punch. He let out a yell in agony and loosened his grip on the collar. He covered his cheek and grimaced in pain. His two companions saw what happened and surrounded Qi Lei. ¡°Sister Xuxu, hide!¡± Qi Lei shouted to Xuxu for fear that she might get hurt. He had already started flexing his body to prepare for a fight. ¡°Qi Lei, be careful!¡± Xuxu was anxious as she watched him. She stepped back and tried to escape from the shack. Qi Lei had learned some basic martial arts techniques from Xuxu¡¯s grandfather. He should be able to handle the hooligans. But there were three of them, and she wasn¡¯t certain that Qi Lei would escape unscathed. She had to flee to call the police. The couple sitting next to them had already fled when the three men walked towards them earlier on. ¡°Damn it. How dare you hit me?!¡± The man who Qi Lei punched earlier was seized with anger. He grabbed a stool and hurled it towards Qi Lei. Xuxu saw everything, and she screamed in terror. ¡°Qi Lei, be careful!¡± Qi Lei managed to avoid the stool. But in the next moment, the other two men grabbed more stools and attacked Qi Lei. Xuxu turned on her heel and ran for her life. She fumbled for her phone in her bag. One of the hooligans realized that she had fled and shouted to his companion. ¡°Hurry! Get that b*tch. I want her dead.¡± The man grunted and swiftly turned around. Xuxu realized that someone was chasing her, and so she panicked. She was mostly worried about her child. The hooligan who was chasing her ran to the stove and scooped some boiling soup using the ladle. Next, he flung it towards Xuxu. Fortunately, Xuxu managed to dodge it with an agile reflex. The man then scooped once more, and Xuxu ran for her life. However, the man caught up with her, eventually. But he didn¡¯t splash the soup at Xuxu¡¯s back. Instead, he overtook her and blocked her way. They stood face to face. ¡°Splash at her face to disfigure her!¡± Suddenly, another of his companions caught up with them and bellowed. Splash at her face to disfigure her¡­ Xuxu¡¯s eyes widened in horror as she stared at them. She profusely shook her head. ¡°What do you guys want?!¡± The man¡¯s face split with a menacing smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what he said? To splash at your face to disfigure you!¡± He gritted his teeth and flung his hand. Unexpectedly, a towering figure appeared behind Xuxu. The next moment, Xuxu found herself in a tight embrace of someone. Her face pressed against his chest. Chapter 642. Are You Alright? ¡°Ahhh.¡± Xuxu heard the man¡¯s groan, and she gave an involuntary shudder. She wound her hands around his waist and whimpered. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± ¡°Be good and go to the side.¡± Yan Rusheng gently nudged Xuxu and smiled at her in reassurance. Unknown to Xuxu, he had swiftly extended his leg and aimed another kick. The hooligan who had tried to splash boiling soup on Xuxu earlier on suffered another one of Yan Rusheng¡¯s kick. He was rolling on the floor. In a flash, Yan Rusheng appeared next to him. He then stepped on the man¡¯s hand with one foot, while the other stepped on his head. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± The man shrieked in agony. He writhed like a snake on the floor. Yan Rusheng exerted more force and the man¡¯s ear-splitting scream intensified. ¡°Let me go now! Let me go!¡± Yan Rusheng squatted and looked at him with menace in his eyes. He hardened his expression. ¡°Open your eyes and take a good look at me.¡± ¡°I know you, Third Master Yan!¡± The hooligan begged and repeatedly pleaded. ¡°Third Young Master, please let me go. My fingers will be broken.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want.¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth. He then exerted more force on his foot, and in a split second, the fingers underneath it snapped. The severe pain brought along excruciating and traumatic shrieks from the man. Xuxu covered her ears and turned around. She was trembling badly¡ªthe harrowing incident badly shook her. And to add on, the man¡¯s shrieks were distressing to hear. To the man who wanted to disfigure her as a punishment¡ªshe could not be lenient towards him. ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Qi Lei settled the hooligans and dashed out of the shack. He saw Yan Rusheng stepping on the hooligan¡¯s head, and it had taken him back. ¡°Third Brother Yan.¡± When the man¡¯s scream finally died down, the furious gleam in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes subsided. He lifted his foot off of him and immediately turned around. He bolted towards Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, are you alright?¡± He stood behind her with his hands hesitantly hovering in mid-air. He didn¡¯t dare take another step towards her, and so his hands gradually fell. Xuxu turned around and looked at Yan Rusheng. She shook her head lightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you.¡± Thank you¡­ It pained Yan Rusheng when he heard Xuxu thanking him in such a formal way, but at least she was fine. Yan Rusheng heaved a sigh of relief and turned to Qi Lei. He pressed his lips and remained mum. Qi Lei smiled rather foolishly at him. ¡°Third Brother Yan, thankfully you came in time. Can you please send Sister Xuxu home? I¡¯m slightly injured, and I want to go back to apply ointment on my wounds.¡± Xuxu anxiously turned around when she heard Qi Lei. ¡°Where were you hurt?¡± Qi Lei smiled and reassured her. ¡°I¡¯m fine, my injuries are superficial. Hurry up and go home with Third Brother Yan.¡± He glanced at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng nodded. Xuxu was still worried about Qi Lei. ¡°Are you sure you are really alright?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. I¡¯ll go back first.¡± Qi Lei turned around to leave. Xuxu stared after Qi Lei for some distance before turning around. She caught a glimpse of the ladle on the ground and seemed to recall something. She looked up at Yan Rusheng and opened her mouth, but she couldn¡¯t seem to utter a word. After a short while, she spoke to him with her head bowed. ¡°You¡­ are you alright?¡± Yan Rusheng felt rather disappointed when he heard how formal and distant she was with him. If it was in the past, she would rush to him and tear his clothes apart to check his wounds. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s cold outside, let¡¯s go back,¡± he softly replied as he shook his head. He then turned around to walk away. Xuxu stole glances at the tall and forlorn-looking figure ahead of her. She bit her lips with her hands clenched tight. Chapter 643. Happy Like a Child Xuxu knew the man had splashed the boiling soup on Yan Rusheng¡¯s back, and she could feel that he flinched earlier on because of the pain. Yan Rusheng intentionally slowed down. If he stole glances sideways, he could see the tiny woman behind him. Both of them didn¡¯t speak a word along the way. Yan Rusheng opened the electronic gate outside their building by swiping his card. He held the door open for Xuxu to enter first. He trailed behind Xuxu after she had walked ahead, and his eyes were glued to her back. His heart already softened at the sight of her. Yan Rusheng hastened his footsteps once more when they reached the building. He opened the door for Xuxu to allow her to enter first. Xuxu paused her footsteps outside the entrance, and she briefly glanced at Yan Rusheng before entering. The elevator was at the first level and it was Xuxu who pressed the button. Yan Rusheng stood in the middle of the elevator while Xuxu leaned against the side. She couldn¡¯t help glancing at Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. Her hands clenched tightly into fists. He still had a profound effect on her, no matter how hard she tried to shoo it off. The elevator door opened and Xuxu walked out. She bent her head in search of her keys in the bag. She went inside and closed the door after her. She didn¡¯t even hesitate or glance at him. Yan Rusheng was left standing outside Xuxu¡¯s door, and after snapping out of his daze, he walked back to his unit, looking defeated. He entered the door and swiftly removed his clothes. He then proceeded to the bathroom. Xuxu held the first aid kit and walked to his unit. Her hand hovered in mid-air for a second before pressing on his doorbell. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ The sound of the doorbell seemed to pierce through her heart like an arrow. Her heart pounded furiously and her palm was cold with sweat. No one responded, and she was about to stretch her hand once more to press the doorbell. The door suddenly swung open. The man¡¯s hair was dripping wet, and he came out half-naked with a towel covering the lower part of his body. He must have been in the midst of showering. He got a shock when he saw Xuxu. His eyes darted to the first aid kit in her hand, and a streak of happiness flashed past his peach blossom-shaped eyes. ¡°Come in quickly. I¡¯ll get changed.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around, and he was as happy as a child. He was afraid that Xuxu might leave while he was getting changed, and so he pulled her into the house. After closing the door, he walked to the bathroom. Xuxu watched him helplessly as he walked away looking so happy. She was wearing her bedroom slippers, so she didn¡¯t remove it when she entered his house. The living room just had a few pieces of furniture, so it looked as though his living room was bigger than hers. He liked everything neat and tidy, so his house was much cleaner and tidier than hers. Xuxu glanced at the wall. He had left the door as it was originally with red bricks. She continued to walk inside towards the couch. On the coffee table, there were medicine and cough syrup along with a glass of water. She recalled how she had heard him coughing for the past nights. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Xuxu sighed heavily. She was feeling overwhelmed with emotions. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng walked out with his bathrobe on, and he eagerly looked at Xuxu. Xuxu turned around and lightly said, ¡°I saw that your neck was hurt. I have some medicine to treat burns.¡± She placed the first aid kit on the table and took out some ointment for burns. Chapter 644. Is Your Company Going Bankrupt? Yan Rusheng hurriedly walked over. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± He stretched out his hand and took the ointment from Xuxu. After that, he pointed to the sofa and said to Xuxu, ¡°Take a seat. Do you want a drink? I heard from mom that you¡¯ve been cravings for tomatoes recently. Let me prepare a glass of tomato juice for you?¡± He turned around and was about to proceed to the kitchen when Xuxu stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Go ahead and apply the ointment. I¡¯ll go back first.¡± She raised her feet and immediately walked towards the door. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Seeing her hurried footsteps, Yan Rusheng called out to her, but she didn¡¯t respond. He pressed his lips together and chased after her, but she had already stepped into her house and closed the door. Hence, he retraced his steps and shut his door too. He turned around and saw the first aid kit sitting on his coffee table. The corners of his mouth slightly curled up. Xuxu couldn¡¯t sleep. It was only at midnight that sleep crept over her. However, hunger pangs awakened her from her sleep. She looked at the time on her phone, and it was still 8:30 a.m. Lately, 8:30 am was early for her. She got out of bed and dragged herself lazily to the kitchen. When she opened her fridge, there were only tomatoes, eggs, fresh milk, and yogurt inside. She took out two eggs, placed them into the egg boiler and then turned on the switch. After that, she turned around and headed for the bathroom to wash up. She was still feeling drowsy and in a daze. While brushing her teeth, she felt nauseous. It made her retch. She then puked out all the toothpaste foam in her mouth. After that, she gargled her mouth. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ The doorbell suddenly rang. Xuxu raised her head and stuck her head out from the bathroom. She stared at the door for a while and all was quiet again. She put down her toothbrush and toothpaste and walked towards the door. There was no one when she opened the door. But she looked down at the floor instinctively, and as expected, the familiar thermos jar and a huge bag of snacks were quietly sitting at a corner. Xuxu lazily leaned against the door frame. She stared at the thermos jar and snacks with her clear bright eyes. Her tummy was growling in hunger again. She bent over to pick up the thermos jar and snacks. After that, she went back inside and shut the door behind her. She trod to the dining table and placed down the thermos jar. When she unscrewed the lid, a fragrant bird¡¯s nest porridge greeted her eyes. As it was a multi-layered thermos jar, she removed the bird¡¯s nest porridge and the next layer revealed a particular sandwich that she was especially fond of eating. She removed it and there was a tomato in the third layer. One look and she could tell that it wasn¡¯t the type sold in the market. She picked up the sandwich, took a bite, and chewed for a little while. Her eyebrows knitted closer and closer together. This taste¡­ She was less than impressed. Had he mistaken sugar for salt? Xuxu sat down and ate the sandwich and drank the bird¡¯s nest porridge at the same time. She felt nauseous again and immediately took a bite on the tomato. ¡­ Yan Rusheng walked out of his house, impeccably dressed in his suit. He eagerly looked towards the corner of the wall between his and Xuxu¡¯s house and saw that it was empty. It overwhelmed him with joy, and so he punched his fists in the air. ¡°Yes¡­ Yes¡­¡± He excitedly walked towards the elevator. What a coincidence! The elevator had just arrived, and it opened. At one glance, Mu Li noticed her son excitedly clenching his fists. She knitted her eyebrows puzzledly. ¡°Third Yan, you found some money early in the morning? Yan Rusheng felt awkward and quickly put down his hands, ignoring Mu Li as he entered the lift. Yan Weihong was with Mu Li. When Yan Rusheng entered the lift, Yan Weihong happened to walk out. The two of them brushed past each other and Yan Rusheng called out ¡®Dad¡¯ in a deadpan manner. Yan Weihong acknowledged his greeting with a hum. There was a mysterious smile coming from his eyes. ¡°Is your company going bankrupt?¡± Yan Rusheng was just about to press the ¡®door close¡¯ button. Chapter 645. You Can Choose Not to Forgive Him Mu Li suddenly turned back and shot him this question. He blankly stared at her, bewildered. ¡°It¡¯s already 9:00 a.m.¡± Mu Li pointed to her watch. Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ He gave them a passive look as he pressed the elevator button to close the door. He thought to himself, ¡°Is she even my biological mother?¡± A big bowl of porridge, a set of weird tasting sandwiches, and a tomato¡ªXuxu ate them all up. Of course, she slumped beside the toilet bowl again and threw up everything she ate. After she had puked, she opened up the snacks. There were cakes and fruits, all of which were imported food. She thought, in the past, he used to separately send different food items at different timings. But perhaps he needed to go to work. Hence, he sent everything at the same time. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ Xuxu had just peeled an orange and taken two bites of it when the doorbell rang. She puzzledly furrowed her eyebrows. Did Zhou Shuang mention she was coming over? Could it be her grandfather at the door? Xuxu walked towards the door as she tried to hazard a guess. She peeped through the door hole and opened it without further delay. ¡°Aunt Mu Li and Second Uncle, why are you here so early in the morning?¡± She took out slippers for them to change as she asked. Mu Li said, ¡°We are flying to Country Y tonight and we¡¯re worried about you. So, we bought you some tonic.¡± She bent down and placed the stuff on the floor. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll be away for two months. When I¡¯m back, I don¡¯t intend to leave again.¡± Mu Li looked at Xuxu with a concerned look. ¡°Third Yan is staying next door. You can choose not to forgive him, but if there are any emergencies, you have to call him, do you understand?¡± Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± What did she mean she could choose not to forgive him, but to call him if there were any emergencies? Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but glance at the snacks and thermos jar on her dining table. She turned back and looked at Mu Li again. She was indeed a well-hidden old sly! ¡°Hey, you are carrying my grandchildren, so how can I not worry for you?¡± Mu Li looked down at Xuxu¡¯s tummy and lightly patted it. She was laughing so hard that she could hardly close her mouth as if she could visualize her grandchildren calling her ¡®grandmother¡¯. Yan Weihong, who was standing beside her, shot her a look of contempt. He chided her for being so realistic and appearing even more obvious than him. ¡°Have you taken your breakfast?¡± Mu Li raised her head and asked Xuxu. Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°Just eaten.¡± Mu Li sighed again. ¡°I¡¯m really worried for you now that I¡¯m going away.¡± Her words carried a hint of foreshadowing and Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s really alright. I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m no longer a child and moreover, my grandfather is just staying nearby.¡± Mu Li continued to wear a worried frown on her face. ¡°The next prenatal checkup is in a month¡¯s time, and there¡¯ll be no one to accompany you for the checkup.¡± Xuxu calmly replied, ¡°I know the way to the hospital.¡± As a grandfather-to-be, Yan Weihong is just as worried as Mu Li. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°Xuxu, let me arrange a chauffeur for you, and I¡¯ll rent an apartment for him in this area. Whenever you need to go out, you can call him.¡± Xuxu placed her hand on her forehead and replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to. I¡¯m really not as delicate and frail as you think. My grandfather is just nearby and if there¡¯s a need to, I can always call him.¡± They were really exaggerating the situation. Mu Li and Yan Weihong heard this, both of them spoke in unison. ¡°Then you¡¯ve got to be careful.¡± Before they left, Mu Li repeatedly instructed Xuxu to look for Yan Rusheng if anything happened. She even said the same words ¡®you can choose not to forgive him.¡¯ Chapter 646. Ill Wait Outside For You ¡­ Every morning, Xuxu continued to receive sumptuous breakfast at her doorstep. Her morning sickness lasted for another month, but it gradually improved. Before she realized it, she was already due for her first prenatal checkup. Earlier in the morning, Mu Li called to remind her not to empty her bladder after she woke up. She still needed to do an ultrasound scan later. After the call ended, it rendered Xuxu speechless for a while. It should be bedtime in Country Y, it made her feel worried that Mu Li¡¯s constant fretting over her pregnancy would turn her from a beautiful and youthful woman into an old hag. She¡¯d call her daily, repeatedly filling her with instructions. After putting down the receiver, Xuxu raised her hands and stretched herself. She got down from her bed and drew open the curtain. It was a sunny day¡ªa good weather to be out. She opened her windows to let in some fresh air into her house. Mu Li had sent over many clothes from overseas, and most were suitable for wear in their current season. The clothes were all made from good quality materials. Xuxu chose a pink hooded sweater to match with a pair of ash-grey slacks. She also wore a black down-filled jacket over it and carried a haversack. When she opened the door, she was greeted with shock. She saw a towering figure and was puzzled why he wasn¡¯t at work. Although she had been leading a lackadaisical lifestyle lately, she was still aware that it was a Friday. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Xuxu gently and cautiously. Xuxu acknowledged with a faint ¡®Mm¡¯ and shut her door before treading towards the lift. Yan Rusheng followed after her. ¡°Let me send you to the hospital.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can take a taxi.¡± She stretched out her hand to press the elevator button. She fixed her eyes on the elevator screen without looking at the man beside her. ¡°I¡¯ll send you there and wait for you outside.¡± As Yan Rusheng said that, the elevator arrived. Xuxu walked in and he hurried behind her. Xuxu¡¯s eyes were still fixed on the screen. She remained silent. Her silence meant that she had agreed, and so a smile appeared on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. Immediately, he stretched his hand to press basement two to take them to the carpark. When the elevator landed on the first floor, Yan Rusheng feared that Xuxu would walk out. So he deliberately used his huge body to block her. It was a pity he didn¡¯t get to see the mesmerizing smile from the beautiful woman behind him. Yan Rusheng was still driving the champagne-colored Bentley. Although the exterior of the car wasn¡¯t eye-catching, in their neighborhood carpark, one could easily tell that it was an expensive car. Yan Rusheng took out his car keys. His car was parked at the parking lot nearest to the lift lobby. After unlocking the door, he hurriedly ran over to open the passenger seat door for Xuxu. But Xuxu walked to the back passenger seat. She opened the door and climbed into the car. ¡®Slam.¡¯ The car door closed. Although Xuxu deliberately distanced herself from him, it didn¡¯t dampen Yan Rusheng¡¯s cheery mood. Just the thought of Xuxu allowing him to accompany her for her prenatal checkup kept his mood up. Ever since he knew that she would go for her checkup that day, it had him worried. He didn¡¯t want to miss out on every developmental milestone of their unborn child. Ever since he found out about her pregnancy, he had been reading up on pregnancy-related information and recipes on the internet. Once, he even chanced upon a video footage of the delivery process and thought about the pain and ordeal that Xuxu has to go through in the future. It caused him a sleepless night. When the car drove out of the carpark, the sun¡¯s rays shone into the car. It instantly brightened it up everything. Chapter 647. Normal Xuxu propped her elbow on the window and rested her hand on her forehead. She was looking out of the window. There was a subtle smile on the corners of her mouth. Yan Rusheng would turn back and occasionally glance at her. Of late, he had been leaving the house early and returning home late. Xuxu, on the other hand, didn¡¯t leave her house on the weekends. Hence, he could count the number of times that he saw her, they were usually just a hurried glimpse. Now that he looked at her closely, her hair seemed to have grown slightly longer. Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands tightly gripped the steering wheel. He told himself that whatever he was doing wasn¡¯t enough to make up for everything. Since Mu Li already made prior arrangements for Xuxu, the President called Xuxu while they were on the way to the hospital. He asked when she would reach, and that once she arrived, she could proceed for her ultrasound scan without having to queue. Xuxu didn¡¯t expect that the president would be the one to carry out the prenatal check. Although the Yan family was influential, it still overwhelmed her with surprise and felt flattered. There were two machines in the ultrasound room and a curtain separated them. Xuxu followed the president into the curtain while Yan Rusheng trailed after. He had the urge to enter but stopped short. Xuxu stole a glance at him and remained silent. She drew the curtain and kept him waiting outside. ¡°The feet and hands of the two little fellows are visible now. They are growing normally and healthily.¡± The President pressed the probe and moved along her belly as he said that. Hearing this, Xuxu got all excited and was bursting with joy. She slightly propped up her upper body to look at the monitor. ¡°Really? I also want to have a look.¡± ¡°Look, this is the hand, this is the head, these are the feet¡­¡± The President pointed to the monitor and explained. Xuxu¡¯s heart instantly melted when she saw them. She was brought tears. ¡°They¡¯re so tiny.¡± Yan Rusheng, who was standing outside, heard the conversation between the President and Xuxu. He was restlessly pacing back and forth. He also wished to have a glimpse of their little hands and feet. Many times, he had the urge to push aside the curtain to enter, but he lacked the courage. He was afraid that he would make Xuxu unhappy. He had already promised Xuxu that he would wait outside while she was having her checkup. ¡°Shall we let the babies¡¯ father come in to look as well?¡± All of a sudden, the President looked at Xuxu to get her approval. Xuxu pursed her lips and remained mum, and she laid back down again. ¡®Aunt Mu Li, my Aunt Mu Li, how could you not be biased? You are still so thoughtful and attentive towards your son even while you are away.¡¯ Silence meant consent. The President smiled and turned back. He called out, ¡°Third Yan, do you want to look at your babies?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Before the President could finish talking, Yan Rusheng had already pulled open the curtain and entered. His face was overwhelmed with excitement and joy, and with just one step, he reached the doctor¡¯s side. He took a glance at Xuxu who was lying on the bed with her little belly exposed. She was two months pregnant but her belly was still flat and hardly visible. Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze swept past Xuxu¡¯s face and her expression was still as cold and distant as ever. He pressed his lips together and averted his gaze to the monitor. His peach blossom-shaped eyes were beaming with more excitement and delight. The doctor pointed to the two newly formed fetal images. He explained to him once more. Yan Rusheng had the urge to embrace Xuxu all of a sudden. But of course, it was only his wishful thinking. ¡°Normal but skinny.¡± The doctor put down the probe and said to Xuxu as he looked at her. After that, he turned towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Yan, prepare more nutritious food for her. Make sure she eats more fruits and watches less TV. After dinner, it would be good for her to take a stroll and keep her spirits high.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 648. She’s Just Dim-Witted Xuxu used a piece of tissue to wipe away the ultrasound gel on her tummy and then pulled down her top. She propped her body with both hands to get up. Seeing this, Yan Rusheng swiftly helped her up. ¡°Xuxu, be careful.¡± Xuxu sat up and slightly struggled before Yan Rusheng let go of her hands. The two of them followed the President to his office where he shared with them some of his expert knowledge and experiences. After they had left the President¡¯s office, Yan Rusheng looked at Xuxu and tactfully asked, ¡°You have not taken your breakfast. Let me take you out to eat.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°I will take a taxi home myself.¡± After that, she walked with hurried steps towards the direction of the staircase. Yan Rusheng also hastened his steps and followed her. ¡°Xuxu, let me send you home then.¡± Xuxu faintly replied, ¡°I want to shop around first.¡± It was a busy season in the office. Yan Rusheng knew that even though her tone sounded indifferent, she was definitely adamant. As he didn¡¯t want to anger her, he let her have her way. He said, ¡°Be careful then.¡± But as he looked at her, worry clouded his eyes. Yan Rusheng walked Xuxu to the taxi and retracted his gaze only after the taxi had vanished from sight. Perhaps he was afraid of losing her, hence he took extra care of her. He had lost her before, and so he had to be extra cautious. But what did he mean by he had lost her before? He hadn¡¯t even won back his wife. ¡­ It had been quite a time since she last stepped inside a mall. Xuxu took a taxi to the mall she used to frequent with her grandmother. After the first month of the lunar year, vibrantly colored spring decorations decked the mall, and there was a cheery atmosphere all around. After Xuxu finished her shopping at the ladies¡¯ department on level two, she went up to the third level and unconsciously stepped into the children¡¯s department. The first thing that caught her eyes was soothing and warm colors all around. She saw a counter selling milk bottles and pacifiers. She walked over before stopping in her steps. Looking at the adorable stuff, her maternal instincts kicked in and she took two milk bottles. She was fondly scrutinizing them and was unwilling to let go. ¡°Hello, how can I help you?¡± A salesgirl came over and politely looked at Xuxu. Xuxu smiled and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m just looking around.¡± After that, she put back the milk bottles and looked elsewhere. ¡°Xuxu!¡± Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice but couldn¡¯t recall who the voice belonged to. Xuxu turned around and looked towards the direction of the voice. A slender lady dressed in branded clothes approached her. It had stumped her for a moment before she smiled. ¡°Miss Tang.¡± She was Tang Feiling, the fiancee of Ming Ansheng. She¡¯s the First Missy of the influential antique dealers in the capital city. But having not seen her for quite some time, she looked different. She recalled that her chin wasn¡¯t as sharp as before, and her double eyelids weren¡¯t so emphasized. Hence why she couldn¡¯t recognize her right away. A short-haired lady, wearing a pair of spectacles and dressed in neutral gender clothes, stood beside Tang Feiling. Tang Feiling trod towards Xuxu and chatted as if they were old friends. ¡°We¡¯ve not seen each other for over a year.¡± Xuxu slightly pressed her lips in response. ¡°This is my good friend, Anqi.¡± Tang Feiling beckoned to the woman beside her and introduced her. Xuxu smiled and nodded at her. Tang Feiling asked again, ¡°Since you left Flourish & Prosper, what have you been up to?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°At home.¡± Although she wasn¡¯t close to her, she didn¡¯t particularly like Tang Feiling¡¯s character. She¡¯s simple-minded but wasn¡¯t the adorable type. She¡¯s just dim-witted. Of the few times she had interacted with her, she seemed to love being around those who had less desirable qualities than her so she could enjoy a sense of superiority. She loved others to pander to her and enjoyed being fawned upon. Chapter 649. Should Get a Job Tang Feiling suddenly frowned and sighed. ¡°How can Yan Rusheng do this to you? That violinist¡¯s class is beneath yours.¡± Xuxu snorted quietly in her heart. This lady¡¯s character was really unlikeable. At least she couldn¡¯t bring herself to like Tang Feiling. Xuxu didn¡¯t respond and smiled instead. ¡°Miss Tang, I have something on. I need to leave.¡± She turned on her heel, ready to leave. Tang Feiling quickly grabbed her wrist and stopped her. She exclaimed, ¡°Hey, Xuxu! We¡¯ve just met and you are already leaving? It has been some time since I last saw you. Let¡¯s grab lunch together.¡± Xuxu shook her head and declined her politely once more. ¡°I really have something on. Thank you for your kind offer. Next time perhaps.¡± She awkwardly retracted her arm, which Tang Feiling was still gripping on tightly. Tang Feiling pouted and her expression revealed pity. ¡°In that case, it¡¯s quite a pity indeed. I wanted to give you a treat.¡± Xuxu managed a feeble smile and walked away. Moments later, Tang Feiling¡¯s voice rang once more. ¡°Xuxu, you shouldn¡¯t dwell on it too much. Men born into wealthy families are rarely devoted and faithful to their wives. You will find another one with your qualities.¡± She seemed to broadcast to everyone for fear that no one else knew that her husband had cheated on her. Xuxu¡¯s expression turned stony but her strides remained calm and collected. ¡°Isn¡¯t she the childhood sweetheart of Third Young Master Yan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I said it¡¯s impossible for an orphan girl like her to marry a rich man and have a happily ever after. Fairy tales don¡¯t exist in real life.¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth coldly twitched. She had initially wanted to shop but to her dismay, she met Tang Feiling. And true enough, her appearance thoroughly destroyed her mood. She left the mall and went to a random restaurant. She ordered several spicy dishes. After she had finished her meal, she didn¡¯t feel like going home yet, so she aimlessly wandered around on the streets. She suddenly caught sight of a familiar building which made her heart skip a beat. ¡°How did I end up here?¡± Xuxu muttered to herself and hastened her footsteps as she went to the side of the road. She stretched her hand to flag a taxi. She opened the door and got in. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Sister Xuxu?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± Two people came out of the building and caught a fleeting glimpse of Xuxu getting inside the taxi. They discussed in hushed whispers. ¡­ Xuxu peered out from the taxi¡¯s windows. She hasn¡¯t been out in quite some time, but she felt better after being cooped up at home for days. She felt that she should get a job and shouldn¡¯t stay at home to rot all day long. ¡°Miss, you haven¡¯t told me your destination.¡± The taxi driver suddenly turned around and spoke to Xuxu. Xuxu looked at him and deliberated. ¡°Bright Elegance Park.¡± She hasn¡¯t visited her grandfather for quite some time. Xuxu propped her head against the window and was about to doze off when her phone vibrated. She whipped out her phone and saw that Su Yan had sent her a text. He sent her a photo taken at the Donghai Train Station. Yan Rusheng was half-squatting, half-kneeling in front of her in the photo. Su Yan had edited it and added a caption. ¡®Wife, please give me another chance¡­¡¯ Xuxu chuckled and was about to stow her phone away when Su Yan followed up with another text. ¡°You should have made him kneel properly and beg for forgiveness.¡± She frowned and ignored. Suddenly a thought struck Xuxu. She dialed Su Yan¡¯s number. Chapter 650. Taken Aback That He Would Choose This Name Su Yan picked up the call. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu said, ¡°Su Yan, where is your company located at?¡± ¡®You can come any time and do whatever you want and like¡­¡¯ She had a sudden whim to look for a job, and Su Yan¡¯s promise was indeed tempting. Actually, a job where you could do whatever and however you like was a rare thing. Besides, she wanted to have a different line of work and a change of environment. She wanted to challenge herself. Like what Aunt Mu Li said, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to find a new job since she was pregnant. She could only render a few months of work before she gave birth. Su Yan informed Xuxu of the address. Longshan District was located on the outskirts of the city area. But she had to admit that Su Yan had a unique taste and mindset. The Longshan District was a famous scenic place in the Capital City. There were mountains, rivers, and ancient historical architecture left from the olden times, especially the famed Yushui Town, that also goes by the nickname of The Northern Little Yangtze . Plenty of people from the southern part of the country would travel to Longshan District during holidays to reminisce about their hometown. Xuxu took a taxi to Yushui Town. However, Su Yan didn¡¯t tell her the name of his company. He simply told her that his company was located in the most flourishing area of the town. It depended on Xuxu to locate the place. Xuxu alighted at the entrance of the town, and she felt as though she was transported to the Southern hometown. She reached the town in the afternoon. It was a Friday; therefore, the town wasn¡¯t as crowded as it should be. Xuxu entered the town and began looking for Su Yan¡¯s company. She had walked for quite a distance, but she didn¡¯t see any photography company. So she thought at the moment she would catch sight of one, it should be Su Yan¡¯s company. Xuxu Rusheng! Xuxu gazed at the wooden signboard where the name was carved. Waves repeatedly billowed in her heart in gentle motions. It had been some time since she saw their names together, and her lips unconsciously curled. She thought¡­ No, she was sure it was Su Yan¡¯s company. It just took her by surprise that he would choose such a name. Just like any other photography studio, there were mannequins dressed in wedding gowns displayed at the glass windows. The backdrop was a picture of a river during the winter, and it was frozen. For a moment, it looked as if the mannequin was standing in the backdrop. Xuxu stood outside the entrance. She examined the exterior before climbing up the doorstep. It was spacious inside, and there was a wide collection of pictures hanging on the wall, most of which were scenery pictures. Western-style influenced the design of the studio, too. There were two levels, and it had a unique-looking spiral staircase. ¡°Hello.¡± Xuxu was surveying the surroundings and the pictures on the wall when a young lady in her early twenties walked towards her. She politely greeted her. ¡°Are you here to take photos?¡± Before Xuxu could answer, a man¡¯s voice sounded from the staircase. ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re here.¡± Xuxu turned her head and saw Su Yan descending the stairs. It was rare to see him dressed so formally. He wore a jewel-blue suit and it fitted him perfectly. It accentuated his slender and muscular frame. His good-looking face had indistinct features of a foreigner, and the suit made him look even more regal and refined. He stuffed a hand in his pocket with the other holding on to the railing as he descended. The wooden staircase produced sounds with every step. Xuxu puzzledly watched Su Yan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you working today?¡± If she remembered correctly, he had another job as Grand Fashion¡¯s Director of Photography and their chief photographer. ¡°I only take photos so there is no need for me to report to work every day.¡± By the time he finished answering Xuxu, he had appeared in front of her. Chapter 651. It Was Once Her Dream Xuxu smiled. ¡°I see.¡± His character was so unrestrained and wild. How could he possibly accept jobs that were inflexible or conventional? Su Yan grinned and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Is the purpose of your visit today to take up my job offer? Do you want to work at my studio?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xuxu nodded but the next moment, she seemed quite disappointed. ¡°But this place is too far, and right now, my current state doesn¡¯t allow me to travel.¡± It was too far. The journey to and fro would even take about three hours. It would take a toll on her pregnancy. Even without Aunt Mu Li and the rest of their objections, she already knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to endure the long journey. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that at all.¡± Su Yan pressed on, ¡°I have a studio in the city, so you don¡¯t have to travel this far. It¡¯s at the Fourth South Loop.¡± It really surprised Xuxu. She suspected that this fellow visited the country ages ago. How could he move around so swiftly in just a few months? He had established his own photography company, set up a studio, and also took up a job at Grand Fashion. Do these superior genes exist in all Yan family members? Each one had surpassed the other. Fourth South Loop¡ªit wasn¡¯t far from her apartment, and it indeed tempted Xuxu. She glanced at the pictures on the wall, and she furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°But what can I do here? I can¡¯t take photos. I can¡¯t edit, and I know little about makeup.¡± Su Yan chuckled. ¡°You know design, and as long as you have the foresight and taste, it¡¯s enough.¡± His statement rendered Xuxu dumbfounded. She stared at Su Yan without blinking. ¡°You¡­ how did you know I studied design before?¡± She tilted her head down. Melancholy and sorrow appeared in her eyes. ¡°I saw your designs in the storeroom at home.¡± Su Yan didn¡¯t hide his admiration for Xuxu¡¯s talents, and so he generously lavished praises on her. ¡°Your ideas were definitely quirky and spunky for your time before. If you had continued to study design, you might have already established a name for yourself internationally in the fashion design field.¡± Xuxu smiled as she scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m not as capable as you¡¯ve described. That was merely a module I randomly chose.¡± She instantly changed the topic. ¡°But why do you need me to design?¡± They specialized in photography and not in fashion design. ¡°Every wedding gown or dress you see here were designed and made by yours truly,¡± proudly declared Su Yan as his fingers swept past the dresses and gowns. ¡°You can close your eyes and design anything you want. The style, the color¡­¡± He emphasized once more. ¡°Remember, anything as long as you want, just go ahead and design. What I want is unique and different.¡± ¡®You can close your eyes and design anything you want. The style, the color¡­¡¯ The words stirred Xuxu¡¯s heart for it was once her dream. That one day, people would wear the clothes she designed. That one day, she would design a wedding gown for herself. She tightly clutched her bag. She was thoroughly tempted, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to accept the job offer. It had been years since she last designed anything, and she had already lost all confidence. Furthermore, she was fearful of failures. Su Yan seemed to know what was on her mind. He looked at her intently and encouraged her. ¡°Xuxu, believe me. You are different, and I know you can do it.¡± Xuxu raised her face. Her eyes were sparkling with determination. ¡°Alright.¡± After saying it, she felt her entire world had changed. Sometimes, a person just needs to take that one step. Once you have taken that step, everything would be fine. Chapter 652. Mummy Says Handsome Su Yan had a photo shoot at night. It was for Grand Fashion¡¯s next cover page, and the model was an extremely popular A-list celebrity. But Su Yan still insisted on sending Xuxu back home first. He drove her to her apartment building, and she got off. The sun had begun to set, and the sky turned red. The temperature had drastically dropped too. Xuxu swiped her card and entered the building. She had just pushed the door open when a small child clumsily tottered over with a ball. The little child wore an orange fur coat, and he had a woolen cap on his head. An old lady was trailing after the child, in fact, she was chasing after him. ¡°Bubu, be careful!¡± The old lady seemed to be in her sixties, and her leg didn¡¯t look good since she walked with a limp. Xuxu blocked the little child¡¯s path. She gazed at him with a gentle smile. The child¡¯s path was obstructed, so he peered at Xuxu. His sparkling innocent eyes along with his chubby face looked so adorable. ¡°Aunt. Aunt.¡± The little boy couldn¡¯t articulate properly. Xuxu squatted and gently pinched his cheeks. ¡°You know how to address me as an aunt?¡± This little boy was very bright, and after he noticed Xuxu smiling at him, he followed suit. Xuxu looked at his innocent-looking face and her heart seemed to have melted. ¡°Little boy, how old are you?¡± ¡°Bubu, how old are you?¡± The old lady finally caught up with them. She knelt down and then grabbed the boy¡¯s hand tightly to prevent him from escaping. The little boy raised three fingers. He replied, ¡°Three years old.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so smart! And you know you¡¯re three years old.¡± Xuxu pinched him once more. She simply adored him. ¡°You are too adorable!¡± Her face was against the setting sun, and the smile on her exquisite, tiny face was like a blooming flower. She looked so gentle and kind, and she somehow exuded an aura of motherly love. He now finally understood the reason Xuxu was so concerned about the children at the orphanage. He finally knew why she adored Huanhuan so much, too. Huanhuan was about three years old. If only¡­ That was how she eased her regrets from losing her child. That moment, as Xuxu looked at that little boy, the usual melancholic expression in her eyes was replaced with joy. Was it because of their child in her stomach? Yan Rusheng halted in his tracks as he intently gazed at her. He seemed to have entered a state of stupor. ¡°Bubu, it¡¯s time for us to go home. Say goodbye to aunt.¡± The old lady rose and held the little boy¡¯s hand. Xuxu stood up and waved at him cheerily. ¡°Bubu, bye-bye! Don¡¯t run away from your grandma in the future!¡± The old lady smiled. ¡°My leg isn¡¯t so well. I really can¡¯t catch up with him sometimes.¡± ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng walked over to Xuxu. ¡°Mummy says handsome.¡± The little boy suddenly said as he pointed at Yan Rusheng. Mummy says handsome? Although it was a little vague, they could still understand what he said. It flabbergasted Yan Rusheng, and he anxiously looked at Xuxu. His eyes were wide, and it seemed innocent. It seemed that he was trying to say ¡®I swear I don¡¯t know who is his mother is.¡¯ The old lady sized up Yan Rusheng and gave a chuckle. ¡°This man appears often on the news, and my daughter likes to read about celebrities and gossip.¡± Chapter 653. Truth Or Lies? ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were both dumbfounded at the same time! They couldn¡¯t help but think that the child was way too smart. He had only seen Yan Rusheng¡¯s photo, and yet he could immediately recognize him. The old lady smiled. ¡°This young man is indeed more good-looking in person. Your child would be very good-looking too.¡± Xuxu heard her, and she became embarrassed by her words. She quickly bent her head. If it wasn¡¯t because she was indeed pregnant, she would have laughed it off. After saying goodbye to the boy and his grandma, Xuxu continued walking back home. Yan Rusheng walked behind, and they were only a footstep apart. Both of them were silent. ¡°Aunt Zhang brewed chicken soup for you, and she had sent it here. Bring it back to drink it later.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke only after they had entered the elevator. He looked at Xuxu and observed her expression. Xuxu uttered a soft ¡®oh¡¯ and gave no further response as she cast her gaze at her feet. When the elevator reached their level, Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Wait for me here. I¡¯ll go get it.¡± He took out his keys and walked out of the elevator first. He quickly strode towards his apartment and opened the door. Xuxu stood outside his door and peered inside. It was clean and tidy, and the floor appeared it had just been washed. In comparison to his house, hers seemed messy and dirty. ¡°It¡¯s still hot.¡± Yan Rusheng brought out a container and passed it to Xuxu. Xuxu received it with both hands and then turned around. Yan Rusheng suddenly called out to her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± She stopped and glanced at him. Yan Rusheng hesitated and his words seemed choked. ¡°Later¡­ Later, I¡¯ll cook dinner for you.¡± Xuxu bowed her head and didn¡¯t respond. She unlocked her door and entered her apartment. She shut the door and gently rubbed her tummy as she smiled to herself. ¡­ Su Yan¡¯s studio in the city was a lot larger than what she had imagined. She had assumed that he had rented a small office just for design purposes. But to her surprise, it was a huge warehouse. The interior design was distinctly unique. There were sewing machines, clothes and various accessories. What she had thought of and what she didn¡¯t, everything was in place. There were several mannequins wearing unfinished articles of clothing. The scale of the warehouse was huge, but there were only two employees. A man and a woman, and both were foreigners. She surveyed the entire office and couldn¡¯t conceal her astonishment. Su Yan stood beside a sewing machine as he pored through a design draft. Xuxu walked towards him and asked, ¡°Su Yan, tell me honestly. After you knew that you were coming back to the country, how long have you planned all of this?¡± Su Yan raised his head and grinned. ¡°Truth or lies?¡± Xuxu raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you think?¡± Of course, she wanted the truth, but judging from his expression, she knew that he wouldn¡¯t tell her the truth. This fellow might seem simple, straightforward, and honest. But in reality, whatever he had said and done, they were all a mystery. Su Yan quipped, ¡°The truth is three months. The lie is ten years.¡± Xuxu coldly sneered. ¡°Everything is a lie.¡± But she wasn¡¯t that curious to the point that she had to force the truth out of him. She was just merely surprised. So if he didn¡¯t want to say, why should she force him? Xuxu inched neared to Su Yan and pointed upstairs. She whispered, ¡°Are they both designers?¡± Chapter 654. This Beautiful Girl Was His Love at First Sight She happened to pass by the office and chanced upon two people who were looking at their drafts, deep in discussions. As she was afraid of imposing on them, she didn¡¯t halt her footsteps. Su Yan nodded his head. ¡°Yes, they are my friends from Country Y. They both graduated from XX University in Country Y with a degree in fashion design.¡± XX University in Country Y. When she heard it, her expression briefly fell before resuming her usual self. She nodded her head. ¡°Great, I can learn from them.¡± However, Su Yan threw a wet blanket at her. ¡°Unfortunately, they will go on the 1st day of next month.¡± The date was another one to two weeks away. Xuxu sighed. ¡°What a pity.¡± Su Yan quipped, ¡°They are going back to get married. That¡¯s a piece of good news.¡± ¡°Getting married is definitely a happy occasion.¡± Xuxu responded and then asked, ¡°Then will I have an office?¡± ¡°In the future, the room nearest to the staircase will be your office.¡± Su Yan pointed to the staircase. The room was clearly visible from where they were standing, and he said, ¡°Most of the time, you¡¯ll be the only one here. So you can choose to use whichever room you wish.¡± He hesitated before continuing. ¡°Later on, I¡¯ll be getting an assistant to take care of you.¡± Xuxu waved her hands and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I prefer to be alone.¡± She lowered her head and looked at the draft in Su Yan¡¯s hands. He made a ton of comments on it. ¡°Hi, Su.¡± The two persons upstairs suddenly came down. Xuxu raised her head and directed her sight at them. The two persons moved towards them, one after another. The lady was tall, but the man was even taller. Su Yan, who was beside her, waved at them. ¡°Hi.¡± The Caucasian man walked closer and took notice of Xuxu. He yelled in exaggeration. ¡°Oh my God. You¡¯ve brought a beauty here.¡± Su Yan grinned and pointed to Xuxu as he introduced her. ¡°This is Xuxu.¡± ¡°Xuxu?¡± When the Caucasian man heard her name, he frowned as if he recalled something. ¡°Rusheng?¡± Su Yan nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Xuxu was visibly startled for a moment. But when she recalled the name of Su Yan¡¯s photography company, it didn¡¯t appear to be a surprise to her anymore. Su Yan pointed to the two Caucasians and introduced them to Xuxu. ¡°This is Mr. Bleu and his fianc¨¦e, Miss Rose.¡± Xuxu smiled and politely acknowledged them. ¡°I remembered. Those photos.¡± Bleu intently stared at Xuxu¡¯s face for a while. He seemed to have recalled something and excitedly grinned. ¡°The photos at the vintage street. She had long hair and was wearing an orange-colored dress. She was stunning.¡± After that, he pointed to his fianc¨¦e. ¡°This beautiful girl was Su¡¯s love at first sight.¡± Su Yan smiled and his mouth deliberately sank as a sign of regret. ¡°She turned out to be my brother¡¯s wife.¡± Hearing this, Bleu suddenly stretched forth his hand and patted his head. ¡°Oh, goodness gracious. It¡¯s a real pity.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ She had no inkling with what they were talking about. Was there a differing style of communication between different countries? Must Mr. Bleu be so vivid in his tone and expressions? Su Yan pointed to Xuxu again. He then said to Bleu and his fianc¨¦e, ¡°She¡¯s here to work, and I believe that in the coming week, you¡¯ll have a good time working together.¡± Bleu nodded his head. ¡°Definitely.¡± His fiancee even gave Xuxu an affectionate hug. Su Yan didn¡¯t stay long and left after that. As it was Xuxu¡¯s first day at work, she didn¡¯t begin work immediately. Bleu told her that a foreign celebrity would be coming over to China in April to shoot a photo book, and they had been busy coming up with costume designs for this celebrity since a total of ten costumes were needed. Chapter 655. He Also Wished To Hold His Wife’s Tiny Hands They were specially designing ten sets of costumes for the photobook shoot. What a scale and measure! But it¡¯s indeed costly to shoot a photobook. Rose was busy working away in front of the sewing machine, sewing a short gown while Xuxu looked on from the side. Mr. Bleu walked in from outside with a cell phone in his hand. He looked rather dismayed. Rose lifted her head and looked at him with eyebrows knitted. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? They¡¯re still not satisfied?¡± Mr. Bleu¡¯s lips curled down, and he nodded. ¡°Her assistant said that it has to be simplified further.¡± Xuxu overheard their conversation. She could already hazard a guess about the situation. She pursed her lips and deliberated for a moment before speaking. ¡°What difficulties are you facing?¡± Rose gazed at her and replied with a grumbling tone. ¡°A Chinese imperial costume had gone through many rounds of alterations, but the other party is still not pleased with it.¡± Bleu added, ¡°Mainly because we¡¯re unfamiliar with the spirit of Chinese imperial costumes. We have little knowledge in this area. Hence, we could only use other samples as a reference.¡± Xuxu looked at the design draft in Bleu¡¯s hands. She asked, ¡°Can I look at the draft?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Bleu handed it to Xuxu. ¡°Perhaps you can give us some suggestions.¡± Xuxu smiled. She stretched her hand to receive it and flipped it. It was a set of Qing Dynasty Imperial costumes. She ran a quick scan over it before looking at Bleu again. ¡°I need to have a better understanding of her height, weight¡­¡± ¡°Ok!¡± Bleu made an ¡®Ok¡¯ sign with his fingers and turned back to take a file for Xuxu. Xuxu received it and lowered her head to look through it. ¡°Oh God, too handsome.¡± All of a sudden, Rose exclaimed and then gasped in a silly love-struck manner. Bleu teased her again. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m going to be jealous.¡± What was the meaning of too handsome? Xuxu heard the couple¡¯s conversation and raised her head in bewilderment. ¡°What?¡± She saw both of them fixing their gaze behind her. Xuxu turned around and looked in the same direction. A towering figure was standing at the door. It had her shocked beyond words. Why was the fellow here? ¡°Xuxu,¡± called out Yan Rusheng as he looked at Xuxu. He then walked towards her. Rose took a quick glance at Yan Rusheng and then looked at Xuxu and asked, ¡°Xuxu, is he Su¡¯s brother? Your husband?¡± This question stumped Xuxu, and she didn¡¯t know how to respond. She thought that if she had only asked if he was Su Yan¡¯s brother, then she could to answer it a breeze. But she asked if he was her husband¡­ she could only lower her head and agree in silence. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded in her ears. ¡°I am Yan Rusheng.¡± He smiled as he acknowledged Bleu and Rose. His voice was indifferent, with no trace of formalities or pleasantries. ¡°Xuxu¡­ Rusheng¡­¡± ¡°Su used their names,¡± Bleu and Rose exclaimed in unison. Then they looked at each other. Bleu looked down at Rose and planted a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Darling, this is also a Chinese idiom. Su said that it was a beautiful idiom.¡± After that, he reached out to embrace Rose by her waist. Rose stood on tiptoes and responded with a kiss on his lips, oblivious to the people around them. Young Master Yan clenched his teeth. It wasn¡¯t a good idea for a person like him, who was on the verge of a failed relationship, to witness such display of affection. He also wished to embrace his wife. It¡¯s been a long time since he hugged her, not to mention holding her hands. After displaying her affection to her fianc¨¦, Rose looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Are you here to fetch Xuxu home?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head slightly. ¡°Mm.¡± Chapter 656. Can’t Chat Any Further With You Xuxu replied at once. ¡°I still have work to do.¡± After that, she lowered her head and looked at the celebrity¡¯s profile information that Bleu had handed her. With a soothing voice with a gentle tone. Yan Rusheng looked at her and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± In the past, Wen Xuxu was always the one who waited for Yan Rusheng. Even when he had to wait for her, he would always hurry her. He had never once waited patiently for her just like what he was doing. They both sat facing each other, occupied with their own work. Yan Rusheng was typing away non-stop on his keyboard. His cell phone suddenly rang. He instinctively stole a glance at Xuxu before whipping out his phone from his pocket. He turned it to silent mode first and then walked away to answer the call. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for me to communicate via video call right now. Let¡¯s text to discuss instead.¡± After saying this, Yan Rusheng ended the call before he could even reach the door. He went back in to sit down and resumed typing on his keyboard. He tried his best not to make too much noise for fear of disturbing Xuxu. Actually, there were many spaces outside where he could carry out his work, but he couldn¡¯t bear to give up this opportunity to spend time alone with Xuxu in the same room. It had been over two months since they spent time together in private. Xuxu supported her head with one hand while holding a pen in the other and casually twirling it with her fingers. Time ticked away by the minutes and seconds. The piece of paper in front of her was still a clean and blank sheet. After ending the short meeting, Yan Rusheng held up the glass of water which Rose had poured for him earlier. He took a sip while gazing at the woman opposite him. She lowered her head, and she was holding the pen with her slender and fair hand, sketching away on a piece of paper. He didn¡¯t pay attention to what she was drawing as his heart had already melted the moment he set his eyes on her. Yan Rusheng could no longer pay attention to his work, and he didn¡¯t have the courage to keep staring at Xuxu. Hence, he pretended to be working by striking the keyboard once in a while. Suddenly, there was a message prompt on the WeChat app on his laptop. Yan Rusheng opened the message¡ªit was from Lu Yinan. ¡®Third Yan, let¡¯s meet for dinner tonight.¡¯ He replied, ¡®Not going. Don¡¯t ask me out in the future.¡¯ Lu Yinan¡¯s reply came instantly. ¡®Xuxu is still ignoring you. So, we thought you might feel lonely, hence we are asking you out. We feel pity for you.¡¯ He¡­ a lonely man? Young Master Yan received immeasurable blows to his pride and ego. He took his cellphone, launched his camera a. He even added a ¡®cool¡¯ emoji of a face wearing sunglasses. He was immensely pleased with himself. Lu Yinan: ¡®Hey, isn¡¯t that Xuxu?¡¯ Ming Ansheng: ¡®Is that Xuxu?¡¯ There was a long pause¡­ There was a long pause¡­ Everyone silently looked. The photo blew them away. Yan Rusheng sent out another smoking soldier emoji¡ªhe was feeling extremely proud of himself. ¡®It¡¯s time for your dinner. Do what you¡¯re supposed to do.¡¯ Ming Ansheng: ¡®Don¡¯t be too smug. From the angle of the photo, it¡¯s obvious the photo was taken in secret. You were afraid that Xuxu might find out, hence you retracted the phone too fast, and it made it look like Xuxu¡¯s hand became fuzzy.¡¯ Her hand was fuzzy? Yan Rusheng immediately inspected the photo¡ªit was indeed fuzzy. He knitted his eyebrows while looking at Ming Ansheng¡¯s WeChat profile picture. He gnashed his teeth in anger. He¡¯s really a wild old fox. ¡°I can¡¯t chat with you any further. In the future, don¡¯t ask me out to any function or activities.¡± Yan Rusheng sent out his reply and was about to exit out of WeChat. Chapter 657. It’s Fate That Brings People Together Lu Yinan sent out another text message just in time. ¡®I think you can¡¯t continue with your posturing anymore.¡¯ Ming Ansheng suddenly interjected with his message. ¡®Sigh. It¡¯s your lifetime mistake to have met Xuxu. The once overbearing President has now turned into her loyal pet dog.¡¯ Lu Yinan: ¡®I heard that you can cook well now?¡¯ ¡®I also heard about of it. One day, I¡¯ll visit you to have a taste of your culinary skills.¡¯ ¡®Scram!¡¯ Young Master Yan was at the end of his patience. He closed his laptop right away. Of course, he was still aware that Xuxu was sitting opposite him. Hence, he closed his laptop with gentle hands. Xuxu was still sketching away on the paper. Yan Rusheng propped both hands on his cheeks and observed her intently. The corners of his mouth revealed an affectionate smile. The look in his eyes was too scorching, and Wen Xuxu couldn¡¯t ignore it. She felt frustrated and kept making mistakes in her sketch. She had the urge to raise her head and stare at him, but she disliked reacting in such a way because it would reveal that she wasn¡¯t able to keep her calm. Knock, knock, knock. Just when it had Xuxu more vexed, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± she called out as she lifted her head. She looked towards the door. The door opened and Rose was standing at the entrance. She was looking at her. ¡°Xuxu, it¡¯s getting late. Let¡¯s go for our dinner.¡± Getting late? Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and glanced at her watch. It was really getting¡­ It was already 6:30 p.m. Without realizing it, she and Yan Rusheng had sat in the room for two hours. She looked at Rose again. She said, ¡°Alright.¡± She stood up and tidied up the things on her desk before picking them up and walking towards the door. Yan Rusheng also took his laptop and trailed behind her. Just when Xuxu and Yan Rusheng walked out of the office, Bleu emerged from his office. The four of them stood at the spacious corridor. Rose held Xuxu¡¯s hand and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. You go ahead with Bleu. I¡¯m still not hungry yet since I¡¯ve eaten something in the afternoon.¡± Xuxu shook her head and tactfully rejected Rose¡¯s invitation. But Rose was enthusiastic about it and didn¡¯t want to let go of her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. On account of our acquaintance, let¡¯s have dinner and watch a movie together as we¡¯ll be leaving next month.¡± Behind them, Bleu cheered and applauded in agreement. ¡°This is a fabulous idea ¡®xuxu rusheng¡¯ . It¡¯s definitely more enjoyable for the four of us to have dinner and watch a movie together.¡± Xuxu was caught in a dilemma at the couple¡¯s enthusiasm. For the first time, she found it hard to reject someone¡¯s invitation. ¡°Since they¡¯re so keen about it, why don¡¯t we go together?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded in her ears all of a sudden. It was soft and uneven as if his voice was trembling as he spoke. Before she could reply, Rose and her husband nodded their heads in unison like little chicks pecking on their food. ¡°Yes, the Chinese always say it¡¯s fate that brings people together, and we¡¯re glad to have known two friends like you,¡®xuxu rusheng¡¯ .¡± Seeing the husband and wife-to-be so warm and earnest, Xuxu felt she would appear snobbish if she rejected them again. Thus, she nodded her head and agreed. ¡°Alright.¡± It was Yan Rusheng¡¯s presence that had led Xuxu in her dilemma, and he was fully aware of it. But now, he just wanted to make the most of every opportunity¡ªhe didn¡¯t want to miss out any possible chances of narrowing the gap between them. He could feel that Xuxu¡¯s attitude towards him had changed for the better. At least, for the past month, she didn¡¯t rake up the topic of divorce again. She was willing to eat the food that he cooked for her, willing to let him accompany her for her prenatal checks, willing to let him wait for her to knock off. Xuxu still loved him. Even though he had hurt her immeasurably, she still loved him. It was because of these that made him even more determined to wait patiently for her forgiveness. The Bleu couple didn¡¯t drive, and they took Yan Rusheng¡¯s car. The two of them sat behind leaving Xuxu no choice but to take the front passenger seat. Chapter 658. Eat Dinner and Watch Movie After everyone got into the car, Yan Rusheng started the engine. Xuxu rested her head on the headrest and closed her eyes. The soothing music sounded in her ears. ¡®When I was still an ignorant little girl, I met my love but didn¡¯t know how to love¡­¡¯ Xuxu fell asleep in the car. When Yan Rusheng saw the traffic light turned red, he stepped on the brake gently. Bleu and his wife sat in the car quietly, perhaps they were also exhausted after a hard day¡¯s work. Their destination was located at a nearby mall, and it was only about four bus stops away. But Yan Rusheng took 20 minutes to reach the mall. Just so Xuxu could sleep for a little more. When the car arrived at the mall¡¯s carpark, Xuxu woke up. She unfastened the seat belt and got off of the car. Although the underground carpark didn¡¯t feel as cold as the surrounding, there was still a difference in the temperature compared to the interior of the car. When Xuxu got down from the car, she briefly shivered. Perhaps it was because she had just woken up. Hence, she felt especially cold. Yan Rusheng hurriedly brought out a down-feathered coat from his car. He walked over to Xuxu to put it on for her. ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Xuxu immediately took it off. ¡°Put it back in the car.¡± She bent down and flung the coat into the car. Yan Rusheng could see through her thoughts, so he stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll wear it when we¡¯re having our dinner.¡± Xuxu almost burst out laughing but restrained herself. At that moment, her heart¡­ uncontrollably turned soft. But her voice still sounded icily cold. ¡°I¡¯m not cold, I don¡¯t need your jacket.¡± She insisted and flung the jacket back into the car. She then closed the car door. The interior temperature of the mall would definitely be warmer than the underground carpark. Hence, the coat wouldn¡¯t be much of a use during dinner. The restaurant was located on the 5th level, so they took the elevator. At that time of day, there was always a long queue, and Yan Rusheng had already expected it. So before they set off from the office, he already made a reservation for a private room. He also chose the restaurant without consulting Xuxu and the Bleu couple beforehand. As he noticed that Xuxu especially loved spicy and strong tasting food lately. The small private room was just right for the four of them. When the waiter came over, Yan Rusheng ordered a spicy pickled fish before the waiter handed the menu to him. After that, he left it to the three of them to order whatever they fancied. The dishes were served one after another. As Rose ate, she hurried them at the same time. ¡°We¡¯re catching the 8:40 p.m. movie. Eat quickly, otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to make it on time.¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and clicked her tongue. ¡°We¡¯re really watching a movie after dinner?¡± Having dinner was already enough. As for the movie, won¡¯t it be more romantic for just the two of them to watch it together? Rose replied, ¡°It¡¯s a newly released movie. All my friends in Country Y said that it¡¯s a good one. Bleu and I have been tied up with our work lately, and we haven¡¯t had the time to watch it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu curled her lips and lowered her head to discover that there were a few more slices of fish in her bowl. She picked up one slice and shoved it into her mouth, chewing it slowly. Other than herself, the other three had red wine in their glasses. Rose and Bleu were brimming with enthusiasm and did what the locals did¡ªsaying ¡®bottoms up¡¯ before they drank. The three of them finished an entire bottle of red wine during the meal. At about 8:30 p.m., they finished their dinner and hurried to the cinema. It was on the same level as the restaurant, and so they made it just in time for ticket inspection. It was a Hollywood blockbuster. Even though it had already started screening two days ago, it was still a full house that night. When Rose bought the tickets an hour ago, only the last row seats were available. The four seats were not even together. There was a big crowd. They queued to collect their 3D glasses before entering. At the side, children were giggling and bantering with one another. They were also weaving in and out of the crowd. Chapter 659. Don’t Move, Your Shoelaces Are Undone The children had stepped on many movie-goers. They expressed their annoyance with a frown. But they didn¡¯t bother to argue with them since they were children. ¡°Hey, you¡­¡± Xuxu seemed rather worried as some children kept weaving in and out of the crowd. There was a pair of boys around ten years old, who were having fun chasing each other. When they ran in front of her, instinctively she took a step back and as a result, another child stomped on her. She yelled out in pain. ¡°Xuxu!¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand and held her tightly. He saw that she wasn¡¯t hurt in any way, and so he immediately diverted his attention towards the children. He sternly said, ¡°The two of you. Come over here.¡± Both of them stopped and glared at him without a tinge of fear. Yan Rusheng became annoyed and fiercely admonished them. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to apologize when you step on someone?¡± One of them smirked and then snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± The other boy nodded. ¡°Yes, we will not apologize. An adult bullying a child, you should apologize.¡± Some people in the crowd began to whisper. Most of them were directing their criticisms towards the rude kids. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you shouting at a child?¡± A middle-aged woman left the queue. She pulled one child towards her as she berated Yan Rusheng. The second she saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, she was visibly shocked for a moment. But her bossy attitude remained unchanged. Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he need to apologize when he bumps into someone?¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, forget it,¡± said Xuxu as she grabbed his sleeve. Actually, she was also annoyed with such arrogant kids. They were even already old enough to understand how to behave properly. The problem still lies with the parenting style. From the way the woman had protected and defended her child, this mother must be quite unreasonable. But Xuxu didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention. Photos of them might circulate on the internet again. ¡°It¡¯s just an apology.¡± The middle-aged woman stood firm with her unyielding attitude. ¡°Why are you so fierce to a child? Don¡¯t you have manners at all?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if he is a child or not. As long as he bumped into my wife, he has to apologize,¡± coldly said Yan Rusheng. The woman raised her voice and made a ruckus. ¡°Even if you¡¯re the President of Flourish & Prosper and the famous Third Young Master Yan, you can¡¯t be so unreasonable. Aren¡¯t you being a bully? He had merely accidentally bumped into her, didn¡¯t he? Do you have to be so overbearing?¡± The woman¡¯s accusations exceedingly annoyed Yan Rusheng. He retorted, ¡°I just want to bully a commoner like you. What can you do?¡± Where did this ignorant shrew appear from? Such bad luck! Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ This woman had no inkling of what was in store for her. How dare she use such a method to deal with Yan Rusheng? Have they ever seen Yan Rusheng caring about public opinions of him? If you infuriate him, he could destroy you any minute. He wouldn¡¯t give a damn about what the media would report about him. But this might have gone a little overboard. Would the headlines tomorrow be¡®Third Young Master Yan quarreling with a shrew at the movie theater¡¯? Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t look at the woman. Instead, he glanced at Xuxu¡¯s feet. She had yelled out earlier on, and so he softly asked, ¡°Is it still painful?¡± He suddenly bent and squatted down. Xuxu instinctively tried to move back as she had no idea what was Yan Rusheng trying to do. ¡°Don¡¯t move, your shoelaces are undone.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand, picked up Xuxu¡¯s shoelaces and slowly began to tie them for her. Even the movie theater staff couldn¡¯t stop themselves from sneakily taking pictures of them. Third Young Master Yan had defended his wife earlier on, and now he was tying her shoelaces for her. He didn¡¯t behave like a rich young master at all. He displayed such a loving and sweet side of him towards his wife, and it made all the girls go green with envy. These actions would have scored him a hundred marks for being the perfect husband. Chapter 660. Well Sit Outside Yan Rusheng was so handsome, wealthy, gentle and thoughtful. Was God being fair? Why? Xuxu bent down and peered at the man squatting in front of her. Her mouth was slightly agape for his actions thoroughly took her by surprise. Was he¡­ Yan Rusheng? ¡°Done.¡± Yan Rusheng rose and flashed a gentle smile at her. Gentle and affectionate. Xuxu reverted to her composed and indifferent attitude the moment Yan Rusheng stood up. She bent her head so that she could avoid others¡¯ inquisitive looks. She didn¡¯t overestimate her own willpower, so she clenched her fingers tightly until they were slightly numb. Her gaze would inadvertently sweep past the man¡¯s feet. She noticed his impeccable and clean leather shoes. Yan Rusheng kept Xuxu close and safe beside him. After collecting their 3D glasses, they entered the dimly lighted hall. He mustered his courage and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s wrist. It startled Xuxu, and so she raised her head to look at him. ¡°Our seats are at the furthest row. We have to climb the steps, and it¡¯s crowded.¡± After explaining, Young Master Yan quietly admonished himself for being a coward. It was true that he was afraid that she might trip or others might bump into her. But his real reason was that he wanted to hold her hand. Her slender wrist, her clearly defined knuckles, her soft and supple skin, and her height¡­ Yan Rusheng glanced askew at her and the top of Xuxu¡¯s head came level to his chin. The most adorable difference in height!! Wen Xuxu! Such a stupid tiny woman. And she was so alluring and bewitching. Look at how she had him completely under her control, and he was only willing to do so. Bleu and Rose walked ahead first, and they got to the last row. She looked around before glancing at their seats with a frown. ¡°We¡¯re not sitting together. Only two of us will sit side by side.¡± Xuxu glanced at the seats¡ªNo. 8 and 9, No. 6, and No. 3. Only two of them could sit together, whereas the other two would have to sit separately. She didn¡¯t deliberate at all as she spoke to Rose. ¡°You can sit with Bleu, and I¡¯ll go over there.¡± She was about to go to seat No. 3. Rose stopped her. ¡°You should sit here with Rusheng. Bleu and I have always watched movies together.¡± Rose looked at Bleu and said, ¡°You take No. 6 and I¡¯ll go to No. 3.¡± Xuxu shook her head with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s really okay. You can sit with Bleu.¡± Both of them conversed fluently in English, and no one else seemed to understand. Yan Rusheng saw how Xuxu and Rose were politely declining each other. So, he cut across their conversation. ¡°Both of you can sit there. We¡¯ll sit outside.¡± He walked towards seat No. 3 and glanced at it without sitting down. A young man was sitting on seat No 4. Beside him was a young lady sitting at seat No. 5. They seemed to be a couple. The guy raised his head, and his gaze met Yan Rusheng. He was puzzled. Yan Rusheng pressed his lips as he frowned. Was this guy really that oblivious? He had no choice but to put it across verbally. ¡°Go to seat No. 6.¡± His tone was decisive. It still puzzled the guy as he had no idea why. For all he knew, he was sitting at the correct seat. The movie was about to start, and Xuxu didn¡¯t want people to stare at them. She walked past Yan Rusheng towards seat No. 6. Yan Rusheng became anxious. He glared at the guy fiercely. ¡°Alright then.¡± Chapter 661. Ruined Moral Values! The young man frowned and grumpily walked towards seat No. 6. He was clearly unhappy. Under his breath, he muttered, ¡°Why couldn¡¯t he be more polite when requesting others to change seats? It sounded like I¡¯m obliged to do so.¡± Xuxu thought to herself that this young man shouldn¡¯t have changed seats with Yan Rusheng. He was already so overbearing and arrogant, and people were spoiling him by giving in to his commands. ¡°Thank you.¡± Xuxu was berating Yan Rusheng in her heart when she suddenly heard him thanking the man in a soft voice, even though there wasn¡¯t an ounce of sincerity¡­ She looked at Yan Rusheng in disbelief as he bent down and settled himself on the seat. His hands were clasped gracefully on his lap. He sat with a leg crossed over the other. Then he asked Xuxu, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sitting down?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t reply and walked to her seat. This was their second time watching a movie together. The last time they did, Yan Rusheng felt extremely frustrated for choosing the wrong movie. From the beginning to the end, the movie was filled with exciting action scenes, and there wasn¡¯t any romance element. In the end, Xuxu fell asleep. He had no idea what the movie was all about. He was swamped with work, and he had to take care of Xuxu as well. How would he even have the time to update himself about the entertainment industry? He didn¡¯t even have the time to work out. The movie was about to start. Yan Rusheng took out his phone to search for information about it. He learned that it was a Hollywood blockbuster and there wouldn¡¯t be too many romantic scenes. He just hoped that they would include one or two, just enough to ignite Xuxu¡¯s attention. He read the synopsis of the movie and realized that it was the most highly anticipated movie of the year. It had romance, friendship, and not forgetting, family ties. Without a doubt, usually, such blockbusters would have elaborate schemes and disasters, and it wasn¡¯t an exception. The movie poster suggested that there would be gory scenes. Yan Rusheng was a little worried that the movie might not be suitable for Xuxu right now. Just then, the movie officially started. Unexpectedly, right from the beginning, the movie fed the audience with plenty of passionate and romantic scenes which involved dim rooms and the groans of the male and female lead¡­ As Yan Rusheng¡¯s Adam apple moved, his throat felt dry and parched. He was a little embarrassed, so he diverted his eyes away from the screen. But he had nowhere else to look at. He sneakily glanced at Xuxu and noticed her two hands clasped together on her belly. Yan Rusheng began to get restless. ¡®Mmmm¡­.¡¯ It had already been a few minutes, but the passionate scene was still rolling. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! ¡®Isn¡¯t this inviting people to commit more crimes? What crappy blockbuster is this? It should be censored!¡¯ He refused to believe that he was the only one who had such a reaction. Those who didn¡¯t must be abnormal. Yan Rusheng swore in his heart. He angrily glared at Rose and Bleu sitting some distance away. What kind of movie did these foreigners choose? There was a long pause¡­ His hands were clenched tightly into fists the second he caught sight of Bleu and Rose. Without a surprise, the movie was suitable for open-minded foreigners like them. They were even kissing each other blatantly and passionately in the theater. They had ruined moral values! Slam! A huge exploding sound echoed, and Yan Rusheng¡¯s attention went back to the screen. The house had exploded. The two characters in the house were screaming in fear inside the house. ¡®Both of you deserve to be burned to death!¡¯ Young Master Yan was too immersed in the movie as he gleefully admonished and swore at the characters. ¡®Bang, bang!¡¯ Gunshots sounds were everywhere, and the movie began to get exciting. Chapter 662. Feeding Her Oranges Xuxu stared at the screen without blinking, and her heart furiously pounded as the scenes unfold. Suddenly a hand gently covered her belly, diverting her attention away from the movie. She was slightly startled. ¡°You carry on watching. I will protect our child.¡± A man¡¯s soft and gentle voice sounded next to her. His warm breath was mingled with the strong scent of red wine. Xuxu¡¯s breathing halted for a second. She could still feel the warmth from his palm, despite the layers of clothing she was wearing. Her eyelashes slightly fluttered, and she was at a loss to where she should put her hands for a moment. She decided to stand up. ¡°It¡¯s indeed too loud for me. I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Yan Rusheng silently agreed that the violent and raging scenes weren¡¯t suitable for Xuxu to watch. He followed Xuxu closely. He held Xuxu¡¯s hand as the theater was dark and there were only dim lights at the side of the aisle. He whispered and reminded her to be careful. Xuxu pulled her hand away from Yan Rusheng¡¯s grip when they exited the movie theater. She then walked towards the elevator. Yan Rusheng leisurely trailed after her. Xuxu was about to walk towards the entrance of the mall when Yan Rusheng intercepted. ¡°Xuxu, the car is at the basement carpark.¡± Xuxu lightly replied, ¡°You drank earlier.¡± She didn¡¯t want to drive his car. ¡°The chauffeur is here.¡± Yan Rusheng strode towards Xuxu and extended his hand. Xuxu suddenly recoiled, but she still turned around to go to the basement. Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand hovered in mid-air, and he felt momentarily disheartened. He stared at Xuxu¡¯s back for some time before smiling feebly. Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re asking for too much. Tonight, you¡¯ve held her hand several times. What more do you expect? Huh? After adjusting himself, he strode quickly towards her. ¡°Are you hungry? Let¡¯s buy some food. What do you feel like eating?¡± Xuxu kept a straight expression. She coldly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Yan Rusheng grunted. He continued, ¡°If you get hungry later, I can cook noodles for you. I¡¯ve recently learned how to make noodles from Aunt Zhang.¡± Xuxu bent her head, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile. Her bright dewy eyes were twinkling. Yan Rusheng had informed the chauffeur to pick them up when he drank earlier on. The chauffeur was waiting for them in the car. Xuxu instantly opened the back door and closed it after she got in. Yan Rusheng stood outside feeling rather helpless. He went around the car and opened the door. The moment he settled himself on the seat next to her, Xuxu could distinctly feel that the car tilted towards his side. Yan Rusheng stretched his hand to get a white bag. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but watch him as he bent his hand and began peeling an orange. Her gaze hadn¡¯t stopped for too long before she turned away to peer out the window. ¡°This afternoon I had lunch with a client and he gave them to me. He brought it back from abroad.¡± After peeling the skin, he pulled the orange apart and passed a wedge to Xuxu. Xuxu glanced askew without moving and her eyes swiftly darted away. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t give up. He stretched his hand towards Xuxu once more. ¡°It¡¯s really sweet. It¡¯s much sweeter and juicier than those you¡¯ve bought before.¡± Xuxu¡¯s mouth remained sealed so his outstretched hand hovered near her face. Chapter 663. Every Beginning Needs Plenty of Courage Seconds passed by in silence that even the chauffeur began to get anxious. He thought to himself as he wished that his dear young madam would open her mouth. Third Young Master was really too sweet and thoughtful. Finally, Xuxu opened her mouth and popped the wedge of orange into her mouth. She spun her head away and looked out of the window. A faint smile gradually appeared and split into a wide smile. Even though Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t see that she was secretly smiling, just the mere fact that she accepted the food from him had him overjoyed. He felt emboldened and inched closer to Xuxu. He passed her another piece. ¡°Is it nice?¡± Xuxu continued eating without responding. The chauffeur carefully slowed down to give his master more time to enjoy this blissful moment. ¡­ After they exited the elevator, Xuxu walked ahead as usual. She took out her keys and was about to open her door. Yan Rusheng suddenly called out to her. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± She stopped, spun around, and cast him a doubtful look. Yan Rusheng had his hands stuffed in his pockets. He was breaking out in a cold sweat as he struggled to muster his courage, but in the end, he gave up. His mouth was curled upwards as he softly said, ¡°Good night.¡± Xuxu responded with a vague ¡®oh¡¯ and entered her apartment. It stunned Yan Rusheng. Huh? She didn¡¯t ignore him and even responded? Upon realizing it, Young Master Yan he felt overwhelmed. He took out his keys to open the door. After changing into his slippers, he took a wineglass from the kitchen and walked to the dining table. He bent and opened a cupboard to retrieve a bottle of wine. It was the same bottle they had during their candle-lit dinner before. He poured a glass, and his long fingers clasped the wineglass. He took a sip and licked his lips. For him, the wine tasted even sweeter than before. As he drank the wine, he walked towards the couch and turned on the music. He turned the volume down, and soft music began playing. He then collapsed on the couch and settled himself in a comfortable position. His mouth was curled upwards in contentment. His gaze landed on the space where the red bricks were. A crease appeared between his thick eyebrows. When would he be able to open that door again? Young Master Yan exhaled and gulped down the rest of the wine. He had to work even harder now. After all, he was¡­ an ordinary guy. ¡­ The living room was dim, and Xuxu was huddled on the couch. Her phone was beside her as the lyrics appeared on the screen. ¡®I really wish that when I¡¯m lonely, I would have someone with me¡­ Love doesn¡¯t condone fickle-mindedness. It¡¯ll be such a pity if I let him go¡­ If I really decide to give him my heart, can someone please tell him not to break it¡­ Every time when love gets closer, it feels as though he is hugging me tightly¡­ He stirred my emotions and covered my eyes, but didn¡¯t tell me where we were headed¡­¡¯ She rested her head on her knees as she gazed at a corner, lost in her own thoughts. ¡®You don¡¯t want your child to grow up in an incomplete family right¡­¡¯ Xuxu eyes were glistening. The chorus of the song repeated several times before it turned softer. It finally ended, and the next song began to play. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ She sighed and took a deep breath. She laid down and curled her body. ¡®Ah Sheng, every beginning needs plenty of courage.¡¯ ¡­ She couldn¡¯t settle herself to do the work she had brought home that night. Hence the next morning, Xuxu studied the information that Bleu gave her yesterday as she ate her breakfast. Then she made some adjustments to the costume design. After changing her clothes, she collected all the trash in garbage bags and left her house with the trash. Chapter 664. Perhaps They Would... ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu saw Yan Rusheng the moment she stepped out of the house. He was standing in front of the elevator with a phone in his hand. He called her when he saw her coming out of her apartment. He stuffed his phone inside his pocket. ¡°Let me send you to work.¡± He bent to take the garbage bags from her. Xuxu rejected him coolly. ¡°I¡¯ll go there myself.¡± She pressed the elevator button. The studio was far from Flourish & Prosper, and it was already the peak hour. If he sent her to work, she reckoned that he would reach Flourish & Prosper only after 10 a.m. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything urgent this morning. I¡¯ll give you a lift.¡± Yan Rusheng insisted. He didn¡¯t look at Xuxu and walked into the elevator without another word. He pressed the button to go to the basement. Xuxu followed after him. She glanced at the elevator buttons, while Yan Rusheng glanced at her in suspense. The elevator door closed, and her hand was still stuffed in the pocket of her coat. Seeing this, Yan Rusheng could hardly suppress a grin. This meant that she had agreed to him sending her to work. ¡®Yes! Yes! Yes!¡¯ For the next few days, Yan Rusheng sent Xuxu to work and picked her up after work. The days went quickly in the blink of an eye. ¡­ ¡°Xuxu, you are too awesome!¡± Bleu came in after answering a call, and excitedly hugged Xuxu. Then he tightly hugged Rose and gave her a peck on her lips. ¡°Was it okay?¡± Rose pushed him away as she eagerly looked at him with sparkling eyes. Bleu nodded. ¡°Jue saw the draft, and she was really pleased.¡± Then he turned around to look at Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, you are wonderful!¡± Xuxu smiled and humbly said, ¡°I merely edited the design you gave me.¡± She had indeed merely made some minor changes, and it wasn¡¯t really entirely her credit. ¡°This is the last piece, and since they¡¯ve already accepted the draft then this project is considered complete!¡± Rose suddenly tiptoed and passionately kissed Bleu as she grabbed his neck. Xuxu saw this scene and smiled quietly. Then she turned around to leave. She knew the reason why Rose and Bleu were so excited. They could finally go back to their country and hold their wedding. It would be a wonderful conclusion to end their seven-year-long relationship. Rose had been eagerly expecting that day for ages. She mentioned that she was the one who took the first initiative in their relationship. From the day she met Bleu, she had dreamt of marrying him. After two years of chasing after him, she had finally succeeded. And Bleu didn¡¯t disappoint her as well. Seven years already passed, and he still loved her very much. He even spent an entire year designing a wedding gown for her. Wearing a beautiful wedding gown and holding the hand of someone you love as they enter the wedding hall¡ªit was a dream that every young girl wanted to happen when they mature into a woman. She was no different. When she heard Rose and Bleu¡¯s love story, she had a sudden thought. If only she was as brave and as passionate as Rose¡­ Perhaps they would¡­ ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu was lost in her thoughts as she descended the stairs in a daze. A familiar man¡¯s voice brought her back to reality. She stared at him in surprise. It was only 2 p.m. She thought, ¡°Why was he here?¡± The man was wearing a formal suit, and he stood by the door. His black blazer and white shirt complemented his gorgeous features. He exuded a manly and mature charm. He stood there like a perfect and exquisite statue. He lifted a bag that he was holding and smiled. ¡°I met a client for lunch and I passed by this area. So, I bought you some cakes for teatime.¡± Chapter 665. Lets Head Out The bag had the ¡®First Love¡¯ logo on it and Xuxu¡¯s eyes glinted. Subconsciously, she began to hasten her footsteps. Of course, she knew that he didn¡¯t buy the cakes on the way as there weren¡¯t any ¡®First Love¡¯ outlets in the vicinity. The ¡®First Love¡¯ outlets could only be found in the city and other nearby business districts. Yan Rusheng turned to Xuxu. ¡°The orange juice is slightly chilly. You can warm it up if you want.¡± Xuxu received the bag from him, and she peered at the contents inside without a word. Yan Rusheng looked her intently with a trace of longing in his eyes. He said rather awkwardly, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± At that moment, Xuxu looked up and caught a glimpse of the longing and sorrow in his eyes. It gently tugged at her heartstrings, and so she blurted out, ¡°Let me get you a glass of water.¡± She regretted almost immediately, and she felt like biting off her tongue. Yan Rusheng nodded eagerly. ¡°Sure.¡± Exhilaration replaced the sorrow and longing in his eyes. Without waiting for Xuxu to invite him, he strode across and walked towards the reception area. Xuxu looked at him and the corners of her mouth twitched. She had a hunch he must have felt troubled. ¡°There is no need for any further discussion. Inform them that Flourish & Prosper will pull out our investment.¡± Xuxu walked over with a cup of tea and overheard him talking on the phone. His tone sounded firm and determined. She gently put the cup of tea on the coffee table and sat across him. Yan Rusheng noticed Xuxu and lowered his volume. ¡°Tomorrow I will personally make a trip there. Follow my instructions for now. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± He concluded the phone call and hung up. He stretched his hand towards the cup of tea, blew on it gently, and sipped. Xuxu looked at him and quietly studied his expression. She knew he must have met some difficulties at work. She had never seen him look so hesitant after making a firm decision regarding work. Xuxu felt worried when Yan Rusheng put down his cup. And to her, he softly said, ¡°Xuxu, tomorrow I¡¯m going to the coastal county for a work trip. I¡¯ll ask Aunt Zhang to accompany you.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She pressed her lips before asking. ¡°Is there a problem with the project?¡± She had made an intense struggle before asking him. Yan Rusheng could tell from her expression that she was hesitating. Of course, he badly hurt her in the past, and so it must have been hard for her to take a step forward towards him. He also knew that it was their child that gave him another chance to reconcile with her. Xuxu was always level-headed and a rational person. She would always think of the bigger picture whenever she acted upon anything. And so, everything she did was for the sake of their child. If it wasn¡¯t for the child, she would never forgive him. Her pride would prevent her from doing so. He didn¡¯t want her to feel worried, so Yan Rusheng smiled. He replied, ¡°Nothing serious. It¡¯s just that we met a problem regarding the demolishment.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t press on. Actually, she wasn¡¯t sure if she would be of any help. What she should do now is to take good care of herself and not make him worried. Yan Rusheng sat there for a short while, and he gulped down the rest of his water. Before he left, he asked, ¡°What do you want to eat for dinner tonight?¡± Xuxu was staring at his long-fingered hands with clearly-defined knuckles. Her heart painfully tugged. She replied, ¡°Let¡¯s head out.¡± Chapter 666. He Seemed to Have Matured It overjoyed Yan Rusheng. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll come and pick you up after work tonight. Call me if you have a place in mind. I¡¯ll reserve seats.¡± The reason he was so happy wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t need to cook, but rather, it was because Xuxu took the initiative to invite him out. They haven¡¯t had the opportunity to have dinner with just the two of them in months. Every day, he would prepare meals for her. Even though they had their meals at the same time, they were always separated by a wall. Xuxu slightly nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Yan Rusheng stood up with a bright smile on his gorgeous face. When he stood up, Xuxu suddenly realized how tall he was. She thought to herself, ¡°Ah Sheng, you can do this right?¡± Xuxu watched Yan Rusheng as he vanished out of sight. Then her gaze landed on the cakes he had bought for her. The bag was bulging; seems like he had bought Rose and Bleu¡¯s share as well. He seemed to have matured recently. At least he had learned to be more compassionate, polite, and empathetic. After tea time, Xuxu pored through some design materials. By the time she finished, it had almost been 5 p.m. She deliberated for a moment before typing a text to a number she had memorized. ¡®How about eating fried vermicelli tonight?¡¯ ¡­ ¡°President Yan, these people obviously want to extort us. We can¡¯t give in to them.¡± ¡°Exactly. If we agree to the requests of these greedy people, they will do it a second time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and observe. Let¡¯s see what they are up to.¡± ¡°But it will affect the progress of the project. If we can settle this and come to a compromise, why should we resort to such drastic actions?¡± ¡°What drastic actions? The county government clearly started this matter, and they are trying to stir trouble.¡± There was a long pause¡­ During the meeting, the Flourish & Prosper¡¯s Board of Directors were debating fiercely. His head throbbed painfully as the commotion dragged on, and so he massaged his head. Suddenly he raised his head. He sternly said, ¡°Enough. Stop talking.¡± The huge meeting room instantly fell silent. Several pairs of eyes glanced apprehensively towards the man whose expression had turned stony. No one dared to make a sound. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go¡­¡± a text notification interrupted Yan Rusheng. By instincts, he casually glanced at his phone and was about to ignore it. But his eyes remained glued to the screen because of the sender¡ªhis wife. He paused midway and picked up his phone. He clicked the text. ¡®How about eating fried vermicelli tonight?¡¯ It overwhelmed him with excitement and joy when he read the text. He was excited, but he wasn¡¯t exactly sure. He sent her a reply almost immediately. ¡®Do you mean Yizhong?¡¯ His eyes remained fixed on his phone after he sent the text, waiting eagerly for her reply. As a result, he had neglected the Board of Directors. Was he serious? This was such an important meeting and some of them flew back to the city just for this meeting. How could he let them sit and watch him in silence as he used his phone to chat with someone else? How arrogant and rude he was! But since when had he ever been humble? And when had he ever treated them politely? His phone screen lit up finally, and Xuxu replied with a ¡®Yeah.¡¯ Chapter 667. How Did You Know That I Was Sending This to Her? Yan Rusheng was excited, and he quickly replied. ¡®I¡¯ll fetch you later.¡¯ He lowered his head as he smiled foolishly at his phone, oblivious to his surroundings. All the Board of Directors were staring at him with contempt. Where did his pride and ego go to? He had defended his wife publicly, argued with children and even tied his wife¡¯s shoelaces! Look at how pleased he looked when his wife had sent him a text! This was too embarrassing, really too embarrassing. Everybody felt that it was unfair. Why could he openly use his phone at a meeting? Yet, Yan Rusheng would give them a deathly glare if they merely make a call? Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t notice their expressions, neither did he bother to. Xuxu replied with a curt ¡®yes¡¯. That¡¯s great! He couldn¡¯t believe that she was willing to have dinner with him. Does that imply that she was willing to forgive him? Was she ready to work things out together with him? Regardless of the answer, that place held plenty of fond memories for both of them. ¡°President Yan.¡± Someone became impatient and interrupted him with a soft voice. He finally moved his vision away from the phone and back to the directors. The smile on his face instantly faded as he addressed all of them. ¡°We¡¯ll leave this matter until I¡¯m back from the coastal county.¡± On the brighter side, his tone and attitude seemed so much better as compared to a few minutes ago. He rose and exited the meeting room. Once they were out of the room, he turned to Qiao Jian and instructed him. ¡°Order a bouquet of flowers.¡± Tonight he will put in more effort so he could take a bigger step towards her. Perhaps things would take a huge turn once he¡¯s back from his work trip. He might be able to get his wife back after a brief farewell. Mmm¡­ he could hardly wait. ¡°Yes, President,¡± Qiao Jian replied politely. ¡°What flowers would you like?¡± Yan Rusheng spun around and eyed Qiao Jian with a frown. ¡°Red roses, definitely red roses.¡± Does he even need to be told? Red roses would represent his passion and his love for her. Qiao Jian suppressed a grin, and he looked at him. ¡°I¡¯ll order 99 red roses?¡± It seemed like his boss and his lady boss will be reconciling soon In this case, would their spring arrive soon? Not too far away? Then he wouldn¡¯t need to tread so carefully around Yan Rusheng and be on tenterhooks the whole day long. Neither would he need to face a stony and solemn-faced boss the entire day. ¡®Yay! ¡® ¡°Oh¡­¡± A thought struck Yan Rusheng, and he changed his mind. He frowned and said, ¡°It¡¯s too heavy, forget about the 99 roses. Make it nine roses instead.¡± She was pregnant now, and it would be difficult for her to hold such a huge bouquet. ¡°Yes, President.¡± Qiao Jian pressed on after nodding. ¡°Do you want me to send to lady boss¡¯s workplace?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°Send the bouquet to my office. I¡¯ll personally give it to her.¡± Then he cast a doubtful glance at Qiao Jian. ¡°How did you know I¡¯m sending this to her?¡± Qiao Jian was stumped for words and didn¡¯t know how to respond. He had an urge to retort, ¡®I don¡¯t think you are that brave to send a bouquet to another woman.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t forget that the lady boss hasn¡¯t forgiven you.¡¯ ¡®So who else could the roses be for?¡¯ Even a fool would know the answer. ¡°Qiao Jian, you have recently become smarter.¡± Young Master Yan gave an approving look at Qiao Jian, he then turned around to walk away. Qiao Jian was speechless. ¡°Clearly, it was you who was blinded with love, and it must have affected your intelligence,¡± Qiao Jian thought to himself. He stared at Yan Rusheng¡¯s back in disbelief. He muttered under his breath, ¡°It¡¯s true that those who are in love will turn into fools.¡± Chapter 668. What a Soft Fellow So the overbearing President was no exception. Yan Rusheng drove to Xuxu¡¯s work studio, and he stopped outside the entrance. He threw a glance at the bouquet lying behind his seat, and a blissful smile crept on his face. He unfastened his seatbelt and opened his car door. He was about to walk through the entrance when suddenly a white Land Rover sped past him. His face fell when he caught a glimpse of the owner. The owner got off the car, and she was wearing a cropped black leather jacket, wine-red leather pants with studded knee-high boots. Her figure seemed elongated in that outfit. She propped herself with a hand on her car. Next, she cooly took off her sunglasses as she flipped her short hair backward. She happily beamed at Yan Rusheng and waved. ¡°Hey, Third Young Master.¡± Yan Rusheng tightly furrowed his eyebrows, and disdain was clearly displayed on his face. ¡°Why are you here?¡± He just can¡¯t seem to shake this female hooligan off. But at least she was being considerate and didn¡¯t put on thick makeup. Zhou Shuang shrugged. She then casually quipped, ¡°I¡¯m here to look for my comrade. Is there a problem?¡± She closed her car door and began to walk towards the work studio with big strides. Yan Rusheng hastened his footsteps and stood in front of the door, blocking Zhou Shuang¡¯s way. He stared at her with hostility imbued in his eyes. ¡°When did you change your gender?¡± Wasn¡¯t the term comrades used by men? Pardon Third Young Master who was too busy to surf the internet recently and wasn¡¯t updated with the popular terms used these days. ¡°Your wife and I¡­¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly stopped talking as she tried to stifle her laughter. ¡°Sorry, I almost forgot that both of you are in the midst of a divorce.¡± She re-phrased her words once more. ¡°Xuxu and I are comrades for life. Don¡¯t be jealous.¡± She ruffled her hair and scrutinized Yan Rusheng in disdain from top to toe. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why are you here?¡± Yan Rusheng smugly raised his eyebrow. ¡°My wife works here. Is there anything wrong with me appearing here?¡± Zhou Shuang sneered. ¡°Look how smug you are.¡± Ignoring Yan Rusheng, she tried to walk ahead. Yan Rusheng refused to budge and coldly gazed at her. ¡°You can¡¯t go in.¡± He had to think of a way to drive her away. If not, he wouldn¡¯t be able to execute his romantic and carefully thought plan. He had been waiting for two months for this day, where he could finally have a chance to have dinner with her alone. Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Why?¡± Yan Rusheng answered with a straight face. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to see you tonight. We¡¯ve already decided to go for dinner together.¡± His answer didn¡¯t fully convince Zhou Shuang. ¡°Tch. That¡¯s impossible. She treats you like air now.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe?¡± Yan Rusheng decided to show her concrete evidence. He whipped out his phone to show her the texts. ¡°Did you see that? She had initiated to text me and asked me out for dinner. Rude woman, be wise and leave quickly.¡± Zhou Shuang read the texts and admonished Xuxu fiercely. ¡°What a soft fellow. It has only been two months.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s animosity and enmity towards her deepened. As he had deduced, this female hooligan had indeed talked about him behind his back. She had caused so much trouble for Xuxu as well. ¡°So, you can leave now.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around and opened the door. Zhou Shuang followed him closely, but he had swiftly closed it after he entered. Chapter 669. Get Ready To Go Home Zhou Shuang stretched her hand to stop him from closing the door. But her hand wasn¡¯t fast enough, and the closing of the door almost pinched her hands. ¡°Yan Rusheng! You are such a petty, vile, and pretentious guy!¡± Zhou Shuang let out a tirade of insults against him. And to vent her residual anger, she kicked the door as hard as she could. ¡®Bang!¡¯ Xuxu heard the commotion from the second level and hastily left her office. She peered from the corridor from the second level. She wasn¡¯t surprised to see Yan Rusheng. She curiously glanced at the closed door. ¡°Why did you shut the door? What was that sound?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°It was a beggar just now. I¡¯ve already given her 100 yuan, and she wanted more. So, I shut the door, and she kicked it. To think that this beggar was so bad-tempered.¡± As he explained, he walked towards her in a composed manner. He spoke casually and unhurriedly. He didn¡¯t look guilty at all. Xuxu believed his story and didn¡¯t press on. She frowned as she gazed at the closed door. ¡°This beggar is too much!¡± How could she ask for more money and even kick the door? Yan Rusheng bent his head to conceal an evil grin. Xuxu stood at the staircase landing and waited for Yan Rusheng to ascend the stairs before going back to the office. Yan Rusheng followed her inside. ¡°Oh, someone is calling.¡± Xuxu¡¯s phone was vibrating, and she walked quickly towards it. At that moment, the caller hung up. Yan Rusheng had a shrewd hunch, so he walked to her side and cautiously eyed her phone. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± He saw the name! It was that female hooligan. ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Shuang. Let me call her to ask her.¡± Xuxu started to dial her number. Yan Rusheng stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we should leave first. You can call her on the road.¡± He grabbed Xuxu¡¯s bag while his other hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her along. To others, and even to Xuxu, his series of actions seemed smooth and natural. But Yan Rusheng was secretly feeling awkward and nervous as his hands broke out in a cold sweat. He berated himself for being so useless. He had been intimate with her before, but at that moment, he was dying from nervousness by just holding her hand. But his self-lecturing was useless. His nervousness didn¡¯t die down. Yan Rusheng walked half a step before Xuxu as he straightened his back. He looked far away into the distance, trying to maintain a calm expression. Xuxu glanced at her hand which he was holding. For a moment, violent waves attacked her heart, and in the next moment, she felt a warm current flowing through her. She clenched her hands tightly as she followed Yan Rusheng. She wanted to look at him, but she was afraid of meeting his eyes. Both of them were being rather glum. They were already married, and now they were expecting a baby. Why does it feel like they were traveling back in time as though they had just started their relationship? When they stepped out of the office, Rose came out from another room. She warmly smiled at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Hello, Rusheng, the handsome guy. When did you arrive?¡± Yan Rusheng slightly bowed. ¡°Just reached.¡± Rose glanced at Xuxu¡¯s bag, which Yan Rusheng was holding. ¡°Are you guys heading home?¡± ¡°We¡­¡± Xuxu was about to answer when Yan Rusheng cut across. ¡°Yes, we are going home. It has been a tiring day.¡± Chapter 670. A Well Thought-Out Plan Was Ruined He nodded lightly with a smile on his face. Xuxu could immediately hazard a guess on Yan Rusheng¡¯s thoughts, and the corners of her mouth uncontrollably curled up. What a chap with a petty mind! Rose smiled and said, ¡°Then go back early and have a good rest.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned and didn¡¯t utter a further word. He held Xuxu¡¯s hand and descended the stairs. Thank goodness he was quick-thinking. Otherwise, the two affectionate fellows would definitely want to tag along if they had found out that Xuxu wanted to dine out. As they descended the stairs, Xuxu lowered her head and smiled. Yan Rusheng pretended not to see. He gripped Xuxu harder on her wrist. ¡®Dumb woman, what¡¯s so funny?¡¯ When they reached the entrance, Yan Rusheng opened the door. He had parked his car at the corner of the opposite courtyard. When he saw his car, his face immediately sank. The next moment, he relinquished his grip on Xuxu and strode towards the front of his car. He bent down and stared at the front wheels. Xuxu also realized something was amiss and walked closer to have a look. One of the front wheels was completely deflated, and the car tilted to one side. Yan Rusheng squatted down to inspect the wheel inclined towards the wall. There was a big hole in it, and there were a lot of black particles on the ground. One look and one could tell that the someone had poked a hole with an electric drill. He turned around and looked at the surrounding¡ªthere was a PVC processing workshop about five meters away. His charming face turned more somber and moody. He clenched his fists in silence, almost biting his teeth off. ¡®That female punk, you just wait!¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Xuxu as she pointed to the wheel. She could also tell what had caused the hole¡ªan electric drill. Obviously, someone must have done it on purpose. Before Yan Rusheng could reply, she made another guess. ¡°Could it be the beggar you mentioned earlier?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded at Xuxu while trying his best to suppress his burgeoning rage. ¡°Definitely.¡± Xuxu also felt a little angry and found the beggar too hateful and mean. She deliberated for a moment before saying, ¡°Since we don¡¯t have a car now, let¡¯s not go anymore.¡± Yizhong was quite a distance from their current location, whereas home was merely a few stops away. ¡°Let me make a call and get someone to bring a car over.¡± Yan Rusheng swiftly put his hand into his pockets and took out his cellphone. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. It¡¯s already late. By the time we reach there, it would be packed with people.¡± She took back her bag from Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand, turned around, and walked towards the roadside. Yan Rusheng immediately followed behind her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°I¡¯m going home. You¡¯ll be going to the coastal county tomorrow, so go home and rest early too.¡± Yan Rusheng noticed that her hands were already tucked inside the pockets of her down-feathered coat, and he felt extremely annoyed. That female punk had ruined a well thought-out plan in the end. In fact, today could have been the day for him to bring their relationship one step further. After dinner, he had planned to bring her to the courtyard in Yizhong, strolling hand in hand with her along the brook at the back alley of Yizhong, reminiscing the past. Oh, how wonderful would that be! Who knows? She might instantly rekindle her love for him or even lose control of her emotions and kiss him. The plan that had excited him the entire afternoon¡­ ¡°Xuxu, please wait a while.¡± Young Master Yan pondered and seemed to have recalled something all of a sudden. After calling out to Xuxu, he turned and ran back to the car as he tossed out his keys. He opened the back passenger door, and then bent over and retrieved the bouquet of roses. Then he closed the door. Xuxu turned her body sideways and looked at the man who was walking towards her. Under the setting sun, his handsome face looked even more gorgeous than the flowers in his hands, like a remnant of ancient times. Her fair cheeks blushed with a tinge of red. Just when Yan Rusheng was about to reach her, she spun around, quickened her steps and strode forward. Chapter 671. The Woman Who Kissed Him ¡°Xuxu.¡± One was running away while the other gave chase along the historic old alley in the capital city, under the evening sky. In the taxi, Xuxu kept glancing at the bouquet of flowers in Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands. Her heart felt sweeter than honey. So, this was how it felt when one was being courted by their beloved. He was neither cold nor aloof. He didn¡¯t say, ¡®I¡¯m going to make you feel how it is like being courted by me.¡¯ In fact, he seemed a little bashful instead. As Xuxu didn¡¯t take the flowers from Yan Rusheng, he continued holding them in front of her. The taxi came to a stop at the entrance of their district. Xuxu paid for the fare and came out of the taxi, walking in front of him as usual. ¡°Xuxu, this is for you.¡± When they came out of the elevator, Xuxu rummaged through her bag for her house keys as she walked. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng appeared in front of her, and then he handed the flowers to her. Xuxu smiled and received the flowers from him. She took a look at them and then knitted her eyebrows. She made a fussy remark. ¡°Some petals have wilted.¡± After that, she raised her feet and walked past Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng followed after her. ¡°Xuxu, shall we have noodles tonight?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t respond. She opened the door and immediately closed it after she went in. Yan Rusheng exclaimed in delight and punched his fists in the air. ¡°Yes!¡± Like an energetic youth. ¡°Silly guy!¡± Xuxu peeped through the door hole. She then turned around after the man outside had gone back into his house. She leaned against the door and looked at the bouquet in her hand, chuckling to herself. Love is two fools doing silly and childish things together. After Yan Rusheng had entered his house, he changed out of his shoes and took off his coat. He walked into the living room and turned up the volume of the hi-fi system before opening the windows in his room. Thereafter, he stepped into the kitchen, unbuttoned his sleeves before rolling them up. When he put on the apron, he looked just like a good domestic husband. ¡°I can¡¯t say why I¡¯ve become more active. If I love a person, it¡¯s worthwhile for me. I want to loudly declare that I need you, even the neighbors have figured out that¡¯s how I¡¯m feeling now¡­¡± Xuxu sat at the bay window in her room and covered herself with a blanket. She gazed out of the open window, and her mouth blissfully curled upwards. ¡®I want to hold your hand like this and not let go. Can love be forever simple and pure without sadness?¡¯ ¡®I want to hold your hand like this and not let go. Can love be easy and simple without getting hurt?¡¯ ¡®Ah Sheng, would it be possible?¡¯ ¡­ Yan Rusheng stood outside Xuxu¡¯s house. He placed the bowl of noodles in her hands. After giving her the bowl, he awkwardly rubbed his empty hands together, not knowing where to settle them. He remained at the same spot without uttering a word. It seemed that he was refusing to leave. Xuxu feigned ignorance and knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. He was preparing to go back into his house when he suddenly mustered up his courage and turned back to look at Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, tomorrow I¡¯ll be taking the morning flight. Tomorrow morning¡­¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve yet to finish the eggs and bread.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head and his eyes glinted with a flash of disappointment. ¡°Then¡­ then you have an early night after your dinner.¡± Xuxu replied with an ¡®Mm¡¯ and was about to turn back into her house. Yan Rusheng¡¯s reluctant voice sounded from behind her again. ¡°Xuxu, good night.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Suddenly, Xuxu halted her steps. Yan Rusheng paused, and in the next moment, a cold feeling landed on his face in a flash. It momentarily stunned him. By the time he recovered from his shock, the woman who had planted a kiss on him had already gone back into her house and shut the door. He was still slightly dazed. He touched the area of his face where the kiss landed. It felt like a dream. After some time, the corners of his mouth curled up slowly before breaking into a broad smile. He was as excited as a child. Chapter 672. Fang Jiayin Is Back He poured himself a glass of red wine when he reached home. He then walked over to the red brick wall. Touching the wall lightly with his wineglass, a crisp voice echoed. ¡°My wife, wait for me to come back.¡± When he returned, he would definitely knock down this wall again. ¡­ At the airport, Rose hugged Xuxu. She was a bit reluctant to part. ¡°Xuxu, if you are visiting Country Y next time, you must come and look for us. We will surely miss you.¡± Xuxu patted her on the back and smiled genuinely. ¡°Me too.¡± Enthusiastic and forthright¡ªtheir pleasure or anger could be clearly seen on their faces, and they were not at all pretentious. When she interacted with Charles, it gave her the same kind of feeling. It made her wonder if a place where one lives makes a man who he is. She really enjoyed their company and loved making friends with such candid people. Rose reluctantly let go of Xuxu and shifted her gaze to her little tummy. ¡°When the little babies are out, you must remember to send us a photo. They¡¯ll definitely be very adorable as they have such a handsome father and¡­¡± Before Rose could finish speaking, Bleu suddenly clutched his chest and feigned sadness. ¡°Hey my darling, I¡¯m jealous. I¡¯m so sad to hear you praise another man.¡± Xuxu and Rose burst out laughing when they saw him behaving in that manner. Su Yan, who was standing next to them, also grinned. He looked at the time and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost time to board the plane.¡± Rose and Bleu nodded their heads and took a last look at Xuxu. She was waving at her at the same time. ¡°Goodbye, Xuxu.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°I wish you a blissful marriage and always be lovey-dovey towards each other.¡± Together with Su Yan, they walked Bleu and Rose to the check-in area. After they had cleared the security check, Su Yan and Xuxu turned around and headed for the exit. He had parked the car near the exit door. Su Yan walked over to the driver seat and opened the car door. Xuxu trailed behind. She was about to open the front passenger door when she noticed that her shoelace had come loose. She bent down to tie it. ¡°Yes, I know. Please don¡¯t hurry me anymore.¡± Suddenly, a tall and slender woman walked past her from behind. She was wearing a dark red, mid-length woolen sweater, and her silky waist-length hair fell past her back. Xuxu shuddered in shock. She straightened herself slowly and looked at the woman. She was holding her phone. The familiar voice got softer as she gradually vanished out of sight. She¡¯s back. ¡°Xuxu?¡± Su Yan noticed Xuxu staring into blank space outside the car. He stretched out his hand and opened the door for her. He looked at her puzzledly. ¡°What are you staring at? Saw someone you know?¡± Xuxu snapped out of her daze and retracted her gaze. She smiled at Su Yan and shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Thereafter, she got into the car. Once in the car, she reclined her seat slightly. She laid down and closed her eyes. For the rest of the journey, she remained silent and kept a frown. When they almost reached Xuxu¡¯s house, Su Yan could hold it no longer and looked at her. He asked, ¡°Xuxu, is something troubling you?¡± Xuxu answered lightly with her eyes closed. ¡°Fang Jiayin is back.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yan wasn¡¯t surprised. Instead, he was curious about Xuxu¡¯s reaction. ¡°What are you worried of?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Xuxu shook her head and opened her eyes. She sat up straight and adjusted the seat back to its original position. She looked at Su Yue and asked, ¡°How are Yueyue¡¯s results lately?¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a great improvement.¡± Xuxu responded with an ¡®oh¡¯ and gave no further response. At the same time, they arrived at the entrance of her district. ¡°You can stop here,¡± she informed Su Yan and proceeded to unfasten her seatbelt, getting ready to alight. Chapter 673. Third Young Master Wants to Speak With You However, Su Yan didn¡¯t stop his car. Instead, he made a turn and drove the car to the basement carpark. After taking the parking ticket, he smiled and said to Xuxu, ¡°Ever since that fellow arranged for Aunt Zhang to come to your place, I have nothing to eat at home. So I¡¯ll have a free meal at your place before going back.¡± ¡®That fellow¡­¡¯ The way this chap addressed his brother didn¡¯t really surprise her, for he had always been unpredictable. One moment ¡®Old Third Master¡¯, the next moment ¡®Third Brother¡¯ and now, ¡®that fellow¡¯. One time, he even called him Yan Rusheng. Since Su Yan wanted to have dinner, Xuxu let him be. When they came out of the elevator, Xuxu gestured to Su Yan where Yan Rusheng¡¯s apartment was. He then proceeded to knock on the door. Seeing Xuxu taking out her keys to open her door, Su Yan looked at her, bewildered. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡± ¡®Or else, what do you think I¡¯m doing?¡¯ Su Yan retracted his hand and walked over to Xuxu. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to your house to have a seat.¡± Xuxu shot him a cold expression. ¡°You¡¯re not welcome.¡± After that, she opened her door and went in a flash. She shut the door behind her. Aunt Zhang happened to open the door at the same time and stuck out her head. She was pleasantly surprised to see Su Yan. She smiled as she greeted him. ¡°Young Master Su Yan.¡± Su Yan politely smiled at her. ¡°Aunt Zhang.¡± Aunt Zhang looked towards the direction of Xuxu¡¯s door. ¡°Is Xuxu home?¡± Su Yan replied, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s back.¡± ¡°In that case, ask her to come over and eat. Dinner is ready. I¡¯ll go and lay out the dishes.¡± Aunt Zhang went back into the house after saying that. Su Yan clenched his fists and profusely pounded on Xuxu¡¯s door. He shouted, ¡°Wen Xuxu, dinner is ready.¡± In his foreign-accented Mandarin. Xuxu changed into a set of comfortable lounge wear and emerged from her house. In the past, she was particularly fond of cartoon characters. Now that she¡¯s pregnant, her psychological age had gone back even further. She was wearing a pale blue lounge wear with an adorable print of a cat lazily licking its paws. When she stepped in, Su Yan stared at her clothes. With regrets clouding his mind, he commented, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that I didn¡¯t bring my camera along.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him before walking to the dining table. Aunt Zhang was laying out the cutleries, and she walked towards her to extend her help. ¡°Aunt Zhang.¡± ¡°Missy must be hungry. Quickly come over and eat,¡± said Aunt Zhang. She then chuckled. After that, she went back into the kitchen and brought out a bowl of soup. There were four dishes and a bowl of soup¡ªa chicken soup, pieces of meat and fish, a prawn and a vegetables dish¡ªa well-balanced diet. ¡°Missy, Third Young Master had instructed me to boil more soup for you. So you must drink more.¡± Aunt Zhang scooped a bowl of soup for Xuxu and placed it in front of her. Su Yan, who was sitting beside her, cast her a sideward glance and shook his head. ¡°This chap has ill intentions. He wants to turn you into a fat woman and then dump you.¡± He had barely finished his sentence when Aunt Zhang frowned and chided him. ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± Su Yan mischievously stuck out his tongue. ¡°Aunt Zhang, is that your phone ringing?¡± Xuxu heard a familiar ringtone all of a sudden and asked Aunt Zhang as she tried searching where the sound came from. ¡°It¡¯s my cellphone.¡± Aunt Zhang heard the ringtone and quickly stood up to pick up her phone. When she saw the caller display, she smiled and faced the screen at Xuxu. ¡°The call is from Third Young Master.¡± She placed the phone to her ear and answered, ¡°Third Young Master.¡± She spoke as she walked back to the dining table. ¡°Just arrived and having dinner.¡± ¡°Yes, we are eating together.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After Yan Rusheng spoke briefly to Aunt Zhang, he was eager to speak to Xuxu. Aunt Zhang passed the phone to Xuxu. ¡°Missy, Third Young Master wants to speak with you.¡± Chapter 674. Didn’t She Ask You Out For Dinner? ¡°What do you want?¡± Xuxu took over the phone and pressed the speaker button before placing it on the table. She ate as she spoke to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Did the two foreigners left today?¡± ¡°Their names are Bleu and Rose.¡± Xuxu corrected the way Yan Rusheng addressed her friends. How could he be so disrespectful? What foreigners? ¡°They had left.¡± ¡°So, in the future, you¡¯ll be alone in that broken down warehouse?¡± Yan Rusheng asked out of concern. Xuxu covered her mouth and chuckled as she instinctively looked at Su Yan. Su Yan¡¯s face darkened, and he was speechless. What broken down warehouse? That was his office, his office, alright! Why did everything turn into rubbish when it reached his mouth? Can this person be a little more tasteful and thoughtful? Xuxu laughed for a while before asking him. ¡°Anything else?¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to reply, Su Yan suddenly intercepted. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, please hang up.¡± When he heard Su Yan¡¯s voice, Yan Rusheng lost his composure. ¡°Why are you there?¡± Su Yan snatched the phone over. He picked up a piece of vegetable and shoved it into his mouth. He spoke as he chewed. ¡°I sent Xuxu home, and she invited me over for dinner.¡± There was a pause. Just when Yan Rusheng was about to speak, he suddenly opened his mouth and interrupted him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. While you¡¯re away these few days, I sent Xuxu back and forth from work.¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll arrange a driver for her.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk anymore. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Su Yan didn¡¯t care that Yan Rusheng was getting all flustered on the other end. He abruptly hung up the call. Xuxu continued to look down and ate her food, ignoring them. After dinner, she bade Aunt Zhang goodbye and went back to her own house. When she stepped into the house, she headed straight for the sofa and sat down. She lazily lay down. She then stretched her hand to pick up her cellphone, which was on the coffee table. She glanced at the screen and saw a few messages and unanswered calls, but she wasn¡¯t in the least surprised. The corners of her mouth slightly curled up. She launched her messages and read them one by one. ¡®Xuxu, have you knocked off?¡¯ ¡®Xuxu, have you eaten?¡¯ ¡®Why are you not replying my message? Can you give me a reply?¡¯ ¡®Xuxu, did something happen to you? Why are you not answering my call?¡¯ ¡°Like a broken record,¡± Xuxu muttered and sent back a reply. ¡®Just had my dinner. What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ At the other end of the line, Yan Rusheng seemed to hug his phone while anticipating her reply. The minute she sent out her message, his reply came instantly. ¡®Just wanted to ask if you¡¯ve had your dinner. What did Aunt Zhang cook for you today?¡¯ Xuxu replied, ¡®Many dishes.¡¯ Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to respond, she sent out another message.¡®Have you reached the coastal county? Did the matter go smoothly?¡¯ Yan Rusheng texted, ¡®Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be having a meal with the local government. If everything runs smoothly, I¡¯ll probably be back by the next day.¡¯ He followed up with another message. ¡®Many dishes? I¡¯m so pitiful. Until now, I¡¯ve yet to have my dinner.¡¯ Xuxu sensed that he didn¡¯t want to talk about his work and didn¡¯t probe further. She replied to him accordingly. ¡®No one brought you out for dinner?¡¯ Yan Rusheng: ¡®No.¡¯ Xuxu: ¡®Where are you staying this time?¡¯ Yan Rusheng: ¡®The usual five-star hotel.¡¯ When she saw the words ¡® five-star hotel¡¯, Xuxu instantly recalled the disappointed expression on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face when he saw the signage on the hotel¡¯s entrance previously. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She swiftly texted,¡®That¡¯s good. I remembered little Xiaoling liked you. Didn¡¯t she ask you out for dinner?¡¯ Chapter 675. God Really Loved Making Fools Out Of People Yan Rusheng typed, ¡®The little girl isn¡¯t around, but her mother is. She ignored my request for an extra blanket. The bed is so stiff and hard.¡¯ Xuxu bluntly replied, ¡®Do you think everyone will give in to you?¡¯ She certainly knew that Yan Rusheng was exaggerating. With his wealth and status, everyone would clamor to fawn over him. How could anyone reject such an opportunity? Yan Rusheng quickly texted a reply. ¡®Xuxu, I was a horrible jerk in the past. From now on, I¡¯ll let you have your way, and I¡¯ll dote on you.¡¯ Xuxu blushed when she read the text, but she concealed her emotions. ¡®Who needs you to dote on me? Hurry and do your stuff.¡¯ Yan Rusheng typed. ¡®I still remember you saying Ah Sheng, I like you. Ah Sheng, I¡¯m in pain.¡¯ His text had Xuxu dumbstruck that blood instantly rose from her neck to her cheeks. How did he remember? Didn¡¯t he forget everything? Yan Rusheng seemed to have guessed what was on Xuxu¡¯s mind, and so he replied, ¡®I¡¯ve always loved you, perhaps even before you loved me. It¡¯s just that I was too foolish to even realize that the feelings I had towards you was love. I thought the reason you went to A university was to join that stupid society filled with guys. So, I used my connections, making sure the society would close in that university.¡¯ Yan Rusheng continued to reveal all the things he had done behind Xuxu¡¯s back. Everything he said made Xuxu half-amused and half-exasperated. And just like that, they texted each other for almost two hours. Finally, Yan Rusheng remembered that Xuxu had to wake up early for work the next day, and so he decided to stop reminiscing about their shared memories. ¡®Xuxu, I miss you. Can you send me your photo?¡¯ Xuxu asked, ¡®Why?¡¯ Yan Rusheng answered, ¡®Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t use it for vile purposes.¡¯ Xuxu blushed crimson once more and typed a word. ¡®Scram!¡¯ She then locked the screen on her phone. She was just beginning to be nicer to him, but his true personality revealed once more. After she had taken a shower, she warmed a cup of milk and walked towards the dressing table. She sat down and gazed at her own reflection in the mirror. Then she pulled and opened her drawer. She took out a red wooden box and her diary. She unlocked the diary using a pencil. She began reading her entries from the first page. ¡®Dear arrogant Ah Sheng, why can¡¯t you aim higher and choose A university instead?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve always loved you, perhaps even before you loved me¡­ I thought that you were going to A university¡­¡¯ When she reached the last page, Xuxu closed the diary. She heavily sighed to herself and helplessly smiled. God really loved making fools out of people. She put down the diary and prised the wooden box open. She put on the plastic ring once more. She took out the photo and gazed at the boy in the photo. She casually flipped the photo to the back and received a shock. ¡®Xuxu, I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡­ Bleu and Rose had just completed a project, so there weren¡¯t any upcoming projects. So, Xuxu researched designs and read some fashion design magazines for the entire day. Su Yan brought Su Yue along in the evening. He proposed to have dinner together. Su Yan entered the restaurant first to order food while the two girls followed behind. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Someone called her name when she was outside the restaurant¡¯s entrance. Xuxu turned to look at the person and she smiled. ¡°Miss Tang.¡± Tang Feiling walked towards her and smiled. ¡°Are you here for dinner?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Tang Feiling continued, ¡°What a coincidence. I¡¯m meeting Ansheng for dinner, join us then.¡± Xuxu cordially rejected her. ¡°It¡¯s ok, I¡¯m with my friends.¡± She turned around, held Su Yue¡¯s hand, and was about to leave. Tang Feiling was someone who loves others to pander to her. When Xuxu rejected her invitation twice, she couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. It revealed her scheming personality. ¡°Wen Xuxu, Yan Rusheng is in deep trouble, but look at you. Enjoying yourself and having fun.¡± Chapter 676. Was She So Substandard? Xuxu¡¯s heart fell with a thump when she heard those words. She stopped in her tracks. She turned back and looked at Tang Feiling. ¡°Miss Tang, can you be more specific?¡± She already had a hunch that he had encountered a major problem this time. But from Tang Feiling¡¯s tone, the problem seemed to be more serious than she thought. Noticing that her words had aroused Xuxu¡¯s attention, a smug expression flashed across her eyes. She marched towards her, arrogance clear in her every step. ¡°Flourish & Prosper¡¯s investment in the coastal county holiday resort had just begun work when¡­¡± She spoke as she walked when all of a sudden, a cold and aloof voice sounded from behind her. ¡°Tang Feiling!¡± Tang Feiling received a shock and her body slightly shuddered. She immediately shut her mouth and turned towards the direction of the voice with a smile on her face. A gorgeous man dressed in a deep red suit, matched with a white tie which further accentuated his extraordinary class, stood behind them. ¡°Ansheng,¡± Tang Feiling sweetly called out to him. She then ran up to Ming Ansheng, overwhelmed with joy. ¡°You¡¯re so punctual today.¡± She usually had to wait half an hour for him whenever they would dine together. At least half an hour. Ming Ansheng shot a cold stare at Tang Feiling and she immediately clammed up, not daring to take a second look at his cold and threatening eyes. After that, Ming Ansheng softened his expression and looked at Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, you are here for dinner too?¡± Xuxu nodded and hummed softly in agreement. Her mind was preoccupied with worries for Yan Rusheng. She wondered what major problem Flourish & Prosper was facing. It had been almost three days since he bought her cakes for afternoon tea, and she hadn¡¯t seen or heard any news regarding Flourish & Prosper. Perhaps they had been kept in the dark. But the truth will eventually come to light. She thought, ¡°If something really serious happened, the news would leak out very soon.¡± Furthermore, Tang Feiling had already got wind of it, so it wouldn¡¯t be kept under the wraps for too long. ¡°Ansheng, let¡¯s go in.¡± Tang Feiling linked herself around Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and pressed her body close to his. Her fake gentle voice made Ming Ansheng raise his eyebrows in disgust. He withdrew his hand from her arm and strode with huge steps into the restaurant, stopping short in front of Xuxu. With his great perception, he could tell that Tang Feiling¡¯s words affected Xuxu. Her thoughts were probably running wild. He lowered his head and looked at her with an assuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. Nothing is too difficult for Third Yan to handle. We should have faith in him.¡± Xuxu nodded and hummed. Soon, she broke into a smile. But it was a forced one. ¡°Little Yueyue.¡± Su Yue stood beside Xuxu and her childish face still looked cold and distant. Ming Ansheng smiled and affectionately called out to her. ¡°Uncle!¡± Su Yue lifted her eyes and addressed Ming Ansheng before looking down again. In the eyes of outsiders, she would be deemed disrespectful and arrogant. Her attitude had definitely infuriated Tang Feiling, including the Gods. She had been engaged to Ming Ansheng for over a year and had never seen such a smile on his face. Or rather, she has yet to see him smiling at her in that manner. Yet, that little lass had the boldness to be so standoffish in her behavior. Furthermore, when he was chatting with Xuxu earlier, he sounded gentle and mild. But he was always cold towards her. If it¡¯s not because of the pressure from her grandfather, he would have already ghosted their engagement party. Was she really that substandard? Chapter 677. Not Something a Pregnant Lady Should Be Worried About ¡®How infuriating!¡¯ Tang Feiling was boiling with anger as she stared at both Xuxu and Su Yue¡ªespecially towards Su Yue. Even though she was just a young lass, she couldn¡¯t help but feel an utmost hatred and jealousy towards her. Ming Ansheng was already used to Su Yue addressing him as an uncle. He smiled at her and asked, ¡°How are your results recently? Any improvement?¡± Su Yue merely gave him a swift glance, appearing exceedingly haughty. Ming Ansheng had already expected that she wouldn¡¯t answer. He chuckled and brushed it aside. ¡°In that case, I shall not ask you both to join me for dinner.¡± He said ¡®I¡¯ not ¡®we¡¯ . Xuxu replied, ¡°I¡¯ll bring Yueyue in.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and walked into the restaurant. After he watched them leave with the waiter, his expression turned stony once more as he walked towards Tang Feiling. Tang Feiling shrunk back in fear. ¡°Ansheng.¡± Ming Ansheng was livid, and he commanded, ¡°Tang Feiling, seal your mouth.¡± Then he turned around and left her alone. Tang Feiling panicked and frantically rushed after him. ¡°Ansheng, where are you going to? We haven¡¯t had dinner!¡± She tottered after him in her high heels. It was impossible for her to catch up. She was both furious and anxious. She finally managed to ask him out after three months, but Wen Xuxu jinxed it all! Tang Feiling glanced back at the restaurant¡ªthe capital city¡¯s most famous and largest Sichuan restaurant. Why did she even have a sudden craving for spicy meals?! ¡­ After Su Yan had ordered two dishes, he pushed the menu to Xuxu. ¡°You should order as I don¡¯t know what else you like to eat.¡± ¡°You can order.¡± Xuxu pushed the menu back to him. She was frowning and had a look of gloom on her face. Su Yan could tell that something troubled her. ¡°What happened earlier? You were fine before you came into the restaurant, but now you look so troubled.¡± Xuxu looked up at Su Yan. ¡°Su Yan, what¡¯s wrong with Flourish & Prosper?¡± She was sure he knew although he appeared nonchalant about Flourish & Prosper. But it doesn¡¯t mean that he didn¡¯t care. But she also knew that even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t have told her anything. That was the reason she had stopped herself from asking him. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Su Yan pondered for a moment as he flipped the menu. His head was bent down. He casually said, ¡°Seems like there were some problems with the construction, and a worker is injured. Isn¡¯t that fellow there to resolve the issue now?¡± Judging from Su Yan¡¯s actions, Xuxu had a shrewd hunch that Yan Rusheng had met a real problem. She began to probe further. ¡°I just have a feeling that this matter isn¡¯t simple.¡± Su Yan finally raised his head and cast her a disapproving glance. ¡°No matter how serious this matter is, it¡¯s not something a pregnant lady should be worried about.¡± Xuxu rested her case and concluded their conversation. ¡°Let¡¯s order then.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t eat much during dinner. She had initially planned to go shopping with Su Yue to buy some new clothes for herself and her, but now she was too worried to do so. Su Yue and Su Yan sent her home. She dived right into bed after a shower while clenching her phone. Her phone was quiet all evening and there weren¡¯t any calls or texts. Chapter 678. Impossible Yan Rusheng had gone on a work trip to settle important issues, so it would mean that he should be hustling or entertaining potential clients¡ªnot lounging back at his hotel at such an early hour. But even so, Xuxu sent him a text. ¡®Have you eaten dinner?¡¯ ¡®Will you be able to come back tomorrow?¡¯ She thought she would have to wait for some time before receiving his reply. To her surprise, her phone rang almost immediately. She instantly picked up the phone. A familiar voice¡ªthat she had missed very much¡ªechoed from the other line. ¡°Xuxu, are you thinking of me?¡± He sounded a little tipsy, and there were sounds of the clattering of cutlery in the background. He should be in the midst of dinner. Xuxu¡¯s heart softened a little when she heard his voice. She quickly responded, ¡°So, any progress?¡± ¡°It¡¯s settled. I can go home tomorrow.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded contented and sluggish. His voice sounded exceedingly attractive. Xuxu responded, ¡°Okay, then go back to the hotel and rest early.¡± ¡°President Yan, why are you here? We were all looking for you.¡± A middle-aged man¡¯s voice sounded in the background, and he sounded drunk too. Xuxu knew that he must be busy. ¡°Go ahead and don¡¯t drink too much.¡± When she was about to end the call, Yan Rusheng suddenly confessed, ¡°Xuxu, I miss you so much that I wish I could fly back to you right now.¡± His gentle voice seemed like warm current coursing through her whole body. She had completely surrendered to him. ¡°Come back soon,¡± she softly said. Then she hung up. She went to her photo gallery and clicked on a locked photo album. She had secretly taken pictures of him while he was unaware. She browsed through the photos one by one. ¡®Love is long-lasting.¡¯ ¡®Love is when you start to miss him the moment he is out of sight.¡¯ As she thought to herself. ¡­ The next morning, a phone call had awakened Xuxu from her slumber. She sleepily squinted her eyes to glance at the screen. She didn¡¯t save this number, but she could distinctly recall that it was Qiao Jian¡¯s. She used to be Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary while he was his assistant. Both of them used to work closely together, so she could still vaguely remember his number. It jolted her awake. She then picked up the call. ¡°Hello, Qiao Jian.¡± Qiao Jian had called her so early in the morning, and she had a bad feeling that something terrible must have happened. She scrambled and sat upright. Qiao Jian¡¯s anxious voice traveled to her ears. ¡°Lady boss, Boss wanted me to convey a message. Please trust him and remain calm.¡± Upon hearing what he had said, Xuxu¡¯s heart furiously thudded. Her free hand tightly gripped the blanket. ¡°What happened?¡± She thought reading the news might be faster than hearing it from Qiao Jian. So she hung up and searched online. ¡®Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President, commonly known as Third Young Master, was drunk last night and had an intimate relationship with three high school girls. The police are investigating now. Third Young Master might be charged with the crime of having intimate relationships with under-aged girls¡­¡¯ Xuxu stared at her phone in disbelief and shock. Her phone slid out of her hands. Left dumbstruck, she recovered after a while and composed herself. She shook her head and muttered to herself, ¡°No, this is impossible.¡± Yan Rusheng would never do something like that. He didn¡¯t need such intimacy, and he wasn¡¯t someone who would do that. This was a conspiracy. Xuxu picked up her phone and flung her blanket away. She went to the living room and turned on the TV. She changed to the capital city¡¯s news channel and true enough, Flourish & Prosper was on the news. Chapter 679. I Believe That He Isn’t That Kind of Person ¡®This morning, the local news channel in the coastal county reported that Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President Yan Rusheng had sexual relationships with three under-aged girls after he was drunk. Reporters have currently flocked to Flourish & Prosper¡¯s building. In addition, news broke out that Flourish & Prosper¡¯s project in the coastal county had used inferior materials in the construction of their resort villa. This has led to the deaths of four workers and nine others injured.¡¯ ¡®Flourish & Prosper has used all sorts of methods to block this news from spreading¡­¡¯ Wait¡­ something was amiss. Yesterday, Yan Rusheng said that he had already resolved the matter. He even promised to come home as soon as possible. Even if his intention was only to reassure her, he wouldn¡¯t have dropped a promise that he would definitely be home that day. Someone must have found out about matter being resolved and seized the opportunity to attack Flourish & Prosper. After analyzing the whole situation, she went back to her room to change. After washing up, she grabbed a coat and opened the door. ¡°Young Madam.¡± Yan Rusheng had arranged a chauffeur for Xuxu. He was already waiting outside the apartment, and when Xuxu opened the door, he politely bowed. ¡°Take me to Flourish & Prosper,¡± Xuxu said as she closed the door. She pulled up the zipper at the sides of her boots. Yan Rusheng¡¯s scandal had spread like wildfire across the country. He occupied all the headlines of major newspapers and online sites early in the morning. The alarming number of reporters outside Flourish & Prosper¡¯s entrance shocked Xuxu. Instinctively, she pressed her hand on her belly and took a deep breath before getting off the car. This had the chauffeur worried. He advised, ¡°There are too many people. Let¡¯s make a detour.¡± It was no secret that Xuxu was pregnant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be careful,¡± Xuxu reassured the chauffeur. She walked with determination towards the building. ¡°It¡¯s Third Madam Yan!¡± A reporter spotted her and rushed towards her. The rest followed suit with their cameras and microphones. With a raised tone of voice, she said to them, ¡°Please don¡¯t rush towards me. I¡¯m pregnant so please be careful.¡± Her warning succeeded in making the reporters slow down as they approached her. Her child would most likely be the future successor of Flourish & Prosper. If something untoward were to happen to her, no one could bear the responsibility. The chauffeur had called the security team to protect Xuxu, and they formed a circle around her. The reporters relentlessly fired questions at her as they crowded around her. ¡°Third Madam Yan, what are your views towards Third Master¡¯s scandal with the under-aged girls?¡± ¡°There are rumors saying that you have divorced Third Master, is it true?¡± ¡°Did Third Master travel to the coastal county to settle the deaths of the workers?¡± ¡°Now that Third Master is in deep trouble, do you have any plans for yourself?¡± There was a long pause¡­ The questions were rather similar in essence albeit rephrased differently. There was finally a break in their questions, and Xuxu grabbed the chance to answer. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely stand by him for I believe that he isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± Her voice was crisp and clear. She sounded firm. ¡°Then you¡­¡± Another reporter was about to speak when Xuxu silenced all of them. She spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t rush. I heard your questions, and I know you are eager to get answers. I¡¯m willing to spend some time to answer every question, so please don¡¯t be anxious. As I¡¯m feeling a little unwell, I won¡¯t be able to stay long if it¡¯s too noisy.¡± Chapter 680. Hit a Person When He Is Down ¡°There are indeed some problems with the holiday resort project in the coastal county. Regarding the issue of inferior materials¡­¡± She had paused before she continued, ¡°Flourish & Prosper will never do something like this. From the day Flourish & Prosper was founded, it has always prided itself on its quality and reputation. No matter how foolish we might be, we will never resort to using inferior materials.¡± She surveyed the faces around her and once again sharply spoke, ¡°Actually, President Yan¡¯s main objective for building the holiday resort isn¡¯t for profits.¡± It had piqued everyone¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Then what¡¯s the reason? Is there a story?¡± Calm and composed, she said, ¡°I went on a work trip to the coastal county with President Yan not long ago, and we both realized that the transport system isn¡¯t well-developed at all. So, if you were an investor, would you choose to invest in a place like that?¡± Everyone fell silent. ¡°We have given up on the thought of investing when we reached the county. But when I saw the scenery there, I sighed and remarked, ¡®This would be a wonderful place for retirement.¡¯ After hearing my remark, he changed his mind and wanted to purchase it as a present for me¡ªto build a holiday resort. If we can earn profits, it will be ideal. Even if we didn¡¯t, it won¡¯t matter. We just wanted to stay there when we are old.¡± Xuxu bowed her head as she was rather embarrassed by her own words. She lifted her head and furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Would we choose inferior materials for our retirement place? Aren¡¯t we harming ourselves?¡± Of course, the reporters didn¡¯t believe every word she said. ¡°Do you mean that President Yan would have done everything in his power just for you, Third Madam Yan?¡± ¡°If Third Master really loves you so much, why is Miss Fang in the picture?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu understood their question. ¡®If Third Master really loved you, he wouldn¡¯t get into an affair with another woman.¡¯ There was a feeble smile on her face. She calmly said, ¡°Those scandals and rumored flings were frequently reported in the past too. Miss Fang is simply just one of them. Please spare a thought for her and leave her alone.¡± Xuxu raised her pitch and seemed to proclaim. ¡°I only know that I¡¯m Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife and the lady boss of Flourish & Prosper. My baby is his and we are childhood sweethearts. He didn¡¯t marry someone else and neither would he give this official status to someone else.¡± There was a trace of admirable courage and dominance in her voice. She was Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife, and he loved her. ¡°So, Flourish & Prosper would never tarnish its own reputation, more so taint its glorious record and history in the industry. And certainly not this project,¡± she sharply said. ¡°We won¡¯t rule out the possibility of the workers having ulterior motives since Flourish & Prosper is unreachable to them. When this issue occurred, Flourish & Prosper promptly dealt with it, and furthermore, President Yan had personally gone there.¡± ¡°Flourish & Prosper isn¡¯t the only company that has reported deaths or injuries during the construction of such projects. But Flourish & Prosper is one of the rare few companies to have their President handle it personally and promptly. Furthermore, this is Flourish & Prosper we are talking about.¡± She scanned all the faces as she smiled at them. Her unwavering confidence from inside her was admirable. ¡°The news that everyone saw today, it doesn¡¯t matter if you believe it or not as long as I trust him. He has led Flourish & Prosper to greater heights within a year after he took over the role as President. He isn¡¯t someone who is foolish or dumb. Why would he do something so irrational and dumb to ruin himself then? In today¡¯s society, there are plenty of people who love to hit a person when he is down.¡± Chapter 681. Had Already Expected This to Happen Her words brought a new light to the reporters, and many in the crowd nodded in agreement. More importantly, Xuxu was magnanimous and unaffected as she said those words, which made her appear more convincing. ¡°So, according to Third Madam Yan¡¯s interpretation, it could be a deliberate act by someone to frame President Yan?¡± Xuxu nodded her head and confidently replied, ¡°Yes, obviously!¡± ¡°What evidence do you have?¡± Xuxu maintained her poise and smiled. ¡°President Yan is not a lecher. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check it out. Those female celebrities he had dated were merely his flings, and he had maintained their relationships to no more than a meal at the dinner table, not to mention holding hands¡ªnever!¡± She didn¡¯t underestimate the resourcefulness of these reporters. ¡°Oh, yes. Previously on a TV show, Min Jiao had accused President Yan of having problems in that area.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Ouyang Qingqing also made a terrible racket in a mall saying President Yan was impotent?¡± There was a long pause¡­ As what Xuxu had expected, many reporters spilled past scandals of Yan Rusheng, some of which she hadn¡¯t even heard of. ¡°Third Madam Yan, you said that President Yan was set up by someone. So do you have any suspect in mind? Is it convenient for you to share with us?¡± ¡°Is it because of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s grandeur that invited unnecessary trouble? Could he have offended some business rivals?¡± ¡°Or was it all because of Third Master¡¯s himself? He had always treated others with contempt and must have unknowingly offended many people. Hence, could people be taking revenge on him?¡± There¡¯s nothing that reporters didn¡¯t dare to ask unless it¡¯s something they do not know. But Xuxu had already achieved her aim. They already believed that Yan Rusheng was being set up, and she needed to continue steering the public opinions. She had to let the public be inclined to believe that Yan Rusheng was framed and to blow up the matter to serve as a deterrence to the opponent. As Xuxu thought of the reporters¡¯ questions, she started to talk. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. President Yan can be haughty at times and might have shamed those who tried to pander to him or fawn over him. But specifically who the person is¡­¡± She paused and deliberated for a moment before continuing with some reservations in her words. ¡°I have a few suspects in mind. But as I do not have concrete evidence yet, I should not be making wild guesses. But eventually, the truth cannot be falsified and lies can never be verified. So everyone, please be patient and wait for me to find the evidence.¡± After that, she bowed politely to everyone. ¡°I would like to thank everyone for your concerns for Flourish & Prosper and President Yan.¡± The reporters aimed their cameras at her and snapped away non-stop. After a while, the security guards escorted her into Flourish & Prosper¡¯s main entrance. As she had already made her stand, the reporters didn¡¯t pester her further. ¡°It¡¯s absurd, absolutely absurd.¡± ¡°Since the inception of Flourish & Prosper, we have never encountered such scandal.¡± ¡°We¡¯re done for this time. He has ruined Flourish & Prosper¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°When his grandmother was around, he was already like this, getting involved with different celebrities or models every day. I have already expected that he would get into trouble one day.¡± ¡± Hmph. The elderly Chairman shouldn¡¯t have made him the successor of Flourish & Prosper.¡± A crowd had already gathered at the President¡¯s office. The words from the elderly directors were getting intensively fierce, and some were even extreme and directly attacking him. Xuxu had already expected this situation. When she stepped out of the elevator, she halted her steps and waited for them to calm down a little before she walked in. Chapter 682. Didnt Achieve Their Aim A crisp and clear voice suddenly sounded from the crowd and it had caught them unaware. ¡°When he acquired fame and honor for Flourish & Prosper and when he helped double your gains, why didn¡¯t all of you thank him?¡± It caught everyone in a shock. Traces of guilt flashed across some of their faces. Everyone turned towards the entrance and noticed a small and inconspicuous figure standing there. Her sarcastic smile made some thin-skinned wrinkled faces turn red from shame. ¡°Xuxu, we¡­¡± Someone walked towards Xuxu and tried to explain, but Xuxu coldly cut him off. ¡°People are trying to add insult to his injuries at this point in time, so are you also trying to make use of this opportunity to attack him as well?¡± Those elderly who felt they had a part to play in the success of Flourish & Prosper couldn¡¯t stand Xuxu¡¯s questioning and interrogation. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Precisely. Did we say anything wrong? Since he took office, how many scandals was he involved in? How much damaged had he caused to Flourish & Prosper¡¯s reputation? Just towards the end of last year, his relationship with that violinist was the talk of the town, and he was already a married man.¡± The group of sly old foxes was bent on sowing dissension, causing her thoughts to waver. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and flashed a cold smiled. ¡°Those were none of your business. I am not bothered by them, so why should you?¡± The moment she posted them this question, they couldn¡¯t find the words to refute her. As Yan Rusheng¡¯s wife, she didn¡¯t even lose her head or panic when he was involved in scandals with women, so why should they be worried? If it¡¯s Zhou Shuang, she would definitely say that all of them were a pain in the ass. Seeing that some of the wrinkled faces had turned red from her chiding, Xuxu struck them while the iron was hot. She continued speaking in a cold tone, ¡°Uncles, or rather, I should address some of you as grandfathers. It¡¯s time to stop being an opportunist and attempting to attack President Yan at this moment. Please bear in mind that Flourish & Prosper belongs to the Yan family, and President Yan¡¯s power and grandeur can never be destroyed.¡± As she had seen through their thoughts, some of them couldn¡¯t hold it any longer and flew into a rage. ¡°We¡¯re just stating the facts and we didn¡¯t expect you to be as disrespectful as Third Yan. After all, we are still your elders.¡± Xuxu frowned and her voice turned even colder. ¡°Then do what an elder should do. When you saw such news early in the morning, instead of showing concerns for President Yan and extending your helping hands, you flared up in the office and attempted to sow dissension. Even ganging up with outsiders to put down President Yan.¡± She continued lashing out at them. ¡°Directors, please correct your attitudes and readjust your thoughts. Otherwise, I believe that in time to come, Flourish & Prosper will belong solely to the Yans.¡± Every word was as sharp as a knife. She had already spelled out everything clearly, so who would still dare make any noise? They came to the President¡¯s office to make a din today because they thought that Xuxu and Yan Rusheng¡¯s relationship were still strained. They wanted to win Xuxu over to accuse Yan Rusheng of misconduct. Who would have expected the matter to turn out the other way? They had underestimated Xuxu. She had always been cultured and vulnerable-looking; always the polite little lass in the eyes of the elders. But after the commotion they¡¯ve caused, instead of achieving their aim, they made themselves appear loathsome. In the end, some left in a huff while others left ashamed and crestfallen. After sending away those directors, Xuxu went into Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. After an absence of two months, she stepped in once again. She didn¡¯t have the luxury of time nor was she in the mood to feel rueful. She walked straight to Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk, pulled out the chair, and sat down. Chapter 683. So Don’t Tell Him She took out her cellphone and dialed Qiao Jian¡¯s number. After a few rings, Qiao Jian answered the call. Xuxu went straight to the point. ¡°Qiao Jian, who¡¯s the person in charge of the coastal county project?¡± The words she had said to the reporters earlier were mostly true. She found out about the coastal county project only after Yan Rusheng signed the contract. At that time, she was focusing on Chengnan¡¯s project in the capital city. She was clueless about the coastal county project in detail. Hence, she didn¡¯t have a better understanding of it. Qiao Jian replied, ¡°Wang Bin. After the incident happened, he immediately disappeared. Until now, we couldn¡¯t locate him.¡± This was what Xuxu had expected. Which foolish chap wouldn¡¯t escape after skimping on the job and stinting on materials? But when she heard the name of the person-in-charge, it gave her a shock! Wang Bin! He was the person-in-charge of the Eastern Building project in 2008. He had risen to his ranks because of grandmother¡¯s help. He had remained with Flourish & Prosper for many years and had attained many glorious achievements. Who would have thought he would commit such mistakes in his old age? This was really unexpected. If her grandmother was still around, she would be heartbroken. Xuxu continued asking, ¡°Where did the problem arise?¡± Qiao Jian replied, ¡°A two-meter foundation of a building suddenly collapsed, causing an excavator above it to topple over, crushing two people to death. There were also other casualties when the building collapsed.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu tightened her grip on the pen in her hand. ¡°How could a foundation collapse?¡± This was not a cause of a tawdry built building, but it was definitely an act done on purpose. As she mulled over this, a trace of coldness shot across her eyes. ¡°I want the information of all the materials suppliers.¡± Qiao Jian said, ¡°Lady boss, President Yan doesn¡¯t want you to worry about this matter. Leave everything to him to settle.¡± At the mentioned of Yan Rusheng¡¯s name, Xuxu asked with concern, ¡°How is he now?¡± ¡°The police are investigating the matter, and there¡¯s currently no conclusion.¡± The police were still investigating, which meant he was still being held up at the police station. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows in anger. ¡°Where did he have his dinner last night, and with whom did he dine with? What are the academic standings of those students and how well are they doing? Search them up for me.¡± She finished speaking in one breath, spelling out each instruction distinctively and coherently. After pausing briefly, she continued, ¡°I¡¯ll arrive at about 4 p.m. today. Please gather and prepare all the information that I need.¡± It startled Qiao Jian and asked, ¡°Lady boss, you¡¯re coming over?¡± Xuxu replied firmly, ¡°Yes.¡± Qiao Jian sounded worried. ¡°The journey is long and arduous, and the traffic here is bad. President Yan will never agree for you to come over.¡± Xuxu smiled and calmly replied, ¡°So, don¡¯t tell him.¡± After ending the call, she crossed her arms and leaned back against the chair, frowning and deep in thoughts. The building foundation collapsed¡­ Jerry-built to this extent, how was it possible? Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of something. She swiftly opened the second drawer of the desk and took out Yan Rusheng¡¯s laptop. She switched it on and launched his WeChat. ¡°Senior Official Mu, I am Wen Xuxu, the wife of Yan Rusheng. I need your help on some matters.¡± After sending out the text, she was caught by surprise that a reply instantly came. ¡°Sister-in-law, what happened?¡± As Xuxu was slow in her typing, she sent out a voice message instead. ¡°Yan Rusheng encountered some trouble, and perhaps you¡¯ve found out about it on the internet. I need your help by checking someone¡¯s bank account information and call records for the last few months.¡± Chapter 684. Why Did It Turn out This Way? The other party replied with a text message. ¡®It¡¯s a little tricky.¡¯ Xuxu said, ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, then who else can?¡± Mu Qingteng replied, ¡®Since sister-in-law thinks so highly of me, let me give it a try.¡¯ Xuxu replied, ¡°His name is Wang Bin, the person-in-charge of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s coastal county project.¡± Mu Qingteng sent over an ¡®ok¡¯ expression and said, ¡®I¡¯ll give you a reply by tonight.¡¯ Even though he said that he would reply by nightfall, Xuxu was stunned and she gasped in surprise at his efficiency. Three hours later, while Xuxu was on her way to the airport, she received a message from Mu Qingteng. ¡®I¡¯ve already sent the information to Yan Rusheng¡¯s email.¡¯ Xuxu immediately took out the laptop from her bag and opened Yan Rusheng¡¯s email account to retrieve Mu Qingteng¡¯s email. She downloaded it and extracted the information from a compressed file. When she saw the content, her expression froze. First Uncle was no longer involved in matters relating to Flourish & Prosper, and ever since he was young, it was Second Brother Yan who was groomed by the Jiang family as their successor. So how could he have maintained such close contact with Wang Bin? Furthermore, there¡¯s such a big age gap between them, so how could their paths cross? Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists. Just then, her cellphone rang. She absentmindedly took a glance at the caller display. When she saw that the caller was Yan Rusheng, she immediately snapped out of her thoughts and answered. ¡°Hello, Yan Rusheng. Where are you now?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°I heard from Qiao Jian that you¡¯re coming over to the coastal county?¡± When she heard his voice, it tugged at her heartstrings and she nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± With a gentle voice, Yan Rusheng said to her, ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ll settle the matter over here. You rest easy and stay at home.¡± Xuxu accidentally glanced at the laptop and saw a familiar name. She gritted her teeth and deliberated for quite a while before opening her mouth. ¡°Ah Sheng is Second Brother¡­¡± Before she could even finish her question, Yan Rusheng cut her off. ¡°Xuxu!¡± Yan Rusheng sounded shocked and at the same time, nervous. Xuxu¡¯s heart sank, and her eyes glistened with tears. She asked, ¡°Why?¡± So, he already knew¡ªno wonder news of the grave matter was prevented from leaking out. No wonder he went over to settle the matter personally. She thought he must have spent a lot of effort and energy to contain it. Outsiders deemed him a condescending and disrespectful person, but the real Yan Rusheng is someone¡­ Yan Rusheng could sense the bitterness and hatred from Xuxu¡¯s voice, so he comforted her gently. ¡°Be good and wait for me at home. Nothing will happen to me.¡± Xuxu said, ¡°I¡¯ll arrive at 4 p.m. today.¡± After that, she swiftly ended the call and switched off her phone. Looking out of the window, her eyes brimmed with tears. Images of her grandmother¡¯s kind smile flashed across her mind and it made her heart twist in pain. ¡®Grandmother, why did it turn out this way? Why would Second Brother want to do such a thing?¡¯ ¡­ The journey drained all of Xuxu¡¯s energy before she even reached the coastal county¡¯s developmental district. She violently threw up and emptied her guts out when she arrived, looking as if she was suffering from a major illness. Qiao Jian went to pick her up. Yan Rusheng was still held up in the local police station as they said that the matter had alarmed high ranking officials. Yan Rusheng was considered as the cream of the crop amongst all the young and distinguished businessmen in the capital city, and so they had to carry out a thorough investigation and give a proper account to everyone. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t lie to Xuxu. He indeed stayed at the same hotel and in the same room as last time. Qiao Jian brought Xuxu to Yan Rusheng¡¯s room to take a rest while he prepared some porridge for her. She felt betting after drinking it and headed for the police station. Chapter 685. Lets Give Him More Time As he was worried about Xuxu¡¯s body condition, Qiao Jian drove very slowly. Sitting at the front passenger seat, Xuxu rested her head on the headrest. She closed her eyes to take a rest, in a bid to look better so that Yan Rusheng would not feel worried for her when he saw her later. ¡°Regarding the matter that I¡¯ve entrusted you to do, how¡¯s it coming along?¡± she asked Qiao Jian with her eyes closed. Qiao Jian replied, ¡°Before President Yan was taken to the police station, he had already instructed me to look into them. So, don¡¯t worry, Lady Boss, President Yan will be fine.¡± Xuxu wasn¡¯t at all surprised when she heard this. If she could think of it, Yan Rusheng would be able to as well. Qiao Jian had already made the necessary arrangements before they left for the coastal county¡¯s police station. The moment his car stopped at the courtyard, someone approached them, wearing a police uniform. ¡°Young Madam Yan.¡± Qiao Jian pointed to the middle-aged man standing in front of them and made an introduction to Xuxu. ¡°Young madam, he is Chief Ma of the Coastal County Police Station. Xuxu smiled and acknowledged him. ¡°Hello, Chief Ma.¡± After briefly exchanging pleasantries, Chief Ma took Xuxu to visit Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng had personally requested to wait in the interrogation room for the findings of the investigation. In that tiny cramped space, he sat on a plastic chair, lazily leaning against it. He was smartly dressed in his suit, as usual, looking poised and exuding a sense of elegance. ¡°President Yan, Young Madam is here.¡± Chief Ma opened the door to the interrogation room for Xuxu and smiled at Yan Rusheng as he informed him. Yan Rusheng immediately sat up straight. Excitement and anticipation could be seen from his deep-set eyes. A day apart seemed like three years. He had not seen her for three days and three nights. Seeing Xuxu¡¯s petite figure and exquisite-looking face, Yan Rusheng concealed his emotions and reprimanded her, ¡°Dumb woman, why didn¡¯t you listen to me? Who allowed you to come?¡± When Xuxu saw him, her eyes instantly sparkled and she couldn¡¯t help but hastened her steps. She knitted her eyebrows. ¡°So how? Was it comfortable here?¡± She walked over and sat facing Yan Rusheng. With both hands rested on the table, she fixed her gaze on his gorgeous face. She wondered if the problem lies with her. Somehow, she felt that he had become skinnier¡ªher heart ached. ¡°It¡¯s my first experience, and it feels quite good, actually.¡± Yan Rusheng lazily leaned back again and beamed brightly at her. Xuxu glared at him. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll speak to them later to let you stay put for a few more days¡± Yan Rusheng laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t think they have the guts to do so.¡± Noticing the smile on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, which resembled a blooming flower, the look in Xuxu¡¯s eyes deepened. She whispered, ¡°Does he also have a part to play in this matter?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head and calmly replied, ¡°No.¡± It baffled Xuxu. ¡°Why are you so sure?¡± Although she disliked Second brother, she still asked, ¡°How do you explain the accident that took place?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Xuxu with all seriousness in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got to believe my judgment. It won¡¯t be wrong.¡± As he said that, a streak of coldness flashed past his eyes. ¡°Whoever is using this opportunity to attack me, the answer will come to light very soon.¡± ¡°I believe you.¡± Xuxu nodded and looked intently at him again. ¡°You¡­ you intend to cover up for him?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°What about you? Do you want me to do it?¡± Xuxu looked down and started twiddling her thumbs. Yes, indeed. But did she want him to do it? Was he capable of doing it? All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng stretched out his hand and held Xuxu¡¯s hands. ¡°Xuxu, let¡¯s give him some time.¡± He spoke in a consultative manner. Chapter 686. They Needed Evidence Xuxu took a deep breath and it revealed all the helplessness she felt. ¡°Hopefully he knows what he should do.¡± Both of them fell silent, lost in their own thoughts. They tightly held each other¡¯s hands all this while. Seconds and minutes went by, and Xuxu felt that she wasn¡¯t of much use sitting there. Although Yan Rusheng was confident, she should still help him in some other ways. She raised her head and Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes met hers. She was about to speak when he interjected. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± Xuxu responded softly with a ¡®mmm¡¯ . Her gentle voice was like a feather caressing Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. He gazed at her rosy lips and he playfully grinned. ¡°Let me kiss you.¡± His expression was so devilish and playful. Xuxu¡¯s face fell¡­ How did he even have the energy to think of such stuff in a situation and such place? He really was such an extraordinary person. She would certainly not agree. She frowned and solemnly said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, impossible. Before I give birth, I won¡¯t have body contact with you.¡± What? Before she gave birth? Does that mean for the upcoming seven months, he would have to live like a monk? Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes were widened. He vehemently protested, ¡°This would kill me!¡± It had been two months, and it had been an arduous tormenting period to merely see her. He couldn¡¯t touch, hug, or be intimate with her. Xuxu softly chuckled. ¡°Or perhaps I shouldn¡¯t even talk to you.¡± Yan Rusheng was sure that she might really ignore him like how she did these two months. So he smiled brightly at her. ¡°Just give me a kiss. I miss you so much.¡± He still needed to tread carefully around her. Besides, he already predicted that he would be like this in the future as well. Just like what Lu Yinan had teasingly mentioned, Wen Xuxu evolved into a powerful empress. Xuxu rolled her eyes at the man across her. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. You can stay here since it¡¯s comfortable.¡± She rose and left without another glance or word. Yan Rusheng watched her and sighed in frustration. ¡®Before she gives birth¡­¡¯ This was her punishment for him not using safety measures ! Fortunately, she was carrying twins. He won¡¯t have to consider having any more children again. First, Wen Xuxu being pregnant meant their intimacy would be banned. Second, it was too much of a painful experience to give birth. She was so frail and tiny. He couldn¡¯t bear to see her go through it the second time. ¡­ Xuxu came out of the interrogation room. Qiao Jian and Chief Ma rushed towards her. Xuxu looked at Chief Ma and smiled. ¡°Chief Ma, how is the progress for this case?¡± They were investigating on their own and their efficiency would definitely be better than the police. She just wanted to sound Chief Ma out to see if he was a ¡®good¡¯ person. If he was a good person, it would mean he would handle this. If not, he would be in cahoots with the mastermind. Chief Ma, with all due respect, responded, ¡°The three girls are still claiming that President Yan had sexual relationships with them and it was planned by Assistant Qiao.¡± Qiao Jian was furious. ¡°What nonsense!¡± Xuxu smiled but didn¡¯t probe further about the three girls¡¯ testimony. Of course, she knew that they were lying. But they needed evidence. She watched Chief Ma closely. She then asked, ¡°Have you verified their testimonies?¡± Chief Ma curtly nodded. ¡°Their bodies were all checked and traces were all over¡­¡± Xuxu bent her head as her thoughts whirled rapidly. She asked, ¡°Did you procure evidence? Any evidence to prove that it¡¯s related to President Yan?¡± Chapter 687. Did You Drug Me? She had already asked Qiao Jian, and although Yan Rusheng¡¯s blood test was clear of any drugs, he was certainly drunk at that time. But she couldn¡¯t be sure that in such situations, would he be able to control himself? Neither was she sure that he might have mistaken the girls wrongly for her¡­ Qiao Jian heard Xuxu, and the corners of his mouth twitched¡­ ¡®Oh god!¡¯ Lady boss usually seemed like such a docile and fragile woman. But in unexpected moments when she was so firm and shrewd, it made his heart race. Her words startled Chief Ma, and there was a trace of awkwardness on his face. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± Xuxu frowned and her expression hardened. ¡°This is the most crucial evidence. What if they claimed that they are pregnant a month later, do we have to accept it?¡± She should have asked Yan Rusheng earlier on if he could still recollect his memories from last night. Even if he might not recall what he had said or the events that had unfolded, he should still have some vague memories if he was really engaged in intimate activities with the three girls. Chief Ma stuttered. He seemed to be in a difficult situation. ¡°After all, there are children. They were already subjected to such a traumatic experience. If we press them too much, they wouldn¡¯t be able to take it.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t take it?¡± Xuxu sneered. She then harshly declared, ¡°These children should be punished as soon as possible so that they don¡¯t defile our society in the future.¡± They had already done such wicked things at such a young age. Don¡¯t high school students know anything about integrity and honesty? Yueyue was the same age as them. Why was she so wise and upright? There wasn¡¯t a need to empathize with such children. She halted in her tracks and turned abruptly around. ¡°Give me a minute. I have something to say to President Yan.¡± Xuxu ran back to the interrogation room and wrenched the door open. The man inside was doing push-ups on the floor. Her mouth slightly twitched before asking. ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you recall the events that happened yesterday?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t stop as he glanced at Xuxu while doing push-ups. It confused him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I know that you were drunk and you don¡¯t remember what you¡¯ve said.¡± Xuxu briefly recalled her conversation with Chief Ma earlier on and how she wasn¡¯t awkward at all. But now that she was interrogating Yan Rusheng, she felt all bashful and spluttered as she asked. ¡°But¡­ I mean, if you did that kind of stuff, and at least three times, you should at least recall something.¡± Her dewy eyes were sparkling as she intently watched Yan Rusheng. She held her breath in anticipation and anxiety. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure. After all, many are not able to control their thoughts and actions when they are drunk. Yan Rusheng knew what Xuxu was trying to ask, and he became stony-faced. He gritted his teeth in frustration. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you are such a dumb woman.¡± How dare she doubt his faithfulness towards her? Xuxu frowned anxiously. ¡°So did you?!¡± Yan Rusheng sprung to his feet and strode to Xuxu. He peered down at her and said in a solemn and serious manner, ¡°I was drunk but I wasn¡¯t dead. If I¡¯ve really done it, how could I forget it? I still remember that you nearly scratched off my skin that night, and you kept screaming in pain.¡± Xuxu blushed red, and she whispered under her breath. ¡°You still forgot about what happened the next day.¡± At the mention of this, he was exasperated and angry. He burst out, ¡°I didn¡¯t! We did only once that night.¡± Xuxu gnashed her teeth as she became redder. Yan Rusheng saw that she had turned bashful, so he decided to tease her. ¡°Did you drug me that night?¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell as she furiously glared at him. ¡°Get lost!¡± Chapter 688. Exceedingly Dumb It was Yan Rusheng who was completely drunk and seemed as though he was consumed by desire. He was like a beast as he pounced on her and kissed and bit her all over. ¡°Why? Was I so good that night?¡± Yan Rusheng inched dangerously close to Xuxu as his lips mischievously curled. There was a devious gleam in his eyes. ¡°I was completely drained the next day, and I even had rashes on my body. You knew that I was allergic to such stimulants.¡± He suddenly thought of something and he watched her doubtfully. Xuxu pouted and the crease between her eyebrows deepened. ¡°Who knows? Anyway, I did nothing like that, and I¡¯m not as despicable as you.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped teasing her and lowered his head to look at her properly. ¡°Why did you suddenly come back and ask me this?¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°Nothing much. Continue with your push-ups. I¡¯m leaving.¡± She turned around and walked to the door. ¡°Xuxu,¡± Yan Rusheng called out. Xuxu glanced back over her shoulder and saw him striding towards her. He whispered in her ear, ¡°Other than you, I no other woman. My body only reacts to you.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu¡­ She raised her leg and aimed a kick at him. She shrieked, ¡°Jerk!¡± She ran out of the room. ¡®Other than you, I don¡¯t have another woman. My body only reacts to you¡­¡¯ Yan Rusheng¡¯s confession repeatedly rang in her ears. He didn¡¯t have any other woman¡­ What about Fang Jiayin? She was already pregnant. Could it be a lie? They were together for almost four years. Did they really have such an innocent relationship? ¡°Chief Ma, where are the girls right now? I want to let you and your team gather the evidence to prove that my husband is the culprit.¡± She had announced that he was her husband, no longer addressing his as ¡®President Yan¡¯. She was composed and seemed unruffled by the fact that her husband might have an affair with other women. Why did she appear so levelheaded and calm? It puzzled Chief Ma for a moment. He then smiled. ¡°I understand what you mean. But some time has passed, and I¡¯m afraid that it would be too hard to get the evidence¡­¡± It was hard to continue, and he stopped. Xuxu unyieldingly pressed on. ¡°Chief Ma, I¡¯m unimpressed by your efficiency.¡± He didn¡¯t gather the most crucial evidence and wanted to brush it aside by saying it was too late. Chief Ma couldn¡¯t refute and bent his head. Xuxu quietly watched him. She was certain that something was wrong with Chief Ma. Who could it be? Who was the mastermind trying to frame Yan Rusheng? ¡°Third Madam, actually what you¡¯ve mentioned¡­¡± Qiao Jian spoke up but stopped halfway. He believed that Xuxu understood what he was trying to convey. ¡°This morning, President Yan instructed me to bribe the doctor who examined the three girls.¡± Bribed the doctor? Did it mean that they have the evidence? But she couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility of the mastermind eliminating any traces of the evidence before they could. Even with uncertainty, Xuxu asked, ¡°Qiao Jian, did the evidence point to President Yan?¡± Qiao Jian smiled and blushed. Xuxu was speechless, but she knew that they had gotten the evidence. Thankfully, the stupid mastermind was exceedingly dumb. He had used such despicable methods to frame Yan Rusheng but left too many loopholes. Chapter 689. Was Young Madam Being Bullied? Qiao Jian said, ¡°That Chief Ma is not a decent chap.¡± ¡°Mm. I am aware.¡± Xuxu nodded. He was obviously up to no good. She asked further, ¡°How much evidence do we have now?¡± There was a mysterious smile on Qiao Jian¡¯s face, and he replied, ¡°Not much. President Yan said to wait a little longer.¡± Xuxu nodded with an ¡®oh¡¯ and mumbled, ¡°What¡¯s that fellow up to?¡± He¡¯s behaving mysteriously and even trying to hide from her. As compared to what she had heard from Qiao Jian regarding Yan Rusheng¡¯s plans, she was more looking forward to witnessing the success of his plans. She was hoping for an unexpected pleasant surprise. Although she was certain that Yan Rusheng would not be mistreated at the police station, that night, Xuxu kept tossing and turning restlessly in bed, thinking of him. The next day, there was a change of public opinions towards the news of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s use of inferior materials on the coastal county project and Yan Rusheng¡¯s sexual relationships with three under-aged girls. It took the headlines of various major newspapers, magazines, and as well as websites. ¡®A friend in need is a friend indeed. When Flourish & Prosper was plagued with troubles, the lady boss was the first person to render her support. She had also magnanimously shared with the media about their romantic relationship where they started off as childhood sweethearts. Regarding news reports about President Yan¡¯s sexual relationships with three under-aged girls, she had faith in him and this dispelled earlier rumors about their strained relationships and divorce because of third parties¡­¡± ¡®Third Madam Yan made a public clarification regarding Flourish & Prosper¡¯s use of inferior materials on the coastal county project. She shared that Third Young Master had spent extravagantly to purchase the island in the coastal county to build a holiday resort to make her happy. Subsequently, reporters carried out further investigations. It so happened that there was a fall-out between President Yan and Flourish & Prosper¡¯s directors at that time, and he went ahead to sign the contract. Hence, she dispelled reports of a direct link between Flourish & Prosper and the use of inferior materials. However, Third Madam Yan didn¡¯t rule out the possibility that the workers could have ulterior motives. What¡¯s most remarkable was when the incident happened, President Yan immediately went on-site to comfort the family members of the casualties.¡¯ ¡®While she was addressing the media, reporters noticed that Third Madam Yan had her hands placed on her tummy. At the mention of her babies, there was a look of bliss in her eyes. The cheeky Third Madam Yan even took the opportunity and lashed out at those women who were still pining for Third Master. ¡® We¡¯re childhood sweethearts. I am certain that he didn¡¯t marry anyone one else, and I am carrying his child. He didn¡¯t give chances to any other women¡­¡¯ Many people exclaimed that Third Madam Yan¡¯s public display of her affection has reached a greater height.¡¯ ¡®Yesterday, we saw a totally different Third Madam Yan and finally understood why she was the first and only woman to stand by Third Master. As an editor, I am more than willing to tie her shoelaces for her or even lick the bottom of her soles¡­¡¯ In the photos, security guards surrounded Xuxu, and the look of confidence in her face moved him¡ªbut still, her actions infuriated him. He felt a stinging pain in his eyes. She had given him her complete trust¡­ What about him? In the future, not to mention tying her shoelaces, he was even more than willing to lick the bottom of her soles. Qiao Jian could tell that Yan Rusheng was visibly moved by the news he read, and so he took the opportunity to add in more good words for the lady boss. He said, ¡°Boss, I heard from Wang Xiaoya that lady boss contended with the old directors in the company yesterday, and there was an acrimonious fall-out.¡± Hearing this, Yan Rusheng put down his newspapers and looked at Qiao Jian with a frown. ¡°Was Young Madam being bullied?¡± Chapter 690. Do You Want to Hear? Those old fellows kept finding fault with her. When news of him first broke yesterday, he had already anticipated that they would use it as a pretext to make a fuss and accuse him of misconduct. They were a bunch of old fellows whom Xuxu had a deep respect for, and she would try her best to put up with them. But there¡¯s no guarantee that they would not take advantage of their seniority and bully her. Hmpf! If they dared to bully her, he would make sure that they would pay back ten times for what they¡¯ve done. ¡°Of course not.¡± Qiao Jian shook his head and vividly replied, ¡°Lady boss¡¯ dominance was overwhelming and no less inferior to you. A few of them were so mad that they landed in the hospital.¡± When he heard this, Yan Rusheng heaved a sigh of relief. Qiao Jian¡¯s voice sounded again. ¡°Lady boss said, ¡®It¡¯s time to stop being an opportunist and attempt to attack President Yan at this moment. Please bear in mind that Flourish & Prosper belongs to the Yan family, and President Yan¡¯s power and grandeur can never be destroyed¡¯ .¡± He imitated the way Wang Xiaoya told him about Xuxu. ¡®Otherwise, I believe that in time to come, Flourish & Prosper will belong solely to the Yans.¡¯ After he finished saying that, he could bear it no longer and broke into a laugh. The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s smile curled up in smug. ¡°She¡¯s indeed my woman.¡± His eyes swept through the newspapers once more. ¡®Our reporters carried out further investigations. It so happened that there was a fall-out between President Yan and Flourish & Prosper¡¯s directors at that time and he went ahead.¡¯ He thought, ¡°Xuxu, you indeed surprised me time and again.¡± When Qiao Jian heard this, he secretly scorned him. He thought, ¡°What do you mean that she¡¯s indeed your woman? She¡¯s obviously more dominant than you.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored Qiao Jian and picked up the newspapers again to examine the words once more¡ªevery word touched him. ¡°President, I¡¯ve read a report from another newspaper, do you want to hear?¡± Qiao Jian stretched out his neck and moved closer to him. There was a lecherous smile on his face. Seeing his look, Yan Rusheng knew that it must be some indecent news and frowned. ¡°Speak.¡± Qiao Jian took a look at the door behind him. He then turned back and inched closer to Yan Rusheng. He spoke with a hushed tone. ¡°They said that boss, you have some disorder and that thing will only become firm for lady boss! Hard¡­¡± Yan Rusheng twitched his mouth and was speechless. Although this news appeared to be scorning him, the reports were factual, and he actually liked them. It would be best if Xuxu read them too. To let her know that he¡¯s been faithful to her, both body and mind. ¡­ Xuxu lay on the chair at the balcony, facing the sun. She was wearing a piece of a thin frock. The sea breeze gently blew against her. She put down the newspapers in her hand and closed her eyes, smirking. ¡°This bunch of wily old foxes are not dumb after all.¡± All of a sudden, a familiar voice sounded in her ears. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu opened her eyes and looked towards the direction of the voice, visibly shocked. ¡°First uncle.¡± Yan Weiye¡¯s dark grey suit was unbuttoned. He was wearing a dark blue shirt beneath it, and the collar was unbuttoned as well. Bits of perspiration appeared on his forehead and he looked travel-worn. Xuxu stood up when she saw him but didn¡¯t move forward. Yan Weiye walked towards Xuxu as he asked, ¡°How¡¯s the situation with Third Yan now?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°He¡¯s still in the police station.¡± Yan Weiye flew into a rage when he heard this. ¡°Jerks! How dare they lock him up at the police station the entire night?¡± Xuxu pursed her lips and remained silent. She turned about leisurely to face the sea, gazing at the vast ocean with despondency in her eyes. Chapter 691. Theres No Reason For Him to Sigh. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°First Uncle, if grandmother was still around, would the Yan family still be as harmonious as before? And full of warmth?¡± It startled Yan Weiye. He looked at Xuxu with a look of bewilderment. ¡°Xuxu, what do you mean?¡± It seemed that First Uncle was still unaware that Second Brother was the cause of it. He must have been kept in the dark. Xuxu deliberated for a moment before saying, ¡°First Uncle, aren¡¯t you aware that Second Brother planned the incident at the Coastal County?¡± She felt that she ought to let him know. Even though it was his son who had committed such wrongdoing, he should not shirk his responsibilities, too. Flourish & Prosper was the heartbeat of the Yan family¡¯s forefathers. Even grandmother had devoted all her efforts into it. It astonished Yan Weiye. He stretched his hand to grab Xuxu by her arm and opened his eyes wide. ¡°Xuxu, what are you talking about?¡± In a fit of agitation, he exerted too much strength that his nails almost dug into Xuxu¡¯s flesh. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and shrieked in pain. Yan Weiye finally realized it and let go of his hand. He awkwardly apologized at his loss of self- control. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. First uncle was too agitated.¡± He continued speaking with eyes wide opened. ¡°But how could Runan have¡­?¡± Xuxu knew that Yan Weiye would not believe it or accept the truth right away. When she first discovered Yan Runan¡¯s name on Wang Bin¡¯s call records, and when Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t deny her accusation, she also found it hard to believe and come to terms with it. He was Second Brother Yan, the flesh and blood grandson of the Yan family. His family has a 50% share in Flourish & Prosper. What would he gain for doing such a thing? She said, ¡°Ah Sheng kept it from everyone, including me. He suppressed everything single handedly because he wanted to give Second brother some time to think through his next steps.¡± ¡°No, Xuxu. How could this be possible?¡± Yan Weiye shook his head in disbelief. ¡°How could Runan have done such a thing? He had never worked in Flourish & Prosper before and entered the Jiang Corporation upon his graduation.¡± He felt that his son had no reason to hurt Flourish & Prosper. Xuxu sighed. ¡°Yes, I also can¡¯t understand why. But this is the truth.¡± She also wished that it wasn¡¯t true, that it was a dream. Or perhaps, all pieces of evidence were falsified. But she was just deluding herself. Yan Weiye still couldn¡¯t come to terms with it. ¡°Are there any proofs?¡± ¡°Ah Sheng should have the concrete evidences.¡± Xuxu looked at Yan Weiye with a solemn look in her face. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go back home and ask Second Brother why he did it?¡± Yan Weiye still shook his head in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ll go back and question Runan. He couldn¡¯t have done this, and there¡¯s no reason for him to.¡± He seemed to be in emotional distress, and he took out his cellphone to make a call as he walked towards the staircase. Xuxu watched Yan Weiye as he descended the stairs. He then looked down at the black car that was parked below. Her expression turned serious and cold. In one¡¯s lifetime, some could still start afresh after committing mistakes. However, some mistakes could cost innocent lives, and such people don¡¯t deserve to be forgiven! ¡­ In the afternoon, Yan Rusheng was released from the police station. The three under-aged girls also admitted that they lied. After someone had sexually assaulted them and had their naked photos taken, they were threatened to frame Yan Rusheng. When they were sent to his room, Yan Rusheng was already dead drunk and non-responsive. Chapter 692. I Felt That He Needed to Know As to why they suddenly changed their statement and told the truth, Xuxu had no idea. Looking at the man who was walking out of the police station, there were stubbles on his chin, but it didn¡¯t affect his appearance. In fact, he exuded a manly charm. The corners of his mouth curled up into a mischievous smile as he walked towards her in high spirits. He didn¡¯t look like one who had just spent the night at the police station. Chief Ma walked beside Yan Rusheng, and there was a fawning smile on his face. He was mumbling about something as he walked, but Yan Rusheng ignored him and remained silent. ¡°Xuxu.¡± He walked towards Xuxu and hugged her. ¡°My wife.¡± It was a tight embrace. It annoyed Xuxu, and so she pushed him away and surveyed him with disgust in her eyes. ¡°Finally, you now have a taste of how it¡¯s like to be released from jail.¡± ¡°President Yan, Madam Yan, we¡¯ve already carried out a thorough investigation.¡± Chief Ma found an opportunity to speak. He briefly acknowledged Xuxu before looking at Yan Rusheng apologetically. ¡°Our inefficiency had caused President Yan many sufferings, and I hope that President Yan will be magnanimous enough to forgive us.¡± Yan Rusheng took advantage of his height and coldly looked down at Chief Ma. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to be magnanimous.¡± Xuxu thought of the previous time when they were at the county. Back then, District Head Liu had asked Yan Rusheng over dinner if he was pleased with the¡®Five-Star Hotel¡¯ , and he nastily replied that he ¡®wasn¡¯t pleased¡¯. She had yet to come across with anyone whom Yan Rusheng would exchange polite remarks with. If such a person existed, he¡¯d be inviting a snub from him. His response startled Chief Ma, his face turned crimson from embarrassment. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t find other words to say, and so he titled down his red and wrinkled face. ¡°Let me bring you out for some nice food.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored Chief Ma. He then stretched out his hand to grab Xuxu¡¯s wrist before walking out towards the police station courtyard. The car was parked at the main entrance, and Qiao Jian was waiting beside the car. When he saw them walking out, he swiftly opened the back passenger seat door. Yan Rusheng went into the car first before pulling Xuxu in. Qiao Jian closed the door for them. He swiftly got into the car to start the engine. ¡°Chief Ma¡¯s face looked awful.¡± As the car left the police station courtyard, Xuxu happened to glance outside. It was just when Chief Ma raised his head and looked towards them¡ªshe caught a hint of resentment flash across his eyes. In a calm and collected manner, Yan Rusheng remarked, ¡°Anyway, his days of freedom are ending soon.¡± After saying that, he held Xuxu¡¯s hand and placed them on his chin, turning her palm upwards to feel his stubbles. Those stubbles tickled Xuxu¡¯s palm, and she had the urge to withdraw her hand. But Yan Rusheng tightly seized it and didn¡¯t let her succeed. After a while, it wasn¡¯t as itchy as before and Xuxu just let him have his way. She said, ¡°First Uncle came this morning.¡± As she said that, she fixed her gaze on Yan Rusheng¡¯s abstruse eyes, silently observing his response. Yan Rusheng halted his action and responded with an ¡®oh¡¯. He then continued with what he was doing earlier, thoroughly enjoying himself. Xuxu knew that he was waiting for her to continue. ¡°He was still in the dark that Second Brother had a part to play in this matter and I¡­ told him.¡± Again, Yan Rusheng replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ and showed no sign of surprise. He looked calm and composed. Xuxu felt sullen at his reaction. She somehow felt that all these were already within his expectation. She seethed at him. ¡°I felt that he needed to know.¡± Chapter 693. Always Be Behind You A smile appeared on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. He let go of her hands and intently gazed at her. ¡°Did you already guessed what was on Yan Runan¡¯s mind?¡± Since the car window was wound down, a gust of strong wind blew in and messed Xuxu¡¯s hair. A few strands of hair fell over her eyelashes, and so he reached out to tidy them before she could do it. He gently swept away the hair. His slender fingers ran through her short hair from her crown to the ends. It made his heart skip a beat. He lowered his head and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. This kiss caused a flutter in Xuxu¡¯s heart. As they had not been intimate for the last two months, she suddenly felt awkward and blushed. She leaned back and pouted her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I just felt that First Uncle needed to know about it as he is grandmother¡¯s son. After all, grandmother had devoted her life to bring Flourish & Prosper to its current glorious status.¡± She lowered her head as she interlocked her fingers. Yan Rusheng gazed at her for a while before wrapping his palm over her hands affectionately. There was a hint of tenderness on his charming face as he smiled. ¡°What you did was right. In the future, regardless of what decisions you make or which path you choose to take, you¡¯ll have my fullest support.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng had once said the exact words to her. Yet now, when the same words came out of his mouth, it evoked a different feeling in her. When Jiang Zhuoheng said such words, she felt grateful and touched. But now, there was a surge of emotions in her because it seemed that those were what she had longed to hear. Whatever happens in the future, he will stand behind her, giving her his fullest support, and protecting her instead of doubting and questioning her. Xuxu tilted her neck and slowly leaned towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders, resting her head on it as if her whole body totally depended on him. She clung on to his arm and knitted her eyebrows depressingly. ¡°What will happen to Second brother and First Uncle in the future?¡± What will happen in the future? She did not wish to witness the Yan family turn upside down in the future. If it were to happen, grandmother would definitely be heartbroken. Yan Rusheng lightly patted her hand to comfort her. ¡°Don¡¯t brood over it.¡± He fixed his eyes on the road ahead. His expression turned solemn and heavy. ¡­ When Yan Weiye¡¯s plane landed, the sky had already turned dark. He rushed home right away. The grand villa was brightly lit, and a white Maserati was parked at the courtyard. He got off the car and took a glance at the Maserati, his eyes fuming with rage. ¡°Mister is back.¡± When he stepped into the house, the servants greeted him. As he strode towards the staircase, he heard noises in the dining room, so he made a turn and walked into the dining area instead. ¡°Runan, eat more. This stir-fried prawn with soybean sauce is your favorite.¡± Jiang Qinglian affectionately looked at her son and kept placing food into his bowl. It was April but the weather in C City has yet to turn warm. Yan Runan was wearing a thin navy blue sweater. His handsome face obviously inherited his parents¡¯ good genes. He was the second child and also his mother¡¯s beloved. As he was doted upon since he was young, even at the current age of thirty, he still exuded a childish side of him in the presence of his mother. Yan Weiye stood at the entrance of the dining room and his aura was too strong to be ignored. Everyone turned and stared at him with their eyes wide-opened. It startled Jiang Qinglian. She opened her mouth ¡°Wei¡­¡± Chapter 694. Am I a Bigger Jerk Than You? Jiang Qinglian wasn¡¯t even finished calling Yan Weiye¡¯s name when he furiously strode across the room towards Yan Runan. He grabbed him forcefully by his collar and pulled him up. He lashed out at him. ¡°Yan Runan!¡± It alarmed Jiang Qinglian. ¡°Weiye!¡± She hastily rose and rushed over to them. Yan Weiye turned around and fiercely glared at her. He roared at everyone else. ¡°Get out! Everyone out!¡± His daughters-in-law and grandchildren were all present in the dining room. He held the authority at home and no one dared to disobey him. His daughters-in-law grabbed the children and fled. Jiang Qinglian refused to budge. ¡°Weiye, what¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you throwing a tantrum the minute you got home? And you are being very violent!¡± Yan Weiye didn¡¯t reply and pointed at the door instead. He shouted at her. ¡°Jiang Qinglian, I asked you to get out!¡± Jiang Qinglian shrunk back in fear. Yan Weiye still grabbed hold of Yan Runan¡¯s collar, but the man forcefully jerked and shoved him. ¡°Do not shout at my mother!¡± His sudden movement shoved Yan Weiye backward he almost fell on the dining table. He held on the edge of the table and supported himself just in time. But he didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he turned around and the next second a forceful slap landed on Yan Runan¡¯s face. ¡°You are worse than an animal! How dare you rebel!¡± A loud resounding slap echoed in the room. It flustered and shocked Jiang Qinglian. ¡°Yan Weiye, what are you doing?! Why did you hit my son?¡± She grabbed Yan Weiye¡¯s shirt and tried to pull him away with a hand, while the other hand repeatedly hit him on his back. She was usually a meek and quiet woman, and especially docile towards her husband. But it had triggered her when he touched her beloved son. Yan Weiye spun around and glared at her as anger leaped inside of him. He snarled, ¡°Jiang Qinglian, do you have any idea what your precious son has done?¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± It rendered Jiang Qinglian speechless as she stared at Yan Runan. ¡°Runan, what have you done to infuriate your father?¡± Without waiting for Yan Runan to answer, Yan Weiye stomped towards the entrance of the dining room and yelled at the people in the living room. ¡°Everyone go upstairs now!¡± At his command, no one dared to dawdle and vanished swiftly like a puff of smoke. He turned around and walked to Yan Runan with his eyes blazing with rage. Jiang Qinglian glanced back and forth between her son and husband. She was completely at sea with the situation. Yan Runan extended his hand and placed them on the cheek that Yan Weiye slapped. He ferociously glared at Yan Weiye as he sneered. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to find out about it so soon.¡± Yan Weiye wasn¡¯t expecting that Yan Runan would immediately admit to it. More so, he had done it so nonchalantly. ¡°Jerk!¡± His temper was rising, and he raised his hand once more. He didn¡¯t manage to slap him, instead, he faltered and almost collapsed. Jiang Qinglian darted forward to support him. ¡°Weiye, talk things out slowly. Why do you have to lose your temper?¡± Yan Runan¡¯s contemptuous smile vanished as an icy gleam streaked across his eyes. ¡°Am I a bigger jerk than you?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Yan Weiye clutched his chest, looking starkly white. He pointed at Yan Runan, at a loss for words. Yan Runan didn¡¯t seem to care about him or had any intention of pacifying him. He continued to taunt him. ¡°What about me? Flourish & Prosper belongs to the Yans. I would rather destroy it than give it to the two illegitimate b*stards.¡± ¡®Slam!¡¯ Another resounding and clear slap sounded. This time, however, Yan Weiye had used all his might. Chapter 695. What Is So Enthralling? After hitting Yan Runan, Yan Weiye collapsed on a chair. His face had turned a delicate shade of green. Jiang Qinglian comprehended the severity of the situation and realized that it wasn¡¯t the time to comfort her son. She anxiously glanced at Yan Weiye. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Yan Weiye¡¯s voice and hands were trembling as he spoke. ¡°Your darling son planned Flourish & Prosper¡¯s recent crisis. He wants to destroy Flourish & Prosper!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Jiang Qinglian was flabbergasted, and her mouth hung open in disbelief. She turned towards Yan Runan. ¡°Is your father telling the truth?¡± Yan Runan raised his chin. He then responded, ¡°Yes, I want to destroy Flourish & Prosper. Without Flourish & Prosper, I want to see how you are going to raise those two b*stards!¡± Jiang Qinglian heard him and raised her hand as well, but she couldn¡¯t bear hit him. Her eyes glistened. ¡°Runan!¡± Yan Runan¡¯s heart was aching when he saw his mother¡¯s expression. ¡°Mother, you have suffered.¡± Yan Weiye seemed to have slightly recovered as he looked at Yan Runan Feeling all the bitterness, he lamented, ¡°Yan Runan, do you know what you¡¯ve done?! Do you have any idea how much time and effort your grandmother had invested in Flourish & Prosper for the company to achieve its status and prominence today?¡± ¡°So what?¡± Yan Runan coldly drawled. ¡°I reckon that if grandmother was still alive, she would never have allowed the two b*stards to enter our family. So, what right do you have to talk about filial piety with me?¡± He stared at Yan Weiye, and hatred was clearly etched on his face. Yan Weiye roared. ¡°I¡¯m your father!¡± ¡°Father?¡± Yan Runan scoffed and continued, ¡°The moment you betrayed my mother and tried everything in your power to bring them into the family, even to the point of having the intention of officially declaring them as part of the Yans, you have already lost the right to lecture me.¡± ¡°How dare you!? Who gave you such authority?!¡± Yan Weiye slammed the table, and he raised his hand again. Jiang Qinglian managed to catch his hand in time. ¡°Weiye! Calm down! Will you be able to salvage the situation if you vent your anger on him?¡± Yan Weiye snorted in disdain. ¡°Of course it can¡¯t be salvaged. Yan Runan shall pay for his crimes.¡± It alarmed and agitated Jiang Qinglian. She grabbed Yan Weiye¡¯s elbows and pleaded with him. ¡°Weiyi, please don¡¯t do this to him. I don¡¯t want Runan to go to prison! Think of a way to save him.¡± Yan Weiye coldly lifted an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t want him to go to prison? Save him? How about the four innocent lives?¡± Jiang Qinglian stammered. ¡°So¡­ you should think of a way. Do you really want to see our son in prison?¡± Yan Weiye remained frigid and emotionless. Jiang Qinglian seemed to have lost hope as she gazed at him. ¡°I¡¯ve given my everything to you, Yan Weiye and to the Yan family for decades. What have you done for me? Now that I¡¯m pleading with you to save my son. Are you willing to help?¡± Yan Weiye stretched his hands and grabbed her shoulders. He looked her squarely in the eyes. ¡°Jiang Qinglian, please be rational.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t, I will look for Third Yan. He always has a way.¡± Jiang Qinglian shoved Yan Weiye aside and left the room. Yan Weiye hurried after her. ¡°Qinglian!¡± ¡­ There was still some time before they could board the plane. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu were sitting in the VIP waiting area. Yan Rusheng was casually flipping a magazine. As he stretched his hand for his glasses, his eyes swept past Wen Xuxu who sat beside him. She was staring at her phone with a frown and appeared to be in a daze. He peered at her phone. ¡°What is so enthralling?¡± Chapter 696. How She Wished That None of This Had Happened Xuxu stowed her phone away and shook her head. ¡°Nothing in particular, just some news article.¡± ¡°News?¡± Yan Rusheng grunted in response and went back to reading his magazine. After a few minutes, he closed the magazine and glanced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to board.¡± He plunged his hands inside his pocket for his phone and opened a browser. The latest news caught his eye. ¡®Third Master is in trouble and his rumored ex-girlfriend Fang Jiayin declared her support for him via a Weibo post. ¡®Hang in there, I believe in you!¡¯ Disdain flashed across his eye as he tightly clenched his phone. He didn¡¯t bother to read the entire article and decided to exit the browser. He turned to Xuxu with a smile. ¡°Xuxu, shall we move back to the house tonight?¡± Xuxu frowned and sharply reminded him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, remember my words. Before I give birth, we¡¯re two separate entities.¡± She was enjoying the current progress of their relationship. It seemed like they were catching up on their previous non-existent dating stage. And most importantly, she wanted to see how patient he could be before he reverts to his ¡®original state¡¯. Yan Rusheng was in despair. He bitterly lamented, ¡°Why do I have to wait until you¡¯ve given birth?¡± They will eventually get together, so why does she have to torment him for the next few months? Sighs¡­ Xuxu bit her lips and somberly answered, ¡°Because our children would need to change diapers, feeding, and care at night. So, I would need your help.¡± It had Yan Rusheng speechless¡­ So, the reason he could share a bed with her months later was because of their children? He would be like a babysitter taking care of their every need. Yan Rusheng was about to protest when his phone rang. He gave Xuxu a pitiful expression before he glanced at his phone. He hesitated before picking up the call. ¡°Hello, First Aunt.¡± Xuxu instinctively glanced at him. First Aunt must have called to talk about Second Brother. ¡°Xuxu and I haven¡¯t reached the capital city yet. Let¡¯s talk until I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°We should land after midnight.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up after briefly speaking to Jiang Qinglian. He seemed out of sorts as he stared at his phone. The cabin crew came towards them to remind them that the plane would be taking off soon. Qiao Jian arrived with their laptop bags and he walked ahead of them. The three of them were the only ones in the business class cabin. Yan Rusheng held Xuxu¡¯s hand and led the way. Xuxu asked as she glanced at him. ¡°Did First Aunt call regarding Second Brother?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°She has just boarded the plane to the capital city, and she would be waiting for us at the airport.¡± Xuxu heavily sighed. ¡°In the future, I¡¯m afraid that after this incident we would drift apart.¡± How she wished that none of this had happened. She also knew that they should not conceal the truth. There were four reported deaths and nine others injured. The police were notified and there was no way they could keep it under wraps forever. Once the truth was out, what would be in store for Second Brother? Su Yue and Su Yan had just come, and if First Uncle and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t try their best to help Yan Runan, First Aunt would never forgive them. Chapter 697. Being Affectionate Yan Rusheng stretched his hand and gently patted Xuxu¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± Xuxu managed a feeble smile, but it didn¡¯t lessen her worries at all. What will happen in the future? How could she not worry about it? Grandmother who had slogged her life away for their family and for the company¡­ How could she not worry? She sighed as she thought, ¡°Grandmother, what must I do to ensure the family can continue to exist in peace?¡± Xuxu shut her eyes when they boarded the plane. She stopped her mind from wandering around. Within minutes, she dozed off. When she woke up once more, the plane had reached the capital city and was making its descent. It was already midnight. In addition, she wasn¡¯t able to sleep well the previous night. Hence, it was a struggle for her to even flutter her eyelids. The air stewardess adjusted the seat for her but her eyes remained closed. ¡°Miss¡­¡± The air stewardess was about to remind her when Yan Rusheng hushed and gestured her not to disturb. Then he gingerly lifted the blanket from Xuxu and checked her seatbelt. Xuxu felt uncomfortable when the plane was landing. She frowned and drowsily opened her eyes. She was finally awake when the plane landed. ¡°Are we here?¡± She yawned and stretched her hands. Then she bent to her left and right to stretch her body too. Yan Rusheng noticed it and grabbed her arm. He seemed solemn as he reminded her. ¡°Xuxu, you can¡¯t stretch like this.¡± Xuxu doubtfully stared at him. ¡°Why?¡± Yan Rusheng explained, ¡°I read it on a handbook for expecting mothers. Pregnant women shouldn¡¯t tiptoe to reach for stuff, neither should they stretch too much.¡± Xuxu smothered her laughter and pretended that she was shocked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the father? Why did you read a book for mothers?¡± She said it loud enough that all the cabin crew overheard their conversation. Everyone covered their mouths as they bent their head, giggling. Yan Rusheng knew that Xuxu intentionally did it. He gritted his teeth and a devious gleam sparkled in his eyes as he thought of an idea to seek revenge. ¡°That¡¯s because I wanted to know if pregnant women can do ¡®special¡¯ activities during their pregnancy!¡± He raised his volume too. Xuxu instantly blushed crimson. This hooligan always makes such remarks in public places! She exerted strength and pinched Yan Rusheng¡¯s thigh as hard as she could. ¡°Ahh!¡± Yan Rusheng let out an exaggerated yell as he caught Xuxu¡¯s wrist with agile. He pretended to turn bashful. ¡°My darling wife, if you want to caress my thigh, let¡¯s do it at home. Too many pairs of eyes here.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. No one on earth could stop his despicable remarks. Qiao Jian, who sat next to them, whipped out his phone to snap a photo of their¡®affectionate¡¯ moment. He uploaded it online. ¡®Look at our boss and lady boss, being affectionate on a flight. Torturing all the singles out there.¡¯ The media and public both had their eyes and target on them. Any news of them would result in the headlines the next day. Assistant Qiao was still single, and he wanted to take the opportunity¡ªnot to earn big bucks, but to snag a pretty girl and get married soon. Of course, the main motive for helping to document his boss and lady boss¡¯s affectionate moments was to torment and drive away third parties, scums, and evil masterminds that might threaten Flourish & Prosper. Their company would be a wonderful place if his boss and lady boss enjoyed a sweet and loving relationship, for he would face fewer scoldings and gloomy expressions. ¡­ It was freezing in the capital city, the complete opposite of the coastal county. Chapter 698. The Moon Can Represent My Heart Yan Rusheng walked hand in hand with Xuxu as they disembarked from the plane. Xuxu had just woken up and the temperature outside was lower than when they were still on the plane. She gave a shudder as she clenched her hands. Yan Rusheng stuffed her hand into his pocket. Their hands clasped together tightly in the pockets of his pants. It was less crowded at the airport at night. Xuxu stayed close to Yan Rusheng. The moment they came out, people instantly recognized them. ¡°Third Master, did Third Madam Yan pick you up from the coastal county?¡± ¡°Yes, just like what you¡¯ve said.¡± ¡°Third Master, can you tell us more about Flourish & Prosper using inferior materials?¡± ¡°Third Master was framed by under-aged girls. Does Third Master have any suspect or mastermind for this ruckus in mind?¡± There was a long pause¡­ They had chosen the midnight flight because they wanted to avoid the media. They thought the reporters wouldn¡¯t stay up just to wait for them. But they had clearly underestimated the reporters¡¯ professionalism. The reporters came in all directions and their questions made Xuxu¡¯s head throb. She pressed her hand to her forehead and hid behind Yan Rusheng. She didn¡¯t feel like talking, so she had Yan Rusheng handle them. The reporters¡¯ flashing lights mercilessly shone directly at Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous face. Some were even daring enough to shove their cameras right in front of his face. Yan Rusheng was expressionless as he looked at a female reporter. ¡°Are you trying to see how big my pores are?¡± The reporters¡¯ mouths twitched¡­ Xuxu nearly choked when she heard his sarcasm. The reporter retreated and pulled the camera away from his face. It was well-known that Third Master had a quick temper. She was afraid that he might smash her camera. Yan Rusheng scanned the reporters who had circled them and spoke. ¡°I have nothing to comment regarding your questions. But if you want to know how deeply I love my wife, I¡¯m willing to answer a few questions.¡± He stretched his hand and put it around Xuxu¡¯s shoulders. He smiled at the cameras, and his smile was seductive and alluring that it had momentarily seduced many young female reporters. They wanted to caress his rosy and alluring lips. It was rare that the Third Young Master had initiated to discuss his relationship with his wife. Everyone began to jostle as they fought to ask him questions. ¡°Third Master, how much do you love Third Madam Yan?¡± ¡°Yeah! How much?¡± ¡°Your relationship was a wee bit quiet before, but now you are more willing to speak up. Is it because of the baby?¡± Yan Rusheng waited until there was a break in their questions. He then stretched his hand and pointed outside. ¡°You can head outside and take a look at the moon. It represents my heart.¡± He politely bowed and said thank you. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ Was the fellow joking? She don¡¯t know this guy. The reporters haven¡¯t caught up with the tempo of Young Master Yan¡¯s joke when his pleasant and deep voice sounded once more. ¡°Alright, my wife is afraid of the cold. Please spare her tonight. In the future, if you bump into her in public places, please don¡¯t make things difficult for her. I shall thank everyone in advance.¡± He bowed gracefully once more. They were overwhelmed and flattered to see Third Young Master being so courteous and gentle. Chapter 699. So He Was The Jerk Who Disseminated The Photo He shifted his hand to Xuxu¡¯s waist and pulled her to a tight embrace as they walked past the group of reporters. It moved Xuxu¡¯s heart. ¡®My wife is afraid of the cold. Please spare her tonight. In the future, if you bump into her in public places, please don¡¯t make things difficult for her.¡¯ She had finally experienced the indescribable bliss to be pampered and shielded by a man. She thought this ought to be the sheer bliss of a woman¡ªwith him leading the way, shielding her from any trials and hardships, laying down his life for her, and doing things that he wouldn¡¯t do in the past. The reporters relentlessly followed Yan Rusheng and Xuxu out of the arrival hall before dropping their chase. The car was waiting by the entrance of the arrival hall. Qiao Jian led the way and opened the car door for them. After she had boarded the car, she looked out and noticed that some reporters were still snapping away. She frowned and looked perplexed. ¡°How come these reporters seemed to be especially waiting for us at the airport?¡± Yan Rusheng closed the car door after he got in. He took out his jacket as he spoke, ¡°Who knows why they are so capable? We have already tried to keep our return low-profiled.¡± Xuxu also felt that those reporters were indeed resourceful, but she didn¡¯t give it much thought. As she gazed out of the window again, she knitted her eyebrows in puzzlement and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s First Aunt?¡± Yan Rusheng also looked out and scanned the surroundings. ¡°I have no idea. She said that she would be waiting for us at the airport.¡± He whipped out his phone. ¡°Let me give her a call.¡± He slid his finger across the screen and a news headline caught his eyes. ¡®There are new developments to the news that you¡¯ve all been paying close attention to. Third Master and his wife displayed their affection in the plane.¡¯ Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows and clicked to open the article. There were affectionate shots of him and Xuxu in the plane. He didn¡¯t read the content of the article but looking at the angle of the photo¡­ His expression darkened. Gnashing his teeth, he menacingly stared at Qiao Jian, who was seated at the front passenger seat. ¡°Qiao Jian, the daughter of Vice-President Zhang has been carrying a torch for you, and he called a few days back to talk to me about this matter. I¡¯ve made arrangements for you to have dinner with his daughter tonight.¡± Assistant Qiao wasn¡¯t mentally prepared for this, and his good-looking face revealed a horrified expression. He turned and looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan!¡± Xuxu almost burst out laughing when she heard Yan Rusheng, but managed to restrain herself. However, when she caught sight of Qiao Jian¡¯s expression, she couldn¡¯t hold it any longer and burst into laughter. The daughter of Vice President Zhang¡ªMiss Zhang¡ªwas obsessed with plastic surgery. She¡¯d been chasing Qiao Jian since the day he joined the company and was obsessively smitten with him. Now whenever Qiao Jian saw her, he would deliberately take a detour. She was curious why Yan Rusheng brought this up to tease Qiao Jian. She took a peep at his phone and immediately understood what was going on. No wonder she was puzzled why the reporters seemed to know the time of their return. So, Qiao Jian was the jerk who disseminated the photos. Yan Rusheng glared at Qiao Jian and threatened, ¡°If you won¡¯t go, then you have to go on a one-month business trip to Jincheng.¡± After saying that, he dialed Jiang Qinglian¡¯s number. Qiao Jian was speechless and looked to Xuxu for help. ¡°Lady boss, please help me.¡± On account that I¡¯ve helped to showcase your happiness to everyone. Xuxu shot him a ¡®serve you right¡¯ expression. ¡°Mm, in the car already.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up after saying a few words. Xuxu anxiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where¡¯s First Aunt?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°She¡¯s inside and is coming over now.¡± Chapter 700. Would Driver Her to Her Grave Xuxu glanced towards the entrance of the arrival hall, and she saw Jiang Qinglian walking out. She smiled and opened the car door for her. ¡°First Aunt.¡± When Jiang Qinglian saw Xuxu, there was a brief smile on her anxious face. ¡°Xuxu.¡± She hastened her steps and walked over to the car. Xuxu shifted on her seat slightly and stretched her hand out to pull Jiang Qinglian into the car. ¡°You must have waited long.¡± Jiang Qinglian shut the door after she got in. She turned back to smile at Xuxu. ¡°Not too long. I¡¯ve just arrived at the capital city too, but I went to the bathroom earlier so we didn¡¯t cross paths.¡± After that, she looked at Yan Rusheng and her smile turned awkward. She pursed her lips and nervously interlocked her fingers. Xuxu knew that she was feeling worried and anxious. Hence, she held on to her hands and patted them lightly, comforting her with her actions and facial expression. Throughout the journey, Xuxu and Jiang Qinglian chatted about their lives while Yan Rusheng remained silent. They were going back to the Yan family that night because of Jiang Qinglian. It was already 1 a.m. and Yan Rusheng had already informed everyone beforehand that they would reach home late at night. The butler had made arrangements for the servants to stay up and prepare supper for them. Xuxu had her usual bird¡¯s nest porridge, while Jiang Qinglian and Yan Rusheng each ate a bowl of noodles. It was unusually quiet at the dinner table. A few times, Jiang Qinglian had the urge to speak, but when she saw the expression on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, she clammed up. Xuxu gulped down all her porridge and cleaned her mouth with a piece of tissue before smiling at Jiang Qinglian. ¡°First Aunt, you carry on chatting. I¡¯ll go wash up and sleep.¡± Jiang Qinglian nodded her head and smiled in return. ¡°Have an early night.¡± Xuxu knew that with her around, Jiang Qinglian found it hard to broach the topic. ¡­ After Xuxu vanished out of sight, Jiang Qinglian retracted her gaze and looked at Yan Rusheng. She furrowed her eyebrows and spoke in a hushed tone. ¡°Third Yan, is the matter already resolved?¡± She put down her chopsticks and appeared anxious again. ¡°We¡¯ve reached a settlement with the affected families, and they have also accepted our compensation.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t look up and leisurely continued eating his noodles as he spoke. Jiang Qinglian heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing what he had to say. She continued to ask, ¡°Any news of Wang Bin?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Jiang Qinglian bit her lips in hesitation before mustering up her courage to say the things that she found hard to bring up. ¡°Third Yan¡­ I was thinking¡­ since the families have already accepted our compensation, can¡­ can you think of a way to get the police to drop the case? And not to investigate further?¡± Yan Rusheng stopped eating and raised his head to look at Jiang Qinglian. With furrowed eyebrows, he asked, ¡°First Aunt, it involved four innocent lives. Do you think that¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Jiang Qinglian looked down and pleaded, ¡°Just treat it as if First Aunt is pleading with you. Please help your Second Brother as your Second sister-in-law is already six months pregnant. She¡¯ll be giving birth in a few months¡¯ time.¡± Jiang Qinglian¡¯s word didn¡¯t move Yan Rusheng. ¡°He¡¯s already a grown up and should bear the penalty for committing a mistake.¡± After that, he continued eating his noodles. Jiang Qinglian got anxious when Yan Rusheng sounded firm and unyielding. ¡°Can¡¯t you make an exception? He¡¯s your second brother. If your grandmother was still around, I believe¡­ she wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Not only did she have the audacity to do things against her conscience because of her son, she even dragged the late elderly lady into the picture. It was really hard to believe. Jiang Qinglian stuttered and before she could continue with her words, Yan Rusheng cut her off. ¡°If grandmother was still around, he would drive her to her grave.¡± Chapter 701. Don’t Choke My Son Jiang Qinglian nodded. ¡°I know that Runan committed a huge mistake this time.¡± It was such a grave mistake that she even wanted to slaughter him on impulse. But for him to take such a move, as parents, they also had a part to play. ¡®I would rather destroy Flourish & Prosper than give it to the two illegitimate b*stards.¡¯ At the thought of Yan Runan¡¯s outrageous words, a sense of resentment flickered in her eyes. She quipped, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t because for your First Uncle, he wouldn¡¯t have committed such a big blunder.¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s already a mature man with wisdom and understanding. So, shouldn¡¯t he know what things he should or shouldn¡¯t do?¡± Jiang Qinglian¡¯s facial expression turned cold. ¡°So, you and your First Uncle are now on the same page and insist on sending Runan to jail?¡± Yan Rusheng put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth as he continued. ¡°Since the police are investigating this matter, I won¡¯t interfere anymore.¡± He stood up and got ready to leave. After he strode out of the dining room, he suddenly halted his steps and looked at Jiang Qinglian again. ¡°I want to give you a piece of advice¡ªit would be best if he turned himself in. Perhaps the outcome would not be too terrible then.¡± Jiang Qinglian also stood up and spoke in grief. ¡°If he¡¯s sent to jail, his life would be ruined.¡± Yan Rusheng remained silent and walked out. Jiang Qinglian¡¯s cold voice sounded from the back again. ¡°Third Yan, you mentioned that you won¡¯t interfere in the matter anymore, right?¡± She sounded hopeless and desperate. ¡°Yes.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head, but he didn¡¯t turn back. ¡°But I would still advise First Aunt to reconsider.¡± He left the dining room and went straight up to the study room. Xuxu was lying on her bed after taking a shower, but she didn¡¯t feel tired at all. When she heard footsteps earlier, she knew that it was Yan Rusheng. But it puzzled her when the footsteps suddenly stopped. She got out of bed and went out of her room to take a peek. Yan Rusheng¡¯s room door was closed. She walked over and pushed open the door. It was pitch-dark inside, so she closed the door and walked towards the study room instead. ¡°First Aunt.¡± Xuxu had just reached the study room when Jiang Qinglian came up, so she acknowledged her. After she had noticed her expression, she knew that her talk with Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t end on a good note. Jiang Qinglian lightly responded with an ¡®Mm¡¯ and walked past Xuxu without stopping. Xuxu turned around and looked at her from behind. She held back her words. After Jiang Qinglian had stepped into her room and shut the door, Xuxu retracted her gaze and let out a sigh as she looked down. It was the first time that First Aunt treated her with a cold shoulder. What she feared had come true. It was really happening. She sighed. Since the grave matter had already reached such a stage, it was already too late to do anything. The only way was to proceed with the next step logically. After deliberating for a while, Xuxu wrenched the study room door open and peered in. The smell of tobacco assailed her nose, and she frowned. She looked at the glum-looking man seated at the sofa and grumbled, ¡°What are you doing in the middle of the night? You¡¯re choking me to death.¡± She shut the door after stepping in. She spoke as she walked over to Yan Rusheng, waving her hand to disperse the smell. Seeing Xuxu, Yan Rusheng instantly snubbed out his cigarette and said, ¡°Why are you here?¡± He stood up and moved towards her, placing his hand over her shoulders and pushing her towards the door. ¡°Quickly get out. The smell of tobacco is too strong. Don¡¯t choke my son.¡± Xuxu glared at him, annoyed. ¡°I¡¯m glad you know!¡± The two of them left the study room and retreated to their room. Chapter 702. Another Seven Months to Go After closing the door, Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Is there no other solution?¡± She knew very well that there was no other way unless it was done against one¡¯s conscience and morale. It was already three in the morning. She didn¡¯t feel sleepy with all the worries and anxieties, but her head was throbbing with pain. Xuxu supported her forehead with her hand. Yan Rusheng could tell she was exhausted, and so he stretched out his hand to massage her temples. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant and shouldn¡¯t be worrying unduly. Rest early.¡± Xuxu took in a deep breath and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, there¡¯s no point in me worrying.¡± What was the use? Could it change anything? As she mulled over it, she turned around and waved at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room to sleep. You rest early too. Good night.¡± The way she spoke and waved her hands, she seemed to be treating him as a friend or a family member. No married couples would say to each other, ¡®I¡¯m going back to my room to sleep. You rest early too. Good night.¡¯ Yan Rusheng was feeling vexed and upset. He shot forward to Xuxu like an arrow and embraced her from behind. ¡°Xuxu.¡± He hadn¡¯t hugged her tiny body for a long time and was longing for the feeling. He looked down and nestled his face as he took in the light fragrance of her shower gel. Brushing against her supple skin, he felt he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and nudged Yan Rusheng with her elbow. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t over-step your boundaries. I¡¯ve said before that before I give birth, don¡¯t even think of sleeping in the same room with me.¡± Yan Rusheng hugged her tightly, refusing to let go. He shamelessly teased, ¡°We can¡¯t sleep in the same room, but we can sleep on the same bed.¡± In the midst of speaking, he gently nibbled her neck. He tickled Xuxu that her body almost went limp and numb. She pulled back her neck and shoved him off with all her might. ¡°Don¡¯t be disgusting, Yan Rusheng.¡± Her tone turned serious and stern. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t dare to act dumb anymore and could only reluctantly withdraw his hands from Xuxu¡¯s waist. However, he tugged at the corner of her pajamas and pleaded with her softly. ¡°Can I just hug you to sleep? I promise not to do anything else.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. He wasn¡¯t successful in feigning dumb so he was trying to act cute and pitiful. This fellow was too much. Only ghosts would believe he would just hug and not do anything else. She furrowed her eyebrows at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you continue to behave this way, I won¡¯t eat the breakfast that you make anymore.¡± Yan Rusheng instantly backed off and bent down to give her a quick peck on her soft lips before saying, ¡°Good night, my wife.¡± After that, he seductively licked his lips, in a hope for more. Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to see it any longer and strode out of the room immediately, shutting the door behind her. ¡®Sighs!¡¯ In the past, he was cracking his head to win back his wife. Now that she was back with him, he had to rack his brains again on how to climb back onto her bed. He seemed to be able to visualize the arduous and tormenting road ahead. After she gives birth, he would have a lesser share of Xuxu¡¯s love. Oh, he shouldn¡¯t have been so ¡®capable¡¯ ¡ªhaving twins in one pregnancy. It was not such a good thing to be too strong. If only he knew earlier that Wen Xuxu is the only one for Yan Rusheng, he would have hugged her to sleep every night during their childhood days. Young Master Yan lay on his bed after taking his bath. In the midst of letting his imagination run wild, the urge in him from hugging Xuxu earlier had died down, and so he closed his charming peach blossom-shaped eyes gradually. He recited silently in his heart¡ªanother seven more months, seven more months to go¡­ ¡­ ¡°Hahaha. That white lotus is too disgusting.¡± Xuxu had no idea what¡¯s the time was. She only felt extremely drowsy and couldn¡¯t open her eyes. But Zhou Shuang¡¯s devilish-sounding voice over the phone irritated her that she almost flared up at her. Chapter 703. It Didnt Seem Like His First Time She furrowed her eyebrows and sleepily complained, ¡°Why have you gone mad early in the morning? I was still sleeping¡­ what white lotus are you rambling about?¡± Zhou Shuang loudly chuckled. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell that you were so liberal.¡± She paused for a moment before launching her interrogation once more in an annoying and nosy manner. ¡°Xuxu, was it very painful when it was your first time under such circumstances?¡± What did she mean by her first time under such circumstances? Sleepiness still enveloped Xuxu¡¯s whole mind and body, and she really couldn¡¯t wake up. She was only half-conscious and couldn¡¯t comprehend Zhou Shuang¡¯s question at all. Frustrated, she replied, ¡°Alright, Zhou Shuang. If there is nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up. How can you disturb my sleep and even tell me lewd stuff early in the morning? Aren¡¯t you afraid that the Heavens will strike you with lightning?¡± Zhou Shuang relentlessly pressed on. ¡°Haven¡¯t you read the headlines today?¡± Headlines? It finally jolted her awake. ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Shuang quipped, ¡°You and your man are on the headlines and it¡¯s explosive.¡± Being on the headlines was nothing new to them but explosive news¡­ It stunned Xuxu, and she spluttered, ¡°W¡ªwhat do you mean?¡± She tried to recall fragments of Zhou Shuang¡¯s earlier words. A white lotus, liberal, first time, painful¡­ ¡®Oh no!¡¯ Xuxu hung up without a second word and opened a browser. News about Yan Rusheng splashed across the main page. She saw another name which she loathed: Fang Jiayin! ¡®According to credible sources, Fang Jiayin the beautiful goddess and violinist had tried to drug Third Young Master four years ago in an attempt to seduce him. She had tried to climb into his bed but due to a twist of fate, Wen Xuxu¡ªwho had become the official Third Madam Yan¡ªhad accidentally walked into the wrong room. She became the person who benefited from it and succeeded in replacing Fang Jiayin! That night, Third Madam Yan ¡®sacrificed¡¯ herself to ¡®help¡¯ Third Master and wanted to sneak off early in the morning without anyone noticing. Fang Jiayin seized the opportunity and passed herself off as Wen Xuxu. Fortunately, the lovers managed to get together in the end. But this shocking news has exposed Fang Jiayin¡¯s true colors and entirely changed my views. She had tarnished the title of ¡®goddess¡¯ for so long!¡¯ ¡®Oh my god, what was happening?¡¯ It flabbergasted Xuxu after she read the article. Was Yan Rusheng really drugged that night? Wasn¡¯t he merely drunk? Although he was a little¡­ ahem. Fang Jiayin tried to drug Yan Rusheng in an attempt to seduce him. Didn¡¯t anything happen between them during the years they were together? Xuxu clutched the sides of her head and she was completely confused. Did that mean that it was Yan Rusheng¡¯s first time that night? But he seemed so experienced; it didn¡¯t seem like his first time. What was happening? Who was this ¡®credible source¡¯? How did this person know so much? Xuxu was lost in her thoughts and someone quietly opened the door. A towering figure sneaked in carefully. She only realized it when he sat beside her. She jumped and patted her chest as she admonished him. ¡°When did you get in?¡± Yan Rusheng gazed at her with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. He feigned inquisitiveness and asked, ¡°What were you thinking of?¡± He had caught a glimpse of her phone when he came in and knew that she must have been confused by it. Xuxu raised her head and stared at the man. ¡°Did you read the news today? There was a source who reported that Fang Jiayin drugged you years ago. Was it true?¡± Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t in the least surprised and shrugged nonchalantly as he nodded. Chapter 704. Get Them to Change It Xuxu stretched her hand. She anxiously grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s wrist. She pressed on. ¡°Really?!¡± She had never been so curious about something before, and she felt an overwhelming impulsive urge to know the answer. ¡°I think so.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and frowned. ¡°But I can¡¯t be entirely sure. It happened so long ago. What I only remembered was Ah Sheng, I¡¯m in pain. Ah Sheng, I like you. ¡± He split into a wide grin. Xuxu blushed and muttered under her breath as she peered down. ¡°No wonder Zhou Shuang remarked that it was disgusting. She was too despicable to use drugs.¡± She knew that Fang Jiayin was a scheming woman, but it didn¡¯t cross her mind that she would stoop down to using drugs. To be frank, she was despicable. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°If both are in love, it doesn¡¯t matter if they occasionaly use stimulants.¡± Xuxu raised her head and rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Stop justifying the dirty tricks you¡¯ve used in the past.¡± She grabbed her phone and scanned the article once more. She pointed at a sentence. ¡°Why did this article say that I had benefited from it?¡± It was he who had pounced on her and seduced her alright?! She felt uncomfortable when she read it. ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°My first time.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes again. ¡°Do you think that was my second time?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and displayed an aggrieved expression. ¡°The media wrote it, not me.¡± Xuxu stared at the words again, and she was indignant. ¡°I don¡¯t want this, get them to change it.¡± It exasperated Yan Rusheng. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whoever benefited. Why do you have to harp on this?¡± Xuxu pouted. ¡°No way! Unless you change it, I¡¯m not talking to you.¡± She laid down, looking upset, and covered herself with a blanket. It was the first time he saw such a childish side of her. Yan Rusheng smiled affectionately as he gazed at the blanket. He gently tugged at the blanket as he grinned. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll get someone immediately to check the original article and ask them to change alright?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xuxu peeked her head from the blanket but it still covered half of her face. ¡°Go out first. I want to change.¡± Yan Rusheng pouted. ¡°Can¡¯t I just look since I can¡¯t touch?¡± Xuxu glared at him, and she screamed, ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Yan Rusheng leaped to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you downstairs.¡± With lingering longing in his eyes, he turned around and left the room. Xuxu smiled happily as she rolled around excitedly on her bed. ¡®Haha, that¡¯s great! His first time!¡¯ ¡­ Xuxu changed her clothes and went downstairs. She saw Su Yue carrying her schoolbag, ready to leave the house. Her natural curls were tied in a ponytail. She wore a black sweater, and it made her look even tinier. Xuxu smiled as she looked at her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue stopped and turned around, beaming at Xuxu. Xuxu walked towards Su Yue. ¡°Are you going to school? Have you had breakfast?¡± Su Yue pointed at her schoolbag and answered, ¡°My breakfast is inside. I¡¯ll eat it on the way.¡± Xuxu¡¯s heart seemed to tighten when she saw her smile. ¡°You will get indigestion if you eat on the way. You still have time, come and have breakfast together.¡± She held her hand and led the way to the dining room. Chapter 705. She Could Only Decline in That Way Su Yue stopped Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, we have a mock exam in school today. I want to go earlier to review.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to force her, and so she relinquished her grip. ¡°Then let me send you to school.¡± Su Yue declined. ¡°I can go there myself, you should go have breakfast. Third Brother and the rest are all waiting for you.¡± Her eyes were slightly red, and it made Xuxu¡¯s heart clench tightly inside her chest. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I wanted to go to your school to understand more about your progress.¡± Though she thinks Fan Jiayin deserved the hot splash on her face¡ªand she felt great thinking about it¡ªshe still needed to take Yueyue¡¯s behavior into consideration. It was already two months away from her exams, and she couldn¡¯t take any more additional pressure. If she breaks down¡­ Jiang Qinglian broke through her thoughts. ¡°Xuxu.¡± She turned around and smiled at her. ¡°First Aunt.¡± Jiang Qinglian was wearing her loungewear as she stood at the entrance of the dining room. She looked at Xuxu, looking rather expressionless. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Xuxu was about to refuse when Su Yue nudged her. She whispered, ¡°Third sister-in-law, go in. Perhaps you can fetch me after school and take me out for a nice meal.¡± The more sensible she was, the more Xuxu doted on her. If only she didn¡¯t bear the label of being an illegitimate daughter, if only she was in an ordinary family and was like that of any other girls her age, she would be treated like a precious little princess. She probably would occasionally throw tantrums or whine. But she couldn¡¯t. She had grown up in an orphanage, and being where she was now doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that it was better than the orphanage. Just like today, she didn¡¯t even dare to eat breakfast together with them. She must have felt like an outsider, leeching off of them. Xuxu wanted to console, to tell her that she was also a precious daughter to her parents. She doesn¡¯t want her to feel inferior. But to Su Yue, she knew that such verbal advice wouldn¡¯t work. Xuxu needed to help her to step out slowly by guiding her. Xuxu didn¡¯t insist and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s watch a movie tonight.¡± Su Yue smiled and left. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Xuxu gazed at the tiny figure and sighed heavily. She turned around and walked towards the dining room. Jiang Qinglian remained standing outside the dining room. She held Xuxu¡¯s elbow when the latter approached her. ¡°First Aunt, don¡¯t pull a long face. She is still a child and you know she is afraid of you.¡± Sometimes, towards different people, she had to twist her words around. She felt bad for Su Yue but she needed to consider First Aunt¡¯s feelings. Jiang Qinglian quipped, ¡°I didn¡¯t say or do anything to her.¡± Xuxu nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes, of course, I know. You¡¯re always so nice to me ever since I was a child.¡± Jiang Qinglian finally broke into a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve learned how to coax people.¡± She turned and looked towards the main doors with complex emotions swirling in her eyes. Xuxu said, ¡°Come and eat breakfast. You have lost weight.¡± ¡°Xuxu, regarding your Second Brother, can you help me persuade Third Yan?¡± pleaded Jiang Qinglian as she grabbed Xuxu. Xuxu already expected that she would come to her if Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t agree to help her. She answered, ¡°First Aunt, let him mull over the matter first. You and I know how important Flourish & Prosper is to Ah Sheng. Grandmother passed the company to him. If it was destroyed in his hands, how would he be able to face Grandmother?¡± She sighed. She could only decline in that way. Chapter 706. Too Extreme Jiang Qinglian understood the meaning behind Xuxu¡¯s words and it made her feel anxious. She gripped her hand tightly. ¡°Even though that wretched son of mine has committed a serious and atrocious crime, you can¡¯t possibly expect me to sit and watch as he goes to jail. Besides, his wife is giving birth soon.¡± She stretched another hand and held on to her shoulder. Her eyes sparkled with emotion. ¡°I know that Third Yan will have a way to help him.¡± Xuxu sighed once more. She was lost for words. ¡°Second Brother was indeed too rash and muddleheaded.¡± She could hazard a guess behind the reason for doing such a crime. Su Yue and Su Yan¡¯s presence must have threatened him. Their appearance meant they were after the inheritance. He would rather destroy it all, rather than let it fall into an outsider¡¯s hands. But how could he be so muddleheaded? Flourish & Prosper was such a huge conglomerate, and more so, it has its footing in different industries. How could a project bring about the downfall of Flourish & Prosper? Or was it just his way of giving out a warning to First Uncle and Yan Rusheng? If they really wanted to save him, how would they be helpless? They both had money and connections. Even First Aunt could do it herself, not to mention, Yan Rusheng. But what Jiang Qinglian wanted was to change both Xuxu and Yan Rusheng¡¯s attitude towards the situation. But would she be able to stir them? Jiang Qinglian¡¯s expression hardened. With an icy tone, she said, ¡°It¡¯s all your First Uncle¡¯s fault. My two sons have never made us or Grandmother worry at all. Grandmother was the decision maker and no one objected to her decisions. The two brothers didn¡¯t even voice out about Grandmother handing Flourish & Prosper to Third Yan.¡± The more she spoke, the more furious she became. ¡°If your First Uncle didn¡¯t involve himself in an affair, Runan would still be the President of the Jiang Corporation. Why would he meddle in Flourish & Prosper affairs?¡± Her eyes glinted with hatred. ¡°If he really goes to jail because of this, it¡¯s all because of Yan Weiye. He was the one who destroyed my son.¡± All mothers would defend and protect their child at all costs. Even though Xuxu didn¡¯t experience what Jiang Qinglian was feeling, she could fully understand what she was going through. A mother¡¯s love for a child comes first, and to her, nothing else, not even a clear conscience matters. Before everything, she had given in to First Uncle¡¯s demands so that he could stay by her side. By agreeing to Su Yan and Su Yue entering the Yan family, little would she realize that it would lead to the destruction of her own son. First Aunt¡¯s emotions and feelings must be whirling in complexity. Xuxu nodded, patiently consoling Jiang Qinglian. ¡°Yes, First Aunt. I understand what you said. First Brother and Second Brother, especially you, are all wonderful people.¡± She sounded very sincere, yet a frown graced her face. ¡°First Uncle did something outrageous, but Second Brother¡¯s method of revenge was too extreme.¡± And though she understood how he must have felt, she didn¡¯t agree with it. He was already a grown-up, how could he have done something without putting into mind the consequences that would follow? ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Jiang Qinglian nodded. Every being of her started to falter. ¡°But things¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t able to complete her sentence when Yan Rushen¡¯s voice cut through from the dining room. ¡°First Aunt, let¡¯s eat first.¡± There was a hint of impatience in his voice. Jiang Qinglian wasn¡¯t able to catch it, but Xuxu did. She pulled Jiang Qinglian and led her inside. And again, she consoled, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. We haven¡¯t found Wang Bin yet. After we find him, the police would still need to conduct further investigations.¡± Jiang Qinglian glanced at Xuxu and asked, ¡°Still no news of Wang Bin?¡± Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng without answering. He sat there with a piece of toast in his hand, spreading jam all over it. Chapter 707. Not Allowed to Work This fellow may seem aloof and arrogant on the surface, and he could easily offend people with his mean words, but in actuality, deep within he was a warm and passionate person. Yan Rusheng must have felt extremely anxious and worried. Xuxu silently berated him before she turned to Jiang Qinglian. ¡°I don¡¯t think there are any news yet, if the police already found him, they would have informed us right away.¡± ¡°Wang Bin is an old employee and the old madam groomed him for many years.¡± Jiang Qinglian began to get agitated. She then continued, ¡°How could someone of his age do something foolish together with Runan. He has lived in vain!¡± Xuxu quietly listened to her rants. At that moment, all First Aunt wanted was to make sure Second Brother would stir clear from all charges. If given the chance, she would have offered to take the rap in his behalf. Xuxu ushered Jiang Qinglian to a chair and sat beside her. Yan Rusheng passed her the toast he had just buttered. ¡°Hurry up and eat. The porridge is getting cold.¡± Xuxu passed the toast to Jiang Qinglian instead. ¡°First Aunt, you eat this.¡± Of course, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t say anything. He began buttering another toast for her. Jiang Qinglian stared at the toast in her hands and heaved a heavy sigh. She took a bite and drank some milk. Feeling relieved, Xuxu placed a fried egg on a slice of bread and passed it to her. ¡°You should eat more instead.¡± Jiang Qinglian gave her a half-hearted smile. ¡°Xuxu, if you have time, you should come to C City. Your second sister-in-law is pregnant as well, and she has been complaining that she is too bored at home.¡± At the mention of his son and daughter-in-law, a bright smile appeared on her face. ¡°She has a huge appetite these days, and her cravings have increased. Recently, she was craving for mutton soup so she woke Runan up in the middle of the night. She even insisted that he had to buy from a particular stall.¡± ¡°Second Brother really dotes on Second Sister-in-law,¡± Xuxu casually exclaimed. Yan Rusheng, who sat across Xuxu, deciphered it differently. He thought, ¡°Didn¡¯t I dote on you as well?¡± More thoughts passed through his mind. ¡°I also hope that you would cling to me, and you would wake me up in the middle of the night, too.¡± Jiang Qinglian smiled. ¡°You can go back together with me. Your First Sister-in-law said that she misses you.¡± ¡°I need to work,¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Maybe next time.¡± Jiang Qinglian was startled. ¡°You went back to Flourish & Prosper?¡± Xuxu hummed as she hesitated. She then laughed. ¡°No, I¡¯m working elsewhere for a short period. I just want to pass the time.¡± She was worried that First Aunt might be upset and unhappy if she knew that she was working at Su Yan¡¯s company. ¡®Sigh .¡¯ Su Yan and Su Yue were like thorns to her. ¡°You¡¯re already expecting, so why did you work?¡± Jiang Qinglian looked at Yan Rusheng with reproach. ¡°Third Yan, how could you allow her to work? Xuxu is an expecting mother, so you should dote on her more. How could you allow her to work outside?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Yan Rusheng accepted her scoldings. He then turned to look at Xuxu sternly. ¡°Wen Xuxu, from today onwards, you¡¯re not allowed to work.¡± Xuxu furiously glared at him. Regarding other matters, he could turn a deaf ear or simply refuse to speak. But now he had become so well-behaved and obedient. She shall ignore him! Jiang Qinglian fell silent once more when worries engulfed her once more. She didn¡¯t finish her breakfast. When she sent Xuxu and Yan Rusheng out of the house, she looked at Yan Rusheng as if she had something to say. Xuxu noticed her every expression. Chapter 708. Can You Be More Serious? ¡°Yan Rusheng, what actually happened?¡± Xuxu sat in the car with a frown wrinkling on her forehead. Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°Everyone should bear the price for their own mistakes, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Xuxu lowered her head. ¡°Well, sometimes, it¡¯s a tough choice between kinship and one¡¯s own conscience.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t agree with her. ¡°It¡¯s not a choice. The truth will come to light one day because all walls have ears.¡± But he could understand how she felt for he was also feeling the same way too. He added, ¡°I¡¯m sure you know better. With so many areas and parties involved, the truth will come to light one day. There¡¯s no way to conceal it forever.¡± Xuxu looked down and kept silent throughout. She very well knew that once the baseline of morality is crossed, it¡¯ll prick on one¡¯s conscience forever. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded once more. ¡°The decision lies with Yan Runan now. He has to decide if he wants to continue walking down the wrong path or to turn back.¡± Xuxu let out a heavy sigh. Indeed, she couldn¡¯t be like him, so calm and rational in dealing with issues. ¡°I¡¯ve called and criticized the accuracy of the news article. They said that they would amend it right away. Can you take a look and see if they¡¯ve already made the changes?¡± Yan Rusheng changed the topic so suddenly that Xuxu couldn¡¯t comprehend what he was talking about. ¡°What changes?¡± She stared at Yan Rusheng with a puzzled expression. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°That you took advantage of me.¡± ¡°Scram.¡± Xuxu had glared at him before she fished out her cellphone. She eagerly clicked open the article to check. Yan Rusheng felt a little smug about it. Countless times they had appeared in the headlines, and finally, there was one who had managed to bother Xuxu. It was also rare for her to be so fastidious about the choice of words used in the article. More so, be bothered by people¡¯s impression of her. ¡°There are new developments to the news about Fang Jiayin, the beautiful goddess and violinist who had tried to drug Third Young Master four years ago. That night, Third Madam Yan sacrificed herself to help Third Master but it was against her will. Third Master was the one who had taken advantage of her and benefited from it.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu¡­ After reading through the revised content, she regretted her decision to have it amended. She knitted her eyebrows in annoyance. She grumbled, ¡°What kind of editor is he? The article is so poorly written!¡± It was obviously trying to depict her as a coquettish woman¡ªone moment saying that she sacrificed herself to help him and the next moment, saying that it was against her will. Yan Rusheng became gloomy. ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°Just drive.¡± Xuxu raised her voice at him and continued looking down at her phone, scrolling through other news on the website. When she chanced upon the news about Fang Jiayin, she clicked to open it. ¡®Fang Jiayin gave a shocking disclosure this morning about drugging Third Young Master. She had commented on someone¡¯s Weibo account that everything is untrue and that she¡¯ll be taking legal actions to defend herself.¡¯ When Xuxu saw this news, she turned and looked at Yan Rusheng in a calm and composed manner. ¡°Did she really drug you? Can you recall?¡± Yan Rusheng deliberated for a while before nodding his head. ¡°I think so.¡± It seemed that he wasn¡¯t so sure about it. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Can you be more certain? Were you drugged? Don¡¯t you even know if you¡¯ve been drugged or not?¡± Yan Rusheng turned and grinned widely at her. ¡°I only know that I felt very satisfied!¡± Xuxu could only use the word ¡®lewd¡¯ to describe that grin on his face. With a darkened face, she chastised him, ¡°Can you be more serious? Fang Jiayin now wants to go through legal channels to defend her rights because she said that the news was untrue.¡± Yan Rusheng nonchalantly responded, ¡°Let her do what she wants. What has this got to do with me?¡± Chapter 709. Did She Already Guessed It? Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng who was at the driver¡¯s seat. She was curious, and so she asked, ¡°Who do you think is the whistle-blower? How could the person know so much in details?¡± She was now as curious as a baby. There was a cunning smile on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, and he nonchalantly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care who the person is, but I¡¯m pretty certain that he¡¯s a good person.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips and wore a worried frown. She said, ¡°I do feel that this person is helping us. But if Fang Jiayin really takes legal action and the police found out that the culprit doesn¡¯t have any evidence, then he¡¯ll be guilty of slander.¡± ¡°My wife, you really shouldn¡¯t be concerned about this at all.¡± Yan Rusheng started to get annoyed. ¡°You don¡¯t even know the culprit, so why are you so worried?¡± There was a tinge of jealousy in his tone. Xuxu nodded her head. She then twisted her words. ¡°I also think that this person has ill intentions. Even if this matter was true, it was already in the past. What are his motives for disclosing it publicly and for tarnishing her reputation? How¡¯s Fang Jiayin going to face the world?¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows again. ¡°My wife, soft-heartedness is a disease.¡± Xuxu let out a sigh. ¡°A woman won¡¯t make things difficult for another woman. This whistle-blower is up to no good, and Fang Jiayin will hate me even more now.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Why are you afraid that she¡¯ll hate you?¡± Xuxu shook her head. She heaved a sorrowful sigh. ¡°Men are truly heartless. After all, she had wasted almost four years of her youth on you.¡± ¡°Can we talk about something else?¡± Yan Rusheng immediately diverted the topic. ¡°What would you like to eat tonight? Let me bring you out for dinner.¡± Xuxu shot him a cold expression. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating with you. I¡¯ve already made plans to have dinner with Yueyue.¡± ¡°Bring me along.¡± ¡°First Aunt will be home, so you better go back for dinner.¡± The car turned into a lane in front of the studio, and they pulled to a stop at the entrance. Xuxu unfastened her seatbelt and opened the car. Her foot had already touched the ground when she recalled something, so she quickly turned back to look at Yan Rusheng. ¡°That whistle-blower is too mean and shameless. Wait until Fang Jiayin takes him to court and we¡¯ll see if he can produce any evidence.¡± Without taking a second look at Yan Rusheng, she got off the car and slammed the door shut. The door to the studio was opened, and Xuxu strutted in. Yan Rusheng watched her and seemed bewildered. He tightly knitted his eyebrows together. ¡°This dumb woman, did she already guessed it?¡± ¡­ At Voice of Hope Music School, a woman was seated on a huge office chair in the principal¡¯s office. Her beautiful face was shrouded with gloom. She was gripping a pen with a slightly broken shaft in her hand. Knock, knock, knock. The rapping on the door interrupted her train of thoughts. She lifted her head and looked towards it. She coldly called out, ¡°Come in.¡± The person standing outside could probably tell that she wasn¡¯t in a good mood. They gingerly wrenched open the door. The door opened slowly. A middle-aged lady dressed in a formal suit sauntered in. ¡°Miss Fang.¡± She nodded at Fang Jiayin and then walked over to her. She said, ¡°The school entrance is still surrounded by reporters. A few parents are also standing there, requesting to terminate the lessons.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Jiayin grasped her pen even harder. There was a faint trace of coldness in her eyes. Chapter 710. More Than Meets The Eye ¡°The violin school at Gold Wing Building called to inform that they¡¯ve found a new violin teacher.¡± ¡°Over at Flourish & Splendor¡­¡± As her female assistant updated her, Fang Jiayin suddenly grabbed the pen holder on her desk and flung it hard on the ground to vent her anger. She snarled at her assistant, ¡°I heard it. Stop saying anymore and get out!¡± Seeing her in this manner, her assistant didn¡¯t dare to linger on and hastily left. Seeing that her female assistant had vanished out of sight, Fang Jiayin stood up and walked towards the door. She opened the door and took a peek outside. After that, she walked back to sit down on her chair. She opened her laptop and launched her WeChat as she put on her Bluetooth. She made a video call to Qin Shaomin. The call got through and Qin Shaomin, with his golden-colored hair, appeared on the screen. He smiled and greeted, ¡°Jiayin.¡± An expression of dislike flashed across Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes. She asked with an icy tone, ¡°How¡¯s it? Have you found the whistle-blower?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Qin Shaomin shook his head, and his face turned serious. ¡°Incompetent!¡± Fang Jiayin lashed out at Qin Shaomin as she clenched her fist tightly and gnashed her teeth. ¡°Wen Xuxu, it must be that wretched Wen Xuxu.¡± She shifted her gaze back to Qin Shaomin in the screen. ¡°You idiot! Can¡¯t even accomplish such a small thing. You promised that you would disfigure Wen Xuxu, but failed! You also screwed up your recent trip to the Coastal County. Just what can you do?¡± Qin Shaomin replied in a fawning manner, ¡°Jiayin, don¡¯t be anxious. I¡¯ll definitely teach Yan Rusheng a lesson and take revenge for you.¡± Fang Jiayin looked at him and spoke with disdain and contempt. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Her tone was full of sarcasm. Qin Shaomin knitted his eyebrows and coldly retorted, ¡°Other than coming from a humble background, I am in no other way inferior to him.¡± Fang Jiayin sneered, ¡°You¡¯re all talk and no action.¡± Despite being mocked by Fang Jiayin time and again, Qin Shaomin wasn¡¯t in the least upset. He continued speaking to her in a polite manner. ¡°I found some juicy news, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be interested to hear it.¡± Fang Jiayin was as cold as before. ¡°Speak.¡± Qin Shaomin spoke in a hushed tone. ¡°There¡¯s some inside story to Flourish & Prosper¡¯s recent crisis.¡± Fang Jiayin knitted her eyebrows. She was getting impatient. ¡°Cut the crap. Go straight to the point.¡± Qin Shaomin didn¡¯t keep her in suspense. ¡°Yan Rusheng is quite indifferent towards the crisis, and he had left it to the police to search for Wang Bin, their previous person-in-charge. If he steps in, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll definitely be more efficient than the police.¡± True enough, Fang Jiayin¡¯s interest was aroused. She narrowed her eyes in crude suspicion. ¡°You mean¡­ there¡¯s more than meets the eye?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Qin Shaomin nodded and said, ¡°Late last night, Yan Weiye¡¯s wife, Jiang Qinglian arrived in the capital city and went home together with Yan Rusheng, but Yan Weiye was nowhere in sight.¡± After getting all fidgety, Fang Jiayin found it hard to calm herself down for her to think properly. She spoke rather impatiently, ¡°So what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°According to my investigation, Jiang Qinglian had never interfered in Flourish & Prosper¡¯s matters. But for this recent crisis, why did she come instead of Yan Weiye?¡± said Qin Shaomin in a serious tone. ¡°I found out that Yan Weiye had a close relationship with Wang Bin, and they were once in charge of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s factory together.¡± Chapter 711. Please Mind Your Words ¡°Wang Bin was a loyal employee at Flourish & Prosper, and all these years, the late elderly Mrs. Yan treated him kindly. So why did he want to harm Flourish & Prosper when he¡¯s already at the brink of retirement?¡± After hearing Qin Shaomin expressing his doubts over the crisis, Fang Jiayin shut her eyes to compose herself. She had to reflect upon the entire matter. After mulling over it, she opened her eyes and looked at Qin Shaomin. ¡°Think of a way to get hold of Wang Bin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already looking for him,¡± proclaimed Qin Shaomin as he grinned. But Fang Jiayin ignored him, and she continued, ¡°That wretched Su Yue¡­ you have many ¡®brothers¡¯ out there right?¡± As she said that, an evil look flashed across her eyes. Qin Shaomin right away understood her meaning and nodded. ¡°I got it.¡± A lecherous smile appeared on his face. ¡°But I have no interest in her. I¡¯m only interested in you.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t get hold of Wang Bin by tomorrow night, don¡¯t ever look me up again,¡± coldly reminded Fang Jiayin. She then turned off the screen without giving him a chance to speak any further. She took off her Bluetooth before placing her fingers to touch her seemingly bright and smooth cheeks¡ªonly she could feel the two uneven scars on her face. She clenched her fists. ¡®Su Yue!¡¯ ¡°Let us in. We¡¯ve paid so much for school fees because of her popularity. But she has such a foul reputation now, and if we allow our children to continue learning under her, it will make them a laughingstock in the future.¡± ¡°Precisely. We demand a refund of our school fees.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t force your way through. Let me go in and pass the message first. ¡± ¡°Pass what message? She¡¯s been hiding in the office behaving like a coward. Is she afraid to face up to it?¡± Hearing the din outside the door, a cold and gloomy expression flashed across Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes. ¡®Wen Xuxu, you¡¯ve destroyed all that I have. I¡¯ll make sure that you also suffer a complete defeat and fall from grace.¡¯ As the commotion got louder, Fang Jiayin stood up and strode with heavy steps to the door and opened it. There were eight furious looking parents blocking the entrance. They got increasingly agitated the moment they saw Fang Jiayin. They raved, ¡°We demand a refund of our school fees.¡± ¡°Is it because our lessons are poorly conducted? There ought to be a reason for your request.¡± ¡°We wanted to let our children learn under you because you had a good reputation. But now that you¡¯re plagued with so much bad press, it¡¯s of little value to continue having lessons with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You may look beautiful, but your heart is so evil.¡± ¡°We really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover, but we demand a full refund right away.¡± Those who would dare to stir trouble are usually people who are relatively shrew. They wouldn¡¯t think twice about mincing their words. When Fang Jiayin heard this, she shivered in anger and clenched both fists tightly, fighting hard to control her emotions. She glared at those parents with neither feeling of inferiority or superiority in her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no clause in the school enrolment contract which referred to our teacher¡¯s reputation, right? Your children are enrolled in this school to learn the violin. So what has my private life got to do you with all of you?¡± The parents furiously shook their head. ¡°You are really shameless. Your private life is such a mess. Who would still dare let their child be taught by you? We want a refund now.¡± Fang Jiayin started to lose her patience. ¡°Please mind your words.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Isn¡¯t this it the truth? There had been earlier reports that you came in between the relationship between Third Young Master and his wife. You even portrayed yourself as the victim, nearly causing the couple to end up in a divorce. Yet, you still have the cheek to deny it all. We had all been taken in by you.¡± Chapter 712. Whats Wrong With a Woman Making the First Move? ¡°With your qualities, you can easily find a rich husband and lead a prim and proper life. Yet, as a woman, you have no regard for self-love.¡± ¡°Precisely. Should your parents come to know that their daughter is a home wrecker they would be bitterly disappointed.¡± ¡°Do you think your participation in charity works could help cover the ugly side of you?¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s face turned green from anger. ¡°If you don¡¯t get lost, I will call the police.¡± If they continued raving, there would be no guarantee she could hold back her emotions. ¡°If you would refund the costly school fees to us, we would definitely leave.¡± The parents refused to concede defeat so easily. Fang Jiayin looked at her assistant who was standing next to her. She coldly instructed, ¡°Call the police and get them to come.¡± After that, she turned around and went back to her office. Some parents tried to squeeze their way through, but her female assistant managed to block the door. But as a result, some of them badly scratched her face. ¡°Please leave. If you¡¯re dissatisfied, you can take us to court. We¡¯ll wait for the court summons.¡± After that, the parents gave up forcing their way in. ¡± Hmph . Then just wait for the court summons.¡± When one backed off, the rest of them followed suit. Before they walked off, they had pointed at Fang Jiayin and threatened her. It was all peace and quiet at the entrance again. Fang Jiayin stood in front of her office desk¡ªthe hatred in her eyes grew deeper. When her assistant turned around to face her, the eerie chill imbued on Jiayin¡¯s eyes shook and made her tremble for a moment. ¡°Miss Fang, I¡¯ll go back to my work first.¡± She quickly shut the door after her. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Fang Jiayin exploded. She bent over and pushed everything on her desk onto the floor. After giving out a yell, she plonked herself back onto the chair. She looked at the pieces of paper and stationeries that were strewn all over the floor with resentment. She clenched her fists hard; her fingernails digging into her own flesh. ¡®With your qualities, you can easily find a rich husband and lead a prim and proper life. Yet, as a woman, you have no regard for self-love.¡¯ ¡®Do you think your participation in charity works would help cover the ugly side of you?¡¯ She had loved him for years, and he had given her a beautiful dream. However, despite knowing it was merely a dream, she refused to come to her senses. He only had eyes for Wen Xuxu. No matter what occasion or where they were, as long as Xuxu was around, he would fix his eyes on her. Even when he had gone public with his relationship with her to the point of including her in all his social engagements, even when everyone deemed them to be the most compatible couple¡ªshe never once experienced a sense of reality. Other than giving her a peck on the cheeks after his friends egged him on, he had never once held her hand when they were together. It was a great humiliation for her. They dated for three years, but their relationship never went beyond a peck on the cheeks. And seeing they were fast approaching graduation, she knew that she had no choice but to wake up from the beautiful dream once they graduate. How she wished to continue with her dream and be Yan Rusheng¡¯s woman. What was wrong with that? Between a man and a woman, what was wrong with the woman making the first move? They were clearly in a relationship back then¡ªthey were a couple. Xuxu was the shameless one who secretly climbed onto her boyfriend¡¯s bed. But why was everyone pointing their fingers at her when the matter got exposed? Even to the point of calling her shameless? Was it just because Wen Xuxu is the current Madam Yan? The more Fang Jiayin mulled over it, the more she couldn¡¯t take it lying down. She emitted a murderous aura all over her. ¡®Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re a sl*t. You ruined my plans three years ago and destroyed my life. If I don¡¯t destroy you, I, Fang Jiayin would have lived in vain.¡¯ Chapter 713. She Hates Men Who Look For Mistresses ¡­ The famous celebrity Jue was coming in two days, and it had Su Yan cooped up in his work studio the whole day. He was working hard to ensure that everything was perfect. Xuxu helped him to check the tiny details and accessories on the costumes. The sky turned dark. She sat across Su Yan with a cup of water. She asked, ¡°Tonight, I¡¯m bringing Su Yue out for dinner. Do you want to join us?¡± Su Yan raised his head and grinned. ¡°Since you have invited me so sincerely, I shall humble myself and join you.¡± His pair of deep eyes looked like crescents when he smiled. He gave off a warm and alluring charm. Xuxu frowned and worry filled her eyes. Su Yan saw she was staring at him in a daze, and so he stroked his face. He joked, ¡°Have you finally realized that I¡¯m more handsome than my third brother?¡± ¡°As if!¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes and sighed. ¡°Can you please make more effort to show concern for Yueyue? You should bring her out on the weekends. Stop focusing on yourself.¡± They were siblings yet they were so different. The brother was cheerful and warm, but the sister was pessimistic and moody. She couldn¡¯t understand why their mother sent Su Yue to the orphanage. It¡¯s not as if she couldn¡¯t afford to bring her up. Poor Yueyue. ¡°Did you think I didn¡¯t try?¡± Su Yan wiped the grin off his face. He then took a sip from his cup. Xuxu cast him a puzzled look. ¡°Why?¡± Did he have any hidden troubles? ¡°Ha!¡± Su Yan grimly laughed. ¡°I bet you assumed that she treats everyone else just like how she treats you.¡± Xuxu remained silent as she frowned. He continued, ¡°When she is with me, she doesn¡¯t speak. I¡¯ve tried asking her to travel with me, but she would always decline to say that she needed to study.¡± He placed his cup down, pulled a chair and settled down. ¡°If she will stay with me, I would find us a place right away.¡± It shocked Xuxu to hear that Su Yue didn¡¯t even want to talk to Su Yan. She couldn¡¯t seem to recall them having much interaction. To be frank, there was only once or twice when she caught them having a conversation. Every day, Su Yue would go back to her room straight after school. It was only when Xuxu was at home that Su Yue would go seek her help with school work. Xuxu couldn¡¯t suppress another sigh. ¡°So, we need to care more about her.¡± It made her worry over the child even more. ¡°So, I need to trouble you in the future to accompany her. She has never been close to anyone, and she was aloof and distant even towards¡­¡± Su Yan didn¡¯t continue and only pressed his lips. Xuxu could hazard a guess which person he was referring to. She was sent to the orphanage when she was young. No matter how dire her circumstances were, Su Yue¡¯s mother should never have done that. And furthermore, she had the ability to raise them. Unless she had rejected First Uncle¡¯s support and money all these years, only then would she believe that she had sent Su Yue to the orphanage. Perhaps she was biased towards mistresses and third parties. But without question, she hates men who look for mistresses even more. Xuxu stopped her train of thoughts and replied, ¡°You¡¯ve finally addressed me as your sister-in-law.¡± Su Yan pouted. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we met too late but it can¡¯t be helped. I wanted to address you differently, but my dear brother was unwilling.¡± ¡°Stop your nonsense.¡± Xuxu glanced at the time. ¡°We need to fetch Yueyue now.¡± Chapter 714. Women Don’t Speak From Their Heart Xuxu stood up and went back to her office. Her phone was ringing when she stepped in, and so she hastened her footsteps. It was Yan Rusheng. She answered with a ¡®hello¡¯ and tidied her desk. Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°What time do you get off work?¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you I would eat dinner with Su Yue?¡± Yan Rusheng grunted before pressing on. ¡°Where are you heading to? After dinner, I¡¯ll meet you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, we will stay out quite late.¡± Xuxu paused for a moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t you accompany First Aunt so that her thoughts won¡¯t run wild when she¡¯s alone.¡± First Aunt must felt anxious and worried during this period. And if Su Yue and First Aunt were both at home, either of them won¡¯t feel comfortable. So, she and Yan Rusheng would have to split up. ¡°I really envy that young lass.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke in a soft but mischievous tone. ¡°Then I¡¯ll head out with First Aunt for a while. When you get home tonight, don¡¯t you sneak back to your own room.¡± Xuxu gritted her teeth. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Yan Rusheng slyly replied with a snort. ¡°Then I shall meet you instead.¡± Somehow it felt like First Aunt was her aunt rather than his. Xuxu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a kiss.¡± Young Master Yan immediately perked up. ¡°Where?¡± It was obvious how much intimacy and attention he was deprived of. He could get so excited at the mention of a kiss from his own wife. Xuxu grudgingly answered, ¡°Lips.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Young Master Yan agreed almost instantly, and he changed to a gentle tone. ¡°Come back early.¡± Xuxu could hear the triumph in his voice and hung up without another word. She grabbed her bag and phone and turned around¡­ ¡°Oh my!¡± she exclaimed and then raised her head. ¡°When did you get here?¡± Su Yan was watching her from the entrance and he had a sly grin. He pointed to Xuxu¡¯s phone, and he casually replied, ¡°When you said I¡¯ll give you a kiss .¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Rude.¡± She walked past him and said, ¡°Hurry, Su Yue¡¯s lessons are almost over.¡± Su Yan closely trailed after her. ¡°To think he had such a childish side.¡± Disdain was clear from his tone. Xuxu threw him a dirty look. ¡°You¡¯re the one who is childish. This is called romance alright?¡± Su Yan was sulky¡­ Xuxu was apparently unwilling earlier on, and she looked annoyed. But now, she had jumped to his defense. Where were her principles? ¡°Women don¡¯t speak from their heart.¡± Su Yan threw her a contemptuous look and overtook her. He took out his car keys. ¡°May I know if this is Xuxu Rusheng¡¯s work studio?¡± An unfamiliar woman¡¯s voice sounded. Su Yan and Xuxu turned at the same time. A voluptuous young woman was standing near the entrance. She was wearing a bright blue coat and carrying a pink Hermes bag. Her long elaborately curled locks tumbled past her shoulders, and she looked exceedingly flamboyant. ¡°Yes,¡± answered Su Yan and nodded. He walked towards her. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± The astonishment in the woman¡¯s eyes was clear from the moment she spotted Su Yan. She eagerly extended her hand. ¡°You must be Director Su. I¡¯m Mao Lili. A friend introduced your company to me. I would like to make a photo album of myself.¡± Chapter 715. I’ll Give Her a Call Su Yan¡¯s gaze briefly swept past the woman¡¯s hand. He then shook her hand. ¡°We are closed for the day, please come back tomorrow.¡± He retracted his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve come specially from another city! My friend said that you customize costumes for clients.¡± Mao Lili stood in front of Su Yan and she had earnestly said it. Su Yan frowned and a streak of impatience flashed across his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve already ended work for today. If you are really keen on taking photos, please go to our main office tomorrow instead. This is only a work studio, and we don¡¯t accept projects here.¡± He strode past her without a second look. He had parked his car at the entrance, and after unlocking his car, he turned around to Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, hurry up.¡± Xuxu saw how aloof Su Yan had appeared. She thought to herself, ¡°What an arrogant boss!¡± A deal came knocking on his door and he was still so picky. Only the Yan brothers could do something like that. Mao Lili was awkward, and she looked at Xuxu. ¡°Pretty lady, I¡¯m serious about taking photos.¡± She walked towards Xuxu. Xuxu lightly replied, ¡°But we¡¯ve ended work for the day and we have something on later. Please go to the main office tomorrow. There will be experts there to help you with your requests.¡± Su Yan had already offended this lady without batting an eyelid, so why should she be afraid of doing so? Mao Lili answered, ¡°I¡¯m rushing back first thing tomorrow morning. I thought I could discuss with you regarding the style and design I wanted. So you could design the costumes for me first and I¡¯ll shoot the photos next time. It should be really quick.¡± Xuxu was speechless. If she had the money, she could have taken the photos anywhere. ¡­ Su Yue stood at the entrance as she watched her classmates being picked up by their chauffeurs. Eagerness was obvious judging from her expression. A white Cadillac stopped in front of her. A middle-aged man got off the car and walked to Su Yue. He bowed and said, ¡°Miss, today chauffeur Chen isn¡¯t free. President Yan told me to fetch you.¡± Su Yue¡¯s face fell with disappointment. ¡°Where is Third sister-in-law?¡± It startled the middle-aged man before he instantly composed himself. ¡°President Yan has instructed me to fetch you there.¡± Su Yue happily nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± She clenched the bag in her hand and walked to the back of the car. The middle-aged man walked forward and opened the door for her. Su Yue bent her back and placed the bag inside first before getting in. After closing the door, the man swiftly leaped back to the front seat. He shut the door and started the engine. He seemed rushed and anxious, and it aroused Su Yue¡¯s suspicions. She craned her neck to take a better look at him. The man didn¡¯t notice that Su Yue was surveying him. It was only when he reached a traffic light junction that he saw Su Yue was peering at him. His eyes met Su Yue¡¯s eyes, and he gave an involuntary shudder. ¡°Where is my Third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yue suddenly asked. There was fleeting guilt in the man¡¯s eyes before he smiled. ¡°She is waiting at home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call her.¡± Su Yue fumbled for her phone in her bag. The corners of the man¡¯s mouth jerked. Su Yue had memorized Xuxu¡¯s number, and she dialed it straight away. But she did not get through her line. Chapter 716. I Want to Open the Window Su Yue frowned and glanced once more at the stranger. Fear filled her eyes as she clenched her hands tightly. Her fingernails gradually drained of color. She felt something was amiss, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what it was. She tried frantically to recall the chauffeur¡¯s face, but it seemed like she had never seen him before. Su Yue deliberated for a moment before asking, ¡°Uncle, what¡¯s your name?¡± The middle-aged man softly answered, ¡°President Yan calls me Old Yuan.¡± He glanced at the rearview mirror as he answered. Su Yue noticed him glancing at her and her nervousness heightened. She stared at the road, her thoughts running wild. She casually pointed at a bubble tea shop a distance away and politely asked, ¡°Can you stop at the roadside? I want to buy bubble tea.¡± The middle-aged man managed a weak smile. ¡°Miss, we will reach home soon. Third Madam Yan is waiting for you.¡± A wave of fear struck her once again, and she softly said, ¡°But my third sister-in-law promised me she will bring me out today.¡± He answered, ¡°Third Madam Yan will probably bring you out after you¡¯ve reached home. President Yan instructed me to fetch you, I¡¯m not sure of the other details.¡± Su Yue quietly stared at her phone. It had no service connection. An idea struck her, and she tried to open the window furtively. But no matter how she tried, it wouldn¡¯t budge. She asked, ¡°Can you open the window? I¡¯m feeling warm.¡± He laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, how can it be hot in this weather?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°I want to open the window!¡± She felt flustered as her eyes darted around. And unknowingly, she raised her voice. ¡°If you feel warm, I¡¯ll turn off the heater,¡± he said as he stretched his hand to turn the heater off. It was the beginning of the year, and it was still quite cold in the capital city. An icy gleam flashed in her eyes as she repeated. ¡°I want to open the window!¡± The man was shocked to see how serious she looked. He gave an awkward laugh. ¡°Miss, don¡¯t be so fussy. We¡¯re almost home soon.¡± He ignored her and stepped on the accelerator. The white Cadillac weaved in and out of the traffic as it sped on. Su Yue tightly clenched her fist while the other held on to her cell phone. The man¡¯s face made her terrified. Suddenly, she hurled her phone at him, and it hit the back of his head. ¡°Open the window! I want to open the window!¡± Su Yue was livid, and she screamed at the top of her lungs. The middle-aged man felt that his eardrums were bursting, and his head was in pain. He yelled back, ¡°No way! I will never open the window! Be still!¡± The roads were congested with cars. He had to handle Su Yue and concentrate on driving at the same time. Clearly, he was rather helpless as he tried to focus on both. ¡®Bang, bang, bang!¡¯ Su Yue used her fists to pound on the windows with force when she saw that the man didn¡¯t relent. Her actions flustered the man. ¡°What are you doing? Stop pounding on that!¡± ¡°I want to open the window. I want to open the window!¡± Su Yue repeated over and over again. It seemed that she was also muttering to herself, too. Her hands didn¡¯t stop pounding the window, and it seemed like she was venting her anger. Chapter 717. She’s a Weirdo As their car was traveling on the main road, there were other cars around them. Hence, her actions would definitely arouse curious stares. The middle-aged man was losing his focus. One moment, he was looking in the front and the next moment, he turned back and looked at Su Yue. As a result, the car kept swerving, and this annoyed the other drivers who incessantly honked. ¡°Wind down the window. I want to wind down the window¡­¡± Su Yue continued yelling and pounding on the window. ¡°Stop making a fuss. I¡¯ll wind it down in a while,¡± he shouted. He immediately turned back to maintain his focus on the road ahead. As they were fast approaching a slip road ahead, he picked up speed and exited the main road. There were lesser vehicles along the side road, and so the middle-aged man heaved a sigh of relief. But before he could relax completely, Su Yue suddenly stuck her head forward. The man got a shock. ¡°Ahhh¡­ what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°My cellphone.¡± Su Yue pushed the man forward to retrieve back her phone. After that, she lifted her head and looked at him. ¡°I want to open the window.¡± ¡°Why do you want to open the window?¡± A crafty smile flashed across the man¡¯s eyes, trying to stall for time. Su Yue knitted her eyebrows. ¡°My phone has no signal, and I¡¯m feeling hot.¡± The man was speechless and became gloomy. He asked, ¡°You hit me with your phone just because it has no signal? Do you know your manners?¡± Su Yue raised her eyebrows and there was a look of suspicion on her face. ¡°You¡¯re a bad person, so why must I be courteous to you?¡± The man¡¯s face turned even more gloomy. ¡°How can you tell that I¡¯m a bad person?¡± Su Yue ignored his question and continued ranting away. ¡°Wind down the window, I want to wind down the window.¡± The man was speechless. ¡°Old Yuan, how¡¯s everything? Where¡¯s the girl?¡± Suddenly, there was a sound coming from the glove compartment. The man stretched his hand and took out a walkie-talkie and heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°We¡¯re finally here.¡± After mumbling to himself, he spoke into the walkie-talkie with a deep and angry tone. ¡°Shut up. You set me up. She¡¯s a weirdo.¡± He threw the walkie-talkie back into the glove compartment. He looked around to size up the surrounding. Suddenly, a small figure lunged at him from behind and the man¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Before he could even react, Su Yue already had her arms wound around his neck. ¡°Hey, wretched lass!¡± He grabbed hold of Su Yue¡¯s arm in response and pried her arm away. Since Su Yue wasn¡¯t as strong as him, she grabbed her phone using the other hand and hammered his head with all her might. ¡°Open the window.¡± The man¡¯s rage intensified, and he harshly pushed Su Yue away. ¡°Get lost, you bad lass. Weirdo!¡± Su Yue fell backward onto her seat. She stared at the man with a murderous glare. The next moment, she reached for her schoolbag, unzipped it and took out a dagger. The man saw her from the rear mirror and stared at her in horror. ¡°Lass¡­¡± ¡°Ahhhh¡­¡± Before the man could finish his sentence, Su Yue plunged the dagger onto his back with all her strength¡ªthe 10cm long blade sank deep into his flesh. Blood gushed out from his back, and he immediately depressed the car brakes. However, the murderous spirit in Su Yue didn¡¯t diminish. She pulled out the dagger and raised it up. Bearing with the pain, the man reached out to grab her wrist in an attempt to stop her. It was a deep stab, and the man eyebrows twitched in pain. He attempted to snatch the dagger from Su Yue, but she unexpectedly stretched out her other hand and snatched it over without giving him a chance to. Chapter 718. Won’t Be Easily Taken In ¡°Bad guy.¡± She plunged the dagger at the man again, while the man immediately stretched out his hand to block it. Unfortunately, Su Yue was too fast for him and the blade slit across the back of his arm, almost cutting off a layer of his skin. Fresh blood splattered all over Su Yue¡¯s face. The man wailed in pain, but Su Yue still had no intention to let him off. She stabbed him viciously again at the back of his head. ¡°You¡¯re a freaking pervert!¡± The man dodged her. He was in such intense pain that he had lost all his strength to put up a struggle with Su Yue. Looking at her childlike face, which didn¡¯t seem to fit her devilish and vicious behavior, he felt as if he had met with a devil king from hell. He frantically opened the door and jumped off the car. Blood stained the driver¡¯s seat. When Su Yue saw the man got off the car, the look on her face gradually went back to normal. ¡°Old Yuan, what¡¯s the situation now?¡± All of a sudden, three youths walked towards him. They had dyed hair and wore gaudy clothes. When they saw the middle-aged man with stab wounds, it horrified them. They immediately rushed forward to hold him. ¡°She¡­¡± The man pointed weakly to the Su Yue who was still in the car. ¡°¡­ is a pervert.¡± The three youths shifted their gaze towards the car, and it had caught everyone in a shock when they saw Su Yue. Su Yue grabbed some tissues and was wiping her dagger with no hint of urgency, cleaning it seriously without paying attention to her surroundings. She was totally absorbed in her own world. One youth withdrew his gaze from Su Yue and looked back at the middle-aged man. ¡°She stabbed you?¡± He simply couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He wasn¡¯t the only one. The other two youths also found it hard to believe that a frail-looking girl could be so vicious. What¡¯s more startling was the fact that she actually had a knife with her. The middle-aged man frowned and grimaced in pain. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± As they were in the middle of the road, the blood on the middle-aged man invited curious stares. Passersby couldn¡¯t help but stop in their tracks and stare at them. The youth who was holding on to the man handed him to another youth. ¡°Xiao Song, send Old Yuan to the hospital and leave this place to us.¡± After that, he walked towards the driver¡¯s seat of the Cadillac and bent down to smile at Su Yue. ¡°Little girl, give me the knife.¡± Su Yue stared at him innocently and said, ¡°Where are you bringing me to?¡± Seeing the innocent look in her eyes, the youth got excited and grinned at her. ¡°Bringing you to have some fun. Hand your knife to big brother and I¡¯ll bring you out for some fun.¡± Having said that, he swiftly got into the car and shut the door. The other youth also got into the front passenger seat. Su Yue knitted her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid.¡± She was about to open the car door, but the man at the driver¡¯s seat caught her and immediately locked the car. When Su Yue couldn¡¯t open the door, she turned back and looked at the youth. ¡°I know that you¡¯re an adult, that¡¯s why big brother wants to bring you out to have fun.¡± The youth fixed his eyes on Su Yue¡¯s pretty face. His smile turned even more lecherous. Su Yue got impatient. ¡°I already said that I¡¯m not a kid, so you won¡¯t easily take me.¡± It dumbfounded the youth. ¡°Start the car.¡± The youth sitting at the front passenger seat got impatient and so he hurried the man at the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Pay close attention to the knife in her hand.¡± The man at the driver¡¯s seat pressed the ignition button and stepped on the accelerator. The car sped off at rocket speed. Chapter 719. Yueyue Was Kidnapped Suddenly, everything hushed down inside the car, and the two men felt a strange atmosphere. ¡°These are all the money I have.¡± Su Yue took out all the money from her purse, including the coins in the front pocket of her schoolbag. The total amount added up to 200 yuan and she handed them to the men. The two men looked at the money in her hands, which ranged from 50 cents coins to 100 yuan notes, and their mouths twitched. ¡°Little girl, we don¡¯t want your money. We want you instead.¡± When the men rejected her money, she lowered her head and frowned. ¡­ ¡°Yan Rusheng, did you get the driver to pick Su Yue?¡± At the school entrance, Xuxu and Su Yuan heard that a white car had fetched Su Yue, and they got anxious. She had already told Su Yue in the morning that she would take her out for dinner. She had specifically informed the driver not to pick her up. Yet now, someone had taken Su Yue away. She had a premonition that something bad had happened. She obviously knew that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t send someone to pick up Su Yue without first informing her, but she didn¡¯t know who else to ask. The reply that Yan Rusheng gave her over the phone was what she had expected¡ªno. Xuxu¡¯s anxious voice traveled over the call. ¡°When Su Yan and I arrived at the school, the security guard told us that a white car had fetched Su Yue. So, I called Old Chen, but it wasn¡¯t him.¡± Yan Rusheng calmed her down. ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious yet. I¡¯ll come over now. Get the school to check through their surveillance camera for the car plate number and brand.¡± ¡°Su Yan is looking through it now.¡± Xuxu looked towards the security room as she spoke and Su Yan happened to walk out. She walked towards him at a fast pace. ¡°Su Yan, did you see the car? What car is it?¡± ¡°A white Cadillac.¡± Su Yan paused without continuing. There was a tensed look in his eyes¡ªan expression that Xuxu had never seen before. Xuxu anxiously grabbed at his arms. ¡°What happened?¡± Su Yan said, ¡°The car plate number is a fake one.¡± The car plate number was fake¡­ It meant that someone had plotted to take Yueyue away¡ªYueyue was kidnapped! The cellphone almost slid off her hand. Yan Rusheng was still on the other line, but Xuxu had spaced out for quite a while. When she snapped out of her daze, she anxiously spoke, ¡°Yan Rusheng, Su Yue could have been kidnapped.¡± Yan Rusheng overheard the conversation between Xuxu and Su Yan. He said, ¡°A white Cadillac? I¡¯ll get people to look for it right away.¡± He immediately hung up and headed for the elevator. At that moment, his phone rang again, and he looked at the caller ID¡ªit was Ming Ansheng. He answered the call. ¡°I am not free to talk to you now.¡± The elevator arrived, and he was about to end the call. Ming Ansheng¡¯s anxious voice sounded over the phone. ¡°Did something happened to Su Yue?¡± Yan Rusheng halted his steps. ¡°How do you know?¡± When Ming Ansheng heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s tensed voice, it confirmed his suspicion. He said, ¡°I received a call from Su Yue¡¯s phone number, but the caller was a stranger who had picked up her phone on the road. The phone was stained with blood.¡± Stained with blood¡­ Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°She could have been kidnapped.¡± Ming Ansheng continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged to meet with the person at the same spot she found the phone. I¡¯m reaching soon.¡± He hung up after that and took off his blue tooth before speeding off. The GPS navigation showed that he had arrived at the location. His shrewd eyes turned exceptionally sharp, and he spotted a middle-aged woman standing at the side of the road from a distance. She was holding a white-colored phone in her hand and glancing nervously to her left and right. Chapter 720. Let Me Out! He stepped on the accelerator and drove towards her, stopping his car precisely in front of the lady. When he got down from the car, a gust of wind lifted the corner of his suit. The middle-aged lady moved towards Ming Ansheng. ¡°Are you here to collect the phone?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded his head and looked at the woman who was holding the phone in her hand. His heart sank¡ªit was Su Yue¡¯s phone with a snowflake sticker on it. The screen of her adorably decorated phone was cracked. Dried blood stains were all over it. ¡°There was only one phone number in her phone book, but the line was always engaged when I called. There were only three numbers in her call history, but only yours got through.¡± The middle-aged lady explained to Ming Ansheng. He stretched out his hand to receive the phone from her. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± After thanking her, he didn¡¯t linger any longer and immediately turned around to go back into his car. In the car, he started the engine as he put on his blue-tooth. He then dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. ¡°Hello, I¡¯ve already got hold of Su Yue¡¯s cellphone. It¡¯s located at the intersection between Bright Vision Road and the eastern suburbs. Check the surrounding surveillance cameras. I¡¯ll drive along the road and ask around as well.¡± He finished speaking in one breath and ended the call without waiting for Yan Rusheng to respond. When he arrived at the intersection, Ming Ansheng was at a loss when he saw cars fast approaching in all directions. He took a glance at the Su Yue¡¯s phone in the glove compartment and he furrowed his eyebrows. ¡®There was only one phone number in her phone book¡­ There were only three numbers in her call history¡­¡¯ The words of the middle-aged lady echoed in his ears. Ming Ansheng picked up her phone and couldn¡¯t help but felt sorry for Su Yue. He clicked to turn the phone on. He slid his fingers across the screen. She didn¡¯t lock her phone. Other than the default phone apps, it only had WeChat in it. He clicked to open the phone book, and just like what the lady mentioned, there was only one phone number stored in her phone book¡ª Third-Sister-in-Law. He launched her call records and other than Wen Xuxu, there were three numbers that were not from her phone book. One belonged to him and was dated a month ago. She was looking for Yan Rusheng at that time and couldn¡¯t get through to his number. Hence, she called him to seek his help to look for Yan Rusheng. In the end, she only replied an ¡®oh¡¯ without talking further. That very call ended up with nothing definite. There was another number he was familiar with, and it belonged to Yan Rusheng. As for the third number, if he was correct, it should belong to her brother, Su Yan. This little lass was a real recluse. Most students nowadays have games and shopping apps on their phones. But her phone only contained the WeChat app with only Wen Xuxu, Su Yan, and Yan Rusheng¡¯s phone number. Suddenly, his phone rang again, and the caller was Yan Rusheng. He quickly answered. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Yan Rusheng informed him about the whereabouts of the white Cadillac and hung up. Ming Ansheng made a sharp turn and drove off at lightning speed. ¡­ In a secluded alley, a white Cadillac was parked under a huge tree. There were bloodstains all over the interior of the car. A pretty looking girl was emitting an air of foul and evil-foreboding. She was still tightly gripping on to her dagger. Blood was dripping from it, and she was waving it randomly in the air. The two men in the front attempted to get close to her but without avail. She was making such a big fuss that they couldn¡¯t concentrate on their driving. ¡°Wretched lass, I will send you to work in a night spot.¡± The man at the driver¡¯s seat was using tissue papers to cover the stab wounds on his neck which Su Yue had caused. He fiercely glared at her. How he wished he could kill her at once. ¡°Let me out.¡± Su Yue pounced on him again and jabbed him with her dagger once more. Chapter 721. Spirit Is Willing but the Flesh Is Weak But her strength had grown faint and at that instant, her spirit was willing but her flesh was weak. Su Yue had caused a long dagger slash on the face of the man seated at the front passenger seat earlier on, and blood was continuously oozing down his chin. Seeing Su Yue focusing her attention on the man at the driver¡¯s seat, he ignored his pain and stretched out both hands to grab Su Yue by her waist. And he had immobilized her. The man at the driver¡¯s seat immediately snatched the knife. The next second, he plunged the knife into Su Yue¡¯s thigh, giving it a vicious stab. Su Yue¡¯s small face instantly turned pale, and beads of perspiration covered her forehead. She opened her mouth wide and her crystal clear eyes were brimming with tears. ¡°Bad lass, how dare you to play tough with me?¡± The man at the front passenger seat, who was holding on to Su Yue, shoved her to the back seats with her face down. He then climbed to the back and pressed his body onto hers. He gripped her collar and ripped it off with force. The entire row of buttons on Su Yue¡¯s black sweater fell off, and she screamed at the top of her lungs. ¡°Let me go, let me go.¡± The other man grabbed a huge stack of tissue papers. He had rolled them into a big ball before he shoved them into Su Yue¡¯s mouth. Su Yue widened her eyes in horror and tears flowed out from the corner of her eyes. However, her expression was still as naturally cold as ever. The man¡¯s arm traveled down to her camisole and went underneath, touching her undergarment. He grabbed hold of it and forcibly pulled it upwards together with her camisole. The two men¡¯s eyes sparkled with a gleam of lustful expressions, and they boldly sized up her smooth and fair back. Su Yue loudly sobbed. The man firmly grabbed hold of her tiny wrist, causing her to wail out in pain. ¡°Screw her. Leader already gave instructions that we could savor her first.¡± The man at the driver¡¯s seat eagerly took off his shirt. Seeing this sight, the man who had pressed himself on top of Su Yue bent over and kissed the girl on her back¡ªhis lips caressed her from top to bottom. Su Yue¡¯s tiny body was shaking profusely and her loud wails didn¡¯t deter the men. Instead, it made them even more aroused. ¡°Young girls are just different, their wails are even lovelier to the ears than moans in bed,¡± the man licentiously commented as he kissed Su Yue. ¡°Let me try.¡± The man at the driver¡¯s seat also squeezed to the back. But he felt that Su Yue¡¯s clothes were a hindrance, and so he reached out to retrieve the dagger from the front seat. He had grabbed hold of her blouse and used the sharp blade to make a cut before ripping it apart with his bare hands. Su Yue upper body was already stark naked. ¡°This tiny figure is simply fabulous.¡± The man caressed Su Yue¡¯s waist with his rough hand, sliding it up slowly to her shoulders before looking at the other man who was attempting to remove Su Yue¡¯s trousers. ¡°Carry her up. Let me have a taste of her.¡± The man licentiously laughed and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± And he loosened his grip on Su Yue¡¯s wrists. Ignoring her pain, Su Yue extended her hand and scratched the face of the man who was kneeling in front of her. Next, Su Yue sank her teeth on his arm and bit it with all her strength. She ferociously glared at him until her eyes nearly popped out of her head. The other man saw this and hurriedly gripped Su Yue by her neck. ¡°Wretched lass, see if you still dare to be uncooperative.¡± He exerted too much strength and wasn¡¯t in the least gentle with her. Su Yue¡¯s face turned red and only when she turned blue did the man released his grip. Chapter 722. Little Lass, Don’t Be Afraid ¡°Lift her up!¡± The man that Su Yue had bitten grew furious. He sat on the seat and took off his belt and trousers. In no time, he was naked from the waist down. Su Yue instantly closed her eyes as her tears rolled down her cheeks, falling like pearls. ¡®Slam!¡¯ There was a sudden deafening boom, and it made the car violently jerk. ¡°What happened?!¡± It had the men¡ªwho earlier on was too absorbed with Su Yue¡¯s beauty¡ªshocked and terrified. They nervously raised their head and peered out of the windows. A towering figure loomed like the God of Death as he appeared before them. ¡®Slam!¡¯ Another deafening crash resounded and the car window was smashed. A man stretched his hand inside and found the unlock button. It had the men terrified that they didn¡¯t even know how to react. Instinctively, they retreated away from the man instead of trying to stop him. Su Yue opened her eyes and saw the man. There wasn¡¯t a trace of surprise nor happiness on her face. Instead, she looked expressionless and distant as though she was feeling nonchalant about the entire incident. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng bent over. He then narrowed his eyes. There was an overwhelming and strong murderous aura emitting from him. At that very moment, it was for the first time in his life that he felt he could rip a person to shreds. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare come over! If not, we will strangle her to death.¡± The two men stared in fright at Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. It felt as if death was approaching and they both froze in fear. One of the men wrapped his hands around Su Yue¡¯s neck in an attempt to threaten Ming Ansheng. ¡°Hmph!¡± Ming Ansheng coldly snorted and a murderous gleam appeared in his eyes once more. ¡°Even if you beg me on your knees, you wouldn¡¯t be spared from an easy death.¡± He stretched his hand and hooked the wrist of the man nearest to him. He twisted it in one full circle. The man didn¡¯t even have the chance or time to retaliate. ¡®Crack, crack!¡¯ Resounding sounds echoed in the car. The man let out an ear-piercing scream before he fainted. The other man witnessed this entire scene, so he grabbed Su Yue and moved backward until there wasn¡¯t any room for him to escape. He stared at Ming Ansheng with terror in his eyes. Ming Ansheng¡¯s arrival was too unexpected hence they were thoroughly unprepared. They could not retaliate. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to flee?¡± sharply spoke Ming Ansheng as he lifted an eyebrow. The man stared at him in disbelief and froze for a moment. Then he fervently nodded and relinquished his grip on Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now. Instantly!¡± He turned around. He was nervously fumbling as he opened the door. A sly smile appeared on Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. He stepped on the window and leaped to the top of the car in the blink of an eye. The next second, he aimed a kick at the guy¡¯s head who had tried to flee. His kick had caused the man to lose his consciousness, and it made the car jerk. Ming Ansheng leaped to the ground and wrenched the door open. ¡°Yueyue.¡± After catching a glimpse of her, he shunned his vision and removed his jacket with a word. He gently covered her with it. Then he carried her out and took her to his car. He could feel that Su Yue was trembling badly, and he tightened his grip on her. He peered at her and his eyes shuddered at the sight of her. It seemed that something had violently tugged on his heart as well. Su Yue was staring at him with glistening eyes, although her expression was impassive. In Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart, he knew that Su Yue was using her aloofness to hide her emotions. He managed a tender smile as he consoled her. ¡°Little lass, don¡¯t be afraid. It¡¯s over.¡± Chapter 723. Don’t Learn From Your Arrogant Third Brother Ming Ansheng reached the car, and he bent slightly to open the door. He put Su Yue carefully in the car and was about to retract his arms. Su Yue extended her arms and hugged him tightly. The jacket slipped off her body and it revealed Su Yue¡¯s body. It startled Ming Ansheng that he froze for a moment before hastily picking up the jacket to cover her. Su Yue refused to let go of him and sobbed. ¡°Why did they have to give birth to me?¡± Ming Ansheng had no inkling what kind of life she led. He had met her only a couple of times. But her words seemed to squeeze his heart painfully. ¡®Why did they have to give birth to me¡­¡¯ What kind of life did she lead for her to say such words? Ming Ansheng raised his arms and left it hovering inches away from her body. After some hesitation, he gently patted her back. He consoled, ¡°It¡¯s all over.¡± Su Yue finally bawled just like what a normal girl would react or behave after a traumatic experience. It choked her words. ¡°Mommy says I¡¯m an illegitimate daughter, and no one wants me. And they said that my mommy was a mistress, so they locked me up and didn¡¯t give me food to eat.¡± It incensed Ming Ansheng when he heard her confession. In society these days, it¡¯s common for men to have extramarital affairs¡ªnot to mention, wealthy men. Illegitimate children were quite common, and so everyone already had a rather indifferent attitude towards it. But what he couldn¡¯t understand was why she had been ostracized in Country Y. ¡®Mommy says I¡¯m an illegitimate daughter, and no one wants me¡­¡¯ He mulled over Su Yue¡¯s words. He finally understood¡­ the root of the problem lies with her mother. Su Yue¡¯s childhood shaped her character. Ming Ansheng could only console her gently as she kept crying. ¡°There will be plenty of people to love and dote on you in the future. Hush now and stop crying.¡± His eyes accidentally glimpsed her bare skin, and he didn¡¯t dare to imagine what would have happened to her if he had reached a minute too late. Those evil men had caused such a traumatic experience for a young girl like her. Who were those people? Who would be so wicked to harm such a young girl like her? Su Yue was still sobbing badly. Just when Ming Ansheng wanted to pat her once more, she suddenly let go of him. Su Yue turned around and quickly buttoned and adjusted the jacket. She used the sleeves to wipe her tears away. Then she sat down and hugged her knees. She sat huddled there without making another sound. Ming Ansheng was about to call her name when he spotted the wound on her leg. He was visibly shocked. ¡°Is your leg injured?!¡± Su Yue was expressionless as she replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Ming Ansheng was slightly exasperated when he heard her nonchalant reply. ¡°You should express your emotions like how a normal girl would. It¡¯s not embarrassing to show how sad or angry you are. Don¡¯t learn from your arrogant third brother. He is too pretentious.¡± He closed the door and walked to the driver¡¯s seat. Su Yue frowned and ignored his words. Actually, her injury was hurting her; she had temporarily forgotten about the pain because of the trauma and shock earlier on. ¡°Send me to the hospital.¡± Su Yue casually glanced at Ming Ansheng¡¯s good-looking face before bowing her head. It was clear that she had recollected herself. Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips curled in relief. Chapter 724. Uncle Ming, Thank You Ming Ansheng glanced back at her, she had curled herself up to a ball. It seemed like she was feeling really insecure. He couldn¡¯t read her expression as her thick eyelashes covered her eyes. ¡®Such a tiny and lovely girl, how could anyone not dote on her? But¡­¡¯ A crease appeared in between Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyebrows and he corrected her. ¡°In the future, if you¡¯re asking for a favor, say please send me to the hospital.¡± As he spoke, he peered through the rearview mirror. However, he had clearly overestimated his ability to convince or teach her. Su Yue was still lost in her own thoughts. She suddenly blurted out, ¡°Don¡¯t tell my third sister-in-law.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ His phone rang, and Yan Rusheng was on the other line. He stretched out to hand her the phone. ¡°Your third brother.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t accept and eyed him. ¡°It¡¯s not my third sister-in-law.¡± Ming Ansheng realized that he might be too old to understand the mindset of the younger generation. Why was this young lass so adamant? What was the difference between her Third Brother and her Third sister-in-law? He spoke over the phone instead. ¡°I found her. Sending her to the hospital now.¡± ¡°Nothing serious but her leg is injured.¡± ¡°Stop the car.¡± Ming Ansheng had just hung up when Su Yue spoke. He took a swift glance at her. ¡°Why?¡± Su Yue seemed angry. ¡°You betrayed my friendship.¡± It bewildered young Master Ming. ¡°How did I betray our friendship?¡± Su Yue said, ¡°You promised me not to tell my third sister-in-law.¡± It exasperated Ming Ansheng. ¡°Yes, I asked you to answer the call, but you didn¡¯t want to because it¡¯s not your third sister-in-law. I told your third brother, and besides, I didn¡¯t promise you to keep this a secret.¡± Su Yue remained speechless and bowed her head. Ming Ansheng saw her and his heart softened. He whispered, ¡°Do you know how worried they were when they couldn¡¯t find you?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°Uncle Ming, thank you.¡± She spoke in a hushed voice that it stunned Ming Ansheng. He shook his head almost resignedly. Incredibly, when the young lass thanked him, he felt flattered and overwhelmed with happiness. Xuxu, Yan Rusheng, and Su Yan sped all the way to the hospital. A doctor was treating Su Yue when they arrived. She was still wearing Ming Ansheng¡¯s jacket, and it hung loosely on her. A pair of fair porcelain legs were dangling from the chair and there was still blood on her legs. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Xuxu ran towards her and hugged her. Thank goodness, Yueyue was fine. She heaved a sigh of relief only when she saw Su Yue with her own eyes. Her wound was very deep that she could see her bone. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached with pain. ¡°How did she get so seriously injured?!¡± A knife or something sharp obviously caused it. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Su Yue smiled and shook her head. She bravely said, ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury. Other than the pain, I¡¯m fine.¡± Xuxu smiled feebly at her as she caressed her head. Her eyes fell on the man¡¯s jacket she was wearing. It doesn¡¯t seem like she was wearing anything underneath the jacket and she got worried. But there were too many people present, so she pressed her lips tightly. Su Yue endured the pain and clenched Xuxu¡¯s clothes tightly. ¡°Little girl, just yell if it¡¯s painful.¡± The doctor noticed that Su Yue was perspiring and frowned with a smile. ¡°Why are you trying to keep it in?¡± Chapter 725. He Only Saw Two of Them Su Yue bent her head as Xuxu put her arms around her shoulders. She patted her gently, her heart ached for her. The reason Su Yue could endure the physical pain was that the psychological suffering she went through was even more painful. Xuxu¡¯s suffering was temporary but Su Yue¡¯s was over a long period. She had endured in silence and shut herself off from the world. It had probably become part of her personality. Su Yue¡¯s wound needed eight stitches, and she needed antibiotics as well. Su Yue¡¯s eyelids got heavier as she laid on the bed. She tightly clung onto Xuxu¡¯s hand as if she might vanish any moment. Xuxu watched Su Yue¡¯s beautiful face as she gradually fell asleep. Worry filled her eyes once more. Once she had fallen asleep, she slowly withdrew her hand and stood up. She adjusted her blanket and gave Su Yan a meaningful glance. Su Yan nodded lightly. Xuxu turned around and walked out of the ward. She closed the door gently behind her. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng were standing outside the ward. Xuxu cast Ming Ansheng a suspicious look. She asked, ¡°Why was she wearing your jacket?¡± Earlier on when she helped Su Yue to change her clothes, she saw wounds on her back as well. She didn¡¯t dare to let her imagination run wild, and neither did she have the courage to think of what could have happened to their innocent Yueyue. She also couldn¡¯t decipher Su Yue¡¯s emotions for the child could restrain herself very well. Her nonchalance and aloofness could conceal all her feelings. Ming Ansheng glared at her. ¡°Hey, Wen Xuxu! Don¡¯t get the wrong idea.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Ming Ansheng!¡± Obviously, she didn¡¯t mean it that way. This fellow was really annoying at times! Ming Ansheng knew what had made Xuxu worried, and he had merely joked with her. He became serious when he saw how worried Xuxu looked. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain, but I just want to say that if I didn¡¯t reach there in time, there could have been disastrous consequences.¡± Xuxu felt as if it had lifted a burden off her and she nodded. ¡°I got it.¡± But she knew that even if nothing happened to Su Yue, the incident must have traumatized her. The wounds on her back could attest to that. It must have terrified Su Yue¡ªshe was still such a young girl. Xuxu¡¯s heart pounded painfully at the thought of that. Perhaps it was because that Su Yue was really lovely or perhaps it was because of Grandmother. Su Yue had unconsciously become someone important in her heart. ¡°Who is Su Yue¡¯s family?¡± Two police officers walked towards them. ¡°I am,¡± Yan Rusheng answered. The officers walked towards them and one of them was holding a notebook to record their testimony. ¡°According to our investigations, there are four suspects. Three of them are currently in the hospital receiving treatment, while we brought the other one back to the police station.¡± It shocked Ming Ansheng. ¡°Three of them are in the hospital receiving treatment?¡± He only saw two. Yan Rusheng glanced at him and answered, ¡°I saw on the CCTV that two of them left halfway.¡± The police officer nodded. He continued, ¡°There was one who got stabbed in the back and it was a deep stab. A dagger or a knife must have caused it. Another one had his arm shattered and suffered a fracture. He also sustained injuries to his neck and face. Our analysis revealed that the same weapon caused it.¡± ¡°The other one had minor injuries although he might have suffered a concussion.¡± It startled Yan Rusheng to hear that there were wounds caused by a weapon. He glanced at Ming Ansheng. Chapter 726. I Remember Ming Ansheng shook his head to express that he knew nothing. When he arrived at the scene, he was blazing with fury when he saw Su Yue being pinned down by the men. There was blood everywhere in the car, and all he could think of was to rip the men to pieces right away. He noticed nothing else. The reason behind the men¡¯s injury and why there was a dagger had him perplexed. The police officer replied, ¡°According to their testimonies, the dagger belongs to the victim, Su Yue.¡± Everyone stared at the police officer in disbelief. ¡°How could it be?¡± Xuxu asked. Why would Su Yue bring a dagger to school? The police officer nodded and continued, ¡°The first suspect, who the victim had injured, testified that Su Yue retrieved the dagger from her schoolbag.¡± Xuxu and the rest looked at each other, unable to believe their ears. They really couldn¡¯t believe that Su Yue possessed a dagger. Why did she bring one? ¡°That child feels too insecure.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly sighed. He suddenly understood why Su Yue had a dagger with her. She had said that people locked her up before, and they didn¡¯t give her food. What could she possibly have gone through to make her feel so insecure? In her heart, she must have assumed that the entire world hates her¡ªthat everyone would harm her. So, she sealed herself from the outside world and refused to open herself to anyone. Ming Ansheng recalled her words and glanced at Xuxu. He solemnly said, ¡°You must be the only person she trusts. Your number is the only that she saved in her phone, she didn¡¯t even save Su Yan¡¯s number.¡± It touched Xuxu, but she felt sorry for Su Yue at the same time. It touched her that Su Yue trusted her so much but she felt sorry that she had such a dark childhood. A child had to answer for the wrongdoings of her parents. ¡®Why did they have to give birth to me¡­¡¯ Ming Ansheng looked at the closed door of the ward as Su Yue¡¯s words echoed once more. Pity for the little girl overwhelmed his heart. ¡°You really have to guide and teach this child. Make sure she stays on the right path. At her age, she doesn¡¯t seem to like anything else. She is too aloof and resilient for her own good.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± She felt she really needed a good long talk with Su Yue. Yan Rusheng turned towards the police officers, and he sharply said, ¡°Did you manage to check the background of those scums?¡± The police officers replied, ¡°They are the local tyrants of the Nancheng County in the capital city. They call their leader Brother Cheng. We are still investigating their motive for kidnapping Miss Su. We will give you a reply very soon.¡± He showed him some photos and passed them to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. ¡°These are their photos.¡± ¡°They¡­¡± Xuxu took a photo to examine it more closely. It puzzled Yan Rusheng. ¡°You know him?¡± ¡°I think I have seen him before.¡± Xuxu was trying her best to recall. ¡®What¡¯s wrong? Are you looking down on me?¡¯ ¡°I remember now.¡± Her eyes were shining. ¡°When I was having supper with Qi Lei previously, they were the hooligans who tried to beat me and Qi Lei. Do you remember?¡± ¡°They were the ones?¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand and scrutinized the photo carefully. That night, all he had on his mind was to protect Xuxu and furthermore, it was dark. He didn¡¯t even have a good look at those men. He simply couldn¡¯t recall their appearances, and he glanced at Xuxu again. ¡°You remember?¡± Chapter 727. Will They Betray You? Xuxu confidently nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m positively sure it¡¯s them. I¡¯ve seen this man before. He was smoking and when I covered my nose because of the smoke, he said that I looked down on him and wanted to hit me.¡± He¡¯s the one. They even looked at each other face-to-face, so she was certain she recognized his face. When Yan Rusheng heard this, he furiously crushed the photo into a ball. ¡°Scum!¡± Back then, if it wasn¡¯t because Xuxu wasn¡¯t at the clinic, he wouldn¡¯t have gone out to look for her. Otherwise, Xuxu and his baby would have already met with danger. And now, these scums nearly destroyed Su Yue. Xuxu hazarded a guess. ¡°You walloped those few fellows last time, so could they be seeking revenge now?¡± No wonder she was saying who would want to kidnap Yueyue. ¡°Revenge?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure they die an utter death.¡± ¡­ ¡°You can¡¯t seem to do anything right. Besides boasting and talking big, what else do you know? You can¡¯t even deal with a little lass, and yet you still have the cheek to boast about getting even with Yan Rusheng.¡± Fang Jiayin sat in front of her laptop, looking at Qin Shaomin from her screen. Since she was at home, she brazenly released her pent up fury at him. She had initially thought that by destroying Su Yue, she would witness Wen Xuxu in agony again. But who would have expected that her hopes would crash? Why were they always in luck? It¡¯s all Qin Shaomin¡¯s fault¡ªthat useless and unreliable fellow. Qin Shaomin also felt down. ¡°Who would have expected that lass to be such a pervert¡ªcarrying a dagger in her school bag and so fearless about death. It was really unexpected, and it¡¯s our negligence to assume that we could easily manipulate a teenage girl.¡± Fang Jiayin coldly mocked him. ¡°Don¡¯t find excuses for your failures. It¡¯s useless.¡± Qin Shaomin knitted his eyebrows. He felt aggrieved. He said, ¡°Jiayin, I¡¯m trying my best to help you. Because of this, my friends got injured and are now under police supervision. How could you still say such a thing?¡± There was a hint of resentment in his tone which made Fang Jiayin even madder. But since he was still of use to her and they were in the same boat, she didn¡¯t want to have a fallout with him yet. As she mulled over it, her tone softened a little. ¡°Do you know how much I hate that two sl*ts? They disfigured my face and left me with scars.¡± Fang Jiayin pointed to the two scars on her face which were barely visible and there was a tinge of hatred in her eyes. She was successful in feigning pitiful for Qin Shaomin instantly felt sorry for her. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. The scars didn¡¯t affect your looks. You¡¯re still as beautiful.¡± Fang Jiayin furrowed her eyebrows and gnashed her teeth in fury. ¡°How can I not hate them?¡± Qin Shaomin nodded and comforted her. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll definitely take revenge for you.¡± After that, he mischievously smiled at her. ¡°Jiayin, when can we meet up? I miss you dearly and couldn¡¯t wait to hold you in my arms.¡± ¡°Save your lecherous smile for yourself.¡± Fang Jiayin was disgusted, and so she turned off the screen and switched to voice call instead. Qin Shaomin immediately responded, sounding annoyed. ¡°Jiayin, why did you end the video call?¡± Fang Jiayin ignored him and appeared to have recalled something. She frowned and asked, ¡°Will your chaps betray you?¡± Qin Shaomin patted his chest in assurance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t. They fumbled the last time and now that they¡¯re caught, Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng would definitely assume that they¡¯re back for revenge. No one would suspect that you¡¯re the one behind it all.¡± Chapter 728. Something Fishy Is Going On Despite Qin Shaomin¡¯s assurance, Fang Jiayin still couldn¡¯t set her mind at ease. ¡°Yan Rusheng won¡¯t let them off so easily this time. Given his character, he¡¯ll definitely skin those fellows alive. Are you certain they¡¯ll keep mum at all cost?¡± According to what Qin Shaomin told her, Yan Rusheng shrugged off the fellows previously. He didn¡¯t pursue any further for he was more worried about Xuxu. It was winter and late at night. He¡¯s not one to be provoked easily, too. He could be irrationally vicious when it concerns Wen Xuxu. She already had a taste of his wrath. When someone would try to lay a finger on Wen Xuxu, he would not care if the person was a male or female, for he would be equally brutal and would make the person a target of scorn. One would opt to stay away, if so. Otherwise, in Wen Xuxu university¡¯s hostel, he wouldn¡¯t have been the last man standing. She thought, perhaps in this world, he was the only one who had the rights to bully Wen Xuxu. Hence, she felt that his men wouldn¡¯t be so fortunate this time. What she¡¯s most worried was whether Qin Shaomin¡¯s men would betray him or not. If he got exposed, Yan Rusheng would definitely link him to her. ¡°This¡­¡± Qin Shaomin was also feeling unsettled. Hearing his hesitant voice, Fang Jiayin got anxious. ¡°Quickly think of a way. Once they found out it¡¯s you, I won¡¯t be able to escape either.¡± Qin Shaomin replied, ¡°Got it.¡± Fang Jiayin was about to hang up when she suddenly thought of something. She asked, ¡°Any news about Wang Bin?¡± Qin Shaomin answered, ¡°No. But I¡¯ve already found out the kindergarten that his grandson is attending. I¡¯ll find a way to make him appear.¡± He sounded confident as usual. Even though Fang Jiayin had already lost faith in him, she had no other way out. Qin Shaomin was the only one she could make use of at that point in time. She deliberated for a moment before barking out an instruction. ¡°Should you fail again, we¡¯ll inadvertently be alerting the enemy.¡± ¡°Understand.¡± After Qin Shaomin responded, Fang Jiayin ended the call. She leaned back on her chair and placed both hands on the armrest, feeling uneasy. She¡¯s fearful that those fellows won¡¯t be able to withstand their sufferings and end up betraying Qin Shaomin. The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she was. She sat up and picked up her phone and dialed her uncle¡¯s number. ¡°Hello uncle, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°The matter you had mentioned before, I¡¯m willing to do it, but I¡¯ll need a favor from you first.¡± ¡­ ¡°Our chief says that this case involves Third Master¡¯s family, so we need to resolve it soon. Hence, we¡¯ve already brought the suspects back to the police station.¡± After Su Yue¡¯s IV drip at the hospital last night, Xuxu arrived home at about 11 p.m. Yan Rusheng went to the hospital early the next morning to see the two suspects, but the doctor informed him that the police had already taken them away. So he rushed down to the police station immediately. In the past, the police chief was always present to receive him whenever he was there, but there was only a young police officer today who spoke to him in a patronizing tone. He furrowed his eyebrows and suspiciously surveyed the young police officer. ¡°They were brought back to the police station, despite their serious injuries?¡± Yesterday, two police officers mentioned that since the suspects had serious injuries, a court hearing would take place once they were better, and yet, it had only been one night since. Something fishy was obviously going on. The police officer nodded. He answered politely, ¡°Yes, indeed. Third Master, please rest assured that we¡¯ll provide you with a satisfactory outcome.¡± Chapter 729. What’s Wrong With This Little Lass? Yan Rusheng snorted. ¡°The most satisfactory outcome will be to hand over the culprits to me.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The police officer gave a helpless look and answered, ¡°We already sent the suspects to the police station to record their statement, and my superior also instructed us to investigate this case thoroughly. Hence, we must abide by the investigation protocols.¡± A streak of doubt flashed across Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. He felt it was a waste of breath speaking to this police officer. With a sullen face, he turned around to leave. But when he recalled something, he turned back. The police officer was also about to go back in when he saw Yan Rusheng spun back around. He immediately stood up straight and smiled politely. ¡°Third Young Master, is there anything else?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your chief?¡± The police officer smiled. He answered, ¡°My chief has gone overseas for a meeting and will only be back tomorrow.¡± Yan Rusheng pursed his lips and left. When the police officer saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering figure walking out of the main entrance with heavy steps, he heaved a sigh of relief. After that, he fished out his cellphone and dialed the chief¡¯s number. ¡°Chief, he has left. I¡¯ve informed him accordingly that you¡¯re on a business trip.¡± ¡°Thoroughly check the network and connection of those punks,¡± spoke Yan Rusheng to someone on the phone. He started his car engine. ¡°Also, find out who the Southern Sub-Bureau Chief we met with yesterday.¡± ¡­ Because of her injuries, Su Yue didn¡¯t go to school. Xuxu didn¡¯t go to the studio either and stayed home to accompany her. As she didn¡¯t shower last night, Su Yue said that the sweat on her body made her feel uncomfortable. She wanted to go to the bathroom to wipe her body. Xuxu offered to help, but Su Yue rejected and insisted on doing it herself. An hour had already passed, and she was still inside the bathroom¡ªit was silent inside, too. Xuxu got anxious and stood at the door knocking. She shouted, ¡°Yueyue, are you alright?¡± ¡°Coming out soon,¡± replied Su Yue from inside. Her voice seemed to carry traces of unbearable emotions and Xuxu thought it was because of the pain of her wounds. Concerned, she called out, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t touch the wounds and just do a quick wipe. Once your wounds get better, then you shower.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®Mm¡¯. The next moment, sounds of flowing water were heard coming from the bathroom¡ªthe shower was obviously turned on. Xuxu panicked. ¡°Yueyue, what are you doing? The doctor said that your wounds cannot come into contact with water.¡± The person inside didn¡¯t respond, and water was still gushing out. Su Yue had locked the door from inside. Xuxu paced back and forth restlessly, and after a while, she knocked on the door again. ¡°Yueyue?¡± But it was useless. Su Yue didn¡¯t seem to hear her nor respond. Only the sound of gushing water was heard. She was panic-stricken. ¡°Yueyue, can you please open the door and let Third sister-in-law in?¡± Xuxu leaned towards the frosted glass panel on the door in an attempt to look through it. She could vaguely see Su Yue standing under the shower. She was burning with anxiety. What¡¯s wrong with this little lass? There was no way to open the door. Xuxu deliberated for a while before opening the room door and stepped out. ¡°Aunt Zhang.¡± ¡°Xuxu?¡± Xuxu bumped into Jiang Qinglian as she stepped out of the room. Jiang Qinglian saw her looking flustered. She was puzzled, and so she asked, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Xuxu explained to Jiang Qinglian as she walked towards the staircase. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with Su Yue. She had locked herself in the bathroom for more than half an hour already. The doctor said she has to take care and not let water touch her wounds, and yet she¡¯s standing under the shower.¡± Chapter 730. The Problem Will Get Worse She walked with hasty steps. Jiang Qinglian got flustered and panicked. ¡°Slow down. She¡¯s no longer a child. Since the doctor already instructed her, she ought to know her limits right?¡± When Xuxu reached the staircase landing, she turned back and smiled at Jiang Qinglian. First Aunt had no idea about Su Yue¡¯s condition, she would naturally think there was nothing wrong with her. Even if it happened to someone else, she would still chide the person in the same manner. After all, she¡¯s turning 18 years old soon. Jiang Qinglian didn¡¯t utter another word. She walked towards the staircase, and passing by Xuxu, she commented, ¡°Check with Aunt Zhang if she has the keys.¡± Her tone sounded nonchalantly cold. But in the way she held herself, Xuxu already thought she was worthy of great admiration. She smiled and looked at Jiang Qinglian¡¯s from the back. ¡°I was just about to ask Aunt Zhang for the keys.¡± ¡°Coming, coming.¡± While Aunt Zhang was outside, she heard the commotion inside the house. She rushed in with urgency. All the spare keys in the house were under the elderly lady¡¯s charge. After retrieving the spare key to Su Yue¡¯s bathroom door, Xuxu went back to Su Yue¡¯s room. When she entered, she could still hear the sound of gushing water coming from the bathroom. She opened the door without further delay. ¡°Yueyue.¡± When the door opened, Xuxu¡¯s eyes narrowed and her heart sank. She scurried in and turned the shower off. After that, she pulled a towel and wrapped it around Su Yue. Su Yue was trembling all over, her lips had turned purplish. She had been standing under the cold shower all these while. Xuxu looked at the wound on her thigh and as expected, it was bleeding again. Her heart ached as she chided her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you listen? The doctor already said your wounds can¡¯t come in contact with water otherwise there¡¯ll be a risk of infection!¡± Su Yue hung her head low, her wet hair sticking to her face and neck. Water was dripping everywhere. Seeing her in that manner, Xuxu felt she had been too harsh with her words, and so she softened her tone. ¡°Yueyue, quickly change out of your wet clothes and dry your hair.¡± She stretched out her hand and pulled down another piece of towel to help Su Yue dry her hair. ¡°So disgusting and filthy.¡± Su Yue stretched out her hands to hug Xuxu tightly. She buried her face in Xuxu¡¯s neck and wailed. Xuxu¡¯s heart was throbbing with pain as she looked down at Su Yue¡¯s back. A layer of her skin seemed to have peeled off, and it looked so raw as if hot water had scalded it. She looked up slowly and hugged her close, her eyes glinted with tears. ¡°It¡¯s alright now. Your Third Brother will teach them a painful lesson.¡± As what Ming Ansheng said before, she was too aloof and resilient for her own good. Su Yue enjoyed using extreme methods to deal with people she disliked, and unfortunately, it definitely included herself. Standing under the cold shower and rubbing her skin off¡­ Xuxu had no idea if she had tried harming herself using such methods in the past, but she fully knew that if nothing was done to correct her character, the problem would get worse. Xuxu applied some medicated cream on her back. After that, she stared at the wound on her thigh and sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the hospital and let the doctor change your dressing.¡± There really wasn¡¯t a need to go to the hospital since the doctor came over earlier that morning to give her an IV drip, but¡­ ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m sorry,¡± whispered Su Yue as she flashed a look of apology towards Xuxu. Xuxu patted her on her head and gave her an assuring smile. ¡°Quickly change your clothes. I¡¯ll go and change too.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu stood up and walked towards the door. Even before they reached the staircase landing, they knew the TV was on for they could already hear sounds coming from the TV. Xuxu held Su Yue¡¯s hand and lead her down the stairs. Chapter 731. Didn’t Expect Third Sister-In-Law to Fall in Love at Such a Young Age Jiang Qinglian was sitting on the sofa, and the TV played the financial news. But from the looks of it, she didn¡¯t seem to pay much attention to the program. Su Yue saw Jiang Qinglian and instinctively hid behind Xuxu. When they were downstairs, she didn¡¯t even dare to lift her head. Xuxu tightly held her hand while giving her an assuring look. As they headed towards the door, Xuxu halted her steps when they passed by the sofa. She looked at Jiang Qinglian and said, ¡°First Aunt, I¡¯m bringing Su Yue to the hospital to change her dressing. We won¡¯t be home for lunch.¡± Jiang Qinglian raised her head and coldly glanced at Su Yue. It made Su Yue look down in fear, pretending not to see her. There was a trace of annoyance in Jiang Qinglian¡¯s eyes. After answering Xuxu with an ¡®Mm¡¯, she returned her attention to the TV screen. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± softly said Xuxu as she held on to Su Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want to stay over at my brother¡¯s place for a few days.¡± After they had stepped outside the house, Su Yue suddenly spoke. Xuxu knew that she was afraid to stay in the same house as Jiang Qinglian, so she smiled and reassured her. ¡°Yueyue, don¡¯t have to be afraid. First Aunt is a nice person.¡± Even though the house had undergone reconstruction before, it was still the ancestral home of the Yan family. Su Yan and Su Yue may be illegitimate children of First Uncle, but they were still descendants of the Yan family¡ªit was still their home. She sincerely wished that Su Yue would be more cheerful and confident. She wished she regarded herself as the little mistress of the Yan family, instead of regarding lowly of herself and thinking she was merely living under another¡¯s roof. ¡°Is my mommy a bad person?¡± softly asked Su Yue. She then lowered her head. Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°You don¡¯t have to bother about affairs that concern the grown-ups. Your main focus is to study hard and pull up your grades, so you could get into a good university.¡± Whether or not her mother was a good person¡­ Actually, she hadn¡¯t met her before, so she shouldn¡¯t pass judgments. But if a person could come in between someone¡¯s marriage, or even send their child to the orphanage after giving birth to her, letting her experience the harshness this world could bring, she wouldn¡¯t speak too highly of such person. Su Yue remained silent. She continued looking down as she slowly walked. Xuxu had intently looked at her before she teased. ¡°Once you enter university, you can look for a handsome guy and date. But bear in mind that he must be a handsome fellow, otherwise he¡¯s not good enough for you.¡± Hearing this, Su Yue blushed with embarrassment. ¡°Third sister-in-law, you¡¯re naughty.¡± Xuxu stretched out her hand and stroked her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re blushing. You¡¯re blushing.¡± She continued, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about because many girls your age are already in a relationship.¡± Indeed, she had been thinking¡­ Someday, when Yueyue would find a person she likes, how would it be? Would she be a different person by then? Would she become more cheerful? ¡°Third sister-in-law, did you and Third Brother also dated at an early age?¡± Suddenly, Su Yue turned and looked at Xuxu. Curiosity filled her face. ¡°Hmph.¡± Su Yue¡¯s question astounded Xuxu. It was rare for the girl to be interested in a topic, hence she smiled and whispered into Su Yue¡¯s ears. ¡°I liked your Third Brother since I was thirteen years old.¡± It was a secret she had kept in her heart for many years already¡ªa secret she was afraid that people would discover. But now, she could freely share it around like it¡¯s some kind of good news. She even felt a little smug to have stayed by his side for more than a decade. Though she had gone through joys and sorrows, Yan Rusheng still belonged with her. Now that he¡¯s at her beck and call, she felt an even greater sense of accomplishment. It startled Su Yue. ¡°You were only at middle school at the age of thirteen.¡± Her expression seemed to say, ¡®I didn¡¯t expect Third sister-in-law to fall in love at such a young age.¡¯ Chapter 732. I Have No Intention Of Wearing It Xuxu was a little shy, so she whispered, ¡°It was just a one-sided love. I didn¡¯t let him know.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue looked at her solemnly. ¡°Will Third Brother love you for a lifetime?¡± As the sunlight hit her pretty face, her pair of eyes revealed sorrow and worry. Xuxu knew what worried her, so she nodded. ¡°I believe that he will.¡± But then she asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± How intensive was the suffering she had gone through in the past years? She reckoned Su Yue didn¡¯t have an ounce of optimism at all. She suddenly felt relieved that First Uncle had brought Su Yue to the family. If she had stayed on in Country Y, what would her future have been like? She couldn¡¯t foresee the future, but she knew it wouldn¡¯t be a bright and happy one. Su Yue shook her head and pursed her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xuxu patted her hand. With a gentle voice, she advised, ¡°This world isn¡¯t as bad as you imagined. In the future, someone will love you so much. Optimism always triumphs over pessimism, just like how there are definitely more good people in the world than the bad ones.¡± Su Yue curled her lips but didn¡¯t speak. ¡®In the future, someone will love you so much.¡¯ She never imagined that it would happen to her someday, even if every day after school she would always see couples holding hands on the streets and on TV shows, too. But would someone really love her one day? She was an illegitimate child, borne by a mistress. She was a girl who her own mother abandoned. ¡­ ¡°Your wound is slightly infected already. Do not touch water again.¡± The doctor sternly reminded her as he bandaged her wounds. Su Yue bowed her head in silence as though she couldn¡¯t hear anyone talking to her. The doctor glanced at Xuxu when Su Yue didn¡¯t respond. Xuxu eyed him with a meaningful look for him to continue advising Su Yue. The doctor comprehended her meaning and raised his voice. ¡°Do you understand me?¡± Su Yue finally nodded and hummed in response. The doctor continued reminding her about some other stuff. Xuxu listened on and also tried her best to remember, but she didn¡¯t interrupt. When they got in the car, Xuxu smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, do you remember the things that the doctor instructed you earlier on?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t touch water, no spicy food, and no vigorous exercise while my wound is healing. I need to go outdoors more often and stay cheerful.¡± She finished a complete sentence and blinked. ¡°Third sister-in-law, did you think I suffered from amnesia? How could I forget everything just minutes ago?¡± It startled Xuxu that she couldn¡¯t even respond. It was probably the first time she had heard Su Yue talked so much. What was surprising was that she had tried to crack a joke. She beamed. ¡°I was afraid you can¡¯t remember. The next time you forget, I¡¯ll wash my hands off you. If you get an infection, and your skin rots and leave a scar, you won¡¯t be able to wear a bikini and shorts in the future.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°I have no intention of wearing it in the first place.¡± She had never worn something so skimpy at all. Xuxu quietly stared at Su Yue as she smiled. Su Yue seemed to have become¡­ cheeky. Did the doctor¡¯s words cause this change in her? Regardless of what it was, wasn¡¯t it a good sign? The chauffeur started the car and turned around. ¡°Young madam, do we go home?¡± Xuxu was about to nod when Su Yue cut across. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want to stay at my brother¡¯s place for a few days.¡± Chapter 733. Your Man Isn’t Around? Xuxu frowned as Su Yue continued talking. ¡°I know that she feels uncomfortable when she sees me.¡± Su Yue¡¯s smile didn¡¯t exude her usual sorrow, in fact, Xuxu felt she seemed brighter. But her heart still ached. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu tenderly held Su Yue¡¯s hand, she was hesitating. She suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay at my apartment for a few days?¡± Su Yue happily nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± She hugged Xuxu and pouted. ¡°You¡¯re the best. I like you the most.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a silly child. When did you learn to be so mushy?¡± Xuxu tried to conceal a grin. As she watched Su Yue¡¯s face, affection oozed out from her eyes. She would try her best to love Su Yue and give her all the warmth she could, just like how the Yan family had given her too much love and warmth. ¡­ Xuxu brought Su Yue back home to gather her belongings. After that, she brought her to grab some groceries. She had just come out of the supermarket when her cell phone rang. Zhou Shuang was on the other line. She answered as she walked. ¡°Hello, what¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Shuang, being all dramatic, proclaimed, ¡°It has been some time since I¡¯ve last seen you, my beloved. I¡¯m feeling lonely and cold.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Can you speak like a normal person?¡± Zhou Shuang immediately spoke in her normal voice. ¡°I want to hook up with¡­¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Xuxu berated her and was about to hang up. Yan Rusheng was right. This woman was a hooligan and an exceedingly annoying one. Zhou Shuang guessed that Xuxu was about to hang up, and so she quickly said, ¡°Alright! I want to ask you out for dinner. We haven¡¯t done so in ages.¡± Xuxu rejected right away. ¡°No, I¡¯m at home. If you want to eat with me, then come to my house.¡± She won¡¯t be so stupid to go out with her. Whenever they would meet, it would always be jinxed. ¡°Your apartment? I¡¯ll be there.¡± Zhou Shuang instantly hung up. Xuxu frowned without a word. It had been several days since she last came home to her apartment, and the place already felt stuffy for her. Xuxu carefully led Su Yue to the sofa and opened all the windows. The doorbell rang shortly after, showing that Zhou Shuang had arrived. She immediately gave Xuxu a warm hug. ¡°My darling, I miss you so much.¡± Xuxu frowned and shoved her away. ¡°Stop being disgusting. Come in, I¡¯m locking the door.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so boring,¡± Zhou Shuang grumbled as she removed her shoes. ¡°Your man isn¡¯t around?¡± She surveyed the room and saw Su Yue sitting there. ¡°Is that girl Yan Rusheng¡¯s cousin?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Zhou Shuang smiled. ¡°I finally met the idol I worshiped so much.¡± She walked towards Su Yue. Su Yue displayed no reaction to Zhou Shuang¡¯s presence. She was looking intently at her homework. ¡°Little girl, how are you?¡± Zhou Shuang bent and offered her hand for a handshake. Su Yue kept her head bowed. She then coldly said, ¡°I don¡¯t like being called a little girl.¡± The corners of Zhou Shuang¡¯s mouth twitched as she thought, ¡®What a spunky girl.¡¯ She continued, ¡°Little one, let¡¯s be friends. I really like you, and you have no idea how cool you are when you splashed that evil woman.¡± Chapter 734. Let’s Play a Game Su Yue ignored her without batting an eyelid. She was frowning, as though she was thinking of a tricky problem. Zhou Shuang was a little sullen. ¡°Little one, don¡¯t learn from your Third Brother. His forte is being pretentious.¡± Was being arrogant one of their family traits? She didn¡¯t give up and continued to disturb Su Yue who was focused on doing her homework. ¡°Can you talk to me?¡± ¡°Have you attended high school before?¡± Su Yue finally responded. She raised her head to look at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang seemed to have heard a huge joke. She straightened herself to make herself look more imposing and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°I attended the same school as your Third Brother and Third sister-in-law. The name of our school is Yizhong. What do you think?¡± Su Yue ignored her smug look. ¡°Then have you attended year three?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you asking the obvious? I have attended university, so is there any reason for me not to finish high school?¡± What¡¯s wrong with this little lass¡¯s brain? What a weird question. ¡°Then you should know how to do this question. Teach me.¡± Su Yue pointed to a question and glanced at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang was a little apprehensive. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat question?¡± It was a complex Chemistry formula and she couldn¡¯t even understand it. After bragging that she had graduated from Yizhong earlier on, she certainly couldn¡¯t tell the young lass that she couldn¡¯t do it. Zhou Shuang thought of an excuse and her eyes lit up. She smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Oops, I forgot to give your Third sister-in-law something.¡± She had barely finished her sentence when she turned on her heel and hurried away. Su Yue watched as Zhou Shuang vanished, and a devious smile appeared on her face. She bent her head and continued on her homework. Zhou Shuang fled into the kitchen where Xuxu was washing vegetables. She strode across and frowned. ¡°This cousin of Yan Rusheng is just like him. So unlikeable.¡± Xuxu grinned. ¡°I think it¡¯s just you.¡± It upset Zhou Shuang. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Xuxu raised an eyebrow. ¡°If you like my man, then what does that mean?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯ve changed!¡± Zhou Shuang stretched her hand and knocked her head. ¡°Your man?! Who was the girl who said she loathed Yan Rusheng because he was so pretentious that she even fought with him?¡± Xuxu blushed and bowed her head. She didn¡¯t respond. Zhou Shuang heaved a sigh. She then continued to tease her. ¡°If I knew you would eventually end up marrying him, I wouldn¡¯t have joined the fight and helped you. Both of you even forgot about that fight in the blink of an eye! Alas, after I joined your cause, that petty fellow held a grudge against me since then. Look at how he treats me as an eyesore. It¡¯s as if he couldn¡¯t wait for me to vanish forever!¡± Xuxu burst into laughter and thought, ¡®If Yan Rusheng heard this, he would have added that thank goodness you¡¯re not stupid.¡¯ ¡­ Xuxu cooked two simple dishes for lunch. After lunch, Su Yue revised her homework again with Xuxu coaching her. While Zhou Shuang, on the other hand, got bored. She had been switching the TV channels for the past half an hour, and there wasn¡¯t any show that had caught her eye. She put down the remote control and glanced at both of them. Her eyes lit up. ¡°Xuxu, let¡¯s play a game.¡± Wen Xuxu turned to her with an exasperated look. ¡°Can you not suggest something so silly?¡± Chapter 735. We’ll Know Soon Zhou Shuang¡¯s idea of a game was actually gambling. How could she teach Yueyue how to gamble? How could she even think of such? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with playing a game?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Playing a game can activate your brain cells, liven the atmosphere, develop team spirit and build your mental strength¡­¡± She was clear and logical in her argument. Liven the atmosphere, develop team spirit¡­ When Xuxu heard her blabbering, but she was a little hesitant. She silently watched Su Yue who sat on the side with her face void of expression. ¡®At her age, she doesn¡¯t seem to have anything she likes¡­¡¯ Zhou Shuang noticed that Xuxu was mulling over her words, and so she quickly strode over and pulled her up by the elbow. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s play for a while and take a break.¡± Then she went to drag Su Yue along. A crease appeared between Su Yue¡¯s eyebrows and she turned frigid. Xuxu noticed the change in her expression and wore a smile. ¡°Shall we play for a while? I¡¯m getting a little tired, so let¡¯s take a break before we get back to revision.¡± Su Yue immediately nodded and obediently agreed. ¡°Okay.¡± She pursed her lips. ¡°But I don¡¯t know how to play.¡± Xuxu said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll teach you.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and led her to the sofa. ¡°I have received a new stack of poker cards as a freebie gift.¡± Su Yue sat in between them and played with them. ¡­ The sky turned dark, and two men sat in the car, looking equally cold and stony. Both of them were wearing similar black suits, but they each exuded a different charm from one another. However, what they shared in common was both of their classes were extraordinary. ¡°Third Yan, what do you intend to do?¡± Ming Ansheng flicked the ashes from his cigarette out of the window. He then glanced at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression hardened. His eyes showed determination and his voice was icy and frightening. ¡°He had a choice to lead his life, but he chose to barge through the doors of Hell. I initially wanted to leave him alone until the election so he would still have a glimmer of hope. But now, I think he doesn¡¯t even deserve a chance.¡± He stretched his hand and dialed Young Master Mu¡¯s number. When the person picked up, he said, ¡°Qingteng, you can send Liu Changfu his gift now.¡± Then he instructed him with some other stuff and hung up. Ming Ansheng helplessly sighed. ¡°They should have stayed in their own lane and not strayed to ours.¡± Businessmen and government officials have always mutually depended on each other. Even if they didn¡¯t, they have no reason to offend one another. Just like other businessmen, they possessed incriminating pieces of evidence against some high-ranking officials. But they won¡¯t reveal it unless they were desperate or provoked. The officials usually had backers to back them up, because should they offend one, it would mean they have offended several others. This time around, Liu Changfu had indeed provoked Yan Rusheng. How dare he touch his family, especially Wen Xuxu? It was a blatant display of going up against him. If it was Ming Ansheng, he would do the same thing as well. ¡°But I don¡¯t understand why Liu Changfu has to provoke you during this crucial period.¡± It puzzled Ming Ansheng and suddenly felt suspicious. ¡°I think he isn¡¯t that stupid.¡± Yan Rusheng coldly sneered. ¡°So, I¡¯m merely sending him a ¡®gift¡¯ . We¡¯ll know soon if he is truly that stupid.¡± He activated the ignition button and was about to drive off when his phone rang. He glanced at his phone; Wen Xuxu was on the other line. Instinctively, he used a gentle voice to speak to her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± ¡°Mmm, chase her away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t need, I¡¯ll cook later.¡± Chapter 736. Arent You Smart? After briefly speaking with Xuxu, Yan Rusheng hung up. Ming Ansheng noticed that other than wearing a frown throughout the entire conversation, Yan Rusheng seemed rather helpless. He chuckled. ¡°Xuxu called? Did she ask you to cook?¡± He sounded certain even though he didn¡¯t hear what Xuxu said. He only heard Yan Rusheng replying that he would cook for her instead. Yan Rusheng glared at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting off?¡± Damn it, this fellow had overheard everything. Young Master Ming raised his hand and tightly clung on to the safety handle. ¡°No, I want to eat a free meal too. I¡¯ve rendered you my services, shouldn¡¯t you reward me?¡± Third Yan cooking a meal, how rare could it be. If he missed it, when would he be able to taste his cooking ever again? So, he would never get off the car, and later he would ask Lu Yinan to tag along. That guy would definitely make Third Yan explode in anger. ¡°Ming Ansheng, don¡¯t you dare regret.¡± Yan Rusheng fiercely glared at Young Master Ming and drove off. The car sped off at the speed of lightning. ¡­ ¡°Bomb!¡± ¡°Joker!¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, why do you still have a joker?¡± Su Yue had happily flaunted her last card. Just when she thought that she would win, Xuxu took out her trump card, and she pouted unhappily. She refused to accept the truth because she had assumed she was going to win, but in the next second, she would definitely going to lose. She had her last card, but she was bound to lose. ¡°Silly girl.¡± Xuxu smiled as she analyzed the situation. ¡°There are two kings which haven¡¯t appeared, and both of you didn¡¯t realize that I still have the joker card.¡± ¡°Little girl, don¡¯t worry!¡± Zhou Shuang cut across and consoled Su Yue. She coaxed her and said, ¡°You still have me! Let me beat her to a pulp.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Xuxu snorted with contempt and threw her last card. ¡°Airplane!¡± Zhou Shuang was angry, and she threw her card as well. She slyly looked at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯m here to defeat the airplane!¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. This hooligan! She looked at Su Yue and the little lass was still frowning, looking as though she couldn¡¯t accept her defeat. Xuxu patted her shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t brood over it. You can try again the next round. Be observant of your opponents¡¯ cards as well as yours. I¡¯m the host, but you must help other players as well. Make sure they would progress, too. This is cooperation, understand?¡± Su Yue began stacking the cards and dealing them. She uttered, ¡°Let¡¯s continue. I will remember all the cards so that I can win over Third sister-in-law.¡± Zhou Shuang laughed. ¡°Your third sister-in-law is the same as your third brother. They are smart in a perverted way, and they are scheming and devious. It¡¯s hard to win them.¡± Su Yue raised her head and innocently eyed Zhou Shuang. With a doubt hinting on her voice, she asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you smart?¡± Her tone and expression seemed to imply, ¡®I thought you were smart.¡¯ It rendered Zhou Shuang speechless. It was enough proof that she was indeed a Yan. Su Yue was a replica of Yan Rusheng¡ªboth possessed a vicious tongue. And she was merely his cousin. If she was his sister, how scary would she be? ¡®Ding, dong.¡¯ Su Yue was still dealing with the cards when the doorbell rang. Xuxu quipped, ¡°It must be your Third Brother.¡± Chapter 737. We Annihilated Them Xuxu stood up and went to the door. The first person she saw when she opened the door was a familiar face¡ªYan Rusheng¡¯s tall form appeared, looking sullen with a frown. However, Ming Ansheng stood behind him, and it surprised Xuxu to see him. After recovering herself, she curled her lips into a faint smile. ¡°Young Master Ming, you¡¯re here as well.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned when he heard how Xuxu addressed him. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you can call me Ming Ansheng or call me Ansheng like how Lu Yinan and the rest do. If you prefer to call me Sheng, I don¡¯t mind.¡± She had always been like this, trying to distance herself away from them. Actually, they had never offended her before. Yan Rusheng threw Young Master Ming a dirty look before Xuxu could even respond. ¡°I think she should call you despicable. That¡¯s more appropriate.¡± This vicious and mean tongue almost made Young Master Ming throw up blood. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth involuntarily jerked¡­ Yan Rusheng turned away from Ming Ansheng and promptly removed his shoes. He then stowed them away in the shoe cupboard. Upon noticing that only Wen Xuxu¡¯s shoes were inside, he turned towards Wen Xuxu to question her. ¡°Wife, where are my shoes?¡± ¡°I threw them away,¡± Xuxu replied in a heartbeat. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Why?¡± No matter how intelligent a person was, one was bound to make mistakes. Did he forget that they broke up? Furthermore, Xuxu was a direct and honest person, so she would just state the truth even if his close buddies were around. Xuxu quipped, ¡°I threw away all your belongings after I came back from Donghai.¡± She casually walked back to the sofa where Su Yue was still waiting for her to finish the game. ¡°Third Young Master, your stuff was all thrown away. Did you hear that? Your wife¡¯s apartment doesn¡¯t even have a pair of your bedroom slippers.¡± Ming Ansheng put his hand on Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders and shook his head, stifling his laughter. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what to say, you lead a really good life.¡± He removed his shoes, kept his socks on and walked towards the sofa. ¡°Hi, Miss Zhou the great beauty,¡± cheerily said Ming Ansheng as she looked at Zhou Shuang. However, his footsteps advanced towards Su Yue. Zhou Shuang saw Ming Ansheng and used her card to cover her nose and mouth. She bashfully said, ¡°Young Master Ming, stop making fun of me.¡± To Xuxu, she could only use a word to describe Zhou Shuang. ¡®Posturing!¡¯ Xuxu sternly glared at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Can¡¯t you talk normally for once?¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes. ¡°You are so boring.¡± Ming Ansheng ignored Xuxu and Zhou Shuang¡¯s banter, and he settled himself comfortably beside Su Yue. He smiled as he sized up the cards she was holding. ¡°Little lass, you know how to play this game?¡± Su Yue was focused on her cards and ignored Ming Ansheng. In other words, she didn¡¯t seem to hear Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was already accustomed to her attitude. ¡°Are you the host?¡± Finally, Su Yue responded and nodded. She pulled out a card and was about to throw it. Ming Ansheng stopped her in time. ¡°Silly girl, this can be coupled with another one. Then, they won¡¯t be able to do anything.¡± He helped her to re-arrange her cards and took out a set and put it on the table. Then he confidently glanced at Xuxu and Zhou Shuang. Xuxu and Zhou Shuang shook their heads. ¡°Use this now.¡± Ming Ansheng brought out the cards with three kings, and it did succeed in stopping them. He threw out the remaining cards from Su Yue¡¯s hand and proclaimed, ¡°Look, we annihilated them and this doubled the stakes.¡± Chapter 739. I’ve Faith in You Yan Rusheng suddenly stretched his hand and snatched the set from Xuxu. He slammed the cards on the table. ¡°We crushed you!¡± Su Yue felt dejected. ¡°I wanted to use my card.¡± She kept her card and felt gloomy. Xuxu saw her, and she cast an angry glare at the man next to her. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you scram to the kitchen?¡± He was being a nuisance. It rendered Yan Rusheng speechless. He glanced at Zhou Shuang and Ming Ansheng instinctively, but Zhou Shuang was too absorbed in her own cards. From Yan Rusheng¡¯s glance, she realized and guffawed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you scram to the kitchen?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell. With a light tone, Ming Ansheng spoke, ¡°Third Yan, I forgot to inform you that Lu Yinan is on the way. Both of us are eagerly waiting to try your cooking.¡± ¡°I will make sure that it¡¯s an unforgettable experience.¡± Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth with fury, rose, and left for the kitchen. He thought of something and spun around to put on Xuxu¡¯s slippers. It was pink and dainty. And the slippers on his huge feet seemed¡­ ridiculous. Xuxu glanced at him and loudly chuckled. There was a sweetness mixed in her smile that even she didn¡¯t notice. Lu Yinan arrived shortly in a coffee-colored coat. He was wearing his usual pair of gold-rimmed spectacles that made him look refined and gentlemanly. He couldn¡¯t find any slippers and walked in with his socks. ¡°Where is Third Yan?¡± Young Master Lu casually glanced at the table where they were playing cards, but couldn¡¯t spot Yan Rusheng anywhere in sight. He could barely conceal the evil smile any longer as his eyes playfully twinkled. He promptly spun around and walked to the kitchen. Yan Rusheng was wearing a pink floral apron with a pair of dainty-looking slippers. He held a cleaver in a hand and a bunch of vegetables in the other. He was staring rather maliciously at the unwanted intruder, Lu Yinan. He knew that Lu Yinan had arrived when the doorbell rang, and he had a hunch that he would definitely come to the kitchen to tease him. Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes met Yan Rusheng¡¯s and instinctively, he shrunk. ¡°Third Yan, what a good husband. I¡¯ve faith in you.¡± Glancing at the cleaver in Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand, he decided to flee as quickly as he could before the thing would split his head into half. He shut the door after him. He stood by the sofa and looked at the group of people sitting cross-legged on the carpet. He smiled with an air of elegance. ¡°So you guys are playing cards.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyelids fluttered and eyed Lu Yinan. She dramatically proclaimed, ¡°Eh, you¡¯re here, fake refined guy.¡± Young Master Lu¡¯s face fell. He frowned and glared at her. ¡°Why are you such an unlikeable woman?¡± Zhou Shuang ignored him and kept her eyes on her cards. She snorted. ¡°What¡¯s the use of being liked by you?¡± They loved to banter whenever they meet. Lu Yinan sneered with disdain. ¡°Not just me, but disliked by everyone else.¡± He walked to Ming Ansheng and sat down on the sofa. He then looked at Su Yue¡¯s cards. Wen Xuxu beckoned to him. ¡°Come over Young Master Lu, you should play.¡± Lu Yinan declined. ¡°You continue, I¡¯ll just watch.¡± Chapter 738. I Finally Won ¡°I finally won.¡± Su Yue clapped happily. Her actions attracted Xuxu and Yan Rusheng¡¯s attention, especially Ming Ansheng. This was the first time she had such a bright smile on her face among their various encounters. He had never seen her with any dramatic expressions or emotions. Except for yesterday when she bawled as she hugged him, but she was smiling happily today. He thought it was only normal for girls of her age to be able to laugh, cry, whine, and pout. Su Yue was still dwelling on her victory when Xuxu snapped out of her reverie. She smiled and stretched her hands towards the cards. ¡°Let¡¯s play another round.¡± True enough, the environment could affect a person¡¯s personality and mood. Su Yue didn¡¯t live in such a happy and relaxed environment, hence that explains her aloofness. Fortunately, she was still young, and it wasn¡¯t too late for changes. If she continued to lead her previous life for a few more years, it might be too late by then. Xuxu dealt the card, and the host was Zhou Shuang this time. Su Yue began to arrange her cards and glanced happily at Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s work together to defeat this hooligan.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s face hardened, and she fiercely glared at Su Yue. ¡°Little one, who are you referring to?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Su Yue to answer. She immediately threw a murderous glare at Yan Rusheng who sitting beside Xuxu. ¡°You must be the one who taught her!¡± Su Yue casually glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°You always say, f*ck and cr*p.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuxu and Ming Ansheng burst into laughter, even Yan Rusheng grinned. She was indeed related to Yan Rusheng. This innocent and naive girl, with an exquisite and pretty face, spewing out vulgarities really made a weird combination. Xuxu felt that Su Yue really resembled Yan Rusheng in certain aspects. Mean, devious, proud, and aloof. They would think that you¡¯re annoying if you say anything useless or extra. And occasionally, they would exterminate you with just a word. Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth in anger and knocked Su Yue¡¯s head. ¡°Little pretentious one! You¡¯re being led astray by your Third Brother, the original pretentious one!¡± She dealt out a full set and threw it on the table. ¡°There!¡± Su Yue peered at the cards Zhou Shuang had just thrown on the table. She excitedly said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want this.¡± She counted her cards and then put hers on top of Zhou Shuang¡¯s cards. ¡°Mine¡¯s bigger.¡± Su Yue was triumphant, and she beamed brightly. She was smiling from ear to ear, even her eyes. ¡°Pass.¡± ¡°This.¡± Su Yue flung a card which she had long wanted to throw out. Ming Ansheng stopped her once more. ¡°No, this can form a set with the others.¡± He helped her with her cards. A handsome, muscular, and wealthy young man would certainly possess a pair of good-looking hands. When he placed his huge hands next to Su Yue¡¯s tiny hands, they completely fit each other. ¡°Continue with this set.¡± Ming Ansheng threw five cards away. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t do anything and she glared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Fine!¡± Then she said angrily to Xuxu, ¡°I¡¯ll pass!¡± Xuxu was about to say pass as well to let Su Yue win. Chapter 740. Don’t Be Such a Thug The game was too boring for Lu Yinan¡¯s taste. Xuxu insisted. ¡°You replace me, I¡¯ll help Yan Rusheng.¡± She stuffed the cards into Lu Yinan¡¯s hands. ¡°I don¡¯t want. Ansheng you take over.¡± Lu Yinan quickly stuffed the cards on Ming Ansheng¡¯s hands. Ming Ansheng refused. ¡°Su Yue doesn¡¯t know how to play. I¡¯ll guide her.¡± Lu Yinan flung his cards on the table. ¡°It¡¯s too boring, I don¡¯t want to play.¡± He settled comfortably on the sofa and whipped out his phone. He grinned mischievously. ¡°I want to show Ah Heng photos of Third Yan being domesticated and docile. Then he will know how pathetic Third Yan had become after marrying Wen Xuxu.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Zhou Shuang pointed at Lu Yinan. She lectured, ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re heartless.¡± Did he think Ah Heng didn¡¯t suffer enough? Lu Yinan glanced at her and lifted his eyebrows. ¡°Am I worse than you?¡± Ming Ansheng added, ¡°Both of you are equally heartless.¡± He glanced at Su Yue who sat beside him, her head bowed. She was still looking intently at her own cards, completely oblivious to her surroundings. He was really curious. If she was on a battlefield, would she still remain so composed and lost in her own thoughts? Ming Ansheng recalled how Su Yue had smiled so happily when she won earlier. He then glared at Lu Yinan. ¡°Lu Yinan, are you going to play or not?!¡± Zhou Shuang intercepted Lu Yinan and answered on his behalf. ¡°Ha, this game requires intelligence. It would expose how dumb he is, of course, he won¡¯t dare to play.¡± Mockery and contempt had filled in her every word. Actually, she wasn¡¯t trying to egg him on but Young Master Lu couldn¡¯t take her insult lying down. He agilely sprang up and angrily glared at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Female hooligan! Today I, the grand master, will let you witness my prowess.¡± This woman needs to be taught a harsh lesson. He paused for a second. ¡°Let¡¯s use something like a stake. It¡¯s meaningless if there wasn¡¯t any.¡± Zhou Shuang lifted her eyebrows. ¡°Are you trying to teach this little girl how to gamble with money?¡± ¡°Do you think money is a source of motivation for me?¡± Lu Yinan playfully grinned as his eyes twinkled. ¡°Since you love being a hooligan, then do you dare to take off your clothes if you lose?¡± Zhou Shuang was a girl who couldn¡¯t resist a challenge, especially if she was provoked by her enemy. She nodded without a second thought. ¡°Mr. Fake, since you dared me to do it, why would I be afraid of you?¡± She was confident that with her skills and experience, she could beat Young Master Lu. And furthermore, she wore quite a few layers of clothes that day. ¡°Both of you, enough!¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s face turned stony as he glanced at Su Yue. He really had an urge to fling both Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang out of the window. One was a wolf pretending to be a sheep, while the female one was actually a beast and a man. Both of them were leading a child astray. Zhou Shuang finally remembered the deal about Su Yue, and so she admonished Lu Yinan. ¡°Lu Yinan, don¡¯t be such a thug. There is a child here.¡± Su Yue placed her cards on the table and stood up slowly. ¡°Little lass, where are you going?¡± Ming Ansheng stood up and offered to support her but as expected, she declined his help. She limped towards Xuxu¡¯s room, and no matter how they called her, she didn¡¯t respond. She shut the door after her and locked it. In the kitchen. Xuxu stared at Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands as he was cutting potatoes. Her mouth was slightly hanging open. Chapter 741. You’ll Know When You Watch the News Later Yan Rusheng spun his head after he cut a potato. He winked seductively at Xuxu. ¡°Wife, am I dashing?¡± Xuxu snapped out of her daze and pursed her lips. In order to conceal her real thoughts, she snapped at him. ¡°Oh, please. Qi Lei can do this better than you.¡± But in reality, she swooned at the sight of him earlier on. His pair of perfect-looking and beautiful hands were very charming when he typed. Who knew he could be so charming even when he was cooking as well? She had already betrayed her own feelings when she pursed her lips earlier on. Yan Rusheng grinned. ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± He extended his neck and inched forward towards Xuxu¡¯s face. The gorgeous face loomed in front of her, and Xuxu felt her cheeks were as red as a tomato. She bashfully shoved him away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop playing.¡± She looked exceptionally alluring, and Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°You promised to give me a kiss.¡± Then he gave her a swift peck on her cheek. Xuxu blushed harder, and she threw a swift glance at the window. She lectured him with a frown. ¡°The window is still open, what are you trying to do?¡± He merely wanted to tease her, but the kiss had stirred his dormant desire. Yan Rusheng placed the cleaver down and pulled Xuxu towards him. He bent and lowered his head to kiss her forehead. ¡°Does it matter if it¡¯s open? You¡¯re my wife, what¡¯s wrong with a kiss?¡± Xuxu still felt awkward and pushed him. ¡°Ah Sheng, stop fooling around.¡± It overjoyed Yan Rusheng when she called him ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯ . He literally melted, and he squeezed his arms around her tightly. He bent and rested his chin on Xuxu¡¯s head. A tender smile appeared on his face. ¡°Wen Xuxu, how did you end up as my wife? You¡¯re really fierce.¡± Wonderful memories flashed across their minds as they embraced. Time seemed to stop and everything went quiet. Xuxu wound her arms around Yan Rusheng¡¯s waist tightly. She muttered, ¡°I wonder who it was who said that I was too fierce and that I won¡¯t be able to get married when I grow up.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°Exactly. Other than me, who else would marry you? Who would dare to?¡± Then he gently pushed Xuxu away, kissed her lips¡ªhe had caught her by surprise. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± She struggled instinctively but within seconds she had completely surrendered to his passionate kiss. Both of them hugged each other tightly. The kiss they shared couldn¡¯t compensate for the two months of yearning and desire that Yan Rusheng had towards Xuxu. He tightened his grip as though he couldn¡¯t wait to bury her inside of him at that very second. Xuxurusheng. His Xuxu. But alas, heavens wasn¡¯t cooperating and disrupted their wonderful time. Just when they were engaged in a passionate kiss, Yan Rusheng¡¯s phone rang. He slightly frowned with annoyance and intended to ignore the ringing. But Xuxu couldn¡¯t, and so she jerked and pushed him away. ¡°Your phone.¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± said Yan Rusheng. He wanted to see which wretched person had disrupted them. Yan Rusheng turned solemn when he saw the screen. Xuxu felt anxious, and she peeked curiously at his phone. ¡°Who is it?¡± Mu Qingteng¡¯s name was displayed. ¡°Qingteng.¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s what I want.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet for a drink soon.¡± After Yan Rusheng ended the call, Xuxu asked, ¡°Why did Mu Qingteng call you?¡± Yan Rusheng gave her a mysterious smile. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you¡¯ll watch the news later.¡± Chapter 742. Silly Lass, Aren’t You Feeling Warm? Xuxu grunted in response. Usually, she could suppress her curiosity, and since he had said that she would know later on, then she should wait¡ªthere was no hurry. Yan Rusheng turned on the tap and continued to wash the vegetables. Xuxu walked over. ¡°What happened to the kidnappers who had injuries? Did the police update you?¡± Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°They brought them back to the station.¡± It puzzled Xuxu. ¡°Weren¡¯t their injuries serious?¡± Especially the guy who suffered a concussion after getting kicked by Ming Ansheng. Su Yue had stabbed the other two on the back. However, why is it that all of them were brought to the station after a night? Were they not afraid that they haven¡¯t fully recovered? Yan Rusheng coldly sneered. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that someone wanted to bail them out.¡± Xuxu widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Their leader?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t answer her question and gave her a rather vague response. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you watch the news later.¡± Xuxu frowned. She thought, ¡°Why is this fellow acting so mysterious?¡± ¡°I wonder what punishment they would receive? I hope it¡¯s severe enough. Yueyue¡­¡± She stopped midway and sighed. ¡°What will happen to the little girl in future? Let¡¯s bring her out to play soon.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± He extended his hand and took the plate from Xuxu¡¯s hand. ¡°You go out first. There will be a lot of smoke in the kitchen later.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so delicate.¡± Xuxu frowned although she felt rather blissful. She leaned against the sink. ¡°But I¡¯m worried about my son.¡± Young Master Yan suddenly bent his back and tenderly kissed Xuxu¡¯s belly. With his voice laced with pity, he said, ¡°Son, hurry and come out soon. If not, your daddy will die from suppressing his desires.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell¡­ Initially, it was such a heartwarming and touching scene but his words ruined it. She stretched her hand and knocked his head forcefully. ¡°Thug!¡± She spun around and left the kitchen. Xuxu saw Su Yue walking out from her room. She was wearing her windbreaker, but most importantly, she seemed to be wearing many layers underneath. She looked exceedingly bloated. Her head was tiny while her body had expanded. She looked unbalanced. She doubtfully questioned her. ¡°Yueyue, what is this all about?¡± Su Yue pointed to the sofa. And with all her naivety, she said, ¡°They wanted to continue playing, but whoever loses will have to take off their clothes. So, I put on more layers.¡± Zhou Shuang guffawed. ¡± Pfft . This tiny pretentious girl is too adorable!¡± Ming Ansheng, Xuxu, and Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t help but twitch their mouths. Ming Ansheng frowned as he grinned. ¡°Silly lass, aren¡¯t you feeling warm?¡± Su Yue quipped, ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s not warm.¡± Zhou Shuang was still laughing. Ming Ansheng glared at her with disapproval in his eyes, and it seemed to say, ¡®It¡¯s all your fault.¡¯ He then shot a sharp stare at Lu Yinan as well. These two atrocious fellows had suggested something so ridiculous. And this silly girl really took their words with all seriousness to the extent that she came out with so many layers of clothing. Everyone assumed that she had fled after hearing about the stakes. ¡°Take them off, it¡¯s too warm.¡± Xuxu walked to Su Yue and helped to unbutton her windbreaker. Chapter 743. Nothing to Worry Su Yue stopped Xuxu, and she said, ¡°It¡¯s alright Third sister-in-law. I¡¯m really not warm.¡± Xuxu frowned and thought to herself, ¡®This lass!¡¯ She helplessly sighed and flashed her an affectionate smile before turning away. She scanned the group of friends before glaring at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Who suggested this atrocious penalty?¡± Although she directed the question at everyone, it was obvious that she was referring to Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang immediately protested. ¡°Did you get it wrong? Do I look like someone who¡¯d do such a thing?¡± Zhou Shuang feigned a pitiful expression and extended her finger at Lu Yinan. She coldly sneered. ¡°It¡¯s Lu Yinan who suggested taking off clothes.¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t deny and glared at Zhou Shuang. ¡°It was you who overestimated your own capability.¡± Zhou Shuang was livid. ¡°But who was the one who had overestimated hiscapability?¡± Both of them seemed to have activated their battle mode. While Ming Ansheng stared at them, his head throbbed. He rose and walked towards Su Yue. ¡°Go remove your clothes. We¡¯ll have dinner soon.¡± ¡°But I want to play.¡± Su Yue bent her head and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m wearing many layers.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu and Ming Ansheng pursed their lips and were speechless. ¡°Alright, go ahead and play,¡± Xuxu answered. She held Su Yue¡¯s arm and supported her as she sat down, she followed suit after. Su Yue dealt the cards. Zhou Shuang was a little apprehensive when she saw how interested Su Yue looked. Her mouth twitched as she asked, ¡°Little lass, are you serious about removing your clothes?¡± Su Yue looked at Zhou Shuang as she dealt the cards. She then directed a question to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Didn¡¯t you claim that you would dare to play anything?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± It stumped Zhou Shuang for words. Lu Yinan seized the chance to mock her. ¡°Exactly. Who was it who loudly declared that she¡¯d dare do anything? But it looks like someone is backing away.¡± Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth, apparently feeling provoked by Lu Yinan. ¡°Mr. Fake, your death is near.¡± Lu Yinan carried on. ¡°Don¡¯t boast. We will all witness you doing a naked dance later.¡± Everyone arranged their own cards. Zhou Shuang suddenly beckoned to Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, come over and help me.¡± She was feeling a little jittery inside. If only Su Yue didn¡¯t put on so many additional layers. She thought she had worn enough layers, but after comparing to Su Yue¡¯s layers of clothes, hers was insufficient. Xuxu was smarter than her. She nearly won every game earlier on. Xuxu glanced at Su Yue and saw that Ming Ansheng was helping her. In that case, she had nothing to worry about. She stood up and sat beside Zhou Shuang. Lu Yinan was the host for the first round and he dealt a set of five cards. No one could follow him so he dealt another single card. Su Yue and Zhou Shuang dealt a card each. Lu Yinan dealt with his final cards, and it was clear that he would win. ¡°Hahaha! I won! It¡¯s a double penalty, so remove two layers.¡± Young Master Lu looked at Zhou Shuang with an evil smile. Double penalty, two layers¡­ Everyone¡¯s mouths twitched. Zhou Shuang peered at her own clothes and debated with Lu Yinan. ¡°If this is really a double penalty, does that mean we would have to peel off our skin if our clothes are not enough?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a sore loser.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes twinkled. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to admit defeat, it¡¯s fine with me. Hug my leg and apologize. And don¡¯t forget to write a letter saying that if you see me in the future, you have to make a detour to avoid me.¡± Chapter 744. The Older They Get, the Less Thoughtful They Become Zhou Shuang was speechless. ¡°It¡¯s just two layers, anyway.¡± She stretched her hand to grab her jacket lying on the sofa. She put it on, took it off and remove her vest. She only had a tight-fitting long-sleeved top left. ¡°You¡¯re really flat!¡± sneered Lu Yinan with contempt as he eyed Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest. Then he shuffled the cards. Zhou Shuang glared at him. ¡°What d*ck business has it got to do with you?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s face lit up with a mischievous and a devious smile. ¡°Of course, it doesn¡¯t concern any of my d*ck business.¡± It sounded coarse and¡­ suggestive. Even the tough Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t help but blush. ¡°You¡­¡± She wanted to yell at him but realized that he had gained the upper hand. So she clammed up and decided to be a coward. Xuxu really felt like strangling Lu Yinan. This fake pretentious guy had always put on such a refined and cultured facade. She wanted to snatch his spectacles and smash it. Ming Ansheng glanced at Su Yue¡¯s innocent-looking face. He then grabbed some napkins and hurled them at Young Master Lu¡¯s face. ¡°Lu Yinan, can you talk appropriately?¡± Lu Yinan smirked and winked at Su Yue who was sitting beside Ming Ansheng. ¡°Little Yueyue, shall we work together to remove this female thug¡¯s clothes?¡± Su Yue ignored him and remained impassive. Young Master Lu was being treated as though he was invisible and he felt rather upset. He shuffled the cards to begin the next round. Su Yue was the host for this round and she was eagerly waiting for her turn. But when she saw her cards, a crease appeared in between her eyebrows. Her cards didn¡¯t seem too good. Her face revealed her thoughts. Lu Yinan glanced at her, looking smug. ¡°Little girl, your cards aren¡¯t good?¡± He stretched his neck towards her with an impish grin. Ming Ansheng extended his hand and blocked his view with his huge hand. He also blocked Su Yue¡¯s cards. He glared at Lu Yinan. Then with a sharp tone of voice, he spoke, ¡°Concentrate on yours.¡± Lu Yinan was annoyed with Ming Ansheng. ¡°Hey, Ming Ansheng, if you had a younger sister, I reckon you would spoil and protect her at all costs.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t respond and guided Su Yue seriously. ¡°You can pair this together with this.¡± ¡­ The Yan mansion. Aunt Zhang put the dishes on the dining table and walked out of the dining room. She walked towards Jiang Qinglian in the living room. ¡°First Madam, dinner is ready.¡± Jiang Qinglian was starting at the TV screen in a daze. When she heard Aunt Zhang¡¯s voice, she glanced at the clock and said, ¡°Third Yan and Xuxu are not back yet.¡± ¡°Third Master, Third Madam Yan, and Young Miss¡­¡± Aunt Zhang hastily stopped talking. ¡°They are not coming back for dinner tonight.¡± Jiang Qinglian weakly smiled. ¡°The older they get, the less thoughtful they become.¡± She sounded disappointed. Aunt Zhang heard what he had said, she then spoke on behalf of Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. ¡°Miss Su Yue should be still in the hospital, maybe that¡¯s why they are still outside.¡± Jiang Qinglian peered down at her hands. She softly said, ¡°Just put the food there, I¡¯ll eat later.¡± She took the remote control and switched channels. ¡®Xuxu, can you be my daughter?¡¯ ¡®Xuxu is First Aunt and Aunt Mu Li¡¯s daughter. I¡¯ll be filial to you even when I grow up.¡¯ She reminisced about the fond memories she had. Disappointment surged in her chest. After all, she wasn¡¯t her real daughter. Runan had made such a huge mistake because he wanted to protect his mother. She hated Yan Weiye and that mistress¡­ She looked around the empty living room and a cold smile flitted across her face. She had no idea what was in store for her beloved son, Runan, for tomorrow. Chapter 745. Why Do You Have to Resort to Violence?! ¡®Today, the authorities received an anonymous email reporting that Liu Changfu, the Capital City Committee Secretary, is dealing with corruption and embezzling money. It further accused him of keeping a mistress. The email contained a few photos as evidence where it showed Liu Changfu together with a slim lady. However, since there is insufficient evidence, investigations are underway¡­¡¯ Nowadays, news of government officials¡¯ corruption and embezzlement are rampant. So Jiang Qinglian didn¡¯t pay attention to this particular news. The telephone suddenly rang, and she glanced at it. She put down the remote control and answered. ¡°Hello.¡± Xuxu was on the other line. ¡°First Aunt? This is Xuxu. Tonight we won¡¯t be coming home for dinner.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Jiang Qinglian nonchalantly answered. She said nothing further. Xuxu continued, ¡°Yan Rusheng will be back soon.¡± Jiang Qinglian asked, ¡°How about you?¡± Xuxu chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m staying at my grandfather¡¯s place. I¡¯ll go back tomorrow.¡± Jiang Qinglian grunted in response before excusing herself. ¡°I¡¯m eating dinner soon, so I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± She hung up and glanced at the TV screen. It was another news reporting the imprisonment of a certain government official. Every time she heard the word prison, her heart would uneasily prickle. She couldn¡¯t sit by and idle regarding Runan¡¯s matter. She had to find Wang Bin before the police do. Jiang Qinglian grabbed her phone and dialed Yan Weiye¡¯s number. ¡°Do you have Wang Bin¡¯s house number?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask me why. Just send me.¡± ¡°If you and I both don¡¯t care, what will happen to our son?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± A text shortly came after she hung up. She stood up and walked towards the dining room and dialed a number. ¡°Hello, is this Wang Bin¡¯s wife? I am Jiang Qinglian¡­¡± ¡­ Xuxu hung up and glumly stared at her phone. Yan Rusheng passed her a bowl full of vegetables and meat. He then noticed her expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu put down her phone and pursed her lips. She glanced at Su Yue who was busy eating and shook her head. ¡°Nothing much, let¡¯s eat.¡± She knew that First Aunt was upset with them. It wasn¡¯t often that First Aunt came to visit, aside from that, Second Brother¡¯s issue wasn¡¯t settled yet. And now, she and Yan Rusheng were both away and wouldn¡¯t come home for dinner, and to cap it off, they were with Su Yue. It was expected that First Aunt wouldn¡¯t be happy. If she was in First Aunt¡¯s shoes, she would also have the same reaction. Yan Rusheng knew that Xuxu had some reservations, hence she didn¡¯t speak the truth. He didn¡¯t press on, but he continued adding her favorite food to her bowl. Zhou Shuang grumbled when she saw that the plate of prawns was about to be emptied. ¡°Third Yan, you only prepared a plate of prawns? Ming Ansheng kept eagerly adding prawns to your sister¡¯s plate, and you gave all to your wife. What about us?¡± Yan Rusheng glared at her. ¡°If you don¡¯t talk, no one would think you¡¯re mute.¡± He felt indignant that he had to cook this female hooligan¡¯s share for that meal. Lu Yinan added on right after Yan Rusheng. ¡°No matter how much you eat, there is no way you can salvage your figure.¡± He turned his head and glanced at Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest. He continued to be sarcastic. ¡°Our hospital is having a discount for boob enhancement. If you do the left, the right is free. I strongly recommend you to go for it.¡± Zhou Shuang was livid and hit him on his chest. ¡°Hey, Lu Yinan. How about you? Where is your six-pack that a man should possess?¡± ¡°Hooligan, why do you have to resort to violence?¡± Lu Yinan jumped up and covered his chest. He was half-naked as he had lost in the previous round. Chapter 746. Why Did He Want to Harm Me? Zhou Shuang shot a menacing glare at Lu Yinan. ¡°Stop acting like a gay. It¡¯s time to come out of your closet.¡± ¡°Female thug, I shan¡¯t lower myself to you.¡± Lu Yinan turned back to the sofa to pick up his shirt. He then put it on. Wearing his light pink shirt, he was the refined and cultured Young Master Lu once again. Although he wasn¡¯t a brawny man, his set of faintly discernible collarbones made him appear unique and indescribably alluring. His exceptionally long eyelashes and deep slender eyes were naturally charming, too. Zhou Shuang shot him a glance and added, ¡°No matter how I look at you, you¡¯re still a sissy.¡± Despite being a man, he possessed some feminine traits. After finishing his dinner, Lu Yinan left the dinner table and went to turn on the TV. Because of Old Master Lu¡¯s influence, he was used to watching military news from a young age. Out of habit, he switched to the military channel. ¡®Today, the authorities received an anonymous email reporting that Liu Changfu, the Capital City Committee Secretary, is dealing with corruption and embezzling money. It further accused him of keeping a mistress. The Chief of Staff, Huang Xulai from the Capital City¡¯s Military District XX Department, has been reported to be connected with Liu Changfu¡¯s case. Investigations are underway. As it may possibly involve more government officials, the country¡¯s leader is paying great attention to this case, and has ordered a thorough investigation¡­¡¯ With the exception of Su Yue, when everyone at the dinner table heard the news, a strange expression flashed across their faces. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows while her eyes were glued to the television screen. She leaned over to Yan Rusheng and whispered, ¡°Is this the news that you wanted me to watch?¡± Her voice sounded certain. Yan Rusheng smiled and winked at her. ¡°You are no doubt, my intelligent wife.¡± ¡°Why does Secretary Liu want to protect those hooligans?¡± Xuxu suspiciously narrowed her eyes, and before Yan Rusheng could respond, she hazarded a guess. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he sent those hooligans to kidnap Yueyue?¡± She frowned again in doubt. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, did he also instigate the two thugs to create chaos at the stall two months ago?¡± But what was Secretary Liu¡¯s motives behind all those? Although Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t like him, they didn¡¯t have any head-on clash before. He couldn¡¯t be so foolish to vent out his anger towards Yan Rusheng in such a manner. He wouldn¡¯t take such a big risk to harm her and kidnap Su Yue just because Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t like him or showed him any respect. No matter how Xuxu pondered over it, it just made no sense. As the Capital City¡¯s committee secretary, he couldn¡¯t have been such an idiot to stoop to such a level. Lost in her thoughts, Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice casually sounded in her ears. ¡°Wife, wait patiently. There¡¯ll be more to come.¡± Seeing the mysterious yet alluring smile on his charming face, Xuxu struck her fist on his back with resentment. ¡°You¡¯re so bad. If I was Zhou Shuang, I would definitely scratch your face.¡± He always loved keeping her on tenterhooks. If it wasn¡¯t because she could suppress her inquisitiveness, he would have badly perturbed her. If it was Zhou Shuang, she would definitely kick up a fuss until he revealed the truth. Zhou Shuang, who was seated across Xuxu, heard her name being called. So she raised her head in annoyance and snapped, ¡°Hey, hey, hey, why am I caught in your crossfire? Why are you talking about me? What about me?¡± She had now become the butt of their criticism. Xuxu waved her hand at Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°Nothing concerns you. Just carry on eating.¡± ¡°Hateful.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at Xuxu before continuing with her dinner. She and Su Yue were fighting over the plate of braised pork ribs. Xuxu leaned towards Yan Rusheng again and whispered, ¡°Why did Secretary Liu want to harm me?¡± Chapter 747. Looks Like It’s Really Him Yan Rusheng grinned at her. ¡°Xuxu, you are getting more impatient.¡± Xuxu frowned and pouted as she grumbled. ¡°After being so tolerant and restrained for so many years, I¡¯m about to explode soon.¡± Did he think it was her choice to remain calm and composed in the face of any situations? If she wasn¡¯t able to suppress her curiosity, then how could she have suppressed her feelings towards him? If she didn¡¯t manage to control her emotions back then, the outcome of their relationship would have been different today. Yan Rusheng knew what Xuxu meant and felt sorry as he looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m glad you know.¡± After chiding her gently, he suddenly lowered his head and pressed his lips on her ears. ¡°I can¡¯t hold back anymore, so can I hug you tonight?¡± Even though his posture looked as if he was whispering sweet nothings, his voice was loud enough for Lu Yinan to hear from the sofa where he was seated. Zhou Shuang cast an angry glare at him from the opposite end of the table. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m still eating. Can you be more considerate?¡± After that, she pointed to Su Yue who was seated beside her. ¡°There¡¯s still a child here too.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Zhou Shuang with a blank face. ¡°One day, the heavens will punish you.¡± One day, he will make her stay far away from his wife. It seemed as if he had been making such a vow in his heart all these while. ¡°I¡¯m done eating, and I¡¯ll go and do my homework now. Can we continue with our card game later?¡± Su Yue finished drinking the last drop of her soup. She put down her bowl before looking at Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu, after that she grinned widely. Throughout dinner, she was her usual cool and aloof self. She hardly uttered a word. But all of a sudden, she turned cheeky and lively that it had caught everyone by surprise. It caused Ming Ansheng, who sat beside her, to think women are capricious and it had nothing to do with age. This young lady before his eyes was a classic example. Without waiting for the rest to respond to her question, Su Yue stood up from the dining table. She was about to walk towards the balcony where she had left her schoolwork. Xuxu saw her limping and immediately got up to support her. ¡°Yueyue, sleep early. The doctor said that you need more rest.¡± Xuxu held on to Su Yue and discussed with her as they walked. ¡°Shall we continue with the game tomorrow instead?¡± Su Yue nodded her head in obedience. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll finish up my work now.¡± Xuxu felt comforted and smiled. ¡°Good.¡± Yueyue is actually a sensible and obedient child towards someone who she had placed in her heart. She was almost willing to listen to that person. Xuxu supported Su Yue to the balcony to sit down before switching on the balcony lights. Out of concern, she asked, ¡°Do you feel cold? If so, I¡¯ll help you to bring your work to the room instead.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m fine here.¡± After saying that, she picked up her pen and started with her revision. Xuxu left her alone and strode past her slowly. When she walked past the sofa, she halted her steps. The news about Liu Changfu was still airing on the TV. The election for a new leader was at hand, and he would no longer have the chance to be re-elected as the Capital City¡¯s Committee Secretary¡ªnot even a promotion. But then again he deserved it because when he was still in power, he was always pitted against the people. ¡°Want to see me?¡± Xuxu stared at the TV screen and spaced out when Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from the dining room. She looked over at him and saw him talking on the phone. She raised her feet and walked over. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to see him.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up just when Xuxu walked over to him. She sat down and looked at him. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Liu Changfu wants to see me,¡± replied Yan Rusheng. At the mention of Liu Changfu, a streak of coldness shot across his eyes and he was exploding with hostility. Xuxu sneered. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s really him.¡± Chapter 748. A Good Wife and a Loving Mother Yan Rusheng curiously looked at Xuxu. ¡°How could you tell?¡± Xuxu raised her eyebrows and asked a question in return. ¡°Otherwise, how would he know that it¡¯s you?¡± ¡°Smart!¡± Yan Rusheng lowered his head and planted a kiss on Xuxu¡¯s forehead. ¡°I might need to go out for a while tonight. Sleep early with Su Yue.¡± Xuxu nodded and hummed in agreement, she then instructed him, ¡°You better go back early tonight. First Aunt might be unhappy.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and responded, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, I have a question which I don¡¯t know how to do.¡± Su Yue suddenly shouted. ¡°Coming,¡± Xuxu responded before getting up and walked over. ¡°Which subject is it?¡± She walked over to Su Yue and looked at the mock paper she was doing before raising an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s chemistry again.¡± Her chemistry results were average since middle school. Hearing this, Lu Yinan¡ªwho was still seated at the sofa¡ªcrossed his legs and smiled. He said, ¡°For chemistry, you should approach Uncle Ming as he¡¯s the No.1 student in our class. Your Third sister-in-law is not omnipotent.¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Ming Ansheng walked past him towards Su Yue. Xuxu gave up her space for him. ¡°Can you please teach her? This girl is just like me, a fast learner in anything except chemistry.¡± After that, she turned around and walked back to Yan Rusheng. Ming Ansheng pulled a stool over and sat next to Su Yue. He studied the questions in her mock paper and smiled. ¡°Little lass, who taught you all these?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only got three questions correct,¡± Ming Ansheng said, ¡°It¡¯s not considered wrong, but still not completely correct.¡± Ming Ansheng propped a free hand on his cheek while the other pointed to the questions in the exam paper. He then thoroughly explained the equation to Su Yue. His tone was gentle and full of patience. In the meantime, Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu brought the cutleries back to the kitchen. Xuxu took the apron from the kitchen entrance and was preparing to put it on. All of a sudden, Yan Rusheng stretched out his hand and snatched the apron over from her. ¡°I¡¯ll do the washing.¡± Xuxu was smiling with happiness and bliss. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m only washing some bowls. Don¡¯t be too exaggerated, Yan Rusheng.¡± Hearing her childlike tone, Yan Rusheng felt a lump in his throat, and so he stretched out his hand to wrap it around her waist. He lowered his gaze at her and gave an ambiguous smile. ¡°If you¡¯re worried that I¡¯ll be exhausted, then give me some strength.¡± After saying that, he lowered his head further and kissed her lips, playfully nibbling them and longing for more. Xuxu pressed her hands against his chest to resist, but as he was becoming increasingly skillful at it, she caved in after a brief hesitation. She gradually surrendered to him after he had stirred her. There was an ambiguous smile in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes¡ªthere were traces of mixed affection. He turned and pressed Xuxu against the wall, trapping her at the corner. Finally, the anger that brooded in him earlier on when Senior Official Mu¡¯s call disrupted their passionate kiss earlier, it had dissipated. But when the situation got more heated and intense, even when it had gone out of control, would it really be able to resolve a person¡¯s hatred? Of course¡­ it won¡¯t. ¡°Hey, wash your bowls.¡± Xuxu suddenly snapped out of it. She then shoved Yan Rusheng away, glaring at him coquettishly as she panted. Yan Rusheng felt the urge to continue as he¡¯d already endured a two months¡¯ abstinence. After staring at him fiercely, Xuxu ignored him and walked to the basin and turned on the tap. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t stop her this time. Instead, he watched her from behind. Seeing her fair and slender hands covered with soapy bubbles as she held the bowls, and seeing the side-profile of her flawless face, the words ¡®good wife and loving mother¡¯ propped in his mind. Chapter 749. I’ll Have to Resort to Violence She was his wife and the mother of their future kids¡ªhis haughty childhood sweetheart. What he was feeling was too fabulously beautiful. At the spur of that moment, Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t control his eagerness and strode towards Xuxu. He held on to her soapy hands and whispered into her ears, ¡°Wife, let¡¯s wash together.¡± Two pairs of hands¡ªthe bigger pair wrapped over the smaller pair. Right from the beginning, they were meant to accompany each other hand in hand, shouldering the demands of life together. ¡­ Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were washing the cutleries in the kitchen while Ming Ansheng was coaching Su Yue in her schoolwork at the balcony. Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang were each seated at one corner of the sofa watching TV, keeping a distance from each other. During a commercial break, Lu Yinan averted his gaze from the TV and looked towards the balcony. Ming Ansheng was drafting out something for Su Yue while explaining to her at the same time. He was serious and focused. Lu Yinan shook his head in great pity. ¡°It¡¯s really a huge loss to the teaching industry that Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t become a teacher.¡± Zhou Shuang, who was sitting opposite to him, immediately took the chance to taunt him. ¡°So now, do you feel you¡¯re worthless?¡± The look on Young Master Lu¡¯s face changed. He shot a disdainful glare at the woman across from him, and he smiled cynically at her. ¡°Hooligan, are you referring to yourself?¡± Zhou Shuang responded with a cold smile. ¡°I¡¯m a woman.¡± Lu Yinan moved his gaze down her body and stopped short at her chest area. His lips curled into a contemptuous smile. ¡°I really can¡¯t tell.¡± ¡°You gay!¡± After all, Zhou Shuang was a woman, and his mock embarrassed her. With jokes, she couldn¡¯t take it in her stride and this group of young masters. She seethingly glared at Lu Yinan. With nowhere else to vent her anger, she took the remote control and switched channels. Seeing her reacting in such a manner, Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows and yelled at her in dissatisfaction. ¡°Female thug, what are you trying to do?¡± Zhou Shuang ignored him and continued switching channels. It was until she found a reality show that she stopped. She held on to the remote control, refusing to let go. Zhou Shuang had switched the channel while Lu Yinan was in the midst of watching his favorite military documentary program, and so he couldn¡¯t take it lying down. ¡°Give me back the remote control.¡± He got up and walked over to Zhou Shuang and attempted to snatch it over. Zhou Shuang refused to return it to him, and so she tucked the remote control inside her bosom. ¡°Come and snatch it if you dare.¡± ¡°My pair of hands had caressed countless breasts, but have yet to come into contact with an airport runway.¡± Lu Yinan gritted his teeth and there was a wicked gleam in his eyes. After that, he stuck out his hands into Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest to retrieve the remote control. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Zhou Shuang shouted at the top of her lungs and gripped the remote control tightly. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re a scum. Let go of your hands.¡± Lu Yinan held on to the remote control and refused to let go. ¡°Give me back the remote control or else I¡¯ll have to resort to violence.¡± ¡°Stinky hooligan.¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly looked up and made threatening gestures at Lu Yinan like a lioness would do if she had gone berserk. She pounced on him with all her might and crushed him down onto the sofa. With her quick reflexes, she sat on his body. She looked down at him in a lofty manner. At this instance, she curled her lips smugly, feeling pleased with herself. ¡°Sissy Lu, do you concede defeat?¡± She had the air of a notorious bandit queen. Young Master Lu¡¯s once fair and charming face immediately turned red, and the redness spread down to his neck. He glared at her furiously and yelled, ¡°Hooligan, look where you¡¯re sitting on.¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly realized that her sitting position seemed a little¡­ Her face also turned red from embarrassment. Their loud actions disturbed Su Yue and Ming Ansheng. Su Yue opened her mouth and stared blankly at Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan in wonder and in shock. Chapter 750. You Possess the Looks of a Gay Ming Ansheng took a glance at Su Yue. He then diverted his gaze to the people at the sofa before snapping out of his trance. At Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang, he yelled, ¡°Enough, the two of you. You¡¯ve been squabbling since earlier. Can you please stop?¡± These two people were simply outrageous, and he regretted inviting Lu Yinan over for dinner. Both of them were behaving like arch-enemies. Zhou Shuang felt embarrassed and momentarily, she couldn¡¯t find other words to say. After hearing Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice, she straightened up and got down from Lu Yinan¡¯s body before looking at Ming Ansheng. ¡°This man is too much of a low class to keep haggling with a woman.¡± After she had finished speaking, she seemed to have recalled something. A condescending expression flashed across her eyes. ¡°Oh yes, he isn¡¯t a real man.¡± Lu Yinan stood up and made use of his towering figure to look down at Zhou Shuang with contempt in his eyes. ¡°Zhou Shuang, if only you were prettier and had a better figure, I would definitely prove to you with action that I¡¯m indeed a man.¡± Zhou Shuang responded with a cold smile. ¡°Pah!¡± She raised her feet and walked towards the main door. Her footsteps were unperturbed, but she was feeling disturbed in her heart. She had sat on that fellow¡¯s area earlier and could feel his¡­ ¡®Cough, cough.¡¯ It was downright embarrassing. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face turned redder as she walked. When she walked past the kitchen, the door opened and Xuxu happened to walk out. Seeing Zhou Shuang gritting her teeth in anger it had her curious. She asked, ¡°Zhou Shuang, what¡¯s wrong with you? What happened just now?¡± She had heard the commotion from the kitchen and immediately ran out to have a look. Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows and gloomily said, ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡± She strode to the door with huge steps and stretched out her hand to open the door. ¡°Shuang!¡± Xuxu yelled at Zhou Shuang as she pointed to her body. With amusement in her tone of voice, she asked, ¡°Are you going back in this manner?¡± Zhou Shuang looked at herself. She wasn¡¯t properly dressed and didn¡¯t have her shoes nor handbag with her. What an embarrassing sight! She replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ and hurriedly turned back to put on her clothes and took her bag. Before she left, she even indignantly glared at Lu Yinan. She couldn¡¯t possibly lose to this pretentious scum. ¡°I¡¯m making a move. Bye, bye,¡± bade Zhou Shuang at Xuxu. She went to the door and left. After hearing the door slam, Xuxu turned back and smiled at Yan Rusheng as she said, ¡°Back then, our teacher was right to say that she¡¯s an energetic lass.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Young Master Yan arrogantly snorted and strode towards the sofa. She¡¯s obviously a female thug with no moral principles, who particularly enjoyed turning people¡¯s lives upside down. ¡°Ansheng, let¡¯s go,¡± Yan Rusheng called out to Ming Ansheng, and he cast a look at Lu Yinan at the same time. He took his coat and draped it over his arm. It stunned Lu Yinan for a moment. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Without giving Yan Rusheng a chance to respond, he gleefully continued, ¡°Are we going for a drink? Come, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s been some time since we had a drink together.¡± He stood up as he spoke and took his jacket before walking over to Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, so there¡¯s no reason for you to remain here either.¡± Yan Rusheng rolled his eyes at him. ¡°And you¡¯re still in the mood for a drink after being taken advantage of by a woman? Useless bum.¡± He was mocking him outrightly. Lu Yinan was speechless. Ming Ansheng walked towards them and stretched out his hand and patted Young Master Lu¡¯s shoulders. ¡± Gay. You possess the obvious looks and traits of a gay person.¡± After that, all of them broke into a good laugh. Only Lu Yinan was left gnashing his teeth. That female hooligan now tarnished his legendary reputation. Chapter 751. It Won’t Help at All The next time he would see Zhou Shuang, he would make sure she would pay for her words, Lu Yinan thought to himself. He was seething in ager. ¡°Go home early, First Aunt is alone at home,¡± reminded Xuxu once more as she sent Yan Rusheng out of the door. Yan Rusheng nodded and the three men entered the elevator. Only then did Xuxu close the door. ¡­ ¡°Where are both of you going to?¡± Lu Yinan asked Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng when they exited the lift. Ming Ansheng solemnly looked at him. ¡°To meet your master.¡± Lu Yinan glared. ¡°Scram!¡± Ming Ansheng still looked as though he was being serious. ¡°I¡¯m really going to meet your master. Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Yan Rusheng was standing beside Lu Yinan, and he seemed to jerk slightly. Lu Yinan noticed him, and so he immediately clenched his fist and punched Ming Ansheng. ¡°Go do whatever you¡¯re supposed to do. I¡¯m going home to sleep.¡± Ming Ansheng finally broke in a smile and continued to tease him. ¡°Zhou Shuang obviously defeated you.¡± Lu Yinan waved his hand in dismissal, and then he went towards his car. As they watched as Lu Yinan drove away, and Ming Ansheng smiled at Yan Rusheng. ¡°That guy is too pure.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips and nodded in agreement. So, it¡¯s not advisable to embroil him in such a complicated matter. ¡°What did Qingteng say?¡± spoke Ming Ansheng as he wiped away the smile on his face. Yan Rusheng gave a profound and mysterious smile. ¡°This huge gift is in batches and it will be slowly dispatched.¡± Ming Ansheng took a deep breath. ¡°Just as I¡¯ve expected. Liu Changfu had involved too many people.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Yan Rusheng coldly snorted and walked towards his car. This person had harmed the person he loved and had openly provoked him. He will never take it lying down. ¡­ Ever since the scandal broke out, Liu Changfu had been jittery and anxious. He paced back and forth in his study. ¡°It must be Yan Rusheng.¡± He was livid and anxious, but there wasn¡¯t anything he could do. Fang Jiayin sat on the sofa and watched him with a thought-provoking smile. Liu Changfu suddenly turned towards her and she wiped the smile off her face. She said, ¡°He already had evidence against you before this. If not, why would he disregard you countless times?¡± Liu Changfu angrily glared at her. ¡°He must have found out that I had the intention of bailing those hooligans out. I¡¯m in trouble because of you.¡± In a nutshell, he had underestimated Yan Rusheng¡¯s intelligence and capability. He was way more shrewd and sharp than he had imagined. Fang Jiayin casually said, ¡°Uncle, since he had all the pieces of evidence, it would mean that he had the thought of using them against you. Bailing out those hooligans was what merely triggered him.¡± She rose and walked to Liu Changfu and put her hand around his. She continued, ¡°The most important thing now is to get him on your side and make sure he doesn¡¯t blabber and make his next move.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Liu Changfu sneered coldly. ¡°That sounds easy. What do you propose? He might already have guessed that you were the mastermind behind those incidents.¡± Actually, Fang Jiayin was right. Yan Rusheng indeed held evidence against him and was planning to use them against him sooner or later. But if it wasn¡¯t for her, he wouldn¡¯t have clashed with Yan Rusheng at such a crucial point of time. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He flung Fang Jiayin¡¯s hand away and stomped to his desk. He gulped down a glass of water. Seeing that Liu Changfu didn¡¯t seem to listen to what she had to say, and he even had the intention of pushing the blame to her, a fleeting streak of coldness flashed across Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes. She said, ¡°We¡¯re on the same boat now, and if we push the blame to each other, it won¡¯t help at all.¡± Chapter 752. She Was an Ingrate Liu Changfu raised his voice. ¡°So should I wait for the authorities to apprehend me? Should I go to jail?¡± In a gentler voice, Fang Jiayin spoke, ¡°So you need to listen to me.¡± Liu Changfu seemed to have heard a joke. ¡°Listen to you? Why should I?¡± Although Fang Jiayin had become less aggressive, the coldness in her eyes remained. ¡°Only I can save you.¡± She stood up straight, looking completely confident. Liu Changfu scoffed, ¡°Sounds like you really can do it.¡± If Yan Rusheng really had the evidence of his crimes, even God wouldn¡¯t be able to save him. Fang Jiayin said, ¡°You just need to say that you had instigated those hooligans and make sure I¡¯m not being suspected. If Yan Rusheng isn¡¯t cautious towards me, I will have the chance to save you.¡± Liu Changfu sneered. ¡°I¡¯ve lived for nearly sixty years, do you take me as a fool?¡± Fang Jiayin had expected that Liu Changfu wouldn¡¯t believe her. With no urgency in her voice, she said, ¡°I have a trump card against him.¡± Liu Changfu obviously didn¡¯t take her word seriously. ¡°I want to know what your trump card is.¡± ¡°Flourish & Prosper¡¯s coastal county project person-in-charge, Wang Bin.¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s mouth split into a devious smile. Liu Changfu narrowed his eyes in suspicion. ¡°What does that have to do with me and you?¡± Fang Jiayin lazily replied, ¡°You are still unaware that someone had deliberately planned to destroy Flourish & Prosper¡¯s outstanding reputation for decades.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Fang Jiayin¡¯s claims piqued Liu Changfu¡¯s interest, and he felt more emboldened. Fang Jiayin proclaimed, ¡°Yan Weiye¡¯s second son, Yan Runan!¡± ¡°How did you find out?¡± Liu Changfu was still suspicious of her claims. Fang Jiayin stared at him in contempt. She pompously said, ¡°Uncle, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯ve lived for nearly sixty years? To put it bluntly, you¡¯ve lost to me even though I¡¯m so young. I already know how to deal with Yan Rusheng. He intends to protect Yan Runan, if not why didn¡¯t they reveal the mastermind behind the coastal county project?¡± She paused and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°And, who do you think arranged for those high school girls to enter his room?¡± ¡°It was you?¡± Liu Changfu surveyed the girl with a look of doubt. He felt that he didn¡¯t quite know her the more he looked at her. She had always been an obedient and refined niece. First, she was accused of breaking up someone else¡¯s marriage, and then she was exposed that in her bid to marry into a wealthy family, she had drugged her boyfriend. Fang Jiayin neither shook nor nodded her head, but she gave a mysterious and devious smile. It etched shock and disbelief on Liu Changfu¡¯s face. Fang Jiayin repeated. ¡°Hence why I said I could save you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Her words had already swayed Liu Changfu. ¡°How confident are you?¡± Fang Jiayin didn¡¯t hesitate and answered, ¡°As long as you do what I say, I will make sure you¡¯re safe. At most, you will just spend a few days at the police station.¡± ¡°But if you lie to me¡­¡± Fang Jiayin interrupted Liu Changfu. ¡°Uncle, do you have any other options right now?¡± There was a triumphant and smug look on her face, and Liu Changfu detested it. With his teeth gritted, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve indeed underestimated you. You were once the girl who had begged me for help so that you could go overseas to study. You even knelt down and promised to do anything for me once you returned. You¡¯ve really changed.¡± He sounded regretful and disappointed. She was an ingrate. Chapter 753. Helpless and Suffered Alone Fang Jiayin heard Liu Changfu and her face instantly fell. There was a flash of hatred and incredibly, fear suddenly filled Liu Changfu. He hurriedly changed the topic. ¡°Then you should tell me your plan.¡± Fang Jiayin inched towards Liu Changfu and whispered in his ears. ¡­ It was late at night and it was quiet outside The First Wealth. The signboard was still brilliantly flashing. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng chatted with each other as they walked out of the exit. Suddenly, a woman loomed from the darkness and walked towards them. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face sank. He frostily eyed the frail-looking woman. ¡°Ahh¡­ President Yan.¡± Fang Jiayin was wearing a white dress with a dark red cropped jacket¡ªher dewy eyes fixed intently on Yan Rusheng. Her beautiful, perfect face was alluring under the shimmering lights. But the two men seemed impassive as they remained unperturbed by her beauty. Yan Rusheng especially, for he looked exceedingly aloof. ¡°Miss Fang, what brings you here?¡± From the way he had phrased his words, he had intentionally distanced away from her. He didn¡¯t even try to conceal the loathing and disgust in his tone. Fang Jiayin nervously grabbed the handle of her bag. She then glanced at Ming Ansheng. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to utter a word. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t feel like talking to her and looked as though he was about to leave. Fang Jiayin suddenly called out, ¡°Ah Sheng¡­ can I talk to you in private?¡± ¡°Miss Fang, I¡¯ve reminded you umpteen times to address me as President Yan or Mr. Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng looked distant and cold, the loathing in his eyes deepened. ¡°Furthermore, Young Master Ming isn¡¯t an outsider, he knows everything about me.¡± Fang Jiayin bit her lips and nodded before speaking up. ¡°Then¡­ can we speak somewhere else?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t immediately respond to Fang Jiayin. Instead, he eyed Ming Ansheng and both of their eyes met. A shrewd smile appeared on his face. Yan Rusheng nodded slowly. ¡°Yes.¡± There was a 24-hour cafe nearby, and they sat at a corner table. They had a glass of water each. Yan Rusheng crossed his legs as he settled himself comfortably against the couch. He gazed at Fang Jiayin, waiting for her to speak. Fang Jiayin held her glass and after a while, she spoke, ¡°My uncle said¡­ that you were the one who reported him. Is it true?¡± Yan Rusheng chuckled coldly. ¡°Miss Fang, are you interrogating me? So what if it¡¯s true? So what if it¡¯s not true?¡± Fang Jiayin fervently shook her head. ¡°No, no. I don¡¯t mean it that way.¡± She cast a swift glance at Ming Ansheng who was sitting beside Yan Rusheng. Ming Ansheng had a thought-provoking smile which also carried a hint of mocking. She tightly clenched the glass as she tried to suppress her burgeoning self-esteem. She feigned her usual frail and fragile demeanor. She said, ¡°I really did nothing to you four years ago. Someone is obviously trying to frame me. We were dating at that time, and I had no reason to do that.¡± Her voice sounded as if she was about to tear up. Yan Rusheng coldly sneered. ¡°So, are you trying to imply that it was you who spent the night with me?¡± Behind his cold smile was an insane urge to rush towards her and strangle her on the spot. If this woman didn¡¯t pretend to be Xuxu and caused him to have the wrong idea, why would Xuxu suffer so much? He wouldn¡¯t be able to atone for his sins in this lifetime. She was pregnant, suffered a miscarriage, and she was helpless and suffered alone. Chapter 754. Regardless Of Who Every time he recalled what the doctor had said, Yan Rusheng¡¯s insides seemed to twist painfully. What could he do to erase the sufferings that Xuxu endured? She was always by his side and yet, he had treated another woman as her. He knew he was foolish, but the damned woman sitting across him deserved a more painful death. Fang Jiayin bowed her head as her words seemed choked. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t believe me no matter what I say right now. But I really didn¡¯t do it. You don¡¯t have to love me, but you have to believe me. From our university days until now, I¡¯ve spent¡­¡± Her words trailed off and she concluded after a moment. ¡°My entire youth.¡± A subtle hint of bitterness and fury could be heard from her voice. Yan Rusheng was beyond sarcastic as he remarked, ¡°Countless women like you have fantasies about me, and they could surround the entire capital city. Do I have to care about every individual woman?¡± Ming Ansheng thought to himself, ¡°Third Yan indeed lived up to his reputation of having a mean tongue.¡± He doesn¡¯t even have to look at Fang Jiayin¡¯s face, and he could already visualize her expression. It would be exceedingly gratifying to witness how she looked at that moment. Fang Jiayin¡¯s glass was about to shatter to pieces because of the pressure she had exerted on it. She turned red before turning pale. She bent her head and readjusted herself. She looked up with her usual pitiful expression. ¡°Regarding my uncle¡¯s matter, can you please stop whatever you¡¯re doing?¡± Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Miss Fang, don¡¯t you know that I¡¯m well-known for being excessively protective towards my loved ones? He had someone to harm my wife and didn¡¯t succeed. Now, he had tried to get my sister. How many lives does he think that he has?¡± Without waiting for Fang Jiayin to reply, he coldly sneered, ¡°But such foolish incidents doesn¡¯t seem like what the capital city¡¯s committee secretary would do. If he could attain this post as committee secretary with such a pathetic brain, then I¡­ should be drunk.¡± He finished and nonchalantly stared into Fang Jiayin¡¯s sparkling eyes. His smile deepened with coldness and mystery. Fang Jiayin¡¯s heart gave an involuntary shudder out of guilt, and she tried to recompose herself. ¡°Ah Sheng, I know that my uncle has done something wrong. But can you please let him off the hook this time?¡± Yan Rusheng seemed to have heard a hilarious joke that his gorgeous face lit up with a sarcastic smile. ¡°Miss Fang, you must be joking.¡± He wondered how she garnered such courage to beg him. But she couldn¡¯t be that stupid to think that just because they were in a relationship before, she could ask him for a favor or tap on his guilt. Although it was really unexpected for her to visit him. But he couldn¡¯t be quite sure that she had no idea that the person who had exposed the dirty trick she had pulled four years ago was him. A dangerous gleam shone in his eyes as he sharply glared at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Miss Fang, you must remember that I, Yan Rusheng, will protect my loved ones fiercely. You¡¯ve known me since before, so you should have witnessed that whoever dared to touch Wen Xuxu would never able to escape unscathed¡ªregardless of who!¡± ¡®Whoever who dared to touch Wen Xuxu would never be able to escape unscathed. Regardless of who¡­¡¯ So he really knew? But why didn¡¯t he directly come after her? As she mulled over the recent incidents, it mystified Fan Jiayin. All of a sudden she realized something and her eyes narrowed with a frown. At the same time, something had viciously tugged at her heart. He knew the truth and he hated her. He wanted to slowly torture her and humiliate her until she could never raise her head high up again. This was what Yan Rusheng would do! Chapter 755. Rather Be Proactive Than Be Passive Fang Jiayin was slightly trembling as she gritted her teeth to compose herself. Then she continued to feign ignorance and used her eyes to look at Yan Rusheng as if to plead. ¡°Remember how I didn¡¯t insist on making Su Yue pay for what she did? Can you just do me this favor?¡± ¡°You may do whatever you like, but that depends on whether you can do it.¡± Yan Rusheng rose as he spoke. He glanced at her from a lofty position. ¡°Miss Fang, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m leaving.¡± He strode towards the entrance without a second word. Fang Jiayin stood up as she watched Yan Rusheng. Her eyes glistened as she spoke. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I was together with you for a few years. Don¡¯t you even care about our past relationship?¡± Yan Rusheng stopped and turned around. He stared at the woman who disgusted him at the mere mention of his name. ¡°I advise you not to dwell on our past relationship.¡± He placed extra emphasis on the words ¡®past relationship¡¯ and raised his voice. ¡°If not, I won¡¯t be able to resist the urge to settle old scores with you.¡± And this time around, he marched out without waiting for Fang Jiayin to respond. ¡®I advise you not to dwell on our past relationship. If not, I won¡¯t be able to resist the urge to settle old scores with you¡­¡¯ She thought, ¡°Yan Rusheng, since you¡¯re so heartless, then don¡¯t blame me for being callous!¡± Initially, she thought he would still have some feelings towards her, so she gave it a try by looking for him. But instead of what she had expected, he loathed her, and he was slowly pushing her towards the abyss and condemning her to eternal destruction. Ming Ansheng chuckled and shook his head when they were out of the cafe. ¡°This Fang Jiayin is really interesting.¡± Then something struck him, and out of curiosity, he asked, ¡°The anonymous person who had spilled the beans on her drugging you four years ago was actually you right?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at him but didn¡¯t speak. ¡°I bet that was you and you even scripted it yourself.¡± Ming Ansheng was certain, and he laughed. ¡°That article even claimed that Wen Xuxu had benefited from it, you must have written that.¡± They reached the roadside. Yan Rusheng threw Ming Ansheng a cold look. ¡°Get a taxi home yourself.¡± He whipped out his keys and unlocked the car. As he was about to open the car door, Ming Ansheng frowned in disapproval. ¡°Third Yan, how could you let such as a gorgeous man like me to stand out here and wait for a cab. Do you have the heart to do it?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Ming Ansheng with a deadpan expression. ¡°I drank hard liquor tonight!¡± He bent to get in the car and pressed the ignition button. It dumbfounded young Master Ming as the champagne-colored Bentley sped out of his sight in seconds. This damned fellow really left him standing there. ¡­ When Yan Rusheng got up the next morning, his head felt giddy since he slept really late last night. He went straight to the dining room. Jiang Qinglian was having her breakfast. ¡°Good morning, First Aunt.¡± As she put down her glass of milk, Jing Qinglian said, ¡°Tell Xuxu that I¡¯m going back to C city today.¡± ¡°She should be back later,¡± Yan Rusheng said as he sat across Jiang Qinglian. He picked up his fork and knife and Jiang Qinglian suddenly stared at him. ¡°Third Yan, are you really not helping Runan?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at her and solemnly expounded, ¡°First Aunt, whoever makes a mistake should receive a duly punishment. In recent years, corrupt officials who had been exposed were all imprisoned. They paid for their crimes even though they were retired. Don¡¯t you understand it now?¡± He paused and continued, ¡°My suggestion is for Second Brother to give himself up first, he should rather be proactive than be passive. First Aunt, do you understand my intentions?¡± Chapter 756. Must Have Been Infected By Zhou Shuang Jiang Qinglian looked down and didn¡¯t continue speaking. A mixture of complicated emotions flashed past her pair of shrewd-looking eyes. ¡®Rather be proactive than be passive.¡¯ It made sense, but if he made the first move, would he receive a pardon? What would Runan¡¯s fate be in the end? ¡°First Madam, Third Young Master, here¡¯s today¡¯s papers.¡± As usual, the butler would deliver the newspapers to the dining room every morning. Yan Rusheng would read through all the major newspapers in the capital city each morning. The butler left after putting down the newspapers. Yan Rusheng took the first set which was the financial times, and it was reporting about the current stock market situation as usual. Conversely, matters about Yan Runan bothered Jiang Qinglian, and she didn¡¯t have the mood to read the papers. After reading through the financial times, Yan Rusheng reached for the second set while holding a sandwich in his other hand. He continued reading intently. When he flipped to the entertainment news and saw the headlines, the corners of his lips coldly curled up. ¡­ Early in the morning, the incessant ringing of her phone awakened Xuxu, who was still fast asleep. She retrieved her phone from the bedside drawer and glanced at the name shown on the caller display. She then frowned. Zhou Shuang¡­ doesn¡¯t this fellow sleep? She¡¯s fond of waking her up early in the morning. Annoyed, she answered the call. ¡°Zhou Shuang, why do you keep calling me early in the morning? Have you gone nuts again?¡± She felt like bashing her up. When she didn¡¯t pick up her call the first time, she just kept calling repeatedly. Zhou Shuang ignored her sarcastic remarks and sounded agitated over the phone. ¡°Oh my God, why is there such a wretched person like Fang Jiayin in this world?¡± Fang Jiayin¡­ Hearing this name, Xuxu deeply frowned. ¡°Can you please say something nice for me to hear early in the morning?¡± Didn¡¯t she know that she was feeling exceptionally repulsive towards that person? ¡°Won¡¯t you love to hear this?¡± Zhou Shuang sounded startled over the phone, and she felt indignant. ¡°Fang Jiayin hit the headlines again. This violinist always appears in the news headline, and I¡¯ve yet to get my chances. Our country should really publish a newspaper to showcase a list of proscribed people so that such scandalous news could appear there instead.¡± Initially, Xuxu was fuming mad because she was being awakened from her sleep. But after hearing from Zhou Shuang, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh and added, ¡°If you run around naked on the road and hug whichever handsome chap, perhaps you¡¯ll make it to the headlines too. You¡¯ve also made a good suggestion. Since you¡¯re so free, you can consider publishing such a blacklist newspaper. It¡¯ll definitely be well-received.¡± At times, she really admired Zhou Shuang¡¯s creative mind. ¡°You¡¯re a bad friend,¡± Zhou Shuang chided her disapprovingly. ¡°I¡¯m sharing my joy with you, and yet you treat me in this manner.¡± Xuxu laughed. ¡°Then I should thank you. Thank you for waking me up early in the morning with my love rival¡¯s name.¡± After a while on the phone, she no longer felt sleepy. She shifted her body and leaned against the headboard. Zhou Shuang further quipped, ¡°I¡¯ll go over to your place to eat later.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be at my apartment today. I¡¯ll be going home later.¡± After that, Xuxu ended the call. Fang Jiayin appeared in the headlines again? And it¡¯s a scandal? She eagerly launched the internet browser with trembling hands. She despised herself for being so narrow-minded at times. Upon hearing that her love rival was entangled in another scandal, she actually felt excited. Tsk . Zhou Shuang must have infected her. Chapter 757. Miss Fang Is in the Headlines Again ¡®The goddess violinist is in the headlines again. On the 7th of the month at 3 a.m., Fang Jiayin and the Assistant Minister, Wu Zhengnian, were photographed by the paparazzi going in and out of a high-class residential district. They were seen entering the elevator together at the basement carpark. Fang Jiayin only emerged from the neighborhood alone three hours later, with her tied up ponytail hanging loosely over her shoulders.¡¯ Fang Jiayin and the Assistant Minister? This couldn¡¯t be real. Xuxu¡¯s mouth was wide opened in shock as she couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe such news. Why did Fang Jiayin degrade herself to such extent? When news of her drugging Yan Rusheng got exposed, it already toppled one¡¯s expectation of her. And yet now, there¡¯s another scandalous news about her. It seemed that she had already paved her future by getting involved with the country¡¯s Public Security Assistant Minister. But the photograph only showed that she was alone, and there was no other evidence of what they were up to in the house. Xuxu was dumbstruck for a while before snapping out of her senses. She decided that it was not worthwhile wasting her time on such news. Whether the reports were true or fake, the efficient paparazzi and media would closely follow up. She would just sit back and wait for them to release further news. As she was mulling over this, she put her phone back into the bedside cabinet. When she turned and looked beside her, she curled her lips into a faint smile. ¡°Good morning, Third sister-in-law,¡± Su Yue greeted Xuxu and raised her hands to stretch herself. She was wearing Xuxu¡¯s blue Doraemon pajama and lying sideways to face Xuxu, both legs gripping the blanket in between. After stretching herself lazily, she curled her body into the shape of a ball. Her arms were tightly hugging her pillow and a blanket. She was lying in a lazy manner, wanting to continue dawdling in bed. Xuxu affectionately looked at her. ¡°Are you hungry? If you¡¯re not, then sleep in a little more.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Not hungry but I also don¡¯t want to sleep anymore.¡± Xuxu apologetically replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have woken you up.¡± When she answered her phone, she had forgotten that Su Yue was sleeping next to her last night, and she had assumed that she was alone in bed. ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault. I¡¯m usually awake at this time.¡± Su Yue sat up and leaned against the headboard next to Xuxu as she said that. She accidentally touched the wound on her thigh as she moved, causing her to frown in pain. Xuxu immediately lifted the blanket. ¡°Take your time. Be careful of your wound.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Ok.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going home later before going to work. Jue the celebrity will come to take some photos, and I need to get her costumes ready.¡± Xuxu worriedly looked at Su Yue. ¡°You better come home with me too, otherwise you¡¯ll be all alone with no food to eat. Furthermore, you¡¯re still nursing a wound.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I want to return to school today.¡± Xuxu refused to oblige and said, ¡°The doctor instructed you to rest more, so stay home and rest for another two more days before going back to school. Another two days of absence doesn¡¯t make much difference.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, if I can¡¯t get into a university, I¡¯ll work at my brother¡¯s studio. Then every day, I can go to work together with you.¡± Su Yue looked at Xuxu and her eyes were beaming with anticipation. She didn¡¯t want to continue studying because she couldn¡¯t fit into the education system. She hated the fact she couldn¡¯t catch up with her peers. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. You¡¯re only in your teens. You should study at the university instead of working.¡± After that, she lifted the blanket and got down from the bed before walking to the window. She then drew the curtains. Chapter 758. Not Leave You In Peace The first ray of the morning sun shone right through the window and it livened up the atmosphere. Xuxu looked out of the window and peered down. The trees in the neighborhood were blooming with green luscious leaves. The corners of her mouth subconsciously curled into a smile. Just when she was about to raise her hands to stretch herself, she suddenly recalled Yan Rusheng¡¯s words, reminding her not to stretch herself while she¡¯s pregnant. So, she immediately put down her hands. She turned around and walked out of her room. As Su Yue insisted on remaining in the apartment by herself, Xuxu let her have her way. Since she would be at an outdoor shoot for the entire day, she won¡¯t be able to watch over Su Yue. Hence, before she left home, she called her grandfather and informed Qi Lei to go over to her apartment to check on her whenever he was free. This was mainly because the wound on her leg caused her difficulties in her movement. Furthermore, she was worried about leaving a recluse like her, alone in the apartment. ¡­ The office was in a state of mess, and wisps of smoke pervaded the air. There was a cigarette in between a woman¡¯s fingers which was short enough to burn her. The indescribable gloominess on her face resembled an overcast sky before a terrible storm. It caused people wanting to avoid her gaze. The female assistant opened the door and stood at the entrance. ¡°Miss Fang, Huayu requested to terminate the contract.¡± Fang Jiayin gestured to her and coldly instructed, ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t bother me again unless it¡¯s necessary.¡± ¡°Noted.¡± The female assistant nodded in response and didn¡¯t dare to linger any further. She swiftly left the room and closed the door after her. Fang Jiayin took another deep puff of her cigarette, but since she¡¯s not an experienced smoker, the smoke went into her throat and choked her, causing her to have a coughing fit. She threw the cigarette butt into the ash-filled ashtray and held up the newspapers before her. As she went through the headlines, her face turned even more somber. She gritted her teeth in anger, and there was a gleam of coldness in her eyes. ¡°Yan Rusheng, since you¡¯re being so mean, even if I were to die, I¡¯ll make sure that there¡¯s no peace between you and Wen Xuxu before I die,¡± she thought. She reached for a cellphone, which she seldom used, and dialed a number before placing it to her ear. ¡°How? Have you traced her whereabouts?¡± ¡°Ok, I got it.¡± She nodded in response and stood up at the same time. She took her handbag and walked to the clothes stand to retrieve her coat and cap before leaving her office in a huff. Fang Jiayin put on her cap and a surgical mask as she walked. She didn¡¯t go for a drive, instead hailed a taxi by the roadside. She managed to dodge the media who were waiting in an ambush at the main entrance. The moment she boarded the taxi, her cellphone rang. A trance of hatred filled her eyes as she looked at the caller display. She canceled the call instead of answering. She immediately sent a message to the caller instead. ¡®Outside now. Not convenient to answer the phone. I believe you¡¯re capable of persuading your wife to help you. After all, you have a son who¡¯s taking his college entrance exam soon¡¯. After sending out the message, she turned off her phone. She removed her cap and tied up her hair before putting on it on again. With her hair tied up, she looked like a completely different person. Since she¡¯d been wearing the cap and surgical mask since she boarded the taxi, the driver kept gawking at her from the rear mirror. When Fang Jiayin realized this, she kept her head lowered. The airport in the capital city wasn¡¯t as busy in April. After Fang Jiayin got off from the taxi, she adjusted her clothes before striding towards the departure hall. She walked past several security checks counter and finally saw the person she was looking for. Behind the sunglasses, a trace of coldness shot across her eyes. ¡°Madam Yan.¡± Jiang Qinglian was dragging her luggage towards the security check counter when someone grabbed her arm suddenly. She turned and looked puzzled at the woman who was grabbing her. Chapter 759. What Do You Mean? As the other party¡¯s face was covered, she narrowed her eyes in curiosity and asked, ¡°You are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Fang Jiayin.¡± Fang Jiayin removed her sunglasses and smiled at Jiang Qinglian before putting them on again with a swift motion. By then, her face already caught the attention of the public and had become the butt of criticism. Hence, if she didn¡¯t properly disguise herself, people could recognize her. But with her current disguise, no one could recognize her even if she was being photographed. It startled Jiang Qinglian after hearing Fang Jiayin¡¯s self-introduction. She stood up straight and the corners of her mouth slightly curled. Like a dignified and elegant noblewoman, she looked at Fang Jiayin and asked, ¡°Miss Fang, do we know each other?¡± She had read about her scandals on the internet. After learning she was the one who came in between Yan Rusheng and Xuxu¡¯s relationship, she didn¡¯t have a good impression of her. She even loathed her to the core. She thought to herself how could there be such a shameless woman with the nerves to wreck Xuxu and Third Yan¡¯s marriage. Hence, seeing her face-to-face, she wouldn¡¯t bother to be friendly with her. Fang Jiayin knew that Jiang Qinglian would treat her with animosity, but she wasn¡¯t in the least bothered by it. Instead, she smiled and replied, ¡°I know that I¡¯m no stranger to Madam Yan.¡± Seeing a long queue forming at the security check counter, Jiang Qinglian grew impatient. ¡°Miss Fang, please get straight to the point.¡± She knew that it wasn¡¯t by sheer coincidence that Fang Jiayin spotted her from amongst the crowd in the airport. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that Madam Yan is an intelligent, magnanimous, and out-spoken lady. You¡¯re indeed well deserving of your reputation,¡± complimented Fang Jiayin with a smile. Jiang Qinglian pulled a straight face but was all poised as usual. ¡°Miss Fang, you can do away with such polite remarks. I¡¯ve not appeared in the public or media, and neither do I have any contributions worthy of praise. So how did Miss Fang hear about me?¡± Fang Jiayin smiled. ¡°Madam Yan is being humble.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being humble. It¡¯s true I¡¯ve not appeared in any headlines before.¡± Jiang Qinglian raised her eyebrows and her mouth curled into a condescending smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Fang Jiayin could understand what Jiang Qinglian had meant. Her expression changed, but because she was all covered up, no one could see the change in her expression. She didn¡¯t keep her on tenterhooks and said, ¡°I wonder if we can find a place to have a word?¡± Her tone turned colder than before. Jiang Qinglian replied, ¡°Miss Fang, we can talk here instead? I need to board the plane soon.¡± Fang Jiayin stood on her toes and leaned over to Jiang Qinglian and whispered in her ears, ¡°It¡¯s regarding your second son. Do you think we should talk here?¡± Her voice was mixed with a cynical smile. The look on Jiang Qinglian¡¯s face changed. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Fang Jiayin cautiously. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Fang Jiayin raised her voice on purpose. ¡°Madam Yan wants me to say it here? Second Master Yan and Flourish & Prosper¡¯s person-in-charge of the coastal county¡¯s project¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t finished when Jiang Qinglian interrupted her with a low voice. ¡°Stop it now.¡± She looked around and spotted a cafe at the end. She whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go over to that cafe.¡± Fang Jiayin slightly nodded and remained silent while she trailed behind Jiang Qinglian. Both of them entered the cafe one after another. Jiang Qinglian walked over to the counter and asked the service staff who was idling. ¡°Is there a private room available?¡± ¡°Please follow me,¡± the service staff politely replied and nodded. And they were brought to a private room. Chapter 760. You Can Never Compare to Her ¡°You can talk now.¡± After she sat down, Jiang Qinglian got straight to the point. ¡°Why are you looking for me? Or should I say what¡¯s your motive for threatening me?¡± She deliberately looked for her and arrogantly brought up the matter regarding Runan as a threat. So, she must harbor some unfathomable motives. She was obviously making use of Runan to threaten her, but how did she know that Runan was linked to the coastal county project? Third Yan had kept this matter tightly under wraps. Besides Wang Bin and a few of their family members, no one else knew about it. If anyone leaked out the news, the media would have caught wind of it and followed up. The situation wouldn¡¯t be as peaceful as it was. Fang Jiayin could hazard a guess what Jiang Qinglian had thought of, and so she nonchalantly responded, ¡°I know of Wang Bin¡¯s whereabouts.¡± It stunned Jiang Qinglian. She nervously clenched her fists, feeling apprehended. Fang Jiayin appeared to be beating around the bush and this frustrated her. ¡°What do you want exactly? Just tell me directly.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that the girl actually managed to track down Wang Bin before the police. Fang Jiayin smiled and asked, ¡°You son had committed a huge mistake this time and if it comes to light, he won¡¯t be able to escape imprisonment.¡± Jiang Qinglian¡¯s heart sank when she heard what she had to say, but she fought hard to maintain her composure. ¡°If he¡¯d really done wrong, then he ought to receive his due punishment. Who doesn¡¯t need to pay the price for their mistake?¡± Fang Jiayin coldly smiled. ¡°If Madam Yan continues to say empty words, then there¡¯s nothing much that we can talk further.¡± She stood up and was about to leave. Jiang Qinglian stopped her. ¡°Miss Fang, tell me your thoughts.¡± Actually, she had already guessed it. Although Fang Jiayin¡¯s embroiled in scandals after scandals and has a bad reputation, she definitely has not reached the stage of financial lack yet. So, it¡¯s definitely not because of money, but what else could it be? Third Yan and Xuxu! If this was true, what should she do? Jiang Qinglian was mulling over this and didn¡¯t feel like continuing the conversation with Fang Jiayin anymore. She said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk furthermore. I¡¯ve to board the plane soon.¡± After that, she stood up and strode out of the cafe. Fang Jiayin saw through Jiang Qinglian¡¯s thoughts. As the lady walked out in a scurry, she quipped, ¡°You husband¡¯s illegitimate children are indeed capable. They had Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu eating out of their hands, and Wen Xuxu even regarded Su Yue as her flesh and blood sister. Not only this, but she also helped Su Yan out in his photography company and assisted him in his business venture.¡± Jiang Qinglian stopped in her tracks the moment she heard this and her body jolted for a moment. ¡®You¡¯ve returned to Flourish & Prosper?¡¯ ¡®No, I¡¯ve found a job elsewhere to pass my time.¡¯ It suddenly hit her that Xuxu was trying to avoid her gaze when she had answered her question that day. Seeing Jiang Qinglian¡¯s reaction, a smug expression flashed across Fang Jiayin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Seems that you¡¯re not aware.¡± She added, ¡°Wen Xuxu is now working in Su Yan¡¯s photography company. He¡¯s not only Grand Fashion¡¯s Director of Photography, but he also owned a high-end photography company in the capital city. His reputation is on the rise.¡± She paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°You may not like to hear this, but I had to tell you the truth. With his outstanding capabilities, he¡¯ll one day triumph over your two sons. When that time comes¡­¡± ¡°Stop sowing dissension at this time.¡± Jiang Qinglian suddenly turned back and cut Fang Jiayin off. She tightly clutched her bag and her body quivered as she spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve seen Xuxu grow up and I knew her too well. You definitely cannot compare to her. Even without Xuxu¡¯s existence, you¡¯re also not cut to be the daughter-in-law of the Yan family.¡± Chapter 761. Any Sum That You Want! Although Jiang Qinglian knew that Fang Jiayin was obviously trying to drive a wedge between her and Yan Rusheng and to use it to her advantage, her words still seemed to affect her on a subconscious level. It had never crossed her mind that Wen Xuxu would be so nice to Su Yue and even gotten so close to Su Yan to an extent that she would work for him. ¡°Xuxu, have you forgotten how I have treated you ever since you entered the family,¡±Jiang Qinglian thought to herself. Fang Jiayin curled her lips in satisfaction and nodded smugly. ¡°Madam Yan is truly kind and magnanimous. It¡¯s indeed admirable. Please have a safe journey back. By afternoon, you¡¯ll probably receive news of how your precious son had fabricated the entire scandal that took away four lives. This matter affected Flourish & Prosper¡¯s reputation, so I wonder what kind of punishment he will receive? Your grandson is about to arrive, and it¡¯s a pity he will have a father who is in prison¡­¡± Every word sharply pierced through Jiang Qinglian¡¯s heart and all her worries seemed to convene. Her unborn grandson, her precious son.. . what would happen to them? She took a deep breath and glared bitterly at Fang Jiayin. ¡°What do you want?¡± Fang Jiayin continued speaking in a casual tone which made her even angrier. ¡°Nothing much. Yan Rusheng treated me so callously, but I¡¯m no pushover so I won¡¯t take it lying down. Since both families are getting along so well, I shall attack the second master of the Yan family to serve as a warning.¡± She sipped her coffee with grace and refinement. Her beautiful face seemed so cold-blooded, foul, and even hateful. Jiang Qinglian furiously gnashed her teeth. ¡°You!¡± But she had nothing to retort for she knew that Fang Jiayin wasn¡¯t bluffing her. Since the latter knew of the truth behind the coastal county project and even the existence of Wang Bin, she must have figured out everything. Even if she doesn¡¯t know Wang Bin, she could still report to the police the facts she knew. They only had two options right now; the first option was for Runan to surrender himself. Second, they could find Wang Bin and seal his mouth and quickly find connections to end the case with the authorities. She couldn¡¯t let anyone report to the police. Just like what Third Yan had said, they should be proactive instead of being passive. Fang Jiayin¡¯s voice drawled lazily while Jiang Qinglian¡¯s thoughts whirled rapidly. ¡°Actually, there are only a few who knows the truth behind the scandal. The only witness is Wang Bin, and he kept this secret even from his family. But I still found out by accident.¡± Jiang Qinglian immediately spoke. ¡°I can give you money. Any sum you want.¡± But it was clear that Fang Jiayin¡¯s motive wasn¡¯t money. ¡°Money?¡± Fang Jiayin failed to conceal the smirk on her face and looked as though she had heard a funny joke. ¡°Madam Yan, do you really think I¡¯m doing this for money? Why would I need money right now?¡± Jiang Qinglian pressed her lips and didn¡¯t dare to ask what Fang Jiayin was up to. She knew that Fang Jiayin must have wanted something from her and it would be difficult. And it would force her to do so under such circumstances. Silence fell for a while before Fang Jiayin spoke. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Just put this into Wen Xuxu¡¯s food or drink and I¡¯ll help you seal Wen Xuxu¡¯s mouth forever. No one in this world could prove that your son was the mastermind.¡± She took out a small medicine case and there was a white pill inside. It stunned Jiang Qinglian as she eyed the medicine with wariness. ¡°What¡¯s¡­ what¡¯s that?¡± Chapter 762. Really Furious! Fang Jiayin eyed the medicine case and flashed a cold smile. ¡°Let¡¯s use Wen Xuxu¡¯s unborn child in exchange for Second Young Master¡¯s freedom. I think this would be a worthy exchange.¡± She tightly clenched on the medicine case, hatred was all over her face. Jiang Qinglian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°You want me to harm Xuxu¡¯s child?!¡± No, she could never do that and she wouldn¡¯t. Fang Jiayin knew that Jiang Qinglian wouldn¡¯t initially agree, so she smiled. ¡°They can always have another child, and I just want to vent my anger right now.¡± She continued, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu, I wouldn¡¯t have to make such a thorough investigation of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s project. And I certainly wouldn¡¯t have known it was your son who had planned the downfall of Flourish & Prosper.¡± So she was trying to blame Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. She knew the truth because of them. Jiang Qinglian shook her head. ¡°No matter what you say, I can never do that.¡± She repeatedly told herself that Fang Jiayin¡¯s words must not affect her. She was too scheming and vicious. Fang Jiayin shrugged. ¡°Then there is nothing more left to discuss. Please tune in to the news tonight. Yan Rusheng had gotten me on the headlines every other day, this will be a gift to him.¡± She rose and walked gracefully towards the door. As she strode past Jiang Qinglian, she glanced at her. ¡°You¡¯ve sacrificed so much for the Yan family, what did you get? Your husband¡¯s betrayal, his mistress¡¯ children entering the family and they even have such remarkable achievements.¡± Her words stabbed her like a sword, right through Jiang Qinglian. She inhaled sharply and narrowed her eyes at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Are you sure you can seal Wang Bin¡¯s mouth?¡± Fang Jiayin curled her lips into a confident smile. ¡°I promise you, as long as you do what I say.¡± ¡­ ¡°Aunt Zhang, where is First Aunt?¡± Xuxu reached home and combed the entire house but didn¡¯t see Jiang Qinglian anywhere. She glimpsed Aunt Zhang downstairs and hurried towards her. Aunt Zhang replied, ¡°First Madam left for C city after breakfast this morning.¡± It startled Xuxu. ¡°She went back?!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Aunt Zhang nodded. ¡°She should be at the airport by now.¡± ¡°Why would she leave so soon?¡± It perplexed Xuxu as First Aunt didn¡¯t even inform her. Seems like she was really furious that she didn¡¯t come home with Su Yue yesterday. She hastily dialed Jiang Qinglian¡¯s number. The line went through after a short while, and Jiang Qinglian answered, ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu anxiously asked, ¡°First Aunt, why did you go back so soon? You should have informed me, I can send you there.¡± She felt sorry towards First Aunt. She hardly made a trip back home, and I left her alone. Furthermore, this was such a tough period for her. Jiang Qinglian responded in a soft tone. ¡°Xuxu, I originally prepared to leave today, but I couldn¡¯t bear to leave you so soon. We haven¡¯t had a good chat this time around because of your Second Brother. So I¡¯ve decided that I¡¯m going to stay and leave a few days later.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Xuxu beamed. ¡°Then let¡¯s have a feast tonight. It has been some time since we dined out.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to work now and come back early tonight.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu hung up, feeling cheerful and dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. Chapter 763. Sister Xuxu, Don’t Worry Xuxu spoke as she walked. ¡°Tonight let¡¯s bring First Aunt out for a meal. Do you want to choose a restaurant or I decide? We need to choose a superb one.¡± ¡°Of course, she stayed behind because of me. She said she would leave a few days later.¡± ¡°Alright, see you tonight.¡± ¡­ ¡°Stupid woman, look how happy you sounded.¡± Yan Rusheng affectionately looked at his phone before stowing it away. Qiao Jian walked in and saw his expression. The first thought that came to his mind was, ¡®What a love-struck fool. A completely smitten and love-struck fool.¡¯ ¡°President, this parcel is for you.¡± ( NovelFull ) Qiao Jian strode towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk and placed it on top. Yan Rusheng vaguely grunted in response. Qiao Jian turned around to leave when Yan Rusheng called him. ¡°Qiao Jian.¡± ¡°President, anything you would like to instruct me?¡± Qiao Jian promptly answered. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Make a reservation for a private room at Jiangnan River Delta for tonight.¡± He needed to seize this opportunity to perform well in front of her so he could completely win her over. ¡°Noted.¡± Qiao Jian nodded and smiled. ¡°President, do you need a bouquet?¡± Judging from Yan Rusheng¡¯s smitten expression earlier on, Assistant Qiao had a hunch that the reservation at Jiangnan River Delta was for a dinner date with the lady boss. ¡°Bouquet of flowers?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned, deep in thought. But tonight, they were eating with First Aunt, so flowers wouldn¡¯t be too appropriate for the occasion. He waved to dismiss Qiao Jian. ¡°There isn¡¯t a need, you may leave first.¡± Qiao Jian bowed and turned around. Once the door was closed, Yan Rusheng was about to stretch his hand to reach for the parcel when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen and turned solemn right away. He answered, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°President Yan, we have found out that Wang Bin¡¯s grandson had gone missing since last night after school. He was only sent back home at dawn this morning.¡± Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes with a piercing look in his eyes. He deduced that something was amiss and his body instantly became stiff. ¡°Have you found out who abducted him?¡± ¡°Not yet. Strange enough, Wang Bin¡¯s family didn¡¯t report this to the police.¡± ¡°Got it. Find out who¡¯s behind the kidnapping of Wang Bin¡¯s grandson today.¡± He hung up and quickly dialed another number. ¡°Find Wang Bin right away. I foresee that someone already had their attention on the coastal county project and they are conducting investigations in secret.¡± After giving some brief instructions, he hung up and dialed Yan Weiye¡¯s number. ¡°Someone already had their attention on the coastal county project. There is no time for Yan Runan to hesitate any longer. We will still have a way to help him after he confessed to the police,¡± he spoke, authority was all over his voice. Yan Weiye heard him and became anxious. He had always trusted Yan Rusheng¡¯s capability. So he would do whatever Yan Rusheng told him to. After making the calls, Yan Rusheng placed his phone down and settled himself back on his chair. He tapped his desk with his fingers unconsciously, apparently deep in thought. From the moment he struck, he knew that a war was inevitable. Whatever that was supposed to come would come, eventually. But this mastermind¡­ ¡­ ¡°Qi Lei, did you go to my place? Did Su Yue eat lunch?¡± After the shoot ended in the afternoon, they went for lunch at a restaurant. Xuxu was worried about Su Yue and gave Qi Lei a call. Qi Lei smiled as he answered, ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver the food. Sister Xuxu, don¡¯t worry.¡± Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Okay, sorry to have troubled you.¡± Chapter 764. I Should Peel an Apple for You ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± answered Qi Lei as he bashfully shook his head. They briefly chatted before ending the call. He turned around towards the balcony and Su Yue was sitting there. She was eating the lunch he had brought. Even when she ate, she hardly made any sound. It was afternoon, and the sun was blazing. Although it wasn¡¯t hot, the sunlight was rather blinding. Qi Lei deliberated for a while before walking over to her. ¡°Su Yue, I think you should go to the dining table and have your lunch, it¡¯s too hot here.¡± Su Yue had her head bowed and continued to eat her chicken wings as though she couldn¡¯t hear him. Qi Lei didn¡¯t know her at all and he was rather upset. ¡°This little lass. Ignoring me when I¡¯m talking to you.¡± He muttered to himself as he strode across the balcony and sat on Xuxu¡¯s swing chair. He folded his arms as he lightly rocked back and forth, and at the same time, he watched Su Yue with intent. Su Yue ate none of the rice. Instead, she was devouring the chicken wings. She ate all five of them. After eating, she licked her fingers. Qi Lei noticed her and his mouth momentarily twitched. Should he feel proud? His cooking was fantastic. His mouth curled upwards in satisfaction and pride. Su Yue suddenly looked at him. ¡°The chicken wings are really yummy. Do you have more?¡± Sauce and chicken grease smeared her mouth, but it didn¡¯t seem too dirty on her clean-looking face. She looked rather adorable, and for the first time in his life, Qi Lei felt helpless. No wonder Xuxu had reminded him several times to bring her lunch. She was already 18 years old and even if she couldn¡¯t cook, she should be able to order food for herself. But this young lass doesn¡¯t talk easily to strangers. He had been learning traditional Chinese medicine from Old Master Wen for three years, and he had read quite a lot of medical books. He had come across Su Yue¡¯s symptoms before. When she was too focused on something, she would unconsciously ignore or neglect other things she felt was unimportant. She would be too immersed in her own world, even in a noisy or crowded environment. So, she had never answered him properly ever since he arrived hours ago. She would merely respond with a vague hum. Now it seemed like she was another person when she asked for more chicken wings. Qi Lei thought to himself and smiled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get you more.¡± He had brought plenty of dishes over for Xuxu to eat in the evening as well. Qi Lei came out of the kitchen with a plate of chicken wings. He walked past the sofa and took tissues along with him to the balcony. ¡°Wipe your mouth.¡± He passed Su Yue some tissues. Su Yue extended her hand and stared at Qi Lei¡ªit had startled him. She didn¡¯t even blink as she gazed at him in silence. Qi Lei was a shy person by nature, and he felt awkward when Su Yue stared at him. He blushed. He frowned and questioned her, ¡°What are you looking at? Your mouth is really dirty.¡± Su Yue finally received the tissues and soundlessly dabbed her mouth. She took the plate from him and ate. Qi Lei pursed his lips helplessly and caught a glimpse of the fruits on the coffee table. He asked, ¡°Do you want fruits? I¡¯ll peel some for you.¡± Without waiting for Su Yue to respond, he sighed and muttered, ¡°I should peel an apple for you, just in case Sister Xuxu blames me for not taking good care of you.¡± He walked towards the sofa, picked up an apple and saw a knife lying beside the fruits. Chapter 765. Do You Know How to Play Card Games? ¡°Do you know how to play card games?¡± Su Yue suddenly turned and stared at Qi Lei with an innocent expression embedded on her face. Qi Lei momentarily froze before turning towards Su Yue. He lifted his eyebrows and asked apprehensively, ¡°You mean¡­ card games?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes, the card game where someone gets to be a host.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Qi Lei understood what she meant. ¡°I know how to play it, but why are you asking me?¡± Su Yue grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s play.¡± Under the sunlight, she was so tiny that it seemed to have enveloped her entirely. The smile on her exquisite-looking face bloomed like a beautiful and delicate flower. Her smile had Qi Lei awestruck, it was only when he had blushed that he finally snapped out of his reverie. It was the first time he had ever seen such a beautiful smile on a girl. He stuttered. ¡°The¡­ card game? But there is only two of us.¡± ¡°We can still play.¡± Su Yue excitedly nodded. She bent her head and gobbled down the rest of her rice. Qi Lei was still feeling light-headed as though he was floating in mid-air. Both of them¡­ could play? Qi Lei spent an entire afternoon with Su Yue. Since it was just the two of them, they still dealt cards for three players, with Su Yue representing two players. Qi Lei didn¡¯t know how he had spent the hours, but it felt as though the entire afternoon passed by sleepily. Su Yue could tell that he wasn¡¯t really invested in the game, and so she brought up an idea. She suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s add stakes.¡± Qi Lei¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Stakes¡­ What stakes?¡± Was she trying to gamble with money? He didn¡¯t bring any money with him. Even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t gamble with a young girl like her. ¡°If one of us loses, we remove a layer of clothing,¡± Su Yue quipped. She pressed her palms against the table and stood up. She limped to Xuxu¡¯s room. Qi Lei called her with haste. ¡°Hey¡­ Su Yue¡­¡± However, Su Yue ignored him and came out of the room after some time. Numerous layers of clothing covered her, and it made her look bloated. In her arms were more clothing. Qi Lei¡¯s mouth continuously twitched. ¡°What¡­ are you trying to do?¡± Su Yue casually answered, ¡°Your clothes aren¡¯t enough so you need more.¡± She walked to Qi Lei and passed him the clothes. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ He thought, ¡°Su Yue, don¡¯t you know how expensive your third sister-in-law¡¯s clothes are? Some of them cost a hundred thousand yuan. Is this really a good idea?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of arrogant Third Brother?¡± Qi Lei stared at the clothing, apparently dumbfounded. But he knew that a person like Su Yue hardly had anything they like. So, it was quite a surprise that she would be so obsessed with a card game. More so, the penalty was quite perverted, and he thought the game wasn¡¯t particularly interesting. It was rather childish, actually. He sighed. Sister Xuxu had instructed him to take good care of her, so making her happy should be one of his priorities. ¡­ The shooting ended at about half-past six. Xuxu took a taxi to the restaurant. Jiangnan River Delta was a grand and exotic-looking Chinese restaurant which served signature dishes. The waiters warmly welcomed her the moment they saw her. ¡°Hello.¡± Xuxu told the waiters the private room number, and one of them led the way. She whipped out her phone and was in the midst of dialing Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. She wanted to ask if he had fetched Jiang Qinglian when a call interrupted her. Ming Ansheng was on the other line, and she stared at his name with a frown. Why would he call her? She answered, ¡°Hello, Ming Ansheng.¡± Ming Ansheng spoke, ¡°Are you at home with Su Yue? I have some Chemistry books for Su Yue and I¡¯m on the way to your place.¡± So that was the reason he had called. ¡°I¡¯m not at home, but Su Yue is.¡± Chapter 766. Ah Heng ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pass it to Su Yue.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu readily agreed without thinking. ¡°Bye.¡± She ended the call and dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. She followed the waiter up to the stairs to the second level and saw that the whole place was bustling with customers. It was a lavish and extravagant restaurant. And as expected, all the customers were of wealthy or influential statuses. The lighting was warm and dim with a rich brown carpet covering the floor. A traditional Jiangnan folk song played in the playground, completing the perfect ambiance. When she got through Yan Rusheng¡¯s line, a familiar and soothing ballad entered her ears. ¡®It¡¯s a pity love isn¡¯t a few drops of tears, neither is it a few love letters¡­.¡¯ The caller ringback tone he had used had dumbfounded Xuxu for a while. She snapped out of her trance a brief moment later. She grinned to herself. When did that fellow have the interest do such stuff? Didn¡¯t he always regard such trivial stuff with disdain? He had always grumbled that it was ridiculous, childish and boring. The song ¡®Love letter¡¯ chorus was looped several times, and when he didn¡¯t answer right away, Xuxu almost hung up. Yan Rusheng¡¯s pleasant voice sounded after a few rings. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Have you fetched First Aunt?¡± Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait inside the private room.¡± Xuxu hung up as she reached the second level. They walked through the lobby before making a turn. Then, the waiter led her to a private room and stopped outside. ¡°Third Madam Yan, this is the room President Yan has reserved.¡± Xuxu wasn¡¯t in the least surprised that the waiter had recognized her. She entered the room with the waiter behind her. He served a cup of water before leaving. Xuxu put her bag down but didn¡¯t sit. She poured the water away and disinfected it with boiling water first before pouring herself another cup. She walked to the windows and peered down. The streets were already twinkling with bright neon lights, and it was bustling and crowded. Xuxu gazed into the distance as she watched the scenery in a stupor. Suddenly her phone rang and disrupted her. She turned around to get her phone which was on the table. She took a glance at the screen. Jiang Zhuoheng! Ah Heng? She picked up the call with haste. It had been some time since she had last contacted him. ¡°Hello, Ah Heng.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s gentle voice sounded. ¡°Which private room are you in?¡± It puzzled Xuxu. ¡°Huh?¡± She didn¡¯t understand him. Jiang Zhuoheng answered, ¡°I¡¯m at Jiangnan River Delta, too.¡± ¡°You are here as well?¡± His response surprised Xuxu. She then turned to the entrance. ¡°Give me a second, let me check.¡± She didn¡¯t notice the private room number earlier on. She spoke as she walked towards the entrance. ¡°No need¡­¡± The door swung open and both of their voices overlapped. A tall man stood outside with a gentle and warm smile on his face, and it made Xuxu feel as though an instant wave of sunshine welcomed her. She put down her phone and smiled at him. ¡°You already knew I was inside this room.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng put down his phone too. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure.¡± ¡°Are you alone?¡± Xuxu asked. But it was quite unlikely he would be alone in such places. Jiang Zhuoheng wore a dark plum suit with a white shirt underneath, and he had paired it with a dark red tie, too. His face had always been gorgeous, but his choice of clothing made him looked even more beautiful. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and took a step forward. He then leaned lazily against the door frame. Only a step had separated him from Xuxu. He peered down at her with a tender smile. Chapter 767. Fated Xuxu frowned. ¡°Why? Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng slightly lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you inviting me into the room or going to ask me if I would like to join you?¡± He would always feel better when he looked at her face. Everyone said that time would wash away everything, including forgetting a person. But it was all a lie. Or perhaps it was only effective for ¡®patients ¡® with ¡®mild symptoms ¡®. As for himself, he should be beyond cure. Even though they met in kindergarten or even if they haven¡¯t met each other in years, every time he saw her he would still feel the same way. Just by the sight of her affected him, no matter how hard he tried to suppress himself. Her every frown or a smile had become the deepest longing in his heart. Occasionally, he would wish that he could capture her expressions with a camera. Then in the deep of the night, when he is alone, he could look at the photo to ease his desire for her. He had rooted Wen Xuxu in his heart ever since they were kids. But what else could he do now? He had always questioned himself, why he had to fall so deeply in love with her¡­ Xuxu playfully pursed her lips. ¡°It would be my pleasure if you would do me the honor.¡± In front of Jiang Zhuoheng, she would act like how she always does in front of her grandfather. She could reveal her real personality without a care in the world. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled weakly, but he didn¡¯t respond. He sized her up from head to toe and with an affirmative tone, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve gained weight, at least 5 kg.¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Why must you remind me of my sore spot!¡± She had indeed gained weight, nearly 6 kg. Jiang Zhuoheng gave her a fond smile and continued, ¡°You should eat more, then little Third Yan would be chubby and cute.¡± His eyes were twinkling. He seemed sincere and earnest just by the look on his face and in the way he sounded. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s words gently tugged on Xuxu¡¯s heart. Her smile became tender and gentle. She slightly turned as she gestured inside. ¡°Ah Heng, join us for a meal.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng remained rooted to the spot and declined. ¡°I am¡­¡± A pleasant and sweet voice interrupted him. ¡°Ah Heng.¡± It startled Xuxu when a tall and slim woman appeared before her. The girl wasn¡¯t extraordinarily beautiful, but her gracefulness had eclipsed her beauty. She wore a dark wine-red dress with sleeves ending at her elbows, and it seemed that she was wearing a couple-outfit with Jiang Zhuoheng. Xuxu smiled and nodded. ¡°Miss Hu.¡± Hu Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded when she saw Xuxu. She only managed to react after a brief moment. ¡°Hi Xuxu, it has been a while.¡± She wound her arm in fluid motion around Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s arm. Xuxu briefly glanced at their interlinked arms. A mixture of complicated emotions surged in her heart, but her facial expression remained impassive. ¡°Yeah.¡± She had no idea what her feelings were. It could be sorrow or just an overwhelming feeling. She wasn¡¯t greedy, but she felt that her childhood friend Ah Heng seemed to drift away from her. She knew that eventually, they would lead their own separate lives. Hu Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes darted around the empty room before looking at Xuxu. ¡°Are you here with Yan Rusheng?¡± ¡°Yes, and with my First Aunt too,¡± Xuxu answered politely. ¡°Would you like to join us?¡± Hu Xiaoxiao gently waved her hands. ¡°No thanks. My parents and Ah Heng¡¯s parents are here with us.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t insist as she had asked her out of courtesy. ¡°Then, perhaps next time.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Hu Xiaoxiao nodded and glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Let¡¯s go, they are waiting for us.¡± Chapter 768. There is No Need for Such Deep Lingering Affection Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t look at Hu Xiaoxiao but instead threw a longing gaze at Xuxu. He spun around, swiftly pulled his arm away from Hu Xiaoxiao and strode away without a word. Hu Xiaoxiao gave Xuxu a smile before turning around. Xuxu returned the smile as she watched Hu Xiaoxiao trailing behind Jiang Zhuoheng. She leaned against the door frame and gazed at Jiang Zhuoheng and Hu Xiaoxiao¡¯s diminishing figures. Gradually, she fell into a deep reverie. As a person goes through life, they would constantly gain things. However, they would lose some others that were important to them along the way. Wasn¡¯t it normal? ¡®Ah Heng, you have to be happy.¡¯ Jiang Zhuoheng strode ahead in huge steps while Hu Xiaoxiao struggled to keep up with him. After turning around a corner, she burst out. ¡°The reason why you suddenly changed the dinner venue was because of Wen Xuxu, am I right?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t halt his footsteps but threw a fleeting glance at the woman beside him. He coldly said, ¡°Since you know the answer, why did you even ask?¡± Indeed, he had caught a glimpse of Xuxu earlier on while he was in the car. He saw her entering Jiangnan River Delta and an impulse to change the venue seized him. Actually, he just wanted to see her¡ªeven if it¡¯s just a brief encounter or just to hear her voice in person. Hu Xiaoxiao continued in an unyielding tone. ¡°There will always be one person you can never have in this lifetime. But you can simply just occasionally reminisce about her. There is no need for such deep lingering affection.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng finally halted his footsteps, and his hands were clenched tightly into fists. ¡®There will always be one person you can never have in this lifetime¡­.¡¯ He didn¡¯t respond and moved forward in big strides. He suddenly unbuttoned his jacket, removed it, and carried it in his hands. Hu Xiaoxiao observed him and peered quietly at her own dress. Her expression darkened. ¡­ ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Xuxu was deep in her own thoughts when an exceedingly familiar voice extricated her from her daze. ¡°You didn¡¯t make a sound. Almost scared me to death.¡± She spun her head and chided the man gazing at her. Yan Rusheng wound his hand around her waist and counterattacked. ¡°If you weren¡¯t thinking of something that you were trying to hide from me, why should you be scared?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to talk to you.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng and turned her head to peer around. ¡°Where is First Aunt?¡± Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°She spotted a stall selling boiled pear soup and insisted on buying.¡± Then he led Xuxu into the private room. Xuxu¡¯s eyes lit up with happiness. ¡°I love boiled pear soup.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Really?¡± Xuxu pouted and felt upset. ¡°Look at you. You don¡¯t even know what I like to eat.¡± She tilted her head to gaze at Yan Rusheng¡¯s good-looking face. She suddenly tightly hugged him. ¡°What happened? Did you witness something inappropriate for children just now? Is that why you hugged me the instant you saw me?¡± Young Master Yan didn¡¯t admit that he received a benefit in a way, and instead teased her. He then tightly wound his arms around her in an embrace as well. He lowered his head to give her a peck on her lips. ¡°Stop it. First Aunt will be here at any moment.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face was as red as a tomato, and then she bolted towards the table. She hastily sat down. Yan Rusheng dawdled towards the table and sat next to her. He then spoke with a solemn tone. ¡°Regarding the coastal county project, someone else is investigating. I reckon that the news will break out soon.¡± Xuxu became anxious. ¡°What should we do? What if Second Brother is exposed and apprehended? Would it aggravate his crimes?¡± Chapter 769. Dont Let Someone Get a Handle on Him Yan Rusheng fell silent. It was exactly what worried him the most. It was only after a long while that he spoke. ¡°It depends on Yan Runan now.¡± He had made his stand clear when he called First Uncle earlier that afternoon, and he had conveyed a clear and ringing message. If Yan Runan didn¡¯t have any self-awareness, then he needed to shoulder the consequences by himself. After all, his original intentions were hard to forgive. Yan Rusheng was level-headed and rational, but Xuxu couldn¡¯t be like that. She grabbed him tightly. ¡°Ah Sheng, let¡¯s inform First Aunt now.¡± ( NovelFull ) They needed to persuade First Aunt to talk to Second Brother so he could confess to his crimes. Then they would think of a way to save him and eliminate the possibility of being manipulated. Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes with a cryptic expression. ¡°She might already have known.¡± Xuxu was shocked yet puzzled. ¡°Why would you come to that conclusion?¡± If First Aunt already knew, why would she still have the mood to have dinner with them? Yan Rusheng gazed at Xuxu and instead, he asked, ¡°At this crucial point, would she still have the time to bother about you?¡± ¡°Do you mean¡­¡± Xuxu widened her eyes as suspicions crept inside of her. However, she couldn¡¯t be entirely sure. ¡°I¡¯m only guessing.¡± Yan Rusheng threw a look at the entrance. He then said in a hushed voice, ¡°Wang Bin¡¯s grandson went missing last night and they found him just this morning. His family didn¡¯t report it to the police, and the boy came home by himself.¡± It shocked Xuxu, and she began to comprehend the whole situation in a new light. ¡°So, someone already knew the truth behind the county¡¯s project, and they are searching for evidence right now? If you drag Liu Changfu down along with the others, they might use this evidence to make demands with you.¡± She was calm as she analyzed it in a clear and logical manner. ¡°Smart.¡± Yan Rusheng pinched Xuxu¡¯s gently cheeks and gazed at her with affection and admiration. He always had a woman by his side who was intelligent, and their hearts were linked as one. Even he envied himself. Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Then, in that case, First Aunt¡­¡± She didn¡¯t complete her sentence when Yan Rusheng interrupted. ¡°Let¡¯s observe the situation first. She must be confused and flustered right now. If not, she wouldn¡¯t have doubled back after knowing the truth instead of going back to Yan Runan right now.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, if we keep heaping advice on her right now, she wouldn¡¯t be able to listen to a word and it might even backfire.¡± She hopelessly sighed. ¡°I really hope that Second Brother will understand this and won¡¯t let anyone get a handle on him.¡± The truth will prevail eventually. Yan Rusheng pressed his lips as complex emotions swirled around in his eyes. Xuxu watched him and fell silent too. She stretched her hand towards the teapot and disinfected his cup. She then poured tea for him. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Jiang Qinglian finally arrived. She was wearing a smile as she walked in. She must be exhausted these few days as her smile seemed rather weak. She held two bags in her hands, and then she closed the door behind her. ¡°First Aunt.¡± Xuxu stood up. Jiang Qinglian grumbled with a smile. She sighed. ¡°There was such a long queue at the shop that my legs nearly went numb. Young people these days refuse to queue up.¡± She passed a bag to Xuxu. Chapter 770. Who Said She Wasnt Feminine or Charming? ¡°Thank you, First Aunt.¡± Xuxu received the bag and peered inside. Jiang Qinglian held her hand and walked towards the table. ¡°This is boiled pear soup, and it nourishes the lungs. I remembered that you loved it when you were a child. But I¡¯m not sure if the taste is still the same.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Grandmother¡¯s boiled pear soup is still the best.¡± She bowed her head and fell silent. She tightly clenched the handle of the bag as her long curled eyelashes fluttered. Sorrow, anger, and longing rapidly washed over her. Jiang Qinglian watched Xuxu, and she was lost in her thoughts for a moment. She broke into a smile and patted Xuxu gently on her back. ¡°Grandmother dotes on you the most. You and Third Yan are so loving now. She would be pleased and happy to know.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t suppress her emotions any longer and her eyes became red. She rubbed her belly and with sorrow lacing her voice, she said, ¡°If only Grandmother was still here.¡± The old lady¡¯s deepest wish was about to be fulfilled. If Grandmother was still around, all these wouldn¡¯t have happened. First Uncle wouldn¡¯t have brought Su Yan and Su Yue back. But even if they entered the family, with Grandmother around, she would be able to handle the situation. The more Xuxu thought about it, the more she missed Wang Daqin. It overwhelmed her and soon her tears fell. Yan Rusheng saw her and a crease appeared on his forehead. He strode quickly towards Xuxu and gently wiped her tears away. ¡°No wonder the books warned that pregnant women are melancholic and get emotional easily.¡± He held her hand and led her to her seat. Jiang Qinglian watched Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. She was frowning while her hands were clammy. She was restless. ¡°Don¡¯t turn my son into a crybaby.¡± Yan Rusheng pulled a tissue and dabbed at her eyes as he teased. Both of them were like children right now; innocent, bright and warm like a ray of sunshine. Jiang Qinglian gazed at them and entered a reverie. ¡°Stop nagging at me.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng and turned towards Jiang Qinglian. She beckoned at her. ¡°First Aunt, come and sit down.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Qinglian jerked. She wore an uneasy smile. ¡°Okay.¡± She walked to Xuxu and placed the soup on the table before settling down. ¡°Let me taste this soup.¡± Xuxu began to remove the cover of the container. The container took the form of a pretty little glass vase and it looked exquisite. She really liked it. Most women usually like dainty and pretty stuff. Why didn¡¯t he notice that Wen Xuxu was like an ordinary woman who also liked such? Now that he observed her closely, he quietly chided himself for complaining that Wen Xuxu wasn¡¯t feminine at all. Who said she wasn¡¯t feminine or charming? From top to toe, it displayed her charm! Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes followed Xuxu and fell on the container. The soup was of a light beige color, and it seemed milky and concentrated. Jiang Qinglian¡¯s eyes darted furtively to Xuxu¡¯s belly which was hardly showing. She had her hands clasped together tightly. It was clear that she was quietly struggling. ¡°I can use this container as a vase and put a rose inside,¡± Xuxu exclaimed. She spun her head and beamed at Jiang Qinglian. She took a straw and put it inside the container. Chapter 771. Let Me Drink It ¡°Then I shall give you a rose as a reward tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned as he glanced at Xuxu and Jiang Qinglian. Jiang Qinglian watched Xuxu as she was about to drink the soup. Her eyes were swirling with complex emotions. Suspicion flashed across Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes as he tried to suppress his nervousness. He was also intently watching Xuxu as she was about to drink the soup. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression hardened. Just when he was about to stop her from drinking, Jiang Qinglian suddenly stretched her hand and snatched the container from Xuxu. Jiang Qinglian¡¯s sudden action shocked Xuxu. She stared Jiang Qinglian and was beyond confused. Jiang Qinglian wore a smile to conceal her emotions. ¡°Xuxu, mine¡¯s freshly boiled, so it should be warmer. You should drink mine.¡± Then she passed her portion to Xuxu. Xuxu was still a little dazed that she couldn¡¯t react. After a while, she nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She received the boiled pear soup from Jiang Qinglian and opened the cover. However, Yan Rusheng suddenly extended his hand and snatched it from her. ¡°I¡¯m dying of thirst. Let me drink it.¡± He tilted his head and drank more than half of the soup in no time. Then he glanced at Jiang Qinglian with a meaningful smile. ¡°First Aunt, this soup is really sweet.¡± Jiang Qinglian¡¯s hand badly trembled. She lowered her head, fearing that she might meet Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. His eyes were too shrewd-looking, and if their eyes would meet, she feared that he might see through her. ¡°If I¡¯ve known earlier, I would have bought extra portions.¡± Jiang Qinglian smiled rather awkwardly. ¡°You don¡¯t usually like these soups and you still want to snatch mine.¡± Xuxu raised her voice and took it back from Yan Rusheng. She drank from the container. Yan Rusheng gave her a deep look, while the smile on his face became more baffling and thought-provoking. During dinner, one of them was distracted while the other was silent. Only Xuxu was acting normally as she kept the conversation going. They didn¡¯t have any drinks so dinner ended quickly. It was still dinner time when they left their room, and many customers still crowded the lobby. There was an impressive-looking fountain in the middle of the lobby with a fake hill and stream. They reached the entrance and Yan Rusheng told Xuxu, ¡°It¡¯s windy outside. Wait here for me with First Aunt. I¡¯ll drive the car over.¡± ¡°Third Yan.¡± Xuxu was about to say that it was too troublesome when a voice, which belonged to an old man, called out for Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu heard the voice and turned around. A group of people was headed in their direction, and seeing them made both Yan Rusheng and Jiang Qinglian surprised. Only Xuxu knew that Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s family was having dinner there. ¡°Grandfather Jiang.¡± Yan Rusheng bowed when he saw Old Master Jiang. Then he nodded at Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s parents. Xuxu followed closely behind Yan Rusheng and politely greeted the Jiang family members one by one. Her intelligence, wisdom, gentleness, and tenacity were what they had always admired and looked for in their prospective granddaughter-in-law. Every now and then, whenever Old Master Jiang stumbled upon Xuxu, his murky-looking eyes would show a subtle trace of regret and pity. He strolled to Xuxu. He pretended to lecture her. ¡°Xuxu, how long has it been since we last met? Why didn¡¯t you come and visit me?¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Your two granddaughters are back, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me anymore.¡± Chapter 772. Without a Doubt Old Master Jiang loudly chuckled. ¡°You playful lass. You are still trying to find excuses for your absence?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dare to.¡± Xuxu knew that she was speaking to an elder, so she only teased him appropriately. Old Master Jiang pointed at her reprovingly with a rather doting expression, just like how a grandfather would look at his granddaughter. Then he turned his attention towards Jiang Qinglian. ¡°Qinglian, when did you come back? Is Weiye back with you?¡± Jiang Qinglian replied with a slight bow. ¡°I came back two days ago. He is a little busy, so I came back alone.¡± As the conversation went on, Jiang Zhuoheng and Hu Xiaoxiao had their eyes fixed on Wen Xuxu. However, both their motives were vastly different. ¡°So many people are present tonight. I suppose it¡¯s an official meet-up between the two families.¡± The usually reticent Young Master Yan at such gatherings suddenly spoke as he surveyed the entire Jiang family. Then his eyes finally landed on Jiang Zhuoheng and Hu Xiaoxiao with a smile. ( NovelFull ) At the same time, he casually stretched his hand and wound it around Xuxu¡¯s waist. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s mother smiled. She remarked, ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± She seemed rather eager to boast and flaunt. She wasn¡¯t feeling too kind towards Xuxu, too. Just some time ago, Ah Heng and Third Yan had come to blows because of her. Yan Rusheng¡¯s smile deepened when he heard Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s mother. He glanced at Hu Xiaoxiao and said, ¡°Miss Hu and our dear Young Master Jiang are really a match made in heaven. They look so compatible together.¡± Hu Xiaoxiao wasn¡¯t stupid, and she knew that Yan Rusheng had purposely lavished praises on them. She pretended to be bashful and smiled. ¡°Xuxu and you is the real match made in heaven.¡± ¡°That is¡­¡± Yan Rusheng wanted to say ¡®right¡¯ but someone had interrupted him. Old Master Jiang suddenly sneered. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Rusheng was quite annoyed at being interrupted, so he glanced at the old man with a puzzled expression. Old Master Jiang continued, ¡°Xuxu being paired with you is barely satisfactory.¡± Yan Rusheng pursed his lips¡­ He tightened his grip on Xuxu¡¯s waist as though he was trying to say, ¡®You can carry on feeling unfair or upset, no matter how you feel, Xuxu is still part of my Yan family.¡¯ Xuxu couldn¡¯t wait to strangle this childish fellow as she gnashed her teeth in anger. A huge group of them stood near the restaurant¡¯s entrance and not only did it cause an obstruction, but they were also attracting unwanted attention. Xuxu glanced at Grandfather Jiang and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s very windy outside, Grandfather you should go back early.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Old Master Jiang strode towards the entrance but after a few steps, he said, ¡°Remember to play chess with me when you¡¯re free.¡± If this was in the olden days, then Old Master Jiang would be the emperor¡¯s father. Everyone flocked closely behind him as soon as he took a step forward. ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu smiled and readily agreed. After the Jiang family left, Yan Rusheng lowered his head and inched towards Xuxu¡¯s ear. He gnashed his teeth as he tried to suppress his anger. ¡°So you were looking at Jiang Zhuoheng just now, and that¡¯s why you were in a daze, right?¡± Without a doubt. Xuxu didn¡¯t understand what Yan Rusheng was referring to. She felt confused as she glanced at him. ¡°What?¡± She then recalled the incident before dinner, and she gave Yan Rusheng an exasperated look. Once they got in the car and had shut the door, Jiang Qinglian was a bit hesitant as she said, ¡°Third Yan, send me to the airport.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°It¡¯s so late, why are you going to the airport?¡± Jiang Qinglian grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand and placed her hand on hers. She smiled gently. ¡°I didn¡¯t say goodbye to you in the morning, and I felt bad and sorry. Now that all is well after we had dinner together, I want to go back to Runan.¡± Chapter 773. A Man? Who could it be? Jiang Qinglian tightened her grip on Xuxu¡¯s hand. Her action conveyed her guilt and apology. It seemed like First Aunt had thought it through and it relieved Xuxu. She looked at their pitch-dark surroundings, and she couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°But you don¡¯t have to go back right away.¡± Jiang Qinglian pressed her lips and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. There is a flight at night to C City. Just send me to the airport.¡± Yan Rusheng cut across and said, ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t say much. Instead, she comforted her by clenching both her hands tight. ¡°First Aunt, don¡¯t worry so much. Ah Sheng will try his best to help Second Brother.¡± Jiang Qinglian nodded in silence. She glanced out of the window as worries washed over her once more. ¡­ After sending Jiang Qinglian to the airport, and watching her leave, Xuxu sighed ruefully. ¡°I feel so sorry to see how First Aunt had changed her mind.¡± Yan Rusheng held her hand and gently patted it with his other hand. ¡°Stop thinking about it.¡± Both of them left the airport hand in hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the apartment now. Su Yue is still there alone.¡± Xuxu implored Yan Rusheng when they got in the car. Yan Rusheng nodded as he swiftly typed a text on his phone. ¡®Check the surveillance cameras at the airport and other places today. I want to see who my First Aunt contacted.¡¯ The other party immediately replied with an ¡®Okay¡¯ , and then Yan Rusheng stowed his phone away. After starting the engine, Xuxu looked up at the sky and caught a glimpse of a plane taking off. Her eyes trailed after the plane into the sky. She couldn¡¯t help but recall how Jiang Qinglian had bid them goodbye earlier on with such a worried expression. She turned towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t you think that First Aunt is acting weirdly today?¡± ¡°She must be worried for Yan Runan,¡± Yan Rusheng answered. He then changed the topic. ¡°Stop worrying so much, don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re pregnant. What if you affect my son¡¯s mind with your worries?¡± ¡°Why do you keep mentioning ¡®your son¡¯ ?¡± Xuxu glared at him disapprovingly. ¡°How do you know that it¡¯s a boy? What if it¡¯s a girl?¡± She rubbed her belly and was still feeling indignant. ¡°Or are you just plain biased and only wanted boys?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a slip of tongue.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned. ¡°Alright, I shall call our child¡®my daughter¡¯ in the future. As long as you give birth to our children, I would love them regardless if it¡¯s a boy or girl. Is that okay?¡± Xuxu blushed and looked away. ¡°Shall not talk to you. Hurry up and drive.¡± ¡­ ¡°Haha¡­ you lost again!¡± The elevator door opened and Ming Ansheng could hear a girl¡¯s laughter the second he stepped out. That laughter¡­ belonged to Su Yue? He halted his footsteps in disbelief. He had seen Su Yue being excited before, but he had never heard her laugh so gleefully. And she was laughing loudly as well. Didn¡¯t Wen Xuxu say that she wasn¡¯t at home? Then who was having fun with that little lass? Was she¡­ amusing herself? She had such an eccentric personality and Ming Ansheng thought it might be possible. He hastened his footsteps towards the door and pressed the doorbell. ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ Suddenly a stranger¡¯s voice sounded from inside the apartment. ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± Ming Ansheng suspiciously narrowed his eyes and his face fell. A man? Who could it be? He had met Su Yue¡¯s brother before. He didn¡¯t speak in such an accent, and his voice certainly didn¡¯t sound like that. So who was that stranger? Chapter 774. It Was Not Normal The door swung open. A tall, skinny, and youthful-looking guy appeared in front of him. He was only wearing a thin shirt and holding poker cards in his hand. It startled Qi Lei to see Ming Ansheng. He scanned him from head to toe for a moment before he asked, ¡°May I know who you are?¡± Ming Ansheng sharply questioned him instead. ¡°Who are you?¡± His attitude and tone were entirely different from Qi Lei, not to mention his aura. The President of the Bright Vision Organization looked like an impressive and extraordinary dictator. Qi Lei was lost for words when Ming Ansheng coldly swept past him and entered the house. Without removing his shoes, he strode towards the living room. Su Yue was sitting there holding poker cards. She was clearly engrossed as she studied her cards. She was completely unaware of his presence. Ming Ansheng¡¯s good-looking face hardened as he removed his shoes and marched towards her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± When he stood in front of her and cast a shadow on her, only then did she react. ¡°Uncle?¡± Su Yue raised her head and seemed genuinely surprised to see Ming Ansheng. She happily raised her cards and showed them to Ming Ansheng. ¡°We are playing the card game and the loser has to remove clothes. Uncle Ming, you can join us!¡± Her dewy and sparkling eyes were twinkling like crescents. She didn¡¯t seem to notice that Young Master Ming was angry. Ming Ansheng widened his eyes in shock. ¡°Yueyue, you are playing card games and removing clothes with this guy?¡± Does this girl even have any common sense? She was playing with a stranger at home¡­ taking clothes off with a man. Wasn¡¯t this just a game of taking clothes off? Oh yeah, and who was that man? Ming Ansheng glared at Qi Lei as he snapped, ¡°Who are you?¡± Su Yue cut across and answered, ¡°He is Qi Lei.¡± Qi Lei? Ming Ansheng rapidly sieved through his memories for the person¡¯s name. It sounded vaguely familiar. But he couldn¡¯t remember. Qi Lei noticed him and decided to introduce himself. ¡°I¡¯m Grandfather Wen¡¯s disciple, and I¡¯m working at his clinic.¡± Then he elaborated. ¡°Sister Xuxu asked me to send food to Sister Yueyue and take care of her. Please don¡¯t be mistaken.¡± It puzzled Su Yue, and she furrowed her eyebrows. She then asked, ¡°Why would Uncle Ming be mistaken? Mistaken about what?¡± So, he was Wen Xuxu¡¯s grandfather¡¯s disciple. No wonder he had heard of his name before. Ming Ansheng became less hostile when he heard Qi Lei¡¯s explanation. To Su Yue, he softly replied, ¡°Nothing.¡± But he was a grown up and a man, how could he play such games with an under-aged girl alone at home? It was not normal. Ming Ansheng cursed and chided the man in his heart before looking at Su Yue. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Su Yue nodded and pointed at Qi Lei. She answered, ¡°Yes, I have. Brother Qi Lei cooked for me.¡± Brother Qi Lei¡­ He reckoned the guy was just a few years younger than him. At most, he looked more youthful than him. So, why did she addressed him as an uncle but he is a brother to her? This young lass must have deliberately done it. When Ming Ansheng heard Su Yue addressing Qi Lei as Brother Qi Lei, annoyance flashed across his eyes. But he ignored it and frowned when he caught sight of Su Yue¡¯s appearance. ¡°Hurry up and remove those clothes. Aren¡¯t you feeling hot?¡± Qi Lei kept losing to her on purpose to cheer Su Yue up. Hence, she still had more than ten layers of clothing, making her look like a stuffed dumpling. Chapter 775. Uncle Ming, You Lost Again Ming Ansheng recalled how Su Yue had gone to the room yesterday and piled on clothes without a word. He suddenly felt like laughing. Su Yue frowned. ¡°But I didn¡¯t lose, why should I remove?¡± It rendered Ming Ansheng speechless¡­ If she didn¡¯t lose any rounds, was she planning to wear those layers to sleep? ¡°Let¡¯s play together.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t even notice Ming Ansheng and Qi Lei¡¯s expressions, and she certainly didn¡¯t detect any change in the mood. She sat down and picked up a stack of cards and passed it to Ming Ansheng. ¡°This is yours.¡± The corners of Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched, and he didn¡¯t move an inch. This lass¡­ how dare she ask him to play such a childish and boring game? Yesterday, he didn¡¯t mind playing as he was just coaching her. But now he had to be one of the players¡ªit would be entirely different. Qi Lei smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not playing anymore. Since there is someone to look after you, I¡¯ll go back first.¡± He walked to the sofa as he wore his clothes. Su Yue pouted and bent her head. She whispered, ¡°I feel like playing for a while more.¡± She looked so pitiful, and it was almost impossible to reject her. Qi Lei glanced at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng¡¯s facial muscles slightly twitched, and he pressed his lips. As he furrowed his eyebrows, he took a deep breath before replying. ¡°Just for a while.¡± He glanced at his watch. ¡°Half an hour.¡± Su Yue ignored his second sentence and merely focused on the promise he would play with her. ¡°These are yours. Do you want to wear more? I think you¡¯re not wearing enough clothes.¡± Young Master Ming was speechless once again¡­ He peered at his own clothes and frowned. Indeed, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for more than two rounds. But there was no way he would wear a woman¡¯s clothes. Anyway, he just needed to deal with the little girl for a while. Ming Ansheng held his cards as he arranged them. Su Yue cheerfully boasted to him. ¡°Qi Lei and I have been playing for the whole afternoon. He kept losing to me.¡± ¡®What? They have been playing this game for the entire afternoon?¡¯ he thought. Young Master Ming¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched as he silently glanced at Qi Lei. The fellow was indeed admirable for being able to endure such a boring game. Ming Ansheng had never imagined that the young girl would lead him by the nose. He had specifically said that he would play for only half an hour, but almost an hour had passed by. He glanced at his clothes; he had taken off his blazer and the only thing left was his white shirt. As he was wearing two layers of clothing, Su Yue suggested that he could unbutton every time he loses. He had already unbuttoned four buttons, and his buff and muscular chest could be seen peeking out. He had originally planned to play the game seriously so he could make Su Yue remove those unwanted layers of clothing. He had miscalculated. ¡°Haha, Uncle Ming, you lost again,¡± happily yelled Su Yue as she raised her hands to Qi Lei. ¡°It has been such a joy working together with you.¡± This was what Zhou Shuang taught her yesterday. Every time she won, they had to say such a phrase. Qi Lei reluctantly gave Su Yue a high-five. He must be delirious! Ming Ansheng supported his forehead with a hand as he smiled helplessly. He unbuttoned another button. He glanced at himself¡ªnothing was left¡­ Chapter 776. This Is a Tattoo Prominent collarbones, a taut chest, and his six-pack were all revealed. So could the game continue? Ming Ansheng looked at Su Yue in embarrassment. ¡°Let¡¯s end here. It¡¯s already late. Have you finished your worksheets?¡± ¡°Still have a half a page more to go.¡± After saying that, Su Yue bowed her head and looked at the stack of cards on the table, longing to continue playing. But as she was yet to complete her work, she pursed her lips and reluctantly put down the cards in her hands. She clasped her hands together, fingers intertwined. Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows and reminded, ¡°Then what are you waiting for?¡± Su Yue responded with an ¡®oh¡¯ and unwillingly stood up while her eyes were still hovering over the cards. Ming Ansheng knitted his eyebrows in amusement at the little lass¡¯ addiction with playing cards. If they were playing with real money, would it easily turn her into a gambling addict? ( NovelFull ) ¡°I¡¯ll go back first.¡± Qi Lei stood up and waved at Su Yue with affection. ¡°Su Yue, bye, bye.¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°Goodbye, Brother Qi Lei.¡± She hardly smiled so sweetly at people. Ming Ansheng recalled that she hadn¡¯t smiled at him in the same manner before. She always ignored him whenever he greeted her or bade her goodbye. As he mulled over this, he felt uneasy and threw a fleeting glance at Qi Lei. This chap¡­ putting his class aside, just by the look on his face¡­ He¡¯s not in the least handsome as compared to him. Thinking of this, Ming Ansheng reached out and stroked his own face. Was he too mature for the little girl¡¯s liking? ¡®Oh, no, no, no!¡¯ What was wrong with him? Why must the little girl like him? Ming Ansheng shook his head, and by the time he snapped out of his thoughts again, Su Yue had already sent Qi Lei out of the door. She actually walked him to the door! Young Master Ming received a crushing blow. This ingrate lass! Just a meal from that chap and she was reduced to submission. He had saved her from the abyss of suffering but there wasn¡¯t even a word of thanks from her. Could this lass also be one of those¡­ chowhound in today¡¯s society? Ming Ansheng lazily leaned back on the sofa with his thoughts whirling around. ¡°Uncle Ming, what is this?¡± All of a sudden, Su Yue appeared before his eyes. She bent over and put her hands under his shirt, stroking his chest. Her soft and supple fingers felt warm to the touch, and her fingernails were neatly trimmed. Ming Ansheng immediately clammed up. His eyebrows gave a twitch as he looked down at Su Yue¡¯s tiny fingers. Does this girl even have any sense of self-protection? She was lucky he was an upright, unflustered man, and not some lecherous uncle. There was a little animal tattoo on Ming Ansheng¡¯s left chest, located just below his collarbone and it had intrigued Su Yue. She used her fingers to stroke the tattoo before scrutinizing it with excitement. ¡°This is a tattoo.¡± Ming Ansheng lifted his eyes and took a peek at Su Yue¡¯s tiny face and was stumped. A flush crept up his handsome face. Her skin was fair and baby-smooth. She had thick eyebrows and long curly lashes, a small and exquisite looking sharp nose with slightly curled red lips. ( NovelFull ) No words could describe the beauty of her petite face. As Su Yue started at the tattoo, Uncle Ming¡¯s chest moved up and down with every breath he took, and his breathing got more rapid. Su Yue¡¯s gaze was still fixed on his tattoo and she asked, ¡°I know. But what¡¯s the picture of the tattoo?¡± Before Ming Ansheng could respond, she hazarded a guess. ¡°It looks like a little mouse.¡± Ming Ansheng snapped out of his trance and recomposed himself. He sat upright and started buttoning his shirt as he spoke, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a little mouse.¡± Chapter 777. Whats Happening? Su Yue straightened up slowly and pouted. She was filled with envy, and so she quipped, ¡°I also wish to have a tattoo.¡± Ming Ansheng stopped buttoning his shirt for a moment and lifted his head to look at Su Yue sternly. ¡°It¡¯s better for girls not to have tattoos.¡± ¡°Where should I place my tattoo?¡± Su Yue disregarded Ming Ansheng¡¯s words again and went back into her own world. She then surveyed her own body from head to toe. So which part of her body should she place the tattoo? Ming Ansheng could tell that she was serious from her words, and his expression softened. He stopped buttoning his shirt at the second last button from the top. ¡°You have to go to school, and if your teacher discovers your tattoo, you¡¯ll be expelled from school.¡± He tried to scare Su Yue. However, Su Yue feigned ignorance and Ming Ansheng¡¯s words didn¡¯t affect her in the slightest. She sat down next to him and asked him with enthusiasm in her voice, ¡°Where did you have your tattoo done? Can you introduce the shop to me?¡± It rendered Ming Ansheng speechless. There were all kinds of strange people in this vast world. However, people like this ¡®exotic¡¯ little girl was thought to be extinct. Her existence baffled Ming Ansheng. When she was with Qi Lei earlier, wasn¡¯t she behaving normally? But why did she transformed into another person before his eyes? He was convinced that this young lass was doing it on purpose. After some deliberation, Ming Ansheng decided to test Su Yue. He inched closer to Su Yue and asked, ¡°Yueyue, do you find Qi Lei a good man?¡± Su Yue hesitated before nodding her head in response. ¡± Mm, his chicken wings were delicious.¡± There was a long pause¡­ It dumbfounded Ming Ansheng. He asked if she found him to be a good man or not, whether or not his chicken wings were delicious! Indeed, her level of intelligence was of a different frequency. Patiently, he asked again, ¡°Do you like him?¡± He thought that she should be able to answer this easy and straightforward question. Su Yue shook her head and looked at Ming Ansheng in all seriousness before answering. ¡°I only like my Third sister-in-law.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ Forget it. He was just too free to get entangled with an under-aged girl, even to the point of trying to find out why she had put up an invisible shield to keep him out from the start. He said, ¡°You better quickly finish up your worksheets. I¡¯ve brought two more books for you and you can read through in your free time.¡± Su Yue remained seated and continued to fix her gaze on Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. ¡°Where did you get the tattoo done?¡± Ming Ansheng was really at a loss for words. He realized that if something caught this girl¡¯s interest, she¡¯d be obstinately unmoving. But playing cards and having tattoos were not good things! After some consideration, Ming Ansheng decided to coax her with his words. ¡°You quickly go and finish up your worksheets. If you do well for your college entrance exams, I¡¯ll bring you to have your tattoo done, ok?¡± Su Yue was beaming and pointed to her chest. ¡°I also want to have my tattoo here. I want to tattoo a cat that¡¯s more awesome than your mouse.¡± She stood up after that and hobbled happily to the balcony. ¡°¡­¡± Young Master Ming stared at Su Yue from behind, completely speechless. ¡®I also want to have my tattoo here. I want to tattoo a cat that¡¯s more awesome than your mouse.¡¯ The cat and the mouse, seemingly¡­ ¡°Ming Ansheng?¡± Yan Rusheng and Xuxu walked in and saw Ming Ansheng seated at the sofa. Both of them simultaneously had a startled look on their faces. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng walked towards Ming Ansheng and scrutinized his partially unbuttoned shirt on his body. There was also a pile of Xuxu¡¯s clothes on the sofa. What was happening? She hurriedly turned and looked at Su Yue who was seated quietly at the other side. She was still wearing her Doraemon pajamas and her ponytail was messily tied up. Chapter 778. Such a Pervert Ming Ansheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°I came to deliver some books for her. Didn¡¯t I inform you over the phone?¡± He rose from his seat and straightened his clothes. Yan Rusheng threw him a suspicious glance. ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you left after delivering the books?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± The look of suspicion on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face had Young Master Ming dumbfounded. He realized that they had misunderstood him and immediately explained. ¡°This lass insisted on playing cards and the loser had to take off the clothes. Can¡¯t you see this heap of clothes here?¡± He pointed a bundle of clothes on the sofa. ¡°Both of you were playing card games and removing clothes?¡± Xuxu was so stunned that her eyes nearly popped out of her head. This hypocrite! Tsk . The more he explained, the more he made matters worse. Ming Ansheng swiftly added, ¡°It¡¯s not just the two of us. Qi Lei who¡¯d just left played with us.¡± It was for the first time that someone had questioned and accused him of harboring unwholesome thoughts towards an underaged girl. He couldn¡¯t tolerate it any further. If this couple continued to question him, he would¡­ ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Xuxu nodded and heaved a sigh of relief. Ming Ansheng felt perplexed and indignant. Did he look like one who would prey on a little girl? How could this couple doubt his character?! He said, ¡°Since you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Having said that, he retrieved his jacket from the sofa and hung it over his arm, striding past Xuxu and Yan Rusheng with pompous steps. ¡°Walking with your head up high doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you are righteous. It just means you¡¯re guilty conscious!¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from behind, and his tone sounded like a haunting spirit. Young Master Ming clenched his fist as he halted his steps and gnashed his teeth. But in the end, he ignored Young Master Yan¡¯s words and moved off again. This fellow couldn¡¯t even decipher right from wrong. He took the effort to deliver the books at night and played such a nonsense game with her all because she was his sister. Did he think he had nothing else better to do? Next time¡­ Oh, there¡¯s no such thing as next time since this two-faced couple with a malicious tongue could not tell right from wrong! He, Ming Ansheng, had pride and ego, alright? ¡®Slam!¡¯ The door slammed, and from the loudness, one could tell that the person who closed it was burning with rage. Xuxu turned towards Yan Rusheng who happened to retract his gaze from the door. He flashed her a grin. Xuxu was speechless. How could he still smile after driving his buddy off in a huff? Such a pervert! ¡°Yueyue, why are you still doing your work so late at night?¡± Xuxu averted her gaze from Yan Rusheng and walked towards Su Yue. She stood beside her and took a peek at the subject she was working on. When she saw it was Mathematics, she immediately pulled out a stool and sat beside her to coach her. Yan Rusheng sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV which had the volume turned on too loud. Before he could tune it down, Xuxu fiercely glared at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why are you still here? Scram and go to bed.¡± Yan Rusheng pursed his lips and with quiet breathing, he lowered the volume to the minimum. He then gingerly placed the remote control on the table, trying his best not to produce any sound. Xuxu found his gentle and cautious behavior amusing. She didn¡¯t pay further attention to him and continued coaching Su Yue in her studies. Chapter 779. Stop Fooling Around The close relationship the two ladies had made Young Master Yan green with envy. He gritted his teeth in annoyance as he looked at her gentle face from the side. This dumb woman still had the cheek to ask why he was still there. Obviously, he was waiting to do that thing with her. Under Xuxu¡¯s coaching, they completed the worksheet in no time. After that, Xuxu helped Su Yue to wash up while Yan Rusheng remained seated at the sofa, preoccupied with his thoughts. ¡°Why are you still sitting here? You have no intention to go home and sleep?¡± asked Xuxu. She pretended to be baffled when she saw him still lazing on the sofa after she came out of the bathroom. Of course, she knew what was going on in his mind. But¡­ Hmph! No way. She would make sure she walked the talk and wouldn¡¯t let him have his way. Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth in annoyance. This dumb woman, why ask when she obviously knew? Must he spell out his intention before his sister, something that was deemed inappropriate for an under-aged girl like her? But even when he was fuming, he remained calm and composed. Yan Rusheng thought about it before smiling and waving at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯m not tired yet. Why don¡¯t you sit down and accompany me to watch TV for a while?¡± Xuxu glared hard at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t force me to extend your restricted period until we wean our child off from milk.¡± With that lecherous look on his face, only ghosts would believe that he only wanted to watch TV. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows and turned coward. ¡°Wife, we¡¯ll just sit down and watch TV and won¡¯t do any other things, ok?¡± Su Yue observed the situation and tactfully said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m going to bed now.¡± As she said that, she turned around and walked towards the room. The little lass had just stepped away and Yan Rusheng immediately dashed towards Xuxu like a rocket. He hugged her waist before scooping her off her feet and carried her to the sofa. He placed her on his lap and embraced her tightly. This position¡­ Xuxu face turned crimson and bashfully stared at the man who was hugging her. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do? Su Yue may see us.¡± She softly said with her teeth gritted. She shoved Yan Rusheng away at the same time. Su Yue had just stepped into the room, and if she came out without notice and saw such a sight, it would be embarrassing. Xuxu felt anxious as she thought about this. ¡°Then let¡¯s go over to my side.¡± Young Master Yan was swift and decisive. He immediately carried Xuxu up and strode towards the main door. This chap was being serious. Xuxu pounded her fists on his chest and yelled at him with a low voice. ¡°Stop fooling around. Let me down.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped walking when he reached the door and let Xuxu down. But he didn¡¯t give Xuxu the opportunity to escape as he swiftly pressed her against the wall, trapping her. He looked at her with his head lowered. There was a pathetic look in his tender looking eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t treat me this way. It¡¯s killing me and don¡¯t you feel sorry for me at all?¡± This fellow literally made her want to puke. So downright shameless! Xuxu rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯ll feel sorry for you if you¡¯re sick.¡± ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng bent over and buried his head into Xuxu¡¯s arm like a pampered child. ¡°I know that you treat me best. You¡¯re the only woman in this world who treats me the best.¡± He moved his hand down to her waist and hugged her close, their bodies tightly pressed together. Xuxu was speechless towards this man who was behaving coquettishly. The corners of her mouth twitched as she stared at the licentious-looking man with disdain. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you not be so shameless?¡± Always aloof, arrogant, and pretentious before others, and yet shameless and unreasonable behind their backs. Indeed, this was Yan Rusheng. After more than 20 years, today, he changed her views of him once again. Chapter 780. That Was My First Time Yan Rusheng kept his head buried in Xuxu¡¯s arms. He earnestly said, ¡°If I can hug my wife to bed, then I don¡¯t mind being shameless.¡± Xuxu was speechless once more. ¡®Oh my god! Please subdue this shameless evildoer!¡¯ Yan Rusheng suddenly straightened up, but he was still blocking Xuxu from escaping. He lowered his head and looked at her. ¡°Can you remember that year in autumn?¡± When she heard ¡®that year¡¯ , Xuxu suddenly got intrigued and smiled. ¡°Which year?¡± Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°During the summer holidays when we were in the second year of high school.¡± There was a glimmer in his eyes while Xuxu traced back her thoughts to that summer holiday. They were young and inexperienced then. Xuxu was caught up in her memories when Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice suddenly sounded in her ears. ¡°You were wearing a pair of white shorts and a pink singlet, and you came out of the room with a cup in your hand. I saw it.¡± When Xuxu heard this and she was curious, she asked, ¡°What did you see?¡± Yan Rusheng was already beaming from cheek to cheek. He put on an ambiguous smile and lowered himself. He whispered, ¡°You were not wearing any bra.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face turned flushed from embarrassment and gloomily thought, ¡®Who would wear a bra to sleep?¡¯ Why did he bring the incident up without rhyme or reason? There was absolutely nothing worth reminiscing about such a matter. Yan Rusheng knew her thoughts and continued whispering into her ears. ¡°After that, I went back to my room and took a cold shower for half an hour. Wen Xuxu¡­¡± He suddenly paused and then gritted his teeth. ¡°That was my first time, you annoying hussy.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu¡­ They were only 15 years old in the second year of high school. Indeed, a child¡¯s behavior is like a mirror; it reflects his future manhood. His lewd behavior had started at a young age. As she mulled over it, she raised her knee and kicked him at that area. She yelled, ¡°Pervert!¡± Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t expecting it from her, and he grimaced in pain while using both hands to cover that area. His face had turned red from pain, but Xuxu didn¡¯t feel sorry for him at all. She reached out and opened the door before shoving Yan Rusheng out of the door. ¡°Scram, you sexual pervert!¡± As she¡¯s pregnant, Yan Rusheng knew his limits and reluctantly stepped out of the door. The next moment, the door slammed hard on his face. Looking at the door closing before his eyes, Yan Rusheng felt extremely perturbed. Indeed, women had the most vicious hearts. So be it when she didn¡¯t show any mercy in her actions. But seeing him in immense pain, he couldn¡¯t believe that she actually didn¡¯t feel sorry for him, too. Yet, that part of him still responded to her. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! It¡¯s not a big deal, anyway. At most, he¡¯d just go home and have a cold shower. ¡®You didn¡¯t wear a bra¡­ after that, I went back to my room and took a cold shower for half an hour. Wen Xuxu¡­¡¯ Xuxu leaned against the door and her tender smile lit up on her face. This fellow was full of empty words. He kept saying that she possessed no womanly qualities and despised her unladylike manner. He even scorned at Ah Heng¡¯s taste. But who would have known that at the age of 15, he had already¡­ Ahem. She blushed as she thought of this. ¡®Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re a pervert!¡¯ ¡­ Yan Rusheng took off his jacket when he stepped in, and he was about to take his shower when his cellphone on the coffee table rang. He traced back his steps and looked at the caller display. His face sank. He picked up the phone and answered. ¡°President Yan.¡± The person at the other end sounded anxious. ¡°Someone had found Wang Bin before us and an hour ago, he turned himself in at the police station.¡± Chapter 781. Straight to the Point Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression instantly darkened. ¡°I got it.¡± He hastily hung up, changed, and left home. As he left in a hurry, he exerted a little more force when he shut the door, it closed with a loud slam. Xuxu was just about to drink her milk when she heard the loud slam. Why was that fellow slamming his door for no reason? She stood up, went to the door and opened it. She glanced at the apartment next door, there wasn¡¯t any rubbish or bag outside. Did she hear wrongly, and the sound didn¡¯t come from his apartment? Xuxu was still feeling doubtful when she caught a glimpse of the elevator going down. Had he gone out? She shut the door and went back to get her phone. She dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number, and he picked up. ¡°Xuxu?¡± Xuxu asked him apprehensively, ¡°You went out?¡± ¡± Mmm , I have something on. I¡¯ll be back in a while,¡± answered Yan Rusheng before reverting to his cheeky self. ¡°If you have some regret, open the door later. I¡¯ll go in and look for you.¡± Xuxu ignored his tease. She asked in concern, ¡°Why are you heading out this late?¡± He had just turned the entire political circle upside down, who knows how many pairs of vengeful eyes were watching him at the moment. She really can¡¯t help but worry when he is outside so late in the night. Yan Rusheng cheekily grinned and cracked a joke. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, I¡¯m not going out to look for women. I¡¯m driving now. Remember to open the door later.¡± Xuxu sighed. ¡°Come home soon and call me later.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Yan Rusheng spoke softly, ¡°Sleep earlier.¡± He hung up and instantly dialed Yan Weiye¡¯s number. The line got through immediately. ¡°Third Yan?¡± Yan Rusheng went straight to the point. ¡°Wang Bin has appeared, and he went to the police. Get Yan Runan to confess right now.¡± Yan Weiye was anxious and flustered when he heard the bad news. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell him now.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s sole purpose for making the call was to get them prepared. However, to surrender to the police now would already be too late. Wang Bin¡¯s grandson went missing last night and Wang Bin appeared at the police station today. It was clear that he was threatened, if not he wouldn¡¯t have surrendered himself so late in the night. Without a surprise, in C City, the police would come knocking on Yan Runan¡¯s doors any moment on. He had never anticipated that the Coastal County Project would end up being used against him as a threat by his enemies. He had been too negligent. Yan Rusheng chided himself and punched the steering wheel. He had already expected that he would receive Yan Weiye¡¯s call anytime soon, and indeed, his foreboding happened. Yan Weiye informed him over the phone that the police had apprehended Yan Runan. The person-in-charge Wang Bin confessed that Yan Runan was the mastermind. Yan Rusheng fell silent and hung up without a word. He stared at the road ahead and his eyes coldly blazed. He dialed Mu Qingteng¡¯s number. ¡°Release all the evidence, especially the case regarding Fang Youwen.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to wait any longer since everything will come, eventually. I want to capture all of them in one fell swoop.¡± Xuxu was pregnant, and he didn¡¯t have the patience to make them suffer slowly. Today, just today, a tragedy almost happened. ¡°Hi, Third Master, it has been a while.¡± Yan Rusheng stepped into the police station and someone came to welcome him with a smile. It seemed that the person had been expecting him to arrive. Yan Rusheng remained expressionless as he looked at the man in front of him. ¡°Chief Zhang, I heard that Wang Bin the person-in-charge of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s coastal county project has confessed?¡± Chapter 782. Im Here to Visit You Chief Zhang smiled. ¡°We have to thank Third Master for being so impartial and so ready to punish even their own family members for the sake of justice. If not, we would still have to spend more time and effort on the investigations.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand you, Chief Zhang.¡± Yan Rusheng was confused. He coldly lifted his eyebrows. Impartial? Ready to punish your family for the sake of justice? It was obviously sarcasm. Chief Zhang didn¡¯t answer his question. ¡°Third Master, would you like a cup of tea in my office?¡± Yan Rusheng declined. ¡°No, I want to meet Wang Bin.¡± He stuffed his hands in his trousers and towered menacingly over Chief Zhang who barely reached his chin. He looked like a powerful and cold dictator. He knew that since the enemy had struck first, they would do everything in their power to steer everything to their advantage. So he doesn¡¯t need to waste time with this lowly police chief. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes swept across the fleshy face of Chief Zhang as he coldly smirked. Anyway, he wouldn¡¯t be clinging on to his position for much longer. Fear struck Chief Zhang when he met Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. His eyes nervously flickered, and he nodded with an awkward smile. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll arrange it right now.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips without a word. He still looked menacing to Chief Zhang. Chief Zhang felt awkward and at the same time frustrated. He had assumed that Yan Rusheng would pander to him with some friendly greetings. But to his surprise, he appeared so aloof and overbearing. But he couldn¡¯t. They had locked Wang Bin up in the interrogation room. Chief Zhang pushed the door and pointed inside as he spoke to Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan, please.¡± Yan Rusheng strode past him. Chief Zhang¡¯s eyes gleamed with hatred and anger as he gnashed his teeth. He gave Yan Rusheng a furtive glare behind his back. After Yan Rusheng had sat down, Chief Zhang shut the door and hurriedly left to make a call. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng stared at Wang Bin who was sitting across from him. He sounded visibly exhausted and pale. His wrinkled face seemed as exhausted as his voice. The gray shirt that he was wearing looked filthy. He appeared to look battered and drained. Yan Rusheng sat on an uncomfortable plastic chair as he gave Wang Bin a silent and penetrating stare. By instinct, Wang Bin lowered his eyelids. The room remained silent as Yan Rusheng kept his hands stuffed in his trousers. Finally, he straightened his back and broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯m here to visit you since my grandmother has groomed you for years.¡± He spoke so calmly that it startled Wang Bin. He rose and was about to leave. Wang Bin lifted his head as he gazed at Yan Rusheng with regret and guilt. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t acknowledge it and simply turned around to leave the room. Chief Zhang was in the lobby and he immediately broke into a smile when he saw Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan.¡± ¡°Thank you, Chief Zhang.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at him, and without stopping, strode towards the entrance. His car was parked right outside, and he got in the car after unlocking the door. Chapter 783. Seems Like That Kick Wasnt Painful Enough Yan Rusheng¡¯s phone began to receive several incoming texts. He stretched his hand and clicked on the texts. Attached on it were several pictures, and they were all from surveillance cameras. All were taken at the Capital City¡¯s airport lobby. The final text read, ¡®We could not identify the person. Too well-disguised.¡¯ They could not identify the person? Yan Rusheng sneered. ¡­ Su Yue had already fallen asleep but Xuxu kept tossing and turning. She was worried about Yan Rusheng, and she glanced at the time on her phone. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you back yet?¡± It was almost three hours since he left the house. Xuxu muttered to herself, but for fear of waking up Su Yue, she got up. She treaded lightly across the room. Then she latched the door carefully after her and walked to the sofa. Unconsciously, she turned on the TV. She clearly didn¡¯t have the intention of watching TV. The next second, she typed on her phone. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you back yet?¡± To Xuxu¡¯s surprise, Yan Rusheng immediately returned her call. She excitedly picked it up. ¡°When are you coming back?¡± Yan Rusheng chuckled softly on the other line. ¡°You¡¯re really opening the door for me?¡± Perhaps it was the time of the night, but his cheerful voice sounded exceedingly gentle and pleasant that it made Xuxu¡¯s heart tingle. And unconsciously, she began to talk in a gentle voice that seemed like she was playfully pouting. ¡°Be serious.¡± Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°I¡¯m back at your door. Come out now.¡± Xuxu glanced at the door, startled. Without a moment of hesitation, she rose and bolted for the door. A towering and massive figure was already standing outside. She heaved a sigh of relief to ease her pounding heart. She leaned against the door frame and beamed. ¡°I thought someone had already abducted you.¡± Yan Rusheng was holding a bag while he stuffed the other hand in his pocket. He took a step towards Xuxu and casually leaned against the wall. They stood barely a footstep apart. He bent his head and a seductive smile played around his mouth. He drawled, ¡°My wife, how much do you think I¡¯m worth based on my looks?¡± Xuxu could distinctly feel Yan Rusheng¡¯s breath and her face flushed. She moved her eyes away from his beguiling eyes and curtly said, ¡°One yuan.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned as he offered her his palm. ¡°Give me one yuan, and I¡¯ll follow you to your bed.¡± ¡°Scram.¡± Xuxu glared at Yan Rusheng as she lifted an eyebrow to threaten him. ¡°Seems like that kick wasn¡¯t painful enough.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes widened in fear, and he steered their conversation out of dangerous waters. ¡°I bought supper for you.¡± He lifted the bag to pass to Xuxu. Xuxu eyed the bag and recognized that it was from a famous porridge chain in the Capital City. She received the bag and asked, ¡°How did you know I was still awake?¡± Yan Rusheng mischievously smiled. ¡°I knew you were thinking of me. How would you be able to sleep?¡± ¡°Narcissistic fellow!¡± Xuxu hit Yan Rusheng in the chest. She held on to the doorknob as she took a step backward. ¡°Go and sleep right now, bye!¡± She was about to slam the door. Yan Rusheng hurriedly grabbed the door to stop her. ¡°Wife, can¡¯t you just let me hug you?¡± With a pleading and pitiful expression. ¡°No way, scram now!¡± Xuxu aimed a kick at him. But Yan Rusheng was more observant and agile this time around, and he successfully dodged her leg. He frowned and grumbled, ¡°Callous woman. Will it benefit you if I¡¯m crippled? Huh?¡± Chapter 784. Brother Qi Lei Promised to Send Me Chicken Wings Xuxu playfully stuck out her tongue and shut the door. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes were brimming with affection as he watched her close the door. His smile gradually vanished and his expression sank. He sighed softly, evidently drained and helpless. So the reason he didn¡¯t feel exhausted all these years was that she was always by his side. He realized that whenever he thought of Wen Xuxu, he would be full of vitality and drive. Be it at work or studies, it was simply strange and amazing. ¡®Fated! Yes, this was fate.¡¯ Yan Rusheng thought to himself as his lips curled into a smile. The next morning, the skies seemed gloomy and overcast with dark clouds, hinting at an impending storm. Xuxu drew the curtains and turned around to see Su Yue lazily rubbing her eyes. She smiled and walked to her. ¡°Su Yue, let¡¯s move back today. First Aunt went home yesterday.¡± Su Yue frowned and the corners of her mouth sank. She mumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like going back. Can¡¯t I stay here?¡± She was clenching the blanket, looking like a pitiful little wife. Xuxu grinned to herself, feeling amused. Did this lass think she was chasing her away? She sat down on the bed and explained. ¡°There is no one here to take care of you.¡± Su Yue quipped, ¡°I want to eat chicken wings. Brother Qi Lei promised to bring me some today.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ so this girl was a glutton? Just for Qi Lei¡¯s chicken wings, she wanted to stay here. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come to fetch you tonight with your Third Brother.¡± Qi Lei¡¯s cooking had indeed improved. Even she couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and the occasional urges to go to the clinic just for his food. She had already promised to fetch her tonight, and she could still stay until the afternoon to enjoy Qi Lei¡¯s chicken wings, but why was she still unhappy? Xuxu stared at Su Yue, feeling bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue suddenly grabbed her hand. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I like this place.¡± She seemed to plead with Xuxu to allow her to stay. Xuxu couldn¡¯t understand her. ¡°But why?¡± Su Yue answered, ¡°That place is too big and lonely.¡± Xuxu¡¯s heart jerked when she heard her. It was probably because she and Yan Rusheng had been staying at the apartment for a long period, and they have neglected her at home. She smiled. ¡°Alright, then you can stay here. But you have to call me if anything happens.¡± She could temporarily stay. The girl must have felt that it was an exciting and fresh feeling to stay in a new place. Anyway, she felt that there weren¡¯t any problems with Su Yue staying, anyway. Su Yue beamed. ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°Hurry up and get up. I¡¯ll make breakfast.¡± Xuxu climbed off the bed and walked out. Xuxu knew that Yan Rusheng must have gone to the company, and so she didn¡¯t go next door. After making breakfast, she went to get Su Yue. After breakfast and washing up, she finally had time to use her phone. She was drinking milk as she scrolled through the news. The next second, her eyes widened in shock and her mouth hung open. ¡®The accidents that happened at Flourish & Prosper¡¯s coastal county project were planned by the Second Master Yan¡­¡¯ Xuxu put the glass down in such a haste, and she clicked the article to read it carefully. Chapter 785. Shocking News That Gripped the Entire City ¡®The project person-in-charge Wang Bin testified that the Second Master Yan had planned the entire accident which resulted in the collapse of the building foundation, hence leading to four deaths and several others injured. He provided voice recordings between him and Second Master Yan as evidence. Now that there is sufficient evidence, Second Master Yan can be convicted¡­¡¯ The article also added that Wang Bin stated that it was Yan Rusheng who had persuaded him to confess and to tell the truth. ¡®Clatter!¡¯ Her phone slid out of her hands, and it fell to the table before dropping to the floor. Her phone cracked. Su Yue heard the sounds from the bathroom and rushed to her, looking nervous and flustered. ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Yueyue, eat your breakfast.¡± Xuxu bent to pick up her phone after coming out of her daze. Although the screen was cracked, she could still use it for the time being. She walked and dialed Yan Rusheng¡¯s number. Yan Rusheng answered and Xuxu immediately fired questions at him. ¡°I saw the news, why did this happen?!¡± Her body was trembling badly, just like her voice. Her heart was pounding wildly and she just couldn¡¯t calm down. Yan Rusheng calmly replied, ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m busy at work. I¡¯ll call you later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t press on and hung up. He is at the company¡ª the company! She uttered to herself and went back to her room. She scrambled to get herself changed and grabbed her bag. She instructed Su Yue as she put on her shoes. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m heading out. Call me or Qi Lei if anything happens.¡± Su Yue knew that Xuxu must have something urgent to attend to, and she nodded obediently. Last night, Yan Rusheng informed her that someone already knew the truth behind Flourish & Prosper¡¯s project. And since Wang Bin¡¯s grandson went missing for a night and came back safely in the morning, then someone must have threatened and manipulated Wang Bin. Judging from the current situation, First Aunt would definitely have the wrong idea about them. But the most crucial thing right now was to help Second Brother. Now that there were witnesses and evidence, he was in deep trouble. Xuxu sat in the taxi with her hands clasped tightly together. Her thoughts and worries ran amok. ¡®Last night, the authorities received yet another anonymous email reporting the corruption of several government officials. It also includes evidence of them committing adultery and currently, there are five of them being identified. One of them was the Capital City¡¯s Committee Secretary Liu Changfu. His niece, Fang Jiayin was being suspected of being in cahoots of committing adultery with another government official. They are currently being detained for investigations. Furthermore, Fang Jiayin¡¯s father was also being accused of using his university privileges to manipulate several students into illegal and indecent relationships some years back¡­¡¯ The radio channel reported this alarming news and Xuxu was astounded. So much has happened overnight. No wonder he had gone out for such a long period, and he looked so tired after he came back. Xuxu guessed that Wang Bin must have surrendered to the police before the anonymous email. Previously, when Liu Changfu was reported, there wasn¡¯t any evidence included. What shocked her more was that Yan Rusheng had so much evidence against these government officials. She finally understood why they were all so fearful and polite to him whenever they met him on various occasions. It wasn¡¯t just because that Flourish & Prosper was a huge conglomerate that could benefit them, but they also knew that Yan Rusheng had incriminating evidence against them. If not, Liu Changfu wouldn¡¯t have instantly called Yan Rusheng after someone reported him of his crimes. ¡°Miss, we have reached Flourish & Prosper.¡± Xuxu was still lost in her thoughts and only responded after a while. ¡°Alright.¡± She paid him the fare and got off. Chapter 786. Would You Be Furious? Xuxu stepped forward and peered at the imposing building a short distance away. Just like what she had expected, reporters surrounded the entire building. The taxi slowly drove away. Xuxu sighed and wondered how long this ¡®upheaval¡¯ would last. She strode towards Flourish & Prosper. When the reporters spotted her, they frantically rushed towards her. ¡°Third Madam Yan, did you and Third Master already knew what happened long ago?¡± ¡°I heard that Second Master was infuriated that his father had brought his illegitimate son into the family, and that¡¯s the reason why he wanted to destroy Flourish & Prosper to seek revenge. Is this true?¡± ¡°When Chairman Wang was around, both Yan families lived in harmony. Would this incident shatter the relationship?¡± Questions after questions were being fired, and Xuxu could only bend her head, ignoring all it. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t give up so easily and they continued to swarm around her. Everyone knew that she was pregnant, so no one dared to get too close to her. They merely tried to shove their microphones nearer to her face. ¡°Can we trouble Third Madam Yan to say a few words?¡± Their voices were all jumbled up together, and Xuxu felt as if her eardrums were about to burst. When they were nearing the building¡¯s entrance, the reporters became more determined to stop her from going in. Xuxu saw she couldn¡¯t proceed any further, and she became impatient. She finally stopped and scanned the faces. Her clear and resounding voice rang. ¡°Sorry, I have no answers to the questions that all of you have asked. We will inform everyone when it¡¯s time for us to explain and clarify. Please don¡¯t block the entrance.¡± She walked once more. But how could the reporters give up so easily? ¡°Third Madam Yan mentioned before that you would inform the media if you have any information regarding the Coastal County Project. Can¡¯t you just reveal some information right now?¡± ¡°Exactly! Third Madam Yan, you promised us before.¡± There was a long pause. Their attitudes seemed unyielding and forceful. Xuxu was livid when she heard them. Sometimes, reporters could be so hateful. Regardless of your mood, they will ruthlessly and mercilessly poke you at the place where it hurts the most. But no matter how angry she might be with them, it wasn¡¯t the right time to flare up. At that moment, Flourish & Prosper was in a perilous position. The Board of Directors had always been jealous of Yan Rusheng, and now that Second Brother had committed such a crime, they couldn¡¯t be so sure that the shareholders wouldn¡¯t seize this chance to take down the Yan family. Even though their impeachment rarely had a huge impact, it would be wiser not to add on their troubles. The more the media exaggerated the situation, the more opportunities they would have. So Xuxu took a deep breath before expounding. ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t block the way here. The news just broke out and I just saw it this morning. I¡¯m also trying to get a clearer understanding of the situation from President Yan. If you were in my shoes, would you be furious?¡± Her words were sharp and decisive. Everyone became rather guilty and kept their microphones. Xuxu seized this opportunity to ascend the stairs and entered the building. The atmosphere was just like what she had expected; somber and hushed. ¡°Young madam.¡± ¡°Young madam.¡± The security guards promptly greeted Xuxu. Xuxu marched on in a hurry towards the elevator and entered. She was the only one in the elevator and soon, it reached the top level. Chapter 787. You Have No Rights to Possess It The elevator door opened, and she marched out. At a glance, the President¡¯s office seemed even more somber and gloomier than the lobby. Xuxu had a hunch that something bad had happened. This atmosphere couldn¡¯t be entirely due to Flourish & Prosper being on the headlines. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion and strode inside. ¡°Lady boss.¡± Qiao Jian had walked in, and he seemed to be in a hurry. Xuxu stopped him in his path. ¡°Where are you rushing to? What happened? Where is President Yan?¡± Qiao Jian answered, ¡°President Yan is in the meeting room, having a shareholder meeting.¡± Shareholder meeting. Her worst fears had come true, these people had seized the opportunity to create more chaos first thing in the morning. Didn¡¯t they know that the scandal already made everyone feel upset and angry? Xuxu frowned and her eyes revealed disgust and loathing. ¡°I shall go there.¡± She turned around to head towards the meeting room. Qiao Jian suddenly reminded her. ¡°Lady boss, First Madam is here.¡± ¡®First Madam is here.¡¯ It stumped Xuxu for words, and she halted her footsteps. First Aunt was here. She took the flight home last night, and she was back in the morning. And the first thing she did was to attend the shareholder meeting. ¡®Wang Bin had clearly stated that it was Yan Rusheng who had persuaded him to confess and to tell the truth.¡¯ Shit. This wasn¡¯t good! Xuxu¡¯s face went pale and scurried towards the meeting room. She reached the room and was about to push the door. But before she could do that, the door swung open. A familiar towering figure appeared, and she peered at him. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face was starkly green as his hands were clenched by his sides. He was obviously trying to suppress his raging emotions. His expression softened a little when he saw Xuxu. ¡°Why did you come?¡± He walked a few steps forward, and people streamed out from the room. They were all Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shareholders. Xuxu anxiously pulled Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. ¡°What happened? I heard that First Aunt is here?¡± A refined and graceful woman exited the room. The moment Xuxu caught a glimpse of her, her mouth slightly hung open, and she felt sorry for her. Just overnight, Jiang Qinglian looked so haggard. It was as if she had aged a decade older, and her hair had streaks of white. ¡°First Aunt!¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes glistened and walked towards Jiang Qinglian. Jiang Qinglian shot her an icy glare. And in that instant, Xuxu felt as though she couldn¡¯t breathe. Jiang Qinglian¡¯s eyes contained hatred, and her expression was cold and spiteful. Xuxu deliberated for a few seconds before taking a step forward. Yan Rusheng held her back. Xuxu blinked and stared at Jiang Qinglian, trying so hard to form words. But Jiang Qinglian cut across her. ¡°From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.¡± Every word she said pierced through Xuxu¡¯s heart like an icicle. She opened her mouth, dumbfounded. Her eyes brimmed with tears that contained overwhelming emotions. Second Brother was apprehended, and First Aunt had become so haggard overnight. The Yan family was facing a crisis and was on the verge of splitting up. Xuxu¡¯s words were choked, and she couldn¡¯t utter a sound for some time. ¡°First Aunt, this is a misunderstanding. Why would Ah Sheng do that? Wang Bin was clearly being used.¡± Jiang Qinglian ignored her explanation and coldly said, ¡°I¡¯m here today to get back the shares that the old madam left us. You have no rights to possess it.¡± Chapter 788. I Know Youve Tried Your Best Jiang Qinglian turned around and marched towards the elevator. ¡°First Aunt!¡± Xuxu was about to chase her when Yan Rusheng grabbed her wrist once more. It frustrated her, and she spun around. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°She won¡¯t listen to anything you say right now.¡± Yan Rusheng gazed at the diminishing figure of Jiang Qinglian as a crease appeared on his forehead. Xuxu ignored his advice, flung his hand away, and ran after Jiang Qinglian. Grandmother had used so much effort to sustain this family. She can¡¯t sit by and watch the family fall apart. When she was a kid, First Aunt, First Brother, and Second Brother had given her so much love and warmth. She couldn¡¯t simply watch them drift apart from each other and end up as enemies. ¡°First Aunt!¡± Xuxu quickly ran after Jiang Qinglian. When she finally caught her, she wrapped her arms around her waist. ¡°First Aunt, it really wasn¡¯t Ah Sheng! Ah Sheng didn¡¯t do that. Someone else used Wang Bin to frame Ah Sheng to attack our family.¡± ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m not acting this way because of that matter.¡± Jiang Qinglian still sounded distant and cold, but she wasn¡¯t as frightening and fiery as earlier on. She said, ¡°Yan Weiye and I have gotten to this step, and there is no way we can carry on being together. Runan might have made a mistake, but this all stemmed from his father¡¯s fault. I¡¯ve given in and suffered in silence so that this family could stay intact, but now that my son is in trouble, there is no way the family could stay together. I just wanted to get the shares that the old madam have left us.¡± She heaved a heavy sigh, and it seemed to convey her regrets, pity, helplessness, and sorrow. More so, she spoke in a calm and composed tone. But every word sounded unyielding and determined, and it made Xuxu¡¯s heart clench inside her chest. ¡®I¡¯ve given in and suffered in silence so that this family could stay intact¡­¡¯ After getting married, what does a woman contribute to her family? It was everything she had, including the tolerance and forgiveness that she initially assumed she never had. A woman like Aunt Mu Li who had been treated and pampered like a princess for her entire life was a rare find. Xuxu refused to relinquish her grip around her waist, acting just like a spoiled kid. She sobbed. ¡°Yan Rusheng would have a way to help Second Brother. First Aunt, please trust him.¡± Memories of how First Aunt had helped Grandmother with the household affairs kept flashing in her mind. The family used to live in peace and harmony, and strife amongst members was nonexistent. Everyone envied their family, as not even ordinary families could do that. ¡°I will think of a way myself.¡± Jiang Qinglian pressed the elevator button and pushed Xuxu away. She stepped into the elevator. Xuxu stood there in a daze staring at Jiang Qinglian as the elevator¡¯s door closed. She turned around and her head bumped into Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest, who stood beside her. She quietly tore up. ¡°Why did this happen? Ah Sheng, why did it end up in this way?¡± She raised her hands and tugged at Yan Rusheng¡¯s suit. It was for the first time she felt so useless that she couldn¡¯t do anything to salvage the situation. Yan Rusheng patted her gently on her back and consoled her. ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad. I know you¡¯ve tried your best.¡± Xuxu had been so attentive to Su Yue, and he knew that she had hoped that First Uncle would devote more time to his own family instead. In that way, his family would still stay intact. She also didn¡¯t want First Uncle to neglect First Aunt because of Su Yue and Su Yan. Chapter 789. You Better Behave Yan Rusheng knew that Xuxu had always felt overwhelming gratitude towards the Yan family. But who would truly understand her? Xuxu cried because she felt helpless and heartbroken earlier. She was unable to control her emotions. She composed herself in no time. Yan Rusheng poured her a cup of warm water and she held it in her hands. She sat on the sofa with swollen eyes so Yan Rusheng got her a warm towel. Xuxu anxiously grabbed his wrist and asked, ¡°What do you intend to do to help Second Brother?¡± Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°It¡¯s not as hard as we think as those culprits are already in trouble themselves. Wang Bin will change his testimony. But the fact that Yan Runan didn¡¯t go to the police first won¡¯t change, and that would be tricky.¡± Xuxu hardly saw or heard Yan Rusheng being so unsure of himself, and she began to worry once more. ¡°Even if he did something wrong, you must still help Second Brother & First Aunt.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a fleeting smile. ¡°I know, after all, he is my Second Brother. I just said that it¡¯s tricky, not impossible.¡± Xuxu was relieved but pressed on once more. ¡°What about the Board of Directors?¡± First Aunt came back for her shares, but the Board of Directors would definitely have something up their sleeves. Yan Rusheng snorted in contempt. ¡°Of course, they would seize this chance to flock to First Aunt.¡± Xuxu was hardly surprised to hear that. She began to calmly analyze the situation. ¡°If First Aunt uses her shares together with First Brother and Second Brother, and along with other minor shareholders, will the Board of Directors force you to step down?¡± Although the enemy was having a hard time, internally they were fighting a hard battle as well. ¡°It won¡¯t be so easy to pull me down,¡± sharply said Yan Rusheng¡¯s as his eyes glinted while looking at Xuxu. ¡°I won¡¯t be defeated so easily, you need to trust me.¡± Grandmother had handed Flourish & Prosper to him personally, so could he let it land in the hands of an outsider? No one could take it away from him. Xuxu lightly nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± As the saying goes, news travels fast. The news of Jiang Qinglian coming back to snatch her shares and her demand for the separation of the two families soon traveled to the media. The reporters¡¯ capability was really to be lauded. The news occupied the headlines again in the afternoon. There wasn¡¯t any additional pressure needed. The public opinions and criticisms were pressurizing enough. During the following few days, a few more government officials were exposed one after another. Other than the regular news updates, the situation seemed to have stabilized. Just like what Yan Rusheng had predicted, Wang Bin changed his testimony. He confessed how he was being threatened. But Yan Runan still needed a trial, so he was brought to the Capital City, and it was only a week later that the trials would commence. ¡­ The tiny investigation room smelled unpleasant, and there was a musty stench when the door opened. Xuxu stood outside the room. She stared at the woman in handcuffs inside. Her pretty face looked pallid and pale, and her hair tumbled messily past her shoulders. Her hair seemed to have lost its shine too, just like the owner. Fang Jiayin glared at Xuxu. She angrily gritted her teeth. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what do you want?!¡± She rose swiftly and charged towards Xuxu. The female policewoman grabbed her arm and pulled her back with force. ¡°You better behave.¡± Chapter 790. How Evil and Despicable You Really Are Xuxu curled her lips slightly in satisfaction as she stepped into the room. She casually spoke, ¡°Nothing much, I just wanted to see if you¡­ have lost weight.¡± She stopped in front of the table. And from a lofty position, she stood there and stared at Fang Jiayin with a condescending look. Xuxu¡¯s posture appeared smug and victorious. With just Xuxu¡¯s expression alone, it was enough to make Fang Jiayin explode from fury. She tried to rise but the policewoman stopped her. Her eyes blazed as she glared at Wen Xuxu. ¡°Are you feeling smug right now?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Xuxu casually answered. Xuxu was indeed really gleeful and pleased that this person had fallen from grace. However, she felt she deserved even more severe punishment. Xuxu pulled the chair and settled herself comfortably on it. She looked at Fang Jiayin with a smirk as she said, ¡°I had no idea you led such a tiring life.¡± ( NovelFull ) Fang Jiayin lashed at her. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± Xuxu¡¯s smile intensified as she sized her up from head to toe. ¡°Under your beautiful appearance, lies an ugly and evil creature.¡± Fang Jiayin heard her remarks and sneered. ¡°What about you? How honest and upright are you? When you knew that I was dating Yan Rusheng, didn¡¯t you think of ways to sneak into his bed and sabotage our relationship?!¡± She furiously gnashed her teeth at the mention of this. ¡°You appear refined and aloof, but didn¡¯t you try all means to get Yan Rusheng? What is the difference between you and me?¡± Xuxu slightly raised her chin. She then confidently replied, ¡°The difference is he loves me and I love him, and he wants to be with me. He was with you for years, and yet he didn¡¯t even touch you.¡± Her last sentence successfully provoked Fang Jiayin. Her eyes flashed scarlet at her words, and her expression was extremely ugly. She stood up and menacingly inched forward to Xuxu. ¡°You stole my boyfriend, Wen Xuxu you wretched b*tch!¡± She looked as though she wanted to rip Xuxu apart, and the policewoman had to restrain her once more. ¡°Stop revealing your true nature whenever you open your mouth. Think of yourself when you call me a b*tch.¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression suddenly hardened, and her bright eyes gleamed dangerously. ¡°You didn¡¯t succeed in getting Yan Rusheng after drugging him, so you harmed my first baby. Just these alone reveals how evil and despicable you really are.¡± Xuxu was seething with anger as she spoke. She clenched her fists. Fang Jiayin¡¯s mouth hung open in shock. ¡°How did you¡­¡± Xuxu was just guessing, but judging from Fang Jiayin¡¯s expression, she was certain that her guess was right. Her miscarriage wasn¡¯t by accident. She had read online that pregnant women cannot eat too many crabs and watermelons. And she had really believed that she suffered a miscarriage because she ate watermelon and a crab on that day. Now that Fang Jiayin¡¯s true nature was revealed bit by bit, she recalled that on that fateful day, Fang Jiayin bought her a cup of juice after having lunch with her in the afternoon. ( NovelFull ) She ate crabs for lunch, and when she went back to the dormitory, she bought some slices of watermelon since the weather was too hot. That afternoon, she felt that her stomach wasn¡¯t feeling too well, and she saw that she was bleeding when she went to the bathroom. Chapter 791. One Day You Will Get Your Retribution Because of her miscarriage, she had blamed herself for years. No one could understand the state of despair she was in when she was alone in a shabby and cold operating theater. She loved Ah Sheng and everything about him. Only God knew how she felt when she saw the two lines on the pregnancy kit. She was conflicted, confused, and worried at the same time, but soon all those feelings of happiness eclipsed those. She had even planned on escaping to a faraway place where nobody knew her. She knew there would be a lot of hardship waiting for her if she had to raise the child alone. But at the thought that it was hers and Ah Sheng¡¯s child, the hardship would still feel sweet. Just like how she had always worked so hard for Ah Sheng¡¯s sake and had never once thought of giving up. She did feel heartbroken when she saw him holding another woman¡¯s hand. But the fetus inside of her had barely been formed¡­ The more Xuxu thought of it, the more livid she became. Her veins were bulging, and she tightly clenched her fists. However, she still looked at Fang Jiayin with a smug expression. ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t know that I¡¯ve already planned to disappear from you and Yan Rusheng¡¯s world, and go somewhere where nobody knows me.¡± She paused before she continued. ¡°In that way, no one would ever stand in your way. If you were daring and confident enough, you could have passed off your child as Yan Rusheng¡¯s own after pretending that it was you who had slept with him. With that child, you could have entered the Yan family and would have helped your father with his past mistakes. By that time, Yan Rusheng would have taken into account that your father is the grandfather of his child. And if the news of his father-in-law manipulating his students into illegal and indecent relationships got out, and he was imprisoned for that, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold his head high.¡± The words that Xuxu said made Fang Jiayin¡¯s expressions change from shock to rage to hatred¡­ She didn¡¯t know that Xuxu knew so much. She said she was prepared to go to a place where no one knew her. No, that was impossible. Why would she be so silly? She had tried so hard to be with Yan Rusheng and she finally got pregnant. How could she not seize such an opportunity to get what she wanted? Fang Jiayin refused to believe her words and repeatedly convinced herself. Wen Xuxu was merely trying to make her regret her actions. At the thought of that, she sneered. ¡°Do you think I would believe your words? You obviously wanted to use the child to marry him!¡± Xuxu slumped back against the chair and her smirk became more pronounced. ¡°Even if I didn¡¯t have a child, I still succeeded.¡± She could always get under Fang Jiayin¡¯s skin with no effort, and this infuriated the latter. Fang Jiayin¡¯s enraged and riled expression was what she wanted to see. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t get too carried away. One day, you will get your retribution.¡± Fang Jiayin had ended up in such a pathetic state. Other than spewing harsh words at Xuxu, there was nothing else she could do. Xuxu rose and coldly glanced at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Miss Fang, I don¡¯t think I will get any retribution. But instead, you would enjoy an exciting time in prison soon.¡± She stood up and walked towards the door. Fang Jiayin¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Does Ah Sheng know all these?¡± Xuxu halted her footsteps and threw a sharp look at Fang Jiayin. ¡°Please don¡¯t address my husband using such an affectionate nickname. You are not close to him.¡± She turned around and continued walking. She wasn¡¯t so sure about other stuff but regarding the miscarriage, she reckoned that Yan Rusheng was still kept in the dark. After all, before confronting Fang Jiayin, she only had her suspicions. Anyway, she felt that there wasn¡¯t a need for Ah Sheng to know. It would only make him feel more guilty. Chapter 792. Im Not the Judge What was in the past will remain in the past. Besides, she was once again pregnant with his child. ¡®Everything will be okay and there will be sunshine after the rain. Am I right, grandmother?¡¯ Xuxu looked up. The sun¡¯s rays were piercing, and tears brimmed in her eyes. Since Yan Runan¡¯s lawsuit was going to happen in the Capital City, Yan Weiye¡¯s entire family arrived in the Capital City in advance and stayed in the Yan family mansion. Thus, Su Yue remained at Xuxu¡¯s apartment. Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng moved back to the mansion, too. But the family that once bustled with noise and excitement when everyone came together were now like complete strangers, with no interaction among them. The atmosphere was cold and quiet. When Xuxu stepped in, and she looked at grandmother¡¯s portrait as always. Seeing the kind smile on her face, how she wished she could hug her once more. She stood at the door and was about to change into her slippers when Yan Rusheng suddenly came out of the house. He was home as it was the weekend. He was wearing black casual sportswear and was about to leave the house when Xuxu asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Dad and mom will arrive at the airport at 12 noon, and I will fetch them,¡± uttered Yan Rusheng as he took out a pair of sports shoes from the cabinet. He placed them on the floor before changing into them. When Xuxu heard this, she changed back into her shoes and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded, and he held her hands as they walked out together. He had parked his champagne-colored Bentley at the courtyard. Yan Rusheng whipped out his car keys to unlock the door before opening it for Xuxu to get in. He closed the door after her. Every action of his revealed his considerate and tender nature and inadvertently displayed their affection towards each other. This was a sight Xuxu had seen before. Runan always held on to Qianqian¡¯s hand and opened the car door for her. After she got in, he would close the door after her and he was just as attentive¡ªprotecting Qianqian and their unborn child. Jiang Qinglian stood at the 3rd-floor balcony watching. She watched as Yan Rusheng drove his car out of the courtyard. She felt despondent all of a sudden. It was no longer possible to return to the past, no longer possible¡­ Her grandson was destined to have a father who was in jail the moment he was born. Her hands hung loosely by the side, and she had clenched her fists that her nails dug into her flesh. ¡®Yan Weiye, you destroyed my son!¡¯ The stale smell inside the car made Xuxu feel unwell, and so Yan Rusheng wound down the window to let in some fresh air. Even as the days were getting warmer, the breeze still felt chilly. Xuxu pulled her jacket close to her and rested her head on the headrest, staring into space. Yan Rusheng glanced at her several times and reckoned that she looked troubled. ¡°Where have you been early in the morning?¡± After breakfast, he went back to the study room to settle some documents. And when he came out again, Aunt Zhang said that she had left the house. He thought that she had gone to look for Su Yue, hence, he didn¡¯t call her. Xuxu retracted her thoughts and turned to look at Yan Rusheng. She replied in a matter of a fact tone. ¡°I went to the detention cell and had a talk with Fang Jiayin.¡± Her words started Yan Rusheng, but he put on a smile before stretching his hand to stroke Xuxu¡¯s tummy with affection. ¡°I hope it didn¡¯t upset my babies.¡± ¡°Stop your nonsense.¡± Xuxu tenderly smiled as she pushed Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand away. Her face turned gloomy after that. ¡°Tomorrow is the start of the court session. What will be Second Brother¡¯s jail sentence?¡± She deliberately changed the topic, and so Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t press on about her conversation with Fang Jiayin or why she grew despondent. He replied, ¡°I¡¯m not the judge.¡± Chapter 793. You Peed on Your Bed When You Were Four Years Old Xuxu sighed and started blaming herself. ¡°Ah Sheng, do you think it¡¯s our fault?¡± Yan Rusheng slightly frowned. ¡°Pregnant women like to let their imagination run wild, and they get emotional and melancholic easily. Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re no different from those ordinary women, too.¡± Xuxu pouted her lips and glared at him. ¡°Get a refund if you¡¯re dissatisfied.¡± ¡®What¡¯s the meaning of ¡®you¡¯re no different from those ordinary women¡¯ ? To begin with, I¡¯m just an ordinary woman, okay!¡¯ she thought. Yan Rusheng succeeded in amusing her. He also broke into a smile and remarked, ¡°You wish! We¡¯re destined not to ever leave each other in this lifetime.¡± Xuxu muttered, ¡°I¡¯m not so sure.¡± She obviously didn¡¯t mean what she had said. A cunning smile flashed across Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes and he drawled, ¡°What should I do? I seemed to have fallen head over heels in love with that guy. When I came out of my room during that summer camp¡­¡± Initially, Xuxu didn¡¯t react when she heard the first sentence. But when the words ¡®summer camp¡¯ was mentioned, she came to a sudden realization. She fiercely stared at the man who was showing off. ¡°Yan Rusheng, shut up!¡± All Yan Rusheng wanted was to tease her to stop her from letting her thoughts run wild, but he immediately clammed upon hearing her warning. Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand the smug smile on his face, so she knitted her eyebrows in annoyance. She mumbled, ¡°So rude to look at people¡¯s diary.¡± Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°I also remembered that when you were young, you were especially good at cajoling people until everyone in my family valued you as a rarity, you little cheater.¡± At the mention of the past, both their expressions softened. Xuxu proudly replied, ¡°I was a lovable child, to begin with.¡± The truth was, the Yan family didn¡¯t have any female descendants over the past few generations. Hence, a female like her was, of course, a hot favorite. Yan Rusheng glanced askew at Xuxu, affection evident on her face. ¡°You¡¯re a narcissistic dumb woman.¡± Xuxu¡¯s cheeks were still feeling flushed over the words that Yan Rusheng quoted from her diary. She felt indignant and took revenge on him. After giving it some thought, a crafty smile flashed in her eyes¡ªthe same identical expression Yan Rusheng had on his face earlier on. She quipped, ¡°Yan Rusheng, I recalled that you peed on your bed when you were four years old.¡± Yan furrowed his eyebrows without admitting nor denying her claims. ¡°How can it be?¡± Furthermore, how could she have remembered when she was only four years old at that time, too? Anyway, he had no recollection of it. ¡°Undoubtedly.¡± Xuxu sounded certain and seemed to have remembered something again. ¡°I remember there was once after you peed on your bed, you poured water on First Brother and Second Brother¡¯s beds, and unfortunately, Aunt Mu Li saw through it.¡± Hearing her, Yan Rusheng started having second thoughts. He wrinkled his eyebrows and a hint of doubt flashed across his eyes. Really? But why didn¡¯t he have any memories of it? Anyway, be it true or false, he refused to admit and wouldn¡¯t admit even if he was beaten to death. As he mulled over it, he ferociously glared at her with his peach blossom-shaped eyes. ¡°Wen Xuxu, if you continue to spout nonsense, I¡¯ll throw you out of the car.¡± If he were to admit¡­ how embarrassing it would be! Xuxu ignored him and laughed out loud. ¡°Yan Rusheng peed on his bed when he was four years old.¡± She was having a hard time catching her breath in the midst of her laughter. ¡°If this news travels out, or perhaps, just getting this into Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan¡¯s ears would suffice.¡± Yan Rusheng felt diffident and flew into a rage out of humiliation. He glared at Xuxu as he warned her. ¡°If you dare to spew ridiculous stuff, I¡¯m going in to meet my son tonight and teach him how to have sex.¡± Chapter 794. All the Credit Goes to You It dumbfounded Xuxu. Besides behaving like a hooligan, what else could he do? ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± She nodded and said, ¡°Alright. When we see Aunt Mu Li later, I¡¯ll verify this with her.¡± She thought, ¡®Let¡¯s see if you would still dare to laugh!¡¯ Yan Rusheng was extremely annoyed and he warned, ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t rake this matter up again.¡± Xuxu raised her chin upwards and knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Then will you stop making fun of me in the future?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not making fun of you.¡± Yan Rusheng seductively beamed at her. ¡°I¡¯m just overjoyed and thrilled that you¡¯ve been thinking about me since you were young.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face turned crimson again. She quickly averted her gaze and looked down. ¡°Scum!¡± The two of them were bantering non-stop throughout the journey that Xuxu momentarily forgot about her troubles and was smiling throughout. After they arrived at the airport, Mu Li and Yan Weihong walked out of the VIP lane shortly after. Yan Rusheng initially wanted to wait in the car, but Xuxu insisted on getting out to wait for them. When she caught sight of Mu Li, she happily dashed forward. ¡°Aunt Mu Li.¡± Xuxu gave her a warm hug like an excited child, and tears of joy filled her eyes. She still wasn¡¯t capable of being in charge when their family faced problems. In fact, she was feeling helpless for the last few days. Oh, how she wished that grandmother was still around. But with Mu Li¡¯s presence, she had found her pillar of strength. Mu Li also hugged Xuxu in return and patted her on her back. ¡°My child, don¡¯t be so rough. Be more gentle and mindful of my grandchildren.¡± She then came to a sudden realization and then gently pushed her away. She knitted her eyebrows and looked at her. ¡°Eh? What did you address me earlier?¡± ¡®What did I address her?¡¯ Xuxu was dumbstruck for a moment and a flush crept up her face. She finally whispered, ¡°Mother.¡± She shifted her gaze to Yan Weihong and smiled. ¡°Father.¡± Yan Weihong smiled and nodded at her affably. They were fond of Xuxu all along, and given that Xuxu is now carrying their grandchildren, they doted on her even more. Second Master Yan¡¯s heart was in his mouth when he saw Xuxu dashing towards Mu Li earlier. When Mu Li chided her, he couldn¡¯t agree more. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Witnessing this warm sight, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t have the heart to cut them off. But since they were attracting more and more stares, he had no choice but to hurry them. It¡¯ll be troublesome if the reporters caught sight of them. Mu Li finally took a glance at her son and pointed a finger at him. ¡°Rascal, you¡¯re quite capable.¡± As she said that, she took a quick peek at Xuxu. Yan Rusheng obviously knew what she was driving at and grinned. ¡°All thanks to Madam Mu Li for imparting her experiences to me.¡± The mother and son walked ahead of Xuxu and Yan Weihong, they chatted as they walked. Yan Weihong intently looked at Mu Li and Yan Rusheng. In a deep and earnest tone, he said to Xuxu, ¡°Xuxu, father wants to thank you.¡± Xuxu raised her eyebrows in bafflement. ¡°Eh?¡± ¡®Thank me for?¡¯ Yan Weihong spoke in a grave tone. ¡°Thank you for putting your trust on Third Yan, and also for standing by him at a crucial moment with an unwavering faith against the outsiders. This is something that Third Yan hasn¡¯t done before, though I am not too sure yet and I have to observe him. But so far, I can tell that he has matured and all the credits should go to you.¡± At least, he didn¡¯t frown in impatience while they were standing there chatting a moment ago. Instead, he waited patiently on the side. If this happened in the past, it would be impossible. Chapter 795. Tell Her There’s No Such Matter ¡°People do change and mature after going through certain things.¡± Xuxu coyly smiled. ¡°I feel that we¡¯re now a complete body, growing together, changing for the better and dealing with situations together.¡± Yan Weihong smiled. ¡°Actually, both of you didn¡¯t change much since you were young.¡± Xuxu paused for a moment before breaking into a laugh. ¡°Perhaps.¡± The two in front of them were walking very fast for Yan Rusheng had hastened his footsteps. Mu Li had a hard time catching up with him. She grumbled under her breath. ¡°Can you slow down a bit and spare a thought for your mother who¡¯s wearing heels? Your wife is still right behind too and has yet to catch up with us.¡± Yan Rusheng turned back and saw that Xuxu and Yan Weihong were quite a distance away. He moved closer to Madam Mu Li and sheepishly whispered, ¡°Madam Mu Li, I have a serious question to ask you.¡± Mu Li looked at him, puzzled. ¡°So serious. What do you want to ask?¡± Yan Rusheng deliberately lowered his voice. ¡°Did I pee on the bed when I was four years old?¡± He was still brooding over this matter because if Xuxu could remember such an incident, he couldn¡¯t understand why he had no memories of it. Furthermore, Xuxu made it sound so convincing that he doubted himself. Mu Li knitted her eyebrows, baffled. ¡°What? Pee on the bed?¡± Her thunderous voice¡­ Yan Rusheng glared at Madam Mu Li with his peach blossom-shaped eyes. ¡°Lower your voice.¡± He turned and looked behind him uneasily. A streak of shrewdness flashed across Mu Li¡¯s eyes. She seemed to understand what he meant, and she stifled a grin. She pretended to recall before shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s been too long and I can¡¯t remember anymore. But when you were much older, you did pee on the bed.¡± ¡°I peed on the bed before?¡± Yan Rusheng asked skeptically, ¡°Really?¡± Mu Li frowned. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, why bother asking me?¡± ¡°Alright, if you say so, so be it!¡± Young Master Yan had been crowned as the¡®four-year-old who peed on the bed¡¯ even though he wasn¡¯t willing to accept this truth. He continued speaking in a hushed tone. ¡°If Xuxu wants to verify this matter later, just tell her that there¡¯s no such matter.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Mu Li looked serious on the outside but was bursting with laughter in her heart. All her facial muscles involuntarily twitched. This silly son of hers was usually very wise, but in the presence of Xuxu, he actually turned dumb. Peed on the bed at the age of four¡ªand he actually believed her without realizing that he had been taken for a ride. The four of them arrived at the city and had a quick meal before heading home. The atmosphere at home was cold and quiet. Mu Li was the first to step in and she saw Jiang Qinglian and Yan Runan¡¯s wife, Jin Qianqian, seated at the sofa. The TV was turned on, but both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were not watching but chatting. Mu Li¡¯s jaw dropped as she stared at Jiang Qinglian. At one glance, she couldn¡¯t believe that she was her sister-in-law, Jiang Qinglian. Why did she become so haggard overnight? ¡°Sister-in-law.¡± Mu Li let go of the luggage in her hand and moved towards Jiang Qinglian. Jiang Qinglian glanced at Mu Li for a moment, and her face turned dull and cold. She pressed her lips together and remained mum. But Jin Qianqian, who was seated beside her, acknowledged Mu Li. ¡°Second Aunt.¡± ¡°Qianqian.¡± Mu Li smiled at Qianqian and looked down at her tummy. ¡°Your tummy is visible now.¡± Qianqian forced a smile and looked down, her expression darkened. Chapter 796. What Are You Afraid Of? Her tummy was getting bigger by the day, but the father of her child would go to jail soon. Mu Li could fathom her thoughts, and she walked over to her and sat down. Clutching her hands between hers, she said, ¡°Qianqian, both you and Xuxu are too skinny. You¡¯ve got to eat more.¡± It¡¯s of no use telling her not to fret over other matters. Her husband would be in jail soon, and she was definitely worried and anxious over it. She shifted her gaze to Jiang Qinglian and was about to move her lips. But seeing her cold and expressionless face, she didn¡¯t know what else to say to her. Regardless of what she would say, she¡¯s sure she won¡¯t hear of it either. It was also pointless to offer her any words of consolation. ¡°First sister-in-law,¡± Yan Weihong addressed her with his usual deep voice as he stepped in. ¡°Both of you are finally back,¡± Jiang Qinglian nonchalantly responded to Yan Weihong. She then turned to look at Jin Qianqian. ¡°Qianqian, I¡¯m going up first.¡± She stood up and walked towards the staircase. Mu Li pressed her lips together and looked helpless as she watched Jiang Qinglian from behind. Next, she shifted her gaze to Yan Weihong. Yan Weihong was just about to turn, and he looked at her and their eyes met. He gave a slight nod and quickly trailed after Jiang Qinglian. ¡°First sister-in-law, let¡¯s have a talk.¡± Yan Weihong spoke as he ascended the stairs. Jiang Qinglian halted her steps at the corner of the stairway, and she turned back to look at Yan Weihong. Her expression was cold as usual. ¡°Weihong, what¡¯s there to talk about? I¡¯m not making things difficult for anyone. I just don¡¯t want to spend my life with Yan Weiye anymore. Can¡¯t I at least do that?¡± She got emotional as she spoke. ¡°Or should I say, you¡¯re afraid that I¡¯ll withdraw my shares from the Yan family and implicate Third Yan¡¯s position as the President of Flourish & Prosper?¡± Yan Weihong understood the emotional state she was going through, inevitably, she would spew harsh words. He furrowed his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Do you think Mu Li, Third Yan or myself would care about this?¡± All these years, he and Mu Li never spent a single cent from Flourish & Prosper. Jiang Qinglian retorted, ¡°Then, there¡¯s no issue already.¡± After that, she raised her feet and walked towards her room. Yan Weihong¡¯s exhortation sounded from behind. ¡°Flourish & Prosper was established during my grandfather¡¯s era and it¡¯s the estate of our Yan family. Under my mother¡¯s hands, it grew strong and achieved great heights and glory. So I hope that you¡¯ll reconsider your decision.¡± They weren¡¯t concerned about Flourish & Prosper¡¯s returns, but the name Flourish & Prosper belonged to the Yan family, and it¡¯s important for them to guard and protect it. Hearing this, Jiang Qinglian stopped in her tracks once more and turned back to sneer at Yan Weihong. ¡°Why? What are you afraid of?¡± She clenched her fists and her body briefly trembled. Tomorrow was the start of the court case, and they still do not know what her son would be facing. Yet, they still had the mood to talk to her about Flourish & Prosper and the Yan family¡¯s estate. Yan Weihong¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°First sister-in-law, I know that First brother had done you wrong. But I¡¯m sure you¡¯re also aware of how mother had treated you and Mu Li.¡± In terms of character, Yan Rusheng was similar to him. They always drew a clear line between work and personal matters. Regarding his nephew¡¯s possible jail term, his mood wasn¡¯t exactly pretty too. But Flourish & Prosper was equally important because its achievements didn¡¯t come overnight. Since the elderly lady had handed Flourish & Prosper to Third Yan, it shouldn¡¯t be destroyed while it was in his hands. Otherwise, he would also be deemed a sinner who¡¯d have committed perhaps, an even greater sin than Yan Runan. Jiang Qinglian nodded. ¡°Mother had always been fair towards Mu Li and me, and I¡¯m fully aware of that.¡± Chapter 797. Stop Running Jiang Qinglian¡¯s words seemed choked in her throat, and her eyes glistened. She hissed, ¡°But the unfilial one is her son. When the old madam was around, she refused to allow his illegitimate children to enter the family. But once the old madam had passed on, he brought them in. If he didn¡¯t insist on doing that, why would Runan make such a mistake?¡± The more she thought of it, the more she hated Yan Weiye. She really couldn¡¯t wait to kill him with her bare hands. Thinking back, she had been his wife and able assistant for decades. She had contributed so much to the family, and what did she get? The son he had with another woman was over twenty years old, and he even had a daughter. A boy and a girl, how ideal was that? She had endured and given in but she had harmed her own son as a result. It would mean that all her kindness, generosity, and compassion were all in vain. ¡°Yes.¡± Yan Weihong nodded and pressed on. ¡°But the children never had the thought of snatching the Yan family¡¯s inheritance.¡± Jiang Qinglian spoke rather shrilly. ¡°Illegitimate children are originally not supposed to be seen. But evidently, he wanted to give them an official status!¡± It overwhelmed her with emotions by then. ¡°Yan Weiye wants the best of both worlds. How can I let that happen?¡± ¡°Su Yue!¡± Yan Weihong was about to speak when Xuxu¡¯s voice echoed suddenly. Both Jiang Qinglian and Yan Weihong cast a look towards the direction of Xuxu¡¯s voice at the same time. They only caught a fleeting glimpse of Xuxu running away. Yan Rusheng followed swiftly and stopped when he saw Qi Lei whom Su Yue was with earlier on. ¡°What happened?¡± Qi Lei was feeling flustered when he saw that Su Yue had run away. ¡°This afternoon I went to send her food, and I spent some time with her. She said she wanted to chat with her and to reassure her she wants nothing. And she said that she can return to Country Y.¡± He was anxious and he couldn¡¯t string words together. He paused for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t know who the person she was referring to. I tagged along because I was worried about her.¡± Qi Lei¡¯s words viciously tugged Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. Other than First Aunt, who else could it be? Who knew that the little lass had thought about so much stuff? However, was it even something she should be worried about? It frustrated Yan Rusheng, and so he ran out of the house. He was worried about Su Yue, and certainly more worried about Xuxu. She had followed suit after Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, stop running. Can you wait for me?¡± Su Yue sprinted straight for the road when she dashed out of the house. Although her leg wasn¡¯t fully healed yet, and that she was still limping, it still made Xuxu pant as she chased after her. But no matter how she shouted, the lass didn¡¯t respond. She seemed to be wiping her tears as she ran. Xuxu knew that Su Yue had always minded her identity as an illegitimate daughter, and she was especially sensitive. First Aunt¡¯s words might have agitated her. More so, she was anxious as the traffic was heavy on the roads. She heavily panted as she struggled to keep up with her. ¡°Yueyue, stop running. I¡¯m afraid that my baby wouldn¡¯t be too well.¡± Even if she used her baby to make Su Yue turn back because the girl carried on running. Xuxu knew that something had provoked the girl, and she couldn¡¯t stop being worried. Yan Rusheng caught up with her in no time. ¡°Stop chasing after her and go home first. I¡¯ll look for her.¡± He saw that Xuxu was breathless, and it had him worried. He glanced at Qi Lei. ¡°Go after Su Yue, I¡¯ll bring your Sister Xuxu back first.¡± Chapter 798. Yueyue, Don’t Be Sad! Qi Lei nodded and rushed past them to chase after Su Yue with no hesitation. Xuxu nudged Yan Rusheng. ¡°There is no need, Ah Sheng. Finding Su Yue is more important. I¡¯m afraid that she might do something foolish.¡± She was anxious as she looked ahead. By then, she wasn¡¯t able to catch sight of the tiny figure. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely find her,¡± reassured Yan Rusheng. He then sprinted away. Mu Li caught up, and she stopped beside Xuxu. She tightly clenched on Xuxu¡¯s arm. ¡°Xuxu, let us go back first.¡± However, Xuxu was still worried as she stared into the distance. ¡°Su Yue is different from us.¡± ¡°I know, and it¡¯s heart wrenching to hear those words from her.¡± Mu Li recounted what Qi Lei had said earlier on, and when she finished, Xuxu¡¯s eyes were glistening. Yueyue¡¯s personality confined herself to her own world, and she refused to open up to others. Except for herself, she hadn¡¯t seen Su Yue interacting with anyone else. She was so afraid of First Aunt, and she didn¡¯t even dare to be around her whenever First Aunt was in the house. And yet, the lady had the gall to say all those things to her. Xuxu had no idea how hard Su Yue must have struggled before coming to the country. It must have taken her a tremendous amount of courage before coming to such a decision. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached for the little girl, but she felt that First Aunt wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. Her husband had committed adultery, and he even had a pair of illegitimate children born out of it. And even though it was beyond anyone¡¯s tolerance, he still had the gall to bring them into the family. Her own son had committed a crime to seek revenge against his own father, and any mother would have turned hysterical. Xuxu agreed that Jiang Qinglian was right¡ªFirst Uncle was the main reason Second Brother had made such a mistake. Mu Li interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Third Yan is searching for her. Don¡¯t worry so much.¡± Xuxu nodded and before she went back with Mu Li, she threw another worried glance at the road. When they got back, Jiang Qinglian and Jin Qianqian weren¡¯t in the living room anymore. Only Yan Weihong was there. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Xuxu. ¡°Where is the girl?¡± ¡°Third Yan went after her.¡± Mu Li continued, ¡°Nothing will happen if he is around.¡± Xuxu nodded and stole a glance upstairs before her eyes landed casually on Grandmother¡¯s portrait. All the family members gathered together, yet everything had changed. She helplessly sighed as Mu Li pulled her towards the couch. ¡­ ¡°Su Yue, stop running!¡± Su Yue dashed across the road and it scared the wits out of Qi Lei and Yan Rusheng. It was only when she safely crossed the road did they breathe easy once more. Qi Lei swiftly crossed the road. He was an agile and athletic man, and he would naturally be faster than a young girl who was limping. He caught up with Su Yue and held on to her tightly. Yan Rusheng reached them shortly, and he grabbed Su Yue¡¯s wrist. He looked at her as she bowed her head. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t read her expression. He hasn¡¯t entirely gotten over his shock and he couldn¡¯t help but give her a gentle lecture. ¡°There were so many cars on the road, do you know how dangerous it was?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t speak but Yan Rusheng saw tears leaking from her eyes. It startled him. ¡°Yueyue, don¡¯t be sad.¡± He consoled her and hugged her tightly. Yan Rusheng¡¯s hug had surprised Su Yue, but rather than being apprehensive, she felt it was strange and unfamiliar. Chapter 799. I Got It, Stop Worrying So Much Su Yue¡¯s pressed her hands against Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest, and she was slightly trembling as she sobbed. Yan Rusheng gently shoved Su Yue away. He softly said, ¡°Your third sister-in-law is worrying about you, and if you continue being sad, her heart will ache, too. Let me send you back to the apartment first.¡± He knew that Xuxu was the only person she would care about. Xuxu was the only one she would instantly respond to. It was only when Su Yue was with Xuxu that she would seem more alive¡ªlike a normal human being. Su Yue heard Yan Rusheng and hastily wiped her tears. She raised her head and gazed at Yan Rusheng with swollen eyes. ¡°I want to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.¡± ¡°Silly girl.¡± Yan Rusheng gently stroked her hair and affectionately smiled at her. Ever since Su Yue protected and defended Xuxu to an extent she used hot soup to splash Fang Jiayin, Yan Rusheng accepted her as his younger sister even if she wasn¡¯t officially part of the Yan Family. Perhaps it was because Xuxu loved and she doted her, or perhaps they were related by blood, or it could be a combination of both reasons. He quipped, ¡°Qi Lei will eat together with you.¡± His parents had just arrived, and the trial was set for tomorrow. He had plenty of things to do. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I want to look for my brother.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at his watch. ¡°I¡¯ll send you there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and unexpectedly, gave Yan Rusheng a bright smile. She glanced at Qi Lei, and she beamed at him. ¡°Brother Qi Lei, I¡¯m going to look for my brother.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qi Lei nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll make some chicken wings and send them to you tonight.¡± Su Yue¡¯s smile widened when she heard him. ¡°Thank you!¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. Indeed, she was still a child. Her eyes lit up at the mention of food. If only that stupid woman¡ªWen Xuxu¡ªcould be so easily coaxed. What surprised him more was Su Yue saying thank you. This little lass had learned her manners, and it was news to him. Yan Rusheng brought Su Yue home, and she stood outside the courtyard. She was fearful. She had her head bowed, and she refused to enter. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t coerce her and retrieved his car. Xuxu rushed out when she heard noises outside. She anxiously pressed on for an answer the moment she saw Yan Rusheng. ¡°Where is Yueyue?¡± Yan Rusheng gestured to the entrance. ¡°Outside.¡± ¡°Yueyue!¡± Xuxu bolted towards Su Yue. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue took a deep breath before looking at Xuxu. She softly apologized, ¡°Sorry for making you worry. Don¡¯t be mad at me.¡± She was afraid that Xuxu might not talk to her anymore. Xuxu glanced at her swollen and red eyes. She then stretched her hand to stroke her face. ¡°Silly girl, there is no need for an apology.¡± She tightly embraced her to erase the shock and fear she suffered earlier on. ¡°Where is Qi Lei?¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes darted around at the surroundings. Su Yue replied, ¡°He went back. Third Brother is sending me to look for my brother.¡± Yan Rusheng was in his car and he peeked his head out from the window. ¡°She wants to look for Su Yan, and I need to head out to settle some matters so I¡¯ll send her along the way.¡± Xuxu nodded, but she wasn¡¯t entirely at ease. She reminded Yan Rusheng, ¡°You have to make sure she is safely in Su Yan¡¯s hands alright?¡± She opened the door for Su Yue. Yan Rusheng frowned and gave her a cold glare. ¡°I got it. Stop worrying so much.¡± This woman was really a worrywart. She always worries about the children at the orphanage, constantly worries about Su Yue, but she never worried about him. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have banned him from her bed. Chapter 800. Will This Do? She should be concerned about his sex life instead! After Su Yue got into the car, Xuxu bent over and explained, ¡°Yueyue, Aunt Mu Li have just returned and I have to keep her company. So, Third Brother will send you there.¡± Actually, she ought to stay by her side to keep her company instead. The words she heard earlier on must have dealt her a huge blow. It was impossible for her to forget about it so soon. Xuxu heaved a sigh. She thought the more sensible she grew, the more she felt sorry for her. ¡°Mm.¡± After Su Yue nodded her head, Xuxu had closed the car door. She went back into the courtyard after Yan Rusheng drove off. As they cruised down the road, Yan Rusheng asked Su Yue, ¡°Do you know where your brother could be right now?¡± Su Yue shook her head. She answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The siblings weren¡¯t close to each other. Su Yue left the orphanage only when she was in her early teens and by then, Su Yan was already in high school. He had a laid back nature, and he had moved out to live alone at a young age, supporting himself through school by taking on various jobs. Furthermore, Su Yue wasn¡¯t keen on meeting or communicating with people, including Su Yan. Yan Rusheng knew of these and had already expected that Su Yue didn¡¯t know of Su Yan¡¯s whereabouts. He said, ¡°We¡¯ll call him to find out.¡± Su Yue looked down and mumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t know his contact number.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. How could she not know her brother¡¯s contact number? He then briefly recalled Ming Ansheng mentioning that she had only registered Xuxu¡¯s number on her phone. Feeling helpless, he scrolled through his contact list and found Su Yan¡¯s number. He pressed the dial button. ¡°Where are you? Su Yue wants to go over to look for you.¡± Su Yan said something which caused Yan Rusheng to furrow his eyebrows helplessly. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll send her back home.¡± Without waiting for Su Yan to continue, he hung up and threw his phone back into the glove compartment. Turning to look at Su Yue, he said, ¡°Your brother is out in the suburbs for an outdoor shoot. Let me send you back to the apartment first.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back.¡± Su Yue kept her head bowed, and she was playing with her fingers. She whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll take a stroll myself.¡± Yan Rusheng rejected her without hesitation. ¡°Cannot.¡± Wen Xuxu had repeatedly instructed him to hand her over to Su Yan because she was worried about her being alone. So how could he let her go for a stroll alone? Yan Rusheng thought over it and surveyed Su Yue once more. Seeing her in that state, he couldn¡¯t help but give in. ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll bring you along with me. Since you wanted to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken, you¡¯ll wait for me there. Will this do?¡± Su Yue smiled when she heard what he had to say. She nodded her head, but she still wore a slight frown. ¡°Alright.¡± Al¡ªright? What a reluctant answer. She was really an ingrate lass. Besides Xuxu, she was the only one to have received such good treatment from him, okay? Yan Rusheng gave a forced smile. He didn¡¯t utter a further word and focused on his driving. His cellphone rang incessantly throughout the journey until the calls ended by themselves. ¡°I¡¯ve reached. Give me a while.¡± ¡°I have a child with me. Let me look for Kentucky Fried Chicken and send her there first.¡± During his conversation, Yan Rusheng spotted a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. He swiftly ended the call. He drove towards it and stopped his car at the entrance. Pointing to the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet, he looked at Su Yue and instructed, ¡°You go in first and I¡¯ll come back and look for you in a while.¡± Su Yue nodded her head as she unfastened her seatbelt. Before she got off, Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Do you have money with you?¡± Chapter 801. She Was a Beautiful Lady ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue nodded before getting off the car. She closed the door after her. She suddenly recalled something and turned back. She opened the car door and looked at Yan Rusheng with her dewy eyes. She was frowning. ¡°Third Brother, I¡¯m not a child who¡¯s in the way.¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. This wretched girl was always feigning ignorance. The truth was, she actually understood whatever people said but chose not to respond. He had only casually mentioned Ming Ansheng over the phone, and she actually took it to heart. After finishing her sentence, Su Yue continued to fix her gaze at Yan Rusheng. She was obviously waiting for him to apologize, and it seemed that it was a must for him to do so. Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched. And with an earnest tone and a frown on his face, he apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your Third Brother is in the wrong.¡± ¡®This petty lass!¡¯ Other than Xuxu, it was the first time someone had made Third Young Master into a fool until there was nothing he could even do. As he was rushing to settle some serious matters, he didn¡¯t have the time to dilly dally with her. After his apology, Su Yue straightened herself in satisfaction before backing off. She closed the car door. She turned around and went into the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. Yan Rusheng was still worried for her as he watched her petite figure from behind. He then took a glance at the time. He had no choice but to start the engine. Yan Rusheng arrived at a seven-star hotel, and he walked with hurried steps through the turnstile into a majestic-looking hall. Ming Ansheng was clutching his phone and was anxiously waiting for him. When he spotted him, he dashed forward. He looked behind him and frowned in bewilderment. ¡°Where¡¯s the child you mentioned over the phone?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°She¡¯s at Kentucky Fried Chicken.¡± The two of them headed towards the elevator as they talked. Even though the two handsome-looking men were dressed in suits, they each exuded a different class. The only similarity they had was their indescribable air of elegance. Walking side by side, they were an eye-catching sight. Yan Rusheng pressed the elevator button after they had entered. Ming Ansheng was curious, and he continued to probe. ¡°Who¡¯s the child? Your illegitimate son?¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Yan Rusheng glared at Young Master Ming. ¡°It¡¯s Su Yue. I was supposed to send her to Su Yan, but he¡¯s not in the capital city. Anyway, it¡¯s a long story.¡± The elevator door was about to close when someone shouted from outside. ¡°Wait.¡± It was a sweet sounding voice that belonged to a lady. Ming Ansheng immediately stretched out his hand to block the door. The thudding sounds of someone¡¯s high heels ¡®deng deng deng¡¯ echoed around. Yan Rusheng impatiently furrowed his eyebrows as an expression of his annoyance and dissatisfaction towards Ming Ansheng¡¯s actions. Why must they wait? It was a waste of time! The thudding sounds of high heels got louder and a lanky woman appeared before their eyes. She was wearing a red dress and a pair of white high-heeled shoes. She was clutching a light green Hermes bag in her hand. She also had a lightly permed shoulder-length hair and wore an oversized pair of sunglasses that sat on her nose. She looked stylish and fashionable. A whiff of light fragrance emitted from the woman¡¯s body. As she entered the elevator, she thanked Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng endlessly with a smile. ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡± She extended her hand intending to press the buttons but retracted before pressing it. As the woman was standing too near the elevator door, she took a step backward. Yan Rusheng frowned in disdain and took a huge step to the side, maintaining a distance with the woman. Ming Ansheng smiled in amusement as he observed his behavior. She was a beautiful lady yet he treated her like a venomous scorpion. Chapter 802. You’re Not Far off From Amnesia The elevator door opened when it reached their level, and the lady stepped out. Ming Ansheng moved near Yan Rusheng and made fun of him in a hushed voice. ¡°What spell did Wen Xuxu put on you that you¡¯re so fearful of other women coming near you?¡± ¡®So fearful?¡¯ Young Master Yan looked at Young Master Ming with furrowed eyebrows. ¡°I hate foul smelling perfume, don¡¯t you know?¡± Before Ming Ansheng could respond, the woman¡¯s voice sounded from the front, and she seemed annoyed. ¡°Handsome chap, I¡¯m using a limited edition perfume from Guerlain. You¡ªyou don¡¯t know how to appreciate.¡± There was a hint of inviolable arrogance in her voice. The corner of Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips involuntarily twitched. He then looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s handsome face, stifling a grin. This could be the first time that Young Master Yan was being snubbed by a woman he didn¡¯t know. Besides Wen Xuxu, she was the only woman who dared to say that Young Master Yan was an unappreciative man. Yan Rusheng twisted his thick eyebrows and glared at the woman. A trace of hatred flashed across his eyes. Even though it was fleeting, the woman noticed it. Fearing nothing, she raised her chin and rebutted, ¡°What are you looking at? If Guerlain is a foul-smelling perfume, then what¡¯s not foul smelling?¡± Yan Rusheng ignored her and raised his feet to move forward, walking past the woman without any hesitation in his steps. After walking past her, his sarcastic voice sounded faint from the front. ¡°A turtle who eats grains.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Ming Ansheng could hold it no longer and burst out laughing. He looked at Yan Rusheng and shook his head. This chap was always so sharp-tongued towards beautiful women. Couldn¡¯t he be more gracious and gentle? ¡°A turtle who eats grains?¡± It had the woman baffled. She knitted her eyebrows as she pondered over Yan Rusheng¡¯s words. It was only after a little while when she came to a realization. She fumed, ¡°You¡¯re the turtle who eats grains. Every breath you take is wasting the world¡¯s resources.¡± The meaning of a turtle who eats grain was ¡®wasting something ¡®, wasn¡¯t it? So it meant that using the expensive Guerlain perfume on her was a waste. What was most loathsome was he actually used the word ¡®turtle¡¯ to describe her! ¡®Yan Rusheng, you just wait!¡¯ The beautiful woman gnashed her teeth. A vicious glare flashed across her almond-shaped eyes behind her over-sized sunglasses. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng walked to the end of the corridor before taking a turn. Their steps were casual and graceful. As they made the turn, Ming Ansheng caught sight of the woman from the corner of his eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°That woman is special. She actually wasn¡¯t love struck with us.¡± It was so unusual. Being narcissistic was a common trait among young masters. Yan Rusheng threw a dirty look at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Mr. Ming, you¡¯re not far off from amnesia.¡± As he said that, he hastened his steps and found the room he was looking for. After verifying the room number, he extended his hand and knocked on the door. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t understand what he was driving at and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yan Rusheng remained silent and ignored him. Just then, the door opened. A tall and slender lady greeted them. She was wearing a crisp white shirt underneath a black suit. She had her hair on a bun, looking like a competent and capable woman. When she saw Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng, she flashed a child-like grin. ¡°Third Brother Yan, Brother Ming.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded, ¡°Yishan.¡± Yan Rusheng also nodded before raising his feet and walked past Lu Yishan. Lu Yishan and Ming Ansheng trailed after him. Chapter 803. Love Rival’s Auntie It was a luxurious suite. A sheer lace curtain covered the living room window, and it gave one a hazy view of the outside. Yan Rusheng walked in. On the couch sat a slightly plump middle-aged man. When the man saw Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng, he laughed as he stood up. ¡°President Yan. President Ming.¡± ¡°Lawyer Zhou.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and politely nodded. His steps remained steadfast as he walked over and shook hands with the man. Both of them sat down after that. Lu Yishan served them tea. ¡­ Both of them emerged from the hotel. Against the blazing sun, Ming Ansheng knitted his eyebrows and looked at Yan Rusheng with a smile. ¡°You can breathe easy now.¡± Yan Rusheng sighed. ¡°Not yet.¡± Ming Ansheng tightly pressed his lips at the corner. He then patted Yan Rusheng on his shoulders in reassurance. ¡°We can only do our best.¡± The two of them descended the hotel¡¯s staircase at the main entrance. They tossed out their car keys as they walked past a grand fountain. ¡°President Yan. President Ming.¡± A woman¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from the front. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng looked over in unison. An elegantly dressed middle-aged woman was walking towards them while two burly looking men in black suits followed suit. Suddenly, Ming Ansheng recalled something. His eyes lit up as he looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I remember now. The woman earlier was Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s cousin, right? Her name¡­ her name ends with a ¡®ting ¡®.¡± He couldn¡¯t recall her full name at that moment. The middle-aged woman walked closer, but Yan Rusheng kept a straight face. Ming Ansheng got the hint and prepared to step forward to greet her. He retracted from his thoughts and politely greeted the middle-aged woman. ¡°It¡¯s rare for President Jiang to visit the Capital City.¡± President Jiang was Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s aunt. She was the President of the conglomerate, Paramount, whose assets were worth more than the Jiang Corporation. Jiang Shaomei smiled and answered, ¡°My daughter just returned from overseas and came over to the capital city. I¡¯m here to visit the Old Master and at the same time, to fetch Yanting home.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, her name is Yanting.¡± He finally remembered. No wonder she was so unreasonable towards him and Yan Rusheng. Ming Ansheng¡¯s response left Jiang Shaomei bewildered. ¡°What?¡± She got a sudden fright. Ming Ansheng smiled as he explained. ¡°We bumped into President Jiang¡¯s daughter in the hotel earlier on, but I couldn¡¯t recall her name at that spur of the moment.¡± Jiang Shaomei smiled again and she affectionately chided. ¡°That wretched lass said she wanted to come and visit her grandfather, and yet insisted on staying in a hotel. She almost drove her grandfather up the wall.¡± Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°I could still recall she was mischievous since she was a child.¡± The truth was, he didn¡¯t have a deep impression of Xin Yanting. If he hadn¡¯t run into Jiang Shaomei, he wouldn¡¯t have remembered her. No wonder she was so cocky and arrogant¡ªthe young mistress of Paramount. ¡°We won¡¯t hold President Jiang back. We¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Yan Rusheng, who had remained silent throughout, suddenly spoke. With that, he took to his feet and strode past Jiang Shaomei without a second look. He strode off in a haste. Jiang Shaomei turned and took a look at him before fixing her gaze at Ming Ansheng. ¡°He has something urgent to attend to,¡± explained Ming Ansheng with a smile. Jiang Shaomei magnanimously dismissed it with a wave. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I know his character too well.¡± She wasn¡¯t the least offended by him. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a move too.¡± Ming Ansheng regained his footsteps and caught up with Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Yan, since she¡¯s Ah Heng¡¯s aunt, you should show her some respect.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face changed and looked perplexed. ¡°Why must I show respect to my love rival¡¯s auntie?¡± Chapter 804. Past Conflicts It had rendered Ming Ansheng speechless. Love rival¡¯s auntie¡ªhis words made him appear as a petty person. However, he was fully aware that Jiang Zhuoheng wasn¡¯t the main reason he was disrespectful towards Jiang Shaomei. Rather, it was because of past business conflicts between Flourish & Prosper and Paramount. At that time, the elderly lady was still holding the realm at Flourish & Prosper and unhappiness arose because of a product bidding. It seemed that Paramount had resorted to underhand means which resulted in Flourish & Prosper losing the bidding chance. Old Madam Wang was a meticulous person and had always been discreet and cautious in her work. So, even when such a thing happened, she would keep mum about it. He only got wind of it through some sources but didn¡¯t have the opportunity to verify it. If Paramount was really the culprit, all the more, she wouldn¡¯t divulge. Ming Ansheng mulled over it before diverting the topic. He asked, ¡°Where are you going now? Going home?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Going to look for Su Yue.¡± The Kentucky Fried Chicken was just next door, so Yan Rusheng quickened his steps. As it wasn¡¯t mealtime yet, there were just a few people in the shop. He pulled the door open and went in. His eyes scanned the entire place and there were only a handful of adults and children. Su Yue was nowhere in sight. Yan Rusheng started to get anxious and walked in further to search thoroughly. He searched high and low but Su Yue wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Where¡¯s the bathroom?¡± He stopped a waiter and asked. The young waitress face turned crimson when a handsome chap suddenly stopped her. She pointed her finger and stammered, ¡°Over¡­ over there.¡± Most importantly, the handsome chap¡¯s abrupt actions stunned her. Seeing Yan Rusheng feeling anxious because of Su Yue¡¯s disappearance, Ming Ansheng also got worried because he was aware of Su Yue¡¯s condition. ¡°I have her phone number. Let me give her a call,¡± he said as he tossed out his cellphone. He then dialed her number. A cute voice sounded in his ears. ¡®Love you, kiss kiss, quickly give me a kiss, love to banter with you¡­¡¯ When he heard the song, Young Master Ming instinctively thought that he had dialed the wrong number. He took a quick glance at his screen¡ªit was Su Yue¡¯s name. The corners of his lips subconsciously curled up. He was also smiling from within. ¡°This little lass.¡± She had shown improvement and already knew how to set her cellphone ringback tone to a song that matched her age. Yan Rusheng saw Ming Ansheng smiling to himself, so he stared at him in suspicion with narrowed eyes. ¡®Why is this fellow smiling for no reason? And smiling so sweetly like a girl.¡¯ The ringback tone kept playing, but no one answered from the other end. Ming Ansheng was about to inform Yan Rusheng when he caught him staring. He felt guilty for a moment. But he obviously did nothing wrong! ¡°Why are you staring at me that way?¡± He asked. There was a lack of confidence in his voice. Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°Nothing. Have you got through to Su Yue?¡± Ming Ansheng was about to nod his head when a familiar voice sounded in the phone. ¡°Hello.¡± He immediately asked, ¡°Little lass, where are you? Your Third Brother is so anxious and worried when he couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Noisy music and loud voices of people talking could be heard in the background. ¡°I¡¯m at¡­¡± Su Yue mumbled something. But since the other line was noisy, and the place had an intermittent phone signal, Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t hear her. Suddenly, the line went dead. He tried calling her back right away but could no longer get through. Chapter 805. Su Yue, You Are Too Awesome! Ming Ansheng got anxious, and he said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°She didn¡¯t make herself clear but the call ended. It was too noisy in the background and now the call can¡¯t get through.¡± Yan Rusheng was anxious and hastily snatched the phone from Ming Ansheng. He attempted to reach Su Yue once more, but the call didn¡¯t get through. ¡°That girl is quite sensible. I think perhaps she got a little impatient waiting for you. She shouldn¡¯t be too far away,¡± consoled Ming Ansheng although he was equally as anxious as Yan Rusheng. He frantically glanced around and something suddenly struck him. He went to the cashier and asked the staff, ¡°Is there any shopping mall or amusement park in the vicinity?¡± He heard loud sounds in the background when he called Su Yue earlier on, so he reckoned that she must be at a crowded place. The staff asked, ¡°Are you looking for an adult or a child?¡± ¡°A girl, she is about 18 years old. She is very pretty with long hair.¡± ¡°Oh, is she the one who had ten chicken wings and three cups of Coke?¡± Ten chicken wings and three cups of Coke¡­ The corners of Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched. But he had a hunch that Su Yue was the person the staff had described since the girl seemed to love chicken wings. That fellow Qi Lei had successfully used chicken wings to lure her, and that¡¯s why she had followed him around, addressing him affectionately as ¡®Brother¡¯. He nodded and replied, ¡°That should be her.¡± The staff answered, ¡°She left with a few students carrying bags. There is an arcade a short distance away when you exit from the right. You can try going there.¡± Students carrying bags, arcade¡­ Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes met each other. They then turned around at the same time and marched towards the exit. They turned right after exiting and caught sight of an arcade after a few minutes. It was a huge arcade and it occupied two levels. There was an entrance on the ground level and a staircase inside. They strode towards the stairs and heard some noisy music in the background mingled with loud voices. It sounded like what Ming Ansheng had heard earlier on when he spoke to Su Yue. He hastened his footsteps. There were children and adults, but the place was crowded mostly with teens. Both of them frantically surveyed the place, but it wasn¡¯t easy spotting Su Yue since there were many young girls around. ¡°You go this way and I¡¯ll head there.¡± Yan Rusheng suggested they split up as the place was too huge. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Sister, come and have some popcorn.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too awesome! The ball went in every single time.¡± ¡°Sister, come and have some water.¡± A pretty girl with her hair tied up stood in front of the simulation basketball machine. Her beautiful and clearly-defined features were revealed. Her fair skin was covered with perspiration and the red shirt she was wearing complimented her fair and rosy skin. There were a few other boys and girls standing around her. They looked like they were about her age. Everyone was staring at her with awestruck eyes and were offering her food and beverages. Ming Ansheng heaved a sigh of relief when he saw her. He stopped a short distance away from her. He watched as the teens fawned over her and he shook his head in amusement. ¡®This girl is quite capable.¡¯ Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t interrupt Su Yue. Instead, he whipped out his phone to inform Yan Rusheng that he had found her. Everyone clamored around Su Yue and gave her a thumbs up when the game ended. ¡°Su Yue, you are too awesome!¡± Su Yue ignored all their praises. She turned around and received a shock when she saw Ming Ansheng. Chapter 806. I’ll Be Good to Su Yue ¡°Uncle Ming,¡± she softly called out. Ming Ansheng strode towards her with a smile. ¡°Little girl, seems like you¡¯re quite good. Where did you use to practice?¡± She seemed so familiar with the game, so she must have played the game often before Su Yue ignored Ming Ansheng, neither did she move. She simply stood in front of him. ¡°Su Yue, who is he?¡± The crowd asked Su Yue as they sized up the man. ¡°Why does he look so familiar?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Su Yue. Su Yue!¡± A skinny, lanky guy came running towards her. He stopped in front of Su Yue with a huge bouquet of roses. His face gradually turned scarlet as he gazed at Su Yue¡¯s pretty face. The crowd slowly averted their eyes from Ming Ansheng to the guy and the roses in his hand. Their eyes were wide open with envy. They moved forward in excitement. ¡°Wow, Young Master Xia is so romantic.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned. What was going on? His eyes darted to the boy, and then he narrowed his eyes to size him up as well. Was he Su Yue¡¯s admirer? ¡®Are teens so open-minded these days?¡¯ They were barely twenty, and they were already yearning for romance and love. Then again, he was the same when he was in high school. ¡°Su Yue, I like you! Can you please be my girlfriend?¡± ¡®F*ck! Of course not! How can they date at such a young age?!¡¯ Ming Ansheng cut across before Su Yue could answer. ¡°Her college entrance exam is coming soon. Aren¡¯t you trying to distract her from her studies?¡± The boy finally noticed Ming Ansheng and surveyed him in doubt. ¡°Who are you?¡± His attitude was rather¡­ rude. Hey! Young Master Ming frowned. The youths these days are so open-minded about dating and were rude. Someone spoke up. ¡°He is Su Yue¡¯s uncle.¡± They had overheard Su Yue addressing Ming Ansheng as Uncle Ming. The boy immediately changed his attitude when he heard that Ming Ansheng was Su Yue¡¯s uncle. He turned around to him with a polite smile and bowed to introduce himself. ¡°Hello, Uncle. I¡¯m Su Yue¡¯s classmate. My name is Xia Haiyang.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s face fell! From Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression, everyone could tell that he was against them dating at such a young age. Hence why he seemed to disapprove Xia Haiyang. But in reality, he was upset because they referred to him as Su Yue¡¯s uncle. And in that split second, he really became part of her family. He felt awkward and annoyed. He turned solemn and then sharply spoke, ¡°At your age, you should be studying hard to get into a good university. Only after that should you consider dating.¡± The boy smiled and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely get into a good university. And after I graduated, I will enter my dad¡¯s company so I won¡¯t have to worry about getting a job.¡± What did this guy mean by that? Was he trying to flaunt his wealth? Ming Ansheng frowned even more. ¡°If you don¡¯t study hard, how can you manage the company in the future? And if you didn¡¯t manage the company well and it goes bust, what would happen then?¡± If he wasn¡¯t Su Yue¡¯s uncle this boy would definitely retort, ¡®You¡¯re the one going bust, and your whole family too.¡¯ He had cursed a random stranger¡­ Ming Ansheng was a little uneasy. Was he being influenced by Yan Rusheng¡¯s mean tongue? But alas, Xia Haiyang had no choice since he liked this man¡¯s niece. He put on a smile once more to promise Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle, I will study hard. Even if I¡¯m dating Su Yue, it won¡¯t affect our studies. And I will be good to Su Yue.¡± Chapter 807. Left Without a Word ¡°No, you can¡¯t,¡± objected Ming Ansheng. He then grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand after he had glanced at her. ¡°Come on, your third brother is looking for you.¡± Su Yue allowed Ming Ansheng to lead her. From the beginning, she never even glanced at the boy who just professed his love for her. ¡°I think I have seen Su Yue¡¯s uncle somewhere before.¡± ¡°I find him familiar too.¡± That goes without saying that Young Master Ming had appeared on financial TV shows several times before, and he was also featured on the cover page of financial magazines and newspapers. He had hit the headlines on the entertainment section as well. Ming Ansheng held Su Yue¡¯s hand and steered her away from the crowd. When they reached the landing of the staircase, Su Yue began to wrestle her hand away from his. It was only then Ming Ansheng realized that he was still holding her hand. Her hand was so slender and felt so soft and supple. Instinctively, he relinquished his grip at once. But the moment he let her hand go, he felt his heart was empty. It was a feeling that he couldn¡¯t describe. It vanished in a flash. His shrewd-looking eyes stared at Su Yue as though nothing had happened. ¡°Your third brother is making a call downstairs.¡± He walked past Su Yue and descended the stairs. Su Yue followed quietly behind him. ¡°Do you play basketball often?¡± suddenly asked Ming Ansheng as he spun his head towards her. Su Yue refused to meet his eyes, and she stopped. Just when Ming Ansheng thought he wouldn¡¯t be getting an answer as usual, to his astonishment, she responded. ¡°There was an old basketball hoop at the orphanage.¡± She sounded calm and collected but her words momentarily tugged Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart. This girl had suffered so much in the past. It was a struggle for him to imagine what kind of environment she grew up in. He felt that the Yan family really needed to shower her with attention and warmth in the future. ¡°I heard that you ate ten chicken wings and three cups of Coke?¡± Ming Ansheng smoothly diverted the topic. Su Yue didn¡¯t answer him this time and merely rolled her eyes. How did he even know that? Did they install a surveillance camera on her? ¡°Your choice of ringtone is excellent,¡± Ming Ansheng commented, looking amused. Su Yue murmured softly and added, ¡°It¡¯s free.¡± Young Master Ming was thoroughly amused when he heard her. They continued their conversation as they descended the stairs. They exited through the door and stepped on the bustling street. Ming Ansheng peered around looking for Yan Rusheng, but he was nowhere to be seen. He took out his phone and at that moment, Yan Rusheng was on the other line. He answered, ¡°Third Yan, where did you go?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded urgent. ¡°I have something to attend to. Can you accompany Su Yue for a while, if not send her home.¡± Without waiting for Ming Ansheng to agree, Yan Rusheng ended the call. ¡°Hey, what?!¡± Young Master Ming stared at his phone soundlessly for some time as the busy tone sounded. He grumpily stowed his phone away. ¡°What was that¡ªhe just left without a word.¡± And he simply left this girl with him. ¡®Accompany her or send her home¡­¡¯ Yan Rusheng was too used to giving instructions. Ming Ansheng swore and cursed at him silently before turning to Su Yue. His anger vanished the moment he set his eyes on her. However, he still sounded grumpy. ¡°Your third brother had to attend to some urgent matters. Follow me to my office first as I¡¯ve some work to do. I¡¯ll send you home later.¡± Chapter 808. Something He Ought to Have Done Long Ago Su Yue merely grunted in response. Ming Ansheng glanced at her but didn¡¯t say a word. They walked towards Ming Ansheng¡¯s car together. ¡°Wait.¡± Su Yue abruptly broke the silence as they walked. Ming Ansheng raised his head, feeling puzzled. He saw Su Yue walking towards a bookshop a short distance ahead. He followed her with hurried steps and entered the shop. The bookshop was clearly divided into sections, and Su Yue dived straight into the section where all the college entrance exam materials were. Ming Ansheng had his hands stuffed in his pockets. He nonchalantly trailed after her. Because of his outstanding looks, the female employees¡¯ hearts wildly pounded the second they saw him. Su Yue stopped at a shelf where there was a row of Math practice books, and she scanned them carefully. Ming Ansheng came to her and asked, ¡°Are you buying them for revision?¡± Su Yue stretched her hand towards a book and answered, ¡°You have to bring me to get a tattoo if I do well.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ She had thoroughly believed and remembered his words. Su Yue tried her best to reach for a book at the top shelf. But no matter how she tiptoed, she couldn¡¯t reach it. ¡°There you go.¡± Ming Ansheng extended his hand and retrieved the book without effort. Su Yue received it and flipped it open. Ming Ansheng inched closer to her as she pored through it. ¡°What is this about?¡± The afternoon sunlight shone through the windows and the tall figure enveloped the tiny girl entirely. It provided a harmonious and visually appealing feast for the eyes. Time passed quietly and peacefully. ¡­ It was a Saturday, and the office was quiet. Yan Rusheng was sitting on the couch and a bespectacled middle-aged man wearing a gray suit sat beside him. There were several financial and company shares documents on the coffee table. ¡°Third Yan, if these shares fall into an outsider¡¯s hands, then more than half of Flourish & Prosper wouldn¡¯t belong to the Yan¡¯s anymore.¡± The middle-aged man gazed at Yan Rusheng with a worried look. He was Flourish & Prosper¡¯s exclusive attorney. Yan Rusheng bent his head as a crease appeared between his eyebrows. He seemed lost in thought as he fell silent. The middle-aged man spoke once more. ¡°You have to find a countermeasure soon and stop First Madam from selling her shares.¡± Yan Rusheng remained silent, and the man held his tongue. After a long while, Yan Rusheng finally spoke. He merely said, ¡°I got it.¡± He rose and glanced at the documents before instructing the attorney. ¡°Keep these and be discreet about this matter.¡± Flourish & Prosper was in a perilous situation at the moment since their family was divided. Any slight mistake would jeopardize Flourish & Prosper. The attorney nodded and arranged and keep the documents. Yan Rusheng gazed at those documents before striding across the room towards his desk. He switched on his laptop and clicked on an encrypted file. He entered the password and opened the file. There were countless folders, and they were all labeled with names of people. He randomly clicked a folder and there were photos and videos inside along with detailed information. Yan Rusheng slowly slumped back against his swivel chair as he propped his elbow on the arm of the chair. He lightly stroked his mouth with his thumb. The expression in his eyes was unfathomable, and it gradually turned malicious as he stared at the screen. He was contemplating something he ought to have done long ago. It was no longer a hesitation. Chapter 809. Totally Unacceptable Yan Rusheng reached for his phone and dialed a number. When he heard the voice on the other line, a smirk appeared on his face. ¡°Chairman Zhang, I¡¯m in the office, and I would like to invite you over for a cup of tea.¡± His cold-looking eyes were fixed intently on the laptop screen as he spoke. The other party didn¡¯t reject and agreed in a trembling voice. Yan Rusheng¡¯s smirk became more pronounced. ¡°Good. I will be waiting for you in the office with water and tea leaves.¡± After keeping the documents, the attorney walked to Yan Rusheng and timidly peered at him. He bowed rather awkwardly. ¡°President Yan.¡± He waited for his instructions. Yan Rusheng continued looking at the screen as he moved the mouse. ¡°Go outside and wait for a while.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded and left the room. Half an hour later, an old man in his sixties rushed into Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. He was slightly bald. He smiled and bowed at Yan Rusheng the instant he saw him. ¡°President Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng surveyed him with a benign smile, but it was a smile that made the old man shudder instead¡ªgoosebumps appeared. Yan Rusheng pressed both hands against the arms of his chair and pushed himself up to his full height. He gestured to the couch and politely said, ¡°Chairman Zhang, take a seat. I¡¯ll brew tea.¡± Chairman Zhang shook his head and hands anxiously. ¡°No, no, no! I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± Even if he had the courage of a lion, he would never dare to make the high and mighty President brew tea for him personally. His hands were obviously not meant for brewing tea. Yan Rusheng slightly frowned. ¡°Chairman Zhang, you rarely come to my office and furthermore, you are an elder. Even if you aren¡¯t thirsty, I still need to make you some tea. I¡¯m not someone who doesn¡¯t know manners and etiquette.¡± He strode towards the direction of the water dispenser. ¡®Bah! If you know manners and etiquette, then no one else on Earth would know manners and etiquette,¡¯ the elder thought to himself. Chairman Zhang silently glared at Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. He silently cursed him in his heart. He scrambled towards Yan Rusheng and put on a fawning smile. ¡°President Yan, I¡¯m really not thirsty. Don¡¯t trouble yourself.¡± Tiny beads of sparkling perspiration appeared on his forehead, and it was barely noticeable. Yan Rusheng had been unusually courteous, and it felt like a foreboding omen. ¡°Chairman Zhang, don¡¯t stand on ceremony with me. I¡¯ve prepared these premium tea leaves specially for you. You keep insisting that you¡¯re not thirsty, are you despising me?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrow, looking affronted as his gorgeous face darkened. Chairman Zhang shook his head vigorously and explained, ¡°No, no, no! I just feel that President Yan shouldn¡¯t be making me tea. This is totally unacceptable.¡± He paused and suggested, ¡°Let me do it, let me.¡± He instantly rushed forward. Yan Rusheng stuffed his hands casually into the pockets of his pants and eyed Chairman Zhang slyly. He put on a pretense once more. ¡°How could I allow you to serve me? After all, you¡¯re a guest.¡± He spoke and walked unhurriedly at the same time, having no intention of walking his talk. Chairman Zhang spun around with a wide smile. ¡°I have a share in Flourish & Prosper too. President Yan, please don¡¯t treat me as an outsider.¡± Yan Rusheng curled his mouth into a wider smile. ¡°Then, I shall count on Chairman Zhang.¡± Chairman Zhang was speechless. Even though he was furious, but there was nothing he could do. Chapter 810. Do I Look Like I’m Joking? After settling himself comfortably on the couch, Yan Rusheng began flipping a random magazine. ¡°President Yan, the tea is ready.¡± Chairman Zhang presented the cup of tea with both hands to Yan Rusheng. He was unusually courteous and respectful. Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Thank you, Chairman Zhang.¡± Yan Rusheng doesn¡¯t easily thank people, or at least he had never heard him say it before. Chairman Zhang felt a bit squeamish¡ªa mixture of anxiety and panic. He had invited him over on a weekend on a pretense of drinking tea with him. This had never happened in the years he had known him, and he knew for certain that nothing good will come out of it. He bent and gingerly sat down on the couch while leaving a space wide enough for two more people between them. Then he eyed Yan Rusheng apprehensively. He felt jittery. ¡°Chairman Zhang, when you came in earlier, you should have seen Attorney Xiao right?¡± Yan Rusheng placed the magazine back on the table, held his cup as he glanced at Chairman Zhang. Chairman Zhang¡¯s eyes flickered violently. He nodded as he murmured, ¡°Yes¡­¡± Yan Rusheng took a sip of the tea and casually spoke. ¡°Flourish & Prosper is in chaos right now, I wonder if you¡¯ve noticed it.¡± ¡°The current situation¡­ is indeed¡­¡± Chairman Zhang wiped the beads of perspiration on his forehead. He had a hunch that what would come next would be bad news, so bad it would give him a grievous blow. Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°So¡­¡± The silence stretched between them as he paused. ¡°I want to reorganize the company. For minor shareholders like you, I¡¯m willing to pay a high price to purchase your shares. I assure you will definitely not suffer a loss.¡± ¡®Clatter!¡¯ Chairman Zhang widened his eyes in shock, and the cup slipped out from his grip and shattered to pieces. He snapped out from his shock when he heard the sound. He bent to collect the pieces and threw them into the trash can. His face was bowed and hidden as he picked up every fragment of the cup slowly and carefully. He could feel Yan Rusheng¡¯s cold eyes on him, so he contemplated for some time. Yan Rusheng spoke once more, ¡°This is definitely advantageous to you.¡± Why would it be advantageous to him? Compared to getting a generous amount of dividends yearly, he now had to settle for a lump sum of money. Which was more enticing? Chairman Zhang snorted coldly in his heart, but when he looked up, he beamed brightly once more. ¡°President Yan, you must be joking with me right now.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡± His voice was calm and casual, but it displayed his unyielding firmness. Hatred briefly streaked past Chairman Zhang¡¯s eyes before he decided to use his age and experience to his advantage. ¡°The old shareholders, including I, have followed Chairman Wang for decades as we built the company. Even if we didn¡¯t have any remarkable contributions, we have toiled for years.¡± He would resort to any means as long as he doesn¡¯t have to fall out with Yan Rusheng. Even if it meant that he had to plead, beg or to disregard his status. To go head to head with Yan Rusheng will definitely do more harm than good. Unless it was the last resort. Yan Rusheng nodded as if he was empathizing with him. ¡°That¡¯s why I appreciate how hard all of you have worked these decades. From now on, you don¡¯t have to worry about the development of the company and spend your retirement in peace and comfort. No matter what happens to the company or perhaps what scandal I might have in the future¡­ that would jeopardize the company¡¯s reputation. You can simply spend your retirement tending to plants or taking care of a pet. Or enjoying family time with your grandchildren.¡± He sounded so considerate and thoughtful as he spoke in a serious manner. Chairman Zhang was turning red from suppressing his rage and he clenched his fist tightly. He continued to wear a forced smile. ¡°I have a son who is still working at Flourish & Prosper.¡± Chapter 811. Flourish & Prosper Belongs to the Yan Family ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about your son,¡± Yan Rusheng replied in a positive note, ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean that I will sack your son if I buy your shares. If he¡¯s capable, he can continue to soar to greater heights at the company. You can rest assured.¡± He raised the cup to his lips and took a sip. He quietly glanced at Chairman Zhang, reading his every expression. He watched as Chairman Zhang¡¯s face turned from red to a delicate shade of green. A subtle mocking smile appeared on his face. Chairman Zhang forced his voice back to politeness. ¡°President Yan, this news is too sudden.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t sudden at all.¡± Yan Rusheng placed the cup down before looking at Chairman Zhang with a serious expression. ¡°I¡¯ve already brought Attorney Xiao over. The documents are all ready and once you agree, you may sign to seal the transfer of shares.¡± The documents were all ready! Chairman Zhang gnashed his teeth. He couldn¡¯t smile anymore. ¡°President Yan, are you coercing me to sign?¡± However, Yan Rusheng sat still, composed and cool. He frowned as though he was being wronged. ¡°Chairman Zhang, you¡¯ve got the wrong idea. Why would I coerce you? I¡¯m just discussing with you.¡± He had arranged for an attorney, and more so, the documents were all ready. Wasn¡¯t it coercion? Perhaps it might have been better if Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t pretend to be courteous and polite. Chairman Zhang was boiling with anger with how Yan Rusheng was acting. He was completely at Yan Rusheng¡¯s mercy and this infuriated him. His face fell. ¡°What if I don¡¯t agree?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± His answer was too abrupt and casual that it made Chairman Zhang even more fearful. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion into Yan Rusheng¡¯s shrewd-looking eyes. As though he was trying to figure out what was on his mind. Certainly, Young Master Yan wasn¡¯t someone who others could easily read through. Chairman Zhang couldn¡¯t understand him at all. The silence stretched on for some time inside the room. Yan Rusheng smiled and broke the silence. ¡°Chairman Zhang, your company seems to be in some trouble lately.¡± Chairman Zhang could feel his hand trembling. Yan Rusheng observed his reactions and grinned. ¡°That¡¯s expected as the management is too inexperienced.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± It stunned Chairman Zhang that he couldn¡¯t utter a word. It was as if someone had their hands wrapped around his throat. Yan Rusheng turned serious once more. ¡°Your shares are still valuable right now, so I seriously think you should consider my proposal.¡± This was the ultimatum. Chairman Zhang was desperate and helpless, but he still wasn¡¯t resigned to his fate. He snarled, ¡°President Yan, you¡¯re forcing me to sell my shares so you could increase your shares in rival to First Madam, right?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s malicious-looking eyes glinted, but his expression remained unchanged. ¡°You just need to know this fact, Flourish & Prosper belongs to the Yan family.¡± He delivered a clear and concise message. Chairman Zhang clenched his fists, unwilling to yield to him but at the same time, fearful of his threats. Yan Rusheng carried on, ¡°You should learn to be a wise man who submits and adapts to circumstances. If you meet any trouble in the future, I, Yan Rusheng will help you if it¡¯s within my ability. On account of my Grandmother, I will still do you this favor.¡± Chairman Zhang sneered. ¡°I would like to know how much President Yan is offering to pay for my shares.¡± Yan Rusheng turned towards the door and yelled, ¡°Attorney Xiao!¡± He rushed in the second he heard Yan Rusheng. ¡°President Yan.¡± He walked to the couch and bowed to Yan Rusheng and Chairman Zhang. Yan Rusheng instructed him, ¡°Show Chairman Zhang the transfer of shares document.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Attorney Xiao placed his briefcase on the coffee table and selected a document. He presented it to Chairman Zhang. ¡°Chairman Zhang, please take a look.¡± Chapter 812. Of Course, We’ll Continue Chairman Zhang stared at the cover of the document for a long time before he received it. He didn¡¯t peruse the contents carefully. Instead, he dived straight for the value of the shares before reading the rest. He finished skimming through it. He was muttering to himself with clenched fists. After a while, he spoke, ¡°President Yan is indeed generous. It seems that First Madam is posing a real threat to you this time.¡± Mockery was clear in every word. Anyway, he had fallen out with President Yan and he had forced him to sell his shares. He merely wanted an outlet to vent his anger. ¡°Seems like Chairman Zhang doesn¡¯t understand me too well.¡± The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips curled coldly. He twiddled his fingers, playing with the porcelain cup. The menacing aura that Yan Rusheng emitted was enough to drown Chairman Zhang. He heard rumors that the exposition of government officials was Yan Rusheng¡¯s doing. After a moment of deliberation, he decided not to push his luck any further. Otherwise, he might end up like those government officials. As he picked up a pen to sign the document, he remained silent all throughout. It caught Yan Rusheng in a surprise when he saw him signing the papers. He asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you need to discuss with your wife or son?¡± Chairman Zhang nearly puked his blood out. He was trembling violently with rage. Discuss? Wasn¡¯t the result the same regardless of discussing it or not? Would it even change anything? Furthermore, the document was already ready, and it was a blatant display of coercion. Would he be able to leave if he doesn¡¯t sign it there and then? Yan Rusheng grinned and took the document. ¡°Actually this contract was prepared long ago. Didn¡¯t you notice the papers seemed rather yellowish?¡± Then he moved the document nearer to Chairman Zhang¡¯s nose. ¡°Smell it. Is there a stench of aged paper?¡± He had indeed prepared these documents the moment he took over the company. His plan all along was to monopolize and run Flourish & Prosper. When Grandmother passed away, he halted his plans. Attorney Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched so violently that it was in danger of changing shape. ¡®President, is this really a good idea?¡¯ he thought, ¡®Chairman Zhang was getting on in years and look at his face right now! He is as red as a pig¡¯s liver.¡¯ He had forgotten how to respect the elderly and cherish the young! ¡°President Yan, I have something on so I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Chairman Zhang swallowed and inhaled deeply. He rose and left in a huff. Yan Rusheng savored his tea once more as he watched Chairman Zhang leave with a sly smile. His eyes were sparkling rather malevolently. He averted his vision once Chairman Zhang disappeared from sight. He stared at the document and turned to Attorney Xiao. ¡°Keep all the contracts.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Attorney Xiao bent, and as he arranged the documents, he spoke rather hesitantly, ¡°You¡¯ve acquired five percent of Chairman Zhang¡¯s shares. Next¡­¡± Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll continue.¡± He was oozing with confidence. Attorney Xiao nodded. ¡°Indeed. We have to strike when the iron is hot.¡± He paused briefly before carrying on. ¡°But what do you intend to do with First Madam? First Madam seems determined this time.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips tightly, keeping mum. His malicious-looking eyes seemed to fall into the depths of darkness. ¡­ After Su Yue bought the materials at the bookshop, she followed Ming Ansheng to his company. One worked while the other revised. It was nearly 5 in the afternoon. Ming Ansheng rushed to send Su Yue home. He drove into the district where the building was and stopped. Su Yue unfastened her seatbelt and opened the door. Chapter 813. Doesn’t Get Tired of Chicken Wings Su Yue casually glanced ahead. She smiled. ¡°Brother Qi Lei.¡± Her sweet voice sounded so happy. Brother Qi Lei? Ming Ansheng, who was about to drive off, stole a glance through the rearview mirror. He saw Qi Lei holding a container. He frowned. ¡®Did this fellow make chicken wings for her again?¡¯ Qi Lei made his way towards Su Yue, and he smiled shyly at her. Ming Ansheng, on the other hand, was still pondering. ¡°Su Yue.¡± He lifted the container to show her. ¡°Your dinner.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue received the container and opened it eagerly. She caught a whiff of the delicious food and smiled¡ªshe looked so blissful. ¡°It smells so nice. I¡¯m starving right now.¡± She rubbed her belly, and the smile turned into a mischievous grin. Starving? Why didn¡¯t she tell him? If she had told him, he would have brought her out for dinner! He doesn¡¯t have the tendency to torture children! Ming Ansheng frowned, looking annoyed. He opened the door and got off his car. Su Yue was already devouring a chicken wing and Qi Lei was teasing her. ¡°You¡¯re such a glutton. Can¡¯t you wait until you get home?¡± ¡°Your chicken wings are nicer than Kentucky Fried Chicken.¡± Su Yue praised Qi Lei¡¯s cooking. Qi Lei bashfully smiled although it secretly pleased him that a pretty girl had praised him. He nagged, ¡°Hurry and go up.¡± Both of them completely ignored Young Master Ming. He watched them from a short distance away and they didn¡¯t even offer him a glance. ¡®Forget it,¡¯ he thought. He shall overlook this and not be petty. He had sent her home and did Third Yan a favor. He wasn¡¯t hoping to hear any gratitude from her. Ming Ansheng felt much better and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Su Yue, hurry up and go home. Your third sister-in-law will be here shortly.¡± Su Yue finally noticed Ming Ansheng and uttered ¡®oh¡¯ in response. She carried the container and went inside. ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯ll go back first.¡± Qi Lei didn¡¯t follow her and bade her goodbye. He watched her for a while before stuffing his hands into his pockets and left. His lanky figure slowly diminished in the horizon. Ming Ansheng watched him¡ªhe was lost in his thoughts. He glanced at the building and watched as the door closed. He furrowed his eyebrows and muttered, ¡°This lass, why doesn¡¯t she get tired of chicken wings.¡± She had eaten almost a dozen chicken wings in the afternoon, and yet she wants to eat more. He shook his head; he felt baffled. He was getting old indeed, and it was almost impossible to understand teens these days. He pressed the ignition button and activated the car. He made a turn and drove towards the exit of the district. A taxi stopped outside the district and a familiar figure came out of the taxi. Ming Ansheng slowed down and stopped the car. He wound his windows down. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± ¡°Ming Ansheng?¡± Xuxu was surprised to see Ming Ansheng. As she strode towards him, she spoke, ¡°You sent Su Yue home?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°She just went up.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Sorry for troubling you.¡± Ming Ansheng joked. ¡°If only Third Yan has half of your manners, I would be contented.¡± Chapter 814. It’s Fine Ming Ansheng waved at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯ll go off.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± She watched as Ming Ansheng¡¯s car vanished from her sight. Xuxu whipped out her phone to call Yan Rusheng. If Ming Ansheng hadn¡¯t mentioned Yan Rusheng, she would have forgotten that he seemed to have gone off the radar for the entire day. The line got through and she heard the familiar song Love Letter . Shortly after that, he answered. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± She could hear the clinking sounds of glasses in the background, and she wondered if he was in the midst of accommodating someone. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I have a dinner appointment tonight. I will be back late tonight.¡± As expected. Xuxu nodded. ¡°Alright then.¡± Then she pressed on, ¡°Don¡¯t drink so much and come home early.¡± Yan Rusheng agreed, and she hung up. It was mid-April, and the days were longer. It was almost 6 p.m. and the sun was still shining bright in the sky. Xuxu entered the building, got in the elevator, and took out her keys. She received a shock when she opened the door. Su Yue was pulling a suitcase from the room. Xuxu rushed towards her. ¡°Yueyue, what are you doing?¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°My brother just called me and said that he would pick me up. I¡¯m going to his place.¡± ¡°But your brother doesn¡¯t have time to take care of you.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°You can stay at my place for as long as you want.¡± Does Yueyue feel burdened staying at her place? Su Yue shook her head, and she appeared rather pained. A determined smile soon replaced it. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Xuxu spoke in a concerned tone. ¡°I will be worried if you stayed at your brother¡¯s place. He is too busy to take care of you.¡± Su Yue smiled and reassured her, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m no longer a kid.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Xuxu continued, ¡°If you encounter any problems, you must call me right away, understand?¡± It might be a good idea for her to have a change of environment so she could learn to adapt and be flexible. And she really needed to spend more time with Su Yan. After all, they were siblings. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Xuxu.¡± Su Yan arrived while they were talking, and he stood on the carpet at the door. He didn¡¯t intend to enter after he had greeted Xuxu. He then glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, are you ready?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± She seemed so nonchalant and cold whenever she talked to Su Yan. There wasn¡¯t any warmth, neither were there emotions. Xuxu walked to Su Yan and nagged, ¡°Su Yan, you have to take good care of her. Don¡¯t just focus on your work.¡± Su Yan flashed a playful smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you move to my place too?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at Su Yan. ¡°Scram!¡± She held on to Su Yue¡¯s hand. She then tucked the loose strands of her hair that curtained her face behind her ears. ¡°Remember that you have to call me if you need me. I¡¯ll get the chauffeur to pick and send you to school.¡± Su Yan interrupted with a drawl. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can send her to school every morning and fetch her home after work. It¡¯s fine.¡± Chapter 815. What Was His Motive? Su Yan sounded serious. Xuxu frowned and glanced at him. ¡°Su Yan, are you affected by those rumors as well?¡± Su Yan answered, ¡°Yueyue is my sister, and I¡¯m able to take care of her.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t want to discuss any further with Su Yue around. She was very sensitive to the recent news. So she looked at Su Yan and concluded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about this now. Just take good care of Yueyue.¡± Su Yan nodded and bent down to help Su Yue with her luggage. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Bye, Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue waved at her, looking as though she couldn¡¯t bear to leave her. Xuxu knew that Su Yue wouldn¡¯t return to them so easily once she had settled at Su Yan¡¯s place. At the thought of that, she was a bit reluctant to part with her, too. She sent them to the door, and when Su Yue turned around to face her, she saw her eyes were glistening. Xuxu¡¯s breathing stopped for a moment and her heart ached. She wanted to tell Su Yue to be strong and to tell her that she also lost her parents when she was young. But Su Yue wasn¡¯t her, and she had a more tragic and pitiful childhood compared to her. Xuxu closed the door after they entered the elevator. She went to the kitchen to get some water and saw a container next to the sink. She opened the lid and took a look inside of it. It had just been washed, and it was very clean. It must be Su Yue. Xuxu covered the container with its lid and took a deep breath. Her heart suddenly felt exceedingly heavy. What would happen to the Yan family tomorrow? What would become of them? There was nothing she could do. ¡­ It was past 7 p.m. and Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t home yet. Xuxu cooked noodles for herself and huddled on the sofa to watch TV. She dozed off and when she woke up¡ªit was already 10 p.m. She called Yan Rusheng, and he replied saying he was still busy. It was very noisy on his side. Xuxu deduced that he was most likely at a bar or a pub. She frowned as she glanced at the time. ¡°Fooling around the whole night.¡± Yan Rusheng knew that he had upset her, and so he chuckled. ¡°Unhappy?¡± Xuxu chided, ¡°Men who patronize pubs are all good-for-nothings.¡± She instantly ended the call. Yan Rusheng heard the call end. He stared at the screen in amusement. ¡°Hey! This stupid woman!¡± His smile was blissful and contented. During the entire dinner, the men around him received calls from either their family or wives¡ªonly his phone remained silent. He knew that Xuxu wouldn¡¯t want to disturb him during his social engagements. But he had felt jealous and envious when he saw them receiving calls. But, when Xuxu called, he felt incredibly blissful. He stood up and turned around to bid everyone farewell. ¡°Chairman Wu, Chairman Tang, please continue to have fun. I shall make a move first.¡± He hastily strode toward the clothes rack to retrieve his coat, and he hung it on his arm. Perhaps they didn¡¯t notice that he seemed to be in a hurry. ¡°President Yan, take your time.¡± Someone yelled. Yan Rusheng ignored it and wrenched the door open and left. After he disappeared from their sight, the three men gestured for the ladies to leave the room. They began to discuss in a hushed conversation. ¡°What do you think was his motive for asking the three of us out for dinner and drinks?¡± Chapter 816. Dont Chase Me Away ¡°Anyway, it can¡¯t be anything good.¡± ¡°I heard that Chairman Zhang has already sold his shares.¡± ¡­ After calling Yan Rusheng, Xuxu returned to her room and fell asleep. She heard thudding sounds in her dream and didn¡¯t know where the sound came from. So after some time, it finally woke her up. She was about to stretch her hand to switch on the light when a figure jumped in from the window. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Xuxu yelled out in fear. At the same time, she grabbed a pillow and jumped agilely to her feet. She stood on the bed, ready to attack the assailant. After standing up, she had heaved a sigh of relief when she realized who the assailant was. She then lashed out. ¡°Yan Rusheng! Are you trying to scare me to death?!¡± It was her first time yelling so harshly and fiercely. Her legs turned to jelly after screaming, and so she plopped down on the bed. When that figure jumped in earlier on, it almost frightened her to death. Xuxu clutched her chest while the other hand rubbed her belly to pacify her precious babies even if they weren¡¯t able to sense fear yet. It has been Xuxu¡¯s instinct lately to think of her babies first before anything else. Yan Rusheng knew that he had scared her, and he immediately apologized. ¡°Sorry, my darling wife.¡± He began to feel along the wall to find the light switch. He noticed that Xuxu hadn¡¯t gotten over the shock. He hastily sat down and patted Xuxu¡¯s back gently. He explained, ¡°I called you but you didn¡¯t answer, neither did you open the door when I knocked just now. So I thought you were angry with me.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips, showing how upset she was with him. ¡°You really scared me this time.¡± Her soul seemed to have flown away, and she became angry at the thought of it. She punched Yan Rusheng with force. This time, her strength was sufficient enough to make Yan Rusheng frown. However, he still looked at her with a tender expression. ¡°Sorry, my wife.¡± He bent and inched nearer to her and kissed her on her forehead. He had drunk a little during dinner and at the bar as well. Even though he wasn¡¯t tipsy, Xuxu still caught a whiff of alcohol. She frowned and shoved him away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you stink of alcohol. Stay away from me.¡± Yan Rusheng knew that she was still angry, so he obediently agreed. He moved farther away from her and sat down leaving a space of about 30 cm between them. Xuxu frowned and snorted. ¡°Further away.¡± Yan Rusheng moved a little more at her command as his eyes peered at Xuxu. His lips pressed tightly as he waited for Queen Wen¡¯s commands. Xuxu¡¯s anger was already appeased when she looked at him. But she pretended and put on a sulky expression. ¡°Further!¡± Yan Rusheng moved back and his butt reached the edge of the bed. He almost fell over, but luckily he stood up with agile feet. When he saw that Xuxu had smiled, he grinned at her. Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, but his grin looked so silly and adorable. Just like an innocent boy. But Xuxu knew that he could never have innocent thoughts, so she grabbed the pillow once more and hurled it at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, get back home and sleep.¡± He had come back home with a stench of alcohol and almost scared her to death. However, it wasn¡¯t what made her angry. It was the fact that he had climbed through the windows¡ªtheir apartments were on the tenth floor. Yan Rusheng immediately hurried back to her when he noticed Xuxu trying to chase him away. He wound his arm around her waist and whined. ¡°Wife, I came home the moment you hung up. Don¡¯t chase me away.¡± Chapter 817. She Was So Touched That Her Eyes Were Stinging The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Can you stop being so shameless!?¡± When a man has a desire, there is nothing he wouldn¡¯t do. He can whine, act adorable, and even betray his own conscience and principles. Men are creatures who think with the lower part of their bodies! ¡°I just want to stick to you.¡± Yan Rusheng wrapped his hands tightly around Xuxu. Xuxu gave up for she knew that there was no way she could push him away. She glared and admonished him, ¡°How can you climb the windows when you¡¯re drunk. Are you trying to die?¡± ¡°My heart only wants Wen Xuxu, so no obstacle can stop me.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his neck and kissed Xuxu¡¯s cheek. He then buried his face into her hair and began to rub against her neck. ¡°I want you so badly, my wife.¡± How much did this fellow actually drink? Xuxu glanced at the windows, and at the thought of the dangerous stunt he had done, she gave an involuntary shudder. She pinched Yan Rusheng¡¯s thigh as hard as she could. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll get someone to install anti-theft grilles. Let¡¯s see if you can sneak into my room in the future.¡± Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°Then tomorrow I¡¯ll find a locksmith and be his apprentice.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Xuxu finally burst out in laughter as she looked at Yan Rusheng. His smile was so seductive and alluring even if he seemed a little tipsy. She softened her tone once more. ¡°Hurry up and take a shower. I¡¯ll go get your clothes.¡± She nudged him as her eyes darted to the windows once more. She needed to install the anti-theft grilles tomorrow. Who knows if he would attempt to climb in through the window in the future. It was far too dangerous. Xuxu rose and strode across the room. The man, on the other hand, happily said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I want to shower here.¡± Xuxu quietly smiled. She walked into the living room and to the main door. She took out a key from the shoe cabinet which Yan Rusheng had left after he had bought the apartment. Yan Rusheng saw her when he walked out of her room. He playfully grinned. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been keeping my key in secret. Tomorrow, I shall check the surveillance cameras to see if you have been sneaking into my house when I wasn¡¯t around.¡± ¡°Tsk. Go shower now! I¡¯ll get your clothes.¡± Xuxu glared at him and opened the door. Young Master Yan clenched his fists and raised them in victory. ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes!¡± So the key to success is to be shameless. Wooing a woman is like doing sales, and a man has to forgo his pride, ego, and principles. The tiny woman, who stood outside the door, secretly grinned to herself. She had a sudden impulse to suddenly appear in front of him and tease him. ¡°Young Master Yan, where did your aloofness and arrogance go to?¡± Xuxu unlocked Yan Rusheng¡¯s apartment door, and the lights were on. Even though he hasn¡¯t been staying in for a few days, the house was still tidy and clean. It was as if she could distinctly smell his scent. She opened the shoe cabinet and her eyes flickered. There were two pairs of slippers, and the design was identical and in the same color. Xuxu took both pairs out and noticed that they were brand new. There was a picture of a cat¡ªthe female pair had a feisty-looking kitten, while the man¡¯s pair had a lazy and gentle-looking cat. ¡°This fellow!¡± She was so touched that her eyes were stinging. Really. She had never, in her wildest dreams, ever dreamt of Yan Rusheng changing so much. Or how thoughtful he could become. He had transformed into a man that she would love even more, and she won¡¯t be able to extricate herself from him in this lifetime. She put the female pair on the floor and the man¡¯s pair back into the cabinet. She strode towards the bedroom. The bedroom had been left vacant and the curtains were all drawn. The bedsheets were arranged neatly. Chapter 818. You Will Hurt the Babies Xuxu opened the wardrobe to get Yan Rusheng¡¯s clothes. Yan Rusheng had stayed in the apartment for over a month so he had quite a selection of clothes. However, they were mainly blazers and shirts, most of which were of similar design and color. She loved to look at his wardrobe and white shirts for she would feel an inexplicable joy. It always made her think of his good-looking face and his exquisite features. She gazed at his clothes and seemed to enter a trance. After some time, she extended her hand towards his loungewear and removed it from the clothes hanger. She received a shock when she turned around. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you make a sound?¡± Was this fellow bent on scaring her to death? Yan Rusheng was wearing a white bathrobe, but¡­ it belonged to Xuxu. It was so short that the bathrobe ended at his thighs, and it seemed to be bursting at his shoulders. The front of the bathrobe was wide open, revealing his buff, muscular chest and abs. His sexiness at that moment was beyond words. He lazily leaned against the wardrobe with his hands stuffed in the pockets. He wordlessly smiled at Xuxu. Xuxu blushed when she noticed that he was staring at her. ¡°Your clothes. I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± She stuffed the clothes into his hands and was about to walk past him. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s wrist. He pressed her against the wall. He didn¡¯t give her the chance to retaliate and immediately swooped down towards her lips. He kissed her domineeringly, and when Xuxu no longer pushed him away nor struggled, his kisses began to turn gentle. Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands traveled down to Xuxu¡¯s waist. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and pulled all of her towards him. Her soft body gave him the most wonderful sensation in this entire world. His kisses became more passionate, and Xuxu could feel something bulging against her. She knew what it was and deep inside her, she yearned for it too. However, she was still level-headed and rational as she was pregnant. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t be like this. We can¡¯t¡ª¡± Xuxu tried to shove Yan Rusheng away so she could negotiate, but flaming desires got in the way! This man couldn¡¯t wait for a second longer, so how could he give her any chance to extricate herself. He tightly wrapped his arms around her, to prevent her from escaping. But he wasn¡¯t entirely irrational and he avoided Xuxu¡¯s belly. ¡°Xuxu, do you want it? Huh?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s kisses trailed to Xuxu¡¯s ear, and his warm breath was tickling her senses. Xuxu felt as if her body was electrocuted, and she felt limp. She gritted her teeth and muttered, ¡°No, Yan Rusheng. You will hurt the babies.¡± She knew that if she reasoned with him that he would have to wait until after she had given birth, her words would fall on deaf ears. There was no way he would walk away today. ¡°No, I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips brushed lightly against Xuxu¡¯s ear. He then gently bit her ear¡ª ¡ªto tantalize her. Xuxu had to admit that the man was very skilled at this that her willpower was almost utterly defeated. ¡°Xuxu, I want you.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand and put her hands around him. The next second, his hands moved down and he hoisted her up in one movement. Xuxu¡¯s legs instinctively tightened around his waist as he turned around to carry her towards the bedroom. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?¡± Xuxu widened his eyes and punched Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders. Yan Rusheng simply ignored her as he walked on with determination. He bent to place her gently on the bed. He sat down as he gazed at her with his peach blossom-shaped eyes which brimmed with desire. His smile was exceedingly seductive. Chapter 819. I Was Being Lenient As Yan Rusheng gazed at Xuxu¡¯s face, it was as if he was admiring a rare and precious jewel. His burning gaze seemed to bore a hole through Xuxu that she turned scarlet. She tilted her face away and used her hands to push against his chest. ¡°Can you get up now? Be careful and don¡¯t fall on me.¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to be so liberal with intimacy. However, the more shy Xuxu was, the more Yan Rusheng wanted to tease her. ¡°Xuxu, we grew up together. Didn¡¯t we experience everything together before?¡± He inched closer to Xuxu and gently bit her ear. He grinned. ¡°We even took a bath together in a bathtub. Seems like you were more liberal when you were a kid.¡± ¡°Why did you become so shy and reserved now you¡¯re an adult?¡± As he spoke, his free hand crept underneath Xuxu¡¯s clothes. His hand moved upwards slowly, just like a crab. ¡®What are you looking at? I won¡¯t let you touch it.¡¯ ¡®Shameless! Who wants to touch your private part? You¡¯re a hooligan if you don¡¯t put on clothes!¡¯ Xuxu recalled the incident where she took a bath with Yan Rusheng, and she went as red as a tomato. She corrected him. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a bathtub alright. It was grandmother who brought us to the hot spring. You were the one who wasn¡¯t wearing clothes. Did you know that you had tainted my eyes that day?¡± Actually, they were really young at that time. Even if he tried his best to recall, he could only remember fragments of the memory. He had no idea that Xuxu remembered it so clearly, even more than he could. How important was their childhood to Wen Xuxu? Even to the extent that she remembered such a trivial piece of memory? Yan Rusheng used his face to caress Xuxu¡¯s burning face. He was just itching to tease her, especially when she was feeling so shy. ¡°Did you know that you almost killed me that day? You nearly became a widow.¡± Yes, indeed. Miss Wen¡¯s ¡®deadly claws¡¯ almost crippled Young Master Yan. When she was younger, Xuxu didn¡¯t understand why grabbing Young Master Yan¡¯s private part would be so deadly to him. Now he mentioned it, she couldn¡¯t wait to bury herself in a hole. With gritted teeth, she snarled, ¡°You deserved it. Don¡¯t you know how despicable you were? I was being lenient with you, and now I regret that I didn¡¯t cripple you.¡± ¡°Then do it now.¡± Yan Rusheng had a sly and lewd smile as he pulled his hand out from underneath Xuxu¡¯s clothes. He grabbed her slender wrist and pulled it against her will towards him. ¡°Come on, cripple me.¡± Ignoring Xuxu¡¯s shocked and dumbfounded expression, he sealed her mouth with a passionate kiss. ¡­ After more than an hour, Yan Rusheng finally stopped tormenting Xuxu. Both of them fell asleep in a tight embrace. Xuxu fell into a deep slumber, feeling safe and contented. She finally let his hands wrap around her. Yan Rusheng gazed at the woman who was sound asleep in his arms. He couldn¡¯t bear to wake her up, and so he maintained his current posture without moving an inch. It felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. They had merely changed positions. ¡°Ah Sheng, are you awake?¡± Yan Rusheng, who was in a deep reverie, had been brought back to reality by Xuxu¡¯s voice. He peered down at Xuxu who was sleepily rubbing her eyes. He gently smiled and kissed her on her forehead. Such affectionate and loving action had become a habit of his. He retracted his arm from under Xuxu¡¯s head. His arm had become her pillow for the entire night, and it had gone numb. He gave his arm a good shake and used the other hand to massage it. ¡°What time is it?¡± Xuxu glanced at the windows. Although the blinds were drawn, she could still see the brightness outside. She scrambled up in a haste. Chapter 820. Can’t You Even Endure This? As Xuxu sat on the bed, she suddenly furrowed her eyebrows. She had stayed motionless for a moment before she stretched. Yan Rusheng observed her in silence, and his peach blossom-shaped eyes playfully sparkled. ¡°Why? Are your arms sore?¡± Xuxu glared at him and retorted, ¡°We did it twice and it was so long. You try it and let¡¯s see what happens to your arms?!¡± She had said it in a casual tone. Young Master Yan twisted her words on purpose. ¡°My darling, are you trying to make me change my sexual orientation then?¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She decided not to speak with this fellow whose thoughts were too dirty. Every word from his mouth was too suggestive. After massaging her arms, she lifted the blanket and was about to get out of bed. Yan Rusheng stopped her by grabbing her arm. ¡°It¡¯s not even 7 a.m., sleep for a while more.¡± Xuxu slumped back. Yan Rusheng took this opportunity and pulled her towards his chest. They laid back on the bed together. Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows and worries washed over her. ¡°Today is the start of the trial.¡± Yan Rusheng patted her gently on her waist. ¡°You are pregnant, stop worrying about other stuff other than prenatal education for our children. His sentence won¡¯t be too heavy.¡± Xuxu sighed. ¡°Regardless of the sentence, it would have a huge impact on First Aunt, second sister-in-law, and their entire family.¡± The difference in a jail sentence of a year and twenty years was merely the duration. However, he could never escape from being labeled as a ¡®convict¡¯forever. He would deserve such a punishment if they were to see it from the perspective of justice and law. But in the eyes of his family, how she wished he could be declared innocent. ¡°Be rational, Wen Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng gazed at Xuxu with solemn eyes. Xuxu pressed her lips in silence. It wouldn¡¯t make any difference if she was rational or not. What difference would it make? Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Sleep for a while more. I need to make a call.¡± He pulled his arm from under her and was about to lift the blanket when Xuxu cut across. ¡°I want to get up too, let¡¯s go back early.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, the consequences of not listening to me would be severe.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at her with a warning look. The next second he pushed her back on the bed and kissed her. He merely used any effort on his hand to overcome her struggling ones. His lips sealed Xuxu¡¯s mouth, and she couldn¡¯t utter a word, so she glared at him instead. ¡®This fellow is too much!¡¯ Yan Rusheng finally unwillingly broke apart from Xuxu when he was feeling breathless. But his hand still clamped hers tightly, and his peach blossom-shaped eyes twinkled slyly. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve read up regarding such stuff and consulted a doctor, too. We can still do this in moderation even when you¡¯re pregnant. You were being too cautious.¡± This hooligan even consulted a doctor! And he even did his research! Xuxu relentlessly sneered with contempt at Young Master Yan. He was truly a creature controlled by the lower part of his body. Her hands were clamped tightly, so she used her knees to nudge Yan Rusheng. She warned him with a sharp glare. ¡°Yan Rusheng, this will be the last time and there won¡¯t be a next! If not, for the next two years, you are not coming near my bed!¡± ¡°Darling wife, I will die if I hold back for so long.¡± Yan Rusheng relinquished his grip on her hands and embraced her tightly. He whispered in her ear and whined, ¡°You can¡¯t neglect me even when we have children.¡± Seems like he can¡¯t have too many kids¡ªher love and attention were too precious to be shared! Xuxu lifted her eyebrows. ¡°Can¡¯t you even endure this?¡± Chapter 821. This Is Considered Normal Yan Rusheng smiled and stopped teasing her. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop talking about this or your thoughts will run wild again. He released her hand, turned over, and got out of the bed. ¡­ It was no longer a secret that Second Master Yan¡¯s court case would begin early in the morning. A group of reporters was already waiting outside the court. Two Yan family cars arrived one after another. Yan Weiye¡¯s family occupied one car, while Yan Rusheng¡¯s family were in the other. The car door opened, and Jiang Qinglian got off. After a tormenting week, she looked dreadfully haggard and pallid. The reporters were like cats getting a whiff of its prey, rushing forward when they caught sight of her family. They even had blocked their way. Jiang Qinglian kept her head bowed as the reporters¡¯ cameras continuously flashed at them. Her eldest son, Yan Rusen, stood in front of her with a straight face to disperse the reporters. ¡°Please make way. Please make way.¡± Under such a circumstance, no one was willing to be interviewed. But the reporters couldn¡¯t care less since it was their job to fish out information. ¡°I heard that First Madam was worried that Miss Su and Master Su will be after the Yan family¡¯s inheritance, so she had already withdrawn First Master and Second Master¡¯s shares along with her two daughters-in-law and her grandchildren. Is this true?¡± ¡°Mr. Yan, how many years will Second Master be sentenced to jail? Who will take over Jiang Corporation from now on?¡± ¡°Will the little missy and little master be here today too?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Witnessing his mother¡¯s expression turning more ugly and sullen, Yan Rusen glared at the reporters. He retorted, ¡°Please make way or else, don¡¯t blame me for smashing up your equipment!¡± ¡°First Young Master, please don¡¯t smash up our equipment. We are reporters, so isn¡¯t it normal for us to interview people, especially prominent figures like you?¡± ¡°Precisely. We wouldn¡¯t be here if the Yan family isn¡¯t in the news.¡± The reporters depended on their silver tongue to dig up juicy news. They had no qualms to speak their mind. Each got more mean and sharp with their words. Yan Rusen¡¯s face turned green, but he held back his anger and clenched his fists as he stomped off. As the eldest in the family, he had to remain calm and unflustered. He had to keep the poise of a leader. Jiang Qinglian thought to herself, if such a scene happened to Yan Runan or Yan Rusheng, the fate of the reporters would have been different. Although she didn¡¯t have any daughters, she had two sons whose characters complemented each other¡¯s, assisting in work matters and living in harmony under the same household. ¡°I heard that First Madam was worried that Miss Su and Master Su will be after the Yan family¡¯s inheritance¡­¡± Jiang Qinglian had now become a calculative and mean woman in the eyes of the public. But so what? If she had been like this much earlier, perhaps Runan and she would not have to go through all these now. ¡°Yan Rusheng¡ª¡± As Jiang Qinglian was mulling over her regrets, Xuxu¡¯s anxious voice rang from behind her. In a matter of seconds, a towering figure squeezed through the crowd and flashed past her. It caught the reporters off guard, and they looked astonished as they took a step back. People were screaming and there were smashing sounds¡­ the scene turned chaotic. ¡°Yan family¡¯s matters have nothing to do with you.¡± Yan Rusheng surveyed the reporters, who had by now retreated a few meters away, with a cold glare. ¡°Smashing your equipment today is to let you know what is normal!¡± ¡°Smashing up the unscrupulous media is considered normal for the Yan family.¡± In his usual white shirt and black suit, his aura was intimidating and cold. Even the security guards outside the court turned purple in fear. Chapter 822. One Who Greatly Values Relationships Yan Rusheng turned back and took a quick glance at Jiang Qinglian after he had said his piece. He then walked back to Xuxu to hold her hands. They walked hand-in-hand towards the staircase located at the main entrance of the high court. After the reporters dispersed, they were able to move freely with no obstruction. After walking a short distance, Xuxu stood on tiptoes and inched close to Yan Rusheng and whispered, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve been too brash and violent.¡± Although she was chiding him, her tone was filled with affection and admiration. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows and sounded offended by Xuxu¡¯s criticism. ¡°Don¡¯t you think your husband looked cool and exuded a domineering aura?¡± Xuxu sneered to conceal her real thoughts. ¡°Oh, please. Can you be more serious? I¡¯m going over to be with First Aunt.¡± After that, she withdrew her hands from Yan Rusheng¡¯s grip and turned around to wait for Jiang Qinglian. ¡°First Aunt.¡± She also looked at Yan Rusen and slightly nodded at him. ¡°First brother.¡± Yan Rusen came to the Capital City earlier on, but didn¡¯t stay long and returned to C City as there was no one was left over there to take care of the company. He took the earliest flight back to the Capital City the following morning. Yan Rusen returned Xuxu¡¯s polite bow. His expression was warm and gentle. He grew up with Xuxu and had always regarded her as his little sister¡ªa sister whom everyone in the Yan family doted on. Xuxu pressed her lips together and felt comforted that First brother was still so amiable and gentle towards her. Jin Qianqian had her hand on Jiang Qinglian¡¯s arm. Xuxu stretched her hand and was about to hold her other arm. But Jiang Qinglian moved her arm slightly back and dodged her. It stunned Xuxu, and she felt sad about it but she didn¡¯t give up. She pursed her lips and forced her hand through the inside of Jiang Qinglian¡¯s elbow. Jiang Qinglian wanted to shake her off, but she held on to her tightly, refusing to let go. As the court session was starting soon, Jiang Qinglian didn¡¯t come to a standoff with Xuxu and let her be. Mu Li witnessed this sight while she was following close behind, and she felt sorry for her. She sighed. ¡°This girl may look cold and aloof and may seem not to take matters to heart. But she¡¯s actually a person who greatly values relationships.¡± She lost both her parents at the age of four, and had moved into their family after that. However, she didn¡¯t shed a single tear then as she was still young and didn¡¯t understand what was happening. When the elderly lady passed on, she almost went berserk and took more than a month to recover from her grief. Even at the mention of the elderly now, she would be downcast¡ªsorrow could still be seen from her bright and clear eyes. When Flourish & Prosper was in trouble, she was the first to step forward. And everyone with eyes could see that she doted on Su Yue even though she was the illegitimate daughter of First Uncle. Outsiders might not understand why she was so brazen-faced to want to get close to her First Aunt, but she knew, even though they were not living together all these years. She knew that she wanted the Yan family to live in harmony and didn¡¯t wish to witness the family falling apart. She was a nice girl who knew the meaning of gratefulness and how to be appreciative. As Mu Li mulled over this, she let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m really awestruck by the elderly lady¡¯s foresight and her way of bringing up her children.¡± She had been pampered and doted upon by the Yan family since she was young, just like their own flesh and blood. It was the norm for wealthy families to adopt children. But many of these children became spoiled and unruly ¡®princesses ¡®, some are even arrogantly willful and materialistic and spend money like nobody¡¯s business. Girls like Xuxu were indeed hard to come by or even impossible to find amongst those that she knew from her social circle. Their family raised her for more than a decade and lived an easy and rich life with everything well provided for. Yet, she had no problems adjusting to the poor and underprivileged life when she returned to stay with her grandfather. Chapter 823. Increasingly Fishy The day she left, she left most of her nice clothes behind. Even though she frequently went back to visit the Yan family, which girl wouldn¡¯t want to look pretty? But this silly lass was at times too obstinate and harsh on herself. Yan Weihong frowned and glanced at his wife. ¡°Why are you so deep in your own thoughts?¡± Mu Li turned and stared at him. ¡°You¡¯re like a piece of an old blockhead that¡¯s devoid of emotions, and it¡¯s getting more difficult to communicate with you.¡± After responding to him with disdain clear in her voice, she quickened her steps and caught up with Xuxu and the rest. ¡­ Jiang Qinglian almost went hysterical when Yan Runan walked past them in his handcuffs, looking haggard with stubbles on his chin. It had been only a few days. What would become of him if he had to spend many years in jail? ¡°Runan.¡± Jiang Qinglian wanted to dash forward to hug Yan Runan but Yan Rusen stopped her. ¡°Mother, control yourself. We¡¯re in court.¡± Jiang Qinglian clung on to Yan Rusen¡¯s hand in agitation. She continuously shook her head as she cried. ¡°Runan¡­ Runan didn¡¯t have to go through any hardship as a kid. Look at how scrawny he has become.¡± After saying that, she glared hard at Yan Weiye. ¡°Yan Weiye, I wish you dead. You should be the one standing trial and await a sentence instead!¡± Her youngest son was her beloved child. Whenever something happened to Yan Runan, it would seem that a part of her flesh cut off, causing her to lose her senses. She had never, in her wildest dreams, ever dreamt that her son would be sentenced to jail. Hence, she found it hard to accept the truth. Although Yan Weiye knew he had to bear some responsibilities for his son¡¯s misdeeds, given they¡¯re in court, he detested Jiang Qinglian¡¯s irrational behavior. Even if she didn¡¯t care about her face, she should spare a thought for the Yan family. Would even throwing a fit in public change the situation? ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Weiye grunted in fury. Ignoring Jiang Qinglian, he fixed his gaze at Yan Runan instead. Seeing his son in handcuffs and more so, he looked so haggard, he couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry. He blamed himself, too! The court session began and both parties¡¯ lawyers spoke in defense of their clients with much intensity. But towards the latter half, the other party¡¯s defense got weaker. There were several times when the other party could not answer Lu Yishan¡¯s questioning. Everyone, including Wen Xuxu, was visibly startled. Except for the court workers. Those pieces of evidence about Yan Runan¡¯s account details and the voice recording of someone threatening Wang Bin and so on¡­ How did she get hold of them? Even though the other party¡¯s defense lawyer seemingly made everything appear rightful, there were still some loopholes. When Lu Yishan had him cornered, he was unable to argue any further. He would subconsciously look down and appear uneasy. Xuxu observed the entire session down to the smallest detail and found it increasingly fishy. She suddenly turned and looked at the man sitting beside her. As expected, he was crossing his arms and appearing calm and composed. There wasn¡¯t any trace of anxiousness nor misgivings in his eyes. If she found it fishy, he would obviously notice it too. Xuxu heaved a silent relief and leaned back on her seat. Although Yishan had gained the upper hand now, the final verdict still depended on the judge. But it was likely that the sentence would be lighter than what she had expected. After the first round of defense was over, the judge announced a five-minute break. Xuxu and Jiang Qinqin assisted Jiang Qinglian out of the court to the resting area for a drink. Just when they stepped out, everyone¡¯s expression froze. Chapter 824. It’s Not Your Fault A tiny figure swiftly ducked out of the way and hid at the staircase area. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu immediately gave chase. Yan Weiye also followed suit and stepped forward, but Yan Rusen stopped him. He furtively cast a meaningful glance at him. Yan Weiye pursed his lips together and reluctantly retraced his steps. After he brought the two kids over, he had never seen them again. But when he saw the self-abased and timid look on his daughter¡¯s face a moment ago, he felt a tug at his heartstrings. ¡°Mother, let¡¯s go to the rest area for a rest.¡± Yan Rusen attentively held on to Jiang Qinglian. Jiang Qinglian¡¯s eyes coldly swept across Yan Weiye¡¯s face before following Yan Rusen to the rest area. After everyone had left, Yan Rusheng raised his feet and walked towards the staircase. Xuxu gave chase to the level below before catching hold of Su Yue. She held on to her and sat down with her side by side on the steps. Xuxu looked at Su Yue affectionately for a while. She then gently spoke, ¡°Yueyue, why are you here?¡± It had taken her by surprise when she saw her earlier. Su Yue clasped her hands together, fingers intertwined. She was visibly anxious and worried. Seeing this sight, Xuxu stretched out her hand and patted her on the hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue turned to look at her. She asked, ¡°Will¡­ he be heavily sentenced?¡± So, this was the little lass¡¯ concern, hence she came over? Xuxu shook her head and comforted Su Yue. ¡°He won¡¯t. You shouldn¡¯t be worried about this. You¡¯re still a child, so leave this to the adults and concentrate on your schoolwork. Don¡¯t dwell on this okay?¡± But she knew that Su Yue wasn¡¯t worried just because Yan Runan was her stepbrother. Instead, she was blaming herself. The last few days, the news had reported that Yan Runan¡¯s motives for harming Flourish & Prosper were because of his hatred for his father¡¯s illegitimate children. Hence, she blamed herself. Right from the start, she was already feeling inferior. ¡°My mommy is a bad person, and I shouldn¡¯t be alive,¡± Su Yue chided herself. Just as she had expected. Xuxu felt aggrieved and corrected her. ¡°How can you say such things?¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears and she looked down, the corners of her mouth sank and looked sorrowful. Xuxu held on to her hand and knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Su Yue, listen to me. Don¡¯t you ever say such things again or else, Third sister-in-law will not bother about you anymore.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue hugged Xuxu and said, ¡°My mommy is a bad person. She¡¯s a mistress and snatched someone¡¯s husband. My brother and I snatched someone¡¯s father.¡± ¡°Yueyue, I don¡¯t know where you heard such things from.¡± Xuxu looked serious and stern. ¡°But remember this¡ªit¡¯s not your fault. You¡¯re just like everyone else, having a pair of eyes, a nose, a mouth, and a pretty face. You¡¯ve done nothing wrong and neither are you inferior to others. Perhaps you are unhappy with your parents now, but they brought you into this world and at the very least, they are still alive.¡± As Xuxu spoke, sadness could be seen in her eyes. ¡°I lost both my parents at the age of four.¡± It had Su Yue dumbfounded when she heard her. She unconsciously gripped Xuxu¡¯s fingers tightly. She knew that Xuxu¡¯s parents were no longer around, but she wasn¡¯t aware that she had lost her parents at a tender age. ¡°At that time, I just arrived in this big capital city and there were classmates who jeered at me saying I was only lodging under the Yan family¡¯s roof. They even mocked me for being an orphan.¡± Chapter 825. Don’t You Dare Say No Xuxu gave a slight smile. She continued, ¡°But what other people say, what¡¯s it got to do with me? I only knew that grandmother and everyone in the Yan family treated me well. With so many people showering me with concerns, I knew that I must study hard, so I won¡¯t disappoint those who doted on me. I also did not want to let myself down.¡± She had long wanted to share her story with Su Yue, to let her know that she was not considered pitiful just because there were many people out there who also lost their parents just like her. She should count her blessings instead. She wanted to let Su Yue know that there was no way they could prevent people from talking behind their backs, but they could correct their attitude and readjust their thoughts. Su Yue suddenly let out a sigh and pouted. She solemnly said, ¡°But other than Third sister-in-law, no one else loves me.¡± ¡®Even if you die in the orphanage, your daddy and mommy also won¡¯t want you. So why don¡¯t you go and die?¡¯ ¡®Your mommy is a bad person. She¡¯s a mistress and you¡¯re now bearing the consequences for her mistake.¡¯ ¡®You think I want to give birth to you? Your daddy already abandoned you. You¡¯ve been staying in the orphanage for so many years, but he didn¡¯t even visit you, so why would I still want you?¡¯ Images of those nightmarish moments that took place in the orphanage flashed through her mind again. The expression in her eyes looked bustling with thoughts. Her hands clenched tightly into a fist. Xuxu could feel her breath turning cold. She stretched out her other hand to stroke the little girl¡¯s face, assuring her with a warm smile. She said, ¡°How can it be that no one else loves you? Other than me, you still have your brother and your third brother. You just need to spend more time getting to know people, and you¡¯ll realize it. Doesn¡¯t Qi Lei enjoy being with you? And Ming Ansheng, too. They were all willing to spend time with you. They even treat you as their friend and sister.¡± Those few people mentioned were those that Su Yue usually interacted with, and it proved effective. Her mind immediately switched to images of her interacting with those people. Her expression softened. But suddenly, she frowned again. ¡°Does Third Brother detest me as much as those people?¡± ¡®Yan Rusheng, you pretentious chap. In the eyes of your sister, you couldn¡¯t even hold a candle to Ming Ansheng and Qi Lei.¡¯ Xuxu smiled widely. ¡°Who said so?¡± Without waiting for Su Yue to respond, she yelled sharply, ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± A man¡¯s voice sounded from her. ¡°Wife.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering figure walked down from the corner of the stairs. He had been standing there for quite a while. As he saw Xuxu and Su Yue deep in conversation, he didn¡¯t want to disturb them, and so he refrained from coming down. But who¡¯d expected that Xuxu had spotted him? He stood one step behind Xuxu. He had shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned sideways against the staircase handrail. He lowered his head to look at Xuxu, waiting for her to continue speaking. She had yelled at him in a loud commanding tone, so it was impossible she¡¯ll keep mum. Xuxu turned her head and looked at the man behind her. ¡°You doted on Su Yue too, right?¡± After that, a sharp gleam flashed past her eye as if to say ¡®Don¡¯t you dare say no.¡¯ Su Yue also turned back to look at Yan Rusheng. An innocent smile appeared on Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous face and he affectionately nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Xuxu smiled in satisfaction and then turned to look at Su Yue. ¡°See, if you don¡¯t interact with them, how would you be able to find out if they adore or hate you? Don¡¯t be troubled by your background. We can¡¯t choose how we want to be born, but we can choose how we want to lead our lives.¡± When Yan Rusheng heard Xuxu¡¯s words, the corners of his mouth twitched. Chapter 826. Three Years Yan Rusheng thought to himself, ¡®His wife was too awesome.¡¯ She was capable of work and could manage the family, too. In addition, she was also a part-time love expert, a philosopher, and even a counselor. Look at how the young lass was looking at his wife¡ªshe was idolizing her, and she was full of admiration and respect for the goddess in his heart. From her eyes, he could tell that Su Yue wholeheartedly trusted Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, fortunately, I still have you.¡± Su Yue broke into a smile as she bent and placed her head on Xuxu¡¯s shoulders. Her hands clung tightly to Xuxu¡¯s arms. She said, ¡°When I was young, I always wished to grow up quickly so I can be as tall, big, and strong as them. That way, they won¡¯t be able to bully me. I can earn my money to support myself, and I can eat as many chicken wings as I want.¡± As Su Yue spoke, she sobbed. Xuxu wiped her tears away and could feel her own eyes glistening. Su Yue carried on. ¡°I knew that Mommy intentionally left me at the orphanage and told everyone I was an illegitimate child that nobody wanted. They said that my mommy had broken up someone else¡¯s family. The orphanage matron also came from a broken family, and it was because of a third party. So, she hated mistresses and illegitimate children. Before I came, there was a child who died of abuse but because that place was very poor, no one cared.¡± ¡°Mommy thought Daddy would look for us if we were in a dire state. She hoped that he would find a way to bring us to the Yan family. But she waited for years and didn¡¯t wait until that day. When my brother went out to work to earn his own money, he threatened my mommy that he would leave her forever if she doesn¡¯t bring me back from the orphanage.¡± Xuxu was utterly shocked when Su Yue told her the truth about her childhood. Her tears kept rolling down. She had assumed that her mother had a reason for sending Su Yue to the orphanage. But she didn¡¯t think she would be so selfish and cruel enough to send her daughter to such a horrible place. What kind of woman was she? Did First Uncle like her because of her looks only? Xuxu was boiling with anger, but she couldn¡¯t display her feelings towards Su Yue¡¯s mother in front of her. She patted Su Yue to console her. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± Xuxu knew that because she had told Su Yue about her own story, that¡¯s why she confided in her. Everyone mutually depended on one another for no one can survive alone. It¡¯s not that Su Yue didn¡¯t understand; it¡¯s just that she felt inferior. Yan Rusheng quietly went upstairs while Xuxu accompanied Su Yue. They waited on the stairs. Minutes and seconds passed by. Xuxu anxiously kept glancing at her watch. Her palms were cold with sweat. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± They finally heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice. Xuxu anxiously stood up and ran towards him. ¡°Ah Sheng, how was it?¡± Su Yue stood up as well and glanced over to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng reached a corner. He halted his footsteps. ¡°Three years.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu bowed her head. Although it was a light sentence, it still ended up as a tragedy. ¡­ After they passed the sentence, Jiang Qinglian fell sick and got hospitalized for a week. Her first daughter-in-law stayed behind to take care of her. After they had discharged her, the first thing Jiang Qinglian did was to settle the divorce with Yan Weiye. There wasn¡¯t much dispute regarding their assets. The old madam had divided the inheritance in her will. Everyone got their share, but it was Yan Weiye who received the most. When the old madam passed away, the attorney read her will to the entire family. They couldn¡¯t understand the reason behind the will. Although Yan Weiye was the oldest son, the old madam was always fair. Even if she was biased, she should allocate more of the inheritance to Third Yan who worked so hard to manage Flourish & Prosper. So, why would she give Yan Weiye a bigger share of the inheritance? Chapter 827. My Wife, Can You Act Coquettishly Again Now that they had time to think about it, the old lady must have considered what was bound to happen. She had spared a thought for her two grandchildren who weren¡¯t officially part of the Yans. Xuxu stood by the windows and stared at the clouds for some time. Then she heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°Ah Sheng, what do you think can last for a lifetime?¡± The man halted his movements, stood up and strode towards her. He embraced her from the back and placed his chin on her shoulders. He tilted his face and gazed at her with an expression of adoration. ¡°My love for you.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Maybe you will reconsider after I give birth. I might grow fat and have a bad temper.¡± As she spoke, she tightly gripped his hands. If Ah Sheng could love her for this entire lifetime, what else should she seek in such a lifetime? ¡°When the mountains collapse and the sky meets the ground, only then will the maiden leave the lord.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Young Master Yan was being serious, but Madam Yan burst into laughter. She turned and gazed at the man who was still using his face to caress her neck. She lifted her eyebrows. ¡°So, I¡¯m the lord now?¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve gone astray indeed. Stop meeting that hooligan, Zhou Shuang.¡± Poor Zhou Shuang! She was being blamed for no reason. Then his hands traveled up to Xuxu¡¯s bosom, and he pinched them hard. ¡°I shall prove to you tonight I¡¯m a real man!¡± Xuxu hastily changed the topic. ¡°I heard that you used a week to conquer the world?¡± Yan Rusheng knew what she was referring to. He grinned. ¡°Your husband is the king now, so you are the queen.¡± ¡°Stop boasting.¡± Xuxu frowned and nudged Yan Rusheng. ¡°What would First Aunt think? Huh?¡± She had just taken back her rightful shares and now he was buying up all the minor shareholders¡¯ shares. Wasn¡¯t it an intentional display of going against her? If it carried on, the crack in family ties would get bigger. ¡°Don¡¯t mull about it anymore.¡± Yan Rusheng straightened his back and patted Xuxu¡¯s back gently. ¡°Let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight.¡± He knew that women are more emotional in such situations. Xuxu asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡± She didn¡¯t enjoy heading out for dinner, especially after she became pregnant. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Someone is giving a treat.¡± Xuxu frowned and snorted. ¡°Those roguish friends of yours?¡± Needless to say, it must be Ming Ansheng and the rest. If not, he wouldn¡¯t have thought of bringing her along. ¡°What you¡¯ve said¡­¡± Yan Rusheng dragged the last syllable, and his eyes deviously twinkled. ¡°When I see them later, I will convey your message.¡± Xuxu clenched her fists and punched Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her wrist and teased her. ¡°Wow! My wife, can you act coquettishly again?¡± Xuxu blushed and flung his hand away before marching off. They had moved back to the mansion, but Xuxu still stayed in a separate room from Yan Rusheng. After she had left the study, she stroked her slightly bulging belly. She was feeling a little hungry. She decided against going back to her room. She turned towards the staircase. She had been steadily gaining weight recently, and her appetite was getting better. ¡°Hey, what are you doing? There are children, elders, and servants at home. You might not care but I do.¡± Chapter 828. Do You Have Any Plans? ¡°You¡¯re really a wooden block with no feelings at all. Your life is so boring.¡± Xuxu had reached the landing of the stairs when she glimpsed Mu Li and Yan Weihong sitting on the sofa. They were watching a foreign romantic movie. When an intimate scene played, Mu Li nudged closer to Yan Weihong and gave him a peck on his cheek. Instantly, Yan Weihong¡¯s face turned as red as a cooked crab. As he chided Mu Li, he furtively glanced around as though he was a thief. Xuxu had half a thought to retreat quietly, but it was already too late for Yan Weihong had already caught sight of her. His slightly lined face turned scarlet, and he flashed an awkward smile. ¡°Xuxu.¡± He immediately stood up. Xuxu pretended that she saw nothing earlier on. ¡°Father.¡± And she continued descending the steps. However, Yan Weihong was still utterly embarrassed. He was certain that Xuxu must have witnessed them earlier on, and so he gave Mu Li a stern and disapproving glare. He walked towards the staircase and spoke at the same time. ¡°Is Third Yan in the study?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± She tightly gripped the staircase railing to stop herself from bursting into laughter. Yan Weihong gestured towards the second level and solemnly said, ¡°I¡¯ll go look for him.¡± He hastened his footsteps towards the staircase in a swift motion. He swept past Xuxu like a gust of wind. Xuxu cracked up and covered her mouth. She only dared to laugh in front of Mu Li. Mu Li wistfully sighed. ¡°When one gets old, romance slowly withers away.¡± Xuxu walked to Mu Li, and the latter pulled Xuxu to sit beside her. She gently stroked Xuxu¡¯s belly and remarked, ¡°What I am looking forward to now is these two little fellows. How I wish they would arrive early to accompany me. I can¡¯t depend on that old fellow, neither can I depend on my son. So the only hope lies with my grandchildren. I¡¯m hoping that they wouldn¡¯t only think of their grandfather in the future.¡± Her eyes were brimming with adoration and affection. Xuxu felt so blissful. ¡°You will definitely find them troublesome once they¡¯re born.¡± She was also looking forward to their arrival. However, at the thought of it, it made her anxious and jittery. How would her life be after her children were born? Would it turn her life topsy-turvy? Mu Li was grinning from ear to ear. It was evident that she couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°I won¡¯t. Just pass me your children and I¡¯ll take care of them. You can carry on giving birth to more.¡± ¡°Errr¡ª¡± Xuxu steered the conversation out of dangerous waters. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m going to the kitchen to find some food.¡± She stood up and fled the scene. Give birth¡­ the thought was too frightening. She didn¡¯t want more children. Before she became pregnant, she thought the more the merrier, but now she felt that two was enough. She and Ah Sheng haven¡¯t really had the chance to enjoy their time together. ¡­ Yan Weihong didn¡¯t knock and turned the doorknob. He swung the door open and peered inside. He saw Yan Weihong staring at the laptop. He entered and closed the door after him. As he strode over, he said, ¡°I heard that your First Aunt is selling her shares.¡± Yan Rusheng grunted in reply and threw a fleeting glance at Yan Weihong before turning back to the screen. Yan Weihong¡¯s face fell. ¡°Do you have any plans?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Yan Weihong raised his pitch and reproached, ¡°We can¡¯t let her do that. Flourish & Prosper belongs to the Yan family. She is holding so many shares, and if she really sells them all, it will be hard for us to control Flourish & Prosper.¡± Other than Yan Weiye¡¯s shares, Jiang Qinglian holds 30% of the shares. It would be disastrous if an outsider gets all of her shares. Chapter 829. Counseled Her Well Then Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares would be divided into a ratio of 7:3. Although their shares were also distributed in the past, every shareholder held a minor share and there were many of them. Furthermore, they were old employees of Flourish & Prosper and the situation was entirely different. ¡°That¡¯s what Grandmother had stated in the will,¡± quipped Yan Rusheng. He finally moved away from his desk and poured two glasses of water. He slowly strode to the couch. Yan Weihong trailed after him, and the father and son sat together. Yan Weihong ignored the glass of water. He was anxious and angry as he looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°How much does she want? We can simply buy all of her shares.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°You know she wouldn¡¯t agree to it.¡± If she had the intention of selling her shares to them merely for money, she wouldn¡¯t have insisted on splitting it. She just couldn¡¯t take it lying down. It was her way of seeking revenge against First Uncle. Yan Weihong¡¯s face darkened and the atmosphere in the room turned icy cold. He suddenly stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go look for your First Uncle. These shares are too important and too much to fall into an outsider¡¯s hands.¡± And if their rival managed to get a hand on these shares, the consequences would be dire. Yan Weiye gazed at Yan Weihong as he stomped away. He knew that looking for Yan Weiye would be a futile attempt, so he didn¡¯t stop his father. He held the glass of water with his finger circling the rim. He sat in a daze. ¡­ Just as what Xuxu had expected, they would have dinner with Ming Ansheng and the rest. Since Xuxu was pregnant, they considered and chose the prestigious restaurant Jiangnan River Delta for its premium dishes and ambiance. And it goes without saying that the prices were equally premium too. After Xuxu fastened her seatbelt, she felt her phone vibrating. She rummaged for her phone in her bag. Su Yue sent her a text with a photo. She clicked on it. Su Yue had taken a photo of herself acting cute and it made Xuxu smile in happiness. ¡°Who¡¯s that? You¡¯re smiling so beautifully right now.¡± Young Master Yan saw that his wife was smiling so happily, so happy that she resembled a blooming flower. He craned his neck to look at the screen. It startled him. ¡°This little lass takes photos of herself?¡± ¡°I feel that she has changed a lot recently and had become more cheerful,¡± Xuxu deeply remarked as she typed a reply to Su Yue. ¡®You¡¯re so pretty in the photo. Have you done your homework?¡¯ Yan Rusheng seized the opportunity. ¡°It¡¯s all your credit for brainwashing her.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you know how to talk?¡± Yan Rusheng hastily corrected himself. ¡°I said it wrong. You have counseled her well as her psychiatrist.¡± Xuxu ignored him and replied Su Yue¡¯s text. An idea struck her and she turned to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Shall we ask Su Yue along?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s fetch her now,¡± added Xuxu as she dialed Su Yue¡¯s number. It elated Su Yue when she heard that Xuxu was coming to pick her up for dinner. The reason for her happiness wasn¡¯t because of food, but the fact that she could see Xuxu. They haven¡¯t met for some time. Su Yan¡¯s apartment was quite a distance away from the Yan residence. Xuxu felt that Su Yan must have wanted to distance himself from the Yan family; that¡¯s why he had chosen a house that was so far away. She turned to Yan Rusheng. ¡°What kind of woman was she? Was she beautiful?¡± Chapter 830. What Birthday Present Do You Want? Yan Rusheng was momentarily confused before he comprehended which woman Xuxu was referring to. He shook his head. ¡°Anyway, she isn¡¯t as pretty as my wife.¡± Xuxu ignored his remark and began to get all worked up. ¡°How can she be so heartless? What attracted First Uncle to her? Was it her beauty?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled. Instead of giving her an answer, he asked, ¡°If she didn¡¯t catch First Uncle¡¯s eye, there wouldn¡¯t be anyone to address you as Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu¡¯s anger bubbled in the pit of her stomach. She glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Men are all the same. They are all horrible jerks.¡± Young Master Yan refused to agree with her statement. ¡°What was that song? Out of ten men, seven are fools, the eighth one is dumb and ninth is bad. Everyone loves the last one. I¡¯m that last one.¡± Xuxu smiled at his joke. ¡°You can never be serious. Indeed, you¡¯re well-loved by everyone. Actresses, models¡ªlet me count.¡± She counted her fingers. Young Master Yan turned solemn. How he wished he could erase all of those memories. He frowned and turned to Xuxu to clarify. ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t even hold their hands at all.¡± ¡°Sounds like you have regretted your past actions?¡± Xuxu lifted an eyebrow and teased him. ¡°President Yan, do you want me to contact them? Do you want Miss Ouyang tonight? Or perhaps Miss Lee? Or¡ª¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t finish her question when he suddenly stopped the car. He caught Xuxu by surprise when he inched towards her and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. ¡°I want Miss Wen.¡± ¨C You¡¯re reading on NovelFull /Tks His soft lips brought her an instant cooling sensation. It made Xuxu¡¯s heartbeat skip a beat. When she snapped out of her daze, she realized they had reached a traffic junction. She turned her head and saw the man licking his lips as though he was longing for more. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you be serious? You¡¯re being so silly. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be cold and aloof?¡± She raised her chin and spun her head away from him. Both of them bickered along the way and yet flirted with each other. Time quickly passed and they somehow forgot how far their destination was. Su Yue wore a set of a white sweatshirt with black pants. She paired it with a pair of pink Nike track shoes. She tied her hair into a ponytail and it made her look refreshing and cheerful at a glimpse. Xuxu flashed a relieved smile. The car stopped in front of Su Yue and Xuxu opened the window to wave at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, get in.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue beamed when she saw Xuxu. She opened the back door, and after she had sat in, she glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Her voice sounded sweet and clear. It startled Yan Rusheng that he couldn¡¯t believe his ears. This girl greeted him? Xuxu nudged him. ¡°Yueyue is calling you.¡± Young Master Yan snapped to his senses and realized that he heard nothing wrong. He nodded at her. He started his engine once more and turned on the radio. A cheerful song was playing, and after the song had ended, an advertisement played. ¡®On 1st of May, the Prince of Angelic Voice would be meeting you at the capital city stadium. We have a date with him¡­¡¯ Xuxu heard the date and seemed to recall something. She spun her head to glance at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, it¡¯s your birthday next month. What birthday present do you want?¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and hesitated before answering. ¡°I just want a cake. A big cake with many layers.¡± Chapter 831. Old Classmates’ Reunion Xuxu told Su Yue, ¡°You are turning 18, so let¡¯s make it a grand occasion. Let¡¯s also celebrate you becoming a legal adult, too.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want a grand affair. It¡¯s too troublesome.¡± But Xuxu remained firm. ¡°It has been some time since we had a joyous occasion in the family. It¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ll inform your brother when I return to work tomorrow.¡± Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow and commented, ¡°Are you going back to work tomorrow?¡± He was clearly against the idea. Xuxu ignored Yan Rusheng and nonchalantly replied, ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t go to work for so many days. If I continue to be absent, my boss will deduct my salary.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke with a stiff voice. ¡°You should rest more and take care of your health. Why are you going back to work?¡± He had tried so hard to make her return home and he certainly didn¡¯t want her to work, especially at the fellow Su Yan¡¯s company. He always felt that the fellow had an ulterior motive for asking Xuxu to work at his company. The way he looked at her was full of affection and admiration. Xuxu complained, ¡°It¡¯s so boring to stay at home. Yesterday a rich lady requested for a royal-themed photoshoot, and she had asked for ten outfits. Su Yan had delegated the entire project to me.¡± It etched excitement on her exquisite-looking face. Young Master Yan frowned. ¡°Ten outfits? Is he trying to exhaust you?¡± Xuxu pointed to him and spoke with a shrill voice. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to meddle in my work.¡± Yan Rusheng pursed his lips without making any sound. Life is full of ups and downs. He and Wen Xuxu were the best examples. He used to make Wen Xuxu come and go at his command, and now he had to obey Xuxu. When they reached Jiangnan River Delta, the sky had already turned dark. Xuxu and Su Yue alighted at the entrance while Yan Rusheng went to find a parking lot. You¡¯re reading on NovelFull Thanks! ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go in first.¡± Xuxu held Su Yue¡¯s hand and led her towards the Jiangnan River Delta¡¯s revolving doors. The gold-plated doors brilliantly shone. The main hall seemed to sparkle like jewels as well. The marble floor was as shiny as a mirror. Su Yue stuffed her other hand in her pocket as she sucked on a lollipop. It was the first time she came to such a posh place, and she felt a little intimidated. Her bright eyes anxiously wandered around. ¡°Xuxu. Su Yue.¡± A familiar voice sounded ahead of them. They both peered ahead. It was Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan with a few others of their friends. Xuxu smiled and nodded to acknowledge their presence. ¡°Young Master Ming, Young Master Lu and hello young masters.¡± Someone teased her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, if you addressed us as young masters, then are you the maid?¡± Xuxu smiled and remained silent. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes landed on Su Yue. When he first caught a glimpse of her, he had the same thought as Xuxu¡ªrefreshing and bright. He quietly beamed at her. Su Yue had her head bowed, and she took out the lollipop from her mouth. She glanced at Ming Ansheng and noticed him staring at her. She greeted him reluctantly with a frown. ¡°Big Uncle Ming.¡± He had been staring at her the whole time. So, he must have clearly wanted her to greet him. After greeting him, Su Yue stuffed the lollipop back into her mouth again. Big Uncle? It made him sound older than being addressed as Uncle Ming. Ming Ansheng frowned and wanted to express his dissatisfaction when someone interrupted. ¡°Li Yun is here.¡± Everyone glanced at the entrance. ¡°Who is that beside him?¡± ¡°He looks familiar.¡± ¡°I think he is the son of our English teacher. What was his name again?¡± Chapter 832. Almost Couldn’t Recognize Him Lu Yinan stared at the two guys walking towards him. As hard as he tried, he just couldn¡¯t remember them. Xuxu cried out, ¡°Zhao Zheng!¡± It enlightened everyone all at once. They profusely nodded their heads. ¡°Oh yeah! He was the one who had a crush on Xuxu!¡± ¡°Yeah, he was really nice to her. I remember his family owned a convenience store, and he brought snacks for her every day.¡± ¡­ Xuxu¡¯s face fell, and it instantly darkened. So many years had passed, so why would they bring it up again? Even if she didn¡¯t feel embarrassed, Zhao Zheng would be. In the midst of their conversation, Zhao Zheng and Li Yun walked over. ¡°Hi everyone, sorry I¡¯m late.¡± Li Yun apologized to everyone with a smile. ¡°Young Master Li, you¡¯re a busy person now. It¡¯s so hard to take you on a date.¡± Someone patted Li Yun on his back and teased him. ¡°Of course, Young Master Li is an expatriate now.¡± ¡°I heard that you migrated to Country M?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the air fresher over there?¡± You¡¯re reading on NovelFull Thanks! ¡°Since you¡¯ve gone there, then don¡¯t come back! Do you think foreign girls are better than our girls?¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was focused on Li Yun. They had neglected Zhao Zheng who trailed after him. Zhao Zheng was a little awkward when he turned to Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, you said that I could find your Wechat account by searching for your QQ account, but I wasn¡¯t able to.¡± Xuxu smiled rather awkwardly. ¡°Really? It has been some time since I¡¯ve last used the QQ app.¡± ¡®Yan Rusheng, you petty and jealous fellow!¡¯ Because of him, she had to lie. She needed to, otherwise, she would have to tell him that Yan Rusheng intentionally switched off the function where the QQ app could be linked to WeChat. And it was all because Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want Zhao Zheng to add her. Zhao Zheng smiled in response. ¡°Then can you check it instead? I passed by your grandfather¡¯s clinic just recently when I was on the way to the airport. I was in a rush, if not I would have paid your grandfather a visit.¡± Then he whipped out his phone with an eager and earnest expression on his face. Xuxu laughed and had no choice but to take out her phone as well. Then she clicked on her WeChat app. She then said, ¡°Can you scan my QR code?¡± She had to hurry, or else Yan Rusheng would arrive at any time. That fellow might embarrass Zhao Zheng in front of everyone. Her English teacher and his wife had always treated her nicely. So, she had to take that into account as well. The rest of them were still happily chatting, and it looked as though they didn¡¯t witness Xuxu and Zhao Zheng exchanging WeChat accounts. However, their eyes all had a subtle, devious gleam. Third Yan was well known for being petty. Their group chat had been inactive for some time, but suddenly sometime last winter, he had contacted the admin late at night and kicked Zhao Zheng out of their group chat. Wasn¡¯t it obvious enough? He even plotted to kick Jiang Zhuoheng out of the group chat too, but the admin had declined. ¡°Hi, Zhao Zheng. It had been some time since we last met.¡± After Zhao Zheng had added Xuxu on WeChat, Lu Yinan smiled and spoke to him. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Zhao Zheng smiled and nodded at everyone else. ¡°It has been some time since our high school graduation.¡± ¡°I went to Gold Wing Building and bumped into Zhao Zheng that I almost couldn¡¯t recognize him,¡± Li Yun interjected. ¡°Yeah, all of us have changed so much,¡± Zhao Zheng replied. His achievements were considered quite remarkable, but it still paled in comparison as compared to the young masters. Chapter 833. Why Should His Cousin Join Them? First of all, as the young masters were all standing there, he certainly wasn¡¯t as suave or as gracious as them. He was not as charming as them, too. They all exuded a refined aura, while Zhao Zhen exuded an aura of a scholar but he didn¡¯t exactly look like one. ¡°I heard from someone you¡¯re a professor at a university?¡± Zhao Zheng humbly shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not a professor yet.¡± ¡°But your achievements are remarkable.¡± ¡°Unlike me who has nothing to boast of.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you waiting to inherit the fortune your father had left you so you can be a useless bum for the rest of your life?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Everyone was cheerfully chatting as they teased one another. Laughter echoed in the main hall. ¡°Third Yan is here.¡± Lu Yinan casually cast a glance at the entrance and spotted Yan Rusheng. Lu Yinan excitedly pulled on Ming Ansheng¡¯s shirt. Young Master Yan stuffed his hands in his pockets and strode towards them with graceful steps. Pairs of eyes stared at him. When he saw Zhao Zheng, his good-looking face fell, just as expected. But that sullen look was fleeting for he had hitched a smile back on his face. He nodded at everyone. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Xuxu hurried towards him and affectionately wound her arm around him. ¡°My heart is feeling the pain.¡± Someone dramatically clutched at his chest. Another person followed suit. ¡°Me too. Our great beauty Xuxu.¡± Zhao Zheng tightly clenched his fists when he saw Xuxu leaning against Yan Rusheng with such a bright and blissful smile. His eyes reveal regret and pain. Although not everyone¡¯s first love was unforgettable, most were. Xuxu was his first love and his goddess during school. When he entered university, he still thought of her during the first two years. Even when he found out that she had already married, he would still think of her occasionally. Now that he had witnessed her leaning on another man¡¯s shoulders, he still felt rather upset and jealous. Why didn¡¯t he manage to marry Wen Xuxu? Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had always treated each other as enemies. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Zhao Zheng straightened his back and greeted Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng maintained that smile and nodded briefly to Zhao Zheng. ¡°Hi, it¡¯s been some time.¡± He pressed on. ¡°How is your mother¡¯s business recently?¡± Everyone seemed to detect that the atmosphere was getting tensed. Zhao Zheng nodded. ¡°Yeah, not too bad.¡± Lu Yinan, who was trying to create chaos, was struck with a sudden idea. He spoke, ¡°Oh yeah, Zhao Zheng, didn¡¯t you just add Xuxu¡¯s WeChat? You should get Xuxu to add you to our group chat.¡± Wen Xuxu threw a murderous glare at Lu Yinan. The guy was too much! She will get Zhou Shuang to deal with him. She glanced at Yan Rusheng and the smile on his face looked stiff. She instantly steered the conversation out of dangerous waters. ¡°Young Masters, this is my younger sister, Su Yue.¡± She then introduced the names of the young masters to Su Yue. Su Yue merely nodded in silence. ¡°Little Yueyue, are you in the same class as Zhanfeng?¡± Lu Yinan asked. Su Yue nodded after some deliberation. ¡°Mmm.¡± It enlightened Lu Yinan. ¡°No wonder when that kid heard that I¡¯m meeting your third brother and third sister-in-law, he kept pleading with me to bring him along.¡± Ming Ansheng looked doubtful. He asked, ¡°Why?¡± It was their classmates¡¯ reunion, why should his cousin join them? Chapter 834. Does a Top University Send their Professor to Recruit Students? Lu Yinan chuckled. ¡°Obviously, he wanted to woo Su Yue.¡± What else could it be? Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°Nowadays, the teens focus more on romantic relationships rather than their studies.¡± He surveyed Su Yue and felt she seemed so young and childish. Her tiny face might be 18 years old, but no one would cast doubt even if they placed her in a class full of middle school students. Why would those boys like her? Those teen boys were barely adults. They must have a different point of view when it comes to aesthetic judgment. Lu Yinan sneered at Ming Ansheng with contempt. ¡°Why do you sound like you didn¡¯t have a girlfriend in middle school?¡± Ming Ansheng ignored Lu Yinan¡¯s remarks. Someone quipped, ¡°Let¡¯s not stand here. We are attracting unnecessary attention. Let¡¯s chat upstairs.¡± Their large group was indeed too eye-catching, especially those young masters who were frequently on the news. The group began to proceed upstairs. Xuxu retracted her arm and held Su Yue instead. ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng strolled next to them. He didn¡¯t intend to join his friends¡¯ conversations that revolved around life and dreams. Someone with dissatisfaction laced on his voice spoke, ¡°Third Yan, you have been with Wen Xuxu for almost all of your life. Can¡¯t you just be without her for a while? We haven¡¯t met in so long, shouldn¡¯t you catch up with your buddies?¡± ¡°I remember how he would always complain that Wen Xuxu was annoying. But he would always wait for her outside the school gate. He must have fallen in love with Wen Xuxu and was lying to us then.¡± ¡°They grew up together under a roof, and familiarity breeds fondness.¡± These guys were teasing Yan Rusheng and at the same time, Xuxu, too. Xuxu was a little shy and pushed Yan Rusheng. ¡°Hurry and go.¡± If he didn¡¯t join their conversation, his group of buddies would never let him off. Yan Rusheng grunted and hastened his footsteps. They chattered amongst themselves once more. Xuxu and Su Yue trailed behind them. When he saw that Yan Rusheng and Xuxu weren¡¯t walking together, Zhao Zheng deliberately slowed down so he could walk with Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, is your sister in high school?¡± He pushed the rims of his glasses and stole a glance at Xuxu. He seemed a little nervous as he rubbed his palms together. ¡°Yup.¡± Xuxu nodded and gestured at Su Yue. ¡°She is taking her college entrance exams this year.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± It startled Zhao Zheng. He turned to Su Yue and asked, ¡°That¡¯s fast. Have you thought of a university you wanted?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°This girl doesn¡¯t have any university in mind yet. Any would be fine as long as it¡¯s in the capital city.¡± They began climbing the broad and spacious staircase. Xuxu walked in the middle with Su Yue on her side, clutching her arm. Zhao Zheng was on the other side as he rattled on. Zhao Zheng smiled. ¡°You can consider our school. It¡¯s considered as one of the top few in the country. Xuxu smiled. ¡°There is no hurry.¡± They wanted to wait for Yueyue¡¯s results and to let nature take its own course. And most importantly, Yueyue must like the school. Zhao Zheng continued, ¡°Our school is the best in the capital city be it our campus or professors.¡± He had barely finished when a voice rang with sarcasm. ¡°Does a top university send their professor to recruit students?¡± Xuxu and Zhao Zheng glanced up at the same time. Chapter 835. Taking Him as a Street Musician? Yan Rusheng was standing on the second level, looking down at them with a straight face. Animosity filled his pair of peach blossom-shaped eyes. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. She thought, ¡®Do you have to be so reactive towards a casual remark?¡¯ ¡®You were classmates after all.¡¯ It didn¡¯t offend Zhao Zheng in any way. Instead, he smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not soliciting for students, but I¡¯m just giving Xuxu an introduction to my school. There¡¯s a strict quota to the new students¡¯ enrollment which you can check online. Good grades aren¡¯t necessary to get in.¡± Zhao Zheng sounded superior. Yan Rusheng sneered, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that there are schools that allow teachers to take a cut for every student they recruit.¡± It rendered Wen Xuxu speechless. ¡®Can he be more sensitive to his former classmate¡¯s feelings? Must he be so malicious and sharp-tongued?¡¯ But honestly, Zhao Zheng was odd too. Couldn¡¯t he tell that Yan Rusheng was snubbing him? Was he feigning ignorance? Or could it be he already understood Yan Rusheng¡¯s intention and was trying to gain credit for himself? Yan Rusheng could enroll his sister in any prestigious university he wanted. Was there a need for him to check online for the students¡¯ enrollment? ¡°Let¡¯s just have dinner. We¡¯re here to eat today. Yueyue¡¯s entrance exam is still more than a month away, so there¡¯s no hurry.¡± After saying that, Xuxu pulled Su Yue along. They quickly ascended the stairs. Su Yue chuckled. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I think Third Brother is jealous.¡± ¡®See? Even someone innocent like Su Yue could tell.¡¯ Xuxu shot Yan Rusheng a look of disdain. But his towering figure was unmoved. He stood there with both hands in his pocket, looking awe-inspiring. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Xuxu urged Yan Rusheng when she walked over to him. She didn¡¯t halt her steps and walked past Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng raised his feet and trailed after her. As he walked, he reminded her, ¡°Wife, slow down. Take care of my sons.¡± He caught up with Xuxu. He caressed her tummy with one hand while placing his other hand on her waist. It made Xuxu speechless. ¡®This petty chap is too delicate.¡¯ ¡­ They had booked a huge and luxurious private room in Jiangnan River Delta, and the banquet table was large enough to seat 30 persons. The room was well-equipped with piano, violin, TV, and Hi-Fi system. ¡°Come, come, come. Let¡¯s first invite Young Master Lu to sing us the first song to liven things up.¡± In the room, everyone gathered at the entertainment area. Someone turned on the hi-fi system and TV and handed the microphone to Lu Yinan. Ming Ansheng laughed as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll rather have Third Yan play the piano than hearing Lu Yinan sing.¡± After that, he diverted his gazed at Yan Rusheng and raised his eyebrows at him. As he signaled him to play a piece, Young Master Yan raised his chin and arrogantly looked away as if to say ¡®What a joke. Why must I play the piano for all of you?¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re taking me as a street musician?¡¯ Everyone knew that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t play the piano. ¡°Since we¡¯re unable to invite this honorable God to play the piano, then we¡¯ll have Young Master Lu to sing for us instead.¡± Young Master Lu was unwilling and remarked, ¡°Am I so cheap?¡± ¡®Pfft! I have to sing when Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want to play the piano?¡¯ thoughtYoung Master Lu. Lu Yinan removed his gold-rimmed spectacles and plonked himself onto the couch. He took the set of polka cards on the coffee table and started playing with it. ¡°Who else is not here yet?¡± someone asked. The person had barely finished speaking when the door opened. A beautiful image of a woman appeared. ¡°So sorry, I¡¯m late.¡± There was a short-haired girl with a porcelain face devoid of makeup. She was smiling widely. From top to toe, she radiated vitality and dynamism. Chapter 836. What Again? When Lu Yinan heard the voice, he raised his head and looked towards the door. There was a look of disdain on his face. ¡°Female hooligan, why are you here?¡± The smile drained from Zhou Shuang¡¯s face when she heard Lu Yinan¡¯s words. She glared at him. ¡°Sissy Lu. Can¡¯t you say some nice words whenever we would meet?¡± After rebutting Lu Yinan, she put on a smile again and looked at the rest. Everyone fixed their attention on the words that Zhou Shuang used to address Lu Yinan . ¡®Sissy Lu?¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s an interesting term. We¡¯ve known Master Lu for so long, but didn¡¯t know that he could be a man and a sissy at the same time.¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Lu Yinan shot a menacing glare at those fellows before turning to look at Zhou Shuang. He flashed her a cold smile. ¡°Calling you a female hooligan is an overstatement for you. From top to toe, which part of you looks like a woman?¡± Zhou Shuang arrogantly flung her head back and ignored him. She caught sight of Zhao Zheng and was visibly startled. ¡°Eh? Aren¡¯t you¡­ aren¡¯t you¡­¡± After trying to recall for quite a while, she finally remembered his name. ¡°Zhao Zheng!¡± Zhao Zheng laughed and nodded at her. ¡°Zhou Shuang. I¡¯m surprised that you still remember me.¡± Zhou Shuang walked over and patted Zhao Zheng on his shoulders. She meaningfully raised her eyebrows at him. ¡°Of course, I remember. You¡¯re the son of our English teacher, and I¡¯ve helped you pass love letters before.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. There were people who loved to shoot one¡¯s mouth off, had no qualms about telling lies and are thick-skinned. If she had to look for such a person, Zhou Shuang would perfectly fit the bill. Xuxu stood behind Zhou Shuang and gave her a hard pinch on her buttocks. We can expect no good words from this wretched woman, just like Lu Yinan. Zhao Zheng looked embarrassed. He merely smiled and couldn¡¯t find a word to say. This was because the love letter he had Zhou Shuang to pass around was meant for Xuxu. ¡°Sister Shuang, tell us. Zhao Zheng got you to pass the love letter to who? I remember our English teacher kept stressing that we were not allowed to date.¡± Everyone was asking an obvious question. Zhou Shuang knew that they did it on purpose and frowned as she spoke, ¡°Our teacher also wanted us to study hard. Did you all study hard then?¡± ¡­ While everyone was laughing and having fun, Young Master Yan¡¯s faced turned as black as the bottom of a saucepan. He gnashed his teeth and stared hard at Zhou Shuang. ¡°She¡¯s a downright hooligan. No wonder no one likes her.¡± Xuxu turned and looked at him. ¡°What? Were you planning to like her?¡± Yan Rusheng immediately clammed up. ¡°I saw Jiang Zhuoheng when I was parking my car, so he should be here soon.¡± After Zhou Shuang said her piece, she deliberately averted her gaze and looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression. Yan Rusheng twisted his thick eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s here again?!¡± ¡°What again?¡± Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Huh?¡± There was a strong warning from her remarks. She could forget about how he treated Zhao Zheng, for he was also partly to blame for having no inkling of what¡¯s in store for him. But if he dared to embarrass Ah Heng at such a gathering, she wouldn¡¯t let him off! Ah Heng had always been giving in to him, okay?! Yan Rusheng immediately shook his head and answered, ¡°Nothing!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was the last person who everyone was waiting for, and he unintentionally became the most important guest of the party. He was dressed in royal blue, and his breathtaking appearance stunned everyone. In terms of looks, Jiang Zhuoheng was undoubtedly the most handsome and exuded a gentle charisma. If it was Yan Rusheng or Ming Ansheng, they would give off a domineering aura in comparison. He stepped in and smiled at everyone before walking towards the group. ¡°Ah Heng, if you continue to be so charming, we might fall for you.¡± Someone from the crowd teased and walked up to Jiang Zhuoheng with a smile on his face. He hugged him by his shoulders. Chapter 837. Revealing Your True Nature the Second You Open Your Mouth! Jiang Zhuoheng let out a laugh before fixing his gaze at Xuxu. Xuxu acknowledged him with a smile. ¡°Ah Heng.¡± The atmosphere turned awkward. Everyone turned their eyes on Yan Rusheng at the same time. Young Master Yan felt baffled that everyone was staring at him for no apparent reason. ¡°Is my face giving you thoughts of becoming gay as well?¡± He knitted his eyebrows and his expression turned chilly. ¡°No, no, no. Even if you turn gay, we also don¡¯t want you.¡± ¡®Can this bunch of fellows have some moral integrity?¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Do you all still want to have dinner? Can you be more mindful with your words? There¡¯s an underage girl with us.¡± This group of people was here for dinner, but they have yet to even drink a drop of water. As there were only three ladies among the group of men, they were all fighting to pull out chairs for them. Xuxu was seated next to Su Yue as usual. Yan Rusheng pulled out the chair next to them to sit down. But Zhou Shuang beat him to it. Like a thunderbolt, she snatched over the chair and plonked her buttocks onto it. After she sat down, she lifted her eyebrows and smugly looked at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth and stared at her. ¡°Didn¡¯t your language teacher teach you the word ¡®conscientious ¡®? Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at him. ¡°That¡¯s a term and not a word.¡± She ignored him after that. She then turned back to fiddle with the cutleries before her. Yan Rusheng stood behind her, refusing to leave and someone teased him. ¡°Third Yan, are you and Xuxu a pair of Siamese twins? Is it a must for you to sit together for all meals? In a few hours¡¯ time, you can sleep on the same bed and get intimate as much as you want.¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s the crucial period now, so Third Yan, you should take it easy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xuxu felt it was a grave mistake to bring Su Yue along to this dinner gathering. She had forgotten about the true nature of this group of playboys. Their words poked Young Master Yan at the place where it hurts the most. He gnashed his teeth and cursed them in silence. If only he could sleep on the same bed tonight and get intimate with her¡ªit was really miserable! Xuxu stuck out one leg and stepped hard on Yan Rusheng¡¯s foot before giving him a stern look of warning. ¡°Go and sit over there with Lu Yinan and the rest.¡± This clingy guy, he¡¯s not even afraid that others would make a joke out of him. He was no doubt Madam Mu Li¡¯s flesh and blood. Both mother and son were sticky and unbearable. Yan Rusheng had no choice but to walk over to Lu Yinan. He sat down next to Jiang Zhuoheng. He took a look at Jiang Zhuoheng as he sat down, and Jiang Zhuoheng returned the glance. After their eyes met, both of them averted their gaze from each other. Four pretty looking waitresses stood around the room, serving them tea. Each of them was tall and slender. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry.¡± A waitress had accidentally spilled some water on one of the young masters. She immediately apologized without ceasing. He calmed her down with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay since a beauty had spilled it.¡± He smiled and fixated his eyes on the pretty waitress, revealing his predatory character without a care in the world. Someone sniggered, ¡°He¡¯s the most lecherous man, changing three women within a month. One day, he will die of excessive ejaculation!¡± The topic was inappropriate for a child once again, and Ming Ansheng instinctively looked at Su Yue who was next to him. As usual, she kept her head bowed and wasn¡¯t paying attention to the conversation. It seemed that she was oblivious to all the conversations that took place. She was playing with her emerald green teacup with her small tender hands, probably because it was pretty looking. A faint smile broke out at the corners of her mouth. Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression unconsciously softened before turning to look at those fellows who were still engaged in lewd talks. ¡°Stop revealing your true nature the second you open your mouth.¡± Chapter 838. He Cant Drink Xuxu gave a thumbs up for Ming Ansheng under her breath because she had been waiting to say the same thing, too. Couldn¡¯t they let everyone have a meal in peace? They¡¯ve been incoherently rambling the moment they met, and nothing good came out of their mouth. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s stop and have dinner.¡± Lu Yinan turned serious and instructed the waitress. ¡°Serve the food.¡± They served the dishes one after another. Xuxu swiftly picked up her chopsticks and eagerly tucked in. As usual, the men drank. ¡°Ah Heng, has the Jiang Corporation started on the Haicheng City project?¡± asked Li Yun all of a sudden as he looked at the man. Jiang Zhuoheng nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Li Yun smiled and proposed a toast to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Then, I hope I¡¯ll be able to enjoy my association with you.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng offered him a small smile. He held up his wineglass and lightly clinked it on the glass turntable. ¡°Just a word from you, Young Master Li.¡± After that, both of them took a sip from their wine glasses. ¡°That piece of land was a hot property last year.¡± The person seated next to Jiang Zhuoheng lazily leaned back on the chair. He took out his cigarette case as he said his piece. He stuck a stick of a cigarette in his mouth and was about to light it. Jiang Zhuoheng frowned. ¡°Can you not smoke here and pollute the air?¡± In the past, everyone smoked. So how could there be no cigarettes and alcohol in such gatherings? Everyone was smart enough to guess that Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s sudden dislike for cigarettes was because of Xuxu¡¯s pregnancy. Hence, everyone resisted their urge lighting up some cigarettes. As they were used to socializing in large-scale settings, all of them knew very well what jokes were appropriate or inappropriate to crack. Hence, no one made use of the opportunity to tease Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Let¡¯s drink.¡± Someone took the lead and lifted his wineglass to liven up the atmosphere. ¡°For some of us here, we haven¡¯t met in over ten years.¡± ¡°Precisely. Zhou Shuang left the country after graduating from high school. Even though she had returned for quite some time, today¡¯s the first time we saw her since her return.¡± ¡°And Zhao Zheng as well.¡± Everyone seemed to have forgotten about Zhao Zheng before his name was mentioned. Someone said, ¡°Zhao Zheng, have more food and wine. Don¡¯t avoid our gatherings.¡± Zhao Zheng hardly socialized with them in such a setting, and he indeed could not keep up with the pace. If no one remembered him, they would have completely forgotten his presence. Zhao Zheng nodded his head and foolishly smiled. ¡°Yes. I won¡¯t miss any more gatherings with my old classmates.¡± After that, he lifted his wineglass to propose a toast. Yan Rusheng looked at them with disdain. Xuxu suddenly seemed to have anticipated this and shot him a stern look of warning. Young Master Yan pouted and swallowed back the words he wanted to say after Zhao Zheng. ¡°I hope all of us can meet up more often. When all you Young Masters have struck gold, please don¡¯t forget a nobody like us,¡± said Li Yun, and he flashed a smile. He was a businessman. Even though his family was wealthy, when compared to Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng, he was a far cry from them. At the end of his sentence, everyone looked at him with disdain. ¡°What a pretense!¡± ¡°He¡¯s really pretentious.¡± Everyone raised their wine glasses collectively and toasted. Xuxu and Su Yue drank fresh fruit juices while Zhou Shuang had red wine. The atmosphere brightened and everyone continued drinking and toasting to each other for the rest of the night. ¡°Young Master Yan, you and Xuxu were childhood sweethearts. Your love finally has its fruits. Since you¡¯re the first in our group to be promoted to a father, let us have a toast.¡± Someone starting urging Yan Rusheng to start the ball rolling. Before Yan Rusheng could respond, Xuxu immediately rejected on his behalf. ¡°He can¡¯t drink since he has to drive later.¡± It was better she kept mum because the moment she opened her mouth, all of them teased Yan Rusheng. ¡°You brought your wife to help you abstain from drinking?¡± Chapter 839. That Spoiled and Unruly Princess Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t at all embarrassed by it. Instead, he gave a wide blissful smile. ¡°No point feeling jealous over it since all of you doesn¡¯t have a wife yet.¡± After that, he lazily leaned back on his chair and glanced at Zhao Zheng. His smile deepened. ¡°Zhao Zheng should be the one to raise a toast since we haven¡¯t met for over ten years. He should take the lead.¡± They were all speechless. ¡®He had only given a love letter to your wife, and it had been years. Is there a need to go as far as this?¡¯ Zhao Zheng immediately lifted his wineglass and proudly stood on his feet. Looking at everyone, he earnestly said, ¡°You¡¯re right. Let me have drink a toast to all of you.¡± Immediately, someone from the group gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Gracious indeed!¡± ¡°Ladies first, so let me first propose a toast to Xuxu.¡± Zhao Zheng lifted his wineglass at Xuxu and smiled. ¡°We haven¡¯t for so many years, but you¡¯re still as gentle and beautiful.¡± In the midst of his words, his eyes revealed a look of affection. After that, he drank up all the wine in his glass in one gulp. Xuxu also stood up and took a sip of her beverage before sitting down again. The atmosphere turned awkward again and everyone stole glances at Yan Rusheng. Why couldn¡¯t Zhao Zheng just toast and bottoms up instead of spewing such nonsense? Those who were unaware might think he was provoking Yan Rusheng on purpose. Meanwhile, Young Master Jiang was elegantly picking up nuts on a platter before him with his chopsticks. He was smiling all the while. He seemed as if he was gloating at someone¡¯s misfortune. ¡®Is this fellow doing it on purpose?¡¯ Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth and sharply glared at Zhao Zheng. At that moment, the door to the VIP room flung open. Everyone was astonished because if it was the waitresses, they would definitely knock before opening the door. A tall and slender lady appeared before their eyes. She had long, wavy hair and was wearing a sexy camisole with a white jacket over it. She paired her dress with wine-colored harem pants, making her overall outfit modern and fashionable. Everyone was visibly stunned before someone said, ¡°Miss Tang.¡± ¡°I ran into Yanting while shopping and she said that Ah Heng is here for a reunion,¡± said Tang Feiling as she waltzed in. She smiled but lamented, ¡°You¡¯re too much. Don¡¯t you regard me as your old classmate too?¡± Lu Yinan immediately smiled and walked up to her, attempting to explain, ¡°No, no. It¡¯s all Ming Ansheng¡¯s fault. We thought he would ask you along.¡± Since Ming Ansheng hated this fiancee so much, might as well shift the blame on him. After finishing his sentence, he turned and took a peek at Ming Ansheng, whose face had already turned cold by now. He couldn¡¯t help but gloat at his misfortune. ¡­ Someone signaled to the waitress. ¡°Waitress, bring one more set of cutleries over.¡± Tang Feiling said, ¡°Wait a while. Yanting is here too.¡± She retraced her steps back to the door and stuck her head out to take a peek. Someone asked in bewilderment. ¡°Who¡¯s Yanting?¡± Lu Yinan said, ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s cousin, Xin Yanting.¡± Everyone then recalled. ¡°Oh, oh, oh, I remember. That spoiled, unruly princess.¡± When Xin Yanting was young, she had stayed at the Jiang family for a few years and frequently visited them after that. So everyone knew who she was, but they were not on familiar terms. When Jiang Zhuoheng heard that Xin Yanting was around, he frowned and looked towards the door. ¡°Hi brothers.¡± Xin Yanting was stunningly dressed in a pink short-sleeved long dress. She smiled so sweetly while waving at the group. Lu Yinan surveyed Xin Yanting before smiling. ¡°I almost couldn¡¯t recognize you. You¡¯ve grown into a beauty now.¡± Chapter 840. Punish Myself By Drinking Three Glasses After Lu Yinan made that compliment, someone immediately chimed in. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lu Yinan grabbed Xin Yanting with his right hand while the other hand grabbed Tang Feiling. ¡°Come and join us.¡± Tang Feiling went towards Ming Ansheng and stopped beside him. Sitting on Ming Ansheng¡¯s right was Su Yue while someone occupied the other seat. Tang Feiling peered left and right and finally decided on Su Yue. But Su Yue didn¡¯t even raise her head, she was focused on carefully removing the bones from a piece of fish. Tang Feiling¡¯s expression changed when the person next to Ming Ansheng automatically stood. ¡°Miss Tang, you can have my seat.¡± He hastily shifted his cutlery away and vacated his seat. ¡°Third sister-in-law, this is for you.¡± Su Yue put the piece of fish in Xuxu¡¯s bowl. Ming Ansheng felt a strange feeling of envy as he glanced at the piece of fish. He completely ignored his fianc¨¦e, Miss Tang, who sat down beside him. Xuxu picked up the fish and popped it inside her mouth with a smile. She said to Su Yue, ¡°You should eat some, too.¡± This young lass was so sweet when she was being thoughtful. Tang Feiling glared at Su Yue with a murderous stare. Meanwhile, on the other side, Xin Yanting walked to Jiang Zhuoheng and greeted him cheerfully. ¡°Brother.¡± Then she walked past him and to Lu Yinan. She then stared at him. It puzzled Lu Yinan. ¡°Hmmm, why are you staring at me?¡± Zhou Shuang, who was relatively quiet, suddenly interjected, ¡°You¡¯re so hotand handsome, it would be weird not to stare at you.¡± Xin Yanting chuckled. ¡°Yes, Brother Lu is too handsome.¡± ¡°No one would treat you as a mute even if you keep your mouth shut.¡± Lu Yinan glared at Zhou Shuang. Xin Yanting¡¯s voice rang once again. ¡°Brother Lu, can you vacate your seat?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± It confused Lu Yinan. ¡°Why do you want my seat?¡± If she wanted to sit with Jiang Zhuoheng, it should be Yan Rusheng who should vacate his seat. It puzzled the rest, too. Xin Yanting smiled. ¡°I haven¡¯t met Yan Rusheng for such a long time, so I feel like drinking with him. Brother Lu can you grant me my wish?¡± This decision wasn¡¯t up to him as he didn¡¯t have the right to decide. Lu Yinan glanced at Xuxu. Xuxu lowered her head as though she was nonchalant about the entire matter. She carried on eating. The atmosphere became strained and tensed, and everyone seemed to hold their breath. Everyone¡¯s eyes darted back and forth between Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. Xuxu seemed nonchalant and didn¡¯t respond at all. Yan Rusheng leaned against his chair, looking sullen. ¡°Yanting!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng lifted an eyebrow, looking annoyed. He glanced at Xin Yanting and called her. Yanting didn¡¯t back down. Instead, she smiled at him. ¡°Brother, why don¡¯t you let me have your seat?¡± She raised her legs and turned a different direction. Lu Yinan stopped her. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll let you have my seat.¡± He picked up his set of cutlery and changed places. ¡°Thank you, Brother Lu.¡± Xin Yanting thanked Lu Yinan and sat down. A waiter placed a new set of cutlery before her. She then poured a glass of wine for herself. She raised her glass for a toast and addressed the entire room. ¡°Tang Feiling and I were late. I shall punish myself by drinking three glasses.¡± She threw her head back and gulped down the entire glass. She followed up with another two glasses in a swift motion. Chapter 841. I Shall Take a Sip After drinking three glasses, she poured the fourth one and raised it up to give a toast to Yan Rusheng. Her red lips seductively curled up. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t you think there is a need for you to apologize for what happened at the hotel the other day?¡± ¡®What happened? Were they at a hotel?¡¯ Everyone widened their eyes in confusion. Even Xuxu¡¯s eyes uneasily flickered. She raised her head and glanced at Yan Rusheng and Xin Yanting. Ming Ansheng hastily clarified, ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken. That day, Third Yan and I had to attend to some matters. We bumped into Miss Xin in the elevator at the hotel.¡± He glanced at Su Yue for support. ¡°Yueyue, it was that day when we brought you to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Do you still remember? You ate ten chicken wings.¡± Tang Feiling¡¯s face instantly fell. Ming Ansheng had brought this lass to some measly fast-food restaurant to eat junk food? He didn¡¯t even want to go to fine-dining places with her. At the thought of that, a streak of hatred flashed across her beautiful eyes. She gnashed her teeth in anger. She was furious! Su Yue heard Ming Ansheng calling her, and she slowly raised her head. The gravy from the chicken wings she was eating had stained the corners of her mouth. Her sparkling black eyes stared at Ming Ansheng¡¯s gorgeous face. Ming Ansheng was getting impatient. ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Su Yue shook her head and continued to devour her chicken wings. ¡­ Young Master Ming and Young Master Yan had the same exact expression¡ªexasperated and annoyed. The corners of their mouths twitched. Didn¡¯t her teacher impart to her the importance of honesty? Was it a good idea to lie? It happened recently, and they didn¡¯t believe that she had forgotten it. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I never thought you¡¯re a henpecked husband.¡± Yanting gazed at Yan Rusheng. Contempt and sarcasm could be felt through her tone and expression. Yan Rusheng coldly lifted an eyebrow. ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± Xin Yanting sneered. ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing for a man to be henpecked.¡± She persistently pressed on. ¡± Hmph . You have to apologize to me regarding that day.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a fleeting smile and said, ¡°Apologies, Miss Xin. In my dictionary, the words Sorry, Thank you and I love you are reserved for my wife. No one else deserves them!¡± His last sentence sounded extra annoyed. Xin Yanting instantly flushed scarlet. ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡± She had been spoiled since she was young, and everyone doted and pampered her. When had she received such treatment? It was a plain insult. Yan Rusheng¡¯s smile remained unchanged. ¡°Oh, and the word regret is only for my wife too.¡± It enraged Xin Yanting, and she was about to make a retort when Yan Rusheng interjected. ¡°Miss Xin, you¡¯ve been groomed and educated to be a fine and gracious lady. But you had to use such a crude method to attract the attention of a married man before the eyes of so many people. Don¡¯t you think you have degraded yourself?¡± His mouth curled upwards into a smile that resembled a smirk. ¡°Yan¡­¡± Xin Yanting¡¯s hand was gripping the wine glass tightly as she tried to speak. But Yan Rusheng cut across her once more. ¡°Today, I shall not humiliate you any further on account of Jiang Zhuoheng. I shall drink this glass.¡± ¡°You!¡± Xin Yanting was fuming with anger. Yan Rusheng interrupted again. ¡°If you think that this glass is too much and you can¡¯t accept my graciousness, I shall take a sip.¡± Chapter 842. If You’re Not Eating Then Leave With Me ¡°Pfft¡­ Pfft!¡± Zhou Shuang, who was sitting across from them, finally couldn¡¯t suppress her laughter anymore. She bowed her head and spat out rice as though her mouth was a spray. Actually, when she spat out her rice for the first time, she had tried to suppress it. But she failed and ended up bursting in laughter, spraying rice all over her lap and table. She rested her head on the table and continued to shake with laughter. Xin Yanting felt that Yan Rusheng had embarrassed her entirely in front of so many people. Now to add insult to her injury, Zhou Shuang laughed at her. She threw her a murderous glare. ¡°What are you laughing at? What is so funny?¡± Xin Yanting, who was boiling with anger, threw a sharp question at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang contained her laughter and shook her head. ¡°No, it has nothing to do with you. I just received a text, and it was a hilarious sexual joke. Do you want to hear it?¡± She raised her phone and offered it to Xin Yanting. As she was still trying to stifle her laughter, Zhou Shuang¡¯s face contorted. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± Xin Yanting coldly snubbed her and looked away. ¡®Hmph!¡¯ As long as Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t mocking her. Xuxu bit her lips for she had an urge to laugh too. She pinched Zhou Shuang¡¯s thigh as hard as she could under the table. Could this woman control her behavior? She had always been a frivolous and scatterbrained person. She was the only one laughing in the room. Zhou Shuang winced in pain and she turned to glare at Xuxu. Her eyes seemed to ask Xuxu for the unwarranted pinch. Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes landed on Yan Rusheng again. She scoffed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what¡¯s so great about you?¡± Yan Rusheng casually disputed, ¡°There is nothing great about me.¡± When someone is trying to pick a fight with you but you aren¡¯t interested, there is no doubt the other party will explode with anger. It was exactly where Xin Yanting was at that moment. She was literally hopping mad with Yan Rusheng¡¯s attitude and remarks. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you kissed me when we were kids and you promised to marry me when we grow up. Have you forgotten?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Lu Yinan, who had just drunk a mouthful of soup, spurted out everything barely a second after he heard Xin Yanting¡¯s accusation. Li Yun seized the opportunity and patted Lu Yinan on his back. He chided him, ¡°What is wrong with you and Zhou Shuang? Both of you keep spitting food. Are you trying to stop all of us from eating?¡± He attempted to change the topic to relieve the tensed atmosphere in the room. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you didn¡¯t keep your word.¡± ¡­ What was the situation? Yan Rusheng glanced at Xin Yanting and coldly raised his eyebrows. ¡°Why don¡¯t I remember promising you that I would marry you?¡± ¡°That year, you gave me a ring. It was a plastic ring from a candy, but wasn¡¯t that a token of promise? I¡¯ve kept it with me since then.¡± Xin Yanting ranted and rummaged through her bag for a plastic ring. She slammed it on the table, in front of Yan Rusheng. No one gave the plastic ring any significance. It was merely a toy that came along with a candy. How could it be a token or considered a promise? But to Xuxu, she felt indignant and upset. She and Yan Rusheng played pretend when they were younger, and they had exchanged plastic rings when they were young. And she still kept it as well. So there was another woman like her who had kept the plastic ring as if it was a precious jewel¡ªboth of which were given by Ah Sheng. Jiang Zhuoheng finally lashed out when he noticed the change in Xuxu¡¯s expression. He roared at Xin Yanting. ¡°Xin Yanting, enough!¡± ¡°Brother,¡± whined Xin Yanting, and she frowned. Jiang Zhuoheng was still livid and rage was clearly etched on his face. ¡°If you¡¯re not eating, then leave with me.¡± Chapter 843. Utterly Dumbfounded by Her Foolishness To ease the tension, Lu Yinan hastily chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s enough, Yanting. You¡¯ve brought your joke too far and if you carry on, your third sister-in-law will be angry.¡± He glanced at Wen Xuxu and saw she had lowered her head. She seemed to be nonchalant about the entire conversation as she picked up food with her chopsticks and dropped them into her bowl. The event was a very much anticipated classmates¡¯ reunion, and everyone was looking forward to it. She didn¡¯t want to leave on an unhappy note since they had all known each other. Even if she wasn¡¯t close to them, Yan Rusheng still had to mingle and hang out with them. Xin Yanting realized that Jiang Zhuoheng was exceedingly furious, so she kept mum for fear of incurring his wrath. But she still couldn¡¯t take it lying down. She resorted to staring at Xuxu with fury in her eyes. ¡± Hmph. She should have been my cousin-in-law.¡± She then stole a fleeting glance at Jiang Zhuoheng and saw how he had shot her a murderous glare. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s glare didn¡¯t intimidate Yanting, rather her heart ached for her cousin. She pursed her lips and picked up some food and ate. She said rather reluctantly, ¡°Alright then, I shall not pursue it any further.¡± Being the prideful and spoiled princess that she was, her pride naturally got in the way and she made a vow to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you will regret this one day. And someday, you will beg for me!¡± Then she continued eating as though none of it happened. She stuffed her mouth with food. She continued gobbling and drank her wine, ignoring everyone around her. Everyone on the table had been watching her putting on a scene. ¡®You will regret this one day. And someday, you will beg for me!¡¯ Usually, such words came from Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth, and Xin Yanting might be the first person ever to say it to him. Everyone thought this young lady was being too ignorant and had overestimated her own capabilities. No matter how huge Paramount was, they couldn¡¯t possibly topple Flourish & Prosper. How dare she threaten Yan Rusheng? However, everyone understood where she was stemming from. She had been pampered and doted since she was born, how could she possibly know her own limits? No one took Xin Yanting¡¯s words to heart. The room fell silent after Xin Yanting created such an uproar. Everyone ate dinner in silence, and no one went around toasting. ¡°Zhao Zheng, you haven¡¯t finished toasting. Please continue!¡± ¡°Oh yeah! You need to continue.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡± Zhao Zheng forced a smile and raised his wineglass. He passed by Xuxu and went to Su Yue. ¡°Are you Yueyue?¡± Su Yue murmured, and she mimicked what she saw Xuxu did earlier on during the toast. She rose and raised her cup. But someone remarked, ¡°Little Yueyue is almost an adult, so drinking a little wine wouldn¡¯t hurt. Let her drink that instead.¡± The person barely ended his suggestion when three people shot eye daggers at him. The first one was Wen Xuxu, the second was Ming Ansheng, and the last person was Yan Rusheng. How dare this fellow goad his under-aged sister into drinking? Does he have a death wish? ¡°Mingzi, that¡¯s enough. She is still in high school,¡± calmly spoke Ming Ansheng as he suppressed his anger to the person who suggested it. He waved his hands to express his apology. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m wrong. I shall drink a glass as a punishment.¡± He raised his glass and gulped down within seconds. ¡°Actually, Mingzi isn¡¯t wrong. Why can¡¯t high school students drink? Most of them are already going to bars and pubs. In our current society, high school students aren¡¯t as innocent as what we assumed.¡± Her lazy drawl sounded exceedingly sarcastic. ¡­ Although everyone knew that Miss Tang had a loose tongue, her words were simply too dumb and everyone was utterly dumbfounded by her foolishness. Chapter 844. Let’s Drink an Entire Bottle Was Tang Feiling out of her mind? This young girl was Yan Rusheng¡¯s sister! Yan Rusheng and Xuxu instantly became stony-faced, but the person who was seething with anger was Ming Ansheng. However, Su Yue had leaped to her feet before anyone jumped to her defense. She grabbed a bottle of wine nearby and placed it before her. She coldly stared at Tang Feiling. ¡°Then let¡¯s drink a bottle each.¡± What? A bottle? Everyone present was flabbergasted and stared at Su Yue with their eyes wide open. Including Wen Xuxu. No one could believe that a young lass like her would say something so¡ªto put it bluntly¡ªcrazy. Most importantly, they thought Su Yue looked like such an innocent girl. She definitely couldn¡¯t finish a bottle without puking. Tang Feiling sneered. ¡°Young lass, are you kidding me? You want to compete with me and drink an entire bottle?¡± Su Yue spoke with ice coating her every word. ¡°If you don¡¯t dare to drink, then shut up.¡± ¡°Alright! You have some nerve!¡± There was someone more aggressive at the table, and this woman was none other than Zhou Shuang. She had incredibly applauded Su Yue for telling Tang Feiling off and even asking her to shut up. Xuxu turned around to glare at her. ¡®Why is this fellow jumping in to add on to the chaos?¡¯ Xuxu knew Tang Feiling well, she would definitely agree to this challenge. As expected, Tang Feiling abruptly rose and to the waiter she yelled, ¡°Get me a bottle!¡± ¡°Tang Feiling!¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes were blazing with fury. It seemed he was about to devour Tang Feiling. He jumped up to his feet in seconds. Everyone rushed to hold him back. ¡°Ming Ansheng, calm down. They are just fooling around. Why do you have to lose your temper?¡± Tang Feiling felt aggrieved and gazed at Ming Ansheng and reproached him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, why are you shouting at me? Didn¡¯t you see she challenged me?¡± The imprudent young lass was provoking her. How could she lose to her? She needed to show Su Yue who she really was. Ming Ansheng¡¯s actions didn¡¯t move Su Yue, and her pretty face remained aloof. She stared at Tang Feiling and asked, ¡°Do you know how to play the piano?¡± Tang Feiling smugly lifted her chin and answered, ¡°Of course.¡± She was the daughter of the prestigious Tang family. Horse riding, piano, golf ¡ªall of which were basic lessons any child of a wealthy family had to learn. ¡°Good!¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°We¡¯re not allowed to go to the washrooms and after drinking the bottle, we take turns to play a tune on the piano. Everyone here can decide who the winner is.¡± Su Yue had amazed everyone. The girl seemed frail and delicate, so why was she so confident? They haven¡¯t had such detailed and crazy drinking challenges before. It startled Tang Feiling. With gritted teeth, she replied, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue grabbed the bottle and said to the waiter, ¡°Open the bottle for me, please.¡± Xuxu hurriedly rose to stop her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± How could she drink? Besides that, Tang Feiling wasn¡¯t someone to trifle with. Su Yue turned to smile at her. ¡°Third sister-in-law, if I get drunk, can you send me home?¡± It shocked Xuxu! ¡®Yueyue, if I get drunk, can you send me back home?¡¯ She said that to her before and that time, she felt terrible and upset. Was Su Yue feeling the same way right now? Tang Feiling had intentionally provoked her and mocked her. Yueyue finally acted like how a normal person would or being crazy like someone her age ought to be! Xuxu felt relieved all of a sudden and she nodded firmly. ¡°Sure.¡± Chapter 845. Finished Drinking Seeing her nod her head, Ming Ansheng grew anxious that he wanted to stop her. However, Xuxu eyed him with a meaningful look, and he fell silent. Since her brother and her sister-in-law didn¡¯t stop her, why should he? At most, he could only criticize Tang Feiling, this bothersome woman. The waitress opened two bottles of red wine for Su Yue and Tang Feiling each. The entire atmosphere turned tensed and stifling all of a sudden. Su Yue poured the remaining content of her beverage into Xuxu¡¯s glass before filling it with red wine. She finished the wine in one gulp before refilling it with more. Witnessing this, everyone broke out in a cold sweat. Although Xuxu agreed to it, seeing the way Su Yue drank, her heart ached. She clenched her fists tightly. Tang Feiling didn¡¯t want to be outdone, so she also gulped down the wine¡ªglass after glass. During this stretch of time, no one spoke a word. There was complete silence. Even Zhou Shuang was unusually quiet. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face turned ashen, and his eyes were blazing with coldness as he stared at Tang Feiling. After drinking half a bottle, Xin Yanting suddenly leaned over to Yan Rusheng and whispered, ¡°Yan Rusheng, this other sister of yours is rather bold.¡± Her tone was full of admiration, but sarcasm filled her way of addressing Su Yue. Other sister¡­ Perhaps it was because Xin Yanting was seated next to Yan Rusheng that Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but feel she was like a beaming beacon¡ªany slight movement from Xin Yanting drew her attention away. The way she leaned closed to Yan Rusheng¡¯s ears seemed so intimate. Before Yan Rusheng could crane his neck to the side, Xuxu fixed her gaze on him, and he immediately stood up. All of a sudden, without warning, Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders accidentally hit Xin Yanting on her head. She gritted her teeth in pain. She stood up and stomped her feet as she pointed at Yan Rusheng who had already left his seat. ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you call yourself a man? Fancy hitting a woman.¡± Xuxu felt that Miss Xin loved making trouble with no rhyme or reason. If she hadn¡¯t leaned towards her husband, would he have knocked into her? Yan Rusheng ignored Xin Yanting and headed straight for Xuxu, stretching out his hand to hug her by the waist. Xuxu tried to dodge but didn¡¯t escape from his long arms. ¡°I really have no recollection about that ring.¡± Yan Rusheng guessed that Xuxu must bear a grudge regarding that ring incident that Xin Yanting brought up earlier on. Hence, he explained in a whisper, ¡°You should know that type of sweet was very popular when we were young. I swear I¡¯ve only exchanged rings with you alone.¡± Xuxu continued looking at Su Yue and disregarded Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng had already explained himself, but she still felt sore in her heart. She thought Xin Yanting wouldn¡¯t have made baseless claims. Yan Rusheng must have given the ring to her in the context of a candy with no further meaning. And just like her, she had kept the ring like a treasure when all these years. She had actually thought that her ring was the one and only. ¡°Wife, you got to trust me. My oath of undying love is for you only.¡± Oblivious to the surrounding people, Young Master Yan kept pestering Xuxu like a sticky child. He bent down and placed his chin on her shoulders, occasionally pouting. ¡°Alright, stop being so disgusting.¡± Xuxu raised her shoulders to shrug him off and glared in annoyance. Amongst the crowd, a pair of eyes were staring at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng instead of Su Yue and Tang Feiling. Seeing their intimate behavior, there was a hint of regret and unwillingness in their eyes. ¡°Finished drinking, finished drinking.¡± Su Yue overturned the bottle and filled up the final glass to the brim. She raised the glass to her mouth and gulped it down. Chapter 846. Your Turn The wine was liquid after all. Even if the entire bottle of wine caused no adverse effect on the body, it was enough to make one¡¯s tummy feel bloated, and so Sue drunk more slowly. All of a sudden, someone took the lead and applauded. ¡°Marvelous. This little pretentious one was indeed superb!¡± That¡¯s right, it was Zhou Shuang again. After she took the lead, the rest followed suit. They applauded Su Yue to encourage her. Finally, Su Yue raised her head in a heroic manner and left not a drop of wine in her bottle. ¡°Wonderful!¡± There was an outburst of clapping among the group. Tang Feiling also finished the last drop of her wine. Seeing everyone turn their attention on Su Yue, she burst with rage that her alcohol flushed face turned even redder. She put down her wineglass, looked at Su Yue haughty. ¡°We still need to play the piano.¡± Su Yue looked at her and mumbled, ¡°You first.¡± Tang Feiling arrogantly raised her chin. There was a hint of a disdainful smile at the corners of her mouth. ¡°You go first. Otherwise, people will say that I bully a kid.¡± Su Yue¡¯s response was unenthusiastic as usual. ¡°I¡¯ve read the story about Kong Rong giving up the bigger pears for his older brothers, so you go first.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve all heard her. She insisted that I go first. So don¡¯t accuse me of bullying her.¡± Tang Feiling looked at everyone in the room before walking towards the piano. She knew her own alcohol limits. She would definitely be tipsy after finishing an entire bottle of wine and won¡¯t be able to hold up much longer. That was why she didn¡¯t insist and had refused Su Yue¡¯s suggestion. Since the alcohol hadn¡¯t taken its full effect in her body, she wanted to seize the opportunity to play a beautiful piece for everyone to triumph over that wretched lass. Tang Feiling sat in front of the piano and placed her hands on the keys. She put on a smile at everyone before moving her fingers. She played the popular piece ¡®Ode to Joy¡¯ by Beethoven. She sat upright and nimbly moved her fingers along the keys while maintaining a confident smile at the corners of her mouth. But the alcohol took effect much faster than she had expected. Her head spun, and she hit the wrong notes at a certain part. It wasn¡¯t obvious to those who didn¡¯t play the piano but where she was at, who couldn¡¯t play the piano? Especially Yan Rusheng. There was a hint of ridicule at the corners of his mouth. Xuxu saw this, and she knitted her eyebrows. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She was clueless about the piano. She learned it when she was young, but gave up in the end for she realized she didn¡¯t have an innate musical talent. If someone asked her to play it impromptu, she would probably play a few pieces that she had played before. Then again, she wouldn¡¯t be able to play it well. Yan Rusheng smiled and leaned over to Xuxu. He whispered, ¡°Out of tune.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Baffled, Xuxu frowned. How come she didn¡¯t notice it? Furthermore, this was one of her favorite pieces, and she was drawn to the song right from the start. ¡°Ode to joy. I¡¯ve finished playing. Thank you.¡± Tang Feiling held on to the piano frame and slowly stood up before taking an elegant bow at everyone. In actual fact, she was buying time for she was feeling extremely dizzy. If she were to step out in a haste, she would take a stumble. ¡°Great.¡± After someone took the lead and applauded, the rest followed suit. Even Young Master Yan also ¡®gave face¡¯ and clapped as he fixed his gaze at Ming Ansheng meaningfully. Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression turned solemn. He was the only one in the group who didn¡¯t sound his applause. Hearing the thunderous claps, Tang Feiling felt smug and moved towards Su Yue and said, ¡°Your turn.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue¡¯s face had turned flush from the effects of the alcohol. She nodded at Tang Feiling and prepared to walk towards the piano. Chapter 847. Shes Pretty Xuxu was worried for her, and so she reached out to support her. However, Su Yue was quick to decline. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I can manage.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± At first, everyone believed that she was fine, but after hearing her laughter, they broke out in a cold sweat¡ªit was obvious that she was tipsy. Most especially Xuxu. She leaned close to her and asked softly, ¡°If you can¡¯t, then don¡¯t force yourself. You¡¯re still a child, so it¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Su Yue waved her hand and shook her head. Her high ponytail swayed left and right with her actions. ¡°I can do it.¡± From her action and voice, one could tell she was already drunk. But because she was insistent, Xuxu didn¡¯t stop her. Instead, she followed closely behind just in case she stumbled. Su Yue walked over to the piano, and her buttocks landed on the piano chair in a sluggishly. Placing both hands on the piano keys, she looked at everyone just like Tang Feiling did. ¡°Haha..¡± She also flashed a smile that was unique. Tang Feiling¡¯s smile was classy and elegant, whereas Su Yue¡¯s laugh was full of youth. It fit well with her cute and flushed face. It captivated the hearts of all the brothers and sisters present. ¡°I will play now,¡± informed Su Yue. And she began. When the music sounded, everyone¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Pfft!¡± The most unreserved and unrestrained Zhou Shuang scoffed with a loud ¡®pfft¡¯when she heard her playing. Xuxu turned and shot her a menacing glare, commanding her to shut her mouth. Zhou Shuang immediately covered her mouth with her hand and looked at the little girl who was happily playing on the piano. However, she couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing again. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Despite the circumstances handed on her plate, Su Yue was completely absorbed in her own world. Her surroundings did not distract her in the slightest, for she was fully engrossed in what she was doing. ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± Xuxu pinched Zhou Shuang hard on her buttocks. ¡°Two tigers, two tigers running fast¡ªrunning fast.¡± Zhou Shuang stopped laughing. She sang and danced joyfully to the tune. With a dance accompanist, Su Yue played with more enthusiasm and the childish laughter on her face made her even more cute and lovable. ¡°This silly lass!¡± Ming Ansheng had a steady gaze on Su Yue, and he couldn¡¯t resist her childish charm. His cold expression turned into a smile that resembled a blooming flower in the spring. Other than him, the joyful tune tickled Jiang Zhuoheng. Leaning back on his chair, his mouth curled into a smile. ¡°This little lass is rather cunning.¡± Xin Yanting, who was leaning casually against her chair and looking at Su Yue, broke into a fit of laughter. ¡°But I like her. She¡¯s not only pretty but also full of character.¡± After that, she averted her gaze towards Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng glanced at her without speaking a word. After Su Yue finished playing her song, she stood up and staggered towards the table. Xuxu was afraid she might fall, so she rushed forward to hold her. Su Yue had livened up the atmosphere and seeing Ming Ansheng so amused with the lass, hatred filled every part of Tang Feiling¡¯s heart. She looked at Su Yue with disdain. ¡± Hmph, what kind of music was that?¡± Su Yue pouted as she blinked her eyes at her. ¡°Never heard of it before? Two tigers.¡± From her tone, she seemed to imply ¡®Haven¡¯t you ever heard of two tigers before? What a country bumpkin!¡¯ Tang Feiling laughed as she asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on piano pieces? Is it because you don¡¯t know how to play the piano?¡± Since alcohol had muddled her brain, she felt terrible and just leaned towards the dining table, fearful of moving an inch. Her mind was filled with nothing but envy, jealousy, and hatred. Chapter 848. Yan Rusheng, You’re a Jerk Her hatred for Su Yue was written all over her face. Su Yue still maintained the innocent and harmless look on her face. ¡°Any music played using the piano is known as a piano piece.¡± ¡°You¡¯re obviously acting dumb.¡± Tang Feiling snarled. ¡°Since you¡¯re still a child, it¡¯s fine for me to give in to you. But you shouldn¡¯t be feigning dumbness.¡± Her voice got louder. Su Yue impatiently knitted her eyebrows. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore and don¡¯t talk to me, too. You¡¯re too noisy.¡± She waved her hand and walked back to her seat to sit down. The alcohol had made her throat dry, so she took Xuxu¡¯s beverage and gulped it in one down. Tang Feiling couldn¡¯t take it lying down. She pressed her hands on the table to support herself and took a huge step towards Su Yue. She threw her some dagger stares. ¡°What kind of attitude is this? You¡¯re the one who said you wanted to drink an entire bottle to see who has a higher tolerance for alcohol. Not only are you feigning dumb, but you had the cheek to say that I¡¯m in the wrong?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really noisy. I don¡¯t like you at all.¡± Su Yue stretched out her hands and gave Tang Feiling a push before turning back to hug Xuxu. She pressed her face on her tummy and gently massaged it. She said, ¡°Little babies come quick and call me auntie.¡± All of them were speechless. The little lass was heavily drunk. Su Yue¡¯s push caused Tang Feiling to stumble a few steps backward and almost fell. She was about to confront Su Yue when Ming Ansheng¡¯s cold voice sounded from behind. ¡°Tang Feiling, it¡¯s enough!¡± The next moment, his towering figured rushed towards her and grabbed her arm, dragging her out of the room. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what are you trying to do?¡± Someone immediately ran after them, for the person was afraid that Ming Ansheng might use physical force on Tang Feiling. He looked especially frightening as though he was about to shred Tang Feiling into pieces. ¡°Mingzi, quickly follow after them. Tang Feiling is Old Master Tang¡¯s precious!¡± After Ming Ansheng had dragged Tang Feiling away, the dining room quietened down. Everyone stared at each other. ¡°Tang Feiling is really a low class. It¡¯s meaningless to get so tough and serious with a kid.¡± Xin Yanting frowned and said, ¡°No wonder she kept ranting that Ming Ansheng did not like her and did not want to accompany her to this dinner. If I was a man, I¡¯d also not fall for a dumb woman like her.¡± They had been friends for so many years, and what she had witnessed made her jaws drop. All of them were speechless. She made it sound as if she was full of wisdom. Even though at times she talks without thinking twice, what she said was true. No one would want a woman like Tang Feiling. Putting past incidents aside, just the way she kept harping on Su Yue earlier was enough for people to despise her. Su Yue was still tightly hugging Xuxu by her thighs, but her eyes were closed and she seemed half asleep. What was the feeling after drinking an entire bottle of wine? Xuxu couldn¡¯t imagine, and so she just kept stroking Su Yue¡¯s face, feeling sorry for her. She looked at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Su Yue is drunk. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Yan Rusheng lightly nodded his head. ¡°Mm.¡± After that, he raised his feet and walked back to his seat to retrieve his jacket. Xin Yanting suddenly stood up and looked at Yan Rushen. She questioned him in a huff. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you intend to leave just like that?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t even bother to look at her. He took his jacket and walked away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re such a jerk!¡± Xin Yanting angrily stomped her feet and her slender waist violently swayed. Seeing such an event, everyone thought Miss Xin was dumber than Tang Feiling. Behaving so coquettishly and blatantly seducing someone else¡¯s husband before everyone¡¯s eyes. Chapter 849. Two Tigers Thankfully, Xuxu was brought up well and had a good temper. If it was another woman¡­ No, how about picking one woman present as an example? Zhou Shuang! If it was Zhou Shuang, she would go up to her and give her two tight slaps. Xuxu disregarded Xin Yanting as usual and smiled at the rest. ¡°Everyone, Su Yue is already drunk, so we¡¯re going home first.¡± ¡°Better go. That little girl is quite a good drinker.¡± ¡°Indeed, definitely a better drinker than Xuxu.¡± Xuxu smiled and helped Su Yue up before looking at Yan Rusheng. ¡°You better piggyback her.¡± He didn¡¯t dare to refuse his wife¡¯s command and immediately bent over with his back facing Su Yue. Witnessing such a scene, everyone¡¯s jaw dropped. They widened their eyes in disbelief. Was this really Yan Rusheng? Did they see wrongly? Yan Rusheng ignored their bewildered stares and carried Su Yue out of the room with Xuxu trailing behind. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Zhao Zheng suddenly ran after her. Xuxu halted her steps and turned back. She had a puzzled look when she faced Zhao Zheng. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Zheng also stopped in his steps and stood about a meter away from Xuxu. He smiled and waved at her. ¡°Goodbye!¡± There was a trace of unwillingness in his eyes. Xuxu smiled. ¡°Goodbye.¡± After that, she turned back and ran after Yan Rusheng. ¡°Is that bespectacled guy still harboring unwholesome thoughts towards you?¡± Yan Rusheng asked in annoyance. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Xuxu. Xuxu crudely brushed him off. ¡°Stop it and move on.¡± Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t let me see him again.¡± This time around, he felt inconvenience with Su Yue on his back. They alighted into the car, and Xuxu helped Su Yue to sit upright before sitting next to her at the back passenger seats. When the car moved down the road, Su Yue suddenly hugged Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m feeling awful.¡± ¡°Where are you feeling unwell?¡± Xuxu gently patted Su Yue on her back. She gently chided, ¡°Silly girl, why did you drink so much when you know you can¡¯t drink?¡± ¡°I can drink. I can drink a lot.¡± Su Yue refused to admit defeat. ¡°It¡¯s just that I drank too fast.¡± She wildly waved her hands in the air as she answered. Xuxu was half-exasperated and half-amused. ¡°You¡¯re still so young, where did you learn to drink?¡± Su Yue turned over to lie down, placing her head on Xuxu¡¯s thighs. He had a tipsy look on her face as she looked at Xuxu. She smirked and said, ¡°The winter was freezing and there was no heater. So I went to steal some alcohol from the security and after one glass, it warmed up my body.¡± As she said that, she lifted one finger and repeatedly mumbled, ¡°After one glass, it warmed up my body.¡± Hearing this, Xuxu felt a stinging pain in her eyes. She lightly caressed Su Yue¡¯s face with her thumb. Seeing that Su Yue had fallen asleep, she felt sorry for her and let out a sigh. ¡°Silly girl.¡± She turned and peered out of the window. The car window was wound down, the wind blew and dried up the tears in her eyes. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want to tell you a secret.¡± Su Yue suddenly woke up. Xuxu was dumbstruck for a moment before lowering her eyes at her. She knitted her eyebrows in bewilderment and asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I only knew how to play two tigers. It was my brother who taught me,¡± said Su Yue and then laughed. She broke out into a song all of a sudden. ¡°Two tigers¡­ two tigers¡­¡± Halfway through, she fell asleep again. ¡°Cheeky.¡± Xuxu affectionately smiled and stretched her hand to retrieve Yan Rusheng¡¯s jacket from the front passenger seat. She gingerly placed it over Su Yue¡¯s body. With Su Yue asleep, the car fell silent once more. Chapter 850. Can I Apply For Some Special Welfare Tonight? Xuxu slumped back on the car seat. She then peered out of the window in a daze. ¡®You promised to marry me when we grow up and even gave me a ring.¡¯ Xin Yanting¡¯s red plastic ring haunted her like a curse in her mind. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why are you being so petty? You know that Yan Rusheng doesn¡¯t care about the ring at all,¡± Xuxu inwardly chided herself. Yan Rusheng quietly glanced at Xuxu through the rearview mirror. He was sure that something was bugging her, and so he broke the silence. ¡°Wife, what made you so sad?¡± ¡°Just drive.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng. She continued looking at the passing scenery. Yan Rusheng knew that she was angry with him, and somehow he also knew the reason why. He turned his head and looked amused. ¡°Are you still thinking about that ring?¡± She was sullen and fuming, and she was obviously seething with jealousy. Yan Rusheng quickly pressed on. ¡°I don¡¯t even remember that I gave her that toy. Is it worth being angry with me over something so trivial?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not worth it indeed,¡± Xuxu sharply said. ¡°But what about you promising to marry her?¡± Wen Xuxu had displayed her jealousy so blatantly, and it was unusual of her. It secretly pleased Young Master Yan. ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything. Ever since I was a child, you are the only one on my mind. Why should I remember anything else that¡¯s unimportant?¡± Finally, his joke cheered up Xuxu. ¡°Sweet-talker.¡± She just felt uncomfortable that someone else had the same thing as her, more so Yan Rusheng gave it. However, she actually wasn¡¯t angry at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that you wanted to bring the lass out? I have some time in May. Where do you want to go?¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly asked. Xuxu replied, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until Yueyue¡¯s birthday is over. Let¡¯s go somewhere nearby.¡± It wasn¡¯t wise for her to travel long distances during her pregnancy. Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see to it.¡± Xuxu murmured and bent her head to gaze at Su Yue. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice floated from the front once more. ¡°Wife, can I apply for some special welfare tonight?¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She raised her head and glared at the man with a sly smile playing on his lips. His peach blossom-shaped eyes lit up with anticipation. She refused and said, ¡°No!¡± Yan Rusheng frowned in despair. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back.¡± The shameless guy was at it again, and this time he was trying to get his way using pity. Xuxu ignored him and turned her face away, but a blissful smile flitted across her face as she gazed at the night scenery. They pressed the doorbell, and the door swung open shortly. Su Yan had just come out of the shower with his damp hair, and he was wearing a bathrobe. He saw Yan Rusheng carrying Su Yue on his back and it startled him. ¡°What happened?¡± He hastily stretched his hands towards Su Yue and caught a strong whiff of alcohol. He furrowed his eyebrows and glanced at Xuxu. ¡°Why did she drink so much?¡± Su Yan had merely asked a question, but Young Master Yan who had always felt an overwhelming protectiveness towards his wife interpreted it as an interrogation. He answered, ¡°She challenged a half-wit.¡± Half-wit¡­ The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. She wondered what Ming Ansheng would think if he heard his friend label his fianc¨¦e as a half-wit. But in her heart, she agreed that Tang Feiling was really a half-wit. Just like how she was since she was a child. Su Yan didn¡¯t press on and simply carried Su Yue and brought her back to her room. Chapter 851. Give Me a Kiss Xuxu volunteered. ¡°I¡¯ll help her wash up.¡± She removed her shoes and strode towards the bathroom. She then brought a basin of water. Su Yan had placed Su Yue on her bed and removed her shoes and socks. Xuxu placed the basin on the floor and wrung a cloth after she had dipped it into the water. She wiped her face and neck before removing her jacket. Su Yan watched her from a corner and waited until Xuxu was done before he bent to get the basin. He said, ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ve hired an assistant for you. She will report to work tomorrow.¡± Both of them conversed as they walked out of the room. Su Yan¡¯s words caught Yan Rusheng¡¯s attention, and he glanced warily at Su Yan. ¡°Is the assistant a lady or a man?¡± Su Yan ignored his wariness and casually replied, ¡°A girl and she is an intern who just graduated from university.¡± Xuxu nodded and didn¡¯t ask any questions. She walked to the bathroom with the basin. After Xuxu had made way inside the bathroom, Yan Rusheng looked at Su Yan with a cold gaze. ¡°I really wish that your company will go bust soon.¡± Su Yan snarled, ¡°I also wish that Flourish & Prosper would go bankrupt soon.¡± He paused before continuing. ¡°She is enjoying her work, so you should support her.¡± Yan Rusheng snorted. ¡°I know you have ulterior motives.¡± Su Yan replied in disdain, ¡°Not everyone is as petty as you. Stop trying to project your shortcomings on someone else.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a dry chuckle. ¡°Your use of idioms has improved.¡± Su Yan smugly rolled his eyes. Xuxu exited the bathroom and glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded as he walked towards Xuxu. ¡°See you tomorrow, Su Yan.¡± Xuxu waved goodbye. Su Yan nodded with a smile. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± He sent them out of the house and closed the door. ¡°That guy is looking at you in an ambiguous and suspicious way.¡± Yan Rusheng spun his head to glare at Su Yan¡¯s apartment with animosity. His jealousy rendered Xuxu speechless for a while. ¡°Can you stop being so petty? Who else has been looking at me in the correct way? Zhao Zheng? Ah Heng?¡± ¡°Argh, damn it!¡± Yan Rusheng bent and put his arms underneath Xuxu¡¯s thighs. The next second, he scooped her up without the effort. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re such a bothersome and alluring woman. Stop attracting the attention of other men!¡± He raised his legs and marched into the elevator. Xuxu got a shock when he lifted her up without warning. She tightly wound her arms around his neck and peered at him like a domineering queen. ¡± Hmph!Who is the one attracting the attention of other women? The ring is the evidence!¡± Yan Rusheng steered the conversation out of dangerous waters. ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± Xuxu punched him as she avoided him bashfully. ¡°Shameless!¡± ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± ¡°Stop it! We are in the elevator! Yan Rusheng!¡± ¡­ It was a Monday and there was a usual management meeting. Yan Rusheng returned to his office after the meeting, and he was surprised when he opened the door. However, he quickly reverted to his calm and aloof self. ¡°First Aunt.¡± ¡°President.¡± Qiao Jian had just returned and was about to announce Jiang Qinglian¡¯s arrival. When he saw that Yan Rusheng had already met her, he clammed up. Jiang Qinglian was sitting on the couch with a cup of tea. With a soft tone of voice, she said, ¡°I¡¯m here to look for Attorney Xiao.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond and simply strode into the room and shut the door. His phone rang, so he whipped it out from his pocket. After glancing at the screen, he answered. Chapter 852. Do Try to Console Her ¡°President Yan, First Madam just called me to meet her at the company.¡± Attorney Xiao was on the other line. ¡°Got it,¡± Yan Rusheng replied and hung up. ¡°I¡¯ll go outside to wait for him.¡± Jiang Qinglian slung her handbag over her arm and rose to leave. She was wearing high heels, and her originally chubby figure had visibly shrunk in the last few days. Yan Rusheng watched as Jiang Qinglian left. The words he wanted to say seemed to choke his throat. He held his white porcelain cup and took a sip of the coffee that had gone cold. He then placed it down. He turned on his laptop and began working. After an hour, Attorney Xiao arrived. He was carrying a briefcase that seemed to be bursting with documents. He walked towards Yan Rusheng and offered a bow of respect. ¡°President.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head and slumped against the back of his chair. He propped a hand on the arm of his swivel chair and massaged his temples. Attorney Xiao briefly scanned him. He seemed to hesitate before he carefully spoke. ¡°First Madam has instructed me to sign the transfer documents in the afternoon.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± He sounded exhausted. Attorney Xiao became hesitant and whispered, ¡°First Madam, she¡­ wanted to sell her shares to¡ª¡± Yan Rusheng finished his sentence on his behalf. ¡°Paramount.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face visibly darkened, and it made Attorney Xiao shudder a little. He bowed his head and didn¡¯t dare to make another sound. Paramount and Flourish & Prosper had a disagreement decades ago. When Old Madam Wang was alive, she had excellent connections that extended overseas. This made everyone in the industry look at her in awe of her capability and character. The only person who had an argument with her was Jiang Shaomei, who had recently become the CEO of Paramount. Paramount then wasn¡¯t as established and large as it was now. Its glory and achievements were all because of Jiang Shaomei. But her reputation wasn¡¯t as good for she had resorted to unscrupulous methods to achieve what she wanted. So, when Attorney Xiao wanted to break the news that Jiang Qinglian intended to sell her shares earlier on, Yan Rusheng was anxious for both himself and Jiang Qinglian. There were so many eager prospective buyers waiting to get a slice of Flourish & Prosper, and yet she chose Paramount. Was she intentionally trying to go against the Yan family and President Yan? ¡°You may leave,¡± Yan Rusheng said. He sounded cold and distant. Attorney Xiao didn¡¯t dare to dawdle and promptly left the room. After he had shut the door softly after him, he heard loud shattering sounds. Attorney Xiao badly trembled. The porcelain cup smashed into tiny fragments on the floor, and the coffee splashed everywhere. Yan Rusheng stood up and walked to the windows. As he walked, he adjusted his collar. ¡®Third Yan, I¡¯m leaving the company and the family in your care. You must promise me not to let the family fall apart. I didn¡¯t really take care of Rusen and Runan, and I know it¡¯s unfair to them. But your First Aunt is a good person, and if something, and I mean if anything really happens to your First Uncle¡¯s family, you have to step up to take charge. I feel that your First Aunt is the person I have let down the most in my entire life.¡¯ ¡®Your First Uncle and First Aunt¡¯s marriage is an interlinked arrangement. Your First Uncle¡¯s personality¡ªanyway, First Aunt had done a lot for the family. If she falls out with your First Uncle in the future, do try to console her.¡¯ Chapter 853. Too Awesome Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes were slightly bloodshot. He clenched his fists. ¡®You must promise me not to let the family fall apart¡­ Do try and console her¡­¡¯ No matter how far Grandmother had planned ahead, never would she have imagined that Yan Runan would commit such a crime. ¡­ Xuxu was barely getting used to her new job when something unfortunate happened in the family. After taking a break from work, she felt unaccustomed once more. She stared at the blank paper and couldn¡¯t seem to brew any inspirations. Su Yan said he would send the client¡¯s details over, and the client would be personally dropping by as well to get her measurements done. She thought perhaps she would be inspired when she met the client in person. Xuxu rested her head against her hand while she fiddled with a pencil, entering a daze. ¡°Sister Xuxu, it¡¯s time for lunch,¡± said her assistant as she knocked on her door. Xuxu responded and began tidying her desk. She then went down. Her assistant was from the Southern part of the country, and she had graduated from A University in the capital city. She was a petite and tiny girl who studied Finance but had a passion for photography. Xuxu followed her assistant down the staircase. Her assistant had placed the food on the coffee table at the reception area earlier on. Xuxu walked over and her assistant opened the containers. ¡°Li Qian, take a seat as well.¡± It was her first time stepping into society and it was her first job. The younger girl was a nerve wreck. Hence, Xuxu acted very warmly and friendly towards her. As she watched her assistant, it reminded her of herself when she had just graduated. Although Yan Rusheng often scolded her, she was constantly reminded of Grandmother. Hence, she didn¡¯t try to be too friendly or overly nice to her colleagues at Flourish & Prosper on purpose. She never thought she would be superior to others even with Grandmother backing her up. She just treated her job with a normal attitude. It was probably the reason everyone thought she was aloof and arrogant. Usually, most of the new employees, especially the girls, were all exceptionally polite and humble whenever they faced senior colleagues. They also ran errands or served tea. But when her colleagues got to know her better, they began to understand her character. ¡°Sister Xuxu, there you go.¡± Li Qian opened the container and scooped the rice into a bowl. She passed it to Xuxu. Her delicate face wore a bashful smile. Xuxu quipped. ¡°I can do it myself. You don¡¯t have to help me. Sit down and eat as well.¡± She took her own bowl and scooped some rice. She wasn¡¯t used to eating from a container. In the past, when she worked at Flourish & Prosper, she would also scoop rice into a bowl even though she bought food back for Yan Rusheng and herself every day. Li Qian held her bowl and sat across Xuxu. She took a piece of meat. As she ate, she gazed at Xuxu with admiration. ¡°Sister Xuxu, I heard that you graduated from X University. You¡¯re too awesome!¡± Xuxu grinned. ¡°You¡¯re from the Capital City¡¯s A University. Surely it¡¯s better than B City¡¯s X University?¡± Both universities were on par. Li Qian shook her head modestly. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that good. I heard that you did your postgraduate studies as well.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t take the intern¡¯s humble words to heart. She smiled and continued, ¡°Your school is considered the top in the Capital City in terms of facilities and educators.¡± She remembered that Zhao Zheng had told her so yesterday. Oh, and Zhao Zheng was teaching at A University. Li Qian pouted and replied, ¡°That¡¯s what our school claims and then it gradually spread across. Actually, we¡¯re not that good.¡± Xuxu wasn¡¯t really interested in this topic. Hence, she merely smiled quietly. She presumed that Li Qian must be quite inexperienced as it was her first job. She should be a chatty and lively girl in private. Chapter 854. Not Satisfied With Her as Her Designer Li Qian didn¡¯t continue the topic, and they ate their lunch in silence. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Su Yan arrived while they were still having lunch. He entered and called Xuxu¡¯s name. Xuxu glanced at him. His presence had her stunned, and a glint of surprise swiftly flashed across her eyes. A tall, slim, beautiful lady stood behind Su Yan. She had huge elaborate curls that rested on her shoulders. She wore a pair of over-sized sunglasses and an orange chiffon shirt paired with a pair of tight white pants. On her feet was a pair of shining crystal heels. Her outfit was trendy and vibrant, and she looked refreshing. ¡°Why did you have such a late lunch?¡± Xuxu was still slightly in a daze when Su Yan stood next to her. He peered at Xuxu¡¯s food and a crease appeared in between his eyebrows. Li Qian hastily stood up to explain. ¡°Today¡¯s food delivery was a little delayed since they were swamped with orders.¡± Xuxu realized Su Yan was beside her and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not that hungry, too.¡± She picked up her spoon and scooped some soup to drink. She slowly ate her food, ignoring the client. But the beautiful client didn¡¯t ignore her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what a coincidence.¡± Xin Yanting greeted Wen Xuxu and walked towards her. Her high heels produced loud thuds as she walked¡ªno one could ignore her presence. Xuxu slightly nodded and answered, ¡°Miss Xin. It is indeed a coincidence.¡± It surprised Su Yan. ¡°You know each other?¡± Xin Yanting crossed her arms and smugly lifted her chin. There was a light smirk that appeared on her face. ¡°Yan Rusheng¡¯s childhood sweetheart turned wife. And she almost became my cousin-in-law. Our ties go way deeper.¡± Her high and mighty tone made Su Yan annoyed. He frowned and his expression darkened. He turned to Wen Xuxu. ¡°Eat your lunch first.¡± Then he spoke to Xin Yanting. ¡°Miss Xin, let¡¯s go upstairs to choose the style you want.¡± Xin Yanting nodded and turned around in a huge stride. She followed Su Yan and walked towards the staircase. Her high heels were exceedingly flashy. Xuxu placed her cutlery down after Xin Yanting disappeared from sight. She frowned in frustration. So the client turned out to be Xin Yanting. How small could this world be? Li Qian stole a quick glance at Xin Yanting and inched nearer to Wen Xuxu. She whispered, ¡°Sister Xuxu, that lady seems so arrogant.¡± Xuxu smiled quietly as a response. She never enjoyed gossiping about others behind their back. Especially with a person she had just met. And besides, who knew if this person would relay gossip to others. ¡°Do you mean that Wen Xuxu will design all my ten outfits?¡± Xuxu could hear Xin Yanting¡¯s sharp voice from the moment she set foot on the second level. She was not satisfied with her as her designer. She halted her footsteps, and Su Yan¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°She is our fashion designer.¡± He sounded unyielding and exceedingly firm. Xuxu walked a few more steps towards her office and stopped once more. Su Yan and Xin Yanting turned to look at her. Xin Yanting turned her chin up as though she was despising Wen Xuxu. Her tone was full of contempt as she continued. ¡°According to what I know, Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t learn fashion design. After she had graduated, she started working at Flourish & Prosper and she doesn¡¯t have any experience in design.¡± She raised her eyebrows in displeasure. ¡°Aren¡¯t you looking down on me by getting her to design my outfits?¡± Chapter 855. Bring It On Anytime Su Yan smiled at her and articulated, ¡°My apologies, Miss Xin. Miss Wen is our only in-house designer. The celebrity Jue recently shot her photo book at our studio. Her imperial costumes, which were designed by Miss Wen, received a lot of good feedback.¡± He paused before continuing with a smile. ¡°But of course, if Miss Xin will not agree to it, then it¡¯ll be a pity. I¡¯m afraid you may have to source for another studio.¡± There was already a hint of impatience in his tone. Those who knew him were well aware that he worked according to his feelings. Xin Yanting knitted her eyebrows and raised her voice. ¡°What attitude is this?¡± As usual, Su Yan was nonchalant. ¡°How does Miss Xin want me to reply?¡± ¡°You. You.¡± Xin Yanting stomped her feet and snorted. A haughty snort was usually followed by a haughty departure. But instead, Miss Xin gritted her teeth and added, ¡°Alright, alright. Let her be my designer. We¡¯ll see how far her capabilities would go.¡± She clenched her fist tight before casting a vicious glare at Wen Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you better come up with some good designs.¡± It was literally a command. Hearing this, it displeased Su Yan. When he was about to open his mouth to speak, Wen Xuxu stopped him by casting a meaningful look towards him. Xuxu raised her feet and strode into the office with a faint smile on her face. ¡°Miss Xin is our client. So I¡¯ll definitely exert more effort and do my best. You can rest assured.¡± She knew that it would be no mean feat, for Xin Yanting would definitely seize this opportunity to make things difficult for her. ¡°You better.¡± Xin Yanting arrogantly snorted with her head up high. Seeing her acting in such a manner, Xuxu found it amusing. She had no further intention and found it unnecessary to haggle with her. What was there to quibble with an unreasonable and spoiled woman? A fleeting smile flashed across Xuxu¡¯s face. Su Yan caught her and also smiled as he averted his gaze at Xin Yanting. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh with an arrogant sight. He quipped, ¡°Let me take measurements for Miss Xin.¡± He reached out to grab the measuring tape and paper from the desk. Xin Yanting snorted again and crossed her arms on her chest like a queen waiting for Su Yan to ¡®wait on¡¯ her. Su Yan took the measuring tape and walked over to Xin Yanting. He faced her, and when he saw that she had folded her arms, he commanded, ¡°Put down your arms.¡± His attitude displeased Xin Yanting, but at the thought of him willing to accept her as his client, she swallowed her pride and put down her hands, allowing Su Yan to take her measurements. She swallowed her anger and suffered in silence, all because of¡ªshe glared menacingly at Wen Xuxu. ¡®Hmph.¡¯ All because she wanted to take the chance to deliberately make things difficult for Wen Xuxu¡ªthe bad woman who had let her cousin down. Her cousin treated her so well. Xuxu feigned ignorance at Miss Xin¡¯s hatred towards her and raised her feet to walk past her. By right, Xuxu should be the one taking the measurements. But knowing that Xin Yanting was a crafty and unruly person, Su Yan didn¡¯t want to put Xuxu in a difficult spot and took over this task from her. After they took the measurements, Su Yan saw Xin Yanting out of the door. He caught sight of Xuxu when he went back in. He lamented, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to escape from her.¡± Xuxu shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Bring it on anytime.¡± Su Yan laughed. ¡°Yes!¡± After seeing Xin Yanting, Xuxu¡¯s inspiration flowed. Holding a pen in her hand, a devilish grin appeared on her angelic face. Chapter 856. My Queen As she thought about it, she started sketching. ¡­ Yan Rusheng came over to pick Xuxu at 7 in the evening. Xuxu had lost track of the time for work had her tied up. Since the main door was closed, Yan Rusheng called Xuxu, and she came down to open the door. When he stepped in, he scanned the empty and quiet living room. He frowned. ¡°I thought you had an assistant? Where¡¯s the girl?¡± Why was his wife left alone in the office? ¡°She already knocked off,¡± replied Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯ll just go up and grab my bag.¡± She spun on her heels and ascended the stairs. Yan Rusheng followed behind as he surveyed the surroundings once more. He wasn¡¯t at all pleased with the work environment. There were only a few people in such a huge office. Furthermore, Xuxu was all alone at that time of night. Wasn¡¯t she afraid? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu came down and walked over to Yan Rusheng. She then held his arm. As they walked, she continued to converse with him. ¡°Do you want to guess the client that I mentioned yesterday?¡± ¡°Is it someone I know?¡± replied Yan Rusheng in a calm and unhurried tone of voice. He then lifted his eyebrows. Xuxu sneered. ¡± Hmph. Your little lover from the past.¡± Yan Rusheng chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re referring to Xin Yanting?¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve finally admitted that she¡¯s your little lover?¡± Xuxu withdrew her hand from Yan Rusheng in a huff, and she strode towards the main door. As she hastened her steps, her waist started swaying from side to side that Yan Rusheng found it amusing. He also quickened his steps and caught up with her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you shouldn¡¯t behave in this manner.¡± He stopped in front of Xuxu intending to tease her. But Xuxu coldly raised her chin. ¡± Hmph. Hmph. Hmph! ¡± She stormed off after that. It wasn¡¯t Wen Xuxu¡¯s usual behavior for she was hardly so cheeky. Yan Rusheng smiled and asked, ¡°Where did you learn such haughty behavior from?¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°I picked it up from your little lover.¡± She walked to the car and opened the back passenger seat door. Yan Rusheng hurriedly ran up to her and stopped her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you my lover, wife, and sweetheart?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pacify me with your glib tongue.¡± Xuxu forcefully flung her hand away from Yan Rusheng before pointing to her office entrance. She commanded, ¡°Go and turn off the light and lock the door.¡± ¡°Yes, my queen.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded politely and turned back. He shook his head in amusement. He was being ordered around like a slave, and yet he actually felt blissful. Could it be what people meant by ¡®cheap¡¯ ? While he went to close the door, Xuxu got into the back seat of the car. Yan Rusheng expected it. After he had gotten into the car and fastened his seatbelt, he turned back and asked Xuxu, ¡°My queen, I¡¯ve already locked the door. We can set off now.¡± Xuxu massaged her tummy and grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m famished.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Then would you prefer to have dinner at home or outside?¡± Xuxu responded, ¡°I want to eat pan-fried dumpling from Chen¡¯s Restaurant.¡± Her instant reply made it obvious that she had thought about it earlier on. The restaurant was famous for its pan-fried dumpling, and there¡¯s always a long queue for it. With such a choice, the bothersome woman was obviously venting her anger on him. If he was correct, the moment they reached the restaurant, she would surely ask him to queue for it. He won¡¯t be allowed to make any special request to the restaurant manager. But there¡¯s nothing he could do. As Yan Rusheng mulled over it, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. So he shook his head before speeding off. He turned on the CD player and the music that came on made Xuxu¡¯s heart to skip a bit. She lifted her head to look at the man at the driver¡¯s seat and caught a glimpse of melancholy from his side profile. Chapter 857. What Would Be His Reaction? Xuxu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She asked, ¡°Ah Sheng, is something troubling you?¡± Yan Rusheng snapped out of his daze and turned back to smile at Xuxu. An eyebrow of his shot up. Her question had baffled him. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You have not played this CD for a long time,¡± Xuxu said. ¡°I remember in the past that you would only listen to this CD when you¡¯re feeling troubled.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yan Rusheng hadn¡¯t realized, but now that Xuxu mentioned it, he started recollecting memories for a moment and realized that she was right. Indeed, Xuxu understood him much better than himself at times. As he thought of it, he smiled and shook his head. ¡°Nothing. I just happened to choose it randomly.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu knew that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want to talk about unhappy matters with her. Hence, she didn¡¯t probe any further. Actually, she already knew in her heart that First Aunt¡¯s selling off her shared had deeply troubled him. So most likely, it was because of such a matter again. The nostalgic music coupled with sounds of streaming water reverberated in the car. Xuxu propped one elbow on the window and peered out, her eyes showing a mix of complex emotions. Yan Rusheng stole a few glances from the rear mirror. With a smile, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Xuxu retracted her gaze and looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Let me go and have a talk with First Aunt.¡± Even though she knew that First Aunt was determined, what else could she do? How else could she share his burdens? If the person wasn¡¯t First Aunt, she would know for sure that Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares wouldn¡¯t have gotten into the hands of outsiders. If he could buy back all the shares from the minor shareholders within a week, why couldn¡¯t he prevent the shares from being sold? This time, he lost it to kinship. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± He sounded calm and collected. Even a hint of a smile was detected at the corners of his mouth. Xuxu widened her mouth in shock, but Yan Rusheng turned around and was quick to comfort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. We¡¯ll talk about it again later.¡± His comfort made Xuxu¡¯s heart uneasy. She sat up straight and held on to the front seat for support, and then she stared at him. ¡°Who did First Aunt transfer her shares to?¡± This person must be extremely wealthy and powerful to be able to buy 30% of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares. ¡°Paramount!¡± replied Yan Rusheng and his tone of voice was nonchalant as usual. Xuxu clenched her fingers that her nails almost dug into the leather of the car seat. ¡°Paramount.¡± She was dumbfounded. ¡°Ah Heng¡¯s Aunt?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded lightly with an ¡®Mm¡¯ . First Aunt must have done it on purpose. Wasn¡¯t she aware of the many disagreements between Grandmother and Paramount in the past? Didn¡¯t she know that Grandmother despised Paramount all these while? Yet, she chose to do it that way. Xuxu felt a chill residing in her heart. As she looked at Yan Rusheng, tears started brimming in her eyes. ¡°Has the contract been signed?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°This Friday, they will officially send people to station at the office.¡± Paramount sending their people to Flourish & Prosper? What a major insult! Xuxu was in a daze. ¡°Does Father know about this?¡± Every tendon in her hands seemed to pop up. A ball of fire surged in her heart. ¡°Not yet.¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to break the news to him.¡± He had informed Attorney Xiao to keep this matter under wraps for the time being. Xuxu¡¯s tone sounded certain. ¡°So is this what worries you the most?¡± Yan Rusheng took a deep breath. Worry filled his face. He added, ¡°He had just gone through a heart surgery not too long ago.¡± Xuxu lowered her eyes and remained silent. Yes, indeed. What would be his reaction if he knew that First Aunt had sold the shares to Paramount? Chapter 858. Within 100 Seconds How many shocks could his frail body withstand? ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± She had lost her appetite because of such troubling matters. Yan Rusheng raised a brow. ¡°I thought you wanted to eat pan-fried dumpling?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t feel like eating anymore.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned. ¡°Your husband can still afford to buy you a few dumplings.¡± Xuxu chuckled and teased, ¡°After we handover the company to our children in the future, let¡¯s start a dumpling shop.¡± She yearned to live a carefree life with him¡ªa life she truly wanted. But in reality, how many Aunt Mu Li and Second Uncle Yan could there be in this world? Yan Rusheng nodded in agreement. ¡°Good idea and you¡¯ll become the dumpling beauty.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face turned crimson. ¡°I¡¯m not beautiful enough to be called a beauty.¡± She reached out to feel her flushed face. Under the dimly lit night, her eyes sparkled like a crystal clear spring. They made Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart palpitate, and he smiled. ¡°Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face became redder, and she quickly averted her gaze to peer out of the window. Yan Rusheng insisted on bringing her to buy the dumplings, and as they had expected, there was a long queue at Chen¡¯s dumpling restaurant. ¡°You wait here while I go and buy,¡± instructed Yan Rusheng as he unfastened his seatbelt. After that, he opened his car door and got off. Xuxu also followed suit and opened the door. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Before Yan Rusheng could respond, she had already gotten off the car, closed the door, and went forward to hold his hand. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°If you follow me, I won¡¯t be able to flaunt my face.¡± It rendered Xuxu speechless. She knew that this chap had the intention to use his face to his advantage. Yan Rusheng pointed to the shop. ¡°Look at those in the queue. The majority are ladies. So if you don¡¯t come with me, perhaps I might not even need to queue.¡± Xuxu sneered and didn¡¯t believe his words. ¡°Tch, stop boasting.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows and a cunning expression flashed across his eyes. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet. Within 100 seconds, I¡¯ll be able to get everyone to willingly agree to let me buy first.¡± Within 100 seconds, to get everyone to agree to let him buy first? It would mean that within 100 seconds, everyone would agree to let him jump the queue? All the more, Xuxu refused to believe. ¡°What¡¯s the bet?¡± Perhaps those ladies might cave in. But would those men, especially the old uncles or aunties give in to him as well? So what if he¡¯s the President of Flourish & Prosper? Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, it secretly delighted Yan Rusheng that he eagerly laid out the bet. ¡°If I succeed, you must throw yourself at me tonight.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She knew it. When Xuxu remained silent, Yan Rusheng got anxious. ¡°So?¡± He anxiously waited with an expectant heart. Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but nod in agreement. ¡°Okay, but if you didn¡¯t succeed, don¡¯t ever talk to me again about such things until after our babies are born.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng was over the moon, and he bent over to give Xuxu a peck on her cheek. ¡°Wife, you have to honor your words.¡± After that, he turned around and ran to the dumpling shop while Xuxu remained at the same spot. With arms crossed, she leaned back on the car and couldn¡¯t help but smile at the man who was bursting with energy. From head to toe, she liked every bit of him, and she¡¯s unable to stop herself from liking him¡ªshe just couldn¡¯t explain why. However. Yan Rusheng ran up to the shop and waved at the crowd. ¡°Everyone, my wife is pregnant, and she¡¯s been quite bad-tempered. Since the day she was pregnant, she had been sleeping separately from me. Tonight, she wants to eat the dumplings from this shop and she said that if I¡¯m able to buy the dumplings for her within 100 seconds, she¡¯ll come to my bed tonight. So my happiness now depends on all of you. Let me give all of you a treat tonight.¡± Chapter 859. I Really Feel Like Strangling You As he had only 100 seconds, he spoke like a machine gun, and yet his tone still sounded earnest. Hearing this, everyone nodded. ¡°Then young lad, you buy first.¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead and buy first.¡± ¡°Thank you, everyone.¡± Yan Rusheng politely bowed at them and heaved a sigh of relief. There were actually still many good-hearted people in this world. He swiftly fished out his money and turned back to wink cheekily at Xuxu who was standing not too far away. There was a smug look on his face. However, he was oblivious to his wife¡¯s expression. Her face by then had darkened, and she had clenched her fists into tight balls. Yan Rusheng walked to the entrance of the shop and said to the workers, ¡°Give me three taels of pan-fried dumplings, one tale of vegetable dumplings, and two taels of meat dumplings. As for the balance dumplings that you have, I¡¯ll buy them all and distribute equally to everyone in the queue. After that, he handed a few pieces of 100 yuan notes to the shop worker as payment for the dumplings. Since he was pressed for time, he paid in excess. Even if he was shortchanged, he couldn¡¯t care less. The worker remained silent upon seeing his face. He immediately followed his instructions and packed the dumplings for him. ¡°Here.¡± Yan Rusheng took them over and dashed forward to Xuxu with eager steps. An old lady¡¯s voice sounded from behind him. ¡°Young man, be more careful since she¡¯s pregnant, especially during the first trimester.¡± The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Why was this old lady so concerned?¡¯ ¡°Wife, yours.¡± Yan Rusheng ran over to Xuxu in one breath and happily handed the dumplings to her. After that, he fished out his cellphone from his pocket and showed the screen to Xuxu. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve only used up 80 seconds.¡± When Xuxu saw the stopwatch on Yan Rusheng¡¯s cellphone screen, her eyes instantly widened. ¡°You.¡± This fellow had already pre-planned this. He already prepared his cellphone stopwatch in advance. No wonder he had fished out his phone while he ran over to the stall earlier on. He had already dug a hole for her to jump in. As Xuxu mulled over this, she glared at Yan Rusheng in annoyance. ¡°What do you mean when you said that your wife was pregnant and had a bad temper?¡± ¡°My wife. Don¡¯t be too petty over such details. The dumplings are turning cold.¡± As Yan Rusheng tried to cover up, it made matters worse. He placed his arm on Xuxu¡¯s shoulders and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home and get intimate.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Yan Rusheng, could you be more reserved?¡± The words used by the hooligan sounded like it was nothing out of the ordinary. Yan Rusheng lightly patted Xuxu¡¯s tummy. He then raised his eyebrows. ¡°If I was reserved, would your tummy bear fruits?¡± Miss Wen was feeling embarrassed, and she clenched her fists to punch him forcefully on his shoulders. She protested, ¡°Hate you.¡± Yan Rusheng carried her up in one go. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, just be more proactive tonight.¡± He spun round and round at the same spot with Xuxu in his arms. ¡°Young chap, she¡¯s pregnant. Take it easy.¡± The familiar old lady¡¯s voice sounded from behind again. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face darkened as he turned back. An old lady and an old man walked past them, hand in hand. Seeing that scene, Xuxu¡¯s heart was yearning. ¡°How nice. They¡¯re still so loving at this age.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°How do you know that they didn¡¯t marry at middle age? Or perhaps they¡¯re still dating? Aren¡¯t there many old age dating programs recently?¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched. It had her dumbfounded. This malicious-tongued fellow. It was clearly a beautiful longing, and yet he was like a piece of rat feces, spoiling the entire conversation. What other beautiful things could there be in his world? ¡°Yan Rusheng, I really feel like strangling you!¡± Xuxu glared hard at Yan Rusheng as she gnashed her teeth in fury. Chapter 860. Someone is Coming. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face split into a wide mischievous grin. ¡°I¡¯ll gladly welcome you into my arms tonight. You¡¯re so petite and tiny. I¡¯m sure I can withstand your strength.¡± Xuxu had enough of Young Master Yan¡¯s nonsense and poked his shoulders. ¡°Hurry up. I¡¯m starving and I want to eat.¡± The smell of the food was enticing her. Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow with a seductive grin. ¡°That urgent? Should I drive the car to a secluded corner and let¡¯s try once in the car first?¡± Xuxu became stony-faced. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Hadn¡¯t this fellow teased her enough? Yan Rusheng saw that Xuxu was getting angry, and so he stopped. ¡°Home.¡± He was still carrying Xuxu when he turned to open the door. He then put her down. He turned on the radio, and the channel was blasting an upbeat song. Young Master Yan sang along in high spirits. ¡®How can people fall asleep with this exciting music¡­ Your unknown scent¡­ alluring and breathtaking charm¡­ killer heels have broken countless hearts¡­¡¯ He rarely sang, but this time around, he was totally immersed in the song. He even moved and danced along to the music. Xuxu watched his crazy antics, and it thoroughly amused her. ¡°Stop being crazy and drive properly!¡± Yan Rusheng kept a hand on the steering wheel while the other caressed Xuxu¡¯s chin gently. ¡®You¡¯re too beautiful and no matter what it takes, I want to use bricks to isolate you from the rest of the world¡­ My queen, I want to dominate your beauty¡­¡¯ Xuxu grinned as she watched the man behave like an innocent and carefree child. She took out a bun from the bag and tried to feed him. He opened his mouth and swallowed the whole dumpling. Since there was gravy inside the dumpling, it had oozed out the second he ate it. Gravy covered his while mouth as a result. Xuxu hastily wiped his mouth with tissues. ¡°Eat slowly. Why are you behaving like a child?¡± Yan Rusheng stepped on the brake without warning. But he still knew how to stop the car safely and gradually, and he had controlled the speed well. He stopped the car by the roadside and it puzzled Xuxu. ¡°Why did you stop?¡± ¡°Wife, I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± And the next moment, he hungrily pounced on her without waiting for a response. His massive body was on top of her in no time, and he slid a hand behind her waist. Another hand grabbed the back of her head. He began kissing her urgently and frantically. Xuxu widened her eyes in shock. ¡± How could he simply act on impulse?!¡± ¡°He must be out of his mind? We¡¯re by a roadside!¡± Her eyes anxiously darted left and right as cars passed by them. Was it really a good idea? Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of letting her go, for he had tightened his grip around her. Their tongues entwined, and he looked as if he couldn¡¯t wait to bury her inside of him right there and then. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re too seductive.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips finally retreated, and he murmured such words to her. He then proceeded to kiss her once more without giving her any chance to retaliate. His hands traveled down her body and underneath her clothes, exploring every corner of her body. His kisses trailed from her mouth down to her chin to her neck, then to her collarbones. ¡°Yan Rusheng, we are on a public road, let go of me!¡± Xuxu was writhing and struggling to break loose. The second she moved, the car jerked as well. He had kissed her too passionately earlier on, and she felt her lips had burned and in pain. It felt swollen too. But there was no way she had the strength to push the man away, and it made her frustrated. ¡± Thud, thud, thud.¡± Someone was knocking on the window, and it made Xuxu jump on her seat. She rapped, ¡°Someone is coming!¡± She peered out of the window and nervously glanced outside as if she had just stolen something. A traffic police officer stood outside their car. Chapter 861. Why Do You Need an Hour? Xuxu instantly turned scarlet. However, Yan Rusheng was still lazily resting against Xuxu and had his hand intertwined tightly with Xuxu¡¯s. He looked exceedingly calm and unruffled in the midst of everything happening. ¡­ completely ignoring the traffic police standing outside the car. Xuxu angrily nudged him. ¡°It¡¯s the traffic police. Get off me!¡± ¡°Wife, we are legally married and not having any secret affair,¡± he drawled. He stretched his neck to give her a kiss and even licking her lips. It frustrated Xuxu. ¡®This fellow !¡¯ She finally couldn¡¯t take it any longer and blow up. She bit his lips as hard as she could; it gave Yan Rusheng the shock of his life. Xuxu let him go only after she had tasted blood. She opened the window and smiled at the traffic police. ¡°Hi, Mr. Officer. What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to engage in intimate behavior on the road. First, it¡¯s unsafe. Second, it displays the wrong moral values to our society.¡± ¡°We¡­. no¡­ we¡¯re not¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s face was boiling hot as she waved her hands frantically to deny his accusations. But the officer had already issued a ticket. He sternly said, ¡°Besides, this is a traffic junction and no one is allowed to stop here. Here is your ticket.¡± Xuxu stretched her hands to receive the ticket. Using the light from outside, she read the details. ¡®Stopping on the road, engaged in intimate behavior.¡¯ She frowned at the details on the ticket. Xuxu implored the officer with no shame. ¡°Hi, Mr. Officer, could you amend the details on the tickets? We weren¡¯t engaged in any immoral activities. I swear.¡± The officer looked unconcerned. He responded, ¡°We have taken photos as evidence. If you have any disagreement, please follow us to the police station. Xuxu awkwardly laughed it off. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s alright!¡± If they really ended up at the police station, they would hit the headlines tomorrow with captions saying they had sex in the car. Xuxu furiously gritted her teeth and turned to glare at Yan Rusheng. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Yan Rusheng feigned innocence. He licked his bleeding lips, and his other hand still wounded around Xuxu¡¯s waist, underneath her clothes. Xuxu didn¡¯t dare to say anything with the officer still lingering around. She had to endure his wandering hands moving around ¡®indecently¡¯ since he was her husband. ¡°We got it. Thank you, officer,¡± Xuxu said and quickly wound the windows up. She turned around to lash out at Yan Rusheng with her claws bared. ¡°The gamble has been declined! If you dare to continue fooling around, then you shall be a monk forever!¡± Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow. He drawled, ¡°Do you believe that I will continue right now?¡± He spun his head to look over his shoulder, only to find out that the officer was still around. ¡°Drive!¡± Xuxu yelled. She was livid. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to be more proactive tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned cheekily as he straightened his back before pressing the ignition button. ¡­ ¡°What happened to both of your lips? Why are you both bleeding?¡± Madam Mu Li, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV, noticed their bleeding lips the second they stepped in. The reason was too obvious, and Xuxu remained mum. She bolted for the staircase with her face flushed. Yan Rusheng, who was trailing slowly behind, mischievously grinned. ¡°We fought.¡± Mu Li rose and walked to him. As she reprimanded him, she pinched him as hard as she could. ¡°You wretched son. Xuxu is pregnant, and you need to know your limits.¡± But she had the same sly smile as her son. When Xuxu turned around, she caught a glimpse of the sly smiles on their faces. They were indeed, mother and son. Yan Rusheng saw that Xuxu had already reached the second level. He hastily said to Mu Li, ¡°Tell the servants to prepare food. We¡¯ll be down in an hour.¡± He hastened his footsteps and ran up the steps. It puzzled Mu Li, so she asked, ¡°Why do you need an hour?¡± Chapter 862. Did You Think Of Us? Yan Rusheng ignored his mother. He caught up with Xuxu and dragged her into his room. He lifted her up before taking quick steps towards his bed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, we haven¡¯t showered,¡± Xuxu whispered with a frown. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± He bent his back to place Xuxu on the bed, and he purposely brushed his private part against her thigh. Xuxu instantly turned red and averted her eyes. She couldn¡¯t bear to meet Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes at that moment. She clenched the bedsheets with sheer nerves. Could she? Could she really do it? Xuxu repeatedly asked herself. She kept thinking it would hurt her babies as she had no prior experience. This was also the reason she wanted to sleep separately from him until she gave birth. During pregnancy, it was definitely not wise to do it often. What if¡­ an accident happened? Yan Rusheng gazed at Xuxu¡¯s flushed face, and he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation anymore. He climbed on top of her. ¡°Wife, where is your initiative?¡± His gentle and hoarse voice was full of seduction, and it made Xuxu¡¯s hairs stand. Her long eyelashes were also slightly trembling. She turned her head back towards him and soon fell into the depths of his gaze. ¡°I¡­¡± She opened her mouth to speak but the man¡¯s lips came crushing on hers, sealing her lips. Xuxu wanted to stretch her hands to push him away, but she had no idea why she didn¡¯t do it. It seemed that he had beguiled her, and incredibly, she wrapped her arms around his waist. This action had Yan Rusheng¡¯s body tighten, and his eyes were blazing with excitement and urgency. His kisses became more passionate and lingering. He used a hand to support himself while the other dove underneath Xuxu¡¯s clothes. His hand traveled upwards, caressing every inch of her body which was exceedingly inviting him there and then. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. ¡°Darling, be more proactive.¡± Yan Rusheng continued to use his peach blossom-shaped eyes and hoarse voice to beguile Xuxu. Xuxu was still very bashful but soon surrendered to Yan Rusheng¡¯s bewitching gaze and eyes. Her hands began to slide towards his collar. She mustered the courage to undress him and unbuttoned his shirt. Her slender and fair hands seemed like a perfect match with his crystal clear buttons. Yan Rusheng thought how wonderful it would be if this pair of hands could undress him every day. Evidently, Xuxu wasn¡¯t that experienced in this area. She was badly trembling, and her movements were clumsy. Yan Rusheng peered at her. He admired her hunger and with a playful smile. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me,¡± Xuxu whined and stopped her movements. Yan Rusheng wiped off his smile, and he brushed his lips lightly across her cheek. ¡°Alright, I shall not look at you. Darling, just continue.¡± He lowered his head to continue kissing her. He even arched his back to give Xuxu ample room for her to unbutton his shirt. This was the first time she was helping Yan Rusheng to undress while he was conscious. She was so shy and so embarrassed. Her mind kept wandering to the past when he always mocked her for being unwomanly. And Yan Rusheng would always despise and grumble that about her. Now they were so intimate¡­ to such an extent. She had no idea if Yan Rusheng would think of their past whenever they were so intimate with each other. ¡°Ah Sheng, were you reminded of our younger selves when we were engaged in intimate behaviors?¡± Xuxu blurted her questions before she could stop herself. Chapter 863. This is My Seal After she had blurted her question, Xuxu felt like biting off her tongue. Yan Rusheng raised a brow. ¡°What did you say? Intimate?¡± The corners of his mouth were not twitching, but rather trying to suppress a grin. It had never crossed his mind that the reserved and reticent Wen Xuxu would say such words to him. Wasn¡¯t it hilarious? Xuxu pushed him away bashfully. ¡°You¡¯re teasing me.¡± Ahhh. What did she just say? Intimate? It was this fellow¡¯s fault for ¡®infecting¡¯ her. He had always talked of such intimate and sexual stuff, and now she had been influenced. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Yan Rusheng instantly shook his head. He said, ¡°I will think of us and question myself with why am I so deeply in love with the stupid woman I¡¯ve looked down on in the past? And why I kept thinking about sleeping with her.¡± Then he made his intention clear by shaking the lower part of his body. Xuxu was so embarrassed that she wanted to bite him to death. She glared at him. ¡°Enough! If you want to do it, then do it now.¡± Yan Rusheng widened his grin to show his rows of pearly white teeth. ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t wait any longer, too.¡± He straightened his back the next second and pulled Xuxu up with him. His hands went to her waist and tugged at her clothes. Within seconds, he removed all layers of her articles of clothing. He flung the clothes away and scanned her attractive body from top to toe. ¡°Baby. My wife.¡± When a man is consumed with his desires, any form addressing his loved one wasn¡¯t enough to express his love and desire. He enveloped Xuxu tightly around his arms and bent to kiss her collarbones. ¡°Ah Sheng, it¡¯s ticklish.¡± Xuxu writhed her body and giggled. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t usually hear her laughter. At that moment, every inch and hair on Xuxu was exceedingly seductive and attractive. Not to mention her clear and bright laughter. ¡°Wife, continue to undress me?¡± Yan Rusheng rushed her softly as his hands roamed on her back to remove her bra. Xuxu obliged and continued to unbutton his shirt. After she undressed him, he couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and pushed Xuxu back on the bed. He entered her. Because of Xuxu¡¯s pregnancy, Young Master Yan felt that even doing it twice wasn¡¯t enough to satisfy him. But he had already drained all of Xuxu¡¯s energy. After lying together for a while, Yan Rusheng turned and landed on his feet. He tapped Xuxu gently on her shoulders. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s shower and head down for dinner.¡± He still called her darling. Xuxu hid under the blanket, feeling embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m too tired to move.¡± Yan Rusheng quipped. ¡°Then I¡¯ll carry you and provide a full set of services for you.¡± He lifted the blanket and scooped the tiny woman up without any effort. Xuxu caught a glimpse of her neck when she passed by the mirror. Since there were love bites all over, she punched him angrily on his back. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you are so bad.¡± How could she go out like this? Yan Rusheng smirked at his masterpiece. He loudly proclaimed, ¡°This is my seal. And I want to cover your entire body with my seal.¡± It had Xuxu dumbfounded. This fellow had attained a brand new level of shamelessness. He was practically a hooligan and a rogue. ¡­ After showering, Xuxu changed into comfy loungewear. Although the collar was round and rather high, it still couldn¡¯t hide the love bites above her collarbones. She rummaged through her wardrobe for scarves before heading down. Chapter 864. Figure Out a Way Yan Rusheng already went down the stairs after he had showered and changed into comfy loungewear. He was in the living room talking to Yan Weihong. Xuxu angrily gritted her teeth at the sight of him. ¡°Xuxu, why did you wrap yourself up so tightly at home?¡± Mu Li came out of the dining room and saw Xuxu on the staircase. She had thrown her a question, and there was an obvious puzzled look on her face. Xuxu glanced at the scarf around her neck and smiled awkwardly. She shook her head and stammered, ¡°Hmmm¡­ no¡­ I¡¯m feeling cold.¡± She couldn¡¯t even believe that she lied through her teeth. Even if she didn¡¯t mention the weather, how could it be freezing inside the house? Their conversation caught the attention of the father and son duo. They turned around to face the ladies. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes gleamed with a sparkle at the sight of Xuxu. ¡°This son of mine must have gone overboard earlier on.¡± Mu Li could see through Xuxu¡¯s lies, for she was such a shrewd and experienced woman. She climbed the steps towards Xuxu. She walked up to her and attempted to pull her scarf away. Xuxu dodged and anxiously said, ¡°It¡¯s alright! I¡¯ll just keep it on.¡± Then she lowered her head and scrambled down the stairs. She bolted for the dining room. If she had known that this would happen, she wouldn¡¯t have put on the scarf. It was too embarrassing for her to remove it already. Xuxu profusely perspired during dinner, and Mu Li couldn¡¯t bear to watch her suffer. ¡°Silly girl, hurry up and remove your scarf. You¡¯re going to have rashes.¡± Xuxu instantly refused. ¡°It¡¯s alright!¡± It would be even more impossible to remove her scarf now. She shoveled the food hastily into her mouth and thought that after dinner she would dash back to her room. Mu Li supposedly was going to nag once more when Yan Weihong threw her an impatient look. ¡°She doesn¡¯t feel warm. Stop forcing her.¡± Doesn¡¯t his wife realize how embarrassed Xuxu was? And that she was making matters worse? He peered at Yan Rusheng and asked, ¡°Has your First Aunt taken any actions? Do you have any idea who she is selling her shares to?¡± She held 30% of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares. No any ordinary corporation would be able to purchase that. The topic made the atmosphere strained and tensed. Xuxu¡¯s hand slightly trembled, and she stopped chewing her food. She lifted her eyelids and stole a glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng still wore a smile that she couldn¡¯t read what was going through his mind. He replied, ¡°She already made her move. Once we confirmed it, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± Yan Weihong nodded at his son¡¯s response and continued, ¡°She had made up her mind to sell those shares, so we can only let her do what she wants right now. You¡¯ve just purchased those shares from the minor shareholders, so our funds will be limited. But we will figure out a way again.¡± He paused and raised his pitch. ¡°We definitely cannot let those shares fall into an outsider¡¯s hands. Flourish & Prosper was founded by your great grandmother and great grandfather. And it had expanded and flourished under your grandmother¡¯s management.¡± He sounded determined and unyielding. Xuxu felt like crying when she heard Yan Weihong¡¯s words. Flourish & Prosper was Grandmother¡¯s life. Even at her advanced age, before her untimely death, she was still worried about Flourish & Prosper¡¯s future. And 30% of the shares are about to fall into the hands of her most despised rival. If she knew all these were happening, how sad and disappointed she would be. She quietly watched Yan Rusheng, wondering how he would or should reply. Yan Rusheng managed a fleeting smile and grunted a response. He lowered his head and ate his dinner. ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯ll go up and rest first.¡± Xuxu lost all her appetite and abandoned her chopsticks. She bade Mu Li and Yan Weihong good night and rose to leave. Chapter 865. Do You Regret? Mu Li watched Xuxu as she vanished out of sight. He turned to glance at Yan Rusheng as a thought-provoking expression appeared on her face. She fell into deep thought. After taking a few more bites, she stood up to leave. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Xuxu had barely sat down on her bed when someone knocked on her door. She acknowledged it and the door swung open. It was Mu Li. She straightened her back and quickly adjusted her emotions. ¡°Mother.¡± Her voice was slightly husky as she greeted her. Mu Li latched the door after her and strode across the room. As she strode closer to Xuxu, she asked, ¡°Xuxu, is something happening to the company?¡± Her tone sounded certain. Her question startled Xuxu. She asked Mu Li instead, ¡°Why did you ask?¡± ¡°Who is intending to buy First Aunt¡¯s shares?¡± Mu Li didn¡¯t beat around the bush. She had never thought of hiding the truth from Mu Li, although they intended to hide it from Yan Weihong with his health as their reason. Without hesitation, Xuxu answered, ¡°Paramount. Jiang Shaomei.¡± Mu Li¡¯s expression darkened and cold fury could be seen in her eyes. ¡°She has gone too overboard this time around.¡± She rarely lost her temper. Xuxu stretched her hand to pat Mu Li¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t let Father know as his heart is still weak.¡± ¡°I noticed both of you being jittery and shifty earlier on.¡± Mu Li sighed and worry filled her eyes. ¡°But he will know the truth sooner or later. He won¡¯t be able to avoid this bad news, and I¡¯m worried.¡± He had major surgery, and the doctor gave strict warnings that he mustn¡¯t be provoked. And this matter wasn¡¯t anything trivial since it was no secret that the old lady hated Paramount. She frowned. ¡°This Jiang Qinglian is too much! Even if she doesn¡¯t care about the Yan family, shouldn¡¯t she spare a thought for the old madam?¡± Xuxu heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°First Uncle¡¯s shares are almost twice the shares of any of ours.¡± First Aunt may have guessed Grandmother¡¯s intentions, but no one knew the exact reason why. Mu Li replied in an earnest tone, ¡°After all, they are still her grandchildren. But she didn¡¯t let them enter the family after they were born. She even forbade your First Uncle from meeting them. The old madam had tried her best and furthermore, this is your First Uncle¡¯s mistake. Why should anyone else bear the brunt?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± But everyone had different perspectives and certainly, their opinions too. Furthermore, Mu Li and Jiang Qinglian were so different in terms of their personalities. The way they would have handled the same problem would be entirely different, too. ¡°Just keep it from Father first. Ah Sheng and I will make a way to reduce the impact.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mu Li nodded. ¡°He had expressed that he wanted to go back to work.¡± Xuxu firmly shook her head. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t do that. He needs to recuperate at home. If Ah Sheng really needs help, I¡¯ll go back.¡± She had mulled over this on her way back today. Ah Sheng had so much burden to carry, and he is fighting a tough battle alone at work. Although she might not be able to contribute much, she could at least offer him her care and concern. Mu Li heard her and was extremely touched, but her heart still ached. She looked at Xuxu and asked, ¡°Xuxu, do you regret giving up your studies?¡± Everyone knew the reason Xuxu chose to give up going overseas. Her reason was too heartbreaking. She felt that the Yan family had given her more than what she could ever repay them in this lifetime, no matter how much she had suffered and gave in to Yan Rusheng. Xuxu shook her head and smiled. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. If I really left, I might have regretted instead.¡± Chapter 866. She Finally Understood But really, Xuxu wanted to thank herself for not giving up years ago. ¡°Third Yan must have saved a country in his past life to reap such a blessing.¡± Mu Li held Xuxu¡¯s hand. ¡°I will support you if you want to pursue your passion. After you¡¯ve given birth, I¡¯ll take care of your children on behalf of the old madam.¡± She paused before continuing. ¡°And, you need to believe in Xiaosheng. He will be a better husband, and he will love you more and support you in the years to come.¡± Xuxu¡¯s tears welled up. And since she couldn¡¯t speak, she stretched her arms to hug Mu Li instead. So many people loved her, so what does it matter if she abandoned her dream again? We should give priority to the more important things. Wasn¡¯t Ah Sheng the most important and indispensable person in her life? ¡­ When Xuxu reached her workplace the next morning, the door was already open. She saw Su Yan standing in front of the sewing machine. She was pleasantly surprised to see him. ¡°Su Yan. Why did you arrive so early?¡± She asked as she walked towards him. ¡°I feel like chatting with you, so here I am.¡± Su Yan raised his head and smiled at Xuxu. His smile radiated the usual charm and warmth. It startled Xuxu. ¡°Why do you want to chat with me?¡± He had come so early, so there must be something important he wanted to say to her. Su Yan shot an airy joke. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not professing my love for you.¡± Xuxu was speechless. Sometimes she really felt Su Yan and Yan Rusheng were quite alike. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was just a feeling, or it was because they were related. ¡°What do you think of me entering Flourish & Prosper?¡± spoke Su Yan in a serious tone. Xuxu widened her mouth in shock. ¡°You¡­ want to work at Flourish & Prosper?¡± Other than shock, confusion overwhelmed her. Su Yan placed the pencil he was holding on the table and pulled a chair towards him. He looked at Xuxu. ¡°Yueyue said something to me last night.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°What did she say?¡± What could have Su Yue said that inspired him to enter Flourish & Prosper? Su Yan answered, ¡°She said, ¡®Brother, actually the more we give in or suffer in silence, the more others will bully us. Do you think I¡¯m right?¡¯ ¡± He pressed on without giving Xuxu the chance to interrupt. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not someone who likes to compete with others. I prefer to let nature take its own course. But this time around, I think I need to do something.¡± Xuxu became nervous, and she narrowed her eyes warily at Su Yan. She had no inkling with what his plans or intentions were. Su Yan sighed a sigh full of remorse. ¡°Yueyue has suffered too much.¡± ¡°So what do you intend to do?¡± Xuxu frowned and her voice seemed alert and vigilant. ¡°Grandmother was very kind and benevolent. And up till this day, I could still remember her warm and gentle smile.¡± Su Yan reminisced with a tender smile on his face. It was as though he was looking at Grandmother¡¯s face right now. It shocked Xuxu. ¡®He had met Grandmother?¡¯ Su Yue ignored Xuxu¡¯s shock and continued on. ¡°She said to me, ¡®I believe that you will be able to take care of your sister. Even without anyone¡¯s help, I know that you could soar to great heights and achieve something remarkable.¡¯ That day in H City, there was a snowstorm. She gave me two scarves and two pairs of gloves. One for me and one for Yueyue, and it had my favorite picture on it. A sun¡­¡± ¡®It had my favorite picture on it. A sun¡­¡¯ Xuxu suddenly recalled a memory, and her eyes widened. ¡®Grandmother, it¡¯s getting warmer these days. Why are you still knitting a scarf?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a present.¡¯ She didn¡¯t understand at the time why Grandmother was personally knitting a scarf when she was so busy with work. Who could it have been that was so important that she was willing to squeeze in some time, despite her busy schedule, to craft a gift for someone? She finally understood. Chapter 867. Grandmother is the Person I Admire the Most Su Yan continued. ¡°I realized that time that not everything you wish to do can be done. Similarly, you don¡¯t need to have everything you like. Grandmother had a lot of difficulties.¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes stung. Her voice sounded nasal as she spoke. ¡°Grandmother is the person I admire the most.¡± She just had that power to influence others. She was so kind and warm. She was gentle and benevolent and that made her character admirable. It was as though she had a halo on top of her head. Despite not doing anything for them, she still won Su Yan¡¯s admiration and love. Grandmother had portrayed such a loving and kind image to Su Yan and Su Yue that she even became his idol. Su Yan cast his sorrow aside and cheekily smiled at Xuxu. ¡°Do you think I will have a pleasant and happy working relationship with Yan Rusheng?¡± ¡°I think you will, but he¡­¡± Xuxu dragged the last syllable and shook her head with uncertainty. ¡°Probably not.¡± Even though he might seem happy working with him, he would definitely not express it. ¡°I share the same sentiments.¡± Su Yan solemnly nodded before grinning. ¡°That¡¯s because he will pale in comparison next to me.¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. She warned, ¡°Never say that with him around.¡± He implied that Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t as capable as him. If Yan Rusheng heard that, given his arrogance and confidence, he would definitely be livid. He would surely think of methods to compete with Su Yan. Su Yan quipped, ¡°That¡¯s a fact.¡± Xuxu sneered. ¡°The fact is that both of you are damn narcissistic.¡± ¡°That unreasonable and demanding woman, Xin Yanting, are you sure you can handle her?¡± Su Yan suddenly asked. He pressed on. ¡°Actually, I can reject her request and just turn her away.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°If you wanted to reject anyone, there wouldn¡¯t be a need to ask for my permission.¡± Yesterday, he witnessed how unreasonable and impatient Xin Yanting was. With his character, he would have done what he liked and that would be to reject the business deal. Why would he take measurements for her personally? ¡°You already knew that Xin Yanting is the young mistress of Paramount right?¡± Xuxu sounded certain and confident. ¡°If I didn¡¯t guess wrongly, Xin Yanting should be the person-in-charge from Paramount who is spearheading the purchase of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares. Anyway, she would definitely have played a part.¡± That day at the dining table, Xin Yanting had threatened Yan Rusheng so many times saying he would have regrets. Their current predisposition was such a good opportunity to enter Flourish & Prosper and get close to him. How would she let it go? Su Yan smiled but didn¡¯t show his answer. He certainly knew Xin Yanting¡¯s real identity. Xuxu shrewdly narrowed her eyes. She smiled as she watched Su Yan. ¡°Are you thinking of seducing her?¡± Su Yan frowned. ¡°Did Yan Rusheng tell you that a woman shouldn¡¯t be too smart?¡± Xuxu burst out laughing and patted him on his shoulders. ¡°Come on! Young Master Su doesn¡¯t seem like the type of person who would make such a huge sacrifice. Besides, Xin Yanting has a huge crush on your Third Brother for years. Do you really think you¡¯re more outstanding than your Third Brother?¡± She fired on. ¡°Do you think you are more gorgeous or more capable than him? Huh?¡± She was indirectly praising her own husband. Su Yan shook his head in amusement when he saw how protective she was. ¡°If your husband was here, he would jump in joy.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t deny and smiled instead. He was right. That narcissistic man was so prideful and her praises would do wonders. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here today to resign.¡± Xuxu hesitantly bit her lips. Chapter 869. Too Busy Until It Slipped My Mind Xuxu immediately responded, ¡°It¡¯s alright, concentrate on your work. I can have dinner with Su Yue. You come home early tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly switched the topic and said, ¡°But if you eat slowly, I may be able to rush back and grab a bite with you.¡± ¡®May be able to rush back and grab a bite with you.¡¯ He sounded as if they were hard up for his company. Xuxu smiled to act in tandem with his narcissistic behavior. ¡°All right then, we shall eat slowly and wait for President Yan to join us.¡± She added, ¡°I will eat my lunch now. Not talking with you anymore.¡± Xuxu was about the hang up when the man spoke in a playful tone. ¡°Wife, give me a kiss before hanging up.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. ¡®This hooligan!¡¯ She ignored him and hung up straight away. But her cellphone vibrated again almost immediately. It was a WeChat message, and Xuxu looked at it. Yan Rusheng had sent her a short video. The corners of her mouth unconsciously curled, but¡ª After she had launched her WeChat and watched the video, she wasn¡¯t her usual self. Her exquisite face instantly flushed a crimson red from her forehead to her neck. She was halfway through the video when Yan Rusheng followed up with a message. ¡®Can you continue this way tonight?¡¯ Behaving like a spoiled child. Xuxu¡¯s face turned black from crimson. She gnashed her teeth as she replied,¡®When did you record this video?¡¯ Yan Rusheng sent a tooth-baring smiley emoticon at the end of his message.¡®The time and location were obviously that night when we were on the bed. Wife, your groans were music to my ears. I¡¯m listening to it again through my earphones in the office.¡¯ Xuxu almost wanted to smash her cellphone. With trembling hands, she texted back. ¡®Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re such a pervert. If you don¡¯t delete it, you¡¯ll be dead.¡¯ Young Master Yan calmly replied with a voice message. ¡°I was thinking of uploading it on Moments to share with my friends.¡± His attractive masculine voice was mixed with a burst of devilish laughter, and it drove Xuxu mad. This chap had already reached the lowest level of shamelessness. Good heavens! Was he the Yan Rusheng she knew? When did he record this video? She didn¡¯t remember him retrieving his cellphone midway. Xuxu stopped in her tracks, for she was feeling distressed and upset over the video Yan Rusheng sent. She then heard Su Yan¡¯s voice coming from below. ¡°Not eating?¡± Xuxu¡¯s hands momentarily trembled with guilt that she almost dropped her phone. She immediately deleted the video and sent a text to Yan Rusheng . ¡®If you dare to try anything funny, then don¡¯t even think of harboring any future expectations.¡¯ She had no doubts about Yan Rusheng¡¯s words. He could do anything having no sense of shame. Yan Rusheng sent over another text message, but she ignored it and shoved her phone into her pocket. ¡°Sister Xuxu, come and eat.¡± Xuxu went downstairs, and Li Qian was standing at the staircase landing, welcoming her with a wide smile. Xuxu also smiled and nodded in return. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yan and Xuxu sat on the same row while Li Qian sat opposite them. There were three dishes and a soup for the three of them¡ªall of which were Xuxu¡¯s favorite. Xuxu knew that Su Yan must have informed Li Qian about it. ¡°I have an outdoor shoot in the afternoon, and I¡¯ll be back in the evening to pick you before picking Yueyue.¡± Su Yan hurriedly ate his food. He was wiping his mouth as he informed Xuxu. Xuxu nodded with an ¡®Mm¡¯. Su Yan stood up and left. Li Qian, who was sitting at the opposite, stared at Su Yan¡¯s tall and sturdy physique. The sight of him had her momentarily lost in thoughts before turning back to look at Xuxu. ¡°Sister Xuxu, President Su is so charming, so his girlfriend must be very pretty too.¡± ¡°Erm. From what I know, he doesn¡¯t have any girlfriend yet,¡± replied Xuxu as she broke into a smile. She then continued tucking in. Chapter 868. Do You Think You Are More Gorgeous or More Capable Than Him? Su Yan raised an eyebrow. ¡°You want to return to Flourish & Prosper?¡± Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan pressed on. ¡°How about now?¡± Xuxu lightly replied, ¡°I think you might be a better choice compared to me if one of us were to assist him, though.¡± Su Yan chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you trusted me so much.¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°I¡¯m giving you this chance to compete with him.¡± Both of them chatted a little while longer before Xuxu headed upstairs. Time passed really quickly when work piled on for her. Since Su Yan had the intention of working at Flourish & Prosper, he resigned from Grand Fashion to wait for the arrival of Paramount. Hence, he was mostly free. He came to work before Xuxu did every morning. He did nothing except taking photos of Xuxu. Although Su Yan had turned off the shutter sounds, it was impossible not to notice him. Xuxu frowned as she glanced at him. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Why are you still taking photos of me? You¡¯re disturbing me.¡± Su Yan straightened his back and looked through the photos. ¡°That¡¯s because you weren¡¯t fully focused. If you truly were, it wouldn¡¯t have disturbed you.¡± ¡®With a person hovering around and still being able to concentrate and ignore everything else¡­¡¯ Xuxu grinned. ¡°The only person who can do that is Yueyue.¡± As long as it was what she wanted, even if someone was singing opera or putting fireworks next to her, it wouldn¡¯t make any difference to her at all. Su Yan furrowed his eyebrows at the mention of Su Yue. ¡°Recently, she has been using her phone whenever she is free.¡± ¡®Using her phone whenever she is free?¡¯ Xuxu began to mull over his words. ¡°Did you observe what she was doing? Don¡¯t let her chat with other guys. There are plenty of swindlers online.¡± That girl was so moody and always kept her worries to herself. Su Yan replied, ¡°I think she is reading a novel¡­¡± ¡°Novel¡­¡± It startled Xuxu. ¡°What kind of novel?¡± Was that girl becoming normal? She liked to read novels at her age, too. Su Yan shook his head and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He picked up his camera and took a photo of Xuxu again. Xuxu hesitated for a short moment. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her in days. Let¡¯s fetch her and go for dinner together.¡± She grabbed her phone. ¡°Let me call Yan Rusheng.¡± Su Yan smiled and turned around with his camera. Someone dashed into sight, and he pressed his shutter at the exact moment. ¡°You¡¯re quite good at scooping the best camera shots.¡± Su Yan placed his camera down and grinned at Li Qian as he teased her. Li Qian was bashful and blushed. ¡°I¡¯m here to tell President Su and Sister Xuxu that lunch is ready.¡± Li Qian was warming up to Xuxu, but this little girl was shy when facing a handsome guy. Xuxu responded with an ¡®oh¡¯ and rubbed her belly. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that I was hungry. I was too busy just now.¡± She rose and her phone began to ring. Yan Rusheng was calling her. Earlier on, his line was engaged, so she hung up. He must be free right now to return her call. ¡°Hello,¡± Xuxu answered. As she spoke, she shuffled on her feet. ¡°Did you call me?¡± Yan Rusheng asked. ¡°Yup,¡± Xuxu continued. ¡°Shall we go for dinner together with Su Yue and Su Yan?¡± ¡°I have to go to Chengnan at 4 p.m., so I don¡¯t think I can make it back in time.¡± Yan Rusheng sounded regretful. His reserved and aloof wife rarely called, but too bad he wasn¡¯t free. Chapter 870. He Doesn’t Have Any Girlfriend Yet ¡°Are you serious? President Su doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend?¡± Li Qian exclaimed with exaggeration before changing the topic. ¡°Nowadays, the more desirable a person is, the later he will start a relationship, especially for good-looking and successful people like President Su.¡± Every word of hers revealed her admiration for Su Yan. Xuxu lightly smiled, as usual, showing no signs of surprise and didn¡¯t look at Li Qian differently. As what she¡¯d said, which woman wouldn¡¯t fancy a desirable man like Su Yan? Be it his looks, built or career? They were the best! Li Qian¡¯s voice sounded again. ¡°But Sister Xuxu¡¯s husband is also very good-looking and in no way inferior to President Su.¡± When Xuxu heard Li Qian¡¯s comparison, she broke into a wide grin before lowering her head. She thought, ¡®If only Yan Rusheng heard about this.¡¯ He would definitely sneer in disdain before starting his nonsense talks of how Su Yan couldn¡¯t compare to him. Seeing Xuxu¡¯s smile, Li Qian thought she was just trying to please her, and so she spoke in a serious tone coupled with a frown. ¡°Sister Xuxu, don¡¯t laugh. I¡¯m serious.¡± Xuxu lifted her head and also nodded. ¡°Mm, I also think he¡¯s good-looking.¡± ¡®So good-looking that both people and the Gods hate it, okay?¡¯ Li Qian was full of envy and said, ¡°Sister Xuxu is so blissful.¡± Xuxu dismissed it with a laugh and bowed her head. Li Qian didn¡¯t continue speaking as well. ¡­ Su Yue returned at about 5 p.m. and without stopping to rest, he fetched Xuxu before going to Flourish & Splendor to fetch Su Yue. It was already after the school dismissal time and from afar; they saw Su Yue in her school uniform standing at the school entrance. There were wine colored borders on the sleeves, collar, and skirt of her white long-sleeved dress. She stuffed her hands in her dress pockets. With her hair tied up in a ponytail, she stood there like a tiny little girl. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth curled unconsciously. From a distance, she frantically waved at Su Yue in the car. The car stopped in front of Su Yue and Xuxu got off to open the back door. She waved at Su Yue and smiled. ¡°Quickly get into the car.¡± Su Yue nodded her head and prepared to go in. Suddenly, someone shouted her name. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Xuxu and Su Yue both looked towards the voice¡¯s direction at the same time. Three girls and two boys were smiling and walking towards them. Standing before them, a boy looked at Su Yue with an enthusiasm clear on his eyes. ¡°I heard that you would be celebrating your birthday next week. Can we attend the party?¡± Su Yue responded with an ice coating her words. ¡°Cannot.¡± The boy pursed his lips in disappointment while the girl beside him gloated over his rejection. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you but you still stubbornly insist on your way.¡± The boy was already feeling embarrassed after being rejected by Su Yue, but after being further sneered at by the girl, he flew into a rage out of humiliation. He turned around and glared at the girl who laughed at him. ¡°You talk too much, nosy parker.¡± After that, he stomped off without taking a second look at Su Yue. The girl dawdled after him. ¡°Oh, look at him. A girl rejected Master Xiao, and he flew into a rage.¡± The boy turned around and shot her a menacing glare. ¡°Shut up.¡± He further taunted, ¡°You chatter on and on, and not the least bit behaving like how a girl should be.¡± Hearing this, the expression on the girl¡¯s face changed. ¡°Since we were young, you have always been fierce towards me. Since you like Su Yue, I dare you to treat her aggressively as well.¡± She quickened her steps towards the boy as she spoke. She then pummeled his shoulders with her tightly clenched fists before running off. Chapter 871. I’ll Meet You There They laughed as they ran. Xuxu watched the boy and girl, and she fell into deep thought. She recalled how she had behaved around Yan Rusheng before, and the scenario she just witnessed seemed to have happened before. She had liked him so much, but because of her pride and her fear of rejection, she appeared nonchalant on the surface. Then once she caught his weak spot, she would make sure she made a huge fuss about it. ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu was smiling, and she was in a deep daze. Su Yue called her and she finally snapped out. She then nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± She got into the car and Su Yue sat beside her. The car door shut, and Xuxu looked at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, your classmates want to attend your birthday party. Why don¡¯t you allow them to attend?¡± Although she had changed a lot, she still didn¡¯t seem to enjoy interacting with people. Su Yue pouted. ¡°I don¡¯t like them.¡± She lowered her head and took out a lollipop from her bag. She unwrapped the lollipop and stuffed it inside her mouth. Xuxu realized that Su Yue seemed to have a liking towards lollipops these days. She stared at Su Yue before she asked, ¡°Do you have any friends?¡± Su Yue heard and her eyes gleamed. ¡°Can I bring her along?¡± That meant she had already made some friends, and it pleased Xuxu. She nodded to agree. ¡°Certainly! You can bring her back home at any time.¡± It overjoyed Su Yue. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± ¡°Your friend is your classmate?¡± It was the first friend Su Yue told her about, and Xuxu was curious who her friend was. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes, she just transferred to our school last week.¡± It puzzled Xuxu, so she wore a frown. ¡°She just transferred?¡± It was the college entrance examinations next month. Su Yue understood why Xuxu was puzzled and explained, ¡°She might need to stay a grade behind, so she could take the exams next year.¡± Xuxu continued. ¡°Oh, is she a boy or a girl?¡± ¡°A girl. She said that her family is not very well-to-do.¡± Su Yue sounded rather sympathetic as she carried on, ¡°Her father is working at a construction site, and she lost her mother when she was young.¡± It thoroughly confused Xuxu. How could she attend Flourish & Splendor then? And she had just transferred to Flourish & Splendor. Without certain connections or background, how would she be able to do that? She thought of a movie and concluded that special exceptions could also happen in reality. With that thought, she wasn¡¯t that surprised. ¡°Invite her tomorrow then.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Su Yue smiled as she snuggled against Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, thank you. You are the best.¡± Xuxu bowed her head and smiled fondly at her. ¡­ They reached the restaurant and went into a private room. At that moment, Xuxu¡¯s phone rang. She answered the call. Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Which room is it?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here?¡± His announcement pleasantly surprised Xuxu. ¡°We are in room No. 8, but it¡¯s not that easy to locate. Wait at the staircase for me. I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± She walked to the door. And she turned towards the staircase as she exited the room. They were at a specialty restaurant. Although it wasn¡¯t huge, there were many winding corridors and corners, hence it was a bit difficult to locate the rooms. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Yan Rusheng had just reached the staircase and was about to step on the step when a crystal-clear voice echoed. He frowned with annoyance and halted his footsteps. He was about to turn around. A slender figure swiftly flew towards him that he didn¡¯t have time to react. The strong scent of perfume that he loathed assailed his nostrils and the next moment, a pair of hands wound themselves around his neck. Then a pair of legs gripped unto his waist¡ªa woman tightly hung onto him like an octopus. Chapter 872. Anger Still Bubbled Inside No Matter How Many Times She Wiped ¡°Xin Yanting!¡± fumed Yan Rusheng, and his face was livid with anger. He looked as though he could swallow a person alive at that moment. He peeled her hands from him with a firm and rough grasp. There wasn¡¯t a tinge of compassion he had towards the woman he loathed and despised. But the woman was strangely strong that Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t able to push her away. Xin Yanting swiftly glanced at the second level and a smirk formed on her face. The next second, she kissed Yan Rusheng¡¯s cheek. She then continued to cling onto him and displayed an unyielding determination to hold on. ¡°Third Brother, I like you so much ever since I was a child. You promised that you would marry me.¡± She whined and pouted, but it only disgusted Yan Rusheng even more. ¡°Xin Yanting, don¡¯t force me to hit a woman.¡± The next moment, he grabbed Xin Yanting¡¯s thigh, and with full strength and determination, he pulled Xin Yanting off from his back. Then he threw her without any care on the floor. It was as though he was holding a little chick and simply flung it away without a second thought. He adjusted his clothes and disdainfully glared at the woman who was already sitting on the floor and whining. His eyes emitted a murderous aura. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you a man?!¡± Xin Yanting clutched her buttocks and back. She seemed to be in pain. She hollered at Yan Rusheng at the top of her voice. Yan Rusheng¡¯s murderous aura made everyone keep a safe distance away from him. When the waiters walked past him, they stopped in alarm and took a detour. He pointed at Xin Yanting and threw a menacing warning. ¡°Xin Yanting, I shall overlook this one more time on the account of Jiang Zhuoheng. If you see me next time, you better scram as far as possible!¡± Without a second look at Xin Yanting, he turned around towards the stairs. He looked up and was shocked to see a figure. ¡°Xuxu¡­¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu was peering at Yan Rusheng from the top, and she snorted before turning on her heel. Yan Rusheng instantly scrambled after her. ¡°Xuxu!¡± ¡®It¡¯s all that loathsome woman. It¡¯s Xin Yanting¡¯s fault! She deserves to die!¡¯ He thought to himself with gritted teeth as he ran after Xuxu. Yan Rusheng was still anxiously trying to figure an explanation to Xuxu when a woman¡¯s cold and sarcastic voice sounded. ¡°Yan Rusheng. It seems like she doesn¡¯t really love you. If she loved you, then why doesn¡¯t she trust you?¡± She was obviously gloating over the misunderstanding. Yan Rusheng turned around and fiercely glared at the woman. Xin Yanting violently shuddered and halted her footsteps. She didn¡¯t dare to venture forwards but her smirk remained. Her hands were still pressed against her back and buttocks. Yan Rusheng threw her a scathing look and dashed to look for Xuxu. He saw the direction which Xuxu was headed to. It was the ladies. ¡°Xuxu!¡± Wen Xuxu was standing before the sink and the water was running. She lowered her head, so Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t read her expression. He inched forward with cautious steps, as he had no idea if she was crying right now. He walked to her and was about to embrace her from the back when she suddenly turned around. The next moment, Yan Rusheng could feel the coldness on his right cheek. Xuxu was using a soaked napkin to wipe Yan Rusheng¡¯s cheek. Xin Yanting had kissed him earlier on and there was a lipstick stain left on his right cheek. Xuxu tried her best to wipe it off. She was boiling with anger, but her anger still bubbled inside no matter how many times she wiped his cheek. Chapter 873. What Are You Doing? Yan Rusheng knew that she wasn¡¯t angry with him regarding the misunderstanding, and so he smiled. He stretched his hands to embrace her with a slight frown gracing his face. ¡°Wife, if you wipe my cheek any longer, it will swell.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips in anger. ¡°Your cheek is so filthy.¡± ¡®How could there be such a shameless woman alive? She kissed a married man in public!¡¯ As she rubbed, she uttered a curse at Xin Yanting. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows and put on a helpless expression. He explained, ¡°You¡¯ve seen it with your own eyes. She kissed me without my consent.¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°And you are harping on this!¡± When she recalled the scene, even though she knew that it was Xin Yanting who had kissed him, she felt angry and indignant. Regardless of what happened, that woman still hugged and kissed her husband. The more she thought about it, the more jealous she became, and the harder she rubbed his cheek. Yan Rusheng bent his head and put his forehead against her forehead. ¡°How wonderful it would be if she were you.¡± Then he gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. Without waiting for Xuxu to respond, he lifted an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Did you see how she had done it earlier? Did you learn anything from it?¡± Xuxu punched him. ¡°Do you mean you enjoy being clung onto by any woman?¡± ¡°Of course¡­.¡± Yan Rusheng intentionally dragged the last syllable and grinned. ¡°Only by you. Do you recall how you wound your arms around my neck that night? And how your legs went around my waist¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s movement interrupted his words. She tip-toed and kissed him on the lips. Happiness dawned too abruptly, and he was too shocked to react for a moment. Young Master Yan widened his eyes in shock. He then tightened his grip around her waist and carried her. He turned around as he pushed her against the wall and kissed her properly. He bit on her lips and sucked. His white shirt emitted a light scent. Along with his handsome looks, he was exceedingly attractive from head to toe. Xuxu seemed to vent her anger on him for she had clutched on to him so tightly. It was the first time she had returned his passion with much enthusiasm. It frustrated Yan Rusheng¡ªwhy weren¡¯t they at home? At least they should be in a car. ¡°Wife, shall we go to the car?¡± His breathing hitched up. He placed his hands underneath her thighs and lifted her up. He walked to the elevator in big strides. Xuxu could feel that a certain part of Young Master Yan¡¯s body was transforming, and she blushed. ¡°Su Yan and Su Yue are still waiting for us. Put me down!¡± She struggled out of his grasp. She accidentally brushed against his body part, and he immediately stiffened as though he was about to explode any second. He gave a low groan and frowned. ¡°Wife, can¡¯t you feel me? I can¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°Time to eat, I¡¯m hungry,¡± Xuxu grumbled and pouted. She struggled a little, and Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t do anything to force her. He stopped but didn¡¯t let her down. His eyes seemed to bore a hole through her. ¡°Then you need to promise me you need to be exactly like this when we get home tonight. Alright?¡± Although his tone sounded as though he was pleading with her, he didn¡¯t think that way. If she agreed, he would put her down. If she didn¡¯t, he would drag her all the way back to the car right away. ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law. What are you doing?¡± Su Yue¡¯s voice sounded at the end of the corridor. Her innocent and clear voice made Xuxu feel strangely guilty, as though she and Yan Rusheng were committing a sin. She anxiously nudged him. ¡°Alright, I got it. Put me down now!¡± Chapter 874. Precious Darling ¡°Precious darling.¡± Yan Rusheng gave Xuxu a peck on her lips and finally relinquished his grip on her. Xuxu¡¯s hairs all stood up. She shuddered when he heard him address her as ¡®darling.¡¯ It sounded too mushy! Xuxu turned around and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Why are you here? Have you ordered the dishes?¡± Su Yue nodded and suddenly frowned as though she was annoyed. Feeling perplexed, Xuxu asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t say a word and turned around to head back to their room. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng followed closely behind. ¡°The dishes are quite good here.¡± The private room¡¯s door was open, and Xuxu could hear a familiar woman¡¯s voice. Her face instantly sank, and a crease appeared in between her eyebrows. She glanced at Yan Rusheng by instinct. Yan Rusheng threw her a helpless and innocent look. He put on an aloof expression and strode towards the room. He stood there and emitted an overwhelming aura, and the room seemed to freeze in a matter of seconds. His malicious-looking eyes glared venomously at the woman sitting next to Su Yan. However, she seemed oblivious to his arrival as she savored the food in bliss. ¡°Xin Yanting!¡± Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth, looking livid with her presence. His aura was overpowering. Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes darted towards him with a hint of fear. Nonetheless, she didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why do you look as if you want to swallow me alive? I¡¯m warning you. I might have suffered a fracture from the way you flung me to the floor earlier on. You can wait for the authorities to summon you for questioning if anything bad happens to me.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored Xin Yanting¡¯s threats and stomped towards her. He peered at her from a lofty position and yelled, ¡°Scram!¡± Why did such an annoying and bothersome woman appear in his life? Xuxu could sense that Xin Yanting was fearful of Yan Rusheng as she observed her quietly from the entrance. She smirked and marched inside with a stiff posture. ¡°Miss Xin is here to join us for dinner. Can you be more polite to her?¡± She stretched to hold Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and pulled him to the other side of the table. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyebrows knitted tightly together, looking thoroughly confused. ¡®What is this dumb woman trying to do?¡¯ Just when they had sat down, Xin Yanting spoke in a sarcastic tone once more. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t pretend to be so gracious. Deep inside, you are very jealous of me.¡± She threw Xuxu a contemptuous look as she lifted her chin with pride. Her slender, fair hand brushed her silky locks with sheer confidence. Xuxu almost burst out laughing. Why should she be jealous? Was there anything Xin Yanting had that she needed to be jealous of? She suppressed her laughter and nodded. ¡°Yes, indeed. Miss Xin, I¡¯m jealous of you.¡± Xin Yanting sneered, appearing smug. ¡°Seems like you know your status well. From tomorrow onwards, I will enter Flourish & Prosper and my office will be next to Yan Rusheng. I will be able to see him every day in the future and spend time with him.¡± Xuxu softly chuckled. ¡°Congratulations to you.¡± Xin Yanting frowned in annoyance. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what was that tone?¡± Xuxu¡¯s nonchalant attitude very upset and irked her. It wasn¡¯t what she had expected to see. Xuxu widened her eyes to display her innocence. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell that I¡¯m truly jealous and envious?¡± Xin Yanting raised her chin once more and her nostrils were almost facing the ceiling. ¡°Stop pretending. I know you are cold, and you think of yourself as noble, but so what? 30% of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares belong to me now. Hence, I¡¯m also considered the boss of Flourish & Prosper in the future.¡± She sounded confident and arrogant. Xuxu gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Boss Xin, you¡¯re really admirable.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xin Yanting furiously glared at Xuxu. She could not control her anger any longer, so she slammed her chopsticks on the table. Chapter 875. What Future Do We Have? Xin Yanting originally wanted to provoke Wen Xuxu, but in the end, she failed. Instead, Wen Xuxu¡¯s remarks got her riled up. Xuxu saw Xin Yanting getting all riled up, and she cracked up in amusement. She expressed her concern and asked, ¡°Boss Xin, anything else you would like to order? We can order more.¡± Xin Yanting coldly curled her lips. ¡°Wen Xuxu, just admit it. You¡¯re feeling terrible now, and you can¡¯t wait to kill me.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. ¡®Is this lady here a sadist? Why is she so intent on making me feel inferior and small?¡¯ ¡®Hmph.¡¯ The more Xin Yanting wanted to agitate her, the more she would not let her get her way. They must teach this spoiled and pampered princess a lesson so she wouldn¡¯t be so haughty in the future. She frowned and replied, ¡°Murdering someone is a crime. Miss Xin, please don¡¯t instigate me.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Yan Rusheng, who was sitting beside Xuxu, and Su Yan, who sat across her, burst out in laughter at the same time. Wen Xuxu was too shrewd and intelligent, while Xin Yanting was just too young and foolish in comparison. As expected, Xin Yanting furiously blushed. She raised her hands with the intent to slam the table. Su Yan, who was quick with his reflex, grabbed her wrist and stopped her. ¡°Miss Xin, didn¡¯t you praise the dishes here?¡± He glanced at her with a smile. He picked up his chopsticks and put a salted prawn in Xin Yanting¡¯s bowl. ¡°You should eat more prawns since it contains protein. It¡¯s good as it repairs tissues and your body needs it to function well.¡± Xin Yanting couldn¡¯t decipher the hidden message behind it. Instead, she felt touched. ¡°You are so much nicer than Yan Rusheng.¡± She stuffed the prawn inside her mouth and picked up another prawn for Su Yan. ¡°You need it as well.¡± This was returning polite gestures with one another. It dumbfounded Xuxu¡­ While Yan Rusheng was speechless. Was Miss Xin pretending to be dumb or is she truly dumb? Su Yan¡¯s expression darkened while Yan Rusheng curled his lips in satisfaction. Xuxu was just like him for she had suppressed a grin. This was simply to give someone a taste of their own medicine and indirectly she had repaid him. She was smart indeed. Xin Yanting was thoroughly relishing her food. Other than Su Yue, the other three simply stared at her. The only time she didn¡¯t act like a spoiled rich lady was when she was eating. She simply used her hands to eat the chicken wings and prawns. ¡°Su Yan, do you have a girlfriend?¡± Xin Yanting glanced askew at Su Yan. Su Yan asked her instead. ¡°Are you interested in me?¡± ¡°How can that be?¡± Xin Yanting vehemently shook her head and turned towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯m interested in Yan Rusheng only.¡± Xuxu was getting immune towards her blatant displays of affections towards her husband. Su Yan grinned and raised his wine glass. ¡°Let¡¯s toast to our future.¡± ¡°What future do we have?¡± Xin Yanting moved her face away from the food and stared at Su Yan with a confused expression. She contemplated and answered after a moment. ¡°I already told you that I¡¯m not interested in you. Stop wasting time on me.¡± She seemed to be conveying how faithful and loyal she was. Su Yan chuckled quietly. He swallowed the words he wanted to say. She was brimming with confidence, and he wondered how she managed to do that. It thoroughly amused Xuxu the entire time. She sat in the car as she glanced at Xin Yanting. She had placed her palm on her waist to suppress her laughter. Finally, she burst out laughing. Chapter 876. You Have a Great Future Ahead She said, ¡°Other than being dim-witted at times, Miss Xin is actually quite adorable.¡± Sometimes, feeble-minded just like Su Yue and absorbed in her own world. But between the two, one was outspoken while the other was quiet. Most people would prefer quiet girls rather than a chatterbox like Xin Yanting. Hence, everyone loved Yueyue while people loathed Xin Yanting. Yan Rusheng knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Wife, I can¡¯t believe that you actually admired your love rival.¡± Xuxu responded, ¡°Why don¡¯t you accept her? If so, Flourish & Prosper will solely belong to you in the future.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion. I can consider.¡± A sinister smile flashed across Xuxu¡¯s face. ¡± Mm , you gain beauty with no effort needed. How wonderful.¡± Before she could turn hostile, Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and shot a menacing look at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯ll destroy you in bed tonight.¡± ¡­ It was already a Friday, and so early in the morning. The atmosphere in Flourish & Prosper was lifeless as if gloom shrouded the office. The employees in the President¡¯s office didn¡¯t even dare to breathe aloud. Even though news of Jiang Qinglian selling her 30% shares to Paramount wasn¡¯t disclosed to the public, many had already heard about it from reliable sources. There weren¡¯t sufficient pieces of evidence of animosity between Flourish & Prosper and Paramount, but rumors had been spreading like wildfire. That day, Paramount¡¯s little mistress would bring her team over to Flourish & Prosper, and the fear in President Yan couldn¡¯t be described using a square meter. Everyone was behaving cautiously so as not to provoke the emperor. ¡®Ding .¡¯ The elevator stopped with a ¡®ding¡¯ and everyone one became nervous. The elevator door opened and a group of people walked out. A tall lady led the group, and she was wearing a crisp white blouse and a knee-length black skirt. Her makeup was exquisite, and she looked capable and experienced. Following behind her were two men in a white shirt and an equally capable looking lady in her thirties. The entire group walked out of the elevator towards the President¡¯s office and they had an imposing aura. ¡°Coming. Coming.¡± The situation in the President¡¯s Office was tensed to the point of snapping. The woman¡¯s 10cm high-heeled shoes produced loud thuds as she walked, and no one could ignore her presence. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Xin Yanting, the new General Manager of Flourish & Prosper. From now on, please treat me as one of you. I represent President Yan and he represents me as well.¡± Xin Yanting stepped into the President¡¯s office and surveyed the surroundings before announcing with dominance lacing her voice. She could represent President Yan? She sounded arrogant. In the past, only their lady boss could represent President Yan. Everyone¡¯s eyes were staring at Xin Yanting without blinking. They didn¡¯t respond either but were polite and modest in their behavior. Xin Yanting looked at the employees who were behaving like blockheads and frowned in annoyance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Won¡¯t you welcome me?¡± Hearing this, everyone one clapped and responded. ¡°Welcome. Welcome. A warm welcome to General Manager Xin.¡± Although it sounded fake, it was enough to satisfy the arrogant and pampered Miss Xin. She raised her chin and looked at the person who took the lead to applaud. ¡°You have a great future ahead.¡± Everyone was visibly stunned for a moment before sounding another round of raucous applause. Xin Yanting smiled in satisfaction and said, ¡°My treat tonight.¡± Only a round of applause sounded from the floor, but no one answered her. But to her, the applause was good enough. Chapter 877. Youll Meet Your Retribution She continued walking forward to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office and stood at the entrance, ready to open the door. Qiao Jian appeared all of a sudden and stopped her. ¡°General Manager Xin, let me inform the President first.¡± Xin Yanting looked at him in annoyance. ¡°Who are you? Yan Rusheng and I were childhood sweethearts. Do I still need to seek his permission to see him?¡± She grabbed hold of Qiao Jian¡¯s arm and roughly shoved him away. Straightaway, she opened the door to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Yan Rusheng had long heard the commotion from his office. He was lying back lazily on his armchair, looking sullen. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m here to report for work.¡± Xin Yanting stepped in and strode towards Yan Rusheng in huge steps. Yan Rusheng snarled, ¡°Why did General Manager Xin come to my office instead of your own office?¡± Xin Yanting walked over to Yan Rusheng and leaned against the table, looking at him with pouty lips. ¡°It¡¯s my first day of work, so aren¡¯t you going to show me around?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips curved into a faint cynical smile. ¡°General Manager Xin, you should look at yourself in the mirror more often.¡± Xin Yanting knitted her eyebrows, bewildered. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°If you look into the mirror more often, then you¡¯ll realize how big your face is.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xin Yanting glared at Yan Rusheng indignantly and was getting ready to speak when Yan Rusheng cut her off. ¡°I¡¯m the President of Flourish & Prosper, so please address me as President Yan.¡± His tone was decisive. Xin Yanting raised her chin and mumbled in response. ¡°Don¡¯t be too smug. I am holding 30% of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares so part of Flourish & Prosper belongs to me.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face turned colder. ¡°There¡¯s no need for General Manager Xin to remind me. If there¡¯s nothing else, get lost.¡± It annoyed Xin Yanting. ¡°Can¡¯t you be more polite towards me?¡± Yan Rusheng glared at her in resentment. ¡°Don¡¯t force me to call for the security.¡± Xin Yanting fearlessly rebutted, ¡°Yan Rusheng, I know that you can¡¯t wait to snatch back the 30% shares from me and couldn¡¯t accept the fact that the shares fell into the hands of Paramount. Your grandmother hated Paramount. If you want to take back the shares, there¡¯s only one solution.¡± Yan Rusheng kept his head bowed. Xin Yanting continued, ¡°You must divorce Wen Xuxu and marry me, and I¡¯ll bring the shares as a dowry into the Yan family. There is no other way.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a dry chuckle. ¡°Xin Yanting, if you used your skin to build a wall, the wall would be too thick.¡± After that, he stood up and grabbed Xin Yanting¡¯s arm. Despite her shouting in pain, he hauled her to the door. Not only was Xin Yanting¡¯s arm hurting, but she had also sprained her leg. As the pain was piercing, she cried, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ll meet your retribution for bullying me this way.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored her tears and shoved her out of the door. Xin Yanting fell onto the floor but he didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid when he slammed his door shut. Then came his chilly commanding voice from his office. ¡°Qiao Jian, in the future, let no one into my office without my permission.¡± Qiao Jian answered, ¡°Noted.¡± Xin Yanting gnashed her teeth and stared hard at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office door. Her eyes were brimming with tears; it was indeed painful. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re such a bully.¡± She hugged her knees and wailed, not at all mindful of her own image. The few people who came with her saw the situation and rushed forward to help her up. ¡°Missy, quickly get up.¡± Chapter 878. Strive For Decision Making Power With a twisted waist, she yelled, ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯t come and bother me.¡± Her behavior was a disgrace. The middle-aged woman who shuffled to her feet and stood next to her. She shot a meaningful glance at the men. ¡°Carry her away.¡± With the approval from the woman, the two men bent down and carried Xin Yanting to the office next to Yan Rusheng¡¯s. That office was the one the elderly lady had prepared for Xuxu since before, but they had left it vacant for some time. Qiao Jian saw them carrying Xin Yanting towards that office and immediately blocked their path. ¡°General Manager Xin, the General Manager¡¯s office is not located here. It¡¯s on the lower floor. This level is the President¡¯s office.¡± As Xin Yanting was finding an outlet to vent her anger, Qiao Jian conveniently became her punching bag when he obstructed her way. She glared hard at Qiao Jian and hollered, ¡°Who are you? How dare you block my path? Do you not realize that I can sack you right away?¡± After that, she struggled to break free from the two men and jumped off. She put her hands on both sides of her waist like an arrogant bully. Although Qiao Jian was only an assistant, he knew where he stood and who he was working for. He replied fearlessly and politely, ¡°This is the Vice-President¡¯s Office. General Manager has her own office.¡± ¡°I insist on having this office. What can you do?¡± Xin Yanting raised her chin and immediately displayed an arrogant and full of herself posture. She was ready to lift her feet to walk over. She had forgotten that she had sprained her leg. As she took a step forward, she immediately bent over and groaned in pain. ¡°Ouch.¡± She squatted down to massage her twisted ankle. The few people who came with her instantly squatted down. Worried, they asked, ¡°Missy, what happened?¡± ¡°Aunt Hua, I¡¯ve twisted my leg. It¡¯s extremely painful.¡± Xin Yanting sat on the floor. Her tears seeped down her cheeks. She felt extremely aggrieved. As the little mistress of Paramount, she had been pampered since she was young, and she had never been treated with humiliation in any kind of manner. As she thought about it, she threw some dagger stares at Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. That haughty chap had known her since young. But after so many years, he pretended not to recognize her when they bumped into each other at the hotel that day. He even commented that she had poor taste. Most importantly, he was the one who snatched her cousin Ah Heng¡¯s girlfriend. Suddenly, the doors to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office opened and a towering figure came out. His chilly gaze met Xin Yanting¡¯s ferocious stare. ¡°Xin Yanting, if you insist on making a din, I¡¯ll give a President Jiang a call and tell her about it,¡± warned Yan Rusheng. The moment she heard that Yan Rusheng had a plan to call Jiang Shaomei, an expression of fear flashed across Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes. She bit her lips and hesitated. ¡°Missy, let¡¯s go over to the General Manager¡¯s office,¡± Aunt Hua whispered into Xin Yanting¡¯s ears. Xin Yanting nodded unwillingly. ¡°Okay.¡± The General Manager¡¯s office wasn¡¯t as huge as Yan Rusheng¡¯s office, but it was still bright and spacious. When they stepped in, Aunt Hua helped Xin Yanting to a chair to sit down before bending down. She then lifted her leg with one hand while the other hand massaged her ankle. As she massaged, she advised, ¡°Missy, don¡¯t clash with Yan Rusheng. Although we have 30% of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares, Flourish & Prosper is still under his control. What we need to do now is to understand the internal operations of Flourish & Prosper and slowly strive for the decision making power.¡± This was their main objective for coming to Flourish & Prosper. Chapter 879. Very Serious at Work Xin Yanting knitted her brows and in response, she mumbled, ¡°I hate that arrogant chap.¡± Images of the haughty Yan Rusheng flashed across her mind, and so she clenched her fists involuntarily. Aunt Hua raised her head and looked at Xin Yanting before turning serious. ¡°Then let¡¯s go back and get President Jiang to look for a replacement to assume this position.¡± Xin Yanting angrily pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t want to. I want to break him and Xuxu up.¡± ¡°Missy, stop your nonsense. Our main objective is to gain power and long-term benefits in Flourish & Prosper.¡± Aunt Hua anxiously furrowed her brows. ¡®This willful lass is obviously here to make a scene. What exactly is President Jiang thinking?¡¯ Xin Yanting quipped, ¡°I don¡¯t care. I will definitely break them up because he broke up cousin Ah Heng and Wen Xuxu.¡± She made it sound so easy to break one¡¯s family up. Aunt Hua lectured her with a frown, ¡°If Young Master Heng finds out, he¡¯ll definitely give you a hard time.¡± Xin Yanting got impatient as she listened and waved her hand. ¡°Alright. Alright. Aunt Hua, don¡¯t dissuade me further. This is my objective for entering Flourish & Prosper. You just need to report to my mother that I¡¯m well-behaved here and very serious at work.¡± After that, she moved her chair closer to the desk and rested her cheeks on her hands, which were perched on the desk, looking melancholic. She was mulling over how to break up Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu. Aunt Hua was speechless. She had created a scene the moment she came and offended Yan Rusheng. Now she had to find a way to apologize to him. Yet, she still had the cheek to tell her to give a good report to President Jiang so she could take some credit. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Suddenly, someone was knocking on the door. Aunt Hua looked at Xin Yanting and saw that she lost in her thoughts. She called out, ¡°Come in.¡± After hearing the response, the person outside turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. A tall and handsome man stood at the door and bowed politely at Aunt Hua before walking in. Aunt Hua walked forward with a smile. ¡°Vice-President Su.¡± Su Yan was wearing a crisp white shirt with both hands stuffed into his pants pockets. He looked tall and slender with a smile as warm as the sun. He was glowing from top to toe. He caused Xin Yanting to snap out of her daze. Her eyes instantly sparkled as surprise caught her. But the next moment, she reverted back to her haughty self. ¡°Su Yan, why are you here?¡± Su Yan continued to put on a smile on his face. ¡°I heard that General Manager Xin twisted her foot, so I came to take a look.¡± At the mentioned of her foot, Xin Yanting¡¯s anger began to bubble in the pit of her stomach. ¡°It¡¯s all Yan Rusheng¡¯s fault.¡± Before she could complain further, Aunt Hua cut suddenly her off. ¡°Thank you, Vice-President Su, for your concern. General Manager Xin¡¯s foot is much better now.¡± She looked at Su Yan and thanked him. Su Yan replied, ¡°I¡¯ve learned Chinese massage before. Let me take a look at General Manager Xin¡¯s foot.¡± With that, he walked over to Xin Yanting and squatted down. Lifting Xin Yanting¡¯s right foot with his hands, he asked, ¡°Is this the correct foot?¡± His pair of fair hands with clearly defined knuckles and long, sleek fingers were massaging Xin Yanting¡¯s ankles gently. His tender voice caused Xin Yanting to lose her train of thoughts at that moment. There seemed to be some magical power in him that melted her heart. Her arrogant behavior seemed to have disappeared, too. She nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan gave her a smile before looking down. A trace of coldness shot across his eyes but his hand movements were still as gently. Aunt Hua, who was standing by the side, looked down at Su Yan and narrowed her eyes with a gleam of suspicion. ¡­ Chapter 880. Quickly Call For The Ambulance! Yan Rusheng was in a sullen mood for the entire day at the office, but when he got home and saw Wen Xuxu, his mood softened. The moment he entered the room, he removed his clothes and went to take his shower. Xuxu, on the other hand, went to the wardrobe to fetch clothes for him. After retrieving his clothes, she walked back and passed it to him as she smiled. ¡°Today is the first day of work for your little lover sister. Did you organize a welcome party for her?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at her and his mouth curled with a devilish smile. ¡°Wen Xuxu, if you want, just tell me straight.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. Did her question had anything to do with it? Which part of her question revealed what she wanted? Yan Rusheng lowered his head. He then pressed his lips to her ears and softly laughed. ¡°You do realize that I¡¯ll punish you on the bed the moment you say such things. Are you doing this on purpose?¡± After that, he opened his mouth and bit her ears. His action caused Xuxu to feel as if he electrocuted her body. She felt limp in seconds. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched, and she pushed him away. ¡°Get lost. Your mind is filled with nothing but filth.¡± His imagination had reached another great height. ¡°Wife, I missed my son all of a sudden. Tonight, I must go in and meet him.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched out his hands to carry her up to the bathroom as he chuckled. It rendered Xuxu speechless. ¡®Oh, my god! Please subdue this shameless man!¡¯ ¡­ Since it was already the weekend, the two of them woke up late for they had a great time last night. If it wasn¡¯t because she got hungry, Xuxu wouldn¡¯t even get out of bed. She drowsily brushed her teeth and stepped out of the room in her pajamas. She had intended to go down for a quick bite before returning to bed again. Both of them went out one after another and bumped into Mu Li, who had just stepped out of her room, and the three of them stood there looking at each other. Mu Li¡¯s face instantly darkened when she saw Xuxu¡¯s neck. She averted her gaze to her son. ¡°Third Yan, Xuxu is pregnant so can control yourself for now? It¡¯s better to be safe than sorry.¡± Xuxu suddenly became aware and swiftly stretched out her hand to feel her neck. She didn¡¯t really pay attention to her reflection on the mirror while she brushed her teeth earlier. This fellow must have left some marks on her body again. Her face started to turn red from embarrassment. But Yan Rusheng was unconcerned and threw a nonchalant reply. ¡°I know my limits. I¡¯m just communicating with my son.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. This fellow was really shameless. But hooligans rarely paid attention to people or situations. The corners of Mu Li¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily. ¡°Yan Rusheng, where are your moral principles?¡± The three of them descended the stairs as they spoke. As they made way, the servant suddenly shrieked out loud from down below. ¡°Mister, Mister!¡± ¡°Third Young Master! Second Madam!¡± Their expressions tightened both at the same time. Yan Rusheng and Mu Li looked at each other before simultaneously rushing forward. Xuxu followed behind with anxious steps. When they reached the staircase landing, everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards the sofa. All the servants were crowded around that area and Aunt Zhang panicked. ¡°Quickly call for the ambulance.¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t wait to fly down from the upper level. He rushed down the stairs like a flash of lightning and sped to the sofa. ¡°Father!¡± Yan Weihong was lying on the sofa, and his lips had turned purplish. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He immediately helped Yan Weihong up and placed him on his back in swift actions. After that, he dashed like a raging bull out of the door. Xuxu grabbed the car keys and ran to the garage to drive the car out. Mu Li opened the car door and together with Yan Rusheng, and they stuffed Yan Weihong into the car. Mu Li got in as well and carried out emergency measures for Yan Weihong. Chapter 881. Are You Certain He’s Not A Good-For-Nothing? Yan Rusheng opened the front passenger seat door and said to Xuxu, ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± Xuxu swiftly got off. All of them coordinated well and wasted no time in between. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Just before the car sped off, Yan Rusheng assured her. The car had already vanished, but Xuxu still stood rooted on the same spot, looking worried. How could she not worry? She turned back into the house to prepare to change before she proceeded to the hospital. By then, all the servants had dispersed. When she passed by the sofa, Xuxu glanced at the coffee table. She saw the newspaper headlines stating that Paramount had taken possession of 30% of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares. Xuxu eyelashes fluttered. What ought to come¡ªhad finally come. They wheeled Yan Weihong into the emergency room while Yan Rusheng and Mu Li anxiously waited outside, pacing back and forth. It was the country¡¯s most well-known Heart and Cerebrovascular Disease Hospital. After Yan Weihong¡¯s return to the country, they sent all his overseas medical records to the hospital for record keeping. On their way to the hospital earlier, Mu Li contacted Yan Weihong¡¯s doctor-in-charge, and the hospital had already prepared for emergency treatment. There wasn¡¯t a second to lose. Mu Li looked pale and had her fingers interlocked. Yan Rusheng walked up to her and held her hands. As expected, her hands were clammy and trembling. ¡°Everything will be okay.¡± He assured her. Mu Li looked down and remained silent, for she knew that Yan Rusheng was also uncertain of the outcome and was as fearful as her. ¡°Mother. Ah Sheng.¡± Xuxu rushed to the hospital after changing and went straight to the emergency room. When she saw Mu Li and Yan Rusheng outside the emergency room, she became increasingly worried. And her anxious heart was almost in her mouth. ¡°How¡¯s father?¡± She walked over to them and looked at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°The doctor is still performing emergency treatment on him, and they¡¯re not out yet.¡± Then, he turned back and looked at the emergency room. At that moment, the doors opened and Yan Weihong¡¯s doctor stepped out. The three of them moved forward in unison. ¡°Director Wang, how¡¯s he?¡± The doctor removed his face mask and replied, ¡°He¡¯s out of danger now, but he mustn¡¯t get agitated again.¡± What he said relieved the three. When they heard the good news, Mu Li wanted to go in right away, but the doctor stopped her. ¡°He¡¯ll be out soon.¡± He had barely finished his sentence when a nurse wheeled Yan Weihong out. Yan Weihong had already opened his eyes and when he saw Yan Rusheng, his eyes widened. ¡°Third Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng and Mu Li were standing on opposite sides. Mu Li grabbed Yan Weihong¡¯s hand and broke down. ¡°You wretched old man, you scared me to death.¡± She seldom cried, but she knew that her tears were the most powerful tool to use on Yan Weihong. When Yan Weihong saw her crying, he immediately stretched out his hand to wipe away her tears. With affection lacing his voice, he chided, ¡°Why are you crying in front of the children? I¡¯m not dead yet.¡± Mu Li covered her nose and feigned disgust. ¡°Your mouth stinks since you didn¡¯t brush your teeth this morning, so stop talking.¡± Everyone else was speechless. But Yan Weihong didn¡¯t feel embarrass and instead, he broke into a peal of laughter for he knew that Mu Li did it on purpose. ¡°I won¡¯t let all of you worry for me again, you fools.¡± He lifted his hand and patted Mu Li on her head. Love and affection filled his smile. When a man truly loves a woman, he would forever pamper her like a child¡ªlike his daughter. And he would try his best to shoulder all her pressures and fill her with nothing but joy and smile. Aunt Mu Li and Second Uncle Yan fully exhibited this kind of love to everyone. Xuxu looked on with relief and envy. ¡°Father really loves Mother.¡± A male voice sounded, and he mocked. ¡°Are you certain he¡¯s not a good-for-nothing?¡± Chapter 882. Shall I Piggyback You?! Xuxu rolled her eyes in annoyance at the man beside her. She felt it was getting more difficult to communicate with him by the day. She raised her feet and caught up with Mu Li and the rest. They transferred Yan Weihong to a room, but when they arrived at his ward, Mu Li heaved a long sigh. ¡°Luckily, he survived unscathed.¡± She began to rub her eyes as she spoke. Xuxu pressed her lips together and stretched out her hand to pat Mu Li lightly on her back. Mu Li took a while to recompose herself. She calmed down before pointing to Yan Weihong and sternly warned, ¡°Yan Weihong, I¡¯m telling you this now. If you get agitated again and drop dead, I¡¯ll change the surnames of your grandchildren to mine after they are born.¡± Yan Weihong knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Their surnames should either be Yan or Wen. Why would they follow your surname instead?¡± Mu Li rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. ¡°Enough. Anyway, just stop worrying.¡± Yan Weihong¡¯s face darkened, and he raised his voice. ¡°Comrade Mu Li, please be mindful of your behavior in front of the kids.¡± Xuxu twitched her mouth and felt it would be more appropriate for her to leave them alone for the time being. ¡°Father and mother, I¡¯ll make a call back home otherwise Aunt Zhang and the rest would still be worrying.¡± After that, she turned and walked towards the door. She fished out her cellphone at the same time. After Xuxu left, Yan Weihong¡¯s expression turned sullen, and he raised his voice in anger. ¡°Jiang Qinglian had gone too far this time.¡± Seeing him getting agitated again, Mu Li knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Be mindful of your emotions. You¡¯ve just been out of the emergency room.¡± She chided him with worry and concern. Yan Weihong immediately recomposed himself before looking at Yan Rusheng. He commanded, ¡°Third Yan, you must think of a way to take back the shares.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°I know and I definitely will.¡± He was determined to win. Yan Weihong pressed his lips and didn¡¯t talk further. He was probably feeling tired, so he shut his eyes and gestured to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Let your mother remain here with me.¡± Yan Rusheng replied with an ¡®Mm¡¯ and turned to look at Mu Li. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Mu Li gave him an assuring look and Yan Rusheng nodded before he left. After Xuxu had made the call, she was about to re-enter the ward when Yan Rusheng stepped out. She asked, ¡°Ah Sheng, why are you out?¡± ¡°He¡¯s resting and told us to go back home first,¡± Yan Rusheng replied as he held Xuxu¡¯s hand. ¡°Let me inform them.¡± Xuxu wanted to bid them farewell, but Yan Rusheng stopped her. ¡°Father is asleep.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t insist and heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank God. Scared me to death.¡± Until that moment, her legs felt wobbly. She slightly tilted her neck and leaned against Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Shall I piggyback you?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want. It will squash my tummy.¡± She massaged her slightly bulging belly. If it wasn¡¯t because of her belly, she would definitely let him piggyback her. Yan Rusheng looked down at her belly and his expression softened. ¡°There¡¯s still a long way to go before the two little fellows are out.¡± He sounded as if he was lamenting, but his tone was brimming with anticipation and affection. They went straight to the hospital the moment they woke up, and so hadn¡¯t taken their breakfast. Xuxu was famished. There were many stalls selling breakfast outside the hospital entrance. When her car passed by the row of stalls, she saw a stall selling wraps and her stomach rumbled. She pointed to a particular stall and exclaimed, ¡°Yan Rusheng, I feel like eating a wrap.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes followed the direction of her finger, and he knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Unhygienic!¡± Besides the poor quality of the ingredients used, dust usually covered such roadside stalls. Chapter 883. A Chance Encounter with Classmate Zhao Because Xuxu was pregnant, she had to satisfy her cravings. Otherwise, it would be unbearable for her. Sometimes, she had sudden cravings for a particular food and would go all the way to buy it, but she would lose her appetite after just a mouthful. She needed to have a taste of it so bad. She was pouting as she said, ¡°I need to satisfy my stomach. I¡¯m really too famished. You stop the car and I¡¯ll buy. You don¡¯t have to go.¡± Yan Rusheng hurriedly explained, ¡°Wife, I¡¯m not afraid of getting off the car to buy it for you. But I feel that roadside stalls are unhygienic. Shall we find a restaurant instead?¡± Xuxu disagreed. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Alright then. Just a small bite will do.¡± In the end, Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t stop his wife¡¯s tantrums and gave in. He stopped his car by the roadside. ¡°Junk food. You¡¯re a threat to my son.¡± He unfastened his seatbelt after stopping the car. Xuxu said, ¡°Let me go instead.¡± Since it was early in the morning, there were many pedestrians outside the hospital. He would surely attract unnecessary stares if he were to buy it for her. ¡°You wait in the car. I¡¯ll buy,¡± Yan Rusheng insisted. Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to go. Those in the queue are all young ladies.¡± After speaking to him in a commanding tone, Xuxu didn¡¯t give Yan Rusheng further chance to speak and got off the car. Yan Rusheng stared at the petite back view of Xuxu. It had him dumbfounded. ¡®Those in the queue are all young ladies?¡¯ As he mulled over this, he turned and looked at the stall once more and knitted his eyebrows. Wasn¡¯t there only one young lady? ¡®Forget it.¡¯ Since she didn¡¯t want him to go, he should listen and be a good husband. Yan Rusheng took out his cellphone and saw two missed calls. Both calls were from Lu Yinan. He didn¡¯t know why Lu Yinan called him early in the morning, so he returned the call. ¡°Xuxu.¡± While Xuxu was in the queue, a familiar voice suddenly sounded in her ears. She turned back and there was a look of astonishment in her eyes. ¡°Is it really you?¡± After finding out she was Xuxu, the man adjusted his specs before walking up to her. ¡°I saw you from the back earlier and thought I¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± It was Zhao Zheng, the person who they had dined with last Saturday. It surprised Xuxu. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Zhao Zheng replied, ¡°My father had some heart discomfort these two days and is in the hospital for further checks.¡± He walked up to Xuxu before halting his steps. His dad was their high school English teacher. Xuxu asked with concern, ¡°How¡¯re the results of his check?¡± Zhao Zheng shook his head. ¡°Results are not out yet as they have not completed the checkup. They will do more checks today.¡± Then, he scanned the surroundings and asked in bewilderment. ¡°Why are you here too? Alone?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No, Yan Rusheng is with me.¡± ¡°Last night, my dad was still talking about you, saying you had the best English results in our class. You were also the most well behaved.¡± Zhao Zheng added, ¡°He heard that we met up for a meal last Saturday and got excited, asking why I didn¡¯t bring him along.¡± He laughed after saying this. Xuxu also laughed and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll pay Teacher Zhao a visit. I haven¡¯t seen him after we graduated.¡± Frankly, her English teacher treated her well before. After over 10 years, she finally had time to meet him. And since he was in the hospital, she ought to pay him a visit. It thrilled Zhao Zheng when he heard this and nodded. ¡°Sure thing. He¡¯ll be thrilled to see you.¡± Xuxu replied with an ¡®Mm¡¯ and said, ¡°Let me inform Yan Rusheng.¡± Chapter 884. I’ll Go Only If You Agree She turned around and walked back to the car. Zhao Zheng shouted, ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re not eating a wrap anymore? Buy first before you go.¡± Xuxu saw that there were a few more people in the queue, and if Zhao Zheng had to wait for her, she would feel bad about it. ¡°I¡¯ll buy later.¡± But in actuality, her stomach was really grumbling so bad. She figured she would just grab a bite later to curb her hunger while she looked for gifts. Zhao Zheng responded, ¡°Let me queue for you instead.¡± After that, he joined the queue once again and stood at the same spot where Xuxu previously stood. Xuxu smiled. ¡°I would feel bad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Zhao Zheng shook his head and waved at her. ¡°You go ahead and tell Yan Rusheng.¡± Since he insisted on queuing for her, Xuxu didn¡¯t object any further. She walked back to the car and knocked on the car window. Yan Rusheng was still talking on the phone when he heard the knocking sounds. He turned and saw Xuxu standing outside the car. He immediately wound down the window. ¡°We¡¯ll end here. I¡¯ll contact you again later.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up and asked Xuxu, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where¡¯s the wrap?¡± ¡®Didn¡¯t she buy the wrap?¡¯ Xuxu answered, ¡°I ran into Zhao Zheng. He said Teacher Zhao is in the same hospital for heart discomfort. Let¡¯s pay him a visit together.¡± When he heard the name Zhao Zheng, Yan Rusheng unconsciously frowned. ¡°You bumped into that bespectacled guy?¡± Such a coincidence? He intuitively averted his gaze to the wrap stall and found Zhao Zheng among the crowd. His good-looking face darkened almost instantly. He regretted letting this dumb woman buy the wrap. He shook his head in response. ¡°No, you¡¯re not allowed to go.¡± Xuxu had already foreseen that he wouldn¡¯t agree at once, so she said in a playful tone, ¡°We¡¯re just paying Teacher Zhao a visit. Can you stop being so petty?¡± ¡°I am petty. You¡¯re not allowed to go.¡± Yan Rusheng still didn¡¯t allow. ¡°I feel irritated whenever I see that bespectacled frog.¡± From the way he looked at his wife, he must have harbored some lewd thoughts about his wife. ¡®What a lecherous guy!¡¯ Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°He has a name okay? Do you know that the way you called him is an insult to all the men in the world who are wearing spectacles?¡± Was it right to keep calling him such names? Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°He¡¯s the only who looks like a frog when he¡¯s wearing glasses.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She had already told Zhao Zheng that she¡¯d visit Teacher Zhao, and it wouldn¡¯t be nice to call off. Hence, she bent down and grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm to banter to him. ¡°Ah Sheng, please go with me. Teacher Zhao Zheng was very nice to me in when we were in high school. Since he¡¯s here at the same hospital, let¡¯s just visit him.¡± After that, she stretched her neck and planted a kiss on Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips. Her move stunned Young Master Yan, and he stretched his hand and wound it around Xuxu¡¯s neck. He returned her a fierce kiss before smiling and said, ¡°Later. Can you also take the initiative to kiss me for ten seconds in front of that guy?¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. ¡°Can you stop being so senseless and childish?¡± Seeing the look of hesitation on Xuxu¡¯s face, he retracted his hand and crossed his arm. He mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll go only if you agree.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay.¡± Xuxu nodded in agreement. ¡°But not for ten seconds. It¡¯ll be just like the kiss we just had.¡± Actually, she could go by herself but she loved to amuse him in such a manner. She loved to see him in his smug manner after having a taste of some goodness. Yan Rusheng nodded and compromised. ¡°Alright.¡± He opened the car door and got off. He held Xuxu¡¯s hand and their fingers Interlocked tightly. It was the most fundamental way of displaying their affection for each other. Chapter 885. Don’t Take Pleasure in Discriminating Against Women As they walked leisurely towards the wrap stall, they bumped into Zhao Zheng, who had just finished buying the wrap and was about to look for them. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ve bought it. Here you go.¡± He smiled and handed the piping hot wrap to Xuxu. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Xuxu smiled and thanked him. She stretched out her hand to receive it. But before she could take it from him, a pair of beautiful male hands snatched it over all of a sudden. ¡°Classmate Zhao Zheng, thank you for the trouble.¡± Yan Rusheng took over the wrap and smiled at Zhao Zheng. After that, he opened the wrapper and took a bite. His eyebrows knitted together after chewing for a while. He lowered his head and looked at Xuxu and chided, ¡°Wife, didn¡¯t I tell you not to add meat? I don¡¯t like meat added on my wrap.¡± Then, he turned around, feeling disgusted. He threw the wrap into a nearby trash can with precision. Xuxu gnashed her teeth and gripped the back of Young Master Yan¡¯s hand with force. She resisted the urge to step hard on his feet. She was already dead famished, okay?! Yet he still had the cheek to waste food. He was really a downright narrow-minded man. ¡®This is enough!¡¯ In such a situation, there was nothing else that Xuxu could do but to tolerate. She chuckled as she apologetically looked at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Zhao Zheng, I¡¯m sorry. I forgot to tell you not to add meat.¡± Zhao Zheng¡¯s ugly expression softened, and he smiled after Xuxu¡¯s apology. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± In actual fact, he couldn¡¯t take it lying down and despised Yan Rusheng. How could he let Xuxu queue for his breakfast? Instead of treasuring Xuxu as his wife, he had the cheek to pick on her. The three of them were attracting unnecessary stares for they were haggling in the middle of the street. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded and walked over to Xuxu¡¯s other side. ¡°My father would be thrilled to see you later.¡± Xuxu grinned before giving a heavy sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve not seen Teacher Zhao for over 10 years. I wonder how he looks now.¡± She was happily chatting with Zhao Zheng and had left Young Master Yan ignored. Suddenly, he halted his steps. As he was holding hands with Xuxu, she also had to stop. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu turned and face him with a puzzled look on her face. Yan Rusheng rubbed the corners of his mouth meaningfully and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why but there¡¯s some pain at the corners of my mouth all of a sudden.¡± Then he caressed his lips with a look of agony on his face. ¡°Could there be something in the wrap?¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened but before Yan Rusheng could finish his sentence, she tiptoed and swiftly planted a kiss on his lips. Then she gritted her teeth and asked, ¡°Do you feel better now?¡± If she didn¡¯t give him a kiss, he would definitely accuse Zhao Zheng of adding poison into the wrap to poison him. ¡®This guy is so downright shameless!¡¯ Yan Rusheng licked his lips and wished for more. ¡°My wife¡¯s saliva is like a miracle pill. It healed my lips right away, and there¡¯s no more pain now.¡± After that, he looked at Zhao Zheng and smiled. ¡°Whenever I experience pain in my body, she¡¯ll kiss that spot and the pain will go away instantly. I¡¯m surprised that my wife has this special ability. Have you tried it?¡± Zhao Zheng shook his head and forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m a decent man and I don¡¯t take pleasure in discriminating against women.¡± ¡®He¡¯s a decent man? Pleasure in discriminating against women?¡¯ Was he trying to say that he was indecent and a pervert? ¡®Damn you four-eyed frog! How dare you come up with ways to criticize me?¡¯ Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth and furiously thought over it, and all the while maintaining the smile on his face. ¡°Intellects are usually boring and I understand.¡± Chapter 886. Underestimated Young Master Yan’s Pettiness! ¡°All right, let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu stretched her hand behind Yan Rusheng and gave him a hard pinch. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows and spoke none further. They went to the convenience store inside the hospital to get some gifts. Xuxu grabbed a carton of milk and bread, she then unwrapped them. Yan Rusheng specially chose the most expensive items to flaunt his wealth in front of Zhao Zheng. As he was about to pay, he took out a black credit card with unlimited spending. He casually tossed it on the cashier. ¡°There.¡± Xuxu had a mouthful of bread in her mouth. She helplessly snorted. ¡®What a showoff!¡¯ Zhao Zheng stood at the side, observing him with a contemptuous expression etched on his face. He felt that other than being rich, there was nothing good about Yan Rusheng. He was mean, arrogant, condescending, and his character was horrible. He always used to bully the girls, especially Xuxu. He couldn¡¯t stand Yan Rusheng at all. But in the end, Xuxu ended up marrying him. It was the most infuriating fact that he couldn¡¯t take it lying down. ¡°Zhao Zheng, hold this.¡± After footing the bill, Yan Rusheng passed him two heavy boxes. Zhao Zheng didn¡¯t want to, but since Xuxu was around, he wanted to appear like a gentleman. He received the boxes. His shoulders slumped the moment he received the boxes with his hands. Meanwhile, Yan Rusheng held a light bag containing some fruits. With his free hand, he held Xuxu¡¯s hand and walked ahead of Zhao Zheng. He deliberately wanted to display how loving they were. Xuxu suddenly regretted having suggested visiting Teacher Zhao. She had clearly underestimated Young Master Yan¡¯s pettiness. It was beyond her imagination! ¡­ Teacher Zhao stayed in a single ward. Zhao Zheng explained that his father¡¯s student was a director at the hospital. He proudly said that the student arranged this ward, especially for his father. As expected, Yan Rusheng made a snide and sarcastic remark once again. There was a man in his sixties lying on the bed as they opened the door. He was wearing glasses as he read a magazine. He was engrossed that he didn¡¯t notice them entering. Xuxu noticed his balding head and suddenly felt nostalgic as memories rushed in. Teacher Zhao who was once so energetic and lively during lessons before. ¡°Teacher Zhao,¡± called out Xuxu with a soft voice as she entered. She was trying her best to contain her emotions. The old man slowly lifted his head and looked at Xuxu. His slightly murky eyes were sparkling with excitement. ¡°Oh dear, you are.¡± He could recognize her face but couldn¡¯t remember her name. Xuxu smiled. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± ¡°Xuxu!¡± Teacher Zhao cast the magazine aside and instantly got off the bed. Xuxu hastened her footsteps. ¡°Teacher, don¡¯t move from the bed!¡± She grabbed his arm and supported him, so he could sit on his bed. ¡°It has been more than a decade since you graduated.¡± Teacher Zhao held her hand, looking overwhelmed. ¡°You were the top student for the English subject that year.¡± He sounded so proud of her achievements. Xuxu smiled and subconsciously threw a glance at Yan Rusheng with a triumphant smile. Yan Rusheng quietly snorted, apparently annoyed. He glanced at Teacher Zhao. ¡°Teacher Zhao, you can still remember Wen Xuxu, but what about me?¡± This was what he hated most about Wen Xuxu. Both of them were academically excellent, but he did not understand why the teachers only had Wen Xuxu in their eyes. They always chose her as their classmates¡¯ role model or the one who received the most praises. Chapter 887. If I Wanted to Leave With Him Yan Rusheng always felt that Wen Xuxu must have pandered to the teachers. That was why they all adored her so much. Hence, the reason why he despised her. In fact, every single teacher in the school liked her. ¡°Yan Rusheng. How can I not remember you?¡± Teacher Zhao glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I always read news about you two.¡± Xuxu was slightly awkward when he mentioned the news. In the last year, they indeed had appeared on the news on a regular basis. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ve told you, right? If my father saw you, he would be delighted and excited.¡± Zhao Zheng had foreseen that Yan Rusheng was trying to interject, so he hastily cut him across. He deliberately mentioned that his father would be delighted to see Wen Xuxu and left his name out. His intention was obvious. Yan Rusheng could tell, and he quietly smiled. He felt that Zhao Zheng wasn¡¯t in the same league as him, and he had half a thought to mock him. But since the teacher that Xuxu respected was around, he decided against his whim. Teacher Zhao chuckled as he pressed on. ¡°I heard that you had a classmates¡¯ gathering last weekend. Why didn¡¯t you ask me along?¡± Xuxu smiled and made a promise. ¡°Sure, we will ask you along next time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s settled.¡± Teacher Zhao sighed once more. ¡°Among your classmates, Jiang Zhuoheng was the only one who visited me a few times after he came back from abroad. He would always stay to play chess with me.¡± It startled Xuxu. ¡°He went to visit you?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was always so thoughtful and considerate. He was very filial towards the elderly and always visited Xuxu¡¯s grandfather as well. Even until now. Yan Rusheng noticed Xuxu¡¯s expression softening, and he felt uncomfortable. ¡®Is that fellow Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s company going bust soon? Why does he have so much free time?¡¯ ¡°Time passes too quickly, and without realizing it, I¡¯ve aged so much.¡± Teacher Zhao deeply sighed. ¡°All of you are starting to have your own family, too.¡± ¡­ Visiting Teacher Zhao had made Xuxu recollect so many precious memories. She left the hospital holding hands with Yan Rusheng. ¡°Xuxu, if nothing happened between us that night, would you have left abroad with Jiang Zhuoheng?¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly asked Xuxu. Would they be together today? His question had shocked her, and so he simply stared at him for a long time without uttering a sound. Initially, Yan Rusheng had been holding her hand, but subconsciously he tightened his grip. Xuxu could feel his hand sweating¡ªhe was anxious and nervous. ¡°Pfft!¡± She laughed and her eyes glistened. ¡°Silly fool, if I wanted to leave with him, nothing would have happened that night.¡± How could she bear to leave Ah Sheng, whom she had stayed with ever since she was a child? Her confession had overjoyed him, but remained calm. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to Chen¡¯s Restaurant and I¡¯ll get the dumplings within 50 seconds.¡± He bent and carried her like how he carried a child. ¡°Ahhh.¡± Xuxu shrieked when he lifted her without warning, and she wound her hands around his neck by instinct. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?! Put me down!¡± Does he have any idea that he needed to be cautious with her? She was pregnant but he kept scaring her! Yan Rusheng ignored Xuxu and carried her to the car. Completely ignoring all the curious pairs of eyes staring at them. Two pairs of eyes were fondly gazing at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu from a window. Until they vanished from sight. Mu Li shook her head with a contented smile. ¡°This boy is sticking to Xuxu like glue.¡± She glanced at Yan Weihong. Chapter 888. Rookie Yan Weihong became stern and snarled, ¡°He doesn¡¯t know how to stop. What if Xuxu was hurt?¡± Mu Li threw him a contemptuous look. ¡°Ever since I got to know you, you¡¯re just like a wooden block. When have you been as passionate as our son?¡± Yan Weihong retorted, ¡°That¡¯s why our son is just like you.¡± Mu Li quipped, ¡°So what if he is like me? Without my genes, would your son be so handsome? From top to toe, you are the perfect example of a toad lusting after a swan!¡± Yan Weihong almost spat blood. ¡­ Xuxu was still in the midst of designing outfits for Xin Yanting¡¯s photoshoot, and she had finished the first outfit and prepared a sample. So, she told Su Yan to inform Xin Yanting to head over for a fitting. To see if she was satisfied. If it were other clients, the client would usually come over after all the samples were ready, just like how the contract has stipulated. But for the fussy and particular Xin Yanting, she needed to do it one at a time before she started on the second one. She needed her approval for the first one. In the evening, Xin Yanting and Su Yan came to work at the studio together. She was wearing a formal outfit with high heels and as usual, her appearance was flamboyant, just like her character. She removed her sunglasses when she entered the work studio. She folded her arms and tilted her chin upwards as though she was using her nostrils to look at things. ¡°Where is Wen Xuxu?¡± She scanned the office and saw no sight of her. Xin Yanting turned to Su Yan, looking annoyed. ¡°Didn¡¯t she ask me to come down for a fitting? Why isn¡¯t she here to receive me?¡± She had barely finished her sentence when the sounds of footsteps could be heard. ¡°Here I am, Miss Xin!¡± Xuxu quickly and gracefully came down with a smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll get the outfit for you.¡± After greeting Xin Yanting, she went to the sewing machine and politely brought her the outfit. It was a light colored floral long dress that reminded one of the tropical beaches. Xin Yanting scrutinized the dress before lazily stretching her hand out to feel the dress. A few seconds later, a crease appeared on her forehead. ¡°This is obviously too big, alright?¡± She flung the dress on Xuxu. Instinctively Xuxu caught the dress in mid-air. ¡°It isn¡¯t. Our tailor had made it according to your measurements.¡± She spread the dress and moved to Xin Yanting¡¯s back. She placed it on her and exclaimed, ¡°Oh dear. It¡¯s indeed bigger.¡± Xin Yanting sneered. ¡°I knew you were a rookie who isn¡¯t capable enough. How dare you try to design clothes when you have no experience? I have no idea what is on Yan Rusheng¡¯s mind. You are disgracing him.¡± These words may sound mean but it didn¡¯t anger Xuxu at all. She had grasped Xin Yanting¡¯s character and understood that she was prideful and conceited. But she wasn¡¯t essentially a wicked person since her emotions were all displayed on her face. If she liked you, she would show it, and if she doesn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t hide her dislike. Xuxu contemplated for a moment before turning to Xin Yanting with an apologetic expression. ¡°Miss Xin. I¡¯m so sorry. I might have made a mistake. I¡¯ll ask the tailor to alter it as soon as possible. I will have to trouble you to make another trip.¡± ¡°Rookie, I advise you to learn fashion design properly first.¡± Chapter 889. Do I Have This Honor Xin Yanting used her heels to her advantage and peered at Xuxu with a condescending look. ¡°I shall forgive you on the account of Brother Ah Heng. I¡¯ll give you one more chance, so don¡¯t make any mistakes again.¡± Xuxu nodded and assured her. ¡°I won¡¯t do it the next time, don¡¯t worry.¡± Xin Yanting loudly snorted, twisted her body, and then marched out of the office. Xuxu was afraid that her heels might pierce a hole through the floor when she heard loud the thuds that her heels had produced. Xuxu retracted her line of vision after Xin Yanting left and accidentally caught sight of Su Yan¡¯s face. She frowned, looking confused. ¡°Why? Why are you looking at me in that way?¡± Su Yan stuffed his hands inside his pockets. He had fixed his eyes intently on Xuxu¡¯s face. He seemed to suppress a grin. He blurted, ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re too wicked.¡± Xuxu pretended to be puzzled by his accusation. ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yan pointed at the dress in Xuxu¡¯s hands. With determination coating his voice, he said, ¡°You did it on purpose.¡± He had seen through her lies, and it made Xuxu shrug. But the latter did not admit her doings. ¡°That princess came with you, shouldn¡¯t you send her back?¡± She turned around and went up the stairs. She had indeed done it on purpose for she knew that Xin Yanting was an impatient person. She wanted to use this opportunity to make things difficult for her. If she came a few more times, she won¡¯t ever come again. ¡­ ¡°General Manager Xin. I¡¯m so sorry to make you waste a trip here.¡± Su Yan fastened his seatbelt and apologized to Xin Yanting. ¡°It has nothing to do with you. It¡¯s all that rookie Wen Xuxu¡¯s fault.¡± Xin Yanting frowned and looked at Su Yan. ¡°You¡¯re too kind as a boss. Your work studio receives clients from the entertainment and fashion industry, and they are all famous and remarkable figures. You have such an outstanding reputation, so why didn¡¯t you hire a famous fashion designer? You shouldn¡¯t have hired Wen Xuxu just because she is your sister-in-law.¡± She expressed concern for Young Master Su and didn¡¯t leave out to categorize herself as someone famous and remarkable too. Su Yan merely smiled and started the car. When he drove out of an alley, he glanced at Xin Yanting and asked, ¡°Do I have this honor of inviting you to dinner, General Manager Xin?¡± It was already dusk and the setting red sun had enveloped everything in sight. A golden layer of light seemed to cover the man¡¯s gorgeous features, and it made him look more beautiful than anything. His looks had astonished Xin Yanting at that moment, and she simply stared at him. Then she regained her composure and said smugly. ¡°I rarely dine with others.¡± She had implied that she had a high status. Su Yan grinned and continued. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m wondering if I have the honor of dining with you?¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Xin Yanting pursed her lips and reluctantly nodded. ¡°Since you picked me up earlier on, I shall grant you your wish.¡± She rummaged through her bag for a mirror and looked at her reflection. To check if her makeup had smudged. Su Yan had booked a Western restaurant in the bustling city area. It was dinnertime, and it was fully booked. Su Yan had reserved seats on the second floor. It was one of the finest and splendid restaurants in the capital city, and it was normal to catch sight of celebrities or famous figures occasionally. Xin Yanting¡¯s heels had announced her arrival before she stepped in. But the minute Su Yan walked beside her, he attracted everyone¡¯s attention. They entered the restaurant, and Su Yan, being a gentleman, sat down across her after Xin Yanting had comfortably settled herself in. Chapter 890. What a Handsome Big Brother The waitress came to their table with a menu. Su Yan sat there, looking like a refined gentleman as he asked Xin Yanting to order first. It had secretly intensified Xin Yanting¡¯s favorable impression of him. Xin Yanting passed him the menu with both hands. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered. Your turn.¡± Su Yan smiled and received the menu, but he didn¡¯t flip it. He passed it to the waitress. ¡°I would like the same as what this beautiful lady has ordered.¡± His smile was warm and gentle, and his piercing eyes were exceedingly charming. The young pretty waitress¡¯ heart furiously pounded, and she blushed crimson. She averted her gaze and received the menu. ¡°Alright. Please wait.¡± She left with the menu. Xin Yanting watched as the waitress disappeared. She then said disapprovingly, ¡°Nowadays, young girls are always swooning over guys. Haven¡¯t they seen a handsome man before?¡± Su Yan merely smiled in response. Xin Yanting suddenly thought of something and she glanced at Su Yan. ¡°Su Yan, it¡¯s your sister¡¯s birthday in two days. Are you celebrating her becoming a legal adult?¡± Su Yan was slightly startled and nodded after a pause. ¡°Yes.¡± Xin Yanting furrowed her eyebrows, looking upset. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you invite me?¡± Su Yan replied, ¡°I was about to ask if you would grant me this honor.¡± Xin Yanting snorted again and flicked her hair. As proud as a peacock, she proclaimed, ¡°If Wen Xuxu was the one who invited me, I would have rejected her. But I will go on account of you and Yan Rusheng.¡± It delighted Su Yan. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up.¡± Xin Yanting waved her hands and with a gentle voice, she said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You should be busy on that day. I can make my way there myself.¡± Su Yan smiled. ¡°It¡¯s really alright. Xuxu was the one who organized everything and the guests are all President Yan¡¯s friends. He will be there to entertain them, so I¡¯ve nothing to do.¡± Xin Yanting deliberated for a moment before agreeing. ¡°Alright then.¡± Xin Yanting thoroughly enjoyed her dinner that night, and she even ordered another serving of steak. Her appetite had the waitress dumfounded. But then again, she didn¡¯t feel anything wrong. ¡°Please visit us again.¡± The waitress bowed and bade them farewell. Su Yan glanced at Xin Yanting. ¡°Do you want to take a walk?¡± At that time, a girl with a basket in her hands tugged at Su Yan¡¯s pants. She peered at him with a pitiful expression. ¡°What a handsome big brother! Buy a flower for this pretty lady.¡± Su Yan looked at the little girl and his face lit up with a smile when he looked into her sparkling eyes. He bent forward. ¡°How much is the flower?¡± ¡°Three yuan,¡± she sweetly replied, and it made Su Yan¡¯s heart soften. Flashbacks of a tiny figure being ostracized by people appeared in his mind. He took out his wallet and gave her 200 yuan. ¡°I¡¯ll buy all the flowers.¡± The little girl was ecstatic and received the money gratefully. She passed the entire basket to Su Yan. ¡°Big brother, this whole basket is for you.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡± After receiving the flowers, Su Yan straightened his back. He gazed at the flowers. He turned towards Xin Yanting, and when their eyes met, he could see Miss Xin¡¯s face was flushed with anger. She raised her chin, looking upset. ¡°These children are usually forced by their parents to sell things for a living. The adults then do nothing at home, waiting for their children to support them.¡± Chapter 891. I Feel Bad to Decline Xin Yanting scanned the flowers in Su Yan¡¯s hands and sneered. ¡°These flowers are so tiny, and it costs three yuan? They look like wild roses.¡± ¡°Even if her parents had forced her to sell these flowers, I would still buy it. If I didn¡¯t, she might have to continue standing here until she had sold everything. Isn¡¯t it a good thing that she could go home early?¡± Su Yan¡¯s warm smile remained on his face. He looked at the basket of flowers and sighed. ¡°If I knew you didn¡¯t like these flowers, I shouldn¡¯t have taken them from the girl.¡± He glanced at the direction the little girl headed to, but she was already out of sight. Xin Yanting gazed at Su Yan, and her eyes seemed to glisten. His words appeared to have touched by her heart. ¡°Oh, I see her.¡± Su Yan pointed and smiled. He was about to rush forward when Xin Yanting stopped him. ¡°Su Yan.¡± Su Yan abruptly stopped his movement and spun his head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if the flowers are tiny,¡± Xin Yanting awkwardly said, ¡°If you return the flowers to her, the horrible parents might force her to continue selling. Give them to me. I¡¯ll give to my servants.¡± She snatched the basket from Su Yan and strode ahead of him with quick strides. Su Yan gazed at Xin Yanting¡¯s slender figure and a cold smirk appeared on his face. ¡­ Xin Yanting got down Su Yan¡¯s car in the courtyard. She happily carried the basket. Since she was currently staying with the Jiang family, a servant met her at the door and smiled at her. ¡°Miss, are you selling flowers?¡± Xin Yanting proudly replied, ¡°Someone gave them to me.¡± She turned and went towards the living room. Everyone had just finished dinner and was sitting in the living room, watching TV with Old Master Jiang. Old Master Jiang warmly smiled at Xin Yanting. ¡°Tingting, you¡¯re back.¡± His eyes landed on the basket of flowers in Xin Yanting¡¯s hands. ¡°Who is this stingy guy who gave you such cheap and tiny flowers?¡± ¡°Grandfather, you have no idea how kind this man was. He noticed this pitiful little girl on the road, and he bought all her flowers,¡± Xin Yanting explained as she walked to the couch. Everyone shifted so that she could sit next to Old Master Jiang. Someone grinned and playfully jeered, ¡°Who is this lucky fellow who won the affections of our beloved princess?¡± Xin Yanting snorted coldly with a haughty grin. ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± She found Jiang Zhuoheng sitting on an armchair slightly apart from the rest of the family. ¡°Brother, Su Yan¡¯s sister is celebrating her birthday in two days. Are you going?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng, who was using his phone, glanced at Xin Yanting when he heard her. ¡°Are you going?¡± Xin Yanting seemed to show off as she loudly proclaimed, ¡°Su Yan just invited me earlier on. I would feel bad to decline.¡± All of them were speechless¡­ Didn¡¯t she say that the identity of the man who gave her the flowers was a secret? Less than a minute later, she had blurted his name out. Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t answer Xin Yanting¡¯s question and simply stood up and went upstairs. Xin Yanting scrambled after him. ¡°Brother! You haven¡¯t told me if you¡¯re going!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng ignored her. He whipped out his phone when he reached his room and clicked a text. He replied, ¡®Okay.¡¯ Chapter 892. Coming of Age Ceremony ¡­ Xuxu and Yan Rusheng decided to throw Su Yue a lavish and huge coming of age ceremony. They wanted it to be huge to allow Su Yue to interact with more people and get used to crowds. But the main reason was to inform everyone that the Yan family had officially acknowledged them as their siblings and part of the Yans. Previously, the media had dramatized how Su Yue and Su Yan were illegitimate children and were unaccepted by the Yan family. They even speculated on how there was internal strife in the family because of their presence, too. It affected Su Yue the most since she was very sensitive. Hence, instinctively, she wanted to draw a clear line between herself and the Yan family for she felt they came from two different worlds. Like what Su Yan had said, Su Yue suffered too much, and she don¡¯t deserve it. Her parents should cherish and love her. Hence Xuxu and Yan Rusheng hoped that her coming of age ceremony would make her feel like she is part of the family and that she was the beloved little princess of the Yan family. In the dressing room, Su Yue put on a baby pink frock that Xuxu had personally designed for her. It was strapless and ended at Su Yue¡¯s knees. She was naturally fair, and the baby pink brought out the color of her skin that made her look fairer and exquisite. Her hair was slightly wavy, and she tied it into a loose and fluffy ponytail. The stylist used the curler to curl a lock of her hair and it tumbled elegantly at the sides of her face. She sat with elegance before the dressing table, fully resembling a beautiful and graceful princess in a fairytale. Xuxu, Mu Li and Zhou Shuang stood behind her. After the stylist was finished, Zhou Shuang inched near Su Yue and sized her up from top to toe. Then she looked at Su Yue¡¯s reflection and exclaimed, ¡°This girl is too beautiful.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but pinch Su Yue¡¯s rosy cheek. Xuxu walked over and slapped Zhou Shuang before chiding her. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her, her makeup will get smudged.¡± She gazed at Su Yue¡¯s reflection as well, and similarly, Su Yue¡¯s beauty had amazed her too. Even Madam Mu Li, who was an exquisite beauty herself, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Yueyue is a rare beauty waiting to sprout.¡± Zhou Shuang corrected her, ¡°She isn¡¯t waiting to sprout, she is already a seedling!¡± She wanted to touch Su Yue¡¯s face but was stopped by Xuxu¡¯s glare. ¡°Yueyue.¡± The door swung open and Su Yan entered. He was holding a black box, and it was from a luxury brand. He entered and nodded at Mu Li while walking towards Su Yue. He broke into a wide smile when he saw Su Yue. Even affection and consolation could be seen in his eyes. ¡°Brother,¡± Su Yue whispered. They looked at each other from the mirror. ¡°This is for you.¡± Su Yan passed the box to Su Yue. ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue received it and opened it eagerly. It was a long box, and without a surprise, it should contain either a necklace or bracelet. The moment Su Yue opened it, dancing sparkling light greeted her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± It was a diamond necklace with a sun-shaped pendant. There were tiny diamonds adorning the necklace and it glittered flamboyantly. Su Yue gazed at the necklace and judging from her expression, she loved it. Xuxu quipped, ¡°I¡¯ll help you to wear it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and passed the box to Xuxu. The glittering necklace on Su Yue¡¯s neck added a brilliant finishing touch. They heard exclaims and gasps. Everyone was happily conversing when a tall figure entered the room. ¡°Su Yan.¡± Chapter 893. Lets Start From Uncle Ming Su Yan¡¯s face turned solemn for a second before he gave a slight nod. ¡°General Manager Xin.¡± Xin Yanting had worn a classy red sleeveless dress. She sauntered her way in with her nose up high as though everything was beneath her. She walked to Su Yan and then stopped. Ignoring everyone else, she scanned Xuxu from head to toe in a condescending manner. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you look really tacky.¡± Xuxu was pregnant and naturally, she wouldn¡¯t be wearing heels. She simply put on a casual dress and a pair of white loafers. Zhou Shuang had met Xin Yanting before, and she knew how haughty and conceited she could be. She was openly criticizing Xuxu and at the same time was amused with it. However, her action had incensed Mu Li. ¡®Who is this rude lass? How dare she criticize my daughter-in-law right in my face?¡¯ She said, ¡°Su Yan, is she your friend?¡± Mu Li pointed at Xin Yanting. She then glanced at Su Yan, looking furious. ¡°Aunt Mu, I¡¯m Xin Yanting.¡± Miss Xin proudly announced her name. Mu Li heard her and her face fell. ¡°Paramount¡¯s young mistress.¡± In the past, Paramount and Flourish and Prosper had been on bad terms, and it wasn¡¯t an open secret then. But lately, their bad relationship had gone to the surface, and so, Xin Yanting wasn¡¯t in the least surprised to see how hostile Mu Li was to her. She simply offered a smile at the latter. She spun her head towards Su Yue, and her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°This young girl is so pretty.¡± ¡°Seems like you haven¡¯t forgotten how to praise a person.¡± Zhou Shuang folded her arms and rolled her eyes at Xin Yanting. Every word screamed sarcasm. Xin Yanting heard her remarks and it annoyed her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Shuang ignored her and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue is the most beautiful princess today. I¡¯m almost falling in love with you.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and led her to the center as she spun her around. Su Yue¡¯s soft laughter was tinkling and sweet-sounding, resembling a mountain lark. At the same time, a huge group entered the room. All the young masters¡¯ faces lit up in a pleasant surprise when they caught a glimpse of the scene. Xuxu noticed them first and smiled. ¡°All the young masters are here.¡± They walked towards them, saying, ¡°We were waiting for a long time in the main hall but didn¡¯t see the main character. Hence, we came over to take a peek.¡± They moved their gaze from Xuxu to Su Yue. Su Yue had been full of cheeriness and life earlier on, but she suddenly fell silent at the sight of the men. She pressed her lips as she stared at them with dewy eyes. Xuxu extended her hand and nudged Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, address them so that you can collect the presents and red packets.¡± Su Yue softly murmured and offered a deep bow to the group of young masters. ¡°Hello to all the young masters.¡± All of them were speechless. She was dressed like a princess but why does she seem like a maid? Lu Yinan grinned and gently tapped Su Yue¡¯s ear. ¡°You¡¯re such a cheeky lass, you learned well from your third sister-in-law.¡± Every time Wen Xuxu met them, she would be as stiff as a board. She would also address everyone cordially as ¡®Young Master¡¯. Even though she politely addressed them, everyone could distinctly feel that she was mocking them. Lu Yinan spoke as he dragged Ming Ansheng to the front. ¡°We will take turns giving out our gifts. Let¡¯s start with Uncle Ming.¡± Chapter 894. Proud Clown Among the young masters, Su Yue was the closest to Ming Ansheng. Su Yue felt more at ease when she saw Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± She sweetly called out to him and extended her hands. Ming Ansheng had dressed up especially for her coming of age ceremony. He chose a pale pink shirt for the occasion, and it unknowingly and perfectly matched Su Yue¡¯s dress. His gorgeous-looking face seemed much younger in light colors, too. He brought out a squarish box from his pocket and presented it to her. ¡°Little lass, happy birthday.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Su Yue kept the present as she happily thanked him. Everyone was curious about the mysterious tiny box. Did Ming Ansheng give her a ring?! ¡°Little lass, unwrap it!¡± Someone shouted and everyone else chimed in. Su Yue was about to unwrap the present when Ming Ansheng stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t unwrap it yet, let them anxiously wait for it.¡± He glanced at the people with him. ¡°Where are the presents? If you didn¡¯t prepare one, then cash will do. The minimum is 100,000 yuan, and if you don¡¯t have enough, you need to squat at a corner while you eat later.¡± He was acting as though he was the owner, and so Lu Yinan teased him. ¡°That was what Third Yan was supposed to say.¡± He took out a red packet and gave it to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, congrats on you turning legal.¡± The red packet was considerably thick. Someone yelled, ¡°Open it and check the amount!¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t let Su Yue open it and spoke again. ¡°Enough. Next one!¡± Everyone gave red packets and the thickness was quite similar. After giving out their presents and red packets, all of them got ready to leave the room. Xin Yanting darted towards Su Yue, and she took out a wad of cash from her handbag. ¡°Su Yue, for you.¡± Everyone¡¯s mouths twitched. That wad of cash must have been 100,000 yuan. Everyone gasped inwardly gasped. The lady was indeed extraordinary. That thick wad of cash had eclipsed all their presents and red packets. Su Yue was shocked to see so much money she gave her, and she simply stood there. Xin Yanting frowned and stuffed the money into her arms. ¡°Take this. It¡¯s ideal to receive cash nowadays since you may not like the present I may get you.¡± It sounded like she was mocking those who bought her a present, although it was undeniable that there was some truth to it. ¡°Take it.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t budge so Xuxu whispered something under her breath¡ªonly then did Su Yue received the money. That wad of money was thick and heavy that she had no idea how to keep it. Miss Xin had already turned around and sauntered to the front. ¡°This proud clown.¡± Zhou Shuang glanced at the money in Su Yue¡¯s arms first before glancing at Xin Yanting¡¯s haughty-looking figure. The corners of her mouth twitched. Lu Yinan was standing beside her at that moment and overheard her remarks. He simply couldn¡¯t stop himself from interjecting. ¡°How can she be more of a clown than you?¡± Zhou Shuang spun her head and glared at Lu Yinan with her eyes wide open. ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Xuxu quickly intervened before they squabbled once again. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Stop quarreling here.¡± They were simply arch-enemies. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t take it lying down and shot daggers from her eyes at Lu Yinan. ¡°You¡¯re such a nosy and talkative fellow. From top to toe without a doubt, you¡¯re definitely a wimp.¡± Lu Yinan screwed up his nose in disdain. ¡°Wretched woman. From top to toe, there is nothing likable about you.¡± Chapter 895. Don’t Force Me to Hit a Man ¡°Lu Yinan, I¡¯m warning you. Don¡¯t force me to hit you. You should know that I¡¯ve never hit a man before.¡± Zhou Shuang halted her footsteps and pointed a finger as a threat to Lu Yinan. Everyone stopped to check out the situation and turned around to face Zhou Shuang. ¡°Zhou Shuang, can you show us how to hit a man?¡± ¡°Lu Yinan is really asking for a good beating.¡± ¡°Exactly. Why does he always squabble with a lady? He needs to remember that he is a man.¡± These guys were definitely friends with evil intentions. Everyone was waiting to witness a ¡®good show¡¯ and were egging both of them on. Xuxu glared at them and raised her voice. ¡°Young Masters, don¡¯t you all want to eat?¡± They must be too bored. ¡­ The entire hotel level was booked and every guest was given room to rest. Su Yue¡¯s coming of age ceremony was huge and grand. When news got out that the Yan family spared no efforts to plan a celebration of that scale, those who didn¡¯t receive an invitation clamored to join. Of course, their main motive was to get close to Yan Rusheng and for Flourish & Prosper. The resplendent ballroom was teeming with guests. Su Yue was the main character of the day and inevitably, the host invited her to take photos with the guests. It was her first time attending such an event, and she was being thrust into the limelight as the main character. She was jittery and held on to Xuxu¡¯s hand. Xuxu led her to the stage and whispered under her breath, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, you look beautiful today. Everyone will definitely sing praises of you.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Su Yue lightly nodded. She tried to unclench her hands. When she reached the stage, she saw countless unfamiliar faces and unconsciously, she inched closer to Xuxu. Xuxu borrowed the host¡¯s microphone and spoke, ¡°Thank you, everyone, for attending my sister¡¯s coming of age ceremony. She is a little shy so please give her a round of applause.¡± The sound of applause instantly filled the whole ballroom. Xuxu could tell that Su Yue felt uncomfortable. So after they took a few photos, she went down the stage with her. ¡°There is a girl outside. She said that she is Miss Su¡¯s classmate.¡± Yan Rusheng was chatting with the rest of the young masters when a staff interrupted their conversation. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Let her in.¡± He was puzzled. ¡®Why did the staff announce her arrival?¡¯ They didn¡¯t send out invitations for their guests, and most of them came in their own accord. ¡°Right away,¡± The staff responded promptly and left. A young, thin girl appeared at the entrance. She was wearing a rather old and crumpled dress. Her hair was tied in braids, and she looked dainty and delicate. She peered inside the ballroom while her hands clenched her dress in sheer nerves. Fear was written all over her face. Yan Rusheng noticed her, and his face screwed up in concentration. After recalling something, he walked towards her. ¡°Are you Su Yue¡¯s classmate?¡± He stood in front of her and peered at her. The girl nodded but she didn¡¯t dare to look at Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. She grabbed the hems of her dress tightly and trembled. ¡°Come in, she is over there.¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at Su Yue who was at a corner with Xuxu. The girl stole a fleeting glance in the direction, bowed her head once more and stood still. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes traveled to the girl¡¯s shoes. Her shoes were white, and although it looked tacky, they seemed brand new. Chapter 896. Su Yues Friend He recalled Su Yue telling Xuxu she wanted to invite a friend over to her birthday party. She mentioned that this friend of hers was from a poor family and that she had also lost her mother. So, she was likely the one that Su Yue mentioned. After mulling over it, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you over to her.¡± He knew that the girl felt fearful and inferior for attending such a function for the first time. Hence, he laid down his haughtiness. He was even friendly and warm to her. The girl stared at his face and was lost in her own thoughts for a moment. She nodded her head afterward. ¡°Thank you.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips together. He strode towards Su Yue. With her head slightly tilted down, the girl followed behind Yan Rusheng. She had her eyes on her feet while tightly gripping the sides of her dress with both hands. There were people continuously walking past them and the look on her face got increasingly nervous. ¡®Slam!¡¯ As the girl was walking with her head bowed, she didn¡¯t take notice of the waiter walking past her with plates in his hands. She bumped straight into him. All the plates fell from the waiter¡¯s hands, and it had frightened the girl that she paled. She scrambled to bend down to pick them up, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡± And apologized repeatedly. Her weak voice sounded full of fear and panic. Yan Rusheng turned back and witnessed the scene. Without further thoughts, he went back to the girl and gently assured her. ¡°It¡¯s alright, let them clean up instead.¡± When the waiter saw Yan Rusheng, he immediately bowed and apologized, ¡°Third Young Master, I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t careful and bumped into this lady.¡± Yan Rusheng snarled, ¡°Be more careful next time.¡± The waiter promptly nodded. ¡°Yes. Yes. Yes.¡± Yan Rusheng diverted his gaze back to the girl as she raised her head to look at him at the same time. She was still visibly shocked and a hint of adoration flashed across her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± At that moment, Xuxu walked towards them and stood next to Yan Rusheng. She scanned the surroundings before fixing her gaze on the girl. She seemed to hazard a guess and turned around to call out for Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, is she your classmate?¡± Su Yue sprinted towards them and saw the girl squatting on the floor. She grinned. ¡°Bai Jing, you¡¯re here.¡± She bent down and helped her up. After the girl saw Su Yue, the nervous expression on her face eased. With an apologetic voice, she explained, ¡°My dad was home for dinner and I had to cook for him before leaving home. That¡¯s the reason I¡¯m late. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Su Yue held her hand and turned around to introduce her to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. ¡°She¡¯s the one that I always mentioned to you, my Third sister-in-law who doted on me most.¡± ¡°This is my Third Brother, ¡± and she continued, ¡°He¡¯s handsome right? Do you agree?¡± The girl smiled, feeling rather embarrassed. The question had stumped her and she didn¡¯t know how to respond. It amused Xuxu upon seeing Su Yue¡¯s behavior. She least expected that Su Yue would be so gossipy towards her friend. But she actually liked this feeling. It was rare for her to have a friend that she liked. Xuxu didn¡¯t dawdle and immediately stretched forth her hand to hold the girl affectionately. ¡°Bai Jing, don¡¯t stand on the ceremony. Let Su Yue show you around and eat whatever you fancy.¡± Bai Jing nodded her head. ¡°Thank you, Third sister-in-law.¡± Just like Su Yue, she addressed her as Third sister-in-law. Su Yue smiled and looked at Su Yue. ¡°You¡¯ll take good care of your friend right?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°I want to bring her to my room first as I¡¯ve something for her.¡± With that, she held Bai Jing¡¯s hand and walked towards the main entrance. Chapter 897. The Loser Drinks Up Looking at the joyful Su Yue, her face brimmed with affection. ¡°This child ought to have more friends. Just look at how normal she is behaving.¡± Yan Rusheng disregarded her remarks and instead lowered his head to plant a kiss on her lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what she said earlier? She also agreed that your husband is good-looking.¡± Since he had been tending to the decor arrangements, receiving the guests and entertaining them, he hadn¡¯t been in close proximity with her for the past couple of hours. Now that he had the opportunity to stand next to her, he gave her a kiss as a reward for himself for all the hard work before going off to entertain the guests again. Xuxu¡¯s face darkened. She shoved him away and threw him a glare. ¡°Can you save some face for yourself in front of so many people?¡± Yan Rusheng licked the corners of his mouth and flashed a devilish smile. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you before. I only need you. I don¡¯t need any face.¡± Then, he took one step closer to Xuxu and stretched out his hand to embrace her waist. ¡°Alright. Alright. Lu Yinan and the rest wanted to play mahjong. You join them too.¡± Xuxu shook her head in rejection. ¡°I don¡¯t want to play.¡± She didn¡¯t want to gamble with that bunch of young masters, who enjoyed engaging in lecherous conversations. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°Just treat it as if you¡¯re helping me entertain the guests. There are so many people walking around here. What if you get trampled by them?¡± He moved his hand down to Xuxu¡¯s stomach. The two little fellows seemed to be growing fast in her womb that her stomach was getting bigger by the day. Hearing this, Xuxu took a look at the noisy and crowded hall and agreed that he made sense. She nodded and replied, ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡°Good baby.¡± Yan Rusheng lightly kissed Xuxu on her forehead. He¡¯s at it again. A wave of goosebumps covered Xuxu¡¯s body. ¡®Why is this fellow so disgusting?¡¯ She would still prefer that he called her dumb woman instead of using terms like darling, good baby and so on. She just couldn¡¯t get used to all his sudden mushy words. Lu Yinan and the rest were already in the room when Yan Rusheng walked Xuxu over. When he opened the door, the room was billowing with smoke. He frowned. ¡°Please stop smoking. Xuxu is here to play mahjong with all of you.¡± He walked Xuxu in and left the door opened to dispel the smoke. Lu Yinan waved his hand and quipped, ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s alright. We¡¯ve already found a player.¡± As he said that, a towering figure walked in. Xuxu turned back to look¡ªit was Jiang Zhuoheng. She cheerfully called out, ¡°Ah Heng.¡± She knew that Jiang Zhuoheng was already around but since she was busy, she didn¡¯t manage to catch a glimpse of him until now. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled back at her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Young Master Yan would turn jealous each time he saw Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng speaking to each other. Instinctively, he hugged Xuxu¡¯s waist and stood rooted on the same spot. Jiang Zhuoheng walked past the two of them and headed straight for the mahjong table. Lu Yinan gestured to him to sit down. ¡°Ah Heng, can you stop dawdling?¡± Each time Jiang Zhuoheng was seen at the mahjong table, without a doubt, he was forced to play. After Jiang Zhuoheng sat down, Zhou Shuang, who was seated opposite to him, reminded, ¡°Ah Heng, Sissy Lu and I already agreed that the loser will have to drink. Are you game? Otherwise, we¡¯ll change the players.¡± Before Jiang Zhuoheng could respond, a chilly voice could be heard coming from the door. ¡°Cousin, take them on. Who¡¯s afraid of them?¡± Miss Xin arrived in a high-profile manner with arms crossed. Her high-heeled shoes produced loud thuds as she walked. One could imagine the amount of strength she exerted while walking. She walked over to Jiang Zhuoheng and looked down at Zhou Shuang in a condescending manner. ¡°If my cousin loses, I¡¯ll drink on his behalf. What¡¯s there to be smug about?¡± Chapter 898. Accidentally Caught On Camera Zhou Shuang was speechless. She was merely giving Jiang Zhuoheng a friendly reminder. Which of them were truly the smug one? ¡®Forget it. No point haggling with this arrogant clown.¡¯ Zhou Shuang turned on the automatic mahjong table and loud clattering sounds of the mahjong tiles was heard. The atmosphere also warmed up. After the tiles were shuffled, Ming Ansheng looked at Zhou Shuang as he was arranging his tiles. ¡°Zhou Shuang, let¡¯s make things clear first. Don¡¯t accuse us of bullying a lady later on.¡± Zhou Shuang heroically waved her hand. ¡°It won¡¯t happen¡± Lu Yinan, who was seated opposite mocked, ¡°Ming Ansheng, what did you say? Is there a lady here? Do you see a lady?¡± Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t offended. Instead, she fixed her gaze at Lu Yinan and snapped back, ¡°You¡¯re the woman seated here. Ming Ansheng is not blind.¡± With the two of them around, the occasion was never boring. There was an empty chair by the side, and Xuxu pulled it over to sit behind Jiang Zhuoheng as she stared at his tiles. ¡°I thought you were supposed to continue with entertaining the guests? Why are you still standing here?¡± After some time, Xuxu raised her head and saw that Yan Rusheng was still standing next to her. Hence, she asked in bewilderment. Young Master Yan wanted to click his tongue at her. ¡®How am I supposed to entertain in peace when you are seated behind Jiang Zhuoheng?¡¯ He asked, ¡°Do you want to go and take a look at Su Yue?¡± Hearing this, Ming Ansheng laughed and lifted his head to look at him. He then averted his eyes to Xuxu with a frown gracing his lips. ¡°You should be taking good care of the birthday girl. Why are you seated here instead?¡± If she were to continue to sit behind Ah Heng, Yan Rusheng¡¯s legs would remain rooted to the ground the entire night. Xuxu seemed to understand the underlying meaning and her face darkened. She stood up and threw an icy glare at Yan Rusheng before walking towards the door. As Yan Rusheng looked at her pretending to be furious, his lips curled up into a sly smile. And he leisurely trailed after her. As the two of them stepped out of the room, they ran into Su Yue who was holding hands with Bai Jing. They were walking toward them. Xuxu smiled and went forward, ¡°Yueyue.¡± She noticed that Bai Jing had changed into a long yellow skirt, and her ponytail was also twisted into a bun. Her face seemed to have been freshly cleaned and smeared with skincare products since it appeared more moistened than before. She looked more vitalized and exquisite. Su Yue tightly held on to her hand and Xuxu could tell that she had regarded this girl as her friend. She cared a lot for her. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Holding Bai Jing¡¯s hand, Su Yue walked over to Xuxu. She pointed to her clothes and asked with a smile. ¡°Look, I helped to doll her up. Is it nice?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Nice.¡± Seeing the wide grin on Su Yue¡¯s face, she felt heartened. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Suddenly, Su Yan¡¯s voice could be heard coming from behind. Even though he was calling out to Su Yue, Xuxu instinctively turned around and Su Yan¡¯s camera accidentally captured her on shot. A crafty smile flashed across Su Yan¡¯s eyes. He then looked with satisfaction at the photo that he had taken. ¡°That is my brother.¡± Su Yan had been busying going around to take photos. He wanted to be the official photographer at his sister¡¯s coming of age birthday party, so he had to capture the entire occasion. Su Yue held on to Bai Jing¡¯s hand and walked up to Su Yan. Bai Jing politely bowed at Su Yan and addressed him as ¡®brother¡¯ as Su Yue did. Su Yue pointed to Bai Jing and introduced her to Su Yan. ¡°Bai Jing, my best friend that I¡¯ve mentioned to you before.¡± Su Yan nodded his head before raising his camera and smiled. ¡°Stand closer to each other. I¡¯ll take a shot of you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue held Bai Jing¡¯s hand and moved a few steps back. Seeing the happy look in her face, Xuxu and Su Yan couldn¡¯t help but felt comfortable. Chapter 899. Sissy Lu, Drink Up! Su Yue was becoming more like sunshine. Xuxu thought everything would become better and it definitely will. ¡­ Su Yue held Bai Jing¡¯s hand and maneuvered through the ballroom looking for food instead of mingling with the guests. Xuxu felt that she was falling short of stamina lately. Just briefly following behind them left her exhausted and she said, ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m going back to my room to rest. You can continue to show Bai Jing around here.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She had her eyes set on a row of pink colored cocktails. Xuxu noticed this and warned her with a stern voice. ¡°Those are alcohol and you¡¯re not allowed to drink.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ and immediately moved away. It relieved Xuxu, and she left. As Bai Jing watched Xuxu leave, she said to Su Yue with envy, ¡°Su Yue, I really envy you. You have so many people who dote on you.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°Actually, it also feels surreal to me.¡± Before she left Country Y and met her Third sister-in-law, she had never imagined that she would one day become a little princess that was doted upon by so many people. Until now, she still had the feeling that everything wasn¡¯t real at times. She was afraid that she would be like Cinderella, where her pumpkin would suddenly vanish. ¡°Thank you for regarding me as your friend,¡± said Bai Jing with an earnest tone of voice as she held Su Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°I also want to thank you for treating me as your friend. You¡¯re the first person to regard me as your good friend.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°In the past, no one was willing to play with me.¡± Bai Jing didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°You are pretty and your family is rich. How come no one wanted to play with you?¡± She watched Su Yue with the look of envy still written on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about this anymore. Let¡¯s have something to eat.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t want to share her past experience in Country Y with other people and smiled to divert the topic. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll frequently bring nice food to school for you.¡± Bai Jing was touched by her offer. She said, ¡°Su Yue, you¡¯re so nice but I¡¯ve nothing to offer you.¡± She bowed her head, feeling inferior and looking at the skirt, pretty leather shoes and the bracelet that she was wearing¡ªall of them belonged to Su Yue. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Su Yue knitted her eyebrows. ¡°We¡¯re good friends.¡± Then she reached out to hold Bai Jing¡¯s hand and smirked. ¡°I heard that the hooligan sister is playing mahjong. I¡¯ll bring you over to have a look in a while.¡± The two sisters maneuvered through the crowd, holding hands. Many people nodded and greeted Su Yue, but she took a quick glance and ignored them. She still wasn¡¯t comfortable socializing with people or rather, she didn¡¯t know how to communicate with them. ¡­ ¡°Sissy Lu, drink up.¡± Everyone was in high spirits from the mahjong game, and they drank glass after glass of alcohol. By now, Young Master Lu¡¯s face resembled a cooked prawn. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t look better either. Both her eyes had turned bloodshot. However, Jiang Zhuoheng and Ming Ansheng were still calm and unperturbed. There was a hint of a smile at the corners of their mouth. So, getting them to be mahjong players was actually intentionally looking for trouble. Xuxu sat behind Zhou Shuang and seeing her swaying left and right instead of sitting still, Jiang Zhuoheng got worried. ¡°Xuxu, change a seat and sit behind Ming Ansheng.¡± ¡°Hey you, what¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong with sitting behind me?¡± Zhou Shuang stuttered in her words. After that, she picked a tile and was about to hurl it at Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng seemed to have anticipated what Zhou Shuang would do, so he stretched out his agile hand to catch it. Xuxu also felt that she should move away from this alcoholic. Hence, she grabbed a chair and pushed it to behind Ming Ansheng. Chapter 900. The Two Women Broke Into a Fight It annoyed Xin Yanting to see Zhou Shuang hurling the mahjong tile at Jiang Zhuoheng. She snarled, ¡°Woman, why do you always behave so disgracefully when you gamble or after you drink?¡± Her expression was full of disdain. Zhou Shuang raised her head and looked at her. ¡°Hey, haughty brainless woman. What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°What?¡± When Xin Yanting heard the way Zhou Shuang addressed her, she exploded, ¡°You called me a brainless woman?¡± She couldn¡¯t come to terms with such an appellation. She should be the arrogant princess instead, a princess okay?! ¡°I shouldn¡¯t lower myself to a brainless woman like you. Let¡¯s continue.¡± Zhou Shuang was still level-headed and didn¡¯t want to degrade herself to argue with the brainless Xin Yanting. She averted her gaze from her and looked at the tiles in front of her instead. However, Miss Xin had already flown into a rage. She rushed forward and glared hard at Zhou Shuang and asked, ¡°I dare you to repeat yourself.¡± ¡°Yanting!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng yelled at her. Xin Yanting pouted in displeasure. ¡°Cousin.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng added, ¡°Either you come back here and sit down or you can leave this room.¡± His tone was decisive. Although Xin Yanting feared Jiang Zhuoheng, she couldn¡¯t take it lying down. Hence, she took a peek at Zhou Shuang¡¯s tiles and said to Lu Yinan, ¡°Cousin Lu, she¡¯s waiting for the three bamboo tile to win.¡± When he heard this, Lu Yinan laughed. ¡°Tomboy, you¡¯re waiting for the three bamboo tiles? Don¡¯t even dream of winning in this lifetime.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s temper rose. She pushed away all her tiles and stood up to glare at Xin Yanting and snapped. ¡°Why are you so annoying, brainless fool?¡± After shouting at her, she extended her hand and gave her a hard push. Xin Yanting didn¡¯t let her off either. She stretched out her hand to yank her hair and the two of them started wrestling each other. A catfight soon broke out. The men immediately rushed forward to stop them. Xuxu stood by the side and looked at them with anxiety imbued in her orbs. She wanted to go forward to intervene but didn¡¯t dare to as they were fighting. ¡°You go out first.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulder. He pushed her out of the door. He didn¡¯t want any mishap to happen to Xuxu. But Xuxu couldn¡¯t set her heart at ease and said, ¡°You two.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng comforted her with a soft tone of voice. ¡°They will be fine. Can¡¯t a few of us stop them?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± While outside, Yan Rusheng heard the commotion and rushed in. But what he saw was Jiang Zhuoheng placing both of his hands on Xuxu¡¯s shoulder, and he was looking at her with longingness in his eyes. A streak of jealousy flashed across his eyes. As he walked forward to Xuxu, Jiang Zhuoheng retracted his hands and turned around to stop the fight. Yan Rusheng saw the two women engaged in a brawl, and asked Xuxu, ¡°What happened?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°They had explosive tempers, and a fight broke out when they couldn¡¯t agree with each other.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t continue asking and also didn¡¯t go forward to stop the fight. He merely stood beside Xuxu, calm and unperturbed. Seeing the two women he loathed fighting each other, how he¡¯d wish that he could go forward to fan the flame. But if he had to choose a winner between the two of them, he would definitely choose Zhou Shuang. This was because Xin Yanting was indescribably hateful. The hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth betrayed his feelings and Xuxu gave him a fierce look of contempt. ¡°Your little lover is engaged in a catfight with someone. Didn¡¯t your heart ached?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face darkened. ¡°If you want it now, we can return to our room straight away, and I¡¯ll satisfy you to your heart¡¯s content.¡± Xuxu immediately clamped up. In the meantime, the men had neglected the fact that the women who were engaged in a catfight were extremely scary. Xin Yanting and Zhou Shuang had their arms around each other and were yanking each other¡¯s hair. They were stuck together like superglue, and there was no way to separate them. Chapter 901. So Disgusting Both Xin Yanting and Zhou Shuang were consumed with rage and took no notice of Jiang Zhuoheng even if he already raised his voice. ¡°Come quickly! Someone is fighting!¡± Su Yue dragged Bai Jing in as she overheard the waitresses saying that someone was fighting in the room. She instantly abandoned her food. When she entered, she saw Zhou Shuang and Xin Yanting wrestling each other on the floor. Her nervousness turned into glee within seconds. She wondered who was fighting and incredibly, she was excited to see that it was the both of them. ¡°Sister hooligan, hang in there!¡± Su Yue dashed past Yan Rusheng and Xuxu after releasing Bai Jing¡¯s hand. She squeezed herself into the crowd. Bai Jing halted her footsteps when she was next to Yan Rusheng. She peered at him with apprehension. Instinctively, she immediately averted her eyes. Su Yue noticed Su Yue rushing in and called out in haste, ¡°Yueyue, come back!¡± She was about to dart after her when Yan Rusheng stopped her. Su Yue was petite, and she made her way easily through the crowd. Xin Yanting had pinned down Zhou Shuang. Su Yue squatted and yelled, ¡°Sister hooligan, you must win!¡± All of them were speechless. ¡°Little pretentious one, help me!¡± Zhou Shuang was tipsy and couldn¡¯t really muster her strength. She really couldn¡¯t get up after Xin Yanting had pinned her down Su Yue heard her but shook her head and innocently answered, ¡°I can¡¯t help you. This is unfair.¡± ¡°Ugly woman, how dare you ask for help when you can¡¯t even defeat me!¡± Xin Yanting sat down on Zhou Shuang and yanked her hair with one hand while the other clenched her collar. She looked at her with a victorious posture and mocked. ¡°Clown! Brainless and dumb woman, I¡¯m going to teach you a good lesson!¡± Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth with determination and wanted to sit up. All of a sudden, she puked. Her mouth seemed like it was shooting secret weapons and everything came flying out from her mouth. Her vomit splashed on Xin Yanting¡¯s face. Everyone around them seemed petrified, and Xin Yanting stared at her in shock. She was as still as a statue. Only Su Yue reacted. After staring at Xin Yanting¡¯s face, she smiled and burst in raucous laughter. She pressed her belly and laughed non-stop. It was the first time anyone had seen her laughing so happily and exaggeratedly. She laid down on the floor and simply laughed until her belly hurts. Ming Ansheng noticed her and went to help her. ¡°Silly girl, your dress is dirty.¡± With his strength, it took him no effort to lift Su Yue up. He gently reprimanded her while wiping her dress carefully to remove the specks of vomit. He used his handkerchief and didn¡¯t mind the vomit. He was being very thoughtful and careful as he cleaned her dress. ¡°It¡¯s so disgusting.¡± Su Yue was pressed her belly while her other hand covered her mouth. She was tearing up when she noticed Ming Ansheng staring at her with a cold expression. She rubbed her eyes and breathlessly asked, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t you find it hilarious?¡± Ming Ansheng broke into a smile and stared at her solemnly with a hint of affection. ¡°If you continue laughing, you¡¯ll turn dumb.¡± Then he used his handkerchief and gently slapped Su Yue¡¯s head. He then grabbed her arm and led her to Xuxu. ¡°Bring your friend outside. This isn¡¯t for children.¡± ¡°Hooligan!¡± Xin Yanting finally reacted but the moment she opened her mouth, she froze once more. The specks of vomit dripped into her mouth. Chapter 902. Was This Young Lass Dreaming About Love? ¡°Blergh!¡± Lu Yinan who was also drunk caught sight of the vomit and began to puke as well. It was simply too disgusting. Zhou Shuang felt so much better after puking out all. She caught Xin Yanting off guard, pushed her away and sat up. Her own clothes were all dirty and no one volunteered to help her. With no one to help her, she stood up, swaying a little. She gulped down another bottle of wine and the alcohol began to kick in once more. She stumbled unsteadily to the door and she saw many double images. It took her a while to recognize Xuxu. ¡°Where¡­ where is my room?¡± When Yan Rusheng saw Zhou Shuang approaching them, he hastily pulled Xuxu away as though she was the plague. He didn¡¯t want his wife to suffer the same consequences as Xin Yanting. Xuxu replied, ¡°Room 609, I¡¯ll bring you there.¡± She was about to step forward towards Zhou Shuang when Yan Rusheng stopped her. ¡°Look at her horrible drunken state. She might cause you to trip if you help her.¡± Without saying anything else, Xuxu shoved Yan Rusheng towards Zhou Shuang. ¡°Then you should help her instead.¡± Yan Rusheng had an utter look of disbelief on his face. ¡°You want me to help this dirty and disgusting hooligan?¡± Didn¡¯t she know that he was obsessed with cleanliness? ¡°Then I guess I need to help her.¡± Xuxu shrugged lightly and darted forward once more. ¡°Let me do it.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng interjected and stretched his hand to help Zhou Shuang. Xuxu¡¯s eyes met his and she smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll lead the way.¡± Sensing imminent ¡®danger¡¯, Yan Rusheng frowned and pursed his lips. After an intense struggle, he closed his eyes and shoved Jiang Zhuoheng aside. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± He grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s arms and exerted unnecessary strength as he gnashed his teeth. ¡°Ahhh¡­ so painful!¡± Zhou Shuang yelled out in pain and glared at Yan Rusheng furiously. ¡°Yan Rusheng! Are you trying to murder me?!¡± Yan Rusheng saw that she had spun her face to face him and he immediately shunned away. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me! Look ahead.¡± Her mouth was full of ¡®weapons¡¯. Deadly, disgusting weapons. Xuxu was concealing her laughter. Bai Jing inched towards Su Yue when she witnessed this scene. She smiled as she whispered, ¡°Your third brother really listens to your third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Certainly! My third brother loves my third sister-in-law dearly.¡± ¡°Your third sister-in-law is such a lucky woman.¡± Bai Jing gazed at Xuxu enviously. It was every girl¡¯s dream to find a handsome and suave prince who loves her. ¡°Third sister-in-law said that I will be able to find a boyfriend who loves me very much in future.¡± Su Yue said dreamily as well. Was this young lass dreaming about love as well? Su Yue¡¯s words caught the attention of Ming Ansheng who was walking past as he supported Ming Ansheng. He began to wonder silently about the minds of eighteen year old girls. He spun his head and glanced at Su Yue. Her exquisite face was so perfect, just like a Barbie doll. What kind of a guy would she fall in love with? Usually, the school beauty would be paired with the most handsome guy in school. If she enters university, that should be the situation. Lu Yinan began to puke once more. Ming Ansheng¡¯s thoughts were disrupted by Lu Yinan. After dragging him out, Ming Ansheng said coldly to him. ¡°You can finish puking first. After you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll bring you back to your room.¡± If the same situation of what Zhou Shuang had done to Xin Yanting, he might not be able to eat for the rest of the year. As he spoke, he rearranged his clothes casually. ¡°Brother, brother! Snap a photo of him!¡± Su Yue ran towards them as she stared at Lu Yinan. She even implored Su Yan who was nearby to snap a photo of Young Master Lu¡¯s pathetic-looking state. Chapter 903. Shut Your Mouth Now The corners of Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched as his eyes landed on her pretty face. There was an unknown strange sensation in his heart that tickled him, and he had no idea how to stop it. When someone was fighting, she would be fine by herself and not try to stop the chaos, but this time around she had to fan the flames. She was the type to snap a photo of a drunk person instead of helping them. ¡®This innocent-looking girl, in reality, is evil!¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself while he gritted his teeth. Without knowing, his outstretched hands were already moving towards Su Yue¡¯s slender waist. ¡°Brother, come quickly!¡± She suddenly called for Su Yan when his hand was about to touch her. Ming Ansheng swiftly withdrew his hand. A surge of guilt passed through him as though he had been caught in an illegal act. ¡®F*ck! That few drinks earlier must have muddled my brain,¡¯ he thought to himself. He hit his head as hard as he could to wake himself up, and it was really loud. Su Yue heard him, so she spun herself around and looked at him with curious eyes. ¡°Why did you hit yourself?¡± ¡°Nothing much. Go play with your friend.¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head, and he instinctively stole a glance at Su Yue¡¯s friend Bai Jing. He felt guilty once more as his eyes met Bai Jing¡¯s clear, innocent-looking eyes.¡®Did she saw what happened earlier on?¡¯ Ming Ansheng was frustrated with himself. Why did he act so unlike himself? He stretched both hands and tried to mimic his earlier movements, but this time, his intended target was Lu Yinan. He thought that if Su Yue¡¯s friend had seen him earlier, she might have assumed that he wanted to support Lu Yinan. This was the first time Ming Ansheng had an overwhelming sense of guilt. He had always been decisive and swift when it comes to making decisions and if he made up his mind, he would do it for sure. ¡°Lu Yinan, stop being a disgrace here and let me bring you back to your room.¡± He grabbed Lu Yinan¡¯s arm and walked in the direction of his room. He didn¡¯t throw a second look at Su Yue, perhaps out of guilt or¡ª ¡°Where is that tomboy?! I want to make sure she dies from drinking!¡± Lu Yinan grunted as he stumbled. Ming Ansheng sneered, ¡°Just drop it. You¡¯re the one who is almost dead.¡± And it was quite unbelievable that Zhou Shuang had thrown up all over Xin Yanting¡¯s face. As the thought came across Ming Ansheng, his mind wandered to Su Yue who was laughing until she collapsed on the floor. Her long and slender legs were as fair as porcelain, and her face seemed so supple and soft as though a tap on her skin would burst it. Suddenly, he couldn¡¯t control how his brain worked. There was a ball of first burning inside of him. A new fire seemed to have consumed his body that very instant. ¡°Ansheng¡­ Let¡¯s¡­ drink some more,¡± Lu Yinan mumbled repeatedly into Ming Ansheng¡¯s ear. Getting impatient, Ming Ansheng snapped, ¡°Stop it, shut your mouth now.¡± His tone sounded fierce since he was already impatient. Actually, he wasn¡¯t annoyed with Lu Yinan but rather with himself. The drinks he had earlier on must have muddled up his feeling at that moment. He shook his head in sheer desperation to force himself to stop thinking. If he must think, then, it should be some other woman. After all, he was already 26 years old, and he had to entertain often. It was impossible that he had no prior experience. Ming Ansheng found the room card in Lu Yinan¡¯s pockets and brought him inside. He got a hot towel and wiped his face before leaving. Ming Ansheng bumped into Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu when they came out of Zhou Shuang¡¯s room. Ming Ansheng smiled and helplessly shook his head. ¡°The two enemies had completely defeated us.¡± Tonight, all of them had suffered because of both of them. The next time, they would make sure to escape as far as possible. Chapter 904. I Was Just Teasing You ¡°This is nothing actually.¡± Xuxu threw a purposeful glance at Yan Rusheng before smiling at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng¡¯s little mistress got vomited all over her face, and that feeling is awesome.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her and his face fell. He stretched his long limbs and wound them around Xuxu¡¯s waist. He flashed a menacing smile at her. ¡°Wife, do you want it so much right now? This desire is natural, so don¡¯t be so shy. Let¡¯s head back to our room.¡± Without paying heed with Xuxu¡¯s expression, he bent over and lifted her up. With huge strides, he went in the direction of their room and ignored Xuxu¡¯s screams and punches. They walked past Ming Ansheng, and the man merely shook his head with a grin. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t be so despicable.¡± He turned around and received a shock. He quickly put on a smile. ¡°Have you settled your cousin?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and he was standing a short distance away from Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. He looked calm, and his expression didn¡¯t give his emotions away. Ming Ansheng reckoned that Yan Rusheng must have seen Ah Heng earlier on and had done it on purpose. Jiang Zhuoheng nodded. ¡°She went back to her room to change, and I think she will cry for quite some time before she can calm down.¡± ¡°That goes without saying. Who wouldn¡¯t?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and walked to Jiang Zhuoheng before putting his hands on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s finally quiet. Shall we get a drink?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng merely pressed his lips without a word. He turned around and stowed his hands into his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m dead tired.¡± Yan Rusheng carried Xuxu into the room. The latter then walked to the bed to take a rest. Yan Rusheng followed after and laid down next to her using a hand to prop his head up. Another hand began to gently stroke Xuxu¡¯s belly. Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand the ticklish sensation and writhed in responds. ¡°Hurry up and leave the room. There are so many guests today. Don¡¯t leave all the entertaining to Mother alone.¡± Yan Rusheng inched nearer to her and gave her a kiss. ¡°But I¡¯m tired too. What should I do?¡± ¡°Go away now, stop bothering me.¡± Xuxu turned her body to face Yan Rusheng. She pressed her palms against Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. ¡°Let me rest for a while. I can¡¯t sleep with you around.¡± She was blushing from her cheeks to her ears. Yan Rusheng burst into laughter. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you still feeling shy?¡± For what he had said to Ming Ansheng earlier on? Xuxu flipped her body around, ignoring his remarks. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re my wife. Even if I didn¡¯t say it, others would still know. There is no reason for you to be shy.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand traveled downwards, sneaking itself under Xuxu¡¯s dress. His fingers were like a crab crawling on Xuxu¡¯s thigh, and it inched up. Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand the itch and caught his hand. ¡°Your mind is so dirty, and you¡¯re so petty. You¡¯re always like this!¡± She shoved Yan Rusheng away with force. Yan Rusheng noticed that Xuxu seemed to be angry, so he moved closer to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I was just teasing you.¡± Xuxu glanced askew at him. ¡°Did you say that on purpose because you knew that Ah Heng was standing behind us?¡± She sounded upset, and it made Yan Rusheng¡¯s face darken. ¡°Are you losing your temper with me because you care for Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s feelings?¡± So it was because of Jiang Zhuoheng and not Ming Ansheng after all. Chapter 905. Don’t Starve My Son ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t like how you always do that.¡± Xuxu nodded and snarled, ¡°Why do you have to deliberately put on an act in front of Ah Heng?¡± She saw Ah Heng standing behind them earlier on and knew for certain that Yan Rusheng must have seen him as well. He knew that Ah Heng still loved her, and yet Yan Rusheng kept trying to flaunt their marriage. He was always trying to flaunt. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face visibly darkened. Xuxu had chided him because she cared for Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s feelings. He was certainly upset with her and he sneered, ¡°I¡¯ve also acted the same way when we met Zhao Zheng. You didn¡¯t seem so angry. So concerned?¡± ¡°How could you compare Zhao Zheng with Ah Heng?¡± Xuxu got agitated. She goaded him, ¡°In your heart, are Zhao Zheng and Ah Heng equally important?¡± They had grown up together, and their friendship went a long way back. How could he compare Zhao Zheng to Ah Heng? She had always thought that the reason he was being hostile towards Ah Heng was because of her. But she knew that deep in his heart, he had always treated him as his best friend. But she never thought that he would compare his friend to Zhao Zheng. Yan Rusheng remained stony-faced. ¡°Wen Xuxu, tell me. In your heart, who is Jiang Zhuoheng to you?¡± Xuxu replied with pure honesty, ¡°He is my best friend in this lifetime. And Ah Heng always respected me.¡± Yan Rusheng instantly sat up after hearing her words. He threw a piercing gaze at the woman who had her back towards him. He clenched his fists in fury, trying his best to suppress his rage and the urge to yell. ¡°Does that mean that I don¡¯t respect you? And he treats you better than I do?¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re being ridiculous.¡± Xuxu intended to ignore Yan Rusheng and pulled the blanket over her head. Livid, Yan Rusheng rose and stormed off. ¡®Slam!¡¯ After slamming the door shut, the room fell silent. Xuxu lifted her blanket and peered at the door. Suddenly, she felt a pang of remorse. She should have used another way to persuade him. All she wanted was for him to stop engaging in such childish behavior. The person he was always mean to was Ah Heng, the person who had always looked out for her. She had repeatedly given him hope and yet let him down, time after time. Yan Rusheng always acted so intimately on purpose whenever Jiang Zhuoheng was around. Every time he does, she would sense that Yan Rusheng was mocking and taunting Jiang Zhuoheng. Ah Heng didn¡¯t do anything at all. Xuxu was feeling conflicted. On one hand, she felt that she shouldn¡¯t have flared up at Yan Rusheng, but on the other hand, she felt that she was being reasonable. She was very conflicted and frustrated. She climbed up and slumped against the bed, and she furrowed her eyebrows. Time began to pass, and she began to get restless. She wanted to head outside to check on Yan Rusheng for he might have gone for a drink to vent his anger. Xuxu flung the blanket aside and got off the bed. She had wanted to go to the bathroom before she went looking for Yan Rusheng. However, the door flew open and a towering figure entered, giving Xuxu quite a shock. ¡°You can starve but don¡¯t starve my son.¡± The man held a platter filled with food. He solemnly said with an impassive expression as he walked to her. Xuxu smiled with glistening eyes. She strode over and tightly hugged him. ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°That fellow is drinking with Ming Ansheng in good spirits,¡± Yan Rusheng sneered and shoved Xuxu aside. ¡°Don¡¯t try to pacify me right now. I¡¯m only here to feed my son.¡± Chapter 906. Yan Rusheng, Youre Simply Disgusting! He took a piece of fruit from the plate and fed it to Xuxu. She opened her mouth to accept it. ¡°I need to go to the bathroom. I¡¯ll be back,¡± she said, smiling and chewing at the same time. As she walked towards the bathroom, something crossed her mind. Suddenly, she turned around and made her way back. Standing on the tip of her toes, she planted a swift kiss on Yan Rusheng¡¯s cheek. ¡°I love you, Hubby.¡± By the time he recovered from his stupor, Xuxu already disappeared into the washroom. He recalled the word ¡®Hubby¡¯ and touched the spot on his face that Xuxu had kissed. He was still in a daze. It was the first time Xuxu had called him ¡®Hubby¡¯. When it finally processed in his mind, he grinned. That was an unprecedented blessing. Indeed, after a fight, it was right for the man to apologize first. But this only worked on girls like Wen Xuxu¡ªgirls who were not insatiable and would not become arrogant when they get pampered. After Xuxu returned from the washroom, she sat beside Yan Rusheng on the sofa and continued to eat. To be accurate, Yan Rusheng was feeding her. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± All the food he had chosen was Xuxu¡¯s favorites. A hilarious variety show was on, making Xuxu roll over in a fit of laughter. Yan Rusheng grabbed the remote and turned it off. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?¡± Xuxu exclaimed, shooting him a resentful glare. ¡°Really wishing I could be doing you,¡± he replied in a serious tone. He forked a piece of honeydew into his mouth. Chewing, he supported her face in his palms and transferred the honeydew into her mouth. Immediately, his tongue entered her mouth, swiftly scooping the honeydew into his own, chewing with relish. Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened. ¡®This disgusting fellow.¡¯ Just when she thought Yan Rusheng¡¯s actions were already very disgusting, he grabbed her face in one swift motion and placed his lips on hers. Xuxu¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®What¡­ What is he trying to do?¡¯ Instinctively, she forcefully pushed him away and stood up. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re too disgusting,¡± she spat, glaring at him. ¡°I was just trying to kiss you. How is that disgusting?¡± he asked, eyebrows knitted and face full of innocence. His words were fast-spoken and his mouth was empty. Xuxu frowned. Had she misunderstood his actions? ¡°Weren¡¯t¡­ Weren¡¯t you going to feed me the chewed up honeydew?¡± She blushed. Yan Rusheng laughed and spread his hands. ¡°If you want me to, I¡¯d be happy to oblige.¡± ¡°Alright. Alright, enough already. Let¡¯s go outside.¡± Xuxu bent over to grab his elbow, pulling him up and walking towards the door. They met two figures outside their room¡ªSu Yue and her friend Bai Jing. ¡°Third sister-in-law,¡± Su Yue said. ¡°Bai Jing is leaving now, but there are no more buses at this hour.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t cut the cake, right? Have some cake before you leave,¡± Xuxu offered. ¡°No¡­ No thanks,¡± Bai Jing rejected, shaking her head. In a small voice, she continued, ¡°My father just called. He¡¯s raging.¡± Her last two words were almost inaudible. Xuxu thought about it. A girl going out alone¡ªof course, her family members would be worried. She turned to Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Then you should quickly find a chauffeur to send her back.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Yan Rusheng agreed, nodding his head. He walked towards the main lobby. Xuxu, Su Yue, and Bai Jing trailed behind him. Most of the guests had left. Only familiar faces remained. Yan Rusheng looked around. Immediately, someone came up to him and politely asked, ¡°Third Master, is there anything I can do for you?¡± Chapter 907. What Did You Wish For? ¡°Get a chauffeur to send this lady home,¡± Yan Rusheng commanded, pointing at Bai Jing. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Hurry, let¡¯s cut the cake now. You¡¯re here to celebrate Su Yue¡¯s birthday, so how could you leave without having some cake?¡± Xuxu said without a tinge of arrogance, smiling as she held onto Bai Jing¡¯s elbow. Feeling utterly embarrassed, Bai Jing slightly bowed her head. Xuxu looked at Su Yue and suggested, ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s cut the cake.¡± Su Yue eagerly nodded her head. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll cut it now,¡± she replied. The cake was on the stage. She grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s arm and pulled her along. She also wanted Bai Jing to have some cake before she left. All their gazes shifted to rest on Su Yue¡ªthe star of the night¡ªwhen she went on stage. Her pink dress flailed in the air, making her look like a little princess who had walked out of a fairytale. She had caught the eyes of many young and single bachelors present. The Yan family had such a beautiful teenage girl¡ªit was no surprise that everyone was in awe of her good looks. She even became the talk of the party. ¡°Why does the Yan family have such good genes? Each of the Young Masters is more charming than before, and even the illegitimate children are so good-looking.¡± ¡°They¡¯re more than good-looking. This young lass looks like a man-made doll. Look at her¡ªflawless from head to toe.¡± ¡°Although she¡¯s an illegitimate daughter, she¡¯s ultimately still a part of the Yan family. Coupled with her good looks, she definitely has a bright future ahead of her.¡± ¡°Exactly, my nephew attends the same school as her. I heard that among the male students from the third year alone, already half of the population wanted to court her.¡± ¡®Among the male students from the third year alone, half of the population wanted to court her?¡¯ Ming Ansheng and Jiang Zhuoheng, wine glasses in their hands, were seated with the noblewomen who were discussing Su Yue. When he heard that half of the boys in the third year wanted to court Su Yue, he furrowed his eyebrows. ¡®Can she handle having so many suitors?¡¯ ¡°It seems like being good-looking is also troublesome,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng, who was sitting beside him, suddenly commented. His tone held a deeper meaning. ¡°Are you talking about yourself?¡± Ming Ansheng mocked with a smile on his face. Since middle school, Young Master Jiang had no lack of female suitors¡ªnot inclusive of those who liked him in secret. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled, lifting his wine glass and taking a sip. Ming Ansheng shifted his gaze back to the stage. The beautiful chandelier reflected in his eyes, just like a blanket of stars that gave off a dazzling light. The candles on the 10-layer cake were lit one by one¡ª18 of them in total. The lights in the main lobby suddenly turned off. Su Yue instinctively stretched her arm and grabbed on to Xuxu¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, the lights will turn back on after you¡¯ve made a wish and blow out the candles,¡± Xuxu whispered in her ear, comforting her. Her heart ached. Su Yue had told her that it was the first time she had celebrated her birthday this way. In the past, all the other kids in the orphanage celebrated their birthdays, except her. Ever since she left the orphanage, Su Yan would buy a cake for her on her birthday, but she would only eat it in secret. After hearing Xuxu¡¯s words, she relaxed. Facing the cake, she closed her eyes, then blew out the candles. The lights turned on. Xuxu smiled as she whispered in her ear, ¡°Yueyue, what did you wish for just now?¡± Su Yue looked at her in uncertainty. ¡°If I say it out, won¡¯t it come true?¡± ¡®I didn¡¯t think she would know about this.¡¯ Xuxu smiled and decided to let it go. ¡°Time to cut the cake.¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Su Yue agreed, nodding her head. Extending her hand, she grabbed the birthday cake knife. With her other hand, she held Bai Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s cut the cake together.¡± Holding the knife and Bai Jing¡¯s hand, Su Yue sliced the cake in one swift motion. Chapter 908. Call Off the Marriage? Over My Dead Body! Su Yan was taking photos for them offstage. Yan Rusheng was standing in front of the crowd, and Xuxu was standing right beside her. At that moment, Su Yue felt like the happiest girl in the world. A radiant smile framed her small face, like the rising sun¡ªfresh and full of life and vitality. ¡®It must be the strong alcohol taking a toll on me. That must be it.¡¯ Ming Ansheng hurriedly retracted his gaze. Fragments of all the times he had spent with Su Yue flooded his mind. Especially the time when she clung on to him for her dear life after he had saved her from the hands of that bunch of crooks. His body quickly temperature rose. He raised his wine glass, finishing his drink in one gulp. He stood up, then told Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°I need to rest. I¡¯ll make my way back to the room first.¡± Immediately, he made a beeline to the door of the main lobby. Xuxu had chosen their rooms. The few of them, who were well-acquainted, had rooms either adjacent to or opposite to each other. Ming Ansheng¡¯s room was opposite Lu Yinan¡¯s. As he walked towards his room, he took out his room card. Subconsciously, he glanced over at Lu Yinan¡¯s room. He frowned in uncertainty. Lu Yinan¡¯s room door was ajar. He walked over and glanced inside. ¡®Why did this fellow leave his door open?¡¯ The room was quiet. He took a few steps in, and his gaze swept through the suite of rooms, including the washroom. But there was no sign of Lu Yinan. ¡®Could he have gone to the main lobby?¡¯ ¡®Forget it, leave him alone.¡¯ He had originally planned to close the door for Lu Yinan if he found him sleeping. Ming Ansheng shook his head, walking out of Lu Yinan¡¯s room and into his own. He opened and closed his room door. He went straight for the bed, sprawling onto it. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. He didn¡¯t expect to see Su Yue¡¯s cute and dainty figure the moment he closed his eyes. His body¡¯s reaction to her became stronger and stronger. His heart was pounding wildly, and he just couldn¡¯t calm down. And it felt like this time, his body¡¯s reaction wouldn¡¯t just go away by waiting it out. Troubled, Ming Ansheng sat up. There was a box of cigarettes and a lighter on the bedside drawer. Opening the box, he retrieved a cigarette and lighted it. He walked to the window, drew the curtains, opened the windows, letting the cool night breeze enter the room, brushing past him. However, it wasn¡¯t of any damn use. He thought that it must have been because he hadn¡¯t fulfilled his needs for too long. Immediately, he retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialed a number, placing it against his ear. Melodious ringtone flooded his ears. The call was answered on the first ring. A gentle and lovely female voice answered. ¡°Young Master Ming.¡± ¡°Hongcheng Hotel, Room 610,¡± Ming Ansheng said coldly. From how she sounded, the female on the other end definitely became excited. ¡°Yes, Young Master Ming, please wait a moment, I¡¯ll immediately¡­¡± Ming Ansheng hung up without waiting for her to finish. He looked outside the window, his eyes full of darkness and mixed feelings. ¡®Love? What is love? When your business is collapsing and in a tottering position, can love save you?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t care how many girls you find outside. But I will never allow you to marry any girl that you would bring home.¡¯ ¡®You want to call off the marriage? Over my dead body!¡¯ Ming Ansheng took a deep whiff of the cigarette. All the conflicted feelings in his eyes were replaced with a blazing coldness, as though covered with a layer of frost. ¡®Ming Ansheng, you can only play. You can¡¯t love.¡¯ ¡­ The car was long ready and the chauffeur was already waiting by the main lobby entrance. Wen Xuxu and Su Yue sent Bai Jing off. Chapter 909. That Woman Bai Jing felt very uncomfortable sitting in the black Mercedes. Xuxu bent over, smiling warmly at her. ¡°Bai Jing, come over whenever you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Thank you Third sister-in-law,¡± Bai Jing replied, gratefully thanking her, although still being shy. Then she looked over at Su Yue, embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry Su Yue. I¡¯ll give you back your clothes at school tomorrow.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°I already told you, there¡¯s no need to. I bought this dress as a gift especially for you.¡± She waved at Bai Jing, saying, ¡°See you at school tomorrow. I¡¯ll bring you some nice goodies!¡± Bai Jing smiled and waved back. Su Yue only turned to face Xuxu when the car was out of sight. Xuxu smiled. ¡°You like this friend a lot?¡± Su Yue was so attentive to her that she even bought a dress especially for her. Su Yue sweetly smiled and hugged Xuxu. ¡°I like Third sister-in-law the most, Bai Jing only comes after.¡± ¡°You sure know how to appease people,¡± Xuxu said, lightly patting Su Yue¡¯s buttocks. Then she thought of something and asked, ¡°Bai Jing¡¯s family is not well-to-do, so how did she get into your school? Only children from rich families could get a place in your school.¡± ¡®Could it be like the story of CJ7?¡¯ ¡®That would be too dramatic.¡¯ Su Yue let go off Xuxu and straightened up. She shook her head and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know either. She didn¡¯t mention it. I¡¯ve only met her dad, his hair had all turn white.¡± Upon mentioning Bai Jing¡¯s family background, Su Yue¡¯s expression was full of sympathy. She had finally found a friend whom she truly cared for, so Xuxu didn¡¯t want to complicate her thoughts. Xuxu smiled and added, ¡°Next time, when we have delicious food, share some with her.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Su Yue agreed with a nod. Hand in hand, they walked back into the hotel. After they had exited the lift, they chatted as they walked toward the entrance of the banquet hall. ¡°Third sister-in-law, who¡¯s that?¡± Su Yue suddenly asked, pointing forward. Xuxu looked in that direction to see a long-haired woman with a beautiful figure. She was wearing a black fitting long dress with a Chanel bag clutched in her hands. She stopped in front of a room and was knocking on the door. One glance and it was clear that she had just arrived. They had booked all the rooms on the floor for guests from abroad and familiar guests to rest. But who was she? And those few rooms belonged to someone they knew. Xuxu looked at the room numbers nearby and counted down the row. ¡°That should be room 610. It should be¡­¡± She thought for a moment, then it came to her. ¡°It should be Ming Ansheng¡¯s room.¡± Then she immediately thought of something. She pulled Su Yue along, saying, ¡°Alright. Alright, let¡¯s go to the banquet hall. Some guests are leaving soon, so let¡¯s go over to greet them.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to tell the innocent Su Yue that Ming Ansheng could have invited that woman over to sleep with him. She wouldn¡¯t be surprised that all of these Young Masters did such things. Su Yue agreed, following after Xuxu. When she turned into the banquet hall, her gaze swept over the woman who was now standing in front of Ming Ansheng¡¯s door. She saw the woman¡¯s side-view. She had a beautiful smile. She was too far away so Su Yue couldn¡¯t hear what they were talking about. But with a nod of her head, she saw her enter his room. ¡°Third sister-in-law, is that woman Uncle Ming¡¯s relative?¡± Su Yue inquired. Xuxu was speechless. Although she knew who Su Yue was referring to, at that moment, she didn¡¯t know how to answer her. She nodded her head and flashed a foolish smile. ¡°Perhaps it is.¡± Chapter 910. Theres No One In There ¡°Third Master, Third Madam Yan, we¡¯ll be moving first.¡± It just so happened that someone walked past them and instantly greeted them. Xuxu politely nodded and replied, ¡°Thank you for coming. See you soon.¡± She took this opportunity to divert Su Yue¡¯s attention. ¡°Your Third Brother and Brother are greeting some guests, let¡¯s go over them.¡± The guests left one after the other, and those that remained were the familiar guests that roamed around. Xuxu glanced at the empty banquet hall and walked over to Yan Rusheng, heaving a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s finally over. I¡¯m dead beat.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at Su Yue, asking, ¡°You sent your little companion off?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan walked over and helped Su Yue sweep away the stray hairs that had fallen across her forehead. With his eyes full of adoration and affection, he asked her, ¡°Did you have fun today?¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Su Yue moved closer to Su Yan. ¡°Brother, let me see the photos that you took. When you get home later, send me the photo that you took of me with Bai Jing. I¡¯ll show it to her tomorrow, she¡¯ll be very happy for sure.¡± Su Yan nodded his head, ¡°Sure.¡± He adjusted the camera to gallery mode and passed it to Su Yue. Su Yue took the camera and walked over to the sofa. She sat down and browsed through the hundreds of photos and videos in the gallery. ¡­ ¡°Young Master Ming, I¡¯m done with my shower.¡± The woman walked out of the washroom in a huge bathrobe. She had tied the strings of the bathrobe loosely on purpose, revealing her collarbone and subtly showing off her breasts. Ming Ansheng was leaning on the sofa, watching coldly as the woman strutted towards him. When she neared, he shifted his position. ¡°Young Master Ming¡­¡± she cooed, sitting down beside him. Her hands winding around his waist. She peered up at him, sending him soft glances. She had showered, but her makeup was untouched, showing off her bright red lips. She had also specially sprayed some perfume on, so the scent of a mature woman lingered on her body. Ming Ansheng stared at her face then suddenly grabbed her chin. The woman¡¯s eyes gleamed for a moment. She continued looking at Ming Ansheng, her eyes full of anticipation. One of her hands was slowly retreating down his waist. Ming Ansheng suddenly frowned. Annoyance flashed across his eyes. The woman noticed this and immediately halted in her actions. ¡°Leave.¡± Ming Ansheng lightly pushed her away, then suddenly stood up. With heavy footsteps, he walked towards the door. ¡°Young Master Ming,¡± the woman called after him in a sweet tone of voice, refusing to resign to her fate. Ming Ansheng walked past her, as though he didn¡¯t hear a thing. He didn¡¯t even halt in his footsteps. ¡®What had happened exactly?¡¯ He thought that his mind was wandering because it had been too long since he had sex with a woman. But when he saw that matured woman¡¯s face, his mind flooded with Su Yue¡¯s small, tender face instead. Her eyelashes were studded with tears, and her eyes were cold. Ming Ansheng felt like he was going crazy. Was he possessed? He walked toward the banquet hall, feeling very vexed. He entered. Only a few familiar faces remained in the large hall¡ªWen Xuxu, Yan Rusheng, Mu Li and her husband, Jiang Zhuoheng as well as Su Yan and his sister. Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze quickly swept over Su Yue, not daring to linger on her for even a second. He looked at Yan Rusheng and asked, ¡°Has everyone left?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡°Mmm.¡± He then suddenly thought of something. He asked Ming Ansheng, ¡°Do you know where Lu Yinan has gone? His door was open, and his room was empty.¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head. He replied, ¡°I also saw that his room door was open when I went back to my room earlier. But nobody was there and his coat was still inside.¡± Chapter 911. Little Lass, What’s So Funny? ¡°Uncle Ming, Third sister-in-law and I saw a beautiful lady entering your room earlier. Is she your relative?¡± asked Su Yue as she suddenly turned her attention to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Tch!¡± There was a fleeting trace of awkwardness on Ming Ansheng¡¯s face, and he gave a forced smile. ¡°No, she knocked on the wrong door.¡± ¡®Damn it, this little lass saw everything.¡¯ Young Master Ming felt extremely perturbed. He shouldn¡¯t have acted so rashly and asked a woman to his room. Of course, he could only kid Su Yue with such a lie but not the rest. Jiang Zhuoheng and Wen Xuxu lowered their heads and laughed in secret, but were kind enough not to expose him. However, Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t that kind. He looked at Su Yue and said, ¡°Your Uncle Ming¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Ming Ansheng glared at him and spoke with a warning tone. ¡°Third Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng shut his mouth and shifted his gaze to Ming Ansheng, surveying him for a moment before teasing. ¡°So fast? Perhaps you need to let that quack Lu Yinan give you a check. He specializes in treating those who are impotent.¡± Even Jiang Zhuoheng, who hardly cracked jokes, also couldn¡¯t help it and added, ¡°His mind is only filled with Tang Feiling, so of course he can¡¯t.¡± His expression was serious and proper as usual. Ming Ansheng pointed his finger at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Ah Heng, have you gone astray as well?¡± While the few of them were teasing one another, Su Yue looked at Ming Ansheng like a curious baby. ¡°Uncle Ming, which part of you can¡¯t?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s face darkened, and he shook his head, looking visibly embarrassed. ¡°There is no such thing. Don¡¯t listen to your Third Brother¡¯s nonsense.¡± After that, he glared at Jiang Zhuoheng and Yan Rusheng menacingly. ¡°Alright, stop your nonsensical talks now.¡± Xuxu gave Yan Rusheng a nudge. When it comes to such a topic, this chap became so enthusiastic. The moment she spoke, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t dare to continue, not to mention Jiang Zhuoheng. When Mu Li and Yan Weihong saw them chatting so happily with no intention of leaving, they walked over and informed, ¡°Third Yan, your father and I are going back first. If you and Xuxu intend to stay for the night, then sleep early.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°We¡¯re leaving too.¡± She didn¡¯t want to sleep in the hotel for it was more comfortable to sleep at home. Just then, a figure appeared at the entrance and thudding sounds of ¡®deng deng deng¡¯ was heard. The figure came nearer and nearer to them. Such a high-profile entry¡ªwho else could it be other than Miss Xin? Su Yue took a look at Xin Yanting. She sneered and the burst into a fit of laughter. She was reminded of Zhou Shuang puking all over her face, and her laughter went out of control. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®This lass, when did she become so easily amused?¡¯ ¡°Little lass, what¡¯s so funny?¡± Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes were red and puffy, and it was obvious that she had been crying for a long time for her voice also sounded a little hoarse. She was already fuming. Now that she saw Su Yue laughing, her rage intensified. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng quickly walked over and locked arms with Xin Yanting, dragging her towards the entrance. Xin Yanting rubbed her eyes and kept turning back to look as she walked. Pointing to Xuxu, she said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, tell that tomboy that I will not let her off.¡± The more she spoke, the faster Jiang Zhuoheng walked. In the end, he carried her under his arm and left with hurried steps. ¡°Let¡¯s go home too,¡± said Xuxu as she looked at Yan Rusheng. Yan Runan nodded before turning back to look at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Try calling Lu Yinan again and ask him where he is.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Ansheng fished out his cellphone from his pocket and dialed Lu Yinan¡¯s number but no one answered. Chapter 912. I Don’t Feel Much Anyway Ming Ansheng hung up when the call had diverted to the voicemail, and he said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°No one picked up.¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Then don¡¯t bother about him anymore. He couldn¡¯t have gone missing. Perhaps he had already gone for a spin somewhere.¡± He said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°We¡¯re going back first. You make your own arrangements.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded before intentionally taking a glance at Su Yue. Her tiny frame looked exquisitely delicate. ¡®Oh my God!¡¯ His thoughts started running wild again, and he immediately put a stop to it. He answered, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here since I¡¯ve consumed some alcohol. Perhaps, Lu Yinan might return later, too.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded, and he held Xuxu¡¯s hand. They left together with Mu Li. When Ming Ansheng returned to his room, the first thing he did was to remove his clothes and went straight into the bathroom and turned on the tap. He allowed the cold shower to drench his body. His head was lifted and his eyes shut. ¡®It must be the effect of the alcohol. It had to be!¡¯ ¡­ It was all peace and quiet after a noisy night. Su Yue suddenly stuck on to Xuxu and wanted to follow her home. Yan Rusheng was seated at the front passenger seat while Xuxu and Su Yue sat behind. Su Yue slumped her head on Xuxu¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± There was a hint of disappointment in her tone. Xuxu looked at her and knitted her eyebrows, feeling puzzled. ¡°Yes? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t brother Qi Lei come today?¡± He said that he would definitely turn up on her birthday. ¡°If you didn¡¯t mention it, I would¡¯ve forgotten about it,¡± Xuxu said with a smile. ¡°He went back to his hometown with his grandfather. He called last night to inform me to let you know.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ upon hearing this and smiled. ¡°So it wasn¡¯t on purpose that he didn¡¯t turn up.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°He went back for tomb sweeping with his grandfather.¡± Then, she turned and looked out of the window, and her heart turned sorrowful. It was almost the annual monsoon season again. She leaned against the car window. Her eyes glistened with tears. ¡­ The car entered the courtyard and stopped outside the entrance, then they got off. Su Yue was walking ahead of them. She was still wearing the little pink gown paired with a white knitted coat. Her shadow on the ground made her appear even more slender and taller than her actual self. She was really happy that night that even her footsteps sounded lighthearted. Xuxu felt comforted. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue had just started walking up the stairs at the entrance when a male figure suddenly appeared. A hint of guilt could be detected from his deep voice. Xuxu was momentarily startled, but she managed to lift her head towards the direction of the voice. Su Yue was also visibly shocked. Her gaze was fixed on the man standing at the entrance who was looking at her with a guilt-filled face. Her eyes brightly sparkled. Other than the look of shock on her exquisite looking face, there was also an indescribable trace of emotion. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue responded after quite some time before lowering her head and continued walking forward. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng also regained their footsteps and move forward, trailing behind her. When Su Yue walked past him, Yan Weiye felt his heart was being emptied. He attempted to hold her hand but failed to grab her. He followed after her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Finally, when she reached the middle of the living room, Su Yue stopped and responded with another ¡®oh¡¯ and remained silent. Yan Weiye walked up to her with an apologetic expression and said, ¡°Dad has let you down.¡± Su Yue shook her head and calmly answered, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t feel much anyway.¡± All these years, she had already grown accustomed to not having a daddy and a mommy celebrating her birthday with her. Actually, the joy and happiness that she¡¯d experience at her birthday party were much more than all the happiness she¡¯d felt over the last ten years. Chapter 913. The Little Princess’ Little Tiara! She felt that it was already good enough. ¡®It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t feel much anyway¡­¡¯ Her words brought tears to Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Indeed, she never had the chance to celebrate her birthday with her parents, so there was nothing for her to compare with even if he didn¡¯t turn up today. Hence, what kind of feelings was she expected to have? Xuxu walked over to Su Yue and put her hand on her shoulders, patting it lightly. ¡°Sit down and have a cup of tea.¡± She then threw a cold gaze at Yan Weiye. Yan Weiye hung his head down in guilt and walked towards the sofa and sat down. Su Yue walked over and sat down about half a meter away from him, her head bowed as well. The servant brought some tea over, and Su Yue picked up a cup and held it in her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs first.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t linger further and strode towards the staircase. Xuxu took a look at Su Yue and after some deliberation, she said, ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m also going up to have my shower and sleep. You too have an early night.¡± Su Yue nodded before looking at Yan Weiye. ¡°Daddy, what do you want?¡± Although she addressed Yan Weiye as ¡®Daddy¡¯ each time, it still merely sounded like an appellation with no emotions attached. It was only a code name that she used on him. Yan Weiye sighed. ¡°Eighteen already. You¡¯re already eighteen.¡± Come to think of it, his daughter was already eighteen, but the number of times that he had seen her could be counted on his fingers. From her birth until she grew up, he wasn¡¯t involved. Even after bringing her home, he still didn¡¯t fulfill his duty as a father. He didn¡¯t say anything further and picked up the white paper bag on the coffee table. He took out a small pink box from it which was exquisitely wrapped in a red butterfly knot. Yan Weiye took his time to open the box. There was a mini tiara in it which was studded with many diamonds that sparkled under the lights. It was bright and dazzling. He picked up the tiara with his hands and handed it to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, whatever happens, you will always remain as daddy¡¯s princess yesterday, today, and forever.¡± Su Yue looked at that tiara with no trace of expression on her face. In fact, she looked cold and distant. Since she didn¡¯t stretch out her hands to receive it, Yan Weiye kept holding it in his hands. After quite some time, Su Yue spoke, ¡°I prefer the necklace that brother gave me.¡± Hearing this, Yan Weiye averted his gaze to the shimmering necklace on Su Yue¡¯s neck. It was a diamond pendant in the shape of the sun. He knew that Su Yan was particularly fond of the sun. He also knew that it was his wish that their lives would be filled with more sunshine, to be brighter and more beautiful. ¡°I¡¯ve let you and your brother down.¡± Yan Weiye blamed himself and said, ¡°Daddy is very happy to see your brother become so promising.¡± After that, he placed the tiara back into the box before putting it on the coffee table. ¡°It¡¯s late and you have school tomorrow. Better have an early night.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue nodded and stood up, but she didn¡¯t walk away immediately. She was looking at the pink box on the coffee table quietly. After a while, she bent over and picked up the box before striding towards the staircase. Yan Weiye fixated his gaze at her and heaved a heavy sigh. Su Yue clutched the box tightly in her hands as she walked on with heavy steps. There was an indescribable feeling of mixed emotions in her. ¡®You don¡¯t have a father. You¡¯re an illegitimate child. Your father abandoned you. Your mother is shameless¡­¡¯ ¡®Your father abandoned you. Your mother is shameless¡­¡¯ Chapter 914. Always Under Someone’s Authority ¡­ The next morning, Xuxu heard a piece of explosive news¡ªLu Yinan and Zhou Shuang had slept together. Ming Ansheng called Yan Rusheng and told him that the two were fighting in the hotel. It was early in the morning, and the sun had barely risen. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu immediately changed and rushed to the hotel. Yan Rusheng was laughing throughout the journey and Xuxu cut him off. But a moment later, he continued to shake with laughter. ¡­ ¡°You female hooligan! You¡¯re a pervert.¡± Lu Yinan glared at Zhou Shuang and his expression turned livid. He grabbed a blanket and tightly wrapped it around his body. Zhou Shuang also grabbed the other corner of the blanket and wrapped herself in it. Each sat at one corner of the bed. They had been arguing in that position for close to an hour. The smell of cigarette permeated the air. The moment Zhou Shuang heard Lu Yinan scolding her, she fumed. ¡°Damn you! This is my room and my bed. How dare you put the blame on me after you climbed onto my bed when I was unguarded?¡± He should be thankful that she didn¡¯t sue him for raping her, yet he had the cheek to accuse her of being shameless and a pervert. Lu Yinan sneered. ¡°If you didn¡¯t seduce me, would have I gone to your room?¡± Actually, he was also feeling puzzled and frustrated. Why did he go over to this hooligan¡¯s room? What had gone wrong? ¡°Scram! Scram as far as possible!¡± Zhou Shuang gave Lu Yinan a hard kick under the blanket. ¡°Even if all the men in the world are dead, I would rather use a cucumber than look for you, Sissy Lu.¡± Lu Yinan taunted, ¡°You have finally revealed your true colors. How could you even say such words? This goes to show that you have a deep hunger and thirst for men.¡± ¡°No use saying such things. The truth is, you are on my bed now. You tried ways and means to get me drunk so you could climb onto my bed, right?¡± Zhou Shuang sarcastically said, ¡°You are just like those women who are scheming to climb onto a man¡¯s bed. You¡¯re the green tea bitch amongst the men, a white lotus who seems pure on the surface but is twisted and dark on the inside!¡± Her tongue was sharp and mean, and she didn¡¯t give Lu Yinan any chance to rebut. She couldn¡¯t wait to drive him to his grave. ¡°If you¡¯re carrying a torch for me, just tell me frankly. Why do you need to resort to such underhand methods?¡± Lu Yinan was so outraged that he almost puked blood. He opened his mouth and took a while before he spoke with a smile. ¡°Then why are you pressing on my body?¡± He added, ¡°Even if all the women in the world are dead, I would never want a woman like you¡ªshameless, flat-chested, and a flat butt.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this my face?¡± Zhou Shuang patted her face. She slightly pulled down her blanket, revealing her cleavage and pointed. ¡°Can¡¯t you see this?¡± Lu Yinan instantly covered his eyes with his hands. ¡°Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re downright shameless.¡± Seeing his coy look, Zhou Shuang sneered. ¡°That¡¯s why your life will always be ordered around. You¡¯ll always be under someone¡¯s authority.¡± ¡°You.¡± Lu Yinan pointed his finger at Zhou Shuang. He was violently trembling with rage. He felt that the hooligan had tainted and humiliated him. Why was she on top of him when he woke up? It wasn¡¯t logical. ¡°Scram! Get out of my room.¡± Zhou Shuang stood up in a flash with the blanket tightly wrapped around her. She stared at Lu Yinan with a look of disdain. When she lifted her blanket, suddenly, there was not a stitch of cloth left on Lu Yinan¡¯s body¡ªhe was stark naked. He hollered, ¡°Zhou Shuang, you still deny that you¡¯re a hooligan?¡± After that, he attempted to snatch back the blanket. But Zhou Shuang gave him a hard kick, and he fell off the bed. Chapter 915. What Other Excuses Can You Come Up Wit After that, she spun around in a haught and got off the bed. She then headed towards the bathroom. Lu Yinan retrieved his shirt from the floor and put it on before searching for the rest of his clothes. He wore it all back piece by piece. Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows, and she saw how awful she looked. ¡®Damn it. What actually happened last night?¡¯ Why was her waist aching badly and her back in so much pain? Especially in between her legs. From the time she turned around and headed for the bathroom, her face had already turned crimson all the way to her neck. She felt embarrassed and vexed. After Lu Yinan put on his clothes, he went up to Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°Stay far away from me when you see me in the future.¡± Zhou Shuang entered the bathroom and took the bath towel from the basin to cover her chest. She then removed the blanket and flung it hard at Lu Yinan. ¡°Get lost immediately, you scheming prostitute, white lotus, sissy.¡± Lu Yinan managed to dodge and the blanket landed on a big flower vase at a corner of the wall. It fell with a loud clatter. While they quarreled and hurled abusive remarks at each other in the room, Ming Ansheng was anxiously pacing to and fro outside. When he heard the loud clatter, he got more anxious and pounded his fists on the room door. ¡°Lu Yinan, open the door now.¡± Since they were in a hotel, he tried to keep everything at bay. It was okay for the hotel staff to laugh at this matter. But if this news found its way to the internet and land on the headlines, then it would spell trouble. Luckily they had booked the entire floor level, there were no other guests around. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Xuxu stepped out of the lift and saw Ming Ansheng pounding hard on Zhou Shuang¡¯s room door. She hastened her steps and walked over. Ming Ansheng answered, ¡°The two of them are quarreling and throwing things in the room. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on.¡± He barely finished talking¡ª ¡ªwhen the door opened. Young Master Lu, who had put on a sorry look, appeared before their eyes. His hair was a mess and there were nasty wrinkles on his shirt. He had always been one who paid great efforts on his appearance, and someone who would definitely put on a pair of glass to look refined before he stepped on to the streets. But the present image of him they had before their very eyes, Yan Rusheng and the rest hadn¡¯t seen it for a long time. When Ming Ansheng saw Young Master Lu in such a state, he could hold it no longer and burst out laughing. ¡°What exactly happened to you? Why were you in Zhou Shuang¡¯s room?¡± Before Lu Yinan had the chance to speak, Yan Rusheng gloated with glee. ¡°When dried wood and fierce fire meet, something will definitely happen.¡± Actually, to them, it was merely a situation where two adults had a one night stand under the influence of alcohol. There was no big deal about it. And no one needed to hold anyone responsible. Anyway, it wasn¡¯t Lu Yinan¡¯s first and it doesn¡¯t seem to be Zhou Shuang¡¯s first either. ¡°Get lost all of you. Don¡¯t chatter on and on outside my room. The noise is unbearable.¡± All of a sudden, Zhou Shuang roared from the room like a lioness. And the entire building seemed to shake briefly. Lu Yinan snorted, ¡°You¡¯ve finally witnessed it. She¡¯s obviously a shrew, a bandit.¡± Xuxu could hold it no longer and stood up for her bosom friend. ¡°The truth is, you were in someone else¡¯s room.¡± Lu Yinan pointed his finger at her and gave a serious warning. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me of this, or I¡¯ll fall out with you.¡± At the mention of it, he felt guilty as a thief¡ªjust how did he enter her room? Why would he want to go into her room? Seeing Lu Yinan looking so stern, Ming Ansheng stifled his laughter and also feigned that he was being serious. ¡°What actually happened last night? Don¡¯t you remember anything?¡± ¡°Other than she seducing me, what else could it be?¡± Lu Yinan spoke with a determined tone. ¡°Yesterday at the mahjong table, she kept saying that she wanted to drink and gamble. Obviously, she was trying to make me drunk.¡± Suddenly, a piercing voice came from behind. ¡°You can continue to lie through your teeth. I¡¯m waiting to see what other excuses you can come up with.¡± Chapter 916. It’s Harder to Satisfy Lu Yinan was about to turn around when he heard a loud thud. A heavy object had hit the back of his head he almost fainted. Zhou Shuang had hurled a shampoo bottle at him. Lu Yinan pressed his head with the palm of his hand and pointed at Zhou Shuang. He yelled, ¡°You shrew! I shall pretend that it was a dog who had bitten my last night after you had slept with me!¡± All of them were speechless. Xuxu glanced at Lu Yinan with an empathetic look. ¡°Indeed. You slept with me.¡± Zhou Shuang, clad in the hotel bathrobe, flashed a cold smirk as she marched towards Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan backtracked and realized that he had untimely blurted out something¡ªand it was maybe because of sheer desperation. Zhou Shuang suddenly flung a wad of cash at him before he could retort. ¡°This is your reward. But your techniques suck and it¡¯s horrible!¡± Lu Yinan almost collapsed because of anger. He thought if continued to squabble with the woman, it would be an insult to him and a waste of time. He just turned around as a response. He slammed the door shut. The three who were standing outside the room, and they received a shock as they looked at each other in bewilderment. ¡®What happened?¡¯ This fellow had slammed the door shut. What was he trying to do? ¡­ ¡°Lu Yinan, what do you want?!¡± Zhou Shuang stared at the man who was advancing on her. Instinctively, she clenched her bathrobes. She spewed out some threats. He could see fear through her eyes. Lu Yinan sneered. ¡°What do you think? Didn¡¯t you comment that my techniques suck and were horrible?¡± He continued to walk towards Zhou Shuang. ¡°Since you¡¯ve paid me such a huge sum of money, shouldn¡¯t I satisfy you?¡± His eyes glinted as he spoke and he took a huge stride. Zhou Shuang shrieked in horror. ¡°Ahhh! Lu Yinan, what are you trying to do?!¡± She bent and dodged Lu Yinan to escape from his clutches. She attempted to scramble for the door. She sensed that Lu Yinan was already fuming mad, and the first thing to do at the moment was to flee. But how could Lu Yinan possibly let her go after how she had mercilessly insulted him earlier on? He darted, shifted, and blocked Zhou Shuang¡¯s path. ¡°Why? Getting scared? You finally know what fear is?¡± Wasn¡¯t she yelling at the top of her lungs? Rambling endlessly and bravely? Dread began to fill Zhou Shuang, but she remained stubborn to save her pride. ¡°Why should I be afraid of you? I just don¡¯t want to have anything to do with you. Having a one-night stand is no big deal since we are both adults. And I don¡¯t need you to bear any responsibility. And if you want me to be responsible, that¡¯s impossible. So we shouldn¡¯t have any more contact from now on.¡± Lu Yinan shook his head and drawled, ¡°That wouldn¡¯t do. You¡¯ve paid me, and I can¡¯t let you go if you¡¯re not satisfied with me.¡± He swiftly stretched his hand to grab Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm. He tightened his grip and Zhou Shuang yelled out in pain. ¡°Pervert! Let me go! Let me go!¡± Lu Yinan may seem refined and gentle on the surface, but when he loses his temper, it was a frightening sight to behold. No matter how feisty or fierce Zhou Shuang could be, she was still a woman. Lu Yinan dragged her with no effort to the bed and within seconds, he had pressed her down by crushing his weight on her. His huge hands grabbed her hands, which were hitting him everywhere. He glared at her. ¡°What pose do you prefer? From the front or the back?¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s do the back.¡± A cynical smile flitted across his face. ¡°You¡¯re such a seasoned player. It¡¯s harder to satisfy you from the front.¡± Chapter 917. I Will Rip Your Mouth Apart Zhou Shuang¡¯s face instantly fell. ¡°Don¡¯t insult me! You¡¯re the seasoned player. In fact, your whole family is!¡± Lu Yinan coldly snorted. ¡°So you do know the meaning of insult?¡± She had flung a wad of cash at him, and she even had the guts to insult him and his techniques. When she was being a shrew earlier on, why didn¡¯t it occur to her she was insulting him? Zhou Shuang frowned and deflected. ¡°Lu Yinan, I¡¯m giving you one last chance.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t give me any chances.¡± Lu Yinan gnashed his teeth in determination and flipped Zhou Shuang over. He was as swift as lightning that Zhou Shuang had no time to retaliate when his weight crushed her once more. His hands then began to wander everywhere on her body. Anyway, they had already slept once¡ªa second time wouldn¡¯t matter. This time around, he swore to subdue this female hooligan so she would never dare to look him in the eye the next time she saw him. Lu Yinan¡¯s hand slipped underneath Zhou Shuang¡¯s bathrobe and it made the girl shriek in panic. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Her shrieks were piercing and sharp it made Lu Yinan frown. With a sarcastic voice, he said, ¡°Zhou Shuang, why are you so aroused when I haven¡¯t even begun?¡± He then bit her neck with a malicious gleam in his eyes. He had only gently bitten her, and Zhou Shuang felt an indescribable feeling. She tried to move her head, but her lips accidentally brushed against the tip of his nose. Their eyes met, and she realized how long Lu Yinan¡¯s eyelashes were. His skin was so clear and soft that it was even better than hers. It momentarily stunned her before she had snapped out. She bellowed, ¡°Jerk! Beast! Get off me!¡± Lu Yinan mischievously smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I would make sure to satisfy you today.¡± He decided not to argue with her any further and tugged at her bathrobes with brute force. Zhou Shuang held on tightly for dear life as she shrunk her neck in fear. Xuxu was pacing back and forth anxiously, and she glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng, go get the room key from the hotel staff. Something serious might really happen at this rate.¡± Lu Yinan sounded mad. And she had no idea what he would do to Zhou Shuang. Yan Rusheng was feeling nonchalant about it. What else could Lu Yinan possibly do? Other than sleeping with her once more? He wanted to laugh at the thought of it but the look on Xuxu¡¯s face warned him not to. With a solemn voice, he reasoned, ¡°If they were doing something intimate, it would be so awkward if you barge in right now.¡± Xuxu fell silent. That was a problem. If they entered the room and Lu Yinan had already gotten his way¡ªwhat would they do? She couldn¡¯t possibly drag him away. She stomped her feet. ¡°Why are all men like this?! It was an accidental one-night stand. Just forget about it!¡± Ming Ansheng chortled. ¡°Zhou Shuang is too feisty and rash, and she doesn¡¯t know Lu Yinan well.¡± Actually, he was thinking along the same lines as Yan Rusheng. At most, what they were doing at the moment would be a replica of yesterday¡¯s ¡®incident¡¯, and they could just pretend they had done it the second time in a drunken state. What else could they do? It didn¡¯t seem appropriate for them to barge in. ¡°I don¡¯t want to discuss this with you guys,¡± Xuxu replied in a huff. ¡°I¡¯m going to work.¡± She had nothing else to do besides waiting. Yan Rusheng pulled her. ¡°Wait for a while longer. Lu Yinan doesn¡¯t need much time, unlike me.¡± Ming Ansheng smirked as he thought to himself. ¡®Yan Rusheng is the worst friend, has the meanest tongue, and the most arrogant of us all.¡¯ He could still trample on his friend to praise himself in their current situation. ¡®This is enough!¡¯ Xuxu face darkened. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you carry on spewing nonsense, I will rip your mouth apart.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m wrong.¡± Yan Rusheng pulled Xuxu towards him and embraced her. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Let¡¯s go for breakfast first, then I¡¯ll send you to work.¡± Chapter 918. How Dare He Compared Me to That Nitwit! As though Young Master Ming was invisible, Yan Rusheng led Xuxu towards the staircase. The hotel restaurant was on the second level, and he intended to use the stairs. At the landing of the staircase, Yan Rusheng spewed some lewd remarks. ¡°Zhou Shuang yelled so loudly earlier on. Why didn¡¯t you, my wife?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. He had always tried so hard, so it made little sense. Xuxu glared at him as a warning. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m warning you. Another word from you!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng clammed up in a split second. But after some brief deliberation, he bent to give Xuxu a peck on her cheek. ¡°Wife, can you just yell like Zhou Shuang for once?¡± Just to satisfy him. Xuxu lifted her foot and stomped hard on his. She then escaped from his embrace and left him behind. It was time for breakfast and hotel guests crowded the place. When Yan Rusheng and Xuxu entered, they saw Ming Ansheng sitting at a corner. He took the elevator, hence he reached the floor first. They walked towards him. Ming Ansheng pointed at the food on the table and said, ¡°I only took my share, go get yours.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get them.¡± Xuxu turned around to leave. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t follow Xuxu, instead, he sat across Ming Ansheng. He slumped against a comfortable leather sofa with his hands propped behind his head. He had a mysterious smile playing on his lips. ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± asked Ming Ansheng. He looked utterly perplexed. ¡°The woman last night.¡± Yan Rusheng was afraid that Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t know who he was referring to, so he added, ¡°The one Yueyue saw entering your room. Who was it? Was it the previous woman, Lulu?¡± The one-night stand he was referring to happened a couple of months ago. Ming Ansheng was usually busy with work, and he didn¡¯t have time to care for¡®needs¡¯. It was only when he met them for dinner¡ªafter some drinks¡ªhe would then require the company of a woman. After all, he was still a normal grown-up man. Ming Ansheng ignored Yan Rusheng, but deep within, it frustrated him. It frustrated him that Su Yue, unfortunately, witnessed the entire incident. ¡®It could have been anyone else in the world. Why does it have to be that little lass?¡¯ She might not understand now, but what if someday she¡¯d realize it? Would she despise him for engaging in one-night stands? Ming Ansheng sat deep in thought. ¡®Forget it.¡¯ What does it matter to him if the girl had such an opinion of him? Why did he have to care and miss her so much? ¡°Seems like last night was wonderful?¡± said Yan Rusheng as he watched Ming Ansheng. He continued to tease. ¡°The drinks were amazing last night since both of you could not control your desires.¡± Overlooking Ming Ansheng¡¯s darkened expression, he casually prodded on. ¡°But it only has effects on single guys like you whose s*x lives aren¡¯t normal. It won¡¯t work on me since my s*xual drive is high any time.¡± Ming Ansheng threw him a scathing look. ¡°Look at how shameless and pompous you are.¡± Yan Rusheng smugly smiled and lifted his chin. Ming Ansheng sneered. ¡°Do you know that you sound and look like someone?¡± He continued on, ¡°You sound exactly like Xin Yanting. Both of you are a perfect match. If you guys lived together, both of you would emphasize on the ceiling if ever you designed a house¡ªboth of you have your heads held up high.¡± Yan Rusheng turned stony-faced at the mention of Xin Yanting. He displayed some displeasure on his face. ¡°How dare you compare me to that nitwit?!¡± Chapter 919. Since You Can’t Create Any Better Designs! Xuxu came back at this moment with a plate of sandwiches and a glass of milk. She caught sight of the men seemingly engaged in an interesting conversation. She overheard Yan Rusheng saying about something about a nitwit. Out of curiosity, she asked, ¡°Who is a nitwit?¡± Ming Ansheng replied airily, ¡°Third Yan was talking about Xin Yanting.¡± Xin Yanting had professed her love for Yan Rusheng in public and even showed their love token. Xuxu raised her eyebrows as she glanced at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s why I said that she is a nitwit. Anything wrong with that?¡± he replied. Xuxu didn¡¯t press on and placed the plate on the table. ¡°Hurry up and eat. I need to go to work soon,¡± said Xuxu. She didn¡¯t get enough sleep after rushing over early in the morning. In the end, she wasn¡¯t able to help at all. Whenever the two enemies bickered, no one could stop them. After breakfast, they split ways. All of them didn¡¯t ask about Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang. After a period of time, Xuxu heard nothing about Zhou Shuang. Whenever she would call her up, she would always be asleep. Time passed in the blink of an eye and everything seemed fine. Summer was fast approaching, and Xuxu¡¯s tummy was growing bigger by the day. Whenever she sat for long periods, her legs would feel swollen. She rose to get herself a cup of water and wanted to check on the samples that the tailor had made. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you done with my outfits?! How can you be so unprofessional? It had already been two months! Are you sure you are up for the task?¡± Xuxu had barely reached the first level when a slender woman stormed in. Without even hearing her voice or seeing her face, Xuxu could guess who the woman was just by the sound of her heels. She smiled at the lady who was looking exceedingly annoyed. ¡°Miss Xin, you¡¯re right on time. I was just about to call you to make a trip for the last outfit.¡± Xin Yanting was wearing a long white dress that ended at her ankles. Her hair tumbled loosely across her shoulders and she looked beautiful. Xin Yanting condemned, ¡°Forget it, I need not try the outfit. I just need to see it.¡± Xuxu pretended to feign surprise although an evil gleam streaked past her eyes. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Actually, Xin Yanting made a few trips to the shop in the last month. And if Xuxu recalled properly, it was a total of three times. She would just put on the clothes and check if the measurements were right. She wasn¡¯t so critical and fussy about the tiny details that could hardly be seen. Xin Yanting walked to Xuxu with her nose high in the air. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m as free as a newbie designer like you?¡± Xin Yanting snarled. ¡°I¡¯m the General Manager of Flourish & Prosper now. Do you know how hectic my schedule is?¡± Xuxu nodded fervently and replied, ¡°Yes, Flourish & Prosper is such a huge conglomerate. Even the employees are so busy every day. As the General Manager, work must have piled up your table.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good you know!¡± Xin Yanting snorted and pressed on. ¡°Get me the outfit now! I still need to go for an inspection check with Yan Rusheng this afternoon.¡± She flicked her hair in a dramatic fashion. ¡®Look at how smug she looked!¡¯ Xuxu stifled her laughter and nodded. She turned to the tailor and instructed him, ¡°Master Wang, please get the outfit ready.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± The tailor answered and presented the outfit to Xin Yanting. With just one look, the black outfit was a revealing and sexy one. Xin Yanting threw a fleeting glance at it, and it was obvious that the product brought her satisfaction. Yet, she replied haughtily, ¡°I¡¯ll just take it since you can¡¯t create any better designs.¡± Chapter 920. That Arrogant Lady is Finally Gone Xuxu pressed her lips and remained mum. ¡°All right, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Xin Yanting spun around and took big strides towards the entrance. She stormed her way in and out. Listening to the ¡®thudding¡¯ sounds her heels produced made Xuxu burst out into laughter. She stood there and sipped her water. ¡°Sister Xuxu, is the arrogant lady finally gone?¡± Li Qian appeared behind her. Xuxu turned around and nodded. ¡°Yup, she left in less than five minutes.¡± Li Qian grinned. ¡°I heard her voice upstairs and I tried to rush down after settling some urgent stuff. But in the end, I still wasn¡¯t able to see her.¡± Xuxu sharply reminded her. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t gossip about her anymore. Her eyes will murder you on the spot.¡± She ascended the stairs with Li Qian trailing behind her. ¡°Sister Xuxu, do you know Professor Zhao?¡± asked Li Qian. ¡°Professor Zhao?¡± Xuxu had taken a moment before she remembered. ¡°Is his name Zhao Zheng?¡± The only professor she knew with that surname was Zhao Zheng. If not, it would be his father. Li Qian nodded. ¡°During our classmates¡¯ gathering, we invited Professor Zhao along. He mentioned that he was friends with Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President and his wife.¡± ¡®This Zhao Zheng.¡¯ Xuxu smiled. ¡°Yes, we were high school classmates.¡± From her understanding of Li Qian¡¯s character, she probably had many questions up her sleeves. She glanced at her watch; it was almost 2 p.m. Su Yue was having her last exam this afternoon, and it should end by 3:30 p.m. She interjected, ¡°Li Qian, I have something to attend to. Contact me if you need me later.¡± She was planning to buy some food for Su Yue, and she should be just in time to fetch her if she left early. Su Yue had been studying hard to prepare for her college exams. Xuxu was planning to take her out for a good meal to celebrate. Li Qian swallowed her questions and nodded. Xuxu left after retrieving her bag. Anxious parents were all waiting outside the school and Xuxu parked by the roadside. She opened her umbrella and put on a pair of sunglasses before she squeezed into the crowd. Some parents were familiar faces. As usual, people could recognize her. ¡°Third Madam Yan, are you here to fetch your sister?¡± Xuxu politely smiled. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± The parent glanced at her watch. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Xuxu smiled to herself. It was a sweltering day and the temperature was over 30 degrees. Xuxu was drenched in sweat as she stood in the crowd. She realized that pregnant women were sensitive to heat. Before, the heat didn¡¯t bother her. She began to dab her face with a tissue as she waited. Students started to stream out and the crowd of parents anxiously rushed forward. The first words they asked were, ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± Xuxu finally saw Su Yue. The little girl was clad in a pale blue tee-shirt paired with white pants. She was wearing pink sandals, and she looked like a young child. If one didn¡¯t know her real age, she could pass off as a middle-school student. Xuxu rushed towards her and used the umbrella to shelter her from the relentless sun. ¡°You must be tired. Let¡¯s head to the car and eat something.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s wrist. Chapter 921. Wasn’t She Retained For A Year? ¡°Third sister-in-law, wait a while.¡± Su Yue stopped Xuxu and turned back and cheerfully called out, ¡°Bai Jing, hurry up!¡± Xuxu also turned her head back and saw Bai Jing running towards them. She was wearing her usual wrinkled clothes¡ªa white dress that looked worn but clean. She tied up her mid-length hair in a high ponytail, and it made her look cool and refreshing and soothing to the eyes. Xuxu nodded at her. Lately, Su Yue had taken Bai Jing to the studio twice during weekends, and they both had grown accustomed to each other. This little lass was a well-behaved girl of few words and was likable. But what was more important, she could get along well with Su Yue who adored her as well. Bai Jing walked over and bashfully greeted Xuxu with a smile. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu responded, ¡°It¡¯s too hot to be standing here. Quickly get into the car with me.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue nodded and stretched out her hand to hold Bai Jing. ¡°My Third sister-in-law brought some yummy food for us.¡± Bai Jing felt shy and said, ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m going home first. I¡¯ve got to prepare dinner tonight.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Grab a bite in the car first and I¡¯ll send you home later.¡± Su Yue also urged, ¡°That¡¯s right, have a bite first. It¡¯s too early for you to be preparing dinner now.¡± Bai Jing found it hard to decline their hospitality and replied, ¡°Alright.¡± Her voice sounded soft as usual as if there was a lack of confidence in her. Xuxu knew that the girl felt inferior. If she was in her shoes, perhaps she would behave the same way. After all, she was a far cry from Su Yue in terms of their family background. Because of the scorching weather, Xuxu parked her car under the shade of a tree. She turned on the air-conditioner the moment she got into the car. She had bought some fruits and a beverage along the way, but the drink was only enough for one person. She didn¡¯t expect Su Yue to drag Bai Jing along with her. But then again, she should have foreseen such an event happening. She took out the drink and suggested, ¡°There¡¯s only one cup, so please share it with Bai Jing.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue took over the drink and inserted the straw before handing it to Bai Jing. ¡°Jing, you drink first while I eat the fruits.¡± Bai Jing declined. ¡°No, you drink instead. I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± Su Yue knew that she was feeling shy about it. Hence, she shoved the drink into her hands and quipped, ¡°Don¡¯t stand on ceremony with me. We¡¯re good friends.¡± Xuxu found it amusing to hear her speak with a slight capital accent. This girl sounded so normal and mature when she was speaking to Bai Jing, and more so, she could really talk non-stop. She¡¯s fussing over Bai Jing all the time. It seemed that Su Yue only behaved like a normal teenager in front of people who she liked. Otherwise, she would bow her head and remain silent. Then again, it was her way of expressing her likes and dislikes. She was simply pure and simple¡ªshe would hover around you if she liked you. She would even act cute and treat you well! If she disliked you, she couldn¡¯t care less about you. This kind of person cherished relationships greatly but also wouldn¡¯t tolerate any betrayals. ¡­ After chatting for a while, Xuxu sent Bai Jing home. She lived quite a distance away, almost out of the 6th Ring Road. It was an old district comprising rundown courtyard houses. Bai Jing requested that the car stop by the roadside instead of driving into the alley. Xuxu didn¡¯t insist and agreed to her request. On the way home, Su Yue shared with Xuxu that Bai Jing was staying in a rented house. She also had to travel 1.5 hours by a public bus every morning. She would leave home after making breakfast, and she would return home in the evening to prepare dinner. Her dad returned home only late at night. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she kept for one year?¡± Xuxu suddenly recalled Su Yue telling her that Bai Jing had to be retained for a year. She asked, ¡°Why is she still sitting for the college exams in this case?¡± Chapter 922. Useless Lass Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes, if she didn¡¯t do well for her exams, she will be retained for another year.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°But from what you have mentioned, she should be able to do well.¡± Bai Jing used to attend another school in another city before she transferred to the capital city a few months ago. Since the syllabus in her former school was similar to her current one, she had a greater advantage than Su Yue with the exam. ¡°Little girl, it¡¯s the summer vacation now. Are there any places you would like to go?¡± Diverting the topic from Bai Jing, Xuxu looked at Su Yue through the rear mirror. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t feel like going anywhere.¡± The college exam had given her immense pressure. For the last six months, she had been struggling to cope with the overly demanding workload. When the exams were over, she more or less had an inkling on how she fared. She didn¡¯t do well. As she mulled over this, she lowered her head and pressed her lips together as she played with her fingers. She had a look of despondency on her face. Xuxu noticed the change in expression but didn¡¯t bat an eyelid. With the results of the mock test Su Yue had taken before, she could already hazard a guess what her actual exam results would be¡ªshe won¡¯t be able to make it to the key universities. Unless she enrolled in an art faculty. Hence, from the time she fetched Su Yue, she didn¡¯t ask her how her exam went. She wanted to let her know that it was alright if she did poorly in the exam. Studying in a prestigious university was never really a need because as long as she was happy, it was good enough. And that she would understand despite her not saying anything. As it was still early, Xuxu brought Su Yue to her workplace and stayed there for two hours before bringing her out for dinner. It was the ending phase of the construction of the mall in Chengnan, and Yan Rusheng was working his socks off. He reached home close to 8 p.m. almost every night. Su Yue also said that it was the same for Su Yan. Thus, only the two of them went out for dinner. The streets of the capital city were brightly lit even after 6 p.m. Xuxu took Su Yue to a high-end mall. The fifth level, comprising Western and Chinese stores, made the ambiance as classy as the mall itself. After dinner, she planned to bring Su Yue to shop around for new clothes and to visit the maternity and baby shop as well. Whenever she had time lately, she would visit the maternity and baby shops. After seeing those tiny shoes and clothes, she couldn¡¯t wait for the little fellows to be out in the world. She had already stored up many baby necessities at home. Just milk bottles alone, there were already over ten. Mu Li was just like her, buying anything that caught her eyes. When they stepped out of the lift, Xuxu¡¯s cellphone rang. She took out her phone and saw that the caller was Zhou Shuang. She answered the call as she walked. Su Yue trailed behind her. After walking a distance, she turned back and found Su Yue staring at a billboard at the elevator entrance. After ending the call, she went back and looked at Su Yue. It baffled her. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Uncle Ming¡¯s photo,¡± Su Yue said as she pointed to the people in the billboard. Xuxu looked at it. It was a group photo with Ming Ansheng standing at the front row. He was dressed in a smart suit and looked completely suave and dashing. Out of the group of elites, he stood out the most. The words written on the billboard were ¡®Yifeng 10th Anniversary Celebration¡¯. Yifeng was the name of the mall. Xuxu seemed to have thought of something and smiled. ¡°Oh yes, this mall belongs to Bright Vision.¡± It visibly startled Su Yue. ¡°Uncle Ming¡¯s family?¡± She knew that Ming Ansheng¡¯s company is Bright Vision. Xuxu nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°Then will he give us discounts?¡± ¡°Useless lass.¡± Xuxu affectionately gave Su Yue a poke on her head before holding her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go for dinner now. We¡¯ll keep the bill and claim it from him when we see him again.¡± Chapter 923. Are You Converting to Buddhism? Su Yue raised her eyebrows upon hearing this. She turned back and took a last look at the billboard, and she realized that she hadn¡¯t seen him for more than a month. ¡®Sigh.¡¯ She definitely didn¡¯t do well with her exams, so he surely won¡¯t bring her to have her tattoo done. Su Yue looked down at her left chest in disappointment and pursed her lips. After they entered a restaurant, Xuxu and Su Yue sat down at a quiet corner on the right side of the entrance. The waiter had served them water when Zhou Shuang walked in. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted.¡± She sat down beside Xuxu. She had walked over from the nearby vicinity under the scorching weather. After sitting down, she immediately took Xuxu¡¯s glass and took big gulps of her water. She regained her strength after drinking and asked Su Yue, ¡°Little lass, exams over?¡± At the mention of exams, Su Yue turned sullen. She nodded lightly and replied¡®Mm¡¯. Zhou Shuang smiled as she waved her hands. ¡°Then it¡¯s time to have fun. Come over to my house one day.¡± She had experienced the frustration of being asked about her exam results. Hence, she didn¡¯t ask Su Yue about it. Whatever the results, the exams were already over. It annoyed her whenever her relatives and elders shot questions about it. Xuxu poured more water for herself before looking at Zhou Shuang and asked, ¡°What have you been up to recently? Hiding?¡± She and Yan Rusheng had a hunch she was feeling embarrassed over the incident with Lu Yinan. But seeing her in her usual energetic self today, it seemed it had not affected her. ¡°I went to visit my parents.¡± Zhou Shuang plucked a grape and shoved into her mouth before continuing with a frown. ¡°You have no idea how my ears suffered.¡± Xuxu laughed and asked, ¡°What happened? Did they lecture you not to be a decadent who rests on your laurels?¡± ¡°They urged me to find a partner to settle down. They said that I¡¯m already 26 years old and would be left on the shelf and so on.¡± Zhou Shuang frown got deeper. She waved her hands as she said, ¡°Forget it. Not talking anymore. Basically, they sounded like monks chanting.¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°They were not wrong in saying that. It¡¯s true you should get married since you¡¯re already 26.¡± Zhou Shuang scorned, ¡°Marriage is a burden, and I¡¯ll lose my freedom. So I don¡¯t want to get married while I¡¯m still young.¡± ¡°Oh yes, what happened to you and Lu Yinan?¡± It was rare for Miss Wen to engage in idle talk. She grinned and inched closer to Zhou Shuang¡¯s ears, trying her best not to let Su Yue hear her. Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression suddenly darkened and she looked at Xuxu with a stern warning, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m warning you not to mention his name again or I¡¯ll get mad.¡± It seemed that there was a big feud between them that both parties couldn¡¯t stand hearing each other¡¯s name. Xuxu nodded. ¡°Okay, okay. Okay, I won¡¯t talk about him anymore.¡± After that, she handed Zhou Shuang the menu. ¡°Order something. Look and order what you like. Yueyue and I had already ordered some dishes.¡± Zhou Shuang took over the menu and knitted her eyebrows. She flipped from beginning to the end. There was nothing she fancied. On the last page, she deliberated for a moment before turning a page back. ¡°Give me a pickled cucumber, garlic Chinese kale, and Osmanthus lotus rice.¡± She closed the menu and passed it back to the waiter. She had picked all none meat dishes, and Xuxu smiled in amusement. ¡°You¡¯re planning convert to Buddhism?¡± Zhou Shuang waved her hand. ¡°Say no more. I¡¯ve no appetite recently and the sight of meat irks me. Even brushing teeth makes me nauseous. Perhaps I¡¯ve contracted pharyngitis as the symptoms were like what they described in the advertisement.¡± Chapter 924. Perhaps She’s Expecting When Xuxu heard this, suspicion flashed across her eyes. She immediately thought of something, ¡°The last time, did you and Lu Yinan do¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Zhou Shuang shot her a vicious glare. She pointed at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t mention his name. Did you and that sissy do it?¡± Her question was vague and Zhou Shuang scorned, ¡°Wen Xuxu, we are all adults. Sex! Have sex! What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about? You¡¯re really¡ª¡± The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. She immediately took a glance at Su Yue before reaching under the table to give Zhou Shuang a hard pinch on her thighs. She then leaned towards her and whispered, ¡°Did you take contraceptive pills after that?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly realized something was amiss and widened her eyes in horror. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡ªdon¡¯t frighten me.¡± She pressed both hands on her tummy and shook her head. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be. It¡¯s not possible. I¡¯m just suffering from pharyngitis that¡¯s all.¡± ¡®Cough, cough.¡¯ Her throat was hoarse from coughing, so it had got to be pharyngitis. She reassured herself but Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but feel worried for her. ¡°I feel it should concern you. Your symptoms and mine¡ª¡± This thick-skinned woman could be pregnant. There weren¡¯t any preventive measures taken when she did it with Lu Yinan. It had been more than a month after the incident, and she was showing symptoms she used to have. The more Xuxu spoke, the more worried and frightened Zhou Shuang became. ¡°Wen Xuxu, stop it now.¡± Despite her warning, Xuxu felt the need to continue talking. ¡°Tonight, go to the pharmacy and buy¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t a joking matter. Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Xuxu pressed her lips together. ¡°Alright, you can consider.¡± She already made it so obvious, so she should know what she was supposed to do. But if she was in denial and that she was indeed pregnant, then she would have to bear the consequences when her tummy would start to bulge out. Since Zhou Shuang hadn¡¯t seen Xuxu for quite a while, she came over for dinner in high spirits. But because of Xuxu¡¯s warning, she lost her appetite that she absent-mindedly held on to her chopstick. ¡°Salted pepper pig trotters.¡± A waiter would announce the name before they served a dish. Zhou Shuang looked at the salted pepper pig trotters¡ªsmall pieces of pig trotters sprinkled with salt and pepper¡ªthe dish looked extremely greasy. As she stared at it, all of a sudden, she felt a lump in her throat and her stomach churned. She immediately covered her mouth with her hand and sprinted out of the restaurant. As they were in a mall, there wasn¡¯t any bathroom within the vicinity of the restaurant, and one had to visit the mall¡¯s common bathroom. Witnessing this situation, it confirmed Xuxu¡¯s suspicion. ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s wrong with sister hooligan?¡± Su Yue asked as she offered a curious look at Zhou Shuang¡¯s back view. Xuxu pressed her lips in silence and hesitated before answering her. ¡°Perhaps she¡¯s expecting.¡± It startled Su Yue when she heard this. ¡°Who¡¯s the father of the baby?¡± She didn¡¯t see sister hooligan in a relationship all these while. Not to mention she wasn¡¯t married. It dumbfounded Xuxu. ¡®Exactly, this was the issue!¡¯ ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue knitted her eyebrows suddenly and seemed to think of something. She looked rather depressed. Xuxu looked at her perplexed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Concerned, Xuxu asked, ¡°Will sister hooligan be the same as my mommy?¡± Chapter 925. Pregnant With Lu Yinan’s Child! Xuxu was stumped for words but she reassured her with a smile. ¡°No, don¡¯t jump to a conclusion. If she¡¯s really pregnant, the baby is Lu Yinan¡¯s. Lu Yinan is not married, both of them are single.¡± She thought, perhaps to Su Yue, anyone who had children before marriage must be indecent. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded and heaved a sigh of relief. Xuxu noticed the change in her expression and calmly placed some food into Su Yue¡¯s bowl. Zhou Shuang returned from the bathroom, and she looked pale as if she were severely ill. When Xuxu saw her, it worried her. However, she wanted to laugh as well. ¡°Sister hooligan, when are you getting married to Lu Yinan?¡± Zhou Shuang had just sat down and was wiping her mouth with a tissue when Su Yue suddenly asked out of curiosity. Zhou Shuang paused when she heard this and looked at Su Yue. She gloomily raised her eyebrows. ¡°Pretentious woman. What did you say?¡± Su Yue blinked and looked puzzled. ¡°You are already expecting his baby, so aren¡¯t you getting married?¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head. ¡°Nothing of that sort. Don¡¯t jump to a conclusion and don¡¯t listen to what your Third sister-in-law says. I¡¯m just suffering from pharyngitis. I am not pregnant.¡± ¡®Tch. Who wants to marry that sissy?¡¯ Even if all the men in this world were dead, she wouldn¡¯t consider marrying him. After that, she shot a stern look of warning at Xuxu. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t eat much throughout the meal and had only a few bites from the dishes she ordered. The restaurant was on the 5th floor while the maternity and baby¡¯s section was on the 4th floor. Hence, after dinner, they shopped their way down. When they passed by a store selling baby clothes, Xuxu halted her steps in front of the glass display cabinet. She pointed to a little mannequin in the shop. It was wearing a yellow dress that came with a pair of wings. She commented to Zhou Shuang and Su Yue, ¡°Take a look, this is so cute.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at Xuxu. ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡± She didn¡¯t like little children and animals, and she found them detesting. Su Yue joined Xuxu and knelt down to look at the tiny dress. She also found it adorable. ¡°Both of you have bad tastes. Don¡¯t you find that childish?¡± Zhou Shuang scorned as she looked at the dress in the display cabinet. But both her hands instinctively reached out to feel her tummy. ¡®Could it be? Could it be real?¡¯ She didn¡¯t dare to dwell further and shook her head to put a stop to her thoughts. Xuxu lifted her head and glanced askew at her. ¡°Aren¡¯t children stuff supposed to look like this?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. Since you don¡¯t even know which month your babies are due, there¡¯s no need to look at such things now.¡± Zhou Shuang rushed her impatiently and raised her feet to move forward. The more she looked, the more unsettled and frustrated she felt. The smart Xuxu could tell that Zhou Shuang felt afraid. Hence, she didn¡¯t insist on staying behind and swiftly followed her. They left the maternity and baby department and went down to a lower level. Knowing Zhou Shuang, she knew she would never discuss with her about the pregnancy. But tonight, she would definitely purchase a pregnancy test kit to check. Xuxu bought nothing from the mall, but she bought Su Yue a pair of shoes. One could tell that Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t in the mood for shopping because she left before them. ¡­ Zhou Shuang sat on the toilet bowl and stared at the two lines that showed on the pregnancy test kit¡ªit was as if a thunderbolt had flashed across the blue sky. For a long time, there wasn¡¯t a slightest reaction from her. ¡®Oh no! Finished!¡¯ She felt that her wonderful and perfect world had instantly turned gloomy and gray. She was pregnant, pregnant with Lu Yinan¡¯s child. ¡°Oh my God!¡± After a long time, she finally cried out loud and great sorrow filled her voice. ¡®How could this be possible? Why did it turn out this way? Why did this happen?¡¯ She sat in the toilet for almost an hour. She then got up to retrieve her cellphone and called Xuxu immediately. Chapter 926. I’m Ending Our Friendship! Xuxu had just gotten out of the bathroom and was holding a glass of milk in her hand when she received a call from Zhou Shuang. She had a hunch regarding her sudden call. She picked up her phone and answered, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m dead!!¡± As expected, she could hear Zhou Shuang¡¯s anguished groans over the line. It didn¡¯t surprise Xuxu at all. She answered, ¡°This can be solved. Just go to Lu Yinan.¡± As someone who had gone through the same thing before, Xuxu had predicted all of her reactions. Zhou Shuang shrieked at her in reply. ¡°No! Why should I talk to him?! Being pregnant is my problem. It has nothing to do with him!¡± Xuxu chortled in response. ¡°Would you be able to get pregnant without him?¡± What did she mean by it has nothing to do with Lu Yinan? ¡°What should I do?!¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice instantly reduced into a whisper. Xuxu could imagine Zhou Shuang anxiously pacing back and forth in her house, and with this thought, she suppressed her laughter. ¡°How would I know what is on your mind?¡± answered Xuxu. ¡°Do you want to keep the baby?¡± Zhou Shuang retorted, ¡°I can¡¯t even take care of myself, so how would I know how to take care of children?! I might need to depend on my parents for the rest of my life if I have a child.¡± She paused and worriedly asked, ¡°If my parents know about this, they will kill me!¡± Xuxu fell silent for a while before giving her an answer. ¡°Actually, there is nothing to hesitate regarding this matter.¡± It was purely an accident that happened, and both Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang had no feelings towards each other. If they don¡¯t get married, the rational option was to¡­ get an abortion¡­ But then again, it was a life they were dealing with. ¡®How could they¡­?¡¯ For someone who had experienced this before, Xuxu felt a mixture of pity and reluctance for this unborn child. Xuxu continued on, ¡°Why don¡¯t you discuss this with Lu Yinan first? I feel that he has a right to know.¡± Zhou Shuang bellowed at her from the other line. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m giving you a serious warning. If you dare to tell that sissy Lu, I¡¯m ending our friendship!¡± Xuxu helplessly frowned. ¡°Then what do you intend to do?¡± Zhou Shuang briefly contemplated before she answered. ¡°Go to the hospital with me tomorrow, alright?¡± Xuxu readily agreed. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do a checkup first.¡± She ended the call and stared at the phone in a daze for quite some time. Then she finally decided to call Yan Rusheng. ¡­ They had set the completion ceremony date, but there was still plenty of preparation work going on. It was almost 9 p.m. and there was at least half of the staff and workers still at the site. Yan Rusheng was wearing a helmet as he carefully inspected everything. Xin Yanting had tagged along as she assumed that he would only make a brief inspection. It had never crossed her mind that he would take so long and the venue was full of clutter and dirt. The heels she had worn had drained her energy since long ago. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of going back anytime soon, so she continued to whine and grumble at a corner. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can we go now? There is nothing for you to do here.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at her and snarled, ¡°You can leave first.¡± He turned to walk towards two workers who were cutting a steel-reinforcing bar. Xin Yanting angrily glared at his haughty-looking figure. He was doing this on purpose to grind her patience. The minute she leaves, he would use it as an excuse to prevent her from tagging along the next time. She gritted her teeth with determination and grudgingly trailed after him. ¡°President Yan, your phone is ringing,¡± spoke Qiao Jian as he pointed to Yan Rusheng¡¯s pockets. Chapter 927. Someone Had Lost a Leg to Save Him Yan Rusheng finally realized that his phone was ringing. He immediately answered the call when he saw Xuxu¡¯s name on the screen. ¡°Hello.¡± It was noisy over at his side, so he couldn¡¯t properly hear Xuxu. He turned to leave the site. ¡°I should be home in an hour.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still at the site.¡± ¡°Rest early then.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up with a gentle smile. He turned around to walk back. A fearful yell rang out suddenly. ¡°President Yan be careful!¡± Before he knew, someone dashed towards him and shielded him with his hands. Both of them fell on the floor. And they collapsed heavily on the ground. Yan Rusheng heard a deafening sound of something heavy hitting the ground. For a moment, it felt like an earthquake. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± The man on top of him screamed in pain and agony. He widened his eyes in shock and turned to look at him. A huge heavy block of an iron panel was next to them. He stared at him in shock, unable to believe his eyes. The iron panel was crushing the leg of the man above him. ¡°President!¡± Qiao Jian darted towards him and he tried to move the iron panel away. He anxiously scanned him to check for injuries. The iron panel was heavy and it took Qiao Jian much effort to shift it away. The man was still trembling and twitching in agony. Yan Rusheng shouted to Qiao Jian. ¡°Get him to the hospital now!¡± The rest of the staff ran towards them after getting over the shock. ¡°Old Bai! Old Bai!¡± Everyone began to help him up. The car was right outside the site, and Qiao Jian led the way in a hurry. When Yan Rusheng fell to the floor, he had grazed both his hands. Without minding his injuries, he rushed after Qiao Jian and the rest. Xin Yanting went pale with shock as she stood on the spot. At that moment, she knew she shouldn¡¯t be so dumb to rush after Yan Rusheng. Qiao Jian drove while Yan Rusheng sat in the front passenger seat. Two more workers accompanied the injured worker. They immediately brought the man into an operating theater for emergency surgery. The surgeon came out soon, and both Yan Rusheng and Qiao Jian stood up in a haste. ¡°How is he?¡± The surgeon gravely shook his head. ¡°The heavy object must have fallen vertically. It had his leg completely shattered. We need to amputate.¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t believe his ears as he stared at the surgeon. ¡°Can the leg be fixed?¡± The surgeon shook his head. ¡°It had completely crushed his bone. There is no hope at all.¡± Yan Rusheng stood there digesting this horrible truth as his hands, which hung by his sides, trembled. He slowly closed his eyes and his eyelashes were trembling, too. ¡°Then, just amputate.¡± Someone had lost a leg to save him! The surgeon nodded and glanced at the rest. ¡°Is his family here? I need the family¡¯s consent.¡± The two workers quipped, ¡°He has a daughter.¡± ¡°Call his daughter now.¡± The surgeon carried on, ¡°He needs the anesthesia, if not the pain would be too excruciating for the patient.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sign it.¡± Yan Rusheng mumbled before repeating once more. ¡°I¡¯ll sign it.¡± The surgeon consented as he was Yan Rusheng. He didn¡¯t insist on waiting for his family. What kind of consequences would Yan Rusheng not be able to bear? After signing, the surgeon went back to the operating theater. ¡°The patient¡¯s phone is ringing,¡± announced a nurse as she walked out from the operating theater. Chapter 928. Your Father Was Injured Because Of Me Yan Rusheng rushed to the nurse and grabbed the phone. His daughter was calling. Guilt struck him in a flash and the two workers crowded around him. ¡°It¡¯s Old Bai¡¯s daughter calling.¡± ¡°President Yan, let me answer the call.¡± One worker spoke up as he looked at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng nodded and passed the phone to him. The worker promptly answered, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m a colleague of your father. He has met with an accident during work, and he is now at the hospital.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic first.¡± Yan Rusheng used his palms to wipe his face before he turned around to walk to the windows at the end of the corridor. He stood at the windows, feeling extremely guilt-stricken as he gazed into the distance. ¡°Dad! Where is my dad?¡± Once the elevator door opened, a little girl bolted for the operating theater. She stared at the three men and didn¡¯t know who to ask. ¡°Your father is in the operating theater.¡± The girl slumped against the operating theater¡¯s doors and wailed. ¡°Dad! Dad!¡± Qiao Jian hurried to help her. ¡°The surgeon is operating on your father. Calm down first.¡± The girl turned around. She held on to Qiao Jan¡¯s hand. ¡°Will my dad die?¡± the girl asked with an anxious voice. Qiao Jian tightly gripped the girl¡¯s shoulders to console her. ¡°No, he won¡¯t. He injured his leg.¡± The girl heaved a sigh of relief at Qiao Jian¡¯s words, but she seemed to realize that it wasn¡¯t a minor leg injury. Her eyes glistened as she asked once more. ¡°How did my father hurt his leg? Is it serious?¡± Qiao Jian gazed at the tiny girl and couldn¡¯t bear to break the news to her, but someone had to tell her the truth. He answered, ¡°He needs to amputate his leg.¡± His voice trembled, and he already expected that the girl wouldn¡¯t be able to accept the crushing truth. He held on to her to support her. The girl shook her head furiously. ¡°Dad¡­ Dad¡­¡± She fell against the door once more and began to sob. Yan Rusheng observed the situation from afar. He walked towards the direction of the little girl who was still crouching outside the operating theater¡¯s doors. She had curled her body, and she seemed even tinier than Yueyue. She should be around the same age as Yueyue, too. ¡°President Yan.¡± Qiao Jian glanced at Yan Rusheng and pointed to the girl. ¡°This is Old Bai¡¯s daughter,¡± said Qiao Jian. Yan Rusheng nodded and took a step once more before squatting down. He stretched his hand to pat the girl¡¯s back. He didn¡¯t know how to console a person and was at a loss at what to say. He had overheard the two workers saying that Old Bai only has a daughter. In other words, this girl might not have another parent to rely on. At such a tender age, she only had her father as her family. He could never fully understand how important her father was to the little girl. Her father met such an unfortunate accident, and she must have felt that her world came crashing down. The girl raised her head, tears had glazed her face. The next second, both she and Yan Rusheng looked equally shocked. ¡°Bai Jing?¡± After recognizing the girl, it startled Yan Rusheng. Bai Jing was equally startled. She hastily wiped her tears away. She stared at Yan Rusheng and stammered, ¡°You¡­ you are Su Yue¡¯s brother?¡± ¡®Old Bai¡­ Bai Jing.¡¯ Yan Rusheng thought to himself and pressed his lips together. ¡°Yes,¡± he grunted. He bent and grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s arms to pull her to her feet. He explained with all honesty, ¡°Your father was injured because of me.¡± It dumbfounded Bai Jing that her words seemed choked. ¡°I¡¯m begging you¡­ can you please tell the surgeon to put his leg back?¡± Chapter 929. I’ll Be Responsible for Everything Bai Jing¡¯s slender hands tightly clung onto Yan Rusheng¡¯s, and subconsciously, she dug her fingernails into his flesh. Yan Rusheng quietly sighed, for he was at a loss for words. How should he break the news that they could not stitch back her father¡¯s leg? ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± Bai Jing cried. She knelt down in desperation when Yan Rusheng fell silent. Yan Rusheng scrambled to pull her up and led her to a chair. He squatted in front of her and solemnly said, ¡°Bai Jing, listen to me. Your father¡¯s leg is beyond saving.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s face turned starkly white and hot tears trickled down her face in an instant. Yan Rusheng rose and glanced at Qiao Jian with a meaningful look. Qiao Jian understood his message, and he strode to Bai Jing. He took out his handkerchief from his pockets and wiped her tears away. He consoled her with a gentle voice. ¡°From now on, we will take care of your father. How old are you?¡± She should still be in school just by how she looked. Yan Rusheng gazed at Bai Jing as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll be responsible for everything from now on.¡± This wasn¡¯t merely a promise, but it was a responsibility. He needed to assume this responsibility. Bai Jing didn¡¯t look at Yan Rusheng, nor did she look at Qiao Jian. She repeatedly mumbled as she sobbed, ¡°My father¡¯s leg is gone.¡± After several hours, they wheeled Bai Lisong out of the operating theater. He was still unconscious. Bai Jing rushed to him and tightly gripped his hand. She loudly sobbed, ¡°Dad¡­ Dad¡­¡± As she stood there, she was blocking the nurses. ¡°Please excuse us.¡± Qiao Jian darted forward to pull Bai Jing away. Yan Rusheng watched Bai Jing and a pang of guilt struck him once more. His phone began to ring and he glanced at the screen. It was Xuxu. He picked up and curtly spoke. ¡°Sleep first and don¡¯t call me.¡± He instantly ended the call. And followed closely behind Qiao Jian and the rest. Xuxu¡¯s heart sank when Yan Rusheng cut the call. His tone, which sounded cold, distant, and even impatient, had upset her. ¡®Did something happen?¡¯ Xuxu recalled how gentle he had sounded when she called earlier on. He promised to be home after an hour, but it had been so long. He must have met something troubling. She rationally analyzed the possibility, and she no longer felt upset with him. Instead, worry replaced him. She wanted to ask him what happened, but she was afraid of disturbing him at the same time. Hence, she decided to wait. At the hospital¡­ Bai Jing finally calmed down after Qiao Jian consoling her repeatedly. She sat next to Bai Lisong as she watched her unconscious father with sorrow in her eyes. Yan Rusheng stood by her with his hands deep in his pockets. ¡°President, you should head back first. I¡¯ll stay here,¡± whispered Qiao Jian, who had entered the ward after settling the paperwork. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he glanced at Bai Jing before inhaling deeply. ¡°I¡¯ll get the nurse to prepare an extra bed for you,¡± said Yan Rusheng. Bai Jing raised her head to peer at him. This was the second time she looked at him. It was as if she was admiring a tall tree or a snow lotus atop a mountain. After a moment, she nodded. Yan Rusheng turned around to Qiao Jian and he promptly answered, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ve already arranged for a caregiver. President, please go back first as it¡¯s late. Madam would be worried.¡± Chapter 930. Ill Be Home Right Away Yan Rusheng nodded to indicate his assent. After gazing at Bai Jing once more, he turned around to leave. Bai Jing spun her head around to glance at Yan Rusheng one last time before he left. Yan Rusheng took out his phone and saw a text from Xuxu. ¡®Ah Sheng, did something happen?¡¯ He recalled the phone call earlier on and how impatient he must have sounded. He felt so thankful when he read the text. ¡®I¡¯ll be home right away.¡¯ He replied Xuxu. And he proceeded to hasten his footsteps. ¡­ Xuxu finally received Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply and she heaved a sigh of relief. She put down her phone and instinctively rest her hands on her round belly and gently caressed it. She stretched her hand to reach for a book which she had been reading recently. She began reading as she wanted to wait for Yan Rusheng to return home. Yan Rusheng entered through the main door and all the servants had gone back to their rooms to rest. Only Mu Li was awake in the living room. Every night, she would stay up to wait for Yan Rusheng. Her face lit up when she saw Yan Rusheng. ¡°Why did you come home so late tonight?¡± ¡°An accident happened at the site.¡± Yan Rusheng answered Mu Li as he walked. Mu Li asked anxiously, ¡°What happened? Have you solved it?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°A worker injured his leg and was sent to the hospital.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want Mu Li to worry and hence he skipped the part of how Bai Lisong had saved him. Mu Li nodded and continued, ¡°Then you must instruct them to take good care of him.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and walked past the couch without stopping. He proceeded to the staircase and went up. Mu Li watched her son fondly and felt sorry for him too. He looked completely drained. As his mother, how could she not be worried when her son barely had time to sit down for a proper meal everyday? Yan Rusheng pushed the door gently as he wasn¡¯t sure if Xuxu was asleep. He glanced at the bed and saw the tiny woman resting against the bed. She was still holding a book and had dozed off. Yan Rusheng felt sorry and gently closed the door after him. Then he treaded carefully towards the bed. He bent to take a closer look at his wife¡¯s face. Her face was visibly rounder due to the tonics she has been taking. Her complexion was rosier too and Yan Rusheng smiled affectionately at her. He gave her a swift kiss on her cheek. He took away her book and placed it on top of the drawers. He lifted the blanket gingerly and carried her up. He wanted to lay her down properly on the bed and adjust her sleeping position. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes landed on Xuxu¡¯s protruding tummy and his eyes softened once more. He gazed at her quietly for a while before covering her with the blanket. Seeing how sound asleep Xuxu was, Yan Rusheng felt so thankful and sorry at the same time. Wen Xuxu was never unreasonable and was such a sensible woman. At the same time, she was always so accommodating and understanding towards him. ¡­ Xuxu woke up in the middle of the night to find Yan Rusheng in deep sleep next to her. He looked exhausted and Xuxu was afraid of waking him up. After a long while, she left the bed to go to the bathroom. For fear of waking Yan Rusheng up, she went back to her room to sleep after she came out of the bathroom. Yan Rusheng had left the house when she woke up the next morning. Mu Li and Yan Weihong were in the dining room and he was nowhere in sight. Xuxu was a little disappointed as she sat down next to Mu Li. ¡°Missy, Miss Zhou is here.¡± Xuxu was drinking her milk when Aunt Zhang came in to announce Zhou Shuang¡¯s arrival. Chapter 931. How Many Times Did He Do It? Xuxu recalled that she had to accompany Zhou Shuang to the hospital. She told Aunt Zhang, ¡°Let her wait in the living room. I¡¯ll be out in a minute.¡± Aunt Zhang left with a nod of her head. Seeing how Xuxu was eating her breakfast at a faster pace than usual, Mu Li asked, ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re not going to work today?¡± Xuxu nodded, saying, ¡°I have something on in the morning. I¡¯m accompanying Zhou Shuang to the hospital.¡± Mu Li asked with worried laced on her tone of voice. ¡°Is Zhou Shuang sick? Is it serious?¡± Xuxu smiled and shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s not feeling too well. I¡¯m accompanying her to get a checkup.¡± She finished the milk in one gulp, took a piece of bread, and she stood up. ¡°Father, Mother, I¡¯ll make a move,¡± she greeted Mu Li and Yan Weihong. ¡°Be careful,¡± Mu Li replied. ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu left the dining room and saw Zhou Shuang sitting on the sofa, looking like her spirit had left her. She wanted to laugh. This masculine girl, who could easily fall asleep at a police station, was finally afraid of something. ¡°Xuxu,¡± Zhou Shuang greeted. She stood up and walked towards her. At that point in time, Xuxu was her only pillar of support, the only person she could confide in. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Xuxu said. Finishing up the last of her bread, she held onto Zhou Shuang¡¯s elbow. By the look on Zhou Shuang¡¯s face, Xuxu didn¡¯t dare to let her drive. So she made Zhou Shuang park her car in their courtyard, and Xuxu drove her own. The City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital was very crowded early in the morning. Everyone did their checkups in the morning. After taking a queue number, they sat and waited near the entrance. Zhou Shuang nervously grabbed Xuxu¡¯s arm, her palms sweating profusely. ¡°Number 23, Zhou Shuang!¡± The nurse read out Zhou Shuang¡¯s name loud and clear. Zhou Shuang seemed to instinctively raise her hand and shouted, ¡°Here!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± The entire room was shocked by her sudden exclamation. Including Xuxu. She raised her head to look at Zhou Shuang, thinking, ¡® Seems like this girl is really nervous, even her words are incoherent.¡¯ Zhou Shuang flushed with shame. She lowered her head and retracted her neck before following the direction the nurse was pointing. She walked towards the consultation room. Xuxu got up and followed behind her. She patted Zhou Shuang¡¯s back to comfort her. She consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, everything will be fine. What¡¯s the worst thing that could happen? Huh?¡± Zhou Shuang pursed her lips. She thought, ¡® I know there¡¯s nothing to make a big fuss out of. At worst I¡¯m only pregnant. Aren¡¯t there many advertisements on television and lampposts advertising about painless abortion? ¡® She was merely hopping on the bandwagon, so there was nothing much about it. After entering the consultation room, Zhou Shuang sat in front of the middle-aged female doctor. She asked a few questions before giving her an appointment slip for type B ultrasound. She had to queue for the ultrasound. To Zhou Shuang, it was torture. Xuxu phoned the matron to pull some strings. The matron was Mu Li¡¯s classmate. Of course, she agreed to Xuxu¡¯s request. The matron had her own consultation room, and it was well-equipped. Zhou Shuang laid down on the bed, and the matron herself helped her do the B ultrasound. Zhou Shuang was so nervous that she held on tightly to her clothes. She shivered as they dripped coupling agent onto her belly. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, we¡¯re only doing a B ultrasound,¡± the matron comforted as she carried out the ultrasound. Her gaze reverted to the screen, shock suddenly filled her expression. ¡°Oh my god! It¡¯s been two or three years since I saw someone with triplets!¡± Zhou Shuang jumped. ¡°What?¡± ¡®Triplets?¡¯ Even Xuxu started to lose her cool. She rushed in front of the screen. ¡°Does she really have triplets?¡± she asked in agitation. The matron nodded, explaining, ¡°The ultrasound shows three sacs, it can¡¯t be wrong.¡± ¡°F*ck,¡± Zhou Shuang cursed. ¡°How many times did Sissy Lu do it that night? Why are there so many?¡± Chapter 932. You Have a Mean Tongue ¡®Three at one go?¡¯ Unconsciously, she imagined the cries of three rascals ringing in her ears. Terror filled her. It dumbfounded Xuxu. The matron was at a loss of what to say. ¡°It is very rare to have triplets,¡± the matron added, smiling at Zhou Shuang as she put down the equipment. Zhou Shuang¡¯s thoughts were in a mess. She stretched out her hands in front of her, saying, ¡°I need some time alone.¡± Then she placed her hands on her belly. Three rascals. If she were to undergo painless abortion, she would be killing three people at once. After a long period of time, Xuxu tried to talk to her. ¡°Shuang, you should consider carefully. Triplets are so hard to come by.¡± She thought it was a pity to abort one child, what more with three children? Zhou Shuang lifted her head to look at Xuxu, feeling conflicted. ¡°But I don¡¯t have the ability to provide for three children.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips, speechless. ¡®What the heck? Was this something she should worry about?¡¯ ¡®Without Lu Yinan¡¯s support, the Zhou family couldn¡¯t provide for three children?¡¯ ¡®If one were to randomly retrieve something from her handbag, that alone would be enough to provide for one child.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s head back first,¡± Xuxu said after a while. Zhou Shuang nodded her head. ¡°Mmm.¡± On the ride back, Zhou Shuang stared at Xuxu¡¯s belly. She thought, ¡®Her stomach is already so big from having twins.¡¯ How much bigger would her belly be from having triplets? Worriedly, she asked, ¡°With three kids, when I¡¯m seven or eight months pregnant, do you think I¡¯ll require someone to follow behind me to carry my belly?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at her. ¡°Can you be more serious? Don¡¯t be so ridiculous, hanging out with you will lower my IQ.¡± Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°You¡¯re starting to become like Yan Rusheng. You have a mean tongue.¡± She turned away and refused to look at Xuxu. Xuxu laughed and asked, ¡°Do you feel like drinking some sour plum juice now?¡± Zhou Shuang was about to nod her head when Xuux¡¯s phone suddenly rang. She took out her phone to reveal that Su Yue was calling. She hurriedly picked it up and put on her bluetooth earphones. ¡°Yueyue,¡± she greeted. ¡°What?!¡± Xuxu¡¯s face turned to shock. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Seeing the look on her face, Zhou Shuang became anxious too. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? That was so sudden, as though a fire broke out.¡± Xuxu explained, ¡°The father of Yueyue¡¯s classmate broke his leg and is now in the hospital.¡± Zhou Shuang furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Which classmate? Why are you so anxious?¡± ¡°Her classmate who attended Yueyue¡¯s coming of age ceremony. She¡¯s her only friend,¡± Xuxu explained as she looked for a way to make a U-turn. The City People¡¯s Hospital. Xuxu drove to the entrance of the hospital and parked in a lot by the roadside. She walked into the hospital with Zhou Shuang. Su Yue already told her the floor and ward number. Xuxu and Zhou Shuang promptly made their way there. ¡°Xuxu?¡± Once Xuxu exited the lift, a familiar voice called from opposite her. She looked over to find a tall figure slowly walking towards her. ¡°Ah Sheng, what are you doing here?¡± she asked, confused. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darkened. Instead of answering her, he said, ¡°You must be here to visit the father of Yueyue¡¯s classmate.¡± Xuxu was rather startled and she questioned him, ¡°You knew?¡± Logically speaking, Su Yue wouldn¡¯t have called Yan Rusheng when she found out that Bai Jing¡¯s father had ended up in an accident. Yan Rusheng read her mind. He explained, ¡°Her father is one of the construction workers for our Chengnan project. He got into an accident at work last night.¡± Xuxu¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You mean, Bai Jing¡¯s father got injured at Flourish & Prosper¡¯s construction site?¡± Chapter 933. Emotionally Unstable Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°And it happened because he tried to save me.¡± Yan Rusheng briefly explained the whole situation to Xuxu. He didn¡¯t tell Xuxu that he almost lost his life because he picked up her call, and it was Bai Lisong who saved him. He didn¡¯t want her to blame herself. Xuxu¡¯s heart thumped fast after hearing his recount. She looked at Yan Rusheng, the tall man standing in front of her. She didn¡¯t dare to imagine the moment he just described. If that panel dropped on him instead, what was she to do? She continued, ¡°You must be more careful the next time you visit the construction site.¡± ¡®No wonder he returned home so late last night. No wonder he was so impatient when I called him that one time.¡¯ ¡®What was he feeling in that moment?¡¯ ¡®Someone lost a leg to save him!¡¯ ¡°I know,¡± Yan Rusheng agreed with a small smile on his face. Xuxu lowered her head and said, ¡°Come on, I¡¯m going in.¡± The door of the ward was open. From afar, she could already hear a man groaning in pain. Xuxu¡¯s heart clenched tight. How painful would it be after the amputation? ¡°Daddy, Daddy¡­¡± a girl¡¯s cries of heartache followed after. It was Bai Jing¡¯s voice. Xuxu quickened her pace and walked towards the door of the ward. Immediately, she saw a man lying down on the bed. He twisted his body in agony while a thin girl held him down. Seeing this, Yan Rusheng quickly walked over. He was worried. He walked behind Bai Jing and asked her, ¡°Did you ask the doctor how to relieve this form of pain?¡± He bent down, and was very close to Bai Jing. His low manly voice was intoxicating, as though she was sipping on vintage wine. Bai Jing turned her head to face Yan Rusheng¡¯s handsome face. Her eyes welled up with tears and her eyelashes were moist. The sight made one¡¯s heart ache. She shook her head slightly. Yan Rusheng watched her, guilt building up inside of him. In a gentle voice, he comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll ask the doctor.¡± His voice held a magic power that gave her positive energy. Bai Jing held back her tears, as though she had found a powerful pillar of support, and nodded her head. ¡°Mmm.¡± Her gaze was filled with complete trust. Yan Rusheng turned around and left. Xuxu walked to Bai Jing¡¯s side and looked at the man lying on the bed. Most of his hair had turned white, and his skin was dark¡ªprobably due to long-term exposure to the elements while working at the construction site. Overall, he looked aged. But in actual fact he was only in his fifties. He convulsed painfully on the bed, one hand gripping onto the blanket and the other holding Bai Jing¡¯s hand tightly. Xuxu could tell that Bai Jing was holding in her pain. How could her slim and slender wrist withstand his grip? ¡°Uncle, quickly let go of Bai Jing¡¯s wrist,¡± Xuxu said, walking to the head of the bed. She tried to comfort Bai Lisong. She took a few pieces of tissue paper and helped him wipe the sweat on his face. ¡°You¡¯re going to break her wrist with the way you¡¯re gripping it.¡± She couldn¡¯t imagine how painful it must have been to lose a leg overnight. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Bai Lisong released Bai Jing¡¯s wrist after Xuxu reminded him. He looked at Xuxu, his eyes watery, and she didn¡¯t know if they were filled with tears or sweat. Her eyes reddened. ¡°The doctor will find a way to relieve the pain.¡± ¡®If it weren¡¯t for him, the one who would be lying on the bed would have been Ah Sheng, or even¡­¡¯ She was already scared as she thought about it. The doctor arrived with painkillers and injected it into Bai Lisong. ¡°For the next two days, the patient will be very emotionally unstable and find it difficult to accept reality. We¡¯ll give him painkillers for physical pain, but we can¡¯t keep injecting him with this because it¡¯ll impede his recovery.¡± Chapter 934. Where’s That Hooligan? The doctor explained to Yan Rusheng after he had injected the patient with the painkillers. Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Noted.¡± After they had administered the painkillers, Bai Lisong calmed down a little. From the immense pain he experienced earlier, it probably tired him out, for he fell asleep not long after. Bai Jing also seemed to be a deadbeat. After her father calmed down, she sat by his bedside. She looked as if someone had lifted a huge burden off her shoulders. Xuxu stood beside her and gently patted her shoulders. She was at a loss for words¡ªwhether she should thank or comfort the latter. Thank her father for saving Yan Rusheng. But such words won¡¯t alter reality. In fact, it would make her sadder. After staying for a while, Yan Rusheng and Xuxu left. They had planned to consult the attending doctor for Bai Lisong¡¯s follow up treatment. Su Yue followed them out. ¡°Third Brother. Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng halted in their steps and turned to look at her. They could see a sense of sadness written all over her small face. She asked, ¡°Bai Jing¡¯s father, is it impossible to save his leg?¡± Xuxu looked downcast and remained silent. It was enough to answer Su Yue¡¯s question. Su Yue was crestfallen, and she lowered her head. ¡°But Bai Jing only has her dad,¡± faltered Su Yue. Xuxu¡¯s heart clenched when she heard it. She stepped in front of Su Yue and patted her head, smiling as she said, ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll take care of Bai Jing and her dad.¡± ¡®But Bai Jing only has her dad.¡¯ For this 18-year-old girl, who had just finished her college entrance examinations, her father was her world. After the accident, her world came crashing down. ¡®How big an impact did this have on her?¡¯ They could never comprehend. After hearing Xuxu¡¯s words, Su Yue looked up. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Xuxu confirmed. She nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line. Xuxu stared at Su Yue¡¯s small and intricate face. This girl had disfigured Fang Jiayin with boiling soup, gone to school with a knife, and she stabbed people until she stained their whole bodies with blood. She was even more cruel to herself and not a single time she batted an eyelid. Others called her a freak, a psycho and said she was aloof. But she wasn¡¯t snobbish nor a hypocrite. She was passionate and kind. However, it was only to those she liked. Xuxu rubbed Su Yue¡¯s head, her smile full of love and adoration. ¡°It¡¯s your holidays now. You can spend more time here with Bai Jing. But you¡¯re not allowed to run around in the hospital. I¡¯ll come to fetch you at night. If not me, then your brother will.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue answered, nodding. Then she rubbed her red eyes. ¡­ After talking to the doctor and understanding Bai Lisong¡¯s situation, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng knew that there was nothing they could do to prevent him from undergoing immense pain, at least for a period time. Xuxu helplessly sighed after exiting the doctor¡¯s office. ¡°He¡¯ll get over the physical pain one day, but the pain of losing a leg¡ª¡± She stopped when she saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. She grabbed his hand and held it. She continued, ¡°Later on when the condition of Bai Jing¡¯s father has stabilized, I¡¯ll have a talk to Bai Jing and ask her which university she wants to go to.¡± From now on, all of Bai Lisong¡¯s burdens were theirs to carry. Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡± Mmm.¡± He was also thinking about it. They had to nurture this girl. The atmosphere was tensed. Xuxu took a deep breath and changed the topic altogether. She asked Yan Rusheng, ¡°Are you going to the office?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± He nodded. He then recalled something. ¡°Where¡¯s that hooligan? Didn¡¯t she come here with you?¡± Chapter 935. It Feels Amazing ¡°She went to the washroom,¡± Xuxu answered as she looked around, not knowing where the washroom was. ¡°Come to think of it. Why is she taking so long?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned in confusion. ¡°Why were you with her early in the morning?¡± It wasn¡¯t even 9 a.m. Even if they had arranged to meet, it wouldn¡¯t have been so early. Xuxu casually replied, ¡°I accompanied her to the City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital.¡± ¡®Accompany that hooligan to the City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital?¡¯ Yan Rusheng suspected something. ¡°What for?¡± Xuxu realized that she was divulging too much information, and she saw how Yan Rusheng¡¯s face morphed into a face full of inquiry. She frowned. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why are you so nosy?¡± She had been too quick to answer him. She shouldn¡¯t have told him they had gone to the City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital. This man was more sensitive than a dog; he could easily put two and two together. Give Zhou Shuang some time to think about it. It was better to leave Lu Yinan in the dark for the time being. Lu Yinan¡¯s gentleness was merely a facade¡ªif he were to find out about her pregnancy, his reaction would be bigger than hers for sure. Both of them needed to have a debate about children. Xuxu averted her gaze. Yan Rusheng noted Xuxu¡¯s reaction. Calm and collected, he looked at her belly and asked, ¡°Did you get a checkup while you were there?¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°They¡¯re so active in here. Why would I need a checkup?¡± After saying that, she placed her hands on her belly, rubbing it gently. Even now, she could feel them moving from time to time. ¡°Really?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes widened, and he placed his hands on her belly too. ¡°They can move?¡± The whole idea was new to him, and he thought it was very interesting. He looked forward to feeling the little ones in Xuxu¡¯s belly to interact with him. Xuxu laughed. ¡°fbDon¡¯t be stupid. They do.¡± She watched Yan Rusheng¡¯s side-view; her smile filled with love and affection. They were now near the lift entrance. Standing there, they attracted the attention of many. Xuxu moved her hands in an attempt to push Yan Rusheng away. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly shifted his hands on her belly, and the corner of his lips lifted upwards. Excitement filled his eyes. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re really moving.¡± From what he had felt, they really were hyper. It was the first time he felt the real presence of the little ones. That feeling was amazing. When she saw that Yan Rusheng was excited about the kids, a blissful smile formed on Xuxu¡¯s face. She said, ¡°Matron Huang said that when they¡¯re older, my stomach would frequently bulge out because of their little kicks.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Disbelief filled Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression. At that point in time, Xuxu¡¯s stomach seemed so flat and her waist seemed too thin to withstand a grasp. But that thought that there were two active lives inside of her, it was amazing. Even though Xuxu seemed to smile blissfully whenever she mentioned the children, he knew the process took a toll on Xuxu. They were engrossed in their conversation when Zhou Shuang returned from the washroom. She saw them and hollered from afar, ¡°Can both of you maintain your image when in public? Sweet-talking in the hospital? What next?¡± Hearing her words, Yan Rusheng lifted his head and looked over. He didn¡¯t bother concealing his distaste towards her when he replied, ¡°As expected, she annoys people the moment she speaks.¡± He scrutinized Zhou Shuang and suspicion flashed in his eyes. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t look too well. She seemed to have lost a lot of weight in the past month. Chapter 936. What Do You Want to Talk About to Make You Feel Better? ¡®I went with her to the City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital.¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s words echoed in Yan Rusheng¡¯s ears once more, and he became more suspicious. Zhou Shuang walked over to Yan Rusheng and waved her fist at him. She glared. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you asking for a beating?¡± It left Xuxu speechless¡ªthese two were like arch-enemies. Every time they meet, they were bound to bicker. She has had enough. She cut across to prevent them from exchanging words. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s go. You should head back to the office.¡± She shoved Yan Rusheng forward. The trio strode towards the crowded elevator. Yan Rusheng was afraid people would bump over to Xuxu, so he used his body to shield her as she stood at the corner. During mornings, the hospital was usually very crowded. When the elevator stopped at another level, more people rushed in. Xuxu got worried for Zhou Shuang. ¡°Shuang, be careful. Come here.¡± Her concern further cemented Yan Rusheng¡¯s hunch that he was right. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t that Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President?¡± ¡°Wow, he is as good-looking as the photos.¡± Someone recognized Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous face and exclaimed. The smitten young little girls ignored Xuxu, who Yan Rusheng was shielding, and continued to gasp dramatically. ¡°Why does the President need to squeeze with us in the elevator?¡± Suddenly, a middle-aged woman stuck her face towards Yan Rusheng. She surveyed him closely as though he was some fascinating object. Yan Rusheng instinctively withdrew his head and frowned. ¡°Should I jump off the building if I don¡¯t use the elevator?¡± It had all of them speechless. Xuxu bent her head, shaking uncontrollably and Zhou Shuang followed suit. That woman received a rude shock from Yan Rusheng¡¯s glare and retreated. She dismissed in a conclusion, ¡°Quite handsome indeed, but his shortcoming is his rudeness. He doesn¡¯t respect the elderly, too. Barely passable.¡± This woman sounded like she was evaluating a product. Zhou Shuang loudly chortled when they came out of the elevator. ¡°Yan Rusheng, did you hear that? That woman said you barely passed the mark for you¡¯re a stuck up and overbearing fellow.¡± Yan Rusheng stuffed his hands deep into the pockets of his pants and threw Zhou Shuang a dirty look. Ignoring her remarks, he strode away. Xuxu waved to bid him goodbye. ¡°Ah Sheng, be safe on the road.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and added, ¡°Don¡¯t go to work today and rest well at home.¡± Xuxu nodded with an ¡®Mm¡¯. Zhou Shuang watched them and helplessly shook her head. ¡°You¡¯ve known each other for over 20 years. And you¡¯re married to him for almost a year, the novelty should wear off soon, right? Why are you still acting so lovey-dovey and mushy as though both of you are still in your teens in a budding relationship?¡± Xuxu proudly raised her chin and bragged. ¡°Yes, we are still dating and head over heels in love with each other. This will go on every day for this lifetime.¡± But she wasn¡¯t thick-skinned enough, so she blushed afterward. ¡°Hey, hey, hey.¡± Zhou Shuang stretched her hand and jabbed at Xuxu¡¯s dimples. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡± Xuxu frowned and flung her hand away with disdain. Her eyes darted to her belly and she quipped. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. You should worry about the three little buns inside of you right now.¡± Zhou Shuang was still in the mood to tease her despite her troubles. Zhou Shuang became crestfallen at the mention of her babies. ¡°Can we talk about something happy?¡± She pouted and turned glum. Xuxu hastily nodded. ¡°Alright, what do you want to talk about to make you feel better?¡± They walked towards the car. Chapter 937. Three Burdens! ¡°Xuxu, I suddenly thought of something. I drank alcohol afterward. So I can¡¯t have these three babies, right?¡± Zhou Shuang stroked her belly and turned around to Xuxu. She looked worried. ¡°I have no idea as well.¡± Xuxu shook her head as she glanced at Zhou Shuang. She warned, ¡°From now on, no more drinking or smoking until you¡¯ve decided on how you want to settle them.¡± Even if she doesn¡¯t want them, she still needed to treat them with care as long as they were inside her belly. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Xuxu raised her head and lamented to herself helplessly. Unless they had difficulties, nobody should abort their child. She wondered how a mother would feel lying on the operating table. What would be on her mind? When she laid on the operating table, she felt excruciating pain and agony. ¡°Of course I know this,¡± Zhou Shuang impatiently answered. ¡°Can you tell me how I am so unlucky to be in such a situation?¡± Xuxu tightly pressed her lips and kept mum. ¡®How could this be necessarily a bad thing?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t entirely a bad thing. However. maybe, in the future, would she feel different? Zhou Shuang forbade Xuxu to ever mention about the babies, and yet she ruefully sighed repeatedly in the car. She had no idea what to do, and this somehow troubled and confused her. Xuxu could understand how Zhou Shuang was feeling right now. She was such a carefree and free-spirited woman. She had an accidental one-night stand with a man and ended up on terms of not seeing him ever again. But how ironic it was that she got pregnant with his child! How could she not feel depressed? Xuxu suggested, ¡°Maybe you should have a talk with my mother. She is smart and experienced, and perhaps she will have a solution for you. What do you think?¡± Xuxu¡¯s suggestion tempted Zhou Shuang. Perhaps it was a good idea to seek another person¡¯s opinion other than just Xuxu. But she still had some reservations. ¡°Do you think it will work?¡± Xuxu understood her concerns and nodded to reassure her. ¡°Yes, it¡¯ll be fine. She wouldn¡¯t blabber.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Zhou Shuang agreed readily. ¡°Let¡¯s seek Professor Mu for some advice.¡± ¡­ Zhou Shuang and Xuxu retold the entire story to Mu Li, and the latter fell silent for a long while. She pressed her palm to her forehead and heaved a sigh. ¡°Your situation is a little sensitive.¡± She mumbled under her breath. ¡°You have three at one go. Why do we only have two?¡± Even though she spoke with a soft tone, Xuxu and Zhou Shuang still heard her. Both of them frowned and threw her long, calculating look as they remained speechless with her remark. Was this her main point? The most important thing right now was to find a solution for Zhou Shuang! She had lamented the fact that her daughter-in-law was pregnant with only twins. How could she?! ¡°Aunt Mu, what should I do? I can¡¯t tell my parents. But I¡¯m carrying triplets. I can¡¯t bear to abort them.¡± Zhou Shuang grabbed Mu Li¡¯s arms anxiously. Mu Li frowned. ¡°That goes without saying. If I were you, there is no way I could abort them too.¡± Did she think anyone could carry triplets? If only Xuxu was carrying triplets, she might die of happiness. This lass was still grumbling and complaining. Heavens have disappointed them with their imprudent planning. ¡°So you are saying that I should give birth to them?¡± Zhou Shuang pursed her lips as her face sank. ¡°But I¡¯m not married yet and these three burdens will be with me. Who will want to marry me in the future? Or am I destined to live alone with these three fellows for the rest of my life?¡± Chapter 938. How Embarrassing! This was a real problem. One baby would already be a burden, and she was carrying three. Who would want her? She would have to slog her life away for the three children for the rest of her life. After some serious contemplation, it seemed prudent not to give birth to them. Mu Li was aware of what was on Zhou Shuang¡¯s mind and she calmly interjected. ¡°Calm down first and try to consider it first. Don¡¯t just think of them as a burden. Imagine the happiness they will bring you.¡± She brought up examples to highlight her point. ¡°Look at how good-looking Yinan is, his genes are fantastic. So your children will be good-looking too. If you have a daughter, she will look so pretty and fair. Dress her up and bring her around and people will lavish praises on her no matter where she goes.¡± Zhou Shuang visualized as Mu Li expounded, but the scenes she pictured wasn¡¯t as lovely as she¡¯d imagine. She wrinkled her nose and frowned. She cut across Mu Li. ¡°What if she wants to pee or poop at the roadside? Didn¡¯t you read about the news that a lady was clearing the poop by the roadside for her child and people criticized her so badly? How embarrassing that would be if I were in her shoes?¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. Mu Li was speechless. She dismissed her with an impatient wave of a hand. ¡°You are too pessimistic right now and there is no way I can change your mind. You should calm down first.¡± Xuxu also agreed that Zhou Shuang was in low spirits, and she was at a loss for words too. Zhou Shuang was the type of person who wouldn¡¯t mind if her apartment view had no beautiful scenery. Instead, the first thing she would consider was her quick escape route from the building in case of an earthquake. Mu Li gestured at Xuxu and said, ¡°You two stay here. I¡¯ll go check on your father to see if he has taken his medicine.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu nodded and turned on the TV. ¡­ ¡°Honghong. Honghong¡ª¡± Mu Li¡¯s voice was slightly trembling as she pushed the door open. Second Master Yan¡¯s expression darkened when he heard how his wife was calling him. He remained silent. The older this woman got, the mushier she became. She used to address him as ¡®Hong¡¯, and it had already made him feel embarrassed. Now she had improvised and addressed him as ¡®Honghong¡¯. Mu Li beamed at him. ¡°Let me tell you shocking news!¡± Yan Weihong set aside his book and glanced at Mu Li with a stoic face. ¡°Speak.¡± Mu Li sat at the edge of the bed and gazed at Yan Weihong. ¡°Make a guess!¡± Yan Weihong was speechless. She excitedly rushed to him announcing that she had a piece of shocking news, but now she had made him guess with no hints! How would he know what was happening? Mu Li knew that Yan Weihong was completely at sea, and she chuckled. ¡°Xuxu¡¯s friend Zhou Shuang. You know her right?¡± Yan Weihong nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± That young lady was spunky and energetic, and she acts like a boy. It was easy to remember her. Mu Li continued excitedly. ¡°She is pregnant!¡± ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± Yan Weihong couldn¡¯t comprehend why Mu Li was so excited. ¡°In our society these days, why would being pregnant be any surprise?¡± If not, why would so many hospitals be advertising about pregnancy-related services? Mu Li flashed a mysterious smile. ¡°Can you guess whose child she is carrying?¡± Seeing how excited and emotional she was, Yan Weihong couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. He asked apprehensively, ¡°Third Yan¡¯s?¡± He grabbed his blanket and was about to march off to look for Yan Rusheng. Mu Li¡¯s face fell. ¡°Is your son that kind of person?¡± Yan Weihong began to breathe easily once more, although his face fell. He raised his voice. ¡°Why can¡¯t you finish the entire story? If not, forget about it.¡± Chapter 939. Lu Yinan, You’re Going to Be a Father She was grinding his patience. Mu Li continued, ¡°She is carrying the Lu family¡¯s children. Yinan¡¯s children!¡± ¡°Oh, Lu Yinan.¡± Yan Weihong was visibly startled before he broke into a smile. ¡°That¡¯s great. When I met Old Master Lu before, he was still grumbling about how his grandson is still single. He is getting worried.¡± Mu Lin nodded in agreement. ¡°I agree it¡¯s good news, too. And she is carrying triplets.¡± Yan Weihong widened his eyes in shock. ¡°Triplets?¡± Mu Li furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°I wonder what tonics the Lu family has been eating every day to allow Lu Yinan to have three babies at one go?¡± Second Master Yan was silently envious of this blessing. ¡°Let me call the Lu family to inform Old Master Lu. He would definitely jump out for joy.¡± Mu Li picked up her phone and dialed a number. It confused Yan Weihong. ¡°Wait, shouldn¡¯t they be aware by now?¡± Mu Li placed the phone to her ear as she glanced at Yan Weihong. ¡°That lass is discussing with Xuxu about aborting the babies.¡± ¡°No, that should never happen. It¡¯s triplets!¡± Yan Weihong chimed in haste. ¡°Call the Lu family now!¡± To wealthy and prominent families like theirs, the more children they have, the happier they would be. And now they are expecting triplets, there was absolutely no reason not to have them. This thinking has to do with their age, too. They were in their sixties and were all looking forward to seeing their grandchildren. ¡°Madam Lu?¡± Someone answered, and Mu Li smiled. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Mu Li.¡± Wen Xuxu, didn¡¯t you promise that Madam Mu Li wouldn¡¯t blabber?! ¡­ Somewhere else, Yan Rusheng dialed Lu Yinan¡¯s number, too. ¡°Wow, did the sun rose from the west today? Why would Third Young Master call me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m calling to congratulate you on becoming a father.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Lu Yinan spat out the water in his mouth and it splashed across his computer screen. He coughed and choked and began to wipe the screen. ¡°Third Yan, it¡¯s not April Fool¡¯s Day. Why are you joking with me?¡± He would be a father? He doesn¡¯t even have a girlfriend! Young Master Yan¡¯s sarcastic tone floated across the other line. ¡°Do I look like someone who would joke around with a person like you?¡± What did he mean by a person like him? It annoyed Lu Yinan but wasn¡¯t in the mood to argue with him. The main issue was that he would be a father? He found it ridiculous and joked, ¡°I have touched no woman recently. Or do you want your son to address me as Dad?¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Yan Rusheng bellowed at him. A moment later, he began to rejoice with Lu Yinan¡¯s misfortune. ¡°You might not have touched a woman, but you touched a female hooligan.¡± ¡°Third Yan.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s heart plunged. Fear flooded his face. ¡°You¡­ Don¡¯t scare me. If you continue with this joke, this is the end of our friendship.¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already said that there¡¯s no reason for me to joke with someone like you.¡± Lu Yinan was so nervous that his heart seemed to have stopped beating momentarily. He swallowed his saliva and steeled himself. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat do you mean?¡± No, this was impossible. How could he be expecting a child with that tomboy? ¡®This must be a joke. A huge joke.¡¯ Yan Rusheng snorted. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve understood since I¡¯ve made myself clear.¡± He promptly hung up. ¡°Hello, hello! Third Yan¡­¡± The call has already ended, but Lu Yinan was still shouting at the phone. He placed his phone down and removed his spectacles. He settled himself back into his comfortable swivel chair. Chapter 940. There is No Way I Would Want the Children There was only one word to describe his expression: dumbstruck! ¡®Oh no! Oh no!¡¯ He grabbed the sides of his head in frustration. Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t the only woman he had slept with before, but this was the first time something of the like that had happened! ¡®That female hooligan must have planned this on purpose!¡¯ Lu Yinan furiously gnashed his teeth and grabbed his phone. Seething with anger, he searched for Zhou Shuang¡¯s number and was about to press it. Suddenly, he received an incoming call. It was from his house and his hand couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Old Master Lu¡¯s imposing voice sounded, ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± Lu Yinan felt a strange pang of guilt. ¡°Grandfather? W¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Bring the girl home tonight to let me have a look. And contact her parents. Find a date for the two families to meet.¡± Old Master Lu had given a command and there was no room for discussion. Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. His phone slipped out from his grip. His wonderful and perfect world had turned gloomy and gray overnight. What should he do?! Old Master Lu didn¡¯t press on and ignored the sound of the phone falling. He hung up without a word. He was the authoritative figure at home and his words were like a royal decree. No one ever dared to rebuke him. An hour passed by, and cigarette butts filled the ashtray. But Lu Yinan had thrown away the cigarettes merely after a few puffs. Young Master Lu had frowned his eyebrows for the whole duration. He finished a pack of cigarettes and picked up his phone. He stood up in a huff and left his office. ¡°Doctor Lu.¡± ¡°Doctor Lu.¡± Lu Yinan was the young master of the hospital. Seeing him was like seeing their boss, and hence everyone was very courteous towards him. Lu Yinan got into the car and slammed the door shut. He took out his phone to dial Zhou Shuang¡¯s number. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t answer after it rang for a long time. The call finally reached the mailbox. Out of frustration, he flung his phone away on the front passenger seat. His phone had fallen to the floor earlier on, and this second impact had resulted in a cracked screen. He impatiently unbuttoned his shirt and tugged at his collar, revealing his chest. He had turned on the air-conditioning and he had substantially lowered the temperature. Still, he felt bothered, hot and frustrated. He had no idea how to vent his anger. He put his hands on the steering wheel and he fell silent for a long time, looking eerily cold. He picked up his phone and texted Zhou Shuang. ¡®Zhou Shuang, you better pick up my call, stop pretending anymore. There is no way I would want the child.¡¯ She as an adult. She should know how to take contraceptives after engaging in sex. This wasn¡¯t her first time, and he didn¡¯t want to believe that she didn¡¯t know how to prevent herself from getting pregnant. After sending the text, he stowed his phone away and ignited the car¡¯s engine. ¡°President Yan, Young Master Lu is here.¡± Qiao Jian caught a glimpse of Lu Yinan walking out from the elevator. He stood up and walked to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. He had barely finished his announcement when Lu Yinan appeared behind him. Without a word, he swept past Qiao Jian and entered Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Qiao Jian carefully shut the door. Lu Yinan walked to Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk and sat down across him. His expression was ugly as he stared intently at Yan Rusheng. ¡°How did you know?¡± Yan Rusheng knew what Lu Yinan was referring to, and he answered, ¡°Xuxu is her confidante.¡± Sounding natural. Lu Yinan gnashed his teeth in response. ¡°That damned woman! I didn¡¯t know that she was so scheming!¡± She had deliberately gotten herself pregnant with his baby and now the entire world knew. What did she have up her sleeve? Was she planning to marry into the Lu family? Or she wanted to seek revenge? Chapter 941. Doesn’t Enjoy Poking Her Head in Random Affairs If this was the case, then Zhou Shuang must be crazy. She must be completely out of her mind. Yan Rusheng certainly knew what Lu Yinan was thinking of. He calmly analyzed it, and he said, ¡°Lu Yinan, I would suggest that you shouldn¡¯t be too rash about this matter. Zhou Shuang¡¯s personality might be unlikeable, but she isn¡¯t someone so scheming. Don¡¯t ruin everything because of a moment of rashness.¡± Lu Yinan sneered coldly. ¡°If a woman was pregnant with your child, would you be able to sit here calmly?¡± He tugged at his collar and breathed deeply. He put his hands on his waist. Yan Rusheng placed his pen down and settled comfortably against his chair. He replied, ¡°My woman is carrying my children and I cherish her like a precious gem. I want to put her in my mouth like how I would protect a treasure, but I fear that she might melt. I¡¯m also afraid that I would freeze her if I hold her in my hand.¡± The corners of his mouth morphed into a smirk, and he looked smug. ¡°Hmph!¡± Lu Yinan snorted. ¡°That¡¯s only because that woman is Wen Xuxu.¡± If it was some other woman, given his character, he might have sent the woman to the operating table by now. ¡°You and me¡­ how can we be compared?¡± Yan Rusheng surveyed Lu Yinan with disdain. ¡°I¡¯m a loyal husband, and I¡¯ve only slept with Wen Xuxu before. How can you compare yourself to me?¡± He proudly raised his chin. Lu Yinan almost spat out blood at his remarks, and he had a sudden urge to hurl the ashtray at him. He corrected, ¡°The women I sleep with must undergo an inspection first before taking a shower to disinfect. I¡¯m a clean man.¡± Yan Rusheng waved his hands to dismiss his claims. ¡°In reality, you slept with plenty of women.¡± It has nothing to do with being clean. He doesn¡¯t want to argue with him anymore and pressed on. ¡°So what you mind is not the children but their mother.¡± Lu Yinan frowned, stumped for words. Because he was right, he doesn¡¯t mind having children. In a family like his, he would love to have as many as he could. But the prerequisite is that he needed to be a willing party, and he needed to plan ahead. He doesn¡¯t want to become a father overnight as though he was being schemed. The woman who would bear his children in the future could be someone he doesn¡¯t have any feelings with, but he could never tolerate someone whom he hated. He hated that female hooligan so much that he would make a detour if ever they would cross paths. How could he possibly want her to have his children? Yan Rusheng saw that Lu Yinan had clammed up and he paused for a moment. ¡°Actually that night, you weren¡¯t even sure yourself. Both of you weren¡¯t sure, but the fact remains you¡¯ve entered her room. This isn¡¯t entirely her fault, too. These accidents are so common. As long as you handle it appropriately, it isn¡¯t a big deal.¡± ¡°Third Yan, did Wen Xuxu brainwash you?¡± Lu Yinan turned stony-faced as he warily sized him up. ¡°Did she ask you to convey all these?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°You think too much. My Xuxu doesn¡¯t enjoy poking her head in any random affairs.¡± He concluded with a smug look on his face. Lu Yinan cast him a long, dirty look. ¡°It really isn¡¯t easy for a man to be like you.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned and replied, ¡°If you can be like me, it means that you have succeeded.¡± Lu Yinan had nothing left to say. Indeed, Yan Rusheng was a winner in life. His career was progressing well, and he had a happy marriage with Wen Xuxu. And their children are on the way. Most importantly, it¡¯s the latter. That¡¯s what everyone wanted in life. He admitted that he wanted that, too. But why hadn¡¯t he found someone to marry? Was it because he hadn¡¯t met the right one? Chapter 942. Many Things to Do! Why didn¡¯t Ming Ansheng marry his fianc¨¦e after being engaged for so long? The reason was he didn¡¯t love Tang Feiling. After a while, he spoke again. ¡°Carry on with your work. I¡¯ll get going.¡± He turned around and strode out of the room. Yan Rusheng quietly watched as Lu Yinan left the room. ¡°Eh, isn¡¯t this Brother Lu?¡± Lu Yinan bumped into Xin Yanting outside the office. She was holding a green folder while she was on her way to look for Yan Rusheng. Pleasantly surprised, she warmly called out to him. Lu Yinan grunted moodily in response and continued to walk in big strides. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± shouted Xin Yanting after she noticed that something was amiss. Lu Yinan ignored her and carried on walking out of the President¡¯s office. ¡°What happened?¡± Xin Yanting muttered under her breath as she watched Lu Yinan disappear from her sight. She turned around and knocked on Yan Rusheng¡¯s door. ¡°General Manager Xin, are you looking for President?¡± Qiao Jian hurried towards her with a smile. On Xin Yanting¡¯s first day of work, Qiao Jian had stopped her from using the office next door. Hence, until now, Xin Yanting was still hostile towards him. She would always wear a frown when she saw him. ¡°Yes. Is there a need to report to you?¡± Xin Yanting replied haughtily and raised her chin. Qiao Jian smiled and replied, ¡°General Manager Xin, you¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯ll inform President.¡± He turned around and began to knock on Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep voice sounded. ¡°Enter.¡± Qiao Jian pushed the door. ¡°President¡­¡± Xin Yanting interrupted him by swinging the door open. She rushed in. ¡°General Manager Xin.¡± Qiao Jian scuttled after her for fear of incurring Yan Rusheng¡¯s wrath. The President had instructed him that no one was to enter his office without his permission. He followed behind Xin Yanting and Yan Rusheng threw him a swift glance. Qiao Jian stopped in his tracks and turned to leave. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± After Qiao Jian left, Xin Yanting stormed towards Yan Rusheng and bent to peer at him. Yan Rusheng pushed his chair back to extend the distance between them. He furrowed his eyebrows, barely concealing his dislike for her. ¡°General Manager Xin, what happened?¡± Xin Yanting overlooked the way he retreated from her. Even if he retreated, all she had to do was take a step forward. Xin Yanting walked forward once more and stared at him, looking indignant. ¡°Why do I have to use so much effort to enter your office every time?¡± ¡°Knocking on the door is a basic courtesy,¡± Yan Rusheng lightly replied and carried on to stop Xin Yanting from talking. ¡°However, it¡¯s my right to decide if I want to see you even if you wish to see me.¡± ¡°You!¡± Xin Yanting angrily pointed at Yan Rusheng and was about to throw a fit. Her mind was racing and her eyes flickered to and fro as an idea struck her. She changed her attitude and began to whine sweetly. ¡°Can¡¯t you be more gentle with me?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched and he coldly responded, ¡°General Manager Xin, I¡¯ve just eaten.¡± He might puke at this rate. Xin Yanting continued to pout. ¡°But I haven¡¯t eaten. I wanted to have a meal with you.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. There was no way he could communicate with this shameless and thick-skinned. He snarled, ¡°General Manager Xin, can you please leave if there is nothing else? I have many things to do.¡± Chapter 943. Bothering Him Every Day He knew that Xin Yanting wouldn¡¯t leave so easily and so he shouted, ¡°Qiao Jian!¡± The moment Yan Rusheng shouted for Qiao Jian, Xin Yanting knew what was coming. She spoke shrilly once more, and then she glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Don¡¯t you want my 30% shares?¡± Yan Rusheng tightly clenched his fists at the mention of the shares. His expression darkened. ¡°General Manager Xin, I think I should call President Jiang. I need a replacement as I can¡¯t function at work with you bothering me every day.¡± He rose and rounded his desk with his phone in his hand. Xin Yanting was anxious. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll leave now. Don¡¯t call my mom.¡± She bolted for the door after she had turned around. Yan Rusheng placed his phone down after Xin Yanting vanished from sight. A streak of cold gleam flashed across his eyes. ¡®Don¡¯t you want my 30% shares.¡¯ ¡­ The corridors of the hospital were silent that night. Xuxu reached Bai Lisong¡¯s ward and gently pushed the door. Su Yue and Bai Jing were sitting on the couch as they shared a phone. They were watching a video while Bai Lisong laid fast asleep. She carefully trod towards them and Su Yue raised her head. She beamed at Xuxu and whispered, ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu put a finger on her mouth to hush her as she cast a look at Bai Lisong. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes looked swollen. It seemed like she had been crying the entire day. Xuxu¡¯s heart sank a little as she walked over. She placed the food on the table and whispered to Bai Jing, ¡°I brought dinner for you. Eat something first.¡± Bai Jing rejected her offer. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡± She lowered her head and her fingers fidgeted. ¡°Third sister-in-law, she hasn¡¯t eaten anything the entire day.¡± Su Yue pouted. She felt sorry for Bai Jing. Xuxu sat down beside Bai Jing and gently gripped her shoulders. ¡°You need to eat, if not how would you take care of your father?¡± advised Xuxu. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Bai Jing softly sobbed. ¡°Dad lost his appetite because of the pain.¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes began to glisten, and she firmly said, ¡°He will recover eventually. You should eat or else your father will get worried.¡± She stretched her hand to open the food containers. She brought it to Bai Jing. Bai Jing stole a glance at the white rice, and her tears fell into it. Su Yue hastily pulled some tissues to wipe them away. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. My third sister-in-law is right. If you won¡¯t eat, your dad will be sad.¡± Su Yue and Xuxu continued to console Bai Jing, and they managed to persuade her when she finally nodded. The girl held the food container. Xuxu passed her a pair of chopsticks. Bai Jing ate the rice without touching the rest of the dishes. No matter how Su Yue offered. Xuxu understood how hard it was to eat when a person has no appetite, so she didn¡¯t force Bai Jing to eat a lot. It was okay as long as she still ate and doesn¡¯t harm her own health. Seeing her father in such a state, she was filled with an overwhelming sadness. Hence, they shouldn¡¯t rush her. Bai Jing placed the container down after a few mouthfuls and glanced at Bai Lisong. She softly heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing her father sound asleep. She peered at her own hands with a frown, looking low-spirited. Chapter 944. What Did You Say to Her?! ¡°Third sister-in-law, Third Brother is here.¡± Su Yue caught a glimpse of Yan Rusheng as his tall form appeared at the door. She informed Wen Xuxu first instead of directly addressing Yan Rusheng. Xuxu raised her head. Her face lit up with a bright smile. ¡°Ah Sheng, you¡¯re here.¡± Bai Jing raised her head as well as Yan Rusheng strode towards them. Her raven-black eyes were glistening. Yan Rusheng stood and surveyed the food containers. He knew that Bai Jing barely touched her food judging from the leftovers. He glanced at Bai Jing. ¡°If you get hungry in the middle of the night, you can call and ask for food delivery.¡± His eyes didn¡¯t linger on Bai Jing and darted to Xuxu. ¡°When did you arrive?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°A short while ago.¡± She rose and rounded the table. When she reached Yan Rusheng, both of them glanced at Bai Lisong at the same time. He was still asleep, but he had knitted his eyebrows together. It must have been hard to get over the pain even while he was fast asleep. Yan Rusheng left after a short while. Xuxu grabbed her bag and held Su Yue¡¯s hand. Su Yue followed her out of the door before halting. She whispered, ¡°Third sister-in-law, can I stay with Bai Jing?¡± Bai Jing was trailing behind them and interjected before Xuxu could answer. She said, ¡°Su Yue, go home first. I don¡¯t need you to accompany me. I¡¯m fine.¡± Xuxu nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes. Yueyue, why don¡¯t you come back tomorrow?¡± They had hired a male caregiver to take care of Bai Lisong during the night. With a girl around, it wouldn¡¯t be so convenient. Su Yue obediently nodded. ¡°Alright then.¡± She glanced at Bai Jing once more. ¡°I¡¯ll head here tomorrow with Brother Qi Lei.¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips in a straight line, and it seemed like she had no objection. Xuxu tightened her grip on Su Yue¡¯s hand after she had seen that Yan Rusheng already reached the corner. She had guessed that he came over as soon as he had gotten off from work without having dinner. She said to Su Yue, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue waved at Bai Jing. Bai Jing stood at the door and watched them walk to Yan Rusheng. Su Yue said something to Yan Rusheng, and all the while he had a tender smile on his face. It was a smile that could melt ice¡ªit was so warm and gentle. ¡­ They were about to walk out of the elevator when Yan Rusheng¡¯s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and picked up the call when he saw that it was Lu Yinan. ¡°Hello.¡± He suddenly paused in his tracks and glanced at Xuxu. It puzzled Xuxu when Yan Rusheng passed her the phone. ¡°Lu Yinan is looking for you.¡± ¡®Why is Lu Yinan looking for me?¡¯ Xuxu thought to herself. Xuxu received the phone and answered. Lu Yinan sounded impatient and irritated over the phone. ¡°Did Zhou Shuang look for you? Do you know where is she now?¡± ¡®So he was calling to look for Zhou Shuang!¡¯ ¡®But why is this fellow frantically looking for Zhou Shuang?¡¯ ¡°I was with her in the afternoon. After lunch, she went back home,¡± Xuxu answered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°I know. I met her this afternoon.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t look for me since then.¡± A thought struck Xuxu and she began to get anxious. ¡°What did you say to her?¡± They had already informed the Lu family of Zhou Shuang¡¯s pregnancy. It must be the reason Lu Yinan was looking for her. Chapter 945. Lu Family’s Punishment! Both of them were like enemies, and they would definitely quarrel the moment they meet. It frustrated Lu Yinan. He impatiently replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± Xuxu opened her mouth but before she could get her words out¡ªthe call had ended. She furrowed her eyebrows, looking worried. The day was getting dark, where could Zhou Shuang be? She passed the phone back to Yan Rusheng and took out hers. She tried calling Zhou Shuang, but she had shut down her phone. ¡°They must have quarreled this afternoon.¡± Xuxu was worried stiff. ¡°Lu Yinan must have said something to aggravate her.¡± She knew Zhou Shuang very well. Lu Yinan must have provoked and agitated her. That was why she had turned off her phone and left without a word. But it wasn¡¯t something usually she would do. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s go to the car first.¡± He held her hand and pulled her closer to him. Su Yue followed like a little tail behind them. Yan Rusheng ignited the car engine while Xuxu carried on calling Zhou Shuang. She tried sending her texts but there wasn¡¯t any reply. She dialed Lu Yinan¡¯s number. ¡°Hello.¡± When Lu Yinan answered, Xuxu impatiently asked, ¡°Lu Yinan, what did you say to Zhou Shuang this afternoon?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m very frustrated now,¡± Lu Yinan answered. He sounded irritated. ¡°If anything were to happen to Zhou Shuang¡ª¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t get to finish her sentence when Lu Yinan abruptly hung up. She was livid. ¡°What kind of man is he? No sense of responsibility at all!¡± She rarely lost her temper, and she rarely criticized someone so harshly. Yan Rusheng knew that she was really worried for Zhou Shuang. He deliberated for a moment before dialing Lu Yinan¡¯s number. ¡°Third Yan, did Wen Xuxu ask you to call me?¡± Lu Yinan sounded as irritated as before. ¡°I¡¯m really in no mood to talk. Stop bothering me.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan, where are you now?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. ¡°Home,¡± curtly replied Lu Yinan. Yan Rusheng hung up, changed direction, and drove to Lu Yinan¡¯s house. The Lu family stayed a short distance from the Jiang family in the same area. The Lu mansion was luxurious, grand and brightly lit. But the atmosphere was strangely quiet and subdued. The butler saw Yan Rusheng and immediately opened the courtyard gates. He courteously greeted them, ¡°Third Young Master, Third Madam Yan.¡± Xuxu politely nodded at the butler and closely followed behind Yan Rusheng. Su Yue remained in the car. ¡°Get lost! If you can¡¯t find her, then don¡¯t come back!¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had just reached the entrance when they heard Old Master Lu¡¯s deafening roar. It seemed to shake the entire mansion. Xuxu badly trembled that she instinctively stopped dead in her tracks. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand to hold her tightly. He smiled. ¡°Grandfather Lu might be happy to see you.¡± Xuxu pressed her lips and followed Yan Rusheng inside. There wasn¡¯t a servant in sight. Old Master Lu stood in the center of the living room with a walking stick and was bellowing at Lu Yinan, who had his head bowed. The walking stick wasn¡¯t to aid the old man. Instead, it was for the old master to carry out the Lu family¡¯s punishment. Only Yan Rusheng knew that. When Yan Rusheng saw the walking stick in the old man¡¯s hand, his eyes narrowed warily. He understood how livid Old Master Lu must have been. Lu Yinan¡¯s parents, including his aunts and uncles, stood silently around them. Apparently, no one dared to stop Old Master Lu. If anyone dared to, they would definitely be implicated. ¡°I¡¯m asking you to look for her!¡± The old man raised his walking stick once more and hit Lu Yinan¡¯s arm with force. Chapter 946. He Can’t Do Anything to You Lu Yinan¡¯s mother was watching anxiously from the side, crying as her husband held on to her. Witnessing such a scene, Xuxu hurried forward in shock. ¡°Grandfather Lu.¡± Everyone turned to look at Xuxu when they heard her voice, including Old Master Lu. ¡°Xuxu. Third Yan. Why are both of you here?¡± He asked as he put down his walking stick. A surprised look was evident on his face. Xuxu smiled. ¡°We came over to look for Lu Yinan. Zhou Shuang is looking for him.¡± The entire Lu family heaved a huge sigh of relief. Xuxu was literally Lu Yinan¡¯s savior. If she didn¡¯t appear, Old Master Lu might have already beaten him to death or perhaps peeled a layer of his skin off. ¡°You found her?¡± Old Master Lu¡¯s eyes were sparkling. He continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t this chap say she was missing?¡± The older generation placed paramount emphasis on their future descendants. He never met up with Zhou Shuang before, but he still sounded concerned about the woman¡¯s well-being and her whereabouts. He would naturally feel that way for she was expecting Lu Yinan¡¯s children. Xuxu hesitated briefly before lying. ¡°Yeah, we just found her. Don¡¯t be so worried.¡± ¡°Lass, tell me all about it. What happened exactly?¡± Old Master Lu grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand and led her to the sofa. He then glanced at the remaining family members and continued, ¡°All of you listen well. Listen to the trouble that this foolish chap had caused.¡± ¡°Errr¡­¡± Xuxu became awkward as the corners of her mouth twitched. ¡°Yinan, come with me. I¡¯ll put medicine for you.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother dabbed at her eyes and closed in on him. ¡°Nobody can leave!¡± Old Master Lu bellowed with a fierce glare. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother dropped his hand as if she had just touched a hot iron. ¡°Speak,¡± Old Master Lu commanded Xuxu. Xuxu peered at Lu Yinan, at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say? Yan Rusheng pressed his lips, trying his best not to laugh. Old Master Lu saw Xuxu, who remained quiet, glanced at Lu Yinan. He said, ¡°Just speak your mind, you don¡¯t have to spare a thought for him. Neither do you need to fear him. With Third Yan around, he can¡¯t do anything to you.¡± Yan Rusheng secretly approved of the old man¡¯s words. He was absolutely right! With him, with Yan Rusheng around, no one could do anything to Wen Xuxu. ¡°It happened during my sister Su Yue¡¯s birthday party. Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang had a drink too much. So¡­ in the end¡­¡± ¡°I heard that this chap kept bullying the girl?¡± ¡°Er¡­¡± Xuxu raised her head to glance at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows, feeling indignant. She really had no inkling on how to answer his question. And if she were to nod, Lu Yinan would have to endure another beating. She glanced over to the left and saw how Lu Yinan¡¯s mother had cast her a pleading look. She understood that his mother was feeling sorry for her son. So she let Lu Yinan escape the punishment for tonight. Besides, she needed to know what had happened between him and Zhou Shuang earlier that afternoon. She turned towards to face Old Master Lu. ¡°They merely bickered whenever they meet. There wasn¡¯t any real bullying involved. They were just fooling around.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother breathed easy once more. Old Master Lu retracted his murderous gaze from Lu Yinan and tugged at Xuxu¡¯s arm once more. ¡°Xuxu, tell me more about that girl¡¯s family.¡± Since the old man was asking about her background and family, he must have intended for Zhou Shuang to marry into their family. She overlooked Zhou Shuang¡¯s willingness to get married since the question wasn¡¯t anything private. Xuxu honestly answered, ¡°Her mother is a diplomat, and her father has his own business. Both of her parents are in Country M.¡± Chapter 947. Lu Yinan, You’ve Gone Too Far! ¡°Oh, a diplomat.¡± Old Master Lu nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Her family background is pretty good, so I expect that they had brought their children up well!¡± Lu Yinan snorted upon hearing this remark. ¡°Mm, not too bad, good at spewing profanities.¡± Old Master Lu looked up and yelled at him, ¡°Shut up!¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She deliberated before smiling at Old Master Lu and explained, ¡°Grandfather Lu, it¡¯s better for the two to talk over it. No point getting all worked up here. If they can¡¯t come to an agreement, then nothing will work out. Why don¡¯t you let Lu Yinan meet up with Zhou Shuang first? Let them sit down and talk it over calmly, okay?¡± Her words made sense and Old Master Lu nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, then let the girl know that as long as she¡¯s willing, she¡¯ll marry into the Lu family in an impressive wedding.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. They were already at the era in which one could freely choose to marry, okay? No more arranged marriages, alright?! ¡°Xuxu, please let the lady know that she has nothing to fear because Lu Yinan has no say in this,¡± said Old Master Lu with a pat on her shoulder. He then walked Xuxu to the door. He looked pleasant, a far cry from his earlier imposing demeanor. Xuxu gave a silly smile. ¡°Okay, okay, I got it.¡± Just how desperate was this Old Master yearning for grandchildren of his own? ¡°Now, the eldest already had children, the second one will get married soon, and Third Yan is next. Next time, when Third Yan has children¡ª¡± Grandmother used to be like this too. Xuxu¡¯s expression fell at the thought of Wang Daqin. She spun around and ran after Yan Rusheng and Lu Yinan. When they got into the car, the old master was still standing at the door, looking at them with anticipation. Suddenly, Xuxu thought of playing as a matchmaker to bring Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang together¡ªin an attempt to complete the old man¡¯s wish of having great grandchildren. She had thought of it mainly because when grandmother left without a word it had left her with many regrets. However, this thought merely flashed across her mind. She inwardly laughed. Marriage was not as simple as getting a matchmaker to bring two people together. What was more important were the feelings of both parties¡ªwhether both of them could get along or not. Yan Rusheng started the car engine. Lu Yinan sat at the front passenger seat while Xuxu and Su Yue sat behind. When the car drove to an intersection, Xuxu looked at Lu Yinan and asked, ¡°Lu Yinan, what did you say to Zhou Shuang when you saw her this afternoon? What have you done to upset her that she had to turn off her cellphone?¡± Lu Yinan answered in an annoyed tone. ¡°What has this got to do with me?¡± Xuxu saw Lu Yinan¡¯s attitude and her voice turned cold. ¡°For your information, she had no intention to keep the baby.¡± If it wasn¡¯t because the ultrasound revealed that she was expecting triplets, she would have signed the papers that day for a procedure. Lu Yinan sneered. ¡°Ha, if she had no intention to keep the baby, then why did she make this matter known to everyone?¡± ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯ve gone too far.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell. She snapped, ¡°Do you really think Zhou Shuang was plotting to marry into the Lu family? Although her family is less well-to-do than yours, she still has enough to spend even if she doesn¡¯t work for the rest of her life. Would she need to scheme against you? You think you¡¯re so good-looking?¡± Lu Yinan felt crossed when he heard those words. He flew into a rage out of humiliation and turned back to glare at Wen Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Before Yan Rusheng had the chance to speak, Xuxu coldly snorted. ¡°What I said was true. Even if you don¡¯t want the baby, you shouldn¡¯t have spoken to her so harshly. You¡¯re a man, don¡¯t you think you should bear the responsibility as well?¡± Chapter 948. I Saw Sister Hooligan! Lu Yinan fell silent. Xuxu¡¯s anger also gradually diminished and had recomposed herself. ¡°She¡¯s a woman, after all. Have you spared a thought for her feelings when this all happened?¡± She paused for a moment before she continued. ¡°The truth is, you have nothing to lose. Anyone could afford that small amount of procedure fee, and you could shrink back from your responsibilities without a second thought. But the amount of pain she has to go through and the immense damage done to her body would be something you could never comprehend. It¡¯s best you lower down your pride and calmly talk it over with her. You won¡¯t stand to lose anything.¡± Lu Yinan continued to remain silent. Yan Rusheng took a peek at Lu Yinan, who appeared to be examining his own conscience, and he laughed. He turned back to look at Xuxu. ¡°Wife, your ¡®Chicken Soup for the Soul¡¯ is so marvelous.¡± Xuxu threw him a fierce glare. ¡°Shut up.¡± They couldn¡¯t find Zhou Shuang anywhere and no one knew where she was. Yet he was still in the mood to joke with her. She added, ¡°Knowing Zhou Shuang, if you really said something nasty to her, she would most likely visit the hospital herself for an abortion.¡± When such words were said, not only Lu Yinan but Yan Rusheng also started to feel anxious. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Let¡¯s check out the hospitals.¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°There¡¯re so many hospitals in the Capital City. Which one do we start with?¡± ¡°She had already gone missing for the entire afternoon, could she have already¡­¡± Lu Yinan opened his eyes wide in fear. He didn¡¯t have the courage to think further. Xuxu snorted as she thought, ¡®He finally knows what fear and worry are!¡¯ Xuxu looked at Lu Yinan and uttered, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t because she was pregnant with triplets, she would have gone ahead with the procedure when we were at the hospital earlier this morning. Did you really think she wanted you to find out?¡± After a brief pause to observe Lu Yinan¡¯s expression, she continued, ¡°I think it was my mother who informed your family about this matter. She thought that maybe if Zhou Shuang terminated her pregnancy, it would be a pity since she¡¯s carrying triplets.¡± It shocked Lu Yinan. ¡°Aunt Mu Li was the one who told them?¡± ¡®How could he have assumed that Zhou Shuang was the one who told his family members? What was wrong with these men? Why were they all so opinionated?¡¯ They thought they were all in high demand that everyone couldn¡¯t wait to flock to them? Xuxu knitted her eyebrows and sounded annoyed. ¡°Yes, Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t decide for she was scared and worried. Thus, I suggested that she spoke to my mother for advice. I didn¡¯t expect that she would spill the beans to your family.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and added, ¡°Mm, this is indeed Mu Li¡¯s style.¡± He paused as a thought flashed past his mind. He then offered a gloomily look at Lu Yinan. ¡°But how did you manage to make triplets?¡± It was clear from his tone he was feeling indignant. He was already proud of his achievements of having twins he felt valiant and spirited amongst his circle of friends. But his smugness didn¡¯t live long when this chap overtook his achievements with three triplets. It dumbfounded Xuxu. Indeed, like mother like son! Lu Yinan was feeling a little pleased in his heart. ¡°Ha, I can easily make a national soccer team.¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡®Crap! Hanging around these young masters can really ruin one¡¯s moral values.¡¯ The most important thing now is to look for Zhou Shuang, and to hunt her down, okay? ¡°Third sister-in-law, I think I saw sister hooligan.¡± Su Yue, who was clutching her cellphone and had kept silent throughout, suddenly exclaimed. Hearing this, everyone got excited and Xuxu leaned closer to Su Yue. ¡°Where¡¯s she?¡± Lu Yinan also eagerly turned back. Su Yue pointed to the screen on her phone and said, ¡°Police station.¡± She removed her earphones after that and showed her phone to everyone. Chapter 949. I’m Really Not Selling My Kidneys! ¡®At around 4 in the afternoon, XX Police Station raided an unlicensed gynecology clinic. The clinic was also suspected of being involved in the black market organ trade. The police had arrested a few suspects spotted on the scene, as well as some who had just signed a contract to sell their organs¡­¡¯ When Xuxu saw the news footage, she spotted a familiar figure from the screen. She immediately recognized the person to be Zhou Shuang even when the picture was pixilated. The corners of her mouth involuntarily twitched. ¡®Tch. Is this fellow born on an inauspicious day?¡¯ How could she go to an illegal hospital for an abortion and end up being arrested? Her organs should still be intact since she was still walking around with ease. At least¡­ she could set her mind at ease. Yan Rusheng was laughing so hard that his sides almost split. He found it hard to drive. Xuxu knitted her eye and instructed, ¡°Go to XX police station.¡± Yan Rusheng uttered ¡®oh¡¯ in between laughs. On the other hand, Lu Yinan¡¯s good-looking face turned as dark as the bottom of a saucepan. ¡°She¡¯s not only average looking with a bad temper but outright dumb as well.¡± Did he also find it hilarious and wanted to laugh? ¡®Zhou Shuang, have you got a pig¡¯s brain? There are so many hospitals in the Capital City. Why did you have to go to an underground hospital? You¡¯re really¡ª¡± ¡®But thank goodness!¡¯ ¡®Huh?¡¯ His own thoughts startled Lu Yinan. With a frown, he asked himself, ¡®Why thank goodness?¡¯ ¡­ At XX Police Station. Zhou Shuang was trying her best to explain to the police officer why she was at the underground hospital. ¡°I was really there for another type of operation and went in by mistake.¡± No one encountered such issues during an abortion, yet her attempted procedure led her to the police station. What rotten luck! ¡°Is Zhou Shuang your name?¡± asked a police officer. He pointed to a signature at the bottom of a document. Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± The police officer then pointed to the content of the document and explained, ¡°This is the contract to the selling of kidneys. Have a good look.¡± It dumbfounded Zhou Shuang. She didn¡¯t look at the content of the document when she signed it. She felt lousy then and only wanted for them to do the procedure as quick as possible so she wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with the jerk Lu Yinan afterward. She explained further, ¡°My dear police officer, I have two latest iPhone in my bag.¡± She unzipped her bag and searched for the said phone as she spoke. ¡°There are many more at home and I can give it to you as a gift if you want. So why would I need to sell my kidneys?¡± ¡®Eh? Where¡¯re my phones?¡¯ Zhou Shuang rummaged through her bag but she could not find her phones. She turned back and looked at the doctor in a white robe who was kneeling on the floor. Something came into her mind, so she grabbed hold of the police officer¡¯s arm. She said, ¡°They must have stolen my phones while I was in the hospital.¡± The police officer shoved her hand off. ¡°Don¡¯t quibble further. I¡¯m trying to protect you so you better come to your senses.¡± Zhou Shuang was feeling helpless. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m really not selling my kidneys. I am rich and not in lack.¡± She searched for her purse but¡­ she couldn¡¯t find it, too. ¡®Oh my god!¡¯ What sins had she committed in her past life? To be so down in luck in this life. Xuxu stood at the door and witnessed Zhou Shuang giving all she could to explain to the police officer. She laughed until her stomach hurt. Lu Yinan¡¯s face turned black. He looked at Zhou Shuang with disdain. Were there anymore dumb and idiotic women in the world? How could she not realize that they stole her purse and phones? What other items were in her bag? How could she not sense it? If their three babies were born, he wondered if they would inherit the dumb woman¡¯s low IQ. Zhou Shuang supported her forehead with her palm to calm herself down before she continued to explain to the police officer. ¡°There¡¯s really no need for me to sell my kidneys. Lend me your cellphone so I could make a call to my friend. You¡¯ll be in for a shock.¡± Chapter 950. As a Woman, Can You Be More Cultured?! ¡°Little girl, stop boasting. Call your family members to bail you instead.¡± The police officer added, ¡°Don¡¯t be so foolish next time. You¡¯re still so young, it¡¯s not that difficult to get a job and support yourself. Your parents gave you your body, and you¡¯re finished if you were to sell your organs.¡± ¡®Slam.¡¯ Zhou Shuang felt anxious. She slammed the table in fury and yelled at the police officer. ¡°I already told you I didn¡¯t sell my kidneys. I wasn¡¯t selling!¡± ¡®Damn it.¡¯ Today had already been a very frustrating day, and yet she had herself arrested and scorned by the police for being a lazy bum who sold her kidneys for money. It was really an insult to her. The police officer was not someone to trifle with. Seeing her arrogant behavior, he too slammed his hand on the table before pointing at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Why are you yelling?!¡± Witnessing this situation, Xuxu hurried over. ¡°Officer.¡± A few police officer had heard her voice, and they all spun their heads to look at the door at the same time. Upon seeing Yan Rusheng¡¯s presence, they were visibly startled. They hadn¡¯t met Yan Rusheng in person, but they had frequently seen him on the media and newspapers. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t he¡ªisn¡¯t he¡ª¡± A police officer fixed his gaze on Yan Rusheng. He stuttered in shock. ¡°Third Young Master.¡± Yan Rusheng strode over and pointed at Zhou Shuang before saying, ¡°She¡¯s my friend.¡± It surprised the police officer. ¡°She¡¯s Third Master¡¯s friend?¡± Zhou Shuang held her chin high. She cockily said, ¡°See, I¡¯ve already told you but you didn¡¯t believe.¡± Xuxu walked over and threw her a fierce glare. ¡°You gave me such a fright.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s a misunderstanding after all.¡± The police officer smiled and bowed at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng offered a small, polite smile, and he remained silent. Just then, Lu Yinan appeared before Zhou Shuang like a flash of lightning. He gripped her wrist and dragged her out of the door. ¡°Hey, what are you trying to do?¡± Zhou Shuang put up a struggle and refused to leave with him. Xuxu saw Lu Yinan¡¯s boorish behavior and frowned in annoyance. ¡°This guy!¡± After they left the police station, Zhou Shuang forcefully flung her hand away from Lu Yinan and roared, ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you doing? Why did you drag me?¡± ¡°Why did you go for an abortion?¡± Lu Yinan looked at Zhou Shuang as if he was examining a criminal. Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at him. ¡°None of your business.¡± After that, she crossed her arms and shook her leg like a ruffian. Lu Yinan looked at her and scorned, ¡°As a woman, can you be more cultured?¡± Zhou Shuang coldly lifted an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I¡¯m like this. What can you do?¡± Lu Yinan answered, ¡°I don¡¯t want to get involved, so please don¡¯t get arrested again.¡± ¡°Why do you have to worry when I¡¯m at the police station? It¡¯s not as if you¡¯re the one arrested.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at Lu Yinan once more and walked away from him. Lu Yinan turned back and looked at that willful and determined figure. His hand violently trembled with rage. ¡°You.¡± He ran after her and stood in front of her. Zhou Shuang frowned impatiently. ¡°Get lost and don¡¯t block my path, you irritating fellow.¡± ¡°Give birth to the babies and I¡¯ll raise them up.¡± Lu Yinan surprisingly calmed down, and his voice turned soft. But his grandeur and arrogant aura still exuded. His words sounded more like a command with no room for discussion. Zhou Shuang sneered. ¡°You are funny. The babies don¡¯t belong to you, so even if I were to give birth to them, you won¡¯t stand a chance to raise them.¡± Lu Yinan knew that he was in the wrong and his attitude softened. ¡°I¡¯ve said it wrong and I hereby apologize to you. Please don¡¯t be unreasonable anymore.¡± Chapter 951. Give Birth to a Soccer Team Zhou Shuang raised her voice and appeared agitated. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re right. The babies aren¡¯t yours. I¡¯ve slept with other men after sleeping with you. You¡¯ve guessed it correctly.¡± When she heard what the man had to say, Xuxu could only guess what Lu Yinan had said to Zhou Shuang when he went to look for her. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in anger. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re too much!¡± How could he say such things to Zhou Shuang and even suspected that her babies were not his? Yan Rusheng nodded his head and agreed with her. ¡°Mm, indeed.¡± ¡°You men are all jerks.¡± Xuxu menacingly stared at Yan Rusheng and strode towards Zhou Shuang. She held her hand. ¡°Come, let¡¯s have some food.¡± They had brought her to the police station at about 4 p.m., so much likely she hadn¡¯t eaten yet. She also wanted Zhou Shuang to ignore Lu Yinan so he could search his own conscience and reflect on it. When they walked away, Lu Yinan got anxious and turned back to look at Yan Rusheng who was still strolling leisurely towards him. ¡°Wen Xuxu¡­¡± He still had yet to finish his sentence when Yan Rusheng grinned and cut him off sharply with three words. ¡°You¡­ deserve¡­ it.¡± After that, he strode past Lu Yinan. ¡®Even this fellow was as well.¡¯ Yinan stared at Yan Rusheng¡¯s back and became gloomy. He had no choice but to follow them. Xuxu and Zhou Shuang got into the back seat, and Yan Rusheng was the driver as usual. When they got in, Xuxu immediately instructed Yan Rusheng, ¡°Drive.¡± Young Master Yan didn¡¯t dare to dawdle further after Young Madam Yan spoke and drove off¡ªthere was nothing he could do except to look on as his childhood buddy disappearing further and further away. ¡°Sister hooligan, why were you at the underground hospital?¡± Su Yue looked at Zhou Shuang with a puzzled look. Zhou Shuang waved her hand and answered, ¡°Just my luck. Don¡¯t talk about it anymore.¡± Each time someone mentioned it, she became furious. Su Yue was not the kind who would keep pressing. Since Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t want to talk about it, she didn¡¯t ask further either. She replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ and then lowered her eyes to Zhou Shuang¡¯s little tummy. ¡°You have three babies in your stomach?¡± Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows as she looked at Su Yue. ¡°Who told you this?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Brother Lu Yinan said that he could easily make a national team with three to four shots.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Yueyue.¡± She mustn¡¯t mix with this bunch of hooligans anymore. They¡¯re a bad influence on her. Zhou Shuang responded with a cold smile. ¡°That hateful chap. How dare he look down on me.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go for dinner.¡± Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng as she said, ¡°Ah Sheng, what would you like to eat?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Anything.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have Kentucky Fried Chicken,¡± Su Yue suggested excitedly. There was silence. Anyone with eyes could see that Xuxu doted on Su Yue. Since she had suggested, she would do her best to satisfy her. Hence, without a doubt, Yan Rusheng knew in his heart he was going to have junk food for dinner. They arrived at a nearby mega-mall and there were Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald¡¯s at the ground floor. As Xuxu found it troublesome to park at the basement carpark, she suggested to Yan Rusheng to park the car in a lot by the roadside. It was already past dinnertime. Hence, the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet was no longer crowded. After they entered, Yan Rusheng found a quiet spot and sat down. Xuxu ordered a burger for Yan Rusheng. She knew he wasn¡¯t used to such kind of food, so she only ordered a burger to at least ease his hunger before going home for a proper dinner. She went back to the seat after collecting the burger when Yan Rusheng had just taken a call. Xuxu asked as she sat down. ¡°Who called? Lu Yinan?¡± Chapter 952. Let’s Talk About The Children ¡°It¡¯s Ming Ansheng. He¡¯s coming over now,¡± Yan Rusheng replied. Xuxu answered with an ¡®oh.¡¯ She unwrapped half of her hamburger and passed it to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Here, have some so you won¡¯t have an empty stomach.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t fancy fast food, but since Xuxu had thoughtfully unwrapped it for him, he took it from her and took a big bite. ¡°This lass is too terrifying,¡± Zhou Shuang commented as she shook her head while carrying a tray. Xuxu looked at her, confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°She ordered 10 chicken wings and two cups of coke.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. It wasn¡¯t the first time Yan Rusheng had witnessed Su Yue¡¯s huge appetite for chicken wings, so he wasn¡¯t as shocked. Su Yue came over, smiling as she carried her tray. They were sitting at a four-person table, but there were already two trays on it that. Only a little space wasn¡¯t occupied, so Su Yue walked towards an adjacent table. After she sat down, she eagerly picked up a chicken wing and shoved it into her mouth. Xuxu¡¯s lips twitched as she watched her eat. ¡°Yueyue, it¡¯s late. Are you sure you¡¯re gonna eat so much oily food right now?¡± Su Yue shook her head, replying with her mouth full. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can handle this much food.¡± She loved her fried chicken wings. It coated her lips in oil. She could even finish a second serving. Xuxu was speechless. ¡®Just how much does this lass like chicken wings?¡¯ ¡°Here,¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly said, raising his hand and waving to someone at the entrance. All their gazes shifted to the main door. Ming Ansheng had just arrived. He was wearing a white T-shirt and black sports pants. He appeared carefree and radiant, making him look years younger. Ming Ansheng walked over when he saw them. His eyes glazed over Su Yue who was sitting at the adjacent table, and he froze for a moment before quickly fixing his gaze on Xuxu and Zhou Shuang¡ªsmiling as he nodded at them in greeting. Xuxu smiled and commented, ¡°Young Master Ming, you must have been really busy. I haven¡¯t seen you recently.¡± ¡°Yeah, I have been pretty busy,¡± Ming Ansheng replied, walking over to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Move,¡± he asked. Yan Rusheng was too lazy to move. ¡°Sit there,¡± he said, pointing at the seat opposite Su Yue. Ming Ansheng turned his head. Su Yue bowed down her head as she ate her chicken wings, as though she hadn¡¯t noticed his presence. Unconsciously, disappointment flashed across Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. He hesitated for a moment before walking over and sat opposite Su Yue. Her small hands held a piece of a chicken wing and it smeared her entire mouth with oil. There were already many chicken bones at the side. Yan Rusheng got too thirsty after he ate a bite of the hamburger. He stretched his hand over to grab a cup of coke from Su Yue, drinking from it before he asked Ming Ansheng, ¡°Why is Lu Yinan staying outside instead of coming in?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°He has to have the guts to come in.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression changed when she heard that Lu Yinan was around. Actually, she was the only one who didn¡¯t know, other than Su Yue, of course. When Xuxu heard Yan Rusheng say that Ming Ansheng was coming, she knew immediately that Lu Yinan had sent him here. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°What did he ask to call you here for?¡± Ming Ansheng looked over at Zhou Shuang. ¡°He asked me to represent him in a talk with Zhou Shuang.¡± Zhou Shuang coldly replied, ¡°We have nothing to talk about. Tell him to leave me alone.¡± Ming Ansheng had expected such a reaction from her. ¡°Forget about Lu Yinan. Let¡¯s talk about the children. What are you going to do with them?¡± he asked. Chapter 953. His Heart Started Pounding Again ¡°The children are mine. How I will handle this matter is my personal business,¡± Zhou Shuang declared, turning her face away from Ming Ansheng. ¡°Actually, my suggestion is¡­ Think it through carefully,¡± Ming Ansheng continued, smiling. ¡°Once you get to know Lu Yinan, he¡¯s actually quite a catch.¡± ¡°Ha ha,¡± Zhou Shuang mocked. There was silence. ¡°All right, all right, enough already,¡± Xuxu chided, sending Ming Ansheng a meaningful glance. Ming Ansheng understood what she meant. He heaved a sigh of relief. With Xuxu¡¯s assurance, he considered his mission a success. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. I¡¯ll make a move.¡± Zhou Shuang discarded the bones in her hand, retrieved a piece of tissue paper, and stood up to leave. Xuxu followed. Naturally, Yan Rusheng got worried about his pregnant wife. So he got up as well. ¡°Third sister-in-law,¡± Su Yue called after her. She wasn¡¯t done with her meal and got worried when she saw that Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were leaving. Xuxu looked back, smiling as she promised, ¡°You can continue eating. I¡¯ll be back in a while.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue nodded and went back to her food. Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze landed on Su Yue. Her slender fingers were holding on to a chicken wing and she was clearly enjoying her meal. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh. His heart seemed to melt at the sight. He wanted to help her wipe the oil off her mouth. He wanted to tell her, ¡®Little lass, I¡¯ve missed you.¡¯ But he couldn¡¯t. During the past month, he finally understood the reason his heart fluttered at the sight of her. However, he still couldn¡¯t comprehend why he had feelings for such a young girl who could be considered¡ªa child. He didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°I don¡¯t think I scored too well.¡± Opposite him, Su Yue piped up. She frowned and sighed in disappointment. ¡°Will you still bring me to get my tattoo if I scored badly?¡± After asking that question, she peered up at him. Remorse and self-blame filled her bright eyes as she gazed upon his handsome face. ¡®Why was she so stupid? Why couldn¡¯t she do well?¡¯ Seeing the look on her face, Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t have the heart to sadden her further. A loving smile formed on his face. ¡°You really want a tattoo?¡± He had originally used her examinations to dodge the topic. He didn¡¯t expect her to be so persistent in getting a tattoo. Su Yue nodded her head like a chick pecking at its food. ¡°Hmm. I want to get a tattoo of a cat that¡¯s more awesome than your mouse.¡± A cheeky smile formed on her face. She had a childish air and her eyes were bright, like black jades soaked in water. Her cheekiness infected Ming Ansheng. His handsome smile deepened. With a gentle voice, he promised, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you one day.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Really?¡± Her excitement had amused Ming Ansheng. He asked, ¡°But will your Third sister-in-law agree?¡± Su Yue frowned as she thought about it. ¡°I can tell her after I get it done.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. He had thought this little lass would back out and be dejected when he mentioned Wen Xuxu. But she was shockingly daring, wanting to act first before asking for permission, and she even dragged him into it. He frowned slightly, unable to decide. Su Yue had guessed what worried him. She got up, bent over, and whispered in his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell her you brought me there.¡± Her warm breath fanned his ear like a feather. Ming Ansheng immediately tensed, shifting backward instinctively. Then he looked over at Su Yue. Her small face was so close to his. His heart started pounding again. Chapter 954. I’m Not Afraid of Pain To him, it was a foreign feeling. It had been years since he last experienced it. He¡¯s had feelings for someone before. He dated around, too. But he had never had such strong feelings towards anyone before. But at that moment, he almost couldn¡¯t resist the urge to hug her. ¡®How nice would it be to hold her small frame?¡¯ These thoughts flashed through his mind. Immediately, he shook his head to get his mind out of the gutter. ¡°Little lass, you¡¯ve learned to lie?¡± He leaned against the backrest of the chair, creating a distance between him and Su Yue. Su Yue didn¡¯t take notice of his actions. She sat back down, curling her lips as she replied, ¡°But I really want to get a tattoo. I think it¡¯s really cool.¡± Ming Ansheng thought about it for a while before he said, ¡°If your Third sister-in-law agrees, I¡¯ll bring you to get it done.¡± If it were up to him, he would have taken her to get her tattoo done without asking for permission first, but now, he was afraid of being found out. He was afraid that there would be a slip-up somewhere and they would realize his feelings for her. Even if he¡ªMing Ansheng¡ªhad to marry someone he did not love, he still couldn¡¯t have any thoughts about this little lass. ¡°It¡¯s hard to persuade my Third sister-in-law,¡± Su Yue angrily said, pursing her lips. Then she thought of something. ¡°Brother Qi Lei is accompanying me to the hospital tomorrow. I¡¯ll ask him to bring me instead.¡± When Ming Ansheng heard it, he didn¡¯t think before immediately blurting, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there, but will you give me away?¡± When she had suggested asking Qi Lei to accompany her, his mind flooded with images of Su Yue¡¯s sweet smile whenever she greeted Qi Lei. In that instant, he felt like he was going berserk. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Never mind, Brother Qi Lei will definitely know where I can get a tattoo.¡± There was silence. Young Master Ming felt a million stabs to his heart. Why did he feel like he just gave a good opportunity to tha t ¡®Traditional Chinese Medicine fellow¡¯ ? Now it made him feel even crazier. He said, ¡°My friend did my tattoo. She has superb skills. It will hurt badly if you get it done at other places.¡± Su Yue calmly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of pain.¡± The pain was the thing she was least scared of. Ming Ansheng was speechless as he touched his forehead. He felt like slapping himself. But he refused to give up. ¡°Alright, but you must find a proper place to get it done because some shops are shams.¡± What did it mean by ¡®one casts aside that which is given, but treasures that which is earned¡¯ ? This was a real-life example. Su Yue frowned when she heard it. She hesitated before nodding and said, ¡°All right then, you bring me there.¡± Though she sounded forced, Ming Ansheng was happy. ¡°Call me when you want to get it done.¡± He finally understood humankind¡¯s innate ¡®low¡¯ nature. Su Yue asked, ¡°Any time? Do I have to wait for the weekends?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°Anytime. You don¡¯t have to wait for the weekends.¡± After he thought about it, he realized that his actions might have been too obvious. Su Yue was the first person to be able to have him at her back and call. No one before her, or after. As Ming Ansheng thought about it, he laughed at his own expense. How could they have a future together? Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Then she picked up her Coke and drank. Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows as he watched her. ¡°You should eat less of these unhealthy fast foods.¡± ¡°I still have one chicken wing left. I don¡¯t want it anymore. Do you want to have it?¡± Su Yue took out the chicken wing from the bag and offered it to Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng stared at the chicken wing for a long time. Logically speaking, he should have rejected it because he didn¡¯t like such kind of food. It was to the extent that he had some hatred for it. Chapter 955. I Don’t Want to Talk to You Anymore But once he realized that the chicken wings were Su Yue¡¯s leftovers, he felt rather honored and subconsciously extended his hand to take it from her. He bit into it mechanically. Su Yue sighed and then pursed her lips as she sat opposite him. ¡°I still think the chicken wings from Kentucky Fried Chicken are incomparable to Brother Qi Lei¡¯s. I haven¡¯t eaten his chicken wings in a long time.¡± She then thought of something which made her smile. ¡°Oh, I should call him. He¡¯s coming with me to the hospital to accompany Bai Jing. I could ask him to make some chicken wings for Bai Jing and me.¡± In the blink of an eye, she had already tossed out her phone. Using her oily fingers, she unlocked the phone with a swipe. Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows and on a spur of the moment, he grabbed Su Yue¡¯s wrist. Su Yue jumped in fright. She stared at him, confused. ¡°Uncle Ming, what do you want?¡± ¡°Your hands are so dirty, you¡¯ve covered your phone in oil,¡± Ming Ansheng said as he took out a piece of tissue paper, and helped Su Yue wipe her hands. Her small hands were so soft as though they were boneless. He held her palm in one hand and slowly wiped it with the other. He wanted to wipe her hands forever. He didn¡¯t want to let go. Su Yue quieted down and stared at Ming Ansheng¡¯s large hands for a long while before peering up at him. ¡°Chicken wings are hearty and fattening,¡± Ming Ansheng warned as he lifted his head. Unintentionally, he made eye contact with Su Yue. Her eyes were clean and bright, with no impurities. Her gaze was pure and innocent. Ming Ansheng froze. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± he asked. Su Yue replied, ¡°I think your fianc¨¦e is very annoying, and she¡¯s not even pretty.¡± She then retracted her hand from Ming Ansheng¡¯s grasp. Ming Ansheng froze again. ¡°Umm.¡± Su Yue took a piece of tissue paper and wiped her mouth as she said, ¡°I don¡¯t like her personality. She¡¯s even more annoying than that proud clown.¡± She had no qualms about attacking Young Master Ming¡¯s fianc¨¦e, in front of Young Master Ming himself. Ming Ansheng was speechless. Naturally, he knew Su Yue was referring to that ¡®proud clown¡¯¡ªXin Yanting. He smiled as he thought about it. He hugged himself, eagerly waiting for Su Yue to continue. Young Master Ming, what kind of fianc¨¦ are you? Someone is talking bad about your future wife! ¡°Your taste is much worse than my Third Brother.¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes at Ming Ansheng. She then rolled her tissue paper into a ball and threw it onto the table. A sluggish action, but it had a haughty air to it. Ming Ansheng was speechless. He was still trying to get over Su Yue¡¯s harsh words when she continued with a much harsher comment. ¡°Even Lu Yinan has better taste.¡± She meant that Lu Yinan¡¯s taste was already terrible, but he was even worse. The corner of Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips twitched upwards. Then, smiling, he asked, ¡°Do you know how many people you¡¯ve offended with those words?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I¡¯m only stating the truth. Hooligan sister is no match for my third sister-in-law. But even she is much better than your fianc¨¦e.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t know how to continue. He asked interestingly, ¡°Where¡¯s your evidence?¡± Actually, he could understand why Su Yue didn¡¯t like Tang Feiling because Tang Feiling had indirectly humiliated and mocked her that day at the dinner table. Nobody would like her, much less Su Yue¡ªas petty and narrow-minded as Yan Rusheng. Su Yue frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore.¡± She stood up and was about to leave. Although she had baffled Ming Ansheng, didn¡¯t have time to think. Immediately, he stood up after her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We were having a nice conversation.¡± Chapter 956. The Whole World Knows Su Yue said, ¡°Clearly, we have different standards.¡± Her tone hinted annoyance and a tinge of mockery. So, she meant that they were on different frequencies so¡­ they shouldn¡¯t continue talking? Ming Ansheng stared at Su Yue¡¯s small haughty figure. His heart felt itchy that he wished he could stick his hand inside and scratch it. If they weren¡¯t in public, he would¡¯ve rushed forward to hug her. He would explain that he hated Tang Feiling as well. He didn¡¯t like her, so they had the same taste. ¡°Yueyue.¡± They exited Kentucky Fried Chicken one after the other, and they were just in time for Xuxu to return. Su Yue smiled when she saw Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu looked at her, asking, ¡°You finished 10 chicken wings that fast?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Ming Ansheng followed behind Su Yue. Once he saw Xuxu, he slid his hands into his pockets, slowing down his pace. It was heartening to watch the sisters-in-law interact that his heart filled with warmth, too. He walked over. He looked at Xuxu and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Of course, Xuxu knew what he was asking about. Shrugging her shoulders, she answered, ¡°Lu Yinan is always goofing around. What did you expect? Zhou Shuang called for a cab and went home herself.¡± Ming Ansheng had expected as much. ¡°What about Lu Yinan?¡± After asking, he looked around, but he didn¡¯t see Yan Rusheng or Lu Yinan. Xuxu replied, ¡°He insisted that Yan Rusheng accompany him to follow Zhou Shuang home.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Ming Ansheng momentarily froze, then he smiled. ¡°As expected, his grandfather scares him the most.¡± Xuxu¡¯s lip curled upwards. It was the same reason why she hoped that Zhou Shuang wouldn¡¯t forgive Lu Yinan so easily. Now that the whole world knew about Zhou Shuang¡¯s pregnancy, everyone was persuading her not to abort the children, including Xuxu herself. After all, she was bearing triplets. So now, Lu Yinan had to have a serious attitude about this. If not, they should ignore him. After thinking for a while, Xuxu grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand and said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°Su Yue and I will make a move.¡± Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°Did you drive?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Yan Rusheng drove the car away. We¡¯ll be taking a cab.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send the both of you back,¡± Ming Ansheng said. Xuxu smiled and declined. ¡°No thanks, we¡¯ll take a cab. It¡¯s very convenient.¡± Indeed, hailing a cab was convenient. Ming Ansheng was insistent. ¡°Both of you don¡¯t live together. It¡¯s better if I send both of you back. It¡¯s still early, anyway.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Alright then,¡± Xuxu agreed. If she were to reject him again, she would seem unreasonable. The Yan¡¯s family mansion was quite a distance from Su Yue¡¯s, and since it was closer to their present location, without thinking, Ming Ansheng sent Xuxu home first. Then he would send Su Yue back. It was en route to his house. ¡°Yueyue, sleep early.¡± Xuxu waved goodbye to Su Yue and closed the car door. She turned around and entered the courtyard. Only Ming Ansheng and Su Yue remained in the car¡ªone in the driver¡¯s seat, the other, in the back seat. It was dark inside the car. Through the rear-view mirror, Ming Ansheng could only see where Su Yue was sitting. Near the exit, he suddenly braked and stopped the car. It confused Su Yue. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit in front,¡± Ming Ansheng suggested. Afraid of being found out, he added, ¡°I¡¯m a little tired so I need you to talk to me.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Su Yue replied, not thinking into it. She opened the door and got into the front passenger seat. Ming Ansheng only started the car after she had sat down and fastened her seatbelt. Chapter 957. Beautiful Little Girl! Su Yue leaned her head against the car window, reading a novel on her phone. ¡°You mentioned that you will visit Bai Jing at the hospital tomorrow? Is she that classmate?¡± Ming Ansheng struck up a conversation with Su Yue as he drove. She nodded. ¡°Mm. Her father¡¯s leg was amputated.¡± Ming Ansheng was momentarily shocked. ¡°What happened?¡± Su Yue briefly told Ming Ansheng what she knew about the accident. He sighed and took quite some time to recollect himself. ¡°That guy, he never mentions anything that happens to him,¡± he chided under his breath. If Su Yue hadn¡¯t told him, he wouldn¡¯t have known that Yan Rusheng had encountered such a close shave. ¡°Bai Jing is so pitiful. She only has her dad,¡± Su Yue said, her voice full of sympathy. She pouted. Confused, Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°Where¡¯s her mother?¡± He hadn¡¯t found out more about this good friend of Su Yue¡¯s. There were so many guests at her birthday banquet that day, he didn¡¯t bother getting to know all of them. Su Yue replied, ¡°She said she doesn¡¯t know either. Whatever it is, she was raised without her mother since she was young.¡± ¡°Then how did she manage to attend your school?¡± Ming Ansheng was very baffled. Flourish & Splendor was a prestigious school for the wealthy. According to Su Yue, the girl¡¯s father was a construction worker at a construction site. How did he manage to send his daughter to that school? Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know about this. She never told me.¡± While suspicion filled Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes, Su Yue suddenly added, ¡°But they seem to have a rich relative. Someone came to fetch her from school in a car a few times, but Bai Jing doesn¡¯t like that relative. She never once got on.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Oh.¡± He could tell that Su Yue liked this Bai Jing friend very much. She had so innocently befriended her and he didn¡¯t want to complicate her thoughts, so he didn¡¯t ask further. Everyone has their own dark secrets. He only hoped that Bai Jing truly treated Su Yue as a friend. After all, it wasn¡¯t easy to get into her good books. Ming Ansheng thought for a while before piping up, ¡°I¡¯ll visit your friend¡¯s father one day.¡± He knew that this was his working habit¡ªhis instinctive sensitivity to new things and people. But he reckoned, it paid to be careful. He just hoped that Su Yue would be happy forever, especially since she had a rough childhood. ¡°Brother Qi Lei is accompanying me there tomorrow.¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Do you want to join us?¡± ¡®Brother Qi Lei.¡¯ Ming Ansheng was uncomfortable with the way she addressed him. His expression darkened and he shook his head. ¡°Maybe another day.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯. She said nothing else. It was around eight to nine p.m., past the peak traffic period in the capital city, so the ride home was smooth. The window lowered halfway, and the warm breeze streamed in. The beautiful little girl leaned her head to the side, and her bright eyes closed. Ming Ansheng lowered the speed, slowing down way before the red light. He had half the heart to refrain from bringing the car to a halt. With one hand on the steering wheel, he supported his head and peered sideways at her peaceful sleeping figure. She was as innocent and perfect as a porcelain doll, whereas he was stuck in an abyss of misery. Even if he were to overcome all odds, how could he bear to drag her into the abyss with him? ¡®Ming Ansheng, why did you catch such forbidden and obscure feelings for her?¡¯ ¡­ ¡°Hello, how¡¯s it going?¡± After Xuxu returned home and showered, she leaned against the head of her bed and hugged her laptop, drinking milk as she phoned Zhou Shuang. Chapter 958. A Guest Arrived Bright and Early ¡°Didn¡¯t give him the time of day,¡± Zhou Shuang replied. She had also finished showering and had changed into her pajamas. She lounged on her bed as she ate. Xuxu said, ¡°Good, ignore him. But you shouldn¡¯t be too rash. Same words: Triplets are hard to come by.¡± She thought, ¡®Is it heaven¡¯s arrangement for Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan to be together?¡¯ There are many people who get pregnant after a one-night stand. Exaggeratedly, the number of people who get abortions every day are countless. But Zhou Shuang just had to have three at a go. With so many children, who could bear to part with them? ¡°Alright, I got it. You¡¯re as naggy as an aunt,¡± Zhou Shuang replied. She got frustrated whenever she mentioned the children. She lost her appetite suddenly, and she casually threw a half-eaten apple into the rubbish bin. She turned the phone off without bidding goodbye. Xuxu stared at the line which had suddenly been cut off and it momentarily troubled her. She sent a text to Zhou Shuang, which read: ¡®Sleep early, don¡¯t stay up late anymore. Remember not to touch things that can irritate or agitate you. Wash your new clothes before you wear them and don¡¯t put on makeup anymore.¡¯ Zhou Shuang immediately replied with a voice message. ¡°I¡¯ve got it, Aunt Xu.¡± Annoyance filled her tone of voice. Xuxu laughed and put down her laptop. At that moment, the room door opened. Yan Rusheng had returned. He wasn¡¯t wearing shoes; he walked around in socks instead. It was summer so Xuxu didn¡¯t mind. She looked at him and asked, ¡°You sent Lu Yinan back?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°He had gone overboard, of course, I made him take a cab back.¡± Xuxu gave him a look of appreciation. Yan Rusheng smiled as he walked over to the bedside. Xuxu craned her neck to give him a peck on the lips. Then she lightly pushed him away. ¡°Go take a shower.¡± ¡°Baby, give me another kiss,¡± Yan Rusheng asked, dipping his head to give her a bite on the neck. Then he straightened up and made his way to the bathroom. He stripped off his clothes as he did, throwing them all over the floor. Young Master Yan, is it right for you to betray your friend to look good in front of your wife? Yan Rusheng showered quickly and came out of the washroom. He dove under the blankets half naked and hugged Xuxu. Xuxu said, ¡°Mother said that she wants to visit Bai Jing¡¯s father at the hospital tomorrow.¡± Yan Rusheng replied with an ¡®Mm¡¯. He stared at the ceiling without blinking. Xuxu lifted her head suddenly, leaning against his chest as she gazed at him. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± She then hugged him tightly. Yan Rusheng knew that she still had a lingering fear inside her. He patted her back lightly, looking down at her with a faint smile. ¡°If you continue rubbing me, in a while, you¡¯ll be complaining that your hands are tired.¡± Xuxu hurriedly flipped herself over, bent forward, closed her eyes and pretended to fall asleep. Yan Rusheng followed suit and got onto his side, hugging her from behind as he rubbed her belly lightly. A certain part of his body came into contact with her back. He seductively whispered in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s already late. Do you feel it?¡± Xuxu blushed, pushing him away. ¡°Quit fooling around. Sleep.¡± Immediately, he lifted his head and kissed her red lips. Xuxu couldn¡¯t resist this move of his every time. She gave in quickly and followed his pace. Slowly, it brought into a whirlpool of warmth that made her heart weak. One of her hand was in Yan Rusheng¡¯s grasp while the other was around his neck, hugging him tightly. ¡­ A guest arrived bright and early the next day. A very important guest¡ªOld Master Lu. Chapter 959. You Can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Can’t Make Him Drink! When Xuxu head that Old Master Lu visited, she immediately knew that he had come to find her, so she quickly showered and changed into a new set of clothes before heading downstairs. When she reached the staircase, she glanced into the living room. Old Master Lu was sitting in the middle of the sofa, while Yan Weihong and Mu Li sat beside him. The few of them chatted harmoniously. Mu Li looked at Old Master Lu, smiling as she said to him, ¡°Master Lu, how fortunate you are for Yinan to bring you three grandchildren at once. You¡¯re the envy of many.¡± ¡®That¡¯s right¡¯ was written all over Old Master Lu¡¯s face, but instead, he said, ¡°I heard from Yinan that Xuxu is bearing twins. Two children are enough; three are too many.¡± There was silence. ¡®What a hypocrite!¡¯ Xuxu was about to call out to him when a bitter male voice sounded from behind her. ¡°Three children will be the death of that female hooligan.¡± Xuxu was speechless. She turned her head and peered up at him, smiling. ¡°You¡¯re not just saying that because you didn¡¯t get triplets, right?¡± From her understanding of this group, Lu Yinan would brag about Zhou Shuang bearing him triplets during the next meeting. She could also imagine Yan Rusheng¡¯s reaction to that¡ªhis face as dark as coal, before listing reasons having twins were better than triplets. The exchange between the duo from upstairs had stirred the few below. ¡°Xuxu, Grandfather Lu is here to see you,¡± Mu Li shouted. ¡°Coming,¡± Xuxu called before making a face at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Grandfather Lu,¡± Xuxu greeted after she retreated down the steps, smiling as she walked towards the sofa. Xuxu was only five months into her pregnancy, but her belly already looked like the equivalent of someone six or seven months pregnant with a single child. And Xuxu was already considered slim. Old Master Lu¡¯s gaze subconsciously landed to Xuxu¡¯s belly, his face full of yearning. He bade her over. ¡°Come over quickly.¡± Xuxu sat down next to Old Master Lu. He looked at her with a softer gaze than when he was chatting with Mu Li and her husband. ¡°Xuxu, can you bring me to visit that lady?¡± Xuxu was speechless. The old man was too eager. He not only came in person but also¡­ dressed so formally! She couldn¡¯t find a reason to decline, so she nodded her head. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take you there right after I have my breakfast.¡± She stood up as she spoke. ¡°Go, go,¡± Old Master Lu said, waving his arm at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry.¡± As if! Eagerness was written all over his face. Xuxu entered the dining room with Yan Rusheng. He smiled at her expense as she stuck her tongue out at him. ¡°As expected, old people are the same. I¡¯ve had enough.¡± Yan Rusheng just smiled. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t leave with father for the hospital yet. I¡¯ll bring Grandfather Lu to Zhou Shuang¡¯s house first. Both of you can leave after you get my call,¡± Xuxu said to Mu Li after she exited the dining room. Then she looked at Old Master Lu and continued, ¡°Grandfather Lu, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Xuxu, why don¡¯t you give me her address and I¡¯ll go there myself. I¡¯ve tried asking Yinan but that rascal simply refused,¡± Old Master Lu said, angered at the mere mention of Lu Yinan. ¡°I told him not to come home unless he brought the girl along.¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡®Doesn¡¯t he know that you can lead a horse to water, but you can¡¯t make him drink?¡¯ ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll take you there,¡± Xuxu replied, smiling. The old man nodded his head. ¡°Sure, you just have to bring me to her doorstep, that would suffice.¡± Xuxu smiled and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 960. The Old Man Came Prepared! She thought, since the old man wanted to visit Zhou Shuang to talk about his great-grandchildren, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate if she involved herself. Old Master Lu¡¯s car was a black Audi. It was still early in the morning, so they had wound down the car windows and the air-conditioner wasn¡¯t turned on. Xuxu and old Master Lu sat at the back passenger seat. They happily chatted away. Zhou Shuang stayed at a small high-class district near the Eastern Third Ring Road. As it was inconvenient for any unfamiliar cars to enter the district, Xuxu informed the driver to stop the car by the roadside. She walked the old master to Zhou Shuang¡¯s doorstep. After pressing the doorbell, the old master looked down and adjusted his clothes. When Xuxu saw this and the corners of her mouth twitched. It appeared the old man was attending a match-making session. One could tell how much he valued Zhou Shuang. Indeed, the mother¡¯s honor increases as her son¡¯s position rises. ¡°Coming, coming.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s thunderous voice could be heard coming from her house. When Old Master Lu heard her voice, he became even more spirited. He turned and showed Xuxu a thumbs up. ¡°This lady is full of vigor and life. She must be a warm person.¡± Xuxu was speechless. He had already given her such a good evaluation even before he met her. The power of the child¡ªit must be the power of the child! The door opened and Zhou Shuang appeared before Xuxu and Old Master Lu in her white loungewear. Her eyes swept across Xuxu before her gaze landed on Old Master Lu. She was dumbstruck for a moment. ¡°He¡ªHe is¡ª¡± ¡°He is.¡± Xuxu was about to open her mouth to introduce Zhou Shuang to Old Master Lu when he interrupted her. He looked at Zhou Shuang with a benign expression and introduced himself, ¡°You must be Zhou Shuang. I¡¯m Lu Yinan¡¯s grandfather, Lu Zhenjiang. Pardon me for my sudden visit. Hope you¡¯ll be magnanimous enough to forgive me.¡± Xuxu¡¯s mouth uncontrollably twitched. It was now she realized that the old man was even more adorable than a child. In her memories, Grandfather Lu was always in a military uniform. He was upright and plainspoken and from his behavior, one could tell that he was a carefree and unrefined man. This was the first time she had seen him so polite. And it was all for the sake of coming to meet his prospective granddaughter-in-law. He must have put in great efforts. Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression stiffened and it dumbfounded her for quite a while. She gave old Master Lu a vague grin before frowning at Xuxu with a confused look in her eyes. Xuxu pursed her lips, showing her innocence. She had tried calling you but your phone was dead, okay? Furthermore, when she heard the doorbell, she opened her door immediately without even asking. So how could she blame her? Xuxu ignored Zhou Shuang and supported Old Master Lu with her arms. ¡°Grandfather, go in and have a seat.¡± Zhou Shuang finally reacted and swiftly took out a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet for the old man. Although she hated Lu Yinan, she still knew the basic courtesy when an old folk came to visit. It was only Lu Yinan that she loathed. Zhou Shuang¡¯s apartment wasn¡¯t big. She had specially bought a one-room apartment for she had a fear of cleaning the house. The old master stepped in and surveyed Zhou Shuang¡¯s living room. A satisfied smile broke out on his face. It also shocked Xuxu that this woman¡¯s house was spick and span today. She recalled the previous time she came; her house was like a pigsty. Xuxu was wondering as she helped Old Master Lu to the sofa to sit down. ¡°Grandfather Lu, sit here.¡± Zhou Shuang brought two glasses of water and placed them on the coffee table before looking at Old Master Lu and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, grandfather. I don¡¯t drink tea hence, there are no tea leaves in my house.¡± When Zhou Shuang addressed him as ¡®grandfather¡¯, it caused him to burst with joy and he waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± He patted the space next to him and said to Zhou Shuang, ¡°Sit down, too.¡± Zhou Shuang felt awkward as she wasn¡¯t sure why the old master was looking for her. Chapter 961. A Bowl of Chicken Soup For the Soul! She was at her sixes and sevens as she sat next to the old man. He looked at her and asked, ¡°I heard from Yinan that your parents are in Country M?¡± Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She was feeling nervous that she kept her head bowed as she fiddled with her fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve found out that your mother will come back for a meeting next week.¡± Old Master got right to the point and didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Please also inform your father to come back together so we can meet up with Yinan¡¯s parents.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. It seemed that the old master came well prepared. It was beyond her imagination. He actually knew Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother¡¯s schedule. A parents¡¯ meeting? Her mother was coming to the country for a meeting? Why wasn¡¯t she aware? Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t know how to react. Her eyes widened as she stuttered, ¡°No¡ªIt¡¯s not. I¡ª¡± As she was trying to piece the words to string a proper sentence, the old master smiled and interrupted her. ¡°I know, you don¡¯t really like Yinan.¡± Zhou Shuang looked down and whispered under her breath, ¡°It¡¯s more than just dislike. I hate him to the core.¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem.¡± Xuxu cleared her throat as a reminder to her. In front of someone¡¯s grandfather, she should at least have some restraints. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Old Master Lu continued speaking to Zhou Shuang with a benign face. ¡°His mother had indeed spoiled that chap. But I think when he has children and becomes a dad, he will definitely be more sensible. So can you give him a little more time?¡± Old Master Lu¡¯s good nature caused the straightforward Zhou Shuang to feel torn. She knitted her eyebrows and was at a loss. ¡°But this¡ªthis¡ªit¡¯s not possible between us.¡± After that, she lowered her head and pouted, behaving like a child in front of the old master. ¡°Little lass, Yinan has many shortcomings.¡± The old master maintained his good nature. ¡°However, he also has many good qualities. But as you only have his shortcomings in mind at the moment, naturally, you won¡¯t be able to see his good points. You should slowly observe him.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve definitely not known Yinan enough. Why don¡¯t you move to our place to stay for a period of time to get to know him better?¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. Nowadays, old folks are omnipotent. They will first serve you a bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul and then abduct you. She felt like laughing when she saw that helpless look on Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. She was usually carefree and casual, and she shoots her mouth off. But coming face-to-face with this old master, she seemed terrified. Zhou Shuang looked to Xuxu for help. Xuxu pressed her lips together and pretended not to see. She stood up and informed the old master, ¡°Grandfather Lu, I¡¯m making a move first. My parents are still waiting for me at the hospital.¡± The old master nodded. ¡°Then you better go. I¡¯ll get my driver to send you there.¡± Xuxu waved her hand and declined, ¡°No, no, no. I can take a taxi. It¡¯s very convenient.¡± After that, she grabbed her bag and turned around to leave without taking a second look at Zhou Shuang. She didn¡¯t want to get herself involved in dealing with the emperor¡¯s father. She believed that since the old master had already stepped forth personally, he wouldn¡¯t let Zhou Shuang be shortchanged. Lu Yinan wouldn¡¯t be able to bully Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang looked at Xuxu anxiously from behind. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t turn back and merely waved at her with her back facing her. ¡°I¡¯m leaving first. My parents will visit Bai Jing¡¯s father, so I got to go now.¡± She walked to the door, changed back into her shoes and stepped out. Once she stepped out, she stood at the same spot and laughed before leaving. ¡­ Xuxu had already informed Mu Li to wait for her at the hospital entrance. She caught sight of Mu Li and Yan Weihong the moment she got off the taxi. Chapter 962. Selfish Thoughts ¡°Father, Mother.¡± She waved at them before running towards them. Whenever they caught her walking a little too fast, Mu Li and Yan Weihong¡¯s hearts would shudder. Mu Li immediately rushed forward. ¡°Slow down. Why are you running?¡± ¡°You must have waited long. Let¡¯s go,¡± answered Xuxu with a smile as she wrapped her arm over Mu Li¡¯s. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± A familiar male voice came from behind. Xuxu turned back and was initially surprised before comprehension dawned on her. She smiled and waved at the man who was running towards them. ¡°Qi Lei.¡± Qi Lei was wearing a black T-shirt with a pair of jeans and looked cheery in such an outfit. He exuded vitality and energy as he ran. ¡°Xuxu, who¡¯s he?¡± softly asked Mu Li as she looked at Qi Lei. Xuxu answered, ¡°Have you forgotten? My grandfather¡¯s disciple, Qi Lei.¡± Mu Li suddenly recalled and nodded in response. ¡°Oh, I remember now. He came to our house with Su Yue the other time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± While both of them were talking, Qi Lei came to them. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± Then he turned to Mu Li and Yan Weihong and bowed at them. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± curiously asked Xuxu as she noticed the box in Qi Lei¡¯s hand. It resembled a bento box. Qi smiled. ¡°Su Yue called and asked me to bring her some food.¡± Hearing this, Mu Li smiled and chided, ¡°That little lass. She has no qualms about bothering people.¡± ¡°All right, stop standing here. Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu led the group and walked into the hospital. The few of them chatted as they walked. Early in the morning, the air-conditioner in the ward was turned off and they opened the windows. Even though it was well ventilated, the stench of medicine permeated the air when they stepped in. Mu Li leaned over to Xuxu and whispered, ¡°The stench of medicine is too strong. You better not come to the hospital too often in the future.¡± Xuxu nodded with an ¡®Mm¡¯. They entered the ward one after another. Bai Lisong was lying on the hospital bed, and he was awake. Although he was perspiring profusely, he looked better than yesterday. Mu Li and Yan Weihong hastily walked over. ¡°Brother Bai.¡± She addressed Bai Lisong affectionately before moving her gaze to his amputated legs. They were heavily wrapped in bandages and such a sight gripped her heart. It filled her with extreme guilt. Bai Lisong¡¯s eyes turned red and beads of perspiration trickled down his face. He stared at Yan Weihong and Mu Li and was perplexed. ¡°Uncle Bai, they are my Second Uncle and Second Aunt and also my Third Brother¡¯s parents.¡± Su Yue had arrived at the ward early in the morning, and she sensed that Bai Lisong was unsure who Mu Li and Yan Weihong were. After introducing them to him, she continued, ¡°She is my Third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Uncle Bai,¡± Xuxu politely greeted Bai Lisong and gratitude filled her voice. No words could express her gratitude towards him for saving Yan Rusheng¡ªher Ah Sheng¡¯s life. Bai Lisong nodded in acknowledgment and responded with an ¡®Mm¡¯. They could detect a hint of sorrow from his tone. ¡°Brother Bai, you¡¯re my son¡¯s life savior. I really don¡¯t know how else to express my gratefulness. I¡¯m really thankful to you.¡± Mu Li sat down by the bedside and her eyes turned red as she spoke. To them, their son was their everything. While they were marked by luck, they couldn¡¯t disregard the fact that someone else has lost his leg, something that a normal person could never imagine. Bai Lisong looked sorrowful and fell silent for quite a while before opening his mouth to speak with great efforts. ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel guilty. While I was rushing forward to save President Yan, selfish thoughts crossed my mind too.¡± Chapter 963. Terminal Stage of Stomach Cancer Without giving Xuxu and the rest a chance to respond, he continued, ¡°To be frank, even if I didn¡¯t lose one leg, I also won¡¯t be able to live long.¡± Xuxu, Mu Li and Yan Weihong were surprised when they heard this. With a startled look, everyone fixed their gaze on the man lying on the hospital bed with labored breathing. He momentarily had paused before he displayed a smile full of self-mockery on his face. ¡°At that moment when I rushed forward to save President Yan, I was thinking, if I saved President Yan, will he give me a handsome reward? If so, when I passed on, Jingjing will have the money to attend university.¡± Without a doubt, Bai Lisong had caught everyone in shock, and yet at the same time they were visibly touched. Regardless of what went through his mind at that time, the truth was, he saved Yan Rusheng¡¯s life¡ªthe most important person in their lives. And also the fatherly love for his daughter, risking his life in exchange for her future. However, they were also curious why Bai Lisong said that he couldn¡¯t live long. Was he ill? Bai Lisong looked at the expressions on their faces and sensed their bewilderment. He added, ¡°I¡¯m at the terminal stage of stomach cancer.¡± It caught everyone surprised. Terminal stage of stomach cancer! Bai Lisong continued, ¡°Actually, Xiaojing is still unaware of this. When I first found out, she was having her exams and I didn¡¯t want it to affect her. Hence, I kept it from her. Please don¡¯t let her know, too.¡± After that, he looked at them with a pleading expression. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about my leg. I¡¯m okay if I get discharged from the hospital anytime. But Jingjing had just finished her exams and we still don¡¯t know how she fared in the exam. I plead with you to help her.¡± He tightly reached out to grab Mu Li¡¯s arm, refusing to let go. Appearing as if he was leaving anytime. Mu Li nodded. ¡°We will be responsible for her life and education from now on.¡± Hearing this, Bai Lisong felt relieved and loosened his grip before heaving a sigh. ¡°She hated her mother. That¡¯s why she refused to leave with her when her mother came to take her away. I¡¯m now really at my wits ends.¡± Xuxu was visibly shocked to hear this. ¡°Her mother is still around?¡± Su Yue had told her that Bai Jing didn¡¯t have a mother. Xuxu turned and looked at Su Yue. Su Yue shook her head, showing she was kept in the dark about it, too. Bai Lisong said, ¡°Her mother was the one who had arranged for her to study at Flourish & Splendor but she¡¯s not aware. But I guessed that she already had some inkling. Given my state, I wouldn¡¯t have the means to send her to such a prestigious school. Her annual school feels alone would take me over 20 years to earn such an amount.¡± ¡®Now I get it.¡¯ Xuxu nodded. No wonder Bai Jing studying at Flourish & Splendor had puzzled her, given her family financial condition. After Bai Lisong shared these, she could hazard a guess. Su Yue had mentioned that Bai Jing had lost her mother since young. Given that Bai Jing hated her mother, it was likely her mother had abandoned her at a tender age. Only money could get her into Flourish & Splendor School. But she had no idea how she got the money and didn¡¯t want to jump to a conclusion yet. From what they heard, Bai Jing was indeed a sensible child. At the very least, she didn¡¯t abandon her dad who raised her, and instead, she declined to live with her wealthy mom. But this was her own conjecture based on what she heard from her father. Mu Li noticed that it was getting strenuous for Bai Lisong to speak, and so she smiled and assured him, ¡°All right, you set your mind at ease to recuperate. If Bai Jing will continue with her studies, we will make arrangements for her to attend whichever school she prefers.¡± Bai Lisong nodded his head in gratefulness. ¡°Thank you. Thank you.¡± After that, he was finally able to relax and lie down completely to rest as if relieved from a burden. Chapter 964. Don’t Go ¡°We should be the one thanking you for saving our son.¡± Mu Li rubbed her eyes, feeling grateful. ¡°Where¡¯s Bai Jing?¡± Xuxu peered at the bathroom but there was no sight of Bai Jing. Su Yue answered, ¡°She went out after answering a call. I don¡¯t know.¡± Before Su Yue could even finish her sentence, a petite figure entered through the door. It was Bai Jing. She was holding her old-looking cellphone and had kept her head bowed as if something preoccupied her mind. She was dumbfounded when she saw Xuxu and the rest as she entered the ward. She immediately recomposed herself, lifted her spirits a little and nodded at them. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Xuxu smiled and walked up to her. Bai Jing greeted her lightly. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± As they walked towards the bed, Mu Li stood up and looked at Bai Jing before gently telling her, ¡°My child, you¡¯ve been staying here for the past two nights. Go home and take a rest first. There are people here to look after your father.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. I want to accompany my dad.¡± Bai Jing shook her head. Although her voice was soft, she sounded determined. She took a step forward and sat down by the bedside. Then she took two pieces of tissue to wipe off the beads of perspiration from Bai Lisong¡¯s face. Mu Li stood by the side, and as she observed the scrawny Bai Jing, she sighed in helplessness. ¡°Bai Jing, this is Brother Qi Lei, whom I¡¯ve told you about.¡± Su Yue smiled as she introduced him to Bai Jing. Bai Jing looked up and glanced at Qi Lei before answering with an ¡®oh¡¯. When Su Yue sensed that something was not quite right with Bai Jing, she held back her smile. Bai Lisong who was lying on the bed could roughly guess what was on her mind. She asked Bai Jing, ¡°Xiaojing, was that your mom who called?¡± Bai Jing didn¡¯t answer him. Instead, she asked, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Bai Lisong didn¡¯t press further. But from her expression, he already knew the answer. He nodded and replied, ¡°I want to drink some water.¡± Xuxu felt that the presence of so many people would affect Bai Jing¡¯s mood, hence, she expressed to Mu Li and Yan Weihong, ¡°Father, Mother, shall we make a move first and let Uncle Bai take a good rest?¡± Yan Weihong nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu was walking towards the door when she recalled something. She turned back to speak to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, your brother is on a work trip. I¡¯ll come and bring you back to our home tonight.¡± Su Yan had called her while she was on the way to the hospital and it nearly slipped her mind. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I can go home myself.¡± Xuxu frowned and her tone was firm. ¡°You wait here for me. Your Third Brother will come if I can¡¯t come.¡± After that, she turned back and caught up with Mu Li and the rest without giving Su Yue a chance to speak. Once they stepped out of the entrance, Xuxu looked at Yan Weihong and Mu Li and said, ¡°Father, Mother, I¡¯m going back to my studio now. Be careful on your way home.¡± ¡°I thought you said that there¡¯s not much work to do?¡± Mu Li held on to Xuxu¡¯s hand and looked at her bulging and round belly with concern in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t go to work.¡± Xuxu smiled and answered, ¡°There¡¯s still some work to be done. Recently, I¡¯ve been learning to sew from a master tailor, and I¡¯m getting enthusiastic about it.¡± Sensing that Mu Li was worrying for her, she added, ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll be more careful and will go back early tonight.¡± Hearing this, Mu Li couldn¡¯t bear to stop her. After all, it was her interest. ¡°Then your Father and I will send you there.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can take a taxi.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll send you there since we have nothing to do when we get home. Let¡¯s go for lunch first and you can go back to your studio after eating,¡± Yan Weihong spoke all of a sudden. His tone was deep and commanding, with no room for refuting. Chapter 965. Zhao Zheng’s Visit! Xuxu immediately agreed. After lunch, Mu Li sent Xuxu to her work studio. She alighted at the alley and walked to the studio. The door was ajar and Xuxu could hear the sewing machine. She hastened her footsteps towards the sound in excitement. ¡°Tailor Wang, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± Li Qian was walking down the stairs. Xuxu grunted in response and continued walking. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice belonging to a man sounded. He hurried footsteps followed soon after. Xuxu stopped in her tracks and glanced at the staircase. ¡°Zhao Zheng?¡± ¡®Why is he here?¡¯ Zhao Zheng was clad in a white shirt paired with black pants. He was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, and his footsteps sounded eager. ¡°Sister Xuxu, Professor Zhao is here to look for you,¡± informed Li Qian as she reached Xuxu. A streak of annoyance flashed across Xuxu¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me in advance that there was a guest waiting for me?¡± Zhao Zheng interjected instead, and he chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t get her to call you. I was just passing by and decided to visit you. If you weren¡¯t around, I would have left.¡± He adjusted his spectacles as he finished speaking. Xuxu remembered this habit of his when she first knew him. He would always adjust his spectacles. He gave off the impression he was an intellectual and a refined man. Xuxu grunted and glanced at Zhao Zheng. She had no idea how she should respond. He had given her a real shock by appearing. She felt he purposely came over. After all, how could he just be just passing by? Zhao Zheng stopped in front of Xuxu and smiled. ¡°Xuxu, how are you these days?¡± asked Zhao Zheng with a concerned tone. Xuxu nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Zhao Zheng glanced at Xuxu¡¯s protruding belly and there was a look of fleeting disappointment on his face. ¡°Are you giving birth soon?¡± ¡°No, not so soon.¡± Xuxu noticed his expression and she deliberately smiled a blissful smile. She stroked her belly. ¡°I¡¯m having twins, hence my belly looks huge.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded, and he couldn¡¯t conceal his disappointed expression. ¡°Your children will definitely be as smart as you.¡± Xuxu quipped. ¡°They should look more like their father. Everyone says that the father is good-looking, so it¡¯s better if they look like him.¡± Zhao Zheng shook his head. ¡°No, you are more beautiful.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Xuxu smiled. Zhao Zheng had always looked down on Yan Rusheng and the rest of his friends. He thought, other than their wealth and background, they had no other strengths. He thought more highly of himself. When they were still in high school, she had already noticed this. But his thinking had intensified after the previous meet-ups. Yes! Xuxu felt that Zhao Zheng was too against them. Even if they irked her as well, she had to consider that they were ex-classmates and on account of Teacher Zhao, too. Xuxu pointed at the reception area and said, ¡°Let¡¯s chat over there.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded and walked with her. ¡°I was surprised to find out that Li Qian was working with you during the graduation gathering. What a coincidence.¡± Chapter 966. Hubby, Pick Me Up Tonight! Xuxu smiled. ¡°It¡¯s indeed a coincidence.¡± Both of them walked to the reception area and sat down across each other. Li Qian served them a glass of water each. Zhao Zheng took a sip of the water and sighed. ¡°It has been more than a decade since we studied and prepared for exams together.¡± He gazed out of the window as though he was reminiscing something. ¡°Indeed.¡± Xuxu causally nodded although she didn¡¯t particularly feel nostalgic about those memories. Not everyone could make her feel nostalgic. Only someone important could evoke those meaningful memories. Zhao Zheng pressed on, ¡°Other than Ming Ansheng and the rest of the playboys, do you still contact the rest of our classmates?¡± He continued to display his contempt for those young masters. Xuxu gazed at him with a mysterious smile. ¡°As you know, I am in close contact with only this circle of affluent friends. I don¡¯t contact the rest.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s organize a grand classmates¡¯ gathering someday,¡± said Zhao Zheng, who sounded excited. Evidently, he didn¡¯t catch the hidden message within Xuxu¡¯s words. Xuxu smiled without a word. Zhao Zheng carried on with the conversation enthusiastically, while Xuxu occasionally agreed. After an hour, Zhao Zheng still didn¡¯t appear to have any intention of leaving. Xuxu was getting desperate and randomly came up with an excuse. ¡°I have work to do. Let¡¯s catch up some other day.¡± She stood up as she spoke. Zhao Zheng followed suit and smiled. ¡°Since I have nothing on in the afternoon, I can wait for you to end work. Shall we have dinner together tonight?¡± It exasperated Xuxu, and she was speechless. Was this person living in another dimension? Shouldn¡¯t a normal person leave after bidding goodbye? She made her intentions clearer as she cleared her throat once more. ¡°Yan Rusheng will come to fetch me soon. We will fetch our cousin so I don¡¯t think we have time for dinner.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± said Zhao Zheng as he smiled. He earnestly continued, ¡°We can use this opportunity to have dinner together. Your cousin recently celebrated her birthday and I couldn¡¯t make it since I was in another city doing a lecture. I can give her a treat tonight.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu was getting annoyed. She suspected that he had deliberately pretended not to get the message. She had already rejected him so firmly, and she didn¡¯t believe that he didn¡¯t catch the hint. But if he insisted on pretending so, she couldn¡¯t possibly expose him. If he wanted to wait, then he could continue waiting. Xuxu mulled over as she bit her lip. ¡°All right then.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait here for you.¡± Zhao Zheng sat down once again and began to flip a random magazine. Xuxu turned around and went up to the stairs. Zhao Zheng really sat at the reception area and waited for her, so she pretended to be busy and didn¡¯t go down at all. Time flew past and soon it was almost 5 p.m., Xuxu wanted to leave but didn¡¯t want to leave with Zhao Zheng. She decided to get Yan Rusheng over. Xuxu sent Yan Rusheng a text. ¡®Hubby, pick me up tonight.¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied immediately, ¡®Huh? Are you Wen Xuxu?¡¯ It annoyed Xuxu. ¡®Who else would address you as hubby?¡¯ Yan Rusheng cheekily replied, ¡®I was too overwhelmed with joy for a moment and couldn¡¯t react properly.¡¯ Xuxu grinned after reading his reply. ¡®Zhao Zheng is here since earlier this afternoon. He is waiting for me to have dinner tonight. Can you come over and have dinner together?¡¯ Chapter 967. Anti-Theft Alarm in the Day! Xuxu knew for sure that Yan Rusheng could never sit still after receiving her text. ¡°F*ck!¡± And sure enough, Young Master Yan saw the name Zhao Zheng and instantly his expression changed. The next moment, he swore and leaped to his feet. Qiao Jian, who was standing opposite of him, was in the midst of reporting something to him. His sudden actions startled him. He nervously asked, ¡°President, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll stop here. I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± With this, Yan Rusheng strode past Qiao Jian and across the room. Qiao Jian hastily called him, ¡°President, this document¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Yan Rusheng had vanished. ¡°This damned four-eyed frog!¡± Yan Rusheng got in the car and vented his frustration once more. He was just about to move the car from the parking lot when Xuxu called. He answered using his Bluetooth earpiece. ¡°Drive slowly, don¡¯t be reckless.¡± Xuxu knew that the content of the text would anger him and that he would immediately and certainly rush over. ¡°I will throw that four-eyed frog back into the mountains today,¡± swore Yan Rusheng. Xuxu chuckled with amusement. ¡°Don¡¯t go too overboard. Drive carefully.¡± She sounded as though she was about to end the call and Yan Rusheng hurriedly said, ¡°Wife?¡± It puzzled Xuxu. ¡°Huh?¡± Young Master Yan grinned as he asked, ¡°Wife, can¡¯t you address me sweetly before talking to me?¡± ¡°Hubby, drive slowly.¡± As he wished, Xuxu sweetly addressed him by calling him ¡®hubby¡¯. It overjoyed young Master Yan that his happiness was indescribable. He hung up and turned on the radio. The current song also reflected his mood¡ªrelaxed and pleasant. Yan Rusheng parked the car outside the work studio and caught a glimpse of a black BMW. The car must belong to Zhao Zheng. Yan Rusheng walked to the black BMW, raised his leg, and kicked it as hard as he could. His kick produced a loud sound. Suddenly, a shrill alarm went off. He instinctively jumped back. The alarm was giving him a headache as he glanced at the car in disdain. ¡°F*ck, just a shitty BMW. And he even installed an anti-theft alarm in the day.¡± After a good verbal lecture, he turned towards the work studio. The tailor saw him from the entrance and politely nodded. ¡°Third Master.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and headed straight for the reception area. He instantly saw Zhao Zheng. To him, Zhao Zheng was like a pile of glittering, smelly poop. He was a nuisance to his eyes. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Zhao Zheng glanced at Yan Rusheng and went back to flipping his magazine gracefully. Yan Rusheng walked to Zhao Zheng and feigned surprise. ¡°Zhao Zheng, why are you here?¡± Zhao Zheng closed the magazine and raised his head. He lightly replied as he adjusted his spectacles. ¡°I was around the area so I dropped by to visit Xuxu. I wanted to give her treat and she asked you along.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°You¡¯re a guest. How can we make you pay?¡± Zhao Zheng smiled. ¡°Sitting down together for a meal, it doesn¡¯t matter who pays, right?¡± ¡®Was he implying that I¡¯m stingy?¡¯ Yan Rusheng thought to himself. Chapter 968. Your Assistant Is Quite Smart!! Yan Rusheng knew what Zhao Zheng was trying to imply, and he wore a malicious smile. ¡°You¡¯re right. We¡¯re all old classmates, after all.¡± He paused for a moment before pressing on. ¡°Since you insist on treating us, I shall not decline your kind offer. Let me give you a treat in the future.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs and call my wife,¡± informed Yan Rusheng as he pointed upstairs. He then promptly left. He didn¡¯t say Xuxu¡¯s name and used ¡®wife¡¯ instead. He had placed special emphasis on it, too. He sounded as if he were boasting. Zhao Zheng glared at Yan Rusheng with gritted teeth. He couldn¡¯t take it lying down as he clenched his fists. Yan Rusheng reached Xuxu¡¯s office and carefully opened the door without knocking. Xuxu was sitting there reading some materials. Yan Rusheng watched her with his arms folded across his chest. He was admiring the woman serious at work. He waited for her to notice his presence. Finally, Xuxu realized that someone was watching her, and she glanced in his direction. Yan Rusheng curled his lips as he spoke. ¡°My beautiful and charming wife. It¡¯s such an honor you¡¯ve requested for me to pick you up.¡± He straightened his back and strode towards Xuxu. ¡°Stop showing off.¡± Xuxu saw it was Yan Rusheng and cast her materials aside. She began to tidy her desk. ¡°Did you talk to Zhao Zheng?¡± asked Xuxu. He had come with the intention of meeting Zhao Zheng. Both of them should have held a conversation. Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Yup. And he wants to treat us tonight.¡± Xuxu instantly knew what Yan Rusheng was plotting against Zhao Zheng. She frowned and sternly reminded, ¡°Abort any ridiculous ideas you have. Just think of a way to reject his treat. We still need to fetch Yueyue.¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t,¡± Yan Rusheng firmly refused. ¡°Today I¡¯m going to teach the four-eyed frog an unforgettable lesson about reality and limitations. This will teach him not to be so shameless.¡± Xuxu grinned. ¡°How can he be more shameless than you?¡± Yan Rusheng furrowed his brows. ¡°Wife, are you trying to undermine your husband¡¯s authority to build others¡¯ ego?¡± He lifted Xuxu¡¯s chin and bent to kiss her. A kiss wasn¡¯t sufficient and he wanted more. Xuxu didn¡¯t let him get his way and shoved him away. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop being so mushy here.¡± Her eyes subconsciously darted to the door and she got a shock. ¡°Li Qian?¡± Li Qian was at the door, watching them. Xuxu felt strangely cold when she saw her. How long had she been standing there? Li Qian walked towards them with a smile. ¡°Sister Xuxu, I¡¯m here to inform you I¡¯m heading back home tomorrow. Can I apply for a leave for a few days?¡± ¡®So she was here to apply for leave. Why did she have to stand there so quietly?¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s mind rapidly raced before nodding. ¡°Sure, since we have little work these days, anyway.¡± Li Qian smiled. ¡°Thank you, Sister Xuxu.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°You may leave.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Li Qian nodded and turned around. Yan Rusheng watched her and gave a casual remark. ¡°Your assistant is quite smart.¡± His words had an underlying meaning. Xuxu peered upwards at him. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng was about to speak when Zhao Zheng¡¯s voice interrupted. Yan Rusheng instantly acted and kissed Xuxu. He put a hand around her waist while the other held her head in place. His kiss was passionate, domineering, lingering, and intense. Chapter 969. You Wicked Fellow! Xuxu knew that he was pulling an act for Zhao Zheng. Although she disliked being intimate in public, she wasn¡¯t that dumb to ruin the show that her husband had put on for the person whom she didn¡¯t really like. She even tried her best to go along with him. Zhao Zheng witnessed this scene and an ugly expression appeared on his face. He stood rooted to the spot. A plethora of emotions rapidly whirled in his eyes that he tightened his fists. Xuxu nudged Yan Rusheng after a while. When they pulled away from their kiss, Yan Rusheng still used his tongue to lick Xuxu¡¯s lips as though he was still savoring the taste. He had completely ignored Zhao Zheng. Yan Rusheng turned around and carelessly glanced at the door. ¡°Oh, Zhao Zheng. When did you arrive?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡®This fellow should be an actor. His talent would be a waste if he wasn¡¯t.¡¯ Zhao Zheng replaced his expression with a feeble smile. ¡°I came up since both of you were taking quite a while.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready. Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu grabbed her bag and reached for Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. Yan Rusheng was pleased as he used a finger to stroke her palm. He began to tickle Xuxu and she giggled. Zhao Zheng felt jealous and terrible with the couple acting so lovey-dovey. His face darkened once more. Zhao Zheng slowly trailed behind Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. If a stare could kill, he could have killed Yan Rusheng a dozen times! They left the office and went to retrieve the car. After Yan Rusheng opened the car door, he glanced at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Have you reserved the dinner venue?¡± Zhao Zheng shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t since I don¡¯t know what you wanted to eat.¡± Yan Rusheng pondered before suggesting. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Jiangnan River Delta, the one we went to before. I¡¯m one of their loyal customers and a platinum VIP too. I can get a discount.¡± Jiangnan River Delta. Xuxu sat in the car as she listened to their conversation. When Yan Rusheng suggested Jiangnan River Delta, the corners of her mouth twitched. This fellow was indeed vicious. A meal at Jiangnan River Delta might cost Zhao Zheng two or three months of his salary¡ªat least three months of his salary. If he was really bent on teaching him a lesson, it might cost Zhao Zheng his entire year of salary. Jiangnan River Delta was one of the most famous specialty restaurants in the capital city. Zhao Zheng had dined there before and naturally he knew of the cost of their dishes. Hatred flashed across his eyes. But his face remained inscrutable. ¡°I¡¯m paying. Why do I need your VIP card?¡± This concerned his ego and pride. For the sake of Xuxu, he will endure the cost no matter how much it costs. ¡°All right, let¡¯s fetch Yueyue first,¡± Xuxu interjected as she looked at Yan Rusheng. She felt that Zhao Zheng was acting rash. But they were old classmates after all, and he was Teacher Zhao¡¯s son. If they really played such a mean trick on him, wouldn¡¯t they feel embarrassed the next time they meet Teacher Zhao? ¡°All right.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. He advised, ¡°You can wait for us at the restaurant. It¡¯s difficult to get a room since there is always a queue.¡± He loudly spoke and Xuxu could detect a hint of evil mischief in his smile. Zhao Zheng nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Rusheng got into his car and he smiled wickedly to himself. Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand his smile any longer. She stretched her hand and pinched his thigh. ¡°You wicked fellow!¡± Chapter 970. If You Can’t See, Just Give It a Kiss! ¡°Hey wife, why are you flirting with me when we are on the road?¡± Yan Rusheng stared at Xuxu in annoyance. ¡°If you dare, come and feel me tonight when we¡¯re on the bed.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. There¡¯s no way she could communicate with him. She merely just pinched him, but he claimed that she was flirting instead! He really had the ability to distort things. She looked away and ignored him. Looking straight ahead, she saw Zhao Zheng driving off. When Yan Rusheng saw Zhao Zheng¡¯s car vanished out of sight, he gnashed his teeth and said, ¡°Wretched fellow. I will destroy that lousy BMW of yours today.¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows as she looked at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m warning you not to go overboard.¡± ¡°I¡¯m calling Ming Ansheng and the rest.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored Xuxu¡¯s warning and started his car. As the car moved off, he fished out his cellphone and contacted those few brothers of his. ¡°Hello, tonight at Jiangnan River Delta.¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s giving a treat.¡± After he hung up, Young Master Yan broke into a devilish grin. Xuxu saw he was about to make another call and warned him again, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you better don¡¯t go overboard. Otherwise, I won¡¯t go. You can go there by yourself.¡± After that, she pouted and pretended to be pissed. ¡°Serves him right for being so full of himself and for not looking at the mirror before he leaves home each morning.¡± Every word that came out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth seemed more poisonous than a scorpion¡¯s venom. ¡°He¡¯s obviously a toad who¡¯s always thinking of my wife, the big and beautiful swan. He should examine himself from head-to-toe. No part of him is comparable to me. Even his pores have no worth.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She had never seen someone who¡¯s overly narcissistic like him. The next second, Yan Rusheng informed Lu Yinan. When Lu Yinan heard that Yan Rusheng was asking him for dinner, he immediately asked if Zhou Shuang would be present. After he ended the call, Yan Rusheng leaned over to Xuxu with a fawning smile. ¡°Wife, can you call and ask hooligan Zhou to come along?¡± Xuxu knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you trying to win my favor on behalf of Lu Yinan?¡± It really surprised her. But perhaps, as the saying goes , ¡®a friend in need is a friend indeed¡¯. Yan Rusheng was trying to fawn on her because of Lu Yinan. Yan Rusheng nodded his head magnanimously and admitted, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fawning on you.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No way. I¡¯m not calling her.¡± She didn¡¯t want to be the one to pull strings and build bridges for Lu Yinan. She wanted him to feel what being tormented felt like. Having three babies at one go, how could he be let off so lightly. Yan Rusheng shrugged. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve already done my best.¡± He didn¡¯t continue further. After giving it some thought, Xuxu couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and turned to look at Yan Rusheng. She knitted her eyebrows gloomily and asked, ¡°What¡¯s Lu Yinan planning to do?¡± He only wanted to take responsibilities for the three babies only? Or did it include the mother of the kids as well? Yan Rusheng snorted coldly. ¡°Ha, he had already overshot. Three at one go. He¡¯s now stuck in a difficult position.¡± Xuxu grinned at the man next to her and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Is this a case of sour grapes?¡± Of course, Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t take it lying down and quipped, ¡°My wife, one boy, and one girl are just right for me. Too many would be a nuisance. There are only a few like me who gets the perfect combination with just one shot.¡± Xuxu burst into laughter. ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± She looked at him and called out his name in all seriousness she could muster. Yan Rusheng raised a brow. ¡°Yes?¡± Xuxu frowned and tried to refrain a laugh. ¡°Where¡¯s your face?¡± However, she really adored this shameless and thick-skinned wretched face of his. It was a red light and Yan Rusheng stopped his car before leaning over to Xuxu and grinned. ¡°Here it is, can¡¯t you see? If you can¡¯t see, then just give it a kiss.¡± Chapter 971. Bai Jing’s Mother! ¡°Get lost.¡± Xuxu shoved Yan Rusheng¡¯s face away. However, she suddenly realized something and looked at Yan Rusheng puzzledly. ¡°How do you know that I¡¯m expecting one boy and one girl?¡± ¡®They could also be two girls or two boys, right?¡¯ ¡®Why is he so sure?¡¯ Yan Rusheng laughed. ¡°Did you really think Madam Mu Li could really keep mum?¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡®It¡¯s against the rule to divulge the sex of the babies in advance, okay?!¡¯ A wise lady like her had to consciously go against the rules. No wonder there wasn¡¯t a trace of hesitation in her whenever she bought clothes for the babies. She would always buy a set of boy and girl¡¯s clothes each. She must have found out about the babies¡¯ sex right from the start. Indeed, a boy and a girl¡ªit was just the right combination. Xuxu looked down at her protruding belly and broke into a blissful smile. ¡°I fear of falling deeply in love with you, my heart skipped a beat when I see you, a slight smile from you is enough to mesmerize everyone. Let me be the one to fall into your embrace. I need to be resuscitated. Your eyes resemble the crescent moon.¡± The man beside her suddenly hummed a song. He moved his fingers along the steering wheel as if he were playing the piano. In every verse he sang, he would turn and spare a glance at Xuxu¡ªobviously telling her he was singing about her. Xuxu blushed and mumbled softly. This chap was in a pretty mood lately, always humming a tune for no reason. It was dinnertime, and visitors crowded the hospital. Even the elevator was packed to the brim. Yan Rusheng shielded Xuxu like a mother hen protecting her chick. His ¡®strangers prohibited¡¯ chilly aura was enough to send jitters down people¡¯s spine. From time to time, he even threw cold looks at people. When they stepped out of the elevator, Xuxu overheard people expressing their displeasures. Xuxu eyed Yan Rusheng with a look of displeasure. ¡°Being seen with you is a disgrace.¡± Yan Rusheng tapped her gently on her head. ¡°Stupid woman, stop saying empty words.¡± Then, he stretched out his hand and hugged her waist as he led her to Bai Lisong¡¯s ward. ¡°Go away.¡± ¡°Xiaojing, Mommy is here to visit your Father.¡± ¡°Father doesn¡¯t welcome you. Go away. Get lost.¡± ¡°Xiaojing, your father won¡¯t be able to take care of you now. Come home with Mommy.¡± From afar, they could hear arguments coming from Bai Lisong¡¯s ward. ¡®Bai Jing¡¯s mother?¡¯ Xuxu quickened her footsteps and walked to the door of the ward. Bai Jing was shoving a fashionably-dressed middle-aged lady out of the door. ¡°I¡¯ll call the police if you don¡¯t get lost.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s eyes turned red as she issued a stern warning to the lady. The middle-aged lady was holding on to Bai Jing¡¯s arm. She almost lost her footing when Bai Jing had shoved her away. She was still trying to persuade the girl as she moved towards the door. ¡°Mommy is concerned for you. Come with Mommy, and I¡¯ll send you for overseas studies immediately.¡± Bai Jing turned back to take a second look at her father, who was lying on the bed. She felt sorry for him. She turned around and yelled at the lady, ¡°I don¡¯t want to. You go. Get lost!¡± Her gut-wrenching sobs shook the entire hospital. Xuxu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. How much agony was buried in the heart of this scrawny and shy little girl? Bai Jing¡¯s screams had taken the middle-aged lady in surprise it made her utterly dumbfounded. Her well-maintained and flawless face turned pale. She had stared blankly at Bai Jing for quite sometime before uttering softly, ¡°Xiao¡­ Xiaojing, I¡¯m your Mother.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a Mother. Since I was young, I only have a father.¡± Finally, tears raced down Bai Jing¡¯s cheeks. She rubbed her eyes and was choking with emotions. Su Yue stood beside her, and she had her dewy, sparkling eyes locked on Bai Jing¡¯s mother. On her eyes, a cold and gloomy expression could be seen. Chapter 972. No Wonder Bai Jing Refused to Acknowledge Her Her hands, which hung loosely by her thighs, clenched tightly into fists. It also trembled a little. Xuxu sensed it and scurried over. ¡°Yueyue.¡± She placed her hand on Su Yue¡¯s shoulders and gently patted it. ¡°Yueyue.¡± When Su Yue saw Xuxu, the expression in her eyes gradually calmed down. She faintly called out, ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu smiled at her before averting her gaze to Bai Jing and her mother. ¡°Madam, this is the hospital ward and the patient is resting. Don¡¯t you have some basic courtesy?¡± As she noticed that Bai Jing didn¡¯t want to acknowledge her, she didn¡¯t take it upon herself to call her as Bai Jing¡¯s mother. Rather, she addressed her as ¡®Madam¡¯ instead. Her sharp words were unpleasant to the middle-aged woman¡¯s ears. ¡°Yes, who are you?¡± She shifted her gaze towards Xuxu as she asked. The way she looked at people was insufferably arrogant. When her eyes landed on Xuxu¡¯s face, she was astonished. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ the young Madam of Flourish & Prosper?¡± Xuxu nodded her head. ¡°I¡¯m Wen Xuxu.¡± Her tone and attitude were unfathomably cold and aloof. In an instant, a fawning smile appeared on the middle-aged lady¡¯s face. ¡°Hello, Third Madam Yan. I¡¯m Bai Jing¡¯s mother, Zhang Lihong.¡± She eagerly introduced herself to Xuxu. But Xuxu remained silent and shifted her gaze away and looked at Bai Jing instead. Her expression turned soft. ¡°Bai Jing, what happened?¡± She had no rights nor was she in the position to ask about any grudge between the lady and Bai Jing¡¯s father. She had no intention to probe either. But from the way she spoke earlier, she already found the woman repulsive. Her first impression of her was exactly how she¡¯d imagined¡ªsnobbish, mean, materialistic, and self-centered. Now that Bai Jing¡¯s father was lying on the hospital bed¡ªregardless of whatever feud happened between them¡ªinstead of offering words of wisdom, she came to lure her daughter away. She was indirectly telling her daughter to abandon her crippled father to lead a far better and comfortable life with her. It was no wonder why Bai Jing refused to acknowledge a mother like her. Her favorable impression of Bai Jing intensified. ¡°I don¡¯t know who she is.¡± Bai Jing coldly turned her body away and sauntered towards the bed. She sat down beside Bai Lisong. She pulled two tissues to wipe away the beads of perspiration on his forehead. Tenderness filled her every action. Witnessing this sight, Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for her. She casually glanced at Zhang Lihong, Bai Jing¡¯s mother. ¡°Madam Zhang, please go. Don¡¯t disturb the patient¡¯s rest.¡± She averted her gaze from her and walked towards Bai Jing with Su Yue trailing behind her. As she was turning around, her eyes swept across Zhang Lihong¡¯s face. She had put on a menacing gaze and it had Zhang Lihong shuddering in fear. ¡°Xiaojing, if you run into any difficulties, you must call and let mommy know, okay?¡± With Xuxu around, Zhang Lihong didn¡¯t dare to pester Bai Jing any further. But she still cautiously and carefully moved towards her as she spoke. Bai Jing ignored her. Zhang Lihong looked at Bai Lisong before taking a last look at Bai Jing. She turned back to leave helplessly. All these while, Yan Rusheng was standing at the door watching how Xuxu handled the tussle between Bai Jing and her mother. He felt that her aura was impressive. So impressive that he almost felt his presence was redundant. He raised his feet and stepped in as Zhang Lihong was walked out. When Zhang Lihong saw him, her expression changed. Zhang Lihong wanted to greet Yan Rusheng, but he didn¡¯t even bother to look at her. He walked over to the bed and stood next to Xuxu. Bai Jing on the other hand rubbed her eyes, afterward she kept wiping Bai Lisong¡¯s sweat away. Chapter 973. Forget it, Zhao Zheng! Xuxu¡¯s heart ached as she looked at the skinny little girl. She turned and asked Su Yue, ¡°Has Bai Jing taken her lunch?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°She ate the chicken wings that Qi Lei made and also drank some porridge.¡± Xuxu felt more relieved after hearing this, and she turned towards Bai Jing to comfort her. ¡°Bai Jing, you got to eat more so that your father won¡¯t get worried for you, and he¡¯ll be able to recover faster. After that, she averted her gaze to Bai Lisong. Bai Lisong immediately nodded in agreement. ¡°Precisely, Xiaojing. Third Madam Yan is right. Daddy hopes to see you become more cheerful. So eat more and put on more weight.¡± Immense fatherly love filled his weak voice. It was not just Bai Jing, but even Xuxu felt a sting in her eyes when she heard his words. She placed her hand on Bai Jing¡¯s shoulders and patted it in reassurance. Then, with a gentle voice, she began to discuss with her. ¡°Bai Jing, come with us to eat something. We¡¯ll go for a spin, too. There¡¯ll be people here to take care of him. Okay?¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like going out or go for a spin.¡± Even though she sounded soft, her attitude was determined and obstinate. Xuxu didn¡¯t insist because if she was in her shoes, given her father¡¯s condition, she also won¡¯t be able to set her mind at ease. ¡°Call me anytime if you need to,¡± Yan Rusheng spoke all of a sudden. He looked at Bai Jing with a deep gaze. His masculine yet gentle voice gave Bai Jing a sense of security. She lifted her face to look at Yan Rusheng. The gaze she had for him was completely filled with trust. She nodded and answered with an ¡®Mm¡¯. ¡­ After they left the hospital, Xuxu¡¯s heart felt heavy throughout the journey. The environment she was in earlier had affected her state. She and Su Yue sat at the back passenger seat. Xuxu propped her arm on the wounded down car window. The words Bai Jing¡¯s father had spoken that morning kept replaying in her mind. Indeed, a father¡¯s love is deep and worthy of the greatest admiration. She did not have the pleasure to experience it, but she finally witnessed it from Bai Jing¡¯s father. The cool summer evening breeze in the capital city brushed across her face, but it didn¡¯t take away her sorrows. Each time Yan Rusheng turned back to look at Xuxu, she was in the same state. He knew that Bai Jing and her father had worried her. ¡°Wife, overflowing with sympathy again? Are you following in the footsteps of Mother Mary?¡± He laughed as he asked. Even though his words sounded sarcastic, there wasn¡¯t a hint of sarcasm in it. Xuxu didn¡¯t pay attention to Yan Rusheng¡¯s words. Instead, she looked at him and sighed. ¡°Ah Sheng, can you send someone to dig in deeper about Bai Jing¡¯s father¡¯s stomach cancer? Find out more about his condition and whether his prognosis is indeed bleak.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡°Mm.¡± Even if she mentioned nothing, he already had the intention to look into it. He had the same thinking as the rest. Regardless of what selfish thoughts went through Bai Lisong¡¯s mind, he saved his life¡ªthere was no doubt about it. The car was completely silent for quite a while until Xuxu¡¯s cellphone suddenly rang. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. She knitted her eyebrows in bewilderment and put her cellphone to her ear. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ve already reserved a VIP room. Have you arrived?¡± The call was from Zhao Zheng. Xuxu was already irritated with the man, to begin with, and now that she felt lousy, she said to Zhao Zheng in an annoyed tone, ¡°Forget it, Zhao Zheng. I¡¯m too tired today and I don¡¯t feel like going anymore.¡± After that, she hung up. She abruptly ended the call with the four-eyed frog? Yan Rusheng turned back and was about to give a thumbs up to Xuxu when her phone rang again. It was Zhao Zheng. Yan Rusheng also saw the caller ID display on Xuxu¡¯s phone. Xuxu grew impatient and wanted to cancel the call when Yan Rusheng extended his hand and snatched the phone over before placing it to his ears. ¡°Hello Zhao Zheng, are you really sincere about giving a treat tonight?¡± Chapter 974. Unable to Suppress Since this wretched chap was so persistent even when his wife had let him off the hook this time, he shall fulfill his wish then. Zhao Zheng became furious. ¡°I know that you must have forbidden Xuxu to come. But you were also the one who suggested Jiangnan River Delta, and I¡¯ve already booked a VIP room. So are you taking me for a ride when you changed your mind about coming?¡± ¡®I forbade Xuxu to go?¡¯ ¡®Ha, this chap was so good at consoling himself.¡¯ Yan Rusheng gave a dry laugh. ¡°All right, we¡¯ll be there right away.¡± After pausing for a while, he continued, ¡°By the way, Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan called me earlier. I told them you¡¯re giving a treat, so they asked to come along. I hope you don¡¯t mind including another two more people.¡± Zhao Zheng magnanimously answered, ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t mind. We¡¯re old classmates.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and a sinister smile flashed across his face. He concluded the call and hung up. Then, he turned around and threw the phone back to Xuxu. ¡­ When they reached, Ming Ansheng had recently arrived, too. Both cars met at the entrance of the Jiangnan River Delta carpark. Coincidentally, both cars parked side by side. ¡°So flamboyant today.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s answer had diminished. With one hand propped on the car window, he stuck his head out and looked intently at the black Ferrari sports car parked next to his. He knew that Ming Ansheng had purchased this car on his 25th birthday last year. But after just driving once, he didn¡¯t see him driving this car again. So he was pleasantly surprised to see him driving it today. Ming Ansheng curled his lips. ¡°I occasionally need to change my style.¡± He opened the car door and got off the car as he spoke. Yan Rusheng also alighted from his car and surveyed Ming Ansheng from head to toe. A meaningful smile appeared at the corners of his lips. ¡°Young Master Ming is dressed to flirt today, too.¡± Ming Ansheng looked down at his own dressing. If Yan Rusheng hadn¡¯t mentioned, he wouldn¡¯t have even realized it. After a second look, he received shocked¡ªthe way he dressed seemed like he was ready to¡­ flirt. He was wearing a white T-shirt and faded blue jeans. He hadn¡¯t worn jeans for many years. He was either in sweatpants or business pants. Come to think of it, as of late, when he was not at work he would dress casually. Otherwise, in the past, he¡¯d always be in business suits when he was out of the house. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he got lost in his thoughts and had a brief passing of guilt. He then lifted his head to look at Yan Rusheng. He knew that this subtle change in him most probably had to do with Su Yue. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng detected nothing amiss with Ming Ansheng and urged him to make a move. With one hand stuffed into the pocket of his pants, he turned around to hold Xuxu with his other hand. They strode towards the main entrance of Jiangnan River Delta. Su Yue followed behind. Her small frame resembled a tiny tail as she trailed behind them. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart turned soft as he looked at that petite little figure of hers. His footsteps were unhurried and he had maintained a distance of only a meter away from Su Yue. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Just before she stepped into the turnstile, Su Yue suddenly stopped in her steps and turned to look at Ming Ansheng. The hotel¡¯s entrance lightings reflected her dewy eyes¡ªthey looked like bright twinkling stars in the night sky. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart pounded again. He halted his steps and his expression looked immeasurably soft. ¡°Yes?¡± Now, whenever he looked at her porcelain-dolled face, he had the urge to embrace her. The more he tried to suppress it, the more intense it felt. Chapter 975. Will You Become Pregnant If You Stopped Being Pretentious?! But he could only restrain himself. ¡°You don¡¯t look like an uncle in that attire,¡± Su Yue commented plainly after she looked Ming Ansheng up and down for a while. Suddenly, a seemingly cheeky smile formed on her face. Her faint smile made Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart erupt like a volcano. Subconsciously, he extended his hand. He didn¡¯t know what to do. At that moment, a gust of wind blew and he regained his senses. His hand was already about to touch Su Yue¡¯s waist. When he snapped out of his daze, he shuddered. Su Yue frowned, her eyes filled with innocence and confusion. ¡°Uncle Ming, what are you trying to do?¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head in guilt. ¡°No¡­ Nothing.¡± His gaze immediately shifted to Su Yue¡¯s forehead. He awkwardly smiled. ¡°Your hair is messy. I was afraid that it would cover your eyes.¡± He then quickly moved his hands to her forehead, helping her to sweep away the random strands that the wind had blown over. Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯. She then hugged Ming Ansheng¡¯s elbow, smiling as she looked up at him cheerfully. ¡°Your car looks so good, can you bring me for a spin later?¡± There was silence. Ming Ansheng instantly understood that her previous comment on his looks was leading on to this. ¡°Sure, as long as your Third sister-in-law agrees,¡± Ming Ansheng replied without thinking through it. He nodded. He knew that he shouldn¡¯t. He shouldn¡¯t have romantic feelings for such a child. But whenever she stood before him, his line of defense was on the brink of collapse. Su Yue happily replied, ¡°My third sister-in-law will agree for sure.¡± She then released his elbow and happily entered the rotating door. She went up the stairs and caught up with Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, third sister-in-law.¡± to ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Her sudden shift in mood confused Xuxu. Su Yue replied, ¡°Can I go for a ride in Uncle Ming¡¯s car after dinner? His car is so cool.¡± Xuxu looked back towards Ming Ansheng as he approached them. She then frowned and answered, ¡°It¡¯s late already. You shouldn¡¯t be an inconvenience to Young Master Ming.¡± Ming Ansheng walked over and replied plainly, ¡°It¡¯s no problem at all.¡± Ming Ansheng had always doted on Su Yue. Xuxu didn¡¯t think into it because Su Yue was Yan Rusheng¡¯s younger sister. So given their brotherhood, it was only natural that Ming Ansheng would treat Su Yue as his own sister. She only considered that Ming Ansheng was probably like Yan Rusheng¡ªhaving to work every night¡ªso she didn¡¯t want to bother him. She smiled at Su Yue and said, ¡°When we get back home later, why don¡¯t you just ask your Third Brother to drive you around?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Third Brother¡¯s car is not as cool.¡± ¡®Was the feeling of sitting in an open-topped sports car the same as that in a closed car?¡¯ ¡®Definitely not.¡¯ Yan Rusheng frowned when he heard their exchange. He piped up. ¡°We have a few of those lousy cars at home.¡± Xuxu was speechless. Would he become pregnant if he stopped being pretentious? Ridiculous¡ªit was as though he was afraid that they didn¡¯t know he was filthy rich. Ming Ansheng¡¯s lip quivered. He had nothing to say about the proud Young Master Yan. Xuxu ignored the unhappy man beside her and nodded at Su Yue. ¡°Okay, but don¡¯t bother Young Master Ming for too long. One round is enough.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue agreed happily. Hearing Xuxu¡¯s reply, Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips curled. He realized that his feelings were showing so he hurriedly looked downwards. Chapter 976. Am I Right, Darling? Zhao Zheng had gotten a private room, and it was just enough for four to five people. Zhao Zheng entered the room with a smile on his face. He looked at everyone, but his gaze lingered on Su Yue. His gaze softened immediately. ¡°Little Lass.¡± Su Yue sized him up with a cold gaze, feeling a little confused. Xuxu thought Su Yue didn¡¯t remember Zhao Zheng, so she introduced him with a smile. ¡°Yueyue, this is Professor Zhao. You¡¯ve met him before.¡± ¡°Oh, Professor Zhao,¡± Su Yue called plainly and lazily before she found a seat and sat down. She then suddenly lifted her head to look at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Professor Zhao, Bai Jing wants to attend your school.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Zhao Zheng froze. ¡°Who¡¯s Bai Jing?¡± She had chimed up so suddenly and without any context. Not just Zhao Zheng, even Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were caught in shock. It took a while for Xuxu to regain her senses. It shocked her that Bai Jing wanted to attend A University. She sat down beside Su Yue and asked her, ¡°Bai Jing wants to go to A University?¡± Su Yue nodded and then pulled a sigh. ¡°But with her father¡¯s condition, she doesn¡¯t want to anymore.¡± Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng and they had a silent conversation. Yan Rusheng was expressionless. They initially thought Bai Jing would want to give up her education. ¡°Xuxu, who¡¯s Bai Jing? Is she your relative?¡± Zhao Zheng eagerly asked her. Xuxu replied plainly, ¡°She¡¯s a good friend of Su Yue¡¯s.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded in understanding. ¡°Then you should pass me her information, and I¡¯ll look through it. I¡¯ll try to reserve a slot for her.¡± After a brief pause, he continued, ¡°But it still depends on her grades.¡± ¡°That was of no help at all,¡± Yan Rusheng commented, rolling his eyes at Zhao Zheng and not giving him any face. He stretched his arm and gracefully poured himself some plain water. Pride was written all over his face. Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. Under the table, she stretched her arm and pinched Yan Rusheng¡¯s thigh. ¡®This fellow. Could he be more subtle?¡¯ Yan Rusheng smiled unwaveringly. Xuxu ignored Yan Rusheng and faced Zhao Zheng. ¡°Aren¡¯t we here for dinner? Have you ordered?¡± She wanted to get this dinner over and done with. She had planned on refraining future meetings with Zhao Zheng ever again. They had no reason to meet again, anyway. ¡°I haven¡¯t ordered. I was waiting for you because I didn¡¯t know what you like,¡± Zhao Zheng replied with a shake of his head. He passed the menu to Xuxu. ¡®I was waiting for you.¡¯ Yan Rusheng felt uncomfortable when he heard those words. He swiftly extended his arm and grabbed the menu before Xuxu did. He then crossed his legs gracefully and flipped through the menu. He casually commented, ¡°Of course, outsiders wouldn¡¯t know my wife¡¯s taste.¡± He then turned to Xuxu and winked. ¡°Am I right, darling?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Ming Ansheng was drinking a mouthful of water but spat it out when he heard Yan Rusheng said the word ¡®darling¡¯. He almost choked. He gave Yan Rusheng a look of contempt before hurriedly wiping his mouth. ¡®This fellow is being utterly shameless!¡¯ He disgusted others while enjoying himself. Two words: selfish! Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression was dark. He felt indignant every time he saw Yan Rusheng and Xuxu being affectionate. He felt that Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t good enough for Xuxu. She was so gentle, intellectual, and kind. She deserved to be with someone worthy like himself¡ªsomeone who wouldn¡¯t put her favorable qualities to waste. Chapter 977. Don’t be Shy, This Meal is On Zhao Zheng ¡°Good that you know. Order quickly.¡± Xuxu threw Yan Rusheng a dirty look before taking a sip of water. She refrained from looking at him again. Yan Rusheng picked up the electronic menu and ordered many dishes. Xuxu could feel Zhao Zheng¡¯s heart bleeding profusely. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Finally, Young Master Yan lifted his head and announced that he had finished ordering. He then passed the menu to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, I only ordered a few dishes that my wife and I like. You can order whatever you like. This meal is on Zhao Zheng, so don¡¯t be shy.¡± He then raised his chin towards Zhao Zheng. ¡°Am I right, Zhao Zheng?¡± Zhao Zheng¡¯s face was as dark as coal, but he maintained a smile, saying, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Ming Ansheng had no feud with Zhao Zheng, so he didn¡¯t make things difficult for him unlike Yan Rusheng. Just as he had said, they were old classmates. He waved his hand, holding in a smile as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll eat whatever you order. I¡¯m not particular about food.¡± Yan Rusheng gave him a look of discontent and then passed the menu to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, what do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Chicken wings,¡± Su Yue replied without hesitation. ¡°The ones we ordered the previous time we were here. The slightly sweet chicken wings.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. Ming Ansheng was speechless. Yan Rusheng was dumbfounded. The three had a look of bewilderment etched on their face. Did chickens offend this little lass in her previous life? Why did she seem to have a bone to pick with them? She ordered chicken wings all the time. How was she not sick of them by now? When she saw that the three of them had put on the same facial expression at the same time, she pursed her lips. Confusion filled her innocent orbs. ¡°Let me look.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled, taking the menu from Yan Rusheng. He scrolled through it and when he found the chicken wings that seemed similar to what Su Yue had described, he asked, ¡°Is it this one?¡± Su Yue looked over and nodded her head like a chick pecking at food. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one. It¡¯s really delicious.¡± That greedy look. Young Master Ming let out a low growl inwardly. ¡®Damn it, why is she so cute?¡¯ His gaze considerably softened. He nodded with an ¡®okay¡¯ and ordered the chicken wings. He then casually scrolled through the ordered dishes. His eyebrows furrowed deeper the further he scrolled. ¡°Third Yan, why did you order so much red wine?¡± ¡°And this, can we even finish so many dishes?¡± He continued as he scrolled further. ¡°You ordered three different flavors of pork ribs.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to eat them if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Yan Rusheng snatched the menu from Ming Ansheng, glaring at him as he did. Then he shouted at the waiter. ¡°We¡¯re done with our order.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the waiter replied, taking the menu from him. Then, one by one, she confirmed the orders with Yan Rusheng. The waiter was breathless by the time he finished reading them all. Yan Rusheng nodded his head lightly and casually replied with an ¡®Mm¡¯. Zhao Zheng¡¯s heart bled profusely. ¡°Xuxu, about your sister¡¯s classmate, one day¡ª¡± Zhao Zheng spoke to Xuxu. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng interrupted him. ¡°Zhao Zheng, let¡¯s get completely drunk tonight. There were too many people before that we weren¡¯t able to drink enough.¡± Hatred flashed through Zhao Zheng¡¯s eyes when he heard his words. He knew that Yan Rusheng was picking on him on purpose, but how could he appear petty in front of Xuxu? He had no choice but to nod his head and act calm. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s have a good drink. I¡¯m just afraid that you¡¯ll affect Xuxu if you¡¯re drunk.¡± Chapter 978. One Shot, Three Children Yan Rusheng expression immediately darkened. Did he dare to show concern for his wife right in front of him? He shouldn¡¯t have let him off so easily by just spending one year worth of his salary! ¡°It¡¯s fine. We have over ten servants at home. I can get a chauffeur whenever I want.¡± He then continued, ¡°I can even get my chauffeur to send you home when you get drunk later.¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡®Could this fellow stop bragging so openly?¡¯ Just as Yan Rusheng had expected, Zhao Zheng¡¯s face turned red then blue. Just then, the room suddenly opened. Lu Yinan had arrived, he was clad in his casual attire¡ªa black T-shirt and faint gray track pants. He had gotten it bad from his family yesterday that two swollen marks under his sleeves were clear as day. He entered and smiled with a nod. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late, everyone.¡± ¡°Young Master Lu is here,¡± Ming Ansheng announced with a smile, but his smile had a hidden meaning behind it. Yan Rusheng did the same, and an undecipherable smile framed his face. Lu Yinan glanced over those two faces and caught their smiles. Angrily, he called them ¡®bad influences¡¯ under his breath. ¡°Zhao Zheng.¡± Lu Yinan greeted with a nod. He then sat down beside Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng turned his head towards him and smiled. ¡°Young Master Lu, we were all calling out for you in the group chat. Why didn¡¯t you speak at all?¡± Without waiting for Lu Yinan to speak, Yan Rusheng smiled as he replied, ¡°He was naming his children. He¡¯s having three, after all. He had to take this seriously and think early.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless as he clenched his fists. He then flashed a cold smile at Yan Rusheng. ¡°That¡¯s right. After all, not everyone can produce three children with one shot. I¡¯m proud of myself, so shouldn¡¯t I take this seriously?¡± His words hit Yan Rusheng¡¯s raw spot and he immediately went quiet. Young Master Ming, who was sitting in between the two, was suddenly unhappy, too. The men beside him; One of them produced twins, the other, triplets¡ªhow much pressure would he face in the future? Zhao Zheng kept quiet throughout their entire exchange. When they had finally hushed down, he asked, ¡°Lu Yinan, you have kids?¡± Lu Yinan looked at him and replied with a laugh before keeping mum. Could they stop mentioning the children? He seemed to lose his appetite every time they were mentioned. He felt that his life had been turned upside down overnight. The price of the red wine that Yan Rusheng ordered was at least five digits. He hadn¡¯t had wine in days and he was going all out to get Zhao Zheng drunk today. Glass after glass, they drank. After three rounds, Zhao Zheng no longer cared about his money. He continued drinking with Yan Rusheng, with the goal of getting him hammered. On the other hand, Lu Yinan was drowning alone in his sorrows in the corner as he fretted over his three children. He had wanted Ming Ansheng to drink with him, but the latter refused. Because he would bring his beloved little Yueyue for a spin later. He wouldn¡¯t drink even if the president wanted him to. Zhao Zheng was completely drunk and senseless by the time he had to pay for the meal. When he swiped his credit card, he couldn¡¯t be bothered by how many digits the meal cost. He keyed in the password immediately and Ming Ansheng sent him onto a cab. Xuxu had predicted this outcome earlier, so she had already called for a chauffeur. Yan Rusheng had almost passed out, so he lay on Xuxu¡¯s thighs. In his drunken stupor, he talked to her belly, but he was speaking from the heart. ¡°You¡­ two¡­ It¡¯s been hard on your mother, so if you don¡¯t behave well when you come out, I¡¯ll punch the both of you.¡± He patted her belly lightly as he spoke. Chapter 979. Sorry For Not Giving You a Wedding Ceremony Xuxu was afraid that he would go overboard so she quickly grabbed his wrists and stopped him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you better sit up quickly.¡± Yan Rusheng indeed obediently sat up. But¡­ He hugged Xuxu¡¯s neck and snuggled his face in her neck, rubbing against her gently. ¡°Darling, I want you.¡± ¡°Could you let me in tonight to say hi to my son?¡± he sputtered as he hugged her. Xuxu blushed a bright shade of red. She looked forward at the chauffeur and quickly covered his mouth. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you dare continue, I¡¯ll throw you off the car.¡± There was no man more lecherous than this fellow. Yan Rusheng had become seemingly senseless. He opened his mouth and bit Xuxu¡¯s finger. He looked at her, smiling as he said, ¡°Darling, I want to drink milk.¡± Then he lay against her front and rubbed his face against her chest. These words were, of course, necessary during their bedroom adventures. Xuxu¡¯s face was so red that blood threatened to spill out. She pushed Yan Rusheng away with too much force. Yan Rusheng flew backward and knocked his head on the car door. There was a loud thud. He furrowed his eyebrows and gritted his teeth in pain. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached at the sight and she immediately helped him up. After that, she whispered in his ear, ¡°Yan Rusheng, we¡¯re in the car now. Don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± She then sneaked a glance at the chauffeur, but it was too dark that she couldn¡¯t make out his expression. In any case, he was definitely marveling about how Third Master and Third Madam Yan were so open with each other in private. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xuxu,¡± Yan Rusheng said as he leaned on Xuxu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I haven¡¯t given you a wedding ceremony until now.¡± His drunken apology hit Xuxu in the heart. Tears brimmed on her eyelids, and she turned her head to look at the man¡¯s handsome face. She slightly tilted her head and placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth. ¡°You fool.¡± She then rubbed the back of his head and asked dotingly, ¡°Does your head still hurt?¡± The knock was so loud that the car shook. Yan Rusheng shook his head and laughed. ¡°Not anymore. Darling, your breasts are so soft.¡± Xuxu¡¯s soft expression immediately hardened. She looked downwards to see the man burying his face in her chest, a lopsided grin on his face. The next moment, her expression turned black as coal. The car came to a stop in the courtyard. Xuxu pushed open the car door and trudged her way into the house, completely ignoring Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng crawled out of the car and shouted at her retreating figure, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you heartless and stupid woman.¡± No matter how much he yelled, Xuxu didn¡¯t care. Mu Li was sitting on the sofa watching television. When she saw Xuxu enter, she glanced behind her and curiously asked, ¡°Xuxu, why are you alone? Where is Third Yan?¡± Before Xuxu could reply, Mu Li heard shouts coming from outside. She frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s shouting outside?¡± She asked as she rose from the sofa. ¡°Your son,¡± Xuxu replied with a roll of her eyes. She was speechless. She couldn¡¯t even recognize her own son¡¯s voice. Just as the words left her mouth, the chauffeur carried Yan Rusheng into the house. When Mu Li saw it, she walked up to him. ¡°This little brat, how did he get so drunk?¡± Yan Weihong heard the commotion from upstairs. The moment he caught sight of Yan Rusheng, who couldn¡¯t even stand properly, he flew into a fit of rage. Chapter 980. All of Them Can Step Aside He yelled, ¡°Xuxu¡¯s pregnant and you let her go with you. It¡¯s already bad enough you didn¡¯t take care of her, but even worse, you got drunk and required her to take care of you instead? What if something happened?¡± Third Young Master was not in the least embarrassed by the scolding. He waved at Yan Weihong and laughed. ¡°Dad¡­ You don¡¯t know. The Zhou hooligan¡¯s three kids were brought into existence because Lu Yinan shot when he was drunk. You¡­ Just wait, wait to carry another three grandchildren¡­¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She wanted to go to the kitchen to find tofu, noodles, or just somewhere to bury herself in. The fellow was ridiculously drunk. She hastened her pace as she made her way upstairs. She lowered her head to the maximum when she walked past Yan Weihong. Yan Rusheng¡¯s words made Yan Weihong embarrassed. His words got stuck in his throat and it almost choked him to death. ¡°Hmph! Like mother, like son!¡± Yan Weihong exclaimed, turning around to return to his room. He felt that talking to his sloshed son was like talking to a wall. Mu Li¡¯s eyes widened. She thought it was absurd. Why¡­ was she dragged into this? ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng kept calling after her. Mu Li frowned. ¡°You still have the nerve to call after Xuxu? You¡¯re so drunk, I would have left you at the restaurant if I were her.¡± Yan Rusheng laughed and replied, ¡°That¡¯s why Xuxu is my wife.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Mu Li laughed. She patted him on the shoulder and chided him lovingly. ¡°Don¡¯t you look pleased with yourself.¡± Her son was all grown up, but it was her first time seeing him look so childish. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng pushed Mu Li, who was holding him up, away. Unsteadily, he walked towards the big clock in the living room. He walked to the front of Wang Daqin¡¯s portrait and picked it up. Mu Li quickly rushed forward to stop him. ¡°You rascal, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Yan Rusheng shushed as he turned around, placing his index finger to his lips. Then he smiled and said, ¡°Let me say a few words to my grandmother. Just a few.¡± Mu Li stopped in her tracks and watched him. She was dumbfounded. ¡°Grandmother, you¡¯ve seen it, right? I¡¯ve taken care of Xuxu, she will bear you grandchildren.¡± Yan Rusheng said to the portrait, ¡°Two of them too, I didn¡¯t let you down right?¡± ¡°Summer next year,¡± he said as he nodded with a confirmation. ¡°Yes, in summer next year, I will give her a huge wedding ceremony. I¡¯ll tell the entire world she is mine. Who cares about whatever Zhao Zheng or Jiang Zheng, all of them can step aside.¡± ¡°Flourish & Prosper¡­ Flourish & Prosper¡­¡± His eyes turned red at the mention of the company. ¡°I definitely won¡¯t let you down. Flourish & Prosper belongs to the Yan family, give me¡­ give me some time, okay?¡± He then lifted the portrait, lowered his head, and kissed his grandmother¡¯s forehead. He then gently returned the portrait to its rightful place. On the second floor, Xuxu leaned against the railings, covering her mouth as she sobbed in silence. How heavy the burden on his shoulders was! ¡­ In A University¡¯s classroom apartment. The man got off the taxi and his drunken steps made the passersby worry for him. But he found his apartment with no help. ¡®Thud, thud, thud.¡¯ His incessant knocking annoyed the neighbors. A woman¡¯s voice sounded from within the apartment. ¡°I¡¯m coming. I¡¯m coming. Stop knocking.¡± The door opened. A thin and beautiful woman looked at the drunken man before her and frowned. ¡°Zhao Zheng, who did you drink with this time?¡± Chapter 981. Let’s Slow Down, Shall We?! She extended a hand to support Zhao Zheng. She then pulled him inside before shutting the door. ¡°Who¡­ who are you to care?¡± Zhao Zheng carelessly shoved her away. He looked irritated. He tottered unsteadily to the sofa and collapsed on it. The woman walked to him and sighed as she watched him. ¡°If you were not my husband, why should I even care?¡± She helplessly shook her head and began to remove his socks and shoes before removing his jacket. Zhao Zheng¡¯s phone slipped out from his pockets and she picked it up. The screen lit up. There was an unread text informing him of the amount he had just spent using his credit card. The woman¡¯s eyes went huge when she saw the amount. Her pitch turned sharp and shrill. ¡°Zhao Zheng, what did you do? You spent 120,000 yuan!?¡± She bent her back and grabbed Zhao Zheng¡¯s shirt and interrogated him. ¡°Woman, you¡¯re too noisy!¡± Zhao Zheng impatiently pushed her away before flipping himself, with his back against her. The woman thought of the 120,000 yuan and there was no way she could stay calm. This huge sum of money was nearly a year of his salary. ¡°Zhao Zheng, you have to explain this to me right now. Where did the 120,000 yuan go to?!¡± She put both hands on his head and made him face her. Her actions had irked Zhao Zheng. He clumsily sat up after. He acted swiftly and pushed her down to the floor instead. He fell on top of her and began to tear her clothes away, looking mad. He then buried his head into her chest. Even if he was drunk, he was still a man. The woman could only struggle against him. He was in a fit of rage and so his actions were rash and rough. ¡°Xuxu¡­ Xuxu I love you¡­ call me hubby¡­¡± ¡­ It was a moonless night and the black Ferrari convertible had its roof open. Loud music was playing as it sped on a lonely and quiet road. In Su Yue¡¯s eyes, this ride was too amazing and cool right now. She loosened her ponytail and raised her chin as she allowed her hair to tumble across her shoulders. Her locks seemed to dance in the breeze and she looked wild and charming. She was exceedingly attractive. Ming Ansheng had a hand on the steering wheel while he propped the other arm against the window. He pressed a fist to his temple while he mindlessly stroked his eyebrow. He fixed his gaze on the girl beside him. The car began to slow down. Su Yue spun her head, looking puzzled. ¡°Faster! It¡¯s only cool if you¡¯re speeding. The people¡¯s hair on TV were all flying as they sit in the sports car.¡± She began to flick her hair dramatically to prove her point. She was so excited! Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°So when you untied your hair just now, you were just checking the speed of the car?¡± His smile was full of affection for her. Ming Ansheng had thought Su Yue would agree, but she rolled her eyes instead. ¡°But third sister-in-law said that those were merely digital effects for enhancement.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Su Yue¡¯s words shocked Ming Ansheng that he cracked up. He really felt that this young lass had an uncanny resemblance to Third Yan. Ignite your interest first before pouring a bucket of cold water on your head. Su Yue frowned at him. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head and threw a serious glance at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s slow down, shall we?¡± Su Yue looked at him with puffed cheeks. ¡°Are you afraid?¡± ¡°I want to slow down.¡± Ming Ansheng gazed at her longingly his gaze was intense. Under the soft light the night sky offered, her hair looked exceedingly enchanting. More so, her exquisite face was so pure and clean that it made him feel it was a crime just by touching her. Her dewy huge eyes were sparkling, as though they were talking. He suddenly sped up and his car moved off at rocket-speed. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Su Yue screamed in excitement. After nearly a minute, Ming Ansheng began to slow down once more. Su Yue glanced at him, looking disappointed. He smiled. ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s continue at this speed alright?¡± Chapter 982. Bring Me to Get a Tattoo Now Even if the road had no end to it, he could still watch her quietly. He had driven too quickly earlier on that Su Yue¡¯s hair was all messed up. A few strands were sticking to her lips, and so Ming Ansheng stretched his hand slowly towards her. He gently tugged them off. He had intentionally brushed his finger against her rosy lips. His heart began to pound once more. This beautiful girl looked like a flower fairy who had just walked out from a painting. Or perhaps a little elf who had just flown down from a magic mountain. It was of little wonder why so many people fell in love with her. His gaze puzzled Su Yue. ¡°Uncle Ming, why are you staring at me?¡± She began to touch her face. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng softly called her. His tone was tender and gentle. ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t fathom the reason Ming Ansheng was staring at her so intently. But she could feel that her face felt warm for no reason at all. She thought it might be her hair, so she tied her hair once more. A strong breeze ruffled her hair and she looked refreshed. ¡®Indeed, it must be the hair.¡¯ She thought to herself. ¡°Do you have someone you like?¡± suddenly asked Ming Ansheng. The words had barely escaped from his lips that he felt it was too abrupt. He was afraid that Su Yue might get suspicious. He was about to continue talking so he could conceal his real intention. But Su Yue had already answered nodded as she said with a firm tone, ¡°Yes¡­¡± However, Ming Ansheng had cut through her sentence. ¡°I mean, there are so many boys who like you. Do you like any of them?¡± He knew that she would definitely say yes. And the person would be her third sister-in-law. ¡°I don¡¯t like them.¡± Su Yue shook her head and there was a frown of disapproval. The next second, she smiled sweetly again. ¡°I like Brother Qi Lei.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart instantly plummeted to the bottom. He managed a feeble smile. ¡°Oh¡­ really?¡± Does she really like the TCM boy? ¡°Yup,¡± Su Yue answered, and she seemed excited. ¡°I love Brother¡¯s Qi Lei chicken wings the most. I have never eaten such delicious ones anywhere before.¡± And her thoughts wandered off to the delicious-looking chicken wings. Ming Ansheng was speechless. He suddenly felt as if he had just communicated with a wall. ¡°I¡¯ll send you home,¡± Ming Ansheng said lightly and began to turn the steering wheel. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t we just drive a little longer?¡± ¡°It¡¯s late.¡± Ming Ansheng turned the car around and stopped. He then sternly stared at Su Yue. ¡°Or can you bring me to get a tattoo now?¡± Su Yue leaned forwards towards Ming Ansheng, and she tugged at his arm. She continued sweetly. ¡°Uncle Ming, let¡¯s go now. I want a tattoo now.¡± Her soft voice tickled him like a feather that his whole body tightened as a result. Her head was just inches away from his face and he had bent slightly. He could smell the scent in her hair. He wanted to go nearer to her. He had an urge to kiss her eyebrows or maybe just her ears. Under the dim light, both of them were really close to each other. But the road to happiness was strewn with setbacks. His phone rang and it had jolted Ming Ansheng awake. It jarred him back to reality, and so he straightened his back. Conflicting emotions of relief and annoyance attacked him. In the midst of this, he felt confused. He stretched his hand to get his phone. After glancing at the screen, he became stony-faced and rejected the call right away. Chapter 983. You Just Think That I’m Troublesome He threw his phone back into his car storage compartment. The call served as a timely reminder and warning. Ming Ansheng turned to look at Su Yue. He solemnly said, ¡°No, it¡¯s too late. Your third sister-in-law might think I¡¯ve abducted you.¡± He pressed the ignition button and turned the car back on to the route they came from. Su Yue pouted, looking upset. ¡°You¡¯re so rich, my third sister-in-law knows that you won¡¯t sell me. And furthermore, I¡¯m not worth much. You just think I¡¯m troublesome.¡± It was the first time Ming Ansheng had witnessed her throwing a tantrum. The expression in his eyes turned gentle. ¡°Silly girl.¡± He ignored Su Yue and insisted on sending her back to the Yan house. Su Yue slammed the door after she alighted. She stormed into the courtyard without a word or a second look at Young Master Ming. Ming Ansheng watched the tiny figure intently and chuckled. Incredibly, the fact that she was throwing a tantrum and being unreasonable was interesting. It was strange. After Su Yue entered the mansion, Ming Ansheng unwillingly averted his eyes away and drove off. Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression began to harden after he drove for quite some time. He was harshly questioning himself. ¡®Love? When your company is in trouble, can love save you?¡¯ ¡®You want to call off the marriage? Over my dead body!¡¯ ¡®Ming Ansheng, even if there weren¡¯t so many obstacles, it¡¯s impossible between you and that girl,¡¯ Ming Ansheng sternly rebuked himself. ¡®Both of you belong to different worlds, so bury your temporary desire or emotions.¡¯ He warned himself repeatedly in his heart as he increased his speed. The depths of the darkness finally swallowed his car. ¡­ The living room was empty and the huge chandelier hanging overhead was not turned on. Only the surrounding dim lights were on. The lights illuminated the sides of the living room. She went up the stairs. Xuxu came out of the bathroom and heard footsteps. She caught a glimpse of Su Yue as she walked out. ¡°Yueyue. You¡¯re home?¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Su Yue answered lightly. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± She opened her door and shut it quietly after her. Even though she didn¡¯t slam the door, Xuxu could tell that she was feeling upset. Feeling concerned, she went to knock on her door. Su Yue opened the door and pouted at Wen Xuxu. Xuxu frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you unhappy?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I asked him to go for another spin but that old man didn¡¯t want to. I shall ask Third Brother to drive his sports car and take me for a spin.¡± ¡®That old man?¡¯ It confused Xuxu for a moment before realizing that she was referring to Ming Ansheng. She chortled loudly. Just because he didn¡¯t take her for another ride, Young Master Ming transformed from an uncle into an old man in the little girl¡¯s eyes? What would Young Master Ming think if he knew about it? She chuckled as she nodded. ¡°All right. Get your third brother to bring you for a spin the next time.¡± Su Yue finally smiled. ¡°Good night, third sister-in-law.¡± She tip-toed and gave Xuxu a swift peck on her cheek. Xuxu nodded and smiled happily. ¡°Good night.¡± Su Yue showered and changed into the pajamas that Xuxu had bought for her. It was pink and it had a picture of Hello Kitty. She had recently developed a habit of using her phone before sleeping. She clicked her WeChat to browse. Actually, she didn¡¯t have many contacts as she didn¡¯t approve all the friend requests she received. And her friends were those who don¡¯t use WeChat often. Chapter 984. Break Off All Ties With Third Yan! She browsed through the updates, and Zhou Shuang was the only one updating and spamming today. And every update contained only one word: Scram! ¡®Lu Yinan, scram!¡¯ Su Yue replied to Zhou Shuang¡¯s latest update to join in the fun. After a short while, Zhou Shuang replied to her. ¡®Little pretentious one, why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡¯ Su Yue replied with a cheeky emoticon and decided not to reply anymore. She glanced at the time¡ªindeed it was getting late. She was about to switch off her phone. Suddenly, she saw how Zhou Shuang was venting her anger through her updates. Then she¡­ could she vent her anger and frustration towards Ming Ansheng¡ªthat old uncle too? She clicked the update function once more, but it always required her to upload a photo. It had her rather perplexed. But Zhou Shuang only typed words for her updates. She wasn¡¯t too familiar with such technological stuff. It was too late and she didn¡¯t feel like exploring the functions of the app. So she took a photo of herself, only sparing a little thought about it, and finally, she could update. ¡®I shall never go out with a stingy old fellow ever again who only wants to save his car¡¯s fuel.¡¯ She then added an emoticon to express her disdain and added Ming Ansheng¡¯s nickname. After she locked the screen, she threw her phone on her bedside drawer. She turned off the lights and closed her eyes. Young Master Ming just reached home, and he was too tired to move. He went to his study and slumped against his chair and began to scroll browse the news. A WeChat message arrived and he clicked it. He read Su Yue¡¯s update and his good-looking face fell as the corners of his mouth twitched. ¡®Petty old fellow?¡¯ ¡®Trying to save his car¡¯s fuel?¡¯ This was an unreasonable slander. It was plain slander all right! This girl was trying to smear his reputation. But his attention drifted to Su Yue¡¯s photo. She had just taken a shower and she was wearing a pink headband. Her rosy plump cheeks seemed extra soft and clear. But her expression evidently displayed her unhappiness. Ming Ansheng¡¯s mind wandered to the scene whereby Su Yue had stormed off earlier. He suddenly regretted his decision. Why didn¡¯t he spend more time with her and go for a longer ride? He was worried that she might drift off to sleep feeling unhappy. This, in turn, will affect the quality of her sleep. ¡®Oh, dear. Ming Ansheng, control yourself!¡¯ Ming Ansheng prodded his head to stop his thoughts from running wild. He didn¡¯t have the mood to continue working, so he stood up and retired for the night. ¡°Grandfather?¡± Ming Ansheng had just opened the door and saw Ming Zhongsheng outside the study. His grandfather was wearing pajamas and his hands were behind his back. He looked as if he was pacing back and forth outside the study for some time. He peered at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Did you go out for a social engagement tonight?¡± Ming Ansheng bowed his head slightly and a crease appeared on his forehead. He casually replied, ¡°I was with a few friends.¡± ¡°With Third Yan?¡± Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s tone turned distinctly cold at the mention of Yan Rusheng¡¯s name. He pressed on without waiting for Ming Ansheng to reply. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that your cousin, Xinyi is in prison because of him. She is suffering inside and almost lost her life. Your aunt was the one who took care of you when you were young. Do you still remember?¡± Ming Ansheng turned solemn and stiff too. ¡°Grandfather, does that mean that you want me to break off all ties with Third Yan?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Ming Zhongsheng snorted coldly and his attitude remained unyielding. ¡°I don¡¯t think there is a need for you to contact him.¡± When he thought of how merciless and cold Yan Rusheng and Xuxu were towards Xinyi, Ming Zhongsheng was filled with hatred and rage. Chapter 985. Settle Your Marriage Ming Zhongsheng had always wanted to prevent Ming Ansheng from contacting Third Yan. But Ming Ansheng simply refused to. Hence, Grandfather Ming had a row with Ming Ansheng pretty often. It always ended on an unhappy note. Ming Ansheng felt a little troubled and didn¡¯t want to argue with his grandfather at that time of the night. He suppressed his burgeoning rage and spoke calmly. ¡°It¡¯s late and everyone is asleep. Grandfather, rest early.¡± He was about to head towards his bedroom. Ming Zhongsheng suddenly threw hi, a question. ¡°Your marriage with Feiling should be settled soon, am I right?¡± He seemed to ask him, but there was no room for objection. Ming Ansheng clenched his fists and wanted to muster his courage to protest. He wanted to say that he was planning to annul the engagement and that he didn¡¯t want to marry Tang Feiling. He was in love with someone else. But¡­ such words could only remain unsaid. He retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I won¡¯t get married before I turn 30.¡± ¡°Today, I heard that Lu Yinan is expecting a baby with a diplomat¡¯s daughter without getting married. And she is carrying triplets. Third Yan is becoming a father soon. Old Jiang told me that Ah Heng will get married next year, too. Even though his prospective wife isn¡¯t from a reputable background, it¡¯s ideal he settles down soon.¡± Ming Zhongsheng sounded envious and indignant. He sneered coldly. ¡°I¡¯m the one getting anxious.¡± Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu are married and are expecting twins. They were leading a happy life at most. If anything, his grandson hadn¡¯t even gotten himself a wife. He had initially consoled himself as Lu Yinan was still single, too. But he was suddenly expecting three babies. How could he still be patient? Ming Ansheng smirked. ¡°There is still my older brother.¡± He ended the conversation and swept past his grandfather in haste. ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng angrily pointed at Ming Ansheng¡¯s back, and his blood pressure shot up. Ming Ansheng fled into his room and quickly swung the door shut after him. There was a ball of fire inside of him and it was raging. He stood in the cold shower for half an hour. He put on his bathrobe and walked out with his hair dripping wet. He sat down on his bed and grabbed his phone. He couldn¡¯t help but admire Su Yue¡¯s photo once more. His heart instantly turned warm once again! He finally understood the power of love¡ªlove can conquer anything indeed. If only he could see the little one in the photo every day¡­ after he comes home from work after a long tiring day. He reckoned that he would be like Yan Rusheng who couldn¡¯t wait to rush home every evening. But when it comes to love, a lot of considerations and factors¡ªincluding the timing and person¡ªshould be taken into consideration. Not everyone could meet the right one at the right time, and most importantly, have them in his grasp. You could discover love, but it¡¯s not to be sought after. Ming Ansheng saved Su Yue¡¯s photo, and he added it to a locked secret album. He looked at the photo and whispered, ¡°Good night.¡± He turned off his lights and closed his eyes. And a forbidden image of Su Yue lying next to him crept into his mind. He knew his desire had consumed him, but he had no way of stopping himself. ¡­ Yan Rusheng had drunk too much yesterday. No matter how many times his phone rang, he simply didn¡¯t feel like opening his eyes. He stretched his hand to feel the space beside him¡ªit was empty. His eyelids fluttered as he struggled to open his eyes. The room was empty. ¡°Xuxu?¡± Yan Rusheng called out, but there was no response. He turned on the light. He glanced at the clock and it was barely six in the morning. He knew that it must have been 6 a.m. His head was splitting and he jabbed his head with his fists. He glanced around, searching for his phone. Chapter 986. His Prognosis is Not Good He guessed that Xuxu must have placed his phone on the bedside cabinet. Suddenly, his phone rang again and as expected, the ringing sound came from the drawer of his bedside cabinet. There must be something urgent for his phone to ring unceasingly early in the morning. Yan Rusheng swiftly extended his hand to take out his phone from the drawer. He looked at the caller ID. Upon seeing that it was Bai Jing¡¯s number, his heart sank. He immediately took the call. ¡°Hello, Bai Jing.¡± ¡°My father¡ªmy father fainted suddenly and is also running a fever.¡± Bai Jing was sobbing on the other line. Yan Rusheng leaped to his feet and walked to the wardrobe in a few huge steps. He was comforting Bai Jing as he retrieved his clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t be overly anxious. I¡¯m coming over soon. Have you called for the doctor?¡± After hearing Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice, Bai Jing calmed down a little. ¡°He¡¯s wheeled into the emergency room.¡± ¡°Hang up first. I¡¯ll reach in a while.¡± Yan Rusheng hung up and quickly got changed before going to the bathroom to wash up. In less than a minute, he was already done. He then left the room. He took a peek at Xuxu¡¯s room door and guessed that she must have gone back to her room to sleep last night since he was drunk. Even if she didn¡¯t want to go back to her room, Mu Li would also not allow them to sleep in the same room since he was totally hammered. Yan Rusheng was lost in his thoughts as he descended the stairs. The servants were already done tidying the living room and as usual, Aunt Zhang was already awake. Seeing Yan Rusheng descending the stairs so quickly, she walked up to him. ¡°Third Young Master, why are you in a hurry to leave the house? Did something happen?¡± ¡°Mm, I¡¯ve something to attend to.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in response and walked past Aunt Zhang. In their house, only the elderly butler and Aunt Zhang had the privilege to talk to him. As for the rest of the servants, some of them didn¡¯t even have the chance to speak to him. Out of convenience, he had changed into a T-shirt and track pants earlier¡ªan unusually casual sight. Outside the hospital emergency room, the scrawny girl was nervously pacing up and down. Yan Rusheng walked over with hurried steps. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± ¡°Third Young Master.¡± Bai Jing looked at Yan Rusheng and her dull and anxious looking eyes instantly brightened up as if she had seen a glimmer of hope in him. Although she addressed Xuxu as Third sister-in-law just like how Su Yue did, she didn¡¯t dare to address him as Third Brother. Yan Rusheng walked up to her as Bai Jing wiped away her tears without care. Yan Rusheng patted her shoulders and consoled her, ¡°Stop crying. Tell me about the situation now.¡± ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know.¡± At the mention of Bai Lisong, Bai Jing got worried and anxious that she sobbed again. Her voice choked as she answered, ¡°He suddenly held his stomach, turned pale and fainted.¡± She then pointed to the emergency room and cried uncontrollably. ¡°Until now, he¡¯s not out.¡± Yan Rusheng looked at the tears gushing down Bai Jing¡¯s cheeks. His heart ached as he looked at her. He reached into his pockets, but he had no tissue paper or handkerchief. There was nothing he could do except to extend his hand and pat her back. He comforted her. ¡°Stop crying and let¡¯s wait to hear from the doctor first.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Bai Jing nodded as she wiped away her tears. Although she found it hard to not cry, as she lifted her head and looked at Yan Rusheng, she bit her lips and swallowed back her tears. The two of them waited for quite a while outside the emergency room before the doctor emerged. Yan Rusheng rushed up. ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± ¡°Not good.¡± The doctor removed his mask and shook his head. ¡°We have gone through the patient¡¯s records and had an internal meeting to discuss his course of treatments, but¡­¡± Chapter 987. Trusting Him Wholeheartedly! The doctor didn¡¯t continue speaking. He turned to look at Bai Jing sombrely before turning back. ¡°At most a month.¡± His voice was calm. This was something they go through year after year, so matters regarding life and death had already numbed their senses and emotions. After hearing the doctor¡¯s words, Bai Jing was dumbstruck. She finally reacted after a long while and averted her gaze from the doctor to look towards Yan Rusheng. She was still in a daze as she looked at him. ¡°What¡­ did the¡­ doctor say?¡± ¡°Bai Jing, you must stay strong.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around and looked intently at Bai Jing. ¡°Only then will your father be able to leave in peace.¡± The truth was always cruel, but this was something she had to face, wasn¡¯t it? Since it was a matter of time, she had to deal with it¡ªhow she manages it doesn¡¯t matter. Other than feeling a little inferior of herself, the impression that Bai Jing gave him was that of a tough and unyielding girl. At least, she had the willpower and determination. Even when her rich mother enticed her with material provisions, she didn¡¯t lose her innocence and kindheartedness. ¡°I thought my dad¡­ merely lost a leg?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s face looked pale. She gripped Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm that her nails almost dug into his flesh as she spoke. Her voice choked with emotions as she said, ¡°Why did the doctor say such things?¡± There was fear in her eyes. Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°Your father has a terminal stage stomach cancer. He had known it even before he lost his leg.¡± Bai Jing widened her eyes with a jolt when she heard what he had to say. She briefly froze before screaming, ¡°No, you¡¯re lying!¡± She then shoved him away and wanted to enter the emergency room. Yan Rusheng immediately restrained her. ¡°Bai Jing, your father wants you to study hard. So don¡¯t let him down.¡± Bai Jing shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not possible! I want to study hard and earn money to bring him for a tour, to buy him wine¡­¡± She was hysterical. Whenever Yan Rusheng encountered such situations, he would either walk away or go forward to give a hug. But the latter was only meant for Xuxu. Thus, he felt helpless when he saw Bai Jing in such a state. Bai Jing suddenly squatted down, hugged her knees, and she buried her head and wailed badly. Her tears flowed uncontrollably down her face. Yan Rusheng also squatted down and patted Bai Jing lightly on her back as he gave her words of encouragement. ¡°If your dad comes out and sees you in this state, he will be sad and worried for you.¡± ¡°Why did my dad contract such an illness?¡± Bai Jing couldn¡¯t accept that her dad had terminal stage cancer, and so she silently sobbed. ¡°He¡¯s a good man who went through many hardships to raise me up. I must be a burden to him, so it must be me.¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t because of my school fees and medical expenses, he wouldn¡¯t be so tired and wouldn¡¯t have fallen ill.¡± Witnessing such a sight, Yan Rusheng¡¯s compassion took over. ¡°Bai Jing, you¡¯re a sensible child. What you need to do now is to be with your dad cheerfully and work hard in school.¡± He and Xuxu shared many similarities. Both felt that in moments of sadness, words of encouragement worked better than words of consolation. After crying for quite a while, Bai Jing gradually accepted the fact. She slowly lifted her head and looked at Yan Rusheng. As usual, her gaze was filled with trust. No¡­ it seemed that she trusted him much more than before¡ªtrusting him wholeheartedly. ¡°I will study hard.¡± There was determination in her voice. After that, she wiped away her tears without care. Yan Rusheng smiled as he looked at Bai Jing approvingly. Chapter 988. Call Me Third Brother Like How Su Yue Does Bai Lisong woke up and had returned to his ward. Bai Jing sat beside him and poured a cup of water, after which Bai Lisong slowly began to sip it. Yan Rusheng stood beside the bed and watched the father and daughter. His expression was somber and it had reflected his mood. Bai Lisong looked much better after drinking the warm water. He glanced at Bai Jing and muttered, ¡°Xiaojing, be nice to your mother the next time she is here. She is after all your mother, and she has the best interests for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing nodded. She understood her father¡¯s intentions. He was worried that she would be left alone if he passed away. She finally understood the reason her father had insisted on sending her to the capital city. He had ignored that fact she was about to take her college entrance exams in a month and had applied for a transfer. He knew of his condition, and he didn¡¯t have much time left. He wanted to entrust her to a woman whom she had never met before. He had done everything for the sake of her future. She had finally understood it now. So how could she bear to let her father down? Bai Lisong smiled weakly. ¡°My daughter is getting sensible.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s nose started to get red once more, and she breathed in deeply. ¡°Daddy, do you feel like eating anything? I¡¯ll buy porridge for you all right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Perhaps later.¡± Bai Lisong shook his head, looking pale and weak. ¡°Okay,¡± Bai Jing mumbled and then bit her lip. She rose and saw Yan Rusheng. She hastily greeted him. ¡°Third Young Master, please have a seat.¡± She was still very bashful. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°You can call me Third Brother like how Su Yue does.¡± Bai Jing felt awkward. ¡°How can I do that?¡± Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President was like a towering mountain. He was out of anyone¡¯s reach. Yan Rusheng pressed his lips. ¡°If you call Xuxu Third sister-in-law and me as Third Brother, I¡¯ll be glad.¡± He had said it casually, but to others, he was flaunting. Flaunting how much he loved Wen Xuxu and that they were inseparable. It startled Bai Jing for a moment before she wore a smile. ¡°All right then.¡± Bai Lisong began to drift off to sleep and the ward fell silent once more. Bai Jing brought the basin and towel she had used to wipe Bai Lisong into the bathroom so she could wash it. Yan Rusheng quietly sat on the couch, and Bai Jing slightly jumped when she saw him. She had assumed that he had left and her eyes were huge with shock. Yan Rusheng placed the magazine he was browsing through. He glanced at Bai Jing. ¡°When are you applying for university?¡± Bai Jing softly answered, ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°I heard from Yueyue you want to go to A University.¡± Yan Rusheng walked towards Bai Jing and peered at her. Bai Jing bent her head and mumbled, ¡°But I don¡¯t have confidence.¡± ¡°Give it a try,¡± Yan Rusheng encouraged her. ¡°Fill in those that you like.¡± He spoke softly, but he was firm and encouraging. Bai Jing cast her concerns aside and she smiled brightly. ¡°All right, I will.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to work now. Call for the caretaker if you need help,¡± Yan Rusheng said after glancing at his watch. Bai Jing nodded. Yan Rusheng cast Bai Jing a long, quiet look before sweeping past her. Bai Jing turned around and quietly watched him. Determination and confidence seemed to envelop her in that instant. ¡­ After breakfast, Xuxu changed and went downstairs. She saw Su Yue sitting on the sofa, holding a remote control, looking as if she was lost in thought. Chapter 989. Someone Scored a Basket Of Eggs Xuxu walked to Su Yue and bent her head. ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s on your mind? Are you going to look for Bai Jing today?¡± Su Yue pouted and appeared troubled. There was a frown on her face. ¡°Tomorrow, I need to choose my university.¡± So, that matter had troubled her! Xuxu sat beside her and flashed a warm smile. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I want to go to the same school as Bai Jing. She is my only friend in the capital city, and I¡¯m her only friend as well.¡± She began to fiddle with her fingers as she spoke. Xuxu gently prodded on, ¡°Silly girl. Are you thinking of going to A University just because of this reason?¡± This girl doesn¡¯t even bother to make friends. But once she made a friend, she would do anything for her within her means. Su Yue sighed. ¡°I know I won¡¯t be able to get in. If not, I wouldn¡¯t be so worried.¡± She slumped back against the couch as she stared at the ceiling. Xuxu smiled at the worried look on Su Yue¡¯s face. She raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°You really want to go to A University?¡± Su Yue knew that Xuxu must have a way to help her. Her face lit up, and she sat upright and nodded her head ferociously. ¡°Yes, Bai Jing wants to go to A University and so do I. I¡¯ve just called her and she has confirmed it with me.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Then you should apply for an Arts course in A University. It¡¯s still within the same campus.¡± Su Yue only had A University on her mind, and she doesn¡¯t care about anything else as long as she could enter that school. She stretched her hand and eagerly tugged at Xuxu. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Xuxu added on, looking more solemn. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re not counting on you to learn anything useful.¡± ¡°Great! Thank you, Third sister-in-law!¡± Su Yue hugged Xuxu tightly. ¡°I want to accompany you to work today.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be changing your clothes?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Su Yue sprinted to her room and came down shortly. She wore a light green dress, which Xuxu had bought for her recently, that ended at her knees. She slung a small bag over her shoulder. As she trod on, her footsteps were light-hearted. She radiated with positivity from top to toe. Xuxu quietly gazed at Su Yue and subconsciously, her gaze traveled to Wang Daqin¡¯s portrait. Her eyes glistened, and she bit her lips. Su Yue wound her arm around hers. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu turned around and stole another glance at Wang Daqin¡¯s portrait before leaving. ¡­ After their university application, they received their results on the third day. Su Yue became despondent after receiving her results. She lay collapsed on her bed and laid motionless. Xuxu knocked on her door, but she didn¡¯t respond. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you score a basket of eggs?¡± She knew that Su Yue must be unhappy with her results and she teased her. ¡°If you did, then I¡¯ll ask Aunt Zhang to cook eggs tonight.¡± She then bent to sit beside Su Yue. Su Yue didn¡¯t move nor spoke a word. Xuxu didn¡¯t talk to her anymore. She went back to her room to grab her phone in case there were urgent work matters. She turned on her camera and took a photo of Su Yue. She updated her WeChat. ¡®Come to my place for eggs tonight. A girl brought back a basket of eggs from her examinations.¡¯ After updating, she slapped Su Yue hard on her buttocks. ¡°Go look at your WeChat.¡± Chapter 990. Little Lass, My Offer Will Terminate Upon Expiration Su Yue heard Xuxu and grabbed her phone. She clicked on WeChat. She could hear Xuxu chuckling behind her. ¡°This woman Zhou Shuang already responded.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so ugly!¡± The photo Xuxu had taken upset Su Yue. She replied to Xuxu¡¯s update, ¡®I didn¡¯t score any eggs. I think I scored at least 300 points!¡¯ The moment she replied, messages came flooding in. Yan Rusheng was the first one. ¡®This little girl Su Yue is awesome!¡¯ He had set a special instant notification regarding Xuxu¡¯s update. It would notify him the instant she posted an update. Zhou Shuang, who had nothing to do recently, was the second to reply. ¡®Classmate Su is formidable!¡¯ The third in line was Lu Yinan. ¡®Classmate Su scored 300 points! That¡¯s brilliant.¡¯ Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan¡¯s replies were only three seconds apart from each other. A mischievous smile appeared on Su Yue¡¯s face as she typed away. ¡®Hooligan sister and Sissy Lu truly think alike after having babies together.¡¯ It dumbfounded Xuxu. Her response had garnered various reactions! ¡°Pfft!¡± Young Master Ming was in the midst of a meeting. Feeling bored, he scrolled through his phone when he noticed the updates on WeChat. He burst into laughter when he saw Su Yue¡¯s reply. ¡°President?¡± The rest of the people in the room was surprised to see him laughing. It was the first time they had witnessed their big boss laughing so happily. Everyone was interested regarding what had made Ming Ansheng crack up. Ming Ansheng lifted his head and peered at them. He turned solemn once more. ¡°Nothing much. Continue.¡± The atmosphere turned cold and solemn once more. Ming Ansheng received a shock when he saw the date. Work had swamped him in the past two days that it had slipped his mind that the lass was applying for university. She must have finished her application, and he wondered quietly about her choice. The moment he started thinking about her, he couldn¡¯t stop. ¡®Little lass, didn¡¯t you say you want a tattoo? Still want to go?¡¯ Su Yue was bored and was browsing through her messages. Suddenly, she received a text from Ming Ansheng. She saw the word ¡®tattoo¡¯ and hastily turned away from Xuxu. She then typed, ¡®Don¡¯t talk to me.¡¯ Ming Ansheng chuckled as he replied, ¡®Still mad at me?¡¯ Su Yue glanced at the text and deleted the entire conversation. He decided not to reply to his text anymore. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t receive her reply, and he couldn¡¯t help feel bothered and restless. He kept staring at his phone, completely ignoring the meeting. ¡°President, I will send the detailed event plan to Secretary Zhang for your perusal.¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Ming Ansheng nonchalantly grunted as a crease appeared in between his eyebrows. He seemed to be deep in thoughts, and it made everyone wonder what was on his mind. Everyone had finished reporting their respective progress and they had completed their meeting agenda. But the big boss didn¡¯t dismiss them so no one dared to leave. Ming Ansheng frowned and sent Su Yue a text again. ¡®Little lass, are you sure you don¡¯t want to go? I will terminate my offer upon expiration!¡¯ Su Yue immediately replied, ¡®I am someone who has integrity.¡¯ Ming Ansheng was speechless. If he continued to coax her, would she think he doesn¡¯t have integrity? With that, he stopped texting her and locked his phone. Chapter 991. I Will Never Forgive You! Everyone stared at him without a word. He had knitted his eyebrows together, and he then raised his voice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you all going back to work? Is everyone very f ree?¡± No one dared to dawdle and promptly replied, ¡°We will leave right away, President.¡± The meeting ended. Ming Ansheng suddenly felt exhausted and he pulled his drawer. He took out a packet of cigarettes which he hadn¡¯t touched in ages. He lit up a cigarette and smoked. He took a deep puff and blew out wisps of white smoke from his mouth. The smoke shrouded his handsome face, and it made him seem gloomier. His eyes darted to his phone once more¡ªthe expression in his bright eyes began to darken. ¡®Ming Ansheng, this is the difference between both of you. There is a generation gap ,¡¯ he lectured himself. She could be obstinate and carefree but he couldn¡¯t. ¡­ The pain in Bai Lisong¡¯s leg was subsiding as the days went past. However, his health deteriorated. The doctor said that with his condition, doing chemotherapy wouldn¡¯t work. It would only make him suffer more. To put it plainly, he was simply waiting for death. During the two weeks, he had lost so much weight that he only had skin and bones left. Bai Jing would silently sob every time he fell asleep. It was a gloomy day and there was a light drizzle. Bai Jing bought a bowl of plain porridge from the hospital¡¯s canteen for her father. Porridge was the only food that Bai Lisong could eat since a part of his stomach was already removed. When she left, her father was still asleep and a cleaner was cleaning the ward. The door was ajar as Bai Jing walked towards the ward. She saw doctors and nurses, and she froze. Something bad must have happened. ¡°Xiaojing.¡± A middle-aged woman, who was dressed elegantly, called her from the crowd. She walked towards Bai Jing as she wiped her tears. Bai Jing finally snapped out of her reverie, and she had dropped the porridge on the floor. Her eyes were huge with fear and shock. ¡°Daddy.¡± She screamed and bolted for the ward. She pushed the doctors and nurses beside the bed. She stared at her father, who was still lying peacefully on the bed with a frown. He didn¡¯t seem to be any different as when she had left him earlier on. Bai Jing rubbed her eyes and straightened her back. She turned around and told the doctors and nurses, ¡°Go away, please. My father is asleep. You¡¯ll wake him up.¡± She began to shove them. ¡°Xiaojing, your father is freed from his suffering.¡± Bai Lisong¡¯s doctor held Bai Jing and patted her back gently. He knew that Bai Jing could never accept the truth at the moment. All the hospital staff was very concerned and worried about the young girl. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be.¡± Bai Jing howled loudly and pushed the doctor away. ¡°My dad is just asleep. He was like this when I left just now. He is just sleeping!¡± She ran out of the ward and dashed to the spot where the container of porridge was. She picked it up and turned around. ¡°Xiaojing!¡± The middle-aged woman blocked her path and hugged her. After seeing how devastated and bereaved Bai Jing was, her tears began to fall. ¡°Go away! You don¡¯t want my father and me, so I don¡¯t want you here!¡± Bai Jing turned hysterical and began to shove Zhang Lihong away. She bellowed and screamed, ¡°I will never forgive you! I only want my father!¡± Bai Jing may seem fragile and petite, but in her hysterical state, it was hard to control her. Chapter 992. She Could Cry For As Long as She Needed Bai Jing pushed Zhang Lihong and she fell. ¡°Bai Jing!¡± A deep voice sounded from the door, and Bai Jing froze. The voice seemed to have the power to rouse her from her hysteria. She broke down once more. ¡°Ahhh.¡± The container of porridge fell to the floor once more, and she collapsed. The towering figure had scrambled towards her. He bent to lift her up by grabbing her arm. Bai Jing wailed loudly, like a child who had lost her way home. Her hands clenched Yan Rusheng¡¯s shirt tightly. A girl had just lost her only family, and her howls were heartbreaking to everyone present in the ward. Yan Rusheng put his arm around Bai Jing to console her. He knew that it was crueler to stop her from crying. She could cry for as long as she needed to. When his grandmother passed away, Xuxu had cried for days. She took a month to recover from her grief and until that very moment, she hadn¡¯t completely gotten over it. To Bai Jing, it was like her world had collapsed. Bai Jing buried her head in Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest and sobbed. Someone came to change Bai Lisong¡¯s clothes. Yan Rusheng patted her gently as he whispered, ¡°Let them change your father¡¯s clothes.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s tears continuously rolled down, and she quietly nodded. ¡­ Yan Rusheng helped to settle Bai Lisong¡¯s funeral. After all, he had saved his life. Bai Jing had no family or relatives in the capital city, and so no one came. Only Zhang Lihong stayed with Bai Jing. Her face seemed pale and haggard after several days. After Bai Lisong¡¯s funeral ended, they left the cemetery. Several black cars were parked outside the entrance of the cemetery. They belong to Yan Rusheng¡¯s friends, Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng. Su Yue held on to Bai Jing¡¯s hand as they walked behind Yan Rusheng. Xuxu couldn¡¯t come as Mu Li and Yan Weihong forbade her to. Hence, she couldn¡¯t give her last respects to Bai Lisong. ¡°Xiaojing.¡± Zhang Lihong called Bai Jing as they left the cemetery. Bai Jing halted her footsteps and turned to look at her with a face laden with grief. Zhang Lihong held Bai Jing¡¯s hand and pleaded with her. ¡°Come home with mommy all right? Give me a chance, will you?¡± She sounded sincere and earnest. Bai Jing bowed her head and kept quiet. She furrowed her eyebrows as though she was hesitating. Yan Rusheng stood beside his car and turned around to watch them. His hands were deep in his pockets as he waited. ¡°Xiaojing, your father is gone. No one else can take care of you anymore. Come with me all right?¡± Zhang Lihong rubbed her glistening eyes as she spoke. Bai Jing¡¯s mouth moved soundlessly. She turned towards Yan Rusheng and glanced at him. Yan Rusheng remained quiet. ¡°Bai Jing¡­¡± Su Yue stood beside her and tugged at her clothes. Bai Jing remained quiet and she walked to Yan Rusheng. She stopped before him and seemed to have something to say to him. Yan Rusheng spoke up first. ¡°You are going to university soon. Make your own decision.¡± He had promised that he would take care of her expenses from now on. Chapter 993. Get Hurt Easily No matter what Bai Jing¡¯s decision was, Yan Rusheng and Xuxu will support her. Xuxu guessed that Zhang Lihong would bring Bai Jing home after the funeral, and so she reminded Yan Rusheng to keep an eye on her. However, Yan Rusheng felt they shouldn¡¯t be interfering with her decision. She was still so young and she had a long way to go. ¡°Thank you for taking care of me and for the help you have given me during this period,¡± thanked Bai Jing with a grateful heart. She offered him a deep bow. Without him, she wouldn¡¯t know what to do regarding her father¡¯s funeral. Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°This is what I should do since your father saved my life.¡± Bai Jing raised her head and pressed her lips. She managed a feeble smile in response. It was a warm and bright day, and she looked slightly more alive as compared to the past few days. Bai Jing seemed to enter a trance as she gazed at Yan Rusheng¡¯s good-looking face. She quickly snapped out of it and mumbled, ¡°I promised my father I would go with her.¡± She clenched her fists as she said those words. Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°All right. If you need help, you can call me or Xuxu in the future.¡± Bai Jing smiled and turned around towards Zhang Lihong. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It momentarily startled Zhang Lihong. She quickly wiped her tears after she realized what was going on. ¡°Come to mommy.¡± She extended her hand towards Bai Jing; however, the girl instinctively avoided her. Zhang Lihong looked disappointed, but she was still glad. ¡°Su Yue, goodbye.¡± Bai Jing glanced at Su Yue and waved. The corners of Su Yue¡¯s mouth sank as she stared at her. ¡°You can call me if you¡¯re unhappy.¡± Bai Jing nodded and followed Zhang Lihong to her car. The black Mercedes drove off while Su Yue reluctantly watched. Yan Rusheng strode to Su Yue¡¯s side and watched her expression. He affectionately smiled at her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the same university as her? You¡¯ll see her soon.¡± He looked at Su Yue and the gaze in his eyes turned deep. Xuxu was right about Su Yue. Once the girl developed a liking or friendship for someone, she would pour out her heart and soul. She was too emotional and pure, making her hurt easily. Actually, she still didn¡¯t know how to love someone, nor did she know how to forge a friendship. Bai Jing¡¯s car vanished out of sight and Su Yue finally moved. She shuffled and turned her head towards Yan Rusheng, looking worried. ¡°Third Brother, do you think Bai Jing will be happy?¡± ¡°Everyone has their happy and sad moments. They have to learn how to face and adapt to it,¡± said Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother, do you have any troubles that you deal with?¡± asked Su Yue with a frown. ¡°Certainly.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. Su Yue craned her neck to take a proper look at him. ¡°What are you troubled with?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t understand,¡± Yan Rusheng curtly answered and held her hand. He led the way to his car and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± How would she understand his troubles even if he confided in her? ¡°Why does my brother travel so often?¡± Su Yue asked out of the blue. She pressed on, ¡°Is he dating the haughty clown?¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. He realized that the girl loved to use the nicknames that Zhou Shuang had used before. Sissy Lu was one of them, and now this nickname had stuck. Haughty clown . Will she continue to use it? He chortled as he tapped Su Yue¡¯s head. ¡°Let¡¯s go home now. Don¡¯t bother with unnecessary stuff.¡± Chapter 994. I Cant Do it, Im Going to Die Su Yue tilted her head to glare at him. ¡°My third sister-in-law said that I can date once I enter university.¡± Yan Rusheng heard her and chuckled. ¡°You want to date someone? Do you have someone you like?¡± ¡°Third Brother, you are such a busybody.¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng. She then hastened her footsteps. She stretched her hand to open the car door when her eyes flitted past the car behind them. A man was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, and the black shirt he was wearing made him appear more somber. Su Yue stared at him and pouted. She opened the door and got in. Ming Ansheng helplessly shook his head. This girl was too petty. She had been mad at him for days just because he didn¡¯t bring her on a spin. Yan Rusheng could tell that Su Yue was angry with Ming Ansheng and it had him perplexed. He bent and peered his head through the car window. ¡°How did you offend her?¡± asked Yan Rusheng with a grin. Ming Ansheng looked helpless and rather resigned. ¡°Just because I wanted to save fuel.¡± Yan Rusheng loudly chuckled after. ¡®My third sister-in-law said that I can date once I enter university.¡± Ming Ansheng watched as the champagne-colored Bentley drove off. He lit a cigarette and took a few puffs. He took a few puffs rather hurriedly that it seared his throat. He began coughing. He threw the cigarette out of the window and gulped down some water. His throat began to feel better. Once he raised his head, the champagne-colored Bentley was merely a tiny dot in the distance. He suddenly began to mock himself quietly. ¡®Ming Ansheng, everyone says that you¡¯re intelligent, calm and disciplined. But¡­ didn¡¯t you fall into a trap nevertheless?¡¯ Ming Ansheng lectured himself in his heart. ¡®There would be many outstanding and similar people like her at the university. And the distance between you and her would only grow.¡¯ He just needed to curb his desire and longing for a while more. Perhaps time will make everything right again. He started his car and stepped on the accelerator. He swiftly sped away, and the breeze had blown away the smoke. ¡­ ¡°Oh my god, I can¡¯t do it. I¡¯m going to die!¡± Zhou Shuang was pregnant for only two months, and she had been puking out whatever she ate. She was very dramatic and Xuxu could only feel negativity radiating from her. She would complain that she would die, or yell that she wasn¡¯t going to give birth. Other than grumbling, all she did was to complain. Xuxu went to visit Zhou Shuang. She brought some lotus seed soup for her. Zhou Shuang had barely finished the soup when she felt nauseous. After coming out from her bathroom, she grumbled once more. Xuxu chided, ¡°After you¡¯ve given birth to your babies, you can go and die.¡± Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Then who will provide them with milk to drink if I die?¡± She bent and sat down beside Xuxu. She pulled a piece of tissue and dabbed it at her face. Xuxu glanced askew at Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest and sneered. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll have enough milk for three of them?¡± Zhou Shuang retorted indignantly as she stared at her chest. ¡°Do you think yours is enough?¡± She stretched her hand towards Xuxu¡¯s chest. Xuxu dodged and she became solemn. ¡°Just tell me what happened between you and Lu Yinan. When your mother came back, did she meet his family?¡± ¡°Why should we?¡± breathed Zhou Shuang. She nonchalantly added, ¡°It¡¯s not as if my family can¡¯t afford to raise these three imps. My father was really happy. He even said that they can all adopt my surname.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. It was really possible that Zhou Shuang¡¯s father would make such remarks. Chapter 995. Youre Defending Lu Yinan Zhou Shuang was her parents¡¯ only daughter, and their family was well-to-do. They could even bring up 30 children, and not to mention the triplets Zhou Shuang was already carrying. Why do they have to give up their daughter and grandchildren to a man who doesn¡¯t love or care for their daughter? Sigh. But a family wouldn¡¯t be complete without a father. This matter aside, would the Lu family agree to Zhou Shuang bringing up the triplets on her own? Because she was loyal to Zhou Shuang, she agreed that she shouldn¡¯t give up her children to Lu Yinan. But realistically speaking, the Lu family¡ªwith their wealth and status alone¡ªwould have various ways to take the children away from Zhou Shuang after she had given birth. When the time comes, they would separate the children from each other. Xuxu began to fear for the future as she watched Zhou Shuang intently. ¡°Shuang, maybe you can try to see if you can get along with Lu Yinan. To see if you could develop a relationship?¡± Actually, that group of playboys may seem playful and frivolous on the surface, but they weren¡¯t entirely bad. If they could get together in the end, wouldn¡¯t it be perfect? Zhou Shuang widened her eyes in shock after digesting Xuxu¡¯s advice. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare harm me. I swear to you that within three months, my fetuses will definitely be affected.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. Deep down, she knew that Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t exaggerating. They bicker whenever they meet, and they seemed to dislike each other. Especially that Lu Yinan who was even more spoiled and pampered than Yan Rusheng. If he really wanted the children, he needed to change his attitude and be more gracious. She couldn¡¯t help but show her contempt for Lu Yinan. ¡°But that¡¯s true. Lu Yinan really can¡¯t compare to Yan Rusheng.¡± She stole a glance at Zhou Shuang as an evil gleam shot across her eyes. Zhou Shuang dismissed her with a wave. ¡°Yan Rusheng isn¡¯t a good guy either. All of them are rotten trash.¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°Now that I¡¯m pregnant, he would always give in to me. Whenever I have cravings in the middle of the night, he would always buy it for me.¡± ¡°Oh c¡¯mon.¡± Zhou Shuang snorted and rolled her eyes. ¡°Stop boasting about that pretentious one. He loves you, but remember that you didn¡¯t like each other before and that you bickered day and night? If I didn¡¯t help you to beat him up, we wouldn¡¯t have disliked each other.¡± She held a glass of orange juice and drank. Xuxu finally revealed her true intentions and grinned. ¡°Why does it sound to me that you¡¯re defending Lu Yinan?¡± ¡°When did I!?¡± cried Zhou Shuang. Her eyes were huge as she protested. ¡°You must be joking. My brain must be malfunctioning if I ever defended that wimp and sissy. He is only suitable to be a sissy alright!¡± After her vehement denials, she bit her straw and began to gulp down the juice. Every gulp she took made her throat move. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand what¡¯s on your mind.¡± Xuxu sighed. ¡°If you are sure you don¡¯t want to be with Lu Yinan, then just go back to Country M. You¡¯re pregnant now and all alone. Do you think your lifestyle is suitable for a pregnant woman? Your family can take care of you back in Country M.¡± She was staying alone and she refused to hire a nanny. Everyday she would eat takeaways. Such a lifestyle would fine if she wasn¡¯t pregnant. But now that she was, it won¡¯t work in the long term. ¡°I¡¯m going back,¡± replied Zhou Shuang. ¡°My parents are coming back next week. I¡¯m going back with them.¡± She finished her orange juice and slumped back on her seat once more. Chapter 996. Just Don’t Really Like Children Zhou Shuang sounded and seemed so nonchalant and carefree. It startled Xuxu. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re leaving?¡± She was merely throwing out suggestions and it surprised her that Zhou Shuang had already decided to head back to Country M. Zhou Shuang retorted airily, ¡°Just like what you¡¯ve said, I would lead a more normal life when I go back. At least that Sissy Lu won¡¯t anger or annoy me every other day.¡± Xuxu hesitantly bit her lips¡ªshe shared the same sentiments as Zhou Shuang. Both of them should spend some time to cool down. But she wasn¡¯t reluctant to part with Zhou Shuang. ¡°Let me know before you leave.¡± In the capital city, Xuxu doesn¡¯t have many friends. Her only close confidante was Zhou Shuang. Who should she look for in the future when she needed someone to talk to? Zhou Shuang added, ¡°Once you¡¯ve given birth, I will come back to visit you.¡± Xuxu grinned. ¡°Forget it. By the time I give birth, your belly should be gigantic. It would be torture for you during the long flight.¡± She was the perfect example of an idealist who didn¡¯t carefully think over things enough. Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Children are so troublesome! I really can¡¯t understand why people want children!¡± She began to carelessly rub her belly. But of course¡­ she was being very gentle. Xuxu rolled her eyes and rebuked, ¡°If your parents share the same thought like you, you wouldn¡¯t be here right now.¡± Zhou Shuang pursed her lips. ¡°Anyway, I just don¡¯t really like them.¡± Xuxu quipped, ¡°But you were patient towards the children at the orphanage.¡± ¡°If I see them occasionally, it¡¯s fine. How can it be compared to hearing a child¡¯s cries every day?¡± That¡­ was indeed true. Xuxu smiled at the mention of the orphanage. Her mind wandered to a little chubby face that belonged to Little Huanhuan. ¡°Come to think of it. It has been a long time since I last visited the orphanage. I wonder how Huanhuan is doing?¡± ¡°Shall we go now?¡± Zhou Shuang sat upright and her eyes sparkled with eagerness. She was very excited and delighted by her own suggestion. Her morning sickness was terrible these few days that she couldn¡¯t head out. She felt like she was rotting away at home. ¡°You really act on your whim.¡± Xuxu hesitated and to her surprise, Shuang had piqued her interest. ¡°Let¡¯s go now. I haven¡¯t visited Huanhuan for such a long time. Do you think she has forgotten me?¡± ¡°Pretentious fellow!¡± Zhou Shuang poked Xuxu¡¯s head and leaped to her feet. She hastily ran to her room. ¡°I¡¯ll get changed.¡± Her carelessness had horrified Xuxu. ¡°Can you slow down!?¡± She doesn¡¯t even seem to remember that she was pregnant. Xuxu¡¯s belly was really huge, and Mu Li had insisted that she bring along the chauffeur wherever she went. The chauffeur was waiting at the roadside for her. The sun was blazing and the temperature had reached 35 degrees before noon. They got in the car. Xuxu whipped out her phone and sent Yan Rusheng a text. ¡®I¡¯m going to the orphanage now with Zhou Shuang. You know what to do.¡¯ She cast Zhou Shuang a long calculating look before stowing her phone away. ¡­ Yan Rusheng had just stood up to take a break when he received a text from Xuxu. He grinned brightly. He replied Xuxu with an ¡®okay¡¯ and promptly searched for Lu Yinan¡¯s number. He typed, ¡®Your children¡¯s mother and my woman are heading to the orphanage now.¡¯ Lu Yinan called him almost instantly after he sent the text. Chapter 997. Don’t You Scold My Wife Along With Her! Yan Rusheng deliberately waited for some time before picking up Lu Yinan¡¯s call. He immediately teased, ¡°Seems like your medical skills are really bad. Isn¡¯t this the busiest time at the hospital? Yet you¡¯re clutching your phone in your hands all day long.¡± If not, then why would Lu Yinan be able to call him immediately after receiving the text. Lu Yinan disregarded Yan Runan¡¯s snide remarks and shot him a question. ¡°It¡¯s so hot outside, are they both brainless? Why did they head out instead of staying at home?¡± ¡°You are the one who is brainless. Go ahead and scold your Hooligan Zhou, but don¡¯t you scold my wife along with her!¡± Young Master Yan displayed how he valued his wife more than his friends. Lu Yinan was speechless for a moment and asked, ¡°So why did you inform me they are going to the orphanage?¡± ¡°Then pretend that you didn¡¯t read my text,¡± Yan Rusheng curtly answered and promptly hung up. He threw his phone carelessly on the desk. Lu Yinan called once more, but he ignored his call this time around. Just as Xuxu had expected, the children all stared at them quietly as though they were strangers. She hadn¡¯t visited them in more than half a year, and now she had appeared with a protruding belly. She looked vastly different in their eyes. Sister Xuxu was slim and slender and she had long hair. Now she had totally changed, all of them couldn¡¯t recognize her at first glance. Countless pairs of eyes stared at her. She stifled a smile as she waited to see who could recognize her first. The new location of the orphanage was the house she had bought for them. They had planted vegetables in the courtyard. And it was full of vitality everywhere. ¡°Sister Xuxu!¡± A little girl came dashing out of the house as she shouted sweetly. Xuxu glanced towards the direction of the voice and saw a girl wearing a plum-colored dress running towards her. She beamed happily at her and her eyes twinkled with joy. She bent and squatted as she waited for Huanhuan to stand before her. ¡°Little Huanhuan is the best.¡± Xuxu pinched her chubby cheeks. The little girl was perspiring as she raised her face to gaze at Xuxu for a while. Then her eyes darted to her tummy. ¡°Is Sister Xuxu having a baby?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, I am going to have a baby.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Huanhuan clapped and cheered. ¡°Will the baby call me sister?¡± ¡°Yes, they will.¡± Xuxu kissed Huanhuan¡¯s forehead. She straightened her back and sighed to herself. ¡°A few months have passed and you¡¯ve grown so much.¡± Zhou Shuang lamented as well. ¡°These guys have all grown up.¡± Matron Huang came bustling out from the house and overheard Xuxu and Zhou Shuang. She smiled contentedly at them. ¡°Children really grow up quickly.¡± She pointed to Xuxu¡¯s belly. ¡°When you give birth, you might feel that the baby looks really tiny. But in the blink of an eye, you will lament about how time passes too quickly and we would all have aged.¡± Xuxu chuckled. ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± Since Xuxu hadn¡¯t visited them for a long time, it took a while before the children began to warm up to her. They crowded around Xuxu and Zhou Shuang and refused to let them leave. The new location of the orphanage was even further away than the previous location. It would take a two-hour ride from the city to get there. The place was rather remote, but the environment was ideal for the children. Xuxu didn¡¯t want to leave too soon since she wasn¡¯t sure when she would get to visit them again. She promised the children she would stay to eat with them. Matron Huang hurriedly got the staff to prepare more food for Xuxu and Zhou Shuang. Chapter 998. If Third Master Doesn’t Mind Zhou Shuang found the rice cooked in the large pot exceptionally delicious. She had basically been puking after every meal for the past few days. But sitting here, eating with this group of kids, she had actually eaten two consecutive bowls of rice with no sign of nausea. So, she ate another bowl. Their large dining table was made of many small classroom tables put together. They placed the table in the main hall, and all the little children sat around the table in a circle. Because of many people gathered around, everyone was perspiring although the ceiling fan was adjusted to its maximum power. Nevertheless, it didn¡¯t affect their appetite. When Yan Rusheng entered, the first thing he saw was the beads of perspiration on Xuxu¡¯s forehead. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly, and when his gaze swept through the entire congregation, they furrowed even more. ¡®Why isn¡¯t there air-conditioning?¡¯ ¡°Hey, Third Master is here,¡± Matron Huang called out. She was bringing dishes out from the back. When she saw him at the main entrance, it gave her a slight shock. His appearance surprised Xuxu as well. She then turned around and saw the tall man. He stood by the door, like a statue. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked. She was holding a bowl with her chopsticks in her mouth. And from where she was, she blended in well with the children. ¡°To fetch you,¡± he replied, walking to her then peering down at her. ¡°Oh.¡± Then Xuxu stuffed her mouth with another mouthful of rice before looking up at him. She chewed as she asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± Before Xuxu could reply, Matron Huang immediately suggested, ¡°If Third Master doesn¡¯t mind, he can join us.¡± But these were mere formalities. Who was she kidding? Why would the respectable Third Young Master have such a simple meal with these children at the orphanage? However, Yan Rusheng lightly nodded his head and agreed with an ¡®Mm¡¯. Shock flashed through Matron Huang¡¯s eyes. Before she could react, Yan Rusheng had lifted up a kid who was sitting beside Xuxu and placed him on an empty chair behind him. Then, ignoring the looks of contempt from Zhou Shuang and Xuxu, he sat down on the child¡¯s original seat. It was weird to see such a huge frame sitting on such a small wooden chair. Xuxu frowned, glaring at him coldly. ¡°Yan Rusheng, must you be so domineering? Can¡¯t you be more polite to these children?¡± First, he had carried the child away, then he still had the nerve to sit in his original seat? Matron Huang hurriedly replied with a smile. ¡°Nevermind, I¡¯ll go get a bowl of rice for Third Master.¡± She then turned around and walked towards the kitchen. Yan Rusheng looked at her and said, ¡°Two bowls.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Matron Huang replied. It confused Xuxu. ¡°Why do you want two bowls of rice?¡± Couldn¡¯t he get more rice after he was done with the first? Yan Rusheng gave a mysterious smile. He plainly told Xuxu, ¡°I brought a dog over. It¡¯s by the door. I¡¯ll give him a bowl later.¡± Before he could finish, a tall man rushed through the door. ¡°You are the dog. Wen Xuxu is bearing two puppies.¡± Young Master Lu angrily entered, taking Xuxu and Zhou Shuang by surprise. They completely didn¡¯t expect Lu Yinan to be here. Yan Rusheng took the two bowls of rice from Matron Huang and took a large mouthful. Then he peered up at him, a face of despise as he sized Lu Yinan up. ¡°Look at you, being all petty and calculating. No wonder no woman likes you.¡± Chapter 999. What’s With His Haughty Air? He then lowered his head and continued eating. It dumbfounded Xuxu. He had spoken so venomously when he called Lu Yinan a dog, and when the latter had retaliated, he said he was petty? If the roles were reversed, Yan Rusheng would have definitely struck back with something worse. ¡°Who is this?¡± Matron Huang asked, still holding a bowl of rice. She knew that it was for Lu Yinan, but she had never seen him before and didn¡¯t know how to address him. She looked at Xuxu. Xuxu was about to introduce him when Zhou Shuang, who was sitting opposite her, piped up. ¡°Call him Sissy Lu.¡± Then, using her chopsticks, she placed a soybean in her mouth, chewing with relish. Lu Yinan¡¯s expression darkened. He glared at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Hooligan, must you pick a fight every time we meet?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give two hoots about you,¡± Zhou Shuang replied coldly. She continued eating. ¡®I¡¯ve had enough of these two!¡¯ They quarreled whenever they met. Xuxu frowned, giving Zhou Shuang the stink eye. Then she raised her head to look at Lu Yinan. ¡°Young Master Lu, if you don¡¯t want to eat then you can wait outside.¡± ¡®Yan Rusheng was right about him. At this juncture, can¡¯t he stop being so petty? Can¡¯t he just give in to a woman?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s already here, so what¡¯s up with his haughty air? Can¡¯t he let it go?¡¯ ¡°Mr. Lu, you can join us if you don¡¯t mind,¡± Matron Huang said as she offered Lu Yinan the bowl of rice. Lu Yinan didn¡¯t reach for it immediately. He glanced at the dishes on the table and looked up at the ceiling fan. He then realized how hot it was. This environment¡­ and the large metal pot containing vegetables¡­ His gaze finally landed on Yan Rusheng. He was holding a bowl of rice and savoring the dishes. It had Lu Yinan in shock. Yan Rusheng was the pickiest of them all, so it came as a shock to see him sitting amongst these children. He was even enjoying his meal. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, a drop of perspiration from his forehead had dripped into his bowl of rice. Then it dawned on him that Third Yan had changed a lot. Seeing that Lu Yinan didn¡¯t make a move to take the bowl, Matron Huang thought he wasn¡¯t eating and retracted her arm. A cold smile subconsciously flitted onto Zhou Shuang¡¯s face when she saw it. ¡°Thank you.¡± Suddenly, Lu Yinan extended his arm and retrieved the bowl of rice from Matron Huang. Since Matron Huang had already turned around to leave, Lu Yinan looked like he had snatched it from her. He sniffed the bowl of rice. To be frank, it smelled pretty good. When he was already behind Zhou Shuang, a small boy, who was sitting beside her, voluntarily gave up his seat. Xuxu chuckled when she saw it. Because that little imp was looking at Yan Rusheng with fear in his eyes. Obviously, the latter¡¯s previous crude behavior towards his friend had frightened him. And this boy was quick to realize that Lu Yinan wanted to sit there. The moment the seat was offered, Lu Yinan sat down. Zhou Shuang immediately shifted her chair in the opposite direction, widening the distance between her and Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan¡¯s expression darkened once more, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He took a mouthful of rice and took a vegetable leaf using his chopsticks, preparing to stuff it into his mouth. He was about to put it into his mouth when he stopped. After hesitating, he placed the vegetable in Zhou Shuang¡¯s bowl. ¡°Eat more veggies. Don¡¯t just eat meat, you need vitamins.¡± Chapter 1000. That Woman Doesn’t Know What’s Good For Her He saw that Zhou Shuang¡¯s bowl was full of meat. Zhou Shuang immediately picked up that piece of vegetable and threw it away. She then stuffed a piece of meat into her mouth. She was obviously opposing him on purpose. Lu Yinan lost his cool again. He ignored her and stuffed his mouth with rice. ¡°Sister Xuxu, is that Sister Zhou Shuang¡¯s boyfriend?¡± Little Huanhuan, who was sitting on the other side of Xuxu, asked. She curiously sized Lu Yinan up, her plump hands holding on to the fork plopped in her mouth. ¡°Er¡­¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know how to answer her. ¡®What was the relationship between Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang?¡¯ She really didn¡¯t know. They weren¡¯t anything¡ªbut they were already having children. But they weren¡¯t something either¡ªthey couldn¡¯t stand the sight of each other. Yan Rusheng piped up from beside her. ¡°He¡¯s the father of the children in Sister Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly.¡± He looked at Huanhuan, then bowed his head and continued eating. The food at the orphanage seemed nicer than that at home. When Huanhuan heard it, she covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°Brother-in-law, you¡¯re so silly. If so, then he¡¯s Sister Zhou Shuang¡¯s husband.¡± Zhou Shuang immediately corrected her. ¡°Little lass, I have nothing to do with him.¡± ¡°I know, Sister Zhou Shuang is shy,¡± Huanhuan said as she gave an all-knowing smile. ¡°Sister Xuxu also has babies, but she¡¯s not shy.¡± Basically, she meant, Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t have to be shy. Zhou Shuang was speechless. She glared at Lu Yinan, then mumbled to herself, ¡°I don¡¯t understand why he came.¡± ¡°I must¡¯ve been nuts when I decided to come to fetch you,¡± Lu Yinan vented, slamming his bowl on the table loudly, scaring all the children. He ignored them, got up and walked toward the main door. Xuxu frowned, unhappy with Lu Yinan¡¯s attitude. With this attitude of his, the two of them wouldn¡¯t have much of a future together. Zhou Shuang lowered her head and coldly curled her lips. She had known that they weren¡¯t compatible with each other. Then she lifted her head and attempted to liven the atmosphere. ¡°Let¡¯s eat, everyone. After dinner, I¡¯ll tell you stories and sing you nursery rhymes.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the children replied and nodded. ¡­ Yan Rusheng finished up his food quickly and put down his bowl. He gave Xuxu a meaningful look, then got up to leave. After he exited, he saw Lu Yinan smoking on a big locust tree in the corner of the courtyard. He looked depressed. As Yan Rusheng walked over, he said, ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to get along with her, then you have to give up the children. Anyway, there are plenty of women to bear your children if you want them to. Zhou Shuang¡¯s family will raise the children.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lu Yinan turned his head to glare at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Will you agree to be separated from your three children?¡± His children belonged to the Lu family. He wouldn¡¯t allow the children to follow that female hooligan. He¡¯d snatch them from her if he had to. Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t be in that situation.¡± His tone was full of confidence. Lu Yinan looked towards the main entrance and coldly remarked, ¡°That ignorant woman doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her.¡± He had come all the way here to fetch her, yet she kept making things difficult for him. He took a deep puff of smoke and threw the cigarette butt on the floor, stepping on it to extinguish it. ¡°Lu Yinan, women and children are the same. You need to appease them.¡± Concern filled Yan Rusheng. ¡°You¡¯re too impulsive. But if you¡¯re only doing this for the children, it won¡¯t be easy.¡± Chapter 1001. This Posturing fellow Had Surpassed Yan Rusheng ¡°Ha.¡± Lu Yinan coldly snorted. ¡°Now that I want to be responsible for my actions, that person simply doesn¡¯t give a damn.¡± ¡°This is indeed tricky. For the sake of the children.¡± Yan Rusheng had trouble concealing a grin. ¡°Can you explain why did you go to her room after getting drunk?¡± They haven¡¯t been able to figure out the reason Lu Yinan had gone to Zhou Shuang¡¯s room that night. ¡°Beats me too.¡± Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows tightly and stuffed his hands deep in his pockets. He looked depressed as he leaned against the tree. Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°Think carefully. If you want the children, you need to get the woman as well. If not, forget about both.¡± ¡°Why are you acting like a relationship expert?¡± Lu Yinan glanced at Yan Rusheng with an amused expression. Yan Rusheng gave him a supercilious look. He retorted, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t because my Xuxu has been fretting over what will happen to the mother of your children, I wouldn¡¯t waste my breath on you.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ That explained why he was suddenly dishing out advice so earnestly. It was because of Wen Xuxu. He frowned and sneered with disdain. ¡°Third Yan, other than Wen Xuxu, is there anyone else you care about?¡± ¡°Xuxurusheng, how can I add anyone else?¡± Yan Rusheng answered haughtily before turning around to leave. ¡°Hey!¡± Lu Yinan finally snapped after Yan Rusheng had walked for some distance. He sprinted after him. Before he reached the entrance, the bustling and noisy house suddenly quieted down. A woman began singing. ¡®The dark sky hung low¡­ as the bright stars filled the sky. Fireflies, fireflies, who are you thinking of¡­ the stars are crying and the roses are wilting away¡­ the cold wind blows, the cold wind blows¡­¡¯ It stunned Lu Yinan when he heard the song. He mumbled to himself about how this hooligan could actually sing. Usually, she would be spewing vulgarities. ¡°Sister Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice is too lovely!¡± Applause filled the place when she finished the song. Lu Yinan suddenly jerked. He realized that he seemed to have entered a trance. He took some time to recover himself before entering the house. He beamed at the innocent faces as he declared, ¡°My voice is nicer than hers.¡± He strode towards Zhou Shuang. No one believed him as they protested. ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Lu Yinan acted as if nothing had happened, and he sat down beside Zhou Shuang. He smiled at them and glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Ask Sister Zhou Shuang if you don¡¯t believe me. I joined a band when I was in high school.¡± Zhou Shuang remained mum as she threw him a contemptuous look. Bragging about being in a band to all these little children. This posturing fellow had surpassed Yan Rusheng. Xuxu watched both of them and turned to glance at Yan Rusheng. Their eyes met at the same time. Both of them broke into a smile as though they¡¯ve read each other¡¯s mind. ¡­ Xuxu and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t go home for dinner tonight, hence the rest of the family ate dinner earlier than usual. The sky wasn¡¯t even dark yet. Su Yue had just showered and changed into her pajamas. She collapsed on the bed, feeling bored. Su Yan was away on a work trip, so she stayed with the Yan family. After an afternoon nap, she woke up feeling refreshed. She stared at the ceiling for some time before grabbing her phone to call Xuxu. She wanted to ask Xuxu when would she be back. However, a thought struck her, so she opened WeChat instead. She clicked on Ming Ansheng¡¯s name. She hesitated briefly before sending a punctuation mark to him. She placed the phone next to her and lay sideways to stare at the screen. ¡°One, two, three, four, five.¡± Chapter 1002. This Aloof and Pretentious Little Lass Su Yue began to quietly count in her heart as she waited for Ming Ansheng to reply. But she wasn¡¯t sure if Ming Ansheng would since she only sent him a punctuation mark. She was beginning to feel disappointed when her screen lit up. It was a text from Ming Ansheng. She excitedly grabbed her phone and read the text. ¡®What is it?¡¯ Su Yue pouted her lips smugly and replied. ¡®I accidentally pressed it.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied quickly, ¡®Oh. What are you doing?¡¯ Su Yue typed, ¡®Looking at the ceiling.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Have you eaten?¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡®Yes, I did.¡¯ Su Yue was trying to maintain her aloofness. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Rest early then.¡¯ Was he ending their conversation? Su Yue was flustered and typed the words she had been keeping inside her heart. ¡®You said that you would bring me to get a tattoo. Are you still keeping that promise?¡¯ Ming Ansheng was about to keep his phone away when he saw Su Yue¡¯s reply. Subconsciously, he smiled to himself. His good-looking face seemed to blossom like a flower in spring. ¡°This aloof and pretentious little lass,¡± Ming Ansheng muttered to himself as he continued to smile blissfully. Just because he didn¡¯t bring her out for a longer ride? She was angry with him for a few days. Even if she had initiated the conversation today, he wouldn¡¯t be so stupid to bring up that matter again. Ming Ansheng hesitated for a while as he read her text again. He replied, ¡®Yes. When do you want to go?¡¯ He knew that this young lass wasn¡¯t someone he could offend. He needed to answer her question directly without any teasing. If not her pride might be hurt and she would ignore her. The consequences might be her not talking to him for weeks. Su Yue typed hastily. ¡®Now. I want to go now.¡¯ Her response had tempted Ming Ansheng but he had his reservations. ¡®It¡¯s getting late. Will your third brother and third sister-in-law agree to you going out?¡¯ Su Yue typed, ¡®They are still at the orphanage. My second uncle and aunt are watching a movie. I¡¯m so bored at home.¡¯ Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and replied Su Yue. ¡®I¡¯ll fetch you now.¡¯ After sending her a reply, he stood up and marched to the door. Some of his staff were still working. All of them hastily stood up to greet him. ¡°President.¡± ¡°President.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s secretary rose as well and followed him. He stared at him with a frown, unable to understand the urgency in his boss¡¯s footsteps. Ming Ansheng reached the elevator, and he pressed the button as he instructed his secretary. ¡°Tell them to finish it by tonight. I¡¯ll take a look tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± His secretary nodded. Ming Ansheng stepped into the elevator and his phone vibrated. Su Yue replied with a ¡®yes¡¯. Ming Ansheng curled his lips¡ªa gentle and affectionate smile could be seen on his face. He drove his car out from the basement and headed straight for the Yan¡¯s house. Surprisingly, there wasn¡¯t any traffic that night. At a traffic junction, Ming Ansheng began to slow down when he approached it. He saw a fast food restaurant a short distance away. Without thinking, he immediately turned his car towards the direction of Kentucky Fried Chicken. He got off the car and entered the restaurant. It was dinnertime and people crowded the restaurant. Chapter 1003. What If They Sensed That Something Was Amiss Ming Ansheng scanned the entire place briefly as he tried to find a shorter queue. He was too good-looking that it attracted the attention of the patrons. especially young girls. This seemed to be his first time queuing at a fastfood restaurant. He had always labeled fast food as ¡®rubbish food¡¯. He felt rather awkward and didn¡¯t know where to place his hands. In the end, he stuffed his hands inside his pockets and it made him appear even taller. After quite a torturous wait, it was finally his turn. ¡°Good evening.¡± The young staff smiled and nodded at Ming Ansheng. She immediately blushed and wanted to look at him once more, but was too bashful to do so. Ming Ansheng was reading the menu behind her. ¡°Give me five pairs of chicken wings and two¡­¡± He changed his mind abruptly. ¡°A cup of coke.¡± Soft drinks are bad for a girl who was going through puberty. Because of his outstanding looks, he received special service. And his waiting time was shorter too. ¡­ After Su Yue changed her clothes, she left the house and waited by the roadside. She was wearing a blush pink t-shirt, a pair of white denim shorts, and green track shoes. She tied her hair into a ponytail, and it made her look lively and energetic. A strong beam of light shone from the darkness ahead. Instinctively, Su Yue used her elbow to block the light. The lights began to dim. By the time she put down her elbow, the car stopped beside her. A man poked his head out of the car. He was wearing a warm and gentle smile. ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling warm standing here?¡± It was the hottest period in the summer that even the tar pavements seemed to radiate the heat. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She rounded the car, opened the front door, and sat in the front passenger seat. Ming Ansheng spun his head to look at her properly since it had been a week since they last met. ¡°You seemed to have gained weight.¡± He gave a casual remark and followed up with the bag of chicken wings. ¡°I bought food for you.¡± Even though she was still full from dinner, Su Yue began to salivate once more when she saw the chicken wings. She received the bag and thanked him with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re getting more polite.¡± Ming Ansheng praised her before starting the car¡¯s engine. ¡°That place is quite far. If you are getting a tattoo, it would take hours. Are you sure your third brother and third sister-in-law would be okay?¡± Su Yue replied confidently, ¡°I told them I¡¯m with you. They won¡¯t worry.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. It was true that Third Yan and Xuxu wouldn¡¯t be worried if she was out with him. But he felt the guilt run up his conscience, and he had half a mind to ask Su Yue not to inform Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu that she was with him. After all, it was late at night. What if they sensed that something was amiss? What should he do? ¡°There are too many. Can you eat one?¡± Ming Ansheng was still fretting silently when Su Yue suddenly put a chicken wing near his mouth. He peered at it, looking startled. He opened his mouth to take a bite. He can¡¯t swallow the entire wing so he wanted to use his hand to hold it. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Your hand is dirty.¡± Ming Ansheng halted his action and Su Yue took his chicken wing instead. After he had finished chewing, she brought the chicken wing to his mouth again. How could Ming Ansheng¡¯s heartbeat peacefully in such a situation? Chapter 1004. Uncle Ming Brought Me to Get a Tattoo Ming Ansheng abruptly stopped the car, and he turned around to slowly stare at Su Yue. Su Yue blinked in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gazing into her twinkling black eyes brought Ming Ansheng back to his senses. He shook his head lightly. ¡°Nothing.¡± He extended his hand towards her. ¡°Give me the chicken wing. My steering wheel isn¡¯t dirty.¡± Su Yue nodded vaguely and handed him the chicken wing. She casually quipped, ¡°There is more in the bag. I can¡¯t finish them all since I¡¯m still feeling full. Aunt Zhang also made me chicken wings for dinner and I ate too many.¡± She drank her coke and sipped it slowly using the straw. Ming Ansheng re-ignited his engine and he kept glancing at Su Yue sneakily. His heartbeat had been erratic ever since Su Yue fed him the chicken wing. ¡°Uncle Ming, what present should I give to Brother Qi Lei?¡± asked Su Yue suddenly. She bit her lip. She looked conflicted. ¡°Huh?¡± Ming Ansheng was momentarily stunned and spun his head around to look at Su Yue. His heart sunk involuntarily. Did she want to give that TCM boy a present? Why was she giving him a present? Su Yue could tell that Ming Ansheng was feeling confused. She elaborated, ¡°He always cooked delicious food for me so I ought to give him a present to thank him. But I don¡¯t know what to buy him.¡± Ming Ansheng breathed and felt slightly more relieved. So she merely wanted to thank him for the food. He answered, ¡°Then you can choose not to eat the food he brought for you. Then you don¡¯t owe him anything in that way.¡± He was looking ahead as he spoke. He then turned towards Su Yue. ¡°To be honest, it isn¡¯t good to owe someone a favor. Am I right?¡± Young Master Ming despised himself for using such tactics, but he couldn¡¯t help it. Su Yue pouted. She protested, ¡°But his chicken wings are the best!¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. ¡®Chicken wings, chicken wings! Damn those chicken wings!¡¯ He suspected that he had drugged the chicken wings. ¡®Hmph! It¡¯s just chicken wings.¡¯ Both of them conversed happily and Ming Ansheng soon realized that every topic they talked about would eventually end up related to food. Ming Ansheng came to a realization that whoever wanted to win this girl¡¯s heart needed to cook well. They reached the suburban district, and he stopped the car outside a mansion. He pressed his horn and the gates opened. He drove slowly into the courtyard and stopped. Ming Ansheng and Su Yue unfastened their seatbelts and got down. A slender and voluptuous figure strode towards them, and she was wearing a black casual sleeveless dress. She had voluminous curls, making her look incredibly sexy and alluring. ¡°Hi, Young Master Ming.¡± The woman waved happily at Ming Ansheng. Her pleasant and seductive voice matched her appearance well, making one go limp. Ming Ansheng smiled at the woman. ¡°Boss Mei.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± The woman¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Is it so hard for you not to distant yourself from me?¡± Ming Ansheng grinned and corrected himself. ¡°Miss Mei.¡± She looked slightly more pleased and her eyes darted to Su Yue who stood beside Ming Ansheng. She curled her lips. ¡°This is the little girl?¡± She had an ambiguous smile. Ming Ansheng smiled in response. He glanced askew at Su Yue and gestured to the woman. ¡°Yueyue, she is Meiduo. You can call her Sister Mei.¡± Su Yue answered curtly with an ¡®oh¡¯ and looked at her without speaking. Ming Ansheng knew her too well. She didn¡¯t like talking to strangers. Chapter 1005. He Kisses You on Your Chest ¡°Let¡¯s go inside,¡± said Ming Ansheng. He led the way, and Su Yue closely followed. Meiduo gazed at them intently, especially at Su Yue. She seemed to be looking for something, and a mixture of emotions could be seen on her face. When they were near her, she smiled. ¡°Getting a tattoo at such a young age? Did her parents agree?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s face fell and he glanced at Meiduo. ¡°Pretty Miss Mei, what did we agree on?¡± His words served as a stern reminder. ¡°Alright, I got it. I can¡¯t joke around.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at Ming Ansheng swiftly before smiling brightly at Su Yue. ¡°Come in with me. You¡¯re so pretty.¡± She offered her hand to Su Yue. Su Yue instinctively shrunk and retreated. Meiduo didn¡¯t mind and she glanced at Ming Ansheng. The mysterious smile on her face became more profound. ¡°Take a seat on the couch. I¡¯ll go upstairs to get the tools.¡± Ming Ansheng and Su Yue entered the mansion. The huge mansion seemed lonely and cold. Su Yue surveyed the entire house and saw no one else. ¡°Take a seat.¡± Ming Ansheng clutched Su Yue¡¯s arm and brought her to the couch. Su Yue settled down and crossed her legs. Ming Ansheng told her. ¡°Wait here for me. I¡¯ll be back.¡± After informing Su Yue, he proceeded towards the staircase. Su Yue watched him and knew that he was heading upstairs. Suspicion flashed across her eyes. ¡°Little lass, it will be a little painful.¡± Meiduo came down with a white box with her. She draped a pink shawl over her shoulders. Ming Ansheng trailed closely behind. It startled Su Yue. ¡°Uncle Ming, is she the friend whom you mentioned was a great tattooist?¡± Her attitude and impression of Meiduo had considerably changed. ¡°Uncle Ming?¡± asked Meiduo, looking surprised. She turned towards Ming Ansheng, with a look of confusion. Ming Ansheng was stony-faced and Meiduo covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. ¡°Uncle Ming, how old are you this year?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°Hurry up, it¡¯s late.¡± Meiduo stopped her jokes and walked to Su Yue. She opened the box and bent to sit down. She glanced at Su Yue and asked, ¡°Your Uncle Ming said that I¡¯m a great tattooist?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She was looking at Meiduo with admiration and she didn¡¯t conceal it. Ming Ansheng stared at her, feeling amused. She had always idolized and admired people who could do the things that she was interested in. If he could cook, especially making chicken wings or doing a tattoo, would she idolize him? He had a sudden impulse to learn those skills. Ming Ansheng sat down on the couch and folded his arms across his chest. He crossed his legs and waited for Meiduo to get started. Meiduo took out her tools and looked at Su Yue. ¡°Where do you want the tattoo to be?¡± asked Meiduo. ¡°Here. I want a cat.¡± Su Yue pointed to the left of her chest. Meiduo frowned. ¡°Little girl, if you tattoo it here, it will affect the feeling.¡± Su Yue looked puzzled. ¡°What feeling?¡± Meiduo pressed on, ¡°In the future when you have a boyfriend and he kisses you on your chest, wouldn¡¯t he feel¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t finished and Ming Ansheng¡¯s stern warning echoed loudly. ¡°Meiduo!¡± Meiduo coughed loudly to conceal her laughter. She steered the topic out of dangerous waters. ¡°So you have decided to tattoo it on your chest?¡± Chapter 1006. Little Lasss Figure Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Meiduo rested her case and shrugged. ¡°Then take off your shirt, let me draw it first.¡± Su Yue nodded and pulled the shirt off her shoulder. Of course, she only slipped it off. It revealed her fair and smooth shoulder. She and Su Yan originally looked a little exotic¡ªthey were naturally very fair. But they didn¡¯t resemble foreigners, so her fairness was exquisite. Su Yue was facing Meiduo with her back facing Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng looked at her with blazing eyes. Su Yue was trying her best to tug at her cotton t-shirt, and it was quite elastic. Xuxu had bought her rather conservative clothes with round collars. So no matter how she pulled, she just couldn¡¯t pull the t-shirt down. Meiduo saw that her attempts had been futile, so she stopped her. ¡°Stop pulling your shirt. If you tear it, your family might think that something bad has happened to you.¡± She began to adjust Su Yue¡¯s shirt for her. She rose and grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°Follow me,¡± said Meiduo. Both of them went upstairs and Ming Ansheng hastily grabbed a bottle of water. He twisted the cap to open it. He gulped down mouthfuls in a hurry. He was trying to extinguish the burning desire in him! It felt like fire. He felt that he couldn¡¯t carry on like this. The lass would soon be the end of him. ¡°Young Master Ming.¡± Ming Ansheng was still fretting when he heard Meiduo¡¯s voice. He turned his head and seemed to enter a trance. Su Yue had removed her t-shirt and had a towel wrapped around her. She had draped over an extra towel on her shoulders. Even though the towel on her body had covered most of it, her upper chest was still revealed. When Ming Ansheng saw her, an immediate thought struck him. This girl may seem skinny on the surface, but who would have thought that her figure was great! Indeed, little Su Yue was wearing a B cup. Perhaps she could even fit into a C cup. Su Yue and Meiduo were happily chatting as they walked towards the couch, failing to notice the expression on Ming Ansheng¡¯s face and in his eyes. It jarred Ming Ansheng back to his senses when they were near him. Feeling guilty, he bent his head to avert his gaze and breathed heavily. The scene earlier had made a huge impact on him. He feared that he might have a nosebleed. After all, it has been a long while since he had last touched a woman. Su Yue sat down on the couch. She was still wearing her white denim shorts. Her long and slender legs had affected Ming Ansheng badly, too. He wanted to avoid looking at her at all, but he couldn¡¯t resist the overwhelming urge. Ming Ansheng¡¯s body was burning with an intense desire. He hastily stood up and informed Meiduo. ¡°Let me borrow your study, I need to send an email.¡± Without waiting for Meiduo¡¯s response, he turned around and stormed towards the staircase. Meiduo peered at Ming Ansheng¡¯s stiff and straightened back. She grinned with an impish gleam in her eyes. ¡°Haha.¡± Su Yue suddenly laughed and she had garnered Meiduo¡¯s attention. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so ticklish!¡± Su Yue shrunk her neck and laughed goofily. Her clear laughter made Meiduo smile too. ¡°Ticklish? It¡¯ll be painful later. You can still give up the idea. A girl shouldn¡¯t have a tattoo.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No, I want a tattoo. I¡¯m not afraid of the pain, just afraid of being tickled.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how you can endure the pain later,¡± said Meiduo as she began on her tattoo. Chapter 1007. Painful? Afraid that Meiduo might change her mind, Su Yue clenched her teeth to resist the ticklish sensation. The tip of Meiduo¡¯s nose brushed lightly across Su Yue¡¯s skin, and it was really ticklish. She was resisting the urge to laugh and her body was jerking. Meiduo could feel her, and she smiled. ¡°Is it really that ticklish?¡± She then deliberately used the tip of the pen to tickle Su Yue. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Su Yue finally burst into laughter as she rocked to and fro. ¡°You¡¯re so bad! It¡¯s so itchy!¡± Afraid that Meiduo might tickle her again, she shrunk herself and collapsed on the couch. ¡°Hurry up, it¡¯s getting late. I want to go to bed after I¡¯m done with your tattoo,¡± said Meiduo. Su Yue sat upright and Meiduo began on her tattoo, looking serious. ¡°Did you do Uncle Ming¡¯s tattoo as well?¡± Su Yue tried to distract herself by talking to her. ¡°Yup.¡± Meiduo nodded and asked, ¡°You saw it?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a little mouse.¡± She wanted a cat tattoo only after she saw his mouse tattoo. Meiduo grinned and added, ¡°He has a black thorn apple flower on his waist.¡± ¡°Thorn apple?¡± Su Yue was visibly startled. ¡°Does it look nice?¡± Meiduo nodded. ¡°That thorn apple tattoo is beautiful.¡± She bowed her head and a bitter smile appeared on her face. Su Yue pouted and said, ¡°He didn¡¯t show it to me before.¡± She felt that Meiduo seemed to have frozen, and she craned her neck to look at her. ¡°Sister Meiduo, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Meiduo pressed her lips tightly. Su Yue bit her lip and didn¡¯t press on further, but her eyes were scrutinizing Meiduo intently. Actually, the process of getting a tattoo wasn¡¯t that painful. Meiduo was just trying to scare Su Yue. After she finished, it was almost 11 p.m. Su Yue put on her t-shirt and walked out of the room. Meiduo was sipping a glass of red wine as she leaned against the wall. She gazed quietly at Su Yue, looking exceedingly alluring with her rosy lips. Su Yue stared at her for a moment before opening her mouth. ¡°Where is the study?¡± Ming Ansheng was there and she wanted to look for him. Meiduo gestured towards an adjacent room. ¡°That one.¡± She straightened her back and strode towards Su Yue. She swept past her. Her light scent assailed Su Yue¡¯s nostrils and Su Yue turned around to watch her. There were many questions and suspicions racing in her mind as Su Yue watched Meiduo leave. ¡°Done?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice sounded, and Su Yue jerked out of her thoughts. He looked sleepy and he must have fallen asleep in the study. Su Yue walked to him. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s already done. Let¡¯s go.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at her chest and asked in a concerned tone. ¡°Is it painful?¡± Su Yue denied. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t. It¡¯s just like being bitten by a mosquito.¡± ¡°Exaggerating.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled affectionately and held Su Yue¡¯s hand. He shouted across the corridor. ¡°Miss Meiduo, we are leaving now.¡± Meiduo answered in her lazy voice. ¡°Go ahead, you know how to open the door.¡± Ming Ansheng and Su Yue went down. The empty living room felt so huge and lonely. Su Yue mumbled, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Sister Meiduo feel afraid staying in this huge house all by herself?¡± Chapter 1008. He Is the One Who Was Suffering There wasn¡¯t even a servant around. Ming Ansheng lightly answered, ¡°She doesn¡¯t come back often.¡± It piqued Su Yue¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Where does she live?¡± asked Su Yue. ¡°In Country M. Every summer and winter, she will come back for a month,¡± answered Ming Ansheng. He pressed his lips and peered at the starry night sky. He opened the courtyard gates and led Su Yue out. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue answered only after a long time. Su Yue seemed to be deep in thoughts in the car. Ming Ansheng observed her for a while before blurting out. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Sister Meiduo said that you have a beautiful thorn apple tattoo on your waist.¡± Su Yue turned her head to face Ming Ansheng. Her eyes were shining and twinkling like stars in the darkness. Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression froze when he heard her. He slowly nodded. Su Yue asked, ¡°Actually, Sister Meiduo likes you, right?¡± He couldn¡¯t catch any other emotions in her tone. It stunned Ming Ansheng. Su Yue confidently repeated, ¡°I can tell that she likes you.¡± She pressed on quickly without giving Ming Ansheng the opportunity to speak. ¡°I feel that she is better than your fianc¨¦e. She is prettier than her and more likable. I can¡¯t understand your judgment of character.¡± She pouted, looking upset. Ming Ansheng knew that she hated Tang Feiling and that¡¯s why she was feeling upset. Disappointment crashed over him like waves. He was clear that she was an innocent and pure girl who didn¡¯t have any ulterior motives. Just like her appearance, she was so clean it feels like he was defiling her with a touch. If she liked you, she would linger around you all day long. If she didn¡¯t like a person, there was no way you could win her over no matter how hard you try. Fang Jiayin was an excellent example. He was disappointed because he knew her too well. She disliked Tang Feiling. Hence, she was openly criticizing her so. It¡¯s not that she was interested in him. Ming Ansheng adjusted his emotions and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°You have only met Meiduo once. How do you know that she is a good person?¡± asked Ming Ansheng, looking amused. ¡°I just feel it. She has a better personality than your loud-mouthed fianc¨¦e. Your fianc¨¦e is intellectually challenged.¡± Su Yue had a vicious tongue when it comes to criticizing Tang Feiling. ¡°Her personality is so horrible that she even bickers with a minor,¡± concluded Su Yue. The minor she was referring to was herself. Ming Ansheng was speechless. It is true that each new generation excels the previous. This little girl¡¯s vicious tongue is at par with her third brother. Su Yue sneered coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t like you to be with her.¡± She had blurted this casually but it made Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He knew that she hated Tang Feiling and that was the only reason! Su Yue continued as she looked at Ming Ansheng. ¡°So I advise you to consider carefully and wake up before it¡¯s too late. Choose Sister Meiduo.¡± This concluded that she hated Tang Feiling and had no feelings towards him. Ming Ansheng smiled bitterly and somberly answered her, ¡°You¡¯re a child, don¡¯t interfere with an adult¡¯s affairs.¡± He didn¡¯t want to continue discussing other women with her. He was the one who suffered immensely. He looked ahead and his eyes looked forlorn. His eyes were like a lonely, solitary lamp in the darkness. He sent Su Yue back home and someone came rushing out of the house. It was Xuxu. She strode to her hastily, looking worried. Chapter 1009. I Couldnt Imagine Su Yue got down the car. Ming Ansheng whispered to her a reminder. ¡°Lass, remember you can¡¯t touch water for a few days.¡± Su Yue bent and mumbled softly, ¡°Got it, naggy old uncle.¡± She stuck out her tongue cheekily at him before straightening her back. She closed the door after her. Ming Ansheng ignited his car¡¯s engine and felt extremely guilty. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu reached her but Ming Ansheng¡¯s car had sped away. She glanced swiftly in the direction of the car and back to Su Yue again. ¡°Where did you go? Why did you come home so late?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips grudgingly. ¡°No one is at home and I was bored. So I asked Uncle Ming to bring me out for a spin. We then went to look for his friend.¡± They were gone for hours, and for fear that Xuxu wouldn¡¯t believe, she added that they met his friend. It was the partial truth. Of course¡­ she left out the tattoo part. It puzzled Xuxu. ¡°You met his friend?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡®Why did Ming Ansheng bring Su Yue to meet his friend?¡¯ Xuxu began to feel suspicious as she held Su Yue¡¯s hand. She asked as they entered the courtyard. ¡°Can you tell me who is his friend?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t notice Xuxu¡¯s expression and casually answered, ¡°She is Meiduo and she is really pretty. She is very nice too.¡± Xuxu was completely taken aback. ¡°Meiduo!¡± Xuxu¡¯s reaction made Su Yue confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu questioned her instead. ¡°Why did he bring you to meet Meiduo?¡± Su Yue answered naturally, ¡°He was on his way to look for Sister Meiduo so he brought me along.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t probe further. ¡°I see. Take a shower and sleep soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and went upstairs. Xuxu stood in the living room, and she took a deep breath as Su Yue disappeared out of sight. She began to climb the stairs. She walked to the study and opened the door. It was pitch dark, so Yan Rusheng must be in the bedroom. She closed the door after her. Yan Rusheng had just come out of the bathroom in his bathrobe. He glanced at Xuxu as he rubbed hair. He asked, ¡°Is that little lass back?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xuxu nodded and she walked to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng, is Ming Ansheng still in contact with Meiduo?¡± Yan Rusheng stopped in his tracks and nodded. ¡°Yeah. Meiduo comes back during winter and summer.¡± They sat down on the bed and Xuxu slumped against the bed. She sighed and mumbled. ¡°Come to think of it, Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather is really unlikable. He is too overbearing.¡± Yan Rusheng turned to look at her. ¡°Why did you mention Meiduo suddenly?¡± Xuxu explained, ¡°Ming Ansheng went to meet Meiduo tonight, and he brought Yueyue with him.¡± Yan Rusheng grunted in response. Xuxu suddenly quipped, ¡°Is Ming Ansheng still in love with Meiduo?¡± Yan Rusheng stopped rubbing his hair and flung the towel away. He laid down on the bed sideways and snuggled closer to Xuxu. He gently stroked Xuxu¡¯s belly. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wife, can you stop gossiping about others?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a little curious.¡± Xuxu hugged Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and sighed. ¡°I always thought that a man like Ming Ansheng wouldn¡¯t be faithful in love. I couldn¡¯t imagine that he would still think about her after all these years.¡± Chapter 1010. Are You Having a Fever? Yan Rusheng was rather unconcerned. ¡°Even if he met Meiduo, what could that possibly mean?¡± ¡°If his grandfather didn¡¯t forbid them to carry on dating because Meiduo came from a poor family, they might already be married with children by now.¡± Yan Rusheng sighed and sounded resigned. ¡°You don¡¯t understand love.¡± It perplexed Xuxu. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°If Madam Mu Li and you both fell into the sea, I would choose to save you first,¡± Yan Rusheng answered with a huge grin. ¡°Go away, you¡¯re so hateful.¡± Xuxu punched him lightly. ¡°I want to tell Madam Mu Li that you have forgotten about your mother once you had a wife.¡± But what he wanted to say was if it was true love, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered about anyone else. ¡°So Ming Ansheng doesn¡¯t really love Meiduo?¡± But it was true. If he had really loved her, he would definitely have revolted against his grandfather. When Ming Ansheng broke up with Meiduo years ago, everybody could tell that it had deeply affected him. ¡°It¡¯s so late at night and you keep mentioning other guys. Did you spare a thought for your hubby¡¯s feelings?¡± breathed Yan Rusheng as he gritted his teeth. The next moment, his hands wandered to Xuxu¡¯s chest, and he pinched her chest forcefully. Xuxu didn¡¯t even have time to utter a word when his lips crushed her. ¡°Hey!¡± Xuxu pushed him away. ¡°Can you be more civilized? Who was the one who couldn¡¯t stand Ming Ansheng dating a pretty girlfriend and went after the school beauty?¡± Yan Rusheng cheekily grinned. ¡°So you¡¯re still bothered by this.¡± He gazed at Xuxu¡¯s face and had a sudden impulse to bite her. Xuxu denied. ¡°No! I¡¯m not.¡± She had really casually blurted that out and that thought didn¡¯t cross her mind. In the end, his accusations made her blush. ¡°Stop pretending, stupid woman.¡± Yan Rusheng managed to bite Xuxu¡¯s rosy cheek and his hand started fondling her. Xuxu writhed in protest. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m warning you. Stop touching me! These guys are protesting and kicking me right now.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± There was silence. ¡­ Xuxu¡¯s belly was getting enormous, hence Yan Weihong and Mu Li forbid her to go to work anymore. She could only work from home. Taking a nap after lunch every day had become a habit. When she woke up, she walked out of the room to get a glass of water. Su Yue also came out of her room at the same time. Su Yue¡¯s head was bowed and she looked lethargic. Worried, Xuxu asked, ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong with you? Are you feeling uncomfortable?¡± Su Yue noticed Xuxu, so she hurriedly pulled herself together and smiled feebly. She shook her head. ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m fine.¡± Her cheeks were flushed and it made Xuxu worried. ¡°You look so red. Let me check if you have a fever.¡± She stretched her hand towards her forehead. Su Yue avoided her agilely. ¡°I just ate a bag of spicy cheeks. It must be too spicy.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Why are you eating spicy chips on such a hot day? It¡¯s unhealthy.¡± Indeed, she was still a child for liking such snacks. She remembered that she liked such snacks when she was young, too. Su Yue smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t eat it again.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xuxu continued, ¡°Follow me downstairs. I¡¯ll make some green bean soup for you. Look at how red you are.¡± She turned around to head towards the staircase. Su Yue shouted after her. ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± Chapter 1011. The Slim and Graceful Bai Jing Xuxu halted in her steps and turned her head, confused. ¡°Yes?¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°When is my brother coming back?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu sized Su Yue up suspiciously. There was something up with this girl. She seemed to be troubled. Su Yue hesitated before speaking up. ¡°I want to go back. Bai Jing¡¯s mother is going overseas and won¡¯t be at home, so I want to invite her to live with me in my home.¡± ¡®So it was because of this,¡¯ Xuxu thought as she smiled. She said, ¡°Both of you can¡¯t take care of yourselves.¡± Then she thought for a moment and continued, ¡°Why don¡¯t you invite her here for two days, isn¡¯t it the same?¡± She had been cooped up at home during the holidays. She didn¡¯t go out with her friends or classmates, so of course, it would bore her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Both of us can go over to my brother¡¯s place.¡± Su Yue continued confidently, ¡°Bai Jing can cook, so we¡¯ll be fine.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯ll be worried.¡± Su Yue grabbed on to her elbow and persuaded, ¡°Third sister-in-law, there¡¯s no need to worry. I¡¯m not a kid anymore. I need to learn to be independent.¡± It amused Xuxu, so she asked, ¡°Where did you learn this concept from?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°When I go to university, I¡¯d need to stay in school so I have to learn to be independent. I can¡¯t always depend on you, Third sister-in-law.¡± It made sense¡ªthe girl was already 18. Soon, there¡¯d be a day where she would leave her, start dating then get married. She should let go so Su Yue could learn how to be independent. Xuxu thought for a while, then nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll send you over in a bit.¡± She then asked, ¡°Do we need to fetch Bai Jing?¡± That lass knew how to cook, so there shouldn¡¯t be a problem letting them live alone for one or two days. Su Yue was delighted when Xuxu nodded. She shook her head in reply. ¡°Nope, she has a chauffeur that will send her there.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xuxu replied, pursing her lips. She watched Su Yue, her eyes still filled with worry. ¡®But¡­ Aish.¡¯ ¡­ Xuxu sent Su Yue home. She helped her tidy up. Having been inhabited for days, there was a layer of dust everywhere. After they had tidied up, Xuxu held on to her waist and sat down on the sofa. Su Yue poured her a glass of water. ¡°Third sister-in-law, you should go home early.¡± Her belly was so big now, the family was always worried about her whenever she went out. Xuxu replied, ¡°I¡¯ll leave when Bai Jing arrives.¡± Then she frowned, looking at Su Yue¡¯s face with uncertainty. ¡°Why is your face still so red?¡± Su Yue averted her gaze. She then laughed and replied, ¡°I just turned on the air-con. Doing housework makes me feel so warm.¡± ¡°Yueyue, are you hiding something from your third sister-in-law?¡± Xuxu sized her up, finding something amiss. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Then the doorbell rang. Su Yue smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go open the door, that must be Bai Jing.¡± Seeing her happy and lively steps, the worry left her once again. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Su Yue was delighted when she saw Bai Jing after she opened the door. Bai Jing smiled at her. ¡°Su Yue.¡± ¡°Come in quickly,¡± Su Yue said, dragging her into the house and taking out a pair of slippers from the shoe cupboard for her. Bai Jing put them on and they entered the living room together. Xuxu looked over at them. Her eyes brightened when she saw Bai Jing. It had only been a week, but the little lass now looked slim and graceful. Her pale green floral dress enveloped her dainty frame. She looked small and delicate, just like Su Yue. Her complexion had improved as well. In that outfit, she had a 60 to 70 percent resemblance to her mother. Her mother must have been a huge beauty when she was younger. Chapter 1012. Will I Die? ¡°Third sister-in-law,¡± Bai Jing greeted Xuxu with a smile. Xuxu bade her over. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll put the groceries in the kitchen first.¡± Bai Jing was carrying a large bag of groceries. She then went into the kitchen, put the bag down and returned. Su Yue dragged her toward the sofa and made her sit. Xuxu looked at them worriedly. ¡°Can you two really take care of yourselves?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t reply. Instead, she looked at Bai Jing, waiting for her reply. ¡°Bai Jing, what do you think?¡± ¡°Sure we can,¡± Bai Jing said with a nod. Her bright eyes earnestly looked at Xuxu. ¡°I know how to cook, wash clothes, and do housework.¡± This lass was too down-to-earth. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°Since you two are only staying here for a few days, why don¡¯t I move over as well?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Then my Third Brother will also move here for sure. I don¡¯t want him to.¡± ¡°You¡¯re starting to understand your Third Brother more,¡± Xuxu commented as she pinched Su Yue¡¯s cheeks. ¡°If he were to know that you despise him so much, he would definitely find a way to get back at you.¡± Su Yue smiled in agreement. ¡°Third Brother does seem like such a petty person.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. Bai Jing listened as the sisters-in-law discussed Yan Rusheng. She bowed her head slightly, a faint smile framing her face. She hugged her knees, lost in thought. ¡°Bai Jing, please take good care of Su Yue. She knows nothing,¡± Xuxu suddenly said to Bai Jing. After all, Su Yue was different from peers her age. She was brought up in a rather narrow and closed off environment. She was still clueless about the things of the world. In her eyes, she was a child¡ªa child who had just started to mature. Bai Jing subtly shuddered. She then nodded her head in response. Smiling, she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Third sister-in-law.¡± After countless reminders and instructions, Xuxu finally left. Su Yue watched Xuxu enter the lift. When the lift doors closed, she went into the house. When she turned around, everything went black. She held onto the wall for support and she almost fell. When Bai Jing saw this, she immediately ran over to hold her up. ¡°Su Yue, what¡¯s wrong? Why is your face so red?¡± She touched her forehead and her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Su Yue, you¡¯re running a fever.¡± ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m going to die,¡± Su Yue said as she turned around. She hugged Bai Jing¡¯s waist, placing all her body weight on her. Bai Jing was so petite, so she had trouble bringing her over to the sofa. ¡°What happened to you? Weren¡¯t you fine just now?¡± When they had reached the sofa, Bai Jing let go of her and Su Yue fell limply onto it. She frowned. Because of her fever, her voice was meek as she spoke up. ¡°I was afraid that Third sister-in-law would worry, so I didn¡¯t dare to tell her.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bai Jing was very worried and uneasy. ¡°Is the aircon too cold? Have you caught a cold?¡± ¡°No,¡± Su Yue replied with a shake of her head. Then she pulled down her clothes. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten a tattoo. Uncle Ming told me not to shower, but I didn¡¯t listen and now it¡¯s swollen.¡± When Bai Jing saw the tattoo, her eyes grew as wide as saucers. She opened her mouth and cried out in shock. ¡°Why are you so silly? It¡¯s so swollen now.¡± Because of the tattoo¡¯s location, it wasn¡¯t easy to notice. ¡°What should I do? Am I going to die?¡± Su Yue asked, lying against the sofa, depressed. Chapter 1013. Down With A High Fever She grew up in adverse circumstances, so her immune system had been trained to be strong since she was young. She couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had caught the flu, nor could she remember if she was ever down with a fever. Except for the time she injured her thigh and it became inflamed after her shower. That time, however, Xuxu noticed it in time and her fever wasn¡¯t that serious. She had never felt this way before. She was afraid. Bai Jing frowned. ¡°What are you blabbering about? Your injury is inflamed so you¡¯re just down with a fever.¡± Then she thought for a while and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Su Yue had her reservations about going to the hospital. ¡°Will my Third sister-in-law know if I went to the hospital?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Bai Jing assured. Then she continued with a frown. ¡°If you¡¯re so scared, why did you get a tattoo? Only hooligans and gangsters get this kind of thing.¡± She helped Su Yue up. ¡°No, Uncle Ming has a tattoo too,¡± Su Yue defended. She then pointed at her chest and continued, ¡°He tattooed a mouse here. It looked really good.¡± She had just laid down for a while, but when she stood up, her giddiness had faded a lot. Bai Jing commented, ¡°Mice don¡¯t look good.¡± She held onto Su Yue and walked towards the door. When they reached the doorstep, Su Yue put on her shoes. Bai Jing took a bunch of keys from above the shoe cupboard and asked, ¡°Are these your house keys?¡± Su Yue glanced over and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Bring them along,¡± Bai Jing replied, stuffing the keys into Su Yue¡¯s pocket. It was summertime and the heat was scorching even at five p.m. Su Yue felt very hot and her entire body was as red as a cooked prawn. But she couldn¡¯t sweat it out. They got to the entrance of the district and it was ages before they managed to get a cab. The two weren¡¯t familiar with their surroundings, so they consulted the taxi driver. He asked them about their situation and brought them to the district hospital. ¡­ ¡°Good gracious, 40.5¡ãC. Any later and your brain would¡¯ve been fried.¡± The female doctor in her forties looked at the thermometer and glared at Su Yue. ¡®40.5¡ãC!¡¯ Bai Jing was horrified. She asked in a panic, ¡°Doctor, what can we do?¡± She replied, ¡°What else? She has to eat medicine and get an injection.¡± She then looked over at Su Yue¡¯s chest. ¡°What tattoo did you get?¡± Su Yue had already filled her in on her situation. Su Yue replied, ¡°A cat.¡± She then pulled down her collar and showed her tattoo to the doctor. She looked at it and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s an abstract.¡± ¡°It¡¯s swollen,¡± Su Yue explained as she pouted. ¡°It looked good before that.¡± ¡°Go pay up, then get a drip,¡± the doctor said, passing Su Yue a bill. ¡°You need to stay in the hospital tonight. Your inflammation is serious.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Must I stay here?¡± ¡®What if Third sister-in-law found out?¡¯ ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a must.¡± The doctor felt that she had to be clear when she was communicating with a young lass. Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ . She was scared of dying, so she obediently stayed the night in the hospital. Bai Jing did all the hospital papers and procedures for her. It was a district hospital, so the conditions weren¡¯t very good. Su Yue had to share a ward with someone else. She had four bottles of IV drips, which continued dripping even at seven p.m. When Su Yue woke from her slumber, Bai Jing was sitting at her bedside using her phone. In her hand was the latest iPhone model. Her phone cover had a cute shell on it. Su Yue commented disapprovingly, ¡°Bai Jing, your phone cover is not cool at all.¡± Chapter 1014. What Are You So Afraid? Bai Jing then realized that Su Yue had woken up. She ignored her comments about her phone case and touched her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re not feverish anymore.¡± She then continued, ¡°Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet.¡± She pulled down her collar to look at her tattoo. She frowned. ¡°Why is it still so swollen?¡± It rendered Bai Jing speechless. She replied, ¡°It¡¯s just been a few hours and your fever has just gone down. It¡¯s not like you ate a magical elixir, how fast could it take?¡± ¡°Aish!¡± Su Yue sighed. ¡°Bai Jing, do you think my third sister-in-law will be furious if she found out about my tattoo?¡± Bai Jing pursed her lips and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± She pulled a frown. ¡°But your Ming Uncle went overboard. How could he take you to get a tattoo? Girls shouldn¡¯t get tattoos.¡± ¡°Many girls overseas get tattoos too, it¡¯s cool,¡± Su Yue defended, smiling. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to get one for a really long time. When I¡¯m done with school, I want to get a flower tattooed on my neck.¡± ¡°Su Yue, is it good to go overseas?¡± Bai Jing asked, suddenly depressed. Su Yue shook her head and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Melancholy filled her eyes. It confused Bai Jing. ¡°Didn¡¯t you grow up overseas? How could you not know?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Su Yue started, her voice small. ¡°But I¡¯ve never been out.¡± She had grown up in and only ever stayed within the extremely small orphanage, which basically didn¡¯t experience a ray of light. So, she didn¡¯t know if overseas conditions were good. Su Yue looked at Bai Jing. She thought of something and asked, ¡°Is your mother happy at home?¡± Bai Jing lowered her head and twisted her mouth with a pained look. ¡°She¡¯s not the one with all the money.¡± Her words were filled with too much helplessness and resignation. She then quickly changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry. I¡¯ll go get the food now. What do you want to eat?¡± She immediately added, ¡°¡­ other than chicken wings. The doctor advised a light diet.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯. Her lips curled downwards. ¡°Get me anything then.¡± Bai Jing replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get you a bowl of porridge and two vegetarian buns.¡± She grabbed her phone and money and went on her way. It wasn¡¯t long after Bai Jing left when Su Yue¡¯s drip ran out. A nurse came over with a new bottle. The last bottle was a tiny one. She leaned her head on the headrest of the bed. She stared at the liquid as it dripped. ¡°500¡­ 501¡­ 502¡­¡± Su Yue was so focused on counting the number of drops that had fallen when a familiar male voice sounded from the front. ¡°What are you counting?¡± A cold shiver ran down her spine. She looked at the man and asked, ¡°Third Brother, why¡­ why are you here?¡± Yan Rusheng was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, and he had tucked his hands into his pockets. He towered over her and frowned. He acted stern as he chided, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were hospitalized? You¡¯re pretty gutsy.¡± ¡°Bai Jing told you?¡± Su Yue angrily asked. ¡®How else would Third Brother have known? How would he have found this hospital?¡¯ Yan Rusheng knew what Su Yue was worried about. He bent down and sat at the corner of her bed, deciding not to scare her anymore. In a gentle voice, he assured, ¡°Relax, I didn¡¯t tell your third sister-in-law.¡± He paused for a while, and with a smile, he continued, ¡°You¡¯re just having a fever, it¡¯s not like you did anything bad. Why are you so afraid?¡± Confusion flashed before Su Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡®Bai Jing didn¡¯t tell him the reason for her fever?¡¯ Chapter 1015. The Toilet She thought and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that she¡¯ll worry.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled, feeling comforted. ¡°You¡¯re becoming more sensible.¡± ¡°Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing had returned. She was holding a takeaway box as she walked towards her bedside. She glanced at Yan Rusheng then Su Yue. Su Yue frowned and appeared expressionless, ignoring Bai Jing. ¡°I¡­¡± Bai Jing started. She could guess why Su Yue was angry, and she wanted to explain. Yan Rusheng interrupted, ¡°Bai Jing was just worried about you, so she informed me to come take a look at you. Aren¡¯t you fine now?¡± Bai Jing remained silent as she stood behind him. She looked guilty and humble. Su Yue looked over and couldn¡¯t help herself from saying, ¡°Bai Jing, can you pass me a bun first? I¡¯m starving.¡± Bai Jing looked up and her eyes brightened. She hesitated before nodding. ¡°Sure, but I¡¯ll bring you some water to wash your hands first.¡± She then put the bag on the cabinet by the bedside and picked up a disposable cup from the table before turning away to fetch water. Su Yue called after her. ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯ll go wash them. I need to use the toilet, anyway.¡± She got up and removed the tube from her hand. She was too swift that even Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t stop her in time. After she pulled it off, she jumped off the bed and hopped around like she was totally fine. Yan Rusheng stared at the tube she had removed and smiled. She really was a masculine girl. ¡°The vegetarian buns actually tastes pretty good,¡± Su Yue commented. After washing her hands, she grabbed the two buns and hungrily ate. She was relishing it. Yan Rusheng wanted to laugh at the sight. At home, she would refuse to eat a meal with no meat. Truly, when one is hungry, anything tastes good. He stared at Su Yue for a moment before turning to Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to stay here with her for the night.¡± He had promised Su Yue that he wouldn¡¯t tell Xuxu, so he couldn¡¯t stay with her. Bai Jing was sitting on the corner of the bed, holding a packet of food. When she heard Yan Rusheng talking to her, she quickly peered up at him, her eyes bright. He was just so big and tall. Bai Jing was in a trance for a second before she nodded. ¡°Mm. I¡¯ll take good care of Su Yue.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled. The smile on his handsome face made him even more good-looking, making him give off an enchanting charm. Bai Jing unconsciously tightened her grip on the takeaway box. ¡°Third Brother,¡± Su Yue suddenly called. She was chewing the bun as she asked, ¡°I want to rest at home. It¡¯s not too far from here. Can I just come back if I¡¯m feeling unwell?¡± Yan Rusheng knit his brows. ¡°Didn¡¯t the doctor ask you to stay a night for observation?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°But I don¡¯t like it here.¡± Yan Rusheng looked over at the adjacent bed, where a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties lay. This ward was indeed not very conducive. He thought for a while and nodded. ¡°Okay, but if you get a fever again, you must come back to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded happily. ¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll go tell the doctor.¡± After he left the ward, Yan Rusheng was still worried so he went to consult the doctor. Su Yue hurriedly stopped him. ¡°There¡¯s no need to. I¡¯ll come back for the drip tomorrow morning.¡± He didn¡¯t know about her tattoo, so if he went to consult the doctor, he would surely find out. Su Yue had stopped him, so Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t think further and didn¡¯t consult the doctor. Chapter 1016. What is Love? It was already after 8 p.m. and the hospital was quiet. They used the elevator to get to the first floor and the car was parked outside the hospital. After Yan Rusheng fastened his seatbelt, he pressed the ignition button. At that exact moment, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen. The expression in his eyes turned tender when he saw that it was Xuxu on the other line. He picked up the call. ¡°I have something on. I should be back soon.¡± ¡°Okay, you can eat first.¡± ¡°Anything you want? I can get it for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± His gentle and masculine voice was very pleasant to the ears and it made one¡¯s skin tingle. Even Su Yue was envious. ¡°Third Brother, you are really nice to Third sister-in-law.¡± When she heard that Yan Rusheng wanted to buy food for Xuxu, she became curious. ¡°What does Third sister-in-law want to eat?¡± ¡°There is a stall in the vicinity selling dessert,¡± quipped Yan Rusheng. Bai Jing became envious and jealous when she overheard the siblings¡¯ conversation. She pressed her lips tighter and tighter as she gazed at the side profile of this gorgeous man. When he was talking about his beloved wife, even his features became tender and soft. ¡­ Su Yue requested Yan Rusheng to stop outside the district. Yan Rusheng offered to walk her but Su Yue rejected her. Bai Jing and Su Yue held hands as they walked back home. ¡°Bai Jing, do you want to start a relationship?¡± Su Yue suddenly asked Bai Jing. Bai Jing avoided Su Yue¡¯s eyes in guilt, and she bowed her head. She softly uttered, ¡°It¡¯s still too early to talk about love.¡± She sounded exceedingly bashful. The topic of love was something that a young girl like her was looking forward to, but was too bashful to talk about it. But Su Yue was different. She seemed rather nonchalant and simply curious. ¡°What do you think love is?¡± she asked Bai Jing. They sat down on the couch. Bai Jing stared at the ceiling for some time and evidently, she was trying to reminisce about the man who had made her heart pound. After a long while, she finally spoke up. ¡°When you see him, your heartbeat would race. You will miss him if you don¡¯t see him. But when you see him¡­¡± She lowered her head once more. She mumbled under her breath. ¡°You won¡¯t dare to look at him.¡± Su Yue nodded her head slowly, as though she was trying to comprehend this fact. ¡°Oh¡­¡± She was recalling to see if she had felt like the same way before. It seemed that she didn¡¯t feel anything like it towards any man. Bai Jing noticed Su Yue in a daze and asked, ¡°Did you feel this way before?¡± Su Yue nodded without any hesitation. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Who?!¡± Bai Jing was excited. ¡°Chicken wings!¡± Su Yue beamed happily at her. ¡°I will be very excited and happy if I see chicken wings. I will miss them if I don¡¯t eat them. But when I see them, I don¡¯t dare to eat too many.¡± She pouted and grumbled. ¡°Third sister-in-law said that I will grow fat if I continue eating so much.¡± Bai Jing was speechless. ¡°Do you have someone you like?¡± asked Su Yue. Bai Jing hesitated before shaking her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± But Su Yue didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°Then how do you know what love feels like?¡± ¡°I read it online,¡± answered Bai Jing. Su Yue nodded, but she was still a little doubtful and a little¡­ excited. She was waiting for her heart to pound furiously when she met the special one. She wanted to know how it feels like when she can¡¯t see the person she likes. When she will see him, will she be too shy to see him? At night, they chatted until they forgot about the time. As a result, they couldn¡¯t wake up early in the morning. The doorbell continuously rang. Chapter 1017. I Feel Terrible Bai Jing finally woke up and glanced sleepily at Su Yue, who was still sound asleep. The doorbell rang once more and she rubbed her eyes before sitting upright. She was wearing Su Yue¡¯s white pajamas. There was a picture of a black cat printed on it and it looked rather fierce. She walked to the door and opened it. A tall figure stood before her. Shock and panic swept her sleepiness away in an instant. ¡°Third brother!¡± Bai Jing uttered Yan Rusheng¡¯s name before bowing her head. She peered at her clothes, looking upset. ¡°Where is Su Yue?¡± Yan Rusheng entered. The living room seemed stuffy as the windows were all closed. He then went straight for the bedroom. Su Yue was still sound asleep on the bed. He furrowed his brows. ¡°I thought she was supposed to get an IV drip today?¡± Bai Jing went to the bathroom to wash up and she brushed her hair before coming out. Yan Rusheng¡¯s sudden arrival had caught her off guard. ¡°We slept too late last night,¡± replied Bai Jing. She answered as she walked into the room and woke Su Yue up. ¡°Su Yue! Su Yue!¡± Su Yue frowned and pouted. ¡°A while more,¡± grumbled Su Yue. She flipped over and fell asleep once more. Bai Jing wanted to wake her up once more, but Yan Rusheng stopped her. ¡°Let her sleep. After she is awake, get her to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing nodded and moved away from Su Yue. She closed the door softly after her. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± said Yan Rusheng. He was just passing by the area and wanted to check on her. He had tried calling Su Yue but the girl had turned off her phone, so he deduced that she must have been sleeping. Bai Jing followed Yan Rusheng and sent him to the door. As she stared at his back, she seemed to have entered a daze. After Yan Rusheng entered the elevator, she waved at him. ¡°Third Brother¡­ drive carefully.¡± She had mustered all of her courage. Yan Rusheng lightly smiled before the elevator doors closed. After the elevator went down, Bai Jing was still gazing into the distance. ¡°Bai Jing? Who was that?¡± Su Yue¡¯s voice sounded and it disrupted her train of thought. She hastily retracted her gaze and shut the door. She turned around and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°It was your third brother. He saw that you were asleep and wanted me to remind you to head to the hospital.¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡°My third brother was here?¡± She glanced at the clock; it was almost 10 a.m. She frowned. ¡°It¡¯s already so late.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Bai Jing answered and hurried her. ¡°Wash up quickly. We need to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Bai Jing, I feel terrible right now. I feel like puking.¡± Su Yue dragged herself to the couch and collapsed on it. Bai Jing hurried to her and sat down. ¡°Why do you feel like puking?¡± asked Bai Jing anxiously. ¡°Let me take a look at the swelling.¡± She pulled down Su Yue¡¯s collar as she asked. She received a shock. ¡°Su Yue! The infected area is still swollen!¡± She stretched her hand to touch Su Yue¡¯s forehead. ¡°You¡¯re burning! You must be having a fever again.¡± Su Yue shook her head and mumbled. ¡°I want to sleep. Don¡¯t talk to me anymore.¡± ¡°Su Yue, you can¡¯t sleep anymore. Let¡¯s go to the hospital now.¡± Bai Jing grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm and pulled her up. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want. I feel terrible.¡± Su Yue clutched her chest and shook her head. She began to groan. ¡°It¡¯s so painful. I don¡¯t want to go to the hospital. I¡¯m tired.¡± Bai Jing was at a loss. ¡°Let me call your third brother,¡± said Bai Jing. Chapter 1018. Can’t Seem to Feel Any Weight ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± Su Yue looked at Bai Jing and told her, ¡°Third sister-in-law says that Third Brother has been working very hard, and he is very busy. So don¡¯t call him. Let me take a nap first and I¡¯ll go to the hospital later.¡± Not entirely assured, she reminded Bai Jing sternly once more. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call my third brother.¡± She turned her back against Bai Jing and closed her eyes. She clutched her chest with one hand while she pressed the other hand against her head. She seemed to be in agony. Suddenly, Bai Jing¡¯s phone rang from the bedroom, and she stood up. She picked up her phone and her expression changed when she saw the caller¡¯s name. ¡°Hello,¡± Bai Jing answered coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back. I¡¯m at my classmate¡¯s place. I¡¯ll head back when you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°But my classmate is sick and she has no one to take care of her.¡± ¡°All right then.¡± She hung up and Bai Jing tightly clenched her phone. She leaned against the door and gazed enviously at Su Yue, who was huddled on the couch. Su Yue was like a princess. Everyone loved and pampered her. ¡°Xiaojing, daddy¡¯s little princess. Come and eat your cake¡­¡± Bai Jing¡¯s eyes began to glisten and she snapped out of her memories. She rubbed her eyes before striding over to Su Yue. She squatted and lightly patted Su Yue. ¡°Su Yue, let me send you to the hospital. I need to go home later.¡± Su Yue turned around and fluttered her eyelids. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°My mother called me and she is unhappy,¡± said Bai Jing. Sorrow and helplessness filled her voice. ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue answered and shut her eyes. Bai Jing nudged her. ¡°Wake up. I need to send you to the hospital,¡± implored Bai Jing. ¡°Don¡¯t be so noisy. I want to sleep.¡± Su Yue pushed her hands away and turned away from Bai Jing. Bai Jing was about to wake her up again when her phone rang once more. She glanced at the screen and angrily ended the call. She rose and peered at Su Yue. ¡°Let me call your Uncle Ming then,¡± said Bai Jing. She knew that Su Yue didn¡¯t want Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu to know about her tattoo. If she called Yan Rusheng to bring Su Yue to the hospital, he would definitely know about the truth. She went back to the bedroom and found Su Yue¡¯s phone. It was still turned off. She turned it on and ignored the unread texts. She found Ming Ansheng¡¯s number and called him. ¡­ Ming Ansheng arrived in no time. Bai Jing had packed her belongings and glanced at Su Yue with a worried expression. Her phone rang at that moment. She picked up the call and spoke as she walked. ¡°Got it. Coming down now.¡± She promptly hung up. Ming Ansheng reached Su Yue¡¯s apartment and followed Bai Jing¡¯s instructions. He proceeded to the fire extinguisher box and found the key. He opened the door and entered the stuffy living room. Without removing his shoes, he hastily strode to the bedroom. When he walked past the couch, he paused abruptly. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He turned around to the couch and stretched his hand. He felt Su Yue¡¯s forehead and it startled him. He instantly scooped her up. He couldn¡¯t seem to feel any weight as he carried the tiny girl. Chapter 1019. Yueyue is Having Babies ¡°Little lass! Don¡¯t you know that you need to go to the hospital if you are running a high fever?¡± Ming Ansheng chided her softly as he carried her. He hastily strode out of the house. ¡°Your brain might get fried, you know?¡± Su Yue heard Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice and she opened her eyes. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± She softly muttered and closed her eyes once more. The elevator arrived and Ming Ansheng entered. He peered at Su Yue and softly scolded her. ¡°At least you can still recognize me.¡± ¡°My chest feels terrible and I feel like puking.¡± Su Yue clutched her chest. Her voice sounded like a little kitten purring softly. ¡°Am I having babies?¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. Feeling the urge to puke means that she was pregnant? What warped logic was that? He looked at the tiny girl in his arms, looking thoroughly amused. Her flushed cheeks resembled two rosy apples. ¡°If you are having babies, then who is the father?¡± Does she even have basic knowledge about it? She doesn¡¯t even know basic facts about pregnancy. He wondered if there was a need for him to educate her? ¡°I want to eat chicken wings,¡± Su Yue suddenly said. From babies to chicken wings¡­ This girl ran a high fever. He felt like he was carrying a hot stove in his arms. He reached the carpark and Ming Ansheng walked to his car. He placed Su Yue down and supported her with a hand while he opened the door with the other. Su Yue was very light, so it was almost effortless as he placed her inside the car. ¡­ Ming Ansheng found a respectable hospital around the vicinity. In the clean and spacious ward, the man sat on the edge of the bed as he quietly watched the sleeping girl. His expression was tender and gentle. Everything including time seemed to mellow down. ¡®Am I having babies?¡¯ Ming Ansheng softly chuckled as his eyes traveled to Su Yue¡¯s belly. He began to picture Su Yue being surrounded by children. ¡®If the children start to cause a ruckus, will she be the one to cry first?¡¯ To his surprise¡­ he was looking forward to that situation. His eyes landed on Su Yue¡¯s hand, and he stretched his hand towards her. He grabbed her hand, it was soft and smooth. His heart began to soften. ¡°Yueyue,¡± softly called out Ming Ansheng as she peered at Su Yue¡¯s face. It was clear that she was fast asleep. If she could hear him, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to hold her hand. He stretched the other hand to gently stroke her plump face. He loved everything about her. In his eyes, she was a perfect and priceless treasure. He felt that even if she belonged to him, he might not bear to touch her. Su Yue¡¯s fever was subsiding and she began to perspire. Huge beads of perspiration were rolling down from her forehead. Ming Ansheng dabbed and patiently wiped them away. Su Yue could sense that someone was beside her. But she was too tired and simply couldn¡¯t open her eyes. After some time, she finally managed to open her eyes. An endearingly familiar face appeared right before her eyes. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t expect that Su Yue would wake up so soon. Her eyes were wide open and it had stunned him for a moment. He straightened his back and jumped to his feet as a blush crept on his face. He awkwardly cleared his throat and peered at Su Yue. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± He had almost kissed her. Thankfully, he was rather hesitant. If he wasn¡¯t, he would be even more awkward right now. Chapter 1020. If the First Step is a Mistake, It Will Lead to More Mistakes ¡°Uncle Ming, why are you here?¡± Su Yue asked as she surveyed her surroundings. ¡°Did you send me to the hospital?¡± Ming Ansheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°If not?¡± He threw the tissue into the trash can and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Does your chest still hurt?¡± Su Yue touched her chest where her tattoo was. She honestly answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t heed my instructions not to touch water, right?¡± Ming Ansheng sounded certain. She definitely touched water. The weather was hot in the summer and it could easily cause infections. Su Yue quietly bit her lips and that gave away her answer. Ming Ansheng sighed. ¡°If I knew that this would happen, I would have never brought you to get a tattoo. This tattoo almost made you die of a high fever.¡± ¡°Got it, stop nagging,¡± said Su Yue. Ming Ansheng decided to stop lecturing her. ¡°Hungry?¡± he asked. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Chicken wings,¡± immediately answered Su Yue. Ming Ansheng frowned and sternly said, ¡°The doctor said that you can¡¯t eat oily and fried stuff.¡± He decided to order porridge and buns for her instead. He even added a dessert for her. Su Yue washed up and began eating. She looked much better and sounded more energetic. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to work today?¡± she asked between spoonfuls of porridge. Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°A fool is running a high fever. I can¡¯t let her brain be fried, can I?¡± Su Yue stuck her tongue out at him and rolled her eyes to express how unhappy she was. She continued to shove food into her mouth. Seeing how carefree and contented she looked, Ming Ansheng entered into deep thought. After a while, he sighed quietly to himself before speaking. ¡°You should tell your third sister-in-law about your tattoo. Perhaps she wouldn¡¯t tell you off.¡± He realized that if the first step was a mistake, it will lead to more mistakes. Just like how he should have told Wen Xuxu that he was bringing Su Yue to get a tattoo. His brain was most likely malfunctioning at that time and that¡¯s why he had spun a lie together with the young lass. If he didn¡¯t tell Wen Xuxu the truth, she would definitely blame him once she knew about it. But right now, he had no idea how to break the news to her. In a nutshell, a person shouldn¡¯t lie. Once a person lies, they would constantly feel guilty about it. ¡°No!¡± Su Yue refused and continued. ¡°We can¡¯t tell her now. Wait for me to recover fully.¡± She had kept her tattoo a secret, and now she is running a high fever. Her third sister-in-law will certainly be mad at her and worried as well. Su Yue disagreed to tell Wen Xuxu and it made Ming Ansheng secretly heave a sigh of relief. When was he ever so¡­ secretive about something? Unconsciously, his fists were clenched tightly. He glanced at Su Yue. ¡°So what do you intend to do?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Su Yue raised her head, looking puzzled. She was still chewing the food in her mouth. She looked confused. ¡®This girl was simply too innocent and ignorant.¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Finish your food and take a rest. I need to head back to work. Be good and stay here by yourself.¡± Su Yue obediently nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡­ During the holidays, the airport was crowded the entire day. When Xuxu and Yan Rusheng rushed to the airport, Zhou Shuang and her mother were already getting their boarding passes. Chapter 1021. Zhou Shuangs Departure Xuxu saw Zhou Shuang and hastened her footsteps. ¡°Shuang!¡± Zhou Shuang glanced around when she heard Xuxu¡¯s voice. She frowned and snapped, ¡°Why are you so troublesome? I already told you not to come and yet you¡¯re here. Is it fun to travel with such a huge belly?¡± She may sound like she was chiding Xuxu, but deep down, she was happy and touched. She couldn¡¯t bear to leave Xuxu too as they had known each other since high school. Ever since she came back from overseas, her friendship with Xuxu had strengthened. Their bond was so strong and tightly knit, but unfortunately, they had to separate. Both of them had no idea when their next reunion would be. ¡°I¡¯ve just eaten, so I shall treat this as an exercise.¡± Xuxu grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand tightly. Her eyes began to well up. ¡°After I¡¯ve given birth, I¡¯ll go over to Country M to look for you. I can treat it as a vacation as well,¡± said Xuxu. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded as her eyes darted to Xuxu¡¯s protruding belly. ¡°Once you¡¯ve given birth, you must send me their photos. I want to see how these two imps look like.¡± Yan Rusheng retorted, sounding annoyed. ¡°Yours might be imps, but my children are not.¡± Zhou Shuang glared at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, will you get pregnant if you keep your mouth sealed?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, both of you.¡± Xuxu turned to glare at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Shuang, you must take good care of yourself. And remember to contact me often,¡± said Xuxu, who was reluctant to part with her. Zhou Shuang readily agreed. ¡°I got it.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother walked to Zhou Shuang and smiled at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. Xuxu bowed to her politely. ¡°Aunt.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother looked refined and elegant, having been a diplomat for decades. She wore a light violet dress which made her appear even more classy. Xuxu felt that the only thing Zhou Shuang had inherited from her mother was her looks. Her personality was nothing like hers. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother glanced at Xuxu¡¯s belly. ¡°Yours must be barely eight months?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xuxu stroked her belly instinctively. ¡°Your belly is already so huge!¡± said Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother as she glanced at Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly. Even though Zhou Shuang was only two months pregnant, her belly looked prominent because she was carrying triplets. She sighed as she worriedly remarked, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how big our Xiaoshuang will get.¡± She was about to have her grandchildren, but she didn¡¯t sound overjoyed at all. All they sense was her worries. Xuxu knew that she was worried about Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan¡¯s relationship right now. After Zhou Shuang had given birth, what was she going to do? How could her mother not be worried? ¡°Xiaoshuang, we need to go in soon. Say goodbye to Xuxu.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother smiled once again. ¡°Xuxu, we are leaving. Come and visit us soon.¡± Xuxu bit her lips and nodded. Her eyes were red as she looked at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang waved her hands as she managed a watery smile. ¡°Go back soon. It¡¯s getting late.¡± Xuxu stood there and watched as Zhou Shuang entered. When she saw Zhou Shuang turn around earlier on, her eyes welled up with tears. The crowded and bustling airport suddenly made her feel rather lost. She tightly held Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. In this world, the only person who wouldn¡¯t leave her would be her other half. If a marriage was properly managed, it should last for a lifetime. Chapter 1022. Unsurpassed When It Comes to Being Thick-Skinned (part One) ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Yan Rusheng softly said to Xuxu. ¡°That hooligan won¡¯t be able to stay long in Country M. Or maybe I can plan a trip for us after New Year.¡± Xuxu bowed her head. ¡°Let¡¯s decide again.¡± Yan Rusheng could tell that Xuxu was feeling blue. ¡°That hooligan¡¯s departure made you so sad?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. ¡°My heart is aching for her.¡± Xuxu peered upwards at him and sniffed. ¡°Why is God playing tricks on her?¡± uttered Xuxu. Most women who got accidentally pregnant didn¡¯t have to make such a tough choice. Why did she have to bear triplets? She was still worried that the Lu family might take away Zhou Shuang¡¯s children by force. What was Zhou Shuang going to do? Once she had given birth, how could a mother bear to be apart from her children? Yan Rusheng fell silent as they held hands and left the airport. ¡°Third Yan, where is Zhou Shuang?!¡± They had just left the exit when a familiar figure dashed towards them. Xuxu¡¯s face instantly fell. She stared at Lu Yinan with hostility and displeasure. Sometimes she thought men could be really selfish. They didn¡¯t have to sacrifice anything, so why do they have to demand so much from women? ¡°She should be boarding the plane right now,¡± replied Yan Rusheng in an airy tone. ¡°F*ck!¡± Lu Yinan yelled and sprinted past them and was instantly lost among the crowd. Yan Rusheng peered at Lu Yinan, and he whispered to Xuxu, ¡°Give him some time. I trust him.¡± Xuxu sneered. ¡°He just wants to fulfill the responsibility.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at her and solemnly said, ¡°Wife, not every married couple are together because they love each other. A majority of them are together because of a sense of responsibility, an instant attraction to each other or perhaps they had no other choice.¡± He bent and kissed Xuxu¡¯s cheek. ¡°Not everyone is like us¡­ so loving.¡± He seemed to be pleased with himself. He then led the way to their car. Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous face. The glow of the setting sun had illuminated his face, and he was beyond beautiful. She entered a reverie as she watched him. Yan Rusheng suddenly halted his footsteps and turned around. ¡°Do you feel that your husband is really handsome? Are you jealous of yourself that you share a bed with this handsome man every night?¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. ¡®This narcissist is too much!¡¯ ¡°I really think that you¡¯re suitable to be a relationship expert. I wonder if any variety show is looking for a special guest. You can consider earning extra income.¡± She turned on her heel, ready to leave. ¡°Wife.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her. Xuxu spun around, but before she could utter a sound, the man¡¯s lips came crushing on hers, sealing her mouth. His hands tenderly held her face, and he ignored everyone else. Once this fellow decided to fall in love, he gave his everything. Regardless of the location or occasion, he would express his love without any care. He was even more expressive than those who had just started a relationship. The kiss caught Xuxu off guard, and her hands hovered in mid-air. Her eyes were huge with surprise that she forgot to blink. Passersby stopped to look at them and some even took photos of this beautiful scene. Xuxu was getting breathless and Yan Rusheng finally let her go just as she was about to push him away. Xuxu glared at him and hissed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been on the headlines in a long time.¡± Yan Rusheng beamed at her. He wound his arm around her waist as he surveyed the surroundings. Chapter 1023. Unsurpassed When It Comes to Being Thick-Skinned (part Two) His eyes were seductive and his charm was lethal. A horde of girls began to scream. ¡°Third Master, you¡¯re so handsome!¡± Among the countless pairs of eyes, a pair of sorrowful eyes stood out. A slender girl stood behind the crowd as she gazed at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. Her hands were tightly clenching her clothes. In her eyes, brewed a mixture of envy and sorrows¡ªit was an unfathomable expression. A plump middle-aged man walked to the girl and grinned lewdly as he studied her beautiful face. ¡°Xiaojing, your second brother is here. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The girl nodded as she peered at her hands. Disgust flashed past her eyes. She quickened her footsteps to put some distance between the middle-aged man and her. She continued to clutch her clothes tightly. Yan Rusheng opened the car door for Xuxu. Xuxu was looking at the direction where they came from and she suddenly stopped. She straightened her back and looked again. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. ¡°Who did you see?¡± He followed her line of vision. Xuxu frowned. ¡°I think I saw Bai Jing just now.¡± ¡°Perhaps you saw wrongly.¡± Yan Rusheng peered carefully at the direction again but didn¡¯t see Bai Jing. ¡°Yeah, perhaps.¡± Xuxu turned around and entered the car. Yan Rusheng sat at the back with Xuxu as the chauffeur came along, too. Xuxu suddenly thought of Su Yue. ¡°Ah Sheng, let¡¯s visit Su Yue. I wonder if she and Bai Jing are taking good care of themselves.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like a long-winded mother. She is already 18 years old; she is no longer a kid. Let her be independent for a few more days.¡± Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°But I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°Then call her.¡± Yan Rusheng took out his phone and dialed Su Yue¡¯s number. Su Yue answered after a few seconds. ¡°Hello.¡± Her sleepy voice sounded like she was asleep. ¡°Your third sister-in-law wants to talk to you,¡± said Yan Rusheng. He passed his phone to Xuxu. Xuxu received the phone and answered, ¡°Yueyue, have you eaten?¡± ¡°Yes I did. Third sister-in-law, don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Su Yue sounded more energetic when she talked to Xuxu. Xuxu heard her and was more rest assured. ¡°Sleep early and come home soon alright? Your brother might only return earliest next month,¡± said Xuxu. ¡°I got it!¡± ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± Xuxu returned the phone back to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Can you stop worrying now?¡± ¡°She is obedient, but there are many things she doesn¡¯t understand. She is so muddle-headed.¡± Xuxu began to be worried once more at the mention of Su Yue. ¡°She told me that she wants to stay at the hostel. But I think we shouldn¡¯t let her.¡± The students were getting very open-minded these days. Dating and cohabitation and the list goes on. She was afraid that they might lead this little girl astray. Yan Rusheng was speechless as he stared at Xuxu. He glanced at Xuxu¡¯s belly and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m worried about the freedom of these little fellows in the future.¡± Yueyue had turned 18 and she was still so anxious about her. Wouldn¡¯t she be even more worried about their two children? Xuxu pouted. ¡°Yueyue¡¯s situation is different.¡± She then pressed on, ¡°Did First Uncle ask you about Su Yue recently?¡± Chapter 1024. Unsurpassed When It Comes to Being Thick-Skinned (part Three) Yan Rusheng raised his brow. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°This is the consequences of a married man who has a mistress.¡± Xuxu glared at Yan Rusheng but deep down, she actually sympathized with her First Uncle¡¯s situation. Now that First Aunt and First Uncle had divorced, both of First Uncle¡¯s sons sided with First Aunt. First Uncle was all alone now. But her pity was fleeting as one ought to be punished for their mistakes. From the moment he had cheated on his wife, he should have seen it coming. Xuxu sighed heavily at the thought that this family had been torn apart. ¡°Second Sister-in-law has given birth. You should visit her together with mother. I know for sure, Father will definitely not go.¡± She added, ¡°You need to keep it a secret from Father though.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, worrying too much makes a woman grow old rapidly.¡± Yan Rusheng affectionately pinched Xuxu¡¯s face. He knew that Xuxu worried too much with regards to First Uncle and his family. Even though she knew deep down certain situations couldn¡¯t be changed despite efforts to salvage it. She had been too grateful to his entire family, hence she was trying her utmost to keep the family intact. Xuxu sneered. ¡°When I grow old, you can get a pretty young girl at any time.¡± She stretched her hand to grab Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and snuggled up to him. Yan Rusheng grinned cheekily and replied, ¡°My gun will only recognize your holster.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. He would always shoot his mouth off and make such dirty and sexual remarks! He was unsurpassed when it comes to being thick-skinned. ¡­ In the ward, after Su Yue hung up, she patted her chest. She thought to herself that she would never lie again. A phone call had made her so nervous. A man sat by the edge of the bed as he peeled an apple. He peered at her, looking amused. ¡°Was that Sister Xuxu?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue nodded and bent to continue eating her chicken wings. She hungrily devoured the food and began slurping the meatball soup. She looked as though she hadn¡¯t eaten in days. She finally stopped eating when her mouth was stuffed with food. She was busy chewing her food as she spoke. ¡°Brother Qi Lei, can you tell Grandfather that you can¡¯t go to work for a few days? I want you to move to my place.¡± Qi Lei looked confused. ¡°Why?¡± Su Yue beamed sheepishly at him. ¡°The food that you cooked is too yummy.¡± Qi Lei chortled loudly. ¡°You have so many servants at home, they are at your disposal. Shouldn¡¯t they cook nicer food than me?¡± As he spoke, he placed the peeled apple on a plate. ¡°Don¡¯t eat so much meat. You should wait until you recovered. Have an apple first.¡± He then attempted to clear the food. ¡°No!¡± Su Yue stopped Qi Lei and snatched a chicken wing from him. Qi Lei helplessly shook his head, unable to change her mind. Su Yue chewed as she replied. ¡°They can¡¯t be compared to yours. You¡¯re invincible.¡± She intently stared at the chicken wings. Qi Lei fell silent as he gazed at Su Yue. The corners of his mouth helplessly curled upwards. He didn¡¯t respond to Su Yue¡¯s praises and turned around to keep the food containers. He began to wipe the table and Su Yue glanced at him. She suddenly called him. ¡°Brother Qi Lei!¡± Qi Lei narrowed his eyes as he asked, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You have white hair.¡± Su Yue tugged a strand of hair from Qi Lei¡¯s head and showed him. ¡°You¡¯re getting old.¡± Qi Lei grinned. ¡°Hurry up and finish the apple.¡± Both of them were really close to each other. Chapter 1025. Unsurpassed When It Comes to Being Thick-Skinned (part Four) At this moment, the door flew open. A man strode into the ward and his eyes darted towards the direction of the bed. The unconscious smile he had on his face froze instantly. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re here.¡± Su Yue yelled across the ward and quickly dumped the chicken wing away. She grabbed the peeled apple and began to chew it. Qi Lei tidied the table before straightening his back. He nodded curtly at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng remained silent as he walked towards the couch. He placed his briefcase on the coffee table and bent to sit down. He took out his laptop and some documents. Qi Lei bit his lips and turned around to face Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m going off. I¡¯ll visit you some other day.¡± He picked up his bag and strode towards the entrance. Su Yue bade him goodbye with a smile. ¡°Brother Qi Lei, bye.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± Qi Lei walked out and closed the door after him. Su Yue¡¯s attention landed back on Ming Ansheng. He remained straight-faced as he stared at his laptop screen. Su Yue frowned and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ming Ansheng appeared not to have heard her. Su Yue could tell that he was angry, and she flung her blanket away. She was wearing her own baggy pajamas, which were sky-blue in color. She stood before Ming Ansheng and looked at him gloomily. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Why are you angry?¡± She bent and sat down beside Ming Ansheng with the apple in her hand. Ming Ansheng glanced at her, and he caught sight of Su Yue¡¯s hand. It looked oily. His face fell and he coldly said, ¡°Wash your hands.¡± With an absolute authoritative tone. Su Yue was unhappy when she heard him. She rose and threw the apple into the trash can before stomping to the bathroom. Gushing water sounds were soon heard. Su Yue came out of the bathroom after she had washed her hands. She stood outside of the bathroom and flung her hands. She glared at Ming Ansheng with hatred in her eyes. Ming Ansheng continued working, ignoring her. She snatched his laptop away and placed it on the coffee table before shutting it. ¡°Su Yue!¡± Ming Ansheng was already fuming and naturally, he raised his voice at her. Su Yue¡¯s expression gradually turned cold. She quietly said to him, ¡°I don¡¯t need you here.¡± She turned around to walk back to her bed. She flung the blanket over herself and completely covered her body. Ming Ansheng slumped back against the couch as he studied Su Yue. Images of Su Yue smiling at Qi Lei repeated themselves in his mind¡ªand she was still holding the unhealthy and oily chicken wings. He had clearly told her to avoid unhealthy food and that she needed to abstain from oily food as well. But he knew that wasn¡¯t the real reason that made him erupt. ¡®Ming Ansheng, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡¯ he thought to himself. This mistake would snowball if he carried on in this way. ¡­ Su Yue was initially tossing and turning in bed. Gradually, her movements began to lessen and finally, she stopped moving. Ming Ansheng knew that she was asleep. Sigh! He helplessly sighed in his heart as he stood up. He strode across the room to her bed and pulled the blanket to reveal a tiny bit of her face. She was sleeping sideways and her cheeks looked rosy. Ming Ansheng stood there and admired her quietly for a long time. He could feel his legs beginning to get numb, and so he walked back to the couch to continue working. Chapter 1026. It Hurts, Can You Take a Look at It for Me? (part One) Ming Ansheng lost track of time when he was hard at work. In the still of the night, he looked at the bottom right-hand corner of his laptop. It was almost 11 p.m. He closed his laptop and placed it on the coffee table. Then he stretched. He glanced towards the bed. He panicked and stopped mid-stretch. Su Yue was back facing him, but her small frame was shivering. Ming Ansheng hurriedly walked over. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He sat at the corner of the bed and pulled at the covers. Su Yue¡¯s face was flushed, even her eyelashes were trembling. ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± His voice was full of tenderness. ¡°It hurts here,¡± Su Yue replied, turning over and pointing at the tattooed area on her chest. When Ming Ansheng heard it, he slightly pulled down her collar without thinking. His eyes widened when he saw the infected area and his hand momentarily trembled. ¡°Why is it so swollen?¡± He touched her forehead with his other hand. ¡°You¡¯re burning. You¡¯re running a fever again.¡± He panicked and quickly pressed the alert button, calling for the doctor. The doctor did a check on her and asked if she had eaten any heaty food. Su Yue pursed her lips and remained silent. The doctor knew her answer. Ming Ansheng was there, but he didn¡¯t dare to chide Su Yue. Thereafter, she was given an injection to reduce her fever and a stern warning. After the doctor left, Ming Ansheng sat on the corner of the bed. Su Yue lay flat on it as she stared at the ceiling, looking anywhere but at him. Ming Ansheng knew that she was still mad, so he asked her with a smile. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were in pain?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you,¡± Su Yue replied, turning her face away from him. He couldn¡¯t bear for her to be angry at him any longer. He smiled tenderly, patting her back lightly. He consoled, ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m in the wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have gotten so mad when I saw you eating all those oily and fatty foods.¡± Su Yue glared at him. ¡°That¡¯s not an apology. It¡¯s a scolding.¡± ¡®Hey! This girl is quick-witted and not muddled in the least.¡¯ ¡°Okay, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t eat them again until I recover,¡± promised Su Yue in a serious tone. She looked at Ming Ansheng and apologized sincerely. Ming Ansheng looked at her flushed face, heart aching. ¡°Good girl.¡± Then he added, ¡°Do you want some water?¡± ¡°It hurts so bad, can you help me blow at it?¡± Su Yue asked, frowning and pointing at her chest. She then moved her hand to pull down her collar. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t know what to say. Did this little lass mistake him for her third sister-in-law? Or did she just treat him like her third sister-in-law and simply not caring that he was male¡ªa different gender from her? Did she treat that TCM guy the same way? Before he had arrived, did he help her blow at her inflamed area too? ¡°Yueyue, you¡¯re a girl. That Qi Lei and I are both males. You can¡¯t get too intimate, you understand?¡± ¡®Doesn¡¯t she know that she can¡¯t do that?¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡°But you¡¯re the same as my Third Brother.¡± So she meant that she treated him as an older brother. To be blunt, she treated him as an elder¡ªshe didn¡¯t think of him that way. Ming Ansheng was very troubled when he heard her explanation. He lowered his head and bit his lip, mocking himself. He didn¡¯t know whether to be happy or depressed. He said, ¡°Even if I¡¯m your older brother, you¡¯re a big girl now, you can¡¯t do that.¡± Chapter 1027. It Hurts, Can You Take a Look at It for Me? (part Two) ¡°Okay, got it,¡± Su Yue replied, releasing her collar as she blushed. Her fever had subsided and so her face wasn¡¯t so flushed anymore. She turned over and back-faced Ming Ansheng. After his gentlemanly act, Young Master Ming suddenly felt regretful. He glanced at her flushed face and long eyelashes, then suddenly his mind was flooded with the image the day Su Yue appeared before him wrapped up in a towel. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the covers, his body tensed. Su Yue was still recovering from her fever and perspiration covered her forehead. She flipped over to get a few pieces of tissue paper from the bedside cabinet to wipe her sweat. When she stretched, the neckline of her loose sleepwear slid to the side, revealing her collar bones and fair skin. It sparked Ming Ansheng¡¯s sense and desires. He stood up and took large strides towards the sofa. He retrieved a metal cigarette container from his work bag and opened it. He took out a cigarette and lit it, then walked out of the room. He leaned against the door frame, the cigarette in one hand and the other in the pocket of his pants. He only took a few clouds of smoke and let the cigarette burn away. When it extinguished, it had burnt his hand. It was only then he came to his senses and threw the bud away. ¡°Aish!¡± He helplessly sighed. Ming Ansheng turned around and headed back into the room. She was lying on the bed, her eyes wide open, unmoving. He walked over and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep,¡± she replied, feeling troubled. Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°You slept too much during the daytime?¡± ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re right,¡± Su Yue suddenly said. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t have time to react. ¡°What?¡± Su Yue turned to him and said, ¡°You should go home. It¡¯s not good for the both of us to be alone in here.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. He wasn¡¯t expecting her to be harping on his words when he left for so long. He sat down and asked her gently, ¡°Yueyue, are you angry?¡± ¡®But why would she be?¡¯ He just warned her to be careful. It¡¯s not like he had scolded her. ¡°Nope,¡± Su Yue replied, pushing Ming Ansheng away. ¡°You should leave. I won¡¯t let the tattoo come into contact with water until it heals. I will stay away from unhealthy food, too.¡± She looked so innocent and serious at the same time. Ming Ansheng felt an unexplainable fear when Su Yue pushed him away. He held onto her wrist. ¡°Yueyue.¡± All his feelings and emotions were shown through that one word. He grabbed her small hand tightly, not bearing to let go. How he wished he could hold on to her hand like this forever. Su Yue blinked in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ming Ansheng suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll help you blow at it.¡± The moment the words left his mouth, even he himself was shocked. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not hurting anymore,¡± Su Yue replied, shaking her head. She then pulled the blanket up and covered her face. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t understand her actions. ¡®How did this happen all of a sudden?¡¯ Su Yue kept herself hidden under the covers and Ming Ansheng continued looking at her as he sat on the corner of the bed. He was starting to regret saying those words to her. Would she continue to stray far from him in the time to come? How would she react if she knew how he felt? Would she ignore him forever? Ming Ansheng did a lot of thinking that night. When Su Yue woke the next morning, she didn¡¯t see Ming Ansheng anywhere. The door to the toilet was open and there was no sound coming from it. She got off the bed and walked over to the sofa. Ming Ansheng¡¯s work bag and laptop were no longer there. He was gone. Chapter 1028. It Hurts, Can You Take a Look at It for Me? (part Three) Su Yue frowned and mumbled unhappily, ¡°He¡¯s so rude. He didn¡¯t even say goodbye.¡± She walked back to the bed and sat down. She was deep in thought for a long while before she picked up her phone from the bedside cabinet. She wanted to look at the time, but she diverted her attention to the WeChat notification shown on the screen. ¡°Call me when you wake. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll get it delivered to you.¡± It was from Ming Ansheng. Su Yue read through it and didn¡¯t reply. She was dazed for a while before turning her phone off. She looked down and pulled down the neck of her shirt. The swelling seemed to have gone a little. Her gaze swept over the empty ward and she felt a sudden emptiness inside. It was something she had never felt before. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll just go home.¡± Su Yue decided to head back and tell Xuxu about her tattoo. She then immediately started packing her stuff. Without informing the hospital, she hailed a taxi and left in her pajamas. Xuxu had just finished her stroll in the courtyard and went in to get a glass of water. She was sitting on the sofa when she received a call from Su Yue, saying she was coming back but didn¡¯t have money to pay for the cab, so she asked Xuxu to wait at the entrance for her with some money. After the call ended, Xuxu laughed and shook her head. ¡°This lass.¡± She grabbed some money and left the house. At that moment, a cab stopped in front of the entrance of the courtyard. The door opened and Su Yue got off. ¡°Third sister-in-law,¡± she called, waving at her. Xuxu hastened her steps and paid the driver. She then frowned as she sized Su Yue up. ¡°Why did you come back in pajamas?¡± She looked at her face and worry gripped her. ¡°Why have you lost weight?¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m sorry. There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been keeping from you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu asked, grabbing her elbow and looking her up and down. ¡°Are you sick?¡± Su Yue shook her head and answered, ¡°No.¡± She grabbed Xuxu¡¯s arm and hesitated. Then she stammered, ¡°I¡­ I got a tattoo on my chest and it got inflamed after a shower. I was afraid that you¡¯ll worry, so I didn¡¯t tell you.¡± Xuxu got worried. ¡°You silly girl, let me take a look when we get inside.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and walked back into the house. When they arrived, she pulled down Su Yue¡¯s collar. When she saw the inflammation, her heart clenched. But she couldn¡¯t bear to scold her. Su Yue said that she kept it from her because she was afraid that she would worry. *¡¯If I were to scold her and if anything were to happen again, she would definitely keep it from me.¡¯ * Xuxu thought, and replied softly, ¡°Don¡¯t let it come into contact with water for the next few days.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Su Yue replied, nodding. She scrutinized Xuxu¡¯s expression for a long time. She was relieved that she didn¡¯t seem angry. When Su Yue returned to her room, she wiped herself down and changed into a new set of clothes before going downstairs. She told Xuxu that she didn¡¯t eat breakfast, so Xuxu got the helpers to make something for her. In the dining room, they sat opposite each other. Xuxu was drinking from a cup and Su Yue was eating her breakfast. Xuxu stared at Su Yue¡¯s chest for a long while before asking, ¡°Where did you get the tattoo?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Sister Meiduo did it for me.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°So that day, when Ming Ansheng brought you to Meiduo¡¯s house, it was to get you a tattoo?¡± Her tone sounded certain. Su Yue was afraid that Xuxu would put the blame on Ming Ansheng so she hurriedly tried to explain, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I was the one who begged him to take me there. It has nothing to do with Uncle Ming.¡± ¡°This Ming Ansheng!¡± Chapter 1029. It Hurts, Can You Take A Look at It For Me? (part Four) No matter how hard Su Yue tried to explain, Xuxu was still unhappy with him. She thought it was all right that Su Yue was insensible and mischievous, but he shouldn¡¯t have kept it from her either. Su Yue peered up at Xuxu and carefully stared at her. After some observation, she tried asking, ¡°Third sister-in-law, where¡¯s Second Aunt?¡± Actually, she was trying to test her tone, to see if Xuxu was angry. Xuxu replied, ¡°She has gone out to play. Eat up.¡± Then she picked up her cup and drank a mouthful of tea. She didn¡¯t probe about her tattoo any further. She felt that getting a tattoo wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Besides, she liked it so she shouldn¡¯t interfere. She just felt a little pained and angry that she didn¡¯t tell her about the inflammation. Xuxu decided to change the topic. ¡°Where¡¯s Bai Jing?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°She has something at home, so she left.¡± At the mention of Bai Jing, it had Xuxu worried. She looked at Su Yue and said, ¡°Yueyue, you and Bai Jing are best friends. Now that she¡¯s moved over to her mother¡¯s place, check up on her more often and ask her how she¡¯s doing.¡± An 18-year-old girl living in her rich stepfather¡¯s home. What more is that he has children! Sigh! That kind of environment and family¡­ It was not a place where anybody could easily fit in. ¡°Mm,¡± Su Yue replied as she ate. ¡°She¡¯s fine now.¡± ¡°Aish.¡± Xuxu sighed. Given Bai Jing¡¯s character, even if she were to have a hard time at her stepfather¡¯s house, she would keep it to herself. But as long as she says nothing, they had no right to interfere. After all, that was her biological mother. She was already 18, and soon she would enter the university by the end of the year. She had to mold her own future. A university¡¯s acceptance letter was sent out near the start of school, brought to the doorstep by the principal himself. Bai Jing had scored well enough to enter A University, so Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t need to intervene. A university was situated in between Jincheng and the capital city, but it belonged to the latter. Zhao Zheng was right. A university was the top educational institutes in the capital city, and one of the best schools in the country. During the start of school, vitality filled the whole campus. Students formed in twos and threes along the boulevard and even under the phoenix trees. A banner further welcomed the new students. Su Yue was very interested in every nook and cranny of the school campus, the place where she would spend her next four years. She walked in front, taking in her surroundings. But not a hint of a smile framed her face. Xuxu clutched Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand and held her belly with the other. She was infected by the bustling atmosphere and was filled with a mixture of feelings. ¡°Time flies. When we entered university years ago, it wasn¡¯t this lively.¡± Back then, when she entered the university, she had carried her luggage and was practically dragged into a particular society by their chairman. In the end, all the members left without reason and she was the only one left. Hence society closed down. Yan Rusheng mocked. ¡°That was your school. What did you expect from a second-class university?¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Who did I enter that second-class university for? Who was the idiot with lowly aspirations that told everyone that he wanted to go to X University?¡± In fact, X University was a prestigious school! Since when did it become second class? Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°Yes, yes, my darling wife who sings her husband¡¯s tune.¡± ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were bickering as they walked when Su Yue¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from the front. ¡®Bai Jing?¡¯ When they heard her, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng lifted their heads to look at Su Yue. But Su Yue was looking in the direction behind them, so they turned their heads. Chapter 1030. I’ll Take Them Down One by One (part One) When Xuxu turned around, her eyes brightened. Bai Jing was wearing a white dress that reached her ankles. Its chiffon material flew in the breeze. It had only been a month, but her hair had grown tremendously. She had let down her hair, and she was clad in her white dress that she looked like a fairy. There was a tall and thin man beside her. He was wearing a black T-shirt and black sports shoes. He looked around thirty and had a rectangular face. When the man caught sight of Yan Rusheng, a smile flitted onto his face. Xuxu frowned, nudging the man beside her. ¡°You know the man beside Bai Jing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the boss of a small supplier,¡± Yan Rusheng replied, his voice full of disdain. ¡°He¡¯s the second son of Bai Jing¡¯s stepfather.¡± Xuxu was in shock. ¡°You know him?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Just a few days ago.¡± During their exchange, Bai Jing and the man had walked over. Su Yue happily bounded up to her. ¡°Bai Jing, I was just about to call you.¡± ¡°Something cropped up at home,¡± Bai Jing explained to Su Yue, then her gaze flitted over to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law.¡± Although her voice was soft, it didn¡¯t give off the feeling of inferiority, unlike before. Xuxu smiled at her, then praised sincerely. ¡°Bai Jing, you¡¯re getting prettier.¡± Bai Jing felt embarrassed and lowered her head. The man beside her spoke up just then. ¡°Third Master, Third Madam Yan,¡± he greeted with a smile. ¡°Bai Jing, who¡¯s this?¡± Su Yue asked, sizing him up. Her tone sounded a little arrogant. ¡°This is my¡­ Second Brother Lei Yong,¡± Bai Jing introduced. She sounded unnatural when she called him her ¡®second brother¡¯. Actually, she sounded unwilling. Of course, Su Yue couldn¡¯t tell, but she didn¡¯t greet him, anyway. Her gaze merely swept over him. Lei Yong wanted to smile at her, but her gaze had already shifted past him. She didn¡¯t even bother looking at him directly. He felt a little awkward. Then he smiled at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Third Master and Third Madam Yan to send your sister to school personally.¡± Yan Rusheng remained expressionless, so Xuxu replied, ¡°We brought her here to familiarize herself.¡± Then she looked at Bai Jing and realized she came empty-handed. She asked in confusion, ¡°Bai Jing, didn¡¯t you bring your luggage over today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m not going to stay here,¡± Bai Jing replied, shaking her head. She then lowered her head and bit her lip, grabbing onto her dress tightly. Her veins were almost protruding. Xuxu observed all this and replied with a meaningful ¡®oh¡¯. ¡°Bai Jing, let¡¯s go over to take a look,¡± Su Yue suggested, hugging Bai Jing¡¯s elbow and dragging her forward. Bai Jing didn¡¯t have a chance to refuse. ¡°This lass, now she finds an interest in new things,¡± Xuxu commented as she watched her back view, her eyes full of affection. Then, Lei Yong¡¯s voice sounded from behind them. ¡°Third Master¡¯s sister seems to get along very well with our Bai Jing.¡± A cold smile flashed across Xuxu¡¯s face. She turned to face Lei Yong and feigned ignorance as she questioned, ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t Bai Jing agree to live on campus with Su Yue? Why the sudden change in the decision?¡± Lei Yong was shocked. He smiled and explained, ¡°You see, my mother feels worried about letting her live in school. And coincidentally, we own a house nearby, so there¡¯s no need for her to.¡± Then he looked downwards. It was clear from his calculative eyes that he was planning something. Chapter 1031. I’ll Take Them Down One By One (part Two) ¡°Oh, but if she were to stay in, then Su Yue will have a companion,¡± Xuxu commented, looking up at Yan Rusheng with a frown. ¡°If Bai Jing doesn¡¯t live on campus, then I think we won¡¯t let Su Yue stay in either. She¡¯ll get bored if she¡¯s alone.¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to reply, Lei Yong answered, ¡°This Bai Jing, she should¡¯ve told us she would stay with Miss Su. My mother wouldn¡¯t be so worried then.¡± He then thought for a moment and added, ¡°Why don¡¯t I persuade my mother to let Bai Jing stay on campus when we get back. It¡¯s still in the capital city anyway, so she¡¯ll be able to come home often.¡± Xuxu smiled and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, thank you very much, Mr. Lei. Our Yueyue had been going on and on about living on campus, but I¡¯ll be worried if she stays in alone.¡± Her immense gratefulness took Lei Yong by surprise. He quickly shook his head and smiled, replying formally, ¡°It¡¯s no problem. Bai Jing doesn¡¯t know many people here, so my parents and I are very glad that she has Su Yue as a good friend.¡± A sly gleam flashed through Xuxu¡¯s eyes. She pressed her lips together in a tight smile and said no more. Xuxu was tired after a while since her belly was so huge. Su Yue had dragged Bai Jing for a tour around A University that it lasted over an hour. But¡­ they still only had a brief understanding of the campus and where the main places were situated. It would take an entire day for them to remember all the nooks and crannies of the campus. It was almost noon and the sun was getting scorching. Yan Rusheng was worried that Xuxu would be too worn out, so he kept suggesting them to call it a day. They had parked the champagne-colored car under a large tree at the main entrance of A University. Although the car model and color were very low key, it couldn¡¯t hide the fact that the car was expensive. Yan Rusheng opened the car door and turned on the air-con immediately. He then leaned lazily against the car frame and watched Xuxu engage in small talk with Lei Yong. He felt like there was no need for it. He was just a small supplier. Why did she patronize him when she could end it in one line? But he knew that Xuxu was thinking about Bai Jing¡¯s future. Xuxu and Lei Yong exchanged a few lines, then she looked at Bai Jing and said, ¡°Bai Jing, next time bring along all the stuff you need.¡± Bai Jing blinked in confusion. Xuxu knew what she was confused about. She smiled and explained, ¡°I asked for a favor from your Second Brother. Since Yueyue wanted to live on campus, I wanted you to accompany her, and he agreed.¡± When she heard it, Bai Jing¡¯s eyes brightened and glistened with gratefulness. Without her saying anything, Xuxu could confirm her suspicions. She knew that Bai Jing would definitely have a hard time immersing herself into that kind of family all of a sudden. When he heard her words, Lei Yong smiled and said, ¡°Third Madam Yan, you¡¯re too courteous, it¡¯s not a problem at all. It¡¯s our Xiaojing¡¯s honor to have a friend like Miss Su.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s expression darkened. She lowered her head and her long eyelashes covered her clear eyes, making it impossible to figure out what was going through her mind. ¡°Miss Su, you¡¯re welcome to visit us whenever you¡¯re free,¡± he offered with a smile. Su Yue replied with a cold *¡¯oh¡¯, *her gaze still casually flitting past him. Her arrogant air made her seem disrespectful, but of course, she only gave off such a vibe to people she wasn¡¯t familiar with. A tinge of awkwardness flashed across Lei Yong¡¯s face, but his smile remained unaltered. Su Yue got onto the car and Xuxu followed behind her. When she did, Yan Rusheng thoughtfully covered her head, afraid that she would knock it when she got in. Bai Jing looked in their direction and went into a daze. Chapter 1032. I’ll Take Them Down One by One (part Three) A face of envy. Then a cold voice rang through her ears. ¡°You happy now?¡± Bai Jing hurriedly retracted her gaze and lowered her head. She bit her lip, her eyelashes quivering slightly. His unfeeling voice continued, ¡°We¡¯ve been having some transactions with Flourish & Prosper recently. They treat that illegitimate daughter like a princess, so you better suck up to her.¡± He then started off towards his car. Bai Jing lifted her head and glared with hatred at his retreating figure. Her fists clenched. ¡­ After the car started, Xuxu looked back and saw that there was a huge distance between Bai Jing and Lei Yong. As they rode further, she retracted her gaze. Curiously, she asked Yan Rusheng, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Ah Sheng, what¡¯s the background of Bai Jing¡¯s stepfather?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Grand Prosperity Molds. Does it ring a bell?¡± Xuxu thought for a while before nodding. ¡°Yes. President Lei, the one with a lewd smile.¡± What a small world¡ªthe man who saved Yan Rusheng at the construction site was Bai Jing¡¯s father. Bai Jing¡¯s stepfather was a supplier for Flourish & Prosper. At the end of the day, it just proved that Bai Jing had an affinity with the Yan family. ¡°I don¡¯t like Bai Jing¡¯s second brother.¡± Su Yue, who was engrossed in her mobile phone game, suddenly commented. Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. She had come to that conclusion herself quite some time ago. When this lass liked or disliked someone, it was written all over her face. When she had conversed with Lei Yong, she didn¡¯t even look him in the eye. But to be fair, Lei Yong wasn¡¯t the likable type. He was just like his father, giving a lewd first impression. What a chip off the old block. She then sighed. ¡°Aish, Bai Jing is becoming more slim and graceful now. I¡¯m worried about her being in the Lei family.¡± Yan Rusheng looked back at Xuxu to see the look of worry on her face. He mocked, ¡°Mummy Wen, why are you worried about everyone now?¡± But Xuxu didn¡¯t feel like playing along with him. ¡°Ah Sheng, we promised Bai Jing¡¯s father that we¡¯d take care of her.¡± She felt that the way Lei Yong looked at Bai Jing was too lewd. Not like siblings. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯ll take care of Bai Jing next time,¡± Su Yue added in a serious tone as she lifted her head to look at Xuxu. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°Take care of yourself first.¡± Su Yue stuck out her tongue at her. The 10th of September was their first day of school, the start of their military training. Just by observation, it was clear that Xuxu¡¯s belly was getting bigger by the day. She had wanted to send Su Yue off, but Yan Rusheng refused. Yan Rusheng sent Su Yue to school by himself. On this first official day of school, the crowd was larger than usual. All the shops by the school gates with dwindling business for the past two months were now flourishing. The champagne-colored car drove straight into the campus. It caught the eye of many. Yan Rusheng parked within the campus and retrieved Su Yue¡¯s luggage from the boot. Su Yue alighted. She was wearing a pale pink T-shirt and pale blue leggings, paired with white sneakers, which stressed her petite figure. She walked over to Yan Rusheng, taking her backpack from him and slipping it on. Suddenly, a black BMW appeared and parked in the lot next to theirs. Yan Rusheng glanced over subconsciously and then frowned with contempt. The door to the driver¡¯s seat opened and a thin man got out of the car. He was wearing golden-rimmed spectacles, and he seemed refined. The first thing he did when he got out of the car was to push up his spectacles. Chapter 1033. I’ll Take Them Down One by One (part Four) He strolled towards Yan Rusheng. With one hand resting on Su Yue¡¯s luggage handle and his legs crossed, Yan Rusheng lazily stood and arrogantly eyed Zhao Zheng as the latter walked over. His arrogant gaze held a hint of contempt. ¡°Yan Rusheng,¡± Zhao Zheng greeted as he stood in front of Yan Rusheng. His hands were in his suit pockets and he had slightly tilted his chin up. But Yan Rusheng still towered over him, and coupled with his distinguished air, it had overshadowed Zhao Zheng in an instant. ¡°Professor Zhao,¡± Yan Rusheng acknowledged with a forced smile. Hatred flitted across Zhao Zheng¡¯s eyes. Yan Rusheng had swallowed up over 120 thousand dollars from his bank account during that one meal¡ªit was obvious that he had tricked him on purpose. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got and the hatred in his eyes became more prominent. Yan Rusheng¡¯s mocking smile had fueled his anger even more. Zhao Zheng clenched his fists by his side and gritted his teeth. He had to pay him back one day. Then he looked at Su Yue and smiled as he said, ¡°Su Yue, feel free to look for me if you need any help in the future.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯, her gaze sweeping past his face. But she did not look him in the eye for more than a second. Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression faltered. He puffed out his chest and said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, I have a meeting in a while so I won¡¯t be able to receive you today.¡± Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°Professor Zhao, you¡¯re swarmed with work every day. I wouldn¡¯t dare to trouble you.¡± Zhao Zheng held in his angst and trudged away. ¡°Hateful,¡± Yan Rusheng said as he smirked at Zhao Zheng¡¯s retreating figure. Then he turned to Su Yue and reminded, ¡°Yueyue, if you see that fellow next time, don¡¯t talk to him.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°I know, he¡¯s your love rival.¡± Both of them began walking towards the female hostel. Yan Rusheng rebutted, ¡°He¡¯s not even fit to be my servant, so how can he be considered my love rival?¡± Su Yue smiled and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s your love rival then?¡± Yan Rusheng coldly snorted. ¡°No matter who they are, I¡¯ll take them down one by one.¡± Su Yue smirked. ¡°It must be that super handsome Brother Ah Heng.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression fell. He gritted his teeth and exclaimed, ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Su Yue answered. Her legs¡ªmuch shorter than Yan Rusheng¡¯s¡ªcarried her all the way to Yan Rusheng at the speed faster than a rabbit. Yan Rusheng recalled her words and mumbled unhappily in his heart. ¡®Super handsome Brother Ah Heng?¡¯ F*ck, was he not better looking than that fellow? Su Yue was allocated to the third floor of the female hostel. Before they reached the hostel entrance, a sign that forbade males from entering could be seen from afar. Su Yue took out her electronic room card and swiped open the door. Young Master Yan ignored the sign and carried her luggage, walking haughtily into the female hostel. When they walked past the security room, a middle-aged woman in long sleeves stormed out and stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Males are not allowed in here.¡± Yan Rusheng plainly glanced at the woman and casually slipped out his phone from his pocket before dialing a number. ¡°Principal Wu, this is Yan Rusheng.¡± ¡°Someone stopped me from bringing my younger sister to her hostel room.¡± He then passed his phone to the woman and said, ¡°Principal Wu has something to tell you.¡± The woman took it over from him. With an ¡®oh¡¯, she passed the phone back to Yan Rusheng and allowed him to head upstairs. A few girls had walked past and witnessed Yan Rusheng¡¯s whole exchange with the woman. They stared at him, and their hearts pounded. They watched him as he turned the corner on the second floor with luggage in hand. Chapter 1034. A Horde Of Girls Charging Towards Him (part One) Screams were heard downstairs. ¡°Ahhh, he is so handsome!¡± ¡°So handsome!¡± Hurried footsteps sounded from the stairs. ¡°Are you Third Young Master?¡± A horde of girls instantly surrounded Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yes, yes, yes! It¡¯s him! The handsome and arrogant President!¡± ¡°Can you sign for us?!¡± ¡®Sign for them?¡¯ Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows tightly and replied stiffly. ¡°I¡¯m not a celebrity.¡± ¡°Third Master, take a photo with us!¡± The girls whipped out their phones. Without waiting for his consent, they snapped away. Yan Rusheng unconsciously stroked his temples and it made the girls swoon once more. Everyone followed Yan Rusheng closely with their phones, all the way to Su Yue¡¯s dormitory. After Yan Rusheng entered, Su Yue closed the door. She looked at Yan Rusheng and threatened him cheekily. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell third sister-in-law that you took photos with other girls.¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. Bai Jing was arranging the bedsheets when she saw Su Yue and Yan Rusheng walking in. She straightened her back and smiled at them. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Then she looked at Yan Rusheng and called him in a soft whisper. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded as he placed Su Yue¡¯s suitcase at a corner. He surveyed the room before asking Su Yue. ¡°Which bed do you want?¡± The room was about 20 square meters. There were two double-decker beds, four desks, and cupboards. The room was clean and tidy, and they could see not a speck of dust. Yan Rusheng saw a damp cloth on the table and knew that Bai Jing must have just cleaned the room. ¡°This one.¡± Su Yue pointed at the lower bunk of a bed across Bai Jing. She strode over and sat down on the bed. ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to send blankets over.¡± ¡°Third Brother¡­¡± Bai Jing called Yan Rusheng suddenly. Yan Rusheng glanced at her. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes met his and her eyes quivered slightly. ¡°Hmmm, Su Yue and I are the only ones in this room?¡± asked Bai Jing softly. ¡°Certainly.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°I got it.¡± Bai Jing nodded as she smiled happily. She went back to arranging her bedsheets. Yan Rusheng stared at her for a few more seconds before quipping. ¡°I¡¯ll bring both of you out to grab a bite.¡± Su Yue frowned and replied. ¡°Why are we eating now? I just ate breakfast and it¡¯s too early for lunch.¡± ¡°I have a meeting at 10 a.m.,¡± answered Yan Rusheng. He bent to glance at his watch. Bai Jing stood upright and replied, ¡°Then let¡¯s eat now. I haven¡¯t eaten breakfast.¡± Her eyes carefully swept across Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous face before she bowed her head. ¡°Oh, you haven¡¯t eaten?¡± Su Yue immediately said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°In that case, Third Brother bring us out before you go to work.¡± ¡°Okay. Hurry up and unpack,¡± told Yan Rusheng as he nodded. He turned around and sat on a chair. Su Yue had nothing to unpack. She merely put her toothbrush in the bathroom and hung up her towel. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± She smacked her hands as if to show that she was ready. Bai Jing began to panic and hurriedly answered, ¡°I¡¯m done, too.¡± She hastily straightened her back. She forgot that there was an upper bunk and her head struck it. It was so painful that she had to tightly clench her teeth to stop herself from crying out. Chapter 1035. A Horde Of Girls Charging Towards Him (part Two) Su Yue anxiously ran towards Bai Jing. ¡°Be careful! Let me rub your head.¡± She rubbed Bai Jing¡¯s head. Bai Jing¡¯s face was red, so the impact must have really hurt. Yan Rusheng decided to check on Bai Jing as well. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Although his tone sounded normal, Bai Jing could still tell that he was a little concerned for her. It seemed as though his concern was some kind of painkiller. Bai Jing retracted her hand and nodded as she bit her lip. Yan Rusheng casually glanced at the two beds and suggested, ¡°Do you want to change the beds?¡± ¡°No¡­ there isn¡¯t a need.¡± Bai Jing waved her hands in frantic. ¡°It¡¯s too troublesome. This is fine.¡± She bowed her head, with her face still red. Yan Rusheng kept quiet and turned around. He opened the door and his expression instantly darkened. There was a huge crowd blocking the path outside, and everyone was gawking at Young Master Yan. The corridor which was initially quiet, but it began to turn rowdy. ¡°Third Young Master! Third Master!¡± ¡°Take a photo with us, please¡­¡± ¡°Third Master is so handsome!¡± F*ck! When did he become a celebrity? Yan Rusheng frowned, looking annoyed. The young girls charged towards him and surrounded him in an instant. Feeling annoyed, he raised his voice. ¡°Enough! Go away.¡± He yelled but apparently, that didn¡¯t seem to work on the girls. Yan Rusheng was having a hard time. ¡°Leave us alone! This is a dormitory.¡± A tiny figure squeezed through the crowd and stood in front of Yan Rusheng. She looked aggressive and fierce as she shouted. ¡°If all of you don¡¯t leave, I will call the security!¡± It was Bai Jing! It startled Yan Rusheng to hear her resounding and strong voice. After getting over his shock, he broke into a smile. Never underestimate the power a person can wield when they are being angered. Unfortunately, Bai Jing¡¯s threats didn¡¯t work on these girls as well. They had gone hysterical at the sight of Yan Rusheng. They continued to hold their phones, trying their best to get near to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng and Bai Jing were being huddled together as the crowd surrounded them. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Suddenly, she yelled out in pain. She turned around and knocked into Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. Yan Rusheng guessed that someone had stepped on her and instinctively, he put his arms around her to protect her. Bai Jing¡¯s face was pressed against Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest and she could hear his heartbeat. His light scent and heartbeat made her blush crimson. She tightened her fists nervously as her arms hovered in mid-air. She almost¡­ almost stretched her arms to hug him back. ¡°Step aside!¡± Yan Rusheng lost his cool and his expression hardened. All the girls retreated. They felt fearful of him. Bai Jing straightened her back and sprang away from Yan Rusheng. She bowed her head and apologized. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Yan Rusheng assumed that she was apologizing because she bumped into him. He frowned. ¡°Why should you apologize?¡± Without waiting for Bai Jing to respond, he marched towards the stairs. And this time around, no one else dared to block his path. His aura was too overwhelming. Bai Jing watched him quietly and slowly, she fell into the depths once again. ¡­ The news of Young Master Yan being surrounded and harassed by A University¡¯s students became a popular topic online within hours. After dinner, Xuxu took a shower and went to the balcony to rest. Her huge belly felt like she was carrying a huge pot around. She was about to give birth, and Yan Rusheng had tried his best to finish his work during the day. He entirely devoted his evenings to Xuxu alone. Chapter 1036. A Horde Of Girls Charging Towards Him (part Three) Both of them would take a stroll after dinner together. At that moment, Yan Rusheng was sitting beside her. He was peeling the skin off a grape and even removed the seeds for Xuxu, before feeding her. Xuxu was using her phone and began to tease him as she shook her head. ¡°So you rejected many pretty young girls. Don¡¯t you have any regrets?¡± She spun around to look at Yan Rusheng. ¡°¡­ No matter how pretty they are, none of them can be compared to you.¡± Yan Rusheng answered as he popped a peeled grape inside Xuxu¡¯s mouth. Xuxu raised her hand and pointed her phone at Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth. ¡°Third Young Master, can you share how you felt being surrounded by young girls?¡± teased Xuxu. It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. Xuxu began to fret as she retracted her hand. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have fetched Yueyue today. How can Yueyue lead the life of a normal student in the future?¡± Yan Rusheng airily replied, ¡°This is great actually. Since she was the one who wanted to move out.¡± Xuxu felt that he was right and it eased her worries. But a moment later, she began to sigh. ¡°I heard from the weather forecast that it will be scorching hot these few days. Military training will be very tough.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t dismiss her as a fragile girl. She is much tougher than you,¡± Yan Rusheng said with a frown. His gaze landed on Xuxu¡¯s belly. ¡°These two little things need to come out soon. I¡¯ve suffered enough,¡± lamented Yan Rusheng. ¡°We are not continuing this topic.¡± Xuxu stood up in a huff. She had bewildered Yan Rusheng. ¡°What¡¯s wrong again?¡± Xuxu climbed into bed and covered herself entirely with the blanket. Yan Rusheng hurried to her and pulled the blanket away. ¡°Darling, why are you angry with me?¡± Xuxu peered at the man with contempt. ¡°Every conversation we have will eventually lead to that matter.¡± So this was the reason¡­ It amused Yan Rusheng, but he feigned ignorance. ¡°What matter am I thinking of?¡± Never tease a pregnant woman. The bigger their bellies get, the more short-tempered they become. He knew that it was because she was lugging a huge burden, and this pressure was something a man could never understand. And that¡¯s why she was feeling so emotional. Xuxu coldly replied, ¡°You know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± She slumped back once more. Yan Rusheng maintained his facade. ¡°I really have no idea.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother me.¡± Xuxu grabbed the blanket and tried to cover her head. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t let her have her way. He pulled the blanket over him and gripped her hand tightly. ¡°All right. I promise that from now on until you¡¯ve given birth, I shall not mention that matter again. Okay?¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes remained shut. Recently, she seemed to loathe being intimate and Yan Rusheng had sensed it. Hence, he didn¡¯t initiate anything as well. He held on to her hand and didn¡¯t move at all. This continued for a minute¡­ two minutes¡­ three minutes¡­ Yan Rusheng was dozing off. Suddenly, the woman in his arms wound her arms around him. She pressed her huge belly against him. ¡°I feel so terrible.¡± ¡°Why are you crying?¡± anxiously asked Yan Rusheng. He slightly pushed her away and peered at her. ¡°How is it terrible? Tell me about it.¡± Her eyes were red and welling up with tears. He wiped away her tears tenderly. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Xuxu shook her head as she sniffed. She was crying as though she was heartbroken. Yan Rusheng was speechless. The mood of a pregnant woman was just as unpredictable as the weather. She was fine a minute ago and suddenly she was sobbing badly. He was at a loss and could only pat her gently to coax her. ¡°Stop crying. Tell me if you have any worries. Or you can use me as a punching bag.¡± Chapter 1037. A Horde Of Girls Charging Towards Him (part Four) Xuxu sobbed harder as she buried her face in Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. Young Master Yan was really feeling frustrated and sullen. He swore to himself that once his children were born, he would go for a ligation right away. ¡®F*ck f*ck f*ck!¡¯ No way would he allow this to happen again! It was already enough that he loved her. He would do whatever it took as long as his wife would not have to suffer from depression. ¡­ Xuxu cried herself to sleep in Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms that night. When she woke up the next morning, her eyes were so swollen that they resembled light bulbs. She went down to the dining room. Second Master Yan noticed her swollen eyes and his face fell instantly. He angrily cast the newspapers aside and glared at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng knew the reason his father was glaring at him. He explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t bully her at all. She was the one who wanted to cry.¡± Yan Weihong frowned. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what¡¯s that attitude?¡± ¡°I really didn¡¯t bully her.¡± Young Master Yan felt indignant at the accusation. He tugged at Xuxu¡¯s clothes. ¡°Wife, say something.¡± Xuxu bent her head and ate breakfast without a word. Tch. If she admitted that she had cried suddenly for no apparent reason, wouldn¡¯t everyone think she was suffering from prenatal depression? They would definitely watch her closely from now on. There was no way she would want that. It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you need to think of a better reason if you want to lie. Why would Xuxu cry for no reason?¡± It was Mu Li¡¯s turn to accuse him. Young Master Yan felt that he wouldn¡¯t be able to clear his name. He decided not to explain any further. He held a glass of milk and began to drink quietly. While his other hand found Xuxu¡¯s thigh under the table. He pinched her to vent his anger. Xuxu smirked but only Yan Rusheng saw how sly and devious she was. Yan Rusheng clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to swallow her in one mouthful. Their interactions had gone unnoticed by everyone else in the room. Yan Weihong continued to glare at Yan Rusheng as though he was chiding him. ¡°How is Su Yan doing?¡± asked Yan Weihong. Yan Weihong turned serious whenever work was involved. ¡°Soon,¡± replied Yan Rusheng. ¡°He should be back before the end of the month if everything goes smoothly.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let Paramount win this time!¡± Yan Weihong clenched his fists, looking determined. It was clear how much he hated Paramount. Yan Rusheng replied lightly, ¡°We won¡¯t. I have faith in Su Yan.¡± Xuxu stole a quick glance at Yan Rusheng when she heard him. This¡­ was the first time he had openly declared that he had faith in someone. He had always appeared to be haughty towards outsiders and always regarded everyone else to be beneath him. He had hardly¡­ praised or gave recognition to anyone. Su Yan was the first. Even she felt flattered on Su Yan¡¯s behalf. ¡°I heard that he has been getting along well with Jiang Shaomei¡¯s daughter? What is he trying to do?¡± asked Yan Weihong. A crease appeared between his eyebrows and they heard a trace of anger in his tone. Yan Rusheng remained composed as he replied, ¡°That¡¯s his private matters. I have no right to question him.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Weihong snorted. ¡°Remind him that there are plenty of good ladies around.¡± Yan Rusheng bowed his head as he clammed up. The atmosphere in the room became strained as silence fell. Mu Li glanced at Yan Weihong as he sat there, stony-faced. She turned her attention to Xuxu and smiled. ¡°Xuxu, you didn¡¯t forget that you have a checkup today, right?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°The next time would be when you give birth.¡± Mu Li smiled and a thought struck her. ¡°She asked Yan Weihong, ¡°Have you thought of names for the children?¡± Chapter 1038. Labeling a Man As a Bitch (part One) Yan Weihong¡¯s anger abated immediately when his grandchildren were mentioned. The atmosphere began to lighten. ¡°I have a few names in mind. Let me finalize the names once again,¡± replied Yan Weihong. A sly gleam flashed swiftly across Mu Li¡¯s eyes as she curled her lips in triumph. Her expression seemed to be saying:* ¡®Let¡¯s see how I¡¯m going to deal with you!¡¯* How dare he ruined the morning with his bad temper? Xuxu understood that Mu Li was trying to lighten the atmosphere the second she brought up her children. She had already reminded her of the checkup earlier this morning. A short while later, she had asked again. Obviously, she had an ulterior motive for doing that. ¡­ ¡°Everything is fine and the position of the babies is correct. You can come back around the due date.¡± After the ultrasound scan, the matron smiled and told Xuxu. ¡°Great.¡± Xuxu nodded with a smile as she adjusted her clothes. Yan Rusheng leaped forward to support her. ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯re doing well,¡± said the matron approvingly. He continued with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see a husband accompanying his wife for every single checkup.¡± Yan Rusheng merely managed a brief smile and he appeared humble. However¡­ once they exited the room, he grabbed Xuxu¡¯s arm. ¡°Wife, did you hear that?¡± Yan Rusheng beamed at her as he asked. Xuxu feigned ignorance. ¡°What was it?¡± Hmph! He had seemed so humble in front of the matron and minutes later, he was seeking for praises. She walked with her chin slightly raised while Yan Rusheng trailed behind as he shook his head helplessly. ¡°Ah Sheng, I want to go to the company with you today.¡± Xuxu fastened her seatbelt and suddenly smiled at Yan Rusheng. Her sweet and lovely smile had blown Yan Rusheng away, and without hesitation, he agreed. ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu¡¯s smile still puzzled him, however. The next moment, Xuxu added, ¡°Then let¡¯s visit Yueyue on the way to work.¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. ¡®It was just a day, just a day!¡¯ He wondered if she would miss him so badly if he didn¡¯t come home for a night. How jealous he was of the little lass! He solemnly replied, ¡°No, I have to return immediately. I have work to complete.¡± Xuxu knew that work was more important and naturally she wouldn¡¯t make a fuss. She responded with a soft ¡®oh¡¯ and bent her head. ¡°Angry?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at Xuxu and observed her. Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± She raised her head and glanced at Yan Rusheng before turning away. She was slightly frowning, and she looked more troubled than angry. Yan Rusheng observed her expression and quietly ignited the engine. ¡°Xuxu, we¡¯ve reached.¡± Xuxu fell asleep and Yan Rusheng gently woke her up. She slowly opened her eyes and sleepily peered at her surroundings. The next moment, it jolted her awake. ¡°I thought you said we can¡¯t come here?¡± She mumbled under her breath, feeling touched deep down. Yan Rusheng was unfastening his seatbelt as he said, ¡°We will just look. It won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu stared intently at Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, and she seemed to enter a daze. Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Do you think recently I¡¯m troublesome? And annoying?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Stupid woman, what are you thinking about?¡± He smiled tenderly at her and caressed Xuxu¡¯s neck. Chapter 1039. Labeling a Man As a Bitch (part Two) Yan Rusheng inched nearer to Xuxu and kissed her lightly on her forehead. ¡°It has been tough on you moving around with such a huge belly.¡± He released his grip and unfastened Xuxu¡¯s seatbelt. Both of them held hands as they entered the campus. It was still early in the morning and the air was quite fresh since the campus was located in the suburbs. It was the start of the semester and the atmosphere was still quite lively everywhere. The students walking around were mostly the senior students since the first years were undergoing military training. Yan Rusheng brought Xuxu to the field where they held military training. The field was so huge that it could house thousands of students. They congregated together all the first year female students from different faculties, and it was a spectacle to behold. There was a military instructor standing in front of every line. Amidst the countless students, how could Xuxu spot Su Yue? Everyone stood there like a statue, completely immobile. Seeing this transported Xuxu back to her university days. Xuxu looked as though she had entered a daze, and it was Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice who had brought her back to reality. ¡°Should we call her?¡± Xuxu refused and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just look.¡± She was always worried for the girl and coming personally made her feel much more relieved. After a few minutes, Xuxu retracted her gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She turned around and walked towards the entrance. A yell sounded across the field. A gasp followed and Xuxu halted her footsteps. She glanced back and spotted a tiny figure sprinting towards her with a bright smile. ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± Su Yue happily waved at her. Xuxu darted forward. ¡°How was it? Is it time for breakfast?¡± At dawn, the students will run around the field, and they were also made to stand at attention before they had breakfast. This was how they conducted military training. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m famished.¡± She grumbled as she rubbed her tummy. Xuxu quipped, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you out for breakfast.¡± Su Yue stopped her. ¡°Wait a second. Bai Jing is coming with me.¡± Xuxu glanced at a short distance behind Su Yue and saw Bai Jing. She smiled and waved at her. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Bai Jing smiled and glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in response. ¡°You have limited time, so let¡¯s hurry.¡± Xuxu was afraid that they might not have time to eat a proper meal, and so she gripped Su Yue¡¯s hand to pull her forward. Su Yue replied, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want to go to the canteen. Their chicken wings are so yummy.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡®Chicken wings again! This girl is addicted.¡¯ Xuxu would certainly agree to Su Yue¡¯s request. ¡°Sure,¡± answered Xuxu. Xuxu, Su Yue, and Bai Jing walked ahead while Yan Rusheng strolled casually behind. They caught the attention of the rest of the students. Of course, Yan Rusheng was too eye-catching. His presence and aura were too overwhelming and furthermore, he had just appeared online yesterday. All the first-year students rushed into the canteen, scrambling to get seats as this was the peak period. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng sat down on one table as they had already eaten. ¡°That military instructor is too handsome!¡± ¡°Who wants to get his number? I will reward the person with Pizza Hut¡¯s Set A. Who wants to volunteer?¡± Chapter 1040. Labeling A Man As A Bitch (part Three) ¡°Tch. It¡¯s only Pizza Hut. If you give me 500 yuan, I¡¯ll get his number right away!¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Several girls were clustered at a corner table and they were gossiping excitedly about their military instructor. Xuxu chuckled softly, thoroughly amused. It was like reliving her memories of how her friends would always discuss their military instructor during meal times or breaks. ¡°I heard that we have a Professor Zhao who is in the Chinese language department. He is both good-looking and smart, and he is well known among all the young teachers.¡± ¡°Chinese language department? It¡¯s too far from us.¡± ¡°We can sneak in to attend his lecture someday.¡± Chinese language department? Professor Zhao? It puzzled Xuxu as she asked. ¡°Professor Zhao? Is he Zhao Zheng?¡± Zhao Zheng seemed to teach at the Chinese language department. ¡°Can you focus on how they described him instead?¡± Yan Rusheng rolled his eyes at Xuxu. ¡°How is that four-eyed frog good-looking? He looks more like a bitch.¡± ¡®A¡­ bitch?¡¯ Xuxu twitched her mouth slightly. How can he label a man as a bitch? He really had a mean tongue. ¡°Does he even have talent or brains? He is dumb.¡± Yan Rusheng unleashed a tirade of criticisms. ¡°Stupid and wretched guy.¡± ¡®How can he be more wretched than you?¡¯ Xuxu thought. Xuxu ignored Yan Rusheng and peered around. Su Yue and Bai Jing were headed towards them, each bearing a tray in their hands. Both of them sat down across Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. Su Yue¡¯s tray had six chicken wings. Xuxu frowned and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, these chicken wings are frozen, so don¡¯t eat so many. If you really want, I¡¯ll get the servants to prepare freshly made ones and send them to you.¡± Su Yue obediently nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She scooped some rice and shoveled the rice into her mouth before attacking a chicken wing. Bai Jing ate quietly and more gracefully as compared to her. Xuxu whispered to Bai Jing, ¡°Bai Jing, if you need our help, please let us know.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing bit her lips and nodded. Xuxu was worried that she wouldn¡¯t do that so she repeated. ¡°You must let us know, don¡¯t stand on ceremony with us. If you prefer to tell Yueyue instead of contacting us directly, please do so.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing earnestly thanked her. ¡°Thank you, third sister-in-law.¡± She threw a swift glance at Yan Rusheng before bending her head once more. Their mealtime was only half an hour. They came to a crossroad after they left the canteen. Su Yue bade Xuxu goodbye and hurried her. ¡°Third Brother, third sister-in-law, go back now. The girls would come out and they will pester Third Brother again.¡± She sounded annoyed and upset with those smitten girls. In her eyes, her third brother could only be with her third sister-in-law. Xuxu chuckled in response. ¡°But he likes to take photos with young girls.¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. Bai Jing grinned quietly. The military instructor blew the whistle shrilly across the field. Xuxu rushed Su Yue and Bai Jing. ¡°Go back now, if not they might punish you. We are leaving.¡± She held Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Bye, Third sister-in-law.¡± There was a subtle trace of longing in her eyes, but she had turned around before Xuxu could respond. ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law, goodbye,¡± Bai Jing whispered and followed Su Yue. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu watched Su Yue as she pursed her lips. Chapter 1041. Labeling a Man As a Bitch (part Four) ¡°Mommy Wen, stop gazing.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand to cover Xuxu¡¯s face before pulling her around. He teased her as they walked. ¡°If our little girl gets married to a faraway place, wouldn¡¯t you cry your eyes out?¡± Xuxu coldly snorted. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t.¡± She clutched Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm with both hands and leaned against him closely. ¡°Bai Jing, what are you looking at? Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue turned around and saw that Bai Jing was still dawdling behind and throwing sneak glances behind her. Bai Jing grunted in response and threw a final look behind before hastening her footsteps. She bent her head with furrowed eyebrows, looking troubled. They dashed towards the field. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Someone suddenly called Su Yue, and so she stopped before turning around. A skinny man was walking towards her from behind a tree. He was clad in a white shirt and black pants. He was wearing spectacles and he looked graceful. He smiled as he walked towards them. Su Yue tightly furrowed her eyebrows as though she despised him. She pressed her lips without responding. Zhao Zheng walked to her and smiled warmly. ¡°Did you forget me? I¡¯m your third sister-in-law¡¯s classmate. We met yesterday.¡± Su Yue muttered under her breath and bowed her head. Zhao Zheng overlooked her aloof and cold attitude and continued to shower her with concern. ¡°Military training must be tiring.¡± Su Yue clammed up and peered at the ground. Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression hardened a little when Su Yue ignored him. But his tone remained warm and friendly. ¡°Is this your classmate?¡± He pointed to Bai Jing. Su Yue nodded and was about to excuse herself when Zhao Zheng interrupted. ¡°Is she your good friend, Bai Jing?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue nodded and a crease appeared in the middle of her eyebrows. She looked extremely annoyed and impatient. Zhao Zheng seemed awkward, but his eyes were cold. He glanced at Bai Jing before introducing himself. ¡°I¡¯m from the Chinese department. I¡¯m Zhao Zheng. You may look for me in school if you need help.¡± Without waiting for Bai Jing to respond, Su Yue spoke in a high-pitched voice. ¡°My third brother said that we can look for the principal.¡± *¡¯Isn¡¯t the principal more capable than you?¡¯ *Su Yue thought smugly to herself. Zhao Zheng couldn¡¯t maintain his expression any longer. He smiled awkwardly, but his eyes were full of hatred. He felt that Su Yue was just like Yan Rusheng¡ªarrogant and haughty. She was a replica of Yan Rusheng. He looked at Bai Jing and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m high school classmates with Yan Rusheng too, and I know many interesting stories about him.¡± Bai Jing shifted her eyes guiltily. She hurriedly bowed her head to avoid looking into Zhao Zheng¡¯s eyes. She had a feeling that his shrewd and sly-looking eyes could see through her. ¡°Professor Zhao, we need to go.¡± Su Yue grabbed Bai Jing and pulled her away. They walked for some distance before Zhao Zheng¡¯s yell sounded. ¡°Su Yue, you can look for me in the office if you need help. Same goes for your classmate!¡± His eyes stared intently at Su Yue and Bai Jing¡¯s figures, and he smirked. ¡°This man is really annoying. He is the love rival of my third brother, ignore him the next time.¡± Su Yue reminded Bai Jing. It startled Bai Jing to hear that. ¡°He likes your third sister-in-law?¡± Chapter 1042. Labeling a Man As a Bitch (part Five) ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°But my third brother also said that he is not even worthy to carry his shoes.¡± ¡°I agree with him. What do you think?¡± She reeled off endlessly. ¡°My third brother is so handsome. How can he be compared to him? He even wants to woo my third sister-in-law. How annoying.¡± Bai Jing bowed her head in silence. Su Yue grinned as she rattled on. ¡°But my third sister-in-law is such a perfect person. She will definitely have many suitors. Do you know Brother Ah Heng? The extremely handsome guy!¡± She sounded very proud of Xuxu. ¡°Bai Jing, why are you so quiet?¡± Su Yue finally noticed that Su Yue seemed to be in a stupor as she stood there with her head bowed. Bai Jing raised her head and smiled weakly. They went back to the field. There were many others who weren¡¯t here yet and the instructors paced to and fro. The sun shone mercilessly on them and the instructors were all perspiring. ¡°Hurry up! Go get his number. Whoever succeeds, we will give her a red packet.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t! You go.¡± ¡°Useless!¡± ¡°You should go!¡± A few girls were egging each other on to get the handsome military instructor¡¯s contact number. Everyone was tempted to try, but no one really dared to go forward. ¡°Whoever gets the number will get a red packet of 200 yuan.¡± As more students began to enter the field, the group of girls began to get anxious. Su Yue frowned as their high-pitched voices irritated her. She stepped forward and walked towards the handsome military instructor. She peered at him with an innocent and pure expression. ¡°Mr. Instructor, can I get your number?¡± Her voice was loud and clear. In an instant, the entire field fell silent. Everyone widened their eyes in shock. The handsome military instructor simply stared at Su Yue, evidently too shocked for words. Su Yue knitted her eyebrows and raised her voice. ¡°Can I add you on WeChat?¡± Finally, the military instructor responded and he blushed crimson. Su Yue continued to look at him innocently and pointed at the girls behind her. ¡°They want your number. If they give me the red packet, I¡¯ll split half of it with you,¡± explained Su Yue. All of them were speechless. The other military instructors who witnessed this scene began to chuckle and tried to tease the handsome military instructor with their eyes. The handsome military instructor¡¯s face fell and he blushed even harder. He chided Su Yue sternly. ¡°Go back now.¡± Su Yue sneered coldly. ¡°You¡¯re so petty.¡± She turned around and walked back. All of them were speechless. Everyone had the same thought in their mind¡ªthis girl would explode in popularity. Su Yue returned to her position and addressed the group of girls. ¡°You can give up. He won¡¯t give you his number.¡± She retracted her arrogant and aloof gaze and carried on standing straight. ¡­ ¡®A University¡¯s newly crowned campus belle is innocent and pure. Her beauty is unrivaled and just her voice alone has already won the hearts of many. This campus belle is even gutsy enough to ask for the contact of the military instructor during military training, in front of all the students. After being rejected, this girl merely pouted before making a retort. Numerous male students are infatuated with this fresh first-year beauty¡­¡¯ Chapter 1043. Labeling a Man As a Bitch (part Six) It was the start of the semester, and the new school belle and school beau were always the hottest topics on campus. Someone took a video of Su Yue asking the handsome military instructor for his number and uploaded it online. It instantly went viral. During dinner in the evening, Su Yue realized that she had hit the school headlines. Bai Jing and Su Yue found seats at an empty table. They were about to sit down when a group of guys walked over to them. ¡°Hi juniors, let¡¯s eat together.¡± They sat down immediately. After they sat down, someone immediately inched nearer to Su Yue and grinned. ¡°Junior, can you give me your WeChat number?¡± ¡°No.¡± Su Yue continued eating without looking at the guy at all. After a day of military training, she was completely drained and famished. The guy frowned. ¡°You¡¯re so petty.¡± He had just imitated how Su Yue had retorted earlier on in the day when the instructor rejected her. Su Yue was a little speechless. Not just the guys at the table, even the rest of the students were all glancing at them, looking inquisitive. ¡°Junior, I¡¯m from the badminton club. You can join my club.¡± ¡°Junior, don¡¯t listen to him. Your looks and image are most suitable for our drama club.¡± There was silence. The group of boys had surrounded Su Yue and chattered incessantly. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows, looking annoyed. ¡°You guys are so annoying. Stop disturbing me when I¡¯m eating.¡± Everyone was fawning over her, but this tactic didn¡¯t work on Su Yue at all. In the end, one of the guys gave a sarcastic remark. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask the instructor for his number today? Stop pretending.¡± Su Yue tightly knitted her eyebrows and her movements stopped completely. Everyone felt that the atmosphere had turned icy cold and instinctively, they wanted to retreat. Su Yue rose and grabbed the bowl of soup in front of her. She poured the soup on the guy who had just mocked her. The soup trickled from the top of his head to his chin and to his clothes. Instinctively, the guy shut his eyes tightly. Everyone held their breath and moments later, the canteen erupted with raucous laughter. ¡°You¡¯re like a housefly, affecting my appetite.¡± Su Yue added maliciously after pouring soup over the guy. Without a second look, she turned to Bai Jing. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± She stood up and walked towards the entrance of the canteen. Countless pairs of eyes stared at her and she strode out, looking composed and haughty as she raised her chin. Bai Jing gazed at Su Yue and hesitated for a moment. ¡°Su Yue, do you think you went overboard earlier on?¡± Su Yue frowned and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you think he is annoying?¡± ¡°A little.¡± Bai Jing nodded. Su Yue sneered coldly. ¡°I never talk to annoying people.¡± Bai Jing grinned and quipped, ¡°I can tell.¡± ¡®Never talk to annoying people¡­ Can she do that?¡¯ *¡¯Why can¡¯t she splash soup at the person she hated or ignored them coldly?¡¯ * ¡®Was that her destiny?¡¯ Su Yue didn¡¯t notice that Bai Jing looked sorrowful. She grabbed her elbow and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go out to eat. What do you want?¡± Bai Jing snapped to and rubbed her belly. ¡°I¡¯m full and I¡¯m tired. So I don¡¯t want to head out.¡± ¡°All right then. Let¡¯s go back.¡± Su Yue nodded as she was tired too. ¡°We have snacks in the dorm. I can eat those,¡± added Su Yue. ¡­ This little lass had just started school and she was already in the limelight! Chapter 1044. Little Lass, Come Over To My Place Tonight (part One) When Young Master Ming took a break from his hectic schedule, he saw some news articles pertaining to Su Yue, and his mood went downhill. He couldn¡¯t put his mind at ease. Depressed, he took two clouds of smoke from the cigarette between his fingers. He held it, staring at the ceiling as he leaned against his comfortable chair. His secretary knocked on the door and entered. ¡°President, the planning department just sent in their report,¡± he said, placing a file before him. ¡°Mm.¡± Ming Ansheng snapped out of his daze and acknowledged. Then he looked down at the cigarette between his fingers, which had already burnt till the bud. He hurriedly disposed of it, standing up with his empty mug to get himself some water from outside. His secretary immediately offered, ¡°President, let me get that for you.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Ming Ansheng replied, already stepping out of his office. He made himself some coffee and stood by the window in the tearoom. He stared out of the window. The window was open and the heat dissipated into the room. Not long after, he began to feel warm. It was such a scorching day; he wondered if that lass could handle the military training. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Finally, he decided. He finished his coffee in one gulp and left the room in large strides. It was one hour past the knock-off timing, but a few people were still working overtime. Ming Ansheng returned to his office to get his phone, then headed for the exit. ¡°I¡¯ll make a move first,¡± he said to his secretary, his pace never faltering. When the elevator reached the first floor and the doors opened, a tall woman entered his vision. He frowned and annoyance flashed through his eyes, which he didn¡¯t bother concealing. ¡°Ansheng.¡± Tang Feiling¡¯s eyes brightened when she saw him. She was wearing a white sleeveless dress made of soft fabric, which made her look taller than she already was. Ming Ansheng glanced over her and didn¡¯t say a word. He walked out of the lift and headed towards the exit. ¡°Ansheng, I came to invite you over to my place for dinner,¡± Tang Feiling said, following him. When she caught up, she tried to grab his elbow. Ming Ansheng dodged her hand and escaped breezily. He replied coldly, ¡°I have plans.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together then, shall we?¡± Tang Feiling asked coquettishly, pouting. Ming Ansheng halted in his steps and turned to her with a cold glare. ¡°Tang Feiling, I¡¯ve told you before¡ªdon¡¯t look for me at the office.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Tang Feiling began to feel angry that her hospitality was not being reciprocated. ¡°We¡¯re already engaged, and we¡¯re getting married soon. I¡¯m Bright Vision¡¯s future boss, so why can¡¯t I come to find you?¡± ¡°Tang Feiling, don¡¯t make me hate you more,¡± Ming Ansheng warned, gritting his teeth. Then, without waiting for her reaction, he turned and made for the exit. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡­¡± Tang Feiling glared at his retreating figure, frustrated to the point of speechlessness. But after some thought, she still chased after him. After they exited, Ming Ansheng stopped in his tracks again. He turned to her and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to call off the engagement, disappear from my sight right now.¡± Tang Feiling panicked. ¡°Even if you want to call off the engagement, I won¡¯t agree to it.¡± Ming Ansheng ignored her and retreated down the steps, his expression dark. And his fists clenched. If Tang Feiling wasn¡¯t so clingy, it wouldn¡¯t be this hard to call off the engagement. Chapter 1045. Little Lass, Come Over to My Place Tonight (part Two) The car was already waiting for him. He got down the steps and opened the car door, his large frame squeezing in. He then immediately shut the door behind him. ¡°Start the car.¡± The chauffeur obeyed and drove off immediately. Tang Feiling stood in her spot and watched as the car drove off. Angered, she stomped her foot and exclaimed, ¡°Ming Ansheng, you bastard!¡± But no matter how loud she shouted, he couldn¡¯t hear her, and he didn¡¯t care. When the car turned into the road, the chauffeur asked Ming Ansheng, ¡°President, shall I send you home directly?¡± Ming Ansheng rubbed his temples and answered, ¡°Give me the car, you can knock off now.¡± ¡°All right,¡± the chauffeur replied before stopping the car at the side of the road. Ming Ansheng got into the driver¡¯s seat and started the car, stepping full force on the pedal. After driving for a while at breakneck speed, he slowed down. The scorching sun was setting and the sky was a shade of rosy red. ¡®Why did they have to give birth to me¡­¡¯ ¡®Uncle Ming, can you bring me for a spin later?¡¯ ¡®Uncle Ming, can you bring me to get a tattoo now?¡¯ ¡®Uncle Ming, can you help me blow at it?¡¯ As Ming Ansheng stared forward, Su Yue¡¯s voice flooded through his mind and he fell into a trance. After he recovered from his stupor, he realized that he had beat a red light. He shook his head to prevent his thoughts from running wild. He picked up his phone and dialed Su Yue¡¯s number. After a melodious ringtone, a weary voice answered, ¡°Hello¡­¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression softened immediately. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping so early?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I¡¯m dead beat.¡± Ming Ansheng had expected her to be tired, and it made his heart ache. He asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°Are you Uncle Ming?¡± Su Yue asked suddenly. ¡°¡­¡± He was speechless. They had exchanged a few lines and she didn¡¯t know who he was? Ming Ansheng purposely sounded unhappy as he said, ¡°It¡¯s only been a month and you already forgot my voice?¡± ¡°Oh , ¡± Su Yue replied lazily. Then she added, ¡°What do you want?¡± Ming Ansheng answered, ¡°I¡¯m driving past your school gate. Let¡¯s have a meal together.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat with you.¡± Su Yue sounded frustrated. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart deflated. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Then in a softer voice, he pleaded, ¡°I want to have a meal with you, okay?¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Are you bringing me to get chicken wings?¡± ¡°Mm, ¡± Ming Ansheng replied with a smile. ¡°All right then,¡± Su Yue agreed with a nod, though she sounded reluctant. After the call ended, she sat up and scratched her head. She looked over at the opposite bed and said, ¡°Bai Jing, Uncle Ming wants to bring me out for a meal. Come and join us.¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯m tired.¡± Then she returned her attention to her phone. Su Yue got off the bed and grabbed her hand. ¡°Come on, you¡¯ll be bored being alone in the dormitory.¡± ¡°You go ahead,¡± Bai Jing said in an adamant tone, shaking her head. Then she smiled and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t eat much for dinner just now, so let your Uncle Ming bring you out for some good food later.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ and didn¡¯t want to force her. She flipped through her closet to find some clothes to wear. She put on a pure white T-shirt and pale blue leggings before looking at herself in the mirror. She started combing her hair only after she was satisfied. Bai Jing looked at her in confusion. ¡°Su Yue, what¡¯s your relationship with that Uncle Ming?¡± Chapter 1046. Little Lass, Come Over to My Place Tonight (part Three) As Su Yue combed her hair, she replied, ¡°He¡¯s a friend, and a classmate, of my Third Brother and Third sister-in-law. All of them grew up together.¡± ¡°Is he not married?¡± Bai Jing asked, confused. Su Yue frowned. ¡°He has a very annoying fianc¨¦e.¡± After trying a braid, she dropped her hands and added, her lips pursed, ¡°But he likes her.¡± She threw the comb on the table and walked over to her bed. She grabbed a bag, which was hanging from the bed, and hung it over her shoulder. ¡°Uncle Ming seems to treat you really well,¡± Bai Jing commented, her gaze landing on Su Yue¡¯s right chest, the gears in her mind moving. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yup, just like my Third sister-in-law and Third Brother.¡± Bai Jing smiled. ¡°Go quickly. Don¡¯t be back too late, there¡¯s military training tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue waved and said, ¡°Bye bye, I¡¯ll bring back some nice food for you.¡± Bai Jing smiled. ¡­ Ming Ansheng called Su Yue and told her he was at the east gate of A University, which was the closest gate to the dormitory. The moment Su Yue left, she saw Ming Ansheng¡¯s car by the side of the road. She walked over shyly. Ming Ansheng saw her coming and opened the door of the front passenger seat for her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue got on and Ming Ansheng stared at her small face, a warm smile reaching his eyes. ¡°Where are you bringing me to eat?¡± Su Yue asked with a frown. Since she got onto the car, she looked downwards and didn¡¯t spare Ming Ansheng a glance. Ming Ansheng sized her up, confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue ignored him and rushed him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bringing me to eat? Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°To my place, I¡¯ll cook for you,¡± Ming Ansheng replied as he started the car. Su Yue finally looked up at him and asked, ¡°You can cook?¡± Her pure eyes took in his handsome features, a face of suspicion. Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows meaningfully. ¡°I guess you¡¯re about to find out.¡± Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯. Then she mumbled, ¡°Brother Qi Lei cooks better for sure.¡± Brother Qi Lei again. Young Master Ming was about to go mad. He wanted to warn that little lass not to mention that small TCM boy in front of him again. But¡­ What right did he have? It took them less than an hour to drive from A University to Ming Ansheng¡¯s place, without traffic. Ming Ansheng brought her to a huge supermarket near his house. It was the peak hour at the supermarket. Ming Ansheng entered and was taken aback. It had been a while since he last stepped into such a supermarket and he was at a loss of what to do. ¡°Uncle Ming, the cart,¡± Su Yue said, pushing a shopping cart in front of him. She smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll sit inside, and you¡¯ll push me, okay?¡± Without waiting for his reply, she had already climbed into the cart. Ming Ansheng was speechless, but he was affectionate to her and started pushing the cart into the supermarket. As he pushed, he joked, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you here after payment.¡± ¡°Nobody will want me,¡± Su Yue said, sticking out her tongue at him as she looked elsewhere. ¡°That one, that one. I want that flavor of potato chips¡­¡± ¡°Coke.¡± After much effort, they filled the cart to the brim with snacks. Su Yue reached out to grab a Coke but Ming Ansheng quickly pushed the cart away. ¡°No, I already told you that you should drink less of that.¡± ¡°I just want a bottle. I¡¯m about to die of thirst,¡± Su Yue complained. ¡°You¡¯re too petty, you can¡¯t even buy me one bottle.¡± They were now at the clothing section, and Su Yue stood up suddenly. Ming Ansheng got a shock. ¡°Yueyue, what are you doing?¡± Chapter 1047. Little Lass, Come Over To My Place Tonight (part Four) Su Yue bent and stretched over, grabbing a bra from the bra shelves and hanging it on Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck. ¡°This is for you, penny pincher.¡± Then she sat down in a fit. Ming Ansheng looked down at the bra hanging from his neck. A dark expression formed on his handsome face. All the shoppers nearby looked at him and snickered. He blushed. He took it off his neck and glared at Su Yue. He scolded softly, ¡°Quit horsing around, or I¡¯ll whack you.¡± He then returned the bra to its original place. Su Yue was about to talk back when he suddenly took a turn. His voice turned gentle and he warned, ¡°Just one bottle.¡± Su Yue¡¯s anger dissipated immediately. She sat in the shopping cart, peering up at Ming Ansheng as she frowned. Ming Ansheng felt her gaze and raised his eyebrows at her. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Nothing, my heart just feels strange.¡± Then she touched her chest, where her heart was situated. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t know what she meant by strange. He pushed her towards the beverage section and grabbed a bottle of coke for her. Su Yue took it from him and started drinking. Ming Ansheng made a few rounds before he finally found the meat section. He went straight for the chicken wings. He stared at the huge piles of chicken wings placed on ice before looking at the chicken wings packed in boxes in the adjacent glass display cabinet. He walked over and immediately, a supermarket employee came up to him with recommendations. She was a woman in her forties to fifties. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re looking for chicken wings? These are wings from free-range chickens, and they¡¯re fresh, they just arrived today.¡± The employee said as she took out the chicken wings. She tore open a protective layer. She pointed at the chicken wings and said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°Look, there¡¯s no ice at all.¡± When Ming Ansheng heard her words, he didn¡¯t say a word. He just grabbed two boxes from the cabinet and put them into the cart. Then he turned around and headed towards the vegetable section. The employee watched Young Master Ming leave and frowned. She thought to herself unhappily, *¡¯Although he¡¯s good-looking, that was too rude of him¡¯. * Su Yue sat in the cart, drinking her Coke, feeling very satisfied. All the passers-by who witnessed this had different reactions. But most of the young ladies were full of envy, jealousy, and hatred. ¡°How I wish I also had a handsome and rich boyfriend.¡± ¡°You must be a pretty and beautiful young lady first.¡± There was silence. Ming Ansheng paid up and pushed the cart, a smile on his face. He seemed to be in good spirits. Su Yue asked curiously, ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± Just now, she had been too engrossed in placing the snacks into the bags, so she didn¡¯t hear those remarks. So how would she know why Uncle Ming was so happy and cheerful? She had already gotten off the shopping cart and walked towards Ming Ansheng. He stared at her face, smiling but not saying anything. *¡¯You must be a pretty and beautiful young lady first.¡¯ * *¡¯Cute and pretty Yueyue, can I have you?¡¯ * Under his stare, Su Yue had an inexplicable feeling. And she didn¡¯t know why but she started blushing. She frowned, taking a piece of potato chips from her half-eaten packet and stuffing it into Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth. He instinctively opened his mouth to eat it before he came to a realization. Chapter 1048. Little Lass, Come Over to My Place Tonight (part Five) He froze. Then he chewed twice before swallowing it. Su Yue consecutively fed him many chips. They had parked the car in the underground carpark of the supermarket. When they got on, Ming Ansheng eyed the bottle of coke in Su Yue¡¯s hand with a sly gleam in his eye. He frowned and complained to Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty now and I¡¯m holding you responsible since you fed me so many potato chips.¡± Without thinking, Su Yue uncapped the bottle of coke and passed it to Ming Ansheng. ¡°You can have a sip.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled satisfactorily and took it from her. Then Su Yue grumbled to herself. ¡°See, I told you to buy another bottle for me. Penny pincher.¡± Ming Ansheng would leave some for her but upon hearing her words, he thought against it. He tilted his head upwards and finished it. Before Su Yue could react, the bottle was already empty. She clenched her fists and heavily pounded on his shoulder. ¡°I hate you to death.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled with an indescribable air of elegance. ¡°I¡¯ll cook a delicious meal for you later.¡± He started the car and melodious music filled the vehicle. It had been a while since he felt so happy and carefree. Once he entered, Ming Ansheng turned on the lights and took out his huge pair of slippers from the shoe cupboard. ¡°Put these on.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She took off her shoes and walked barefooted into the house. She went past the porch and stopped in front of the fish tank in the living room. She bent over and observed the fishes before frowning. ¡°Uncle Ming, what happened to that beautiful butterfly-tail fish?¡± The fish tank was empty. Not a fish in sight. The previous time she came, there was only one fish, an exquisite butterfly-tail fish. Ming Ansheng had already entered the kitchen and he answered, ¡°It¡¯s long dead.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Su Yue sadly asked. She walked over to the kitchen entrance and leaned against the door frame. ¡®She was so sad over the death of a fish?¡¯ Ming Ansheng smiled in amusement. ¡°I rarely come here. It would be a miracle if it were still alive.¡± From what he remembered, she wasn¡¯t one to be interested in cats, dogs, and small animals. And she definitely wasn¡¯t. But the previous time she came, that butterfly-tail fish captivated her. She even offered it some of her biscuits. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue frowned. Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°Was a whole day of military training tiring? Go sit on the sofa and watch some TV. I¡¯ll be done in a while.¡± He had already put on his apron and he was washing the chicken wings. Su Yue looked at him in doubt. ¡°Are you sure your chicken wings will taste good?¡± Ming Ansheng felt angered that the little lass had questioned his abilities so many times. ¡°Quickly sit on the sofa and watch TV.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Su Yue pouted and turned to walk away. Ming Ansheng finished washing the chicken wings and placed them onto a plate. He added seasoning and marinated them. He was well-versed with the entire procedure. He was busy in the kitchen for quite a while, and it seemed completely quiet outside. Ming Ansheng walked to the entrance of the kitchen and poked his head out, looking towards the sofa. The TV wasn¡¯t on, and Su Yue wasn¡¯t in sight either. Confused, he exited the kitchen. ¡°Yueyue?¡± Ming Ansheng walked over to the sofa. Su Yue was lying on it, eyes closed and fast asleep. All of a sudden, even the time felt gentle. He grabbed two tissues and wiped his hands. He then picked up a folded blanket. Softly, he walked over to Su Yue and bent down. He draped the blanket over her body carefully. ¡°Yueyue.¡± As he observed her pretty face, Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but call out to her, his voice ever so gentle. Chapter 1049. Little Lass, Come Over to My Place Tonight (part Six) After a whole day¡¯s worth of training, Su Yue was tired. It took a toll on her so she didn¡¯t react. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t want to wake her either. He just wanted to say her name. Her face had become tanned from exposure to the sun the whole day. Inch by inch, Ming Ansheng moved closer to Su Yue¡¯s face. Even closer. Finally, his lips met her face. It was as smooth as he imagined, and it felt a million times better than he thought it would be. His deep breaths landed on Su Yue¡¯s face and she frowned. Ming Ansheng hurriedly retreated and stood up. His heart palpitated like never before. It threatened to pop out of his ribcage. He entered the kitchen anxiously and leaned on the kitchen counter. He touched his lips and relived the sweetness of that moment. He felt like he was under a spell he couldn¡¯t break out of. He couldn¡¯t control his strong desires for Su Yue much longer. What should he do? What should he do? ¡­ Ming Ansheng looked at the clock. It was almost 10 p.m. She probably wouldn¡¯t be able to return to her hostel anymore. He had simply no choice but to wake her up. ¡°Yueyue, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired. I don¡¯t want to eat,¡± Su Yue said lazily, waving her hand. Ming Ansheng asked gently, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Su Yue answered with a shake of her head. She turned over and faced Ming Ansheng. With one hand under her face, her gaze subconsciously flitted over to his waist. ¡®That thorn apple tattoo on his waist looks way better¡­¡¯ Meiduo¡¯s words suddenly came into her mind. She opened her sleepy eyes and said, ¡°Uncle Ming, I want to see your thorn apple.¡± Ming Ansheng froze. Su Yue observed his reaction and recalled his previous words to her. Then she hurriedly said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t want to see it anymore.¡± Then she flipped over and back-faced Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng knew why she suddenly changed her mind. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can take a look.¡± Then he sat beside her. He had changed into home clothes just now, so he was now in a loose white T-shirt. He lifted the shirt slowly. Su Yue turned around and surprise-filled her. The blackthorn apple had other colors bordering it. In contrast to his fair skin tone, the flower seemed exceptionally beautiful and realistic. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Su Yue commented. She couldn¡¯t help but extend her hand to touch it. The tips of her fingers grazed the area on his waist gently and Ming Ansheng¡¯s body tensed immediately. He held his breath, his eyelashes quivering slightly. ¡®Yueyue, Yueyue¡­¡¯ Ming Ansheng repeated continuously, the name that made his heart ache. ¡®Why did they have to give birth to me¡­¡¯ How he wanted to hug her and tell her he would take care of her forever. The tattoo was on the right side of Ming Ansheng¡¯s waist. Su Yue couldn¡¯t take her eyes off it. ¡°This flower is so cool and pretty.¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. He grabbed Su Yue¡¯s wrist and stared at her with a fiery gaze. His sudden move shocked Su Yue. It took her a while before she could react. ¡°What¡­ What¡¯s wrong?¡± She met his gaze and she felt like her insides caught fire. She was at a loss of what to do, and panic filled her small face. Ming Ansheng held her wrist tightly, trying hard to calm his racing heart. ¡°Get up and eat, then I¡¯ll send you back to school. If not, you won¡¯t be able to enter when they lock the dormitory gates.¡± Chapter 1050. Implicated By Her (part One) Ming Ansheng clenched his teeth and released his grip on Su Yue¡¯s hand. He rose and marched gloomily to the kitchen. It stunned Su Yue for a moment before she snapped out of her daze. She glanced at her wrist that had turned red from Ming Ansheng¡¯s tight grip earlier on. She was seized with fear when he suddenly grabbed her. At the same time, she seemed to anticipate something. What was she expecting? Su Yue quietly reflected her feelings earlier on and was about to conclude when Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice disrupted her thoughts. ¡°Yueyue, come and eat. The chicken wings are getting cold.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Su Yue calmly answered and strode to the dining table. She picked up a chicken wing and stuffed it inside her mouth. She softly chewed before giving her honest opinion. ¡°It¡¯s quite nice, but Brother Qi Lei¡¯s chicken wings are still the best.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s face fell and he extended his hand to knock her head. ¡°Don¡¯t go overboard with your requests. I reckon you¡¯ll be taken in by someone with a few chicken wings.¡± But then, it was actually Ming Ansheng who harbored an ulterior motive by learning how to cook chicken wings! Ravenous, Su Yue sat down and began gobbling the food. Ming Ansheng sent her back to the campus and chose the nearest entrance, which was the East Gate, but the road at East Gate was dim and dark. Ming Ansheng was worried about her safety, so he said, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you back.¡± He opened his car door. Su Yue declined. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯m not afraid.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk you.¡± Ming Ansheng was firm and had already made his way to Su Yue. Su Yue didn¡¯t reject him and both of them walked back together. When they reached the dormitory, Su Yue glanced at Ming Ansheng and softly said, ¡°We¡¯ve reached.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Go in then.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Su Yue nodded and turned around. Ming Ansheng was reluctant to part with her and just stood there gazing at her. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Su Yue halted her footsteps and turned around to say to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± She then swiftly turned around and ran back to the building. Within seconds, she had vanished out of Ming Ansheng¡¯s sight. A smile slowly crept in on Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. ¡®Be careful on the road.¡¯ This lass was finally beginning to care for others. Their building was mainly for first-year students. After an entire day of military training, the whole place was finally quiet. Su Yue reached the third floor and took out her keys. ¡°Yueyue. You¡¯re home?¡± The lights were all turned off except for a dim light near Bai Jing¡¯s bed. It startled Su Yue to hear Bai Jing. ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± Bai Jing answered, ¡°I was worried since you¡¯re not back yet.¡± ¡°There is nothing to worry about since I was out with Uncle Ming. Hurry up and sleep.¡± Su Yue went to the bathroom to wash her hands and continued talking. ¡°I took a nap at Uncle Ming¡¯s place, that¡¯s why I came back late.¡± She walked to her bed and began to undress. It startled Bai Jing to hear that Su Yue went to Ming Ansheng¡¯s place. ¡°You went to his place?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t read too much into Bai Jing¡¯s expression and merely nodded. ¡°Yeah. He cooked for me.¡± She changed into her pajamas and laid down on her bed with her phone. ¡°Just¡­ the two of you?¡± Bai Jing laid sideways as she watched Su Yue with a tinge of suspicion. ¡°Yup.¡± Su Yue nodded and glanced at Bai Jing before she continued to use her phone. Chapter 1051. Implicated By Her (part Two) The news of Su Yue asking for the military instructor¡¯s contact number remained the most popular topic on the forum. ¡°You even slept?¡± asked Bai Jing. Su Yue nodded and replied, ¡°Yup, I was too sleepy when he was preparing dinner. So I fell asleep while watching TV.¡± Bai Jing laid back on her bed, mulling over Su Yue¡¯s words. She muttered in response after a long while. It was as if she had heaved a sigh of relief. On the other hand, it seemed as though she was feeling conflicted about it. ¡°Some people are just so annoying. Why do they post everything online?!¡± Su Yue turned off her phone and grumbled under her breath before pulling the blanket over her head. ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m sleeping. Good night,¡± she said in a muffled voice. ¡°Okay,¡± replied Bai Jing. A short while later, Su Yue¡¯s breathing could be heard and Bai Jing turned to gaze at her. Her eyes filled with envy. It had been a long time since she could fall asleep quickly. She thought to herself,* ¡®Su Yue, I¡¯m so envious of you.¡¯* The first few days, all the first-years were still grumbling and complaining about the training. They began to turn a few shades darker. Those who were originally dark or tanned became even darker. Within the next few days, Su Yue received at least twenty confessions from her seniors. Some did it face to face, while the rest gave her gifts. Of course, she ignored every one of them. Even some cheeky seniors ended up in a more pathetic state than the guy who had been drenched in soup. So everybody used new adjectives to describe this new school belle: cold and arrogant. Nobody talked to her except for Bai Jing. Not even the teachers. Su Yue became the most popular and coveted figure in school. All the news articles about her were an instant hit. Xuxu certainly heard the news since Su Yue had already caused a storm on online forums. She felt that Su Yue had plunged into the depths of trouble. She must have made plenty of enemies. How would she be able to ignore this matter? ¡°Ah Sheng, I want to go to visit Yueyue today,¡± said Xuxu. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already informed the principal. He will contact me if anything happens,¡± Yan Rusheng reassured Xuxu, ¡°You should have expected that this might happen.¡± During the few short months at Flourish & Splendor, there were already countless boys who showed their interest in her. Furthermore, she was in A University now. He paused before adding on, ¡°Let her try to settle the issues herself. She needs to learn. Anyway, you can¡¯t help much even if you head to school.¡± Xuxu knew that Yan Rusheng was right. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°But you know her personality.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry okay?¡± Yan Rusheng lightly patted Xuxu¡¯s shoulders. Xuxu pressed her lips. ¡°Alright then.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and walked to the wardrobe to get changed. He glanced at Xuxu and said, ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast.¡± They left the bedroom. ¡°When is Su Yan coming back?¡± Xuxu suddenly asked. ¡°Soon, on the 28th,¡± answered Yan Rusheng. Xuxu nodded in response. She was too worried for Su Yue that she regretted her decision to allow her to stay at the dormitory. They could have rented an apartment and hired a person to take care of her. She was just beginning to learn how to interact with people. And she was still new to the ways of the world as well. Su Yue would talk to a person only if she liked the said person. It was too easy to offend a person in that way. Xuxu¡¯s belly was enormous by then, and she would get breathless after walking up a few steps. She made a habit of supporting her belly with her hand for fear that her belly might drop if she didn¡¯t. Chapter 1052. Implicated By Her (part Three) Yan Rusheng and Xuxu entered the dining room and was cheerfully greeted by Mu Li. ¡°Come and have breakfast.¡± Xuxu ambled towards the seat that she usually occupied every day. Yan Rusheng pulled the chair for her and she bent to sit. Looking at how tough it was for Xuxu to walk, Yan Weihong spoke up. ¡°When is the due date?¡± His eyes were sparkling with anticipation as he spoke. Xuxu replied, ¡°15th of next month.¡± ¡°Less than a month to go,¡± quipped Yan Weihong. Although his tone sounded casual, a smile was playing around the corners of his mouth. He was eagerly anticipating the arrival of his grandchildren. Xuxu nodded and began to drink her milk. Mu Li turned to Yan Weihong and asked, ¡°Have you decided on their names already?¡± Yan Weihong curtly replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What are their names?¡± Mu Li inched enthusiastically towards Yan Weihong. Yan Weihong glanced at her with a frown. ¡°Just eat. You will know the names once they¡¯re born.¡± ¡°Look at how smug you are,¡± sneered Mu Li. She rolled her eyes and continued, ¡°I might deny you the right to name our grandchildren.¡± There was silence. Yan Weihong ignored her threat and glanced at Xuxu with a gentle smile. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯ve taken the liberty of naming the boy. You can choose the name of the girl.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Xuxu smiled and rejected his offer. ¡°Father, you can name both of them.¡± This future grandfather had been eagerly looking forward to seeing his grandchildren. He had been researching for names ever since Xuxu became pregnant. How could she bear to deny a grandfather¡¯s joy and right of naming his grandchildren? It would be a huge sin. ¡°You do it.¡± Yan Weihong sounded unyielding. Xuxu was adamant on her decision too. ¡°No, no. Father, please name them.¡± ¡°In that case¡­¡± Yan Weihong blushed a little as he pressed on. ¡°I¡­ I have decided.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu stifled a grin and nodded. But Madam Mu Li wasn¡¯t as nice as Xuxu. She snorted in contempt. ¡°Pretentious.¡± Yan Weihong glared at her as he blushed harder. ¡°How am I suddenly pretentious? Eat your breakfast.¡± This old couple would always bicker every morning without fail. Mu Li was always the one to cross Second Master Yan¡¯s boundaries. This was the reason Xuxu had insisted on joining them for breakfast every morning in the dining room. She really enjoyed watching them bicker and arguing over trivial matters. With them around, the atmosphere was always light-hearted. After breakfast, Xuxu sent Yan Rusheng to the door as usual and watched as he drove off. She leaned against the door, and was apparently lost in her thoughts. ¡°Xuxu¡­ Someone is looking for you.¡± Mu Li shouted across the room. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m coming,¡± Xuxu responded and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Zhou Shuang.¡± Mu Li passed the phone to Xuxu. Xuxu¡¯s face instantly lit up with a bright smile. She settled herself comfortably on the sofa before saying ¡®Hello¡¯. ¡°Haven¡¯t you given birth already?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice still sounded energetic and lively as usual. ¡°Pfft.¡± Xuxu chortled as she answered. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that my due date is next month?¡± Judging from how cheerful Zhou Shuang sounded, life in Country M seemed comfortable. ¡°I forgot.¡± Zhou Shuang added, ¡°Days slipped past and I have no idea of the dates.¡± ¡°Go out and take more strolls. Don¡¯t just stay at home the entire day. You might end up as a fat ball after you¡¯ve given birth,¡± advised Xuxu. Chapter 1053. Implicated By Her (part Four) Xuxu could nearly visualize the lifestyle Zhou Shuang was leading in Country M, and just like what she did when she was still in the country, it was surely staying at home the entire day. Annoyed, Zhou Shuang answered, ¡°Can¡¯t you at least say some pleasant words instead?¡± ¡°Why did you suddenly called me?¡± asked Xuxu. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s forgotten all about me, although you¡¯re always on my mind!¡± Zhou Shuang sounded upset and bitter. Xuxu chuckled. ¡°How are you now? How big is your belly?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a photo for you later. I¡¯ve gained so much weight! It¡¯s so depressing.¡± Zhou Shuang grumbled and then heavily sighed. ¡°It¡¯s normal to gain weight as long as the children are healthy. Keep in mind that you¡¯re carrying triplets,¡± Xuxu gently said. A thought struck her and she asked, ¡°Lu Yinan went to Country M a few days ago. How was it with him?¡± ¡°Can we talk about something happy instead?¡± implored Zhou Shuang. Xuxu sighed helplessly. It seemed like they didn¡¯t have any progress at all. Yan Rusheng even reassured her that not every marriage began because the couple loved each other. He reminded Xuxu not to rule out any possibilities. But it was simply a piece of useless advice! Two close friends, separated by thousands of miles, chatted for more than an hour. Zhou Shuang sent a photo after she hung up. She was three months along in her pregnancy, but she looked as though she was five months pregnant because of her triplets. Xuxu stared at the photo and her face lit up with a smile. Life was indeed unpredictable. Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan were expecting triplets. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought of that. ¡®Not every marriage began because of their love for each other, just like us¡­¡¯ Xuxu mulled over Yan Rusheng¡¯s words and she trusted him one more time. She sent Zhou Shuang¡¯s photo to Lu Yinan. ¡®Look at Shuang, her belly is so huge.¡¯ At the hospital. Lu Yinan had just attended to a patient when he received a notification. He was rather surprised to see that Wen Xuxu had sent him a text. He clicked on it and was momentarily stumped for words. ¡°This hooligan¡¯s belly is so big now,¡± muttered Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan sighed wistfully to himself as he gazed at the screen. He slowly slumped back in his chair. In the photo, Zhou Shuang was wearing a white nightdress as she stood on a weighing scale. Her originally flat tummy had ballooned drastically. It was barely two months and her hair length were much longer than before. This was the first time in his memory that he had seen Zhou Shuang with braids. In high school, her hair was much shorter than when she had just returned. She looked tomboyish, and she said anything that came to her mind. And unfortunately, she offended Yan Rusheng and got labeled as a hooligan. She must¡¯ve had merely wanted to show Wen Xuxu her belly. Hence, she bowed her head and pulled her nightdress to reveal her bulging belly. Nevertheless, he could still see a faint smile on her face, despite her head being lowered. He went to her house in Country M and she was indeed well taken care of. She looked as if¡­ she had forgotten all about him. This was exactly why he was feeling so frustrated and furious. Among all the women he had slept with, she was the only one who didn¡¯t seem to care. Other women would kill to have such a wonderful opportunity to hold on to him, except for her. Chapter 1054. Implicated By Her (part Five) But this was also the exact reason Lu Yinan wanted to humiliate Zhou Shuang and teach her a lesson. He wanted to subdue her but due to his carelessness, it had only resulted in three children. Lu Yinan thought gloomily as he lit a cigarette and began to smoke. ¡®Zhou Shuang, I didn¡¯t imagine that you were such a person. What is your motive for getting yourself pregnant?¡¯ ¡®Is it your first time being with a guy? You¡¯re such a loose woman. Who knows who the real father of the children is, anyway. They can¡¯t be mine.¡¯ He was mulling over how he had gotten the news of Zhou Shuang being pregnant, and he had stormed off in a rage to look for her. Lu Yinan was suddenly very regretful of his actions and harsh accusations. He had never been so regretful before. He had been reflecting in the past few days and realized that he had gone overboard. But at that moment, his guilt and regret had culminated. They might not have feelings for each other and were just ex-classmates. But hurtful words would have hurt an ordinary person¡¯s ego and pride. That was why she had rushed to get an abortion on that same day. Just like what Wen Xuxu had said, even if Zhou Shuang really aborted the children, what losses would he incur? Who wouldn¡¯t be able to afford the abortion fees? Lu Yinan twiddled his phone in his hand absentmindedly. His cigarette burnt until the edge, and it had burnt his fingers. He snapped to his senses and flicked the cigarette into the bin. He searched for Zhou Shuang¡¯s name on his phone. He still saved her name as ¡®hooligan¡¯. ¡®Hooligan, come back and let¡¯s raise the children together.¡¯ He deleted and retyped the words over and over again. It took him all of his courage and determination before he sent the text. A pang of overwhelming guilt and regret towards Zhou Shuang were swallowing him alive. She had been such a carefree and jovial woman and these three children would definitely turn her life upside down. Even if he agreed to giving the children to Zhou Shuang, there was no way his family would agree. What would Zhou Shuang do? ¡­ Yan Rusheng ended work and went to Su Yue¡¯s school on Xuxu¡¯s instructions. Xuxu wanted him to bring Su Yue out for a good meal. It was already evening, and visitors and students were streaming in and out of the campus. Yan Rusheng parked his car near the road and got down. He leaned against his car and called Su Yue. Su Yue rushed to meet him, along with Bai Jing. Yan Rusheng waved at them and Su Yue smiled brightly when she saw him. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and threw his phone back into the car. ¡°Where is third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yue peered inside and was disappointed that Xuxu wasn¡¯t there. The two of them were extraordinarily close to each other and had always missed each other dearly. ¡°Her belly is too enormous right now. She is giving birth in less than a month and it¡¯s too far a journey for her.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes lit up and excitedly grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. ¡°She is giving birth in less than a month?¡± Su Yue was going to be an aunt! Looking at how happy she looked, Yan Rusheng curled his lips unconsciously. He pinched her cheeks in an affectionate way. ¡°Yes, yes. You¡¯re going to be an aunt in less than a month.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Su Yue happily proclaimed. She gazed at him, looking curious. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face faded a little and said, ¡°Your third sister-in-law asked me to, and I have something I want to tell you too.¡± He glanced fleetingly at Bai Jing. Bai Jing could tell that Yan Rusheng had reservations telling Su Yue stuff with her around. Disappointment flitted past her eyes, but she still managed a smile. She softly said, ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m going to the convenience store to buy some stuff. I¡¯ll settle dinner myself.¡± Chapter 1055. Implicated By Her (part Six) Bai Jing looked at Yan Rusheng and nodded politely before leaving. She strode in the direction of the convenience store. ¡°Hey, Bai¡­¡± Su Yue was about to call Bai Jing as her sudden departure had puzzled her. Yan Rusheng cut across Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, I have something to tell you. It¡¯s only for your ears.¡± He felt that he had to be explicit so she wouldn¡¯t misunderstand him. Given her character, she always had these endless questions. Su Yue nodded and looked away. Yan Rusheng opened the car door and said to Su Yue, ¡°Get in.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue responded and entered the car. Yan Rusheng shut the door and went to the driver¡¯s seat. He sped up and the car left the campus in no time. Bai Jing, who had just reached the convenience store, turned around and caught a glimpse of the champagne-colored Bentley. She looked forlorn as she stood on the spot. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± A man¡¯s voice disrupted Bai Jing, and it jolted her awake. She adjusted herself by bowing her head before turning around. A man wearing a white shirt and black pants slowly strolled towards her. He was wearing gold-rimmed spectacles. Bai Jing was trying to remember his face before speaking out. ¡°Professor Zhao.¡± Zhao Zheng smiled as he went near Bai Jing. He adjusted his spectacles. ¡°Isn¡¯t Su Yue with you?¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips and answered, ¡°Her third brother came and fetched her.¡± She paused before continuing. ¡°Professor Zhao, I need to get some stuff. Goodbye.¡± Su Yue had warned her to ignore him if they crossed paths. She also felt that Professor Zhao gave her an uncomfortable feeling. Bai Jing was about to turn around. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Zhao Zheng stopped her. Bai Jing turned and glanced at him. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Zhao Zheng grinned and said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, Xuxu and I were classmates in middle and high school. We were even in the same class, so our friendship goes way beyond.¡± He was trying to flaunt his friendship with Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. It was indeed something to brag about. But the way he phrased it made people feel like mocking him instead. Bai Jing responded, but her face remained deadpan. Zhao Zheng quietly surveyed Bai Jing. An ambiguous smile appeared on his face and he spoke once again. ¡°The previous time when we had dinner together, Xuxu mentioned about you and asked me if there was any way of helping you get into A University.¡± Bai Jing was startled and her eyes gleamed. But she remained mum. ¡°You and Su Yue has just started school. Please look for me if you need help. Su Yue may be able to look for the principal since Yan Rusheng knows him. But if it¡¯s you, it¡¯s a different story.¡± He sounded as if he was trying to drive a wedge between her and Su Yue. A shard seemed to have pierced through Bai Jing¡¯s heart. Chapter 1056. Implicated By Her (part Seven) ¡®With Yan Rusheng as her brother, the principal will definitely take care of Su Yue. But if you were to look for the principal, that would be a different story¡­¡¯ Bai Jing deliberated over Zhao Zheng¡¯s words and her mind wandered off to how Yan Rusheng had looked at her earlier on. It was as if though he had some misgivings about her. She clenched her clothes tightly and lowered her head even more. Zhao Zheng observed her every little movement and quietly smirked to himself. ¡°I have a lecture every Friday afternoon open to all students. If you are free, you can attend my lecture,¡± said Zhao Zheng. Bai Jing kept quiet and was lost in her own thoughts. Earlier on, she had rushed out excitedly with Su Yue to meet Yan Rusheng. But Yan Rusheng seemed to be rather cold to her and it had indeed made her quite upset. But that didn¡¯t mean that she had to listen to this person who looked like he had an ulterior motive. She could tell that he was trying to sow discord between Su Yue and her. Perhaps Yan Rusheng really had something private to tell Su Yue. Su Yue was his sister. Why should she be upset over such a matter? Bai Jing consoled herself and that lifted her spirit. She smiled at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Thank you for your concern. I¡¯ll get going.¡± She turned on her heel and hurried away. Zhao Zheng watched as Bai Jing vanished out of sight and smirked to himself. ¡­ Su Yue noticed that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t say a word after driving for some distance. So she broke the silence and asked, ¡°Third Brother, what do you want to tell me?¡± Didn¡¯t he mention that he had something to tell her? And others shouldn¡¯t overhear it? Yan Rusheng glanced askew at her and smiled lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll send you home.¡± ¡°But I have training tomorrow,¡± protested Su Yue, with a frown. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°I¡¯ll get the chauffeur to send you back after dinner.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue agreed and muttered, ¡°Why can¡¯t Bai Jing come along?¡± Yan Rusheng heard her, but he didn¡¯t respond. Xuxu had missed this little girl too much, and that was why he fetched her home for dinner. It would be a rushed trip for Yueyue. There wasn¡¯t a need for Bai Jing to join them for a rushed dinner since the military training was too exhausting. Su Yue fell asleep in the car and Yan Rusheng woke her up when they reached home. She stretched herself sleepily, but completely woke up as soon as she saw that she was home. She pushed the door open and bolted for the house. ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± Her voice was clear and resounding, and she sounded so eager. It was as though they hadn¡¯t met in years. Yan Rusheng quietly chuckled to himself as he slowly strolled after her. Xuxu was in the dining room when she heard Su Yue¡¯s voice. She instantly leaped to her feet. ¡°Yueyue! Why are you back?¡± She was initially overjoyed to see her, but after she scrutinized her from head to toe, she frowned as her heart ached for her. ¡°You¡¯ve become so tanned and you¡¯ve lost so much weight.¡± She stood in front of Su Yue and gripped her wrist. She pulled her towards the table. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten dinner right? We are just about to start.¡± Young Master Yan¡ªwho was behind Su Yue¡ªhad been completely ignored by Xuxu. She didn¡¯t even glance at him. He frowned and glared at Su Yue, feeling both envious and jealous. But he was actually smiling. ¡°Yueyue. You¡¯re home?¡± Yan Weihong and Mu Li welcomed her with a warm smile on their faces. Yan Weihong beckoned Su Yue to join them. ¡°Join us for dinner.¡± Su Yue sat next to Xuxu and Mu Li surveyed her carefully. She too frowned and exclaimed, ¡°It has only been less than a month and you¡¯ve gotten so tanned already?¡± Chapter 1057. Implicated By Her (part Eight) Su Yue grinned and cheekily replied, ¡°Girls look cooler with a tan.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. This girl had claimed that racing was cool, tattoos were cool and now getting tanned was cool as well¡­ Was she trying to idolize gangsters? ¡°Hurry up and eat.¡± Xuxu pushed a bowl of soup towards Su Yue and scooped rice for her. ¡°I read the news about you asking for your instructor for his number.¡± Mu Li¡¯s voice sounded from across the table. She smiled and praised Su Yue. ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re really brave.¡± Yan Weihong immediately chided her. ¡°You should concentrate on studying. You¡¯re still young, don¡¯t attempt to do these silly things again.¡± Mu Li shot him a murderous glare and raised her voice. ¡°Luckily, she wasn¡¯t educated by an old-fashioned fogey. Your overly conservative mindset will hamper her growth.¡± And they started to bicker again. Xuxu watched them in amusement as she shook her head helplessly. They never failed to argue during meals. Mu Li ignored Yan Weihong and inquisitively inched forward to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, so what happened to you and the instructor?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. Could this middle-aged woman be more serious and act properly? Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who wanted his contact number. Someone else did, but no one dared to do it.¡± She spoke in a disapproving tone. ¡°Love needs courage.¡± Madam Mu Li began to impart her knowledge to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, if you meet a guy you like, be brave and profess your love. Don¡¯t hold back.¡± Upon hearing this, Yan Rusheng reluctantly looked at his mother. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you teach that to our Miss Wen Xuxu when she was young?¡± If she had, they wouldn¡¯t have taken such a tedious and arduous road. Wen Xuxu was in love with him for so many years and he had been oblivious. If only Wen Xuxu had the courage to profess her love for him, perhaps he would have realized as well? ¡°Haha.¡± Mu Li laughed grimly. ¡°Finish your food. There is never a peaceful meal with you around.¡± Yan Weihong berated Mu Li as he looked at her in disdain. Mu Li slammed her chopsticks on the table and said in a high-pitched voice, ¡°So now you¡¯re complaining that I¡¯m too noisy? Who was the one who said that he liked me chattering to him all day long and that my voice was as pleasant as a nightingale?¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were speechless. Su Yue couldn¡¯t control herself and spat out a mouthful of soup. Luckily, she was able to cover her mouth in time. Otherwise, all the dishes would have been splashed over with her saliva and food. Xuxu hastily passed her tissues to Su Yue. Su Yue raised her head to look at Mu Li. ¡°Second Uncle is lying to you. If you keep talking, it would be so annoying.¡± There was silence. She had spoken unnecessary comments once again and added fuel to fire. It exasperated Xuxu. How on earth would they be able to finish this meal in peace? After dinner, Xuxu pulled Su Yue into her room. She opened her wardrobe and took out a bag of clothes. ¡°Yueyue, these are the new clothes that your aunt and I have bought for you.¡± She then took out a pale blue floral dress and told Su Yue. ¡°This is for Bai Jing. Pass it to her later.¡± Su Yue smiled happily. ¡°Okay! She will be so happy.¡± Xuxu smiled and placed the dress back into the bag. She then led Su Yue to the bed and solemnly said, ¡°Yueyue, even if you don¡¯t like a person, you can never splash them. Simply ignore them, do you understand?¡± She gazed intently at her tanned face and began to brush her hair. Chapter 1058. Implicated By Her (part Nine) Su Yue frowned in protest. ¡°They¡¯re so annoying and they keep pestering me.¡± ¡°Tell your teachers then,¡± suggested Xuxu. She hesitated and paused for a moment. ¡°Your way of dealing with them is too extreme. Ignore them in the future regardless of what they say. If you are really angry, tell your Third Brother instead so he can deal with them.¡± She had hit and splashed guys, although most guys wouldn¡¯t retaliate and hit a girl back. But what if someday she had a row with a girl? If she hit a girl, she would definitely be at a disadvantage. Xuxu felt the need to guide and advise her. Su Yue was always receptive to Xuxu¡¯s advice and she obediently nodded as usual. ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu smiled in relief. ¡°Are there many handsome boys in school?¡± ¡°They are not as handsome as Third Brother.¡± Su Yue pondered for a moment before adding, ¡°Not as handsome as the old man Uncle Ming as well.¡± The old man Uncle Ming. This girl is someone who couldn¡¯t be offended at all. Xuxu chuckled before reminding her once more. ¡°The military training will be very tough, remember to buy good and nutritious food for yourself. There are food stalls right at the entrance.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, Third Brother mentioned that you¡¯re giving birth next month. Stop worrying about me,¡± Su Yue reassured her as she tenderly rubbed her belly. Her eyes were twinkling with excitement and she beamed with happiness. Xuxu bit her lip and gazed at Su Yue¡¯s tiny face. ¡°Yueyue, you¡¯re more sensible now.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital and accompany you when you give birth.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± ¡­ Across A University, in a dark park with dense trees, a skinny girl was leaning against a tree trunk. Fear was etched on her face as she eyed the man who was leering at her. The man drew dangerously close to her and his face was inches away from the girl. ¡°Your training ends next Monday and Tiantian is having her birthday celebration. Bring Miss Su along.¡± He drawled. His voice was chilly and commanding. ¡°We start lessons next week,¡± Bai Jing answered as she averted her face. She was tightly clenching her jogging pants and her whole body was trembling in fear. ¡°You have lessons at night?¡± Lei Yong lifted his eyebrows as he questioned her. He sneered at her and continued, ¡°Bai Jing, don¡¯t forget that all your school and daily expenses are paid for by the Lei family. And Tiantian is your mother¡¯s daughter.¡± Bai Jing tightened her grip. The last ounce of her resistance and pride had vanished. She peered down in defeat and meekly answered, ¡°I got it.¡± Her face was still turned away to avoid Lei Yong¡¯s gaze. Lei Yong was livid and forcefully pinched Bai Jing¡¯s chin. He forced her to turn her face towards him and leered. ¡°Why are you putting up this facade of nobility and purity?! Huh?¡± He gritted his teeth before forcibly kissing Bai Jing. Bai Jing struggled and writhed. Mustering all her strength, she pushed Lei Yong away. She hastily retreated in a fluster as she defensively covered her chest. She was shivering badly with fear as she stared at Lei Yong. ¡°Second Brother, please don¡¯t do this.¡± She shook her head and her voice was quivering so badly. She retraced her footsteps as she spoke. Lei Yong knew that she had given her promise and stopped his actions. He warned her, ¡°If you don¡¯t settle Miss Su and the deal with Flourish & Prosper falls through, you will have to marry President Chen. This is a warning.¡± He deliberately paused and the corners of his mouth curled slyly. ¡°Although he is divorced with two children, it¡¯s not beneath your status. You¡¯re considered lucky to marry someone like him based on your family background.¡± Chapter 1059. Implicated By Her (part Ten) Bai Jing heard Lei Yong¡¯s threat and her eyes were filled with fear. ¡°You have no right to force me.¡± Lei Yong sneered. ¡°Say that to my face only when you¡¯re capable or powerful enough to resist.¡± He turned and marched away towards the entrance of the park. Bai Jing watched as the tall figure slowly diminished out of her sight. Her heart gradually stopped pounding frantically. She retreated and fumbled on a tree in the darkness and leaned against it for support. It was a pitch-dark night and the darkness gave her an inexplicable abyss of fear. ¡®Say that to my face only when you¡¯re capable or powerful enough to resist¡­¡¯ Bai Jing¡¯s hands were almost digging into the tree trunk in fury. ¡­ The chauffeur sent Su Yue to the dormitory and left only after she entered as what Xuxu had firmly instructed him. Su Yue took out her keys and quietly opened the door, thinking Bai Jing might be asleep. The lights were still on in their room and the temperature was constant. She glanced at Bai Jing¡¯s bed, but it was empty. She closed the door and glanced at the direction of the bathroom. The door was shut and so she guessed that Bai Jing was inside. Gushing water sounds were soon heard. ¡°Bai Jing, aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± Su Yue spoke. Bai Jing responded and turned off the tap. Next, the sound of her rinsing her mouth was heard. Su Yue had showered at home earlier. She strode across the room and placed the bag of clothes on the floor before changing into her pajamas. When she was done, the bathroom door opened and Bai Jing came out. It shocked Su Yue when she saw Bai Jing. ¡°What happened to your mouth?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s lip was bleeding and her lips were red. She bent her head and dismissed it. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I accidentally fell in the shower just now and knocked myself.¡± She hastily replied and walked to her bed. Su Yue noticed nothing amiss and smiled. ¡°My third sister-in-law bought a dress for you. It¡¯s really beautiful.¡± She walked to the bag of clothes and took out the blue dress for Bai Jing. Bai Jing stared at the dress in surprise. ¡°You went back home?¡± asked Bai Jing. ¡°Yes, my third brother said that Third sister-in-law missed me and I missed her too,¡± replied Su Yue. She pointed at the bag and whined softly. ¡°Third sister-in-law bought a load of clothes for me again. But it¡¯s all white and pink, so uncool.¡± She pressed her lips and sat down on the bed before lying down. Bai Jing gazed at the bag and felt conflicted about it. ¡®My third brother said that Third sister-in-law missed me and I missed her too¡­¡¯ ¡®That little girl from the Yan family might be an illegitimate daughter but she is loved by all of them. Make sure you win her favor¡­¡¯ ¡®If you don¡¯t settle Miss Su, you will have to marry President Chen¡­¡¯ Bai Jing was lost in her thoughts and laid on her bed in a daze. Su Yue¡¯s sleepy voice sounded. ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m sleeping now. Good night.¡± She yawned and her voice and tone sounded completely at ease. ¡°Mm.¡± Bai Jing muttered in response after a long while. ¡­ After a few weeks, everyone¡¯s biological clock had been properly trained to wake up before 6 a.m. each morning, including Su Yue. Chapter 1060. Implicated By Her (part Eleven) When she woke, she quickly changed and washed up. They were basically tortured in the heat the whole morning. Their lunch break was only 20 minutes; not a minute more. That day was the last day of military training, and they were still doing daily activities training. The instructors of various groups selected a few members to bring out some quilts from the dormitory, and they taught everyone how to fold them. The instructors demonstrated the folding of quilts, before making everyone practice once and ensuring that their end results looked exactly the same: a tofu-like stack. ¡°Line up in your usual arrangements. From front to back, all of you will fold it once. You only have one minute.¡± The instructors specified the rules in their booming voice. Immediately, unhappy complaints were heard from the congregation. ¡°One minute to fold it to this standard?¡± The instructor¡¯s sharp gaze swept over them. ¡°If you think that¡¯s too much, you can do it in 30 seconds.¡± ¡°No, no, no. One minute is fine.¡± Because all of them had brought their own quilt, all of them were of varying sizes and materials. Their end product would definitely turn out differently. The quilt that the instructor folded was made from pure cotton, so it looked better when they had folded it. It was just one minute. Everyone knew that they would be done for the day after folding the quilt. One after the other they folded, but the instructor did not look satisfied. When it reached Bai Jing¡¯s turn, the instructor suddenly yelled, ¡°All those who attempted just now, none of you passed. All of those who failed would have to run four rounds around the field later.¡± ¡°Ahhh?¡± The instructor¡¯s words caused a commotion. Four rounds around the 400-meter track amounted to 1.6 kilometers. A 1.6 kilometer run after a long day of military training was simply a brutal corporal punishment. Bai Jing clenched her fists, nervous. If she didn¡¯t do well, she would have to run 1.6 kilometers. She squatted down and walked over to the quilt. She opened up the previously folded blanket and prepared herself. ¡°Wait.¡± Suddenly, a clear voice sounded from behind her. Bai Jing turned around, confused. Su Yue was walking towards her. When she reached her, Su Yue said to the instructor, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s simply impossible to fold this quilt to your standard.¡± She said this in her arrogant Su Yue-attitude. She tilted up her chin and looked at him with neither inferiority or superiority. Upon hearing her words, the congregation immediately agreed. The instructor looked at her coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t find excuses for your incompetence.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you fold this quilt for us,¡± Su Yue said, pointing at the quilt. In everyone¡¯s eyes, it seemed like an act of arrogance. The instructor¡¯s expression got colder and colder. It scared Bai Jing, so she pulled at the bottom of Su Yue¡¯s pants. ¡°Su Yue.¡± She thought, ¡®At worst, I¡¯d just run 1.6 kilometers. I¡¯ll just be a little more tired.¡¯ The instructor had a resolute expression. Perspiration trickled down the side of his face and he kept his silence. Su Yue raised her eyebrows at him. ¡°Instructor, are you scared?¡± Then she continued, ¡°If you can fold such corners with this quilt, and make it so flat, then I can, too.¡± The vein on the instructor¡¯s face popped. He still didn¡¯t acknowledge Su Yue, but his gaze swept over the entire group. He then commanded in a loud voice, ¡°All of you in this group, run five rounds around the field.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± All of their eyes widened. They cried, ¡°We are already so tired, and we still have to run two kilometers?¡± ¡°You should thank this student for your extra round,¡± the instructor snarled, pointing at Su Yue. Just one line and Su Yue had become the butt of their criticism. One by one, glares were targeted at Su Yue. Chapter 1061. Implicated By Her (part Twelve) Su Yue pursed her lips and was speechless. Just not too long ago they were agreeing with her¡ªsuch fence sitters! She was still indignant and glared at the instructor. ¡°You¡¯re just finding an excuse to punish us.¡± She then ran onto the running track. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault for implicating us.¡± Everyone caught up with her and started scolding her. Su Yue pretended that she couldn¡¯t hear them. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to. Bai Jing also couldn¡¯t take it any longer. She stepped up for her and said, ¡°She knew that the instructor was trying to make things difficult for us. She was just trying to help all of us redress an injustice.¡± ¡°Who are you? Who are you to speak up for her?¡± ¡°Exactly, she¡¯s the school belle and she¡¯s rich, that¡¯s why you follow behind her every day, right?¡± Their remarks became harsher. Su Yue turned around and her piercing stare landed on those girls with the sharp tongues. They were glaring at her with haughty airs. Su Yue coldly glanced them and said nothing. All along, she would ignore the people she disliked and would only turn to her fists when she couldn¡¯t take it any longer. By then, Bai Jing had already run to the front of the group, her pace increasing. Su Yue frowned and chased after her. ¡°Bai Jing, ignore them. They¡¯re annoying and are always complaining.¡± Bai Jing turned around and gave her a smile. Seeing that, relief washed over Su Yue. Luckily, their words hadn¡¯t affected her. After the two kilometers, all of them fell flat on the grass field. Some couldn¡¯t even complete the five rounds. Many bore grudges against Su Yue since they had to run an extra round because of her. On the first day, she had become the school belle of A University and was the envy of many, and now it seemed like she had even more enemies. Su Yue panted heavily against a big tree. Bai Jing leaned against a neighboring tree, her head bowed and sweat dripping profusely. Her fringe covered the upper half of her face that nobody could make out her expression. Su Yue saw the beads of perspiration dripping from her. Concerned, she asked, ¡°Bai Jing, are you thirsty? I¡¯ll go get a drink.¡± Bai Jing lifted her head and looked at her. ¡°Later, when the instructor says we can rest.¡± She then turned around and walked towards the instructor. Su Yue watched her retreating figure and felt that Bai Jing was unhappy. However, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what emotion it exactly was, nor find the right words to describe it. The last day of military training ended and cheers flooded the field. Everyone couldn¡¯t wait to change out of their camouflage uniforms. When they returned to the dormitory, Su Yue showered first. By the time Bai Jing was out, she had already blown dry her hair. She said to Bai Jing, ¡°Let¡¯s eat out today. My third sister-in-law says that we can go out more often to eat delicious food.¡± Bai Jing shook her head gently. ¡°I¡¯m too tired. I don¡¯t want to go so far.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°Okay then.¡± Actually, she really wanted to eat out. She had been eating the canteen food for the past few days and she was getting sick of it. But Bai Jing didn¡¯t feel like going. Su Yue didn¡¯t want to force her, but she didn¡¯t want to go alone either. Both of them went to the canteen. On the entire way there, including ordering, Bai Jing said less than ten sentences. Su Yue didn¡¯t know why she behaved like that all of a sudden. It could be because of the harsh words from the girls earlier on, but somehow she had an inkling it was more than that. They were on such good terms and never bothered about each other¡¯s financial status, so why would people¡¯s comments affect her? Su Yue lay on the bed, confused the whole day. Chapter 1062. Will Never Allow Anyone to Take Advantage Of Her (part One) Just when Su Yue was about to ask Bai Jing why she was unhappy, Bai Jing called after her. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue raised her eyebrows. ¡°Mm?¡± Bai Jing stared at her with bright eyes. ¡°Tomorrow. Tomorrow is my younger sister¡¯s tenth birthday. Can you accompany me home?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Su Yue agreed almost immediately. She then thought of something that made her confused, and so she asked, ¡°That Lei Yong¡¯s younger sister?¡± She remembered that Bai Jing was an only child. Bai Jing explained, ¡°My mother had her after me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°So both of you have the same mother?¡± After asking, she confirmed it in her mind. ¡®It should be.¡¯ Bai Jing nodded. Su Yue smiled and continued, ¡°Then she¡¯s your biological sister. I have to think hard about what present to get her.¡± She then turned around and picked up her phone. She opened WeChat and found Xuxu¡¯s chat. ¡°Third sister-in-law. Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu replied almost immediately. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Su Yue said, ¡°Bai Jing¡¯s younger sister is celebrating her tenth birthday tomorrow and she invited me over. What gift should I get her?¡± Afraid that Xuxu wouldn¡¯t know that she was talking about Bai Jing¡¯s biological sister from the same mother, she added, ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of Bai Jing¡¯s mother.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Tomorrow? You¡¯re going to her house?¡± Su Yue answered, ¡°Yes, she invited me just now. I want to give her a present, but I don¡¯t know what to get.¡± Xuxu said, ¡°Buy her a stuffed toy, or one of those huge huggable stuffed bears. She¡¯s a girl after all.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to bed now, Third sister-in-law. Don¡¯t sleep too late.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Mm. Goodnight.¡± After communicating with Xuxu, Su Yue put down her phone. She already felt at ease. She told Bai Jing, ¡°I know what I¡¯m going to give your sister now.¡± Bai Jing smiled. ¡°Actually, your presence is good enough. You don¡¯t have to get a present.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Of course I must, it¡¯ll be so rude to turn up without a present.¡± Bai Jing smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s turn in.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue felt thrilled and she finally felt at ease. Bai Jing was finally talking to her, and she even invited her to her sister¡¯s birthday celebration. ¡­ Yan Rusheng got out from the shower and saw Xuxu smiling at her phone. He dried his hair as he walked towards her. ¡°Who are you talking to? You¡¯re smiling.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Yueyue.¡± Afterward, she placed her phone down on the bedside cabinet. She then put away the book on her lap and got ready for bed. ¡®So, she was talking to that little lass.¡¯ Yan Rusheng nodded in understanding. ¡°Okay.¡± He then walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down. He plugged in the hair-dryer and was about to blow-dry his hair. Xuxu suddenly crawled over and snatched it from him. ¡°Ah Sheng, let me help you.¡± Yan Rusheng was a little startled. He froze for a second before glancing at Xuxu. Why was she being so nice today? She even volunteered to help him blow-dry his hair. The past few days, in her last month of pregnancy, she was having all sorts of mood-swings. Now, he didn¡¯t even dare to say anything romantic or sexy to her. Xuxu turned on the hair-dryer to its lowest power. As she dried his hair, she spoke, ¡°She said that Bai Jing¡¯s younger sister is celebrating her birthday tomorrow and invited her over. She asked me what to get her.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°The Lei household?¡± His tone was cautious. Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s the daughter of Bai Jing¡¯s mother.¡± Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Tomorrow night?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xuxu hummed. ¡°Yueyue is so happy. Only Bai Jing can get her to accept such an invitation.¡± Chapter 1063. Will Never Allow Anyone to Take Advantage Of Her (part Two) From what she knew, Su Yue had rejected invitations from a few of her classmates. ¡°Flourish & Prosper is inviting tenders for molds for our new product,¡± Yan Rusheng stated. It was clear that it held an underlying meaning. ¡°What does that have to do with Su Yue going over to their place for a birthday celebration?¡± Yan Rusheng turned around and took the hair-dryer from Xuxu. He turned it off and put it on the bedside cabinet. He raised his eyebrows at her and asked, ¡°Do you think Bai Jing would voluntarily invite Su Yue over to her stepfather¡¯s place for a meal?¡± Xuxu immediately knew what he meant. ¡°You think they¡¯re taking advantage of Bai Jing and Su Yue¡¯s relationship?¡± Yan Rusheng laughed coldly. ¡°Then we shouldn¡¯t let Yueyue go,¡± Xuxu said, picking up her phone and dialing her number. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone to take advantage of our Yueyue.¡± She had finished dialing her number when she suddenly remembered that it was late and they were definitely already in the dormitory. She felt that telling her that matter over a phone call wasn¡¯t very convenient, and so she sent her a text instead. ¡°Yueyue, your Third Brother and I will pick you up and bring you home tomorrow. Don¡¯t go over for the celebration. You can pass the present to Bai Jing.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t reply long after she sent the message out. Xuxu kept waiting. Yan Rusheng made her lie down and said, ¡°Wife, go to bed. The little lass must have fallen asleep after a tiring day of military training. Call her tomorrow.¡± He also didn¡¯t approve of Su Yue going over to the Lei household. Taking care of Bai Jing was one thing, business was another. There was no need for the two to intertwine. Xuxu nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She placed down her phone and lay down. Yan Rusheng purposely rolled over until he was beside her. ¡°Darling.¡± Xuxu looked at him with a face of caution. ¡°What do you want?¡± Yan Rusheng saw the lack of spirit in her eyes and hurriedly shook his head. ¡°Nothing much, I just wanted to call you.¡± He then shifted back, not daring to be too close to Xuxu. ¡°Ah Sheng,¡± Xuxu suddenly called out as she held his face. She stared at him without blinking, her eyes full of emotion. Yan Rusheng began to feel hot. ¡°Darling, don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± F*ck. He didn¡¯t even dare to pleasure himself for the past few days. He hurriedly moved backward. ¡°Ah Sheng,¡± Xuxu called out, voice full of emotion. Her gentle voice made Young Master Yan¡¯s bones weak. He was about to lick his dry lips when the woman suddenly attacked him with a kiss. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes widened. He didn¡¯t know what was happening, so he looked left and right. Xuxu saw that he wanted to reciprocate but was wary. She grinned. Slowly, she placed one hand on his neck and moved the other downwards. ¡°Mm¡­¡± Yan Rusheng groaned. In a moment, he felt like he had entered heaven. He held her tightly. ¡°Darling.¡± It had been way too long since he released himself. He couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. ¡­ For the past ten consecutive days, waking early had already been a part of her routine. She turned on her phone to check the time and realized that her phone was flat. She hurriedly plugged it in to charge. That day was their first official day of lessons, and so they had to go to the classrooms earlier to mark attendance. Both of them quickly showered and went to the canteen to have breakfast together before going to class. Chapter 1064. Will Never Allow Anyone to Take Advantage Of Her (part Three) The counselor alone spent around 40 minutes talking and introducing the school. The young male counselor was a second-year student at the university. He was humorous, so the 40 minute-long introduction wasn¡¯t a bore. A class lesson immediately followed their introduction, and then it was lunchtime. During lunch, Su Yue dragged Bai Jing out of school to a relatively high-end Chinese restaurant nearby. They left after a full meal. Su Yue glanced over the sidewalk and had an idea. She smiled and pulled Bai Jing¡¯s arm. ¡°We have no lessons in the afternoon, so let¡¯s go get a gift for your sister.¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t need to get a gift. Your presence is good enough.¡± ¡°No, I have to bring a gift,¡± Su Yue said with determination in her voice. There were many shops selling birthday gifts for girls near the school. Su Yue randomly picked one and used her preference as a reference for her gift, and so she bought a small guitar. The main reason was that the small guitar came with a box, and it was easier to carry as compared to a huge stuffed toy. Both of them bought a pile of snacks. When they reached the school entrance, Bai Jing¡¯s phone rang. She took it out and when she saw the caller, her expression turned hostile. ¡°Hello,¡± she answered as she put the phone to her ear. She suddenly increased her pace and left Su Yue behind. Su Yue carried her textbooks on one hand and the guitar in the other. She chased after Bai Jing. When she finally caught up, Bai Jing had just ended her call. ¡°Su Yue, my¡ªmy second brother has sent someone to pick us up,¡± Bai Jing said, looking at Su Yue. She sounded very forced and unwilling to call him second brother. Su Yue didn¡¯t think into it and nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll just grab my phone from the dormitory. I left it there.¡± ¡°Sure, you can bring back your textbooks, too.¡± When they returned to the dormitory, Su Yue unplugged her phone and turned it on. Countless messages and WeChat messages greeted her, and all of them were from Xuxu. She read Xuxu¡¯s message¡ªit said that she should not go to Bai Jing¡¯s house. All her messages forbade her from going. It confused Su Yue because she didn¡¯t know why. Hence, she called Xuxu. ¡°Hello, Third sister-in-law.¡± When Xuxu heard Su Yue¡¯s voice, she worriedly chided, ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to reach you the entire morning. Why did you turn your phone off?¡± This was the first time she raised her voice at Su Yue. Su Yue froze for a moment before explaining. ¡°I went for lessons in the morning. My phone was flat.¡± Her third sister-in-law must have been worried sick because she could not contact her. ¡°I¡¯m already outside your school. Do you have lessons in the afternoon?¡± Xuxu asked, her tone milder than before. ¡°Today¡¯s the first day of lessons, so I have none in the afternoon,¡± Su Yue replied. Then it finally registered in her brain and she asked in shock, ¡°Did you say that you¡¯re outside our school right now?¡± Xuxu answered, ¡°I couldn¡¯t reach you and I was worried sick. Come over quickly. I¡¯m in the school¡¯s parking lot.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Su Yue answered before ending the call. She looked at Bai Jing and said, ¡°My third sister-in-law is here at the carpark. She asked me to go over.¡± Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue nodded. She turned around and retrieved her bag from the bed. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said to Bai Jing. Xuxu saw Su Yue and Bai Jing walking over in the distance. She hurriedly walked over. ¡°Yueyue.¡± She then looked at Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law,¡± Bai Jing greeted, nodding slightly. Xuxu observed her face and smiled with concern. ¡°The past few days of military training must¡¯ve been tough on you.¡± Chapter 1065. Will Never Allow Anyone to Take Advantage Of Her (part Four) Bai Jing managed a brief smile. ¡°Quite alright.¡± Xuxu glanced at Su Yue as she said, ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m here to fetch you home. Your brother is coming back today.¡± ¡°My brother is back?¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes were sparkling with excitement. Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue suddenly frowned. ¡°But I¡¯m going to Bai Jing¡¯s place to attend her sister¡¯s birthday celebration.¡± She had agreed to go. If she broke her promise, it would disappoint Bai Jing. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let Bai Jing bring the present back to her sister?¡± Xuxu turned to Bai Jing with an apologetic expression. ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m so sorry. Yueyue¡¯s brother is back and he has been abroad for a long time. But he will fly off again in two days¡¯ time.¡± A streak of disappointment flashed across Bai Jing¡¯s eyes. Nevertheless, she still nodded lightly. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s alright.¡± Xuxu observed her expression and it further ascertained Yan Rusheng and her conjecture. It was the Lei family who had instructed Bai Jing to bring Su Yue to their place. The only reason they would want to get close to Su Yue was to establish connections with Flourish & Prosper. She knew that Bai Jing had no say over that matter. Xuxu empathized with Bai Jing, and so she warmly smiled at her. ¡°Bai Jing, come over with Yueyue to our place on a weekend.¡± Bai Jing nodded and agreed. Seeing how quiet she was, Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to see her in such a state. She repeated once more. ¡°Bai Jing, if you have any difficulties, you must let us know. Don¡¯t suffer in silence. If there is anything we can help you, we will definitely do so.¡± ¡°Thank you, Third sister-in-law.¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips, but there weren¡¯t any emotions in her tone. Her phone rang inside her bag at that moment. Her expression changed subtly as she rummaged for her phone. After glancing at the screen, she didn¡¯t pick up the call right away. Instead, she bade goodbye to Xuxu first. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu nodded. After she left, Xuxu turned away from Bai Jing and sighed. Su Yue noticed that Xuxu seemed troubled. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu shook her head and smiled. ¡°Nothing much. Let¡¯s go.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and walked to the car. Su Yue entered the car first, followed by Xuxu. The chauffeur had sent her today. Su Yue had her head bowed throughout the journey, and Xuxu knew that she must have felt upset that she had broken her promise to Bai Jing. But how could Xuxu tell her the exact reason? Su Yue had treated Bai Jing as her true friend, and she really liked her. And she believed that Bai Jing had treated Su Yue as her friend, too. ¡®Sigh .¡¯ Unfortunately, that poor lass was caught in such a situation. Xuxu began to regret that she didn¡¯t stop Bai Jing from leaving with her mother. If she had used Bai Jing¡¯s father last words to stop her mother, it was likely that Bai Jing wouldn¡¯t have agreed to leave with her mother. At that point in time, she felt that Bai Jing¡¯s mother had truly wanted Bai Jing to leave with her so that she could make amends. She assumed that Bai Jing¡¯s mother would treat her well. ¡®Perhaps¡­ She really wanted to make amends, but her situation¡­¡¯ Forget it. It was too late for regrets. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu wanted to observe for a while more, and if Bai Jing was really having a hard time, they would step in to intervene. It was a good thing that she was staying in the school dormitory now. It was afternoon and it was still early. Hence, Xuxu brought Su Yue to Flourish & Prosper. The security guards rushed to welcome her. ¡°Lady boss.¡± Chapter 1066. Will Never Allow Anyone to Take Advantage Of Her (part Five) ¡°There isn¡¯t a need for you to be so formal with me.¡± Xuxu smiled. She stroked her belly and held Su Yue¡¯s hand with the other hand. She led the little lass towards the elevator. Everyone politely greeted Xuxu and addressed her as ¡®lady boss¡¯. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I bought this for you in Europe. Look! It¡¯s all handmade and designed by a famous designer.¡± Xin Yanting had just stepped into Yan Rusheng¡¯s office when she saw Xin Yanting flaunting a shirt right in Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. He was stony-faced. There was annoyance and contempt in his eyes, and he couldn¡¯t conceal it anymore. Xin Yanting looked as though she didn¡¯t notice him and rattled on endlessly about the fine quality of the shirt. Xuxu covered her mouth to conceal her grin as she stopped outside the door. Yan Rusheng caught a glimpse of her and his handsome face softened right away. A gentle smile played at the corners of his mouth. Xin Yanting halted when she noticed the change in his expression. She turned towards the door, looking suspicious. Hostility blazed in her eyes the second she saw Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re here.¡± She spoke as she walked towards her. Xuxu entered and addressed her. ¡°Miss Xin.¡± Xin Yanting puffed up her chest and haughtily proclaimed, ¡°I¡¯m the General Manager of Flourish & Prosper. Address me as General Manager Xin.¡± Xuxu smirked and corrected herself. ¡°General Manager Xin.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Xin Yanting snorted coldly as though she was barely satisfied. Her eyes darted to Xuxu¡¯s belly and she looked visibly shocked. ¡°Your belly is so huge. Are you giving birth soon?¡± Showing off to Xuxu was what occupied her mind earlier on, she didn¡¯t notice her belly. It really startled her to see how big her belly had gotten. Xuxu nodded in response. ¡°Yeah, in less than a month.¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± Xin Yanting rolled her eyes and drawled lazily. There wasn¡¯t a hint of sincerity at all. Xuxu certainly wouldn¡¯t mind her lack of sincerity and she merely thanked her. She walked to Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk. ¡°Are you busy today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not busy.¡± Yan Rusheng stood up and pulled his swivel chair for Xuxu. The swivel chair was comfortable and huge and it was perfect for Xuxu. ¡°Water?¡± Yan Rusheng asked as he grabbed his cup. ¡°I¡¯ll get some water for you.¡± He turned around towards the water dispenser. Xin Yanting glared at him angrily and whined. ¡°Yan Rusheng! I went on such a long work trip. And I came to look for you the minute I came back. Why didn¡¯t you offer me water?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t feel jealous at all; if anything, it amused her. This lady was such a fascinating and unbelievable creature. She had blatantly flirted with someone else¡¯s husband in front of the wife. To top it off, she complained that she didn¡¯t receive the same treatment as the wife. Other than Miss Xin, Xuxu reckoned that no one else could act in such a way. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t even bother to look at Xin Yanting, and he strode over to the water dispenser. After pouring the water, he passed the cup to Xuxu. ¡°Third Brother, I want water too. Pour for me.¡± Su Yue suddenly spoke for the first time after she entered the room. The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched. How dare this little lass order him around? Xuxu saw that Yan Rusheng seemed motionless and she urged him. ¡°Go.¡± Yan Rusheng responded with a vague ¡®oh¡¯ and turned around once more. ¡°Hmph!¡± Su Yue sneered at Xin Yanting in triumph. Chapter 1067. Will Never Allow Anyone to Take Advantage Of Her (part Six) Yan Rusheng had poured water for both Wen Xuxu and Su Yue, while Xin Yanting was the only one who didn¡¯t receive a glass. Miss Xin felt that they had humiliated her, and so she stomped her heels in anger. She turned around and stormed off. Her heels were at least 10 cm high. It had produced loud thudding sounds. Su Yue turned to Xuxu and covered her mouth in glee. Xuxu pointed at her and softly chided, ¡°So mischievous!¡± She knew that Su Yue had angered Xin Yanting on purpose. ¡°Hurry and drink.¡± Yan Rusheng placed the cup of water for Su Yue on the desk. ¡°Your brother is back. He¡¯s in the office next door.¡± Yan Rusheng had barely finished his sentence when someone knocked on his door. The next second, the door flew open. Su Yue cast a glance at the door and beamed. ¡°Brother!¡± Su Yan wore a white short-sleeved shirt and a pair of well-fitted pants. His gorgeous face broke into a warm and affectionate smile at the sight of Su Yue. Su Yue flew towards Su Yan and tightly clung to his arm. ¡°Brother, Third sister-in-law said that you¡¯re flying off in two days?¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°Yeah, most likely.¡± Xuxu smiled tenderly at the sight of their intimate interactions. She raised her head and peered at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yueyue has improved so much, and she acts like a normal person now,¡± whispered Xuxu. Although sometimes, she still went overboard with the way she acted. All things aside, she was improving slowly, day by day. In the past, she wouldn¡¯t even speak to Su Yan. Not to mention, cozying up to him. Her changes had overwhelmed Xuxu with contentment and joy. Su Yue and Su Yan walked towards them, and Yan Rusheng stared intently at Su Yan. ¡°What is Paramount up to over there?¡± asked Yan Rusheng in a solemn voice. Xuxu tugged at Su Yue since she knew that they were discussing work matters. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯ll take you on a tour around the company.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand. Su Yan glanced as Xuxu and Su Yue, and waited for them to leave the office. ¡°They are trying to send more people to Flourish & Prosper to wrestle for more power,¡± replied Su Yan. Yan Rusheng had expected this, and it hardly surprised him. They had spent almost 70% of their assets just to gain 30% of Flourish & Prosper shares. Only a fool would believe that they weren¡¯t intending to take over Flourish & Prosper. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyebrows knitted closely and he fell silent. ¡°Why did you bring Xin Yanting along with you? What do you have in mind?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. Su Yan didn¡¯t answer him and changed the topic. ¡°Paramount is having cash flow problems as they pumped all their funds into purchasing Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares.¡± Yan Rusheng eyed Su Yan suspiciously. ¡°How did you know all these?¡± Cash flow problems were a company¡¯s top secret. At the very least, it wouldn¡¯t leak out so soon. How did Su Yan know? ¡°When is Chengnan¡¯s project ending?¡± Su Yan asked instead. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Early next year.¡± Su Yan pondered briefly before nodding. ¡°Should be around the same time.¡± As he studied Su Yan¡¯s face, it enlightened Yan Rusheng all of a sudden. ¡°The old madam wouldn¡¯t approve of your methods,¡± replied Yan Rusheng, sounding serious. Su Yan knew who Yan Rusheng was referring to, and he clammed up, looking unusually solemn. ¡­ Colorful balloons and streamers had adorned a luxurious mansion. The little princess of the Lei family was celebrating her tenth birthday today and many guests turned up. The atmosphere in the living room was bustling and lively. On the contrary, the study on the second floor was hushed and solemn. Chapter 1068. Yueyue Goes Missing (part One) A slim girl stood in the middle of the study with her head bent. A pair of eyes were glaring at her intently, and she had clenched her fists tightly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were best friends with her? You couldn¡¯t even persuade her to attend your sister¡¯s birthday celebration?¡± The whole Lei Family, especially Lei Yong, was furious with Bai Jing who had failed to bring Su Yue along with her. His icy breath drew dangerously close to Bai Jing. Bai Jing retreated in fear and her body was trembling. She spoke, sounding quivering. ¡°Something cropped up at home. Her brother came back.¡± Lei Yong inched and pointed threateningly at Bai Jing. He clenched his teeth and said, ¡°Bai Jing, remember what I said before? This business deal means a lot to Grand Prosperity Molds, right?¡± Bai Jing mustered her courage and questioned Lei Yong instead. ¡°Are you sure that fawning on Su Yue will make the deal go through?¡± Why must she pander to Su Yue? Su Yue had already seemed far more superior in everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so close to her. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re unaware of her status in the Yan family?!¡± yelled Lei Yong. ¡°Do you know how much Yan Rusheng and his wife dote on her?!¡± Bai Jing jumped when he raised his voice and her eyes glimmered with tears. Zhang Lihong, who couldn¡¯t bear to sit any longer, stood up. She walked to Bai Jing and clenched her arms. ¡°Lei Yong, that¡¯s enough. Xiaojing can try her best to help, but if she can¡¯t, you can¡¯t force her to.¡± ¡°Mother, are you defending her?¡± Lei Yong turned and glared at Zhang Lihong. ¡°Since she entered the Lei family, she is part of us. Shouldn¡¯t she do something to contribute?¡± Zhang Lihong sounded anxious as she spoke again. ¡°Xiaojing can try her best to help. But she is still a child. How can you blame her if the business deal didn¡¯t go through? Will Grand Prosperity Molds not be able to operate with Xiaojing?¡± ¡°She is the child you bore with someone else. We are not related at all. We are kind enough¡ª¡± ¡®Slap!¡¯ Zhang Lihong forcefully slapped Lei Yong before he could even finish his sentence. She pointed at Lei Yong as she heaved a heavy breath. ¡°Lei Yong, I¡¯m warning you. Xiaojing is my daughter and she has nothing to do with the Lei family. But I do. Without me, Grand Prosperity Molds would never expand so quickly throughout these years.¡± ¡°Zhang Lihong, how dare you hit me.¡± Lei Yong touched his cheek and his eyes were red with rage. The next second, he raised his hand and returned Zhang Lihong¡¯s slap. Zhang Lihong was incensed. She gripped Lei Yong¡¯s clothes and began to hit him. ¡°Lei Yong, you hit me!¡± But how would she be able to win him in strength? Lei Yong shoved her aside and Zhang Lihong collapsed to the floor. Zhang Lihong began to scream. ¡°Lei Minghe! Your son hit me! Aren¡¯t you doing anything?¡± She glanced at the old man sitting on the chair as she yelled. ¡°That¡¯s enough! We have so many guests here with us today. Is your behavior appropriate?¡± The head of the Lei family, Lei Minghe finally broke his silence. He glared at Zhang Lihong and hatred flickered in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s Tiantian¡¯s birthday today. Stop your nonsense.¡± He rose, grabbed his walking stick and walked towards the door. He wasn¡¯t that old but one of his legs wasn¡¯t well, and so he had to use a walking stick as support. Lei Minghe swept past Bai Jing. She barked an instruction, ¡°Get changed and wash your face before coming down.¡± He didn¡¯t stop and strode out of the room. Bai Jing bowed her head. Zhang Lihong stood up and held Bai Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°Xiaojing, don¡¯t be afraid. I will not let anyone bully you.¡± After Lei Minghe and Lei Yong went out, Bai Jing finally raised her head. Tears had glazed her face as she stared at Zhang Lihong with hatred. There was a mixture of emotions on her face. Lei Yong had used all his strength to slap Zhang Lihong and her face was swollen as a result. Bai Jing bit her lip and remained mum. She hastily turned around and ran out of the room. ¡­ Su Yue opened the dormitory door softly and entered the room. A weak light shone from Bai Jing¡¯s bed¡ªshe was using her phone. ¡°Bai Jing, you¡¯re back.¡± Su Yue shut the door and walked to Bai Jing¡¯s bed. ¡°Yeah,¡± Bai Jing muttered softly. ¡°Did you meet your brother?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Su Yue smiled as she raised a bag. ¡°I brought delicious snacks for you. My brother got it overseas.¡± Even the darkness could not conceal how happy and cheerful Su Yue was. Bai Jing quietly glanced at Su Yue and she seemed entranced. ¡°Thank you Su Yue,¡± she softly said. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Su Yue placed the bag on the table before walking to the wardrobe. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a shower,¡± said Su Yue. Su Yue entered the bathroom and shut the door. Sounds of running water was soon heard. Bai Jing glanced at the bag on the table. ¡®My third sister-in-law bought me a load of clothes again¡­¡¯ ¡®I brought delicious snacks for you. My brother got it overseas.¡¯ ¡®Do you know how much Yan Rusheng and his wife dote on her?¡¯ The expression in Bai Jing¡¯s eyes hardened before gleaming quietly. When Su Yue came out of the bathroom, Bai Jing had already closed her eyes. She assumed that she was asleep, so she trod softly across the room. She quietly climbed into her bed. She took a nap in Yan Rusheng¡¯s office during the afternoon, and so she wasn¡¯t sleepy at all. She grabbed her phone and began to browse through WeChat¡¯s updates. Zhou Shuang was the only person who posted frequently. Su Yue suddenly felt a strange feeling of emptiness. She couldn¡¯t put it in words as she didn¡¯t know what she wanted. She tugged at her collar and used the light from her phone to shine on the tattoo on her chest. The tattoo was a lazy-looking cat who was sleeping. Suddenly, her mind wandered to Ming Ansheng¡¯s tattoo of a blackthorn apple flower. Her heart began to pound involuntarily, and it was beyond her control. She released her grip on her collar and shook her head, trying to get rid of her thoughts. What should she do? Suddenly, she missed Uncle Ming so badly. Su Yue clicked on WeChat once again and clicked on Ming Ansheng¡¯s messages from weeks ago. After he sent her home that night, he had sent her a text. ¡®Little lass, I¡¯m home. Good night.¡¯ Su Yue read the message repeatedly. ¡®Little lass¡­ good night.¡¯ Her heart seemed to jump out of her chest. ¡®You¡¯ll miss him if you don¡¯t see him. And if you see him, you won¡¯t dare to look at him. Your heartbeat changes¡­¡¯ Bai Jing¡¯s words echoed once more. Chapter 1069. Yueyue Goes Missing (part Two) Su Yue flung her phone away and was trying to deny the revelation. ¡®No, no, no! It couldn¡¯t be!¡¯ Uncle Ming was so old and he already had a fianc¨¦e. There was no way she had fallen in love with him. Furthermore, Bai Jing had said that she wouldn¡¯t dare to look at the person if she liked him. But she wasn¡¯t like that when she was with Uncle Ming. So it was impossible. Su Yue pulled the blanket over her head and repeatedly denied. And that was how she fell asleep. The next morning, Su Yue and Bai Jing went to the canteen for breakfast before going for class. After they came out of the canteen, a group of boys was headed in their direction, seemingly specifically towards them. Su Yue appeared nonchalant as usual. As expected, the boys stopped before Su Yue. The leader who led the group was a very good-looking boy, and he was at least 1.8 meters tall. He was wearing a basketball jersey, and he radiated under the sunlight. ¡°Look! The school beau just met the school belle!¡± Excited voices were heard. ¡°Su Yue.¡± That tall boy briefly eyed Su Yue before speaking. After he called her name, he raised his eyebrows, looking even more charming. Su Yue¡¯s eyes darted everywhere, avoiding him. The good-looking boy appeared unconcerned by her lack of attention. He formally introduced himself. ¡°My name is Liang Zihua.¡± Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows tightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± She responded coldly before sweeping past him. Liang Zihua swiftly blocked her path. ¡°We can get to know each other. I¡¯m from the Computer Science course, year two, class four.¡± ¡°Excuse me.¡± Su Yue continued to frown, and she sounded impatient. She had been handling such situations almost every single day. ¡°Be my girlfriend,¡± Liang Zihua loudly said. His friends whistled to cheer him on. ¡°School beau and school belle!¡± Someone shouted and the rest followed suit. ¡°School beau and school belle!¡± More voices sounded. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Su Yue impatiently shoved Liang Zihua away. Su Yue had mustered all her strength and Liang Zihua backtracked a few steps as a result. Su Yue seized the chance to flee the scene, but Liang Zihua quickly gripped her arm. He glanced at her and lightly responded, ¡°The whole school thinks we should be together.¡± His smile made all the girls swooned. But Su Yue looked as though she had just tasted something disgusting. She lifted an eyebrow as she questioned Liang Zihua. ¡°Are you a clown?¡± All of them were speechless. How dare she call the school beau a clown? How could she! All the girls might just beat her to death. All the girls watching them were blazing with anger, but Liang Zihua merely smiled and it softened the girls¡¯ hearts once more. He glanced at Su Yue and gently spoke. ¡°You¡¯re very beautiful and you¡¯ve got a character. I really like you.¡± What a straightforward and gentle confession! All the girls were green with envy. How they wished they could tear Su Yue apart! ¡°Let go, you ridiculous clown!¡± Su Yue was enraged. She flung his hand away. She marched away in a huff. Everyone watched quietly as Su Yue vanished out of sight. They jeered at her. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing ran after Su Yue and consoled her. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry anymore.¡± ¡°I am not.¡± Su Yue glanced at Bai Jing with a smile. ¡°I just find him irritating.¡± Bai Jing replied, ¡°Just ignore him.¡± Chapter 1070. Yueyue Goes Missing (part Three) She stared at Su Yue, her eyes swirling with mixed emotions. Su Yue nodded in agreement and gave Bai Jing a smile. After one lesson, it was lunchtime. Bai Jing and Su Yue walked along the path that led to the dormitory. Students came and went in a continuous stream. Su Yue realized that they were all giving her weird looks. Although everyone had been giving her extra looks after they had termed her the school belle, the looks they gave her that day made her uneasy. Those looks were not unfamiliar to her, however. Those were the same looks her classmates, friends, and teachers from the orphanage and at school back in Country Y gave her. Su Yue¡¯s expression turned cold. She hung her head and hugged her textbooks to her chest, quickening her pace. ¡°Su Yue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Bai Jing asked, concerned. She had also hastened her pace to catch up with Su Yue. Su Yue didn¡¯t answer her. She continued walking, her head still hung low. Everyone that she met on her way looked at her in mockery. Su Yue ran all the way back to the dormitory block. She took out her card and prepared to swipe it. But a poster posted on the glass door diverted her attention. ¡°Su Yue, you¡¯re an illegitimate daughter that nobody wants. Your mother is a mistress.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened. She opened her mouth in shock as she read the words on the poster. ¡®You¡¯re an illegitimate daughter that nobody wants. Your mother is a mistress; You b*stard child.¡¯ ¡®Your mother was shameless. She seduced someone else¡¯s husband. You¡¯re an illegitimate child with no father.¡¯ ¡®You illegitimate daughter¡­ You illegitimate daughter¡­¡¯ All of a sudden, memories of her being scolded and mocked by others flooded her mind. Su Yue shook her head. ¡®Slam!¡¯ The books she was hugging fell to the floor. She retreated backward. ¡°Who pasted these?¡± Bai Jing hurriedly tore the posters off the door. ¡°Who is so immoral and heartless?¡± she angrily scolded. ¡°I¡¯m an illegitimate daughter.¡± Suddenly, Su Yue turned around. ¡°I¡¯m an illegitimate daughter. I¡¯m an illegitimate daughter¡­¡± she repeated to herself as she ran towards the East gate. Indeed, Su Yue was an illegitimate daughter. Her mommy didn¡¯t want her, and her daddy didn¡¯t either. She didn¡¯t stop sprinting and similar posters were pasted all around. The words ¡®illegitimate daughter¡¯ was like a curse that tormented her in her mind. ¡°Su Yue, stop running,¡± Bai Jing shouted as she ran after her. But she couldn¡¯t catch up with her. Memory fragments of all the times she was humiliated, bullied, and looked down upon back in Country Y kept running through her mind. ¡®Chicken wings, I want chicken wings.¡¯ ¡®Continue shouting and I¡¯ll throw you out to feed the wolves. You can only watch others eat.¡¯ She exited the East gate and crossed the road, running into the open park opposite. Bai Jing chased her all the way to the East Gate. When she saw her enter the park, she stopped in her tracks and took out her phone to call Yan Rusheng. But nobody answered. She hesitated before dialing Xuxu¡¯s number. When Xuxu heard the phone ring and realized that it was Bai Jing on the other end, she answered hurriedly. ¡°Hello, Bai Jing.¡± It was the first time Bai Jing was phoning her. Perhaps she was having some difficulty and needed help. When Bai Jing anxiously explained the situation to her, Xuxu¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What?!¡± Without waiting for Bai Jing to continue, she turned around and bolted out the door. Chapter 1071. Yueyue Goes Missing (part Four) She opened the door and bolted through, running to the stairs and stomping down. She hadn¡¯t ended the call, so she talked to Bai Jing as she ran. ¡°Bai Jing, look for her in the park first. I¡¯m on my way now.¡± ¡°Xuxu! Be careful, there¡¯s water.¡± Mu Li heard Xuxu talking on the phone frantically, and so she came out of the dining room in a hurry to warn her. But she was too late. Xuxu stepped onto the puddle of water. She was still wearing slippers and was running frantically; as a result, she slipped. ¡°Ahhhh¡­¡± She shrieked, trying to grab onto the staircase railings behind her, but her arms were too short. ¡°Xuxu!¡± Mu Li¡¯s eyes widened to their maximum as she rushed towards her. She tried to grab onto her, but her hand only grazed Xuxu¡¯s clothes. Xuxu slipped and fell and the floor. ¡®Dong!¡¯ She knocked her head on the last step. ¡°Mother¡­ My children¡­¡± Xuxu fainted because of the knock on her head and her over-anxiety. In her last moment of consciousness, all she could think of was her children. ¡­ ¡°What?!¡± Yan Rusheng was in a meeting with a few high-ranking executives. He ignored a few consecutive calls and only answered when he saw a call from Xuxu¡¯s number. He answered and heard Mu Li crying as she told him about Xuxu¡¯s fall. The phone slipped out of his hand. It fell onto the table and rebounded onto the floor. ¡°President Yan!¡± He faltered for a second before coming to his senses. He stood up vigorously and rushed out of the meeting room. At the hospital¡­ ¡°Xuxu!¡± Yan Rusheng shouted. He had arrived at the hospital. Yan Weihong was sitting on the chair outside the operating room. He had raised his head, and he looked very anxious. The entire ordeal had him obviously traumatized. He heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice and looked over. ¡°Third Yan!¡± Yan Weihong stood up agitatedly, holding onto the chair for support. ¡°Father,¡± Yan Rusheng greeted. Without stopping, he rushed towards the operating theater, holding Yan Weihong up for a moment when he walked past him. He pounded on the door of the operating room. ¡°Ahhh.¡± Xuxu¡¯s agonizing cries of pain sounded from within the operating room. Yan Rusheng was anxious. It felt like his heart stopped beating. He clenched his fists and pounded on the door heavily. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu.¡± On the way here, although the car was air-conditioned, sweat drenched his whole face. Standing outside the operating theater and hearing Xuxu¡¯s gut-wrenching cries of pain but being unable to get through the doors, he felt terrified and helpless. Finally, the doors to the operating theater opened. A nurse drenched in sweat removed her face mask and glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°What are you knocking for?¡± The nurse had barely opened her mouth when the tall man ran past her in a flash. He had barged into the operating room. Xuxu was lying on the operating table, her black hair drenched in sweat and strands of hair sticking to her face. Her face was pale and her lips, frighteningly so. She grabbed onto Mu Li¡¯s arm with one hand and was clutching the blanket that covered her body with the other. Her heart-wrenching cries rang in his ears and reverberated throughout his internal organs. ¡°Xuxu.¡± He dashed forward and grabbed onto the hand that was clutching the blanket. He wrapped both his hands around hers, bringing it towards her face. Perspiration dripped from his sideburns endlessly like rainwater. They dripped onto Xuxu¡¯s arm and her face. His eyes were red and his dark pupils seemed shrouded with fog. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes brightened when she saw Yan Rusheng. It felt like she was worn out from wandering around in pitch-black darkness and had finally found the exit¡ªa pillar of support. Chapter 1072. Birth of the Twins (part One) She gripped his hands tightly, digging her nails into his flesh. Yan Rusheng let her pinch him. How he wished she could pinch him harder¡ªhe deserved it for making her go through so much pain. ¡°Harder.¡± The matron of the City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital personally delivered Xuxu¡¯s babies. In a rhythmic and regular pace, she repeatedly asked Xuxu to push harder. Xuxu gritted her teeth and gave another push with all her might. ¡°Almost there, one of their heads is already out,¡± the matron encouraged. ¡°Just a little harder.¡± She was drenched in perspiration as well. A nurse stood beside her, wiping her sweat for her. The matron¡¯s encouragement worked wonders. When Xuxu heard that one of her children¡¯s head was out, her eyes gleamed for a moment and it rejuvenated her whole body. She clenched her teeth and complied to the matron¡¯s instructions. ¡°He¡¯s out. He¡¯s out.¡± As a matron, she had delivered countless babies before. But at that moment, as she carried a small life in her arms, fresh from the womb and covered in blood, she was beyond exhilarated. ¡°It¡¯s the brother. The older brother is out.¡± The matron determined the baby¡¯s gender and excitedly told Mu Li. She then passed the baby to the nurse beside her, and she continued helping Xuxu deliver the other baby. One of them was out, so the second one was much easier for her. The baby came out quickly, followed by a series of wails. Mu Li had subconsciously let go of Xuxu¡¯s hand. She walked over to the matron. Seeing the babies in the nurse¡¯s arms, she wept tears of happiness. Yet, Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze never left Xuxu¡¯s face for a mere second. ¡°Wen Xuxu, it¡¯s been tough on you.¡± He wiped her sweat, his eyes full of heartache. He called her by her full name, not ¡®wife¡¯ or ¡®darling¡¯. It encompassed all the gratitude, love and respect he had for her. Xuxu felt like she had just been brought back from the brink of death. She didn¡¯t get a chance to feel relieved, nor look at her newborn babies. However, she suddenly recalled the call she had with Bai Jing earlier. She grabbed onto Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm tightly. Worried, she said, ¡°Yueyue. Something happened to her in school.¡± She told him, ¡°Quickly! Go and look for her.¡± It startled Yan Rusheng. ¡°What happened to her?¡± Feebly, Xuxu told informed him of whatever Bai Jing had told her earlier. Coldness flashed through his eyes. ¡°I¡­¡± He was about to tell her that he would go over immediately, but Mu Li¡ªwho was watching the nurse clean the babies up¡ªsuddenly called out to him. ¡°Third Yan, quickly bring Xuxu for a checkup. Especially for her brain.¡± Yan Rusheng became anxious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°She was unconscious for a while. She only woke when we got to the hospital.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. He bent over, wrapped her up using the towel covering her body, carried her bridal style and walked out. ¡°But Yueyue. Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m fine. You should find Yueyue quickly,¡± Xuxu reminded him anxiously. Giving birth had drained all her energy, so her voice was still weak. Yan Rusheng continued walking and comforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get someone to find her now.¡± But Xuxu couldn¡¯t put her mind at ease if he had sent someone else. ¡°No, you should go. Go.¡± She said as she pushed him. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn. I¡¯ll get Ming Ansheng to find her,¡± Yan Rusheng murmured. Chapter 1073. Birth of the Twins (part Two) When she heard that, it heartened Xuxu. Although she didn¡¯t enjoy hanging out with Ming Ansheng in the past, she couldn¡¯t deny that he was a capable and reliable man. She helplessly hugged Yan Rusheng¡¯s neck and rested her head on his arm. ¡­ When Ming Ansheng got the call, he put everything aside and rushed to A University. Yan Rusheng gave him Bai Jing¡¯s number. On the way there, he had contacted Bai Jing and they agreed to meet at the East Gate. When he got off the car, he saw Bai Jing pacing by the gate. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Bai Jing heard him calling her and she looked over in worry. She ran up to him and said, ¡°I¡¯ve searched everywhere, but I didn¡¯t find her.¡± Her eyes were red. One look and it was apparent that she had been crying. ¡°You saw her run into the park?¡± Ming Ansheng asked. Without waiting for her reply, he was already sprinting towards it. ¡®Uncle Ming¡­¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s voice rang in his head. She was calling out to him, a mixture of emotions. His worry was indescribable. At the park, people occupied all the benches by the pathway. There was a group of girls, some elderly, but most of them were couples. Ming Ansheng ran one round around the entire park. He became excited whenever he saw a girl with the same build as Su Yue. But whenever he got his hopes up, disappointment followed. It was an open park, so many people were entering it. Ming Ansheng went to the main entrance and retrieved the surveillance footage from the security guards. ¡°Here.¡± Su Yue¡¯s figure appeared in the footage. After she had run into the park, she sprinted towards another exit. The security guard paused the footage and told Ming Ansheng, ¡°This leads to the train station for line eight.¡± Ming Ansheng was already on his way there before the security guard could finish his sentence. He was drenched in perspiration. When he reached the road, he watched the endless stream of cars on the road. His mind was filled with images of Su Yue being kidnapped. By the time he had found her, she was shivering and covered in blood. His heart clenched. She hadn¡¯t fully learned and gotten used to interacting with people. She took an extreme approach to things. What if she met some crooks? The more Ming Ansheng thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He was at the train station for line eight. There were entrances on both sides of the road. Ming Ansheng spent some time looking for her by the roadsides, though in vain. Then he ran into the train station. The train station seemed deserted. He looked around and searched every nook and cranny. Bai Jing followed behind him. Keeping up with him had exhausted her. She said, panting, ¡°Young Master Ming, you should check the surveillance cameras.¡± Without hesitation, Ming Ansheng went to the person-in-charge. He watched all the footages but Su Yue was nowhere in sight. That meant she didn¡¯t take the train anywhere. ¡®Little Lass, it¡¯s been four or five hours already. The sun is almost setting. Where did you go?¡¯ The roads were wide in the suburbs and the air was much fresher than in the city. The soles on Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoes were almost worn out. He had watched all the security footages in the area, but there was still no sign of Su Yue. It was like she had vanished into thin air. ¡°Have some water.¡± Bai Jing had been following Ming Ansheng. She was exhausted and couldn¡¯t walk any further. They walked past a roadside shop and bought two bottles of water. She passed him one. The sun was setting and the sky was a vast of red. Ming Ansheng took the bottle of cold water from her, opened it, and took a huge gulp. He then lifted the bottle above his head and emptied it over himself. Chapter 1074. Birth of the Twins (part Three) When she saw this, Bai Jing opened her mouth in shock but she didn¡¯t dare to comment. Ming Ansheng was already drenched in sweat so the pouring of water didn¡¯t make much of a difference. He only wanted the ice cold water to awaken his senses and calm himself down. He had to be calm. The phone in his pocket rang. He threw away the bottle in his hand and took out his phone. Yan Rusheng was calling. He brought the phone to his ear, walking as he replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡­ Yan Rusheng ended the call with Ming Ansheng. He returned to the room. Mu Li was feeding Xuxu some soup. When Yan Rusheng entered, Xuxu frowned at him. She asked, ¡°Ah Sheng, what did I tell you to do just now?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and walked towards her. ¡°You asked me to call Ming Ansheng.¡± After the checkup, the doctor determined that she had a severe concussion from her fall. For a period, she would show signs of amnesia. She had a high probability of forgetting the words or things she had just said or done. ¡°Exactly.¡± Xuxu remembered and suddenly asked with worry, ¡°Has Ming Ansheng found Yueyue? Where¡¯s Yueyue?¡± Yan Rusheng had already walked over to the bedside and she grabbed his arm. Yan Rusheng sat beside her and comforted gently. ¡°Ming Ansheng is looking for her. Don¡¯t worry. He said he saw where she was headed from the surveillance footages.¡± Then Xuxu recalled and asked, ¡°Has Su Yan gotten off the plane?¡± ¡°He just did,¡± Yan Rusheng replied. He knew what she was worried about and he assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I haven¡¯t told him about Yueyue.¡± She was worried about everything. Since she returned from the CT scan, she had been sounding like a broken record. Xuxu nodded. Then she asked Mu Li, ¡°Mother, have the babies drank their milk?¡± Mu Li was a little speechless. ¡°¡­ they just did.¡± The nurse had just carried them away after they had finished their milk. Her amnesia seemed serious. She put down the bowl of soup and asked Yan Rusheng with a worried tone. ¡°Third Yan, did the doctor mention how long Xuxu would take to recover?¡± ¡°One week to ten days.¡± Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°But the amnesia should be gone after these two days.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Mu Li was relieved. She then recalled something and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your father?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Yan Rusheng looked around the room, but Yan Weihong was nowhere in sight. Mu Li said with disdain, ¡°He must¡¯ve gone to the infant room to see his grandchildren.¡± ¡®He had already spent his entire afternoon there. Preposterous!¡¯ She said, ¡°When you were born, he wasn¡¯t this interested. I don¡¯t know if he even spared you one or two glances the entire day.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ Tsk, wasn¡¯t she talking about him? He hadn¡¯t gone to the infant room once. He stayed by Xuxu¡¯s side the whole time. After chiding Second Master Yan, Mu Li couldn¡¯t help but stand up and tell them, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± Seeing Mu Li leave the room, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng smiled as their gazes met. People were always quick to criticize others. ¡°Ah Sheng, call Ming Ansheng again. Ask if he¡¯s found Yueyue.¡± It had been less than five minutes and Xuxu was already asking Yan Rusheng to give Ming Ansheng another call. As long as Su Yue wasn¡¯t found, she was still on tenterhooks and she couldn¡¯t relax. ¡°Close your eyes and go to sleep.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and added, ¡°The doctor said that you need lots of rest. Don¡¯t worry so much. I guarantee that we¡¯ll find Yueyue.¡± Xuxu nodded and agreed. She closed her eyes obediently. But less than ten seconds later, she opened her eyes again. She looked at him and said, ¡°Ah Sheng, get the school to find out who pasted those posters.¡± Chapter 1075. Birth of the Twins (part Four) Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°Got it.¡± Did she really need to tell him that? Yueyue was hurt through this incident, but Xuxu slipped and had an early delivery because of it. Fortunately, both Xuxu and the twins were fine. But Xuxu suffered a concussion from it. How could he let the person behind all this runaway scot-free? Xuxu closed her eyes. But again, she opened them after a while. ¡°Ah Sheng, I can¡¯t sleep.¡± Her feelings were all over the place and she couldn¡¯t calm herself. She was worried about her twins, and with Su Yue as well. Yan Rusheng pulled back the covers, removed his shoes, and climbed onto the bed. Xuxu frowned and looked at him warily. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She looked like she was protecting herself from a pervert. Young Master Yan was once again speechless at her reaction. ¡°You just gave birth. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m an animal.¡± He lay on his side, facing Xuxu. He propped his head up with one arm and gently patted her chest with the other, as though he were lulling a baby to sleep. ¡°You¡¯ve always been one,¡± Xuxu murmured, pulling the blanket up and closing her eyes. She could feel Yan Rusheng¡¯s breath on her, as well as the body heat he radiated. She felt heartened. Giving birth had drained her of all energy and she had been exhausted since a long time ago, but she was fretting over too many things. She was too anxious, and it made her have a hard time sleeping. But now, under Yan Rusheng¡¯s comforting presence, her tiredness started to kick in. ¡°Ah Sheng, remember to call Ming Ansheng later,¡± Xuxu reminded. She had already yawned countless times and tears had drenched her eyes. Before she fell into a slumber, she didn¡¯t forget to remind him. ¡°Mm,¡± Yan Rusheng answered. She felt at ease. Her breathing became shallow, but from the frown on her face, Yan Rusheng knew that she wasn¡¯t sleeping peacefully. Before she had given birth, he often observed her as she slept. Since a month ago, he noticed that she was showing signs of depression. There were slight, sometimes extreme, changes to her temper and attitude. Yan Rusheng started to worry that Xuxu was suffering from prenatal and postnatal depression. His fingers gently caressed Xuxu¡¯s eyebrows using his pinky. It seemed like Xuxu found it comfortable, for her facial expression relaxed. Yan Rusheng smiled. He lowered his head and kissed her between her eyebrows. Then his gentle gaze returned to her pale face. ¡®Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m fortunate. Fortunate that I didn¡¯t miss out on our entire love story.¡¯ ¡­ Ming Ansheng engaged the help of many people, but they still could not find Su Yue anywhere. The sky darkened by the minute and Ming Ansheng felt like a huge rock had weighed down his heart. He couldn¡¯t find Su Yue. He was going crazy. ¡°Su Yue!¡± Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and yelled at the empty road. He was venting all his emotions. Bai Jing felt like the earth trembled and the mountains swayed. She stared at Ming Ansheng¡¯s handsome face. Sweat had already drained his hair in the entire afternoon. Suspicion flashed across her eyes. Suddenly, Ming Ansheng turned around and looked at Bai Jing. Bai Jing immediately pretended that she wasn¡¯t sizing him up. She asked worriedly, ¡°What should we do? Young Master Ming, think of something quickly. The clothes she wore today didn¡¯t have pockets, so she didn¡¯t have any money when she left.¡± ¡°Go back first,¡± Ming Ansheng replied plainly. He then continued searching around the park. Chapter 1076. Birth of the Twins (part Five) He had a feeling that Su Yue wouldn¡¯t have gone far. She must¡¯ve found a place and hid. That must be it. ¡°I have to find Su Yue,¡± Bai Jing said adamantly, following behind Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Go back.¡± Bai Jing had been following him the entire afternoon. Probably because she was the same age as Su Yue, he couldn¡¯t bear to let her continue. Besides, she couldn¡¯t do much by following him around. This time, his voice sounded commanding. Bai Jing hesitated before stopping in her tracks. Frightened, she replied immediately with an ¡®oh¡¯. Ming Ansheng glanced at her and said no more. Bai Jing turned around and started towards the school. After she crossed the road, she turned back to look at Ming Ansheng. In the dark of night, the tall figure was no longer as calm and composed as before. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes swirled with mixed emotions. She bit her lip. After quite some time, she made up her mind and continued walking forward. Ming Ansheng slowed down and came to a halt. He looked across the road. The park was filled with dense greenery, a blanket of darkness. The clothes she was wearing today had no pockets, so she doesn¡¯t have any money on her¡­ ¡®Little Lass, where on earth did you go?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s so dark and late already. Aren¡¯t you scared?¡¯ He thought of how Su Yue could¡¯ve been crying in a corner, her body trembling. His heart clenched and he felt like he was on the brink of suffocation. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Ming Ansheng froze. His eyes widened, shimmering with excitement. ¡®Is¡­ Is this a hallucination?¡¯ A familiar, sweet voice sounded from behind him. But he didn¡¯t dare to turn around. He was afraid to get disappointed when he couldn¡¯t see her small figure after he did. This was the first time he had personal gains and losses had concerned him, too. ¡°Uncle Ming, I¡¯m starving.¡± A girl¡¯s voice sounded from behind him once again. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart nearby popped out of his chest in excitement. He turned around vigorously. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Her small figure stood one meter away from him. He rushed forward and hugged her in his arms, carrying her. He hugged her soft frame tightly. How he wished that he could bury her inside of him. ¡°Yueyue, Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng lowered his head and kissed her hair. There were no words to describe his feelings. He didn¡¯t stop muttering her name. Su Yue coughed. ¡°You¡¯re going to strangle me to death.¡± Ming Ansheng realized that he had lost his cool. He let go of her quickly, holding her shoulders. He looked her from head to toe, his eyes full of emotions. ¡°Yueyue, are you injured anywhere?¡± he asked, rubbing her elbow. He was afraid that someone injured her, even the slightest. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Her bright eyes shone in the darkness. She then rubbed her tummy and pouted. ¡°I¡¯m just starving.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cook for you at home,¡± Ming Ansheng said, holding her hand and dialing a number on his phone. Not long after, his ride arrived. When she got on, Su Yue leaned her head against the window and stared out lifelessly. Her beautiful face was cold. Ming Ansheng knew that she was insecure about her identity. But this was forced out of her because of the environment she grew up in. Chapter 1077. Staying Overnight at His Place (part One) Ming Ansheng looked at Su Yue¡¯s face. He clenched his fists and opened them repeatedly. After an intense struggle, he finally mustered all his courage. He stretched his hand towards Su Yue and grabbed her hand. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes were huge with determination. He couldn¡¯t suppress the love and longing he had for her any longer. He embraced her and held the other hand tightly. Her hands were as cold as ice. Ming Ansheng¡¯s abrupt embrace had Su Yue in shock. She lifted her face to gaze at him¡ªhis gorgeous face, his lips, his eyebrows. This was the first time she had gazed at him from such an angle. Her heart furiously pounded and it made her flustered. Her face was burning hot. She hastily averted her gaze and pushed against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. She leaned against the car door and propped an arm on the car window. She turned her head and continued to gaze out of the window. Ming Ansheng¡¯s arms and heart were emptied all of a sudden. He spun his head and gazed intently at Su Yue. She seemed so unruffled and aloof. This was the first time he had initiated such intimate actions with her. And to him, it was like an indirect profession of love. But she had rejected him so outwardly. She pushed him away with such force and it made him feel rejected. After staring at her for a while, Ming Ansheng peered away, looking sorrowful and disappointed. ¡°Your body stinks.¡± Su Yue said and suddenly turned around from Ming Ansheng. It dumbfounded Ming Ansheng. So he stared at her with a slightly blank expression. He smiled as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯ve used an entire afternoon trying to look for a runaway damsel.¡± ¡°I¡¯m an illegitimate child,¡± Su Yue said forlornly, and she rested her head against the car window. The expression in her eyes seemed despondent. Ming Ansheng stretched his hand and stroked her hair gently. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with what others say of you. Aren¡¯t you happy now?¡± ¡°You have your third brother, third sister-in-law, your brother and¡­¡± Ming Ansheng paused for a moment before pressing on. ¡°And the rest of us like you. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Su Yue fell silent as she peered at the surroundings. The car window was open and she had placed her arms on the window frame. She pursed her lips as she rested her chin on her arms. Her eyes reflected the bright lights. A pair of sorrowful-looking eyes. Ming Ansheng quietly stared at her back. If only she could hug him¡­ he vowed he would never let her go. Various wonderful scenarios appeared in his mind. At last, he curled his lips in sheer mock, and all those scenarios vanished in an instant. The moment he had fallen for her, he knew that it was a grave mistake. How could he drag her into the depths together? ¡­ Ming Ansheng brought Su Yue to his apartment. He had been staying in the apartment for quite some time. After Ming Ansheng opened the door, he switched on the lights as Su Yue trailed after him. He opened the shoe cabinet and brought out a brand new pair of slippers and placed it at her feet. ¡°Change into them,¡± Ming Ansheng told Su Yue. The slippers were small and the design was feminine with red and white stripes. Su Yue eyed the slippers and a strange sensation coursed through her body. She scrutinized it for some time, but she didn¡¯t remove her shoes. Ming Ansheng noticed her and he frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Does this belong to your bird-brained fianc¨¦e?¡± Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows tightly. She pursed her lips and continued, ¡°I¡¯m not wearing.¡± Chapter 1078. Staying Overnight at His Place (part Two) Su Yue removed her shoes and entered the living room barefooted. She marched stiffly to the couch and collapsed on it. Ming Ansheng shook his head looking half-amused, half-exasperated. ¡®The lass could sure remember grudges well,¡¯ he thought to himself. Just because Tang Feiling had mocked her once and challenged her to a drinking competition, she still kept a grudge. Her pettiness¡­ was quite adorable. Ming Ansheng thought quietly to himself and picked up the bedroom slippers. He strode towards her, and he patiently explained, ¡°I bought this especially for you. Tang Feiling has never stepped into my apartment before.¡± Su Yue blinked her eyes in confusion. ¡°This is your place and she is your fianc¨¦e. Why hasn¡¯t she?¡± She had assumed that Ming Ansheng liked Tang Feiling. She was such a pure and naive girl. If he didn¡¯t like her, why would he get engaged to her? Ming Ansheng was speechless. It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t want to come. He was the one who didn¡¯t allow her to. He had bought this own apartment and only his close friends knew where his place was. Did Su Yue think he would bring anyone over? Furthermore, she was Tang Feiling. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Ming Ansheng ended the topic of Tang Feiling. ¡°You must be hungry. I¡¯ll cook noodles for you. It¡¯ll just take a short while,¡± said Ming Ansheng. Su Yue didn¡¯t object and mumbled incoherently as a response. Seconds later, she added, ¡°I want tomatoes and eggs. Just like what I ate before.¡± Ming Ansheng certainly knew what she was referring to. ¡®I¡¯m hungry. Why didn¡¯t you give me food?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t want rice.¡¯ ¡®I can¡¯t cook, you cook for me¡­¡¯ This overbearing lass! He thought of the first time he brought Su Yue over and how she took up his entire afternoon. She even ordered him to cook noodles for her and had very specific instructions about her noodles. Ming Ansheng fondly reminisced and his heart softened. He smiled affectionately and said, ¡°I know. And I need to fry the egg first.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue curtly nodded. ¡°Wait for me.¡± Ming Ansheng turned around and walked to the kitchen. Su Yue sat on the couch as she watched Ming Ansheng walk away. The smile on her face gradually sank. She stared into space as her mind wandered and her thoughts flew away¡­ So many thoughts had occupied her mind. Ming Ansheng brought the bowl of noodles out and saw Su Yue staring into space. Looking puzzled, he asked, ¡°Are you alright? What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Su Yue snapped to her senses when she heard Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice. ¡°Nothing,¡± she denied. She glanced at the bowl of noodles and beckoned him. ¡°Give it to me. I¡¯m starving.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled tenderly and placed the bowl on the coffee table. ¡°Be careful. It¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue sat down on the floor and started to hungrily devour the noodles. Ming Ansheng frowned when he saw her. ¡°The floor is cold, sit on the couch.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Su Yue raised her head with a mouthful of noodles in her mouth. She dismissed his concern by waving her hand. Ming Ansheng had no idea where she was the entire afternoon. Her face was dirty, but she looked so adorable and hilarious. ¡°You look like a beggar!¡± He pointed at her as he gritted his teeth. He was trying to suppress his burgeoning feelings. He had the urge to hug her. Su Yue ignored him. ¡°I will take a shower,¡± Ming Ansheng informed her and went to his room. Chapter 1079. Staying Overnight at His Place (part Three) Su Yue finished her noodles at the same time Ming Ansheng stepped out of his room. He had changed into comfy loungewear after his shower. A white T-shirt with a pair of gray Bermuda shorts which ended at his knees. He strode to the couch as he wiped his hair. Su Yue pushed the empty bowl aside and pulled tissues to wipe her mouth. She peered upwards to watch Ming Ansheng. He had changed into casual clothes and it made him look younger and less dull. She blinked several times. Ming Ansheng walked to her and peered at her from a lofty position. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°The hairs on your legs are so long!¡± exclaimed Su Yue as her eyes darted to Ming Ansheng¡¯s legs. She even tugged at the hair on his legs. The corners of Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched. Earlier on, she was obviously staring at his face. It had secretly delighted him since he thought she was admiring his looks. Alas! The next moment, her attention had traveled to the hair on his legs. How unpredictable could she be? ¡°Finished?¡± He steered the topic away from his leg and glanced at the bowl on the coffee table. She left not even a drop of soup. How hungry was she? Ming Ansheng shook his head in amusement before settling himself comfortably on the couch. Su Yue jumped to her feet and sat next to Ming Ansheng. But she still had fixed her gaze on Ming Ansheng¡¯s legs. ¡°I feel that it¡¯s unsightly if your leg hairs are long.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned and he too peered at his legs. Don¡¯t all men have long hairs on their legs? Lu Yinan, Third Yan included. ¡®So this lass doesn¡¯t fancy this?¡¯ ¡°Uncle Ming, let me shave them off,¡± Su Yue excitedly suggested, and she tugged at Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. Why was the little lass so interested in his leg hair? Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched silently. ¡°Are you full?¡± he asked after falling silent for some time. Ming Ansheng pressed on quickly. ¡°If you are full, go take a shower and rest early.¡± Su Yue frowned as she asked, ¡°I¡¯m staying here tonight?¡± For no reason, her heart began to palpitate wildly. She hastily withdrew her hands. She then fumbled for the cup on the table and began to take big gulps of water. Ming Ansheng watched her soundlessly¡­ That was his cup and the cup of water had been there since last night. He had wanted to stop Su Yue from drinking, but a thought struck him abruptly just before he was about to tell her. It was a blissful and happy thought. Yueyue drank from his cup and drank his water. Even though she had done it unintentionally, it was still a kind of indirect kiss, right? Su Yue finished the cup of water in no time and placed the cup on the table again. Her heart, which was pounding furiously earlier on, had settled down. She blinked as she peered at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming, Bai Jing will get worried if I¡¯m not back. Can you call her for me?¡± She knew that Bai Jing had searched for her this afternoon, along with Uncle Ming. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°I¡¯ll send you back to school.¡± He was being selfish just now by taking advantage of her innocence and muddleheadedness, to make her stay at his place. But it had slipped his mind momentarily that all men are selfish. He wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with just once. Chapter 1080. Staying Overnight at His Place (part Four) Ming Ansheng and Su Yue weren¡¯t supposed to get together at all. She was Third Yan¡¯s cousin. It was purely his ¡®ulterior motive¡¯. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡± Su Yue¡¯s face fell and she turned away like a child throwing a tantrum. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to school. I¡¯m never going back.¡± She laid on the couch, her body huddled. She buried her head with a cushion. Ming Ansheng inched nearer to her and patted her gently. ¡°You¡¯re only 18 years old. What else can you do besides going to school?¡± He bent and squatted next to Su Yue and continued to advise her. ¡°Those gossips are unimportant since those people are merely strangers. Why do you have to care about their opinions?¡± He continued, ¡°They are jealous of you for being so outstanding and well-liked by everyone. If you drop out of school because of them, then they would have achieved their goal.¡± ¡°Uncle Ming, will you despise me for being an illegitimate child?¡± Su Yue began to sob. Her tears made Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart ached. He wiped away her tears in a haste. ¡°Why did you cry?¡± ¡°Why must my mother be a mistress?¡± Su Yue carelessly wiped her tears as she spoke. She sounded like she was choking. ¡°Without my mother, without me, my third brother and third sister-in-law wouldn¡¯t have so many burdens.¡± She knew that Second Brother had committed a crime and because of it he landed in prison. She was also aware that they sold the company shares to an outsider. It was all because of her and her brother. ¡°Every life is precious and no one is a mistake.¡± Ming Ansheng looked at Su Yue and solemnly said, ¡°We all have our own purpose in life and there will be someone waiting for you.¡± He paused as he surveyed Su Yue¡¯s face. He seemed entranced for a while before he continued. ¡°Waiting for you to light up his life.¡± Yueyue was so wonderful and perfect. Who would be the lucky guy to walk down the aisle with her and to lift her veil? ¡°Really?¡± Su Yue blinked, looking doubtful. ¡°How can I light up his life?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go back to school, I¡¯ll send you home.¡± Ming Ansheng rose and peered at Su Yue. ¡°Your third sister-in-law has given birth.¡± ¡°What?¡± exclaimed Su Yue. ¡°Third sister-in-law has given birth!?¡± Ming Ansheng patted Su Yue¡¯s head gently. ¡°Silly girl.¡± He turned around to get his car keys when Su Yue suddenly stood up. She tugged at Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. ¡°Uncle Ming, why did my third sister-in-law give birth today? Wasn¡¯t her due date weeks later?¡± She stood on the couch and was instantly slightly taller than Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng peered slightly upwards at her. ¡°There was a minor accident and hence she gave birth today. She is at the hospital now.¡± Su Yue was overjoyed and she said, ¡°I want to call my third sister-in-law.¡± Her sorrow and troubles seemed to vanish without a trace instantly. She bent, sat down and grabbed her phone. She dialed Xuxu¡¯s number and Yan Rusheng answered after a few rings. ¡°Yueyue?¡± Yan Rusheng sounded a little excited even though Ming Ansheng had already informed him he had found Su Yue. But she had gone missing for the whole afternoon, and both Xuxu and he were so anxious and worried. He finally heard her voice with his own ears and naturally, he was slightly emotional. Chapter 1081. Staying Overnight At His Place (part Five) Just like what Xuxu had said, Yan Rusheng loved Su Yue and was very concerned about her. He just didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Third Brother, where is Third sister-in-law?¡± asked Su Yue. Yan Rusheng softly answered, ¡°She is asleep.¡± Su Yue responded with an ¡®oh¡¯ and spoke in a whisper. ¡°I shall not disturb her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng sharply instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere else and listen to Ming Ansheng.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue ended the call with Yan Rusheng. She hugged her knees, looking as though she was deep in thought. Ming Ansheng sized her up and curiously asked, ¡°What is on your mind?¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law has given birth. What presents should I get for them?¡± Su Yue asked Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was speechless. How unpredictable could she be? ¡°Hurry, I need to send you back,¡± said Ming Ansheng. Su Yue refused. ¡°I¡¯m not going back tonight. I want to visit the babies and third sister-in-law tomorrow morning.¡± She had decided. She then repeated once more in her mind. She peered at Ming Ansheng with a guilty expression. ¡°I know it has been tiring looking for me this afternoon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not tiring. Just don¡¯t let us worry by running away in the future,¡± Ming Ansheng spoke gently. ¡°No matter what happens, you can always look for me.¡± He was so relieved to have found her. It didn¡¯t matter no matter how tiring it was. ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue promised him and bowed her head. Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go back, then you should take a shower now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue stood up to go to the bathroom. She furrowed her eyebrows after some time. ¡°But I don¡¯t have clothes.¡± That¡­ was a problem indeed. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Wear my clothes. You can wash your clothes tonight, and by tomorrow it¡¯ll be dry.¡± The next second, he began to visualize how Su Yue would look like in his shirt. That scene¡­ Cough, cough . Ming Ansheng, stop it! He should have gotten her pajamas when he bought the bedroom slippers for her. Young Master Ming, how could you think of buying pajamas for her? What are you trying to do? ¡­ Ming Ansheng decided on a t-shirt for her. After some serious contemplation, he chose a black one for Su Yue. Su Yue entered the bathroom and soon, the sound of gushing water could be heard. Ming Ansheng had left the office before the afternoon, and there was a huge pile of work waiting for him. However, he was in no mood to do anything. He sat on the couch and began to switch TV channels absentmindedly. Seconds and minutes went by. ¡°Uncle Ming, where is your hairdryer?¡± Su Yue¡¯s hair was wet, and she was standing outside the bathroom. She had shouted from across the room. Instinctively, Ming Ansheng turned his head. At that moment, he felt that his world was spinning and his body was tightening. Su Yue was wearing his black T-shirt and it ended slightly above her knees. Although her skirts or shorts were shorter, it was still a different feeling. It was very loose on her, but she was so sexy and attractive that he feared he might have a nosebleed. Especially Su Yue¡¯s long and fair legs. She stood there, rubbing her hair with a towel. Her huge eyes were blinking innocently at Ming Ansheng, and she looked so pure. It entranced Ming Ansheng for some time before he snapped to his senses. He averted his eyes hastily and answered, ¡°I¡¯ll go get it.¡± Chapter 1082. Staying Overnight at His Place (part Six) Ming Ansheng stood up and strode across to his room. He walked out of his room with the hairdryer and strode to Su Yue. Ming Ansheng had left the living room furtively after switching off the TV while Su Yue was drying her hair. There was only a dim light left in the living room, and she turned to glance at Ming Ansheng¡¯s room. He had closed his door. Did he fall asleep? Su Yue blinked her eyes, looking puzzled. She strode over and knocked on his door. ¡°Uncle Ming, are you asleep?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ming Ansheng replied softly. ¡°You can sleep in the other room.¡± ¡°Okay, goodnight,¡± replied Su Yue. Without another word, she spun around and went to the room opposite his. There was hardly any furniture in the room. Just a bed and a bedside drawer. The bedsheets were sky blue and it was tucked in neatly. Su Yue surveyed the entire room before walking to the door. She couldn¡¯t help but throw another glance at Ming Ansheng¡¯s room for the last time before shutting the door. She walked to the bed and smelled the blanket before lying down. There was a faint, pleasant scent on the blanket, and Su Yue closed her eyes and breathed in. Unknowingly, a blissful smile appeared on her face. For some strange reason, she was feeling contented and blissful. ¡®Those gossips are unimportant since those people are merely strangers. Why do you have to care about their opinions?¡¯ ¡®Someone is waiting for you to light up his life¡­¡¯ So did his annoying fiance light up his life? Su Yue stared at the ceiling, lost in thoughts. Her mind was racing with everything Ming Ansheng had said to her earlier on. After a while, she became frustrated, and she shook her head violently to stop herself from thinking. ¡®Beauty is in the eye of the beholder¡¯ her third sister-in-law had told her before. Regardless of how annoying and hateful a person might be, he or she would be perfect in the eyes of his or her lover. So, this was most probably true for Uncle Ming. Su Yue sleepily thought to herself. Just when she was about to fall asleep, she heard the door opening. But she was too tired to bother with it. Ming Ansheng had opened his door gently and gazed intently at the door opposite of his. He leaned against the door frame with his hands deep in his pockets. His gaze was intense. ¡°Sigh!¡± After a long while, Ming Ansheng sighed deeply and helplessly. He straightened his back and walked to the bathroom. He switched on the bathroom lights and the first thing that greeted his eyes was Su Yue¡¯s dirty clothes. He couldn¡¯t help but smile affectionately. Ming Ansheng walked across and picked up Su Yue¡¯s clothes. He felt the clothes, and it was like what he had imagined. He bent his head and sniffed it. Suddenly, he realized what he was doing and jerked the clothes away. ¡®Cough¡­ cough.¡¯ He coughed a few times, apparently stunned by his actions. ¡®What an awkward moment,¡¯ he thought to himself as he glanced at the door in guilt. It was such a warm day and she had worn the clothes for the entire day. What other smell could there be besides the stench of perspiration? He had sniffed it. Was he being¡­ perverted? Ming Ansheng violently shook his head to wake himself up. He took Su Yue¡¯s clothes to the basin and turned on the tap. He submerged her white T-shirt in water and poured detergent on it. He then began to wash it. He was scrubbing it, pouring all his concentration on it. He was scrubbing every single part of the T-shirt. Chapter 1083. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part One) Su Yue wore a white T-shirt and a pair of white pants in the afternoon. It seemed to diminish in size while being submerged in water. Ming Ansheng looked at her clothes with an exceedingly gentle expression in his eyes. His gentleness was an instinctive reaction. Ming Ansheng used half an hour just to wash her clothes. He felt happy and blissful doing anything for her since he loved Yueyue. After washing the clothes, he wrung it dry and hung it at his balcony. He placed them with his clothes before resting against the wall with his arms folded. As he admired the clothes, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that it was a perfect and harmonious combination. ¡­ After an exhausting day, Su Yue slept through the night. When she woke up after 8 a.m., she gazed around the room, looking confused. It took her some time before she recalled that she didn¡¯t return to her dormitory and had slept over at Ming Ansheng¡¯s place. She got out of bed and left the room. Evidently, someone was cooking in the kitchen, judging by the frying sounds. She hastened her footsteps. Ming Ansheng had an apron around him and he was frying eggs. He beamed at the sight of Su Yue. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Su Yue smiled and leaned against the door frame. Seeing how skilled and experienced Ming Ansheng looked as he fried the egg, she exclaimed, ¡°Uncle Ming, you look so skilled and awesome when you cook!¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled. ¡°Go and wash up.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Su Yue bounded for the bathroom. Ming Ansheng spun around and caught a glimpse of her before she closed the door. ¡®This would be perfect,¡¯ as he thought to himself. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Su Yue came out of the bathroom as she brushed her teeth. Her mouth was full of toothpaste and foam. ¡°Huh?¡± Ming Ansheng cast a glance at Su Yue and saw her holding a toothbrush. That¡­ that was his toothbrush! This little lass! How could she simply use any toothbrush? Didn¡¯t she have any general knowledge? Su Yue didn¡¯t notice the change in Ming Ansheng¡¯s facial expression. ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve washed it. I¡¯ll get them for you.¡± Ming Ansheng turned off the stove and walked to the balcony. Su Yue received the clothes and seemed surprised. ¡°Uncle Ming, did you wash them for me?¡± She raised her face and peered at Ming Ansheng, looking visibly touched. ¡°I threw them into the washing machine.¡± Ming Ansheng shoved the clothes into Su Yue¡¯s outstretched hands without a second look. He walked back to the kitchen. Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯. She sounded slightly disappointed. But she didn¡¯t realize it, not even Ming Ansheng. After breakfast, Ming Ansheng sent Su Yue to the City Women and Children¡¯s Hospital. ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± The door burst open and Su Yue sprinted towards Xuxu. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Xuxu sat upright, looking excited and overjoyed. Xuxu was stabbed with a sharp twinge of pain and she winced before lying back down. Su Yue reached Xuxu and she held her hands tightly. She sounded excited and emotional as she cried, ¡°Third sister-in-law, where are the babies?!¡± Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°In the newborn nursery room.¡± Xuxu still looked a little pale, and Su Yue¡¯s heart ached at the sight of her. ¡°Was it painful giving birth?¡± Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°Silly girl, of course, it¡¯s painful.¡± This little girl was still quite ignorant about most general worldly stuff. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Then I don¡¯t want to give birth in the future.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. Didn¡¯t she brag that she wasn¡¯t afraid of pain? ¡°Yueyue, I want to tell you to ignore what others say.¡± Xuxu gently patted Su Yue¡¯s hands. Chapter 1084. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Two) Xuxu continued to dish advice and consoled Su Yue. ¡°We can¡¯t control others or their opinions. But we can change our mindset and perspectives. It¡¯s good to keep our emotions in check and sometimes, we need to control our temper.¡± Young Master Yan glanced at Xuxu; his wife was serving ¡®chicken soup for the soul¡¯ once more. But his wife¡¯s advice really helped every time. Especially this little lass. ¡°All right, I got it. I won¡¯t let Third sister-in-law worry in the future.¡± Su Yue nodded and continued, ¡°They are just jealous of me.¡± Xuxu smiled in relief. ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand.¡± When she heard Bai Jing yesterday, she was so afraid that Su Yue might do something drastic, given her extreme mindset and personality. She still needed to spend more time with her to make sure that the word ¡®illegitimate child¡¯ won¡¯t affect her. She wanted to bring Su Yue out of her traumatic childhood back in Country Y. ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± Su Yue suddenly thought of something and she turned to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming, give me my phone.¡± Her clothes didn¡¯t have any pockets, and she had to hold on to her phone for the entire afternoon yesterday. She found it too troublesome, so she put it inside Ming Ansheng¡¯s pocket that morning. Ming Ansheng took out Su Yue¡¯s phone and passed it to her. ¡°I need to call Bai Jing. She will be overjoyed to know that you have given birth.¡± Su Yue received her phone and dialed Bai Jing¡¯s number with a smile. Su Yue saw how happy Su Yue was and her gaze became profound. This pure and innocent girl was too na?ve. If she treated someone as her friend, she would pour her entire heart and trust that person completely. Fortunately, Bai Jing was quite an honest girl, if not¡­ Sigh! Nevertheless, she still felt that being too innocent and na?ve wasn¡¯t such a good thing. ¡°Bai Jing says she will visit you after school.¡± Su Yue informed Xuxu happily after she hung up. Xuxu smiled and asked, ¡°Do you want to go back to school with her later?¡± Su Yue bowed her head and pursed her lips. She hesitated before nodding. ¡°All right then.¡± Xuxu knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to change her mindset at once. ¡°Remember this, they are jealous of you. That¡¯s why they will think of different ways to attack you so you will leave on your own accord.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Su Yue agreed, nodding. They continued chatting and Ming Ansheng casually surveyed the room. Then his eyes landed on Yan Rusheng and he teased him with a grin. ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯re finally a father. When are you planning a get-together?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at him and casually quipped, ¡°Do you feel especially pressured right now?¡± Although his expression was impassive, he sounded exceedingly smug. ¡°Why should I feel pressured?¡± Ming Ansheng shrugged and grinned. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Lu Yinan be the one pressured instead?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Yan Rusheng chuckled. ¡°But once he settles that hooligan, he would be fine. As for you¡­¡± Ming Ansheng appeared unconcerned as he retorted, ¡°I can settle down any time. It¡¯s just a matter of getting married and having a child.¡± Unconsciously, he fleetingly glanced at Su Yue. It was too swift for anyone to notice. Yan Rusheng grinned without denying his comment. That was indeed true for Ming Ansheng. It was just a matter of marriage and having kids. ¡°I¡¯m going to visit the two little ones,¡± said Ming Ansheng. Su Yue jumped to her feet and excitedly said, ¡°Me too! Me too!¡± She really wanted to visit the babies. Ming Ansheng smiled and turned around and Yan Rusheng led the way. Chapter 1085. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Three) Xuxu¡¯s children were the only two babies in the nursery room, and they were both fast asleep. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng gazed at them through a glass window. ¡°They¡¯re so tiny.¡± Su Yue pressed her face against the window as she watched them with a huge smile. Immense adoration for them was etched on her face. ¡°All newborn babies are tiny.¡± Ming Ansheng cast her a glance and pressed on. ¡°Besides that, they are twins, so they tend to be smaller.¡± Su Yue raised her head and eyed Ming Ansheng doubtfully. ¡°Why do you know so much?¡± Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°This is just general knowledge.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded and mumbled under her breath. ¡°Why do men have to know about this kind of general knowledge?¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. He really wanted to say that any man who married this dumb fool would need to be brilliant and capable. She knew nothing. Ming Ansheng left after a short while as there were urgent company matters he had to settle. Su Yue stayed to accompany Xuxu. Mu Li and Yan Weihong arrived shortly and they brought tonic soup for Xuxu. It was supposedly good for stimulating lactation. Mu Li poured the soup for Xuxu while Yan Rusheng fed her. Xuxu can feed herself, but Yan Rusheng insisted on feeding her. ¡°Xuxu. I have decided on their names.¡± Yan Weihong spoke as Xuxu was drinking the soup. Everyone¡¯s attention turned towards him. Yan Weihong smiled and said, ¡°The girl will be called Yan Wenxin and the boy Yan Nuoxing. What do you think?¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes sparkled happily when she heard the names. ¡°Great!¡± She instantly liked the names. ¡°Yan Wenxin, soft and gentle.¡± She elaborated on the meaning behind the names that Yan Weihong had chosen. ¡°Yan Nuoxing. To do what one has promised.¡± Their names were simple and meaningful, and easy to interpret and read. She loved these two names. Yan Weihong smiled and nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Xuxu glanced at Yan Weihong with a look of adoration. ¡°Father, the names are brilliant.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Yan Weihong chortled loudly and turned slightly red. Mu Li sounded jealous as she cast him a contemptuous look. ¡°He has been flipping the dictionary for half a year. If he doesn¡¯t come up with a good name, shouldn¡¯t he be sacked as a grandfather?¡± Sacked as a grandfather? The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily and she was dumbfounded. Yan Rusheng chuckled, looking amused. ¡°You want to change the children¡¯s grandfather?¡± Mu Li¡¯s words had hardened Yan Weihong¡¯s expression. At Yan Rusheng¡¯s words, he was practically fuming. Mu Li stretched her hands and slapped Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Wretched son!¡± She turned to glance at Yan Weihong. ¡°How about their nicknames?¡± Yan Weihong frowned, looking annoyed. ¡°You can decide if you want to. Stop beating around the bush.¡± ¡°As their grandfather, you¡¯ve already decided on their names. As their grandmother, do I need an excuse to decide on their nicknames?!¡± Mu Li taunted him and looked at Xuxu. ¡°The girl can be called ¡®Meowmeow¡¯ and the boy will be ¡®Woofwoof¡¯. What do you think?¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were speechless. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Professor Mu began to explain. ¡°In the olden days, they like to give nicknames such as cat and dog for their children. They sound foolish so that it would be easier to bring up the child.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. F*ck. Those are the nicknames for ordinary children. He was the high-and-mighty President. A President! Did she ever hear the nicknames of a President¡¯s child being addressed as a dog or a cat? Xuxu finished her soup and Yan Rusheng passed her tissues to wipe her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m going to visit the children.¡± Yan Weihong turned around and marched away. Chapter 1086. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Four) Yan Weihong had no wish to be in the same room with this ridiculous woman. He upset and miffed Mu Li. ¡°Yan Weihong, what do you mean by this?¡± Yan Weihong ignored her, walked to the entrance and opened the door. ¡°Xuxu, what do you think?¡± Mu Li turned around to face Xuxu with a smile. She didn¡¯t need that old man¡¯s consent; her son and daughter-in-law would do. ¡°I can accept Meowmeow, but Woofwoof is¡­¡± Xuxu rejected her suggestion in a tactful manner as she didn¡¯t want to offend Mu Li. ¡°It¡¯s a little tacky.¡± A little tacky? It¡¯s extremely tacky! Mu Li didn¡¯t insist on her way and she fell silent as she deliberated. ¡°Let¡¯s call him ¡®Yangyang¡¯ then.¡± There was a long pause. Yangyang¡ªa sheep? Professor Mu seemed to have set her mind on naming her grandchildren after animals so Xuxu gave in. She grinned weakly and nodded. ¡°All right¡­ all right then.¡± A sheep sounded better than a dog. ¡°It¡¯s decided then.¡± Mu Li sounded pleased. ¡°Meowmeow and Yangyang.¡± She repeated several times and even mispronounced the nicknames. Xuxu was speechless. Mu Li couldn¡¯t even pronounce the names she had thought of. ¡°Meowmeow and Yangyang don¡¯t sound cool at all,¡± Su Yue interjected suddenly. Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Then what should we call them?¡± She seemed to find everything uncool. Should their nicknames be ¡®thug¡¯ or ¡®gangster¡¯ ? Su Yue shook her head and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng, go back to the office.¡± Xuxu ended the conversation as it wasn¡¯t really that important to her. She glanced at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Yan Rusheng you didn¡¯t go to work yesterday and I know you¡¯re really busy.¡± Paramount had sent so many of their people over. If he wasn¡¯t around, she couldn¡¯t help but worry. On the bright side, Su Yan was at the company and he had postponed his work trip. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°Just one more day.¡± She had suffered so much. It was only right for him to keep her company. ¡°Go ahead. I don¡¯t need you here. Father and Mother are both here. And I have Yueyue as well.¡± Xuxu nudged Yan Rusheng as she said. Mu Li urged him as well. ¡°Third Yan, if you¡¯re busy then just go. You can come back in the evening to accompany Xuxu.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Yan Rusheng was quite reluctant. ¡°I¡¯ll go back now.¡± It was true that there were many company matters that he had to settle. Still, nothing was more important than Xuxu. ¡°Go. Hurry.¡± Xuxu waved her hands at him. Su Yue stayed by Xuxu¡¯s side the entire day. Yan Rusheng rushed back to the hospital after he ended work. The elevator was crowded, and Yan Rusheng had to wait by the side¡ªwaiting for the people in the elevator to exit. ¡°Third brother!¡± A familiar voice sounded behind him. Yan Rusheng turned around and saw Bai Jing. He nodded to acknowledge her. Bai Jing walked up to him and they entered the elevator one after another. Yan Rusheng pressed the button. More people streamed in. Yan Rusheng and Bai Jing stood together. Yan Rusheng stuffed his hands inside his pockets. He looked confident and cold as usual. Bai Jing bent her head and glanced at Yan Rusheng¡¯s long legs in secret. Her eyes then darted to his well-polished leather shoes. The light scent he was wearing seemed to assail her nostrils. Her heart was wildly pounding. ¡®Bai Jing, don¡¯t let your imagination run wild! You¡¯ll sink even deeper,¡¯ Bai Jing thought desperately to herself. Bai Jing denied those tempting thoughts and warned herself sternly. Chapter 1087. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Five) The elevator doors opened. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Yan Rusheng said to Bai Jing in a plain voice before stepping out. Bai Jing followed after. She watched his back-view and pressed her lips together, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, little one. Let Aunt carry you.¡± Su Yue¡¯s voice could be heard from outside the room. Yan Rusheng smiled and pushed open the door. In the room, Xuxu was breastfeeding one twin. Mu Li was sitting by her bedside, teaching her how to do it. Xuxu had just started breastfeeding, so the baby in her arms was having a hard time. Su Yue was carrying the other twin in her arms. She paced around the room, pacifying the baby. She stole those lines from television shows. ¡°Ah Sheng, you¡¯re here,¡± Xuxu greeted, lifting her head. Then she smiled at Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Bai Jing nodded at Xuxu and smiled. ¡°Congratulations, Third sister-in-law.¡± Then she walked over to her. ¡°Thank you,¡± Xuxu replied. ¡°Bai Jing, Bai Jing. Come over quickly,¡± Su Yue said, waving her over. She was sitting on the stool. ¡°Come, take a look at my niece.¡± Bai Jing changed direction and walked towards Su Yue instead. She stood before her, looking down at the baby in Su Yue¡¯s arms. The baby had black, sparkling eyes. Bai Jing smiled unknowingly. She bent over and grabbed onto the baby¡¯s small hand. ¡°Her hand is so tiny, she¡¯s so cute.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Su Yue said. ¡°Uncle Ming said that all babies are born this small. Plus, Yangyang and Meowmeow are twins, so they¡¯re especially tiny.¡± Xuxu smiled when she heard it. ¡°Ming Ansheng know quite a bit about this.¡± Su Yue looked over. ¡°He said that this is common knowledge.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she really cute?¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t tear herself away from her little niece. ¡°Yup,¡± Bai Jing agreed, nodding. Then she stood up and chided Su Yue with a frown. ¡°Su Yue, you gave me a fright yesterday. Don¡¯t do that again, okay?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She then grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s arm and pulled it gently. Bai Jing continued, ¡°Ignore those people in the future.¡± She then broke into a smile. Seeing Bai Jing smile, Su Yue knew that she wasn¡¯t angry anymore. She grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± She brought her attention back to Meowmeow before sending her over to Xuxu for breastfeeding. Mu Li carried Yan Nuoxing away as Su Yue stuffed Meowmeow into Xuxu¡¯s arms. Xuxu looked at her chest before looking up at Mu Li with a frown. ¡°This can¡¯t possibly be enough to feed the twins.¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°You definitely still have to breastfeed them. If you aren¡¯t able to produce more milk, your children will have a hard time.¡± Xuxu became worried. ¡°What do I do then?¡± ¡®How could the babies go without breast milk?¡¯ Mu Li looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯ll leave this to you. Whether your children have milk to drink tomorrow, it depends on you.¡± She was rather vague about it. But Yan Rusheng was smart enough to read her mind. He smirked and replied, ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Xuxu was speechless. Chapter 1088. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Six) ¡®I¡¯ve had enough of these two! They didn¡¯t bother holding their tongues in front of two 18-year-old girls.¡¯ ¡°Did you hear that, my wife?¡± Yan Rusheng said, raising his eyebrows playfully at Xuxu. ¡°For the sake of feeding our children, you have to be obedient tonight.¡± He looked at Xuxu, his gaze full of tenderness. And his smile, it was reserved solely for her. It made him look so attractive. She felt so comfortable and at ease. She envied Third sister-in-law for being able to have a man who could give her a sense of security and endless amounts of love. To her, he was like a god¡ªway out of her reach. She stared at Yan Rusheng dreamily. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Su Yue called out to her suddenly. Bai Jing snapped out of it and hurriedly retracted her gaze. Her eyes flashed with guilt, she then looked at Su Yue, acting calm and collected. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you think my Third Brother is indecent too?¡± She had seen her staring at Yan Rusheng earlier, so she thought Bai Jing was secretly criticizing him. Xuxu was speechless. ¡®This lass, so she knew ¡®indecent¡¯.¡¯ ¡®She must¡¯ve learned some things online, but she definitely didn¡¯t know much. ¡® Xuxu glared at Yan Rusheng, then said to Su Yue, ¡°Yueyue, let your Third Brother take you and Bai Jing out for dinner.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded. She turned to Bai Jing and said, ¡°Bai Jing, let¡¯s go, then we¡¯ll head back to school.¡± Bai Jing was a little startled to hear that. ¡°You¡¯re going back to school today?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Su Yue nodded and added, ¡°I¡¯m visiting Third sister-in-law again during the weekends. Do you want to tag along?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you know¡­¡± Bai Jing hung her head and hesitated. Xuxu could tell that she didn¡¯t dare to agree immediately. The Lei family must¡¯ve limited her freedom. Bai Jing¡¯s hesitation didn¡¯t slip past Xuxu, but she remained silent. Bai Jing continued, ¡°I¡¯ll let you know closer to the date itself. I¡¯ll join you if I have nothing on.¡± It overjoyed Su Yue. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll order delivery,¡± Yan Rusheng said. He didn¡¯t feel like going downstairs. After watching her give birth and going through the grueling process with her, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with Xuxu. Even if it were just a mere second, he would take it. Xuxu frowned. ¡°No, I can¡¯t eat that food.¡± She had to eat light because she had to breastfeed. So if they were to eat here, it would definitely tempt her. ¡°Okay then,¡± Yan Rusheng agreed, his heart aching. ¡°Darling, I¡¯ll bring you on a trip after your one-month confinement is over.¡± ¡°Third Yan, are you done?¡± Mu Li couldn¡¯t stand watching her son acting so mushy in front of so many people. She frowned with contempt and continued, ¡°You¡¯re a grown man, could you behave like one?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in understanding. ¡°Mm. I understand. A woman¡¯s jealousy is regardless of age.¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡°You rascal,¡± Mu Li chided, punching Yan Rusheng on the shoulder. Then she rushed him, saying, ¡°Quickly bring them out for dinner, then arrange for someone to send them back.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and looked at Su Yue. Su Yue immediately held Bai Jing¡¯s hand in hers and walked towards Yan Rusheng. She looked at Xuxu, then the twins. She thought for a moment before suggesting, ¡°Third Brother, Bai Jing and I can settle our own dinner. You don¡¯t have to bring us.¡± Chapter 1089. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Seven) ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll bring you guys there,¡± Yan Rusheng said plainly. ¡°I have to eat too, anyway.¡± Immediately, he bounded for the door of the main lobby. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue followed behind Yan Rusheng, hand in hand with Bai Jing. The hospital was located in the city area, so the entire vicinity was filled with restaurants, ranging from small to large or even high-class to normal ones. Yan Rusheng walked along the road and swept his gaze over the area. He looked at Su Yue and Bai Jing and asked, ¡°What do you both want to eat?¡± Without waiting for a reply, he added, ¡°I think all the restaurants sell chicken wings!¡± If not, this little lass would definitely mention her beloved chicken wings. Su Yue pressed her lips together, not saying anything. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything,¡± Bai Jing replied suddenly. Her voice was still soft, but clear. She looked at Yan Rusheng and smiled faintly. ¡°Then let¡¯s go there,¡± Yan Rusheng suggested, pointing at a restaurant across the road. The restaurant looked pretty decent. ¡°Mm,¡± Bai Jing agreed and nodded. Although it was a mere reply, it seemed like it took her a lot of courage. They crossed the zebra-crossing with Yan Rusheng leading the way. Su Yue and Bai Jing followed behind him. Yan Rusheng looked like an adult bringing two kids out. Yan Rusheng was recognizable anywhere he went. The moment he entered, a young waiter recognized him immediately, his eyes brightening. ¡°Third Master,¡± he greeted almost uncontrollably. Yan Rusheng walked straight into the inner section of the restaurant. It was the peak lunch period, and since the restaurant was situated directly opposite the hospital, it was packed. Everyone started taking out their phones to sneak a picture of Yan Rusheng. Given Yan Rusheng¡¯s status, to outsiders¡ªas much as he didn¡¯t want to admit it¡ªhe was considered a celebrity. Naturally, everyone would try to ask him for an autograph or picture. People would crowd around him whenever he was around. Yan Rusheng bowed his head and frowned. He stuffed his hands into his tuxedo pockets and followed the waiter to the second floor. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t have his meal in the main area and allow them to take photos of him. ¡°Isn¡¯t my Third Brother just like a celebrity?¡± Seeing the commotion that Yan Rusheng had caused, Su Yue whispered in Bai Jing¡¯s ear. ¡°Mm.¡± Bai Jing nodded. She then sneaked a glance at Yan Rusheng. Adoration and admiration filled her eyes as she smiled uncontrollably. Su Yue kept her gaze on Yan Rusheng the entire time. ¡°Do you wish for a boyfriend who¡¯s as handsome as my Third Brother in the future?¡± She turned to look at Bai Jing. Bai Jing flushed red. ¡°Su Yue, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°You seem very shy whenever it comes to this topic.¡± Who wouldn¡¯t be shy? Bai Jing stared at Su Yue for quite some time before replying plainly, ¡°That¡¯s because you know nothing about it.¡± She then quickened her pace and caught up with Yan Rusheng. ¡°Does that mean she knows a lot?¡± Su Yue asked to herself, blinking as she watched Bai Jing walk away. After recovering from her stupor, she chased after her. ¡°Do you like someone? Who is it?¡± She asked excitedly. By that point, they were already directly behind Yan Rusheng. Su Yue had asked so loudly, so Bai Jing¡¯s face flushed red once again. She pinched Su Yue¡¯s arm with all her might and warned her sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions. There¡¯s nothing of that sort.¡± Su Yue frowned in pain. But seeing Bai Jing¡¯s embarrassment, she decided to let the matter rest. Chapter 1090. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Eight) They followed Yan Rusheng into a private room. It wasn¡¯t big, but it luxuriously furnished. Yan Rusheng randomly picked a seat and sat down. Naturally, Su Yue sat beside him. Bai Jing walked to the other side of Yan Rusheng and pulled out the chair, sitting on it. Her actions looked natural and it looked like she had picked a seat randomly, so nobody took notice. The waiter passed Yan Rusheng a menu. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t take it from him. Instead, he leaned against his seat lazily and said, ¡°You girls can order whatever you want.¡± He was with two young girls, so obviously he didn¡¯t know what to order. ¡°Bai Jing, why don¡¯t you order,¡± Su Yue suggested, pushing the menu to Bai Jing. Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± Then she pushed it back to Su Yue. It was just a few dishes, so Su Yue didn¡¯t bother disagreeing. She took the menu and flipped it open, quickly ordering a few dishes. Of course, she didn¡¯t forget about her chicken wings. As Yan Rusheng had mentioned, most restaurants had chicken wings on the menu. ¡°I¡¯m done,¡± Su Yue declared, passing the ordering form to the waiter. Yan Rusheng looked over at Bai Jing. Void of any expression, he asked, ¡°Bai Jing, are you sure you don¡¯t want to order anything?¡± His tone was casual. Bai Jing pressed her tips together in a smile and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine with whatever Su Yue orders.¡± Yan Rusheng said nothing else. The waiter took the ordering form from Su Yue and ran through the list of orders before leaving the room. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Su Yue suddenly grinned at Yan Rusheng. It confused Yan Rusheng. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue asked with a smile, ¡°Do you feel super blissful right now.¡± Yan Rusheng picked up the teacup and drank coolly. He smiled but kept his silence. That was an obvious answer. He was feeling super happy. Su Yue said, ¡°The twins will be as smart and pretty as Third sister-in-law for sure.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darkened. ¡® Why couldn¡¯t they be like him?¡¯ ¡°The girl should be as virtuous and beautiful as Third sister-in-law, whereas the boy should be¡­ as wise and responsible as Third Brother. That would be perfect.¡± Bai Jing suddenly interjected from the other end of the table. Her voice was calm and clear, though not loud. Yan Rusheng said nothing when he heard it. He gave Su Yue a look, which seemed to suggest: ¡®Bai Jing is more eloquent than you.¡¯ It served the dishes in the midst of their conversation. Yan Rusheng picked up his chopsticks and gave Su Yue a piece of cabbage. He kept quiet throughout the entire meal, other than taking food for Su Yue once in a while. Su Yue enjoyed her special treatment; she was used to it. Bai Jing, on the other hand, felt a surge of envy when she saw Yan Rusheng passing food to Su Yue. Su Yue was really blessed; even more so than her third sister-in-law. ¡°Bai Jing, help yourself to the chicken wings.¡± When the chicken wings were served, Su Yue took two of them for Bai Jing. Bai Jing pressed her lips together in a tight smile. She was still feeling a pang of jealousy. She bowed her head and chided herself. Why couldn¡¯t she control her emotions? Life was predestined from birth, so why was she envious of others? She had a loving father. Although they weren¡¯t very well-to-do, he never failed to spoil her like his little princess. ¡®Bai Jing, don¡¯t entertain foolish ideas.¡¯ Deep down, she was clear that some things were simply impossible. If she didn¡¯t put an end to her extravagant wishes, it would lead her to a point of no redemption. After the meal, Yan Rusheng arranged for a chauffeur to take Bai Jing and Su Yue back to the university. Yan Rusheng returned to the ward. Mu Li had already left, so he was alone with Xuxu. Chapter 1091. Third Master Has Transformed Into A Super Dad (part Nine) The nanny they hired stayed in the room for nurses who were working overtime. Other than changing the diapers and the like, she wasn¡¯t of much use. Because the twins were in the nursery room the whole day, under the care of professional nurses. A while after Mu Li had left, Yan Rusheng suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s get the nurses to bring the twins back to the nursery room.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No, let them stay here for the night.¡± She then leaned on her side and watched the twins. She helped them arrange the blanket carefully, eyes full of tenderness. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Why?¡± ¡®If they slept here, where would he be sleeping tonight?¡¯ Xuxu said, ¡°Mother said that the twins won¡¯t be able to adapt to the taste of breast milk if they continue drinking formula milk. So I want to breastfeed them tonight.¡± Breast milk was healthier, and she heard that children who drank formula milk weren¡¯t as close to their mothers as compared to those that drank breast milk. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t object. He went to the other side of the bed and knelt onto it with one knee. He stretched his neck, his head moving towards Xuxu¡¯s front. The closer he got, the smile on his face became more mischievous. ¡°Then I shall get their milk ready.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xuxu hurriedly covered her chest, a look of vigilance as she eyed the man that was inching closer to her. ¡°Didn¡¯t mum say that they couldn¡¯t drink?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows naughtily. ¡°Did you forget? She asked me to make sure their milk is ready.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Scram!¡± This hooligan, it had only been two days since she gave birth! ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve never s*cked them before, there¡¯s nothing to be shy about.¡± The mischievous smile on his face widened, and he stretched to pull at her clothes. Xuxu quickly used her arms to defend herself. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re a hooligan.¡± She gritted her teeth and pounded her fist heavily on Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. Yan Rusheng wailed, his hand over his chest, acting like he was in pain. Feeling wronged, he complained, ¡°Wife, I¡¯m just trying to ensure that my children get their milk. You¡¯re the one with the dirty mind.¡± ¡°You scoundrel!¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand him any longer. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you don¡¯t shut your mouth, then you can get lost. I¡¯ll ask Mother to keep me company.¡± Then she moved to grab her phone. ¡°Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t.¡± Yan Rusheng hurriedly snatched it from her. ¡°All right, all right, I¡¯ll stop.¡± He straightened up and placed her phone back on the bedside cabinet. Then he looked at the sleeping twins, a smile unconsciously flitting onto his face. He said, ¡°I have some documents to take care of. I¡¯ll get to work.¡± He had brought all the urgent documents to the hospital so he could accompany Xuxu as he worked. Immediately, he walked towards the sofa. He sat down and opened his work bag, taking out his laptop and folders, and immediately got to work. When he was back at the office, he couldn¡¯t concentrate on his work. But at that moment, he worked with great efficiency. He felt tired and drank some tea. He then snapped out of it. He gazed at Xuxu. She was tilting her head, observing the two infants beside her. The heartwarming sight softened his heart and delighted his eyes. ¡°Ah Sheng, I still think they¡¯re really ugly.¡± Xuxu suddenly lifted her head to look at Yan Rusheng. When their eyes met, she froze. The warmth in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes disappeared immediately and a dark expression framed his handsome face. Chapter 1092. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Ten) How were they ugly? They were their children¡ªYan Rusheng¡¯s children. How could they be ugly?! Xuxu initially thought her newborn babies resembled wrinkly old fellows. The more she looked at them, the more she felt that way. This stupid woman must be too bored. She kept staring at the babies and even commented that they looked ugly. Suddenly, he smiled at Xuxu and spoke gently. ¡°They won¡¯t be in a few days.¡± Dear Young Master Yan, she commented that your son and daughter were ugly. Where did your overbearingness and arrogance go to? Xuxu grunted as a response and laid down once again. She blinked as she stared at the ceiling. Yan Rusheng had work to do, so he placed the cup on the table before he started on his work once more. It wasn¡¯t too long before the children began to cry. After Yan Rusheng heard the cries, Xuxu¡¯s voice sounded immediately. ¡°Ah Sheng, Meowmeow is awake.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng put his laptop aside and strode over. The baby was a little red, to begin with, and her face became even more flushed as she cried. Yan Rusheng gently scooped her up and cradled her. He began to hush her. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry.¡± Such a tall man carrying a tiny baby, and he sounded so stiff while he was trying to pacify the baby. Xuxu burst into laughter when she saw such a scene. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at her, looking suspicious. Xuxu kept her smile and with a solemn voice, she replied, ¡°Nothing.¡± She continued, ¡°I think she is hungry. Pass her to me. I¡¯ll feed her.¡± She lifted her shirt and it revealed her chest. Yan Rusheng bent and passed the baby to Xuxu gently. He stared at Xuxu¡¯s chest with lewd intent. And a surge of violent protests emerged inside him. F*ck f*ck f*ck! That should have belonged to him solely! Now, these little babies had dominated his territory. He fervently wished that they could never s*ck the milk from Xuxu. With that, they can drink formula milk instead. Young Master Yan, are you being a good father? The baby can¡¯t seem to s*ck properly and she began to bawl once more. Xuxu was getting anxious. ¡°Ah Sheng, pass me the pump.¡± She had to think of a way to solve this. Yan Rusheng passed her the pump right away. The baby finally stopped crying with the pump in her mouth. But after she was done, she began to wail once more. Her cries gave Yan Rusheng a headache. ¡°Why is she still crying?¡± said Yan Rusheng, with a gloomy tone of voice. Xuxu answered, ¡°She must have pooped. Go check.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get the nanny,¡± Yan Rusheng said as he turned around. ¡°Don¡¯t call her,¡± said Xuxu. She frowned and pressed on. ¡°It¡¯s too late to call the nanny.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression hardened and he pointed at the baby. He seemed uncertain as he asked apprehensively. ¡°You want me to¡­¡± Xuxu replied airily, ¡°She is your daughter.¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t make a retort and began to undress the baby grudgingly. A faint stench assailed his nostrils. He furrowed his eyebrows and wore a pained expression. He pinched the diapers, looking disgusted and threw it into the bin. He then glanced at Xuxu, looking lost. ¡°What should I do now?¡± ¡°Get hot water to clean her.¡± The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched as he watched Xuxu lying on the bed. He suppressed his temper and responded with an ¡®oh¡¯. He then turned around and walked to the bathroom. Chapter 1093. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Eleven) Yan Rusheng brought a basin of water and placed it on the floor. He then scooped the baby up. ¡°Yan Ru¡­¡± Before Xuxu had finished her sentence, Yan Rusheng had already placed the baby into the basin. Xuxu was doing her confinement and she didn¡¯t turn on the air-conditioner. It was actually a little warm so the child wouldn¡¯t catch a cold even if she were to take a bath in such way. But his actions seemed so rough and careless¡­ and Xuxu wasn¡¯t too pleased with him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, that is your daughter. Can you be any more unfeeling?¡± F*ck. He had changed her diapers and personally given her a bath. Yet, she was still questioning if he was unfeeling? Yan Rusheng bit his lips as he furrowed his eyebrows tightly. He had expressed his unwillingness and disdain in plain sight. ¡°Let¡¯s get the nanny. She will do a better job.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu sneered. ¡°Your job as a father is really easy.¡± ¡°All right, all right then. I got it.¡± Yan Rusheng knew that he was in the wrong and began to bathe the little girl patiently and gently. With Xuxu¡¯s guidance, he completed the process and covered the baby with a blanket. Feeling contented and fed, the girl fell asleep. Yan Rusheng sat at the edge of the bed and leaned backward. ¡°Wife, I wasn¡¯t too bad, right?¡± Xuxu was speechless. He had thrown his daughter carelessly into the basin and when he lifted her up from the basin, she could still spot some soap suds on her buttocks. She decided not to lecture him since it was his first time. How dare he claim credit! Xuxu threw the man a dirty and cold look. ¡°Scram!¡± Although Young Master Yan was bursting with grievances, he suddenly smiled slyly and said, ¡°Let me help my son get his milk supply ready. He should wake up any second.¡± He was really swift this time around and caught Xuxu by surprise. He lifted her clothes and buried his head. ¡°Yan Rusheng! You¡­¡± Xuxu glanced downwards at the man at her chest. She stopped herself from lashing out at him when she saw his dark thick hair. Perhaps¡­ it might work? Then she wouldn¡¯t need the pump, and this method was much more convenient. One second¡­ two seconds¡­ and a minute passed. The man still had his head buried in her chest and was staying motionless. ¡°Yan Rusheng?¡± Xuxu suspiciously looked at him and nudged him. Suddenly, she heard some swallowing sounds and her face fell instantly. ¡°Yan Rusheng¡­¡± Xuxu clenched her teeth and pushed Yan Rusheng away. ¡°You¡¯re too shameless!¡± Yan Rusheng sat upright and licked his lips. He frowned as he casually remarked, ¡°The taste isn¡¯t that good, actually. And it¡¯s rather bland and smells slightly fishy.¡± He was still licking his lips as though he didn¡¯t have enough. Xuxu was speechless. The word shameless wasn¡¯t enough to describe this man. He was way too outrageous and brazen. How could he snatch food from his children! How disgusting! At that moment, wailing sounds broke the silence of the room. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes lit up and glanced at the little fellow. ¡°My good son. You knew the time was ripe to inspect your father¡¯s results.¡± He bent and scooped the little fellow out from the crib effortlessly. Xuxu wore an exasperated look as she watched the man before her. She really had an overwhelming urge to kick the man across the ocean. However, loud protests in the form of wails informed Young Master Yan that he had failed. The baby still didn¡¯t manage to drink and Xuxu had to use the pump again. The baby could only drink milk and after that, they would poop constantly. After being fed, he needed a change of diapers. Chapter 1094. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Twelve) Yan Rusheng grabbed the baby¡¯s legs to take a look. A second later, he looked disgusted. He had his eyebrows tightly knitted together. ¡°F*ck!¡± Mu Li had just changed his diapers before she left earlier on. But he had pooped once again. The corners of Xuxu¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched, and she was dumbfounded. Xuxu felt that his treatment towards their daughter was friendlier and kinder in comparison. She pitied their son for the unfair treatment. Yan Rusheng prepared another basin of water and Xuxu had a hunch he wouldn¡¯t be too gentle towards the baby. ¡°Let me do it,¡± said Xuxu. She lifted the blanket and was about to get down. Yan Rusheng frowned and sharply said, ¡°Lie down. Where are you going?¡± He pushed Xuxu back to the bed and carried the baby. He placed the baby into the basin and gave him a quick bath. He then grabbed a towel to bundle him up before passing him to Xuxu. After waiting upon both of the babies, Yan Rusheng felt that it was more exhausting than a long day of work. He stared at the babies who were both sound asleep. A frown still remained on his face as he remarked, ¡°Being too capable isn¡¯t such a good thing after all.¡± He had emphasized the word ¡®capable¡¯ and evidently, there was a hidden meaning. Xuxu ignored him and pointed to the basin. ¡°Throw the water away and dispose of the diapers. If not, it will stink the entire room.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get the nanny,¡± Yan Rusheng spoke as he rose. Xuxu stopped him and raised her voice. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± ¡°All right, all right.¡± Yan Rusheng sounded defeated as he frowned. He had no choice but to obey Xuxu. He turned around and held the two basins and entered the bathroom. Then, splashing sounds of water could be heard coming from the bathroom. Xuxu leaned back on the bed and grinned to herself. She had planned to use this confinement period to teach him a good lesson. ¡®Hmph.¡¯ How else would she be able to vent her anger? ¡­ The chauffeur sent Su Yue and Bai Jing back to school. Upon reaching their dormitory, both of them took out their clothes for a shower. Bai Jing sat on the edge of her bed and said to Su Yue, ¡°Su Yue, you go first.¡± ¡°You first,¡± quipped Su Yue. Suddenly, a thought struck her. So, she walked over to Bai Jing. ¡°Let¡¯s do it together.¡± Bai Jing shook her head awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s not a good idea.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it together.¡± Su Yue pulled her arm. ¡°Strangers take public baths together as well.¡± Bai Jing could only agree because of her persistence. Both of them entered the bathroom, and Su Yue promptly undressed. She turned on the showerhead and warm water gushed out. She stood under the water and watched her tattoo in silence. She then glanced at her tummy and her mind wandered to Xuxu¡¯s belly. She raised her head and spoke to Bai Jing. ¡°My third sister-in-law is really too brave. Giving birth is such a painful process.¡± But Bai Jing questioned her instead, ¡°Isn¡¯t it the job of women to give birth?¡± She sounded as though giving birth was no big deal. Su Yue frowned and pouted in protest. ¡°I¡¯m not giving birth. I have to walk around with an enormous belly for such a long period, and the babies keep crying after they¡¯re born. It¡¯s so annoying.¡± She knew that even though she felt that Meowmeow and Yangyang were very adorable, it would be annoying if she were to face them every day. They were always crying. Bai Jing rolled her eyes in response. ¡°Tch. After you get married, your husband wouldn¡¯t want you if you don¡¯t want children.¡± She was still washing clothes as she talked to Su Yue. Su Yue replied, sounding nonchalant. ¡°I don¡¯t care if he doesn¡¯t want me. I won¡¯t even marry him. Then I can stay with my third sister-in-law forever.¡± That would be perfect. Chapter 1095. Third Master Has Transformed Into a Super Dad (part Thirteen) Bai Jing eyed Su Yue in suspicion. ¡°Su Yue, don¡¯t you have someone you like?¡± Her eyes darted to her tattoo the next moment. Su Yue pouted as she began to think. She shook her head. ¡°No¡­¡± She contemplated for a while more before concluding. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have.¡± She bent her head and bit her lip. Bai Jing said that if she liked a person, her heart would pound wildly at the sight of him. She would miss him and wouldn¡¯t dare to look at him. But it was only true for the first two. And¡­ she didn¡¯t seem to miss him that much. So, she concluded that she didn¡¯t like Uncle Ming. She must have liked him like how she liked her third sister-in-law. She also missed Third sister-in-law when she wasn¡¯t around. Yes, this must be it. Bai Jing smiled and didn¡¯t press on. The water gushed down as Su Yue washed off the soap bubbles on her body. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes kept darting to the tattoo on her chest. That lazy-looking cat seemed alive. Her mind wandered to yesterday when she saw Ming Ansheng emptying the entire bottle of water over himself. She was so shocked to see him acting so differently, and he seemed so anxious. To her, Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng seemed so unreachable, extraordinary, and aloof. For Su Yue, he seemed to have lost his cool. Only Su Yue was oblivious to everything. If the incident didn¡¯t happen yesterday, Ming Ansheng might not have revealed his inner feelings. How could his thoughts be pure if he acted in that way? ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Su Yue saw Bai Jing standing there in a daze. She eyed her, looking puzzled. ¡°Nothing much.¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m done, your turn.¡± They put on their pajamas and walked out of the bathroom. Bai Jing was holding a phone as she laid on her bed. Her face fell when she received a message. It was from Lei Yong. ¡°There is an event in the capital city on Friday. Many guests would be attending. I will send someone to pick you up on Friday afternoon.¡± Bai Jing couldn¡¯t help but shudder when she finished reading the text. She knew the reason Lei Yong wanted to bring her along to meet the guests. Bai Jing gritted her teeth in fury and her eyes flickered. But why? Why did he have to force her? No, there was no way she would listen to him. They had no right to force her to do anything. Bai Jing didn¡¯t send a reply to Lei Yong and deleted his text before switching off her phone. ¡­ Yan Rusheng felt as though he had just fallen asleep when the children¡¯s cries jolted him awake. He flipped over, feeling annoyed and intended to ignore it at first. ¡°Yan Rusheng, the children are awake.¡± Xuxu kicked Yan Rusheng when she saw no signs of him getting up. ¡°Get up, they should be hungry.¡± ¡°These annoying fellows!¡± Yan Rusheng sprung upright and complained loudly. He glared at his daughter and son with fury in his eyes. ¡°How many meals must they eat a day?!¡± He dragged himself with sluggish footsteps and carried them up. Xuxu instructed him, ¡°Make milk for them. I don¡¯t think I have enough.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and fell silent. This entire night, after taking care of these two precious babies, it completely exhausted Young Master Yan. It was almost dawn when he fell asleep. Fortunately, they slept for a longer period. It was 8 a.m. when he woke up again. Yan Rusheng rubbed his eyes as he sleepily got up. Chapter 1096. Third Master Has Transformed into a Super Dad (part Fourteen) Xuxu was staring intently at her children. ¡®Indeed, his importance had diminished so much ever since the children were born,¡¯ thought Yan Rusheng. He was fuming jealous. They were all lying next to her, and she only had eyes for them, too. Young Master Yan was still seething with jealousy when someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± he called out absentmindedly since he thought it was Mu Li. The door flew open and a few guys entered. Lu Yinan was the first. He wore a trendy outfit of a light blue shirt and white pants. He saw the sleepy Yan Rusheng sitting on the bed and teased, ¡°Hey, Third Yan. Still not awake? Didn¡¯t sleep well because of the children?¡± Yan Rusheng threw him a long contemptuous look. ¡°Are you looking for trouble early this morning?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to visit my nephew and niece. My visit has nothing to do with you.¡± Lu Yinan walked to the crib and bent to peer at the two little fellows. All these guys had grown up together with Yan Rusheng, so it was just natural that everyone showered them with congratulations. A towering figure entered at that moment and his presence was too dazzling to ignore. Xuxu glanced at him and it had her startled. ¡°Did you all agree to come together?¡± It was Jiang Zhuoheng. He was dressed in casual clothes. His good-looking face looked visibly tired as he strolled in. Lu Yinan quipped, ¡°Ah Heng couldn¡¯t sit still when he heard that you¡¯ve given birth. So he rushed back from Australia and came here right after he landed.¡± He then threw a meaningful glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng knew he had done it deliberately and didn¡¯t bother to respond. Xuxu glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng and raised her concern. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take a rest first before coming?¡± asked Xuxu nonchalantly. His flight must have been a long one. Needless to say, he should be exhausted. Yan Rusheng was stony-faced and sneered quietly to himself. ¡®Didn¡¯t he have a sleepless night with the children around as well?¡¯ Why didn¡¯t she shower him with concern and ask if he slept well? Jiang Zhuoheng shook his head lightly with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ll head home after looking at the children.¡± He walked to Lu Yinan and bent to gaze at the babies. They were fast asleep, and he studied them with a gentle gaze. Xuxu was such a wonderful and perfect woman. So her children would naturally be like her. He loved everything that belonged to her! ¡°Hmmm.¡± Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t help but gently stroke the babies¡¯ cheeks as he gazed at them. ¡°These two fellows look pretty decent.¡± Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow and sneered. ¡°Can you say something less ridiculous?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t resemble you, Third Yan.¡± Lu Yinan straightened his back and grinned at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Yan Runan glared furiously at Lu Yinan. ¡°Your children won¡¯t resemble you, more like commoners!¡± All of them were speechless. Lu Yinan was merely joking. Why was this guy¡­ ¡°Oh yeah, how many months is Shuang pregnant now? When is she giving birth?¡± Someone smirked as they threw Lu Yinan a question. Immediately, another guy interjected. ¡°Yeah, let us know. We need to prepare red packets for our little nephews.¡± ¡°No, no. We should gather everyone and make a trip to Country M.¡± ¡°Do you want your children to become Country M¡¯s citizens?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure. Why would Shuang go all the way to Country M to give birth?¡± Everyone joined in and caused quite a ruckus. ¡°Who are all of you to laugh at me?¡± Lu Yinan sneered as he raised his chin. ¡°I get three at one go. How about you guys? Not even sh*t from you guys.¡± Chapter 1097. Third Master Has Transformed into a Super Dad (part Fifteen) Every time someone mentioned the triplets that Zhou Shuang was carrying, Lu Yinan would feel truly proud. At first, he felt troubled and frustrated. Now he was feeling more positive. ¡°Yeah. After all, we don¡¯t have the habit of barging into a woman¡¯s room after getting drunk.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We have truly lost to Young Master Lu in terms of such ¡®practices¡¯ .¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s face was as black as soot. What kind of friends were they? He had chosen the wrong friends! Xuxu¡¯s phone rang at this moment. She glanced at her screen; it was Zhou Shuang on the other line. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Lu Yinan had just arrived and she was on the other line. Xuxu mumbled under her breath before answering the call. ¡°All right, all right, all right.¡± Xuxu ended the call after replying. Zhou Shuang wanted to make a video call so she could see the children. Xuxu was about to inform her that Lu Yinan was present, but Zhou Shuang had already ended the call. After the call ended, Zhou Shuang immediately started the video call. Xuxu¡¯s eyes flickered slyly as she accepted. ¡°Hurry. Show me how weird the two little buns look like.¡± Zhou Shuang was wearing beige pajamas as she laid on the couch. She was munching on an apple. The moment she opened her mouth, Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell instantly. He threw a disdainful glance at Lu Yinan. ¡°Birds of the same feather flock together.¡± These two fellows were really unlikeable the minute they started talking. Lu Yinan knew that it was Zhou Shuang on the other line. Without a doubt, he was too busy to bother with Yan Rusheng¡¯s remarks. He kept glancing furtively at Xuxu¡¯s phone. He had assumed that he was being sneaky. But everyone else caught him in action. ¡°Hooligan Zhou. Look at this person.¡± Without warning, Yan Rusheng snatched the phone from Xuxu and placed the screen right in Lu Yinan¡¯s face. Zhou Shuang stopped munching her apple abruptly the second she saw Lu Yinan. Her smile froze instantly too. Her face began to harden as she eyed Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan¡¯s face fell too. ¡°What¡¯s that look on your face? Is it so torturous for you to look at my face?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu!¡± Zhou Shuang ignored Lu Yinan and yelled for Xuxu. Xuxu snatched her phone back hastily and turned the screen around. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. It was Yan Rusheng.¡± Zhou Shuang was fuming. Furious, she asked, ¡°Ask the pretentious one to change diapers for a month.¡± Xuxu nodded in agreement. ¡°Great idea!¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°Was it Ah Heng that I saw?¡± asked Zhou Shuang suddenly. Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yeah, he is here.¡± She turned the phone towards Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Ah Heng!¡± Zhou Shuang waved energetically at Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled in response. Everyone present were all friends, yet Jiang Zhuoheng was the only person Zhou Shuang responded to. Someone put an arm on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s shoulders and grinned. ¡°Ah Heng, why do you have such luck with the ladies?¡± Everyone chimed in. ¡°Yeah, ever since he was a boy.¡± Zhou Shuang was still talking to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Let Ah Heng be the godfather of the two little buns.¡± The atmosphere seemed to become tense and strained instantly. Everyone wore a strange expression. The atmosphere had really become tense and icy cold. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darkened. He had an urge to seize the phone and end the video call. If his son really calls Jiang Zhuoheng as his godfather, he swore to never forgive this hooligan for the rest of his life. Chapter 1098. Third Master Has Transformed into a Super Dad (part Sixteen) ¡°I¡¯ve known you for such a long time. But this is the first time I agree with you,¡± Lu Yinan interjected all of a sudden. He looked at the screen and watched Zhou Shuang with an approving look. He agreed to Zhou Shuang¡¯s suggestion of letting Jiang Zhuoheng be the godfather of Meowmeow and Yangyang. All of them were speechless. This guy was trying to stir trouble, too. An eerie chill seemed to emanate in the room, surrounding everyone. Jiang Zhuoheng managed a brief smile. ¡°I¡¯ll reserve that for your kids.¡± The suggestion was Zhou Shuang¡¯s act of revenge for Yan Rusheng who had passed the phone to Lu Yinan just then. She agreed readily. ¡°Sure. The triplets will address you as godfather.¡± Xuxu took her phone and said, ¡°I¡¯m hanging up. I haven¡¯t eaten.¡± Zhou Shuang waved. ¡°Okay, bye.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Lu Yinan was about to say something when Xuxu ended the call. Someone seized the opportunity to tease him. ¡°Call her yourself. Why are you muttering?¡± ¡°Who is Young Master Lu?! Why would he put down his pride for a woman?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± Lu Yinan pursed his lips. His expression displayed a mixture of anger and embarrassment. The hooligan didn¡¯t give him any respect in front of so many people. Jiang Zhuoheng bent his head and glanced at the twins once more. He raised his head towards Xuxu. ¡°Xuxu, I¡¯m heading home. Have a good rest.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Drive carefully.¡± Their interactions were always so gentle and tender. They seemed so unlikely to quarrel at all. But this was also exactly why they weren¡¯t meant to be a couple. They were both so composed and calm that there weren¡¯t any sparks between them. Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t look at Yan Rusheng at all throughout the entire time he was there. His anger and prejudice against Yan Rusheng would probably not subside in this lifetime. Xuxu might have put the past and suffering behind her, but he could never forget. ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Lu Yinan exclaimed as he suddenly remembered something. Jiang Zhuoheng halted his footsteps and turned to look at him. Lu Yinan glanced at everyone and asked, ¡°There is an event on Friday. Who is going?¡± ¡°I received the invitation, if I¡¯m free I¡¯ll drop by.¡± After answering, Jiang Zhuoheng left the room. Everyone received the invitations and also said that they would be going. The government planned an event during the National Day celebration. They invited all the top corporations in the capital city. Usually, everyone would turn up at such important events unless they really had something on. Yan Rusheng was the only one who didn¡¯t respond. Lu Yinan looked at him and asked, ¡°Third Yan, are you going?¡± ¡°Not free,¡± Yan Rusheng answered with a drawl. He lifted his blanket and walked towards the bathroom. Lu Yinan¡¯s gaze trailed after him. ¡°But it¡¯s not nice to be absent since you¡¯re in the capital city.¡± Someone quipped, ¡°There is a new secretary. Don¡¯t you want to know him?¡± Yan Rusheng closed the bathroom door. After washing up, he came out to find that they were all gone. He had already heard them leaving the room earlier on. Xuxu also agreed that Yan Rusheng should attend the corporate event. She tried to persuade him. ¡°Ah Sheng, you should go.¡± The new secretary was just appointed and they have gotten no chances to get to know the person yet. It would be beneficial for them to have some connections with the government. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t immediately reject Xuxu. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Both of the little fellows began to cry once again. Chapter 1099. Third Master Has Transformed into a Super Dad (part Seventeen) Their cries were an ominous sign, and it struck Yan Rusheng with fear. He eyed them warily for some time. They were so tiny and little, yet they were strong enough to kick their blankets off. They had tied their legs to prevent the baby¡¯s legs from being bowed. ¡°They must be hungry. I¡¯ll feed them.¡± Xuxu saw that they were awake. She moved around and struggled to get up. Her wounds weren¡¯t completely healed since she had just given birth two days ago. She furrowed her eyebrows in pain as she sat up. Yan Rusheng noticed her wincing and rushed over. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He stopped Xuxu and brought one twin to Xuxu. The baby still couldn¡¯t s*ck the milk after trying for some time. In the end, she still had to use the pump. Xuxu couldn¡¯t feed both at the same time and the other one began to wail even more loudly. ¡°Oh dear. Why is my precious darling crying so badly?¡± Mu Li and Yan Weihong walked into the room. Their hearts pounded when they heard the wails. Madam Mu Li darted to the crib and carried Yangyang. ¡°Darling, are you hungry? Hush, don¡¯t cry. Mommy is getting your milk ready.¡± ¡°Here it is.¡± Xuxu produced some milk into the milk bottle. Mu Li took the bottle and began to feed him. Finally, it was silent. Yan Weihong, who was trailing behind Mu Li, spoke up after some contemplation. ¡°Let them drink formula milk,¡± said Yan Weihong in his deep voice. His heart was aching when he heard their cries¡ªhe really doted on his grandchildren too much. They were crying so pitifully because of hunger. Feeding them with bre*st milk would be ideal, but he would rather have them drink formula milk than let them cry. Xuxu smiled. ¡°They can drink bre*st milk and formula milk together.¡± Yan Weihong didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he walked to Mu Li and sat down. He gazed at the adorable fellow and a gentle smile appeared on his face. ¡°This fellow is really famished.¡± ¡°How do you know that he is Yangyang?¡± Mu Li eyed Yan Weihong suspiciously. He replied smugly, ¡°He is my grandson. Of course, I would know.¡± Mu Li rolled her eyes at him and continued to gaze at the baby. Both of them gazed intently at the children. Their love and adoration for the twins seemed to overflow from their eyes. Mu Li turned to glance at Xuxu. ¡°You should get discharged today. Staying in a hospital isn¡¯t a good idea.¡± The room she was staying in was the premium private suite, but Mu Li felt that even so, it couldn¡¯t compare to their house. Most importantly, she and her husband couldn¡¯t be with them to help around. And the couple lacked sleep, too. Mu Li paused and didn¡¯t give Xuxu a chance to speak up. ¡°The news of you giving birth hasn¡¯t been leaked yet. Before the reporters surround the hospital, we should go home soon. If not, it would be hard to leave.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Did the matron say that I can leave?¡± It had only been two days. ¡°Yours was a natural birth so you can go home.¡± Mu Li added, ¡°If you¡¯re still worried, I¡¯ll get a nurse to follow us home.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I can get discharged today. It should be fine.¡± She began to dial a number on her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll call my grandfather to head to our house directly.¡± The matron settled the paperwork personally. Naturally, it took them just a short while for Xuxu to be discharged. The car entered the courtyard and stopped. Yan Weihong got down first, followed by Mu Li and Yan Weihong who carried a baby each in their arms. Chapter 1100. Third Master Has Transformed into a Super Dad (part Eighteen) Xuxu came out of the car slowly while Yan Rusheng supported her. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± He bent and lifted Xuxu off her feet. His actions were a little rough and Xuxu¡¯s wounds still hurt. She winced in pain as she knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Be gentle. It¡¯s painful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to endure for a month,¡± whispered Yan Rusheng as he bent his head. He had a pained expression on his face. Xuxu was speechless. Sexual thoughts filled this guy¡¯s mind! Third Young Master had become a father, and they rewarded all the servants. This news traveled to the company and they gave all the employees twice their salary for the month. Everyone was jubilant because of an unexpected bonus. The entire company seemed to be in a festive and celebratory mood. But, Yan Rusheng was buried in work as usual. Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door and he responded without raising his head. ¡°Enter.¡± A graceful and elegant middle-aged woman strolled in. It surprised Yan Rusheng to see her and he managed a brief smile. ¡°President Jiang,¡± replied Yan Rusheng curtly. Jiang Shaomei strode towards him and he rose. He led her towards the couch. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Jiang Shaomei appeared apologetic as she said, ¡°It has been hard on you during this period, President Yan. It was a hectic period at Paramount and I couldn¡¯t free up some time to greet you properly.¡± Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Both of them sat down and Jiang Shaomei suddenly asked, ¡°Why is Yanting so busy with work trips recently?¡± She eyed Yan Rusheng with a trace of doubt in her eyes. Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure. She had volunteered to tag along with Vice-President Su. She said that she wanted to gain more experience.¡± Jiang Shaomei smiled as she pressed on. ¡°Vice-President Su is so young, yet his outstanding capability has surprised me.¡± Her words evidently had a deeper meaning to it. Su Yan was from Flourish & Prosper. The moment he entered the company, he began to get close to Xin Yanting. And everyone knew that there was no way Yan Rusheng would allow Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares to remain in Paramount¡¯s hands. So it was hard not to suspect that Su Yan had an ulterior motive for getting close to Xin Yanting. ¡°Thank you, President Jiang, for your compliments.¡± Yan Rusheng gave a rather mysterious and ambiguous smile. Jiang Shaomei gazed at Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk and exhaled. ¡°I still remembered the first time I stepped into this office. Your grandmother was still the President.¡± She sat there reminiscing about the past, looking a little sorrowful. But Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression had changed drastically. He wouldn¡¯t be so na?ve to assume that Jiang Shaomei was truly mourning for his grandmother. She seemed to gloat and was secretly pleased. She had won Flourish & Prosper with underhand methods. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t respond and Jiang Shaomei glanced at him. ¡°Now that your children are born, you should be even busier.¡± Yan Rusheng rearranged his expression before Jiang Shaomei glanced at him. He smiled politely and answered, ¡°I can manage.¡± ¡°Look at how you and your friends are all adults now.¡± Jiang Shaomei bowed her head and pressed on with a deep sigh. ¡°All of you were so small years ago. And I still remember that you always made Ah Heng cry.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s smile remained. Jiang Shaomei continued, ¡°If your grandmother knew how capable you and Su Yan are, it would please her and she would be contented.¡± Chapter 1101. Third Master Has Transformed into a Super Dad (part Nineteen) Yan Rusheng nodded in agreement. He slightly bent his head and a cold and hard smile appeared on his face. ¡°Third Yan.¡± His elders or his close friends usually used such a nickname. ¡°Yanting doesn¡¯t have much work experience. Furthermore, everyone in the family had spoiled her. If she is lacking in any area, please put up with her,¡± said Jiang Shaomei slowly. Yan Rusheng managed a smile. ¡°President Jiang, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Vice-President Su and her¡­¡± Jiang Shaomei stopped midway before smiling once again. ¡°It¡¯s good that she wants to gain more experience.¡± Her tone gave away her worries and concerns, but she sounded very helpless. Yan Rusheng deduced that she must have talked to Xin Yanting but could not change her mind. Jiang Shaomei put on a smile again as she expounded. ¡°It¡¯s good that Aunt Hua is assisting Yanting in the company. She has been a great assistant to me for over ten years, and with her around, President Yan can rest assured.¡± The message she was trying to convey was obvious and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t need to think any further. He smiled silently and waited patiently for Jiang Shaomei to reveal the real reason behind her visit. Jiang Shaomei gazed at Yan Rusheng as though she was reading his expression. She began to speak slowly. ¡°I intend to get a secretary for Yanting so that Aunt Hua could travel with Yanting to take care of her. Yanting led a pampered and sheltered life and she has never been alone before. Even when she was overseas, she had people to wait on her.¡± Yan Rusheng spoke without hesitation or any thinking. ¡°President Jiang, I can understand that you¡¯re worried about your daughter. But she will take over Paramount eventually and being independent is something she has to learn. Besides that, she is the general manager of Flourish & Prosper. That¡¯s an important position.¡± He deflected Jiang Shaomei¡¯s suggestion of adding more people into Flourish & Prosper effortlessly. It rendered Jiang Shaomei speechless for a while. If she insisted on adding more people to assist Xin Yanting, Yan Rusheng would jump to the conclusion that Xin Yanting wasn¡¯t up to the job as the general manager. The future successor of Paramount couldn¡¯t even handle matters on her own. It certainly didn¡¯t sound acceptable. Jiang Shaomei had the notion that Yan Rusheng would agree to her suggestion since she had came to see him personally¡ªto think he had rejected her so effortlessly. How would she take it lying down? When she left, her expression was brooding and solemn. Yan Rusheng sent Jiang Shaomei to the door. As he watched her, his eyes turned cold once more. ¡­ Yan Rusheng had no idea how long he was asleep. He only felt as if he had just laid on the bed before the children¡¯s cries jolted him awake. He pulled the blanket over his head in mild irritation to cover his face and ears. A second later, Xuxu kicked him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, they¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Argh.¡± Yan Rusheng flipped over and continued pretending to be asleep. He was really going bonkers because of these two fellows! He had just fallen asleep. Xuxu continued to kick him and commanded, ¡°Get up now!¡± She grinned to herself. Yan Rusheng waved his hands at her and snapped, ¡°Just let him cry.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell instantly. ¡°Aren¡¯t they your children?¡± They were his children and they must either be hungry or needed a change of diapers. How could he say that? ¡°All right, I got it.¡± Yan Rusheng sat upright, looking frustrated. Chapter 1102. Third Master Has Transformed into a Super Dad (part Twenty) Young Master Yan glanced at the crib to see the two little fellows crying loudly. He took a deep breath and got off the bed. He carried Meowmeow to check her diaper first. Indeed, it was soaked. He wiped her before changing her diaper. After two days, he was slowly becoming an expert. After she was done, he placed her in Xuxu¡¯s arms. The matron of the hospital found a lactation expert for Xuxu and now she could easily feed both of the children. It was Yangyang¡¯s turn to change his diaper. Yan Rusheng carelessly grabbed his son¡¯s legs to check on him. His expression instantly darkened. ¡°F*ck. They drank the same amount of milk.¡± ¡®The younger sister only peed, yet he pooped?¡¯ Young Master Yan glanced at the mess and really didn¡¯t feel like getting his hands dirty. He turned around and smiled at Xuxu. ¡°Wife, I¡¯ll get mother to help, all right?¡± After he got home from work, he had lost count of the times he had cleaned them up. Mu Li and Xuxu both had the same point of view. If the diapers were soiled, it would make the children uncomfortable. Hence, they needed to change it as often as needed. But they had failed to consider his feelings. Xuxu smirked. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re such a filial son. It¡¯s already so late in the night.¡± Her tone was full of disdain. Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°Get water!¡± yelled Xuxu. She looked like a queen who looked so impressive and dictatorial. ¡°All right.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his lips and went to the bathroom carrying a basin. He was impatient throughout the whole process. Xuxu can feed both of them at the same time. Yan Rusheng finally collapsed on the bed. However, he was still wide awake. He flipped and laid sideways on the bed as he watched the babies on Xuxu¡¯s chest. He looked worried as he commented, ¡°Wife, they¡¯re going to sag very soon.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t control her rage and bellowed, ¡°Yan Rusheng, get out and sleep in the guest room!¡± Young Master Yan clammed up and laid on the bed like an obedient child. But he couldn¡¯t fall asleep as he stared at the ceiling. Jealousy had overwhelmed him. The moment those two fellows appeared in their lives, they had snatched away Wen Xuxu¡ªthe one who belonged to him ever since he was a boy. From now on, there would always be two huge ¡®light bulbs¡¯ in their lives. Yan Rusheng began to sulk as an indescribable frustration and jealousy consumed him. He turned towards the babies and glared at them with malice. But at the sight of their tiny bodies sleeping peacefully in Xuxu¡¯s arms, they seemed to have tugged his heartstrings. The expression in his eyes and on his face turned tender. ¡°Ah Sheng, carry them back to the crib,¡± breathed Xuxu. She was gazing lovingly at the babies as she spoke to Yan Rusheng. Her eyes were overflowing with love. Yan Rusheng felt a pang of jealousy stabbing him, and he responded gloomily. He leaped to his feet and carried Meowmeow first. After he placed her in the crib, he turned around to carry Yangyang. Finally, after being fed, the two fellows slept peacefully. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng laid down on the bed, but their eyes were wide open. ¡°Why do you always carry Meowmeow first?¡± asked Xuxu suddenly as she glanced at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I just carried them without thinking.¡± If Xuxu didn¡¯t point it out, he wouldn¡¯t have realized that every time those two fellows cried, he always carried Meowmeow first. Chapter 1103. Yan Rusheng, Are You Human? (part One) Xuxu frowned at him. ¡°Is it because a daughter is the lover of the father in his past life?¡± sharply asked Xuxu. Yan Rusheng raised a brow. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you jealous?¡± A smile played around the corners of his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± Xuxu threw Yan Rusheng a long and disapproving look before turning around with her back facing him. ¡°Wife.¡± Yan Rusheng inched close to Xuxu and hugged her. Xuxu glared at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°I don¡¯t like it when you treat them better than you treat me.¡± He placed his head on Xuxu¡¯s shoulders and stretched his hands inside her clothes. He began to caress her tummy. Her tummy was evidently not as flat and tight as before. Yan Rusheng pinched Xuxu¡¯s excess flesh and started to play with it. He tickled Xuxu, and so she yelled, ¡°Yan Rusheng, put your hand away!¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head to look at her. ¡°Auntie, you have got a flabby tummy now.¡± Xuxu sneered coldly. ¡°Why? You don¡¯t like it?¡± The expression in her eyes seemed to say that if he dared to agree, she would give him a flying kick. ¡°I love it to bits.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned wickedly at her. He then stretched his neck and kissed her on her lips. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. When she snapped out of it, she pressed her hands against Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. But Yan Rusheng refused to end the kiss. He grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hands and placed them over her head. He then moved slightly away from Xuxu and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t move. Just let me kiss you for a while.¡± His voice sounded hoarse and gentle. Xuxu looked deep into his eyes and it momentarily entranced her. Yan Rusheng bent and crushed his lips against hers. A triumphant smile appeared on his face and his spirits soared. Suddenly without warning, loud cries disrupted the silence. Young Master Yan¡¯s face instantly hardened, and he repeatedly cursed and swore in his heart. Xuxu hastily pushed Yan Rusheng away upon hearing their cries. ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop it. The children are crying.¡± Yan Rusheng felt like banging his head against the wall. He turned his head and glared in the crib¡¯s direction. One of them woke up and the other followed suit. He didn¡¯t move an inch. Both of their cries grew louder. Xuxu knew that Yan Rusheng had exhausted all his patience and decided not to torment him any longer. She grinned to herself as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll coax them. Pass them to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let them cry.¡± Yan Rusheng straightened his back and walked to them. The next moment, he bent his back, lifted the crib, and walked towards the door. Xuxu screamed in shock. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing!¡± She wanted to follow him but her wounds still hurt. She frowned in pain as she sat up. Yan Rusheng placed the crib at the side before opening the door. He then bent to lift the crib outside of their room. He came back and shut the door. Xuxu rushed forward and glared at him, looking incensed. ¡°Are you a beast!?¡± They were their children. After bellowing at him, Xuxu was about to open the door when Yan Rusheng turned around and slumped against the door. With her path blocked, Xuxu lashed out at him. ¡°Go away!¡± Mu Li¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡°Oh dear, my precious darlings! What happened?¡± said Mu Li, sounding a little sad. ¡°Your daddy doesn¡¯t want both of you anymore?¡± Mu Li carried one of them. Yan Weihong followed closely behind and carried the other. Mu Li began to coax the child. She screamed at the door. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you human?!¡± Chapter 1104. Yan Rusheng, Are You Human? (part Two) How could this guy bear to throw them out of the room? ¡°He is too much!¡± Second Master was in a rage too. Yan Rusheng mischievously grinned when he heard his parents outside the door. His hand stretched towards Xuxu who was still looking livid. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Yan Rusheng lightly. ¡°Scram!¡± Xuxu flung Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand away and opened the door. Mu Li and Yan Weihong had carried the children away, and they left the empty crib outside their room. She walked to Mu Li¡¯s room and heard the children¡¯s cries. She knocked before opening the door. ¡°Father, Mother, give them back to me,¡± Xuxu said rather awkwardly. She hoped that they wouldn¡¯t assume that she found them to be bothersome as well. Mu Li smiled warmly at her and said, ¡°Go and take a rest. We will take care of them. Furthermore, Third Yan had a long day at work and you didn¡¯t have a proper rest these few nights. Leave the children with us and go back and sleep.¡± Although she was furious with Yan Rusheng for dumping his children outside the door, her heart also went out to her son for working so hard. From the day Xuxu gave birth, Yan Rusheng had been constantly by her side. With the twins, it was impossible for him to get a good night of sleep. His body wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it if it went on. Xuxu¡¯s heart was aching for Yan Rusheng as well, but she felt bad for leaving the children with their grandparents. ¡°But¡­¡± Mu Li dismissed her with a wave of her hands. ¡°Go back, I¡¯ll take care of them. Didn¡¯t I bring up Third Yan?¡± Yan Weihong snorted loudly in contempt. ¡°Hmph!¡± It was actually the old madam who actually brought up Yan Rusheng. Mu Li gave him a deathly glare. ¡°In that case¡­ I¡¯ll go back first. When Ah Sheng wakes up, I¡¯ll carry them back.¡± Xuxu decided to stop turning Mu Li down. She stood up and walked towards the door. Mu Li suddenly thought of something. ¡°Xuxu,¡± said Mu Li. Xuxu turned around and asked, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°They will definitely get hungry later.¡± Mu Li continued, ¡°Third Yan and you can go to your old room and sleep. I will go to your matrimonial room since the diapers and milk powder are all inside.¡± Indeed, they would need feeding several times in the night. Xuxu nodded and agreed. She went back to the room to find Yan Rusheng sitting with his arms folded across his chest, looking pleased. Xuxu feigned nonchalance and spoke, ¡°Mother wants us to sleep somewhere else. She will sleep with the twins here.¡± Did that mean that they wouldn¡¯t need to take care of the children tonight? Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Great!¡± He scrambled to his feet, grabbed Xuxu¡¯s wrist, and led her to the door. Xuxu flung Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand away. ¡°You go to my room. I¡¯ll go to Yueyue¡¯s room.¡± She immediately strode towards Su Yue¡¯s room. How could Yan Rusheng allow that to happen? He darted after her and lifted her up before proceeding towards her room. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xuxu got a shock. She hit Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Let me down!¡± Mu Li¡¯s voice sounded behind them. ¡°Yan Rusheng, Xuxu is still doing her confinement.¡± Her message was clear that he could not do certain things with her yet. Yan Rusheng was speechless. Why was this old lady poking her nose into their affairs? Xuxu flushed and buried her head in Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. She then dug her fingernails into his flesh. But it didn¡¯t affect Yan Rusheng at all. Xuxu¡¯s room was left unoccupied for a long time and it was a little stuffy. Yan Rusheng opened the windows before drawing the curtains. Chapter 1105. Yan Rusheng, Are You Human? (part Three) Xuxu laid down on the bed and covered herself with a blanket. She looked as though she didn¡¯t intend to move anymore. Yan Rusheng walked over and climbed onto the bed. He snuggled up to Xuxu and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Wife, this is the first time I¡¯ve slept in your bedchamber.¡± Xuxu was speechless. His tone hinted that he had thought of something shameless and indecent. She raised her eyebrows, looking angry. ¡°You¡¯ve tainted this room!¡± Yan Rusheng immediately understood what Xuxu meant by ¡®tainted¡¯ . His heart seemed to tighten, and his arms, in turn, tightened around her body. ¡°You still remembered?¡± breathed Yan Rusheng. ¡°Move away from me.¡± Xuxu struggled against him but couldn¡¯t escape from his embrace. So she ignored him and closed her eyes. In such a situation, Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t continue to tease her. He pouted and sighed heavily. Without being disturbed by the children, Yan Rusheng fell into a deep sleep. Xuxu heard the man¡¯s even and heavy breathing shortly after. She opened her eyes and was unable to sleep. She had been waking up several times in the night for days in a row, and it was hard for her to go back to sleep after she woke up. Her temples were throbbing. Xuxu maintained that position for fear of waking Yan Rusheng up. Her eyes were wandering around the room, surveying everything. She had stayed in that room ever since she came to the Yan family at the age of four. The room had a major renovation once, and they changed everything including the furniture according to her wishes. Grandmother had always allowed her to make her own decisions. ¡®Xuxu, I¡¯ve learned a new dish. Come over for dinner on the weekends¡­¡¯ ¡®Grandmother will always be by your side to support you¡­¡¯ ¡®Grandmother, I miss you so much,¡¯ Xuxu thought to herself. ¡­ For the next few days, Mu Li and the nanny took care of the children at night. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu continued to sleep in Xuxu¡¯s bedroom. Young Master Yan had a night of sleep since he didn¡¯t need to change diapers or prepare milk. He woke up early in the morning, looking refreshed in his loose pajamas. Yan Rusheng moved some clothes he wore often over to Xuxu¡¯s room. After washing up, he stripped naked in front of Xuxu. Xuxu blushed furiously and averted her eyes. Yan Rusheng noticed her and teased her, ¡°Which part of my body did you not see before?¡± He spoke as he put on a short-sleeved white shirt with crystal buttons. He took his time as he buttoned his shirt. He was only wearing his underwear and it revealed his muscular thighs. Xuxu¡¯s face was still flushed and she changed the topic. ¡°It¡¯s Friday today. Aren¡¯t you attending the event tonight?¡± Yan Rusheng answered airily, ¡°Depends.¡± Xuxu pressed on, ¡°They¡¯re right. You should attend since the new party secretary will be there. We must forge connections with the government.¡± Yan Rusheng bent to wear his pants after buttoning his shirt. He casually glanced at Xuxu and replied, ¡°Only if you kiss me.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s up to you!¡± She turned around with her back facing Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng walked to the bed and bent to nudge Xuxu. ¡°Wife.¡± Xuxu appeared to have not heard him so he corrected himself. ¡°Darling.¡± Xuxu continued to ignore him. He continued, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman!¡± She suddenly sat upright and knelt on the bed. She put her arms around Yan Rusheng¡¯s neck. She gave him a swift peck on his lips. She then released her grip and sat down. She eyed him, looking rigid. ¡°All right? Are you attending?¡± Chapter 1106. Yan Rusheng, Are You Human? (part Four) Yan Rusheng licked his lips and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Mmm, this is acceptable.¡± Xuxu ignored his remarks. In a serious tone, she asked, ¡°What is Paramount up to these days?¡± Paramount had 30% of their shares; that was the most pressing issue they had to tackle. She had no idea what Yan Rusheng and Su Yan were planning, but they seemed confident. Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°Jiang Shaomei came to find me a few days ago. She tried to add more of her people.¡± He sneered coldly as he continued. ¡°She can continue dreaming.¡± ¡®How could he allow Jiang Shaomei to disrupt and take control of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s management?¡¯ Xuxu thought to herself. She interjected, ¡°Is Su Yan planning to sacrifice himself and use himself as a bait to trap Xin Yanting?¡± ¡°For the sake of Flourish & Prosper, what¡¯s wrong with a little sacrifice?¡± Yan Rusheng remarked with a playful gleam in his eyes, but he didn¡¯t answer her question directly. Xuxu heard him and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Does that mean you will use yourself as bait too?¡± She already had the answer as she knew Su Yan too well. He was a warm and positive person who didn¡¯t enjoy vying with others. But if he had to engage in a ¡®battle¡¯, he was bound to deliver extraordinary results. Yan Rusheng feigned frustration as he frowned. ¡°Wife, I¡¯ve already said that my gun¡­¡± Xuxu knew what he wanted to say, so she immediately shouted. ¡°Stop!¡± She pointed to the door. ¡°The door is there, go now!¡± She laid down and turned her back against Yan Rusheng before covering herself with the blanket. This guy had no qualms throwing such casual and shameless remarks. He always appeared so aloof and arrogant, and yet he could be so bold and unashamed in private. How despicable! Dear Third Madam Yan, if your husband was so horrible, why did you fall in love with him? ¡­ Their lessons ended in the late afternoon. Su Yue and Bai Jing went back to their dormitory. Bai Jing began to pack her belongings. Su Yue asked, ¡°Bai Jing, are you going home today?¡± Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips in disappointment. ¡°I thought you could go to my house tomorrow.¡± Bai Jing managed a weak smile. ¡°If I have nothing on tomorrow, I¡¯ll go. But I have something on at home tonight.¡± When she mentioned her ¡®home¡¯ , her smile became cold and bitter. After she finished her sentence, she looked down again. Su Yue heard her and it cheered her. ¡°Okay, then I shall go home tonight too.¡± It would be boring to stay alone in the dormitory. ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing nodded and didn¡¯t speak any further. Bai Jing had finished packing her bag and she bade Su Yue goodbye. ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Su Yue began to pack her bag as well. She had more stuff to pack since she bought presents for her niece and nephew¡ªnot forgetting Xuxu as well. Bai Jing watched her and reminded her, ¡°Get your Third Brother to call someone to fetch you.¡± She sounded like an elder talking to a child. Anyone who was slightly more mature or sensible than Su Yue would naturally sound like a long-winded elderly person next to her. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Don¡¯t worry and go.¡± Su Yue waved her hands. Bai Jing shut the door after her. It was October and the weather was getting cooler. There was a light breeze which ruffled Bai Jing¡¯s hair. She tucked some strands of her hair behind her ears as she walked towards the entrance. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± A vaguely familiar man¡¯s voice suddenly sounded. Chapter 1107. Yan Rusheng, Are You Human? (part Five) Bai Jing tried to recall the owner of this voice. When she did, annoyance flashed before her eyes. She then turned around and looked at the man who was walking towards her. ¡°Professor Zhao,¡± she greeted plainly. As usual, Zhao Zheng exuded an air of refined charm. He walked over to her and asked with a smile, ¡°Heading home?¡± Bai Jing nodded in agreement. She bowed her head slightly. She didn¡¯t like him either. He gave off a sinister vibe. Zhao Zheng asked, ¡°You¡¯re not with Su Yue?¡± Bai Jing shook her head slightly. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Is she still in the hostel?¡± Zhao Zheng asked, glancing at the third floor. Bai Jing nodded. He pressed his lips together, looking disappointed. ¡°I was planning on taking you two out for a meal.¡± Bai Jing smiled. ¡°Thank you, Professor Zhao, but we¡¯re both heading home today.¡± ¡°Next time,¡± Zhao Zheng said. He then flipped out his phone and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your phone number?¡± Bai Jing didn¡¯t want to give him her number, but he had already taken out his phone. Since she didn¡¯t want to be rude, she recited it for him. She then said, ¡°Professor Zhao, someone is here to pick me up and is waiting at the gate. I¡¯ll make a move.¡± She turned on her heel, ready to leave. Zhao Zheng smiled and said, ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯ve seen your grades. Su Yue¡¯s grades are incomparable to yours. You won¡¯t lose to her. Keep up the good work.¡± Bai Jing knew that he was trying to sow discord between the two of them, but uncontrollable happiness bubbled within her. ¡®Su Yue¡¯s grades are incomparable to yours; You won¡¯t lose to her¡­¡¯ That¡¯s right, she only lost to her when it came to fate. She was rich, beautiful and had character, so naturally, she caught everyone¡¯s eye. Whenever both of them were together, they would always see Su Yue first. But what could she do? Su Yue was indeed capable, innocent and kind. Hmph! So¡­ Bai Jing smiled at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Sometimes, we still have to resign to our fate.¡± She then turned on her heel and walked towards the East gate, not turning back. When he heard her words, his expression froze. Why did he feel like she was asking him to resign to his fate? What fate should he resign to? Resign to the fact that Yan Rusheng was better than him? The only difference between the two of them was their family background. If they compared anything else, what did Yan Rusheng have that he didn¡¯t? Hmph! Zhao Zheng watched her retreating figure. This little lass¡ªhe didn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t find any chinks in her armor. Zhao Zheng was about to leave when he saw a small figure exiting the dormitory. A smile framed his face. ¡°Su Yue.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Su Yue remarked when she saw him. She bowed her head, not meeting his eyes. Zhao Zheng asked, ¡°Going home?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Su Yue replied, nodding. Zhao Zheng walked towards her. ¡°Your Third Brother is coming to fetch you?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t answer his question. Instead, she asked, ¡°Professor Zhao, is anything the matter?¡± The annoyance on her face was clear as day. ¡°Nothing, nothing,¡± Zhao Zheng said, shaking his head. ¡°I was just worried about you after the recent school forum incident. I¡¯ve been wanting to check up on you for some time now, but I¡¯ve been busy.¡± The corner of his lips lifted in a mocking smile. Su Yue didn¡¯t know how to read facial expressions. She solely used her gut feeling. Those whom she liked, she treated well; Those whom she didn¡¯t, she ignored. Chapter 1108. You’ve Been Drugged (part One) She replied, ¡°Thank you, Professor Zhao. I¡¯m fine.¡± Su Yue was unaffected by his mention of that incident. Vexed, Zhao Zheng continued, ¡°Those people went overboard, so don¡¯t take it to heart. See how much your third sister-in-law dotes on you? Those who aren¡¯t even illegitimate daughters might not be as blissful as you.¡± This time, he intentionally used the words ¡®illegitimate daughter¡¯. He had heard that the little lass was so affected by the rumors that she disappeared for an entire afternoon, giving Yan Rusheng and his gang the fright of their lives. Su Yue remained expressionless. ¡°Exactly.¡± She then turned around to leave. Zhao Zheng smiled and added, ¡°So you shouldn¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Su Yue stopped in her tracks and smiled coldly at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Professor Zhao, where did you get the guts to chase my third sister-in-law?¡± The smile on his face went stiff. He froze and his expression fell. ¡°Compared to my Third Brother, you¡¯re ugly, poor, and short,¡± Su Yue said with a condescending smile. Without waiting for his reply, she bounded for the East Gate. No matter how dim-witted she was, she could still tell that Zhao Zheng was exasperating her on purpose. He had mentioned the words ¡®illegitimate daughter¡¯ on purpose¡ªwhy shouldn¡¯t she scold him? He wasn¡¯t as good looking as her Third Brother, what more, he was such a nuisance. She didn¡¯t want to talk to him, but he insisted on striking up a conversation. Nuisance, nuisance, nuisance. Zhao Zheng almost spouted blood. His face turned red, then went cold. This little lass, she was a replica of Yan Rusheng¡ªproud, conceited and disrespectful. ¡®Hmph!¡¯ ¡­ When Bai Jing returned home, Lei Yong pulled her into a room. He threw her a pale pink gown. ¡°Since you couldn¡¯t win Miss Su over, you have to behave well today. President Chen will be there as well.¡± The gown hit her and she shivered. She didn¡¯t grab it so it fell to the floor. Lei Yong frowned and gritted his teeth. He glared at her, asking, ¡°What? You¡¯re unwilling?¡± Bai Jing clenched her fists, glaring at Lei Yong with hatred. ¡°Why should I listen to you?¡± Lei Yong roared. ¡°Because you stepped through the doors of the Lei household. The moment you returned home with your mother, you became a part of the Lei family. It¡¯s only right that you contribute.¡± He then pointed at Bai Jing, his eyes widening even more. ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m warning you. This will be the last time you¡¯re talking back to me.¡± Bai Jing remained adamant. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. Why must I help your family?¡± She felt indignant. Her father raised her for 18 years. Why did she have to sacrifice for someone else¡¯s gain? Seeing Bai Jing¡¯s stubbornness, Lei Yong seethed with anger. ¡°Feisty now, aren¡¯t you?¡± He stretched and grabbed Bai Jing by the neck. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes widened and she felt death grip her. Immediately, Lei Yong lowered his head and smashed his lips over hers. Bai Jing felt like puking from disgust. She tried to push Lei Yong away desperately but to no avail. ¡°Aren¡¯t you acting pure?¡± Lei Yong asked, gritting his teeth as he ripped her clothes. Bai Jing shrieked in fear. ¡°Ahh¡­ Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t¡­¡± She shook her head desperately, her tears flowing in fright. Then the door knocked open from the outside. ¡°Stop!¡± A tall and slim woman walked in and witnessed Lei Yong¡¯s actions. Without hesitation, she took off her shoes and hit him with them. ¡°You shameless scoundrel. How dare you do this to Xiaojing.¡± Chapter 1109. You’ve Been Drugged (part Two) Lei Yong didn¡¯t shun her attacks even though they landed heavily on his arms. His expression hardened even more. His grip on Bai Jing¡¯s neck tightened and Bai Jing¡¯s face was turning purple. She looked at Zhang Lihong pleadingly. ¡°Ahh¡­ Save me¡­¡± Zhang Lihong was badly frightened. She looked at Lei Yong and said in a trembling voice, ¡°Lei Yong, quickly let go off Xiaojing.¡± Lei Yong didn¡¯t heed her words. He commanded, ¡°Get out.¡± Zhang Lihong continued, ¡°Let go of her, you beast.¡± She walked over to him and pounded her fists at him. Lei Yong suddenly let go of Bai Jing but gripped onto Zhang Lihong¡¯s neck instead. He forced her to look at him. He said, ¡°Then you can take her place. My father is not in; he brought Tiantian out.¡± Then, using his other hand, he ripped open Zhang Lihong¡¯s clothes. All the buttons on her blouse popped off¡ªno button was spared. It revealed Zhang Lihong¡¯s fair skin. Seeing the scene that unfolded before her, Bai Jing froze in fright. She stared at Lei Yong, as though he was a demon. ¡®This man is too scary.¡¯ She shook her head, flustered as she retreated. ¡°Lei Yong, you beast,¡± Zhang Lihong chided as she slapped him across the face. There was a mixture of embarrassment and anger on her face. The slap awoke his inner beast. He stretched and lifted Zhang Lihong¡¯s skirt, grabbing onto her panties. He was ready to pull them down. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Bai Jing suddenly shouted. She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lei Yong stopped mid-action. He looked at Bai Jing and raised his eyebrows. ¡°You¡¯ve decided to come?¡± Bai Jing took a deep breath, closing her eyes in despair. Her eyelashes were trembling as she said, ¡°I promise you, I¡¯ll follow your instructions tonight.¡± Lei Yong smirked. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have said this earlier?¡± He then let go of Zhang Lihong and pushed her away. He pointed at the gown on the floor and said to Bai Jing, ¡°Change into it. Someone will be here in a while to do your hair and makeup.¡± He then turned and walked out. ¡°Xiaojing.¡± Zhang Lihong pulled down her skirt, turning around to hug Bai Jing. Crying, she said, ¡°Xiaojing, I¡¯ve let you down. I dragged you into this.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s face was still strewn with tears. Her gaze was as cold as ice. She pushed Zhang Lihong away with all her might and roared, ¡°Scram!¡± She pushed Zhang Lihong out of the room. Zhang Lihong grabbed onto her hand. ¡°Xiaojing, I know you hate me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not my mother,¡± Bai Jing cried. ¡°You left my father and I for this family to live this kind of filthy life? I don¡¯t want to see you. You disgust me.¡± She then pushed her out and slammed the door shut. She leaned against the door and she slid down slowly, squatting as she bawled silently. Zhang Lihong stood still at the door. She turned around, walking towards the staircase. When she walked past the study room, the door suddenly opened. Someone grabbed her and pulled her into the room. She was shocked but seeing who it was; she heaved a sigh of relief. She then stared at him unhappily. ¡°You went overboard.¡± Lei Yong smiled coldly. ¡°Would she give in if I didn¡¯t?¡± Zhang Lihong became serious. ¡°I¡¯m warning you: she¡¯s still my daughter. If you really give her to President Chen, that old pervert, I won¡¯t let you off.¡± Lei Yong ignored her, lowering his head to give her a peck. He slid his hands into her clothes as he said, ¡°The old man isn¡¯t around today.¡± Chapter 1110. You’ve Been Drugged (part Three) ¡°Go.¡± Zhang Lihong pushed him away. But she enjoyed his touch and snuggled into his arms, unraveling quickly. ¡­ They held the government event in a normal hotel with no lavish furnishings. They didn¡¯t serve expensive wine, abalone or sea cucumber. But all the guests were respectable big shots from the capital city. Out of the group of Young Masters, Yan Rusheng was late. He came directly from the office, so he was wearing the same clothes that he had on earlier. The moment he entered, all eyes were on him. Everyone greeted him as they walked by. He nodded slightly. He walked towards Lu Yinan and the group. Lu Yinan looked at Yan Rusheng and asked with a smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯re not coming?¡± Yan Rusheng glared at him. ¡°I have you guys to thank for that.¡± If they hadn¡¯t mentioned the event in front of Xuxu, about the new committee secretary, how would she know about it? How would she force him to come? But it wasn¡¯t considered ¡®forcing¡¯; rather it was a form of persuasion¡ªand with a kiss. Mm. Happiness filled his heart almost immediately. ¡°Have you become your wife¡¯s slave?¡± Lu Yinan flashed him a smile full of mockery as he rested one arm on his shoulder and a wineglass in his other hand. ¡°If Xuxu wanted you to go left, you wouldn¡¯t dare to go right.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled, composed. ¡°You can¡¯t even be your wife¡¯s slave.¡± He hit Young Master Lu¡¯s sore spot and his expression fell. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Those around him laughed. Everyone knew that Young Master Lu was chasing Zhou Shuang. Of course, they knew that he was only doing it because she was pregnant with his three children. His family left him with no choice. Someone else joined in to mock Lu Yinan. ¡°My father met your grandfather the other day. Your grandfather said that if you don¡¯t marry Zhou Shuang before she gives birth, they should strike your name off the Zhou family tree.¡± Young Master Lu glared at him. ¡°Quit rubbing my nose in it.¡± ¡°Have you seen him?¡± He then changed the topic and pointed at a middle-aged man not too far off. ¡°The new committee secretary, dispatched here from City A. I heard that he¡¯s an impartial and incorruptible official.¡± ¡°Is that President Chen who¡¯s talking to him?¡± someone asked, pointing at the slightly plump man standing beside the committee secretary. Someone nodded. ¡°Yup, that old pervert.¡± ¡°How do you know that he¡¯s a pervert?¡± ¡°An insider told me he ¡®visited¡¯ two women when he went abroad on a business trip.¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve felt good.¡± ¡°Exactly, I haven¡¯t tried it before.¡± The more they discussed, the more sexual the topic became. Yan Rusheng was fine, but for Ming Ansheng, who hadn¡¯t looked for women in quite some time, it made him¡­ red in the face. It got his blood pumping. The few young masters heatedly discussed while Yan Rusheng eyed them with disdain. He didn¡¯t want to associate himself with them so he started walking towards the new committee secretary. Ming Ansheng followed behind him. ¡°President Yan, President Ming.¡± When they were still some distance away, the lecherous President Chen whom they were discussing earlier smiled as he walked over to greet them. Ming Ansheng smiled faintly. ¡°President Chen.¡± Yan Rusheng was known as the most arrogant and haughty, so of course, he didn¡¯t bother with the pleasantries. At most, he gave a glance. His hands were tucked into his tuxedo pockets as he walked past President Chen. He went straight to the new secretary. Chapter 1111. You’ve Been Drugged (part Four) ! Ming Ansheng followed. ¡°Secretary Wang.¡± Yan Rusheng greeted plainly when he arrived before him. His wife had instructed him to do so. He had to be on good terms with the government officials as they were bound to have dealings in the future. Yes, so he had to force on a smile when he greeted the secretary. ¡°Secretary Wang,¡± Ming Ansheng greeted soon after. Secretary Wang looked at both of them and smiled. ¡°The youngest successful businessmen in the capital city.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled faintly. ¡°Secretary Wang, you¡¯re too kind.¡± ¡°I heard that Flourish & Prosper¡¯s project in Chengnan will be completed by the start of next year. Congratulations, President Yan,¡± President Chen interjected. Yan Rusheng smiled but kept his silence. The crowd around the secretary became bigger after Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng joined. The guests were engaged in their own conversations. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng listened in, only giving brief replies when the topic came to them. ¡°President Chen.¡± Someone entered, calling out to him from afar. It was a powerful voice and everyone looked over instinctively. Even Yan Rusheng glanced over. It shocked him. ¡®Bai Jing?¡¯ Bai Jing was wearing a pale pink gown. Her hair and makeup had been beautifully done. She was carrying a golden Chanel bag. He almost couldn¡¯t recognize her after her makeover. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows as he sized Bai Jing up. He then retracted his gaze. ¡°Third Yan, isn¡¯t that Bai Jing?¡± Ming Ansheng whispered. ¡°Who¡¯s that man beside her?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°The President of Grand Prosperity Molds, Lei Yong.¡± ¡°Grand Prosperity Molds? Lei Yong?¡± Ming Ansheng took a while to recall the company name. ¡°Lei Minghe?¡± Grand Prosperity Molds wasn¡¯t a huge company. They considered it ordinary among the many corporations in the capital city. The surname ¡®Lei¡¯ only triggered his memory. Yan Rusheng nodded his head. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Then Bai Jing.¡± Yan Rusheng knew what Ming Ansheng was curious about. ¡°Lei Minghe is Bai Jing¡¯s stepfather.¡± The answer was explanatory. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°I see.¡± All along, he only knew that her stepfather was wealthy. He didn¡¯t know her exact situation. President Chen walked up to Lei Yong and greeted him with a smile. ¡°Oh, President Lei.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been awhile,¡± Lei Yong said. ¡°Yes, it has.¡± President Chen nodded. His gaze shifted onto Bai Jing, who was standing beside him. His eyes brightened. ¡°This is?¡± President Chen pointed at Bai Jing and asked Lei Yong. Lei Yong introduced, ¡°This is my younger sister, Bai Jing.¡± Shock flashed cross President Chen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your younger sister?¡± Lei Yong knew what he was confused about. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. We reconciled recently.¡± In such a setting, how could he say that Bai Jing is a child who his stepmother had with another man? It would tarnish the Lei¡¯s reputation. ¡°This little lass is in senior middle school?¡± President Chen asked, his gaze glued on Bai Jing. Bai Jing knew that this was the man Lei Yong had mentioned, and she was frightened. She gripped the strap of her bag tightly, not daring to look at President Chen. Lei Yong saw this, so with a smile, he answered on her behalf. ¡°She¡¯s in her first year of university.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± President Chen replied. Then he added, ¡°Which university?¡± Lei Yong replied, ¡°A University.¡± Chapter 1112. You’ve Been Drugged (part Five) ¡°Oh, she must be outstanding,¡± President Chen praised. ¡°I had a meal with your principal not too long ago. My company manufactures all the receipts in your school.¡± He sounded so arrogant. Ming Ansheng smirked mockingly. ¡°That¡¯s too low class.¡± ¡°Is there even any class?¡± Yan Rusheng refuted, rolling his eyes. He then turned around and said to Secretary Wang, ¡°Secretary Wang, I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± He started walking back towards Lu Yinan and the rest. Ming Ansheng watched Yan Rusheng and shook his head. If they compared the sharpness of the tongue, he would lose to Yan Rusheng by a mile. He hurriedly greeted the secretary and followed Yan Rusheng. Both of them walked by Bai Jing. Bai Jing lifted her head just in time to see Yan Rusheng walk past. Shock filled her face, then panic. Yan Rusheng was in the crowd earlier, so she wasn¡¯t able to see him. But now that he appeared before her, she felt so ugly and inferior. Because today she was¡­ she was a sacrifice for Lei Yong¡¯s gain. Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze swept over Bai Jing. Bai Jing lowered her head upon seeing him, so he didn¡¯t stop in his tracks. But Ming Ansheng did. He smiled at her. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Bai Jing nodded, replying softly, ¡°Young Master Ming.¡± She slowly lifted her head to look at him. Ming Ansheng talked to her as though nobody was around. ¡°You¡¯re not in school, so has Yueyue returned home?¡± Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Yup, she said she would.¡± Lei Yong saw Ming Ansheng having a conversation with Bai Jing and it pleasantly surprised him. He asked Bai Jing, ¡°Xiaojing, you know President Ming?¡± He looked at Ming Ansheng, trying to curry favor with him. But Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t even look at him. Still looking at Bai Jing, he said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, Lu Yinan and myself are over there with the others. When you¡¯re free, I¡¯ll introduce you to them.¡± Bai Jing nodded and agreed. Ming Ansheng smiled and walked back towards the group. ¡°Bai Jing, how do you know President Ming?¡± Lei Yong asked her excitedly. He was very surprised to know that Bai Jing knew Ming Ansheng. She plainly replied, ¡°He¡¯s friends with Su Yue¡¯s third sister-in-law.¡± She had purposely mentioned ¡®Su Yue¡¯s third sister-in-law¡¯ to avoid saying Yan Rusheng¡¯s name. She felt like she was unworthy to even mention his name. He was so elegant and refined, yet she was¡­ The more she thought about it, the lower she bowed her head. She wanted to crawl into a hole. ¡°President Lei, I booked a private room upstairs. You¡¯re welcome to have a seat later,¡± President Chen said to Lei Yong. ¡°I see some familiar faces. I¡¯m going over to greet them.¡± Lei Yong nodded and agreed. After President Chen left, Lei Yong held Bai Jing¡¯s waist and pushed her forward. ¡°If you win Miss Su over, you don¡¯t have to play up to President Chen that old fogey.¡± Bai Jing bowed her head in silence. Her grip on her bag tightened and her gaze was filled with hatred. ¡°The look Lei Yong gives Bai Jing seems inappropriate,¡± Ming Ansheng said when he returned to the group. They were chatting happily, but he didn¡¯t forget to observe Bai Jing. Because she was Su Yue¡¯s good friend¡ªher only friend. Given his intellect, how could he not tell what was on Lei Yong¡¯s mind? However, there was nothing much he could do. Yan Rusheng sipped on his red wine, glancing over at Bai Jing and Lei Yong, but he remained silent. Chapter 1113. You’ve Been Drugged (part Six) ! ¡°Ah Heng is here.¡± Someone suddenly said. Everyone looked over. Jiang Zhuoheng was wearing an ash-gray long-sleeved shirt and silvery-gray tuxedo pants. He walked in. Lu Yinan said, ¡°This fellow is always late. He¡¯s always the last to arrive for any occasion.¡± ¡°Ah Heng.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng hadn¡¯t seen them, so Ming Ansheng waved him over. He looked over and smiled before making his way over. Not long after, a tall and slim woman entered behind him. Everyone was shocked. The gang looked at one other, and Lu Yinan was the first to react. He smiled at the woman behind him. ¡°Miss Hu is here too.¡± Someone interjected, ¡°What ¡®Miss Hu¡¯ ? She¡¯s the future Madam Heng.¡± Everyone smiled but¡­ shock was clear on their faces. Hu Xiaoxiao was embarrassed. ¡°Why are you all making fun of your old classmates?¡± Lu Yinan smiled and replied, ¡°Ah Heng has finally brought you along to see the world.¡± He then glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng, his eyes full of hidden meaning. Jiang Zhuoheng remained expressionless, ignoring him. Hu Xiaoxiao smiled and explained, ¡°We met by coincidence.¡± ¡°Look, she¡¯s embarrassed.¡± Everyone knew that Jiang Zhuoheng and Hu Xiaoxiao¡¯s engagement was a forced one, so they said nothing much. ¡°Tonight seems like a mini gathering, a pity that Zhou Shuang and Xuxu aren¡¯t here.¡± ¡°Xuxu has already been promoted to a mother and Zhou Shuang is a mother-to-be, so this scene doesn¡¯t suit them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Next time you guys have to hire a young and pretty secretary and bring her along for social activities.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan doesn¡¯t need a secretary. There are plenty of pretty nurses in the hospital for him to choose from.¡± They didn¡¯t forget to make fun of Lu Yinan. He coldly glared at them. ¡°What can you expect from a hog but a grunt?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go over and have a chat with a few others,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng said. He then turned around and walked to the center of the hall. Hu Xiaoxiao nodded and followed after him. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not too bad if Jiang Zhuoheng marries Hu Xiaoxiao,¡± someone said as he watched them leave. He analyzed, ¡°Hu Xiaoxiao is capable. She can definitely help Ah Heng in his career in the future.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. Hu Xiaoxiao is not any worse than Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng was unhappy. ¡°Who says?¡± All of them were speechless. They had forgotten that the wife¡¯s slave was around. Wen Xuxu was the prettiest and most capable in his eyes. ¡°Yes, yes, yes, your Wen Xuxu is the most beautiful and capable woman in the capital city. Happy now?¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t bother with him. He leaned against the corner of the table and looked at his watch. It was almost nine. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± Lu Yinan smiled mockingly. ¡°Isn¡¯t your Wen Xuxu still in confinement? What are you going back so early for?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled coldly. ¡°To hug my wife and son to sleep. You can continue being green with envy.¡± He then ignored him and started walking towards the crowded area. He bid goodbyes to familiar faces and prepared to leave. Chapter 1114. Youve Been Drugged (part Seven) ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry. I just made her drink two glasses of wine with President Chen. I won¡¯t let anything happen to her.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± A familiar male voice sounded from the staircase landing. When Yan Rusheng walked past it, the door was closed. It was Lei Yong! The ¡® her¡¯ he was referring to was Bai Jing, wasn¡¯t it? He ¡®made Bai Jing drink two glasses of wine with President Chen¡¯ ? Like Ming Ansheng, he knew that Lei Yong didn¡¯t bring Bai Jing along for innocent reasons. But he didn¡¯t expect him to make her drink with the perverted President Chen. Disgust flashed across Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. He could no longer hear Lei Yong¡¯s voice, so he knew that he had ended his call. Yan Rusheng remained expressionless as he walked over to the lift. The moment he did, Lei Yong emerged from the staircase landing. Yan Rusheng stood by the lift, and he pressed the lift button. He glanced over to see Lei Yong reenter the ballroom. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, unmoving. Ding. The lift doors opened. He was about to enter, but he froze when he lifted his head. ¡°Bai Jing?¡± Bai Jing was in the lift, leaning against the side of the lift. Her face and body were flushed and her hair was slightly messy. One look and he knew that something was up. ¡°Third Brother, save me,¡± Bai Jing pleaded. She felt like she had met her savior so she flew towards him, hugging onto him tightly. ¡°Save me, I don¡¯t want to sleep with that old man. I don¡¯t want to¡ª¡± She started bawling, her grip never loosening on his shirt. Yan Rusheng entered the lift and the doors closed. He pushed her away forcefully. She was burning up and by the looks of it, one could tell that she had been drugged. ¡°Calm down, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Bai Jing was losing consciousness. She was shaking her head violently and terror seized her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t want to sleep with that old man¡­¡± She said as she held on tightly to her clothes. Yan Rusheng grabbed her hands. ¡°Bai Jing, listen to me. You¡¯re safe now. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital and everything will be fine.¡± The lift reached the first floor after he had finished his sentence. Yan Rusheng dragged Bai Jing out of the lift. The main lobby was filled with people. Yan Rusheng reminded her softly, ¡°There are many people here, so hang in there for a while longer.¡± She was still in university. If the news that she had been drugged broke out, it didn¡¯t matter if anything happened to her¡ªit would be difficult for her to continue staying in school. His voice was effective in calming her down. In an instant, Bai Jing seemed to regain some consciousness. She obediently nodded her head. Bai Jing seemed like she was tipsy. Yan Rusheng held her by the elbow and led her out. Yan Rusheng called for his chauffeur to drive to the main entrance. He opened the door and stuffed Bai Jing into the back row. He then got into the front passenger seat. ¡°Go to the nearest hospital,¡± he ordered. He took out his phone and called Xuxu. Xuxu was feeding the children their milk with Mu Li by her side. Su Yue was like a curious toddler, observing by the side. After hearing her phone ring, Xuxu put everything aside and looked for her phone. When she saw who was calling, she picked it up. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± She knew that Yan Rusheng was attending a corporate event, so she was curious as to why he was phoning her. Over the phone, Yan Rusheng told her about Bai Jing¡¯s situation. Xuxu was outraged. ¡°That damned man, he¡¯s worse than a beast.¡± Chapter 1115. You’ve Been Drugged (part Eight) ¡°You have to take her to the hospital.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When she ended the call, Su Yue worriedly asked, ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing much, someone drank too much.¡± Xuxu smiled and shook her head before adding, ¡°Quickly go back to your room and turn in for the night.¡± She didn¡¯t want to tell Su Yue about Bai Jing¡¯s situation. It was already so late, and she didn¡¯t want her to worry. Besides, she didn¡¯t know how to tell her about the drugging. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go back to my room.¡± Su Yue obediently nodded and said, ¡°Goodnight third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± Xuxu watched Su Yue leave the room and became melancholic again. If the little lass were to find out about Bai Jing¡¯s incident, she didn¡¯t know what would happen. Previously, when she was unhappy with Fang Jiayin, her method of revenge was too extreme. When Bai Jing¡¯s father was hospitalized, Bai Jing¡¯s mother tried to drag her home a couple of times. At that time, she had already realized that Su Yue was staring at Bai Jing¡¯s mother with hostility. If she hadn¡¯t consoled Su Yue in time, she would have definitely retaliated with drastic measures. She needed time to adjust her character. ¡­ After the effects of the drug wore off, Bai Jing woke up. She opened her eyes and warily looked around. Shock flashed across her eyes when she saw Yan Rusheng and the fear left her. ¡°Third Brother, why am I with you? This is¡­¡± She looked around the room and asked, ¡°Am I in the hospital?¡± She hugged her chest in a protective instinct. ¡°Mm.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. He then looked at his watch and stood up. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling uncomfortable, let¡¯s go.¡± He picked up his phone from the bedside cabinet. Bai Jing stared after him. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Fear gripped her once again. Yan Rusheng knew what she was worried about. She was afraid that he would send her back to the Lei family. He plainly said, ¡°Xuxu asked me to bring you to our place.¡± Bai Jing heaved a sigh of relief. She looked at him and thanked him sincerely. ¡°Thank you, Third Brother.¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It was almost two in the morning. Bai Jing nodded and immediately flipped over the covers. She was still in her pale pink gown which reached her knees. She didn¡¯t notice that her skirt lifted when she got off the bed. She flushed awkwardly, quickly adjusting her skirt. She sneaked a glance at Yan Rusheng. But Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t looking at her. His head was bowed and he was smiling at his phone. She wondered what made him smile so warmly. Bai Jing was in a trance as she stared at him. Yan Rusheng suddenly said into his phone, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± His voice brought her out of her trance. Disappointment flashed across her eyes. So he was texting Su Yue¡¯s third sister-in-law. Yan Rusheng sat in the front passenger seat and Bai Jing sat in the back row. They didn¡¯t talk throughout the entire ride. When Yan Rusheng reached home, he couldn¡¯t wait to head upstairs. He pushed open the doors. Xuxu was sitting by the bedside, breastfeeding. She looked wide awake. ¡°Where¡¯s Bai Jing?¡± asked Xuxu the moment she saw Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°I brought her here.¡± Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Oh, then you can ask her to sleep in my room.¡± She then thought about it and said, ¡°Never mind, let me do it.¡± After placing the baby in her arms into the crib, she headed outside. Chapter 1116. You’ve Been Drugged (part Nine) Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t insist as it was better for her to do it indeed. Once Xuxu arrived downstairs, she saw Bai Jing still standing in the living room. She appeared battered and exhausted. She felt sorry for the pitiful girl who was of the same age as Su Yue. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Xuxu looked at her and smiled. Bai Jing turned towards Xuxu and she managed a weak smile. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Her smile and voice appeared weak. Xuxu beckoned Bai Jing towards her. ¡°Come up and rest. Why are you standing there?¡± Bai Jing nodded as she shuffled around, looking a little apprehensive before walking to the staircase. She thought the Lei family was affluent and that their mansion was grand and luxurious. But when she saw the Yan family, she truly knew what an understated luxury was. They weren¡¯t as tacky as the Lei family who had clearly adorned their house in gold and jewel to flaunt their wealth. This was the real impressive grandeur that a wealthy family should have. She ascended the stairs as she peered at Xuxu. Xuxu¡¯s smile was warm. She led Bai Jing into her room and turned on the light. Her room was tidy and clean. ¡°This is my room, you can sleep here.¡± She went to her wardrobe and found some clean pajamas for Bai Jing. ¡°Yueyue is asleep, but you can wear mine.¡± Bai Jing received it gratefully. ¡°Third sister-in-law, thank you.¡± ¡°Silly girl, this is nothing.¡± Xuxu patted Bai Jing gently and spoke softly, ¡°Hungry?¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°I am not.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Alright. Take a shower and rest early.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing nodded slowly as she peered at the clothes in her hands. The material was so tender and soft. Instinctively, she clenched her fists. ¡°Bai Jing,¡± Xuxu suddenly called her as she turned around. ¡°In the future, if you feel like going home on the weekends, you can come here with Yueyue.¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips tightly and furiously nodded. After Xuxu left, Bai Jing went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. She put on Xuxu¡¯s pajamas and stood before the mirror to admire her reflection. The exquisite silk pajamas hung loosely on her petite frame. And it was really comfortable to wear. Her hair tumbled casually across her shoulders. The right side of her face had an indistinct finger mark. She stroked it gently. ¡®Wretched girl! Do you think your second brother sent you here to chat with me? Stop pretending!¡¯ Bai Jing¡¯s eyes began to well up with tears. But her tears seemed to freeze almost instantly and was replaced with an icy cold gleam. She stood there for a long time until she could feel her legs go numb. She snapped out of her daze and turned around to leave. The curtains were drawn tightly, the white floral bedsheets seemed clean and new. Bai Jing strode to the bed and sat down. She casually glanced at the wardrobe. She caught a glimpse of shirts and pants that belonged to a man. She stood up and walked towards it as if she was under a spell. Her fingers brushed lightly across the clothes and she stroked it gently. A gentle and dreamy smile appeared on her face. Chapter 1117. Youve Been Drugged (part Ten) Bai Jing bowed her head and sniffed his clothes. It had a faint lingering scent¡­ his scent. Her eyes lovingly brushed across Yan Rusheng¡¯s clothes, and she couldn¡¯t bear to avert her gaze. If only she possessed a man like him, how wonderful¡­ ¡­ Yan Rusheng finished his shower and saw Xuxu sitting on the bed. She looked as if she was wide awake. He grinned as he teased her, ¡°Wife, you can¡¯t sleep without me around?¡± ¡®Why did she appear so energetic, so late in the night?¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Can we have a serious conversation?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded promptly. ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡± He strode across the room and sat beside her. He then wrapped his arms around Xuxu tightly. Xuxu replied, ¡°Yueyue was in the room when you called just now. She asked me what happened, but I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. Xuxu fell silent as Yan Rusheng gazed at her. He raised a brow and asked, ¡°Is that what you wanted to tell me?¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes were still wide open, and she looked completely awake. ¡°I¡¯m not waiting for you. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t sleep,¡± she said with a frown. Yan Rusheng tightened his arms around her and gently probed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu sighed heavily as she grabbed her head out of frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just can¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Did you sleep too much in the day time?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at Xuxu¡¯s eyes and realized that her eye bags were heavy and puffy. He had a good rest for the past two days and didn¡¯t know that Xuxu didn¡¯t manage to sleep well in the night. He knew that she wouldn¡¯t disturb him even if she couldn¡¯t sleep. ¡°I think I¡¯m suffering from insomnia recently. I just can¡¯t fall asleep. Do you think I have depression?¡± Xuxu asked, looking worried. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Why should you be depressed?¡± Yan Rusheng spoke solemnly. ¡°You have twins, your husband is so gorgeous and wealthy. Those people who are envious of you can form a circle around the capital city.¡± Xuxu was exasperated with this narcissistic guy. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve got a lot of cheek to praise yourself!¡± She reckoned that only Yan Rusheng was capable of boasting without turning red in the middle of the night. ¡°My cheek is here. Kiss me.¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at his cheek as he leaned towards her. Xuxu shoved him away. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying. Sleep!¡± She laid down with her back facing Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng dimmed the lamp and laid down. As usual, he wound his arms around Xuxu and he stroked Xuxu¡¯s tummy. ¡°Wife, you said you missed Hooligan Zhou, right? I¡¯ll bring you to Country M for Christmas.¡± His palms were soft and they rubbed against her body gently. Incredibly, Xuxu started to feel sleepy. Xuxu mumbled sleepily and Yan Rusheng knew that she was falling asleep. He fell silent but his palms didn¡¯t cease to move around her waist. When he heard her even and deep breathing, he smiled to himself. Then he inched nearer to kiss her neck. ¡®Good night, Wen Xuxu.¡¯ ¡­ The next morning, Su Yue was overjoyed to see Bai Jing in the dining room. For a moment, she forgot to ask why Bai Jing was around. Yan Rusheng interrupted, ¡°Yesterday night, I met Bai Jing at an event, so I brought her home.¡± Chapter 1118. I Dont Wish to See You Ever Again (part One) Yan Rusheng glanced at Bai Jing, and she understood him. Bai Jing was jealous of Su Yue. She had so many people who loved her, especially a brother like Yan Rusheng. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded and smiled brightly at Bai Jing. It was Saturday and Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t have to go to the office. After breakfast, he went to the study room. Su Yue and Bai Jing went to play with the babies for a while before Mu Li chased them out to allow Xuxu to rest. They went back to Su Yue¡¯s room to chat. An idea struck Su Yue and she said, ¡°Bai Jing, let¡¯s go shopping!¡± Bai Jing frowned. ¡°Huh? Shopping?¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°I have never been out by myself before.¡± Usually, her third sister-in-law would be with her as they were worried about her safety if she went out alone. Bai Jing bowed her head. ¡°Me too.¡± After coming to this bustling city, she went to the shopping mall once after entering the Lei family. She bought so many pretty dresses, accessories, and shoes. But she wasn¡¯t happy. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue jumped to her feet and grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s get money from my third brother.¡± Poor Miss Su was like a child who had to ask for an allowance. Bai Jing felt a little awkward at the thought of asking Yan Rusheng for money. ¡°Forget it,¡± said Bai Jing softly. It was too embarrassing to ask for money. It had been embarrassing enough. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s go!¡± Su Yue dragged her out. When they reached the study, she said to Bai Jing, ¡°Wait here for me. I¡¯ll ask my third brother.¡± She knocked on the door and Bai Jing retreated backward. She didn¡¯t want Yan Rusheng to see her. ¡°Come in.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded and Su Yue opened the door. She peeked in cautiously and smiled at him. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Yan Rusheng knew that she must have a favor to ask of him with a smile like that. He was feeling a little tired after working for two hours and so he stretched himself lazily. He slumped against his chair and took a sip of his water as he eyed the girl. He watched her quietly. Su Yue walked to Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Third Brother, can you give me some money?¡± Yan Rusheng almost spat out his water when he heard Su Yue. He gazed at her, looking amused. ¡°Why do you need money?¡± The little mistress of the Yan family was asking for money like a small child. But he wanted to know why she needed money. Su Yue quipped, ¡°I want to go shopping with Bai Jing. But I only have a hundred yuan. Give me a few hundred more¡­¡± She stopped before changing her mind. ¡°Give me a thousand yuan. For Bai Jing and me.¡± It startled Yan Rusheng that she didn¡¯t even have a thousand yuan with her. If this news traveled to outsiders, they would think that she was being mistreated. He looked at her in doubt. ¡°Why don¡¯t you have any money with you? Didn¡¯t your third sister-in-law give you any? How about your brother?¡± He wasn¡¯t questioning her¡ªit was purely curiosity. Su Yue didn¡¯t think much of it and replied, ¡°I have a credit card but I don¡¯t use it. That clown gave me 100,000 yuan for my birthday which I¡¯ve left at home.¡± ???? That clown???????????????? Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°Wait for me.¡± He bent, opened a drawer, and searched through the contents. He found a credit card and passed it to Su Yue. ¡°You can use this.¡± ¡°Thank you, Third Brother.¡± Su Yue received it and glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Get the chauffeur to send you there.¡± Su Yue refused and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I want to go by myself.¡± ¡°Get the chauffeur,¡± Yan Rusheng repeated sternly once more. Su Yue didn¡¯t dare to protest and pursed her lips. ¡°Alright. But he can¡¯t follow me.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Okay. Call him if you need him.¡± He diverted his attention back to the documents on his desk again. The chauffeur was Su Yue¡¯s personal chauffeur when she was still attending Flourish & Splendor. The chauffeur asked, ¡°Little Miss, where do you want to go?¡± Su Yue answered, ¡°Shopping.¡± The chauffeur was dumbfounded. He worded his question once more. ¡°Which place?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Su Yue deliberated for some time. ¡°Go¡­ to Yifeng mall.¡± Her third sister-in-law had mentioned that the mall belonged to Uncle Ming¡¯s family. And she could only remember the name of that mall. ¡°I got it,¡± The chauffeur responded curtly and drove off. ¡°Bai Jing, did you know?¡± Su Yue spoke slowly as she glanced at Bai Jing. ¡°Yifeng is Uncle Ming¡¯s mall. It¡¯s huge and there is so much delicious food.¡± Bai Jing grunted in reply. She slept after 2 a.m. last night and she woke up early that morning. Sleepiness washed over her in waves as she sat in the car. She gazed sleepily at Su Yue. Su Yue was refreshed and energetic. She looked completely worry-free. The car traveled smoothly for quite a distance as Yifeng was quite far. Bai Jing dozed off in the car. Although it was a premium mall, there were throngs of shoppers on weekends. They entered through the main entrance, and Su Yue pulled Bai Jing inside in sheer excitement. They went to the top level and got themselves a drink before walking around. The third floor was entirely for the ladies, and Su Yue knew only some of the huge international brands. Not to mention Bai Jing, who only knew the really famous brands like Chanel. She only knew all this after she attended Flourish & Splendor. ¡°This store has nice clothes.¡± A mannequin wearing a canary yellow dress had attracted Su Yue¡¯s attention. She tugged at Bai Jing¡¯s clothes. ¡°Go try.¡± Bai Jing glanced at the price tag, and the price shocked her. She furiously shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. You can try if you like it.¡± A dress cost 4000 yuan. How would she be able to afford it? Su Yue suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s try it together. If we look good in that dress, let¡¯s get one for ourselves.¡± Bai Jing refused and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to buy clothes.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips, looking bored. ¡°Forget it then.¡± She dragged Bai Jing along. Bai Jing replied, ¡°If you like it, you should try. It¡¯s too expensive for me though.¡± She had to clearly state what was on her mind, if not Su Yue wouldn¡¯t get it. Su Yue heard her and halted her footsteps. She frowned and said, ¡°Bai Jing. Are you afraid that you can¡¯t afford it?¡± She chided her softly, ¡°I can buy it for you. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Chapter 1119. I Dont Wish to See You Ever Again (part Two) Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°Wait for me.¡± He bent, opened a drawer, and searched through the contents. He found a credit card and passed it to Su Yue. ¡°You can use this.¡± ¡°Thank you, Third Brother.¡± Su Yue received it and glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Get the chauffeur to send you there.¡± Su Yue refused and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I want to go by myself.¡± ¡°Get the chauffeur,¡± Yan Rusheng repeated sternly once more. Su Yue didn¡¯t dare to protest and pursed her lips. ¡°Alright. But he can¡¯t follow me.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Okay. Call him if you need him.¡± He diverted his attention back to the documents on his desk again. The chauffeur was Su Yue¡¯s personal chauffeur when she was still attending Flourish & Splendor. The chauffeur asked, ¡°Little Miss, where do you want to go?¡± Su Yue answered, ¡°Shopping.¡± The chauffeur was dumbfounded. He worded his question once more. ¡°Which place?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Su Yue deliberated for some time. ¡°Go¡­ to Yifeng mall.¡± Her third sister-in-law had mentioned that the mall belonged to Uncle Ming¡¯s family. And she could only remember the name of that mall. ¡°I got it,¡± The chauffeur responded curtly and drove off. ¡°Bai Jing, did you know?¡± Su Yue spoke slowly as she glanced at Bai Jing. ¡°Yifeng is Uncle Ming¡¯s mall. It¡¯s huge and there is so much delicious food.¡± Bai Jing grunted in reply. She slept after 2 a.m. last night and she woke up early that morning. Sleepiness washed over her in waves as she sat in the car. She gazed sleepily at Su Yue. Su Yue was refreshed and energetic. She looked completely worry-free. The car traveled smoothly for quite a distance as Yifeng was quite far. Bai Jing dozed off in the car. Although it was a premium mall, there were throngs of shoppers on weekends. They entered through the main entrance, and Su Yue pulled Bai Jing inside in sheer excitement. They went to the top level and got themselves a drink before walking around. The third floor was entirely for the ladies, and Su Yue knew only some of the huge international brands. Not to mention Bai Jing, who only knew the really famous brands like Chanel. She only knew all this after she attended Flourish & Splendor. ¡°This store has nice clothes.¡± A mannequin wearing a canary yellow dress had attracted Su Yue¡¯s attention. She tugged at Bai Jing¡¯s clothes. ¡°Go try.¡± Bai Jing glanced at the price tag, and the price shocked her. She furiously shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. You can try if you like it.¡± A dress cost 4000 yuan. How would she be able to afford it? Su Yue suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s try it together. If we look good in that dress, let¡¯s get one for ourselves.¡± Bai Jing refused and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to buy clothes.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips, looking bored. ¡°Forget it then.¡± She dragged Bai Jing along. Bai Jing replied, ¡°If you like it, you should try. It¡¯s too expensive for me though.¡± She had to clearly state what was on her mind, if not Su Yue wouldn¡¯t get it. Su Yue heard her and halted her footsteps. She frowned and said, ¡°Bai Jing. Are you afraid that you can¡¯t afford it?¡± She chided her softly, ¡°I can buy it for you. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Chapter 1120. I Dont Wish to See You Ever Again (part Three) ¡°Thank you, Su Yue. But¡ª¡± Bai Jing said rather awkwardly with her head bowed. She had always felt inferior when she was with Su Yue. Su Yue pouted as she replied, ¡°Let¡¯s go try it together. My third sister-in-law said that we don¡¯t necessarily have to buy it after trying.¡± Bai Jing couldn¡¯t change her mind and didn¡¯t want to affect her mood as well. ¡°Alright then.¡± But the reason she wanted to make her happy was because of Yan Rusheng. She feared that if Su Yue was unhappy because of her, Yan Rusheng would be too. ¡®Bai Jing, is your mind being poisoned?¡¯ As she thought to herself. Su Yue pulled Bai Jing into the store and pointed at the mannequin. ¡°I want that dress in the smallest size,¡± said Su Yue. She had learned this all from Xuxu. When she went shopping with Xuxu, that was how she told the salesgirl every time. The salesgirl nodded and left. She returned with the dress shortly and handed it to Su Yue. Su Yue pressed on, ¡°I want two.¡± The salesgirl smiled politely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss. We only have one item per size in our shop.¡± Bai Jing heard her and shoved Su Yue into the fitting room. ¡°You try it first. I¡¯ll try it later.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Su Yue hesitated briefly before entering the fitting room. She came out of the room, and all the salesgirls including Bai Jing were entranced by her. The canary yellow mid-sleeved dress ended at her knees. The sleeves were slightly puffy, and the collar had crystals adorning it. Su Yue looked breathtaking in that dress. It made her supple and fair skin looked as though it was glistening. Her eyes were dewy-looking, and at first sight, everyone seemed to assume that she was a Eurasian. When she opened the door, it seemed as though a princess had just walked out of a fairytale. She was breathtakingly beautiful and her beauty was unbelievable. ¡°Does it look nice?¡± Su Yue spun around to show Bai Jing. Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice.¡± All the salesgirls nodded in approval, too. ¡°I also think it¡¯s nice.¡± Su Yue gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Suddenly she pouted, looking upset. ¡°But there is only one piece.¡± The salesgirl smiled and replied, ¡°Miss, if you want two pieces, we can transfer from other stores.¡± ¡°What transfer?¡± A sharp and shrill voice interrupted their conversation, and everyone turned towards the direction of the voice. A tall and slender lady sauntered in, wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses. She looked sexy and fashionable. Her high heels produced loud thudding sounds as she walked. All the staff in the store bowed politely at her. ¡°Miss Tang.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sell it to her.¡± Tang Feiling walked to Su Yue and raised her chin at her. She gazed at her, looking haughty. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± The salesgirl looked conflicted. How could they reject a customer? ¡°Why?¡± Tang Feiling sneered coldly at the salesgirl. ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± The salesgirl nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± Every staff in the shopping mall knew that she was President Ming¡¯s fianc¨¦e, their future lady boss. ¡°Why can¡¯t they sell to me?¡± Su Yue questioned Tang Feiling sharply. Tang Feiling replied coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it. Don¡¯t dream of buying a single item in this entire mall.¡± ¡°I will get it.¡± Su Yue raised her voice, sounding determined. She had to buy it and she would definitely get it. Tang Feiling snorted in contempt. ¡°I¡¯m the lady boss of this mall. If I won¡¯t allow you to buy, what can you do?¡± Chapter 1121. I Don’t Wish to See You Ever Again (part Four) Tang Feiling folded her arms across her chest as she sized Su Yue up in a snobbish way. ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re an illegitimate daughter who shouldn¡¯t appear in broad daylight. Your mother broke up a family, and how dare you treat yourself as q lawful daughter of the Yan family. Isn¡¯t your behavior shameless and brazen?!¡± A chill emanated from Su Yue and her expression hardened. She said rather sinisterly, ¡°I want to buy this dress.¡± Tang Feiling was startled to see the expression on Su Yue¡¯s face. But it gave her a thrilling sense of achievement when she saw how affected Su Yue was at the mention of her being an illegitimate daughter. She was determined to crush her and she continued smugly. ¡°I will never allow them to sell it to you. You¡¯ve destroyed a family and you¡¯re an illegitimate daughter. You don¡¯t deserve to wear such pretty clothes.¡± Su Yue¡¯s hands, which were dangling at the sides, were clenched tightly into fists. Sensing her fury, Bai Jing was afraid, and so she nudged Su Yue softly. ¡°Su Yue, don¡¯t buy it alright?¡± ¡°I want it! And I will get it!¡± Su Yue roared as though she had gone mad. She began to pull random clothes off the rack and swung her hands wildly. ¡®You¡¯re an illegitimate daughter, you don¡¯t deserve to eat chicken wings¡­¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re an illegitimate daughter, you should freeze to death¡­¡¯ Her action had shocked all the staff, including both Tang Feiling and Bai Jing. Everyone stood rooted to the spot, and watched wordlessly as Su Yue threw the clothes on the floor. She stomped on them a few times, before fleeing from the store. ¡°This is stealing!¡± Tang Feiling snapped out of her shock and bellowed at Su Yue¡¯s diminishing figure. Su Yue ignored her yells and sprinted as fast as she could. She was an illegitimate daughter and she didn¡¯t deserve all these. No.. no it¡¯s not true. Third sister-in-law had said before; she was the best. Tang Feiling chased after Su Yue, who was headed in the direction of the elevator. She suddenly stopped and stood there with a victorious smile on her face. The salesgirls ran out of the store since Su Yue was still wearing the dress. But Tang Feiling stopped them and coldly said, ¡°Someone stole from the store, shouldn¡¯t you be calling the police?¡± The salesgirls hesitated before nodding. ¡°Yes, lady boss.¡± Tang Feiling always appeared frequently at Yifeng shopping mall. Other than Young Master Ming, everyone else had acknowledged her as Bright Vision¡¯s future lady boss, and naturally their boss as well. Those who wanted to fawn on her would address her as lady boss every time she was around. ¡°Su Yue!¡± Bai Jing was running after Su Yue, but she had a hard time catching up with her. She could only yell after her. ¡°Su Yue, don¡¯t be like this! Calm down. Your third sister-in-law will be worried.¡± Su Yue halted her footsteps indeed, and she squatted down with her face buried in her hands. Bai Jing walked to her and gently patted her back. ¡°Calm down first. If you have money, you can always buy it somewhere else.¡± She tried to console Su Yue and was aware that she wasn¡¯t upset because she couldn¡¯t buy the dress. The real reason was because of Tang Feiling¡¯s harsh words. But¡­ Bai Jing was feeling conflicted and upset. She had no idea who Tang Feiling was, and certainly not the feud between them. She asked gently, ¡°Do you know her?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°She is Uncle Ming¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Uncle Ming likes her.¡± Her words were choked as she sobbed. Bai Jing nodded and remained mum, lost in her thoughts. ¡°There she is! The person who stole the clothes. Seize her!¡± Two aggressive-looking security guards came marching towards them, with Tang Feiling bringing up the rear. Chapter 1122. I Dont Wish to See You Ever Again (part Five) Bai Jing watched the security guards in fear. She rose slowly and turned towards Tang Feiling. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to steal anything. Su Yue will return the dress,¡± breathed Bai Jing. She tugged at Su Yue¡¯s arm as she spoke. ¡°Su Yue, let¡¯s return the dress.¡± ¡°Arrest them.¡± Tang Feiling chose to ignore Bai Jing¡¯s pleas and commanded the security guards to arrest Su Yue. This lass had embarrassed her the previous time and as a result, Ming Ansheng had completely ignored her even up until now. She finally had the opportunity to teach her a lesson, in an attempt to vent her anger. Tang Feiling was the future lady boss of Bright Vision; naturally, the security guards would listen to her commands. They walked towards Su Yue and grabbed her arms. Then they lifted her up. Su Yue, who had just managed to calm down, seemed provoked once again. She struggled to escape from their grip. ¡°Let me go, let me go¡­¡± screamed Su Yue. Her screams were thunderous and resounding. It wasn¡¯t anything like her usual pleasant voice; she sounded cold and sinister right now. ¡°Seize her, the police will be here soon,¡± Tang Feiling said with gritted teeth as she glared at Su Yue. She was watching Su Yue in glee as she struggled and looked agonized. Su Yue¡¯s eyes darted to Tang Feiling and saw the smug look on her face. She bent her head, opened her mouth, and bit the security guard¡¯s hand as hard as she could. Seconds later, the stench of blood assailed her mouth and nose. ¡°Ahhh!¡± the security guard yelled and relinquished his grip. He then pushed Su Yue away. He stared at his hand in horror; he could almost see his bones. Upon seeing the wound, the other security guard was frightened and shocked. Passersby surrounded them and began to whip out their phones as they muttered and gossiped among themselves. Su Yue shoved the other security guard and rushed towards Tang Feiling, looking menacing. Tang Feiling instinctively retreated, her eyes widening with fear. ¡°What are you trying to do¡­¡± Tang Feiling didn¡¯t manage to finish her sentence as Su Yue rushed forward to pull her hair. She was amazingly fast that it had caught Tang Feiling off-guard. ¡°Ahhh!¡± There was an earsplitting scream from Tang Feiling. ¡°Let me go, you shameless illegitimate daughter!¡± As she screamed at Su Yue, she too, waved her hands wildly in an attempt to pull Su Yue¡¯s hair. But it didn¡¯t affect Su Yue. Pain¡­ didn¡¯t seem to affect her at all. Everyone was dumbfounded as they stood helplessly by the side. No one seemed to be willing to render help or get themselves embroiled in this fight. They weren¡¯t even sure why they fought in the first place. ¡°Su Yue, stop it!¡± Bai Jing yelled loudly. She wanted to pull her away, but she didn¡¯t dare to go forward. ¡°You disgusting woman!¡± Su Yue clenched her teeth and pushed Tang Feiling to the wall. She pulled her hair and mustered all her strength to smash her forehead against the wall. There was a thunderous thudding sound. It terrified everyone. Tang Feiling¡¯s screams echoed around the entire mall as her forehead smashed into the wall. Su Yue had lost control of her emotions and she looked terrifying right now. No one could believe their eyes at that moment. This petite and sweet girl was so merciless and violent. She had bitten a person¡¯s hand and smashed Tang Feiling¡¯s head against the wall. She had such a murderous look on her face. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± The police arrived at the scene and dashed towards them. The moment they spotted Tang Feiling and Su Yue, they rushed to pull them apart. It took two police officers to wrestle them apart from each other. Chapter 1123. I Don’t Wish to See You Ever Again (part Six) Blood had covered Tang Feiling¡¯s forehead, and it had everyone in shock. Only Su Yue was glaring at her, looking murderous and incensed. ¡°Su Yue!¡± Bai Jing grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm to stop her. She was stark white when she caught sight of Tang Feiling¡¯s face. ¡°My head is bleeding!¡± Tang Feiling stretched her hand to touch her forehead, and she turned pale at the sight of blood. She began to cry on the spot. ¡°Who called for the police?¡± ¡°I did! She is the one who did this to me! She stole clothes from a store and smashed the things inside.¡± Tang Feiling pointed at Su Yue as she yelled. She glanced around, hoping for witnesses to step forward to back up her claims. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like this!¡± Bai Jing was flustered as she tried to explain on Su Yue¡¯s behalf. ¡°She was the one who scolded Su Yue first!¡± ¡°Bring her back.¡± Two police officers walked to Su Yue and grabbed her arms. ¡°President Ming!¡± The crowd parted as a towering figure strode towards them. He was dressed impeccably in a suit, and his aura silenced everyone at the scene. Ming Ansheng halted his footsteps when he reached Su Yue. Su Yue stood there motionless with a murderous expression in her bright eyes. What exactly had Tang Feiling done to agitate and provoke her to such an extent? Ming Ansheng gazed at Su Yue, trying to suppress his emotions. Then his gaze swept past Su Yue¡¯s arms, which the police officers had their grip on. His intense aura was enough to make them back away, and they let go of her arms immediately. ¡°Ansheng.¡± Tang Feiling¡¯s aggrieved voice broke the silence. Ming Ansheng turned towards her and was shocked to see the blood on her face. He could already guess what had happened. ¡°What happened?¡± Ming Ansheng wore a solemn expression as he pretended to question her. ¡°She wants to kill me! Everyone here can be my witnesses,¡± answered Tang Feiling as he pointed an accusing finger at Su Yue. Ming Ansheng turned his head at her accusations and glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue wore a deadpan expression and didn¡¯t speak a word. Ming Ansheng knew that she wouldn¡¯t speak up for herself. She had disfigured Fang Jiayin before, but she didn¡¯t defend herself at all even when she was arrested. In her heart, she believed that everything she did was right. Bai Jing began to get anxious when Su Yue didn¡¯t speak up. She hastily explained to Ming Ansheng, ¡°Young Master Ming, it wasn¡¯t like that. She was the one who scolded Su Yue first. And she used really harsh and insulting words¡­¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly cut across Bai Jing and raised his voice at Su Yue. ¡°Why did you come here and make such a fuss? Go back home!¡± This was the first time he had yelled so loudly at her. Su Yue shuddered as she glanced at Ming Ansheng. His gorgeous face always had a gentle and warm smile ready for her. His expression was cold and aloof at that moment, but to Su Yue, he looked as though he was disgusted and fuming. ¡°I hate you! I hate you so much! I will never talk to you ever again¡­¡± Su Yue forcibly pushed Ming Ansheng away and sprinted in the elevator¡¯s direction. She was crying as she ran away. Ming Ansheng watched Su Yue¡¯s diminishing figure and his heart was aching. But he needed to suppress his raging emotions and desires. He had to! ¡°Ansheng.¡± Tang Feiling was getting anxious when she saw Su Yue running away. She wasn¡¯t able to vent out her anger entirely, so how could he let her off so easily after she had injured her? Chapter 1124. I Don’t Wish to See You Ever Again (part Seven) ¡°Why do you have to bicker with a child?¡± Ming Ansheng averted his gaze from Su Yue and turned around. Although he didn¡¯t sound gentle, his tone was considerably less hostile towards Tang Feiling than usual. Tang Feiling felt overwhelmed with bliss. This was the first time he was so gentle towards her ever since they got engaged. Tang Feiling was lost for words and her eyes were glistening. Ming Ansheng strode to her and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll send you to the hospital. Do you have to make such a big fuss and even called the police? Do you want Yifeng to appear on the news?¡± Tang Feiling protested indignantly, ¡°She stole from the store and even injured me!¡± ¡°Lady boss, wipe your blood off.¡± Someone hurried towards Tang Feiling to pander to her. When Ming Ansheng heard the person addressing her as the lady boss, annoyance flashed across his eyes. He glared at the employee¡¯s face before taking the tissue paper from him. He helped Tang Feiling to wipe off the blood on her face. Then he said, ¡°She is a kid, are you one as well?¡± His action made Tang Feiling overjoyed once more and it had caught by surprise. She slightly raised her face to gaze at Ming Ansheng¡¯s gorgeous features. She was smitten by him. Naturally, she forgot about her pain at that moment. ¡°President Ming,¡± the police officer politely called out, concealing their impatience. They needed him to clarify the situation. Ming Ansheng glanced at them briefly. ¡°Nothing happened, so sorry to trouble everyone.¡± His tone was warm and mild, but it was unyielding and no one dared to dispute. Tang Feiling couldn¡¯t take it lying down and spluttered, ¡°Ansheng¡­ that¡­¡± Ming Ansheng interrupted her midway. ¡°I¡¯ll send you to the hospital.¡± Ming Ansheng grabbed Tang Feiling¡¯s shoulders and carried on wiping the blood off her face. It rendered Tang Feiling speechless once more. Tang Feiling glanced askew at Ming Ansheng and she couldn¡¯t help feeling blissful. She failed to exact revenge on that wretched lass, but she gained his concern. This could be considered a blessing in disguise. She was too contented and couldn¡¯t be bothered with Su Yue. Su Yue carried on running while Bai Jing tried her best to follow her. She yelled as she chased after her. ¡°Su Yue, stop running! Stop!¡± Su Yue appeared not to have heard her and ran all the way out of the shopping mall. Finally, she stopped and bent down. She covered her face with her arms and wailed loudly. ¡®Why did you come here and make such a fuss? Go back home¡­¡¯ When she recalled how Ming Ansheng had bellowed at her earlier on, she felt so upset and aggrieved. ¡°Su Yue, stop crying.¡± Bai Jing squatted next to Su Yue and patted her back gently. She consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad anymore. Let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°That old man is atrocious!¡± Su Yue raised her head as she bawled loudly. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. At that moment, she caught sight of Ming Ansheng walking out of the mall with Tang Feiling. They were walking side by side. To an outsider, they seemed intimate. Su Yue¡¯s tears gushed out once more, and she had no idea why. She just felt aggrieved and sad when she saw how nice Ming Ansheng was to Tang Feiling. Bai Jing followed her gaze and saw Ming Ansheng and Tang Feiling. ¡°She is Young Master Ming¡¯s fianc¨¦e and her head is bleeding. He must be too anxious and that¡¯s why he yelled at you. Don¡¯t be sad anymore.¡± Chapter 1125. I Don’t Wish to See You Ever Again (part Eight) ¡°I never want to talk to him ever again.¡± Su Yue leaped to her feet and wiped her tears off, sounding determined. She turned around and began walking towards where the car was parked. When she turned around, her gaze swept past Ming Ansheng coldly. Without another look, she stormed off. Ming Ansheng watched Su Yue quietly and unconsciously, he tightened his grip on Tang Feiling¡¯s shoulders. Tang Feiling winced in pain. ¡°Ahhh¡­ Ansheng.¡± Ming Ansheng retracted his gaze and suppressed his burgeoning emotions. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Tang Feiling¡¯s wound needed eight stitches. The doctor told her she would need reconstructive surgery after removing the stitches. It meant that she was disfigured. Tang Feiling jumped in shock and cried loudly. ¡°I¡¯m disfigured! I will sue that wretched lass!¡± ¡°The doctor said that you will recover completely. It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± said Ming Ansheng. ¡°But I can¡¯t let that damned b*tch off the hook so easily.¡± Tang Feiling was boiling with anger and hatred at the thought of Su Yue. Ming Ansheng¡¯s face fell and he asked quietly, ¡°Is that necessary?¡± ¡°Ansheng.¡± Tang Feiling began to pout. ¡°I know that you are good friends with Yan Rusheng.¡± She pursed her lips and relented unwillingly. ¡°Alright, alright then. I shall not sue her because of you.¡± ¡°Go back and take a rest,¡± mumbled Ming Ansheng, after which he glanced at Tang Feiling. He then strode across the room. ¡°Ansheng!¡± Tang Feiling hurried after him and grabbed his arm. ¡°I¡¯m famished. Shall we have a meal together?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t answer her. ¡­ ¡°Your bag.¡± Bai Jing passed Su Yue¡¯s bag back to her. Earlier on when she went to try on the dress, she had passed the bag to Bai Jing. If she hadn¡¯t done so, she would have left her bag and clothes at the store. Su Yue glanced at Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing, don¡¯t tell my third sister-in-law about this incident today.¡± She bowed her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want her worrying about me. Neither do I want her to be angry at me.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Bai Jing agreed and consoled her quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad anymore. If you go home like this, your third sister-in-law will suspect that something is amiss.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue grabbed some tissues and wiped her tears away. Then she propped her head on the window to admire the scenery. How she hoped that the wind could blow all her tears away. And she hoped that the wind could blow away that strange sadness in her heart. Su Yue reached home and went back to her room immediately. The first thing she did was to remove that dress and change into her own clothes. She picked up the dress, went down the stairs and out of the house. She dumped the dress in the trash can. ¡®You¡¯re an illegitimate child, you don¡¯t deserve to wear this¡­¡¯ Su Yue stood and stared at the trash can in silence. Her eyes began to glisten once more. She rubbed her eyes before turning around determinedly. She raised her head and her eyes flickered guiltily. Xuxu noticed her expression and asked, ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu could walk around the house without feeling pain. Su Yue denied and replied, ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the new dress you¡¯ve bought?¡± Xuxu asked out of curiosity. ¡°Why did you throw it away?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it. I hate it,¡± Su Yue replied coldly. Xuxu decided not to press on and smiled instead. ¡°Come and have some dessert.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and managed a weak smile. She nodded in response. Mu Li made egg tarts and red bean milk tea. Chapter 1126. I Dont Wish to See You Ever Again (part Nine) All of them sat on the sofa as they ate. Su Yue sat in between Bai Jing and Xuxu. ¡°Here, Bai Jing.¡± Xuxu passed Bai Jing an egg tart. She took it from her and said, ¡°Thank you, third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal,¡± Xuxu said as she smiled at Bai Jing. She then turned to Su Yue. Su Yue was holding an egg tart, her head bowed and eyebrows furrowed. But she didn¡¯t take a bite, and she seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Xuxu started to worry. ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Su Yue replied, her lips pressed together in a thin line as she returned the egg tart. She then drank some milk tea. She didn¡¯t have any appetite. She felt uneasy. ¡°Didn¡¯t you win the fight? Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice boomed from the second floor. Su Yue¡¯s hand trembled as terror seized her. Third Brother knew about her fight with Tang Feiling in the mall. Xuxu asked Yan Rusheng in confusion, ¡°What fight?¡± Yan Rusheng had already walked down the stairs and made his way towards the sofa. ¡°She met Tang Feiling in the mall and she fought with her.¡± He reached the sofa and sat on the single seater. He took an egg tart and gracefully took a bite. When Xuxu heard that Su Yue was in a fight, she hurriedly put down her egg tart. In a serious tone of voice, she asked Su Yue, ¡°Yueyue, is that true?¡± Su Yue remained silent, her head bowed like a child that did something wrong. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Tang Feiling was beaten until she had to go to the hospital to get eight stitches on her forehead. Ming Ansheng settled the matter.¡± Eight stitches on her forehead? Xuxu¡¯s eyes widened when she heard it. She chided angrily, ¡°Yueyue, how could you? Didn¡¯t I tell you that you shouldn¡¯t fight?¡± She was always like this. If she disliked someone, she wouldn¡¯t spare them during a fight. She was bound to get into trouble someday. The first few times, nothing serious had happened so they could settle it. But what if the matter were to blow up? Su Yue stared at Xuxu, her eyes red and glistening with tears. Xuxu was still in a fit of anger. She felt like continuing to give in to her would result in her pitfall. So, she coldly ignored her. ¡°It¡¯s fine now,¡± Yan Rusheng said. He had wanted to scold her as well, or at least make it clear that it shouldn¡¯t happen again. But seeing her cry, he couldn¡¯t bear to. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears. She suddenly stood up and asked Yan Rusheng, ¡°It was Ming Ansheng who told you, right?¡± Bai Jing had already promised that she wouldn¡¯t say a thing. So, Ming Ansheng must¡¯ve told her Third Brother. Without waiting for her reply, Su Yue sprinted for the door. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Xuxu shouted after her. Without thinking, she hurriedly chased after her. Of course, Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t sit there and do nothing. He grabbed Xuxu and said, ¡°Stay, I¡¯ll go instead.¡± Xuxu said, ¡°Then bring her back quickly.¡± She was still in confinement so she knew that it was better if he went instead. ¡°Bai Jing, tell me what happened,¡± Xuxu said, sitting back down on the sofa. She was with Su Yue the entire time, so she should know what exactly happened. Bai Jing pressed her lips together, looking troubled. Xuxu knew why she was hesitating. ¡°Su Yue made you promise to keep it a secret?¡± Chapter 1127. I Don’t Wish to See You Ever Again (part Ten) Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu decided not to ask further. At least she was trustworthy; she didn¡¯t want to make her break her promise. Yan Rusheng had rushed out in search of Su Yue, but none of them had returned after a long while. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t bring his phone either, so it worried Xuxu to death. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have scolded her.¡± Xuxu started blaming herself after seeing that Yan Rusheng and Su Yue had not returned. When she heard that Su Yue had gotten into another fight, she was livid. She had forgotten that she was still in the process of changing her extreme personality. If Tang Feiling hadn¡¯t aggravated her, Yueyue wouldn¡¯t have injured her so badly. The only reason she had reacted so extremely towards Fang Jiayin previously was because she had tried to come between Yan Rusheng and herself, coupled with Su Yue¡¯s own intolerance towards third parties. She had only gotten her kidnappers hospitalized because they were wicked and they conspired against her. Although back in school she had splashed countless people with soup and water, it was because they were relentless despite her rejections and didn¡¯t leave her alone. Anyway, her actions weren¡¯t very extreme. Tang Feiling must have hit her sore spot. She must have! The more she thought about it, the guiltier Xuxu felt. She shouldn¡¯t have scolded her without asking for the full story. Seeing that Xuxu was blaming herself, Mu Li said, ¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s true that this little lass has to control herself. She can¡¯t go on like this.¡± Suddenly, the phone rang. Mu Li was sitting beside the phone, so she picked it up. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Third Yan.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± Hearing that it was Yan Rusheng on the line, Xuxu became agitated. ¡°Mother, where are they?¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°He said that Su Yue wants to return to school, so he sent her back.¡± Xuxu felt guilty. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡± It was a Saturday. She must¡¯ve been devastated being alone in the dormitory. Mu Li frowned. ¡°She¡¯s not a child anymore. A scolding won¡¯t kill her.¡± ¡°Aish.¡± Xuxu sighed. She then looked at Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing, can you go back to school to accompany Yueyue?¡± She couldn¡¯t bear letting Su Yue stay in the dormitory alone. She was worried that she would do something rash, especially with that personality of hers. ¡°Sure.¡± Bai Jing nodded. She stood up and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll head back now.¡± Xuxu nodded gratefully. ¡°Bai Jing, thank you for taking care of Yueyue all this while.¡± Both of them lived together in the dormitory, so needless to say, Bai Jing took care of Su Yue more than the other way around. Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°We took care of one another.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t bring her bag or phone with her when she left, so Bai Jing took it for her. Xuxu told the chauffeur to send Bai Jing back to the dormitory. Bai Jing sat in the front passenger seat. She was holding Su Yue¡¯s bag. Not long after she got on, Su Yue¡¯s phone rang. She took out the phone and saw that Ming Ansheng was calling. She hesitated before picking up the call. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Before she could say a word, Ming Ansheng¡¯s gentle voice sounded from the other end. She could tell that he was about to say something more. Bai Jing interrupted him. ¡°It¡¯s not Su Yue. She returned to the dormitory alone without her bag and phone. I¡¯m heading there now.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Ming Ansheng said. ¡°Bai Jing, please take care of Yueyue.¡± Bai Jing nodded and was about to agree when she changed her mind. Something flashed across her eyes and instead, she said, ¡°She¡¯s devastated because you were so fierce to her.¡± Chapter 1128. I Can’t Like Him (part One) ¡°She¡­¡± Ming Ansheng stopped mid-sentence. He then continued plainly, ¡°She hasn¡¯t matured. You¡¯re more sensible than her, so please take care of her.¡± Bai Jing nodded and agreed. She ended the call and stared at the screen, deep in thought. She stuffed the phone back into Su Yue¡¯s bag and stared out of the window. ¡®She hasn¡¯t matured. You¡¯re more sensible than her, so please take care of her¡­¡¯ What was so good about being sensible? Su Yue was immature and ignorant, yet so many people cared about her. But what about her? ¡­ The chauffeur drove her to the East Gate. Bai Jing entered the school and heard the bouncing of a basketball from afar. She lifted her head and looked towards the source of the sound. A tall figure walked over. The warm afternoon sun shone on him and he seemed to sparkle. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. She smiled uncontrollably. ¡°Third Brother.¡± This was the clearest and liveliest greeting she had ever given him. Yan Rusheng looked at her and nodded. Bai Jing stopped in her tracks and asked him, ¡°Is Su Yue in the dormitory?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded in response. ¡°Oh.¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips together and asked, ¡°Third Brother are you leaving now?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°You should head upstairs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing smiled then said, ¡°Third Brother, be careful on the road.¡± She then walked past him. She didn¡¯t want to leave him because she wanted to spend more time looking at him. But she knew that she couldn¡¯t. No matter how outstanding he was, he could never be hers. Bai Jing warned herself that he was married. And even if he wasn¡¯t, she was too inferior to him. She shouldn¡¯t have any thoughts about him. She bowed her head and walked towards the dormitory. When she reached the entrance, she looked back at the quiet winding path. However, that tall figure was no longer in sight. Desolation filled her eyes. ¡­ Bai Jing pushed open the door and the first thing she looked at was Su Yue¡¯s bed. She was sprawled on it, her head buried in her pillow, unmoving. She entered and closed the door. She walked over and sat on the corner of her bed. She pushed her lightly. ¡°Su Yue.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Su Yue responded. She didn¡¯t say anything else, neither did she look up at her. Bai Jing asked, ¡°Are you still angry?¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Her voice was nasal, so it was obvious that she was crying. Bai Jing frowned. ¡°Then why are you crying?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like talking,¡± Su Yue choked out. She then flipped herself over and covered her head with the covers. Bai Jing pressed her lips together. ¡°Okay, then. I¡¯ll talk to you when you¡¯re not mad anymore.¡± She stood up and headed towards her own bed. When she sat down, she suddenly recalled something. She said to Su Yue, ¡°Oh yes, I brought your bag and phone back. Young Master Ming phoned you earlier.¡± Su Yue cried, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to him anymore.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Bai Jing nodded. ¡°So I told him that you¡¯re very angry and that you don¡¯t wish to talk to him anymore.¡± Su Yue suddenly flipped over the covers and popped her head out. She asked Bai Jing, ¡°What else did he say?¡± Her eyes were puffy and swollen. Bai Jing replied plainly, ¡°He asked me to take care of you, that¡¯s all.¡± Chapter 1129. I Cant Like Him (part Two) Immediately, Su Yue¡¯s tears started falling uncontrollably. She covered her face once again. Bai Jing leaned against her bed frame, staring at Su Yue as her mind wandered elsewhere. If nobody told her, Su Yue would never understand that Ming Ansheng was just trying to protect her. If not for him, Su Yue would definitely be sitting in the police station by now. Even her Third Brother wouldn¡¯t be able to save her from the law. But she¡­ Bai Jing thought about it and mocked herself. Was she being evil by pretending not to know? ¡­ ¡°Aish, I wonder if Yueyue has eaten.¡± Xuxu was so worried about Su Yue that she didn¡¯t have an appetite. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Nothing will happen to her even if she skips one or two meals.¡± Xuxu frowned and glared at him. ¡°How could you say that?¡± Yan Rusheng held his bowl of rice and shrugged his shoulders innocently. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who blew up and scared her away.¡± Xuxu pouted and knew that she was in the wrong. She stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to call Bai Jing and ask about her.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her arm. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just call her?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xuxu asked in confusion. She tried to recall and said, ¡°I think I did.¡± Yan Rusheng stuffed a piece of vegetable into his mouth. He chewed and side-glanced Xuxu, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the hospital tomorrow to check on this brain of yours.¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression fell. ¡°Are you implying that my brain is faulty?¡± He was obviously implying that her brain was faulty. Aunt Zhang, who was serving the dishes, laughed. Yan Weihong, who was sitting opposite them, didn¡¯t want to laugh. But seeing Aunt Zhang laugh, he couldn¡¯t keep it in either. Their laughter further enraged Xuxu. She glared at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°You have to get a CT scan at the hospital tomorrow.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. This stupid woman, how ridiculous could she get? His brain was perfectly fine, so why did he have to do a CT scan? Xuxu could read his mind. She gritted her teeth and glared at him. ¡°You have no choice.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. He explained seriously, ¡°I¡¯m really worried that your brain¡ª¡± The murderous glare Xuxu gave him made him shut his mouth. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t dare to continue. He passed Xuxu her chopsticks. ¡°Okay, okay, forget about it. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t take the chopsticks from him. She stood up and said to Yan Weihong, ¡°Father, I¡¯ll go upstairs to get Mother down for dinner.¡± Yan Weihong nodded and agreed. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re not eating?¡± Yan Rusheng shouted after her. Xuxu ignored him and walked out of the dining room. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°This temper of hers!¡± He retracted his gaze and put down Xuxu¡¯s chopsticks. He picked up his bowl and continued eating. ¡°You should be content.¡± Yan Weihong coldly said from opposite him, ¡°Your mother¡¯s temper was worse. She would ask you to scram when things didn¡¯t go exactly as she wanted them to.¡± Of course, the ¡®you¡¯ he referred to was Yan Weihong himself. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°You mean, Xuxu¡¯s temper is mild?¡± Yan Weihong was about to open his mouth when a menacing voice sounded from the entrance of the dining room. ¡°Yan Weihong, what did you tell our son?¡± Mu Li folded her arms as she walked into the dining room like an empress. Yan Rusheng knew that the two would definitely banter. He gobbled up the remaining of his rice and put down his chopsticks. ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯ll head upstairs first.¡± Chapter 1130. I Can’t Like Him (part Three) He immediately stood up. Yan Rusheng pushed the room door open. Xuxu was carrying one twin, her head bowed as she stared at the baby with a tender look. He sneaked in, closing the door gently behind him. He walked over with light footsteps. ¡°Wife.¡± Xuxu looked up at him and flashed a cold smile, raising her eyebrows as she asked, ¡°My brain is faulty. Won¡¯t calling me your ¡®wife¡¯ lower your status?¡± ¡°Hey, why can¡¯t you let it go?¡± Yan Rusheng said, walking over and wrapping his arms around her waist. He gave her a peck on the cheek obsequiously. ¡°Mm?¡± Xuxu turned her head to face the man. ¡°I can¡¯t let it go?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and resigned. ¡°Alright, alright, alright. I¡¯ll go get a CT scan tomorrow, okay?¡± Only then was Xuxu satisfied. She pointed at the basin on the floor and commanded in an empress¡¯ voice, ¡°Go and wash the diapers which I just changed.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t I get them to wash it later?¡± Alright, he knew that she was just trying to torture him. Xuxu casually asked, ¡°You don¡¯t want to do it?¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡± ¡°But give me some special welfare first,¡± he said as he pouted. Swiftly, he planted a kiss on her cheek and hopped off the bed. He picked the basin up and walked to the bathroom. Xuxu smiled as she watched him leave. When he entered the washroom, she looked down at the baby in her arms again. She smiled blissfully and asked, ¡°Darling, isn¡¯t your father very cute?¡± The matron had told her not to sit around for too long, so she returned the baby to the crib after a while. She then lay down on the bed. She took her phone from the bedside cabinet and opened the WeChat application. She sent Su Yue a message that read, ¡®Yueyue, are you still angry at your third sister-in-law? Don¡¯t forget to eat.¡¯ After she sent the message, she opened Moments and refreshed the page. It startled her. The first post was from Su Yue. She posted a photo of a bowl of noodles and a few chicken wings. She captioned, ¡®Today¡¯s beef noodles from the canteen were delicious, and the chicken wings were superb too.¡¯ Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief. She smiled and clicked on the post, replying to it, ¡®Eat more if it¡¯s good. Sleep early tonight.¡¯ Although Su Yue didn¡¯t reply to her WeChat message, nor sent her a reply her in Moments, she knew that Su Yue¡¯s post in Moments was meant for her. She wanted to tell her that she had already eaten. This little lass, she¡¯s getting more sensible. Xuxu smiled and kept her phone. Yan Rusheng emerged from the bathroom at this moment and caught her smiling. The corner of his lips lifted too. ¡°Wife, what made you so happy?¡± Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng and her expression immediately turned cold. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. He walked over and sat down on the corner of the bed. He sneaked a glance at the two infants in the crib before lying down on his tummy and propping his chin up, looking straight at Xuxu. Xuxu rolled her eyes and turned around, ignoring him. Yan Rusheng extended his arm and pulled her back so that she was lying flat again. What were you laughing at earlier?¡± Xuxu responded coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not telling you.¡± ¡°Oh, you aren¡¯t going to tell me?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, with a wicked smile. Then he bent down and kissed her on the lips. ¡°Mm¡­¡± ¡­ Seeing Su Yue¡¯s post on moments, Ming Ansheng clicked on it and typed out a long reply. After some thought, he deleted it and crafted a new message. He typed and deleted over and over again. In the end, he didn¡¯t send her anything. Chapter 1131. I Can’t Like Him (part Four) ¡®Today¡¯s beef noodles from the canteen was delicious, and the chicken wings were superb too¡­¡¯ Didn¡¯t Bai Jing say that she was ¡®devastated¡¯? By the looks of it, she seemed to be in a good mood. ¡°Ming Ansheng.¡± His room door opened and Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s angry voice bellowed. Ming Ansheng looked over and frowned. Annoyance flashed across his eyes. ¡°Is anything the matter?¡± Ming Zhongsheng entered and closed the door behind him. Outraged, he walked until he was in front of Ming Ansheng. He interrogated, ¡°The incident that happened at Yifeng today, is it true?¡± Ming Ansheng asked, composed, ¡°Grandfather, which ¡®incident¡¯ are you referring to?¡± ¡°Cut the act!¡± Ming Zhongsheng was further enraged by Ming Ansheng¡¯s blatant pretense. He bellowed, ¡°That little lass from the Yan family wrecked one of our shops, stole their clothes and ran off. Even worse, she fought with Feiling and got her sent to the hospital, resulting in eight stitches on her forehead.¡± It was such a serious matter, yet he let her go just like that. The more Ming Zhongsheng thought about it, the more furious he became. But Ming Ansheng remained composed. ¡°Grandfather, where did you hear this news from?¡± Ming Zhongsheng angrily replied, ¡°Do I need to hear it? Isn¡¯t it the hot topic on various news sites?¡± There was a huge by-standing crowd earlier, so the whole incident was recorded and posted online in an instant. Ming Ansheng coldly smirked. ¡°Then Grandfather, are you unhappy with the way I settled the issue?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Ming Zhongsheng was still very dissatisfied. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that you¡¯re covering for that little lass from the Yan family?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it good that we resolved the matter?¡± Ming Ansheng countered. ¡°Surely, Grandfather, you don¡¯t want the matter to blow up? Would it be beneficial if the news were to spread that the future lady boss of Bright Vision was despicable enough to use derogatory words against a young girl in her teens?¡± His words were harsh and Ming Zhongsheng did not know how to refute him. ¡°Hmph!¡± Ming Zhongsheng glared at him coldly. ¡°I won¡¯t let this matter go.¡± Ming Ansheng placed his phone down and stood up. He walked over to the water dispenser and poured himself a glass of water. He looked at Ming Ansheng as he drank. ¡°Grandfather, what do you intend to do?¡± ¡°I will get Feiling to make a police report,¡± Ming Zhongsheng stated. ¡°And, she ran off in a dress which was worth four thousand dollars, without paying. That¡¯s stealing.¡± It was apparent that he was having a good time venting his frustration as he listed Su Yue¡¯s ¡®criminal offenses¡¯. Revenge was sweet. Ming Ansheng smiled coldly. ¡°Grandfather, you¡¯re changing for the worse.¡± Ming Ansheng squinted and glared at him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, why are you protecting that little lass?¡± Ming Ansheng shrugged his shoulders calmly. ¡°She¡¯s Third Yan¡¯s younger sister. I grew up with Third Yan, so shouldn¡¯t she be considered my younger sister as well?¡± This reasoning was logical, so he didn¡¯t feel guilty. Ming Zhongsheng coldly mocked. ¡°But Yan Rusheng doesn¡¯t care a hoot about you. Don¡¯t forget that Xinyi is having a hard time in jail.¡± Ming Ansheng treated Yan Rusheng¡¯s younger cousin as his own sister. But did they treat his sister the same way? Thinking of how his granddaughter was suffering in jail, he immediately wanted to make a police report and get that illegitimate daughter from the Yan family arrested. And let Yan Rusheng have a taste of his own medicine. ¡°She deserved it. Even if Third Yan didn¡¯t do it, I would have personally sent her to jail.¡± Ming Ansheng sounded harsh and cold-blooded. ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng was in the midst of taking a deep breath when his eyes widened. Chapter 1132. I Cant Like Him (part Five) Panic struck Ming Ansheng. He flew forward and held onto the old man. Ming Zhongsheng immediately let out a breath thereafter. Ming Ansheng heaved a sigh of relief. He frowned at the old man and was afraid that he would make him faint from anger, so he used a soft approach. ¡°Xinyi plotted the death of Grandmother Wang, is that the same?¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°Did you hear the words Tang Feiling scolded Yueyue with?¡± Disgust flashed across Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. His annoyance and disgust towards that woman were indescribable. ¡°She¡¯s just ruining the Ming reputation.¡± ¡°You still have to marry her,¡± Ming Zhongsheng stated. ¡°Your marriage is written in stone. You can¡¯t change it.¡± He then put his hands behind his back and glanced at Ming Ansheng. He continued coldly. ¡°I can foresee that the Tang family will demand an explanation anytime soon. Did you really think you have resolved the matter after temporarily settling it?¡± Ming Ansheng pressed his lips together, remaining silent. Ming Zhongsheng continued, ¡°If you really want to resolve it, grasp this opportunity¡ªmarry Feiling.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled coldly when he heard it. ¡°Grandfather, you¡¯ve definitely done your calculations. How long did you spend discussing this on the phone with that sly fox from the Tang family?¡± Without waiting for his reaction, he added, ¡°Do you really want me to marry this kind of woman, Grandfather?¡± Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s expression remained dark. ¡°Feiling is slightly squeamish, but given she¡¯s from the Tang family, it¡¯s only right that she is.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been a dictator all your life. How long more are you going to exercise this dictatorship?¡± Ming Ansheng yelled. He was unable to hold his anger in any longer. He had a questioning tone. Ming Zhongsheng glared at Ming Ansheng, and his anger rose. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t mince his words. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t insisted on using your children and grandchildren¡¯s marriage to stabilize the Ming family¡¯s social status, would Xinyi have been foolish enough to break the law? Would she have ended up in jail?¡± ¡®Smash!¡¯ Ming Zhongsheng grabbed the penholder on the table and hurled it onto the floor. The atmosphere was extremely tense that time stood still. Ming Zhongsheng pointed at Ming Ansheng, his finger trembling. ¡°Alright then Ming Ansheng, you dare to put the blame on me now?¡± His entire body was quivering. He let out a breath and continued, ¡°You think you¡¯re all grown up, and that you don¡¯t have to listen to this old man any more?¡± ¡°We both need to calm down.¡± Ming Ansheng said, brushing past Ming Zhongsheng as he walked into the study room with big strides. ¡°Ming Ansheng!¡± Ming Zhongsheng yelled after him. Ming Ansheng halted in his steps, but he ignored him. He then turned away and walked down the stairs. ¡°Ansheng.¡± Mother Ming heard the commotion upstairs and hurriedly went up. She saw Ming Ansheng and worriedly asked, ¡°Had a tiff with your grandfather again? Was it over the Feiling incident?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t respond. He plainly said, ¡°You should go calm him down.¡± He continued down the stairs and bounded straight for the main door. He changed into his shoes, grabbed his carkeys and left the house. The black luxurious car sped across the wide roads. The handsome man in the car had an expression colder than ice. His eyes were focused ahead of him while his thoughts raced. He beat a red light before he came to his senses and slowed down. He clenched his fists and heavily pounded his head. Chapter 1133. I Cant Like Him (part Six) ¡®Ming Ansheng, focus.¡¯ The university campus was before him as he drove closer. From afar, it loomed in darkness. Ming Ansheng parked by the roadside and turned off the engine. He took out his phone and opened WeChat. Message after message he crafted, but none of them were sent out. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel. Never before did he feel so empty and at a loss of what to do. Yet he couldn¡¯t vent his emotions. Yueyue, the distance between us seems so large. Why did it have to be Su Yue? Why did it have to be Su Yue? Ming Ansheng asked himself repeatedly. If it weren¡¯t Su Yue¡­ As long as it wasn¡¯t Su Yue¡­ When he awoke, dawn had already broken. The smell of cigarettes lingered in the car and Ming Ansheng opened his eyes, rubbing his temples. His gaze swept across the area. He was surrounded by greenery and the sun was shining. Damn it, I actually slept throughout the night, here?! Ming Ansheng chided himself and composed himself. He started the car. ¡­ Su Yue got up from bed and washed up. Then she returned to her bed and turned on her phone. Her fight with Tang Feiling at Yifeng yesterday was on the 24-hour hot topic. She clicked on it. ¡®The future ladyboss of Bright Vision and Miss Yan had a bloody catfight at Yifeng yesterday. Fortunately, Young Master Ming arrived in the nick of time to protect his fianc¨¦e and send her to the hospital. The matter seems to have been resolved, due to the longstanding friendship between Young Master Ming and Third Young Master Yan. Rumors of Young Master Ming calling off his engagement with Miss Tang have been debunked through this incident, after Young Master Ming rushed to the scene yesterday. His face of eagerness to protect his wife made it apparent that the rumor was spun out of thin air.¡¯ When Su Yue read about his ¡®eagerness to protect his wife¡¯, she couldn¡¯t help but think of the gentle and obedient look that Yan Rusheng gave Xuxu and she felt very pained. She pursed her lips and turned off her phone. She threw it aside and rolled over, facing the wall as she pulled the covers over her head. ¡®Why did you come here and stir trouble? Go back home!¡¯ Ming Ansheng¡¯s scolding rang in her ears. She closed her eyes, her heart hurting indescribably. She felt like crying. ¡°Do you intend on sleeping the day away?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s voice sounded from behind her. Su Yue felt slightly guilty but she agreed. ¡°Mm.¡± Her head was still buried under the covers. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat,¡± Bai Jing suggested, pulling at her blanket. Su Yue knew what she was playing at and grabbed the sheets tightly. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I don¡¯t want to go out.¡± ¡°Su Yue, this is not good for you,¡± Bai Jing said, releasing her grip on the blanket. She sat on her bedside and asked, ¡°Are you angry at your third sister-in-law or Young Master Ming?¡± Su Yue said, ¡°I¡¯m not angry at anyone. I just don¡¯t feel like talking.¡± Her voice was filled with grief, as though she was about to break into tears. Bai Jing didn¡¯t probe her further. She smiled and said, ¡°The weather is good today. Let¡¯s fly a kite at the park opposite the school.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to fly a kite,¡± Su Yue stated, still refusing to show her face. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll head downstairs to eat.¡± Bai Jing stood up and looked down at Su Yue before turning around. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Suddenly, Su Yue lifted off the covers and shouted. Bai Jing stopped in her tracks and turned around in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I feel terrible, what should I do?¡± Su Yue asked, sitting up. Her eyes were still puffy because she had been crying all night. Chapter 1134. I Cant Like Him (part Seven) Seeing her in that state, Bai Jing was shocked. In her eyes, Su Yue had a weird personality. She seemed to be heartless. If something made her unhappy, she would forget about it the next instant. She went back and sat on Su Yue¡¯s bed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I hate Uncle Ming¡¯s fianc¨¦e. I hate that he treats her so well,¡± Su Yue explained. She pressed her lips together, seemingly troubled. Bai Jing sized her up and probed, ¡°Su Yue, do you like him?¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡°R¡ªReally?¡± Her mind started to flood with memories of the times she spent with Ming Ansheng. She began to feel guilty. ¡°I think you¡¯ve started to like him. Why else would you feel this way?¡± Bai Jing told her in a serious tone of voice. Su Yue covered her knees with the blanket and rested her chin on her knees. She frowned and pursed her lips, saying, ¡°But I still dare to look at him.¡± Bai Jing froze and remembered what she had told Su Yue previously about how it felt to like someone. She smiled. ¡°Everyone is different, so the feeling varies among individuals.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to like him. I hate him, I don¡¯t want to talk to him ever again,¡± Su Yue said, burying herself in the covers once again. Actually, she was feeling shy and started to blush. She didn¡¯t want Bai Jing to see it. Her words and actions made Bai Jing think she was too innocent to the extent that she was a little childish. She asked, ¡°What are you going to do if you don¡¯t like him?¡± To like someone or not¡ªwas it within our control? Would she lose her feelings for him just because she said that she didn¡¯t like him? If only she could¡­ ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what are you going to do¡¯?¡± Su Yue asked, revealing her face again. She frowned and said, ¡°He already likes someone, so I can¡¯t like him.¡± He had a fianc¨¦e. Furthermore, he loved her to bits, just like how Third Brother loved Third sister-in-law. If she liked him, she would become a mistress. No¡­ She couldn¡¯t become a mistress. A mistress was the most despicable thing in the world to ever live. If she liked him and got together with him, they would call their future children illegitimate¡ªjust like her. Su Yue recalled her experiences growing up and terror filled her. Suddenly, she grabbed onto Bai Jing¡¯s arm and in sheer agitation, she asked, ¡°Bai Jing, you can¡¯t tell anyone. Can you keep it a secret for me?¡± She didn¡¯t want to be a mistress. She didn¡¯t want her future children to be like her. She feared that this situation would befall her. Su Yue¡¯s voice trembled as she said, ¡°Although I don¡¯t like that woman, he does. They are getting married. I can¡¯t like him.¡± Her mother was a mistress, and everyone knew that she was an illegitimate daughter. But she didn¡¯t want to bring the matter up. She couldn¡¯t tell Bai Jing about the immense fear within her. ¡°Aish.¡± Bai Jing heaved a deep sigh. She then nodded gently. ¡°Mm, I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± ¡°Thank you, Bai Jing.¡± Su Yue wrapped her arms around her, eyes glistening with tears. ¡°We¡¯re best friends,¡± Bai Jing said, patting her back. She then had an idea and her eyes flashed. She gently pushed her away. She said to her, ¡°Su Yue, you have so many suitors. Why don¡¯t you date one of them? Maybe you¡¯ll forget him.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Really?¡± Chapter 1135. I Cant Like Him (part Eight) Bai Jing continued, ¡°Maybe your liking towards him is temporary. He treats you well so you rely on him. Perhaps when you start dating, you won¡¯t feel that way anymore.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes brightened, and she seemed a little excited. ¡°Really?¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips together. ¡°It was just a suggestion. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll work for you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded. She thought about it for a while. She nodded and said, ¡°I think it might.¡± Bai Jing smiled and remained silent. After the chat with Bai Jing, Su Yue seemed rejuvenated. She went out with Bai Jing for a meal. She then bought a lollipop and sucked it in her mouth. It was already autumn and it was chilly in short-sleeves during the morning. Both of them walked back towards the dormitory. ¡°The Computer Science faculty and the English faculty are competing today, let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± ¡°Will the school beau be there?¡± ¡°Of course, Senior Chen from the English faculty will be there, too.¡± ¡°F*ck, are they competing with their looks?¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± A few girls happily discussed with starry-eyes as they walked past them. They flew past Su Yue and Bai Jing like a kite. Su Yue turned around to look at them. She turned to Bai Jing and took the lollipop out of her mouth. She curiously asked, ¡°What competition are they talking about? Did the school organize a competition?¡± Bai Jing was speechless. ¡®Was this girl living in outer space?¡¯ ¡®Weren¡¯t there always basketball or soccer competitions organized by the students?¡¯ She said, ¡°It should be a basketball match.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a look,¡± Su Yue said, pulling Bai Jing¡¯s arm as she chased after the girls. ¡°Ah!¡± Bai Jing hesitated before coming to her senses and shaking her head with a smile. The dribbling of basketballs could be heard far from the indoor basketball court. Su Yue pulled Bai Jing in. Because this was a competition between two courses, and since the school beau and the most good-looking guys from both faculties were on the court, the seats were already mostly filled before the competition even began. The players were clad in different jersey colors and were having a friendly practice. ¡°Let¡¯s sit there.¡± Su Yue pointed at two seats not too far off and pulled Bai Jing over. She didn¡¯t mean to be so high-profile, but neither did she intentionally stay low. ¡°Look, the school belle is here.¡± ¡°I thought she¡¯s cold and haughty, refusing to go out or talk to anyone?¡± ¡°Bet she couldn¡¯t keep up with the pretense.¡± There was a commotion when Su Yue entered, mostly in the form of a mock. She was the school belle and furthermore, she had already filled the headlines countless times¡ªwithin a short amount of time. She couldn¡¯t stay low-profile even if she wanted to. Once news spread that the school belle was there, the dribbling stopped. All the players who were warming up, they all cast their gazes on Su Yue. Everyone looked over. Su Yue blinked her sparkling eyes twice, a lollipop in her mouth. She looked so innocent and pure that she melted the hearts of half the boys at the scene. Someone whistled at her and waved. This made her all the more a target of criticism. ¡°You see, she¡¯s good at acting all pure and innocent to catch the eye of all the guys.¡± ¡°She comes from a wealthy family, too.¡± ¡°Tch, she¡¯s just an illegitimate daughter.¡± The girls around her blatantly talked amongst themselves about Su Yue. But nothing could be worse than Tang Feiling¡¯s words from the day before. Chapter 1136. Senior, Lets Date (part One) Su Yue ignored all the gossip and pretended as though she didn¡¯t hear them. She sat on her seat, with an arm propped on her thigh and a lollipop in her mouth. She was waiting for the match to start. ¡°They are so annoying.¡± Bai Jing heard them gossiping, and she muttered angrily under her breath. Su Yue glanced at her and airily said, ¡°Third sister-in-law says that they are just jealous of me.¡± Her reaction and behavior today were too composed. She seemed like a different person as compared to yesterday, and it surprised Bai Jing. Bai Jing smiled after a moment. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re just jealous.¡± She sounded rather bitter. Of course, Su Yue certainly couldn¡¯t differentiate the difference in her tone. ¡°Hi, Junior Su Yue.¡± Two boys who were wearing white jerseys strode over to Su Yue. They waved warmly at her. Su Yue remembered one of them. He was the school beau who had intercepted her the other day. ¡®Liang¡­ what was his name again?¡¯ Su Yue thought for a while before she remembered; Liang Zihua. His friend beside him didn¡¯t possess extraordinary looks, although he was tall. Su Yue threw them a casual glance and quipped, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°So, you like lollipops.¡± Liang Zihua sat down next to Su Yue. He was perspiring after doing warm-ups earlier on. As he spoke to Su Yue, he used his towel to wipe his perspiration away. Su Yue pressed her lips. ¡°I eat it when I¡¯m bored.¡± What she meant was she ate lollipops just to kill time. She glanced around the basketball court as she answered his question. It also meant that she only glanced at the school beau once throughout their entire conversation. It annoyed all the girls who were present and everyone was fuming at how nonchalant she appeared. It seemed as though they were about to tear their clothes out of jealousy. ¡°Do you like playing basketball?¡± Liang Zihua didn¡¯t take Su Yue¡¯s attitude to heart and maintained a warm smile. Su Yue quipped, ¡°I was bored and I had nowhere else to go. So I came to take a look.¡± She only came to watch the match because she had no other places to go to. She just wanted to kill time. Su Yue had no inkling that she had offended everyone who was present. Liang Zihua smiled rather awkwardly at her honesty. ¡°After the competition, let me give you and junior Bai Jing a treat.¡± He glanced at Bai Jing and nodded politely at her. He gestured at his friend and introduced him. ¡°Junior Bai Jing, this is the top student in our faculty. His name is Wu Yuefan. He would like to know you.¡± Su Yue glanced at Wu Yuefan with a deadpan expression. She asked, ¡°Why do you want to get to know Bai Jing?¡± She sounded like she was questioning him. Wu Yuefan blushed immediately and appeared to be bashful. ¡°So guys do get bashful,¡± Su Yue muttered to herself as though she had discovered something interesting. Her lollipop was still in her mouth. Wu Yuefan blushed even harder. He bashfully glanced at Bai Jing but she appeared not to have noticed him. In her eyes, no one else seemed to matter. And the reason was she couldn¡¯t help thinking about a certain someone. Although she knew that certain man wouldn¡¯t even think of her, she still couldn¡¯t stop herself from thinking about him. ¡°Are you still playing?!¡± Liang Zihua¡¯s teammates began to grumble at their absence. They stared at them grudgingly. Liang Zihua waved to them. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± He stood up and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Junior, I¡¯ll treat you after the match.¡± Su Yue ignored him and continued to gaze into the distance. Chapter 1137. Senior, Lets Date (part Two) After Liang Zihua and Wu Yuefan left, Su Yue turned her head to ask Bai Jing. ¡°Wu Yuefan likes you?¡± Bai Jing peered at her, looking rather amused. ¡°Why are you so clear about others¡¯ intentions? Are you even aware of your own?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m an outsider,¡± Su Yue said as she licked her lollipop. Bai Jing laughed rather helplessly. The umpire blew the whistle shrilly at the same moment. The match was starting and two teams entered. One team was wearing red jerseys, the other was in white. All the players were at least 1.75m tall, and all of them seemed like professional players for they all had an athletic built. Su Yue used her hands to support her chin, looking as if she was interested in the match. But her heart and mind had flown somewhere else. She was staring at these tall and muscular players, but Ming Ansheng came to her mind instead. She wondered if Uncle Ming knew how to play basketball. ¡°Guys who play basketball seem cool.¡± Su Yue retracted her gaze and mumbled under her breath. Bai Jing overheard her and inched nearer to her. ¡°The school beau is wooing you. You can try dating him.¡± Su Yue instantly refused. ¡°I don¡¯t like guys like him. He has a glib tongue.¡± ¡°What is your type?¡± Bai Jing asked as she gestured towards the basketball players in the court. ¡°Look at them, most of the good-looking guys in school assembled here today. Did anyone catch your eye?¡± Su Yue answered, ¡°I will like whoever wins the match.¡± She was merely joking around with Bai Jing. To her horror, a girl sitting in front of them overheard her and yelled, ¡°The school belle says that whoever wins the match will win her heart!¡± Her voice echoed around the entire court. Her yells caused a commotion among the crowd and the players. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. What¡¯s happening? What did she say? It affected all the basketball players, and they were all tempted with her proclamation. ¡®Whoever wins the match will win her heart¡­¡¯ Did it mean that whoever who won the match would succeed in professing their love for her? There was only one player who wasn¡¯t affected by the commotion. He seized the opportunity and scored a three-pointer. He was the first to score points in the match. Loud applause echoed around the court. ¡°Senior Chen is so handsome!¡± ¡°Jiao Chen¡­ Jiao Chen!¡± The girls began screaming wildly, as though they were competing with each other. The guy who had just scored had lured Su Yue¡¯s eyes¡­ The guy whom everyone addressed him as Senior Chen. She merely wanted to see how he looked like. ¡°He is indeed quite good-looking,¡± Su Yue muttered inaudibly. She had finished eating her lollipop and was now sucking the plastic stick. Bai Jing quipped, ¡°He is the school beau of the English Literature faculty, and he is the top student. His name is Jiao Chen.¡± Su Yue stared at Bai Jing, looking astonished. ¡°How do you know? You know him?¡± Bai Jing was speechless¡­ This girl was clueless about everything! She continued, ¡°The school forum has all the information on the popular and influential figures in school. Including yours, too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows tightly and glanced at Jiao Chen. ¡°School beau, a top student, and he seems like a good basketball player, too.¡± Bai Jing was speechless. She surveyed Su Yue with a doubtful expression. She sounded like an expert as though she knew how to play basketball. She was truly speechless. ¡°Then do you want to date Senior Jiao Chen?¡± Bai Jing grinned cheekily at her. Su Yue frowned and retorted, ¡°But he didn¡¯t woo me.¡± She sounded like her usual self, with no emotions. Chapter 1138. Senior, Lets Date (part Three) ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, the school belle wants you to woo her!¡± The girl shouted once more in the direction of the basketball court. Su Yue was speechless. Bai Jing was speechless. ¡°Do you know how annoying you are?¡± Su Yue yelled at the girl and threw the lollipop stick at her. The girl turned around and glared at Su Yue. ¡°I hate girls who try to act innocent. Just like you. So can you hurry up and get a boyfriend? Then no one else would waste their time on you.¡± Su Yue was speechless. This girl made her sound as though she was some vixen. The players began to panic when they heard that Su Yue wanted Jiao Chen to woo her. Jiao Chen was the star player of the English Literature team, and the Computer Science team players were bound to target him. Everyone, especially Liang Zihua, was staring at him. Jiao Chen was focused on the game and the attention he received hardly affected him. His gorgeous face was perspiring. He had intently fixed his charming and seductive-looking eyes on the ball. ¡°Jiao Chen, I can¡¯t tell if you are so eager since you always seem so aloof,¡± Liang Zihua scorned loudly. Jiao Chen snorted coldly and swiftly seized the opportunity by snatching the ball from Liang Zihua. He spun around and made a huge flying leap as he aimed for the hoop. Su Yue¡¯s mouth hung open and her eyes widened. Her gaze followed the ball. The ball went in! ¡°So cool!¡± Su Yue clapped loudly. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Liang Zihua was indignant as Jiao Chen completely overshadowed him. He deliberately bumped into him. Jiao Chen stood with a straight back, and he remained on the spot. He stared at Liang Zihua with a deadpan expression. The two team players assembled respectively and stood opposite of their rivals. ¡°What¡¯s the situation? Are they going to fight?¡± The crowd started a ruckus. ¡°Jiao Chen, what do you mean by that?¡± Liang Zihua swaggered towards Jiao Chen with his chin lifted. Jiao Chen lifted his eyebrows coolly. ¡°Are we still playing?¡± He seemed to imply that if they were not going to continue playing, then he would leave. ¡°Why are you trying to pretend?¡± Liang Zihua was trying to egg Jiao Chen on and pushed him. Jiao Chen stumbled backward, but he didn¡¯t retaliate. He appeared as if he wanted to leave. Liang Zihua grabbed his arm and swiftly punched Jiao Chen. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen¡­¡± The girls were all shocked. ¡°It¡¯s all because of this pretentious girl!¡± Everyone started to look at Su Yue. Their accusations didn¡¯t seem to affect Su Yue. She only kept her eyes on the basketball court. Jiao Chen straightened his back, stretched his hand to wipe his mouth. The corner of his mouth was bleeding. Liang Zihua¡¯s teammates had restrained him. Jiao Chen glanced at him, looking as if he couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. Liang Zihua saw Jiao Chen staring at him and he sneered coldly. ¡°What are you looking at? Fight me!¡± ¡°Fighting someone like you is beneath my status.¡± Jiao Chen sneered coldly as well. He turned around to leave. ¡°He is too cool.¡± Su Yue gazed at him, looking completely infatuated. They sat near to the doors and it was the only exit. Jiao Chen strode towards the doors and didn¡¯t pay attention to the crowd at all. ¡°Tch. So what if she is pretty? Senior Jiao Chen wouldn¡¯t like someone like her.¡± ¡°Senior Jiao Chen has dated no one in these three years. Why would he like a vixen?¡± Several girls noticed Jiao Chen walking away, looking unperturbed. They felt a wicked sense of triumph as though they had successfully sought revenge against Su Yue. Chapter 1139. Senior, Let’s Date (part Four) Jiao Chen strode towards the door, and he swept past Su Yue without halting his footsteps. As the towering figure walked past them, everyone else except for Su Yue was in excitement. Su Yue suddenly rose and ran out of the court. ¡°Jiao Chen!¡± Jiao Chen stopped dead in his tracks after he heard her yell. He turned around to glance at her. Su Yue tore after him with a bright smile on her beautiful face. It startled Jiao Chen. Su Yue stopped before him and gently prodded the corners of Jiao Chen¡¯s mouth. ¡°Is it painful?¡± Instinctively, Jiao Chen retreated a step backward and frowned at Su Yue. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re so cool. I want to learn how to play. Can I be your disciple?¡± Su Yue gazed at him with her eyes twinkling. Adoration and admiration filled her eyes. Jiao Chen coldly replied, ¡°No.¡± Su Yue bowed her head and looked rather dejected. Jiao Chen raised his eyebrow. ¡°I thought you wanted me to woo you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t comprehend Jiao Chen at all, and so she stared at him with a blank face. Jiao Chen pressed on. ¡°If I woo you, will you accept me?¡± He sounded so insincere. Su Yue was speechless. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Jiao Chen turned around to leave, looking unconcerned. ¡®Why don¡¯t you date someone and forget him.¡¯ Su Yue recalled what Bai Jing had said. She yelled at Jiao Chen. ¡°Okay!¡± Jiao Chen stopped once more and turned around. He glanced at Su Yue, looking nonchalant. ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming over?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°But I don¡¯t know how to wash clothes and I won¡¯t do it for you, too.¡± Jiao Chen stared at her and was momentarily dumbfounded. He rolled his eyes at Su Yue and quipped, ¡°I don¡¯t need a nanny.¡± He turned around and continued walking towards the direction of the library. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue smiled as she strode happily to catch up with Jiao Chen. ¡°Then let¡¯s date. Can you teach me how to play basketball?¡± Jiao Chen glanced at her and said, ¡°You¡¯re too short.¡± He rejected her as she wasn¡¯t suited for it. How dare he look down on her? This handsome guy had annoyed Su Yue, and so she eyed him. ¡°I saw many girls who are as tall as me. They¡¯re playing basketball, too.¡± Jiao Chen snorted. ¡°Reach the library in 20 seconds.¡± He pointed at the library, which was about 200 meters away. ¡°Alright.¡± Jiao Chen had barely finished when Su Yue agreed. The next second, she swiftly sprinted off and swept past him. He widened his mouth and looked stunned. After he got over his shock, the little figure had already reached the entrance of the library. ¡°I¡¯ve reached. I took only 18 seconds!¡± Su Yue stepped on the stairs and hollered at Jiao Chen. She sounded exhilarated and excited. She pressed her hands to her hips as she tried to catch her breath. She seemed to sparkle and dazzle in the sunlight. Jiao Chen¡¯s face broke into a faint smile and he strode over, taking his time. Su Yue peered at Jiao Chen as he walked towards her. ¡°So can you teach me how to play?¡± Jiao Chen had already wiped off the smile on his face. ¡°Every morning and evening at six. Report at the field. If you are late or absent, don¡¯t ever dream of learning ever again.¡± Chapter 1140. Senior, Let’s Date (part Five) He casually glanced at Su Yue, but he didn¡¯t halt. He continued to walk in big strides towards the library. ¡®So he agreed?¡¯ Su Yue stood there, digesting this new piece of information. She happily agreed seconds later. She closely followed behind Jiao Chen and entered the library. Jiao Chen found the books he was searching for and went to the counter to loan the books. He walked out of the library with Su Yue tailing after him. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, where are you going now?¡± Jiao Chen answered, ¡°Heading out.¡± Su Yue pressed on. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jiao Chen halted his footsteps and quietly gazed at Su Yue. Su Yue pouted and muttered, ¡°Fine. I shall not probe.¡± Jiao Chen remained mum as he continued walking. Su Yue stood there watching him. She yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that we are meeting at 6 p.m. tonight!¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t respond, neither did he even pause. As he vanished out of sight, Su Yue muttered under her breath, ¡°What a rude fellow.¡± ¡°Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s voice sounded all of a sudden. Su Yue glanced at the direction of her voice. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Bai Jing curiously peered at her and asked, ¡°Senior Jiao Chen and you¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re dating,¡± Su Yue casually quipped. Without even a trace of emotion in her voice. The corners of Bai Jing¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°You¡­ you are dating him?¡± It happened in the blink of an eye. ¡°Yup.¡± Su Yue nodded and blinked. ¡°Why? Is there a problem?¡± She glanced at the direction where Jiao Chen had left. Bai Jing shook her head slightly. ¡°Nope.¡± She looked at Su Yue with her mind racing. Su Yue suddenly turned to look at Bai Jing. ¡°From today onwards, Senior Jiao Chen is teaching me how to play basketball. Every morning and evening,¡± said Su Yue excitedly. Bai Jing frowned. ¡°Morning and evening?¡± ¡°Yup, six in the morning and six in the evening.¡± Su Yue was simply excited at the thought. ¡°He is so cool, and he seemed to have his own principles. He warned that if I was ever late, I could forget about learning.¡± She started to visualize herself wearing a cool jersey, dribbling the ball and running across the court. She would look so cool. Bai Jing was speechless. Wasn¡¯t it obvious that he didn¡¯t want to coach her? How would she be able to wake up for the early training every morning? Every day¡­ and she couldn¡¯t be late¡­ She was the only one who didn¡¯t understand that Jiao Chen was trying to reject her using such a method. She seemed to be over the moon. This was enough! She pressed on after some deliberation. ¡°Have you decided to date Senior Jiao Chen?¡± Why did she feel that a relationship seemed like a game to this girl? ¡°You said that I can forget about Uncle Ming using this method.¡± Su Yue bowed, looking forlorn. Bai Jing exasperatedly answered, ¡°Su Yue, that was just a random suggestion.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the dormitory.¡± Su Yue shrugged off any excess worries and grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s arm. ¡­ At half-past five, Su Yue changed into her sports attire and paired it with her white track shoes. She washed up and tied up her hair. She was ready. Bai Jing was reading a book and peered amusedly at her. ¡°Let¡¯s see how many days you can do this.¡± She felt that Su Yue was doing this on a whim. The days were turning colder, and she would have to wake up before 6 a.m. every day for the training. She didn¡¯t believe that Su Yue could last long. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can endure this.¡± Su Yue sounded confident. She glanced at the time; it was 5:40 p.m. Chapter 1141. Senior, Lets Date (part Six She said, ¡°I¡¯ll head downstairs first. If I¡¯m not back in a while, you should have your dinner without me.¡± Bai Jing waved at her. ¡°Go on then. I feel like we won¡¯t be having many meals together from now on.¡± ¡®Won¡¯t be having many meals together from now on?¡¯ Su Yue was curious. ¡°Why?¡± Bai Jing replied, ¡°You¡¯re dating Senior Jiao Chen, so you¡¯ll definitely be eating with him every day. I don¡¯t want to be a ¡®light bulb¡¯ .¡± Su Yue waved her hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m not someone who neglects my friends when in love.¡± Bai Jing was speechless. She only said that she didn¡¯t want to be a ¡®light bulb¡¯ . She didn¡¯t say that Su Yue would neglect her when she started dating. ¡°I have to go or I¡¯ll be late,¡± Su Yue said, looking at the clock. She had 15 minutes left. She ran downstairs. There was an open-air basketball court near the male dormitory. It was crowded at that time. Su Yue had jogged all the way there. She tried looking for Jiao Chen among all the tall figures. But he was nowhere to be seen. Su Yue looked at her wristwatch. It was already six p.m. Didn¡¯t he ask her to be punctual? She stood outside the cemented basketball court and frowned, silently criticizing Jiao Chen for being late. The dribbling sounds were never-ending. Once in a while, cheering would be heard when someone scored a three-pointer. Su Yue¡¯s legs were tired from standing. She squatted down and propped her chin in her hands, boringly watching them play basketball. ¡°Junior, why are you squatting here?¡± Suddenly, a few tall figures appeared before her. Su Yue saw their sports shoes first, then she slowly peered up at them. When she saw the face of the boy standing in front of her, her expression immediately turned to disdain. It was Liang Zihua. She already disliked him from the start. But after he had hit Senior Jiao Chen intentionally earlier, her dislike for him turned to hatred. ¡°Waiting for Senior Jiao Chen,¡± she replied coldly, bowing her head again and resting her chin on her knees. She played with the grass in the lawn. When Liang Zihua heard that she was waiting for Jiao Chen, he was indignant. ¡°How is Jiao Chen better than me?¡± He was the most handsome guy in the entire school. Jiao Chen was only the most good-looking in his faculty. Su Yue answered, ¡°He¡¯s better than you from head to toe. Even his sweat and the hair on his body is better than yours.¡± She didn¡¯t even look up at him. Of course, it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t dare to. She just didn¡¯t want to spare him a single glance. She had learned this sentence from Yan Rusheng. He was always bragging about how no one was comparable to him. Even his sweat and hairs on his body looked better than anyone else¡¯s. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Those together with Liang Zihua couldn¡¯t hold in their laughter. Liang Zihua turned red with fury. He looked down at Su Yue and warned, ¡°Jiao Chen is so poor yet he pretends to be classy and refined. You¡¯re going to regret it.¡± ¡°Are you very rich?¡± Su Yue peered up at him, expressionless. She then suddenly stood up and raised her head arrogantly. ¡°How rich is your family? Richer than mine?¡± Liang Zihua couldn¡¯t hold on to his pride any longer. Of course, who dared to claim to be richer than the Yans? Mocking Miss Yan¡¯s boyfriend for being poor? What was he thinking? Liang Zihua turned red and then green. He clenched his fists and grit his teeth, not saying a word. What was he supposed to say? Seeing that Liang Zihua kept silent, Su Yue lashed out at him in a warning. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen is my boyfriend now. You punched him today, but I¡¯ll let you off since you¡¯re a first-time offender. If you dare to lay a finger on him again, I¡¯ll make you die a slow, painful death.¡± Chapter 1142. Senior, Lets Date (part Seven) All of them were speechless. This little child¡­ She must¡¯ve watched too many kung-fu movies. Su Yue planned on forgetting about Jiao Chen, so she turned around, ready to leave. But the moment she turned around, she was startled. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Senior Jiao Chen.¡± She didn¡¯t know how long Jiao Chen had been standing behind her. He was no longer in the red jersey he was wearing during the competition. He was now in a dark blue T-shirt and black jersey shorts with a basketball in his arms. He remained expressionless and his eyes didn¡¯t reveal any of his emotions. He looked at Su Yue and plainly said, ¡°There was a delay on my way here.¡± He walked past her and brushed past Liang Zihua. When he entered the court, he put down the basketball and turned around to look at Su Yue. Su Yue stood rooted to the spot. He frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t want to learn anymore?¡± ¡°Oh, coming,¡± Su Yue replied, jogging over. ¡°Jiao Chen.¡± All the players on the court knew Jiao Chen and greeted him. Jiao Chen nodded back politely in return. ¡°Pick it up and dribble,¡± Jiao Chen commanded, pointing at the basketball on the floor. Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ . She bent over obediently and picked the ball up, imitating the dribbling pose of the other players. But¡­ she looked like she was just bouncing the ball. Jiao Chen sat on the grass patch beside her, staring at his phone. He didn¡¯t spare her a glance. Su Yue practiced for a while, but she felt like she was doing it wrong. She looked at Jiao Chen and shouted unhappily. ¡°Jiao Chen, you said that you¡¯ll teach me.¡± How was she supposed to learn if he just threw her a ball without saying anything? ¡°Junior, if Jiao Chen doesn¡¯t want to teach you, I can.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m willing to teach you, too.¡± All of them agreed. Su Yue ignored them. She held on to the basketball and walked until she stood before Jiao Chen. She looked at him with dissatisfaction and asked, ¡°Do you not want to teach me?¡± Jiao Chen put his phone away but remained silent. Suddenly, he stood up and grabbed Su Yue¡¯s wrist. His huge palm was full of calluses. Su Yue could feel them with her smooth skin. She was startled when Jiao Chen suddenly held her hand. Her first instinct was to shrug his hand off. Jiao Chen smiled at her coldly. ¡°Aren¡¯t we dating?¡± What he meant was, wasn¡¯t it normal for couples to hold hands? Su Yue thought it made sense so she didn¡¯t struggle. She looked down at their intertwined hands but she didn¡¯t feel anything. She had the same feeling when she held Bai Jing¡¯s hand. Both of them walked until they were under the basketball hoop. Jiao Chen took the ball from her and said, ¡°Look closely at how I do it.¡± He bent over and started dribbling slowly. Su Yue watched him seriously. ¡°Try it.¡± Jiao Chen suddenly threw the ball at her. Fortunately, Su Yue had quick reflexes and was able to grab the ball before it smashed her face. Su Yue knew that she wasn¡¯t gifted when it came to learning new things. She dribbled the ball twice, but it still didn¡¯t feel right. She looked at him, devastated. Jiao Chen didn¡¯t say anything. He walked behind Su Yue and grabbed hold of both her hands. He made her bend over with him. ¡°Like this. Just move your wrists, not your entire arm.¡± His warm breath fanned her ear, and Su Yue started to feel embarrassed. She drew back her neck, blushing. She hurriedly nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve got it.¡± She just wanted him to let go of her quickly. But Jiao Chen¡¯s method worked. Su Yue grasped the skill quickly. Chapter 1143. Senior, Lets Date (part Eight) She was addicted to anything new she learned. The next day, Su Yue woke at five a.m. Since it was too early, Jiao Chen hadn¡¯t arrived. She took a photo of the basketball court and posted it on Moments. ¡°Sports gives us life.¡± The sky was still a shade of dark blue at past five a.m. in an autumn setting. Su Yue took a photo of only the basketball hoop and the sky. Jiao Chen stood by the window of his dormitory, watching the small figure in the basketball court, deep in thought. ¡­ Su Yue was doing her warm-ups. It was five minutes past six, but Jiao Chen was still nowhere to be seen. She decided she would harshly scold him when he arrived. ¡°Continue practicing.¡± Just then, Jiao Chen called out from in front of her. Su Yue looked up and frowned. She scolded, ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, can you be punctual? I thought you were a principled person.¡± Jiao Chen watched her, expressionless. ¡°I told you to reach by six, but I didn¡¯t say that I needed to as well.¡± Su Yue was speechless. It did seem that he didn¡¯t mention he would reach punctually at six. She pouted and grudgingly gave an ¡®oh¡¯ as a reply. She seemed to be disdainful as well. Jiao Chen smiled for a second, but his expression turned cold again. The whole morning, Su Yue was practicing while Jiao Chen sat at the side using his phone. After an hour of practice, Jiao Chen walked over to Su Yue, bending over to snatch the ball from her. He then turned around and took two large strides, shooting into the hoop. The ball went in. ¡°So cool!¡± Su Yue cried, clapping. Jiao Chen smiled faintly before picking the ball up and holding it in his arms. He turned around and said to Su Yue, ¡°Time to go.¡± He walked off toward his dormitory. Su Yue followed after him. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, let¡¯s have breakfast together.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t eat at the canteen,¡± Jiao Chen replied, still walking. If he didn¡¯t eat at the canteen, then it meant he ate outside of school. Su Yue smiled and said, ¡°I don¡¯t either.¡± Jiao Chen stopped in his tracks and looked at her. Su Yue was smiling brightly. The sun shone on her, making her look lively and full of vigor. Actually, she only gave this genuine smile to the people she was willing to be with. Jiao Chen was uncontrollably shocked for a moment when he turned to look at her. He coldly continued, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play with you.¡± Su Yue¡¯s smile stiffened. She asked, ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, do you think that I¡¯m very annoying and regret dating me?¡± Without waiting for his reply, she hung her head low and softly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to teach me if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Jiao Chen froze. He couldn¡¯t seem to figure out this girl before him. ¡°Little lass, you¡¯re serious?¡± Su Yue nodded sincerely. ¡°Mm.¡± Jiao Chen frowned. ¡°Why did you choose me?¡± Su Yue pressed her lips together, hesitating before saying, ¡°If I tell you, can you keep it a secret?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me,¡± Jiao Chen replied, continuing to walk forward. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen.¡± Su Yue chased after him hurriedly. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s because¡­¡± She wanted to tell him why she wanted to date him. She didn¡¯t want to lie. From her previous experience with the tattoo and lying to Xuxu, she felt that lying was a torture. But Jiao Chen suddenly interrupted her. ¡°I give tuition every afternoon and night, as well as other part-time jobs.¡± He stopped in his tracks and turned his head slowly to look at her. ¡°So¡­ I don¡¯t have much time to spend with you.¡± Chapter 1144. Senior, Let’s Date (part Nine) So he meant that he would continue dating her? Su Yue froze for a while before recovering from her stupor. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t need you to keep me company.¡± Jiao Chen pursed his lips, his tone casual as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring the ball upstairs.¡± Su Yue happily nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you over there.¡± Great! Senior Jiao Chen would continue dating her. To her, it didn¡¯t matter if she liked him or not. As long as she didn¡¯t detest him, she was willing to be with him. Since she entered A University, many people have confessed to her, but she wasn¡¯t willing to be with any of them. Only towards Jiao Chen, she had no distaste. After spending more time together, they would eventually develop feelings for one another. Then, her feelings for Uncle Ming would definitely disappear. The school belle and the school beau of the English faculty were dating. This was no doubt the hottest news since the start of the school year. Su Yue topped the headlines once again. The school paparazzi took photos of both of them in the basketball court, with Jiao Chen¡¯s hands placed on hers as he taught her how to dribble. It described, to the finest detail, how Su Yue wanted Jiao Chen to date her. ¡°Yueyue is dating. Why all of a sudden?¡± Since Su Yue entered A University, Xuxu had been browsing the school forum at least once a day. Bright and early in the morning, she had seen the news that Su Yue was dating Jiao Chen. She leaned against her pillow, full of anxiety. Logically speaking, if Su Yue had developed feelings for someone, she would have been the first to know. But she didn¡¯t mention liking anybody when she came home on Friday. Why did she suddenly get into a relationship yesterday? Yan Rusheng, who was standing at the side and rocking the crib, replied, ¡°Love at first sight.¡± ¡°How would you know?¡± Xuxu asked him in confusion. Did Su Yue tell him? ¡°Isn¡¯t it written there?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, pointing at a paragraph of the online article on Xuxu¡¯s phone. ¡°Here, it says that Yueyue went to watch a basketball match and fell in love with him at first sight, so she asked the fellow to chase her.¡± He then placed a pillow behind his head and in satisfaction, he said, ¡°She¡¯s got a backbone. That¡¯s the way¡ªnever make the first move even if you have feelings for the person.¡± Xuxu was speechless. He was ridiculous and full of arrogance. Then she was lost in thought for a while before frowning once again. ¡°Would it be bad for her to date at such a young age?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you have a crush on me since you were 13?¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Yan Rusheng I¡¯m being serious here.¡± ¡°She¡¯s already 18. Isn¡¯t it normal to date at the university?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, obviously supportive of Su Yue. ¡°Besides, haven¡¯t you been worried about her extreme personality? If she¡¯s willing to date, and she knows that she has developed feelings for someone, isn¡¯t that progress for her?¡± Now, he utterly detested and looked down on those who didn¡¯t admit their feelings. Xuxu felt that Yan Rusheng made sense. She frowned in thought, before sighing. ¡°Aish, I don¡¯t know what that Jiao Chen is like. Let¡¯s get Yueyue to bring him home for dinner one day.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. This stupid woman had become an anxiety-ridden parent since she gave birth. She worried too much. He raised his eyebrow at her. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s appropriate?¡± Xuxu pressed her lips together. ¡°It does seem a little extreme.¡± They had just begun dating, so it seemed inappropriate to bring him home. It wasn¡¯t as if their Yueyue couldn¡¯t find a boyfriend. Yan Rusheng suddenly pulled Xuxu into his arms. His huge hands casually pinched and caressed her face. Chapter 1145. Wife, Give Me Some Benefits (part One) He comforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find out more about him when I meet their principal next time.¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± That Jiao Chen was already in his third year. Especially since he was a school beau and a top student, the teachers would know his character. She pushed Yan Rusheng in excitement. ¡°You should do it now.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Wife, it¡¯s finally the weekend. Can you let me have a good rest?¡± This stupid woman, how could she act on her whims? ¡°Go, go. Do it now,¡± Xuxu said for the sake of Yueyue. She hugged Yan Rusheng and cooed, ¡°Ah Sheng, do it now. We won¡¯t sleep with the kids today.¡± Yan Rusheng hated sleeping with the children. He couldn¡¯t sleep well. And he had to wash their diapers. This was an enticing suggestion. Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth. ¡°Only because of that lass?¡± ¡°Quick,¡± Xuxu said, pounding his chest with her fist. But it wasn¡¯t just a pound¡ªshe was teasing and seducing him. Yan Rusheng grabbed her neck and kissed her lips. He sucked on her lower lip and bit it. He then stood up gracefully and stood by the crib. He gently caressed Meowmeow¡¯s face with his eyes full of tenderness. Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Biased.¡± Every single time, Meowmeow was the first one he looked at, carried and fed. Indeed, a daughter was her father¡¯s lover in his previous life. Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°All my assets will belong to my son in the future. I¡¯ll treat my daughter like a princess and marry her off.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. What feudalistic thinking! What right did he have to will all his assets to their son? She wanted to ignore him. ¡°Go quickly. When you reach, it should be lunchtime. Bring Yueyue out for a meal since you¡¯re there, then find out more about that boy.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. He couldn¡¯t bother with this stupid woman. ¡­ When Su Yue received Yan Rusheng¡¯s call, she immediately rushed down. She pushed open the dormitory doors and saw Yan Rusheng standing there, well-groomed. She smiled and walked over. ¡°Third Brother, what brings you here?¡± Yan Rusheng buried his hands in his pockets and sized her up. He plainly said, ¡°We heard that you¡¯re dating, so your third sister-in-law asked me to come over.¡± Su Yue blushed. She said, ¡°It¡¯s just for fun.¡± She didn¡¯t expect her family to find out. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°You¡¯re dating for fun?¡± What warped logic was that?! ¡°Umm.¡± Su Yue hesitated. ¡°Does dating have to lead to marriage?¡± Obviously, she didn¡¯t get his point. Yan Rusheng patiently explained, ¡°Dating comes after mutual affection, does it not?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t hate Senior Jiao Chen, anyway.¡± She just didn¡¯t feel the same way she did towards Uncle Ming. Yan Rusheng¡¯s frown deepened. Then he continued, ¡°Where¡¯s that lad?¡± Su Yue knew that Yan Rusheng was talking about Jiao Chen. ¡°He should be giving private tuition at this time.¡± Yan Rusheng already knew his situation from the principal. He didn¡¯t probe further. He said to Su Yue, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you out for lunch.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded. Then she added, ¡°I¡¯ll get Bai Jing.¡± Chapter 1146. Wife, Give Me Some Benefits (part Two) Yan Rusheng pressed his lips together, neither nodding nor shaking his head. Su Yue took out her phone and dialed Bai Jing¡¯s number. Bai Jing quickly came down. She was wearing an orange chiffon shirt and white tight-fitting pants. She looked beautiful and fresh. She tied her hair up in a ponytail, as usual. ¡°You changed your clothes,¡± Su Yue mentioned casually. Awkwardness flashed across her eyes. She explained, ¡°I accidentally spilled tea on my clothes earlier.¡± She dismissed her lightly and immediately greeted, ¡°Third Brother.¡± To divert Su Yue¡¯s attention. Yan Rusheng nodded gently. ¡­ During lunch, all the restaurants were filled. Yan Rusheng drove them to a Western restaurant two stops away. This was the only relatively high-class restaurant within the vicinity. It was a suitable place for boys to bring girls on pretentious dates. Yan Rusheng took the menu and ordered the restaurant¡¯s signature beef steak. He then passed the menu to Su Yue and Bai Jing. ¡°I want this escargot, this secret-recipe beef steak, and chicken wings,¡± Su Yue ordered, taking the menu from him. Chicken wings were a must for her no matter which restaurant she went to. Yan Rusheng and Bai Jing were used to it. ¡°Bai Jing, what do you want to eat?¡± Su Yue asked, passing Bai Jing the menu. Bai Jing glanced through it and said, ¡°I¡¯ll get a signature beef steak, too.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have some red wine,¡± Su Yue suddenly suggested. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± Yan Rusheng scolded with a frown. He chided softly, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re not allowed to drink in school, all right?¡± Su Yue pressed her lips together and agreed. He didn¡¯t have to be so fierce. ¡°Give your third sister-in-law a call today. She¡¯s been concerned about you,¡± Yan Rusheng said, placing the napkin on his front. He observed Su Yue¡¯s expression. Su Yue looked downwards and agreed, her long eyelashes concealing her bright eyes. So Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t tell if she did it reluctantly. Then he added, ¡°She had insomnia because of you.¡± Su Yue felt guilty when she heard it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Yan Rusheng said, expressionless. ¡°What matters is that you learn from your mistakes. I¡¯ll get someone to fetch you next Friday.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing watched their exchange silently. Yan Rusheng was obviously looking out for Xuxu. The reason he came to find Su Yue during the weekend must have been because she had asked him to. What trait did Su Yue¡¯s third sister-in-law have that made her able to manage a man like Yan Rusheng? Bai Jing was envious of Xuxu. Her gaze constantly flitted over to Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. Whenever she looked at him, she would admire his fair arms, slender fingers, and-defined knuckles. Indeed, even his hands were so mesmerizing. They served their dishes. Bai Jing held her knife and fork, but her actions were rather stiff because she hadn¡¯t had a Western meal before. ¡®Clangs¡¯ were heard as her utensils knocked her plate as she cut her steak. Awkward, she blushed. She looked over at Yan Rusheng. He had a fork in one hand and a knife in the other. He looked casual and at ease, with an unspoken elegance. Bai Jing wished she had a hole to crawl into. Chapter 1147. Wife, Give Me Some Benefits (part Three) ¡°Hold the steak down with your fork like this, then slice it gently. You don¡¯t have to use so much force,¡± Yan Rusheng said to Bai Jing, suddenly lifting his head. There wasn¡¯t a hint of mockery or despise in his tone. Bai Jing hesitated. She blushed profusely¡ªthough out of shyness rather than embarrassment. She nodded gently. She hurriedly looked down and followed his instructions, getting it in no time. ¡°You have good comprehension skills,¡± Yan Rusheng praised Bai Jing as he chewed on a piece of steak. Then he glanced at Su Yue, giving her an indecipherable smile. Su Yue frowned. ¡°What do you want?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°He has to place his hands on yours to teach you how to dribble?¡± Su Yue finally realized that he was praising Bai Jing, only to emphasize her foolishness. She frowned and quipped, ¡°Annoying.¡± Bai Jing, whose mind was still reeling in happiness from Yan Rusheng¡¯s praise, regained her senses. A ruminate smile flitted across her blushing face. Her glance once again subconsciously flitted to Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, her eyes full of adoration and yearning. Yan Rusheng had his mouth full of food. He drank a mouthful of water before asking Su Yue, ¡°Do you even know the guy you¡¯re dating?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Su Yue replied, nodding. ¡°He¡¯s called Jiao Chen, 21 this year. He¡¯s in his third year and studies Chinese. His results are super impressive.¡± In her eyes, Jiao Chen had no flaws. Yan Rusheng was speechless. She called this ¡®knowing¡¯? This na?ve lass¡­ He seriously said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so clueless. You could get sold off without even knowing.¡± Su Yue replied coolly, ¡°Jiao Chen is not a human trafficker. Why would he sell me?¡± There was a long pause. ¡°By the way, Third Brother,¡± Su Yue blurted, lifting her head to look at him. She smiled and said, ¡°Bai Jing has a lot of suitors in school.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled, saying nothing. He had gone through all this during his university days as well. It was usual for girls to have suitors. Only this little lass made such a fuss. Bai Jing blushed. She glared at Su Yue, then glanced at Yan Rusheng. She was disappointed. She gripped her utensils tightly, biting on her lower lip until it turned white. ¡°Third Brother, do you play basketball?¡± Su Yue asked after two bites. Yan Rusheng replied without a tinge of modesty. ¡°My skills are definitely not worse than that Senior Jiao Chen.¡± His eyes filled with pride. Su Yue looked at him in suspicion. ¡°Are you just bragging?¡± Jiao Chen was superb at basketball. Could Third Brother be better than him? Hmph! She didn¡¯t believe so. Young Master Yan was not used to having his abilities under doubt. He said, ¡°One day, I¡¯ll bring Ming Ansheng, Lu Yinan and the gang over to have a friendly match with that Jiao Chen.¡± Su Yue bit her fork, the smile on her face instantly disappearing. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± She rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng, then continued eating. Piece by piece she stuffed the steak into her mouth, but it now seemed tasteless. Actually, when Yan Rusheng suggested having a friendly match with Jiao Chen, she was up for it. But when she heard that Ming Ansheng would be there¡­ forget it. She didn¡¯t want to see him. No, more like she couldn¡¯t see him. She had to get over him quickly¡ªget over the feelings she had for him. Chapter 1148. Wife, Give Me Some Benefits (part Four) Yan Rusheng smugly grinned. ¡°Seems like you have little confidence in Jiao Chen.¡± If Xuxu was here, she was bound to throw him a disdainful look for boasting his own skills and trying to compete with his sister¡¯s boyfriend. Su Yue stuck out her tongue in response. ¡°Remember to come home this weekend.¡± Yan Rusheng sent Su Yue and Bai Jing back to school and reminded her. Xuxu would definitely keep thinking about her if she didn¡¯t. ¡°Alright, I got it. Stop nagging.¡± Su Yue¡¯s own thoughts had her preoccupied and naturally sounded impatient. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell. This was the first time someone asked him to stop nagging. This imprudent lass! He was famous for being a man of few words. Young Master Yan, are you sure? In that case, who was the man who had rattled on endlessly when he was with Wen Xuxu every day? ¡­ After Yan Rusheng drove off, Bai Jing seemed to be in a daze. Su Yue frowned and asked, ¡°Bai Jing, what are you looking at?¡± Bai Jing snapped to her senses and hurriedly hung her head low. ¡°Nothing¡­ nothing.¡± She raised her head and managed a feeble smile. She steered the topic away. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I thought you wanted to buy a basketball? Let¡¯s go now. I will get one too so I can play with you.¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡°You want to play as well?¡± Yesterday she insisted that she didn¡¯t want to play. Bai Jing smiled sheepishly and said, ¡°I can treat it as a form of exercise.¡± She peered at the ground and her eyelashes covered her eyes, hiding the expression in her eyes. Su Yue nodded to agree. ¡°Yes, we do need to exercise.¡± There were a handful of shops near the school selling sports equipment. Su Yue and Bai Jing bought a basketball each. Su Yue dribbled the ball as she walked back to school. She seemed addicted to practicing. Although autumn was approaching, the sun still beat down on them mercilessly in the afternoon. Both of them planned to take a rest in their dormitory first before practice. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Both of them were having a pleasant conversation as they walked on the path when a woman fondly called for Bai Jing. Bai Jing¡¯s smile vanished instantly, and she turned cold. A woman strolled towards her, with an awkward and guilty expression. Bai Jing hastened her footsteps towards the dormitory and swept past Zhang Lihong without acknowledging her. Zhang Lihong suddenly turned around and grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s arm. ¡°Bai Jing, I have no idea what that brat has done to you. I really didn¡¯t know that he drugged you.¡± Her tears trickled down. ¡°Enough!¡± Bai Jing hissed and her eyes darted around. It finally landed on Su Yue¡¯s face. ¡®Drugged?¡¯ Su Yue stared at her suspiciously. What drugs was she talking about? Bai Jing said to Su Yue, ¡°Su Yue, go up first.¡± She passed the basketball to her and mumbled, ¡°Help me bring this up, too. Thank you.¡± Su Yue knew that Bai Jing wanted to talk to her mother in private. She nodded and took the ball from her. She threw a glance at Zhang Lihong in a rather hostile manner before leaving. Although Zhang Lihong was Bai Jing¡¯s mother, she didn¡¯t have a good impression of her since she forcibly took Bai Jing away at the hospital. She didn¡¯t even bother to greet her. Regardless of the person¡¯s status or identity, she would never talk to a person she disliked. ¡°Why are you here? Are you afraid that no one would find out about that incident?¡± Chapter 1149. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part One) Bai Jing turned to stare at Zhang Lihong only after Su Yue left. She surveyed her from top to toe and realized that she had bruises on her neck and face. It seemed like someone had beaten her up. Zhang Lihong¡¯s eyes were welling up with tears and her voice sounded choked. ¡°I¡¯ve let you down. I wasn¡¯t able to protect you. I¡¯m such a useless mother.¡± Her tears gushed down. Bai Jing watched her and she sounded frustrated as she responded. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop pretending. Let¡¯s go to the park.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhang Lihong nodded. ¡­ ¡°Ansheng, tell me honestly. Do you intend to marry Feiling?¡± The Tang family had come knocking on their door regarding this matter. They were in the living room and the atmosphere was strained. Ming Ansheng sat on an armchair while Old Master Tang sat with Tang Feiling on the couch. Old Master Tang¡¯s expression was solemn and cold, and he was staring at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother looked anxious. Annoyance flashed across Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes when he heard Old Master Tang¡¯s question. However, he replied unhurriedly. ¡°Bright Vision is about to make a breakthrough. So I don¡¯t have time for other matters.¡± His fingers were intertwined, and he placed his hands on his lap. Old Master Tang snorted coldly. ¡°We need not hold the wedding right now. How much time would it take to just register your marriage?¡± Ming Ansheng feigned shock. ¡°How can we not hold a wedding?! If this news travels to outsiders, what would they think?¡± ¡°Stop your excuses.¡± Old Master Tang sounded impatient and continued sharply. ¡°Just say it. Do you want to marry her?¡± They were there for a long time and they kept beating around the bush. His patience had long been worn out, and he was on the verge of lashing out. ¡°Grandfather¡­¡± Tang Feiling tugged at Old Master Tang¡¯s sleeves and glanced furtively at Ming Ansheng. She feared that her grandfather might annoy Ming Ansheng, and he would call their marriage off. She loved him too much and there was no way she would want to call it off. Old Master Tang glared at Tang Feiling, looking furious. ¡°Do not interrupt.¡± ¡°Grandfather Tang, are you trying to coerce me?¡± Ming Ansheng sneered coldly with an odd smile playing around the corners of his mouth. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m coercing you.¡± Old Master Tang nodded without hesitation. He added, ¡°You and Feiling have been engaged for years. Both of you are already 25 years old. Isn¡¯t it time to settle down?¡± Ming Ansheng lifted his eyebrows. ¡°If I don¡¯t agree?¡± Old Master Tang¡¯s expression hardened and he raised his voice. ¡°Certainly, in that case, any collaboration between the two families will cease. Feiling can find someone else.¡± Ming Ansheng shrugged lazily and replied, ¡°Grandfather Tang, since you insist on your way, there is nothing else I can say.¡± Ming Ansheng was composed and completely unperturbed by his threats. Tang Feiling got anxious and grabbed her grandfather¡¯s sleeves. ¡°Grandfather!¡± She was here to fix their wedding date, not to annul their engagement. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what are you doing?!¡± Ming Zhongsheng finally lashed out and glared at Ming Ansheng in fury. ¡°Why can¡¯t I?¡± Ming Ansheng coldly replied. ¡°Bright Vision need not depend on the Tang family for support. We are just using each other. Why do we need to use both of our marriage as stakes?¡± He wanted to try his best to fight for himself. Even if his future wife wouldn¡¯t be Su Yue. Chapter 1150. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Two) Ming Zhongsheng was incensed. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re saying?! Are you rebelling?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Old Master Tang was feeling giddy, and he grabbed Tang Feiling¡¯s wrist. He pulled her up with his hand, while the other pointed at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, mark your words. Remember this.¡± He dragged Tang Feiling away. Tang Feiling¡¯s parents anxiously trailed after them. The whole family left in a rage. ¡°Grandfather, why did you lose your temper?¡± Tang Feiling stomped her feet unhappily as she flung his hand away. ¡°I only want to marry Ming Ansheng and I will!¡± whined Tang Feiling. ¡°You¡­¡± Old Master Tang raised his hands as though he was about to hit her. Tang Feiling¡¯s parents grabbed him hastily. ¡°Father, calm down!¡± Tang Feiling¡¯s parents glanced at their daughter with a look of stern warning. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Grandfather is doing this for you.¡± ¡°I hate all of you!¡± Tang Feiling stomped her feet once more and she bawled loudly. She turned and ran away. In the living room, only the Ming family was left. Even the servants were all sent away. Ming Ansheng¡¯s attitude had clearly infuriated Ming Zhongsheng. He grabbed the box of tissues on the table and hurled it at Ming Ansheng. It hit Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother grabbed Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s arm as her heart was aching for her son. She feared that he might hit Ming Ansheng. She pressed on, ¡°Father, take a deep breath first. Shall we discuss this calmly?¡± Ming Ansheng sat there, without moving an inch. He seemed utterly remorseless. Ming Zhongsheng pointed at him and roared, ¡°Ming Ansheng! You¡¯re trying to drive me to an early death! You¡­ you¡­¡± Before he could finish, his eyelids fluttered and he collapsed. Everyone was shocked. ¡°Grandfather!¡± ¡°Father!¡± Ming Ansheng leaped to his feet and bellowed. ¡°Get the doctor and the car!¡± Old Master Ming¡¯s health was deteriorating these recent years, and they always had a doctor on standby. The doctor came shortly to administer some emergency treatment. To everyone¡¯s relief, the old man finally regained consciousness. Ming Ansheng instructed them to send Old Master Ming to the hospital afterward. Old Master Ming suffered a minor heart attack and his blood pressure rose, too. It was quite serious this time, and he needed hospitalization for a longer period. When he heard that Old Master Ming wasn¡¯t in any danger anymore, Ming Ansheng heaved a sigh of relief. He retreated and slumped against the wall with his head bowed. He appeared to be forlorn and helpless. The doctor said he needed rest and they should not agitate him during such a critical period. The whole family came out of the ward, and Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother walked to Ming Ansheng. She asked softly, ¡°Ansheng, is your chest all right?¡± She softly stroked his chest. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head and smiled to reassure her. ¡°Listen to your grandfather, all right? You will need to get married and have children, eventually. What difference does it make even if you marry Tang Feiling?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother continued to persuade him. ¡°Previously, you also vowed that you would marry Meiduo. But after a while, didn¡¯t you give that thought up after you¡¯ve calmed down?¡± ¡°Getting married, having kids, starting a family and work. Actually, you have little time and effort for others. Look at the people around you.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled weakly in response. He didn¡¯t meet the right one and so anyone would do. After he broke up with Meiduo, he devoted all his time to his studies and his career. He had the notion that he could marry anyone, as long as he didn¡¯t dislike that woman. Chapter 1151. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Three) Ming Ansheng even felt that love was a waste of time and effort, and it wasn¡¯t practical. But now he knew better. It was because he hadn¡¯t met someone he wanted to be with for the rest of his lifetime. He hadn¡¯t truly fallen for anyone yet. Now that he did, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of settling with someone else. ¡°Don¡¯t think so much.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother knew that Ming Ansheng wouldn¡¯t share his worries easily with her or anyone else. She patted him gently on his arm and said, ¡°When your grandfather wakes up, apologize to him.¡± Ming Ansheng promised her and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a walk.¡± He turned around and marched gloomily towards the elevator. Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother watched the towering figure, and it gave her the feeling that he was enduring a heavy burden. She sighed helplessly to herself. ¡­ On a Sunday afternoon, the school was quiet and rather deserted. Su Yue and Bai Jing were playing basketball. There were a few others playing as well, but they were all guys. A few girls, presumably their girlfriends, sat nearby. ¡°This ball is really disobedient.¡± Bai Jing practiced bouncing the ball for quite some time but couldn¡¯t quite get the hang of it. Su Yue glanced at Bai Jing and chuckled. ¡°Why did Third Brother say that you were smarter than me?¡± She put her ball aside and walked to Bai Jing. She stood behind her and mimicked how Jiao Chen had taught her. She stretched her hand and held Bai Jing¡¯s hand and said, ¡°This should be the way. Use your wrist and not the whole arm¡­¡± She copied how Jiao Chen had taught her. ¡°Junior, you¡¯ve become a coach after a day of training?¡± The guys who were playing nearby attempted to strike a conversation with Su Yue. Su Yue threw a brief glance and ignored them. When Su Yue teased her earlier regarding her intelligence, it provoked Bai Jing. She clenched her teeth. She became more motivated to learn how to play basketball. She said, ¡°Just wait. In three days, I¡¯ll be better than you.¡± Of course, Su Yue had to retort, ¡°Hmph! Stop boasting, let¡¯s try to aim for the hoop.¡± She grabbed her ball and aimed for the basketball hoop with a stance of a professional player. Everyone turned to watch Su Yue, and their eyes trailed after the basketball in the air. However, the ball sailed below the hoop and fell to the floor after several bounces. Su Yue frowned in disappointment. ¡°Seems like I need to exert more strength.¡± She picked up her ball and turned around. ¡°Bai Jing, give it a try!¡± yelled Su Yue. Bai Jing furiously shook her head. ¡°No way! It¡¯s so embarrassing if I can¡¯t get it in.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about?¡± Su Yue replied with a frown. ¡°Those professional players on TV missed their aim sometimes.¡± Anyway, she didn¡¯t find it embarrassing at all. Even though her ball didn¡¯t even touch the hoop, and it made the guys laughed, it never bothered her. Su Yue wore a pink T-shirt that day and a pair of white trainers. She paired it with a pair of white track shoes, and her hair was all tied up. Although she was petite, she seemed as energetic and vivacious as an elf. ¡°Su Yue, it¡¯s Senior Jiao Chen.¡± Bai Jing suddenly raised her head and peered behind her. A towering figure stood watching them. He was wearing a white shirt and a pair of black pants. And he looked like a handsome and cool character who had just walked out of a drama or novel. Su Yue paused for a moment. ¡°Where is he?¡± Chapter 1152. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Four) Su Yue followed Bai Jing¡¯s gaze and spun around. When she saw Jiao Chen, she smiled brightly like how a flower had just bloomed. Everyone was rather taken aback as they watched her quietly. Unconsciously, a smile flitted across Jiao Chen¡¯s face as he strode towards Su Yue. Su Yue walked towards him and lifted her face to peer at him. ¡°I thought you would be back late?¡± Jiao Chen lightly replied, ¡°I finished early.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded, and she grabbed Jiao Chen to pull him towards Bai Jing. She introduced them both warmly. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, this is Bai Jing. She is my best friend and my roommate.¡± Jiao Chen politely nodded at Bai Jing before snatching the ball from Su Yue. The next second, he aimed the ball for the hoop. It went in. ¡°So cool!¡± Su Yue clapped as she cheered. Everyone present gazed at her, looking dumbfounded. What was so cool about it? It was just a child¡¯s play to Jiao Chen, given the difficulty and distance. For any basketball player, he should be able to get the ball in effortlessly as well. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to my dormitory.¡± Jiao Chen said to Su Yue after the ball went in. Su Yue blinked her eyes and asked, ¡°Are you going back to sleep?¡± Jiao Chen was speechless. Su Yue smiled as she pressed on. ¡°Can you come down and play basketball with me later?¡± Her smile and expression were warm and bright, and her tone sounded sweet. Jiao Chen simply turned around and walked over quietly. The guys were all gritting their teeth in frustration. How they wished Jiao Chen could give them this opportunity instead! ¡°Senior Jiao Chen is really quite arrogant.¡± Bai Jing strode to Su Yue and she sounded rather displeased with him. The girl had already taken the initiative. Su Yue averted her eyes from Jiao Chen and turned to Bai Jing. She blinked several times before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t you think he is so cool?¡± Bai Jing was speechless. She shrugged, looking defeated. ¡°Alright, if you say so.¡± Her future husband should only talk to her once a year, then he would seem cool. ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± Su Yue was feeling motivated and inspired. Bai Jing and Su Yue seemed out of place at the basketball court with the rest of the guys. They were too petite and dainty. If only they were slightly taller. ¡°Look! Senior Jiao Chen is here again!¡± The girls nearby started talking excitedly once more. Su Yue turned towards the direction where Jiao Chen had left earlier. It was really Jiao Chen. He changed into a new outfit of an ash gray T-shirt and jeans. He strode to Su Yue and said in a light tone of voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat something.¡± ¡®Go eat something? Why would they eat in the afternoon?¡¯ Su Yue blinked her eyes in confusion. ¡°You didn¡¯t take your lunch?¡± Jiao Chen pressed his lips. Silence meant that Su Yue was right. She furrowed her eyebrows and chided him. ¡°It¡¯s already tea-time and you haven¡¯t even eaten lunch.¡± She turned around to Bai Jing and said, ¡°Let¡¯s grab a bite with Senior Jiao Chen.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going. You guys can go ahead.¡± Bai Jing took the ball from Su Yue and said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring it back for you later. I want to practice a little longer.¡± Su Yue simply nodded. She grabbed Jiao Chen¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, let¡¯s go.¡± Jiao Chen was startled, and he bent and gazed at Su Yue¡¯s hand on his arm. Chapter 1153. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Five) Su Yue peered at him and asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we hold hands while we cross the road since we¡¯re dating?¡± She felt a little embarrassed and awkward after saying that, and she quickly released her grip. A flush was spreading from her neck to her face. She coughed to clear her throat before saying, ¡°It seems that we are advancing too quickly.¡± After that, she raised her feet and walked towards the road. Jiao Chen watched Su Yue intently for a moment before trailing after her. Su Yue stopped when she reached the roadside. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen!¡± Su Yue shouted when she saw Jiao Chen approaching. Jiao Chen grunted in response. ¡°Have you dated anyone before?¡± Su Yue curiously asked, but before he could answer, she began to rattle on under her breath. ¡°I heard that you didn¡¯t have a girlfriend in the past three years.¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t answer and continued walking. Su Yue quipped, ¡°I¡¯ve never dated anyone before.¡± She didn¡¯t know what was love, and how it felt like to be in a relationship with the guy she liked. She pursed her lips, as her mind was lost in sentimental thoughts. ¡°Huh? Senior Jiao Chen?¡± Jiao Chen suddenly held Su Yue¡¯s hand and it surprised her. Actually, she felt nothing special when he held her hand quietly. It felt like she was holding Bai Jing or Xuxu¡¯s hand. But¡­ it was¡­ Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows tightly, unsure of her feelings. Jiao Chen¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Aren¡¯t we dating?¡± Su Yue raised her head and gazed into his eyes. ¡°But aren¡¯t we moving a little too fast?¡± Jiao Chen was speechless. Both of them walked towards the entrance of the school. It was almost 4 p.m., and there were other students walking around. She was the school belle and the other was the school beau. He was a top student as well. Their combination naturally made heads turn. It was like a match made in heaven. They seemed perfect together. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, what do you want to eat?¡± asked Su Yue when they left the school. ¡°You can call me Jiao Chen,¡± said Jiao Chen suddenly. It was tiring for him to hear how she addressed him. ¡°We sound too polite with each other when I address you as a senior. That¡¯s true,¡± Su Yue muttered to herself. If one were to look closely, it would appear that Su Yue¡¯s mouth was twitching. Su Yue decided after some deliberation. She gazed at Jiao Chen and happily proclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ll call you Jiao Jiao!¡± Jiao Chen was speechless. Su Yue paused briefly before continuing. ¡°My name is Su Yue, so my third sister-in-law calls me Yueyue. Can you call me Yueyue as well?¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm and marched purposefully towards a direction. A black Mercedes was parked under the shade of a huge tree. The man inside the car watched in silence as Su Yue and Jiao Chen walked together, holding hands. He was holding his phone, ready to press on a person¡¯s name. From a distance, he spotted the smile on the girl¡¯s face. She seemed like a beautiful flower which recently bloomed. The guy with her was good-looking and athletic. They seemed so compatible and perfect, and even he felt the love surrounding them. He had no idea what they were talking about. The girl looked so happy and there was a subtle smile on the guy¡¯s cold-looking face. Chapter 1154. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Six They had vanished out of his sight before he snapped out of his daze. ¡°Yueyue,¡± Ming Ansheng mumbled to himself as he averted his eyes away. He peered through the rearview mirror as he tried to catch a last glimpse of that little lass. He looked at his phone and relinquished his grip. He flung his phone carelessly on the front passenger seat. Tilting his head back, he covered his face with his hands. He should never have thought of coming to look for her. He must keep his forbidden love for her hidden. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you can give up now,¡± he sternly told himself. ¡®Getting married and having kids. Does it matter who the person is?¡¯ Indeed. If it¡¯s not with the person he loved, it wouldn¡¯t matter who his future wife would be. Ming Ansheng sat in the car as he began to smoke absentmindedly. After several cigarettes, he felt as though his lungs and his body were being smothered. Cough, cough. After coughing for some time, he abandoned the rest of the cigarettes. He pressed the ignition button and sped off. ¡­ When Yan Rusheng got home, he immediately relayed everything about Jiao Chen to Xuxu. Xuxu was resting on the bed, digesting the information. ¡°From what you¡¯ve heard, Jiao Chen¡¯s family isn¡¯t that well-to-do?¡± asked Xuxu carefully. Yan Rusheng nodded and replied, ¡°That¡¯s what I heard from the principal.¡± He was sitting on the edge of the bed, rocking the crib to hush the babies. As long as he was home, he spent all his free time on his children. Xuxu had transformed him into a super daddy. Xuxu thought for a moment before pressing on. ¡°How about his family? Who are his family members?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned, looking annoyed. ¡°Are you investigating him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking.¡± Xuxu frowned and mumbled, ¡°He is dating Yueyue. Can¡¯t I ask a few questions? What if something is wrong with his family?¡± She paused and continued. ¡°However, from what the principal has described, Jiao Chen seems like a nice person.¡± Yan Rusheng snorted coldly. ¡°I can¡¯t tell.¡± It exasperated Xuxu with how proud he looked. ¡°Indeed. Young Master Yan has such high standards. Your nose is stuck high towards the sky. Who could win your approval?¡± She stretched her hand to take his phone and began to browse through the photos. A tender smile appeared on her face when she saw Su Yue and Jiao Chen¡¯s photos. ¡°Jiao Chen is really handsome and he looks like a bright and decent guy. Furthermore, he is so hardworking. It doesn¡¯t matter, actually, even if his family isn¡¯t that well-to-do.¡± The most important thing was his character. As long as a man was driven, responsible, and determined, he could achieve anything he wanted. Yan Rusheng was feeling unhappy when he heard his wife lavishing praise on another man¡ªeven though this guy was his sister¡¯s boyfriend. ¡°Does this mean you agree to the lass dating that guy?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xuxu nodded and blinked. ¡°I was afraid that she might meet a player who might break her heart. This guy seemed to have good qualities, and he is a top student. Why should I object?¡± Good qualities? Jealousy exploded inside of Young Master Yan, and he sneered loudly. ¡°You didn¡¯t even see him in person and you¡¯ve already concluded? Just because of the principal? Or those random photos?¡± In his heart, Wen Xuxu should only praise him. Xuxu¡¯s face fell, and she shoved Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, that¡¯s enough.¡± Chapter 1155. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Seven) Xuxu kicked Yan Rusheng and he yelled in pain. He climbed up and sat upright as he glared at Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu! Do you want me to do something to you?!¡± Xuxu threw him a dirty look. ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°Are the children deprived of milk these days?¡± Yan Rusheng inched closer to Xuxu as he playfully grinned. ¡°Let me see¡­ do I need to repair my son¡¯s milk supply?¡± Xuxu heard him, and she instantly raised her leg to aim a kick. However, Yan Rusheng was prepared this time around, and he had caught her leg in time to stop her. He smelled her foot. ¡°My wife¡¯s foot smells pleasant.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. She became stony-faced and glared at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop your nonsense! Let me go!¡± How would Yan Rusheng listen to her? He held on to Xuxu¡¯s foot tightly as he moved closer to Xuxu¡¯s face. At this moment, one baby started to wake up. At first, the baby only made soft sounds and Yan Rusheng intended to ignore. He continued to advance towards Xuxu. However, the baby began to bawl and as a result, the other twin woke up. Both of them began to bawl at the same time. Yan Rusheng was furious and he grumbled. ¡°F*ck! Both of you are forcing me to chase you away.¡± He rose and walked to the crib. After lifting the crib, he strode towards the door. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xuxu got anxious and yelled at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng! If you take one more step, I will sleep with the children tonight.¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s resolution vanished when he heard her threat. He had no choice but to retrace his steps. He sat on the bed looking exceedingly grumpy. ¡°We should just have one. An additional one is a burden.¡± He glanced around the room and his eyes landed on his phone. A second later, he stretched his hand to take his phone. His action was abrupt and swift, and it made Xuxu suspicious. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to text Lu Yinan so I can brag.¡± Yan Rusheng continued as he typed away. ¡°I will describe my predicament and warn him about his.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. It was completely untrue how everyone described this fellow as aloof, cold, elegant, and graceful. He was a childish and pretentious man! At the hospital¡­ Young Master Lu was in his office. He was wearing his white gown with his usual pair of gold-rimmed spectacles. With a mask on his face, he was examining a little boy¡¯s mouth with a torch. He smiled warmly at him. ¡°Little boy, open your mouth.¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± The little boy obediently did as he was told. After Lu Yinan examined the little boy¡¯s throat, he removed his mask and softly said, ¡°Your throat is slightly swollen. No more sweets all right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want an injection!¡± cried the boy. Lu Yinan grinned and responded, ¡°If you listen to me, then you don¡¯t have to.¡± He stroked the boy¡¯s hair gently. The boy¡¯s eyes were clear and sparkling. Lu Yinan watched him and entered a daze. He wore a huge smile when he snapped out of it. The little boy nodded. ¡°Okay, I will listen to you.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Lu Yinan pulled his drawer and took out a lollipop. The design of the lollipop was unique and he passed it to the boy. ¡°This is for you.¡± Chapter 1156. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Eight) The little boy¡¯s eyes lit up the moment he saw the lollipop. Lu Yinan withdrew his hand and said, ¡°I will keep this with me. When you come back for your checkup and if you¡¯ve fully recovered by then, I will give it to you.¡± He maintained a warm smile as he spoke gently. He appeared really patient and gentle in the eyes of others. ¡°This doctor possesses both looks and a kind heart,¡± blurted out the boy¡¯s mother who stood beside him. There was another woman and she nodded vigorously too. ¡°I agree. Young people nowadays, especially guys, only care about themselves. They don¡¯t even have time for their own child, not to mention other children.¡± ¡°You look so young, I guess you¡¯re not married yet?¡± The mother looked at Lu Yinan inquisitively. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Lu Yinan was lost for words at that moment. ¡°If you¡¯re not married and don¡¯t have any children yet, you¡¯re a rare breed. Previously, I went to another hospital and the doctor wasn¡¯t as patient and thoughtful as you,¡± The mother continued to rattle on. Lu Yinan smiled sheepishly. ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m about to have children.¡± This was the first time he had openly declared about his triplets. He bowed his head and adjusted his spectacles. Although he sounded awkward, there was a surging strange sensation coursing through his veins. It seemed like anticipation¡­ and expectation. ¡°Oh! Your wife is pregnant? How many months is she pregnant?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± He pondered for a moment. After a while, he replied, ¡°Almost four months.¡± ¡°Your wife is such a lucky woman to have found such a handsome and thoughtful husband.¡± Young Master Lu smiled bashfully at the compliments, and his good-looking face was blushing. He was lavished with praise ever since he was a child. This was the first time he got embarrassed. After they left, his office instantly became quiet and empty. Lu Yinan snapped out of his daze. What did that woman say earlier? ¡®Your wife is such a lucky woman to have found such a handsome and thoughtful husband¡­¡¯ Where was his wife? Lu Yinan had a strong desire to call Zhou Shuang that instant. He found his phone, dialed Zhou Shuang¡¯s number while berating her inwardly in his heart. The hooligan must be blind. Everyone showered him with praise about his character, yet she was oblivious. Suddenly, an incoming text interrupted him. It was from Yan Rusheng? Yan Rusheng sent him a text? Usually, when Yan Rusheng contacted him, it was to relay a message on behalf of Wen Xuxu. And it was always about Zhou Shuang. Could there be any updates about the hooligan? Lu Yinan ended the call and eagerly clicked on the text. ¡°Sissy Lu, your suffering is about to begin. I¡¯m being tortured by these two monsters and I can¡¯t sleep and eat in peace. In the future, you would be in a worse state than me.¡± Young Master Lu was eagerly expecting updates about Zhou Shuang, he wasn¡¯t expecting to read about Yan Rusheng¡¯s whines. His face was as black as the bottom of a saucepan. Disappointment caused his emotions to fluctuate, and he called Yan Rusheng to vent his anger. The call got through and what greeted his ears were loud wailing sounds. Lu Yinan was stunned momentarily before he recalled that it was the twins. Lu Yinan sniggered gleefully as he teased him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, shouldn¡¯t you get your ass over to change their diapers?¡± He had barely finished when he heard Xuxu reprimanding him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you deaf?! Can¡¯t you hear their cries?¡± Lu Yinan clutched his tummy and burst into laughter. Chapter 1157. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Nine) ¡°Yan Rusheng, you deserve this!¡± Lu Yinan howled with laughter. As he visualized how Yan Rusheng looked when he tried to coax his children, he cracked up once more. Yan Rusheng must be flustered and annoyed, and his expression would definitely be really ugly. How he wished he could snap a photo of Yan Rusheng. It would cheer him up if he was feeling down in the future. ¡°Lu Yinan, just wait and see. Your situation will be more terrible than mine.¡± With that, Yan Rusheng instantly hung up. Lu Yinan placed his phone down after he hung up. He collapsed on his desk, his shoulders still trembling with laughter. Yan Rusheng really deserved it. His wife was firm and strict; he had to serve his children. Never had they imagined that one day, the haughty, aloof, and pretentious Third Yan would change diapers for his children. Really¡­ He needed to share this pleasant news with Ming Ansheng, his good friend. Lu Yinan took his phone and dialed Ming Ansheng¡¯s number. ¡°Hello.¡± The call got through and Lu Yinan heard Ming Ansheng¡¯s sluggish voice. Lu Yinan had a feeling that Ming Ansheng might be drunk. To confirm his suspicions, he asked cautiously, ¡°Ansheng, where are you?¡± ¡°My apartment.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s reply sounded cold and lackluster. ¡®F*ck. This guy is indeed drunk.¡¯ Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Why are you drinking in the day?¡± Did something happen to him? ¡°If there is nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Ming Ansheng promptly ended the call without a second word. ¡°Hello¡­ hello!¡± Lu Yinan heard no response and realized that he had already hung up. He frowned, feeling perplexed. Ming Ansheng was usually a very composed and calm person. He was rarely in a drunk state. What could have happened? Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t help but worry about Ming Ansheng. He dialed an extension number and instructed the nurse. ¡°Give all my scheduled appointments to Doctor Zhao. I need to head out.¡± He grabbed his phone and strode across the room. His patients were all waiting outside. Lu Yinan already knew Ming Ansheng¡¯s apartment address. He got into his car and sped off. ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ The doorbell rang incessantly and it annoyed Ming Ansheng. He had intended to ignore it and continue sleeping. Ming Ansheng pressed his palms against the sofa as he struggled to get up slowly. He staggered to the door, with a beer bottle in his hand. This was his own private apartment and his family was not even aware of it. So who could it be? Could it be Yueyue? When Ming Ansheng thought of Su Yue, his mind seemed to clear up instantly. He hastened his footsteps towards the door and wrenched it open. He put on a warm smile and was about to call ¡®Yueyue¡¯ when he realized that it wasn¡¯t her. Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t entirely wasted, hence he could still stop himself from blurting Su Yue¡¯s name. He let go of the doorknob and turned around. He then staggered back to the living room and collapsed on the floor. Lu Yinan caught an overpowering stench of alcohol and he wrinkled his nose. The curtains were all drawn tightly and the windows were closed. ¡°Are you trying to commit suicide?¡± It was dark and stuffy and there were barely any lights. Ming Ansheng seemed drunk and depressed. Lu Yinan strode towards Ming Ansheng and saw the mess in the living room. Bewilderment and confusion filled Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes. He questioned him sharply. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what made you so depressed?¡± He wasn¡¯t this depressed years ago when his grandfather forced him to end his relationship with Meiduo. Chapter 1158. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Ten) On the coffee table were a few bottles of strong liquor. There were all opened and almost empty. Ming Ansheng was holding a can of beer in his hand. Was he planning to die from alcohol poisoning? Ming Ansheng was sitting on the floor, slumped against the sofa. He didn¡¯t even look at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan gingerly treaded towards Ming Ansheng and sat on the sofa. He glanced at him and asked softly, ¡°What happened?¡± Ming Ansheng took a gulp from the can and remained quiet. He wanted to take another gulp when Lu Yinan suddenly stretched his hand to stop him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, enough,¡± scolded Lu Yinan. He snatched the can of beer away from him. ¡°Leave me alone.¡± Ming Ansheng glared at Lu Yinan. He stretched his hand towards a bottle of wine and took huge gulps. Lu Yinan snatched the bottle from him once again. He was exasperated and frustrated with Ming Ansheng. ¡°If I leave, you will die here today,¡± rebutted Lu Yinan. There were still so many bottles and cans left. If he carried on drinking, he might really die. Lu Yinan cast the bottle aside and grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what exactly happened? Why do you look so tormented and grieved?¡± In their eyes, Yan Rusheng was arrogant as though he was far superior to anyone else. But the person who was truly cold and apathetic was Ming Ansheng. Meiduo was an excellent example. When they were forced to break up, Ming Ansheng fell out with his grandfather, and as a result, the old man collapsed. After being hospitalized, Ming Ansheng broke off all ties with Meiduo right away. He began to devote himself to learning all about business and financial management. He then got engaged to Tang Feiling. Although he still kept in contact with Meiduo¡ªthey were merely friends. He didn¡¯t even care about their past relationship anymore. ¡°I¡¯m getting married. Be my best man before you get married.¡± Ming Ansheng climbed up and sat on the sofa. He put on a contemptuous smile on his face. Lu Yinan seemed enlightened. ¡°Just because of this?¡± Needless to say, his grandfather must have forced him to get married once again. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to marry Tang Feiling, then don¡¯t!¡± A crease appeared in between Lu Yinan¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°Your grandfather is really incorrigible. He forced you to break up years ago. And now¡­¡± He was forcing him to marry a woman he doesn¡¯t love. Third Yan, Jiang Zhuoheng, and he were much more fortunate. At least they were free to date anyone they liked and had a say in their lifelong happiness. Their families didn¡¯t interfere that much. As for Jiang Zhuoheng, if he was unwilling, no one could force him to marry Hu Xiaoxiao. But Ming Ansheng was different. However, he also knew that Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather had his reasons for doing it. The old man emphasized heavily on family status and background, and¡­ Lu Yinan gazed at Ming Ansheng deeply. ¡°If your grandmother knew your suffering, her heart would ache to see you in this state.¡± ¡°If there is nothing else, just go.¡± Ming Ansheng interjected in sheer irritation just before Lu Yinan could continue. ¡°Ming Ansheng, if you don¡¯t want to marry her, then don¡¯t do it.¡± Lu Yinan began to get emotional. ¡°It had been years since your grandmother passed away. Even if you use your happiness to repay her, what could it possibly change?¡± They were friends since they were young. They were just like brothers. Seeing how despondent he was, there was no way Lu Yinan would leave him alone. ¡°Stop talking.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his voice sharply and he was close to yelling. Lu Yinan clammed up and nodded. ¡°Alright, alright. I won¡¯t nag anymore. But you need to stop drinking.¡± Chapter 1159. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Eleven) He wasn¡¯t afraid of Ming Ansheng losing his temper. He was more worried that he would be unhappy the more he carried on. Ming Ansheng finally stopped drinking, but it wasn¡¯t because of Lu Yinan. He feared that he might blurt out the truth that had caused his despair. He must hide his forbidden feelings towards Su Yue. How could a third party know? ¡°Lu Yinan, have you ever loved someone?¡± Ming Ansheng broke the silence after a long while. He couldn¡¯t hold it back longer. He needed someone to talk to regarding it. His heart seemed to have entered a jungle and he was lost. He wanted to find an escape route and to seek help. Lu Yinan shook his head and replied airily, ¡°I¡¯ve had countless flings, but I¡¯ve never loved anyone before.¡± He settled himself comfortably against the sofa and rested his head on his hands. Love was like poison. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu were fine examples, and there was no way he wanted to get himself entangled. Ming Ansheng grinned and said, ¡°Winning Zhou Shuang over won¡¯t be an easy feat.¡± ¡°Stop mentioning about the kettle that doesn¡¯t boil,¡± Lu Yinan grumpily snapped at Ming Ansheng. The next moment, Lu Yinan frowned, looking suspicious. ¡°Are you still in love with Meiduo?¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled softly, but he didn¡¯t answer him. His smile seemed so miserable to Lu Yinan. ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± Lu Yinan asked shrewdly. ¡°Or you have fallen in love with someone else?¡± ¡°Who do you think it is?¡± Ming Ansheng glanced askew at Lu Yinan and smiled bitterly. He had truly fallen in love. Just a few months were enough to condemn him to such suffering and despair. Love¡­ was really a poison. He was too good at concealing his emotions. Lu Yinan pressed his lips and replied, ¡°I thought so, too.¡± Who was it that Ming Ansheng had fallen for? Lu Yinan didn¡¯t even think it was true love that Ming Ansheng had with Meiduo. ¡°Are you seriously going to marry Tang Feiling?¡± Lu Yinan spoke after a long time, so long that Ming Ansheng almost dozed off. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t open his eyes and merely smirked. ¡°Does it matter who I marry? It¡¯s just marriage and having children.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Lu Yinan nodded. After hearing such a pessimistic conclusion, Zhou Shuang¡¯s face flitted across his mind unconsciously. That hooligan seemed to be so much better as compared to Tang Feiling. He suddenly possessed a sense of superiority, and he turned to glance at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Come to think of it, even if I marry that hooligan, I would still be more blissful than you.¡± Young Master Ming glared at Young Master Lu. ¡°Lu Yinan. Scram.¡± All he did was to boast. Lu Yinan was speechless. Despite getting drunk, everything else remained the same. Ming Ansheng had agreed to marry Tang Feiling, and they were to hold their wedding on New Year¡¯s Day. It would be the capital city¡¯s most explosive news of the year. But Ming Zhongsheng had learned a hard lesson before, and that was why he wasn¡¯t willing to make a public announcement so soon. Previously, he had intended for his granddaughter Wen Xinyi to marry Yan Rusheng. But he was too anxious and had announced their wedding plans too soon. It became awkward and ugly when his plans fell through. ¡­ Ever since Bai Jing¡¯s mother came to look for her in school, Bai Jing would head to the Lei family¡¯s house every weekend. Su Yue went back home as well. On an early Sunday morning, Su Yue dressed neatly and went down the stairs. Looking rather curious, Xuxu asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Chapter 1160. Not As Bright As That Little Lass (part Twelve) ¡°I¡¯m going back to school soon,¡± answered Su Yue. It surprised Xuxu. ¡°So early?¡± Su Yue nodded and said, ¡°Yup. Jiaojiao has a game today. I want to cheer him on.¡± So she was planning to show her support for her boyfriend. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go and eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue wound her arm around Xuxu, and they walked to the dining room together. Yan Weihong was already in the dining room eating breakfast. Yan Rusheng sat across him, drinking a glass of milk. The son and father were both reading a financial magazine and newspapers, respectively. Xuxu sat down beside Yan Rusheng, while Su Yue sat next to Xuxu. ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law, our school is having a basketball match on the 18th. Can both of you come and watch as well?¡± Su Yue ate her bread as she peered at Xuxu. A university basketball match? Xuxu wasn¡¯t really interested, but she didn¡¯t reject her immediately. She asked, ¡°Is Jiao Chen playing?¡± Su Yue proudly answered, ¡°Of course! He is the main player.¡± She seemed so proud. Xuxu softly chuckled. ¡°Just look at you.¡± She pressed on, ¡°Bring him home for dinner so we can take a look at him.¡± Su Yue quipped, ¡°But you can see him on the day of the match, right?¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± Xuxu would usually agree to Su Yue¡¯s requests. ¡°So boring. What¡¯s so interesting about a match?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at Xuxu and continued, ¡°Isn¡¯t your confinement period ending by then?¡± ¡°I can seize the chance to unwind and relax,¡± said Xuxu. Her tone sounded unyielding. Yan Rusheng grunted and didn¡¯t dare to object. ¡°Jiaojiao is extremely cool when he plays. You would definitely not regret it after you see him in action.¡± Su Yue rattled on with her mouth full of food. She cast a smug look at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. Xuxu smiled helplessly. ¡°Alright, stop boasting. Finish your food.¡± This girl was so unabashed. Did she really like him that much? She really had to meet Jiao Chen in person. How did he have the charm and ability to transform their little princess into a girl? Moreover, make someone completely infatuated with him? ¡°What kind of nickname is Jiaojiao?¡± Yan Rusheng sarcastically remarked. It was so mushy! Su Yue threw him a dirty look and didn¡¯t answer. After breakfast, Xuxu arranged for the car to send Su Yue back to school. After sending her to the courtyard, Xuxu went back to the house. She had barely turned around when she jumped in shock. Yan Rusheng¡¯s towering form was behind her and she frowned. ¡°Are you trying to scare me to death!¡± yelled Xuxu. Yan Rusheng sighed heavily, looking utterly depressed. What had happened that it made him look so sad? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Xuxu. ¡°Wife, even that little lass is more shrewd than you.¡± Yan Rusheng sighed once more. Xuxu immediately knew what he was referring to. ¡°So you should go to the guest room to sleep.¡± She shoved him and strode past him. ¡°Wife!¡± Yan Rusheng caught up with Xuxu and said, ¡°Shall we spend Christmas in Country M?¡± Christmas in Country M? If so, she could meet Zhou Shuang during Christmas? Xuxu¡¯s eyes sparkled in excitement as she gazed at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Really?¡± Chapter 1161. I’m The Only One Who Can (part One) Xuxu was excited and delighted. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Rusheng snorted loudly. ¡°You better reward me when your confinement ends.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Dirty and lewd thoughts had polluted his mind! She glared at him with a disapproving look. She then turned around and continued walking towards the staircase. They were going to Country M in December. Awesome! ¡°How many days will we be there?¡± Xuxu excitedly thought to herself when this question swarmed her head. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°Ming Ansheng is getting married on New Year¡¯s Day.¡± They needed to be back before his wedding. Xuxu suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go earlier, then. If not, we wouldn¡¯t have enough time.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. He had an amused smile on his face when he saw how excited Xuxu was. It was rare to see her so emotional and interested in something. He believed that he, Yan Rusheng, was the only one who could do it. Young Master Yan was secretly pleased with himself. He was savoring his achievement¡­ when Xuxu interrupted him. ¡°It¡¯s good to have Su Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face instantly fell, and he furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°What does this have to do with him?¡± asked Yan Rusheng, in a menacing tone. ¡®It¡¯s good to have Su Yan? What is this stupid woman talking about?¡¯ ¡°Without him, you could never have such a long vacation. Just think of all the work trips that he went on your behalf.¡± Xuxu threw him a contemptuous look and sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t be so ungrateful.¡± He could be a super Daddy because Su Yan had taken over his workload. Xuxu wouldn¡¯t bear to let him take care of the kids after work if he had no one else to help him at work. It would be too tiring for him. ¡°Let¡¯s have a talk in the room,¡± breathed Yan Rusheng. There was a dangerous gleam in his eyes. He scooped her up and marched towards the stairs. ¡­ After the game, Su Yue ran towards Jiao Chen with a bottle of water. She smiled brightly at him and said, ¡°Jiaojiao, drink some water.¡± Although Su Yue had been using this nickname for days, Jiao Chen still frowned whenever he heard her use it. Su Yue noticed him frowning and she repeated once more. ¡°Drink water.¡± She opened the bottle and raised it near his mouth. Jiao Chen had fixed his eyes intently on Su Yue¡¯s face. He wanted to say something, but he stopped himself. He grabbed the bottle and asked, ¡°Have you finished your homework?¡± Jiao Chen walked as he drank from the bottle. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yup. I finished it at home.¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t respond. After he exited the court, he gulped down the entire bottle, before aiming the bottle at the trash can, like how he would shoot a ball through a hoop. Su Yue was already used to his precise aim. She glanced at her watch; it was almost 5 p.m. ¡°Jiaojiao, let¡¯s have dinner together.¡± She felt that their relationship seemed weird. Other than practicing together in the morning and evening, she wouldn¡¯t get the chance to meet him. Not to mention, having meals together. Although she didn¡¯t exactly feel the need to eat with him, deep in her heart she knew something wasn¡¯t right. If they won¡¯t have more interactions, how would their relationship develop more? Jiao Chen replied lightly, ¡°I have something on at night. I can¡¯t eat with you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue pouted and bowed her head. She wasn¡¯t at all disappointed, but she appeared so. Jiao Chen glanced at Su Yue and fell silent for a moment. The expression in his eyes turned tender, and so did his tone, too. ¡°Su Yue, you need not practice tomorrow. I won¡¯t be around.¡± Chapter 1162. I’m The Only One Who Can (part Two) He strode toward his dormitory. Su Yue trailed after him and curiously asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± They had been training together for so many days. And every morning and evening, he had promised to coach her for an hour. Jiao Chen gazed into the distance, and he suddenly seemed forlorn. Su Yue eyed his gorgeous face and noticed that he looked rather sad. She walked up to him and turned around to face him. ¡°Jiaojiao, what¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Su Yue. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯m heading back home. So you need not wake up so early.¡± Jiao Chen glanced at Su Yue and there was a fleeting smile on his face. That fleeting smile seemed to illuminate his good-looking face. It was as though spring had replaced winter in an instant. He seemed so gorgeous and alluring. Even Su Yue was smitten by him. She lifted her face and gazed at him with a dreamy expression. ¡°Jiaojiao, can you smile more often?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s grab a bite.¡± Jiao Chen grabbed her hand and led her towards another entrance. Beyond that gates, there was a street that comprised food stalls selling a wide variety of food. Why did he suddenly change his mind and decided to eat with her? It had confused Su Yue and so she asked, ¡°I thought you had something on?¡± ¡°Because of you, I can delay it,¡± answered Jiao Chen in a calm voice. He smiled, and gradually his smile widened that it lit up his face. Everyone knew that Jiao Chen was a busy guy. Other than basketball matches and lessons, he was hardly in school. So, it was a rare occasion for him to be strolling on the street. His classmates were all astonished upon bumping into him. But they soon glimpsed a girl behind him. She was holding a cup of bubble tea and snacks, and it enlightened everyone instantly. So, he was here to accompany his girlfriend. Su Yue and Jiao Chen¡¯s admirers had their hearts shattered into pieces when they witnessed such a scene. Everyone was still feeling rather doubtful of Su Yue and Jiao Chen¡¯s relationship. They didn¡¯t seem like they were dating as they hardly had any interactions except for basketball practices. Alas, but now. As for Su Yue, she also preferred to stay at her dormitory. Other than basketball practices and lessons, they hardly saw her in school. She preferred to play games in the dormitory or read a book. Recently, she had been gaining knowledge about love from novels. The street was crowded as it was nearing dinnertime. Couples could be seen behaving intimately everywhere. ¡°This is delicious. Try it.¡± A couple walked past Su Yue, and she saw the girl offering her drink to her boyfriend. The guy took a sip and smiled. Su Yue observed them before peering at the bubble tea in her hands. She turned to look at Jiao Chen. She walked next to him and said, ¡°Jiaojiao, do you want to try my bubble tea?¡± As she said that, she offered the drink to Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen was visibly startled and instinctively, he glanced at Su Yue¡¯s face. Su Yue was still smiling brightly at him. He helplessly gazed at her and swiftly took a sip. He marched forward quickly. ¡°How was it?¡± Su Yue frowned, and she scurried after him. ¡°Jiaojiao, you haven¡¯t told me if you liked the taste.¡± Chapter 1163. I’m the Only One Who Can (part Three) Su Yue caught up with Jiao Chen and threw him a casual glance. To her surprise, she realized that he was blushing. Su Yue burst into laughter and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re feeling bashful!¡± Jiao Chen turned even redder, but he regained his composure quickly. He glanced at Su Yue and asked, ¡°Do you still want to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m already eating, and I¡¯m almost full,¡± Su Yue answered with a mouthful of food. Jiao Chen replied, ¡°Eat less of such snacks in the future.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t eat these often as my third sister-in-law and Uncle Ming won¡¯t allow me to¡­¡± Su Yue stopped talking midway and bent her head. She mumbled softly, ¡°My third sister-in-law didn¡¯t allow me to eat such snacks.¡± There was a subtle trace of sorrow in her tone. She drank her bubble tea in silence. ¡°Su Yue, you can call me Jiao Chen.¡± Su Yue heard Jiao Chen¡¯s words and she pouted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be the same as the others. People can¡¯t tell that we are dating.¡± Everyone called him Jiao Chen and if she called him that too, how would she be any different from the rest? ¡°Who do you have to emphasize that we are dating?¡± ¡°My third sister-in-law calls my third brother as Ah Sheng. And she is the only one who can call him that.¡± Su Yue solemnly peered at Jiao Chen as she rambled on. ¡°So in the future, I will call you Jiaojiao. And I¡¯m the only who can call you Jiaojiao. Alright?¡± She sounded as if she was half-persuading and half-discussing with him. Jiao Chen merely smiled in response. ¡®I¡¯m the only who can call you Jiaojiao¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m the only who can call you Jiaojiao¡­¡¯ From then on, her words were etched in Jiao Chen¡¯s heart. Until the end, he never forgot what Su Yue said to him. ¡­ Bai Jing insisted on basketball practice with Su Yue. Her determination didn¡¯t pale in comparison to Su Yue. After a long period of intense and vigorous practices, they became fitter and stronger. When they reached the dormitory, Bai Jing hurriedly went to the bathroom with her clothes. She came out of the bathroom, with her hair dripping wet. She took the hairdryer and began drying her hair at the desk. Su Yue was using her phone when she noticed Bai Jing¡¯s clothes. ¡°Bai Jing, are you heading out?¡± She should wear pajamas after her shower. Bai Jing nodded and replied, ¡°I¡¯m going home for dinner.¡± It was only 5 p.m. and she probably didn¡¯t have dinner yet. Su Yue nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± She suddenly thought of something and turned to Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing, your mother said that you were being drugged. What drug was that?¡± Bai Jing turned stark white¡ªher expression was cold and intense. Su Yue watched her and she involuntarily shuddered. She pressed her lips tightly. The hairdryer continued to produce loud sounds, but Bai Jing had turned motionless, as though she was in a daze. Su Yue continued gingerly. ¡°I won¡¯t probe further.¡± She avoided looking at Bai Jing¡¯s face. ¡®What kind of drug was that?¡¯ Her reaction was so huge when she heard that. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. I might be home late. You sleep first.¡± Bai Jing turned off the hairdryer and smiled at Su Yue. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She watched as Bai Jing left the room with the pink bag her mother had bought for her. She shut the door quietly behind her. Su Yue pressed her lips as a pang of guilt struck her. Chapter 1164. I’m the Only One Who Can (part Four) Su Yue was still fretting when her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen and saw a text from Jiao Chen. ¡®Come down.¡¯ Come down? Why did he ask her to come down? Su Yue was feeling confused when she remembered she was at the dormitory. Was he back already? She rose and climbed off her bed. She walked to the balcony and peered down. Jiao Chen was standing there in a white shirt and a pair of black pants. He was holding a white plastic bag. She typed quickly. ¡®Okay.¡¯ Su Yue put on her slippers and hastily pushed the door. In her haste, she forgot all about the steps. She put her foot forward and missed a step. ¡°Be careful!¡± Jiao Chen darted towards her in a flash, but it was still too late. Su Yue screamed as she fell to the ground. Her knees landed first followed by her hands. Her pants were torn as a result of her fall and hurt her hands as well. Jiao Chen abandoned the stuff that he was carrying and lifted Su Yue up. ¡°Why are you so careless?¡± Although he chided her, his tone was full of concern and love. He helped Su Yue to the side to take a rest. He scrutinized Su Yue¡¯s palms carefully. She had her hands grazed and it was bleeding. Instinctively, he blew at her palms. He was gentle and his actions were so tender. ¡®Uncle Ming, it¡¯s so painful. Can you blow at it for me?¡¯ Su Yue absentmindedly gazed at Jiao Chen. When his breath landed on her palms, it seemed to stab her heart. Unconsciously, she pulled her hands away. She didn¡¯t use much strength and Jiaojiao was holding on to her tightly. Hence she didn¡¯t manage to. Jiao Chen asked softly, ¡°Is it painful?¡± He thought her wounds must be painful. Su Yue pressed her lips and bowed her head. She shook her head lightly and took some time before she replied. ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Her voice was close to a whisper. It didn¡¯t exactly feel like pain. But she didn¡¯t know where it hurts. Su Yue¡¯s eyelashes were trembling slightly as she peered at her hands. Jiao Chen interrupted her thoughts and said, ¡°Your wounds seemed a little serious. I¡¯ll bring you to the infirmary.¡± He relinquished his grip on Su Yue¡¯s hand. Su Yue retracted her hands and refused. ¡°I¡¯m all right, it¡¯s not that serious.¡± These were minor wounds. And as compared to the pain she had suffered before¡­ this was completely insignificant. ¡°I brought you lots of food. After you¡¯ve applied medicine to your wounds, you can eat them,¡± said Jiao Chen as he pointed at the white plastic bag. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Su Yue pressed her lips in a slight hesitation. ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡­ The doctor left the room after he had applied medicine on Su Yue¡¯s wounds. Su Yue suddenly whipped out her phone and passed it to Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao, help me take a photo of my wounds.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jiao Chen couldn¡¯t understand why, but he still stretched his hand towards Su Yue¡¯s phone. Su Yue promptly answered, ¡°I want to update WeChat.¡± Jiao Chen was speechless. ¡°Done.¡± He took a photo and passed her phone back to her. ¡°Do you even need to update such photos?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips and whispered softly, ¡°It¡¯s just for fun. If my third sister-in-law sees it, she might command my third brother to visit me.¡± Jiao Chen smiled at her and whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue adjusted her pants before standing up carefully. Chapter 1165. I’m The Only One Who Can (part Five) Jiao Chen carefully supported Su Yue. ¡°Senior Jiao Chen, where do you live? Why do you have to go back for so many days?¡± After they left the infirmary, Su Yue glanced at Jiao Chen as she asked him. Jiao Chen¡¯s expression changed instantly, and it was so obvious that Su Yue noticed it. She stuck out her tongue and mumbled, ¡°Did I ask something inappropriate again?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jiao Chen couldn¡¯t comprehend what Su Yue was rambling about. Su Yue pouted as she hesitated. After moments of deliberation, she expounded, ¡°Today, I asked Bai Jing the reason her mother apologized to her days ago. And she mentioned about her being drugged. I recalled that incident today and casually asked Bai Jing about it. But her expression changed all of a sudden, and she seemed so scary. I was so afraid of her at that moment.¡± She bent her head and lectured herself. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have asked her. I wonder if Bai Jing is angry at me for asking her that.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Jiao Chen consoled Su Yue, and then he offered her a smile. Su Yue raised her head and saw Jiao Chen¡¯s warm smile. At that moment, she had an instinctive and indescribable trust in him. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiao Chen nodded and peered at her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this and don¡¯t ask her anymore. Understand?¡± said Jiao Chen solemnly. ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue agreed and nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t ask her in the future, neither would I tell anyone.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s lips curled into a smile and he didn¡¯t speak anymore. However, the expression in his eyes turned deeper and more intense as he looked at Su Yue. ¡­ ¡°Ah Sheng, Yueyue is injured!¡± Xuxu saw Su Yue¡¯s update and she sat upright immediately, feeling worried. She flashed her phone in Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. ¡°What happened again?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and glanced at Xuxu¡¯s phone. He dismissed her worries by saying, ¡°She must have fallen down. It¡¯s not that serious.¡± He was calm and composed. Xuxu, on the other hand, was anxious and worried. ¡°Let me call and ask her.¡± She dialed Su Yue¡¯s number. Yan Rusheng propped the back of his head on his hands as he laid comfortably on the bed. He rocked the crib with his foot, while the other stroked and caressed Xuxu¡¯s waist. ¡°Leave me alone.¡± Xuxu frowned and threw him a disdainful look as she waited for Su Yue to pick up. ¡°Hello, Yueyue. How did you get hurt?¡± The moment Su Yue picked up the call, Xuxu fired a question. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just had a fall, but it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± ¡°Why did you fall down? Is it painful?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not painful. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Should I get your third brother to check on you?¡± Young Master Yan instantly threw her a disapproving look when he heard his wife. He raised his foot and stuck it beneath her clothes. He used his toes to pinch Xuxu¡¯s waist. It tickled Xuxu that she felt annoyed. ¡°What are you doing? Go away!¡± She turned around and glared at Yan Rusheng in fury. ¡°What happened Third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yue could hear Xuxu bellowing over the phone. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xuxu smiled and told Su Yue, ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to fetch you.¡± Her knees and hands seemed badly injured in the photo. ¡°There is no need! Jiao Chen already brought me to the infirmary and they attended to my wounds. Third sister-in-law, there is no need to send someone to fetch me.¡± ¡°Alright then, you rest early.¡± Xuxu pressed on, ¡°How about Bai Jing?¡± ¡°She went home for dinner.¡± ¡°She went home for dinner?¡± Xuxu frowned when she heard Su Yue. After she hung up, she laid beside Yan Rusheng and glanced at him. Sounding worried, she asked, ¡°Ah Sheng, do you think the Lei family will force Bai Jing again?¡± Chapter 1166. I’m The Only One Who Can (part Six) The Lei family had done something so despicable to Bai Jing. Lei Yong seemed like a person who would resort to underhand methods to get what he wanted. She guessed that he might force Bai Jing to do something against her will again. ¡°She is already 18 this year. She can make her own decisions.¡± Yan Rusheng caressed Xuxu¡¯s cheeks lightly. He replied so nonchalantly that he sounded cold and unfeeling. Xuxu frowned and hissed, ¡°Why are you like this?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s father was Yan Rusheng¡¯s benefactor, and furthermore, she was Su Yue¡¯s best friend¡ªshe was her only friend. If something untoward were to happen to Bai Jing, Su Yue would definitely break down. ¡°I¡¯m going to Jincheng tomorrow for two days.¡± Yan Rusheng changed the topic. He really felt that Bai Jing¡¯s problems were really her own fault. Xuxu had told her repeatedly that she could look for them if she needed help. She could choose to seek help from them. If she really didn¡¯t want to stay with the Lei family, they could then step in to intervene. Such a matter would resolve effortlessly had she only said anything. But he was in no position and there was no way he would take initiative. The previous time he had rendered help was because he had accidentally bumped into her at the event. Xuxu heard that Yan Rusheng was going on a work trip and it diverted her attention. ¡°Su Yue asked us to watch the match. Will you still be going?¡± Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°I¡¯ll be back in the afternoon. There should be enough time.¡± Xuxu responded with a vague murmur, with hardly any emotions. Young Master Yan had to tease her. ¡°You will miss me right?¡± Xuxu stole a glance. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you be less shameless?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sleep with these two little fellows when I¡¯m away,¡± said Yan Rusheng as he aimed a kick at the crib. The crib rocked to and fro. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xuxu yelled at him and sprang up. She pointed to the door and raised her voice. ¡°Scram!¡± This guy was always so jealous of them. To a stranger, he was acting as if he was their stepfather. ¡°Alright, alright. Don¡¯t be mad at me.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned cheekily as he pulled Xuxu towards his arm. He bent and kissed her forehead. ¡°After I come back from Jincheng, your confinement would have ended. It¡¯s perfect.¡± He gave her a seductive and ambiguous smile. Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened, and she forcefully pinched him to vent her anger. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Young Master Yan yelled in pain. He caught her hand in time before she attempted to retract. He kept her hand close to his body. ¡°You caused me pain, now it¡¯s your job to soothe me.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. ¡®Can this guy think of something else?!¡¯ ¡­ ¡®Uncle Ming, it¡¯s so painful. Can you blow at it for me¡­¡¯ If only he didn¡¯t reject her. But he wouldn¡¯t be the one to heal her mental anguish and trauma, right? Ming Ansheng stared intently at Su Yue¡¯s photo, which showed her bruised knees and hands. His heart was aching but he couldn¡¯t console her. And reality reminded him about the distance between them. The distance between them wasn¡¯t just restricted to moral values. This love was a one-sided affair, and the distance between them would only grow in the future. He kept reminding himself with these facts. But where was the way out? He couldn¡¯t find an escape route. Ming Ansheng threw the remains of the cigarette away in the ashtray. He slumped against his chair and covered his face with his hands. He sat there in a deep reverie. ¡®Uncle Ming¡­¡¯ ¡®Uncle Ming¡­¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s face appeared constantly¡ªher smiles, her tears, her sweet voice¡­ Just once. Just one last time. Ming Ansheng had decided and he abruptly straightened his back. He dialed a number and instructed, ¡°Add the basketball match at A University into my schedule, two days from today.¡± Chapter 1167. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part One) The date of the basketball match between A University and Union University was already set at the beginning of the year. All expenses incurred by both the representing teams were fully sponsored. Both schools hired professional coaches to train their teams, and they regularly sent the two teams to compete in major matches. The atmosphere at A University was especially lively and bustling because of the basketball match. They hung huge banners at the entrance to welcome sponsors and Union University¡¯s students to the campus. Yan Rusheng instructed the chauffeur to stop at the carpark. But Xuxu decided not to and asked him to stop by the roadside instead. She had contacted Su Yue earlier. When she got off the car, she spotted Su Yue standing at the gates, looking at her phone. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Xuxu yelled and strode towards her. Su Yue heard Xuxu and raised her head. She excitedly waved and shouted, ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± She hastened her footsteps and hugged Xuxu¡¯s arm tightly. Xuxu and Su Yue walked towards the entrance together. Su Yue turned to look at Xuxu¡¯s car. ¡°Where is Third Brother?¡± asked Su Yue. Xuxu quipped, ¡°He went on a work trip. He will rush here later.¡± Su Yue murmured vaguely. It didn¡¯t bother her at all that Yan Rusheng might not be able to attend. Xuxu¡¯s presence was more important. ¡°Let me look at your hands.¡± Xuxu suddenly recalled Su Yue¡¯s wounds, and she pulled both her hands to examine them closely. She wore a worried and anxious expression. She had applied some medicine on her wounds and scabs were forming. It seemed painful to look at. ¡°Be more careful next time.¡± Xuxu frowned. Seeing Su Yue¡¯s wounds tugged her heart. She peered at Su Yue¡¯s legs and asked, ¡°How about your knees? Let me take a look.¡± She bent and lifted Su Yue¡¯s pants. Su Yue was wearing loose pants, so it was easy to check her wounds. The wounds on her knees were like those on her hands. Su Yue replied lightly, ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s not painful. I don¡¯t feel anything.¡± Such pain couldn¡¯t compare to being stabbed by a knife or getting a tattoo. But the more nonchalant Su Yue appeared to be, the more Xuxu¡¯s heart ached for her. She prodded Su Yue¡¯s head and lectured her. ¡°Your skin is like a metal wall. That¡¯s why you can¡¯t feel the pain.¡± If this happened to other girls, they would whine and cry about the pain. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring the twins?¡± Su Yue blinked as she asked Xuxu. Xuxu frowned and answered, ¡°They are still so young. How could I bring them here?¡± She was even afraid that she might drop them, even at home. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded to express her understanding. Xuxu suddenly thought of something and she said, ¡°Your third brother and I are going to Country M during Christmas. Do you want to come along?¡± ¡®Christmas?¡¯ It was already next month and Su Yue pondered with a frown. ¡°We don¡¯t have any holidays yet.¡± ¡°Oh, right?¡± Xuxu remembered and she said, ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t go.¡± They would have plenty of opportunities to go on vacation some other time. ¡°No, no, no!¡± Su Yue suddenly tugged at Xuxu¡¯s elbow. ¡°I can apply for leave. Anyway, I don¡¯t understand any of the lessons. I always sleep in class.¡± She really felt the lessons were too boring, and she had no clue what the lecturers were talking about. She would daydream during the first part of the lesson before gradually falling asleep. Chapter 1168. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Two) Xuxu was speechless. How dare Su Yue confess that she usually dozes off during class? But she could also understand why Su Yue fell asleep. She had applied for an arts course just so she could get into A University. She wasn¡¯t interested in arts at all, and that explained why classes bored her out. Su Yue would never be able to understand those lessons if they focused on professional jargons and knowledge. Nonetheless, she still shouldn¡¯t fall asleep freely in class. She still had a few more years ahead of her. Xuxu gazed at Su Yue and solemnly spoke. ¡°You can¡¯t carry on in that way. If you sleep in class, the lecturer will think you¡¯re being disrespectful.¡± Su Yue smiled sheepishly, and she pouted afterward. ¡°Third sister-in-law, please bring me along.¡± She really wanted to go with them. Xuxu remained stern as she pressed on. ¡°If you listen and concentrate in class, I will ask your third brother to bring you along.¡± She sighed heavily and frowned. ¡°What will happen to you in the future?¡± Although they might still be able to take care of her, she would still need to grow up and be independent. She would need to socialize and interact with people. There was no way she could avoid these. How could she simply stay away and ignore the people or things that she doesn¡¯t like? Su Yue certainly didn¡¯t understand Xuxu¡¯s concerns that she blinked several times in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xuxu dismissed her question and diverted her attention. ¡°Where is Jiao Chen?¡± Other than Bai Jing, Jiao Chen was the only person who Su Yue had interacted with. Bai Jing and Su Yue were of the same age, and they were both quite innocent. Bai Jing was rather shy and reserved by nature, although she was more sensible than Su Yue. And so, she hoped that Jiao Chen could influence Su Yue. Although she hadn¡¯t met Jiao Chen yet, she had a hunch he was a hardworking and responsible guy. She wanted to have a talk with him so she could understand Su Yue more. Su Yue replied, ¡°He is in the changing room. I¡¯ll bring you there.¡± ¡°How does he normally treat you?¡± asked Xuxu. After asking, she felt that getting an answer from Su Yue was useless since her standards weren¡¯t entirely trustworthy. She always trusted her feelings and hunch, although she was almost always right¡ª Fang Jiayin, Tang Feiling, Lei Yong¡­ They were indeed unlikeable people. But it didn¡¯t mean that she really knew how to tell a person from good and bad. ¡°He is quite nice.¡± Su Yue rattled on. ¡°He just went back home a few days ago and he brought me lots of nice food. Yesterday and this morning, he brought me breakfast and sent it to the dormitory. Everyone seemed so envious of me.¡± Indeed¡­ Xuxu was speechless. ¡­ Ming Ansheng treaded lightly behind Xuxu and Su Yue. He was wearing a white shirt with black pants. His hands were deep in his pockets and his expensive watch was sparkling in the sunlight. He had his deep and intense gaze at Su Yue¡¯s figure. He heard how she described her boyfriend as a thoughtful and nice guy. She was still so na?ve and innocent. She didn¡¯t seem to have changed even when she was dating. Xuxu and Su Yue were too busy talking to notice that he was behind them. ¡°President¡­¡± His assistant caught up with him, and he swiftly swerved around to stop him from calling. But Xuxu heard him and turned around in surprise. ¡°Eh, Ming Ansheng?¡± Why was he here? Ming Ansheng knew what was on Xuxu¡¯s mind. So he explained, ¡°Union University invited me as a guest.¡± Chapter 1169. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Three) Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes swiftly darted across Su Yue¡¯s tiny face. Su Yue had turned around as well, but she kept her head bowed. Her thick and long eyelashes hid her emotions. Ming Ansheng assumed that she was still angry at him for yelling at her at the shopping mall. He strode over and smiled at her. ¡°Little lass, are you still angry?¡± He managed to conceal his longing and desire for her. He acted normally. Su Yue raised her head and retorted, ¡°Who is angry at you? I don¡¯t even care at all.¡± She averted her gaze and looked at Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, we need to go. I told Jiaojiao that I¡¯m meeting you,¡± said Su Yue. Ming Ansheng and Xuxu assumed that she was still angry judging from her attitude and tone. Xuxu smiled helplessly at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Su Yue and I will make a move first.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and said, ¡°See you later.¡± Su Yue promptly dragged Xuxu away. After some distance, Xuxu turned back to glance at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was talking to his assistant, and then she spun around to look at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, you shouldn¡¯t just make assumptions to conclude a matter.¡± ¡°What?¡± Su Yue avoided Xuxu¡¯s gaze. Her hands were clenched tightly into fists and her palms were perspiring. She didn¡¯t dare to meet Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. She couldn¡¯t let anyone know that she liked Ming Ansheng, not even her third sister-in-law. She wanted to forget Uncle Ming quietly and secretly, and she wanted to be with Jiao Chen. ¡°When Ming Ansheng lectured you that day, he was trying to protect you.¡± Xuxu grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm and patiently explained. ¡°You injured Tang Feiling and she had to get stitches. The police officers were all ready to apprehend you if Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t there.¡± She wasn¡¯t trying to explain and defend Ming Ansheng. What she wanted to tell Su Yue was that sometimes she has to delve deeper into a matter. If Xuxu didn¡¯t mention that, Su Yue wouldn¡¯t have understood why she wasn¡¯t arrested despite injuring Tang Feiling. She wouldn¡¯t have mulled over the reason she wasn¡¯t arrested by the police at the scene. Indeed, these questions never crossed Su Yue¡¯s mind. Xuxu¡¯s explanation seemed to tug her heart and she stood there in a daze. She gloomily muttered, ¡°But he was so fierce.¡± She felt that she was no longer important to Uncle Ming. But what bothered her the most was the fact that she had fallen for Uncle Ming. She couldn¡¯t meet him anymore, as someone else might find out about her feelings for him. Being angry at him was a perfect excuse to ignore him. Xuxu was perplexed. She replied, ¡°If he wasn¡¯t, how would he be able to appease Tang Feiling?¡± He wouldn¡¯t be able to console Tang Feiling hadn¡¯t he berate her in a harsh way. She would definitely want to seek revenge. ¡°Anyway, this is just your conjecture.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t feel like talking about it anymore. And so, she pulled her arm away from Xuxu¡¯s grip and walked hastily. It startled Xuxu when she retracted her arm so abruptly. She stood on the spot as she gazed at Su Yue who seemed to be in a hurry. Su Yue hastened her footsteps, and by that alone, it was evident that she was upset. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu heard Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice behind her. She turned to him with a smile. ¡°This girl is really feisty.¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled and joked, ¡°She listens to every word you say. Why would she be angry at you?¡± Chapter 1170. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Four) Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes trailed after Su Yue. She was marching with hastened footsteps and he could imagine the angry look on her face. His face lit up with an affectionate smile. It was a brief and thought-provoking smile. ¡°She is mad at you.¡± Xuxu smiled and continued, ¡°I said that you were protecting her that day. But she said that you were too fierce.¡± It momentarily stunned Ming Ansheng, and he was at a loss for words. He laughed softly. ¡°She is truly someone who you can¡¯t scold or punish.¡± Xuxu sighed and carried on, ¡°Exactly. I can¡¯t even tell her off.¡± ¡°Who would bear¡­¡± Ming Ansheng was still staring at Su Yue, as though he was in a reverie. He stopped himself from blurting out. ¡°If she didn¡¯t make a mistake who would scold her?¡± His original words were: ¡®Who would bear to scold her if she did nothing wrong?¡¯ He really needed to put an end to his affection for her. Xuxu merely smiled in response. Ming Ansheng glanced at Xuxu. ¡°You¡¯re alone? Third Yan is still not back from Jincheng?¡± ¡°He said he would be back in the afternoon. He should be here soon,¡± said Xuxu. They strolled together towards the basketball court. Spectators and guests had already filled the court. Of course, except for the VIP section. Xuxu surveyed the court and she couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°The school facilities are really improving by leaps and bounds.¡± The basketball court was huge and it was comparable to professional MBA basketball courts. Ming Ansheng agreed and said, ¡°Yeah, the times are changing.¡± They walked towards the VIP section. ¡°President Ming, why didn¡¯t you ask your assistant to inform us you were here? So sorry that we didn¡¯t welcome you properly.¡± Someone came rushing to welcome Ming Ansheng with a smile. That man was a staff from Union University. Ming Ansheng glanced at him and said, ¡°There is no need.¡± He swept past him. Xuxu had a seat in the VIP section. Yan Rusheng had already made arrangements with the school. Ming Ansheng sat down while Xuxu scanned the court. ¡°Where is Yueyue?¡± Ming Ansheng surveyed the court too and his gaze landed on the opposite side, at a corner on the right. He saw a guy wearing a red and white jersey. He seemed quiet and cold on the surface, but it couldn¡¯t conceal the vitality and energy a guy of his age possessed. His good-looking face was wearing a smile as he gazed at Su Yue. They were talking and Su Yue was smiling happily with a bottle in her hands. Ming Ansheng stared intently at them. Su Yue opened the bottle and passed it to the guy. After he drank, he passed it to Su Yue again. Su Yue didn¡¯t hesitate and drank from the bottle, too. She seemed so natural, and when they sat together, everything else seemed so perfect and balanced. ¡°You kept feeding me chips. Are you going to be responsible if I get thirsty later?¡± ¡°Why did you buy just one bottle of water? You¡¯re so stingy.¡± ¡°She is there.¡± Xuxu saw Su Yue and pointed at a direction. She glanced at Ming Ansheng and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go over.¡± She turned and walked towards them. Jiao Chen. Su Yue had lavished praises about this cool and handsome guy. She finally saw him in person. This aloof and cold-looking guy was really handsome. He seemed to exude a natural nobility as though nothing could unsettle him. Chapter 1171. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Five) Jiao Chen pressed his lips and smiled, and Xuxu noticed that he had rather thin lips. It reminded her of a saying; ¡®A man with thin lips is heartless.¡¯ She was suddenly doubtful that Jiao Chen liked Yueyue. The principal mentioned that he had dated no one in his university life. And he was hardly ever seen with girls. He seemed busy. His commitments, such as his studies and a part-time job, had occupied most of his time. She wondered if he could handle Yueyue¡¯s temper and emotions. Xuxu scrutinized Jiao Chen from head to toe as she strode towards them. That few seconds of deliberation made her lose all confidence in him. No, it wasn¡¯t the guy. She wasn¡¯t confident in Su Yue, instead. She felt that she wouldn¡¯t be able to handle Jiao Chen. Unless he could bare his heart and be open about himself. Xuxu had a hunch he had a hidden story and wasn¡¯t like what he appeared to be. ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± Su Yue waved vigorously at Xuxu and beckoned her to come closer. She then glanced at Jiaojiao and introduced Xuxu to him. ¡°Jiaojiao, this is my third sister-in-law.¡± Jiao Chen raised his head to look at Xuxu and nodded politely at her. He pressed his lips tightly. But he didn¡¯t address her. Xuxu didn¡¯t mind that, as he seemed to be rather cold and aloof. He was definitely not the kind of guy who would fawn over her. Judging from this, Xuxu guessed that he didn¡¯t really like Su Yue that much. ¡°Third sister-in-law! Isn¡¯t Jiaojiao cool and handsome?!¡± Su Yue grabbed Jiao Chen¡¯s arm and grinned at Xuxu. She wasn¡¯t even bashful. Xuxu smiled. ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°He is cooler when he plays basketball.¡± Su Yue continued to lavish generous praise on her boyfriend. Completely ignoring all the onlookers. ¡°I will witness his charm for myself later,¡± said Xuxu with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to my seat, come and find me later.¡± She glanced at Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen¡¯s expression remained deadpan, but it didn¡¯t give off the feeling that he was being arrogant. Su Yue nodded. Xuxu smiled and turned around. Ming Ansheng saw Xuxu walking towards him, and he retracted his gaze. ¡°How was it? Is the lass coming?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see her?¡± Xuxu pointed at Su Yue and smiled helplessly. ¡°She is practically glued to her boyfriend and nothing is more important than him now.¡± As she spoke, she sat down beside Ming Ansheng. They were the only ones seated at the VIP section. The rest of the seats were still empty. ¡°Passionately in love¡­¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at Su Yue once more. Jiao Chen was casually looking in their direction at that moment, and it made Ming Ansheng feel guilty. ¡°Exactly. She kept calling him Jiaojiao, but Yan Rusheng shot her down immediately.¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s voice interrupted Ming Ansheng¡¯s thoughts. He turned and glanced at Xuxu. ¡°She is still a child. It¡¯s normal.¡± Jiaojiao¡­ Jiaojiao¡­ If they were together, would she call him Mingming? Anan? Shengsheng? Ming Ansheng began to visualize how Su Yue would sweetly address him, and it somehow gave him goosebumps. But¡­ his heart was yearning for that to happen. He leaned back on the chair and stole furtive glances at Su Yue. A beautiful girl was with a gorgeous-looking guy. Many pairs of eyes were watching them with envy. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu was still chatting with Ming Ansheng when a familiar voice interrupted them. Chapter 1172. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Six) She raised her head and hesitated when she saw the man standing beside her. She then smiled politely and greeted, ¡°Zhao Zheng.¡± He was wearing a baby blue shirt and dark blue pants. He was looking at her as he asked, ¡°You¡¯re here to watch the match, too?¡± Nonsense. Why else would she be sitting here? To see him? Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, Su Yue invited me.¡± It completely slipped her mind that he was a teacher at the university. It was natural for old classmates to have small talks. But she always felt that he seemed like a totally different person when he did. Sometimes, she wondered if he did it on purpose. So, she detested talking to him. Zhao Zheng smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve met Su Yue quite a couple of times in school. I told her to look for me in my office if she has any trouble.¡± He bent down and sat beside Xuxu, before adjusting his spectacles. He stared straight at Xuxu. ¡°Thank you for that.¡± Xuxu smiled. She then bowed her head and adjusted her hair. She really wanted to turn to him and shout: ¡®Can you stop looking at me like that?!¡¯ But she didn¡¯t because he was a teacher there. Zhao Zheng smiled and continued, ¡°No problem. Your little sister is my little sister.¡± Was he insane? Or to put it bluntly, wasn¡¯t he too shameless? Forget about the people sitting around. Ming Ansheng was there as well. He was obviously trying to get close to her, with his ¡®your sister is my sister¡¯ nonsense. Didn¡¯t he feel that it was too ambiguous? Xuxu was speechless. Her expression changed, and she pressed her lips together. She stopped talking to him. ¡°Zhao Zheng, you¡¯ve got it wrong. She¡¯s Yan Rusheng¡¯s younger sister,¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly piped up from Xuxu¡¯s side. His plain tone and faint smile had a hint of mockery. Zhao Zheng foolishly smiled. ¡°Same thing.¡± He glanced at Ming Ansheng, before returning his gaze to Xuxu. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve given birth. I¡¯ve been wanting to visit, but I¡¯ve been busy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Xuxu shook her head, not sparing him a glance. Zhao Zheng was completely oblivious to her obviously curt attitude towards him, so he continued creating small talks with her. ¡°Look at you, a mother of two kids but still looking like a fair maiden.¡± His gaze then swept over her body and his eyes shone. Xuxu was wearing a white round-necked blouse and a pair of champagne-colored, body-hugging pencil pants, which hid the little fat she had gained during pregnancy. Because she had one month to recuperate, so her face was rosier than before. Zhao Zheng was right. She could definitely blend in well with the university students. Xuxu felt awkward with such blunt praise. She blushed and laughed awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Ming Ansheng lowered his head, his hand covering his mouth. But the corner of his eyes showed hints of a sly smile. He hoped that Zhao Zheng wouldn¡¯t leave so early. He hoped that he would sit right there until Yan Rusheng arrived¡ªthat would be a sight to see! ¡°Xuxu, let¡¯s have a meal with Ming Ansheng once the match ends,¡± Zhao Zheng suggested, looking at Ming Ansheng. In actual fact, he hoped that Ming Ansheng would say that he was busy. Then he could have a meal with her alone¡ªjust him and Xuxu. Chapter 1173. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Seven) Without hesitating, Xuxu shook her head and declined. ¡°I¡¯ll pass. My husband is coming any time now.¡± Her tone was firm and she would not continue giving him face if he went on. ¡°Hi, Zhao Zheng, it has been some time since we last met.¡± A sinister voice sounded from the end of their row. Xuxu, Ming Ansheng, and Zhao Zheng looked over at the same time. A tall man stood there, hands tucked into his tuxedo pockets. He wore an expensive watch and his entire look encompassed wealth, elegance, and a unique nobility. Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he was already around. Now Zhao Zheng would leave and she wouldn¡¯t have to fall out with him. There were only two ways to handle a person like him. Number one, pretend he does not exist. Number two, bluntly tell him straight to his face. Disappointment flashed across Zhao Zheng¡¯s face when he saw Yan Rusheng. He asked, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re here to watch the match, too?¡± ¡°No, no, no,¡± Yan Rusheng said, shaking his head. He smiled and said, ¡°I know that you¡¯re treating us to dinner today, so I came for a free meal.¡± His plain tone and his faint smile seemed fleetingly breathtaking to bystanders. But in Xuxu¡¯s eyes, he was simply being ruthless. Their previous meal had cost him 120, 000 yuan, equivalent to nine to ten months¡¯ worth of his salary at A University. Zhao Zheng¡¯s face immediately fell when he heard what he had to say. Hatred filled his eyes. How dare he purposely reminded him of it? This fellow hadn¡¯t changed one bit¡ªhe was still condescending and disrespectful as ever. ¡°I only wanted to treat Xuxu and Ming Ansheng.¡± Zhao Zheng replied coolly, not caring about the ties they had. Xuxu and Ming Ansheng were both startled, marveling at how brave yet foolish Zhao Zheng was. Yan Rusheng¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. He walked over to Zhao Zheng and leaned lazily on the railing in front of them. He looked at Zhao Zheng and feigned hurt. ¡°We¡¯re old classmates. Why are you ostracizing me?¡± Without waiting for his reply, he added, ¡°It can¡¯t be because you didn¡¯t woo Xuxu those years ago and now she¡¯s my wife, right?¡± His words struck Zhao Zheng¡¯s raw nerve. As Yan Rusheng had expected, Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression turned uglier. He opened his mouth to say something but Yan Rusheng suddenly continued, ¡°Xuxu made me read aloud the love letter that you wrote to her that year. She was in a fit of laughter by the time I finished reading it. She said that your writing skills were too lousy, very unbecoming of Teacher Zhao¡¯s son.¡± His harsh remark made Zhao Zheng turn red from head to toe. Zhao Zheng glared at Yan Rusheng and gritted his teeth. ¡°You¡­¡± He only managed to get one word out before Yan Rusheng interrupted him. ¡°Zhao Zheng, sometimes, we need to know where we stand. You¡¯re just an ordinary teacher at A University. This is the VIP section. We are sponsors and we were invited so we get to sit here. Didn¡¯t you know that?¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°But for old times¡¯ sake, if you want to sit here, I can liaise with the school, but¡­¡± Yan Rusheng intentionally dragged out the last word. In an instant, his mocking smile disappeared. He turned cold and emotionless. ¡°That is my seat. You shouldn¡¯t be sitting there.¡± Chapter 1174. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Eight) Zhao Zheng¡¯s face turned red, black, and then green with anger. Xuxu said nothing to stop Yan Rusheng. She felt that he needed this harsh blow, or else he wouldn¡¯t know where he stood. He always had on his scholar¡¯s attitude, despising this and despising that. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯ve always been so contemptuous.¡± Zhao Zheng couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and stood up, glaring at him. Unless Yan Rusheng was torn into pieces, his anger wouldn¡¯t dissipate. Yan Rusheng replied plainly, ¡°I don¡¯t have to give anyone time of day. Naturally, I have many people crowding around me, but I only have eyes for my wife.¡± Just as Yan Rusheng had said, there was no aspect in which Zhao Zheng was better than Yan Rusheng. With the wave of a hand or just a glance, Yan Rusheng could subdue anyone. After he finished his sentence, he ignored Zhao Zheng, bending down to sit beside Xuxu. He wound his arm around Xuxu¡¯s shoulders and kissed her. ¡°Wife, did you miss me?¡± Although those behind them couldn¡¯t see it, Ming Ansheng was sitting right beside them. ¡® This fellow¡­¡¯ Xuxu blushed and lowered her head further, ignoring him. Zhao Zheng gritted his teeth in hatred when he saw their intimate behavior. He turned around and exited the row. Xuxu could feel his anger as he turned around. She side-glanced him as he left. She pressed her lips together. ¡°This fellow. I really wonder if all those years of studying damaged his brain.¡± Yan Rusheng replied unhappily, ¡°Tsk, only dummies study what he studied.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue tucked her hands into her faint gray sweater pockets and walked over, smiling. She had come directly from the basketball court, so she was the center of attention. Yet she seemed so casual and unaffected by their stares. Xuxu asked with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re not staying with your Jiaojiao?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips and replied, ¡°He¡¯s about to go on court.¡± She was already standing opposite Xuxu, on the other end of the railings. Xuxu said, ¡°Come in and take a seat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded, then gripped the railings with both hands¡­ ¡°You¡­¡± Xuxu realized that Su Yue was about to hop over the railings, but before she could say anything, Su Yue had already flipped herself over. She wiped her hands and smiled at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯ve practiced a lot of basketball and Jiaojiao said that I have a good jump.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t do that again. It¡¯s not elegant.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue shrugged her shoulders, a face of remorse. Xuxu grabbed her arm and dragged her over. ¡°Come have a seat.¡± She then turned around to look at Yan Rusheng. Her eyes seemed to ask: ¡®Aren¡¯t you going to scram?¡¯ Of course, Yan Rusheng refused to give up his seat. He said to her, ¡°Come, sit beside Third Brother.¡± A match was over an hour long. If he didn¡¯t interact with his wife in between, how boring would it be? ¡°You can sit here,¡± Ming Ansheng blurted. He then shifted one seat away. He looked up at her, but she had her head bowed. She didn¡¯t even look at him. ¡°Yueyue, sit down quickly,¡± Xuxu said, pulling her down to sit on Ming Ansheng¡¯s original seat. Su Yue refused to. She said, ¡°I¡¯m not sitting here. I¡¯ll go find Bai Jing, she¡¯s up there.¡± She pointed somewhere behind. Xuxu turned her head and looked up. Bai Jing was sitting four rows behind them. She was wearing a greenish-black sweater, still thin as ever. Chapter 1175. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Nine) She was quietly sitting alone while everyone around her was chatting happily. She looked lonely. ¡°Nobody is sitting here. Why don¡¯t you ask her over,¡± Xuxu said. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll go up instead,¡± Su Yue said, shaking her head with a smile. She pulled her hand out of Xuxu¡¯s grip and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make my way over now.¡± She then walked over to Bai Jing¡¯s row. Xuxu watched her as she left, she then turned around to look at Ming Ansheng. She joked, ¡°I think she¡¯s still mad at you.¡± Ming Ansheng agreed with her and chuckled. She was obviously throwing a tantrum. She was still basically mad at him for being so fierce to her. With her personality, she would have gotten mad at anyone she liked who shouted at her. She was so haughty. Before, she was mad at him for around ten days to half a month just because he didn¡¯t fulfill her wishes to take her on a longer spin. What more this time when he had scolded her in front of so many people? The more he thought about it, the more regretful he became. He still didn¡¯t understand her enough. He failed to consider her feelings in intense situations. She was crying when she had turned away. When he walked out of the mall, she was squatting at a corner and bawling her eyes out. How helpless he felt then! The referee blew the whistle and it interrupted Ming Ansheng¡¯s thoughts. ¡­ Players from the Union University were wearing green and white vertically striped jerseys, while those from A University were in red and white stripes. Every player on the court was at least 1.8 meters tall. All of them looked fit and strong. Everyone became nervous when the match started. Union University had many supporters as well as cheerleaders. ¡°Just one look and Jiao Chen is indeed the one who stands out the most.¡± The match had been going on for a while. Xuxu watched Jiao Chen and discussed with Yan Rusheng, ¡°To be exact, he¡¯s the most prominent one out of all the guys in the entire basketball court.¡± She truly felt that way in terms of looks and charisma. It had nothing to do with Su Yue. ¡°I disagree,¡± Yan Rusheng said, expressionless. He watched Jiao Chen, who had gotten the ball and was preparing to shoot, his eyes full of unhappiness. Xuxu looked at the man beside her with despise and ignored him. She knew that he disagreed because he considered himself to be the best in the basketball court. She continued watching the match. Her gaze once again locked onto Jiao Chen. ¡°Brilliant! Jiao Chen¡­ Jiao Chen¡­¡± There was a long pause. Xuxu didn¡¯t have time to react when Jiao Chen shot the ball into the hoop. The entire audience boiled over with excitement and chanted his name. She hesitated before smiling. ¡°Jiao Chen seems to be very popular in school.¡± She looked at Yan Rusheng who still had a look of unhappiness on his face. She didn¡¯t bother with him and turned to Ming Ansheng instead. ¡°He¡¯s no less popular than you were back in the days, am I right, Young Master Ming?¡± Ming Ansheng flashed a small smile. That¡¯s right, that fellow was indeed eye-catching. How else would he be good enough for the beautiful Yueyue? Ming Ansheng smiled helplessly, then bitterly. After Jiao Chen scored, the atmosphere was still very fiery. Even Xuxu, who wasn¡¯t interested in sports competitions, was very much engaged in the match. Chapter 1176. You Shouldn’t Have Sat On My Seat (part Ten) No matter which side scored, the entire court erupted into cheers. Of course, the cheers were louder when Jiao Chen was the one who scored. After many scores, the spectators seemed to have gotten used to it and the cheers became softer. Until the remaining of the first half, the audience would be euphoric for a short while¡ªbut only when Jiao Chen scored. The referee blew the whistle. The first half had ended. The cheerleaders from A University and Union University took over. All of them were slender and pretty in sexy attires, only slightly better than bikinis. They held pom-poms and shook their hips to form different poses. Xuxu was disinterested. She looked back at Su Yue, glancing at Yan Rusheng as she did. Yan Rusheng was lazily leaning on his chair, staring at the court with a blank stare. Xuxu smiled. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you seem pretty entranced.¡± Yan Rusheng retracted his gaze and commented, ¡°They have nice figures.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xuxu curled her lips and leaned against her seat. Her sharp gaze landed on his handsome face. Yan Rusheng smiled and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Jealous?¡± Xuxu smiled coolly. ¡°I suggest that you go over to them. It¡¯ll be more interesting if one of them kisses you on the cheek.¡± ¡°Stupid woman, is it so hard to admit that you¡¯re jealous?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, gritting his teeth. ¡°Without waiting for her reply, he suddenly stretched his hand and hugged her waist, kissing her. ¡°Did you miss me a lot the past two days?¡± ¡°Scram,¡± Xuxu said, pushing him away. Ridiculous! Yan Rusheng continued teasing his wife as though no one was around. ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you stop being so disgusting?¡± Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t take it any longer. He looked at Yan Rusheng with despise. Yan Rusheng released his grip on her waist and looked at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting married? Why are you jealous of me?¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. From behind, Su Yue kept sneaking glances at Ming Ansheng. She didn¡¯t realize until the first half ended. She came to her senses when the cheerleaders came out. She retracted her gaze in guilt, lowering her head and chiding herself. She then looked further away and towards the resting area the players were in. She saw Jiao Chen immediately. ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m going to find Jiaojiao,¡± Su Yue said to Bai Jing. Bai Jing was also staring blankly at the VIP section. Confused, she asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± She tried looking in the same direction. ¡°Nothing, I just think your Third Brother and third sister-in-law have a lot of fun together,¡± Bai Jing said, hurriedly retracting her gaze and smiling to cover up the guilt she was feeling. ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded, looking over at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. She saw them hugging and smiled, saying, ¡°My Third Brother loves my third sister-in-law very much.¡± Then, unconsciously, she looked yearningly at Ming Ansheng. He was sitting there alone, looking at his phone. What was he looking at that had garnered all his attention? Could it be that his annoying fiancee sent him a text? ¡°Ah¡­ Senior Jiao Chen.¡± Su Yue was deep in thought when suddenly a commotion was heard from the court. Someone shouted Jiao Chen¡¯s name in shock. What happened? Chapter 1177. First Kiss (part One) Su Yue nervously looked at Jiao Chen¡¯s empty seat. A guy wearing a Union University jersey was waving his clenched fist. He was aiming for Jiao Chen¡¯s face. Su Yue widened her eyes in shock when she saw that Jiao Chen was about to be punched. ¡°No!¡± cried Su Yue. Her screams echoed around the court. Everything seemed to come to a standstill, and everyone turned to stare at Su Yue. The guy¡ªwho was about to punch Jiao Chen¡ªstopped as well. Su Yue ignored everyone¡¯s stares and jumped to her feet. She bolted straight for the court. ¡®Slam!¡¯ The next moment, the guy from Union University aimed his fist at Jiao Chen after landing his first punch. Jiao Chen, who was originally frozen after getting hit, moved swiftly and silently to intercept his fist in mid-air. He grabbed the guy¡¯s wrist and twisted it with force. A crease appeared in the middle of his eyebrows. Jiao Chen looked exceedingly cold and vicious. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The players from Union University saw that Jiao Chen was attacking their teammate and they menacingly swarmed around him. They had evidently wanted to create trouble for Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen refused to relinquish his grip on the man, and he coldly surveyed his opponents with a pair of malicious-looking eyes. He seemed to exude an air of nobility. ¡°Are you trying to create trouble?¡± A Union University player grabbed Jiao Chen¡¯s clothes. They closed in on Jiao Chen and the situation went out of control. ¡°What are all of you doing?! What are all of you trying to do?!¡± The staff stepped in to stop them. A University and Union University¡¯s teachers bellowed at the basketball players but to no avail. They refused to let Jiao Chen go. Jiao Chen might be nimble and strong, but there were too many of them. He was being restrained by a few of them and it was impossible to win them. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that he started it first?¡± Union University¡¯s players argued, and they sounded unreasonable and arrogant. ¡°What bullshit is that!¡± A clear and resounding voice interrupted them. Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to this girl. The girl¡¯s beautiful face was cold and aloof, and she seemed like an ice princess from a faraway land. Her aura and expression made her feel she was beyond anyone¡¯s reach. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Jiao Chen seized the opportunity to wrestle his way out of their grips. He attacked the guys who were the nearest to him. And he aimed for their vital body parts. Jiao Chen straightened his back and stroked his lips. Blood was smeared on his lips and it made his good-looking face look more dangerous. Two of the teammates had collapsed. They had diverted their attention back to Jiao Chen again as they closed in on him once more. ¡°Stop fighting!¡± Two teachers stormed bravely towards them. At this time, to the Union University players, winning that fight was more important than winning the match. Only one or two of A University¡¯s players stepped forward to help Jiao Chen. The rest of them crossed their arms in front of their chests. They seemed to be watching a show. ¡°What¡¯s happening? No one is helping him?¡± Xuxu began to panic after observing the situation. She nervously watched Su Yue and felt worried. She had no idea what would she do next. Chapter 1178. First Kiss (part Two) Xuxu turned to Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, aren¡¯t you the sponsor of Union University? These players are really atrocious!¡± Everyone could tell that they were provoking Jiao Chen intentionally. A University was leading in the first part of the match, and Jiao Chen scored most of the points. Were they really such sore losers? There were spectators, teachers, and classmates watching them. How could they be students? They were simply hooligans! Ming Ansheng comfortably settled on his seat as he rested his arms on the sides. His malicious-looking eyes were gazing at the commotion. He didn¡¯t respond at all, neither did he answer Xuxu. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± A guy¡¯s piercing scream assailed their ears. ¡°Oh, no!¡± Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng leaped to their feet and they were pale with shock. They scrambled to the front row and agilely leaped over the barrier. Xuxu went pale too when she noticed the situation. ¡°Yueyue!¡± She rose hastily and scrambled to the front row. Su Yue was on a guy¡¯s back, and she had bitten his ear. The guy flung her off after screaming out in pain. Everyone gasped when she had been thrown on the floor. However, she got up almost instantly and seemed perfectly fine. ¡°Since you are courting death,¡± Jiao Chen sneered coldly. A malicious gleam flashed in his eyes. He went savage and waved his fists and legs wildly at them. ¡°Yueyue! Are you all right?!¡± Ming Ansheng dashed to Su Yue and grabbed her. He gazed at her with worry-filled eyes. He began to scrutinize her from top to toe. Su Yue briefly glanced at him before flinging his hand away. She marched towards Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen had a few bruises on his face and his lips were bleeding. Su Yue used her fingers to wipe his blood away. Her porcelain fair hands touched him gently and tenderly, just like how¡­ she had touched Meowmeow and Yangyang. ¡°Jiaojiao, is it painful?¡± Su Yue raised her head and anxiously watched Jiao Chen. Her heart was aching for him. If it was Bai Jing or Xuxu being beaten up, she would feel this way too. Jiao Chen managed a feeble smile and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not painful.¡± He broke into a wider smile, and he seemed so dangerously gorgeous. ¡°Bend down, I¡¯ll blow at your wounds.¡± Su Yue tip-toed but she barely reached Jiao Chen¡¯s chin. Su Yue eased the strained and solemn tension. Everyone stared at them in silence. Ming Ansheng stuffed his hands into his pockets as he watched them. He bowed his head and a thought-provoking smile appeared on his face. That smile was bitter and helpless. ¡°Jiaojiao, let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t play with these sore losers.¡± Su Yue stretched her hand to hold Jiao Chen¡¯s hand. He eyed the Union University¡¯s players with hostility. She glanced at the players from A University and sneered. ¡°And you guys are not as united as them. Jiaojiao will never be on the same team as all of you again. This is such a shame.¡± She held Jiao Chen¡¯s hand tightly and marched towards the entrance. And with hurried footsteps. Jiao Chen allowed Su Yue to pull him away as he watched her intently. He had knitted his eyebrows tightly together. He seemed to be in the midst of making a discovery about Su Yue. Su Yue led Jiao Chen out of the court, with countless pairs of eyes on them. Chapter 1179. First Kiss (part Three) The autumn breeze blew the leaves off the ground in a gentle motion. Su Yue seemed to drag Jiao Chen along aimlessly as they trod on for a long time in silence. ¡°Su Yue!¡± Jiao Chen finally interrupted Su Yue. Without waiting for Su Yue to respond, he pulled her effortlessly into his embrace. There was a huge tree behind them, and Jiao Chen pushed Su Yue gently against the tree. Su Yue widened her eyes and blinked several times. Her heart was pounding so furiously that she felt that it might leap out of her chest any moment. What was he going to do? Was Jiaojiao planning to kiss her? Jiao Chen placed his palm over Su Yue¡¯s head and against the tree, while his other hand limped beside his body. He slightly bent to look intently at the tiny girl who was blushing crimson. ¡°Jiaojiao, what are you doing?¡± Su Yue held her breath. She could already feel her heart racing. She lifted her head and her eyes met Jiao Chen¡¯s eyes. But he simply stood there without moving, and so she swallowed her saliva in sheer nervousness. ¡°Su Yue, do you know how couples date?¡± Jiao Chen finally responded. A playful smile played around the corners of his mouth after he had asked Su Yue. ¡°I¡­¡± Su Yue clenched the sides of the tree trunk tightly. She was so nervous that she could distinctly feel her heart beating against her chest. She shook her head slowly and stammered, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± She was in a dilemma. What should she do if Jiaojiao wanted to kiss her? Should she wind her arms around him, just like how her third sister-in-law did when Third Brother kissed her? ¡°Like this,¡± Jiao Chen answered softly. The next second, Su Yue widened her eyes, completely stunned and dumbfounded. The guy¡¯s soft lips pressed tightly against hers. She tightened her grip around the tree trunk, and her fingernails almost dug into it. What should she do? What should she do? Jiaojiao really kissed her! Should she push him away or hug him back? ¡°Su Yue, you need to close your eyes,¡± commanded Jiao Chen as he moved back a little. He then began to kiss her once more. Did she need to close her eyes? Su Yue grunted in response and closed her eyes. ¡°Yue¡­¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng got worried about Su Yue, and so they ran out after her. A short distance away, they spotted them under the tree. Xuxu¡¯s footsteps and voice faded immediately. She gazed at them with a gentle smile. She stood there in a reverie, lost in her own thoughts. She had once dreamed of having a pure and innocent relationship in school. But her youth had already vanished and there was no way of turning back time. Fortunately, the person beside her now was who she was dreaming of. ¡°This fellow!¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and spat furiously. Xuxu glared at him and hissed, ¡°What are you doing! Don¡¯t get so agitated!¡± ¡°This is too overboard. They are in public!¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and appeared outraged. Xuxu was dumbfounded. He could do anything he wanted, but he flew into a rage when a guy kissed his sister. Who else could be more shameless or brazen than him!? ¡°Third Yan!¡± Ming Ansheng came rushing out after a brief discussion with the staff. He saw Xuxu and Yan Rusheng standing at the entrance and he yelled at them. Curious, he followed their gaze. His expression instantly froze. His hands in his pockets clenched tightly into fists, and his heart seemed tightly clenched, too. He felt suffocated. Yueyue, Yueyue¡­ was she really drifting further away from him? Was it really impossible between both of them? ¡°President Ming, so sorry about the incident earlier on.¡± A stubby man came running out and stopped beside Ming Ansheng. He bent his back and gave a bright smile. ¡°I will definitely punish those students, especially the one who had hurt Miss Su. I will administer the punishment the minute I get back to school.¡± Chapter 1180. First Kiss (part Four) Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart was painfully tugged, and he had retracted his gaze. He coldly glanced at the man and solemnly said, ¡°From now on, Bright Vision will cease all sponsorships for Union University.¡± He turned and marched away. The towering figure exuded an air of loneliness and sorrow. ¡°President Ming¡­¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s footsteps were swift, and the stubby man didn¡¯t manage to catch up with him. ¡­ Jiao Chen pressed his lips gently against hers, and Su Yue could feel the softness of his lips. His kiss was so soft and gentle. Su Yue seemed to float around in the ocean, with the warm sunshine beating down on her. She was feeling so blissful and contented. ¡®Little lass, wake up¡­¡¯ ¡®Yueyue, it¡¯s all right. Stop crying¡­¡¯ At this moment, memories of how Ming Ansheng had taken care of her interrupted such a blissful moment. He had cooked for her, listened to her grumbles and whines, given her warm embraces when she was feeling down or upset. ¡®No!¡¯ It jolted Su Yue awake, and so she opened her eyes. She abruptly averted her face. Her actions were awkward and stiff. Jiao Chen remained on the spot as he gazed at Su Yue. ¡°Su Yue, can we wait until we fall in love with each other?¡± The question was too complex for the innocent and simple Su Yue. She didn¡¯t understand and her dewy-looking eyes gleamed. ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°Silly girl.¡± Jiao Chen retracted his hand and stroked Su Yue¡¯s hair gently and affectionately. ¡°If we can¡¯t wait, I won¡¯t continue.¡± ¡°I will learn to like you,¡± Su Yue said earnestly as she looked into Jiao Chen¡¯s eyes. Determination filled her eyes. Third sister-in-law liked Third Brother for many years, and finally, she succeeded in getting together with him. So¡­ as long as she tried her best, she could do it. Yes, that must be it. Jiao Chen smiled in response. He turned around and strode towards his dormitory. ¡°Jiaojiao, where are you going?¡± Su Yue ran after Jiao Chen. ¡°Your face is bruised. Let me go and buy medicine for you?¡± She grabbed his arm to stop him from walking forward. Jiao Chen gently shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This¡­ is nothing.¡± ¡°Jiaojiao, you could fight so well, but why didn¡¯t you retaliate in the first place?¡± Su Yue asked, looking confused. He had easily defeated those guys, so why didn¡¯t he do so before they had pinned him down? And when Liang Zihua hit him, he didn¡¯t retaliate too. He was obviously so good at fighting. She was still feeling shy and awkward about their kiss. But seconds later, the question had eclipsed her awkwardness. She reverted to her lively and bubbly self once more. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Jiao Chen threw a swift glance before tilting his head to gaze into the sky. Sorrow had shrouded his good-looking face. He said, ¡°A person needs to learn how to control himself. Even if he really likes or dislike something or a person, he cannot give in to temptations or whims.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Su Yue gazed at Jiao Chen, looking confused. ¡°Why can¡¯t we do whatever we like? If you don¡¯t like someone, it means you hate that person. If you hate that person, why should you even go near to the person?¡± Why should she exercise control if she can retaliate? When she was younger, she yearned to grow up as quickly as possible. Then no one could ever bully her again if she could fight back. Chapter 1181. First Kiss (part Five) Jiao Chen had the ability to fight back, but he always restrained himself. She couldn¡¯t understand him at all. Jiao Chen smiled gently. ¡°If someone will bear the consequences for you forever, you can then do whatever you want.¡± ¡®If someone will bear the consequences for him forever, he certainly would do whatever he liked or wanted.¡¯ But Su Yue still couldn¡¯t understand and so she pursed her lips. ¡°I still can¡¯t understand your logic.¡± Why does someone have to bear the consequences? What consequences? She stuffed her hands into her jacket and bent her head. She kicked the leaves, looking frustrated as a frown appeared on her face. Jiao Chen gazed at her as he pressed his lips. He spoke gently. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± A girl like her¡­ what kind of mistake or blunder would she make that was unforgivable? On the other hand¡­ merely raising his voice at her seemed wrong. ¡°Are you going back to your dormitory?¡± They strolled silently towards Jiao Chen¡¯s dormitory. Su Yue suddenly raised her head and asked Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen grunted in response. The blood on the corners of his mouth had dried up. The bruises on his face were becoming more obvious, although it didn¡¯t affect his appearance. ¡°Oh,¡± Su Yue answered and remained silent. Her footsteps trailed after Jiao Chen as she continued walking absentmindedly. Jiao Chen opened his mouth several times to say something, but no words came out. Finally, they reached a crossroads where they needed to split up. Jiao Chen stopped and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Do you want to take a look at our dormitory?¡± asked Jiao Chen. Su Yue blinked her eyes and asked, ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°I think¡­¡± Jiao Chen paused and hesitated before nodding. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± He sounded certain. ¡°But the girls¡¯ dormitory is out of bounds to guys.¡± Su Yue raised her eyebrows in doubt. She wanted to say that likewise, girls might be forbidden to enter the guys¡¯ dormitory. Jiao Chen knew what she was saying and joked, ¡°That¡¯s why the guys are always on the losing end.¡± ¡°Errr¡­¡± This was the first time Jiao Chen had joked with her. It was afternoon and the weather was perfect. They stood at the crossroad and a breeze rustled the girl¡¯s hair. The guy stretched his hand to tuck her hair behind her ears. This scene would have stirred the hearts of everyone who witnessed it. Every girl would have dreamt of having a handsome and gentle prince charming as her boyfriend. And which guy wouldn¡¯t have dreamt of having a beautiful and lovely princess as his girlfriend? This princess and prince combination was too perfect. It was unbelievable that it had happened in real life. But people also forgot about the fact that someone created that fairytales. ¡°I think I better not go. Can you go get changed and eat dinner with my Third Brother and Third sister-in-law tonight?¡± Su Yue deliberated over his suggestion and concluded that going to the guys¡¯ dormitory wasn¡¯t a good idea. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint the exact reason but she didn¡¯t feel really comfortable with the idea. Jiao Chen smiled and asked, ¡°Do you seriously reckon I can go for dinner looking like this?¡± ¡°Erm¡­¡± Su Yue was at a loss of words momentarily before she realized that Jiao Chen was referring to his bruises. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this? My third brother and third sister-in-law wouldn¡¯t despise you.¡± Obviously, he didn¡¯t mean that he was afraid that they would despise him. ¡°Perhaps next time.¡± Jiao Chen softly suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll eat with them next time, all right?¡± Su Yue nodded slowly as she pressed her lips. ¡°Alright then.¡± Jiao Chen broke into a smile and said, ¡°Go and look for them.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and glanced at Jiao Chen¡¯s wounds. ¡°Remember to use a hot towel to put on your bruises to reduce the swelling.¡± Chapter 1182. First Kiss (part Six) Jiao Chen smiled. ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you know this.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips together. ¡°I¡¯ll make a move.¡± She waved at him and turned around, walking in the direction they came from. Jiao Chen stared at her retreating figure, lost in thought. He didn¡¯t retract his gaze until she was far away. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ A gust of wind brought him back to reality. He sighed. Turning around, he walked in the opposite direction. ¡­ Xuxu and Yan Rusheng watched Su Yue and Jiao Chen walk past them. Su Yue¡¯s gaze never left Jiao Chen. She didn¡¯t realize they were there even when they walked past them. Neither did they call out to her. ¡°Let¡¯s go. This lass treats us like air now that she¡¯s dating.¡± Xuxu sighed, hugging his elbow and preparing to head back to the basketball court. They had to bid goodbye to the school leaders before leaving. Yan Rusheng looked down at Xuxu and raised his eyebrow. ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°I do feel a little sour.¡± Yueyue said that she loved her third sister-in-law the most and always clung onto her. But now¡­ sigh! Indeed, a grown girl had to leave the family one day. No wonder Grandfather always complained that she was unfilial. The more she thought about it, the more it rang true. Before she started dating Yan Rusheng, though she worked from dawn to dusk, she could see her grandfather every day. But since she got together with Yan Rusheng, she could count the number of times she met her grandfather within the past quarter of the year with her fingers. And now that she had children, she didn¡¯t have enough time to spare. To be frank, her grandfather didn¡¯t even cross her mind when work swarmed her for days. ¡°Third Brother, third sister-in-law.¡± They heard a familiar voice. Xuxu looked over and smiled. ¡°Bai Jing, how have you and Yueyue been? How do you find the dormitory?¡± Bai Jing was walking down the steps as she approached them. She looked clean and fresh, with her ponytail tied up neatly. ¡°It¡¯s not too bad,¡± Bai Jing replied, nodding. She stopped before them. Xuxu looked at her and smiled sincerely. ¡°Remember to come over with Yueyue when you¡¯re free.¡± Bai Jing nodded and agreed. Then she looked around and asked in confusion, ¡°Where¡¯s Su Yue?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°She left with Jiao Chen.¡± Then Bai Jing suddenly smiled in a particular direction. ¡°Su Yue is here.¡± Xuxu turned to look. Su Yue tucked her pockets in her sweater, her head bowed as she walked on the pavement and kicked the floor. She was obviously deep in thought. When she got closer, Xuxu asked her mockingly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you leave with your Jiaojiao?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips and replied, ¡°He went back to the dormitory for a nap. He asked me to go, but I didn¡¯t.¡± Young Master Yan became agitated when he heard it. ¡°What? That fellow asked you to sleep in his dormitory?¡± In broad daylight?! Xuxu was speechless. As expected, his mind was in the gutter. His mind was filled with inappropriate things, and he perceived others to think like him. It was enough! ¡°He asked me over to hang out,¡± Su Yue explained, frowning. She looked contemptuously at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Third Brother, what did you think? Jiaojiao is nothing like you.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t hold in her laughter. She wanted to like Su Yue¡¯s comment a million times over. But of course, she couldn¡¯t show it. If she were to challenge Yan Rusheng now that her confinement was over, there would be ¡®dreadful¡¯ consequences. Chapter 1183. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part One) Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ He felt like he was losing his human rights. Soon, everyone would be bullying him. It seemed like everyone in the Yan family could bully him at that moment¡ªfrom the two elders to his two children who just turned a month old. Oh, my god! Disastrous! Xuxu laughed in secret and looked at Su Yue. ¡°Tomorrow is Saturday, are you going to spend time with your Jiaojiao? Or go home with your third brother and I?¡± New couples always wished that they could stick around each other 24 hours a day. This little lass rambled on about Jiaojiao every day. Her mind was full of him and Xuxu was 80% sure that she would return home less on Saturdays. Su Yue replied, ¡°I¡¯ll head back with you both. Jiaojiao is busy during the weekends.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± She then looked at Bai Jing and asked, ¡°Bai Jing, why don¡¯t you come over?¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m heading home tonight.¡± Xuxu decided not to force her. She smiled and said, ¡°Then¡­ You can come over whenever you want to.¡± However, it still worried her that Bai Jing was getting bullied in the Lei family, or that she was forced into doing things. After careful thought, she felt that what Yan Rusheng had said was true: She was already 18 years old. She was mature enough to make her own decisions. The reason she went to the Lei family was because of her mother who abandoned her after she was born. She had been abandoned for so many years, so she didn¡¯t have any attachment to them. So if they treated her badly¡­ Bai Jing didn¡¯t have any reason to stay. If she was unhappy living with them, why wouldn¡¯t she say a word? Even if she was too embarrassed to tell them, she could have said something to Su Yue. Her not saying anything proved that she didn¡¯t want their help. This way, they were in no position to help her. Or perhaps she lived decently with the Lei household. But that was highly unlikely. Bai Jing nodded and agreed. Then she said to Su Yue, ¡°Are you coming back on Sunday afternoon?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue nodded, then raised her eyebrows in confusion. ¡°Why did you ask?¡± Bai Jing frowned. ¡°You forgot that we have basketball practice?¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t. I¡¯ll continue practicing at home. We have a basketball court in our backyard.¡± That¡¯s right, Yan Rusheng was in the school basketball team during his high school and university days. Because he liked it so much, Wang Daqin built a simple basketball court for him in the backyard. But ever since Yan Rusheng went to university, he didn¡¯t use the basketball court as much. Now, he only played once every few months. ¡°You have a basketball court?¡± Bai Jing asked in shock. Her eyes filled with unnoticeable envy. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s in our backyard, but it¡¯s behind the swimming pool so it¡¯s hidden. I¡¯ll show you next time.¡± The Yan¡¯s house was huge with many facilities. If one were to tour the entire house, it would take at least 40 minutes to an hour. ¡°Bai Jing, you¡¯re learning how to play basketball too?¡± Xuxu asked in surprise. She looked her up and down. She still looked as gentle and refined as the first time she saw her. She gave off the vibe of an attentive student who spent her free time in the library. Chapter 1184. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Two) She wouldn¡¯t have been so surprised if she had been learning badminton instead. But basketball? It was surprising. Su Yue nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, and she picks it up faster than me.¡± ¡°You learned it to have a common ground with your Jiaojiao,¡± Xuxu stated, before turning to Bai Jing. ¡°Then what made you learn it too, Bai Jing?¡± She meant it as a casual question. But Bai Jing felt guilty. She didn¡¯t dare to meet her gaze. She replied softly, ¡°I just wanted to build my fitness.¡± She then blushed and hesitated before continuing, ¡°Since I can¡¯t fall asleep after I get woken up by Su Yue when she wakes up so early every day, I just decided to train with her as a form of fitness.¡± She then pressed her lips together and bowed her head. There was a bashful look on her face. Xuxu said to Su Yue, ¡°See, you disturbed Bai Jing.¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°Okay, okay, let¡¯s head back now. Yangyang and Meowmeow are waiting for me to feed them,¡± Xuxu said. She grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand and smiled at Bai Jing. ¡°Remember to come over when you¡¯re free.¡± Bai Jing nodded. Xuxu smiled and turned to Yan Rusheng. ¡°You can go and say goodbye, Yueyue and I will head back to the car first.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand as they walked to the main entrance of A University. ¡°I¡¯ve missed them. I wonder if they¡¯ve gained weight,¡± Su Yue commented, excited that she¡¯d be seeing her niece and nephew in no time. All infants in their first months looked different every day. Every weekend, she observed that the twins had obviously grown. ¡°Of course they¡¯ve gained weight,¡± Xuxu said, eyes full of tenderness. ¡°Both of them are like pigs, getting fatter by the day. Even their cries have become louder.¡± Su Yue frowned upon hearing it. ¡°Isn¡¯t that very annoying then?¡± Their original cries were annoying enough. Won¡¯t they be even more annoying now that their cries were louder? ¡°Aren¡¯t all kids like that?¡± Xuxu said, ¡°Our Yangyang and Meowmeow are already considered very well-behaved. Some kids cry all night long.¡± In a mother¡¯s eyes, her children were always the best. ¡°Meowmeow and Yangyang don¡¯t even sound good,¡± Su Yue commented, rolling her eyes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t roll off the tongue, and it¡¯s not cool at all.¡± She had always been unsatisfied with Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing¡¯s nicknames. Then she added with despise, ¡°It sounds so cringy to call the boy Yangyang.¡± Xuxu asked, holding in her smile. ¡°What sounds good then?¡± Initially, she also felt that the name Yangyang was nauseating. But now that she was used to it, it wasn¡¯t half bad. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It just doesn¡¯t sound good.¡± Su Yue pouted. Both of them chatted as they walked. ¡­ Yan Rusheng entered the basketball court and bid goodbye to the principal of A University. He left hurriedly, preparing to catch up with Su Yue and Xuxu. He walked down the steps and turned around. He hesitated and suspicion flashed across his eyes. Bai Jing was standing under a huge tree from four to five meters away. When she saw Yan Rusheng walking over, her fists clenched. She looked up at him, then pressed her lips together before lowering her head. Was she waiting for him? Yan Rusheng walked over with suspicion at the back of his head. When he was about to reach her, Bai Jing suddenly lifted her head to look at him. ¡°Third Brother.¡± Her voice was loud and clear, as though it took her a lot of courage Chapter 1185. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Three) ¡°Is anything the matter?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, looking at her. Although her voice was bright, her expression showed that she was hesitant. Yan Rusheng observed Bai Jing, waiting for her to speak. ¡°There¡¯s something I hope you can help me with.¡± Finally, Bai Jing took a deep breath and spoke. She had taken a difficult first step. Yan Rusheng plainly said, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Bai Jing continued, ¡°Grand Prosperity Molds is bidding in Flourish & Prosper¡¯s next¡­¡± She stammered, her fists clenching harder. ¡°The next¡­ Next¡­¡± ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Yan Rusheng knew what she was going to say the moment she opened her mouth. He wanted to give her a chance to complete her sentence. He knew that it must¡¯ve taken her a lot of courage and so much hesitation. But seeing how she was stammering and too embarrassed to continue, he decided to cut her off. He said, ¡°I¡¯m not one who likes to be threatened. I know you had no choice but to come to me. Xuxu and I would definitely be willing to provide you with good learning platforms and opportunities if you wish, but¡­¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Bai Jing interrupted him before he could finish. She lifted her head and pressed her lips together in a tight smile. Yan Rusheng smiled back, not saying a word. Bai Jing smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Third Brother, you should hurry. Third sister-in-law and Su Yue are waiting for you.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and agreed. Then he walked off towards the main entrance. He tucked his hands into his pockets, posture upright, and his steps were steady and confident. His back view alone was already captivating. Bai Jing stared after him as a man¡¯s voice sounded from behind her. ¡°Your father saved his life, yet he refuses to help you. That¡¯s too ungrateful of him.¡± To Bai Jing, this voice wasn¡¯t foreign, but it wasn¡¯t very familiar either. She turned around and smiled at the man who had already approached her. ¡°Professor Zhao.¡± ¡°Bai Jing, I feel indignant for you. Your father saved him and it cost him his leg,¡± Zhao Zheng said, looking at her sympathetically. He continued, ¡°He wasn¡¯t even willing to do you a small favor. Even though I know little about the business industry, what¡¯s impossible for Yan Rusheng?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that my dad saved him,¡± Bai Jing said, evading the main point. Her smile didn¡¯t falter, but her tone showed her obvious annoyance towards him. Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression faltered. His tone turned cold. ¡°So what? He still doesn¡¯t know how to show gratitude!¡± When Bai Jing heard that he was bad-mouthing Yan Rusheng, her smile turned into a mocking one. ¡°Professor Zhao, isn¡¯t teaching your job?¡± Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression changed. He stared at her maliciously. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Bai Jing raised her eyebrows coolly. ¡°Professor Zhao, could sowing discord be your past-time?¡± She had already ignored all the times he had tried to sow discord on account that he was a teacher. But she couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer when he began to criticize Yan Rusheng. In her eyes, Yan Rusheng was perfect. Even if she could only admire him from afar. Chapter 1186. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Four) ¡°You¡­¡± Zhao Zheng furiously glared at her. Bai Jing stopped smiling. She coolly said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be making a move. Goodbye Professor Zhao.¡± Without waiting for Zhao Zheng¡¯s reaction, she walked towards the dormitory. Indeed, she had asked and got rejected. She was feeling down, but she knew that this was his personality¡ªit was what made him attractive. Firm and stood by his principles. So she was only feeling sad. She didn¡¯t hate him. Zhao Zheng watched her leave, gritting her teeth. ¡®Little lass, just you wait!¡¯ ¡­ Xuxu could hear the children¡¯s cries from the second floor the moment she entered. They were bawling badly. She hurriedly changed out of her shoes and rushed upstairs. ¡°Darling, Mummy is back.¡± She pushed open the door to see Mu Li carrying one twin, pacing around the room. The other was still lying in the crib, crying. Xuxu rushed over and hurriedly carried her. ¡°Darling, don¡¯t cry.¡± She pacified her and sat down, lifting her shirt to feed her. Her cries ceased. But the other seemed to be jealous and started crying harder. ¡°Mother, bring him over quickly. He must be hungry,¡± Xuxu said, heart aching as she heard his ear-piercing cries. Mu Li was carrying the boy, and she passed him over to Xuxu. Xuxu held one child in each arm, and the house instantly turned quiet. ¡°My goodness, finally some peace and quiet,¡± Mu Li said. She looked worn out as she let out a huge breath. She glared at the two babies who were drinking milk and said, ¡°No wonder they¡¯re twins. They wake at the same time and cry at the same time. They¡¯ve worn their grandmother out.¡± ¡°They even poop and pee at the same time.¡± Yan Rusheng piped up from the doorway. He was obviously grumbling. Xuxu was dumbfounded. All he did was think of the trouble they brought when they peed and pooped. Why couldn¡¯t he think about the joy they would bring when they grew up? Yan Rusheng entered and turned bitter when he saw the two children in both her arms. He was insanely jealous. Damn it, the two fellows were hogging his wife. He frowned and walked to the bed, shaking Yangyang¡¯s leg. He didn¡¯t know how to be gentle with the kids, so Xuxu looked at him in a warning stare. Young Master Yan let go immediately. He stared at the children¡¯s lips, their small mouths sucking continually. If he were to describe his emotions with words, he was simply green with envy. ¡°You¡¯re back. I¡¯ll go take a rest,¡± Mu Li said, leaving the room. Only Xuxu and Yan Rusheng remained in the room. A sly smile formed on his face. ¡°Wife, let me have a taste.¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression turned darker than coal. She menacingly glared at the perverted and lecherous man and commanded, ¡°Get out now.¡± ¡°How long has it been?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, wrapping his arms around her waist instead of following her instructions. He lowered his head and kissed her neck. ¡°Mm, the milk smells good.¡± Xuxu blushed and elbowed him in the chest. Then she roared at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you stop being so vile?¡± Chapter 1187. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Five) Didn¡¯t he have a limit to his shamelessness? Yan Rusheng ignored her and gently rubbed her neck. Just that gentle touch ignited his senses and tightened his muscles. Xuxu was carrying the children with both arms, so she couldn¡¯t stop him. She felt ticklish but all she could do was to pull back her neck. ¡°Can we wean them off after two months?¡± Yan Rusheng asked, licking her earlobe. No matter how composed and disciplined she was, she couldn¡¯t help but give in to this move of his. She softened and even her scolding turned gentler. ¡°Enough already. Go away.¡± Yan Rusheng closed his eyes and savored the feeling. His huge hands were on her back, rubbing gently. The deprived man was now like a starving wolf. Xuxu could feel his fiery vibes, and she shivered unconsciously. In broad daylight¡­ ¡°Third sister-in-law, where are the babies?¡± Yan Rusheng was just about to stick his hand into her shirt when the door opened. Su Yue rushed in. Xuxu was startled and hurriedly elbowed Yan Rusheng. She then smiled at Su Yue and said, ¡°They¡¯re drinking milk.¡± She looked guiltily at Su Yue. It made Yan Rusheng very frustrated. ¡®This little lass, she didn¡¯t even bother knocking before coming in.¡¯ But the main point was, she came at the wrong time. ¡°Let me take a look at them,¡± Su Yue said. She focused her attention on the kids and didn¡¯t notice Yan Rusheng¡¯s presence. So she simply didn¡¯t notice Yan Rusheng licking her earlobe when she had barged in. She stood in front of Xuxu and bent over, inspecting the children. There was a tender look on her face. ¡°They¡¯re getting cuter.¡± She then touched Meowmeow¡¯s face. It was soft and bouncy. She suddenly recalled something and stood up. She whipped out her phone and said, ¡°I want to upload a photo.¡± She opened the camera function and took two pictures of the breastfeeding kids. Then she uploaded them onto Moments in sheer excitement. Xuxu smiled. She didn¡¯t really care. Few people would see them, anyway. Seeing Su Yue post a photo of his son, Yan Rusheng felt like doing the same¡ªto show off to his unmarried friends. So he took out his phone and aimed the camera at the two kids. Seeing the photo, his expression fell. ¡°Su Yue!¡± He thought of something and hurriedly called for her. Su Yue got the fright of her life. She almost dropped her phone. She frowned and glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother, what¡¯s wrong with you? You scared me!¡± ¡°Have you uploaded it? Delete it immediately,¡± Yan Rusheng commanded. Without waiting for her reply, he snatched her phone. Su Yue had already posted the photos and he hurriedly deleted them. After which, he returned the phone to her and explained, ¡°Your third sister-in-law is breastfeeding. You can take photos later.¡± F*ck, his wife¡¯s body was exposed! Then it dawned on Xuxu as well. She looked down at her chest. ¡®This posture¡­ goodness!¡¯ Luckily, this fellow was quick enough. If not, she¡¯d be so embarrassed. Chapter 1188. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part S ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?¡± Xuxu turned her head and caught him pointing the camera at her. He was obviously taking a picture of her. Her expression darkened, and she tried to snatch it from him. Yan Rusheng hid his phone from her. He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not posting it. This is for my keepsake.¡± He then smirked evilly. ¡°I¡¯ll look at it when I¡¯m overseas when I miss my wife.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. She would not play along with him since Yueyue was around. She looked down to see the two previously starving babies with their eyes closed and fast asleep. She turned and gave Yan Rusheng a meaningful glance. Yan Rusheng immediately understood what she meant. He took one child from her and carefully placed him in the crib before taking the other kid from her. Both of them slept peacefully in the crib. Yan Rusheng held on to the side of the crib, watching them with a gentle gaze. ¡°Their mouths move when they sleep,¡± Su Yue commented, as though it was a great revelation. She bent closer towards them and stared at their small mouths, smiling in shock. ¡°Shh!¡± Yan Rusheng put his fingers to his lips, warning her to keep quiet. Then he whipped out his phone and took a picture of the two kids, uploading it onto Moments on WeChat. ¡®Having a girl and a boy is the biggest blessing.¡¯ He added an emoji with sunglasses that revealed golden teeth, revealing his pride. He put aside his phone after he uploaded it. He leaned backward, preparing to lie on the bed. Xuxu hurriedly stopped him. She contemptuously said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, go and change your clothes first. You¡¯ve been wearing this the whole day. It¡¯s filthy.¡± Yan Rusheng happily nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Then he got up and grinned at Xuxu. ¡°I¡¯ll get a shower.¡± Before Xuxu could react, Su Yue, who was standing in front of her, asked, ¡°Third Brother, why are you showering now?¡± It was still daytime. Shouldn¡¯t he shower at night? Yan Rusheng turned his head and frowned at her. ¡°Little one, go and play outside.¡± It was all her fault for intruding at the wrong time. If it weren¡¯t for her, he would have been ¡®in action¡¯ right now. Indeed, the road to happiness is strewn with setbacks. ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± Su Yue said. She sat beside Xuxu and threw a tantrum. She hugged Xuxu¡¯s elbow and pouted, glaring at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I want to talk to third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu waved him away. ¡°Go to the room opposite to change your clothes and do whatever you want to.¡± She had a look of utmost annoyance and despise. Young Master Yan felt like they stabbed him a million times. But he knew that he couldn¡¯t refuse. So he worked now and waited for the ¡®high¡¯ in the night. Yan Rusheng walked out and gently closed the door. Su Yue lay down when the door closed. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± She looked at Xuxu, pouting. She frowned as though something burdened her. ¡°Mm?¡± Xuxu replied, turning to look at her and knowing that something was on her mind. She lay down beside her and smiled at her small face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What do you want to talk to your third sister-in-law about?¡± This seemed to be the first time she was feeling troubled. Was it because she was dating? Chapter 1189. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Seven) ¡°Jiaojiao kissed me today,¡± Su Yue said. Then she started stammering, ¡°Now¡­ Now that I think of it, that was my first kiss.¡± She blushed slightly and stared at Xuxu, her lips pursed as she waited for her reaction. Xuxu nodded plainly. ¡°Mm, I saw.¡± But what surprised her was that it was their first kiss after dating for almost a month. Did youngsters nowadays still prefer to take it slow? Didn¡¯t they cohabit after a few days? ¡°Ah?¡± It startled Su Yue. She blinked and asked doubtfully, ¡°Third sister-in-law¡­ Did you see it? You saw Jiaojiao kiss me?¡± ¡°Yeah, your Third Brother and I¡­¡± Xuxu began, then she recalled something and said, ¡°Oh, and Ming Ansheng, all of us saw it.¡± He had rushed out in anger after the incident caused by Union University. He should have seen the heartwarming scene of Jiao Chen and Su Yue kissing under the tree. It was beautiful. Su Yue froze. ¡°Uncle Ming¡­ Uncle Ming saw it, too?¡± ¡®How?¡¯ She touched her lips, still in a daze. She wondered what ran through his mind when he saw Jiao Chen kissing her? Did he feel terrible inside? But then again, he didn¡¯t have feelings for her. Why would he? He must¡¯ve felt the same way as her third brother and third sister-in-law¡ªsmile and let it pass. Su Yue was in a daze. Xuxu laughed at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re dazed from happiness because he kissed you?¡± Were the effects of a first kiss this extreme? A pity that her first kiss was during that intensely crazy night¡­ Now that she recalled it, it was sweet yet bitter. ¡°No,¡± Su Yue said, shaking her head. Then she lay flat and stared unblinkingly at the ceiling, her gaze melancholic. She said, ¡°I feel weird inside. I don¡¯t know how to describe it.¡± Xuxu smiled and asked, ¡°Are you feeling excited and a little shy?¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law,¡± Su Yue said, suddenly flipping around and hugging her waist tightly, pressing her face against her body. She felt¡­ terrible. Uncle Ming saw Jiaojiao kiss her, yet he didn¡¯t care at all. She knew he didn¡¯t have a reason to care, anyway. But¡­ She still felt disappointed. Su Yue, you can¡¯t go on like this. You should forget about him and be together with Jiaojiao. He¡¯s so handsome and cool. You¡¯ll fall in love with him for sure. Xuxu froze and looked down at her, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shouldn¡¯t she be happy that she gave her first kiss to someone she liked? Why was she so melancholic? ¡°Nothing,¡± Su Yue said, shaking her head. ¡°I just feel weird inside.¡± ¡®Su Yue, will we fall in love with each other, eventually?¡¯ It felt weird¡­ Xuxu pursed her lips. She knew that Su Yue didn¡¯t always use her adjectives appropriately. ¡­ Monday. ¡®Breaking news in A University again. Year One student, Bai Jing, from the Economics faculty, is the mistress of an old man in his fifties. She was drugged at a government-held corporate event and was alone in a room with him for more than an hour¡­¡¯ Bai Jing¡¯s scandal was everywhere: from posts on the school forum to posters on the dormitory doors. Su Yue swiped her card and entered the dormitory. Her eyes widened when she saw it. She shook her head. ¡°No¡­ No way. Bai Jing¡­¡± She flew up the stairs. She ran in one breath to their dormitory room and pushed open the door. ¡°Bai Jing!¡± Chapter 1190. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Eight) Bai Jing was hiding under the covers. Her body was trembling¡ªit was obvious that she was sobbing. She was crying! Su Yue rushed over immediately. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± She was by her bedside as she pulled at her blanket gently. ¡°Bai Jing¡­¡± she said, her heart aching. She must have been devastated to be involved in such a scandal. Su Yue was feeling sad for Bai Jing. Suddenly, Bai Jing flipped her blanket over. She pushed her away with all her might. ¡°Scram! Stop shedding crocodile tears.¡± She glared at Su Yue with hatred, as though she was about to swallow her whole. Su Yue wasn¡¯t expecting such a blow, so she stumbled a few steps backward. After regaining her footing, her outburst startled her. She opened her mouth, looking at her innocently. ¡°Bai Jing¡­¡± Bai Jing cut her off. ¡°Don¡¯t call me.¡± She suddenly sat up, her eyes blazing with rage. Su Yue froze in fear, not knowing what to do. ¡®The rumor must have agitated Bai Jing,¡¯ she thought. ¡®That¡¯s why she yelled at me.¡¯ She stepped forward again and comforted, ¡°Bai Jing, I believe that you¡¯re not that kind of person.¡± She was with Bai Jing every day, and they were best friends. How would she do such a thing? She wouldn¡¯t fancy that old man in his fifties for sure. Drugged¡­ Drugged¡­ ¡®Xiaojing, I didn¡¯t know that that beast would drug you¡­¡¯ Su Yue suddenly recalled the words Bai Jing¡¯s mother had said when she tried to explain the drug incident to Bai Jing. ¡®Could it be¡­?¡¯ Her eyes widened in horror and her mouth hung open. No wonder Bai Jing had such a huge reaction when she mentioned it that day. ¡°You believe me?¡± Bai Jing laughed coolly. ¡°Su Yue, I really misjudged you. You¡¯re always acting so na?ve and pure¡­¡± Bai Jing sneered. Su Yue recovered from her stupor and walked towards her. ¡°Bai Jing, I really believe you. You¡¯re not that kind of person. We¡¯re best friends.¡± That old man was probably already married. How would Bai Jing be a mistress? Su Yue stretched her hand to pat her on the shoulder as an act of comfort. Bai Jing suddenly glared at her with a venomous stare and it scared Su Yue off. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Bai Jing, don¡¯t do this. I really believe you. Don¡¯t worry, when I find out who started the rumors, I¡¯ll teach them a good lesson for sure.¡± She gritted her teeth as she said that, her eyes cold. Bai Jing had never seen this side of Su Yue before. It was the same side she had seen at the mall when she was in a fight with Tang Feiling. It startled her. Bai Jing hesitated as she looked at Su Yue. She then looked at her doubtfully, sizing her up, trying to figure out if it was all an act. ¡®Bai Jing, your mother said that you were drugged. What drug was that?¡¯ Did she really not know? No, she didn¡¯t believe her. There were so many books and dramas nowadays, how could Su Yue be na?ve enough to not know what drug she had taken? Her acting must¡¯ve been too convincing. That must be it. A cold gleam flashed across her eyes. Bai Jing hugged Su Yue. ¡°I really didn¡¯t. Su Yue, I really didn¡¯t.¡± Chapter 1191. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Nine) Su Yue heaved a sigh of relief. She was right when she thought Bai Jing had yelled at her only because the rumor had upset her. She patted her back gently in an attempt to comfort her. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I know that the rumors aren¡¯t true. I will definitely help you. I¡¯ll call my Third Brother immediately and ask him to get the principal to close the school forum.¡± She pushed Bai Jing away gently, helping her wipe her tears. ¡°Bai Jing, don¡¯t care about what others think. Just take it they¡¯re jealous of you.¡± That¡¯s right. They were all just being jealous of her. She was smart and of good character. They were all jealous. Bai Jing was still sobbing, though much less than before. She choked. ¡°I don¡¯t know who I offended, who had to spread such things about me.¡± Then she grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand, peering up at her. She agitatedly said, ¡°You know it, I¡¯m with you every day. From attending classes and playing basketball, to eating and sleeping, I¡¯m always with you. I didn¡¯t offend anybody.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°I know, I know all of this.¡± Bai Jing tears kept flowing, so she continued helping her to wipe her tears. After much effort, Bai Jing finally cooled down. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her voice had turned nasal. She then looked at Su Yue and asked, ¡°Someone drugged me that day, but your Third Brother saved me. He sent me to the hospital and then brought me to your place. It was the day that I suddenly appeared at your house, do you remember?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Of course, she remembered. That was the first and only time Bai Jing ever stayed in their house. It pleasantly surprised her to see her bright and early in the morning. Su Yue thought about it before angrily gritting her teeth. ¡°Your mother¡¯s family is utterly incorrigible. How could they do this to you?¡± Then she grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t return to them anymore. Live at my place. My third brother and third sister-in-law will help you.¡± Bai Jing smiled and nodded in agreement. It filled her with confidence and hope. Su Yue finally put her mind at ease and smiled. ¡°Have you eaten breakfast?¡± Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Yes, I ate at home before coming over.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also eaten,¡± Su Yue said. Then she thought of something and grabbed her bag. She took out a small plastic bag and sat down beside Bai Jing, smiling. ¡°My third brother brought this back for me from Jincheng. It¡¯s a local delicacy and it¡¯s delicious.¡± She opened the bag and passed her a spherical snack. Bai Jing took it from her but she didn¡¯t eat it. ¡°Eat it first. I¡¯ll ask my third brother to get the principal to find out who spread such rumors about you, and give them a good lesson,¡± Su Yue spat, taking her phone out from her bag and preparing to call Yan Rusheng. ¡°Su Yue,¡± Bai Jing said, stopping her and snatching her phone away. She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t. Your third brother must be busy at this time. Don¡¯t trouble him.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°It¡¯s fine. My third brother will help you for sure. He and my third sister-in-law both said that they¡¯ll help you if you have any problems.¡± Bai Jing shook her head adamantly. ¡°It¡¯ll blow over.¡± She smiled, seemingly full of positivity, before continuing, ¡°There were rumors about you previously, didn¡¯t it blow over as well?¡± Chapter 1192. Bai Jing’s Scandal (part Ten) ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Su Yue agreed, smiling as she nodded. She was glad that Bai Jing had come to terms with it. She was wondering how to comfort Bai Jing, so she ignored the part where she mentioned her previous rumor. Bai Jing pressed her lips together, looking at Su Yue gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Su Yue.¡± ¡°We¡¯re best friends,¡± Su Yue quipped. She was smiling innocently. She looked at Bai Jing with a pure and innocent gaze. ¡­ Bai Jing¡¯s scandal seemed to spread wilder than Su Yue¡¯s. Although Su Yue had already phoned Xuxu. She asked Yan Rusheng to inform the school to get the posters removed. However, this incident still significantly affected Bai Jing. People would give her odd looks whenever she stepped out of the door, so she gradually stopped leaving the dormitory room. She refused to attend lessons as well. ¡°Bai Jing, shall we go out for a meal later?¡± Su Yue asked. Whenever she left the house, she was always worried about Bai Jing. She was afraid that she would do something rash. Xuxu instructed her to spend more time with her and bring her out for walks. But Bai Jing refused every time. Bai Jing was sitting before the desk, a mock paper before her. She was holding a pen as she pondered over the questions in all seriousness. It was as though she couldn¡¯t hear Su Yue at all. She had been going on like this for a few days and she didn¡¯t seem to get better. Worried, Su Yue suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s grab a bite with Jiaojiao later, then catch a movie. Or we could go to the playground.¡± Then she thought of something and her eyes brightened. She hugged her elbow and suggested with a smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯ve always wanted to ride the revolving wooden horse? Let¡¯s go tonight.¡± Bai Jing only reacted since Su Yue grabbed her elbow. She turned around to look at her. She plainly replied, ¡°Su Yue, you go ahead. I don¡¯t feel like going.¡± She then pushed Su Yue¡¯s hand off her arm and returned her attention to the paper. Su Yue didn¡¯t give up. She pulled her arm again. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± Bai Jing put down her pen and turned around. She smiled at Su Yue and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a ¡®light bulb¡¯ by going out with you and Jiao Chen. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. I just want some time alone to process it all.¡± Her voice was soft but adamant. Su Yue pursed her lips and didn¡¯t press on further. ¡°Then¡­ Then I¡¯ll buy dinner back for you.¡± Bai Jing nodded and agreed. After which she turned expressionless once again. Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll get changed then.¡± After turning around, she opened her cupboard doors and took out a stack of clothes. It was her first date with Jiao Chen. No, it was their first official date. Jiao Chen wanted to bring her out for a meal and a movie. She felt that she should dress formally. What exactly should she wear? Su Yue glanced at the huge pile of clothes. Xuxu bought all of them. They were the newest autumn clothes across various brands. Xuxu didn¡¯t care about the brands of her own clothes, but she insisted on treating Su Yue like a princess. So all of Su Yue¡¯s clothes were at least a thousand dollars. She picked a few outfits and stood before the mirror. Finally, she settled on a blue body-hugging sweater, coupled with champagne red leather pants and black flats. It was trendy, yet it wasn¡¯t her usual cute style. Her hair was tied up in a loose ponytail and her fringe was let down. Chapter 1193. Forced Kiss (part One) She was simply perfect from head to toe. Jiao Chen gazed at the girl who was walking towards him, and her beauty had blown him away. He unconsciously smiled when he saw her smiling. His smile had lit up his gorgeous features, and he seemed more vibrant and charming than usual. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± Su Yue called him with a clear and resounding voice that resembled a lovely nightingale. Her voice reverberated continuously in Jiao Chen¡¯s head. Jiao Chen was wearing a dark blue and a white hoodie with dark gray pants. His lanky frame seemed elongated and Su Yue appeared like a tiny child beside him. He gazed at her. ¡°You look different.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Su Yue blinked, looking puzzled. ¡°Which part of me?¡± Jiao Chen grinned and quipped, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He stretched his hand and held her tiny hand as they walked out of the campus together. Su Yue frowned as she glanced at Jiao Chen¡¯s face. He was still grinning sheepishly to himself, and she had caught a glimpse of his pearly-white teeth. He looked so handsome. This was the first time he had seen Jiao Chen smile that way. As compared to her third brother¡­ her own brother¡­ or even Uncle Ming¡­ His smile was so breathtakingly beautiful. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And naturally, over the course of time, his or her lover would be the most beautiful in one¡¯s eyes. So was that the reason she felt that Jiao Chen was more good-looking than everybody else? Has she fallen for him? But why wasn¡¯t her heart pounding excitedly? Why was she able to gaze at him, feeling so calm and composed? Bai Jing had said it before, if she really liked a person, she would miss that person terribly if he wasn¡¯t with her. But when she sees him, she wouldn¡¯t dare to meet his eyes and her heart would pound. She felt exactly as what Bai Jing had described¡­ but towards Ming Ansheng. ¡°Su Yue¡­¡± Su Yue stood there deep in thought. Jiao Chen called her several times, but she didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Jiao Chen lifted an eyebrow and raised his voice once more. Finally, Su Yue heard him and her eyes darted around gin guilt before bowing her head. How could she think of another man while looking at Jiaojiao! Su Yue inwardly berated herself. Su Yue felt really guilty. Jiao Chen¡¯s voice sounded above her. ¡°What was on your mind just now?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Su Yue vigorously shook her head and steered the conversation out of dangerous waters. ¡°Where are we going to eat?¡± Jiao Chen asked her instead, ¡°Where would you like to go?¡± Su Yue replied lightly, ¡°I¡¯m fine with anywhere you bring me to.¡± Jiao Chen chuckled and teased, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I might sell you off?¡± The young girl¡¯s eyes sparkled in the sunlight and her exquisite-looking face was so alluring and beautiful. Jiao Chen was completely captivated by her at that moment. He suddenly stretched his hand and hugged Su Yue¡¯s soft and tiny body. This embrace was too sudden and it caught Su Yue off guard. She raised her hands instinctively and hovered in mid-air. She seemed to freeze. She widened her eyes in shock and only realized what was happening after a while. She grinned as she answered, ¡°Who would sell away his own girlfriend?¡± Jiao Chen grunted softly in response and he smiled. He quietly relinquished his grip on Su Yue and grabbed her hand instead. He held her hand tightly. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to eat something really yummy.¡± He led the way as he held Su Yue¡¯s hand to the bus stop. It was already the peak hour. There were many people waiting for the bus, and most of them were students from A University. Chapter 1194. Forced Kiss (part Two) Jiao Chen was holding Su Yue¡¯s hand, and both of them naturally attracted attention wherever they went. People labeled them as the most compatible and perfect couple in A University according to a group of impartial ¡®judges¡¯ . A bus was driving towards them. Jiao Chen glanced at the bus and bent his head. ¡°The bus is here,¡± said Jiao Chen softly to Su Yue. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She watched the oncoming bus in excitement. Ever since she came to the capital city, it was the first time she took the bus. Although the bus seemed crowded, it didn¡¯t affect her anticipation. As expected, the bus was really crowded. As Su Yue was petite, the passengers pushed her to the middle section of the bus. She was holding her hand with Jiao Chen, and he tightened his grip on her hand. After everyone found a spot to stand properly, both of them stood close together. After buying their tickets, Jiao Chen held on to the handrail with Su Yue in his arms. Su Yue rested against the handrail as she peered at the floor. Jiao Chen glanced at her and asked, ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Su Yue shook her head before managing a smile. ¡°It¡¯s just a little different from what I¡¯ve imagined.¡± Jiao Chen chuckled softly and replied, ¡°How did you imagine the bus ride to be?¡± Su Yue laughed but didn¡¯t reply to his question. ¡°It¡¯s just a little different.¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t press on. The bus route had many stops along the way, and there were passengers boarding and alighting at every stop. Jiao Chen and Su Yue remained standing. ¡°Next stop, Splendid Serenity Shopping Mall¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Su Yue was dozing off and Jiao Chen¡¯s voice jolted her awake. She raised her chin and murmured, ¡°We are here?¡± She glanced out of the window and saw a huge and luxurious-looking mall. Jiao Chen nodded and he grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand. When the bus stopped, he held her hand and they alighted. After alighting, they strode towards the shopping mall. Su Yue surveyed her surroundings and looked up at Jiao Chen. ¡°Is this very far from school?¡± Their campus was located at a rather remote location, and there weren¡¯t any huge malls in the vicinity. This area was full of towering buildings, and it was more well-developed and bustling as compared to their school. Jiao Chen quipped, ¡°14 stops away.¡± ¡°14?¡± Su Yue¡¯s mouth hung wide open. ¡°We went past 14 stops?¡± Why didn¡¯t she notice that? ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiao Chen suppressed a grin as he knew why Su Yue was so startled. ¡°You certainly didn¡¯t realize it since you were dozing off.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips together. They entered the shopping mall and went to the fourth level. There were stalls selling a variety of international food. Jiao Chen led Su Yue to a stall that sold duck¡¯s blood vermicelli. There were a few customers around the stall. A middle-aged woman wearing an apron around her waist was clearing the tables. Jiao Chen held Su Yue¡¯s hand and walked quietly behind the woman. The woman straightened her back and stood there in shock when she saw Jiao Chen. A slightly wrinkled face broke into a warm smile as she said, ¡°Jiao Chen? I thought you were busy?¡± Su Yue had assumed that this middle-aged woman was merely working at the stall, and so she didn¡¯t notice her presence. She just thought Jiao Chen wanted to sit at the table. After the woman called Jiao Chen, she sized up the woman from head to toe, looking curious. After observing her closely, she realized that this woman and Jiao Chen looked quite alike¡ªespecially their eyebrows and eyes. Chapter 1195. Forced Kiss (part Three) Although she wasn¡¯t as good-looking as Jiao Chen, among the women, she certainly stood out. ¡°Hi, who is this little girl?¡± The woman surveyed Su Yue from head to toe as well. Jiao Chen answered lightly, ¡°This is Su Yue.¡± He didn¡¯t explain his relationship with Su Yue, but the woman had already guessed it. An ambiguous smile appeared on her face. She peered at Su Yue and took an instant liking to her. She generously lavished praises. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty, very compatible with Jiao Chen.¡± Su Yue flushed and she bent her head bashfully. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Jiao Chen spoke to resolve the awkward situation. Su Yue glanced at the stall and asked Jiao Chen, ¡°What¡¯s nice?¡± ¡°Sit down and take a look at the menu.¡± Jiao Chen held Su Yue¡¯s hand once more and sat down. He pushed the menu to Su Yue and quipped, ¡°Everything should be to your liking.¡± Su Yue asked, sounding doubtful. ¡°How can it be?¡± She browsed through the menu briefly and although they had limited dishes, they all seemed well. Jiao Chen sat across her and waited patiently. ¡°You know the boss?¡± Su Yue suddenly asked Jiao Chen after a while. Jiao Chen was speechless. Shouldn¡¯t she be deciding on what to order? The change in topic was really¡­ He grinned and nodded. ¡°She is my sister.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± It surprised Su Yue that she froze for a moment. She then pointed at the middle-aged woman who was clearing another table and asked, ¡°She is your sister?¡± They looked quite alike indeed, but she was still surprised that she was Jiao Chen¡¯s sister. The more surprising part was that Jiaojiao had brought her to visit her sister. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so nervous.¡± Jiao Chen chuckled softly, as though he could read Su Yue¡¯s mind. Su Yue pouted and protested, ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± She bowed her head and continued to look at the menu. She pointed at a few dishes and said, ¡°I want these.¡± Jiao Chen nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± He turned around and shouted for the middle-aged woman. ¡°Sister.¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Sister Jiao answered instantly and came bustling towards Su Yue and Jiao Chen. She was wearing a bright smile and asked, ¡°Decided on what to eat?¡± ¡°Yup, we want these.¡± Jiao Chen pointed to the menu. ¡°Okay, give me a few minutes.¡± Sister Jiao took the menu away and beamed at Su Yue. Su Yue watched her as she hurried away before glancing at Jiao Chen. She whispered, ¡°Is your sister much older than you?¡± She seemed to be in her late thirties. Jiao Chen nodded. ¡°She is 17 years older than me.¡± Su Yue was startled and she exclaimed, ¡°Why is there such a huge gap?¡± Jiao Chen merely smiled quietly. After a pause, he asked, ¡°What movie would you like to watch later?¡± He took out his phone and clicked on an app. He passed it to Su Yue for her to choose the movie. Su Yue received his phone and scrolled through the list of movies. She wasn¡¯t exactly interested in movies but she knew that it was what couples do on dates. She chose one randomly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s watch this.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jiao Chen stretched his hand to take his phone and began to purchase the tickets. ¡­ Sister Jiao came with a tray with the food that Su Yue wanted. She placed the dishes on the table and arranged them neatly. Chapter 1196. Forced Kiss (part Four) Jiao Chen¡¯s sister carried the tray and glanced at Jiao Chen. After some deliberation, she spoke up. ¡°Jiaojiao, do visit grandmother if you have the time. She hasn¡¯t seen you in more than a year¡­ and she misses you.¡± She spoke softly. Every word seemed uttered after deliberate contemplation. She beamed at Su Yue once more before pressing on. ¡°You have such a beautiful girlfriend. She would be delighted to meet her.¡± Su Yue blushed at her compliments, and she hurriedly dug her chopsticks into the food. Jiao Chen pressed his lips and clammed up. Sister Jiao quietly went back to the stall. After she left, Su Yue raised her head and watched Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao, didn¡¯t you return home last month? Why did your sister say that you haven¡¯t been home in more than a year?¡± He wasn¡¯t in school last month for several days and he said that he went home. So why did his sister mention that he didn¡¯t go home? Jiao Chen didn¡¯t answer and lightly said, ¡°Eat.¡± He lowered his head and began to eat. The vermicelli was piping hot and he ate gracefully. Su Yue gazed at Jiao Chen for a while before she began to eat. She suddenly thought of a question that Yan Rusheng had asked her before. Did she know Jiao Chen well? At that time, she confidently replied that she knew. She knew his name, his age, she could describe his appearance, how good he was at playing basketball, how good were his results¡­ But she was beginning to comprehend Yan Rusheng¡¯s question. She realized that she didn¡¯t understand Jiao Chen at all. And she had a hunch he was very mysterious. ¡°Su Yue, you¡¯re not the only person in this world.¡± Su Yue sat there deep in thought when Jiao Chen¡¯s voice interrupted her. She blinked her eyes in confusion and glanced at him. ¡°What do you mean that I¡¯m not the only person?¡± Jiao Chen smiled instead and asked, ¡°Do you like the food?¡± Su Yue nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes, the food is nice.¡± She put a piece of vegetables in her mouth and happily chewed. Jiao Chen answered with a smile. ¡°Eat more, then. I¡¯ll bring you to a new place the next time.¡± Su Yue frowned as their eyes met. She hesitated before asking, ¡°Jiaojiao, are you unhappy?¡± Jiao Chen shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips tightly and she had no idea why she blurted out that question. She just felt that there was a complex and conflicted expression in his eyes. She couldn¡¯t read his mind, but she was certain that he was reminiscing about an unhappy memory. When they finished, Jiao Chen simply put a hundred yuan on the table without even waiting for his sister to come out from the kitchen. He glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Let¡¯s go, the movie is starting.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Su Yue turned her head and looked around for his sister. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we tell your sister we¡¯re leaving?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Jiao Chen shook his head as he rose. Su Yue stood up quietly, too, as Jiao Chen offered her his hand. After they left, Su Yue was still harping on it. Wouldn¡¯t it seem rude to leave without a word? If it was her in the past, she wouldn¡¯t have thought of this. Of course, she knew that she had changed. She was more sensible and sensitive and was beginning to grasp the ways of the world. The movie was a romance film about how a girl had fallen in love with her high school teacher. She encountered countless hurdles and obstacles from high school to university until she started working. In the end, the teacher married another woman and the girl ended up marrying a man who loved her very much. Chapter 1197. Forced Kiss (part Five) At the wedding, the girl saw the teacher dressed impeccably, standing alone in the crowd. In her eyes, the teacher was still the most outstanding of them all. Sometime after the wedding, the girl heard from her friend that the teacher got a divorce almost immediately after his marriage. Nobody knew why. And years later, the girl found out that the teacher had passed away, and she cried all day in front of his grave. Lastly, the ending scene of the movie showed an old and yellowish diary. On the first page, there were words written neatly and clearly. The words were: Xiangxiang, I love you too! ¡­ The movie ended and Su Yue walked out of the theater with swollen and puffy eyes. She was still sobbing badly when they exited. She had used up all the tissues, and Jiao Chen passed her the last one. Jiao Chen gazed at her with an amused expression and asked, ¡°Do you need to cry so much over a movie?¡± ¡°The director is so horrible,¡± Su Yue sniffed as she replied in a choked voice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t they end up together? Why must the teacher die?¡± Jiao Chen was at a loss of words when he heard her. How was he supposed to answer? He helplessly smiled and answered after some deliberation. ¡°It¡¯s not the director¡¯s fault. It¡¯s the scriptwriter.¡± He extended his hand and dabbed Su Yue¡¯s tears away. Su Yue was still dwelling on the movie on their journey back to the school. The bus was quite empty that most of the seats were unoccupied. Su Yue and Jiao Chen sat on the last row. She had no idea when she had placed her head on Jiao Chen¡¯s shoulders. After recovering from her emotions, she glanced around and muttered under her breath. ¡°This is what I¡¯ve expected.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jiao Chen glanced at her, looking confused. Su Yue answered, ¡°In the dramas, the male and female characters always took the bus together and they would be the only ones in the bus. Both of them would then alight only at the terminal. How romantic.¡± Jiao Chen was speechless. He curled his lips into a smile and held Su Yue¡¯s tiny hand. His huge hand entirely covered hers. ¡­ Su Yue and Jiao Chen reached the campus after 11 p.m. Su Yue had fallen asleep on the bus and Jiao Chen woke her up when they reached. She stumbled unsteadily as she was still sleepy. She kept yawning. Jiao Chen noticed it and said, ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Without waiting for Su Yue to reply, he darted forward in front of Su Yue. He then bent his back and carried her on his back. The series of actions was seamless. Su Yue was a bit startled, and she instinctively clenched his clothes. ¡°Jiaojiao, I can walk on my own.¡± She began to struggle since she felt awkward being carried by Jiao Chen. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiao Chen insisted on carrying her on his back. Su Yue had no choice but to comply, and she fell silent. Under the light cast by the lamps, a tall boy was carrying a girl on his back. He walked towards the entrance, taking his time. They walked past a black Mercedes. The man in the car watched them. He was lost in his thoughts until they vanished out of sight. The night was an abyss of darkness. His heart was surging with waves of sorrow and pain, and they hit him repeatedly. The man took a puff of his cigarette and in his haste, the smoke engulfed his lungs causing him to choke. He threw away the cigarette as he coughed violently. After coughing for a while, the silence was restored in the car. His deep and intense eyes were watching the tall gates with intent. Ming Ansheng would come here every night despite him reminding himself that it was already over. And he was getting married soon. Chapter 1198. Forced Kiss (part Six) Ming Ansheng repeatedly told and warned himself¡­ over and over again. But he couldn¡¯t control his own heart. No matter how late he ended work, he would still drive to her school every night and gradually, it became a habit. It was a bad habit that he couldn¡¯t get rid of. The two figures had long vanished, and what was left was the silence and depressing darkness. Ming Ansheng took out another cigarette from the case and lit it up. He gloomily took a puff. He tilted his head and shut his eyes as he exhaled. Yet his suppressed emotions and feelings¡­ didn¡¯t escape along with the smoke. ¡®I hate you so much! I will never talk to you ever again¡­¡¯ ¡®Yueyue, can you not do what you¡¯ve vowed?¡¯ he thought to himself. Su Yue¡¯s tinkling laughter and her face flashed in his mind repeatedly. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and fumbled for his phone. ¡­ Jiao Chen carried Su Yue all the way to her dormitory before putting her down. Su Yue adjusted her clothes and waved at Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao, hurry and go back.¡± Jiao Chen nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Although he agreed to leave, he remained motionless with his hands deep inside his pockets. His eyes were fixed intently on Su Yue¡¯s face. His eyes were gleaming in the darkness as he gazed at Su Yue without blinking. It puzzled Su Yue. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Jiao Chen retracted his gaze and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Go inside.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue turned around and went in. After she went in, Jiao Chen swiftly turned around to leave. He took huge and nimble strides. Su Yue stood at the passageway as she watched Jiao Chen. She watched the towering figure walking away, and confusion filled her eyes. She couldn¡¯t understand why Jiao Chen had brought her to meet his sister today and didn¡¯t even bade her goodbye when they left. And she certainly couldn¡¯t fathom the meaning behind his cryptic words; ¡®you¡¯re not the only person in this world.¡¯ Su Yue leaned against the glass door and entered a daze. She snapped out of her daze as she suddenly felt that the silence and darkness were a little eerie. When she reached her dormitory, she unlocked the door and gently pushed it open. The room was dimly lit and the first thing she looked at was Bai Jing¡¯s bed. Despite the dimness, she could tell that Bai Jing wasn¡¯t in her bed. She turned on the light. Bai Jing¡¯s bed was neat and tidy, so she walked to the bathroom. ¡°Bai Jing?¡± The lights were off and the bathroom was empty. Where did she go so late at night? Su Yue muttered under her breath and walked to the table. She placed the bag of food she had bought for Bai Jing. She pulled her chair and sat down. ¡®Xiangxiang, I love you too¡­¡¯ The last scene of the movie where the teacher¡¯s diary was revealed sneaked into Su Yue¡¯s mind again. His profession of love for the female character echoed once more. She had no idea why the scriptwriter would end the story in such a way. Was it the scriptwriter¡¯s intention to trap the viewers in sorrow and regret? So they would remember this movie? And even in the end, the girl didn¡¯t know that her teacher loved her deeply. He had married someone else so she could get married. Su Yue mulled over the movie and was consumed by sorrow once more. She was sniffing as her tears threatened to spill out when her phone vibrated. Who would call her so late at night? Could it be Bai Jing? Su Yue took out her phone from her bag and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the caller¡¯s name. Chapter 1199. Forced Kiss (part Seven) Her phone persistently vibrated. Su Yue placed her phone on the table and slumped against the chair. She peered at the ceiling before shutting her eyes. ¡®Su Yue, forget him. Don¡¯t listen to his voice as it¡¯s hypnotic and mesmerizing. He is getting married soon and he has a fianc¨¦e. You can¡¯t think of him anymore, and certainly you can¡¯t continue to like him.¡¯ Su Yue reprimanded herself sternly. She suddenly understood why the girl in the movie had agreed to marry the man who had loved her deeply after her teacher got married. She was in love with her teacher, but he was married. No matter how much she loved him, she had to give him up. She needed to forget him. Su Yue felt that she could relate to the girl in the movie. She also assumed that she would forget about Ming Ansheng once she had a boyfriend. Finally, her phone stopped vibrating. Silence covered her like a blanket and it made her anxious. She suddenly recalled how the girl had collapsed at the teacher¡¯s grave as she cried her heart out. In that instant, she abruptly opened her eyes. ¡°Uncle Ming!¡± She stretched her hand for her phone. There were three missed calls from the same person. She clicked on the number and dialed it. Before it got through, she immediately hung up in a panic. No, she can¡¯t do that. Su Yue shook her head and flung her phone away. At that moment, her phone vibrated once more. Uncle Ming was on the other line and her hands were trembling. Without thinking, she answered the call¡­ ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice immediately sounded. His deep voice sounded as if he were suffering. His voice tugged Su Yue¡¯s heartstrings, and so she mumbled softly. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t respond too, and both of them fell silent. One minute¡­ two minutes¡­ After some time, Ming Ansheng¡¯s hoarse voice sounded. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside the school entrance.¡± He abruptly ended the call before Su Yue could even utter. Su Yue was dumbfounded when the call ended. ¡®I¡¯ll wait for you outside the school entrance¡­¡¯ Why would Uncle Ming come to school so late at night? Was he looking for her? Su Yue nervously grabbed her phone and her mind had gone blank. Her heart thudded against her chest and she was about to have a breakdown. Her phone vibrated again and she saw a text. Ming Ansheng typed, ¡®I was passing by your school and I¡¯m thirsty. Can you send me a bottle of water?¡¯ So he was passing by¡­ After Su Yue read his text, she felt a strange sensation in her heart. She had no idea if it was disappointment. She typed and replied, ¡®Okay.¡¯ After she found a bottle of water, she bolted for the door and ran towards the school entrance. The black Mercedes was parked under a tree. A faint light shone in the car and she stopped running. She composed herself as she strode towards the car. The man inside the car was watching her without blinking. Su Yue held her breath as she clutched the bottle tightly. Her other hand was clenching her clothes. She wanted to see his face, but she didn¡¯t dare to. ¡®Su Yue, he already has someone in his heart. He is going to get married soon, and he is Third Brother¡¯s friend. He is older than you by eight years¡­¡¯ She reminded herself over and over again. From seeing Ming Ansheng¡¯s car to reaching his car, Su Yue felt as though an eternity had gone past. Every step she took was painful. But at the same time, she was shaking with anticipation. She reached the car and stretched out her hand. The man got off the car, put his arms around Su Yue and pushed her against the tree¡­ Chapter 1200. Forced Kiss (part Eight) ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. She raised her head to ask Ming Ansheng, but he had already sealed her mouth with his own. The man¡¯s soft lips domineeringly crushed hers against her will. It was unexpected and she had not expected the kiss at all. Su Yue was completely frozen because of shock, and she could only stare at him. Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm tightened around Su Yue¡¯s waist while he pulled her head closer to him. He shut his eyes so he wouldn¡¯t have to look into her innocent-looking eyes. He didn¡¯t want to look at her face either as she was too pure and na?ve. Right now, he wasn¡¯t violating Third Yan¡¯s sister, neither was he violating the young girl who had just turned into a woman, nor the girl who had labeled him as her uncle. She was the woman he loved, the woman that he, Ming Ansheng had fallen so deeply in love with. Su Yue¡¯s body pressed tightly against Ming Ansheng¡¯s body. His deep and heavy breath along with the smell of cigarettes besieged her senses and mind entirely. Her willpower¡­ was ebbing away. She wasn¡¯t thinking about why Uncle Ming had kissed her at that moment. What she was yearning for was the feeling that the kiss and embrace had brought her. Incredibly, she stretched her hands to embrace him. Her eyelids fluttered and she slowly closed her eyes. The circumstance and kiss had already happened days ago. But the feeling she felt was so different between the two men. Jiao Chen¡¯s kiss was so gentle. She didn¡¯t enjoy the kiss, but she didn¡¯t exactly dislike it either. Su Yue jolted back to her senses at the thought of Jiao Chen. Su Yue abruptly opened her eyes and pressed her palms against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. She exerted force and shoved him away. ¡°Uncle Ming, what are you doing?!¡± Her face contorted in rage, and she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she threw him a question. She wanted to erase any trace of his breath, smell¡ªeverything that belonged to him. Ming Ansheng snapped to his senses when he heard Su Yue¡¯s voice, too. They were standing a few steps away from each other, and he noticed how she was wiping her mouth and how furious she looked. She¡­ didn¡¯t like him. He knew that she had a boyfriend and she was hostile towards the opposite gender. It was normal if she had pushed him away. But his heart seemed in pain¡ªit suffocated him. He spluttered, ¡°Sorry, Yueyue. I¡­ I¡­¡± It was the first time he had faltered and appeared so cowardly. No¡­ he wasn¡¯t cowardly, it was because he couldn¡¯t bear to let her go. He peered at the ground and pressed on in an apologetic tone. ¡°Sorry, Yueyue. I was drunk and mistook you for someone else.¡± When he spun this lie, his eyelashes were trembling. He placed his hands behind him and clenched them into fists tightly. In his 26 years of existence, this was the most excruciating pain he had to endure in silence. Su Yue heard him and her eyes unconsciously glistened. She shuddered as though her heart had plunged into the depths of the ocean. She slumped against the tree and hid her hands behind her as well. She dug her fingernails into the bark of the tree and she exerted so much strength that her nails cracked. She bit her lips and held her breath as she stared at the man. His head was bowed. Under the moonlight, he seemed so unruffled. ¡®I was drunk and mistook you for someone else¡­¡¯ Did he mistake her for someone else¡­ his fianc¨¦e? Su Yue¡¯s eyes were welling up with tears and she took some time to compose herself. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t do this again. Jiaojiao will be mistaken.¡± She had wanted to fly into a rage, lash out at him, and even slap him. She wanted to question him, ¡®How could he treat her as someone else?¡¯ But at this moment, she decided not to. She seemed to have grown up and became more cautious of her actions. Chapter 1201. Do You Want to Marry Me? (part One) Su Yue was afraid of revealing her true emotions. After spewing out a cold response, she stormed towards the entrance of the school. She clenched her clothes tightly and bit her lips. The stench of blood traveled from her mouth to her throat¡­ even reaching her insides. Thankfully, she concealed her true feelings. Ming Ansheng watched as Su Yue vanished into the darkness. He placed his palm against the tree for support. He then banged his head against the tree. ¡°Yueyue, Yueyue¡­¡± ¡­ Su Yue reached the entrance and she felt light-headed as she stumbled along. Upon reaching the dormitory, she became fully awake. She came out in a rush and it suddenly hit her¡­ she didn¡¯t have her card. What should she do? Bai Jing wasn¡¯t back yet and the office was already closed. There wasn¡¯t anyone else that she could go to. It was November and it was freezing at night, with a light fog. Su Yue shrunk her neck as she walked back and forth in front of the dormitory. She hoped that there would be another person coming back at that time so she could go in with her. But her hopes were soon dashed as time passed. She walked to the side of the shrubs and squatted down. She hugged her legs and she was shivering badly. ¡®You b*stard! You stole my alcohol again. I¡¯m going to kill you¡­¡¯ This was how she kept herself warm during winter when she was young. Her tears splashed on the ground and gradually became a small puddle. She was used to the cold in the past. But after leading a comfortable life in the capital city, she seemed to have become weaker and frailer. Su Yue sniffed and wiped her tears away. She lifted her head to peer at the starry sky. She stood up and strode towards the direction of the boys¡¯ dormitory. The entrance of the boys¡¯ dormitory was shut and Su Yue stood outside, still shivering badly. She raised her head and glanced at the building. Suddenly, two guys were headed in her direction. It was past midnight and it startled them to see a person standing outside the dormitory. They sized up Su Yue from head to toe. Su Yue walked towards them and pleaded, ¡°Can you please help me look for Jiao Chen?¡± She spoke softly in a quivering voice. The two boys finally recognized her and asked, ¡°Are you Su Yue?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll look for him.¡± Shortly after, a towering figure came rushing towards her with hasty footsteps. Su Yue darted towards him and hugged him tightly. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± She couldn¡¯t control her tears any longer. Jiao Chen was wearing his loungewear. When he heard his classmates say that Su Yue was downstairs and she seemed crying, he immediately ran out. Su Yue hugged him tightly, and he could feel that her body was frozen. Her hands were icy cold, too. Jiao Chen¡¯s heart was aching and he gently pushed her away. He wiped away her tears and asked, ¡°What happened? Why are you crying?¡± ¡°I forgot to bring my card,¡± replied Su Yue as her tears rolled down. Her tears were like a string of broken pearls. ¡°There is no need to cry.¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t ask Su Yue why she went downstairs so late at night. He coaxed her gently. ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore. Call Bai Jing and get her to open the door for you all right?¡± Chapter 1202. Do You Want to Marry Me? (part Two) The more Jiao Chen coaxed her, the harder she cried. ¡°She is not back yet and I don¡¯t know where is she.¡± ¡°Alright, stop crying. Follow me upstairs first. I¡¯ll go get changed.¡± Jiao Chen wiped her tears once more before holding her hand. He then led her into the dormitory. Jiao Chen¡¯s room was on the second floor. The boys¡¯ dormitory seemed to be relatively messier than compared to the girls¡¯, with a mountain of shoes stacked carelessly outside the door. When they walked past the rooms, they heard loud snores and people playing games. They reached his room and Jiao Chen unlocked his room door. Su Yue was nervous and she whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside. Your roommate might be upset if I go in.¡± It was past midnight and a girl shouldn¡¯t enter the boys¡¯ dormitory. Even if she did nothing, it didn¡¯t mean that others wouldn¡¯t mind. Jiao Chen lightly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He is already asleep.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and bent her head. Jiao Chen watched her and pondered for a moment. ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to, then wait for me outside. I¡¯ll go get a coat and change my shoes.¡± Su Yue glanced at the long corridor and changed her mind instantly. If someone came out and saw her, wouldn¡¯t it look weirder if she stood outside? She mumbled, ¡°I think I¡¯ll go inside.¡± Jiao Chen nodded and pushed the door open. Su Yue followed him closely and entered. She was pleasantly surprised when she got inside. It was clean and tidy. The rumors of the boys¡¯ dormitory smelling like dirty socks were untrue. The room structure was similar to theirs with the beds facing opposite each other. There were four desks, with two on each side of the room. Someone was sleeping on the lower bunk of the bed, and the blanket covered him entirely. The other bed had a blanket that looked as though someone had flung it away. Su Yue guessed that it must be Jiao Chen¡¯s bed. Jiao Chen grabbed his coat before walking to get his shoes. He glanced at Su Yue and saw her standing stiffly there. He grinned and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be ready in a minute.¡± ¡°Am I dreaming?¡± The guy woke up and he sleepily rubbed his eyes. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Su Yue. ¡°Wow, the second I opened my eyes, a beauty is standing right in the room.¡± He sat upright and glanced at Jiao Chen, who was wearing his shoes. He teased him playfully. ¡°Jiao Chen, look at you. Why didn¡¯t you inform me you were bringing your wife back? Let me disappear so you guys can stay here.¡± Jiao Chen glared at him. ¡°Go back to sleep.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I can look for my friend in another room,¡± the boy replied cheerfully as he grabbed a coat from his wardrobe. He then stood up. Instinctively, Su Yue averted her face to avoid looking at him. What if he was naked or only wearing his underwear? Wouldn¡¯t it be awkward? The guy walked up to Su Yue and smiled at her. He threw Jiao Chen a fleeting glance before saying, ¡°Jiao Chen, this room is all yours. I will stand guard outside and make sure no one gets in.¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s face fell. He grabbed his slipper to hurl it at his roommate. The roommate dodged it agilely before smiling smugly. ¡°I have more in the drawer. But don¡¯t use too many.¡± He grinned wickedly before he hastily fled. ¡°What was that?¡± After Jiao Chen¡¯s roommate left, Su Yue began to act more comfortably. She turned around and surveyed his room. Chapter 1203. Do You Want to Marry Me? (part Three) ¡°Huh?¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t immediately comprehend Su Yue¡¯s question. ¡°What was the thing he was referring to?¡± Su Yue blinked as she gazed at Jiao Chen. She then walked over to a desk and picked up a piggy bank in the design of a white car model. She shook the piggy bank and it seemed filled with coins. ¡°Nothing.¡± Jiao Chen furiously shook his head. His good-looking face blushed crimson. He averted his face to avoid meeting Su Yue¡¯s eyes. Su Yue murmured vaguely in response. She merely felt curious as his roommate had an evil smile on his face when he mentioned that. She was gazing intently at the piggy bank. ¡°This is so cool.¡± Jiao Chen answered, ¡°A student gave it.¡± He glanced at her and said, ¡°If you like it, you can have it.¡± ¡°I like it.¡± Su Yue nodded and continued, ¡°Give it to me then.¡± Jiao Chen smiled affectionately at Su Yue. ¡°Jiaojiao, your room is so clean, even cleaner than mine.¡± Su Yue hugged the piggy bank as she sat down on his bed. She laid down and played with the piggy bank. Her legs were dangling at the edge of the bed. She seemed to be in a daze. Jiao Chen sat at the edge of the bed with his arms folded across his chest. He was staring at Su Yue. Both of them fell silent. ¡°Jiaojiao, let¡¯s play a game.¡± Su Yue abruptly sat upright and she seemed excited. Jiao Chen frowned. ¡°What game?¡± Su Yue grinned as she answered, ¡°Card game. I haven¡¯t played in such a long time.¡± Jiao Chen was speechless. Did she want to gamble? He smiled and shook his head in amusement. He then raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back to your dormitory?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t enter.¡± Su Yue pouted and collapsed on the bed once more. She placed the piggy bank down and flipped her body over. She gazed at Jiao Chen and said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here tonight and sleep on your bed.¡± She pulled the blanket over and covered herself. She really acted as if she had no intention of leaving. Jiao Chen helplessly gazed at her. ¡°Su Yue, if you sleep here tonight, what would people think of you when they see you tomorrow?¡± Su Yue peeked her head out of the blanket and threw him another question instead. ¡°Jiaojiao, do you want to marry me?¡± She gazed intently into Jiao Chen¡¯s eyes. She was really serious. If Jiaojiao proposed to her, she would say yes. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Jiao Chen furrowed his eyebrows and watched the girl on his bed. Her question had caused waves to surge in his heart. When he called Su Yue, his tone carried mixed emotions. He suppressed his feelings and softly replied, ¡°Sleep.¡± He turned around and walked to his desk. He sat down and turned on his laptop. Without sparing a look at Su Yue. Su Yue laid down on the bed once more, but she kept turning to steal glances at Jiao Chen. And unconsciously, her eyes seemed to carry a hint of melancholy. ¡­ When Su Yue woke up the next morning, it was already 7 a.m. Her eyes fluttered open and she blinked her eyes several times when she realized that it was an unfamiliar room. She then recalled that she was in Jiao Chen¡¯s room. She turned towards the bed opposite of her; Jiao Chen was asleep. ¡®Will we fall in love with each other, eventually?¡¯ She had no reason not to fall in love with Jiao Chen. He was so wonderful and great. She thought¡­ perhaps she needed time. Chapter 1204. That Man Is Me (part One) The boys¡¯ dormitory wasn¡¯t as busy as the girls¡¯ dormitory in the morning. This building was mainly for the older students, so Su Yue managed to leave quietly without being noticed by anyone. She was still holding the piggy bank Jiao Chen had given her yesterday. It was heavy with coins. The girls¡¯ dormitory was crowded with students in the morning. Su Yue sneaked into the dormitory behind someone before she walked to her room. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Su Yue saw Bai Jing on her bed, looking as though she had just woken up. She thought she didn¡¯t come back to the dormitory yesterday? Bai Jing rubbed her eyes and frowned at Su Yue. ¡°Where did you go last night?¡± She yawned several times before straightening her back. Su Yue didn¡¯t answer her question and asked her instead. ¡°Where did you go last night?¡± She strode across the room to her bed and sized her up from head to toe. Yesterday, she wasn¡¯t in the dormitory as her bed was neat and tidy. But judging from the situation now, she must have slept here. It confused Su Yue. Bai Jing knew what was on Su Yue¡¯s mind. She stretched her hand to rub her temples. ¡°Yesterday, I didn¡¯t feel too well. So I went to the infirmary to get medicine.¡± ¡°I feel dizzy.¡± Su Yue pressed her hand against her forehead. Bai Jing looked at her, with a puzzled look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I thought you went home yesterday.¡± Su Yue frowned and then pouted. ¡°I went downstairs without my card last night. So I went to Jiaojiao¡¯s dormitory instead.¡± She should have called Bai Jing yesterday. Her mind was befuddled¡­ all because of that kiss. Su Yue unconsciously stretched her hand to touch her lips gently. Flashbacks of how Ming Ansheng had embraced and kissed her so domineeringly popped in her mind. She was lost in her thoughts. Bai Jing shot her a suspicious look when she heard Su Yue say that she went to Jiao Chen¡¯s dormitory. ¡°You slept over at his dormitory?¡± She looked doubtful. ¡°Yup.¡± Su Yue quipped, ¡°I had no place to go, so I went there.¡± She smiled and flaunted the piggy bank. ¡°Bai Jing, is this cool?¡± ¡°You were with Jiao Chen the whole night?¡± Bai Jing pressed on as she narrowed her eyes. Su Yue nodded and repeated. ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­ nothing much.¡± Bai Jing smiled and shook her head. She glanced at Su Yue as though she had something to ask her. After a while, she asked, ¡°Then you¡­ and Jiao Chen¡­¡± No matter how na?ve or innocent Su Yue might be, she could guess what Bai Jing was trying to say. She smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. I just slept in his bed. Nothing happened between us.¡± She immediately realized a pressing issue. Yesterday, she was alone with Jiao Chen in his dormitory¡ªa couple all alone and they did nothing. Jiao Chen didn¡¯t even kiss her. Was it¡­ normal? ¡°What are you thinking about? Don¡¯t you have lessons this morning? Have you eaten?¡± Bai Jing gazed at her and interrupted Su Yue¡¯s thoughts. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No.¡± She grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat together, all right?¡± She went out to get medicine yesterday. Did it mean she was ready to face the reality? And to retaliate against those rumors. Chapter 1205. That Man Is Me (part Two) Bai Jing nodded and agreed. There was a small smile on her face. It delighted Su Yue. ¡°Get up quickly. I¡¯ll take a shower first.¡± ¡­ ¡°Bai Jing, go and shower quickly,¡± Su Yue said after she stepped out of the toilet. Bai Jing had already changed. She was staring intently at her phone. When she saw that Su Yue was done, she looked up and said, ¡°Su Yue, you¡¯re in the headlines again.¡± ¡°Ah?!¡± Su Yue exclaimed in shock and confusion. What was it this time? She walked over in confusion. Bai Jing pointed at her phone screen and said, ¡°Because you went to Jiao Chen¡¯s dormitory last night.¡± After which, she showed her the post. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Su Yue hesitated after she saw it. ¡®Seriously¡­ Again?¡¯ Indeed¡­ All walls have ears. The male dormitory was dead quiet when she left in the morning. She thought she would¡¯ve gone unnoticed. She pouted. ¡°Hmm¡­ So be it then.¡± She had on a face of nonchalance. Bai Jing frowned. ¡°Someone leaked that you spent the night in the male dormitory. Aren¡¯t you going to react to it?¡± Su Yue frowned as well. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. What reaction should I have?¡± Actually, it didn¡¯t really matter to her. She merely spent a night in Jiao Chen¡¯s dormitory. Wasn¡¯t it the truth? ¡°I¡¯ll go shower.¡± Bai Jing said nothing and turned off her phone. She then headed towards the bathroom. ¡­ Bai Jing¡¯s scandal was the hottest topic for the past few days, and Su Yue topped the headlines once again. Both of them were the topic of discussion in A University. They received odd looks from everyone. Everyone pointed their fingers at them and they made crude remarks about them. ¡°I heard that she was the one who went to find Jiao Chen in his dormitory.¡± ¡°I heard it, too. She¡¯s too shameless.¡± ¡°They¡¯re dating so there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. What¡¯s there to be shameless about?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I just be jealous? Jiao Chen¡­ He¡¯s so handsome, he must have a great body.¡± ¡°His basketball skills are so good, his stamina must be superb.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Su Yue and Bai Jing could hear the gossip the moment they entered from the back door of the canteen. She remained cool, her lips curling in a cynical smile. ¡°These people are so shameless. They¡¯re pining over someone else¡¯s boyfriend.¡± She then walked straight towards an empty seat. With her head high and chest out, she walked past a few girls who were gossiping about her. She seemed to say: ¡®Yes, I slept with the handsome Jiao Chen, who has a great figure. Be jealous.¡¯ When Bai Jing heard her say that ¡®they¡¯re pining over someone else¡¯s boyfriend¡¯ , her expression changed. She watched her leave, a hidden bitterness in her eyes. She felt like Su Yue was a male protagonist in a swordsmen film. One who would find a treasure or secret weapon wherever he went. They pampered her at home and she was envied in school. She had given up on Ming Ansheng because she knew that their gap was too wide, yet the next moment she found an outstanding Jiao Chen. But what about her? If Su Yue lost all of her backers, what would they have left to envy? So the reason for her pride, the reason she was so innocent and pure, was because the people around her loved and pampered her. Chapter 1206. That Man Is Me (part Three) That was why she could say such prideful words¡­ ¡®they¡¯re pining over someone else¡¯s boyfriend¡¯. ¡°Bai Jing, why are you still standing there?¡± Su Yue asked. She was already sitting down at her seat. She frowned in confusion when she saw Bai Jing still standing there. Bai Jing cleared her thoughts and shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± She walked over and sat down. The entire canteen was focused on both of them. Su Yue put down the books in her hand and said, ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll go get it.¡± Bai Jing plainly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll have whatever you¡¯re getting.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue smiled and nodded before walking over to the economical rice stall. She ignored all the gazes upon her and ordered the food before returning to her seat, still composed. Su Yue had always been like this. She didn¡¯t bother about the things she didn¡¯t care about. She acted as if nothing affected her. But Bai Jing was different. She glanced around as she ate. She felt like everyone was giving her contemptuous and mocking gazes. After lunch, Su Yue went for lessons while Bai Jing returned to the dormitory. Su Yue fell asleep during lessons because of her lack of sleep the night before. ¡°Su Yue!¡± ¡°Su Yue!¡± In the midst of her dream, she heard someone calling her name a few times. She suddenly opened her eyes. All eyes were on her, and she looked at the rostrum. The teacher was looking at her, too. Su Yue was instantly rejuvenated. ¡°Teacher, did you call me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The teacher nodded before adjusting his spectacles. With his other hand, he pointed at Su Yue, gritting his teeth. ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯ve been putting up with you for very long.¡± She slept in every lesson. Incorrigible. Su Yue knew what he was referring to. Without batting an eyelid, she replied, ¡°Teacher, actually you don¡¯t have to. You can always chase me out of the classroom.¡± Because she couldn¡¯t understand a single thing he said no matter how hard she tried. The teacher almost spat blood. ¡°I¡¯m going straight to Jiao Chen,¡± he huffed, helpless. It confused Su Yue. ¡°Why are you going to him?¡± He angrily replied, ¡°You didn¡¯t have a good night¡¯s sleep and dozed off in my class. Isn¡¯t it his fault?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± The majority of the class laughed at his comment. Only Su Yue blinked, not understanding his words. Su Yue was always alone if she wasn¡¯t together with Bai Jing. She was alone before and after lessons. She hugged her textbooks and left together with a bunch of students. When she walked down the stairs, a handsome boy was standing under a tree at the end of the walkway. He was in a pale-colored casual wear, and he had tucked his hands into his pockets. His lips curled into a smile when he saw Su Yue. ¡°Jiaojiao,¡± Su Yue greeted, speeding up her pace. ¡°Were you waiting for me?¡± What else? Standing there for fun? Jiao Chen pressed his lips together in response. He then asked, ¡°Have you eaten breakfast?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Both of them chatted as they walked. ¡°Oh yes, Teacher Zheng said he wants to look for you,¡± Su Yue said, suddenly recalling the classroom incident. Jiao Chen frowned in confusion. ¡°What for?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°I dozed off in his class so he said that he was going to look for you because it was your fault. I don¡¯t know what logic that is.¡± Chapter 1207. That Man Is Me (part Four) Jiao Chen smiled when he heard it. He then looked at her seriously. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Jiao Chen said, ¡°You should explain that nothing happened between us.¡± ¡°What you mean is¡­¡± Something flashed across her mind and her eyes widened. ¡°You¡­ You mean that Teacher Zheng thinks we had sex, and because of that I didn¡¯t sleep well? Was that why he blamed you?¡± F*ck. Such wretched and profound logic¡ªhow would she have known? Jiao Chen pressed his lips together. Silence meant consent. Su Yue lowered her head and pursed her lips. She frowned and kept silent. They walked side to side. Jiao Chen turned to look at her. She seemed troubled. He asked in confusion, ¡°Su Yue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Jiaojiao, do you like me?¡± Su Yue asked, peering up at him. Jiao Chen meditated in silence before answering plainly. ¡°I¡¯ll like you when you like me.¡± Su Yue lowered her head again. She softly muttered, ¡°So you still don¡¯t like me. No wonder you didn¡¯t even kiss me.¡± She was just mumbling. She didn¡¯t mean it as a complaint. But she wasn¡¯t expecting him to kiss her or do anything else. She just thought a relationship like theirs was unusual. He heard her mumbling and calmly said, ¡°Next time. Maybe I¡¯ll do something to you next time.¡± He intentionally teased her. Su Yue blushed. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not wanting you to do anything. Don¡¯t get me wrong.¡± She really wanted nothing from him. She just wanted their relationship to grow deeper, so she could fall for him quickly. Jiao Chen smiled and stopped teasing her because she was blushing crimson. ¡°Shall we have dinner together tonight?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue nodded. Jiao Chen stopped in his steps and recalled something. He explained, ¡°I¡¯m going out later in the afternoon. I¡¯ll be back around seven. You can go and eat some food first if you get hungry. I¡¯ll bring you some delicious orange juice when I get back.¡± Su Yue nodded. She then suddenly hugged Jiao Chen and pressed her face against his chest. ¡°Jiaojiao, you¡¯re so good to me.¡± She was starting to feel bad about it. She had to fall for Jiaojiao quickly, then be with him forever. Behind a phoenix tree not far off, someone stared at the hugging couple, anger written all over their face. ¡­ During their break in the afternoon, Su Yue and Bai Jing lay on their individual beds, staring at their phones. Su Yue was playing a game when Bai Jing called out to her, ¡°Su Yue, is this you?¡± She showed her the screen. Su Yue looked over. ¡°What?¡± They were too far apart. She frowned and could only see a really dark photo, but she couldn¡¯t make out the details. Bai Jing got off her bed and walked over. She sat down on Su Yue¡¯s bed and showed her the phone. ¡°This¡­¡± Su Yue was startled when she saw it. Her face paled. It was a photo of Ming Ansheng kissing her yesterday. ¡®Who took this?¡¯ It flustered Su Yue. She snatched the phone from her. ¡°Where did you find this?¡± She pressed the back button and saw that it was on the A University website. ¡®The school belle deeply kisses an outsider male before spending the night in her boyfriend¡¯s dormitory. She¡¯s a two-timer.¡¯ It was posted a few minutes ago, but already over 100 comments were posted. Chapter 1208. That Man Is Me (part Five) There was only one photo. From the man¡¯s back-view, he was wearing a white shirt and he looked tall. The ¡®photographer¡¯ must¡¯ve been afraid of being spotted, so he didn¡¯t use the flash. Hence, the photo was very dark. But the champagne red pants she was wearing yesterday was highly recognizable. Ming Ansheng was back-facing the camera, while she was front-facing it, revealing half of her face. The description below revealed how these clothes matched those that she was wearing yesterday evening. So those who knew her could recognize her immediately. The car was photographed as well, but they cropped the front number plate out. The car door was open, so it was obvious that the car belonged to that man. Jiao Chen didn¡¯t drive, so everyone knew that it wasn¡¯t him. All the comments were against her. They used all forms of derogatory remarks. Su Yue didn¡¯t care about how everyone was scolding her. She was most afraid of Ming Ansheng being recognized. These strangers who didn¡¯t know him well weren¡¯t able to recognize him, but what about her third brother and third sister-in-law? They have known him for a long time. An outsider kissed her by the school entrance in the middle of the night, and it wasn¡¯t Jiao Chen. Of course, they would suspect Ming Ansheng. She put down the phone and flipped herself over, back-facing Bai Jing. She didn¡¯t know what to do. What if third sister-in-law recognized Ming Ansheng? How would she explain? ¡°Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing called her. Su Yue let out a muffled reply. Bai Jing asked, ¡°Is that man¡­ your Uncle Ming?¡± ¡°No,¡± Su Yue denied immediately. She turned around and looked at Bai Jing, repeating adamantly, ¡°It¡¯s not him.¡± She then turned over and hid in her blankets. She couldn¡¯t admit it. She couldn¡¯t let anyone know that that person was her Uncle Ming, including her third brother and third sister-in-law. She believed that he was drunk and mistook her for someone else, but others might not believe it. In the dead of night, if she wasn¡¯t the person in question, and if Uncle Ming hadn¡¯t admitted it himself, she wouldn¡¯t believe him either. She didn¡¯t want to become a mistress. She didn¡¯t want others to think Uncle Ming changed sides that quickly. Bai Jing smiled coldly at her. This was the so-called ¡®trust¡¯ between them. So-called ¡®bosom friends¡¯ who could talk about anything. ¡°I¡¯ll give the principal a call,¡± Su Yue suddenly sat up, saying. ¡°I¡¯ll ask him to remove the post.¡± The earlier she deleted it, the fewer people would see it. She found the principal¡¯s number and called him. He answered. On Yan Rusheng¡¯s behalf, they immediately accepted her request. They deleted the post within 20 minutes after it was posted. However, this incident still affected Su Yue significantly. Jiao Chen was the dream guy of many girls in A University. Now that they made him a cuckold, of course they wouldn¡¯t take it lying down. They stood outside her room door, scolding her the entire afternoon. Others continued creating posts and scolding her online. Bai Jing¡¯s scandal was still the hot topic in the afternoon, but now it was left in the dust, completely taken over by Su Yue¡¯s midnight tryst. But any post with Su Yue¡¯s name in it was deleted immediately. At the end of the day, Su Yue¡¯s name had become a banned phrase. Chapter 1209. That Man Is Me (part Six) ¡°Su Yue, don¡¯t fret anymore. Haven¡¯t they taken the post down?¡± Bai Jing walked over to her and patted her blanket gently. She comforted, ¡°The principal probably made all the web technicians sit before their computers, right at your service.¡± Su Yue was too troubled to discern the bitterness in Bai Jing¡¯s voice. When Bai Jing¡¯s scandal started spreading, Yan Rusheng called the principal and it was removed immediately. But the rude comments that followed after remained. Only when Su Yue topped the headlines twice that day did those nasty comments about her die down. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± ¡°Stop being so shameless and hogging our Prince Charming Jiao.¡± ¡°Exactly. Just because your family is filthy rich, does it mean that your personal life should be equally filthy?¡± ¡°So what if she¡¯s filthy rich? She¡¯s still an illegitimate daughter after all.¡± The scoldings outside their door began again. ¡°These people are too much.¡± Bai Jing got up angrily and opened their door. There were seven or eight aggressive-looking girls there, hands on their hips. ¡°Aren¡¯t you even more shameless? Jiao Chen didn¡¯t even say a thing, why are you making a fuss?¡± She roared angrily. ¡°You mean that you¡¯re not shameless for pining over someone else¡¯s boyfriend?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a mistress of an old fogey, yet you have the guts to stand here?¡± Bai Jing took the brunt of their criticism. It enraged Bai Jing. She grabbed the broom by the door and frantically swatted it at those girls. ¡°Picking a fight?¡± They rushed towards her and pinned her down. Su Yue, who was hiding under the covers, heard the commotion outside. She climbed out and saw Bai Jing pinned down on the floor. She grabbed the porcelain cup from the table and rushed to the door, giving off a murderous aura. She walked over and smashed the cup on the head of the girl who was sitting on Bai Jing. The cup shattered to pieces. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± She let out a piercing scream; her head instantly started bleeding. The rest of the girls swarmed towards her. Su Yue turned into a raging beast. She picked up the porcelain pieces and used it to scratch a few of their faces. They ignored the pain. Two girls grabbed her clothes and tore at them. They ripped her clothes to shreds. It exposed the entire upper half of her body. Su Yue covered her chest instinctively. Her eyes widened, looking around the area with a murderous gaze. ¡°Take a picture quickly.¡± Someone snapped a photo of her. ¡°She has a tattoo, too. Isn¡¯t she pure? Let¡¯s show everyone how pure she really is.¡± Bai Jing stood up hurriedly and stood in front of Su Yue. She frantically shouted, ¡°Stop taking photos. This is illegal!¡± The crowd became larger, and only a few people held themselves back from sending snippets of this scene to all of their friends. ¡­ Su Yue¡¯s photos circulated the entire web, not just the school website. They labeled her ¡®Flourish & Prosper¡¯s Little Precious¡¯ , and she became the trending search on Weibo. The photo of Ming Ansheng kissing her circulated as well. The descriptions were not fit to be seen. The number of reposts exceeded 10,000 within half an hour. ¡°These hooligans!¡± Xuxu was at home when she went onto Weibo. She almost smashed her phone in anger. She gripped it tightly and there was a cold gleam in her eye. ¡°I won¡¯t let a single one of them off.¡± Chapter 1210. That Man Is Me (part Seven) The principal had identified and caught those who had created trouble for Su Yue, and all of them were brought to the office. The principal¡¯s office door was ajar and when Xuxu set foot inside, she saw several girls standing in a row. She stormed inside and bellowed at them. ¡°All of you are girls! How can you do such a thing to another girl?!¡± Her roars rattled the entire office and seemingly the entire building. Wen Xuxu had never flown into such a terrible rage before. Even if she had an argument with Yan Rusheng, she had never lost her temper in such a vile way before. She doted on Su Yue dearly for this past year and she couldn¡¯t even bear to reprimand her. How could these girls have the audacity to treat her in that way! They had clearly crossed the line. Wen Xuxu was in a rage and anger was bubbling in the pit of her stomach. ¡°Madam Yan, please calm down.¡± The principal was afraid that Wen Xuxu might hit the girls. So he hurriedly pulled her hand and said, ¡°Our school will definitely give you and Third Master a proper explanation and apology.¡± Xuxu ignored the principal and continued to survey the culprits with a cold gleam in her eyes. ¡°All of you are adults. Everyone here will be punished for whatever they have done today.¡± Her vows left everyone dumbfounded, including the principal. Xuxu turned around without another glance. ¡°Madam Yan¡­¡± The principal shouted before turning to the girls. He frowned and chided loudly. ¡°All of you are in deep trouble.¡± He hurried after Xuxu. ¡°Madam Yan! Our school is at fault for allowing this incident to happen. We are terribly sorry.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t respond to the principal¡¯s words and she stormed her way to the girls¡¯ dormitory. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Xuxu swung the door open and caught a glimpse of Su Yue who stood at the balcony. The windows were open and she was in her pajamas. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached when she saw her. She hastened her footsteps. When she reached Su Yue, she hugged her tightly. She was tearing as she patted her gently on her back. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. I will definitely make them pay for what they did to you.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m all right.¡± Su Yue shook her head gently before pushing Xuxu away. There weren¡¯t any tears on her face and her eyes weren¡¯t even red. She merely looked somber and forlorn. Xuxu knew that she wasn¡¯t being her usual self. From her understanding of Su Yue, she would either ignore or find an extreme method to exterminate a person. She wouldn¡¯t be wallowing in sorrow all by herself. Su Yue appeared bogged down by worries. Something struck Xuxu and her eyes glinted. She looked at Su Yue and gingerly asked, ¡°Yueyue, tell me. Who is that man?¡± Su Yue was at a loss for words after she comprehended Xuxu¡¯s question. She averted her gaze guiltily and spluttered. ¡°Wh-at?¡± Her reaction reaffirmed Xuxu¡¯s suspicions. ¡°The man in the photo is Jiao Chen?¡± Su Yue hung her head to avoid Xuxu¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t even dare to make a sound. Xuxu was the person she trusted the most. However, right now, she had no courage to face her. At the airport. A man sat in the business class cabin with his phone in his hand. His sparkling eyes were fixed intently on the screen. It revealed the conflict going on within him. The cigarette in his other hand was burning until the tip. He didn¡¯t even realize it until it almost burned his finger. Chapter 1211. That Man Is Me (part Eight) ¡®The school belle of A University, Flourish & Prosper¡¯s youngest daughter Su Yue, was reported to be engaged in a passionate kiss with an unknown guy under a tree. She was then caught sneaking off to her boyfriend¡¯s dormitory in the middle of the night. Her personal and love life is complicated. This afternoon, she had a brawl with the girls at her dormitory and her shirt was ripped apart. Hence her naked photos have circulated¡­¡¯ The man reading this news article was shaking badly. ¡°President¡­¡± His secretary called him several times to get his attention but to no avail. Hence, she had to increase her volume. The man finally responded and raised his head. The cigarette had burned his fingers, and he casually flicked it away. Without a word, he rose. His abrupt actions caught his secretary off guard and it shocked her. ¡°Postpone all my schedules.¡± After the secretary snapped out of her shock, the towering figure had already reached the exit. ¡°President, the flight is about to take off¡­¡± His secretary rushed after him. The man had exited the departure lounge and marched towards the elevator. The black Mercedes sped off at lightning speed, and the man behind the wheel was looking solemn. He had a frown on his face. ¡®Yueyue, even if you don¡¯t care or cherish my love, I will not let you suffer in silence. I need to announce to everyone that I¡¯m that man,¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself. He had to assume this responsibility. ¡­ No matter how Xuxu badgered Su Yue, she remained mum. Xuxu continued to look at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, you know that I never force you to do the things you dislike.¡± Su Yue remained quiet and Xuxu paused. Her head was bowed while Su Yue peered at the ground. Xuxu knew how stubborn she could be and concluded that she wouldn¡¯t be able to get an answer from her today. So, she sighed and gave up. She said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Jiao Chen was such a good guy? I¡¯ve observed him. He is indeed good.¡± Su Yue raised her head and widened her eyes. Fear, guilt, and doubt flickered in her eyes. Her hands, which hung by her sides, clenched into fists. And her palms were wet with sweat. Did Third sister-in-law¡­ recognize the guy in the photo? Su Yue couldn¡¯t muster her courage to ask her. She was so afraid that Xuxu would utter the name Ming Ansheng. Silence fell upon them when Su Yue¡¯s phone interrupted the silence. Her phone was on her bed, and Su Yue turned her head to glance at it. She stood up slowly and walked over. Jiaojiao was calling and she picked up the call. She answered and said hello. ¡°Come down.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s voice was still so soft and gentle. His composure shocked Su Yue. She frowned. She stammered, ¡°Jiaojiao¡­ you¡­¡± She wanted to ask if he saw the news about her. Before she could phrase her question, Jiao Chen interjected, ¡°Come down now. I¡¯ll wait for you at the entrance of your dormitory.¡± He hung up before Su Yue could utter a word. Su Yue ended the call and stared at the screen, unable to believe her ears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu strode over and glanced at the screen and caught a glimpse of Jiao Chen¡¯s name before the call ended. The corners of her mouth curled and she said, ¡°So it¡¯s Jiao Chen.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Su Yue nodded and placed the phone back on the bed. She turned around and said, ¡°He asked me to go down. He is waiting downstairs for me.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Hurry along then.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t feel like it.¡± Su Yue bowed her head, looking dejected. Chapter 1212. That Man Is Me (part Nine) Su Yue had a shrewd hunch that Xuxu already knew that the man was Ming Ansheng. If Third sister-in-law could recognize him, others would be able to too. She was feeling so frustrated and anxious that she couldn¡¯t bother dwelling with other things. Xuxu frowned and pressed on, ¡°But Jiao Chen is downstairs. Even if you don¡¯t want to meet him, you still have to tell him.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue agreed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll call him.¡± She bent to take her phone. Xuxu suddenly stretched her hand to grab her arm. ¡°Why are you calling him? He is already downstairs. Can¡¯t you just tell him in person?¡± Su Yue murmured and agreed with little thought. She then left the room in her pajamas. Xuxu watched her leave with a worried look. ¡­ ¡°I heard that Jiao Chen is planning to propose to Su Yue.¡± ¡°Propose? Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± ¡°It¡¯s true! Jiao Chen brought a whole truck of roses here.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Su Yue reached the second level and overheard some girls gossiping. Jiao Chen came here to propose to her? With a truck of roses? Su Yue momentarily froze before rushing down. When she stepped on the last step, she glanced straight ahead and she froze in shock. The gorgeous guy was standing there, wearing a suit, with a bright smile on his face. He had a hand stuffed in his pocket while the other was holding a huge bouquet of red roses. She had no idea how long he had been standing there, surrounded by curious onlookers. He appeared calm and unruffled, looking like a noble and gorgeous prince who had just come out from a fairytale. Su Yue was stunned. Someone nudged her gently and said, ¡°Su Yue, Jiao Chen is waiting.¡± It was someone she didn¡¯t know. Su Yue snapped out of her daze and nodded, looking overwhelmed. She took big strides towards the door. She opened the door and a gust of cold wind blew at her. It made her cheeks rosy. Strands of hair stuck to her cheek, but she didn¡¯t bother with it. Her fingers nervously clenched her clothes. She walked towards the boy who had a warm and tender smile on his face. The crowd grew in size but no one was dumb enough to block Su Yue¡¯s path. Su Yue walked to Jiao Chen and raised her head, peering at him. ¡°Jiaojiao?¡± She was so confused. She knew that Jiao Chen wasn¡¯t the type of guy who would do romantic gestures for a girl. They had known each other for quite some time before they went on their first date yesterday. Furthermore, he had only given her snacks as gifts. Today, he appeared so suddenly with a bouquet of roses. And he even wore a suit. She was completely at sea. Her scandal had spread like wildfire. Didn¡¯t he read it? Wasn¡¯t he mad that another guy had kissed her? Her third brother would flare up if that annoying Professor Zhao so much as sneak a peek at her third sister-in-law. ¡°I forgot to get this yesterday.¡± Jiao Chen presented the bouquet to Su Yue without any mushy words. There wasn¡¯t any touching profession of love¡ªit was merely an honest confession¡­ He forgot to get it yesterday. ¡®Should guys buy flowers on a first date?¡¯ Su Yue repeatedly blinked her eyes, unable to comprehend this at all. She stretched her hands to receive the roses. She was about to bow her head when Jiao Chen¡¯s voice interrupted her action. ¡°Sorry, from today onwards, I will never kiss you secretly in such dim places again.¡± Jiao Chen had said something bewildering to Su Yue. The next moment, he wound his hand around Su Yue¡¯s waist, while the other held the back of her head. His soft lips came crushing on hers. Chapter 1213. Silly Girl, You Are The One I Like (part One) Su Yue widened her eyes in shock after she comprehended what Jiao Chen meant¡­ ¡®I will never kiss you secretly in such dim places again¡­¡¯ Her eyes instantly welled up with tears. Her tears were crystal clear, and she slowly closed her eyes. Her tears rolled down. She stretched her hands to embrace Jiao Chen. She pressed her cold palms against his broad back. The atmosphere fell silent for a few seconds before someone in the crowd began to whistle and clap. The sounds of chatter stirred up the atmosphere. ¡°That¡¯s what I mean! Who can be better than Jiao Chen? Handsome and intelligent!¡± ¡°And someone saw him driving a Mercedes to school.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Senior Jiao Chen was so low-profile.¡± ¡°So the guy from last night was Senior Jiao Chen.¡± ¡°Awww¡­ it¡¯s so romantic.¡± Usually, people would jump to conclusions with no evidence. People who loved to gossip didn¡¯t think of the consequences of their malice. They changed their opinions easily and blindly. Su Yue heard what they said and her tears rolled down again. Yes indeed, Jiaojiao was too good. ¡­ There would be something that you will fail to get, no matter how hard you try. Especially love¡ªwhich needed to happen at the right time, with the right person, and at the right place. To meet someone, amidst the millions of people in a city who needed you just like how you needed the person, was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Ming Ansheng watched the couple kissing among the crowd, and they were so youthful and vibrant. Evidently, they were from two different worlds. He retracted his footsteps. His black eyes seemed empty. Xuxu stood at the balcony of Su Yue¡¯s dormitory and watched the man from afar. She sighed deeply and helplessly. She had overlooked that budding love indeed. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu was still lost in her own thoughts when Bai Jing¡¯s voice interrupted her. She retracted her gaze and turned around. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Bai Jing was holding a white plastic bag as she smiled at Xuxu. ¡°I bought food for Su Yue and I saw them downstairs. I didn¡¯t want to interrupt, so I came up first.¡± Grateful, Xuxu said, ¡°Thank you so much for taking care of Yueyue. It has been hard on you.¡± It was hard for Su Yue to make friends, and it wasn¡¯t easy to meet a true friend like Bai Jing. They always looked out for each other and would stand up for each other too. It reminded Xuxu of something, and she anxiously surveyed Bai Jing. ¡°Did you sustain any injuries during the fight?¡± ¡°Oh no, your face is hurt!¡± She saw Bai Jing¡¯s right cheek and there was a long scratch across her cheek. She stretched her hand to gently stroke it. Bai Jing winced a little, probably because of pain. But she still smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all right. It¡¯s just a minor scratch.¡± Xuxu gazed at the scratch with a worried look. She said, ¡°Your wound is quite deep. You should apply some medicine, if not it might leave a scar.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing nodded. She placed the bag on the table and politely said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, please take a seat. I¡¯ll go do the laundry now.¡± Xuxu smiled and nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me.¡± Bai Jing brought the dirty clothes into the bathroom and started washing. Xuxu stood there for a while. When Su Yue didn¡¯t return, she strode over to her bed and sat down. She then picked up Su Yue¡¯s phone. Chapter 1214. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Two) Xuxu strode to the bathroom and said, ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Bai Jing answered. Her voice sounded gentle and soft. She left the room and shut the door after her. She then strode towards the stairs. Bai Jing heard the door closing, and she slowly stopped washing the clothes. The water kept flowing from the tap, but she didn¡¯t seem to realize it. In her mind, the scene of Jiao Chen kissing Su Yue replayed repeatedly. And of how the crowd¡¯s opinions of Su Yue. Su Yue had changed how people saw her so effortlessly. Yet, rumors of her being a mistress kept by an old man seemed to have become the truth to everyone. Very few people knew about her being drugged. It couldn¡¯t be Lei Yong since he still needed her. And it couldn¡¯t be the repulsive President Chen. And of course, the man¡­ and Wen Xuxu wouldn¡¯t reveal it to anyone. Other than them, Su Yue knew that even if she had unintentionally blurted it out, it was still her fault. She was always so na?ve, pure, and innocent in the eyes of everyone. Even if she made a mistake, there will always be someone to rectify the mistake on her behalf. No matter how much trouble she met, she always seemed to escape unscathed. How can their fates be so vastly different? Bai Jing became more resentful and indignant the more she mulled over it. She gazed at her own reflection and recalled the hardship and humiliation she had suffered at the Lei family. She had lost her pride and dignity. Still, she would never choose to seek help from him. She didn¡¯t want him to pity her or to render help. She wanted to depend on herself to get through everything. She wanted to become someone better. At least the disparity in status between them wouldn¡¯t be so huge. If only he didn¡¯t help her before, perhaps he would care to notice her presence a little more. So even if people misunderstood her and everyone looked down on her, she still needed to make her way to the top. She wanted to create a wonderful future for herself. ¡­ Ming Ansheng entered and removed his shoes. He wore his socks into the house and impatiently tugged at his tie. ¡°Second Young Master.¡± The servants greeted him politely, but he ignored everyone as though he was lost in thoughts. He strode towards the staircase. When he reached the study, he pushed the door open. A pair of furious-looking eyes were staring at him and he received a shock. He then arranged his face into a somber expression before shutting the door behind him. Ming Zhongsheng was standing in the middle of the study as he glared at Ming Ansheng. He sharply questioned him. ¡°Is that you?¡± ¡°Grandfather, what are you referring to?¡± Ming Ansheng casually glanced at him. He already had an inkling with what he was talking about. But he pretended not to know. Ming Zhongsheng sneered coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t put on a pretense. Others might not be able to recognize you, but you¡¯re my grandson. I can recognize you in a heartbeat.¡± Ming Ansheng stopped beside Ming Zhongsheng. After he halted his footsteps, he glanced at him. ¡°Yes. So what if it¡¯s me?¡± There wasn¡¯t a trace of fear in his tone. ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng couldn¡¯t catch his breath as he pointed threateningly at Ming Ansheng. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, bury your feelings for her. Even if she is Yan Rusheng¡¯s sister, with her status as an illegitimate daughter, there is no way I would accept her.¡± Chapter 1215. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Three) Ming Ansheng laughed bitterly as he answered, ¡°I¡¯ve already agreed to the arranged marriage. Grandfather, why are you still so worried?¡± Ming Zhongsheng turned green. ¡°You need to settle the wedding as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Grandfather, you decide,¡± Ming Ansheng answered briefly and strode over to his desk. He pulled the chair and collapsed on it. He turned on his laptop without another look at Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare be too close to any of the Yan family members.¡± Ming Zhongsheng threw him a stern and cold warning. He paused and hissed, ¡°I¡¯m already almost on my deathbed, it¡¯s only a matter of time. I¡¯m doing everything for you.¡± Ming Ansheng was already immune to these and he barked, ¡°If there is nothing else, please leave. I¡¯m busy.¡± He didn¡¯t even raise his head. Ming Zhongsheng gazed at Ming Ansheng with his murky-looking eyes. He spoke lightly. ¡°The wedding will be held during the first week of next month.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine with me,¡± Ming Ansheng spoke coldly, without sparing him a glance. He was way too cold and distant. Even to his own grandfather. Ming Zhongsheng spoke rather helplessly, ¡°Bright Vision and the Tang family will be in this together from now on. Be mindful of your attitude.¡± Ming Ansheng finally raised his head and sneered, ¡°Grandfather, that¡¯s the reason you can never surpass Grandmother Wang in this lifetime.¡± ¡°You!¡± Ming Zhongsheng was livid and he wanted to lash out at him. But something held him back, so he swallowed his anger. ¡°Invite your friends to the wedding. I will settle the business clients and acquaintances.¡± With that, the old man strode out and walked to the door. He knew that this wouldn¡¯t end up well if they carried on. It was a crucial timing, and he still needed to make sure everything went smoothly before the wedding. Something struck him and so he turned around. ¡°Feiling is here. She wanted to discuss with you regarding the wedding photoshoot and the gown. You better settle it with her soon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nearly the end of the year. Grandfather, you should know how busy I am,¡± Ming Ansheng replied coldly. ¡°I¡¯m going to Country M tomorrow and I will be busy this period.¡± He bent his head and continued typing away. Ming Zhongsheng was unhappy with his answer. And with a deep voice, he spoke, ¡°You were supposed to go to Country M today. Because of that lass, you postponed the trip. But you couldn¡¯t even make time for your lifelong happiness?¡± Ming Ansheng coldly snorted and sarcastically replied, ¡°Grandfather, you do know my schedule at the back of your hand.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the topic.¡± Ming Zhongsheng commanded him, ¡°No matter what, tomorrow you have to spend half a day with Feiling to try on the gown. And you need to take wedding photos tomorrow as well.¡± His tone was unyielding. ¡°I¡¯m not free,¡± said Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, do you think I¡¯m the only one who can recognize that illegitimate daughter?¡± Ming Zhongsheng obviously had a hidden message. His eyes gleamed slyly and it made Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart seem pricked by his eyes. Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time he had threatened him. He was already immune to his threats, but it concerned Su Yue this time. He clenched his fists unconsciously that his fingernails dug into his flesh. Chapter 1216. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Four) He had no idea that he had brought such disastrous harm on Su Yue just because of his recklessness. And now, his grandfather had used her to keep him in check. Ming Zhongsheng didn¡¯t answer him directly. ¡°She is only 18 years old.¡± He spun around after that and was about to walk away. There was a loud sound of something hitting the floor, and it appeared something was dropped. ¡°Who is that?¡± Ming Zhongsheng warily asked as he strode quickly across the room to open the door. ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s me.¡± Tang Feiling was squatting on the floor as she picked up a fallen bowl. She raised her head and smiled at Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°Ansheng¡¯s mother said that Ansheng is back, and she was afraid that he might be hungry. So, she cooked noodles for him and asked me to bring it up. But I was too clumsy and I accidentally dropped the bowl.¡± Ming Zhongsheng rearranged his expression instantly. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± He peered at the mess on the ground. There were noodles and soup all over the floor. ¡°Get the servant to clean up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can do it.¡± Tang Feiling picked up the noodles with her fingers and swiftly placed them back into the bowl. Her nimble actions made her seem like a capable person in Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s eyes. ¡°You will become part of our family soon. You should call her mother.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Tang Feiling gazed apprehensively at Ming Zhongsheng. But the excitement in her eyes betrayed her. Ming Zhongsheng chuckled. ¡°Still trying to pretend? You must be overjoyed, right?¡± ¡°Grandfather, stop teasing me.¡± Tang Feiling blushed and bent her head. She stood up and shyly said, ¡°Ansheng will be mad at me.¡± She sneaked a furtive glance towards the study. Ming Ansheng sat at the desk and he seemed busy. Her love for him couldn¡¯t be contained. But suddenly, she was reminded of something and her expression turned cold and bitter. Ming Zhongsheng suddenly stretched his hand to close the door. It startled Tang Feiling. She then peered at Ming Zhongsheng. Ming Zhongsheng warmly smiled at her and said, ¡°Ansheng is working. Don¡¯t disturb him right now. I¡¯ve already arranged for both of you to choose your wedding outfits tomorrow afternoon.¡± Ming Zhongsheng had just used the little lass to threaten him, and he must be fuming at that moment. If Tang Feiling were to enter the room, without a doubt, she would suffer his wrath. Nothing should go wrong before the wedding. ¡°Really?¡± Tang Feiling was so happy that she felt like fainting the moment she heard that Ming Ansheng had agreed to go with her for the gown fitting. She gazed at Ming Zhongsheng, feeling excited and thrilled. Ming Zhongsheng smiled. ¡°Look at how happy you are. But he is busy and he doesn¡¯t have much time. So just take a few photos tomorrow to display at the wedding. You can always take more when he is less busy in the future.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Tang Feiling nodded vigorously. ¡°I got it.¡± Ming Zhongsheng smiled in response. ¡­ ¡°Father, why are you still awake?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother came out of the kitchen and saw Ming Zhongsheng and Tang Feiling sitting on the sofa. Both of them were watching a TV program. Ming Zhongsheng quipped, ¡°I was chatting with Feiling.¡± He glanced at the bowl in her hands and asked, ¡°Is that for Ansheng?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother nodded. ¡°He might be hungry so I cooked porridge for him. I¡¯ll bring it up for him now.¡± Tang Feiling immediately leaped to her feet. ¡°Aunt, let me do it.¡± She strode towards Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother. Chapter 1217. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Five) Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother appeared a little apprehensive and Ming Zhongsheng understood her concerns. He said, ¡°Let Feiling bring it upstairs.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother answered softly and passed the bowl to Tang Feiling. It delighted Tang Feiling, and she went upstairs in good spirits. She reached the second level and knocked on the study¡¯s door. No one answered, so she turned the doorknob and opened the door. It was dark inside and it was evident that Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t inside. Tang Feiling shut the door after she retracted her steps and turned around. She went to Ming Ansheng¡¯s room and knocked. But he didn¡¯t respond as well. She turned the doorknob and treaded softly inside. The room was lit, but Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t anywhere in sight. Then, splashing sounds of water could be heard coming from the bathroom. Ming Ansheng was in the bathroom taking a shower. So she strode quietly across the room. She surveyed Ming Ansheng¡¯s room and his belongings. Her heart pounded so furiously as though it was going to jump out of her chest. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Tang Feiling received a bad shock that the bowl almost slipped out of her fingers. She turned around and the sight before her stunned her. Ming Ansheng was wearing bathrobes, and it was loosely tied around his waist. It revealed his well-built chest with droplets of waters glistening on his chest. Slowly, her eyes traveled to his abs. The droplets of water continued to roll down from his chest. His raven black hair was dripping wet, too. Tang Feiling sized up Ming Ansheng from head to toe and finally, her eyes met his malicious-looking eyes. She involuntarily shuddered and hastily explained, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m here to send you food.¡± ¡°Get out,¡± Ming Ansheng commanded as he rearranged his bathrobes. He covered himself properly and hid his perfect figure from sight. He strode to his bed as he rubbed his hair with a towel. Tang Feiling saw him walking in her direction and her heart seemed to be in her mouth. Her whole mind was flooded with the image of his well-built body that she had seen earlier. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Tang Feiling suddenly darted towards the towering figure as he came closer. Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows at the sight of the woman. He agilely dodged her by moving aside. He easily avoided the woman who had just literally threw herself at him. Tang Feiling collapsed to the floor and the bowl fell to the floor, spilling all of its contents. ¡°Tang Feiling, enough of your nonsense.¡± Tang Feiling¡¯s antics irked and annoyed Ming Ansheng. Her fall was quite painful and Tang Feiling refused to get up. She frowned. ¡°Ansheng, it¡¯s so painful. Can you pull me up?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s temper rose when he heard her exaggerated and pretentious voice. He was seized with a burning desire to hurl her out of the window. But he didn¡¯t even want to touch her clothes. A crease appeared between his eyebrows, and it clearly displayed his disdain. He raised his voice. ¡°Get out!¡± Even Ming Zhongsheng and Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother heard his roars. Tang Feiling knew that her whines were all in vain, so she got up by herself. She glared at Ming Ansheng as she spat, ¡°We¡¯re getting married next month. You¡¯ll be mine, eventually.¡± After that, she turned around and walked off in a huff. Ming Ansheng grabbed the remote control, which was within his reach, and slammed it against the floor. It smashed to pieces instantly. He marched to the bed and slumped on it, feeling defeated and despaired. He grabbed a pillow and covered his face. He then exerted strength and pressed the pillow against his face. ¡®Grandmother, you shouldn¡¯t have saved me¡­¡¯ ¡­ The Ming and Tang families were prominent and wealthy families in the capital city. The announcement of their marriage hit the headlines within two hours. Chapter 1218. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Six) Ming Ansheng wore a black suit and tuxedo while Tang Feiling wore a white wedding gown with elaborate details. She wound her arm around his as she stood beside Ming Ansheng. Both of them were facing the photographer, although their expressions couldn¡¯t be any more different. ¡°Closer!¡± The photographer raised his camera as he observed Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression. He didn¡¯t dare to instruct him and hence spoke only to Tang Feiling. ¡°Bride, please get closer to the groom. Yes ¡­ good!¡± The photographer repeatedly pressed the shutter button. Tang Feiling sneakily kept throwing meaningful glances at her friend. Her friend snapped enthusiastically away and uploaded the photos of Ming Ansheng and Tang Feiling online. In the photo, the gorgeous-looking man was dressed smartly in a formal suit, looking regal and dignified. But his good-looking face had no trace of any emotions. However, this didn¡¯t affect the blessings they received from acquaintances and strangers. Everyone was gushing over the photos as they wished them happiness. ¡°Okay!¡± The photographer gestured that they had finished a series of photos. He pressed on, ¡°Please get changed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Ming Ansheng coldly replied and flung Tang Feiling¡¯s hand away. He marched stiffly towards the dressing room. ¡°Ansheng¡­¡± Tang Feiling hurried after Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng ignored her and continued to walk away in big strides. ¡°Hmph!¡± Tang Feiling halted her footsteps and stomped her feet angrily. ¡°Ming Ansheng, stop wherever you are!¡± Although they were supposed to take just a few photos, there was no way she would want to display photos of her in just one wedding gown at the wedding. The more she mulled over it, the angrier she became. So, she thundered her way to the dressing room. Ming Ansheng was inside the dressing room, but Tang Feiling abruptly barged in. The door swung wide open with a bang. Ming Ansheng had just taken off his shirt and he was half-naked. Instinctively, he spun around. ¡°Tang Feiling, what are you doing?¡± he yelled and threw Tang Feiling a glare. His rage shocked Tang Feiling, and she had half a mind to flee right away. Just then, she caught an accidental glimpse of Ming Ansheng¡¯s right chest. Her face fell instantly, and she clenched her teeth in a rage. ¡°Feiling!¡± Her friend came bustling inside, but Tang Feiling left the dressing room. She stretched her hand to snatch the phone away from her friend and clicked on WeiBo. She searched for Su Yue¡¯s half-naked photo that was taken a day before. The original post had been deleted, but the photo had been reposted on various websites. She stared at the tattoo on Su Yue¡¯s chest and thought of Ming Ansheng¡¯s tattoo. ¡®If I can recognize you from the photo, do you think I would be the only one who can?¡¯ Tang Feiling¡¯s eyes were consumed with flames of jealousy and hatred. She muttered Su Yue¡¯s name under her breath. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Tang Feiling¡¯s friend noticed her expression and expressed her concern rather worriedly. Ming Ansheng came out of the room and her friend nudged her. ¡°Your husband is here.¡± Tang Feiling heard the word ¡®husband¡¯ and her jealousy was replaced with smugness. She stowed the phone away and turned around. Ming Ansheng was headed in her direction. She smiled and strode towards him. ¡°Ansheng.¡± Ming Ansheng wore a deadpan expression and swept past her without a word, as though she was invisible. Tang Feiling was so livid that she almost broke her fingers. She would never allow anyone to snatch the title young mistress of the Ming Family and the wife of Bright Vision¡¯s President away from her. Over her dead body! Ming Ansheng exited the building and a gust of cold wind hit him. He got in his car and took out the cigarette case. He lit one out of frustration and took a few puffs. Chapter 1219. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Seven) Ming Ansheng received a text from his secretary reminding him about his flight at noon. He glanced at it briefly when suddenly a group of notifications arrived. ¡®Bright Vision¡¯s President and the young mistress of the Tang family took their wedding photos today. Their wedding is just around the corner¡­¡¯ He frowned and clicked on the news article. Photos of him and Tang Feiling greeted his eyes instantly and his face fell. He clenched his phone tightly, and he had a desire to break his phone. He flung his cigarette away and pressed the ignition button. He then sped off into the distance. ¡­ Although the man¡¯s expression was solemn, the woman beside him was smiling so sweetly. Su Yue stared intently at Ming Ansheng and Tang Feiling¡¯s wedding photo and entered a reverie. ¡®Uncle Ming and the woman he loved will get married on the 5th of December?¡¯ She blinked her eyes and unconsciously, her hand touched the tattoo on her left chest. What should she do? Her heart was still pining for him! He could never hug her anymore in the future if she was feeling down. He could never cook for her, nor wash clothes for her. He wouldn¡¯t be by her side if she fell sick in the future. And in the future, he could never stroke her hair with a warm smile and call her silly lass. She couldn¡¯t understand the reason she was brooding over these matters. If she was her old self, she would probably think nothing would change between them even if he got married. But now she felt that they were drifting apart, as though the entire universe was in between them. She knew that she shouldn¡¯t think of Uncle Ming ever again. Neither should she be sad whenever she thought of him. He would marry Tang Feiling soon and he would start a family. Just like her third brother, he would have children soon. Even though his child might look like that annoying woman and wouldn¡¯t look too adorable, but the child would still be Uncle Ming¡¯s child. She had Jiaojiao now, who was so good to her. Su Yue snapped out of her thoughts. She placed her phone down. Suddenly, a tear leaked from the corner of her eye. She blinked and more came gushing down. ¡°Su Yue.¡± ¡°Su Yue¡­¡± Bai Jing interrupted her thoughts and Su Yue peered at her. She wiped her tears away in sheer guilt. Bai Jing frowned and asked softly, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Su Yue shook her head and managed a brief smile. ¡°I was watching a drama and the story was too sad. That¡¯s why I cried.¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips and glanced at Su Yue¡¯s phone. ¡°Are you eating dinner with Jiao Chen tonight?¡± asked Bai Jing. Su Yue pondered for a moment. ¡°He is too busy recently. I don¡¯t want to tire him out by asking him to go out with me.¡± Her heart was aching when she thought of how tired Jiao Chen must be. She couldn¡¯t comprehend the reason Jiao Chen allowed himself to be so tired. Third sister-in-law said that everyone had their own difficulties. Just that she wasn¡¯t aware of Jiao Chen¡¯s troubles. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Bai Jing hesitated before saying, ¡°I might need to go home. Call Jiao Chen and ask if he wants to eat with you tonight. If he can¡¯t, then you can eat earlier.¡± Su Yue nodded and smiled. ¡°You go back home. I will take care of myself.¡± Bai Jing nodded and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go to class now. I might go home directly after that.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue watched as Bai Jing walked out of the room. She sighed before getting her phone to contact Jiao Chen. Chapter 1220. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Eight) Su Yue stared at Jiao Chen¡¯s number and hesitated briefly before calling him. Jiao Chen¡¯s gentle voice sounded over the phone. ¡°Su Yue?¡± He kept addressing her as Su Yue even when she insisted for him to call her Yueyue. Su Yue also suggested that he should call her by another nickname. But he merely smiled and brushed it off every single time. Su Yue felt that Jiao Chen was a very simple and innocent person. Yet he was mysterious and complicated at times, too. She asked softly, ¡°Jiaojiao, when are you coming back to school?¡± She had just cried and her nose was blocked. So her voice sounded a little nasal, but it wasn¡¯t that obvious. However, Jiao Chen was observant enough to notice it. Sounding concerned, he asked softly, ¡°What happened? Did you cry or are you having a cold?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Su Yue shook her head and smiled. ¡°I just woke up and wanted to ask when you will be back. If you are coming back early, we can eat together. If not, I¡¯ll just go out and buy food back.¡± Actually, she had no idea why she called Jiao Chen. Usually, he was the one who called to inform her if he was coming back or not. But Bai Jing had just left and she felt strangely lonely now that she was alone. When she stayed in the orphanage in Country Y, she was always alone. She would often sit alone and listen to others laughing away. But humans are greedy by nature. She had adapted to a comfortable life and so many people loved her. Her brother, Third Brother, Third sister-in-law, Jiao Chen and her friends¡­ But she felt like something was still missing, and she was yearning for more. Jiao Chen replied, ¡°I should be back by 6 p.m., I¡¯ll bring you out for dinner tonight.¡± He sounded as if he had made prior arrangements. Su Yue asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Wait for me to pick you up.¡± Jiao Chen pressed on, ¡°If you are hungry, eat some snacks first. I¡¯ll call you again later.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She hung up. She then unconsciously clicked on the news article once more¡ªshe felt dejected again. ¡®Why are you being so stubborn? Stop this!¡¯ Su Yue chided herself. Uncle Ming¡¯s concern, gentleness, thoughtfulness, and care for her was because she was his best friend¡¯s sister. He only treated her as a younger sister¡­ Su Yue averted her gaze from her phone. Su Yue spent the next hour doing something useful instead of dwelling on unhappy thoughts. She was determined to keep herself occupied. She brought out all her dirty laundry and even her bedsheets and began to wash them. She wanted to wash everything. When she was younger, she used to wash clothes almost every day. The people at the orphanage gave her plenty of chores to do, and she would always do it her way. She rolled up her sleeves and stepped on the clothes. Soap bubbles were all over the floor and it amused her. She started playing with it and momentarily forgot about her troubles. Suddenly, someone was knocking on the door. It halted her fun and she yelled, ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Who would knock on their door? Could it be Bai Jing? ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m staying one level below.¡± An unfamiliar voice sounded and it puzzled Su Yue. Why would she look for her? She slipped on a pair of slippers and opened the door. A girl she didn¡¯t know was standing outside and Su Yue sized up the girl from head to toe. Chapter 1221. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Nine) The girl glanced at Su Yue and said, ¡°Someone asked me to pass a message to you. She is waiting for you downstairs.¡± Someone was looking for her? Su Yue frowned and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± Why couldn¡¯t the person call her? She walked to her bed and tapped the screen on her phone. There were no missed calls. The girl answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. The woman should be in her mid-twenties.¡± Su Yue heard her and nodded. She mumbled, ¡°I got it.¡± She didn¡¯t thank her. She still wasn¡¯t very used to being polite. The girl said nothing and left. Who was this person? It couldn¡¯t be her third sister-in-law; she would come straight to her room or call her. She wouldn¡¯t get someone to convey a message. Su Yue was puzzled, but she went back to the bathroom to wash her feet. She put on a woolen coat before going out. Most of the students were having their dinner at that time, and there was hardly anyone walking around. It was almost winter and the sun was setting. Brilliant red clouds were scattered across the sky. During the day, the temperature was still quite warm. But during the night, the strong and cold winds were making the trees sway. Su Yue opened the entrance and saw a slender woman standing next to the shrubs. The woman was dressed fashionably, and Su Yue scanned her from head to toe. ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± asked Su Yue, She wore a frown on her face. The woman nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Su Yue stared at the woman, looking rather wary and hostile. ¡°I¡¯m a friend of your good friend Bai Jing.¡± The woman surveyed the surroundings and whispered, ¡°She is in trouble and she needs your help.¡± Su Yue began to get anxious when she heard her. ¡°What happened to Bai Jing!?¡± Bai Jing said she would go home after class. She still should have lessons by now, so why would she be in trouble? The woman frowned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so loud! We can¡¯t let anyone else know. It has to do with the rumors of her being a mistress.¡± It confused Su Yue. ¡°Why?¡± The woman quipped, ¡°That old fellow wants to catch her and she is hiding from him. She needs money from you.¡± It still puzzled Su Yue, and so she pressed on, ¡°But¡­ why didn¡¯t she call me?¡± Shouldn¡¯t Bai Jing call her if she needed help? ¡°Come with me.¡± The woman was being very cautious as she kept glancing around. She led Su Yue towards the South entrance. ¡°Do you know how badly affected Bai Jing was?¡± Su Yue nodded and recalled how Bai Jing had skipped lessons for days because of the rumors. She didn¡¯t even step out of the room. Until now, people still gossiped about her. The woman held on to Su Yue¡¯s arm as they talked about Bai Jing. Su Yue was too worried about Bai Jing that she forgot about everything else. She followed the woman to the entrance. The winds were chilly and strong, so Su Yue stuffed her hands into her coat¡¯s pockets. She halted after they exited and said, ¡°But I need my wallet to give her money. And my phone is in the dormitory.¡± She wanted to turn around. The woman stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t be so anxious.¡± She grabbed tightly onto Su Yue¡¯s arm and pulled her with her. A white car stopped by the roadside and the woman pulled Su Yue to the car. She pointed at the car and said, ¡°Look inside first.¡± Chapter 1222. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Ten) The woman opened the car door. Su Yue was feeling curious, so she bent to peer inside the car. Without warning, an outstretched hand grabbed her clothes and pulled her inside with force. The woman behind her complimented her accomplice¡¯s actions by grabbing her legs and pushing her inside. Su Yue was shocked and alarmed and realized that something had gone terribly wrong. That woman tricked her. She yelled at them, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± She screamed and struggled as hard as she could. ¡°Let me go!¡± But the person restraining her was a massive-looking man. Because of her petite stature, he had easily contained her. The woman shut the door and the car engine ignited immediately. A young man was driving the car and the woman got in and sat beside Su Yue. Su Yue didn¡¯t have the chance to look at their faces when the woman brought out a sack and covered her face. Darkness fell upon her instantly. Su Yue began to panic and momentarily, she lost control of her emotions. Her body was badly shuddering. ¡°Let me go now! Let me go!¡± Her terrified voice made her sound as if she was a different person. The woman coldly said, ¡°Stop shouting and moving. Everything you do right now is useless. Our mistress just wants to invite you for tea. Don¡¯t make such a fuss.¡± Their mistress? Su Yue¡¯s terror and panic vanished instantly and she began to compose herself. She turned her head towards the woman¡¯s direction. She asked, ¡°Who is your mistress?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you get there,¡± the woman spoke in a cold and haughty tone. They handcuffed Su Yue¡¯s wrists and Su Yue realized that the more she struggled, the more the handcuffs cut into her flesh. Gradually, she stopped struggling. She tried her best to compose herself, and she slumped back against the car seat. She only had herself to blame for being too stupid and careless. She berated herself silently for easily being duped and tricked by a stranger. The car sped on smoothly. Su Yue didn¡¯t utter another word of protest and she realized that she could control her emotions now¡­ Even if she had an overwhelming urge to kill all the kidnappers, and that she wanted to scream and vent her anger. However, she had stopped herself from doing all of that. She knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. She was fortunate enough before that Uncle Ming saved her in time. If not¡­ would she still be alive? Su Yue bowed her head in despair and wondered to herself. Who would save her this time? She might never hear Uncle Ming¡¯s gentle voice reassuring her ever again. ¡®Lass, everything is fine¡­¡¯ ¡°We are here. Get down.¡± Amid Su Yue¡¯s despair, the car stopped. She had no idea how long the journey was and where had they brought her to. The man dragged her off the car rather violently. A gust of cold wind blew across and Su Yue shuddered. The sack still covered her head and the thought of what they might do to her terrified her. ¡°Walk.¡± The man and woman flanked her on her sides. Su Yue knew that she was being brought indoors since she couldn¡¯t feel the wind anymore. ¡°Miss, we have brought her here.¡± The woman¡¯s voice rang sharply next to her. A woman¡¯s smug and aloof voice somewhere in front of her. ¡°Get the sack off her.¡± Chapter 1223. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Eleven) Su Yue was shocked and dumbfounded when she heard the voice. Wasn¡¯t she¡­ Uncle Ming¡¯s fianc¨¦e? That repulsive woman, Tang Feiling? Su Yue was still lost in such a shocking realization when suddenly everything became bright. They lifted the sack off her head. ¡°You¡­¡± Su Yue furiously glared at the haughty-looking woman standing before her. She widened her mouth and stammered, ¡°What¡­ are you trying to do?¡± Why did Uncle Ming¡¯s fianc¨¦e kidnap her? What did she want? Was she trying to seek revenge for the injury she had caused her? Su Yue¡¯s mind was racing with various theories and guesses as she nervously sized up her surroundings. They seemed to be inside a rundown and messy warehouse. Su Yue caught a whiff of petroleum. Tang Feiling crossed her arms in front of her chest as she watched her, looking triumphant and overbearing. ¡°Su Yue, you really have no idea?¡± Without waiting for Su Yue to answer, she glanced at the couple behind Su Yue. ¡°Invite Miss Su to take a seat,¡± commanded Tang Feiling. ¡°Yes.¡± Each of them grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm respectively and pushed her down on a wooden chair. They then swiftly tied her up with ropes and bound her to the chair. Another wave of terror and panic seized Su Yue when they tied her up. Her eyes were blazing with fury and her expression displayed her fear. Tang Feiling noticed her fear and panic, and she became even more pleased. She sauntered towards Su Yue in her high heels. As usual, her heels produced loud thudding sounds as it hit the dirty floor. For a moment, she stood peering at Su Yue from a lofty position before bending her body. A malicious and sly smile appeared on her face as she sneered, ¡°Seducing my fianc¨¦e so shamelessly. If I don¡¯t teach you a lesson, how will I be able to vent my anger?¡± She wiped off the smile on her face and her expression turned vicious and cold. Ming Ansheng would postpone all his schedules for her. But he couldn¡¯t even stay to take a few more photos with her. They had been engaged for nearly three years and had never held her hand before. Yet, he kissed this wretched lass. And the thing that infuriated her the most was that this shameless girl had a cat tattoo on her chest. Ming Ansheng¡¯s tattoo was a mouse. What did it mean? Is the cat catching the mouse? Or the cat will eat the mouse? ¡°I didn¡¯t! I didn¡¯t seduce Uncle Ming.¡± Tang Feiling was already incensed and it made her blood boil when she heard Su Yue¡¯s denials, and how she addressed Ming Ansheng as Uncle Ming so sweetly. She mustered all of her strength and slapped her abruptly. Su Yue almost fainted. Without waiting for Su Yue to recover, Tang Feiling¡¯s cold voice rang once more. ¡°Shameless b*tch! No wonder you were born by a mistress. You and your mother are truly mistresses.¡± Her slap left a clear handprint on Su Yue¡¯s fair face. She raised her head, seized with anger and screamed, ¡°I¡¯m not! I¡¯m not a mistress!¡± She hated mistresses with all her gut. Tang Feiling knew that she had succeeded in tormenting Su Yue. She mercilessly continued, ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. You¡¯re a chip off the old block. Your mother may have succeeded in ruining someone¡¯s marriage but I will not let you destroy my marriage with Ming Ansheng.¡± Su Yue denied it vehemently. ¡°No, I¡¯m not! I¡¯m¡­ not.¡± She didn¡¯t have any intention of breaking them up, although she really liked Uncle Ming. It even broke her heart to an extent that she felt like dying when she knew that Uncle Ming was going to marry someone else. Chapter 1224. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Twelve) The more agitated Su Yue was, the more victorious Tang Feiling felt. She savagely taunted her. ¡°You are! You¡¯re a mistress and a shameless b*tch! An illegitimate daughter who shouldn¡¯t even be alive. You¡¯ll never be able to get married in this lifetime since you¡¯re born to be a mistress hidden from plain sight.¡± ¡°Do you really think Ming Ansheng will like you? He couldn¡¯t have started the kiss. You must have seduced him.¡± ¡°Do you know what Grandfather Ming vowed? He will never let an illegitimate daughter, whose mother was a mistress, enter the Ming family¡¯s doors. Ming Ansheng went to take our wedding photos today, and you¡¯re nothing to him.¡± ¡°How dare you seduce him!¡± Tang Feiling mercilessly and viciously fired insults at her. Su Yue uncontrollably broke down. ¡°I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Su Yue leaped to her feet with the chair still attached to her. She blindly moved forward and used her head to knock Tang Feiling. She shouted ¡®I didn¡¯t¡¯ repeatedly. She would never become a mistress! She hated them so much. Su Yue had knocked Tang Feiling over. And before the latter could scream in pain, Su Yue had attacked her like a savage beast. She dodged her swiftly and Su Yue fell right ahead, her body collapsing on the floor. Her limbs were all tied up, and she had no more strength to get up. Tang Feiling strode to her and aimed a kick at Su Yue¡¯s face with her high heels. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Su Yue screamed in pain and her face suffered the brunt of her kick. Tang Feiling bent and grabbed Su Yue¡¯s ponytail. She pulled as hard as she could. ¡°B*tch! Today I will settle all my scores with you!¡± Tang Feiling angrily spat those words with gritted teeth. She commanded the woman and man to prop Su Yue back into a sitting position again. Su Yue¡¯s face was swollen, red, and her cheek was dented. Even her tears seemed frozen. She stared at Tang Feiling and refused to yield. She wasn¡¯t a mistress and she didn¡¯t want to be one. And she had sworn that she would never be one in the future. Tang Feiling turned around and grabbed a long metal rod from a barrel near her. The end of the rod was heated and it was burning red. She raised the pole and walked towards Su Yue. There was vengeance in her eyes and an evil smirk playing on her lips. Su Yue widened her eyes in fear as she shook her head. ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know shortly.¡± A cold gleam flashed past Tang Feiling¡¯s eyes as she bent to remove Su Yue¡¯s coat. Su Yue eyed the burning rod, shaking badly in fear. She tried to twist her body in a bid to escape, but the couple had restrained her¡ªshe couldn¡¯t move an inch. Tang Feiling grabbed Su Yue¡¯s collar quickly and pulled her sweater down. It revealed Su Yue¡¯s upper chest. Including that lazy and adorable cat tattoo. Su Yue knew what was coming for her and she shook her head violently. ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± It was the first time she cast aside her pride to plead someone. She was crying like a coward. ¡°I beg you¡­ Please don¡¯t¡­ No¡­ Ahhh!¡± The burning rod was pressed against her chest. Her screams shook the hearts of everyone who cared for her. Chapter 1225. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Thirteen) Su Yue fainted from the pain. ¡®It hurts!¡¯ When she regained consciousness, she felt pain everywhere. She opened her eyes slowly. She was in pitch-black darkness. ¡®Ssss¡¯ She gritted her teeth and the immense pain she felt on her chest cleared her mind. She looked down at her left breast, but it was too dark that she couldn¡¯t see a thing. The scene of Tang Feiling burning her with the red hot metal filled her mind. She shook her head in panic and went hysterical. ¡°No¡­ Don¡¯t¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t see nor touch anything. She could only feel. But the immense, grieving pain didn¡¯t just come from her wound, but her heart as well. Her tattoo was gone. Her cat tattoo was no more. Her awesome cat, which was better than Uncle Ming¡¯s mouse, was gone. Su Yue went hysterical and she fell to the ground, along with the chair. Her face pressed against the cold hard ground as she bawled. Uncle Ming will never save her again¡­ Uncle Ming will never carry her up from the ground ever again¡­ From now on, she wouldn¡¯t think of him anymore. ¡­ The Yan family was having their dinner when the butler interrupted, saying that someone was looking for Xuxu. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu exited the courtyard and saw a tall figure standing there. It startled both of them. ¡°Jiao Chen?¡± He was standing there in a suit. Xuxu had a bad feeling about it. She rushed over and pushed the door open, standing before him. ¡°What brings you here?¡± He had been dating Yueyue for almost two months, yet he would always find reasons to turn her down whenever she asked him over for a meal. The first two times, she believed that he was really busy. But when he kept turning her down, even a fool could tell that he wasn¡¯t ready to get to know her family on a deeper level. Yet he had turned up at their doorstep alone. It had to be because of Yueyue. What could have happened? Without waiting for his reply, she asked in a panic, ¡°Where¡¯s Yueyue? She didn¡¯t come with you?¡± If Su Yue was with him, the butler wouldn¡¯t have to inform them of their arrival. ¡°Is Su Yue here?¡± Jiao Chen asked. Her heart fell. ¡°No, what¡¯s wrong? Isn¡¯t she in school? It isn¡¯t the weekend, why would she be back?¡± Seeing his expression, she became flustered. ¡°Did you two get into a fight?¡± ¡®No, impossible.¡¯ Jiao Chen was mature and well-behaved. Even if they were to fight, he would give in to Yueyue. Much less make her run off in anger and chase her to her house. He wasn¡¯t such a person. The more she analyzed, the more panicky she became. ¡®What happened to Yueyue?¡¯ The news about her had blown up in the past two days. Although it seemed like she was unaffected, her eccentric personality always shocked them. Jiao Chen replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know where she¡¯s gone. She didn¡¯t bring her phone. But someone from the dormitory said that she left with a long-haired woman around five o¡¯clock. She was only wearing slippers when she left.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes widened. She grabbed his elbow worriedly. ¡°She hasn¡¯t returned to the dormitory? Where¡¯s Bai Jing?¡± They lived in the same dormitory. They were always together. ¡°Bai Jing went home after her lessons ended in the afternoon,¡± Jiao Chen answered, looking composed, but he was sweating profusely. He anxiously said, ¡°I¡¯ve already called Bai Jing. She didn¡¯t see her.¡± Chapter 1226. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Fourteen) She wasn¡¯t with Bai Jing, she was with a woman¡­ But who else did Yueyue know? Xuxu lost her cool. She turned around to grab Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­ Yueyue. Let¡¯s find Yueyue.¡± Yan Rusheng patted her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make the arrangements now.¡± He then turned around and entered the house. Of course, he was worried as well. But he couldn¡¯t show it, or else Xuxu would become even more frantic. Xuxu rushed into the house and changed into her shoes. The chauffeur already drove the car out and was waiting by the entrance. When Xuxu returned, Jiao Chen had disappeared. She looked around and the driver knew who she was looking for. He said, ¡°Third Madam Yan, the boy already drove off.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She turned around just when Yan Rusheng stepped out. He was wearing a black coat and the office clothes he was wearing earlier. He was walking in long, worried strides, and he was on the phone. Xuxu hopped onto the car immediately. The chauffeur drove off after Yan Rusheng entered the car. ¡°Mm, notify me the moment you have news.¡± After he ended the call, Xuxu worriedly asked, ¡°Where are we going now?¡± Yan Rusheng put his phone down and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve just asked around. Yueyue left from the South Gate, but the school surveillance was undergoing some renovation works, so there are no footages during that period of time.¡± Xuxu frowned in suspicion. ¡°How could it be so coincidental?¡± Just when Su Yue went missing, the surveillance was undergoing a renovation? Then she became frantic. ¡°Someone must¡¯ve abducted Yueyue.¡± Su Yue had been kidnapped before, so she was extremely worried. But she couldn¡¯t think of anyone who would be responsible. The previous time, it was Fang Jiayin. Who was it now? Could it be the students who were jealous of her? Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°The principal meant the surveillance incurred some issues a few days ago, and they did the fixing today.¡± But Xuxu didn¡¯t believe in coincidences. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it was by chance.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t reply. He frowned and his expression turned heavy. Xuxu leaned against her seat and frowned, looking outside the window. She couldn¡¯t calm her emotions. Her entire mind was filled with images of the previous time someone had abducted Su Yue¡ªher blood-drenched clothes. The previous time, Ming Ansheng saved her in time. But if she really was abducted this time, it had already been so long¡­ She then suddenly decided. She had been hesitating about something this whole time¡­ Xuxu took out her phone and sent him a message. ¡®Su Yue is missing, is she with you?¡¯ Although she knew, she probably wasn¡¯t. But as long as there was a slim chance, she would cling onto it. The sky was already dark. ¡®Yueyue, where are you now?¡¯ She was still immature and she knew nothing. She had been through so much since she was young. And now she was in someone¡¯s hands. What would she do? Her tears fell as she thought about it. ¡­ Country M. The plane touched down at the capital city. The man leaned against his seat, staring out the window. The runway was so vast. He stared into the far distance¡­ The afternoon sun shone on his handsome face. After the plane landed, he picked up his phone, turning it on with his slender fingers. The screen lit up. Chapter 1227. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Fifteen) Hie messages kept streaming in, along with missed calls. He opened his messages, intending to glance through them briefly. Among all of his notifications, a familiar name caught his eye immediately. Su Yue! ¡®Su Yue is missing, is she with you?¡¯ It was from Wen Xuxu. His heart leaped into his throat, and he clicked on it immediately to read it in fuller detail. But there were only those few words. The message was sent last night at 6 pm. Now, it was past midnight there. ¡®It had been so long!¡¯ Ming Ansheng panicked and hurriedly called Xuxu. After two rings, she answered the call. Ming Ansheng knew that the situation was bad from the speed of which she had picked up the call. ¡°Hello?¡± he asked worriedly. Even his tone had changed. ¡°Yueyue has gone missing. She hasn¡¯t been found until now.¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s voice was anxious. Ming Ansheng froze, his phone almost sliding out of his palm. It had been six hours since Xuxu sent him the message. And they haven¡¯t found her. ¡°President¡­¡± ¡°President!¡± His secretary called him twice before he regained his senses. The plane had already stilled. ¡°We¡¯re here. We should alight,¡± his secretary reminded. ¡°Book tickets to return immediately.¡± Ming Ansheng stood up and walked off in anxious strides. ¡°President, we¡¯ve just arrived and we¡¯re heading back now?¡± asked his secretary as he chased after him. Usually, nobody would doubt his commands, but today was different. They had important meetings and arrangements in Country M. Their flight here was over ten hours, and now they had to fly back immediately¡­ Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°What? I didn¡¯t make myself clear?¡± His secretary didn¡¯t dare to ask further. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll book it right now.¡± He then whipped out his phone to book the tickets. ¡°President, the earliest trip back is at 6 pm.¡± Ming Ansheng knew that his secretary was referring to 6 pm in their country back home. He walked down the stairs in a hurry, walking as he made a call. He spoke in English. ¡°Sun, I might need to borrow your plane for a while.¡± The person on the other end must¡¯ve agreed, for a grateful smile formed on his face. After he ended the call, he dialed another number. ¡°Help me run a check on Su Yue: her entire day¡¯s activities for yesterday. The more detailed, the better.¡± All these he could find out himself. He didn¡¯t have to ask Wen Xuxu. Or perhaps, he already felt that Wen Xuxu had already caught on to something. From her short text, she definitely had an underlying meaning. Wen Xuxu was a calm and unflustered woman who was always rational and thought of the bigger picture. So, she wouldn¡¯t expose him even if she knew. But he knew that she wouldn¡¯t agree to it. She would use her own methods to create distance between Su Yue and himself. It was morning by the time the private plane touched down in the capital city. The moment he got off the plane, someone welcomed him immediately. ¡°President Ming.¡± ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done the checking. Miss Su Yue was in the dormitory the entire day. Past five in the afternoon, a long-haired unknown woman asked a girl who was staying in the same dormitory to call Miss Su Yue down. She never returned to the dormitory after.¡± Chapter 1228. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Sixteen) The person reported to him, following his footsteps. ¡°Miss Su Yue didn¡¯t have her phone with her when she left. She was wearing slippers. A University¡¯s surveillance system was under repair, so there were no footages. Third Young Master and Third Madam Yan have been searching for her the entire night, but still no news of her¡­¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He whipped it out and saw that Yan Rusheng was on the line. He hurriedly picked up. ¡°Third Yan.¡± He intentionally restrained the nervousness bubbling within him. Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Ming Ansheng, when I find Su Yue, Tang Feiling will have the same fate as Wen Xinyi.¡± Ming Ansheng immediately knew what he meant. A cold gleam flashed across his eyes and the temperature in the capital city seemed to lower down to a few degrees. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it myself.¡± He replied coldly, hanging up. ¡®Tang Feiling!¡¯ Ming Ansheng gave off a murderous aura. Even his secretary and the man who welcomed him, who flanked him on both sides, kept some distance away from him. ¡°Get someone to check Tang Feiling¡¯s whereabouts the entire day yesterday.¡± Ming Ansheng turned his head and commanded the man who reported to him. Without waiting for his reply, something crossed his mind. He continued, ¡°Bring her bodyguard, Chen Rong to me.¡± ¡®Long hair that reached her waist, slender figure¡­¡¯ ¡°Yes,¡± the man answered. ¡­ Both cars were driving in opposite directions on the expressway. They stopped when they met. The tall man got off his black Mercedes, looking left and right before he ran to cross the expressway. He walked over to the silvery-white, large multi-purpose vehicle. The people in the car had already alighted to help him open the car door. A long-haired woman sat in the car, restrained by two men. ¡°Are you going to admit it yourself, or do I have to force it out of you?¡± Ming Ansheng entered the car and said coolly to the woman. Panic flashed across her eyes. She acted calm and said, ¡°Young Master Ming, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Where is Su Yue?¡± She had been missing for over ten hours. He didn¡¯t have time for her to beat around the bush. But the woman continued feigning innocence. ¡°Young Master Ming, I don¡¯t understand.¡± She didn¡¯t dare to look at him. ¡°Chen Rong, I¡¯ll make you understand.¡± Ming Ansheng grabbed her long hair and forced her to look him in the eye. His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through her. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°The three-room apartment you and Zhang Mingchao bought must¡¯ve cost at least six million.¡± Chen Rong¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at him. Full of shock and alarm. Ming Ansheng smiled coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, the son you both had, is quite cute.¡± Chen Rong paled. Her voice was panicky and trembling. She stammered, ¡°Young Master Ming¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°Where is Su Yue?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his voice once again. He was about to rip this woman to shreds. Yes, he couldn¡¯t bear to think of how his little Yueyue could have been tormented and in pain at this moment. He wanted those who hurt her to be burned into ashes. Chen Rong went weak with fear. She stammered, ¡°Miss Su is¡­ in an abandoned warehouse along Furong street.¡± Without waiting for her to finish, he had already hopped off the car. ¡°Hold her captive.¡± He commanded. Chen Rong immediately pleaded from behind him. ¡°Young Master Ming, it was a moment of folly. Please let Zhang Mingchao and I off¡­ Please¡­¡± ¡®Let her off?¡¯ Chapter 1229. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Seventeen) From now on, anyone who lay a finger on Su Yue, he wouldn¡¯t let off. Ming Ansheng took huge strides to his car and ordered his driver to speed off. The car flew across the expressway, and Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart was palpitating wildly. How he wished he could fly right to Su Yue. He seemed to hear her voice in his head. Her pleas for help. The scene of him finding her when she was kidnapped the previous time filled his mind. He didn¡¯t know when his hands had clenched into fists, nails digging into his flesh. He couldn¡¯t imagine what torture Su Yue was in. He knew that Tang Feiling was hot-headed and brainless. Now, Yueyue¡­ How was she now¡­? His anger boiled the more he thought about it. ¡®Yueyue, hang in there. Uncle Ming is coming to save you.¡¯ ¡­ Su Yue didn¡¯t know how many times she had lost consciousness. It hurt every time her heart beats. She seemed to have cried all her tears. She didn¡¯t have any left. She fell to the floor, unable to change her position. She was awake the entire night. Helpless, fearful and full of despair¡­ The morning sun shone, but her heart remained cold. She felt like she was about to breathe her last breath. ¡®It hurts¡¯. One word flashed through her mind: Pain. At the start, the place where her heart was situated, seemed to hurt the most. But now, she didn¡¯t know where she was hurting. Probably everywhere. She started to lose consciousness again. Slam! Suddenly the door slammed, jolting her awake. Her thick eyelashes trembled. She opened her eyes, staring at the entrance. The big, heavy gates seemed pushed open from the outside. Who could it be? Was her third brother and third sister-in-law here to save her? Su Yue¡¯s body slightly trembled in excitement. A tall figure entered, the sounds of her high heels hitting the floor rang through her ears, shredding her hope. She closed her eyes slowly, losing all hopes of survival. ¡°Su Yue, the entire world is looking for you. You¡¯re really capable,¡± Tang Feiling commented, squatting down beside her. She grabbed her long hair and smiled coldly. ¡°But they will never find you.¡± Su Yue closed her eyes, not saying a word. Compared to the pain on her chest, the pain of Tang Feiling pulling her hair was nothing. ¡°You¡­!¡± ¡°Yueyue!¡± Tang Feiling was about to say something when a man¡¯s worried voice sounded from the entrance. Tang Feiling looked over. The man walked over murderously and she instantly paled. ¡°An¡­ Ansheng¡­¡± Ming Ansheng rushed towards Su Yue and when he saw her, his heart clenched, hurting as though someone was squeezing it with a sharp claw. ¡°Yueyue!¡± He shouted, his heart aching as he bent over to pull her up. Her clothes hung off her loosely, revealing her left chest, making Ming Ansheng lose his senses. Tears welled up in his eyes. He stood up and grabbed hold of Tang Feiling who was about to flee. ¡°Tang Feiling!¡± He gritted his teeth, his cold aura suffocating her. There was a murderous gleam in his eyes. Tang Feiling paled in fear. She opened her mouth to speak, ¡°An¡­ Ansheng I¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Ming Ansheng grabbed her hair and smashed her head against the wall. He stepped on something. He looked downwards to see a long metal rod, there was a small triangular iron piece at the end of it. His eyes widened before looking at the charred iron bucket. Chapter 1230. Silly Girl, You Are the One I Like (part Eighteen) His heart seemed to stop beating. He bent over to pick up the metal rod. Still grabbing onto her hair, he pulled her over to the metal bucket. It was full of charcoal and ashes. There was also a bottle of gasoline and a lighter beside it. He bent over and poured the entire bottle of gasoline into the bucket. He then lit it up with the lighter and put the rod in. His actions terrified Tang Feiling. She realized what he was doing and yelled, ¡°Ansheng, don¡¯t. You can¡¯t do this to me.¡± She tried to break free from his grasp. But she was no match for Ming Ansheng. She watched the burning red triangular metal. Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze was fiery. He picked up the rod. ¡°No¡­ No¡­¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± The woman¡¯s dreadful cries reverberated within the warehouse. It woke Su Yue even further. She opened her eyes. They widened when she saw the scene before her. The tall man pinned Tang Feiling against a wall, giving off a murderous aura. She opened her small mouth, wondering if she was in a dream. Was that Uncle Ming? She had decided not to think about him, but at that moment, her pain and grievances resurfaced uncontrollably when she saw him. How she longed for his embrace. How she longed for his comfort. Her eyes glistened with tears and she gritted her teeth, her breathing inconsistent. ¡°Tang Feiling, you b*tch!¡± Ming Ansheng threw the rod aside and grabbed her head, roughly flinging her to the side. Tang Feiling fell to the ground, both sides of her face bleeding. She opened her arms, not daring to touch her face, rolling on the floor in pain. It startled Su Yue when she saw her face. ¡°Yueyue.¡± The tall man was already before her. His gentle, heart-aching, trembling voice made her lost and confused. She peered up at him and said in a daze, ¡°She¡­ She¡¯s your fiancee.¡± She hadn¡¯t eaten since yesterday and was in pain the entire night. She was weak and frail, her voice a whisper. But Ming Ansheng heard her clearly. He looked at her, his lips curling in a smile full of heartache. ¡°Silly girl, you¡¯re the one I like.¡± He had thought he would have a hard time confessing, and it would be heated and passionate if he ever did it. Never did he expect his confession to be so calm. However, Su Yue¡¯s heart fluttered wildly at his calm confession. She peered up at him, staring at him unblinkingly. All of a sudden, all her pain faded away. She wasn¡¯t delighted nor angry¡ªshe was shocked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I brought this on you,¡± Ming Ansheng apologized, squatting down before her. He untied her. Looking at the girl before him, no words could describe how guilty he felt towards her. He should control his feelings. He should face them, brave and unrestrained. Su Yue¡¯s body fell limply to the side when he had loosened all the ropes. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng nimbly caught her, carrying her small frame with ease. The 18-year-old girl felt extremely light in his arms. Heart-aching, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead gently. Chapter 1231. The Price He Paid for Stepping Beyond the Boundary (part One) After hearing Ming Ansheng¡¯s confession, it still left Su Yue in a daze¡ªbut then a kiss interrupted her daze. She clenched Ming Ansheng¡¯s shirt and buried her head in his chest. She was afraid of looking at his face. She had yearned for his embrace, and she just wanted to savor this feeling for a while. Just a while longer. Ming Ansheng carried Su Yue and left the warehouse. He strode to the car. ¡°Drive.¡± He commanded the chauffeur before the door was even closed. The chauffeur pressed the ignition button and Ming Ansheng closed the door with a loud slam. Su Yue¡¯s upper chest was still exposed and her clothes were still brushing against the wound. The excruciating pain was enough for her to lose consciousness given her weakened state. She clenched her teeth as she tried to endure the pain. A crease appeared in between her eyebrows. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his hand to lift her clothes away from her chest. Her red and swollen wound contrasted with her fair and smooth skin. The sight was alarming and ghastly that it made Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest feel painful. He should be the one enduring this heart-wrenching pain and suffering. The area of her red and swollen wound was large and there were blisters forming. But the wound was on her chest, an intimate body part¡­ Ming Ansheng briefly deliberated before stretching his hand suddenly. He broke the rearview mirror with one clean snap, and it gave the chauffeur a bad shock that he almost stepped on the brakes. ¡°Do not turn your head,¡± Ming Ansheng coldly commanded as he removed his blazer to hide Su Yue from sight. He tore Su Yue¡¯s clothes with swift movements. Su Yue¡¯s chest was exposed. Her pale face blushed, and she instinctively covered her chest. She glared at Ming Ansheng and weakly said, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Her hand accidentally brushed against her wound, but she quickly she retracted her hand. Ming Ansheng stared at her wound without blinking. Su Yue knew that he was looking at her wound, but¡­ it was her chest. She hastily tried to cover herself. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Ming Ansheng reproached, but his voice seemed to entrance Su Yue. She obeyed him without a word and stopped. The man bent and blew gently on her wound. Su Yue bent her head to gaze at him. Her heart pounded furiously beyond her control. Her heart and mind were racing and the pain from the wound seemed to intensify. Her mind seemed to clear out by the increased pain. ¡®You¡¯re a mistress. Your mother may have ruined someone¡¯s marriage, but I will not let you destroy my marriage with Ming Ansheng¡­¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re a mistress and a shameless b*tch. Your mother and you are truly mistresses¡­¡¯ ¡®Do you know what Grandfather Ming vowed? He will never let an illegitimate daughter whose mother was a mistress, enter the Ming family¡¯s doors. Ming Ansheng went with me to take wedding photos today¡­¡¯ Tang Feiling¡¯s words rang repeatedly in her head, tormenting her quietly. ¡°Uncle Ming, don¡¯t do this.¡± Su Yue was about to explode from overwhelming emotions as she shoved Ming Ansheng away from her. She snatched his blazer to cover herself. She moved away from him and leaned against the car door. She turned her head and stared at him. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when you do this. Jiao Chen will be unhappy.¡± Ming Ansheng heard her, and his body and expression froze at the same time. c The words that came out from her mouth sounded so harsh. Chapter 1232. The Price He Paid for Stepping Beyond the Boundary (part Two) Her smile and actions were so childlike. She radiated a youthful vibe from head to toe. Ming Ansheng, how are you compatible with her? Both of them knew that they were from two different worlds from their own perspective. Su Yue didn¡¯t say a word throughout the journey as she endured the pain in silence. She was perspiring from her forehead, but she forced herself not to utter a single sound. If she was her old self, she would have snuggled against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest and whine about the pain. But she didn¡¯t have the courage to depend on him anymore or to dream of his gentle embrace. Growing up had unconsciously transformed her. She had to suppress all her feelings and love for him, no matter how much pain she was in. Ming Ansheng knew that Su Yue was in great pain, but she was trying her best to keep her distance from him. That was the price he had to pay for stepping beyond the boundary. They reached the hospital, and Su Yue got off the car by herself without Ming Ansheng¡¯s help. She slumped against the car door, feeling weak. She looked as though she would collapse at any moment. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to see a doctor.¡± Ming Ansheng went up to her and carried her swiftly. There can¡¯t be any more delay regarding her treatment. ¡­ ¡°Take note of the patient¡¯s temperature.¡± Su Yue was lying on the hospital bed after the doctor attended to her wound. The doctor instructed Ming Ansheng regarding Su Yue. Ming Ansheng nodded as he listened, although his eyes remained fixed on Su Yue. Su Yue glanced out of the window. It was a warm and fine day. But her sparkling bright eyes were filled with coldness and sorrow. After the doctor left, Ming Ansheng walked to Su Yue¡¯s bed and sat down on a chair. Su Yue¡¯s gaze remained beyond the window as she stared at the sky. Ming Ansheng gazed at her face and couldn¡¯t seem to string words to form a sentence. ¡°Yueyue, is it still painful?¡± He had no idea when he had become so hesitant while showering her with concern. He had to be very careful around her in order not to reveal his love for her. Ming Ansheng peered at the floor silently when Su Yue¡¯s voice sounded. She softly spoke, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not painful anymore.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t lift his head. Su Yue turned and glanced at him. She couldn¡¯t seem to remember his features properly. From the first time she met him, she had never focused on his looks. She didn¡¯t realize how good-looking he was, how thick his eyebrows were, and how beautiful his black and shiny his eyes were. This was the first time she had stared so intently at his face, studying his features in detail. If she had done so when she had first met him, she would definitely compliment his looks without a second thought. He was the only person she would complain about her pain and whine to. She even requested him to blow at her wounds. That was her first time whining about pain. Actually, the previous pain she felt couldn¡¯t be compared to the pain of being stabbed. She had become so frail and weak whenever she was with him. Come to think of it, she finally understood that she was too reliant on him. He had always showered her with a generous concern and love, and she had gotten used to it. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his head suddenly and he glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue was taken aback and she hastily averted her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she answered. She was on an IV drip and her arm laid on the bed with layers of tape. Ming Ansheng wanted to touch her hand, but still, he decided not to. He glanced at her and said, ¡°Yueyue, I hope you don¡¯t feel burdened by me. I can control my own feelings. Please don¡¯t feel awkward around me.¡± Chapter 1233. The Price He Paid for Stepping Beyond the Boundary (part Three) His words were harsh yet helpless. Yet, when the words left his mouth, both of their hearts¡­ ached. Su Yue pursed her lips, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s not awkward. You¡¯re still Uncle Ming.¡± She forced a smile. Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips curled upwards and he nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± His voice was hoarse, her words like sharp knives that pierced his heart. Su Yue said nothing further. She gazed out the window. In the ward, when he had calmed down, Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Have a good rest. I¡¯ll phone your third brother and third sister-in-law to check their location.¡± Then he stood up and walked to the door, taking out his phone. A selfish thought crossed his mind: not to tell them her whereabouts. When she was in his arms just now, the thought of bringing her away and hiding her from the world even crossed his mind. Su Yue watched him leave, gritting her teeth. Her tears betrayed her by rolling down her face. ¡®Silly girl, you¡¯re the one that I like¡­¡¯ Uncle Ming liked her, and she liked him back. She was a mistress. She was really a mistress now. Tang Feiling was right¡ªshe had seduced Uncle Ming unintentionally. ¡®Su Yue, if Uncle Ming calls off his marriage with Tang Feiling, you¡¯re a mistress. You¡¯re a mistress¡­¡¯ Although she was on painkillers, her heart still ached. But she didn¡¯t know if the pain was physical or emotional. ¡°Yueyue.¡± The ward door was pushed open and Xuxu rushed in. Su Yue retracted her thoughts and looked at the door. She smiled. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± They had applied medication on her wound, and she was in her hospital clothes, so Xuxu couldn¡¯t see the wound on her chest. Her heart ached at the sight of Su Yue¡¯s swollen cheeks. ¡°You scared me to death.¡± Xuxu sat down by her bed and caressed her face gently. Tang Feiling had slapped her real hard yesterday, so the handprint on her cheek was still clear as day. Xuxu gritted her teeth when she saw it. If Ming Ansheng hadn¡¯t already disfigured Tang Feiling¡¯s face, she would¡¯ve slapped her a hundred times over. But it shocked her when she heard that Ming Ansheng had disfigured Tang Feiling¡¯s face with a red hot metal rod. Of course, it was outrageous that Tang Feiling had kidnapped Yueyue and even abused her, but to think Ming Ansheng had retaliated so wildly. A thought flashed through her mind and her face paled. She anxiously lifted the covers off Su Yue and asked, ¡°Yueyue, are you hurt anywhere else?¡± Tang Feiling was rash and brainless. What did she do to Yueyue in the span of a night? What did she do that made Ming Ansheng retaliate so unmercifully? ¡®Could she have¡­?¡¯ The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Su Yue saw through her. Xuxu still didn¡¯t know about her chest wound. She was afraid that Xuxu would be heartbroken, so she smiled and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere else.¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu noticed something unusual on Su Yue¡¯s chest under Su Yue¡¯s thin hospital clothes. Su Yue saw her gaze and hurriedly covered herself with the blanket with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s really nothing else.¡± But of course, she couldn¡¯t get past Xuxu. ¡°Yueyue, let me have a look.¡± Xuxu flipped off the covers forcefully and unbuttoned Su Yue¡¯s clothes. Chapter 1234. The Price He Paid for Stepping Beyond the Boundary (part Four) Her left chest was swelling. It was medicated, and they pasted a gauze over it, but the surrounding area was obviously red and swollen. Xuxu felt like she couldn¡¯t breathe. Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Yueyue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine now. It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Su Yue smiled and shook her head. She covered herself with the blanket, up to her neck. Her bright eyes made Xuxu¡¯s heart ache. If she hadn¡¯t remembered wrongly, that was the position of her cat tattoo. But she couldn¡¯t understand why Tang Feiling had targeted it. By the looks of it, she knew how serious the wound was without even taking off the gauze. ¡®That¡¯s where her heart is situated!¡¯ She finally understood why Ming Ansheng showed no mercy to Tang Feiling. She hadn¡¯t personally witnessed the torture she was in when Ming Ansheng had found Yueyue. How did she endure the entire night? Even Tang Feiling¡¯s death couldn¡¯t make up for what she had done. ¡°Where¡¯s my third brother?¡± Su Yue diverted the topic. Xuxu smiled. ¡°He¡¯s on his way with Jiao Chen.¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡°Jiaojiao is coming too?¡± She then realized that she shouldn¡¯t be surprised. They were dating after all. They had arranged to have dinner yesterday, and he was supposed to fetch her. He must¡¯ve been the first person to realize that she was missing. Su Yue was thinking about how worried Jiao Chen must¡¯ve been when Xuxu said, ¡°You gave him a fright of his life. He came looking for us at our house yesterday.¡± Su Yue¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°He¡­ went to our house?¡± He was always unwilling to go over to their house for a meal, but he went there yesterday? They said that Jiao Chen didn¡¯t talk to girls outside of school or work. They said that he was very low-profile, refusing to take part in any activities other than his favorite basketball. He didn¡¯t care about any awards. He rejected all invitations to high-profile events. But he had changed since he got together with her. She didn¡¯t know how much he had changed, but to everyone else, it was clear that Jiao Chen had drastically changed. When he drove and waited below her dormitory with flowers, she knew that he was trying to stop the condemnation against her. She had never told him her address. He found it himself. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t difficult to find, but it proved that she was in his heart now. ¡®I¡¯ll like you when you like me¡­¡¯ Her heart ached when she recalled his answer. But more so, she felt a pang of indescribable guilt. The whole reason she got together with him was because of Uncle Ming¡ªto forget about him. Because of another man, she opened up Jiao Chen¡¯s heart and walked in¡­ Xuxu nodded. Then she said, ¡°I was extremely shocked when I saw him standing in our courtyard.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips together, remaining silent. The door wasn¡¯t locked, so it was pushed open. In strolled two tall guys. ¡°Ah Sheng,¡± Xuxu greeted when she saw him. He was with Jiao Chen. His handsome face didn¡¯t flinch when he saw Su Yue. He walked over, peering down at her. Her face was extremely swollen, especially the mark Tang Feiling¡¯s high heel made, where her face dented inwards. Chapter 1235. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part One) After staring at Su Yue for a few seconds, Jiao Chen bent over and caressed the swollen area on her face, not saying a word. His gaze was warm. Su Yue blinked and smiled. ¡°Where were you planning on taking me for dinner yesterday?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you there when you¡¯re better,¡± Jiao Chen replied in a calm voice. He retracted his hand, his fingers grazed her face. His fingers were cold to the touch, unlike the emotions in his eyes. Su Yue froze and Jiao Chen retracted his arm. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t say a word. He knew how much the little lass had suffered just by her thin and beaten-up face. After standing for a while, he said to Xuxu, ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Xuxu knew that he was going to find Ming Ansheng, so she nodded and agreed. Yan Rusheng looked back at Su Yue with a deep gaze and turned away, walking out of the door. Ming Ansheng was standing by the window at the end of the quiet walkway. A lighted cigarette was between his fingers. Yan Rusheng gently closed the door and coldly stared at Ming Ansheng before walking over. The cleaning staff had just cleaned the floor, so the window was open. The cold breeze blew in and the smell of smoke filled his nostrils before he even reached Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what are you thinking about?¡± His tone sounded sarcastic. Ming Ansheng looked over at him and remained silent. He gazed back outside the window, watching the blue sky. It was winter in the capital city, so blue skies were rare. The warm sunlight shone, but¡­ his heart was still cold. Yan Rusheng walked over and stood next to him. He turned his head slightly to look at him and he smirked. ¡°Is it true that you flew back from Country M on a private plane?¡± Of course, Ming Ansheng knew what he was insinuating. He frowned and looked at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Say it. Don¡¯t mince your words.¡± He was feeling troubled as well. He took a deep puff of the cigarette and threw the half-used cigarette into the ash pile on top of the dustbin. Yan Rusheng wiped off his cold smile and his gaze turned cold. ¡°About the Tang family¡­¡± Ming Ansheng interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ll settle it. Leave it to me.¡± His voice was even colder. ¡°She¡¯s my sister. She¡¯s not related to you,¡± Yan Rusheng replied coldly. Ming Zhongsheng and Xuxu could tell that he was the one who had kissed Su Yue. So of course, Yan Rusheng could tell as well. This was his warning to him. Ming Ansheng became anxious. ¡°Third Yan!¡± He knew that Su Yue didn¡¯t like him and they couldn¡¯t be together. But he was still flustered when he saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s disapproving attitude. He had never wished that they would support his absurd feelings for her. But why¡­? Yan Rusheng looked at him. In all seriousness, with no coldness or sarcasm, he said, ¡°Ming Ansheng. Xuxu, Su Yan, and I wish for that little lass to live a happier life in the future.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± He never even wished he could get together with her. Chapter 1236. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Two) Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Yinan and myself were the ones who sent Meiduo to the airport that year. I still remember how lonely she looked going into security checks alone.¡± Ming Ansheng lowered his head and remained silent. What Yan Rusheng was trying to say was: he knew. He knew a long time ago. Yan Rusheng looked at Ming Ansheng and remained silent before adding, ¡°In other words, I won¡¯t let Su Yue suffer under the wrath of your grandfather. More so, I don¡¯t want her to enter your complicated circle.¡± Then he paused. ¡°But of course, if it¡¯s reciprocated and she¡¯s adamant, I won¡¯t object to it.¡± Yan Rusheng had never been forced to do anything in his love life. His grandmother imposed nothing on him regarding it. All the more his parents didn¡¯t say a word. So, how could he so selfishly interfere with his younger cousin¡¯s love life? If Su Yue really liked¡­ liked him back, both he and Xuxu would be supportive. But he knew that it wasn¡¯t possible. Even if Su Yue reciprocated his feelings, she wouldn¡¯t take the first step. Ming Ansheng as well. ¡°Relax. It won¡¯t happen,¡± Ming Ansheng plainly replied. His voice was cold. He gazed out the window, looking up at the sunlight. Yueyue needed warmth. Yueyue needed a boy with a cheery and sunny disposition. Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°I heard that the project meeting you went to Country M for was a PO project that Bright Vision started preparing for two years ago.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled faintly. Yes, it was very important. It was the project he was assigned to the moment he stepped into Bright Vision. But at the crux of the moment, he had naturally weighed his choices. Su Yue, that little lass, was more important to him than he expected. Nothing else could come close. Yan Rusheng remained silent. After standing there with Ming Ansheng for a while, he turned around and walked back towards Su Yue¡¯s ward. After a long time, Ming Ansheng turned around too. The walkway and white shining floors reflected his heart condition: empty. ¡°Sigh!¡± He sighed helplessly and started walking over to her ward. Su Yue¡¯s ward wasn¡¯t locked. Wen Xuxu¡¯s muffled voice could be heard from the outside. Ming Ansheng stopped in his tracks. After standing outside the ward for a while, he decided not to go in. He continued walking. ¡®Uncle Ming, don¡¯t do this¡­¡¯ ¡®Jiao Chen will be angry¡­¡¯ ¡®Ming Ansheng. You¡¯ve brought her so much harm even when you guys aren¡¯t even dating. Give up.¡¯ Ming Ansheng whipped out his phone at the lift lobby. He sent a short message: ¡®Get ready, we¡¯re leaving now.¡¯ After the message sent out, he opened his phone gallery and unlocked a secret album. A beautiful girl was sleeping sweetly in the photo, looking so carefree. Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡­ Xuxu and Jiao Chen stayed with Su Yue the entire day. They bought food, poured her water, and fed her. Xuxu¡¯s impression of him improved significantly. If someone was pretending to be nice, there would be cracks in his facade. But Xuxu felt that Jiao Chen was genuine with how he treated Su Yue. Just like¡­ just like the way Ah Heng initially treated her. Xuxu was full of emotions when she thought of Jiang Zhuoheng. She looked downward. Before she could even think about anything, the ward door was pushed open from the outside. Yan Rusheng walked in. Xuxu looked up at him. ¡°Ah Sheng, you¡¯re done with work so early?¡± Chapter 1237. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Three) Her voice was close to a whisper. Yan Rusheng frowned. Suspicion filled his eyes. ¡°Who were you thinking of behind my back?¡± ¡®This fellow¡­ He could tell?¡¯ Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone other than you?¡± Then she looked away from him and walked over to Su Yue¡¯s bed. Jiao Chen was sitting beside her. They were watching a show together, both of their eyes glued to the screen. An occasional smile formed on her pale face. It felt different watching a show with someone because then she¡¯d have someone to discuss the scenes with. When she watched television at home, Su Yue would always cuddle near to her. When she disliked a character, she would point at the television, pouting her lips as she commented how much she hated him. She needed someone patient to grow with her, to share every single moment together, good and bad. She didn¡¯t have a carefree childhood. Before she turned 18, she was alone. When Xuxu saw the scene before her, she couldn¡¯t bear to interrupt them. Yan Rusheng strolled over and asked, ¡°What are you watching?¡± He glanced at the screen. It was a popular revenge drama that originated overseas. It involved killing and various conspiracies. Yan Rusheng smiled and said to Su Yue, ¡°You should be more like your third sister-in-law. Watch more boring soap operas.¡± Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m boring.¡± Sure, his shows were all nourishing and full of meaning, whereas hers were boring and for fools. Didn¡¯t he already despise her taste since years ago? Since then, she had been promoted from dumb lass to dumb woman. ¡°Third Brother and third sister-in-law, you guys can head home first,¡± Su Yue suddenly said. Xuxu replied, ¡°I¡¯m staying the night to take care of you.¡± Her tone was adamant. ¡°You don¡¯t need to,¡± Su Yue said, shaking her head. ¡°Jiaojiao can take care of me. You should head home. The babies need their milk.¡± Without waiting for Xuxu¡¯s reply, Yan Rusheng smiled and said to Su Yue, ¡°So the decision¡¯s made then?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Su Yue smiled and nodded in agreement. Then she added, ¡°Bring me to Country M next month.¡± His smile immediately disappeared. He frowned and asked, ¡°Why?¡± He had finally squeezed out some time to spend some time alone with his wife. Why did he have to bring this burden? Su Yue pouted her lips. ¡°Third sister-in-law promised me.¡± Young Master Yan knitted his eyebrows. He turned to her, looking troubled. ¡°Wen Xuxu, how could you¡­¡± This stupid woman was really driving him to an early death. Xuxu replied in an unhappy tone. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go. Yueyue and I can visit Zhou Shuang ourselves.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ His status¡­ was lowering. ¡°Third sister-in-law, go feed the children quickly.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Xuxu was still worried. She asked Jiao Chen, ¡°Jiao Chen, can you take care of her?¡± Jiao Chen nodded. Xuxu thought of her kids at home. She had left so hurriedly. They haven¡¯t been breastfed for almost 24 hours. She was afraid that they would refuse to drink breast milk if they continued drinking formula milk, so she felt that she should indeed head home. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she said to him, ¡°If there¡¯s anything, you can call for the caretaker.¡± She had hired a young caretaker precisely because she was afraid that she wouldn¡¯t be able to take care of Yueyue due to unforeseen circumstances. Chapter 1238. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Four) Jiao Chen and Yueyue had not progressed to that stage of their relationship yet. Xuxu left rather reluctantly with Yan Rusheng. From the moment she got in the car, Xuxu kept glancing at Yan Rusheng who was driving. She appeared as though she had something to say or ask. Finally, Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t take it any longer and he frowned. ¡°Wen Xuxu, just say whatever is on your mind.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Wen Xuxu called out Yan Rusheng¡¯s name loud and clear. She thought since he had asked, she would just do it. Yan Rusheng raised a brow. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Ming Ansheng¡­¡± Xuxu stammered, ¡°Does he¡­ have a tattoo?¡± ¡°Yes. He has a blackthorn apple flower tattoo on his waist.¡± Yan Rusheng threw Xuxu a swift glance. Blackthorn apple flower tattoo? How was that tattoo linked to Yueyue¡¯s cat tattoo? ¡®Why did Tang Feiling burn Yueyue¡¯s cat tattoo?¡¯ Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows as she sat there, muttering under her breath. Yan Rusheng interrupted her and pressed on. ¡°He has a mouse tattoo on his right chest.¡± ¡®Mouse?¡¯ Xuxu widened her eyes after something clicked inside her mind. After getting over it, she nodded and mumbled, ¡°So that was the reason.¡± Ming Ansheng had a mouse tattooed on his chest while Yueyue¡¯s tattoo was a cat. No wonder, the brainless and rash Tang Feiling would go mad and brutally attack Yueyue. A cat and a mouse¡­ Both were tattooed on their left and right chests, respectively. Their tattoos hinted at their ambiguous love. Xuxu peered and gazed out of the window. She mulled over how Jiao Chen and Su Yue were like in the ward. She was confused about how Yueyue really felt. Was she in love with Ming Ansheng as well? Xuxu was lost in her thoughts when Yan Rusheng¡¯s abruptly phone rang. It jolted her back to reality. She casually glanced at Yan Rusheng, and he had already answered the call. She adjusted the volume of the radio. She caught a glimpse of the caller¡¯s name on his phone¡¯s screen¡ª Mu Qingteng . She had a vague impression of the impressive lieutenant commander. The young mistress of the Tang family got disfigured and burnt by her fianc¨¦e. This shocking news had naturally hit the headlines. Mu Qingteng wanted to call to express his concern for Ming Ansheng. ¡°Let that old fellow settle it himself. If not, he will never learn his lesson.¡± Yan Rusheng said coldly to Mu Qingteng. Of course, he didn¡¯t direct it at Mu Qingteng, but to Ming Zhongsheng and the Tang family. ¡°Just like what I¡¯ve thought,¡± Mu Qingteng agreed readily. They ended the call after a brief conversation. Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows and looked extremely worried. ¡°Now that things have developed to this stage, they would call off the marriage right?¡± She wasn¡¯t worried about Ming Ansheng and Tang Feiling¡¯s wedding. Instead, she was more concerned for Su Yue. Although she seemed pretty calm on the surface. She still does smile and talk to them, too. However, Xuxu noticed that if Su Yue was alone, she would look very burdened and melancholic. Since Tang Feiling was so jealous of Ming Ansheng and Su Yue¡¯s matching tattoos, she must have hurled plenty of insults as well. If they fail to hold their wedding, what would Su Yue think? Yan Rusheng coldly snorted. Xuxu fell silent. How would they still be able to hold the wedding? She sighed. How much more must Yueyue bear? Xuxu had implicated her once, and now Ming Ansheng had embroiled her into this mess once again. She had finally become more cheerful and happier, but she knew that Yueyue hadn¡¯t fully walked out of her past. ¡­ After Yan Rusheng and Xuxu left, the ward fell silent. Jiao Chen stowed away the laptop for he was afraid that Su Yue¡¯s eyes would get too tired. Jiao Chen began to peel an apple for her. Chapter 1239. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Five) ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Su Yue had barely closed her eyes when she fluttered her eyelids once more. Jiao Chen glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue frowned and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me where I was hurt?¡± Jiao Chen replied, ¡°Where is the wound?¡± ¡°My chest.¡± Su Yue pointed at her left chest. She answered, ¡°That tattoo is gone.¡± Her awesome cat tattoo that was better than Uncle Ming¡¯s tattoo was gone. She would feel sad every time she thought of it. But she felt that it might be a good thing that it was gone. That meant that she had nothing to do with Uncle Ming anymore. Although¡­ she had pure intentions when she first got the tattoo. But now, their love for each other had made their relationship complicated. The meaning of the tattoo on her chest naturally had changed too. So, it was a good thing it was gone. At the thought of it, Su Yue felt as if her wound started to hurt again. Without a doubt, Jiao Chen should have seen her half-naked photo and her tattoo. Jiao Chen merely responded as he continued to peel the apple quietly. Su Yue pouted and complained, ¡°Why do you seem like you don¡¯t care about me at all?¡± ¡°Eat the apple.¡± Jiao Chen passed the peeled apple to Su Yue. Su Yue gazed at Jiao Chen¡¯s face. He had worn a deadpan expression on his face and there wasn¡¯t any hint of emotions. She pursed her lips and received the apple. She took a huge bite. It was warm in the ward and Su Yue was feeling thirsty. Su Yue happily munched the juicy and crunchy apple. Jiao Chen frowned as he watched her. ¡°Eat slowly.¡± ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Su Yue glanced at him. ¡°Huh?¡± Jiao Chen replied. Su Yue asked, ¡°Are you nice to other people as well?¡± Jiao Chen nodded quietly. Su Yue took another bite of the apple and waited for his answer. Jiao Chen quipped, ¡°My mother.¡± He smiled and it revealed rows of his straight and pearly-white teeth. It was a smile that was rarely seen on his face. He was thrilled, and he seemed cheeky too. It startled Su Yue. ¡°Your mother must treat you really well?¡± asked Su Yue. ¡°Yup.¡± Jiao Chen nodded and pressed on, ¡°She is nice to all of them.¡± ¡°All of them?¡± It confused Su Yue. What did he mean by that? Jiao Chen answered softly, ¡°She works at an orphanage.¡± Her mother works at an orphanage and he wasn¡¯t ashamed of her. He sounded as if he was proud of his mother. Su Yue¡¯s first instinct was to flinch at the mention of the word ¡®orphanage¡¯. But she didn¡¯t as she peered at Jiao Chen in a daze. She was puzzled and confused. ¡°Su Yue, I grew up in an orphanage,¡± Jiao Chen calmly said as he looked at Su Yue. He didn¡¯t feel ashamed to reveal that he grew up in an orphanage as well. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were huge with surprise as she stared at Jiao Chen. He had a huge and wide smile on his face. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± Jiaojiao grew up in an orphanage, too. But why? She thought he had a sister? She had met her sister, and she mentioned that they had a grandmother. So, why would he end up at an orphanage? Jiao Chen knew exactly what Su Yue was thinking of. He smiled as he softly said, ¡°I¡¯m also an illegitimate son that shouldn¡¯t be seen in public.¡± Su Yue was dumbfounded. She recalled the cryptic words that Jiao Chen had said to her the other day. ¡®Su Yue, you¡¯re not the only person in this world¡­¡¯ So¡­ he was referring to this. He wanted to say that he was an illegitimate child as well. Chapter 1240. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Six) Su Yue stared at Jiao Chen in shock and she sat deep in thought. It didn¡¯t occur to her that such a bright and positive guy like Jiaojiao would have so much in common with her. She finally swallowed the slice of apple in her mouth. She stammered, ¡°Then¡­ you¡­¡± Jiao Chen interrupted her with a smile as he said, ¡°Finish the apple quickly. You need to take a rest.¡± Su Yue felt that Jiao Chen wasn¡¯t too keen on continuing the topic any longer, just like how she felt uncomfortable talking about her past. They¡­ were the same. Jiao Chen was reading a text he had just received while Su Yue gazed at him, munching the apple as she did. ¡°Jiaojiao, will you marry me?¡± Jiao Chen lifted his head and smiled in amusement. ¡°You haven¡¯t even reached the legal age to get married.¡± In the past few days, when he looked at Su Yue, his eyes would always brim with affection and gentleness. His tone and voice as well. Su Yue blinked and responded curtly with an ¡®oh¡¯. She then quickly corrected herself. ¡°Will you marry me in the future?¡± Although Jiao Chen was really good to her, she couldn¡¯t feel his love. At least his love wasn¡¯t like how Third Brother had loved Third sister-in-law. It wasn¡¯t anything like an ordinary couple. He didn¡¯t have any expectations towards her at all. She heard that the girls¡¯ next door in her dormitory would always stay out overnight with their boyfriends. They even said that they went to a hotel. Su Yue didn¡¯t wait for Jiao Chen to respond and added, ¡°Do you want to go to a hotel with me?¡± She said so, though she didn¡¯t have any¡­ any thoughts or opinions about this nor certainly desired for it yet. But if Jiaojiao was like her, was that considered normal? After all, there was a saying that she read online that concluded that men think with their lower half of their bodies. Su Yue blushed crimson at the thought of it. Jiao Chen was speechless¡­ ¡°Hurry up and finish the apple. Don¡¯t let your thoughts run wild. You need ample rest.¡± He averted his gaze from Su Yue and turned towards his phone. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Su Yue assumed that Jiao Chen was being mistaken. She eyed him and shook her head earnestly. ¡°I really didn¡¯t think of that. I¡¯m just curious about you. That¡¯s all.¡± Jiao Chen chuckled loudly. ¡°Silly girl!¡± Su Yue pursed her lips as she chewed on her apple. A random thought struck her, and she asked, ¡°Jiaojiao, will you find a mistress in the future?¡± She gradually stopped chewing her apple, and then she gazed at Jiao Chen with a solemn look. ¡°I like you and I will marry you in the future. I won¡¯t look for a mistress.¡± Jiao Chen stretched his hand and gently stroke Su Yue¡¯s cheek. ¡°From the beginning until now, you¡¯re the only person I like.¡± He spoke softly and gazed at Su Yue intently, without blinking once. Su Yue was doubtful of Jiao Chen¡¯s love for her and it had always bugged her. But he had confessed his love for her, and his confession was so straightforward. She was at a loss for words and didn¡¯t know how to respond. What should she say? I like you, too? But¡­ but the one she liked was¡­ Uncle Ming. Oh yeah, did she like Jiao Chen? Su Yue widened her eyes and stared at Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen raised his eyebrows. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue shook her head lightly. ¡°Nothing.¡± She bent her head in guilt. She had almost finished eating her apple, and Jiao Chen took it away from him. He pulled a tissue and passed it to her before saying, ¡°Take a nap before dinner.¡± He got up and walked towards the couch. Chapter 1241. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Seven) Su Yue watched him, looking forlorn. She knew that she wasn¡¯t being fair to Jiaojiao. Should she tell Jiaojiao that he wasn¡¯t the one she liked right now? But in the future¡­ in the future, she definitely would. ¡­ Su Yue stayed in the hospital for three days. During this period, there was no sign of infection nor inflammation. Xuxu said that the hospital was too far away from their house, and so she decided to bring Su Yue back home so she could take care of Su Yue herself. She applied for a period of absence from school on her behalf. After dinner, Su Yue changed into comfortable pajamas and went to Xuxu¡¯s room. She played with the twins while Xuxu took a shower. They were just over a month old and it felt as though she was talking and playing with herself. The twins didn¡¯t even smile at her. ¡°Yueyue, aren¡¯t you resting?¡± Yan Rusheng entered the room and saw Su Yue sitting on the edge of the bed. He frowned, looking grumpy. It was a rare occasion that he ended work early that night. He had envisioned that he would have a wonderful time. After dinner, she saw Su Yue and Xuxu entering their room. So he went to his study to wait. After working for some time, he realized that it was almost 9 p.m. But this lass looked as though she still wanted to stay in their room. ¡°I want to stay with the babies for a while more.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t even look at him as she continued to gaze affectionately at the twins. She really felt that the twins were getting more adorable. She must have kissed them at least a dozen times. Su Yue pinched Meowmeow¡¯s soft cheeks and kissed her once more. She really appeared to be having fun with the babies. Out of desperation, he knew he had to resort to something drastic to drive her away. The sound of water gushing in the bathroom halted. Yan Rusheng knew that Xuxu must have finished showering and a wave of anxiety seized him. By hook or by crook, he had to get this lass out of the room before she came out. If not, Xuxu would definitely stop him from chasing Yueyue out. By then he might not even have the chance to sleep with her. Young Master Yan eyed Su Yue with a frown. ¡°Do you still want to go to Country M?¡± Su Yue wasn¡¯t dumb and knew that Yan Rusheng was threatening her. He might really decide not to bring her along to Country M. She really wanted to go to Country M to visit Sister Hooligan, so she must tag along. She agreed and stood up, rather unwillingly. She strode across the room. Xuxu came out of the bathroom, wearing light blue silk pajamas. Su Yue waved at her. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m going back to my room.¡± She then folded her arms across the chest. She trudged gloomily towards the door in her furry bedroom slippers. She had taken a long nap this afternoon and so she was wide awake. Moreover, she didn¡¯t feel like being alone in her room. Xuxu frowned and asked, ¡°I thought you wanted to play with them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Su Yue refused and said, ¡°I¡¯ll play with them tomorrow morning.¡± She opened the door and left the room. Xuxu didn¡¯t think much and walked towards the bed. Yan Rusheng was playing with them and pinching Yangyang¡¯s cheeks. He wasn¡¯t gentle at all. Xuxu¡¯s face fell. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why do you always abuse Yangyang?¡± She had never seen him doing that to Meowmeow. He always stroked her gently and spoke softly to her. And he still claimed that he wasn¡¯t biased. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°What do you mean by abuse? I was playing with him, can¡¯t you see?¡± Chapter 1242. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Eight) He rose and straightened his back. Xuxu was wearing silk pajamas, and she wasn¡¯t wearing any undergarments beneath it since she had planned to hit the sack. Her breasts had increased considerably in size after giving birth. Yan Rusheng watched her and he swallowed his saliva. He walked to Xuxu and stretched his hands to embrace her. The next second, his lips crushed against hers. The series of actions was too swift and seamless. Xuxu had no chance to escape as she pressed her palms against Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest. There was no way she could stop him from getting his way. ¡°Wife, I want you right now.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s kisses trailed to Xuxu¡¯s neck and his warm breath was all over Xuxu¡¯s skin. It seemed to hypnotize Xuxu as she felt numb. Her body felt so weak and frail with his touch that she didn¡¯t have any strength to resist. Yan Rusheng eagerly ripped Xuxu¡¯s pajamas apart and bit her neck. His touch and kisses had made Xuxu shudder, she bit her lips in silence. Yan Rusheng¡¯s body seemed under fire when he looked at her. ¡°Do you want me? Huh?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s lips moved to Xuxu¡¯s ears. His warm breath made her skin tingle. Couldn¡¯t he see that she wanted him, too? His question had vexed Xuxu, and she became bashful. She caught him unaware, so she shoved him away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, go take a shower.¡± She said as she adjusted her clothes. ¡°Okay.¡± Yan Rusheng swiftly darted towards her once more. Xuxu wanted to dodge him, but he had already caught her hands. Yan Rusheng gripped her hands tightly and raised them up to his shirt. The corners of his mouth curled into a devilish and sly grin. His rosy lips were so mesmerizing. He was so seductive and desirable. ¡°Help me to undress.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s deep eyes had captivated Xuxu, and she seemed to have lost her soul. She couldn¡¯t resist the temptation that her hands began to unbutton his shirt obediently. Yan Rusheng caressed Xuxu¡¯s waist, thoroughly enjoying the process of his loved one undressing him. He was patiently admiring Xuxu as she turned red. ¡°Alright. Go and shower.¡± After Xuxu finished unbuttoning his shirt, she punched his hard chest lightly with her fists. But her urges sounded more like coquettish pouting. ¡°Huh?¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand and placed it on his belt. ¡°You forgot something?¡± All of Xuxu¡¯s blood seemed to have gone to her face in an instant. She raised her head to glare at the man who had teased her on purpose. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t go overboard.¡± Yan Rusheng was pleased to see Xuxu furious. He chortled. He then grabbed her hand and moved it downward. ¡°Wife, touch me there.¡± Instantly, panic and shock assailed Xuxu. Yan Rusheng saw her reaction and was satisfied. He inched nearer to her, ¡°Do you feel good? I¡¯ll make sure you feel great later.¡± He relinquished his grip on Xuxu¡¯s hands and strode towards the bathroom. Yan Rusheng¡¯s seductive and lewd words made Xuxu blush crimson all over. ¡®He really is being a hooligan! A scum!¡¯ ¡®Oh dear¡­ so embarrassing!¡¯ It had been a long time since he enjoyed some time alone with Xuxu. Yan Rusheng took a quick shower and used a towel to cover his lower part of his body before he had stepped out of the bathroom. He was barefooted. ¡°Wife,¡± he spoke before stepping forward. He peered around and was shocked to see the woman sitting on their bed. ¡°Why are you so energetic?¡± Madam Mu Li frowned as she eyed him, looking wary. Chapter 1243. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Nine) Yan Rusheng was extremely annoyed. ¡°Why are you in our room?¡± How could she intrude on their privacy? Fortunately, he had the last shred of decency to put a towel around him. If not¡­ Yan Rusheng was about to lose his temper. ¡°Where is Xuxu?¡± His tone certainly didn¡¯t sound cordial or polite. Mu Li ignored his rudeness and retracted her gaze. She glanced at the babies as she answered, ¡°I will take care of them tonight. I asked Xuxu to sleep in the opposite room.¡± ¡®Opposite room?¡¯ In that case, they wouldn¡¯t have to coax them to sleep tonight, and certainly, the babies wouldn¡¯t disturb them. Yan Rusheng glanced at Mu Li and said, ¡°You¡¯re truly my mother.¡± He went back to the bathroom and put on his bathrobes. He then strode across the room towards the door. Mu Li¡¯s voice interrupted him. ¡°Xuxu has a message for you.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around and asked, ¡°What?¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°She asked you to sleep in Su Yan¡¯s room tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. F*ck! F*ck! F*ck! He was so close to getting what he wanted! No, he was determined to get his way. If not, he wouldn¡¯t be Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng swung the door open and glanced at Xuxu¡¯s room. The door was closed. He turned to head towards the direction of the staircase instead. He shortly came upstairs with two glasses of water. He walked to Xuxu¡¯s room and turned the doorknob. It was locked! Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows as he breathed heavily. Both Xuxu and Su Yue had taken a nap in the afternoon, so she was wide awake. She sat on her bed with a novel she was recently reading. She began to start reading. Suddenly, the window swung open, and Xuxu got a fright. Instinctively, she glanced at the window. The man pulled the curtains apart and leaped into the room from the window. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ Yan Rusheng was wearing his bathrobe and bedroom slippers. After he landed on his feet, he stuffed his hands into the bathrobe pockets and strolled gracefully towards Xuxu. However, he wore a sly and evil grin on his face. Xuxu closed the book as she stared at the man. ¡°What¡­ are you doing?¡± Yan Rusheng stopped in front of Xuxu and bent his back. He inched nearer to her and hissed, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you removed my clothes just now. And you decided not to be responsible?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ He was the one who forced her to remove his clothes! He was so shameless! ¡°Didn¡¯t we promise each other to have a good time?¡± Yan Rusheng breathed as he pounced on Xuxu, crushing her entirely. When did they promise each other to have a good time? Xuxu frowned for Yan Rusheng had thoroughly annoyed her. ¡°Yan Rusheng, that¡¯s enough!¡± yelled Xuxu. ¡°How can it be enough when I haven¡¯t even started?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows. His hands, however, wandered under Xuxu¡¯s clothes in eagerness. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ She had underestimated this fellow¡¯s capability of twisting her words. Knock, knock, knock. Someone was knocking on the door. Surprisingly, Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t annoyed. He sat up and strode to the door. It was Aunt Zhang, standing outside with two bowls. She smiled and said, ¡°Third Young Master, have some rice balls.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± He received the bowls from Aunt Zhang. He turned around and Aunt Zhang closed the door for him. Chapter 1244. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Ten) Yan Rusheng walked to her bed and passed a bowl to Xuxu. ¡°It¡¯s still warm, hurry and eat them.¡± ¡°Why would Aunt Zhang cook rice balls at this hour?¡± Xuxu glanced at him with a puzzled expression. She extended her hands to receive the bowl. She sniffed the bowl and furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Why do I smell alcohol?¡± ¡°It¡¯s sweet fermented rice wine rice balls,¡± Yan Rusheng replied as he took a mouthful. ¡®Sweet fermented rice wine rice balls?¡¯ Xuxu took a sip of the soup. It tasted really sweet indeed! But¡­ She frowned, looking wary. ¡°But the sweet fermented rice wine rice balls I¡¯ve eaten before doesn¡¯t smell so strongly of alcohol.¡± Yan Rusheng stood against the wardrobe as he lazily answered, ¡°You can ask Aunt Zhang.¡± He took another mouthful of soup as he eyed Xuxu. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t bother to mull over this and began to eat the rice balls too. It was tasty and sweet. She finished the entire bowl and even drank all the soup. She flung the blanket off after she finished eating. Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Where are you going to?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring the bowl downstairs,¡± Xuxu replied as she glanced at Yan Rusheng¡¯s bowl. He still had half a bowl left, so she hurried him. ¡°Finish it quickly, I¡¯ll bring it down together.¡± ¡°Wife, I should be the one doing this.¡± Young Master Yan flashed a gentle smile at Xuxu as he took her bowl from her. Xuxu didn¡¯t read too much into his actions and sat down on her bed once more. Suddenly she felt that her entire world seemed spinning. She leaned against the head of the bed. Her giddiness seemed to be intensified. She remembered feeling like this before. Yan Rusheng came up from the staircase and walked into the room. He gazed at the woman whose face was flushed. A sly gleam flashed across his eyes. He strode over to the bed and whispered, ¡°Wife, why is your face so red?¡± Xuxu pressed her palm against her forehead. ¡°I¡­ I think I¡¯m drunk.¡± Her tolerance for alcohol was really getting worse. To think she would get drunk just by eating fermented rice wine. She was really drunk. ¡°It¡¯s good that you are drunk,¡± Yan Rusheng muttered as the corners of his lips maliciously curled up. ¡°What¡­¡± Xuxu could tell that Yan Rusheng was acting strangely even though she was tipsy. She glared at him as she tried to speak. But Yan Rusheng interrupted her. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right!¡± He lifted Xuxu off the bed and placed her against the wall. ¡°Stupid woman, let¡¯s see how long you can endure.¡± He kissed her rosy lips, which he had been yearning for the entire night. He nimbly removed all her clothes within seconds. He held her waist with a hand while the other lifted one of her legs, and then he entered her. ¡­ Su Yue laid on her bed, completely wide awake. She didn¡¯t get to sleep well for the past few nights. She tossed and turned in bed as she stared at her phone. Only Zhou Shuang was updating her WeChat with some photos of food. After refreshing the app, Zhou Shuang updated with another photo. Because of the time difference, it was morning over there. The weather seemed perfect. Su Yue replied to Zhou Shuang¡¯s photo, ¡®Sister Hooligan, I¡¯m going with Third sister-in-law next month to visit you.¡¯ Zhou Shuang replied instantly, ¡®Great! Bring some local products for me.¡¯ Su Yue typed, ¡®Is it fun in Country M?¡¯ Zhou Shuang replied, ¡®Of course! Christmas is coming and it¡¯s getting more bustling and crowded.¡¯ Chapter 1245. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Eleven) Su Yue replied, ¡®We are going there for Christmas.¡¯ After she replied, she locked the screen and cast her phone aside. She decided not to use her phone anymore. She pulled the blanket over her head. Under the blanket, she closed her eyes and forced herself not to let her thoughts run wild. She counted quietly in her heart. One¡­ two¡­ three¡­ She wanted to stop herself from missing the person she shouldn¡¯t be thinking of at all. ¡®Jiaojiao!¡¯ Oh no. She didn¡¯t contact Jiaojiao today. Su Yue flung her blanket away as she fumbled for her phone. She typed a text swiftly. ¡®Jiaojiao, are you asleep?¡¯ It was only half-past nine, he should probably be awake. As expected, Jiao Chen replied in no time. ¡®I¡¯m still awake. Why aren¡¯t you asleep?¡¯ Su Yue typed, ¡®I can¡¯t fall asleep since I slept too much in the day.¡¯ Jiao Chen typed, ¡®Are you a pig?¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡®You are a pig, not me! What are you doing?¡¯ Jiao Chen typed, ¡®I¡¯m preparing for the class tomorrow. You?¡¯ Su Yue typed, ¡®Chatting with you.¡¯ Without waiting for Jiao Chen to reply, she typed, ¡®Jiaojiao, did you miss me today?¡¯ Su Yue didn¡¯t receive Jiao Chen¡¯s reply, despite waiting for quite some time. Gradually, Su Yue dozed off. After some time, she opened her eyes. The lights in her room were still switched on. She was getting sleepy, so she turned off the lights. She accidentally pressed her phone and the screen lit up. It was almost midnight. It surprised Su Yue that she had slept for two hours. It felt like she had merely closed her eyes. She saw a text from Jiao Chen. ¡®Come out. I¡¯m outside your house.¡¯ The text was sent 20 minutes ago. Su Yue¡¯s sleepiness promptly vanished as she widened her eyes in shock. She read Jiao Chen¡¯s text again, still in disbelief. ¡®Come out. I¡¯m outside your house¡­¡¯ Her house? Su Yue snapped out of her daze and dialed Jiao Chen¡¯s number. After a few rings, Jiao Chen answered in his usual gentle and pleasant voice. His voice sounded rather nasal and Su Yue gripped her phone tightly. She asked apprehensively, ¡°You are outside my house? My third sister-in-law¡¯s house?¡± Even until now, she didn¡¯t think it was her house. It really didn¡¯t belong to her. All the servants addressed her as either Little Mistress or Little Miss, but she didn¡¯t feel like she was one mistress in the family. So she was doubtful when Jiao Chen said that he was waiting outside her house. Su Yan¡¯s apartment seemed more comfortable and relaxed as compared to this house. Jiao Chen responded curtly with a ¡®Yes¡¯ . ¡°Wait for me!¡± Su Yue got off her bed with her phone. She dashed to the door after slipping into her bedroom slippers. She hurried down the stairs. The living room was empty and dimly lit. Su Yue ran to the main doors and opened it. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± She ran to the courtyard and peered beyond the iron gates. A towering figure was standing by the roadside. Jiao Chen was holding his phone, and the weak light from his phone illuminated his gorgeous face. Su Yue really felt like crying at that moment. She had no idea why, but her eyes were glistening. She pressed a button at the side to open the gates before sprinting towards him. Chapter 1246. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Twelve) She should be hugging Jiao Chen but she halted her footsteps as she stood before him. She was still pressing her phone to her ear. She raised her head and peered at Jiao Chen. ¡°Why did you come here?¡± Jiao Chen had his phone pressed against his ear as well. He bent his head to gaze at her and softly replied, ¡°I miss you. So I had to come.¡± Su Yue ended the call and clenched her fists. She then punched Jiao Chen lightly on his chest. ¡°It¡¯s so far. Are you an idiot?¡± It was a two-hour journey from school to her house in the day. If there was no traffic at night, he would still need to take one and a half hours. After chiding him, Su Yue caught a glimpse of a black car by the roadside. ¡°Did you borrow the car from your friend again?¡± Previously, Jiao Chen drove a Mercedes and gave Su Yue a bouquet to cease the rumors. She questioned him about the car when she found out. He claimed that he borrowed it from a friend. So this time around, Su Yue naturally assumed that he had borrowed the car from his friend again. Jiao Chen pressed his lips and didn¡¯t respond to Su Yue¡¯s question. Instead, he lifted his eyebrows and asked, ¡°So will I be able to enter and get a glass of warm water?¡± ¡°Come in quickly.¡± Su Yue stretched her hand and grabbed Jiao Chen¡¯s arm. She led him into the courtyard. Jiao Chen threw a casual glance at the luxurious mansion, looking rather nonchalant. Su Yue pulled Jiao Chen all the way into the house. She switched on the lights in the living room. Instantly, the living room became sparkling and luxurious. ¡°Wear this.¡± Su Yue brought out a pair of slippers for Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen had a pair of white Nike shoes on his feet. He wore a light white shirt with a black jacket over it, paired with a pair of smoky gray trousers. ¡°You didn¡¯t wear enough clothes,¡± Su Yue lectured him once more after she scrutinized his clothes. Jiao Chen merely smiled as he changed into the pair of slippers. Su Yue led him to the couch before she walked to the dining room. She came out with a glass of warm water. ¡°There.¡± Su Yue passed the glass to Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen received the glass of warm water and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯m honored.¡± Su Yue was perplexed. ¡°Huh?¡± He was honored? Why was he honored? Jiao Chen grinned but he didn¡¯t answer. He took a sip as he gazed at the glass of water. A mysterious smile appeared on his face. ¡°Jiaojiao, let¡¯s watch TV.¡± Su Yue sat down and turned on the TV. It was Friday so many TV stations were broadcasting variety programs. However, most of the programs were ending. Su Yue decided to opt for a drama instead. When she was at the hospital, the drama she was hooked on was an overseas series about revenge. The first scene was bloody and grotesque. Most girls would be disgusted by this scene but Su Yue was completely immersed as she waited for the story to unfold. ¡°I really hate her sister, that vicious woman.¡± ¡°And that scum who cheated on his wife.¡± The female character appeared disheveled and battered. It made Su Yue upset. Jiao Chen had accompanied Su Yue as she watched three episodes, and he was already used to her grumbling and commenting as she watched. He slumped comfortably on the couch, gazing at the screen. He merely chuckled whenever he heard Su Yue venting out her anger. Xuxu was used to waking up several times at night to feed the twins. She felt thirsty so she woke up and went down the stairs to get a glass of water. Chapter 1247. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Thirteen) It puzzled Xuxu to see that the living room was still lit as she walked to the landing of the staircase. She was pleasantly surprised to see Jiao Chen. Initially, she thought it was an illusion. She rubbed her eyes, but Jiao Chen was still there. Then her gaze moved to Su Yue, who sat beside him. It was late at night, and this young couple was watching a horror thriller. Everything seemed perfect. Xuxu gazed at Su Yue and Jiao Chen with a dreamy smile. Ah Sheng had never watched a horror movie with her before¡­ Just like how Su Yue and Jiao Chen were now. Su Yue snuggled closer to Jiao Chen whenever a scary scene flashed. Xuxu envisioned a scene like that in her mind, and she was yearning for it to happen in real life. Whenever she saw Su Yue and Jiao Chen together, she would see those lost times and regrets. She and Yan Rusheng should have spent those wonderful years in university together. After a long time, Xuxu snapped out of her daze. She glanced at the cup in her hand and smiled to herself, before treading back to her room. She didn¡¯t know if Jiaojiao was the destined one for Su Yue. But she just knew that he wouldn¡¯t make Su Yue cry. It was an instinct! ¡­ Su Yue woke up the next morning in her bed. She stretched herself before sitting upright. She blinked several times as she thought of something. Yesterday¡­ did Jiaojiao come last night? She remembered that they watched TV together. But why couldn¡¯t she recall anything after that? Was it a dream? Su Yue flung her blanket away and she peered around her bed, bedside drawers, trying to look for her phone. She strode across the room and opened the door. She bumped into Mu Li who had just left Xuxu¡¯s room. Su Yue called her, ¡°Second Aunt.¡± Mu Li turned towards Su Yue. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Last night¡­¡± Su Yue wasn¡¯t sure if she was dreaming yesterday. She pondered for a moment before mumbling softly, ¡°Did anyone come to our house last night?¡± ¡®It can¡¯t be a dream. Why would a dream be so vivid?¡¯ But she couldn¡¯t understand why she would sleep alone in her room. Mu Li shook her head. ¡°No one.¡± ¡°No one?¡± Su Yue frowned, looking confused. Was she really dreaming? She looked rather crestfallen. Mu Li pressed on quickly. ¡°Last night, a super handsome guy came.¡± Her eyes were twinkling playfully, and she could hardly conceal her grin. ¡®Super handsome guy?¡¯ Su Yue was momentarily stumped before she realized that Mu Li was teasing her. ¡°Second Aunt! You¡¯re so bad!¡± She pressed on, ¡°Where is he?¡± Mu Li certainly knew who the person Su Yue was referring to. ¡°He went back last night.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yue was wondering why he went back so late at night. Mu Li answered, ¡°You slept like a pig and didn¡¯t even bother about him. Obviously, he left since you didn¡¯t invite him.¡± Su Yue responded guiltily with a curt ¡®oh¡¯. She bowed her head in silence. She went downstairs and spotted her phone on the coffee table. There was a text from Jiao Chen. ¡®After some serious thought, I should have carried you and sell you away. Since you wouldn¡¯t even know what¡¯s happening. I¡¯m already in class.¡¯ He sent the text this morning. Su Yue was speechless. She really slept like a pig indeed. How could she not wake up when Jiaojiao carried her up? He left so late last night, and he woke up at 7 a.m. Did he even sleep? Su Yue replied quickly, ¡®Go back to the dormitory and sleep after class.¡¯ Chapter 1248. It Isn’t Embarrassing to Admit That You Like Someone (part Fourteen) Jiao Chen didn¡¯t reply to her text, so she placed her phone on the coffee table. She then settled herself comfortably on the couch. She had come down without washing up, so naturally, her hair was in a mess. She sat on the couch cross-legged, deep in thought. ¡®I miss you. So I had to come¡­¡¯ She was touched when Jiaojiao said that¡­ No, no, no. Not just because of what he had said. It was from the moment she saw him standing outside the gates. Her heart was beating so quickly. Was that love? But it was different from how she felt towards Uncle Ming. But didn¡¯t it prove that she had some feelings towards Jiao Chen? Although it wasn¡¯t that intense and perhaps her love for him hadn¡¯t developed to that stage. Soon it will be, as long as she put in more effort. She could forget about Uncle Ming and fall in love with Jiao Chen. ¡°Why are you sitting here, staring into space?¡± Xuxu¡¯s voice interrupted Su Yue¡¯s thoughts. She glanced at Xuxu with a smile. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu was holding a glass of water as she glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Since Jiao Chen came last night, why didn¡¯t you ask him to stay over?¡± Su Yue smiled but didn¡¯t answer her question. ¡°Third sister-in-law, after you fell in love with Third Brother, did you like anyone else?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± It startled Xuxu. A man was walking gracefully towards the living room when he overheard their conversation. He halted his footsteps and hastily hid behind a huge vase. He had always believed that he was the only person in Xuxu¡¯s heart from her awakening of love. But instinctively, he still wanted to hide in a corner to eavesdrop. A sly gleam twinkled in Xuxu¡¯s eyes and she bent to sit beside Su Yue. She nodded slowly and said, ¡°Of course I did. How can I only like one guy in my entire life?¡± She sounded so nonchalant and casual. It infuriated the man hiding behind the vase. The man clenched his teeth, trying to suppress his anger. ¡®Did she like someone else? Who!? Jiang Zhuoheng?¡¯ No, he didn¡¯t believe it! Su Yue stared at Xuxu, looking shocked. ¡°But¡­ you said that you were in love with Third Brother for over ten years?¡± Xuxu agreed with her statement and expounded, ¡°I liked him for over ten years indeed. But I have decided to love someone else, but he clung onto me. I thought you knew?¡± The man behind the vase was dumbfounded. Yes, he was thick-faced and shameless to cling onto her. Then he shall cling on to her more tightly in the future! ¡°So¡­ it¡¯s really possible to fall in love with someone else?¡± Su Yue stared intently at Xuxu with her innocent-looking huge eyes. It was indeed possible to fall in love with another person and to have a change of heart¡­ She should be happy to get this answer, but she wasn¡¯t. It thoroughly confused Su Yue, and she hugged her knees tightly. She propped her chin on her knees as she stared into the distance. Xuxu knew that the reason Yueyue was feeling confused and conflicted. She struggled and hesitated before blurting out. ¡°Yueyue, it isn¡¯t embarrassing to admit that you like someone.¡± She grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°Your brother, Third Brother and I only want you to be happy and blissful. All we want is for you to have a simple life.¡± She had so much to tell her but she knew that it wasn¡¯t the right time yet. She decided to talk to her about it some other time. Xuxu patted Su Yue¡¯s shoulders and said, ¡°I will have my breakfast. Go and wash up first.¡± Chapter 1249. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part One) She stood up and left. ¡®It isn¡¯t embarrassing to admit you like someone¡­¡¯ Su Yue smiled helplessly to herself. Third sister-in-law had no idea that she was in love with a man who had a fianc¨¦e. And he was eight years older than her. He was Third Brother¡¯s close friend. ¡­ Su Yue¡¯s wound was healing well after staying at home to recuperate for a week. The pain was bearable except for some itchiness at night. Jiao Chen was really busy these few days. But he still took the time to call her every night to check on her recovery. Their interaction seemed like they were good friends. Su Yue felt contented and she liked it. It was the weekend and as Christmas drew near, Christmas trees could be seen everywhere. The streets were littered with shoppers, too. Su Yue and Bai Jing had fixed a time to go shopping together. There was a massive Christmas tree in the middle of a shopping mall atrium. Colorful and twinkling lights decorated the tree, and every shop had a small Santa Claus outside the entrance. Su Yue was standing on level five and peering at the crowd below. Bai Jing hadn¡¯t reached yet, so she stood there waiting for her with a cup of warm bubble tea. Su Yue stood there in a gaze, staring at the crowd and lost in her own thoughts. Suddenly the cup slipped out from her fingers when she unconsciously loosened her grip. As expected, the drink splashed someone in the crowd. That person yelled out presumably in shock as his eyes wandered upwards, looking for the culprit. Su Yue hastily squatted down, afraid of being noticed. She moved stealthily back. After retracing her steps, she bumped into an obstacle. It felt like a person¡¯s leg. Oh no, did that person find her so soon? Su Yue hung her head in guilt. The man had his hands deep in his pockets as he gazed at Su Yue. He had a warm and affectionate smile on his face. His secretary hurriedly scuttled towards him and was about to speak when the man glanced at him. The secretary understood the man¡¯s intention and immediately clammed up. ¡°Yueyue.¡± A familiar and pleasant voice sounded above Su Yue. She blinked, unable to believe her ears. Was it a hallucination? Why did she hear Uncle Ming¡¯s voice? ¡°If you carry on squatting here, I¡¯m sure they will easily spot you.¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded again and Su Yue raised her head. Her eyes met the man¡¯s eyes¡ªwhich resembled black jade¡ªand her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t finish her sentence when Ming Ansheng bent to hold her hand. He pulled her up and led her towards the elevator. Confusion and astonishment were clearly etched on Su Yue¡¯s face. She glanced at Ming Ansheng¡¯s face, and her heartbeat was racing rapidly like their footsteps. Ming Ansheng held Su Yue¡¯s hand as they walked to the escalator. They could see the victim drenched in bubble tea on the escalator across them. He seemed to yell at the mall security guard. Su Yue hung her head and hid behind Ming Ansheng by instinct. Ming Ansheng glanced askew at her and grinned. ¡°How is your wound?¡± Su Yue nodded and muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve recovered.¡± She didn¡¯t dare to look at Ming Ansheng and pulled her hand away from his grip. Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand and heart suddenly felt empty when Su Yue pulled her hand away. After a fleeting moment, he put on a smile once more. ¡°Why are you alone?¡± Su Yue softly spoke, ¡°I¡¯m meeting Bai Jing, but she isn¡¯t here yet.¡± Chapter 1250. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Two) Ming Ansheng swiftly stepped out when the escalator reached the designated floor. Su Yue trailed slowly behind Ming Ansheng with her head bowed. She was afraid that she won¡¯t be able to avert her gaze from his face. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Ming Ansheng halted his footsteps as he glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue didn¡¯t answer. She was supposed to eat with Bai Jing. But Bai Jing hadn¡¯t appeared yet. ¡°Let us¡­¡± Ming Ansheng paused for a fraction of a second before pressing on. ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch together.¡± Su Yue refused and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s all right. Bai Jing is coming and I¡¯m supposed to eat with her.¡± Her phone rang at this moment. She fumbled for her phone in her bag. Bai Jing was on the other line and she answered, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue hung up, and she pursed her lips. Ming Ansheng stood before her and he could hear their entire conversation. However, he feigned ignorance and asked her on purpose. ¡°Why?¡± A sly smile flitted across his face for he was obviously gloating. Su Yue muttered, ¡°She had something urgent to attend to.¡± She was disappointed that Bai Jing couldn¡¯t make it. She had waited for such a long time earlier on. She should have informed her earlier. Then she wouldn¡¯t have to bump into him. ¡°In that case¡­ let¡¯s eat together.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t give Su Yue a chance to decline and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards the elevator. Su Yue wanted to pull her hand from his grip, but he held on too tightly. Ming Ansheng relinquished his grip after they entered the elevator. He stared at her intently and said, ¡°Su Yue, you said it yourself. I will still be your Uncle Ming.¡± If only she could go back to how she used to be¡ªacting like a child, depending on him and trusting him wholeheartedly. Su Yue didn¡¯t answer. Ming Ansheng grabbed her hand once more when the elevator door opened. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Let go of me.¡± Su Yue felt that it wasn¡¯t appropriate for them to be spotted so intimately in public. Besides that, she was still together with Jiao Chen. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t want to attract any attention, so he let go of her hand. ¡°It¡¯s her!¡± They had barely taken a few steps when someone pointed dramatically at Su Yue. ¡°She was the one who threw the cup of bubble tea!¡± Su Yue raised her head and turned towards the direction of the yells. The security guard was beside a man and a woman wearing a pink coat. They were headed in their direction. They seemed intimidating. Instinctively, she tried to hide behind Ming Ansheng again. She wanted to avoid them since she didn¡¯t feel like explaining or apologizing to them. The security guard came to her and said, ¡°Miss, someone saw you throwing the bubble tea at this guy.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Ming Ansheng darted forward and shielded Su Yue completely. He peered at the guard. ¡°Where is the person? How did he witness the entire accident?¡± The security guard focused on Su Yue that he didn¡¯t notice the towering figure standing beside her. Now that Ming Ansheng had stepped forward, the expression on the guard¡¯s face froze. ¡°President¡­ President Ming.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes trailed to the man splashed with the bubble tea. He smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry for this accident that happened here in our mall.¡± Chapter 1251. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Three) He coldly glanced at the guard and instructed, ¡°Hurry and get a new outfit for this gentleman over here.¡± ¡°Yes, right away.¡± The security guard didn¡¯t dare to dawdle and nodded vigorously. He turned around to the man and said, ¡°Mister, allow me to lead the way.¡± Although it wasn¡¯t an exclusive or posh shopping mall, the clothes would definitely cost at least a few thousand yuan. So, the man, who was in a fit of rage earlier on, simmered down. Su Yue peeked her head timidly from Ming Ansheng¡¯s back as she looked at them walking away. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ming Ansheng bent his head and glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue took a step forward and tilted her head. She looked at Ming Ansheng, looking surprised. ¡°Uncle Ming, does this mall belong to your family, too?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned and replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t you know this is Yifeng¡¯s factory retail outlet mall?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue pouted in response. How would she know that this factory retail outlet mall belonged to Yifeng? She had assumed that it was simply the name of an ordinary shopping mall. Ming Ansheng knew that Su Yue didn¡¯t completely understand him. So he explained, ¡°A factory retail outlet mall means that the mall carries discounted items of various brands.¡± Su Yue muttered under her breath and said rather gloomily, ¡°Bai Jing wanted to come here. I wasn¡¯t the one who suggested this mall.¡± She hoped that he wouldn¡¯t assume that she came here on purpose. Ming Ansheng chuckled and said, ¡°There is no need to explain. I know you wouldn¡¯t come here on purpose.¡± Su Yue turned red when he read her mind. Ming Ansheng had an urge to pinch Su Yue¡¯s rosy cheeks. If only he could reverse time, he could still do that. He would definitely have pinched her cheeks without a second thought. But now, the relationship between them had turned complicated. He had finally understood why Wen Xuxu had refused to confess her love for Yan Rusheng after all those years. It involved risks and if it wasn¡¯t successful, things would never be the same again. They were headed in different directions and they could never go back to how they were in the past. She would never hug nor whine to him ever again. Su Yue swiftly strode past Ming Ansheng. She nervously clenched her clothes. She knew that she needed to stop being in contact with him, even if it was just a brief conversation. However¡­ this was a chance encounter. She couldn¡¯t bear to leave like this. Sometimes, although it was the wrong path, one would still choose to tread on it. ¡°There is a barbecue restaurant here that serves good chicken wings.¡± Ming Ansheng strolled after Su Yue. Su Yue peered at her feet in silence. Ming Ansheng hastened his footsteps and caught her elbow. ¡°Yueyue, this is the place.¡± He gestured to a barbecue restaurant. Su Yue didn¡¯t resist and followed him obediently inside. Although it was past lunchtime, the restaurant was still relatively crowded. Ming Ansheng scanned the surroundings before calling for a waiter. ¡°Is there a private room?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t, but we have corner seats,¡± the waiter replied with a smile. The waiter received a shock the second he recognized his face. He hastily pressed on, ¡°Please follow me.¡± Yifeng had just celebrated their anniversary and Ming Ansheng was the President of Bright Vision. Who wouldn¡¯t know him? Chapter 1252. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Four) Although being with Yan Rusheng and Xuxu had made Su Yue feel as though she was in the limelight, being with Ming Ansheng was entirely different. Ming Ansheng seemed to be the domineering and overbearing handsome male character in a novel. Of course, she had made it all up in her mind. The waiter led Ming Ansheng and Su Yue to their seats. Their seats at a corner were surrounded by vintage-looking curtains with pearls. They sat across each other. The waiter passed them the menu. Su Yue randomly chose a few dishes before she passed it to Ming Ansheng. ¡°We¡¯ll take the specialty chicken wings too,¡± Ming Ansheng simply instructed the waiter before flipping the menu. He then ordered a few more. The waiter received the menu and politely spoke, ¡°We have a special Christmas event. We are giving away two DIY cups if you order the fruit juice.¡± ¡°DIY?¡± blurted Su Yue as she couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity. The waiter flipped the menu to the last page, which contained illustrations of the special event and gifts. The waiter pointed to the pictures and expounded, ¡°The cups are in the same shape and you can choose any photos you want. The DIY cups will be ready immediately.¡± The porcelain cups were white with a heart-shaped handle, and it came in various designs. Su Yue looked pretty interested in the cups. After all, young girls like her would naturally be interested. Ming Ansheng stretched his hand to pour water for Su Yue. He noticed her expression, and a warm, affectionate smile played at the corners of his mouth. He glanced at the waiter and said, ¡°Give us a set.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The waiter smiled and pressed on, ¡°Please inform us of the design you want when the food is served.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded lightly. The waiter turned around and left. Ming Ansheng and Su Yue were left alone in the corner. Su Yue sat across, looking awkward and nervous. She then bowed her head. Ming Ansheng indiscreetly gazed at her. It was such a rare occasion that he was alone with her. ¡°Yueyue, does your wound still hurt?¡± He blurted out to break the silence. ¡°Nope.¡± Su Yue shook her head. She was afraid that Ming Ansheng might not believe her and might request to check her wound. She reiterated firmly once more. ¡°It¡¯s really not painful at all.¡± She nervously tightened her grip on the cup of water. Ming Ansheng observed Su Yue actions in silence as he propped his hand against his cheek. He took a sip of water as he watched her. Su Yue looked so adorable when she was nervous. He grinned and said, ¡°Feeling pressured?¡± Su Yue instinctively looked up, looking confused. ¡°Huh?¡± Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°To be liked by an old guy must be embarrassing for you. Do you feel pressured?¡± ¡°No¡­ no, it¡¯s not!¡± Su Yue shook her head violently. She spluttered, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! It¡¯s not embarrassing.¡± She was too nervous to speak coherently. Ming Ansheng saw that her face was crimson, and he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to tease her. ¡°Yueyue, you¡¯ve changed.¡± ¡°How have I changed?¡± Su Yue glanced at Ming Ansheng as she blinked, looking puzzled. Her heart pounded furiously as her eyes met his. She hurriedly averted her gaze. Chapter 1253. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Five) Bai Jing was right. She would constantly miss the person if she didn¡¯t see him. But when she was with him, she wouldn¡¯t dare to look at him. And her heart would beat erratically as well. Everything was just as what Bai Jing had described. She really fell in love with Uncle Ming, and she was still in love with him. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up.¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled in amusement. In the past, she was an unabashed and naive girl who never felt embarrassed easily. She was ignorant of worldly affairs. It made him feel that he needed to protect her. Although he still had the desire to protect her, his intentions were no longer pure. At times, he would envision her to be a frail and demure woman in his arms. ¡®You¡¯ve grown up¡­¡¯ These words didn¡¯t affect Su Yue at all. She pouted and bowed her head to take a sip of water. She avoided looking at Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. Her eyes darted to the sides. ¡°Tell me. What kind of person is he?¡± Ming Ansheng hoped that she could talk to him like before. He just wanted to have a casual conversation with Su Yue as an elder or brother. He merely wanted to listen to her voice. They had met by chance today and these encounters might not happen again. ¡°Who?¡± Su Yue was too nervous to comprehend his words. She stared at him blankly before she thought of Jiao Chen. She realized that Ming Ansheng was referring to Jiao Chen. She replied casually, ¡°Jiaojiao is very good to me, and he is a nice guy.¡± It was the truth, but she didn¡¯t dare to look into Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. Su Yue decided not to let Ming Ansheng speak, so she cut across, ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± She had mustered all her courage, and it was obvious that she wanted to ask or express her thoughts. Ming Ansheng had a shrewd hunch that she had questions or doubts¡ªand these were bugging her. After a moment of deliberation, he raised his eyebrows. ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Will you¡­ still marry Tang Feiling?¡± She nervously gripped her fingers as her heart raced. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were sparkling and Ming Ansheng gazed intently into her eyes. Why would she ask this? What was she thinking? As he gazed at her, his heart involuntarily lurched. He thought he saw anticipation but after careful contemplation, he decided that he must have seen wrongly. How was this possible? What was she expecting? She wasn¡¯t in love with him and they had so many obstacles in between them. There was nothing to expect. Ming Ansheng bowed his head as he smirked. He shook his head lightly. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°But why¡­? Is¡­ is it¡­¡± Su Yue widened her eyes as she stared at Ming Ansheng in disbelief. She bowed and spoke reproachfully, ¡°Is it because of me?¡± Did she break up their marriage? ¡®You¡¯re just like your mother, born to be a mistress¡­¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re a mistress. Your mother may have succeeded in ruining someone¡¯s marriage but I will not let you destroy my marriage with Ming Ansheng¡­¡¯ Tang Feiling¡¯s words ranged like a curse in Su Yue¡¯s ears¡ªtormenting her mercilessly. Her grip on the cup water tightened as she waited for him to answer. Ming Ansheng watched her every movement, and he finally understood Su Yue¡¯s worries and the reason she looked so guilty and nervous. Chapter 1254. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Six) Su Yue¡¯s words had tugged Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart, and he shook his head firmly. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± He stretched his hand to hold Su Yue¡¯s hand. He gently consoled, ¡°It has nothing to do with you at all. I don¡¯t like her and I never will.¡± He had a warm and gentle smile. It shocked Su Yue. ¡°Don¡¯t you love her?¡± If he didn¡¯t, why did he get engaged with her? Why did he take wedding photos with her? Then why did he plan to marry her? Su Yue was like a piece of blank paper in Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. He could read what was on her mind just by her expressions. He laughed softly. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that all wealthy families emphasize heavily on social and economic statuses? That¡¯s why the descendants need to look for well-matched spouses through linked marriages.¡± Linked marriage? She had come across the term on TV or in a novel. Su Yue nodded to show that she understood. So Uncle Ming and Tang Feiling¡¯s marriage was arranged by their families? Uncle Ming didn¡¯t like Tang Feiling at all? But Tang Feiling seemed to like Uncle Ming very much. If not, she wouldn¡¯t¡­ Su Yue bent her head in deep thought as she gazed at her chest. She appeared gloomy and troubled. Ming Ansheng chuckled lightly from the seat across her. ¡°My grandfather used his life to coerce me into accepting this marriage. Do you think I have such low standards by choosing Tang Feiling when even you disliked her?¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡®Clearly, we have different standards¡­¡¯ She recalled the words she had said to Ming Ansheng before and remarked, ¡°You do have low standards.¡± She pouted and bent her head. She felt slightly better to know that Uncle Ming didn¡¯t like Tang Feiling. Ming Ansheng¡¯s face lit up with a smile when he noticed Su Yue smiling. ¡°This incident is merely an excuse for me to cancel the wedding. I don¡¯t intend to marry her at all.¡± He didn¡¯t know if Su Yue would feel better if he phrased it that way. At last, he was able to cancel his engagement with such a revolting woman. But he had to pay such a terrible price¡­ It was too terrible. He had frequent nightmares in the past few nights, of how he had dashed into the warehouse, and seeing Su Yue bleeding from her chest. Every time he dreamt or thought of it, it was as though his whole body was shuddering in fear. Su Yue blinked and muttered to herself. Her head was still bowed, but she sounded less pessimistic. Ming Ansheng watched her and said, ¡°Yueyue, stop hanging your head down. You did nothing wrong. So why must you hang your head in shame?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t dare say that she was afraid of looking at him and that if she did, she would feel guilty. So she clammed up and slowly sipped the water to keep herself busy. The waiter interrupted them at that moment as he lifted the curtains. He smiled politely at Ming Ansheng and Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯ll be setting up the barbecue pit.¡± The restaurant specialized in using charcoal to barbecue food in the traditional way, unlike others which used electrical pits. It was the first time Su Yue saw it. She stared in fascination as the waiter added the red-hot charcoal into the pit. The waiter placed the grill on top and bowed to Su Yue and Ming Ansheng. ¡°Please enjoy your meal.¡± The waiter left, and Su Yue stretched her hand towards the grill when Ming Ansheng was unaware. ¡°Be careful¡­¡± Ming Ansheng cried out to remind Su Yue, but it was still too late. Su Yue¡¯s finger had brushed against the grill. She hastily retracted her hand and blew on her burnt finger to ease the pain. Chapter 1255. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Seven) ¡°Are you a fool?¡± Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows tightly as he quickly stood up. He strode to Su Yue and gripped her hand to check on her burnt finger. Actually, it was just a minor burn. She pulled her hand away really quickly. Ming Ansheng had deliberately made a fuss. He gripped Su Yue¡¯s hand and refused to let go. Su Yue tried to struggle, but he was way too strong. She was frustrated as she said, ¡°Uncle Ming, don¡¯t be like this.¡± Su Yue looked around her surroundings furtively as though she had done something wrong. She felt that she and Ming Ansheng were too close and intimate. She had hit the headlines a few times before, and strangers recognized her on a couple of occasions when she walked on the streets. Someone was bound to recognize her, eventually. She really didn¡¯t want to hit the headlines with Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng watched Su Yue¡¯s rosy and soft cheeks, and he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to wind his hand around her waist. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s embrace had surprised Su Yue. She nudged him. ¡°Uncle Ming, can you stop acting in this way?¡± She shoved Ming Ansheng away with force. Ming Ansheng retracted his hand and knew that he had gone overboard. His good-looking face flushed, and he averted his gaze from Su Yue¡¯s face. To put it plainly, he was embarrassed. ¡°Sorry, I¡­¡± He wanted to explain, but he had no idea how. Was he supposed to say that he couldn¡¯t control his love and desire for her earlier on? Su Yue bowed her head and frowned in disapproval. ¡°Uncle Ming, don¡¯t become a perverted uncle.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. ¡®Perverted uncle¡­¡¯ Young Master Ming immediately thought of those old perverted lechers who preyed on young girls on trains and buses. He felt so uncomfortable. How should he explain to her that he wasn¡¯t a pervert? He loved her and he had a strong desire for her indeed. Ming Ansheng deliberated for a long time but he didn¡¯t know how to explain to Su Yue. All their dishes shortly arrived. The waiter neatly placed the dishes on the table. He then said to Ming Ansheng and Su Yue, ¡°Both of you have ordered the DIY couple cups, have you decided on the design you wanted?¡± Su Yue was startled as she glanced at the waiter. She blinked her eyes and spluttered, ¡°Couple¡­ cups?¡± That waiter didn¡¯t mention the fact that it was ¡®couple cups¡¯ , and he only said that it was DIY. ¡°Yes, couple cups.¡± The waiter assumed that Su Yue was pleasantly surprised, so he smiled brightly. ¡°It comes with a unique heart-shaped handle and the rim of the cup is heart-shaped, too.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ Why didn¡¯t the waiter mention that they were ¡®couple cups¡¯. If she knew that they were ¡®couple cups¡¯ , she would have declined. Su Yue muttered ¡®oh¡¯ gloomily after some time. She turned to glance at Ming Ansheng and said, ¡°Uncle Ming, you can take the cups. I don¡¯t have any design in mind.¡± Ming Ansheng knew that Su Yue was feeling conflicted about the couple cups, so he answered rather gloomily, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m interested in such stuff?¡± Actually, he had already seen the poster outside the restaurant regarding the DIY ¡®couple cups¡¯. Su Yue¡¯s reaction left him disappointed. He didn¡¯t harbor any hopes as she should have the couple cups with her young boyfriend. It would never be him. Chapter 1256. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Eight) ¡°Then¡­ give it to me then.¡± The waiter stood there waiting for them to decide. Su Yue decided to just take the cups so that the waiter would leave. She took out her phone and randomly selected a photo of her and Jiao Chen. She showed it to the waiter and said, ¡°Use this photo then.¡± The photo was taken on their first date when they watched a movie together. They were sitting outside the movie theater, waiting to go in. She held popcorn in her hands while Jiao Chen held the beverages. The waiter was dumbfounded after he saw the photo. He stole a glance at Ming Ansheng and he frowned in confusion. He was obviously thinking, ¡®Why is the man different from the man in the photo?¡¯ Ming Ansheng knew from the waiter¡¯s expression that Su Yue had chosen a photo of her and Jiao Chen. He retracted his footsteps and gulped the entire cup of tea. The tea was freshly brewed and it was still hot. He only realized it after he drank it, but it was too late. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows and protested, ¡°That¡¯s my cup! And the tea is really hot.¡± She hastily poured a cup of juice for Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng drank a mouthful of the juice before placing the cup on the table. He rose and went back to his seat. Su Yue followed the waiter¡¯s instructions and emailed the photo to the restaurant¡¯s email address. The waiter left and Ming Ansheng and Su Yue were left alone once more. Su Yue began to barbecue the food. She stole glances at Ming Ansheng several times. He sat there in silence, looking glum. ¡°This is cooked.¡± Su Yue placed a piece of pork in Ming Ansheng¡¯s bowl. Ming Ansheng merely glanced at it without moving. Su Yue noticed it and decided not to cook any more food for him. She placed the cooked food in her bowl since he didn¡¯t want any. Ming Ansheng merely ate a little although he drank quite a bit. He finished five cans of beer. Su Yue thoroughly enjoyed the meal. She had initially thought that she wouldn¡¯t have any appetite since Ming Ansheng had dragged her into the restaurant. But to her surprise, her appetite was great. Ming Ansheng said that the chicken wings were superb, and she really finished all of them. ¡°Mister, the bill is 570 yuan.¡± The waiter came with the bill and presented it to Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was a little tipsy, but his mind was still sound. He quietly glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue blankly stared at him as she asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned at her questioning tone. ¡°You ate so much and you even took the cups. Shouldn¡¯t you foot the bill?¡± He sounded rather angry. Su Yue was speechless¡­ Who was the one who dragged her for a meal? And he claimed that she ate everything. Was it what she wanted? She merely ordered four dishes! He had ordered the rest of the meal. Su Yue indignantly replied, ¡°You¡¯re so petty.¡± She took out her purse and took out 500 yuan. She then merged all the coins she had before passing it to the waiter. She had spent all her cash. And now, she was left with a few yuan left. No doubt she still had her credit card, but she still felt upset. The waiter came back with the receipt and DIY cups. He said, ¡°Your couple cups are ready.¡± Chapter 1257. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Nine) Ming Ansheng had already felt uncomfortable looking at the photo printed on the cups. When the waiter mentioned the word ¡®couple cups¡¯ again, he became upset. He rose, picked up his coat, and parted the curtains. He felt a little tipsy earlier on, and when he stood up, everything went pitch-black for a second that he almost fell. Fortunately, he managed to gain a firm footing. Su Yue could tell that Ming Ansheng was drunk. She stared at the towering figure as he stumbled forward. She then shook her head helplessly. She glanced at the pink box on the table which contained the cups. The paper bag was really exquisite, too. She exhaled and picked up the paper bag before leaving. Ming Ansheng had already exited the restaurant, and he leaned against the pillar. There was a cigarette in his hand and he hung his head low, puffing away. Su Yue strode to him and said, ¡°Uncle Ming, I¡¯m going home.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Ming Ansheng and turned around towards the elevator. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue had taken a few strides when Ming Ansheng called her. It was the first time that he had called her by her full name. Su Yue froze and her heartbeat seemed to have stopped. She halted her footsteps, too. She turned around and glanced at the towering figure. The expression in his eyes carried a tinge of sorrow. Su Yue¡¯s heart seemed to clench tightly¡ªshe almost bolted towards him. Her hands tightened its grip on the paper bag and she stood motionless, staring at Ming Ansheng. ¡°I¡¯ll send you home.¡± Ming Ansheng put the cigarette to his mouth again as he took a deep puff. He blew out thick billows of smoke. He flung away the remaining stub of the cigarette into the trash can. He straightened his back before walking towards Su Yue. Su Yue declined and said, ¡°It¡¯s all right. I can go home myself.¡± How could she allow him to send her home? She shouldn¡¯t even be having a meal with him. But she just couldn¡¯t control her heart, and thus she relented. Ming Ansheng had a shrewd guess regarding Su Yue¡¯s concern. ¡°Can¡¯t I just send you to the main road?¡± asked Ming Ansheng with a frown. Su Yue inhaled deeply and reiterated. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. Su Yue thought that Ming Ansheng would flare up and leave in a huff. He suddenly stretched his hand and snatched the paper bag from her. He was too fast for her. ¡°I want this.¡± ¡°Uncle Ming!¡± Su Yue was livid as she glared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Don¡¯t act in this way.¡± Her determination was wavering. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were glistening the next moment. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t notice her expression and merely held the paper bag. He turned around and leaned against the pillar once more. ¡°I will put it near my bed to remind myself.¡± Su Yue was about to leave when Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice sounded again. He was drunk. He usually had quite a high tolerance for alcohol. Surprisingly, he became drunk that night. He had always been helpless when it comes to Su Yue. He didn¡¯t bear to force her to do the things she disliked or to raise his voice at her. He had turned around since he didn¡¯t want to see her angry. He had recalled how he had forced himself to yell at her, and how she cried and vowed not to see him again. Su Yue stood rooted to the spot as she stared at Ming Ansheng¡¯s back. Her eyes welled up with tears in no time. ¡®Grandfather Ming will never let an illegitimate daughter whose mother was a mistress, enter the Ming family¡¯s doors¡­¡¯ Chapter 1258. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Ten) Su Yue squatted and wound her arms around her legs. She buried her face and began to sob pitifully. Ming Ansheng became stiff when he heard Su Yue¡¯s sobs. He stopped himself from turning around and marched ahead. Su Yue sensed that Ming Ansheng was getting further away. She gazed at his back as more tears gushed down. She used her sleeves to wipe her tears¡ªover and over again. ¡­ Su Yue was anxious that she and Ming Ansheng would snap during the time they were together. Despite being cautious, someone still snapped a photo of Ming Ansheng holding her hand. Su Yue was so frustrated when she saw the photo circulating online. How she wished she could rip that culprit to pieces. She stayed in her room the entire day and refused to step out. She didn¡¯t dare to face Wen Xuxu or anyone else. She had disappointed everyone. Especially Jiao Chen. This was the first time she felt such guilt towards Jiao Chen. What have she done? This wasn¡¯t the first time it happened, and he didn¡¯t ask her about it. He even concealed the truth and spun a lie. Su Yue stared at her phone and was lost in hesitation for the entire day. She finally dialed Jiao Chen¡¯s number. The call went through, and Jiao Chen answered. ¡°Jiaojiao,¡± Su Yue called him nervously and continued, ¡°Yesterday when I ate at a restaurant, they gave me two cups. And it had our photo on it.¡± She paused and began to stammer, ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Su Yue, let¡¯s break up.¡± Jiao Chen suddenly interjected Su Yue¡¯s words. Su Yue felt as though someone had clenched her heart and squeezed it tightly. She spluttered, trying to explain, ¡°Jiaojiao¡­ I¡­¡± Jiao Chen didn¡¯t let her continue and interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m too busy to spend time with you.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes glistened as she clenched the phone tightly. She didn¡¯t want to sound as though she was crying. ¡°You must be furious, right?¡± He must be. She had hurt Jiaojiao indeed. Su Yue hated herself. Jiao Chen¡¯s voice sounded nonchalant. ¡°I¡¯m not angry because I know that you don¡¯t like me. Actually, I¡­ don¡¯t really like you too,¡± said Jiao Chen. He paused for a second in the middle of his sentence. It was obvious that he had struggled and mustered enough courage to say those words. He pressed on lightly, to hide his agony. ¡°I only needed a girlfriend to pass the time. You¡­ don¡¯t have to take it to heart.¡± Su Yue still didn¡¯t entirely believe him despite his efforts to conceal his true feelings. She may be na?ve but she wasn¡¯t a child any longer. She knew how Jiao Chen felt towards her, especially in the past few days. And because of this reason, she felt worse and even more guilty. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t conceal her emotions any longer and her voice shuddered. Jiao Chen consoled her softly, ¡°Stop crying, I¡¯m really not angry. I do feel guilty as well, Su Yue.¡± Su Yue sniffed and said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± Her voice was choked, and she couldn¡¯t continue any longer. She hung up. She pulled the blanket over her head and bawled loudly. ¡®Why did this happen? Why did things end up like this?¡¯ She felt so sorry for Jiaojiao. He brought food for her to her dormitory every day and exercised with her. He brought her back to his dormitory when she had nowhere else to go. He appeared in the middle of the night and said that he looked for her because he missed her. Chapter 1259. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng Together (part Eleven) He said that he would like her only when she liked him. But after so many days, he fell for her before she even fell for him. She hated herself. She hated how she was so detestable. Why was she so annoying? ¡­ The grandest mansion in the capital city. Ming Ansheng felt the tension in the air the moment he entered the quiet living room. He changed his shoes and walked through the front porch. The old man was sitting on the sofa, his expression cold. Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t surprised. He glanced over plainly and continued walking forward. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what are you trying to do?¡± When he saw that Ming Ansheng had walked past the sofa with no intention of stopping, Ming Zhongsheng suddenly stood up in a fit of anger. He grabbed the newspaper on the coffee table and rolled it up, bashing Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. ¡°I asked you, what are you trying to do?!¡± ¡°What am I trying to do?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t dodge. The newspaper hit his face, and the next moment it fell to the ground. He turned to look at Ming Zhongsheng coolly, raising his eyebrow. ¡°What can I do?¡± ¡°I told you to cut off all ties with that illegitimate daughter. Look at this, look at what¡¯s written on it,¡± Ming Zhongsheng bellowed, pointing at the newspaper on the ground, his body trembling in fury. How could his grandson be involved with an illegitimate daughter? What more, she was an illegitimate daughter of the Yan family. All the more he disapproved. Ming Ansheng glanced over it and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s written quite well. The paparazzi who took this has good skills.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng almost fainted from anger. A worried crowd gathered at the staircase entrance on the second floor, but nobody dared to make their way down. Because Old Master had given a command: Nobody was to go downstairs without his permission. Even all the maids had been chased out. Ming Ansheng remained calm. The corner of his lips curled up in a smile. ¡°Grandfather, you¡¯re getting on in years. The doctor reminded you not to get agitated so easily. Did you forget?¡± Ming Zhongsheng pointed at him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, are you trying to go against me? Are you disobeying my commands?¡± ¡°Grandfather, you¡¯re already so old, can¡¯t you try letting go?¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly said in all seriousness. He looked at Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°When you gave Meiduo the cheque that day, did you even think about me? In your eyes, is anyone even worthy of your respect?¡± His expression turned cold once more. Guilt flashed through Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s eyes, but he remained adamant. He frowned and said, ¡°That woman complained to you?¡± Without waiting for his reply, his lips curled coldly, his smile full of mock. ¡°Didn¡¯t she say that she wouldn¡¯t tell you? That she would leave silently? She¡¯s quite the actress. She¡¯s so two-faced, you¡¯re lucky you broke up with her.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrow. ¡°Does she have to complain to me? This has always been your style.¡± Ming Zhongsheng turned his anger into a smile. ¡°Please tell me what my style is.¡± Ming Ansheng ignored him and said, ¡°I just returned and I don¡¯t want to argue with you. Grandfather, if you keep trying to pick a fight every day, for the sake of your health, I think it¡¯s better if I moved out for a while.¡± He walked towards the staircase. ¡°Ming Ansheng, come back here now. You come over¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng suddenly grabbed Ming Ansheng and dragged him over to the huge Grandfather clock. Beside the Grandfather clock, on the fragrance hall, was a portrait of a benevolent and kind old woman. Ming Zhongsheng pointed at the portrait and said, ¡°Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten what your grandmother instructed you on her deathbed?¡± Chapter 1260. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part One) ¡®Xiaosheng, listen to your grandfather. You must listen to him, study hard and share his burden¡­¡¯ The image of his grandmother lying in a pool of blood flashed through his mind. She was grabbing his hand, talking to him. Ming Ansheng clenched his fists and tears covered his sinister gaze. He stared at the old woman, her last words ringing in his ears. ¡®Help me take care of your Grandfather. Promise me¡­¡¯ Ming Zhongsheng was still berating him angrily. But he didn¡¯t hear any of it. He didn¡¯t need to. All those years, his grandmother was his soft spot. Her death was something he couldn¡¯t get over. Breaking up with Meiduo, getting engaged to Tang Feiling, going for all sorts of training to be the next successor¡ªall this, he didn¡¯t resist. Lu Yinan and Third Yan had tried to persuade him, but he just couldn¡¯t get over her death. ¡°Are you not letting your late Grandmother down by disobeying me like this?¡± Ming Zhongsheng berated. ¡°Enough!¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly turned around. He then stormed towards the staircase. He ignored Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s yells. ¡®Aren¡¯t you letting your late grandmother down¡­¡¯ ¡®Su Yue, Su Yue!¡¯ But he wanted Su Yue¡­ Then he realized he couldn¡¯t get over Su Yue either. Ming Ansheng went upstairs and walked past all the bystanders. He didn¡¯t stop and his cold expression made the atmosphere chilly. He entered the study room. And he slammed the door shut. Ming Ansheng walked straight toward the wine cupboard. He picked a random bottle of red wine and opened it, chugging it down. He didn¡¯t stop drinking even as he walked to the door and opened it. ¡°Ansheng¡­¡± his mother said. She was standing by the door, a look of worry plastered on her face. Her heart ached even more when she saw him chugging the red wine. ¡°Son, don¡¯t be like this. You¡¯ll collapse.¡± He was caught in a fight before that he could even eat a single mouthful of dinner. Anger towards Old Master bubbled within her as well. But in this household, they treated the old man like an emperor. His command was like a royal edict and nobody dared to defy him. Only Ming Ansheng dared to talk back a few times. Ming Ansheng ignored his mother and walked towards his room. She followed after him but the door slammed in her face, and she was left staring at the door in a daze. She then came to her senses and sighed helplessly. ¡°Aish!¡± ¡°What¡¯s there for your heart to ache about?¡± Old Master had come upstairs and he glared at her, yelling coldly. He realized that Ming Ansheng was getting out of hand, especially when it came to Su Yue. How could the future lady boss of Bright Vision be an illegitimate daughter? ¡°Dad¡­¡± She finally mustered the courage to raise her voice at him after tens of years. She asked, ¡°Are you trying to hound him to his death? He¡¯s your grandson.¡± Which mother didn¡¯t feel heartache when their child was being controlled, unable to have a say in their own marriage and lifelong happiness? How could she not feel any heartache? Ming Zhongsheng coldly snorted. ¡°It¡¯s precisely because he¡¯s my grandson. Do you think the Ming family would bring an illegitimate child home?¡± She frowned and unhappily grumbled, ¡°Dad, how could you say that?¡± Chapter 1261. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part Two) ¡°Wang Yuexiang, are you defying me too?¡± First, it was Ming Ansheng, now his daughter-in-law started talking back too. Ming Zhongsheng was enraged. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that your family still requires the Ming¡¯s help to clean up their mess.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t want Bright Vision anymore,¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly appeared and announced. He walked over to his mother and stood beside her, glaring at Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°I¡¯ve let my grandmother down. I owe her a life, so take mine.¡± He then smashed a bottle against the wall, the glass shattered into pieces. Immediately, he walked towards the stairs. ¡°Ansheng¡­¡± His mother chased after him. Ming Ansheng ignored her and continued walking. He brushed past Ming Zhongsheng and everyone else. They called out to him, trying to persuade him, but nobody dared to pull him to a stop. In their household, there were only two real masters: Old Master and Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ansheng¡­¡± His mother continued chasing after him. Old Master followed them to the staircase. When he saw Ming Ansheng furiously storming away, he almost couldn¡¯t catch his breath. He held onto the railing and yelled at his daughter-in-law, ¡°Don¡¯t chase after him. Let him leave. Once he steps out of this house, he won¡¯t be allowed back in again.¡± He was the grandson he had nurtured for over twenty years; he felt was most suitable to be his successor. But he defied him because of an illegitimate daughter! Ming Ansheng had just arrived home so his car was still in the courtyard, and his car keys were still in it. He walked over to the driver¡¯s seat and opened the door, getting in. He locked the door and started the car before his mother could reach him. The headlights turned on. She stood before the car, looking at him, her pleading eyes glistening with tears. His heart clenched when he saw her, but he started the engine. The butler was afraid that he would be in trouble, so he opened the gates and Ming Ansheng sped out of the courtyard. It was below zero degrees during December in the capital city. His car window was open and the chilly breeze blew into the car, striking his handsome face. ¡®Xiaosheng, listen to your grandfather. You must listen to him, study hard and share his burden¡­¡¯ His grandmother¡¯s orders rang in his ears and Su Yue¡¯s delicate, innocent face flashed through his mind. He had never been so at a loss. He stepped on the accelerator and the black Mercedes flew into the dark night. It was as though the driver didn¡¯t want to live anymore. That¡¯s right. If death had taken him instead of his grandmother, he wouldn¡¯t have to live in self-blame, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen in love with a girl he could never have, and he wouldn¡¯t be as troubled as he was now. But why? Why didn¡¯t he die instead? ¡­ Su Yue cried for more than an hour and her eyes became as swollen as light bulbs. She still buried her head in the covers, and she felt like she couldn¡¯t face anyone. She had fallen in love with Uncle Ming¡ªher third brother and third sister-in-law¡¯s friend, an engaged man¡ªand hurt Jiaojiao, the boy who was so good to her, all because of this man. ¡®Su Yue, why don¡¯t you just die?¡¯ Su Yue felt like she shouldn¡¯t have been alive in the first place. What was her purpose in living? Knock, knock, knock. She heard a series of knocks and ignored them. Chapter 1262. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part Three) Then a voice echoed. Xuxu entered and looked at the bed. From the lump under the covers, it was obvious that Su Yue was hiding under it. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± she called gently. Su Yue didn¡¯t respond. She sighed helplessly and shook her head, walking over with light footsteps. She sat on her bed and grabbed the covers, trying to flip it over. Su Yue expected this, so she clutched tightly to the covers. Xuxu didn¡¯t force her and she let go. Heart aching, she looked at her and whispered, ¡°Yueyue, get up and eat. You haven¡¯t eaten in a day.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡± Her voice was nasal, so it was obvious that she was crying. ¡°What¡¯s there to be sad about? I told you before that liking someone is not embarrassing,¡± Xuxu said as she gently lifted the covers off her. Su Yue was lying on her side, back-facing her, her body trembling. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Listen to me, get up and eat something.¡± She grabbed her elbow and pulled her up. She hugged her tightly when she saw her red puffy eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s not be sad. Don¡¯t be sad anymore, okay?¡± Su Yue suddenly grabbed Xuxu¡¯s waist and cried, ¡°Third sister-in-law, Jiaojiao broke up with me. I¡¯ve let him down.¡± Her words were choked and she bawled like a child. Jiao Chen¡¯s face filled her mind the entire day. She forced herself to think of Jiao Chen instead of Ming Ansheng. She didn¡¯t know why it was such a torture to like someone. ¡°Silly girl, Jiao Chen won¡¯t blame you,¡± Xuxu cajoled, patting her back gently. She comforted, ¡°This is something everyone goes through in their growing years. I was once your age. Many first loves don¡¯t get happy endings, but that¡¯s okay. Look at your third brother and I, aren¡¯t we very happy now? Everything will get better¡­¡± Su Yue kept quiet, still sobbing. After a while, she let go of Xuxu and turned around, lying down on the bed, back-facing her again. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I don¡¯t feel like eating. I want to have a nap. I need some quiet time.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t force her. ¡°Sure, come out for a bite later.¡± Su Yue nodded. Xuxu stared after her and sighed, standing up to leave. When Su Yue heard the door close shut, she turned around slowly. She stared at the door, rubbing her eyes, but her tears still flowing uncontrollably. ¡®Many first loves don¡¯t get happy endings, but that¡¯s okay¡­¡¯ Was it true? Su Yue thought about her words and went into a daze. Suddenly, her phone rang, snapping her out of her reverie. She picked up her phone and glanced at the screen. The name of the caller made her heart palpitate wildly. She ignored the call and placed the phone on the bedside drawer. Her phone rang again and again. ¡®Su Yue, let¡¯s break up!¡¯ Su Yue suddenly grabbed her phone and answered the call. She placed it by her ear and said, ¡°You¡¯re so annoy¡ª¡± The man¡¯s drunken voice interrupted her. He said, ¡°Yueyue, Yueyue¡­ What should I do?¡± His voice was pained, and she froze. She remained silent and he said in a softer tone of voice, ¡°Yueyue, I miss you. Can you come out?¡± Chapter 1263. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part Four) Su Yue¡¯s heart missed a beat. Her blaming words were stuck in her throat. She clenched her phone and held her breath, keeping quiet. On the other end, Ming Ansheng said nothing further. A sad song played in the background. Other than restaurants, Su Yue had never been to any other entertainment outlets, so she didn¡¯t know where Ming Ansheng was. When she heard the song, she felt like crying even when the tears on her eyelashes hadn¡¯t dried yet. ¡°Sleep early.¡± After a while, Ming Ansheng piped up, helpless and devastated. Without waiting for her reply, he hung up. Su Yue stared at the screen. ¡®Yueyue, I miss you. Can you come out?¡¯ ¡®Bang!¡¯ ¡°Ah¡­¡± The phone slipped through her fingers and fell on her face. She came to her senses and cried out in pain. The heavy phone fell on her cheekbone and it felt as though her cheek was burning in pain. ¡°So annoying.¡± Su Yue threw the phone at the head of the bed angrily, then hid under the covers. ¡®You can¡¯t waver. Su Yue, you can¡¯t waver.¡¯ ¡­ Su Yue had been away for ten days, including her stay in the hospital and at home. The next day, Su Yue woke up early and requested to return to school. She had been in torturous pain a few days ago, but these few days, her wounds didn¡¯t hurt anymore. But her mind went wild now and then. She would go mad if she carried on like this. She wanted to return to school to find something to do, not let herself be idle. She cooped herself up in her room the whole of yesterday, refusing to eat and drink. So Xuxu didn¡¯t stop her when she requested to head back to school. She understood her internal struggle and agony. She had to let her face it herself. If she kept sheltering her, she wouldn¡¯t grow up. She would be at a loss every time she met an obstacle. Xuxu personally sent Su Yue to school. There were fallen leaves all over the floor in the school campus during winter. Some of them danced in the breeze and others lay quietly on the ground. Xuxu held onto her elbow. They chatted about happy things as they walked. ¡°Let¡¯s see how your third brother fares. If he doesn¡¯t meet our standard these few days, let¡¯s ditch him and leave for Country M together.¡± Su Yue imagined the annoyance Yan Rusheng would feel if Xuxu were to ditch him and she smiled. If that were to happen, her third brother would surely hate her to death. She gazed forward and her expression suddenly stilled. She stopped in her steps. ¡°If you were to¡­¡± Xuxu continued, turning to look at her. When she saw that she was in a daze, she looked over as well. The cheerful and sunny boy was standing there in his sports attire, his hands tucked into his gray jersey shorts. His beautiful eyes stared over and met Su Yue¡¯s. ¡°Jiao Chen.¡± Xuxu froze but came to her senses first, smiling at Jiao Chen. She held onto Su Yue¡¯s elbow and led her towards Jiao Chen. He started walking over, too. When they met, Su Yue looked downwards and rubbed her shoe against the floor. Xuxu looked at Jiao Chen, then at Su Yue. She smiled and said, ¡°Yueyue, I won¡¯t send you back to your dormitory. I¡¯ll head home first.¡± She cried so badly yesterday because Jiao Chen broke up with her. She had to face this herself. Chapter 1264. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part Five) Regardless of whether Su Yue had any feelings towards Jiao Chen or not, she still had to face him. Xuxu just had a hunch that it wasn¡¯t over for Jiao Chen and Su Yue. Their lives would continue to intertwined in the future. Su Yue nodded in response. Xuxu glanced at Jiao Chen and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving first.¡± Jiao Chen nodded slightly at Xuxu with a warm smile. After Xuxu walked away, Jiao Chen¡¯s gaze landed on Su Yue. ¡°Is your wound better now?¡± asked Jiao Chen in a soft voice. His genuine concern made Su Yue feel guilty once again. Su Yue nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°Why are you staring at the ground?¡± asked Jiao Chen as he raised his eyebrows. Su Yue lifted her head to peer at Jiaojiao. She spluttered nervously, ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± Jiao Chen chuckled, looking amused. ¡°Are you stammering?¡± ¡°Do you really want to break up with me?¡± Su Yue stared at him with an intense gaze. Su Yue was unsure of her feelings towards Jiao Chen as she was feeling conflicted. She was¡­ probably reluctant to part with him. Yes, that must be reluctance. As compared to Ming Ansheng, she felt that Jiao Chen was flawless and perfect. The only problem was that she didn¡¯t like him. She was so frustrated. Why was love so complex and difficult to understand? Why couldn¡¯t she control her feelings? So, she was feeling confused and lost now, and there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Jiao Chen¡¯s smile froze on his face. ¡°Su Yue, I don¡¯t wish to delve in too deep. It would be impossible for me to get out in the time to come.¡± His tone carried a tinge of helplessness and sorrow. He was standing at the edge of a cliff right now. If he didn¡¯t want to fall and shatter to pieces, he had to give up this relationship first. ¡°I got it.¡± Su Yue nodded lightly. ¡°Jiaojiao, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She bent her head and felt as though a huge rock had her chest was constricted. Was it considered an official break up? Her heart was grieving. Jiao Chen gazed at Su Yue and noticed how pitiful and small she looked. His heart softened and he stroked her hair. ¡°Silly girl, you don¡¯t have to say sorry.¡± His warm and huge palm brought warmth to Su Yue. It felt so close and real. Su Yue suddenly exploded and she shoved Jiao Chen away. ¡°You are so horrible!¡± cried Su Yue. She fled as she cried. She wiped her tears as she ran. She seemed to have used up all her tears in her 18 years within these few days. Su Yue was the most famous person in school right now, and everyone¡¯s attention was on her. Someone spotted Su Yue pushing Jiao Chen away and running away in tears. Someone uploaded a photo on the school forum and everyone began to gossip. Everyone deduced that they had broken up, and the reason was that Su Yue was caught holding hands with Ming Ansheng in public. In a nutshell, Jiao Chen had dumped Su Yue. All eyes were on Su Yue where ever she went, and it was accompanied by malicious and horrible gossip. Su Yue and Bai Jing went to the canteen for lunch. As expected, everyone had fixed their eyes on Su Yue. She had already expected this, and that was why she was adamant on appearing before everyone else. She wanted to go back to how she was like before, the Su Yue who didn¡¯t bother about what others said of her. She kept telling herself not to get affected by the gossip, and that they couldn¡¯t hurt her. Chapter 1265. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part Six) But the more Su Yue tried to appear nonchalant, the more vicious and mean their remarks got. Bai Jing couldn¡¯t control her temper any longer and she slammed the table. She furiously glared at a knot of girls, sitting at a nearby table. They were the loudest. ¡°Are your mouths merely just to spread gossip?!¡± shouted Bai Jing. ¡°We didn¡¯t gossip about you. Why are you so angry?¡± ¡°Is it because we didn¡¯t gossip about you being kept by an old man recently, and you feel weird?¡± ¡°You must be jealous that you¡¯re not famous enough.¡± ¡°A pair of b*tches!¡± These girls didn¡¯t sound like university students as they spat malicious remarks at all. Bai Jing angrily stood up to confront them. Su Yue suddenly stretched her hand to stop her. ¡°Bai Jing, don¡¯t do it. Just let them be.¡± She shouldn¡¯t bother about them since they couldn¡¯t control others¡¯ mouths. Su Yue¡¯s behavior had startled Bai Jing, and she glanced at Su Yue¡¯s hand which was grabbing her arm. She then stared at Su Yue and said, ¡°Su Yue, they were so horrible to you.¡± ¡°I just want peace and some quiet.¡± After this matter, she never wanted to be in the limelight ever again. She vowed to spend her university life in peace. ¡°These people are so horrible!¡± Bai Jing collapsed on her chair and threw an ugly look at them once again. The girls stuck up their noses in victory. Bai Jing clenched her hands tightly, and the expression in her eyes was hard and cold with hatred. Su Yue glimpsed her expression and it startled her. This Bai Jing seemed like a total stranger. Although her appearance and style didn¡¯t change at all, she seemed so cold and distant earlier on. Bai Jing noticed Su Yue staring at her and she asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Su Yue shook her head and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Bai Jing will always be Bai Jing. Why would she change? After their meal, they went back to their dormitory. Gusts of strong winds ruffled their hair as they walked back to their dormitory. Bai Jing took out the card to open the door. ¡°Are you Su Yue?¡± Suddenly, an unfamiliar female voice was heard coming from the front. Su Yue looked up and saw an elegant middle-aged woman who seemed like she was in her fifties. She had dark brown curls and she was wearing a long thick plum coat that ended beyond her knees. She was holding a LV handbag in her arm as she stared at Su Yue. Her expression appeared she had something to say, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it. Su Yue sized her up from head to toe. Although she was in her fifties, she was still beautiful, especially her eyes. Incredibly, her eyes seemed distinctly familiar. Bai Jing gazed at the woman, looking curious. She whispered to Su Yue, ¡°Who is she?¡± Su Yue shook her head and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know her.¡± She had never met this woman before, but she liked her from the first look. The woman carefully surveyed Su Yue before taking big strides towards her. She glanced at Bai Jing, looking apprehensive. Bai Jing could tell that the woman was awkward with her, but she remained on the spot. ¡°Su Yue, can I talk to you in private?¡± The woman finally spoke up. She didn¡¯t introduce herself, which made Bai Jing assume that she was suspicious. ¡°You better remember the previous incident and don¡¯t trust strangers so easily.¡± Instead, Su Yue smiled as she commented, ¡°I feel that this aunt is not a stranger.¡± Chapter 1266. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part Seven) The woman spoke casually. She felt that this woman seemed friendly and familiar, and there wasn¡¯t a need to be wary of her. This was how she always used her instincts to judge people. The woman broke into a gentle and warm smile when she heard Su Yue. Bai Jing¡¯s face was grave, and she knew that Su Yue wanted her to leave them alone. She forced a tiny smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back first.¡± She swept past the woman and swiftly glanced askew at her. The woman didn¡¯t notice Bai Jing at all, as she gazed at Su Yue intently. After Bai Jing entered the dormitory, the woman smiled and said to Su Yue, ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m Ansheng¡¯s mother.¡± Su Yue widened her eyes in surprise as she stared at Wang Yuexiang¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t utter a sound for a long time. No wonder she felt so familiar. As she carefully studied her eyes, she realized that her eyes really resembled Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. But¡­ why did Uncle Ming¡¯s mother look for her? Was it because his mother saw their photo together or she found out that she liked Uncle Ming? Was she here to warn her not to look for Uncle Ming ever again? Su Yue anxiously pondered in her heart, and her palms were cold with sweat. She didn¡¯t dare to look into Wang Yuexiang¡¯s eyes out of fear and guilt. She was afraid that Wang Yuexiang would label her as a third party, just like how Tang Feiling did. She might berate her for seducing her son since she had indeed ruined their wedding. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the cafe outside your school and get a drink, shall we?¡± softly said Wang Yuexiang. She sized up Su Yue as she spoke, and the expression in her eyes contained immense fondness. ¡®A drink?¡¯ Her suggestion had startled Su Yue. She warily stared at Wang Yuexiang¡¯s benevolent-looking face. His mother didn¡¯t scold her, and she even smiled at her. Why did she smile at her? ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you have class later?¡± Wang Yuexiang noticed that Su Yue was silent and she pressed on, ¡°I won¡¯t take up too much of your time. Is it okay?¡± Su Yue snapped out of her thoughts and instinctively nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She seemed so silly and na?ve, and Wang Yuexiang affectionately smiled at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Wang Yuexiang stretched her hand towards Su Yue. She knew that it was less crowded at the South entrance, so she chose that route. Wang Yuexiang¡¯s car was parked outside, and her chauffeur hastily opened the door when he spotted them coming. Wang Yuexiang brought Su Yue to a cafe that was a short distance away from the school. It was afternoon, hence, most of the good seats were occupied. So, Wang Yuexiang got the chauffeur to make arrangements for a table. Su Yue ordered hot chocolate and the waiter turned to Wang Yuexiang. She smiled and instructed the waiter, ¡°Give her a slice of strawberry mousse as well.¡± Su Yue gazed at her, looking puzzled. Why did she order a slice of strawberry mousse for her? Wang Yuexiang ordered a cup of coffee. After the waiter left, Wang Yuexiang beamed at Su Yue. ¡°You¡¯re so adorable, so I think you will like strawberries.¡± Being adorable meant that she liked strawberries? Su Yue blinked in confusion and didn¡¯t understand that theory. Wang Yuexiang ignored her confusion and peered at her left chest. ¡°Is your wound still hurting?¡± She seemed as though she was genuinely concerned. Su Yue shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve recovered.¡± ¡°Can you show me your wound?¡± Wang Yuexiang briefly hesitated before asking Su Yue. Chapter 1267. Yueyue, I Miss You! (part Eight) It startled Su Yue. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± Did she hear it wrongly? This aunt requested to look at her chest? In the cafe? ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Wang Yuexiang assumed that Su Yue had rejected her. She didn¡¯t insist and put on an apologetic expression. ¡°Tang Feiling went overboard and you¡¯ve suffered,¡± said Wang Yuexiang in a gentle voice. She was all in favor of her son canceling the wedding with that ruthless woman. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ all right.¡± Su Yue stammered, looking confused. She didn¡¯t mean to say that she was all right. She hated Tang Feiling so much that even if she really caused Ming Ansheng and her wedding to be canceled, she didn¡¯t feel sorry or guilty at all. She knew that she didn¡¯t forget the pain she had suffered. So how would she be fine when Tang Feiling had tormented her? Su Yue hung her head, chiding herself for being so stupid. She was merely Uncle Ming¡¯s mother and she was already tongue-tied. Their desserts and drinks arrived, and Su Yue used a spoon to scoop the cream off of the mousse. She stared at Wang Yuexiang as she ate the cream. She really wanted to know why she looked for her. Su Yue was at a loss for words when Wang Yuexiang interjected, ¡°Ansheng¡­¡± She sounded as though her words were choked. Su Yue instinctively watched her to study her expression. Her heart violently thudded against her chest at the mention of Ming Ansheng¡¯s name. Wang Yuexiang paused for a second before expounded, ¡°He drank too much yesterday and his stomach is bleeding. But he refused to get treatment. Last night, Lu Yinan sent him to the hospital but this morning, he left after waking up.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart plummeted. ¡®His stomach was bleeding¡­ how serious was it?¡¯ Su Yue thought to herself. She nervously gazed at Wang Yuexiang. Wang Yuexiang glanced at her and spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m here to seek your help. Can you help me advise him to get treatment? He suffers from gastric pain often and the doctor says that he needs a thorough checkup for his stomach.¡± Su Yue stared at her cup in silence for some time without moving. A crease appeared in between her eyebrows and she seemed conflicted and hesitant. Wang Yuexiang said, ¡°I have no clue regarding his current whereabouts. His grandfather has sent people to look for him, but we still can¡¯t locate him. Can you treat it as I¡¯m pleading to you for help?¡± Her tone conveyed her concern and love for her son. Her expression looked so pitiful. ¡°I¡­¡± Su Yue bit her lips helplessly. Wang Yuexiang smiled and said, ¡°Little girl, I won¡¯t force you. If you can help me look for him and urge him to go for a checkup, I¡¯ll be grateful. If you aren¡¯t willing, I won¡¯t blame you.¡± She raised her cup and took a sip of her coffee. Wang Yuexiang sent Su Yue back to school. On the way back, Wang Yuexiang tried chatting with Su Yue, but her replies were curt and short. So their conversation didn¡¯t last long. Su Yue bent her head as she dragged herself back to the dormitory. She collapsed on her bed after entering her room. Bai Jing was in the midst of doing her homework when she glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Su Yue, who was she?¡± ¡°Uncle Ming¡¯s mother,¡± Su Yue lightly answered. It startled Bai Jing. ¡°Huh? Why did she look for you?¡± A gleam flashed in her eyes as she tried to hazard a guess. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Su Yue stared at the ceiling and replied, ¡°Uncle Ming is unwell. His stomach is bleeding. His mother wants me to look for him.¡± Chapter 1268. We Can Only Have an Underground Relationship (part One) Su Yue fell into deep thought once more. ¡®He suffers from gastric pain often, and the doctor says that he needs a thorough checkup for his stomach¡­¡¯ ¡°His stomach is bleeding? So serious?!¡± Bai Jing sounded completely shocked. Su Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she anxiously glanced at Bai Jing. ¡°Is it really that serious?¡± She had no idea how severe or serious it could be. Bai Jing nodded and pounded on, ¡°Certainly! If his stomach is bleeding, it¡¯s not something to joke about. I reckon it¡¯s caused by heavy smoking and drinking.¡± Su Yue listened intently to Bai Jing and she became more anxious. ¡°So what should he do?¡± Bai Jing frowned as she answered, ¡°Quit smoking and drinking. Then go for treatment. That should be it.¡± Su Yue nodded slowly and fell into a daze once more. Bai Jing called her once more, ¡°Su Yue.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yue glanced at Bai Jing, looking doubtful. ¡°You¡­¡± Bai Jing hesitated for a second. ¡°You are not going to look for him?¡± Su Yue knew who Bai Jing was referring to. She frowned in response and sighed heavily. ¡°Jiaojiao really broke up with me,¡± said Su Yue. All the rumors were true and Jiaojiao didn¡¯t want her anymore. It was all her fault and she knew that she deserved it. Bai Jing observed Su Yue closely and asked, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like him?¡± Bai Jing was right¡ªshe didn¡¯t like Jiaojiao. But¡­ Su Yue stroked her left chest and said, ¡°But my heart hurts, especially when I saw him this morning.¡± She was really sad to see Jiao Chen that morning. She began to have flashbacks of their past and everything they had done together. To her, everything she had done with him was really precious. It was true that she was sad when she broke up with Jiao Chen. But something was lacking when she compared that kind of sadness to Uncle Ming. What was lacking? She was sad, but¡­ it wasn¡¯t painful! Yes, she wasn¡¯t heartbroken. When Uncle Ming defended Tang Feiling and lectured her in public, she was completely heartbroken. She didn¡¯t feel that feeling of suffocation when she broke up with Jiao Chen. Su Yue fell into a deep reverie and Bai Jing loudly chided, ¡°I already told you so, but you turned a deaf ear.¡± Su Yue sighed and quipped, ¡°Yeah.¡± She was too silly and na?ve to believe that she would fall in love with Jiao Chen in time to come. She thought that she could forget Uncle Ming in that way. But two months went by and not only she didn¡¯t forget about him, but she also seemed to have plunged deeper. Bai Jing answered, ¡°You need to be clear and firm.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t quite understand and she asked, ¡°Clear and firm?¡± How was she supposed to be clear and firm? Bai Jing solemnly expounded, ¡°If you don¡¯t intend to continue your relationship with Jiao Chen, then don¡¯t be sad. And don¡¯t look for him anymore as it¡¯s unfair to Jiao Chen.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Bai Jing paused before asking, ¡°Are you sure you will have a future with your Uncle Ming? I heard that his grandfather hates your family, especially your Third Brother. He really loathed your Third Brother.¡± Su Yue was a little startled to hear that. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡®Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather loathed Third Brother? But why?¡¯ What feud did they have between them? Bai Jing answered, ¡°Lei Yong told me. But I don¡¯t know the details.¡± Su Yue nodded in response. ¡®He will never let an illegitimate daughter whose mother was a mistress, enter the Ming family¡¯s doors¡­¡¯ Uncle Ming had mentioned that his linked marriage with Tang Feiling was arranged by the elders of their families. His grandfather had emphasized heavily on family status. Chapter 1269. We Can Only Have an Underground Relationship (part Two) Furthermore, Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather hated the Yan family and Third Brother. What future could she possibly have with Uncle Ming? It was impossible! Su Yue was lost in her own thoughts during the lesson in the afternoon. She didn¡¯t take in a single word during the entire class. After class, she kept her books and stationery and left the room. ¡°Su Yue, you did well today.¡± Su Yue was about to go down the staircase when her professor caught up with her. He even complimented her. She was completely at sea. ¡°Huh?¡± She did well today? The professor smiled and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t fall asleep today and your attitude has improved. Keep it up.¡± Su Yue was speechless. She blushed instantly at his compliments. She wanted to say that she was too troubled to fall asleep. But that was the first time that she was praised by her teacher ever since she started her university classes. She should gracefully accept his compliments. Su Yue smiled sheepishly. She scratched the back of her head as she bade goodbye to her professor. She then descended the stairs. When she went back to her dormitory, she flung her bag on the floor and hastily left. She sprinted towards the South entrance. She hailed a taxi almost immediately and she scrambled in. ¡°To Brocade Park.¡± ¡®Yes, Brocade Park!¡¯ Uncle Ming¡¯s health was troubling her the entire afternoon in class. She felt that instead of feeling vexed and troubled, she should face reality and muster her courage. Bai Jing said that she needed to be firm and she wanted to give it a try. Su Yue had no idea where Ming Ansheng could be. But Ming Ansheng had told her before that his family didn¡¯t know about his apartment at Brocade Park. Only his close friends such as Lu Yinan and Third Brother knew. She had no clue, so this was the only place she could start with. Brocade Park¡¯s security was really stringent, and Su Yue had to think of a way to sneak in. She planned to wait for one of the residents to arrive so that she could sneak in. After waiting for some time, there was still no one in sight. It was freezing cold that day and most people were huddled at home. ¡°Which apartment unit are you going to?¡± A security guard saw Su Yue pacing to and fro outside the building, and he warily sized her up. Su Yue turned and glanced at the guard. ¡°I¡­¡± She was about to answer him when the security guard interjected. ¡°Oh, I recognize you. You are going to apartment number 15.¡± Uncle Ming¡¯s apartment was indeed number 15 and Su Yue smiled. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± He opened the gates for Su Yue. Su Yue entered and thanked the guard. She hastened her footsteps towards Uncle Ming¡¯s apartment. A lady hiding behind the bushes strode out and smiled at Su Yue¡¯s diminishing figure. She retraced her gaze and smiled at the security guard. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡­ Su Yue entered the elevator with cold palms. She was nervous and jittery. What if Ming Ansheng was really inside his apartment? What should she say to him? The elevator reached the level and she stepped out. Su Yue nervously clenched her sleeves and walked quietly to Ming Ansheng¡¯s apartment. She took a deep breath before mustering her courage to press the doorbell. ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ After she pressed it a few times, she waited in suspense. But no one responded. Wasn¡¯t he at home? Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows as she stared at the door. She had assumed that he would be home, and that was why she was so nervous. Chapter 1270. We Can Only Have an Underground Relationship (part Three) Su Yue wanted to give it one last attempt so she pressed the doorbell once more. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re so annoying¡­¡± The door swung open and a towering figure appeared along with an annoyed-sounding voice. Both of them stared unblinkingly as their eyes met. Ming Ansheng was feeling weak as he slumped against the door. His face and lips were pale. He was too overwhelmed with emotions and joy when he saw Su Yue, to the extent that he forgot to react. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Su Yue broke the silence first. She peered at the ground to avoid Ming Ansheng¡¯s stare. Her palms were covered in a cold sweat, and she was biting her lips. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Her presence thrilled Ming Ansheng, but his voice sounded weak. Unconsciously, he stretched his hand to reach for her. But he didn¡¯t dare to touch her. He took the couple cups from her that day, and as a result, she cried like a child. He was afraid of scaring her away or giving her additional unwanted pressure. Su Yue spoke softly once more, ¡°I heard that you were unwell and your stomach is bleeding. Is it still painful?¡± Ming Ansheng had no idea who told her. He ruled Yan Rusheng out as a possibility as he wouldn¡¯t want Su Yue to be anywhere near him. He nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯m seriously unwell and in great pain.¡± It was the first time that Ming Ansheng despised himself for being so shameless. He was always throwing disdainful looks at Yan Rusheng and Lu Yinan. Initially, he couldn¡¯t understand why Su Yue had visited him. He then found out that she had known about him being unwell. All he wanted right now was to gain more sympathy from her without minding her initial reasons. Ming Ansheng clutched his chest and furrowed his eyebrows. His acting potential was unleashed. Su Yue darted forward to support him. ¡°Uncle Ming, let me send you to the hospital.¡± She tightly grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. Ming Ansheng was only wearing a thin shirt, and he could feel how sweaty her soft palms were. It was so cold outside, yet this lass was sweating profusely. There was only one reason¡­ she was nervous. There was no reason for her to be afraid. Ming Ansheng smiled, looking at Su Yue with an amused expression. ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± Su Yue spluttered, ¡°I¡¯m not nervous!¡± ¡°Your palms are sweating.¡± Su Yue finally realized that she was grabbing Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. She wanted to release her grip. Before she could do that, Ming Ansheng grabbed her arm instead. There was a faint smile on his lips as he said, ¡°Yueyue, you care a lot about me right?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t need your concern, actually.¡± Su Yue widened her eyes in confusion. She didn¡¯t understand what Ming Ansheng meant. Was he no longer in love with her? Her huge and clear eyes were sparkling. Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that your boyfriend would be unhappy if he knew that you came to visit me?¡± ¡®Young Master Ming, stop asking the obvious! You are acting like a woman!¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. He doesn¡¯t want me anymore,¡± Su Yue grumbled angrily, and her eyes glistened. She hung her head and fiddled with her fingers. ¡®It¡¯s all your fault. He doesn¡¯t want me anymore¡­¡¯ The moment Ming Ansheng heard her, he understood why they broke up. His heart¡­ was pounding with excitement. Not just excitement. His happiness was beyond words. Chapter 1271. We Can Only Have an Underground Relationship (part Four) Ming Ansheng resumed his usual stoic composure and feigned surprise. ¡°What happened?¡± Su Yue sounded as though she bore a grudge. ¡°He saw the news about us. So he broke up with me.¡± Her tears rolled down. ¡°He didn¡¯t believe you?¡± Ming Ansheng was exploding from happiness. This break up was too good to be true and it happened at the right timing. But he had to consider Su Yue¡¯s feelings so he softly replied, ¡°Do you want me to explain to him?¡± He extended his hand to wipe Su Yue¡¯s tears. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Su Yue shook her head to decline his offer. She dodged his hand too and faltered. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± After a long while, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to say ¡®I like you¡¯. Ming Ansheng gazed at her with a frown. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Silly fool, you¡¯re the one that I like!¡± Su Yue had the urge to bite off her tongue the moment she blurted it out. Or perhaps she should dig a hole to bury herself right away. Her face and neck were flushed. Even she had shocked by herself, not to mention Ming Ansheng. Her confession sounded vaguely familiar. Ming Ansheng stared at Su Yue in complete disbelief. He was starting to doubt his hearing ability. ¡°Lass, what did you say?¡± ¡°Jiao Chen doesn¡¯t want me anymore. Do you still want me?¡± Su Yue fixed her pair of innocent-looking eyes at Ming Ansheng. Her palms were cold with sweat and all the blood seemed to have gone to her face. Ming Ansheng was still staring at her in silence. Su Yue waited with bated breath but he didn¡¯t respond, and so, Su Yue assumed that he didn¡¯t like her any longer. She bent her head and her heart sank. ¡®Jiao Chen doesn¡¯t want me anymore. Do you still want me?¡¯ If this question were to come from any other woman, it would seem like a joke to a guy. And the guy would feel as though he was being treated as a spare tire. But it sounded entirely different when Su Yue said it. Even if he were to be a spare tire and she had come to him putting on such a pitiful pretense, he still liked her¡ªregardless of any circumstances. To Ming Ansheng, Su Yue was as precious as a piece of a priceless gem. No matter how grave a mistake she committed, he still wanted to cherish and protect her tenderly. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Su Yue finally broke the silence as Ming Ansheng did not respond. She shook her head lightly. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hands and sniffed loudly. Ming Ansheng suddenly stretched his hand to hug the tiny girl in front of him. ¡°Little lass, the pain is killing me.¡± Su Yue raised her head and stared at him with a puzzled look. Her eyelashes were dripping with tears. Her heart¡­ seemed to have stopped beating. She had confessed her love, yet Uncle Ming was complaining about the pain. What did he mean by that? Su Yue blinked and her tears rolled down. Ming Ansheng kissed the teardrops on Su Yue¡¯s cheek and her tears moisturized his dry lips. He chuckled softly. ¡°Who told you that I was unwell?¡± He really wanted to thank this person. Su Yue blushed and muttered, ¡°Your mother.¡± It pleasantly surprised Ming Ansheng. His mother was a docile woman and she usually listened to his grandfather¡¯s orders. But incredibly, she had gone to look for Su Yue. It was such a surprise. It had never occurred to Ming Ansheng that his mother would look for Su Yue to tell her about his current state. But it was an excellent move. ¡°Go back to your house,¡± Su Yue prodded Ming Ansheng gently. They were locked in an embrace outside his apartment and anyone could easily spot them. Ming Ansheng knew exactly what was on Su Yue¡¯s mind. He chortled and said, ¡°So what if someone sees us?¡± Chapter 1272. We Can Only Have an Underground Relationship (part Five) Su Yue blushed harder, and she pressed her palms against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. She forcefully shoved him and pushed him back. ¡°Go into the house. You have to go to the hospital later.¡± She used her foot to close the door. The door slammed with a loud bang. Ming Ansheng broke into laughter, and he sounded amused. Su Yue frowned and said, ¡°Why are you laughing? What is so funny?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°You sounded as if you¡¯re a thief. Didn¡¯t you come here to start a relationship with me? Why does it sound like we are doing something shameful?¡± He had a bright smile on his face and it erased any hints of his pain or unhappiness. Su Yue clenched her fists and punched Ming Ansheng lightly on his chest. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to start a relationship with you so openly.¡± She didn¡¯t intend to start a relationship with him openly? It bewildered Ming Ansheng. ¡°Then¡­¡± Su Yue interjected, ¡°We can only have an underground relationship.¡± Young Master Ming frowned. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want my Third Brother and Third sister-in-law to know. And certainly not your grandfather or your family.¡± She took a deep breath and continued, ¡°I know your grandfather dislikes me and he won¡¯t accept me. So I don¡¯t want him to know.¡± She knew that Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather would be their biggest hurdle. Su Yue¡¯s words left Ming Ansheng dumbfounded. So, Su Yue knew all along that his grandfather was against them being together. Ming Ansheng feared that Su Yue might give up easily, and so he put his arms around her. He tenderly coaxed her, ¡°That¡¯s not something you should be worried about. I want you and nobody can stop me.¡± He had already made up his mind. In this lifetime, he will fight for something he truly wanted. ¡°No.¡± Su Yue shoved Ming Ansheng away and she stared at him. ¡°We can wait until your grandfather passed away when he is really, really old.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. A person will eventually die. So Su Yue¡¯s words didn¡¯t bother him at all. But she was afraid that he might get the wrong idea, so she emphasized that his grandfather will live to a ripe old age before passing away. However¡­ her thinking was so¡­ amusing. Su Yue was so serious yet Ming Ansheng burst into laughter. Su Yue frowned and glared at him. ¡°Why are you laughing!¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± Ming Ansheng wiped the smile off his face before affectionately stroking Su Yue¡¯s hair. ¡°Silly girl, I will never let you suffer any grievances. Don¡¯t worry about such matters.¡± How would he make her suffer such grievances? However, Su Yue¡¯s attitude was unyielding. ¡°If you agree, then we can date. If not, I won¡¯t be together with you.¡± She pursed her lips and Ming Ansheng conceded defeat. ¡°Hmmm¡­ all right then.¡± He had reluctantly agreed to it. His eyes blazed intensely and he pulled Su Yue closer to him for a tight embrace. From today onwards, he would shoulder everything for her. He vowed to protect her. Su Yue struggled against his chest after some time. She raised her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the hospital now.¡± Ming Ansheng softly chucked. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re bringing me to the hospital?¡± Su Yue blinked her eyes, looking puzzled by his question. ¡°Who else then?¡± Ming Ansheng gazed into the depths of her eyes. She was so pure and innocent and his heart seemed to have melted into a puddle of soft marshmallow. ¡°Alright. Little Yueyue will bring me to the hospital.¡± It felt weird. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue held Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand before walking forward. Ming Ansheng called her, ¡°Su Yue.¡± Chapter 1273. I Can’t Remember the Number Of Women I Had (part One) ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue turned to face Ming Ansheng. It was the second time he had called her by her full name. And she had no idea why her heart had skipped a beat when she heard him. Ming Ansheng peered at the shirt he was wearing and he raised his eyebrows. ¡°Am I wearing this to go out?¡± ¡°Go get changed,¡± said Su Yue as she pushed Ming Ansheng with a sheepish smile. Ming Ansheng could only retrace his footsteps with Su Yue pushing him, but he didn¡¯t let go of his grip on her wrist. Su Yue had no choice but to follow Ming Ansheng to his room. She stopped and wanted to pull her hand away when they reached his room. But the next second, Ming Ansheng had pulled her right into his room. Before Su Yue came, Ming Ansheng was sleeping. So the curtains in his room were drawn and his room was messy. The lights were dim and it made her heart race rapidly. Her heart was pounding furiously as she scanned the room. She then glanced at Ming Ansheng who had a rather evil smile on his face. She was nervous yet filled with anticipation. ¡°Uncle Ming¡­¡± Su Yue opened her mouth to call him. The man put his hands around her waist suddenly and pushed her against the wall. His lips then swooped down on hers. Su Yue¡¯s dewy-looking eyes were huge with surprise and instinctively, she tried to struggle. Her mouth was slightly opened, and Ming Ansheng¡¯s tongue seized the opportunity to enter deeper into hers. Jiao Chen kissed her twice and Ming Ansheng kissed her once before. But this was the first time she was being kissed so deeply and passionately. Su Yue clenched her fingers tightly on Ming Ansheng¡¯s shirt. Ming Ansheng pressed his body closer to Su Yue, and how he wished their bodies could merge into one right now. He was so in love with this silly yet adorable idiot so much. He wouldn¡¯t mind even if she was silly and na?ve for the rest of her life. He really wouldn¡¯t mind. It would be ideal. Then she would always need his care and love. Su Yue¡¯s heart was pounding wildly against her chest and her cheeks were burning hot. She could feel Ming Ansheng¡¯s breath getting louder, and she tightened her grip on his shirt. She had no idea how she should respond to his kiss. All she knew was that she wanted to avoid his eyes. It felt like a dream that she was finally together with Uncle Ming. She had overcome all her fears and her moral values. Su Yue was just like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered before an experienced hunter like Ming Ansheng. In no time, she had sunk deeply into the kiss because of his expert technique. She closed her eyes. ¡°Silly girl, go out first.¡± Just as Su Yue was about to lose her consciousness, Ming Ansheng retreated. He whispered in her ear before retracting his arms. He turned around determinedly towards the wardrobe. If he wasn¡¯t determined enough, he might not be able to control himself. He couldn¡¯t do that¡ªshe was still too young. They had just gotten together and if he was too rash, she might get the wrong idea about him. They will have plenty of time in the future. Su Yue was trying to catch her breath as she gazed at Ming Ansheng. She responded and nodded as she placed her palms against the wall. She was perspiring profusely and she needed to cool herself down. Ming Ansheng came out with a set of clothes and noticed Su Yue still standing there. He chuckled and quipped, ¡°Why? You want to look at me while I change?¡± If she wanted to, he wouldn¡¯t mind. ¡°No! No¡­.¡± Su Yue stammered as she violently shook her head. She turned around and fled. Chapter 1274. I Can’t Remember the Number Of Women I Had (part Two) Su Yue went out of the room and hastily shut the door. She slumped against the door and took deep breaths to calm herself, before slapping herself. Oh, dear¡­ how embarrassing! Uncle Ming thought that she wanted to watch him as he changed his clothes. Ming Ansheng was used to wearing formal suits. Su Yue stood beside this towering man and she looked exactly like a little child. Su Yue raised her head and observed Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. She chided him lightly. ¡°You are already a grown-up, yet you¡¯re also acting like a child.¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled lightly and his lips curled into a smile. He was still dashing and suave despite looking a little solemn. He silently held Su Yue¡¯s hand and they walked to the elevator. Su Yue felt a little conscious as her eyes darted around. She was afraid of being photographed and hitting the headlines. She kept trying to pull her hand away from Ming Ansheng¡¯s grip, but he didn¡¯t let her have her way. The carpark was quiet and Ming Ansheng led Su Yue to his car. Su Yue spotted a man in his car and she halted her footsteps. She hid behind Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng certainly knew what was on her mind. He whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. He is my chauffeur.¡± There was no way he could have an underground relationship in the long term. He felt as though he was deceiving a little girl so he needed to announce that they were in a relationship. However, he couldn¡¯t just make an announcement openly like that. This little lass would be sure to fall out with him and throw a tantrum. Su Yue heaved a sigh of relief after Ming Ansheng reassured her. She continued towards the car. Ming Ansheng opened the car door, and Su Yue got in first. Su Yue scrutinized the chauffeur carefully and recognized him as Ming Ansheng¡¯s long-time chauffeur. She had met him on several occasions. ¡°Go to Union University Hospital,¡± Ming Ansheng instructed the chauffeur. The moment he sat down, Su Yue could feel the car shifting to his side. ¡°Alright.¡± The chauffeur pressed the ignition button. Ming Ansheng inched nearer and wrapped his arm around Su Yue. Su Yue nudged him and her eyes nervously darted to the chauffeur. His intimate actions really embarrassed her. Ming Ansheng glanced at her and noticed a few strands of her hair sticking to her cheek. He tucked them gently behind her ear and softly whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, he won¡¯t breathe a word.¡± The chauffeur heard him and immediately nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right Miss Su. Pretend I¡¯m invisible.¡± Su Yue¡¯s face turned as red as a tomato and her fists were clenched tightly. She turned her face to look out of the window awkwardly. Other than putting his arm around her, Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t do anything else. This was the only way to make sure that she was really by his side. Union University Hospital was located on the outskirts and was close to Union University and A University. Su Yue was puzzled and she asked, ¡°Why did you choose such a faraway hospital?¡± There were so many hospitals in the city and they were more convenient. Ming Ansheng answered, ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient for you to visit me if it¡¯s too far away.¡± He glanced askew at Su Yue and prodded, ¡°Or are you thinking of staying in the hospital with me?¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Ming Ansheng appeared disappointed as he quipped, ¡°I thought you would stay to keep me company.¡± Chapter 1275. I Can’t Remember the Number Of Women I Had (part Three) Su Yue was speechless¡­ If he didn¡¯t say it out loud, she was actually planning to accompany him. But how was she supposed to answer now? If she had nodded and admitted, wouldn¡¯t it make her appear overly enthusiastic? So he had himself to blame. Union University hospital was a well-known first-class hospital and was well renowned for its neurology department. Ming Ansheng¡¯s chauffeur went to settle the paperwork first so that Su Yue and Ming Ansheng could consult the doctor without waiting. ¡°President Ming.¡± A middle-aged man in white robes came to welcome them with a bright smile the moment they stepped into the consultation room. Ming Ansheng put on a faint smile, and he glanced briefly at the man. ¡°Chief Tian, you¡¯re too kind. I¡¯m here merely for a checkup so there is no need for you to notify my family.¡± Chief Tian stood there and nodded slowly. ¡°I understand.¡± He stole a glance at Su Yue who was hiding behind Ming Ansheng. Su Yue was looking toward Chief Tian. When their eyes met, she hastily averted her gaze. Ming Ansheng was getting impatient and his face was grave. ¡°I¡¯ll be at your hospital for the next few days. And I would like to recuperate in peace so I hope there won¡¯t be any news articles or ridiculous gossip about me. Please keep this a secret,¡± said Ming Ansheng solemnly. Chief Tian had been working for dozens of years and he immediately grasped Ming Ansheng¡¯s meaning behind his words. What he really meant was that he didn¡¯t want any articles of how he had abducted Young Master Yan¡¯s sister to be here with him in the hospital. Chief Tian smiled and nodded. ¡°President Ming, please be rest assured. I will handle your checkup personally and there wouldn¡¯t be anyone to disrupt your rest.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his chin to show his satisfaction. He appeared overbearing and condescending. ¡°I will settle the paperwork on your behalf.¡± Chief Tian turned around and walked to his office. Ming Ansheng¡¯s stomach was constantly in pain and he had put on a strong front so as not to make Su Yue worry. His face grew whiter the more he tried to resist the pain. Su Yue sat down next to Ming Ansheng, and she could feel him slightly trembling. She turned her head and gazed at him with worry etched on her face. ¡°Uncle Ming, are you all right?¡± asked Su Yue softly. Ming Ansheng was perspiring from his forehead and it alarmed Su Yue. She grabbed his arms tightly, feeling helpless. She didn¡¯t have any prior knowledge of taking care of someone. ¡°I¡¯m fine. My stomach is just hurting a little.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled to reassure Su Yue. The gastroscopy process was really painful, so Ming Ansheng opted for a painless procedure, but he needed a family member to be with him. Hence, Su Yue had to follow him inside. After being anesthetized, Ming Ansheng gradually fell into a semi-comatose state. The doctor requested for Su Yue to stand at a corner. ¡°Yueyue, how is that young fellow better than me?¡± Ming Ansheng had shut his eyes when he blurted it out. He sounded as though he was mumbling under his breath. Su Yue was startled and darted forward towards Ming Ansheng. She whispered, ¡°Uncle Ming, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it is normal for the patient to mumble incoherently after being anesthetized.¡± The nurse smiled warmly at Su Yue and said, ¡°But it¡¯s not entirely nonsense. It¡¯s usually words that have been buried deep in his heart or worries that have been bugging him for some time.¡± Su Yue nodded in comprehension. She gazed at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Yueyue, why did you let him kiss you? Other than being younger than me, that fellow can¡¯t be compared to me at all.¡± Chapter 1276. I Can’t Remember the Number of Women I Had (part Four) Su Yue was speechless. Of course, she knew what that ¡®fellow¡¯ Ming Ansheng was referring to. She awkwardly glanced at the doctor and nurse. They were present on the chief¡¯s orders. Their eyes briefly met hers, and they smiled. Su Yue blushed as Ming Ansheng was still mumbling endlessly. She had an urge to cover his mouth to stop him from talking. A sudden idea struck her followed and a devious gleam appeared in her eyes. She asked, ¡°If I ask him a question now, will he be able to hear me?¡± The nurse nodded and said, ¡°Yes. You can ask him and he will answer you.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Su Yue flashed a playful smile. She bent and inched nearer to Ming Ansheng¡¯s ear. ¡°Uncle Ming, have you been in a relationship before?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t respond and continued to mutter incoherently. Su Yue frowned, looking annoyed. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be able to hear her? She pondered and decided to try again. ¡°Ming Ansheng, how many women have you slept with before?¡± The doctor and nurse, both occupied with their own work, soundlessly twitched their mouth when they heard her. Shouldn¡¯t she ask such a question when there was no one around? Were they invisible? ¡°I can¡¯t remember,¡± Ming Ansheng softly mumbled. Su Yue¡¯s face instantly fell. She pinched Young Master Ming¡¯s cheek to vent her anger and almost dug her fingernails into his flesh. Even the nurse and doctor felt the pain. ¡°Hmph!¡± Su Yue sneered coldly and straightened her back. She turned around. She slumped against the wall and pursed her lips, still feeling livid over his answer. He couldn¡¯t remember. He had countless women before¡­ Then, did he sleep with Tang Feiling? ¡°Done,¡± announced the nurse. Su Yue¡¯s thoughts were interrupted, and she responded with a curt ¡®oh¡¯. Ming Ansheng was still lying there motionless, but Su Yue didn¡¯t move an inch. The nurse frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you bring him out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not touching him.¡± Su Yue sneered with disdain. He had so many women before. The nurse was speechless. The doctor was speechless, too. They chided themselves for allowing her to ask questions earlier on. The doctor and nurse had no choice but to move Ming Ansheng out of the room. Su Yue stuffed her hands into her pockets and strolled behind. She was feeling indignant and upset. The chauffeur hurriedly received Ming Ansheng from the nurse and doctor. Ming Ansheng gradually gained consciousness in the ward. He felt terrible as his throat was parched and dry. Su Yue was sitting on the couch when he glanced at her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± She didn¡¯t respond. Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He knew immediately from the first look that Su Yue was upset and angry. Su Yue didn¡¯t answer, so Ming Ansheng got off the bed. He asked as he walked towards her. ¡°Who made you angry?¡± She was fine before they examined him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Su Yue pointed at him as she furiously eyed him. ¡°Don¡¯t come near me. I don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± Ming Ansheng halted his footsteps and warily sized her up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back to school.¡± Su Yue rose and marched loudly to the door. It was obvious she was angry with him. Chapter 1277. I Can’t Remember the Number of Women I Had (part Five) Ming Ansheng was perplexed for he had no inkling of what had happened. She rushed to chase after Su Yue, but the effects of the anesthesia weren¡¯t entirely over yet. He stumbled and almost fell because of haste. Su Yue had already reached the door. She opened the door and the tiny figure swiftly vanished before Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. ¡°Miss Su.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s chauffeur was outside the ward. He stood up and smiled at her. Su Yue waved at the chauffeur and quipped, ¡°I¡¯m going back. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Su Yue!¡± yelled Ming Ansheng as he stepped out of the ward. Su Yue ignored him. ¡°President.¡± The chauffeur could tell that Ming Ansheng was visibly weak, so he hurriedly walked over and supported him. It was dark outside and Su Yue¡¯s safety made Ming Ansheng worried. ¡°Follow her, and if she is going back to school, send her back,¡± instructed Ming Ansheng. The chauffeur nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I will. President, please take a rest. I¡¯ll be back after sending Miss Su back to school.¡± Ming Ansheng grunted in response. He watched as the chauffeur bolted after Su Yue. But he was still mystified. Why was that lass upset with him for no apparent reason? ¡°Mr. Ming, the results of your checkup is out.¡± The nurse presented the report. Ming Ansheng retracted his gaze and went back to the ward. He glanced at the nurse and asked, ¡°What happened during the examination just now?¡± Su Yue was fine before his stomach examination. So, something must have happened during that time. The nurse couldn¡¯t understand Ming Ansheng¡¯s question. ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked the nurse gingerly. ¡°My¡­ my¡­¡± Ming Ansheng was about to blurt out that Su Yue was his girlfriend but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to. Would he appear disgusting if he said it? Su Yue might already be 18 years old, but she looked younger than that. And he was a grown man, and he towered over her, reaching a height of 1.85 meters. Ming Ansheng coughed to conceal his awkwardness. He asked, ¡°Why was my little niece angry?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too sure why your niece was angry. But what I knew was when you were under anesthesia you blurted out some stuff that you have buried in your heart.¡± The nurse tried her best to stifle her laughter as she peered at Ming Ansheng. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng had hit the headlines just a few days ago, so rumors were still rife. Now, he had introduced her as his niece to conceal the truth. ¡®He blurted out some stuff that he buried in his heart.¡¯ Ming Ansheng widened his eyes in shock. He felt uneasy. Actually, he did nothing wrong, but he just felt uneasy. He glanced at the nurse and asked, ¡°What did I say?¡± ¡°Miss Su asked¡­ if you¡­¡± The nurse stammered and couldn¡¯t speak properly. Ming Ansheng was a little anxious and asked, ¡°Say it!¡± What did that lass ask him when he wasn¡¯t fully conscious? Instinct told him that it must be related to women. Ming Ansheng frowned, looking impatient. The nurse didn¡¯t dare to dawdle and she answered, ¡°Miss Su asked how many women had you slept with before¡­¡± She paused as Ming Ansheng stared at her. He knew that his answer was crucial. The nurse pressed on, ¡°You said you couldn¡¯t remember.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. Just as he had expected! The nurse informed him that patients would utter incoherently after being anesthetized. Young Master Ming instantly regretted his decision. He should have opted for the normal endoscopy and endured the pain. And as the saying goes, what goes around comes around! ¡­ The chauffeur sent Su Yue back to school. Strong winds were blowing and Su Yue sprinted back to the dormitory. She opened the door and saw Bai Jing standing at the balcony, talking on the phone. Chapter 1278. Will Her Food be Poisoned? (part One) Bai Jing didn¡¯t realize that Su Yue was back. Su Yue entered and gently closed the door, for fear of interrupting Bai Jing. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to help you anymore. Don¡¯t look for me ever again!¡± Su Yue was about to sit down on her bed when Bai Jing suddenly raised her voice. She was close to screaming and it gave Su Yue a shock. She stared at Bai Jing in shock. Bai Jing seemed really cold and fierce that it made her shiver in fear. Bai Jing hung up and turned around. When she saw Su Yue, she looked visibly shocked. Her eyes gleamed warily at Su Yue. She eyed Su Yue and asked shrilly, ¡°When did you come back?¡± She sounded as though she was questioning Su Yue. Su Yue was at a loss for words with how hostile Bai Jing sounded. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Bai Jing realized that she had gone overboard when Su Yue didn¡¯t respond. She put on a hurried smile to ease the tension. Su Yue finally responded, and she whispered, ¡°I went to look for Uncle Ming.¡± Bai Jing knew that she was in love with Uncle Ming. And they were best friends, so there was no reason to keep it from her. Bai Jing would definitely keep her relationship with Uncle Ming a secret. She frowned and asked, ¡°You looked for Uncle Ming? Why did you look for him?¡± She succeeded in diverting Su Yue¡¯s attention. But she was still guessing how much of the conversation Su Yue heard earlier on. The previous time when Zhang Lihong came to look for her, Su Yue had overheard something about her being drugged, and that was why rumors started spreading. This time¡­ Bai Jing began to feel uneasy and was afraid that Su Yue might have heard the entire conversation. But she couldn¡¯t be entirely sure. Su Yue gazed at Bai Jing as she blinked. ¡°Uncle Ming is sick. I thought you knew?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Bai Jing smiled once more. ¡°I saw how conflicted you were and I thought you wouldn¡¯t visit him. Was he hospitalized?¡± Su Yue nodded in response. She bent to sit down on her bed before raising her hand to stroke the figurines hanging from the bed. She fell into deep thought. ¡°Su Yue, have you made up your mind?¡± Bai Jing walked to Su Yue and sat down next to her. There was a probing and wary expression in Bai Jing¡¯s eyes. She was still glum over the fact that Su Yue had left the dormitory without informing her. Su Yue nodded and she glanced at Bai Jing. ¡°You¡¯re right, I should make my stand clear. I want to try even though his grandfather doesn¡¯t like me. But I can wait until a few years after his grandfather has passed away. By then we can openly declare our relationship.¡± She smiled brightly like an innocent child. As though it was a brilliant plan. Bai Jing was speechless¡­ She had never felt that Su Yue was different from the others. She just felt that she was innocent and na?ve. But now, she realized that she might be a fool. What kind of logic was that? How could she wait until many years have passed? How ridiculous. Bai Jing quietly sneered in disdain to herself. She pressed on and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. You should give it a try if you really love someone. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll miss it forever.¡± Su Yue nodded in agreement as she said, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± She smiled at Bai Jing gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Bai Jing.¡± Chapter 1279. Will Her Food be Poisoned? (part Two) If Bai Jing hadn¡¯t reminded or advised her, Su Yue wouldn¡¯t have taken such a step. Bai Jing pressed her lips and said, ¡°You need not thank me. You just need to be happy.¡± She rose and said to Su Yue, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a while. I will be back later.¡± ¡°Bai Jing, why were you so angry just now?¡± Su Yue was very cautious when she probed into Bai Jing¡¯s private matters. She warily glanced at Bai Jing as she still could remember how worked up Bai Jing was regarding her being drugged. Bai Jing maintained a calm facade even though she was upset. ¡°Lei Yong wanted me to accompany some old man. I didn¡¯t want to do it.¡± She peered at the ground, looking helpless and pitiful. ¡°How can he do that!¡± Su Yue angrily straightened her back and lashed out. ¡°He is a jerk! How horrible!¡± ¡°I have no choice.¡± Bai Jing sighed helplessly once more, and she reiterated once more, ¡°But I rejected him, so don¡¯t worry about me. He won¡¯t use me so easily.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Su Yue nodded and held on to Bai Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°If you don¡¯t like them, then don¡¯t return to that house. I hate that brother of yours. In fact, he is not even your brother and he is so horrible to you.¡± Su Yue was a person who didn¡¯t hide her emotions, especially towards Bai Jing. And it included her thoughts and feelings. Bai Jing merely smiled but with a tinge of sarcasm. Did Su Yue assume that everyone was like her? Did Su Yue think that she wanted to go back to that house? What choice did she have? She had lost her father, her pillar of support. She was all alone in this cruel and harsh world where status and wealth meant everything. She could only depend on herself, and she swore to make her life better. If she carried on being such a weak and fragile girl, she was bound to get bullied all her life. Someday, she will make those who had bullied her pay for what they have done. Bai Jing tightly clenched her fists and there was a cold gleam in her eyes. It made Su Yue cower for a bit, and she asked softly, ¡°Bai Jing, are you okay?¡± Bai Jing snapped to her senses as she shook her head. ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯ll get going.¡± She pulled her hand away from Su Yue. Su Yue watched worriedly as Bai Jing left the room with her bag. She felt that Bai Jing had changed, and she knew that it was all her adopted family¡¯s fault. Su Yue regretted that she didn¡¯t stop Bai Jing from going back to her mother. She should have begged her third sister-in-law to help her. She got lost in her worries while she stared blankly at the ceiling. Her phone suddenly rang and it jolted Su Yue back to reality. She glanced at the screen¡ªXuxu was on the other line. She picked up her phone and answered, ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Yueyue, did you attend class today?¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°Yes I did and the teacher even praised me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xuxu chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯ve improved.¡± Su Yue was about to say something when she received an incoming call. It was Ming Ansheng. Guilt struck her and she placed the phone to her ear once more. She whispered, ¡°Third sister-in-law, is there anything else?¡± Xuxu sounded suspicious and asked, ¡°Why?¡± Su Yue was so guilty that she gripped her phone nervously. ¡°I¡¯m just asking.¡± ¡°You silly girl.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°I was just worried about you, that¡¯s all.¡± Chapter 1280. Will Her Food be Poisoned? (part Three) Su Yue sniggered sheepishly. Ming Ansheng was still on the other line, waiting for her to answer his call. And he had distracted Su Yue. Xuxu chuckled and said, ¡°Silly girl. Looks like you¡¯ve turned into an idiot after being at home for a week.¡± ¡°Are the twins asleep?¡± asked Su Yue. Xuxu answered, ¡°Your third brother is with them. I¡¯m in my room.¡± Su Yue burst into laughter. ¡°Third Brother must be extremely vexed by now?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, come over now!¡± A familiar voice sounded from the other end and interrupted their conversation. Xuxu hastily said, ¡°Your third brother is asking for me. Rest early.¡± ¡°Okay. Bye-bye, Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue hung up. Ming Ansheng was calling her again, and it had seriously annoyed her. She instantly lashed out, ¡°Why do you keep calling me? I don¡¯t feel like talking to you. Do you understand?!¡± He couldn¡¯t even remember how many women he had before. What a true blue Casanova. She won¡¯t forgive him so easily. After Su Yue chided him, Ming Ansheng¡¯s aggrieved voice sounded. ¡°How can you believe such nonsense while I was in a daze? Do I seem like such a man who sleeps around?¡± ¡°Stop lying through your teeth. I remember that on my birthday, a skimpily dressed lady entered your room.¡± Su Yue was seething with anger when she thought of the woman she saw. ¡°You even claimed that she was your relative. Why would your relative look for you so abruptly? Furthermore, she was dressed like that?!¡± chided Su Yue in a loud voice. Ming Ansheng fell silent for a really long while. Why would this lass even remember that incident? He already had a hunch that night that the incident would bring him trouble in the future. He was literally a prophet. He deliberated for a moment before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. She really is my relative. I will ask her to meet you next time to verify her identity.¡± Su Yue sneered with disdain and retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t want! I don¡¯t want to talk to you. Stop talking to me!¡± She sounded as if she was going to hang up, but Ming Ansheng beat her to it. He added hurriedly, ¡°Don¡¯t hang up first. I have something to say.¡± Su Yue sneered coldly once more. ¡°I don¡¯t want to listen to you. Womanizer!¡± She abruptly ended the call and flung her phone away. Ming Ansheng heard the ¡®beeping¡¯ tone, and he blankly gazed at the screen. A crease appeared in the middle of his thick eyebrows. What did that lass label him? Womanizer? When was he considered a womanizer? He may have slept with several women, but that was because he had long given up on love. But he was a normal man with needs, and he had merely sought those women to satisfy his needs. He shouldn¡¯t be considered a womanizer right? And it was nearly a year since he had last touched a woman. Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t accept her calling him a womanizer, so he called Su Yue to clarify again. Knock, knock, knock. Someone was knocking on his door. He casually glanced at the door. ¡°Come in.¡± His chauffeur entered. Ming Ansheng stowed his phone away before glancing at him. ¡°Did you send her safely to school?¡± The chauffeur nodded. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Ming Ansheng probed, ¡°Did she eat?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t.¡± The chauffeur replied, ¡°Miss Su went back to her dormitory.¡± Ming Ansheng fell silent for a moment before motioning to the chauffeur to leave. ¡°You may leave first.¡± Chapter 1281. Will Her Food be Poisoned? (part Four) ¡°Sure,¡± the chauffeur answered before turning around. Ming Ansheng picked up his phone and began searching for food deliveries near A University. ¡­ After Su Yue ended Ming Ansheng¡¯s call, she did some revision to get him off her mind. However, she stared blankly at her textbook with a pen in her mouth, unable to concentrate. After what seemed like hours, she hadn¡¯t even solved a question. Her phone rang, disrupting her reverie. She thought that it was Ming Ansheng, so she glared at the screen. But soon, she realized that it was an unknown number. She bent to pick up her phone and placed it to her ear. ¡°Hello.¡± A young man spoke up from the other line. ¡°Miss Su? I¡¯m delivering your food order. I¡¯m at your dormitory, can you please come down?¡± ¡®Food delivery?¡¯ It puzzled Su Yue, so she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t order food.¡± ¡°Are you Su Yue?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s correct. Even your number is correct, too. You ordered two sets of honey chicken wings, stir-fried cabbage, and beef brisket rice.¡± Her name and phone number were correct, and Su Yue couldn¡¯t understand why. ¡°But I really didn¡¯t order any food.¡± Could it be Jiaojiao? When they were together before, if he or Bai Jing didn¡¯t eat with her, Jiao Chen would order food for her. Su Yue thought of that possibility and her heart skipped a beat. But how would Jiaojiao know that she hadn¡¯t eaten? Su Yue couldn¡¯t quite figure it out and the delivery guy was still waiting for her to respond. She answered, ¡°I¡¯ll come down now.¡± She put on her jacket and rushed downstairs. The young delivery guy was waiting outside the dormitory. He was holding on to a huge plastic bag as he shivered in the cold. Su Yue opened the door and said to him, ¡°I¡¯m Su Yue.¡± The delivery guy smiled and stepped forward before passing the bag to Su Yue. ¡°This is your food.¡± Su Yue received the bag with a faint smile and went back. She still wasn¡¯t used to thanking or apologizing to people, and it wasn¡¯t limited to strangers. Su Yue took out the food containers and placed them on the table. She sat down and suspiciously eyed the food. Her stomach was rumbling loudly, but she didn¡¯t pick up her chopsticks. Tang Feiling had duped her before, so she reminded herself to be more cautious. She had no idea who ordered the food on her behalf. What if someone tried to harm her by poisoning her food? It conflicted Su Yue, but she hungrily stared at the chicken wings. ¡®Someone ordered food for me but I don¡¯t know who this person is. I¡¯m so afraid that someone might have poisoned it. I shall not eat it even if I die from hunger.¡¯ Su Yue updated her WeChat with a photo of the food and waited for her friends¡¯ comments. Ming Ansheng was browsing WeChat and he chanced upon Su Yue¡¯s update. The corners of his momentarily twitched. It had been half an hour since they delivered the food to her. This silly girl hadn¡¯t even taken a bite¡­ And she was afraid of being poisoned. Wasn¡¯t she thinking too much? Why couldn¡¯t she use her brain and think of the possibility that he was the one who sent the food? Ming Ansheng dialed Su Yue¡¯s number. Su Yue was still staring at the food in a daze when her phone rang. She was jolted back to her senses and quickly glanced at her phone. It was Ming Ansheng. Chapter 1282. Will Her Food be Poisoned? (part Five) She snorted and rejected his call. Ming Ansheng knew that Su Yue wouldn¡¯t answer his call. So he decided to text her instead. ¡®Silly fool. I ordered the food for you. It¡¯s not poisoned.¡¯ Su Yue was touched when she saw Ming Ansheng¡¯s text. But she was still upset with him so she replied, ¡®I won¡¯t eat the food you bought.¡¯ But her actions proved otherwise¡­ After she sent the text, she picked up her chopsticks and stuffed the chicken wing right into her mouth. The chicken wings had turned cold after half an hour, and the taste had Su Yue a little unsatisfied. She felt that it could have been delicious when it was still piping hot. She glanced at the heating radiator and picked up the chicken wings. Su Yue used tissues to clean the heating radiator before roasting the chicken wings on the radiator. She smirked in satisfaction as she looked at the chicken wings. She turned back to get her phone to snap a photo. She updated her WeChat once more. ¡®Roasting chicken wings in my dormitory. How smart am I?¡¯ She added a smug emoticon at the end of the sentence. ¡°Pfft!¡± Some of her friends who were browsing WeChat burst into laughter when they read her update. ¡°What¡¯s so amusing?¡± Yan Rusheng noticed Xuxu laughing to herself. He walked towards her. Xuxu beckoned to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng, come here quickly. This silly fool Su Yue is so hilarious.¡± Other than Xuxu, Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t too interested in others¡¯ affairs. He walked over to take a look only because Xuxu asked him to. After reading the update with the chicken wings photo, he broke into a smile too. ¡°No, I have to call her.¡± Xuxu dialed Su Yue¡¯s number and she said, ¡°I saw her previous update and she said that someone sent the food to her. I need to ask if she knew who had sent it to her. If she doesn¡¯t, then she shouldn¡¯t eat it.¡± The call went through and Su Yue answered. Xuxu immediately said, ¡°Yueyue, who sent you the food?¡± She pressed on without giving Su Yue the chance to speak. ¡°If you don¡¯t know who, then don¡¯t eat it.¡± Su Yue quipped, ¡°I know who sent it. Third sister-in-law, don¡¯t worry.¡± Yan Rusheng, who was sitting beside Xuxu, overheard their conversation. He noticed that Xuxu appeared as she was continuing with the call, so he snatched the phone away from her. He locked the screen and throw the phone aside. Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng! You¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, he had kissed her and crushed her with his weight. Yan Rusheng gazed at Xuxu as he kissed her. He smiled cheekily and said, ¡°I¡¯m tired in the day and at night. Tonight you shall be on top.¡± He placed his hands under her body and carried her up before putting Xuxu on his body. It annoyed Xuxu. ¡°You can choose not to be tired at night.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Yan Rusheng clenched his teeth with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Xuxu instantly clammed up, she knew that she shouldn¡¯t provoke him. Ever since her confinement period ended, she ended up with backaches every other day. ¡­ Su Yue received plenty of praises and replies on WeChat. Zhou Shuang replied, ¡®Little pretentious one, how did you even think of this? Can you even eat the chicken wings now?¡¯ Lu Yinan replied to her, too. ¡®Little lass, do you need to add extra radiators?¡¯ Chapter 1283. I Hope You Won’t Change (part One) Su Yue saw Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan¡¯s replies and ignored the rest completely. She typed and replied to Lu Yinan¡¯s message. ¡®It¡¯s almost New Year, and you haven¡¯t won Sister Hooligan¡¯s heart. I think you need more warmth in your heart instead.¡¯ She typed a reply to Zhou Shuang. ¡®Certainly, it can still be eaten.¡¯ Young Master Lu was in bed and he almost spat out blood when he read Su Yue¡¯s reply. He gritted his teeth as he furiously replied, ¡®You have a more vicious tongue than your third brother. Who says I want to win her back? When did I ever say that I want to win her back?¡¯ Su Yue chuckled and replied, ¡®Sister Hooligan blocked you right?¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®How did you know?¡¯ Su Yue typed. ¡®That¡¯s because she can¡¯t see your replies. If she could, you wouldn¡¯t dare to reply in this way.¡¯ Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ When Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng Lu Yinan and Su Yue conversation, they cracked up and laughed heartily for a long time. They could imagine Sissy Lu throwing up buckets of blood. Su Yue was reading replies from her friends when a WeChat message arrived. It was from Lu Yinan. ¡®Little lass, did Zhou Shuang reply to you? Delete the replies and don¡¯t spew nonsense.¡¯ Su Yue sniggered gleefully as she replied to Lu Yinan. ¡®Hmph! I¡¯m going to screenshot your replies and show it to Sister Hooligan.¡¯ ¡®Be a good girl and listen to me.¡¯ Lu Yinan typed another reply. ¡®Don¡¯t stir trouble for me. I promise to bring you to the best restaurant in the capital city for chicken wings.¡¯ He added a smiling emoticon at the end of his message. Su Yue typed. ¡®I refuse to delete it.¡¯ After she replied Lu Yinan, she received another WeChat message from Ming Ansheng. ¡®Silly girl. Don¡¯t eat the chicken wings if it¡¯s cold. I can order more for you.¡¯ The message was overflowing with affection and love from Young Master Ming. Su Yue could feel his affection and love, but she didn¡¯t want to admit that she wanted to eat the food. She coldly replied, ¡®I have no intention of eating it. I just want to waste the food you¡¯ve bought.¡¯ She cast her phone aside. She settled down on her chair and began to gobble down the rice and beef. She had been starving for hours, and she felt as though her chest was as flat as her back. She was still admonishing Ming Ansheng in her heart as she ate. She grumbled under her breath about how he should have informed her that he was the one who ordered food for her. She had wasted half an hour just by looking at the food. Her phone incessantly rang and Su Yue merely stole glances at it. When she saw ¡®Uncle Ming¡¯ on the screen, she ignored the calls. She finished the food and tried the chicken wings. She took a huge bite. The chicken wings were indeed warmer. Perhaps it was psychological, but she felt that it tasted yummier than before. Ming Ansheng turned glum when she didn¡¯t answer his call. Which couple had a row on the first day of their relationship? How unlucky! He would rather die from the pain than go to the hospital if he knew that this would happen. He shouldn¡¯t have gone for the stomach examination. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t sleep well that night. All he was thinking about was how to appease Su Yue. Su Yue was already well-fed, and she rubbed her tummy in satisfaction. She quickly fell asleep and woke up only in the morning. She struggled to flutter her eyelids open as she flipped over. She casually glanced at Bai Jing¡¯s bed. It was empty and neat¡ªshe didn¡¯t come home. ¡®Su Yue, I¡¯m going out for a while. I will be back later¡­¡¯ Chapter 1284. I Hope You Won’t Change (part Two) Su Yue recalled what Bai Jing had said to her before she went out last night. She couldn¡¯t help but worry when she didn¡¯t come home for the entire night. She hastily jumped off her bed and picked up her phone. She ignored Ming Ansheng¡¯s missed calls and texts and dialed Bai Jing¡¯s number. ¡®Sorry, the number you have called is unavailable¡­¡¯ Unavailable! Su Yue felt uneasy, especially after what Bai Jing had confided to her about Lei Yong. What should she do if Lei Yong used unscrupulous methods to coerce Bai Jing? Su Yue couldn¡¯t stay still, so she hurriedly washed up and changed. She stood in front of the mirror after she took off her pajamas. When she caught glimpse of the scar on her chest, it seemed that something had violently tugged her heartstrings. ¡®I want to tattoo a cat that¡¯s more awesome than your mouse¡­¡¯ That random whim to tattoo a cat on her chest had turned into a significant matter today. Alas¡­ it was a pity. The cat didn¡¯t witness the day she got together with Uncle Ming. Su Yue was momentarily lost in sorrow. She put on a special bra which Xuxu had chosen for her during her recovery period. It was as soft as silk and very gentle against her skin. It covered her chest entirely. When she came out of the bathroom, Su Yue heard her phone ringing. She ran towards it, and after a glance, the screen showed Bai Jing¡¯s name. She hastily answered and said, ¡°Bai Jing! Why didn¡¯t you come home last night? Where did you go?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s hoarse and weak voice sounded from the other end. ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m in the hospital.¡± Su Yue got anxious when she heard Bai Jing. ¡°What happened?¡± Bai Jing gently replied, ¡°I feel unwell.¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Which hospital? I¡¯ll go visit you now.¡± Bai Jing answered, ¡°Union University Hospital.¡± It startled Su Yue to hear that. ¡°You¡¯re at Union University Hospital, too?¡± Uncle Ming was there as well. ¡°Yes. This is the nearest hospital,¡± Bai Jing replied and continued, ¡°Why? Anyone else hospitalized too?¡± Su Yue quipped, ¡°Uncle Ming is also at the same hospital. Wait for me. I¡¯m coming over.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to visit me. I called you so that you won¡¯t worry,¡± said Bai Jing weakly. Su Yue insisted on going. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I don¡¯t feel like going to class in the afternoon.¡± In fact, she didn¡¯t feel like attending classes every day. Su Yue ignored Bai Jing and hung up. She put on her shoes and left her dormitory. It was windy when Su Yue stepped out. She tightly pulled her jacket around her as she strode towards the gates. The east entrance was nearer, but it was hard to flag a taxi. She was lucky to flag a taxi yesterday. It had been over ten minutes but there wasn¡¯t any taxi in sight. Su Yue gazed into the distance, contemplating if she should walk further to the main road. It would take her ten minutes to get to the main road. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue was still in a dilemma when a shiny black BMW stopped next to her. The car window wound down slowly and a man¡¯s grinning face peeked out as he called Su Yue. Su Yue glanced at the car and recognized the man inside the car. The dislike was immediately displayed on her face. Su Yue coldly pursed her lips and asked, ¡°Professor Zhao, why did you call me?¡± Zhao Zheng grinned and replied, ¡°Where are you going? I¡¯ll give you a ride.¡± Chapter 1285. I Hope You Won’t Change (part Three) ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ll flag a taxi.¡± Su Yue turned her face away to survey her surroundings. But there wasn¡¯t a vehicle in sight. She was already anxious to begin with, and now Zhao Zheng¡¯s presence had annoyed her, and so she hastened her footsteps. Zhao Zheng drove slowly to trail after Su Yue. He continued to pester Su Yue and rattled on. ¡°I have nothing on now. I can send you there. There is no need to be so courteous with me.¡± The smile on his face irked Su Yue. She coldly said, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be courteous, but my third brother will get angry if I get a ride from you.¡± She would never let him get close to her at all even if it meant being rude and blunt. Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression turned grave and ugly at the mention of Yan Rusheng¡¯s name. He put on a smile quickly as he sarcastically remarked, ¡°Your third brother is such a petty guy?¡± To him, Yan Rusheng was not only petty. He was an arrogant bastard who was condescending and shallow. Su Yue ignored Zhao Zheng¡¯s remarks. With him following her, it would be harder for her to flag a taxi. She raised her voice and sounded extremely annoyed. ¡°Professor Zhao, stop following me. I¡¯m trying to get a taxi.¡± How could a person be so brazen and shameless? She had already rejected his offer outright, yet he was still so persistent and unashamed. No wonder Third sister-in-law didn¡¯t like him. Anyone with a right mind would dislike this obnoxious and revolting man. Su Yue hastened her footsteps in a bid to shake him off. However, Zhao Zheng was relentless. ¡°Su Yue, just let me send you. It¡¯s hard to get a taxi here.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t bother to answer him and she stuffed her hands into her pockets. ¡°I saw your good friend Bai Jing near Grand Bar with a few middle-aged men last night,¡± interjected Zhao Zheng. Su Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat and she slowly turned her head. She warily gazed at Zhao Zheng. A fleeting streak of coldness and triumph flashed past in his eyes when Su Yue finally stopped ignoring him. He then faked a worried expression. Su Yue frowned as she asked, ¡°What did you say? Where did you see her?¡± Grand Bar? Middle-aged men? Where was Grand Bar? She knew restaurants in the capital city, but she wasn¡¯t aware of any entertainment places. ¡°I saw your friend Bai Jing. She was drunk at Grand Bar last night. She seemed as she was grappling with those men.¡± Zhao Zheng took out his phone as he continued saying, ¡°I was with a friend and I passed by the bar. I wasn¡¯t sure if Bai Jing was with anyone else so I didn¡¯t go over. But I took photos.¡± He browsed through his phone and found the photo to show Su Yue. Su Yue stared at Zhao Zheng¡¯s phone. It seemed that the photo was taken outside a luxurious-looking bar which was brightly lit. It displayed the name ¡®Grand Bar¡¯. Su Yue could instantly tell that the girl in the photo was Bai Jing even if the photo was taken at night. The girl in the photo was wearing the white coat Bai Jing had worn yesterday and her hair was tied in braids. Su Yue¡¯s heart sank as she widened her eyes. ¡®Lei Yong wanted me to accompany some old man. I didn¡¯t want to do it¡­¡¯ She said she had rejected Lei Yong¡¯s request. But why¡­ why would she go to the bar? Her brother must have coerced or threatened her. Su Yue became incensed the more she thought of it, and she really felt like killing Lei Yong. Chapter 1286. I Hope You Won’t Change (part Four) What a despicable and hateful person Lei Yong was! Zhao Zheng was observing Su Yue¡¯s reaction and his lips curled into a cold leer. ¡°Actually, if I didn¡¯t bump into you today, I would have looked for you, too. Bai Jing is your friend, and you should advise her to cherish herself.¡± Zhao Zheng sounded as he if was criticizing Bai Jing for being a loose person, and Su Yue became defensive. She lifted her chin and coldly glanced at him. ¡°You don¡¯t even know how she is like.¡± Bai Jing was being forced to do such things against her will! Yesterday, she had seen how Bai Jing had lost her temper. And she said that she wouldn¡¯t do such things again and that her family shouldn¡¯t look for her anymore. So her stepfather or brother must have forced her. She needed to tell her third brother and third sister-in-law so that they could help her. ¡°Get in, I¡¯ll give you a lift.¡± Zhao Zheng suddenly got off and opened the back door. However, Su Yue didn¡¯t want to so she declined once more. ¡°It¡¯s all right, thank you, Professor Zhao.¡± Although she said thank you, there wasn¡¯t an ounce of sincerity in her tone. Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression hardened for a fleeting moment before resuming a warm smile on his face. ¡°Su Yue, the reason I take extra care of you is only because of your third sister-in-law. It has nothing to do with your third brother.¡± He had annoyed Su Yue, and so she raised an eyebrow. She snarled, ¡°My third sister-in-law is the wife of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President. We don¡¯t need your concern.¡± How could this guy not understand what she was trying to say? Was he an alien? He should go to outer space in that case. Su Yue didn¡¯t look at Zhao Zheng and she quickly strode away. Zhao Zheng¡¯s eyes were blazing with fury as Su Yue walked away. He slammed the door and it had badly shocked Su Yue, who was already a distance away. Zhao Zheng felt that Su Yue resembled Yan Rusheng in many aspects. Every time he talked to her, he would sod with anger. He yelled at the diminishing figure. ¡°You¡¯re so young but you have such a sharp tongue!¡± Su Yue halted her footsteps and slowly turned around. ¡°Professor Zhao, I hope you don¡¯t circulate those photos.¡± She appeared nonchalant but the expression in her eyes was cold and solemn. She explicitly told Zhao Zheng not to circulate those photos. She didn¡¯t even beat around the bush. This was the way she was. Zhao Zheng noticed her expression and his heart quivered a little. He spoke coldly, ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a professor. How could I spread rumors of students?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t respond and merely turned around. She flagged a taxi on the main road. She reached the hospital and went straight to Bai Jing¡¯s ward. There were two beds in her ward and Bai Jing was resting on one of them. Bai Jing was looking out of the window, lost in her thoughts. Her eyebrows were knitted and she seemed grave and unhappy. She was on an IV drip. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Su Yue softly called for her before she had closed the door. She quietly walked over. Bai Jing snapped out of her daze and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°I already asked you not to come.¡± ¡°How are you?¡± Su Yue sat down on a chair and noticed how pale she looked. Her mind wandered to the photo that Zhao Zheng had shown her. Worry filled Su Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Bai Jing shook her head lightly and smiled. ¡°Just a little unwell.¡± Chapter 1287. I Hope You Won’t Change (part Five) Without hesitating, Su Yue asked her directly, ¡°Bai Jing, did your stepfamily force you into it again?¡± She felt that best friends didn¡¯t need to¡ªand shouldn¡¯t¡ªbeat around the bush. She wanted to have a good talk with Bai Jing regarding this matter. Xuxu had instructed her to pay more attention to Bai Jing, and she had always thought that Bai Jing was doing well. But alas, that was only what she saw on the surface. Su Yue began to feel guilty as she thought about it. Her third sister-in-law would have realized much earlier than her that Bai Jing was being mistreated by her stepfamily. She was too stupid. Bai Jing¡¯s expression changed. She looked at her and asked, ¡°Su Yue, why did you ask this?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I met the annoying Professor Zhao on my way here. He said that he saw you with a few men at the entrance of the bar last night. You were drunk.¡± Bai Jing glared at Su Yue, her eyes blazing with coldness. Su Yue was slightly frightened. She lightly pulled at Bai Jing¡¯s sleeve and mumbled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already told my third sister-in-law. My third brother and third sister-in-law will help you for sure.¡± When Bai Jing heard that she had also told Yan Rusheng, her gaze grew even colder. She lifted her arm and pushed Su Yue away with force. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to poke your nose into my affairs!¡± She was furious and it startled Su Yue. Her arm hung in midair and her eyes were wide in shock, her mouth hanging open slightly. She stared at Bai Jing in a daze. This was the first time Bai Jing raised her voice at her. When Bai Jing had glared at her, her eyes seemed filled with¡­ hatred. Su Yue was a little heartbroken. Did Bai Jing hate her? But why? They were best friends. When she saw that Su Yue was struck into a daze, Bai Jing realized that she had gone overboard. She pulled at her hair and said, ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not in a good mood right now. My anger wasn¡¯t¡­ it wasn¡¯t directed at you.¡± There was a pitiful expression on her face. Her explanation made Su Yue¡¯s heart ache. Immediately, she relaxed. So her hatred wasn¡¯t directed at her. Su Yue smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I understand.¡± She must hate her stepfamily to the core. If it were her instead, she would have killed the darned Lei Yong long ago. ¡°Thank you, Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing grabbed her hand and pressed her lips into a line. ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry about me. I promised them that last night would be the last time. It was just drinking, nothing else.¡± Then she bowed her head in what Su Yue perceived was shame. Of course, she would feel embarrassed about drinking with old men and having her scandal leaked. Su Yue patted Bai Jing¡¯s shoulder gently. She comforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already told the annoying Professor Zhao to keep this a secret. I think he wouldn¡¯t leak it¡­ on account of my third sister-in-law.¡± Although, she didn¡¯t want to associate Zhao Zheng with Xuxu. Bai Jing nodded. She then looked at Su Yue gratefully and said, ¡°Su Yue, thank you so much. I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re my best friend.¡± She then hugged her tightly, her chin on Su Yue¡¯s shoulder. A cold gleam flashed across her eyes. It comforted Su Yue. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t change.¡± Chapter 1288. The Lies He Came Up With (part One) In actual fact, she felt that Bai Jing had already changed. Third sister-in-law said that one¡¯s environment could change a person. She was afraid that Bai Jing would subconsciously change after spending so much time with the Lei¡¯s. Bai Jing¡¯s expression changed when she heard her words. She didn¡¯t want her to change? She wanted her to stay this way forever? Live such an insignificant life, under someone else¡¯s roof? ¡°Bai Jing, don¡¯t worry. My third brother is very capable. He will help you get away from that annoying Lei Yong for sure.¡± Su Yue pushed Bai Jing away lightly and smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to obey them anymore. And you don¡¯t have to unwillingly force yourself into doing anything.¡± She adjusted Bai Jing¡¯s hair. Bai Jing¡¯s hair was slightly messy and it made her look especially pale. Su Yue helped her tuck her hair behind her ear. She looked much more refreshed. ¡°Thank you, Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips together and looked downwards. She pulled back from hugging Su Yue and placed her hands under the covers, clenching them into fists. She didn¡¯t want him to know. She didn¡¯t want him to know! Stupid annoying Su Yue. Bai Jing¡¯s cold gaze swept across Su Yue¡¯s face as she gritted her teeth. Su Yue was looking at her IV drip to check how much was remaining, so she didn¡¯t notice the look Bai Jing was giving her. Her stomach suddenly started growling. Then it hit her that she had rushed straight to the hospital after she had woken up, so she hadn¡¯t eaten breakfast. She touched her tummy and said, ¡°Bai Jing, have you eaten your breakfast?¡± Before Bai Jing could reply, she continued with a smile, ¡°What am I saying? You¡¯re here alone, of course, you haven¡¯t eaten.¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not too hungry. You can go ahead.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°You¡¯re sick so you need the energy. I¡¯ll go and get some food. What do you want to eat?¡± She then stood up and looked at Bai Jing. Bai Jing pursed her lips and placed her hand to her forehead. ¡°I really don¡¯t feel like eating. I¡¯m not hungry at all and my head hurts a little.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue decided not to force her, but her own stomach was growling nonstop. Bai Jing seemed to see through her. She smiled and said, ¡°You can go ahead and come back later. I¡¯m on a drip anyway, you¡¯ll be bored here.¡± ¡°Well¡­ all right.¡± Su Yue said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you some snacks and fruits and you can have them later.¡± Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Call me if there¡¯s anything. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± She turned around and headed towards the door. She scurried so that she wouldn¡¯t take too long. Before Su Yue reached the exit, the door suddenly opened from the outside. A woman dressed demurely walked in with a tall man. Su Yue¡¯s expression changed when she saw them. Her eyes filled with hatred. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she said in an unfriendly tone to Lei Yong, who was standing beside Zhang Lihong. Su Yue was Yan Rusheng¡¯s younger sister, so Lei Yong didn¡¯t reciprocate her hostility. He smiled and said, ¡°Miss Su, my mother and I heard that Bai Jing was hospitalized, so we¡¯re here to visit her.¡± His smile came across as filthy and lecherous to Su Yue. Su Yue snorted and replied, ¡°Bai Jing doesn¡¯t want to see you.¡± She turned towards Bai Jing. She had bowed her head, it was obvious that she didn¡¯t want to see both of them. Su Yue turned back to face them and said, ¡°You don¡¯t even treat Bai Jing as a family. From now on, Bai Jing will never go back with you.¡± Chapter 1289. The Lies He Came Up With (part Two) Lei Yong asked, amused, ¡°Miss Su, Bai Jing is a part of our family. Of course, she¡¯ll follow us home.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not a part of your family. You don¡¯t even treat her well. From now on, she¡¯s living with my family and severing all ties with you,¡± Su Yue said, tilting her chin upwards. ¡°Her father is my third brother¡¯s benefactor, so my family should have been the ones taking care of her since the start.¡± If she had known that Bai Jing¡¯s stepfamily wouldn¡¯t treat her well, she would have pleaded her third brother and third sister-in-law to make her stay with them from the start. ¡°Miss Su, there has to be a misunderstanding. How could we not treat Bai Jing as a family?¡± asked Lei Yong, with his hand on Zhang Lihong¡¯s elbow. He smiled and said, ¡°She¡¯s Bai Jing¡¯s biological mother. Who can be closer to her than her own mother?¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t find a reply. A child is always cherished by his mother, but¡­ But¡­ Something crossed Su Yue¡¯s mind and her expression darkened. She looked at him coolly and said, ¡°A child is not only cherished by his mother. Some biological mothers are worse than stepmothers.¡± She clenched her fist tightly on her side. ¡°Miss Su, I don¡¯t know what caused you to misunderstand us,¡± Lei Yong said, adjusting his blazer. He puffed out his chest, trying to look gentlemanly. ¡°Has Bai Jing not been treated like a princess since she joined our family?¡± Indeed, they had given Bai Jing branded clothes¡ªluxurious brands that she never knew even existed¡ªsince she joined their family. But, so what? Su Yue coldly stared at him, not bothering to conceal her disgust and annoyance. ¡°Don¡¯t think that I don¡¯t know about how you made Bai Jing drink with old men and made use of her for monetary gain. You guys are filthy.¡± Lei Yong¡¯s expression changed when he heard it. But he immediately smiled. ¡°Did Bai Jing tell you this?¡± He then lifted his eyebrow and cast his gaze towards Bai Jing, whose head was bowed. A cold gleam flashed across his eyes. Bai Jing seemed to feel the coldness directed at her, so she lifted her head. Her eyes met Lei Yong¡¯s and shock filled her bright eyes, she then clenched her teeth. ¡°Why are you so annoying?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t wish to say anything further. She pushed Lei Yong towards the door. ¡°Get out.¡± Bai Jing had already changed a little since she entered their home. If she were to stay on any longer, she would definitely change even more. She didn¡¯t want Bai Jing to change. She didn¡¯t want Bai Jing to be subjected to weird stares, especially the likes of when her scandal got leaked. Lei Yong¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Miss Su, that¡¯s not right. I¡¯m Bai Jing¡¯s older brother and I¡¯m here to visit my younger sister. What does this have to do with you?¡± Su Yue ignored him and continued pushing him out. ¡°Bai Jing doesn¡¯t want to see you.¡± Lei Yong suddenly grabbed Su Yue¡¯s wrist. Her thin wrist and delicate skin were delightful to the touch. Lei Yong stared at Su Yue with a lewd smile on his face. He feigned irritation and refused to let go of her wrist. ¡°Then let Bai Jing say it herself.¡± Su Yue turned to look at Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing, do you wish to see them?¡± Bai Jing kept her head bowed and Su Yue thought that she was too frightened. Su Yue pressed on. ¡°Bai Jing, you don¡¯t have to be afraid. My third brother and third sister-in-law will help you.¡± Chapter 1290. The Lies He Came Up With (part Three) But Bai Jing remained her head bowed. She didn¡¯t look over. She looked so pitiful and it made Su Yue¡¯s heart ache. Lei Yong said, ¡°Miss Su, our family business has indeed been facing some difficulties recently, so we needed Bai Jing¡¯s help. If you really treat Bai Jing as your best friend, help Grand Prosperity Molds. As long as you ask, Bai Jing won¡¯t have to meet any guests.¡± He looked at Su Yue, his eyes calculative. Confused, Su Yue turned around and looked at Lei Yong. ¡°What do you want me to ask?¡± She was wary. Lei Yong was a man with ill intentions. He was definitely up to no good. With a smile, Lei Yong said, ¡°You could suggest to your third brother to collaborate with Grand Prosperity Molds.¡± So he wanted her to put in a good word for him. Su Yue quickly understood his intentions and frowned. ¡°Then you won¡¯t make things difficult for Bai Jing?¡± If suggesting to her third brother to work with the Lei¡¯s could really help Bai Jing get away from such a vile fellow, then she would do it. It was still up to third brother to make the final call, but she could at least try. Seeing Su Yue¡¯s reaction, Lei Yong softened his approach. ¡°I wasn¡¯t actually trying to make things difficult for her. Our family was in need, so as a part of the family, shouldn¡¯t she help?¡± ¡± Tch, you¡¯re just refusing to admit that you¡¯re filthy,¡± Su Yue said. She realized that Lei Yong still had his grasp around her hand, and so she immediately flung his hand away. ¡°I can talk to my third brother about it, but afterward, you can¡¯t force Bai Jing into doing anything she doesn¡¯t want to do. And you can¡¯t force her to follow you home.¡± She glared at him, her expression implying that she would only help him if he agreed. Lei Yong nodded readily. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll talk to my third brother about it today,¡± Su Yue said. She then contemptuously chased him away. ¡°You can leave now. She doesn¡¯t want to see both of you.¡± In her eyes, Lei Yong was filthier than a pile of dung. Lei Yong replied, ¡°My mother¡¯s heart is aching for her daughter and she wants to stay with her.¡± Bai Jing looked at Zhang Lihong when she heard it. Zhang Lihong bowed her head, seemingly in guilt. Su Yue pursed her lips and remained silent. She thought, ¡®Although this mother isn¡¯t the best, I think Bai Jing would still wish to meet her.¡¯ Why else would she continue staying with the Lei¡¯s? Su Yue then turned around and said to Bai Jing, ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯ll go for breakfast now.¡± Bai Jing didn¡¯t reply to her. She pursed her lips and sighed. She turned around and walked out of the ward. Lei Yong walked her out. After Su Yue turned the corner and disappeared, he walked back into the ward and closed the door. He turned around and walked over to Bai Jing¡¯s bed, and he looked her from head to toe. He walked over and caressed her face. ¡°You¡¯ve lost so much weight overnight.¡± Bai Jing flung his hand away, disgusted. ¡°Stay away from me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been very curious. Who are you saving your virginity for?¡± Lei Yong asked, his lips curled into a mocking smile. ¡°Can your chastity earn you money or anything else?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s eyes were cold. She refused to look at him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Chapter 1291. The Lies He Came Up With (part Four) ¡°You¡¯re conceited now that the illegitimate daughter of the Yan¡¯s is willing to help you,¡± Lei Yong commented. He retracted his hand and sat down on her bed. He said with a smile, ¡°Things would have been so much easier for us had we known that that little lass was so easy to handle.¡± Bai Jing became agitated when she heard it. She looked up at him with a face full of disgust. ¡°It¡¯s just you, not ¡®us¡¯ . We¡¯ve never been on the same path.¡± She saw the mocking smile on his face and wished she could kill him. ¡®Yes, one day!¡¯ Bai Jing clenched her fists under the covers. ¡°President, I saw Miss Su enter this ward. I checked and found out that her roommate Bai Jing is warded here.¡± The chauffeur supported Ming Ansheng and walked him over to Bai Jing¡¯s ward door. When he went downstairs to get breakfast, he bumped into Su Yue. He saw her go upstairs via the staircase. It had him confused, so he followed her. When he saw the ward, he immediately checked who was staying in it and reported it to Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng¡¯s footsteps lightened when he neared Bai Jing¡¯s ward door. He waved his chauffeur away and said, ¡°I¡¯ve got it. You can wait outside.¡± He prepared to knock on the door. ¡°Yes, I know that you¡¯re pure and upright. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have agreed to drink with men when you could easily make use of the illegitimate daughter from the Yan family.¡± ¡°Get lost! Scram, both of you. I don¡¯t want to see you ever again.¡± ¡°No, no, no. You¡¯re the treasure of the Lei family now. I believe that this lass will persuade Yan Rusheng. The whole family dotes on her. What would Wen Xuxu not give her, other than the moon and stars in the sky?¡± When Ming Ansheng heard his words, he clenched his fist. Coldness flashed across his eyes. He had the audacity to make use of his Yueyue? He was obviously tired of living. Ming Ansheng coldly snorted and retracted his hand, turning around and walking back to the lift lobby. He didn¡¯t like the hospital attire, so he was in his own home-wear. He was wearing a black blazer, which made him look very desolate. He had just walked past the staircase when the door suddenly opened and a familiar small figure walked out. Ming Ansheng froze, but he then regained his senses. Su Yue, on the other hand, was still reeling in shock. But he was quick to stroll over to prevent her from leaving. His gaze swept across her face and then towards the bag in her hands, which was full of food. He raised his eyebrow and smiled. ¡°You bought this for me?¡± ¡°No,¡± Su Yue replied, tilting her chin up in arrogance. She didn¡¯t look at his face and continued, ¡°It¡¯s for Bai Jing.¡± She was planning on ignoring him and was about to brush past him. Ming Ansheng suddenly reached out for her and carried her. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± It caught Su Yue off guard, and she started to struggle. Ming Ansheng looked askew at her and threatened, ¡°If you call for help, we¡¯ll hit the headlines again this afternoon.¡± Su Yue immediately closed her mouth and allowed Ming Ansheng to carry her to the staircase landing. Su Yue was very light and Ming Ansheng had no trouble carrying her. His footsteps were steady as he climbed the stairs. ¡°Put me down quickly. I don¡¯t want to talk to you,¡± Su Yue said. She was holding the plastic bag in one hand and the other was clenched into a fist, pounding his back. Her strength was limited, and she couldn¡¯t bear to use much either. So to Ming Ansheng, her pounding on his back was more comfortable than that from a masseur at a massage parlor. Chapter 1292. The Lies He Came Up With (part Five) Ming Ansheng was pleased to see how awkward and helpless Su Yue looked. He fondly looked at her and said, ¡°How long are you intending to stay angry with me?¡± He knew that she wasn¡¯t furious with him, and she was merely throwing a tantrum. So, all he needed to do was to let her vent her anger. Su Yue rolled her eyes and replied brusquely, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you forever.¡± Ming Ansheng lightly slapped Su Yue¡¯s buttocks and grinned. ¡°Silly girl. I really didn¡¯t sleep with her. I will only sleep with you in the future.¡± He vowed to himself to carry on with the lies he had spun! He didn¡¯t sleep with that lady and that was the truth. Su Yue¡¯s face instantly turned crimson. ¡°Who wants to sleep with you? Don¡¯t be so shameless.¡± She was still upset with him so she opened her mouth and bit Ming Ansheng¡¯s ear. ¡°Ouch!¡± Ming Ansheng slapped Su Yue¡¯s buttocks once more. ¡°You really bit me!¡± Su Yue used all her strength to bite him. She seemed less upset after biting him, so Ming Ansheng pressed on and asked, ¡°Did you finish all the chicken wings yesterday?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips and retorted, ¡°Of course not. I threw everything into the trash can. And today I fed the stray dogs with the food.¡± Su Yue regretted her words¡­ She had eaten all the food, yet she said she fed the stray dogs. Wasn¡¯t she the dog in that case? Su Yue felt like hitting herself the moment she realized it. How stupid could she be! Ming Ansheng could read what was on her mind, and he burst out into laughter. His laughter was loud and clear and it sounded so pleasant. Su Yue pouted and snapped at him. ¡°What¡¯s so funny!¡± She began to struggle once more to escape from Ming Ansheng¡¯s embrace. ¡°Let me down now. I don¡¯t feel like talking to you.¡± Actually, she was worried about Ming Ansheng¡¯s health. She was afraid that he might not be able to withstand her weight with his current condition. Ming Ansheng¡¯s tone softened and he said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll visit Bai Jing together with you later. Let¡¯s go up for breakfast.¡± He placed Su Yue down and held her hand. Lei Yong was currently inside Bai Jing¡¯s ward, so he didn¡¯t want Su Yue to go over. Su Yue didn¡¯t protest and obediently followed him. Su Yue walked straight to the couch after they entered Ming Ansheng¡¯s ward. She caught sight of the ashtray with a cigarette butt inside. She angrily spun around and glared at Ming Ansheng. She snarled. ¡°Did you smoke?¡± Ming Ansheng was dumbfounded for a moment. Yesterday, he couldn¡¯t sleep so he took a few puffs. He then threw it into the ashtray. The cleaner came in that morning but he didn¡¯t want to be disturbed. Hence, the cleaner left without tidying up. Ming Ansheng¡¯s mind raced rapidly and he promptly answered, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. It was Old Wu.¡± Old Wu was his chauffeur. Su Yue certainly didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Stop lying. You smoked last night.¡± Young Master Ming continued on with his lies and earnestly shook his head. ¡°I really didn¡¯t. It was Old Wu. You can ask him later.¡± ¡°If you keep denying, I¡¯ll take this cigarette butt for a DNA test. If the DNA belongs to you, what do you have to say?¡± There must be saliva on the cigarette. Ming Ansheng was speechless. This lass could be really persistent. It was merely a cigarette¡­ and she threatened to test it for his DNA to expose his lie. Su Yue noticed that Ming Ansheng had clammed up, and she raised her chin smugly. ¡°See! How dare you lie to me! It¡¯s so easy for me to expose your lie.¡± She sounded as though she was really smart. Chapter 1293. Some People Are Incapable of Being Satisfied (part One) Ming Ansheng grinned weakly. His face was still pale and he looked sickly, but it didn¡¯t affect his aesthetically pleasing appearance. He gently stroked Su Yue¡¯s nose before pulling her towards him for a tight embrace. He gave her a kiss on her forehead and whispered, ¡°Okay, I smoked. I will try not to, all right?¡± Su Yue frowned, looking annoyed. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± He sounded as though he would still smoke from time to time. Ming Ansheng noticed that Su Yue was about to raise her voice again, and he hastily corrected himself. ¡°Hmmm¡­ then¡­ I shall not smoke.¡± He had been smoking for years that it was now just a habit for him. Furthermore, he was used to smoking when he worked late at night. It was too difficult for him to quit smoking immediately. Su Yue noticed that Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t sound very convincing, so she shoved him away. ¡°Then carry on smoking. I don¡¯t want to be with an old man who smokes all day long. When you grow old, you will cough every morning when you wake up. And if you spit out your phlegm, it will be so gross.¡± Ming Ansheng visualized what Su Yue had described and the corners of his mouth twitched. But it sounded really gross. He frowned as he gazed at Su Yue. ¡°So you will despise me when I grow old?¡± Su Yue nodded and said, ¡°Yes. If you turn into an old disgusting man, I will despise you.¡± She bluntly put it across so. As though she was saying, ¡°When you become an old and disgusting man, don¡¯t expect me to love you.¡± Young Master Ming was crestfallen when he heard that. He tightened his arms around Su Yue and gritted his teeth with determination. ¡°Alright. I will quit smoking.¡± He despised himself the moment he said it and for giving in so easily. ¡°This is a promise.¡± Su Yue wasn¡¯t entirely convinced so she stuck out her little finger to seal the promise with Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was exasperated when Su Yue stuck out her finger. Were they really in a relationship right now? Didn¡¯t they seem more like a father and daughter? She would pout, throw a tantrum, grumbled that he was an old man and even made him promise her. He saw how persistent Su Yue was, and he had no choice. Su Yue even made him seal the promise with his thumb. Finally, it had satisfied Su Yue. She then sat down on the couch. Ming Ansheng¡¯s breakfast was placed on the coffee table. Su Yue wrinkled her nose in disapproval and opened her breakfast containers. There were beef noodles, chicken wings, and fried eggs. Ming Ansheng glanced at the huge portions of meat and his mouth twitched silently. ¡°Don¡¯t you get sick of eating so much meat in the morning?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be jealous since you can¡¯t eat it, anyway.¡± Su Yue began to devour her chicken wing. Ming Ansheng sat beside her and gazed at her, looking as though he couldn¡¯t understand her at all. Why would he be jealous? The chicken wings looked so dull, the stall owner must have sold her leftovers from yesterday. Without a word, he stretched his hand and snatched the chicken wings from Su Yue. He threw them into the trash can. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Su Yue yelled when her hands were emptied. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t answer and began to wipe her hands with tissues. Su Yue angrily retracted her hands and furiously glared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Why did you throw my chicken wings away!¡± ¡°It looks dirty.¡± Ming Ansheng continued to wipe Su Yue¡¯s hand. He then stole another glance at the beef noodles. The soup looked murky¡ªshe must have bought it from a roadside stall. Chapter 1294. Some People Are Incapable of Being Satisfied (part Two) Ming Ansheng, who came from a wealthy and prestigious background, could never tolerate the unhygienic standards of roadside stalls. ¡°Eat my porridge.¡± He threw the tissues away before placing the porridge before her. He smiled and coaxed her gently. ¡°If you really want to eat more, I¡¯ll get Old Wu to buy. Don¡¯t buy food from roadside stalls as they always sell leftovers. You will get a stomachache.¡± Su Yue glanced at her beef noodles when she heard Ming Ansheng. She even added chili oil and it looked so appetizing and delicious. It didn¡¯t even look dirty at all. ¡°Jiaojiao never criticizes my food choices,¡± Su Yue grumbled softly as she pulled the container towards her. She turned her back against him before taking a mouthful of porridge. She shall finish every last bit of his porridge then. Wait, did that mean that he wasn¡¯t as good as Jiao Chen? Ming Ansheng heard Su Yue, jealousy and resentment blazed in his eyes. He slumped back against the couch and propped his legs on the couch. He glanced askew at Su Yue and sneered. ¡°Those who truly care for you will not allow you to eat rubbish like that.¡± Su Yue raised an eyebrow and sharply threw him a question. ¡°Do you mean that Jiaojiao didn¡¯t really care about me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Young Master Ming puffed up his chest as he tried to conceal his guilt. To conceal his jealousy, he rattled on. ¡°If you go out with your third sister-in-law, do you think she would allow you to eat such food?¡± His words struck Su Yue. It was true that Third sister-in-law never allowed her to eat such food. She pursed her lips indignantly as she held on to the container. She gobbled up the rest of the porridge. She threw the empty container into the trash can. ¡°You didn¡¯t even save a bit for me?¡± asked Ming Ansheng with a frown as he feigned annoyance. He was actually hoping that she could finish all the food. In his heart, Su Yue was still a child. He felt like her father, and he really yearned for her to be chubby and happy. Su Yue licked her lips and innocently said, ¡°You were the one who asked me to eat. I¡¯m not even full.¡± Ming Ansheng could tell that she was pretending to be innocent. He gazed into her watery and bright eyes and his heart pounded violently. He suddenly pounced onto her and crushed her with his weight. ¡°You bad little thing. You¡¯ve gone astray.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks were as red as a tomato. She bit her lips and stared nervously at the man. Her voice was quivering. ¡°You¡­ What do you want?¡± She bit her lips and her eyes sparkled with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Ming Ansheng watched her intensely for a while before asking, ¡°Yueyue, am I not good to you?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t even hesitate before she answered, ¡°You¡¯re good to me.¡± She added in her heart: ¡°Very good indeed.¡± It puzzled her why Ming Ansheng had even asked her. ¡°Then don¡¯t say such stuff in the future.¡± Ming Ansheng tapped the tip of her nose lightly before bending to kiss her. He retreated and moved away from Su Yue. Su Yue caught a faint whiff of the detergent on his shirt. She narrowed her eyes in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head lightly. He fondly smiled at her before caressing her cheeks. He changed the topic and asked, ¡°Are you full?¡± Chapter 1295. Some People Are Incapable of Being Satisfied (part Three) What should he do? Ming Ansheng could never be as overbearing or bald-faced like Third Yan. And he could never dream of being downright petty like him¡­ And Su Yue wasn¡¯t like Wen Xuxu. He had to make himself clear every time he spoke to her and she doesn¡¯t have the habit of beating around the bush as well. ¡°I¡¯m full.¡± Su Yue rubbed her tummy and nodded. She glanced at the beef noodles and exclaimed, ¡°Oh yeah!¡± She thought of something and leaped to her feet. Ming Ansheng frowned as he gazed at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I need to find Bai Jing now. I already said I¡¯ll get her breakfast,¡± said Su Yue as she grabbed the bag on the table. Ming Ansheng stretched his hand to grab her wrist. ¡°She has a visitor in her ward. You can go later.¡± He pulled her down before looking at her squarely. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He looked so serious and it startled Su Yue. ¡°Huh?¡± Ming Ansheng looked solemn as he said, ¡°I know that Bai Jing is your good friend. But I don¡¯t want you to be used as well.¡± At that moment, he sounded as though he was a father reprimanding his child. Su Yue shook her head and smiled. ¡°Uncle Ming, don¡¯t worry. Bai Jing wouldn¡¯t use me.¡± Bai Jing was her good friend, just like Zhou Shuang was Third sister-in-law¡¯s friend. Why would Zhou Shuang even use Third sister-in-law? Evidently, she wasn¡¯t able to comprehend what Ming Ansheng was trying to say. Ming Ansheng made himself clearer and expounded, ¡°Not just Bai Jing. I won¡¯t allow anyone to use you. If you meet any trouble or if you want to help Bai Jing, tell me first. If not, you can tell your third sister-in-law.¡± He understood her too well. She always trusted her instincts and never delved in deeper to understand something. His and Third Yan¡¯s intelligence were at par with Wen Xuxu. Furthermore, Su Yue was closest to Xuxu as well. Hence, she wanted her to consult Wen Xuxu. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows and heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°Bai Jing never asked me for any favors. I already said that Third sister-in-law would help her, but still, she said nothing.¡± Ming Ansheng closely watched Su Yue. He said, ¡°Is she in some sort of trouble?¡± He had met Bai Jing and Lei Yong before. From the way she looked, it was obvious that she wasn¡¯t happy staying with the Lei family. She had many other choices, so why did she have to go to the Lei family? Even if she didn¡¯t want to receive Third Yan¡¯s help, she could depend on herself since she was already an adult. Besides, there were others in a more dire situation than her. Even if Bai Jing hoped that her mother truly cared for her¡ªdespite being abandoned by her years ago¡ªit was still her own choice for choosing to stay with the Lei¡¯s. Even if someone would render help, they wouldn¡¯t be in any position to do that. What Su Yue didn¡¯t understand was that every adult was responsible for their own choices in their lives. It could be because after being in the vicious business world for years, they had become cold and unfeeling. But that was the reality, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Hmmm¡­ it¡¯s¡­¡± Su Yue stammered as she glanced at Ming Ansheng with apprehension. She seemed reluctant to say anything. Ming Ansheng pretended to be annoyed and raised his voice. ¡°Do you still have something to keep from me?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t hesitate any longer, and she reeled off. ¡°Her second brother is such a horrible and disgusting person! He forced her to accompany some old guy. I overheard her shouting at her brother over the phone yesterday. She said that she will never help him do such things again. But last night, she still went. Her brother definitely forced her.¡± Chapter 1296. Some People Are Incapable of Being Satisfied (part Four) Ming Ansheng chuckled as he gazed at Su Yue. ¡°If you are in trouble or you¡¯re unhappy, will you tell Bai Jing?¡± asked Ming Ansheng. Su Yue nodded without a moment of hesitation. ¡°Certainly.¡± She hung her head low, and she muttered under her breath. ¡°We¡¯re good friends. She was the first to know that I like you.¡± Su Yue¡¯s voice was barely audible and Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t catch every word. So he inched forward and put his ear to Su Yue¡¯s mouth. ¡°What did you say?¡± he asked. He only caught the words ¡®I like you¡¯, but he didn¡¯t understand what she was trying to say. Su Yue¡¯s cheeks were flushing when Ming Ansheng overheard her. She furiously shook her head and denied. She changed the topic and continued, ¡°Her second brother said that if I ask Third Brother to allow Flourish & Prosper to work with their company, he will never force Bai Jing ever again.¡± Regarding this request, Ming Ansheng had already guessed it ever since he overheard the conversation in Bai Jing¡¯s ward earlier on. ¡°Silly girl.¡± He gripped Su Yue¡¯s hand tightly and patiently explained, ¡°Some people are incapable of being satisfied and their greed is insatiable. Even if you give them what they wanted, they will demand more in the future.¡± There was no one to take care nor to teach her when she was younger. She even lived in such harsh conditions and no one bothered about her. How was she supposed to know the ugly truth about a person¡¯s nature? Su Yue understood Ming Ansheng and she frowned. ¡°What should I do?¡± she asked in worry. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°You can talk to Bai Jing. If she really wants to leave them, your third brother can help. Even I can help her. But if she is unwilling, there is nothing more you can do. Do you understand?¡± Su Yue blinked in confusion. ¡°Uncle Ming, I don¡¯t understand.¡± What did he mean by there was nothing more that she could do? ¡°Silly girl. Don¡¯t let others use you.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched to pull Su Yue into his embrace. ¡°Even though I always say that you are silly, I won¡¯t allow anyone to treat you as a fool.¡± Su Yue peered at Ming Ansheng and asked, ¡°Are you trying to say that Bai Jing¡¯s second brother treats me as a fool?¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled softly. ¡°Do you think you are a fool?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a fool!¡± Su Yue pouted and prodded at Ming Ansheng¡¯s chin. She was about to retract her hand when Ming Ansheng suddenly bent to bite her finger. ¡°Ouch! It¡¯s painful!¡± Su Yue yelled, and Ming Ansheng released her finger from his mouth. She hit him on his shoulder and reproved, ¡°You¡¯re so hateful.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze trailed to her rosy lips and he swooped down on hers. At that moment, the door swung open. ¡°President¡­¡± Old Wu stopped talking when he caught sight of them. His face turned red and the atmosphere turned awkward. Ming Ansheng heard him and turned around in his direction. He appeared annoyed and said, ¡°What is it?¡± He didn¡¯t seek his permission before entering. Since Su Yue was present, he controlled his temper for he didn¡¯t want to reveal how cold and fierce he could be. Su Yue saw Old Wu and she hastily moved away from Ming Ansheng. She bent her head and blushed. Although Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t raise his voice, Old Wu could tell that he was angry. He hurriedly explained, ¡°President¡­ I already knocked just now.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the matter?¡± Ming Ansheng asked, sounding annoyed. Old Wu didn¡¯t dare to dawdle and said, ¡°I saw Third Madam Yan.¡± Chapter 1297. Some People are Incapable of Being Satisfied (part Five) ¡°What?!¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She hurriedly got up. She said guiltily, ¡°I have to hide quickly.¡± ¡°Why do you need to hide?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrow at her, amused at her state of panic. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask her to come?¡± Nobody knew about his hospitalization, not even Third Yan and Lu Yinan. From what he understood about Su Yue, Xuxu must¡¯ve been the first person she told about Bai Jing¡¯s hospitalization. Su Yue suddenly recalled something. ¡°Oh yes, I called my third sister-in-law to tell her that Bai Jing was hospitalized here.¡± Her lips curled up into a foolish smile. Ming Ansheng stood up and gently poked her cheek. ¡°Silly girl.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go visit Bai Jing then,¡± Su Yue said, bending over to pick up the bag of things that she had bought. She then pointed at the door. ¡°Sure.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Come over after your third sister-in-law leaves.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m going back to school.¡± Actually, she was already planning on coming back¡ªshe was just being cheeky. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°You sleep during class anyway, is there a difference whether or not you attend your lessons?¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°How did you know?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and waved goodbye to her. ¡°Hurry.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She turned around and took two steps before recalling something. She turned her head to look at him. ¡°Uncle Ming, I¡¯m going to Country M for Christmas, do you want to join us?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and raised his eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going with your third brother and third sister-in-law? You¡¯re not afraid that they¡¯d find out about us?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°You better not go then.¡± They could only have an underground relationship. She thought about it and her face fell. She continued walking towards the door. Ming Ansheng tucked his hands into his loose home wear as he watched Su Yue¡¯s small figure leave the room in sheer amusement. Christmas! In Country M? Sounds good. ¡­ Su Yue ran down the stairs and was panting. From afar, she saw Wen Xuxu standing outside Bai Jing¡¯s ward, talking on the phone. She was running as she called out, ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Wen Xuxu heard Su Yue and put down her phone. She looked over and asked, ¡°Where did you go? I was just about to call you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Su Yue felt a pang of guilt. She lifted her bag of food and smiled and said, ¡°I went to buy food. Bai Jing hasn¡¯t eaten breakfast.¡± ¡°What did you buy?¡± Wen Xuxu glanced over at the bag she was holding and a smile full of tenderness formed on her face. ¡°Snacks,¡± Su Yue replied. She grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go in. Bai Jing must be hungry.¡± Her ward door wasn¡¯t locked, so Su Yue was able to push it open with her leg. Lei Yong and Zhang Lihong had already left so the ward was quiet and even a little desolate. Bai Jing was sitting on the bed. She was still on the IV drip as she was scrolling through her phone. ¡°Bai Jing, Su Yue bought breakfast, come and have some.¡± Xuxu walked over to her bed. ¡°Oh.¡± Bai Jing turned her phone off and looked up, smiling at Xuxu. Confused, she looked at Su Yue and asked, ¡°Why did you take so long?¡± ¡°Erm¡­¡± Su Yue hesitated and glanced at Xuxu in guilt. She felt that Bai Jing wouldn¡¯t have known that she went to visit Uncle Ming, so she spun a lie for her third sister-in-law, and opted to tell Bai Jing the truth later. Chapter 1298. An Unforgettable Night (part One) Su Yue smiled at Bai Jing and said, ¡°They sell so many snacks outside, and I ate too much.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart palpitated as she looked at Xuxu. Xuxu was looking at Bai Jing, and she didn¡¯t seem to see through her lie. Su Yue heaved a sigh of relief and changed the topic almost immediately. ¡°Third sister-in-law, persuade Bai Jing not to return to her stepfather¡¯s house.¡± She pulled Xuxu over to Bai Jing¡¯s bed and made her sit down. Bai Jing¡¯s expression changed when she heard her words. She looked at Xuxu and maintained the smile on her face. Xuxu gently patted the back of Su Yue¡¯s hand, seemingly hinting at something. Su Yue wasn¡¯t dumb, so she shut her mouth immediately. She sat obediently and quietly beside Xuxu. Xuxu looked at Bai Jing and said, ¡°Bai Jing, didn¡¯t I tell you that you can come to me, Su Yue or her third brother if you are in any trouble?¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually nothing much. Su Yue was making a mountain out of a molehill.¡± Bai Jing bowed her head and adjusted her hair, obviously uneasy and trying to hide something. She just didn¡¯t want him to know. She knew that he liked smart and independent women. Although she couldn¡¯t be with him, she wanted to change his opinion about her. Xuxu could tell that Bai Jing didn¡¯t want them to know about her life situation. She pursed her lips and didn¡¯t force her. ¡°Alright, but you must tell me if anything happens next time. Not just because of your friendship with Su Yue, but also on account that your father saved Su Yue¡¯s third brother¡¯s life. We won¡¯t leave you in the lurch.¡± It was just like what Yan Rusheng had said. It wasn¡¯t the first time that they told her that she should confide in them if ever she was in trouble. She was a grown girl and she knew how to make her own decisions. It was part of growing up. She had to go through this journey and make her own choices. She had left with her biological mother so they couldn¡¯t intervene if she didn¡¯t ask for help. Bai Jing smiled and nodded at Xuxu. ¡°Thank you, third sister-in-law.¡± Her gaze didn¡¯t linger on Xuxu¡¯s face. Neither did her eyes meet hers. Nobody, even Ming Ansheng, Yan Rusheng or his gang, was better at reading people than Xuxu. Xuxu sensed that Bai Jing was trying to evade the topic. Her smile didn¡¯t falter as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to come over when you¡¯re free.¡± She believed that Bai Jing was still a good girl. They were just worried because she was in a new environment. She could only sigh helplessly. Bai Jing nodded slowly. She said nothing further, and she didn¡¯t lift her head once. To Xuxu, it was a sign of Bai Jing distancing herself, but to Su Yue, Bai Jing was feeling inferior. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Bai Jing, my third sister-in-law will help you. You don¡¯t have to be afraid.¡± Bai Jing looked up at Su Yue and forced a smile. Su Yue flashed a sincere smile, while Xuxu sighed to herself. She sighed over how Su Yue was na?ve. Xuxu sat around for a while, then she looked at the time. It was almost noon, so she said to Bai Jing, ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯ll make a move. Remember to come over when you¡¯re free.¡± Bai Jing nodded. Xuxu then said to Su Yue, ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯ll head back first. Will you be going back to school later?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue nodded. Indeed, she would head back to school¡ªafter she visited Uncle Ming. Chapter 1299. An Unforgettable Night (part Two) She then asked Xuxu, ¡°Third sister-in-law, you¡¯re going home?¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the office. Your third brother is taking me out for lunch, then we¡¯re going shopping. He said that I don¡¯t have any appropriate clothes for Country M and insisted that I should buy some.¡± She stood up and took her bag, a blissful smile on her face. Even Su Yue was jealous, not to mention Bai Jing. When would she be able to eat and shop with Uncle Ming in public? That blissful smile would ever only be Xuxu¡¯s. Bai Jing stared at her in a daze, and she couldn¡¯t conceal the envy in her eyes. She recalled all the intimate moments Yan Rusheng and Xuxu had. He was cold to everyone except Wen Xuxu. Only Wen Xuxu seemed to be able to make him put down his airs and make him happy and relaxed. The first time she met the man, he had observed her with a cold gleam in his eyes, but as she stood before him, she felt like he saw right through her. She had thought, ¡®How could such a good-looking man exist? How could someone be so perfect and elegant, just like a prince that came out of a fairytale?¡¯ She wanted to look at him, but she didn¡¯t dare to. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Bai Jing was recalling her first encounter with Yan Rusheng when Su Yue had returned from sending Xuxu off. ¡°Hmm?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s thoughts were interrupted and she felt guilty. Su Yue was already by her side. She asked, ¡°Did your mother and that disgusting fellow find trouble for you?¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She apologetically said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I ran into Uncle Ming on the way back. He dragged me over to his ward for a while and I lost track of time.¡± It shocked Bai Jing. ¡°You went over to Young Master Ming¡¯s ward?¡± She looked shocked, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Yup.¡± Su Yue nodded. She bent over and sat down on the bed. She looked at Bai Jing with a serious look, and she asked, ¡°Bai Jing, can you keep my relationship with Uncle Ming a secret?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± Confused, Bai Jing asked, ¡°Even from your third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yue nodded. She bowed her head and mumbled, ¡°I know that I shouldn¡¯t keep it from my third sister-in-law. She treats me so well and I feel bad about keeping this from her, but I don¡¯t know how to bring it up. It feels so embarrassing.¡± She looked up at Bai Jing, blushing to her ears. ¡°Think about it. Uncle Ming is my third brother¡¯s classmate. They grew up together and he¡¯s eight years older than me. I¡¯ve been calling him ¡®Uncle¡¯ all this time and now I¡¯m dating him. It feels so weird.¡± Bai Jing smiled. ¡°It is a little weird, but isn¡¯t this kind of relationship the new trend?¡± ¡°Alright, just keep it a secret for me.¡± Su Yue was still embarrassed and she was blushing. She quickly changed the topic. ¡°Have some food first. What do you want for lunch? I¡¯ll find Uncle Ming later and ask him to buy it for you.¡± She passed Bai Jing the bag of things she bought earlier. Bai Jing took the bag from her and opened it. She took out a small piece of bread and started eating it. She said, ¡°There¡¯s still quite some time until lunch. I¡¯ll decide later.¡± Chapter 1300. An Unforgettable Night (part Three) Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°Alright then.¡± She walked over to the neighboring bed and sat down. She leaned against the headboard and scrolled through her phone. ¡°Are you not going upstairs to spend time with your Uncle Ming?¡± Bai Jing suddenly piped up, and Su Yue turned around to look at her. She smiled out of embarrassment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll head over in a while.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, you can go over now,¡± Bai Jing suggested. She then yawned and added, ¡°I was about to take a nap.¡± She threw away the plastic wrap and buried herself under her covers. ¡°Okay,¡± she replied and stood up, getting off the bed. She left the room in silence. And closed the door gently behind her. In the ward, Bai Jing opened her eyes and took one last look at Su Yue¡¯s leaving figure¡ªher eyes full of hatred. Everyone knew about her situation now, and it was all thanks to her! She clenched her blankets and solemnly swore that she would ruin Su Yue¡¯s pure and innocent image. ¡®Hmph!¡¯ ¡­ Su Yue had a wonderful rest during the flight, which lasted over ten hours. She only woke up when she heard the announcement that they had arrived in N City. She rubbed her eyes and gazed out of the window. The plane was amongst the clouds and it brought her comfort. Su Yue was extremely excited. She grabbed Xuxu¡¯s arm and happily said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, look! The view is so pretty.¡± Xuxu glanced outside the window and nodded. ¡°Indeed, it is.¡± In actual fact, she had seen that view every time she took a flight in the day, and so it was nothing special to her. ¡°Third sister-in-law, will Zhou Shuang be there to fetch us when we touch down?¡± Su Yue asked, looking back at Xuxu. ¡°Yes, she will.¡± Xuxu nodded, then she frowned. ¡°Her stomach is so humongous now and I didn¡¯t want her to, but she insisted so I couldn¡¯t stop her.¡± But she was still excited at the thought that she would see Zhou Shuang after a while when the plane touched down. Friendship was strange. True friendship would withstand the test of time, and ten years apart would mean nothing. Yet some could spend the whole day together without considering it a friendship. ¡°I brought her a gift.¡± Su Yue gave a mysterious smile. Xuxu was a little shocked. ¡°You even brought her a gift?!¡± She didn¡¯t expect Su Yue to be attentive and thoughtful enough to bring her a present. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes, I prepared it a long time ago.¡± ¡°You even kept it from me?¡± Xuxu raised her eyebrow, her tone hinting slight bitterness. Guilt flashed across Su Yue¡¯s eyes. She bowed her head in guilt and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, third sister-in-law. I didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you.¡± If her third sister-in-law were to find out that she had kept her relationship with Uncle Ming from her as well, would she be angry? She wouldn¡¯t be too happy for sure. Su Yue became worried. Xuxu frowned. ¡°Silly girl, I wasn¡¯t blaming you. Why did you take it so seriously?¡± ¡°No-nothing.¡± She shook her head in response. The announcements repeatedly reminded them to put on their safety belt, so Xuxu didn¡¯t think into Su Yue¡¯s reaction. She turned to look at Yan Rusheng. He was sitting opposite her. His seat was already adjusted, and his seat belt fastened. But he was still wearing his eye mask and his eyes were closed shut. It was as though he couldn¡¯t stand the sight of everything in the cabin. Chapter 1301. An Unforgettable Night (part Four) Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s arrogant posture and an evil smile formed on her face. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up. ¡°Miss¡­¡± The air stewardess was about to stop her, but Xuxu immediately turned and gave her a stern look, shutting her up. She walked over to him and bent down, quickly giving him a peck on the lips. She then returned to her seat at breakneck speed and buckled her seatbelt with expertise, turning around to look at Su Yue, pretending to be engaged in a conversation. Su Yue held in her laughter, joining in Xuxu¡¯s prank. Yan Rusheng was still for a while before he touched his lips, his slender fingers going one round around them. Then his lips curled up into a smile full of hidden meaning, a smile full of gentleness. He removed his eye mask unhurriedly, smiling towards Xuxu. But Xuxu was deep in a conversation with Su Yue, as though she wasn¡¯t the one who kissed him earlier. He smiled and his gaze flitted over to the two air stewardesses standing at the bar counter. An elegant smile formed on his handsome face and he asked, ¡°Beautiful ladies, which of you kissed me just now?¡± He propped his chin up on one elbow, resting it on the armrest. He caressed his lips with his thumb. It was unbelievably seductive. The two air stewardesses blushed and bowed their heads in embarrassment, neither admitting nor denying. But Xuxu was smart enough to know that Yan Rusheng was doing it on purpose. Who dared to kiss her husband right in front of her own eyes? She then turned around to look at Yan Rusheng. She smirked and raised her eyebrow. ¡°They¡¯re both so beautiful. You got the longer end of the stick no matter who kissed you.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. It felt much better than your kisses.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Seeing the couple¡¯s banter, the two air stewardesses were in awe. Su Yue placed her hand to her forehead, speechless. Yan Rusheng continued bantering with Xuxu for a while longer. Seeing that Xuxu was winning, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I booked a large comfortable bed. It¡¯s very sturdy and it¡¯s color-themed.¡± There was a long pause¡­ That shut her up, and her expression darkened. The corner of Young Master Yan¡¯s lips curled up into a satisfied smile. He leaned backward and put on his eye mask, feeling delighted. Xuxu glared angrily at the man opposite her and thought, ¡®I¡¯ll sleep with Zhou Shuang tonight. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to a hotel with him.¡¯ ¡­ ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu heard Zhou Shuang calling out to her the moment she stepped out. She looked in the voice¡¯s direction in excitement. Zhou Shuang was waving at her, her humongous stomach bulging. She waved back happily. ¡°Shuang.¡± Xuxu quickened her pace and ran over to her, as though they were long-lost relatives. Young Master Yan was unhappy at her enthusiasm. ¡°Why does she have to be so happy to see the hooligan?¡± Su Yue heard him mumbling and peered up at him. ¡°I¡¯m telling third sister-in-law.¡± She then ran over to them. Yan Rusheng watched her sprint away, and he felt depressed. He turned to look at the luggage trolley he was pushing and became even more depressed. Back in the office, he was the overbearing President. But at home, he was his wife¡¯s slave. A slave! Not forgetting his new role¡ªa super dad!! Chapter 1302. An Unforgettable Night (part Five) F*ck, f*ck, f*ck. He was getting incredibly frustrated. He had to be pleased tonight. ¡°Sister Hooligan.¡± Su Yue ran over to her and greeted her sweetly. Zhou Shuang looked over at her and mocked, ¡°Young pretentious one, I heard that you¡¯re dating. Where did you learn this bad stuff from?¡± ¡°Ah¡­?¡± Guilt flashed through her eyes and her palms started sweating. She looked at Zhou Shuang and stammered, ¡°You¡­ How did you know?¡± How did she know? Nobody knew about her relationship with Uncle Ming, other than her, Uncle Ming himself, and Bai Jing. Who told Sister Hooligan? ¡°Dating is just dating. It¡¯s not something to be embarrassed about, why are you so nervous?¡± Zhou Shuang looked at her, amused. She then patted her head gently and said, ¡°You have a decent taste. That lad looks handsome and gentle.¡± That lad¡­? Su Yue looked at Zhou Shuang and blinked in confusion. ¡°Ah¡­?¡± Suspicion flashed across Xuxu¡¯s eyes when she saw Su Yue¡¯s reaction. She saw that Zhou Shuang was about to say something more to Su Yue, so she quickly said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. The airplane food was not to my liking, and I¡¯m starving.¡± She grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s elbow and stared at her belly. ¡°You must¡¯ve had too much nutrition. Aren¡¯t you tired from having such a huge belly?¡± Zhou Shuang raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you experience it before?¡± Xuxu pursed her lips. ¡°But I didn¡¯t have triplets.¡± Bearing twins were already tiring enough. Carrying triplets must be even more exhausting. Zhou Shuang was about to reply when she saw Yan Rusheng coming up from behind them. She intentionally raised her voice and gloated, ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯ll probably never be able to experience what it¡¯s like to have triplets.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s grip on the trolley handles tightened when he heard it. He gritted his teeth and glared at Zhou Shuang, wishing he could knock her down with his trolley. If only Lu Yinan wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for him. Yan Rusheng was about to bite back when the phone in his pocket rang. He took it out and saw the caller. Lu Yinan! Immediately, all the frustration he felt towards Zhou Shuang was diverted to Young Master Lu. He picked up the call. ¡°Lu Yinan, didn¡¯t your plane crash?¡± Lu Yinan bit back unhappily. ¡°I took the same flight as you. Why would my plane have crashed if you¡¯re still alive and well?¡± He added immediately, ¡°Have you seen that annoying hooligan already?¡± Young Master Yan was still unhappy with Zhou Shuang. He looked at her and intentionally raised his voice. He replied, ¡°We have already met your annoying hooligan.¡± ¡°Damn you, keep it down,¡± Lu Yinan shushed. In the crowd of people, he managed to see them. When he saw that there was a less than a twenty-meter distance between Yan Rusheng and Zhou Shuang, he panicked and gritted his teeth. Yan Rusheng figured that Lu Yinan must¡¯ve seen them. He smiled and asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you see her huge protruding belly? You don¡¯t despise her?¡± Lu Yinan retorted, ¡°Did you despise Xuxu when her belly was huge?¡± Yan Rusheng warned, ¡°Lu Yinan, did you forget our agreement?¡± ¡°Alright, cut the crap. I¡¯m behind you.¡± Young Master Lu lowered his volume, as though he was a thief with a guilty conscience. Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°I know.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ I like this one better but, it¡¯s still too short! Mass Release Please!!!! See this! I just gifted the story: Balloon See this! I just gifted the story: Balloon Young Master Lu ended the call and glared at Yan Rusheng, who was standing before him. This fellow! So he knew that he was standing there all along. No wonder that hooligan called him pretentious. He was good at pretending. Yan Rusheng had long legs, so he followed after Xuxu and the others easily. He was looking around. Zhou Shuang had brought a chauffeur. The chauffeur saw them coming over and hurriedly went to help them with their baggage. Yan Rusheng was used to this kind of service, so he let the chauffeur take over and walked over to the front passenger seat, opening the door and getting into the car. The car was spacious. Xuxu sat together with Zhou Shuang. Her gaze kept flitting over to her tummy. ¡°Did Lu Yinan contact you recently?¡± Xuxu asked, tearing her gaze away from Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly. Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t as agitated at the mention of Lu Yinan as before. She calmly nodded. ¡°Yes. He calls me every day.¡± Every day? He had a chance then. Xuxu smiled. ¡°So you guys are progressing well?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes. She then snarled, ¡°He¡¯s having great progress with my mother.¡± Xuxu knew what she was getting at. She thought about it. Indeed, how could she forgive Lu Yinan so easily? But Xuxu now saw Lu Yinan in a new light. She didn¡¯t expect him to be so patient, calling her every day, and getting to know her mother. It was a rare sight. The whole gang was as proud as peacocks. Currying favor with others¡­ wasn¡¯t something they were good at. ¡°Your belly is getting bigger. If Lu Yinan is sincere about you, you should give him a good consideration,¡± Xuxu persuaded. ¡°Love can be nurtured. It won¡¯t matter as much after marriage and having children.¡± She advised Zhou Shuang from experience. ¡®It won¡¯t matter as much after marriage and having children?¡¯ Young Master Yan was unhappy when he heard his wife¡¯s words. So she was saying that her love for him had faded and wasn¡¯t as strong as before? All of this was because of the children. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I heard that you¡¯re a super dad now?¡± Young Master Yan was looking out the window¡ªdepressed¡ªwhen she asked. Her tone was obviously mocking and sarcastic. Yan Rusheng turned around to face her. With an expression void on his face, he said, ¡°Of course not. How would I?¡± Even if he was, he wouldn¡¯t admit it to this female hooligan and give her something to laugh about. ¡°You can continue pretending,¡± Zhou Shuang mocked. ¡°Preparing formula milk, washing diapers, bathing the children, putting them to sleep¡ªit seems like you¡¯re good at all of this.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at her and coolly said, ¡°You should be more worried about yourself.¡± ¡®Preparing formula milk, washing diapers, bathing the children, putting them to sleep¡­¡¯ He didn¡¯t realize that he knew so much. As he thought about it, he wasn¡¯t actually embarrassed. Those were his own children for goodness¡¯ sake. What was there to be embarrassed about? But in front of Zhou Shuang, he had to stick to the agreement. Zhou Shuang snorted in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m doing very well.¡± Chapter 1303. An Unforgettable Night (part Six) Young Master Lu ended the call and glared at Yan Rusheng, who was standing before him. This fellow! So he knew that he was standing there all along. No wonder that hooligan called him pretentious. He was good at pretending. Yan Rusheng had long legs, so he followed after Xuxu and the others easily. He was looking around. Zhou Shuang had brought a chauffeur. The chauffeur saw them coming over and hurriedly went to help them with their baggage. Yan Rusheng was used to this kind of service, so he let the chauffeur take over and walked over to the front passenger seat, opening the door and getting into the car. The car was spacious. Xuxu sat together with Zhou Shuang. Her gaze kept flitting over to her tummy. ¡°Did Lu Yinan contact you recently?¡± Xuxu asked, tearing her gaze away from Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly. Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t as agitated at the mention of Lu Yinan as before. She calmly nodded. ¡°Yes. He calls me every day.¡± Every day? He had a chance then. Xuxu smiled. ¡°So you guys are progressing well?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes. She then snarled, ¡°He¡¯s having great progress with my mother.¡± Xuxu knew what she was getting at. She thought about it. Indeed, how could she forgive Lu Yinan so easily? But Xuxu now saw Lu Yinan in a new light. She didn¡¯t expect him to be so patient, calling her every day, and getting to know her mother. It was a rare sight. The whole gang was as proud as peacocks. Currying favor with others¡­ wasn¡¯t something they were good at. ¡°Your belly is getting bigger. If Lu Yinan is sincere about you, you should give him a good consideration,¡± Xuxu persuaded. ¡°Love can be nurtured. It won¡¯t matter as much after marriage and having children.¡± She advised Zhou Shuang from experience. ¡®It won¡¯t matter as much after marriage and having children?¡¯ Young Master Yan was unhappy when he heard his wife¡¯s words. So she was saying that her love for him had faded and wasn¡¯t as strong as before? All of this was because of the children. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I heard that you¡¯re a super dad now?¡± Young Master Yan was looking out the window¡ªdepressed¡ªwhen she asked. Her tone was obviously mocking and sarcastic. Yan Rusheng turned around to face her. With an expression void on his face, he said, ¡°Of course not. How would I?¡± Even if he was, he wouldn¡¯t admit it to this female hooligan and give her something to laugh about. ¡°You can continue pretending,¡± Zhou Shuang mocked. ¡°Preparing formula milk, washing diapers, bathing the children, putting them to sleep¡ªit seems like you¡¯re good at all of this.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at her and coolly said, ¡°You should be more worried about yourself.¡± ¡®Preparing formula milk, washing diapers, bathing the children, putting them to sleep¡­¡¯ He didn¡¯t realize that he knew so much. As he thought about it, he wasn¡¯t actually embarrassed. Those were his own children for goodness¡¯ sake. What was there to be embarrassed about? But in front of Zhou Shuang, he had to stick to the agreement. Zhou Shuang snorted in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m doing very well.¡± Chapter 1304. An Unforgettable Night (part Seven) ¡°I think I saw Lu Yinan at the airport,¡± Su Yue suddenly piped up from the last row. In shock, Xuxu exclaimed, ¡°You saw Lu Yinan?!¡± She then looked at Yan Rusheng questioningly. The possibility of Lu Yinan being there didn¡¯t give Zhou Shuang a shock. She was more surprised that Xuxu didn¡¯t know about it. But she could guarantee that if Lu Yinan was really here, Yan Rusheng would¡¯ve known. Yan Rusheng looked back at her and their eyes met. Xuxu saw the answer in his eyes. Lu Yinan was really here. ¡°Yes,¡± Su Yue said innocently. ¡°He was wearing a faint coffee-colored sweater and sunshades, a small duffel bag in his hands.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Yan Rusheng was speechless. They were in a foreign land and yet this little lass remembered his attire as clear as day. What more, he was no stranger to them, so she couldn¡¯t have mistaken him for sure. But she had only mentioned it now? What a strange girl. Xuxu looked at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that Lu Yinan was coming?¡± She said it on purpose. She knew that Zhou Shuang definitely wouldn¡¯t have known if Lu Yinan was coming or not. She was just testing the waters, to see her reaction. Now that she saw her huge belly, how could she not worry about her and her triplets? Sigh! ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± Zhou Shuang shrugged her shoulders. She nonchalantly said, ¡°Besides, what does his arrival have to do with me?¡± She tilted her chin up and looked out of the window. Xuxu grabbed her elbow and gave her a sincere advice. ¡°It has almost been six months. He has been quite persistent. Perhaps at the start, he was forced to by his family and his grandfather, but the fact that he¡¯s still so persistent after so long shows that chasing after you and pacifying you have become a habit of his.¡± She paused and observed Zhou Shuang¡¯s reaction. Then she continued, ¡°When two people get together, it becomes a habit.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around to look at her and grinned. ¡°Wife, you¡¯re serving another bowl of ¡®chicken soup for the soul¡¯?¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°What benefit did Lu Yinan give you?¡± Zhou Shuang gave Xuxu a contemptuous look. Xuxu frowned. ¡°What can he give me?¡± Before Zhou Shuang could reply, Yan Rusheng said, ¡°That¡¯s right, what does he have that I don¡¯t?¡± His tone was full of unhappiness. Zhou Shuang was speechless. ¡°Today is Christmas eve and Country M is more festive than back at home.¡± Xuxu looked at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Ah Sheng, why don¡¯t you call Lu Yinan over. We should have a gathering.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Rusheng whipped out his phone immediately. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t stop him in time. She watched him dial Lu Yinan¡¯s number and spared Xuxu a worried glance. ¡°Both of you are in cahoots?¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much.¡± Xuxu added, ¡°Even if you weren¡¯t bearing his children, we¡¯re still classmates.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. She was thoroughly convinced that Xuxu¡¯s trip here was to help Lu Yinan. Yan Rusheng was now engaged in a conversation with Lu Yinan. ¡°My Wen Xuxu has persuaded Hooligan Zhou. Follow us closely, we¡¯re having a meal together later.¡± Chapter 1305. An Unforgettable Night (part Eight) Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t forget to credit his wife. Zhou Shuang threw Yan Rusheng a dirty look before turning to Xuxu. ¡°How did you train Yan Rusheng? Why do I feel that he is like a loyal dog obediently following his owner?¡± ¡®What?!¡¯ The moment he heard Zhou Shuang¡¯s sarcastic words, his handsome face hardened. He ended Lu Yinan¡¯s call before turning to Zhou Shuang. ¡°From head to toe, you look exactly like an uneducated and uncouth hooligan,¡± sneered Yan Rusheng with apparent disdain. He spun around, looking haughty and cold. Xuxu smiled helplessly as she watched both of them. She turned around to glance at Su Yue. Su Yue was gazing at her phone, seemingly in a daze with a bright smile frozen on her lips. Xuxu was curious and she scooted over. ¡°Yueyue, what are you looking at? You look so happy.¡± Su Yue¡¯s hand trembled when she heard Xuxu. She hastily looked up and replied, ¡°Nothing! I¡¯m just reading a joke. A really hilarious one.¡± She peered at Xuxu¡¯s face but avoided her eyes. She was texting Ming Ansheng, and she felt guilty for lying. Xuxu didn¡¯t say much although she still smiled. ¡°Are you hungry? We are going to eat, anything you feel like eating?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything,¡± Su Yue replied without a thought. Xuxu could tell that she seemed out of sorts, but she didn¡¯t probe further. Su Yue heaved a sigh of relief when Xuxu turned away. She stared at the screen angrily as she typed. ¡®My third sister-in-law called me just now, and I was so shocked. Stop texting me!¡¯ Ming Ansheng swiftly replied, ¡®Do you feel so guilty being in a relationship with me? Why are you so afraid?¡¯ Su Yue typed, ¡®I feel guilty because I¡¯m dating an old guy. People will make fun of me.¡¯ Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t reply for a long time. Her words must have hurt him. Su Yue was puzzled and she sent a text. ¡®What happened? Why didn¡¯t you reply?¡¯ Ming Ansheng typed. ¡®Didn¡¯t you ask me to stop texting you?¡¯ He sounded extremely aggrieved and pitiful. Su Yue was speechless with his reply. ¡®Stop texting. I¡¯m going to eat now.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®What are you eating?¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡®I asked Third sister-in-law to decide.¡¯ Ming Ansheng typed. ¡®Street X has a restaurant named Amorous. Their barbecued food is superb. You will definitely like their food.¡¯ Su Yue asked, ¡®How did you know? Have you been there?¡¯ She felt like an idiot for asking that question. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®I¡¯m very familiar with Country M just like the capital city.¡¯ Su Yue asked, ¡®Do you come here often? Why?¡¯ Ming Ansheng typed. ¡®For some matters.¡¯ Su Yue didn¡¯t press on regarding his answer. She merely typed ¡®oh¡¯ . She assumed that their conversation was over. After she locked the screen, Ming Ansheng suddenly replied. ¡®What should I do? I won¡¯t be able to place the present on Christmas Eve on your bed.¡¯ Su Yue asked, ¡®What present is it?¡¯ Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t directly answer her. ¡®Sigh. I won¡¯t continue since I won¡¯t be able to give you.¡¯ ¡®Forget it then.¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s curiosity was piqued, yet he refused to admit it. So she angrily stowed her phone into her bag and marched ahead. ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s go to the Amorous restaurant at Street X. They are famous for their barbecued food.¡± Chapter 1306. An Unforgettable Night (part Nine) Xuxu and Zhou Shuang turned towards Su Yue. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡®Oh yeah, how was she going to explain?¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s fingers were intertwined as she thought nervously to herself. She was still at a loss for words when Zhou Shuang interjected, ¡°That restaurant has two branches in N City. But the original restaurant at Street X has excellent reviews. Not only do they sell barbecued wings, but their steaks are also highly raved, too.¡± Xuxu turned towards Zhou Shuang. ¡°Really?¡± She was still feeling suspicious, so she stole a glance at Su Yue. Su Yue knew that Xuxu was looking at her so she hurriedly said, ¡°I saw it when I was searching for restaurants earlier on.¡± She widened her eyes to express her sincerity. She was so afraid that Xuxu wouldn¡¯t believe her. She seemed to say: ¡®If you don¡¯t believe me, I will check it again.¡¯ Xuxu broke into a smile and quipped, ¡°Why are you so nervous? I¡¯m just asking.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu¡¯s smile made Su Yue anxious as she felt her smile seemed rather mysterious. Guilt consumed her once more and she averted her gaze. She bent her head and unconsciously began to rub her fingers against her palms. Xuxu glanced at Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to that restaurant then.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded. Amorous Restaurant was really famous even in N City. Even though it was past lunchtime, the restaurant was still pretty crowded. Zhou Shuang immediately felt like a host in Country M. She walked towards an empty table and motioned them to follow her. She then gestured for a waiter. ¡°Is Lu Yinan joining us?¡± After they ordered, Xuxu thought of Lu Yinan, and so she asked Yan Rusheng. ¡°He should be here.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at his watch before turning towards the entrance. Su Yue pointed behind Xuxu. ¡°Lu Yinan is there.¡± Xuxu turned her head towards the direction. Lu Yinan strode cheerfully towards them, with his hands in the pockets of his light coffee-colored coat. He was wearing a pair of spectacles that he usually wore to complete his refined look. From afar, his skin looked fairer and softer than most girls. He had invested good money on his skincare regime indeed. Xuxu gazed at Lu Yinan and was suddenly reminded of his nickname ¡®Sissy Lu¡¯ . She sniggered to herself. She smiled and waved to him. ¡°Young Master Lu.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, why are you giggling?¡± Lu Yinan walked towards Xuxu and raised his eyebrows. Xuxu immediately wiped off her smile and shook her head solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Come over and sit.¡± She rose and gave up her seat for Lu Yinan. ¡°Thanks.¡± Lu Yinan took off his coat, revealing a pale pink shirt underneath. He seemed extra radiant and vibrant. Zhou Shuang glanced askew at Lu Yinan and warned him coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t sit next to me.¡± Xuxu, who had already vacated her seat, turned around before pinching Zhou Shuang¡¯s back. ¡°Did you forget what I said just now?¡± hissed Xuxu. Zhou Shuang furrowed her eyebrows in pain and glared at her. She threw Lu Yinan a dirty look before asking brusquely, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°To accompany my son since it¡¯s Christmas.¡± Lu Yinan grinned as his gaze trailed from Zhou Shuang¡¯s face to her protruding tummy. Zhou Shuang was wearing a gray and white checkered dress. Her tummy was enormous. He couldn¡¯t resist an urge to touch her tummy. But before he could even touch Zhou Shuang¡¯s dress, the latter stretched her hand and slapped his outstretched hand with force. Chapter 1307. An Unforgettable Night (part Ten) ¡°Who is your son?¡± Zhou Shuang scorned coldly. ¡°Their father is someone else. Young Master Lu is wealthy and so good-looking. The number of women who want to have your children can make a circle around the entire capital city. Please don¡¯t acknowledge other children as yours. You¡¯re not that old to have dementia, am I right?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mean and vicious tongue really made Young Master Lu feel like strangling her. Lu Yinan clenched his fists tightly to stop himself from throwing a tantrum. He maintained a gentle and graceful smile on his face. ¡°One of the triplets must be a boy.¡± He caught Zhou Shuang unaware and stroked her tummy. Although he wasn¡¯t a gynecologist, he had touched tummies of pregnant women before. After all, he was a doctor. A wonderful sensation coursed through his veins when he stroked Zhou Shuang¡¯s tummy, and it was an entirely new and different feeling. His heart seemed to swell instantly at that moment. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Zhou Shuang shrieked at Lu Yinan. ¡°Even if one of them is a boy, it¡¯s not yours!¡± He had said such hurtful and insulting words to her. And now he came to her, asking for his son. Hmph! Over her dead body! Perhaps that wonderful sensation had hypnotized Lu Yinan. When he looked at Zhou Shuang, his expression was tender and gentle. ¡°It has almost been half a year. Can¡¯t you just put it behind you?¡± Zhou Shuang bluntly replied, ¡°I love to hold grudges. So, why should I?¡± There was a long pause. Xuxu was exasperated at this pair of quarrelsome couple. Every single time they meet, they would end up bickering. And it would always result in one of them angrily storming away. They seemed like eternal foes. Lu Yinan frowned and conceded defeat. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t get angry now. You¡¯ll upset the babies.¡± He stretched his hand to lay the napkin on Zhou Shuang¡¯s lap. But Zhou Shuang simply slapped his hand forcefully once more. Young Master Lu¡¯s hand immediately turned red. Zhou Shuang glared at him and sharply said, ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s face darkened and he had almost reached his limit. With the last ounce of his patience, he peacefully attempted to talk to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Please be more civilized. You should have started prenatal training at three months. The children can understand what we are saying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a hooligan so my children will definitely have hooligan traits like me. Scolding people is a skill they need to have.¡± Zhou Shuang haughtily raised her chin. In Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes, she was just like a commoner shrew. Young Master Lu was on the verge of losing his temper and a crease appeared in the middle of his eyebrows. Xuxu noticed it and immediately said, ¡°Stop bickering. Can both of you stop arguing the minute you see each other?¡± She glared at Lu Yinan and said, ¡°Since you know that the children could understand, why can¡¯t you let her have her way.¡± She glanced at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°When I was pregnant, Yan Rusheng also gave in to me. I would pester him in the middle of the night to satisfy my food cravings and he always obliged immediately. Even if I changed my mind, he didn¡¯t even get angry.¡± Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan glanced at Yan Rusheng at the same time and exclaimed together, ¡°Disgraceful!¡± Both of them were stumped and silently stared at each other. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes unconsciously trailed from Lu Yinan¡¯s seductive-looking face to his eyes. She remembered that he had really long and thick eyelashes. She entered a trance as though Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes had hypnotized her. ¡°Am I that good-looking? You can see me every day in the future.¡± Lu Yinan beamed brightly and his smile could cause the downfall of a city. Chapter 1308. An Unforgettable Night (part Eleven) Zhou Shuang¡¯s face turned red and she hastily averted her gaze. She sneered coldly. ¡°Dream on! How can a man who looks like a woman be good-looking? He should be ashamed.¡± She seemed to have ignited the fire once more and Xuxu interjected hurriedly. ¡°Alright that¡¯s enough, stop bickering. Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°I lost all appetite at the sight of him,¡± mumbled Zhou Shuang. ¡°I can leave.¡± Lu Yinan placed the cutlery back on the table and stood up before leaving. His sudden departure startled Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, and they silently stared at him stomping away. After a while, Xuxu snapped to her senses and yelled, ¡°Hey, Lu Yinan¡­¡± Lu Yinan appeared not to have heard Xuxu as he walked out of the restaurant determinedly. The towering figure vanished before their eyes. Xuxu glanced at Zhou Shuang and lectured her, ¡°What are you trying to do? If you really hate him so much and feel that there is no way you can be with him, tell us now. I¡¯ll get Yan Rusheng to tell Lu Yinan so that he doesn¡¯t have to waste time and effort on you.¡± Zhou Shuang gloomily pouted as she watched Lu Yinan marching out of the restaurant. She was also upset and conflicted. She threw a brief glance at Xuxu and pursed her lips. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like to meddle in others¡¯ affairs?¡± said Zhou Shuang. Xuxu snapped coldly, ¡°If you weren¡¯t my friend, do you think I would care?¡± Indeed, she didn¡¯t like poking her nose into others¡¯ affairs, neither was she interested in gossip. But she was really anxious and worried about Zhou Shuang. As a mother, she felt that a complete family was important to the children. Every time she saw Yan Rusheng bathing or coaxing the children, she would feel so blissful and contented. She had an urge to hug all of them. Zhou Shuang was her best friend, and she certainly hoped that she would have a blissful life. She wasn¡¯t sure if Lu Yinan was the right guy for her. But since she was pregnant with his children, she knew that Zhou Shuang ought to give Lu Yinan a chance. ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Zhou Shuang waved her hands, looking irritated. But her attitude had softened considerably. Xuxu was very observant and sensitive, and she noticed that Zhou Shuang avoided answering her question. She merely changed the topic. But she was wise enough not to probe further at that moment. Her lips curled slightly and she averted her gaze from Zhou Shuang. The man next to her had already laid the napkin on her lap. He was usually a man of few words with others around. But he was always observant and meticulous towards Xuxu¡¯s needs¡ªit was totally oblivious to everyone else. Xuxu glanced at the pair of hands before her, and she stretched her hand to hold his hand. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes darted towards Xuxu, looking smug. Xuxu was a little embarrassed and she hastily retracted her hand. ¡°Call Lu Yinan¡­ and ask¡­ why¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to put Lu Yinan down with Zhou Shuang around. But Lu Yinan¡¯s patience was really too limited. If Yan Rusheng were in his shoes, he wouldn¡¯t have left so easily. Even if they bickered, he would always come back to coax her. Xuxu didn¡¯t finish her sentence when Su Yue cut across her. ¡°Lu Yinan is back.¡± Some of their food had arrived, and Su Yue was busy using her phone and eating chicken wings at the same time. She didn¡¯t care about her image at all despite her mouth being smeared with oil. Xuxu heard her and glanced at the entrance. Chapter 1309. An Unforgettable Night (part Twelve) Lu Yinan really came back. Xuxu soon realized that he had left his coat in the restaurant. He strode towards them and Zhou Shuang stole a glance at him. Looking nonchalant, Lu Yinan replied airily, ¡°What are you looking at? I¡¯m only back to get my coat.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart had already softened when he left. However, she became riled up once more by his attitude. ¡°If you weren¡¯t looking at me, how did you¡­¡± ¡°Merry Christmas.¡± Zhou Shuang stopped in the middle of her retort when Lu Yinan whipped out a red square box from his pocket. He placed it before her on the table before opening it. It was a beautiful, sparkling apple-shaped diamond ring. He had indeed spent effort on this present. Any other woman who had just received a diamond ring would naturally be surprised or touched. Even if the woman didn¡¯t like the man. Zhou Shuang was no exception. She stared blankly at the ring before turning to gaze at Lu Yinan. She seemed at a loss for words for a really long time. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were equally shocked when Lu Yinan took out the ring. It had never crossed their minds that Lu Yinan had spent so much effort. Both of them fell silent and their expressions were similar as though they had communicated through telepathy. They sat there, looking politely curious and interested, waiting for Zhou Shuang to respond. ¡°The diamond is a little small.¡± Su Yue blurted out and caught everyone by shock. Her remarks always had this effect. Su Yue¡¯s words shattered the silence, as Zhou Shuang was still too shocked to have any response. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were speechless. Lu Yinan¡¯s good-looking face turned as black as charcoal. His eyes gleamed with a murderous aura at Su Yue. Su Yue appeared innocent. She quipped, ¡°But it¡¯s still acceptable. It¡¯s Christmas Eve and what a coincidence that the present is an apple-shaped diamond ring. It is quite romantic indeed.¡± Lu Yinan had an impulse to hit Su Yue with the ring box. What coincidence? He had planned and spent so much effort on it! He furrowed his eyebrows as he threw a menacing glance at Yan Rusheng. That expression meant: ¡®If she wasn¡¯t your sister, I would have beaten her up.¡¯ ¡°Sister Hooligan, try it on.¡± Su Yue ignored Lu Yinan who was boiling with anger, and she grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. She steered her hand towards the ring. She didn¡¯t care if Zhou Shuang was willing or not. As long as she picked up the ring, it meant that she had accepted the present. Zhou Shuang finally reacted after she received the ring. She dropped it as though it had scalded her. ¡°Who wants to marry him?¡± cried Zhou Shuang. She pouted as she glanced furtively at the diamond ring on the dining table. Her face had turned crimson. ¡°Try it on to see if it fits. Let¡¯s see how well he knows you.¡± Su Yue picked up the ring and forcibly placed it on her finger. It fitted perfectly. Su Yue raised Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand against the light, as though she was displaying it for everyone to admire her ring. Suddenly, she raised her voice and proudly announced, ¡°Congratulations to Lu Yinan for his successful proposal to Sister Hooligan. Yay!¡± She spoke in English and everyone including the waiters understood her. Everyone clinked their glasses to celebrate the successful proposal and joyfully showered them with congratulations. The commotion left Zhou Shuang with no choice but to accept the ring. She hung her head low and her face was in a shade of fiery red. Lu Yinan was a little embarrassed, too. But he raised his glass gracefully and responded politely. ¡°Thank you.¡± He raised Zhou Shuang¡¯s glass, which was filled with water. Chapter 1310. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirteen) He took a sip, and slightly bowed his head at everyone before sitting down. Zhou Shuang felt so awkward, so she tried to remove the ring but to no avail. Lu Yinan casually extended his hand to grab Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. He blinked and softly quipped, ¡°You¡¯re not a pretentious person, so stop trying to remove the ring. It looks nice on you.¡± He curled his lips into an alluring smile. That smile was enough to sweep ladies off their feet. Zhou Shuang was so embarrassed that she wanted to hide under the table. Yan Rusheng settled comfortably against his chair as he glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a hooligan getting bashful,¡± exclaimed Yan Rusheng. No one knew if he was complimenting or mocking her. Zhou Shuang, who was too bashful to respond, angrily eyed Yan Rusheng when she heard him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, even if you don¡¯t talk, no one will think you¡¯re mute.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored her and began to eat his food leisurely. Su Yue had already eaten her fill as everyone began to tuck in. She decided to text Ming Ansheng. ¡®I¡¯ve already helped Lu Yinan to put the ring on Sister Hooligan¡¯s finger. Where is the reward?¡¯ This news startled Ming Ansheng, and he typed, ¡®Lu Yinan proposed to Zhou Shuang?!¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡®Yup. Lu Yinan proposed with an apple-shaped diamond ring. It¡¯s quite romantic.¡¯ ¡®Zhou Shuang put on the ring?!¡¯ Ming Ansheng wore an incredulous smile as he typed. ¡®Yeah, all thanks to me.¡¯ Su Yue showed him evidence by snapping a photo of Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. She turned on the camera function and pretended to snap photos of the food. She swiftly snapped a photo of Zhou Shuang as she raised her glass. After she sent the photo to Ming Ansheng, she sent him a text. ¡®You promised to give me a surprise to reward me if I help Lu Yinan.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®I¡¯ll give you at night.¡¯ Su Yue didn¡¯t sound too enthusiastic. ¡®Tch. It must be a red packet.¡¯ ¡®Hurry up and finish your food. Be good.¡¯ After reading Ming Ansheng¡¯s reply, she felt empty and sad. She didn¡¯t feel like responding. She surveyed the entire restaurant before glancing outside. Everyone seemed to be in a celebratory mood in Country M as it was Christmas. Couples were everywhere on the streets, and there were two at her table. She began to regret her decision to come to Country M. She should be in the capital city, celebrating Christmas with Uncle Ming. Xuxu noticed that Su Yue had entered a reverie and it had her pouting. She had a shrewd hunch she was thinking of someone. After observing her for a while, she spoke, ¡°Yueyue, what is on your mind?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Su Yue shook her head and smiled pensively. ¡°I¡¯m full.¡± She bent her head and quietly peered at her hands. Xuxu raised her eyebrows, and she smiled helplessly to herself. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Zhou Shuang¡¯s place after this.¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Let¡¯s send the luggage to the hotel first.¡± Zhou Shuang furrowed her eyebrows disapprovingly. ¡°Why are you staying at a hotel? You have to stay at my place.¡± She glanced at Xuxu and quipped, ¡°Didn¡¯t you agree to stay at my place?¡± Yan Rusheng cut across before Xuxu could reply. ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient.¡± Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth as she replied, ¡°You can stay at the hotel by yourself.¡± Yan Rusheng replied determinedly, ¡°No way.¡± Chapter 1311. An Unforgettable Night (part Fourteen) Zhou Shuang retorted, ¡°Both of you see each other every day. Can¡¯t you just be apart for a few days?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°No!¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s attitude was unyielding, but Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t want to lose as well. ¡°Xuxu has to stay at my place today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop quarreling. We shall go to Zhou Shuang¡¯s place first before we decide tonight.¡± Xuxu frowned as she pressed on, ¡°We will definitely suffer from jet lag later, so it doesn¡¯t matter where we sleep.¡± Xuxu successfully stopped them from bickering. Zhou Shuang¡¯s house was located in a bustling area around N City. It was a mansion, and flowers that flourished well in winter filled the courtyard. The surroundings and environment were comfortable and pleasing. When they reached Zhou Shuang¡¯s place, her mother had just finished work. She came to welcome them warmly with a smile. Her father knew that they would visit their place so he came home early, too. The design of the huge living room was impressive and stylish, although it wasn¡¯t very luxurious. They sat on the couch and Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother served them tea and a huge platter of fruits. Zhou Shuang¡¯s father sat quietly on an armchair. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, so let¡¯s get going,¡± whispered Yan Rusheng to Xuxu as he glanced out of the window. The sun was setting rapidly. Xuxu knew that it was impossible for her to stay over at Zhou Shuang¡¯s place tonight. She smiled politely at Zhou Shuang¡¯s parents and said, ¡°Uncle, Aunt, it¡¯s getting late. We need to head to our hotel.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother frowned and quipped, ¡°We have so many rooms. You need not stay at a hotel.¡± Xuxu smiled warmly and waved her hands to decline. ¡°It¡¯s all right. We have too many of us and we don¡¯t want to intrude. We will visit you again.¡± Even if she stayed here, Yan Rusheng will insist on sleeping at the hotel. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother agreed rather reluctantly. She glanced at Lu Yinan and said, ¡°Xiao Lu, stay here tonight.¡± Lu Yinan earnestly nodded and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± This was the first time they invited him to stay at their house despite several visits. The first time, he didn¡¯t even get past the gates. The second time, only Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother was around. He had only stayed for a cup of tea. Zhou Shuang¡¯s father doted too much on his daughter. He felt that Lu Yinan wasn¡¯t a good man, so he was hostile towards him. Lu Yinan had barely finished his sentence when Zhou Shuang angrily interjected, ¡°No way! I¡¯m going to the hotel with Xuxu.¡± She rose and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s arm. She appeared as though she was determined to leave with her. Yan Rusheng was speechless. Was this female hooligan deliberately doing this? He eyed Lu Yinan quietly and communicated a message: if you don¡¯t settle this woman tonight, you¡¯re not a man. He stretched his hand to grab Xuxu and bowed politely to Zhou Shuang¡¯s parents. He then marched towards the door, pulling Xuxu along. Without a doubt, Su Yue followed Xuxu and Yan Rusheng wherever they went. She trailed closely behind, like a little tail. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I¡¯m going to the hotel with Xuxu.¡± Zhou Shuang quickly strode after Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. She bade her parents goodbye. Her parents didn¡¯t even try to stop her. Only Lu Yinan remained motionless as he had no idea how he should react. He stared helplessly at Zhou Shuang¡¯s parents. Her father maintained a stoic expression, so he turned to her mother. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother quipped, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going after her?¡± Lu Yinan smiled sheepishly and immediately scrambled after Zhou Shuang. They got in the car that Zhou Shuang had used to fetch them this afternoon and it managed to fit everyone. Chapter 1312. An Unforgettable Night (part Fifteen Zhou Shuang and Xuxu sat together while Su Yue was seated alone at the back. Her eyes never left her phone even for a moment. The hotel they were going to was a famous seven-star hotel in N City. Needless to say, their facilities and service were the best. Yan Rusheng went to the counter to check-in, and he received three pieces of room cards. He passed one to Su Yue and said, ¡°Rest well tonight. I¡¯ll bring you to somewhere fun tomorrow.¡± What he meant was: don¡¯t disturb us tonight. Su Yue absentmindedly received the room card, lost in her own thoughts. The sky was getting dark and she missed Ming Ansheng terribly. She had glimpsed an enormous Christmas tree in the main hall which was brightly lit with ornaments and lights. There were two bell boys dressed as Santa Claus at the entrance. Yan Rusheng passed a room card to Lu Yinan and remarked, ¡°Fortunately, your room is really far from ours.¡± ¡®He even booked a hotel room?¡¯ Xuxu frowned as she interrogated Yan Rusheng. ¡°How long did both of you planned this in advance?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced askew at her as he quipped, ¡°If we planned this early, would Young Master Lu have taken the economy class?¡± Xuxu pressed her lips and agreed silently with him. They were the only ones in the business class on the flight. Lu Yinan mentioned that he took the same flight as them, so he had to settle for a seat in the economy class. It was rare for a wealthy and pampered young master like him to take the economy class. Yan Rusheng put his arm around Xuxu¡¯s waist and steered her towards the elevator. He waved and said to Lu Yinan and the rest, ¡°Take your room cards and go to your respective rooms. Don¡¯t disturb us.¡± Lu Yinan strode towards them and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you sick of each other already?¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head and smirked at Lu Yinan. ¡°I¡¯m going to try doing it for the first time in Country M.¡± His smile appeared really despicable and vile. Xuxu pinched his thigh as hard as she could. This fellow had such dirty thoughts! He had been thinking of that the entire day? Lu Yinan surveyed Yan Rusheng with apparent disdain. ¡°Shameless.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored Lu Yinan¡¯s remarks and stole a glance at Zhou Shuang. He inched closer to Lu Yinan and whispered, ¡°If you don¡¯t settle Hooligan Zhou tonight, you can forget about being a man. Admit that you are a gay instead.¡± Lu Yinan frowned and chided him, ¡°Are you still human? She is pregnant.¡± Yan Rusheng curled his lips into an unfathomable smile. ¡®Ding.¡¯ The elevator reached the ground level, and he strode in with Xuxu. Lu Yinan was still waiting for Zhou Shuang so Yan Rusheng pressed the elevator button to close the doors. He then pressed the level that their room was on. ¡°What are you doing?¡± yelled Xuxu, looking annoyed. Yan Rusheng bent to kiss her forehead. ¡°Wife, it has been a long day. Let¡¯s take a bath and retire for the night.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so hateful.¡± Xuxu blushed and avoided the playful gleam in his peach blossom-shaped eyes. ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted.¡± Young Master Yan watched as Xuxu turned bashful. He remarked, ¡°When we go into the room, prepare to serve your master.¡± Ever since they had children, they hardly had time for themselves, especially in the bedroom. Xuxu bent her head and peered quietly at the ground. Yan Rusheng bent once more and kissed her cheek. Suddenly a voice echoed, sounding disdainful. ¡°Third Brother, I¡¯m in the elevator.¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were completely shocked. Both of them felt as if their backs had turned icy cold. They turned at the same time towards their back. Su Yue was staring at them innocently. Chapter 1313. An Unforgettable Night (part Sixteen) Su Yue was staring at them innocently. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were speechless¡­ When did she enter? How did they not realize? While they were still in confusion, the lift doors opened. Su Yue brushed past the both of them, giving Yan Rusheng a contemptuous glance. ¡®Hey! This little lass!¡¯ Yan Rusheng pressed his lips together as he watched her walk past them, but no words left his mouth. This time, he really didn¡¯t realize that Su Yue was there. But Xuxu didn¡¯t believe him. She thought that he was devoid of moral principles. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re too shameless.¡± Xuxu stepped on his foot angrily. She then stormed out of the lift, walking towards their room. Yan Rusheng froze in the lift and only came to his senses when the lift doors were about to close. He hurriedly pressed the ¡®open¡¯ button and rushed after them. ¡°Wife,¡± he called after her. Xuxu ignored him, walking straight ahead. She easily caught up with Su Yue and they walked side by side. She smiled at Su Yue and said, ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯ll sleep in your room tonight.¡± She had protested rather coquettishly to Yan Rusheng¡¯s advances in the lift earlier on. This little lass wouldn¡¯t despise her as well, right? She worried about how Su Yue¡¯s impression of her might¡¯ve changed, and she somehow blamed Yan Rusheng. It was all his fault. ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue smiled and nodded. She didn¡¯t despise her. In fact, she was happy. Xuxu grabbed her elbow. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± What happened? Yan Rusheng realized that something was amiss, and he quickened his pace. He ran over to Xuxu, his nimble fingers grabbing her thin wrist. He pulled her into his arms and said, ¡°Sleep early today. We¡¯ll have a good time tomorrow on Christmas day.¡± Xuxu ignored him, not letting go of Su Yue¡¯s elbow while trying to break out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s grasp. Yan Rusheng refused to let go of her. ¡°Don¡¯t play around.¡± They dragged Su Yue into their struggle, so she frowned at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother, you¡¯re a hooligan. Hmph!¡± She pulled Xuxu¡¯s hand away from her elbow and said to her, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯ll head back first. Goodnight.¡± She quickened her pace and found her room. She took out her room card and opened the door, entering and closing the door behind her. The couple watched her as she did and they froze. Xuxu looked up at him and said, ¡°Heard that? Your younger sister thinks that you¡¯re a hooligan.¡± She quickened her pace and walked towards their room. Yan Rusheng stared at Su Yue¡¯s room door and frowned. ¡°This little lass, she¡¯s getting more brazen.¡± Xuxu frowned as well. ¡°She¡¯s just throwing a temper.¡± She was softly mumbling to herself and Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t make out her words. He raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°What did you say?¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°Nothing much. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and held Xuxu¡¯s hand. They walked towards their room. When they walked past Su Yue¡¯s room, Xuxu stared at the door, lost in thought. ¡°Wife, can you give me the whole package tonight?¡± Yan Rusheng asked when they had reached their room. He leisurely took out the room card and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s waist, suddenly giving her a peck on the lips. Chapter 1314. An Unforgettable Night (part Seventeen) His actions revealed his impatience. Xuxu frowned and pushed him away with force. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you be more serious?¡± Yan Rusheng unhappily said, ¡°Think about it. How long has it been since you were last burning with passion for me?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Since when was I ever passionate towards you?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Yan Rusheng snorted. He complained, ¡°Good that you know. Have you ever been passionate towards me?¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand this miserable sight. She smiled. ¡°Alright, go in quickly. Don¡¯t stand around the door.¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman. You love me to death yet you¡¯re still pretending.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng,¡± Xuxu suddenly said in a gentle voice. Yan Rusheng pursed his lips, frustrated. Stupid woman, she always pulled this move. She knew he couldn¡¯t take it. Yan Rusheng opened the door and started stripping his clothes off as he walked in, preparing for a shower. Xuxu followed after him, taking off her jacket. Yan Rusheng threw his clothes all over the floor and went into the toilet. Then the sounds of cascading water from the shower echoed around. Xuxu looked at the clothes strewn all over the floor and helplessly shook her head. She walked over and picked them up one by one, placing them on the sofa. She then sneaked over to the toilet door. She could see her man¡¯s figure through the frosted glass. She stood outside for a while, then she took a deep breath. She undid her ponytail and let her hair fall flow down her back. She undid the strings on her nightgown and gently opened the frosted glass door to the shower. Yan Rusheng was standing under the shower and the water cascaded down his entire body. Steam had filled the entire room. Xuxu opened the door and tucked her hands into her pockets. She leaned lazily against the door frame, staring at the man before her. His delicate face turned pink under the heat. His eyes were closed, so he didn¡¯t notice that Xuxu had entered. She stared at him for a while longer before piping up. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± In her gentle and clear voice. The man under the shower froze immediately. The water from the showerhead rained over him for a while before he came to his senses. He opened his eyes and looked towards the door. The woman was engulfed in steam, and it felt like he was in a dream. Suddenly, he felt dizzy. ¡°Wen Xuxu, are you trying to kill me?¡± What?! She was trying to kill him? Xuxu frowned and blushed. ¡°I won¡¯t shower with you then.¡± She had finally mustered the courage and tried to be passionate towards him, yet now he claimed that she was trying to kill him. She turned around to leave. ¡°Wait,¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly called. Immediately, he was beside her and he grabbed her waist. All this in the blink of an eye. He dragged Xuxu into the shower. They stood under the showerhead, and the water soaked through Xuxu¡¯s nightgown. Her wet hair flowed down her body. She couldn¡¯t open her eyes. She tried wiping the water from her eyes but she still couldn¡¯t open them. She complained, ¡°What are you doing? My clothes are drenched.¡± ¡°Take them off then,¡± Yan Rusheng said, nibbling on her lip and taking off her nightgown in one swift motion. Chapter 1315. An Unforgettable Night (part Eighteen) Her drenched nightgown fell to the ground. Yan Rusheng looked down and admired her small frame. She was like a precious piece of jade and he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from her. He didn¡¯t know where to lay his hands on first. Water accumulated at her collarbones. Yan Rusheng bent over and gently splashed the water off with his tongue. She felt ticklish every time his tongue touched her skin, so she retracted her neck. ¡°Ah Sheng, it tickles.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me hug you for a while,¡± Yan Rusheng said, moving his hands from her shoulders to her back. In actual fact, he was unbuckling her bra. His mouth wasn¡¯t idle. Xuxu couldn¡¯t stand this move of his. By then, he had completely defeated her willpower. ¡°Ah Sheng, it¡¯s ticklish. Don¡¯t do this.¡± Women never meant what they said¡ªthat didn¡¯t exclude Wen Xuxu. She protested coquettishly, her hands wrapping tighter around Yan Rusheng. He had already unbuckled her bra. Yan Rusheng sized her up and commented, ¡°Wen Xuxu, they seem to have grown tremendously in size.¡± Xuxu blushed and he quickly kissed her. ¡°Do these grow with age? Yours were so small during senior high school.¡± ¡°Shut up, you hooligan.¡± She covered his mouth and glared at him. A layer of fog seemed to cover her eyes, and the warm lights in the washroom reflected in them, looking like stars in the night sky. ¡°I only show this side to you,¡± Yan Rusheng said, kissing her lips passionately, wishing he could devour her whole. When he moved his lips away, Xuxu snorted. ¡°Really? Then who was it that unbuckled the school belle¡¯s bra back then? Huh?¡± Her voice was bitter. Yan Rusheng stopped kissing her, and he raised his eyebrow, looking at her. ¡°You must¡¯ve been super jealous then.¡± That wicked and coquettish look of his was too captivating¡ªXuxu loved it to bits. She blushed and closed her eyes. She nodded and declared loudly, ¡°Yes, I was super jealous. I wanted to chop off your hands with a knife.¡± She then tipped toes and kissed his lips, after which she hooked her arms around his neck. Yan Rusheng was in shock. Yan Rusheng was panting by the time they moved to the bed from the shower. He felt like he was in heaven. He stared at the ceiling for a while before turning to look at Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you did pretty well today. Next time, you have to take the initiative at least once a week.¡± Xuxu was still blushing and when she saw him turning towards her, she hurriedly covered her face with the blankets. Yan Rusheng flipped himself over and lay on his side. He propped his head up with one arm and he held the blankets in the other. He didn¡¯t want her to hide her face from him. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife¡ªthis is normal. Why are you so shy?¡± Xuxu clutched the blankets in a death grip, refusing to give in to him. Yan Rusheng gave up and continued, ¡°We have been intimate since young. We even showered together¡­¡± ¡®Why did he have to bring that up again¡­¡¯ Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened. She glared at Yan Rusheng and warned, ¡°If you mention that one more time, I¡¯ll seal your lips with glue.¡± Yan Rusheng raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Haven¡¯t you realized?¡± Xuxu frowned in confusion. ¡°Realize what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t talk this much to anyone else,¡± Yan Rusheng whispered in her ear. It was meant to be an affectionate statement, but it felt mischievously ambiguous. Chapter 1316. An Unforgettable Night (part Nineteen) Xuxu pushed him away. ¡°Who else do you want to talk this much to?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and diverted the question. ¡°Can we have another round?¡± It was a rhetorical question¡ªhe had already crushed Xuxu under his body before she could reply. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what¡­ hey¡­¡± Xuxu tried pushing him off but to no avail. She was about to give in when¡­ The doorbell rang. It startled Xuxu. ¡°Someone is here.¡± Yan Rusheng turned his head to look at the door. He calmly averted his gaze and said to her, ¡°Ignore it.¡± He then kissed her lips, but the doorbell rang again. It made Yan Rusheng frustrated. He wanted to continue ignoring it, but Xuxu didn¡¯t. When she saw that he had no intentions of answering the door, she glared at him. She scolded, ¡°Are you going to get off me?¡± ¡°If Hooligan Zhou is outside that door, I will teach her a good lesson.¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth, his eyes full of hatred. He flipped over and got off Xuxu. He stood up, fully naked. The doorbell rang again and again, but Yan Rusheng was in no hurry. He put on his undergarments calmly before putting on his bathrobe. Xuxu was already all changed. She even tidied the bed. When she turned around to see that Yan Rusheng was still putting on his bathrobe, she rolled her eyes at him and went to open the door herself. As they had predicted, it was Zhou Shuang. She was leaning against the door frame. After Xuxu opened the door, she frowned and complained, ¡°What were you guys doing? Why did you take so long? I have been ringing the doorbell for almost half a day.¡± Before Xuxu could reply, Yan Rusheng suddenly walked over and frowned at her. ¡°Hooligan Zhou, didn¡¯t I ask you to leave us alone?¡± In his lifetime, he had never ever met such an annoying ¡®lightbulb¡¯ who didn¡¯t know her place. God knows how much he planned and rearranged his schedule to bring Wen Xuxu on this holiday. Zhou Shuang looked contemptuously at him and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand. ¡°Let me sleep with you tonight.¡± Xuxu nodded without thinking. ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Rusheng added, ¡°That¡¯s a bad idea.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, I will not quarrel with you. Let me talk some sense into you.¡± Zhou Shuang looked at him seriously and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Xuxu in so long. Can¡¯t you just let us stay together for a night?¡± Yan Rusheng seriously said, ¡°My woman can only sleep with me and no one else¡­ not even women.¡± Over his dead body. Seeing that a war was about to break out, Xuxu hurriedly changed the topic. ¡°Where¡¯s Lu Yinan?¡± She peeped her head out of the room and looked across the hallways. But Lu Yinan was nowhere in sight. Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t mention him, all right?¡± Xuxu asked, ¡°Is he in his room?¡± Before she could reply, she added, ¡°Why don¡¯t you invite him over. Let¡¯s sit around and catch up.¡± Yan Rusheng said coldly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to catch up on.¡± He turned around and entered the bedroom. Zhou Shuang agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± She then stepped in and walked towards the bedroom. Yan Rusheng was sitting on the bed. He picked up his phone from the bedside cabinet and gritted his teeth as he sent Lu Yinan a message: ¡®Come over quickly and bring your hooligan away. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being nasty.¡¯ After he sent it out, he flung his phone back onto the bedside cabinet. It landed with a loud thud. Zhou Shuang entered at that moment, and it gave her a fright. She glared at him and said unhappily, ¡°Can¡¯t I just sit around for a while? I¡¯ll leave soon.¡± Chapter 1317. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty) Before he could reply, the doorbell rang. It pleased Yan Rusheng. He thought, ¡®Lu Yinan is pretty fast¡¯. Xuxu opened the door and it startled her when she saw a small figure. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue was wearing a loose nightgown, her hair let down. She was looking downwards, but when she saw that it was Xuxu who opened the door, she smiled and retrieved a pack of poker cards from her pocket. ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s play a card game.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Yan Rusheng was speechless. Xuxu smiled. She stared at the pack of poker cards in her hand and asked, ¡°Hotels in Country M provide Chinese poker cards?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I thought that the ten-hour flight would be a bore, so I brought poker cards to play with Third Brother and third sister-in-law on the plane.¡± Xuxu¡¯s mouth twitched uncontrollably. This lass! She was quite¡­ thoughtful. Playing cards on the plane?! ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Zhou Shuang said, emerging from the bedroom, her eyes shining. It pleasantly surprised Su Yue to see Zhou Shuang. ¡°Sister Hooligan, you¡¯re here too?¡± Now they had enough players. She was originally worried that Yan Rusheng would refuse to play and they would be short of one player. Now that Zhou Shuang was here, she didn¡¯t need Yan Rusheng. ¡°Come in quickly, let¡¯s play,¡± Zhou Shuang said. She walked over to the door and pulled Xuxu¡¯s arm with one hand and grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm with the other. She dragged them to the sofa area. Xuxu didn¡¯t mind. She wasn¡¯t sleepy anyway; she was just¡­ tired. Yan Rusheng felt helpless. Zhou Shuang was already enough of a headache for him. Now Su Yue was here as well, and she wanted to play cards. Not only was he unable to enjoy his time with Xuxu, but he also couldn¡¯t sleep peacefully as well. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He called Lu Yinan. ¡°Come over quickly and bring your Hooligan Zhou away,¡± he demanded, trying to keep his voice low. Lu Yinan replied, ¡°I¡¯m here. Open the door!¡± Yan Rusheng ended the call quickly and stood up immediately, walking out of the bedroom. Xuxu and the girls had already started playing. The scene before him made him laugh. He opened the door. Lu Yinan was in his nightwear, standing at the door. Yan Rusheng said nothing. He walked over to the sofa and sat down behind Xuxu. He glanced at her deck. Coincidentally, it was her turn. ¡°You can¡¯t put that,¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly said. He reminded, ¡°There¡¯s definitely a bomb out there.¡± Xuxu immediately took the stack of cards back. Zhou Shuang glared at him when she saw it. She chided, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you saw my cards just now.¡± Lu Yinan added quickly, helping her, ¡°That¡¯s right. Yan Rusheng, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re so shameless.¡± He sat down beside Zhou Shuang. He said to Xuxu, ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t be unreasonable. Play the cards.¡± He stretched his hand out and grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. He took out four cards with the number five on them and prepared to bomb Xuxu¡¯s large stack of cards. Yan Rusheng refuted, ¡°Lu Yinan, we haven¡¯t played our cards yet. Who¡¯s being shameless?¡± Zhou Shuang was indignant. ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t be shameless. You definitely saw my cards when you came out of the room just now.¡± The two couples started quarreling. The mushiness in the atmosphere became more suffocating. Su Yue, who was quiet the whole time, suddenly threw out her deck of cards. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to bed. Third Brother, you can take over me.¡± Chapter 1318. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty One) She stood up and walked towards the door. Zhou Shuang looked up and her eyes followed Su Yue¡¯s movements. She frowned in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s up with that little lass?¡± Xuxu took a thoughtful look at Su Yue before smiling at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Let her rest.¡± Xuxu¡¯s reaction seemed to startle Yan Rusheng. ¡°Little Su Yue seems to be unhappy. Mother Wen, why aren¡¯t you worried?¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Play your cards. Why do you have to talk so much?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to play.¡± Who was she kidding? How could he play such a lame game? It was a boring three-player card game and furthermore, there were no bets involved. ¡°Are you playing or not?¡± Xuxu asked, pointing at him and looking at him threateningly. Yan Rusheng frowned when he thought of his romantic plans for their stay in N City. He nodded reluctantly. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± He stood up and took Su Yue¡¯s place. ¡­ Su Yue tucked her hands into her pockets. She looked downwards and walked towards her room unhappily. ¡°Miss.¡± A man spoke from somewhere in front of her. He seemed to talk to her, so she looked up at him. A male attendant was pushing a cart of food and stopped in front of her door. The man was tall and he was wearing the hotel¡¯s uniform. He was looking downwards, and he was wearing glasses. He held a bottle of wine in one hand and was pouring it into a wine glass. Su Yue pressed her lips into a thin line. She then coldly asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Do you want a drink?¡± he asked after he finished filling the glass, his head still bowed. Su Yue was distracted. She replied rather rudely, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Alright, sorry for disturbing you.¡± He nodded politely and pushed the cart, preparing to leave. The man turned around when Su Yue reached her door. She leaned against the door frame and took out her room card, preparing to open the door. ¡®I have a surprise for you. A reward¡­¡¯ Ming Ansheng¡¯s words floated into her mind. She pouted and snorted in her heart. Liar! ¡®Liar, liar, liar!¡¯ ¡®Ah choo!¡¯ The man suddenly sneezed loudly from in front of her. It caught her attention. She looked over and called rudely, ¡°Mister.¡± He stopped and turned around when she called him, his head still bowed. ¡°Miss, what can I do for you?¡± She replied, ¡°Give me a bottle of wine and some chicken wings.¡± She opened her door and entered. She left the door open and the man followed her in. Su Yue went straight into the bedroom and the service attendant pushed the cart into the room. He stopped in the hallway and pulled off the cloth that covered the chicken wings. He took out a plate of golden, roasted chicken wings. He picked up the bottle of wine and walked over, placing it on the table. Then he picked up a wineglass. Su Yue checked her phone the moment she entered the room. She didn¡¯t have any notifications from the moment she left the room¡ªshe was rather disappointed. She looked at the sofa area. The man bent over, arranging the utensils and plates of food. Su Yue opened her mouth in shock. She walked over and said, ¡°I¡¯m the only one eating. I don¡¯t need two glasses and I don¡¯t need so much food. I can¡¯t finish them.¡± The attendant had filled two glasses with wine, which shimmered under the light. ¡°Miss, it¡¯s boring to drink alone, so let me drink with you,¡± he said, turning to look at her. Chapter 1319. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Two) His lips were stained with red wine and it curled into a mischievous yet alluring smile. His slender fingers held the wineglass, and elegant light reflected off his nails. He stretched out his other hand and adjusted the black-framed glasses on his nose. He stretched out the wineglass and said to her in a different voice, ¡°Beautiful girl, why are you feeling down? Can I have a drink with you?¡± Su Yue¡¯s mouth widened in shock and her eyes were as large as saucers. But she wasn¡¯t really shocked. She was just¡­ pleasantly surprised. Was she dreaming? Was she dreaming? Immediately, tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Uncle¡­ Uncle Ming¡­¡± Was it really him? Could the man standing before her really be Uncle Ming¡ªthe man she was missing just a second ago? The man walked over and raised his eyebrow. ¡°Is this a huge enough surprise for you?¡± His gentle tone and smile were like a surge of warmth. She bit her lip and nodded in agreement. She hugged him, her head against his chest. She clutched his clothes tightly. ¡°Uncle Ming, I missed you to death.¡± Ming Ansheng carried her like a child, holding her up with one arm and patting the back of her head tenderly. ¡°Silly girl.¡± His tone was full of love and affection. Su Yue released her emotions and wiped away her tears. She looked at him in confusion. ¡°Uncle Ming, why are you here?¡± It was too sudden. Ming Ansheng lowered his head and kissed her between her eyebrows. He then raised his eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s Christmas Eve. And it¡¯ll be New Year¡¯s eve in a few days. How could I not spend it with you?¡± They had a huge age gap. People claimed that older ones were more loving and attentive, so how could he not be by her side as she matured? Su Yue asked in shock, ¡°Then¡­ you¡¯re leaving after new year¡¯s day?¡± It was still six to seven days away. Was he going to stay here for the entire period? Ming Ansheng smiled gently. ¡°You have to hide me well for the next few days.¡± Su Yue foolishly asked, ¡°How do I hide you?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and put her down. ¡°Silly girl, let¡¯s eat first. Didn¡¯t you say that you wanted to drink?¡± He grabbed her hand and they sat down on the sofa. They diverted the topic. When Su Yue saw the countless dishes of food and red wine, she asked, ¡°Did you prepare all this especially for me?¡± Ming Ansheng lifted an eyebrow. ¡°If not?¡± It touched Su Yue. She smiled foolishly and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me that you were coming. I didn¡¯t get you a gift.¡± Ming Ansheng whispered, ¡°You¡¯re the best gift I could ever have.¡± His voice was small when he said it. Su Yue was still basking in happiness and she didn¡¯t hear him. She looked at him in confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and shook his head. He changed the topic again. ¡°Try these chicken wings.¡± Then he took a piece and fed it to her. She took a huge bite and nodded. ¡°Mm, it¡¯s good. It¡¯s really delicious.¡± It was way better than the ones she had eaten at Amorous restaurant earlier. Chapter 1320. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Three) Ming Ansheng heard Su Yue¡¯s compliments about the food and he confidently replied, ¡°I cooked them.¡± Su Yue was astonished upon hearing that. ¡°You did?¡± She widened her mouth, after which she took another bite. She frowned as she said, ¡°But the taste seems different from the ones you made when I went to your house. Did you really make this?¡± Ming Ansheng replied in an indignant tone of voice. ¡°Improvement is inevitable.¡± He raised a wine glass and gave it to Su Yue. ¡°Aren¡¯t you drinking with me?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue agreed readily and received the wine glass. They made a toast and took a sip. ¡°What were you doing in your third brother¡¯s room earlier on?¡± Ming Ansheng comfortably slumped back on the couch as he casually swirled the wine glass. His shrewd-looking eyes were looking intently at Su Yue. Her rosy and soft cheeks looked so alluring. She was wearing bathrobes and it revealed her fair skin. His mind was racing with a burning desire. So, he diverted his attention elsewhere by asking her trivial questions. Su Yue replied, ¡°We were playing card games.¡± She stretched to take another chicken wing. ¡°Card game?¡± Su Yue¡¯s answer thoroughly surprised Ming Ansheng. This lass was still obsessed with that game. How would Yan Rusheng be willing to waste time playing card games with her at night? ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue nodded and grumbled, ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep because you didn¡¯t reply to my text. So I went to look for Third sister-in-law.¡± She pursed her lips and hid her face from his view. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart was billowing with tidal waves when he heard Su Yue¡¯s confession. He bent his head and raised his eyebrows. ¡°You missed me so much?¡± How he adored and loved her innocence and purity. She never hid her happiness or sadness. And never was she ever pretentious. Su Yue nodded and honestly replied, ¡°I miss you so much.¡± She was honest yet bashful at the same time. ¡°But I can¡¯t really tell.¡± Ming Ansheng burning desire for her almost consumed him. He gazed at her intensely after he placed the wineglass down. He was trying to convince himself to give in to his desire. Sitting before him was his girlfriend, the girl that he loved with all his heart. And one day, she will become his woman. So there was nothing wrong with them being intimate. A voice in Ming Ansheng¡¯s head was egging him on, and he was about to succumb to it. Su Yue raised her head and stared innocently at Ming Ansheng. ¡°I already hugged you, didn¡¯t I?¡± Ming Ansheng stared into the depths of her eyes. They were so pure and clean. He felt that he would commit a crime if he were to sleep with her. He suppressed the burning desire in him and smiled. ¡°Hurry up and eat.¡± He stretched his hand and raised the wineglass to his lips. He gulped down the rest of the wine. ¡°Uncle Ming, where are you staying tonight?¡± suddenly asked Su Yue. She felt that it was an important question. Ming Ansheng chuckled and asked, ¡°Are you chasing me away?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Su Yue shook her head and asked uncertainly, ¡°You¡­ you want to stay in my room?¡± Oh my god! Then what would happen to them tonight? What should she do? Su Yue¡¯s cheeks blushed crimson at the thought of it and quickly bent her head. Ming Ansheng knew exactly what was on Su Yue¡¯s mind. He grinned and said, ¡°Silly girl, what are you afraid of?¡± This was something he was worried about, too. He wasn¡¯t exactly a saint. Furthermore, this was the girl he loved. Chapter 1321. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Four) She was still really young, although she was already 18. But¡­ wasn¡¯t this age more alluring to a man? He was afraid that he wouldn¡¯t be able to control himself. Young Master Ming¡¯s conscience was fighting a battle with his desire at the same time. Su Yue shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not scared.¡± Her fingers, however, intertwined tightly together and it betrayed her nervousness. She was nervously wondering what would happen to Uncle Ming and her if they stayed alone in the room for the entire night. On the other hand, she was hoping for something to happen. She was feeling conflicted, too. ¡°I thought you were playing card games? Why did you return so early?¡± Ming Ansheng changed the topic. He reckoned that the beast in him would unleash if Su Yue continued with her bashfulness. Su Yue pouted and grunted, ¡°Third Brother didn¡¯t play by the rules. I don¡¯t want to play with them.¡± She didn¡¯t tell the entire truth to Ming Ansheng. She was actually feeling terrible and lonely when she saw how loving the two couples were. Ming Ansheng grinned and said, ¡°Rest early after you finished the food. You are supposed to go out tomorrow, right?¡± Su Yue sounded a little disappointed by his response. She softly muttered, ¡°Are you going out tomorrow too?¡± Ming Ansheng asking her to rest early had disappointed her. That meant that nothing would happen to them tonight. He didn¡¯t want to do anything with her. Deep down, she was actually on tenterhooks at the thought of it. She was still disappointed nonetheless. ¡°But you won¡¯t be with me,¡± Ming Ansheng gloomily answered. Su Yue hurriedly explained, ¡°But I will be with Third Brother and Third sister-in-law. How can I meet you? If you go with us, they will know about us.¡± Ming Ansheng pursed his lips and reluctantly answered, ¡°Alright then. I shall sleep in the hotel room.¡± He placed the glass on the table and was about to stand up. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Su Yue wound her arms around Ming Ansheng¡¯s waist. Ming Ansheng froze, and he immediately pushed Su Yue away. ¡°Yueyue, don¡¯t be like this.¡± His actions were too harsh and abrupt, and it hurt Su Yue¡¯s ego. Su Yue glared at him. ¡°You¡­¡± Her lips were sealed by his before she could finish her sentence. The man¡¯s kiss took her completely by surprise, and Su Yue¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. She gazed into the depths of his eyes and it was as though it sucked her into a deep whirlpool, trapping her. Unconsciously, she stretched her hands and placed them around Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck in response to his kiss. Her response caused Ming Ansheng to lose control of himself. He pushed her tiny body on the couch and his body came crushing on hers the next moment. His kisses became more passionate and intense. Su Yue¡¯s heart seemed to jump out of her chest. Ming Ansheng¡¯s lower part of his body was brushing against her thigh. She could tell that it was changing but her knowledge with regards to it was still limited. ¡°Uncle Ming, your ¡­ what happened there? Why is it changing?¡± Su Yue blinked as she asked Ming Ansheng with a straight face. Ming Ansheng¡¯s breath was hurried and irregular and he wasn¡¯t able to comprehend her question. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Su Yue¡¯s hand grazed lightly against that part. Ming Ansheng groaned in agony and his body turned stiff. He felt that his body seemed to snap at any moment. He grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand and raised his voice. ¡°Yueyue!¡± How could this girl be so clueless? ¡°Uncle Ming, is this going to make me pregnant?¡± Su Yue threw an innocent question at Ming Ansheng. Chapter 1322. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Five Ming Ansheng frowned as he scrutinized the little lass. ¡°Haven¡¯t you watch TV shows? Didn¡¯t you read novels? Or your textbooks?¡± Su Yue sheepishly grinned. Her grin and expression made Ming Ansheng feel as though she had been mocking and deceiving him. He stretched his hand to pinch her waist. ¡°You bad girl, how dare you to trick me.¡± Su Yue screamed and writhed in pain. She chortled and replied softly, ¡°I¡¯m not! I¡¯m not tricking you.¡± She knew a little about these matters, but she really had no idea about the changes in a man¡¯s body. Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze turned intense as he watched her innocent smile. After a long time, he gravely said, ¡°Yueyue, you¡¯re still young.¡± He straightened his back and retreated from Su Yue. He sat down before adjusting his clothes. He stole furtive glances at his lower part of his body. He was in agony. Su Yue clambered up into a sitting position as she glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Don¡¯t you love me?¡± Third Brother loved Third sister-in-law and he yearned to be with her all day long. But¡­ why did Uncle Ming distance himself away from her? He even rejected her advances. ¡°I love you.¡± Ming Ansheng gazed into Su Yue¡¯s eyes and his expression was so tender. ¡°It¡¯s because I love you, I can¡¯t bear to hurt you.¡± F*ck. Why was he so clich¨¦ and so pretentious? She had already turned legal lawfully, so why couldn¡¯t she? But he just couldn¡¯t bear to do it when he saw how frail and delicate she was. Su Yue responded vaguely with an ¡®oh¡¯. She raised her glass and emptied it in a gulp. She stood up and said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± After that, she raised her feet and walked towards the bedroom. Ming Ansheng knew that he had upset her. He sprinted after her. ¡°Yueyue, are you angry?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Su Yue said. But her tone showed that she was angry. She was furious. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry.¡± Ming Ansheng caught up with Su Yue and hugged her tightly from the back. He coaxed her gently and breathed into her ear. ¡°Silly fool, don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s really painful and I can¡¯t bear to inflict this pain on you.¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Su Yue turned to look at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Those women that you have slept with before, were they all in pain?¡± Su Yue knew of the pain, especially during the first time. She had read about it online. Ming Ansheng was speechless. She had to mention the pot that doesn¡¯t boil? Young Master Ming¡¯s face turned grave, and he wound his hands tightly around Su Yue once more. He mumbled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. Let¡¯s wait till you get older¡­¡± Su Yue suddenly sealed his lips with a kiss, breaking him off in mid-sentence. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. He stared in disbelief at how bold Su Yue was. She hugged him several times before, but this time it was different. She was passionately kissing him right now. Her soft and delicate lips were so alluring and her breath smelled of wine. Ming Ansheng instinctively returned the kiss as well. He drew his breath deeply. Shit. There was no way he could contain the beast within him tonight. Both of them simultaneously moved towards the bedroom. When they reached the bed, Su Yue put her arms around Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck and pulled him along with her as she collapsed on the bed. She gazed at Ming Ansheng with a serious expression. ¡°Uncle Ming, you promised me that I will be your only woman in the future.¡± Chapter 1323. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Six) Ming Ansheng looked thoroughly amused. ¡°You¡¯re still a child, you¡¯re not a woman yet.¡± Su Yue frowned and pouted. ¡°Are you¡­ rejecting me because my chest is flat?¡± She blinked her eyes as though he humiliated her, but he never uttered a sound. She looked adorably pitiful. She was the only woman who could ask such a question. Ming Ansheng was half-exasperated, half-amused by her response. He coaxed her and said, ¡°It¡¯s big enough. You are a pretty little woman.¡± He flushed immediately. His gorgeous face was crimson, and it was rare to see him being bashful. Su Yue watched Ming Ansheng intently and she swallowed her saliva. She felt that her heart was ballooning rapidly. She seemed to¡­ want him now. She had no idea how. But she knew that Ming Ansheng would know how to. Su Yue began to get impatient and she questioned him. ¡°Uncle Ming, will you only sleep with me in the future?¡± Ming Ansheng nodded with no hesitation, after which he gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°Certainly.¡± The expression in his eyes and tone screamed determination. He had no idea how much time they would have together. What he was sure was his determination and his desire to take care of her for the rest of his life. He really adored and loved this little girl. He would be sure to treat her like both like a princess and a woman in his bed. ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯m willing to be your woman.¡± Su Yue bit her lip and her eyes were sparkling with desire. She was seducing Ming Ansheng. His adam¡¯s apple moved as he swallowed his saliva. His body was about to snap due to his burgeoning desire for her. He was fighting a losing battle with his determination as he gazed into Su Yue¡¯s eyes. But even her voice still sounded like a child. Ming Ansheng¡­ are you sure you want to? ¡°Yueyue, I really don¡¯t want to hurt you. You¡¯re too young.¡± Ming Ansheng abruptly rose after an intense struggle. He had made up his mind. He stood towering over Su Yue, with his eyes fixed intently on her. Su Yue was blushing red as she pouted. She grumbled, ¡°Just now you said I was big enough, but then you said I¡¯m too young just now. You¡¯re a liar.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. He had indeed said that she was big enough, but he was referring to her chest. ¡°Yueyue, stop seducing me. I need the bathroom.¡± He can¡¯t bear to watch her any longer as he knew he would succumb any moment. He stole a glance at his body and it was indeed¡­ too embarrassing. Uncle Ming¡¯s face flushed and strode quickly towards the bathroom. Su Yue¡¯s voice rang once more. ¡°Uncle Ming, are you going to marry me in the future? Or you don¡¯t want to? Are you merely playing with me?¡± Oh, my god! What¡¯s wrong with this lass tonight? She was literally driving him crazy. Ming Ansheng was exasperated, and his entire face was crimson now. He maintained a gentle smile and replied, ¡°Silly girl. Of course, I will marry you.¡± Su Yue sat up as she hugged a pillow. She glared at Ming Ansheng and said, ¡°Then you can¡¯t like any other woman in the future. You can¡¯t even look at them.¡± She sounded and seemed as though she had given up the idea of getting intimate with him. Ming Ansheng heaved a sigh of relief, although he was still a little disappointed. ¡°I can¡¯t even look at them?¡± asked Ming Ansheng with a grin. He was trying to suppress his exploding desires. He wanted to maintain the image of a calm and level-headed man in Su Yue¡¯s eyes. Su Yue frowned and retorted, ¡°You want to look at them?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡± Ming Ansheng hastily shook his head and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just asking. Little Yueyue is so beautiful, why would I look at someone else?¡± Chapter 1324. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Seven) ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re so hateful,¡± Su Yue bashfully said and hung her head low. Ming Ansheng¡¯s throat was rumbling once more and he clenched his fists. Maintaining a forced smile, he said, ¡°Yueyue, just wait a little longer all right?¡± His voice had evidently changed and a normal person could tell. Without a doubt, Su Yue didn¡¯t notice it and she rattled on, ¡°Why did Third Brother seize every opportunity to do it with Third sister-in-law. Hmph! ¡± Ming Ansheng clammed up when he heard her. He turned around and continued to walk towards the bathroom. But he was cursing Yan Rusheng in his heart. ¡®F*ck! Am I in the same category as that shameless scum?¡¯ Yan Rusheng had crushed all his moral values to smithereens. Ming Ansheng entered the bathroom and soon running water was heard. Su Yue hugged a pillow as her head rested on her knees. After some time, she snapped out of her reverie. She soon realized that she could still hear running water. Uncle Ming was still taking a shower? Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows and she threw a glance at the clock. Oh, my god! Uncle Ming had gone inside for more than half an hour. Did he faint inside? Previously, she watched a TV series and remembered that there was a person who fainted in the midst of a shower. Su Yue leaped to her feet and sprinted to the bathroom. She knocked on the door and shouted, ¡°Uncle Ming!¡± She paused, but no one answered. Oh shit. Did Uncle Ming really faint? Su Yue gritted her teeth and swiftly turned the doorknob. They both frightened each other. What greeted Su Yue¡¯s eyes was the man¡¯s naked muscular body. Water was running down from his head to his well-defined abs. Su Yue felt as though her face was burning, and her heart had stopped beating. She opened her mouth and stammered, ¡°Uncle¡­ Uncle Ming¡­¡± ¡°Shit! Damn it!¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at his body and he was furious with himself. When Su Yue softly called him ¡®Uncle Ming¡¯ , he finally vented his ¡®desire¡¯ immediately. It frustrated Ming Ansheng, and he cursed himself. He turned around and hastily said, ¡°Yueyue, close the door. Stop looking at me.¡± ¡°I realized that you might have fainted in the shower since you took more than half an hour.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t move at all and she asked, ¡°What happened to you just now? Did you suffer from urine incontinence?¡± Urine incontinence? Ming Ansheng pressed a palm against the wall while he pressed the other hand against his face. How was he supposed to explain to her that it wasn¡¯t urine incontinence? It was¡­ ahem¡­ He had finished venting his desires, and he should feel relieved now. Instead, he felt that his body seemed more strained and tensed than before. ¡°Yueyue, stop spewing nonsense. Go out now.¡± His voice had turned hoarse from suppressing his desires. He sounded so weird. Out of concern, Su Yue asked, ¡°Uncle Ming¡­ are you in pain?¡± Was this lass trying to pretend that she didn¡¯t know what was going on? Ming Ansheng really felt that Su Yue was tormenting him to his death. Although his back was facing her, he could feel Su Yue¡¯s eyes fixed intently on him¡ªhis naked body! The water gushed down, washing away his last ounce of determination and sanity. He clenched his teeth and breathed heavily. ¡°Yueyue, come in.¡± Chapter 1325. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Eight) Su Yue obediently nodded as though she had received a royal decree. She treaded happily into the bathroom and stood behind Ming Ansheng. She stretched her hands to hug Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng abruptly turned around instead and pushed her back against the wall. Su Yue¡¯s heart furiously pounded, and the water from the showerhead drenched her in no time. The atmosphere in the entire bathroom was filled with lust and fiery passion. ¡°I¡¯m in agony indeed.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes quietly trailed to Su Yue¡¯s rosy cheeks. He kissed Su Yue¡¯s alluring lips. His kiss left Su Yue breathless, and she slumped weakly against Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming, I¡­ I¡­¡± uttered Su Yue in a soft tone of voice. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to express her desire. How would an intelligent man like Ming Ansheng not understand what she wanted right now? He gazed into her misty eyes and he clenched his teeth. He finally succumbed to his desire and tore her bathrobe apart. Su Yue instantly stood naked before him. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes lit up and his eyes were blazing with a fiery passion. He eagerly bent and kissed her chest. Under the warm light, her scar became quite obvious. Su Yue hastily stretched her hand to cover her scar. ¡°Uncle Ming, don¡¯t look at it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. Yueyue, you¡¯re beautiful from head to toe.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his head and smiled at Su Yue. Although she had gone for a reconstructive surgery, he could still feel the little bump on her chest when his lips brushed across her chest. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart seemed to grip tightly. He pressed his lips on the scar for a long time. He straightened his back before gazing at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, why are you so beautiful?¡± A gentle and warm smile played at the corners of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m much better than you right?¡± She raised her face and beamed at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng nodded and replied, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m the mouse who the cat will eat up.¡± He bent to bite Su Yue¡¯s lips before kissing her. He wrapped a hand around her body while the other slowly pulled her leg up. ¡°Yueyue, it will definitely be painful. Are you¡­ sure?¡± F*ck! It was already too late for her to say no. Even if she said no, would he still be able to let her leave? Ming Ansheng, stop pretending to be a saint. Su Yue nodded before blinking at him. ¡°You forgot what I said before? I¡¯m not afraid of pain.¡± Ming Ansheng weakly smiled and said, ¡°If it¡¯s painful, let me know.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue agreed, and she nervously bit her lip in anticipation. Ming Ansheng tried his best to slow down his pace. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Su Yue frowned and she raised her chin. She seemed in pain as she closed her eyes. Chapter 1326. An Unforgettable Night (part Twenty Nine) ¡°Is it painful?¡± asked Ming Ansheng as he hurriedly halted his action. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ all right.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly squatted before Su Yue. He knew that although she wanted him, the first time would definitely be too painful for her since she was inexperienced. He felt that there was a need for him to be more patient with her¡ªthat should slightly ease the pain. Young Master Ming, who was the highly respected and capable President of Bright Vision, could forgo his pride for the woman he loved. He was willing to do anything for her. Yes, anything in the world. Although it might be beneath a man¡¯s dignity. But who would care about that if he loved the woman? ¡°Ahhh¡­ Uncle Ming! Don¡¯t do that.¡± Su Yue¡¯s legs quivered and she almost fell. She hastily shoved Ming Ansheng away. ¡°That should be enough,¡± muttered Ming Ansheng with a sly smirk. He raised his head and stood up. He raised Su Yue¡¯s leg and entered her. It was still painful! But the pain was more bearable now. Su Yue tightly hugged Ming Ansheng as she clenched her teeth. She tried her best to endure it, and she really wanted to dig her fingernails into Ming Ansheng¡¯s back. ¡°I would love it if you can leave marks on my body.¡± Ming Ansheng voiced Su Yue¡¯s thoughts. He bent and bit her ear and whispered, ¡°And you don¡¯t have to bite your lips. You can try opening your mouth.¡± Su Yue did as he told her and opened her mouth. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± She let out a scream and her face instantly flushed. She hastily closed her mouth before glancing at Ming Ansheng. A devious grin appeared on his face and it gradually grew wider. Su Yue knew that he did it on purpose so she pinched his back with all her strength. Ming Ansheng carried Su Yue out from the bathtub and covered her with a towel. He strode out of the bathroom towards the bed before placing her gently on it. He bent and intently gazed at her face as though he was admiring a coveted treasure. Su Yue blinked, looking confused. ¡°Uncle Ming, what are you looking at?¡± She felt so embarrassed. Ming Ansheng smiled and whispered, ¡°Little girl, it¡¯s too late for regrets.¡± In the end, he wasn¡¯t able to control his desires and chose to be a beast. ¡°I won¡¯t regret.¡± Su Yue put her arms around Ming Ansheng and she pulled him towards her. She snuggled up against him as they lay on the bed. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to have a baby yet. What should I do?¡± She was still a student and they were not even married. Furthermore, Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather still objected to them being together. If she was pregnant with his child, it would expose their relationship. Ming Ansheng kissed Su Yue¡¯s forehead before hugging her. ¡°Silly girl. Even if you want to, I wouldn¡¯t allow you to have a baby now.¡± How could she have a baby now? He hasn¡¯t even had the chance to properly love and dote on her. She was still so young and giving birth was such a painful process. He could wait for a few more years. Ming Ansheng knew that Su Yue was feeling insecure, and he understood her worries. He consoled her and said, ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing, I will marry you any time. I don¡¯t care if there are any objections, and I don¡¯t intend to seek anyone¡¯s consent.¡± ¡°Uncle Ming, I love you very much.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest and kissed him gently. Ming Ansheng smiled fondly at her. ¡°Silly girl.¡± ¡°Can we try it one more time?¡± Su Yue raised her head suddenly and gazed at Ming Ansheng with her twinkling eyes. Chapter 1327. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty) Su Yue looked so seductive and alluring at that moment. It slipped Ming Ansheng¡¯s mind that this was Su Yue¡¯s first time. He didn¡¯t understand her question and he gazed at her with misty-looking eyes. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Making love.¡± Su Yue snuggled against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest as she purred like a little kitten. ¡°Those male characters in the novels can do it the entire night.¡± The authors were all lying. So, she implied that he ended it too quickly? Young Master Ming felt that his pride as a man was being trampled on. His face darkened instantly as he spat coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare read those nonsensical novels in the future.¡± Those unrealistically perfect male characters would definitely enamor her. No! He couldn¡¯t allow her to do that, even if they were just fictional characters. Su Yue frowned as she replied, ¡°It¡¯s not nonsense. The novels weren¡¯t specific and those authors were so annoying. They only wrote that they kissed, switched off the lights, and it was the next morning. That¡¯s all.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°You still want to know the details?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips as she quipped, ¡°I wanted to know as I was curious. But now that I¡¯ve experienced it, I don¡¯t want to anymore.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. Did this lass fantasize about those male characters? He became jealous. He had a whim to delete the app on her phone. ¡°So can we do it again? That feeling was awesome.¡± Su Yue blushed as she wrapped her arms around Ming Ansheng¡¯s waist. She then raised her leg and deliberately propped it against his thigh. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t know what to say. Was it really his problem? He felt that the foreplay took quite some time and the process wasn¡¯t short too. Why wasn¡¯t she satisfied? But she had successfully provoked him. Young Master Ming felt that if he didn¡¯t manage to do it until Su Yue begged him to stop, he could never hold his head high again. ¡°Little girl, then don¡¯t complain that I bullied you.¡± Ming Ansheng warned Su Yue with a threatening gleam in his eyes before he pressed her down. He swooped down on her lips. However¡­ Su Yue didn¡¯t act according to what he had assumed. After a few times, she didn¡¯t even seem tired. He gazed at the girl lying on top of him, looking eager and energetic. Young Master Ming began to doubt if he was getting old? Was this because of their generation gap? Was it because he didn¡¯t satisfy her properly? He had a really long flight and he busied himself with preparing the surprise for her after he landed. He was really exhausted. ¡°Sleep now, be good.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his hand to grip her hand, which was dancing lightly across his chest. He patted her back gently and whispered, ¡°We will do it tomorrow again. Let¡¯s do it every night.¡± That immediately shocked him. If they would do it every night¡­ would he die from an overdose? Su Yue knew that Ming Ansheng was drained and so was she. But she loved him too much and she really enjoyed the feeling of them being bound together. She felt that only then did she truly possessed him. She fell silent and snuggled up against Ming Ansheng. She watched Ming Ansheng and she blinked her eyes. ¡°If you sleep here, what will happen if Third Brother and Third sister-in-law found out about you.¡± Ming Ansheng gazed at Su Yue with a pitiful expression. ¡°Are you chasing me away?¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to chase you away.¡± Chapter 1328. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-One) She pouted and kissed the corner of his lips. ¡°Goodnight, Shengsheng.¡± Shengsheng? What the heck? The corner of his lips twitched and goosebumps formed on his entire body. Was he a three-year-old kid? Su Yue grinned. ¡°It¡¯s a term of endearment.¡± ¡°A term of endearment?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned since he didn¡¯t know what to feel about it. ¡°Should I thank you then, my princess?¡± Then something came to his mind and he bitterly asked, ¡°You called that fellow ¡®Jiaojiao¡¯ . Was that a term of endearment too?¡± Su Yue could tell that he was jealous and she snorted. ¡°Hmph, what ¡®fellow¡¯ ? Jiaojiao was my first love.¡± F*ck! What darned first love! First loves are insignificant! Hearing about her first love frustrated Ming Ansheng. Su Yue indignantly said, ¡°You¡¯ve slept with countless women before.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. She had to mention the pot that doesn¡¯t boil? Why did he opt for the painless gastroscopy? Why did she have to accompany him for it? The darned anesthesia! That darned hospital! Now he didn¡¯t have the right to be jealous. ¡°Sleep.¡± He realized that justice was not on his side, and so he turned off the lights. Darkness blanketed the room. Both of them closed their eyes in unison and there was silence. ¡®Ding, dong.¡¯ The doorbell rang. Su Yue opened her eyes and her heart wildly palpitated. She grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s elbow and said, ¡°Oh no, that must be my third sister-in-law.¡± Her heart hammered against her ribcage, and she looked at him helplessly. Ming Ansheng turned on the lights. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Can¡¯t you just say that you were asleep?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°I¡¯m talking. Obviously, I¡¯m not sleeping.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t know what to say. This little girl was too honest. The doorbell rang once more and paused before ringing again. ¡°This can¡¯t do. Uncle Ming, you have to hide.¡± Su Yue suddenly stood up and got off the bed. She grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him off the bed. Ming Ansheng had no choice but to get off. He put on his bathrobe and tied the strings. Su Yue¡¯s gaze swept across the entire room, finding a hiding spot for him. But she realized that the closet was the only place he could hide. Fortunately, the hotel had a closet that reached the ceiling. Although Ming Ansheng was tall, he could still fit in it if he bent over. Su Yue dragged him over to it. ¡°Uncle Ming, hide in the closet first. I¡¯ll chase my third sister-in-law away.¡± Hide in the closet? Ming Ansheng stared at it and his mouth twitched. F*ck. He, the president of Bright Vision, had to hide in there? Was she serious? ¡°Hurry.¡± Su Yue anxiously rushed him. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Ming Ansheng really didn¡¯t want to. At most, they could let their relationship come to light. ¡°Uncle Ming, be good. Listen to me,¡± Su Yue said, mimicking his gentle tone whenever he tried to pacify her. She tipped toe and kissed him on the lips. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t want to make her angry. ¡°I can¡¯t say no to you.¡± Hide in the closet! He didn¡¯t even do that when he played hide-and-seek in his younger days! Young Master Ming reluctantly hid in the closet. He bent himself over and it was a pitiful sight. Su Yue didn¡¯t think into it and closed the closet door. Chapter 1329. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-Two) She adjusted the covers before going to open the door. A woman with a bulging belly greeted her. ¡°Young pretentious one, I¡¯m sleeping with you tonight,¡± Zhou Shuang said, rushing into the room. She brushed right past her and Su Yue couldn¡¯t stop her in time. Young Master Ming heard her words from inside the closet and his eyes widened. ¡®What?! Why was it her? And she wanted to sleep here tonight?¡¯ If he had known it was her, he wouldn¡¯t have let Su Yue open the door. Zhou Shuang went straight into the bedroom. Su Yue chased after her and grabbed her elbow. ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m not sleeping with you.¡± She said as she dragged Zhou Shuang out of the bedroom. But considering that she had a huge belly, Su Yue didn¡¯t dare to use too much force. ¡°Sleep with Lu Yinan. I like sleeping alone.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you be sleeping with your spouse when you get married?¡± Zhou Shuang insisted. ¡°Your Third Brother refused to move so I have no choice but to come here.¡± She flung Su Yue¡¯s hand off and jogged to the bed, sitting and then lying on it, refusing to leave. Ming Ansheng cautiously took a peek out of the closet. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists when he saw Zhou Shuang lying on the bed that he and Su Yue made love on. Though he was frustrated, he was worried too. He was afraid that Zhou Shuang would really refuse to leave. If that happened, he was going to have to spend the night in the closet. He would be hunchbacked tomorrow. ¡®So little Yueyue¡­ Uncle is begging you¡­ Please chase the hooligan away¡­¡¯ ¡°No. You can¡¯t sleep here either.¡± Su Yue hugged her elbow and tried to pull her up. Zhou Shuang refused. She had gained much weight because of the abundance of good food she ate. And furthermore, she had three babies inside of her, so Su Yue didn¡¯t have the strength to move her at all. It worried her that Zhou Shuang wouldn¡¯t leave and that Xuxu might come over later. Things would be much more difficult if both of them were here. Su Yue became increasingly anxious. She was about to fly into a rage. ¡°Get up quickly. I don¡¯t want to sleep with you.¡± Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Your room is so big. Your bed is huge. Why can¡¯t you leave a small part for me?¡± She then flipped herself over and took off her shoes, back-facing Su Yue. She had to sleep here tonight. She had called the counter earlier, but they told her that there were no more rooms available. It was so late already, and she was too lazy to go home. And furthermore, she was going shopping with Xuxu tomorrow. ¡°No, not an inch.¡± Su Yue climbed onto the bed and hugged her neck with both hands, pulling her up. Zhou Shuang pouted. ¡°Little pretentious one, don¡¯t be so petty.¡± But Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t budge no matter how hard she tried. She gave up and said to her, ¡°You have to sleep with Lu Yinan. He wants to sleep with you, so won¡¯t I be going against him if I take you in? That¡¯s a horrible thing to do and I¡¯m not doing it.¡± It was indeed a fact. Lu Yinan had even brought a ring with him. He was adamant about winning her over. How could she ruin his opportunity? She would not be that evil person. ¡®Smart girl!¡¯ Ming Ansheng approved Su Yue¡¯s words. This little lass was getting more quick-witted. Zhou Shuang grumbled, ¡°Who wants to sleep with him? I¡¯d rather sleep with pigs!¡± Chapter 1330. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-Three) Su Yue frowned. ¡°Are pigs as good-looking as him?¡± The scene of Zhou Shuang lying around with a herd of pigs entered her mind and she sniggered. Both Zhou Shuang and Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t know why she was laughing. ¡°What are you laughing about?¡± Zhou Shuang asked in confusion. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t disrupt my sleep. I¡¯m dead tired.¡± She said as she yawned. ¡°Su Yue, let me stay here for one night. I¡¯ll take you somewhere fun tomorrow.¡± Zhou Shuang sat up and hugged Su Yue, buttering up to her. But Su Yue was adamant. ¡°No. My third brother and third sister-in-law will take me out, you don¡¯t have to. So you should leave quickly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Zhou Shuang was insistent. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see Lu Yinan. I hate him.¡± Su Yue frowned since she couldn¡¯t understand her. ¡°He¡¯s so good-looking. Why do you hate him?¡± In all aspects, Lu Yinan was pretty decent. Zhou Shuang snorted. ¡°How is he handsome? Your boyfriend is way more good-looking.¡± Su Yue panicked. ¡°How did you know that my boyfriend is handsome?¡± ¡°Of course I know. That Jiao¡­ Jiao something.¡± Then it hit her. ¡°Jiao Chen. The school beau of the Computer Science faculty in A University. Handsome and cheerful. I read up on him. I heard his basketball skills are superb.¡± There was a long pause¡­ So the boyfriend Hooligan Zhou mentioned earlier was Jiao Chen. Su Yue heaved a sigh of relief and didn¡¯t know how to reply to her. She only chuckled. Young Master Ming furrowed his eyebrows. That Jiao fellow was handsome and cheerful? Was he not handsome? Was he not cheerful? A pregnant woman with triplets and yet he was still drooling over attractive young men. How shameless could she be? Ming Ansheng despised her for it. He finally understood why Yan Rusheng hated her so much. She was indeed detestable. F*ck! She was praising his girlfriend¡¯s ex? He was going to make Lu Yinan give her a good lesson. Zhou Shuang started complaining about Lu Yinan. Suddenly, a tall figure barged into the room. His aura was too overpowering. Su Yue and Zhou Shuang looked over. It was Lu Yinan. His face was cold as he walked over. ¡°Zhou Shuang, here¡¯s the room card. I¡¯ll sleep somewhere else.¡± He passed the room card to her. Zhou Shuang looked at the card in his hand and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want your room card. I don¡¯t want to sleep in your room lest you say that I seduced you again.¡± She then looked away. Lu Yinan frowned. ¡°Why are you so petty? Weren¡¯t you shocked and in disbelief as well?¡± When they opened their eyes and found themselves unclothed, weren¡¯t their reactions the same? Weren¡¯t they equally shocked? Why did she have to keep harping on it? He knew that he wasn¡¯t a patient person. But he had used up all his twenty years of patience on chasing Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang refused to look at him. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t say anything further. I will sleep wherever I want to. It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t force me.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s face was cold as he stored his card away. His aura was threatening. In the closet, Ming Ansheng silently cheered him on: ¡®Go for it, Sissy Lu!¡¯ Chapter 1331. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty Four) I have faith in you. Zhou Shuang looked up at him and was startled. ¡°What¡­ What are you trying to do?¡± She retreated backward. Lu Yinan replied, ¡°Take the room card and get a rest. Don¡¯t disturb Su Yue anymore.¡± Afraid that Zhou Shuang would think that he was trying to bait her into spending the night with him, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll hang around the reception area or stand around in the corridors for the night. I won¡¯t enter your room without your permission.¡± He threw the room card to her. His tone and gaze were serious. Zhou Shuang momentarily froze and looked down at the card in her lap. She hesitated before picking it up. She got off the bed, put on her shoes, and glared menacingly at Su Yue. ¡°Young pretentious one, remember this. You¡¯re petty, just like you¡¯re third brother.¡± After that, she walked towards the exit. Lu Yinan followed closely behind. Su Yue sent them to the door and watched them leave before she closed the door. She then turned around and leaned against the door. She heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°They¡¯re finally gone.¡± She ran into the bedroom and whispered, ¡°Uncle Ming, come out quickly. They¡¯ve left.¡± She entered the bedroom and the man had already gotten out of the closet. He was 1.8 meters tall. The first thing he did was to stretch his numb limbs and neck. Su Yue walked over and smiled. ¡°Uncle Ming, it¡¯s been tough on you.¡± ¡°Go to bed,¡± Ming Ansheng said, patting her head gently. He held her hand and led her to the bed. Suddenly¡­ ¡®Ding, dong.¡¯ The doorbell rang again. Both of them knitted their brows at the same time. ¡°Who is it this time?¡± ¡°Uncle Ming, hide in the closet quickly.¡± Su Yue pushed him towards the closet again. Ming Ansheng felt very indignant. They were dating, so why were they acting like they were having an extramarital affair? When he was hiding in the closet, he felt like an adulterer. If the media were to hear of this, how was he supposed to appear in public? But he didn¡¯t care about what others thought of him. He only cared about Lu Yinan and Yan Rusheng¡¯s opinions. If they were to find out that he had such an embarrassing moment, they would laugh until their teeth fell out. Young Master Ming hid in the closet, and he felt increasingly upset and indignant. But he was afraid that Su Yue would get angry, so he could only hold in his emotions. ¡°Third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yue opened the door. Her heart started palpitating again. Xuxu was in her nightgown. She smiled at her. ¡°Yueyue, you haven¡¯t slept yet?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I was about to turn in but Zhou Shuang woke me up. And you¡¯re here now.¡± She yawned as she said it, pretending to be tired. Xuxu frowned. ¡°Zhou Shuang really came over to find you?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°She came, but Lu Yinan brought her away. He gave her his room card and said that he¡¯d spend the night standing around the corridors or sitting at the reception area.¡± ¡°This Zhou Shuang¡­¡± Xuxu frowned, not knowing what to say. But then she thought: She wasn¡¯t Zhou Shuang. She didn¡¯t go through what she went through, so what right does she have to criticize her? Chapter 1332. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-Five) Xuxu thought about it and said in a serious tone, ¡°Yueyue.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± Su Yue answered. Xuxu replied, ¡°If Zhou Shuang really doesn¡¯t want to spend the night with Lu Yinan, don¡¯t force them. Let Zhou Shuang stay the night with you.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless when he heard her words. His heart was about to burst out of his ribcage. He wasn¡¯t this nervous when Zhou Shuang was here just now. Now he was really anxious because Su Yue always listened to Xuxu. He was afraid that Su Yue would agree. ¡®Little lass, please stay firm.¡¯ If not, he couldn¡¯t guarantee that he wouldn¡¯t jump out of the closet and bring their relationship to light. Su Yue was nervous as well. She bowed her head and then she thought of an excuse to reject Xuxu¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s try it out first. For all we know, Zhou Shuang will take pity on Lu Yinan and let him in.¡± He had belittled this little girl¡¯s adaptability. Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips curled into a smile. He thought Wen Xuxu wouldn¡¯t deny her reasoning. ¡°You have a point.¡± Indeed, Xuxu agreed. She affectionately pinched Su Yue¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You have the most brilliant ideas.¡± Su Yue sheepishly grinned. She smiled unnaturally. ¡°Sleep early. We¡¯re going out tomorrow,¡± Xuxu said. She walked towards Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan¡¯s room. Su Yue closed the door and had the fright of her life when she turned around. ¡°How¡­ How long have you been standing there?¡± It was late so Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t want to tease Su Yue. He smiled and said, ¡°Relax. I came after your third sister-in-law left.¡± ¡°Uncle Ming, lying is tiring.¡± Su Yue walked over and hugged him. She had broken out in a cold sweat when she was talking to her third sister-in-law. She was afraid that she would come in. Third sister-in-law was so intelligent and observant, she would definitely find something amiss. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide it from her,¡± Ming Ansheng said, hugging her waist and leading her to the bed. Both of them lay down and turned off the lights. They kept their eyes open, only closing them after the doorbell didn¡¯t ring for some time. ¡­ Xuxu opened Zhou Shuang¡¯s door. Zhou Shuang had already changed into her nightgown. She let her hair down and it reached slightly below her shoulders. Both of them sat on the sofa. ¡°I just saw Lu Yinan smoking at the staircase landing. Do you have to be so harsh?¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°He¡¯s the father of your children after all. Your room has a sofa and a bed. Why don¡¯t you let him sleep on the sofa?¡± Zhou Shuang refuted, ¡°Talk is cheap. Why did you refuse to eat the countless breakfasts that Yan Rusheng made for you back then?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°I only did that to him because I loved him deeply. My heart ached when I heard him coughing in the middle of the night.¡± She smiled and raised her eyebrows. ¡°By comparing your situation with mine and Yan Rusheng¡¯s, does that mean that you¡¯ve fallen deeply in love with Lu Yinan?¡± Zhou Shuang snorted. ¡°Nobody¡¯s deeply in love with him. He¡¯s not in the least gentlemanly. I will never fall for him.¡± ¡°Shuang.¡± Xuxu looked at her and persuaded, ¡°Don¡¯t say things too soon. Yan Rusheng and I said similar things to each other. He said that he wouldn¡¯t fall for me even if I was the last woman on earth.¡± Zhou Shuang was already troubled and confused. After Xuxu¡¯s words, she became even more confused. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Stop persuading me. Go back before your petty husband comes looking for you.¡± Chapter 1333. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-Six) She pushed Xuxu out of the door. She didn¡¯t want to hear her nagging anymore. Her willpower was weak. She was afraid that she would give in if Xuxu continued talking. Xuxu didn¡¯t intend on staying in the first place, so she left when Zhou Shuang pushed her out. She stood at the entrance of the room and said, ¡°Lu Yinan is in the staircase landing. Although the hotel has heaters everywhere, just think about how cold the staircase landing would be.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯ve turned into a naggy woman,¡± Zhou Shuang said, heavily patting her shoulder. She forcefully pushed her out and closed the door. Xuxu stared at the door and helplessly sighed. ¡®Wen Xuxu, you¡¯ve turned into a naggy woman!¡¯ Indeed. She had become more outspoken than before. Previously, she was a woman of few words. Only she knew how much she had to put up with and how hard she had to keep up the pretense. If she wasn¡¯t quiet, how could she stay by his side for over ten years? If she wasn¡¯t calm and collected, how could she act nonchalant about all his flings? ¡°Wen Xuxu, come over right now.¡± Xuxu turned around and was about to head back when Yan Rusheng came looking for her. He quickly reached her and grabbed her waist, forcefully pushing her towards their room. Xuxu frowned in confusion. ¡°What do you want?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Don¡¯t let the hooligan tag along when we go out tomorrow.¡± His main plan for their trip to M Country was for them to spend some alone time together, and visit Zhou Shuang while they were at it since Xuxu missed her. What was the situation right now? He was more afraid of making love here than at home. At home, he was afraid that the children would wake up halfway, whereas over here, he was afraid that someone would come knocking. Can¡¯t he get a break? Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t collapse before he could truly enjoy himself. Xuxu frowned. ¡°Why?¡± They had it all planned already. They were going to Disneyland in N City. ¡°I came here for a honeymoon with you. It¡¯s bad enough that you brought a light bulb, but now you want to bring a pregnant woman along too?¡± Yan Rusheng complained in an unhappy note. Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, we didn¡¯t even have a wedding. What honeymoon are we having? Huh?¡± Before he could reply, she continued menacingly, ¡°Su Yue is your younger sister. Is she a light bulb? Zhou Shuang has Lu Yinan. Even if she¡¯s a light bulb, she won¡¯t be your light bulb.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored the last half of her sentence and tightened his grip on her waist. He whispered in her ear, ¡°You¡¯re rushing me for a wedding ceremony?¡± Xuxu denied it. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± She looked downwards and kicked the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll make the arrangements once we¡¯re back. We shall hold it at the start of summer next year.¡± Yan Rusheng bent down and kissed the corner of her lips. ¡°Wife, give me a kiss¡­¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Oh my god, why was he so disgusting? She intentionally wiped her lips in disgust and broke out of his embrace. She quickened her pace and pretended to ignore him. ¡°Stupid woman, you must be too excited,¡± Yan Rusheng commented, lengthening his strides as well. ¡°You¡¯re too excited to proclaim to the entire world that I¡¯m your man.¡± ¡®Cough cough. You always introduce me as Third Madam Yan so publicly. Do you really need a wedding ceremony to proclaim that?¡¯ Xuxu scoffed, silently despising Yan Rusheng¡¯s narcissism. But the corner of her lips curled up into a blissful smile. Chapter 1334. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-Seven) She still wanted a wedding ceremony. She wanted to put on a wedding gown and stand by his side, letting the world know that Yan Rusheng was her man. Indeed, humans are never content. ¡­ This was the third time Zhou Shuang went to the washroom since Xuxu left. She emerged from the washroom. She took a mug and poured herself some water. Then she walked to the window and drew the curtains, looking at the scenery beyond. N City¡¯s night landscape was captivating. She opened the windows and a cold gust of wind blew into the room. She gripped tightly onto her mug. The warmth of the water radiated into her palm. Her legs started to feel tired after a while, so she leaned sideways on the window. ¡°Oh, my.¡± Suddenly, the young fellow in her womb gave her a kick. She felt like her tummy dented out during his kick. She gently rubbed her tummy. ¡°Naughty one, why did you kick Mommy?¡± Zhou Shuang said, looking down at her belly. The wind blew in and she sneezed. One sneeze after the other. She hurriedly closed the windows, in fear of catching a cold. She drew the curtains and walked over to her bed. She placed the mug onto the bedside cabinet and suddenly saw that behind the pack of tissues, was a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles. She recognized it immediately¡ªthose were the spectacles that Lu Yinan usually wore to complete his refined look. Zhou Shuang took the pair of spectacles and sat on the bed. She leaned against her pillow and stared at the spectacles from all angles. ¡°This fellow is always acting refined. Let¡¯s see if these spectacles have a degree,¡± Zhou Shuang murmured to herself as she put it on. She didn¡¯t feel dizzy. But her view brightened and the colors of everything in her sight was much more vivid. ¡°So this pair of spectacles is not completely useless after all,¡± she murmured, taking them off. She observed it carefully before putting it on again. ¡°Seems like Sissy Lu is not just trying to act refined.¡± There was an N City health magazine on the bedside cabinet as well. Without taking the spectacles off, she picked the magazine up. It was opened on the fifth page and printed on it was an interview of a renowned pediatrician. It described with great details such as how to take care of newborns, things to note, things to do and more. Was Sissy Lu reading this just now? Zhou Shuang frowned. She looked at the cover, then flipped it back to the interview page. Her heart started to feel weird. She closed the magazine and threw it aside. She took the spectacles off and threw it onto the bedside cabinet. She turned off the lights and lay down, covering herself with the blankets. The huge suite was so quiet, she could hear her own heartbeat. But, why was her heart beating so fast? Zhou Shuang tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep because of her racing heart. She suspected that she had drunk too much tea. She had seen online that pregnant women would experience all sorts of weird ailments. That must be it. She flipped herself over and closed her eyes, trying to stop her brain from overthinking. Quickly, she began to feel tired. She yawned a few times consecutively and finally fell into a slumber. ¡°Oh, my.¡± Suddenly, both sides of her tummy felt a kick. The fellows in her tummy seemed to have a mass revolt¡ªthey were rhythmically kicking her. Chapter 1335. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-Eight) She had experienced this sensation before so it didn¡¯t worry her at all. She stroked her tummy and chided them softly, ¡°Naughty fellows, all of you are not letting me sleep, uh? I have to carry all three of you all day long. Do you know how tired I am? Can¡¯t you be more considerate? Naughty fellows.¡± Her sleepiness vanished into thin air instantly. Zhou Shuang turned on the lights and accidentally glimpsed the spectacles on the bedside drawer. She gazed at it in a daze. The triplets seemed to know that she was in a daze and they kicked her¡ªthat jolted her back to reality. ¡°If you kick me again, I will punish you.¡± She raised her head and gently tapped her tummy. ¡®Just think about how cold the staircase landing would be¡­¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s the father of your children after all. Your room has a sofa and a bed. Why don¡¯t you let him sleep on the sofa¡­¡¯ Zhou Shuang was still stroking her tummy when Xuxu¡¯s words rang in her ears. The smile on her face momentarily froze. She couldn¡¯t help but raise her head to glance at the door. Zhou Shuang felt another strong kick and she snapped to her senses. She bowed her head as she peered at her tummy. She whispered, ¡°Naughty fellows. Should I let him in? Huh?¡± The triplets kicked her once more as though they understood her question. Zhou Shuang chuckled and lectured them, ¡°You traitors! I was the one who carried you and fed you with good food all day long. He only contributed for a night with his sperm!¡± She was a true hooligan. Her prenatal education was so simple and crude. She lifted her blanket and got off the bed. She put on Lu Yinan¡¯s spectacles before walking to the door. She was wearing the hotel bathrobes and she adjusted it when she reached the door. She took out the room card and opened the door. Zhou Shuang followed the signs and reached the staircase landing. She caught a faint whiff of cigarettes. She frowned and used her hand to fan the smell away. She walked to the staircase and peered down, but she didn¡¯t spot Lu Yinan. She walked back to the corridor and glanced everywhere. ¡®I¡¯ll hang around the reception area¡­¡¯ Could he have gone to the main lobby? Without further ado, Zhou Shuang walked towards the elevator. It was Christmas Eve and they adorned the hotel with Christmas trees. Two tiny ones were outside the elevator, twinkling brightly. The elevator stopped with a ¡®ding.¡¯ ¡°Darling, I love you.¡± ¡°Me too. I can¡¯t wait to do it.¡± A couple walked out from the elevator and they were caught in a tight embrace, as though they were a pair of conjoined twins. Their lips were locked as they flirted with each other. A sexy woman with blonde hair already had her shirt unbuttoned. This scene was truly R-rated. The corners of Zhou Shuang¡¯s mouth twitched and she flushed furiously. She eyed them warily as they walked away. She retracted her gaze only when the elevator¡¯s doors closed. She pressed the button and strode quickly inside. The woman¡¯s perfume lingered in the air and Zhou Shuang wrinkled her nose in disdain. Ever since she became pregnant, she became very sensitive to smells and fragrances. The elevator reached the ground floor and several couples were waiting outside. They were either locked in an embrace or kissing passionately. Chapter 1336. An Unforgettable Night (part Thirty-Nine) The flush in her cheeks had just subsided and regained color once more when she saw the couples. She bent her head and cursed silently in her heart. ¡°F*ck! Isn¡¯t this a seven-star hotel? Why does it seem more like a love motel?¡± Caucasians are indeed more liberal!¡± Zhou Shuang strode towards the main lobby which was grand and luxurious. The staff at the counter were all as pretty as flowers. She glanced at the reception area. Lu Yinan raised an exquisite cup to his lips as he lazily slumped against the couch. He was staring into blank space. It was Christmas Eve and it was almost midnight. The fountain outside the hotel was still sprouting colorful water into the air. An enormous Christmas tree, adorned with beautiful, colorful lights, stood in the hall. The hotel¡¯s surroundings were breathtakingly beautiful and luxurious. ¡°Mister, I would like to treat you to a drink.¡± Lu Yinan, who was deep in thought, jolted to his senses when a blonde woman in a tight-fitting dress sat down across him. She had beautiful features and was gazing at him with her sky-blue eyes. He looked at her briefly before displaying a polite smile. ¡°Okay.¡± He extended his hand with a cup of coffee and clinked the lady¡¯s wine glass. It produced a clear and pleasant resonating sound. The woman took a sip and wine was smeared all over her lips. She seemed extra seductive and bewitching to the man tonight. She eyed Lu Yinan, but his attention diverted to the glass windows once more. ¡°Can we spend the night together?¡± After a moment of silence, the blonde woman unabashedly asked him. Lu Yinan looked at her with a gentlemanly smile and replied, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡± He politely bowed his head as he declined her offer. The woman across from him seemed disappointed. ¡°Oh. What a pity.¡± She shrugged and was about to stand up. Lu Yinan placed the cup down and abruptly stood up before the woman did. He was feeling sleepy so he came here for a cup of coffee. It was about time for him to ¡®loiter¡¯ outside Zhou Shuang¡¯s room again. He adjusted his clothes and turned around. He seemed momentarily startled as he stared into the distance. He darted towards a woman and said, ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± ¡°Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re really ridiculous. Don¡¯t you remember who he is? How could you really think that he would freeze at the staircase landing or sleep in the main hall? He is rich, handsome, and young! Your worries were all in vain. I despise you! I despise you so much!¡± Zhou Shuang sternly berated herself for showing concern for Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan¡¯s voice sounded behind her, and she hastened her footsteps. The elevator opened with a ¡®ding¡¯ . She entered and hastily pressed the button to close the door. ¡°Wait for me!¡± Lu Yinan scrambled for the elevator and he almost lost his footing. But alas, he was still too late. He stared exasperatedly at the elevator and he got anxious. He turned around and bolted for the staircase. He sprinted up the stairs and didn¡¯t even stop to catch his breath. How he wished he could ascend a level with one step. Fortunately, the room wasn¡¯t on a high floor. If not, he might die from exhaustion. Lu Yinan reached the level and he ran to the elevator. He pressed the elevator button and realized that it was empty. He turned and as expected, Zhou Shuang was rushing back to her room. Chapter 1337. An Unforgettable Night (part Forty) Lu Yinan bolted after her and shouted, ¡°Zhou Shuang, listen to me!¡± Regardless of whether Zhou Shuang had the wrong idea about the woman earlier on or not, he wanted to explain. Zhou Shuang hastened her footsteps when she heard Lu Yinan¡¯s voice. ¡°Don¡¯t run! You might fall.¡± Having long legs was an advantage, and Lu Yinan caught up with Zhou Shuang just before she reached the room. He grabbed her arm tightly. He was afraid that she would struggle so he pressed her firmly against the wall. He then gripped her shoulders and looked at her squarely. ¡°I don¡¯t know the woman and she merely said hello and sat across me. Out of courtesy, I just replied and said hi.¡± ¡°You need not explain to me,¡± Zhou Shuang replied nonchalantly. ¡°The air-conditioning wasn¡¯t working in my room. So I went downstairs to get the staff to check for me.¡± How she regretted her impulse to check if he was really freezing at the staircase landing. That wasn¡¯t her style at all. ¡°I¡¯m not asking why you came downstairs.¡± A sly smile flitted across Lu Yinan¡¯s face, and he smirked lightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a phone in your room? Or the phone wasn¡¯t working as well?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s face instantly turned red. ¡®What a terrible excuse, you have come up with, Zhou Shuang!¡¯ as she berated herself. The air-conditioning wasn¡¯t working¡­ this was so stupid! Her embarrassment turned into fury and she shoved Lu Yinan away. She placed her hands on her hips and glared fiercely at Lu Yinan. To conceal her embarrassment, she raised her voice and yelled, ¡°Yes! I went down, hoping to see you freezing to death in the hall.¡± Lu Yinan curled his lips smugly and quipped, ¡°See! You do care for me. Why are you still pretending?¡± He surveyed Zhou Shuang from head to toe and realized that she didn¡¯t look so loathsome after all. He had no idea if it was because she was carrying his babies. The babies were his and he loved them. And so as the mother of his babies, she looked more pleasing. Yes, that must be it. ¡°Don¡¯t think so highly of yourself. I¡¯m not worried about you at all.¡± Zhou Shuang smirked and she said, ¡°I just wanted to ask you to get those damn spectacles away. I find it irksome.¡± She whipped out the room card and turned around. After she opened the door, she entered and tried to shut it immediately. Lu Yinan darted forward like an arrow and gripped the door firmly. He didn¡¯t dare to be too rough, for fear of hurting Zhou Shuang. He merely stopped her from closing the door. ¡°Just let me go in. You can sleep in the bedroom. I¡¯ll sit on the sofa.¡± ¡°But you said you would rather stand in the corridor for the entire night.¡± Zhou Shuang decided to prank him and relinquished her grip on the door. Lu Yinan had expected that, but he chose to her prank. He almost lost his footing but steadied himself. Zhou Shuang eyed Lu Yinan¡¯s sorry figure and she smiled triumphantly. She muttered under her breath, ¡°Serves you right.¡± She placed her hands into her pockets and strode into the bedroom. She took out Lu Yinan¡¯s spectacles before walking out once more. Lu Yinan closed the door after him and strode to the sofa. He removed his coat and started to unbutton his shirt. Zhou Shuang caught a glimpse of his actions and her eyes trailed to his attractive figure. She frowned and bellowed at Lu Yinan, ¡°Sissy Lu! What are you trying to do?¡± Lu Yinan merely lazily fluttered his eyelids as he threw a glance at Zhou Shuang. He drawled, ¡°Taking a shower. The flight was over ten hours and I took the economy class. I stink right now.¡± Chapter 1338. Various Public Displays of Affection (part One) Lu Yinan had already removed his shirt, revealing his lean yet muscular body although his abs weren¡¯t that clearly defined. He didn¡¯t seem like a¡­ weakling. Zhou Shuang blushed at the thought of it and immediately turned around. With her back facing him, she yelled, ¡°Sissy Lu! Don¡¯t be so shameless. Who allowed you to take a shower here? Put on your clothes now!¡± Lu Yinan was already used to being called Sissy Lu, so it didn¡¯t affect him any longer. He unbuckled his belt and took off his trousers. He turned around and looked sideways at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Everyone was born naked, so why do we have to bother ourselves with unnecessary stuff?¡± Was he trying to imply that she had lewd thoughts about him and therefore, she was trying to forbid him from undressing? Zhou Shuang interpreted his message and she abruptly turned around to face him. She gritted her teeth in fury as she glared at Lu Yinan. ¡°Sissy Lu, you¡¯re such a jerk!¡± bellowed Zhou Shuang. Her bellows shook the entire suite. Lu Yinan peeked his head out from the bathroom. He frowned and said to Zhou Shuang, ¡°Can¡¯t you be more gentle and civilized? You¡¯re scaring the babies.¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Zhou Shuang pointed at Lu Yinan as she stammered. Lu Yinan smirked lightly and said, ¡°Go and sleep early. Remember what I said and don¡¯t bother yourself with unnecessary stuff. The void is the world of senses, and vice versa. Don¡¯t think so much.¡± He put his head back and closed the bathroom door. Zhou Shuang clenched her fists and stomped her feet angrily. She couldn¡¯t find any other way of venting her anger. Her gaze landed on Lu Yinan¡¯s clothes which he had placed on the sofa. She clenched her teeth as though as she was trying to find all her determination. She strode to the sofa and picked up Lu Yinan¡¯s clothes. She then picked up the lighter on the coffee table. Without any hesitation, she pressed the lighter and lighted Lu Yinan¡¯s shirt on fire. She walked to the bathroom and wrenched the door open. The man was standing under the showerhead, but Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t have the mood to admire the scene. She threw the burning shirt inside and yelled, ¡°Go and die, Lu Yinan!¡± She slammed the door shut. ¡°Zhou Shuang, just you wait!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s yell echoed from the bathroom. He sounded really furious. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t help but think of that fateful morning once more. The consequences of her provoking him resulted in her not being able to move normally for the next few days. But now that she was pregnant, he wouldn¡¯t be so inhumane, right? Panic overwhelmed her at the thought of it. At that moment, the sounds of running water halted. Zhou Shuang hurriedly walked to the bed before lying down. She pulled the blanket over before turning sideways. She tightly shut her eyes and pretended to fall asleep. Lu Yinan came out of the bathroom in a bathrobe. He was using a towel to rub his wet hair as he shouted, ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± Zhou Shuang closed her eyes tightly to show that she was ¡®fast asleep¡¯ . Lu Yinan walked into the bedroom and saw the woman lying sideways on the bed. He leaned casually against the door frame as he smiled in amusement. ¡°So you¡¯re a coward who doesn¡¯t have the courage to admit to what you¡¯ve done.¡± Zhou Shuang almost broke her teeth, and she clenched her fists. Chapter 1339. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Two) ¡®Sissy Lu, don¡¯t you dare challenge my limits. Otherwise¡­ I will definitely make sure I exact revenge on your children!¡¯ Zhou Shuang thought quietly to herself. Lu Yinan noticed that Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t moving. He stopped teasing her as it was late at night. So he smiled and said, ¡°Rest early, I¡¯ll be outside. Call me if you need me.¡± He turned around and walked towards the sofa. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyelids fluttered open, and she threw a furtive glance at the door. She caught a glimpse of Lu Yinan before he vanished out of sight. She heaved a sigh of relief before chiding herself silently. Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re so useless! Why are you scared of him? At most, you can just hit him! That Sissy Lu won today. Aargh! Zhou Shuang was silently seething in anger for some time. But gradually, sleepiness attacked her. After continuously yawning, she finally shut her eyes. She would usually take an afternoon nap but she didn¡¯t manage to rest today. It was such an exhausting day and it had her completely drained. She fell into a deep sleep. In her dreams, she could feel a hand gently stroking her tummy. But she was too tired, so she merely flipped her body over. She really slept like a pig and didn¡¯t exude any feminine charm from head to toe. How unfortunate he was to be embroiled with this woman! Shit! Lu Yinan laid on the bed as he gently stroked her enormous tummy. He propped his head with the other hand and his gaze landed on Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. He thought that this woman was really terrible, and he couldn¡¯t see any of her strengths at all. And now she had gained considerable weight. He could even see an extra layer under her chin. Oh, my god! Why was he so unlucky to have bumped into this woman! She wasn¡¯t pretty, neither did she have a voluptuous figure. She had a fiery temper, and she kept swearing all day long. Lu Yinan became grumpy and gloomy, and unconsciously, his gaze trailed to Zhou Shuang¡¯s lips. It was a little warm in the room and Zhou Shuang was pouting. Lu Yinan who seemed to be in a reverie, moved like a puppet towards Zhou Shuang and bit her lips. He bit her! It wasn¡¯t a kiss. He seemed to vent her anger and he exerted more strength. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Zhou Shuang yelled in pain and her eyes opened in shock. She saw the man right before her eyes and she shoved him away angrily. ¡°Lu Yinan! You¡­ What were you doing?!¡± Zhou Shuang interrogated Lu Yinan as she wiped her lips with the back of her hand. She looked as though she was disgusted. Lu Yinan crossed his arms across his chest and settled himself comfortably against the head of the bed. He glanced at Zhou Shuang and said airily, ¡°You don¡¯t have any good qualities and you don¡¯t even take initiative.¡± Zhou Shuang heard his remarks and it riled her up. She sprang upright and bellowed, ¡°Get lost now!¡± ¡°Alright. Stop making a fuss and go to sleep.¡± Lu Yinan grinned at her and coaxed her gently. He stretched his hands and pulled her into his embrace. He gave her a light peck on her cheek and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get along in peace and not bicker anymore, all right?¡± Zhou Shuang was the type of woman who would never yield to force but would turn soft immediately if someone coaxed her. Lu Yinan¡¯s change in attitude extinguished almost all of her fury. She tried to struggle and escape from Lu Yinan. ¡°Let me go. I¡¯m not that close to you. Don¡¯t make it appear we are really intimate.¡± She was blushing from her neck and face and her palms were sweating. Lu Yinan peered at her with a frown and quipped, ¡°We already slept together and we are expecting our babies soon. What do you mean by we aren¡¯t that close?¡± ¡°Get lost and go away!¡± Zhou Shuang shoved Lu Yinan and turned her back against him. Chapter 1340. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Three) Lu Yinan didn¡¯t tease her anymore and simply stared at her quietly. A man was sleeping beside her and furthermore, he was the father of her babies. Naturally, Zhou Shuang found it hard to fall asleep. She could feel Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes on her and her heart pounded violently. Her palms were cold with sweat as she remained motionless. ¡®Cough¡­ cough.¡¯ Zhou Shuang cleared her throat as it was a little dry. Lu Yinan craned his neck to peer at her as he asked, ¡°Do you want some water?¡± Zhou Shuang shook and declined. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get you water.¡± Lu Yinan decided otherwise, and he climbed out of bed. Zhou Shuang felt more at ease after he left the bed. She sat upright and positioned herself against the head of the bed. Lu Yinan walked to her side and took her cup. Zhou Shuang eyed the towering figure in silence. Her heartbeat was erratic, and she blinked her eyes. She pressed her palm against her chest and began to berate herself. ¡®Zhou Shuang! How can you be so soft-hearted! Why are you so nervous around that sissy!¡¯ The more she thought about it, the faster her heartbeat was. Her face became flushed, too. Lu Yinan walked back with the cup in his hand. His hair was still a little wet and he was wearing bathrobes. He originally looked quite bewitching, and now, he looked even more seductive. He had a hand in his pocket, as he strode towards Zhou Shuang. His fingers were long, slender, and his hands were fair. They looked extremely good and it made her want to hold his hands. Zhou Shuang bit her lips and stretched her trembling hand. ¡°Thank you,¡± muttered Zhou Shuang as she received the cup. ¡°Why are you so polite? I¡¯m not used to you acting like this.¡± Lu Yinan teased Zhou Shuang lightly before bending to sit next to Zhou Shuang. He put his hands behind his head and grinned widely at Zhou Shuang. His eyes were so seductive. Zhou Shuang accidentally met his gaze and her heart began to pound furiously once more. She instantly averted her gaze and bent her head. She gripped the cup tightly as she took a sip. Her palms were sweating and she didn¡¯t utter a sound. Lu Yinan gazed at Zhou Shuang for a while before asking, ¡°Why are you so quiet?¡± Zhou Shuang glanced askew at him and said, ¡°Go to the sofa and sleep. Don¡¯t disturb me anymore.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep because of jet lag.¡± Lu Yinan pursed his lips before lying sideways. He propped a hand to support his head as he watched Zhou Shuang intently. He intended to observe her closely; perhaps he could find her strengths. Zhou Shuang furrowed her eyebrows as she warily eyed him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you used to study overseas?¡± She would blush every time she met his eyes, so she didn¡¯t dare to look at him for too long. She immediately averted her gaze. Lu Yinan realized that Zhou Shuang was feeling bashful and that lifted his spirits and boosted his ego. He made this female hooligan blush. That was no easy feat. He continued the conversation, looking relaxed and comfortable. ¡°That was a long time ago.¡± Zhou Shuang responded softly with an ¡®oh¡¯ and it was almost inaudible. ¡°Go back with me after New Year,¡± said Lu Yinan. Zhou Shuang spun around and glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t think that I will give you the children just because you poured me a cup of water.¡± Chapter 1341. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Four) Zhou Shuang knew that the reason Lu Yinan had put in so much effort during these few months was all because of the babies. Besides that, his family was exerting pressure on him as well. Otherwise, there was no reason for a Casanova and womanizer like him to waste time on her. There were so many rich and eligible ladies, models, celebrities who would rush to him at the snap of his fingers. She well knew of the fact that they weren¡¯t suitable. Lu Yinan softly spoke, ¡°We can raise the children together. I¡¯m not asking you to give them to me.¡± ¡°You want to marry me?¡± Zhou Shuang gazed intently at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan¡¯s gaze trailed to the ring on Zhou Shuang¡¯s finger. The diamond ring was sparkling and dancing as it caught the light. He raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Why would I put the ring on you if I don¡¯t intend to?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she heard his response. She bent her head and she softly uttered, ¡°Lu Yinan, you know that we don¡¯t love each other.¡± It was quite hard to catch any emotions in her tone as it was too soft. ¡°We¡¯re already expecting our children, does it even matter if we love each other or not?¡± answered Lu Yinan in a casual tone as he laid down on the bed. He placed his hands behind his head as he stared quietly at the ceiling. He paused briefly before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve never fallen in love with anyone in my life.¡± It was true that he had several flings. But he had never loved someone like how Yan Rusheng had loved Wen Xuxu. He had never met a woman he couldn¡¯t live without. Even Ming Ansheng who appeared to be so aloof and cold had loved Meiduo. That should be true love¡­ Zhou Shuang sneered coldly. ¡± Hmph. How could a Casanova like you know what is love?¡± Lu Yinan broke his train of thoughts as he looked at Zhou Shuang with a hint of intrigue. ¡°Sounds like you fell in love with someone before.¡± Zhou Shuang raised her chin and proclaimed proudly, ¡°Certainly.¡± Lu Yinan chuckled and said, ¡°I really want to know who the unlucky fellow was.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s face fell. ¡°None of your business!¡± This fellow was atrocious! Why would the guy be unlucky? ¡°Be civilized.¡± Lu Yinan placed his hand on Zhou Shuang¡¯s tummy and rubbed gently. ¡°Don¡¯t teach them the wrong stuff.¡± Zhou Shuang coldly replied, ¡°I¡¯m crude and rude. What can you do?¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t want to disrupt this peaceful moment so he didn¡¯t snap back. He probed further. ¡°Continue and talk about the man you loved.¡± ¡°There is only one word to describe him ¡ª jerk!¡± Zhou Shuang angrily yelled. Lu Yinan burst into laughter the moment Zhou Shuang replied. ¡°Elaborate more.¡± He didn¡¯t expect Zhou Shuang to be so honest. He had assumed that she would sing praises of him. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, she would at least lie to preserve her pride. He was thoroughly surprised. Zhou Shuang frowned and snapped, ¡°Lu Yinan, can you be more considerate?¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I shall not ask anymore. Don¡¯t get angry.¡± Lu Yinan realized that it was quite interesting to have a proper conversation with her. He quipped, ¡°Let¡¯s carry on with our conversation in peace.¡± Zhou Shuang pouted indignantly. ¡°What¡¯s there to chat about?¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°Go back to the capital city after New Year. My whole family is waiting.¡± ¡°I want to spend time with my parents.¡± Zhou Shuang glanced in disdain at Lu Yinan. ¡°Besides, why should I go back? Am I related to your family?¡± Chapter 1342. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Five) Zhou Shuang was obviously being pretentious right now. But every woman had the right to be pretentious, and how he hoped that she would be pretentious instead of being so feisty. Lu Yinan pointed at Zhou Shuang¡¯s tummy and innocently asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the three of them belong to my family?¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes and snapped, ¡°Dozens of women are waiting to give birth to your children. You don¡¯t have to keep thinking of mine.¡± ¡°Zhou Shuang, can we talk nicely in future? Let¡¯s not bicker anymore.¡± Lu Yinan peered at Zhou Shuang as he whispered. He realized that he had become more patient recently, and it considerably surprised him. It almost enlightened him that nothing was absolute. A man must yield at times. Zhou Shuang pouted as all her anger and unhappiness evaporated at the sight of Lu Yinan¡¯s seductive-looking eyes. She bent her head and mumbled, ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about? You can decide.¡± Lu Yinan continued in a serious manner once more. ¡°Who says that we can¡¯t fall in love with each other over time?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhou Shuang cracked up. Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows and he looked affronted. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh, I¡¯m being serious. When I made this decision, I struggled and contemplated for a long time. This decision was a really painful one for me.¡± How could she laugh at him? Zhou Shuang heard him and she was crestfallen. ¡°Since you feel tormented, then don¡¯t do it. Besides that, why must I stick to your decision?¡± Why did he have to force himself when he was unwilling to? She wouldn¡¯t want someone to be forced against his will to be with her. And she didn¡¯t¡­ didn¡¯t even like him. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ Zhou Shuang angrily collapsed on the bed and pulled the blanket over her. Lu Yinan spoke no more and he strode out of the bedroom. Zhou Shuang heard his footsteps getting further and further away. She felt as though a rock had blocked her heart¡ªshe was suffocating. ¡­ ¡°Oh my god!¡± Su Yue opened her eyes and realized that it was morning. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows, and Su Yue hastily scrambled and sat up. The man lying beside her sleepily fluttered his eyelids. A crease appeared in the middle of his eyebrows and he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s morning!¡± answered Su Yue. Ming Ansheng knew what was she worried and afraid of. He teased her. ¡°You¡¯re so excited because it¡¯s morning?¡± He sat up slowly and propped himself against the head of the bed. He was wearing his lounge wear. Su Yue frowned at Ming Ansheng. ¡°It¡¯s morning and you¡¯re still here.¡± Ming Ansheng tried to suppress his laughter and continued to feign ignorance. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law will be here any minute. Leave now.¡± Su Yue grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and began to shove him. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t even move an inch as he glanced at Su Yue. ¡°If I leave the room now, I might meet her in the corridor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Su Yue was getting frantic and she said, ¡°If they come here, you need to hide inside the wardrobe.¡± That seemed to be the only way. Ming Ansheng could no longer suppress his grin. ¡°Silly lass. Hurry up and get changed. You can go to their room instead.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah!¡± Su Yue slapped her forehead. ¡°Why am I so stupid! Uncle Ming, you¡¯re so smart.¡± She stretched her hands and put them around Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck before giving him a swift kiss on his cheek. She climbed over him and jumped off the bed. Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!!???????????????? Chapter 1343. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Six) Su Yue bolted for the bathroom and hurriedly came out to change her clothes. She opened her suitcase and took out the outfit she wanted to wear. Then without a warning, she stripped herself naked right before Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. Oh¡­ no, not completely. She was still wearing her underwear. As she put on her bra, she peered at Ming Ansheng and asked, ¡°Uncle Ming, are you going to sleep here the whole day?¡± This was obviously such an erotic scene, but she was looking at him so innocently. Argh, she was killing him unknowingly! Ming Ansheng¡¯s body seemed on fire and he became tense. Averting his gaze, he replied, ¡°Just have fun and don¡¯t worry about me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips and pondered for a moment. ¡°Then stay here and don¡¯t wander about all right?¡± The corners of Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched. Shouldn¡¯t he be reminding her instead? This was the first time he was being treated like a child. It was indeed a refreshing experience. Ming Ansheng grinned and nodded in response. ¡°Where are you going today?¡± asked Ming Ansheng. Su Yue had put on a tight-fitting top and it hugged her curves perfectly. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t dare to look at her. Perhaps it was because of Su Yue¡¯s alluring body, or he had been abstaining himself for too long. Something seemed to stir inside of him. Damn it! He admonished himself for crossing that forbidden territory. ¡°We are going to the amusement park with Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan.¡± The corners of Su Yue¡¯s mouth sank, and she said, ¡°If only you could come along.¡± She would have to endure how loving Third Brother was to Third sister-in-law the entire day. Ming Ansheng suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you let your third sister-in-law know that we are together?¡± Su Yue became wary as she glared at Ming Ansheng. She warned him sternly, ¡°No! If you tell them, I will never talk to you again.¡± Ming Ansheng had no choice but to oblige. ¡°Alright, alright. I will never tell them unless you agree to it. Don¡¯t be angry.¡± Su Yue put on a faint smile, and she bent to close the suitcase. She dragged the suitcase into the wardrobe. She was about to say something to Ming Ansheng when the doorbell rang. She began to panic and said in a hushed voice, ¡°It must be my third sister-in-law.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrow and said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you leave the room now?¡± ¡°No, you need to hide first,¡± Su Yue said hastily and opened the wardrobe. She beckoned to Ming Ansheng and hissed, ¡°Uncle Ming, come and hide inside.¡± Ming Ansheng stared at the wardrobe in horror and put on a frown. ¡°Can¡¯t you just go out first?¡± Su Yue frowned and snapped, ¡°What if she wants to come in?¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. She really thought of all possibilities. He reluctantly got off the bed and picked up the bathrobe on the floor. He marched stiffly to the wardrobe and grudgingly bent to look at Su Yue. The doorbell rang again and Su Yue jumped once more. ¡°Uncle Ming, hurry up!¡± She tiptoed and gave him a swift peck on his lips before shoving him in. She closed the wardrobe. Just like yesterday, she went to tidy the bed and shook the pillows as hard as she could. After making sure there weren¡¯t any hairs, she placed them back on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± The doorbell rang again and she hastened her footsteps towards the door. She opened it hastily and saw Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. Su Yue smiled foolishly and said, ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Why are you grinning?¡± Xuxu frowned with a puzzled look on her face. Her eyes casually darted around the suite. Su Yue nervously scratched her head and continued grinning. ¡°Third sister-in-law, why did you come to my room?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to see if you¡¯re ready,¡± said Xuxu as stepped inside. Yan Rusheng followed closely and said, ¡°I need the bathroom.¡± Su Yue nervously called him, ¡°Third Brother! Why do you want to use my bathroom?!¡± Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!!???????????????? Chapter 1344. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Seven) Su Yue caught up with Yan Rusheng and grabbed his arm tightly. Her grip was so strong that Yan Rusheng grimaced slightly in pain. He glanced askew at Su Yue and frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯m just borrowing your bathroom, is there a need for you to be so nervous?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not¡­¡± Su Yue hung her head in guilt and relinquished her grip. Yan Rusheng fondly smiled at her. ¡°Silly girl.¡± He continued to walk towards the bathroom. There was a long pause¡­ A pang of panic seized Su Yue. They started in the bathroom yesterday and she didn¡¯t have time to tidy up. Oh, right! When she was brushing her teeth earlier on, she saw Uncle Ming¡¯s toothbrush inside. Su Yue was so nervous that she felt that her body would snap at any moment. Third Brother would sense something amiss if there were two toothbrushes and towels lying around. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Yan Rusheng exited the bathroom almost instantly after he set foot inside. He seemed rather awkward, as though he saw something embarrassing. Xuxu hurried towards him and asked, ¡°Why?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll go back to our room.¡± He strode towards the door. There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu and Su Yue silently exchanged looks. Su Yue was puzzled as well. What did he see to make him look so awkward? Even if he really noticed the toothbrushes and towels, was there a need to be so awkward? ¡°What happened to that guy?¡± Xuxu gazed at the door before glancing at Su Yue again. Su Yue stammered as she shook her head. ¡°I¡­ hmmm I¡¯m not sure.¡± She felt jittery and anxious. What exactly did Third Brother see? She wanted to go into the bathroom to check on the situation. She was in too much of a hurry to tidy up earlier. ¡°Why are you perspiring?¡± Xuxu frowned as she sized Su Yue up. She stole a puzzled look at the bathroom and reckoned that the answer lies inside. Why would this lass be so nervous when Yan Rusheng wanted to go to the bathroom? And Yan Rusheng left almost immediately after setting foot inside. Furthermore, he looked so awkward and his face was blushing. Xuxu strode towards the bathroom to take a look. Every step she took made Su Yue tremble with fear and nervousness. She dug her fingernails into her palms as she didn¡¯t dare to stop Xuxu. She was afraid that Xuxu would see right through her. Third sister-in-law was so sensitive and smart. She would definitely notice something was amiss. What should she do? Su Yue wiped her forehead and her palms were full of perspiration. One shouldn¡¯t do something against their conscience, neither should they tell a lie. She was being tormented at the moment. Xuxu peeked her head inside the bathroom and surveyed the surroundings. Then her gaze landed on the toilet bowl. There was a pink bra and underwear on the toilet bowl. Xuxu retracted her gaze and she tried to stifle her laughter. Why was she grinning? Su Yue asked warily, ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± Xuxu pointed to the bathroom and grinned. ¡°Just tell your third brother your lingerie is inside. Then just clear them. Isn¡¯t it simple?¡± She walked to Su Yue and wiped the sweat off her forehead. ¡°Look at how nervous you are. It¡¯s nothing embarrassing.¡± Chapter 1345. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Eight) Lingerie? Su Yue tried to recall the events last night. After they left the bathroom last night, Ming Ansheng had picked up her stuff and left them casually on the toilet bowl. Su Yue heaved a sigh of relief and sheepishly grinned. ¡°I¡­ I feel embarrassed. It¡¯s really embarrassing.¡± Xuxu sniggered and replied, ¡°But your third brother is really adorable when he gets bashful. Isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue nodded and faked a wide smile. She didn¡¯t agree that Third Brother was adorable at all. He merely looked like his usual self ¡ª aloof and arrogant. ¡°I¡¯ll help you wash your clothes. They won¡¯t be so early and Zhou Shuang should still be asleep,¡± suddenly interjected Xuxu. She turned around and was about to walk to the bathroom. Su Yue held her hand and said, ¡°No.. it¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll wash them when I come back tonight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t insist on helping her. Xuxu sat on the edge of the bed to wait for Yan Rusheng. She settled herself comfortably. Because of jet lag, she slept late last night. She began to yawn. ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep well last night. How about you?¡± Xuxu rubbed her eyes sleepily as she glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue foolishly grinned. ¡°I¡­ yeah.¡± She stiffly sat next to Xuxu and glanced sneakily at the wardrobe. Her heart seemed to leap out of her chest. She had to think of a way to make Third sister-in-law leave the room first. Xuxu yawned and quipped, ¡°We might take this entire week to adjust to this time zone. Then we will have to suffer from jet lag again when we go back.¡± Su Yue softly chuckled. Xuxu peered at her and asked, ¡°Why are you still perspiring?¡± Su Yue wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. She was perspiring badly indeed. ¡°The heater is really quite strong.¡± She was so frustrated with herself. She kept telling herself to relax and calm down. But she became more nervous instead. Yan Rusheng came back at that moment and his arrival successfully diverted Xuxu¡¯s attention. ¡°Ready?¡± asked Xuxu. Xuxu felt like bursting into laughter when she recalled his awkward expression earlier on. Yan Rusheng nodded lightly with an ¡®Mm¡¯. He was dressed in a casual outfit of black pants and a gray-white woolen pullover. He stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked inside the room. Su Yue was so uptight and her mind was still racing. Now she had to think of a way to drive both Xuxu and Yan Rusheng away. She was so afraid that Ming Ansheng would burst out from the wardrobe any moment. Her back was perspiring as well. Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Is Lu Yinan awake?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t go to their room so I¡¯m not sure.¡± Xuxu frowned and said, ¡°Go and knock on their door.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± Su Yue stretched her hand and grabbed Xuxu¡¯s arm. ¡°Third Brother won¡¯t be able to wake them up.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She stood up before adjusting her clothes. With a smile, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng slumped comfortably on the bed and propped his hands behind his head. ¡°You all go ahead. I¡¯ll take a rest.¡± Like Xuxu, he didn¡¯t manage to sleep well due to jet lag as well. His head was throbbing right now. Young Master Ming should be feeling so frustrated and annoyed at that moment. Chapter 1346. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Nine) Ming Ansheng had a sudden urge to open the wardrobe and dash out. He was suffocating to death. Who would believe his story!? He was hidden like a thief in such a tiny wardrobe and he didn¡¯t even dare to breathe properly. The more Ming Ansheng thought of it, the more frustrated he became. The only thing stopping him from rushing out was Su Yue. That lass was really feisty at times, and he knew he would have a hard time coaxing her. Su Yue¡¯s heart was in her mouth when she saw Yan Rusheng settling himself comfortably on the bed. No, she couldn¡¯t allow Third Brother to stay in this room. He was bound to find out about Uncle Ming. Su Yue turned to face Xuxu with a smile and said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, you go first. I need to tidy up.¡± ¡°There will be cleaners coming to clean the room.¡± Xuxu pulled Su Yue¡¯s hand and led her to the door. Su Yue didn¡¯t dare to protest too much, so she had to reluctantly follow Xuxu. She was going crazy! She merely wanted to hide her relationship with Uncle Ming. Why was it so difficult? Oh, my god! Su Yue threw a glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng was lying sideways and had covered himself with the blanket. He looked as though he was about to fall asleep any minute. Xuxu wanted to shut the door after them, but Su Yue refused. ¡°Let¡¯s not close the door. We¡¯ll be back after a short while, and we will disturb him if we knock on the door later,¡± said Su Yue. Xuxu agreed and relinquished her grip on the doorknob. ¡°Little girl, you have become more thoughtful.¡± Su Yue sheepishly grinned. Lu Yinan¡¯s room was a short distance away from Su Yue¡¯s room. Xuxu pressed the doorbell when they reached his room. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ Lu Yinan had just fallen asleep because of jet lag as well. When he heard the doorbell, he flipped over in frustration. When he casually moved his hand, it fell on something soft. He realized that and his eyes fluttered open. A familiar woman¡¯s voice sounded in his ear. ¡°Lu Yinan, when did you climb into my bed!¡± Zhou Shuang barked a question and glared at the man next to her. Lu Yinan opened his eyes and replied, ¡°Without a doubt, it was in the night.¡± He was about to continue sleeping when Zhou Shuang interjected, ¡°Why are you on my bed?¡± Lu Yinan replied coolly, ¡°Of course, I wanted to sleep on the bed.¡± Zhou Shuang was about to retort when Lu Yinan wrinkled his nose and covered his mouth with his hand. He frowned and said, ¡°Go brush your teeth. Your breath is smelly.¡± Zhou Shuang felt so insulted since he looked as though he was despising her. Her face hardened before she screamed, ¡°Scram now!¡± She stretched her hand and shoved Lu Yinan with her might. He then turned to get off the bed. ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± The man¡¯s voice sounded, and without waiting for her response, he swooped towards her. She widened her eyes in shock and her mouth was already sealed the next second. Lu Yinan swiftly grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s neck and brought her closer to him for a deeper kiss. Morning kisses were usually lingering. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes were huge in shock and it dumbfounded her for a moment. As she gazed into Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes, she could feel the ball of fury dissipating inside her. That feeling sucked. Her heart shouldn¡¯t soften towards Lu Yinan at all. How could she be enticed and seduced by his words? So¡­ Just when Zhou Shuang was about to explode, Lu Yinan retreated in time. Chapter 1347. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Ten) Lu Yinan peered at Zhou Shuang with a sly smile. ¡°See? Isn¡¯t that great? Why do you have to be so hostile every time we meet?¡± Co-existing in peace wouldn¡¯t be so tiring for both of them. Zhou Shuang used the back of her hand to wipe her lips. She furrowed her eyebrows as she muttered, ¡°I have stinky breath, why did you kiss me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you cared about that.¡± Lu Yinan chuckled before lying back on the bed. Zhou Shuang saw the smug expression on his face and she kicked him angrily. ¡°Who cares about that? Leave the room now, as far as you can!¡± Her foot landed on Lu Yinan¡¯s waist and it appears she had tickled him. He burst into laughter as he moved away from her. ¡°Stop fooling around, someone is ringing the bell,¡± said Lu Yinan with a frown. Zhou Shuang exploded once more. ¡°I¡¯m not deaf! I don¡¯t need you to remind me!¡± She pushed the blanket aside and got up slowly with her hand on her waist for support. Her tummy was gigantic now and it was getting harder for her to get out of bed these days. Lu Yinan chortled silently as he saw how Zhou Shuang was swaying slightly to get out of bed. This hooligan was really not as tough as she looked. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ Zhou Shuang left the bedroom and the doorbell rang once more. ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± replied Zhou Shuang. She hastened her footsteps towards the door. Xuxu and Su Yue were standing outside and she glanced at them. ¡°So early?¡± She turned around and walked back towards the bathroom. ¡°Did Lu Yinan sleep in the room last night?¡± Xuxu asked as she followed Zhou Shuang inside. She caught a glimpse of Lu Yinan¡¯s pants on the sofa and found her answer. Zhou Shuang was feeling bashful and pretended not to have heard Xuxu. ¡°There is a pair of pants that belongs to a man. Who else could it be other than Lu Yinan?¡± Su Yue burst out suddenly. It was the first thing that came to her mind when she saw Lu Yinan¡¯s pants. ¡®Pants that belongs to a man¡­¡¯ Su Yue suddenly remembered and she hurriedly turned around. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I left something in my room.¡± She dashed to the door in a flash and was instantly out of sight. Xuxu didn¡¯t even manage to call her name before Su Yue vanished. She frowned and muttered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that girl this morning?¡± Su Yue seemed a little out of sorts and she was acting weird. Su Yue sprinted towards her room without stopping. When she reached, she frantically pushed the door open. What would happen if Third Brother saw Uncle Ming¡¯s clothes? Su Yue entered the bedroom and noticed Yan Rusheng still lying on the bed. She heaved a sigh of relief and walked to the other side of the bed. Ming Ansheng¡¯s shirt was on the floor and she kicked it under the bed. ¡°Where is your third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yue¡¯s footsteps jolted Yan Rusheng awake. Su Yue received a shock and she patted her chest to calm herself down. ¡°She¡­ she is inside Zhou Shuang¡¯s room,¡± Su Yue stammered. Yan Rusheng felt suspicious of her response. ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± Su Yue put on a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not nervous!¡± She was so nervous that she could die at any moment. ¡°Your forehead is perspiring.¡± Yan Rusheng was staring at Su Yue¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯m feeling warm,¡± answered Su Yue with a soft voice. She wiped the perspiration. Why did she perspire every time she gets nervous? Su Yue, get a hold of yourself! Chapter 1348. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Eleven) ¡°Go get your third sister-in-law,¡± commanded Yan Rusheng. Su Yue didn¡¯t obey and retorted, ¡°Go find her yourself.¡± She bent to sit on the bed before lying down. She stole a glance at the wardrobe, feeling anxious and jittery. Would Uncle Ming be suffocating inside? Yan Rusheng glared at Su Yue, but he had no choice but to do it himself. As long as the person was someone that Wen Xuxu cared about, he wouldn¡¯t dare offend any of them. After Yan Rusheng left, Su Yue immediately sprang to her feet. She strode to the door and peered at the corridor to make sure that Yan Rusheng was truly gone, after which she closed it. She ran back to the bedroom and saw Ming Ansheng opening the wardrobe doors. He was perspiring badly. He looked so pale and weak after hiding inside that tiny wardrobe for so long. Su Yue approached him with an apologetic expression. ¡°Uncle Ming, it¡¯s been hard on you.¡± He felt so aggrieved and he was about to burst out in anger. Sullen-faced, he grumbled, ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s reveal our relationship.¡± Keeping their relationship a secret was too exhausting. ¡°No!¡± Su Yue firmly shook her head and didn¡¯t even hesitate. She wiped off his perspiration and coaxed him softly. ¡°After Zhou Shuang is ready, we will head out. You need not hide anymore.¡± They had already gotten to this step, and she didn¡¯t want to waste their efforts. Ming Ansheng was speechless. Oh god, save him, please. He took a long and heavy sigh before saying, ¡°Hurry and leave the room. Don¡¯t let them come in again,¡± said Ming Ansheng. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and turned around. But their worst fears came true. The doorbell rang again. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ Ming Ansheng¡¯s face hardened and Su Yue nudged him. ¡°Uncle Ming, go inside the wardrobe, please.¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng really didn¡¯t want to hide again. When Yan Rusheng was in the room earlier on, he was so afraid that Yan Rusheng would discover him. If Yan Rusheng really opened the wardrobe and discovered that he was there, he could never hold his head up high before him and Lu Yinan again. There was a difference between holding Su Yue¡¯s hand and announcing their relationship proudly. Su Yue refused to listen to Ming Ansheng¡¯s protests and shoved him quickly towards the wardrobe. Ming Ansheng had no choice but to listen to her. He had barely stopped perspiring and now he was going back to that tiny space once more. When Su Yue closed the wardrobe doors, his world went dark again. He shut his eyes and heavily sighed. Even famous generals could swallow their pride and crawl in between their enemies¡¯ legs after conceding defeat. Ming Ansheng told himself that he could endure this humiliation and suffer in silence so that he wouldn¡¯t upset his beloved. Su Yue opened the door and saw Lu Yinan, Xuxu, and Yan Rusheng. She eyed them and cautiously asked, ¡°Why are all of you here? Are you here to get me?¡± Without waiting for their response, she tried to step out. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m done.¡± But Xuxu entered her room and replied, ¡°Zhou Shuang is changing her clothes so she chased us out. I¡¯m so tired.¡± She walked to the sofa and picked up a magazine before browsing it casually. Su Yue was speechless¡­ So the three of them were planning to stay in this room? Her eyes darted towards the bedroom and a mixture of pity and sadness were seen in her eyes. He didn¡¯t even get to use the toilet ever since he woke up this morning. Yan Rusheng followed Xuxu and sat down next to her. In a casual tone, he suggested, ¡°Wife, it¡¯s almost 10 a.m. and the amusement park will definitely be crowded. Let¡¯s not go there, shall we?¡± Chapter 1349. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Twelve) Xuxu asked, ¡°So where are we going?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back and sleep.¡± Yan Rusheng placed his hands behind his head and propped both legs on the coffee table. Lu Yinan had his hands in his pockets as he casually strolled in. He threw Yan Rusheng a disdainful look and quipped, ¡°The truth is, you don¡¯t want to be with us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at Lu Yinan before continuing. ¡°You better know what you should do and stop that hooligan from following us.¡± Lu Yinan bent to sit next to Yan Rusheng as he maintained a disdainful expression. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you have known Wen Xuxu for over twenty years¡ªever since you were in your split pants. Haven¡¯t you had enough of it?¡± They were stuck together every day, wasn¡¯t it boring to see each other every day? Yan Rusheng glanced at him and sneered coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t wear split pants when I was four. You should refer to yourself.¡± Wen Xuxu and he met when they were four years old. How could he still be wearing split pants? Lu Yinan burst into laughter as he recalled something. His sudden outburst bewildered everyone. Lu Yinan could barely catch his breath. ¡°Regarding this topic on split pants, I have to mention Ming Ansheng. His grandmother still made him wear split pants when he was five.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Yan Rusheng still had vivid memories of their childhood, and he cracked up as well. Xuxu was feeling curious and she tugged Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. ¡°Ah Sheng, why don¡¯t I remember any of this?¡± They were in the same kindergarten and they see each other every day. She didn¡¯t remember seeing Ming Ansheng wearing split pants. ¡°He wore it at home.¡± Lu Yinan was still laughing as he tried to compose himself. ¡°In his grandmother¡¯s village, all the children wear split pants until they are almost five. So Ming Ansheng also wore split pants until he was five.¡± This was one topic that Ming Ansheng had forbidden them to mention. He would lash out at anyone who dared to laugh at him. Xuxu saw how gleeful Yan Rusheng and Lu Yinan were and they had amused her. She began to laugh as well. She caught an accidental glimpse of Su Yue who sat at the corner. Su Yue bent her head as she bit her lip. Xuxu realized that her cheeks were flushed, and she asked, ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I feel like laughing.¡± Su Yue raised her head and glanced at Xuxu. Lu Yinan grinned and quipped, ¡°Then just laugh. Why are you suppressing yourself? Silly girl.¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t contain her laughter anymore. She exploded as she pressed her tummy. She collapsed on the sofa and rolled around. Uncle Ming was still wearing split pants when he was five. That was really hilarious. And the most amusing thing was that Uncle Ming was inside the wardrobe. She was trying to visualize his expression. Xuxu thought of something and she threw a glance at Su Yue. Her smile faded as she said rather solemnly, ¡°Ming Ansheng is the most reliable and dependable guy among all of you.¡± Lu Yinan disagreed, ¡± Tch. He was just 17 years old when he slept with a girl. At least I waited until I was 20 years old.¡± There was a long pause. Xuxu¡¯s face turned red and naturally, she was unwilling to extend this conversation. Yan Rusheng suddenly stretched his hand and wound it around Xuxu¡¯s waist. He kissed her cheek and proclaimed proudly, ¡°Wife, do you know how noble and decent I am? A man like me is getting extinct soon.¡± Chapter 1350. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Thirteen) Xuxu was speechless. She feigned an expression of disgust as she wiped her cheek where Yan Rusheng had kissed her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s go.¡± The door was ajar, so Zhou Shuang entered without knocking. She was wearing the loose-fitting clothes she wore yesterday. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu struggled to get out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s embrace. Su Yue interjected suddenly. ¡°Can you guys chat while you wait for me? I need to wash my clothes before we go as I don¡¯t have enough clean clothes to wear.¡± She instantly rose and walked towards the bedroom. Xuxu frowned as she said to the tiny figure, ¡°Yueyue, can¡¯t you wash it tonight?¡± This lass only thought of washing the clothes when they were about to make a move? Did she bring only one set of clothes? Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be fast. Just take a seat and have some tea. I¡¯ll be ready soon.¡± She reached the bedroom before she finished answering. She threw a fierce glare at the wardrobe. ¡°Serves you right for sleeping with a girl when you were 17! Hmph!¡± Su Yue berated Ming Ansheng in her heart. Su Yue deliberately took her time in the bedroom. Ming Ansheng was so frustrated and annoyed as he stood in the wardrobe. He already knew that Su Yue was angry with him, and she had purposely made them stay. He knew he couldn¡¯t do anything despite him knowing that she was using this method to punish him. Lu Yinan had really gotten him into deep trouble! Lu Yinan, remember this! If swearing and cursing could kill a person, Young Master Lu would have become a corpse in no time. The room was warm and the wardrobe doors had no gaps. There was barely any fresh air inside. Ming Ansheng was perspiring badly as he listened to Lu Yinan and Yan Rusheng chatting. His childhood friends were right outside, yet he was hiding from them in this confined space. He suddenly felt so desperate and lonely. ¡°Yueyue, are you done?¡± After Su Yue washed her lingerie, she began to tidy up the bathroom. Xuxu went inside and frowned when she saw Su Yue. ¡°Why are you cleaning? There will be cleaners coming later.¡± She tugged at Su Yue¡¯s arm and attempted to pull her along. ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and flicked her hands. She smiled and said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, my clothes are damp. I¡¯ll go get a jacket.¡± She walked to the wardrobe and opened the doors. She bent to get her suitcase. She casually chose a jacket and threw the suitcase back. It fell with a loud thud and it shook the wardrobe. She slammed the doors with force. Ming Ansheng was profusely perspiring in the wardrobe and perspiration drenched his clothes. This little girl was out to torment him. Young Master Ming hoped that Xuxu could bring Su Yue out. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue put on the red jacket and it seemed to make her shed a few years off her age. She wound her arm around Xuxu¡¯s arm and beamed at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this lass today?¡± Xuxu mumbled to herself after glancing at her. They finally left Su Yue¡¯s suite. The wardrobe doors abruptly swung open. Chapter 1351. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Fourteen) Young Master Ming emerged from the cupboard, panting and drenched in sweat. He sighed heavily. ¡®F*ck. Lu Yinan, how dare you expose me? Wearing split pants at five and losing my virginity at seventeen?¡¯ Ming Ansheng adjusted his attire and straightened up. He entered the washroom. He was drenched in sweat so he had to take a shower. The first thing he saw when he entered the washroom was Su Yue¡¯s pink lingerie on the sink. He smirked. He suddenly remembered that his clothes were ditched in the washroom yesterday as well. He gazed around the room but he didn¡¯t see it. He needed to use the washroom when he was in the cupboard, but he had to hold it in. He walked over to the toilet bowl and bent over, opening the lid, his expression turning dark instantly. His underwear was floating in the toilet bowl. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck. He wouldn¡¯t be Ming Ansheng if he didn¡¯t take revenge. Young Master Ming wanted to take revenge on Lu Yinan for all the punishment he had received from Su Yue. ¡®Ding dong.¡¯ Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Ming Ansheng knew that it was the housekeeper. He left the room and called, ¡°Come back later.¡± Then he walked over hung the ¡®do not disturb¡¯ sign on the door. ¡­ The few of them still continued with their original plan and headed to the amusement park in N City. It was Christmas day and the entire city had a cheery and festive atmosphere. There were large decorated Christmas trees at the entrance of the amusement park. It was exceptionally crowded. Xuxu became worried for Zhou Shuang. ¡°Shuang, it¡¯s so crowded. You¡¯d better not go in.¡± Lu Yinan nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. They can go ahead and we¡¯ll go somewhere else.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded immediately. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± A large crowd would stare at them no matter where they went. It was embarrassing. What more with a pregnant woman? ¡°Hateful,¡± Zhou Shuang said contemptuously to Yan Rusheng. She looked at the entrance and she herself knew the danger. Indeed, there were too many people; it wasn¡¯t suitable for a pregnant woman like her. Zhou Shuang frowned when she realized it. ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you somewhere else,¡± Lu Yinan said, taking her hand. Actually, he had no hidden motive. He did it plainly because it was too crowded, and he was afraid that he would lose her or be stuck in the crowd. Zhou Shuang immediately retracted her hand when she saw his hand reaching for hers. She groaned, ¡°I grew up here. Do I need you to take me around?¡± Then she started off towards the large shopping mall situated opposite the amusement park. Lu Yinan knew Zhou Shuang¡¯s temper. He had to use a soft approach towards her. He tucked his hands into his pockets and followed after her. ¡°Alright, can you take me there then?¡± Zhou Shuang looked askew at him and snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± She increased her pace and Lu Yinan became worried. He was afraid that someone would bump into her or that she would slip and fall. He caught up with her and grabbed her elbow, frowning. ¡°Zhou Shuang, can you be more gentle?¡± Zhou Shuang smiled coolly. ¡°Yes, you men love a gentle woman. Once you piss them off, you won¡¯t know what hit you.¡± Then she rolled her eyes at him and shrugged his hand. She continued walking. Lu Yinan followed closely behind her. He raised his eyebrow and asked with a smile, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a known fact that timid women are more attractive to men?¡± Chapter 1352. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Fifteen) Zhou Shuang rebuked in an unhappy note. ¡°I don¡¯t want to attract you so I need not be gentle.¡± Both of them walked at a rapid pace. Lu Yinan was fine with it¡ªhe was a man after all. Although he wasn¡¯t a muscular man, he was decently fit. But Zhou Shuang was panting heavily. Lu Yinan amicably said, ¡°Let¡¯s rest somewhere and have a drink, alright?¡± He was always a gentleman to women, especially to Zhou Shuang. Actually, he didn¡¯t have a problem with her if she didn¡¯t always have a bone to pick with him. Zhou Shuang felt like there was no point being stubborn when he was being soft towards her. She pursed her lips and agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s go there for a short rest before continuing,¡± Lu Yinan said, pointing at a nearby cafe. ¡°Whatever,¡± Zhou Shuang replied, walking towards it. Lu Yinan casually followed two steps behind her. Because her tummy was so big, Zhou Shuang¡¯s body wobbled left and right. Lu Yinan went deep in thought as he watched her. The woman was going to be pregnant for ten months, walk around with a huge belly, and risk suffering from post-natal depression and other ailments. Furthermore, her family wasn¡¯t short of money. Why would she give you her children? Even he felt exhausted just by looking at her. ¡°Lu Yinan, didn¡¯t you say that you want a drink? Why are you standing there?¡± Zhou Shuang shouted with a frown. She was already at the entrance of the cafe when she realized Lu Yinan was still far off. Lu Yinan came to his senses and smiled. His smile was bewitching. Zhou Shuang hurriedly averted her gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Lu Yinan grabbed her elbow and led her into the cafe. The cafe was full. ¡°There are no seats,¡± Zhou Shuang said dejectedly. Lu Yinan replied, ¡°There¡¯s another cafe nearby, let¡¯s take a look.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded and agreed. Then something crossed her mind. ¡°Sissy Lu, give me a moment. I need to go to the washroom.¡± As she said that, she turned around and walked towards the washroom. Lu Yinan stood rooted to the spot. She had used his nickname ¡®Sissy Lu¡¯ so naturally. Although he was now used to it¡­ he still felt indignant that it had rolled off her tongue so easily. Just then, two customers opposite him stood up and left. He walked over hurriedly and took the seats. Zhou Shuang emerged from the washroom and washed her hands. She walked towards him as she swung her hands in an attempt to dry them. She looked towards the entrance and suddenly a familiar male voice sounded from her right. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Zhou Shuang?¡± Zhou Shuang stopped in her tracks and her face froze. She turned in the direction of the voice. A tall man in a black casual attire was grinning at her as he walked over. He was holding hands with a woman in her thirties. She was dressed sexily. The handsome man had black hair. Shock flashed across her eyes and she let her hands fall to her sides. She clenched her fists. She smiled enchantingly. ¡°Hey, Zhang Tianyu, you haven¡¯t gotten rid of her yet?¡± Chapter 1353. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Sixteen) Zhou Shuang sized up the sexy woman standing beside him. There was a contemptuous look in her eyes. Zhang Tianyu stared at her and shook his head. ¡± Tch, tch. Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re still as hateful as ever.¡± Before she could reply, he looked at her belly and added, ¡°Who did you sleep with this time and even got you pregnant?¡± His words were close to derogatory. Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Scram.¡± She then moved to brush past the both of them. The woman beside Zhang Tianyu suddenly looked at Zhou Shuang and smiled sweetly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you Zhang Tianyu¡¯s ex-girlfriend?¡± Her question was full of mockery. Zhou Shuang was hot-tempered and direct. So when she heard her words, she stopped in her tracks and replied, ¡°Yes, I recognize you. Aren¡¯t you Zhang Tianyu¡¯s new fling?¡± The woman¡¯s expression darkened. Before she could reply, Zhou Shuang grinned wider and she said, ¡°You must be pretty good in bed. But here¡¯s some advice: You should take it slow when you¡¯re so old. After all, you¡¯re no match for those maidens in their twenties. Look, even your crow¡¯s-feet are showing.¡± She started it, so don¡¯t blame her for being nasty. Then she walked closer to the woman and stared at her breasts, her lips curling upwards in mockery. ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s cold today. Make sure that your implants don¡¯t freeze.¡± The woman became even more furious. Zhang Tianyu hugged her waist tightly and gritted his teeth as he glared at Zhou Shuang. ¡°With a personality like yours, no wonder no man wants you. Serves you right.¡± Zhou Shuang rarely held her tongue, all the more towards her b*stard ex-boyfriend. ¡°You scum, I hope you get AIDS next year.¡± ¡°So what if I¡¯m a scum? You still fell for me,¡± Zhang Tianyu sneered. ¡°Who was the one who refused to let go of me, saying ¡®Tianyu, don¡¯t leave me. I love you, I really love you¡­¡¯? You¡¯re worse than me.¡± Then his gaze shifted to her tummy. ¡°How else would you get yourself pregnant? Could the father of your kids have ditched you as well?¡± Zhou Shuang raised her eyebrow coolly. ¡°How¡¯s that any of your business?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s none of my business,¡± Zhang Tianyu said, his face turning vicious. ¡°Zhou Shuang, you did so many unscrupulous things to me. You think that I didn¡¯t know it was you? I was expelled and couldn¡¯t get a place anywhere else. But it seems like you¡¯re no better, with a belly so huge and as fat as a pig.¡± Zhou Shuang folded her arms and retorted, ¡°I¡¯m happy right now. Serves you right that you couldn¡¯t get a place in school.¡± Zhang Tianyu¡¯s expression turned even more vicious. ¡°Why are you so vile? Do you love me that much? You want me to remember you forever?¡± Zhou Shuang smiled coolly. She pointed at the male washroom and said, ¡°The washroom is there. Go in, pee, and have a good look at yourself. ¡®I want you to remember me forever¡¯? Please don¡¯t horrify me.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Zhang Tianyu was so agitated, he couldn¡¯t find the words to talk back. He glared at her and eventually turned his gaze towards her belly. ¡°You¡¯re so immoral, your children will have deformities for sure.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mocking smile disappeared and she glared coolly at him. ¡°Zhang Tianyu, are you looking for death?¡± How dare he curse her children! Then she saw a vase on the small table beside her. She rushed over and grabbed it, preparing to smash it on his head. Chapter 1354. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Seventeen) Suddenly, a tall figure rushed over and snatched the vase out of her hands. The next moment, the vase smashed on Zhang Tianyu¡¯s head, just as Zhou Shuang had wanted. His head started bleeding immediately. ¡°Gosh, Lu Yinan.¡± Zhou Shuang covered her mouth in shock. After smashing the vase on Zhang Tianyu¡¯s head, Lu Yinan grabbed onto his collar and rained fists on him. It was too violent. Was he trying to kill him? Zhou Shuang became worried. She rushed over and held him back. ¡°Lu Yinan, that¡¯s enough. Stop it.¡± Lu Yinan turned his head and frowned at her. ¡°You¡¯re feeling sorry for this b*stard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about you.¡± The words rolled off her tongue. She realized that she had spoken too rashly, and she bowed her head in embarrassment. But Lu Yinan continued punching the man. After a while, a crowd formed around them, and the employees rushed over to intervene. Lu Yinan was pinning Zhang Tianyu to the ground, not giving the latter a chance to speak. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhang Tianyu finally asked, his mouth full of fresh blood, after his eyes met Lu Yinan¡¯s. Lu Yinan raised his eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m the father of the children in Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly. What do you think?¡± Zhang Tianyu smiled coldly. ¡°Are you blind?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s blind,¡± Lu Yinan bit back, slapping him hard. ¡°The next time you see the mother of my children stay away from her.¡± Then he stood up gracefully. As if he wasn¡¯t the one who was beating him up moments ago. Lu Yinan took his handkerchief out from his pocket and wiped the blood off his hands. Then he rolled it into a ball and threw it at Zhang Tianyu¡¯s face. ¡°What rotten luck.¡± He then turned towards the cafe employees and smiled. ¡°I will compensate for all your losses.¡± Indeed, he was a refined and reasonable man. The employees stared back at him and nodded hurriedly. Zhang Tianyu had to be sent to the hospital. The employees called the cops and Lu Yinan stayed to assist in their investigations. He then left with Zhou Shuang. When they exited the cafe, Zhou Shuang frowned at Lu Yinan. ¡°Sissy Lu, you were too violent just now.¡± He had shocked her to death. She was really worried that he would beat Zhang Tianyu to death. The children in her belly were his flesh and blood. Of course, he would be furious when Zhang Tianyu cursed them. ¡°Are you blind?¡± Lu Yinan glared at her. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s blind,¡± she bit back, glaring at him. ¡°Why did you curse me with blindness?¡± To think that she had thought that he was cool and masculine when he was beating him up just now. Now, they were back to square one. Lu Yinan frowned. ¡°Why would you fall for him if you weren¡¯t blind? The word ¡®scum¡¯ is written all over his face. Didn¡¯t you see it?¡± So that was what he meant¡­ Zhou Shuang pursed her lips. ¡°He¡¯s obviously handsome.¡± When she had first set her eyes on him, it was indeed because of his good looks. But looking at him now, she really wondered if she was blind back then. What did she see in him? ¡°Look at my face.¡± Lu Yinan pointed at his face, making her look at him. ¡°What?¡± Zhou Shuang obliged grudgingly, her eyes full of suspicion. Lu Yinan smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t you see the word ¡®handsome¡¯ written all over my face?¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. Chapter 1355. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Eighteen) Is narcissism an innate male ability? Why were all of them so narcissistic? Especially Yan Rusheng¡ªhe¡¯s pretentious too. Comparatively, Lu Yinan seems pretty decent. ¡°Are you thinking that I¡¯m not bad after all?¡± Zhou Shuang became guilty. Did this fellow read minds? How did he know what she was thinking? She bowed her head and tucked her hands into her pockets. She kicked the floor, blushing and too embarrassed to look at Lu Yinan. ¡°This one,¡± Lu Yinan said, suddenly grabbing her arm and pointing at a dessert shop ahead. Zhou Shuang looked over. The shop was an international chain. It had two well-known branches in the capital city. She nodded in agreement. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lu Yinan said, grabbing hold of Zhou Shuang¡¯s elbow in a natural movement. Zhou Shuang looked down at it. He was grabbing the area below her elbow. He wasn¡¯t holding her hand; he was more like¡­ supporting her. She pursed her lips, a complicated smile on her face. ¡°Hey, watch out¡­¡± Suddenly, a football rolled towards them. Lu Yinan quickly tightened his grip on her arm when he saw it coming. At the same time, he lifted his foot and stepped on the ball, stopping it. Then he turned to look toward where it came from. Three children were looking at them from afar. There were two boys and a girl who was considerably younger than the boys. She was standing between them. They were all citizens of Country M. They had blond hair, blue eyes, and were all good-looking. ¡°Hi, kick the ball over,¡± the small girl suddenly shouted daringly. She waved her hands at him. Lu Yinan frowned. A playful smile formed on his lips. ¡°Why?¡± The boys, flanking the girl, folded their arms, trying to act like adults. They glared at him and said, ¡°That¡¯s our ball.¡± Lu Yinan continued frowning at them. ¡°Did you know, your ball almost hit someone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the girl replied with a shrug. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t on purpose,¡± she said, shaking her head. Seeing her petite figure, Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. He smiled and placed the ball down, kicking it lightly. The ball stopped right in front of the three children. One boy picked it up and the other rubbed the girl¡¯s head tenderly. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s go.¡± She nodded obediently. Hand in hand with the two boys, they left. Lu Yinan became lost in thought as he watched the three children, one hand in his pocket and the other holding Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm. Zhou Shuang also stared awhile longer at the three cute children before averting her gaze. Then she realized that Lu Yinan was staring blankly in the direction that the kids left in. She pouted and commented, ¡°Lu Yinan, I remember that you were pretty good at football in senior high school.¡± Lu Yinan retracted his gaze and glanced at Zhou Shuang. He smirked smugly and said, ¡°Just ¡®pretty good¡¯?¡± His skills were superb! He even took part in the national youth football competitions. Zhou Shuang looked contemptuously at him. ¡± Tch , it was just a small comment. You don¡¯t have to make a big fuss out of it.¡± Then she shrugged his hand off and walked towards the dessert shop. Actually, she had wanted to do it a long time ago. She wasn¡¯t old¡ªshe didn¡¯t need anyone to support her! Chapter 1356. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Nineteen) Lu Yinan didn¡¯t care about her shrugging his hand off. He was used to her attitude towards him¡ªas though he was full of pricks. He caught up with her in no time, asking, ¡°Have you gone for a prenatal checkup recently?¡± Zhou Shuang nodded, then suspiciously looked at the man beside her. ¡°Yes, what do you want?¡± Why would he suddenly ask her about it? They had already entered the desserts shop. There was an empty seat and Zhou Shuang walked towards it, sitting down. Lu Yinan followed after her with anxious feet. He sat opposite her and asked with a smile, ¡°Did the doctor tell you their genders?¡± His gaze turned to Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly, eyes full of anticipation. Zhou Shuang nodded, blinking. ¡°Yes, she did.¡± Here, doctors could disclose the baby¡¯s gender. Lu Yinan became excited. ¡°Are they boys or girls?¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± So he was concerned about the genders of his children. Could this fellow be prejudiced against a certain gender? Hmph. So what if he is? They¡¯re her children¡ªher love for them would be enough. They didn¡¯t need his love. Lu Yinan was speechless. Zhou Shuang saw that Lu Yinan was about to continue pestering her so she picked up the menu and gave her order to the waiter. After she was done, she looked up at him. ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± ¡°Anything.¡± Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t sit still. He was eager to know the genders of his three children. It¡¯ll be good if they were two boys and a girl, just like the three kids earlier. He didn¡¯t know if the kids they saw just now were siblings, but he really liked how the two boys took care of the little girl. Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®anything¡¯ on the menu.¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t feel like deciding on what he wanted to drink, so he waved the waiter off, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll get the same drink as her.¡± The waiter nodded before leaving. Lu Yinan asked her, ¡°Do you prefer boys or girls?¡± He was going to trick her into revealing their genders. Or else, he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. Zhou Shuang shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like either of them.¡± Actually, she didn¡¯t take a liking to kids. They were too annoying. As for her own children, that was a different story. Lu Yinan smiled and said, ¡°Many people in my family love kids. After giving birth, you can relax and leave it to them.¡± Zhou Shuang smiled coolly. ¡°You wish. Don¡¯t try to trick me; I¡¯m not that stupid. The three children are mine. I¡¯m not giving them to your family.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless. Why couldn¡¯t he get through to this hooligan? Young Master Lu was at the end of his tether. He frowned and asked, ¡°You¡¯re giving birth to three children. Who else will want you other than myself?¡± Zhou Shuang looked at him, amused. ¡°Why would I want someone to want me? I must see if I want him first.¡± ¡°Are the children boys or girls?¡± Lu Yinan asked again. If she still would not reveal it, he was going to force it out of her. Zhou Shuang grinned. ¡°You want to know?¡± Lu Yinan became furious. ¡°Of course.¡± But from the evil look on her face, he knew that she wasn¡¯t going to give in to him so easily. ¡°Then I won¡¯t tell you. Hahaha¡­¡± Zhou Shuang said, lifting her head and laughing exaggeratedly. At that moment, their beverages and desserts arrived. Lu Yinan clenched his fists, staring at Zhou Shuang¡¯s smug face. How he wanted to splash the beverage on her face! Chapter 1357. Various Public Displays of Affection (part Twenty) Then he picked up the glass because he was frustrated with the exchange he had with Zhou Shuang. He wanted to quench his thirst. He gulped it down, before realizing something. Zhou Shuang also picked up the glass, ready to drink from it. ¡°Zhou Shuang,¡± Lu Yinan suddenly called, extending his hand to snatch the glass out of her hands at the same time. Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you doing?¡± Why did he snatch her glass away? ¡°The weather is so cold and you¡¯re drinking an iced beverage?¡± Lu Yinan chided before waving a waitress over. She smiled and walked over. ¡°Sir, how may I help you?¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°I want a glass of hot mango milk.¡± He passed her the glass of beverage that he snatched from Zhou Shuang. ¡°Pour this away.¡± It slightly startled the waitress, but she smiled and replied, ¡°Sure, please give me a moment.¡± She took the glass from him. Zhou Shuang became anxious. ¡°Do not pour it away. Pass it to me.¡± She pointed at the waitress. In her anxiousness, she sounded commanding. The waitress hesitated, at a loss of what to do. She didn¡¯t listen to Zhou Shuang. Instead, she looked over at Lu Yinan. Her action was an obvious sign of Zhou Shuang¡¯s lack of authority. Hmph! Refusing to be looked down upon, Zhou Shuang glared at Lu Yinan. ¡°Sissy Lu, who gave you the right to pour my drink away?¡± They had been conversing in Chinese, but this time, Zhou Shuang used English, and she raised her voice. It was obvious that she wanted the waitress and everyone around them to despise him. The expression on his handsome face darkened. He furrowed his eyebrows and gritted his teeth, warning the woman seated opposite him. ¡°Hooligan, please use my name in front of outsiders.¡± Zhou Shuang snorted. ¡°I refuse. Sissy Lu, Sissy Lu, Sissy Lu¡­¡± Her voice turned louder with each word. Lu Yinan was furious, but he smiled. Ignoring Zhou Shuang, he said to the waitress, ¡°Ignore her. The mother of my children has a screw loose up here.¡± He pointed at his head, his meaning clear as day. Then he waved her off. ¡°Pour it away. It¡¯s fine.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s words were like an imperial edict. The waitress nodded and left immediately. Zhou Shuang stomped her foot. Lu Yinan spitefully lifted his glass with both hands and gulped it down. Zhou Shuang looked over, furious. His smug look made her feel like ripping his face apart. Suddenly, something crossed her mind. A sly look flashed across her eyes. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly exclaimed, holding her belly in pain. She frowned and gave a face of pain. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Yinan anxiously placed down his glass and stood up immediately, rushing over to her side. He asked worriedly, ¡°Where are you feeling unwell?¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly smirked and grabbed his drink, placing the straw in her mouth and sucking furiously. Her series of actions was seamless. She gripped the glass tightly, drinking smugly as she looked at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan was dumbfounded! Only Hooligan Zhou would go through so much trouble for a glass of beverages. As he looked at Zhou Shuang¡¯s smug face, he got lost in thought before smiling and shaking his head helplessly. Chapter 1358. His Proposal (part One) Forget it. Let her drink it if she wants to. ¡°It¡¯s winter and you¡¯re taking such a cold drink. Can the children take it?¡± Lu Yinan asked, frowning at her belly, worried about his children. It worried him that she would catch a cold and she had to be careful about taking medication. At the end of the day, she¡¯d be the one to suffer. Zhou Shuang glared unhappily at him. ¡°Lu Yinan, can you stop being so shameless? Are you only concerned about the children?¡± Then she continued drinking. Wasn¡¯t he worried that she and the children would catch a cold? All the more she was going to drink and make his heart ache even more. Hmph! Actually, she knew her limits. Her body was so warm, surely her children wouldn¡¯t catch a cold. Her tone seemed to have a hint of¡­ jealousy? Lu Yinan could hear the bitterness in her voice. Seeing her frustrated look, it seemed as though she was just trying to make things difficult for him? As he thought about it, his lips curled upwards. He leaned back in his seat and lazily looked at her. ¡°I want to care about you, but you don¡¯t want it.¡± Zhou Shuang realized that she had spoken without thinking. She blushed profusely. She bowed her head and mumbled softly, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your concern.¡± Is this hooligan blushing for real? Lu Yinan stared at Zhou Shuang, who was almost hiding her head below the table. He confirmed that she was embarrassed and couldn¡¯t hold himself back from teasing her. ¡°You drank my beverage. I used that same straw just now.¡± Actually, he had wanted to mention that from the start. Suddenly, she stopped drinking. She peered up at him and he seemed to stare deep into her soul, making her nervous. She hurriedly averted her gaze. Lu Yinan observed her reaction, satisfied at seeing her blush. Zhou Shuang felt his gaze on her and she felt very uneasy although she didn¡¯t meet his gaze. Her face¡­ was getting hotter. ¡®I¡¯ve had enough,¡¯ Zhou Shuang thought. She met his gaze and said, ¡°So what if you¡¯ve used it before? We already kissed in the morning. You¡¯ve never tasted my saliva before? Huh?¡± Then she placed the straw in her mouth, pretending that it was of no issue to her. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ Hooligan Zhou Shuang was probably the only woman in the world who would continue acting like a hooligan while blushing profusely. He shook his head, amused. To cover her awkwardness, Zhou Shuang finished the beverage. Then she put the glass down, picking up her fork and starting at the dessert. Lu Yinan was on his phone. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t know what he was looking at. It seemed to capture all his attention, and he even smiled occasionally, so he should be texting someone. The image of him smiling while chatting with the beautiful blond woman yesterday subconsciously floated into her mind. She dipped her fork into the last bit of dessert, opened her mouth, and stuffed it into her mouth. Her mouth was stuffed like a bun. She chewed arduously. ¡°Shuang.¡± Suddenly, Lu Yinan called and looked up at her. Zhou Shuang covered her mouth. Her eyeballs bulged and then she started coughing vigorously. She was obviously choking. Chapter 1359. His Proposal (part Two) Lu Yinan quickly passed her the glass of mango milk. ¡°Slow down. I¡¯m not fighting with you for any of this.¡± Zhou Shuang took the mango milk from him and gulped it down. The horrible feeling left after a while, and she stopped coughing. Then she looked up and glared at him. ¡°Are you looking for death? Why did you call me so chummily?¡± Heck, Xuxu was the only one who called her that! Did he think that they were close? He almost made her choke to death. Lu Yinan pressed his lips together, speechless. He had thought that she had accidentally choked, but it turned out that it was because of the name he called her. Lu Yinan thought for a while before asking in amusement. ¡°We already have children, why do we have to be so distant?¡± Zhou Shuang blushed again. She pressed her lips together and unhappily said, ¡°Why did you call me?¡± ¡°Are the children boys or girls?¡± Lu Yinan asked again. Looking at his anxious face, Zhou Shuang smiled. She then glared at him with serious eyes and said, ¡°Whether you¡¯ll find out depends on your performance today.¡± She snorted and looked elsewhere. Depend on his performance today¡­? So he just had to treat her like a queen the whole day? That was easy. Even if she would not tell him their genders, he would still follow her around. After all, she was carrying his children. Old Master had already said that if he doesn¡¯t bring Zhou Shuang home for this New Year¡¯s, he could forget about going home as well. He could roam the streets for New Year¡¯s instead. Young Master Lu nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± He then smiled and asked her, ¡°My Queen, do you need anything?¡± Zhou Shuang tilted her chin up arrogantly, ignoring him¡­ ¡­ In the amusement park¡­ Yan Rusheng¡¯s frown never left. On the other hand, Xuxu and Su Yue were having the time of their lives, especially Su Yue. There were little kids everywhere. Almost everyone came with kids. F*ck. He, the president of Flourish & Prosper, was standing in this amusement park, carrying two handbags. Indeed. Miss Wen was worried that Su Yue would be exhausted, so she had passed Su Yue¡¯s bag to Young Master Yan. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want to watch this.¡± Since the start, Su Yue had tried every ride that she could. She stopped at the entrance of the 9D movie theater. She pointed at the entrance. Before Xuxu could reply, Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°What¡¯s so nice about that? I¡¯ll buy it for you when we head back to the capital city.¡± He sounded extremely impatient. Xuxu knew that he had endured enough and her heart ached for him. Her gaze swept across the entire area and she saw a cafe. She pointed at it and said to him, ¡°Ah Sheng, you can sit at the cafe and wait for us.¡± Yan Rusheng could hear the heartache in her voice and he reached out to grab her waist. He gazed at her and said, ¡°Wife, my heart aches for you too.¡± Then he kissed her on the lips like there was no one around. This was obviously a public display of affection. In actual fact, he was always engaging in public displays of affection. When he bought drinks, he insisted that they share one, so both of them would fight over it. It was the same for food. They had various public displays of affection. Of course¡­ Yan Rusheng started everything. Chapter 1360. His Proposal (part Three) Su Yue was speechless. She looked at Yan Rusheng contemptuously before turning to Xuxu and saying, ¡°Third sister-in-law, you should go to the cafe with third brother for a rest. I can play by myself and I¡¯ll find you later.¡± She knew that Xuxu was tired as well. She didn¡¯t get any rest since they entered. She was having a whale of a time, but she knew that third sister-in-law wasn¡¯t interested in these things. She was just accompanying her. Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s too crowded.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not a kid anymore. You and third brother can take a rest. I¡¯ll go have fun.¡± She said as she pushed Xuxu away. Yan Rusheng said to Xuxu, ¡°Let her play by herself. Let¡¯s take a rest.¡± Xuxu wanted to say something, but Yan Rusheng immediately waved Su Yue off. ¡°Su Yue, be careful. Call us if anything happens.¡± Then he wrapped his arms around Xuxu and dragged her away. Xuxu frowned. She complained, ¡°Yan Rusheng, there are so many people. You¡¯re not worried about her?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned as well. ¡°She¡¯s much more mature now. She¡¯s an adult. She¡¯s no longer the same girl she was when we first met her. Didn¡¯t you realize?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Xuxu sighed. ¡°But I¡¯m worried.¡± Indeed, worrying had become her habit. With time, anything could turn into a habit. Xuxu turned her head to look at Su Yue. She looked ecstatic as she bounded into the 9D movie theater. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng called her unhappily. Xuxu retracted her gaze. ¡°What?¡± Yan Rusheng looked unhappy. He said to her, ¡°I hope that you can spend more time with me.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ This fellow, has he had enough? She crudely asked, ¡°Are you unable to take care of yourself?¡± ¡°Stupid woman, are you cursing me?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. A dangerous aura emanated from him. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Xuxu retracted her neck, rushing away from Yan Rusheng. But Yan Rusheng refused to let her off. He caught up with her, hugging her waist and carried her bridal style, spinning her around. Su Yue wasn¡¯t there. At that moment, it was just the both of them¡­ Xuxu felt awkward at first, but after spinning one round, she felt better. The small children passing by were blowing bubbles. The bubbles flew towards them, adding to the romantic atmosphere. Xuxu extended her hand to catch one and it disappeared. She then stretched her hand out to catch another one. Yan Rusheng stared at the woman in his arms, spinning slower. He looked at her from his height, watching her with a deep gaze full of warmth and gentleness. Xuxu started blushing. ¡°Why¡­ Why are you staring at me?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Xuxu, let¡¯s elope.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Yan Rusheng softly warned, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to bring any more ¡®light bulbs¡¯ on our next honeymoon.¡± This fellow, he was still harping on this? Xuxu was angry yet amused. But when she looked at Yan Rusheng¡¯s handsome face, it filled her eyes with tenderness. She hugged his neck with both arms, suddenly extending her neck and giving him a quick peck. ¡°You haven¡¯t proposed to me yet. Hmph. ¡± Yan Rusheng laughed when he heard her. His laughter was bright and hearty, gaining the attention of all the women passing by. Chapter 1361. His Proposal (part Four) Xuxu blushed. She clenched her fists and pounded on his chest. ¡°Stop laughing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll propose to you on the bed tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng looked down and kissed her quickly. Then he grinned. ¡°You kissed me just now, so I¡¯m returning the favor¡­¡± Her heart softened. She hugged his waist, snuggling into his embrace. The pure and ecstatic laughter of the kids surrounding them brought her back to their childhood. ¡®The bride and groom may now exchange the wedding rings¡­¡¯ ¡®You may now kiss the bride¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not kissing her, she¡¯s so fierce.¡¯ ¡®Yan Rusheng, are you going to kiss her or not?¡¯ ¡­ ¡°You were my wife since you were five. Why haven¡¯t you done your duty as a wife?¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly broke the silence. He looked at Xuxu, feigning unhappiness. Xuxu snorted. ¡°Have you done your duty as a husband?¡± He had the nerve to mention this? She was by his side for so many years, being jealous of so many girls¡­ Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°I was still young back then. My organs weren¡¯t fully developed, how could I do my duty?¡± Xuxu became annoyed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, enough!¡± She then blushed profusely. Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°Haha. Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman, darned woman, annoying woman.¡± He chided tenderly, squeezing his arms around her. The more he loved her, the more he wanted to tease her. How he wished he could bury her inside of him, never having to part. Xuxu was indignant. She chided, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you arrogant cry baby that cries easily. You have no guts.¡± Yan Rusheng calmly replied, ¡°From today onwards, I¡¯ll show you just how gutsy I am every night.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. This fellow couldn¡¯t hold a proper conversation without taking things out of context. She¡¯d had enough. Xuxu was speechless for a while before changing the topic. ¡°Put me down quickly. Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get tired after doing it the entire night. Why would I be tired of carrying you?¡± Yan Rusheng ignored the crowd as he carried her to the cafe. Xuxu blushed, gritting her teeth as she glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Can you say three lines without bringing up anything inappropriate?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded, then he looked down at her. ¡°Really?¡± Xuxu became interested. ¡°Let me hear it.¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I love you.¡± Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I really like you.¡± Yan Rusheng added, ¡°Xuxu, Rusheng wants you to marry him. Are you willing?¡± There weren¡¯t any rose petals forming a heart shape, nor a candlelit dinner. There were no friends or family witnessing it, neither was there a diamond ring. But tears rolled uncontrollably from Xuxu¡¯s eyes. She bit her lip and nodded. Xuxu Rusheng! Wang Daqin¡¯s last words to her rang in her ears. She buried her head in his chest, crying uncontrollably. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why do you love me so much?¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t comprehend why she was crying so badly. He looked down at her, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m too outstanding.¡± Xuxu laughed and rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Narcissistic.¡± Chapter 1362. His Proposal (part Five) She wrestled out of his embrace and jumped onto the ground. Xuxu reached for his hand and they walked hand-in-hand into the cafe. ¡°Despicable!¡± A man wearing sunshades and in a black sweater emerged from behind the publicity poster at the entrance of the 9D movie theater. He glared venomously at Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. He silently cursed him. F*ck. Engaging in public displays of affection in front of so many people? Simply despicable! A tall handsome man headed towards the movie theater, silently cursing Yan Rusheng for his high-profile public displays of affection. Indignant was written all over his handsome face. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck. Lu Yinan could follow Zhou Shuang around, and Yan Rusheng could kiss Wen Xuxu in broad daylight. Yet, he had to act like a wanted criminal? He was wearing his most hated sweater and wearing sunglasses although it wasn¡¯t sunny. How pretentious he felt! B*stard. He made his way into the theater. The twenty-minute 9D movie had just ended and the crowd was heading towards the exit. He ran towards the exit, immediately spotting the small figure he was looking for in the crowd. He neared her and suddenly took out a rose from his pocket, placing it in front of her. He said in a low voice, ¡°Miss, would you like to buy a rose?¡± Su Yue was holding a drink in one hand and her phone in the other. She was looking at the picture he had posted on his Moments a few minutes ago. When she heard someone ask her if she wanted to buy a rose, she rejected him without thinking. ¡°No.¡± She didn¡¯t even lift her head. The man was persistent. He followed after her. ¡°It¡¯s very cheap.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t want it even if it¡¯s cheap.¡± She then increased her pace. He quickened his steps as well, his voice kept low. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡°No.¡± Su Yue frowned. She was annoyed and turned off her lock screen. She turned to look at the man who was selling her the rose. She was about to scold him when she saw his face, and her mouth hung open. He smiled tenderly. ¡°It¡¯s free. I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡°Uncle Ming?¡± Su Yue asked, in shock. She blinked. Was her eyesight failing her? Why was Uncle Ming here? Ming Ansheng ignored her and returned to his usual voice. ¡°Was the movie good?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue nodded. Then she recalled something and grabbed his wrist, pulling him to a corner. She whispered, chiding him, ¡°Uncle Ming, why are you here? My third sister-in-law and third brother are outside. You have to leave.¡± Then she grabbed his elbow and pushed him towards the exit. She looked around as though she was a thief. This scene made Ming Ansheng recall the loving moment between Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu earlier. His heart clenched. He looked left and right, then gave in to his desires. He grabbed her waist with one hand and held her head with the other. Then he lowered his head and kissed her red lips. In full view of everyone. Young Master Ming was secretly satisfied. He could finally express his love openly. Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She tried to push him away, but she was no match for him. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t move an inch. Chapter 1363. Uncle Ming, Hide Quickly (part One) She frowned in frustration. She forcefully bit his lip. Ming Ansheng bore with the pain, not letting go of her until the taste of blood entered their mouths. ¡°Little lass, that was too harsh,¡± Ming Ansheng scolded, wiping the blood off his lip. ¡°Luckily you didn¡¯t bite my tongue. You would¡¯ve surely bitten it off.¡± His heart ached when she lost a strand of hair. Can¡¯t she take more pity on him? She had no qualms about biting him. And she had made him hide in a cupboard, almost suffocating to death. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before: we have to keep low. Why did you kiss me in front of so many people?¡± Su Yue glared at him. She chided, ¡°What if my third brother and third sister-in-law saw us?¡± She looked around guiltily, afraid that Xuxu would appear. Su Yue was on tenterhooks. Ming Ansheng lost it at the mention of Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu. ¡°They¡¯re too busy for that.¡± He knew that Su Yue didn¡¯t want to go public about their relationship, not just because she was afraid of his grandfather¡¯s objection, but also because she didn¡¯t want Wen Xuxu to know. She felt that dating him was embarrassing. Of course, he knew that it wasn¡¯t because he was inferior. It was because, like himself, she felt awkward because of his brotherhood with Yan Rusheng. Su Yue didn¡¯t understand what he meant. ¡°What do you mean?¡± What was third brother and third sister-in-law busy with? Her eyes suddenly widened. She looked at him in panic. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯ve seen my third sister-in-law and third brother?¡± How else would he know that they were busy? ¡°I saw them from afar,¡± Ming Ansheng replied. ¡°Your third brother carried your third sister-in-law into the amusement park hotel. I estimate that they won¡¯t be out for one or two hours.¡± Su Yue frowned in confusion. ¡°What are they doing in the hotel when it¡¯s still bright outside?¡± She never liked to think deeper into things. In actual fact, she was too pure and innocent. ¡°If you want to know, you can go in with me,¡± Ming Ansheng smirked. Su Yue immediately recalled something when she saw the dirty smile on his face. She blushed and bowed her head, pinching his chest. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re a rogue.¡± Ming Ansheng feigned innocence. ¡°What did I say?¡± Su Yue knew that he was pretending and decided not to pursue it further. But she was still uneasy. ¡°My third brother and third sister-in-law really went to do it in the hotel?¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. All the things he thought he never had to do in his lifetime when dating, he did today. From hiding in a cupboard and hiding at familiar faces, to lying¡­ That¡¯s right. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu had entered the cafe, not the hotel. But if he didn¡¯t lie to her, she would definitely chase him away. He felt so aggrieved¡­ Su Yue nodded and her gaze swept over his face. Then she took his sunglasses from his hand, putting it on for him. ¡°Then put on your sunglasses. Don¡¯t let them see you.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. He should¡¯ve felt fortunate that it was still daytime. Since he was wearing sunglasses when it wasn¡¯t sunny, the worst he would be called was pretentious. If it were in the night, bystanders would think that he was crazy. Chapter 1364. Uncle Ming, Hide Quickly (part Two) At the start, she was still looking around with uneasy eyes as she walked. However, she let her guard down after a while. Mainly because she forgot. Ming Ansheng led her in the opposite direction from the cafe. The amusement park was large and the further they walked away, the less likely they would encounter them. The amusement park was filled with screams. The more screams there were on the ride, the more popular it was. There was a rollercoaster up ahead and the riders were screaming wildly. There were many people queuing for it. Su Yue¡¯s eyes brightened when she saw the roller coaster go past her at breakneck speed. She pulled Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Uncle Ming, let¡¯s go on the rollercoaster later.¡± Shock flashed across his eyes when he heard her. He frowned and asked, ¡°Haven¡¯t you ridden on it before?¡± ¡°I want to go on it again,¡± Su Yue pleaded. Then she thought of something and frowned. ¡°How did you know that I went on it already?¡± She squinted at him in suspicion, and before he could reply, she asked confidently, ¡°You were following me the whole time?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t shake or nod his head. Silence means consent. Su Yue clenched her fists and pounded her fist on his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re too brazen. What if¡­¡± Ming Ansheng interrupted, ¡°There are no ¡®what ifs¡¯. The truth is that I wasn¡¯t discovered.¡± He then tilted his chin up slightly in an act of annoyance. Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s ride on the rollercoaster.¡± She grabbed his elbow and dragged him towards the queue. Ming Ansheng refused to budge. ¡°Let¡¯s not. There are so many people and we¡¯ll have to queue for a long time.¡± Su Yue saw his blushing face and held in her laughter. ¡°You¡¯re afraid?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned and denied. ¡°How could I be? I¡¯ve surfed and even street raced. What haven¡¯t I done before? How could I be afraid of rollercoasters?¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t tell if he was really afraid or not. She was just trying to ridicule him until he gave in. ¡°If you weren¡¯t afraid, do you dare to ride it with me?¡± This tactic of hers worked. To be exact, only Su Yue¡¯s taunting tactic would work on him. There was a saying¡­ One would willingly act stupid in front of a loved one. Even if you knew that he was lying or teasing you, you¡¯d still do it willingly. He patted his chest and declared, ¡°Why not? You¡¯d better not scream in my ear later.¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Riding a rollercoaster is only thrilling if you scream.¡± Ming Ansheng mumbled, ¡°Actually, screaming is even more thrilling during something else.¡± Although his voice was small, Su Yue still heard him. She asked in curiosity, ¡°What activity is that?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Ming Ansheng replied with a shake of his head. Then he diverted her attention, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s join the queue.¡± Both of them joined the queue. Su Yue instructed, ¡°Stay in the queue, I¡¯ll get us drinks. I¡¯m thirsty.¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°You queue. I¡¯ll buy the drinks.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue nodded. Although the queue was long, it moved quickly. It was almost their turn and Ming Ansheng hadn¡¯t returned. Su Yue anxiously looked in the direction in which he left earlier. Chapter 1365. Uncle Ming, Hide Quickly (part Three) Ming Ansheng returned at the same time, holding a drink. He drank from it as he headed towards her. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get one for me? Why did you only buy one?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we share?¡± Ming Ansheng questioned, raising his eyebrow at her. Su Yue suddenly remembered something and chuckled. She took the drink from him and drank a mouthful. Then she said, ¡°Actually, I despise my third brother¡¯s various public displays of affection.¡± Ming Ansheng tapped her nose lightly and said, ¡°Little one, you¡¯re just jealous.¡± Then he bent down and snatched the straw out of her mouth, taking a huge slurp. ¡°You¡¯re annoying.¡± Su Yue blushed, pushing him away forcefully. Then she looked away and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want it. Third sister-in-law always rejects him. She obviously dislikes it.¡± She despised her third brother doing it, but¡­ if it were Uncle Ming doing it to her instead, it seemed good. Men loved it when their women were shy. Ming Ansheng was no different. He liked it when Su Yue blushed. He found her exceptionally attractive. He wound his arm around her waist and whispered seductively in her ear, ¡°Women like to refuse even though they actually want it.¡± Su Yue snorted. ¡°I won¡¯t reject it if I like it.¡± In reality, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case¡­ Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Yes. I have figured that you¡¯ll take initiative.¡± The corner of his lip curled upwards. Su Yue understood what he meant immediately. She blushed. ¡°Annoying.¡± ¡°Next.¡± The ride attendee called. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng looked over. The visitors in front of them in the queue went on the ride one by one. Su Yue saw the number of people in front of them and said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°I think we¡¯ll be able to ride in the next batch.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ming Ansheng answered, sounding¡­ deflated. He looked at the rollercoaster carriage, his palms sweating. ¡°The next three.¡± The attendee said waved. The next three? Su Yue looked forward and smiled happily. ¡°Uncle Ming, it¡¯s our turn.¡± She held his hand and sprinted forward. Ming Ansheng followed unwillingly. At the entrance, the attendee made her put the drink aside before letting her in. On the rollercoaster carriage, Su Yue smiled at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming, let¡¯s take a selfie later.¡± Ming Ansheng looked at her weirdly. ¡°With that speed? The phone will fly away.¡± This lass was indeed one of a kind. On rollercoasters, didn¡¯t girls usually hug the elbows of their boyfriends tightly, saying ¡®I¡¯m scared¡¯? To think she wanted to take selfie¡­ Su Yue shook her head. ¡°It won¡¯t. I have a secret weapon.¡± Then she took out her phone from her pocket, followed by a small pouch with a long string. She placed the phone in the pouch and hung the string around her neck. Then she looked up and grinned at him. ¡°See, this way, the phone won¡¯t fly away even if I don¡¯t hold it. Isn¡¯t it a perfect plan?¡± Ming Ansheng stared at her secret weapon, smiling. Was he that lame? ¡°Buckle your seatbelt,¡± the ride attendee said, going around to check if all the riders had their seatbelts fastened. Chapter 1366. Uncle Ming, Hide Quickly (part Four) Su Yue and Ming Ansheng were the last two. After they checked them, the attendee nodded towards somewhere. Young Master Ming¡¯s heart skipped a beat and his handsome face turned pale. He gritted his teeth and the carriage started moving. Su Yue was incredibly excited. ¡°Let¡¯s take a selfie first.¡± She then raised her phone high, grabbing Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand with her other arm. She helped him make a ¡®peace¡¯ sign. ¡°Uncle Ming, cheese!¡± In the frame, Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression was stiff. He grinned along with her, saying ¡®cheese¡¯. Su Yue took the photo and Ming Ansheng¡¯s stiff expression hardened. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The carriage suddenly increased in speed. Su Yue shrieked before grabbing his elbow, exclaiming, ¡°Uncle Ming, it¡¯s starting, it¡¯s starting!¡± Her eyes were bright and shimmering with excitement. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips together and nodded. He grabbed tightly to the railing in front of him, closing his eyes, as though he was sending himself to his grave. Undeniably, the ride was thrilling. Screams filled the air, each getting more high-pitched than before. Su Yue was shrieking loudly as well. Su Yue turned to look at Ming Ansheng. When she saw that his eyes were closed, she pressed her lips together, as though she was holding in something. She frowned and said, ¡°Uncle Ming, you should scream. It¡¯s not embarrassing. They say that you¡¯re supposed to scream on roller coasters. The more you scream, the more exhilarating it gets.¡± Ming Ansheng opened his eyes and gave her a look. ¡°Screaming on the bed is even more thrilling, yet I didn¡¯t see you screaming.¡± He knew that Su Yue wouldn¡¯t agree to it, so this way, he wouldn¡¯t have to shout either. F*ck. He was the President of Bright Vision. Screaming would affect his image. Especially his image in front of Su Yue. He knew that he was a steady uncle figure to her. Her love for him also held a tinge of admiration. He was determined not to ruin Su Yue¡¯s image of him. He had to maintain his steadiness. Su Yue blushed. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re gross. You¡¯re incorrigible. Ahh¡­¡± Su Yue screamed at a sudden turn before she could finish her sentence. Then it slowed and she looked at Ming Ansheng with a frown. ¡°Are you going to scream or not?¡± Although he was pale and he was sweating profusely, Uncle Ming was determined to maintain his steady image. He kept a straight face and asked her, ¡°If you promise to scream tonight, I¡¯ll scream now.¡± It was such an inappropriate topic, but he negotiated with her so formally. ¡°Are you going to scream or not?¡± Su Yue asked, her tone threatening. Before he could reply, she suddenly hugged his neck, pulled him downwards and kissed him on the lips. ¡°Oof¡­¡± Ming Ansheng frowned, his eyes widening and silently cursing. Darn it. This little thing is too brazen. For his safety, he continued gripping tightly to the handrails in front of him, while Su Yue hugged him tightly. At another sudden turning, both of them instinctively sucked each other¡¯s lips. At that moment, both of them felt amazement like never before. The carriage came to a slow and it was about to an end. Su Yue was still hugging his neck and sucking his lips. The carriage came to a halt, and Su Yue only let go of him after everyone unbuckled their seatbelts. She then mischievously raised her eyebrow at him. ¡°Uncle Ming, this is how you do a high-profile, high-level public display of affection. My third brother¡¯s are all too low standard.¡± Chapter 1367. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part One) Ming Ansheng was speechless. His heart was pounding furiously and he hasn¡¯t recovered fully. But Su Yue¡¯s remarks effortlessly cracked him up. Come to think of it, those roller coaster rides were nothing as compared to the excitement that came along with dating a young girl. A combination of surprise and shock. He had barely recovered himself when she sprung another surprise on him once again. How strong must his heart be to endure all this excitement and surprises? ¡°Uncle Ming, do you want to try it again?¡± Su Yue saw Ming Ansheng¡¯s blank expression and she grinned slyly. Ming Ansheng declined immediately, ¡°No.¡± He removed his safety belt and leaped off agilely. Su Yue followed closely behind. ¡°Uncle Ming, what shall we do next?¡± She had barely finished talking when her phone started to ring. After glancing at the phone screen, she became considerably tense. ¡°Uncle Ming, hide quickly! My third sister-in-law is calling me.¡± Su Yue tugged at Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and her eyes wandered around at her surroundings, trying to find a hiding place. Ming Ansheng frowned, wasn¡¯t she panicking too much? It was just a phone call. He puffed up his chest and straightened his back. The thought of hiding had never crossed his mind. Su Yue became anxious and left him behind instead. She walked away from Ming Ansheng and answered the call. ¡°Hello, Third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu¡¯s anxious voice sounded. ¡°Yueyue, where are you? Where did you go?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Su Yue opened her mouth when a scream interrupted her. She answered hastily. ¡°I¡¯m at the roller coaster ride.¡± Ming Ansheng was exasperated! Why was this girl so honest? Would she die if she told a lie? Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°We guessed that you might be there. Stay there, we will be there shortly.¡± Su Yue widened her eyes. ¡°Both you and Third Brother are coming?¡± She glanced at Ming Ansheng as he stood there with his hands in his pockets. He looked completely at ease and relaxed. Xuxu could detect the anxiety in Su Yue¡¯s voice and she grew suspicious. ¡°Yes. Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Nothing! I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± Su Yue ended the call hastily and turned around. She spluttered, ¡°Uncle Ming¡­ I¡­ My third brother and third sister-in-law are coming. Go hide now¡­¡± She nudged Ming Ansheng and motioned to an area near the huge trash cans. She soon realized that the trash cans wouldn¡¯t be able to hide Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was exasperated and frustrated at the same time when he saw how anxious Su Yue was. Sounding defeated, he said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go somewhere else.¡± Su Yue heard him and grinned happily. ¡°Okay!¡± She tiptoed and gave Ming Ansheng a peck on his lips. ¡°Uncle Ming, thank you.¡± There was a trace of helplessness in Ming Ansheng¡¯s smile. She could easily dissolve his unhappiness and frustration every single time with a single kiss. ¡°I have something to attend to, see you tonight,¡± Ming Ansheng whispered before putting on his sunglasses. He bent and kissed Su Yue¡¯s plump cheek. He swiftly turned around and walked off in the opposite direction. As the man began to fade away from sight, Su Yue suddenly felt a twang of pain in her heart. She had an urge to chase after him. Chapter 1368. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part Two) ¡°Yueyue.¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s voice prevented Su Yue from chasing after Ming Ansheng. Her attention was diverted and she snapped back to her senses. Su Yue retracted her gaze and turned towards the direction of the voice. Xuxu was strolling towards her with Yan Rusheng. Su Yue smiled and threw a furtive glance at the direction where Ming Ansheng left. He had vanished from her sight. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Xuxu eyed Su Yue when she noticed her gazing absentmindedly into the distance. Su Yue shook her head and managed a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much.¡± She glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°I thought you wanted to take a rest? Why did you come back so soon?¡± She only took a ride with Uncle Ming. Su Yue felt rather despondent. Xuxu said, ¡°I¡¯m worried about you. What ride do you want to try? Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like playing anymore. Let¡¯s go back,¡± Su Yue replied softly and hung her head. At the thought of Ming Ansheng¡¯s forlorn-looking figure, she suddenly lost all of her enthusiasm. She promised herself that she would come to the amusement park with Uncle Ming the next time. She could enjoy to her heart¡¯s content without hiding from anyone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu sensed that there was something wrong with Su Yue and it had her concerned. Su Yue bit her lips and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I took the roller coaster ride just now and I¡¯m tired.¡± Although Xuxu didn¡¯t know what happened to Su Yue, she seemed rather dispirited. Xuxu guessed that she wasn¡¯t in the mood to play any longer. She gazed in the direction where Su Yue was looking at just now and her suspicions began to bubble. Yan Rusheng was definitely in favor of ending their day at the amusement park. He trailed behind Xuxu and Su Yue as he carried Xuxu¡¯s bag for her. Su Yue appeared to be gloomy and down the entire day as she watched how Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang bickered with each other. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu continued to display affection for each other openly. All that was on her mind was Ming Ansheng. After she took a shower, she collapsed on her bed and stared at the ceiling. When will she be able to declare her relationship with Uncle Ming? She wanted to hold hands with him openly, just like how Third Brother and Third sister-in-law did. Without worrying about anything¡­ ¡®He will never let an illegitimate daughter whose mother was a mistress, enter the Ming family¡¯s doors¡­¡¯ ¡®I heard that Grandfather Ming doesn¡¯t like your family¡­¡¯ She heard that Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather was a very prideful man who emphasized heavily on social status and proper upbringing. There was no way he would approve of her. She was even more afraid that she would implicate Third Brother and Third sister-in-law. Su Yue had never felt so troubled and conflicted in her life. What could she do? What exactly should she do? It was almost 9 p.m., but Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t back. After a long day, Xuxu was also exhausted and didn¡¯t look for Su Yue. The room was dark, and Su Yue tossed and turned in bed. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t contact her at all ever since they parted ways. She wasn¡¯t sure if he was angry with her. He wanted to make their relationship public, but she refused. At that moment, her phone rang. Su Yue excitedly seized her phone and looked at the screen. Her eyes lit up; it was Ming Ansheng. She picked up the call and eagerly answered, ¡°Uncle Ming, why aren¡¯t you back?¡± Chapter 1369. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part Three) Ming Ansheng answered gently. ¡°I¡¯m at the hotel¡¯s entrance. Can you come down? I want to bring you somewhere fun.¡± Su Yue immediately agreed. ¡°Okay!¡± Ming Ansheng told her to look out for a black Maserati that was right outside the hotel. Su Yue took out her suitcase and rummaged for a pink top, which Xuxu had previously said that it looked good on her. She paired it with a white skirt and polka dots leggings, before putting on a pair of silvery-gray boots. She looked girlish and fresh. She took a sneak peek at the corridor after opening the door. She stepped out after making sure that it was empty. She was acting like a thief as she trod to the elevator. She heaved a sigh of relief only when she entered the elevator. It was freezing in the night. A blast of icy wind mercilessly attacked her, and it made Su Yue grip her clothes tightly. She walked down the steps and gazed into the distance. A black Maserati was parked next to the fountain. She walked to the back of the car for a closer look. Initially, she had no idea how the logo would look like, so before she came down she made a quick search online. After making sure that it was the Maserati, she opened the door. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Su Yue¡¯s hand had barely touched the car when a man¡¯s head peeked out from the window. He grinned at her. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, ¡°Uncle Ming?¡± She seemed startled. There was someone else in the driver¡¯s seat and it was a man with golden hair. She couldn¡¯t catch a proper glimpse of the man¡¯s features. There was another person in the front passenger seat, and Su Yue threw a casual glance. But she couldn¡¯t tell if it was a man or a woman. ¡°Why are you still standing there? Come in.¡± Ming Ansheng opened the doors and grabbed Su Yue¡¯s tiny hand. Su Yue nodded and got in. There was a light and pleasant fragrance in the car. At the first whiff, she knew it belonged to a woman. Su Yue glanced at the front passenger seat and finally got a good look at the person. She had long golden curls. She was wearing a wine-red coat and she exuded sultriness from head to toe. Su Yue was silently surveying the woman when she turned around to look at her. Their eyes met. Su Yue didn¡¯t feel embarrassed when she got caught scrutinizing the woman. She merely pursed her lips and averted her gaze. She didn¡¯t even introduce herself or say hi. The woman didn¡¯t seem to mind as she glanced at her. She smiled at Ming Ansheng and asked, ¡°Is your girlfriend underage?¡± She was obviously teasing him. Ming Ansheng smiled and replied, ¡°She just turned 18.¡± The woman nodded. ¡°She is cute.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and agreed readily. ¡°Same sentiments.¡± His Yueyue was not only cute. She was so adorable and lovely that she completely melted his heart. ¡°She is beautiful,¡± Dasmond, who was driving, interjected suddenly. He pressed the ignition button and drove the car out of the hotel premises. Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too.¡± He pointed at the man and introduced to Su Yue, ¡°Yueyue, that is Dasmond.¡± He then gestured to the lady and said, ¡°His wife, Victoria.¡± Chapter 1370. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part Four) Su Yue responded with a grunt as she wasn¡¯t used to such introductions. She merely showed that she had heard him. Ming Ansheng understood her too well and merely smiled. ¡°I have spoiled her.¡± Su Yue snorted quietly to herself. When did he spoil her? Why wasn¡¯t she aware? Ming Ansheng continued to chat with the couple. When the car fell silent, Su Yue inched closer to his ear and whispered, ¡°Uncle Ming, where are we going?¡± Didn¡¯t he say that he was bringing her somewhere fun? Why did he bring her to meet strangers? Will they be with them? If that was the case, it would be such a damper. Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°We will grab a bite first. I¡¯ll bring you somewhere else later.¡± ¡°Just the two of us later?¡± Su Yue knew that they would eat together with the couple. But she dreaded that he would say that they would be with them for the entire night. Ming Ansheng could decipher her worries and he stroked the tip of her nose affectionately. ¡°Yes, just the two of us,¡± replied Ming Ansheng in a tender voice. Su Yue was delighted and she leaned forward to kiss Ming Ansheng on the corner of his lips. Ming Ansheng grinned and wrapped his arms around her. He raised his eyebrows and questioned her. ¡°Still want me to hide?¡± Su Yue hung her head and mumbled, ¡°You¡¯re angry with me, right?¡± Ming Ansheng asked instead. ¡°What do you think?¡± In a hushed voice, Su Yue replied, ¡°I know you are.¡± That could be the only reason he didn¡¯t contact her after he left. And when he was forced to leave abruptly today, she could sense his frustration and anger. Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°Silly girl, why should I be angry with you? You should be angry with me.¡± She was merely afraid that his grandfather would object, and it was a fact. So why should he be angry? Su Yue¡¯s eyes lit up and she peered at Ming Ansheng. ¡°So Uncle Ming, you¡¯re not angry?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Ming Ansheng squeezed Su Yue tightly and bent to kiss her on the forehead. Su Yue smiled sweetly and replied, ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re the best.¡± She snuggled against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. Victoria smiled and commented, ¡°Both of you look so loving.¡± ¡°We are loving indeed,¡± Ming Ansheng replied loudly as he cupped Su Yue¡¯s face and kissed her. As though no one else was around. Su Yue widened her eyes in shock. There was someone else in the car, alright? Was it a good idea for them to flaunt their relationship? Caucasians didn¡¯t make a fuss regarding such intimate behaviors. Dasmond and Victoria didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid, and Dasmond even turned on romantic music. The song played softly and everything seemed mellow and beautiful. Ming Ansheng wound his arm tightly around Su Yue¡¯s waist. They could finally declare their relationship openly to someone he knew. And to get blessings from his friends. Although it was his friends from abroad. ¡­ It was morning in the capital city. All the employees at Bright Vision weren¡¯t in the mood to work. Their boss would be away for the next couple of days and everyone felt less stressful without his presence. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed. ¡°Chairman.¡± The President¡¯s secretary¡¯s voice suddenly rang. The atmosphere began to stiffen and everyone was tensed. Chapter 1371. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part Five) The elderly man in his eighties had a head of white hair, but his back was still straight. He surveyed the entire office with a cold gleam in his eyes. He glanced at the secretary standing beside him. ¡°Where is President Ming?¡± His secretary calmly answered, ¡°President Ming is away on a work trip.¡± If Ming Ansheng¡¯s secretary wasn¡¯t capable of handling such situations, there was no way he could assist Ming Ansheng. A crease appeared between Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s eyebrows and in a shrewd voice he asked, ¡°Work trip?¡± After they had a huge fight, Ming Ansheng had left the house and there wasn¡¯t any news from him. But he knew his whereabouts and what he had been up to. He had planted spies everywhere in the company. He heard that he wasn¡¯t at work for the past two days, so he dropped by to take a look. The secretary nodded and politely answered with, ¡°Yes, President Ming went on a work trip to Country M.¡± Ming Zhongsheng was suspicious when he heard his reply. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he bring you along?¡± Ming Ansheng always traveled with his secretary on work trips. ¡°Oh¡­¡± His secretary hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°President Ming will be away for a longer period. So he instructed me to send him reports and updates instead.¡± Ming Zhongsheng squinted as he studied the secretary. ¡°He went to Country M?¡± The secretary nodded and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Ming Zhongsheng snorted loudly and stormed off. The overbearing and formidable-looking old man vanished out of sight and the atmosphere became lighter. ¡°Go check and see if the illegitimate daughter is in school in the past two days,¡± Ming Zhongsheng instructed his personal assistant in a solemn voice. The man nodded and said, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡­ Country M and the capital city had different lifestyles, weather, and environment. Su Yue stood before the French windows, admiring N City¡¯s scenery, which was right before her eyes. Ming Ansheng and Dasmond were discussing work, and Su Yue wasn¡¯t interested at all. She began to get melancholic as she gazed out of the windows. She unconsciously fell into a deep reverie. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her. A familiar voice sounded in her ears. ¡°What are you thinking of?¡± Su Yue glanced sideways at Ming Ansheng, who was resting his chin on her shoulders. ¡°Uncle Ming, let¡¯s announce our relationship when we return home,¡± said Su Yue with a grave voice. It overwhelmed Ming Ansheng with happiness, and he could hardly believe his ears. He asked with uncertainty. ¡°Yueyue, you really want to announce our relationship to everyone?¡± Su Yue nodded and smiled. ¡°Yeah.¡± She turned around as she held Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand. She gazed intently into the depths of Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes as she expounded, ¡°You¡¯re not married and neither am I. What¡¯s wrong with us being together? I¡¯m so adorable and maybe your grandfather will grow to like me if he gets to know more about me?¡± She smiled happily when she recalled something. ¡°Your mother likes me and she said that I was cute. She is gentle to me, too.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Yes, she likes you very much.¡± His mother would visit him regularly to cook for him when he stayed at his own apartment. She always mentioned Su Yue and asked about their progress. She didn¡¯t conceal her liking for Su Yue. Chapter 1372. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part Six) Su Yue could sense that Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother liked her. When Ming Ansheng reaffirmed her guess, it overjoyed her. ¡°Really?¡± Her bright and dewy eyes were sparkling in excitement. ¡°Yes,¡± said Ming Ansheng. ¡°She always talks about you and even said that she wanted to go to your school to visit you. But I didn¡¯t let her. When we get back to the capital city, I¡¯ll ask her to prepare a feast for you.¡± Su Yue beamed. ¡°Okay!¡± Dasmond¡¯s voice interrupted them. ¡°Ming, are you bringing your cute girlfriend somewhere else?¡± Ming Ansheng turned around and smiled. ¡°Yeah.¡± Dasmond smiled and replied, ¡°Have a pleasant and romantic night.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± After Victoria and Dasmond left, Ming Ansheng put his arm around Su Yue¡¯s waist. ¡°Let¡¯s leave now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue was curious so she asked, ¡°Where are you bringing me?¡± Ming Ansheng put on an enigmatic smile. ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there.¡± It aroused Su Yue¡¯s curiosity and she pressed on. ¡°Tell me. Where are we going?¡± She clung to Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and started to pester him sweetly. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips in response. After they left the hotel, he flagged a taxi. Su Yue gave up trying to probe him for an answer. She placed her head on his shoulders and yawned. She struggled to keep her eyes open to admire the scenery but to no avail. She was too sleepy. Ming Ansheng bent to gaze at the little woman next to him¡­ Every time he tried to describe her as a woman, he would seem rather awkward. She was so young, and obviously still a girl. But if he were to treat her as a girl, he would feel uncomfortable. He wanted her to be his woman. So it was indeed a dilemma. Looking at Su Yue¡¯s palm-sized face, Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but poke lightly at her chubby cheeks. Su Yue was asleep and she frowned in annoyance with the disturbance. She pouted and sleepily grunted before turning her body to find a comfortable position. Ming Ansheng shook his head in amusement and decided to let her sleep. He slumped comfortably on the seat as he peered out of the window. He only had one thing on his mind¡ªthe little beauty next to him. It had never once crossed his mind that he would feel so blissful. His heart was content. ¡­ ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue only got up after Ming Ansheng called her several times. ¡°Huh¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡± After looking at Ming Ansheng and looking around, she realized that they were still in the taxi. It dawned on her that they were supposed to be on a date, and all her sleepiness instantly evaporated. ¡°Are we at the place?¡± Su Yue asked as her eyes wandered around. This place looked so familiar. It seemed¡­ as though she had seen it today¡­ She caught the sign ¡®Disney¡¯ and she widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Uncle Ming, why are we here again?¡± Ming Ansheng grinned and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t get to try the rides today. So I wanted to come here with you again.¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Su Yue pouted and pressed on. ¡°Did you spy on me?¡± Ming Ansheng affectionately scratched the tip of her nose. ¡°I guessed it.¡± But Su Yue didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ming Ansheng paid the fare and led Su Yue off the taxi. Chapter 1373. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part Seven) The exciting rides in the amusement park had stopped operating at night. The park was closing soon, hence it seemed almost empty. Ming Ansheng held Su Yue¡¯s hand as they quietly walked past the rides. ¡°Seems like all the rides are closed.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips as her eyes darted around. ¡°The Ferris wheel is over there,¡± said Ming Ansheng as he pointed a distance away. The gigantic Ferris wheel was still operating, and from their view, it seemed as though it was almost touching the sky. Without waiting for Su Yue to respond, Ming Ansheng pulled Su Yue along with him. The staff at the Ferris wheel was a young lady in her twenties. She had golden hair and she was wearing the amusement park uniform. After briefing them about the safety rules, she smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Your uncle is so gorgeous, can I get to know him?¡± She turned to glance at Ming Ansheng¡¯s good-looking face, and under the moonlight, he seemed so charming. The lady couldn¡¯t hide the admiration in her eyes and it made Su Yue jealous. She replied coldly, ¡°No. He is mine.¡± She put her arms around Ming Ansheng¡¯s waist to declare that he belonged to her. She raised her head and glared at the lady. Her slender arms held on tightly to his fit and muscular body. Ming Ansheng chuckled in amusement as he grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± His voice sounded exceedingly pleasant and charming. The female staff saw how intimate Su Yue behaved with Ming Ansheng and it momentarily stumped her. She regained her composure before smiling. ¡°Sorry. I thought that he was your uncle.¡± There wasn¡¯t a trace of awkwardness on her face, but her apology was sincere. Su Yue mumbled something in response before letting go of Ming Ansheng¡¯s waist. Then she held on to his hand. A passenger pod arrived and she led Ming Ansheng inside. The female staff secured the door after they went in. ¡°Let¡¯s wear couple-outfits when we go out next time.¡± Su Yue was still feeling grumpy over the fact that the staff expressed her liking for Ming Ansheng. If they wore couple-outfits, everyone would know that they were a couple. Then no one else would ask her to introduce Uncle Ming to them. Hmph! Ming Ansheng chuckled quietly as he watched Su Yue seething with jealousy. He raised an eyebrow and remarked, ¡°Do you feel a sense of insecurity after realizing how popular I am?¡± Su Yue was irate. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare look at other women. Not even a glimpse.¡± Ming Ansheng knew that she was throwing a tantrum so he gave in to her. ¡°Alright, alright. I won¡¯t look at them.¡± These were trivial matters that he didn¡¯t even bother to bicker with. He was thoroughly enjoying the feeling. He liked how she was being unreasonable, whiny, and acting like a spoilt child. Ming Ansheng folded his arms across his chest as he settled comfortably on the seat. He was still observing Su Yue, who was still brimming with anger. ¡°Uncle Ming,¡± said Su Yue suddenly. Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yue pressed her lips as though she was gathering all her determination. ¡°Will you always love me?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes darted to Su Yue¡¯s hands which were resting on her lap. She seemed rather jittery for she had clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly. He felt as though his heart was being gripped tightly, so he stretched his hand to caress Su Yue¡¯s face. A gentle smile played at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Silly girl, why do you feel so insecure?¡± Su Yue pouted as she grumbled, ¡°You¡¯re too outstanding and I¡¯m afraid that there will be others who would want to snatch you away.¡± Chapter 1374. Let’s Make Our Relationship Public (part Eight) Su Yue hung her head and whispered with uncertainty in her voice. ¡°But I¡­ I am¡­¡± Ming Ansheng knew what was on Su Yue¡¯s mind and he knitted his eyebrows. He interjected, ¡°Yueyue!¡± ¡°Do you think I would let others easily snatch me away?¡± He gazed into Su Yue¡¯s eyes with an affectionate smile. He caressed her cheeks fondly and consoled her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you make a declaration just now? I¡¯m yours.¡± When she put her arms around him earlier on¡­ Even though he knew that she did it on impulse, he still felt a sense of achievement and pride as a man. She had fulfilled his sense of vanity. ¡°Are we going to have a baby in the future?¡± asked Su Yue. A gleam of fear flashed past in her eyes and Ming Ansheng noticed it. He replied softly, ¡°We can talk about that when you get older. It¡¯s too early for that.¡± She had just turned 18, and furthermore, she had such a bad childhood at the orphanage. It was normal for her to be afraid of children. He had to be patient towards her so that they could understand each other more. He still needed to help her integrate into society and for her to open up to others. Su Yue knew that having a child was inevitable. A child would also symbolize their love for each other, and she needed to produce descendants for his family. Especially for a family like Ming Ansheng¡¯s. She tightly clenched her fists as she stared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°When we have children, will you be like Third sister-in-law who only thinks of her children?¡± Yan Rusheng and Su Yue were truly a family. This lass was exactly like Yan Rusheng. Before the twins were born, he was afraid that Xuxu¡ªeven when she was still pregnant¡ªwould neglect him. Ming Ansheng shook his head in amusement. ¡°No, because you are also a child.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll believe you.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and took a deep breath as though she had just made an important decision. In a grave voice, she said, ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll inform my third sister-in-law that I¡¯m dating you. Then you won¡¯t have to hide in the wardrobe in the morning.¡± It delighted Ming Ansheng. He was happily cursing that he wouldn¡¯t have to step foot into that darn wardrobe ever again. It didn¡¯t worry him at all if Xuxu or Yan Rusheng might object. He knew Wen Xuxu too well and knew that as long as Su Yue decided, she will support her. As long as Wen Xuxu had no objection, they could overlook Yan Rusheng¡¯s opinions. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Su Yue thought of something and she called out Ming Ansheng¡¯s name. Ming Ansheng answered, ¡°Huh?¡± Su Yue blinked her eyes, like a curious little child. ¡°We are together now. Do the twins address you as an uncle?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and suddenly a perplexing question popped in his head. If Third Yan and Wen Xuxu¡¯s children addressed him as an uncle, what should he address Third Yan and Wen Xuxu? F*ck! He needed some time to mull over this. Ming Ansheng fell into a daze and Su Yue curiously peered at him. She asked, ¡°Uncle Ming, are you alright?¡± ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Ming Ansheng felt conflicted, and he hesitated for some time. ¡°I think you shouldn¡¯t tell them tomorrow.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Su Yue frowned and she asked, ¡°I thought you wanted to tell everyone?¡± Why did he change his mind? Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°I am here for two days but I didn¡¯t show up. If I suddenly show up, they will ask about my whereabouts for the past two days. Do you intend to tell them I was hiding in the wardrobe?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°If I don¡¯t tell them, you will need to hide tomorrow.¡± Wasn¡¯t he terrified of the wardrobe? Ming Ansheng smiled and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Chapter 1375. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part One) He definitely couldn¡¯t announce their relationship now. Other than Yan Rusheng, he had to consider Lu Yinan. That fellow might seem refined and decent, but that was just a facade. He had a vicious tongue and, in hindsight, Zhou Shuang and he was a perfect match. He had revealed his embarrassing childhood this morning and he couldn¡¯t even seek revenge. It perplexed Su Yue. ¡°Uncle Ming, you don¡¯t have to tell them that you were here for two days. Can¡¯t you say that you arrived today?¡± This wasn¡¯t even an issue! She had no idea what he was fretting about. Even if he arrived two days ago, he could tell them that he was staying at another hotel. Ming Ansheng felt frustrated as he couldn¡¯t explain to Su Yue regarding his concerns. Yan Rusheng was younger than him by a few months. But in the future¡­ he would have to address him as Third Brother? Young Master Ming thought of this, and he began to visualize that horrifying scene with Yan Rusheng. F*ck! There was no way he could do that! He rose and sat beside Su Yue. He put his arm around her waist and patiently coaxed her. ¡°Yueyue, we need to consider this more carefully. Let¡¯s do this when we are back in the capital city.¡± He had been feeling troubled over the fact that Su Yue was Yan Rusheng¡¯s sister and he shouldn¡¯t even have done this. Besides that, Su Yue was so young¡­ It had slipped his mind that his relationship with Yan Rusheng would get complicated once they got together¡­ It gave him a headache. ¡°Alright then,¡± Su Yue agreed and bent her head. Despite Ming Ansheng¡¯s explanation, she still felt that this matter wasn¡¯t that complex. She was wondering if he was afraid and wanted to give up. If he really did, what should she do? What should they do now? The Ferris wheel reached the highest point. Su Yue peered at the starry night sky. Suddenly, a bright flash streaked across the sky. Before she could react, it vanished beyond the horizon. She turned to Ming Ansheng and asked, ¡°Uncle Ming! Was that a shooting star?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Did you make a wish?¡± Su Yue lamented, ¡°It was too fast. I didn¡¯t react in time.¡± She asked Ming Ansheng, ¡°How about you?¡± Ming Ansheng nodded with a smile. ¡°I did.¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°What did you wish for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you on the day of our wedding.¡± Ming Ansheng gazed at Su Yue, and she looked exceedingly beautiful in the moonlight. His gaze was intense and passionate. It was like a fire that seemed to scorch Su Yue¡¯s face. She could feel her cheeks burning. She was feeling bashful but his words boosted her confidence. He asked her to wait until their wedding¡­ was it a promise? During these few days, with Yan Rusheng as an exception, everyone especially Zhou Shuang had a great time. ¡­ It was New Year¡¯s Eve and the airport was packed with people rushing home. Xuxu and the rest took the VIP passageway so they managed to avoid the crowd. Zhou Shuang insisted on sending them off. Her eyes were red as she bade Xuxu goodbye. ¡°Remember to take more photos of the little fellows. I will send them a huge red packet during Chinese New Year.¡± It was hard to separate from her best friend. Xuxu gazed at Zhou Shuang and sighed heavily. Reunions were always sweet, but goodbyes were always hard. She stretched and held Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand as she said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Shuang, come back during Chinese New Year. Your mom said that she wanted to come back too. Can you come back with her? Are you intending to register your triplets¡¯ citizenship under Country M?¡± Chapter 1376. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Two) Zhou Shuang snorted in disdain. ¡°I don¡¯t care about Country M¡¯s citizenship at all. I love our country, don¡¯t you know?¡± She stole a glance at Lu Yinan who stood a short distance away. He had his hands deep in his pockets, looking perfectly suave and relaxed. She pouted and whispered to Xuxu, ¡°She is going back to her hometown. Why should I follow her when I don¡¯t even know them?¡± ¡°Knowing me isn¡¯t enough?¡± interjected Lu Yinan airily. Zhou Shuang was pretentious like any other woman. The moment she heard Lu Yinan¡¯s voice, her eyes gleamed excitedly. But no one noticed it as her head was bowed. She raised her head and glanced at Lu Yinan. She sneered coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± Lu Yinan frowned. ¡°I will give you one last chance. Are you going back or not?¡± He had tried his best these few days that even his endurance and patience even surprised him. When was he ever so patient towards a woman? He may act as a gentle and refined gentleman towards the ladies. But those who knew him are well aware of his subtle non-existent patience towards women. He loathed those greedy women who relentlessly clung onto him. He always made himself clear to those women, and he was firm and decisive. Usually, before those flings, he would make his stand clear as well. He didn¡¯t want to get involved with them, for he only wanted to satisfy his needs. For the sake of his children, he felt that he had stretched his patience. What more did Zhou Shuang want from him? Even if they didn¡¯t end up together, how would she be able to find another man with the triplets with her? Did she think that all the men in the world are fools? Zhou Shuang glared at Lu Yinan. ¡°Thank you for giving me a second chance, but I¡¯ll forgo.¡± Lu Yinan clenched his teeth for Zhou Shuang¡¯s words nearly killed him. ¡°Alright! If I ever call you again, I will not be Lu Yinan! Goodbye!¡± He turned around in a huff and marched away. Zhou Shuang yelled at Lu Yinan¡¯s back. ¡°Forget about goodbyes since I¡¯ll never see you again!¡± When she turned back to face Xuxu, her eyes were welling up with tears. ¡°I¡¯m going off. Have a safe trip and call me when you landed.¡± She hugged Xuxu before she turned around and left. ¡°Shuang¡­¡± Xuxu was about to chase after Zhou Shuang when Yan Rusheng caught her arm. Yan Rusheng glanced at Zhou Shuang and coldly said, ¡°That hooligan is way too much. This will teach her a lesson.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop siding with Lu Yinan.¡± Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng and snarled, ¡°If you ever doubt my character, I swear I will never talk to you¡­¡± She recalled something unhappy and she stopped talking. She bent her head. Yan Rusheng knew what was on her mind, so he wrapped his arms tightly around her. ¡°I will teach Lu Yinan a lesson on Hooligan Zhou¡¯s behalf. I will make sure he prepares breakfast for her for three months.¡± Xuxu punched Yan Rusheng¡¯s back with her fists and she grumbled, ¡°Men are so heartless. You do not understand the pain and suffering we go through during childbirth.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°I know.¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes at this touching scene. ¡°Third Brother, the plane is taking off. You should proclaim your love when we are amongst the clouds. That would be really touching.¡± Her tone was full of sarcasm. Chapter 1377. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Three) Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ He let go of Xuxu and turned to face Su Yue with a cold expression on his face. ¡°You¡¯re banned from going out with us in the future.¡± Su Yue shrugged. ¡°I won¡¯t tag along even if you invite me.¡± Uncle Ming will bring her out, so why should she follow them around and torture herself? Oh yeah! Uncle Ming took the earlier flight back. She should reach the capital city tomorrow night, just in time to go to his place. And surprise him! She made up her mind in seconds! Su Yue was still thinking of surprising Ming Ansheng when Yan Rusheng¡¯s annoyed voice floated to her ears. ¡°Lass, weren¡¯t you the one saying the plane is taking off? Not going?¡± He held Xuxu¡¯s hand and strode away. Xuxu turned towards the main hall and she said with a worried expression, ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡¯m worried about Zhou Shuang.¡± She was heavily pregnant and she dashed out in a huff¡­ When she recalled Zhou Shuang¡¯s tearful expression and her choked voice, she felt that she might not really hate Lu Yinan that much anymore. Zhou Shuang was a simple woman who was easily touched by words and gestures. It must be because of Zhou Shuang¡¯s bad experience from her last relationship. She must have loved her ex-boyfriend very much. When he hurt her, who knew how long she had to take to recover. It must be hard for her to open her heart to another man again for the fear of love. And unfortunately, the man had to be the prideful and pampered Young Master Lu, who don¡¯t yield easily, too. Xuxu was still fretting about Zhou Shuang when Su Yue suddenly quipped, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I saw Lu Yinan leaving.¡± A tone of nonchalance. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± Xuxu spun around towards Su Yue. ¡°When?!¡± Why didn¡¯t she see him? ¡°When you and Third Brother were locked in a tight embrace, he left and went to the main hall,¡± said Su Yue in an airy voice. Xuxu was dumbfounded. This lass was really a wooden block. When will she ever get emotional or surprised by something or someone? She always remained unruffled and composed in any situation. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng gripped Xuxu¡¯s hand and led her away. Su Yue followed behind. ¡­ Zhou Shuang marched out of the main hall and a blast of icy wind attacked her. Her eyes were red and glistening with tears. She had no idea why she felt like crying at that moment. What she felt didn¡¯t really have to do with Xuxu leaving. She raised her chin and took a deep breath. A familiar man¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another chance. Are you going back for Chinese New Year?¡± He sounded as though he had used up all his determination. Zhou Shuang¡¯s glistening eyes lit up for the voice had startled her. The man¡¯s footsteps stopped beside her and she hastily wiped her tears. She raised her head, reverting to her usual self. She coldly quipped, ¡°I thought you already gave me the final chance?¡± Lu Yinan answered, ¡°I did. But I allow you to reject me three times.¡± Zhou Shuang pursed her lips. ¡°On one condition. If you can invite Mr. Zhou as well.¡± She bent her head and abandoned all her hostility. And transformed into a demure and docile woman. Soon enough, the blast of icy wind didn¡¯t seem so cold after all. Lu Yinan frowned. ¡°Mr. Zhou is another old obstinate fellow, isn¡¯t he?¡± Chapter 1378. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Four) Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Sissy Lu. What did you say?¡± Lu Yinan seductively curled his lips. His smile was always so alluring, especially his eyes¡ªit seemed hypnotizing. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Doesn¡¯t he love to drink? For today onwards, I¡¯ll make him drink every day so that he will listen to me.¡± He grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s wrist and led her in the direction where her car he last parked her car. He had somehow startled Zhou Shuang, and she stumbled along. After a few steps, she bent to look at his hand before glancing at his face. She really felt that if he had worn those period costumes, he would fit into that era. His features were too good-looking and bewitching. ¡°Zhou Shuang, as a woman, how can your wrist be so thick?¡± Lu Yinan examined Zhou Shuang¡¯s wrist as he squeezed her skin. He glanced at her with a look of disdain. Zhou Shuang was staring at him and unexpectedly, their eyes met. Zhou Shuang quickly averted her gaze and bowed her head. Lu Yinan surveyed her in amusement and grinned slyly. ¡°Did you regret rejecting me the more you look at me?¡± remarked Lu Yinan without a hint of shyness in his voice. Zhou Shuang was speechless¡­ Even her ears turned red at his remarks and her embarrassment turned into anger. Zhou Shuang flung her hand away and glared at him. ¡°Are you out of your job!?¡± bellowed Zhou Shuang. Wasn¡¯t he planning to get back to work? And he even declared that he would make her father drunk from today onwards. Wasn¡¯t he a doctor? He didn¡¯t have to work? Lu Yinan pouted and replied brusquely, ¡°If I don¡¯t get you back, I won¡¯t even have a home to return to. Not to mention a job.¡± He knew his grandfather always kept his word. They were engaged in a banter. Although it was a just short distance, they felt as though they would never reach their destination. The sky fell dark and Zhou Shuang glanced askew at Lu Yinan¡¯s face. His face seemed to glow in the sunset. She asked, ¡°You¡¯re really afraid of your grandfather.¡± Lu Yinan nodded in assent. ¡°Yeah, everyone in our family does. His command is an imperial edict.¡± It wasn¡¯t fear but more of a sign of respect. Zhou Shuang frowned and asked, ¡°He is really adorable. Why is everyone afraid of your grandfather?¡± Lu Yinan laughed. ¡°Looks like both of you have an affinity.¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t understand his words. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°He is the only person I know who complimented you. He described you as someone who was perfect and didn¡¯t have any weaknesses. But apparently, I couldn¡¯t see your strengths at all.¡± Zhou Shuang snorted lightly. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re blind.¡± ¡°Will you die if you stop arguing with me?¡± Lu Yinan clenched his teeth and gripped Zhou Shuang¡¯s wrist tightly. As though he was venting his anger. His palm was warm and soft. When he touched her skin, it felt as though an electric current had coursed through her veins. That sensation was incredibly¡­ amazing. She was about to retort viciously when she unconsciously changed her tone. ¡°I¡¯ll feel unbearable.¡± She pursed her lips and hid her face from his view. At that moment, she appeared like a docile little woman. ¡°I see. You feel unbearable?¡± Lu Yinan gazed at Zhou Shuang with an evil grin. He nodded his head as though he had fully comprehended. ¡°Then let me help you unwind and relax your muscles tonight so that you will feel better.¡± Zhou Shuang widened her eyes in anger. ¡°Sissy Lu, are you courting death?¡± Lu Yinan dodged her fist. From afar, against the setting sun, they seemed like a couple who was flirting with each other. ¡­ Chapter 1379. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Five) After a long flight, they reached the capital city in the wee hours. The twins were sleeping soundly when Xuxu and Yan Rusheng reached home. They stood beside the crib as they watched them quietly, admiring their rosy and chubby cheeks. Their lethargy vanished as soon as they looked at the twins. Contentment filled the room. ¡°Xuxu, go with Third Yan to your room,¡± Mu Li lazily said as she stifled a yawn. Xuxu shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. They will be awake soon, and I want to feed them. I don¡¯t want them to rely too much on formula milk.¡± Furthermore, she missed these two little ones so much for she was away for a week. She even missed their cries and babbles. The first thing she wanted to do when she reached home was to see them. She turned to face Yan Rusheng before saying, ¡°Ah Sheng, go to my room and sleep. I¡¯ll sleep with mother.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°I missed my daughter and son, too.¡± Mu Li knew that she was no longer needed so she stretched herself before getting off the bed. She gestured at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng before snorting loudly. ¡°Don¡¯t regret your decision. I shall leave now.¡± She took her mug from the top of the bedside drawer before taking lazy strides across the room. Xuxu pressed her lips as she watched Mu Li. Yan Rusheng grinned as he said, ¡°Professor Mu, walk slowly.¡± He watched Mu Li¡¯s slender figure in amusement. Mu Li turned swiftly around and eyed her son with a glare. But when she turned around once more, an affectionate smile appeared on her face. Both of them haven¡¯t seen the twins in a week, and as a mother, she understood how they felt. No matter how exhausted they were, both Xuxu and Yan Rusheng still took a quick shower after a long day. They slept well on the long flight and didn¡¯t feel really sleepy. After their showers, both of them felt even more refreshed and awake as they sat on the bed. Xuxu was gazing at the babies with bliss and love overflowing in her eyes. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± She turned towards Yan Rusheng and realized that he was watching them, too. She lightly punched his chest before saying, ¡°You always complain that they are troublesome. Don¡¯t you dare say you don¡¯t miss them.¡± Yan Rusheng stopped his train of thought as he turned to smile at Xuxu. ¡°With you by my side, I won¡¯t miss anyone else.¡± Xuxu blushed and hung her head, hiding her bashful smile. ¡°Go away. Being mushy isn¡¯t your style.¡± ¡°In that case, I shall be crude.¡± Yan Rusheng immediately transformed from a gentle lamb to a ferocious wolf as he leaped on Xuxu. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Xuxu screamed. Afraid of waking the twins up, she said in a low voice with a disapproving frown, ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing!¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I¡¯m too excited to sleep. Let¡¯s do some exercise.¡± ¡°Hey, Yan Rusheng. No¡­¡± Xuxu tried to shove Yan Rusheng away. Yan Rusheng smiled slyly. ¡°I know that women don¡¯t mean what they say. So if you say no, means it¡¯s yes. If you want me, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± His hands had already made its way underneath Xuxu¡¯s clothes, and he began to fondle her. He tugged at her collar before bending to kiss her neck and collarbone. Both of them knew of each other¡¯s habits. When Yan Rusheng saw Xuxu¡¯s flushed face in the dim light, her beauty made his heart skip a beat. ¡°Wife, I¡¯ll make sure I¡¯ll satisfy you completely.¡± He grabbed Xuxu¡¯s leg and lifted it up. ¡°If you¡¯re pleased with me, remember to compliment me.¡± Chapter 1380. The Meaning of The Tattoo (part Six) Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ The man suddenly straightened his back. Before he could do anything, the twins began to bawl in the next second. And their bawls grew louder. Young Master Yan was really getting frustrated and sullen. How was he going to stop himself now? He was intending to ignore their cries and carry on. But Xuxu couldn¡¯t. She frowned and punched the man lying on top of her. ¡°Yan Rusheng, didn¡¯t you hear their cries?¡± She pushed Yan Rusheng and adjusted her clothes before getting off the bed. Young Master Yan was so annoyed that he was clutching the sides of his head. A burning desire was erupting inside of him. *F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! * He glared at the crib, seething with anger. The fellows had ruined his happiness. And¡­ it wasn¡¯t the first time. ¡­ Su Yue collapsed on the bed when she reached home. She woke up bright and early and even dolled herself up. She wore a light green shirt with a pair of pale pink tight-fitting pants. She tied her hair up in a bun. She looked fresh and pretty as a flower and made one¡¯s eyes light up. ¡°Yueyue, are you going on a date?¡± Mu Li was walking out from the dining room when she saw Su Yue. She sized her up from head to toe with a smile. Su Yue hesitated before nodding. ¡°Something like that.¡± She wanted to go back to school first to pass the gifts to Bai Jing before heading to Uncle Ming¡¯s place. So, they could still consider it a date. Mu Li smiled warmly. ¡°Bring Jiao Chen home for a meal in the future.¡± Yan Rusheng and Xuxu hadn¡¯t informed Mu Li about Su Yue¡¯s breakup. Su Yue silently widened her mouth and was about to clarify. ¡°Second Aunt¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡°Yueyue, are you heading out?¡± She turned towards Xuxu and smiled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m heading back to school. My exams are around the corner.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Then ask the chauffeur to send you there.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± They went down the stairs. Yan Rusheng escaped to Xuxu¡¯s room after hours of being *¡¯tormented¡¯ *by the twins. He only fell asleep at dawn break. Yan Weihong was reading the newspapers and eating breakfast as usual. ¡°Where is Third Yan?¡± He raised his head and glanced at Xuxu. ¡°Did he say anything about Su Yan?¡± Xuxu lightly shook her head. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me anything.¡± She was clear that Flourish and Prosper shares¡ªthat Paramount was holding¡ªwas bugging Yan Weihong. But Su Yan was so mysterious that she had no clue what he was up to. And Yan Rusheng seemed rather nonchalant about it that it made her wonder if he would not handle that matter any longer. Yan Weihong replied in a grave voice. ¡°It¡¯s almost Chinese New Year. Get Su Yan to finish up. If he can¡¯t end it in time, then just come back first.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Okay, I will inform Ah Sheng.¡± ¡°You should hold your wedding with Third Yan as soon as the weather gets warmer next year,¡± said Yan Weihong. Xuxu was dumbfounded when she heard him. Wedding? Why did he suddenly mention about their wedding? Yan Weihong smiled and spoke in a gentle voice. ¡°Two days ago, he called me. He said that you¡¯ve promised to marry him.¡± Chapter 1381. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Seven) ¡®Two days ago, he called me. He said that you¡¯ve promised to marry him¡­¡¯ It really surprised Xuxu when she heard what Yan Weihong said. It touched her heart as well. It had never crossed her mind that he would be so excited and delighted regarding the proposal. He even had to call just to inform his father of the good news. And he made a call to Yan Weihong even if they rarely seemed to talk or have much interaction with each other. The bond between a father and a son runs deep indeed. ¡°Yan Weihong, when did that fellow call you? Why wasn¡¯t I informed?¡± Mu Li replied with a frown. She then eyed Yan Weihong. She couldn¡¯t accept this fact. She was much closer to their son and they usually talked more as well¡­ His proposal to Xuxu was a success, but why wasn¡¯t she the first person to be informed? Yan Weihong smirked as he glanced at Mu Li. He could barely conceal the triumph in his tone as he said, ¡°You think too highly of yourself.¡± Mu Li was speechless¡­ Yan Weihong didn¡¯t give Mu Li any chance to rebut and he softly spoke, ¡°When it¡¯s Chinese New Year, invite your grandfather over to celebrate together. We can discuss the wedding, too.¡± Xuxu felt a little shy and her face was crimson red. She put on a smile and said, ¡°We already have children. Let¡¯s¡­ just have a simple wedding.¡± She really didn¡¯t have the intention to plan a grand or elaborate wedding. All she wanted was to stand beside him in a wedding gown. She wanted to experience how it was to be a bride and to walk down the aisle with her loved one. ¡°It¡¯s decided then.¡± Yan Weihong ignored Xuxu with a firm conclusion. Xuxu nodded with an ¡®Mm¡¯. It delighted Su Yue. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want to be your bridesmaid at your wedding with Third Brother.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Mu Li nodded in approval at Su Yue¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Jiao Chen can be the best man, and both of you would look so compatible and perfect.¡± Su Yue bent her head and whispered, ¡°Second Aunt, I broke up with him.¡± It startled Mu Li. ¡°You broke up with Jiao Chen?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± said Su Yue in a hushed tone. Mu Li furrowed her eyebrows and pressed on. ¡°Why did you break up?¡± Without waiting for Su Yue to answer, in a deep voice, Yan Weihong said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for young people these days to break up? Don¡¯t make a fuss over it. Finish your food.¡± Mu Li was an observant woman. Judging from Su Yue¡¯s expression, she knew she wouldn¡¯t get any answer from her. Hence she didn¡¯t retort. After breakfast, Su Yue left the house with two bulging bags of stuff. Xuxu gazed at her quietly¡ªthe words she was trying to say was stuck in her mouth. The chauffeur was already waiting for her in the car. Su Yue turned around and waved goodbye to Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m leaving.¡± After that, she raised her feet and walked towards the car. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Xuxu abruptly called out for her. Su Yue stopped and warily asked, ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu hesitated and pondered for a moment. ¡°Ming Ansheng and you¡­¡± Su Yue casually interjected, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m dating Uncle Ming now.¡± She may seem confident on the surface, but she was actually really anxious and nervous. Xuxu wasn¡¯t in the least surprised by her announcement. She merely put on a helpless and a faint smile. ¡°Got it.¡± She nodded and waved back. ¡°Go to school.¡± Chapter 1382. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Eight) Su Yue warily observed her. ¡°Third sister-in-law, are you angry?¡± ¡°Silly girl.¡± Xuxu smiled, patting her head. ¡°Both of you are single. Why should I be angry?¡± She was just worried that their relationship wouldn¡¯t sail smoothly. She was worried that she¡¯d suffer grievances. It wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t believe in Ming Ansheng. But it would not be easy to gain the approval of his grandfather. Besides, because of the Wen Xinyi incident, it had strained the ties between the two families. Ming Ansheng only had contact with them in secret. They treated Su Yue like a treasure in their family, but Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather was a prideful man who emphasized heavily on family status. Would he agree to their relationship? She didn¡¯t want to see her pampered Su Yue suffer grievances elsewhere. But all this wasn¡¯t under anyone¡¯s control. Let nature take its course. Su Yue heaved a sigh of relief. She was standing a step lower than Xuxu, so she peered up at her, her eyes glistening. ¡°So¡­ will you support us?¡± Was she going too far? She should thank her lucky stars that her third sister-in-law wasn¡¯t angry and she didn¡¯t scold her. Yet she still wanted her support? Xuxu smiled. ¡°I will support you as long as you think it¡¯s right and you¡¯re happy.¡± Su Yue was ecstatic. She hugged her tightly. ¡°Thank you, third sister-in-law.¡± Xuxu patted her back and said, ¡°You should go. I¡¯ll fetch you after your exam ends.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and turned around, walking over to the car and hopping on. Xuxu watched the black car leave the courtyard, and it vanished from her sight. After some time, she retracted her gaze and sighed helplessly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yan Rusheng asked from behind her. Xuxu turned around to see him emerging from the house. He must¡¯ve been too exhausted from last night. His eyes were still red. And he looked lethargic and was trudging lazily. Xuxu walked over to him, staring at his face. She was hesitant. She didn¡¯t know how to breach the topic. But she felt that Yan Rusheng had to know about Su Yue and Ming Ansheng. He would find out eventually, anyway. ¡°What happened? That little lass has left?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned, looking at her in confusion. He felt like she had something to say to him, but she didn¡¯t know how to start. He continued, ¡°Are you going to give me a thumbs up because you forgot about it yesterday?¡± Xuxu became annoyed. ¡°Yan Rusheng, it¡¯s only morning and you¡¯re already spewing inappropriate things out of your mouth.¡± Yan Rusheng hugged her neck, sealing her lips with a kiss. He had just washed up, so the toothpaste scent was still lingering on him. It made her feel refreshed. She pounded his chest with her fist and said, ¡°I have something serious to tell you.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded; his expression became more solemn. Xuxu looked at him and hesitated again before saying, ¡°Su Yue is dating Ming Ansheng.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression changed. He clenched his fists and cursed. ¡°F*ck. Does Ming Ansheng have any dignity?¡± His concerns were the same as Xuxu. He knew deep down that Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather would not approve of it. And he knew that Ming Ansheng had always been under immense pressure all because of him. Unlike Xuxu, Yan Rusheng objected to their relationship. Chapter 1383. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Nine) The biggest reason for his objection was the fear that Su Yue might suffer. Whenever Yan Rusheng is agitated, he raises his voice. Xuxu hurriedly looked back at the house and persuaded him softly, ¡°Don¡¯t do this. Su Yue likes him too. Don¡¯t spread this matter, for Dad would definitely not be happy about it.¡± Everyone knew how Wen Xinyi had caused the death of his grandmother. Yan Weihong didn¡¯t make them cut off all ties with Ming Ansheng, but that didn¡¯t mean that he will let Su Yue marry into the Ming family. He definitely wouldn¡¯t give in easily. It frustrated Yan Rusheng. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that fellow to harbor such ill intentions. He won her over without us knowing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xuxu sighed. ¡°We didn¡¯t think into it when he treated Yueyue so well. We thought that he treated her as a younger sister, but alas¡­¡± She became frustrated too, and she sighed. ¡°Just he wait,¡± Yan Rusheng promised in a menacing way. It worried Xuxu that he would do something violent to Ming Ansheng. In her anxiousness, she asked, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I¡¯ll make him kneel before me and call me* ¡®Third Brother¡¯.*¡± Xuxu was speechless. ¡°¡­¡± False alarm. To think that it worried her that he would beat Ming Ansheng up¡­ If he were to really teach Ming Ansheng a good lesson, at the end of the day, it was Su Yue who would get heartbroken the most. Everyone has a right to love. They had no right to interfere. All they could do was try their best to prevent Yueyue from getting hurt. ¡­ Su Yue alighted at the South entrance of A University. She jogged into school, excited to give Bai Jing her souvenir. She knew that Bai Jing would love it. When she reached her dorm room, she reached for her keys. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± She shouted as she pushed open the door. She darted her eyes to Bai Jing¡¯s bed only to see her still covered under the blanket, sleeping. Her shout had woken her up. Bai Jing peered out from under the covers and looked at Su Yue. She slowly sat up, rubbing her tired eyes. ¡°You¡¯re back so early?¡± ¡°I missed you. I brought you a present,¡± Su Yue said as she walked towards her. She placed the bag of things on the floor and started taking stuff out piece by piece. First, she took out a white scarf with pale pink edges. It was of a well-known brand. Su Yue unfolded it and said to Bai Jing, ¡°My third sister-in-law chose this for you. Isn¡¯t it beautiful?¡± Then she wound it around a few times before placing it beside Bai Jing¡¯s neck as a measurement. She was about to nod and say that it looks good when Bai Jing suddenly pushed her hand away and frowned at the scarf. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I think the colors are childish.¡± Su Yue¡¯s smile froze. Bai Jing observed her change in expression and immediately explained with a smile, ¡°You know me, I prefer more mature colors. I think this scarf suits you more.¡± She took the scarf from her and placed it around Su Yue¡¯s neck. She smiled and said, ¡°It complements your skin color more.¡± ¡°How does it not suit you?¡± Su Yue asked, pouting. ¡°We¡¯re the same age. My third sister-in-law chose it, and even my third brother said it¡¯s beautiful.¡± Chapter 1384. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Ten) In reality, whatever her third sister-in-law chose, Third Brother would say that it¡¯s beautiful. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes brightened when she heard it. ¡°Really?¡± she asked in excitement. Then she realized that her reaction was too obvious, and so she hurriedly tried to cover it up. ¡°Why do all of you think that it¡¯s beautiful? Is there a problem with my taste?¡± She then took the scarf from her and hung it around her neck. She looked down at the scarf. It had a lingering smell, and so she took a deep whiff as she closed her eyes. She looked up and nonchalantly asked, ¡°Do you think it looks good on me?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes. I think you look good.¡± She said as she adjusted it for her. ¡°Thank you then. And help me thank your third sister-in-law.¡± Bai Jing took it off and folded it delicately. She looked at her hands as they ran down the silky material. Yan Rusheng¡¯s slender fingers appeared in her mind. Did he touch this scarf? Su Yue took out another gift and she told her about it. But Bai Jing was too lost in her own thoughts. After a while, she lifted her head to ask Su Yue, ¡°Did you guys spend a lot of time shopping in N City? Your third brother doesn¡¯t look like a patient person, yet he was willing to accompany you and your third sister-in-law on a shopping spree?¡± Deep down, she was extremely envious, even slightly jealous. If only she could also have a guy who would pamper her and love her. Su Yue smiled. ¡°We shopped for a day. We spent the rest of the days touring.¡± Bai Jing pursed her lips. ¡°Was it fun in N City?¡± ¡°Yes! Let me tell you a secret,¡± Su Yue suddenly whispered in her ear. ¡°Uncle Ming followed us on the sly.¡± It confused Bai Jing. ¡°On the sly? Your third brother didn¡¯t know?¡± She forgot about Xuxu. Her mind was fixed on one person. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes. No one knew, even my third sister-in-law.¡± Then she said happily, ¡°But I¡¯ve already told my third sister-in-law this morning that I¡¯m dating Uncle Ming. She wasn¡¯t angry and she said that she¡¯d support me.¡± Bai Jing froze. Looking at the ecstatic smile on Su Yue¡¯s face, Bai Jing was deeply envious and jealous. After a while, she asked, ¡°Does your Uncle Ming¡¯s family know?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°His mother does, but not his grandfather.¡± At the mention of his grandfather, Su Yue turned melancholic. A strange expression flashed across Bai Jing¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Su Yue looked at the time and said, ¡°I have to go. I¡¯m going to Uncle Ming¡¯s house so I¡¯ll be back late. Let¡¯s have a meal together tomorrow.¡± Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Sure. You should bring your Uncle Ming along so that he could give us a treat.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Su Yue made an ¡®ok¡¯ sign with her hand before standing up, picking up her bag and walking out the door. Bai Jing watched her leave, her expression dark and cold. The door closed and she retracted her gaze. She stared at the gifts Su Yue had brought back for her. There were skincare products and small figurines. She looked at them a while longer before scooping everything up and dumping them into the bag that Su Yue brought them in. Chapter 1385. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Eleven) The winds were strong in the capital city for the past two days, and the haze as well. From experience, hailing a ride at the South entrance was difficult. So Su Yue headed straight towards the main entrance. She tucked her hands into her pink woolen jacket. She retracted her neck and pulled her clothes tighter around herself, bowing her head as she strode forward. As she walked, she was thinking about what to give Ming Ansheng as a surprise. Just for this, she never contacted him since she got back. Ming Ansheng should be at work. So she would have the entire day to prepare. That was sufficient. But what should she prepare? The only thing she could come up with was a candlelit dinner. Although it seemed old-fashioned, it would pleasantly surprise Uncle Ming if she prepared everything herself. He would love it. So, it was settled then. Su Yue imagined his face of shock when he came home from work to see the candlelit dinner she had prepared. She smiled sweetly. A cold gust of wind blew and she lifted her head. Her smile stiffened when she saw a couple walking towards her. The handsome and cheery boy was smiling warmly. Like the warm sun shining through the haze. The girl beside him was wearing a deep blue woolen sweater, with a champagne red scarf around her neck. Her hair reached her waist and she was carrying a few books, exuding an air of elegance that of a gentlewoman. Graceful and demure. A mixture of emotions filled Su Yue as she watched them. She halted in her steps before continuing her walk. ¡°Let¡¯s go together the day after tomorrow.¡± The girl lifted her head to look at the boy beside her but he stared forward, giving no reaction. She frowned in confusion. ¡°Jiao Chen¡­?¡± She then followed his gaze. Shock filled her face when she saw Su Yue. Her bright eyes lost some initial sparkle. They were walking towards each other and they finally came face to face. Jiao Chen loved the color white. He was wearing a white down coat and had his hands tucked into the pockets of his black jersey shorts. He plainly stared at Su Yue, his lips pressed together and not saying a word. Su Yue looked at him. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Her gaze fell on the girl standing beside him. She remembered addressing him as Jiaojiao earlier, and she hurriedly opened her mouth to explain herself. Jiao Chen suddenly spoke. ¡°Why are you wearing so little?¡± He frowned and stared at her clothes, unable to hide the concern in his voice. ¡°Is it little?¡± Su Yue asked. The tip of her nose and her face had already turned red from the cold. She sniffed and rubbed her nose, mucus flowing. She flashed an embarrassed smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not cold.¡± She didn¡¯t expect it to be so cold when she left the house earlier that day. All she could think about was dressing up for Uncle Ming. When she alighted from the car earlier, she still felt fine. But now, it seemed exceptionally cold. Jiao Chen laughed, revealing his perfect white teeth. His voice was affectionate as he teased, ¡°Do you have enough fats to withstand this weather that¡¯s below zero degrees?¡± The warmest temperature that day was below zero degrees. ¡°I¡¯m less susceptible to cold,¡± Su Yue smiled and said. She then added, ¡°You¡¯re heading back to the dormitory?¡± Jiao Chen nodded. ¡°I came from the counselor¡¯s.¡± Chapter 1386. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twelve) ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded, her gaze once again falling on the girl beside him. She stood quietly on the side. Su Yue felt that they were very compatible. She didn¡¯t know why. ¡°You should go ahead since you¡¯re busy. I¡¯ll make a move.¡± She waved at Jiao Chen. She then walked past him. She had taken two steps when Jiao Chen called out to her. ¡°Su Yue.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Su Yue stopped and turned around. It confused her. He frowned, his eyes melancholic. He stared at her face, falling into a reverie for a split second before a warm smile framed his face. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips together and nodded. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Jiao Chen smiled and turned around, listening to what the girl was saying to him. Su Yue saw his side-view and she felt that he was smiling. ¡®I¡¯m the only one who can call you Jiaojiao¡­¡¯ She was lost in thought before she retracted her gaze. She took a deep breath and pressed her lips together, turning around. Jiao Chen, we¡¯ll both find happiness. ¡­ Su Yue went to the supermarket to buy the ingredients needed for the candlelit dinner. She then hailed a cab and headed for his apartment. The huge grocery bags did not tally with her small figure. She carried them with great effort, trudging into his block. When she finally reached his house, she opened the door with the electric card. She had been there a few times since they got together. Even Ming Ansheng personally cooked for her. Ming Ansheng gave her a set of keys so that she could come whenever she wanted. She opened the door and placed everything on the floor, panting. The bags were heavy because there were two bottles of wine and lots of fruits. The room wasn¡¯t well lit because of the haze. But it was neat and tidy. Su Yue felt comforted. She felt this way whenever she came over. Uncle Ming was much cleaner than her. Su Yue swept her gaze across the living room and removed her outer jacket. She opened the shoe cabinet and changed into her slippers. After which, she carried the bags into the kitchen. She started preparing for her surprise. She had never cooked before, so she relied completely on the web. After she had completed all her preparations, she sat on the sofa and watched some television. She then set an alarm and took a short nap before proceeding with her plan. She had to look at her phone after every step, and she was clumsy. After the water in the pot had boiled, she opened the cover and poured the raw fish slices into it. She coated the fish slices with cornstarch so the whole clump slid into the pot, causing the water to splash out. It scalded her hand and she quickly withdrew her arm. She hissed as she accidentally grazed the side of the pot. The scorching metal burned her and she jumped. Her burnt area immediately turned red. She hurriedly washed it under cold water. The water in the pot continued boiling and steam emitted. Su Yue hurriedly looked at her phone, ignoring the pain in her arm. She continued following the procedure. She was wearing Ming Ansheng¡¯s apron and it fell below her knees. By the time the meal was ready, Su Yue¡¯s fair and dainty hands were scalded everywhere: first with water, followed by oil. Next, she started setting up the table. She arranged two candles, two wine glasses, and the cutlery neatly. Chapter 1387. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Thirteen) She turned off the lights and looked at the table, smiling in satisfaction. She murmured to herself, ¡°Yes, this is the vibe I¡¯m looking for.¡± She then turned the lights on again and walked to the sofa before sitting down. She looked at the clock. It was already seven. The sun had set but Ming Ansheng still wasn¡¯t home. Su Yue frowned in worry. Uncle Ming used to come here once in a blue moon, but since they had gotten together, he had been staying here every day. Could he be staying somewhere else tonight? She suddenly thought of this possibility and hurriedly picked up her phone to call him. But his phone was turned off. Why was his phone turned off? Su Yue looked at her phone screen, apparently confused. After which, she sent him a message. ¡°Uncle Ming, what are you doing? Why is your phone turned off?¡± His phone was never turned off. Or at least, this was the first time she had called him when his phone was powered off. After she sent the message, she took off her slippers and walked to the coffee table. She anxiously waited for a reply. But time ticked by and there were notifications from the phone in her hand. Su Yue started to worry. She called him again but his phone was still turned off. She sent another message: ¡®Uncle Ming, is your phone flat? I¡¯m at your apartment. I prepared a big surprise for you. When are you coming back?¡¯ She sent message after message but there was no reply. Su Yue curled up on the sofa, yawning again and again. The chandelier above the dining table was still on and it was bright. Su Yue looked over and when she saw everything that she had so thoughtfully prepared, she felt empty. She was slightly angry. She walked over and took a photo, sending it to him. She sat on the sofa and flung her phone aside before turning the television on. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to watch anything so she just browsed through the channels. Not long after, she fell into a slumber¡­ ¡­ Past midnight, a flight from N City landed in the capital city airport. The handsome man in the business class took out his phone, turning it on with his slender fingers. The phone screen lit up. A string of messages made his lips curl up in a smile. Because it was from a certain someone. He eagerly opened the messages. His expression stiffened. ¡®Uncle Ming, is your phone flat? I¡¯m at your apartment. I prepared a big surprise for you. When are you coming back?¡¯ When he saw the picture she sent him, he seemed to forget that he was still on the plane. He stood up, only to realize that he hadn¡¯t unbuckled his seatbelt yet. He unbuckled it quickly. When the air stewardess saw this, she warily reminded him, ¡°Sir, please sit down and buckle your seatbelt.¡± The plane was already slowing down, so Ming Ansheng ignored her words. He walked over to the exit, waiting by it. When they touched down, he exited through the VIP lane and ran to the exit. His car was waiting at the exit. The chauffeur smiled and greeted, ¡°President.¡± ¡°Take my luggage for me, then call a cab back,¡± Ming Ansheng commanded. He gave him his flight number and opened the door, getting into the car. Within seconds after he got onto the car, it vanished from the chauffeur¡¯s sight. ¡­ Ming Ansheng opened his door. The house was bright since all the lights were on. His gaze swept through the entire living room, but he didn¡¯t see Su Yue. Chapter 1388. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Fourteen) His gaze lingered on the dining table for a few seconds. Frustration and self-accusation filled him up. Without changing out of his shoes, he entered the front porch and looked towards the sofa. The small girl was curled up in a corner of the sofa. If he didn¡¯t look closely, he might have missed her. ¡°Yueyue,¡± Ming Ansheng called out as he rushed over to her. He bent over and scooped her up. It woke her up. Su Yue sleepily opened her eyes. She pouted when she saw the familiar, handsome face. ¡°Uncle Ming, why did you turn off your phone?¡± It was as if she was sleep-talking. She closed her eyes and had no further movement. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart ached. He couldn¡¯t hold in his longing for her. His¡­ love for her. He hugged her tightly in his arms, and he kissed her smooth face with his soft lips. ¡°Yueyue, will you wake up to have a candlelit dinner with me?¡± Su Yue was already in a peaceful sleep, and she found Ming Ansheng annoying. She pushed him away and said, ¡°No. I want to sleep, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± ¡°Yueyue, eat with me. Or else I won¡¯t let you sleep.¡± He placed her down and crushed his huge body on hers. She wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep under his weight no matter how tired she was. Su Yue opened her eyes and frowned at the man who was crushing her. ¡± Hmph. You¡¯re back so late, the food has turned cold. Everything has turned cold. My heart has turned cold.¡± She then pouted and looked away from him in anger. Ming Ansheng held her face in her hands and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll punish myself with three shots, alright?¡± Su Yue refuted angrily. ¡°Three shots aren¡¯t enough. You have to drink one bottle.¡± Three shots were too lenient a punishment. She had spent the entire day preparing for this. Her initially adrenaline-pumping heart was now cold. And the wounds on her hand were still hurting. Ming Ansheng frowned. He looked at her unsurely. ¡°Are you sure you want me to drink one bottle?¡± He had a sly expression. Su Yue couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking. She remained adamant. ¡°It has to be one bottle. You¡¯re not allowed to negotiate, or else you must drink two bottles.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. He patted her head lightly. ¡°Little one, don¡¯t regret later.¡± Su Yue snorted. ¡± Hmph , why would I regret?¡± Ming Ansheng grinned slyly and didn¡¯t reply to her. He leaned downwards and kissed her on the lips. He bent over and carried her, carrying her to the dining table. ¡°You have to eat with me.¡± To get the effect of a candlelit dinner, Su Yue only arranged two chairs at the ends of the table and placed the remaining chairs elsewhere. Ming Ansheng pulled out a chair and placed her down on it. He then kissed her forehead. ¡°Darling, I¡¯ll go wash my hands.¡± He stood straight and walked over to the washroom. Su Yue watched him leave and froze. What did Uncle Ming call her just now? ¡®Darling?¡¯ She blushed and got goosebumps. Ming Ansheng emerged from the washroom. He saw her staring in his direction with a blush on her face, but he didn¡¯t know what had made her so shy. Chapter 1389. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Fifteen) He raised his eyebrow. His interest at a peak, he asked, ¡°What were you thinking about that it made you so shy?¡± Su Yue blushed even harder. She mumbled, ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re so annoying.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned in confusion. ¡°How am I annoying?¡± ¡°You actually called me ¡®darling¡¯ ,¡± Su Yue explained in a soft voice that is almost a whisper. ¡°So that¡¯s why.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. He stood opposite her and asked, ¡°Do you like me calling you that?¡± Under the lighting, his smile looked wicked and flirtatious. Su Yue nodded unabashedly and lifted her head to look at him. She warned, ¡°But you can¡¯t call me that in front of others.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and agreed. ¡°It¡¯s not meant to be heard by others.¡± Su Yue blinked. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Su Yue picked up her fork and knife and started to cut the steak. But she hadn¡¯t realized that she couldn¡¯t slice through it at all. She recalled her painstaking preparation efforts and angrily put down her cutlery. ¡°It¡¯s cold. It can¡¯t slice through it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll heat it up.¡± Ming Ansheng stood up and picked up his plate hers as well. He then entered the kitchen. Su Yue followed after him and stopped at the entrance. The kitchen was in a mess and it took him a while to find a place to put the plates down. He picked up the microwavable containers and placed the steak in the microwave. After which, he put on his apron and placed the dirty bowls into the sink. Su Yue leaned against the door frame and watched the man busy himself. Seeing his beautiful hands holding the cloth made her feel warm inside. ¡°Uncle Ming, did you cook for all the women you slept with before?¡± Su Yue suddenly asked. Ming Ansheng was speechless. This little lass. Why did she mention this in the middle of the night? She sounded nonchalant, but his answer had to be well-thought and satisfactory. Or else, she would definitely lock herself in the bedroom tonight. He put on a calm smile. ¡°Of course not. I don¡¯t have such women.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie. Lu Yinan said that you slept with someone when you were seventeen.¡± Su Yue glared at him. ¡°It almost slipped my mind. Hmph !¡± She then stomped and walked towards the sofa. Ming Ansheng chased after her. ¡°Yueyue, how could you believe what Lu Yinan said?¡± Su Yue looked at him and asked, ¡°You mean that you didn¡¯t lose your virginity at seventeen?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t we let the past stay in the past?¡± ¡°Why should we?¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°You¡¯re feeling guilty, right?¡± Ming Ansheng was indeed feeling guilty. But he knew that he couldn¡¯t show it in front of Su Yue. He walked over and sat down beside her. He hugged her waist and cajoled, ¡°I¡¯ve never cooked for anyone before. You¡¯ll be the first and last person I¡¯ll ever cook for.¡± This tactic worked on girls like her. Su Yue smiled, but she still looked angry. She coolly said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me until you¡¯ve finished one bottle of wine.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drink it now.¡± Chapter 1390. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Sixteen) He then stood up and took a bottle of wine from the dining table. He stood before Su Yue and chugged. Su Yue watched his throat bob up and down, and she was worried that he would choke. So she tried to talk to him so that he could take a break. ¡°You haven¡¯t told me why your phone was turned off the entire night.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s throat stopped moving for a few seconds. He then put the glass down and answered seriously, ¡°I was on a plane.¡± Su Yue was shocked. ¡°You were on a plane?¡± Didn¡¯t he leave before them yesterday? Why was he on a plane? Could he have flown somewhere else after? ¡°Yes.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t have the chance to tell you. Something cropped up in Country M two days ago, so I had to postpone my flight by a day. I only saw your message when the plane landed.¡± ¡°What cropped up?¡± Su Yue asked without thinking. ¡°Is it regarding your work with that Dasmond?¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s my friend. He¡¯s sick and I happened to be around so I went to visit him.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue nodded to express her understanding. She didn¡¯t bother asking who his friend was. She trusted him wholeheartedly. ¡°Did you skip dinner?¡± Ming Ansheng changed the topic. He then continued chugging the wine. Su Yue patted her belly. ¡°I ate as I cooked. I was full a long time ago.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze fell on her hand, which was rubbing her tummy. There were a few red spots at the back of her arm, some were even blisters. He quickly placed the wine bottle down and grabbed her hand, pulling it closer to him. He carefully observed it and his heart felt like it was breaking into two. ¡°Silly girl, don¡¯t enter the kitchen anymore.¡± Having someone¡¯s heart ache for you was bliss. Su Yue enjoyed the feeling and she couldn¡¯t help but show him her childish side. ¡°Don¡¯t you wish for me to be more domesticated?¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to be. I don¡¯t need you to do anything.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes glimmered. ¡°Really?¡± Ming Ansheng nodded confidently. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m going to sleep in the small room. Sleep after you¡¯ve finished the bottle.¡± She pulled her hand out of his grasp and walked towards the room that she had slept in earlier on. Ming Ansheng was speechless. He stared after her for a while before he came to his senses. Hey! This little lass learned how to set traps, and he had fallen into it unknowingly. He grabbed the bottle of wine and stood up, sprinting over to her and sliding into the room before she could close the door. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng wound his arm around her waist, the wine bottle in his other hand. He closed the door with his foot and took a swig. He then kissed her lips. A mouthful of wine was delivered into her mouth. ¡°Yueyue, give it to me.¡± Ming Ansheng kissed her as he pushed her towards the bed. Su Yue nodded before delivering the wine back into his mouth. Ming Ansheng was speechless. Chapter 1391. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Seventeen) F*ck. He wasn¡¯t referring to the wine! He saw the sly gleam in her eye and he knew that she was feigning ignorance. She was teasing him. ¡°Alright, little one. You¡¯re getting naughty.¡± Ming Ansheng pushed her onto the bed and sat on her, pinning her down as a form of restraint. He then placed the wine bottle to his mouth and continued chugging. He drank almost half the bottle at once. He was chugging too much that he couldn¡¯t swallow in time, so the red liquid leaked out of the corners of his mouth and dripped down his fair skin, flowing down his bobbing throat. It was incredibly sexy. Su Yue was in a daze. She didn¡¯t know what he was trying to do. She didn¡¯t believe that he was doing this just because she ordered him to finish the entire bottle. ¡°Uncle Ming, what are you doing?¡± she asked. Ming Ansheng removed the bottle from his lips. It was almost empty and it stained his lips exceptionally red. He smiled. ¡°Just drinking to liven things up!¡± He finished the remaining wine and threw the bottle aside, lying down to kiss her. ¡®Oh¡­.¡¯ Su Yue had grown accustomed to his ways in bed. She now knew him at the back of her hand. She knew exactly when to protest or give in to his advances. Young Master Ming couldn¡¯t get enough of her. As the saying went: ¡®When a woman is too beautiful, no man could ever resist her.¡¯ ¡­ ¡°President.¡± ¡°President.¡± Ming Ansheng entered the company in a tuxedo. People started greeting him and he nodded back. There was even a faint smile on his face. The lifts were the busiest from eight-thirty to nine in the morning. Both lifts were filled. Ming Ansheng tucked his hands into his pockets and walked over. Immediately, the crowd parted for him so that he could enter first. ¡°You guys can join me,¡± Ming Ansheng said plainly. Usually, in such a circumstance, everyone would wait for the next lift, and the big boss would take the lift alone. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t enjoy squeezing in the lift with a crowd, so he never objected. But today, he actually invited them to take the same lift?! Everyone was sizing him up carefully and they realized that he had become more refreshed after disappearing for a few days. Although he had invited them, nobody was willing to take the same lift as him. They nodded and said that they would take the next lift. Ming Ansheng let them be and closed the lift doors. One side of the lift was a mirror and he turned towards it. He looked at his reflection and frowned. Then he pursed his lips. Was he usually that scary? Why didn¡¯t they dare to take the same lift as him? He frowned again and puffed up his cheeks, looking downwards¡­ mimicking Su Yue. The security guard in the surveillance room was drinking a glass of water. When he saw the big boss acting adorable in the lift, he spat the water onto the screens. ¡®Did boss take the wrong medication today?¡¯ ¡­ After the trip to Country M, it had considerably lifted Ming Ansheng¡¯s mood. Before, when he saw the news that Su Yue and Jiao Chen had spent the night together in his dorm, he thought that she had already slept with him. Although he felt terrible, he didn¡¯t mind. But that night, he had carefully sounded her out. Chapter 1392. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Eighteen) He said that her first time would be painful, and she replied that she was the least afraid of pain. It overjoyed him. Yueyue was entirely his. What exciting news! It lifted his mood, and so his efficiency at work got boosted, too. He didn¡¯t feel stressed by the pile of work before him. The morning passed smoothly and happily. ¡°President, it¡¯s lunchtime. What would you like to eat today?¡± The secretary had knocked on the door and entered. He was now standing before him. Ming Ansheng glanced up at him and replied, ¡°Buy whatever you deem fit.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± His secretary nodded and left. Ming Ansheng continued burying himself in work. He then heard the secretary¡¯s voice at the doorway. ¡°Chairman.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s face fell when he heard it and he looked at the door. Ming Zhongsheng entered his office. He was in a black sweater and he adjusted his scarf as he walked in. Ming Ansheng knew that he wouldn¡¯t be able to get any work done for the time being. He removed his hands from his laptop and picked up his mug, slowly leaning back in his seat. He stared at the old man who was heading towards him while slowly drinking his tea. ¡°Where were you the past few days?¡± Ming Zhongsheng interrogated. Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrow. He casually replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t Secretary Li tell you?¡± Ming Zhongsheng stated, ¡°Third Yan and his wife, as well as that lass, were also in N City.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°Grandfather, you¡¯ve done your research.¡± His tone was full of sarcasm. Ming Zhongsheng turned stern. He asked in a cold tone, ¡°Are you bent on going against me?¡± ¡°This seems to be the first time I¡¯m going against you after all these years.¡± Ming Ansheng put down his mug and stood up. He walked towards Ming Zhongsheng and said, ¡°Grandfather, why are you so different from Grandfather Jiang and Grandfather Lu?¡± At times, he really envied them. Since they were young, they had a say in their choice of universities, courses, and partners. Among the group, he was the only one who started learning management from a young age. He was tasked with assignments that were beyond his age. Ming Zhongsheng was furious. ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯m incomparable to them?¡± ¡°This time, I won¡¯t listen to you no matter what,¡± Ming Ansheng declared. Then his voice softened as he added, ¡°I¡¯m asking for your blessing, just this once.¡± He wanted Su Yue. Just this once, he wanted his grandfather¡¯s blessings. He wanted everyone¡¯s support and blessing. His grandfather had never ever supported or agreed to any of his decisions. He really wished for his blessings, just this once. Although they were always quarreling, deep down, he still respected him as his grandfather. After all, he was the one his grandmother was worried about, even on her deathbed. Ming Zhongsheng snorted, adamant. ¡°I will let you date anyone but that illegitimate daughter from than Yan family.¡± That was the furthest he could go. Ming Ansheng was determined as well. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else but her.¡± Ming Zhongsheng became frustrated. He frowned and glared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°We have not settled the issue with the Tang family yet. Are you trying to send me to my grave?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°I will settle with the Tangs. I hope you will stop interfering with my personal life.¡± Chapter 1393. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Nineteen) His words seemed to come with a room for negotiation, but it filled his tone with a warning. Ming Zhongsheng snorted. ¡°From the day I groomed you to be the next successor, you had no personal life.¡± ¡°Grandfather, I can really do without Bright Vision.¡± He looked at him with a face of seriousness. Suddenly, his eyes turned slightly red. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted after all these years. If I could turn back time to 16 years ago, I wouldn¡¯t rebel. I would listen to you and accept any assignments you gave me. I won¡¯t slip away to skip studying. Then, grandmother wouldn¡¯t have died and I wouldn¡¯t need to carry so many burdens.¡± His grandmother¡¯s burdens. However, Ming Zhongsheng didn¡¯t give in. He remained adamant. ¡°Even so, I will not agree with your relationship with the illegitimate daughter of the Yan¡¯s.¡± ¡°This time, I won¡¯t listen to your orders no matter what.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give up on Su Yue,¡± he added with utmost determination. Ming Zhongsheng clenched his fists behind his back. He gritted his teeth and he turned green. But at that time, he held in his anger and chose not to yell at him. He nodded in distaste and said, ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re going to defy your grandfather because of an illegitimate daughter?¡± He then turned away and stomped out of the room. Ming Ansheng watched the slightly hunchbacked man leave, and he clenched his fists. When Ming Zhongsheng left, Ming Ansheng looked up and took a shaky breath. All these complicated emotions had tortured him. But this time, he would not let go of Su Yue. He wouldn¡¯t give up no matter what. ¡­ Ming Ansheng¡¯s call had woken Su Yue, reminding her that she had an exam that day. She hurriedly got out of bed and rushed straight to the exam venue in the nick of time. The whole semester, she had basically been sleeping in class, and so the exam caught her off guard. She only managed to do a few simple questions. She couldn¡¯t figure out the answers for the other questions, so she chose an option at random for the multiple-choice questions. She finished it early. She glanced over her answers one last time before handing it up. She handed her results in before the top student. Everyone was shocked. Even the teacher was shocked. Su Yue ignored their gazes and turned it in, confidently leaving the venue. Outside the venue, she rubbed her grumbling belly and quickened her pace, preparing to have a good meal. She went down the stairs, turned around, and then froze. ¡°Jiaojiao?¡± Jiao Chen was standing at the end of the right side of the staircase. He was wearing a white down jacket. He was leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets, earphones plugged in. He turned to look at her and flashed a faint smile. He then took his earphones off. ¡°You¡¯re waiting for someone?¡± Su Yue asked. Jiao Chen nodded. ¡°I was waiting for you.¡± It startled Su Yue. He looked at Su Yue and plainly said, ¡°I¡¯m going home tomorrow. Let¡¯s have a meal.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t hesitate. She smiled and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Then she added, ¡°You¡¯re going home tomorrow. To your mum¡¯s?¡± ¡°To that person¡¯s house.¡± Jiao Chen lifted his head, continuing, ¡°It¡¯s my grandmother¡¯s 90th birthday.¡± Chapter 1394. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty) Su Yue looked at the side of his face, pressed her lips together, and said nothing. It was the holidays and everyone was leaving the school. There were many people carrying boxes around. It had been snowing in the capital city, but there were still a few wilted leaves remaining on the tree branches, tenaciously clinging on, but eventually falling to the ground. Su Yue and Jiao Chen walked side by side. From their back views, they looked like a pair. Su Yue followed his pace. When she lifted her head, she realized that they had already reached the food street outside the East entrance. The place where she had her first meal with Jiao Chen. Although many students had already left, the street was still bustling with activity. ¡°I want to eat that.¡± Su Yue smiled and pointed at a place selling spicy hotpot. Sticks were pierced through strings of food and cooked in a large pot of spicy soup. Su Yue ran over, picked up a stick, and began eating. As she ate, she continued choosing other sticks of food and placing it on a plate that the stall owner passed to her. Jiao Chen stood by her side, watching her. She was looking through the sticks of food in all seriousness to find the ones that she liked. A gentle smile unconsciously formed on his face. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s all. I¡¯ll have them on the go. How much do these cost?¡± Su Yue said, passing him the plate. She then tried to reach her pocket and it suddenly hit her that she had forgotten to bring her wallet out. ¡°That would be 14 dollars,¡± the stall owner replied. Jiao Chen spoke up from beside her. ¡°Here.¡± His slender fingers were holding a twenty-dollar note, and he passed it to the owner. Su Yue took the bag of food from the owner, somewhat relieved. Immediately, she took another stick out and began eating. After paying, they continued walking forward. The street wasn¡¯t long but from the start until the end, they still attracted the attention of the crowd. But they were calm. They were used to it. On their way back, Su Yue¡¯s tummy was finally full. She held a cup of hot milk tea, drinking as she walked. ¡°Su Yue,¡± Jiao Chen suddenly called. She lifted her head and looked at him in confusion. ¡°Yes?¡± They didn¡¯t say a word the entire walk. She would eat whatever she liked and Jiao Chen would follow after her, settling the bill. Jiao Chen didn¡¯t take the initiative to strike a conversation. So when he suddenly called out to her, she was confused. Did he have something to tell her? Jiao Chen smiled. ¡°Happy new year.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips together and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s still too early for that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what I should say,¡± Jiao Chen admitted, looking downwards, a face of helplessness. He really wanted to talk to her, to hear her voice, but he didn¡¯t know what to say. Su Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked at him and hesitated. ¡°Then, you can wish me a happy new year.¡± Actually, she didn¡¯t know what to say either. They knew each other so well, yet she felt like he was a stranger. Every time she saw him since they broke up, she wanted to talk to him, but she didn¡¯t know what to say. She felt that they shouldn¡¯t be so distant. Jiao Chen nodded. ¡°Happy new year.¡± He then lowered his head and looked at Su Yue¡¯s small hand, which hung by her side. His fingers trembled in his pockets. Even the longest roads had its ending. Su Yue never imagined that during her next meeting with Jiao Chen, they would be so far apart¡­ ¡­ She had finished her milk tea. Su Yue walked with her head bowed, out of habit. Suddenly, a deep voice called out from in front of her. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue looked over to see an old man, with a head full of white hair, waiting by the dormitory entrance. He was staring at her. Confused, she slowed her pace and scanned him from head to toe. Chapter 1395. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty One) The old man was wearing a black sweater and his hands behind his back. He was standing on the steps, his chest puffed out as he watched Su Yue. Su Yue sized him up in confusion. She found him slightly familiar, but she definitely hadn¡¯t seen the man before. ¡°I¡¯m Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather.¡± Ming Zhongsheng introduced himself, knowing that she was trying to figure out his identity. He tilted his chin up slightly, looking at her with a condescending gaze. It gave off neither close nor distant feel. Shock flashed across her face. Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather¡­? Goodness, Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather came to find her. She opened her mouth in shock, at a loss. She bowed her head and remained silent. Ming Zhongsheng sized her up before plainly saying, ¡°I came to talk to you about your relationship with Ming Ansheng.¡± ¡°Grandfather, I like Uncle Ming very much, and he likes me too.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t know where her sudden surge of bravery came from, but she lifted her head to talk to him. When she saw his grave expression, she trembled and hurriedly bowed her head, her voice lowering in volume as she added, ¡°Can you not object to our relationship?¡± Although she had never seen him before, he was her greatest consideration. She had been thinking of how to earn the approval of the old man. So that he would agree to their relationship. ¡°Little lass, do you understand Ming Ansheng?¡± Ming Zhongsheng asked. He then walked down the steps slowly. Su Yue turned around and followed after him. She nodded gently and replied with an ¡®mm¡¯. Ming Zhongsheng turned to look at her with a mocking smile. ¡°How well do you understand him?¡± Her heart was written on her sleeves, and one could see right through her with just a glance. If put nicely, she was innocent and pure; but to be blunt, she was foolish. How could she be good enough for Ming Ansheng? How was she fit to be the future mistress of the Ming family? How well did she know him? Su Yue bowed her head and remained silent. She didn¡¯t know how well she understood him. But she knew that she definitely didn¡¯t know him well enough. But this didn¡¯t affect their relationship. Weren¡¯t they very happy now? She would understand him better in the time to come. Seeing that Su Yue remained silent, Ming Zhongsheng continued, ¡°Do you know his past?¡± Su Yue knew that he was trying to broach a topic. And no matter what he said, it was definitely an attempt to break them apart. Her head remained hung low and she didn¡¯t say a word. Then Ming Zhongsheng continued, ¡°Perhaps your third brother and third sister-in-law told you some stuff about him. But do you really know him well enough? There is an age gap of eight years between the two of you. He entered society when he was of a young age. Age isn¡¯t the only generation gap between both of you.¡± His words became sharper. ¡°He is carrying a heavy burden and workload. How much can you help him?¡± She looked at him and said with determination, ¡°I will. I can learn. I will grow up too.¡± Her eyes glimmered with determination. She would be as smart as her third sister-in-law for sure, by then she could share Uncle Ming¡¯s workload. She could learn anything, just like cooking. Ming Zhongsheng saw the innocence in her eyes and flashed a mocking smile. Suddenly, he lifted his head and sighed. ¡°Out of all the girls he had, Meiduo was still the best person for him.¡± Su Yue froze. ¡°Wh-what?¡± Chapter 1396. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Two) Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather knew Meiduo? She was beyond confused as she looked at the old man. He seemed to imply that Uncle Ming and Meiduo had a past. Ming Zhongsheng feigned confusion. ¡°You don¡¯t know Meiduo?¡± Su Yue bowed her head. She whispered, ¡°I do.¡± Although she could tell that Meiduo liked Uncle Ming, they only seemed to be good friends. Did the two of them really have a relationship in the past? Su Yue recalled Ming Ansheng and Meiduo interactions during the time he had brought her to Meiduo¡¯s house for the tattoo. Although Meiduo kept bantering with Ming Ansheng, he never gave her weird glances or had any unusual actions. Ming Zhongsheng had a smug look when he saw Su Yue¡¯s reaction. ¡°Ansheng dated her when he was eighteen. They dated for a few years. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Uncle Ming dated Meiduo when he was eighteen¡­ They had a shared past, yet she couldn¡¯t tell during their first meeting. Su Yue¡¯s hands, which were in her pockets, were clenched into fists. She suppressed her whirl of complicated emotions and stared at Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°Then¡­ why did they break up?¡± They dated for a few years, so why did they break up? They were so harmonious, and they even joked with each other. Who would have known that they were ex-lovers? ¡®Are you sure you want the tattoo on your chest?¡¯ ¡®When you have a boyfriend in the future and he kisses you here, wouldn¡¯t you feel weird?¡¯ But why? Why did Uncle Ming bring her to his ex-girlfriend to get a tattoo? Was it because he hadn¡¯t fallen for her yet? ¡®Uncle Ming, why is her house empty?¡¯ ¡®She lives overseas and only comes back for two years during the summer.¡¯ Su Yue recalled her first meeting with Meiduo. She had an enchanting smile and was always teasing her¡ªnot forgetting the many furtive glances she gave Ming Ansheng¡­ She couldn¡¯t imagine¡ªdidn¡¯t want to imagine¡ªhow intimate they might have been and how many beautiful memories they had forged together. ¡°I objected to their relationship. Meiduo wasn¡¯t born into a good family, so she was of no help to Ming Ansheng,¡± Ming Zhongsheng explained before glancing at her. ¡°But compared to you, she was at least strong and independent, with great capabilities.¡± In his eyes, Su Yue was worthless. She was born into a noble family, and furthermore, she was an illegitimate daughter. In comparison, Meiduo had enough capabilities to support Ming Ansheng in his career. Su Yue¡¯s heart clenched. ¡°They broke up because of your objection?¡± He gave Meiduo up because his grandfather didn¡¯t approve of their relationship? When Su Yue heard about Ming Ansheng¡¯s past with Meiduo, the first thing that came to her mind was his attitude. Since his grandfather disapproved of their relationship, he would also give up on her, eventually? Just when she was pondering this question, Ming Zhongsheng continued, ¡°Ansheng is an obedient and filial grandson. His grandmother passed away to save him when he was ten. On her deathbed, she instructed him to listen to me, and he has been very obedient since then.¡± Chapter 1397. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Three) He paused to take in her reaction, before continuing, ¡°From breaking up with Meiduo, to what university he went to, and eventually his engagement with Tang Feiling, he went with my arrangements. Do you think he will go against me, for you?¡± Su Yue suddenly became furious. ¡°Why did you do that? How would you feel if someone made you do something against your own wishes?¡± She glared at him, her fists clenched by her sides. Before she had met this old man, she was still thinking of ways to get into his good books. Now, she realized that she didn¡¯t like this old man at all. He was extremely annoying. Ming Zhongsheng ignored her attitude and replied, ¡°That¡¯s why I said, you¡¯re too pure. You¡¯re not suitable for Ming Ansheng.¡± ¡°But Ming Ansheng likes me now. He likes me,¡± Su Yue said stubbornly. She knew that the old man had come to find her today hoping to get her to break up with Uncle Ming. Although finding out about Uncle Ming¡¯s past with Meiduo affected her greatly, she refused to show it to the old man. She wouldn¡¯t let him have his way. This old man was incorrigible. How was Uncle Ming forced to do things since he was young? She felt that he was more pitiful than her. Ming Zhongsheng snorted. ¡°He liked Meiduo very much in the past as well. He did many rebellious acts, from getting into fights to smoking and getting tattoos.¡± Getting tattoos¡­ ¡®The blackthorn apple on your Uncle Ming¡¯s waist looks way better¡­¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s fists were clenched in her pockets and she put on a cheeky smile. She said, ¡°All relationships work like this. You¡¯ll willingly do countless things for the other party.¡± She then blinked at him. ¡°Grandfather Ming, haven¡¯t you dated before? Didn¡¯t you do all this for Grandmother Ming?¡± Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s expression changed from embarrassment to fury. Before he could reply, Su Yue continued, her words as sharp as daggers. ¡°Uncle Ming helped me wash my clothes, cooked for me and went on a holiday with me to Country M. He sat on a rollercoaster and the childish carousel with me. He even caught many stuffed toys from the claw machine for me. He was willing to do anything for me.¡± Helped her wash her clothes¡­ Ming Zhongsheng turned furious when he heard it. His grandson, president of Bright Vision, washed clothes and cooked for a woman?! His reaction delighted Su Yue. She continued, ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. Grandfather, you should go home early before you catch a cold. I¡¯ll make a move.¡± She then turned around and walked into the dormitory. Her small figure disappeared before him, and he watched in fury. He didn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t tear them apart. ¡­ Su Yue rushed into the dormitory and walked towards her bed. She fell onto it and buried her face under the blanket. Uncle Ming loved someone else before her. The blackthorn apple represented his love full of loneliness and despair. Meiduo must¡¯ve tattooed the thorn apple on his waist for him. Did¡­ Did she have the same tattoo on her body as well? Maybe, Meiduo had a cat tattoo on her chest as well. Or perhaps, the same mouse as Uncle Ming¡¯s instead. Chapter 1398. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Four) She was still so na?ve to think that she should tattoo a cat on her chest. A cat that would eat the mouse. ¡®Little lass, are you sure you want a tattoo on your chest?¡¯ She still remembered that Meiduo had asked her with an enigmatic smile on her face. She even recalled how Meiduo had stolen a glance at Ming Ansheng. Meiduo must have been laughing at her for being a fool. Ming Ansheng¡¯s tattoo of a mouse matched hers, and yet Su Yue must have been a joke to them. Su Yue¡¯s tears fell like a string of broken pearls, and her tears soaked her bedsheets in no time. She pressed her palm against her chest and it seemed to hurt. She had no idea if the pain was psychological. She had accepted Ming Ansheng¡¯s past of having many women in his life. But the thought of a woman he loved dearly, who also had a matching tattoo as him was heartbreaking. She couldn¡¯t accept it. Meiduo¡¯s enchanting and alluring face repeatedly appeared in her mind. Even she couldn¡¯t help but like Meiduo. She was independent, yet elegant and graceful. She was alluring in a refined and subtle way. If Meiduo wasn¡¯t forced to leave Uncle Ming years ago, they would have been married by now. And Su Yue would never be in the picture. Su Yue had no idea when she stopped crying since she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was already night. She fluttered her eyelids. The silence in the room was suffocating her. Bai Jing¡¯s bed was empty, and it was neat and tidy. It appeared that she didn¡¯t come back at all. Su Yue could feel that her eyes were swollen, and she had difficulty seeing things. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. She peered at herself and realized she was still wearing the clothes she wore when she went out earlier on. She rummaged in her pockets for her phone and clicked on the screen. There were five missed calls. Two from Wen Xuxu, three from Ming Ansheng. She had switched it to silent mode during her exam. After that, she bumped into Jiao Chen and forgot to check her phone for the rest of the afternoon. Ming Ansheng sent her texts as well, asking her whereabouts and why she didn¡¯t pick up. Even though it was just words, she could sense his anxiety and concern. ¡®Yueyue, call me when you see this. Or send me a text, alright?¡¯ That was the last text and Su Yue stared intently at it. If he had said the words, his tone would be soft and gentle. Su Yue¡¯s tears flowed once again. She didn¡¯t reply to his text, neither did she call him back. She had ignored him for the time being. Su Yue removed her coat and hugged her pillow. It made her reminisce Ming Ansheng¡¯s warm embrace. Just last night, he had hugged her to sleep, and with that, she had such a good sleep until morning. His strong shoulders and chest belonged to Meiduo once. When he hugged Meiduo, what did he say to her? Did he address her as darling? Did he kiss her often, in the midst of a conversation? Her heart was in pain and she couldn¡¯t breathe. Su Yue had no idea how she fell asleep for the second time. Her head felt heavy and she felt dizzy. She flipped over and glanced at the empty bed. Bai Jing¡¯s bed was just like last night. Did Bai Jing go back home? Chapter 1399. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Five) Third sister-in-law had tried her best to help Bai Jing the last time. Although Third Brother didn¡¯t agree to work with Grand Prosperity Molds, he still helped them clinch a major deal. Her brother Lei Yong wouldn¡¯t force her again, would he? Although Uncle Ming said that guys like Lei Yong had an insatiable appetite for greed, at least for now, he should stop bothering Bai Jing. Hopefully, Bai Jing could be firm and leave that family. Su Yue heavily sighed and shut her eyes. At the same time, the door opened. It could only be Bai Jing since only both of them had the keys to their room. Su Yue glanced towards the door¡¯s direction. Bai Jing was wearing a dark red thick coat, and she carried a black handbag. The wind had messed up her long hair and her cheeks were rosy. But she seemed fine. She casually raised her head and met Su Yue¡¯s eyes. It startled her for a moment. She hastened her footsteps towards Su Yue. ¡°Su Yue, are you okay?¡± Bai Jing sat on Su Yue¡¯s bed and gazed at her. ¡°Why are your eyes swollen? You cried?¡± She was quite certain. Su Yue¡¯s red and swollen eyes were like light bulbs, and she must have cried for a long time. Su Yue pouted and fell silent. Bai Jing frowned. ¡°Why did you cry? You looked as though you cried the entire night?¡± She intently eyed Su Yue as she probed. Su Yue replied, ¡°I¡¯m feeling upset, so I cried.¡± She wasn¡¯t just upset. She was unhappy, heartbroken and utterly dejected. Bai Jing asked, ¡°Why are you upset? Tell me about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine now.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t feel like talking about how Ming Zhongsheng came to look for her yesterday. She steered the topic and asked, ¡°Did you go back home yesterday?¡± Bai Jing sensed that Su Yue was reluctant to tell her, and a cold gleam flashed in her eyes. She maintained a stoic expression and said, ¡°Yeah. I had a family gathering so I went back in the afternoon.¡± When she finished talking, she continued staring at Su Yue. The only person who could Su Yue make cry so badly had to be Ming Ansheng. The last time she cried so badly was because Ming Ansheng lectured her in public. Bai Jing thought for a moment before asking, ¡°Exams have ended, so why didn¡¯t you go back? Uncle Ming didn¡¯t make plans with you?¡± She closely surveyed Su Yue¡¯s face, and just like her tone, she was trying to probe further. Su Yue smiled and replied, ¡°What plans would we have? We stayed in Country M for a week, and we had enough fun.¡± She didn¡¯t tell Bai Jing about Ming Ansheng, but it was not because she didn¡¯t believe her. She merely felt that it was hard to open up regarding such issues. She was being hard on herself and she knew that she was being unreasonable. Even if she told Bai Jing, what could she possibly do to help her? No matter how another person consoled her, she needed to make sure she was ready to accept and get over it herself. She wasn¡¯t in the picture years ago, so she shouldn¡¯t be harping on the past. She understood but she just couldn¡¯t accept it. Bai Jing curled her lips with an enigmatic smile. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re indeed blessed to have so many people around you.¡± There was a subtle trace of jealousy and sarcasm in her tone. Bai Jing glanced at Su Yue and said, ¡°Especially your beloved Uncle Ming who was with you.¡± Su Yue put on a helpless and bitter smile. Chapter 1400. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Six) When Su Yue thought of everything that Ming Ansheng had done for her, she would instinctively wonder if he had done the same for Meiduo. And it was killing her inside. Su Yue, you¡¯re bringing this upon yourself! She shook her head to prevent her thoughts from running wild. She smiled at Bai Jing as she said, ¡°When we go out next time, come along with us alright?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Bai Jing shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I can¡¯t fit into your circle as you belong to the wealthy and influential.¡± ¡°What are you talking about!¡± Su Yue lightly hit Bai Jing¡¯s arm before holding her hand. In a serious but earnest tone, she said, ¡°We are good friends. No matter what happens in the future or troubles that you have, you have to tell me. I will try my best to help you.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Bai Jing softly said as she stood up. ¡°Hurry up and go wash up. Your eyes are so swollen. I have an exam today, so I need to leave soon.¡± Su Yue nodded and looked at Bai Jing. She stretched her hand to rub her eyes. She became crestfallen at the thought of Ming Ansheng once again. She decided to wash up and go home. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue had just entered the bathroom when Bai Jing called her. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Your phone is ringing.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s voice sounded outside the bathroom. The first thought that came to Su Yue¡¯s mind was Ming Ansheng. She replied, ¡°Don¡¯t bother to answer.¡± Bai Jing said, ¡°It¡¯s your third brother.¡± Third Brother? Su Yue fell silent for a moment and uttered ¡®oh¡¯ in response. She sounded a little disappointed as she spoke, ¡°Answer it for me.¡± A smile crept up on Bai Jing¡¯s face and she bent to get Su Yue¡¯s phone on the bed. She hastily answered the call, afraid that Yan Rusheng might hang up. ¡°Third brother!¡± She softly spoke with a hint of excitement in her voice. Yan Rusheng realized that it wasn¡¯t Su Yue and he asked, ¡°Where is Su Yue?¡± His voice was still as pleasant and charming as ever, and Bai Jing¡¯s heart fluttered. She gripped the phone tightly and lowered her voice to conceal the excitement. ¡°She just got up and she is in the bathroom. If this is urgent, I will pass the phone to her.¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just tell her that I will fetch her in the afternoon.¡± Bai Jing only registered one thing he said; he was coming in the afternoon. She began to get excited and emotional as she replied, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all,¡± replied Yan Rusheng lightly. Bai Jing nodded. ¡°Bye, Third Brother.¡± He hung up and the line went dead. The corners of Bai Jing¡¯s mouth sank as she stared at the screen. She gazed at Yan Rusheng¡¯s number for a long while. She thought of something and turned towards the bathroom. It was quiet. She clicked on Su Yue¡¯s screen and searched for her photo albums. She found the album titled ¡®Country M¡¯ and began browsing for Yan Rusheng¡¯s photos. Chapter 1401. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Seven) But photos of Yan Rusheng were scarce, and if there are some, Wen Xuxu would always be together with him. She randomly clicked on a photo of Yan Rusheng hugging Xuxu as they sat on the carousel. He wrapped his long, strong limbs around Xuxu¡¯s slender waist. Bai Jing began to think of how blissful and romantic it must be. She closed her eyes slowly¡­ trying to imagine. She pictured herself as Xuxu, sitting together with him, with soft music playing in the background. She could almost catch a faint whiff of his smell. A gentle and faint smile played at the corners of her mouth. At that moment, the bathroom door swung open. Bai Jing was instantly jolted back to her senses when she heard the sound. She went back to her usual self in a split second. Su Yue stood outside the bathroom, holding a toothbrush in her hand. ¡°What did my third brother say?¡± Su Yue asked as she brushed her teeth. Bai Jing replied, ¡°He is coming to fetch you in the afternoon. So he asked you to wait for him.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°I can take a taxi though.¡± With a tinge of jealousy laced in her voice, she said, ¡°You don¡¯t know how blissful you are to have someone coming here to pick you up.¡± Su Yue smiled, she then glared at Bai Jing with a playful frown. ¡°Alright! I thought you have an exam? Why aren¡¯t you studying? Are you planning to fail?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m you?¡± Bai Jing teased Su Yue and continued, ¡°I heard that someone handed in their paper in less than half an hour¡ªwhich was faster than the top student.¡± Su Yue smirked and said, ¡°Oh please, the exam is already over, so it doesn¡¯t make a difference even if you nag. Don¡¯t you know I¡¯m fearless? Or are you thinking of following in my footsteps?¡± Oh dear. The news of her handing in her paper after half an hour had spread around? Bai Jing stifled her laughter. ¡°I shall try not to submit in less than half an hour.¡± She continued to tease her. ¡°You¡¯re making fun of me!¡± Su Yue clenched her teeth as she hissed, ¡°I shall wait patiently for the day you would do the same as me.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± An idea struck Bai Jing and she put on an annoyed expression. ¡°I thought you were giving me a treat today?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat together with my third brother in the afternoon.¡± Bai Jing smiled. ¡°I shall make sure I end in half an hour just for this treat.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m looking forward.¡± Bai Jing glanced at her watch and realized that it was almost time. She said hastily to Su Yue, ¡°I need to go now. If not, I won¡¯t be able to finish in half an hour.¡± She quickly strode across the room after patting Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. Su Yue followed Bai Jing to the door and yelled after her, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you to return in victory!¡± Bai Jing turned around and vanished before Su Yue¡¯s eyes. Su Yue went back to the room and closed the door. She was about to walk towards the bathroom. Suddenly her phone rang again. She ignored her phone after glancing at it. She didn¡¯t intend to pick up. Her phone rang for a long time before the call ended. The room fell silent. Su Yue stared at the phone in a daze. After a while, she went into the bathroom and shut the door. Even though she was all alone in the room, it was her habit to close the door after her. She stood before the mirror and rinsed her mouth. She straightened her back slowly to look at her reflection. She touched her face and her hand moved down to her collar. She tugged at it, revealing the red scar on her chest. Her heart was thudding. Chapter 1402. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Eight) Su Yue recalled the moment Tang Feiling pressed the burning rod to her chest and how she almost died from the pain. But now, she felt that Tang Feiling had helped her to remove traces of her foolishness and humiliation. Su Yue entered a reverie. Suddenly she heard a sound outside, jolting her back to reality. She turned to look at the bathroom door and stared intently at it. She listened with bated breath, but everything was quiet. Did her ears play a trick on her? She frowned, looking perplexed as she turned on the tap. She scooped up the cold water and splashed on her face. She was fervently hoping that her eyes would be less swollen before Third Brother came. After slapping on some moisturizer, Su Yue walked out of the bathroom. To reduce the swelling, she put wet cotton wool on her eyes. ¡°Yueyue.¡± All Su Yue was thinking about was her eyes. Suddenly a familiar man¡¯s voice interrupted her, and it made her heart skip a beat. She halted her footsteps too at the same time. She pulled the cotton wool off her eyes as she turned towards the direction of the voice. The man was standing in the middle of the room facing her. He was staring at her with an intense gaze. He was wearing his usual formal suit, looking handsome, dashing, and suave. But she could see the worry in his eyes. In a deep voice, he said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you return my call? Or reply to my text?¡± Su Yue coldly replied, ¡°I was busy.¡± She stood there, looking as though she didn¡¯t intend to move. Ming Ansheng¡¯s tone switched, in the next moment he sounded helpless. ¡°Yueyue, what happened?¡± He sounded exhausted. ¡°Your grandfather came to look for me, and he asked me to leave you,¡± Su Yue replied. Ming Ansheng¡¯s face fell, and his good-looking face¡ªincluding his eyes¡ªseemed covered with a layer of ice. He looked frightening. He adjusted his emotions before lifting his eyebrows. He asked Su Yue, ¡°So?¡± Su Yue snapped, ¡°So, I don¡¯t want to have anything to do with you.¡± Ming Ansheng clenched his fists when he saw how Su Yue had acted nonchalant on purpose. He had an urge to strangle her. He was incensed. ¡°So you merely acted according to your whims?¡± Su Yue sneered at the man. ¡°Why should I when I don¡¯t feel like it?¡± Without waiting for him to respond, she asked again, ¡°How did you enter? Why did the staff let you in?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Is that important right now?¡± What they needed to do now was to have a good talk. ¡°Go out now. I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Su Yue strode towards Ming Ansheng and grabbed his arm. She began to pull him towards the door. ¡°Go out now! I don¡¯t want to see you ever again!¡± If Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t have any plans on leaving, even two Su Yue¡¯s wouldn¡¯t be able to make him do so. He grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm instead and bent to look at her exquisite-looking face. Her glistening eyes softened his heart. Unconsciously, he mumbled, ¡°Yueyue, tell me. What did he tell you?¡± Su Yue pulled her arm away from Ming Ansheng and turned angrily around. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you. Go away!¡± ¡°Yueyue, didn¡¯t we promise each other to be together forever?¡± Ming Ansheng embraced Su Yue tightly. Chapter 1403. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Twenty Nine) Su Yue was so tiny and frail that Ming Ansheng effortlessly held on to her. No matter how hard she struggled. Su Yue got anxious and frustrated as she bellowed, ¡°You lied to me! Why didn¡¯t you tell me about your relationship with Meiduo? You even got her to tattoo for me! Why didn¡¯t you stop me from getting a tattoo! You both treated me like a fool!¡± She started crying after she vented her grievances. Ming Ansheng knew that Ming Zhongsheng would tell her about his past relationship with Meiduo. As his grandson, he understood his grandfather too well. But he couldn¡¯t do anything to stop his atrocious acts. But he had a principle that he always adhered to. He would always admit to whatever he has done, be it something good or bad. He also guessed that his grandfather might have told her that they forced Meiduo to break up with him. And he knew that Su Yue would be afraid of becoming like Meiduo, and she would definitely harbor thoughts of leaving him. Ming Ansheng tightened his arms around her and put his face near Su Yue¡¯s ear. He put on an affectionate smile, and he whispered, ¡°You finally know that you are silly.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Su Yue glared at Ming Ansheng when she saw the sly smile on his face. Her expression hardened, and she raised her leg before kicking him as hard as she could. Ming Ansheng yelped in pain and relinquished his grip. But the next second, he stood before Su Yue. He said with a frown, ¡°I was born in the year of the rat. Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know that your third brother and third sister-in-law were both born in the year of the rat as well.¡± He was born in the year of the rat? He didn¡¯t tell her about the meaning of his tattoo. Su Yue paused and haughtily raised her chin. ¡°So what?¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his hands and tightly gripped Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. He solemnly looked at her and said, ¡°I was indeed together with Meiduo. But that was in the past.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Su Yue snorted coldly. ¡°If your grandfather didn¡¯t force you to break up with her, would I even be here with you?¡± She felt so aggrieved and upset by this matter. She turned her back against Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was speechless. ¡°How can I answer this?¡± ¡°Get out, get out now!¡± Su Yue shoved Ming Ansheng as she screamed. ¡°Yueyue, look!¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly stretched his hand and pulled down his collar, revealing his chest. Su Yue saw that the tattoo on his chest was almost gone. She widened her mouth in shock. ¡°When¡­ when did you remove it?¡± She couldn¡¯t see the tattoo anymore. To be specific, he had tried to remove it¡ªthere was a faint trace of it. Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Is that important?¡± He stretched his hands and put them around Su Yue¡¯s waist. Su Yue buried her face in Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest, and she smiled to herself. After some time, she raised her head and gazed at Ming Ansheng. ¡°How about the tattoo on your waist?¡± she asked. Jealousy was clear in her tone. Ming Ansheng burst into laughter. He stretched his hand and pinched Su Yue¡¯s chin, and the latter brushed it aside with a frown. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°The meaning of the blackthorn apple tattoo is directed at my grandfather.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± She mustered all her strength and pushed Ming Ansheng towards the door. Then she glared at him as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t look for me ever again.¡± She swung the door shut. Chapter 1404. The Meaning of the Tattoo (part Thirty) Ming Ansheng helplessly gazed at the door, and he bent his head in dismay. ¡­ Su Yue initially wanted to take a stroll downstairs after she had washed up. But Ming Ansheng¡¯s abrupt arrival left her in a daze. She sat on the chair and absent-mindedly began to eat a slice of bread. She took several minutes to finish a bite. Ming Ansheng and Meiduo¡¯s relationship still troubled her, especially with how it ended. They must have been heartbroken when it ended¡­ ¡®His grandmother passed away to save him when he was ten. On her deathbed, she instructed him to listen to me, and he has been very obedient since then¡­¡¯ She really feared that they would have to break up someday. What should she do? He would definitely have agreed to his grandmother¡¯s last wish. Would he be able to go against his grandfather for her sake? If he really did so, then he would need to renege on his promise to his grandmother. Wouldn¡¯t he feel terrible in that case? She didn¡¯t want him to feel burdened while they were together. Her mother had been wrong to give birth to her, and ever since then, everyone condemned her and her existence. These past few years had been exhausting enough for her. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue was still lost in her thoughts when the door opened. Bai Jing was back. When she heard Bai Jing calling her, Su Yue snapped to and glanced at her. ¡°You really finished in half an hour?¡± Bai Jing was looking at her phone when she heard Su Yue¡¯s question. She batted her eyelids and smugly replied, ¡°Of course!¡± She seemed to say; ¡± When I said that I would, it means I definitely will.¡± Su Yue frowned with an expression of disbelief. ¡°Did you choose option B for all the answers?¡± That was what she did yesterday. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m like you?¡± Bai Jing pointed at her own head and proudly replied, ¡°I¡¯m different from you.¡± Su Yue coldly sneered, ¡°Tch. You are becoming arrogant!¡± ¡°I have to use the toilet.¡± Bai Jing threw her phone on her bed and dashed inside. And her phone began to ring. Su Yue glanced at Bai Jing¡¯s phone, and she shouted, ¡°Bai Jing, someone is calling you.¡± She rose and walked to Bai Jing¡¯s bed to pick up her phone. The call ended and she caught a glimpse of the caller¡¯s name, ¡®Zhang Lihong¡¯ . She was Bai Jing¡¯s mother. Su Yue didn¡¯t think much and was about to put the phone back when a text appeared on the screen. It was from Zhang Lihong. Su Yue didn¡¯t have the habit of looking at others¡¯ texts. Bai Jing rushed out in a split second and asked, ¡°Who called?¡± She sounded rather anxious as she glanced warily at Su Yue. She picked up her phone from her bed. Her face darkened when she read the text, and her expression froze. She glanced at Su Yue, looking cold and grave. Su Yue had turned her back against her to throw rubbish. Bai Jing had reverted her expression back to normal. But she still warily glanced at Su Yue with a hint of suspicion. Su Yue didn¡¯t notice it and asked, ¡°Are you moving back today?¡± Chapter 1405. We Have to Break Up (part One) Bai Jing nodded. Su Yue said, ¡°It¡¯s the holidays. Do you want to stay over at my place for a couple of days?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you know.¡± Bai Jing put on a fleeting smile before turning around. She clicked on Zhang Lihong¡¯s text and deleted it. Her eyes gleamed coldly when she deleted the text. ¡°Let¡¯s pack our belongings.¡± Su Yue walked to her bed and began to tidy up. ¡°I think we will have to come back again so let¡¯s just keep it simple today.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Bai Jing responded. She turned around and silently stared at Su Yue with a crease in between her eyebrows. Yan Rusheng reached Su Yue¡¯s dormitory after she was done with packing. She pulled Bai Jing along with her. ¡°Little Miss.¡± A familiar man was waiting downstairs for them. He was their family chauffeur and Su Yue¡¯s designated chauffeur when she was studying at Flourish & Splendor. ¡°Uncle, where is my third brother?¡± Su Yue asked the chauffeur. Yan Rusheng merely said that he had reached, but he didn¡¯t say that he had sent the chauffeur. The chauffeur politely answered, ¡°Third Young Master is in the car. I came here to help you with your belongings.¡± Su Yue passed him her bag before winding her arm around Bai Jing¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Bai Jing smiled and she glanced eagerly into the distance¡ªin the direction of the car. They had parked the champagne-colored Bentley right outside the gate and it attracted everyone¡¯s attention. The man was sitting in the front passenger seat with his head bowed. The weak sunlight streamed in through the window and it landed on his face. He was wearing a white shirt, and he seemed so gentle and quiet. Bai Jing unconsciously hastened her footsteps. Su Yue, on the other hand, chuckled and asked, ¡°Why are you walking so quickly?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Bai Jing paused for a moment before explaining, ¡°I¡¯m carrying such a heavy bag. Do you want to try carrying it?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t think much and snatched the bag away from Bai Jing. ¡°I¡¯ll help you carry it.¡± ¡°Third Brother.¡± Su Yue knocked on the window, as she called Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng heard Su Yue¡¯s voice and he looked up from his phone and glanced out of the window. He briefly glanced at Su Yue before glancing at Bai Jing. He said to Su Yue, ¡°Get in.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°Third Brother, Bai Jing is joining us for lunch.¡± Yan Rusheng casually answered, ¡°I have something on later. The chauffeur will send you back later, so both of you can go ahead.¡± Su Yue grunted in response before she turned around to Bai Jing. ¡°Then let¡¯s eat together.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Jing nodded and her gaze casually landed on Yan Rusheng. She would be content with just a glance at him since they couldn¡¯t have a meal together. The chauffeur helped Bai Jing put her bag in the trunk. Su Yue pulled Bai Jing and they got in. There was a light fragrance in the car, and the scent was the same as Yan Rusheng¡¯s scent. Bai Jing was a little nervous and emotional in the car. She casually grabbed an embroidered cushion with a picture of a man in a suit. Bai Jing didn¡¯t notice it, but Su Yue saw it. She took the cushion away from Bai Jing and said, ¡°Bai Jing, my third sister-in-law personally embroidered this cushion. The picture of the man is my third brother so only Third sister-in-law can hug it.¡± Chapter 1406. We Have to Break Up (part Two) Su Yue pulled the four edges of the cushion to smoothen it before putting it aside. Bai Jing momentarily became awkward, and she stole a furtive glance at the cushion. She realized that the picture of the man was really Yan Rusheng. Her gaze landed on Su Yue and hatred gleamed in her eyes. But she faked an apologetic smile and stammered, ¡°Sorry¡­ I¡­ I didn¡¯t know.¡± Su Yue was so protective and uptight over a cushion. If Su Yue knew that she had fallen in love with her third brother, wouldn¡¯t she fall out with her? Bai Jing was still quietly seething with fury when Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice disrupted her thoughts. ¡°Give me the cushion.¡± He stretched his hand towards Su Yue. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue grabbed the cushion and passed it to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng received the cushion and put it gently on his lap. He lovingly gazed at it with a tender smile. Bai Jing quietly observed him and his smile completely melted her. What should she do? She was getting greedy and yearning for more. Even though she knew that this was going nowhere, she couldn¡¯t help but succumb to her desires. ¡­ The luxurious and grand mansion was brightly lit. They decorated the whole place with majestic-looking furniture and ornaments. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t remove his shoes and marched stiffly towards the sofa. With anger coursing through him, he glared at Ming Zhongsheng who was watching the TV. The rest of the family members were all startled with Ming Ansheng¡¯s glare. Only Ming Zhongsheng seemed unruffled, for he had predicted that he would confront him. ¡°What do you want?¡± Ming Ansheng bellowed at Ming Zhongsheng. Ming Zhongsheng loudly sneered and hissed, ¡°Weren¡¯t you always clear regarding what I want?¡± ¡°This time around, I will never give in to you,¡± Ming Ansheng said in an unyielding tone. Ming Zhongsheng replied stiffly, ¡°Ming Ansheng, you have to break up with that illegitimate daughter from the Yan family.¡± When Ming Ansheng heard his grandfather labeling Su Yue as an illegitimate daughter, he coldly retorted, ¡°Her name is Su Yue.¡± He sounded more like he was warning his grandfather instead of correcting him. He angrily clenched his hands. He had frightened both his brother and sister-in-law, and no one dared to speak up. Ming Ansheng continued coldly. ¡°Grandfather, if you continue to harass her, I¡¯m not sure what else I would do to further disappoint you.¡± Ming Zhongsheng frowned and yelled, ¡°Is this a threat?!¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and bluntly replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m threatening you.¡± ¡°Ming Ansheng, you can¡¯t decide regarding this matter.¡± Ming Zhongsheng stood up and he was equally intimidating. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to break up, it still depends on her willpower and determination.¡± He stomped in a huff towards the staircase. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you to act.¡± Ming Ansheng turned around and stomped towards the door. They headed in opposite directions, and both were equally obstinate. Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s words made Ming Ansheng a bit uneasy. ¡®It still depends on her willpower and determination¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t figure out what his grandfather would do next. When Meiduo broke up with him years ago, until now, he couldn¡¯t fathom the reason. He only knew that his grandfather had given Meiduo a blank cheque to humiliate her. But he knew that wasn¡¯t the real reason. Meiduo grew up in a harsh environment, and she was a tenacious and strong woman. A mere few words won¡¯t trample her pride that easily. Chapter 1407. We Have to Break Up (part Three) At first, Ming Ansheng brooded over the breakup until he saw that she was happy. In the end, he finally put the past behind him. Everything was in the past and he was still friends with Meiduo now. Neither of them mentioned their relationship, and everything seemed fine. Now that Ming Ansheng recalled it, he began to worry which methods Ming Zhongsheng would use to force Su Yue to break up with him. After all, Ming Zhongsheng had built Bright Vision from a tiny company to this vast and influential empire over the decades. They had become the leading pioneer in the industry, and their businesses flourished successfully. He believed that the new generation would excel the previous one, but he shouldn¡¯t overlook the capability of the previous generation. Ming Ansheng went straight to the bathroom after he reached his apartment. He stood under the showerhead and allowed the water to wash away his exhaustion and worries. He feared that Su Yue might give up. ¡°Anzi, let¡¯s break up.¡± Ming Ansheng bowed his head and shut his eyes. Images of his breakup with Meiduo replayed repeatedly in his mind. She sounded calm and nonchalant, and it seemed that no one could change her mind. And it made him feel so weak and useless. But it didn¡¯t even matter if he tried to make her stay. He had promised his grandmother to be obedient and obey his grandfather, and that he would do everything in his power to bring Bright Vision to greater heights. Grandfather didn¡¯t agree to him being with Meiduo, so it didn¡¯t matter who started the breakup. But this time around, it was different. He had no intention of giving up and he wanted to fight for the person he loved. He wanted Su Yue, even if it meant reneging on his promise to his grandmother. ¡­ It had been several days since Su Yue refused to answer his calls. Neither did she reply to his texts. She spent her days cooped up at home. Ming Ansheng came back from work after a long day. He took a quick shower and didn¡¯t even bother to dry his hair. He selected a bottle of wine that Su Yue had bought previously. Su Yue bought two, and he had finished the first bottle. He uncorked the bottle of wine and went to the kitchen to take a wine glass. He collapsed on the couch, and he gulped down the entire glass. His phone lit up and he picked it up. There was a video chat request from Meiduo. With no hesitations, he answered it. A pretty woman wearing a patient gown appeared on his screen. She was sitting on a bed, looking pale and sickly. Ming Ansheng propped the phone on the coffee table and slumped against the couch. He stared at the screen and asked, ¡°Are you going to be discharged tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yeah. Actually, I should be discharged today,¡± said Meiduo in a helpless tone of voice. She glanced at the wineglass in Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Bad day?¡± Her tone sounded sincere. Ming Ansheng managed a weak smile, but he remained silent. His bitter smile had answered Meiduo¡¯s question. Meiduo pressed her lips and fell silent. ¡°Had a fight with your little girlfriend?¡± She sounded quite certain. A cryptic smile appeared on Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. ¡°The old man went to look for her.¡± It was strange that even though he broke up with Meiduo, they didn¡¯t become strangers or ended up hating each other. They became closer, just like a family member who would always encourage each other. Whenever one of them was feeling troubled or unhappy, the other party could lend a listening ear to comfort. He had half a mind to confide in Meiduo. Meiduo heard Ming Ansheng and her expression swiftly changed. But she put on a smile almost instantly and probed, ¡°Why? Is she ignoring you?¡± Chapter 1408. We Have to Break Up (part Four) Ming Ansheng honestly replied, ¡°As you said.¡± Meiduo raised her eyebrows and quipped, ¡°Isn¡¯t that easy?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You have an idea?¡± Meiduo was an art teacher, and her students were mostly girls of Su Yue¡¯s age. She would definitely understand Su Yue more than him and know the things she liked or how he should coax her. Meiduo replied, ¡°She is still so pure and innocent. It will be easy to coax her.¡± Ming Ansheng earnestly replied, ¡°Madam Mei, please teach me.¡± He desperately needed a chance to have a good talk with Su Yue, as he was afraid that she would give up on him. It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t have confidence in her. But he knew that before she met him, the environment she grew up in¡­ led her to have a sense of insecurity. The main reason that she was ignoring him was that his grandfather had opposed to them being together. His past relationship with Meiduo was merely a small reason. Or perhaps after he had explained to her, it would even be negligible. And what was affecting her the most was how his grandfather had forced Meiduo to break up with him. She must be fearful that they would end up in the same way again. Meiduo smiled and expounded, ¡°All young girls love romantic gestures and they get touched easily. If she ignores you, then stand outside her house and wait for her throughout the night. The capital city is freezing at night. Wear thin clothing and stand outside and wait. If she loves you, she wouldn¡¯t bear to see you standing outside.¡± She had a bright and warm smile on her face. ¡°Meiduo¡­¡± Ming Ansheng gazed at her and was at a loss for words. He swallowed the words he wanted to say. ¡°Have a speedy recovery.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Meiduo said in a genuine and sincere tone. ¡°I¡¯m hoping that you could reconcile with your little beauty soon.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°Rest well.¡± ¡°Yeah, I will¡­¡± Meiduo nodded. ¡°Mommy!¡± Ming Ansheng was about to end the video call when a voice sounded. He frowned, looking puzzled. The next moment, she disappeared from the screen. Meiduo had ended the video call before he could utter a word. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t put too much thought to it and placed the phone down on the table. He took a sip of the wine as Meiduo¡¯s advice rang in his mind. ¡®All young girls love romantic gestures and they get touched easily. If she ignores you, then stand outside her house and wait for her throughout the night¡­¡¯ Wait outside her house? F*ck! So he had to stand outside Third Yan¡¯s house? Ming Ansheng slapped his thighs in frustration when he realized it. He had to wait outside Third Yan¡¯s house to win that little lass¡¯s sympathy? Third Yan was bound to ridicule him. Or mock him? Or laugh at his predicament? He might even get Lu Yinan and the rest over. Ming Ansheng clenched his hair desperately out of frustration. He was going bonkers. Besides Third Yan, Wen Xuxu would be around too. How awkward would that be? But he couldn¡¯t think of another way to lure Su Yue out of the house. There was no way he could talk to her since she refused to answer his calls. Forget it, he decided to go! If Third Yan were to ridicule him, he would then counterattack by mentioning that the meals he prepared for Wen Xuxu were all rejected. Ming Ansheng made up his mind and he would do according to what Meiduo had suggested. He changed into the gym attire that he usually wore. No one should be able to tell that he wanted to win Su Yue¡¯s sympathy on purpose by wearing thin clothing. Chapter 1409. We Have to Break Up (part Five) After Ming Ansheng got in the car, he ignited the car. He then received a text. ¡®Remember to be patient towards your cute little girlfriend, since she is still a young girl. Abandon your pride as a young master.¡¯ It was Meiduo and she added a grinning emoji at the end of her text. Shit . Why did he have the feeling that she was fooling him? She obviously knew that Su Yue was Third Yan¡¯s sister. And by asking him to wait outside Su Yue¡¯s house, wasn¡¯t she asking him to wait outside Third Yan¡¯s house? On the other hand, he felt that she had a point. Yueyue loved him and couldn¡¯t bear to see him waiting in the cold. He was certain. Ming Ansheng made his way to Yan Rusheng¡¯s house, feeling conflicted during the ride. His house was located in the middle of the city and it occupied a vast area of land. He caught a glimpse of the huge and grand mansion from a distance away. He stopped a short distance away outside the mansion before calling Su Yue. As expected, Su Yue didn¡¯t answer. ¡­ Su Yue went straight to Wen Xuxu¡¯s room after her shower. She stood beside the crib and was staring at the twins in a daze. Xuxu carried a cup of warm water in her hands and noticed Su Yue. She asked, ¡°Yueyue, you are having your holidays, but you didn¡¯t go out. Did you fight with Ming Ansheng?¡± She wanted to ask that long ago. From the day she came back, she didn¡¯t step out of the house at all. Other than mealtimes, she would either stay in her room or watch TV in the living room. She didn¡¯t use her phone at all, too. This was unusual of her. She had just started dating Ming Ansheng, and given her character, she was sure to cling on to Ming Ansheng especially during such a festive period. She must have fought with him. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Xuxu asked again, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you look for him?¡± Su Yue retorted, ¡°Why should I?¡± Xuxu merely smiled in response. Su Yue changed the topic. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I think they want to drink milk. I put my finger to their mouths and they kept sucking on it.¡± Xuxu walked towards her and grabbed her wrist with a frown. ¡°Your fingers are dirty.¡± She glanced at the pocket in Su Yue¡¯s pajamas. ¡°Your phone is ringing.¡± How could Su Yue not know that her phone was ringing? She threw a casual glance at her pocket and grunted. But she didn¡¯t answer it. Xuxu knew the answer but she probed deliberately. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± Su Yue answered, ¡°It¡¯s those prank calls.¡± Xuxu persisted on and chuckled. ¡°I thought they usually hang up after one or two seconds?¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ She knew that Xuxu was making fun of her, and she punched her lightly on her back. ¡°Third sister-in-law, you¡¯re so bad.¡± She took out her phone and saw two missed calls and a text from Ming Ansheng. ¡®I¡¯m waiting outside your house until you¡¯re willing to come out to talk to me.¡¯ Su Yue stared at the text, she felt startled. She hastily rose and walked to the balcony. She pulled the curtains, looked into the distance and received a shock. A towering figure was outside the gates, and he looked as though he didn¡¯t wear enough to keep him warm. Su Yue bit her lips. He¡­ really came. ¡°Yueyue, what are you looking at?¡± Xuxu asked as she walked towards her. Chapter 1410. We Have to Break Up (part Six) Su Yue retracted her gaze and shook her head. ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m just checking if it¡¯s snowing tonight.¡± She put her hand down and turned towards Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± She walked past Xuxu and strode across the room towards the door. Xuxu suspiciously eyed her, and after she closed the door, she turned towards the balcony. She strode over and pulled the curtains. She immediately caught sight of a towering figure standing outside the courtyard. The man stood there without moving, and she noticed that he wasn¡¯t wearing a coat. It rather surprised Xuxu that Ming Ansheng would come to their place. He must be waiting for Su Yue. The high and mighty Young Master Ming was almost as prideful as Yan Rusheng. And he always appeared to be mature and reserved. To her surprise, he chose to imitate what the male characters in dramas did to seek sympathy. The innocent Su Yue wouldn¡¯t be able to read his intentions. But Xuxu was shrewd and smart, and she instantly understood Ming Ansheng¡¯s motive. He didn¡¯t even put on a coat, and it was evident that he had wrecked his brains to make Su Yue feel sorry for him. It was indeed hard on him to cast his pride and ego aside. Xuxu stared intently at Ming Ansheng and entered a daze. The corners of her mouth curled, and she pulled the curtains back again. She was about to turn around when a deep and masculine voice sounded. ¡°Baby, what are you looking at?¡± Xuxu jumped, and before she could utter a word, the man wrapped his arms tightly around her. She frowned and protested, ¡°Mother and father would come any time. Let go of me.¡± Yan Weihong and Mu Li always came to their room at the same time every night to play with the babies. It had become their habit. ¡°Let¡¯s go to your room tonight,¡± Yan Rusheng tenderly whispered into her ears. Ever since they came back from Country M, they had been taking care of the babies every night. Every time he had any thoughts, he needed to consider the possibility of the babies waking up any time. For fear of affecting his ¡®happiness¡¯ , he didn¡¯t dare to do anything rash. He needed to make sure that they wouldn¡¯t be disturbed, and that he could do whatever he wanted in peace. ¡°Let go of me.¡± Xuxu nudged Yan Rusheng and turned around. ¡°I will tell you something more exciting.¡± However, Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t in the least interested in whatever she was going to say. He bent and bit her lips before saying, ¡°I think that there isn¡¯t anything in the world that would excite me more than how I bully you in bed.¡± Xuxu frowned and she curled her fingers before punching Yan Rusheng. ¡°Don¡¯t be a pervert.¡± She hung her head, feeling bashful. There wasn¡¯t a man who didn¡¯t like a bashful woman. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t control his desires any longer as he watched how her cheeks turned red. He lifted her off her feet and strode to the bed. He placed Xuxu on the bed before crushing her with his weight the next moment. Xuxu was afraid that Yan Weihong and Mu Li would barge in any moment. She quipped, ¡°Yueyue and Ming Ansheng fought.¡± Yan Rusheng maintained a stoic expression. ¡°Even the blind could tell.¡± He was unperturbed regarding what he was supposed to do next. This lass stayed home for the past few days and she would sit quietly with a frown. He had tried asking Ming Ansheng out these days but to no avail. Obviously, he had a fight with that lass. Chapter 1411. We Have to Break Up (part Seven) It would be great that they broke up! Yan Rusheng¡¯s kisses trailed to Xuxu¡¯s neck and Xuxu hastily said, ¡°Ming Ansheng is outside our house right now. He is in the courtyard and it seems like he is bent on waiting until Yueyue is willing to meet him.¡± Yan Rusheng straightened his back when he heard Xuxu. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± He stood up and strode to the windows. He pulled the curtains aside and looked at the courtyard. Indeed¡­ Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ Yan Rusheng clenched his teeth as he slyly eyed Ming Ansheng. ¡°I have finally gotten the chance to get this fellow Ming Ansheng.¡± He stormed towards the door. Looking murderous and livid. Xuxu hurried after him with a worried look. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± She asked as she caught up with Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng turned his head and smiled and Xuxu. ¡°It¡¯s so cold outside and he must feel cold. I shall send him a cup of hot water.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Are you sure you are sending him hot water instead of dampening his spirits? Yan Rusheng and Xuxu walked down the stairs. Without stopping, they headed straight for the main doors. ¡°Oh dear, what¡¯s wrong with this kid? It¡¯s freezing tonight and why are you standing outside our house?¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng saw Madam Mu Li standing in the courtyard. She was trying to pull Ming Ansheng into the house. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t move an inch and bowed his head, looking sorrowful and pitiful. Mu Li couldn¡¯t move Ming Ansheng at all and she gave up. She furrowed her eyebrows and sighed. ¡°You¡¯re here to look for Third Yan and he is inside. Why aren¡¯t you going in?¡± She suspiciously sized Ming Ansheng up. She had a hunch that Ming Ansheng was feeling conflicted and troubled and that he couldn¡¯t tell anyone. It made her anxious. ¡°Anzi, if you don¡¯t come in, then go back home. You can talk to Third Yan over the phone if you need. Both of you grew up together like brothers. Can¡¯t you talk in peace?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned and said, ¡°Aunt Mu, I¡¯m really fine. I just want to stand here.¡± He regretted that he didn¡¯t choose a hidden spot. Their butler spotted him in no time and got Professor Mu out of the house. ¡°What is wrong with you and Third Yan?¡± Mu Li began to get impatient. ¡°Two grown men couldn¡¯t even talk it out? This would be a joke to others.¡± There were recent news articles about celebrities proclaiming that they were gay. Did this fellow fall in love with Third Yan? If that wasn¡¯t the case, why did he stand outside their house without budging? He even looked embarrassed and hid his face from her. Obviously, he was being shy. If that was really the case, she would need to destroy that budding romance right away. Ming Ansheng was speechless. If he fell out with Third Yan, why would he stand in the cold? He shoved Mu Li back and said, ¡°We are fine. Aunt Mu Li, just go back, please.¡± Mu Li felt worried and couldn¡¯t understand what was on Ming Ansheng¡¯s mind. How could she simply leave him here without knowing why? She clenched Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm tightly and solemnly gazed at him. ¡°Anzi, tell me honestly. What¡¯s wrong with you and Third Yan?¡± What was wrong with them? Yan Rusheng heard Madam Mu Li and he stopped in his tracks. His face darkened and was as black as the inky sky. Chapter 1412. We Have to Break Up (part Eight) Ming Ansheng realized that Mu Li suspected him and his face fell like Yan Rusheng. He glumly frowned at Mu Li. This old lady was exasperating¡­ Mu Li didn¡¯t notice the change in Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression, and she sighed heavily. She muttered, ¡°You grew up with our Third Yan together with Yinan and Ah Heng. All of you are so close even until now. Besides that, all of you are the heirs in your families, shouldering the burden¡­¡± Ming Ansheng, who couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, interrupted her midway. He seemed to suppress his anger as he hissed, ¡°Aunt Mu Li, stop talking.¡± How could he tell her that he was here to look for Su Yue and that he was dating her? He had to stand outside, waiting to appease Su Yue¡¯s anger. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to utter those words. ¡°No.¡± Mu Li anxiously grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. ¡°Anzi, listen to me. Go back now.¡± Xuxu finally burst into laughter. She pressed her tummy and bent her back as she laughed. She was as smart as Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng. If they could read Mu Li¡¯s mind, how could she not? She had tried her best to stifle her laughter. Yan Rusheng angrily eyed Xuxu as she continued laughing. He glared at her with a murderous gleam in his eyes. This stupid woman. Her husband¡¯s mother had mistaken another man for having an affection for him, and yet she still treated it as a joke. Yan Rusheng walked towards the courtyard where Mu Li was standing. Upon hearing Xuxu¡¯s laughter, Ming Ansheng and Mu Li glanced in their direction. Ming Ansheng¡¯s face darkened just like Yan Rusheng¡¯s as he stared at Wen Xuxu. He was cursing at Madam Mu Li in his heart. What was she thinking? How could her brain think of that? How could she think that he was interested in Yan Rusheng¡­? This was enough! He knew he shouldn¡¯t have made this trip since they all knew him too well. Mu Li walked towards Yan Rusheng and eyed him with a meaningful look. ¡°Third Yan, talk to him nicely. It¡¯s so cold tonight and he didn¡¯t even wear a coat. Talk it out and don¡¯t let this bother both of you.¡± Fortunately, Third Yan and Xuxu were so loving and intimate. He clung onto Xuxu every day and couldn¡¯t bear to leave her. But she still needed to be cautious. Yan Rusheng thought that if this old lady wasn¡¯t his mother, he would have flung her across the street. He coldly spat. ¡°It¡¯s cold out here. Go inside and take care of your plump grandchildren. My father is nagging at them again.¡± Mu Li frowned and said, ¡°This damned fellow! Is he trying to destroy my darlings¡¯ brains!¡± As she grumbled, she walked hurriedly back to the house. After Madam Mu Li left, Yan Rusheng coldly glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°How dare you come here!¡± Ming Ansheng pressed his lips and clammed up. After several moments, he said, ¡°Third Yan, I¡¯ll be good to Su Yue.¡± These words used up all of his courage and only he knew it. He had fallen in love with his childhood friend¡¯s sister. And most importantly, the girl was younger than him by eight years. No matter how serious they were, people would naturally think that he had cheated a young and naive girl. How could he bring himself to confess how serious he was? Chapter 1413. We Have to Break Up (part Nine) ¡°Call me Third Brother,¡± said Yan Rusheng in a cold tone of voice. Ming Ansheng was speechless. Xuxu leaned against the pillar as she didn¡¯t intend to walk nearer to the men. After she heard what Yan Rusheng said, she burst into laughter once more. She curiously looked at Ming Ansheng, waiting for his response. She wondered if he would oblige and address him as Third Brother. Ming Ansheng tried several times, but he couldn¡¯t utter those words. F*ck! This was too awkward. He said, ¡°I¡¯m here to look for Su Yue.¡± ¡°She is asleep,¡± Yan Rusheng coldly replied as he raised his chin. He glanced away from him and continued, ¡°Go home.¡± Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°I will wait until she comes out.¡± His tone was unyielding. Yan Rusheng heard him and raised his eyebrows. He sneered. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what are you trying to do? Playing the role of a devoted man?¡± Ming Ansheng looked at him and gravely said, ¡°Third Yan, I¡¯m serious about Su Yue. This is the truth.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his voice. ¡°Weren¡¯t you serious about Meiduo as well?¡± He didn¡¯t give Ming Ansheng a chance to speak and he frowned. ¡°What happened in the end?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never give up on Su Yue this time round.¡± Ming Ansheng squarely looked at Yan Rusheng, without flinching. His tone exuded determination and resolution. Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°You can¡¯t even address me as Third Brother. Your determination seems missing.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ This guy was too hostile towards his friend. How could he coerce him to address him as Third brother? When Yan Rusheng mentioned Meiduo earlier, it startled her. She really thought that Ming Ansheng would flare-up. Wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng being unreasonable? Ming Ansheng was only 26 years old. It was perfectly normal for him to date a girl before, when he himself dated Fang Jiayin, too. Should everyone be blamed for their failed relationships? And he smoothly steered back to Ming Ansheng addressing as Third Brother once again. This fellow was too much! Ming Ansheng was speechless. He clenched his fists and frowned at Yan Rusheng, who was obviously faking his expression. He really felt like punching him. He furrowed his eyebrows, determined not to let him have his way. Yan Rusheng knew that Ming Ansheng wouldn¡¯t give in easily. So he grinned and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Are you preparing to stay here all night?¡± Ming Ansheng intertwined his fingers behind his back as he slightly raised his chin, answering Yan Rusheng with his stance. ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded as he smiled. ¡°It will bore if you stay here alone. Let me call Lu Yinan.¡± He turned around and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to get my phone.¡± He turned around towards Ming Ansheng and casually said, ¡°Should I get Li Jian and the rest so that we can play mahjong?¡± This guy was downright despicable. Xuxu cursed Yan Rusheng in her heart for she knew that he was threatening Ming Ansheng. Lu Yinan had such a mean tongue, how could Ming Ansheng gain Su Yue¡¯s sympathy now? He would merely make a joke out of this. ¡°Third¡­¡± Ming Ansheng gritted his teeth as he forced himself to do it. He closed his eyes and uttered, ¡°Third Brother!¡± ¡°What?¡± Yan Rusheng stifled his laughter and inched nearer to Ming Ansheng. ¡°What did you say? I didn¡¯t hear it.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and she strode towards Yan Rusheng. That¡¯s enough.¡± She tugged at Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and smiled at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Young Master Ming, I¡¯ll bring Yan Rusheng inside now.¡± Chapter 1414. We Have to Break Up (part Ten) Xuxu forcibly dragged Yan Rusheng back into the house. ¡°Yan Rusheng, that¡¯s enough. Can you stop it?¡± Xuxu pinched Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm as she sternly lectured him. This guy was really relentless in tormenting others and didn¡¯t even spare his childhood friend. Even if he really abducted his sister, that was because his sister was willing to. She recalled how pitiful Young Master Ming looked and Xuxu felt pity for him. Yan Rusheng coldly snorted and sternly instructed Xuxu, ¡°Tell the lass I forbid her to come downstairs. Let him freeze to death outside.¡± Every time he pictured Ming Ansheng and Su Yue together, he felt a wave of overwhelming anger exploding inside him. How could Ming Ansheng lay his hands on Su Yue?! The more Yan Rusheng thought of it, the more livid he became. Ming Ansheng really deserved to be punished. His best friend had successfully lured and laid his hands on his sister. To put it bluntly, his best friend had slept with his sister. And she was still so young¡­ How could Ming Ansheng bear to do that? An urge to wallop Ming Ansheng seized him. ¡°No, I need to give him a good beating. I can¡¯t let him off so easily.¡± Yan Rusheng turned around, but Xuxu stopped him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, enough of your nonsense. Go back and sleep. You have to work tomorrow.¡± She pulled Yan Rusheng towards the staircase. ¡°What are both of you talking about?¡± Mu Li appeared at the landing of the staircase and peered suspiciously at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. She asked worriedly, ¡°Is Anzi still outside?¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were both startled by Mu Li¡¯s voice. Only both of them knew of Su Yue and Ming Ansheng¡¯s relationship, as they didn¡¯t know how to break the news to Yan Weihong and Mu Li yet. Even Su Yan was still kept in the dark. They felt that they should only inform them after Ming Ansheng and Su Yue had confirmed their relationship. Only when the time was ripe. As Wen Xinyi had caused Wang Daqin¡¯s death, they felt that Yan Weiye and Yan Weihong wouldn¡¯t readily agree to Su Yue getting together with Ming Ansheng. They had completely fallen out with Old Master Ming and both parties were hostile to each other. Xuxu shook her head and answered, ¡°He is still outside.¡± She released her hand from Yan Rusheng and went up to Mu Li. She gently nudged her towards her room. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t bother with this. Go back and rest early.¡± ¡°Why is that kid so stubborn?¡± Mu Li sighed heavily as she pounded on, ¡°Our Third Yan is indeed outstanding¡­¡± Xuxu chortled loudly and interrupted Mu Li, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t make such wild guesses. It¡¯s not what you think. Can you sleep with the babies tonight?¡± She pushed Mu Li back into the room and shut the door. Yan Rusheng followed closely behind them. After Xuxu closed the door, he put an arm around her waist. He eyed her rather seductively and said, ¡°Wife, you did well tonight.¡± He pulled Xuxu towards her room. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ She merely wanted Ming Ansheng to continue with his task of gaining Su Yue¡¯s sympathy. For that lass, he had given his utmost effort. ¡­ Su Yue peeked at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu from the door. She pressed her lips tightly as she watched them enter the room in an intimate fashion. Chapter 1415. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part One) Su Yue turned her head towards the staircase when it fell silent. She blinked her eyes as she stared. She couldn¡¯t decide. If she took this step, would she still be able to turn back? No, she knew she didn¡¯t want to. But she was afraid that Ming Ansheng would be the one turning back instead. Su Yue stood at the doorway for a long time. She turned around to go back to her room after shutting the door. She sat on her bed and rested against the head of the bed. She raised her hands to pick up her phone and clicked on the screen. She checked the weather status; the capital city was minus five degrees tonight. She clicked on Ming Ansheng¡¯s text again. ¡®I¡¯m waiting outside your house until you¡¯re willing to come out to talk to me.¡¯ Su Yue restlessly twiddled with her phone, and her soul seemed to have left her body. She wasn¡¯t throwing a tantrum; she was really afraid. She didn¡¯t want to think anymore. She cast her phone aside, pulled her blanket over her head, and covered herself. She couldn¡¯t fall asleep so she shut her eyes firmly. Suddenly, a thought struck that it jolted her awake. She fumbled for her phone and glanced at the time. It was almost 11 p.m., and the temperature was now minus six degrees. Su Yue felt as though an invisible force was pulling her and she agilely leaped to her feet. She put on her bedroom slippers and bolted out of her room and down the stairs. The living room was dimly lit so she could still see her surroundings. She dashed to the doors and opened it. A blast of icy wind attacked her and she wrapped her coat tightly around her. She peeked out to survey the courtyard. Ming Ansheng was no longer standing there in his original spot. A plethora of emotions enveloped Su Yue. Her heart was aching for him standing in the cold, but when she couldn¡¯t see him, she felt disappointed. She didn¡¯t believe that he had left, so Su Yue ventured cautiously outside the courtyard, taking tiny steps. Her tiny body was shivering badly. The butler was fast asleep, and she didn¡¯t see the security guards. She pressed the button to unlock the courtyard gates and walked out. The night was quiet and peaceful. The winds messed up both Su Yue¡¯s heart and hair, and she was feeling strangely empty. The towering figure had gone away. He said he would wait for her, but he had left. Su Yue¡¯s heart fell and she turned around to go back. Suddenly, a massive dark figure leaped out from the stone statues. She didn¡¯t even have time to utter a sound when the man pulled her towards him. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart was pounding furiously when the man¡¯s voice sounded in her ears. His breath was warm and comforting. His familiar voice and breath comforted her and calmed her nerves. And it finally broke her last line of defense which she had built. She stretched her hands and hugged the man tightly. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Her voice sounded as though she was on the verge of crying. Ming Ansheng¡¯s patted her back with his palm. After standing in the cold for so long, he was freezing from head to toe that there wasn¡¯t any warmth in his hands anymore. Su Yue could feel how cold he was despite being separated by layers of clothing. She tightened her arms around him. ¡°Uncle Ming, no matter what happens in the future, can you promise not to leave me?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Su Yue¡¯s words acted as a tranquilizer and Ming Ansheng heaved a sigh of relief. A tender and a relieved smile appeared on his face. ¡°No matter what happens, I just need you to trust me.¡± Chapter 1416. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Two) Ming Ansheng wrapped Su Yue¡¯s tiny hands in his. He said firmly and decisively, ¡°Even if I need to give up the entire world, I wouldn¡¯t give up on you.¡± He wasn¡¯t used to saying sweet and mushy stuff. This was already the best he could say. He didn¡¯t even promise Meiduo before. Su Yue felt as if it had lifted her heart. Although they were freezing earlier on, each other¡¯s promise and determination instantly warmed their worlds. ¡­ Hours later, Yan Rusheng lifted the blanket off him and got off the bed. He put his bathrobes on before pulling the bedside drawer to get his cigarettes. He was heading out. Xuxu noticed him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She frowned and asked, ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to send Ming Ansheng a glass of warm water.¡± Yan Rusheng took out a cigarette and a mischievous grin flitted across his face. ¡°I¡¯ll bring along some cigarettes too, as a sign of our friendship since he came all the way to my house. If not, he might blame me for being hostile.¡± He glanced at Xuxu and raised his eyebrow seductively. ¡°Wife, am I right?¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. Were they really friends who grew up together and had spent almost two decades together? How could he hit a person when he¡¯s down? Besides that, Ming Ansheng was a few months older than him. Just because he was dating his sister, he began to treat him flippantly. He would always take advantage of others and go overboard. ¡°Stop teasing him. Ming Ansheng is having a hard time as well.¡± Xuxu refused to budge and continued hugging him. ¡°Now that Yueyue is ignoring him, we shouldn¡¯t make him feel worse.¡± Ming Ansheng had admitted to being serious about someone. And she believed that Ming Ansheng truly loved Su Yue. If he had a choice, she was sure he would never have chosen Yan Rusheng¡¯s sister. She saw a photo of Ming Ansheng kissing Su Yue outside A university. He must have suppressed his feelings for a long time. But how could he restrain his feelings for her? She believed that Ming Ansheng was serious about Su Yue. A crease appeared in between Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyebrows, and he glanced at the woman. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman. Am I such a horrible person in your heart?¡± Even if he was indeed horrible, she shouldn¡¯t have this portrayed this image of him in her heart. Xuxu ignored Yan Rusheng¡¯s grumbles and smiled. ¡°I remembered Lu Yinan putting a rubber snake in the school belle¡¯s bag before. After being found out, he was punished and made to stand in the field under the hot sun. Perspiration had already drenched Young Master Lu, yet you still passed him a glass of hot water. You then stood next to him sipping on your cold drink.¡± When she reminisced about their past, she realized how evil this guy could be. He was really evil and despicable. But she didn¡¯t know why she still loved him for so many years. Yan Rusheng frowned and maintained a puzzled expression. That was years ago. If she didn¡¯t mention this, he would have forgotten about it completely. He remembered vaguely that it happened in middle school and it was the start of the term. They should be around 13 years old. ¡°Stupid woman, why are you so sly?¡± hissed Yan Rusheng. Xuxu frowned and asked, ¡°In what way?¡± She merely brought up about the incident from his past and how he had bullied his friend. This had nothing to do with being sly. He was the sly and despicable one! Chapter 1417. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Three) ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that you¡¯ve been paying such close attention to me since you were a child. You really have loved me secretly for years, shouldn¡¯t you give me more affection?¡± Yan Rusheng lifted an eyebrow as he said that in a hushed whisper. No matter how quick-witted Xuxu was, she would never be faster than this man. He crushed her with his weight in the next moment. It caught her unaware. ¡°What kind of person was I to you when I was a boy?¡± said the man in a gruff voice. There was an inexplicable hint of danger and menace. Xuxu stared intensely at Yan Rusheng¡¯s good-looking face which was inches away from her. She pressed her lips and gazed at him with an aggrieved expression. ¡°You¡¯re so bad. Completely horrible.¡± She hugged Yan Rusheng¡¯s waist using all her strength, as though she couldn¡¯t wait to crush him. The young boy Ah Sheng always made her feel like crying every time she walked away from him. ¡°In what way?¡± Yan Rusheng deliberately probed, sounding intimidating. ¡°Did I force myself on you? Huh?¡± Xuxu¡¯s pressed her lips tightly. ¡°You bully me every day and always tried to find trouble with me. Weren¡¯t you a horrible person?¡± Without waiting for Yan Rusheng to retort, she pressed on coldly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you bully Ah Heng often as well?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what did you just say? Who?¡± How dare she mention another man! And that man had to be Jiang Zhuoheng! He loomed forward, looking frightening. But it didn¡¯t intimidate Xuxu in the slightest. Instead, she spoke loudly, ¡°Ah Heng.¡± ¡°Say that again.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand traveled to Xuxu¡¯s waist, looking as though he would really tighten his grip on her any time. Xuxu felt tickled by him and she furrowed her eyebrows. She glanced warily at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?¡± She pressed her palms against Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest and tried to push him away. But he didn¡¯t budge at all. Yan Rusheng maintained his pose and surveyed Xuxu with a sinister gleam in his eyes. ¡°On New Year¡¯s eve that year when we were 14 years old, you went out with Jiang Zhuoheng and came home after midnight. Where did you go with him?¡± Xuxu pursed her lips as she blinked. ¡°Make a guess.¡± She was being so cheeky, and Yan Rusheng was getting exasperated. ¡°Dumb woman, you want me to guess?¡± He clenched his teeth before pinching her waist. Xuxu exploded into fits of laughter and she waved the white flag. Amid her laughter, she answered, ¡°We¡­ we went to eat fried vermicelli behind the school. Then we went for a stroll in the park near the river.¡± She told him the truth. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face darkened and jealousy exploded inside him. He inched nearer to Xuxu¡¯s ear and bit her ear. ¡°That jerk brought you to a park at night. He is a wolf draped in a sheep¡¯s clothing!¡± F*ck f*ck f*ck! How dare Jiang Zhuoheng bring his woman to a park at night? He was feeling murderous right now. Xuxu was dumbfounded again. Did he assume everyone was just like him? Yan Rusheng hissed, ¡°Wen Xuxu. As compensation, you have to be proactive one more time.¡± Xuxu frowned and asked, ¡°Do I owe you anything? Why must I compensate for you?¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Xuxu interrupted Yan Rusheng as she wrapped her hands around his neck. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± She called him sweetly and she lurched forward to kiss him on his lips. Her kiss was as sweet and gentle as her voice. She pried his mouth open swiftly and they intertwined their tongues in no time. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t resist her at all. Chapter 1418. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Four) Xuxu mustered her strength, embraced Yan Rusheng, and flipped over. She lay on top of him and her dewy-looking eyes gazed at him, looking upset. ¡°I was so angry because you answered the school belle¡¯s phone call and even wished her happy new year.¡± There were countless girls who tried to get close to Yan Rusheng. And nobody knew the exact number. He was usually nonchalant towards the girls who had an ulterior motive towards him. He didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid at them¡ªthe school belle was one of them. That year, the school belle got her hands on his house number. She called Yan Rusheng, surprisingly he had a conversation with her. And at the moment, Jiang Zhuoheng invited her to admire the fireworks with him. She was feeling upset and flustered so she agreed to meet him. ¡°When did you ever see me starting a conversation with a girl?¡± Yan Rusheng felt pleased and contented. It was such a pleasant surprise to hear that Xuxu went on a date with Jiang Zhuoheng because she was jealous. He was momentarily feeling smug before sneering coldly. ¡°I did it out of spite because of you and Jiang Zhuoheng.¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes lit up, revealing her happiness. She whispered, ¡°Ah Sheng, Ah Sheng¡­¡± Yan Rusheng smiled tenderly at her. ¡°Xuxu, Xuxu¡­¡± ¡­ The cold winds were blowing relentlessly, and inside the luxurious car, a tiny girl cozily snuggled against a man¡¯s chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and she refused to let him go. Ming Ansheng felt frustrated. He was holding a beauty in his arms and yet, there was nothing he could do. He was trying his best to suppress his burgeoning desires and ignore his body¡¯s reaction. They didn¡¯t talk for a few days, and they had just reconciled. How could he start an intimate contact with Su Yue? He was afraid that she might think of him as a lecher and someone who couldn¡¯t control his desires. Ming Ansheng was being tormented silently, and he lightly patted Su Yue¡¯s back. He coaxed her gently. ¡°Go back and sleep. Your third brother would definitely monitor you and he might go to your room.¡± Su Yue raised her face and peered at him with a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Third sister-in-law will help you. Third Brother wouldn¡¯t have time for me.¡± Su Yue, there wasn¡¯t a need for you to be so clear about your third brother¡¯s lack of moral ethics. She snuggled closer to Ming Ansheng and tightened her arms around him. Oh, my god! Ming Ansheng knitted his eyebrows and felt as though his body was about to snap any moment. He solemnly said, ¡°Be good and go back to sleep.¡± ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Su Yue could sense that Ming Ansheng was suppressing his desires so she took the initiative to kiss him. As she passionately kissed him, she turned over and sat on his thighs. This¡­ this¡­ Ming Ansheng wordlessly stared at her, and his arms hovered in mid-air. He had no idea what he should do next. F*ck! She was forcing him to be a beast and to succumb to his desires. ¡°Uncle Ming, don¡¯t you miss me at all?¡± Su Yue realized that Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t respond to her kisses, and she furrowed her eyebrows. She pouted and grumbled, ¡°We didn¡¯t talk at all in four days and we didn¡¯t kiss each other, too.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. There was no way he could suppress his desires the second his eyes met her innocent-looking ones. He stretched and opened the car door, went quickly to the driver¡¯s seat, and sped off. He shall be a beast then! ¡­ After being separated for four days, it felt like an eternity for a new couple like them. Su Yue refused to leave Ming Ansheng¡¯s apartment. Chapter 1419. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Five Poor Young Master Ming had to work hard in bed at night since Su Yue refused to let him off. Then in the day, he would have to crack his brain. But the most depressing thing was that he was being criticized for not being ¡®hardworking¡¯ enough at night. They swamped him with work the entire morning. During lunch, Ming Ansheng¡¯s secretary knocked before entering his office. ¡°President, what would you like for lunch?¡± The secretary stood a distance away as he politely asked. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t lift his head at all. ¡°You can decide.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The secretary nodded and turned around. An idea struck Ming Ansheng and he spoke, ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± His secretary halted his footsteps and turned around with a smile. ¡°President, is there anything else?¡± Ming Ansheng looked at his secretary and cleared his throat. He coughed twice and pressed his lips together. The secretary sized him up with a slightly puzzled look. After a while, when he still remained clammed up, the secretary prompted him, ¡°President?¡± ¡°Go and check¡­ if there is¡­ there is¡­¡± Ming Ansheng stammered as he was too embarrassed. His secretary became a little anxious as he felt perplexed by his boss¡¯s behavior. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Soft-shelled turtle soup.¡± A flush crept up from Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck to his face although he maintained a stoic expression. ¡°Check if there are any places which sell soft-shelled turtle soup.¡± A devious gleam flitted across his secretary¡¯s eyes but he stifled his laughter. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Who was Ming Ansheng? He was so shrewd and observant, so he instantly knew what was on his secretary¡¯s mind. ¡°This matter¡­¡± His expression turned glum, and so his secretary suddenly interjected, ¡°President, please be rest assured that I won¡¯t blabber.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. F*ck. It was merely soft-shelled turtle soup. It wasn¡¯t anything shameless or embarrassing. He straightened his back and instructed his secretary. ¡°Leave.¡± His secretary bowed before leaving the room. Ming Ansheng hastily grabbed his cup and gulped down the water. It was so embarrassing! May the soft-shelled turtle soup work wonders! ¡­ The sound of the doorbell woke Su Yue up. She sleepily opened her eyes and glanced at the time. It was almost noon. She scratched her head and flung the blanket away. She lazily dragged her feet out of the room and opened the door. It didn¡¯t surprise Su Yue to see a deliveryman at all. Ming Ansheng had ordered food for her for the past few days. ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue thanked the deliveryman and closed the door. She placed the containers on the dining table and went to wash up. ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ Su Yue was about to brush her teeth when someone pressed the doorbell once again. Who could it be? She frowned and opened the bathroom door. As she strode to the door, she began to brush her teeth. Su Yue received a shock when she opened the door. She stared at the old man, feeling startled. After some time, she said, ¡°Grandfather.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your grandfather. Miss Su, please note how you address me,¡± Ming Zhongsheng replied in a cold and somber tone. Chapter 1420. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Six) He then entered the apartment. His gaze swept over the entire living room before finally landing on Su Yue. Under his menacing and cold gaze, Su Yue wanted an excuse to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll go rinse my mouth.¡± She pointed at her mouth full of toothpaste before turning around. She rushed into the washroom and closed the door behind her. She leaned against the door, at a loss of what to do. She wanted to be with Uncle Ming, so she had to get into his grandfather¡¯s good books for him to accept her. Or else, Uncle Ming would feel sandwiched between the two of them, although he made his stand about her clear. He defied his grandfather because of her and went against his grandmother¡¯s dying wish in the process. So wouldn¡¯t it be better if she patiently put up with it to get into his good books? But how was she going to do that? She never had to butter up to anyone before. Even when she was starving and freezing, locked up and treated with disdain, not once did she try to get into anyone¡¯s good books. What should she do? It was dead quiet outside. Her heart wildly palpitated, and she bit her lips. The toothpaste on her mouth almost dried up. She glanced towards the sink¡ªher gaze settling on Ming Ansheng¡¯s black toothbrush and his shaving necessities placed by the side. She was blissful and happy now. She could see Uncle Ming every morning and be hugged to sleep every night. When she recalled all the times Ming Ansheng gave her warmth, she gritted her teeth. She then rinsed her mouth. She washed her face and combed her hair before leaving the washroom. She walked out. Ming Zhongsheng was sitting on the sofa, his expression dark. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ll get you a cup of water.¡± Su Yue ran towards the water dispenser. She took a clean cup, added some tea leaves and made a cup of tea, offering it to Ming Zhongsheng. She passed it to him. Ming Zhongsheng stared at the cup in her hands and didn¡¯t take it from her. He remained quiet. Su Yue¡¯s dainty hands held the cup of boiling tea before him. It was burning, but she told herself that it was fine. She had to let the old man see and feel that she was patient towards Uncle Ming. No matter what obstacles might come their way. Rain or shine, she would be patient. Hmph! He wanted to see just how much patience and tolerance she had. He was waiting for her to lose her patience from the pain. But to his surprise, as the seconds ticked by, Su Yue¡¯s hands started getting scalded red, and her hands were slightly trembling. But the stubbornness and determination in her eyes were apparent. ¡°I¡¯m not drinking the tea you made for me.¡± In the end, he was the one who lost patience. Ming Zhongsheng pushed the cup out of her hands and onto the floor. The boiling water splashed over her hands, her clothes, and all over the floor. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Su Yue exclaimed, trying to keep her volume down. She only shouted once. She bowed her head and stared at her red, scalded hands. She then looked at the floor, the spilled water, and tea leaves scattered all over. She was extremely disappointed. ¡°Why are you so shameless?¡± Ming Zhongsheng coldly remarked. He paused before continuing. ¡°I¡¯ve made myself clear: I will never approve of your relationship.¡± Chapter 1421. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Seven) Su Yue didn¡¯t reply. She picked up the cup from the floor and said, ¡°I¡¯ll get you another cup.¡± Although her voice was small, the stubbornness in her voice was apparent. Ming Zhongsheng frowned as he watched her leave, filled with inexplicable anger. It seemed like this lass wasn¡¯t as easy to handle as he had thought. ¡°Grandfather, have some tea.¡± Su Yue returned with a fresh cup of tea, placing it before him. ¡°Put it down. I don¡¯t want to drink tea now,¡± Ming Zhongsheng ordered, as though he was an emperor. Then he added, ¡°I want to have a talk with you.¡± Su Yue complied and placed the cup on the coffee table. She sat down beside him, some distance apart. Before he could say anything, she smiled and asked, ¡°Grandfather, what do you want to talk to me about?¡± Her hands got scalded earlier and she was in agonizing pain. The back of her palms were already a different shade of red. She intertwined her fingers to relieve the pain. Ming Zhongsheng glanced at her hands and shock flashed across his eyes. But his expression remained cold and arrogant. ¡°Leave Ming Ansheng. The two of you can¡¯t be together.¡± Su Yue confidently smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t leave him. He also said that he won¡¯t leave me.¡± She believed in herself, and she believed in Uncle Ming. Ming Zhongsheng flashed a cold smile. ¡°Lass, you will not relent until you fail utterly, are you?¡± Before she could reply, he continued, ¡°Do you know why Meiduo agreed to break up with Ming Ansheng back then? Do you know that they¡¯ve been keeping in contact all these years?¡± ¡°I know. Uncle Ming brought me to see her. So what?¡± Su Yue nonchalantly blinked. ¡°Uncle Ming is almost twenty-seven years old. Isn¡¯t it normal for him to have a few ex-girlfriends?¡± Although it irked her, after careful consideration, indeed it was normal. Middle-school students were already dating. What a more twenty-seven-year-old man? This time, she didn¡¯t give Ming Zhongsheng a chance to speak. She immediately continued, ¡°He still kept in contact with Meiduo after you forced their breakup. It shows that he¡¯s not heartless. Isn¡¯t he even more worthy of my love?¡± Her gaze was pure and innocent. Ming Zhongsheng watched her, a glimmer of fear passing through him. He was feeling very unsure. Was this lass really that na?ve, or did she bury her feelings in too deep? Ming Zhongsheng went into a reverie as he observed Su Yue. Su Yue continued, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m so beautiful and Uncle Ming is so handsome. Our children will be so good-looking. Wouldn¡¯t you like that?¡± Ming Zhongsheng was speechless. He stared at her innocent face and anger bubbled within him. He retorted coolly, ¡°When the time comes, I hope that you won¡¯t cry and regret everything.¡± Su Yue smiled and shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t. I won¡¯t regret.¡± ¡°Ansheng went to Country M to visit Meiduo this time. He brought you along?¡± Ming Zhongsheng squinted, his scrutinizing gaze on Su Yue. He didn¡¯t want to miss a single reaction from her. ¡®A friend of mine is sick and I happened to be in Country M, so I went to visit her. So I postponed my flight¡­¡¯ Chapter 1422. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Eight) Su Yue recalled the reason why Ming Ansheng postponed his flight from Country M, and she felt a stab in her heart. But she didn¡¯t show it, choosing to put on a bright smile. She nodded and said to Ming Zhongsheng, ¡°Yup, we went together. Sister Meiduo is sick.¡± Her generosity and open-mindedness shocked Ming Zhongsheng. He stared at her, and her bright eyes still full of innocence. He felt a pang of failure. He realized that threats didn¡¯t work on Su Yue. ¡°Lass, I¡¯m warning you: Leave him. You won¡¯t be able to bear the burden that comes with being with him.¡± He rose and prepared to leave. Su Yue closely followed behind him. ¡°Grandfather, please take care.¡± She stood at the door and watched him enter the lift before turning to reenter the house. Suddenly, Ming Zhongsheng coldly called out from behind her, ¡°Lass, now Meiduo is better than you in another aspect.¡± This time, his voice wasn¡¯t just cold, it was also slightly enigmatic. Su Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She halted slightly in her footsteps but she didn¡¯t look back. She smiled. No, Su Yue, you¡¯re a better match for Ming Ansheng than Meiduo. Her scald wounds were excruciating, but she couldn¡¯t find the cream for burns in the first-aid box. She searched online for other remedies and dabbed some sesame oil on her wounds. After finishing the food that Ming Ansheng ordered for her, she cuddled on the sofa and turned on the television, her thoughts elsewhere. Uncle Ming said that a friend of his was sick and he was in Country M, so he went to visit her. She believed him, because those few days, he had been with her, sneakily following behind her. But why didn¡¯t he tell her that this ¡®friend¡¯ was Meiduo? Grandfather Ming said that Meiduo was now better than her in another aspect. What aspect was that? Su Yue let her mind run wild. Suddenly, her phone rang and she came to her senses. She glanced at the screen. It was Bai Jing. She collected her thoughts and smiled. She then picked up the call. After the holidays started, she didn¡¯t have much contact with Bai Jing. She sent her a few messages, but she always said that she was busy. This was the first time Bai Jing had contacted her since the holidays started. ¡°Su Yue, are you at home?¡± Bai Jing asked. Su Yue replied, ¡°I¡¯m at Uncle Ming¡¯s house. What about you?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Bai Jing sounded slightly disappointed. She answered, ¡°I was hoping that you were home. I was planning on going over, then I can visit the babies as well.¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°Sure, I can head home now.¡± Bai Jing seemed excited. ¡°Alright, call me when you reach home. Then I¡¯ll make my way there.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After the call ended, Su Yue tidied up the place before heading downstairs to take a cab home. ¡­ ¡°Second Uncle.¡± Su Yue greeted Yan Weihong when she saw him sitting on the sofa, reading newspapers. She walked over to him. Yan Weihong asked, ¡°Your brother is back, why hasn¡¯t he visited yet?¡± ¡°Ah¡­?¡± Su Yue was confused. She almost asked, ¡®Is my brother back?¡¯ But before the words could leave her mouth, Xuxu called from upstairs, ¡°Dad, Su Yan just called. He¡¯ll be coming over for dinner.¡± Chapter 1423. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Nine) Su Yue and Yan Weihong simultaneously looked up at the staircase. Xuxu was walking down with a smile. She hurriedly gave Su Yue a look. It confused Su Yue for she didn¡¯t know what Xuxu was trying to tell her. So, she ignored it and said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, Bai Jing is coming over later. She wants to see the babies.¡± Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°Sure. She can have dinner with us. I asked the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes. Su Yan will join us for dinner, too.¡± Hearing the confirmation that her brother was back, Su Yue was elated. ¡°When did my brother¡­¡± ¡°Your brother is so busy. I think it¡¯s better if you stay here. He¡¯ll be exhausted if he still has to take care of you after an entire day of work.¡± Xuxu interrupted Su Yue. Finally, she understood what Xuxu was trying to hint to her earlier. She stuck her tongue out at Xuxu playfully. Second Uncle thought that she was living at her brother¡¯s place the past few days. She had almost forgotten that her second uncle and second aunt didn¡¯t know about her relationship with Uncle Ming. Before Su Yue could reply, Yan Weihong said, ¡°Su Yue, your third sister-in-law is right. Let your brother focus on his work. He still has a lot to learn.¡± Su Yue obediently nodded. She then grabbed Xuxu¡¯s elbow and said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± Bai Jing was coming over in the evening, and her brother was back as well. She was ecstatic. She momentarily forgot her unhappiness about Ming Ansheng visiting Meiduo in Country M. As both of them headed upstairs, Xuxu looked downwards and her gaze swept over to the back of Su Yue¡¯s palms. She saw the red patches on her skin, and the oil, which made it shiny. She anxiously grabbed her hands and asked, ¡°What happened to your hands?¡± Su Yue looked down at her hands as well. She smiled and shook her head, saying, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I accidentally scalded myself when I was getting myself a glass of water.¡± She turned her hands over to hide her wounds from view. Xuxu didn¡¯t think into it and softly chided, ¡°Why were you so careless? What did you apply to it?¡± She grabbed her hands and placed them under her nose. She frowned and said, ¡°You applied sesame oil?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find any cream for burns so applied some sesame oil. I checked online, and it states that it helps.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll get you the medicine.¡± Xuxu grabbed her wrists and dragged her into the room. She found the cream for burns and helped her apply it on her wounds. She held the cotton bud on one hand and held Su Yue¡¯s hand in the other. She carefully applied the cream evenly on her wounds, her actions full of tenderness. Su Yue stared at Xuxu, warmth coursing through her veins. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± She suddenly called. Xuxu looked up in confusion. She raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°Yes?¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Does perseverance guarantee success?¡± Her bright eyes glimmered and Xuxu¡¯s heart ached. Xuxu grabbed her wrist, her grip unconsciously tightened around her hands. She pressed her lips and smiled. She softly said, ¡°Perseverance doesn¡¯t guarantee success, but the lack of perseverance guarantees failure.¡± She bowed her head and continued applying the ointment for Su Yue. Because Su Yue¡¯s hands were fair and dainty, the red marks were extremely obvious. There were even blisters in some areas. ¡°It¡¯s almost new year¡¯s. Stay at home until then. If he wants to meet you, he has to come over,¡± Xuxu instructed with an underlying unhappiness in her tone. Su Yue detected her unhappiness and agreed. She observed Xuxu for a moment before pursing her lips. ¡°When did my brother come back?¡± Chapter 1424. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Ten) After she changed the topic, Xuxu smiled. She looked at Su Yue and said, ¡°He came back yesterday. Didn¡¯t he tell you?¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°He came back last night.¡± Xuxu smiled and continued, ¡°You ingrate. Now that Ming Ansheng abducted you, I predict that you¡¯ll forget about me in no time.¡± After she finished applying the ointment, she packed up the first-aid kit. Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°I won¡¯t. Third sister-in-law, you¡¯re the most important person to me.¡± Xuxu smiled in response. She didn¡¯t know about others, but to her, Ah Sheng was irreplaceable. Nobody could take his place in her heart! He grew up with her, and they faced the storms together. And he was the one she was going to grow old with. So when she thought about it, she was fortunate. She was blissful. ¡­ Bai Jing arrived less than an hour after Su Yue called her. She was wearing a red, long-sleeved woolen shirt and black leather pants. She draped a white down coat over her. She was carrying two large bags of things for children. When Su Yue heard Xuxu calling her from downstairs, she rushed down in excitement. She jogged over to Bai Jing and complained, ¡°What were you busy with recently? I called you so many times but you didn¡¯t answer.¡± Bai Jing looked away for a moment, her smile unnatural. ¡°Nothing much.¡± She looked at Xuxu and greeted, ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± She passed her two bags. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to get for such small babies. I hope that you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Why would I? Thank you.¡± Xuxu took the bags from her and pointed at the sofa. She smiled and said, ¡°Have a seat. I¡¯ll get someone to make you a glass of tea.¡± Bai Jing bowed her head and adjusted her hair. Su Yue dragged her to the sofa to have a seat. The maid poured her a cup of tea. Bai Jing held the glass, her gaze sweeping over the luxurious living room, her eyes brimming with excitement and anticipation. She leaned comfortably onto the couch, still uncontrollably cautious. Given her status, she was still far from being able to fit in with this luxurious and high-class environment. Bai Jing stared at the extravagant wall behind the television, not listening to a word that Su Yue was telling her. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Su Yue finally realized that Bai Jing was spacing out, so she nudged her. ¡°Nothing.¡± Bai Jing hurriedly collected her thoughts and shook her head. She then smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go see the babies. They¡¯re adorable in the photos and I bet they¡¯re even more adorable in person.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re cuter than in the photos.¡± She stood up and held Bai Jing¡¯s hand, pulling her up. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to see them.¡± Su Yue dragged her upstairs, and with every step she took, Bai Jing¡¯s heart palpitated. This place seemed filled with his scent. She was self-conscious but yet filled with excitement and anticipation. ¡°Come on, they¡¯re drinking milk.¡± Su Yue pushed open the door to Xuxu¡¯s room. Xuxu was breastfeeding one twin. She dragged Bai Jing into the house and smiled at Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, Bai Jing wants to see the babies.¡± Chapter 1425. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Eleven) ¡°Come have a seat.¡± Xuxu waved her over before looking down at the baby in her arms. The little one already had his fill and was getting drowsy. She carefully pulled down her shirt and placed him into the crib. Su Yue and Bai Jing went over to the crib. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t he cute?¡± Su Yue asked, pointing at the baby who had just had his fill. She said to Bai Jing, ¡°This is Yangyang, his eyelashes are so long now. His eyes and nose take after my third sister-in-law. When he grows up, he¡¯ll surely be the guy of every girl¡¯s dreams.¡± Bai Jing carefully studied Yangyang¡¯s face. His face was smooth and plump, giving her the urge to squeeze his cheeks. She smiled and stretched out her arm towards his face. Her fingertips lightly grazed his cheek. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Suddenly, she screamed and retracted her arm. At the same time, the sleeping Yangyang frowned and started to wail. Su Yue was about to ask what had happened when she saw that there was a three to four centimeters scratch on Yangyang¡¯s face. The baby¡¯s skin was so delicate, the scratch immediately started bleeding. ¡°Ah, Yangyang¡¯s face is scratched and bleeding,¡± Su Yue cried. She carried him up and stared at his face¡ªher heart ached. Xuxu was washing the baby¡¯s things in the washroom. When she heard Su Yue say that Yangyang¡¯s face was bleeding, she immediately rushed out. ¡°What happened?¡± She ran over and saw fresh blood oozing out from the scratch on Yangyang¡¯s face. ¡°How did this happen?¡± Xuxu asked Su Yue. Su Yue also looked at Bai Jing in confusion. She didn¡¯t know what happened either. She heard Bai Jing scream and when she turned to look, Yangyang¡¯s face was already bleeding. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Bai Jing was terrified and she paled. The hand which she used to graze his face was hanging in midair. She stammered, ¡°I¡­ I found him too cute, so I couldn¡¯t help myself from touching his face¡­¡± Xuxu looked at Bai Jing¡¯s hand. Her nails weren¡¯t long, but they weren¡¯t trimmed evenly. There were also calluses on her dry fingertips. She smiled and comforted Bai Jing. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Babies grow really fast. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Bai Jing bowed her head in guilt. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± ¡°Silly girl, I didn¡¯t blame you.¡± Xuxu smiled and patted her back gently. The babies¡¯ skin was delicate and they often scratched their own faces, too. Xuxu took Yangyang out of Su Yue¡¯s arms and pacified him for a bit. He fell asleep soon after. The baby had fallen asleep but Bai Jing still sat on the edge of the bed, her head hung in guilt. Xuxu didn¡¯t have a good rest, so she went to the opposite room to replenish her sleep. She had wanted to ask Mu Li to take care of the kids, but Su Yue insisted that she could do that, and Xuxu complied. ¡°It¡¯s almost six but my third sister-in-law is not up yet.¡± The two kids were now awake. Su Yue placed Yangyang onto the bed and she was about to check his diapers when the door opened. A tall figure strolled in. Chapter 1426. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Twelve) He was wearing a white shirt which brought out the coldness in his eyes. The lighting stressed his features. His gaze swept over Su Yue and Bai Jing. His gaze remained cold when he couldn¡¯t find the person he was looking for. His elegance made others yearn for him, yet he was unreachable. ¡°Third brother.¡± Su Yue went forward to greet him while carrying Yangyang. Bai Jing tightly gripped her sleeves and followed after her. She shyly looked at him, yet with anticipation. ¡°Where¡¯s your third sister-in-law?¡± Yan Rusheng halted his steps in the middle of the room. He tucked his hands in his pockets as he walked over to Su Yue. Su Yue said, ¡°She went for a nap. She hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡± She was standing before Yan Rusheng with Yangyang in her arms. Yan Rusheng turned around to find Xuxu, but when he saw that Su Yue was now before him, he smiled and looked down at the baby in her arms. Before heading over to find the kids, the first thing he always did when he reached home every day was to tease Xuxu. Yan Rusheng looked down and when he saw the scratch on Yangyang¡¯s face, he frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t we cut his nails yesterday?¡± He picked up his small hand and studied his nails. His nails were short and evenly trimmed. He couldn¡¯t have scratched his face. It confused him when Bai Jing suddenly apologized out of guilt, ¡°I¡¯m sorry third brother. I¡­ I thought he was very cute and I wanted to touch his face, but I hadn¡¯t properly trimmed my nails, and I accidentally scratched him.¡± She bowed her head in guilt, not daring to meet his gaze. Yan Rusheng stopped frowning when he heard it, but his gaze was still cold and aloof when he glanced at her, as though he was trying to distance himself from her. He only spared her a glance. He didn¡¯t comfort her or scold her. Then he looked to Su Yue and took the child from her, carrying him in his arms. The little one had just woken up and his diapers hadn¡¯t been changed. He writhed in discomfort and he kept squealing, as though he was about to break out in tears any moment. He also kept licking his lips. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression immediately softened and he warmly smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to your mother to have your milk.¡± He tenderly pressed Yangyang¡¯s nose. As compared to Meowmeow, the number of times he carried Yangyang was significantly less. And he seldom played with him. This was a rare scene. Bai Jing stared at Yan Rusheng with sparks in her eyes. ¡°Look after Meowmeow. I¡¯ll go call your third sister-in-law,¡± Yan Rusheng said as he played with Yangyang for a while longer. He didn¡¯t spare a glance at Bai Jing, who was standing behind Su Yue. He turned and walked out of the room. Bai Jing stared after him, intoxicated. How could such a perfect man exist¡­ She had asked herself this question repeatedly, but she couldn¡¯t get an answer. ¡°My third brother is back. My brother should also be here in a while,¡± Su Yue happily said to Bai Jing after Yan Rusheng left. Chapter 1427. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Thirteen) Su Yue and Su Yan had gotten much closer after she stayed at his house for a period of time. Every time she mentioned Su Yan, she would term him as ¡®her brother¡¯ . Bai Jing frowned. ¡°Your house should be crowded today. I should leave.¡± Su Yue frowned, too. ¡°Stay for dinner. My third sister-in-law already asked the kitchen to prepare more dishes.¡± She grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s hand and grinned. ¡°You should just stay here for the night. We can sleep together since you have nothing to do at home, anyway.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s eyes excitedly gleamed, but she bashfully said, ¡°That¡­ that won¡¯t be nice.¡± Her gaze swept across the entire room. This was Xuxu and Yan Rusheng¡¯s room. To be exact, it was Yan Rusheng¡¯s room. It was Yan Rusheng¡¯s style and his aura filled the entire room, as though he was there in person. Her heart started palpitating. Su Yue replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about. My third sister-in-law will definitely welcome you. She always asks me to invite you over, but you¡¯re always busy.¡± Bai Jing still had her reservations. ¡°I¡¯ll trouble your family.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Of course not.¡± Bai Jing didn¡¯t object further. She smiled shyly. ¡°Then¡­ we¡¯ll decide later.¡± Su Yue happily agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll go get Meowmeow and bring her over to my second aunt to get her diapers changed.¡± Meowmeow was writhing in the crib when Su Yue carefully picked her up, carrying her in her arms. ¡°Don¡¯t cry my precious darling. Aunt will bring you to find Grandma.¡± She pacified her as to how Mu Li would. ¡°My precious darling is up.¡± Su Yue met Mu Li on her way out, and immediately the latter took Meowmeow away from her. Mu Li carried her in her arms, pacifying her. After a while, Mu Li lifted her head and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Yangyang?¡± ¡°My third brother carried him to third sister-in-law¡¯s room,¡± Su Yue replied, pointing at Xuxu¡¯s room. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re so annoying. Go away.¡± Xuxu¡¯s whines could be heard from her room. There was a long pause¡­ Su Yue and Mu Li remained silent. They were used to such situations. Bai Jing¡¯s gaze turned dark. She bowed her head before looking over at Xuxu¡¯s room. Suddenly, the door opened. ¡°Enough. Go downstairs to check if Su Yan is here. It¡¯s dinnertime.¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng exited together. Xuxu had just washed up after her nap and she still looked groggy. She was wearing a white body-hugging shirt and her hair flowed to her shoulders. She was carrying Yangyang. Yan Rusheng was hugging her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder. Both of them came out of the room in an intimate manner. To be exact, three of them exited the room intimately. This scene warmed Su Yue and Mu Li¡¯s heart, and they smiled warmly. However, Bai Jing looked downcast, her gaze filled with longing and envy. ¡°Mum, why are you guys standing there?¡± Xuxu hurriedly pushed Yan Rusheng away with her elbow when she saw them standing outside her door. She awkwardly looked at them. Yan Rusheng straightened up and tucked his hands into his pockets lazily and arrogantly, as though he wasn¡¯t clinging onto Xuxu a few moments ago. Chapter 1428. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Fourteen) Mu Li replied, ¡°I¡¯m going to change Meowmeow¡¯s diaper. You guys can head down for dinner.¡± Xuxu walked over. ¡°Is Su Yan here yet?¡± ¡°No,¡± Mu Li answered as she shook her head. She looked at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Third Yan, call him.¡± Just then, a masculine, charming voice sounded from the end of the staircase. ¡°Xuxu, were you missing me?¡± He had a teasing tone, and it was intoxicating. Before Yan Rusheng even turned to see him, his expression was already dark. The man was wearing a pale pink shirt and gray pants, his hands tucked into his pockets. He was looking at Xuxu, his lips curled up into a smile. Indeed, despite the countless faces in the room, his gaze was only cast onto Xuxu. Xuxu frowned, and then she looked over at Yan Rusheng. When she saw his furious look, it had her speechless. He was obviously teasing them, but he took it so seriously. She hugged Yan Rusheng¡¯s elbow and pulled him toward Su Yan. ¡°Brother.¡± Su Yue was one step ahead of them. She ran over to him and gave him a warm hug. Su Yan gently patted her back, full of tenderness. ¡°I bought you a gift. Are you coming home with me tonight?¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes brightened when she heard it. She asked in sheer excitement, ¡°What did you get me?¡± Every time Su Yan went overseas, he would always bring back a gift for her. These gifts were out of the ordinary and never did not surprise her. So, it filled her with anticipation. Su Yan smiled lovingly at her. ¡°You¡¯ll love it for sure.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll go home with you tonight.¡± Su Yue nodded before turning to Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing, come with me to my brother¡¯s house tonight. You can stay at my place for a few days.¡± Bai Jing gently shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll be heading home in a while.¡± Her voice was gentle, and the smile on her face masked her disappointment and frustration. When Su Yue had invited her to stay over earlier, she was extremely excited and almost nodded without hesitation. She wanted to stay over so that she could look at him more. She was having a hard time controlling her yearning for him . She wanted to get closer to him. She couldn¡¯t prevent herself from falling into the abyss of love. Su Yue frowned and pouted. ¡°Spoilsport.¡± Bai Jing looked down, her long eyelashes covering her eyes and hiding all her thoughts and emotions. She gave off a shy feel. ¡°Is this Bai Jing?¡± Su Yan asked. He sized her up. ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Didn¡¯t you meet her during my birthday celebration?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Su Yan smiled before looking her from head to toe once more. ¡°She¡¯s changed a lot.¡± Su Yan¡¯s innocent statement made Bai Jing tremble. She intertwined her fingers and bit her lip, raising her head and giving him a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Let¡¯s head downstairs for dinner.¡± Xuxu was afraid that Bai Jing would feel shy, so she said, ¡°Bai Jing, let¡¯s go.¡± She stuffed the baby into Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms and said, ¡°Hubby, change his diapers. I¡¯m starving. Can I go for dinner first?¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t say no to her. In fact, no man could resist his woman¡¯s gentleness, much less Young Master Yan when his darling wife called him ¡®hubby¡¯ . Chapter 1429. I Won’t Let Go Of Your Hand (part Fifteen) When Xuxu addressed him as ¡® hubby¡¯ in her sweet voice, his heart had melted into a puddle. He received the babies from her and said, ¡°Eat more.¡± Everyone else already went downstairs, and only Bai Jing trailed slowly behind, dragging her feet along. When she saw Xuxu and Yan Rusheng behaving so intimately, she hung her head low. She lifted her head after she reached the landing. She peered at the luxurious and spacious living room, which exuded an elegant and sophisticated charm. She clenched the staircase railing tightly, with a look of envy and yearning on her face. ¡­ ¡°Bai Jing, remember to come over often.¡± Yan Weihong rarely offered people food. But he placed a chicken wing in Bai Jing¡¯s bowl and even spoke warmly to her. Mu Li and he were grateful to Bai Jing¡¯s father who had saved Yan Rusheng¡¯s life. They really wanted to repay her for the kindness and gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± Bai Jing held the bowl in her hands as she bowed her head at Yan Weihong in gratefulness. Her waist-length hair tumbled loosely across her shoulders, and when she bowed, her hair fell forward, covering her face. She tucked her hair behind her ears as she stole a furtive glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng was quietly savoring his meal. Other than occasionally talking to Wen Xuxu, his eyes had never wandered elsewhere. It wasn¡¯t an ideal place to discuss work matters with them around. Mu Li was upstairs with the children, so it was relatively quiet at the table. Su Yue was the first to finish her meal and she placed her chopsticks down. Everyone assumed that she wanted to leave after standing up. However, she inched to Bai Jing¡¯s ear and whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside. I have something to ask you.¡± Su Yue flashed a mysterious smile at Bai Jing before she walked away. Bai Jing stared at her, looking dumbfounded. After a while, Bai Jing rose and bowed at the rest of them before leaving the table. ¡°This lass even had a secret? Why is she so secretive?¡± Yan Weihong glanced at Su Yue and Bai Jing, and he chuckled. After they left, he retracted his gaze and turned to Su Yan, who sat across him. He swiftly rearranged his expression. ¡°How is the progress?¡± asked Yan Weihong in a grave voice. With confidence laced in his voice, Su Yan said, ¡°Everything is within my control.¡± Yan Weihong was a little worried. ¡°Did Jiang Shaomei detect anything amiss?¡± Su Yan airily quipped, ¡°Second Uncle Yan, don¡¯t worry.¡± Yan Weihong grunted and heaved a heavy sigh He surveyed Su Yan closely and gazed at him with a look of admiration. ¡°Your progress is faster than your third brother.¡± He swiftly glanced at Yan Rusheng with a look of disapproval. It was rare that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t make any retorts. He was eating slowly as he picked up food with his chopsticks. Yan Weihong was talking about work stuff so Xuxu remained silent. Yan Weihong thought of something, so he spun around towards Su Yan. ¡°Su Yan, I want to remind you to keep your distance from that Xin Yanting.¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°I will take note.¡± ¡°I¡¯m full,¡± Yan Rusheng proclaimed as he placed his chopsticks on the table. He rose and turned toward the dining room. Su Yue was talking to Bai Jing on the couch. Yan Rusheng strode towards them and quietly peered at them. ¡°Yueyue, go get me a cup of water.¡± Su Yue nodded and stood up to go back to the kitchen. Bai Jing certainly knew that Yan Rusheng was trying to get Su Yue away and that he had something to say to her. Chapter 1430. Shotgun Marriage (part One) Bai hastily Jing rose and spare a nervous glance at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng quietly stood behind her with his hands in his pockets. He calmly glanced at Bai Jing and said, ¡°You can consider applying for T university in Country Y.¡± T university in Country Y¡­ That was a renowned and prestigious university and the dream school for many. If it was someone else, they would definitely jump at this opportunity. However, it startled Bai Jing and her heart seemed to plunge. She was seized with a pang of disappointment followed by nervousness. She blankly stared at Yan Rusheng, and her heart raced wildly. She had no idea why Yan Rusheng would ask her to apply for T university. In other words, he wanted to send her abroad. And it was so abrupt. Did he realize something, and hence he wanted to send her away? Bai Jing anxiously thought to herself and her mouth hung slightly open. She had no idea how she should reply. Yan Rusheng frowned slightly as he eyed Bai Jing. He solemnly said, ¡°I¡¯ve promised your father that I would be responsible for your education in the future. I hope you don¡¯t disappoint him.¡± Bai Jing blinked her eyes, looking dumbfounded. Before she could react, Yan Rusheng had turned around and left. She gazed at the towering figure who seemed so imposing and elusive. Her hands hung limply by her side as she stared at him. She clenched her fists and dug her fingernails into her palms. ¡®I hope you don¡¯t disappoint your father¡­¡¯ Yan Rusheng seemed to lecture and mock her. No, there was no way he would bring up sending her abroad so abruptly. He had never mentioned this before. And even if they had seized this opportunity for her, he wouldn¡¯t be the one to break the news. It should be either Wen Xuxu or Su Yue. Overwhelming instinct told her that he must have found out something about her¡­ Was he aware that she was secretly in love with him? At the thought of this, Bai Jing¡¯s eyes widened in horror. How could it be! She had done nothing, and she had been very careful around him as well. She had always restrained her feelings for him. She didn¡¯t even dare to look at him in public. ¡°Bai Jing, why are you in a daze?¡± Su Yue saw Bai Jing, looking pale and she asked. ¡°Where is my third brother?¡± Su Yue asked, looking puzzled. Didn¡¯t he ask her to get some water? Bai Jing snapped out of her daze and whispered, ¡°He went upstairs.¡± She replied before hanging her head low. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue sensed that something was wrong with Bai Jing, and she placed the cup down. ¡°Nothing,¡± Bai Jing answered as she shook her head. She sounded irritated. It was obvious. Su Yue could tell and before she could speak again, Bai Jing interjected, ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m going back first. Can you help me get my bag?¡± She had been looking forward to coming to this place, but now she felt suffocated with fear and terror. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Yan Rusheng had thrown such an abrupt and difficult question at her. Chapter 1431. Shotgun Marriage (part Two) Bai Jing knew she had no reason to reject the opportunity to go to T University. In other words, she should be overjoyed. Was her response too strange earlier on? Bai Jing¡¯s heart was palpitating in a frenzy. Su Yue inched closer to Bai Jing. ¡°I want to ask you something.¡± Bai Jing glanced askew at Su Yue and noticed her beaming at her. She raised her eyebrows, looking confused. Su Yue said in a hushed voice, ¡°Do you like my brother?¡± It startled Bai Jing. ¡°Wh¡ªat?¡± She guiltily dodged Su Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why are you so nervous¡­¡± Su Yue observed Bai Jing, and she smugly replied, ¡°Looks like I¡¯m right. You like my brother, am I right? No wonder you kept looking across the table earlier on.¡± ¡°Su Yue!¡± Bai Jing yelled to stop Su Yue from guessing further. Her reaction shocked Su Yue, and she frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Are you feeling shy?¡± she asked in a hushed voice once more. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m on your side. I feel that the arrogant clown isn¡¯t compatible with my brother.¡± Bai Jing denied by furiously shaking her head. ¡°No, stop your nonsense. I don¡¯t like your brother at all.¡± She stole a glance at the second level and it was empty. Her heart was empty as well and it made her jittery. Cold sweat had covered her palm, and she felt as if someone had caught her red-handed. She just wanted to flee this place. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows and asked indignantly, ¡°Is my brother not good enough?¡± ¡°I¡¯m having a headache.¡± Bai Jing rubbed her temples as though she was in pain. ¡°I want to go back, can you help me get my bag?¡± Su Yue assumed that Bai Jing was angry with her and she pursed her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. I won¡¯t ask you anymore. I¡¯ll go get you your bag.¡± She turned around and ascended the stairs. Bai Jing watched Su Yue absent mindedly as she tried to fathom Yan Rusheng¡¯s thoughts. She suspected that he might be suspicious of her. She felt uneasy. ¡°There you go.¡± Su Yue passed the bag to Bai Jing before she turned around towards the dining room. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Third sister-in-law to get someone to send you home.¡± Xuxu just came out from the dining room together with Su Yan, and they were happily conversing. Su Yue shouted in her direction. ¡°Third sister-in-law, Bai Jing is going back. Can you ask someone to send her home?¡± Su Yue still didn¡¯t feel like a part of this family, neither did she treat herself as a mistress. Every time she needed a chauffeur, she would seek permission from Xuxu first. Xuxu glanced at them and hastened her footsteps. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay for a while more?¡± asked Xuxu. Bai Jing smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I want to rest early tonight as I studied late last night. I¡¯m having a headache.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t insist further. ¡°I¡¯ll get the chauffeur¡­¡± Bai Jing cut across and politely declined. ¡°I¡¯ll just flag for a taxi.¡± She glanced at Su Yan and nodded before she turned around. Su Yan suddenly interjected, ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯m going back with Yueyue. Let me send you.¡± Xuxu nodded and immediately said, ¡°Sounds good, since both of you are headed in the same direction.¡± Chapter 1432. Shotgun Marriage (part Three) Bai Jing¡¯s first thought was to decline, but Su Yan didn¡¯t allow her to. Su Yan glanced at Su Yue and asked, ¡°Do you have anything else to take? If nothing more, let¡¯s get going. I have work to do tonight.¡± Bai Jing pressed her lips and swallowed her words. She bowed her head, feeling defeated. Su Yan drove while Su Yue and Bai Jing sat at the back. Su Yue wanted to talk to Bai Jing, but Bai Jing kept her back against her. She gazed out of the window, looking preoccupied. Su Yue was at a loss of words at the thought of how irritated Bai Jing was earlier on. After a traffic junction, Bai Jing snapped out of her daze and she peered ahead of her. She pointed at a bus stop a distance away and said, ¡°Can you let me alight at the bus stop? I think this is a new car and I¡¯m feeling nauseous. I¡¯ll just take a bus home myself.¡± Su Yue looked at her with anxiousness imbued in her eyes. ¡°Do you want to drink some water?¡± Bai Jing shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I just need to take a walk.¡± She looked pale and had a constant frown on her face. She looked rather sick, so Su Yue didn¡¯t insist. ¡°Alright then.¡± The car stopped by the roadside and Bai Jing got off. She waved goodbye at Su Yan. ¡°Su Yue, Brother Su Yan, goodbye.¡± Su Yan nodded slightly. Bai Jing closed the door. Su Yan ignited the car once they left Bai Jing behind. Su Yue leaned against the window as she looked at Bai Jing. ¡°Bai Jing looks troubled and worried.¡± Su Yan¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Even you will have troubles.¡± Su Yue retracted her gaze and bent her head. She muttered, ¡°Why would I be troubled?¡± Xuxu had given her some medicated cream for her burns and it was effective. But her blisters would need more time to heal. Su Yue quietly gazed at her hands. She recalled what Ming Zhongsheng said to her once more. ¡°I heard that you¡¯re dating someone?¡± Su Yan spun his head and grinned at Su Yue. A pang of guilt struck Su Yue, and she warily eyed Su Yan. ¡°What did Third sister-in-law tell you?¡± She stared at him with apprehension. Su Yan chuckled quietly. His good-looking hands clenched the steering wheel, and the lights from the passing lamp-posts shone on his gorgeous face. Su Yue felt that her brother was perfect and exceedingly handsome. She then thought of Bai Jing all of a sudden, and how she stole frequent glances across the table. She began to get curious and she leaned forward. She craned her neck to inch nearer to Su Yan. ¡°Brother, are you dating Xin Yanting?¡± Even though she didn¡¯t really like that arrogant woman, she would still agree to them dating if her brother really liked her. But if her brother wasn¡¯t interested in her, then she would help Bai Jing. Su Yan frowned and eyed Su Yue. ¡°Little lass, why are you asking about this?¡± He was obviously avoiding this question. Su Yue probed. ¡°Do you like her?¡± ¡°This is not something you have to be concerned about.¡± Su Yan glanced at Su Yue with raised eyebrows. He steered the topic and asked, ¡°I heard you failed all your papers?¡± Su Yue clammed up¡­ Did she flunk all her papers? But that was nothing surprising considering the fact that she submitted her paper in half an hour. She had chosen option B for most of the questions, so there was no way she would pass. Chapter 1433. Shotgun Marriage (part Four) Su Yan asked rather cheekily, ¡°Now that you have a love life, you need not study anymore?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Su Yue blushed and bowed her head. Her cheeks were burning hot as she uttered, ¡°Don¡¯t trust what Third sister-in-law said. I¡¯m really serious about my studies.¡± She had barely ended her sentence when her phone suddenly rang. She fumbled for her phone inside her bag. She silently gulped when she saw the caller¡¯s name on the screen. She stole a furtive glance at Su Yan. Su Yan was concentrating on driving, so he wasn¡¯t looking at her. But she could distinctly feel that he was laughing at her. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± Su Yue softly muttered. She rejected the call in a huff. Her phone vibrated, and Su Yue knew without a doubt that the text must be from Ming Ansheng. Indeed, ¡®Uncle Ming¡¯ appeared on her screen. ¡®Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you picking up?¡¯ She typed swiftly. ¡®I¡¯m on my way home. My brother is back. Don¡¯t call me.¡¯ Ming Ansheng texted, ¡®Aren¡¯t we dating openly now?¡¯ His reply sounded gloomy and grumpy. Su Yue replied, ¡®That means nothing. If I don¡¯t contact you these few days, don¡¯t call me as well.¡¯ She was just being lectured for neglecting her studies and for failing her exams. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Are you home?¡¯ Are you coming tonight?¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡®Yeah.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®F*ck!¡¯ It startled Su Yue when he sent that text. ¡®Huh?¡¯ Su Yue read the text from Ming Ansheng and her face fell dark instantly. She turned red and contemplated briefly before replying. ¡®Hooligan! I¡¯m reaching home soon. You must be tired, rest early tonight.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Yueyue, come back tonight. I have a surprise for you.¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡®My brother bought me presents and he has a surprise for me, too. I¡¯m not going to your place tonight. My third sister-in-law says I¡¯m not allowed to for the time being.¡¯ ¡®Why¡­?¡¯ Young Master Ming¡¯s spirits plunged the moment he read her reply. He frowned, looking frustrated. He didn¡¯t seem to have offended Wen Xuxu recently. Su Yue didn¡¯t reply after he sent the text. He didn¡¯t text her as well. As Su Yan had just returned, the siblings must have lots to catch up. Ming Ansheng placed his phone on the table and left to take a shower. There was lots of work waiting for him, and he was feeling tired. He wanted to make a cup of tea. He walked to a water dispenser and bent to open the cupboard. He realized that the tea leaves container was open. He frowned in suspicion. He stretched his hand and took out the tea leaves before turning to the coffee table. He realized that there was a cup of cold tea on the coffee table. The first thought that came to his mind was that someone came by today. And the person made Su Yue personally brew tea¡­ Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes glinted coldly, and he placed the container back into the cupboard. He closed it and walked back to the couch. He picked up his phone and was about to dial a number. He accidentally caught a glimpse of the bottom of the coffee table. On the floor were a few pieces of tea leaves that were still damp. His expression hardened. He dialed his house number and someone picked up. It was his mother. Chapter 1434. Shotgun Marriage (part Five) He grunted. ¡°Where is Grandfather?¡± ¡°He went to Country M today.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother knew that he was livid. Worried, she asked, ¡°Why?¡± Ming Ansheng ignored his mother¡¯s question and asked, ¡°Why did he go to Country M?¡± His mother quipped, ¡°He had something to settle in N City.¡± She sounded as if she was unaware as well. Ming Ansheng stopped asking and said, ¡°I¡¯m hanging up.¡± His mother interjected quickly. ¡°Where is Su Yue?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°She went home today.¡± ¡°I wanted to send her some chicken soup tomorrow morning.¡± She sounded rather disappointed. During the days when Su Yue stayed over, his mother came to visit them once. She cooked and they had a wonderful day together. When he came home that night, Su Yue rattled on about how awesome and great his mother was. She even repeatedly praised her cooking. It pleased him that his mother wanted to cook chicken soup for Su Yue. With a warm tone of voice, Ming Ansheng said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Su Yue to come tomorrow.¡± His anger evaporated in a split second. This was the first time his mother stood up for him and protested against his grandfather¡¯s overbearing methods. She wasn¡¯t a weak woman by nature. She had been keeping her silence for his sake for a long time. His mother chuckled and said, ¡°That girl is too skinny and she looks like a middle school student. You look like her father when she stands beside you.¡± Her tone was overflowing with affection and adoration for Su Yue. Ming Ansheng chuckled lightly and replied, ¡°It¡¯s the trend these days.¡± ¡°Ansheng,¡± his mother spoke in a solemn voice. Ming Ansheng answered, ¡°Huh?¡± She paused as though she was contemplating something. After a few seconds, she said, ¡°How about you have a shotgun marriage?¡± She immediately elaborated, ¡°Maybe once you have a child, your grandfather would accept her. At least on account of his great-grandchild.¡± Ming Ansheng gently smiled and quipped, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not because you wanted a grandchild?¡± It was true that the youngest son would be closer to the mother. Ever since he was a child, he could feel that his mother loved and adored him more than his older brother. His brother already had children, but whenever his mother heard of anyone getting pregnant, she became very envious. His mother snapped, ¡°I¡¯m seriously worried about you.¡± Ming Ansheng retracted his jokes and heavily sighed. ¡°It¡¯s too soon for that. Yueyue is too young, let¡¯s wait for her to finish her studies.¡± She was merely 18 this year and she looked so frail and dainty. Besides that, she had trouble taking care of herself, not to mention taking care of her child¡­ She might just cry in despair if the child bawled. Ming Ansheng smiled a foolish grin when he visualized that scene in his mind. It would be a headache in reality. So, it wasn¡¯t time for them to have a child yet. His mother answered, ¡°I¡¯m merely telling you this. You should decide on your own. Your grandfather is getting old and if you drive him to an early death, you will be an eternal sinner.¡± His mother sounded sorrowful and jealous, and Ming Ansheng cheerfully grinned. ¡°Trying to explain means you¡¯re guilty. Lu Yinan brought Zhou Shuang back and they are expecting children soon. It must have hit the headlines, and I understand why you are eager to have your grandchildren.¡± Chapter 1435. Shotgun Marriage (part Six) Indeed, Young Master Lu had successfully brought Zhou Shuang back. They reached the capital city yesterday, but Lu Yinan had already planned for them to have a meal during the weekend. But it wasn¡¯t to celebrate Zhou Shuang¡¯s return. He was merely celebrating the fact that he still had a roof over his head. ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you anymore. You¡¯re so horrible to ignore my concern.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother chided him and then whispered once more, ¡°Rest early. Stop working until the wee hours. You will be 27 soon, and you need to take care of your body.¡± Ming Ansheng grunted to show that he had heard her. ¡°You rest early, too.¡± After hanging up, Ming Ansheng glanced at his phone. There were no texts or missed calls. ¡°Heartless girl,¡± he muttered under his breath and carelessly threw his phone on the couch. He went to make himself a cup of tea. ¡­ It was Chinese New Year soon¡ªand the situation at the company was frantic. Mu Li and Yan Weihong took over the duty of taking care of the twins in the daytime. Xuxu got bored at home, so she came to help Yan Rusheng at work. Although she had left the company for almost a year, she had no difficulties coping with the work. After lunch, her secretary cleared the table. Xuxu brewed two cups of tea and brought both the cups to Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. Yan Rusheng received the cup and took a sip. Xuxu thought of something and asked, ¡°Are you attending Yizhong¡¯s 100th-year-anniversary celebration?¡± Yan Rusheng lightly replied, ¡°I received the invitation from the principal.¡± Xuxu frowned in response. ¡°I¡¯m asking if you are planning to attend.¡± Of course, she knew that the principal would invite him along with Ming Ansheng and the rest. They would definitely be on the VIP list. Yan Rusheng batted an eyelid and grinned. ¡°I will follow wherever you go.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes and quipped, ¡°That means you are going. Can¡¯t you just be more direct?¡± She drank her entire cup of tea in one gulp. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°I like to be more¡­.¡± He stretched his arms and embraced Xuxu before pulling her over. She fell on his lap and he seductively whispered in her ears, ¡°Rough instead.¡± ¡°Go away.¡± Xuxu used her elbow to nudge Yan Rusheng and anxiously peered at the door. ¡°Yan Rusheng, let go of me. This is the office!¡± ¡°I want to kiss you.¡± Yan Rusheng kissed Xuxu on her lips before releasing her. Knock, knock, knock. Xuxu was adjusting her clothes when someone knocked. She straightened her almond-colored shirt and responded, ¡°Come in.¡± A tall and slender lady sauntered in. Xuxu instantly addressed her. ¡°General Manager Xin.¡± She politely bowed at Xin Yanting. Xin Yanting frowned when she saw Wen Xuxu. She raised her chin and assumed her usual air of arrogance. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why are you here?¡± Her voice was so much louder. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance. ¡°General Manager Xin, anything the matter?¡± This company belonged to the Yan family, she was Yan Rusheng¡¯s woman, and the lady boss of Flourish & Prosper. So who was she to question Wen Xuxu? Xin Yanting glanced at Yan Rusheng and asked, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Su Yan here today?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned once again at her question. ¡°Is there a need for Vice-President Su to report to you?¡± Xin Yanting haughtily replied, ¡°I have work to discuss with him.¡± Chapter 1436. Shotgun Marriage (part Seven) ¡°He isn¡¯t in. Just convey a message to his assistant,¡± said Yan Rusheng in his cold voice. He retracted his gaze and extended his hand to bring the cup to his lips once more. Xin Yanting furrowed her eyebrows, looking indignant. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to talk to an assistant?¡± Yan Rusheng casually shrugged his shoulders and quipped, ¡°Then you could patiently wait for Vice-President Su to come back. Or you could call him.¡± ¡°If I could reach him, I wouldn¡¯t have looked for you!¡± Xin Yanting angrily replied. She then sneered coldly. She swiftly spun around and stormed off. Xuxu shook her head in amusement when she saw her leaving in a huff. ¡°This fellow didn¡¯t change even after sticking to Su Yan for so long.¡± She glanced at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng slumped comfortably against the couch and he said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, let¡¯s take a rest, shall we?¡± ¡°Get back to work!¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes and turned around. Yan Rusheng suddenly stood up and Xuxu sensed that he was coming for her. But it was too late for her to escape. He easily wrapped his arms around her slender waist and carried her without giving her the opportunity to resist. ¡°Yan Rusheng, is your brain damaged?¡± Xuxu landed punches on Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders with her fists. ¡°It¡¯s daytime and we¡¯re in the office. Can you be more mindful?¡± ¡°Actually, I was only planning to take a short nap with you. But it looks like you have other plans.¡± Yan Rusheng had already reached the bed, and he threw Xuxu onto it. Xuxu climbed up and leaped off the bed. She glared at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°There is a lot of work to be done. Stop fooling around.¡± She hastened her footsteps towards the door. Yan Rusheng agilely moved and blocked Xuxu¡¯s path. Xuxu ended up bumping into his muscular body. It frustrated her when he stood there like a boulder. ¡°Ah Sheng, stop this nonsense. Go and work.¡± This was preposterous. It was as though he was one of those incapable, lustful rulers in the olden times. Yan Rusheng crossed his arms and looked at Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you remember that you saw my naked body in this room before? When you went out after that incident, did you think of me when you closed your eyes?¡± Xuxu was speechless. She knew which incident Yan Rusheng was referring to. She had accidentally barged into the room and saw him naked. And for the entire day, forbidden images floated into her mind, and she couldn¡¯t concentrate at all. She bowed her head and clammed up. Yan Rusheng seductively teased her once more. ¡°After you left the room, I went back to the bathroom again.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded again. ¡°Do you know why?¡± Yan Rusheng inched closer to Xuxu¡¯s ear. His warm breath landed on her ears and his hoarse voice successfully aroused her. She shivered and faltered to the side. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you did. Shameless! Hooligan!¡± She shoved Yan Rusheng using all her strength. Yan Rusheng merely moved a step back before he hugged Xuxu once more. He threw her on the bed once more. ¡°I got changed and washed up.¡± He slyly grinned at Xuxu. ¡°What naughty thoughts do you have?¡± Chapter 1437. Shotgun Marriage (part Eight) Xuxu¡¯s blushing face instantly darkened, and she angrily gritted her teeth. Looking at Yan Rusheng¡¯s mesmerizing face angered her. She couldn¡¯t take it lying down, so she raised her knee and mustered her strength to aim at the most vital part of Young Master Yan¡¯s body. ¡°Ouch!¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t use her full strength but it was enough for Yan Rusheng to yelp out in pain. He rolled off Xuxu and pressed his palms against his private part. Xuxu became smug and she quipped happily. ¡°Yan Rusheng, this is the price you pay for being despicable.¡± She coldly snorted before sitting up and adjusting her clothes. Yan Rusheng winced in pain and a crease appeared in the middle of his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m crippled. I¡¯m definitely crippled.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± A familiar voice belonging to a man sounded as he cleared his throat. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were momentarily stunned before turning their heads at the same time. Su Yan was standing with his hands deep inside his pockets, looking refined and well-groomed. The awkwardness was clear as he stared at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng glanced at Su Yan and immediately withdrew his hand. He straightened his back and frowned at him. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Su Yan pointed at the door and innocently explained, ¡°I knocked, but no one responded. So I came in. Then I heard your yell and I got worried¡­¡± He stifled his laughter as he recalled Yan Rusheng¡¯s yell and how he rolled on the bed clutching his private part. He pressed his lips and stopped talking. If he continued, he would explode in laughter any time. Yan Rusheng eyed him coldly as though he could read his mind. ¡°Scram!¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll leave right away but I need to talk to you.¡± Although he was getting fluent in Mandarin and even had a slight local accent, he was still used to using English to converse. So when he spoke to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, he preferred to use English. He turned around and vanished out of their sight. Yan Rusheng furrowed his eyebrows in pain instantly. He clutched his private part and glared viciously at Xuxu. ¡°You heartless and stupid woman.¡± It was really painful. Xuxu rolled her eyes in response. ¡°You deserved it!¡± She marched stiffly towards the door. Yan Rusheng strode out of the room, resuming his dignified and aloof self once more with a hand in his pocket. It was as though the man who was rolling on the bed and yelping in pain was an entirely different person. He glanced at Su Yan who was sitting on the couch. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± It had better be important, if not Su Yan would be in trouble. Su Yan wiped off the grin on his face and glanced at Yan Rusheng with a serious look on his face. ¡°Jiang Shaomei is getting suspicious.¡± ¡°We have gathered sufficient evidence. So what can she do to us?¡± Yan Rusheng spoke haughtily as he sat down next to Su Yan. He couldn¡¯t wait for the day to arrive. ¡°If we do this, Paramount might collapse entirely if the worst situation happens.¡± Su Yan seemed to have some misgivings as his expression turned solemn. Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrow. ¡°Are you worried about Xin Yanting?¡± He sized Su Yan up, looking doubtful and suspicious. ¡°No.¡± Su Yan denied and pressed on, ¡°I¡¯m worried about Xuxu instead.¡± He glanced at Wen Xuxu, who was typing away at Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk. Yan Rusheng immediately understood Su Yan, and he softly sneered. ¡°What does it have to do with her?¡± Su Yan shrugged. ¡°If you have no regrets, I¡¯m ready.¡±. Chapter 1438. Shotgun Marriage (part Nine) Yan Rusheng grunted deeply and his eyes shone with unyielding determination. Xuxu bent her head and helplessly sighed. ¡­ It was Chinese New Year soon and the capital city was snowing. A thick blanket of snow covered the pavements and streets that footprints could hardly be seen. A girl was wearing a sand-colored thick coat as she absent-mindedly walked forward. She looked troubled and sorrowful. T University had never crossed her mind before as she knew that it was merely a far-fetched dream. But now, the opportunity presented right in front of her¡­ ¡®Bai Jing, why are you still hesitating! What¡¯s holding you back?¡¯ All these people and that man don¡¯t belong to you. You have nothing here. Go! Be a brand new person and become someone who can soar higher. Wasn¡¯t that more enticing? ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Bai Jing was fighting with the voices inside her when someone interrupted her thoughts. The man¡¯s voice was vaguely familiar, and Bai Jing instantly spun around with a wary and hostile expression. The skinny man was clad in a deep blue jacket with a scarf around his neck. He wore gold-rimmed spectacles as he quickly strode towards her. She politely said, ¡°Professor Zhao.¡± Zhao Zheng stood before Bai Jing, panting slightly as he looked at her. ¡°It¡¯s snowing so heavily, why are you in school?¡± He looked as if he had run a distance just to talk to her. Bai Jing continued to gaze at him warily. She forced a smile and replied, ¡°I was in the vicinity, so I wanted to take a stroll.¡± Zhao Zheng asked, ¡°It¡¯s the holidays, why aren¡¯t you hanging out with Su Yue?¡± Bai Jing softly replied, ¡°I just met her recently.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded and something struck him. ¡°It¡¯s Yizhong¡¯s 100th anniversary tomorrow. Did Su Yue invite you?¡± Bai Jing frowned. ¡°Yizhong?¡± Zhao Zheng¡¯s eyes sparkled with a sly gleam as she appeared to be clueless. ¡°Yeah.¡± He nodded and solemnly said, ¡°Xuxu, Yan Rusheng, Ming Ansheng and the rest all graduated from Yizhong. All of them will go and there will be many famous university professors attending as well. You should attend such events to gain more exposure.¡± Indeed, he wasn¡¯t boasting. At a huge event like this, the guests would all come from influential or wealthy backgrounds. Bai Jing weakly smiled. ¡°Is it? I have no idea.¡± She bowed her head and her thick eyelashes hid her eyes from view. Zhao Zheng couldn¡¯t read her mind. He put on a fleeting smirk. ¡°I assume that Su Yue would have invited you.¡± Bai Jing wasn¡¯t a fool, and she knew that he was trying to drive a wedge between them. She raised her head and glanced at him. ¡°Her third brother and third sister-in-law would naturally bring her along. But they have no obligations to invite me.¡± She despised people like Zhao Zheng. She well knew of his hatred towards Su Yue as she was too stuck up. He had attempted several times to try to use her to get to Su Yue. All the more, she wouldn¡¯t let him have his way. But when she mentioned that Su Yue wasn¡¯t obliged to invite her, she still sounded slightly jealous and upset. She couldn¡¯t help it. Zhao Zheng had tried tirelessly to get Bai Jing on his side, but she had deflected it smoothly each time. How she wished she could treat him as a stranger. Chapter 1439. Shotgun Marriage (part Ten) He lost his patience. Suddenly, he coldly said, ¡°Bai Jing, with a family background like yours, you really shouldn¡¯t be pining over someone else¡¯s husband.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s heart missed a beat. She didn¡¯t expect Zhao Zheng to be able to see through her. She felt guilty but she didn¡¯t show it. She tilted her chin up and snarled, ¡°Professor Zhao, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Zhao Zheng smirked coolly. ¡°You do.¡± He smirked. ¡°In what way are you better than Xuxu?¡± How was she better than Xuxu? That woman was indeed intelligent and extremely capable, but she was definitely on par with her. Besides, she was younger than her. Youth is an asset. ¡°Professor Zhao, I have something on. I¡¯ll make a move.¡± Bai Jing didn¡¯t answer his question. She turned around and left. She didn¡¯t want to spend any more time with him. He was annoying. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± Zhao Zheng called after her. She stopped in her tracks. She looked at him and asked, ¡°Professor Zhao, is anything the matter?¡± Her annoyed tone infuriated Zhao Zheng. ¡°Your father saved Yan Rusheng¡¯s life. If not for that, your paths would never have crossed.¡± He paused, but not giving her a chance to say anything. ¡°I like Xuxu. I have since middle school. I haven¡¯t gotten over her after all these years.¡± Bai Jing smirked. ¡°Then Professor Zhao, in what way are you better than Yan Rusheng?¡± She sized him up, annoyance in her eyes. She didn¡¯t give him a chance to answer. She continued, ¡°If your father wasn¡¯t a teacher at Yizhong, with your family background, you wouldn¡¯t have enrolled in Yizhong and your path would never have crossed with Yan Rusheng and Xuxu¡¯s.¡± Bai Jing gritted her teeth, her eyes glimmering with hatred. Her words were like a knife that sliced through him, revealing his innermost insecurities. Zhao Zheng smiled coldly. ¡°You¡¯re venomous indeed.¡± Bai Jing maintained her aloof smile and her tone was increasingly arrogant when she replied, ¡°I just know how to stand up for myself.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng is rich and of high status. Don¡¯t you wish you could have such a good-looking man?¡± Zhao Zheng raised his eyebrow, his smile widening. His smile was malicious. Of course, she wished she could. But he already has a wife and children, and he loves them very much. So what if she wanted him? Bai Jing, don¡¯t be tempted by this disgusting fellow. Then she smiled and said to him, ¡°Professor Zhao, you¡¯re a teacher. Is teaching someone to be a mistress part of the syllabus?¡± Zhao Zheng snorted. ¡°Quit pretending, Bai Jing. We can work together.¡± Bai Jing mocked, ¡°Professor Zhao, I didn¡¯t expect you to stoop so low.¡± Zhao Zheng ignored her taunts and said, ¡°Tomorrow, I can give you a chance to get closer to Yan Rusheng than you¡¯ve ever been before.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± Bai Jing tilted her chin up and turned to leave. ¡°There are only four places in T University reserved for students in the entire capital city, and Yan Rusheng fought for a place for you. Why do you think he tried so hard to do that?¡± Chapter 1440. Shotgun Marriage (part Eleven) Zhao Zheng couldn¡¯t hide his urge to sow discord between them. But his words still hit her in the heart. Why did Yan Rusheng, the man out of her reach, try so hard to secure her a place in T University? She had been pondering over this for a few days. She wasn¡¯t sure if he had noticed her affection for him, hence despised her and wanted to send her as far away as possible. She didn¡¯t say a word. But her shining eyes couldn¡¯t hide her anticipation for Zhao Zheng to tell her why Yan Rusheng wanted her to go to T University. Zhao Zheng smirked. ¡°Last week, he invited a newly appointed official for lunch. Secretary Wu has already been given the sack.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s eyes widened and she paled. Zhao Zheng had expected this reaction from her and he smirked. ¡°You probably thought that what you and your mother did would go unnoticed.¡± Bai Jing nervously shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying.¡± She clenched her fists in her pockets and she turned to leave. ¡°Bai Jing, this is my number. You can come to me tomorrow after you¡¯ve thought it through. Attending Yizhong¡¯s anniversary will definitely benefit you.¡± Zhao Zheng suddenly slipped a piece of paper into her pocket. Bai Jing ignored him and quickened her pace, getting as far away from him as possible. How did he know about this? Nobody knew about it except that woman. Even Lei Yong was kept out of the loop. As for Secretary Wu, he definitely wouldn¡¯t leak the information since his career was on the line. So how did he know? ¡®Bai Jing, your phone¡­¡¯ Suddenly, Bai Jing recalled something. She halted in her footsteps. Her gaze became dark and cold. Su Yue! Su Yue was holding her phone when her mother sent her the message regarding Secretary Wu¡¯s situation. So Su Yue must¡¯ve seen it and told Xuxu. That must be it. She knew that Yan Rusheng sending her overseas was for her own good. But he was obviously disappointed with her. She was filthy. He said ¡®I hope you don¡¯t disappoint your father¡¯ . So he was only treating her well because her father had saved his life. Hatred flashed across her eyes when she thought about it. She unclenched her fist and gripped tightly onto the slip of paper that Zhao Zheng had placed in her pocket. ¡®Su Yue, you¡¯ve betrayed me time and time again. You¡¯ve ruined his image of me and I won¡¯t let you off.¡¯ ¡­ There were many well-known alumni at Yizhong¡¯s 100th anniversary. Some of them traveled all the way here just for the occasion. There were writers, celebrities, entrepreneurs, professors¡­ But alumni like Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng¡ªyoung and well-known¡ªwere few. So, they were the center of attention wherever they stood. They were very eye-catching. The venue where they held many celebrations and tea sessions was decorated luxuriously and extravagantly. Yan Rusheng was wearing a white shirt and black pants. He was standing in a subtle corner but still, many people went up to greet him. Chapter 1441. Shotgun Marriage (part Twelve) Xuxu was beside him, holding onto his elbow. A warm and demure smile was plastered onto her face. She stared at the entrance, seeing many familiar faces¡ªher ex-classmates and teachers. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu was saying hello to the people before them when someone called her. It was a woman¡¯s voice, and she sounded like she was of mature age. She looked up and saw an old woman in a dark purple sweater. She was smiling and walking over towards them. Her silver hair was pinned up neatly into a bun. From her appearance to her smile, she seemed elegant and poised. Xuxu hesitated before recalling something and smiling beautifully. ¡°Teacher Li.¡± She was their class teacher in middle school. Xuxu let go of Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and went up to greet her. ¡°Teacher Li,¡± she greeted excitedly. She then grabbed the old woman¡¯s hand. Teacher Li smiled reminiscently. ¡°It¡¯s been over 10 years. I always see you on the news, and I can finally see you in person now.¡± Xuxu smiled shyly. ¡°Teacher Li, you¡¯re too kind.¡± ¡°Teacher Li.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng respectfully greeted her from behind. Teacher Li looked over and smiled. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re so lucky.¡± She meaningfully looked at Xuxu. Yan Rusheng knew what she meant and he smiled. ¡°I have to thank you for that.¡± He stood beside Xuxu and wrapped a hand around her shoulders. He did it ever so naturally. Teacher Li saw it and smiled. ¡°All of you have your own families now. The number of gray hairs on my head is increasing day by day¡ªI¡¯m old.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Definitely not. You look vibrant, not old at all.¡± Although she knew that Xuxu was just comforting her, it still elated her. ¡°You have the glibbest tongue.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t you teachers love it?¡± All of Xuxu¡¯s teachers loved her. Adults and teachers used her as a model example to others. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Teacher Li tilted her chin up proudly. ¡°In the two years that I took your class, I never had to worry about her, whether in her studies or with peer interaction.¡± She then pointed at Yan Rusheng and said with a smile, ¡°Both of you complement each other.¡± This was what Yan Rusheng loved to hear. He loved being associated with Xuxu, whether it was for good or bad reasons. His grip around Xuxu¡¯s shoulder tightened, and he proudly looked at Teacher Li. ¡°Teacher Li, I¡¯m not sure if you know this, but when she was thirteen, Wen Xuxu already started liking¡­¡± But before he could complete his sentence, Xuxu suddenly covered his mouth. ¡®Oof¡­.¡¯ Xuxu glared at him menacingly in a warning. This fellow was too pompous. Although she had covered his mouth in time, she still couldn¡¯t help but blush. Teacher Li watched both of them, happiness bubbling from within the recess of her heart. Chapter 1442. Shotgun Marriage (part Thirteen) Yan Rusheng promised through his gaze that he would keep his mouth shut, and Xuxu finally let him go. She then turned and smiled at Teacher Li. ¡°Teacher Li, are you still staying in school even after your retirement?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Teacher Li nodded. ¡°My children brought me back to their place, but I couldn¡¯t adapt to the environment so I came back.¡± ¡°President Yan.¡± Suddenly, someone called Yan Rusheng. Seeing that, she patted Xuxu¡¯s elbow and said, ¡°Xuxu, you guys go ahead. I¡¯ll walk around.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu nodded. Teacher Li suddenly looked at Yan Rusheng and flashed a mysterious smile. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I have something to give you before you leave.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored the person who called him and his eyes brightened when he heard her words. ¡°I still have special benefits?¡± ¡°Just you wait. It definitely is.¡± Teacher Li turned around, her mysterious smile still plastered onto her face. Xuxu frowned and mumbled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Teacher have a gift for me?¡± Yan Rusheng was smug. ¡°I thought you were very well-behaved?¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°Quit your attitude.¡± She then headed towards the banquet hall. She was curious about what Teacher Li wanted to give him. Wasn¡¯t it strange? They haven¡¯t seen Teacher Li in more than a decade. Why did she have a gift for Yan Rusheng the moment they met, as though she had prepared it long ago? She had a hunch that that gift had something to do with her. But couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. Yan Rusheng followed after her. ¡°Everyone loved you when you were young. Now I¡¯m just receiving a little love from Teacher Li and yet you¡¯re jealous?¡± He tried to grab her hand but she pulled away fast enough. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± Yan Rusheng chased after Xuxu in the crowd, and they were enjoying themselves. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Suddenly, someone called her. It was a familiar male voice which made Xuxu and Yan Rusheng frown. But Xuxu smiled immediately after. She turned in the direction of the voice and greeted, ¡°Zhao Zheng.¡± He was wearing a dark gray checkered tuxedo, his hands tucked into his pockets. The gold-rimmed spectacles on his nose bridge made him look learned and refined. He strolled towards them. Yan Rusheng immediately wrapped his waist around Xuxu. He puffed out his chest as he looked at Zhao Zheng. He smirked wickedly and said, ¡°Zhao Zheng, it¡¯s been long.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng.¡± Zhao Zheng nodded back at him, but his gaze didn¡¯t linger on him. He immediately looked at Xuxu and asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t bring the children today?¡± His gaze was heated with longing. A longing he couldn¡¯t control or hide. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darkened. He took a step in front of Xuxu, blocking her from his sight completely. He was slightly taller than Zhao Zheng, so he tilted his head down slightly to look at him, giving him a sense of superiority. ¡°Zhao Zheng, I heard that you got divorced not too long ago. Why didn¡¯t you tell all of us?¡± Zhao Zheng¡¯s expression faltered. Only a few people knew about his divorce. Yan Rusheng observed his reaction and smiled lightly. ¡°If I had known, I would¡¯ve held a reception to congratulate your returning to singlehood.¡± His statement had Xuxu dumbfounded. Zhao Zheng¡¯s embarrassment turned into anger. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what do you mean by that?¡± Chapter 1443. Shotgun Marriage (part Fourteen) Yan Rusheng blinked, a face of gentleness. ¡°I have no other meaning. I¡¯m congratulating you from the bottom of my heart. With singlehood comes freedom.¡± Zhao Zheng snorted. ¡°So you¡¯re wishing to return to singlehood as well?¡± He glanced at Xuxu, who stood behind Yan Rusheng, and clenched his fists. Yan Rusheng¡¯s smile turned cold. His voice was cold as he said, ¡°Zhao Zheng, are we on the same level?¡± His disdain was clear as day. Xuxu didn¡¯t dare¡ªshe was too embarrassed¡ªto look at Zhao Zheng. It was too awkward. Zhao Zheng couldn¡¯t maintain his cool when Yan Rusheng ridiculed him. Frustrated, he glanced at Xuxu before looking at Yan Rusheng¡¯s smug and arrogant expression. He spurted, ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you think you¡¯re a big shot just because you¡¯re filthy rich?¡± Xuxu was speechless. That statement was far from ridicule and contempt. Yan Rusheng would surely reply with ¡®Yes, I do indeed.¡¯ Xuxu was thinking about it when Yan Rusheng suddenly replied, ¡°Yes, I think so.¡± He nodded lightly before looking at Zhao Zheng, a face full of sarcasm. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know that the ground you¡¯re standing on, and everything you¡¯ll be eating and drinking here today, I sponsored it?¡± It startled Xuxu to hear that. She scanned the entire area. Did he sponsor all this? This fellow didn¡¯t tell her before! She sneaked a glance at Zhao Zheng. Does the fellow feel like burying himself in the ground? If this were a long time ago, she would¡¯ve thought that Yan Rusheng had crossed the line. But after this happened time and time again, Zhao Zheng managed to irritate her. He already had a wife, and Xuxu was married as well, yet he kept trying to show concern for her that went beyond the friendship level. Just this alone was sufficient reason to loathe him. Zhao Zheng clenched his fists at having his dignity trampled on in front of Xuxu. His nails dug into his flesh as he gritted his teeth, glaring at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, one must stay humble.¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Zhao Zheng, one must know where they stand.¡± He then grabbed Xuxu¡¯s hand as they prepared to leave. ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯re early today.¡± A lazy voice sounded from the entrance. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng looked over simultaneously. Lu Yinan, Ming Ansheng, as well as the other pampered playboys were there. Yan Rusheng ignored Zhao Zheng, holding Xuxu¡¯s hand as they walked up to greet them. ¡°Why are you here instead of keeping your pregnant hooligan company at home?¡± Lu Yinan frowned. ¡°Only because she wanted to come.¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Shuang is here?¡± She let go of Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand and walked to the entrance. A few familiar figures entered her vision. The person standing in front of her was a pregnant woman who waddled like a penguin. ¡°Shuang.¡± Xuxu smiled and quickened her pace to greet her. Su Yue was with Zhou Shuang. She attentively held her elbow as she helped her around. Bai Jing was standing beside her as well. Xuxu greeted Zhou Shuang before looking at Bai Jing with a smile. ¡°Bai Jing, you¡¯re here too.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°Bai Jing was bored at home, so I dragged her with me.¡± Chapter 1444. Shotgun Marriage (part Fifteen) Xuxu affectionately patted her head. ¡°You¡¯re the clingiest.¡± Su Yue stuck her tongue out at her and let go of Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm. She grabbed Bai Jing and said, ¡°Bai Jing, let¡¯s go in quickly. There seem to be many people.¡± Xuxu¡¯s gaze shifted to Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly. She rubbed it and commented, ¡°Your stomach is getting bigger by the day. It already seems larger since I saw you two days ago.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s belly was larger than Xuxu¡¯s when she was about to give birth to Meowmeow and Yangyang. It was hard to imagine how huge her tummy would be in two more months. Zhou Shuang frowned. She pouted and said, ¡°I have to eat so much every day. I¡¯m so fat now.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it good that you get to eat?¡± She imagined that Zhou Shuang¡¯s current lifestyle was worse than a panda¡¯s. ¡°How is that good?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°The more I eat, the fatter I get. My back hurts from just standing around doing nothing.¡± She pounded at her back depressingly. Every day, it troubled her how she was going to lose weight in the future. Many women return to their original figures after pregnancy. Would she be one of them¡­? Xuxu frowned. ¡°Then don¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to either.¡± Zhou Shuang sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t know how his grandfather stares at me as I eat every day.¡± His statement had Xuxu dumbfounded. It seems like all old people are desperate to have grandchildren. Back then, Mu Li also forced her to eat all kinds of food, but not to the extent that she stared at her as she ate. Both of them walked into the banquet hall. From afar, Xuxu saw Lu Yinan happily chatting with the rest. She stared for a while longer, as though she was observing him. Then she turned to Zhou Shuang with a look of interest. ¡°So how is it?¡± Her sudden question confused Zhou Shuang. ¡°How was what?¡± Xuxu raised her eyebrow. ¡°How was it like to stay with the Lu¡¯s?¡± Zhou Shuang pursed her lips. ¡°It seems dangerous and complicated.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t understand. ¡°How is it dangerous and complicated?¡± Although she didn¡¯t go to the Lu¡¯s often and she didn¡¯t know their family well, she understood Old Master Lu quite well. He was an honest, frank, and cheerful man. The last time they met, she could tell that he was very pleased with Zhou Shuang, not just because of the kids in her belly. Logically speaking, Zhou Shuang should have been pampered there. ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling. Lu Yinan¡¯s sisters don¡¯t seem to like me.¡± Zhou Shuang looked depressed. Xuxu frowned. ¡°Yishan is quite nice.¡± Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°Lu Yishan is fine, but his older sister and his cousins from abroad doesn¡¯t seem to like me.¡± Other than Old Master Lu, Xuxu only knew Lu Yishan. She didn¡¯t know the other members of the family at all. So, she couldn¡¯t judge the situation. She hugged Zhou Shuang¡¯s elbow and smiled. She comforted, ¡°Old Master Lu is the emperor and Lu Yinan is the heir to the throne. As long as the two of them like you, you don¡¯t have to care about the rest.¡± She felt that Zhou Shuang already felt aggrieved to have to stay with the Lu¡¯s when she had no official status. There was no need to appease all of them. Zhou Shuang bowed her head and mumbled, ¡°He doesn¡¯t like me.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Xuxu suddenly laughed. She stared at Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. ¡°Shuang, you¡¯re blushing.¡± I think Shang is starting to like Lu Yinan ????!!! How long would the young masters will know Of MA and SY relationship? Hope everything will be fine¡­ Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not blushing!¡± She bent her head and unconsciously touched her cheeks. Indeed, it was quite warm. Xuxu glanced at Lu Yinan, who stood a distance away. She inched closer to Xuxu and said in a hushed voice, ¡°Have you fallen for Lu Yinan?¡± Zhou Shuang denied in a heartbeat and quipped, ¡°No way! Don¡¯t spew nonsense.¡± Her face became redder and she hung her head again. She stole furtive glances at Lu Yinan. He was clad in a jewel-blue blazer with a white shirt that day. His outfit screamed elegance and nobility from head to toe. Especially his gold-rimmed spectacles, which made him look gentle and refined. Zhao Zheng, who was standing nearby, was wearing a pair of similar spectacles, but there was no way he could compare to him. Xuxu quipped. ¡°Lu Yinan is a very attractive man.¡± Zhou Shuang sneered coldly at her comment. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you fall in love with him?¡± Xuxu frowned in exasperation at the woman beside her. ¡°You are lucky that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t hear this. Both of you will start bickering right away if he did.¡± Zhou Shuang cheekily stuck out her tongue. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re rather defensive of him even if he has a mean tongue.¡± Xuxu raised her chin smugly. ¡°He is attractive that way, alright?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you still have any sense of shame?¡± Zhou Shuang grinned as she caressed her cheeks. ¡°Did Yan Rusheng influence you so much?¡± ¡°Go away.¡± Xuxu pushed her hand away. Both of them strode slowly to the group of men. All of their gazes landed on Xuxu and Zhou Shuang as they approached. ¡°Wow. Looks like Zhou Shuang is giving birth soon?¡± One of them smiled as he stared at her enormous belly. He then threw a glance at Lu Yinan. ¡°Sissy Lu is becoming a father!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s face fell. ¡°Scram!¡± He was used to Zhou Shuang calling him as Sissy Lu, but he couldn¡¯t tolerate others calling him that. Although Zhou Shuang was bashful, she kept her pride and raised her chin high. ¡°Continue being jealous and envious.¡± ¡°Looks like both of you are getting pretty intimate.¡± They started a ruckus. Zhou Shuang frowned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so annoying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m genuinely curious. Are both of you sharing a bed?¡± Ming Ansheng, who rarely joined in the gossip, suddenly interjected. Zhou Shuang instantly turned as red as a tomato. Xuxu glared at the men and chided, ¡°Where are all your moral values?¡± ¡°We have long abandoned it.¡± There was a long pause¡­ The group of friends began to chat and tease each other and it slowly made the atmosphere lively. Zhao Zheng seemed like an outsider who couldn¡¯t join in their conversation. Although he dressed smartly in a suit, he wasn¡¯t in the same league as them. His eyes gleamed with anger and malice at Yan Rusheng. He would make Yan Rusheng pay for all the humiliation he had suffered today and in the past. ¡°Why is everyone laughing so happily?¡± Su Yue brought Bai Jing around and they came back with drinks. Su Yue squeezed herself amidst the group as she asked them. Lu Yinan glanced at Su Yue with a grin. ¡°We are discussing some stuff inappropriate for girls of your age. Bring your friend somewhere else.¡± Su Yue snorted loudly at Lu Yinan before glancing at Ming Ansheng. ¡°I have fruit juice. Do you want to drink?¡± She stretched her hand towards Ming Ansheng. Someone immediately protested. ¡°Little lass, you only gave Ming Ansheng the drink. It¡¯s so unfair.¡± Chapter 1445. Shotgun Marriage (part Sixteen) Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not blushing!¡± She bent her head and unconsciously touched her cheeks. Indeed, it was quite warm. Xuxu glanced at Lu Yinan, who stood a distance away. She inched closer to Xuxu and said in a hushed voice, ¡°Have you fallen for Lu Yinan?¡± Zhou Shuang denied in a heartbeat and quipped, ¡°No way! Don¡¯t spew nonsense.¡± Her face became redder and she hung her head again. She stole furtive glances at Lu Yinan. He was clad in a jewel-blue blazer with a white shirt that day. His outfit screamed elegance and nobility from head to toe. Especially his gold-rimmed spectacles, which made him look gentle and refined. Zhao Zheng, who was standing nearby, was wearing a pair of similar spectacles, but there was no way he could compare to him. Xuxu quipped. ¡°Lu Yinan is a very attractive man.¡± Zhou Shuang sneered coldly at her comment. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you fall in love with him?¡± Xuxu frowned in exasperation at the woman beside her. ¡°You are lucky that Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t hear this. Both of you will start bickering right away if he did.¡± Zhou Shuang cheekily stuck out her tongue. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re rather defensive of him even if he has a mean tongue.¡± Xuxu raised her chin smugly. ¡°He is attractive that way, alright?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, do you still have any sense of shame?¡± Zhou Shuang grinned as she caressed her cheeks. ¡°Did Yan Rusheng influence you so much?¡± ¡°Go away.¡± Xuxu pushed her hand away. Both of them strode slowly to the group of men. All of their gazes landed on Xuxu and Zhou Shuang as they approached. ¡°Wow. Looks like Zhou Shuang is giving birth soon?¡± One of them smiled as he stared at her enormous belly. He then threw a glance at Lu Yinan. ¡°Sissy Lu is becoming a father!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s face fell. ¡°Scram!¡± He was used to Zhou Shuang calling him as Sissy Lu, but he couldn¡¯t tolerate others calling him that. Although Zhou Shuang was bashful, she kept her pride and raised her chin high. ¡°Continue being jealous and envious.¡± ¡°Looks like both of you are getting pretty intimate.¡± They started a ruckus. Zhou Shuang frowned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so annoying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m genuinely curious. Are both of you sharing a bed?¡± Ming Ansheng, who rarely joined in the gossip, suddenly interjected. Zhou Shuang instantly turned as red as a tomato. Xuxu glared at the men and chided, ¡°Where are all your moral values?¡± ¡°We have long abandoned it.¡± There was a long pause¡­ The group of friends began to chat and tease each other and it slowly made the atmosphere lively. Zhao Zheng seemed like an outsider who couldn¡¯t join in their conversation. Although he dressed smartly in a suit, he wasn¡¯t in the same league as them. His eyes gleamed with anger and malice at Yan Rusheng. He would make Yan Rusheng pay for all the humiliation he had suffered today and in the past. ¡°Why is everyone laughing so happily?¡± Su Yue brought Bai Jing around and they came back with drinks. Su Yue squeezed herself amidst the group as she asked them. Lu Yinan glanced at Su Yue with a grin. ¡°We are discussing some stuff inappropriate for girls of your age. Bring your friend somewhere else.¡± Su Yue snorted loudly at Lu Yinan before glancing at Ming Ansheng. ¡°I have fruit juice. Do you want to drink?¡± She stretched her hand towards Ming Ansheng. Someone immediately protested. ¡°Little lass, you only gave Ming Ansheng the drink. It¡¯s so unfair.¡± Chapter 1446. Shotgun Marriage (part Seventeen) ¡°Seems like Young Master Ming is really popular with the young ladies. The last time we went to a bar together, two really young ladies came to our table to hit on us. But their target was Young Master Ming, and I felt so upset.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Little girls are all infatuated with cold and aloof guys like Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng. Especially a man like Ming Ansheng who seems mature and dependable on the surface.¡± They didn¡¯t know that Ming Ansheng was dating Su Yue, and so they teased him relentlessly. Ming Ansheng¡¯s face was as black as charcoal as he clenched his fists inside his pockets. These fellows were smearing his reputation in front of his little Yueyue, and there was no way he could stop them at the moment. Su Yue snorted loudly and withdrew her outstretched hand. She passed the drink to Yan Rusheng instead. ¡°Third Brother, for you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Rusheng stretched his hand to receive the cup. He slyly smirked at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was speechless. He pressed his lips, looking helpless. Yan Rusheng took a sip of the juice. It was fresh fruit juice, but he didn¡¯t particularly like the taste. ¡°Little lass, this juice looks good. Can you go get another one and give me yours?¡± Lu Yinan glanced at Su Yue¡¯s hand and smiled. Zhou Shuang and he knew of their relationship, so he was doing it on purpose. Su Yue didn¡¯t even hesitate as she passed him the drink. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go get another glass.¡± Young Master Ming didn¡¯t even change his expression as he watched Su Yue passing the drinks to Young Master Ming and Lu Yinan. He felt awful. He had to warn all men that nothing was more important than a clean past. Once it was tainted, it would be permanent. And it would be worse if you have a group of evil friends. Su Yue turned around and was about to walk away and someone called her. ¡°Little lass, get us some, too.¡± The man¡¯s voice was loud. Ming Ansheng frowned as he cast a disdainful look at the man. He glanced at Su Yue, but the latter had already marched away. He could sense her jealousy and anger from afar. He was exasperated. ¡°I¡¯ll go get a drink.¡± He hastened his footsteps. ¡°Little lass, are you angry?¡± Ming Ansheng caught up with Su Yue and tried to move closer to her. But Su Yue moved away from him with every step he took. She coldly sneered. ¡°Why should I be?¡± She raised her chin and tried to appear unruffled. But she was obviously fuming. Ming Ansheng chuckled and explained, ¡°They are just joking, don¡¯t believe them.¡± He gently patted Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, be a good girl alright?¡± Su Yue dodged him and threw him a cold glance. ¡°You¡¯re so popular with the ladies, and this means you are very charming. I should be happy. Why should I be angry?¡± She turned her face away from him and haughtily raised her chin. ¡°And you¡¯re still denying it.¡± Ming Ansheng extended his arm as he tried to put it around her waist. But he couldn¡¯t quite bring himself to do it, as they were at a formal function. They hadn¡¯t declared their relationship to everyone. Even Yan Weiye and Yan Weihong were still kept in the dark. Su Yue ignored him and walked to the tables. She raised a glass to her mouth and took huge gulps. Ming Ansheng walked to her and smiled tenderly at her. ¡°Are you going back tonight?¡± ¡°I am.¡± Su Yue pushed Ming Ansheng. She then shifted herself to extend the distance between the two of them. Chapter 1447. Shotgun Marriage (part Eighteen) Ming Ansheng readied himself to follow her when Su Yue pointed at him. She sternly warned, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me. I don¡¯t want to talk to you right now.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Ming Ansheng surveyed his surroundings to check if anyone was looking at them. He took a step closer to Su Yue before wrapping his arm around her waist. ¡°They merely conjured a lie and you exploded in jealousy.¡± He bent his head and gave a swift peck on her lips. He smacked his lips as though he was thoroughly savoring the taste. He looked so irresistible and seductive at that moment. A flush rose from Su Yue¡¯s neck to her cheeks. She suddenly stomped heavily on Ming Ansheng¡¯s foot. ¡°You¡¯re a flirt! You don¡¯t even remember how many women you have slept with before.¡± She raised her head and glared at him. ¡± Hmph! There might be a woman coming to look for you with a baby in the future.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°What nonsense.¡± It was getting out of hand. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were welling up with tears. ¡°If I knew how much of a flirt you were in the past, I wouldn¡¯t have fallen for you.¡± Ming Ansheng got anxious when he realized that she wasn¡¯t just throwing a tantrum. He tightened his grip on her waist. ¡°You can check with your third brother and third sister-in-law if I was really a flirt.¡± Meiduo was the only one he had ever officially dated. But how should he explain to her? He had assumed that he wouldn¡¯t fall in love with anyone again and that he would simply end up marrying a woman like Tang Feiling. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows, looking indignant. ¡°There wouldn¡¯t be a smoke without a fire. Why do they always accuse you and not Lu Yinan or anyone else?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Ming Ansheng pressed his lips and was at a loss for words. No matter how hard he tried to explain, she would still be angry. He should let her vent all her anger. After all, she had given her precious first time to him but he had such a ¡®glorious¡¯ past¡­ he deserved it! They fell silent for some time before Su Yue asked, ¡°Who did you date when you were 17?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned and replied, ¡°Darling, shall we not bring up the past.¡± It was such a long time ago¡­ He really had an urge to stab Lu Yinan right now. For he had completely revealed all his secrets and past! ¡°I just want to know who. Is she prettier than me?¡± Su Yue softly spoke and hung her head. She knew that she was being unreasonable for trying to dig up his past. But she couldn¡¯t suppress that jealousy whenever she thought of it. In a hushed voice, Ming Ansheng whispered, ¡°In my eyes, you are the most beautiful.¡± ¡°How about Sister Meiduo?¡± Su Yue raised her head to gaze at Ming Ansheng. She really felt that Sister Meiduo was such a wonderful person. Although they had only met once, she trusted her instincts. Meiduo¡­ Ming Ansheng gazed at Su Yue, looking dumbstruck. Meiduo was such a fine woman; it¡¯s just that they didn¡¯t end up together. His relationship with Meiduo had met with the same obstacles as his relationship with Su Yue, but he chose to give up on Meiduo. It didn¡¯t cross his mind that he should fight for her. It was entirely different from Su Yue. He had etched at the recess of his mind Su Yue¡¯s every smile and frown. He felt that the world would come crashing down if she wasn¡¯t by his side. He was so crazy in love with her that he was willing to give up everything he had. He even wanted to go back on his promise to his grandmother. Logically, he should be more rash and irrational at the age when he got together with Meiduo. But he didn¡¯t feel that way at all. Chapter 1448. Shotgun Marriage (part Nineteen) Ming Ansheng fell silent, lost in his train of thoughts. Su Yue curled her lips into a smile. ¡°I know. You love chasing after young and innocent girls.¡± She passed the drink to Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng looked at Su Yue with a bewildered expression. She had a bright smile on her pretty face and it lit up his entire world. He received the glass. ¡°Yeah, but I only have eyes for you.¡± Su Yue smiled before bowing her head. Her smile seemed rather bitter. No matter how nice and gentle he was to her, she couldn¡¯t forget the fact that he had once loved Meiduo. Meiduo had occupied a place in his heart in the past. Although she might not be as important as her. ¡®Meiduo is better than you in another aspect¡­¡¯ Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s taunts rang in Su Yue¡¯s ears once more. It made her uneasy and worried. What did that old man mean by that? Was he simply scaring her off by spinning lies? He should try to make her give up on her own accord. Ming Ansheng was also in a deep reverie as both of them stood in silence. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s voice jolted her back to reality as she approached them. Su Yue smiled at her. ¡°You must be bored.¡± Bai Jing slightly shook her head. ¡°Nope.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Actually, this event is boring and wasn¡¯t as fun as I¡¯ve imagined.¡± All these people were much older than her, and she couldn¡¯t understand any of their conversations. Bai Jing grinned. ¡°Most are professors, so naturally, they would discuss academic stuff.¡± She turned towards Ming Ansheng and nodded. Ming Ansheng nodded as well. Su Yue pouted and grumbled, ¡°But I can¡¯t understand and I don¡¯t wish to.¡± She wasn¡¯t used to putting up a false pretense especially to people or topics she was uninterested in. Ming Ansheng knew that she had suffered in silence because of him. His heart was aching every time he was reminded of the tea leaves he found on the floor in his apartment. All he wanted was to protect her and shelter her from harm. But things didn¡¯t go his way. Su Yue raised her head and looked at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming, what time are you leaving?¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at his watch before replying, ¡°I reckon it will still take a while. I have to give out a speech later.¡± It surprised Su Yue. ¡°You have a speech later.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and replied, ¡°The principal invited me, so I had to.¡± He was a brilliant young businessman. He was indeed born in a wealthy family. Besides that, he also achieved outstanding results in school as well. It was Yizhong¡¯s 100th anniversary, so how could they miss out on such an important representative from their alumni? Su Yue looked curious as she asked, ¡°What is your topic?¡± An enigmatic smile formed on Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips. ¡°You¡¯ll know later.¡± He paused before continuing. ¡°Your third brother is giving a speech too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I aware?¡± Third sister-in-law mentioned nothing to her. Ming Ansheng chuckled. ¡°Then continue pretending you didn¡¯t know.¡± Bai Jing¡¯s presence was overlooked. Ming Ansheng fixed his eyes on Su Yue as though his entire world revolved around her. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes blazed with jealousy. ¡°Let¡¯s go look for them.¡± Ming Ansheng gestured at Yan Rusheng and the rest. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She then grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 1449. Shotgun Marriage (part Twenty) ¡­ It was the school¡¯s 100th anniversary, so the school arranged for the top three students in each class to attend as representatives. Teachers, students, and guests filled the rows. The host was doing a wonderful job as well. Xuxu, Su Yue, and Bai Jing sat together in a row. Yan Rusheng informed Xuxu that he had something to settle first. But half an hour later, he still wasn¡¯t back. Xuxu peered around the venue, looking for him. ¡°I¡¯m sure all the teachers and students are familiar with our next esteemed guest. He is the President of Flourish & Prosper and he too graduated from Yizhong.¡± The host loudly announced the arrival of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President. Xuxu glanced at the stage in shock. ¡°Let us applaud to warmly welcome President Yan Rusheng from Flourish & Prosper.¡± Applause thundered and echoed around before Xuxu could react. The gorgeous man, dressed smartly in a suit, strode across the stage towards the host. The host bowed and gestured at the microphone stand. ¡°President Yan.¡± He gracefully walked to the microphone stand. He began to speak with a faint smile playing on his lips. ¡°The principal insisted that I had to give a speech. I only have a few words. I would like to thank Yizhong, and I would like to thank Teacher Li for organizing a summer camp for our class.¡± He paused as his eyes darted to a specific woman in the crowd. The woman looked surprised¡­ and she seemed touched at the same time. A tender smile played at the corners of his mouth. ¡°And lastly, Xuxu, thank you for accompanying me through my childhood.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded curtly at the crowd. After that, he left the stage. It had everyone dumbfounded. The speech¡­ was way too brief. The principal and teachers were all silently protesting. He should have thanked his teachers in his speech and made some touching comments. But all he did was to mention his childhood sweetheart on stage. Other than Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, no one else knew why Yan Rusheng had thanked Teacher Li for organizing the summer camp for the class. Yan Rusheng strode towards Xuxu and stood before her. He bent and kissed her tenderly on her forehead. He then glanced at Su Yue, but she didn¡¯t intend to give up his seat at all since Ming Ansheng was sitting beside her. He glanced at Bai Jing instead. Bai Jing understood and rose. ¡°Third Brother, you can have my seat.¡± There was an empty seat behind her, so Bai Jing occupied it instead. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± One seat away was Zhao Zheng. He craned his neck to look at Bai Jing with a smile. Bai Jing glanced at him with a cold look, but she didn¡¯t respond. Yan Rusheng sat down next to Xuxu and turned to face her. Xuxu said in a hushed whisper, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were giving a speech?¡± Yan Rusheng flashed a charming smile at her. ¡°I wanted to give you a surprise.¡± ¡°So annoying,¡± whispered Xuxu as she pinched Yan Rusheng¡¯s bicep. Yan Rusheng intercepted her hand and tightened his grip on her hand. Both of their hands intertwined tightly as they gazed at the stage once more. The place holds so many wonderful memories. Bai Jing stared at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu, a bit envious. ¡®Don¡¯t you want to have him¡­¡¯ Zhao Zheng¡¯s words invoked her desire once more. Ming Ansheng had just answered a call and he said to Su Yue, ¡°Something cropped up and I need to leave now.¡± Chapter 1450. Go As Far As You Can (part One) Ming Ansheng seemed to be in a hurry. Su Yue frowned and she looked worried. ¡°I thought you have a speech later?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just cancel it.¡± Ming Ansheng gently patted Su Yue¡¯s shoulders before rising. His actions revealed how frantic and anxious he was. Su Yue got anxious too as she rose. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Something happened to the old man. But you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Ming Ansheng flashed a fleeting smile at Su Yue. ¡°If there is nothing serious with him, I¡¯ll pick you up later.¡± He had an urge to kiss Su Yue, seeing how worried she was. But too many pairs of eyes were watching them, so he extinguished that thought instead. Ming Ansheng left hastily and Su Yue¡¯s gaze followed him until he vanished out of her sight. Her heart was pounding furiously. What happened? Did something bad happen to his grandfather? Su Yue¡¯s thoughts began to run wild when Xuxu¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡°Yueyue, why did Ming Ansheng leave? He looks like he is in a hurry. What happened?¡± She too glanced at the exit as she asked Su Yue. Su Yue tore her eyes away from the exit and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure but I think it involves his grandfather.¡± She sat quietly in a daze throughout the ceremony. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu walked ahead of them with Su Yue trailing behind. ¡°Senior Yan, can we take a photo with you?¡± A knot of girls scurried towards Yan Rusheng, all clamoring for a photo with him. They gazed at Yan Rusheng, looking enamored by his good-looking face. Their eyes were shining with excitement and emotions. They had totally ignored Xuxu who was beside Yan Rusheng. These girls were probably around 15 years old and were so innocent looking. Xuxu helplessly smiled. Yan Rusheng shrugged and pointed at Xuxu. He grinned as he said, ¡°Ask the senior¡¯s wife.¡± Senior¡¯s wife? What the heck? Xuxu was speechless as she frowned. This guy could really conjure such a random term. It sounded so funny! But why was he being exceedingly sweet and affectionate today? He didn¡¯t outrightly reject these girls and broke their fragile hearts. Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng and saw how relaxed he looked. His eyes seemed to twinkle and he was in a good mood. ¡°Senior¡¯s wife, can we?!¡± The young girls turned to badger Xuxu instead. So the term ¡®senior¡¯s wife¡¯ got coined on that day. Pairs of innocent-looking eyes were peering at her and she really couldn¡¯t decline. Xuxu shook her head with a smile. ¡°Do as you please.¡± She stepped back and stood together with Bai Jing and Su Yue. The girls instantly swarmed around Yan Rusheng as they pushed each other. Su Yue frowned in disapproval. ¡°Third sister-in-law, why did you allow them to take a photo with Third Brother?¡± Some girls were even touching Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms. Xuxu casually replied, ¡°They are just children.¡± They had merely idolized Yan Rusheng like a celebrity. Bai Jing gazed at Yan Rusheng, who stood there, towering over the girls. How she wished she could join the girls for a photo, too. At least she would be in a photo with him. The girls snapped away for quite some time before they had enough. ¡°Thank you, Senior Yan,¡± they politely thanked. Yan Rusheng merely pressed his lips and a smug smile appeared on his face. Chapter 1451. Go As Far As You Can (part Two) Yan Rusheng was about to turn towards Xuxu when a girl enviously remarked, ¡°Senior Yan, you and your wife look so perfect and compatible. Especially the beautiful meaning behind your names.¡± A satisfied smiled flitted across Yan Rusheng¡¯s face and he glanced back at the girl. With an approving nod, he praised her. ¡°You have a bright future.¡± The girl looked as though Cupid had struck her with its arrow. She instantly blushed crimson and looked visibly emotional. All the girls were staring enviously at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at Xuxu. Xuxu smiled and strolled towards him before putting her arm around his. She then waved with a warm smile at the knot of girls. ¡°Goodbye, students.¡± Xuxu was elegant and refined, and she seemed unassuming too. She won the hearts of the little girls with no effort at all. ¡°She is so much better than those stuck up and bad-tempered celebrities and wealthy ladies.¡± ¡°Exactly! Only a gentle and refined woman like her is worthy of our Senior Yan.¡± There was a long pause¡­ Xuxu blushed when she heard the compliments. ¡°They said you¡¯re worthy of me,¡± Yan Rusheng whispered alluringly as he inched nearer to Xuxu¡¯s ear. It roused her senses and she had an insane urge to embrace him right away. She halted in her footsteps and glared at Yan Rusheng instead. ¡°Why are you so smug?¡± She hastened her footsteps. Yan Rusheng strode quickly after her. Su Yue and Bai Jing were both gazing at them enviously. Su Yue¡¯s intentions were pure. All she was thinking of was when could she hold hands and act intimately with Uncle Ming. Other than envy, jealousy consumed Bai Jing. She was really jealous of Xuxu. She was clear that Wen Xuxu was an intelligent woman, but she was way too arrogant to declare that only she was worthy of a capable man like Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng caught up with Xuxu and wrapped his arms around her waist. Xuxu¡¯s tinkling laughter traveled to her ears. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes were blazing with fire as she watched them. How would it feel if she was to be embraced by a man like him? It felt wonderful just to visualize¡­ ¡®Don¡¯t you wish to have a man like Yan Rusheng¡­¡¯ Zhao Zheng¡¯s voice crept into her ears once more, and it seemed to egg her on. There was a dinner at night. The Education Minister and Yizhong¡¯s management were invited along with Yan Rusheng and Lu Yinan. Yan Rusheng fully sponsored all the expenses. They held the dinner at a three-star hotel near Yizhong as the management insisted on not splurging on a lavish dinner. They were in a private room with two tables. Everyone was engaged in conversations. Drinking was inevitable. Yan Rusheng¡¯s talent and brains had attracted plenty to flock to him the entire night. Although he took small sips during each toast, there were far too many. Eventually, a flush crept up his good-looking face and he became tipsy. ¡°Yan Rusheng, let¡¯s drink together.¡± Suddenly, Zhao Zheng walked from his table towards Yan Rusheng. There was a good deal of management staff at his table, and it worried Xuxu that he might humiliate Zhao Zheng. And she was exasperated with Zhao Zheng. He had been so determined to approach Yan Rusheng that she suspected that his brain was malfunctioning. With a hand in his pocket and the other holding a wine glass, he peered at Yan Rusheng with a smirk. Chapter 1452. Go As Far As You Can (part Three) Yan Rusheng glanced at him as he pressed his lips. A mysterious smile played at the corners of his mouth. Everyone at the table looked at him. Xuxu was getting anxious and she prodded Yan Rusheng¡¯s thigh to remind him that they were at an official event. Yan Rusheng nodded at Zhao Zheng. ¡°Sure.¡± He raised his glass towards Zhao Zheng. Zhao Sheng stood while Yan Rusheng settled himself comfortably against his chair. He appeared haughty from the way he glanced at Zhao Zheng. But this made Xuxu heave a sigh of relief. Teacher Zhao was present too, and he was really nice to her. She had to consider his feelings, too. Zhao Zheng smiled and raised his glass to toast Yan Rusheng. Their glasses chinked, making a pleasant sound. When he shared a toast with Yan Rusheng, he deliberately placed his glass higher. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu were observant people and they noticed it. Both grinned in amusement. Bai Jing, who was sitting beside Su Yue, was on tenterhooks as she watched Yan Rusheng and Zhao Zheng toasting each other. She clenched her fists under the table. She was really nervous. Yan Rusheng¡¯s slightly flushed face, his sparkling eyes, his gorgeous-looking face, were all making her heart thump. Her heart would seem to leap out of her chest at any moment. Who wouldn¡¯t want a man like him? Bai Jing¡¯s eyes landed on Zhao Zheng as she waited in anticipation. Zhao Zheng stole a glance at Bai Jing and a malicious gleam flashed across his eyes. He didn¡¯t hesitate and instead gulped down the entire glass. He didn¡¯t want to waste time on Zhao Zheng, so Yan Rusheng planned to finish his entire glass too. If he merely took a sip, Zhao Zheng would seize this opportunity and make an issue. He knew that Xuxu respected all the teachers inside the room, especially that some of them had been very nice to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Why is there a blackout?¡± Yan Rusheng was about to drink when darkness enveloped the room. When the lights went off, the room went pitch-dark. A slight commotion began in the room since everyone was in a panic. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Xuxu instinctively stretched her hand to grab Yan Rusheng. Before Yan Rusheng could respond, the lights came back once more. All the faces in the room still appeared to be either frightened or shocked. Amidst the whispers, they heard knocking sounds. The hotel manager walked in with an apologetic expression as he bowed to everyone. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry. Our electrical wires had a slight malfunction and it caused inconvenience to everyone. My apologies once more.¡± He was trying to convey that it was an accident. Nobody made a fuss and everyone sat down once more. They continued to eat, drink, and chat. Yan Rusheng was still clutching Xuxu¡¯s wrist. When it went dark earlier on, he placed his wineglass on the table instantly. Zhao Zheng was still standing beside him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you haven¡¯t finished your drink¡­¡± Yan Rusheng immediately gulped down the entire glass before putting it down. He didn¡¯t even throw a glance at Zhao Zheng. Zhao Zheng smirked when he saw Yan Rusheng finished the entire glass. He said nothing and turned around, after which he stole a furtive glance at Bai Jing. Chapter 1453. Go As Far As You Can (part Four) Bai Jing, who was still gazing at Yan Rusheng, withdrew her gaze immediately when she saw Zhao Zheng glancing at her to avoid meeting his eyes. Everyone began toasting at the tables. Some teachers and students hugged each other with tears in the eyes at this rare reunion. ¡°To think that our class of forty had two couples getting together.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought, too. And these two couples were so unexpected that it didn¡¯t cross our minds at all!¡± Nearing the end of the dinner, several teachers glanced at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng as they reminisced about the past. Xuxu was quietly sitting listening to the teachers. Their words seemed to have transported her back in time. Those cherished and youthful memories were as gentle and warm as a gust of spring wind. She became bashful and blushed. Suddenly, the man beside her clenched her hand tightly. His palm was warm and soft, and because of it her heart softened. She responded and intertwined her fingers with his. ¡°I was really shocked to know that Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan were a couple.¡± They turned their attention to Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang blushed too and she grinned. ¡°Ours were merely an accident. It¡¯s different, really different,¡± said Zhou Shuang softly. She waved her hands to dismiss their comments. Lu Yinan chuckled when he saw her silly expression. One teacher quipped, ¡°This accident resulted in triplets. It¡¯s a beautiful accident!¡± Zhou Shuang quietly bowed her head. ¡°But Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were the ones who really surprised me. They loathed each other so much, especially Yan Rusheng with Xuxu. He really hated her.¡± They diverted their attention back to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng once more. Another teacher sitting a seat apart from Xuxu smiled and quipped, ¡°That was because all of you were too slow. I already sensed that they would be together in the future.¡± Teacher Li glanced at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, and she beamed brightly at them. She was truly overjoyed. Teacher Li already knew that they would be together? It startled Xuxu, and she stared at Teacher Li. Her smile seemed a little thought-provoking. Did she do something accidentally that revealed her love for Yan Rusheng? ¡®I have a present for you¡­¡¯ Teacher Li said that she had a present to give to Yan Rusheng, and she had a hunch that it had something to do with her. Yan Rusheng felt irritated when the teachers kept harping on the fact that Xuxu and he seemed nearly impossible. Finally, Teacher Li said something that made his frown disappear a little. He managed a feeble smile at Teacher Li. ¡°Teacher Li, you have great foresight.¡± Teacher Li smiled mysteriously and said, ¡°I have an interesting present for you. Do you want it?¡± She threw a meaningful glance at Xuxu. Everyone¡¯s curiosity was piqued. Yan Rusheng smiled and answered, ¡°That goes without a question.¡± He too suspected that the present was related to Wen Xuxu. So how could he not have it? He was desperate and couldn¡¯t wait to lay hands on it! Xuxu was equally anxious too. What was it? She really had no inkling. Teacher Li smiled and drawled, ¡°What do you intend to give me in exchange?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Anything you want.¡± Teacher Li replied, ¡°I want to have a wedding toast.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled politely. ¡°We are looking for a witness at our wedding. Teacher Li, you are the perfect person.¡± Chapter 1454. Go As Far As You Can (part Five) Teacher Li shook her head to decline his offer. ¡°I am not worthy enough to be the wedding witness. It was merely just a hunch that both of you would be a couple, and I only had the opportunity to meet both of you today. I just want to be a guest at your wedding.¡± ¡°Who else other than you is worthy to be our witness?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s words cemented Teacher Li¡¯s status in their hearts. Getting his hands on the present wasn¡¯t the entire reason he had offered Teacher Li to be their witness. He had been searching for a suitable one recently. But no one was satisfactory. However, when he saw Teacher Li today, his eyes lit up. Who else could be more suitable than Xuxu and his class teacher? ¡°Teacher Li, don¡¯t decline anymore.¡± ¡°Yeah! You are their class teacher, and you¡¯re definitely worthy and suitable.¡± All the other teachers began to encourage her. Teacher Li glanced at Xuxu. Xuxu pressed her lips and winked at Teacher Li. She smiled and said, ¡°Then I shall accept it graciously.¡± She bent and opened her handbag to retrieve a pink envelope. With a benign smile, she passed it to Yan Rusheng. ¡°This is my present for you. Remember to open it when no one is around,¡± said Teacher Li as she stole a glance at Xuxu. Xuxu had an urge to intercept that envelope when she was passing it to Yan Rusheng. But she wasn¡¯t as daring as Zhou Shuang, so she could only sit there and watch them with her heart in her mouth. Yan Rusheng nodded as he received it. ¡°Thank you, Teacher Li.¡± How he wished he could tear the envelope right then. But Teacher Li had reminded him to open it when he was alone. He hesitated before standing up. ¡°I need the gents.¡± He had drunk a considerable amount tonight and he needed the gents. When he stood up, giddiness seized him and he almost lost his footing. Fortunately, he managed to hold on to the table for support. Xuxu hastily stood up and grabbed his arm. ¡°Ah Sheng, what¡¯s wrong? Are you drunk?¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He gently pushed Xuxu¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the gents. Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re not allowed to follow me.¡± Xuxu snorted coldly. ¡± Hmph! I thought you were drunk, so I wanted to support you. Who wants to take a peek at your present!¡± Xuxu sat down in a huff and turned her face away from Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng grinned before walking to the exit. He really drank too much that night. He felt that his head was getting heavier as he stumbled clumsily out of the room. Xuxu sneaked a glance at Yan Rusheng. She really wanted to follow him but she couldn¡¯t. Yan Rusheng came out of the cubicle and walked to the basin. He leaned against the basin as he excitedly tore the envelope. An aged-looking paper with a drawing was inside. He was feeling really giddy that he was already seeing double. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­¡± Yan Rusheng mumbled when he saw the words on the paper. Ah Sheng¡­ wasn¡¯t that him? He beamed widely and he was delighted. He shook his head in a bid to clear his mind. There were two children in the drawing: a girl and a boy. Yan Rusheng was grinning from ear to ear as he bent to sniff the paper. ¡°Xuxu.¡± That drawing was hypnotizing him like a drug and he couldn¡¯t resist it. He closed his eyes and Xuxu¡¯s face filled his mind. Her smile, her tears, her anger, her gentleness¡­ Chapter 1455. Go As Far As You Can (part Six) Yan Rusheng raised his head and smiled like a fool. ¡°Third brother.¡± A soft voice belonging to a woman sounded. Yan Rusheng squinted his eyes to peer at the woman. He couldn¡¯t distinguish who she was, as her features were blurry. ¡°Is that Yueyue?¡± This person called him Third Brother, and the first person he thought of was Su Yue. His brain was out of his control and he seemed to have lost all consciousness. He extended his hand and held on to the girl¡¯s shoulders. His body was swaying as he asked, ¡°Where is your third sister-in-law?¡± The girl bowed her head to hide her face from view. Her body and voice were both trembling badly. ¡°You¡­ are you drunk?¡± ¡°Xuxu.¡± The man lunged forward and the girl was shocked. She stretched her hands wide apart to catch him, looking scared and helpless. Her eyes quickly darted around while her hands found their way around the man¡¯s waist. She bit her lips and swallowed her saliva. Her eyes were blazing with desire. Yan Rusheng was still constantly mumbling his beloved sweetheart¡¯s name; Xuxu. ¡°I love you, I love you¡­¡± Bai Jing froze as she sank into this moment of bliss. Before she could react, the man¡¯s gentle voice sounded. ¡°I love you, Wen Xuxu. You stupid woman.¡± He wasn¡¯t saying that to her. He wasn¡¯t saying that to her. Raging jealousy consumed Bai Jing¡¯s heart, and she clutched Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms tightly. ¡°You drank too much. I¡¯ll send you back.¡± Yan Rusheng leaned against Bai Jing entirely as though he had turned soft. She led him out slowly. He had lost all consciousness. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes surveyed the surroundings nervously, and she was drenched in cold sweat. She supported Yan Rusheng and led him around a corner when suddenly a man appeared. Her heart almost stopped. The man stared at her with a crafty smile. Instinctively, Bai Jing relinquished her grip on Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng slumped against the wall as a result. But the next moment, Bai Jing stretched her hands to prevent him from falling down. ¡°Professor Zhao, help me out.¡± She grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms as she tried to keep a distance from him. She glanced at the man who was still craftily grinning. Zhao Zheng adjusted his spectacles and smiled at Bai Jing. ¡°Bring him away and you don¡¯t have to worry. There are no surveillance cameras here.¡± Bai Jing instinctively raised her head to look at the ceiling, and she spotted one. Zhao Zheng quipped, ¡°It¡¯s not working.¡± Bai Jing heaved a sigh of relief, and she looked at him. ¡°Professor Zhao, you should help him.¡± Zhao Zheng smirked and lazily said, ¡°He is drunk, and this is such a rare opportunity. Aren¡¯t you going to seize it?¡± Bai Jing avoided his eyes and shook his head. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°You do. Nobody will ever find out. Don¡¯t you want to kiss him?¡± Zhao Zheng was like a devil trying to lure Bai Jing into doing a bad deed. He was destroying the barriers in Bai Jing¡¯s heart and he was about to succeed. She clenched her teeth and gazed at Yan Rusheng¡¯s gorgeous face and his rosy lips. How could she not desire him? He had often appeared in her dreams, and how she wished just one of her dreams would come true someday. ¡°Room 303 is vacant. You can use it.¡± Zhao Zheng turned around after giving Bai Jing a wink. He strode back to the private room. Bai Jing glanced at the nearest room. It was 301. So room 303 should be right ahead. She bit her lips and struggled with herself. When she turned back, Zhao Zheng was long gone. Chapter 1456. Go As Far As You Can (part Seven) Yan Rusheng had already closed his eyes, and he lost all consciousness. This was the first time she had seen him asleep, and her head was thumping furiously. ¡®Why did Yan Rusheng try so hard to secure you a place in T University?¡¯ ¡®Last week, he invited a newly appointed official for lunch. Secretary Wu has already been given the sack¡­¡¯ Su Yue, you let me down first. Bai Jing clenched her teeth in determination as she wrapped her arms around Yan Rusheng¡¯s waist once more. She dragged him towards room 303. In the private room, Xuxu was still anxiously waiting for Yan Rusheng. Although she was anxious, she remembered his ¡®warning¡¯ earlier on, and so she whispered to Su Yue, ¡°Yueyue, can you go check on your third brother?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and stood up. She went to the gents but it seemed empty. ¡°Third Brother!¡± she shouted but no one responded. There wasn¡¯t any sound at all. Su Yue was puzzled and she eliminated the possibility of Yan Rusheng still inside. So, she walked out. She stood at the entrance of the gents and glanced left, right, and straight ahead. Oh, dear, which direction did she come from just now? She couldn¡¯t remember where she came from, so she randomly chose a direction. She peered at the number on the doors as she walked. 300¡­ 301¡­ 302¡­ Something wasn¡¯t right. Their room was 316, and it wasn¡¯t the right direction. She was about to retrace her steps. A familiar voice sounded ahead of her. ¡°Third Brother, walk slowly.¡± It was Bai Jing¡¯s voice. Su Yue frowned, looking shocked. Third Brother? Bai Jing and Third Brother were together? She swiftly turned around and marched towards her voice. She had no idea why she trod lightly as she got nearer. She reached room 303 and the door was about to shut when she caught a last fleeting glimpse of a girl. ¡°Bai Jing!¡± Su Yue widened her eyes, and her heart seemed to shred to pieces at that instant. She bolted for the door and forcefully swung it open. The girl was shocked beyond words. Their eyes met and both of them froze. ¡°Bai Jing¡­ you¡­¡± Su Yue slowly raised her hand to point at Yan Rusheng. He was slumped against Bai Jing. Su Yue¡¯s eyes instantly welled up with tears. Bai Jing was as white as a sheet of paper as she repeatedly shook her head. She stammered as she tried to explain, ¡°Su Yue¡­ listen to me. It¡¯s not¡­ what you have seen.¡± Su Yue¡¯s face fell. ¡°Do not talk to me.¡± She glared at Bai Jing and her glare was cold and murderous. Bai Jing immediately let go of Yan Rusheng and he fell to the floor. She raised her feet towards Su Yue and closed the door behind her. She then tried to hold Su Yue¡¯s hand, but Su Yue flung her hand away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Su Yue was screaming as she stared at the floor, avoiding Bai Jing¡¯s face. Bai Jing started to cry as she expounded, ¡°Su Yue, it¡¯s really not what you have just seen. I saw your third brother lying on the floor earlier on when I was on the way to the ladies. I wanted to bring him back to the private room¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes were huge with rage and she bellowed, ¡°Bai Jing! I knew you¡¯ve changed. I¡¯m not an idiot! But you are my only friend and I can¡¯t bear to lose you. I wanted you to have a better life so I asked my third brother and third sister-in-law to help you.¡± She teared up as well as she said in a choked voice, ¡°But I¡¯ve never imagined that you would fall in love with my third brother.¡± That day during breakfast, she kept stealing glances across the table. She had assumed that she was looking at her brother instead of her third brother. Chapter 1457. Go As Far As You Can (part Eight) Since Bai Jing was Su Yue¡¯s best friend, she dismissed her suspicions of her. She didn¡¯t want to change her perception of her friend even if she had changed. ¡°I really didn¡¯t, Su Yue.¡± Bai Jing continued to explain as she stretched her hand to grab Su Yue. ¡°Bai Jing, that¡¯s enough,¡± said Su Yue loudly. ¡°Don¡¯t ever talk to me and I never want to see you again.¡± Her tone and attitude seemed that she was determined to sever all ties. A gleam of hatred flashed across Bai Jing¡¯s eyes, but she was still sobbing as though she had suffered a grievance. ¡°Su Yue¡­¡± Su Yue refused to give her a chance to speak. ¡°Don¡¯t ever let me see you again.¡± She coldly swept past Bai Jing and stretched her hands toward Yan Rusheng. She bent before pulling Yan Rusheng to his feet. She was struggling to bear Yan Rusheng¡¯s weight as she was so dainty. Su Yue gritted her teeth and mustered all her strength. He slumped against her for support, and they tottered towards the door. When they reached the door, she leaned against the doorframe while Yan Rusheng leaned against her. She used her hand to wrench the doorknob. Bai Jing¡¯s cold and distant voice sounded. ¡°I¡¯m going abroad for studies soon.¡± Su Yue glanced back at her and said, ¡°Go as far as you can.¡± She opened the door and dragged Yan Rusheng out. Yan Rusheng was simply too massive and Su Yue couldn¡¯t walk anymore after a while. She slumped against the wall with him beside her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng seemed to regain consciousness. No, he was merely in a daze and kept mumbling Xuxu¡¯s name. Su Yue rubbed her eyes and smiled at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother, don¡¯t drink again in the future.¡± It was fortunate that she had saved him in time. How would she be able to face Third sister-in-law if something happened? ¡®Hi, I¡¯m Su Yue. What¡¯s your name?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m Bai Jing.¡¯ ¡®Thank you for today. From now on, we are friends. Best friends¡­¡¯ Su Yue sat there gasping for breath as she reminisced her first conversation with Bai Jing. Her heart was aching terribly. Suddenly, she turned around to hug Yan Rusheng and buried her head into his chest as she bawled. She really took Bai Jing as her best friend and also a sister. But she had plotted to harm Third Brother and Third sister-in-law. She knew she would miss Bai Jing, and she would never forget the smile on her face. It was genuine, warm, and innocent. She was the second person to smile at her. The first was her Third sister-in-law. She thought that they would be friends for life. ¡°Yueyue! What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xuxu came out to look for both of them as they didn¡¯t return for a while. She heard Su Yue¡¯s sobs from afar, so she walked towards the sounds. When she saw Su Yue crying with her head buried against Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest, she ran over to her. Su Yue heard Xuxu¡¯s voice and she hastily wiped her tears. She straightened her back and grumbled, ¡°Third Brother drank too much. I tried to help him back but he pushed and scolded me.¡± Even if Bai Jing tried to do something so despicable¡­ no, she had already let her down once. She had no intention of exposing her. She said that she would go abroad soon so she would just quietly let her go. She would never allow her to contact her third brother and third sister-in-law again. Xuxu heard Su Yue¡¯s explanation and she was exasperated. She felt that Su Yue was being overly dramatic. Chapter 1458. Go As Far As You Can (part Nine) Xuxu walked to Su Yue and stroked her hair. She consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. He must be throwing a tantrum.¡± She glared disapprovingly at the unconscious Yan Rusheng. She stretched both hands to grab him together with Su Yue. ¡°He didn¡¯t drink much though, but why is he completely drunk?¡± Xuxu grumbled as they made their way back to the private room. Xuxu informed the rest of the guests that Yan Rusheng drank too much. She then bade goodbye to everyone. When they got in the car, Xuxu thought of something and asked, ¡°Yueyue, where is Bai Jing?¡± ¡°She went back first as she had something on,¡± answered Su Yue as she bowed her head. She didn¡¯t dare to look at Xuxu with her eyes. ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu nodded and beckoned to Su Yue. ¡°Get in.¡± Su Yue sat on the front passenger seat. She kept gazing out of the windows, looking out of sorts. Xuxu noticed that Su Yue was acting strangely, but she assumed that she was upset because of Ming Ansheng¡¯s matters. She had become more thoughtful and mature. Yan Rusheng was completely unconscious, and the chauffeur had to carry him back up to his room. He lay in bed, completely at Xuxu¡¯s mercy. ¡°Look at how drunk you are!¡± Xuxu removed Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoes before sitting on his body with an affectionate look on her face. After gazing at him, she was reminded of something. She put her hands inside of Yan Rusheng¡¯s pockets. She took out his phone and the piece of paper. She glanced at the paper and her memories came rushing back¡­ It was almost spring that year but the afternoons in the capital city were still blazing hot. One particular afternoon, everyone was taking their naps and Xuxu was the only one awake. She had an English practice book on her desk and she had just completed her homework. She took a piece of paper and began to doodle on it. She had a row with Yan Rusheng during lunch and she was still fuming over it. She had initially thought of drawing him before scribbling all over his face to vent her anger. Unconsciously, she drew herself inside the picture and even drew them holding hands. She wrote ¡®Ah Sheng¡¯ on the paper¡ªthe words she had uttered every single day. This name would pop into her mind every time she closed her eyes. ¡°Xuxu.¡± A teacher came to her and she got a shock. She shut the workbook along with the piece of paper in between the pages. She hurriedly stood up and said, ¡°Teacher.¡± The teacher looked at her and said, ¡°Xuxu, help me collect all the workbooks in the afternoon.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡­ Xuxu was lost in her thoughts as she stared at the aged paper. So¡­ this was the present Teacher Li wanted to give Ah Sheng. That was just some random drawing and incredibly, Teacher Li had kept it for years. Xuxu¡¯s face was red as she gazed at Yan Rusheng once more. ¡®I¡¯m not kissing her, she¡¯s so fierce¡­¡¯ She pushed the paper back inside Yan Rusheng¡¯s pocket and inched carefully towards his face. She could hear his breathing as clear as day. She stared intensely at him. ¡°Ah Sheng, you must be so smug and gleeful to see the drawing today.¡± He didn¡¯t respond and her heart furiously pounded when she saw his rosy lips. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­¡± Xuxu kept her eyes on Yan Rusheng while she tried to rouse him. He didn¡¯t move at all. Chapter 1459. Go As Far As You Can (part Ten) She licked his lips once. Seemingly unsatisfied, she did it repeatedly. Young Master Yan, hurry up and wake up! Your wife is up to no good! ¡­ Su Yue was lying in bed, crying her heart out for a long time. Gradually, she fell asleep. Her phone woke her up. She fumbled for the phone and answered without looking at the screen. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± Her favorite voice sounded deeply over the phone. That voice sounded rather solemn and it jolted Su Yue awake. She hastily sat up and said, ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± She glanced at the clock beside her. It was almost midnight. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°I¡¯m outside your house.¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡°Why did you come here? It¡¯s so late.¡± Her sleepiness evaporated and she threw her blanket aside. ¡°Give me a minute. I¡¯m coming now.¡± She hung up, put on a coat, and picked up her phone. She trod softly down the stairs. Mu Li and Yan Weihong were still unaware of their relationship, and she didn¡¯t want to wake them up. She began to hasten her footsteps when she got downstairs. She bolted for the door, opened it, and ran out. She ran to open the courtyard gates as gusts of wind ruffled her hair. Her eyes stopped at a black car a short distance away. The door swung open and the man got off the car to welcome the girl. He embraced her tightly. Su Yue didn¡¯t have time to react when Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips came crushing on hers. He tightened his arms around her that it almost suffocated her. She had no idea what had happened, but she knew something troubled Ming Ansheng. His kisses were passionate, domineering, and possessive. Su Yue was almost out of breath as she shoved Ming Ansheng away. ¡°Uncle Ming, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s get married.¡± Ming Ansheng gazed at Su Yue and the depths of his eyes were like a deep abyss. Get married¡­? It shocked Su Yue. ¡°What happened?¡± Did his grandfather pressure him again into giving up on them? ¡°I like you.¡± Ming Ansheng pulled Su Yue back into his embrace and hugged her tightly. ¡°I love you, Yueyue.¡± He repeated it endlessly. Su Yue began to get anxious. She felt that they were drifting apart the more he tightened his grip on her. She responded to his hug by wrapping her arms around Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming, I love you too.¡± Su Yue raised her head and gaze at Ming Ansheng. ¡°No matter what happens, you wouldn¡¯t abandon me right?¡± Ming Ansheng peered into Su Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡®Ming Ansheng, do you think she will still want to be together with you?¡¯ Flames of fury burned in his eyes, and he swooped down on Su Yue¡¯s lips once again. His actions and silence frightened Su Yue. Su Yue became frustrated and she said, ¡°Uncle Ming, what¡¯s wrong?!¡± Ming Ansheng stared at her and asked, ¡°Yueyue, marry me alright?¡± He looked as if something had tormented him. Su Yue couldn¡¯t bear to see him like this, not to even mention rejecting him. She nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Ansheng passionately kissed her once more. Su Yue was lost in his kisses. And the night seemed long and endless. Su Yue¡¯s tiny body was exhausted as she slumped against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. In the pitch-dark room, silence surrounded them. They could only hear each other¡¯s breathing and heartbeats. Chapter 1460. Whose Child Is It? (part One) Su Yue woke up groggy the next day, only to realize that the man was still sleeping beside her. His deep breathing filled her ears and it made her feel indescribably at ease. This was the first time since they returned from Country M that he was still sleeping when she woke up. What more, he was in a deep sleep. But¡­ why were his eyebrows furrowed? Su Yue flipped over and propped her chin up with her arms. She pursed her lips as she stared at his eyebrows in confusion. Uncle Ming, what happened? He hugged her so tightly last night. Throughout the night, he gave off the feeling that he was very insecure. What had happened? Was he dreaming of it? Su Yue gently rubbed the area between his eyebrows, trying to ease his troubles. ¡°Yueyue,¡± Ming Ansheng greeted sleepily in a nasal voice, suddenly opening his eyes. Su Yue froze. She retracted her arm, a face of apology. ¡°I woke you up.¡± She chided herself. He woke up early every day and he could finally sleep in, but she had to wake him up. Ming Ansheng pursed his lips and shook his head. He then affectionately ruffled Su Yue¡¯s already messy hair. He gently asked, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± He wound his arms around her in one swift motion. ¡°Nope.¡± Su Yue shook her head. She peered up at him and blinked. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡­ you don¡¯t have to work today?¡± Actually, she wanted to know what had happened. But she changed her mind. She tried asking yesterday but he didn¡¯t answer. She thought he would tell her when and if he wanted to. She shouldn¡¯t force it out of him, lest he become more troubled about it. Ming Ansheng looked down at her and smiled gently. ¡°I wanted to sleep in with you just this once.¡± Su Yue was ecstatic to hear it. ¡°Is that okay?¡± He had been very busy since he returned from Country M. Even when he returned home at night, he would be buried in work until midnight. He had already abandoned his work and accompanied her in Country M for so many days. If he were to miss out on his work again, would his grandfather dislike her even more? ¡®What can you help him in?¡¯ ¡®At least Meiduo was a strong and independent woman who could support him in his career¡­¡¯ Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s taunts filled her ears once more. Her face fell. Although his words were crude, they had some sense to it. Her third brother had her third sister-in-law as his capable assistant, and she never gave him any troubles in their personal lives. Uncle Ming needed a capable wife, too. But she couldn¡¯t do anything for him. She couldn¡¯t even cook a proper meal and he had to provide her three meals a day. She was as good as useless. Ming Ansheng gently smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nobody can fire me.¡± He rubbed his chin gently on Su Yue¡¯s high forehead. His slight stubble tickled her and she shunned away. ¡°It tickles.¡± She forcefully pushed him away. She looked at him and snorted. ¡°Although you¡¯re the boss, you can¡¯t go to work as you please. I don¡¯t want anyone calling me a vixen.¡± His grandfather was already very displeased with her. If he were to abandon his work because of her again, the old man would dislike her even more. Although she really wanted to spend more time with him at home¡­ Aish. Chapter 1461. Whose Child Is It? (part Two) But if they were in it for the long run, they would see each other every day, anyway. Now, the most crucial thing was his grandfather¡¯s approval. Ming Ansheng burst into laughter. ¡°You know about vixens?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°Of course I do.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let your thoughts run wild.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s smile faded and he tightened his grasp on her arm. She then pulled him into his embrace and gently kissed her hair. He could he not know what was on her mind? She didn¡¯t have to worry so much. She had countless suitors, many outstanding ones. But she chose to suffer by being with him¡­ Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re utterly selfish! ¡°I¡¯ll go to the office with you,¡± Su Yue suddenly and excitedly suggested. Ming Ansheng froze. Su Yue saw his reaction and thought that it was inconvenient for him, so she hurriedly explained, ¡°I said that in the spur of the moment. I don¡¯t really want to go.¡± She was too impulsive. After all, only a few knew about their relationship. Before Su Yue had finished her sentence, Ming Ansheng smiled and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Sure¡­ Did he just agree to bring her to the office? She said that she didn¡¯t want to go, but after Ming Ansheng¡¯s approval, she became excited. ¡°Is that a good idea? Will it bring you trouble?¡± she asked in pretense. Ming Ansheng continued, ¡°You already agreed to marry me yesterday, so you¡¯ll be the future lady boss of Bright Vision. If I bring you along, the employees can meet you.¡± Su Yue blushed. ¡°When did I promise you that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡± Ming Ansheng nodded, acting as though he was deep in thought. ¡°Then you can promise again.¡± He looked at Su Yue teasingly. Su Yue shyly pushed him away. ¡°You¡¯re annoying. I¡¯m getting out of bed.¡± She then crawled out to discover that she was completely unclothed. She looked down at herself before looking at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was leaning against the headboard, calmly staring at her with a crooked smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll go find my clothes.¡± Su Yue blushed and wrapped herself in the covers before looking for her clothes. Finally, she found a towel on the floor. After much effort, she grabbed it and covered herself with it before pushing the blanket away. She hopped off the bed and felt a surge of warm liquid flow out from her lower body. She stopped dead in her tracks, her legs instinctively closing. What was happening? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ming Ansheng looked at her in confusion. Su Yue blushed awkwardly, shaking her head. ¡°No-nothing.¡± She then sprinted into the washroom. She couldn¡¯t tell him that something flowed out from a significant part of her body. When she saw the clothes strewn all over the floor in the bathroom, Su Yue recalled that they started in the toilet last night. She then remembered and hurriedly looked down at her lower body. It didn¡¯t seem like her period was here¡­ So what was that? There was nothing there. She was confused, but she ignored it. She turned on the shower. After her bath, Ming Ansheng was already all changed into a white shirt and black pants. He was barefooted and was putting on his tie. Su Yue was wrapped in a bathrobe. She walked barefoot towards him. ¡°Uncle Ming, let me do it for you.¡± She took his tie from him. Her fingers started working like an expert. Chapter 1462. Whose Child Is It? (part Three) Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°You know how to put on a tie?¡± Could she have helped someone with it before? ¡°I always see my third sister-in-law doing it for my third brother. I¡¯m doing this with how I remember seeing it,¡± Su Yue explained as she tied it, focused. Ming Ansheng tilted his head down. He could see that her face was still red from her shower and that her thick eyelashes made her look breathtakingly beautiful, even if she had put on a focused expression. He couldn¡¯t help but put his hands on her waist. Su Yue felt a surge of electricity pass through her. She peered up at him and frowned. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°Keep going. I¡¯m not doing anything.¡± But his hands playfully started moving up and down, tickling her through the bathrobe. She stomped on his foot before removing her hands. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Su Yue was done fixing his tie, and staring at it, she felt accomplished. Ming Ansheng looked at it and his eyes brightened. Then he looked at her admiringly and said, ¡°Not bad. You have the potential to be a good wife and a loving mother.¡± He wrapped his arm around her waist and they walked towards the door. His praise had overjoyed Ming Ansheng. She said, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll put on your tie every day.¡± Every day from now on¡­ Ming Ansheng fell into a reverie for a split second before nodding emotionally. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡®Su Yue, I¡¯ll hold you to that!¡¯ ¡­ It was past the morning reporting hours at the office so it was very peaceful. Ming Ansheng walked in front while Su Yue trailed behind him. As she entered the turnstile, she glanced around. ¡°President.¡± ¡°President.¡± Two security guards standing at the entrance greeted him the moment he entered. He nodded and turned around to see that Su Yue was still spinning in the turnstile. He furrowed his eyebrows. Su Yue made one last round before exiting the turnstile. She jogged towards him. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± The main lobby was grand and filled with sunlight. Su Yue felt the security guard¡¯s gaze on her. She blushed and bowed her head. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ming Ansheng grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers as they walked towards the lift. The security guard and the customer service counter personnel widened their eyes in shock. The president brought a seemingly underage girl to the office and he held her hand. This¡­ this was breaking news! News spread across the whole building in no time. It didn¡¯t take long before they had exposed Su Yue¡¯s identity as a rich daughter. All of them finally had a conclusion: The big president was dating. Ming Ansheng entered his office and brought her on an office tour. Then Su Yue sat alone on the sofa, slipping through some magazines. Ming Ansheng sat down on his chair and started on his work. He went into work-mode. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Knocking sounds broke the silence. ¡°Come in,¡± Ming Ansheng answered without looking up. The doors to his office opened, and Su Yue nervously bowed her head. She still felt shy. ¡°President, we need your signature for these documents,¡± his secretary said when he entered. He walked towards him with a blue file in his hands. Without looking up, Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Place them here.¡± Chapter 1463. Whose Child Is It? (part Four) The secretary did as he was told and placed the folder on the table. He then turned around and prepared to leave, smiling as his gaze flitted across Su Yue. He stopped in his tracks, bowed and smiled. ¡°Madam.¡± Su Yue instinctively raised her head to see who he was greeting. She hesitated when she saw him staring at her. ¡°Wha¡ªwhat Madam?¡± When did she become his wife? Su Yue was completely shocked. Ming Ansheng looked at her and was on the verge of laughing hard as he waited for her reaction. Ming Ansheng¡¯s secretary had been with him for a few years. He was the best in his field and was his secretary-cum-personal assistant. He handled all of Ming Ansheng¡¯s affairs. That included making restaurant reservations, booking plane tickets, planning of itineraries¡­ So, he had known long ago of the existence of the cute, mini lady boss. He ignored her shock and stared at her, asking politely, ¡°Madam, what do you want for lunch? Are you eating in the office with the President?¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No¡­ No¡­ I¡¯m not¡­¡± She tried to explain that she wasn¡¯t the lady boss, but the secretary interrupted her stammers. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I¡¯ll make a move then.¡± Then he slightly bowed and walked out. It frustrated Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯m not married to your President yet. You shouldn¡¯t call me Madam.¡± She finally said it without stuttering, but the secretary had already left. Su Yue frowned as she looked at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Your employees are so casual.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s interest aroused. He smiled. ¡°How are they casual?¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°They call all your girlfriends ¡®lady boss¡¯ .¡± Back at Bright Vision¡¯s mall, all the boot-licking employees in the clothes store called Tang Feiling ¡®lady boss¡¯ too. It wasn¡¯t that long ago, yet now they were calling her the exact same thing. Jealousy was apparent in her voice and it made Ming Ansheng shoot his eyebrows up teasingly. ¡°Who else did they call that?¡± He was feigning ignorance. He knew how Tang Feiling had abused her power as his fiancee at the various malls under Bright Vision back then. But at that point in time, he didn¡¯t care. She could do whatever she wanted. ¡°Get to work,¡± Su Yue said, shifting her gaze to the magazine in her lap. Ming Ansheng stared at her awkward posture, and he lost the heart to work. He put down his pen and walked towards her. He walked gracefully and unhurriedly and he had a smile on his face. Despite his gentleness, Su Yue felt afraid. ¡°Why are you here instead of working?¡± ¡°I¡¯m scared that you¡¯ll feel bored sitting here alone,¡± Ming Ansheng explained. He bent down and sat down on the sofa. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and looked at her with a sly expression. His warm breath fanned her face and Su Yue couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. She pushed him away and said, ¡°I¡¯m not bored. Get to work, then we¡¯ll have lunch later.¡± ¡°You said that you weren¡¯t hungry when Secretary Xia asked you just now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that I wasn¡¯t hungry.¡± ¡°So you are?¡± The more embarrassed she got, the more Ming Ansheng felt like teasing her. Their faces were so close to each other that they could clearly hear each other breathing. ¡­ ¡°Secretary Xia, did you see the new lady boss when you went into the President¡¯s office just now?¡± Chapter 1464. Whose Child Is It? (part Five) The moment he left Ming Ansheng¡¯s office, gossipers came up to him with a grin on their faces. ¡°Mind your words. What new lady boss?¡± Secretary Xia frowned. He scolded, ¡°You will be punished if the President hears you.¡± ¡°Is the President really dating her?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Secretary Xia raised his eyebrow at them. Before they could reply, he snapped, ¡°It¡¯s not lunchtime yet. Your salaries will get deducted if the assistant manager sees you.¡± After that warning, Secretary Xia returned to his seat. ¡°Chairman.¡± The moment he sat down, he heard someone greeting the Chairman. He looked up and saw that the white-haired old man had already stepped into the entrance leading to the President¡¯s office. His wrinkled face was tensed. Every time Ming Zhongsheng came, all the employees would get nervous. Because he fought with Ming Ansheng every time. This time was no different. The previously relaxed and excited employees in the President¡¯s office were now dead silent. They all had bowed their heads down, and those with nothing to do pretended to do something. But all their attention was on Ming Zhongsheng. Everyone was curious. The Chairman was holding the hand of a four to a five-year-old boy. Who was he? Secretary Xia broke out in cold sweat when he saw Ming Zhongsheng stepping closer and closer to Ming Ansheng¡¯s office. He was still holding the hand of a small boy. ¡°Chairman.¡± Suddenly, Secretary Xia stood up and rushed over at the speed of light, blocking Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s path. He bowed respectfully. Ming Zhongsheng raised his eyebrow unamused. ¡°Secretary Xia?¡± he asked. He purposely dragged out the last word dangerously. ¡°Chairman, let me open the door for you,¡± Secretary Xia said, in a raised voice, much louder than his usual volume. Then he turned around and walked over to the door of Ming Ansheng¡¯s office. ¡®Knock¡­¡¯ He had only knocked once when Ming Zhongsheng rushed over, turned the knob directly, and pushed the door open. He was still holding hands with the small boy. Then he threw Secretary Xia a dirty look and snorted. ¡°I¡¯m not that old. I can do it myself.¡± Secretary Xia bowed his head. The sudden opening of the door shocked Su Yue. She panicked when she heard Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s voice. She looked up at Ming Ansheng. With her piercing, anxious gaze, she asked him what they should do. Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm remained wrapped around her shoulders and he still leaned against the sofa, unmoving. When he heard the heavy footsteps drawing near, he turned around. When he saw the child that Ming Zhongsheng brought, his eyes widened. He became anxious. ¡°Beibei, call daddy.¡± ¡°Daddy.¡± Daddy? Su Yue didn¡¯t take much notice of the little boy with Ming Zhongsheng, but she turned to look at him when she heard him address Ming Ansheng as ¡®Daddy¡¯ . Her heart tensed when she saw the boy¡¯s face. That tender face was simply¡­ a replica of Meiduo, yet it seemed to resemble¡­ Su Yue jolted her head upwards in shock, looking at Ming Ansheng¡¯s handsome face. Ming Ansheng was looking at her, too. Their eyes met. Ming Ansheng was at a loss for words and he bowed his head. Su Yue¡¯s heart seemed to plunge into the depths of the ocean. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask him what all of it was about. But her words were stuck in her throat. Chapter 1465. Whose Child Is It? (part Six) ¡°Yueyue, sit down first.¡± Ming Ansheng gently tapped on Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. He straightened his back before turning around to Ming Zhongsheng. The grandfather stood across facing his grandson. Ming Zhongsheng sneered coldly as he snapped at Ming Ansheng. ¡°I¡¯m not here to look for you. I¡¯m here for her.¡± He pointed at Su Yue. Su Yue pressed her palms against the couch before standing up slowly. She strode over to Ming Zhongsheng. She bent her head to peer at the child that Ming Zhongsheng was holding hands with. The child resembled Meiduo. But it was hard to tell from the features if Ming Ansheng was the father. Although the child¡¯s expression and aura resembled Ming Ansheng. Su Yue seemed to have gotten the answer by looking at the child, but she couldn¡¯t accept it. She glanced at Ming Ansheng as she pointed at the child. ¡°Uncle Ming, is this child yours?¡± If he denied, she would choose to believe him. She could pretend that this child wasn¡¯t his as she loved him too much. She would forget his past and choose not to mention it ever again. If only he denied. Ming Ansheng bowed his head and clammed up. After a long while, he gazed at Su Yue and explained, ¡°Yueyue, before yesterday, I really had no idea¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Su Yue interrupted by waving her hand. She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me. I need to be alone.¡± She raised her feet and turned to run. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Ming Ansheng immediately bolted after her, ignoring Ming Zhongsheng. Su Yue sprinted to the elevator and the doors were open. She entered and pressed to close the elevator. Ming Ansheng was late by just a second. He frantically pressed the elevator button for the next one. When he reached the ground level, he was too late to catch Su Yue. The elevator that she was in had gone up once more. ¡°Did you see where she went?¡± Ming Ansheng exited the building and his eyes darted around only to find out that Su Yue was nowhere in sight. He grabbed one of the security guards. The security guard pointed to the left and replied, ¡°She ran off in that direction.¡± Ming Ansheng instantly ran in that direction. ¡°Yueyue!¡± he yelled. He yelled as he searched for the tiny figure. But Su Yue seemed to have vanished into thin air and there was no sight of her. ¡°Yueyue, you promised me that you would help me put on my tie every morning¡­¡± Ming Ansheng muttered as he hung his head. He turned around and his footsteps seemed as though they had lost their soul. He hung his arms limply by the sides, looking like he had lost all hope. He was wearing only a thin shirt and the brutally cold winds attacked him. He looked downcast and disheartened. Su Yue appeared silently from behind a bush as she watched the man totter. She recalled what the man said just now. ¡®I will help you with your tie every morning¡­¡¯ Her tears gushed out and she covered her mouth before she turned around. ¡®Beibei, call Daddy.¡¯ ¡®Daddy.¡¯ Meiduo was his unforgettable first love, and they even had a child together. They even had a child together. Su Yue covered her mouth and stopped herself from crying. The man suddenly turned around and gazed at the tiny figure who had turned into a tiny dot from a distance. He slowly clenched his fists. His expression was stoic. After some time, he sighed helplessly. ¡­ There was a man and a woman sitting at the corner of a cafe. The rest of the tables were empty. The afternoon sunlight entered through the glass windows and enveloped them. Chapter 1466. Whose Child Is It? (part Seven) The woman¡¯s pretty face seemed rather ghastly white as she stared at the good-looking man sitting across from him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to explain myself. I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives for giving the child to your family.¡± She hung her head low as she squeezed the cup with her hand. She began to lightly stir the coffee. ¡°Why?¡± The man asked had asked her. She then raised her head to glance at him. The man¡¯s malicious-looking eyes made her shudder a little, and she slightly shifted her eyes. She was nervous. Ming Ansheng narrowed his eyes to carefully scrutinize her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me after all these years.¡± ¡°Ansheng, I thought I could bring him up by myself,¡± answered Meiduo in a soft tone of voice. She placed the cup down before placing her hands on the table. Then she looked at Ming Ansheng. Her eyes didn¡¯t shift guiltily this time round. Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Meiduo replied, ¡°I cannot take care of him now.¡± Her voice and tone sounded a little pitiful, and it softened Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart. ¡°Meiduo,¡± called Ming Ansheng softly as he surveyed her pale face. She was obviously unwell. Meiduo managed a feeble smile. ¡°When I was 21 that year, the doctor said I wouldn¡¯t make it past 25. But now I¡¯m already 26¡­¡± ¡°However¡­¡± She bowed her head and paused. She pressed on slowly. ¡°But I don¡¯t think I can make it this time around.¡± When she raised her head, her eyes were brimming with tears. She sobbed as she said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°Ansheng, we are close friends. Can you help me take care of Beibei? I will leave immediately.¡± Ming Ansheng was dumbfounded and he couldn¡¯t come up with a reaction for a long time. Meiduo¡¯s words echoed in his mind once more. ¡®When I was 21 that year, the doctor said I wouldn¡¯t make it past 25. But now I¡¯m already 26¡­¡¯ They split up when they were 21! Was this the actual reason she broke up with him? They had been cordial to each other like old friends for these years. And she had expressed no desire of getting back with him. He had never doubted Meiduo¡¯s character. So when the child appeared before him and addressed him as his daddy, he refused to accept the truth. But he didn¡¯t doubt her at all. It¡¯s not because the child looked like Meiduo. Rather, it was because he didn¡¯t want to suspect Meiduo at all. Ming Ansheng blankly stared at Meiduo. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Meiduo quipped, ¡°Ansheng, I didn¡¯t break up with you because I was sick. I just felt that we came from two different worlds. I have my own dreams and I didn¡¯t want to be confined for the rest of my life and to lead the life that isn¡¯t what I like.¡± ¡°As for Beibei¡­¡± She bowed her head and paused. Ming Ansheng noticed that Meiduo had clenched her hand tightly. Suspicion streaked across his eyes but he waited patiently for Meiduo to finish talking. Meiduo adjusted her emotions accordingly and softly spoke, ¡°Beibei was an accident. I realized I was pregnant after I got to Country M.¡± Her hair cascaded past her shoulders and hid her face from view. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips and watched her quietly. ¡°Ansheng, he is well-behaved and obedient. He¡­ is the only person I have left in the world and I¡¯m worried about him.¡± Meiduo raised her head and pleaded, ¡°You know I don¡¯t have any family and I can¡¯t bear to send Beibei to the orphanage.¡± She looked distraught, just like how a mother would be, at the thought of giving her child up. Chapter 1467. Whose Child Is It? (part Eight) Meiduo was worried, anxious, and uneasy. Ming Ansheng gazed intently at Meiduo in silence. If the child was really his, how could he bear to send him to the orphanage? But what about his Yueyue? Meiduo noticed that Ming Ansheng had clammed up and she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for appearing now. I must have disrupted your life.¡± Ming Ansheng continued to study the woman¡¯s expression. All their shared memories flooded him in an instant. ¡®Are you Meiduo? They said that it¡¯s difficult to win your heart. Can I woo you?¡¯ ¡®Okay.¡¯ ¡®Hey, why are you running away?¡¯ ¡®You said you wanted to woo me, of course, I had to make it difficult for you.¡¯ In that old alley, the sprightly and vivacious girl¡­ his memories were getting blurry. The first time he smoked¡­ the first time he got drunk¡­ his first time¡­ Everything he tried for the first time was with this woman. But when they broke up, he didn¡¯t feel as though his heart was in pain. It could be like what others had said. When a couple has been together for a long time, breaking up was inevitable. Or perhaps they didn¡¯t really understand what love really was. Ming Ansheng took out a cigarette from the cigarette case and popped it to his lips. He lit it up. He took a puff and exhaled deeply through his mouth and nose. Through the smoke, he faced the woman and calmly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the child. I will be responsible.¡± That was a promise. Meiduo¡¯s eyes glistened and she cracked a smile. ¡°Thank you, Ansheng.¡± Her smile and gratitude were genuine. Ming Ansheng allowed the smoke to shroud him. ¡­ In the lavish and grand mansion in the middle of the city. Everyone was seated on the couch, but the atmosphere was strained and stifling. Ming Ansheng removed his leather shoes, and the servant immediately brought out a pair of slippers for him. He put them on before entering the living room. ¡°Ansheng.¡± His mother saw him and immediately stood up. She furrowed her eyebrows, looking anxious. Ming Ansheng glanced at her but he didn¡¯t stop. He walked to the couch and stared at the adorable boy sitting with the rest of his family. ¡°Beibei, why didn¡¯t you call Daddy?¡± Ming Zhongsheng reminded the boy in his deep voice. The little boy was a little frightened, and he instantly obeyed. ¡°Daddy.¡± Ming Ansheng pressed his lips in response. His eyes darted to the rest of them and he lightly chuckled. ¡°Everyone is here.¡± Ming Zhongsheng solemnly said, ¡°Yes. We have a family meeting today.¡± He paused before continuing. ¡°Our subsidiary in H City had some urgent matters and your brother flew there last night. But this meeting is for you, so he need not be here.¡± ¡°Alright. Say it.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. Ming Zhongsheng quipped, ¡°Beibei is your son. His blood runs in our family. We have to bring him back home.¡± Ming Ansheng sneered coldly. ¡°Grandfather, I thought you¡¯ve already done that?¡± He turned his head and shouted across the room. ¡°Aunt Wu!¡± Aunt Wu came rushing from outside. ¡°Second Young Master.¡± Ming Ansheng instructed, ¡°Bring the boy outside to play.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Aunt Wu nodded and carried the boy away. Ming Ansheng strode over to the couch and sat down. Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s eyes landed on him once more. ¡°You have no objections?¡± Ming Ansheng appeared composed. ¡°If he is my son, I have no reason for him to linger outside.¡± Chapter 1468. Whose Child Is It? (part Nine) Ming Ansheng bowed his head and avoided Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°What do you mean by it?¡± Ming Zhongsheng lectured him loudly. ¡°He is your son!¡± Ming Ansheng smirked coldly and frowned. ¡°Why are you so worked up?¡± Ming Zhongsheng realized that he was overly emotional and he adjusted himself. In a grave voice, he said, ¡°I was afraid that you might abandon your son for your worthless relationship.¡± He straightened his back and put on a solemn expression. ¡°Grandfather, when you forced me to break up with Meiduo, didn¡¯t you insult her? I remember you said that there would be plenty of women in the capital city willing to bear my children?¡± Ming Ansheng snorted in disdain and his tone was full of sarcasm. ¡°Grandfather, didn¡¯t you say that you would never acknowledge Meiduo unless you are dead?¡± He was using Ming Zhongsheng own words to attack him. If the child was his, he would never abandon him. But he was utterly disappointed with Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s method of breaking him and Su Yue apart. He didn¡¯t even mind going back on his word. If that child was indeed his, then he would be Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s great-grandson. After all these years, he finally saw the value in his existence, and that was the reason he brought him back to the family. How bitterly disappointed he was with his grandfather after cherishing hopes for years. He had always found excuses for him. He had a hard time managing Bright Vision and how important his pride and reputation were to him. Every single time they quarreled, he would always tell himself that he was his grandfather and his grandmother¡¯s most cherished person. Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s face hardened. ¡°I didn¡¯t know in the past. But if I knew, I wouldn¡¯t have allowed her to give birth to him. But since it has been done, there is no way I would allow my grandson to loiter around.¡± So this child was indeed his. Judging from how this man had prided on his reputation and honor, there was no way he would get a random child to pass off as his grandson. All these facts proved that the child was his. Ming Ansheng felt as though his heart had plunged instantly. He bent to look at the tie around his neck. Usually, he would have taken off his tie on the way home, but today, he couldn¡¯t even bear to loosen it. Yueyue had put on the tie for him this morning. She tiptoed and put on the tie with a serious expression. She looked like how a wife would put on a tie for her husband. He had no idea if she would ever put a tie for him again. She had turned 18 but he was already 26. He had such a past and now, his son appeared. ¡°Do you think that girl would take good care of your son?¡± Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s voice interrupted the silence. He stared at Ming Ansheng¡¯s defeated-looking expression and he smirked. ¡°Do you think Yan Rusheng and his family would allow the girl to come to our family just to be a stepmother?¡± Ming Ansheng sneered coldly. ¡°Grandfather, you¡¯ve achieved your goal.¡± He abruptly wiped off the smile on his face and he emphasized every word. ¡°But¡­ I will not give up on Su Yue. Unless she refuses to accept me.¡± He rose and walked to the main doors and left in the blink of an eye. ¡°Ansheng!¡± His mother chased after him. Ming Ansheng simply ignored her and continued walking. He had parked his car in the courtyard. He walked over to it and opened the door. Suddenly, a pair of tiny hands grabbed his leg. ¡°Daddy. Daddy.¡± A soft little voice startled him. Ming Ansheng bent his head to peer at the little boy. He was smiling warmly at him and his eyes were sparkling brightly. His mother halted her footsteps when she saw them. Chapter 1469. Whose Child Is It? (part Ten) Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother gazed at her son and her eyes glistened. Ming Ansheng gazed at the boy for a while before he bent and stroked his hair. He didn¡¯t speak as he turned to Aunt Wu. He gave her a meaningful look. Aunt Wu immediately carried the little boy. Ming Ansheng got into his car and ignited the engine. ¡­ Su Yan came home after work, and the first thought that came to his mind when he saw a pair of female shoes was that Su Yue was back. Furthermore, only Su Yue had the key to his place. He frowned, looking puzzled. Why was the girl back today? Su Yan changed out of his shoes and entered the living room. The lights in the living room were switched on, but there was no sight of Su Yue. The bathroom¡¯s door was ajar but no one was inside. ¡°Yueyue?¡± he yelled and strode towards Su Yue¡¯s room. He knocked on the door. No one answered, and Su Yan sensed that something was amiss. He tried to twist the doorknob. It was locked! He knocked once more. ¡°Yueyue, are you inside?¡± No matter how he many times he knocked or yelled, no one responded. He began to get anxious. He scurried to get the spare key to unlock the door. The windows were drawn close, and the whole room was dark. He switched on the lights. There was a small lump on the bed and under the blanket, and it was definitely Su Yue. Su Yan walked over and bent his back. He gently tapped Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, are you alright?¡± Su Yan could hear Su Yue¡¯s sob and he frowned. He pulled the blanket away with force. We huddled Su Yue into a ball as she sobbed loudly. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yan sat down and peered at Su Yue. ¡°Brother.¡± Su Yue turned to look at Su Yan, and her face was filled with tears. Su Yan¡¯s heart was aching. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°He.. he has a child,¡± Su Yue answered in a choked voice. Su Yan knew that she was referring to Ming Ansheng, and his fingers tightened its grip on the blanket. His veins were throbbing. Su Yue threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. ¡°I really¡­ like him.¡± But he had a child, and the child was his and Meiduo¡¯s. What should she do? Su Yan hugged Su Yue back for a while before gently pushing her away. He had no idea how long she had been crying, but her eyes were red and swollen. He used his palms to wipe off the tears on her face. He gently coaxed her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore. Calm down first.¡± Su Yue bit her lips and nodded. ¡°Go and wash your face.¡± Su Yan grabbed Su Yue¡¯s elbow and supported her. Su Yue put on her bedroom slippers and obediently went to the bathroom. She stood before the basin and peered at her reflection. Her swollen eyes were glistening with tears once more. The sounds of the water complemented her tears. On the right side of her neck was a love bite that Ming Ansheng had left her after last night. Last night, he even embraced her tightly and asked her to marry him. She shouldn¡¯t be thinking of him at the moment. She would only get more upset and distraught. She scooped the water and splashed it repeatedly on her face. Until her tears stopped flowing. ¡­ ¡°Is there anyone at home?¡± Su Yue opened the bathroom¡¯s door and heard Xin Yanting¡¯s voice. She turned in the direction of the voice and met Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes. Chapter 1470. He Came Every Night (part One) Su Yue¡¯s disheveled hair hid her face from view. Her clothes were messy and she had swollen eyes. Xin Yanting didn¡¯t recognize her at first, and a fit of overwhelming jealousy pervaded the air at an instant. ¡°Who are you?!¡± She stormed towards Su Yue and threw her a sharp question. Su Yue brushed her hair as she looked at Xin Yanting with hostility. ¡°Why did you come to our house?¡± She revealed her face properly and it made Xin Yanting widen her eyes in shock. ¡°You¡­ you are Su Yue?¡± That expression was as though she was asking*; ¡°How did you manage to turn into this ghostly state?¡±* ¡°Who else do you think it could be?¡± Su Yue was feeling terrible, to begin with, so she snapped at Xin Yanting. Su Yue glared at her before striding towards Su Yan. Xin Yanting followed closely behind and asked, ¡°Su Yue, why do you look so disheveled and sorry-looking?¡± Her original question was ¡®Why do you look like a ghost?¡¯, but she rephrased it since she was Su Yan¡¯s sister. She didn¡¯t want to offend her so she contemplated first before asking. Indeed. Why did she so look so sorry and battered? Su Yue began to cry once more. Xin Yanting got anxious and she asked, ¡°Are you crying?¡± She hurriedly pulled some tissues and helped Su Yue dab her tears away. ¡°Who bullied you?¡± ¡°General Manager Xin.¡± Su Yan called Xin Yanting in a solemn tone. Xin Yanting turned towards Su Yan. Su Yan appeared cold, and his tone was equally cold as well. ¡°If there is nothing else, you should go back. It¡¯s getting late.¡± Xin Yanting threw a tantrum as she whined, ¡°Su Yan! I personally sent you the documents despite the distance. And you didn¡¯t even offer me a sip of water!¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Su Yan calmly said and nodded. He turned towards the water dispenser. He pulled out a glass from the cupboard and poured water. He then passed the glass to Xin Yanting. ¡°General Manager Xin, have a drink.¡± His attitude might seem cold, but his gorgeous features were gentle. People feel comfortable around him as he radiated warmth. Especially his deep features, which were exotic-looking and charming. Xin Yanting gazed at Su Yan and sheepishly grinned. She received the glass and said, ¡°Su Yan, you¡¯re so nice.¡± They had spent a considerable amount of time together because of work these few months. Su Yan was a real gentleman. Besides that, he was thoughtful by nature and took good care of her. Su Yan smiled briefly and retracted his hands. He stuffed his hand into his pocket while the other grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand and led her to the couch. Xin Yanting put the glass to her mouth as she watched Su Yue and Su Yan walking to the couch. Her eyes landed on Su Yan¡¯s face. Su Yan pushed Su Yue to sit down on the couch before getting tissues to wipe off her tears. His actions were gentle and tender. Xin Yanting bit the glass as she blankly stared at Su Yan¡¯s gorgeous face. Envy and yearning were blazing from her eyes. And he had unintentionally enamored Xin Yanting. ¡°General Manager Xin.¡± Su Yan turned to face Xin Yanting. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Xin Yanting was caught swooning over him and she was startled. She hastily withdrew her gaze and unconsciously bit on the glass. The glass cracked and water spilled from it to the floor. Xin Yanting was exasperated! She stared at the puddle of water in a daze. Su Yan hastily took a cloth and squatted on the floor to wipe it dry. The towering figure was kneeling in front of her, and his hands were holding the dark green cloth, cleaning away in a serious manner. Chapter 1471. He Came Every Night (part Two) Xin Yanting felt so awkward so she knelt down too. ¡°Where did you get this glass from? It¡¯s so fragile.¡± She muttered under her breath and stretched her hand to snatch the cloth from Su Yan¡¯s hand. ¡°Let me do it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± said Su Yan as he continued to wipe. Xin Yanting pursed her lips, unsure of whether or not Su Yan was angry. She started to grumble about the quality once more. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. The quality is really inferior, how can it crack when I merely bit it. It almost cut my lips.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Su Yan replied casually, and he didn¡¯t sound concerned for her at all. After drying the floor, he stood up and glanced at Xin Yanting. ¡°It¡¯s late. Please go back and rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± Xin Yanting ignored Su Yan¡¯s aloofness and shook her head. She glanced at Su Yue and strode towards her. She threw the cracked glass into the trash can before sitting down on the couch next to Su Yue. She tightly held her hand and raised her voice angrily. ¡°Who had the audacity to bully you? Tell me now! I will give the person a good lesson on your behalf!¡± Su Yue glanced at her and asked in between sobs. ¡°What has it got to do with you?¡± Su Yan couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and he strode forward to Xin Yanting. He bent and grabbed her wrist to lift her up. Then he dragged her to the door. ¡°General Manager Xin, it¡¯s late. I¡¯ll send you downstairs.¡± His grip was tight and Xin Yanting winced in pain. ¡°Su Yan, let go of my hand. I can walk by myself.¡± She shook Su Yan¡¯s hand off. Then she glared at him, looking livid. ¡°Both of you don¡¯t know how to appreciate kindness. Hmph! ¡± She turned around and walked to the elevator. Su Yan ignored her and turned around to go back inside. He was about to close the door when he caught a glimpse of the floor. Xin Yanting¡¯s shoes were still there. He hurriedly turned around, but the elevator had gone down. He frowned, looking exasperated. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯ll go down for a while,¡± Su Yan said to Su Yue as he went back inside his loft. He then put his phone inside his pocket as he turned back to go to the door. He picked up Xin Yanting¡¯s shoes along the way. The night was freezing. The basement was cold at night and Su Yan realized that he had forgotten to put on his coat. He shivered a little and raised his shoulders to his neck. His eyes darted around as he called Xin Yanting. Suddenly, he halted in his tracks. A man inside a black Mercedes was parked a short distance away. He recalled how Su Yue had cried badly the entire night. ¡°Su Yan, are you regretting that you chased me away?¡± ¡± Hmph! I¡¯m telling you I¡¯m angry. Tomorrow I will not work. You can handle everything by yourself.¡± Xin Yanting rattled on all by herself when the line got through. Su Yan didn¡¯t take in a single word that she said. ¡°Your shoes.¡± Xin Yanting was still rambling on but Su Yan had ended the call. He walked towards the Mercedes and saw the man smoking inside. His gorgeous face was grave and solemn. When Ming Ansheng saw Su Yan, he took his last puff. He then threw the cigarette butt on the floor and stepped on it. He straightened his back to face Su Yan. Su Yan stopped two steps away from him. Chapter 1472. He Came Every Night (part Three) Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes swept past the pair of shoes in Su Yan¡¯s hand, and he pointed towards the exit. ¡°Xin Yanting just left in her car,¡± said Ming Ansheng in a soft voice. He was about to go upstairs when he saw Xin Yanting exiting the elevator. And she was still wearing slippers. Su Yan pressed his lips as he quietly studied Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng noticed how Su Yan was looking at him and deduced that he knew everything. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± he spluttered before stretching his hands to rub his face. He looked exhausted. He peered at Su Yan again and said, ¡°She isn¡¯t feeling well. Please spend more time with her.¡± He sounded so defeated and helpless. He looked as though he was suppressing all his emotions. He turned around and went back to his car. He stretched his hand to open the car door. Su Yan¡¯s voice rang behind him. ¡°Stop coming here to look for her. I haven¡¯t forgotten my grandmother¡¯s death, and I will never allow Su Yue to become the stepmother of your child.¡± His voice was like ice water being splashed on Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart. He felt that all hope was gone. The moment he was aware of the child¡¯s existence, he knew that everyone around them would object to their relationship. Everyone¡­ And he was right! Although he was close friends with Yan Rusheng, an iron-clad fact didn¡¯t change. Xinyi had caused Grandmother Wang¡¯s death. In fact, it was the reason they were unwilling to announce their relationship to the Yan family. But now¡­ even Su Yue did not want him anymore. Ming Ansheng paused and remained silent for a while before getting into his car. He pressed the ignition button and drove off. ¡­ Su Yue stayed at Su Yan¡¯s place for the next few days since she was feeling down. She didn¡¯t want to go to the Yan¡¯s. The family was so happy and blissful there, and she didn¡¯t want to affect their mood. She stayed at home and watched dramas or read novels the entire day. But most of the time, she would end up in a daze. In the late afternoon, Su Yue was lying on the rocking chair with a novel. She raised her head. Dazzling sunlight entered through the windows and it brought along some warmth. She repeatedly yawned and her eyelashes were damp with tears. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. The moment she closed her eyes, images of Ming Ansheng would appear. Since that day, they didn¡¯t meet each other. He didn¡¯t even call her at all. ¡®I will never let go of your hand¡­¡¯ ¡®Yueyue, let¡¯s get married.¡¯ Just not too long ago, he had just held her hand tightly and promised not to let her go. They were so intimate days ago, and he even asked her to marry him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re a liar!¡± Su Yue grabbed the novel and flung it against the sealed windows. Since the windows were made of reinforced glass, it didn¡¯t shatter. The novel fell to the floor and Su Yue ignored it. She rose, wiped her tears clumsily, and she walked to the liquor cabinet. She bent to open it. Su Yan was a person who loved to indulge, and he paid particular attention to the tone and mood. He would always have bottles of wine with him. When it was quiet and late at night, he would drink a glass or two and enjoy his favorite music. Su Yue took out a bottle of red wine and uncorked it. She slumped against the couch and gulped straight from the bottle. She was too hasty that she wasn¡¯t able to gulp the wine in time. It leaked out from the corners of her mouth, and the same time, tears gushed from her eyes too. They were together when they were 17 years old. They were forced to split up and now they even have a child. Naturally, they would get back together. Chapter 1473. He Came Every Night (part Four) Naturally, they would get back together. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± She finished almost half of the bottle before she paused. Her chest felt suffocated, and so she vomited out the red wine she drank earlier. Along with the cup of coffee she also had earlier. The bottle slipped out from her hands and fell to the floor. Su Yue ignored the bottle. She then grabbed a pillow and buried her face on it. She started crying at the top of her lungs. In the future, he would hold the hands of another woman and his son whenever they go to the amusement park. How blissful and perfect that scene would look. But he would no longer hold her hand. The more her heart ached, the more she couldn¡¯t stop herself from thinking. ¡­ Xuxu went to work with Yan Rusheng that day. In a short span of a week, she resumed his secretary¡¯s duties once more. After working for a week, she was tempted and couldn¡¯t stay at home the whole day anymore. Mu Li and Yan Weihong basically took care of the twins. After a tea break, Xuxu took a nap on the couch in Yan Rusheng¡¯s office. When she opened her eyes, the first thing she did was to glance at Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk. It was empty. Xuxu rubbed her eyes as she glanced in all directions searching for him. But he was nowhere in sight. She flung the blanket off her body. Her feet had just landed on the floor when the door swung open. This person didn¡¯t knock, so there was no question whoever it was. Xuxu hugged the pillow and sat there. As expected, Yan Rusheng strode in looking grave. Xuxu frowned as she scrutinized him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, you still don¡¯t know, right?¡± Yan Rusheng slammed the door and walked towards Xuxu with a cold smile on his face. His smile carried a strong hint of sarcasm, and it made Xuxu furrow her eyebrows tightly. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°You have a nephew.¡± Yan Rusheng sneered coldly. He bent to sit down beside Xuxu and stretched his hand towards the cup of tea which had already turned cold. He gulped it down. As though his body was raging with fire. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± Nephew? Who was this nephew? Xuxu blinked and she looked bewildered. ¡°What nephew?¡± She had no sister or cousins. Oh¡­ she had a sister-in-law. Yueyue! Oh, my god! Xuxu widened both her eyes and mouth in horror. ¡°Su Yue¡­ she¡­¡± Ming Ansheng wouldn¡¯t be such a jerk right?! Yueyue was only 18 and she was still in university! Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Yes. She is a stepmother now.¡± Stepmother? No matter how smart Xuxu was, she couldn¡¯t fathom anything right now. She grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°Yan Rusheng, make yourself clear. What do you mean? Ming Ansheng has a child?¡± ¡®Slam!¡¯ Yan Rusheng slammed the porcelain cup on the table and it shattered. Xuxu jumped and her face was drained of color. She blankly stared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Ah Sheng¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yan Rusheng was still incensed. ¡°That old man brought back a four-year-old son for Ming Ansheng. A chubby and a fair one to boot.¡± Xuxu said shrilly, ¡°What¡­¡± Ming Ansheng really had a child. Looking at how livid Yan Rusheng was, it wasn¡¯t a joke. ¡°What about Yueyue?¡± She instantly thought of Su Yue. She had been staying with Su Yan, and she wondered if she already knew. Chapter 1474. He Came Every Night (part Five) Yan Rusheng answered, ¡°I asked Su Yan earlier on. She was with him these couple of days.¡± He yanked at his tie, still looking furious. The reason he was so furious was that he knew how much Ming Ansheng and Su Yue had progressed. Xuxu was still looking slightly stunned. ¡°Who¡­ is the mother?¡± Yan Rusheng replied stiffly, ¡°Meiduo.¡± ¡°You mean¡­¡± Xuxu stared at him in disbelief. Her mouth was wide open and she couldn¡¯t believe what she had heard. ¡°Meiduo gave birth to Ming Ansheng¡¯s child?¡± Oh, my god! So that meant that Meiduo was pregnant when she left years ago. She had secretly brought up the child all these years. This was too unbelievable. Yan Rusheng snorted coldly in response. Xuxu thought of something and she asked, ¡°When did this happen?¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°A few days ago. That old man was too prideful so he sealed the news and made sure nobody in the family breathed a word.¡± Xuxu immediately stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go look for Yueyue now.¡± She had already scurried off. On hindsight, that lass had been staying at Su Yan¡¯s place for the past few days. Something was wrong. She was having her holidays and there was no reason for her to stay at home every day. Wouldn¡¯t she miss Meowmeow and Yangyang? But she didn¡¯t even call her at all. Something was amiss. She had been too busy that she had neglected Yueyue. Xuxu chided herself as she strode towards the elevator. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Xuxu was about to enter the elevator when a familiar voice rang. She raised her head. ¡°What happened to Su Yue these few days?¡± The lady was wearing a fiery red sweater, and she threw a sharp question at Xuxu the moment she saw her. She furrowed her eyebrows, and she sounded genuinely concerned. Xuxu frowned in confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡®Su Yue these few days¡­¡¯ Did Xin Yanting know something? Xuxu was still guessing when she heard Xin Yanting¡¯s voice. ¡°I went to Su Yan¡¯s house a couple of days ago. Her eyes were so red and swollen; it looked as though someone had punched her. Then I overheard Su Yan calling her frequently these few days¡­ as though he was worried she might do something silly.¡± Xuxu hastily interjected, ¡°General Manager Xin, I¡¯m rushing for time right now.¡± She stretched her hand to press the button. The elevator¡¯s door opened once more. She dashed in and impatiently pressed the button. Xin Yanting was left outside. ¡®Her eyes were so red and swollen; it looked as though someone had punched her¡­¡¯ So something was wrong indeed! Su Yue was aware of Ming Ansheng and Meiduo¡¯s child. This little lass! Xuxu¡¯s heart was aching for Su Yue. She went to the carpark and found Yan Rusheng¡¯s car. She drove straight to Su Yan¡¯s place. ¡­ ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ Su Yue had already fallen into slumber when she seemed to have heard the doorbell in her sleep. She flipped over, but her head felt heavy, and so she slumped back once more. ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ The doorbell rang incessantly as though it was life and death. This person was adamant about getting the door to open. Su Yue had no choice but to drag herself up. She tottered unsteadily to the door and wrenched it open. ¡°Yueyue.¡± A familiar soothing voice entered her ears and she instantly woke up. She gazed at the person at the door. Chapter 1475. He Came Every Night (part Six) She rubbed her red and swollen eyes in an attempt to stop crying, but her tears overflowed instead. At that point in time, Xuxu was the closest person to her. ¡°Silly girl, why didn¡¯t you tell me about such a huge matter?¡± Xuxu asked. Her eyes welled up in tears at the sight of Su Yue¡¯s puffy eyes. She entered and gave her a huge hug, lightly patting her back. She really needed it¡ªa hug that could bring her warmth and comfort. Xuxu smelled a strong scent of alcohol on her and she hugged her even tighter. She couldn¡¯t find the words to comfort her. She was only used to encouragement. She said, ¡°It¡¯ll all come to pass. You¡¯re still young. It¡¯ll be over in no time.¡± She only had one choice: to get over him. She would never allow Su Yue to be Ming Ansheng¡¯s child¡¯s stepmother. She was only eighteen. She had a bright future ahead of her. Su Yue nodded in between sobs. She let go of Xuxu and haphazardly wiped her tears away. But her tears flowed endlessly, no matter how hard she tried. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached at the sight. It had only been a few days since she last saw her but she had lost a lot of weight. ¡°Let it all out. It¡¯s okay,¡± Xuxu comforted, caressing her head. Su Yue collapsed into Xuxu¡¯s embrace and bawled until she had no more tears left. Over the past four to five days, she cried secretly in the night, only bawling in the daytime when there was no one at home. But she had never let it all out until today. Perhaps it was psychological, but she felt much better after it. Xuxu put on an apron and started cleaning up the mess on the coffee table. Su Yue washed her face and combed her hair before leaving the washroom. Although her eyes were still puffy, she looked much better. Xuxu put down the tablecloth and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve called your third brother. He¡¯ll be coming over with your brother later. I¡¯ll be cooking.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Both of them entered the kitchen and retrieved all the ingredients from the fridge. Su Yue was to wash the vegetables while Xuxu sliced them. ¡°Third sister-in-law, the potatoes you cut are so ugly,¡± Su Yue commented once she was done washing the vegetables. Xuxu smiled. ¡°This is already very good. I didn¡¯t know how to cook before.¡± Then she placed the knife down and started frying the vegetables. Curious, Su Yue asked, ¡°When did you learn how to cook?¡± ¡°I learned how to because your third brother frustrated me.¡± Without even knowing it, Xuxu smiled as the memories floated back into her mind. Su Yue asked, ¡°How did he frustrate you?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°When he was in university in B City, he didn¡¯t stay in the dormitories. He rented an apartment and Fang Jiayin often went over to cook for him. He was incorrigible enough to invite me every time.¡± These were her most painful and dreadful university memories, but when she recalled them today, it didn¡¯t affect her at all. Not a hint of sadness or heartache. In fact, she found it slightly amusing. Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°Why did you go? You didn¡¯t have to.¡± If it were her, she wouldn¡¯t go for sure. Chapter 1476. He Came Every Night (part Seven) She wouldn¡¯t join them if the person she liked was with another woman. She then looked downwards, and scenes, which had been haunting her the past few days, resurfaced in her mind. It was blissful scenes of Ming Ansheng and Meiduo, hand in hand with their son. Her face fell instantly. Xuxu observed her and smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice. He¡¯s a bothersome little demon and I couldn¡¯t say no to him. It would hurt me every time I saw both of them together, but I could only wipe my tears in secret when I turned away. But I got used to it after a while, and I persevered.¡± Then she smiled smugly. ¡°In the end, he ended up with me.¡± She could recall her experience of being Yan Rusheng and Fang Jiayin¡¯s ¡®light bulb¡¯ for three to four years so indifferently. But then again, if it wasn¡¯t for Fang Jiayin, she might not have ended up with Yan Rusheng. If not for Fang Jiayin, that night wouldn¡¯t have happened and she would¡¯ve left. Then she wouldn¡¯t be breathing the same air as him right now. So, she wanted Yueyue to know that everything happened for a reason. She wanted her to grow. Everyone has to make their own decisions and experience heartbreak in their youth. Every long-lasting relationship was like a diamond¡ªit had to be refined and polished to get its eventual shine. She needed to understand this, whether or not she eventually ends up with Ming Ansheng. When she understands it, she wouldn¡¯t be so devastated whenever she faces troubles in her relationships. Xuxu¡¯s words were of great encouragement to Su Yue. It lifted her mood, and she smiled. ¡°So you became indignant and learned how to cook?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xuxu nodded as he recalled another memory. ¡°He was running a high fever once and I cooked some porridge for him for the first time, but he despised it and said it tasted horrible.¡± She frowned, expressing her distaste, but she still sounded blissful and affectionate. Su Yue snorted. ¡°So you unleashed this bad habit of his.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°The vegetables are burnt.¡± Suddenly, a burnt smell filled the air. Xuxu hurriedly stirred the vegetables in the wok before chiding Su Yue, ¡°This is all your fault. You kept talking to me.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Nonsense. You were the one getting love-struck at the mention of my third brother.¡± ¡°Little Lass, you¡¯ve gone astray.¡± Xuxu knocked her head unhappily. ¡­ After the meal, all of them sat on the sofa watching television. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng stood up and prepared to leave. Su Yue walked them to the door. They put on their shoes and Xuxu asked Su Yue, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to follow me back?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Su Yue shook her head. Then she looked at Su Yan and smiled. ¡°My brother is very lonely here. I¡¯ll keep him company.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yan was still sitting on the sofa. When he heard Su Yue¡¯s words, he thanked her teasingly. Xuxu decided not to force her and smiled. ¡°Then your third brother and I will get going. Let¡¯s go shopping this weekend. It¡¯ll be Chinese New Year¡¯s in ten days¡¯ time.¡± Su Yue nodded. She sent them out and watched them enter the lift. She then turned around and headed back into the house. She closed the door and walked to the sofa, sitting down beside Su Yan. Chapter 1477. He Came Every Night (part Eight) Su Yan looked askew at her and smiled. ¡°You seemed to be pretty happy when you were chatting with Xuxu in the kitchen.¡± It shocked Su Yue. ¡°You heard it?¡± Su Yan smiled. ¡°We both did.¡± ¡­ Xuxu and Yan Rusheng exited the lift. Suddenly, he sped up and walked in front of Xuxu, though, back-facing her. Without a word, he piggy-backed her when she wasn¡¯t looking. His actions were smooth and practiced. It startled Xuxu. She pounded his shoulder heavily with her fist and cried, ¡°Hey¡­ Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?¡± ¡°You said it, I¡¯m a bothersome little demon.¡± Yan Rusheng carried her towards the carpark. A cold gust of wind blew at them and Xuxu instinctively hugged his neck, placing her body even closer to his. ¡°Great. The nerve of you to eavesdrop on my conversation with Yueyue,¡± Xuxu said as she lowered her head and bit his neck. She sucked hard on his neck, trying to leave a mark on his skin. Let him have a taste of what it feels like to meet people with lovebites on his skin. Hmph! She sucked for a while and was about to check whether she had succeeded, when Yan Rusheng mischievously said, ¡°Suck harder. Give me a few more. I¡¯ll wear a T-shirt that reveals my neck tomorrow. I¡¯ll let everyone see how fierce my wife is.¡± Xuxu immediately moved away from his neck and stared at the area she had sucked earlier. There was an obvious mark. She was speechless! She shouldn¡¯t have done that¡­ ¡°You must wear a scarf tomorrow,¡± she warned Yan Rusheng since she couldn¡¯t remove the stain. Yan Rusheng was smug. ¡°I have to wear a T-shirt. This is the first time you¡¯re so coquettish.¡± Wh¡ªWhat? Xuxu couldn¡¯t believe what she just heard. ¡°What did you call me?¡± Coquettish? Yan Rusheng could hear the threat in her voice so he feigned ignorance and explained, ¡°I said, this is the first time you¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Xuxu interrupted her. ¡°Yan Rusheng, if you say that one more time, I¡¯ll beat you to death.¡± Then she struggled in an attempt to get off his back. ¡°Put me down.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her tightly. ¡°No.¡± Xuxu was actually enjoying being carried on his back. How she wished that he could carry her forever. She gave up on struggling and leaned her face gently on his back. She pouted and whined, ¡°Wear a scarf tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. Then he added, ¡°But you have to be more proactive tonight. I want a sixty-nine again.¡± ¡°Shut up, Yan Rusheng.¡± Xuxu covered his mouth and looked around as a blush crept to her face. After ensuring that there was nobody in sight, she glared at him menacingly. ¡°Continue being so despicable and I¡¯ll rip your mouth apart.¡± This fellow had no qualms about saying anything inappropriate in public. He¡­ he had the nerve to talk about this matter. Even the mere thought of it made her blush profusely. Yan Rusheng nodded, his expression serious. ¡°I like it when you use your mouth. Your skills are not bad at all.¡± Then he carried her a bit higher and quickened his steps. His statement had Xuxu dumbfounded. Her face was so warm she could fry eggs on them. She bowed her head and pressed her forehead against his back. Chapter 1478. He Came Every Night (part Nine) She thought that he would stop there, but after a moment of silence, he seemed to have suddenly recalled something. So he turned to look at her. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I didn¡¯t know that you were so smug to call me yours.¡± This time, he intentionally raised his voice, resulting in echoes. Then he slowed his pace. Xuxu ignored him. He nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m yours. My entire body from head to toe, every strand of hair on my body belongs to you.¡± ¡°Lecherous and despicable,¡± Xuxu commented. Annoyed, she patted his buttocks once. ¡°Faster.¡± Yan Rusheng mischievously said, ¡°Wife, I didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re so eager to ride me¡­ It seems like you¡¯re addicted to being in control after the night I was drunk.¡± His statement had Xuxu dumbfounded. She had wanted to ridicule him, but he succeeded at turning things around and making a fool out of her instead. She was better off remaining silent. But why was he walking so slow? Could it be that¡­ he enjoyed this feeling, just like her? Finally, they reached their car. Yan Rusheng placed Xuxu onto the ground. Xuxu started digging out the car keys from her bag. Suddenly, Yan Rusheng grabbed her waist with one hand and supported the back of her head with the other. He bent down and kissed her on the lips. She didn¡¯t have time to react. She widened her eyes and stared at his handsome face in confusion. Yan Rusheng only let go of her when both of them were almost out of breath. Xuxu frowned and asked in confusion, ¡°What was that for?¡± She felt that something was amiss. It was too sudden. ¡°Tormenting someone through public display of affection!¡± Young Master Yan arrogantly rolled his eyes at Xuxu before taking the keys from her and unlocking the car. He opened the door and got into the car. ¡°Torment someone?¡± Xuxu asked. However, Yan Rusheng had already gotten into the car. She hurriedly jogged to the front passenger seat and got into the car. As she buckled her seatbelt, she asked, ¡°What do you mean? Torment who?¡± The car had already started. Yan Rusheng was gripping the steering wheel when he flashed her a cold and sarcastic smirk. It confused Xuxu even more. What did this fellow have up his sleeve? After the champagne-colored Bentley disappeared from view, the man in the black Mercedes got out of the car and disposed of his cigarette butt. He stared intently at the exit of the carpark. Being with someone you love is always bliss. And although his relationship with Yueyue was short, they were still blissful too. His white shirt was crumpled from sitting too long, but it didn¡¯t affect his charisma and appearance. He leaned against the car door with one hand tucked into his pocket and the other playing with a silver lighter. ¡°Sir, are you not a resident here?¡± The security guard on patrol walked over to him and asked politely. ¡°No.¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head. He stared at his lighter, not looking up at him. ¡°But¡­¡± The security guard hesitated before adding, ¡°I always see your car entering the carpark in our district.¡± He chose the indirect approach, hoping that Ming Ansheng would understand what he was hinting at. Of course, Ming Ansheng understood him, but he didn¡¯t explain himself. He raised his eyebrow and asked him coolly, ¡°Did I not pay the parking fees?¡± ¡°No, no. Of course not.¡± The security guard foolishly smiled and shook his head. He then left in a hurry. Why would the small parking fee concern him when he was driving such an expensive car? Chapter 1479. He Came Every Night (part Ten) There were no regulations that stated cars with unregistered car plate numbers weren¡¯t allowed into the carpark. So, he didn¡¯t have a reason to ask so many questions. Ming Ansheng played with the lighter in his hand while he waited for the security guard to leave. He looked upwards and heaved a heavy sigh. Aish¡­ Why did he come here every night? He didn¡¯t know either. Perhaps¡­ he was closer to Yueyue this way, even though he couldn¡¯t see her. If he wasn¡¯t worthy of her, he would stand the closest he could to her, and watch her grow up. ¡­ During the weekend, Xuxu drove over to pick Su Yue up. Xuxu picked the most luxurious mall in the capital city, and she felt the difference once she entered. She didn¡¯t pursue luxury. But she had to give Su Yue the best. Since it was a festive period, people crowded the mall even though it was full of luxury stores. Although it wasn¡¯t as noisy as a typical mall, there were people everywhere. ¡°Hey, can¡¯t you say something nicer?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Your boyfriend is really handsome, alright?¡± Two girls were chatting happily in front of them, and Xuxu looked over. They were fifteen or sixteen, a drink in their hands as they carried a backpack. They bantered as they walked. Suddenly, Xuxu recalled something. She asked, ¡°Yueyue, why haven¡¯t you been in contact with Bai Jing recently?¡± Although Su Yue was always at Su Yan¡¯s place, Su Yan told Xuxu that Bai Jing never visited Su Yue¡ªnot even once. Su Yue could always talk to Bai Jing about anything. There was no reason for Su Yue to keep the whole Ming Ansheng incident from her. If Bai Jing knew, why didn¡¯t she visit Yueyue since it was the holidays? ¡°She¡¯s very busy,¡± Su Yue replied. Then she bowed her head. Xuxu frowned at her. ¡°You fought?¡± ¡°No.¡± Su Yue shook her head. Then she pointed at a luxury store and grabbed Xuxu, saying, ¡°That outfit on the mannequin looks good. Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s go over. I want to try it on.¡± With her change of subject, Xuxu was even more certain that she had a tiff with Bai Jing. But she didn¡¯t ask her about it. She only advised, ¡°Yueyue, Bai Jing will go overseas after Chinese New Year. You should spend more time with her.¡± Su Yue released her grip on Xuxu¡¯s elbow and nodded gently. ¡°Alright.¡± Much to her dismay, deep down, she was sad. Xuxu observed her reaction and pressed her lips. Then she smiled and said, ¡°That outfit indeed looks good. You should try it on.¡± She dragged Su Yue towards the store. ¡°Xuxu.¡± When they reached the entrance of the store, someone called out to her from behind them. It was a female voice. Xuxu turned around to see a thin, slender woman wearing a black tight-fitting long skirt walking towards them. She had thin makeup on. Although she was pretty, upon careful observation, she didn¡¯t look too good. She drew closer and shock flashed across Xuxu¡¯s eyes when she recognized her. ¡°Meiduo?¡± Meiduo stopped in front of them and smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that you¡¯d be able to recognize me after so many years.¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed much. But you¡¯ve lost a lot of weight.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here to buy clothes?¡± Meiduo asked before looking at Su Yue. ¡°Yes.¡± Xuxu nodded. When she saw Meiduo looking at Su Yue, she pulled her over and introduced, ¡°This is my younger sister, Su Yue.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve met,¡± Meiduo said with a smile. ¡°Actually, I followed both of you here because I wanted to have a talk with Su Yue.¡± Her tone and the smile on her face was genuine. Chapter 1480. He Came Every Night (part Eleven) When they heard her, Su Yue and Xuxu were both startled. Su Yue looked up at her before bowing her head and kicking the floor. Meiduo didn¡¯t look at Xuxu¡¯s reaction. She stared at Su Yue and smiled. ¡°Su Yue, you¡¯re not scared of me, right?¡± Her gentle tone and the soft look in her eyes showed that she meant no harm. She was still as frank and genuine as ever. Although they weren¡¯t close back then, they had interacted a few times. Meiduo was a pretty good person. She didn¡¯t change much the past few years¡ªshe was still so straightforward. Her presence was comforting. Xuxu fell into a reverie as she looked at Meiduo. Su Yue and Meiduo were of completely different personalities. Did Ming Ansheng¡¯s taste change after so many years? ¡®If Professor Mu and you both fell into the sea, I would choose to save you first¡­¡¯ Suddenly, Yan Rusheng¡¯s words floated into her mind. She retracted her gaze and lowered her head with a smile. Perhaps they didn¡¯t love each other deeply enough back then. How else would they have broken up so easily? When he was with Meiduo, they could date normally. But with Yueyue, every step came with hesitation and struggle and all kinds of moral dilemmas. So now, the one having the hardest time was Ming Ansheng. Su Yue looked up and frowned at Meiduo. ¡°Why would I be afraid of you?¡± Her act of indifference and arrogance was so innocent in Meiduo¡¯s eyes. Meiduo chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s good. Do you mind having a conversation with me then?¡± Xuxu smiled, choosing not to interfere. She thought she had given Su Yue so much advice. It was time for her to face her problems herself. Su Yue kept her eyebrows furrowed. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± Meiduo raised her eyebrow with a smile. ¡°What else?¡± She stared at Su Yue, failing to treat her as a mature adult, a woman. Never did she imagine that a matured and steady man would fall for a¡­ a young lass that looked like she was still in middle school. Perhaps his growing-up years were too complicated. Maybe he was looking for a pure and innocent relationship. Meiduo¡¯s thoughts were racing. Su Yue pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°There is a dessert shop at the entrance. You guys can go ahead. I¡¯ll walk around.¡± Meiduo nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue frowned at Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law¡­¡± She instinctively stretched out her hands to grab Xuxu¡¯s sleeve. Before Xuxu could say anything, Meiduo cut in, ¡°Su Yue, didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯re not afraid of me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that I¡¯m afraid of you,¡± Su Yue bit back. She turned around and headed towards the entrance. Meiduo watched her child-like back view and shook her head, amused. She followed after her. Her high heels produced a sound as she walked, and it sounded so graceful and refined. Su Yue entered the dessert shop. Although there were many people, there was a right amount of silent. It seemed like all the patrons of the mall were posh and cultured. Even if they weren¡¯t, at a place like this, they had to act like they were. They talked softly and covered their mouths when they laughed, showing off their manicured nails. Su Yue entered and walked to the counter. ¡°Welcome,¡± the staff greeted. Su Yue turned around to ask Meiduo, ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± Chapter 1481. He Came Every Night (part Twelve) She didn¡¯t greet her and sounded rather aloof. Meiduo walked to Su Yue and she propped an elbow on the counter, looking lazy. Meiduo smiled lightly. ¡°I like it when you address me as Sister Meiduo.¡± Sister¡­ Sister¡­ Su Yue unconsciously thought of those palace dramas where concubines who entered the palace first were the older sisters. She pursed her lips. ¡°You are not my sister.¡± At that moment, her eyes turned red so she turned her face away from Meiduo. Meiduo stopped teasing her and told the waiter. ¡°A glass of lemon water.¡± ¡°I want orange juice.¡± Su Yue took out her purse to pay. All the other seats seemed taken, so they randomly chose two seats. Su Yue settled herself against the chair and sat across Meiduo. Meiduo had long loose curls and it seemed as though she had voluminous hair. But on closer inspection, her hair seemed to thin down. But she could dress herself up well. ¡°Ming Ansheng is sick,¡± said Meiduo suddenly. Su Yue heard her and her heart skipped a beat. She grunted before bowing her head. Meiduo glanced at her and asked gently, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to visit him?¡± ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Su Yue raised her head and frowned at her. She seemed to question Meiduo. She brought his child back. Wasn¡¯t she planning to reconcile with him? She really couldn¡¯t understand why she was asking her to visit him now. Meiduo answered, ¡°He is unwilling to accept treatment and medicine. Perhaps he will if you visit him.¡± Su Yue coldly answered, ¡°He has you.¡± Her juice arrived and she absent-mindedly stirred it. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to drink. Her mind and heart were all over the place. Meiduo sighed heavily. ¡°If I could convince him, I wouldn¡¯t have come looking for you.¡± She bowed her head and gave a rather sarcastic smile. Her slender fingers were holding the straw and she too was absentmindedly stirring her drink. Su Yue rejected her without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°Actually¡­¡± Meiduo pressed her lips as though she was forcing herself. She contemplated briefly before saying, ¡°Actually, all I want is for you to accept the child¡­ that is all.¡± She looked at Su Yue seriously in the eyes. Her eyes twinkling with expectation, guilt, and sorrow. Su Yue peered at her and solemnly asked, ¡°What about you?¡± She just needed to accept the child? She wasn¡¯t getting back with Ming Ansheng? Then why did she bring the child back? Meiduo gazed at Su Yue and her eyes were getting watery. She pressed her lips tightly and she seemed to shiver. As though she was suppressing all her emotions. Was she going to cry? Su Yue frowned when she noticed Meiduo¡¯s expression. What was this woman trying to do? She was the one who looked for her. And now she seemed so pitiful. She raised her chin and coldly answered, ¡°I¡¯m not the child¡¯s mother. I don¡¯t want such a big child. I¡¯m still so young.¡± She must be afraid that she would snatch Uncle Ming away. Sigh. She had no idea why Meiduo was so worried. They were each other¡¯s first love and they were forced to break up. But now that they have a child and they would certainly end up together again. Why was she still so afraid? Su Yue raised the glass and took a sip in a bid to appear nonchalant. Chapter 1482. He Came Every Night (part Thirteen) Meiduo was speechless¡­ She was originally feeling melancholic when Su Yue¡¯s words cracked her up. She curled her lips into a weak smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to take care of him. Ming Ansheng¡¯s family¡­ there will be someone to take care of him since there are so many servants. You won¡¯t need to.¡± Su Yue coldly replied, ¡°But he is still Ming Ansheng¡¯s son. That is a fact. So I refuse.¡± Meiduo smiled and she steered the topic away. ¡°Su Yue, Ming Ansheng is seriously unwell. And he refuses to go to the hospital. Chinese New Year is coming¡­¡± Su Yue bowed her head and muttered under her breath, ¡°He is always like this.¡± Before, he refused to take medicine too. Just like a child, he was willful and enjoyed throwing tantrums in that way. Meiduo sighed quietly to herself. Indeed, he was always¡­ He had assumed that he would get his grandfather¡¯s concern and pity if he got sick. If he didn¡¯t take medicine or get admitted to the hospital, he thought that his grandfather would relent and give in to him. But time after time, he was the one who suffered. After umpteen times, he should have lost all hope in gaining pity from his grandfather. So he was using this method to gain pity from someone else. Meiduo glanced at Su Yue and deliberated, ¡°Actually he isn¡¯t that strong and mature. Sometimes¡­ he can get a little childish.¡± Su Yue interrupted her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me how well you know him.¡± She sounded furious and jealous. She was really jealous. Meiduo was startled as she stared at Su Yue. ¡°Do you honestly think I¡¯m such a person?¡± Su Yue bit her straw and hid her face from view by hanging her head low. She didn¡¯t answer. She knew that Meiduo loved Ming Ansheng and that she was his first love. Now, she even brought their child back. Despite that, she still didn¡¯t dislike her. Since she knew was that they were forced to break up against their will. She even felt pity for her sometimes. Being forced to leave the man she loved, she must have suffered. She and Ming Ansheng had just gotten together, and she felt that she was being smothered at the thought of leaving him. Su Yue didn¡¯t reply and Meiduo smiled. She was truly happy and relieved. She quipped, ¡°So you need to visit him and advise him to go to the hospital. His stomach is acting up once more.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve overestimated me.¡± Su Yue scoffed coldly at Meiduo. ¡°I¡¯m not as important as you think.¡± If that wasn¡¯t the case, why didn¡¯t he look for her at all? He didn¡¯t even call or text her. Actually, at his age, he would have weighed the pros and cons properly. Furthermore, he was such a mature and level-headed guy. He had a four-year-old son and that should delight him. Jealousy consumed Su Yue once more, and her eyes turned red. Meiduo sat in silence too, looking composed and unruffled. Su Yue was having a hard time trying to put on a facade by pretending to be unruffled by everything. ¡°My third sister-in-law is waiting for me. I need to go.¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and she didn¡¯t want to look at her anymore. She picked up her drink and stood up. After she bade Meiduo goodbye, she left without another word. Meiduo gazed at Su Yue¡¯s tiny figure and a bitter smile played at the corners of her mouth. She gripped her fingers tightly. ¡­ After Su Yue met Meiduo, she lost all interest in shopping. Chapter 1483. He Came Every Night (part Fourteen) Su Yue bought nothing. No matter what Xuxu pointed at, she looked disinterested and merely shook her head. In the afternoon, they ate at a restaurant in the mall. The shopping mall was the most luxurious mall in the capital city. All wealthy people came here to buy world-class brands. Xuxu had grown up with the Yan family, so she knew most of the wealthy families in the capital city. It was nearing Chinese New Year and the shopping frenzy had begun. They had bumped into countless familiar faces that day. Xuxu tried to avoid as many as she could, those that she didn¡¯t manage to, she fled after greeting them. In the posh Western restaurant, they got a corner table. But to no avail, acquaintances still spotted her. ¡°Third Madam Yan.¡± A middle-aged man walked enthusiastically towards her. Xuxu smiled politely. ¡°President Zhang, you are here for lunch?¡± The man smiled happily and said, ¡°I¡¯m here with my wife and children.¡± ¡°Third Madam Yan, you haven¡¯t had lunch?¡± President Zhang didn¡¯t give her a chance to speak, and he suggested politely, ¡°Can I have the honor of giving you a treat?¡± Xuxu kicked Su Yue under the table. Su Yue immediately understood and she frowned at President Zhang. ¡°I don¡¯t like to eat with a group of people.¡± President Zhang was awkward and he smiled at Su Yue. ¡°This must be Miss Su Yue.¡± ¡°She is my sister, Su Yue,¡± Xuxu answered politely and smiled apologetically. ¡°Sorry President Zhang, Yueyue isn¡¯t too comfortable with strangers.¡± ¡°Next time then¡­¡± President Zhang couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment. Xuxu smiled and the man departed. Their food arrived. ¡°Third Madam Yan, Miss Su, what a coincidence.¡± Su Yue and Xuxu had barely started eating when someone strode over. They both turned their heads at the same time, and their expressions changed instantly, too. ¡°President Lei, what a coincidence.¡± Xuxu placed her cutlery back on the table before faking a stiff smile at Lei Yong. When she saw the girl behind him, her expression softened instantly. Lei Yong walked up to them and his eyes scanned the table of food. He glanced at Su Yue and politely said, ¡°It¡¯s the holidays, and I kept urging Xiaojing to invite Miss Su over to our place. But Miss Su had rejected our invitation.¡± Su Yue bowed her head and avoided Lei Yong¡¯s gaze. Actually, she was trying to avoid Bai Jing. They used to be close friends who could talk about everything under the sun. Now, she didn¡¯t even know how to face her and she didn¡¯t want to. Xuxu smiled at Lei Yong and answered on Su Yue¡¯s behalf. ¡°Other than Bai Jing, Su Yue isn¡¯t familiar with any of your family members. She would be awkward there. Bai Jing can come to our place instead.¡± Su Yue protested hastily. ¡°No! Don¡¯t come to our house! I¡¯m staying at my brother¡¯s place.¡± She didn¡¯t want Bai Jing to go to their house. She didn¡¯t want her to even look at her third brother. Her response startled both Xuxu and Bai Jing. Bai Jing, who was hiding behind Lei Yong, fell silent as her eyes gleamed coldly. She hid her face from view, successfully hiding her emotions. Xuxu assumed that they had merely bickered and that Su Yue was still angry with Bai Jing. But it wasn¡¯t the right time to give her a piece of advice. Chapter 1484. He Came Every Night (part Fifteen) Xuxu glanced at Su Yue and she smiled rather helplessly. She turned to face Lei Yong. ¡°President Lei, if there is nothing else, we would like to have our meal now.¡± Although she was smiling, her tone clearly showed that she wanted to end the conversation. Lei Yong nodded politely. ¡°Please go ahead.¡± He turned around and departed. Bai Jing glanced at Xuxu and the corners of her mouth sank sadly. She turned around too and trailed after Lei Yong. Xuxu watched as they left. She tore her eyes away from them and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong with you and Bai Jing?¡± ¡°Nothing much. She is going abroad soon, isn¡¯t she?¡± Su Yue muttered as she avoided Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Xuxu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you angry with her for leaving you behind?¡± Su Yue shook her head and answered, ¡°No.¡± She hung her head to hide her face. She felt guilty and didn¡¯t dare to look at Xuxu in the eye. If one-day Third sister-in-law found out about the truth, would she blame her? Would she be disappointed or enraged? Xuxu had no idea what Su Yue was thinking of. ¡°Your third brother and I have discussed and we decided to send her abroad. If she continues to stay here, she can never leave the Lei family. They will hinder her.¡± Su Yue raised her head in surprise, and she looked visibly emotional. Xuxu smiled. ¡°Going abroad is for her own good. We have her best interests.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law¡­ you¡¯re so nice.¡± Su Yue sniffed and pressed her lips. Third sister-in-law was too nice to Bai Jing. How could Bai Jing have ulterior motives towards her third brother? What if she didn¡¯t lose her way and bump into them? Then what would happen to Third Brother and Third sister-in-law? She brought Bai Jing to the event that day. If Bai Jing had succeeded in seducing her third brother, she could never forgive herself. Xuxu stretched her hand and stroked Su Yue¡¯s hair. ¡°Silly lass, don¡¯t be angry anymore. If you ignore her, she will be sad.¡± ¡°I got it,¡± Su Yue agreed, nodding her head. She took a sip of the water, looking troubled. Bai Jing¡­ how she wished that she would be the old Bai Jing that she knew. ¡­ After they left the restaurant, Bai Jing hastened her footsteps. Lei Yong caught up with her and grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s elbow after a short distance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you fall out with that illegitimate daughter?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Bai Jing flung Lei Yong¡¯s hand away and ignored his question. She quickened her footsteps. Her eyes were gleaming with coldness. She balled her hands into fists that her fingernails dug into her flesh. ¡®No! Don¡¯t come to our house! I¡¯m staying at my brother¡¯s place¡­¡¯ Forget about being best friends or sisters forever. Bai Jing¡¯s expression turned sinister. Lei Yong darted to block her path, but she raised her head and looked like she was about to murder him. Lei Yong slightly shuddered when he met her eyes. He was momentarily startled before narrowing his eyes. ¡°Are you plotting something recently?¡± Bai Jing blinked and smiled innocently. ¡°Second Brother, what do you think I am trying to do?¡± Lei Yong scoffed coldly. ¡°Bai Jing, you¡¯re a tough one.¡± ¡°Stop wasting time, mom is waiting for us,¡± said Bai Jing as she swept past Lei Yong. Lei Yong followed her closely and said, ¡°You should treat us as your family. We should stand united. If the Lei family is doing well, you will stand to benefit too.¡± Chapter 1485. He Came Every Night (part Sixteen) ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Bai Jing smirked to herself. Her smile and tone were full of sarcasm. Only a fool would believe him. Stand united as a family? What rights did she have? And who were they to her? Bai Jing refused to even glance at Lei Yong. Lei Yong realized that she was becoming more defiant and he sneered coldly. ¡°I simply cannot understand why you are so adamant about keeping your chastity.¡± It annoyed Bai Jing, and so she snapped at him. ¡°Second Brother, stop saying all these. I have done everything you asked me to. What else do you want me to do?¡± She furrowed her eyebrows. She would have lashed out at him if they weren¡¯t in a posh mall and if there weren¡¯t people around. She was a tough nut to crack. It wasn¡¯t her first time retaliating, and she could still endure the pain or the humiliation. Lei Yong sneered coldly. ¡°I have to admit, you¡¯re really smart. You manage to find a way out each time.¡± Bai Jing overlooked his last statement and strode quickly away. ¡°Bai Jing.¡± A familiar voice sounded behind her. Hatred filled her eyes as she froze. She turned around with a smile in the next moment. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Su Yue scurried towards Bai Jing and she stopped in front of her, panting. She glanced at Lei Yong before she faced Bai Jing. ¡°Let¡¯s talk in private.¡± Lei Yong joked, ¡°Why can¡¯t I listen to the conversation?¡± Su Yue really loathed Lei Yong, and she felt disgusted just by looking at him. She sneered coldly. ¡°It¡¯s girls talk. Are you a girl?¡± ¡°Miss Su, you¡¯re hilarious.¡± Lei Yong chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯m really sincere about inviting you over to our place. You¡¯re such good friends with Bai Jing.¡± Although he didn¡¯t manage to work with Flourish & Prosper previously, Yan Rusheng did help Grand Prosperity Molds to clinch a huge deal. They reaped a huge profit from it. Yan Rusheng had merely referred them and he benefited so much. If only this lass was on their side, she would be a golden goose that lays golden eggs for them. Su Yue smirked, looking cold. ¡°In the future, you won¡¯t have any chance to use Bai Jing to get near me.¡± Lei Yong didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Miss Su, what do you mean?¡± Bai Jing¡¯s face hardened and she cut across Su Yue. ¡°Let¡¯s chat next time. My mother is waiting for me.¡± She tugged at Lei Yong¡¯s arm and dragged him along. Lei Yong¡¯s eyes gleamed with suspicion. He turned to eye Su Yue before glancing at Bai Jing. When he thought of what Su Yue had just said, his eyes flickered coldly. ¡°Bai Jing, what was that lass talking about?¡± He shrewdly narrowed his eyes at Bai Jing. Bai Jing feigned nonchalance. ¡°Nothing much, we fell out. Can¡¯t you tell? She won¡¯t even allow me to go to her house.¡± But the more she tried to hide the truth, the more conspicuous it became. Lei Yong wasn¡¯t a fool. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you plotting to leave the family?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Bai Jing shook her head. She cannot afford to let him know that she was going abroad. She would be safe once she leaves. She would never come back. They finally got to the first floor where the main doors were. Bai Jing¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated. She fumbled for her phone and glanced at the screen. She narrowed her eyes and frowned before stashing her phone away. And she hastened her footsteps. Lei Yong sensed that Bai Jing was hiding something and he snatched her bag away. ¡°Let me see who that is.¡± Chapter 1486. He Came Every Night (part Seventeen) ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Bai Jing panicked and tried to snatch it back from him. ¡°Those are my messages. What right do you have to look at them?¡± But Lei Yong didn¡¯t give in to her. He took the phone out of her bag and the screen showed the message which she just received. Lei Yong¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Bai Jing, so you¡¯re secretly planning to move overseas.¡± He gritted his teeth menacingly. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Bai Jing snatched her bag from him when he wasn¡¯t looking. Her actions were swift. However, her phone fell to the ground, with its screen cracking in the process. She hurriedly picked it up and ran for it before Lei Yong could grab her. She ran towards the main road. Lei Yong didn¡¯t manage to catch up with her. His eyes dangerously gleamed when he saw her leave in a cab. ¡®Hmph! Bai Jing, you¡¯ll never escape from my clutches.¡¯ ¡­ Xuxu and Su Yue shopped until three in the afternoon. They returned to the Yan¡¯s. Su Yue missed the twins since she hadn¡¯t seen them in days. She carried them around and couldn¡¯t bear to put them down. At night, Su Yan came over for dinner and to fetch her home. Yan Weihong chatted with Yan Rusheng and Su Yan about work over dinner. Su Yue and Su Yan left at eight p.m. Su Yan drove into the carpark and parked in their designated lot. Su Yue unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. Su Yan followed after her. ¡°Mr. Su.¡± When they walked out of the carpark, a security guard suddenly ran towards them. Su Yan looked at him in confusion. ¡°Yes?¡± The security guard smiled. ¡°Do you know the owner of a black Mercedes S350, car plate number XXXX?¡± Su Yue froze. Wasn¡¯t that Uncle Ming¡¯s car? Su Yan was about to say no, but he saw Su Yue¡¯s reaction and he understood. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The security guard smiled and said, ¡°He comes every night and stays overnight in the carpark, only leaving at four to five a.m. the next day. We watched the surveillance footage and saw that you had a conversation with him on a particular night last week.¡± Su Yan replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got it. It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. We¡¯re just ensuring that you know him.¡± He nodded politely at Su Yan. ¡°Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Su.¡± Then he left. Su Yan glanced at his retreating figure and looked askew at Su Yue. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yue nodded and followed behind him. She kept her head bowed and her heart¡­ pounded wildly. ¡®He comes every night and stays overnight in the car park, only leaving at four to five a.m. the next day¡­¡¯ So he came over every night? But why? But why didn¡¯t he look for her then? Su Yue¡¯s mind was racing as she followed Su Yan into the lift. Su Yan was watching her the entire walk back. He raised his eyebrow at her when they exited the lift. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Su Yue replied, shaking her head and smiling at him. Su Yan asked, ¡°What did you buy when you went shopping with Xuxu today?¡± ¡°Oh, I left them at third sister-in-law¡¯s place.¡± Su Yue smiled and added, ¡°I even chose a tie for you. It¡¯ll definitely look good on you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Trust my taste.¡± Su Yan smiled. ¡°I trust Xuxu¡¯s taste more.¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°I was the one who chose it.¡± Su Yan smiled and said nothing further. He took out his keys and opened the door. Chapter 1487. He Came Every Night (part Seventeen) Once they entered, Su Yue looked at his handsome face. She bit her lip and hesitated before asking, ¡°Brother, do you like third sister-in-law?¡± Su Yan momentarily froze. But before she could notice, he frowned immediately. ¡°Why did you even say that?¡± Su Yue ordered, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to like third sister-in-law.¡± Her third brother and third sister-in-law¡¯s love story was so beautiful. She would not allow anyone to ruin it. Su Yan frowned and feigned annoyance. ¡°Is your third brother more important than me?¡± ¡°That has nothing to do with this,¡± Su Yue argued. She changed into her slippers and entered the house. She went to the washroom to wash her hands before slumping on the sofa. She took out her phone from her bag and glanced at the screen, only to see two notifications regarding the latest news. She was disappointed. ¡°I have some things to do. You should shower and sleep early.¡± Su Yan walked past her and walked straight into the study. Su Yue replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ , barely processing what he said. She placed her phone down and picked up the television remote, turning the television on. A matchmaking show was on. A few female guests were on stage, debating and analyzing like lawyers who the male guest should choose. Their words were ruthless. She frowned and changed the channel. She didn¡¯t believe that these women couldn¡¯t find boyfriends. They only went on this program so that their faces would be shown on the big screens for everyone to see. Su Yue cursed under her breath as she switched channels. A war drama was showing on the next channel where a soldier lifted up an invader and threw him off the high city walls. A gruesome sight. She had no inkling about what was going on. She switched channels a few times, all of them not to her liking. Finally, she turned off the television. She flung the remote control onto the coffee table, almost breaking it. ¡®His stomach is acting up again, but he refuses to go to the hospital or eat his medication¡­¡¯ When she finally calmed down, Meiduo¡¯s words from kept replaying in her mind. She took off her slippers and hugged her legs, resting her chin on her knees. She frowned and was in a dilemma. ¡®He comes every night and stays overnight in the carpark¡­¡¯ But why? Why? Su Yue buried her head in her hands and scratched her head in frustration. Her eyes turned red. The previous time his stomach acted up, he didn¡¯t want to go to the hospital either. He ended up losing so much weight that her heart ached when she saw him. Su Yan didn¡¯t leave the study once he entered. Time ticked by, and Su Yue felt like she was at a dead end. She couldn¡¯t find the exit and neither did she know the right direction to go in. She felt very lost and helpless. She picked up her phone. It was almost eleven p.m. She opened her WeChat and scrolled through Moments. Zhou Shuang had posted a few photos of her belly and her supper. She captioned it, ¡®Although it doesn¡¯t look good, it¡¯s not too bad for your first try.¡¯ She sounded so blissful. Su Yue pressed her lips and smiled with relief, but her smile revealed a little bitterness and¡­ a little jealousy. ¡®In the end, he was still mine.¡¯ Persistence doesn¡¯t guarantee success, but the lack of it guarantees failure. In the blink of an eye, another ten minutes had passed. She looked at the clock. It was past eleven. The door to Su Yan¡¯s study was still closed. Su Yue glanced at his door, her eyes filled with determination. Chapter 1488. He Came Every Night (part Nineteen) She grabbed her phone and left the house. Afraid of alerting Su Yan, she closed the door gently. She walked to the lift landing and realized that something was amiss. She looked downwards and saw that she was still in her home slippers. She turned around before realizing that she had forgotten her keys. After some thought, she decided to keep them on. The door to the study opened and Su Yan walked out. He stared at the door that Su Yue had just closed before sighing helplessly. ¡°Aish!¡± Then he turned around and entered the study once more. In the lift, Su Yue hugged herself. She looked up at the screen and watched the numbers decrease, her heart beating wildly. Uncertainty, excitement, anticipation as well as¡­ hesitation. The screen finally displayed ¡®basement two¡¯, and the doors opened. A cold gust of wind hit her and she hugged herself tighter. She walked out of the lift, looking around. ¡­ In the black Mercedes, the man was lying down in the driver¡¯s seat. White shrouds of smoke dissipated out of the window. He stared blankly at the roof of the car. He looked completely distressed. ¡°The security guard said that you¡¯ll get 50 percent off when you buy a whole year¡¯s worth of parking fees.¡± Suddenly, a clear female voice sounded from outside the car. The man froze and the cigarette in his hand quivered. When the accumulated smoke had dissipated, he turned to look out of the window, meeting a pair of bright eyes. ¡°Yueyue!¡± He felt guilty and hurriedly disposed of the cigarette in his hand, as though he was caught red-handed. Then he adjusted his clothes and opened the door. He then got out of the car. ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Su Yue chided as her heart ached for him. Ming Ansheng, however, frowned and kept silent. Su Yue¡¯s eyes turned red. She pushed him. ¡°I said, are you stupid?¡± In her agitation, she used too much force and Ming Ansheng fell back two steps, his weak body almost unable to steady himself. ¡°You¡¯re sick and you don¡¯t know how to go to the hospital? You don¡¯t know how to eat medication?¡± She pushed him again. Her eyes welled up with tears. This time, Ming Ansheng kept his footing. His hands by his side moved slightly but he didn¡¯t extend them. He gazed intensely at Su Yue, and in a deep voice he said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not crying.¡± Su Yue rubbed her eyes. Her eyes were red and her eyelashes were wet. But she stubbornly said, ¡°I won¡¯t cry. What¡¯s there to cry about? Your first love is back with your five-year-old son. I should congratulate you. Why should I be crying?¡± Her tears rolled down her face. As she had expected, he had lost much weight, even more than before. Her heart ached, but she hated how he was always like this, ruining his health. ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore.¡± Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. He stretched out his hands and wiped the tears off her face. His touch was still as gentle and affectionate as ever. But his hands were cold. ¡°I said, I¡¯m not crying.¡± Su Yue pushed his hand away. Sobbing, she asked, ¡°Did you see me cry? When did I cry?¡± Her tears cascaded down her face. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart ached. He pulled her into his chest and comforted, ¡°Alright, you didn¡¯t cry.¡± Although it had only been slightly over ten days, it felt like a century since she was last in his familiar embrace. Su Yue selfishly thought, ¡®It¡¯s just a while. Just a while.¡¯ Her arms wound around his back and she clutched his clothes, burying her face in his chest. She choked, ¡°You¡¯re so annoying. Why did you come?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t answer her. Su Yue felt that his entire body was weak. His face was pale and perhaps his stomach was in excruciating pain at the very moment. Chapter 1489. He Came Every Night (part Twenty) She quickly wiped her tears away and grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°Do you know how to drive?¡± His smile was weak. Su Yue started sobbing again. ¡°I¡¯ll ask my brother to come down. He¡¯ll drive you there.¡± As she said that, she unlocked her phone. Ming Ansheng stopped her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to. I can still drive.¡± Su Yue locked her phone and peered up at him, still uneasy. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ming Ansheng pressed his lips. After a long while, he said, ¡°Trust me one last time.¡± Waves of sorrow hit her and tears welled up in her eyes. She gritted her teeth and nodded determinedly. ¡°Okay.¡± One last time¡­ One last time¡­ ¡­ They went to the same hospital like the last time. Ming Ansheng called his previous doctor-in-charge on the way there, so he was warded the moment they arrived. He leaned against the bed as Su Yue poured him a glass of water. Ming Ansheng took the cup from her and stared at her intensely. Su Yue sat at the foot of the bed, her head bowed. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He called her gently. Su Yue peered up at him. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°My life is too complicated. I don¡¯t want you to become a¡­ stepmother at such a young age. You have a whole life ahead of you.¡± ¡®I won¡¯t forget my grandmother¡¯s death and I will never allow Su Yue to become the stepmother of your child¡­¡¯ Su Yue gritted her teeth and refused to let her tears fall. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m still young. I never thought about becoming the stepmother to your child, and I¡¯m not shameless enough to cling onto you.¡± Even if she clung onto him shamelessly, he wouldn¡¯t give up his child for her either. He wasn¡¯t that kind of person. If he really was, then was he still worthy of her love? ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Ming Ansheng suppressed his agony. Su Yue suddenly stood up and smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be the stepmother of your child. To prevent our paths from crossing in the future, you should stay here and recuperate. I¡¯ll call auntie to come and take care of you.¡± The words left her mouth quickly. She turned around, pursed her lips, and sprinted out of the room. ¡°I love you.¡± He muttered as he watched her small frame disappear from his sight. ¡­ Su Yue turned the corner, leaned against the wall, and squatted slowly. She hugged her legs and rested her forehead on her knees, sobbing. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue was devastated and she didn¡¯t even notice that there was someone beside her. A familiar voice called out to her and she raised her head. She saw a gentle and kind face and hurriedly wiped away her tears as she stood up. ¡°Auntie.¡± She had been squatting for so long, her legs were numb. She almost lost her footing, but Wang Yuexiang caught hold of her. Seeing her face stained with tears, Wang Yuexiang heart ached. She asked, ¡°Why are you squatting here? Where¡¯s Ansheng?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I was just about to call you. Ming Ansheng¡¯s stomach is acting up again. He just got it checked.¡± Wang Yuexiang nodded. ¡°I know. The matron called us just now. His grandfather and I rushed over.¡± Then Ming Zhongsheng arrived. He was wearing a dark brown down coat and a hat. Using a walking stick, he walked towards them, his expression dark as he stared at Su Yue. Wang Yuexiang was afraid that he would make things difficult for Su Yue, so she smiled and said, ¡°Dad, you should go in and check on Ansheng.¡± Ming Zhongsheng ignored her and kept his gaze fixed on Su Yue. ¡°Lass, let¡¯s have a talk.¡± Chapter 1490. Is This Really The End of Us? (part One) ¡°Dad, let¡¯s go in to see Ansheng.¡± Wang Yuexiang hurriedly grabbed his elbow and wanted to drag him away. Su Yue¡¯s current state already made her heart ache. She was an energetic and lively child, but she¡¯d lost so much weight these few days. She couldn¡¯t let the old man say anything more to agitate her. Ansheng was the one who let her down, after all. ¡°Why are you dragging me?¡± Ming Zhongsheng berated. He flung her hand away and looked at her as a warning. Wang Yuexiang frowned, frustration settling in. ¡°Dad, are you trying to force him to his death? Things have already turned out like this. What more do you want? You¡¯ve already been forcing him all these years. Look at Third Yan, Ah Heng and the rest. Which one of them is like our Ansheng? He¡¯s so hardworking, yet from his university to his career, none of them are truly to his liking.¡± Her tone and gaze were telling of her unhappiness towards the old man. Ming Zhongsheng was used to being autocratic. They treated him as the emperor at home and no one dared to defy his commands. All of them feared him. No one ever had this disrespectful attitude towards him, except Ming Ansheng. No matter how unhappy they were, the most they would do was mumble two sentences under their breath. They didn¡¯t even dare to look him in the eye while they did. It outraged Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°Wang Yuexiang, are you lecturing me?¡± Although he was furious, he was very image-conscious. They were at a hospital and furthermore it was nighttime. He didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention, so he kept his voice low. But his eyes were blazing with fire. Wang Yuexiang kept her head high and suppressed the feelings of fear bubbling inside her. She calmly said, ¡°I¡¯m not lecturing you. I¡¯m just speaking up for my son.¡± He sneered at her. ¡°You¡¯re too soft-hearted!¡± It was obvious that Wang Yuexiang was holding in her anger, too afraid to blow up at him. Seeing her wronged look, Su Yue¡¯s heart ached for her. Although they didn¡¯t interact much, they got along well and she really liked this future ¡®mother-in-law¡¯. Besides, she was worried about Ming Ansheng being alone in the ward. Su Yue thought for a moment and wiped her tears away haphazardly. She looked at Wang Yuexiang and said, ¡°Auntie, you should go in to check on Ming Ansheng.¡± Then she looked at Ming Zhongsheng and said, ¡°Grandfather Ming, I¡¯ll talk to you about whatever you have in mind.¡± Then she turned around and walked towards the row of chairs near the escalator. Wang Yuexiang watched Su Yue¡¯s small figure. Her heart ached as she continued to worry about her, but all she could do is to look down helplessly. She let go of Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s elbow. She said coolly, ¡°Dad, Ming Ansheng is your biological grandson. If something happens to Su Yue, it will definitely affect him.¡± Then she turned around and walked towards Ming Ansheng¡¯s ward. Ming Zhongsheng furiously glared at Wang Yuexiang¡¯s back view before heading towards Su Yue. Su Yue was sitting on a chair near the end. Her legs were outstretched and she crossed them casually and kept head bowed. Ming Zhongsheng walked over and sat down beside her. He turned to look at her for a while. Then he said in a deep tone, ¡°Leave on your own accord. You¡¯re only in your teens. Do you really want to be a stepmother?¡± Before Su Yue could reply, he smiled coldly. ¡°Even if you¡¯re willing, your family won¡¯t agree. Yan Rusheng and your father, as well as Yan Weihong. All of them won¡¯t agree to it.¡± Chapter 1491. Is This Really The End of Us? (part Two) Ming Zhongsheng seemed to have a hidden meaning behind his words. Su Yue raised her head to peer at him. ¡°Your grandmother¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s expression darkened and he paused. He gravely said, ¡°Your grandmother was killed indirectly by Xinyi. She is Ming Ansheng¡¯s cousin. And I can be considered one of the culprits, too. Do you think your family will agree to you marrying Ming Ansheng?¡± Su Yue widened her eyes in shock and her mouth hung open. Grandmother¡­ her brother had mentioned about their grandmother. The portrait of the benevolent-looking old lady in the living room¡­ Uncle Ming¡¯s cousin killed her? Why did his cousin harm her grandmother? ¡®I heard that his grandfather didn¡¯t like your family, especially your third brother¡­¡¯ She recalled what Bai Jing had told her before. Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather hated her third brother, as though they had a feud. Was that the reason? Oh, my god! Why did this happen? Uncle Ming¡¯s cousin killed their grandmother! So the reason Third Brother and Third sister-in-law had advised her not to inform Second Uncle and Second Aunt was because of that incident? Su Yue was feeling overwhelmed. Why didn¡¯t anyone tell her? Su Yue¡¯s reaction further verified Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s hunch. He was certain that Wen Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had kept this secret feud from her. A victorious smile played at the corners of his mouth. He deliberated before he carried on. ¡°I have no idea why they allowed you to be together with Ansheng in the first place. But now that he has a son, how would they allow you to become a stepmother at the tender age of 18 and marry into our family?¡± ¡°To be frank, I look down on your birthright. The Yan family may be prominent and reputable, but you¡¯re after all an illegitimate daughter.¡± Every word he said stabbed Su Yue callously like a knife. He spared no mercy towards her. ¡°My grandson is the future successor and heir to the company. Only a dignified lady of a proper status could match him.¡± He was exceedingly proud of Ming Ansheng. Su Yue understood him. But she also knew that his pride came from the fact that Ming Ansheng had obeyed him since he was a boy. He was proud of this grandson who had become such an outstanding and brilliant successor under his guidance and care. She sarcastically said, ¡°Ming Ansheng is just a tool to manage Bright Vision in your eyes. He exists only to earn profits for Bright Vision.¡± Ming Zhongsheng snorted coldly in response. ¡°This is his destiny the moment he was born.¡± He surveyed Su Yue from head to toe and said, ¡°I hope you know your place and stop bothering him. You¡¯re still studying and you have a bright future ahead of you. You are pretty and your family is well-to-do, you can have anything you want.¡± She could have everything she wanted, anything but Ming Ansheng. Su Yue bowed her head in despair. She blinked and her tears fell down like broken pearls. She wept in silence. Ming Zhongsheng gazed at her, and the triumph in his eyes gradually vanished. He softened his tone as her tears seemed to have revived his compassion. ¡°Meiduo brought up their son all by herself these years. They should be together. It was my fault for breaking them up.¡± He spoke with a hint of regret, but Su Yue felt that he was being ridiculous. Now he had regretted forcing Meiduo to leave Ming Ansheng after he saw them together. If Meiduo didn¡¯t live up to his expectations, would he regret his decision once more? Chapter 1492. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Three) Su Yue remained silent as she peered at the ground. The obstacles between them kept increasing. No matter what he had promised or what he wanted to do, it was impossible between both of them. Uncle Ming¡¯s grandfather indirectly caused Grandmother¡¯s death. Third Brother and Third sister-in-law must have hated him. They must have hated the idea of her getting together with Uncle Ming. They might be close friends with Uncle Ming, but it was a different story if she married Uncle Ming. She would need to live with them and she had to treat his grandfather like her own. But Third Brother and Third sister-in-law were so good to her! ¡°The child is turning four years old. He needs a father and a complete family. This is important for a child when he is growing up,¡± Ming Zhongsheng deliberately said. He was aware of Su Yue¡¯s childhood and the environment she grew up in. Having parents to dote on her was probably the one thing she had yearned for when she was a child. And true enough, he had successfully reminded Su Yue of the pain and suffering she went through. Indeed, every child needed both a father and a mother. A child should be loved and cared for. They deserve to have a happy childhood. She bit her lips and tears were streaming down her face. ¡°Being a stepmother to your great-grandson has never crossed my mind.¡± She turned and fled down the stairs. She held on to the railing with one hand as she mopped her tears carelessly with her other hand. Her tears furiously gushed down. She continuously wiped her tears. They had so many hurdles ahead of them; she knew it was impossible for them. Su Yue ran out and soon realized that she was penniless. She was wearing slippers and she walked aimlessly on the street. She was like a lost and lonely soul, roaming around in the night. ¡­ In a premium outdoor bathing space in the capital city, a group of men had just finished their baths. They were topless as they gathered in a room to play mahjong. Everyone had a cigarette in their mouths, and the air was thick with smoke. Scantily dressed women sat behind them. The whole place reeked of an overwhelming lust and immorality. ¡°I won.¡± A man in his thirties grinned from ear to ear. The other three players glanced at his tiles with envy. The man¡¯s phone rang at this moment. The woman behind him picked up the call and placed it to his ear. ¡°Hello,¡± said the man. The ashes from his cigarette were scattered on his hand as he talked. He squinted his eyes, looking mutinous as he listened. ¡°Where is it?¡± He shoved the mahjong tiles and stood up. He strode quickly out of the room with his phone. He completely ignored all his friends. ¡°Lei Yong, where are you going?¡± ¡°Be alert. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Lei Yong ended the call and he retraced his steps. He grinned wretchedly at his friends. ¡°I¡¯m on my way to have a taste of something delicious.¡± He picked up the clothes on his chair and slung them across his shoulders. He left the room, ignoring the teasing from the rest of the men. ¡­ At the Majestic Hotel in the capital city. It was two in the morning, and the splendid main hall was quiet. A man wearing a black coat entered the hall and pulled the hood over his head. He marched quickly to the elevator. He pressed the elevator button after he entered. He walked out and a staff bowed at him. ¡°Mister.¡± He passed him a room card. The man received it and strode purposefully towards a room. Chapter 1493. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Four) When the man reached the room, he halted his footsteps. He raised his head, glanced at the room number, and then smirked slyly to himself. He placed the room card on the sensor and the door opened. He gently pushed the door open, and he saw a faint light probably coming from a night lamp. The room was quiet. He shut the door softly behind him, and he strode purposefully to the bed. The girl was in a deep sleep and she didn¡¯t hear the man approaching her. ¡°B*tch.¡± Suddenly, the man gripped the blanket and chucked it away. The girl finally woke up and she screamed instinctively. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The tiny girl scrambled to sit up, and she watched the man moving towards her in fear. She moved back, trembling badly. ¡°No¡­ Don¡¯t come near me.¡± Her palm-sized face drained out of color. She was sitting on the edge of the bed and was about to fall off the bed. The man lost all patience, and he pounced on her before he yanked at her hair. He stretched his hand and grabbed her arm forcibly to restrain her which he did so effortlessly. He pinned her down. ¡°Lei Yong, what are you doing!¡± The girl struggled and screamed at the top of her lungs. ¡°Let me go! Let me go now! You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± ¡°Bai Jing, I¡¯ve already warned you to stop playing tricks. If the Lei family is doing well, we won¡¯t forget you. But you are scheming to escape.¡± Lei Yong glared at her with a mutinous gleam in his eyes. As Bai Jing writhed and struggled to escape, her bathrobes loosened. It revealed her shoulders and collarbones. Lei Yong¡¯s eyes lit up with lust and desire, and he swooped down abruptly on Bai Jing¡¯s lips. Bai Jing¡¯s eyes were huge with shock and her head exploded. Her punches landed wildly everywhere on Lei Yong¡¯s body and back. She used both her legs and hands to resist. But Lei Yong was a raging beast! He didn¡¯t seem to feel her punches or kicks at all. His hands began to wander around her soft body. His rough kisses trailed downward and Bai Jing howled. ¡°Lei Yong, you¡¯re a jerk! Despicable scum! Let me go! Let me go now!¡± No matter how she screamed and yelled, the man ignored all her protests. Bai Jing shut her eyes in anguish and her tears streamed down furiously. Suddenly, Lei Yong raised his head and straightened his back. He eyed her slyly and said, ¡°B*tch. You¡¯re still thinking about Yan Rusheng. Are you saving your chastity for that fellow?¡± He grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s bathrobes and wrestled it away from her. Her naked body was presented before his eyes. Bai Jing stared at him in horror and she pleaded softly, ¡°Lei Yong. Second Brother. Please let me go. I won¡¯t dare to do it anymore.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t do it again?¡± Lei Yong sneered coldly as he grinned at her. ¡°But that won¡¯t do. Even if Yan Rusheng came here with a billion-dollar contract now, I won¡¯t take it.¡± A lascivious smile appeared and he uttered, ¡°A pure and clean beauty is harder to get.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Lei Yong burst into laughter. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing Bai Jing in agony. Bai Jing clenched her teeth and her tears fell onto the pillows. But she didn¡¯t stop struggling. ¡°I¡¯m going to make you suffer tonight.¡± Lei Yong began to swiftly remove his clothes using his hand while the other pinned Bai Jing down. His massive body was against Bai Jing¡¯s tiny frame, and there was nothing she could do. Lei Yong pounced on her without warning and he bit Bai Jing¡¯s ear. His warm breath landed on her neck. Chapter 1494. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Five) Bai Jing¡¯s body was shaking and she had an urge to puke. She closed her eyes and thought to herself that if she was given an opportunity now, she would kill Lei Yong right away. ¡°You and your mother are b*tches, but your mother is smarter. She knows that in order to survive, she has to sacrifice for the family. Any¡­ sacrifices.¡± Lei Yong whispered in Bai Jing¡¯s ear as his hands began to caress her body. Bai Jing¡¯s expression had turned cold and murderous, and the hatred in her eyes was clear. Her expression was shocking and sent chills down the spine. ¡°Let me see if the mother or the daughter¡¯s body taste better.¡± Lei Yong grabbed Bai Jing¡¯s leg and he entered her body. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± A high-pitched scream pierced the silence and reverberated around the room. It seemed to have shaken the entire hotel. He forced himself on her again and again. Bai Jing remained immobile and lifeless on the bed. There was a speck of blood on the white bedsheets. Her tears seemed to have dried up. The man¡¯s rough palms were still coursing aimlessly around her back as he caressed and stroked her gently. Apparently, he was still savoring the touch of her body. ¡°Actually, being with me is a good idea. Look at how happy and satisfied your mother is.¡± Lei Yong¡¯s words disgusted her so much that Bai Jing felt nauseated. She was trembling as she closed her eyes. Her precious chastity should have been given to the one she loved the most on that night. Even if she was condemned for immorality, she would rather be banished to hell than have this scum robbing her of her chastity. She vowed to herself, ¡°Su Yue, I will never let you off!¡± Bai Jing gripped the bedsheets, as her veins began to throb. ¡­ During this time last year, snow heavily landed on the capital city. However, this year, the weather was wonderful. At the main doors, there were plenty of firecrackers and fireworks. Outside the courtyard, there were two huge brightly lit red lanterns. The whole mansion and courtyard were ready for a festive celebration. Before the reunion dinner, Mu Li and Yan Weihong sat on the couch carrying a baby on their laps, respectively. They were watching Xuxu and Yan Rusheng as they made dumplings. Su Yan sat at a corner watching them too, and the family was engaged in joyful conversations. ¡°Third Brother, your dumpling is really ugly.¡± Su Yue came out from the kitchen and walked to the couch. She glanced at Yan Rusheng¡¯s creations and gave him a disdainful look. Yan Rusheng frowned, looking affronted. ¡°You can try making one.¡± He placed a dumpling carefully with the rest he had just made. He stood admiring his dumplings. He admitted that they didn¡¯t look too appetizing but he still felt a sense of achievement. He glanced at Xuxu¡¯s dumplings and after comparing; he felt dejected. ¡°Wife, how did you make yours? Teach me.¡± Young Master Yan smiled at Xuxu as he held up a dumpling skin. ¡°Like this¡­¡± Xuxu began to demonstrate. The steps were easy, and Yan Rusheng tried once more. But his dumpling still didn¡¯t look as good as hers. So he picked up another dumpling skin and embraced Xuxu from the back. He whispered in her ear, ¡°How about you guide me directly with your hands? Just like how Grandmother had taught us how to write.¡± As though no one else was around. All of them were speechless¡­ Xuxu blushed bashfully, and she glared at Yan Rusheng in disapproval. Yan Rusheng pretended that he didn¡¯t notice her and pressed on. ¡°Come on, teach me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get water for the babies.¡± Second Uncle Yan couldn¡¯t take it any longer, so he carried the baby upstairs. Chapter 1495. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Six) Su Yan rose and said to Yan Weihong, ¡°Second Uncle, I have something to discuss with you regarding work matters too.¡± Only the thick-skinned ones were left. After Yan Weihong left, Xuxu became bolder and less bashful. She nudged Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Go away. I don¡¯t need you here. I can do it by myself.¡± She shoved him once more and cast a disdainful look at Yan Rusheng¡¯s dumplings. ¡°What are you making? It¡¯s so ugly.¡± Su Yue nodded in agreement and interjected, ¡°Indeed. Third Brother¡¯s dumplings are really ugly. I¡¯ll wash my hands and help you.¡± She turned around and walked to the dining room. Other than Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, only Mu Li was left with Meowmeow. Madam Mu Li cast a swift glance at Xuxu and Yan Rusheng, and she noticed that her son was still hugging Xuxu. She couldn¡¯t stand watching them and she snorted loudly. ¡°So brazen.¡± She carried the baby upstairs, too. Yan Rusheng grinned and his warm breath landed on Xuxu¡¯s ear. ¡°Regardless of their appearance, we can still eat them as long as it¡¯s cooked.¡± Xuxu sneered coldly. ¡°In that case, ugly and beautiful women are all women. Why must men look for beautiful women then?¡± ¡°How can you use that as a comparison?¡± Yan Rusheng grinned wickedly at Xuxu. ¡°A man is more driven by the desire of a beautiful woman. A beautiful woman can arouse a man and entice him. But if it¡¯s an ugly woman, the man would lose all his desires. How can it be the same?¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ Can¡¯t they just have a proper conversation for once? Just for once! ¡°Third sister-in-law, let me help you.¡± Su Yue had washed her hands and came back. She sat down beside Yan Rusheng and eagerly picked up a dumpling skin. Yan Rusheng was getting bored as well, and he dusted his hands before retreating from the table. Only the two ladies were left. ¡°It¡¯s the Chinese New Year. Did you contact Bai Jing?¡± Xuxu glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue¡¯s eyes flickered and her expression became grave. She pursed her lips and replied, ¡°Third sister-in-law, don¡¯t ask about Bai Jing again.¡± As she answered, she didn¡¯t stop wrapping the dumpling skins. Xuxu heard her and she was concerned. A crease appeared in the middle of her eyebrows and she pressed on. ¡°What happened to the both of you?¡± It was normal for friends to quarrel, but theirs had taken way too long. Overwhelming instinct told her that Bai Jing had done something overboard and she had Su Yue because of it. Su Yue smiled. ¡°You care for her more. I¡¯m jealous.¡± Xuxu smiled and replied, ¡°Silly girl, that¡¯s nonsense.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t want to confide in her so Xuxu stopped probing. She knew she had no right to interfere with Su Yue¡¯s personal relationships. Xuxu dropped that matter and continued making dumplings. Su Yue stole a furtive glance at Xuxu. She had a faint smile and she looked so gentle and graceful. Su Yue hung her head in guilt. She pressed her lips before saying, ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s compete to see who can make the most dumplings.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu nodded. They started to compete. Soon, they finished wrapping all the dumplings. Su Yue counted and realized that she made three more. ¡°Yay, I won!¡± Su Yue exclaimed and clapped happily. Chapter 1496. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Seven) Xuxu remained silent and smiled instead. ¡°No, I have to upload this photo on WeChat.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes darted around as she looked for her phone. ¡°I want to take Third Brother¡¯s ugly dumplings too, to highlight how pretty my dumplings are.¡± She said it with a cheeky grin. She separated the dumplings into three sections and took a photo. She seemed cheerful and it made Xuxu feel a sense of relief. She knew that Su Yue would slowly get back on her feet despite all the suffering and pain. In time, she would eventually get better. ¡°Miss, dinner is ready. Please go wash your hands.¡± Aunt Zhang said that to Su Yue and Xuxu as she stood at the door. The elderly lady looked especially happy that day. They had additional family members this year and, of course, the twins¡¯ arrival. Yan Weihong and the rest came down shortly. It was Chinese New Year¡¯s eve so even the twins would be at the dining table, too. They settled down and Aunt Zhang came out of the kitchen with plates. She gazed at Yan Weihong and Mu Li who were carrying the babies. The old lady suddenly remarked, with her eyes glistening, ¡°It has been a while since it was this lively at home.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°I remember that when Third Young Master was still young, the old madam would always carry him around. She refused to let anyone else carry him during the reunion dinner as well.¡± Aunt Zhang mopped her eyes with her palms as she watched the twins with fondness in her eyes. Her words made even Yan Rusheng feel strangely nostalgic. Xuxu sniffed and smiled at Aunt Zhang. ¡°Come and eat with us.¡± ¡°There are a couple of more dishes in the kitchen. You can eat first.¡± Aunt Zhang turned around and walked back. She wiped the rest of her tears with her apron with her back facing them. ¡°Here you go, a red packet for each of you.¡± Dinner had just started, and Yan Weihong took out several red packets. He started from Su Yan and ended with Su Yue. ¡°You¡¯re the youngest, so yours is the biggest.¡± Su Yue gazed at Yan Weihong in a reverie. ¡®Little lass, you¡¯ve grown a year older.¡¯ She reminisced how Ming Ansheng had given her a red packet last year, too. He was smiling at her affectionately with a gentle expression. Was he having his reunion dinner right now? They puzzled Yan Weihong when she didn¡¯t reach out to receive it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Su Yue shook her head and curled her lips. She received the red packet and said, ¡°Thank you, Second Uncle Yan.¡± She gripped the red packet tightly in her hands and bit her lip. Her appetite abruptly vanished despite the sumptuous feast. ¡­ The Ming family hustled together for the joyous occasion. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful. However, Ming Ansheng was in the study, cordoned off from the noise and happiness. He stretched himself as he finished browsing through a stack of documents. He raised his cup and took a sip of the cold tea. He picked up his phone and ignored the rest of the notifications. He clicked on WeChat. Zhou Shuang had just updated a congratulatory message to her friends. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t read her message and clicked on other updates. What caught his eye was a familiar name that he missed so dearly. ¡®From the left, it¡¯s mine, Third sister-in-law, and then Third Brother¡­ Hahaha¡­ Third Brother, are those considered dumplings? Third sister-in-law and my dumplings are beauties while his dumpling is a beast!¡¯ Ming Ansheng smiled fondly at the photo, and his expression softened instantly. Chapter 1497. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Eight) Ming Ansheng enlarged the photo and zoomed in on the dumplings that Su Yue had made. His gaze filled with tenderness and yearning. ¡®Darling, I have never eaten any dumplings you made.¡¯ ¡°Daddy, am I handsome?¡± The door swung open and a little boy dashed in. Not even Ming Ansheng could ignore his cuteness and innocence. Ming Ansheng glanced at the boy wearing a bright red traditional costume. He was fair and chubby, and his eyes were huge. He came to Ming Ansheng and tugged at his elbow. ¡°Daddy, let¡¯s go eat.¡± The boy raised his head, and his innocent-looking eyes peered at Ming Ansheng intently. Anticipation was clear in his eyes. Ming Ansheng quietly smiled. He felt conflicted as he watched the little boy. Although he didn¡¯t reject this child¡­ he didn¡¯t know how to accept him either. This child was warm and enthusiastic towards him, but he didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Ansheng, time for dinner.¡± Wang Yuexiang came and noticed the boy hugging Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm. That scene left her startled for several seconds. She gazed at Ming Ansheng with her heart aching for her son. He had fallen in love twice, but both women were forced to leave him. ¡°Got it.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his head and glanced at his mother. He rose and rubbed the boy¡¯s hair before walking to the door. The little boy clumsily ran after him. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± His two stubby-looking legs had a hard time trying to catch up with Ming Ansheng. Wang Yuexiang extended her arms to scoop the boy. She gave him a peck on his cheeks. ¡°Let me carry you.¡± Ming Ansheng stuffed his hands inside his pockets and marched down the stairs. ¡°Second Young Master.¡± The servant greeted him softly. He nodded and asked, ¡°Everything ready?¡± The old servant immediately understood him and she nodded. ¡°It¡¯s all ready. I¡¯ll go get them.¡± There were three dishes; stewed prawns, braised meat, and sweet and sour fish. Ming Ansheng placed the dishes before his grandmother¡¯s portrait. He gazed at the portrait and gently stroked it. If it wasn¡¯t for Grandmother, he wouldn¡¯t be here tonight. Ming Ansheng sighed after some time. ¡°Grandmother, Happy Chinese New Year.¡± He placed the incense in the burner and turned around. He swept past Ming Zhongsheng without a word. ¡­ He didn¡¯t drink at all. Was he drunk? If he wasn¡¯t drunk, why would he be here? Ming Ansheng placed his head against the back of his car seat, and he glanced out of the window. The grand mansion from afar seemed to be enveloped in happiness that night. Suddenly, a white car drove past him, and it gradually slowed down. It should be headed to the Yan¡¯s mansion. Who could it be? The white car stopped when it was near the main gates of the mansion. A man opened the car door and got off the car. He straightened his back, looking tall and graceful. He exuded youth and vitality. He was like a ray of sunbeam penetrating the darkness of the night. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart tightened, and his fists were curled into fists. Chapter 1498. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Nine) The man was wearing a white wool sweater, and he stood motionless in the freezing night. Ming Ansheng uncurled his fingers, and he stared at the man with sheer intensity in his eyes. Suddenly, the man rested his back against the car door, as though he had no intention of leaving. Did they plan to meet, and he was waiting for her? At the thought of it, Ming Ansheng felt as though a giant rock was crushing his heart. And it didn¡¯t help that he didn¡¯t have any right to be jealous. He could only stare and watch. Seconds and minutes went by. But the guy resting against the white car didn¡¯t move; neither did Su Yue appear. He wasn¡¯t using his phone either. He was merely gazing at the mansion from afar. Ming Ansheng could only glimpse the side of his face. He couldn¡¯t see his expression. It puzzled him. After a while, that man withdrew his gaze and peered at his feet. He kicked the ground before he turned around. After opening the car door, he got in. The next moment, he switched on the headlights and the car sped off. Wasn¡¯t he there to look for Yueyue? Ming Ansheng narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder. He was suddenly feeling wide awake and clear-headed. Ming Ansheng told himself, ¡®Since you have given her up so that she could find sunshine in her life once more, stop harping on it. It¡¯s over.¡¯ He took a deep breath to recollect himself and opened the window. The cold winds jolted him back to his senses once more. Without hesitation, he ignited the car and left. ¡­ After the reunion dinner, Mu Li and Yan Weihong dragged Yan Rusheng and Su Yan for a game of mahjong. Xuxu and Su Yue were watching TV while the twins had just fallen asleep after drinking milk. An entertainment show thoroughly amused Xuxu. She was giggling as she turned towards Su Yue. ¡°Finally, there is a good variety show.¡± Su Yue wasn¡¯t even looking at the TV, and she was staring at her phone. She was browsing WeChat absentmindedly. She didn¡¯t hear what Xuxu said and was evidently lost in her own thoughts. Xuxu¡¯s smile vanished, and she sighed heavily to herself. She turned her head back to watch the TV. After repeatedly refreshing the app, she had read all the updates for the previous week. She was about to refresh the page again when a text notification interrupted her. She didn¡¯t get the chance to read the text when it disappeared. She went to her Inbox to click on the text. The familiar name made her smile. ¡®Happy Chinese New Year.¡¯ It was a short text, and it was Jiaojiao who had sent it. It surprised Su Yue. It was the first time Jiaojiao contacted her after they had broken up, other than the time that he waited outside for her to have lunch together. Or perhaps he had sent it to all his friends, too. Nevertheless, she still replied, ¡®Hope you are happy, too.¡¯ Jiao Chen replied almost immediately. ¡®How many red packets did you collect tonight?¡¯ Su Yue grinned as she replied, ¡®Many! How about you?¡¯ Jiao Chen replied, ¡®I¡¯m a grownup so I don¡¯t need red packets anymore.¡¯ Was he implying that she was still a kid? Su Yue frowned in disapproval. ¡®As long as you¡¯re not married, you will always be a kid. You don¡¯t have anyone to give you red packets¡­¡¯ She was halfway through typing when she stopped. She hastily deleted the text. Before she could type a fresh text, Jiao Chen had replied. ¡®I was around your house and I have some fireworks with me. Let¡¯s go have fun together.¡¯ Chapter 1499. Is This Really the End of Us? (part Ten) Su Yue was surprised when she saw the text. ¡®Are you outside my house?¡¯ She immediately put on her slippers and walked to the main door. Xuxu looked at her looking perplexed. ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Jiaojiao said he is outside our house. I¡¯ll go out to take a look,¡± Su Yue hollered back over her shoulder as she stepped out of the house. ¡®Jiaojiao?¡¯ Xuxu was startled to hear that, but then a smile crept to her face after a while. Su Yue bolted for the courtyard gates and her eyes wandered around looking for him. She saw a white car a short distance away, and a man in white standing next to it. She beamed and opened the gates. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± Su Yue ran towards Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen smiled at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go and light up fireworks.¡± In the pale moonlight, he seemed exceptionally gentle and gorgeous. Su Yue nodded without hesitation. ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll go change my shoes.¡± She turned around and ran back towards the house. She opened the shoe cabinet and took out her shoes. She hastily put on them as she informed Xuxu, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m going out with Jiaojiao. I will be back soon.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xuxu agreed with a smile. In her heart, she preferred Jiao Chen more as compared to Ming Ansheng. But no one shouldn¡¯t interfere with the affairs of the heart. It didn¡¯t matter if Su Yue would forget Ming Ansheng and fall in love with Jiao Chen instead. Since Jiao Chen looked for her, it would be good for them to have more opportunities to develop their relationship. She felt sorry for Su Yue who was sitting in a daze earlier on. ¡­ Across the main road, there was a moat bridge. Jiao Chen parked the car, and Su Yue got off after unfastening her seatbelt. Jiao Chen brought out the fireworks from the car trunk and placed it in a row on the ground. Su Yue was a little worried. ¡°Jiaojiao, will we get arrested?¡± They were still within the city area where fireworks were forbidden. Jiao Chen winked at her and whispered, ¡°We will escape right after we light them up.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ Jiao Chen fondly smiled at her and walked towards the fireworks. He lit them up one by one using a lighter. The fireworks shot up into the night sky, exploding in brilliant and vibrant colors. It seemed to illuminate the entire capital city. Many passersby came to take pictures. There were different designs and suddenly, rainbow-shaped fireworks exploded before Su Yue¡¯s eyes. She yelled excitedly, ¡°Wow! Look at it. It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± She raised her head, looking delightful as she admired the fireworks. Jiao Chen intently watched her with a contented smile. They haven¡¯t really started, yet he couldn¡¯t forget her. He didn¡¯t seem to have invested much effort in their relationship, yet it was hard for him to let go. He wasn¡¯t feeling sad nor did it affect his daily life. But he missed her badly and frequently. ¡®Su Yue, no matter how brilliant or beautiful the fireworks were, they pale compared to you.¡¯ ¡°Jiaojiao! That one!¡± Su Yue saw another firework and she tugged at Jiao Chen in excitement. She pointed to the night sky, and shouted, ¡°Look at that! It¡¯s so pretty!¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s train of thoughts were disrupted, and his gaze followed the direction that Su Yue was pointing at. All he wanted was for their gazes to overlap and to admire the same scenery as her. A black car was parked a short distance away from them. The driver was watching the young couple with a murderous gleam in his malicious-looking eyes. He was having a phone conversation using Bluetooth earpieces. ¡°Got it. I will make sure she is going to hell tonight.¡± Chapter 1500. The End of Love (part One) The mysterious man hung up, and he seemed even more murderous. He looked repulsive and menacing. ¡­ ¡°The fireworks are so beautiful,¡± Su Yue remarked to herself as she peered at the night sky. The smile on her face seemed to have frozen. The last firework exploded with a huge bang in the sky. The brilliantly colored fireworks reflected in Su Yue¡¯s eyes, just like the dazzling and sparkling stars that are out of anyone¡¯s reach. No matter how splendid the fireworks were, it only lasted for a moment. Just like youth, sorrow, and excitement¡ªeventually, in a blink of an eye, everything would fade away. In the end, ordinariness might prove to be a wiser option. Jiao Chen gave a thought-provoking smile as he looked at the sky. The fireworks had all vanished; smoke was the only thing left. But they seemed to clamor for more. After a long while, Su Yue finally withdrew her gaze to glance at Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao, when did you come back? I thought you went to your grandmother¡¯s place?¡± He told her before that his father¡¯s family was living in a small city next to the capital city. It wasn¡¯t far, but he would need to drive for at least three hours if there wasn¡¯t any traffic. It was the night before the Chinese New Year, and yet he was already back in the capital city. Perhaps he didn¡¯t go back? Jiao Chen replied, ¡°I came here after dinner.¡± It puzzled Su Yue. Jiao Chen knew what Su Yue was going to ask next. ¡°In that town, they always have dinner early, usually before evening.¡± He finished dinner at 6 p.m., and he merely wanted to take a spin. Before realizing it, he was already on the expressway back to the capital city. On a road that he couldn¡¯t turn back. Since he couldn¡¯t turn back, he simply had to follow his heart. ¡°Your grandmother should be delighted to see you.¡± Jiao Chen mentioned his father and his family a few times. Su Yue reckoned that they had accepted him¡­ an illegitimate son. When she met his sister before, she was warm and friendly. She even reminded him to go home more often even though they didn¡¯t seem exceptionally close. One shouldn¡¯t merely judge a book by its cover. But her instincts were usually right. Su Yue¡¯s mouth curled into a tiny smile, and she gazed ahead of her. The river looked filthy in the daytime, but at night, it seemed no different from a clean lake. A gentle breeze blew across the surface, and it made the water glitter in the dark. Her hands were feeling cold from the brutal winds, and so she rubbed her palms together. Then she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her winter coat. Both of them stood in silence for some time before Jiao Chen suddenly responded vaguely with an ¡®oh¡¯. Su Yue was stumped for a moment, before recalling the question she had asked him. She smiled at him. ¡°What is on your mind?¡± Jiao Chen smiled back at her. ¡°About your question.¡± His warm smile melted the chilliness of the night. Su Yue¡¯s head could only reach his shoulders and she needed to raise her head to look at him. She frowned, looking puzzled. ¡°Do you even need to think?¡± In the pale moonlight, the girl stood with her head raised. The guy bent his head, watching the girl intently. This scene made hearts flutter since they seemed so compatible and perfect. Su Yue pressed her lips and muttered, ¡°Seems like I have a really nice grandmother, too.¡± Third sister-in-law said that their grandmother was a warm and easy-going lady. She was still child-like despite her age. But she had never met her before. ¡®Ansheng¡¯s cousin had caused your grandmother¡¯s death¡­¡¯ ¡®I indirectly caused her death¡­¡¯ Uncle Ming¡¯s cousin killed their beloved grandmother. Third Brother and Third sister-in-law must have hated the Ming family. ¡°Let¡¯s go and eat supper,¡± said Jiao Chen all of a sudden. Chapter 1501. The End of Love (part Two) Su Yue shot him a questioning look. ¡°It¡¯s the eve of the Chinese New Year. Would there be any open stalls?¡± Shouldn¡¯t everyone be sitting in front of the TV, watching festive variety shows after dinner? Jiao Chen grinned. ¡°Certainly.¡± He turned around and walked to the car. He opened the door before getting in. Su Yue trailed behind Jiao Chen and sat on the front passenger seat. He drove towards the suburbs around A University. Su Yue had no idea where they were headed to. But she was incredibly relaxed and at ease whenever she was with him. She began to doze off. This was the first time she felt sleepy after breaking up with Ming Ansheng. So many days went past and there wasn¡¯t a night where she didn¡¯t toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep. Even if she fell asleep, she would wake up several times in the night. When she woke up, the car had already stopped. Su Yue fluttered her eyelids as she rubbed her eyes sleepily. She glanced out of the car. She had no idea where they were. There was a shopping mall and it felt familiar to her. But the mall was closed and it was dark everywhere. Su Yue saw the shopping mall¡¯s name and she suddenly remembered. This was where they came on their first date. It was the place where she met Jiao Chen¡¯s sister. So, this was the place he wanted to bring her for supper? Su Yue glanced back at him, looking puzzled. The man was resting with his eyes closed. He always appeared so calm and gentle. Su Yue pressed her lips, swallowing her words. He came back to the capital city after dinner. Driving for hours must have exhausted him. Jiao Chen probably didn¡¯t want to wake her up, and hence he fell asleep while waiting for her to wake up. She turned her head to look out of the window. She wanted Jiao Chen to rest for a while more, but his phone unexpectedly rang at that moment. Jiao Chen opened his eyes, and the first thing he did was to glance at Su Yue. He smiled when he saw that she was awake. He found his phone and answered the call. ¡°Hello. Yeah.¡± ¡°I fell asleep for a while in the car. Give me a minute.¡± After talking briefly, he ended the call. He glanced back at Su Yue. ¡°Did you wait for a long time?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I just woke up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold, put on your coat.¡± Jiao Chen extended his hand to get Su Yue¡¯s coat from the back seats. ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue received it and put it on. Warm light had illuminated the interior of the car. The heater in the car caused Su Yue¡¯s cheeks to turn rosy, as though she had put on blusher. She was about to get off the car when Jiao Chen interjected, ¡°Su Yue, wait.¡± Su Yue stopped and turned her head. Jiao Chen smiled and put on the hood for her. ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± Love and concern filled his every action. His concern was as gentle as his personality and no one could resist. Su Yue seemed dumbfounded. She felt that Jiao Chen seemed different tonight. When they were dating, he was usually quiet and nonchalant towards her. He bought food for her and would also remind her to take her meals. But he had never been this caring towards her. What was wrong with him today? Jiao Chen saw that Su Yue was staring at him, and he raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Su Yue dismissed his question and she leaned against her seat and shut the door. Chapter 1502. The End of Love (part Three) Su Yue frowned at Jiao Chen. ¡°It¡¯s deserted everywhere. Where are we going for supper?¡± ¡°Just follow me,¡± Jiao Chen replied, and he raised his eyebrows in amusement. ¡°Are you afraid that I will sell you away?¡± Su Yue grinned cheekily. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± She opened the door once more and got down. Jiao Chen followed suit and held his car keys and phone in his hands. They rounded the car and walked in the direction of the mall. The winds were piercingly cold. ¡°Can¡¯t you just reveal a little about where we are going to?¡± Su Yue grinned at Jiao Chen. It was so quiet on Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve. There wasn¡¯t anyone around, so who would set up a stall here? Jiao Chen decided not to keep her in suspense. ¡°Didn¡¯t you come here before?¡± Did she come here before? Su Yue pondered for a second before asking, ¡°Your sister¡¯s stall?¡± Jiao Chen merely smiled in response. It perplexed Su Yue. ¡°Wasn¡¯t your sister¡¯s stall inside the mall?¡± They walked in unison. Jiao Chen made a turn when they got near the shopping mall. Su Yue obediently followed him. Suddenly, a bright beam of light shone at them. A crease appeared in between Jiao Chen¡¯s eyebrows and he reacted instantly. ¡°Susu!¡± Su Yue only heard Jiao Chen¡¯s voice and by the time she reacted, he seemed to have dashed behind her at lightning speed. He put his arms around her to protect her. The next second, they were flung two meters away. The black car sped off in a heartbeat. They collapsed on the ground. Su Yue laid on top of Jiao Chen when they landed. Her eyes were huge with shock and terror. Her heart had stopped. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± Su Yue bounced off Jiao Chen in a split second. She grabbed Jiao Chen¡¯s arm and shook him furiously. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± He was lying there, motionless, and unresponsive. Something warm was flowing towards her knees and Su Yue looked down. She smeared it with her fingers and¡­ It horrified her! ¡°Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao!¡± She nudged, shouted, pushed and yelled¡­ But he remained unconscious. She sniffed and her tears gushed down. ¡°Jiaojiao, get up now! Wake up!¡± Her cries echoed in the field. But he simply remained motionless. ¡°Jiaojiao, wake up¡­¡± Su Yue cried as she hugged Jiao Chen tightly. She tried to heave him up with all her strength. She sobbed as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the hospital¡­ I¡¯ll bring you to the hospital¡­¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s phone continuously rang. ¡°Jiao Chen!¡± Before Su Yue blacked out, she heard someone calling Jiao Chen. Then she remembered nothing else. She had no idea how long she had slept. When she woke up, her world seemed to have turned white. Her eyes wandered around. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± Suddenly, she shrieked and sat up. She flung the blanket off her. She walked across the room barefooted. She was in her own room. She was at home. So, it was merely a dream. It was just a dream. She had dreamt that she was lighting fireworks with Jiaojiao, and he brought her for supper. She even heard him calling her Susu in her dream. She was dreaming¡­ Her hair was in a mess, and she wrenched the door open. Her footsteps were unsteady that she needed to hold on to the wall. She brushed her hair as she walked. ¡°Yueyue. You¡¯re awake!¡± Su Yue met Mu Li before she reached the landing of the staircase. Chapter 1503. The End of Love (part Four) ¡°Second Aunt!¡± Su Yue slumped towards Mu Li, and she gripped her arms tightly. ¡°Did we have our reunion dinner? Did I go out after dinner? I didn¡¯t, right?¡± Her eyes were red, and her face was drained of color. Mu Li¡¯s eyes were welling up with tears as she looked at her. Su Yue¡¯s heart plunged. As she turned around, she collapsed against the wall. ¡°Yueyue!¡± Mu Li hurriedly supported Su Yue. ¡°Where is Jiaojiao?¡± Su Yue grabbed Mu Li¡¯s arm in desperation. She sobbed. ¡°Where is he? What happened to him?¡± She remembered that he didn¡¯t respond no matter how she yelled. And she saw blood on her hands¡­ there was a lot of blood. ¡°He¡­¡± Mu Li rubbed her eyes and her throat seemed constricted. ¡°He is in the intensive care unit¡­ his condition is¡­¡± ¡°Which hospital? Bring me there.¡± Su Yue grabbed Mu Li¡¯s hand and she almost dug her fingernails into her flesh. Mu Li agreed and said, ¡°Okay, but calm down first. I¡¯ll bring you there.¡± She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and consoled her gently. ¡°He is in the ICU and we¡¯re unsure of his condition. Don¡¯t worry too much now. Go get changed.¡± Mu Li led Su Yue back to her room. They entered the room and Mu Li randomly selected an outfit for Su Yue from the wardrobe. Su Yue changed without washing up or brushing her teeth. When she reached the hospital, she went straight to the intensive care unit. There was a row of people sitting there. She only knew Xuxu, and the rest were unfamiliar faces. Su Yue widened her eyes and she walked in a daze, glancing briefly at the strangers. She recognized one of them¡ªit was Jiao Chen¡¯s sister. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu stood up. She stretched her hands to support her. Su Yue didn¡¯t respond and merely strode towards the intensive care unit¡¯s glass panel. She peered inside. A person, with many tubes inserted into his body, was inside. His head and face were heavily bandaged that she couldn¡¯t even see the face. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± Su Yue broke down. She screamed in agony before losing consciousness. For the entire week, Su Yue fainted several times after she had learned about Jiao Chen¡¯s condition. She refused to eat, so she had to get glucose through an IV drip. When she woke up once more, she didn¡¯t even have the strength to sit up. After using tremendous effort, she finally managed to heave herself up and slumped weakly against the bed frame. The door opened. Xuxu had a white paper bag with her. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue gazed at her nervously and asked, ¡°Is Jiaojiao awake? Is he better?¡± She clenched Xuxu¡¯s arm as though she was afraid that she would run away Xuxu placed the paper bag on the table before sitting on the edge of the bed. In a soft voice, Xuxu replied, ¡°The doctor said that his condition has improved.¡± A glimmer of hope sparkled in Su Yue¡¯s eyes. She tightened her grasp and she eagerly said, ¡°Really?¡± Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°I want to see him,¡± Su Yue said as she pulled her blanket. Xuxu stopped her and said, ¡°Can you eat something first?¡± She rose and took out a thermos flask and lunch box from the paper bag. Then she placed it before Su Yue. Chapter 1504. The End of Love (part Five) Su Yue didn¡¯t take it from her. Xuxu placed the thermos flask and lunch box on the bedside cabinet. She frowned, chiding her softly. ¡°Jiao Chen risked his life for you. Aren¡¯t you letting him down by ruining your health?¡± Her eyes turned red. Tears flowed down Su Yue¡¯s face. ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± she cried, hugging Xuxu. She lay against her chest, sobbing. She recalled that fateful moment when Jiao Chen rushed behind her and embraced her from the back. Her heart ached until she couldn¡¯t breathe. Xuxu knew that she had to vent her emotions, so she let her cry for a while longer. When she had calmed down, Xuxu patted her head gently. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. You can¡¯t torture yourself like this, do you understand?¡± Jiao Chen had risked his life to save hers. If she didn¡¯t treasure it, she would let him down. Su Yue bit her lip and nodded. Then she let go of Xuxu and picked up the lunch box of food. She started gobbling it up. Seeing this, Xuxu said nothing. She thought, ¡®At least she¡¯s willing to eat now.¡¯ Jiao Chen had been lying in the intensive care unit for half a month. They wrapped his head with bandages, and he was relying on oxygen tubes to breathe. Su Yue lay on the chairs outside the door of the intensive care unit every day. She was persistent, and nobody would force her because, with her current state, she was easily agitated. It was late at night. Su Yue was the only one in the corridors. Every day, she drifted in and out of sleep. She had lost so much weight that her eyes were already caving in. Her face was no longer as rosy. It was as though something had sucked out her liveliness and vitality in an instant. After she napped for around another one hour, she opened her eyes in a panic and stood up. She ran to the door of the ward and looked at Jiao Chen. He was still lying there, motionless. ¡°Su Yue, I¡¯m checking on him. Do you want to join me?¡± Suddenly, Jiao Chen¡¯s doctor-in-charge arrived. He offered to let her in when he saw her looking worriedly through the window. Excitement filled her. ¡°Really?¡± He smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go change our clothes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue followed after him with eager steps. A tall man was standing in the corner. He retreated two steps into the darkness and turned around to lean against the wall. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked weary. He was now in the pitch-black staircase landing. He tucked his hands into his pockets. He retrieved a packet of cigarettes and placed one in his mouth and lit it up. He flicked the switch and the light-filled the landing in an instant. However, he kept his lighter. His slender fingers held onto the cigarette, but there was a somber look on his face. Suddenly, the phone in his pocket started ringing. He cautiously glanced at the door to the staircase landing before picking up the call. He put the phone to his ear as he walked down the stairs. ¡°Keep an eye on him. I¡¯m on my way.¡± He ended the call before dialing another number. ¡°Third Yan, I¡¯ve found the culprit.¡± ¡­ ¡°Jiaojiao, can you wake up quickly?¡± ¡°Are you not going to teach me how to play basketball next semester?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really not dumb. It¡¯s just because I grew up in Country Y, so I¡¯ve never heard of some idioms that the teacher uses in class.¡± ¡°I promise that I¡¯ll study hard next semester. I won¡¯t sleep in class and I won¡¯t secretly read my novels anymore.¡± Chapter 1505. The End of Love (part Six) She changed her clothes and entered the intensive-care unit. Repeatedly, she told herself, ¡®Don¡¯t cry. Just tell him everything you¡¯ve buried deep inside your heart.¡¯ But she couldn¡¯t help her tears from flowing down her face as the words rolled off her tongue. She stared at his closed eyes and cried, ¡°You idiot. Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯ll like me only after I like you?¡± She placed her head in Jiao Chen¡¯s palm. She choked. ¡°Why did you like me when I haven¡¯t fallen for you yet?¡± Her tears cascaded down her face and it landed in his palm. ¡°Why were you so foolish? Haven¡¯t we already broken up? Didn¡¯t you say that you didn¡¯t like me yet, and you were fine with calling it quits?¡± She sobbed silently. She thought, ¡®If I had known this would happen, I wouldn¡¯t have made it so difficult for you.¡¯ ¡®If I had seen this coming, I would¡¯ve tried harder to fall for you.¡¯ ¡°Su Yue, it¡¯s time to go.¡± The nurse called from the entrance. Su Yue nodded and lifted her head. She stared at his face, wanting to say something but the words got stuck in her throat. She pursed her lips and prepared to leave. Suddenly, she felt a weak grip around her hand, which was still wrapped around his. Who was it? Su Yue froze as her eyes brimmed with tears. Then she came to her senses and broke out in a smile. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± Su Yue turned to look at her hand. Jiao Chen¡¯s fingers were bent, and his middle finger was clutching the joint of her middle finger. She haphazardly wiped her tears and smiled, bending closer to his face. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Her tears fell on his chapped lips, moisturizing them. ¡°Su¡­¡± His lips moved but were still very weak. ¡°I¡¯ll go call the doctor.¡± Su Yue wiped her tears again and yelled at the door. ¡°Doctor, doctor! He¡¯s awake.¡± The nurses had already arrived. The doctor-in-charge and a few assistant doctors arrived shortly after. Jiao Chen¡¯s mother was staying in an unoccupied ward, so Su Yue told one of the nurses to inform her. She was in her early forties and had shoulder-length black hair tied into a loose braid. She was tall at 1.7 meters. Although she looked weary, she still looked undeniably beautiful. Jiao Chen had definitely inherited his flawless skin from her. And their features were too similar. They did a check on him. Then they left the ward. The doctor said, ¡°The patient indeed woke up earlier than expected, but his vital signs are still weak.¡± Su Yue and Jiao Chen¡¯s mother frowned and grabbed the doctor¡¯s elbow at the same time. He smiled and comforted, ¡°But of course, you guys shouldn¡¯t worry. He¡¯s getting better.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Su Yue excitedly asked. ¡°When will he wake up? When will his life be out of danger?¡± The doctor replied, ¡°He¡¯s already gained consciousness. If he has sufficient willpower, he¡¯ll wake up in no time.¡± Su Yue nodded and released her grip on his elbow. The doctor took one last glance at both of them, turned around, and left. Su Yue turned around and stood at the door to the ward. She was in a daze. Jiao Chen¡¯s mother walked over to her and followed her gaze. Her heart indescribably ached when she saw her son lying motionless on the bed. After a moment of silence, Jiao Chen¡¯s mother said to her, ¡°Su Yue, you should go back and rest.¡± Chapter 1506. The End of Love (part Seven) Su Yue shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not tired.¡± Then she tore her gaze away from him and looked at her. The past few days, they had been so worried about Jiao Chen and they weren¡¯t in the mood to do anything else, so they didn¡¯t interact at all. This was the first time both of them were standing there with no one else around. Su Yue felt extremely guilty as she looked at her. Jiao Chen got hurt because of her. ¡°Jiao Chen will be heartbroken if he sees you like this,¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s mother said, rubbing her eyes. ¡°He had a soft spot for you.¡± ¡°Auntie¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes turned red. She didn¡¯t know what to say. Apologize? Or say words of comfort? It seemed like she didn¡¯t have the right to. All this was her fault. She was the one who got close to him because of her own selfish motives. She only cared about herself and neglected his feelings. Nothing should happen to Jiao Chen, or else¡­ how was she going to live? How was she going to live in peace? ¡°I remember in November last year. Jiao Chen was different when he came back.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s mother grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand and pulled her over to the chairs for a seat. Then she continued, ¡°He didn¡¯t have a typical childhood. He has been extremely strict with himself at a young age. He started aiming for scholarships when he started middle school and working part-time when he was in his third year of high school. By the time he entered university, he could fully support himself and often give the orphanage some allowance.¡± She was full of heartache and self-reproach as she recalled his growing-up years. ¡°When his older sister called home and told us that he was dating, I didn¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°I only did when she found your photo on the school forum and sent it to me.¡± She was smiling and her words insinuated that she liked Su Yue, or at least she had nothing bad to say about her. ¡°He smiled more during that period, and he often got me to bring braised pork to school. I guess it was for you.¡± Su Yue bowed her head in confirmation. It was true. Jiao Chen brought lots of food for her: vegetables, braised pork, phoenix-tailed prawns and chicken wings. And she had asked him which restaurant he had bought them from. Jiao Chen¡¯s mother talked about their dating moments with such gentleness, could it be¡­ because she didn¡¯t know about their break-up? She remained silent, quietly listening to what Jiao Chen¡¯s mother had to say about him. Jiao Chen¡¯s background was shockingly similar to hers. The only difference was that he had his mother alongside him, loving him the whole time. She continued. ¡°After that incident, he became very careful in anything he did.¡± That incident? Su Yue looked at her in confusion and curiosity. ¡°When he was in fifth grade in elementary school, they called him a b*stard, and they called his mother¡­¡± She paused, smiling in self-ridicule. ¡°They called me a mistress. He beat the group of kids up and they got hospitalized. We didn¡¯t have any backers so they expelled him. I ended up not eating and ignoring him for two days. From that day onward, he never picked a fight again.¡± She took a deep breath and said, ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t handle it properly back then. After it happened, I regretted every time I saw him holding everything in despite being ridiculed by all the other kids.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Su Yue mumbled, bowing her head. ¡®Unless someone is willing to bear the consequences on your behalf forever¡­¡¯ She suddenly recalled Jiao Chen¡¯s ridiculous words and her heart clenched. Chapter 1507. The End of Love (part Eight) So, the previous time he fought with the athletes from Union University, it was because of her? Jiaojiao was even better than she could see and imagine. He was so good to her, yet what did she do for him? She buried her face in her hands and took a deep breath. If she had known¡­ But then again, how would she? ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and watch him. You go home and have a good rest. You haven¡¯t showered and changed your clothes in a few days. I have to go home for a while in the afternoon tomorrow. You can come by then.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s mother was afraid that she would be stubborn, so she added, ¡°When he wakes up, I was thinking of asking you to help me take care of him once in a while. But I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to if you carry on like this.¡± Probably because she wasn¡¯t too acquainted with Su Yue, her tone was polite. ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue nodded. She felt that her words made sense. Xuxu had told her the same thing too. Although it was in the wee hours of the morning, there were many taxies waiting at the entrance of the hospital. Su Yue hopped onto one and told the driver her address. Then she rubbed her temples and fell asleep in the car. She asked the butler to open the door when she arrived. The side lamp in the living room was still on as usual, but it wasn¡¯t very bright. She walked upstairs. She didn¡¯t feel this way back in the hospital, but once she reached home, she felt lethargic so she trudged to her room. She rubbed her temples with one arm and pressed the other against the wall, groping her way to her room. ¡°The culprit said that Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather was the one who gave the order?¡± Suddenly, Xuxu¡¯s voice sounded from her room. Su Yue froze. Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather gave the order? The order to do what? She halted her steps and crept closer to Xuxu¡¯s room door. It was ajar so she placed her ear at the gap between the door and its frame. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°That¡¯s what the culprit said.¡± Xuxu widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°He wants to kill Su Yue?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something fishy about this.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice turned colder. ¡°Although that old man is stubborn and prideful, he wouldn¡¯t be so brutal.¡± Xuxu nodded in agreement. She frowned. ¡°But since the culprit said that, then Yueyue must¡¯ve been the target. If it wasn¡¯t Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather, then who?¡± Yan Rusheng had just gotten home, and he was still in his office clothes as he leaned lethargically against the head of the bed. He was frowning too, pondering over the same question as Xuxu. Su Yue¡¯s mouth widened in horror and she paled. Her gaze was murderous and filled with hatred. She had already agreed to break up with Ming Ansheng because she didn¡¯t disrupt his life anymore. She had granted the old man his wish. So why? Why didn¡¯t he let her off? Why did he insist on viciously sending her to her grave? Her fists clenched and her veins popped. Her delicate and pretty face turned malicious. She turned around and sprinted down the steps. ¡°Yueyue, when did you come back?¡± Yan Weihong was in his pajamas as he groggily came out of his room. He saw her rushing down the stairs. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng immediately came out of the room when they heard him. ¡°Yueyue is back?¡± Xuxu asked Yan Weihong. Yan Rusheng had already rushed downstairs. The main door was open and Su Yue had already sprinted out. He left the courtyard, only to see Su Yue¡¯s small frame disappearing into the distance. Chapter 1508. The End of Love (part Nine) He rushed into the garage to get the car. On the way, he dialed someone¡¯s number. ¡°Su Yue just came back. She seemed to have overheard my conversation with Xuxu and ran out. She might go to your house.¡± By the time he ended the call, he was already in the garage. He opened the door and got in. Xuxu followed after and got into the car. She fastened her seatbelt and said, ¡°Quick. She¡¯s on foot. Chase after her quickly.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression was grave. He didn¡¯t say a word as he steered the car out of the garage. The butler had already opened the gates for them. He stepped on the accelerator and sped off. ¡­ The taxi stopped at the entrance of a luxurious mansion. Two red lanterns were hung at the entrance. Su Yue got off the taxi and stood at the gate to the courtyard, furiously ringing the doorbell. All the lights in the pitch-dark mansion slowly turned on. The lights in the guardhouse turned on as well. The butler of the Ming household came out in a large sweater. He yawned as he looked at the small girl who was furiously ringing the doorbell. ¡°Who are you?¡± Su Yue stared at him. ¡°Open the gate.¡± Her malicious expression startled him. It was in the middle of the night and furthermore he had never seen her before. Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to open the gate for her. He walked closer to her and continued sizing her up. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here in the dead of night?¡± His hairs stood on end when he saw how thin she was, and furthermore, her hair was all over the place. ¡°Butler Fu, who¡¯s ringing the doorbell?¡± Ming Zhongsheng stood at the entrance of the house in a large sweater. He started walking over. The other family members followed him. All of them were jolted from their sleep and were in a bad mood. All of them were complaining. ¡°Who¡¯s that ringing the doorbell so late at night? Must be crazy.¡± They knew that it wasn¡¯t a family member, for they didn¡¯t need to ring the doorbell. Ming Zhongsheng reached the courtyard gate first. It startled him when he saw Su Yue¡ªher glare was murderous. Confused and shocked, he asked, ¡°Lass, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?¡± Then he gave the butler a meaningful glance. The butler knew what he meant and immediately opened the gate. Su Yue was like a beast that was just released from a cage. The moment the gate opened, she ferociously flew towards him. ¡°Why?¡± She was so engulfed by her anger that she didn¡¯t care that she was approaching an old man in his eighties. She was bent on revenge. First, this old man caused the death of the benevolent grandmother that her third sister-in-law missed dearly. Now, he paid someone to kill her that consequently resulted in Jiaojiao lying in the intensive-care unit with his life still in danger. If she was wielding a knife, she would have killed him without hesitation. Su Yue stood on her tiptoes and glared at Ming Zhongsheng venomously, emanating a dangerous aura. Although he was facing a young girl, Ming Zhongsheng was still slightly afraid. He instinctively retreated a few steps. ¡°Are you crazy? Why are you making a scene at our house in the middle of the night?¡± Then First Young Master rushed forward. He grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her away. He pulled her toward the gate. ¡°Let go of me.¡± Su Yue went berserk. She tried to break out of Ming Anyu¡¯s grasp in a fit and flew towards Ming Zhongsheng in a rage. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother suddenly stepped forward and stood in front of Ming Zhongsheng. Her voice was gentle, and her gaze was ever so benevolent. Chapter 1509. The End of Love (part Ten) Su Yue halted her footsteps and her eyes flickered. She avoided Wang Yuexiang¡¯s face and swept past her. She glared at Ming Ansheng and spat, ¡°I have already left Ming Ansheng, and I promised that I wouldn¡¯t bother him. Why can¡¯t you let me off?¡± She was hollering at him, and she was getting out of control. It confused Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°What crazy nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean by I didn¡¯t let you off?¡± Su Yue assumed that Ming Zhongsheng was pretending and she coldly vowed, ¡°If something happens to Jiao Chen, I will make you pay with your life.¡± This warning left everyone dumbfounded, and cold sweat had drenched them. This young lass was so bold to confront the old master. She even vowed to make him pay with his life. ¡°What Jiao Chen, Li Chen?¡± Her accusations baffled Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°Explain what you have just said.¡± He pushed Wang Yuexiang away and walked to Su Yue. ¡°You deserved to die! You damn old fellow!¡± Su Yue screeched at Ming Zhongsheng. She lunged forward and her expression was murderous. She looked as though she was about to kill someone at the moment. It terrified everyone, especially Wang Yuexiang. She stood anxiously beside them. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± ¡°Who allowed you to come to our house and act so brazenly?¡± She had managed to rile up Ming Zhongsheng, and he raged, ¡°Is it Yan Rusheng? Flourish & Prosper may be influential and powerful, and others may be afraid. But Bright Vision isn¡¯t!¡± He stumbled after he hollered at her, as though he had lost his balance. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Grandfather!¡± Everyone rushed forward to support Ming Zhongsheng. He panted, trying to catch his breath. ¡°You¡­ you are an evil creature!¡± ¡°Second Young Master is back.¡± The butler nervously announced. Everyone turned to the door. Ming Ansheng caught a glimpse of his grandfather being supported by Ming Anyu and his sister-in-law. He was momentarily stunned. He saw Su Yue and he whispered, ¡°Su Yue.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me.¡± Su Yue turned around to glare at Ming Ansheng. She turned to Ming Zhongsheng and pointed at him. ¡°I won¡¯t let you off.¡± ¡°What have I done? How dare you come to my house and yell at me!¡± Everyone deeply respected Ming Zhongsheng, and yet this was the first time a young lass had provoked him. And she had cast away all respect and manners. He panted heavily as he pointed at Su Yue, and he tried to retaliate. ¡°I understand that you didn¡¯t have parents to teach you. But this doesn¡¯t give you the right to accuse someone and to be unreasonable.¡± His words were hurtful and Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart was aching for Su Yue. He glanced at Ming Anyu and his sister-in-law. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sending grandfather to the hospital?¡± He glanced at Su Yue and emotions were whirling in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but Su Yue had already cut across him. With a vicious gleam in her eyes, she hissed, ¡°You will have retribution for whatever you¡¯ve done. You will pay for your selfishness and heinous deeds.¡± ¡°Su Yue!¡± Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and he lifted Su Yue off her feet. ¡°Believe me. My grandfather didn¡¯t do it.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart plunged to the bottom. ¡°Ming Ansheng, let me off!¡± She punched him and struggled to get off. ¡°You still chose to side with your grandfather despite everything.¡± She wrestled her way out of Ming Ansheng¡¯s arms and she smiled coldly. The expression in her eyes contained despair and anguish. ¡°Did you know that he tried to kill me¡­ he¡­¡± Her eyes were glistening and something seemed to have choked her throat. She pointed at Ming Zhongsheng who was still standing in the courtyard. She thought of how Jiao Chen had almost died and how he was in the intensive care unit for weeks. She trembled with anger and lashed out, ¡°He wants me dead! He wants to kill me!¡± Su Yue exploded and pushed Ming Ansheng away before she buried her head with her hands. Chapter 1510. She Is My Xiaojiao (part One ¡°Why? Why did I fall in love with you?¡± She sobbed with her head buried in her hands. Ming Ansheng was heartbroken. He bent and hugged the tiny girl with his muscular arms. ¡°Yueyue.¡± It was all his fault. If he didn¡¯t take that step, they wouldn¡¯t have begun. Their relationship did start, and yet he couldn¡¯t promise her anything. His shrewd-looking eyes were glistening with tears. Su Yue struggled against him, so he tightened his grip on her. ¡°Yueyue, I want nothing else. I only want you.¡± He couldn¡¯t explain why and there seemed to be no reason as well. The young and naive girl had completely stolen his heart without him knowing. He loved her and he was infatuated and crazy about her. When he was younger, he didn¡¯t have this crazy impulse to give up everything. But now, he was willing to dump everything for her. ¡®I want nothing else. I only want you¡­¡¯ Su Yue heard Ming Ansheng¡¯s words and her tears streamed down. ¡°I will never be with you and I will never love you again.¡± Although she was clear that she simply couldn¡¯t stop loving him just because she wanted to. But it was too exhausting to be in love with him. From the moment she fell for him, she had chosen a forbidden path with no hope of reprieve. Su Yue shoved him away as she yelled. She swiftly stood up and ran for the exit. Ming Ansheng immediately sprang to his feet. Terrified yells sounded in the courtyard. ¡°Father!¡­¡± ¡°Grandfather!¡± ¡°Go get the car!¡± Ming Ansheng was stunned, and he halted his footsteps. A car was right in front of him and the headlights blinded him. He squinted his eyes before glancing at it. The car stopped in front of Su Yue, and she halted her footsteps. It was Yan Rusheng¡¯s car. Ming Ansheng heaved a sigh of relief. He turned around and Ming Anyu¡¯s car was speeding out of the courtyard. The car sped towards him and stopped. He hurriedly opened the car door. Ming Zhongsheng was gasping for breath and he was getting weaker. ¡°Calm down.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his hand to grip Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s hand. His sister-in-law was driving while Ming Anyu sat beside Ming Zhongsheng. ¡°An¡­ An¡­¡± Ming Zhongsheng fluttered his eyelids as he gazed at Ming Ansheng. He couldn¡¯t seem to utter his name. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Relax and breathe slowly.¡± He was terrified as this heart attack seemed different from the previous ones. The old man had something to say to him. Before, he didn¡¯t have any words for him. He tried to console his grandfather as he placed his ear to his mouth. Ming Zhongsheng seemed to have stopped breathing. Only his hands were stirring feebly. He held Ming Anyu¡¯s hand with one hand. Ming Ansheng sensed that he was trying to place his and Ming Anyu¡¯s hand together. After he comprehended, he immediately grabbed Ming Anyu¡¯s hand. ¡°¡­ brothers¡­¡± Ming Ansheng could only hear the last word: brothers. The old man began to gasp once more, and it became faster. ¡°Grandfather!¡± ¡°Grandfather!¡± Ming Anyu and Ming Ansheng were both scared stiff and they tried their best to save him. But no matter how anxious or how loud they yelled, the old man didn¡¯t make it. The entire Ming family fell into depths of despair and sorrow with Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s sudden death. Ming Ansheng brought Beibei to the funeral hall. Throngs of visitors came to pay their last respects to Ming Zhongsheng. The little boy was well-behaved, and he followed whatever Ming Ansheng did. ¡°Mommy.¡± Chapter 1511. She Is My Xiaojiao (part Two) Ming Ansheng was bowing to the visitors when the little boy suddenly rose. He excitedly ran towards the door. Ming Ansheng paused for a moment before he looked up. Meiduo bent and hushed Beibei with a finger on her lips. The boy immediately clammed up but he was grinning from ear to ear. He clung to Meiduo¡¯s leg, and he affectionately rubbed his face against her. His mother raised him, and he missed her terribly. He had a hard time adapting to his new life without her. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart softened at the sight of this. It didn¡¯t matter if the child was his or not; he merely felt pity for the child who was forced to separate from his mother. The child was only four years old, so no one shot him disapproving looks for smiling and shouting. Ming Ansheng watched Meiduo and Beibei for some time before he withdrew his gaze. He accidentally caught sight of Ming Anyu¡¯s face, and he frowned with suspicion. Ming Anyu was gazing at Meiduo and the boy, and his expression was weird. His face was slightly slanted so he couldn¡¯t see his brother¡¯s eyes, nor could he figure what was on his mind. Ming Anyu seemed to have realized that Ming Ansheng was staring at him so he turned to face Ming Ansheng. He sighed as he said, ¡°It has been hard on this little boy.¡± He lamented, sounding genuine and earnest. Ming Ansheng stowed away the suspicions in his heart and remained mum. He turned to look at Ming Zhongsheng¡¯s portrait. Ming Anyu followed suit. This pair of brothers looked quite alike and had inherited their parents¡¯ qualities. Both of them were good-looking. The only difference was that one of them took after their father¡¯s height, while the other took after their mother. Ming Anyu was half a head shorter than Ming Ansheng but he wasn¡¯t short as compared to the height of an average man. Both of them stood there, staring at the portrait in a reverie. Meiduo led Beibei back to the funeral hall. A thick somber-looking coat with a black shirt underneath hid her good figure. She tied up her curls in a ponytail. She bent to ask Beibei, ¡°Beibei, did you bow and kneel before Grandfather?¡± Beibei nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do it together with Mommy again.¡± Meiduo held Beibei¡¯s hand and she bowed thrice. Then she stood up and turned around. Ming Anyu and Ming Ansheng bowed to her in acknowledgment. After paying their respects, Meiduo¡¯s eyes quietly darted to Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. The expression in her eyes conveyed her regrets and consolation. Ming Ansheng nodded lightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear about your loss. Please take care of yourself,¡± said Meiduo softly as she pulled Beibei to his feet. She brought him out of the hall. Ming Ansheng watched them leave with conflicted feelings. ¡°Mommy, where is Grandfather?¡± Beibei raised his head as he curiously looked at Meiduo. Meiduo smiled. ¡°He went to a faraway place.¡± She bent her head, looking out of sorts. Beibei naively asked, ¡°Can I go too?¡± ¡°Silly boy. It¡¯s too far.¡± Meiduo stroked Beibei¡¯s hair as she peered at the sky. The weather was gloomy and dreary in the capital city that day. She exhaled as she walked forward with Beibei beside her. ¡°Meiduo.¡± Ming Ansheng caught up with them and Meiduo turned around. ¡°Ansheng.¡¯ Ming Ansheng strode to Meiduo and his eyes were fixed intently on her pale face. He hasn¡¯t met her in more than a week, and yet she had lost considerable weight again. Chapter 1512. She Is My Xiaojiao (part Three) Meiduo¡¯s condition seemed to have worsened. Ming Ansheng fell silent as he deliberated. He pressed his lips, and in a slightly pleading manner, he said, ¡°Can you take care of Beibei for the next few days? My grandfather was the one who took care of him. Now that he is gone, Beibei isn¡¯t too used to someone else. And my mother and I are busy.¡± Delight could be seen in Meiduo¡¯s eyes, and she nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Part of the reason behind her massive weight loss surely had something to do with her missing her child. She single-handedly brought him up. Now that her son was away from, she had many sleepless nights indeed. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°You can bring Beibei back to your place first. After the funeral is over, I¡¯ll send someone to pick him up.¡± Meiduo nodded and agreed. They stood opposite each other under a balding tree. A breeze rustled Meiduo¡¯s long curls and her coat slightly flapped. The man was in an all-black outfit and his hands were stuffed deep in his pockets. He looked tall and elegant. They looked so compatible together. It seemed that they were meant to be together. And indeed, they should, and now finally, could be together. ¡®Goodbye, Uncle Ming.¡¯ A girl was hiding behind a tree from a distance away. The next moment, she turned on her heel and vanished out of sight. ¡­ After the first month of the lunar year, a thick haze still shrouded the capital city. A champagne-colored Bentley was in the courtyard, with the car trunk wide open. The servants were placing the suitcases into the trunk. Su Yue was clad in a dark gray jacket, and she tied her hair in a simple ponytail. She stood against the brutal winds that made both her cheeks and nose red. Nobody was sure if it was the wind or the impending departure. Xuxu¡¯s eyes were red, and she held her hand tightly. ¡°Yueyue, when you get there, you must call me every day.¡± Su Yue nodded and replied softly, ¡°I will.¡± Xuxu breathed deeply and said, ¡°I will visit you soon.¡± Su Yue frowned and quipped, ¡°Third sister-in-law, you don¡¯t have to be so worried. I can take care of myself.¡± She bowed her head and muttered under her breath, ¡°I can do this.¡± As though she was reassuring herself. She still had to take care of Jiaojiao, so she would make sure she could do it. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and we need to pick Jiao Chen from the hospital.¡± Yan Rusheng, who was standing quietly beside them, glanced at his watch. He gently reminded Xuxu and Su Yue. Su Yue heard him and tugged her hand away from Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m leaving. Take good care of the twins.¡± She turned around to leave. Xuxu took a step forward. ¡°Yueyue, let me¡­¡± Su Yue cut across Xuxu and said with her back facing Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I don¡¯t want you to send me. Can you let me be?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xuxu pressed her lips tightly and nodded. Xuxu¡¯s eyes were welling up with tears as she watched Su Yue get into the car. Su Yue fastened her seatbelt and hung her head low¡ªjust like the first time she had sent her to school. She will miss her. She will miss her very much. But she knew that Su Yue had her own life to lead, and she would be the one to determine how she would do it. She needed to grow up and be independent. After Su Yue left, Xuxu turned around to hug Mu Li. She felt as if her heart was being emptied. ¡­ After the car left the mansion, Yan Rusheng took a swerve and drove to the main road. He glanced at Su Yue and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for a hospital over there. Someone will be there to pick you up after you landed. When the school term starts, that person will make the arrangements, too.¡± Chapter 1513. She Is My Xiaojiao (part Four) Su Yue replied softly, ¡°I got it.¡± She propped her elbow against the window as she watched the passersby wearing masks walk on the pavement. But her heart had flown away to a distant place. Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°Remember to call home every day.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yue agreed and nodded. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly turned to look at Su Yue, and he raised his voice. Su Yue snapped out from her reverie, and she too turned to look at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng pressed his lips and smiled at her. ¡°I believe you can do this.¡± It startled Su Yue. She couldn¡¯t believe that Yan Rusheng would encourage her. Her third brother, who was famous for his mean tongue, had incredibly encouraged her so kindly. After a moment, Su Yue flashed a smile at him too. A week had passed since Jiao Chen woke up. All the specialists recommended that he should go to Country M¡¯s T Hospital for treatment after consultations. T Hospital was the leading authority for their neurology department, and they had successfully treated patients like Jiao Chen before. It had been over a month since he was hospitalized, and the original Jiao Chen seemed to have disappeared. He was as thin as a paper that he looked as though a gust of wind could blow him away any second. Jiao Chen and Su Yue sat in the back seats, and she tightly gripped his hand. She would unconsciously stroke his bony fingers as the car sped towards the airport. Su Yue was getting sleepy, and she placed her head gently on Jiao Chen¡¯s shoulder. Jiao Chen¡¯s mother sat on his other side. Su Yan sat in the front passenger seat while Yan Rusheng drove. It was quiet in the car. It was a Saturday and there was a slight traffic jam after they exited the expressway. The car kept stopping and moving off. Su Yue suddenly felt nauseous, so she pressed her belly. Her stomach was churning. They reached another traffic junction. Yan Rusheng had already stepped on the brakes early, so the car came to a gradual and steady halt. But Su Yue¡¯s stomach seemed to lunge once more. ¡°Blergh!¡± She clenched her chest and hastily bent forward. ¡°Su Yue, are you all right?¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s mother asked in a worried tone. Su Yan turned around and watched Su Yue. He looked worried. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you unwell?¡± He pulled tissues and passed them to Su Yue. Su Yue waved her hand to dismiss his worries. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just feeling carsick.¡± She took the tissues to wipe her mouth before cleaning the floor. ¡°Drink some water.¡± Su Yan took a cup and passed it to Su Yue. That was Xuxu¡¯s cup, and Yan Rusheng merely glanced at it. It was for Su Yue, so he didn¡¯t mind. Su Yue drank a mouthful of water and gargled. She felt better but that nauseous feeling still lingered. ¡­ Four years later! Outside a seven-star hotel in the capital city, there was a huge notice informing visitors that the hotel was privately booked. Wedding portraits of the President of Flourish & Prosper and his wife were hanging from the street lamps in the vicinity. The beautiful couple looked so compatible and perfect, and envy could be seen in everyone¡¯s eyes. In the makeup room, a tiny woman was sitting in a white armchair. She was wearing a wedding gown with a long train. Her long black locks rested against her back. The makeup artist was putting makeup for her. A gorgeous-looking man was wearing a tailor-made suit with a tuxedo and a white shirt. His black hair neatly gelled up into a simple hairdo. But this hairdo enhanced his handsome features. His hands were deep in his pockets as he stood behind the armchair. He craned his neck, and his peach blossom-shaped eyes intently gazed at the tiny woman. Chapter 1514. She Is My Xiaojiao (part Five) His wife was such a lovely and sweet sight to behold. The makeup artist had just finished applying eyeliner on Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Xuxu opened her eyes to see Yan Rusheng watching her with a tender look on his face. She frowned and said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, go out. Didn¡¯t I ask you to go out?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled and drawled lazily. ¡°Wife, we¡¯ve been married for so long. Why are you still so shy?¡± Xuxu really hated and yet adored his shameless cheekiness, which seemed to be his innate trait. She furrowed her eyebrows and glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°We can¡¯t meet before the wedding.¡± Yan Rusheng playfully grinned. ¡°Not only did we meet, last night we even¡­¡± Xuxu hastily interjected, ¡°Enough! You don¡¯t have to leave.¡± This fellow really didn¡¯t care that there were others in the room, and he simply continued to speak ever so brazenly. Every time he did, she was really powerless against him. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Suddenly, the door swung open and a woman entered in a dramatic fashion. A jewel-blue dress had clad the woman¡¯s slightly voluptuous figure. Her fair skin looked supple and her cheeks were rosy. The second she saw Xuxu, she abandoned the bespectacled good-looking man behind her. She bolted for Xuxu in excitement. Xuxu frowned, looking annoyed. She grumbled, ¡°Miss Zhou Shuang, why are you so late?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned in exasperation. ¡°That two fellows were so troublesome. They ransacked the entire wardrobe and tried on various outfits.¡± Xuxu burst into laughter as she knew who she was referring to. The makeup artist gently reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t laugh so much.¡± Xuxu¡¯s smile vanished in an instant, and she beckoned to Zhou Shuang who stood behind her. ¡°Come nearer to me.¡± Zhou Shuang walked to Xuxu and she peered at her reflection. Then she turned to Xuxu, ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re so beautiful.¡± The makeup artist smiled and said, ¡°Certainly. A bride is the most beautiful on the day of her wedding.¡± Zhou Shuang pressed her lips and her smile faded. She glanced at Xuxu and sincerely said, ¡°Be blissful always.¡± Xuxu captured the subtle envy in Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes, and her eyes darted to Lu Yinan who stood at the door. In a playful manner, he asked, ¡°Lu Yinan, when are you marrying my Zhou Shuang?¡± Zhou Shuang blushed crimson and she tapped Xuxu¡¯s head. ¡°Take care of yourself first.¡± Lu Yinan pressed his lips and remained quiet. Xuxu knew that she shouldn¡¯t meddle in their affairs, although she felt pity for Zhou Shuang because their relationship status was ambiguous. She steered the conversation away. ¡°Where are Jiaojiao and Yanyan?¡± Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°They are playing with Meowmeow.¡± Yan Rusheng, who was standing quietly, suddenly spoke up. ¡°If that little hooligan of yours continues to seduce my daughter, I will break his legs.¡± He fiercely eyed Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang returned the glare and snapped, ¡°Yan Rusheng, don¡¯t be such a narrow-minded man. If they spend more time playing together, they will be close friends in the future.¡± She was such good friends with Xuxu. So, with Yan Rusheng and Xuxu¡¯s superior genes and intelligence, she definitely didn¡¯t mind her son getting close with their daughter. In fact, she spent plenty of time teaching her son how to curry favor with Meowmeow. Yan Rusheng scoffed coldly in response. But that scoff irked Zhou Shuang. ¡°What is that response?¡± Chapter 1515. She Is My Xiaojiao (part Six) Zhou Shuang glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Wen Xuxu and you were childhood sweethearts. Don¡¯t you hope for the same thing to happen to your children?¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu¡­ This lass really did plan ahead, to even want their children to become childhood sweethearts. Her reason was too atrocious. Yan Rusheng continued to smirk as he eyed her with disdain. ¡°But it has nothing to do with your little hooligan.¡± ¡°I have two daughters, Yangyang can choose either of them,¡± Zhou Shuang spoke proudly. There were plenty of other daughters, all right? Lu Yinan was exasperated. Tch. His daughter was also his precious darling alright? What kind of mother was she? She seemed to barter her daughter like some common good at the market. Yan Rusheng faked a smile. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Zhou Shuang was about to retaliate when Xuxu¡¯s phone vibrated. She proudly raised her chin and said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°Since it¡¯s our wedding today, I shall not bicker with you.¡± She snorted coldly before throwing a glance at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan was wearing a royal-blue suit with a white shirt underneath his tuxedo. He was resting against the door frame as he held his phone with his good-looking hands. He seemed engrossed with his phone. The light from his phone shone on his gorgeous face, and it brought attention to his beautiful features. Zhou Shuang bowed her head as her eyes sparkled with a trace of sorrow. ¡°Ah Sheng, the person who was supposed to fetch Yueyue from the airport didn¡¯t manage to find her.¡± Xuxu hung up and told Yan Rusheng. ¡­ The airport was crowded. A tiny woman was pushing a trolley as she aimlessly roamed in the hall. Her eyes wandered around, taking in her surroundings. A young and chubby girl sat on top of the suitcases. Her slightly curly hair was tied into two pigtails. The girl¡¯s dewy-looking eyes were swiveling around too; she looked curious and excited. ¡°Mommy, there are so many people who look like us.¡± The girl told the woman after observing her surroundings. She had thick and long eyelashes, and her eyes were sparkling. The woman grinned. ¡°Yeah, we are all Chinese.¡± Her eyes darted around as she watched the strangers around her. She smiled to herself. When she first stepped foot in the country, she had the same exact feeling. She felt at home when she saw so many people who looked like her. ¡°I miss Daddy,¡± the girl whine and put on a pitiful pout. Su Yue peered at the girl and coaxed her gently. ¡°Daddy has work to do. He will be with us soon. Xiaojiao, be good alright?¡± She stretched her hand and caressed the little girl¡¯s hair. ¡°My hair is messy.¡± The little girl frowned, and she stretched her chubby hand to shove Su Yue¡¯s hand away. Su Yue chuckled and shrugged. ¡°Sorry, Mommy will be careful next time.¡± ¡°Little Miss.¡± Suddenly, a middle-aged man marched quickly towards them. Su Yue sized up the man and asked, ¡°Are you Zhang Yuan?¡± The middle-aged man nodded. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Su Yue¡¯s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. She answered, ¡°Hello, Third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw him. A tall middle-aged man, right?¡± ¡°Ok, I got it.¡± After confirming with Xuxu, Su Yue ended the call. She smiled at the man and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 1516. She Is My Xiaojiao (part Seven) The wedding of Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President, the Young Master Yan of the Yan family, was without a question, a grand, elaborate, and luxurious event. Those who had received invitations were all influential, powerful or affluent figures from various industries. ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯m here.¡± Su Yue got off the car and strode quickly towards the hotel. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you later.¡± She hung up when she reached the entrance. Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary received her at the entrance. He recognized Su Yue, so she didn¡¯t need an invitation. ¡°Miss Su,¡± Qiao Jian politely greeted Su Yue and was astonished to see her carrying a little girl. He was dumbfounded for some time. ¡®Oh, my god. This girl looked so much like Miss Su. Was she her daughter?¡¯ Miss Su already had a child in these four years! Qiao Jian still felt overwhelmed when Su Yue suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Oh, no! The present is still in the car trunk.¡± She passed the girl over to Qiao Jian and implored, ¡°Secretary Qiao, carry her for a while, please. I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡± Qiao Jian simply did as he was told. Su Yue turned around and saw that the car was about to leave. She instantly bolted for the car. ¡°What is your name?¡± There weren¡¯t any other guests, so Qiao Jian chatted with the little girl. The girl had really soft and chubby cheeks, and she was adorable. It was hard for anyone not to like her. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± The girl was still gnawing on a chicken wing. She looked as though she wanted to swallow the bones as well. Qiao Jian asked, ¡°Is your surname Jiao?¡± ¡°Daddy is Dajiao so I am Xiaojiao. Mommy has both Dajiao and Xiaojiao,¡± replied the little girl proudly. She was still looking at her chicken wing the whole time she answered him. She licked the sauce off her fingers. Qiao Jian couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, so he snatched the chicken wing from her. He threw it into a nearby trash can. He bent and placed the girl on the floor and took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. ¡°You¡¯re really not afraid of strangers, huh?¡± ¡°Young Master Ming, Young Master Lu.¡± Two towering figures entered. One in a black suit, the other in a blue suit, but both exuded an elegant and dignified charm. As though they were born with it. Qiao Jian immediately bowed. ¡°Young Master Ming. Young Master Lu.¡± He still had a hand placed on top of Xiaojiao¡¯s head. Looking annoyed, Xiaojiao retorted, ¡°My hair is messy.¡± She pushed his hand away and moved backward. The girl just rejected Secretary Qiao. Ming Ansheng simply ignored them as though he didn¡¯t have any interest at all. He swept past Qiao Jian. Lu Yinan glanced at Xiaojiao and grinned at Qiao Jian. ¡°Qiao Jian, I didn¡¯t know your child is so old already.¡± Qiao Jian had been working for Yan Rusheng for almost seven years. He settled all of Yan Rusheng¡¯s work and personal affairs, so Lu Yinan and the rest had met him many times. Sometimes they would crack jokes, too. Qiao Jian shyly smiled and replied, ¡°Young Master Lu, don¡¯t make fun of me. She isn¡¯t my child. She is Miss Su¡¯s daughter.¡± Lu Yinan frowned, looking confused. ¡°Miss Su?¡± Chapter 1517. She Is My Xiaojiao (part Eight) Miss Su¡­ The first person who came to Lu Yinan¡¯s mind was Su Yue. Unconsciously, he glanced at Ming Ansheng who was ahead of him. When Ming Ansheng heard Qiao Jian¡¯s words, he came to a gradual halt. But he didn¡¯t turn around; instead, he simply stood on the spot. Qiao Jian smiled as he said, ¡°Yes, he is Vice-President Su¡¯s sister.¡± ¡°Su Yue¡¯s daughter?!¡± exclaimed Lu Yinan as he glanced at the little girl. The little girl was brushing her curly hair with a slight crease in between her eyebrows. Lu Yinan studied the girl¡¯s features closely. She resembled Su Yue. He lifted his head and quietly watched Ming Ansheng. He seemed as though he was spellbound. Lu Yinan didn¡¯t dare to ask any further. He waved at Qiao Jian, ¡°Nothing else, continue with your work.¡± He hastened his footsteps to catch up with Ming Ansheng. ¡®Daddy is Dajiao so I am Xiaojiao. Mommy has both Dajiao and Xiaojiao¡­¡¯ Both of them¡­ Ming Ansheng clenched his fists in his pockets, feeling bitter and jealous. He knew that they were leading a good life abroad. So, they even had a child? ¡°Uncle, can you speak English?¡± Suddenly, something was tugging at his trousers, and a little sweet voice sounded near his knees. Ming Ansheng was still wallowing in his jealousy when he slowly bent his head. His eyes met the girl¡¯s bright ones. It startled him. Her face resembled Su Yue so much. But he felt that she didn¡¯t resemble Jiao Chen at all. Or perhaps¡­ he was feeling hostile towards Jiao Chen and hence felt that way. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes and expression softened at the sight of her adorable face. Incredibly, he had this same feeling as to how he looked at Su Yue years ago. He smiled and nodded as he casually shrugged his shoulders. He replied in English, ¡°Certainly.¡± Xiaojiao pressed on, ¡°Have you been to Country M?¡± She was still young so she couldn¡¯t properly pronounce the words. Ming Ansheng nodded and replied, ¡°Yeah. I went there a few days ago. But I was in N City.¡± The little girl didn¡¯t bother with the details and randomly asked again, ¡°Have you eaten chicken wings before?¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. Chicken wings¡­ He chuckled loudly. He nodded once again. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± He asked, ¡°How about you?¡± The girl didn¡¯t reply and turned around towards the door. She put her hands behind her back, looking smug and haughty. The way she sauntered unsteadily was really comical. Ming Ansheng was perplexed and didn¡¯t understand why the girl walked away without a word. He gazed at Xiaojiao, and he suddenly felt a strange emptiness in his heart. Coupled with bitterness and jealousy¡ªhe was feeling confused. He tightened his fists once more to resist the pain. Lu Yinan glanced at Ming Ansheng and opened his mouth repeatedly. He wanted to console him or to ask him to go. But he couldn¡¯t utter a single word. ¡°Why are both of you standing here?¡± Zhou Shuang came out from the elevator and glanced towards the main hall. She looked at Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan, looking puzzled. ¡°We¡¯re heading up.¡± Lu Yinan looked at Zhou Shuang as he asked, ¡°Why did you come down?¡± ¡°Xuxu asked me to¡­¡± Zhou Shuang glanced furtively at Ming Ansheng and softly replied, ¡°Fetch Su Yue.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yinan grunted, and he put his arms around Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders. He forcefully steered him towards the elevator. ¡°Hurry up. This is my first time being a best man.¡± Ming Ansheng sneered coldly. ¡°You¡¯re already a father and you still have the cheek to be a best man?¡± Chapter 1518. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part One) Lu Yinan casually replied, ¡°I¡¯m not married yet, and I want to experience it once before I get married.¡± They strode towards the elevator. They swept past Zhou Shuang, and Lu Yinan gave her a meaningful look. Zhou Shuang pressed her lips to show that she understood. As they walked off, she quietly. watched Lu Yinan ¡®I want to experience it once before I get married¡­¡¯ ¡®Lu Yinan, how long more are you planning to waste my time!¡¯ Zhou Shuang thought bitterly to herself. ¡°Mommy.¡± Zhou Shuang turned around when she heard a girl calling ¡®Mommy¡¯. She saw a familiar woman and it startled her. She apprehensively asked, ¡°Little pretentious one?¡± The young, beautiful woman looked exactly the same. Yet at the same time, there was something different about her. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly where. Su Yue was holding a pink paper box in one hand while she carried Xiaojiao with the other arm. She glanced at Zhou Shuang when she heard her voice. She beamed brightly at her and said, ¡°Sister Hooligan.¡± It was indeed different¡­ She used to call her Sister Hooligan all the time, but her tone was different now. She sounded mature¡­ She had lost her innocence. Zhou Shuang was still sizing Su Yue up when the latter stood in front of her. The little girl in her arms was eating a chicken wing and the sauce had smeared her mouth. ¡°Xiaojiao, call her Aunt.¡± Su Yue grabbed Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and waved at Zhou Shuang. Xiaojiao was still happily eating and she was annoyed. She glanced lazily at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Aunt.¡± Then she went back to devouring her chicken wing with relish. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Her jaw looked as though it was going to drop off at any moment. The little girl said ¡®mommy¡¯ loudly just now, and Su Yue was the only woman around besides her. Could she be¡­ Su Yue already knew what she was thinking of. She nodded and grinned. ¡°She is my daughter, Su Jiao.¡± ¡°Oh, my god!¡± Zhou Shuang exclaimed, ¡°You already have a child!¡± She was still staring at the little girl in disbelief. That face resembled Su Yue so much. If the little girl didn¡¯t look like Su Yue, she would have thought that Su Yue was pranking her. Zhou Shuang asked her once more, ¡°Did you tell your third brother and third sister-in-law?¡± She had never heard them mentioned it before¡ªforget about Yan Rusheng, but not even Wen Xuxu breathed a word. Su Yue quietly smiled. Zhou Shuang immediately understood. She muttered to herself, ¡°How could they not know?¡± Xuxu went to Country M a couple of times. How could she not know that this little pretentious one had a child? She presumed that they wanted to hide it from Ming Ansheng, and that was why they didn¡¯t tell anyone. Zhou Shuang scrutinized Xiaojiao carefully. That innocent and chubby face¡­ she suspiciously gazed at her. ¡°But this child does look a little like Ming¡­¡± Zhou Shuang was someone who didn¡¯t hide her thoughts or feelings. Su Yue cut across and said, ¡°Sister Hooligan, your triplets are really cute.¡± She hastily diverted the topic to Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face lit up with a motherly smile. ¡°They are cute but too mischievous.¡± The triplets were really noisy and there wasn¡¯t a moment of peace at home. Chapter 1519. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Two) Zhou Shuang said, ¡°The makeup artist is waiting for you. Let¡¯s hurry up.¡± She extended her arms to carry Xiaojiao. But who knew that the girl would refuse. She twisted her waist and clung tightly to Su Yue. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Mommy is so tired. Can you let Aunt carry you for a while?¡± ¡°I massage Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao pouted and looked at Su Yue with an expression like an adorable puppy. She pounded on Su Yue¡¯s back with her little fists. Zhou Shuang watched them and chuckled. ¡°This little imp is really adorable.¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°She only knows how to coax people.¡± They walked to the elevator together. The elevator reached, and Su Yue bent to carry Xiaojiao. Zhou Shuang stopped her and said, ¡°I will carry her. Go and do your makeup.¡± The wedding was about to start, and Su Yue was the bridesmaid. ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue nodded and walked out first. Xiaojiao would be safe with Zhou Shuang. ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao became anxious when she saw Su Yue walking away. Zhou Shuang bent to scoop her up before carrying her. She ignored her protests and carried her in a seasoned way. That was how she treated the triplets back at home. Whoever was making a fuss would be left outside the house. They could only go back in only after they stopped. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother didn¡¯t agree with her methods but the grandfather was supportive. He firmly believed that children shouldn¡¯t be pampered too much. They should learn to be independent and not be too delicate. ¡°I want mommy.¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s eyes were red as she stared pitifully at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang coaxed her gently, ¡°Mommy needs to put on makeup. I will bring you to a fun place with many children to play with you alright?¡± They reached the reception area. The guests were supposed to reach later, so only their close friends were present. Children¡¯s laughter could be heard once the doors swung open. They were chasing one another in the hall. ¡°Children!¡± Zhou Shuang called her triplets first before shouting again, ¡°Yangyang, Meowmeow!¡± All the children turned towards Zhou Shuang. ¡°Mommy!¡± Two girls wearing pink puffy dresses with short hair rushed towards Zhou Shuang. As though they haven¡¯t seen their mother in a long time. ¡°Mommy, who is she?¡± The older daughter gripped Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand tightly. Jealousy was blazing in her eyes. Zhou Shuang bent and placed Xiaojiao on the floor. She told her daughters, ¡°She is your younger sister.¡± Her youngest daughter bawled loudly. ¡°I don¡¯t want a younger sister! Mommy, you don¡¯t like me anymore?¡± Zhou Shuang grinned helplessly at her response. They already knew how to fight for attention at such a tender age. She gently rubbed her daughter¡¯s head and coaxed her. ¡°She is Aunt Su Yue¡¯s daughter. She is not Daddy and Mommy¡¯s daughter.¡± Lu Yinan was to be blamed. Every time they were naughty, he would scare them and threaten to have a younger brother or sister. Then they wouldn¡¯t love the triplets anymore. They were afraid of his threats. ¡°Alright then.¡± The youngest one wiped her tears and grabbed Xiaojiao¡¯s hand. ¡°I will play with you. You can be my maid.¡± Although her voice was childish, she could articulate very well. Zhou Shuang was speechless¡­ She held Xiaojiao and brought her to where the rest of the children were. The two little boys stood there quietly. Chapter 1520. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Three) Third Lu glanced at one of the boys and said, ¡°It¡¯s our wedding today. She is our maid.¡± She glanced at the other boy and commanded him, ¡°Brother! You are the eunuch!¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless¡­ She wasn¡¯t a patient mother towards her children. But amongst her children, she was slightly more patient towards Third Lu as she was the youngest. However, Third Lu was the most playful, and she was the best at acting cute. So everyone doted on her the most. She often ordered the two older siblings around. The oldest Lu frowned. ¡°Eunuchs don¡¯t have p*nis. I have.¡± So, he refused to be a eunuch. Zhou Shuang was speechless¡­ They were polluting her ears! ¡°You are lying!¡± Third Lu glanced at Second Lu and instructed, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re the concubine. I want to marry the king but you are angry with me. So you want to harm my baby.¡± She used her hand to rub her belly. Zhou Shuang was exasperated! TV dramas were too toxic. Their grandmother loved to watch this period drama, and she watched it a couple of times. A pretty little girl who was standing quietly beside them spoke up as she grabbed her brother, Yan Nuoxing¡¯s arm. ¡°Then, I¡¯m the queen.¡± Third Lu quipped, ¡°The queen is a bad person.¡± Yan Wenxin replied, ¡°The queen is a good person.¡± Third Lu raised her voice and shouted, ¡°The queen is bad! She killed my child.¡± Yan Wenxin didn¡¯t watch this TV drama but she just felt that the queen should be a good person. She raised her voice and insisted, ¡°The queen is a good person!¡± There was a long pause¡­ The two girls were bickering and they refused to give in to each other. Their cheeks became red. Zhou Shuang was planning to ignore them. Xiaojiao was much shorter than all of them, and she quietly observed the two older sisters arguing. She was peering at them with her chin tilted upward. After a long while, she interjected, ¡°You are both bad people. Xiaojiao is the good person.¡± She didn¡¯t pronounce the words clearly, but her tone was unyielding. After snapping at them, she turned around to look at Zhou Shuang. ¡°I want Mommy.¡± Her eyes darted around as she observed her surroundings. She was still gnawing on her chicken wing when she broke down in tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll bring you to find Mommy.¡± Zhou Shuang had no other way but to carry Xiaojiao. ¡°Mommy, you can¡¯t carry her!¡± Third Lu yelled as she saw Zhou Shuang carry Xiaojiao. Jealousy overcame her. She scuttled over to Zhou Shuang and grabbed her leg, looking as if she was going to cry any moment. Zhou Shuang was speechless¡­ Xiaojiao glanced at Third Lu who was stopping her from looking for her own mommy. She bawled even louder and her cries echoed around the hall. Both of them were crying at the same time, and the scene was¡­ ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t cry. Be a good girl,¡± said Zhou Shuang in a gentle tone of voice as bent her back to place Xiaojiao on the floor. Then she turned to Third Lu and spoke sternly. ¡°Let go of me.¡± The little girl screamed and cried at the top of her lungs. Zhou Shuang furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Aren¡¯t you letting go?¡± ¡°What is happening here?¡± Lu Yinan heard his daughter¡¯s cries, and he ran over. He saw her tear-strewn face and his heart seemed to shatter into pieces. ¡°What happened to Yanyan?¡± Zhou Shuang answered, ¡°Xiaojiao wants to look for her mommy. This crybaby refused to let me leave and kept pulling my leg.¡± Third Lu said in between her sobs, ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t like me.¡± ¡°Chicken wing.¡± Xiaojiao walked to a towering figure who stood a distance away from therm. She raised her hand and showed him the chicken wing. She tip-toed and raised her head to gaze at the man. Chapter 1521. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Four) Ming Ansheng bowed his head to watch the little girl. Her face was a little dirty, with sauce all over her face and mouth. He had a tender expression on his face as he softly declined, ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± ¡°Eat.¡± Xiaojiao was adamant and she stomped her feet. She raised her arm once more. She tried to tip-toe but she didn¡¯t balance herself well. She lost her footing and was about to fall backward. Ming Ansheng bent and lifted the girl. ¡°Be careful.¡± The girl seized the opportunity to stuff the chicken wing into his mouth. He was speechless¡­ He couldn¡¯t describe what he was feeling. The girl noticed that his mouth wasn¡¯t moving. So, she stretched her hand and stuffed the rest of the chicken wing that was hanging from his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s yummy.¡± She seemed to say that ¡®The chicken wing is nice, I didn¡¯t lie to you. You must eat.¡¯ Ming Ansheng grinned and he nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl leaned towards his chest and she smelled really nice. Her body was soft and plump. His heart seemed to have melted. Ming Ansheng glanced at the little girl¡¯s face, and he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to get closer to her. He brushed the tip of his nose against her cheeks. The little girl felt ticklish, so she giggled loudly. The little girl¡¯s laughter was as clear as a tinkling bell, and she was so innocent. Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but tighten his arms around her. He fixed his eyes on her face as he asked, ¡°Where is your mommy?¡± Xiaojiao pursed her lips. ¡°Mommy ran away.¡± Ran away? Her reply puzzled Ming Ansheng. He put on a smile and asked, ¡°Then¡­ where is your daddy?¡± The moment he asked, he felt as though a rock had crushed his heart. He felt suffocated. He was carrying the child that Su Yue had bore with another man. They were abroad for four years and their child was already so big. Yueyue was merely 22 years old this year. Xiaojiao replied, ¡°Daddy is working. He will come in two more days.¡± She pouted when she mentioned her father and her eyes drooped. Ming Ansheng pressed on, ¡°What is your name?¡± Xiaojiao answered, ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± Ming Ansheng asked again, ¡°Just Xiaojiao?¡± He wanted to know what the name of their daughter was. Was her name nice? ¡°Su Jiao.¡± Xiaojiao spread her arms and roared fiercely. ¡°I¡¯m born in the year of the fierce tiger. Are you afraid?¡± No matter how bitter or sorrowful Ming Ansheng was, he couldn¡¯t bear to dampen the mood of this innocent and adorable girl. He nodded. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re so awesome. I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°Listen to me, then I won¡¯t eat you.¡± Xiaojiao tapped Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders with her greasy hands. She left a shiny stain on his exquisite tailor-made suit. Zhou Shuang had already appeased Third Lu, and she turned around to look for Xiaojiao. She was rather startled to see Ming Ansheng carrying Xiaojiao. She watched them quietly, and she didn¡¯t bear to interrupt such a blissful and harmonious scene. The guests began to arrive, and she wanted to look for Xuxu. She strode towards Ming Ansheng. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± She reached them and she stroked Xiaojiao¡¯s hair with a smile. She glanced at Ming Ansheng. Usually, when she met him, she would relentlessly tease him. But right now, she had no idea what she should say to him. She truly felt sorry for the man. He was forced to break up with the two women he loved, and in the end, he still ended up alone. His first love was gone and the woman he loved married another man¡ªthey even had a child. ¡°She gave me her chicken wing.¡± Ming Ansheng showed the chicken wing bone as if he were trying to explain to Zhou Shuang. Chapter 1522. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Five) Zhou Shuang smiled. ¡°She is looking for her mommy. I¡¯ll bring her there.¡± She bent to carry Xiaojiao. Ming Ansheng nodded in response. Zhou Shuang carried Xiaojiao and walked towards the main doors. Xiaojiao rested her chin on her shoulders and she gazed at Ming Ansheng with her huge pair of eyes. She blinked repeatedly as she gazed at him. Finally, she flashed a bright smile, revealing rows of tiny teeth. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart instantly melted into a puddle. His Yueyue¡­ His heart felt as though someone was squeezing it¡ªand it was hurting him. Yueyue belonged to him once. ¡­ In the makeup room, Su Yue was done with her makeup and she began on her hairdo. She could finally speak. Xuxu was done with her makeup and she was ready. Actually, she should check on the preparations, but all she wanted was to look at Su Yue. It had almost been a year since she last met her. Her appearance didn¡¯t change but she kept thinking of her. When she first met Su Yue, she was only 17 years old. She was a na?ve and innocent girl who didn¡¯t know much about worldly affairs. And now, Xuxu felt as though her child had grown up. She couldn¡¯t exactly describe how she was feeling. She felt relieved, sentimental, and sorrowful. The process of growing up was tough for everyone. But it was harder for Su Yue as she endured much more than others. Su Yue noticed Xuxu watching her, so she grinned at her. ¡°I took such a long flight, and Xiaojiao kept pestering me so I didn¡¯t sleep. Do I look exhausted?¡± Xuxu shook her head and smiled. ¡°You still look great.¡± Suddenly, Su Yue¡¯s phone rang. She received a text. She extended her hand towards her phone. The text was from Jiao Chen, asking if she was done with her makeup. She smiled when she read it, and she turned on the camera function. She beckoned to Xuxu and said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s take a photo to show Jiaojiao. He can¡¯t wait to see us.¡± Xuxu stood beside her and Su Yue snapped a photo. Both of them had makeup on and they were breathtakingly beautiful. She sent the photo to Jiao Chen. She pulled the chair back to its original position. She then bent her head as she typed away on her phone. Xuxu stared at Su Yue intently. When Su Yue raised her head, she met Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Looking puzzled, she asked, ¡°Third sister-in-law, why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xuxu pressed her lips. ¡°Is Jiao Chen still busy?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°He is very busy.¡± She received Jiao Chen¡¯s reply and she immediately typed in her response as well. She turned to peer at Xuxu with a frown. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand him. We had already settled down well, and he also finished his postgraduate studies. He could have carried on taking his Ph.D., but he chose to give up.¡± Xuxu¡¯s hands, which were resting on her lap, trembled a little when she heard Su Yue. She smiled feebly and replied, ¡°It proves that he is patriotic and he loves our country.¡± Su Yue joked, ¡°Why should he love our country? He should love me instead.¡± Xuxu was startled, and she watched Su Yue closely. She broke into a smile after some time. ¡°He still loves you even if he chose to come back. It doesn¡¯t make a difference, right?¡± She paused and quickly continued with a frown. ¡°Or you want to stay abroad for the rest of your life? Don¡¯t you miss me or your brother?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why Jiaojiao gave up on the Ph.D.¡± She hung her head, and Xuxu had no idea what she was thinking of right now. Chapter 1523. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Six) Xuxu could feel the atmosphere getting strained, so she patted Su Yue¡¯s hand gently. ¡°Alright. There is no point in studying so much as well. If he continues with his Ph.D. and work at the same time, he wouldn¡¯t have time for you and Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Su Yue nodded and her heart was aching. ¡°He is really busy for the past year, and he kept losing weight no matter how much he ate. He¡¯s tired both mentally and physically.¡± The expression in Xuxu¡¯s eyes flickered, and she steered the conversation. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Zhou Shuang here with Xiaojiao?¡± She glanced at the door. A towering figure walked in at that moment with the little girl. Xuxu rose with a bright smile. She lifted the train of her gown and quickly strode to the little girl. ¡°Xiaojiao!¡± ¡°Call her Xuxu,¡± Yan Rusheng instructed Xiaojiao with a sly gleam in his eyes. Xuxu threw a disapproving glare at him before turning to Xiaojiao. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Uncle. Call me Aunt.¡± Xiaojiao was admiring Xuxu¡¯s gown with her eyes wide. She clapped happily and exclaimed, ¡°Aunt is a bride! Pretty!¡± The girl¡¯s compliments delighted Xuxu and she pulled her from Yan Rusheng. ¡°Let me carry you.¡± ¡°Third Brother, you are really handsome today,¡± Su Yue complimented Yan Rusheng loudly. She sat on the chair and her eyes were surveying him from top to toe. She seemed lost in her thoughts. Her eyes rested on his face and she became still. ¡°I¡¯m always handsome,¡± replied Yan Rusheng without a hint of embarrassment. Su Yue rolled her eyes at him. ¡°And always vain.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled before he turned around. The wedding was about to start and he had plenty to do. ¡°Oh, no!¡± Yan Rusheng had just walked out of the makeup room when the wedding planner came running to him. He was panting and trying to catch his breath. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. The wedding planner said, ¡°Mr. Lu¡¯s youngest daughter fell from the stage and she cut her face. She is bleeding badly.¡± Yan Rusheng was shocked, and he probed, ¡°Why did it happen? Have you sent her to the hospital?¡± He marched quickly towards the wedding hall. ¡°We have already sent her.¡± The wedding planner rattled on. ¡°But the wedding is starting and Lu Yinan is the best man.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Yan Rusheng halted his footsteps. ¡°See if you can find a replacement.¡± The wedding planner replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already asked your mother and she is asking around. But she said that those who are already married cannot be the best man or bridesmaid.¡± F*ck! He was supposed to find a single man to be his best man at the eleventh hour?! Yan Rusheng was rather anxious too, and he furrowed his eyebrows as he thought hard. He turned to the wedding planner and said, ¡°I¡¯ll find someone.¡± He strode swiftly into the hall. The guests were huddled in groups and were all engaged in conversations. Children¡¯s voices and laughter could be heard, too. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes darted around, looking as though he was looking for someone in specific. ¡°Third Yan, Lu Yinan brought Yanyan to the hospital. What should we do without a best man? The wedding is starting soon.¡± Mu Li strode towards him, looking jittery. It was her precious son¡¯s wedding, and she was wearing a flamboyant wine-red embroidered cheongsam for the occasion. Although she was past sixty, she still looked attractive and gorgeous. No one could tell her real age from her back. Yan Rusheng glanced at Mu Li and asked, ¡°Where is Ming Ansheng?¡± ¡°He¡­¡± Mu Li uttered a word but wasn¡¯t able to manage to finish her sentence. Yan Rusheng had just spotted Ming Ansheng in the crowd. Chapter 1524. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Seven) Yan Rusheng marched towards the direction where Ming Ansheng was. ¡°Hey! Why is the groom hanging out here?¡± Ming Ansheng was standing quietly amongst the group of friends. Someone teased Yan Rusheng when he saw him approaching. Time was running short, and Yan Rusheng had no time for jokes. He grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and dragged him forcibly. ¡°Lu Yinan had something to do. So you take over.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s first instinct was to reject. He generally didn¡¯t like noise and didn¡¯t particularly enjoy being in the limelight. He just wanted to attend his childhood friend¡¯s wedding as a guest. A best man wasn¡¯t something he was confident that he would do a good job. Lu Yinan was the best candidate for the job. Yan Runan replied, ¡°Yanyan is injured, so Lu Yinan had to send her to the hospital. You are the only person right now.¡± He dragged Ming Ansheng across the hall in the midst of the conversation. ¡°Go find any of them.¡± Ming Ansheng turned to point at their friends. ¡°They all had the experience of being a best man. I don¡¯t.¡± He felt that any of their friends would be a more suitable choice than him. Anyone of them. ¡°They are all married.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply shut Ming Ansheng up. It had come to a point whereby everyone bullied the single ones. Yan Rusheng had already shoved his objection back into his mouth with his reason. And this was an emergency, so no matter how unwilling he was to be in the limelight, he had to. He followed Yan Rusheng out of the hall. Yan Rusheng scrutinized him from head to toe and concluded, ¡°There is nothing you need to change. Good to go.¡± He turned to the wedding planner behind him. ¡°Give him the boutonniere.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± said the wedding planner curtly. Yan Rusheng glanced at his watch and said, ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± The wedding was supposed to start at 6:30 p.m. and it was already 6:20 p.m. Gosh! He was about to marry the dumb woman, Wen Xuxu? Young Master Yan began to feel nervous and anxious for no reason. It could be because of excitement, as he thought to himself. He stood outside the hall as he glanced at the wedding arch. The red carpet stretched all the way to the stage with fresh fragrant flowers at the side of the walkway. The whole place looked dreamy and beautiful. He stood straight and tall, with his chest puffed out, and his heart pumping quickly. Ming Ansheng was wearing the boutonniere on his chest, which the wedding planner had pinned on for him. It was a little crooked but he didn¡¯t bother with it. He stood in a relaxed pose with both hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant. As though he was a stranger and not the best man. The lights went dim and the emcee went on stage and began to address the crowd. ¡°Next, let¡¯s welcome the suavest, handsome, and gorgeous man in the capital city, Mr. Yan Rusheng!¡± Applause erupted and echoed around the entire hall Yan Rusheng clenched his fists and inhaled deeply. He stood up a little straighter and raised his chin. But he remained rooted to the spot. ¡°Yan Rusheng?¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at Yan Rusheng with a quizzical look. ¡°Are you glued to the floor?¡± Yan Rusheng shot him a deathly stare. ¡°F*ck! Can¡¯t you tell that I¡¯m emotional right now?¡± Ming Ansheng scoffed and chuckled. ¡°I bet you¡¯re nervous and you¡¯re getting cold feet.¡± ¡°You must be joking.¡± Young Master Yan put a foot forward and strode into the hall. He stepped on the red carpet and walked towards the wedding hall. Yes, he was indeed nervous. He was excited. He was blissful¡­ and yes he was grateful, too. There was a rush of emotions coursing through him right now. But he appeared calm and cool as everyone gushed over the groom who looked as though he was strutting down the walkway like an international model. Chapter 1525. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Eight) Xuxu was wearing a long gown with the children holding her train behind her. Two children walked beside her as they scattered flower petals. She was slowly approaching the wedding hall. The place where she would declare to the entire world that Yan Rusheng was hers. ¡°Mommy, when are you giving us the wedding candy?¡± Meowmeow suddenly asked Xuxu. Xuxu was speechless. She had to be the only bride in the world who would have her daughter asking her for a wedding candy. She glared at the little girl. ¡°Keep quiet.¡± ¡°When is my mommy going to be a bride?¡± ¡°I also want a wedding candy from my mommy.¡± First Lu and Second Lu began to chatter fervently as they watched Aunt Xuxu with envy. How they wished that their mommy could wear a beautiful gown and be a bride, too. ¡°My daddy and mommy sleep together every night. Does your daddy sleep with your mommy?¡± Suddenly, Meowmeow turned to ask First Lu and Second Lu. She sounded so smug and haughty. Second Lu shook her head quickly. ¡°No. They sleep in their own room.¡± ¡°Then your daddy and mommy won¡¯t get married.¡± Meowmeow began to trudge on as though she was an expert. ¡°The husband and wife must sleep together to get married.¡± Xuxu was speechless¡­ When the children get together each time, they either pretend to be TV characters or discuss adult topics. Can¡¯t they be more childlike? Xiaojiao, who was following them, listened quietly to their conversation. She knitted her eyebrows tightly together, as though she was contemplating something. They strode slowly towards the hall. Su Yue wore a blush gown and it ended just above her knees. Her slender legs were as fair as snow. The hairstylist curled her hair loose and it tumbled elegantly across her shoulders. She had light makeup on and she looked ravishing, especially when she smiled sweetly. How could he possibly avert his gaze from her? Xuxu noticed that the best man, who had the boutonniere on his chest, had his mouth slightly open. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes were glued to Su Yue, and his eyes revealed his astonishment. She didn¡¯t know how to interrupt so she coughed to remind him. Her coughs startled Su Yue who was listening to the children. ¡°Third sister-in-law, are you sick?¡± She stretched to pat Xuxu¡¯s back. She accidentally caught sight of the towering figure ahead. It had taken her aback. Her hand froze in mid-air. Her eyes were flickering with emotions, and her mouth too was slightly open. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes met Su Yue¡¯s and he smiled at her graciously. He seemed so natural and nonchalant, as though they were merely acquaintances. Su Yue pressed her lips and responded by curling her lips. She pretended to be unruffled to conceal her longing, too. They strode towards them slowly. ¡°Sister Xuxu,¡± Qi Lei was dressed smartly as he smiled to welcome them. Xuxu scrutinized his appearance. ¡°You¡¯re very handsome today.¡± Qi Lei scratched the back of his head and looked bashful. He turned to Su Yue and was astonished. Su Yue beamed at Qi Lei and blinked. ¡°Brother Qi Lei, you don¡¯t recognize me anymore?¡± ¡°Su Yue?¡± asked Qi Lei excitedly. They haven¡¯t seen in other in almost five years. Before she went abroad, they weren¡¯t able to meet as well. Chapter 1526. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Nine) When Su Yue thought of the times that Qi Lei had prepared her favorite food for her, she felt a rush of regret and sentiment. Time flew past in the blink of an eye. She lamented how insignificant relationships can be in reality. She was quite reliant on Qi Lei during that period. Yet, during the past five years, she had never once thought of him. The emcee was dramatically announcing the arrival of the bride. Xuxu put her arm around Qi Lei¡¯s arm and they stepped in gracefully. Her grandfather passed away peacefully a year ago with no illness or pain. Grandfather¡¯s final wish was to have Qi Lei give Xuxu to Yan Rusheng on his behalf. Xuxu¡¯s eyes were red and glistening when she wound her arm around Qi Lei¡¯s arm. A towering man was striding towards her from afar. Memories of them flashed across her mind. There were happy, sad, wonderful memories¡­ That particular year, for the first time, she felt that he was really good-looking. She had her first awakening of love that year, and she fell in love with that handsome boy who always bullied and made her cry. That year, she grew her hair for her. But what she didn¡¯t dare to say was to ask him to marry her when her hair reached her waist. That year, she ended up on his bed and they gave each other their wonderful first time. That year, she chopped off her hair. However, she didn¡¯t sever her lingering love for him. And now, she had waist-long hair again. She was wearing a wedding gown with a pair of sparkling crystal heels. Happiness was waiting for her at the other end. The man she had always been waiting for. She was glad that she didn¡¯t give up¡ªshe finally had him. Tears were threatening to spill out of her eyes. Yan Rusheng strode to her, bent his head before kissing her tenderly on her forehead. He held her left hand and intertwined their fingers tightly. He bowed slightly to Qi Lei. ¡°Brother Third Yan, wishing you an eternal bliss with Sister Xuxu.¡± Qi Lei was visibly emotional. Yan Rusheng smiled. The wedding song played, and all eyes were enviously gazing at this perfect couple as they walked towards their happiness. ¡­ Su Yue closely followed Xuxu before stopping at the bottom of the stage. She had a little tail behind her as well¡ªXiaojiao. Ming Ansheng was the best man, so naturally, he stood beside Su Yue. Xiaojiao weaved in between them as she was excited. This was her first time attending such a huge event. She was curious about everything. ¡°Mommy, the flowers are pretty.¡± The little girl tugged at Su Yue¡¯s dress as she pointed at the baskets on the floor. Su Yue nodded and said in a hushed voice, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s pretty. Xiaojiao be quiet now. Mommy is the bridesmaid for Uncle and Aunt. We can¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°Oh. Xiaojiao will be quiet.¡± Xiaojiao obediently nodded and pressed her lips. Her chubby cheeks resembled buns. Su Yue gazed at Xiaojiao, and she raised her head to steal a glance at Ming Ansheng. Unexpectedly, she met Ming Ansheng¡¯s deep and shrewd eyes. She didn¡¯t expect Ming Ansheng would gaze at her and it had her flustered. She pulled Xiaojiao to the other side and hid her from his view. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t realize that she was intentionally hiding her daughter from him. A feeble smile flitted across his face and he warmly asked, ¡°How are you these years?¡± As though they were merely long-lost friends. Su Yue casually nodded too. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°She¡­¡± Ming Ansheng pointed at Xiaojiao and something seemed to prod his heart. His finger trembled a little as he said, ¡°She is adorable and obedient.¡± Su Yue managed a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± Chapter 1527. Best Man and Bridesmaid (part Ten) It was time for the exchanging of rings. It dawned on Su Yue that she had missed the couple saying their ¡®I do¡¯s¡¯ . She was stunned for a moment. Ming Ansheng reminded, ¡°The rings.¡± Then she came to her senses and hastily brought the rings over. Ming Ansheng followed her to the stage, each of them carrying a tray in their hands. The four outstanding individuals on the stage made everything around them plain and ordinary in comparison. Even the prettiest of flowers seemed dull. They looked like princes and princesses in a fairytale. It was perfect. ¡°Is that the little princess of the Yan family, Su Yue?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s child is that?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± The guests downstage discussed in hushed voices. ¡°You may now kiss the bride.¡± Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had exchanged their rings. Yan Rusheng smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her towards him, her soft body pressed tightly to his. Then he lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. ¡°Xiaojiao, go down now.¡± Xiaojiao had come onstage for a while, but Su Yue only noticed when she felt someone pulling her dress. She looked down and saw the little lass. Frustrated, she frowned. But the little one continued staring at her innocently, pointing at the balloon beside the ten-layered cake. ¡°Mommy, I want the balloon.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ What was happening? A mini segment? All of their attention was on the chubby little girl. Su Yue pulled Xiaojiao¡¯s hand off her skirt and bent over to warn her, ¡°Don¡¯t talk. Go down now.¡± Ming Ansheng looked down at them. Su Yue¡¯s dress wasn¡¯t long, so it revealed a little too much when she bent over. He frowned, turned around, and walked over. He bent over, grabbed Su Yue¡¯s elbow and forced her back straight. Then he bent even lower and scooped Xiaojiao into his arms. He then carried her off the stage. He ignored her protests and carried her in a seasoned way. Su Yue opened her mouth to call out to him, but she decided not to when she considered the situation she was in. She was still needed in the next segment. She had to stay on stage. Ming Ansheng carried Xiaojiao downstage. When he reached the table where all their childhood friends were seated, he found an empty seat and sat her down on it. Then he whispered into her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t go on stage anymore. There will be many chicken wings and sweets later. Wait here obediently, okay?¡± When she heard that there¡¯d be sweets and chicken wings, the little lass happily nodded. ¡°Okay. Xiaojiao won¡¯t go.¡± She smiled beautifully and her bright eyes crinkled. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart melted once again at the sight. She was so cute and obedient¡­ He fell into a reverie for two seconds before realizing that he had a job to do. Then he said to the rest, ¡°Watch over her.¡± He then turned around and walked upstage. Su Yue was on stage, but her gaze repeatedly flitted over at Xiaojiao. The little lass was hyper. She couldn¡¯t stay still for two minutes, and it worried Su Yue that she would run over again or run around elsewhere. But after repeated glances, the little one still sat there, unmoving. She was like an adult, eyes glued to the stage with her full attention. As though she understood what was going on. She frowned, wondering what Ming Ansheng had told Xiaojiao earlier that made the little one so obedient. Never before had this happened¡­ Chapter 1528. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part One) Oh, except at home. When Jiao Chen was reading books, she would sit quietly by the side, admiring her handsome Daddy. Su Yue fell into a daze as she watched Xiaojiao. ¡°Yueyue?¡± Xuxu called after her. She broke out of her reverie and saw Xuxu holding Yan Rusheng¡¯s elbow as they walked off the stage. All the segments were over and it was time to change their attire. Su Yue nodded and hurried after them. She couldn¡¯t really keep up, and she was in a frenzy in her ten-centimeter heels. She missed a step on her way down. Her foot twisted to the side and she fell sideways. She didn¡¯t call out in pain in front of the guests. ¡°Yueyue.¡± An arm wrapped around her waist at the speed of light. Then he gently pulled her up, his arm still wrapped tightly around her slender waist. Perhaps he forgot, or perhaps¡­ he did it on purpose. ¡°Thanks.¡± Su Yue bore with the pain and nodded at Ming Ansheng in appreciation. It was curt and Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart fell. He instinctively relinquished his grip. Su Yue had twisted her leg pretty badly, and because of the pain, she broke out in a sweat. She gritted her teeth and limped out of the hall. Ming Ansheng stood rooted to the ground. He stared after her. She was obviously in extreme pain, but she kept a strong facade. ¡®Uncle Ming, it¡¯s so painful. Can you help me rub it?¡¯ Why aren¡¯t you falling into my embrace and acting like a spoiled child anymore? Why have you turned back into the Su Yue who wasn¡¯t scared of pain? Su Yue¡¯s smile flashed across his mind. The more he loved her, the more he needed to control his emotions. Wasn¡¯t it better to reminisce the good times? These four years, wasn¡¯t he used to hold everything in? Why did he fall back to square one the moment he saw her? Seeing how stubborn she was, how he wanted to¡­ rush forward and carry her in his arms. The tall man stood there unmoving on the red carpet, while the woman disappeared into the distance. All the guests looked at Ming Ansheng with confusion in their eyes. They were discussing and guessing whatever relationship he had with Su Yue. Suddenly, Ming Ansheng walked forward and strode to the door. He couldn¡¯t leave her like that. Her fall must¡¯ve hurt a lot. He couldn¡¯t stop worrying. But how could he? Su Yue held in the pain as she left the hall. Finally, she stopped gritting her teeth and leaned against the wall, slowly squatting down. She took off her high heels. Her small hands gripped her ankle, and she gently rubbed it. She hissed in pain. ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao suddenly came running out of the hall. Nobody noticed because she was so small. She ran towards Su Yue and she could tell that Su Yue was in pain. She pursed her lips. ¡°Mommy, where does it hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡± Su Yue smiled and shook her head. Then she hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. ¡°Miss Su, your phone keeps ringing.¡± Qiao Jian, Yan Rusheng¡¯s assistant, smiled as he passed Su Yue her bag. Her phone was ringing inside it. ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue smiled and took the bag from him. She found her phone and saw that Jiao Chen was calling. The smile on her face grew¡ªa face of bliss. ¡°Why are you calling again?¡± Su Yue picked up the call and leaned her head against the wall. Chapter 1529. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Two) She put her weight on the uninjured leg. Her other leg was still in pain but she held it in, not wanting Jiao Chen to know. ¡°Is the wedding processional over?¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s voice was full of gentleness. Su Yue replied, ¡°It just ended, we¡¯re eating now.¡± Before he could reply, she said, ¡°Get back to work.¡± Jiao Chen smiled, his tone with a hint of a smile. ¡°Where¡¯s Xiaojiao?¡± ¡°She¡¯s right beside me.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°She misses you a lot. I¡¯ll let her talk to you.¡± Then she placed the phone to Xiaojiao¡¯s ear and said, ¡°Xiaojiao, Daddy wants to talk to you.¡± Xiaojiao was elated when she heard that it was Daddy on the other line. She snatched the phone with two hands and turned around. ¡°Daddy.¡± Her voice was as clear and sweet as honey. If only she were calling him instead. He would definitely feel like he¡¯d just eaten honey. Ming Ansheng stopped at the entrance and hid behind the door frame. He looked upwards, his eyes full of bitterness. The anguish flowed through his body and hit his heart. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to Mommy. Mommy looks beautiful.¡± ¡°I miss Daddy. My tummy misses you, my neck misses you, everywhere misses you.¡± ¡°Mm, Xiaojiao will behave. Miss you Daddy.¡± ¡°Daddy and Mommy sleep together. Mommy is the bride.¡± What nonsense was that? Su Yue heard her words and frowned. What Daddy and Mommy sleep together? Mommy is the bride? Why didn¡¯t she understand what she was talking about? ¡°Wait for you. Muack muack.. .¡± Finally, after the little lass said, ¡®I miss you Daddy¡¯ a couple more times, she turned around and passed Su Yue the phone. ¡°Mommy, kiss Daddy.¡± Su Yue stared at her. She was speechless as she took the phone from her. She was planning on ignoring Xiaojiao. But the little one stared at her with her bright eyes not blinking. ¡°Mommy, kiss Daddy.¡± She wouldn¡¯t give up until she kissed him. Su Yue said to Jiao Chen, ¡°Xiaojiao wants me to kiss you. What should I do?¡± Jiao Chen smiled. ¡°Where do you want to kiss me?¡± Su Yue held in her smile and feigned seriousness. ¡°Mr. Jiao Chen, please close your eyes. I¡¯m going to kiss you.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s voice became somber as well. ¡± Muack Mauck¡­ ¡± Su Yue mimicked how Xiaojiao always kissed Jiao Chen over the phone. His heart melted. His laugh reverberated through the phone and into the ears of the girl he loved. He said, ¡°Susu, I miss you so much.¡± Su Yue¡¯s voice became gentle. ¡°Come back soon.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiao Chen ended the call after. The pale blue patient uniform was loose on him, and his handsome features couldn¡¯t hide his weariness. He gripped the phone with two hands and leaned against the head of the bed. He recalled the kiss that Su Yue gave him over the phone. His heart buzzed with happiness. ¡°Jiao, you seem to be in good spirits today.¡± A middle-aged doctor in a white gown smiled as he walked into the ward. He was holding a blue file of medical records. Jiao Chen recollected his thoughts and smiled at the doctor. ¡°Indeed.¡± At that moment, nothing made him happier than hearing Su Yue and her daughter¡¯s voices, and seeing them smile. Chapter1530: - Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Three) And being able to¡­ say romantic things to her. ¡°Your results are out.¡± The doctor walked over, carrying a blue file of medical records, his smile unchanging. But the atmosphere suddenly tensed. Jiao Chen¡¯s eyes flashed and he glanced at the file, not asking anything. He airily said, ¡°I want to go back as soon as possible.¡± He didn¡¯t have the guts to ask about it. The doctor frowned. ¡°Jiao, there is a thirty percent, even fifty percent success rate.¡± Jiao Chen smiled faintly. ¡°Tomorrow. I¡¯ll head back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Jiao.¡± The doctor continued, ¡°Maybe you can try¡­¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s smile remained. ¡°This time, bring Suo Fei to China for a holiday. Su Yue and I will be your tour guides.¡± ¡°Jiao¡­¡± The doctor wanted to say something more. But Jiao Chen interrupted him. ¡°She¡¯s the bridesmaid at her brother¡¯s wedding today. She looks beautiful. I¡¯ll show you her photo.¡± Then he whipped out his phone and showed her the photo that Su Yue sent him when she was in the makeup room. He smiled and praised. ¡°Su indeed looks cute and perfect.¡± Then he looked at Jiao Chen and his smile faded. ¡°You two are suited for each other. A perfect match.¡± His tone had a trace of regret. Jiao Chen just smiled. The past four years made his life worth living. ¡­ Su Yue remained squatting on the floor. The pain intensified and she broke out in a sweat. Xiaojiao became worried. ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue gritted her teeth and gently shook her head with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Mommy¡¯s leg just hurts a little. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll help you wipe your sweat.¡± Xiaojiao extended her chubby hand and helped her wipe her sweat. It warmed her heart. She hugged her tightly. ¡°Our darling is so well-behaved.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the resting area.¡± Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from the entrance. Before Su Yue could react, the tall man was already by her side. Su Yue was about to decline, but Ming Ansheng had already grabbed her elbow. His actions were firm, as though he would not take ¡®no¡¯ for an answer. He easily lifted her up, and she rested her weight on her uninjured foot. She was barefooted on the soft carpet, so it wasn¡¯t cold. ¡°Mommy, wait for me.¡± Xiaojiao sprinted over. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng turned their heads when they heard her. Both of them couldn¡¯t help but smile. Love and tenderness filled their smiles. The little one was carrying Su Yue¡¯s high heels, one in each hand. She cutely waddled over like a penguin. They stopped in their tracks and their eyes followed her movement. Finally, Xiaojiao was by their side. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng retracted their gazes, and their gazes locked on each other. Su Yue froze and Ming Ansheng¡¯s smile faded. Both of them were in close proximity. She could almost feel his breath on her. And he could smell her familiar fragrance. ¡°Don¡¯t kiss Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao warned from the left side. She was glaring at Ming Ansheng. Su Yue broke out of her reverie and shifted her gaze away, realizing that her heart was racing. Ming Ansheng frowned at Xiaojiao, a flurry of emotions running through him. Su Yue and Jiao Chen must kiss often. Maybe that was why the little lass thought that he wanted to kiss her when they were standing so close. Chapter 1531. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Four) He was deep in thought when Su Yue spoke. ¡°I can go there myself. You can get back to work.¡± Then she tried to break free from his grasp. But Ming Ansheng¡¯s grip was too tight that she couldn¡¯t easily break free. Ming Ansheng looked at her and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so courteous. I would do the same for Wen Xuxu or any other person.¡± His tone was full of emotions. But Su Yue didn¡¯t know why he sounded so emotional. She lowered her head and stopped struggling, and she remained silent. So, he held her as they walked towards the resting area. Meanwhile, Su Yue¡¯s heart was wildly palpating. Xiaojiao followed beside them, still gripping the heels with her tiny hands. From the back, it was such a harmonious scene, a warm and blissful family of three¡­ ¡­ ¡°It¡¯s a pretty bad sprain.¡± Qi Lei hastily retrieved some medicated oil from the TCM clinic and helped Su Yue rub her ankle. He had been learning from Old Master Wen for seven to eight years. He had long gained his master¡¯s skills, and the TCM clinic was blooming under his expertise. He was already seasoned and well-versed regarding treatments for sprains and other injuries. Su Yue felt the pain dissipating. But her ankle was still swollen, and she couldn¡¯t walk in high heels. She wore the disposable slippers from the hotel and made her way to the banquet tables. Su Yue went into the makeup room the moment she entered the hotel. The wedding ceremony started soon after, so she didn¡¯t have the chance to say hello to familiar faces. She could finally rest and spend some time with her family. Xuxu held her elbow and helped her to Yan Weihong¡¯s table. Xuxu pulled out a chair beside Yan Weiye and said to her, ¡°Yueyue, have a seat.¡± But Su Yue only gripped the backrest of the chair, refusing to sit. Everyone who was seated at the table had their eyes on her. She looked downwards at Yan Weiye. Yan Weiye hesitated and smiled. ¡°Silly girl, sit down quickly.¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yan stood up and walked towards her, holding her elbow. Finally, she was willing to sit. ¡°You must be starving. Have some food.¡± Yan Weiye immediately helped set up her cutlery and poured her a cup of drink. Then he passed her some vegetables. Su Yue kept her hands on her lap. She looked downwards and remained quiet. Everyone remained silent as well, and the atmosphere became awkward. Mu Li looked around before saying, ¡°Yueyue, you look stunning today.¡± Among those seated at the table were Qi Lei, as well as Yan Weiye¡¯s eldest son and daughter-in-law. The atmosphere remained awkward. Mu Li¡¯s smile tensed as well. Then she said, ¡°You¡¯re giving Xuxu a run for her money.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned and looked contemptuously at Mu Li. ¡°Are you blind?¡± His wife looked her absolute best today. Mu Li was speechless¡­ F*ck. How hard was it to liven the atmosphere? She pressed her lips and stopped talking. ¡°Yueyue, where¡¯s your little girl?¡± Yan Weihong, the man of few words, finally spoke up. Su Yue started looking for Xiaojiao in the crowd. Suddenly, a small head popped out from below the table. ¡°Mommy.¡± Su Yue bowed her head, and the little one mischievously blinked at her. Then she hid back under the table. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± Su Yue bent down and prepared to grab her. But she was too fast and slipped out of her grasp. The little girl ran over to the opposite side of the table where Yan Weiye¡¯s eldest son and daughter-in-law were seated. Chapter 1532. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Five) Xiaojiao ran over and placed her hands on Yan Rusen¡¯s thighs and tried to clamber onto him. Su Yue saw this and shouted, ¡°Su Xiaojiao, come back now.¡± But Xiaojiao was having a fun time playing catch and hide and seek with Su Yue. Of course, she didn¡¯t listen to her. She clutched Yan Rusen¡¯s clothes and tried to climb onto him, but to no avail. ¡°You want to climb up?¡± Yan Rusen suddenly looked down and smiled when he saw her cute face. Xiaojiao looked up and smiled sweetly. ¡°Yes.¡± Yan Rusen pinched her chubby cheeks and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Call me First Uncle and I¡¯ll carry you up.¡± It shocked Xuxu and Mu Li when they heard it. They looked at him and saw that his smile towards Xiaojiao was genuine. Xuxu instinctively leaned against Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulder, and her lips curled upward. ¡°First Uncle.¡± Her voice was sweet like honey. Yan Rusen¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t help but rub her head and said, ¡°Call me First Aunt, too.¡± ¡°First Aunt.¡± Su Xiaojiao was the best at sweet-talking. Anyone¡¯s heart would melt at the sight of her. Yan Rusen carried her onto his lap. Then he pointed at the dishes on the table and asked, ¡°What do you want to eat? First Uncle will get it for you.¡± Xiaojiao had already eaten her fill at the previous table, so she was uninterested in food now. Her gaze locked onto Yan Rusen¡¯s drink. She extended her chubby hands and picked the glass up in one smooth motion. Su Yue reminded, ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t drink too many cold drinks.¡± The little one had a weak immune system and fell sick easily, so Su Yue didn¡¯t dare to give her too many chilled drinks. Yan Rusen lifted his head and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°A little won¡¯t hurt.¡± His smile was gentle and friendly. Su Yue gave in, and she had a weird sense of familiarity and reverence for him. She pursed her lips and looked down, gulping down her drink. Yan Weiye was the happiest man in the room. It overjoyed him to see Yan Rusen hugging Xiaojiao, his granddaughter. He lifted his wineglass and said to Yan Weihong, ¡°Second Yan, we haven¡¯t drunk in a long time.¡± Mu Li frowned and said to him, ¡°Older Brother, Weihong can¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°A little won¡¯t hurt.¡± Yan Weihong glanced at Mu Li and lifted his glass, clanking his gently with Yan Weiye¡¯s. They each took a sip. Today was a joyous occasion filled with a string of pleasant surprises. The atmosphere livened. Mu Li felt an indescribable sense of comfort, happiness, and satisfaction. Today was her son¡¯s big day¡ªor more like her son and daughter¡¯s big day. Xuxu was like her biological daughter. She grew up in their family, so she had watched her mature into the woman that she was today. She glanced across the table and regretfully said, ¡°A pity that Jiao Chen couldn¡¯t make it. Otherwise, it would be perfect.¡± Although Yan Runan and his wife couldn¡¯t make it, they had sent them their blessings. Chapter 1533. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Six) Su Yue smiled and explained, ¡°He has things to settle. He¡¯ll be back in two days.¡± Mu Li said, ¡°I¡¯ll get everything in your bedroom changed to a new set.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for the trouble.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°We¡¯ll be staying at my brother¡¯s place since it¡¯s empty.¡± Mu Li frowned. ¡°You have to stay with us now that you¡¯re back.¡± Su Yue explained, ¡°Jiao Chen has to study until late night. It won¡¯t be convenient.¡± Jiao Chen basically had no interactions with her family. She was afraid that he would not be able to adapt. Besides, he had always preferred serenity, so living alone was better. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this later,¡± Yan Weihong suddenly said. ¡°When Jiao Chen is back, we¡¯ll see if he¡¯s willing.¡± Mu Li nodded and agreed. It was such a warmhearted moment, Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were supposed to go around to the other tables, but they couldn¡¯t bear to. ¡°Third Yan, you¡¯re wasting your own time by standing there.¡± The childhood gang was getting impatient, seeing that they were just standing there. They waved at the couple. ¡°That¡¯s right, every minute of the wedding night is precious. Although you guys already have children¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Yan Rusheng gave them a cold look. He gritted his teeth and warned, ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°You guys should attend to the guests,¡± Yan Weihong said. Xuxu was slightly embarrassed and nodded. Then she held Yan Rusheng¡¯s elbow and said, ¡°Ah Sheng, let¡¯s go.¡± Su Xiaojiao was playing a handphone game, but her ears were wide open. She looked over when she heard someone calling Yan Rusheng. Then she saw a familiar face¡­ It was the uncle that promised her nice food earlier. She broke out in a beautiful smile. ¡°First Uncle, I want to go down.¡± She placed the phone down and slid down from his body. Then she sprinted over to that table. Su Yue couldn¡¯t stop her. ¡°Chicken wings.¡± Su Xiaojiao ran towards Ming Ansheng and stretched out her arm. The group erupted into laughter. He heard her innocent voice and looked down. The little one was looking at him with big sparkling eyes. He frowned. ¡°What do you want?¡± Su Xiaojiao insisted, ¡°Eat chicken wings. Eat sweets.¡± Ming Ansheng continued frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t have any.¡± Didn¡¯t she warn him not to kiss her Mommy earlier? Didn¡¯t she look at him like he was her enemy? Why did she come running to him now? How did they educate this child? She lacked a backbone. ¡°Liar.¡± Xiaojiao pouted unhappily. He promised her sweets and chicken wings if she behaved. Hmph! ¡°Lying uncle.¡± Suddenly, Su Xiaojiao stood on her tiptoes and grabbed the drink of the person sitting beside Ming Ansheng. It confused Ming Ansheng. What was this little lass doing? A glass of orange juice sprayed on him. Su Xiaojiao was too short and she failed to execute her plan properly. She didn¡¯t manage to splash his face. She was indignant. Then her gaze locked onto the wineglass in front of Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng followed her gaze and saw the wine glass. Immediately, he realized what she was thinking and picked up the glass, placing it out of her reach. Chapter 1534. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Seven) ¡°This lass!¡± Su Yue was frustrated when she saw Xiaojiao splash the orange juice on Ming Ansheng. She bore the pain and stood up, and she limped over to them. Su Xiaojiao was trying very hard to grab the wine glass that Ming Ansheng had set aside. She couldn¡¯t reach it but she kept standing on her tiptoes, adamant on not giving up. Ming Ansheng watched her in amusement. Xiaojiao¡¯s pink face was turning redder because she was anxious, and he found it interesting. ¡°Su Xiaojiao.¡± Her Mommy¡¯s stern voice made her turn her head. She peered up at her. Then she pointed at Ming Ansheng and complained, ¡°Mommy, Lying Uncle is a jerk.¡± Su Yue was speechless. She frowned and scolded, ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense. Do you know what a jerk is?¡± Su Xiaojiao snorted. ¡°A jerk is a good-for-nothing.¡± Su Yue felt very awkward. She gave Ming Ansheng an apologetic look. Then she bent down and carried her. She forgot that she had hurt herself and sprained her ankle. She frowned as the pain seeped in. Ming Ansheng sensed this and he hurriedly stood up. He carried Xiaojiao from her and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can help you take care of her for a while.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Su Yue bore the pain and snatched her back. She buried Xiaojiao¡¯s face in her chest, trying not to reveal her face. Su Yue was too forceful and it stunned Ming Ansheng. His hands hung in midair, and he stared blankly at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. She¡¯s too naughty.¡± Su Yue carried her and nodded in apology. Then she turned around and hastily left. From her limping, it seemed like she was in much pain. Does she not trust him? Ming Ansheng retracted his gaze after a long time, his lips curling into a self-mocking smile. He looked at his clothes. His stomach area was drenched, and he swiped the orange pulp off his shirt. He didn¡¯t mind it much. He sat down and retrieved his glass, taking a sip. He stared at the red liquid. Su Xiaojiao¡¯s red face floated into his mind. He then smiled uncontrollably. Ming Ansheng gently shook his glass, forming ripples in his wine. Haha, the little lass was feisty, just like her. She preferred using her fists over words. Then he turned around and looked in Su Yue¡¯s direction. Su Yue had her head bowed. She asked Xiaojiao as they walked, ¡± ¡®A jerk is a good-for-nothing.¡¯ Where did you hear that from?¡± She had never heard her say that before, and she had refrained from letting her watch adult shows. Obviously, she just learned the phrase. Although she was young and didn¡¯t know better, she knew how to read expressions. She could tell that Su Yue was angry, so she looked downwards and whispered, ¡°Yanyan said¡­ he said that men are liars, and liars are jerks.¡± She couldn¡¯t enunciate her words properly. Su Yue was speechless¡­ She was so young, but she was talking about jerks and liars¡­ She¡¯s had enough. ¡°Xiaojiao, come over here.¡± Yan Weiye called and carried Xiaojiao over from Su Yue.. Chapter 1535. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Eight) Su Yue wanted to say something, but Xiaojiao was sitting obediently on Yan Weiye¡¯s lap, so she kept quiet. The table of young masters was vivacious. ¡°Third Yan, today¡¯s your big day. We¡¯ve known each other for so long. Three glasses per person won¡¯t be much right?¡± Other than Ming Ansheng, all of them stood up, holding their glasses and discussing the toasting rules with Yan Rusheng. ¡°Scram!¡± Third Young Master immediately burst out when he heard it. He turned to leave but they pulled him back. ¡°It¡¯s fine that you fumble the ball usually. But today¡¯s your wedding day and you¡¯re still so arrogant. That¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°Exactly. I agree with Young Master Li.¡± ¡°Three glasses per person.¡± It was usually so difficult to take advantage of Young Master Yan. This was such a good opportunity, how could they let him off? Yan Rusheng frowned. Xuxu hurriedly smiled and asked for pardon. ¡°Young Masters, we still have to attend to many other tables. If he drinks three glasses per person, he¡¯ll just collapse here.¡± This table was filled. He¡¯d immediately collapse if he drank three glasses per person. Someone said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re still protecting him. Don¡¯t you remember how he bullied you back then? We¡¯re helping you get revenge.¡± As if she¡¯d believe that nonsense. How could Xuxu accept their offer? She smiled and said, ¡°Why not we head to the other tables first, and come back here after?¡± ¡°Madam Yan, are you playing us?¡± All of them disagreed. Xuxu thought for a while before saying, ¡°Then let it be one glass per person.¡± All of them still refused to give in, insisting on having three glasses. Xuxu frowned and gave a pleading expression. ¡°Young Masters, just take it.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, you can¡¯t spoil a man. The more you spoil him, the more of a jerk he becomes.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Young Master Yan glared at them and haughtily turned around. How dare they try to come between him and his wife? All of them looked at his arrogant back view and were beyond speechless. But weren¡¯t they already used to his prideful nature? The groom had left, and everyone felt bored so they sat back down. They started drinking and chatting mostly about women. ¡°One by one, all of us are getting married.¡± ¡°Exactly. Back then, the single life was unrestrained.¡± ¡°Anzi, you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s still single. What¡¯s up? Planning to stay single forever?¡± the noisiest Young Master Li suddenly asked. Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°All of you were just reminiscing about the single life. How could I bear to part with it?¡± ¡°You mean you¡­¡± Young Master Li was startled but helplessly sighed. ¡°Aish!¡± Then he asked, ¡°Your son¡¯s in third grade, right?¡± ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± Ming Ansheng hesitated before nodding. He placed his wineglass to his lips. He gently stroked it and fell into a reverie. ¡°He¡¯s still single, but his son is the oldest among ours.¡± Young Master Li asked, ¡°Anzi, it has already been three years since Meiduo passed. Haven¡¯t you thought of finding a mother for your son?¡± Someone nodded immediately. ¡°That¡¯s right, Anzi. The child is pitiful.¡± The previously heartless Young Masters had matured after getting married and having children. Chapter 1536. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Nine) Ming Ansheng gave an enigmatic smile as he eyed the wineglass in his hand. He remained mum. Suddenly, he slumped backward and raised his head to glance at Su Yue. That adorable girl was being passed around by the Yan family like a precious gem. Envy filled his eyes. ¡°Look! Ah Heng and Hu Xiaoxiao are here.¡± Suddenly, a person exclaimed as he looked at the door. Everyone¡¯s attention was successfully diverted. Jiang Zhuoheng wore a plum-red suit, and he looked as refined and charming as always. The woman beside him wasn¡¯t an exceptional beauty but she had a shapely figure. She looked sharp and shrewd, and she walked with elegance. They were approaching them. Someone teased, ¡°Ah Heng, it has been a long time.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng merely smiled, while Hu Xiaoxiao explained, ¡°Our flight just landed that¡¯s why we are late.¡± She turned to Jiang Zhuoheng and whispered, ¡°Should we greet Uncle Yan and his family?¡± She sounded like she was asking him for permission. Jiang Zhuoheng agreed. They nodded at the group of friends before going to Su Yue¡¯s table. ¡°Uncle, Aunt.¡± Hu Xiaoxiao was very polite and sweet towards her elders. After greeting Mu Li and Yan Weihong, she turned to Yan Weiye. ¡°Uncle Yan.¡± She met them when she was a girl. ¡°Ah Heng, Xiaoxiao.¡± Mu Li rose with a bright smile. Hu Xiaoxiao put on an apologetic expression and explained, ¡°We just landed. Sorry for being late.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Mu Li waved her hands to dismiss her apology. ¡°Do you want to sit here or go to Ansheng¡¯s table?¡± ¡°Mommy.¡± Su Xiaojiao scooped some soup to feed Su Yue. Jiang Zhuoheng heard the little girl and he was startled. He observed Su Xiaojiao¡¯s face closely and he was surprised. He diverted his attention to Ming Ansheng sitting at another table. He had noticed this girl sitting on Yan Weihong¡¯s lap earlier on. But he didn¡¯t know that she was Su Yue¡¯s daughter. Hu Xiaoxiao¡¯s voice rang in his ears. ¡°Ah Heng, where do you want to sit?¡± He broke his train of thoughts and withdrew his gaze. ¡°Go back to their table,¡± said Jiang Zhuoheng. They were all his childhood friends, of course, he would sit with them. He bowed politely to Mu Li and Yan Weihong before he turned around. Hu Xiaoxiao waved cheerily to Mu Li and said, ¡°Uncle, Aunt Mu, we will take our leave now.¡± Mu Li smiled and nodded. ¡°Alright. Have fun.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng walked to Ming Ansheng and stood before him. With his hands deep inside his pockets, he bent to survey Ming Ansheng¡¯s face with a frown. ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± asked Ming Ansheng, who looked utterly bewildered. Without waiting for Jiang Zhuoheng to respond, he grinned cheekily. ¡°Your Hu Xiaoxiao might get jealous.¡± Hu Xiaoxiao chuckled. ¡°Young Master Ming, if both of you are truly in love, I will give you my blessings.¡± ¡°What a gracious wife.¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled loudly before pulling a chair next to him. ¡°Have a drink with me,¡± said Ming Ansheng to Jiang Zhuoheng. He turned to Hu Xiaoxiao. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to bless us for a lifetime. But can I borrow Ah Heng for a while?¡± Hu Xiaoxiao graciously obliged and walked away. Jiang Zhuoheng settled down on the chair and Ming Ansheng poured him a glass. They toasted each other and Ming Ansheng gulped down his wine in one mouthful. Chapter 1537. Lying Uncle is a Jerk (part Ten) Jiang Zhuoheng was still watching him with a crease in between his eyebrows. ¡°What happened? Just say what¡¯s on your mind.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned as he joked, ¡°It¡¯s horrifying if you keep staring at me.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng grinned. ¡°Why are you drowning your sorrows?¡± His long fingers were absentmindedly and lightly stroking the wineglass. He seemed lost in his own thoughts. ¡°How did you conclude that I was drowning my sorrows?¡± Ming Ansheng poured himself another glass and settled himself comfortably against the chair. He propped an arm on the chair and flashed a thought-provoking smile at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m just overjoyed to see my good friend getting married today.¡± He bent his back and inched closer to Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s ear. He joked in a hushed voice, ¡°Or perhaps you¡¯re the one who wants to drown your sorrows on this miserable day?¡± He raised his eyebrows. Jiang Zhuoheng scoffed coldly. ¡°Indeed. I wanted to drown my misery and coincidentally, I found my comrade.¡± He took a sip as he lazily answered. Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression momentarily froze as he slumped backward. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± He sighed ruefully. Against his will, his eyes wandered to Su Yue from time to time. Jiang Zhuoheng followed Ming Ansheng¡¯s line of vision. His eyes landed on Su Xiaojiao, who Su Yue was carrying. The expression in his eyes turned profound as he mulled over something. Ming Ansheng¡¯s drawl caught his attention. ¡°Xuxu and Third Yan are married. Are you planning to maintain the status quo with Hu Xiaoxiao?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng tore his eyes away and turned to Ming Ansheng. He grinned and asked, ¡°Everyone else already have children. Aren¡¯t you looking for a stepmother for Beibei?¡± Ming Ansheng dismissed his questions with a lazy wave of a hand. ¡± Tsk. It¡¯s really hard to get a heartfelt answer from you.¡± They raised their glasses and gulped down at the same time. ¡°Why are both of you drinking by yourselves?¡± ¡°Exactly. Are you ignoring us?¡± ¡°Ah Heng, you came so late with Hu Xiaoxiao. Shouldn¡¯t you punish yourself with three glasses?¡± Everyone chimed in to goad Jiang Zhuoheng into drinking. ¡°Where is Lu Yinan?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng raised his glass and nodded before taking a sip. He smoothly changed the topic. Ming Ansheng answered, ¡°Yanyan had a cut near her eyes so Lu Yinan sent her to the hospital. He should be back later.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled with a trace of affection in his eyes. ¡°That little imp is the most mischievous.¡± Young Master Lu¡¯s youngest daughter¡¯s wild personality was well known among their circle of friends. Everyone knew that she had inherited Zhou Shuang¡¯s personality, and she was a miniature version of her mother. At the mention of the famous Third Lu, Ming Ansheng was exasperated and amused. ¡°Exactly.¡± A person chimed in. ¡°I heard that the girl wanted to marry Yan Nuoxing in the future.¡± ¡°Second Lu wanted to as well. But she said she doesn¡¯t want to fight with her sister like those TV characters. So, in the end, she gave up.¡± Young Master Li guffawed as he glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°She wants to marry your Beibei instead.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s daughters were courageous, aggressive, and weren¡¯t afraid of anything. Ming Ansheng was speechless. He was aware that the two little imps accompanied their grandmother as she watched her TV dramas. According to Zhou Shuang, they had watched a popular period drama for at least five times. The period drama had an exciting plot and characters, and the children loved to portray them. ¡°I realized how wonderful it is to have a daughter.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more. Look at Lu Yinan. He has two. Look how smug he is right now. He always talks about Jiaojiao and Yinan, but he hardly mentions his son.¡± ¡°A girl is her father¡¯s love in his previous life. He has two, obviously, it should overjoy him.¡± Everyone started discussing daughters, and it made Ming Ansheng feel uncomfortable. Chapter 1538. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part One) Ming Ansheng gripped the wine bottle with one hand, while the other held a glass. He began to pour the wine into his mouth as though he was in a hurry. The bottle of wine was almost emptied in no time. Jiang Zhuoheng watched him quietly. ¡°President Yan, wishing you an eternal life of bliss.¡± Yan Rusheng was going to each table with Xuxu to thank their guests and to receive their blessings. He didn¡¯t enjoy socializing, especially being intentionally courteous towards strangers. Today was the first time. But today was his big day and he was feeling great. ¡°Thank you.¡± However, Xuxu was the only one politely thanking everyone or exchanging kind words with the guests. Yan Rusheng merely stood quietly as he smiled at them. Finally, they were done with the last table. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t wait to go back to the table where all his friends were at. It had been such a long time since everyone had convened. Most importantly, Jiang Zhuoheng had arrived. He couldn¡¯t wait for any second longer since he wanted to show Young Master Jiang that he was victorious. Hmph. That fellow had been engaged with Hu Xiaoxiao for almost five years, and yet they still didn¡¯t reveal any plans of getting married. He was pretty sure that he still had feelings for his Wen Xuxu. ¡°Hold on.¡± Xuxu grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and stopped him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Yan Rusheng with a frown. Was she afraid of facing Jiang Zhuoheng? Was she afraid that he would get hurt? It was as if someone had overturned a barrel of jealousy inside of Young Master Yan. Xuxu tip-toed as she tried to whisper in his ear. She couldn¡¯t quite manage to, so Yan Rusheng slightly bent his back. Xuxu whispered, ¡°Why are you in a hurry? Let them drink more first.¡± In that way, they wouldn¡¯t force Yan Rusheng to toast each of them three times. Yan Rusheng chuckled, and he wound his arm around Xuxu¡¯s waist. ¡°Wife, you¡¯re very smart. Let me give you a kiss.¡± This woman was just like a good book, and he couldn¡¯t get tired of it. The more he flipped the pages, the more he enjoyed. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. ¡°President Yan and Madam Yan had been together for such a long time. Yet they are still so loving and intimate with each other.¡± ¡°Indeed. They make us envious.¡± Xuxu blushed when she heard their comments. She bent her head and used her elbow to nudge Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, they are teasing you.¡± Indeed, they had been together for so many years. And without realizing it, they had come so far. And they haven¡¯t gotten tired of each other in these years. If anything, they were so happy every day. Xuxu thought to herself and her heart was bursting with happiness and contentment. Yan Rusheng bent his head and whispered into her ear, ¡°Were they teasing me? I think they are jealous of us.¡± His warm breath landed on her skin, and he kissed her hair, ignoring everyone else. At the other end of the hall. One of his friends saw Yan Rusheng hugging Xuxu as she struggled to escape. He pointed at him and sneered. ¡°Look at how despicable he is.¡± Another friend shrugged. ¡°Aren¡¯t we used to it? Doesn¡¯t he do that all the time regardless of the occasion or time?¡± He cast a glance at him before he turned around. ¡°True.¡± His friend nodded and sniggered. ¡°Can you believe that they were at loggerheads when they were young? But look at how attracted they are to each other now. You can¡¯t seem to pull them apart. Life is so unpredictable.¡± He turned with a sly grin. He caught a glimpse of Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s expression and abruptly stopped. Everyone was aware that Jiang Zhuoheng was in love with Wen Xuxu ever since they were children. He was like her guardian angel. But in the end, it shocked everyone that he lost to Yan Rusheng. Chapter 1539. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Two) He laughed rather awkwardly. He caught a glimpse of Ming Ansheng, who was still gloomily drinking away and immediately used him to steer the conversation out of dangerous waters. ¡°Ansheng, were you badly affected because everyone else is married?¡± ¡°Being affected is fine. But you need to get us to drink with you. Why are you drinking all by yourself?¡± Someone chimed in, ¡°Yeah! As though we aren¡¯t your friends.¡± Ming Ansheng was tipsy and he smirked coldly. Red wine had smeared her lips and it complemented the boutonniere on his chest. He looked aloof and cold. He raised his glass to toast everyone. ¡°If you are my friends, drink up.¡± His eyeballs swiveled around, surveying everyone. ¡°Drink!¡± someone shouted with enthusiasm. Everyone raised their glasses. They started a commotion and kept erupting in waves of laughter. And all of these wealthy young masters were good-looking and outstanding, hence they attracted the attention of other guests. Everyone seemed to watch them at the moment. With everyone following Ming Ansheng, they toasted each other. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu waited as they folded their arms across their chests. They were both smiling with a sly gleam in their eyes. Young Master Yan¡¯s inner thoughts, ¡®Drink up! I hope all of you get drunk then nobody will be able to stop me from enjoying the night with my wife.¡¯ ¡°Daddy, Mommy, when are both of you going to the bridal room?¡± A familiar voice sounded near their knees. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ Yan Rusheng bent his head and gazed affectionately at his daughter. ¡°Darling, very soon.¡± ¡°Yan Rusheng, what nonsense are you telling her!¡± Xuxu pinched Yan Rusheng on his thigh. At this moment, another little girl ran over to them. ¡°Aunt Xuxu, Uncle Third Yan, it is your wedding today. You must eat peanuts and red dates, then you will have a baby soon.¡± This girl had a plaster on her face. Xuxu was dumbfounded¡­ There was no question that Third Lu was Zhou Shuang¡¯s daughter. She was injured, yet she was still so lively and active. ¡°My daddy and mommy cannot have a baby.¡± Meowmeow glanced at Third Lu and frowned. ¡°They already have me and my brother. If they have a new baby, they won¡¯t love us anymore.¡± Third Lu nodded in assent. ¡°You are right. If they give you a younger brother or sister, Brother Nuoxing and you will be banished to the cold palace.¡± Xuxu was exasperated. These fellows were too mature for their age! She needed to remind Zhou Shuang that she shouldn¡¯t allow them to watch TV dramas anymore¡ªespecially Third Lu. This child will grow up to regret that she didn¡¯t enjoy her childhood as a child. ¡°Mommy, I want to play with Sister Yanyan.¡± Su Xiaojiao saw Yanyan and Yan Wenxin talking to each other, and she wanted to join them too. She began to struggle to get down. Hmmm¡­ Su Yue thought of what Xiaojiao had said, ¡®Lying Uncle is a jerk,¡¯ and she hesitated. If her girl continued to play together with Sister Hooligan¡¯s little girl, she would learn all the bad stuff from her. In the meantime, the girl had already gotten free. She dashed towards Yanyan and Yan Wenxin. She shouted at her but the girl simply ran off. ¡°Xiaojiao!¡± The girl ignored her so Su Yue gave up. Anyway, she won¡¯t get lost in this place. ¡°Yanyan!¡± Su Xiaojiao ran to Lu Huanyan and smiled warmly at her. When she was with Su Yue earlier, she called her Sister Yanyan. But when she faced Yanyan, she didn¡¯t address her as her sister. Chapter 1540. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Three) ¡°What do you want?¡± Lu Huanyan cast Su Xiaojiao a disdainful glance. She was still mad at her for vying for her mommy¡¯s affection, and so she didn¡¯t want to talk to her. Su Xiaojiao stretched her hand to touch her. ¡°I¡¯m the princess, you are the queen.¡± She said in a childish tone. Lu Huanyan snorted coldly. ¡°You can only be the maid. If not, I won¡¯t play with you. Hmph! ¡± They were about three and four years old, respectively, so their pronunciation still wasn¡¯t really clear. Xuxu had the urge to laugh when she heard their conversation. Were they going to play pretend again? ¡°Princess.¡± ¡°Maid.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Su Xiaojiao finally relented and agreed to become the maid. She hung her head as she stood before Lu Huanyan. She looked so pitiful and Xuxu¡¯s heart was aching for her. But she wouldn¡¯t interfere when they were playing. The three fellows held hands as they went to a corner to play. Xuxu glanced at Ming Ansheng¡¯s table and noticed that they were still drinking and toasting each other. Now, they were getting started on the white wine. Several of them were as red as a tomato, and a few others looked as though they were about to collapse. She pulled Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go over.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± When the young masters saw Yan Rusheng and Xuxu walking towards them, they yelled, ¡°The bride and groom are coming¡­¡± ¡°I¡­ I remember that you haven¡¯t given us a toast.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ they¡­ didn¡¯t. I remember¡­¡± The young masters put their arms around one another for support. If one of them lost his footing, the rest would fall too. ¡°Alright, let us give all of you a toast.¡± Xuxu smiled and nodded. She turned around and beckoned to a waiter. The waiter immediately came over. Xuxu raised a glass while she passed one to Yan Rusheng. Her glass was filled with a non-alcoholic beverage. ¡°Thank you, young masters,¡± Xuxu said politely and emptied her glass. She couldn¡¯t drink at all, so she didn¡¯t touch any wine. She managed to avoid alcohol for the entire night, but it was proving to be difficult at this particular table. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you and Third Yan tied the knot tonight. So there is no way you are not drinking.¡± Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows and she put on a pitiful expression. ¡°Young Masters, please spare me. All of you know I can¡¯t hold my liquor at all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Actually, the more you drink, the easier it is to set the mood.¡± ¡°Third Yan, am I right¡­¡± Pairs of eyes darted to Yan Rusheng. He drank quite a bit and he was a little tipsy, but he still remained clear-headed. He pretended to be drunk and lazily grinned. ¡°Yeah.¡± Xuxu heard him and she knitted her eyebrows once more. She extended her hand sneakily to pinch Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. ¡°Xuxu, let me give you a toast.¡± Suddenly, the only woman at the table stood up. Hu Xiaoxiao raised her glass to Xuxu and smiled. The atmosphere became strangely awkward in an instant. Xuxu was startled, and she smiled weakly. ¡°I¡­¡± Instinctively, she stole a glance at Jiang Zhuoheng. As though it was telepathy, Jiang Zhuoheng was looking at her with a gentle smile. This gentleness was reserved solely for her all these years. Xuxu immediately understood and she turned towards Hu Xiaoxiao. ¡°Sure,¡± readily said Xuxu. She took Yan Rusheng¡¯s glass and said, ¡°Ah Sheng, I need to drink a little. If not, I won¡¯t be able to leave tonight.¡± Yan Rusheng was pleased with her, especially at her innocent-looking expression which he loved so much. Chapter 1541. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Four) He nodded. ¡°Mm. It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m here.¡± He whispered by her ear, his low and hoarse voice was surprisingly gentle. Xuxu retracted her neck to look at Hu Xiaoxiao, and then she lifted her glass. ¡°Let me offer you a toast.¡± Hu Xiaoxiao smiled and graciously said, ¡°I wish you and Yan Rusheng a lifetime of bliss together.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xuxu nodded with a smile, tilting her head upwards and finishing half of the glass of wine. She had been trying to improve her alcohol tolerance for the past few years. Every time she accompanied him to business engagements, he would often have to drink, and her heart ached to see him drink glass after glass. She wished she could drink one or two glasses on his behalf. Even if it were only a glass, she would be content. But she failed time after time. Perhaps it was psychological, but once she finished half a glass, she would feel her throat burning. She lifted her empty glass and said to the Young Masters, ¡°I drank my share of wine. You can let me off now, right?¡± ¡°What nonsense, we wouldn¡¯t have forced you to drink if you refused.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded. ¡°Third Yan, let¡¯s have a toast.¡± All of them let Xuxu off, but that didn¡¯t mean that Yan Rusheng was off the hook. A toast was a must. All of them almost had their fill, so nobody suggested him to drink three glasses. When it was Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s turn, Yan Rusheng said to the waiter pouring wine, ¡°Fill it to the brim.¡± As though he wouldn¡¯t be manly enough if it wasn¡¯t full. Xuxu was dumbfounded. He lost his rationality and became childish when it came to Ah Heng. ¡°I hope that I¡¯ll be able to attend your wedding with Hu Xiaoxiao soon.¡± Yan Rusheng clanked his glass full of wine against Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s, and he smugly smirked. Even a drunk man could tell. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and remained silent. He lifted his glass and finished the wine. Next was Ming Ansheng. Yan Rusheng walked over and Xuxu followed him. Suddenly, Jiang Zhuoheng called after her. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Xuxu stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. He smiled and said, ¡°I want to have a word with you.¡± Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng. Ming Ansheng was making things difficult for him and wanted him to drink three glasses. She predicted that they would spout inappropriate nonsense half of the time, so she nodded at Jiang Zhuoheng. It so happened that the person beside him had gone to the washroom so the adjacent seat was empty. Xuxu pulled the chair out and sat down. ¡°Xuxu, you look¡­ beautiful today,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng praised, looking at her bride makeup. Subtle infatuation was seen in his eyes. He had loved her for so many years, and he had imagined her in a wedding dress countless times, walking down the aisle with him. She was finally a bride, but he wasn¡¯t the groom. Fortunately, she was as beautiful in her wedding gown as he imagined. He could finally let her go. Xuxu pressed her lips, and she blinked mischievously at the gentleman. ¡°When am I ever not beautiful?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled faintly. ¡°Actually, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± He thought, ¡®As long as you¡¯re happy, nothing else matters.¡¯ Xuxu didn¡¯t understand his words. Confused, she asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng shook his head and changed the subject. ¡°That child¡­¡± He then suddenly stopped and looked around, ensuring that no one was listening to their conversation. Chapter 1542. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Five) Then he continued, ¡°That lass is Anzi¡¯s daughter, right?¡± Xuxu froze, slightly nervous. Of course, she knew who he was referring to¡ªXiaojiao. Although Xiaojiao looked like Su Yue, attentive ones could tell that the little lass resembled her father in some ways. She pressed his lips together. Her silence gave him his answer. Ever since they were young, she never once lied to Jiang Zhuoheng. She promised that she would never lie to him, and they had an unconditional mutual trust ever since. Jiang Zhuoheng attained his answer, and he chuckled softly. It wasn¡¯t clear why he chuckled. Xuxu frowned. ¡°What was that for? You can¡¯t tell this to anyone, especially Ming Ansheng.¡± Her voice was close to a whisper. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled. ¡°Then have a glass with me. Or else I¡¯ll turn around and tell him right now.¡± His calculating eyes gleamed slyly. It was a rare opportunity to tease her. He thought he probably won¡¯t have such a chance again. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, I¡¯ll get you back for this.¡± Xuxu picked up an almost empty bottle of wine and knocked it against his glass. She then finished it in one gulp. All of them were stunned. ¡°Wen Xuxu, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± All of them were initially focused on Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng, but now all of them turned to look at her. After Xuxu downed the bottle, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Then she placed the bottle down and said to Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°You and Hu Xiaoxiao have driven me to the edge tonight. You guys are talented.¡± She was obviously joking. All of them roared in laughter. ¡°Third Yan, Wen Xuxu is known for getting drunk with just one glass. You¡¯ll get your special welfare tonight.¡± Who cares! His wife was drinking with his love rival. All he could think of was: F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! ¡°Ah Sheng, I¡­¡± She stood up unsteadily. She supported herself by holding onto the chair with one hand and grabbing Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm with the other. ¡°I think I¡¯m drunk.¡± She obviously was. Yan Rusheng placed his glass down. He didn¡¯t care that he hadn¡¯t had a toast with Ming Ansheng. He immediately carried Xuxu. Of course, it was the romantic bridal style. ¡°Everyone, as you guys can see, my wife has had a drop too many. Excuse us.¡± Yan Rusheng carried her out of the hall. The table of young masters cheered and whistled. They yelled after him, ¡°Third Yan, don¡¯t think that you can escape. The horseplay begins later.¡± ¡­ ¡°Ah Sheng, that line sounds familiar¡­¡± Xuxu blushed. She looked at him and smiled foolishly. Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°Which line?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°The one you said earlier.¡± Yan Rusheng recalled it and smiled gently. ¡°As you can see, my secretary has had a drop too many. Excuse us¡­¡± Xuxu chuckled and hugged his neck. ¡°Husband, congratulations. You¡¯ve gotten it right.¡± F*ck. He would really get his special welfare tonight. Young Master Yan¡¯s body went stiff. He quickened his pace. ¡°Those two fellows have left. Shouldn¡¯t we begin the horseplay?¡± ¡°Horseplay? Pry open their room door first.¡± The two main characters, Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu, had left. The drunken bunch was getting bored. ¡°Let¡¯s have more drinks at The First Wealth,¡± someone suggested. Chapter 1543. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Six) They often went bar hopping, so it was normal for them. Everyone nodded in agreement. Hu Xiaoxiao stood up and walked over to Jiang Zhuoheng. She whispered in his ear, ¡°Ah Heng, should we take our leave?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded. He then stood up and said, ¡°Everyone, we¡¯re a little tired after our flight. We¡¯ll make a move.¡± ¡°Ah Heng, you¡¯re such a spoilsport.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled, remaining silent. Ming Ansheng, who was intoxicated and couldn¡¯t even sit properly, suddenly raised his hand and waved at him. ¡°Go ahead. Be nicer to Hu Xiaoxiao.¡± He then groped onto a wine bottle and poured himself another glass. Jiang Zhuoheng frowned at him. ¡°You should control your liquor. You¡¯re trying to ruin your health?¡± He snatched the wine bottle from Ming Ansheng and placed it far from his reach. Then he turned around and left with Hu Xiaoxiao. All of them insisted on continuing their drinking somewhere else, so they stood up. Ming Ansheng was motionless on the chair. His drunken gaze followed Jiang Zhuoheng and Hu Xiaoxiao as they left the room. Melancholy in his eyes. ¡°Anzi, let¡¯s go.¡± Suddenly, someone grabbed his elbow and pulled him up. Ming Ansheng was barely sober, so he let them drag him away. The group walked unsteadily towards the main entrance. ¡°It¡¯s so sweet.¡± A familiar childish voice was heard at the entrance. Ming Ansheng stopped in his tracks and slowly turned towards the voice. A group of young children huddled in a discrete corner. The youngest one was holding a wineglass in her hand, a sweet smile on her face. She was licking her lips. She looked exceptionally beautiful. The little lass was¡­ drinking wine? Ming Ansheng frowned, and he couldn¡¯t help but make his way over. ¡°Maid, you¡¯ve been executed. You have to fall.¡± Third Lu was playing the Queen, and she was absorbed into her role. She had ordered the Maid, Su Xiaojiao, to drink three cups of ¡®poison wine¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s so sweet¡­¡± Su Xiaojiao commented as she chuckled. Her chubby face was as red as a baboon¡¯s butt, and she was obviously unsteady. These kids were too much! Ming Ansheng rushed over and scooped Su Xiaojiao up. She felt soft in his embrace. He nudged her chubby face with his nose. ¡°Little lass, who allowed you to drink?¡± ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Su Xiaojiao closed her eyes with the foolish smile still plastered onto her face. She called ¡®Daddy¡¯ in her soft voice. Ming Ansheng knew that she was drunk and couldn¡¯t recognize him. But his heart clenched and tingled. On impulse, he wanted to take her away and hide her. He kept Su Xiaojiao in his embrace and ignored the other children¡¯s gazes. He quickly turned around and walked outside. He was drunk as well, and he walked with an unsteady footing. But once he remembered that he was carrying Su Xiaojiao, Su Yue¡¯s daughter, he tried to stay as awake as much as possible. Ming Ansheng walked out of the hall and towards the lift. He had already gotten a chauffeur on standby because he knew that he would be drinking. He called him and the chauffeur immediately drove to the entrance of the hotel. Chapter 1544. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Seven) ¡°Mommy.¡± The small girl in his arms clutched his clothes tightly, as though she didn¡¯t feel safe. She kept mumbling to herself. Ming Ansheng lay down on the seat. He flipped Su Xiaojiao over, making her lie on his chest. The little fellow was drunk and was tossing around, probably because she felt terrible. She was feeling groggy. His heart tingled when he heard her call ¡®Mommy¡¯ . He pinched her nose and slurred, ¡°Little Lass, call Daddy.¡± It startled the chauffeur. Little Lass? Daddy? Since when did President have a daughter? He glanced at the back through the rearview mirror. He couldn¡¯t see Ming Ansheng¡¯s face and could only see the little one wriggling on his chest. Wealthy families are so messy and complicated¡­ His son appeared out of nowhere a few years ago, and now, a daughter too? Most people yearned for a girl and a boy, and now the President has them without even being in a formal marriage. The chauffeur was silently criticizing him as he drove. ¡°Daddy.¡± Su Xiaojiao had her eyes closed. She was groggy and thought that the male voice must have been her daddy. Ming Ansheng realized that Su Xiaojiao was finding a cool spot to rest. She was so young, how could she withstand the burning sensation of alcohol? His heart ached. But she wasn¡¯t his daughter. Was he humbled by his love for Su Yue? To the extent that he wanted to love and dote on the child that she had with another man? ¡®A daughter was her father¡¯s lover in his previous life¡­¡¯ Ming Ansheng unknowingly tightened his grip around Su Xiaojiao. Su Xiaojiao¡­ Su Xiaojiao¡­ Why couldn¡¯t you be called Su Xiaoming instead? Su Xiaoming? Xiaoming? What the heck! F*ck. He realized that ¡®jiao¡¯ was more appropriate than ¡®ming¡¯ for a girl¡¯s name. No, no. If she were his daughter, she could be called Su Xiaoan. Su Xiaoan sounds nice, even better than Su Xiaojiao. Young Master Ming leaned his body against the car door and smiled when he realized that Su Xiaoan sounds better than Su Xiaojiao. ¡°Su Xiaoan¡­¡± He unconsciously called. The little one didn¡¯t respond. He frowned. He opened his eyes and stared at her. She was lying on his chest like a puppy and was fast asleep. His heart instantly melted into a puddle. He gently patted her butt. ¡°Little one, you¡¯ve gotten drunk at such a young age. I should help you apply for the Guinness World Records.¡± He was mumbling to himself, but not without a smile plastered onto his face. Even his tone was loving. The chauffeur glanced at the back and thought to himself, ¡®Is this really the cold and aloof President?¡¯ He had seen him drunk a couple of times, but this was the first time he had seen him talking so much. It seems like he doted on this little lass a lot. Then he started wondering if the Little Master would get neglected. ¡°To the apartment.¡± It suddenly dawned on Ming Ansheng that he didn¡¯t instruct the chauffeur on where to go. The chauffeur was driving towards the Ming family¡¯s mansion, so he had to make a U-turn. This caused a one-hour delay. Back at the hotel, Su Yue couldn¡¯t find her child and was worried sick. Mu Li and Yan Weihong were helping in the search as well. Most of the guests had left and they searched the huge banquet hall again and again, but Su Xiaojiao was still nowhere in sight. Chapter 1545. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Eight) Su Yue was on the brink of tears. Mu Li comforted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Wasn¡¯t she playing with Wenxin and the others earlier?¡± ¡°Could she have gone back with them?¡± Yan Weiye worriedly asked. Mu Li shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s not. I¡¯ve already asked.¡± Yan Weihong suggested, ¡°Then ask Wenxin and the rest whether they¡¯ve seen where she went.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call now.¡± Mu Li nodded and took out her phone. Su Yue flipped out her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll call Zhou Shuang to ask Yanyan.¡± Xiaojiao and Yanyan were holding hands when they went to play. Su Yue placed the phone to her ear and wished that Zhou Shuang would pick up on the first ring. Although Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t pick up on the first ring, she still picked up pretty quickly. Su Yue hurriedly said, ¡°Sister Hooligan, Yanyan played with Xiaojiao today. Can you help me ask her where Xiaojiao went? She¡¯s gone missing.¡± Zhou Shuang immediately turned to the Yanyan who was playing on the floor mat. ¡°Yanyan, where did Xiaojiao go after she played with you guys?¡± Yanyan stopped playing with her toys and tilted her head as if she was deep in thought. Then she replied, ¡°She drank my poison wine and Uncle Ming carried her away.¡± She then continued playing with her toys. Uncle Ming! It startled Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang when they heard it. They met each other¡¯s gazes and Zhou Shuang placed the phone back to her ear. ¡°Yanyan said that¡­ Ming Ansheng carried Xiaojiao away.¡± Su Yue had already heard Yanyan¡¯s reply over the phone. Zhou Shuang frowned when she heard the disengaged tone. She flung her phone away and went deep into thought. Lu Yinan sent their daughter to the hospital earlier, and by that time, the group of young masters was already quite intoxicated, so Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t have been fully sober. When he saw her face, he asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Ming Ansheng carried Xiaojiao away¡­¡± Lu Yinan drawled, ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Lu Yinan, I found out something strange today,¡± Zhou Shuang said, looking at him with a serious face. She mumbled, ¡°I realized that Su Xiaojiao looks a little like Ming Ansheng.¡± At first glance, she really resembled Ming Ansheng. But after careful observation, she couldn¡¯t tell which aspects. She had wanted to ask Xuxu about it, but she had been so busy so she forgot. ¡°Really?¡± Lu Yinan frowned. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I tell?¡± In fact, there were so many people at the reception earlier on, so he didn¡¯t take much notice of the girl. ¡°I¡¯m thinking, could it be¡­¡± Zhou Shuang scooted closer to him, both faced each other and leaned on their sides. Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Yinan suddenly wrapped his arms around her neck and crushed her under his body. Before she could react, he smashed his lips on hers. Zhou Shuang looked at him with wide eyes, her protests muffled. She looked towards the floor mat. They were in the children¡¯s bedroom, where Yanyan and Jiaojiao slept. Jiaojiao was more well-behaved. She went to bed immediately after her shower. Yanyan, however, was a night owl. She didn¡¯t show any signs of tiredness. Zhou Shuang was afraid that the kids would see them, so she forcefully pinched his waist. Chapter 1546. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Nine) Lu Yinan yelped out in pain, and he backed away from Zhou Shuang¡¯s lips. ¡°Lu Yinan, you must be crazy!¡± Zhou Shuang angrily shoved Lu Yinan away before sitting up. She used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth. Her heart palpitated wildly, and her mind was racing. When Lu Yinan suddenly hugged her, her heart violently pounded. ¡°Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re forcing me to find another woman.¡± Lu Yinan was incensed when Zhou Shuang pushed him away. He felt that she was being way too proud for her own good. Every single time, she rejected his advances. Every single time without fail. So, he hardly initiated any intimacy with her. He couldn¡¯t remember how long it had been since their last kiss. Zhou Shuang sneered. ¡°You sounded as if you didn¡¯t look for another woman.¡± It had almost been four years. Every time he went out to socialize, she wouldn¡¯t believe that he didn¡¯t try to find a woman to accompany him. There was no way he could tolerate being celibate all these years. ¡°You¡­¡± Lu Yinan was stumped for words as he pointed at Zhou Shuang. He was about to lash out at her but stopped himself at the thought of Yanyan. He rose and left in a huff. Zhou Shuang watched as the man stormed off. Her heart sank slowly as he vanished. ¡®Lu Yinan, what is our relationship now?¡¯ Zhou Shuang thought quietly to herself. ¡®Are we together simply because of the triplets?¡¯ That was their original intention. But¡­ these four years had caused her to abandon that thought. She had surrendered her heart to this man as well. ¡­ Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t answer any of her calls. Su Yue slammed the phone against the front passenger seat. She decided to look for Ming Ansheng personally. She stopped Yan Weiye from following her. Mu Li had already called to check with Ming Ansheng¡¯s family. He wasn¡¯t home. Then where could he be? Su Yue thought of trying the familiar places she knew. The capital city was chilly at night. Su Yue didn¡¯t park the car in the underground carpark. Instead, she stopped outside a small district. A breeze ruffled her hair when she alighted. She shrunk her neck and hastened her footsteps. She reached the building and entered the apartment unit. She tried her luck and entered the password she knew. What surprised her was that the password was unchanged¡ªthe door opened. She walked with a limp towards the courtyard, as to how she had remembered. She was still wearing the hotel bedroom slippers. She appeared to be quite sorry-looking, but at the same time, determined. ¡­ ¡°I miss Mommy.¡± Ming Ansheng brought Xiaojiao back home and wiped her with a towel. For fear that she couldn¡¯t withstand the burning sensation of the alcohol in her stomach, he forced mineral water down her throat. To his surprise, the little girl became sober. The girl surveyed her surroundings in fear and instantly started crying. This was the first time Ming Ansheng had met such a situation. He didn¡¯t know how to coax a child and it flustered him. ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°Mommy¡­ mommy¡­¡± Su Xiaojiao was sprawling on the couch whilst her tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. She looked really sad. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Let me tell you a story.¡± Actually, he felt really sleepy, and all he wanted was to collapse on his bed. He was feeling more sober at the moment, and he regretted that he had sneakily brought the girl back earlier on. But he couldn¡¯t send her back right now. Su Xiaojiao stopped crying when Ming Ansheng said he would tell her a story. She said in a choked voice, ¡°I want the little mermaid.¡± Ming Ansheng could feel his head throbbing. What nonsense is this mermaid thing? What was the story about? He had never heard this story in his life¡­ He should search online¡­ Chapter 1547. Su Xiaojiao Went Missing? (part Ten) He clicked on the screen and began to search. In a split second, various versions of the little mermaid popped out. There were dramas, movies, and stories¡­ He chose the story version and clicked on it. ¡°At the bottom of the deep blue ocean, there was a huge majestic-looking castle. Six beautiful princesses lived there. The youngest princess was the most beautiful of them all. She had long golden hair¡­¡± Ming Ansheng began to recite the story, and he sounded a little tipsy. He was feeling rather good when Su Xiaojiao started to cry again. What happened? Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°I¡¯m reading the little mermaid now. Why are you crying again?¡± As he said that, he used a tissue to dab Su Xiaojiao¡¯s tears away. In between sobs, Su Xiaojiao replied, ¡°You¡¯re so fast.¡± Ming Ansheng understood despite her choked voice and unclear pronunciation. He felt defeated. He was too fast? This girl was so fussy! Ming Ansheng cast a disdainful look at Su Xiaojiao. But he knew that the most pressing issue was to stop her from crying. He glanced back at his phone and adjusted his speed. ¡°At¡­ the bottom¡­ of the¡­ deep blue ocean¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want¡­¡± Su Xiaojiao angrily shifted her face away and bawled. ¡°You¡¯re so slow. Daddy is good.¡± She grumbled that he was too fast and now he was too slow¡­ This girl was really¡­ But wait. What did she say? Daddy is good? Did she mean that her daddy was better at telling a story? A pang of jealousy seized Ming Ansheng. He pressed his palms against the couch, rose, and sat down next to Su Xiaojiao. He slumped back against the couch and held his phone. He deliberated for a moment before starting once more. ¡°At the bottom of the deep blue ocean¡­¡± He was reading it from his heart. The girl finally stopped crying for good. She sat quietly and didn¡¯t move at all. Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice became softer as he stole furtive glances at Su Xiaojiao. The girl was still sitting in an upright position as though she was praying. Even though he knew that Xiaojiao was asleep, Ming Ansheng still finished the entire story. He placed his phone down as he gazed at Su Xiaojiao¡¯s rosy cheeks. Her mouth was slightly open¡ªshe was drooling. As Ming Ansheng watched her, he felt as though there was a pair of gentle hands tenderly rubbing his heart. ¡®This lass! I¡¯ve only been this patient to two people in my life. Your mommy and you,¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself. Did he read a story? Even Beibei didn¡¯t have this privilege, although he was¡­ ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ Ming Ansheng was deep in thought when the doorbell disrupted him. He sprang and sat up before looking at the door. The doorbell incessantly rang, and he could imagine how anxious the person must be. Of course, he knew that there could only be one person. He bent his head and smiled bitterly to himself. Ming Ansheng, you will be sued for abduction. He rose and walked towards the door with an unsteady gait. He felt as though he was walking amongst the clouds. ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ Ming Ansheng helplessly responded, ¡°Coming.¡± He reached the door and opened it. A petite figure flew past him, and she turned to glare at him. He was jolted back to his senses. Chapter 1548. Why Weren’t They Together? (part One) ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng uttered when he saw Su Yue, but the latter just swiftly swept past him. Looking at how hasty and anxious she was, it was as though she was afraid that he would harm her daughter. Su Xiaojiao ignored Ming Ansheng and peered at the couch. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± She quickly strode towards her. Ming Ansheng trailed after her and stood beside Su Yue. He bent to watch both of them. Su Yue caught a whiff of alcohol, and she inhaled deeply. Instinctively, she assumed that Ming Ansheng was the one who reeked of alcohol. It was Yan Rusheng¡¯s wedding and all his friends were drunk. She raised her head to glance at Ming Ansheng. Unexpectedly, she met his eyes. His eyes narrowed, but the expression in it was so damn intense. Su Yue shuddered and unconsciously she averted her eyes. ¡°Yueyue.¡± The man¡¯s voice rang once more. Su Yue was kneeling on the floor with her hands on her lap. She tightly clenched her fists. She didn¡¯t answer Ming Ansheng. ¡°Is your leg still hurting?¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly knelt down and extended his hand towards Su Yue. Su Yue was still wearing the bridesmaid gown, and it revealed her fair legs. To Ming Ansheng, she was as exquisite as a piece of fine jade. His hand brushed against Su Yue¡¯s ankle, and she could feel how cold his palm was. But the weather wasn¡¯t that cold. Su Yue shrunk a little and it seemed that something had grasped her heart. In such fine weather, his palms were icy cold. Did that mean that his heart was cold as well? Su Yue couldn¡¯t help but steal a look at Ming Ansheng once more. He gazed at her ankle with a worried expression. His thick eyelashes cast a shadow on his face. He wanted to massage Su Yue¡¯s ankle, but she dodged his touch. Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand froze in mid-air, so he raised his head to stare blankly at Su Yue. Su Yue felt guilty when she met his eyes. She turned to lift Xiaojiao up. She felt that something was amiss when she saw how Xiaojiao¡¯s cheeks were as red as a tomato. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± Why was her face so red? Was she having a fever? Su Yue bent to sit down as she placed Xiaojiao on her lap. She touched her forehead and it was rather warm. ¡°Mommy.¡± Su Xiaojiao¡¯s muffled voice sounded, and she was moving her hands to try to grab something. But Su Yue was wearing a tight-fitting gown so she couldn¡¯t grab anything. Su Yue offered her hand to let her grab it. ¡°Mommy is here. Mommy is here.¡± She bent to kiss Xiaojiao¡¯s cheek. Suddenly, she caught a whiff of alcohol emitting from Xiaojiao¡¯s breath. She frowned and inched nearer once more. After she was certain that the smell was indeed from her, her heart jerked wildly. She raised her head and glared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng! She is only three years old. How can you be so despicable?!¡± hissed Su Yue. She didn¡¯t want to scare the girl so she suppressed her anger and stopped herself from yelling. Ming Ansheng might be tipsy but his brain was still working fine. He instantly understood what Su Yue meant and her accusation took him aback. Because of the effect of alcohol, he bellowed, ¡°Su Yue! Do you think the child you bore with someone else is so valuable?¡± He immediately regretted his words. Chapter 1549. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Two) But it was too late. Su Yue carried Xiaojiao and stood up. Resisting the pain in her leg, she glanced at Ming Ansheng and snapped, ¡°Yeah. Your child is valuable. Jiao Chen and my child will, of course, be valuable to us.¡± She then turned on her heel and walked towards the door. Ming Ansheng quickly caught up with her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm, but she flung his hand away. ¡°Ming Ansheng, let¡¯s not bother each other in the future.¡± She was firm about drawing a line between them. Ming Ansheng blankly stared at her. When she slammed the door with a ¡®bang¡¯ , his body trembled a little. The woman he had missed so dearly all these years was gone. She left. She said that she would always believe him no matter what happened. She would always believe him¡­ But who else could he blame? ¡­ After she left the building, the wind mercilessly attacked. Su Yue tightened her arms around Xiaojiao as she tried to shelter the child from the wind. The girl in her arms began to stir restlessly. ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao fluttered her eyelids as the wind blew against her face. She called Su Yue, and she peeked her head out from her embrace to gaze at Su Yue. Su Yue looked at her with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Xiaojiao?¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes were glistening and her voice sounded nasal. Su Xiaojiao raised her hand and rubbed Su Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t cry.¡± Her voice was so lovely and sweet, and it seemed to stroke her heart gently. Su Yue was close to crying as she suppressed her emotions. She firmly shook her head after inhaling deeply. She smiled and assured Xiaojiao, ¡°Mommy is fine. I just feel a little cold.¡± Her heart felt cold. Actually, she shouldn¡¯t bother with what he had said. But she couldn¡¯t help but get affected by him. ¡®Su Yue! Do you think the child you bore with someone else is so valuable?¡¯ Su Yue hugged Xiaojiao tightly. Yeah, Xiaojiao belonged to her and Jiaojiao. Xiaojiao¡¯s daddy was Jiao Chen. She hastened her footsteps. Somehow, she had forgotten the pain in her ankle. Or perhaps, the pain somewhere else was even more painful. ¡°Xiaojiao, hug.¡± When Su Xiaojiao heard that Su Yue was cold, she spread her arms to hug Su Yue. Su Yue was touched, and she gave the little girl a peck on her forehead. ¡°Xiaojiao, you¡¯re a good girl.¡± ¡­ The next morning, Su Yue¡¯s ankle swelled considerably. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu came back home from the hotel. Xuxu helped Su Yue to put some ointment on her ankle, and it eased her pain. It had been a long time since everyone was present for dinner. The Yan family table was fully occupied. There were already four children creating a ruckus. Meowmeow, Yangyang, Su Xiaojiao, and Yan Rusen¡¯s child. Yan Weiye and Yan Weihong sat at the opposite ends of the table. Su Yue sat beside Xuxu while Mu Li, Yan Rusen, and his wife sat on the other side. The atmosphere was lively and cheery. The men began to discuss work, excluding Yan Rusheng. His aloofness was directed to both outsiders and his family. He rarely talked at home and would only answer if Yan Weihong asked. Young Master Yan busied himself with making sure that his wife and daughter had enough food. ¡°Mommy, did you go to the bridal room with Daddy yesterday?¡± Chapter 1550. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Three) Yan Wenxin suddenly raised her head and innocently threw a question at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. She was still chewing the piece of beef that Yan Rusheng had cut for her. Xuxu was speechless. There were so many people around. This lass¡­ She looked at Yan Wenxin with a disapproving look. She sternly warned, ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t spew nonsense when they are eating.¡± On the contrary, that girl looked so innocent and na?ve. ¡°You can¡¯t give us brothers and sisters,¡± she sternly remarked at Xuxu as a crease appeared in between her forehead. Yan Weihong heard Yan Wenxin¡¯s words, and he chuckled loudly. ¡°Wenxin, it¡¯s good to have a younger brother or sister. You will be an older sister to them.¡± Mu Li nodded and added, ¡°Yeah. There will be someone for you to bully. Then you won¡¯t have to complain that you¡¯re always bullied by your brother.¡± Yan Wenxin snorted loudly and put down her fork. She pouted and loudly said, ¡°You are lying to me! If I had a younger brother or sister, all of you won¡¯t like me anymore.¡± This four-year-old could enunciate quite clearly unless she tried to catch her breath while talking. Yan Nuoxing, who sat beside her, gave her a thumbs up when he heard his sister. He didn¡¯t want to have a younger brother or sister as well. But he wasn¡¯t afraid that his younger siblings would steal his daddy and mommy. He was more afraid of them being a nuisance and crying all day long¡ªespecially girls. Yan Wenxin was so annoying. ¡°Why would that happen?¡± Mu Li placed her chopsticks down and lifted Meowmeow to place her on her lap. She whispered, ¡°No matter how many brothers or sisters you have, I will love you the most.¡± Xuxu cast Mu Li a disdainful look. Liar! All grandparents hoped that they would have plenty of grandchildren. In fact, the more the merrier. Yan Weihong and Mu Li kept seizing all sorts of opportunities to urge her and Yan Rusheng to have more children. However, she wasn¡¯t the one against the idea. It was their son, alright? ¡°No, I don¡¯t want!¡± The little girl squirmed her body and protested profusely. Daddy, mommy, grandmother, grandfather, and uncle were only allowed to dote on her and her brother. Mu Li hastily coaxed her when she saw the girl throwing a tantrum. ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s eat first.¡± ¡°Mommy, drink milk.¡± Su Xiaojiao pushed the cup of milk towards Su Yue. Su Yue received it and smiled. ¡°Thank you, Xiaojiao.¡± Xuxu noticed them and decided to tease Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, I also want to drink.¡± ¡°Aunt, you also have milk.¡± Su Xiaojiao pointed at the cup in front of Xuxu. ¡°Xiaojiao, are you playing with Yanyan today?¡± Yan Wenxin asked as he looked at Xiaojiao. ¡°No.¡± Xiaojiao pouted and she seemed upset. ¡°She is bad.¡± It was as though she had quarreled with Yanyan. What feud could children possibly have? Don¡¯t they all forget the next day? Su Yue glanced at Su Xiaojiao and asked, ¡°Why is Yanyan bad?¡± Yan Wenxin cut across Su Xiaojiao. ¡°Yesterday, Yanyan gave Xiaojiao poisoned wine.¡± ¡°Poisoned wine?¡± It bewildered everyone. Yan Wenxin continued, ¡°She forced Xiaojiao to drink but Xiaojiao didn¡¯t die.¡± What was she rambling about? Xuxu and the rest couldn¡¯t understand a single word Yan Wenxin was saying. Su Yue thought of something and it startled her. Chapter 1551. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Four) She glanced at Yan Wenxin and anxiously asked, ¡°Wenxin, you mean¡­ Xiaojiao drank wine yesterday?¡± Yan Wenxin nodded several times. Su Yue probed, ¡°Yanyan made her drink it?¡± She gripped the edges of the table so tightly that her fingers went white. Yan Wenxin continued to nod as she murmured. ¡®Ming Ansheng! She is only three years old. How can you be so despicable¡­¡¯ Su Yue froze at the revelation. Xuxu noticed that she didn¡¯t look too well, so she asked, ¡°Yueyue, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± Su Yue smiled to dismiss her worries. She inhaled deeply to calm herself down and began to eat her breakfast. Anyway, they wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with each other. It wouldn¡¯t matter if there were any misunderstandings. After breakfast, Su Yue left Xiaojiao with Xuxu, and she brought their suitcases to Su Yan¡¯s place. It was Su Yan¡¯s old apartment. Su Yan had moved into a new one that was nearer to the company; hence, the old one was vacant. Before Su Yue came back, Su Yan already got someone to tidy up the place and change the bedsheets. Su Yue only brought a few belongings with her since she still had to take care of Xiaojiao. Jiao Chen would settle the rest of their stuff. It was almost lunch that she finished unpacking. Su Yue stood at the French windows to admire the scenery outside. It was May, and the capital city seemed to welcome the warm weather. The sky was blue with fluffy white clouds. A light breeze rippled the curtains and ruffled her hair. Some strands of hair stuck to her face but she ignored it. Her bright black eyes were staring pensively into the distance. She was in a reverie. She couldn¡¯t understand why every time it was quiet around her, her heart would throb with a kind of¡­ indescribable feeling. It seemed like sorrow. But she couldn¡¯t understand it. She simply felt that something was drifting away from her. Her phone vibrated with a text notification. It ended Su Yue¡¯s reverie, and she withdrew her gaze. She sighed helplessly to herself. She bent her head and turned around. She walked towards the couch and bent her back to pick up her phone. Jiao Chen texted her. ¡®Susu, it¡¯s time for lunch. Did you bring Xiaojiao out to play today?¡¯ Although it was merely a text, Jiao Chen had cheered her up. That trace of unknown sorrow vanished, and she began typing with a smile. ¡®I¡¯m unpacking in our new house, so I don¡¯t have time to bring her out. We¡¯ll wait for you.¡¯ Jiao Chen replied, ¡®Yeah, sure!¡¯ It seemed like he was making a promise. Su Yue smiled and replied, ¡®Silly.¡¯ They exchanged a few more texts before Jiao Chen urged Su Yue to have her lunch. Su Yue went out for lunch. The buildings and shops didn¡¯t change much in these four years. She wasn¡¯t hungry so she decided to take a stroll. Besides, the weather was fine. The area was more bustling as compared to others. Su Yue took a walk without a destination in mind. And as she walked, she mulled over the events and memories that took place four years ago. She couldn¡¯t help but feel melancholic. It had been four years, but everything seemed to have happened just yesterday. But she had indeed given birth to Xiaojiao and lived with Jiao Chen for the past four years. An abrupt loud sound jolted her from her memories. Chapter 1552. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Five) She glanced towards the direction of the sound. There seemed to be an ongoing event at the nearby shopping mall since they had constructed a makeshift stage in the empty space in front of the building. Even scantily dressed ladies were dancing to an upbeat song. There were many spectators. Without her even knowing, Su Yue walked towards the mall and joined the crowd. ¡°Beibei, don¡¯t run away! Wait for Grandmother!¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice rang and it surprised Su Yue. She turned around. ¡°Beibei¡­¡± A slightly plump woman in an emerald-green dress had an LV handbag slung on her arm. She was chasing after a young boy. ¡®Yueyue, is the soup salty?¡¯ ¡®If you like it, next time I¡¯ll send the soup to your school alright?¡¯ ¡®My son is so blessed to have found such a lovely and sensible girl like you.¡¯ ¡­ Memories flooded Su Yue¡¯s mind. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Su Yue was still reminiscing about the past when the woman called her. The mild-tempered and warm lady that she remembered strode towards her and Su Yue flashed her a smile. ¡°Aunt.¡± Wang Yuexiang stood before Su Yue as she carefully scrutinized her. Her smile and expression seemed to hint some regret and disappointment. She pulled the boy closer to her and pointed to Su Yue. ¡°Beibei, call her¡­¡± Wang Yuexiang hesitated and said, ¡°Call her sister.¡± With Su Yue¡¯s age and appearance, it was perfectly fine for the 9-year-old boy to address her as his older sister. But the tricky thing was, he was Ming Ansheng¡¯s son. The boy didn¡¯t immediately obey. He frowned at Wang Yuexiang and asked, ¡°Grandmother, she calls you Aunt. But I address her as Sister. Then wouldn¡¯t you be my aunt?¡± Su Yue let out a burst of laughter. Wang Yuexiang poked the boy¡¯s head with a disapproving look. ¡°You cheeky boy!¡± ¡°But she does look like an older sister.¡± Beibei sounded like an adult as he sized up Su Yue. After a moment of deliberation, he said, ¡°Hello, Sister.¡± Su Yue kept her eyes fixed on Beibei¡¯s face for some time before she smiled. ¡°Hello.¡± She greeted in a polite manner. He really resembled Meiduo. Su Yue¡¯s eyes darted to Wang Yuexiang, and she intended to bid her goodbye. Wang Yuexiang pressed on. ¡°When did you return?¡± Su Yue replied softly, ¡°I arrived yesterday.¡± ¡°Oh, you came to attend your Third Brother and Third sister-in-law¡¯s wedding.¡± Wang Yuexiang smiled bitterly and she bent her head. All of Ming Ansheng¡¯s friends were all starting their own families, except for her son. When she saw Su Yue, her heart ached even more for her son. Su Yue nodded and murmured. Wang Yuexiang asked again, ¡°Why are you here? Are you with your friends?¡± She glanced around their surroundings as if looking for Su Yue¡¯s friends. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I stay near here. So, I came here alone to take a walk.¡± Wang Yuexiang replied, ¡°So, you stay in this area.¡± Su Yue nodded. Wang Yuexiang continued, ¡°There is a piano competition in the shopping mall. Beibei is taking part so I¡¯m here with him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Su Yue glanced at Beibei. The handsome boy carried an aura of impishness. She smiled at him and encouraged him. ¡°Good luck.¡± Chapter 1553. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Six) ¡°Sister, I realized that you resemble a person!¡± Beibei blurted as he stared at Su Yue¡¯s face. It was as if he had just made a huge discovery. Su Yue was startled. Wang Yuexiang hastily tugged at Beibei¡¯s arm and sternly warned, ¡°Don¡¯t you spew nonsense!¡± She pulled Beibei behind her as she eyed him fiercely. She was so worried that he might offend Su Yue. Beibei pressed on, ¡°My daddy¡¯s wallet has a photo. You look like the pretty stepmother in the photo.¡± ¡®The pretty stepmother in the photo?¡¯ Puzzled, Su Yue blinked her eyes. What was he blabbering about? Wang Yuexiang certainly knew what Beibei was referring to. She hurried to explain, ¡°This boy is really¡­ Yueyue, don¡¯t be mad.¡± Actually, she was rejoicing quietly in her heart. A photo in his wallet¡­ Su Yue began to comprehend and she became emotional. Concealing her feelings, she smiled at Beibei. ¡°You must have got the wrong person.¡± She sounded nonchalant. ¡°It is definitely you. I¡¯m right,¡± Beibei said with determination in his voice, and he darted forward. After flashing a roguish wink, he said, ¡°Are you really going to be my stepmother?¡± Wang Yuexiang immediately pulled Beibei away from Su Yue before knocking his head. ¡°You naughty boy! What nonsense are you saying? I¡¯m going to cane you at home!¡± Beibei rubbed his head as he frowned at Wang Yuexiang. ¡°Grandmother, Daddy was glum and sulky the entire day as though the entire world owed him money. I went to search online and the results state that he is an overbearing president who has abstained himself from desires. He needs to find a stepmother to lift this ban.¡± Were all children these days¡­ this mature? And he even went online to search. What overbearing president who has abstained himself from desires? And lifting his ban¡­ The corners of Su Yue¡¯s mouth twitched. Wang Yuexiang was really awkward now. ¡°Beibei! What are you talking about?¡± Abstaining from desires¡­ This sounded so vulgar. She pulled Beibei and profusely apologized to Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, sorry. Please don¡¯t mind him. I have spoiled him and now he is used to speaking his mind.¡± Su Yue pressed his lips and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get going.¡± ¡°Wait, Grandmother.¡± Wang Yuexiang had already dragged Beibei away, but he refused to give up. He yelled, ¡°Sister, consider what I¡¯ve said! My dad seems to like you very much. That photo had been in his wallet for years.¡± This wretched boy. He wasn¡¯t even ten years old. How could he remember so clearly? Su Yue watched as the two figures got further away. The expression in her eyes turned somber and her smile disappeared. But¡­ But why weren¡¯t they together? Meiduo was his first love and she even bore him a son. Everything fell in place, but why didn¡¯t they get together? However, none of this mattered to her now. Su Yue shook her head to dispel these thoughts. She raised her head towards the sky. The sunlight was blinding her eyes. ¡­ Su Yue returned home. Yan Wenxin and Su Xiaojiao were watching cartoons on the TV. Su Yue could hear Su Xiaojiao¡¯s laughter when she opened the door. She put on her slippers and strode eagerly to the living room. ¡°Xiaojiao!¡± Su Xiaojiao sat up and straightened her back. She jumped off the couch and ran towards Su Xiaojiao. ¡°Mommy!¡± She hasn¡¯t seen her mommy for the entire day and she missed her badly. She hugged her leg tightly. Chapter 1554. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Seven) Su Yue bent her back to lift Xiaojiao. She kissed her cheek and asked, ¡°Were you a good girl today? Did you listen to grandmother?¡± Su Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°I did. Xiaojiao is a good girl.¡± ¡°Good girl, Xiaojiao.¡± Su Yue kissed her once more. She placed her back on the couch once more. ¡°Mommy, I miss Daddy,¡± suddenly said Su Xiaojiao. She raised her head to look at Su Yue, and her eyes seemed to glisten. Su Yue gently stroked her hair and said, ¡°Daddy is coming back soon. Be good alright?¡± She gazed at Su Xiaojiao quietly for some time. Xiaojiao was close to Jiao Chen, even more than her. Jiao Chen likes to read a book at the balcony on weekends, but the girl would pester him by climbing on top of him. She would lie on his chest to stop him from reading. That was how she took her afternoon nap¡ªJiao Chen would rock her in the rocking chair. They would bask in the warm sunlight as the girl gradually doze off. Jiao Chen would always keep his arm around the girl for fear that she might fall off the chair. He doted on her. Every time Su Yue saw him doing that, she would feel blissful and grateful. She couldn¡¯t thank Jiao Chen enough in this lifetime. He was so forgiving, gracious, protective, and understanding towards her. She always wondered why would there be such a kind and a perfect person on Earth? He had no flaws at all; he was simply perfect. Sometimes she would blame herself for keeping him by her side. He was so wonderful and he deserved a better woman. But he chose to stay by her, without asking for anything in return¡ªjust like a fool. Gradually, they got so used to each other and the peaceful life they led in Country M. They were happy. So, she couldn¡¯t understand why he chose to return. He had already applied for S University. He could work and take his Ph.D. at the same time. ¡°Yueyue. You¡¯re home?¡± Mu Li came down the stairs and waved at her. Su Yue glanced at Mu Li and smiled. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Your third sister-in-law should be back home soon,¡± Mu Li said before she entered the dining room. Su Yue glanced at Su Xiaojiao and Yan Wenxin once more. She didn¡¯t respond as she strode to the stairs. She changed her clothes and washed her face. Her room remained the same, just like four years ago. Su Yue¡¯s eyes darted around. She sat on the edge of the bed and picked up a photo with her and Xuxu on it. She smiled to herself as she looked at it. She wiped the dust off the photo and placed it back. She opened a drawer and a blue box caught her eye. ¡®Su Yue, happy birthday! Hope you don¡¯t mind this small present.¡¯ A girl who was once her best friend came to mind. She was just like her who once felt small and ostracized. She had often thought of her in these four years. She even thought of visiting her. But she felt that they had broken their friendship. Even if they put the past behind them, things would never be the same. So as long as she was leading a good life, it didn¡¯t matter if they didn¡¯t keep in touch. Chapter 1555. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Eight) Su Yue opened the blue box and looked back on those memories. Bai Jing made a bracelet for her using red threads. She took out the bracelet and placed it on her slender wrist. Her wrist was as fair as porcelain, and so she looked good in all colors. Su Yue leaned against the bed frame after she wore it. She smiled to herself. ¡°Yueyue?¡± Xuxu¡¯s voice sounded. Without waiting for Su Yue to answer, Xuxu opened the door. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue smiled at Xuxu. Xuxu was wearing a dark red, low cut dress that enveloped her shapely figure. Her waist-long hair complimented her outfit and it made her look extremely womanly. She sat down next to Su Yue. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her eyes darted to Su Yue¡¯s wrist and she saw her bracelet. ¡°I saw this bracelet before when I came in to tidy the room for you. I thought of throwing it, but I kept it in the drawer instead.¡± Xuxu thought that it didn¡¯t seem like something valuable to Su Yue since she didn¡¯t bring it along with her, so it probably wasn¡¯t something important. Su Yue hung her head and uttered, ¡°Bai Jing gave this to me as my birthday present.¡± Xuxu was dumbfounded when she heard her. ¡°Bai Jing gave this to you?¡± She closely studied Su Yue¡¯s expression. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yeah, when I turned 18. She made this herself and I really think that it was very nice.¡± She raised her head and glanced at her wrist. ¡°It still looks nice now. Since we won¡¯t be seeing each other, I shall keep it as a souvenir.¡± She twisted her wrist to have a better look. There were sorrow and longing in her eyes. Xuxu tightly clenched her fists and hatred flashed across her eyes, but she remained calm as her heart silently ached for Su Yue. She glanced at Su Yue with a thoughtful expression. ¡°Yueyue, I hear that Ming Ansheng took Xiaojiao away.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Su Yue responded without looking at Xuxu. Xuxu pressed her lips, looking conflicted and hesitant. Finally, she made up her mind as she glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather didn¡¯t orchestrate that accident.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the mention of the car accident. She grabbed Xuxu¡¯s arms and spluttered, ¡°Third sister-in-law, how did you know?!¡± That accident almost killed Jiaojiao, and she still had recurring nightmares of Jiaojiao lying in a pool of blood. Xuxu answered, ¡°The police investigated and concluded that it wasn¡¯t Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather.¡± It wasn¡¯t Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather? Su Yue tightened her grip on Xuxu¡¯s arms. She was shaking in suspense. ¡°Who was it?¡± Who wanted to kill her? Xuxu winced from the pain, and she frowned. But she still managed a smile and said, ¡°It is a woman who was secretly in love with your third brother for a long time.¡± She paused and pondered for a moment. ¡°You know how attractive your third brother is, and he charms women so easily. Even until now, there are still throngs of women throwing themselves at him. But his vicious tongue has offended plenty as well.¡± Su Yue was peering at her, looking confused. Xuxu understood why she was confused. So she added, ¡°That woman knew that we dote on you very much. And she found out that Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather disapproved of you. So, she decided to take revenge and then push the blame to Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather.¡± Chapter 1556. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Nine) Su Yue relinquished her grip and stammered, ¡°Is¡­ is it really true?¡± It wasn¡¯t Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather? It really¡­ wasn¡¯t him? Since it came from Xuxu, it was of no doubt that it was the truth. However, she just couldn¡¯t accept it as of the moment, and she refused to. Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather passed away because her accusations aggravated him. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not him.¡± Xuxu took a deep breath as though she was feeling suffocated. When Xuxu thought of how Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather passed away, she immediately and earnestly looked at Su Yue. ¡°That old man had heart problems and he was very weak. So don¡¯t blame yourself.¡± ¡°Does that mean¡­¡± Su Yue was still in a trance. She was wrong? How could she not blame herself? Her rashness had killed his grandfather. It was the loss of a life that was more important than their relationship. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Xuxu gently tapped Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Ming Ansheng never blamed you for his grandfather¡¯s death. If he did, he wouldn¡¯t continue to be so close with your third brother.¡± When lovers are forced to break up, it was one of the saddest things that could happen. There was no need for them to turn into enemies. If hate arose, it would be too cruel for both of them. She couldn¡¯t bear to see it. Su Yue pressed her lips and replied, ¡°I got it.¡± She hung her head, feeling conflicted. ¡°This bracelet does indeed have its sentimental value.¡± Xuxu extended her hand and removed the bracelet from Su Yue¡¯s wrist. She peered at it closely. She picked up the blue box and placed the bracelet back before closing the lid. She said, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t look good on you and it looks a little old-fashioned. Jiao Chen will disapprove.¡± Su Yue felt a rush of warmth at the mention of Jiao Chen¡¯s name. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Now you feel better, right?¡± Xuxu hurriedly diverted her attention when she saw Su Yue¡¯s smile. ¡°Your third brother said I look good in anything but he always criticizes my choice of outfits.¡± Su Yue chuckled. ¡°Is Third Brother still a man?¡± Xuxu prodded Su Yue¡¯s head. ¡°If he hears you, he will give you a good beating.¡± How dare she said that her husband wasn¡¯t a man? However, she did occasionally share the same sentiments¡­ But she had never voiced it out. The consequences would be disastrous. Su Yue snorted coldly and continued to reprimand Yan Rusheng. ¡°He is not a man. He is so petty and he is so mean. And he is as proud as a peacock.¡± Xuxu exploded in laughter. ¡°Indeed! Yueyue, you¡¯re so right!¡± ¡°Indeed?¡± Xuxu had barely finished her sentence when a sinister-sounding voice sounded near the door. Xuxu gulped, and she turned around warily. The towering figure entered the room with an ominous aura. He bent and surveyed her, and he looked cold and menacing. Xuxu grinned in response and sweetly said, ¡°You have sent the email?¡± She rose and stepped towards him. ¡°Xiaojiao, let me carry you.¡± Yan Rusheng was carrying Su Xiaojiao. Xuxu took Xiaojiao from Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng stuffed his hands inside his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m petty, mean, and proud?¡± Su Yue remained unruffled. ¡°Is it a crime to speak the truth?¡± Chapter 1557. Why Weren’t They Together? (part Ten) ¡°Lass, I was planning to tell you a piece of good news. But¡­¡± Yan Rusheng paused and said, ¡°Forget it.¡± He turned around and haughtily marched out. Good news? What good news? Yan Rusheng had already left the room when Su Yue rose and followed him. ¡°Third Brother! What good news?¡± Xuxu shook her head, looking amused. The lass got easily excited by a casual remark. What an innocent girl. She carried Xiaojiao and trailed slowly behind them. ¡°Third Brother, what good news?¡± Su Yue tugged at his arm and asked repeatedly. Yan Rusheng had already descended some steps while Su Yue was still at the landing. Yan Rusheng turned around and he slyly raised his eyebrows. ¡°What good news do you want to hear the most?¡± There was a long pause¡­ Su Yue let go of his arms, and she pursed her lips. ¡°Liar,¡± said Su Yue with a sneer. Suddenly, Xiaojiao¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Jerk!¡± Her sweet voice carried a hint of anger. ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuxu burst into laughter as she glanced at Yan Rusheng. She was waiting for him to react. Yan Rusheng glanced at Su Xiaojing. ¡°Annoying.¡± Both she and her mother were equally annoying. He turned around and continued to go down the stairs. He looked cool with both hands in his pockets. ¡°He is too despicable! How could he lie?¡± Su Yue vented her frustrations and hissed angrily at Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. Then she turned around to look at Xuxu. ¡°Mommy, carry.¡± Xiaojiao extended her arms towards Su Yue. Su Yue cast her a glance and said, ¡°Walk on your own.¡± Su Xiaojiao whined. ¡°Mommy is bad.¡± She immediately changed her mind and clung onto Xuxu¡¯s neck. She shouldn¡¯t insist on her way, but at least she still had someone to carry her. ¡­ Because of jet lag, Su Xiaojiao slept during the daytime. She couldn¡¯t fall asleep at night. After a long day, Su Yue felt exhausted and yet the girl kept pestering her. As a result, she couldn¡¯t rest properly. The girl kept nudging her. ¡°Mommy, I want a story.¡± Su Yue thought that the girl¡¯s toys would keep her occupied, but she had barely closed her eyes when the girl pestered her again. She squinted her eyes and pushed Xiaojiao. ¡°Be a good girl. Mommy is so tired. Can you let me sleep?¡± She was so sleepy that her eyes were about to a close. The girl hugged her and refused to budge. ¡°I want little mermaid.¡± Su Yue gently patted her on her hand and said, ¡°Wait for Daddy to tell you the story.¡± It was the story that Jiao Chen often read her, and the girl only wanted him to read the story for her every night. Su Xiaojiao was furious when her mommy rejected her. She pouted and whined. ¡°Lying Uncle told me the story.¡± Su Yue widened her eyes. ¡°Who is this ¡® Lying Uncle¡¯ ?¡± Lying Uncle. The first person who came to mind¡­ Ming Ansheng. ¡°Lying Uncle told Xiaojiao the story.¡± Su Xiaojiao turned her back against Su Yue. ¡°Mommy is bad.¡± Other than Ming Ansheng, there wasn¡¯t anyone else. So, Ming Ansheng even told her a story after he brought her back home? And this girl seemed to have enjoyed the story. In the past, she only allowed Jiao Chen to tell her stories. Su Yue sat there in a daze. She lifted Xiaojiao and placed her on her lap. She patted her and said, ¡°Baby Xiaojiao, be good.¡± Chapter 1558. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part One) Su Yue softly patted Xiaojiao¡¯s chest. How did the two of them¡­ interact last night? He even told her a story! Subconsciously, Su Yue started to visualize the scene where Xiaojiao was lying on the couch with Ming Ansheng beside her¡­ No! Su Yue snapped to her senses. She hit her head to prevent her imagination from running wild. Xiaojiao¡¯s daddy is Jiao Chen! Su Yue held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand. The girl began to feel sleepy as she stared at the ceiling. She blinked her eyes several times. Soon enough, she fell asleep. It was a hectic period for the company. Yan Rusheng suggested bringing Xuxu for their honeymoon trip, but Xuxu insisted on postponing. Both of them went back to work two days later after their wedding. The President of Flourish & Prosper recently held his wedding, so the atmosphere was delightful and festive in the company. Every employee received a red packet and wedding candies. Wen Xuxu, the lady boss, used her own money to sponsor the red packets. After giving out the red packets and wedding candies, Xuxu returned to the office. Yan Rusheng was already buried in a mountain of documents. Xuxu strode towards him and pity was all over her face. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what should I do?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his head, looking confused. ¡°Huh?¡± Xuxu took out her purse and miserably said, ¡°My bank account is wiped out.¡± Young Master Yan peered at the woman who was pursing her lips and snorted coldly. ¡°Stupid woman. You¡¯re really generous, aren¡¯t you?¡± Xuxu already predicted that he would mock her. So, she wiped off the expression on her face and smugly raised her chin. ¡°It¡¯s alright since my husband is rich.¡± Her boasts¡­ were like honey that was smeared on Young Master Yan¡¯s heart. He curled his lips in satisfaction. Then he spoke softly in a drawl, ¡°I really envy you for landing such a wonderful husband. He is good-looking and rich¡­¡± Yan Rusheng deliberately paused, and he cracked a sly smile after. ¡°He has good stamina, too. How did you manage to find such a man?¡± He raised his eyebrows with a roguish grin. Xuxu was itching to wipe off that slyness from him. He could always talk about inappropriate stuff all the time. Xuxu didn¡¯t intend to respond to his remarks. ¡°I¡¯m getting back to work.¡± She turned around on her heel and left. Yan Rusheng offered her a new office, but she preferred her old desk. She still liked her old desk. It was because she could immediately glance over to the spot where Grandmother would sit every time she came by the office. ¡°Did you find money? You look so happy.¡± Su Yan entered the President¡¯s office and saw Xuxu with a bright smile. He had a red folder in his hand while he stuffed the other hand in his pocket. Xuxu wiped off the smile off her face when she heard Su Yan. ¡°Are you here to look for Yan Rusheng?¡± ¡°I need him to sign a document,¡± Su Yan replied as he lifted the document. Xuxu nodded, and Su Yan silently swept past her. Suddenly, Xuxu was reminded of something. She turned to Su Yan. ¡°Su Yan, I remembered something.¡± Su Yan turned to peer at her. ¡°A few days ago¡­¡± Xuxu hesitated for a moment. ¡°I heard from a friend that he saw Xin Yanting at Bliss Square in N City.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Su Yan replied lightly. Chapter 1559. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Two) Su Yan maintained a stoic expression, and there were hardly any visible changes in his emotions. Xuxu bit her lip and contemplated carefully. ¡°You¡­ didn¡¯t keep in contact with her?¡± Su Yan chuckled. ¡°Xuxu, when did you start to gossip?¡± But he wasn¡¯t irritated with her. Xuxu grinned. ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t keep in contact. It wasn¡¯t necessary.¡± Su Yan¡¯s calm voice echoed behind of Xuxu. He sounded so unconcerned and cold. It was as though that person didn¡¯t matter at all. Xuxu sat down on her chair and stared into space. She sighed helplessly. Although Xin Yanting may come across as a pampered, annoying, and overbearing woman, she wasn¡¯t a bad person. In fact, she was very kind. Sometimes, Xuxu pitied her from a personal perspective. But their companies were both rivals. So, how could they separate their relationship with work? Besides, love and relationships are complex things. No one could force someone else to love a person. Of all people, Su Yan was the type of man who had high expectations towards love and marriage. A free-spirited and opinionated man like him wouldn¡¯t pity a woman he didn¡¯t love or admire. ¡°Aunt.¡± A cute and sweet voice drew Xuxu back to reality. She smiled and waved at Xiaojiao. Su Xiaojiao wore a light blue dress with a pink jacket over it. Her hair was tied in two ponytails, and she was staring at Xuxu with a pair of dewy-looking eyes. She looked like a little elf who had just escaped from a magical realm. She was so radiant and sprightly. Xuxu spread her arms and carried Xiaojiao. Su Yue trailed in after her. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Why did you come today?¡± Xuxu asked as she pinched Xiaojiao¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Didn¡¯t you play with the rest of them?¡± Xiaojiao nodded and replied, ¡°I give my doll a dress.¡± Su Yue smiled and replied, ¡°Xiaojiao was bored at home so I brought her out. But we didn¡¯t have any other places to go.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s office door swung open at that moment. Su Yan walked out of the office. ¡°Brother.¡± Su Yue waved to Su Yan before she glanced at Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, call Uncle.¡± ¡°Uncle,¡± said Su Xiaojiao sweetly. Su Yan flashed a bright and affectionate smile as he stretched his hands to carry Xiaojiao. He lifted her effortlessly with a hand. ¡°Shall we go to my place with Mommy tonight?¡± He kissed Xiaojiao on her cheek. Xiaojiao agreed readily. ¡°Okay!¡± Su Yue saw how quickly Xiaojiao replied and decided to tease her. ¡°Then Xiaojiao will go with Uncle to his house. I will go to Aunt¡¯s house. Is that alright?¡± Su Xiaojiao shook her head profusely. ¡°No! Not okay!¡± She stretched her hands frantically to Su Yue. However, Su Yan refused to let her go. ¡°Go with me to my office.¡± Immediately, he bounded for the door of the main lobby. Su Yue didn¡¯t follow, but her eyes trailed after them. After they left, she said to Xuxu, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go for your honeymoon with Third Brother?¡± Xuxu chuckled and replied, ¡°We have been together for so many years. We don¡¯t need a honeymoon.¡± Chapter 1560. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Three) Xuxu sat down again. Su Yue followed Xuxu and leaned against her desk. She lightly teased, ¡°Despite being together for so many years, both of you still seem to be a couple who had just started dating.¡± Xuxu became a little bashful. ¡°Little lass, you¡¯ve learned bad things.¡± She blushed crimson. Su Yue pouted. ¡°Third Brother must have adored your bashfulness.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu. Xuxu really wanted to say, ¡®You are beginning to resemble your Third Brother in some areas.¡¯ ¡°I need to look for Xiaojiao. If she throws a tantrum, I think my brother wouldn¡¯t be able to work in peace.¡± Su Yue straightened her back and strode towards the door. Xuxu quietly watched her as she fell into a deep reverie. The smile on her face vanished. Her heart sank like an anchor. ¡®God, why are you so unfair?¡¯ Xuxu thought to herself. ¡­ Su Yue reached Su Yan¡¯s office, and she pushed the door open. Su Yan was standing by the windows, and he was talking on the phone. For fear of disrupting him, Su Yue didn¡¯t make a sound. ¡°I want to come back on the 7th.¡± Su Yan instructed the person over the phone. ¡°Yeah. If you can¡¯t get the return tickets, then cancel the tickets.¡± He hung up and turned around. Upon seeing Su Yue, he was slightly startled. ¡°The lass seems tired. I placed her on the couch and she fell asleep right away,¡± said Su Yan with a smile. He pointed at Xiaojiao who was fast asleep. Su Yue replied, ¡°It¡¯s jet lag. She didn¡¯t sleep much last night.¡± She continued, ¡°Brother, are you traveling again?¡± Su Yan¡¯s eyes flickered, and he nodded. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yue paused and she casually asked, ¡°Where are you going to?¡± Su Yan replied, ¡°Country M.¡± ¡°Oh, Country M?¡± said Su Yue with a bright smile. ¡°If you¡¯re coming back on the 7th, you can come back with Jiaojiao. He is planning to come back soon.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can arrange it.¡± Su Yan changed the topic. ¡°Did you manage to tidy the place yesterday?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you arrange everything for me? I merely brought my suitcases there.¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together tonight.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Su Yue agreed, and she added, ¡°I¡¯ll take a nap on the couch, too. I didn¡¯t sleep much yesterday You carry on with your work.¡± Su Yan nodded. The siblings didn¡¯t talk too much afterward. Su Xiaojiao and Su Yue stayed at Flourish & Prosper until it was evening. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu didn¡¯t tag along, so Su Yue and Su Yan left with Xiaojiao. They went to a Chinese restaurant in the vicinity. Su Yan had reserved a table to avoid queuing up. The seats were by the window. Su Yue sat across Su Yan at the table. He ordered several dishes. To kill time while waiting, Xiaojiao watched cartoons on Su Yue¡¯s phone. They were watching the cartoons when Su Yue received an incoming call. Jiaojiao was on the other line. Su Yue heard the girl clapping and exclaiming excitedly, ¡°Daddy! Daddy!¡± As though she hasn¡¯t heard from her father in years. Su Yue extended her hand to stroke her hair. She answered the call. ¡°Why are you calling again?¡± Jiao Chen chuckled. ¡°Are you getting annoyed?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Yeah, so annoying.¡± Chapter 1561. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Four) ¡°No! Not annoying!¡± Su Xiaojiao was getting anxious. She missed her daddy so much and yet mommy complained about him being annoying. Su Yue refused to pass the phone to her so she tried to snatch it away. ¡°Su Xiaojiao can¡¯t wait to talk to you.¡± Su Yue finally passed the phone to Xiaojiao. It amused her how happy the little girl was. ¡°Little ingrate.¡± ¡°Daddy! I miss you!¡± shouted Su Xiaojiao immediately. Su Yue couldn¡¯t hear what Jiao Chen had told Xiaojiao. But the girl furiously shook her head and said, ¡°I miss you. Mommy doesn¡¯t miss you.¡± This little lass! Su Yue frowned. ¡°Su Xiaojiao! How did you know that I don¡¯t miss Daddy?¡± ¡°Then do you?¡± The man raised his voice over the phone. Obviously, he wasn¡¯t asking Su Xiaojiao but Su Yue. Unconsciously, she cast a glance at Su Yan. Su Yan was looking at her. Her face turned scarlet. Su Yan smirked to himself and averted his eyes. Su Yue still felt bashful and awkward. She took the phone from Xiaojiao and said, ¡°Mommy needs to talk to Daddy.¡± She stood up and walked to the entrance with the phone against her ear. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± asked Su Yue. The familiar gentle voice sounded once more. ¡°Su Yue, did you miss me?¡± Excitement was clear from his voice. Without hesitation, Su Yue replied, ¡°I miss you.¡± He saved her life and spent four years with her. How could she not miss this man? ¡°I¡­ miss you too,¡± said Jiao Chen in a constricted and slightly hoarse voice. Nobody knew how hard he was trying to suppress his emotions. Nor the sweet nothings he wanted to say to her. Su Yue bowed her head as she walked out of the restaurant. Her face was burning, but the cool breeze felt comfortable on her skin. She asked, ¡°When will you be back?¡± ¡°Susu.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s voice gave Su Yue the illusion that he was just around her. Instinctively, she raised her head. And as though he had just teleported, the towering figure was standing a short distance in front of her. She was visibly shocked. ¡°You¡­¡± It was dusk and red clouds had strewed the skies. The fading reddish light illuminated the tall and slim man. The man still looked so gorgeous, and his smile was warm. He wore a white T-shirt with jeans, and he looked just like any other ordinary guy. Su Yue had no idea why her eyes were welling up with tears at that moment. She didn¡¯t hang up, and in a choked voice, she said, ¡°You¡¯re so horrible.¡± The man grinned and he whispered, ¡°Overjoyed?¡± Su Yue inhaled deeply and nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m overjoyed.¡± She hung up and strode quickly towards him. They were gazing at each other, waiting to reunite. They both chose to stop before each other, and didn¡¯t embrace each other, like what the TV characters did. ¡°When did you arrive?¡± Su Yue gripped her phone as she asked Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen replied, ¡°I came here after I landed.¡± He stretched his hand and held Su Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, let¡¯s go back inside.¡± ¡°Daddy! Mommy!¡± Su Xiaojiao saw Jiao Chen from the windows, and that made her feel ecstatic. She banged the windows, looking excited. Chapter 1562. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Five) Su Yan, who was sitting across witnessed the entire scene. He shook his head in amusement. But gradually, his smile became oddly twisted while his expression turned grave and solemn. ¡°Daddy!¡± Su Yue and Jiao Chen returned to the table, and Su Xiaojiao squealed in delight. She dove right into Jiao Chen¡¯s embrace and hugged him tightly and showered him kisses. She was like an octopus clinging onto him. Jiaojiao carried Xiaojiao and hugged her tightly. He loved this little girl so much. His eyes were flooded with affection as he watched Xiaojiao¡¯s face. ¡°Xiaojiao, did you miss me?¡± Su Xiaojiao nodded her head fervently. As though she was trying to convey how much she missed him. Jiao Chen gave the girl a peck on her cheek. ¡°I miss you so much.¡± ¡°Did you miss Mommy?¡± Su Xiaojiao blinked her innocent-looking eyes as she gazed at Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen briefly pondered before replying in a hushed voice, ¡°A little. But I miss Xiaojiao more.¡± ¡°Good Daddy.¡± Su Xiaojiao kissed him once more. His answer satisfied her. Su Yue interrupted the father and daughter pair who only had eyes for each other at the moment. ¡°Do you still want to eat?¡± ¡°Mommy is jealous.¡± Su Xiaojiao covered her mouth and sniggered. Jiao Chen was rather surprised. He wasn¡¯t surprised that Xiaojiao had assumed Su Yue was jealous, but the words she used. Su Yue knew why Jiao Chen was surprised. ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t know how mature and smart children are these days. They can even portray TV characters.¡± Jiao Chen chuckled in response. Su Yan and Jiao Chen didn¡¯t talk much. Hence, throughout the dinner, Su Yue and Xiaojiao were the only ones talking. After dinner, Su Yue and Jiao Chen left with Xiaojiao first. Jiao Chen placed Xiaojiao on his shoulders, and the girl was giggling. Su Yan was watching this happy family through the glass windows. A plethora of emotions were whirling in his eyes as he became somber. Xiaojiao sat on Jiao Chen¡¯s shoulders for a while before Jiao Chen swung her around in circles. The girl was laughing so happily. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yan stepped out of the entrance and asked, ¡°Are you all going home?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take a walk?¡± Su Yue glanced at Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen agreed with a nod. She turned to Su Yan. ¡°Brother, do you want to join us?¡± Su Yan declined. ¡°I have work to do.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°You¡¯re always busy with work. When can you get me a sister-in-law?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about trivial stuff like this.¡± Su Yan prodded Su Yue¡¯s head and said, ¡°Where do you want to go? I¡¯ll send you.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°We¡¯ll take a cab later. I want to take a stroll first.¡± She stretched her hands to carry Xiaojiao. ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°Then go back and rest early later.¡± He took out his car keys as he strode towards his car. When he walked past Jiao Chen, he cast him a long thoughtful glance. Su Yue pursed her lips as she stared at her brother. ¡°He will be 28 soon, and yet he doesn¡¯t even have a girlfriend.¡± Jiao Chen smiled when he heard her. ¡­ ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s go back.¡± After taking a stroll with Xiaojiao, Su Xiaojiao glanced at her watch. Chapter 1563. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Six) Jiao Chen nodded quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s go to¡­¡± Su Yue peered at Jiao Chen. ¡°My brother¡¯s apartment. There are too many people at home.¡± She bowed her head to hide her blushing face. Jiao Chen didn¡¯t say a word. Both of them continued walking and neither of them spoke. Su Yue stole a glance at Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen was looking ahead, looking a little pensive. Su Xiaojiao was on his back and she was quiet too. When they got home, Su Xiaojiao became energetic once more. Jiao Chen placed her down and she began to whine that she wanted to watch cartoons. Su Yue sat down beside her while Jiao Chen went to take a shower. The little girl was wide awake, but Su Yue was about to doze off. ¡°Go take a shower with Xiaojiao. Then rest early.¡± Jiao Chen came out of the bathroom as he rubbed his hair with a towel. He walked towards the guest room. Su Yue pressed her lips and muttered after some time. ¡°Daddy and Mommy sleep together.¡± Jiao Chen was about to push the door open when Su Xiaojiao shouted. His footsteps and hands stopped at the same time, and then he glanced at Su Xiaojiao. Su Yue¡¯s eyes darted to her as well. Su Xiaojiao continued, ¡°Sleep together. Then get married.¡± Sister Wenxin said that Mommy and Daddy will only get married if they sleep together. So they have to sleep together. She wanted Mommy to be a beautiful bride, too. There was a long pause¡­ Su Yue¡¯s face turned crimson, and she stared at Su Xiaojiao in exasperation. Xiaojiao¡¯s remark stunned Jiao Chen as well. He smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s too cramped for you.¡± ¡°Daddy and Mommy sleep together!¡± Su Xiaojiao flapped her arms as she threw a tantrum. Other children¡¯s daddy and mommy slept together. But why didn¡¯t her mommy and daddy sleep together? ¡°Okay, alright.¡± Su Yue placed her hands on Xiaojiao¡¯s shoulders to calm her down. She glanced at Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± She was also perplexed. It had been four years, yet Jiao Chen initiated no kind of intimacy with her. If he didn¡¯t take the initiative, how could she ask him? Jiao Chen was looking slightly pale earlier on, but he was blushing right now. ¡°You¡­ get her to shower.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart tightened, and she became nervous for no reason. She inhaled deeply before replying, ¡°Okay.¡± After Xiaojiao had showered, she put her into bed. Jiao Chen was reading a book in the living room. Su Yue had helped Xiaojiao to change into her pajamas, after which she opened the door to call Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao, can you be with her? I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± It sounded perfectly normal but she felt that it sounded ambiguously intimate. Her cheeks were burning once more. Su Yue didn¡¯t wait for Jiao Chen to respond, and so she fled to the bathroom. Her pajamas were all relatively conservative. She chose one which was slightly more revealing. It was a red sleeveless top with a pair of shorts. It was revealing¡­ because it was a sleeveless one. Even the collar was V-shaped. After a shower, Su Yue stood before the basin as she dried her hair with a hairdryer. Her heart was beating restlessly. She had no idea why she was so nervous. But she knew that it wasn¡¯t because of anticipation. Neither was she rejecting him. She wasn¡¯t opposed to the idea of being with Jiao Chen¡­ although she wasn¡¯t deeply in love with him. But she had made up her mind to be with him for the rest of her life. So, there were certain things that she would have to experience. Chapter 1564. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Seven) ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s voice sounded from outside the room. It had flustered Su Yue, and she hastily responded, ¡°Mommy is coming out soon! Xiaojiao, go to your bed first.¡± But Xiaojiao didn¡¯t listen and simply continued calling her. Su Yue switched off the hairdryer since her hair was almost dry. She then ruffled her hair. After that, she walked to the door. The girl was standing outside, staring at her with her huge innocent eyes. She was wearing pink polka dots pajamas that complimented her fair skin. Her hair was untied and her curls were messy. She looked exceedingly adorable. Su Yue was originally wearing a frown. But when she saw her daughter, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. As she lifted the little girl, she changed her mind about her chiding her. ¡°Time to sleep.¡± Su Yue pretended to be unruffled. She carried Xiaojiao to her bed. Jiao Chen was lying on the edge of the bed with a financial magazine in his hands. He placed the magazine down when he saw Xiaojiao. He rose and carried Xiaojiao. ¡°I will tell you a story.¡± Jiao Chen placed Xiaojiao on the bed before lying down next to her. He was gazing at her with a tender expression. Xiaojiao nodded excitedly. It had been a long time since she waited for a story. Su Yue folded her arms as she walked to the other side of the bed. Su Xiaojiao was intending to listen to the story. But she frowned when she saw Su Yue sitting so far from Jiao Chen. She sat up and crawled towards Su Yue. She pulled Su Yue¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Mommy and Daddy sleep together.¡± Su Yue felt awkward and she said, ¡°Xiaojiao, listen to the story first.¡± Even if¡­ they were to sleep together, they wouldn¡¯t let her witness it. Su Xiaojiao shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want the story.¡± What a thoughtful and sensible child! Su Yue frowned. ¡°Listen to the story.¡± This girl was merely 3 years old. Why was she so smart? And besides, doesn¡¯t she love listening to her daddy telling her stories? ¡°I don¡¯t want.¡± Su Xiaojiao was adamant and she laid down on her bed. She covered her ears and repeated, ¡°Mommy and Daddy sleep together.¡± The same sentence again. Even a fool would know that she had heard this from the rest of the children. So, that was why she insisted for Su Yue to sleep with Jiao Chen. She had no choice but to oblige since the girl seemed to recite scripture. Su Yue and Jiao Chen were both blushing hard. ¡°Then¡­ you¡­¡± Su Yue realized that she was sitting on the edge of the bed. So, she changed her mind and climbed over to the other side. Her heart was racing. Her back was against Jiao Chen while she faced Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao blinked at her and blurted, ¡°Mommy, I want a brother.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ She reckoned that she could fry an egg on her face at that moment. She frowned. How she wished she could seal the girl¡¯s mouth. When Su Yue didn¡¯t reply, Xiaojiao repeated once more. ¡°I want a brother.¡± It exasperated Su Yue. She gritted her teeth. ¡°Hurry up and sleep. Stop talking.¡± ¡°Xiaojiao won¡¯t talk.¡± Su Xiaojiao covered her mouth and shut her eyes. After the girl closed her eyes, she fell asleep in no time. When she heard her rhythmic breathing and saw her pouty mouth, Su Yue gave her a gentle peck on her cheek. Chapter 1565. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Eight) Su Yue¡¯s hands were cold, clammy, and sweaty. The man behind her was motionless. She didn¡¯t dare to move nor to turn her head. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep, goodnight.¡± Suddenly, Jiao Chen flung the blanket away. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Su Yue garnered all her courage and tightly embraced Jiao Chen. Su Yue sensed that Jiao Chen froze on the spot. Her heart was thumping violently against her chest. With every ounce of determination, she shut her eyes and blurted, ¡°Jiaojiao, let¡¯s be together and get married.¡± How embarrassing! How could she, a girl, propose to a man? ¡°Susu.¡± Su Yue only heard his hoarse voice calling her, but in the next moment, he had sealed her lips with his. She closed her eyes and was too embarrassed to look at him. She placed her hands stiffly on his back, unsure of what to do. Her body was slightly trembling. The man was kissing her passionately and fiercely, but Su Yue could still feel his gentleness. Although she wasn¡¯t looking forward to being intimate with him, she wasn¡¯t entirely against the idea. They lived together for four years and under the same roof. He had used his life to save her, and he risked losing it. She spent countless nights taking care of him, and that warranted that they should be very intimate and close. It was normal for them to be kissing¡­ Jiao Chen¡¯s hands caressed Su Yue¡¯s back as his kisses traveled to her neck. His breathing became hurried and deeper. Su Yue was trying to hold her breath as she kept her eyes closed all this time. She could feel a part of Jiao Chen¡¯s body changing, and she bit her lips. ¡°Susu,¡± Jiao Chen called Su Yue¡¯s name in a gentle tone. Su Yue didn¡¯t reply. Instead, she moved her hands from his back to his neck. The moment her soft hands touched Jiao Chen¡¯s skin, he felt as though he was about to explode. His kisses intensified. ¡®Jiao, your cranial nerves are being compressed, and they are slowly dying.¡¯ ¡®The success rate of the surgery is less than five percent¡­¡¯ Jiao Chen halted, and then he raised his head. He gazed at Su Yue with red and glistening eyes. Su Yue¡¯s eyelids fluttered as she gazed back at the man. Her heart tightened when she saw his face. Jiao Chen¡¯s face was glazed with perspiration, but his face was sickly pale. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± She stretched her hand to wipe off the perspiration on his forehead. Jiao Chen moved his head to avoid her touch. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a shower. You sleep first.¡± He muttered that in his deep voice, but it sounded like it was quivering. He was obviously trying to suppress something deep within him. He hastily left. Su Yue blankly stared at Jiao Chen, who soon vanished out of sight. After he had closed the door, she was soon jolted back to her senses. She retracted her gaze and slowly raised her head. Her heartbeat gradually went back to normal. She heaved a sigh of relief¡­ rather unconsciously. Why? Su Yue realized that she was relieved when Jiaojiao didn¡¯t carry on. But why would she feel relieved? She recalled how Jiao Chen looked and a pang of pain stabbed her heart. But why did he always distanced himself from her? She could feel his love for her¡ªbut why? He was still recuperating for the first two years when they were abroad. But now¡­ why was he still so cold towards her? Chapter 1566. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Nine) And furthermore earlier on, his body¡­ had already reacted to that extent. She could see in his eyes how much torture he was in from holding himself back. ¡­ The man stood under the showerhead. Streams of water cascaded down his body and fought the raging fire inside of him. The moment he closed his eyes, he would start reveling in the beautiful feeling of hugging and kissing the girl he loved. So, he didn¡¯t dare to close his eyes. He let the water gush into his eyes, as though he couldn¡¯t feel the stinging pain. Because the pain was more excruciating somewhere else. Jiao Chen took a towel from the rack and placed it in his mouth and in between his teeth. He turned around and placed his clenched fists against the wall. Four years. Four years with her was enough. Because he couldn¡¯t give her a future. He couldn¡¯t take care of her for a lifetime. So, their relationship mustn¡¯t progress further. The only thing he could do for her now was to control his feelings and desire for her. ¡­ The next day, while Su Yue was sleeping, she felt a sudden weight on the bed beside her. But she was too tired, so she flipped herself over and her eyes remained shut. ¡°Daddy! Mommy!¡± She had no idea how long she continued sleeping for when suddenly she heard Xiaojiao¡¯s happy voice. Su Yue opened her eyes and was stunned. Then she blinked her eyes. The handsome face before her had a charming smile on his face. She sat up immediately and looked at Jiao Chen. She was about to ask him something when she suddenly remembered that someone came while she was sleeping. That must¡¯ve been Jiao Chen¡­ ¡°Daddy and Mommy sleep together. Marry.¡± Su Yue instantly realized why Jiao Chen was lying there. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she hugged him tightly. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± You¡¯re the best. Before Jiao Chen could react, Su Xiaojiao suddenly threw herself at them. Her chubby hands tightly wrapped around them for a hug. She happily said, ¡°Daddy and Mommy, marry.¡± Daddy and Mommy slept together. They could get married now. Mommy would be a beautiful bride. She was hugging their necks and was dancing happily. Su Yue felt ticklish. Su Yue chuckled and Su Xiaojiao followed suit. Both of them had just woken from their slumber and they looked pretty groggy, still. However, they looked adorable. Jiao Chen smiled unconsciously, but soon after, he fell into a reverie. Sorrow was in his eyes. Happiness is always short-lived. But he was fortunate enough to experience it. ¡­ Jiao Chen hadn¡¯t been back in his home country for a few years. He should¡¯ve gone home to visit his mother yesterday, but he was too excited to meet up with his beloved daughter. So, he postponed it to today. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Su Yue had prepared breakfast. Jiao Chen was braiding Su Xiaojiao¡¯s hair. ¡°Okay,¡± Jiao Chen replied. He finished up her braid and carried her up, walking towards the dining table. When all of them were seated, Su Yue said to him, ¡°I¡¯ll follow you home today.¡± Jiao Chen was elated. He nodded and agreed. Although his mother had visited them in Country M a few times over the past few years, the moment she returned home, she would ask about Yueyue every time she called. His mother would even be happier if he brought her along. Su Yue smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll bring Xiaojiao over to my second aunt¡¯s place later.¡± Jiao Chen hesitated before nodding. ¡°Okay.¡± Then he picked up the glass and took a sip. Su Yue pressed her lips as she watched him. She remained silent. Chapter 1567. You Have to Experience Certain Things (part Ten) Jiao Chen¡¯s mother was no longer working at the orphanage. She felt that it wasn¡¯t appropriate to bring Xiaojiao along to Su Yue¡¯s house because there were so many people. After breakfast, Su Yue and Jiao Chen sent Xiaojiao to the Yan¡¯s. A child only misses their mother when night falls. During the day, Su Xiaojiao didn¡¯t think of Su Yue, because she was having a fun time playing with Yan Wenxin and the rest. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Grandmother will bring you to the playground.¡± The three little fellows were creating a ruckus at home, so Mu Li and Yan Weihong brought them to the playground in the mall. Of course, the little ones were excited when they heard it. They opened the car door and fought to climb up. When they set off, Mu Li said to them, ¡°Yanyan and the others will be there, too. You guys better not fight while playing later.¡± It elated Yan Wenxin. Although she often quarreled with Second Lu, she got along well with both sisters¡ªSecond Lu and Third Lu. But Yan Nuoxing and Su Xiaojiao frowned. Especially Yan Nuoxing. In an unhappy note, he said, ¡°That annoying girl.¡± Mu Li ruffled his hair. ¡°Yangyang¡­¡± Yan Nuoxing glared at her. He pouted and complained, ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound good.¡± Mu Li immediately continued, ¡°Nuonuo, you should be more patient with girls. That¡¯s how a true gentleman behaves.¡± Yan Nuoxing agreed unwillingly. But he still found Third Lu extremely annoying. It was the holidays, so there were many kids in the playground. They were at a high-end mall in the capital city. Although it had the regular facilities, its ranking and ticketing prices were slightly higher because of the mall¡¯s prestige. Only children from wealthy families played there. It catered to kids from a wide age range. There was an exclusive zone for three to four-year-old kids like Yan Wenxin and the others. Other zones had racing car simulations, shooting simulations, and other games¡­ Since they arrived before the three Lu¡¯s, they started playing first. ¡°Yangyang¡­¡± Suddenly, a clear voice sounded from the zone entrance. Yan Nuoxing frowned. Before he could turn around, the small figure had already jumped onto him. Both of them fell to the ground and tumbled around. Yan Nuoxing was above Third Lu. He frowned and was about to explode into a rage. Suddenly, she cried out, ¡°Yangyang, keep quiet! Kiss me!¡± Mu Li was speechless. It was a trending phrase on the Internet. But where did she learn it from? ¡°Brother and Yanyan marry.¡± Su Xiaojiao suddenly ran over and chuckled when she saw Third Lu hugging Yan Nuoxing. Yan Nuoxing frowned. ¡°Annoying.¡± He hurriedly crawled off her. He stormed off to play alone. ¡°Brother, wait for me.¡± Su Xiaojiao ran after him. She didn¡¯t want to play with that domineering older sister. So the entire morning, Su Xiaojiao played with Yan Nuoxing. Although Yan Nuoxing had ordered her around, she was still very willing to play with him. ¡°Brother, pee-pee.¡± Suddenly, Su Xiaojiao felt the urge to pee. She anxiously hopped around. Yan Nuoxing replied, ¡°Go to the toilet.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She nodded and turned around, sprinting to the exit. There were many kids in this zone and were mostly around her age. Chapter 1568. What Exactly Do You Want? (part One) She sprinted out. Her short legs moved as fast as they could. When she exited the sector, she looked around. ¡°Toilet¡­ Toilet¡­¡± She kept muttering to herself. She was wearing a pink T-shirt with a heart-shaped pattern and dark pink striped leggings. She was clutching the area below her tummy with her small hands. She was afraid of peeing in her pants, so she clutched her private part. Su Xiaojiao went around, eventually ending up in the arcade zone. There were older kids everywhere, and the bright lights emitted from the screens blinded her. ¡°F*ck!¡± ¡®Slam!¡¯ Suddenly, someone beside her slammed the machine in agitation. It startled Su Xiaojiao. She looked over and saw a tall boy standing in front of a claw machine, looking very frustrated. She blinked, suddenly realizing that something was amiss. She looked downwards¡­ ¡°Pee in my pants.¡± Su Xiaojiao watched as her leggings got wet. She pouted. ¡®What to do?¡¯ ¡°Mommy, pee in my pants.¡± She turned her head and looked around, but there was no one familiar in sight. She panicked. Her leggings were drenched, and so were her shoes. It overflowed onto the floor. ¡°Mommy, look. She¡¯s peed her pants.¡± A small child walked past and sniggered. Su Xiaojiao felt embarrassed. She was a little beauty, but she had peed in her pants in front of so many people. And she was mocked. She immediately broke out in tears. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± She cried as she ran around, but she didn¡¯t know where to go. The more lost she became, the harder she cried. Her shoes were drenched and left footprints wherever she went. ¡°Little one, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The staff at the playground saw a child crying and immediately walked over. ¡°Find Mommy, pee in my pants,¡± Su Xiaojiao said, adjusting the back of her pants because the drenched leggings stuck to her body made her uncomfortable. The staff saw her drenched leggings and didn¡¯t know what to do. She patted her shoulder and continued, ¡°Where¡¯s your Mommy?¡± Su Xiaojiao sobbed and replied, ¡°To Grandma¡¯s house with Daddy.¡± That was what Su Yue had told her before she left in the morning. ¡°Your Daddy and Mommy have gone to your Grandmother¡¯s house?¡± It confused her. Then she added, ¡°Then do you know your Mommy¡¯s phone number?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± Su Xiaojiao shook her head. ¡­ Many teenagers went alone to the arcade, so only a few parents were accompanying them. Ming Ansheng entered the arcade and went straight towards the shooting simulation game machine. Wang Yuexiang had brought Beibei over to play, so he came over to fetch them. The little one was aiming carefully, a serious expression on his face. Ming Ansheng walked behind him and glanced at Wang Yuexiang, not wanting to startle Beibei. After ten shots, Wang Yuexiang patted Beibei¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Beibei, your Daddy is here. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more round, give me a while.¡± He gave them a cheeky expression and turned around. He was focused on the game. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips and remained quiet. He patiently waited for Beibei to finish the round. ¡°Mommy.¡± Suddenly, he heard a girl¡¯s cries behind him. This childish tone sounded familiar. Ming Ansheng frowned and turned his head. ¡°Su Xiaojiao?¡± Chapter 1569. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Two) ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Wang Yuexiang followed his gaze and saw the little girl crying. The staff was patiently talking to her. Confused, she asked Ming Ansheng, ¡°You know that girl?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t answer her and instead walked over to Su Xiaojiao. He couldn¡¯t confirm that it was Su Xiaojiao, but her side-view looked similar. When he saw her face, he was startled. Her eyes were red and puffy, but it was definitely Su Xiaojiao. He squatted down and placed a hand on her shoulder. He gently wiped her tears with his other hand. ¡°Su Xiaojiao, why are you here?¡± Where¡¯s your Mommy?¡± He scanned the area, but he didn¡¯t see Su Yue or any of the Yan¡¯s. He frowned. What was she doing here alone? ¡°Lying Uncle.¡± Su Xiaojiao finally saw someone she knew and hugged him tightly. She cried, ¡°Pee in my pants, find Mommy.¡± Peed in her pants? Ming Ansheng was about to carry her up, but his expression turned grave when he felt her butt. There was a long pause¡­ Wasn¡¯t she already three-years-old? Why was she still peeing herself? ¡°Sir, is this your child?¡± the staff asked as she sized him up. Was she his child? Ming Ansheng hesitated, not knowing how to reply. ¡°¡­ My friend¡¯s child.¡± The staff saw him hesitate, so she became suspicious. ¡°Can you contact her family member?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°Do I look like a liar to you?¡± F*ck. Although he wasn¡¯t always in the limelight like Yan Rusheng, he was still the President of Bright Vision, the Second Young Master of the Ming family. Just by his looks alone, he didn¡¯t look like a crook either! ¡°No, no¡­¡± She hurriedly shook her head. With a smile on her face, she explained, ¡°This little girl said that her parents have gone to visit her grandmother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ming Ansheng.¡± He didn¡¯t have the patience to hear her any longer. He carried Su Xiaojiao and stood up. Her leggings were drenched and it disgusted him. But it was mainly because she was the child that Su Yue had with ¡®another man¡¯. If it were Yan Nuoxing or Yanyan instead, he might not have this reaction. They were all children anyway. ¡°Huh?¡± The staff froze and stared at him, obviously confused. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°If you haven¡¯t heard of it, search it on the Internet. I¡¯m carrying her away.¡± Then he turned around and walked over to Wang Yuexiang. The staff was still stunned. ¡°Ming¡­ Ming Ansheng?¡± It suddenly dawned on her and she exclaimed, ¡°The President of Bright Vision, the big boss of Yifeng?¡± She opened her mouth wide in shock. ¡°Goodness! No wonder you looked familiar.¡± What did she miss? She missed the chance to be in close proximity with the most eligible bachelor in the capital city! ¡°Ansheng, whose child is this?¡± Ming Ansheng carried Su Xiaojiao to Wang Yuexiang. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Su Yue¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°You mean, Su Yue has¡­¡± Wang Yuexiang was shocked, and disappointment flashed across her eyes. She looked at Su Xiaojiao¡¯s face. Her face was fair but her eyes were red and swollen. Chapter 1570. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Three She did look cute and smart. Why wasn¡¯t she her granddaughter? Su Yue was all grown up now. Back then, she had considered her to be her future daughter-in-law. She liked her very much. She felt indignant¡­ ¡°Mom?¡± Ming Ansheng called her when she saw her in a reverie. ¡°Ah?¡± Wang Yuexiang asked as she looked at Su Xiaojiao again. Su Xiaojiao happened to be looking at her, too. Their gazes met and the little girl stopped sobbing. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and frowned, sizing her up. Wang Yuexiang saw her front view. She froze as she stared at Su Xiaojiao¡¯s beautiful face strewn with tears. ¡°She peed her pants.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly passed her the child. Wang Yuexiang took the child from him. She hugged Xiaojiao and then stared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Who¡¯s her father?¡± Agitation was clear in her tone of voice. The child¡¯s father was a sore spot for Ming Ansheng. He coolly replied, ¡°Jiao Chen.¡± Wang Yuexiang knew him. Su Yue had gone overseas with him. Disappointed, she said, ¡°I was hoping that they wouldn¡¯t get together.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s emotions were running wild. He walked towards Beibei and said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you and Grandma outside.¡± Then he walked towards the exit. Wang Yuexiang sighed for her heart ached for her son. Then she said to Su Xiaojiao, ¡°You look like my son.¡± When she saw Su Xiaojiao¡¯s front view, her heart almost beat out of her chest from excitement. But seeing Ming Ansheng¡¯s troubled look, she didn¡¯t dare to share her observations. He hadn¡¯t gotten over Su Yue all these years. It was only her gut feeling; she couldn¡¯t confirm anything. She could have made things worse if she told him. She sighed again. Then she asked Su Xiaojiao, ¡°Who brought you here? Why are you alone?¡± ¡°Grandma,¡± Su Xiaojiao said, pointing at her pants. ¡°Pee in my pants.¡± Grandma? Jiang Qinglian hadn¡¯t been in contact with the Yan¡¯s for a few years, so the first person Wang Yuexiang thought of was Mu Li. Then she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your Grandma? I¡¯ll bring you to her.¡± A tall figure stopped beside her before she could finish her sentence. ¡°Come here.¡± Before she could react, someone had snatched Su Xiaojiao out of her hands. It wasn¡¯t a stranger¡ªit was Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng carried her with one arm and stormed out of the arcade. It took Wang Yuexiang a while to recover. She hurriedly grabbed Beibei¡¯s hand and pulled him over. ¡°Ansheng, where are you bringing her?¡± Wang Yuexiang yelled at him after they exited the playground. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°To buy clothes and have lunch.¡± Wang Yuexiang was speechless¡­ She¡¯s not your daughter. Are you crossing the line? But why didn¡¯t she feel like stopping him? Ming Ansheng carried her and followed the signs that led them to the children¡¯s clothing section. ¡°Get her a set of clothes.¡± Ming Ansheng entered a random shop selling children¡¯s garments. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The staff didn¡¯t dare to take her own sweet time. She looked at Su Xiaojiao and hurriedly went to find clothes. She brought three sets of clothes over. One set was a long-sleeved dress and the other two sets were shirts matched with pants. Chapter 1571. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Four) ¡°Sir, which set do you want?¡± The staff said, ¡°This little beauty is so adorable. These are our latest designs in the pink series.¡± It was such a good opportunity to promote, so of course, she had to show him a few sets. ¡°This.¡± Ming Ansheng pointed at the pink dress and then pointed at a pair of pants on the rack. ¡°And this.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The staff nodded and immediately told him the cost. Ming Ansheng took his wallet out of his pocket and passed her a credit card. ¡°There¡¯s no pin.¡± He took the clothes from her and carried Su Xiaojiao to the sofa, after which he sat down. It took a moment for the staff to recover, and she hurriedly went to settle the bill for him. He was truly the big boss. So overbearing¡­ Ming Ansheng placed her on the ground and started peeling off her clothes. Her chubby upper body was shown, revealing her fair skin. Ming Ansheng grabbed her elbow. ¡°Ticklish.¡± The little girl suddenly shunned away from him and chuckled. Her plump face was smiling widely and her sweet laughter filled his ears. His cold face suddenly revealed a smile. The little one knew how to read expressions. Seeing Ming Ansheng smile, she cheekily flew into his embrace. ¡°Shy, shy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play around. Wear your clothes before you catch a cold.¡± Ming Ansheng lightly patted her butt. His tone and actions were unconsciously affectionate. He then observed the new clothes before helping her put it on. Afterward, he helped her take off her pants. He carried her up onto his lap with one hand. Since the little girl had wetted her pants, he felt a chill as he placed her on his lap. Ming Ansheng frowned. He looked down at her chubby legs and couldn¡¯t help but pinch them. ¡°You¡¯re so big already, and you¡¯re still peeing your pants. Are you embarrassed?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Xiaojiao buried herself in his chest in embarrassment. This scene made the staff filled with envy. He was so handsome, and he was so patient with the child. Who could be the lucky woman¡­ ¡°Aish!¡± Wang Yuexiang sighed at the entrance as she watched them. Her heart ached, but she was helpless. She didn¡¯t go in to disrupt them, even when Ming Ansheng was so clumsy in helping her put on her clothes. When Su Xiaojiao reappeared in her new clothes, she was a proud and cute princess once again. Ming Ansheng hugged her and carried her onto the escalator. ¡°Where did your Mommy go?¡± Su Xiaojiao replied, ¡°To Grandma¡¯s house.¡± Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°With Jiao Chen?¡± He didn¡¯t refer to him as ¡®your Daddy¡¯, choosing to use his name instead. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°Mommy is with Daddy.¡± Ming Ansheng felt a pang of jealousy. ¡°When did Jiao Chen come back?¡± Su Xiaojiao thought for a while. ¡°Yesterday.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Ming Ansheng looked back at Wang Yuexiang. She was talking to Beibei, not looking towards him. He whispered in her ear, ¡°What did Jiao Chen and Mommy do yesterday?¡± After the words left his mouth, he felt despicable. Ming Ansheng, they have already been together for four years. They even had a child. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Did he really have to ask? Chapter 1572. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Five) Ming Ansheng mocked himself since he did not expect Su Xiaojiao to reply to him. ¡°Daddy and Mommy sleep together.¡± I caught him off guard when the little lass gave him a reply. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart sank. He hesitated, and his smile stiffened. Su Xiaojiao saw his change in expression and frowned at him. She dared not to say a word. Wasn¡¯t it obvious? Even a fool would know the answer. So why was he so sad and disappointed? Ming Ansheng bowed his head, and his lips curled in self-ridicule. Then he smiled at her and asked, ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll bring you.¡± Su Xiaojiao immediately replied, ¡°Ice-cream.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. Su Xiaojiao hugged his neck happily. ¡°Good Uncle.¡± Her soft lips pecked him on the cheek. It stunned Ming Ansheng. His heart melted at the sight of the happy girl. He patted her butt lightly. ¡°Su Yue doesn¡¯t buy it for you?¡± Su Xiaojiao only grinned as she kept quiet. She was indescribably cute. There was a dessert store on the first floor. Ming Ansheng bought her a strawberry ice cream and they sat opposite each other. Ming Ansheng folded his arms on the table, watching Su Xiaojiao as she scooped the ice cream into her mouth with the spoon. Su Xiaojiao really resembled Su Yue. Ming Ansheng fell into a reverie. ¡°Uncle try.¡± Su Xiaojiao suddenly placed a spoonful of ice cream to his mouth. Ming Ansheng broke out of his reverie and smiled. He opened his mouth and ate the ice cream. He playfully bit onto the spoon, refusing to let go. Xiaojiao couldn¡¯t get the spoon out of his mouth. She frowned. ¡°Bad Uncle.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and opened his mouth. Xiaojiao immediately pulled the spoon out of his mouth and glared at him. ¡°Bad Uncle.¡± The look of haughtiness and contempt on her face resembled her mother. Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°Bad Uncle bought ice-cream for you. Does Su Yue buy it for you?¡± She called him Good Uncle so sweetly earlier. Now that the food was in her mouth, he was a Bad Uncle again. ¡°Good Uncle.¡± Su Xiaojiao peered up at him and chuckled. She flashed an innocent smile. Her small face seemed to glow. It made one feel like doting on her. Even Wang Yuexiang, who was sitting at the adjacent table, couldn¡¯t help but smile and want to carry her over and give her two pecks on the cheek. But¡­ No matter how she looked, this little lass looked like Ming Ansheng. Wang Yuexiang frowned. Could it be wishful thinking on her part, because she had always wanted them to be together? ¡°Grandmother.¡± Beibei, who was sitting opposite her and drinking a beverage, suddenly called out to her. She looked over at him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that girl?¡± Beibei pointed at Su Xiaojiao. His voice was filled with hostility. Daddy treated her so nicely. Wang Yuexiang hesitated, wondering how she should introduce her to Beibei. After some thought, she said, ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of your Daddy¡¯s friend.¡± Suddenly, she thought of something and added, ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of the stepmother you saw two days ago.¡± Beibei frowned. ¡°Is she my Daddy¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°¡­ No.¡± Wang Yuexiang shook her head. ¡®If only she was your father¡¯s daughter,¡¯ she thought. Sigh! ¡°Ming Ansheng, what are you trying to do?¡± Chapter 1573. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Six) Suddenly, a furious voice ruined the warm atmosphere. It startled Ming Ansheng. He looked towards the direction of the voice. The small, delicate woman was furious. She was storming towards them. Of course, Ming Ansheng knew why she was angry. But he feigned ignorance. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Why are you always sneaking Xiaojiao away?¡± Su Yue bellowed as she neared him. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Her last sentence was close to a roar. Her soul had completely left her when second aunt called to tell her that Xiaojiao was missing. But then she was even more furious when she heard that Ming Ansheng carried her away. At that moment, she felt like ripping the man apart. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m trying to do either.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled coolly. Yes, what was he trying to do? This lass wasn¡¯t his daughter. But why did he feel the uncontrollable urge to get close to her every time? He wanted to steal her and hide her away. What exactly did he want? Four years. Hadn¡¯t he long gotten used to it, accepted it, and gotten over it? When Su Xiaojiao saw that Su Yue was in a fit of rage, she was frightened. She was afraid that Su Yue would confiscate her ice-cream, so she hurriedly shoved the ice cream into her mouth. Su Yue saw the little lass furiously scooping the ice cream into her mouth and turned to look at Ming Ansheng. Her eyes turned red as she said, ¡°Her body is weak, she catches a cold easily. She can¡¯t eat this cold stuff.¡± This time, her voice was calm. Then she turned around and carried Xiaojiao. She then glared at Ming Ansheng coldly and warned, ¡°Ming Ansheng, Xiaojiao is my daughter. If you sneak her away again, I¡¯ll call the police.¡± Xiaojiao was indignant that she wasn¡¯t able to finish her ice-cream. She placed her hand in the container and scooped up the ice cream before stuffing it into her mouth. The ice cream flowed down onto her sleeves. Her face was covered with ice cream. Su Yue chuckled, the fire inside of her extinguished immediately. She frowned and chided, ¡°Su Xiaojiao, you¡¯re so dirty.¡± The little girl had dripped the ice cream onto her as well. Su Yue was wondering what to do when a small hand suddenly passed her a few pieces of tissue paper. ¡°Stepmother, for you to wipe.¡± Stepmother? Su Yue froze, turning to the boy, her expression turning grave. Beibei was smiling at her. ¡°Stepmother, I like younger sisters.¡± Su Yue swept her gaze across Ming Ansheng and felt extremely awkward. ¡°I¡¯m not your stepmother, don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± She didn¡¯t take the tissues from him. Instead, glaring at him. Then she walked towards the exit of the mall. She was looking towards the exit. Jiao Chen had alighted with her, but why didn¡¯t he go in? ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Su Yue was wondering where he went when suddenly someone called her. It was Wang Yuexiang. Su Yue stopped in her tracks and before she could turn around, Wang Yuexiang had already run and stopped in front of her. ¡°We didn¡¯t sneak Xiaojiao away. Xiaojiao ran out by herself and peed in her pants, but they couldn¡¯t find her family members. Ansheng heard her crying and recognized her so he brought her to get a new set of dry clothes. The little lass was the one who wanted to eat ice-cream.¡± Chapter 1574. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Seven) Wang Yuexiang smiled as she tried to explain the situation on Ming Ansheng¡¯s behalf. Su Yue looked down at the clothes Su Xiaojiao was wearing, finally realizing that she was in a different set of clothes. She was too enraged earlier on to have noticed it. Even though the clothes were pink. ¡°Oh.¡± She pressed her lips and lowered her head. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Wang Yuexiang hesitated as she looked at Su Yue. ¡°Xiaojiao¡¯s father didn¡¯t tag along?¡± Then she looked around. Su Yue replied, ¡°He¡¯s here. He probably went elsewhere to look for Xiaojiao.¡± Wang Yuexiang nodded. Then she looked at Su Yue and chuckled. ¡°This girl is really cute. She resembles you, and she must resemble her father, too.¡± She looked at Su Xiaojiao¡¯s face again. She still felt that Su Xiaojiao resembled Ming Ansheng. But it had already been four years since they broke up, and Su Yue was seeing someone new as well. She shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions if she wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°Auntie.¡± Su Yue felt guilty. She smiled and said, ¡°Everyone says that Xiaojiao looks like me.¡± Just then, her phone rang. She took out her phone and saw that Mu Li was calling. She said to Wang Yuexiang, ¡°Auntie, my second aunt is looking for me. She must be worried. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± After that, she walked towards the main entrance of the mall. She picked up the call as she walked. ¡°Second Aunt, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve found Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue ended the call as she exited the doors. She looked up and saw that Jiao Chen was standing not too far off. He was wearing jeans and had tucked his hands into his pockets. His head was bowed while he nonchalantly kicked on the floor. Su Yue¡¯s heart clenched. She kept her phone and smiled as she walked over. ¡°Jiaojiao, why are you standing here?¡± Jiao Chen broke out in a smile. ¡°I saw that you¡¯ve found Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°Daddy.¡± Su Xiaojiao opened her arms towards Jiao Chen. He smiled and carried her. Su Xiaojiao seemed to have an innate ability to act charmingly. She immediately hugged his neck and demanded his attention. Seeing the intimate moment between Jiao Chen and Xiaojiao, Su Yue pressed her lips and smiled widely. This family of three was so blissful. Ming Ansheng stepped out of the main doors. He smiled bitterly when he saw Su Yue and Jiao Chen. It was torture for him, but he couldn¡¯t control his gaze. He couldn¡¯t control his thoughts. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from looking. ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue knocked Su Xiaojiao¡¯s head and then said to Jiao Chen, ¡°Second Aunt said that Wenxin and Nuoxing want to continue playing. Let¡¯s go back first.¡± Jiao Chen nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± He turned around, and Su Yue suddenly grabbed his elbow. Jiao Chen froze and looked back at her. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Su Yue lifted her head to peer at the sky. There was a faint smile on her face. ¡°I want to spend my entire life with you. A simple life like this will do.¡± She really enjoyed their current lifestyle. She was afraid that their simple life would change or disappear. Her sudden¡­ confession, startled Jiao Chen. ¡°Su Yue, Xiaojiao has¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gotten used to it.¡± Su Yue smiled and continued, ¡°I couldn¡¯t understand it at first either. It must¡¯ve been a torture for two teen lovers to be forced to a breakup. But now that it happened to me, didn¡¯t I pull through too?¡± Chapter 1575. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Eight) Then she took a deep breath and sighed ruefully. ¡°Whose childhood isn¡¯t sorrowful? How many people succeed in their first relationships?¡± Then she turned to look at Jiao Chen with a serious expression on her face. ¡°Jiaojiao, do you mind?¡± Of course, Jiao Chen knew what she was referring to. He tightened his grip on her hand, his answer clear. Why would he mind? Su Yue smiled and felt comforted. ¡°I really didn¡¯t love him that much.¡± One taught her how to love, the other was by her side as she matured. And the latter had become her habit. Xiaojiao¡¯s as well. Jiao Chen frowned. ¡°Su Yue, I hope that you can follow your heart.¡± His tone was sincere, and she couldn¡¯t hear any longing in his voice. Su Yue was afraid. She was afraid that he would ¡®give her his blessings¡¯ because he loved her. She said, ¡°My heart longs for peace. You make me feel safe. I really meant it when I said that I want to spend my entire life with you.¡± She looked at him with a serious expression. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have given birth to Xiaojiao.¡± Su Yue bowed her head. ¡°You know my background. Since I was of a young age, I¡¯ve always longed for parents that dote on me, even if they were adoptive parents. How I wished for someone to adopt me and take me home.¡± ¡°You gave me the strength. You said that you¡¯d be Xiaojiao¡¯s father so that she wouldn¡¯t suffer the same fate as me when she was born. You said that you¡¯d treat her like a princess.¡± So, Jiao Chen wasn¡¯t just her lifesaver. It was gratitude that she was feeling towards him. She really wanted to give Xiaojiao, and herself, a stable home to make up for what she didn¡¯t have. She didn¡¯t want to go through the same arduous journey again. She didn¡¯t want to relive the bitter memories. Jiao Chen looked at her sorrowfully. ¡°Su Yue¡­¡± ¡°I remember how happy you were when Xiaojiao was born.¡± Su Xiaojiao smiled and continued, ¡°Back then I was thinking, how could such a foolish person exist? She wasn¡¯t even your child.¡± ¡°Su Yue, if¡­¡± Jiao Chen emphasized, ¡°I mean if, if I wasn¡¯t around, would you be with him?¡± ¡°No.¡± Su Yue shook her head without hesitation. ¡°He¡¯s buried deep within my heart. He gets buried even deeper with each passing year. I don¡¯t plan on digging him out again.¡± Back then, her love for him worn him out. She had implicated and hurt so many people. It wasn¡¯t easy to get over him. But then again, why would she want to live through that again? They were both in a good place now. There wasn¡¯t a need to. ¡°What if he really loves you and has been waiting for you?¡± Jiao Chen asked Su Yue. His gaze and tone were probing. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t happen.¡± She then frowned and asked him, ¡°What¡¯s up with you today?¡± He had never talked to her about this before because he knew that she didn¡¯t want to talk about it. But now that she started talking about it, it wasn¡¯t much. It didn¡¯t affect her. ¡°That child¡¯s mother¡­¡± Jiao Chen pressed his lips and hesitated. ¡°Meiduo, passed away not long after we went to Country M.¡± Su Yue was in shock. Her hand trembled. Meiduo¡­ passed away? It was horrifying news. Su Yue took a while to recover. ¡°I¡­ I see.¡± ¡®You just need to accept the child.¡¯ Chapter 1576. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Nine) ¡®Actually, there are so many people in the Ming family. You don¡¯t have to bring up the child.¡¯ Meiduo didn¡¯t look too well when she came to find her back then. It was back when Su Yue still could not accept the sudden fact that Ming Ansheng had a son. She didn¡¯t consider why Meiduo had brought the child back at that time. ¡®Do you want to be my stepmother?¡¯ ¡®Stepmother, I like younger sisters.¡¯ Su Yue suddenly thought of the boy who called her stepmother. Jiao Chen continued, ¡°Susu, one day, we¡¯ll both be the same.¡± When Su Yue broke out of her reverie, Jiaojiao had continued walking, carrying Xiaojiao. Su Xiaojiao had fallen asleep on his shoulder. Su Yue pondered over it for a long time, but she still didn¡¯t know what Jiao Chen meant by ¡®One day, we¡¯ll both be the same.¡¯ Only a really long time after, when everything seemed to have fallen into place, did she realize that they were the same: what he could accept, she would eventually be able to as well. ¡­ Knock, knock, knock. Ming Ansheng was focused, and he was buried in a pile of documents. Someone suddenly knocked, but he didn¡¯t lookup. He casually said, ¡°Enter.¡± The door opened and Wang Yuexiang walked in with a bowl. ¡°Stop working. You work until late every night. Have your supper and go to bed.¡± She placed the bowl gently on his table. ¡°Got it,¡± Ming Ansheng answered, ignoring the bowl of porridge. His head remained bowed as he said, ¡°Mom, go to bed first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Wang Yuexiang nodded and prepared to leave. She frowned and looked troubled. She took two steps and suddenly turned around. She had made up her mind. ¡°Ansheng.¡± Confused, Ming Ansheng looked up at her and then looked back down at his work. Wang Yuexiang asked, ¡°Before Su Yue went overseas, were you two together?¡± Ming Ansheng finally stopped working when he heard her mention Su Yue. He picked up the bowl and asked, ¡°Mom, what is this about?¡± Then he started scooping the porridge into his mouth. ¡°I think that¡­¡± She had been thinking about it for the past few days, and she couldn¡¯t get over it. Wang Yuexiang looked at him and hesitated before saying, ¡°Perhaps I like Su Yue too much. But I think that Xiaojiao seems to resemble you.¡± Finally, she shared her thoughts. Whether or not it was her wishful thinking, she knew that Ansheng would definitely find out the truth. Ming Ansheng suddenly stopped eating. He looked up at her. Wang Yuexiang was startled and hurriedly smiled before brushing it off. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m thinking too much.¡± Then she turned around and scurried away. ¡®I think that Xiaojiao seems to resemble you¡­¡¯ Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t feel like eating anymore. He placed the bowl down and picked up his phone to open WeChat. He found Xuxu¡¯s contact and opened her Moments. He found the photos of her wedding day with Yan Rusheng. He remembered that there was one album for all the children, and there was a solo picture of Su Xiaojiao. He took a while to find it. He enlarged it and stared at the little girl¡¯s small face. Chapter 1577. What Exactly Do You Want? (part Ten) He knew that he wouldn¡¯t be able to tell. Did Su Xiaojiao resemble him? Ming Ansheng unconsciously touched his face. ¡®Yueyue, let¡¯s get married. Will you marry me?¡¯ ¡®Alright.¡¯ Ming Ansheng suddenly remembered that he was with Su Yue the day Meiduo brought her child back. That night¡­ Indeed, he didn¡¯t use any protection. And with Su Yue¡¯s naiveness back then, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have thought of taking the necessary precautions to avoid pregnancy. Could it be that night? He couldn¡¯t confirm anything, but the more he thought about it, the more excited he became. How he wished he could confront Su Yue now and snatch Su Xiaojiao over. By her looks, Su Xiaojiao looked at least three. When Su Yue and Jiao Chen went overseas back then, with his health condition, they couldn¡¯t have¡­ couldn¡¯t have gotten together. Ming Ansheng suddenly stood up. The action was too aggressive that the chair behind him flipped over. He took his car keys and rushed out. He went down the stairs and ran towards the front gate. ¡°Ansheng, where are you going so late at night?¡± Ming Anyu asked from the second floor. Ming Ansheng stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at Ming Anyu coolly. ¡°Big brother, haven¡¯t you gone on your business trip?¡± Ming Anyu was wearing faint gray sleepwear, and a black-rimmed spectacle rested on his nose. He looked refined and gentle, and his looks were at least average. Both of them had inherited their father¡¯s genes. He walked down the stairs and replied, ¡°I completed it early so I came back.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t answer. He turned around and prepared to walk out the gates. Ming Anyu called from behind him. ¡°Did you know that Beibei has a parent-teacher conference tomorrow?¡± Ming Ansheng had a cold gleam in his eye. He didn¡¯t turn around but coldly answered, ¡°I know. I will handle my son¡¯s affairs.¡± Then he walked to the main door, changed his shoes, and went out. ¡­ ¡°Xiaojiao, it¡¯s time for bed.¡± They had been back for almost a week, but Su Xiaojiao was still suffering from jetlag. She slept in the day and was wide awake at night. Su Yue didn¡¯t sleep well because she kept disrupting her sleep. After the little one drank her milk, she felt energized and hopped on the bed, giving Su Yue a headache. ¡°Find Daddy for a story.¡± Su Xiaojiao angrily climbed off the bed when Su Yue commanded her to go to bed. She ran out barefooted. ¡°Su Xiaojiao!¡± Su Yue raised her voice and rushed after her. This child was too much. Jiao Chen was watching television on the sofa. Su Xiaojiao crawled onto him and buried herself in his chest. ¡°Daddy, tell me a story.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiao Chen smiled and agreed. He picked up the remote and turned off the television. Then he carried her and made her lie on the sofa. He lay on his side beside her and started telling her a story. ¡°Aish¡­¡± Su Yue frowned as she looked at Jiao Chen. When Su Xiaojiao calmed down, she softly mumbled, ¡°She¡¯ll get naughtier if you keep spoiling her.¡± She yawned a few times. ¡°I¡¯ll go to bed then.¡± Su Yue turned around and trudged sleepily to her room. She immediately lay down and turned off the light. Su Xiaojiao was definitely not coming over to sleep. ¡­ Downstairs, a man leaned against a pathetically thin tree. He held a cigarette between his slender fingers, peering up at the unit on the 12th floor. The lights in the master bedroom just turned off. Chapter 1578. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part One) His heart sank at the sight. He wanted to rush upstairs and snatch the mother and daughter over, or perhaps, chase the man out. Gradually, the lights in the living room turned off as well. Ming Ansheng threw the cigarette bud on the floor and stepped on it aggressively. He made his mind and strode to the apartment entrance. He entered the unit number and pressed the dial button. ¡­ ¡°Who¡¯s that at this time of the night?¡± Su Yue was about to fall asleep when she heard the doorbell ringing incessantly. She pulled off the covers and got off the bed. She trudged to her room door and opened it. The light in the opposite room was on. Su Yue glanced towards the main door. Could Jiao Chen have gone to open the door? But Jiao Chen wasn¡¯t there. Su Yue frowned and walked over. The doorbell was still ringing. She walked over, turned on the lights, and watched the surveillance camera. It was dark and she couldn¡¯t see anyone. She pressed the microphone button and yawned as she asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± It was late at night. Her brother had the keys, and her third sister-in-law would definitely call her if she was coming at this time of the night. Besides, she knew the password and she didn¡¯t need to press the doorbell. There was no reply from the other end. ¡°Could someone have gotten the wrong unit?¡± Then she ended the call. She turned around and walked back to the room. She was too tired that she kept yawning. She turned off the living room lights and saw that the night lamp in the opposite room was still on. It confused Su Yue. She walked over and looked into the room. ¡°Jiaojiao?¡± There was no response. She entered the room and didn¡¯t see Jiao Chen. Su Xiaojiao was under the covers, in a deep sleep. She was wearing sky-blue pajamas, and Su Yue¡¯s heart melted at the sight of her pink chubby face. She couldn¡¯t help but go over and kneel on the bed. She then kissed her on the cheek. She must¡¯ve felt ticklish because Su Xiaojiao pursed her lips and rolled over, continuing to sleep. She was now back-facing Su Yue. Her white panties had a cute picture of her favorite teddy bear. Su Yue patted her butt gently. ¡°Su Yue?¡± Jiao Chen was shocked. Su Yue turned around and saw him standing at the door. His white sleepwear was loose on him, making him look exceptionally thin. Su Yue saw his drenched hair and asked in confusion, ¡°Didn¡¯t you shower already? Why did you shower again?¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s gaze faltered for a moment. He replied, ¡°I was sweating so I took another shower.¡± Then he dried his hair with the towel on his shoulder. ¡°You look pale. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue could tell that something was amiss. She hurriedly got off the bed and walked over to him to observe his face. After the accident, Jiao Chen¡¯s health was in bad shape. He couldn¡¯t gain weight, and he seemed to get thinner by the day. They went for regular checks and she asked the doctor about it, but she said it was fine. Jiao Chen smiled and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I didn¡¯t rest well in the past two days.¡± Then he walked past Su Yue and sat on the edge of the bed. He bowed his head and concentrated on drying his hair. He didn¡¯t sleep well for the past two days? Su Yue was still worried. ¡°Jiaojiao, are you keeping something from me?¡± Chapter 1579. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Two) Jiao Chen looked up at her and smiled. ¡°I just didn¡¯t sleep well. Don¡¯t think too much into it.¡± Su Yue still felt uneasy, but she didn¡¯t know what was wrong, so she pressed her lips. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Sleep early then,¡± she said with a hint of concern in her voice. She walked out of the room and helped him close the door. After the door closed, he stopped drying his hair. He looked up and stared at the closed door. There was sorrow and longing in his eyes. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Suddenly, the door opened again. Su Yue peered into the room. She looked at him with a cheeky smile on her face. Jiao Chen raised his eyebrow, confused. ¡°Are you not going to give me a goodnight kiss?¡± Su Yue blinked cheekily at him. She had one hand on the doorframe and the other on the doorknob, her body tilted slightly forward. Waiting for his response. Jiao Chen hesitated before smiling and nodding. ¡°Okay.¡± He placed his towel down and walked to the door. He slightly bent over and kissed her on the forehead. ¡°Goodnight.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and nodded gently. ¡°Sleep early.¡± She closed the door again and turned around before taking a deep breath. Su Yue, your relationship with him must progress. She could obviously feel that Jiao Chen wanted to stay away. He was just giving in to her. Back in her room, Su Yue lay on her bed and hid under the covers. She turned off the lights. She flipped over and wrapped herself tightly with the covers. The weather was much warmer in May and everyone was wearing short-sleeves. But these few years, no matter what season it was, she always had to wrap herself with the blanket. It made her feel safe and at ease. Su Yue lay down and tried to clear her mind. Weariness soon engulfed her once again, and her eyelids started to droop. Just then, the doorbell rang again. She frowned and flipped over. ¡°Who is it?¡± The doorbell was ringing incessantly again. Remembering that Jiao Chen didn¡¯t sleep well over the past two days, Su Yue hurriedly got off the bed and ran towards the door. She opened the door. The door of the opposite room opened at the same time. Jiao Chen was still in his sleepwear, emerging from the room. Their eyes met and Jiao Chen froze. Su Yue frowned in annoyance. ¡°The doorbell already rang just now, but nobody replied to me.¡± Then she waved at him. ¡°Go to bed. I¡¯ll get the door.¡± Su Yue yawned and turned on the lights before walking towards the main door. She leaned lazily against the wall and pressed the button again. ¡°Who is it? If you got the wrong unit number, please redial it again. Don¡¯t get it wrong next time. If it¡¯s the correct unit number, speak.¡± She said her piece. But even so, there was no response. The surveillance was dark and she couldn¡¯t see anyone. ¡°Must be crazy, ruining my sleep in the middle of the night.¡± She angrily walked away and ended the call. She walked over to the room and faced Jiao Chen¡¯s room. ¡°Jiaojiao, if you hear the doorbell again, just ignore it.¡± It was in the middle of the night. It must¡¯ve been a prank. They were probably not the only unit affected. Su Yue returned to her room, lying down on her bed. Chapter 1580. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Three) ¡­ Both times he rang the doorbell, she sounded like he had woken her from her sleep. They¡­ probably weren¡¯t doing anything, right? Ming Ansheng emerged from the darkness and peered up at the master bedroom of the apartment on the 12th floor. The lights turned off once again. He felt at ease. He retrieved a packet of cigarettes from his pocket and took a stick out. He lit it and carelessly flung the cigarette box into the neighboring trash can. He held the cigarette between his slender fingers. He then took a deep puff and exhaled deeply. He continued staring at the apartment on the 12th floor. He turned to leave after he had finished an entire box of cigarettes. From the back, he looked haughty and arrogant, yet lonely. ¡­ On Monday morning, Ming Ansheng was the first to walk out of the conference room after Bright Vision¡¯s executive meeting. His secretary followed after him, telling him the day¡¯s schedule. ¡°Li Yang.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly interrupted him. ¡°Yes, President.¡± His secretary immediately stopped talking and awaited his instructions. Ming Ansheng continued, ¡°I¡¯ll show you a photo.¡± He took his phone out of his pocket and unlocked the screen. He navigated to his photo gallery. Li Yang looked over in confusion. ¡°What photo?¡± It was a picture of an adorable three to four-year-old girl. Li Yang frowned. ¡°President, who is this?¡± ¡°Look at it closely.¡± Ming Ansheng passed him the phone before stepping in front of him. There was a serious look in his eyes as he spared him a glance. ¡°Look at her face. Do you find her familiar?¡± ¡°Familiar?¡± It still confused Li Yang. He observed it carefully but he couldn¡¯t tell anything. Then he looked at Ming Ansheng. ¡°President, I¡­ I don¡¯t find her familiar¡­¡± Before he concluded his sentence, he suddenly changed his mind. ¡°No, she looks like¡­ like¡­¡± Li Yang stared at Ming Ansheng and stuttered. He looked down at the photo again before looking back at him. Again and again. Ming Ansheng became impatient. ¡°Like what? Speak.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be angry if I say it?¡± Li Yang asked cautiously. Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°Speak.¡± Why was this guy so long-winded? Li Yang suddenly became direct. ¡°She seems to look like you.¡± F*ck. That was the answer he was looking for! Ming Ansheng snatched the phone back. ¡°Push back all my appointments for the day. Cancel all my business engagements.¡± He ordered as he walked toward the President¡¯s office. He quickened his pace. And left Secretary Li muddle-headed. What had gotten into Boss? He suddenly showed him a photo of a girl that looked like him. Then pushed back all his appointments¡­ A little girl that looked like President! Secretary Li came to a realization. He looked at Ming Ansheng¡¯s retreating figure and gaped. Boss¡­ Boss had another illegitimate daughter? Based on his reaction, it was most likely so. Boss was too worrisome. One moment an illegitimate son and another moment, an illegitimate daughter? If only a lady boss could appear out of nowhere instead¡­ ¡­ ¡°Brother¡­ Brother¡­¡± It was a warm and fine day in the capital city. Children¡¯s laughter filled the courtyard of the Yan household. Chapter 1581. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Four) The chubby little girl in a pink dress was chasing Yan Nuoxing around the courtyard. A man stood outside and silently wished he could rush over and snatch the cute little lass away. F*ck. Why did he always use the word ¡®snatch¡¯? She was his daughter, for goodness¡¯ sake. Why did he need to snatch her over? ¡°Brother¡­ Brother¡­¡± Suddenly, the little fellows neared the courtyard gate. Yan Nuoxing was leading the pack, and Su Xiaojiao was lagging far behind. It was such a heartwarming sight, yet it made his heart heavy. Seeing that the little lass was almost nearing him, Ming Ansheng looked around and ensured that there was no one. He called, ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± Su Xiaojiao heard someone calling her and stopped in her tracks. She looked outside the courtyard gate. When she saw Ming Ansheng sticking his head through the gate, she happily smiled and her eyes crinkled. It melted his heart. ¡°Shh.¡± Ming Ansheng put his finger to his lips, warning her not to make a sound. Then he waved her over. ¡°Come here.¡± Su Xiaojiao retracted her neck like a thief and sprinted over. ¡°Uncle.¡± Ming Ansheng squatted down and whispered, ¡°Uncle will bring you out for ice cream.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Xiaojiao happily nodded. She had been yearning for some ice cream. ¡°Keep quiet.¡± Ming Ansheng affectionately rubbed her head and stood up before opening the courtyard gate. He knew the password to their gate. The gate opened and he picked her up at lightning speed. Then he turned around and hurriedly ¡®fled¡¯. Ming Ansheng placed her at the backseat and buckled her up before heading to the driver¡¯s seat and driving off. Ming Ansheng¡¯s palms were sweating as he started the engine. When they reached a junction, he turned back to look at her. He smiled and asked, ¡°Xiaojiao, am I good?¡± Xiaojiao nodded without hesitation. ¡°Yes.¡± The Uncle who bought her ice cream was the best. Ming Ansheng smugly smirked. Then he asked, ¡°Who is better, me or Jiao Chen?¡± Su Xiaojiao said, ¡°Daddy is the best.¡± She leaned lazily against the seat and kicked her short legs. Ming Ansheng nodded, satisfied. ¡°Yes, Daddy is the best.¡± Because he was her biological daddy. At the First People¡¯s Hospital in the city¡­ After parking the car in the carpark, Ming Ansheng unbuckled his seatbelt. He opened the rear door and picked her up. ¡°Xiaojiao, let Daddy carry you.¡± The words flowed out of his mouth, as though it was trained. Su Xiaojiao¡¯s mind was focused on getting her ice cream, so she didn¡¯t care about the term he used. She tightly hugged his neck. And she looked around, unable to find anything amiss. Only when they entered the building and saw doctors in white coats and nurses did she frown. She asked, ¡°Uncle, eat ice-cream.¡± He said that he would bring her out for ice cream. What was the meaning of this? Ming Ansheng gently patted her back. ¡°Xiaojiao, be good. Daddy is bringing you to do something very important. It¡¯ll only take a while. Then Daddy will buy you ice cream and bring you to the playground afterward.¡± ¡°You are Uncle,¡± Su Xiaojiao corrected him crisply when she finally noticed the term he used. It was a matter of time anyway, so Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t force her. He carried her upstairs. Instead of taking the crowded lift, he took the stairs. Chapter 1582. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Five) ¡­ In the chief physician¡¯s office, Su Xiaojiao sat obediently on Ming Ansheng¡¯s lap. She was playing a game on his phone. She was playing a fishing game, and she chuckled whenever she caught a fish. Ming Ansheng had just downloaded this game for her. ¡°Catch big fish.¡± She threw the fishing line, about to hook the big fish. Suddenly, he received an incoming call and it changed the screen. Su Xiaojiao pursed her lips and angrily frowned. ¡°Annoying. Big fish.¡± The little princess was unhappy, so Ming Ansheng frowned as well. He immediately declined the call when he saw that it was a retailer from Yifeng. Ming Ansheng placed his phone in airplane mode so that Su Xiaojiao could play without interruption. He passed her the phone. ¡°Darling, there won¡¯t be any calls anymore.¡± Su Xiaojiao took the phone from him. Ming Ansheng bent down and kissed her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it still unconfirmed whether she¡¯s your daughter?¡± The young doctor asked when she saw the affectionate scene. ¡°What if she isn¡¯t yours?¡± Ming Ansheng faced her. ¡°I have a gut feeling that she¡¯s mine.¡± Then he wrapped his arms tighter around her. The doctor smiled and asked Ming Ansheng, ¡°I¡¯ve sent the samples over. The results will be out soon. Do you want to wait here?¡± After some thought, he said, ¡°Call me when the results are out.¡± The game on his phone had pacified the little one. But she was still so young, so she shouldn¡¯t be on the phone so much. So he brought her out to eat and granted her wish. The doctor nodded. ¡°Xiaojiao, let¡¯s go eat ice cream.¡± Ming Ansheng carried her and stood up. Then he said to the doctor, ¡°Call me immediately when the report is out.¡± The doctor smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. Seeing how eager you are, I hope the results don¡¯t disappoint you.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t.¡± Ming Ansheng was confident. His analysis wouldn¡¯t be wrong. Given Xiaojiao¡¯s age, she definitely couldn¡¯t have been Su Yue and Jiao Chen¡¯s. Furthermore, his mother and Li Yang both thought that Xiaojiao looked like him. Xiaojiao had to be his daughter. Ming Ansheng was incredibly excited. It was a working day, so the shopping mall wasn¡¯t crowded. Ming Ansheng brought her to a dessert shop on the third floor. To let her have a closer look at the menu, he placed her on his shoulders and patiently waited for her to decide. ¡°Ice cream, strawberry,¡± Su Xiaojiao said as she pointed at it. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Then he placed her down and ordered. The little princess immediately turned into a tomboy after getting her ice-cream. The ice cream had dripped in her entire face and hands. Ming Ansheng was holding a tissue paper but didn¡¯t have time to help her wipe it off. ¡®Do you know that her body is weak and she can¡¯t eat all this?¡¯ He suddenly recalled what Su Yue said to him the previous time. He retracted his hand and watched as she prepared to put the spoon into her mouth. He feigned a greedy look and said to her, ¡°Xiaojiao, Uncle wants to have some too. Can you give me a scoop?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Xiaojiao wasn¡¯t stingy. She nodded and placed a spoonful of ice cream in front of his mouth. Chapter 1583. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Six) Ming Ansheng zoned out as he stared at her dirty face. ¡°Uncle?¡± Su Xiaojiao became impatient because Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t open his mouth. Ming Ansheng broke out of his reverie and immediately opened his mouth and ate the ice cream. The sweetness of the ice cream spread to his heart. He stared affectionately at her. She was unbelievably cute from head to toe. ¡°Hey! Is that¡­ President Ming?¡± Ming Ansheng was admiring Su Xiaojiao when someone suddenly called him. He recovered and turned towards the direction of the voice. He nodded and greeted, ¡°Manager Ma.¡± The man was holding the hand of a seven or eight-year-old boy. He walked over to Ming Ansheng. ¡°I just brought my kid to the playground. Are you here for inspection?¡± Then his gaze shifted to Su Xiaojiao, who sat opposite him. Su Xiaojiao was focused on eating her ice cream that she didn¡¯t even look at the man. She exuded arrogance and aloofness. Ming Ansheng saw him looking at Xiaojiao, he raised his eyebrow and coldly said, ¡°I came with my friend and her daughter.¡± He chose to be low-profile to prevent unnecessary trouble. ¡°I see.¡± Manager Ma nodded in understanding. Then he smiled and commented, ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to see you here.¡± They were at Hua Feng mall in the capital city. What was there to be shocked about? Especially that he¡¯s seeing someone at a particular mall that their family owned? Ming Ansheng became impatient. With an insincere smile on his face, he said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to see you here at Hua Feng.¡± Manager Ma¡¯s expression faltered for a moment. But he recovered quickly and smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t bother you then. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Ming Ansheng widened his smile in response. After he left, Ming Ansheng said to Su Xiaojiao, ¡°Xiaojiao, can you give Daddy a bite?¡± ¡°You are Uncle.¡± Su Xiaojiao frowned, correcting him once again. But she still fed him, anyway. Although it was a mere drop of ice cream, at least she still offered it to him. The phone in his pocket rang. Ming Ansheng answered the call in excitement when he saw the caller ID. ¡°The results are out? How did it go?¡± The person on the other end mused, ¡°Why are you so excited? Are you sure that the results are what you wanted?¡± Ming Ansheng was extremely anxious. He replied, ¡°Don¡¯t keep me in suspense.¡± The doctor immediately replied, ¡°Yes, the paternity test percentage is 99 percent. She is your daughter.¡± ¡°I knew it.¡± This was the first time Young Master Ming lost his composure in public. He stood up excitedly and passers-by within a few hundred meters radius would¡¯ve heard him. The people around him turned to look at him, including Xiaojiao. Her large eyes blinked at him. Her face was dirty as she stared at him in confusion. Had Lying Uncle gone mad? Or was he drunk, as Mommy called it? ¡°Darling.¡± After he ended the call, Ming Ansheng stretched across the table and carried Xiaojiao into his arms. Chapter 1584. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Seven) He was filled with indescribable excitement. He fervently kissed her face. He couldn¡¯t kiss her enough. Xiaojiao was his daughter. It overjoyed him. Ming Ansheng was absorbed in his excitement when his phone rang again. He wiped away the ice cream that had smudged onto his lips from kissing Xiaojiao¡¯s face. He couldn¡¯t calm his emotions. He took out his phone and saw that it was an unknown number. He was confused but decided to pick it up, anyway. Before he could say anything, he heard a familiar voice on the other end. ¡°Ming Ansheng, where did you take Xiaojiao?¡± Su Yue bellowed. Ming Ansheng predicted that Su Yue would be furious when she found out that he had taken Xiaojiao away. So he remained calm and said, ¡°Yueyue, Xiaojiao is with me. We¡¯re at my apartment.¡± Su Yue said nothing and ended the call. Then he smiled and said to Su Xiaojiao, ¡°Daddy will take you home.¡± Her face was covered with ice cream and Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t in the least disgusted. He used his hands to wipe the ice cream off her mouth. Then he couldn¡¯t help but kiss her pink lips. He was indescribably satisfied and excited that Xiaojiao was the daughter Su Yue had with him. He had never expected Su Yue to give birth to their daughter overseas. Although he was overjoyed, his heart ached for her too. Su Xiaojiao was only 18 when she had Xiaojiao. She was only 19 when she gave birth¡­ And he wasn¡¯t with her during her pregnancy or when she gave birth. She was still a child. She herself needed someone to take care of her, yet he wasn¡¯t by her side. ¡°Bubble, bubble¡­¡± The bathtub was half-filled with water. Su Xiaojiao was sitting inside the tub with her white panties. It revealed her chubby body. The sight made him want to pinch her. Ming Ansheng was sitting by the bathtub, helping her pop the soap bubbles. He scooped up some bubbles with her index finger and wiped it onto her face. Su Xiaojiao looked over, pouting as she glared at him. ¡°Hmph. Bad Uncle.¡± There were bubbles on both sides of her face, making her look hilarious and adorable. Ming Ansheng affectionately gazed at her. ¡°Bad Uncle.¡± Su Xiaojiao suddenly stood up and scooped up two handfuls of bubbles, and she threw them at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t dodge from her attack. He let the bubbles land on his face before scooping up a handful and throwing it back at her. Xiaojiao chuckled, continuing her attack. The bubble war ensued and it filled the bathroom with their laughter. Ming Ansheng was drenched from head to toe, but his smile never left his face. There were bubbles everywhere. Ming Ansheng stretched his hand into the water and realized that it was no longer warm. He stopped and gently said to Xiaojiao, ¡°Alright, the water is cold. Go rinse yourself and put on your clothes, then we¡¯ll have some nice food.¡± He turned on the showerhead and adjusted the temperature before helping her rinse the bubbles off her body. After the bath, he wrapped her in a towel and carried her up. He was about to leave the room when the doorbell started incessantly ringing. He knew immediately¡ªwithout a doubt¡ªit was Su Yue. Ming Ansheng halted before pressing his lips and taking a deep breath. He walked over resolutely. He opened the door and as he had expected¡ªit was Su Yue. ¡°Ming Ansheng!¡± Su Yue bellowed at him when she entered. Before he could say anything, she slapped him across the face. Chapter 1585. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Eight) Su Yue glared at Ming Ansheng, and her face was contorted with anger. Her body was involuntarily shaking. One look at her and anyone could tell how furious she was at the moment. Her slap stunned Ming Ansheng, and there was her palm printed across his cheek. He understood Su Yue well and knew that she had grown up during the last few years. She had become more sensible and wiser now. But the process of growing up was to learn how to control and handle one¡¯s emotions. When one felt threatened or strained, most would reveal their true personality. The more livid and agitated she was, the more it showed how important Xiaojiao was to Su Yue. She really loved their daughter. So he should be happy. Ming Ansheng curled his lips. ¡°Yueyue.¡± His gentle voice was slightly hoarse. Su Yue¡¯s hands were balled into fists, and she was looking at Ming Ansheng with a murderous gleam in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve warned you before that if this happens again, I¡¯m going to call the cops.¡± Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°But you didn¡¯t.¡± He was gazing at Su Yue with a tender and affectionate expression, just like how he used to. Su Yue didn¡¯t say a word and simply stretched her hands towards Xiaojiao. But Ming Ansheng prevented her from succeeding by moving agilely. Xiaojiao was completely frozen with fear from witnessing Su Yue¡¯s yells and slap. She stood rooted to the spot without a sound. ¡°Give me Xiaojiao.¡± Su Yue darted forward once more. However, Ming Ansheng stretched his hand and wrapped them around Su Yue¡¯s waist. He pushed her and pinned her against the wall to prevent her from escaping. He bent and gazed at her. ¡°Yueyue, Xiaojiao is my daughter.¡± Su Yue was visibly shocked, but she denied it almost immediately. ¡°No! She is Jiao Chen and my daughter.¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°I have done the DNA test.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes flashed scarlet at his words. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you despicable man!¡± She struggled with all her might as she pushed against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. She then tried to land punches on him, but he remained like a solid wall. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Suddenly, Ming Ansheng bent to kiss Su Yue. Su Yue wasn¡¯t expecting this at all, so she was stiff with shock. Her eyes widened as she simply stared at Ming Ansheng. But she quickly recovered herself and bit Ming Ansheng¡¯s lips with all her strength. She was merciless. Ming Ansheng frowned in pain, and the smell of blood lingered in their mouths. However, Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t give up. He tightened his grasp on Su Yue and deepened his kiss as though he was trying to devour her alive. Then he wouldn¡¯t have to miss her day and night and endure countless sleepless nights. Su Xiaojiao suddenly bawled at the top of her lungs. Ming Ansheng and Su Yue were both jolted to their senses. Su Yue seized the opportunity to shove Ming Ansheng away. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what do you want exactly?!¡± ¡°Bad uncle! Bad uncle!¡± Su Xiaojiao saw the blood on Su Yue¡¯s lips and she bawled even louder. She kept hitting Ming Ansheng. His actions frightened her. Both Ming Ansheng and Su Yue¡¯s hearts were aching. ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Ming Ansheng carried and squeezed Xiaojiao tightly as he stroked her back. ¡°Give her to me.¡± Su Yue took Xiaojiao from him and said, ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t cry. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± She gently patted her back. Xiaojiao¡¯s cries softened a little as she wrapped her arms around Su Yue. ¡°Mommy, go home. I want Daddy.¡± Chapter 1586. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Nine) From the moment Su Yue appeared, no matter how she yelled or hit him, he wasn¡¯t half as sad as when he heard Xiaojiao asking to go home to find her daddy. He was her daddy. ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t cry. Mommy will bring you home now,¡± Su Yue gently coaxed Su Xiaojiao, and she strode quickly to the door. When she was at the door, she abruptly turned around. Ming Ansheng was staring blankly at the both of them. Su Yue, who was raging earlier on, seemed calm and composed. It seemed as if the storm had passed. She calmly said, ¡°Xiaojiao is Jiao Chen and my daughter. The three of us are happy. Uncle Ming, don¡¯t do this again.¡± Without another word, she marched out. The door slammed shut, and Ming Ansheng collapsed against the wall. ¡®Uncle Ming, don¡¯t do this again¡­¡¯ She called him Uncle Ming once more. When was the last time he heard her addressing him using this term? But she shouldn¡¯t sound so nonchalant after four long years. Had she really stopped loving him? Yueyue don¡¯t love or miss him anymore? No, he didn¡¯t believe it. Ming Ansheng suddenly straightened his back and ran out of the house. He was still wearing his slippers as he dashed into the elevator. He pressed the elevator button and desperately wished that it would reach level one right away. The elevator doors opened and he flew out instantly. But he couldn¡¯t spot Su Yue anywhere. ¡®Xiaojiao is Jiao Chen and my daughter. The three of us are happy¡­¡¯ The three of us! ¡®They should be a family! Ming Ansheng, what have you given up on?¡¯ ¡®You really deserved all of this,¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself. ¡­ The ashtray on the table was littered with ashes and cigarette butts. Ming Ansheng took out the last cigarette from the packet and threw the empty packet into the trash can. He lit the cigarette and took a deep puff. Only the first puff could numb him completely from all the pain and suffering. It temporarily stopped him from thinking. His troubles would vanish momentarily. He had no idea when he had gotten used to this habit. The smoke he inhaled entered his lungs and Ming Ansheng closed his eyes. He slumped back against the chair. Knock, knock, knock. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. He was about to respond when the smoke unexpectedly choked him. He coughed violently as a result. ¡®Cough, cough.¡¯ ¡°Ansheng, are you alright?¡± Wang Yuexiang opened the door and walked to Ming Ansheng. The room was shrouded in smoke. She frowned as she lectured Ming Ansheng. ¡°I already told you to smoke less, but you refuse to listen.¡± She hurriedly passed him a glass of water. Ming Ansheng received the glass and said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. Go and rest.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stay up too late. Your body will crumble soon if you keep doing this.¡± Wang Yuexiang patted Ming Ansheng¡¯s back. Like how she patted his back when she tried to coax him to sleep. Ming Ansheng felt annoyed but his mother¡¯s actions dispelled all of that. He took a sip of water and said, ¡°I got it. I will sleep soon, go back and rest.¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Wang Yuexiang glared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°If you listened to me, would you still be smoking so much?¡± She glanced worriedly at the ashtray full of cigarette butts. Chapter 1587. Xiaojiao Is My Daughter (part Ten) He wasn¡¯t even 30 yet. If he carried on in this way, his health would deteriorate. ¡°Smoking is harmful, but it¡¯s healthy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t twist the facts.¡± Wang Yuexiang cast him a disapproving look and feigned annoyance. At that moment, she accidentally caught sight of his wallpaper. Ming Ansheng realized it and he hastily switched it off. But Wang Yuexiang had already seen it. ¡°Ansheng¡­ isn¡¯t that Su Yue and her daughter?¡± Wang Yuexiang pointed at the screen in excitement. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± He seemed unruffled. Wang Yuexiang watched Ming Ansheng with suspicion in her eyes. Was there something else that he was hiding from her? Why did he put their photo as his wallpaper? Previously, he only put a photo of Yueyue. Wang Yuexiang pressed on determinedly. ¡°I discussed it with you before. Do you remember?¡± Ming Ansheng feigned ignorance. ¡°What do you mean?¡± His attitude disappointed Wang Yuexiang. But she probed, ¡°That girl looks like you.¡± ¡°You think too much.¡± Ming Ansheng managed a faint smile. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. Go back and sleep, I need to finish some work. You¡¯re distracting me.¡± He nudged Wang Yuexiang as he spoke. Wang Yuexiang rose and cast him a glare. ¡°You¡¯re not even married and you complain that I¡¯m a nuisance.¡± She turned around and was about to leave when she hesitated. ¡°You better give it some thought. The girl really resembles you.¡± Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°Mom, you already have Xiaoxiao and Beibei. Are you still interested in having more grandchildren?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about your future and happiness.¡± Wang Yuexiang stopped in her tracks and gazed at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Son, you¡¯re not superman and you have feelings. Can¡¯t you fight for what you want?¡± Ming Ansheng gave her an ambiguous answer. ¡°You¡¯re already so old, don¡¯t fret so much.¡± Wang Yuexiang sighed. ¡°Sometimes I really wish Bright Vision would collapse. Then nothing would stand in your way.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart softened at her words. He smiled at his mother and replied, ¡°Women are getting realistic these days. If Bright Vision were to collapse, I would no longer be the President. Which girl would still fancy me? You will have a bigger headache in the future.¡± Wang Yuexiang guffawed as she patted Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Cheeky fellow. Rest early.¡± She waved and left the room. Ming Ansheng¡¯s smile froze on his face as his mother left the room. He sat there, deep in thought. He turned on his laptop again and gazed quietly at Su Xiaojiao and Su Yue. He extended his hand and gently stroked Su Yue¡¯s face. He was used to missing her for the past four years. ¡®Yueyue, have you really forgotten me completely?¡¯ Knock, knock, knock. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door once again and it brought Ming Ansheng out from his stupor. He retracted his hand and glanced at the door. ¡°Come in.¡± The door swung open. ¡°Daddy.¡± A little boy entered and Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± Beibei wore light blue pajamas and he seemed wide awake. He shut the door and glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Daddy, why aren¡¯t you sleeping every night? Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Chapter 1588. Daddy Has a Woman (part One) The young boy sounded so sensible and grew up with his words of concern. Ming Ansheng gazed tenderly at the boy who stood in front of him. He stroked his hair and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not tired. I will go to sleep soon.¡± ¡°Daddy, you smell of smoke.¡± Beibei wrinkled his nose, and he fanned the air with his hand. Ming Ansheng raised an eyebrow. ¡°Am I gross?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Beibei shook his head. ¡°We are both men and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s gross. But my future stepmother would think so.¡± It stunned Ming Ansheng. ¡°Stepmother?¡± Beibei replied, ¡°That pretty sister I saw was the same woman in the photo inside your wallet.¡± He carefully surveyed Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression and noticed that his smile had disappeared. He hung his head low and muttered, ¡°Grandmother told me that you loved her.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still so young. What do you know about love?¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly broke into a grin as he caressed his head. ¡°Of course I know.¡± The boy noticed that Ming Ansheng was smiling, and with confidence in his voice, he immediately spoke, ¡°Just like how I love Daddy. I have you as my phone wallpaper and all my classmates say that you¡¯re so handsome and cool.¡± He raised his chin smugly and looked proud of himself. His words startled Ming Ansheng. He stretched and pulled Beibei towards him. ¡°It was the parent-teacher conference a few days ago. Grandmother said you ranked second in school.¡± Although he stayed at home most of the time, he was always busy with work. So he didn¡¯t have much time with Beibei. But his son was still close to him. He knew that Beibei always boasted to his classmates and grandmother that his daddy was his idol and hero. But he really didn¡¯t do much for him as a father. He was merely playing his role as his ¡®father¡¯. Beibei nodded and pouted. ¡°I should have been first,¡± he said in despair. Ming Ansheng said encouragingly, ¡°You¡¯re brilliant.¡± ¡°But the top student was a girl.¡± Beibei furrowed his eyebrows, and he looked indignant. ¡°She scored higher in English and Chinese, but I scored higher than her in Math. But overall, she won me by three marks.¡± So this fellow was angry¡­ for losing to a girl. ¡®That dumb girl Wen Xuxu is the top student again! How infuriating!¡¯ Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but reminisce those days in school. Wen Xuxu constantly defeated Yan Rusheng and him. He wasn¡¯t too affected, but Yan Rusheng was furious. But Wen Xuxu always scored a few marks higher than him. And Yan Rusheng had the same reaction as Beibei right now every time they received their results. It was as though he despised girls. Ming Ansheng mulled over it and smiled. ¡°Aunt Xuxu had always won Uncle Third Yan in school. She was always the top student.¡± ¡°All of you are so weak, you can¡¯t even win a girl.¡± Beibei threw him a disdainful look before proclaiming loudly, ¡°I will surpass her during the finals.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded encouragingly and said, ¡°Sure, I have faith in you.¡± He stroked Beibei¡¯s head once more. All humans crave warmth and love from the ones they hold dear to their heart. It had been a long time since he had garnered his daddy¡¯s affection and encouragement. Beibei couldn¡¯t bear to leave Ming Ansheng and clung to him. Chapter 1589. Daddy Has a Woman (part Two) Beibei raised his head and implored, ¡°Daddy, can I sleep with you tonight?¡± He sounded so confident earlier on, but suddenly he became so meek and timid. He stole a furtive glance at Ming Ansheng. He really neglected Beibei over these years. Ming Ansheng felt guilty and he lifted Beibei. ¡°Sure.¡± Beibei smiled happily and rested his face on Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders. They left the room and Beibei asked, ¡°Daddy, my stepmother doesn¡¯t like you?¡± He stared at Ming Ansheng with his huge eyes. Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°You¡¯re a child, don¡¯t ask so much.¡± Beibei pursed his lips and placed his chin on Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders. He softly uttered, ¡°I went to search online. If a man smokes a lot, it¡¯s usually because of women or money problems. But Daddy, you¡¯re so rich, so you must be troubled over a woman.¡± It rendered Ming Ansheng speechless¡­ Do children search for such a thing these days? He was only eight years old. And what had the Internet evolved into these recent years? It had corrupted moral values. He smacked Beibei¡¯s bottom and chided, ¡°Don¡¯t use your phone so often. If you wear spectacles, you won¡¯t be handsome in the future.¡± Beibei innocently replied, ¡°But Uncle Lu is still handsome with spectacles.¡± It rendered Ming Ansheng speechless¡­ F*ck. Why were all his friends bad role models? ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re so handsome. Stepmother will definitely like you,¡± remarked Beibei all of a sudden. Ming Ansheng smacked him once again. ¡°Don¡¯t poke your head into adults¡¯ affairs.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Beibei replied reluctantly. ¡°I can take care of that chubby girl. Although she is very sloppy.¡± He recalled how she had ice cream smeared all over her. At the mention of Xiaojiao, Ming Ansheng felt as though his whole body and heart had melted into a puddle. Images of the adorable girl flashed in his mind. He asked Beibei, ¡°Is she cute?¡± ¡°She is cute.¡± Beibei nodded and added, ¡°But she is annoying.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t take Beibei¡¯s words too seriously as he was still a child. If someone else made this remark, he might have flared up. He hugged Beibei and said, ¡°You will have someone calling you as a brother. Why would it be annoying?¡± They reached his bedroom. Ming Ansheng placed Beibei on the bed and said, ¡°You sleep first. I need to shower.¡± Then he turned around and entered the bathroom. He took a quick shower and came out to find Beibei still wide awake. He looked as though something troubled him. Ming Ansheng strode to him and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Daddy.¡± Beibei glanced at him. ¡°I want a mommy. I know my mommy and grandfather are in heaven and they will never come back. Can you find me a new mommy?¡± Sorrow seized Ming Ansheng when he looked into the depths of Beibei¡¯s clear eyes. He thought of Meiduo and he sat down. ¡°Why do you want a mommy?¡± asked Ming Ansheng softly. Beibei replied, ¡°If I have a mommy, Grandmother wouldn¡¯t need to go and meet the teachers. Her back is always aching recently.¡± He paused and playfully smiled. ¡°If I have a mommy, Daddy, you will have a woman. Then you won¡¯t smoke so much.¡± It surprised Ming Ansheng that Beibei had so many worries bugging him. And he was so sensible for his age. Chapter 1590. Daddy Has a Woman (part Three) Ming Ansheng was thankful yet his heart went out to his son. He kissed him lightly on his forehead. ¡°Sleep now.¡± He switched off the lights. Beibei grunted sleepily in response. When Ming Ansheng laid down on the bed, Beibei put his arm around his. This was the first time Ming Ansheng slept with him ever since he came to the family four years ago. He was his father in name, but he had never fulfilled his duty at all. He felt ashamed towards Meiduo. ¡®I want a mommy¡­¡¯ Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t sleep, and Beibei¡¯s words rang like a curse in his mind. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ But Yueyue didn¡¯t want him anymore. ¡­ Outside of Flourish & Splendor, dozens of flashy branded cars were parked outside during dismissal time. Throngs of children clad in their uniforms would rush out from the school and towards their own cars. Ming Beichen gripped the handles of his backpack, as he got in the car with no haste. The chauffeur shut the door after Beibei, before getting in the driver seat. He pressed the ignition button. Beibei suddenly spoke up when they reached the first traffic junction. ¡°Uncle Zhao, I want to go to Uncle Third Yan¡¯s house. You know the way, right? I want to go there for a while.¡± The chauffeur turned towards Beibei and smiled. ¡°Let me inform the old madam first.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Beibei stood up and snatched the phone away from the chauffeur. ¡°Don¡¯t call her. I¡¯m just going to Uncle Third Yan¡¯s house. Why are you so worried? I won¡¯t get lost.¡± Everyone in the capital city was aware that Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng were close friends since they were kids. The chauffeur noticed that Beibei seemed rather secretive that he insisted on not informing anyone. Hence, he decided against sending him. His job was to fetch him safely from his school back to his house. ¡°If we are late, the old madam would call and question me.¡± Beibei held on tightly to the chauffeur¡¯s phone. He pursed his lips and pressed on. ¡°Wait until she calls you.¡± The chauffeur was conflicted. ¡°Little young master, I can¡¯t do this.¡± Beibei snorted coldly in response. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, I shall tell my daddy that you were late for ten minutes the other day.¡± Actually, he didn¡¯t want to use this as a threat against him, but he had no other choice. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± The chauffeur relented and said, ¡°Alright then.¡± If his boss knew that he was late, he might lose his job. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Zhao.¡± Beibei beamed happily as he politely thanked him. He returned his phone. He slumped back against the car seat as he looked out of the window. His eyes were glinting with a cheeky and sly gleam. ¡­ The old butler heard the doorbell and came out of the guardhouse. He saw a boy in uniform standing outside the door, and he curiously surveyed him. Although Beibei met Xuxu and Yan Rusheng often, he had never been to their house. This was the first time. Hence, the butler didn¡¯t recognize him. ¡°Who is it?¡± Mu Li came out of the house when she realized that the butler didn¡¯t open the door. She walked towards the door. Beibei saw Mu Li and smiled as he waved. ¡°Grandmother Mu, I¡¯m Beibei. Do you remember me?¡± Mu Li was rather surprised to see him, so she hastened her footsteps. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Beibei.¡± She met Beibei before. And occasionally, she would bump into Wang Yuexiang with Beibei when she brought the twins to the indoor playground. Mu Li hastily opened the door and beckoned to Beibei. ¡°Come in!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to play with Wenxin and the rest of them,¡± Beibei said to Mu Li as he entered. Chapter 1591. Daddy Has a Woman (part Four) He was here to play with Wenxin? Mu Li frowned in suspicion before nodding. ¡°Oh, sure.¡± This child didn¡¯t really have that many interactions with Yangyang and Meowmeow. Why would he come to their house to look for them? And they had an age gap of four years. Would he enjoy playing with them? She was merely curious about the reason behind Beibei¡¯s sudden visit. Nevertheless, she was still happy to see him. ¡°Yangyang! Meowmeow! Look who is here to play with you!¡± Mu Li yelled towards the second level. Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing scrambled to get to the staircase. Both of them peered down excitedly from the landing. They raced each other as they descended the stairs. Beibei peered behind Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing and was disappointed to see only the both of them. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked dejected. He glanced at Mu Li and asked, ¡°Grandmother Mu, Xiaojiao is not at home?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mu Li was dumbstruck for a moment. So, this boy was here to look for Xiaojiao? She contemplated briefly before smiling at him. ¡°Xiaojiao went out with her mother. They should be back soon.¡± Beibei nodded happily. ¡°Okay!¡± He waved at Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Big Brother!¡± Yan Wenxin saw Beibei and ran towards him. She warmly called him. The girl was wearing a pale green dress and her hair was braided. She had bangs which covered her forehead, and her eyes were huge and bright. She looked extremely sweet and adorable. Beibei stretched his hand to hold her arm. ¡°I have a present for you.¡± It delighted Yan Wenxin when she heard that. She extended both hands and asked, ¡°What present?¡± Beibei walked to the couch instead and placed his bag on the floor. He took out a piece of drawing and passed it to Wenxin. ¡°I drew a picture of you.¡± Wenxin received the drawing. There was a girl wearing a red dress with braids. Birds, flowers, and grass surrounded her, and there was a bright sun shining. She loved it. ¡°Thank you, Brother!¡± Her voice rang sweetly and clearly. This boy came here prepared. He paid them a sudden visit and claimed that he wanted to play with Nuoxing and Wenxin. Then he asked about Xiaojiao and even gave Wenxin a drawing. What was his motive? Mu Li watched them quietly from a corner as she tried to read Beibei¡¯s mind. Beibei wasn¡¯t close with the twins and they hardly played together. They met a few months ago and she heard from Wenxin that they played together. But two months had already passed. Perhaps this fellow fell in love with their Wenxin? Wasn¡¯t this¡­ too early? Madam Mu Li, your thoughts are simply too vile! ¡°Brother¡­ Brother¡­¡± Mu Li was deep in thought when Su Xiaojiao¡¯s voice jolted her back to reality. She sounded excited and overjoyed. She turned around and caught a glimpse of the girl running past her. She dashed towards Yan Nuoxing. ¡°Xiaojiao, not so fast!¡± Su Yue was trailing behind her. Her voice preceded her presence before she entered. She got a shock when she saw Beibei. Mu Li noticed her expression and smiled to her. ¡°This boy came here after school.¡± Su Yue nodded in response. ¡°Sister.¡± Beibei glanced towards the door when he saw Su Xiaojiao. He knew that Su Yue would be right behind, so he rose and walked towards her. Chapter 1592. Daddy Has a Woman (part Five) Su Yue didn¡¯t know how to reply, so she just smiled. Beibei came to Su Yue and smiled as brightly as he could. ¡°Stepmother¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s face fell. Beibei instantly corrected himself. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m here to play with Xiaojiao.¡± Mu Li was speechless¡­ When Beibei addressed Su Yue as ¡®stepmother¡¯, Madam Mu Li immediately caught on. This little fellow was here for Su Yue. Kids nowadays were really too mature. He was here to court a woman on behalf of his father, and he even prepared so much in advance. He had won over the twins with his presents. Su Yue frowned suspiciously at Beibei. He was here to play with Xiaojiao? When was he this close to Xiaojiao? She remembered seeing him with Xiaojiao at the playground only once. And that was the day that Ming Ansheng had secretly taken Xiaojiao away. Furthermore, Xiaojiao didn¡¯t mention him at all. Forget it. He was just a young boy. Why should she think so much? Su Yue murmured ¡®oh¡¯ and swept past Beibei. ¡°Xiaojiao, there are plenty of germs outside. Let¡¯s go wash hands first.¡± Su Yue carried Xiaojiao. Beibei watched Su Yue as she walked away, and a sly grin played at the corners of his mouth. He went back to the couch to get his phone. ¡®Uncle Zhao, I told my daddy to fetch me at night. You can go back first.¡¯ After he sent the text, he continued with another text to Ming Ansheng. ¡®Daddy, I¡¯m here at Uncle Third Yan¡¯s house. I¡¯m playing with Xiaojiao. Can you come and fetch me later?¡¯ He grinned happily and covered his mouth. ¡°Brother.¡± Xiaojiao came down from the stairs, and she had already changed into a set of comfortable lounge wear. Her skirt ended at her knees, revealing her chubby-looking legs. She held on to the railing as she came down. Beibei immediately walked towards her. ¡°Let me hold you.¡± The boy quickly went up the stairs and extended his hand towards Xiaojiao. Su Yue watched them quietly from the staircase landing. The older brother and younger sister. She couldn¡¯t help but picture them as siblings. She had never thought that Xiaojiao would ever be in the same picture as Ming Ansheng¡¯s child. It happened so abruptly, yet so naturally. She was feeling rather cool about this. She felt that as long as she remained composed, none of this would matter. ¡°Who are you?¡± Su Xiaojiao asked Beibei after they came down from the stairs. She raised her head and stared at Beibei with a frown. Perhaps this boy looked vaguely familiar. Beibei beamed at her. ¡°I¡¯m an older brother. Just call me Brother as I¡¯m actually your real brother.¡± He stroked Xiaojiao¡¯s hair gently. His smile and actions revealed his affection and love for her. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows tightly. Something didn¡¯t seem right. It seemed like this boy was deliberately trying to get close to Xiaojiao? Was he here to take her away? No¡­ would he? Would he take Xiaojiao away from her? ¡®Uncle Ming, please don¡¯t do this. Don¡¯t¡­ let me hate you.¡¯ ¡­ The children sat on the couch watching TV. They had just finished playing with their toys and it was chaotic everywhere. After a long day, Mu Li was drained so she went upstairs to rest. Su Yue was left to take care of them. Chapter 1593. Daddy Has a Woman (part Six) It was so noisy that Su Yue couldn¡¯t read her magazine. She sat at a corner of the couch. ¡°Mommy, look at my drawing.¡± Suddenly, Su Xiaojiao came to her with a drawing book. She pointed at some colorful scribbles. Su Yue studied her drawing with a frown for a short while, before glancing at Xiaojiao. ¡°Pfft!¡± Su Xiaojiao¡¯s face was just like her scribbles. Her whole face was smeared with different colors. It didn¡¯t really affect her aesthetic appeal, but she looked silly and cute¡ªjust like a little kitten. Su Yue exploded in laughter as she extended her hand to wipe Xiaojiao¡¯s mouth. ¡°You can¡¯t put the crayons in your mouth. It¡¯s harmful.¡± Beibei suddenly turned around. And to Su Yue, he replied, ¡°This isn¡¯t harmful. I bought this specially for her. It¡¯s environmentally friendly and safe for children.¡± Was this boy really only eight years old? Environmentally friendly and safe for children? His intentions were way too obvious. Su Yue glanced at Beibei and he peered at her with his clear and bright eyes. His eyes sparkled like stars, and he looked so innocent and pure. She couldn¡¯t help but recall the first time she saw Beibei. He was around Wenxin¡¯s age four years ago, and he was holding hands with Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather. He seemed scared as he looked at Ming Ansheng. He addressed Ming Ansheng as ¡®daddy¡¯ so softly and carefully. They should be very close by now. Meiduo was gone, so he should love this boy even more. ¡°It¡¯s really environmentally friendly. I took 200 yuan from my piggy bank to buy it.¡± Beibei widened his eyes as he tried to explain to Su Yue. Su Yue smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I didn¡¯t believe you.¡± Children deserved all the encouragement and affirmation they could have. Whenever she did something she was proud of, she always wished that there would be someone to pat her head. She wanted someone to praise her. But all she received were indifference, sarcasm, and mockery. So ever since she had Xiaojiao, she would always lavish her with praise even though it was just a tiny achievement, such as feeding herself. Even if the child belonged to someone else, she wanted to praise him too. When Beibei heard that Su Xiaojiao believed him, he curled his lips happily. He turned to Xiaojiao and said, ¡°Next time I¡¯ll buy you the zodiac signs coloring book.¡± It delighted Xiaojiao. ¡°Thank you, Brother.¡± It was easy for children to become friends. As long as the other child was nice to her. If someone was mean to her, she would dislike him. It was merely an hour and the girl had addressed Beibei as her brother. And she was warm and affectionate towards him. Before today, she was still clinging on to Nuoxing. But now she had cast him aside. Su Xiaojiao held her crayon and started scribbling. Beibei was behind her as he guided her by holding her hand. Su Yue watched this peaceful and loving scene, and it conflicted her. She wasn¡¯t sure if she should pull them apart. They shouldn¡¯t have met each other at all, not to mention spending time together. Xiaojiao was her daughter with Jiao Chen. She wanted it to stay that way. She knew that once she returned, their peaceful life would be disrupted. The truth behind Xiaojiao¡¯s parentage would be uncovered, eventually. And he¡­ would find out the truth, eventually. Chapter 1594. Daddy Has a Woman (part Seven) But Su Yue didn¡¯t know that it would be this soon. ¡°Beibei.¡± A familiar man¡¯s voice sounded from the doors. Su Yue was momentarily stunned before she recovered herself. A towering figure entered the living room. He wore his usual outfit of a white shirt and a pair of black pants. His face seemed a little aged after these years. But it didn¡¯t affect his gorgeous appearance at all. Ming Ansheng turned to Su Yue the moment he entered. Their eyes met and Su Yue¡¯s expression remained stoic. She tore her eyes away from the man and landed on Su Xiaojiao. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips and became glum, but he continued to take big strides towards the couch. ¡°My daddy is here.¡± Beibei saw Ming Ansheng and he nudged Xiaojiao. He eagerly said, ¡°He bought you ice cream that day. Do you remember?¡± Xiaojiao shrunk her neck instinctively when she saw Ming Ansheng. Her expression registered fear. Ming Ansheng was initially excited and pleased to see his daughter. But his eyes flickered when he noticed her fear, and he became forlorn. The desire to carry Xiaojiao vanished as he limply hung his hands. He was dejected. In order not to scare Xiaojiao even more, he stopped a few steps away from her. He bent and smiled at her. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± He knew that this was all his fault. He had badly frightened Xiaojiao from the way he treated Su Yue. Any child would have been frightened. Xiaojiao raised her head and she stared at Ming Ansheng. She pursed her lips and her dewy-looking eyes glistened. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart went out to her. He stretched his hands to pull some tissues and tried to wipe her tears. Xiaojiao hastily rubbed her eyes. Her eyes were red but she didn¡¯t cry. Ming Ansheng clenched the tissues tightly in his fist. ¡°Hello, Uncle Ming.¡± Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing greeted Ming Ansheng politely. Ming Ansheng glanced at them with a smile. ¡°Your daddy and mommy are not home yet?¡± Yan Wenxin shook her head. ¡°Mommy and daddy are working.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled before turning towards Su Yue. As though it was telepathy, Su Yue also turned her head towards him. She appeared calm as she looked into his eyes. His heart was billowing with a plethora of emotions because of her calmness. He pressed his lips tightly, and a bitter smile played at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Beibei, time to go home.¡± Ming Ansheng turned to Beibei. Beibei pouted and protested. ¡°Daddy, I want to play for a while more. Can you wait for me?¡± He was pleading with such an endearing expression that he couldn¡¯t bear to reject him. Ming Ansheng was about to speak when Beibei interjected, ¡°You can chat with Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy.¡± He turned to Xiaojiao and gripped her hand once more. He gently said, ¡°Xiaojiao, I will teach you how to draw another picture.¡± He wanted to give his daddy and his pretty stepmother more time together. Su Xiaojiao was enjoying herself, and she was delighted that Beibei wanted to draw with her. She nodded furiously. ¡°Okay.¡± The little princess was having fun, and Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t bear to end it. So he glanced around to find a place to sit. The whole couch was occupied with toys and the only available space was next to Su Yue. Chapter 1595. Daddy Has a Woman (part Eight) Ming Ansheng hesitated before walking towards the couch. He sat down next to Su Yue. ¡°Do you want water?¡± Su Yue placed the magazine down and asked Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng shook his head and replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He intertwined his fingers gracefully, with his elbows resting on his thighs. He appeared to be looking at Beibei and Xiaojiao, but his attention and thoughts were with Su Yue. During these four years that she was overseas, he felt that mountains and oceans separated them. She was so far from him. But right now, she was sitting next to him. But then, he felt that the distance between them didn¡¯t diminish at all. She was right next to him, but he couldn¡¯t let her know how much he missed her. He couldn¡¯t hug or touch her. Ming Ansheng¡¯s intertwined fingers tightened and loosened repeatedly. Suddenly, she stood up. A whiff of a familiar scent assailed his nose and it consumed him entirely. He raised his head to peer at her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He had blurted out unconsciously. Su Yue bent her head to look at him. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips, and he appeared nervous. ¡°Can you¡­¡± He hesitated as though the words were stuck in his throat. ¡°Uncle Ming?¡± Su Yue glanced at Ming Ansheng and she looked puzzled. She still called him ¡®Uncle Ming¡¯, but he didn¡¯t feel surprised. That was how she addressed him when they first met. When she came back, she didn¡¯t deliberately avoid nor distanced herself from him. And that was why he was disappointed. It was as if nothing had happened between them. But then, everything had already changed completely. Ming Ansheng fell silent and finally mustered his courage. ¡°Can you sit with me for a while?¡± Just for a while. It had become a kind of luxury for him to hope that she would sit quietly next to him. He didn¡¯t know how to make her stay years ago, nor did he know how to fight for her. Before he came to any decisions, he always weighed the pros and cons. He had no idea that love was immeasurable. If you treasured love, then it will stay with you for a lifetime. If you treat it lightly, it will leave you without a trace. And it will drown you in regrets and agony. So, Su Yue was his love. Although he knew that his love for Su Yue and Meiduo was different, he assumed that he would be able to get over her as time went by. But it had never crossed his mind that after four years his love for her would unexpectedly deepen. True love was so painful. He regretted how he didn¡¯t grab and stop her from leaving. Even if she had to become a stepmother to his son, he could still love and dote on her like his beloved child. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a cup of water.¡± Su Yue deliberated before saying. She turned around and walked to the water dispenser. She took the cup to Ming Ansheng. Her hands were still so slender and fair. Her fingernails had a healthy pinkish tinge to it. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart seemed to have softened at the sight of her hands. He silently received the cup of water without thanking her. He felt that there wasn¡¯t a need for formalities between them. Su Yue sat down again, looking perfectly normal. After these years, she had matured and she became more refined and graceful. Ming Ansheng turned to her. ¡°Are you staying here with Xiaojiao?¡± Actually, he ended work late each night. But he would still detour to the apartment and it had become a habit. So, he knew where they were staying at the moment. He didn¡¯t know how to start a conversation, but he really wanted to. Chapter 1596. Daddy Has a Woman (part Nine) It had been four years since he last heard her voice. ¡°Jiao Chen will be coming here later. We¡¯ll go back after dinner,¡± replied Su Yue in a soft tone of voice. She still sounded nonchalant. ¡°Oh.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and he smiled bitterly to himself. Both of them fell silent again. ¡°Mommy, give me marks.¡± Su Xiaojiao turned around and ran towards Su Yue with her drawing. She came to Su Yue and waved her drawing eagerly. Su Yue received her drawing and Xiaojiao pointed at the three given options. The first option was awesome, the second was great, and the last was to put in more effort. ¡°Yeah, our Xiaojiao is too awesome.¡± Su Yue stretched her hand and prodded Xiaojiao¡¯s chubby cheeks. Then she put a tick for the first option. Xiaojiao jumped ecstatically and exclaimed, ¡°Thank you, Mommy!¡± She climbed onto Su Yue¡¯s back and put her hands around her neck. Then she gave her a kiss on her cheek. The little girl was so adorable that Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart fluttered with overwhelming affection. He had an urge to extend his hands and pull both of them into his embrace. How wonderful it must be to hug them. Ming Ansheng watched Xiaojiao and Su Yue intently, and unknowingly, someone was watching him intently. Beibei was still a child, so he didn¡¯t know how he should describe the way his daddy was looking at Su Yue and Xiaojiao. He couldn¡¯t read his mind either. He only knew that his daddy loved Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy. Grandmother remarked that his daddy smoked too much every day. Hence, he was determined to make sure that Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy would become his stepmother one day. Beibei was hit by a sudden streak of inspiration, and he grinned at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Daddy, shall we eat dinner at Uncle Third Yan¡¯s house?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s train of thoughts was disrupted, and he glanced at Beibei with a frown. Of course, he knew what was on his son¡¯s mind. He hadn¡¯t been keeping an eye on him, and that was why he had matured so quickly. His eight-year-old son was fretting about his happiness. And his ridiculous logic of ¡®If a man smokes a lot, it¡¯s usually because of women or money problems.¡¯ And his son was adamant that he lacked a woman. F*ck. Was it that obvious that he needed a woman? Even a child could tell? Beibei observed Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression. Although his daddy was frowning, he didn¡¯t seem angry. So he attempted once more. ¡°Uncle Third Yan and Aunt Xuxu are not home yet. Since you¡¯re here, you should wait for them to come back.¡± He beamed brightly as he pointed at Yan Nuoxing, who was playing by himself. ¡°I will go play with Nuoxing for a while.¡± ¡°Go home now.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly rose and grabbed Beibei¡¯s hand. He grabbed the boy¡¯s schoolbag with the other hand and strode quickly to the door. Beibei was usually very obedient. So when his daddy insisted on going home, he didn¡¯t dare to protest. The boy¡¯s mouth sank gloomily, and he turned to Su Xiaojiao and Su Yue. ¡°Future sister, future stepmother. Goodbye.¡± Future stepmother? Future sister? What the heck! Ming Ansheng and Su Yue frowned at the same time and were both exasperated. ¡°Young Master Ming, aren¡¯t you staying for dinner?¡± The father and son had already reached the courtyard when the butler came to greet them. Chapter 1597. Daddy Has a Woman (part Ten) Ming Ansheng managed a tiny smile at the butler, but he didn¡¯t stop. He marched quickly out of the courtyard. He reached his car and then opened the door before stuffing Beibei inside. He turned around and went to the driver¡¯s seat. After fastening his seatbelt, he ignited the engine. The series of actions was seamless. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re a coward.¡± The car sped for some time before Beibei¡¯s disgruntled voice broke the silence. It startled Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re indeed a coward¡­ It was as though someone had exposed his well-hidden weakness all these years. He smiled bitterly to himself. ¡®Even a child could tell how timid and cowardly you are. You didn¡¯t dare to fight for her,¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself. ¡°Daddy, does Xiaojiao have a daddy?¡± asked Beibei. Ming Ansheng answered, ¡°Of course, she has a daddy.¡± Although he had just found out that Xiaojiao was his daughter, this exhilarating piece of news had entered his subconscious. So, he replied without hesitation that Xiaojiao had a father¡ªhe was the father. Beibei was in despair when he heard his answer. After a brief period of silence, he said, ¡°Then¡­ you should give up.¡± Ming Ansheng was about to turn around when Beibei quipped, ¡°Daddy, I don¡¯t want you to be the third-party.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ Third-party¡­ How he wished he could be the third party and split them up. Then he would snatch Xiaojiao and Su Yue away. But she had already warned him not to do anything to make her hate him. So, he abandoned that thought out of fear. ¡­ It was getting dark after dinner. Xiaojiao fell asleep on Su Yue¡¯s lap the minute they entered the car after a long day. Su Yue gazed at the girl and fell into a reverie. Suddenly, she glanced at Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao, shall we go back to Country M?¡± She missed the quiet and peaceful life that they had before. She had been feeling jittery and worried these few days. She felt paranoid, as though she was about to lose something. Could it be Xiaojiao? No! There was no way she would give Xiaojiao to him. And she understood him too well. He would never snatch from her. Nevertheless, she still felt uneasy. Their decision to return was too abrupt, although she did come back for her third brother and third sister-in-law¡¯s wedding. ¡°Su Yue, you can¡¯t keep running away.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s gentle voice sounded. Su Yue shook her head to prevent her imagination from running wild. She glanced at Jiao Chen and changed the topic. ¡°How is the progress for the orphanage?¡± Jiao Chen nodded. ¡°It¡¯s almost completed.¡± ¡°Your mother is really going back to the orphanage?¡± Su Yue asked apprehensively. Jiao Chen¡¯s mother seemed to lead a good life with Jiao Chen¡¯s father and his family. Why would she go back to the orphanage? That orphanage was too rundown. So, the first thing Jiao Chen did when he came back was to renovate it. He did it for the sake of the children and also for his mother. They needed a better environment. Jiao Chen smiled. ¡°She would be happy there with the children.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we fetch her back to stay with us? Isn¡¯t that better?¡± Su Yue frowned as she couldn¡¯t understand. If his mother couldn¡¯t get used to the new family, she could always stay with her son. Didn¡¯t she miss her son at all? Jiao Chen answered airily, ¡°She prefers familiarity. So she wants to go back to the place she had stayed for half her life.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Su Yue pouted and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s visit her often then. It¡¯s not that far from the capital city.¡± Chapter 1598. If Only We Have a Future Jiao Chen merely smiled as he gazed ahead. The expression in his twinkling eyes seemed to turn deeper, and his smile slowly vanished. Xiaojiao was whining from the back, probably because of her uncomfortable position. Her voice seemed to tighten the reins around his heart. Susu! If only we have a future. How wonderful that would be. ¡­ ¡°Jiao, I really hope you would consider this carefully. At least you will still have a three to five percent chance of survival.¡± Jiao Chen¡¯s head was bowed as he stared at his phone. He looked forlorn and somber. Su Yue had just finished her shower, and she walked into the room. At that moment, she spotted Jiao Chen looking rather sadly at his phone. She hastened her footsteps towards him. ¡°What happened?¡± asked Su Yue, in a concerned tone. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Jiao Chen shook his head to dispel her worries. He cast his phone aside before collapsing on the bed. Su Yue sat down beside him. She was still rubbing her hair with a towel. The light scent of her shampoo assailed his nostrils. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from playing with a lock of her hair. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the hairdryer to dry my hair.¡± Su Yue suddenly stood up. Jiao Chen stood up as well and said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± He went to the bathroom and brought the hairdryer out. Su Yue sat down on the sofa to wait for Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen stood beside Su Yue as he gently ruffled her hair. He placed his fingers through her hair and glided them through the strands. He took his time to dry her hair properly. His fingers felt warm, yet his touch was so soft. Su Yue had no idea what she had been doing this entire day. She was completely drained. She rested her head on Jiao Chen¡¯s lap, and she shut her eyes. The whirring sounds of the hairdryer died down a little. Jiao Chen adjusted the speed of the hairdryer. Everything was peaceful right now. She had no worries or concerns. ¡°Su Yue, are you asleep?¡± ¡°Susu¡­¡± Su Yue thought that she heard Jiao Chen¡¯s voice in her dreams. Was it Jiao Chen? He was calling her Susu. He sounded sad and helpless, but she was too tired. She felt something light and soft brushing against her lips swiftly. It felt surreal. When she woke up the next morning, it was a bright and warm day. The skies were blue, with fluffy white clouds. She drew the curtains apart. Everything felt peaceful, just like yesterday. Su Yue stretched her arms and body. She turned around to the bed. Didn¡¯t Jiaojiao dry her hair yesterday? Why was she sleeping on the bed then? ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao woke up at that moment. The girl had regained her energy and vitality the moment she woke up. She sat upright the moment she opened her eyes. ¡°Go brush your teeth. I¡¯ll prepare your breakfast.¡± Su Yue walked over and carried Xiaojiao. Her pajamas were warm enough for her. ¡°Mommy, where is Daddy?¡± They were brushing their teeth together when Xiaojiao suddenly thought of Jiao Chen. She turned to Su Yue as she asked her. Because of the other children¡¯s influence on her, Xiaojiao insisted that Su Yue had to sleep with Jiao Chen every night. So, Jiao Chen had no choice but to wake up earlier every morning so that Xiaojiao could see him the moment she opened her eyes. She had assumed that Mommy and Daddy were both sleeping together. And they were a happy family. It would have slipped Su Yue¡¯s mind if Xiaojiao didn¡¯t ask. That¡¯s right. Why didn¡¯t Jiao Chen came over this morning? Chapter 1599. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldn’t Be Compared to You (part One) Did he forget to wake up? Su Yue coaxed Xiaojiao and said, ¡°Daddy woke up really early today.¡± Xiaojiao nodded and continued to brush her teeth. Xiaojiao stood on a high stool next to Su Yue as they brushed their teeth in front of a mirror. After brushing their teeth and washing up, Su Yue carried Xiaojiao out of the room. The first thing she did was to glance at Jiao Chen¡¯s room. His door was shut. He was still sleeping? These few days, he had been busy with the orphanage and his job at the school. He must be exhausted. Her heart went out to him, and she trod lightly across the living room. ¡°Daddy is too tired and he went back to sleep. So Xiaojiao, let¡¯s be quiet alright? Mommy will make breakfast for you now.¡± She was afraid that Xiaojiao would be too loud and might disturb Jiao Chen¡¯s sleep. So, she placed her down and gave her a firm instruction. Xiaojiao obediently nodded. ¡°Okay. I will be quiet.¡± She stretched her hands and picked up a monkey pillow on the sofa. She hugged the monkey and pressed her lips against it. She sealed her lips so that she wouldn¡¯t disturb her daddy. Su Yue was pleased to see how sensible Xiaojiao was. She stroked her hair before going to the kitchen. She was startled when she entered the kitchen. There was a post-it note on the refrigerator. ¡°Susu, A University invited me for a microchip testing. I will be away for the next few days. Bring Xiaojiao over to stay with your third brother for the next few days.¡± He wrote a short message to inform her of his work trip. But Su Yue¡¯s heart felt as heavy as a rock. She crumpled the post-it note in her hand. Why did he have such a sudden work trip? He didn¡¯t mention anything yesterday. Su Yue turned around and left the kitchen. She strode to Jiao Chen¡¯s room and opened the door. The curtains were drawn and the bed was neat and tidy. Jiao Chen was a tidy person who loved cleanliness. He had a habit of drawing the curtains and making his bed every morning. So, Su Yue had no idea what time had Jiaojiao left. She closed the door behind her, and she peered around the living room. It was weird not to see Jiao Chen walking around with an apron around his waist. Her heart sank once more. Jiaojiao had really become one of her habits. He had always greeted her in the morning before he left for work or school. This was the first time he had left abruptly, without informing her in advance. ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao stared at Su Yue for a long time as she stood outside Jiao Chen¡¯s room. Xiaojiao blinked her eyes. Su Yue smiled. ¡°Breakfast will be ready soon.¡± She returned to her room to get her phone and walked out as she dialed Jiao Chen¡¯s number. The call got through and a lovely song sounded. ¡®Ten miles of a spring breeze couldn¡¯t be compared to you¡­ I had to suppress this love in my heart¡­ Time will reveal my love¡­ and it will give meaning to my longing¡­ Ten miles of a spring breeze couldn¡¯t be compared to you¡­ I had to suppress this love in my heart¡­ The setting sun can attest to my love, for I have fallen for you¡­¡¯ Su Yue was surprised when she heard the song. She glanced at the number, wondering if she had dialed wrongly. After making sure that it was indeed Jiaojiao¡¯s number, she broke into a grin. This fellow had chosen this song as his caller ring-back tone. ¡®Ten miles of a spring breeze couldn¡¯t be compared to you¡­ I had to suppress this love in my heart¡­ The setting sun can attest to my love.¡¯ She placed the phone to her ear and the song played again. Jiao Chen didn¡¯t answer, and Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows. She was about to end the call when the call got through. Chapter 1600. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldn’t Be Compared to You (part Two) ¡°Hello.¡± It was Jiao Chen and his voice was still so gentle and warm. Su Yue placed the phone back to her ear. ¡°Jiaojiao, where did you go for your trip? Why didn¡¯t you inform me about it yesterday?¡± ¡°A faraway place.¡± Jiao Chen replied with a hint of amusement in his tone. A faraway place¡­ Su Yue¡¯s heart jerked when she heard him, although she knew that Jiao Chen was joking. Nevertheless, she was still a little paranoid. ¡°What?!¡± Jiaojiao grinned and replied, ¡°I¡¯m joking. I¡¯m in N City. Stay with your third brother for the next few days, alright?¡± Su Yue murmured in response before asking, ¡°When will you be back?¡± Jiao Chen softly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Depends on the progress.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t read too much into his reply and said, ¡°Remember to take good care of yourself.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Jiao Chen mumbled over the line. There was a trace of subtle longing, reluctance, and yearning in his voice. Su Yue leaned against the refrigerator and pressed on, ¡°Call me every night. Xiaojiao will miss you¡­¡± Jiao Chen mumbled in response. Su Yue added, ¡°I¡­ I will miss you too.¡± When the words came out of her mouth, she felt a strange and light feeling. There was an indescribable feeling in her heart. It was barely detectable. As though it didn¡¯t exist. But it did. ¡°Alright. I will miss both of you very much.¡± He exhaled deeply after hanging up. He raised his head and peered helplessly at the sky. It was May and the school was brimming with vitality. Trees were growing with thick green leaves everywhere. The tall young man was walking on a path. His white t-shirt complimented his gorgeous features. He was like a passing white cloud or a cold snow lotus atop a lofty mountain. He was casually strolling with his hands deep in his pockets. He was reminiscing about the past and grieving at the same time. ¡®Senior Jiao Chen, the school belle wants you to woo her!¡¯ ¡®The school belle says that whoever who wins the match will win her heart!¡¯ The indoor basketball court was empty at this time in the morning. The man sat on one of the seats as he gazed at the empty basketball court. A gentle smile appeared on his face. ¡®I thought you wanted me to woo you?¡¯ ¡®If I woo you, will you accept me?¡¯ ¡®Sure.¡¯ He roamed around the entire school. He went to all the places that they went to before. ¡®So, in the future, I will call you Jiaojiao. It¡¯s a term of endearment.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m the only one who can call you Jiaojiao¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m the only one who can call you Jiaojiao¡­¡¯ His heart followed his gut feeling. And his feet followed his heart. Jiao Chen stopped outside the outdoor basketball court. He watched the basketball players in court. ¡®I¡¯m not stupid, I just don¡¯t understand.¡¯ ¡®Can you teach me?¡¯ ¡®Give me another chance, I promise to work hard.¡¯ Jiao Chen withdrew his gaze and glanced at his elbow. His eyes were stinging. His eyes were swollen and red. He raised his head to face the sky as he inhaled deeply. He was slightly trembling. His raging emotions attacked him like a ferocious beast, and he couldn¡¯t control it. He raised his feet and hastily strode away. He wanted to escape and find an exit where he could abandon all his worries and yearning. But his world was rapidly turning dark. Where was the exit? ¡­ Early in the morning, only a few were present in the President¡¯s office in Flourish & Prosper. Chapter 1601. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Three) Su Yue entered the President¡¯s office, looking anxious. She simply barged in without knocking. Wen Xuxu was wiping Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk with a rag. Yan Rusheng wasn¡¯t around. Upon seeing Su Yue, Xuxu was startled. ¡°Third sister-in-law, do you know where Jiao Chen is?¡± Su Yue came to Xuxu, and she looked extremely anxious and worried. Xuxu¡¯s hand violently jerked, and she looked stumped for words. Shortly, she resumed her wiping and she asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Su Yue continued anxiously, ¡°He said he will be away on a work trip for a few days. But it has been half a month, and he is still not back.¡± Her eyes were red and glistening. Xuxu paused her actions and she fell silent. She continued apprehensively, ¡°He¡­ did he call you?¡± ¡°He calls me every night. Although he says he is coming back soon, I¡¯m so scared.¡± Su Yue glanced at Xuxu worriedly. ¡°Is he never coming back?¡± She intertwined her fingers, looking distressed and desperate. At the sight of Su Yue, Xuxu¡¯s eyes flickered violently. ¡°Why would you think in that way?¡± She didn¡¯t look at Su Yue. Su Yue noticed Xuxu¡¯s reaction and her uneasiness mounted. She grabbed Xuxu, looking exceedingly distressed. ¡°Third sister-in-law, do you know where he is? Can you tell me?¡± Xuxu bowed and shook her head. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Su Yue was certain that something was amiss. She scrutinized Xuxu¡¯s expression and pressed on, ¡°Is he hiding something from me?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t reply, instead, she tightened her grip on the rag. Su Yue noticed how tensed she looked. She knew. She knew where Jiao Chen was. Jiao Chen was hiding something from her. No. Every one of them was hiding something from her. A new wave of uneasiness and fear enveloped her entirely. She didn¡¯t have the courage to ask further. She paused before slowly saying, ¡°Third sister-in-law, you must let me know if anything happens. Xiaojiao and I miss him.¡± Her tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and she wiped them away. She took a deep breath and clung to Xuxu¡¯s arm. She pleaded with desperation in her voice, ¡°Xiaojiao is getting restless, and she is crying for her daddy every night. Third sister-in-law, just tell me where he is.¡± ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± Xuxu turned to Su Yue and her heart went out to her. Su Yue mopped her tears away. ¡°Third sister-in-law, you knew what happened right?¡± She hugged Xuxu and sobbed. ¡°Tell me. The day before he left, he was still drying my hair for me and he said goodnight as usual. But the next morning, he vanished.¡± She was sobbing so badly that she couldn¡¯t continue anymore. The prickling and unsettling feeling intensified. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Xuxu put her arms around Su Yue, and she patted her back gently. ¡°Don¡¯t let your thoughts run wild. He calls you every night, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Her voice was slightly trembling. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue retracted her hands and straightened her back. Her face was strewn with tears and she looked worked up. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want me and Xiaojiao any longer, it¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t blame him. I just want to know where is he right now.¡± She gripped Xuxu¡¯s hand and gazed at her silently. Xuxu¡¯s eyes were red and welling up with tears. Her words were choked in her throat. Chapter 1602. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Four) Xuxu pulled Su Yue into a tight embrace. ¡°Yueyue, don¡¯t be like this. Please don¡¯t cry. He said that he didn¡¯t want you to cry.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s wrong with him? Where is he now?¡± Su Yue¡¯s emotions were falling apart. She shoved Xuxu away and squatted down. She buried her head with her hands. ¡°He went to Country M.¡± Xuxu covered her mouth and her tears fell down. She took out a letter from her bag and passed it with trembling hands to Su Yue. There was a kitten on the pink envelope. Su Yue raised her head and blankly stared at it. After some time, she extended her hand towards the letter. She opened it and the first thing that caught her eye was Jiao Chen¡¯s neat handwriting. There were only two sentences. ¡®Susu, if I make it back to you, can you stop thinking of him in the future?¡¯ ¡®If I didn¡¯t manage to come back, love him with all your heart, alright?¡¯ ¡­ ¡°Third sister-in-law, take care of Xiaojiao for me,¡± Su Yue said to Xuxu as she rose. She contemplated for a moment before changing her mind. ¡°No, I want to bring Xiaojiao with me. If he sees Xiaojiao, he wouldn¡¯t bear to leave us.¡± She seemed out of sorts, and she staggered as she walked to the door. Xuxu caught up with Su Yue and pulled her arm. ¡°Yueyue, please don¡¯t do this.¡± Su Yue turned to Xuxu, and her face was glazed with tears. ¡°Third sister-in-law, Jiaojiao lived with me for the past four years.¡± How could he bid her goodbye with just a letter? How could he leave with just two sentences? ¡°I know, I understand,¡± Xuxu said in a constricted voice. ¡°Can¡¯t you just pretend he went to a faraway place?¡± She pulled Su Yue into her arms once more. Su Yue broke into loud wails. ¡°Why am I so dumb? His health was deteriorating and he kept losing weight. He always looks so sickly, and yet I didn¡¯t realize anything.¡± Xuxu closed her eyes in determination when she heard Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you there. I¡¯ll bring you to him so that you can accompany him.¡± She pushed Su Yue away and gripped her shoulders. She said in a choked voice, ¡°But you have to promise me one thing. Be strong.¡± Su Yue bit her lips and nodded furiously. She needed to be strong. In that way, Jiaojiao won¡¯t be worried. ¡­ They reached N City in Country M. The hospital seemed extra gloomy because of the rain. Su Yue wore a white dress which was Jiao Chen¡¯s favorite. She held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand as they trailed closely behind Xuxu. The corridors in the hospital were quiet in the afternoon. But the silence was unsettling. ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± They spotted Yan Rusheng outside the elevator. He looked extremely battered and exhausted. Su Yue let go of Xiaojiao¡¯s hand the moment she saw Yan Rusheng, and she darted towards him. ¡°Third Brother, where is Jiao Chen?!¡± She raised her head and looked at him intently. Fear filled her eyes. Yan Rusheng glanced at Su Yue without a word. Su Yue grabbed his arm. ¡°Where is Jiaojiao?¡± Yan Rusheng remained mum. ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xuxu yelled. Yan Rusheng finally spoke up. ¡°The success rate of the surgery was less than five percent¡­¡± His voice was hoarse and he sounded tired. He paused and added softly, ¡°He had the surgery this morning.¡± ¡°It was successful right?¡± Su Yue squeezed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm tightly. She peered at him without even blinking. Chapter 1603. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Five) Yan Rusheng raised his hand and patted Su Yue¡¯s shoulders lightly. ¡°Be strong.¡± ¡°The surgery must have gone well. I already brought Xiaojiao with me. I¡¯ll go see him.¡± Su Yue smiled and relinquished her grip on Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm. She turned around and walked to Xiaojiao. ¡°Su Yue.¡± Xuxu walked to her and hugged her. She pressed her lips and tried so hard to stop her tears from falling. ¡°Third Brother, tell me.¡± Su Yue pushed Xuxu away and grabbed Yan Rusheng once again. ¡°Jiao Chen¡¯s surgery went well, right? A miracle must have happened.¡± ¡°No, it didn¡¯t,¡± Yan Rusheng replied, looking somber. He repeated clearly once more to make sure that Su Yue heard him. ¡°Su Yue, Jiao Chen¡¯s surgery wasn¡¯t successful.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Su Yue roughly shoved Yan Rusheng away that it made him stumble a little. She took a step forward and yelled, ¡°Give Jiaojiao back to me!¡± Xuxu hurriedly grabbed Su Yue. In between her sobs, she said, ¡°Su Yue, don¡¯t do this. Jiao Chen would be sad to see you in this state. What he was most afraid of was to see you cry.¡± ¡°Give Jiaojiao back to me!¡± Su Yue shrieked hysterically and pushed Xuxu away. She bent to lift Xiaojiao. She ran everywhere to look for Jiao Chen. She asked everyone she saw about Jiaojiao. ¡°Come with me.¡± Yan Rusheng caught up with Su Yue and grabbed her arm. He dragged her with him. ¡­ Outside the hospital¡¯s mortuary. Su Yue¡¯s body was stiff, and she refused to budge. Yan Rusheng released her arm and said, ¡°He is inside.¡± Su Yue raised her head and tears fell down. ¡°Third Brother, how could you put Jiaojiao in this place? How could you allow him to stay with the dead people?¡± She walked with heavy footsteps towards the room. She gently pushed the door. Xiaojiao followed her. She was carrying the doll that Jiao Chen had bought for her. She had no idea what was happening. Her eyes were huge with fear, and she was afraid of Su Yue at the moment. There was a bed in the middle of the room. Su Yan was standing at the end of the bed, dressed in all black. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± Su Yue swiftly leaped forward. She carefully pulled the white cloth away. A familiar face met her eyes, and Su Yue shook her head repeatedly. ¡°No. Jiaojiao. You can¡¯t be here.¡± She pulled Jiao Chen¡¯s arm and sobbed. ¡°Get up. Jiaojiao, let¡¯s go back home. Let¡¯s go home. I won¡¯t think of him. I swear I would never think of him again.¡± But the man didn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Why is your hand so cold?¡± She placed his hand on her cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll rub your hand, then you won¡¯t be so cold.¡± ¡®Su Yue, are your hands cold?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll rub them for you.¡¯ ¡°Why didn¡¯t you trim your fingernails?¡± She rummaged in her bag to look for her keys. She found her nail clipper and said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡®Su Yue, why didn¡¯t you trim your fingernails? They are so long.¡¯ But the man refused to cooperate, and his fingers remained curled up. Su Yue gazed at Jiao Chen with her tear-strewn face. ¡°Straighten your fingers. I can¡¯t trim them for you now if you don¡¯t.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t bear to watch her any longer. She covered her mouth and turned to Yan Rusheng, as she sobbed quietly against his arm. ¡°Mommy! Mommy! What happened to Daddy?¡± Xiaojiao raised her face as she gazed at Su Yue. Su Yue sobbed in agony. ¡°Daddy doesn¡¯t want us anymore.¡± Xiaojiao immediately broke into wails. Chapter 1604. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Six) ¡°Yueyue, don¡¯t do this. Let Jiao Chen go in peace, alright?¡± Xuxu carried Xiaojiao and peered at Su Yue. She was sobbing badly as well. ¡°He didn¡¯t want you to cry and grieve for him. How could you let him down?¡± Xiaojiao was still wailing and yelling for her daddy. Xuxu patted Xiaojiao¡¯s back. ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t cry. Daddy didn¡¯t say that he didn¡¯t want you.¡± She coaxed her gently and turned around. ¡°Jiaojiao, how could you do this to me?¡± Su Yue heard Xuxu¡¯s words, and she managed to recover herself a little. Her tears fell continuously onto Jiao Chen¡¯s icy hand. She gazed at him. She continued to gaze at him for a long time. Her wonderful and gentle Jiaojiao. Had he disappeared completely from her life from now on? ¡­ In the empty house, there were wonderful memories at every corner. A layer of dust covered the round marble dining table. Su Yue¡¯s fair hand glided across the table. She pulled a chair away from the table and sat down. She continued to scribble on the dining table. When she came out of her daze, she realized that she had written Jiaojiao¡¯s name all over. ¡®Try my new creation. Honey chicken wings.¡¯ ¡®How was it?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a little sweet. But the taste is good.¡¯ ¡®That means it isn¡¯t good.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s really good, I swear.¡¯ Su Yue stared at an empty spot across the table. She could see Jiao Chen smiling, revealing rows of his teeth. His laughter was as pleasant as the spring breeze. She stretched her hand. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± There was nothing. There was a prickling sensation in her nose and she withdrew her hand. She pressed her palms against the table and rose slowly. She walked away. The glaring sunlight streamed in through the glass windows into the balcony. Su Yue touched the colorful swing chair before sitting down. She rested her head on it and she rocked herself to and fro. She closed her eyes and the gentle and refined man appeared once again. He was lying on the swing chair, and Xiaojiao clung to his chest like a little puppy. ¡®Let¡¯s renovate this place. We can put a swing chair here so that we can read a book in the afternoons. What do you think?¡¯ ¡®You decide as long as you like it.¡¯ That was what he always said. Tears rolled down her face and her lips sank once more. ¡®Su Yue, you¡¯re so beautiful.¡¯ In the sunlight, Jiao Chen caressed her cheeks gently. Then his soft lips landed on her forehead. Su Yue gave a violent shudder, and she opened her eyes. The sunlight was still glaring and the trees outside all looked the same. Everything remained unchanged, yet everything else had changed. Jiaojiao. Her Jiaojiao was gone forever? He had promised to build a garden for her and to be Xiaojiao¡¯s daddy. ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s voice sounded and ended Su Yue¡¯s train of thoughts. She hastily wiped her tears and smiled at the girl. ¡°Xiaojiao!¡± Su Yue carried Xiaojiao and kissed her. ¡°Where is Daddy?¡± Xiaojiao stared at Su Yue without blinking. Su Yue smiled. ¡°Daddy went to a faraway place.¡± Xiaojiao was sad and she pouted. ¡°When will he be back?¡± Chapter 1605. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Seven) ¡°When Xiaojiao is all grown up.¡± Su Yue wiped the tears off Xiaojiao¡¯s eyelashes. Xiaojiao used her small hands to wipe away her tears. She nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes began to sting. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead on Xiaojiao¡¯s. She gritted her teeth and dared not to make a sound. Daddy won¡¯t be coming back forever¡­ How was she supposed to tell Xiaojiao this harsh truth? Tears formed at the corner of her eyes. ¡°Mommy don¡¯t cry.¡± Su Xiaojiao extended her hand and carefully wiped away Su Yue¡¯s tears with her soft palm. ¡°Xiaojiao will grow up quickly.¡± She would grow up quickly, so Daddy would come back. Then Mommy won¡¯t cry anymore. Su Yue nodded and hugged her neck. ¡°Xiaojiao, you¡¯re a good girl.¡± ¡®Jiao Chen, you were the one who raised her to be such a well-behaved girl. How could you bear to¡­ ¡®How could you bear to leave just like that?¡¯ The house that they had lived in for four years was filled with memories of a family of three. It had been almost half a month, but it still felt like Jiao Chen was there. Su Yue cooked three dishes and a soup for dinner. She placed two bowls and chopsticks on the table. The warm light shone onto the table and it created a warm and blissful atmosphere. ¡°I learned a new dish today¡ªyour favorite pork with bamboo shoots. Try it.¡± Su Yue used her chopsticks to place some pork into his bowl. Jiao Chen picked up one slice of bamboo shoot and stuffed it into his mouth. He lowered his head and slowly chewed on the food. There was a faint smile on his face. Su Yue eagerly asked, ¡°How is it? How does it taste?¡± Jiao Chen looked at her and pressed his lips. ¡°99 marks.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°But I followed the online recipe exactly.¡± What she meant was, 99 marks were not good enough. She should have gotten full marks! She lowered her head and stuffed some into her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re always getting full marks.¡± Jiao Chen suddenly said in his gentle and melodious voice. Su Yue blinked in confusion. ¡°What?¡± She was still sulking so she wasn¡¯t paying attention to his words. Jiao Chen smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue smiled back and placed more food into his bowl. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight recently. Eat more.¡± ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao suddenly called from beside her. Su Yue broke out of her reverie and looked opposite her. The seat was empty, but the bowl was piled with food. Her eyes turned red, and she placed down her chopsticks. She buried her head in her hands, gritting her teeth as she looked away from Xiaojiao so that she couldn¡¯t see her. ¡®You¡¯re always getting full marks¡­¡¯ She finally realized what he meant: she was full marks in his eyes. She started sobbing silently. Why did she have to approach him back then? If it wasn¡¯t for her, he wouldn¡¯t have died. He would still be the cheerful and eye-catching Jiao Chen. The boy with a bright future ahead of him. ¡°Mommy.¡± Su Xiaojiao tugged her sleeve gently. Su Xiaojiao hurriedly wiped away her tears. Then she turned to look at Xiaojiao with a smile. She patted her shoulders and said, ¡°Xiaojiao, eat.¡± Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°Mommy eat too.¡± Then she scooped up a prawn with her small spoon and placed it into Su Yue¡¯s bowl. ¡°Mommy eat more, gain weight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue choked out a response. The more well-behaved Xiaojiao was, the more she was reminded of Jiao Chen. Chapter 1606. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Eight) Because Jiao Chen had raised and taught Xiaojiao. Time flies. At the start, she kept imagining that Jiao Chen was still around. Their happy family of three would eat breakfast and dinner together. And during bedtime, she would imagine that Jiao Chen was lying beside Xiaojiao, telling her bedtime stories while Su Yue leaned against the door frame, waiting for Xiaojiao to fall asleep. But now, she was slowly coming to terms with Jiao Chen¡¯s passing. She almost hurt herself a few times because she imagined that Jiao Chen was cooking together with her. So, she tried really hard to accept the harsh truth. Jiao Chen was no longer around. ¡°Miss Su, today¡¯s fish is very fresh. I¡¯ll cook fish soup for Xiaojiao later, it¡¯s good for children.¡± Their helper came back from the market and smiled as she showed Su Xiaojiao a fresh fish. Su Yan insisted on arranging for this helper to take care of Su Yue and Xiaojiao. Su Yue stared at the fish and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Leave it in the kitchen. I¡¯ll do it.¡± She was solving puzzles with Su Xiaojiao on the sofa. They had been solving the same few puzzles for the past few days. Xiaojiao was starting to become impatient. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t want a puzzle.¡± The little lass pushed the puzzles away. Su Yue kept the puzzles and carried Xiaojiao. She smiled as she asked, ¡°Then what does Xiaojiao want to play?¡± Su Xiaojiao looked down and pouted as she remained silent. She blinked and her eyelashes became drenched with tears. Su Yue didn¡¯t understand why the little lass was suddenly so emotional. With her heart aching, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying?¡± ¡°Daddy brings me to the playground. Mommy doesn¡¯t love me.¡± Su Xiaojiao peered up at Su Yue and bawled. Su Yue¡¯s heart clenched. She hugged her tightly and said, ¡°That¡¯s not true. Mommy loves you.¡± Just then, their helper chuckled and walked over. She suggested to Su Yue, ¡°The weather is good today. Many children are flying kites at L Square. Let¡¯s bring Xiaojiao over.¡± Kite-flying¡­ Su Yue looked outside the window. The leaves were rustling because of the gentle breeze. Country M wasn¡¯t too scorching this season. Indeed, the weather was good. She asked Xiaojiao, ¡°Xiaojiao, do you want to fly a kite?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Xiaojiao nodded forcefully. Then she wiped away her tears and affectionately hugged Su Yue¡¯s elbow. Su Xiaojiao rubbed her head in guilt. How did Xiaojiao have such sentiments? Who else would she love other than Xiaojiao? L Square was close to their house, so they didn¡¯t need the car. Su Yue held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand while their helper walked behind them, carrying a bag that contained Xiaojiao¡¯s snacks and water. There were indeed many children in L Square. Some were flying kites, ice-skating, or running around. Laughter filled the atmosphere. The nearby convenience store sold kites and Su Yue brought Xiaojiao over. Various kinds of kites were hanging by the entrance. Su Yue glanced at them and looked down at Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, which one do you like?¡± ¡°Butterfly,¡± Xiaojiao said without hesitation. She pointed at the pink butterfly kite. ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue nodded and said to the boss, ¡°I¡¯ll have the butterfly kite.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The boss took a brand new butterfly kite from the storeroom and passed it to her. ¡°That¡¯ll be thirty dollars. Have a good day.¡± Chapter 1607. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Nine) ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue smiled, taking out her wallet from her bag. Looking through it, the smallest note she had was 500 US dollars. She passed one to the boss. He seemed troubled when he saw the note in her hand. ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯ve used up all my small change. I don¡¯t think I have change for you.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Su Yue thought for a while and turned to ask their helper, ¡°Auntie, do you have money?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± she replied as she shook her head. ¡°I left my wallet at home after getting the groceries.¡± ¡°Thirty.¡± Suddenly, a deep, mature voice filled her ears. Su Yue turned around in shock. The man was in a well-ironed shirt and there was a beautiful smile on his handsome face. Su Yue stared at him in shock. ¡°What¡­ What are you doing here?¡± Ming Ansheng airily replied, ¡°I have some matters to settle in Country M. I arrived two days ago and I¡¯ll be leaving tomorrow, so I wanted to visit both of you.¡± Then he looked at Xiaojiao, commenting as he pointed at her kite, ¡°The butterfly kite is beautiful. Xiaojiao has great taste.¡± Su Xiaojiao was gazing at him rather timidly, and she remained silent. Ming Ansheng¡¯s smile faltered. Then he said to Su Yue, ¡°On my way to your place, I saw you walking here, so I followed you.¡± Su Yue muttered out a response. She didn¡¯t show any other emotions other than shock at seeing Ming Ansheng. She looked at the kite in Xiaojiao¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Thank you¡­ Ming Ansheng felt a stab to his heart. That was his daughter, yet he received a polite and¡­ distant ¡®thank you¡¯ because he bought her a kite? ¡°I¡¯ll bring Xiaojiao to fly the kite,¡± Su Yue said to Ming Ansheng before carrying her towards the crowded area of L Square. Ming Ansheng gazed intensely at her skinny body and sighed helplessly. Su Yue! How could he not worry about her? ¡°Mommy, so high,¡± Xiaojiao commented as she pointed at a red kite that was soaring way above. She peered at it enviously and pulled Su Yue¡¯s arm. Su Xiaojiao glanced at it and said to Xiaojiao, ¡°Xiaojiao¡¯s kite will fly as high too.¡± Then she started studying their kite. She had originally thought that it was like an umbrella and would fly once it was opened, but she couldn¡¯t get the technique right even after many tries. ¡°Let me do it.¡± The tall man squatted in front of Su Yue, taking the kite from her. Su Yue opened her mouth to decline, but swallowed the words once they were at the tip of her tongue. Ming Ansheng studied the kite and frowned. ¡°One stick is broken.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go ask the shop owner for a new one.¡± It was new anyway, so they could definitely switch it for a new one. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It doesn¡¯t affect anything,¡± Ming Ansheng said as he broke off the broken stick. The kite opened. It was beautiful, as though a real butterfly had spread its wings. Su Xiaojiao clapped happily. ¡°Kite going to fly. Going to fly.¡± She had already become impatient a long time ago. Ming Ansheng passed Xiaojiao the kite and affectionately smiled. ¡°I¡¯m very good at flying kites. I¡¯ll teach you how to fly it really high.¡± Chapter 1608. Ten Miles of a Spring Breeze Couldnt Be Compared to You (part Ten) He was trying to get into her good books. He had lost control previously and scared Xiaojiao. He was trying to change her impression of him for the better. He wasn¡¯t hoping that he could call him ¡®Daddy¡¯. The least he could do was be a good Uncle to her. ¡°Mm.¡± Ming Ansheng gazed eagerly at Xiaojiao, and he was ecstatic when he saw her nod. He stood up and grabbed her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the area with fewer people. The kite will fly easier that way.¡± ¡°Like a plane?¡± Su Xiaojiao blinked innocently at him. Ming Ansheng smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, like a plane.¡± Seeing Su Xiaojiao¡¯s chubby face, he really wanted to kiss her. But he didn¡¯t want Su Yue to worry or stress about it. So in the end, all he did was to smile. ¡°Like this. Hold this with one hand and grab onto the string with your other hand. Pull it gently like this, a few times.¡± The kite was starting to ascend into the sky. Ming Ansheng hugged Xiaojiao from behind and patiently guided her. Su Yue was standing more than ten meters away from them. She was watching them, unmoving. She didn¡¯t know how to fly a kite, and nobody taught her how to. Back then, when Jiao Chen brought her here to fly kites, she only stood by the side, not once joining in. She didn¡¯t know why but she wasn¡¯t in the least interested in these activities. Perhaps she had become numb from envying other children when she was younger. Thinking back, Jiao Chen was really the one who took care of Xiaojiao all these years. Su Yue only made them breakfast every morning. Now that Jiao Chen was gone, she realized that the only thing she could do for Xiaojiao now was to prepare three meals a day for her and solve puzzles with her at home. Xiaojiao was no longer laughing as hard as she did when Jiao Chen was still around. ¡°Mommy, come quickly.¡± Xiaojiao suddenly called her. Su Yue broke out of her reverie and looked over. The butterfly kite was already soaring in the sky, way up high. ¡°It¡¯s so high. It¡¯s flying so high,¡± Su Xiaojiao yelled in excitement. Su Yue smiled. He hasn¡¯t seen her radiant and beautiful face in more than a month. Ming Ansheng turned to look at her and his smile widened. Suddenly, the kite string slipped out of his hand. He broke out of his stupor, but the kite string was already unraveling, making the kite fly higher and further away. ¡°Kite is flying away,¡± Su Xiaojiao anxiously yelled. Seeing that the string was reaching its maximum length, without thinking, Ming Ansheng ran after it, leaped into the air, and grabbed the string in mid-air. He pulled the kite back. The wind wasn¡¯t exceptionally strong, but the kite was flying very resolutely. Ming Ansheng pulled it with force, but the kite only lowered slightly. ¡°Uncle is incredible,¡± Su Xiaojiao praised as she ran up to him with a face of admiration. Ming Ansheng squatted down and wrapped his arm around Xiaojiao¡¯s body. He smiled and said, ¡°Uncle almost let the kite fly away, but this time, Uncle will definitely hold onto it tightly.¡± Every time he used the word ¡®Uncle¡¯, he hesitated. ¡°Xiaojiao, let¡¯s play something else.¡± Su Yue suddenly hastened her speed and carried Xiaojiao. She turned around and walked in another direction. The warm body in his embrace suddenly disappeared. He stared blankly after Su Yue. He was confused but more disappointed. Chapter 1609. Set Her as a Goal (part One) Su Yue held Xiaojiao tightly as she quickly walked away. Seeing that they were getting further away from Ming Ansheng, Xiaojiao stretched her hands in his direction and yelled, ¡°Mommy, kite. I want kite.¡± Xiaojiao was just starting to enjoy it when Su Yue abruptly interrupted. Of course, she would make a fuss. Su Yue pressed Xiaojiao¡¯s head down and buried the little girl¡¯s face in her neck. She didn¡¯t want her to look behind her, to look at¡­ Ming Ansheng. She was afraid. She wanted to prevent them from any form of interaction. She wanted to stop them from getting close to each other. She was afraid that one day, Xiaojiao would call him ¡®Daddy¡¯. How could she let that happen? Xiaojiao belonged to her and Jiao Chen. Xiaojiao¡¯s daddy was Jiao Chen. Xiaojiao started bawling when Su Yue didn¡¯t stop walking. ¡°I want kite. I want kite¡­¡± ¡°Mommy will bring you to eat nice food.¡± Su Xiaojiao released her hand which was on Xiaojiao¡¯s head. She smiled and asked, ¡°What do you want to eat? Mommy will bring you, okay?¡± Su Xiaojiao blinked, her eyes brimming with tears. She answered, ¡°Ice-cream. Xiaojiao wants ice-cream.¡± Usually, ice-cream was something she could only dream of having. Because she was of premature birth. At the start, Su Yue didn¡¯t know that she was pregnant. She didn¡¯t have enough rest and nutrition when she was taking care of Jiao Chen for the first few months into her pregnancy. As a result, Xiaojiao didn¡¯t develop well in the starting stages and her health was weak after her birth. When she was very young, she often had fevers and caught colds. But she¡¯d gotten better since. Su Yue didn¡¯t let her eat cold food. She was only able to when Jiao Chen sneakily fed her some when she wasn¡¯t looking. The little lass looked at Su Yue, eyes brimming with tears, giving her a look that said: ¡®If you don¡¯t let me have ice-cream, I¡¯ll start bawling.¡¯ ¡°Alright.¡± Su Yue nodded before negotiating with her. ¡°Just a little, okay?¡± It didn¡¯t matter how much she¡¯d have, as long as she could have some. Su Xiaojiao smiled immediately. ¡°Mm.¡± Her eyelashes were still studded with tears but her smile revealed her double chin. Su Yue carried Xiaojiao into a dessert shop in L Square. It was slightly warmer in the afternoon during this season, so the shop was crowded. They went to the ordering counter, and Su Xiaojiao pointed at the strawberry flavored ice-cream without hesitation. One cup of ice-cream was around the size of a bowl of rice. They sat at a window seat, which gave them a view of the outside. Their helper sat opposite them. After they sat down, Xiaojiao eagerly scooped the ice-cream into her mouth. ¡°You can only have some,¡± Su Yue reminded as she used a tissue paper to wipe the ice-cream at the corners of her mouth. After Xiaojiao had a few scoops, Su Yue said, ¡°Mommy is going to the washroom. Can you leave some for Mommy?¡± Su Xiaojiao nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°You have to leave some for Mommy, alright?¡± Su Yue smiled and rubbed her head before walking to the exit. There were public toilets at L Square. The small shops around the square had no toilets, so she had to use the public toilet. It wasn¡¯t the first time she was here so she was familiar with the area. Once she exited, she made her way towards the public toilet. ¡°Yueyue.¡± A familiar voice called her from the right. She stopped in her tracks and turned around in shock. The tall man was looming closer. Su Yue stared at him and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re still here.¡± Ming Ansheng stopped a step away from her. He gazed at her intensely for a while. Then he earnestly said, ¡°You should go home. You¡¯re all alone in Country M and you have to take care of Xiaojiao¡­¡± Chapter 1610. Set Her as a Goal (part Two) ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to worry about Xiaojiao!¡± Su Yue immediately cut across Ming Ansheng. She realized that she was overly nervous and worked up. She bent her head and tucked some strands behind her ears. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can take care of Xiaojiao myself. My brother hired someone to help me. And¡­ there is no need for you to think of us.¡± She was really afraid that someone would replace Jiao Chen¡¯s place in Xiaojiao¡¯s heart. She didn¡¯t want that to happen. Ming Ansheng was intelligent and observant ever since he was a boy. He had been working for so many years, so how could he not tell what was on Su Yue¡¯s mind? A streak of bitter disappointment flashed past his eyes and he replied, ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about both of you. I don¡¯t have any other motives and I certainly don¡¯t intend to take Xiaojiao away from you. I just couldn¡¯t bear to see you staying here alone.¡± Was he speaking the truth? It really¡­ seemed like he was. He didn¡¯t dare to harbor hopes about them having a future together. But how could he leave her in the lurch? Su Yue was relieved, and she replied, ¡°I¡¯m already used to the life here. I¡¯m familiar with the people and places too. And my neighbors are really nice to me. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± Except for the fact that Jiao Chen was gone, she was used to everything here. She really had no wish of going back to meet everyone else. Ming Ansheng frowned slightly and sorrow lingered in his eyes. He exhaled deeply as he glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Yueyue, can¡¯t we be friends?¡± ¡°No,¡± Su Yue objected as she looked solemnly at Ming Ansheng. ¡°We should have led parallel lives and never met each other. But because of my third brother, we met coincidentally for a brief period. We are destined to lead separate lives.¡± In her heart, she felt that they were destined to be strangers. Their past, their relationship, they were merely a passing coincidence. Pain mercilessly stabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart. He had already expected that Su Yue buried her feelings for him. But it was still an agony to hear her say it in person. She had forgotten all about him, yet he was still wallowing in misery. This was the punishment for his cowardice and being so useless. He had hurt two women who had loved him deeply. ¡°Uncle Ming, why are you still dwelling on the past?¡± Su Yue watched Ming Ansheng with a stoic expression. Ming Ansheng gazed into the depths of Su Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡°In that case, will you be able to put down the past and look ahead?¡± Su Yue nodded, looking determined. ¡°I can do it.¡± She had to do it. Jiaojiao was gone, so there was nothing she should hold on to any longer. She will lead a new life with Xiaojiao bravely. She knew that Jiaojiao would be happy to know. It startled Ming Ansheng. He curled his mouth and muttered, ¡°Take care of Xiaojiao and yourself¡­ I won¡¯t look for you if you don¡¯t allow me to.¡± Su Yue smiled at him and swept past him without another word. She did it without any hesitation. Ming Ansheng remained rooted on the spot with his hands in his pockets. He absentmindedly gazed afar. Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re still a coward. ¡­ The boy entered the study and frowned when he saw that the air was thick with smoke. Chapter 1611. Set Her as a Goal (part Three) The boy was wearing loose pajamas. He carefully closed the door after him before walking to Ming Ansheng. A tall pile of documents had hidden his face. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re smoking so much again.¡± Beibei felt glum. Ming Ansheng raised his head when he heard Beibei¡¯s voice. He frowned and asked, ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± Beibei stood before Ming Ansheng¡¯s desk, and he scanned his desk. His eyes landed on the overflowing ashtray and he pouted. ¡°Today, my classmate told me that his father was diagnosed with lung cancer. His father was stressed because of work, he smoked every day.¡± He tugged at Ming Ansheng¡¯s sleeve and pleaded earnestly. ¡°Daddy, can you stop smoking so much?¡± Ming Ansheng managed a tiny smile as he tapped Beibei¡¯s head gently. ¡°Little rascal. Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild.¡± Lung cancer? If he really had cancer, what would happen? Would she visit him out of pity? Or would she allow Xiaojiao to call him daddy? He sneered at his own wishful thinking. He suddenly understood why some people would commit suicide after a breakup. ¡°Daddy, I know that you really like Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy.¡± Beibei pursed his lips with a frown. He looked upset and sullen. This wasn¡¯t the first time that he had brought Su Yue up. Ming Ansheng was used to it, so he didn¡¯t have any reaction. ¡°Go and sleep. Children shouldn¡¯t meddle with adults¡¯ affairs.¡± He nudged Beibei. Beibei refused to budge, and he glowered at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Of course, I have to! If you fall sick because you miss Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy too much, or you suffer from an illness due to smoking, I won¡¯t have a father anymore.¡± He pouted again and murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve already lost my mommy.¡± Beibei¡¯s words seemed to squeeze Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart, and he tenderly ruffled his hair. He snuffed out his cigarette and threw it inside the ashtray. He smiled reassuringly at Beibei. ¡°Don¡¯t think so much. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He was rather helpless, as he didn¡¯t know how to handle such a melancholic child. He nagged at him too much. On the other hand, he was so sensible and obedient that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold him. Beibei refused to leave, and he looked at Ming Ansheng squarely in the eyes. ¡°Daddy, do you love my mommy more, or Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy more?¡± Ming Ansheng was taken aback. ¡°Why do you ask this?¡± Deep down, he didn¡¯t even need to think about this question at all. When he broke up with Meiduo, he wasn¡¯t heartbroken, neither was he miserable. He could still treat her as a friend and face her normally as though nothing had happened. But he had never ceased to stop thinking about Su Yue. Neither did his longing for her. Rather than asking who did he loved more, perhaps Beibei should have asked who was his true love. His answer would be Su Yue. Beibei pouted when Ming Ansheng clammed up. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you love Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy more. Since my mommy is no longer around, you can¡¯t see or love her anymore. So you should love the one who is still alive.¡± He leaned against the desk as he glanced at Ming Ansheng, looking slightly sorrowful. Ming Ansheng was dumbfounded as he gazed at the boy. He couldn¡¯t fathom the reason why a child would think so much. He was practically an adult. Chapter 1612. Set Her as a Goal (part Four) As a child, Ming Ansheng was under too much control, and so, he gave Beibei plenty of freedom for he hoped that he would have a carefree childhood. But shouldn¡¯t he be a carefree and innocent boy? Ming Ansheng was still puzzled over this when Beibei interjected, ¡°But Daddy, I disapprove of you being a third party. Xiaojiao has a father.¡± Ming Ansheng looked at him with his eyebrows furrowed. Beibei quipped, ¡°Why don¡¯t you choose another woman to be my stepmother?¡± He was still a child, despite being mature and sensible. He asked him to choose another woman¡­ If it was that easy, he wouldn¡¯t be here to nag at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng shook his head in amusement. He nudged Beibei again and said, ¡°Alright, stop thinking so much. Children should put their studies first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already excelled in my studies. And I won over the girl.¡± Beibei was so proud of himself when it came to his academics. Ming Ansheng laughed and gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Excellent.¡± Without another word, he carried Beibei and hurled him over his shoulders. He strode across the room. Beibei continued to nag incessantly. ¡°Daddy, just forget about Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy. I can ask my classmates to introduce some women to you. They said that they have aunts and older sisters who are single.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ This boy still had the time to look for women on his behalf? He gloomily marched out of the study and walked to Beibei¡¯s room. He threw him on the bed. Beibei was about to sit up when Ming Ansheng pointed at him. He warned, ¡°Don¡¯t say a word. If you do, I¡¯m not attending the parent-teacher conference next week.¡± He promised Beibei that he would attend the parent-teacher conference. This was the first time. Beibei clammed up immediately, and he pulled the blanket over him. He didn¡¯t even dare to breathe loudly. Ming Ansheng curled his lips as he gazed at the little lump under the blanket. A while later, he could hear his rhythmic and deep breathing. He grinned to himself and gently tugged at his blanket until he could see Beibei¡¯s face. ¡°If Xiaojiao¡¯s daddy is no longer around, will you support my decision of wooing Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy?¡± asked Ming Ansheng softly. He smiled at himself for being so foolish. How could he treat his son as an adult? Ming Ansheng turned off the lights and treaded softly across the room. He shut the door carefully behind him. He had unfinished work, so he went back to the study. He saw his phone¡¯s screen lit up. There was a WeChat notification. He had already switched off notifications for any updates. Who would text him so late at night? Ming Ansheng strode over to his desk and picked up his phone. He could read the text from the screen. It was Beibei. ¡®Daddy, if Xiaojiao¡¯s daddy is gone, then you should work hard! Set Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy as your goal, just like what I did when I vowed to win the girl during exams. Although I didn¡¯t succeed at first, eventually I did. If a person doesn¡¯t have any goals, wouldn¡¯t he be like a dead fish?¡¯ This rascal¡­ Ming Ansheng burst into laughter. A dead fish? Set Xiaojiao¡¯s mommy as his goal¡­ Ming Ansheng¡¯s handsome face suddenly lit up. He felt that he had lived his life in vain. To think an eight-year-old-boy was so wise. Chapter 1613. Set Her as a Goal (part Five) ¡­ It was nearing the end of August and school vacation had ended. The kindergartens in N City had already started their enrollment for the new intakes for June. Xiaojiao was already three and a half, and she was eligible to start school. There was a pretty good kindergarten near their place. When it turned July, Su Yan flew over to make arrangements for Xiaojiao to enroll in that kindergarten. The kindergarten had standardized uniforms and school bags. On the first day of school, Xiaojiao got excited and eagerly put on her uniform. She wore a white shirt, a light coffee-colored corset, and a black and white pleated skirt. Her skirt ended at her knees and it revealed her fair and chubby legs. She carried her schoolbag as she happily twirled around. She kept clamoring for Su Yue to take pictures of her as she spun around. ¡°Send to Uncle.¡± Su Xiaojiao displayed various poses and snatched Su Yue¡¯s phone away. She had no problem navigating through the functions of the phone. She clicked on WeChat and found the family chat. There were Xuxu, Yan Rusheng, Su Yan, and Yan Rusen in the group chat. After Jiao Chen passed away, Xuxu created the group chat. But Su Yue hardly ever replied. Xuxu and Su Yan were the ones who replied regularly. Xiaojiao loved to video call them often. The lass sent all the photos that Su Yue had taken to the group chat. Someone quickly replied. Xuxu recorded an audio message since Xiaojiao couldn¡¯t read yet. ¡°Xiaojiao is so adorable in the uniform.¡± Su Yan started a video call. Xiaojiao immediately answered, and Su Yan¡¯s handsome face appeared on the screen. Xiaojiao knew how to win his favor and instantly blew him a kiss. Su Yan¡¯s heart fluttered at the sight of the cute girl. ¡°I¡¯m about to faint from your cuteness. Why is Xiaojiao so cute?¡± Su Xiaojiao pressed her lips and smiled brightly. For fear that Su Yan couldn¡¯t see her uniform and schoolbag, she deliberately held the phone at a lower angle. Su Yue threw her a disdainful look. ¡°Show off.¡± Xiaojiao could differentiate between a compliment and a criticism by then. She raised her chin smugly and retorted, ¡°Mommy is showing off!¡± Su Yue frowned with a puzzled expression. ¡°Do you know the meaning of showing off?¡± ¡°That means you are flaunting!¡± Xiaojiao replied, sounding haughty. It startled Su Yue. ¡°Hey! Where did you learn this?¡± Clearly, she didn¡¯t learn it from anyone in Country M. She sounded as though she had a Northern Chinese accent. Did this lass learn it from Yan Wenxin and the rest? ¡°Hmph!¡± Xiaojiao turned away, and she replied, ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± She glanced at the screen and complained, ¡°Uncle, Mommy beats me.¡± She pursed her lips and acted pitiful. Su Yan affectionately smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll come over in two days. Then I¡¯ll punish Mommy alright?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiaojiao nodded vigorously. Su Yue stretched her head and peered at the screen. ¡°Brother, you are coming over in two days?¡± asked Su Yue, sounding surprised. Wasn¡¯t he here last month? Su Yan nodded. ¡°Work trip.¡± ¡°Do you have anything you want to eat? I¡¯ll bring it along.¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Su Yue shook her head, but the next moment she said, ¡°Bring me the chili sauce you brought for me before.¡± Su Yan nodded his head. ¡°Sure.¡± Suddenly, they all fell silent. Chapter 1614. Set Her as a Goal (part Six) Xiaojiao passed the phone to Su Yue, and she walked away to open her bag. Su Yan sighed quietly to himself, and he was about to end the call. Su Yue hesitantly pressed her lips and cut across. ¡°Brother, I heard that¡­¡± She paused since she didn¡¯t know if she should pose such a question. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, ¡°I heard that Xin Yanting is in N City. Is that why you traveled here so often?¡± She had wanted to ask Su Yan during his previous visit. According to Third sister-in-law, Su Yan didn¡¯t have to personally travel to N City to settle work-related matters for Flourish & Prosper. He always claimed that it was because of work. But even visiting her and Xiaojiao couldn¡¯t be the only reason, too. If he wanted to visit them, why did he claim that he came only for work? Su Yan¡¯s face fell and he instantly denied it. ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± He smiled immediately and raised his voice. ¡°Xiaojiao, aren¡¯t you talking to me anymore?¡± ¡°Bye, Uncle.¡± Su Xiaojiao didn¡¯t even glance at Su Xiaojiao and merely said goodbye. Su Yue grinned at Su Yan. ¡°See! She doesn¡¯t even care.¡± Su Yan smiled. ¡­ ¡°Aunty, what is inside that box?¡± Her helper came back from the supermarket with a huge shopping bag in one hand and a paper box in the other. The box seemed really heavy. Su Yue asked as she walked towards the helper. She received the box from the helper and as expected, it was heavy. Her helper panted and replied, ¡°The neighbor staying at number 520 came back from a work trip and insisted on giving us some. Su Yue frowned. ¡°How can we constantly take their stuff?¡± This neighbor lived next to them and only moved in a month ago. The owner wasn¡¯t a local and traveled often. Only the helper was at home most of the time. Her neighbor¡¯s helper was close to Su Yue¡¯s helper, and they always hang out together. And gradually, the owner would regularly send them food products through Su Yue¡¯s helper. There were products from all over the world. ¡°I agree.¡± The helper frowned as though she was feeling bad too. ¡°But the owner is very generous and warm. It¡¯s hard to reject. We can return the favor by sharing some stuff as well.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded. She stared at the box and wondered where the owner traveled to this time. She placed the box on the table and opened it. She could recognize all the products. She raised her head and glanced at the helper. ¡°Did the owner go to China?¡± The lady nodded. ¡°Seems like it.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t probe further. She felt a sense of familiarity when she saw the labels with Chinese words. She found ham and dried bean curd. ¡°Oh!¡± Su Yue discovered a bottle of the chili sauce inside the box, and she was pleasantly surprised. ¡°This is the chili I wanted. And yesterday, I asked my brother to bring some for me.¡± ¡°Such a coincidence,¡± replied the helper. Su Yue quipped, ¡°I¡¯ll call my brother to bring more food products with him. Help me hand them over to our neighbor.¡± When Jiao Chen was still alive, they had a close relationship with their neighbors. Chapter 1615. Set Her as a Goal (part Seven) This area housed many Chinese, and there were only a handful of locals. The original owners next door were an elderly couple, but they recently moved back to their country. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The helper clapped her hands. Su Yue stared at her, puzzled. ¡°Why are you so excited?¡± ¡°I feel bad about receiving all the time. Now we can finally return the favor.¡± She smiled and pointed to the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll start cooking now.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She placed the box against a wall and followed her to the kitchen. Her helper began to wash some vegetables, and Su Yue said, ¡°Aunty, tomorrow, I¡¯ll send Xiaojiao to school. At night, I need you to fetch her as I¡¯m starting school too.¡± She had already decided to continue studying. ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of Xiaojiao,¡± said the helper. Su Yue nodded, although she wasn¡¯t entirely reassured. But, she needed to move on, didn¡¯t she? ¡­ It was a new school term and the campus was bustling with activities. Su Yue had applied to continue studying at her previous school. The school had fewer restrictions, so she could still attend classes when she was pregnant. And when both she and Jiao Chen had classes together, she would bring Xiaojiao along to classes, too. Today, she wore a pale green pleated skirt and it billowed around her legs in the wind. Su Yue tied her hair into a loose ponytail. No one could even imagine that she was already a mother. She bumped into familiar faces on the way. ¡°Su! It has been a long time.¡± Two girls with blue eyes smiled warmly at Su Yue. The girls in Country M were relatively taller and bigger. So when Su Yue stood next to them, she appeared even skinnier and tinier than usual. Su Yue smiled at them. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been some time.¡± ¡°Where is the adorable girl?¡± one of them asked. Su Yue replied, ¡°She started kindergarten.¡± The girl was startled and said, ¡°Wow! She is already in kindergarten!¡± Su Yue smiled. Time flew by so quickly indeed. She remembered how she used to cry all night when she was a baby. And she was hospitalized frequently. But now she was already attending kindergarten. Su Yue sighed quietly in her heart, and she prepared to bid them goodbye. Suddenly one of the girls glanced at her. ¡°Oh, yeah. Last year you gave me some pickled bean curd and it was delicious. I went to a Chinese supermarket for some, but the taste was different. Can you introduce me to an online store where I can buy it?¡± ¡°Huh!¡± Online store? An online store selling pickled bean curd? How would she know? Su Yue pondered for a moment. ¡°My brother is coming over in a few days. I¡¯ll ask him to bring some over.¡± Jiao Chen brought back some pickled bean curd and coriander last year. But she didn¡¯t really like it, so she shared them with her classmates. To think foreigners would like the taste. The girl smiled happily. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll pay you.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re too polite.¡± But she didn¡¯t decline her gesture. She was already used to them being clear about money issues. They usually go dutch during meals as well. They weren¡¯t being stingy but rather they believed that everyone should pay for what they had bought. So once they were of legal age, their parents wouldn¡¯t bother to give them allowance anymore. Chapter 1616. Set Her as a Goal (part Eight) Online store¡­ pickled bean curd. After they went their separate ways, Su Yue continued to mull over the online store. What she was thinking of were the local products. She had to study and take care of Xiaojiao at the same time. It was nearly impossible for her to support both of them. Previously, when Jiao Chen had already recovered from the car accident, he managed to get a part-time job that paid him well. So he had no problem supporting the three of them. But now, she had to rely on her brother¡­ She was a really huge parasite. If she could earn some income while she was studying, wouldn¡¯t it be good? Su Yue became excited at the thought of it, and she walked with light-hearted footsteps. ¡­ ¡°Third sister-in-law, I want to open an online store selling local products from China.¡± When she got home, Su Yue immediately called Xuxu to share her idea with her. Xuxu smiled. ¡°You want to buy on others¡¯ behalf?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yeah, something like that.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu was supportive. She said that she would support all of Su Yue¡¯s decisions. After getting Xuxu¡¯s support, Su Yue was overjoyed. ¡°Do you know how? Teach me!¡± She wasn¡¯t familiar with buying things online. She merely ordered food before. Jiao Chen was the one who bought their things online. And she was clueless about both buying and selling things online. Xuxu contemplated shortly before she replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to teach you.¡± She pressed on, ¡°But you have classes and you need to take care of Xiaojiao. Wouldn¡¯t it be too tiring?¡± Su Yue shook her head and confidently replied, ¡°I can do this. My lessons are not that hectic and I can do the online business at home. So, I still have time for Xiaojiao.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll ask around for you.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, thank you.¡± She had gotten the support from the person she trusted the most and she even promised to help her. Su Yue seemed injected with confidence and she was eager to get started. After reading three stories, Xiaojiao finally fell asleep. Su Yue shut the book gently and got off her bed. She left the room as quietly as she could. Her helper was in the living room. Su Yue shut the door after her and strode across to one of the rooms. She opened the door and a light scent greeted her nose. Su Yue pressed her lips and turned on the light. The furniture was all in white, even the bedsheets. The room was clean and tidy. But it still felt empty and devoid of warmth. Su Yue walked to the bed and felt gloomy. She sat down and rested against the bed frame. She picked up a photo frame on the bedside drawers. It was a photo of her and Jiao Chen taken at C University¡¯s entrance before Xiaojiao was born. The weather was perfect that day. Although they merely stood side by side, the photo of them seemed so harmonious and blissful. ¡°Jiaojiao, I¡¯m about to have my first job. I¡¯m really excited.¡± ¡°You believe that I can do it well, right?¡± ¡®I have always scored 100 marks in your heart.¡¯ ¡®So I can¡¯t let you down,¡¯ Su Yue thought to herself. Su Yue stroked Jiao Chen¡¯s face lightly with her finger and she pulled a sad smile. ¡°You have always been a huge influence on me and you always encourage me. Even if you¡¯re no longer around, you¡¯ll always be in my heart. You¡¯ll always be the best role model.¡± ¡®Su Yue, you¡¯re not the only person in this world¡­¡¯ ¡®Su Yue, as long as your heart remains positive, the world will be.¡¯ Chapter 1617. Set Her as a Goal (part Nine) ¡®Su Yue, you should lead a brilliant life even if you weren¡¯t born with a legitimate status.¡¯ ¡®Su Yue, don¡¯t cry. Don¡¯t cry anymore.¡¯ ¡®Su Yue, give birth to your child. You can give her everything you have yearned for as a child.¡¯ ¡®Su Yue, you can do this¡­¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re perfect to me.¡¯ ¡°Jiaojiao, thank you for being my side all these years. You saved my life so I will never let you down. I will live my life to the fullest.¡± Su Yue gazed at Jiao Chen¡¯s photo and tears silently rolled down. Her tears fell onto the photo frame and she hastily wiped them off. She dabbed her eyes and smiled. ¡°This is the last time I will cry.¡± Jiao Chen was smiling in the photo. It was as though he was smiling at Su Yue. ¡­ Xuxu got someone to register for an online store on Su Yue¡¯s behalf. She chose the highest amount of cash deposit available so that it would be easier for her to get started. Then she got someone to design a simple yet detailed manual for her. Su Yue read through the manual with all seriousness. Then she selected the products stringently before she listed them in her store. The beginning was always the most exciting part. Su Yue spent a huge amount of time on her online store. She put up advertisements in school, and some of her classmates supported her by purchasing some products. But after half a month, no other orders came in. She ended her lesson early in the afternoon. Su Yue sat on the couch with her laptop on her lap. She was navigating through her site and searched for ways to publicize her store. The search results were mainly advertising on websites. Or to get positive reviews from her customers. But if she were to advertise on a popular website, she would need a hefty sum. It wasn¡¯t feasible for a startup business like hers. Third sister-in-law had already paid for her deposit. Su Yue sighed deeply and she felt dejected. She placed the laptop before her while she slumped on the table. She folded her legs and swayed her body to and fro. Suddenly, she received a notification. Su Yue straightened her back in excitement and clicked on the notification. There was a message from a person with a nickname of ¡®When Will The Bright Moon Arrive¡¯. ¡®Dear, are your products imported directly from China?¡¯ Su Yue replied quickly, ¡®Yes, dear.¡¯ The person replied, ¡®I¡¯m also from China, but I¡¯m overseas right now. I miss the local products. What if your products are fake?¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s fair hands flew across the keyboard as she typed. ¡®I import them directly from China. You¡¯re free to inspect them. If any of the products are fake, I¡¯ll compensate you ten times the amount.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive replied, ¡®Okay.¡¯ Su Yue sent an emoticon that was shaking hands. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive sent her a rose emoticon. Su Yue typed ¡®cute¡¯ as her reply. Soon, she received her order. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive had ordered more than 2000 yuan worth of products. This was her first real order ever since she started her online store. Su Yue jumped up and down in excitement. She ran to Jiao Chen¡¯s room and picked up the photo. ¡°Jiaojiao! I received my first order today! I can earn almost 1000 yuan!¡± There was a sense of achievement when a person earned their own money for the first time. Su Yue updated her WeChat with this piece of good news. A man was holding a phone with his fine-looking hands. He smiled affectionately at the phone. ¡­ Chapter 1618. Set Her as a Goal (part Ten) The beginning was usually the most difficult. Once Su Yue had her first order, she started to receive an order every other day. Even though the amount wasn¡¯t substantial, she still felt contented. She believed that things would get better soon. She received an important order in school today. Su Yue felt chirpy, and she decided to cook Xiaojiao¡¯s favorite dishes. She was just setting the table when the door opened. Xiaojiao ran towards her like a little bunny, with her schoolbag bobbing up and down on her back. ¡°Mommy!¡± ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Su Yue was putting plates on the table. She turned around and frowned at the girl. ¡°What is that on your clothes? Why is it so dirty?¡± She placed the chopsticks down and knelt down in front of Xiaojiao. She examined the stain on her chest. Xiaojiao bent her head to avoid Su Yue¡¯s eyes. She meekly replied, ¡°I ate cake.¡± Su Yue sharply asked, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s cake?¡± Xiaojiao kept quiet. Su Yue turned towards the helper. ¡°Aunty, didn¡¯t I say that Xiaojiao can¡¯t eat cold food? It¡¯s getting colder these days. Why did you allow her to eat ice cream?¡± The aunty hastily explained, ¡°Miss Su, it was because all of the children were eating. Xiaojiao looked so sorry and pitiful so I gave her a small mouthful. It¡¯s really a small mouthful.¡± Su Yue¡¯s anger dissipated as she glanced at Xiaojiao. ¡°Ask me first if you want to eat in the future.¡± She used her fingers to try to remove the ice cream stain. Xiaojiao nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue spoke gently to Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, Mommy doesn¡¯t want you to get a stomachache.¡± Xiaojiao nodded quietly. Su Yue smiled at her. ¡°Go wash your hands. I will bring out the rest of the food.¡± She stood up and walked towards the kitchen. Xiaojiao raised her head and beamed at her helper. Both the old lady and the child were thinking of the same thing. ¡®We were almost found out!¡¯ After Xiaojiao fell asleep, Su Yue switched on her laptop once again. She received several notifications. There were new orders and queries. There was a customer with the username of ¡®Book Baby¡¯. ¡®Dear, can I get a free item if I buy one?¡¯ Su Yue was getting experienced at handling such customers. And she planned on capturing the high-end and exclusive market so she was firm on declining all discount requests. She replied, ¡®My apologies. The prices stated are already the lowest, and it¡¯s inclusive of shipping.¡¯ Book Baby replied, ¡®How about a free small item if I buy the big one?¡¯ A free small item if he buys the big one? What the heck! She was selling famous local products, and not makeup. How could she give samples? Su Yue kept her composure and replied, ¡®So sorry, there are no small items available.¡¯ Book Baby replied, ¡®Isn¡¯t it common to get a small item free if you buy the big one?¡¯ Su Yue replied, ¡®Dear, so sorry. I¡¯m selling local products, not beauty products. There aren¡¯t any small items or samples.¡¯ Book Baby typed, ¡®Book Baby is upset! I will give bad reviews!¡¯ Su Yue was speechless when she read the reply. Fortunately, this customer didn¡¯t order from her. If he or she really gave a bad review, she would be so demoralized. At that moment, her screen lit up with a new order notification. Su Yue eagerly clicked on it, but her face fell the next second. The customer was Book Baby. No way! There was no way she would sell to this customer who wanted to give her a bad review even before purchasing. The customer typed, ¡®I have loads of money. I don¡¯t need any free items. Send the items to me soon.¡¯ Chapter 1619. Future Stepmother (part One) Su Yue snorted coldly to herself as she typed. ¡®My apologies. The items you wanted will require another two more weeks for it to be restocked. Are you in a hurry to get them?¡¯ What a rude and arrogant fellow! This customer should be a pampered teenager who came from a wealthy family. She would never accept orders from such rude customers. Book Baby typed, ¡®Out of stock?¡¯ Su Yue typed swiftly. ¡®Yes. Business has been really good so I can¡¯t keep up with the demands. Why don¡¯t you cancel the order and wait patiently for the items to be restocked?¡¯ ¡®Hahaha¡­¡¯ Book Baby replied, and Su Yue felt an eerie chill down her spine. What did this customer mean by laughing? Book Baby typed, ¡®Business is good?¡¯ Book Baby sent several photos of Su Yue¡¯s products. He even circled the sales of the various items. Su Yue¡¯s face darkened. Book Baby replied, ¡®I took those photos. The sales of some items are zero. And you claimed that your business is good?¡¯ Su Yue could feel overwhelming sarcasm and contempt from his remarks. Anger was bubbling in the pit of her stomach. ¡®Dear, you¡¯re getting unreasonable. The items are out of stock and require another two weeks for the stocks to arrive. If you can wait, please do so.¡¯ This fellow was really too full of himself. Couldn¡¯t he sense that she didn¡¯t want to accept his order? This customer was so oblivious. No wonder the website designer had already warned her that she would meet unreasonable customers. Book Baby replied, ¡®I will make a complaint!¡¯ Su Yue cast away all her pretenses. ¡®Fine with me!¡¯ She ended the conversation with Book Baby, feeling down. How could someone look down on her? She clicked on the conversation again and scrolled through the photos. But it was true that some of the sales were zero. She turned off her laptop and decided to call it a day. How infuriating! She collapsed on the bed after taking a shower. Su Yue browsed through her phone while Xiaojiao slept soundly next to her. Su Yue couldn¡¯t sleep for she was worried about her online store. ¡®I was looked down by a crazy customer today. My online store has been operating for merely a month. Why did I meet such a customer?!¡¯ She took a snapshot of the conversation with Book Baby and updated on WeChat. She only had her family members, Zhou Shuang, and Lu Yinan in her WeChat. She could only pour her grievances to them. Someone replied almost instantly. The person who always replied first would definitely be Zhou Shuang¡ªa young married woman who was addicted to social media. ¡®The customer is right. Your sales are zero and yet you claimed that business was good. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡¯ How could this woman speak up for that idiot! Su Yue frowned and replied brusquely, ¡®Lu Huanyan needs to drink milk. Why isn¡¯t a married woman sleeping in the middle of the night?¡¯ Zhou Shuang retorted, ¡®Firstly, it isn¡¯t midnight over here. Secondly, I¡¯m not married yet.¡¯ Su Yue sneered coldly. ¡®You already have three children. How could you claim that you¡¯re not a married woman?¡¯ ¡®I will ask my dad to introduce your online store to his colleagues.¡¯ Chapter 1620. Future Stepmother (part Two) Unexpectedly, Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t bite back, choosing to change the topic instead. Anyone who knew her would find this unusual. Su Yue smiled. What was up with Lu Yinan? Zhou Shuang had already given birth to three children for him, but he was yet to give her a proper status? She chided him in her heart before replying, ¡®Aish, I¡¯ll take it slow.¡¯ The starting was always the hardest. Even her mentor said that her present situation was already much better than most people. At least she was still receiving orders every few days. Zhou Shuang replied, ¡®Why don¡¯t you publicize? It¡¯ll boost sales.¡¯ Without hesitation, Su Yue replied, ¡®It¡¯s too expensive. I just started out and I don¡¯t know much. It¡¯s not worth it to make such a huge investment.¡¯ Zhou Shuang answered, ¡®Tch. Your family has a mountain of wealth, how can some publicity be considered expensive? The cost of Yan Rusheng¡¯s one meal is enough to put up an advertisement on the cover pages.¡¯ ¡®What does my third brother and brother¡¯s wealth have to do with me? I want to earn my own money. Not talking to you anymore, I¡¯m going to bed now.¡¯ Su Yue finally realized that she was chatting with Zhou Shuang in the comments section of her post. After she posted the last comment, she immediately deleted her post. If her third brother and third sister-in-law were to see her worries about her online business, they would definitely do some ¡®charity¡¯ to help her. She locked the screen and placed her phone in her bedside drawer. She stared blankly at the ceiling. Suddenly, she felt bored¡ªher heart was empty. ¡®Jiaojiao, it¡¯s been almost 100 days since you¡¯ve left us. Are you missing me in heaven?¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She flipped herself over and faced Su Xiaojiao. The little one was facing her too. Her hands were under her head and she was pouting, drool dripping onto her pillow. Su Yue wiped off her drool using a tissue paper. Then she flipped Xiaojiao such that she was lying on her back. Su Yue kissed her on the cheek. The ¡®Book Baby¡¯ incident didn¡¯t affect Su Yue. Every day after school, she would sit in front of the television or search the Internet for ways to improve her business. ¡­ ¡°Second Young Master is back.¡± Ming Ansheng changed out of his shoes and entered the house. Beibei and Wang Yuexiang were watching television on the sofa. All of them looked over excitedly when they heard the helper greeting Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ansheng, you¡¯re back.¡± Her son was often going on business trips overseas and hadn¡¯t been home for half a month. She was incredibly excited that he had suddenly returned. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re back.¡± Beibei was very happy and went forward to greet him. But Ming Ansheng coldly stared at him. ¡°Come with me.¡± He didn¡¯t stop in his steps and brushed past Beibei. Wang Yuexiang and Beibei were stunned. Wang Yuexiang was afraid that her grandson would get a scolding, so she rushed after him and asked, ¡°Ansheng, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Her hands were wrapped around Beibei¡¯s shoulders in an attempt to protect him. Ming Ansheng snorted cooly. Then he raised his eyebrow at Beibei. ¡°Afraid now?¡± Beibei frowned and pouted. ¡°Forgive me for my foolishness, but I really don¡¯t know what I¡¯ve done wrong.¡± This young fellow, he was becoming a better talker. Ming Ansheng nodded and smiled coldly. ¡°Very good. Follow me then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Beibei walked after Ming Ansheng, away from Wang Yuexiang¡¯s protection. Chapter 1621. Future Stepmother (part Three) Wang Yuexiang got worried and chased after Beibei. ¡°Beibei, what did you do that made your Daddy angry?¡± Beibei shrugged his shoulders and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He looked at Ming Ansheng. He was far ahead, and so he hurriedly jogged after him. They went upstairs. On the second floor, they turned a corner and ran into a tall figure. Ming Anyu saw Ming Ansheng¡¯s cold expression and greeted him with a smile. ¡°Ansheng, you¡¯re back.¡± Ming Ansheng smirked and said to Ming Anyu with an underlying meaning, ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯ve been coming home very often.¡± Ming Anyu smiled foolishly. ¡°I came to fetch Xiaoxiao. Your sister-in-law misses her.¡± ¡°Take care of Xiaoxiao, don¡¯t waste your time being concerned for unimportant people,¡± Ming Ansheng warned Ming Anyu. Then he walked into the study, pushed the door open, and entered without turning back. ¡°Ansheng¡­¡± Ming Anyu stared at the door, face slightly pale. Suddenly, Ming Ansheng voice echoed from the study. ¡°Beibei, why aren¡¯t you coming in?¡± ¡°Coming,¡± Beibei answered. He stood on tip-toes and whispered in Ming Anyu¡¯s ear, ¡°Uncle, my Daddy ate explosives. I think you better not talk to him.¡± Ming Anyu froze before retracting his gaze and looking at Beibei. He smiled gently and warmly and said, ¡°He has his temper. If he says anything mean, don¡¯t take it to heart. It¡¯s for your own good.¡± Beibei smiled. ¡°I know. He¡¯s my Daddy, he¡¯ll only scold me because he loves me.¡± Ming Anyu froze again, falling into a reverie as he stared at Beibei. ¡°Uncle?¡± Beibei looked up at him and blinked in confusion. Ming Anyu recovered from his stupor and his gaze shifted away from him in panic. Then he shook his head and said to Beibei, ¡°Nothing, you should hurry.¡± Beibei nodded and immediately went into Ming Ansheng¡¯s study. In the study, Ming Ansheng was sitting in a comfortable armchair. The laptop in front of him was flipped open and there was a cigarette between his slender fingers, puffs of smoke billowing from it. Beibei closed the door and walked over. He asked with a smile, ¡°Daddy, why are you smoking again? Tormented by Xiaojiao¡¯s Mommy again?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression turned dark. He said to the grinning fellow, ¡°Ming Beichen, be serious.¡± Beibei immediately wiped off his smile and stopped in his tracks. He looked like a child who had done something wrong. ¡°Book Baby.¡± Ming Ansheng leaned lazily in his seat, the two words spilled out of his mouth. Beibei¡¯s hand quivered, and he looked at Ming Ansheng and frowned. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re not happy?¡± So pretentious! He wasn¡¯t even nine, yet he had learned to pretend. Ming Ansheng was furious. ¡°How dare you sneakily use my laptop?¡± Beibei retracted his neck in fear. He pouted and murmured softly, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it sneakily.¡± ¡°You refuse to admit?¡± Ming Ansheng became even more outraged. He refused to admit that he was in the wrong. Beibei looked up and frowned. ¡°Grandmother and the helper saw me entering the room. So I wasn¡¯t sneaky about it. I came in openly.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ He frowned and stared at Beibei. Was this young fellow¡¯s obedient personality all a pretense? Chapter 1622. Future Stepmother (part Four) He was so glib-tongued now, and he was getting more brazen. Beibei didn¡¯t dare to look at him the way he was doing right now before. Then he warned coldly, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to enter my study without my permission.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Beibei nodded and smiled. ¡°But Daddy, can you bring me along when you go to Country M next time? I have many classmates there. I can introduce them to the online shop Xiaojiao¡¯s Mommy owns.¡± Introduce to his classmates? Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but smile. He had left Country M when he was four. How many kindergarten classmates would he remember? What a lousy excuse! Suddenly, he snapped, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this.¡± Beibei frowned and sighed. ¡°How could I not?¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ Seeing that Ming Ansheng was no longer so furious, he hurriedly went forward and hugged his elbow. ¡°Daddy, bring me over next time.¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°How about on the eleventh? Are you going over? It¡¯s the holidays. I have a seven-day break.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrow. ¡°Why should I bring you?¡± Beibei grinned and replied, ¡°Think about it, Xiaojiao¡¯s Mommy is my future stepmother. Xiaojiao is my future sister. How long has it been since I last saw them? How am I going to grow closer to them then?¡± Then he pouted and looked determined. ¡°So if you bring me along in the future, you¡¯ll get double results.¡± Ming Ansheng snorted. Double results. It seemed like he had been belittling this young fellow. ¡°Daddy?¡± Beibei became impatient while waiting for his reply. Ming Ansheng airily said, ¡°Get out.¡± Beibei shook Ming Ansheng¡¯s elbow, trying to gain his favor. ¡°Bring me along.¡± ¡°Get out.¡± His voice turned cold. ¡°Okay.¡± Beibei hurriedly let go of his elbow and walked towards the door. When he had exited and closed the door, Ming Ansheng took another puff of his cigarette. Then he disposed of it, his hands made their way to the keyboard, and there was a faint smile on his face. In an instant, the study was warm once again. ¡­ ¡°Eh? There¡¯s a notification.¡± It had been three days since her last order. Su Yue sat in front of her laptop as she scrolled through her phone, crestfallen. Suddenly, she received a notification. She became incredibly excited. She opened it and realized that it was from XX Web. ¡®Hello, I¡¯m the Operations Manager of XX Web.¡¯ Operations Manager? Why was he looking for her? Was it regarding her online shop? She did something against the law? Su Yue was in utter confusion. She replied politely, ¡®Hello.¡¯ The Operations department managed the advertising spaces, so she had to be polite to them. XX Web¡¯s Operations Manager replied, ¡®On the first of October, China¡¯s national day, our website wants to advertise a few brands who buy on clients¡¯ behalf from China. Your business has been selected.¡¯ Advertise a few brands that buy on clients¡¯ behalf from China? Her shop was selected? Su Yue was feeling muddled. ¡®What does that mean?¡¯ XX Web replied, ¡®On the first of October, our website wants to publicize your business on the advertisements section of our home page.¡¯ This was a golden opportunity. Countless companies were queuing up for this advertising opportunity. Su Yue was excited yet she was concerned. ¡®Then¡­ How much would the publicity cost?¡¯ She had checked the cost of it when she first started out. It cost 100,000 dollars for a day of advertising. But its results were simply outstanding. Chapter 1623. Future Stepmother (part Five) XX Web replied, ¡®It¡¯s free. It¡¯s part of our initiative.¡® Huh? Su Yue couldn¡¯t believe her eyes when she saw the word ¡®free¡¯. She read it again and her hands started quivering. She confirmed, ¡®Free? Not a single cent required?¡¯ XX Web replied, ¡®Yes. Please send us a description of your business as soon as possible. Please keep it short within 200 words.¡¯ Su Yue hurriedly replied, ¡®Noted. I will get it done as soon as possible.¡¯ XX Web replied, ¡®Alright.¡¯ ¡°Thank you, thank you.¡± Su Yue nodded gratefully at her laptop screen. She was feeling indescribably happy. Who said that it was impossible for anything to fall into your lap? This was a prime example! With advertising, her business would definitely improve. Nobody knew how much she wanted to earn her own money and raise Xiaojiao with her own capabilities. She wanted to give Xiaojiao a good life. If she couldn¡¯t even do that, she wasn¡¯t fit to call herself Xiaojiao¡¯s mother. When Jiao Chen was around, Su Yue could pour out her grievances to him, and he was the first person to hear her good news. But now that he was gone, posting on her WeChat had become her habit. How could she not share such a great piece of news? XX Web was giving her free publicity! ¡®Hahaha¡­ I¡¯m feeling good today. A great opportunity fell into my lap hahaha¡­¡¯ She was incredibly excited. ¡®What fell into your lap? Did it crush you?¡¯ Zhou Shuang replied immediately. Su Yue answered, ¡®Hmph. Can¡¯t you say something nice? Since I¡¯m in a good mood, I won¡¯t pick a fight with you.¡¯ Not long after, Xuxu sent her a reply too. ¡®What happened that made you so happy?¡¯ Su Yue didn¡¯t reply to her in the comments section. She called her instead. It was morning in the capital city. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had just arrived at the company and were drinking tea. Her phone rang and Xuxu looked at the caller ID. It was Su Yue. She smiled and picked up the phone. She answered the call as she said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°Something made Yueyue really happy today. She was bragging on WeChat.¡± She had answered the call mid-sentence, so Su Yue heard the last portion of it. Su Yue snorted and said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t bragging. I was just sharing the good news.¡± ¡°Oh? What¡¯s the good news?¡± Xuxu asked, taking a sip of her tea. She waited for her reply eagerly. Su Yue excitedly said, ¡°XX Web gave me advertising space on their website for free, saying it was in celebration of China¡¯s national day.¡± Xuxu was startled. ¡°For free?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Third sister-in-law, isn¡¯t it amazing?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ That¡¯s great news.¡± Xuxu nodded and smiled. Then she rolled her eyes and thought, ¡®How could there be such a good opportunity? Advertisements during festivals and special holidays are even bigger money-making opportunities.¡¯ Obviously, someone had arranged it for her. After she ended the call, Xuxu placed down her phone and said to Yan Rusheng, ¡°This little lass is too na?ve. She said that a website contacted her and gave her a golden advertisement opportunity for free. How could such a thing happen? Su Yan must be behind it.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­¡± Yan Rusheng coldly chuckled, not saying anything. Chapter 1624. Future Stepmother (part Six) Xuxu frowned. ¡°What are you laughing about?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrow. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be anyone else other than Su Yan?¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Xuxu glared at him. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been you for sure. You¡¯re not that thoughtful.¡± Young Master Yan absolutely disagreed with her statement. Did he really treat that young lass badly He bit back, ¡°Ha. Your intelligence is declining.¡± ¡°You mean, it¡¯s Ming Ansheng?¡± Xuxu suddenly thought of him, her eyes widening. Yan Rusheng rolled his eyes disdainfully before replying, ¡°Who else would be so cowardly? He only knows how to act behind one¡¯s back.¡± What was obviously a romantic and touching gesture was perceived as an act of cowardice by Yan Rusheng. Xuxu was speechless. ¡°Who was the one who warned him not to cling to his sister or else he would cut off all ties with him?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked coolly. ¡°Anyone other than you are insignificant to me.¡± Xuxu felt like she had just eaten honey. The sentence was in actual fact, unbecoming, but it was his way of sweet-talking. In fact, all of his sweet nothings were considered despicable to anyone else who heard it. Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. She understood what he meant: No amount of threat could stop him from loving her. So, Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t try hard enough. And indeed, if it were Yan Rusheng instead, they probably wouldn¡¯t have taken such an arduous and tedious road. But at the end of the day, he wasn¡¯t Yan Rusheng. His family and upbringing were different, and the kind of struggles he was facing was different as well. From a logical standpoint, she pitied Ming Ansheng. He was almost thirty, with a son and¡­ a daughter who didn¡¯t know of his existence. ¡°Aish.¡± She exhaled. ¡°You¡¯re taking pity on another man?¡± Yan Rusheng warned maliciously. Xuxu frowned. ¡°How did you know?¡± Seeing that Xuxu didn¡¯t deny it, Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re going to the coastal holiday resort with me tonight.¡± ¡°No.¡± Xuxu rejected without hesitation. She pouted and said, ¡°I¡¯ve promised to bring Wenxin and Nuoxing to watch a movie.¡± ¡°Stand them up,¡± Yan Rusheng replied. Xuxu looked contemptuously at him. ¡°They¡¯re your biological children, for goodness¡¯ sake.¡± Stand them up? Even if he didn¡¯t bother about keeping his image as a good father, she wanted to be a good mother. Xuxu ignored him and picked up her phone, opening her WeChat. She looked at the update Su Yue posted earlier and smiled. ¡°Aish. Letting her set up her online business was the right decision. Now that she has her online business to handle, she¡¯s much more cheerful.¡± Xuxu thought for a while before saying to Yan Rusheng, ¡°Oh yes, have you been in contact with Ming Ansheng recently?¡± Yan Rusheng was typing on his keyboard. He replied casually without shifting his eyes away from the screen. ¡°He has migrated to country M.¡± Xuxu widened her mouth in shock. ¡°What?¡± Migrated to Country M? When did that happen? How did she not know about such a huge matter? ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± Young Master Yan chuckled with an underlying mockery and disdain¡­ Chapter 1625. Future Stepmother (part Seven) Xuxu frowned. ¡°Yan Rusheng, who taught you how to laugh like that?¡± ¡°Lu Huanyan!¡± Yan Rusheng tapped his fingers on his keyboard. Then he glanced askew at Xuxu with a cheeky grin. Tch. That girl was remarkable. She had influenced both her children and now even her husband. ¡­ In the President¡¯s office at Bright Vision, a man stood before the French windows with a cup of coffee in his hand. His knuckles were clearly defined and his fingernails were neatly trimmed and clean. He was holding his phone with the other hand as he stared at a screen. An affectionate smile played at the corners of his mouth, but there was a sly gleam in his eyes. ¡°This silly lass, why would she be so na?ve to think that something would fall into her lap¡­¡± Ming Ansheng mumbled under his breath. He was fondly looking at Su Yue¡¯s update on WeChat. And his registered name on WeChat was¡­ Lu Yinan Knock, knock, knock. The gentle smile on his face disappeared without a trace, and he turned around. He calmly said, ¡°Enter.¡± ¡°President, you have a meeting with the shopping mall management in the afternoon. By evening, you have a scheduled dinner with the Chairman of V Corporation.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s secretary entered and reported his schedule for the day. He quietly waited for Ming Ansheng¡¯s instructions after he was done. ¡°Good.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and pressed on, ¡°Book a ticket to N City on the 30th of this month.¡± He sounded as though he couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He really wanted to fly over at that instant. His secretary was startled. ¡°President¡­ you want to fly to Country M again?¡± But he just came back from N City¡­ Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No, there isn¡¯t. I¡¯ll book the ticket now.¡± Li Yang shook his head and left in a haste. Who was he to question the mighty President? ¡­ This was his third time this month flying to N City. He went to the airport straight from the company. His schedule was packed for the entire day, so Ming Ansheng dozed off in the VIP departure lounge. He heard someone moving in front of him when he was about to fall asleep. He had already informed the staff to wake him up when it was time for him to board. Since no one called him, he didn¡¯t open his eyes. Suddenly, a little soft and chubby hand grabbed his hand. It jolted Ming Ansheng awake. His face hardened when he turned around. Ming Beichen grinned sheepishly at Ming Ansheng. He was still wearing Flourish & Splendor¡¯s uniform and with his school bag on his back. He hugged a bag that overflowed with snacks. He grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand firmly to relay his determination of following his daddy. He was adamant about sticking to him, no matter how reluctant his daddy was. ¡°Ming¡­ Bei¡­ Chen!¡± Ming Ansheng gritted his teeth as he shouted at Beibei. ¡°Daddy, I want to visit my stepmother.¡± Beibei put on a toothy and a fawning smile. He raised the bag of snacks and expounded, ¡°This is for Xiaojiao. She likes ice cream but her mommy doesn¡¯t allow her to eat. I brought her this special ice cream, which isn¡¯t cold. My stepmother will definitely not object.¡± Hmph! Ming Ansheng snorted coldly in his heart. This fellow was really well-prepared. But what was this special ice cream? Wasn¡¯t it cold? He was mildly interested in the ice cream. Xiaojiao really liked ice cream and it would be good if she could eat this. ¡°Daddy, look!¡± Beibei noticed Ming Ansheng peering at the bag and he took one out. ¡°You can try it if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Chapter 1626. Future Stepmother (part Eight) Beibei tore the wrapper and showed it to Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng eyed the ice cream with a frown. He took a careful sip, and he looked as though he was drinking poison. He smacked his lips and his eyes gleamed brightly. Beibei opened his mouth and stared at Ming Ansheng with anticipation. ¡°Daddy, it tastes good right? Little Xiaojiao will love it, right?¡± He tugged at Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm excitedly. ¡°This taste¡­¡± Ming Ansheng took another sip of the special ice cream through the straw and licked his lips. ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± He continued drinking. That little glutton would definitely love it. Ming Ansheng visualized Su Xiaojiao¡¯s ice cream-smeared mouth. She looked so adorable He burst out into a soft giggle. He was still sucking on the straw with a bright grin and an affectionate smile. Beibei knitted his eyebrows as he scrutinized Ming Ansheng. ¡°Daddy, are you daydreaming?¡± Ming Ansheng hastily rearranged his features and then glared at the fellow. ¡°Who sent you here?¡± ¡°The chauffeur.¡± Beibei made himself comfortable on the leather couch, and he happily swung his legs. ¡°Go back.¡± Ming Ansheng barked an order and he looked stern. He began to suck the ice cream once more as he nodded with approval at the taste. ¡°I don¡¯t have a class for the next few days. Can¡¯t you just bring me along? I can take care of little Xiaojiao.¡± Beibei clung tightly to Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and pleaded. ¡°I really can help you, and I will help you to save time and effort. Daddy, trust me please.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­¡± Ming Ansheng laughed coldly. Beibei frowned and he looked upset. ¡°Daddy, why do you always laugh in this way?¡± He distinctly felt that he was being despised and looked down on. Why did his daddy laugh in such a weird way? ¡®Yeah, Beibei is right. Why did I laugh in that way?¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself. This seemed to be Lu Huanyan¡¯s habit of expressing her disdain for someone. She would always laugh in this way and it made people go crazy. F*ck! The little lass had influenced him! A crease appeared in the middle of Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyebrows, and he turned sullen. He glanced at Beibei. ¡°Go back home.¡± ¡°Daddy, if you have Xiaojiao and stepmother in the future, you won¡¯t like me anymore, right?¡± Beibei pursed his lips, looking sad. Ming Ansheng was stunned! He had assumed that this boy wouldn¡¯t be worried about this at all. He cast him a look and stiffly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be silly.¡± He continued to suck at the ice cream, but he had already finished it. ¡°If my stepmother ill-treats me in the future, will you protect me?¡± Beibei widened his huge eyes and stared unblinkingly at Ming Ansheng. He looked like an adorable and innocent puppy. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Ming Ansheng prodded Beibei¡¯s forehead and added, ¡°Su Yue is very kind. Don¡¯t think of her in such a way.¡± Beibei asked, ¡°So I can¡¯t even think of it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ming Ansheng nodded firmly. ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Beibei nodded. ¡°Alright. Little stepmother will be my goddess.¡± Ming Ansheng glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t add the word little.¡± It was as though he sounded really old. Beibei eagerly nodded like a little hen pecking for food on the ground. The staff came in and said, ¡°President Ming, it¡¯s time to board.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at Beibei and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have a ticket. I¡¯m going to go on board now.¡± Chapter 1627. Future Stepmother (part Nine) Beibei brightly beamed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already asked Uncle Li Yang to prepare everything for me.¡± It startled Ming Ansheng. ¡°Li Yang?¡± When was he that close to his secretary? And Li Yang didn¡¯t seek approval from him before he processed Beibei¡¯s papers. Oh, god. He really underestimated this boy¡¯s intelligence and ability. Beibei nodded vigorously. ¡°My Secretary, Li Yang?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. Beibei nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Excellent.¡± Ming Ansheng clenched his teeth with a murderous look. ¡°Please, daddy.¡± Beibei transformed into a docile bunny, and he clung onto Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm as he pleaded. Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched a little as he was trying to suppress a grin. His expression remained stoic. He sternly warned, ¡°If you don¡¯t listen to me, I¡¯ll send you back right away.¡± ¡°Okay! Daddy, you finally allowed me to go. This is great!¡± Beibei leaped in joy and he hugged Ming Ansheng tightly. Then he gave him a kiss on his cheek. ¡°Daddy is the best!¡± proclaimed Beibei loudly. ¡®He must have been looking forward to going abroad. Look how excited he is.¡¯ Ming Ansheng shook his head, looking amused. He raised his hand and touched his cheek where Beibei had just kissed him. He caught Beibei¡¯s eye and he smiled at him. ¡­ ¡®Ding dong, ding dong!¡¯ Su Yue didn¡¯t have classes that day, so she stayed home. She was still thinking of what to write for her advertisement, which would be published tomorrow. Her helper left with Xiaojiao a bit earlier on. The doorbell rang several times. The doorbell sounded as if it was urgent. Su Yue frowned, looking annoyed. Who was this person! She opened the door and her eyes were huge with shock. ¡°Little mommy, it¡¯s been a long time!¡± Beibei craned his neck and fluttered his eyelashes at Su Yue. Little mommy? Su Yue didn¡¯t approve of how he addressed him and she frowned. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I miss you so I came here. And it¡¯s holidays for me too.¡± Beibei simply entered the house without waiting for Su Yue¡¯s invitation. He sneaked past Su Yue. He surveyed the house and the surroundings quietly. He turned around to Su Yue. ¡°Where is little Xiaojiao? Is she in school?¡± As he spoke, he walked to the couch and put his bag on the floor. He sat down, picked up a banana and began to peel it. This fellow¡­ didn¡¯t treat himself as an outsider at all. She may not welcome his presence, but he was, after all, a child. And Su Yue remembered that he had lost his mother. She settled down next to Beibei. ¡°Are you here alone?¡± ¡°Yup. I boarded the plane all by myself,¡± Beibei answered with a mouthful of banana. He then nodded. ¡°I¡¯m so tired and I didn¡¯t eat at all. I rushed here to meet you, little mommy.¡± His mouth was full of banana so he couldn¡¯t speak properly. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were watching his bright eyes as he looked around. She knew he was full of tricks. She certainly didn¡¯t believe that he came here alone. He was only a boy, so his family wouldn¡¯t allow him to do so. And he even managed to locate her address. ¡°Or you assumed that my daddy is here with me?¡± Beibei grinned and raised his eyebrows cheekily. Su Yue rolled her eyes and ignored his remark. ¡°Finish this banana and get going.¡± Chapter 1628. Future Stepmother (part Ten) Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°I came to Country M to look for you. Don¡¯t chase me away.¡± Beibei spread his arms and embraced Su Yue. He may be a boy, but he was quite strong. Su Yue used a considerable amount of effort to push him away. She moved away from him to set a distance between. She furrowed her eyebrows and glared at the boy. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Alright, little mommy. I¡¯m here to visit you and Xiaojiao. I have no other intentions.¡± He had revealed his hidden intentions! She didn¡¯t ask why he was here. Su Yue replied, ¡°Go look for your daddy. I¡¯m busy and I have no time to take care of you.¡± Beibei sighed. ¡°My daddy is even busier. He is working so he got the chauffeur to send me here. He is meeting a client.¡± ¡°Then get your chauffeur to send you to your daddy.¡± ¡°But I sent the chauffeur away.¡± ¡­ Su Yue was exasperated. Why was this fellow like a sticky plaster? How would she be able to chase him away? Beibei earnestly shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take care of me. You have a helper, right? Just give me food, then I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He paused and added, ¡°If you don¡¯t have food, we can head out to eat. Or we can call for food delivery?¡± This boy was only eight years old, why was he so good with words? Su Yue glared at Beibei with a frown on her lips. ¡°Ask your daddy to fetch you quickly. I won¡¯t let you stay here.¡± She stood up and walked to the balcony. Earlier on, she was in the midst of a discussion with the designer to edit her advertisement. Su Yue walked to the swing chair and was about to sit down when Beibei¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡°Little mommy, are you eager to meet my daddy?¡± Su Yue¡¯s face fell. But she didn¡¯t bicker with him. Time was tight and she shouldn¡¯t waste time on him. She could do it later after she had completed her work. Su Yue ignored Beibei and placed her laptop on her lap. The designer had sent her messages and Su Yue replied quickly. ¡®Sorry. I have a visitor just now. We can continue now.¡¯ They resumed their discussion. ¡°Little mommy, what are you doing?¡± Beibei abruptly popped up behind her swing chair and it gave Su Yue quite a shock. Beibei glanced at her laptop screen. ¡°Are you doing an advertisement?¡± Su Yue coldly replied, ¡°Go away.¡± Why was this child so annoying? Beibei ignored Su Yue¡¯s expression and continued. ¡°Little mommy, you can hire an ambassador.¡± ¡°What do you know? Go away.¡± Su Yue was getting annoyed and she shoved Beibei away. But she didn¡¯t exert too much strength since he was a child. Beibei refused to budge and he grabbed the handles of the chair. He solemnly gazed at Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Look at those shampoos and makeup brands. Their sales are good because they hired ambassadors.¡± Su Yue was quiet, so he carried on. ¡°You can hire my daddy. He is famous in China. Or hire me? I¡¯m famous in school as I¡¯m the top student in Flourish & Splendor.¡± Su Yue put the laptop down and rose angrily. ¡°Could you just stop talking for a minute!¡± Chapter 1629. A Handsome and Wealthy Ambassador (part One) Beibei immediately clammed up when he realized that Su Yue was really angry. He murmured softly to himself before he swiftly turned around. Su Yue finally got her peace and went back to the swing chair with her laptop. The designer sent her the edited version of the poster. She took a quick glance, but she felt that it was too boring since it was only filled with pictures of food and words. ¡®You can get an ambassador¡­¡¯ Beibei¡¯s words floated into Su Yue¡¯s ears. An ambassador¡­ This seemed like a good idea. But who should she choose? She can¡¯t possibly hire those popular celebrities. Even if she could, she wouldn¡¯t have enough time. How about¡­ her third brother? Su Yue¡¯s eyes lit up. Even if Third Brother wasn¡¯t Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President, his looks alone would make her advertisement more attractive. She picked up her phone and dialed Xuxu¡¯s number. She shared with Xuxu about her idea. But Xuxu shut her down even without asking Yan Rusheng. She said it was impossible. Knowing Yan Rusheng, there was no way he would have agreed. If she tried to ask, she would have suffered the wrath of his vicious tongue. How could she ask him to flaunt his looks for the sake of an online store? He could earn a year¡¯s worth of profits from the online store, with the time taken to take the photos. He would have mercilessly rejected her with excuses like that. Su Yue agreed with Xuxu wholeheartedly. She hung up and heaved a heavy sigh. Seemed like this idea wasn¡¯t feasible. She cast away this idea and decided to go ahead with the original poster. ¡°When are you going back?¡± Su Yue glanced outside and realized that the sun was setting. She asked Beibei who was watching TV with Xiaojiao. Beibei replied, ¡°I will go back after my holidays have ended.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°You can¡¯t stay here.¡± ¡°I can sleep on the couch since I¡¯m so small.¡± Beibei immediately laid down to make his point. ¡°Look! Someone else can still sleep with me here.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ This fellow was really a rascal. His personality was the opposite of Ming Ansheng¡¯s. ¡°Mommy, I want Brother to play with me.¡± Su Xiaojiao suddenly cut across and raised her head at Su Yue. She clung onto Beibei¡¯s leg. She refused to let Su Yue chase Beibei away. Su Yue gazed at the two of them. A big and a small child¡ªa boy and a girl. She turned around towards the kitchen. ¡°Mommy agreed!¡± Su Xiaojiao exclaimed happily. Beibei gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Xiaojiao is great.¡± Beibei and Su Xiaojiao continued watching cartoons. After an hour, Su Yue carried Xiaojiao against her will and forced her to go back to her room. Xiaojiao resisted, but Su Yue threatened to send Beibei away if she doesn¡¯t sleep. The girl immediately stopped protesting. After Su Xiaojiao fell asleep, Su Yue came out of her room. The boy had changed into grayish floral pajamas, and he was already fast asleep. Su Yue sauntered across the room. She stood next to the sofa as she studied the boy¡¯s features. He really resembled Meiduo and only looked a little like Ming Ansheng. Chapter 1630. A Handsome and Wealthy Ambassador (part Two) Suddenly, Beibei licked and smacked his lips. The sounds he made jolted Su Yue back to her senses. Beibei flipped his body around. Su Yue quietly picked up a blanket and covered him. The couch was big enough to accommodate him. And he couldn¡¯t blame her for choosing to sleep on the couch since he was bent on staying here for the night. Su Yue felt bad when she saw the boy sleeping on the couch. Although she convinced herself otherwise moments later. She yawned and turned around to head back to her room. The boy abruptly opened his eyes and he grinned slyly to himself. ¡­ Su Yue planned for the advertisement campaign according to China¡¯s public holidays. The moment Su Yue opened her eyes, she turned on her laptop to check on the advertisement campaign. When she clicked on the website, the first thing she saw on the front page was the listings. She clicked on it, and it featured her online store. However¡­ Why was Bright Vision¡¯s President Ming Ansheng recommending a product? And¡­ it included Ming Ansheng¡¯s photo?! Su Yue¡¯s face was so close to the screen, and her jaw had dropped. She blinked repeatedly at the screen in disbelief and wondered if she had entered the wrong website. But the name of her online store ¡®Easy Foreign Purchases¡¯ was indeed featured. What was happening? She had confirmed the design with her designer yesterday? Why did they change her original one? ¡°Little mommy, what are you looking at?¡± Ming Beichen¡¯s head popped out of nowhere. He glanced at the laptop screen and exclaimed with a gasp. ¡°Wow! My daddy is really good-looking.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ She glanced askew at Ming Beichen with a trace of suspicion. Beibei ignored her expression and beamed happily. ¡°Little mommy, it was a wise decision to get my daddy to be your ambassador.¡± He pressed on, ¡°But my daddy is really nice to you. He is such a busy President of the company, but he is still willing to do this for you. Furthermore, it¡¯s really touching that he used his photo for your mass campaign.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ She really felt like taping this boy¡¯s mouth. Why did she have a hunch that Beibei had something to do with this? But he was merely a child¡­ Su Yue felt glum as she had no idea what had happened. She decided to ask the person-in-charge. She dialed the person¡¯s number right away. When she hung up, she quickly searched for the chat conversation they had. Her face instantly darkened. She turned and glared at the boy, who had already fled to the couch. He appeared to be doing his homework. ¡°Rascal! Did you touch my laptop?¡± But would a child be smart enough to know so much? But other than him, there wasn¡¯t anyone else. Who else could it be? She had used this laptop to confirm the edited advertisement campaign. And if someone tried to use another device to log in to her account, she would receive a text notification. ¡°I did.¡± Ming Beichen was very honest, so he nodded. He wasn¡¯t in the least afraid at all. Su Yue was about to lash out at him when Ming Beichen interjected. ¡°I used quite some time to figure out how to send a message.¡± He really did have a hard time. Su Yue sneered coldly, and she waited quietly for Beibei to continue. Chapter 1631. A Handsome and Wealthy Ambassador (part Three) Beibei grinned from ear to ear. ¡°I asked my classmate¡¯s daddy to help me with the photo and design. It¡¯s nice, right?¡± Su Yue remained mum, so he pressed on, ¡°My classmate¡¯s daddy is a famous graphic designer.¡± Su Yue finally cut across him. ¡°Leave my house now.¡± She pointed at the door as she calmly said that. She restrained her temper since he was still a boy. Beibei became a little fearful as he sensed Su Yue¡¯s anger. He rose and ran to Su Yue. ¡°Little mommy, don¡¯t be angry.¡± ¡°Go away!¡± Su Yue bellowed and Beibei froze from a distance away. He halted his footsteps. He shrunk his neck and grunted in response. He turned towards the door and unwillingly dragged his feet. Su Yue didn¡¯t bother to look at him, and she turned around. She stared at the man on the screen with a frown. She sighed helplessly to herself. Anyway, this advertisement was only for a day and it was too late for changes. Her sales began to flood in because of the advertisement. She couldn¡¯t handle it and had trouble replying to every message. Finally, in the late afternoon, she gave up because her stomach had grumbled. She switched off her laptop and stood up. She halted her footsteps when she walked past the coffee table. This fellow! Beibei¡¯s bag and homework were left behind. She walked towards it with a frown and stretched her hand to pick it up. She caught a glimpse of Beibei¡¯s homework and was surprised to see how neat his handwriting was. His handwriting was tidy, yet anyone could tell it belonged to a child. A family like his would have hired the best tutors and teachers to make sure that he had the best education. So he should have excelled in everything. Nuoxing and Wenxin had just started learning piano and they had already surpassed her. She closed Beibei¡¯s book and spotted his bag. She unzipped it. She glanced inside and saw a thick notebook. She pulled the notebook out of the bag. She flipped the book. The first page was an entry from two years ago. He added a smiley face. Su Yue¡¯s mouth curled up when she saw it. What was this? His diary? Su Yue was hesitant about reading it. But curiosity won in the end. She flipped to another page. His handwriting wasn¡¯t so neat back then and it was worlds apart from now. This boy seemed to have put in a tremendous effort to improve his handwriting. ¡®My daddy doesn¡¯t really like me. Every time I call him, he only grunted in response. I haven¡¯t seen him in days and finally, he is back today. I wanted him to hug me, but he didn¡¯t really talk to me. Why doesn¡¯t my daddy like me? I¡¯m so sad.¡¯ He drew a sad face at the end. His entries were very short, but every one of them was related to Ming Ansheng. His mommy was gone, so he should treat his son better! Su Yue frowned as she stared at Beibei¡¯s diary. This young boy had yearned for his parents to love him. Why couldn¡¯t his father do so? Chapter 1632. A Handsome and Wealthy Ambassador (part Four) She was just like Beibei when she was a child. How she wished that her mother would come and take her away. She would be contented with just seeing her face. But gradually, she went from wishing she could see her once a day, to once a week, and once a month¡­ ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Her heart went out to Beibei, as she could fully comprehend how Beibei felt at that time when he wrote in his diary. Su Yue sighed deeply as she continued to read his entries. His handwriting improved and so did his command of language. She began to understand why Beibei was so mature and sensible for his age. He had been trying so hard to excel in all aspects. He thought that Ming Ansheng would notice him if he did. She soon realized that Beibei and Jiao Chen were alike. They were both very positive and always strive for the best. She was the one who had wallowed in self-misery and gave up on herself. ¡®Daddy smokes every day and Grandmother is always worried. She is afraid that he might fall ill because of smoking too much. I have to think of a way to stop Daddy from smoking so much. I don¡¯t have Mommy with me anymore, so I can¡¯t let Daddy die.¡¯ Su Yue felt as if his words had just gripped her heart. ¡®I don¡¯t have Mommy with me anymore, so I can¡¯t let Daddy die¡­¡¯ Su Yue thought to herself, ¡®Ming Ansheng, since you¡¯ve brought him back to your family, you should take good care of your son. How could you allow him to live with such insecurity?¡¯ She started to empathize with Beibei even more. ¡®Today, I overheard Grandmother saying that a woman that Daddy loved didn¡¯t want him anymore. Even though I was angry with Daddy as he abandoned Mommy. Jiajia told me that my mommy is already dead. So Daddy will find me a new mommy. Daddy will be so pitiful if he is alone. So I think Daddy should like another woman.¡¯ ¡®So the reason Daddy smokes so much is because of a woman. The Internet says that men smoke because they are troubled over women or money. Daddy is so rich, so he must be troubled because of a woman. I feel that Daddy should go to Country M to look for the woman who had bewitched him. I heard from Grandmother that Daddy only likes that woman and he refused all the rest.¡¯ A woman who bewitched him? Was it her? Su Yue smiled lightly. She continued to read his entries and Beibei mentioned her repeatedly. He had written ideas on how his Daddy should woo her. Su Yue closed the diary and smiled to herself. She kept the diary inside his bag. She glanced at the windows. That boy had been gone for about six hours. He should¡­ be with his daddy by now. Anyway, it¡¯s quite safe for children in Country M. Su Yue tried to appease her conscience before heading to the kitchen to get some food. But she couldn¡¯t stop worrying about Beibei¡¯s whereabouts. Suddenly, the door swung open. Her helper was back. She had a huge bag in her hand. Su Yue asked, ¡°Aunty, what did you bring back this time?¡± For the past month, her helper had brought stuff back and it was mainly snacks. Her helper grinned. ¡°The owner next door came back today and brought some traditional costumes for Xiaojiao from Country T. It looks really nice.¡± Chapter 1633. The Truth Behind the Childs Parentage (part One) Su Yue was flabbergasted by what her helper said. ¡°What?!¡± That neighbor whom she had never met, bought clothes for Xiaojiao again? Was that person doing a charity business? Su Yue began to get suspicious. ¡°Aunty, is the owner at home now?¡± Her helper nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll pay the owner a visit. He has been giving Xiaojiao too many snacks and now even clothes. I feel bad.¡± Su Yue put her chopsticks down and stood up. Her helper gripped her arm and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s really nothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go over for a while.¡± Su Yue pulled her arm away in determination. She changed into her shoes and opened the door. Her helper didn¡¯t stop her this time. The weather was dropping in N City. Su Yue put a thin shirt over her shirt, and she stuffed her hands inside her pockets. A light breeze blew at her hair. Su Yue tucked some strands behind her ears. She got to the steps and walked to the road. She made a turn to go to unit 520. She passed by a huge tree, and she suddenly stopped in her tracks. She froze momentarily before turning around. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Who could it be other than little Young Master Ming who Su Yue had chased away? ¡°I don¡¯t have money or my phone with me. I can¡¯t find my daddy,¡± Beibei uttered as he bowed his head. His pitiful state softened her heart. Oh my god! Had he been standing here for the whole day? A pang of guilt struck Su Yue and she walked to Beibei. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you come back for your bag and phone?¡± If someone witnessed this, they were bound to think that she was a callous woman for chasing a child away. ¡°I don¡¯t want to make little mommy angry,¡± replied Beibei in a hushed voice. ¡°Stop calling me that. Just address me as Sister.¡± Su Yue corrected him and held his hand. ¡°Go inside for a bite.¡± She led him back towards her house. A smile appeared on Beibei¡¯s face and his eyes were sparkling with emotion. Hmph! He knew he was more efficient than his daddy. Su Yue brought Beibei back and got her helper to cook noodles for him. He polished off the entire bowl and drank all the soup. He even licked the bowl. Su Yue sat across him and furrowed her eyebrows. She felt that he was being too dramatic. Was he really that hungry? But in hindsight, it had been eight hours since she chased him out. Anyone would be hungry, not to mention a child. ¡°Aunt.¡± Beibei glanced at Su Yue. Su Yue frowned and warned Beibei, ¡°Don¡¯t address me as Aunt.¡± She was only 14 years older than him. Beibei instantly corrected himself. ¡°Hmmm¡­ Goddess?¡± Goddess? Why would he know about a goddess? And being called a goddess by a child sounded weird. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows tightly to express her displeasure. Beibei pouted. ¡°I can¡¯t call you Sister. If not, Xiaojiao would have to call me as Uncle. Xiaojiao also calls my daddy Uncle. It¡¯s so confusing.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ This little fellow was so meticulous and sensitive. But it really sounded complicated. After all, Xiaojiao and he were siblings. She conceded defeat. ¡°Alright, call me as Aunt then.¡± Chapter 1634. The Truth Behind the Fellows Parentage (part Two) ¡°Sure.¡± Beibei nodded. He pulled a tissue and gracefully dabbed his mouth. ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m going to do my homework. When Xiaojiao gets home, I will play with her for a while before I teach her how to draw.¡± To win his stepmother¡¯s heart, he must first win her daughter over. Beibei leaped from the chair and strode to the couch. He unzipped his bag. He took out his homework and began to do it. Su Yue soundlessly widened her mouth. She had merely brought him back because she felt that he was pitiful. Did she promise to let him stay at her place? But at the sight of him doing his homework so seriously, she couldn¡¯t help but think of his diary. This poor boy had lost his mother, and his father didn¡¯t give him any attention or love. Su Yue sighed quietly to herself. Forget it, he can continue to stay here since Xiaojiao seemed to enjoy his company. Besides, she was busy and didn¡¯t have much time for her. Su Yue left Beibei alone and went to settle her work. After a quick meal, she went back to replying to those orders. Her hands were getting tired. She took a toilet break and walked out with a glass of water. She turned around¡­ ¡°What are you doing?¡± Little Young Master Ming sat in front of her laptop and was typing away. As though he really knew how to. She shrieked and ran to him. ¡°You have so many orders. I can help you to reply.¡± Beibei pointed to the screen with an innocent expression. This fellow! He was chatting with her customers. Su Yue frowned and nudged Beibei. ¡°Go away.¡± Beibei sprang to his feet and put on a fawning smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at me. I simply thought that you looked tired. That¡¯s why I wanted to help.¡± Su Yue had no retort for that and her attitude softened. ¡°You¡¯re a child. What do you know? Go and watch TV.¡± Why did he have to be so sensible and mature? He didn¡¯t seem like a child. A boy of his age should be playing video games or using his phone. Why did he worry about such matters? Beibei obeyed Su Yue and walked away. Su Yue sat down and she clicked on the conversation history he had with the customers. To her surprise, Beibei helped her to reply to several messages. But wait. What was his reply about? When Will The Bright Moon Arrive typed, ¡®Dear, previously I bought items from your store and my colleagues all loved it. I saw your advertisement and I¡¯m hoping to buy more to give to my colleague and superiors.¡¯ Easy Foreign Purchases replied, ¡®Haha. Really?¡¯ ¡®Haha. Really?¡¯ Why did his reply sound so cold and sinister? Su Yue raised her eyebrows and continued reading. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive typed, ¡®Yeah. I want to buy more. I even introduced your store to my friends.¡¯ Easy Foreign Purchases replied, ¡®Dear, you¡¯re too helpful. What would you like to buy? But most of our products are out of stock. We will need a month before we will receive the products.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive asked, ¡®Out of stock? Why did this happen?¡¯ Easy Foreign Purchases replied, ¡®Yeah, out of stock. Do you still want to buy?¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive typed, ¡®Sure. You can send me any time. As long as the products are within the expiry date. But I believe that you will give me the best.¡¯ Chapter 1635. The Truth Behind the Fellows Parentage (part Three) Easy Foreign Purchases replied, ¡®Our store sells all slow-moving products. I can¡¯t be sure if it¡¯s fresh, but it will be within the expiry date.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive was speechless¡­ Su Yue was exasperated! She wanted to roar at Ming Beichen and strangle him. She would ship everything directly from China to the customers, so why would her items be out of stock? Her store sells all slow-moving products?! This fellow was too much, and she needed to vent her frustration. Su Yue twisted her neck and bellowed, ¡°Beibei, come here!¡± Beibei put his pencil down and strode quickly to his ¡®little mommy¡¯. ¡°Tell me what is this all about?¡± Su Yue pointed to the screen with the conversation history between Beibei and When Will The Bright Moon Arrive. But she couldn¡¯t understand why this fellow was so cold towards this particular customer? He had been very courteous towards the rest. Beibei frowned and pursed his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t like this person.¡± He didn¡¯t like this person? Su Yue suppressed her boiling anger and hissed, ¡°Tell me why.¡± ¡°He seems like he is trying to win your favor. And his first line sounds so weird.¡± Beibei cast a contemptuous look at the screen. ¡°He said he wanted to buy more for his superiors. Isn¡¯t that a bribe? There is something wrong with this person¡¯s character. Maybe he is trying to win your favor.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ Why didn¡¯t she share the same sentiment? He was trying to win her favor? She couldn¡¯t detect any of that in this person¡¯s words. Even if this person really tried to, he or she must have hoped for an amicable relationship to get a better bargain. How could Beibei conclude about this person¡¯s character based on a conversation? He was the person who had a problem. A young boy like him was concerned about adults¡¯ affairs, and he was way too mature for his age. She questioned him, ¡°Didn¡¯t I instruct you not to touch my laptop?¡± Beibei bowed his head and earnestly said, ¡°There won¡¯t be a second time.¡± ¡°If there is, I won¡¯t care even if you sleep in the streets.¡± Su Yue turned towards the screen, without a second look at Beibei. Little Young Master Ming knew that he had a close shave, and he smirked slyly to himself. Her online store business prevented Su Yue from going to school for she was replying to orders for four days in a row. She seemed glued to the screen for at least more than half of the day. Even though she was tired, she felt a sense of achievement. She was pleased with herself. When she counted the number of orders she had received, she felt a sense of accomplishment, just like the first time she learned how to cook. She was so proud of herself to see a table of the dishes she had cooked. ¡°Mommy.¡± Su Xiaojiao came home and darted right towards Su Yue even without putting her bag down. ¡°I want a movie.¡± Su Yue gave her a kiss on her forehead and smiled. ¡°I will help you to keep your bag first before we watch a movie.¡± She had been too busy these few days and finally, she could take a breather. When she coaxed her to sleep yesterday, she promised Xiaojiao to bring her for a movie. ¡°I want Brother to go with us.¡± Su Xiaojiao pointed at Beibei who had just entered. Chapter 1636. The Truth Behind the Fellow’s Parentage (part Four) Beibei went with the helper to fetch Xiaojiao. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Although this fellow had made her go berserk these few days, he had indeed helped her by accompanying Xiaojiao. She planned to bring him out for dinner and a movie before sending him away. His holidays were coming to an end, and he should go back to school. She chose a mall that had a cinema and a selection of restaurants. For fear that she could not cope with two children, she brought the helper along. ¡°Let me peel the prawns for you.¡± Beibei took care of Xiaojiao throughout the entire dinner. He peeled prawns for her and scooped the food onto her plate. He had just finished peeling a prawn and he fed it into Xiaojiao¡¯s mouth. Xiaojiao chewed the prawn with a huge smile. ¡°Thank you, Brother.¡± Beibei glanced at Xiaojiao with an affectionate smile. ¡°Let me peel one more for you.¡± He picked up another and started peeling. Su Yue quietly gazed at them. A big and a small child; a boy and a girl. A wave of bliss and contentment washed over her. Was it because¡­ they were related by blood? Beibei had finished peeling another prawn and he wanted to let Xiaojiao eat it. Su Yue suddenly cut across. ¡°Beibei, I¡¯ll peel for her. You can eat that prawn.¡± She extended her hand and placed two slices of meat into Beibei¡¯s bowl. ¡°Eat more meat so that you will grow stronger.¡± ¡°Thank you, Aunt Goddess.¡± Her gesture had overwhelmed Beibei that he happily thanked her. He immediately popped the meat inside his mouth. Su Yue curled her lips into a smile and there was a trace of subtle affection. ¡®Today, my future stepmother brought me out for dinner and placed food on my plate. Someone must be jealous and angry right now. Hmph!¡¯ When they came out of the cinema, Beibei deliberately slowed down and trailed behind Su Yue and Xiaojiao. He took a photo of them and posted it on WeChat. That ¡®someone¡¯ was having a video conference meeting in the study. He was browsing through his phone as he listened to some of his head of departments reporting about unimportant matters. He read Beibei¡¯s update and his face darkened. He almost puked out a mouthful of blood. This fellow! He typed, ¡®I even slept on the same bed as her and ate from the same bowl!¡¯ He felt that his reply sounded too odd. And¡­ why was he competing with a child? And what did he say¡­ ¡®Slept on the same bed?¡¯ Ming Ansheng hastily deleted his reply. But Beibei had already read it, and he typed, ¡®Daddy, where are your moral values? I¡¯m still a kid. Don¡¯t lead me astray.¡¯ So, he was aware that he was still a child? Ming Ansheng sneered in disdain and ignored Beibei. He held his phone in his hand and used the other hand to prop against his forehead. A smile crept across his face. Seemed like it wasn¡¯t absolutely impossible for her to accept Beibei? Ming Ansheng, if you knew this would happen, why did you allow her to undergo so many hardships? ¡­ ¡°Hurry up, stop using your phone.¡± Su Yue held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand as they walked down the stairs. She turned her head and realized that Beibei seemed engrossed with his phone. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Beibei stowed his phone away and ran to Su Yue. ¡°Be careful. Excuse me!¡± Chapter 1637. The Truth Behind the Fellow’s Parentage (part Five) Suddenly, a teen on a skateboard came flying towards them from Beibei¡¯s right, looking as though he had lost control. He shrieked in horror. Beibei heard his shrieks and turned around. He widened his mouth and eyes, and his face turned ghastly white. ¡°Beibei!¡± Su Yue screamed, looking shocked. But it was too late for her to do anything. The teen and his skateboard hit Beibei with a crash, and Beibei¡¯s head hit the stairs. He fainted on the spot. ¡°Beibei!¡± Su Yue ran to Beibei and knelt down. She tried to lift him up. The right side of his head was bleeding. Su Yue shouted to arouse him, but his body remained motionless. Su Yue was flustered and she glanced at her helper for help. ¡°I¡¯ll call the ambulance.¡± The helper put Xiaojiao on the ground and whipped out her phone. ¡°Brother¡­ Brother¡­¡± Su Xiaojiao stood beside Su Yue and held Beibei¡¯s hand ever so tightly. She sobbed as she stared at Beibei. Her tears fell on her lap. She quickly wiped them away as she asked, ¡°Mommy, what happened to Brother?¡± Su Yue became more flustered when she saw her crying. She softly replied, ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t cry. He hit his head and it¡¯s painful. He is sleeping now, so let¡¯s be quiet and not disturb him.¡± The ambulance came and they went to the hospital along with the teen. The paramedics administered first aid to Beibei, but he remained unconscious. Su Yue was terrified and worried. How she prayed that nothing would happen to the brain of a clever boy like him. ¡°How is he, doctor?¡± Beibei¡¯s CT results came out, and Su Yue watched the doctor in sheer anxiousness. The doctor replied, ¡°He had a serious brain concussion and he needs to stay for observation.¡± Serious brain concussion! Su Yue had no idea what a brain concussion would entail. She anxiously gripped the desk and she swallowed her saliva. Her heart was in her mouth as she asked apprehensively. ¡°Then¡­ will it affect him in the future? Will there be any damage to his brain? Will there be a blood clot in his brain? Will his life be in danger?¡± She unconsciously tightened her grip on the desk. ¡°Please calm down first.¡± The doctor realized that Su Yue was overreacting and he smiled gently. ¡°Once he recovers from the brain concussion, he would be fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± She slumped back and exhaled deeply. Her worries and fear gradually faded away. The doctor gave her a reassuring smile and she managed a tiny one back. They transferred the little fellow to a ward. His head was bandaged, and he was still unconscious. Su Yue sat down beside the bed and furrowed her eyebrows. She studied his face with a worried expression. She needed to inform his daddy about his situation. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Su Yue sighed helplessly to herself. She found Beibei¡¯s phone and dialed Ming Ansheng¡¯s number. She pressed to call him. The line got through and a familiar man¡¯s voice greeted her ears. ¡°What report do you have to update today?¡± Ming Ansheng asked in a drawl, as he had expected Beibei on the other line. What report did he have to update? Chapter 1638. The Truth Behind the Fellow’s Parentage (part Six) Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows. How could she not comprehend what Ming Ansheng was trying to say? But hadn¡¯t she already expected it? This kid came such a long way to Country M and refused to leave her place. There was no way he didn¡¯t have any ulterior motives. She pressed her lips and fell silent, wondering how Ming Ansheng would react if he heard her voice. She softly said, ¡°Uncle Ming?¡± ¡°What!¡± Ming Ansheng was visibly shocked. Even Su Yue could feel his shock over the line. ¡°What happened?¡± Ming Ansheng asked in a concerned tone. ¡°Is Beibei being mischievous again?¡± ¡°No, he isn¡¯t.¡± Su Yue shook her head. She updated Ming Ansheng about Beibei¡¯s accident. Ming Ansheng arrived at the hospital shortly. He wore a white shirt with black pants. Although he looked flustered and worried, he still appeared suave and charming. Su Yue spotted Ming Ansheng and she stood up. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re here.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded to acknowledge. He glanced at Beibei and asked, ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°He had a brain concussion, so he needs to stay for observation.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded, and he looked relieved. He knew that when a patient recovers from a brain concussion after some time, there wouldn¡¯t be any serious problems. He glanced at Su Yue with a smile. ¡°Yueyue, sorry to trouble you.¡± He sounded so gentle every time he called her name. Su Yue pressed her lips tightly and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not taking good care of him.¡± Since he was in her care, she was responsible for his safety. This boy got injured when he was out with her. She felt really guilty and regretful. Ming Ansheng shook his head and smiled. ¡°This guy is really playful. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Beibei was currently sneering at his daddy quietly in his heart. He was lying there with his head bandaged, yet he didn¡¯t even blame his future stepmother at all. Instead, he blamed it on his playfulness, and at the same time, tainting his image of him in his stepmother¡¯s heart. He shouldn¡¯t have helped his father. Hmph! ¡°Where is Xiaojiao?¡± Ming Ansheng looked around as he searched for Xiaojiao. Beibei felt as if his heart was crushed by a massive weight. He was his son, and they were the ones who were related by blood, alright! His daddy should have at least stroked his hand just like what the characters in the dramas always do. Or perhaps say something soothing or encouraging. Instead, his heart was with his future stepdaughter. He was in despair! Su Yue replied, ¡°She went home with my helper.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded, and he couldn¡¯t conceal his disappointment. He glanced at Su Yue after a moment. ¡°I heard that you started an online store.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°How is your business?¡± asked Ming Ansheng. Su Yue smiled and replied, ¡°I just started, so it¡¯s not very good.¡± ¡°Take your time. Online businesses need patience and time.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at Su Yue and continued to encourage her. ¡°I¡¯ll help you promote to my colleagues in Bright Vision.¡± Oh my god! Beibei couldn¡¯t take it any longer. How pretentious could his father be! Beibei clenched his fists under the blanket while he rolled his eyes. ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue smiled and glanced at her watch. Chapter 1639. The Truth Behind the Fellow’s Parentage (part Seven) She said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°It¡¯s bedtime for Xiaojiao. If I¡¯m not around, she can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯ll go first, call me if you need to look for me.¡± His little princess needed Su Yue, certainly that was of paramount importance. Ming Ansheng nodded and said, ¡°Sure. Run along now.¡± He followed Su Yue and sent her to the door. Beibei narrowed his eyes as he observed how Ming Ansheng followed Su Yue like a docile bunny. He cast him a look of disgust and disdain. Did that old man forget that his injured son was still unconscious? He only cared about the woman! He would give this father bad reviews. He was utterly disappointed. Ming Ansheng sent Su Yue to the elevator with longing in his eyes. But he knew he had to let her leave, as his princess won¡¯t be able to sleep without her mommy. Both were ¡®women¡¯ that he loved deeply. ¡°Go back to Beibei. He should be awake soon,¡± said Su Yue in a casual tone. She was about to enter the elevator. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly called her. Su Yue turned around and asked, ¡°What?¡± Ming Ansheng hesitated, as though he had a huge favor to ask of her. Su Yue had no idea what Ming Ansheng wanted to say. She tightly gripped the handles of her bag. For no reason, she became nervous. After opening his mouth a couple of times, he finally managed to say, ¡°I might have something on tomorrow. If you have time tomorrow, can you take care of Beibei?¡± For fear that she might decline, he hurriedly added, ¡°I have a major meeting with my business partners here and I can¡¯t postpone it. I will rush back when it¡¯s over.¡± Su Yue agreed with no hesitation. ¡°Sure.¡± She was merely helping him to take care of his son, and that wasn¡¯t an unreasonable request. She would always help if anyone she knew in Country M needed her help. Su Yue explained to herself in her mind. Delight streaked across Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes. He seemed slightly emotional. ¡°Thank you, Yueyue.¡± Su Yue smiled and entered the elevator. Ming Ansheng put his hands inside his pockets. He turned away when she vanished from his sight. His heart was still thumping. Their relationship seemed to be mending bit by bit. At least she wasn¡¯t so hostile and distant now¡­ Ming Ansheng¡¯s spirits soared and he strolled back to Beibei¡¯s ward. He opened the door and saw Ming Beichen sitting against the pillow. ¡°What a swift recovery.¡± ¡°Daddy, you value a woman more than your son.¡± Beibei protested with his cheeks puffed up to express his dissatisfaction. Ming Ansheng nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely right.¡± Beibei furrowed his eyebrows and he pitifully said, ¡°Can¡¯t you be considerate towards my feelings? You couldn¡¯t be bothered to even lie to me¡­¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ It would be prudent to limit the time he spent on his phone and computer. All these stuff that he learned rendered him speechless. Chapter 1640. The Truth Behind the Fellow’s Parentage (part Eight) Ming Ansheng ignored his words and walked over. He sat down on his bed and said, ¡°But I have to give it to you. You have strong endurance and willpower.¡± It confused Beibei. ¡°Daddy, what are you talking about?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Next time, please don¡¯t glance around when you¡¯re acting.¡± Beibei remained silent. Indeed, wisdom comes with age. Or rather, the little fox was no match for the sly old fox. ¡°Ming Beichen,¡± Ming Ansheng warned. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Beibei quivered and asked warily, ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± ¡°Out of stock? Only sells slow-moving products?¡± Ming Ansheng smirked and raised his eyebrow. Beibei evaded eye contact and his voice was much softer when he replied, ¡°Daddy, what are you talking about?¡± Ming Ansheng smirked. ¡°You can only hide the truth from Su Yue. Did you think that I wouldn¡¯t be able to see through your lies?¡± Beibei shook his head innocently. ¡°Daddy, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. My head hurts and I want to rest. Daddy, don¡¯t talk anymore.¡± Then he buried himself in the blanket and remained still. Ming Ansheng whacked his bottom. ¡°I¡¯ve booked your return ticket for the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Daddy, the doctor said that I have to be hospitalized for observation,¡± Beibei said, poking his head out of the blanket, blinking at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°That¡¯s not an issue. You can continue treatment back in China.¡± Beibei pouted. ¡°The medical facilities are better here.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned sternly. ¡°Stop making excuses. You still have school. You don¡¯t want to go to school anymore?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve inherited your intelligence and my grades are so spectacular. I¡¯ll still be able to top the class even if I miss a week¡¯s worth of lessons.¡± He didn¡¯t forget to curry favor with Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°Stop bragging. Don¡¯t learn from your Uncle Third Yan.¡± Who exactly did this fellow take after? Beibei snorted. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Uncle Third Yan that you defamed him.¡± It had rendered Ming Ansheng speechless. He changed the topic. He said, ¡°Su Yue will come to look after you tomorrow. You have to behave.¡± Beibei casually asked, ¡°Daddy, where are you going?¡± He was already hospitalized. Couldn¡¯t he make some time for him? The fellow became disheartened as he thought about it. Ming Ansheng could read his mind. He pinched his cheeks and said, ¡°I told her that I have to attend a meeting, so I asked her to take care of you.¡± Beibei immediately looked at Ming Ansheng contemptuously. ¡°Daddy, you made use of me. You¡¯re despicable! I¡¯m just a small boy and you made use of me. Am I really your biological son?¡± Ming Ansheng froze and his smile faltered for a moment. But he recovered quickly and smiled. ¡°Enough of your nonsense. Have a good rest and return to China quickly.¡± He adjusted the blanket for Beibei. ¡°Daddy, will you still love me when future stepmother and Xiaojiao live with us in the future?¡± Beibei asked in a worried tone. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stop letting your thoughts run wild?¡± Ming Ansheng looked at Beibei and his heart ached. He caressed his face and said, ¡°Study hard and make your mother proud.¡± Chapter 1641. The Truth Behind the Fellow’s Parentage (part Nine) He paused and continued, ¡°I¡­ will always love you.¡± This was the first time that Ming Ansheng said that he loved him. Beibei was ecstatic, and so he vigorously nodded. ¡°I will study hard and improve every day. I won¡¯t let you and Mommy down.¡± Then he obediently closed his eyes. His eyelashes were still quivering with excitement. Ming Ansheng stared at Beibei and fell into a reverie. ¡®Ansheng, I know I¡¯m being selfish. But the only concern I have in this world is whether Beibei can grow up normal and healthy.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t blame you, neither do I blame your family members. Help me take care of Beibei, give him a happy and healthy childhood.¡¯ ¡­ The next day, Su Yue arrived at the hospital at 10 a.m. Ming Ansheng was sitting on the sofa with a laptop on his lap. He was furiously typing on the keyboard. When he came over last night, he didn¡¯t have his laptop with him. His assistant must¡¯ve sent it over. Su Yue glanced at Ming Ansheng and gently closed the door. ¡°Yueyue,¡± Ming Ansheng greeted as he looked up at her. He smiled warmly. Su Yue pressed her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a meeting to attend? You should hurry.¡± Ming Ansheng looked at Beibei who was watching television before apologetically saying, ¡°Sorry to trouble you.¡± Su Yue nodded lightly. ¡°It¡¯s no problem. I¡¯ve been having fewer lessons recently. I brought my laptop so that I can do my work at any time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded before closing his laptop. He stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make a move. I¡¯ll be back after my meeting.¡± Su Yue plainly said, ¡°It¡¯s no rush.¡± Ming Ansheng kept the laptop in his briefcase and kept the folders on the desk. He stuffed them into his bag. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± he said as he walked past her, carrying his briefcase. Su Yue watched him leave before turning to look at Beibei. The little fellow was unconscious yesterday, but he looked so energetic today. Indeed, children recuperate quickly. Su Yue walked over to Beibei and smiled. ¡°What are you watching?¡± ¡°Armor Hero, do you want to watch?¡± Beibei asked Su Yue as he pointed at the screen. Su Yue glanced at it and said, ¡°What¡¯s so nice about it? The acting is subpar, the actors aren¡¯t even good-looking and the whole series is based on special effects.¡± Beibei shrugged his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m a child and you¡¯re an adult.¡± Indeed, she was an adult and he was a child. But they only had a fourteen-year age gap, so she should be considered his older sister! ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Why did she feel old? Su Yue looked down and smiled in self-ridicule. Then she sized him up and said, ¡°You look much better today.¡± Beibei blinked at her and said, ¡°Were you hoping that I would become mentally impaired so that nobody would steal my Daddy away from you?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°You rascal, who wants to steal your Daddy? Don¡¯t make wild guesses.¡± F*ck! Did she seem like such a vicious person? If she was really hoping that he would become mentally impaired, she would have left him there to rot yesterday. Hmph! Heartless fellow, how dare he insult her character! ¡°Aunt Goddess, please give in to my Daddy.¡± Beibei frowned and said, ¡°Although he¡¯s slightly old, he is good-looking, rich, and devoted.¡± Chapter 1642. The Truth Behind the Fellow’s Parentage (part Ten) Su Yue was speechless¡­ Wasn¡¯t he just accusing her of hoping for his mental-impairment earlier? And now he was pleading her to be his stepmother? Was he wishing for abuse? Su Yue didn¡¯t want to discuss a topic that was too mature for his age. She immediately changed the topic. ¡°Xiaojiao will visit you in a while. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll get Granny Wu to prepare it for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything. I¡¯m easy to sustain so you don¡¯t have to worry about how much my Daddy has to feed me.¡± Beibei said sincerely, ¡°You can be at ease and get together with my Daddy boldly.¡± His tone was incredibly sincere as well. Su Yue was speechless¡­ She decided to ignore him. ¡°Since you¡¯re looking fresh today, you should take a rest. I¡¯ll do my work on the sofa.¡± The best way to handle this glib-tongued child, who was too mature for his age, was to ignore him. ¡°Mommy!¡± Su Yue turned away when Beibei suddenly called her. Su Yue froze and halted in her steps. Her heart was whirling with a plethora of emotions. After a long internal struggle, she frowned slightly. She could remain calm in Ming Ansheng¡¯s presence, so why did she have such a huge reaction when a little rascal called her ¡®Mommy¡¯? After a long while, she finally understood why. It was precisely because she didn¡¯t want him to call her ¡®Mommy¡¯, and because she didn¡¯t want this ¡®son¡¯ that made her give up in the first place. She subconsciously tightened her grip on her laptop and calmed herself. She turned around and frowned at the little fellow on the bed. ¡°Ming Beichen, if you won¡¯t stop being ridiculous, I will seal your mouth with tape!¡± Beibei frowned too. ¡°I¡¯m about to be your son. Addressing me with my full name makes us sound so distant.¡± He casually ignored the second half of her sentence. Su Yue was speechless¡­ She turned around and walked to the sofa and sat down on it. She took out her laptop and started work. After her advertising, orders kept coming in. Although there weren¡¯t as many orders as on the day of the advertisement itself, the business had improved tremendously. She became busier and her life was more fulfilling. She was very satisfied with her life right now. In the afternoon, the helper brought lunch over. It was a Sunday, and Su Yue didn¡¯t go to the kindergarten, so she followed the helper over. The little lass and Beibei had grown much closer, and she wouldn¡¯t leave his side. The first thing Ming Ansheng saw when he entered the ward was Su Xiaojiao and Beibei leaning against the bed and snuggled under the covers. Beibei was holding Su Xiaojiao¡¯s hand as he patiently and seriously taught her how to draw. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart melted at the sight. The two fellows were both engrossed and didn¡¯t realize that he had arrived. He couldn¡¯t bear to ruin the warm and harmonious atmosphere, so he leaned against the doorframe and waited for them to realize his arrival. They were finally done with a drawing. Teacher Beibei looked at it seriously and was satisfied. He gave her a thumbs up and praised, ¡°It¡¯s not too bad. I give you 82 marks. I¡¯ll give you the remaining marks in six, six, six.¡± Xiaojiao peered up at him in confusion. ¡°Why? What is six, six, six?¡± Beibei replied, ¡°Three sixes. So that¡¯s 18 marks in total.¡± Xiaojiao nodded obediently. ¡°Thank you, brother.¡± ¡°Beibei is very smart, just like you.¡± The scene before him had Ming Ansheng engrossed when Su Yue suddenly spoke up from behind him. Ming Ansheng turned around and raised an eyebrow at her in amusement. ¡°He resembles his mother. Or if he resembles his father instead, why would he take after me?¡± Chapter 1643. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part One) What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Su Yue looked up at him in shock and confusion. Resemble his mother, resemble his father¡­ Wasn¡¯t he Beibei¡¯s father? What was wrong with saying that Beibei resembled him? Although it wasn¡¯t a huge resemblance, at first glance, they really looked alike. Ming Ansheng turned around and leaned against the doorframe. He stared at Su Yue and frowned, his eyes full of melancholy. Su Yue became uneasy under his gaze. She averted her gaze and said, ¡°They wanted fruit juice so I went to get it. I¡¯ll go pass it to them.¡± She started walking towards the bed. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly grabbed her elbow and pulled her out of the room. He closed the door gently after. His actions were domineering and Su Yue didn¡¯t have a chance to refuse. Ming Ansheng dragged her to the staircase landing and pressed her against the wall. He slightly tilted his head down and gazed intensely at her. Su Yue frowned. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Su Yue, there¡¯s something I want to tell you.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze looked conflicted and solemn. Su Yue couldn¡¯t read his mind. She didn¡¯t know what he was doing or thinking. But hadn¡¯t she always failed to read him? He was always unpredictable and she only saw the superficial side of things. To put it nicely, she was na?ve; but to be blunt, she was foolish. Solely based on this, they already weren¡¯t suited from the start. Ming Ansheng paused for a long time before suddenly smiling and shaking his head in self-ridicule. ¡°Su Yue, I can¡¯t get over you. The harder I try to forget you, the more I fall in love with you. What should I do?¡± Then he leaned in closer to her and placed his hands around her waist and back. He hugged her tightly and bent his back. He rested his chin on her shoulder and buried his nose in her neck, sniffing in her familiar scent and reminiscing. But this made him yearn for her even more. How he wished he could bury her inside of him. There were many people walking past them, glancing at them. The foreigners were more liberal and would smile sincerely in these situations. Su Yue couldn¡¯t push him away and became furious. ¡°Ming Ansheng, let go of me now.¡± ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t loosen his grip on her, his lips still pressed against her neck as he apologized. It made her feel ticklish. They were in a hospital and Su Yue didn¡¯t want to lose her temper. She warned in a low voice, ¡°Ming Ansheng, let me go. If you continue being like this, I won¡¯t let you see Xiaojiao anymore.¡± ¡°Yueyue I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ming Ansheng hugged her even tighter, venting all the emotions he had buried deep within him all these years. His voice became strangled as he said, ¡°I underestimated my love for you. I thought that¡­ it was only a matter of time.¡± He thought that his feelings for her would fade as time passed. But he didn¡¯t expect his love for her to intensify after all the time apart. He knew that he was falling deeper, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself. ¡°Please don¡¯t be like this.¡± Su Yue tried pushing him away, but he didn¡¯t budge. She gave up and clenched her fists, and she started pounding against his back. In her anger, her eyes stung with tears. Ming Ansheng heard her sniffing and realized that she could be crying. He let go of her slowly, yet still holding on to her elbow and refusing to let her leave. He stared at her with a gaze of conflict and agony. Chapter 1644. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Two) After staring at her for a while, he sighed helplessly. ¡°Aish. My family and I, we¡¯re indebted to Meiduo for all the hurt that we¡¯ve caused her. Beibei has to be my son, and can only be mine.¡± Su Yue became more confused. Earlier on, he said that Beibei should resemble his true parents, as though he wasn¡¯t his son. And now he said that Beibei had to be his son and only his son. At first, she thought that she could react calmly and nonchalantly towards him. But now, how could she not be curious about Beibei¡¯s true parentage? He piqued her curiosity but refused to explain himself. Indeed, he was always beating around the bush. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Su Yue looked away and pushed him impatiently. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Beibei is my brother¡¯s child.¡± Ming Ansheng sighed. ¡°So, giving Beibei a proper status won¡¯t be enough to make up for what we owe her.¡± Su Yue opened her mouth wide in shock. ¡°What¡­ what did you say?¡± Beibei was his brother, Ming Anyu¡¯s, son? Did she hear it wrong? Ming Ansheng frowned, and he remorsefully explained, ¡°The reason she broke up with me back then was because she felt that she wasn¡¯t good enough for me. Even until the end, she was thinking for me and my family¡¯s reputation. That¡¯s why she kept it to herself.¡± His family¡¯s reputation? What was that supposed to mean? Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡­ You mean¡­ Your brother¡­¡± The first time she met Meiduo, Meiduo only had eyes for Uncle Ming. Even a single glance of hers could reveal her intense feelings for him. Her deep love for Uncle Ming was clear as day. She wouldn¡¯t betray him. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why I have to be responsible for Beibei.¡± It still stunned Su Yue. ¡°Why did this happen¡­¡± Why did it turn out this way? Oh, my god! Beibei was Uncle Ming¡¯s brother¡¯s son. It was absurd. How could Uncle Ming¡¯s brother turn out to be such a person? Back then, Meiduo was still Uncle Ming¡¯s girlfriend, his biological brother¡¯s girlfriend. How could he¡­? Su Yue was outraged. For Ming Ansheng and especially Meiduo. Ming Ansheng suddenly continued, ¡°Su Yue, I love you. Yes, Meiduo is my first love, but that doesn¡¯t deny me the right to fall in love again.¡± Su Yue looked at him and said, ¡°You did the right thing.¡± Her tone was sincere, yet there was a subtle hint of anger directed at Ming Anyu. It confused Ming Ansheng. ¡°What?¡± Su Yue said, ¡°You did the right thing by becoming Beibei¡¯s father.¡± If not for that, Beibei would have become a mistress¡¯ child. And he would become an illegitimate child, just like her. Whether or not Meiduo did it on her own free will, the child could not rid himself of that label forever. He would be like her, subject to weird stares from everyone. She peered up at Ming Ansheng. It was rare that¡­ he was so responsible and broad-minded so that Beibei could have a happy and positive childhood. He was loyal and righteous. She had been through that situation, so she could empathize with him on a deeper level. Chapter 1645. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Three) Ming Ansheng was shocked and¡­ stunned. Yueyue actually supported his actions. But he was afraid. He knew that she supported his decision because of her kind nature. She had personally been through the feeling of¡­ being labeled as an ¡®illegitimate child¡¯. And another reason was that she never once considered¡ªup till now¡ªgetting together with him again. Ming Ansheng started to panic. He hugged her waist and said, ¡°Yueyue, but I want you and Xiaojiao too.¡± Su Yue forcefully pushed him away. She stared at him, but she wasn¡¯t angry. She calmly said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you realize? We¡¯re not suited for each other.¡± ¡°No, we are suitable.¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head anxiously. Then he let go of her and grabbed her elbow. He smiled and said, ¡°We were happy before. Didn¡¯t we plan for our future together?¡± His feelings for her had never changed, although he tried to give it up. If she still had feelings for him, why weren¡¯t they suited for each other? She gave birth to Xiaojiao, so how could she not have feelings for him? No. He believed that she still loved him. She was just disappointed in him. That must be it. Su Yue peered up at him and said calmly, ¡°Then why did we break up? If we were suited for each other, why¡­ Why did we break up?¡± Why did they break up? Ming Ansheng froze. That¡¯s right. Why did they break up? Didn¡¯t he only have himself to blame? He failed to protect her. When she was in danger, he wasn¡¯t the one who protected her. His love for her wasn¡¯t steadfast enough. That¡¯s how he had pushed Su Yue and Xiaojiao into another man¡¯s arms. So, he could only blame himself. Seeing that Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t answer her, Su Yue airily said, ¡°So, we¡¯re not suited for each other. If Jiao Chen hadn¡¯t left us, I would never have broken up with him.¡± She looked at him with a serious expression, not revealing any emotions. ¡°Because Jiao Chen and I, we both yearn for simplicity. When two people get together, don¡¯t they hope for ease and comfort?¡± If their love was too burdensome, why cling onto it? They had too many obstacles between them, and they both chose to step away. What did that show? They didn¡¯t love each other deeply enough. They weren¡¯t determined and brave enough. Actually, it was the best decision they could have made at that time. But if¡­ she meant if, if they had gotten back together, what would happen when they meet another obstacle? Would they let each other go again? Thinking that it was the best for the other party? ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng panicked and grabbed her hand. He subconsciously tightened his grip on it. She said that she was planning on spending her entire life with Jiao Chen¡­ She said that she never thought of leaving Jiao Chen. She said that she was happier¡­ with someone else. He felt like a sharp knife stabbed his heart. He couldn¡¯t breathe. But despite this, he didn¡¯t want to¡ªcouldn¡¯t bear to¡ªlet go of her. ¡°Yueyue, we can start over. It¡¯s alright if you don¡¯t love me anymore. I can make you fall for me again. Give me another chance.¡± He sounded so inferior and lowly. As long as she was willing to be with him again, with Xiaojiao by her side, he could work hard to make her fall for him again. Chapter 1646. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Four) Su Yue pressed her lips tightly and forcefully¡­ peeled his fingers off her hand. She said, ¡°Let bygones be bygones. You¡¯re eight years older than me, so you¡¯re more experienced. You view the world more clearly than I do.¡± Ming Ansheng refused to let go. When Su Yue loosened his grip on one finger, he immediately tightened his grip on the others. Su Yue frowned and sighed helplessly. ¡°Uncle Ming, why are you doing this? I¡¯ve never blamed you. You did nothing wrong. You had someone you cared about and wanted to protect, and I had something that I wanted to safeguard and pursue. Both of us aren¡¯t willing to sacrifice everything for the other party.¡± They were both selfish. What right did she have to accept his apology? ¡°No, Yueyue.¡± He hugged her tightly, afraid that she would slip away and disappear the moment he loosened his grip. Just like how she disappeared four years ago. He bent down and buried his face in her neck. He shook his head in agony. ¡°Yueyue, I regret it. I know I was wrong. I¡¯m sorry.¡± He felt that she had completely given up on him¡­ But at least, she wasn¡¯t together with him now, so she wouldn¡¯t be in as much pain as before. ¡°But I¡¯ve never regretted it.¡± She paused and emphasized, ¡°Uncle Ming, I¡¯ve never regretted it.¡± Ming Ansheng froze and his grip on her arms loosened. Su Yue took this opportunity to push him away, and she stepped away from him. She continued, ¡°All the times that Jiao Chen and I spent together in Country M, the past few years, they were happy and carefree. Other than the period of pain and agony he was in because of his illness. So I¡­¡± She paused and bit her lip before she looked him in the eye and said, ¡°So I didn¡¯t love you that much.¡± So I didn¡¯t love you that much¡­ Ming Ansheng froze on the spot for a long time, until Su Yue had already disappeared. His legs were beginning to feel numb. He slowly recovered and turned around. He then leaned against the wall. ¡°Mommy, visit Brother tomorrow.¡± Su Yue held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand as they walked out of Beibei¡¯s ward. The little fellow couldn¡¯t bear to leave and insisted on dropping by again tomorrow. Su Yue smiled and said, ¡°School starts tomorrow.¡± Xiaojiao pouted. ¡°Not going. I want to play with Brother. Brother is pitiful.¡± She came up with various excuses. Su Yue was amused and broke out in an affectionate smile. She said to her, ¡°Brother isn¡¯t pitiful. He has someone to take care of him. So you have to go to kindergarten, okay?¡± ¡°Lying Uncle.¡± Xiaojiao looked up and suddenly saw Ming Ansheng. She immediately let go of Su Yue¡¯s hand and jogged towards him. Her enthusiasm confused Su Yue. Wasn¡¯t the little lass afraid of him? When did they become so close? Look at her, she was running so fast. Xiaojiao ran over to Ming Ansheng and peered up at him with a bright smile. Her chubby face lit up with a sweet smile, and she looked extremely adorable. Ming Ansheng¡¯s cold heart immediately melted at the sight of her. His lips curled in an affectionate smile as he squatted. He pinched her chubby cheek gently. ¡°Darling Xiaojiao, you look beautiful today.¡± Chapter 1647. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Five) Xiaojiao was wearing a pale yellow sweater and pink sports skirt with white leggings, coupled with pink leather shoes. It brought out the rosiness in her cheeks. Xiaojiao loved it when she was praised. When she heard Ming Ansheng¡¯s praise, she was ecstatic. She tipped-toe and gave him a kiss on the corner of his mouth. Her soft lips melted his heart completely. He hugged her soft body and kissed her on the forehead. Why were they acting so harmoniously? They didn¡¯t have any interaction within this period. Why were they acting like they were close friends? Su Yue stared in shock as Ming Ansheng kissed and hugged Xiaojiao. She was curious about when they had gotten so chummy. When Ming Ansheng entered the ward earlier, he only took a glance at her. They didn¡¯t make eye contact at all. ¡°Did you eat a lot today?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did you have fun with Brother today?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Xiaojiao suddenly pouted. ¡°Brother¡¯s head is injured and bled a lot. It hurts.¡± She pointed at her own head with her chubby finger and frowned, giving a face of pain, as though she was the one who had injured her head. Ming Ansheng laughed and grabbed her elbow, unsure of how to express his love for her. He wanted to bite her little face. Su Yue was still in confusion. Could it be because they were related by blood? That was too mystical. Xiaojiao and Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t look like they would let go of each other anytime soon. She walked over and said to Xiaojiao with a smile, ¡°Xiaojiao, say goodbye to Uncle. We have to go home. Mommy will cook something delicious for you.¡± Then she held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand. The reason Xiaojiao was so chubby was, of course, because she ate a lot. She was a glutton and immediately let go of Ming Ansheng when she heard what Su Yue had said. She wriggled out of his embrace and waved sweetly at him. ¡°Goodbye Uncle. Come to my house for dinner. Mommy is cooking something nice.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ She meant to cook for her only¡­ That was generous of Xiaojiao. Aish. ¡°Sure.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and grinned at Xiaojiao, accepting her invitation immediately. Su Yue froze and stared at him¡­ Was he serious? However, Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t looking at her. His gaze was fixed on Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao was his only hope now. If he couldn¡¯t get through to the older one, he would first gain the little one¡¯s favor. They were a bundle anyway, so it didn¡¯t matter who he got through to first. Ming Ansheng had originally lost all hope, but after seeing Xiaojiao, it suddenly filled him with a fighting spirit¡ªreigniting the hope in him. He learned from¡­ Yan Rusheng! He had to thicken his skin first. At worst, he would pester her. He was almost thirty but he was yet to pester anyone. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± Su Yue carried her out of the hospital and onto a taxi. ¡°Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao was swinging her short legs as she innocently blinked at Su Yue. Chapter 1648. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Six) ¡°The uncle and you¡­¡± Su Yue made herself clearer for fear that Xiaojiao might not fully understand her. ¡°You always call him Lying Uncle. Are you very close to him?¡± After asking, she felt that Xiaojiao wouldn¡¯t understand what she meant by being close to him. She corrected herself again. ¡°Do you always meet the lying uncle?¡± She felt that Xiaojiao and Ming Ansheng¡¯s relationship had developed way too quickly. Xiaojiao bit her lips and shook her head. ¡°No. I have never met Lying Uncle before.¡± I have never met Lying Uncle before¡­ Obviously, someone had taught her to say this. Su Yue was certain that they had met in private without her knowing. She furrowed her eyebrows. To her surprise, she wasn¡¯t furious at him. She was merely puzzled. How did they manage to meet? There was only one possibility¡ªbefore Xiaojiao went to school and after school. That also meant that her helper was in cahoots with Ming Ansheng and had concealed the truth from her. This was definitely the case! No wonder! She had already repeatedly reminded her helper that Xiaojiao can¡¯t eat ice cream. But her helper still disobeyed her and gave her some. It had never happened before. And she had been busy with her online store to spend time with the little lass. Su Yue pressed her lips tightly. She had finally come to the realization that she couldn¡¯t stop the relationship between Ming Ansheng and Xiaojiao from progressing. He couldn¡¯t even bear to leave Beibei, so why would he bear not seeing his daughter? There was no way she could stop him. Nevertheless, she was still furious that Ming Ansheng had taught Xiaojiao how to lie. What method did he used to convince Xiaojiao to tell lies? She had been following his instructions so obediently. She also realized that men could communicate better with children. Xiaojiao seemed to listen to Ming Ansheng rather than her. And Jiao Chen was better at handling Xiaojiao, too. ¡°Xiaojiao, are you sure you are not lying to Mommy?¡± Su Yue frowned at Xiaojiao. Su Yue was waiting for her to confess and admit that she had told a lie. ¡°Mommy.¡± Su Xiaojiao pressed her lips, and she looked conflicted. Su Yue suddenly smiled. ¡°Mommy believes you. My baby, Xiaojiao will never tell lies. I love Xiaojiao.¡± She hugged Xiaojiao and kissed her on her forehead. Since she didn¡¯t want to confess, Su Yue felt that there was no need to coerce her to. It might backfire. ¡°Good Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao hugged Su Yue and squeezed her tightly. Su Yue smiled and patted Xiaojiao¡¯s back. ¡°Good Xiaojiao.¡± Jiao Chen said this to her before¡ªChildren were just like adults; they know everything. And he was right. Xiaojiao knew that she told a lie, but she didn¡¯t dare to confess. So, she felt guilty. She was touched after getting her mommy¡¯s trust, and she used her own method to convey her emotions. Su Yue tightened her grip around Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao, her baby. ¡­ Su Yue had a late night because of a bulk of orders. After sending Xiaojiao out of the house, she went back to sleep. She had just fallen asleep when someone urgently rang the doorbell. Damn it, who was that! It annoyed her as it disrupted her dreams. Chapter 1649. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Seven) Su Yue cursed and swore before sitting up unwillingly. She got off the bed to open the door. She was wearing the same pajamas as Xiaojiao. It was loose and it made her look even more petite. Her waist-long hair was in a mess, and she dragged her feet across the room. She yawned and scratched her head. In doing so, she made her hair even more tangled. She opened the door and her eyes popped wide open when she saw the visitors. She was jolted awake instantly. ¡°You¡­¡± Su Yue stared at the tall man and the young boy with her mouth wide open. ¡°Mommy!¡± His voice rang like a curse and it seemed to scorch Su Yue¡¯s ears. Her body immediately jerked. ¡°I think your brain concussion isn¡¯t serious enough! If you call me that again, I will seal your mouth with tape!¡± Su Yue pointed at the grinning Ming Beichen and warned sternly. Then her eyes darted to Ming Ansheng. She asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± She looked as if she didn¡¯t plan on inviting them in. Without waiting for Ming Ansheng to reply, Beibei interjected, ¡°Mommy, we are going back today. So we came here to inform you.¡± The way he addressed Su Yue as mommy sounded casual and intimate. Su Yue blushed and she felt awkward to correct him in front of Ming Ansheng. What she could do now was to chase them away. She knitted her eyebrows as she glanced at Beibei. ¡°I got it. Have a safe trip.¡± ¡°Mommy, I need my bag,¡± said Beibei airily. He walked past Su Yue and entered the house. He went directly to the shoe cabinet to change into slippers, acting as though this was his house. He glanced at Ming Ansheng and beckoned to him. ¡°Daddy, come in! Why are you still outside?¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ She clenched her fists and suppressed a crazy urge to hit little Young Master Ming. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± He entered without her invitation and strode smoothly past her. And so, the father and son freely entered her house. Su Yue frowned and she was frustrated. But they were planning to leave today, so they must have gotten their air tickets. They wouldn¡¯t stay too long, and so she said nothing. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes wandered around, taking in everything in the modern- and elegant-looking living room. Xiaojiao¡¯s photos were everywhere. He was attracted to a wall filled with Xiaojiao¡¯s photos in the past three to four years. From the day she was born, a hundred days, one-year-old, two-years-old¡­ Ming Ansheng raised his head and fondly gazed at the photos. He extended his hand towards a photo of Xiaojiao in her diapers. The lass was still a tiny baby, but she looked healthy and chubby. He pressed his lips and his shrewd-looking eyes glimmered with tears. Excitement, regret, and guilt. What had he missed? Su Yue came out with a glass of water for Ming Ansheng. She still had to extend basic courtesy to her guests. She turned around and saw Ming Ansheng staring intently at the photo wall. She halted in her tracks, looking stunned. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m going back to school,¡± yelled Beibei suddenly. He slung his bag over his shoulders and grinned cheekily. ¡°I will study hard and bring glory to you and Daddy.¡± Chapter 1650. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Eight) Su Yue thought, ¡®What do his good grades have anything to do with her? Why should he bring her glory?¡¯ Su Yue ignored Beibei and walked towards Ming Ansheng. ¡°Have some water.¡± She stood next to Ming Ansheng with the glass of water. Ming Ansheng finally peeled his eyes away from the photos. He bent his head and glanced at the glass in Su Yue¡¯s hands. He smiled and received the glass. ¡°Thank you.¡± The glass felt warm to his touch, but that warmth didn¡¯t reach his heart. Everywhere in this house gave off a strong family vibe that made him feel like an outsider. Many photos on the wall had both Jiao Chen and Xiaojiao in the same frame. It was normal for them to take photos together since they had lived together for the past four years. But he couldn¡¯t control his heart, neither could he control his jealousy and bitter envy. Ming Ansheng bowed his head and forced himself to regulate his emotions. He glanced at Su Yue once more and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already informed my employees in Country M regarding your online store. They will purchase from your store in the future.¡± He raised the glass and took a sip, while he pushed his other hand into his pocket. ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue smiled gratefully. The atmosphere fell silent and Ming Ansheng¡¯s long-fingered hand squeezed the glass. He didn¡¯t want to let go¡­ he couldn¡¯t bear to leave. Ming Beichen stood there without rushing his daddy. If they missed their flight, then they could stay for a few more days. They will seize this opportunity to win his stepmother over. Ming Ansheng spoke up unwillingly after a long while. ¡°Call me if you need my help. My company has offices in N City.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± Ming Ansheng pointed at the door, but his eyes were still fixated on Su Yue. The more he looked at her, the more he can¡¯t bear to go. It wasn¡¯t an easy feat for him to be able to be with her in such close proximity. Su Yue waved her hands. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and walked to the coffee table. He put the glass down before gesturing to Beibei. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Beibei nodded reluctantly too. He waved at Su Yue and said, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll come over to play with Xiaojiao during my holidays again.¡± This guy addressed her so smoothly¡­ Su Yue¡¯s face darkened but she didn¡¯t retort since they were leaving. She sent Ming Ansheng and Beibei to the door and was about to speak. Ming Ansheng suddenly thought of something and he spun around. ¡°Yueyue, Xiaojiao¡­¡± He paused for a second before continuing, ¡°Can I talk to Xiaojiao over the phone?¡± He gazed carefully at Su Yue since she might not agree. Su Yue smiled. ¡°She is with my helper most of the time. You have her number right?¡± Ming Ansheng was about to nod when he shook his head abruptly. ¡°No, give me her number.¡± He was excited. Su Yue had allowed him to contact Xiaojiao. It was a good start. After Ming Ansheng and Beibei left, Su Yue closed the doors behind her. She turned around and her eyes surveyed the huge living room. It felt strangely empty. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Su Yue frowned and exhaled deeply before walking to the photo wall. Chapter 1651. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Nine) She gazed at the photos on the wall. ¡®Which is the nicest photo of me?¡¯ ¡®Every photo is nice¡­¡¯ Su Yue raised her hand and caressed a photo of Jiao Chen, Xiaojiao, and her. Her tears leaked out from her eyes. Jiaojiao, he was here! ¡­ Time flew past in the blink of an eye. The days turned colder and after aggressive promotions and referrals, Su Yue¡¯s online store saw a spike in the orders. The profits that she earned after paying the staff in China, was enough for her to sustain her expenses in Country M. She could even afford to pay for her helper¡¯s salary. She called Su Yan to inform him not to send her money in the future. And she was incredibly proud of herself. She could finally support both herself and her daughter. Although she had a rocky start. The weather was miserable for the entire day. The branches swayed violently outside, warning them of an impending storm. But the storm didn¡¯t arrive. Su Yue glanced at the time and it was almost 5 p.m. She raised her hands and stretched her body before standing up. Xiaojiao would be home soon, and she wanted to prepare food for her. Xiaojiao preferred the food that she cooked over the helper¡¯s cooking even though she wasn¡¯t really good at it. The lass simply loved it and constantly bugged Su Yue to prepare the dishes that she loved. She didn¡¯t mind Su Yue cooking the same thing every day too. She had more free time today, so she cooked two extra dishes. It was almost 6 p.m. by the time she had finished. Why was Xiaojiao not back with her helper? It was getting late. Su Yue was about to dial the aunty¡¯s number when a sudden thought struck her. She hastily removed her apron and strode quickly to the door. She changed her shoes and ran out. Her unit number was 518, and she made a right turn for unit 520. Yesterday, her helper lugged an enormous bulging bag of food products home again. Su Yue became more suspicious of her neighbor¡¯s identity. The courtyard gates were closed but not locked. She gently pushed the gates to open it. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± A child¡¯s tinkling and clear laughter reached her ears the moment she stepped inside. Wasn¡¯t that Xiaojiao? Su Yue was shocked and she got closer to the doors. She pressed her ears against the door to listen intently. ¡°Faster! Faster!¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s voice sounded once more and she sounded really happy. Su Yue frowned and she got her answer. She just needed the final proof. ¡°Princess Xiaojiao, can you let me rest for a while? I¡¯m so tired.¡± Finally, a familiar voice sounded. It still startled her even though she had expected it. It was really him! That generous and kind-hearted neighbor was him all along. She knew it was too good to be true. Why would anyone send them gifts every other day? Su Xiaojiao turned around quietly and left. She didn¡¯t want to interrupt their fun. She knew that she couldn¡¯t stop him from seeing Xiaojiao. She had no right to deny him the right as she was his daughter. Su Yue didn¡¯t call her helper when she reached home. Chapter 1652. I Want You and My Daughter Too (part Ten) Her helper finally brought Xiaojiao back home. Su Yue didn¡¯t question them and simply pretended that everything was fine. Xiaojiao ate well during dinner, as though she ate nothing before dinner. This little glutton. Ming Ansheng would be a fool not to bribe her with food. It could only prove that this little lass was a glutton. She watched and smiled helplessly at Xiaojiao whose mouth was smeared with the chicken wings sauce. She wiped her mouth with tissues. ¡°Xiaojiao, did you eat anything after you played today?¡± Su Yue asked as she wiped her mouth. She sounded as if she had thrown out a casual question. There wasn¡¯t a trace of her trying to sound her out. Xiaojiao nodded and honestly answered, ¡°I ate.¡± She opened her mouth and took another bite of the chicken wing. Su Yue asked, ¡°What did you eat?¡± ¡°Chicken wings, cookies, and fries,¡± replied Su Xiaojiao. She raised her fingers one by one as she counted the food she ate in a serious manner. Su Yue grinned affectionately at her. ¡°You didn¡¯t eat ice cream?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Xiaojiao shook her head and her eyes were huge. She looked as though she was afraid that Su Yue wouldn¡¯t believe her. Su Yue smiled as she knew that Ming Ansheng wouldn¡¯t give her ice cream no matter how eager he wanted to win this girl¡¯s heart. The weather was too cold now. She glanced at the girl and said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve eaten just now, don¡¯t eat too much. You might get a stomachache later.¡± ¡°Yummy.¡± She devoured the chicken wing and continued to chew on the bones. Su Yue frowned in exasperation. Someone may think that she was depriving this lass of food. Look at how famished she looked, even chewing on the bones. Xiaojiao grabbed two huge prawns after abandoning the chicken wing bones. Su Yue couldn¡¯t bear to stop her from eating as she was enjoying herself. On the other hand, she was worried that she might have a stomachache. She hesitated and took a prawn away. She glanced at her and said, ¡°Eat slowly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiaojiao nodded obediently. She pulled her shirt up to reveal her tummy. She rubbed her round tummy in satisfaction and smiled sheepishly. ¡°Princess Xiaojiao is full.¡± She must have been too used to being called ¡®Princess Xiaojiao¡¯ during the games she had earlier on. Su Yue bowed her head and chuckled to herself. This silly girl. She hurriedly finished her food and led Xiaojiao to the bathroom. It finally began to pour after a long day. The rain slammed against the windows. Su Yue went to carry on working while Xiaojiao watched TV. ¡°Mommy, stomachache.¡± Suddenly, Xiaojiao began crying. Su Yue turned around and saw her pressing her tummy on the couch. She seemed pale and Su Yue got anxious. She bolted for Xiaojiao and squatted next to her. ¡°Xiaojiao, what¡¯s wrong?¡± She asked softly while she rubbed Xiaojiao¡¯s tummy gently. The girl began perspiring, and she continued to cry loudly in Su Yue¡¯s arms. She repeatedly said, ¡°Mommy, stomachache.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart was aching for her. This girl must have eaten too much and she had indigestion. Chapter 1653. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part One) ¡°Mommy will bring you to the hospital now.¡± Su Yue quickly carried her. She didn¡¯t bother to change Xiaojiao¡¯s clothes and simply bundled her with a blanket on the couch. She shouted towards her helper¡¯s room. ¡°Aunty! Xiaojiao is having a stomachache. Wake up!¡± She put on her shoes as she yelled. Her helper was watching TV, and she immediately ran out when she heard Su Yue¡¯s voice. She was anxious when she saw Xiaojiao crying and twisting uncomfortably in Su Yue¡¯s arms. ¡°What is wrong with Xiaojiao?¡± Su Xiaojiao bawled even louder. ¡°Painful¡­¡± Su Yue knew that she must be in intense pain at the moment. She was flustered and opened the door without hesitation. She turned around and instructed her helper. ¡°Aunty, change your shoes and come with me. Help to shelter me with an umbrella.¡± Her helper nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Her helper hurriedly changed into her shoes. The storm was raging outside and it was freezing. Su Yue was freezing, but she tightened her arms around Xiaojiao to keep her warm. No taxi would enter their area, so they needed to walk out to the main road. The aunty held the umbrella and sheltered Xiaojiao. She didn¡¯t care that her clothes were drenched from the rain. The elderly woman was also trembling because of the winds. ¡°Miss Su, it¡¯s so late now. And it would be hard to get a taxi,¡± said the helper. After all, almost every family in Country M had a car, especially in private districts like this. And taxis wouldn¡¯t be readily available as passengers were scarce. Su Yue was aware too, but Xiaojiao was in so much pain. She needed the hospital right now. Although Su Yue had bundled Xiaojiao up, she was still shivering. And her cries didn¡¯t stop. Su Yue¡¯s eyes turned red because of worry and anxiety. Jiaojiao, if only you were here. They had a car, but she couldn¡¯t drive. Jiao Chen was the one who could drive. At crucial moments like this, she missed Jiao Chen so much. It reminded her of the times when Xiaojiao was younger and she fell ill frequently. They always had to send her to the hospital. Jiao Chen was the one who did everything. He drove, he called the hospital and arranged everything¡­ She was too useless and weak. ¡°Daddy, Mommy. Xiaojiao misses Daddy.¡± Su Xiaojiao began to mumble under her breath. The girl seemed to get weak and her cries faded. Su Yue sniffed and softly patted Xiaojiao. ¡°Be good, Xiaojiao. Be strong all right? Once we get to the hospital, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± She was drenched as well. She hastened her footsteps and her helper panted as she tried to catch up with her. ¡°Miss Su, shall we get Mr. Ming to help us?¡± Seeing how sick Xiaojiao was, her helper confessed and suggested Ming Ansheng¡¯s help. Su Yue¡¯s eyes lit up and she nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± What else could be more important than rushing Xiaojiao to the hospital now? ¡°I¡¯ll call him.¡± She whipped out her phone with her trembling hands. She dialed Ming Ansheng¡¯s number. She quickly told Ming Ansheng that Xiaojiao had a stomachache and needed to go to the hospital. Chapter 1654. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part Two) Ming Ansheng dashed out of the house in less than a minute. He didn¡¯t drive and ran towards Su Yue instead. He carried Xiaojiao from Su Yue. Su Yue anxiously asked, ¡°Uncle Ming, you don¡¯t have a car?¡± ¡°The chauffeur will be here soon.¡± Ming Ansheng had barely finished his sentence when they were hit by a strong beam of light. A black car was driving towards them. Ming Ansheng and Su Yue darted forward at the same time. Su Yue opened the door for Ming Ansheng and he got in with Xiaojiao. Su Yue scrambled in quickly and told her helper. ¡°Aunty, go back and change your clothes. I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± With Ming Ansheng around, she didn¡¯t need to trouble her old helper. ¡­ In the hospital¡­ The doctor informed them that Xiaojiao had acute appendicitis. From what Su Yue had described, it may have been caused by a mixture of food that she had eaten. Xiaojiao was weak and pale from the excruciating pain. She lay in bed in her pajamas, looking lifeless. Su Yue¡¯s heart was aching for her and she felt as though the poor girl had lost weight. She softly and lightly caressed Xiaojiao¡¯s cheeks with her palms. ¡°Mommy, I want water.¡± Su Xiaojiao suddenly licked her lips. Ming Ansheng responded immediately and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll get you some.¡± He was already at the water dispenser. He turned around and took a sip to test the temperature of the water. He put the cup to Xiaojiao¡¯s mouth and tilted the cup. ¡°Darling, drink it.¡± Ming Ansheng put an arm behind Xiaojiao¡¯s back and carried her up a little. His actions were so careful. Xiaojiao finished the entire cup and some water trickled down her chin. Ming Ansheng placed the cup down and dabbed her chin with tissues. Xiaojiao was still pale as she smiled weakly. ¡°Thank you, lying Uncle.¡± She raised her head and gazed at Ming Ansheng. To Ming Ansheng, her clear and bright eyes were the purest thing on earth. He couldn¡¯t help but kiss her on her forehead. ¡°Darling, are you still in pain?¡± Xiaojiao shook her head. They looked so close and intimate. Su Yue watched them quietly and pressed her lips. ¡°Sleep for a while.¡± Ming Ansheng withdrew his arm and covered her with the blanket. He patted her chest gently. He crouched and moved closer to Xiaojiao, with his eyes fixed on the girl¡¯s face. His expression was so affectionate and gentle. When would his darling daughter call him Daddy? ¡°Mmm.¡± Su Xiaojiao nodded and obediently closed her eyes. Soon, her breathing became regular and deep. Just when Ming Ansheng thought that she had fallen asleep, Xiaojiao suddenly flipped over. She pulled his arm and snuggled against him. ¡°Daddy, I want a story. Xiaojiao wants little mermaid.¡± Su Yue and Ming Ansheng were both stunned. Although he knew that she was calling for Jiao Chen and that she was sleepy, he still felt moved and excited. He didn¡¯t even mind being a substitute because of his intense longing. Chapter 1655. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part Three) ¡°Under the deep blue ocean¡­¡± Ming Ansheng gently patted Xiaojiao¡¯s chest as he recited the story. He had memorized most of the famous fairy tales by now. He also knew that Xiaojiao liked it when he didn¡¯t read too fast. She liked him to be animated and lively, too. His deep and manly voice was as fine as aged wine. His voice traveled to Su Yue¡¯s ears. It was now past midnight and Su Yue yawned repeatedly. She was getting sleepy as she listened to Ming Ansheng reciting the story. She placed her head on the bed and gradually, her eyelids became heavy. The next moment, it was already morning. Su Yue blinked a couple of times before looking around. ¡°Uncle is stupid.¡± ¡°Yeah. Xiaojiao is the smartest.¡± Ming Ansheng and Su Xiaojiao were talking. The lass was so weak and pale from the pain last night, but now she sounded energetic and lively once again. Su Yue glanced at them and her heart softened. Xiaojiao sat on Ming Ansheng¡¯s lap, and he wound his arms around her. In his hands was a book to develop intelligence for young children. He was patiently teaching her. Xiaojiao snuggled against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. She seemed so natural, and this scene looked so peaceful at the moment. As though they were originally so intimate and close, and so¡­ If the events didn¡¯t happen, they should be like that. But alas, they still happened and everything had changed. She always believed that it was impossible to fix a shattered mirror. Just like how they won¡¯t be able to reconcile. Su Yue sighed deeply in her heart. She didn¡¯t make a sound, for fear of disrupting the peace. She shouldn¡¯t be so harsh to herself and Xiaojiao. She withdrew her gaze and stared at the ceiling. She suddenly thought of something. Wasn¡¯t she sitting on the chair when she fell asleep? Why was she on the bed right now? Su Yue got a shock, and she glanced at the chair. Then her eyes landed at the spot where Xiaojiao slept next to her last night. There was no doubt that Ming Ansheng had carried her to the bed after she fell asleep. But why didn¡¯t she feel anything? No¡­ why didn¡¯t she guard herself against him at all? She wasn¡¯t like that in the past. She was always afraid that someone would play a trick or do something to her when she was asleep. So, she was always a light sleeper and would wake up at the slightest sound. After she got together with Jiao Chen, she would often fall asleep on the couch. And the next morning, she would always wake up in her own bed. She felt nothing every time Jiao Chen carried her. But¡­ she always felt the safest with¡­ him. Su Yue stole a glance at the couch. At the moment, she met that pair of shrewd-looking eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes flickered, and she managed a tiny smile. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and nodded at her. Su Yue widened her smile. She got up slowly and glanced at her clothes. Her wet clothes had already dried up. Chapter 1656. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part Four) She grabbed her hair and was embarrassed as she knew how messy it must be. She hastily brushed her hair. ¡°Mommy, eat breakfast.¡± Su Xiaojiao leaped down from Ming Ansheng¡¯s lap and grabbed on a plastic bag on the table. There was a container inside. She carried the bag and ran towards Su Yue. Su Yue cast the blanket aside and got off the bed. She adjusted her clothes and smiled at Xiaojiao. ¡°Darling, I will eat later. Mommy needs to wash up first.¡± Xiaojiao answered, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Good girl.¡± Su Yue smiled and stroked her hair. She strode towards the bathroom. She felt a pang of pain in her stomach, and she pressed her tummy. She paused in her tracks and continued walking moments later. Suddenly, Xiaojiao shrieked. ¡°Mommy, blood!¡± Huh? Blood? Su Yue immediately realized it and she widened her eyes. Shit! Her period had come and she had totally forgotten about it. No wonder her stomach was hurting. Did she stain her pants? Su Yue was so embarrassed that she didn¡¯t bother to check. She bolted for the bathroom and slammed the door. She then checked her pants. Her fair cheeks instantly turned red. Oh, dear. How embarrassing! How could she not feel anything? Su Yue, were you sleeping like a dead log? She berated herself and Su Yue got anxious. What should she do now? She had no clothes or sanitary pads. She stared at her reflection in the mirror as she fretted anxiously. And she could feel something leaking once more. And her pants must be entirely stained by now. Her face became hotter. She wondered if he saw her when Xiaojiao yelled just now. Knock, knock, knock. Suddenly, knocking sounds interrupted Su Yue¡¯s anxiety. She replied quickly, ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng sounded apprehensive. Su Yue became more flustered. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Ming Ansheng cleared his throat and solemnly said, ¡°I went to get a patient gown from the nurse. And I got two sanitary pads from her, too. Open the door.¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡°Huh!?¡± Did he go to get sanitary pads and clothes from the nurse? How did he manage to do that? And he was so fast. But she really needed both items. If not, she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the bathroom. So, she couldn¡¯t reject his kindness. Su Yue clenched her teeth and slowly opened the door. She extended her hand gingerly¡­ She could feel her cheeks becoming hot once more. ¡°It¡¯s not as if I haven¡¯t seen this¡­¡± Ming Ansheng muttered under his breath after he passed the clothes and sanitary pads to Su Yue. In a slightly teasing manner. Su Yue¡¯s face turned crimson and she slammed the door. The man curled his lips into an affectionate smile when he heard her slam the door. ¡®Uncle Ming, my period is here. Help me get my sanitary pad.¡¯ Chapter 1657. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part Five) ¡®Uncle Ming, my period is here and my stomach hurts. Can you give me a massage?¡¯ She had been so open with him once. Most of the time, she always acted as if¡­ she was his daughter, instead of his girlfriend except during intimacy. Although the age gap between them wasn¡¯t that significant. But he still enjoyed doting on her. Ming Ansheng leaned against the bathroom door and reminisced about their relationship which barely lasted half a year. Those days were the happiest times of his life. Su Yue has changed out of her stained clothes. Ming Ansheng heard the sounds of the door opening and he jumped. He turned and saw Su Yue walking out. Su Yue had washed her face and droplets of water still remained on her face. Her cheeks were flushed because of embarrassment. To Ming Ansheng, she was the most enchanting and beautiful thing at the moment. ¡°Uncle Ming, thank you.¡± Su Yue received a shock when she saw Ming Ansheng. She became awkward and randomly blurted a thank you. She sounded bashful. Ming Ansheng quietly gazed at her and decided to tease her. ¡°Earlier on, the nurses giggled at me when I asked for sanitary pads. Do you think a mere thank you would suffice?¡± This was partly the truth. When he went to look for the nurses earlier on, the nurses were indeed giggling. But they weren¡¯t mocking him as they simply thought that it was amusing. Su Yue turned crimson once more and she puffed up her chest. She said stiffly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy two and return it to you.¡± Her humor sounded stiff and forced but it wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. She strode past him towards the bed. Ming Ansheng heard Su Yue and he shook his head in amusement. Su Yue picked up the phone and dialed her helper¡¯s number. She instructed the aunty to bring her clothes and specifically reminded her to bring everything including sanitary pads. ¡°Mommy, why do you have blood? Is your bum painful?¡± Xiaojiao ran to Su Yue and tugged at her gown. She raised her head and she wore a concerned expression. Su Yue was speechless¡­ Great! Now, this little lass had to remind her of the embarrassing incident once more. Argh! Su Yue¡¯s face was as red as a tomato. She bent down and frowned at the girl. ¡°Mommy is fine. It¡¯s not painful anymore.¡± ¡°Who hit Mommy?¡± Xiaojiao furrowed her eyebrows, and she looked furious. She felt sorry for Mommy since she must be in pain. Who hit her? It startled Su Yue. ¡°Huh¡­?¡± She had no answer. If she told her that it was her period, more questions would follow¡­ So, the wise thing to do now was to give her a fake answer. Su Yue contemplated and replied, ¡°No one hit Mommy. I hurt myself by accident.¡± ¡°Xiaojiao rub for you.¡± Xiaojiao stretched her hand towards Su Yue¡¯s bum. Su Yue was speechless¡­ She grabbed Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and admonished, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Go and read your book.¡± Chapter 1658. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part Six) Then she carried Xiaojiao to the sofa, picking up the question book that Ming Ansheng was teaching her with earlier, stuffing it into her hands. Xiaojiao muttered a reply but was still uneasy. She looked at Su Yue with bright eyes and asked, ¡°Mommy, does it hurt?¡± Su Yue was speechless. She felt tired and gave her a weary smile. ¡°Mommy really isn¡¯t in pain. It doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± Then she turned around and ignored her. She walked towards the bed and murmured, ¡°Why is she so long-winded? Who did she get that from?¡± ¡°Not me¡­¡± The man teased. Su Yue froze. She looked up and saw Ming Ansheng standing there, hands tucked into his pockets. He was looking at her in amusement. Su Yue was speechless and decided to ignore him. She walked to the bed and crawled onto it, lying down and fully burying herself under the covers. This lass¡­ she was really treating herself like a patient after changing into the patient gown! Ming Ansheng stared at her and shook his head helplessly, his gaze full of affection. ¡°Uncle come here.¡± Xiaojiao suddenly called him and Ming Ansheng looked over, his affectionate gaze unchanging. At that moment, he had a sense of satisfaction like no other. ¡°Okay,¡± he replied and walked over. He bent down and sat beside her, scooping her up and placing her on his lap. Then he picked up the phone on the coffee table and found a contact number. He sent a message before helping Xiaojiao with the questions. Su Yue wanted to lie in bed until the helper came. That way, she could get up and bring Xiaojiao home. However, she fell asleep. And worse still, by the time she had woken up, it was already afternoon. No, that wasn¡¯t the worst part. The worst part was that the helper hadn¡¯t arrived yet. She called to ask about her but the helper replied that she had sprained her ankle when she rushed out of the house. She could still walk but at a much slower pace. ¡°Why am I so unlucky?¡± Su Yue frowned and sighed. Then she stared at the ceiling. Was she going to spend the rest of the day here? Since she couldn¡¯t do anything about it, she could only accept it and move on. She settled her orders and answered her customers¡¯ queries using her mobile phone. Su Yue leaned against the head of the bed and started work. She was so engrossed that she forgot to eat. She didn¡¯t even notice that Ming Ansheng had entered the ward with Xiaojiao. He even stopped right beside her. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten since morning. Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± He suddenly asked, and Su Yue looked up in shock. She pressed her lips and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± But now that he mentioned it, she was hungry. Ming Ansheng remained silent. He lifted a bag in his hands and passed it to Su Yue. ¡°Eat up.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Yue took the bag from him and an aroma wafted out from within the bag. She placed the bag on the bedside cabinet and said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°You should get going if you¡¯re busy. My helper will come over in a while. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll need anymore help.¡± Ming Ansheng saw that Su Yue was planning on finishing her work before eating, so he frowned. ¡°There¡¯s brown sugar soup in there. I bought brown sugar and asked the shop to cook it for you. Drink it while it¡¯s hot, or its effects won¡¯t be as good.¡± Chapter 1659. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part Seven) Su Yue¡¯s heart momentarily clenched. She didn¡¯t look up, but nodded and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Aish.¡± Ming Ansheng sighed and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear these two words coming out of your mouth.¡± His tone had a tinge of helplessness. Su Yue pressed her lips and remained silent. Ming Ansheng¡¯s phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and looked at the caller ID. He said to Su Yue, ¡°I¡¯ll take this call.¡± Su Yue nodded. Ming Ansheng walked out and Su Yue turned to look at the plastic bag on the bedside cabinet. ¡°Mommy, eat.¡± Xiaojiao thought that Su Yue was hungry and wanted to eat, so she hurriedly opened the plastic bag for Su Yue. ¡°Alright, Mommy will wash my face and brush my teeth first.¡± Su Yue smiled and hurriedly went to the washroom to wash up. After coming out of the bathroom, she looked at the bed and froze. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s sweet. Xiaojiao loves it.¡± Xiaojiao was holding a transparent beverage cup containing a dark brown liquid. What else could it be, other than the brown sugar soup Ming Ansheng prepared for her? It had a weird taste to it and she didn¡¯t like it, but the little lass actually loved it. Su Yue frowned, doubting Su Xiaojiao¡¯s taste. She walked over and said, ¡°Xiaojiao, this is Mommy¡¯s.¡± Xiaojiao peered up at her and said, ¡°Half for me, half for Mommy.¡± She smiled sweetly. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She rubbed Xiaojiao¡¯s head, picked up the container of food and began eating. ¡°Mommy, can I have many Daddies?¡± Su Xiaojiao suddenly asked after drinking two spoonfuls of brown sugar soup. Su Yue hesitated and looked down at her. ¡°Xiaojiao, why are you asking this?¡± She guessed that Ming Ansheng or someone else had told her something. Xiaojiao pouted and said, ¡°Xiaojiao misses Daddy. Uncle said he will be my Daddy.¡± She looked hesitant¡­ hesitant whether she wanted Ming Ansheng to be her daddy. Su Yue¡¯s heart clenched. She probed, ¡°So¡­ do you want him to be your Daddy?¡± Su Yue was in a dilemma as well. Seeing that Xiaojiao and Ming Ansheng got along so well, she realized that there was no harm in letting them interact or reconcile. But she was afraid¡­ afraid that Xiaojiao would forget Jiao Chen if she reconciled with Ming Ansheng. How could she let Xiaojiao forget about Jiao Chen? If not for Jiao Chen, Xiaojiao wouldn¡¯t be as obedient and adorable as she was now. ¡°Xiaojiao misses Daddy. Very much.¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears. Su Yue started to tear as well. She hugged Xiaojiao¡¯s neck and buried her in her chest before patting her back gently. ¡°Xiaojiao, good girl.¡± Then she slowly let go of her. Xiaojiao peered up at her and asked, ¡°Mommy, are you going to marry Uncle?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Who said so?¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s voice was much softer when she replied, ¡°Brother¡­¡± Su Yue saw the worry in her eyes and instantly knew that Xiaojiao didn¡¯t want her to be with Ming Ansheng. She felt comforted from Jiao Chen¡¯s perspective. She kissed her on her forehead and smiled. ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t worry. Mommy will never marry Uncle.¡± Chapter 1660. Father And Daughter Getting Closer (part Eight) Xiaojiao smiled happily. ¡°I love Mommy. Daddy loves Mommy.¡± Ming Ansheng was about to push the door open, but he halted. Mommy will never marry Uncle¡­ She promised their daughter that she wouldn¡¯t marry him! Didn¡¯t he have even the slightest chance? Ming Ansheng looked down and pressed his lips, feeling extremely bitter. ¡°Mommy, can we let Uncle be Daddy first?¡± Xiaojiao suddenly peered up at her and asked. Let Uncle be Daddy first... Su Yue looked at her sorrowfully and pressed her lips. She remained silent for a long time. Xiaojiao pouted. ¡°Until Daddy comes back.¡± She meant that when Jiao Chen came back she didn¡¯t need Ming Ansheng as a daddy anymore. Su Yue smiled. Indeed, a child¡¯s worldview was too innocent and na?ve. Once she reconciled with this Daddy, she couldn¡¯t back out anymore. Su Yue caressed her face, her thumb rubbing her smooth face gently. She whispered, ¡°Xiaojiao, Daddy is irreplaceable.¡± Xiaojiao frowned, as though she was in a dilemma. ¡°Xiaojiao loves Daddy. Xiaojiao likes Uncle, too.¡± Su Yue was shocked and worried, but also¡­ comforted. A plethora of emotions were whirling inside her. She didn¡¯t rebut her. She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright to like both.¡± She wanted to let her do what she wanted and lead a carefree life. Ming Ansheng was feeling downcast, but when he heard Xiaojiao say that she liked him, he felt comforted and had a glimmer of hope. At least, he had earned a small place in Xiaojiao¡¯s heart. He grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open with a smile. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°Uncle,¡± Su Xiaojiao grinned and greeted. Ming Ansheng walked over and carried her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek because she said that she liked him in front of Su Yue. Then he said to her, ¡°Uncle will bring you to the huge amusement park in two days. I¡¯ve already gotten the tickets.¡± Every child loved eating and making merry¡ªXiaojiao included. When she heard it, it elated her. ¡°Okay.¡± She pointed at Su Yue and said, ¡°Bring Mommy, too.¡± ¡®What an obedient girl,¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought. How he wished he could bury the little lass inside of him. He subconsciously tightened his hold on her. He nodded and said, ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue finally spoke with a frown. ¡°Xiaojiao¡¯s only three and a half. She won¡¯t be able to take most of the rides. I think it¡¯s better not to go.¡± On average, the height requirement was at least 1.2 meters. There were very little rides catered for children 1 to 1.1 meters in height, and much fewer rides for Xiaojiao, who was barely one meter tall. Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°There are still plenty of things to do there.¡± It didn¡¯t matter which rides they took. What mattered was that the ¡®family of three¡¯ would have a happy time together. They needed such bonding time to forge closer ties with each other. Su Yue wasn¡¯t planning on going. She wanted to say something but Ming Ansheng interrupted her. ¡°Xiaojiao hasn¡¯t been to an amusement park in so long. We should bring her out to the suburbs to have a breath of fresh air.¡± We¡­ ¡®Young Master Ming, that rolled right off your tongue.¡¯ ¡®Besides, isn¡¯t Country M full of fresh air? Do you really have to go such a distance to breathe?¡¯ she thought. Chapter 1661. Mommy And Uncle Sleeping Together (part One) Su Yue looked downwards and couldn¡¯t help but smile. What a lousy excuse. She remained silent. Xiaojiao had already expressed her interest, so it didn¡¯t matter even if she said no unless she forced her not to go. It delighted Ming Ansheng when he saw Su Yue keeping quiet. Silence means consent¡­ Great! He was excited. This¡­ was his first step towards success. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you eaten?¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at the box of food on the bedside cabinet. Su Yue had barely taken a few mouthfuls. Actually, he knew that she was talking to Xiaojiao. He wanted to act like he heard nothing earlier so that the atmosphere would be more natural. ¡°I am.¡± Su Yue picked up the container of rice again and began eating. Ming Ansheng bought her favorite dishes for her. Su Yue had changed tremendously the past few years, but her love for chicken wings hadn¡¯t. She had come up with various recipes herself, and Jiao Chen had given her favorable comments. When she opened the cover of the container earlier and saw the golden-brown chicken wings, a wave of emotions filled her. She had been trying to forget him, but he was always trying to dig out her feelings that she had buried deep within her. Goodness¡­ ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Su Yue sighed thoughtfully. She swallowed without savoring the food. Ming Ansheng came to the hospital every day, as though he was very free. He only went to pick up a few calls when Xiaojiao was sleeping. Su Yue saw that he was always fighting to spend time with Xiaojiao, so she lay down on the sofa and picked up her phone to bury herself in work. This was the first time the ¡®family of three¡¯ spent time alone together, and for the whole day too. Ming Ansheng felt incredibly satisfied. He stared at Su Yue, who was lying on the sofa before walking over. ¡°What do you want for dinner?¡± Before Su Yue could reply, he added, ¡°Xiaojiao can only have light food. Why don¡¯t we have porridge with her?¡± Su Yue placed her phone down and sat up. She frowned and asked him in confusion, ¡°Is Bright Vision going to collapse since you refuse to head back?¡± Ming Ansheng raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ He was good at twisting facts! She was just wondering how a busy president like him could spare the time to go overseas every few days. From the number of times her helper brought home bags of stuff, she knew how often he came to Country M. But work definitely wasn¡¯t the only reason he came. And she knew the main reason. ¡°You¡¯ve always been busy,¡± Su Yue commented as she placed her phone down. She picked up her glass and walked to the water dispenser. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°It was precisely because I was too swarmed with work back then which caused me to neglect you. I will spend more time with you in the future.¡± Guilt and self-blame filled his tone of voice. Ming Ansheng walked over to Su Yue. Su Yue was stunned and she only recovered when the water in her glass overflowed. She hurriedly retracted her hand. She ignored him and took a sip of water. She leaned casually against the water dispenser. Ming Ansheng also leaned against the other side of the water dispenser. He folded his arms and stared at her, saying half-jokingly, ¡°It¡¯ll be best if the company folds. Then I¡¯ll be able to be with you and Xiaojiao every day.¡± Deep down, that was what he hoped for. Chapter 1662. Mommy And Uncle Sleeping Together (part Two) To him, Bright Vision¡¯s future and development were far less important than Su Yue and Xiaojiao. These few months, he declined many projects, choosing to focus on the two of them. It was a pity that life had no rewind button. If there was, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have let her go so easily back then. He would follow in Wen Xuxu¡¯s footsteps: Give up everything he had and fight for his future. Now, Wen Xuxu had earned that of which everyone envied. Su Yue kept the glass placed at her lips, looking down and remaining silent. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± It was quiet for a while. Ming Ansheng was about to say something when Su Yue spoke, ¡°Why isn¡¯t my helper here yet?¡± She frowned. Then she walked back to the sofa and bent down to pick up her phone. She called her helper and worriedly said, ¡°I hope she¡¯s not too seriously injured.¡± The call went through and her helper picked up. She said that her ankle was swollen and she couldn¡¯t walk, so she couldn¡¯t make it tonight. There was nothing Su Yue could do about it. She told her helper to rest well and ended the call, still feeling troubled. Why was it so coincidental¡­ She had been waiting for her clothes the entire day. She couldn¡¯t possibly go home in her patient gown. But the doctor suggested for Xiaojiao to stay one more night for further observation. Seeing that she looked so troubled, he smiled slyly. He walked over and feigned confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue sighed. ¡°Aish. My helper sprained her ankle pretty badly. She can¡¯t make it.¡± She looked up at him and said, ¡°You should head home. I can handle things here. If you¡¯re coming here again, bring some clothes for me.¡± Then her eyes widened in realization. Why didn¡¯t she think of that earlier? She should have made him head back earlier. Then she wouldn¡¯t have to fret the whole day. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°I promised Xiaojiao that I¡¯d bring her to the children¡¯s play area when she wakes up later.¡± Su Yue knew about this. He even pinky promised the little lass. If she didn¡¯t see him the moment she woke, she¡¯d definitely be unhappy, thinking that adults didn¡¯t keep their word. Su Yue pouted and said, ¡°Alright then.¡± Ming Ansheng revealed a smile when she wasn¡¯t looking. A sly and crafty smile crept onto his face. ¡­ ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± Ming Ansheng bought three identical portions of plain porridge. He then put it on the coffee table. Su Yue looked at it and asked, ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°The hospital canteen.¡± Shock flashed across her eyes. ¡°You went¡­ to the canteen to buy porridge?¡± She had guessed it. Porridge wasn¡¯t a common meal in Country M, but a huge hospital like this would definitely sell it. So Ming Ansheng must¡¯ve gotten it from the hospital canteen. But it still shocked her that he said it so casually. In her eyes, Ming Ansheng was a chauvinistic male. He wasn¡¯t like her third brother, who could forgo the entire world, including his biological children, for her third sister-in-law. But Ming Ansheng had many factors to consider, including his reputation. He helped her get sanitary pads from the nurses, bought her brown sugar soup, and even bought porridge in the canteen¡­ He¡¯d changed quite a bit. ¡°The canteen is nearer,¡± Ming Ansheng replied. He frowned. ¡°Why? It doesn¡¯t taste good?¡± Chapter 1663. Mommy And Uncle Sleeping Together (part Three) Su Yue shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m just asking.¡± She put her spoon down and drank from the bowl instead. The temperature was just right. Xiaojiao who sat between Su Yue and Ming Ansheng followed suit. She grabbed the bowl by the sides and poured the porridge into her mouth. Ming Ansheng felt that she was an exact miniature replica of Su Yue. His black eyes were shining with affection. Xiaojiao finished the porridge in no time. Then she pulled a tissue to wipe her mouth. Ming Ansheng praised her immediately. ¡°Xiaojiao is awesome. You finished your food.¡± ¡°Hungry.¡± Su Xiaojiao lifted her clothes to reveal her round tummy. She rubbed it after. She pursed her lips, looking dissatisfied. Ming Ansheng was speechless¡­ He had underestimated this lass¡¯s appetite. But she had already finished such a huge bowl! Even an adult like Su Yue would definitely be full. No wonder this lass was so chubby. Ming Ansheng pinched her cheeks affectionately. ¡°I¡¯ll give you mine.¡± He was about to scoop his porridge for Xiaojiao. Su Yue hurriedly stopped him in time. ¡°Stop it. She had eaten her fill and the doctor said that she can¡¯t eat too much.¡± Ming Ansheng pressed his lips as he looked at Su Yue. Then he glanced at Xiaojiao, and in a compromising tone of voice, he asked, ¡°How about one small mouthful?¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°You¡­¡± Why were they the same? Jiao Chen was exactly the same. He would give and do anything for Xiaojiao, except for the stars in the sky. But he really had his ways of making sure that he didn¡¯t pamper her too much. And the lass was really obedient too. Xiaojiao nodded and agreed. Ming Ansheng stroked her head. ¡°Xiaojiao is a good girl.¡± He scooped a little and fed Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao opened her mouth and swallowed it. Then she said, ¡°I want my book.¡± With no grumbles, she immediately leaped off the couch and strode towards the bed. Su Yue gazed at the girl and she chuckled to herself. Traitor! Why wasn¡¯t she as obedient and well-behaved when she was with her? ¡°My daughter indeed. She takes after me.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice rang in her ears. He was really near¡­ She could feel his warm breath on her skin. His deep and masculine voice carried a trace of amusement. Su Yue was sinking into the depths of his voice that was like fine wine. Su Yue¡¯s heart pounded. She bent her head and bit her lips. She was frustrated with herself. Ming Ansheng inched nearer to Su Yue¡¯s ears. ¡°I was a well-behaved and obedient child too.¡± His lips were barely inches apart from touching Su Yue¡¯s skin. The man¡¯s breath and voice successfully tickled her skin. Su Yue shoved Ming Ansheng away. ¡°We don¡¯t need you here anymore. Go back.¡± She lost all her appetite, and her soul and mind were all over the place. She sprang to her feet and walked away. Ming Ansheng lazily slumped backward as he surveyed Su Yue. A triumphant grin appeared on his face. It seemed like¡­ it was getting interesting. Chapter 1664. Mommy And Uncle Sleeping Together (part Four) He suddenly frowned. F*ck! Third Yan had taught him the wrong thing. Third Yan was always so brazen and shameless and no one could win him. Su Yue didn¡¯t have any clothes to change into, so she laid on the couch to complete her work. When she finished, the sky had turned dark. She looked rather dejected. ¡°Why aren¡¯t both of them back yet?¡± Su Yue muttered to herself as she stood up. She strode towards the windows. Ming Ansheng had brought Xiaojiao downstairs. There were facilities built for children and the elderly. Xiaojiao went after she woke up from her nap, and she pestered Ming Ansheng to bring her again. ¡°How could they not be back?¡± Su Yue grumbled to herself as she drew the curtains. She turned back around as she wanted to look for Xiaojiao and Ming Ansheng. The door opened at the moment. Xiaojiao¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°Is it like a big airplane?¡± Ming Ansheng carried Xiaojiao, and she had her arms raised, as though she was mimicking something. Anticipation was displayed on her face. Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°You will know when you see it.¡± Xiaojiao nodded and said, ¡°Okay!¡± What were they talking about? What airplane? Su Yue was a little curious and she frowned. ¡°Why are you so late?¡± She sounded as though she was chiding them. It was chilly outside, and Xiaojiao was still recovering. She couldn¡¯t take the cold. ¡°Mommy, I want the Ferris wheel. Uncle will bring us there.¡± Su Xiaojiao glanced at Su Yue with an excited expression. She stretched both hands and hugged Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck, as though she was trying to please him. Incredibly, Su Yue felt jealous when she did that. This traitor had fraternized with the enemy so easily. ¡°Go wash up. Mommy will read you a story.¡± She stretched her hands towards the lass. Xiaojiao wrapped her arms around Ming Ansheng tightly. ¡°I want Uncle.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ Was she about to get kicked out? When Ming Ansheng saw Su Yue¡¯s expression hardening, his delight and glee were indescribable. He almost exploded in laughter. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll read to you after you wash up.¡± Ming Ansheng gave her a kiss on the cheek. As though he was flaunting. He carried Xiaojiao to the bathroom. Su Yue glared gloomily at the towering figure. She couldn¡¯t take it lying down. It had barely been a few months and Xiaojiao seemed to have forgotten about Jiao Chen. She was completely won over by Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± The bathroom door wasn¡¯t shut properly. Xiaojiao¡¯s tinkling laughter interrupted her thoughts. What were they doing inside? And she sounded so happy. Su Yue frowned and walked towards the bathroom. She pushed the door gently. Ming Ansheng was putting soap on her hands. The girl was afraid of being tickled so she roared with laughter. Then he washed her face. Droplets of water dripped from her face and her curly hair got stuck to the sides of her face. Her eyes were twinkling like crescents. Her laughter was really¡­ pleasant. Su Yue didn¡¯t make a sound and leaned against the frame. She peeked through the gap as she gazed at the¡­ father and daughter. Chapter 1665. Mommy And Uncle Sleeping Together (part Five) Although she didn¡¯t want to admit, the scene was so blissful and heartwarming. She really couldn¡¯t bear to disturb them. ¡°Xiaojiao wash for Daddy¡­¡± Xiaojiao suddenly snatched the soap from Ming Ansheng. It dumbfounded both Ming Ansheng and Su Yue when they heard Xiaojiao. But they knew Xiaojiao had merely blurted it out¡ªout of a habit. This only proved how important ¡®Daddy¡¯ was to her. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were glistening. The lass kept whining that she missed her daddy so much. It was a little better now. When Jiao Chen had just passed away, she always blurted out ¡®Daddy¡¯ unconsciously. Xiaojiao put soap on Ming Ansheng¡¯s palms, and she rubbed it vigorously before washing it away. Ming Ansheng smelled his hands and praised her for her effort. ¡°Xiaojiao is awesome. Very clean.¡± Su Xiaojiao quipped, ¡°One hundred marks.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°One hundred marks.¡± He carried Xiaojiao and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I need to read a book for my darling. What story should we listen to?¡± Su Yue hastily retraced her steps and ran to the couch. She wiped her eyes quickly too. ¡°Little red riding hood,¡± said Su Xiaojiao after she pondered for a while. ¡°Sure.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and flung Xiaojiao into the air. He was so fit and muscular, so it was effortless for him to fling and catch the lass. After putting Xiaojiao on the bed, Ming Ansheng glanced at Xiaojiao¡¯s clothes. ¡°Shall we have a competition to see who is the fastest to unbutton all the buttons?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Su Xiaojiao nodded eagerly. ¡°Start!¡± Ming Ansheng placed his palm on his shirt. After Xiaojiao unbuttoned the first one, he began slowly. His real intention was for the lass to be independent and get a sense of achievement. ¡°I won!¡± Xiaojiao squealed and jumped up in excitement. Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°Well done, darling.¡± He covered her with a blanket and laid down next to her. Then he began to tell her a story. After a short while, Xiaojiao yawned and her eyelids got heavier. She fell asleep shortly. Ming Ansheng gradually reduced his voice to a whisper¡­ He insisted on finishing the story before leaving the bed. He glanced at Su Yue who was engrossed with her phone. She must be working. He strode quietly over to her. ¡°How is business today?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± replied Su Yue casually. She put her phone away and sat up. Ming Ansheng sat down beside her and gazed at her. In a half-joking and half-serious manner, he suggested, ¡°I can join as a shareholder.¡± Su Yue felt like rolling her eyes but she merely sneered. ¡°Ha ha.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the boss, then you¡¯ll be the lady boss. Wouldn¡¯t that be great?¡± Ming Ansheng moved nearer to Su Yue. Su Yue frowned and glared at him. She stood up instead. Ming Ansheng shrugged his shoulders casually as if he were unaffected. A devious gleam flashed past his eyes. Chapter 1666. Mommy and Uncle Sleeping Together (part Six) Su Yue didn¡¯t sleep in the day. She yawned widely as she slumped against the bed. She wanted to reply to some orders, but her eyelids felt so heavy. She switched off the laptop and quickly washed up. Then she collapsed on the bed. This was the VIP suite, and the bed was spacious enough to accommodate three people. It was as if¡­ they designed it for a family of three. Ming Ansheng stood by the bed with rolled-up sleeves and pants. He still had droplets of water on his face after washing up. This VIP suite was fully equipped, but it didn¡¯t come with clothes nor towels. So, he had to make do by washing only his face and feet. He stuffed his hands inside his pockets. He fixed his shrewd-looking eyes on the woman and girl on the bed. His face split into a toothy grin. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Ming Ansheng quietly sighed to himself before rounding the bed. He went to Su Yue. He sighed because, after an intense struggle, he had chosen the woman. Ming Ansheng treaded lightly across the room. He bent and pressed his palms against the bed. Then he gradually sat down¡­ as quietly as possible. After confirming that Su Yue was asleep, he heaved a sigh of relief. He carefully lifted the blanket. He propped his legs on the bed. Finally, he placed his legs under the blanket. The trickiest part now was to slide his body smoothly. He needed to be extra careful and slow during the process. When he finally laid down, he realized that his back and forehead were perspiring. Even his palms were covered in cold sweat. F*ck! How could Yan Rusheng be so natural when doing something so sneaky? And yet, he felt as though his heart was about to leap out any moment. Ming Ansheng inwardly cursed at his friend with his hand on his chest. After his heartbeat resumed to a normal rate, he turned to Su Yue. She looked so beautiful and lovely. She was breathing deeply, and there she was, just within his touch. His lips unconsciously curled into a smile. Without a doubt, his body started to respond. Just by looking at Su Yue¡¯s face and feeling her warmth, he was seized with a desire. Ming Ansheng¡¯s palms began to sweat again as he tried to touch Su Yue. But he retreated immediately when his fingers brushed against her clothes. He feared that if Su Yue woke up, she might flare up. And she might forbid him to come near them ever again. But he couldn¡¯t stop himself¡­ he wanted to get close to her. Just a hug will do. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! But alas, he withdrew his hand the moment he touched her clothes. Ming Ansheng felt as though something was tickling his heart, and he was getting frustrated. How he wished he could just pounce on her. That would be wonderful. He had dreamt of doing this countless times. But every time he did, he would wake up right away. Ming Ansheng knew he couldn¡¯t do it. So, he gave up and got off the bed. ¡®Yan Rusheng, how did you manage to be so despicable?¡¯ Ming Ansheng texted Yan Rusheng out of frustration. He felt for his pocket. He was looking for his cigarettes. But they were empty. Then he recalled that he was trying to quit smoking. He had finished a whole packet of chewing gum in a few days. Chapter 1667. Mommy and Uncle Sleeping Together (part Seven) At times when he had the urge to smoke, he would take a look at Xiaojiao. She was so young, and he couldn¡¯t bear to make her breath second-hand smoke. So, he suppressed his urges. His phone vibrated with Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply. ¡®Are you sure your brain is working fine? Why are you spewing nonsense in the morning?¡¯ The corners of Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth twitched. He typed, ¡®Imagine if you had a quarrel with Wen Xuxu and she is ignoring you right now. Then you get an opportunity to sleep together with her. What would you do?¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®Ha. Do you think I would be so stupid to teach you how to lure my sister to your bed?¡¯ It rendered Ming Ansheng speechless¡­ F*ck. He asked the wrong person. But Yan Rusheng¡¯s mockery and sarcasm had provoked him, and it ignited a fire in him. How could he not retort? He typed, ¡®Ha. I forgot that she is your sister. After all, you¡¯re heartless to everyone else except for Wen Xuxu.¡¯ After replying, he immediately searched for Lu Yinan¡¯s WeChat. He was in the midst of typing when he received Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply. He caught a fleeting glimpse of the content. He saw some glaring words which particularly exemplified Third Young Master¡¯s viciousness¡ªweakling and erectile dysfunction. Huh? Erectile dysfunction?! Ming Ansheng abandoned his current text and clicked on Yan Rusheng¡¯s reply. ¡®Ha ha ha¡­ Ming Ansheng, forget it. You¡¯re famous for being a weakling. After so many years, aren¡¯t you supposed to be suffering from erectile dysfunction? Why would you have a reaction?¡¯ Young Master Ming almost spat blood. What did this fellow mean? How could he look down on him and be so insulting? Ming Ansheng gritted his teeth as he replied, ¡®Just wait. Tonight I¡¯m going to sleep with your sister. Let¡¯s see what you can do to me.¡¯ ¡®If you didn¡¯t manage to, you¡¯re a weakling. Even if you do, you need to address me as Third Brother every time you see me.¡¯ Young Master Yan won. It rendered Ming Ansheng speechless¡­ He should give up communicating with this fellow. He knew that it was impossible to win him over in an argument or debate in this lifetime. He continued to construct a text to Lu Yinan. ¡®Imagine that you had a quarrel with Zhou Shuang and both of you didn¡¯t have s*x in a long time. Then one day, you have an opportunity to sleep with her, but she is unaware as she is sleeping. What would you do?¡¯ Lu Yinan replied instantly, ¡®Ming Ansheng, are you okay? Have you lost your conscience?¡¯ It rendered Ming Ansheng speechless¡­ Did both of them eat explosives? ¡®I¡¯m inexperienced and that¡¯s why I¡¯m seeking your advice,¡¯ Young Master Ming explained. Lu Yinan typed, ¡®Scram. You are the one who is experienced. And your whole family, too. Don¡¯t you know that I¡¯ve had a cold war with that female hooligan for nearly four years? My s*x partner is myself. You really don¡¯t have a conscience. Serves you right for not having a s*x life and Su Yue ignoring you.¡¯ Ming Ansheng was rendered speechless again¡­ It slipped his mind that this fellow was no better than him. Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan already had children, and they stayed together for nearly four years. But there was no progress in their relationship. They should have registered their marriage long ago. But the two of them simply remained status quo. Only the onlookers could see how they had put up defenses against each other. Neither of them was willing to give in. Chapter 1668. Mommy And Uncle Sleeping Together (part Eight) To put it simply, both of them let their pride get in their way. They obviously liked each other, and yet, they pretend not to care. Lu Yinan was such a womanizer in the past. If he didn¡¯t have feelings for Zhou Shuang, he would have looked for other women in these four years. Why would he preserve his chastity and stay loyal to her? ¡®It seemed like I can only depend on myself,¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought to himself with a sigh. ¡®You are a man. Can you act like one? Do you have to make a woman propose to you? Or go to your room to undress you? Serves you right that you have no woman!¡¯ Ming Ansheng typed angrily, and then he locked his phone. He stood up in a huff and laid down next to Su Yue. This time, he was less careful and fearful. And his actions seemed braver. He turned sideways to gaze at Su Yue¡¯s beautiful face. He inched nearer until the tip of his nose touched Su Yue¡¯s face. He inhaled deeply and felt extremely comforted. Ming Ansheng thought to himself, ¡®This is enough. As long as she is by my side. As long as she is the first thing I see when I wake up.¡¯ ¡­ It was morning in the capital city, and it was the busiest time of the day. Lu Yinan had a surgery operation late last night. Ming Ansheng¡¯s text woke him up from his sleep. He rose and yawned sleepily before looking at his phone. He stared for a long time at Ming Ansheng¡¯s final message. Propose? He should propose to that hooligan? He didn¡¯t look for any woman these past years. Wasn¡¯t that enough to prove his feelings for her? If she had wanted to be with him for the rest of her life, why was she pretending not to care? Every time he tried to get closer to her, she would fend him off like a porcupine with sharp spines. In what way was he not worthy? He was at least a hundred times better than the jerk she had dated before. This female hooligan really deserved to date a jerk. She should get a horrible man who would make her suffer. The more Young Master Lu thought, the more livid he became. He flung his blanket off and strode out of his room. ¡°Daddy!¡± Lu Yinan bumped into his precious Second Lu. His darling had thick short hair with fair and tender skin. ¡°Where is Mommy?¡± Lu Yinan bent and pinched his daughter¡¯s face with an affectionate gaze. She pointed downstairs. ¡°Mommy is in the courtyard watering the flowers.¡± Lu Yinan smiled. ¡°Got it.¡± He held her hand and went downstairs. An old man, who was nearly 90 years of age, sat on the couch. He was watching the news, which reported updates regarding the army. ¡°Grandfather, why didn¡¯t you play chess in the garden?¡± Lu Yinan strode towards the couch and glanced at his grandfather. Old Master Lu didn¡¯t look at him and he coldly replied, ¡°Old Liu¡¯s grandson is getting married today. The rest of them are at his wedding.¡± Lu Yinan casually asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you invited?¡± He had reached the couch where the old master was sitting. Old Master Lu looked up and snorted coldly. ¡°How could I go?!¡± He looked furious, and he averted his gaze back to the TV screen. ¡°Grandfather, what are you talking about?¡± Lu Yinan knew why his grandfather was angry. He let go of Second Lu and sat down with a fawning smile. He clenched his grandfather¡¯s hand and said, ¡°With your reputation and status, everyone would be honored by your presence.¡± Was it a special day today? Why was everyone rushing him to get married? Chapter 1669. Mommy and Uncle Sleeping Together (part Nine) Old Master Lu glared at Lu Yinan with a murderous gleam in his eyes. He spoke in a rather bitter tone. ¡°Do you know that Old Liu¡¯s youngest grandson is the one getting married today? He is 25 this year.¡± Lu Yinan nodded. ¡°Alright, alright. I got it.¡± He couldn¡¯t understand the reason everyone made it seem like it was his fault. Was he the one who didn¡¯t want to get married? ¡°What do you know!¡± Old Master Lu frowned, and his voice was pulsing with anger. ¡°I reckon that I wouldn¡¯t be able to see you and Xiaoshuang getting married before I pass away. Don¡¯t waste her time any longer. I should tell her to bring the three children with her when she leaves the family.¡± This was overboard. Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows in response. ¡°Grandfather, why are you still so competitive at your age?¡± ¡°Enough of your nonsense. The Lu family has a reputation and status to uphold. Zhou Shuang had given the Lu family triplets, and yet we have given her nothing in return. Do you still have a conscience for denying her an official title?¡± Old Master Lu lowered his volume, as Zhou Shuang might return any time. He stretched his wrinkled hand and prodded Lu Yinan¡¯s chest. Both the elderly and children need to be coaxed. So, Lu Yinan grabbed the old man¡¯s shoulders and smiled brightly. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be mad anymore. I shall try my best to arrange for a grand and magnificent wedding very soon, and you can boast to all your friends. Alright?¡± The old man snorted. ¡°The wedding is not for me.¡± Lu Yinan pouted and replied, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not for you. Even if you want, I won¡¯t do it. How can I face my deceased grandmother?¡± ¡°You rascal!¡± Old Master Lu smacked his head and laughed. Lu Yinan smiled after he humored the old man. ¡°I¡¯ll go look for Hooligan Zhou.¡± When the old man heard how Lu Yinan addressed Zhou Shuang, he smacked his bum. ¡°I need to hit you!¡± He was still quite strong for his age, and it made Lu Yinan frown in pain. He turned around and glared at his grandfather. He protested, ¡°Grandfather, the kid is here. What are you doing?¡± Second Lu interjected before Old Master Lu could explain. ¡°Daddy, your grandfather is the elder. So, I won¡¯t laugh at you when he hits you. I will only laugh when Mommy hits you.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ It seemed like he was being treated lightly in their family. It was time for him to regain his dignity and pride. ¡°Grandfather, I plucked a few tomatoes for you. Let¡¯s add it to the soup tonight.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice echoed from the doors. She walked in, wearing light coffee-colored loungewear. She exercised vigorously these recent months as if something had stimulated her. She had lost a considerable amount of weight and her figure was like what it used to be before she gave birth. She tied her hair in a messy bun. She was holding huge ripe tomatoes in her arms. Lu Yinan glanced at her, and he recalled his vow to his grandfather just now. He clenched his teeth with determination and marched stiffly towards Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang warily watched him, and her eyes carried a trace of fear. Lu Yinan seemed to act strangely. ¡°What¡­ what do you want?¡± asked Zhou Shuang. ¡°Let¡¯s talk upstairs.¡± Lu Yinan put his arms around her waist and hurled her over his shoulders. He swiftly turned around and marched towards the staircase. Chapter 1670. Mommy And Uncle Sleeping Together (part Ten) ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you trying to do?!¡± Zhou Shuang was momentarily stumped before she snapped. She dropped the tomatoes and rained punches on Lu Yinan¡¯s back. Lu Yinan endured the pain and hissed, ¡°I have something to discuss with you.¡± He marched with determined footsteps past Old Master Lu. His grandfather pretended to be oblivious of his surroundings and pressed his lips. He continued to sit with his back straightened. Looking upright and noble. But in the depths of the murky-looking eyes, a satisfied grin had emerged. Miss Second Lu¡¯s round and huge eyes watched as her daddy lugged her mommy up the stairs. After they vanished from sight, only then did she retract her gaze. She sighed at Old Master Lu. ¡°Great Grandfather, my daddy and mommy will fight again.¡± She sounded rather resigned, as though she was immune to their fights. ¡°Mm.¡± The old master nodded and smiled. Then he brushed her hair affectionately and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With me around, they wouldn¡¯t be able to destroy the house.¡± Second Lu shrugged with her shoulders. She grinned and pointed at the set of chess. ¡°Great Grandfather, let me play chess with you.¡± Old Master Lu loved to play chess. So, other than Lu Huanyan, her other siblings knew how to play chess too. The old man nodded in delight. ¡°Huanhuan is the most thoughtful girl.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan, do you want to die!¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s screams suddenly echoed from above. Second Lu shivered at her screams, but there was no trace of fear. She raised her head and her eyes met the old man. Both of them smiled helplessly. ¡­ ¡°What do you want exactly?!¡± Lu Yinan pinned Zhou Shuang down with his entire weight. His shrewd-looking bright eyes were blazing with an indescribable fury that Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t comprehend. She had no idea why Lu Yinan was being so violent towards her for no apparent reason. Ever since their last fight on Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu¡¯s wedding, they had been at peace until now. Their peace simply meant ignoring each other¡¯s presence. ¡°Zhou Shuang, you atrocious woman. You better make yourself clear today.¡± Lu Yinan gritted his teeth furiously, and he inched nearer to Zhou Shuang. She could feel his warm breath literally inches away from her skin. Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart pounded violently, and she turned crimson. Rage and embarrassment consumed her. She couldn¡¯t break free from Lu Yinan¡¯s grip and she roared. ¡°What are you talking about? What do you want to hear from me?!¡± This person was crazy. ¡°Are you still thinking of the jerk who dumped you in Country M?!¡± Lu Yinan interrogated her, looking livid and savage. The next second, he kissed Zhou Shuang as though he was venting his anger on her. His kisses were overbearing and ferocious. Zhou Shuang moved her face away to avoid his kisses, but he followed suit. He was bent on devouring her. Zhou Shuang had no choice but to bite his lips. The stench of blood lingered in both their mouths in seconds. Instinctively, Lu Yinan raised his head, with blood smeared on his seductive lips. It added an irresistible and dangerous charm to this man. That droplet of blood, mingled with other fluids, fell on Zhou Shuang¡¯s lips. Zhou Shuang frowned in disgust. But Lu Yinan pinned her hands, and she could only press her lips in a straight line. Lu Yinan suddenly curled his bloody lips with a devious gleam in his eyes. Zhou Shuang had no idea what was on his mind and she became tense. ¡°You¡­!¡± Chapter 1671. Oh God, Where Did She Put Her Hand? (part One) She opened her mouth and swallowed the droplet of Lu Yinan¡¯s blood. The stench of the droplet of blood seemed to course through her body. Lu Yinan smirked maliciously. ¡°Zhou Shuang, why are you trying to be so chaste and pure?¡± Zhou Shuang raised an eyebrow and sneered. ¡°Then should I throw myself at you?¡± Lu Yinan sneered in contempt. ¡°You¡¯re already a mother, why are you still trying to protect your chastity? Huh?¡± He deliberately puffed his chest. There were both clad in thin clothing, and he could feel how soft Zhou Shuang¡¯s body was. Lu Yinan began to feel heated. And the lower part of his body was changing rapidly. Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows and replied coldly, ¡°So, should I be a loose woman after I¡¯ve given birth?¡± Lu Yinan retorted in a tone full of sarcasm. ¡°You sounded as if you¡¯re really pure and innocent.¡± Mockery and contempt were obvious from his tone, and Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes stung. But she maintained her facade. ¡°Lu Yinan, you must have forgotten to brush your mouth this morning. It¡¯s stinky.¡± Lu Yinan raised his eyebrows. ¡°I brushed my teeth. Why would I brush my mouth?¡± Zhou Shuang was originally a hot-tempered person, but she had changed so much. If not, she would have snapped at him with more vicious retorts. Still, Lu Yinan¡¯s words left her flustered. ¡°What do you want exactly?¡± She struggled as she asked sharply. She even used her legs. ¡°Am I not being obvious enough?¡± Lu Yinan raised an eyebrow and then his eyes swept past her chest. He drawled, ¡°Obviously, it¡¯s¡­ you.¡± Zhou Shuang responded with a cold smirk. ¡°When did Young Master Lu¡¯s taste in women decline so much? You have all sorts of pretty and sexy women flocking around you. Why should you waste your time and energy on me?¡± ¡°After these years, your vicious tongue is just like before.¡± Lu Yinan was mad and boiling with anger. He exerted strength in his hands and squeezed Zhou Shuang. He tried to vent his frustration on her. Zhou Shuang bit her lips as she endured the pain. ¡°You¡¯re just the same,¡± replied Zhou Shuang casually. Lu Yinan really loathed how nonchalant she was towards him. As though he didn¡¯t mean a thing to her. He really couldn¡¯t fathom what was on Zhou Shuang¡¯s mind. Why did she reject his advances all these years? The more he thought, the more he couldn¡¯t take it lying down. ¡°Zhou Shuang, what do you want me to do? Kneel and propose to you?¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t need it.¡± She replied so nonchalantly. The ball of fire in Lu Yinan¡¯s body blazed once again. He spat maliciously into her ears. ¡°Everyone said that I was irresponsible towards you. Tell me exactly what did I do? In the family, almost everyone treated you like a queen.¡± ¡°So, you think that I should leave your family?¡± Zhou Shuang mustered her strength and used her knee to attack Lu Yinan¡¯s most vulnerable part of the body. Just like what she had expected, Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows tightly and he instantly lost focus. He loosened his grip on her. She seized the opportunity to shove him away and sat up. But to her surprise, Lu Yinan had recovered from the pain and the next moment, he wound his arms around her waist. He pushed her back onto the bed again. ¡°You know that I don¡¯t mean it that way!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s anger was bubbling in the pit of his stomach, and he was looking like he could murder someone. His wrath had made Zhou Shuang fearful and intimidated. She doesn¡¯t understand what was he trying to say. Chapter 1672. Oh God, Where Did She Put Her Hand? (part Two) Zhou Shuang decided to make herself clear. She gazed at Lu Yinan and solemnly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what are you trying to say. I don¡¯t understand you and likewise, you don¡¯t know me well.¡± Right from the beginning, they were only together because of the children. They had never given in to each other. And even if they did¡­ they did it for the sake of their children. Would they have a future together even if their relationship was based on that alone? Zhou Shuang¡¯s words had completely infuriated Lu Yinan, even if those words were from the bottom of her heart. To him, it was merely an excuse to reject him. He glared at Zhou Shuang, looking as though he was about to devour a prey. ¡°And that¡¯s precisely why we should get to know each other from now on. If we won¡¯t, how can we continue to live with each other? Don¡¯t you agree?¡± It was early in the morning, and a man¡¯s body was relatively more sensitive. Both of their bodies had been rubbing against each other and coupled with a man¡¯s instinct for domination, Lu Yinan could hardly restrain his urges any longer. Zhou Shuang clearly felt that a certain part of his body was erected. She was already a mother, of course, she knew what was happening. She sensed that Lu Yinan wouldn¡¯t let her go before he got what he wanted. She gave it one last attempt to force him to back off. ¡°Lu Yinan, was your brain squashed by the door or kicked by a donkey this morning?¡± He was really acting like a lunatic. Why would he mention that heartless jerk so randomly? She had already forgotten all about him. Or perhaps that was merely an excuse for him to satisfy his desires? But even if he needed to satisfy himself, he could choose any woman he wanted. It was impossible for a wealthy and handsome young master like him to lack women. So, she really couldn¡¯t understand him. ¡°Zhou Shuang, if I don¡¯t get what I want today, then I¡¯m not a man!¡± Lu Yinan blurted out, sounding vicious and dangerous. He freed a hand and lifted Zhou Shuang¡¯s clothes unceremoniously. He put his hand underneath her clothes, and the touch of Zhou Shuang¡¯s smooth and supple skin produced a wonderful sensation that coursed through his entire body. It ignited his desires. Zhou Shuang knew that if he set his mind on her, she could never escape from his clutches. She sneered coldly. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re a man?¡± She could only vent her anger through her words right now. Lu Yinan hissed. ¡°That sounds like you¡¯re trying to make me prove how manly I am.¡± He ripped both of their clothes to pieces and forced himself on her. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes turned red and it glistened. She didn¡¯t want Lu Yinan to see it, so she shut her eyes. At the sight of how resigned she looked, Lu Yinan felt a mixture of conflicted emotions. He became confused and bewildered and couldn¡¯t understand himself. He had encounters with various woman. But why did he stop at the last crucial moment every time in the past few years?! ¡­ Country M. Su Yue woke up but she didn¡¯t open her eyes. She felt so satisfied with her sleep. It had been so long since she had such a good sleep. She didn¡¯t dream at all. But wait¡­ Where did she put her hand? Something was amiss and Su Yue¡¯s eyes jerked open. She scrambled and sat up, feeling shocked. The man, who was sound asleep next to her, was woken up as a result. The man slowly fluttered his eyelids, just like that first glimmer of dawn. ¡°Good morning.¡± His deep and pleasant voice was slightly hoarse. It went well with his good-looking face. ¡°Why did you sleep here?¡± questioned Su Yue warily. Chapter 1673. Uncle Is Giving Mommy CPR (part One) ¡°There¡¯s only one bed here. Where else can I sleep?¡± Su Yue frowned in frustration. He could have slept on the sofa, just like the night before. He did it on purpose! However, she was too embarrassed to confront him. Because earlier, she had actually placed her hand on¡­ that part of his body. She started blushing, and she clenched her fists under the blanket. ¡°Mommy and Uncle slept together.¡± Xiaojiao suddenly woke from her sleep and sat up. She rubbed her eyes lazily. Su Yue frowned and gave her a warning look. ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± Ming Ansheng replied lazily from beside her, ¡°She isn¡¯t spouting nonsense. Didn¡¯t we really sleep together last night?¡± Su Yue looked at him, and he raised his eyebrow at her purposefully. His eyes were filled with mischief. ¡°Can you stop being such a scoundrel?¡± Su Yue was slightly angered. She flipped the covers and got off the bed from Xiaojiao¡¯s side. Ming Ansheng hugged her waist from behind her and pulled her back into the bed. Su Yue let out a cry of shock. Before she could react, Ming Ansheng was already hovering over her. She pounded her fists on his shoulders. However, when she met his gentle gaze, her actions halted. ¡°Yueyue, can you stop being so stubborn?¡± Ming Ansheng gazed at her, eyes full of gentleness, yet revealing a tinge of helplessness. ¡°I know that you¡¯re not completely over me. You still miss me.¡± He looked at her with a gentle yet heated gaze, and her heart started to palpitate but she couldn¡¯t tear her gaze away from him. She could only reply, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. I don¡¯t miss you.¡± Su Yue said that in a cold tone of voice before pushing his chest with force. As expected, he didn¡¯t budge. Ming Ansheng, however, pinned her down even more forcefully. He leaned in closer to her face and asked, ¡°Then why were you hugging and begging me not to leave last night?¡± Huh? She did? Why didn¡¯t she have any memories of it? Su Yue didn¡¯t believe him. She said in disbelief, ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡± ¡°Su Yue, don¡¯t you know what your heart wants?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t look like he was lying. He continued, ¡°Last night, you were in my arms, muttering ¡®Uncle Ming, don¡¯t go¡¯. I don¡¯t have a piece of evidence to prove that I¡¯m telling you the truth. I should have recorded it last night.¡± Su Yue stared at him and observed his expression carefully, not finding any signs of deceit. But then again, how would she be able to tell? She still didn¡¯t believe that she said those words while in her sleep. She had no recollection of it at all. The only possibility of that happening was if she happened to be dreaming of him last night. That¡¯s why she hugged him. But she didn¡¯t have any dreams last night. So he must be¡­ Before she could say the word ¡®lying¡¯ in her thoughts, Ming Ansheng suddenly crashed his lips onto hers. It stunned her. ¡°Bad Uncle. Cannot kiss Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao whacked Ming Ansheng when she saw it and was about to burst into tears. Ming Ansheng looked up at her and smiled. ¡°Be a good girl. Uncle is giving Mommy CPR.¡± A few days ago, he read Xiaojiao a story about the uses of CPR. The little girl immediately nodded and approved. ¡°Mm.¡± Chapter 1674. Uncle Is Giving Mommy CPR (part Two) She nodded and craned her neck. Confused and curious, she blinked and stared at Ming Ansheng and Su Yue¡¯s lips. Ming Ansheng was about to kiss her again when he saw Xiaojiao staring at them. He raised an eyebrow and smiled at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He didn¡¯t blush or get nervous, but Su Yue wasn¡¯t as calm as him. She became frustrated after consecutive failed attempts at pushing him away. ¡°Ming Ansheng, that¡¯s enough.¡± He was being so shameless in front of Xiaojiao. CPR? Wasn¡¯t he afraid of retribution if he kept lying, especially to his daughter? Xiaojiao became frightened when she saw that Su Yue was angry. She patted Su Yue¡¯s elbow gently. ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡®Mommy¡¯s face is so red. She must be very sick,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Nothing.¡± Su Yue shook her head and smiled immediately. ¡°Everything is fine. Nothing is wrong.¡± Then she glared menacingly at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was still looking at her with mischief. His body was still hovering over hers, and he didn¡¯t seem like he was going to release her anytime soon. But Su Yue was afraid of scaring Xiaojiao, so she held in her anger. ¡°Uncle, is Mommy alive now?¡± Xiaojiao observed them for a while before asking. She was worried because they weren¡¯t moving. The character in the story only required CPR because he was dying. Was Mommy alright now? Then she looked at Su Yue and carefully observed her. Ming Ansheng shook his head. ¡°No. But your Mommy is being naughty, she refuses to accept treatment.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ When did this fellow become as shameless as her third brother? ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Xiaojiao suddenly started sobbing in fright. She pulled at his elbow and said, ¡°Give Mommy CPR, give Mommy CPR.¡± She kept asking him to give her Mommy CPR. Su Yue didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes gleamed craftily before kissing Xiaojiao on the cheek. ¡°Darling, don¡¯t cry. Uncle will bring your Mommy back to life. I will give your Mommy a lot of CPR, alright?¡± Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°Good Uncle, I don¡¯t want Mommy to die.¡± She immediately stopped crying and rubbed her eyes. Su Yue looked at Xiaojiao¡¯s puffy eyes and anger overcame her. She glared at him and ordered, ¡°Ming Ansheng, get off me now.¡± This fellow would do anything to satisfy his desires. Was he perverted, making a child cry early in the morning? ¡°Xiaojiao, Mommy doesn¡¯t want CPR.¡± Ming Ansheng ignored Su Yue. Xiaojiao started bawling again when she heard it. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Her tears rolled down her cheeks. Ming Ansheng felt smug. It frustrated Su Yue. She pushed Ming Ansheng away with all her might before carrying Xiaojiao. She coaxed, ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t cry. Uncle was lying to you. Mommy won¡¯t die. Mommy is fine.¡± Then she coldly glared at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was lying on his side, his head propped up with his arm. A sly and crafty smile crept onto his face. This man was almost thirty, but he had become more thick-skinned. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be a composed, mature man? He used to blush and look around whenever she acted cute around him in public. Chapter 1675. Uncle Is Giving Mommy CPR (part Three) ¡°I don¡¯t want Mommy to go to a faraway place.¡± Xiaojiao wound her arms around Su Yue¡¯s neck, and she fervently shook her head. Su Yue was momentarily shocked, and her eyes instantly turned red. ¡°No, Mommy won¡¯t go to a faraway place.¡± Her words sounded constricted as she hugged Xiaojiao. She coaxed her softly. ¡°I will always be by Xiaojiao¡¯s side. I won¡¯t go to a faraway place and leave you alone.¡± So, Xiaojiao knew everything. She knew that her daddy had passed away. She really knew. Su Yue felt terrible and her tears gushed out. Ming Ansheng had no idea it would turn out this way. Ming Ansheng was perplexed to see both of them crying. He hastily stretched his hand towards Su Yue¡¯s waist. Su Yue turned around and glared at him. ¡°Can you leave?!¡± Ming Ansheng was stunned. Su Yue suddenly burst into tears and let go of Xiaojiao. She hit Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders and yelled, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! It¡¯s all your fault!¡± She sobbed harder. It was quite clear that the reason she cried wasn¡¯t solely because he had made Xiaojiao cried. Ming Ansheng pulled her into his embrace and hugged her tightly. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I know I¡¯m to blame. I shouldn¡¯t have broken my promise to you.¡± Then Jiao Chen wouldn¡¯t be involved, and perhaps none of this would have happened. Xiaojiao was wailing at the top of her voice. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart was aching for both Su Yue and Xiaojiao. He patted Su Yue¡¯s back and coaxed, ¡°Stop crying. If you cry, Xiaojiao will cry as well. You can hit or scold me instead.¡± He gently pushed her away and wiped her tears. His words were effective, and Su Yue moved away from Ming Ansheng. She carelessly wiped her tears and turned around to face Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t cry anymore. Mommy won¡¯t leave you and go to a faraway place.¡± She stretched her pinky finger and smiled at Xiaojiao. ¡°Mommy will make a pinky promise with you alright?¡± Children really believed in this and Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°Pinky promise.¡± She stretched her little finger and hooked it with Su Yue¡¯s finger¡ªthey both made a promise together. Su Yue hugged Xiaojiao. Ming Ansheng fondly gazed at the mother and daughter as he pressed his lips. A plethora of emotions overwhelmed him. Su Yue came out of the bathroom with Xiaojiao. Ming Ansheng came back with two plastic bags at that moment as well. Their eyes met, and Su Yue stared blankly for a second. Then she turned around without a word. Ming Ansheng¡¯s smile froze on his face. Xiaojiao, who was lying on Su Yue¡¯s shoulders, suddenly blinked at him. Her huge bright eyes were staring at him with a trace of playfulness. Ming Ansheng regained his confidence at the sight of the girl. He blinked at her and strode towards them. ¡°Yueyue, I bought porridge. It¡¯s your favorite pig liver and spinach porridge.¡± Su Yue ignored him and walked to the couch. She placed Xiaojiao beside her. She had no intention of eating Ming Ansheng¡¯s food. But Xiaojiao was a glutton and her stomach was rumbling. She stretched her hands towards Ming Ansheng. ¡°I want to eat.¡± Chapter 1676. Uncle is Giving Mommy CPR (part Four) ¡®Sigh!¡¯ A daughter is truly a father¡¯s lover in his previous life. How wonderful it was to have a daughter! Young Master Ming sighed quietly to himself. If he were to reconcile with Su Yue, he had to thank Xiaojiao. He put the food on the coffee table and smiled at Xiaojiao. ¡°For you. I bought lots of yummy food.¡± He took out a container of porridge and took a mouthful to check if it¡¯s too hot. Then he passed it to Xiaojiao. Ming Ansheng¡¯s thoughtfulness caught Su Yue¡¯s eye. She glanced at him and her heart softened. Xiaojiao was still his daughter after all. Weren¡¯t all men like this? Men who were getting older would love to have their own children. She was his own flesh and blood, and she should be the most important thing to him. And that was also the reason he had chosen his son over her four years ago, with no hesitation or struggle. Su Yue peered at her hands as she sat in a reverie. Her buried emotions started to slowly overflow. Ming Ansheng held the container of porridge in his hands as he gazed at Su Yue. He smiled and said, ¡°Su Yue, eat it while it¡¯s still warm.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡± Su Yue took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. She took a piece of tissue to dab her eyes. ¡°Let me feed you.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and sat down beside Su Yue. He scooped some porridge and placed the spoon at her mouth. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°I already said I don¡¯t want.¡± She turned around looking annoyed. She wiped her eyes. Her nose and eyes were both red, and her voice sounded stuffy. She was clearly feeling upset. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips helplessly. He trudged on and smiled bravely once more. ¡°Mommy will be hungry if she doesn¡¯t eat. Can I feed her?¡± Xiaojiao nodded and agreed. She held her spoon, and she was looking intently at her porridge. She didn¡¯t even glance at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng feigned helplessness. ¡°But Mommy doesn¡¯t want me to feed her. What should I do? Can you talk to Mommy?¡± Xiaojiao finally withdrew her gaze from the porridge and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Mommy, Uncle feed you. Xiaojiao doesn¡¯t need.¡± She stretched her hand to nudge Su Yue. This fellow was really¡­ too much! He used an innocent child to get what he wanted. Su Yue glared at Ming Ansheng and took the container from him. Then she took a mouthful. She ate the porridge as though she was reluctant to. Ming Ansheng smiled when he saw Su Yue eating. Su Yue mumbled under her breath, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t eat if I wasn¡¯t afraid of Xiaojiao crying.¡± She sounded like a grumpy kid. Ming Ansheng felt as if the cheeky and whiny Su Yue was back again. He rubbed his hands and smiled sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯ll go wash up.¡± It startled Su Yue when she heard Ming Ansheng. In hindsight, she had brought Xiaojiao to the bathroom after they woke up. So, Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t have a chance to use the bathroom at all. That man didn¡¯t brush his teeth before he went out¡­ Then she peered at the porridge. Did the hospital¡¯s canteen sell pig liver and spinach porridge? Chapter 1677. Uncle Is Giving Mommy CPR (part Five) Su Yue unconsciously curled her lips. She had wanted to lock her heart for good, but now her determination had wavered. She was conflicted. She glanced askew at the little glutton and noticed that she had finished her food. She was now licking the bottom of the container. She had truly lived up to her reputation. Su Yue smiled to herself and continued eating her porridge. ¡­ There was a famous amusement park in N City and throngs of visitors would travel there throughout the year. N City was getting colder, and so the peak season was over. The amusement park wasn¡¯t that packed with crowds. Ming Ansheng drove his car into the car park. He opened the windows and excited screams could be heard. Su Yue gazed at the Ferris wheel as she propped her face with her hands. Memories were brushing her heart like a pair of soft hands. Scenes flashed past in her mind. That year, she had missed him badly. Then he gave her the biggest surprise of her life. He appeared in front of her. They had sneakily tried the rides to keep their relationship a secret. With him around, she didn¡¯t feel afraid at all even on the scary rides. Su Yue thought to herself, ¡®Ming Ansheng, you did this on purpose!¡¯ He brought her here to evoke her memories. All the wonderful memories. ¡°Darling, we¡¯re here. Daddy will bring you to the carousel first. Then we can admire the stars on the Ferris wheel. And we can take a ride on the train.¡± Ming Ansheng carried Xiaojiao and placed her on her shoulders. He gripped Xiaojiao¡¯s hands tightly, and the little girl flapped her arms. He sprinted towards the entrance of the car park with her. Su Yue strode quietly behind them, and they got further away from her. The expression in her eyes was swirling with complex emotions. She froze on the spot, along with the smile on her face. ¡®Su Yue, how could you dream of having a complete family?¡¯ ¡­ ¡°Mommy!¡± Ming Ansheng ran off with Xiaojiao for quite a distance. They turned around and saw Su Yue standing there in a daze. Xiaojiao yelled for her. Su Yue snapped to when she heard Xiaojiao. She shouted, ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± She hastened her footsteps towards them. This was Xiaojiao¡¯s first visit to this huge amusement park. The facilities and rides got her excited. She pointed at the various rides as she couldn¡¯t decide. ¡°You have to be at least 1 meter in height before you can take this ride. Darling, you have to grow taller first. Let¡¯s come here again next year.¡± Xiaojiao sat on a few rides which were safer for children, Then the staff said that she wasn¡¯t allowed to take certain rides as she didn¡¯t meet the height requirement. Xiaojiao was constantly being rejected and her eyes turned red. She stared at the roller coaster ride with envy in her eyes. Ming Ansheng kissed her on her cheek. ¡°Look at you. If you¡¯re like Daddy, you will be 1.2 meters tall by now.¡± He stole a glance at Su Yue after he said that. Su Yue frowned in exasperation. Was he trying to insinuate that she was too short? Hmph! So what if she was short? Anyway, she wasn¡¯t that short as compared to other women. She eyed Ming Ansheng sharply, but she didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°Let¡¯s take the carousel then.¡± Chapter 1678. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part One) They went to the carousel, and Ming Ansheng stopped to discuss it with Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao had played on the carousel earlier on. And she had tried this ride many times at other amusement parks, too. She reluctantly nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± As if she was forced to. She knew that there were no other rides for her. Why were there so many rides with height requirements? ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Ming Ansheng said encouragingly as he led the way to the entrance. He glanced behind him when he reached the entrance. Su Yue was still dawdling, so he inched nearer to Xiaojiao and whispered in her ear. Xiaojiao nodded and smiled. ¡°Okay!¡± After Su Yue reached them, Xiaojiao glanced at her. ¡°Mommy, three of us sit on the horse.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°All three of us can¡¯t fit on one horse.¡± She cast a scathing look at Ming Ansheng. She saw Ming Ansheng whispering to Xiaojiao as she walked to them early on. He must have suggested that idea to her. This fellow was really using Xiaojiao too frequently. Xiaojiao replied, ¡°Uncle sit behind. He takes photos of us.¡± Su Yue knew that Ming Ansheng had taught Xiaojiao everything, and she quietly sneered at him. She smiled and replied, ¡°Uncle can sit next to us and take photos of us.¡± Xiaojiao pouted and whined. ¡°Together!¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ She knew that if she didn¡¯t agree, this lass would throw a tantrum. ¡°Let¡¯s see how shameless you can be!¡± Su Yue snapped at Ming Ansheng to vent her anger. She snorted and walked towards him. All the tourists began to exit the carousel. Su Yue quickly found a medium-sized horse for her and Xiaojiao. It was impossible to add one more person. Su Yue and Xiaojiao sat on it and there wasn¡¯t any space left. She smugly raised her chin, as she gloated at Ming Ansheng¡¯s disappointment. Ming Ansheng wanted to give up, but Su Yue¡¯s smug expression sparked his desire to win. His eyes gleamed wickedly. He stretched his hand to grab the pole on the horse, before stepping on the pedal. Then with his other hand, he pulled Su Yue up with no effort at all. He quickly sat down, pulled Su Yue down, and she fell on his lap. The series of actions seemed seamless. ¡°Yueyue, you were too considerate.¡± When they settled down comfortably, Ming Ansheng gave Su Yue a peck on her cheek. Then he smiled seductively at her. Su Yue¡¯s little face instantly blushed red¡­ She didn¡¯t blush because of his words, but because she was sitting on his lap. She could feel something ¡®protruding¡¯. The carousel started moving and the ride was a little bumpy. Su Yue could feel the changes in his body. His warm breath landed on her ear. He held on to the pole with a hand while his other hand began to wander around on her waist. He slowly moved his hands upwards to her chest. Su Yue was livid, and she wanted to warn him with a glare. She turned around, and to her horror, the tips of their nose brushed against each other. And¡­ their lips too. Her soft lips which brushed against his ignited the ball of fire in him. Ming Ansheng tightened his grip on Su Yue and kissed her without hesitation. Chapter 1679. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Two) ¡°Mm¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s eyes were huge with rage and shock. They were on the carousel ride, and she didn¡¯t dare to push Ming Ansheng away. She was still¡­ worried about his safety. A wicked gleam flashed across Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes, and he deliberately squeezed her with his legs. The carousel continued to bob up and down. He seemed as though he was trying to flaunt to Su Yue. Su Yue felt that she was suffocating to death, and she glared at Ming Ansheng in fury. She could only use her eyes to warn him at the moment. However, it wasn¡¯t of any damn use. Passing tourists witnessed them and they stopped to gape at them, especially young girls who exclaimed in envy. Some even took photos of them. As the carousel spun round and round, Xiaojiao kept yelling ¡®Uncle¡¯ and ¡®Mommy¡¯ while she pointed at things she saw. Ming Ansheng finally stopped kissing Su Yue when both of them were out of breath. But his hands still remained firmly on her waist. He inched near her ear and spoke in a deep and hoarse voice, ¡°Yueyue, marry me. Give me another chance so that I can love you and Xiaojiao, alright?¡± These words coupled with his kisses had caused Su Yue¡¯s determination to crumble, no matter how strong and firm she was. Ming Ansheng interjected once more, ¡°You don¡¯t have to forget about Jiao Chen. I won¡¯t forget his kindness as well.¡± Su Yue turned and stared at him blankly. It startled her to see him casting his pride and ego away. He had allowed her to have another man in her heart. She peered at her hands and felt confused and conflicted. Ming Ansheng opened his mouth and spoke again. ¡°Yueyue, Xiaojiao needs a father. I know Jiao Chen had passed away not too long ago and you can¡¯t forget him. But you are only 22 this year and in a few years¡¯ time¡­ you will still need to find a man and a father for Xiaojiao.¡± He hesitated and said, ¡°Besides, I love you very much and I¡¯m Xiaojiao¡¯s biological father. Who else can be more suitable than me?¡± Su Yue remained silent. The background music was a romantic English song and the lyrics were befitting the scene. Ming Ansheng¡¯s heartfelt confession touched Su Yue deeply. Ming Ansheng noticed that Su Yue didn¡¯t answer him and he sighed. ¡°If you still can¡¯t accept me now, can you put me as your first choice when you¡¯re ready in the future? Let me be the priority, alright?¡± The carousel ride ended, along with the song. The beautiful scene ended. Su Yue leaped and landed on her feet before carrying Xiaojiao. She turned around and walked towards the exit. All this while, she didn¡¯t utter a single word or glanced at Ming Ansheng. She didn¡¯t know if she didn¡¯t want to look at him, or maybe she didn¡¯t have the courage to. Ming Ansheng accompanied Xiaojiao on the rest of the rides, but Su Yue didn¡¯t join them. She waited outside for them. After that day, Ming Ansheng went back to China. Days flew past, quietly, and peaceful. It had been a month since Ming Ansheng had left. Su Yue¡¯s business was picking up. The orders kept coming in. She clicked on the more important ones to reply to. Suddenly, she received an invitation from a fellow online store owner. Why did this seller add her? Su Yue accepted it out of curiosity. Chapter 1680. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Three) The seller immediately sent a message. ¡®Hello, I¡¯ve observed that your business has turned brisk after advertising on XX Web. But my business is not getting the same results.¡¯ So, it was about business. Then Su Yue suddenly recalled that this was the company that advertised on XX Web alongside hers. She replied, ¡®Business hasn¡¯t improved for you?¡¯ The seller replied, ¡®Not as much as yours.¡¯ Su Yue could sense the envy and jealousy in her tone. Without waiting for Su Yue¡¯s reply, she sent another message. ¡®Aish. I spent 120,000 dollars for a day¡¯s worth of advertising. It took me three months to earn back the money.¡¯ 120,000 dollars? Su Yue blinked in confusion. How was that possible? Su Yue replied, ¡®Wasn¡¯t it free, in celebration of China¡¯s national day?¡¯ The seller replied, ¡®What was free?¡¯ Su Yue answered, ¡®The advertising.¡¯ The seller replied, ¡®How¡¯s that possible? It cost me 120,000 dollars for 24 hours of advertising. And I had connections to arrange it for me too.¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s mouth widened in shock¡­ Her hands froze above the keyboard. Didn¡¯t the operations manager say that a few businesses were selected and given free publicity? Not all of them were given free advertising? She received another message and glanced at it. The seller was still complaining that her business was not as brisk as Su Yue¡¯s. Su Yue ignored it and closed the chat. But it still troubled her. Why was it free for her? Could her third sister-in-law or brother be helping her in secret? She immediately picked up her phone and dialed Su Yan¡¯s number. Then she scrolled through her chat history. She wanted to find the operations manager and ask about it. ¡°Hello, Brother?¡± Su Yue greeted when he picked up. She asked in agitation, ¡°Tell me the truth. Were you the one who arranged for XX Web to give me free advertising on China¡¯s national day?¡± All the while, she believed that the advertising was free. After careful thought, indeed, it was too good to be true. Even if it were true, there were so many online shops that sold goods from China. Why would they choose her relatively new business? She could confirm that someone was helping her on the sly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Su Yan denied. Su Yue frowned, half-believing him. ¡°Really?¡± He didn¡¯t sound like he was lying. Besides, if it were really him, there wasn¡¯t a point in denying it anymore since the advertising was already over. Su Yue scrolled through her chats for a long time. She stared at the screen. Suddenly, a familiar username came into vision. She remembered it because he was her first actual buyer. The rest was her friends who were trying to support her. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive! ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. You should ask Xuxu,¡± Su Yan replied. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯ve got it,¡± Su Yue replied absent-mindedly before ending the call. Then she placed her phone aside and clicked on her chat with ¡®When Will The Bright Moon Arrive¡¯. She scrolled all the way to the first message. The day where he made his first order. That day, she was so excited, she couldn¡¯t sleep. She cried for a long time, hugging Jiao Chen¡¯s photo. Chapter 1681. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part One) She looked through her entire chat with When Will The Bright Moon Arrive. She realized that the buyer was always accommodating to her, and his replies were very careful¡­ After staring at it for a long time, she sent another message. ¡°Dear, are you there?¡± She didn¡¯t get a reply for a long time. She became worried and picked up her phone. She scrolled to the message Ming Ansheng sent when he flew back to China. ¡®Yueyue, I have to head back to the office to settle some matters. I might not be back for two to three months. Take care of yourself, as well as Xiaojiao. I¡¯ll try to visit as soon as possible.¡¯ Su Yue swiped the screen gently. She saw on the top corner that it was 1:20 p.m. It should be bedtime back in China. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ She sighed and placed her phone on the table. Then she looked at the screen and scrolled through her chat with When Will The Bright Moon Arrive. She fell into deep thought. ¡­ At night, Su Yue finally managed to put Xiaojiao to sleep. She walked out of the room and sat in front of her laptop. She had received two more new orders. She sat down and skimmed through it, glancing absentmindedly at the first notification on her screen. She saw the words ¡®When Will The Bright Moon Arrive¡¯ and immediately clicked on it. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive said, ¡®Sorry for the late reply. I just returned from overseas so I was already asleep yesterday. Is anything the matter?¡¯ Su Yue was uncontrollably excited. She forgot about the two new orders and replied, ¡®Our business is planning on having a promotion. I want to ask if you have any requests.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive replied, ¡®Promotions are good? What do you have in mind?¡¯ Su Yue pressed her lips and replied quickly, ¡®I have nothing in mind. You must be experienced and knowledgeable since you go overseas so often. Do you have any suggestions?¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive replied, ¡®You flatter me.¡¯ Su Yue typed, ¡®There¡¯s no need to be humble. From our past conversations, I can tell that you¡¯re experienced at running a business.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive asked, ¡®You have that much faith in me?¡¯ Su Yue replied with determination, ¡®Yes. Give me some suggestions. What should I do to thank my regular customers?¡¯ ¡®Why not¡­¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive replied with two words which made her anxious. The ellipses made her even more nervous. Su Yue asked, ¡®Why not what?¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive suggested, ¡®Why not have a ¡®Buy one, get one free¡¯? Buy a large item and get a small item for free.¡¯ Buy one, get one free? Buy a large item and get a small item for free? Why did this sentence sound so familiar? Su Yue blinked and tried hard to recall where she had heard similar words. ¡®How about a free small item if I buy the big one?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t need any free items. I have loads of money¡­¡¯ F*ck! That ¡®Book Baby!¡¯ Su Yue recalled it and immediately went to find their chat. It was a few months ago and she had to scroll to the bottom to find it. She looked through her conversation with Book Baby and compared it with When Will The Bright Moon Arrive. It definitely wasn¡¯t the same person. Then¡­ Who was Book Baby? ¡®Many companies are hiring celebrities as ambassadors. You can hire an ambassador too.¡¯ Ming Beichen! Su Yue recalled this name and knew that it was him. Her expression turned dark instantly. ¡®This guy obviously has a hidden intention. He¡¯s trying to win your favor¡­¡¯ No wonder that fellow kept picking on ¡®When Will The Bright Moon Arrive¡¯. Chapter 1682. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Five) This fellow was too mischievous. Su Yue chuckled to herself. What expression did ¡®When Will The Bright Moon Arrive¡¯ have when he saw the replies? With his above-average intelligence, he probably could¡¯ve guessed that she wasn¡¯t the one who was chatting with him. He was the one who raised him, so knowing his son, he definitely would¡¯ve known. Su Yue fell into a reverie and didn¡¯t reply for a long time. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive sent a reply, ¡®Why aren¡¯t you replying?¡¯ Su Yue smiled and replied, ¡®But I¡¯m not selling beauty products. I don¡¯t have small items to give away.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive replied, ¡®I¡¯m just joking. You can give vouchers. Isn¡¯t that a common thing nowadays?¡¯ ¡®Are you in the capital city now?¡¯ Su Yue asked, even though she knew the answer. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive asked, ¡®How did you know?¡¯ Su Yue could feel that When Will The Bright Moon Arrive was nervous at her reply. She felt smug and answered, ¡®I inferred from your IP address.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive asked, ¡®You know how to read IP addresses?¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive definitely knew whether or not she had this skill. So, she couldn¡¯t brag about this, or else it¡¯d backfire on her. Su Yue thought for a moment before replying, ¡®I don¡¯t, but I hired a worker recently and he knows this stuff.¡¯ There weren¡¯t any loopholes in her words. When Will The Bright Moon Arrive replied, ¡®Can he tell my location?¡¯ ¡®He didn¡¯t mention a specific place.¡¯ Before When Will The Bright Moon Arrive could reply, she hurriedly sent another message. ¡®Give me a moment, let me find out how good his skills are. I¡¯ll get him to find your specific location and you can tell me whether he got it right.¡¯ When Will The Bright Moon Arrive replied immediately, ¡®Maybe tonight? I have to get to work now.¡¯ Before Su Yue could reply When Will The Bright Moon Arrive immediately went offline. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Su Yue burst into laughter as she rocked back and forth. She tried to visualize When Will The Bright Moon Arrive¡¯s face when he read her message. She couldn¡¯t stop laughing. Su Yue held a glass and sat in front of the laptop for a long time. She kept staring at her chat with ¡®When Will The Bright Moon Arrive¡¯. She smiled and her eyes began to swarm with complex emotions. When she broke out of her reverie, it was already nighttime. She sighed intensely and stood up, before returning to her room. She turned on her night lamp and lay on her bed. She turned to face Xiaojiao, who was sleeping peacefully. Subconsciously, she stretched out her hand to gently poke her cheek. The little lass was in a deep sleep. If the world were to collapse, she would sleep right through it. ¡®Mommy, when will Uncle come?¡¯ ¡®Mommy, I miss Uncle.¡¯ Was it because she liked whoever treated her well, or was it because they were related by blood? The little lass had been asking for ¡®Lying Uncle¡¯ every day since he left. She kept asking where he went and when he would come back. ¡°Xiaojiao, have you forgotten about Daddy?¡± Su Yue caressed Xiaojiao¡¯s face gently with her thumb. ¡®Xiaojiao, have you forgotten Jiao Chen, the one who showered you with lots of love, taught you two different languages and taught you how to walk? ¡®Why haven¡¯t I heard you mention him in a very long time?¡¯ she thought. The sleeping beauty didn¡¯t give her any reply. Chapter 1683. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Six) She lay in bed, tossing and turning. It was a sleepless night. ¡­ It was already Christmas, and it usually snows during wintertime in N City. Su Yue woke up early to settle some orders and worked until the afternoon. She didn¡¯t even have time to enjoy a sip of water. ¡°Mommy, play outside.¡± It stopped snowing in the morning. The sun was out too, and the heaps of snow on the roads made Xiaojiao¡¯s heart flutter. She held Su Yue¡¯s hand and insisted that she bring her out. Su Yue stopped working and smiled at Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, where do you want to go?¡± Her helper had gone back to China a few days ago to attend her son¡¯s wedding. They were the only people at home, and Su Yue hadn¡¯t brought Xiaojiao out because it had been snowing in the past two days. So, she made Xiaojiao play at home while she did her work. Su Yue thought that it was about time for her to bring Xiaojiao out to play since it had stopped snowing. Xiaojiao said, ¡°Build snowman at the square.¡± Their neighbor had built a snowman in their courtyard yesterday. The little lass had been wanting to try building one and she couldn¡¯t wait any longer. ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue smiled and nodded before adding, ¡°Give Mommy 10 minutes, alright?¡± She needed 10 minutes to finish up some urgent work matters. Xiaojiao nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± Then she headed to the sofa and picked up her jacket and put it on. Su Yue was comforted as she watched her. She finished up her work as fast as possible. Both of them wrapped themselves up thoroughly; wearing gloves, hats and masks. Only their eyes were revealed amidst the get-up. Both of them were wearing a pink down coat. Su Yue was wearing a pink beanie and had let down her hair. Her eye bags had turned pink from the cold. The wind made her tear as well. She was terrified of the cold that she kept on trembling. Xiaojiao, on the other hand, had the time of her life as she passed handfuls of snow to Su Yue. The little girl let her build a snowman for her. ¡°Faster Mommy. Keep going! They¡¯re almost done,¡± Xiaojiao said as she pointed at a family of four who was building a snowman not too far away. They only had two people. Furthermore, they were ¡®weaker¡¯¡ªa woman and a child. How could they be faster than the family of four? Su Yue frowned, but she didn¡¯t want to dampen the little girl¡¯s mood, and so she hastened her speed. The mother and daughter were panting before they even completed the body of the snowman. People around them, who had started later, were already done with their snowman. ¡°I miss Daddy,¡± Xiaojiao lamented, looking downwards as she frowned. Parents always brought their children there during Christmas. There was a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the square, decorated with colorful blinking lights just like stars. The atmosphere was tense. The mother and daughter could not join in the festive atmosphere. At this time last year, Xiaojiao wasn¡¯t able to walk with a stable gait in the snow. Jiaojiao carried her around the Christmas tree and built her many mini, special snowman. When the little lass¡¯ hands turned red from the cold, he would stuff her hands near his mouth alternately to warm them up. Back then, many were envious of their family of three. They always commented on how Su Yue and Jiao Chen were so suited for each other. They also often mentioned how adorable Xiaojiao was and how she resembled her. Standing there today, the place hadn¡¯t changed, but the people had. Su Yue pressed her lips and took a deep breath. She bent down and carried Xiaojiao with a smile on her face. She encouraged, ¡°It¡¯s alright. We have to give it our best. If we don¡¯t give up, we can definitely finish it.¡± Chapter 1684. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Seven) Xiaojiao¡¯s head remained bowed and her eyes turned red. It brimmed with tears. Su Yue was already feeling melancholic and seeing the little lass like that made her even sadder. ¡°I only need five minutes to build a very, very big snowman.¡± A familiar male voice sounded from behind them. Before Su Yue could react, Xiaojiao¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Uncle.¡± She looked behind Su Yue with teary eyes and watched the figure that was walking towards them. It pleasantly surprised her. She opened her arms and wished she could fly into his arms. Su Yue turned and stared at him in shock. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Yueyue.¡± The man kissed her eye tenderly. The warmth from his soft lips permeated through her body to the bottom of her heart. At that moment, she had no resistance towards this man. ¡°Darling Xiaojiao.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his hands toward her and carried her out of Su Yue¡¯s arms. He kissed Xiaojiao on both cheeks and smiled. ¡°I only need five minutes to make a snowman that¡¯s bigger than all the others.¡± Xiaojiao blinked innocently at him. ¡°Really?¡± Her tone was filled with excitement. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Of course. Just you wait.¡± Then he bent and placed Xiaojiao down, He was smiling while saying, ¡°You and Mommy can pass me some snow. Let¡¯s see who is faster, you or your Mommy.¡± Then he got to work, working on the snowman that Su Yue had started on earlier. Xiaojiao immediately went to pass him more snow, suddenly more energized than she was earlier on with Su Yue. Su Yue watched them and smiled. It seemed to revoke her memories, yet it seemed to start a brand new chapter¡­ ¡°Then give him a nose¡­¡± Ming Ansheng took a plastic bottle out of his pocket and used it as a nose for the snowman. Then he dusted his hands and said to Xiaojiao, ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± He looked down and smiled at her. Xiaojiao peered up at their snowman and was overcome with shock before she started jumping around in excitement ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re so brilliant! I give you many ¡®likes¡¯.¡± She said as she gave him a thumbs up. Their snowman was much taller than the others. Xiaojiao¡¯s contagious laughter spread all around. Su Yue couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Look how happy she is.¡± Then she turned to Ming Ansheng and said sincerely, ¡°Thank you.¡± Ming Ansheng raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you thanking me? I just built a snowman with my daughter.¡± Then he took one step closer towards Su Yue. Su Yue figured out his motive and wanted to shun but it was too late. Ming Ansheng breezily wrapped his arm around her waist. Then he bent down and kissed her icy lips. Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened, and she wanted to push him away, but her hands froze in mid-air and she didn¡¯t know where to place them. The atmosphere was filled with children¡¯s laughter and festive music. A huge breeze blew over and the snowflakes on the huge Christmas tree started to fall. It seemed to be in¡­ celebration of this Christmas and their long-awaited kiss. Chapter 1685. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Eight) Su Yue slowly clenched her fists, and her palms started to feel warm. The winter didn¡¯t seem too cold anymore. ¡°Your snowman is brilliant!¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s excitement attracted the attention of a few nearby children. A few of them came over and looked their snowman up and down before they lavished it with praises. Xiaojiao felt very smug. She pointed at Ming Ansheng¡ªwho was kissing Su Yue domineeringly¡ªand said to the kids, ¡°My Uncle did it. My Uncle is brilliant, he can make many snowmen.¡± Only then did she realize that Ming Ansheng had his lips pressed against Su Yue¡¯s. She smiled and explained to the kids, ¡°My Mommy is dying, Uncle is giving her CPR.¡± A children¡¯s world was so innocent and na?ve. They will believe whatever you say. ¡°What CPR?¡± a boy from Country M said as he looked at Su Yue and Ming Ansheng. He mocked, ¡°That¡¯s kissing, not CPR!¡± Then another kid nodded and added, ¡°That¡¯s right. You need to be lying down to get CPR.¡± Xiaojiao didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. She pouted and said, ¡°If Uncle said that he¡¯s giving CPR, then he is.¡± Uncle was definitely right. When Ming Ansheng heard her, he gave her a huge thumbs up in his mind. Su Yue blushed when she heard the children discussing them. She frowned and pushed him away with force. ¡°Don¡¯t do this in front of the children.¡± She turned away shyly and back faced the kids. She hurriedly wiped away his traces on her lips. ¡°Your Uncle is so handsome. Why isn¡¯t he your Daddy?¡± A few kids saw Ming Ansheng¡¯s face and praised him for his good looks. Young Master Ming felt very smug. He casually stuffed his hands in his pockets and moved closer to Su Yue¡¯s ear. He raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Heard that? Even kids say that I¡¯m handsome.¡± Su Yue ignored him. Xiaojiao innocently said, ¡°Uncle is Daddy. Daddy is Uncle.¡± Su Yue and Ming Ansheng were both stunned. Then Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes brightened with excitement. He walked over to her and carried her up high. ¡°Darling, Uncle is Daddy, so can you call me Daddy from now on?¡± Xiaojiao was frightened because she hadn¡¯t been carried so high in a long time. She shouted, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m scared.¡± Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t tell if she was calling him or Jiao Chen. But he took it that she was calling him. He was indescribably happy. He hugged her and spun a few rounds before kissing her face. ¡°Darling, Daddy will bring you for a good meal.¡± Ming Ansheng was wearing thin clothing. The color on his face only gradually returned after they got onto the car. Su Yue pressed her lips, swallowing her words of concern. She suddenly realized, showing concern required courage. ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly started coughing incessantly. Su Yue looked over and frowned. She tried to observe his complexion. But from her angle, she only saw half of his face. He had been coughing since he started building the snowman. Did he catch a cold? Chapter 1686. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Nine) Su Yue opened her mouth a couple of times before she managed to say, ¡°You¡­¡± She had just uttered a word when Ming Ansheng¡¯s phone rang. Ming Ansheng heard Su Yue first, and he merely glanced at his phone. He raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Huh? What do you want to say?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Su Yue shook her head and pointed at Ming Ansheng¡¯s phone. ¡°Answer your call, it¡¯s your secretary.¡± Li Yang was Ming Ansheng¡¯s long-time secretary. So naturally, she knew him. The phone call destroyed the courage she had garnered. She pressed her lips and turned her head away. N City was as beautiful as a scene from a fairytale after the snow. It felt surreal and dreamy. Just like how he was driving the car and with their daughter sitting behind. Just like a family of three¡ªthis was something she had never dreamt of. ¡°I know, why are you so worried?¡± ¡°Tonight¡­ as in tomorrow morning, send me those files that are urgent. Those that are not can wait until I get back.¡± ¡°Decline. Why should I meet them?¡± ¡®Cough, cough.¡¯ Ming Ansheng coughed as he spoke on the phone. He used a handkerchief to cover his mouth, for fear of passing the germs to Xiaojiao and Su Yue. ¡°Got it. Stop repeating yourself so many times. No wonder you¡¯re still single!¡± Li Yang heard Ming Ansheng coughing badly and he had expressed his concern for him. Yet, Ming Ansheng complained that he had nagged too much and hung up. He hung up with a frown and looked impatient. Li Yang heard him and the next moment, his boss ended the call. He frowned and muttered at the phone. ¡°You sound as if you¡¯re not single.¡± Tch! But he still sent his boss a text. Ming Ansheng received the text and he glanced at the screen to read it. ¡®Boss, yesterday you had a high fever of 39 degrees. I hope you take care of yourself. Remember to eat the medicine.¡¯ His phone rang loudly with the text notification. Su Yue instinctively glanced at the phone. She had good eyesight and so she could read the contents of the text. Fever of 39 degrees! She received a shock and her eyes widened. She glanced at Ming Ansheng as he held the steering wheel tightly. It was snowing and the roads were slippery, so he was very focused. The lights from the lamps illuminated his face and she could see how lethargic he looked. Especially his eyes which seemed to make him look aged. He looked as though he had been through some hardships, and he seemed to have lost weight. She was too immersed in enjoying Ming Ansheng and Xiaojiao¡¯s company that she didn¡¯t really notice him¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s eat there.¡± Su Yue peered outside and pointed at a random restaurant. Ming Ansheng glanced in the direction she was pointing at. ¡°There?¡± He slowed down. Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned and pursed his lips. ¡°But there is nothing special about it.¡± It was just an ordinary restaurant. ¡°It¡¯s near our house and I¡¯ve always wanted to bring Xiaojiao here. But I didn¡¯t get the chance to. Let¡¯s eat there today.¡± She glanced at Xiaojiao and smiled. ¡°Xiaojiao, shall we?¡± Chapter 1687. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Ten) As long as Xiaojiao had food to eat, she didn¡¯t mind where they ate at. She nodded. ¡°Okay!¡± Su Yue brushed Xiaojiao¡¯s hair with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s eat there and try their steak.¡± Since both the mother and daughter had agreed on the place, Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t object any further. He parked the car in one of the parking lots. The sky was getting darker, and the winds became stronger too. Ming Ansheng wrapped himself with his thin blazer and walked around the car to open the door for them. He stretched his hand to carry Xiaojiao. ¡°Wear an outerwear.¡± Su Yue passed a thick black jacket from the front passenger seat to Ming Ansheng. She stared at Ming Ansheng¡¯s face and looked into his eyes. His eyes reflected the city lights and they sparkled. Ming Ansheng snapped out of his daze and nodded. He looked overwhelmed. He quickly put the jacket on after he took it from Su Yue. It might be his mind playing tricks. But he felt warm instantly. ¡°Let¡¯s go in now. It¡¯s too cold.¡± The winds brutally attacked their bodies. Su Yue passed Xiaojiao to Ming Ansheng. Then she got off the car. The family of three entered the restaurant. The lights were warm, and soft melodious music played in the background. There was a gigantic Christmas tree at the entrance, and the festive mood was strong. The servers were all wearing Santa hats and they greeted all the customers with a bright smile. Children enjoyed and loved these, including Xiaojiao. She pointed at the Christmas tree and pestered Su Yue to take a photo for her. The little lass struck various poses as she stood beside the Christmas tree. ¡°Mommy, Uncle. Take a photo.¡± Xiaojiao beckoned to Su Yue and Ming Ansheng. Su Yue was a little awkward as she turned to Ming Ansheng. Her face was flushed. She scratched her head and stammered, ¡°Then.. you take a photo with Xiaojiao first. I¡¯ll take later.¡± She blushed even more, and she looked as though she was alcohol-intoxicated. However, she looked really alluring. Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but tease her. ¡°She asked for both of us. Her intentions were clear, didn¡¯t you understand?¡± He raised his eyebrows and curled his lips into a teasing smile. He looked rather sly. Su Yue turned even redder. ¡°But¡­ but there isn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Hi, sorry to disturb.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly waved his hand at a server and took the phone from Su Yue. He asked the server to take a photo for them. The server nodded and Ming Ansheng passed him the phone. He turned around and held Su Yue¡¯s hand as they walked towards Xiaojiao. Su Yue wanted to resist, but her hand unconsciously squeezed his when their palms met. It surprised Ming Ansheng, and he turned to look at the little woman beside him. His heart skipped a beat in that split second. Su Yue bowed her head and her heart raced. They stood behind Xiaojiao and faced the server. Chapter 1688. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Eleven) Just when the server was about to press the shutter, Ming Ansheng suddenly turned his face and kissed Su Yue¡¯s cheek. His actions were so unexpected. Su Yue¡¯s mouth hung open as she turned to stare at him. The server quickly snapped another photo of Su Yue staring at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Great!¡± The server beamed happily at himself as he passed the phone back to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ming Ansheng received the phone from him. He looked at the family photos. He was extremely satisfied and happy with it. Su Yue wanted to steal a glance at the photos, but she wasn¡¯t tall enough. ¡°Alright, there you go.¡± Ming Ansheng sent the photos to himself before returning the phone to Su Yue. Before Su Yue could grab the phone, Ming Ansheng withdrew his hand. He crossed his arms in front of his chest as he grinned slyly at Su Yue. Su Yue was perplexed and annoyed. ¡°Give me back my phone!¡± She tried to snatch it back, but Ming Ansheng was too agile. Ming Ansheng bent his back and inched forward to Su Yue¡¯s face. He pointed at his cheek and said, ¡°Kiss me, then I¡¯ll return it to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so thick-skinned.¡± Su Yue¡¯s face darkened as she tried to snatch the phone from him again. But Ming Ansheng was too tall and agile for her. If he didn¡¯t want to return it to her, how would she be able to snatch it from him? He dodged her hand once more, and Su Yue stomped her feet. She held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and marched towards an empty table. Ming Ansheng strode after them and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a kiss and I¡¯ll return it to you. It¡¯s not as if a piece of your flesh will be cut off.¡± ¡°You¡¯re even more shameless than my third brother¡± Su Yue turned around and glared at Ming Ansheng. Poor Young Master Yan was being attacked. Young Master Ming secretly gloated. ¡®That¡¯s how I was being influenced!¡¯ He had deliberately learned these tricks from that fellow. Women loved guys who were shameless. So¡­ he was being forced to become one. Su Yue ignored Ming Ansheng and led Xiaojiao to an empty seat. She ordered food for herself and Xiaojiao. She refused to look at Young Master Ming. The female server looked at Ming Ansheng with a smile. Ming Ansheng smiled at her before he browsed through the menu. He ordered a steak. He didn¡¯t close the menu, and he looked at Su Yue. ¡°Do you want a drink?¡± Su Yue was looking through the photos with Xiaojiao and ignored Ming Ansheng. She still felt bashful because of his teasing earlier on. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips helplessly, and he flipped the menu. He pointed at a bottle of red wine, which cost USD $600. He said, ¡°A bottle of this.¡± Su Yue instinctively thought of wine and she glanced at the menu. And she was right. She frowned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you driving?¡± Actually, this restaurant was just a ten-minute walk from her place. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Ming Ansheng closed the menu and said, ¡°Water please, thank you.¡± The server left with the menu. ¡®Cough, cough¡­¡¯ Ming Ansheng coughed several times and he covered his mouth with his palm. He wanted to stop coughing, but he couldn¡¯t. Chapter 1689. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Twelve) ¡°The water is here. Drink some warm water first.¡± The server came with water and Su Yue hurriedly passed the glass to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Yueyue, you¡¯re so concerned for me.¡± Ming Ansheng received the glass and gripped Su Yue¡¯s hand tightly, too. He curled his lips seductively and used his thumb to gently massage her knuckles. In a seductive manner. Su Yue blushed crimson as she tried to retract her hand. But Ming Ansheng held on to her tightly and she couldn¡¯t manage to. Everyone around them were eating quietly in the restaurant. Su Yue didn¡¯t want to make a scene, and so she merely glared at him. Ming Ansheng seemed as though he didn¡¯t care. So, he grinned even more cheekily. ¡°Yueyue, your skin is still as smooth and tender as before.¡± Ming Ansheng pulled her hand towards him before he bent to kiss her hand. He finally relinquished his grip. Su Yue suppressed her rage. She pulled tissues to wipe the spot on her hand where Ming Ansheng had kissed her. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t seem affected, and he took a sip of the water. As though he was drinking wine, he seemed to be thoroughly savoring the taste. His eyes had never once left Su Yue¡¯s face. Su Yue had an uncomfortable time during dinner since Ming Ansheng was staring at her intently. She finished a small portion of her steak. She put down her fork and knife and turned to Xiaojiao. The lass had finished an entire steak and she was licking her plate. Her chubby hands held the plate tightly. Su Yue was exasperated and her mouth twitched. She didn¡¯t starve or limit her food intake at all. She always ate whatever she wanted. How could she act as though she was starved? Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows and deliberately cast a contemptuous look at Su Yue. ¡°Look at how you treat your daughter. She is so pitiful and she is still licking the plate.¡± He pulled the plate away from Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Xiaojiao, Daddy will give you mine.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re unwell.¡± Su Yue pushed her plate towards Xiaojiao instead. ¡°Eat mine.¡± She cut the steak into small pieces and fed Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, you can¡¯t eat too much. You will get indigestion.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Xiaojiao nodded as she chewed vigorously. That stomach of hers was like a bottomless pit. She used her palm to wipe the sauce off her chin. Ming Ansheng saw that and he frowned. ¡°Little princess, you can¡¯t do that.¡± He used his napkin to clean her mouth. Xiaojiao opened her mouth as she turned towards Su Yue. Then Su Yue fed her another piece of steak. Her mouth was smeared with sauce, and Ming Ansheng wiped for her once again. So, he and Su Yue fed and wiped her mouth, respectively. The way they took care of her seemed so natural and blissful. ¡­ After a long dinner, they exited the restaurant to howling winds. The heater was turned on in the car. All of them felt warm and contented as they peered out of the windows. Xiaojiao fell asleep in no time. Ming Ansheng slowed down his speed, but they still reached home shortly. Chapter 1690. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Thirteen) ¡®Cough, cough.¡¯ Ming Ansheng tried to smother his coughing as Xiaojiao was asleep. ¡°Drink more water.¡± Su Yue carried Xiaojiao as she got off the car. Before she closed the car door, she hesitated for a moment before reminding Ming Ansheng. She slammed the car door and ran back towards the house. She entered and turned on the lights. Everything seemed unchanged and so familiar. Yet, something was missing. She and Xiaojiao were the only ones in the house now. No matter how happy or how loud their laughter was, the house still felt cold and lonely. The lass was drained of all energy today. She didn¡¯t flutter her eyelids at all when Su Yue transferred her to her bed. Su Yue tucked Xiaojiao under her blanket and treaded carefully out of her room. She walked to the couch and switched on her laptop. She had to handle some urgent orders and queries. She was getting better at handling customers by now. She finished replying the orders and finally she could call it a day. She scanned the living room. And her heart¡­ felt empty. She put down her laptop and grabbed a cushion. Her eyes darted around and landed on the photo wall. She gazed at the photo of her, Xiaojiao, and Jiao Chen. Jiao Chen seemed to smile at her from afar. ¡°Jiaojiao¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s phone rang suddenly. It interrupted her thoughts, and she withdrew her gaze. Third sister-in-law¡¯s name was on the screen. Why was her third sister-in-law calling her so late at night? Su Yue took her phone and put it to her ear. It suddenly dawned on her that it was day time in the capital city. She said hello and Wen Xuxu¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Yueyue, you haven¡¯t slept?¡± Su Yue slept really late after she started her online business. Xuxu and the rest knew that she always worked until past midnight. If not, she wouldn¡¯t have called so late. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°Nope.¡± Su Yue¡¯s heart felt warm when she heard Xuxu¡¯s voice. She managed a tiny smile as she fiddled with the cushion. Xuxu asked, ¡°Today is Christmas, did you bring Xiaojiao out?¡± ¡°Yeah. We just came back after a long day. She fell asleep on the way back.¡± Su Yue grinned as she replied. In a rather worried tone, Xuxu asked, ¡°It is snowing heavily in N City. Did you bring her out alone?¡± ¡°I was not alone. I was with Ming¡­¡± Su Yue hurriedly corrected herself. ¡°My friend.¡± Her voice was reduced to a whisper. Xuxu chuckled over the line. ¡°I know that Ming Ansheng is in Country M. He had contributed hundreds of thousands yuan to the airlines this year.¡± Su Yue grunted in response, and she bowed her head as she blushed. According to how often her helper had lugged back stuff from him, she could imagine how many trips he had made. Su Yue felt like laughing. Xuxu suddenly spoke solemnly, ¡°Yueyue, if you still have him in your heart, try accepting him again. It¡¯s tough for you to bring Xiaojiao up alone. Your brother and I are both worried for you.¡± Chapter 1691. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Fourteen) Su Yue¡¯s smile stiffened. Her hands quivered, and she pressed her lips. The feelings that she had buried deep within her heart had awakened. She remained silent. Xuxu continued, ¡°Don¡¯t keep pinning for Jiao Chen, he won¡¯t be coming back. Don¡¯t think that you¡¯re letting him down either, don¡¯t you remember his final wish?¡± ¡®Susu, if I make it back to you, will you stop thinking of him in the future?¡¯ ¡®If I didn¡¯t manage to come back, love him with all your heart, alright?¡¯ The contents of Jiao Chen¡¯s last letter to her floated into her mind. Her heart clenched and an excruciating pain gripped her heart. Her eyes brimmed with tears. She sniffed. Xuxu could tell that Su Yue was crying. She said, ¡°The only way to make Jiao Chen¡¯s sacrifices worth it is to ensure that you and Xiaojiao live happily and well. If you still have feelings for Ming Ansheng, don¡¯t hesitate any longer. Ming Ansheng will turn thirty this year. Doesn¡¯t your heart ache, seeing him like this?¡± Before Xuxu could continue, the man beside her stretched out his hand and pinched her waist. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± She yelped and turned to glare at the handsome man. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing?!¡± Yan Rusheng smiled maliciously. ¡°Does your heart ache for him too?¡± ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him and ignored him. Su Yue chuckled. ¡°How is my third brother ridiculous?¡± Before Xuxu could reply, Su Yue added, ¡°He¡¯s clearly shameless! Hahaha¡­¡± Then she burst into laughter. Xuxu placed the phone to his ear. ¡°Heard that? Miss Su thinks that you¡¯re shameless.¡± Young Master Yan chuckled coldly, his eyes gleaming menacingly. It sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Xuxu immediately shifted away from him in retreat. But of course, how could she hide after Yan Rusheng had provoked her? Instead of provoking, perhaps she ignited a certain ¡®interest¡¯ of his. ¡°Wen Xuxu, the new position we tried yesterday was pretty good. Since we need some time for digestion, let¡¯s go through it again.¡± Then he pounced on her and pinned her down. The phone almost slipped out of her hands, but luckily she caught hold of it. ¡°Alright, I shall go. I can¡¯t stand my third brother¡¯s shamelessness,¡± Su Yue said. ¡°Third sister-in-law, can you help me remind my third brother to hold it in? After all, both of you are coming to thirty, he¡¯s getting on in years.¡± Before Xuxu could reply, she hung up. Xuxu flung the phone into the coffee table when she heard the disengaged tone. She glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you be more mindful?¡± She continued, ¡°Just like Yueyue said, we¡¯re almost thirty. You¡¯re being a bad influence on everyone.¡± Yan Rusheng pinned her down as he said, ¡°Precisely. I want to influence the people around me.¡± It dumbfounded Xuxu¡­ He was simply shameless! Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows smugly. ¡°Look at Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan. Aren¡¯t they stepping closer to success under my influence?¡± Chapter 1692. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Fifteen) It rendered Wen Xuxu speechless. He had the nerve to say that? It was precisely Lu Yinan¡¯s shamelessness that made Zhou Shuang fall out with him, causing her to move out of the Lu¡¯s with First Lu and Third Lu. Only Second Lu, who had always been closer to Lu Yinan, stayed. He still had the guts to use the word ¡®success¡¯? Xuxu looked away and decided not to speak a single word to him. ¡°Wife, we¡¯re almost thirty. We should do more of it now while my waist can still handle it,¡± Yan Rusheng said, licking the corner of her mouth gently. He licked her repeatedly, showing that he was still dissatisfied. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Wen Xuxu¡¯s expression darkened, and she stared at the man who hovered above her. Yan Rusheng¡­ why was he like this? He was straying further away from being the aloof and arrogant teen in her memory. ¡­ ¡®Don¡¯t keep pining for Jiao Chen, he won¡¯t be coming back. Don¡¯t think that you¡¯re letting him down either, don¡¯t you remember his final wish¡­?¡¯ Su Yue sat on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts. ¡®Susu, if I make it back to you, will you stop thinking of him in the future? ¡®If I didn¡¯t manage to come back, love him with all your heart, alright?¡¯ She cried every time she recalled the contents of Jiao Chen¡¯s letter. Her eyes welled up with tears and she wiped them away haphazardly. Then she looked at the photograph on the wall. The gentle and refined man was smiling affectionately at her. ¡°Jiaojiao,¡± Su Yue choked, tears streaming down her face as she finally said the nickname she hadn¡¯t used in a long time. She buried her head in her hands and sobbed. She didn¡¯t know how long she had been crying before she looked up. Her eyes were red and puffy. ¡°Mommy.¡± Suddenly, Xiaojiao called her from the entrance of the room. Su Yue hurriedly wiped her tears away and looked over. Xiaojiao was wearing a coat with a pink-spotted deer pattern. She gazed at Su Yue sleepily. She blinked up at her. Su Yue smiled and stood up, walking up to her. ¡°Xiaojiao, why are you up?¡± Xiaojiao said, ¡°I want to pee.¡± ¡°Go to the washroom.¡± Su Yue carried her there. ¡°Mommy, why are you crying? Who bullied you?¡± Xiaojiao asked as she sat on the toilet bowl. She peered up at her and she could tell that Su Yue had been crying because her eyes were red. Su Yue smiled and shook her head. ¡°Nobody. Nobody bullied Mommy.¡± Xiaojiao asked, ¡°Mommy, are you missing Daddy?¡± Su Yue smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, Mommy misses Daddy.¡± Then she asked Xiaojiao, ¡°Xiaojiao, don¡¯t you miss Daddy?¡± Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Su Yue smiled and rubbed her head comfortingly. ¡°Mommy, I like Uncle too. Uncle said he wants to be Xiaojiao¡¯s Daddy. Can Xiaojiao have two Daddies?¡± Xiaojiao asked as she peered up at Su Yue. Su Yue hesitated before asking her seriously, ¡°Xiaojiao, you want Uncle to be your Daddy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiaojiao nodded. She continued, ¡°Then Xiaojiao has a Daddy to hug her and help her fly the kite very high in the sky. And Xiaojiao¡¯s Daddy can build her a huge snowman and drive her to the amusement park¡­¡± The little lass innocently rambled on. Everything she mentioned was what every child her age yearned for. Chapter 1693. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Sixteen) It was a simple wish, but an impossible dream for some children. Su Yue pressed her lips and stretched her hand out to rub her head. ¡°Good girl.¡± They returned to the bed. Su Yue laid down beside Xiaojiao, propping her head up with an arm. She patted the little lass¡¯ chest gently. The little girl fell asleep quickly, but Su Yue didn¡¯t have any signs of tiredness. She stared at Xiaojiao as she slept peacefully. From her long eyelashes to her smooth face, everything about her seemed perfect. How could her innocent and child-like world have any flaws? Suddenly, the darkest part of her heart seemed to brighten. It was as though a rusted door had been opened. She sat up and flipped open the blanket, before putting on her slippers and standing up. She walked a few steps and stopped. She turned around to look at Xiaojiao, who was fast asleep, with determination in her eyes. ¡­ She pushed open the door and it was as though she had stepped into another world. Su Yue shivered at the sudden change in temperature. She hugged herself and retracted her neck. She closed the door gently and ran out of the courtyard. The snow had covered all the neighboring courtyards. It was so quiet that she could only hear the rushing of the wind. ¡®Cough, cough¡­¡¯ Su Yue stood at the man¡¯s door, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to take a step further. She lowered her head and bit her lip. She rubbed her hands, perhaps because she was cold, or because she was nervous. Suddenly, she heard the man coughing from inside the house. Her heart clenched as she gazed through the window. It was pitch black. Then she heard another series of coughs, more serious than the previous. ¡®Aish!¡¯ Su Yue sighed and gritted her teeth. She stretched out her hand and pressed the doorbell without hesitation. But nobody came to open the door after a long time, and nobody replied to her. She pressed it again, but still, nobody opened the door. He couldn¡¯t hear it? Su Yue frowned and looked through the window. It was pitch black inside. She could hear his coughs so clearly. Could he really have missed the doorbell? She refused to give up. She prepared to press the doorbell again when the door opened. Su Yue stared at him in shock. ¡°Why are you wearing so little?¡± Ming Ansheng was shirtless and he was only in a pair of underwear. When he opened the door, he had one hand on the doorknob and leaned weakly against the doorframe. Su Yue hurriedly entered and dragged him into the house. She found the light switch and reached to turn the lights on. But the tall man suddenly flew at her and hugged her waist. He pinned her against the wall. ¡°Yueyue¡­ I¡¯m sick. can you hug me?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s body was scorching. His voice was nasal and weak. This was the first time he was acting in a cute way, asking for her love and attention. Su Yue¡¯s heart melted, and she couldn¡¯t help but wrap her arms around him. Her icy-cold face pressed against his burning body. ¡°Uncle Ming¡­¡± Her voice was soft like a cat¡¯s meow, and he was instantly filled with a raging fire of desire. Chapter 1694. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Seventeen) He hugged her thin waist and pressed his body against hers. He then kissed her soft lips, domineeringly yet gently. She was completely taken over by him. Su Yue couldn¡¯t keep up with his pace. She became slightly dazed by his intense and heated desire. She pressed her palms against his back, no longer staying passive. Her soft palms moved up and down his back gently. How she wished she could have all of him. Both of them started panting heavily. Ming Ansheng slowly started kissing down her neck, stopping at the crook of her neck. He rested the side of his face on her shoulder, weighing down slightly on her. His hot breath became ragged, and Su Yue felt like her body was about to be set on fire. She came to her senses and pushed him away. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re running a fever. Go and lie down. I¡¯ll help you relieve your fever.¡± She held his elbow and dragged him to the room. Ming Ansheng used this opportunity to lean against her body, getting as close to her as possible. He went close to her face and teased in a nasal voice. ¡°Are you using yourself to douse the fire within me?¡± Su Yue blushed and frowned. She glared at him and said, ¡°You¡¯re running a fever. What fire are you talking about?¡± Then she lifted his shoulder and pushed the shameless man off her shoulder. Ming Ansheng stretched his hand and wrapped it around her waist. The stubble on his chin rubbed against her smooth skin, coupled with his warm, manly scent. It roused her senses. Su Yue lowered her head and whispered, ¡°Go and lie down. I¡¯ll go home to get some fever medication.¡± Then she turned around and prepared to leave. Ming Ansheng hugged her waist and pulled her back. ¡°There¡¯s some in the box.¡± He pointed at the black box beside the sofa. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you take them?¡± Ming Ansheng curled his lips. ¡°Nobody took it for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to get it yourself? What if you burn to death?¡± Su Yue chided and glared at him. She struggled out of his grasp and walked to the box. She opened it and saw the box of medication immediately. She took it out and hurriedly opened it. All the medication was labeled and arranged neatly. Without a doubt, Li Yang had prepared this for him. No wonder Uncle Ming kept him around for so long. Su Yue smirked. Then she took the box of medicine and walked over to Ming Ansheng. ¡°You should go and lie down. I¡­ You¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, the man suddenly flew towards her and attacked her with an embrace. ¡°How could I die? Nobody is taking care of you and Xiaojiao.¡± Ming Ansheng wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. How he wished he could bury her inside of him. That way, she would be with him all the time. He wouldn¡¯t need to think about her, miss her, or worry about losing her anymore. Su Yue gave a sniffle and almost started sobbing. She opened her mouth and took a while to compose herself. She tried to suppress her emotions. Then she patted his back gently. ¡°Uncle Ming, you should go and lie down. I¡¯ll pour you a cup of water for you to take your medicine. Be a good boy,¡± she said, as though she was talking to a child. ¡°You bothersome woman.¡± Ming Ansheng let go of her and was about to go into the room in obedience. But after some thought, he couldn¡¯t help but pinch her chin first. Chapter 1695. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Eighteen) Ming Ansheng bent and opened his mouth to kiss her full and smooth cheeks. Sometimes, when you love a person too much, how you wish you could to swallow that person up. That was exactly what Ming Ansheng felt. Su Yue¡¯s heart beat wildly at Ming Ansheng¡¯s passion. Even her cheeks were burning hot. After a while of snuggling up against her, Ming Ansheng finally relinquished his grip on Su Yue and turned around. The lights were switched on and Ming Ansheng slumped against the bed frame. The room was warm and brightly lit. He didn¡¯t put on any clothes and his cheeks were slightly flushed because of the fever. He looked seductive and charming. Su Yue carefully entered with a glass of warm water in her hand. When she caught a glimpse of Ming Ansheng¡¯s lewd and mischievous gleam in his eyes, she trembled a little, and it caused ripples in the glass of water. She knew she was sinking deeper into a bottomless whirlpool. ¡°Am I really that gorgeous?¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at Su Yue, who was in a daze. As he was shirtless, his seductive-looking lips were exceedingly inviting, especially when he grinned. The sultriness he exuded was on par with Lu Yinan, and he was almost as brazen as Third Young Master. It jolted Su Yue back to her senses and her face hardened. She furrowed her eyebrows as she marched stiffly to him. She reached his bed and passed the glass of water to him. ¡°Eat your medicine. The water isn¡¯t too hot.¡± She had checked the temperature of the water before she came in. Ming Ansheng received the glass and stretched his other hand to grab Su Yue¡¯s wrist. He pulled her towards him and she fell on him. He bent and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Yueyue, tell me that this isn¡¯t a dream.¡± His shrewd-looking eyes gazed intensely at Su Yue. Su Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat and her cheeks were flushed. She bashfully averted her gaze when she met his eyes. She whispered, ¡°Uncle Ming, this.. isn¡¯t a dream. It¡¯s real.¡± It was true. He had won and captured her heart once again. She turned red and shoved Ming Ansheng. She sat up and adjusted her clothes. ¡°Hurry up and eat your medicine. Xiaojiao is sleeping alone. I need to go back,¡± said Su Yue. Ming Ansheng answered airily, ¡°Children sleep soundly at night. They won¡¯t wake up so easily, don¡¯t worry.¡± How could this man not worry about his daughter at all! She was sleeping alone in the house. Su Yue cast him a disapproving look and raised her voice. ¡°Eat your medicine.¡± Ming Ansheng grinned widely at Su Yue. ¡°Kiss me and I¡¯ll eat one.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ He was truly shameless. He must have learned it from her third brother. Definitely without a doubt. Third sister-in-law had allowed Third Brother to be so shameless and brazen towards her. Her third brother must have taught him all these. Poor Young Master Yan, he was being attacked! ¡°Yueyue, can you give me a kiss?¡± Ming Ansheng raised his chin and pointed at his right cheek. Su Yue sneered coldly. ¡°Forget it.¡± She turned around to leave. Ming Ansheng saw that she was mad, and he flung the blanket off him. He chased after her and grabbed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at me. I¡¯ll take my medicine.¡± He dragged Su Yue back to the bed. He lifted the medicine case and poured all the tablets inside his mouth. Su Yue shrieked in shock. ¡°What are you doing! There are so many tablets! Aren¡¯t you afraid you would choke? Chapter 1696. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Nineteen) Su Yue raised the glass and put it at Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth. Ming Ansheng took a huge gulp, and he wrapped his arms around Su Yue¡¯s waist. He smiled and said, ¡°Silly fool. Why would I choke so easily? Previously, I was admitted to the hospital for half a month since my stomach was bleeding. And my medication was twice as much as this. I¡¯m already used to eating so many tablets.¡± Su Yue¡¯s tone and heart softened. ¡°When?¡± She was aware that he always had stomach problems. But he was hospitalized for half a month, and he had to take so much medicine. How serious was his condition? Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°A while after you left.¡± An affectionate smile played at the corners of his mouth. It was gentle and warm. Su Yue sniffed deeply and she punched his chest. ¡°You must have drank a lot,¡± chided Su Yue. Ming Ansheng bowed his head and pressed his forehead against hers. ¡°I can only see you when I¡¯m drunk.¡± He tightened his arms around her and swayed her slightly. He could only see the woman he loved in his dreams after he was drunk. Yueyue visited him often in his dreams. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were red and welling up with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare drink again. Neither can you smoke,¡± warned Su Yue with a glare. ¡°Certainly.¡± Ming Ansheng curled his lips and smiled. Su Yue bent her head and her eyelashes were dripping with tears. Ming Ansheng tenderly kissed her tears away. Her salty tears tasted sweet to him. He couldn¡¯t get enough of her, and his kisses were lingering and passionate. After a storm, there would always be a rainbow. ¡­ ¡°Xiaojiao, time for breakfast.¡± After Su Yue made breakfast, she yelled for Xiaojiao. ¡°Okay!¡± Xiaojiao answered and ran out from the bathroom. She would instantly appear if there was food around. Her face still had droplets of water, and her hair stuck to her face. Su Yue bent and tucked the strands behind her ears and carried her up. She walked out of the room and towards the dining room. There were two bowls of porridge on the round table, both with tea leaf eggs. There was an aromatic aroma emitting from the food. Xiaojiao¡¯s eyes shone. ¡°Porridge!¡± She was beaming happily. Su Yue asked, ¡°It¡¯s porridge today. Do you like it?¡± Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°Xiaojiao likes porridge.¡± ¡°Have more then.¡± Su Yue placed Xiaojiao on the chair and she sat down across her. Xiaojiao glanced at Su Yue and asked, ¡°Mommy, where is milk?¡± Su Yue said, ¡°If you want milk, I¡¯ll prepare it now.¡± Xiaojiao had a habit of drinking milk every morning. Su Yue put her spoon down and was about to stand up. Xiaojiao said, ¡°Mommy. Milk after porridge.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue sat down once more. Xiaojiao could only reach the food when she knelt down. She gripped her bowl with her chubby hands and slurped the food with relish. She was thoroughly enjoying her food. She paused to rest after she finished half a bowl. Su Yue glanced at her and smiled. ¡°Xiaojiao, Uncle is sick. Shall we visit him later?¡± Xiaojiao asked, sounding worried. ¡°Why is Uncle sick?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°He has a fever and flu.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiaojiao nodded and continued, ¡°I will put cold towel for Uncle.¡± Chapter 1697. Opening Her Heart to Him Once More (part Twenty) Every time Xiaojiao had a fever, Su Yue would use a wet towel and a cooling gel sheet to bring down the temperature. She had learned it from Su Yue. Su Yue nodded and smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± If Xiaojiao took care of Ming Ansheng, he would definitely die of bliss. After they finished their breakfast, Su Yue washed the dishes. Xiaojiao ran back into her room. Su Yue came out of the kitchen and glanced around as she looked for her. She walked around the living room. She called as she walked around, ¡°Xiaojiao, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I wear a mask.¡± Xiaojiao came bouncing out with a red new jacket and gloves. She covered her face with a mask and came out looking ready. Su Yue frowned and chuckled. ¡°Uncle¡¯s place is very near. You don¡¯t have to wear a mask.¡± Xiaojiao answered, ¡°There are germs. And it will spread to me.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ This little lass was so thoughtful! But she was right. He might spread the germs to her. Sometimes, this girl seemed more clever than her. Su Yue shook her head and grinned. She held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and walked out. After wearing shoes, Su Yue lifted the thermal container on the shoe rack. Xiaojiao glanced at the container and asked, ¡°Mommy, is that soup for Uncle?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Nope, it¡¯s porridge for Uncle.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Both of them leisurely strolled as they chatted. Light flecks of snow were falling and a gentle breeze ruffled their hair. The footprints in the courtyard from last night were all covered by a fresh new blanket of snow. As they walked across the courtyard, they created new sets of footprints. Xiaojiao tugged her hand from Su Yue¡¯s grasp and ran towards Ming Ansheng¡¯s house. ¡°Uncle! Uncle!¡± She shouted for him excitedly, as though she hadn¡¯t seen him in a long time. ¡°Xiaojiao.¡± Ming Ansheng heard Xiaojiao, and he opened the door. His eyes wandered around the courtyard. Suddenly, a pair of tiny hands tugged at his leg and a chubby face rubbed against him. Ming Ansheng bowed his head and gazed affectionately at her. ¡°Little darling.¡± He bent to scoop her up. ¡°I touch you.¡± Xiaojiao removed her gloves and used the back of her hand to feel Ming Ansheng¡¯s forehead. As though she had an ample amount of experience. She stared at Ming Ansheng and asked, ¡°You have a fever?¡± This lass¡¯ actions originally puzzled Ming Ansheng. And then he realized it and tilted his head. He laughed. His voice was a little hoarse, but it was still pleasant. He held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and brushed it against his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t have a fever anymore. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I touch you.¡± Xiaojiao didn¡¯t seem entirely convinced, and she touched Ming Ansheng¡¯s forehead again. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked solemn and serious. Her expression delighted and amused Ming Ansheng. He tightened his grip around her and kissed her forehead. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re truly my precious daughter.¡± Xiaojiao tilted her head backward to have a better look at Ming Ansheng. She sweetly instructed him, ¡°You can¡¯t eat ice cream and drink cold water.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded obediently and promised, ¡°I got it.¡± Xiaojiao quipped, ¡°You must close your eyes and sleep. Drink water and no cold water.¡± Ming Ansheng listened patiently. ¡°I got it, little doctor.¡± ¡°You must close your eyes and sleep,¡± Xiaojiao repeated firmly once more, as her eyes sparkled innocently. Chapter 1698. Feed Me Once and I’ll Kiss You Once (part One) She looked like a little elf. Ming Ansheng listened to all her instructions and nodded. After she had finished talking, Ming Ansheng asked with a grin, ¡°Shall we go back with Daddy to find Grandmother? It¡¯s Chinese New Year soon.¡± Su Yue had just reached the steps when she overheard Ming Ansheng. His words momentarily stumped her before she stole a glance at him. Going back for Chinese New Year¡­ It had never crossed her mind. ¡°What is Chinese New Year?¡± Xiaojiao blinked at Ming Ansheng. She looked confused. She lived in Country M ever since she was born, so she didn¡¯t know any Chinese festivals and traditions. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°It¡¯s the start of the lunar new year in about a month¡¯s time. Will Xiaojiao and Mommy go back with Daddy? There will be delicious food, and Brother Beibei will be there to play with you.¡± The girl happily asked, ¡°Is Uncle going to give me a red packet?¡± This little lass. Besides being a glutton, she is starting to like money too. Her eyes were twinkling like crescents. Ming Ansheng nodded and affectionately smiled. ¡°Of course, there will be a red packet for Xiaojiao. Grandmother will give a huge one, too. And she will cook a huge feast with lots of delicious food.¡± He succeeded in arousing Xiaojiao¡¯s excitement and interest. Her eyes brightly gleamed at him. Xiaojiao wanted to go but she hesitated. ¡°Is Mommy going?¡± She turned towards Su Yue. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Mommy will go if Xiaojiao is going.¡± Xiaojiao forcefully nodded her head. ¡°I want! I want to go!¡± Only a fool wouldn¡¯t go and miss out on the red packets and feast. ¡°Then Mommy will go.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled slyly to himself before glancing at Su Yue. ¡°Right?¡± Su Yue bit her lips and softly replied, ¡°Xiaojiao still has school.¡± Ming Ansheng knew she wouldn¡¯t agree so readily. ¡°It¡¯s just for a few days to celebrate together. Xiaojiao hasn¡¯t experienced Chinese New Year in China before.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this again.¡± Su Yue raised the thermal container and passed it to Ming Ansheng. ¡°I brought you porridge for your breakfast. Go and have your breakfast.¡± She diverted the topic on purpose and Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t bug her for an answer. He was willing to wait. He had waited for so many years, a few more days won¡¯t hurt. He was willing to wait until she was ready to accept him. He shouldn¡¯t push her too hard and he knew he had to let go at certain times. Only then would he be able to salvage this relationship. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips and extended his hand to take the container. He was still carrying Xiaojiao. He turned around and walked back to his house. Su Yue followed closely and shut the door after her. ¡°The pair of pink slippers inside the cupboard is for you,¡± said Ming Ansheng casually. Su Yue raised her head and stared blankly ahead. Instinctively, she opened the cupboard and saw a pair of pink slippers. She couldn¡¯t describe her emotions right now. A mixture of sweetness, bitterness¡­ She bent her back and noticed two more pairs of shoes. A pair of tiny pink slippers and a pair of fluffy slippers. It was for Xiaojiao. Ming Ansheng¡¯s slippers were placed next to it. And on the upper shelf was a pair of shiny leather shoes. Pairs of huge and tiny shoes. Chapter 1699. Feed Me Once and I’ll Kiss You Once (part Two) Su Yue felt overwhelmed by bliss, warmth, and contentment when she saw the shoes. Her heart was full. She retrieved the pink slippers which had a cute yellow heart printed on it. She put on the slippers and admired it from different angles. ¡°It fits quite perfectly indeed,¡± said Su Yue. There was a tiny smile on her face. She had unconsciously blurted it out. Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts. ¡°I bought it according to your size; of course, it would fit perfectly.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips as sweetness enveloped her heart. She frowned and glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°How do you know I would definitely wear it?¡± How could he be so confident? Ming Ansheng curled his lips with a rather poignant smile. ¡°I just feel that you¡¯re always by my side.¡± He said it so casually, but it revealed bitterness and sorrow. Su Yue¡¯s eyes were red and she hurriedly composed herself. She walked towards the couch and pointed at the thermal container. ¡°Hurry up and eat it. It¡¯s getting cold.¡± ¡°Can you feed me?¡± Ming Ansheng sat cross-legged on the carpet and raised his head. He looked at her with a rather weary expression. ¡°I was so tired last night and now I¡¯m feeling weak all over. I¡¯ve no strength left that I can¡¯t even hold a spoon,¡± whined Ming Ansheng. And he deliberately let go of the spoon. It fell with a clatter back into the thermal container. Su Yue frowned and she was speechless. ¡°Yesterday, you merely had a fever. Why are you so tired?¡± He sounded as though they had done something together that drained him of all his energy. Su Yue rolled her eyes and ignored Ming Ansheng. She sat down on the couch. Ming Ansheng turned around and his eyes followed Su Yue. He pursed his lips quietly. He already had tiny smile wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. How shameless of him to pout and whine. Su Yue wanted to laugh, but she suppressed the urge. She put on a passive expression and avoided looking at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle, I feed you.¡± Xiaojiao, who was chomping on almonds, suddenly extended her hand. She picked up the spoon and scooped some porridge from the container. From the moment she lifted the spoon until she fed Ming Ansheng, she spilled half of the porridge from the spoon on the table. Some porridge splattered on Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand and his clothes too. Because of Ming Ansheng¡¯s height, Xiaojiao had a difficult time feeding him. Ming Ansheng hurriedly opened his mouth to eat the porridge. ¡°My little lover is the best.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled widely at his daughter. He squeezed Xiaojiao¡¯s face gently and kissed her cheek. Then he bent to kiss her lips. Su Yue suddenly stretched her hand to stop him. ¡°You¡¯re unwell. Don¡¯t spread the germs to her.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at her with a cheeky grin. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Su Yue retracted her hand and rolled her eyes. ¡°Lame.¡± She looked elsewhere. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°In that case, you should feed me then. I will kiss you.¡± Su Yue sneered coldly. ¡°Who wants your kiss!¡± He was thinking too much! Ming Ansheng nodded and said, ¡°Then¡­ Xiaojiao, carry on and feed me. If you feed me, Daddy will give you a kiss.¡± He turned to Xiaojiao and opened his mouth. ¡°Okay.¡± Xiaojiao nodded and plunged the spoon into the thermal container. She scooped a mouthful. Su Yue extended her hand to intercept the spoon and said, ¡°Xiaojiao, give it to Mommy.¡± Chapter 1700. Feed Me Once and I’ll Kiss You Once (part Three) Su Yue took the spoon from Xiaojiao and placed it back into the container. Then she propped the container on her lap. Ming Ansheng grinned as he shuffled himself towards Su Yue. He stretched his neck and opened his mouth. Waiting for Su Yue to feed him. Su Yue frowned with contempt at this grown up man who was still trying to act adorable. She scooped a huge mouthful and shoved it directly into Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth. ¡°Oooh!¡± The thermal container could maintain the original temperature for a long time. Earlier on, Su Yue transferred the porridge directly from the pot. It wasn¡¯t boiling hot anymore, but it still scalded the young master a little. Ming Ansheng fanned his mouth with his hand as he panted. After a few seconds, he finally gulped it down. He snatched the cup of tea, which had already cooled, and drank it all. It managed to ease the burning sensation in his mouth. He turned and grumbled, ¡°My tongue is scalded. Are you trying to murder me?¡± He suddenly stuck out his tongue at Su Yue. Su Yue stared at him, and she looked bewildered. She had no idea what he was trying to do. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°It¡¯s painful. Blow my tongue for me.¡± His tongue was red and it seemed to be scalded. Su Yue felt a little guilty and sorry. She had transferred the porridge to the container directly from the pot not too long ago. Ming Ansheng leaned forward when she didn¡¯t move at all. With his tongue still stuck out, he inched nearer to her ear. ¡°Blow it for me, darling.¡± Su Yue blushed crimson and shoved him away. ¡°Don¡¯t be so disgusting. Drink some cold water and you¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s so painful.¡± Ming Ansheng pursed his lips and gazed at Su Yue with a pitiful expression. When he saw Su Yue stealing a glance at him, he stuck out his tongue once more. Su Yue was exasperated with him, and she shot him a sharp glare. ¡°You deserved it.¡± She turned to face Ming Ansheng and blew at his tongue. Sigh. After all, he was down with a fever last night, and he looked so weak. All women were soft-hearted. Ming Ansheng gazed intently at the woman who was blowing his tongue. His shrewd-looking eyes gleamed with triumph. He smiled slyly to himself. Her warm breath landed on his tongue and that sensation was incredible. All humans were greedy, especially in situations like this. How could he call himself a man if he didn¡¯t charge forward? Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes gleamed and he lunged forward to lick Su Yue¡¯s lips when she wasn¡¯t looking. It felt moist and slippery. Su Yue blushed and she pushed him away. With a warning look, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± ¡°I think the effect would be better if you lick me.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his tongue again. But he froze when Su Yue glared at him. ¡°Continue feeding me then.¡± Since Young Master Ming couldn¡¯t get any more benefits, he decided on her feeding him. At least it was better than nothing. He shouldn¡¯t be too greedy. Su Yue cast him a disdainful look and smirked. ¡°Since your tongue is scalded, can you still eat it?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°You cooked the porridge for me. I have to finish everything.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Su Yue laughed coldly. Ming Ansheng blinked in confusion. Chapter 1701. Feed Me Once and I’ll Kiss You Once (part Four) Su Yue put the spoon and the container away and lazily leaned backward. She said in a lazy drawl, ¡°You think too much. I didn¡¯t cook breakfast specially for you. I gave you some, since there were leftovers.¡± She raised her voice and repeated firmly. ¡°It¡¯s leftovers.¡± She rolled her eyes and averted her gaze. She suppressed a giggle. Ming Ansheng wound his arms around Su Yue¡¯s waist. He kissed the crook of her neck and whispered, ¡°Yueyue, you don¡¯t mean what you say. But you weren¡¯t like this in the past.¡± How he missed the little girl who would always blatantly speak her mind and was always so unabashed. And he was always so troubled over her boldness. On the contrary, he was troubled now because she was too aloof and reserved. His warm breath tickled Su Yue, and her body felt limp. She shrugged her shoulders and snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t do this. Xiaojiao is watching us.¡± Su Yue pushed Ming Ansheng away. He pressed his forehead and glanced at Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, daddy¡¯s head is hurting.¡± The lass heard her name and hastily raised her head. ¡°I touch your head.¡± The lass stumbled as she tried to stand up. She climbed onto the couch and massaged Ming Ansheng¡¯s temples. As though she had experience. Ming Ansheng raised his head and kissed Xiaojiao¡¯s chubby cheek. ¡°What a good daughter.¡± He put Xiaojiao on his lap and kissed the other cheek. Wasn¡¯t this fellow aware that he was sick? He kept kissing and hugging Xiaojiao. What if he passed the germs to Xiaojiao? Su Yue sat on a corner and watched their intimate actions with a disapproving look. She wanted to stop him, but no words came out of her mouth. ¡°Uncle, drink more water. And eat medicine.¡± Xiaojiao gently patted Ming Ansheng¡¯s back and instructed him. Ming Ansheng obediently nodded. ¡°Yes, I will listen to Doctor Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Xiaojiao patted Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders with a satisfied smile. ¡°Daddy has no more strength.¡± Su Yue hastily covered Xiaojiao¡¯s mouth. ¡°Ming Ansheng, that¡¯s enough. You are sick. What if you spread your germs to her?¡± She glared at Ming Ansheng with a frown. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t look at Su Yue and replied, ¡°I want to dote on you but you refused. So, I can only dote on my daughter.¡± This fellow was so childish. And he was almost 30 years old! This man, who behaved like a child, had exasperated Su Yue. But she had to admit that the defenses she built up had crumbled. She picked up the container and stiffly said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll feed you. Stop fooling around.¡± She bent her head and stirred the porridge. Then she blew on it. Ming Ansheng lazily leaned against the couch as he gazed at Su Yue. He looked smug and pleased. Su Yue blew at the porridge on the spoon, and she moved it to Ming Ansheng¡¯s mouth. But he interjected, ¡°Before you feed me, test the temperature first.¡± Su Yue knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Alright, I got it. You¡¯re so troublesome.¡± ¡°Stop lying.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his hand as he stroked Su Yue¡¯s chin. His eyes sparkled seductively. He then flashed a sly grin. Su Yue blushed red, and she pushed the spoon to his mouth. ¡°Eat now. It¡¯s not hot anymore.¡± Chapter 1702. Feed Me Once and I’ll Kiss You Once (part Five) ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯ve always wondered and asked myself, why do I love you so much?¡± Ming Ansheng ate a mouthful of porridge and eyed Su Yue with a thoughtful expression. He stared intently at Su Yue with his shrewd-looking eyes. Su Yue felt as though she was naked since he seemed to be able to look right through her. She flushed crimson and felt her cheeks burning. She felt so bashful. The more bashful she was, the more Ming Ansheng wanted to tease her. ¡°But I have no answer. I just love you very much. You¡¯re such an ungrateful lass.¡± He stretched his hand towards Su Yue¡¯s chest and pinched her. Su Yue knitted her eyebrows and nearly yelled out in pain. She glared at Ming Ansheng in anger. ¡°Do you still want to eat?! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯m dumping this.¡± He was really too much. How could he be so shameless! To think that the hot porridge didn¡¯t manage to seal his mouth. He was becoming more like Yan Rusheng. Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°What I want to eat the most is you.¡± He grabbed Su Yue¡¯s arm and pulled her into his embrace. He used a hand to restrict her movements, while the other hand wandered beneath her clothes. His hand slowly crept up, and his fingers were just like a crab¡¯s pinchers. It made Su Yue flustered, and she hissed, ¡°There¡¯s a child around. Will you stop doing this!¡± She grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and peeled his hand away from her. Ming Ansheng realized that Su Yue wasn¡¯t wearing a bra when his fingers brushed against her chest. But the next second, she had yanked his hand away. That sensation was too wonderful that he couldn¡¯t suppress his desire. ¡°Yueyue, just let me have a touch. Just one touch.¡± Ming Ansheng decided to press his luck, and he clung onto Su Yue. And his hand once again crept beneath her clothes with determination. For fear of alarming Xiaojiao, she didn¡¯t dare to struggle or retaliate too violently. But Ming Ansheng had made up his mind, and she was helpless against him. She could only allow him to have his way. Four years had passed and the mature and reserved Uncle Ming had changed. He was now a lustful old man with a glib tongue. Was there any difference between him and a lecher? ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue had stopped struggling and it emboldened Ming Ansheng. He bent and kissed her. He was quite experienced with women and he was certainly skilled and practiced. He caressed Su Yue slowly and gently. Su Yue¡¯s body had become limp and powerless with his caresses. She slumped against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest. She caught a whiff of cologne and the scent was identical to what she had remembered. She felt protected and safe with him. She really wanted to shut her eyes and hug him tightly. She really didn¡¯t want to let him go again. ¡®Uncle Ming¡­ Can we¡­ not let go of each other ever again?¡¯ Su Yue¡¯s eyes welled up with tears and she closed her eyes. The man¡¯s soft lips crushed against her and that sensation was incredibly wonderful. She didn¡¯t want to open her eyes. All she wanted was to fall deeper into his passionate and gentle kisses. Ming Ansheng¡¯s actions, along with his kisses, began to get more intense and passionate. Su Yue began to gasp for breath. Both of them were caught in the abyss of this intense intimacy. ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s go to the room.¡± Ming Ansheng reluctantly backed away from Su Yue¡¯s lips. He placed his hands behind her back and lifted her up. His phone rang at that moment. Ming Ansheng frowned as he glanced at his phone with annoyance. His face darkened when he saw Lu Yinan¡¯s name. Chapter 1703. She Slipped Through His Fingers (part One) Ming Ansheng had no intention of answering the call. But Xiaojiao, who was with her playing toys, stretched her hand and answered the call. She placed the phone to her ear and said, ¡°Hello, you want to talk to my uncle?¡± Her voice was sweet and pleasant. She casually glanced at Su Yue and Ming Ansheng. ¡°Uncle Ming is carrying my mommy.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiaojiao nodded and raised the phone. ¡°Uncle, there is another uncle looking for you.¡± Ming Ansheng was ashen-faced. ¡°Tell him that I don¡¯t want to talk to him.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll chat with Xiaojiao then.¡± Xiaojiao accidentally pressed on the loudspeaker and Lu Yinan¡¯s voice echoed all around all of a sudden. ¡°It¡¯s getting late¡­¡± said Lu Yinan in an attempt to tease. Something struck him and he grinned. ¡°Oh yeah, it¡¯s morning in N City. He is so passionate early in the morning.¡± Su Yue felt as if her cheeks were burning. She leaped off Ming Ansheng¡¯s arms and landed on her feet. Ming Ansheng knew that she had slipped through his fingers, and now, frustration boiled in the pit of his stomach. He snatched the phone from Xiaojiao and snapped, ¡°What is the matter.¡± Young Master Lu sensed his hostility and frustration, and he smirked slyly to himself. ¡°Although you had been through a long dry spell, you still need to take it slow. Some parts might not be functioning well after such a long time.¡± Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows and snarled. ¡°Your mouth stinks. If there is nothing else, scram.¡± He stole a glance at Su Yue. Su Yue, who had succumbed to his embrace and kisses earlier on, was already playing with Xiaojiao. Ming Ansheng knew that there was no way he could salvage this situation. He swore that he would beat Lu Yinan up if he was in the capital city right now. It had been four long years since he had a woman. To a normal man, this agony was indescribable. The more Young Master Ming brood over this, the more he fumed. Young Master Lu chuckled and said, ¡°Your mouth stinks, too. What can you expect from a hog but a grunt?¡± ¡°Go as far as you can.¡± Ming Ansheng spat and warned Lu Yinan. He was about to end the call. Lu Yinan knew that Ming Ansheng was about to hang up, and so he spoke in a more serious manner. ¡°Zhou Shuang brought First Lu and Third Lu to N City.¡± It was Ming Ansheng¡¯s turn to rejoice in his misfortune. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lu Yinan smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re so smart. Do you need me to spell it out?¡± Of course, Ming Ansheng knew what he wanted. He smirked coldly. ¡°But¡­ that¡¯s not the attitude of someone who needs help.¡± Lu Yinan sneered coldly too. ¡°Ming Ansheng, do you think you have won Su Yue over completely?¡± Ming Ansheng snorted loudly and he raised his chin. ¡°Even if I haven¡¯t, it has nothing to do with you.¡± It was true that Lu Yinan had nothing to do with this. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng were the ones whom he should pander to if there was a need to. Lu Yinan glumly said, ¡°It¡¯s almost Chinese New Year. Help me get First Lu and Third Lu back.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°The children are with their mother. What rights do I have to bring them back? Lu Yinan, did you damage your brain?¡± Chapter 1704. She Slipped Through His Fingers (part Two) Lu Yinan continued on. ¡°I¡¯m being serious. Can¡¯t you do me this favor?¡± He wasn¡¯t used to begging anyone for help. When Zhou Shuang was pregnant, the old master had set a royal decree. So he had no choice, but to use all the patience he had to coax and win Zhou Shuang over. But now that female hooligan used the same trick again. She went back to her family! If it wasn¡¯t for the two children, he wouldn¡¯t even have bothered. Lu Yinan was fuming while Ming Ansheng spoke in a tone full of sarcasm. ¡°When the triplets weren¡¯t born yet, you flew every other week to N City. Now that they have your surname and are a part of the Lu family, it¡¯s a sure bet. That¡¯s why you are not so worried.¡± ¡°Hmph. Another person preaching to me.¡± Lu Yinan mocked Ming Ansheng with a defiant look. Su Yue had escaped from his embrace and Ming Ansheng also felt murderous. ¡°Go away and never call me again. You¡¯re not allowed to contact me for the entire year.¡± ¡°Fine with me! Why are you so angry¡­¡± Lu Yinan was cut off by the sound of the dead line. Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows and snorted. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve really disturbed him.¡± He mumbled to himself and shook his head. He put down his phone and peered out of the window. The sky was dark and it was late at night. The furniture and ornaments in the spacious room were placed neatly. It was clean and tidy everywhere. A pang of loneliness hit Lu Yinan abruptly. His eyes wandered to the photo of the triplets on top of his bed. The triplets stood in a row and they were smiling with their plump and rosy cheeks. How adorable. Lu Yinan smiled unconsciously at the thought of them. Every time he thought of the triplets, it would substantially lift his mood. Wasn¡¯t this family of five perfect and blissful? That hooligan was really too much. Why can¡¯t she be contented with the status as the young madam of the Lu family and his wife? She had to cause such a huge commotion and acted as though everyone had done something wrong to her¡­ But wait, he seemed to be the only one whom she treated with hostility. She was very nice to Grandfather and Yishan. She would occasionally play chess and do gardening with Grandfather. Sometimes she would plant vegetables in the courtyard together with Grandfather. She would even wear Grandfather¡¯s old hat to shield herself from the sun. No wonder Grandfather doted on her so much, even more than Yishan. She was nice and patient towards her mother, too. But why was she so hostile and fierce towards him? No! He had to ask her personally and find out the reason. Lu Yinan was determined, and his eyes gleamed. He picked up his phone and booked an air ticket. The earliest flight from the capital city to N City was before dawn. Since he had made up his mind, he didn¡¯t want to hesitate any longer. He bought the air ticket and glanced at the time. He packed some stuff and changed his clothes. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Shuang is in N City.¡± Ming Ansheng hung up and sat down next to Su Yue. He tried his best to arouse Su Yue¡¯s interest and get her back into a good mood. Su Yue¡¯s eyes sparkled when she heard him. She turned and glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°When did she arrive?¡± Chapter 1705. She Slipped Through His Fingers (part Three) This topic successfully gained her attention. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes brightened. He shook his head and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Lu Yinan just informed me. They must¡¯ve quarreled since he was asking me to persuade Zhou Shuang to bring the two kids back.¡± He said as he wrapped his arm around Su Yue¡¯s waist in a very natural way. ¡°They got into a fight and Sister Hooligan brought the children back to her own family?¡± Su Yue widened her eyes, either from shock or excitement. But according to Ming Ansheng¡¯s understanding of her, it was more of the latter. What a terrible girl! ¡°That should be the case. They fight often,¡± Ming Ansheng added, nodding as he leaned closer to her. In that moment of time, of course, he was prioritizing his own success over brotherhood. When necessary, it was perfectly fine to drag his friend¡¯s name in the mud. Su Yue suddenly remembered something. She frowned and asked, ¡°Doesn¡¯t she have three kids? Why did she only bring two home?¡± Why did she leave one child behind? ¡®This little lass¡­ was so ruthless. If she were in Zhou Shuang¡¯s shoes instead, she definitely would¡¯ve taken all three kids with her,¡¯ Ming Ansheng thought, sneaking a glance at Xiaojiao. If he were to make a small error in the future, would she take Xiaojiao back to the Yan¡¯s? If that day were to come, he would definitely be worse off than Lu Yinan. Because Yan Rusheng would make a fool out of him when he appeared at their doorstep to bring his wife and daughter home. In Ming Ansheng¡¯s thoughts, Yan Rusheng was smiling coldly and mockingly. So, he doesn¡¯t have any room for error in the future. He can¡¯t give Yan Rusheng the opportunity to mock him. Ming Ansheng replied in her ear, ¡°Second Lu has always been closer to Lu Yinan.¡± Su Yue became enraged. ¡°That ingrate! Doesn¡¯t she know who went through hell to give birth to her? She should be on her mother¡¯s side when her parents quarrel.¡± She had given birth too, so she knew the pain. Ming Ansheng was rendered speechless again¡­ What warped logic was that? He smiled at her and said, ¡°Women won¡¯t be able to give birth if men didn¡¯t make the effort first.¡± Su Yue heard and replied without hesitation, ¡°Tch. That¡¯s nothing. Lu Yinan only made one effort. And besides, he enjoyed the process, too. And he refused to treat Sister Hooligan better after she bore him three children too. What right does he have¡­?¡± After a while, she realized that she had fallen into Ming Ansheng¡¯s trap. Her voice trailed off and she looked at him with a blush on her face. Ming Ansheng smiled and it revealed his teeth. He tightened his hold on her waist and lowered his head before kissing her forcefully on her cheek. If Su Yue didn¡¯t push him away, there would¡¯ve been a red mark on her face. ¡°You¡¯re incorrigible.¡± Su Yue rubbed the area with force. Then she shifted away from him. ¡°How am I incorrigible?¡± he asked, playfully raising his eyebrows. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that I was too serious back then? Now I¡¯m changing for you. Shouldn¡¯t you be glad?¡±. Chapter 1706. She Slipped Through His Fingers (part Four) Su Yue bowed her head and turned crimson. Ming Ansheng leaned closer to her, but she pushed him away. ¡°Enough. Have a good rest. I¡¯ll bring Xiaojiao home now. I have many things to do.¡± Then she turned around to leave. Ming Ansheng extended his hand and grabbed her waist. He placed her on his lap. Then he whispered in her ear, ¡°Yueyue, stay a while longer. I haven¡¯t eaten my medicine.¡± Su Yue felt shy. Embarrassed, she looked at Ming Ansheng, and her voice turned soft. ¡°You¡¯re a grown man. Why do you need me to be here while you eat your medicine?¡± Su Yue¡¯s shyness intensified his desire. He tightened his hold on her and his voice became low and nasal. ¡°You said earlier that the process was enjoyable. Then¡­ shall we enjoy ourselves for a while?¡± The atmosphere was tense and his voice was intoxicating. His hands started to roam her body. Su Yue lifted her head and struggled. She glanced at the living room, and then her expression changed. ¡°Enough.¡± She forcefully broke out of his grasp and immediately got off him. Ming Ansheng felt her change in emotion and anxiously grabbed onto her. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue flung his hand away, although she was gentler this time. She kept her head bowed and didn¡¯t look at him. She seemed to be worrying¡­ or avoiding something. She turned to look at Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, let¡¯s go home.¡± Xiaojiao looked up at her and pouted. ¡°Want to play at Uncle¡¯s house.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Su Yue frowned and used a commanding tone. Xiaojiao pouted and her eyes turned red. ¡°Want to play at Uncle¡¯s house.¡± She was holding Ming Ansheng¡¯s laptop. He had downloaded many children¡¯s games on it and she couldn¡¯t bear to leave it behind. Because Su Yue rarely let her use her phone or laptop back at home. Seeing that Xiaojiao was on the brink of tears, Ming Ansheng stood up and said to Su Yue, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t force you. Don¡¯t make her cry.¡± Su Yue nodded and mustered her courage to look up at him. She smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll head home first. Call me when she wants to go home. I¡¯ll come and fetch her.¡± Then she headed towards the main entrance. Ming Ansheng stared after her as she rushed out, away from him. Disappointment filled his eyes, and he frowned. Su Yue changed into her shoes and exited. She closed the door gently behind her. The sound interrupted his train of thought and he retracted his gaze. She pressed his lips into a frown. She still wasn¡¯t ready. He needed to be more patient and give her more time. Aish. He was too rash. ¡°Uncle, download for me.¡± Xiaojiao suddenly carried the laptop over and tugged at his pants. Ming Ansheng looked down at her. The moment his gaze met hers, his feelings were instantly replaced with happiness. He caressed her face. He saw Su Yue through Xiaojiao, so he was especially gentle. ¡°Okay.¡± He nodded and picked her up, walking to the sofa and sitting down. ¡°Daddy will download whatever you want and play it with you.¡± Chapter 1707. She Slipped Through His Fingers (part Five) There was a pile of documents waiting for him to peruse. The older he got, the more important his family was to him. Nothing was more important than Su Yue and Xiaojiao right now. ¡­ Su Yue trudged across the thick snow. Every step she took required her to use strength in order for her not to slip and fall. A plethora of emotions had overwhelmed her. She ran all the way back and dashed directly to the photo wall. She didn¡¯t even take off her shoes. She raised her head and gazed at the family photo she had with Xiaojiao and Jiao Chen. ¡°Jiaojiao,¡± mumbled Su Yue. She couldn¡¯t let go of Jiao Chen. He was the one by her side during the most exhausting period of her life. How could she easily forget him? ¡®Uncle Ming, how can I be with you, when I haven¡¯t forgotten about him?¡¯ To her, Jiao Chen and Ming Ansheng were both outstanding and perfect men. They loved her so much. But there was no way to compare the both of them. Ming Ansheng sent Xiaojiao back in the late afternoon. ¡°She just woke up. I don¡¯t know why, but she is quite grumpy. Coax her later.¡± Ming Ansheng removed the thick jacket that he had wrapped Xiaojiao with. He wanted to make sure it fully protected her from the cold. The lass clung onto him, and she looked sleepy. She had a frown on her face, and she looked grumpy indeed. Su Yue nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll carry her.¡± She stretched both hands to carry Xiaojiao. The girl¡¯s body was warm and soft. After Su Yue carried her, the little girl placed her head on Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. Ming Ansheng gazed at them affectionately and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go back first. Call me if you need me.¡± He sounded as if he was reluctant to leave. He was about to turn around when he remembered something. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± ¡°Uncle Ming¡­¡± Su Yue and Ming Ansheng spoke at the same time. And they both stopped when they heard each other¡¯s voices. They waited for the other person to speak first. Both of them fell silent for a while. Ming Ansheng finally broke the silence and said, ¡°You go first.¡± Su Yue smiled and said, ¡°Remember to eat your medicine and drink more water. Don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s heart fluttered at her words of concern. He nodded and his eyes sparkled with emotions. ¡°I got it. Doctor Xiaojiao has reminded me many times.¡± He knew that she wasn¡¯t angry with him. She just couldn¡¯t let go of Jiao Chen. Actually, what he wanted to say was¡­ he didn¡¯t mind. Jiao Chen had sacrificed himself to save her. And he stayed by her for four years. It would be impossible for her to forget him entirely. Although he felt jealous sometimes, he understood. To Su Yue, Ming Ansheng was like a silly boy right now. Her lips curled into a gentle smile. Ming Ansheng spoke again. ¡°Lu Yinan will be here tomorrow afternoon. I¡¯m going to fetch him. Let¡¯s have a meal together.¡± Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows when she heard him. ¡°Why are you fetching him when you haven¡¯t recovered? Can¡¯t he just take a taxi?¡± The airport was quite a distance away and he would have to wake up early to fetch him. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes twinkled as emotions flooded his eyes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell him to take a taxi.¡± Chapter 1708. A Lack Of Harmony for the Past Four Years (part One) Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t even deliberate for a second before blurting it out. Since Yueyue said that she didn¡¯t like it, then he shall not do it. Regardless of the fact that Lu Yinan was his childhood friend. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows and asked, ¡°Is he staying with you?¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and quipped, ¡°Yeah. He said it¡¯s troublesome to stay at a hotel.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Su Yue coldly replied, ¡°Is he here to look for Sister Hooligan? Since he said it was too troublesome, why should he make the trip? He has no sincerity at all.¡± Su Yue thought, ¡®Since he was here to look for Sister Hooligan, shouldn¡¯t he be begging for her forgiveness outside her house?¡¯ ¡®Yet he was concerned about his own comfort. He had no sincerity at all.¡¯ Ming Ansheng heard Su Yue¡¯s grumbles and he said, ¡°Then I will tell him not to come to my place. I will stop him from coming.¡± Su Yue suddenly guffawed. Ming Ansheng blinked his eyes in confusion. Su Yue covered her mouth and patted Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders with her hand. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re so silly.¡± She realized that he had changed so much. There was no way anyone could use ¡®cute¡¯ to describe him. But now, she often used the word on him. Ming Ansheng blushed and he became bashful. ¡°I¡¯ll head back.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°It¡¯s too early for you to fetch him. The roads will be blocked after the snowstorm.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and turned around. Su Yue¡¯s voice rang behind him. ¡°If Lu Yinan is giving you a treat, call me along.¡± Ming Ansheng halted in his tracks and spun around. ¡°Sure.¡± Light snow was falling and Ming Ansheng leisurely strode across. The towering figure looked so joyful and relaxed in the distance. The snowflakes were beautiful. But to Su Yue, the person was even more beautiful. She stood by the windows as she watched the man vanish from sight. Her lips remained curled as she gazed longingly into the distance. ¡­ ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you fetch me?¡± The moment the door swung open, Lu Yinan yelled at Ming Ansheng. He strode across the living room with luggage in tow. He didn¡¯t even take off his shoes and simply sat down on the couch. He took a taxi from the airport to Ming Ansheng¡¯s place. It was snowing so the taxi driver refused to drive in. He had to lug his luggage for some time and he was breathless and tired. He flopped against the couch as he yanked the scarf off his neck. He carelessly cast it away. Ming Ansheng strolled to the couch and sat down next to Lu Yinan. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like fetching you. That¡¯s all,¡± replied Ming Ansheng airily. Lu Yinan clenched his teeth and a crease appeared in between his eyebrows. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡¯ve changed.¡± Ming Ansheng grinned widely. ¡°All humans change¡­ eventually.¡± ¡°Did that lass forbid you from fetching me?¡± asked Lu Yinan abruptly. Ming Ansheng shot back. ¡°How did you know?¡± He had indirectly admitted to it. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t even try to deny it and Lu Yinan was furious. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re just like Yan Rusheng. A henpecked man!¡± Ming Ansheng smirked coldly. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± He came here looking for his children and their mother. How dare he laugh at them? Chapter 1709. A Lack Of Harmony for the Past Four Years (part Two) Lu Yinan shook his head. ¡°I will definitely not be like both of you. Henpecked men who treat your women like queens. I despise both of you for being so obedient to your wives!¡± He had barely finished his sentence when a cold voice sounded from the kitchen. ¡°Hmph. I hope Sister Hooligan will never forgive you in this lifetime.¡± Lu Yinan was dumbfounded for a while before he slowly turned around. He smiled sheepishly at Su Yue and replied, ¡°Oh! Why are you eavesdropping on us? That¡¯s not very nice.¡± Su Yue pointed to the kitchen and shrugged. ¡°Both of you are talking in the living room and you were so loud. I¡¯m listening to you two without sneaking around.¡± She had chanced upon their conversation. ¡°Are both of you cohabiting in N City?¡± Lu Yinan smoothly diverted the topic. Lu Yinan glanced at Su Yue with an ambiguous look. Su Yue flushed red. Ming Ansheng threw Lu Yinan a murderous glare. ¡°Lu Yinan, scram after you¡¯ve eaten.¡± Ming Ansheng was worried that Lu Yinan might try to break him and Su Yue up if things didn¡¯t go his way. There was a probability that he might. Lu Yinan frowned in response. ¡°I¡¯m staying here. We have agreed on this.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to bring Zhou Shuang back? Show some sincerity please. My place is really far from Zhou Shuang.¡± A crease appeared in the middle of Lu Yinan¡¯s eyebrows once more. He raised his head and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Did you implant this idea in his head?¡± He had talked to him last night before he took the flight. Ming Ansheng had promised to fetch him and to let him stay at his place. Now he had changed his mind so abruptly. When he landed, he received Ming Ansheng¡¯s text saying that he won¡¯t be picking him up. He had to get a taxi in a nick of time.Visit on our NovelFull If he knew, he would have gotten someone to pick him up. So the reason he was so tired, was all because of this lass. ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue nodded and answered honestly. Lu Yinan almost spat blood in her face. He decided not to pursue the matter of Ming Ansheng not picking him up. He suddenly put on a fawning smile and turned to Su Yue. ¡°After lunch, go with me to Zhou Shuang¡¯s place together.¡± Ming Ansheng sneered coldly. ¡°You¡¯re going there to atone for your sins. Why should we tag along? Or were you thinking of getting us to record it on video and send it to Yan Rusheng and the rest?¡± Lu Yinan ignored him and eyed Su Yue with a smile. ¡°Little lass, help me out. You can persuade your Sister Hooligan.¡± Su Yue replied with an air of arrogance. ¡°If you knew this would happen, why did you do it?¡± ¡°She was the one who did this! Am I not nice to her? It has been four years since she gave birth. She didn¡¯t even allow me to touch her at all.¡± Lu Yinan blurted out his grievances. ¡°Not even once. And I remained loyal to her¡­¡± ¡°Lu Yinan, can you leave now.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly interjected and threw him a warning look. This fellow was spewing nonsense with the lass around. If Yan Rusheng were around, he would have chased him away with a broom. Lu Yinan ignored Ming Ansheng and glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Occasionally, Ming Ansheng would still go to The First Wealth to look for some ladies to have a drink. I didn¡¯t even look at a woman in the eye. And she is still unsatisfied with me. I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s on her mind.¡± Chapter 1710. I’ll Wait For Another Year (part One) Su Yue heard Lu Yinan¡¯s words and she felt indignant. ¡°She gave birth to the triplets and stayed with you without a proper status for the past four years. And you still don¡¯t know what¡¯s on her mind. Lu Yinan, you¡¯re indeed a failure.¡± If Sister Hooligan didn¡¯t like him, why would she stay by Lu Yinan¡¯s side without an official status? She was a Gemini! She must have loved him very much. Only Lu Yinan was oblivious since he didn¡¯t put in an effort to understand her. So, he would never know. Su Yue¡¯s reaction caught Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan by surprise. Ming Ansheng heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. He was prepared to defend himself against Lu Yinan¡¯s accusations. To his surprise, Su Yue didn¡¯t fall into Lu Yinan¡¯s trap. She had ignored his deliberate attempt to create a wedge between them. A streak of surprise and delight flashed across his eyes. His little Yueyue had truly grown up. Ming Ansheng slumped comfortably against the couch and felt satisfied. His eyes had a triumphant gleam. It drove Lu Yinan mad. It looked like among the three of them he was the only one whose life was in a disarray. Ming Ansheng had incredibly scored a victory! Young Master Lu felt that he was too useless at that moment. A pang of despair struck him. He sprang to his feet. His sudden actions scared both Su Yue and Ming Ansheng. ¡°Did you forget your medicine?¡± Ming Ansheng threw him a scathing look. He had frightened his little Yueyue. He gently patted Su Yue on her back. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. I will be back tonight.¡± Lu Yinan marched quickly to the door. He swept past them like a gust of wind and didn¡¯t throw Ming Ansheng and Su Yue a second look. Su Yue stared blankly at the door as the door slammed shut. She turned to Ming Ansheng and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± He acted so abruptly as though something had possessed him. Ming Ansheng curled his lips. ¡°He must have felt provoked. Unless I¡¯m mistaken, he is going to Zhou Shuang¡¯s place now.¡± ¡°He deserved it!¡± At the mention of Zhou Shuang, Su Yue felt indignant again. ¡°He didn¡¯t even put in any effort. Sister Hooligan would pour her heart out to him if he treats her genuinely.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. His wife¡­ No, she wasn¡¯t his wife yet. She was his woman and everything she said was right. Even if she was wrong, she was still right. All he could do was to agree and obey her. He expounded, ¡°Ever since he was born, he had always been a spoiled one. He did everything he wanted and led a carefree life. He is just like an untamed horse in the wild. Zhou Shuang is just as obstinate and carefree as him. Both of them refuse to give in at all. She wanted Lu Yinan to love and care for her without giving in. How would it be so easy?¡± He rephrased his words to make sure he didn¡¯t abandon his friend entirely. But at least he tried to help Lu Yinan. Su Yue knew that Ming Ansheng was right, but from a woman and Zhou Shuang¡¯s perspective, Lu Yinan was wrong. He was too prideful. A woman stayed by him and gave birth to his children. She had given him her precious youth and freedom¡­ But it wasn¡¯t entirely wasted. She had decided to stay with the man she loved and her children. Chapter 1711. I’ll Wait For Another Year (part Two) Sister Hooligan must have felt conflicted and aggrieved. Something huge must have happened that she chose to give up. If not, she wouldn¡¯t have brought the children back and made her parents worried. Su Yue sighed helplessly at the thought of it. ¡°If Lu Yinan is certain that he wants to spend the rest of his life with Sister Hooligan, shouldn¡¯t he be more proactive? If he doesn¡¯t like her, he shouldn¡¯t waste her time. Why did he keep mum and allowed things to remain status quo?¡± She was merely venting her frustrations on behalf of Zhou Shuang. It was easy to advise someone else regarding the affairs of the heart. An outsider could see everything so clearly and remain so clear-headed and rational. Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Yeah, you have a point. I will give Lu Yinan a lesson to wake him up.¡± ¡°Did you patronize those places in the last few years?¡± Su Yue leaned her body sideway as she glanced at Ming Ansheng. She looked as though she was interrogating him, and it made Ming Ansheng flustered. He frowned and replied, ¡°Do you think Lu Yinan¡¯s words can be trusted?¡± Su Yue¡¯s expression remained stoic as she stared at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng knew she didn¡¯t believe him so he hurriedly explained, ¡°He was talking about himself. I don¡¯t like those entertainment places. Every time we went, your third brother and I merely had a few drinks. We don¡¯t take part in those ¡®social¡¯ activities.¡± Su Yue certainly knew what ¡®social¡¯ activity he was talking about. She snorted coldly and spun her face away. Ha ha? What did she mean? She didn¡¯t believe him? Ming Ansheng felt that he was being wronged. ¡°Yueyue, I¡¯m serious. You can¡¯t doubt me just because of Lu Yinan¡¯s words.¡± Indeed, he had patronized those entertainment places often in these years. But he swore that he had never touched a woman. It was like a curse. No woman could attract him. Not to mention how they tried to seduce him. He didn¡¯t even want to give them a second look. He had tried to forget Su Yue, but her face always appeared in his mind. Who could be more beautiful, lovely, and more attractive than Su Yue? Absolutely no one. He concluded¡ªhe was doomed the moment he met Su Yue. Ming Ansheng¡¯s flustered and anxious expression, coupled with his widened eyes, was so adorable to Su Yue. Su Yue smiled as she stretched to hold Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand tightly. She whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s find time to pay Sister Hooligan a visit with Xiaojiao.¡± She¡­ believed him? Ming Ansheng nodded immediately and looked ecstatic. ¡°Sure, anytime.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back soon?¡± He had stayed for quite some time, and if he carried on staying here, his company will go bust soon. They would blame her for the downfall of an empire if so. Ming Ansheng shook his head and casually replied, ¡°There is nothing important for me to attend to.¡± Su Yue peered at their interlocked hands. She pressed her lips and sighed. ¡°Go back soon. I know you¡¯re busy since it¡¯s the end of the year.¡± Chapter 1712. I’ll Wait for Another Year (part Three) They were destined to lead vastly different lifestyles. One must bear the weight of the crown! She already knew it when she went to his house for the first time years ago. To think that she still couldn¡¯t escape from it, and they even went back to where they started. In the business world, no matter how low the possibility of victory was, he would always appear overflowing with confidence. Su Yue was the only thing that made him uneasy. The more he was afraid of losing her, the less confident he was. Ming Ansheng gripped her hand tightly with his palm. It was as though he was afraid that she might disappear when he released her hand. He spoke with determination in his voice. ¡°Yueyue, we have encountered countless storms in our relationship. But you are the only constant, and you are rooted in my heart. Nobody can change that.¡±Visit website NovelFull With blazing determination in his eyes, he carried on. ¡°To me right now, nothing is more important than you and Xiaojiao. Bright Vision¡­ doesn¡¯t even matter.¡± He had obeyed his grandmother¡¯s final wishes for twenty years. And he didn¡¯t break his promise to his grandfather as well. Yet, he had done nothing for Su Yue, the girl he loved deeply. He had missed out on the years where she transformed into a woman. He didn¡¯t get to witness Xiaojiao¡¯s birth. He had missed out too much. ¡°I know, and I understand.¡± Su Yue earnestly gazed at Ming Ansheng, and she continued, ¡°Love isn¡¯t everything in life. There are other responsibilities and duties as well.¡± A person should be responsible for himself, his family, and his children. If everyone was so selfish, and only cared about himself, there would be more orphans in the world. They need to be responsible adults. Su Yue concluded gravely with a frown. These four years had replaced the vitality and innocence she once possessed. She sounded as though she had been through a lot of hardships in life. She had conceded defeat, and all she wanted was quiet and contentment. Ming Ansheng nervously gripped her hand. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± She was barely 23 years old. Su Yue knew what Ming Ansheng was worried about, and she gripped his hand too. She smiled and said, ¡°But this time, let¡¯s not let go of each other alright?¡± ¡°For you, me, and Xiaojiao¡­¡± She had a fiery gleam in her eyes, and her eyes turned red. She rubbed her nose and sniffed. ¡°For Jiao Chen, your grandfather, Meiduo, and everyone else.¡± Life was too vulnerable and unpredictable. He still loved her and she can¡¯t forget him. They shouldn¡¯t be weighed down by regrets for the rest of their life. Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes lit up and her words had set his mind at ease. He nodded with a smile. ¡°We will never be apart.¡± Su Yue inhaled deeply and her eyes glistened. But her smile remained etched on her face. She grabbed Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s fetch Xiaojiao together.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Excitement, joy, and emotions overwhelmed him at that moment. He had no idea how he should express himself. He stretched his hand and pulled Su Yue towards him. Su Yue¡¯s eyes widened with his kiss. The next moment, she stretched her hands and put them around Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck. Every emotion melted into their kiss and it traveled to both their hearts. Chapter 1713. I’ll Wait for Another Year (part Four) Su Yue laid on the couch as Ming Ansheng watched her intently. Su Yue¡¯s eyes reflected in his, and her eyes sparkled like stars. Hope had filled her eyes. ¡°Yueyue, go back with me alright?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice was deep, hoarse, and gentle. Su Yue pressed her lips. ¡°Uncle Ming, I would like to stay for one more year.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded with no hesitation. ¡°Okay.¡± He bent and kissed Su Yue on her forehead. He straightened his back before getting down from Su Yue. Su Yue¡¯s blushing face and erratic heartbeat slowly resumed back to normal. She laid there as she gazed at Ming Ansheng, looking grateful and touched. ¡®Uncle Ming, others may think that I¡¯m being pretentious. But I know you will understand me,¡¯ Su Yue thought to herself. ¡­ After fetching Xiaojiao, Su Yue and Ming Ansheng decided to look for Zhou Shuang. It should be the busiest period since it¡¯s the end of the year. Third sister-in-law and her brother always hang up after a brief conversation. She could imagine how busy Ming Ansheng was. There must be lots of important matters for him to attend to. She wanted him to go back early after visiting Zhou Shuang. There weren¡¯t many changes to Zhou Shuang¡¯s house. Although the furniture might be a little outdated, the house was tidy and clean. It was warm inside and Su Yue took off the scarf around her neck. She bent to remove Xiaojiao¡¯s jacket. Ming Ansheng acted quickly and removed Xiaojiao¡¯s hat first. Then he unzipped her jacket and removed it. Su Yue¡¯s hand hovered in midair for a moment as she smiled. ¡°Little lass, why didn¡¯t you inform me that you were coming?¡± A familiar voice echoed from the second level. Su Yue glanced up and saw Zhou Shuang. She wore a gray knitted pullover and her hair tumbled across her shoulders. She held on to the railing as she descended the stairs. She was looking at Su Yue too. Su Yue eagerly strode past Xiaojiao and Ming Ansheng towards Zhou Shuang. She beamed brightly and said, ¡°I wanted to surprise you. Aren¡¯t you surprised?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Zhou Shuang replied and glanced at Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao, let me hug you.¡± The girl had grown taller, but her chubby cheeks were still so adorable. She felt like biting her cheeks. Su Yue turned around and pulled Xiaojiao along. She pointed to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Xiaojiao, call her Aunt.¡± Xiaojiao glanced at Zhou Shuang and said ¡®Aunt¡¯ ever so sweetly. She blinked her eyes as she surveyed Zhou Shuang. She was trying to remember this aunt. Su Yue grinned at Zhou Shuang. ¡°I think she doesn¡¯t remember you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m such an unforgettable person, so she can¡¯t remember me! I¡¯m hurt.¡± Zhou Shuang pressed on her chest in a dramatic fashion. Su Yue suddenly frowned and grumbled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you look for me when you came to N City? Didn¡¯t you know that I was here?¡± She knew only because of Lu Yinan. Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°I just arrived and I didn¡¯t have time to contact you. We will have plenty of opportunities to meet in the future.¡± Ming Ansheng, who stood like a gentleman next to Su Yue, spoke up. ¡°In the future? You¡¯re not planning to go back?¡± Chapter 1714. I’ll Wait for Another Year (Past Five) He glanced at Su Yue. Zhou Shuang twitched her lips, and she glanced askew at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Why should I go back? The weather is great in Country M with vast blue skies and fluffy clouds. The scenery in winter is gorgeous too.¡± Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng were such close friends. She knew that Lu Yinan would have conspired with him. Perhaps, they had planned this visit. Ming Ansheng knew that his relationship with Lu Yinan would cause Zhou Shuang to be hostile and wary of him. But he didn¡¯t mind. He grinned at Zhou Shuang. ¡°You are blindly worshiping Country M.¡± A woman like Zhou Shuang should be easy to coax and easy to satisfy. She would be happy for days if you give her a candy. She was so honest and easy to understand, although she may hide her feelings sometimes. Su Yue was right in saying that Lu Yinan didn¡¯t put in an effort to understand her. Among the three of them, he was the one who led a carefree life with hardly any pressures. He had never suffered a loss, so he didn¡¯t know how to treasure what he had. It was perhaps a good thing for him to encounter a setback. If not, he might never learn. Shit, was he being influenced by Su Yue? Responsibility! Responsibility! ¡°I love to appreciate foreign countries indeed.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at Ming Ansheng and then turned to Su Yue. She pulled her hand and smiled. ¡°Come, let¡¯s have a chat. I just talked to your third sister-in-law.¡± She just talked to her third sister-in-law? Su Yue frowned and asked, ¡°It is dawn in the capital city. Why is she chatting with you instead of sleeping?¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head. ¡°She has insomnia.¡± Wen Xuxu was lying in bed, fuming quietly to herself. ¡°It¡¯s all Lu Yinan¡¯s fault! It¡¯s so early in the morning! How can she disturb my sleep!¡± grumbled Xuxu. Wen Xuxu was sleeping when Zhou Shuang called her. She was now wide awake but her temples were hurting. To make things worse, her eyes were painful too. Yan Rusheng was sound asleep, and he seemed as though he had a good dream. She felt indignant. She propped a leg on Yan Rusheng¡¯s body. Yan Rusheng woke up ¡®gracefully¡¯, with a lazy smile. He turned and caught a glimpse of Xuxu. His voice was hoarse. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you switch off your phone?¡± Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows as she grouchily said, ¡°Why are men so horrible? No sense of responsibility at all. Why did he even try to have children if he can¡¯t be responsible? It¡¯s all because of greed!¡± ¡°Wife, please note that it shouldn¡¯t be men.¡± Yan Rusheng squinted his eyes with a lazy and seductive smile. His hoarse and sleepy voice seemed to provoke Wen Xuxu. She sat up and sat down on his body. She clenched her teeth and hissed, ¡°So you are one? You and your group of friends are all jerks.¡± She bent and kissed Yan Rusheng on his lips. Yan Rusheng closed his eyes as his beautiful lips curled into a grin. He looked so lazy, yet gentle. She really wanted to bite him to vent her anger. ¡°I want to kill all seductive men who torture women!¡± Yan Rusheng widened his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Not men.¡± With an absolute authoritative tone. He turned over and crushed Xuxu with his weight. Then he swooped down on her lips. He put his hands under her body and wrapped them around her. ¡°Lu Yinan is a jerk. He tortures Hooligan Zhou and she tortures you. In turn, you torture me.¡± He pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯m innocent.¡± Chapter 1715. Even God is Helping (part One) Oh, my god! Who can subdue this seductive devil! Xuxu closed her eyes and averted her face. She really didn¡¯t want to look at this guy¡¯s face. He was so despicable, yet his skin was so smooth and soft. It was driving her crazy. ¡­ Su Yue was doubtful when she heard that Xuxu had insomnia. She glanced at Zhou Shuang and asked, ¡°My third sister-in-law is so busy recently and she doesn¡¯t even talk when she reaches home. Why would she be unable to sleep?¡± Zhou Shuang sneered coldly. ¡°It would be weird if she could sleep. Since her husband is that kind of person.¡± She was obviously biased. They sat down on the couch. ¡°Miss Su, have some tea.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother placed two cups of tea on the table. A few years ago, Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother met Su Yue. She only saw Ming Ansheng in the newspapers or magazines. This was the first time she met him in person. She nodded at Ming Ansheng after she spoke to Su Yue. Ming Ansheng nodded politely as well. ¡°Thank you, Aunty,¡± replied Su Yue. She held the cup with both hands. ¡°I¡¯ll cook two more dishes.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother smiled as she glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Call Yinan and ask him to join us. Yanyan said that she wanted to see her daddy.¡± Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows as she grumbled. ¡°Mommy, why did you tell Yanyan?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother pursed her lips. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell her. She found out by herself.¡± She feigned ignorance. But her eyes darted around, and she was clearly avoiding Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. Zhou Shuang knew her mother too well. She lamented, ¡°Stop helping him. I¡¯m your daughter. You gave birth to me.¡± All parents would certainly wish for their child to have a blissful marriage. Not to mention, they even had three children. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother definitely didn¡¯t want Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang to go their separate ways. She really wanted them to be happy. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Zhou Shuang. ¡°A son-in-law is half a son. It¡¯s snowing heavily in this freezing weather. Is your heart made of stone?¡± Just Lu Yinan¡¯s personality was enough to please Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother. Furthermore, he was good-looking and came from a prestigious background. She liked him very much, so she hoped that Zhou Shuang would stay with him. Zhou Shuang flared up. ¡°If you want him to come in, then I¡¯ll leave with First Lu and Third Lu.¡± She spun her head angrily as she seethed in anger. ¡°You¡¯re always so short-tempered whenever I mention Yinan. I shall not care from now onwards. Someone is bound to relent, anyway.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother prodded Zhou Shuang¡¯s head with force as she sneered. Zhou Shuang had just finished grumbling to Wen Xuxu earlier on that it lifted her spirits, but now she began to get worked up at her mother¡¯s words. She nudged her mother. ¡°Alright, I thought you wanted to cook more dishes. Hurry up.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother didn¡¯t continue since they had guests around. She glared at Zhou Shuang with a disapproving look. ¡°Miss Su, have a chat first while you wait,¡± said Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother with a smile. Su Yue nodded and replied, ¡°Aunty, just call me Yueyue. You¡¯re being too formal.¡± If this had happened years ago, she would have merely nodded or perhaps forced a tiny smile in response. Chapter 1716. Even God is Helping (part Two) Su Yue had grown more sensible and thoughtful after four years. She had learned how to interact with others. It surprised and amazed Ming Ansheng how Su Yue had responded to Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother. She had really matured. ¡°Alright, Yueyue. I¡¯ll cook more food. I¡¯ll be done soon.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother smiled and walked to the kitchen. Su Yue watched as Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother left. She glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Sister Hooligan, I¡¯m on your side.¡± She inched towards Zhou Shuang and whispered under her breath. But Ming Ansheng still heard her. This lass was bent on creating havoc. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother was trying her best to make them reconcile. Yet she was declaring her support for Zhou Shuang. If this traveled to Lu Yinan¡¯s ears, he would blame him again. He might be mocked and yelled at by his friend. Zhou Shuang managed a satisfied smile. ¡°Little lass. You still have a conscience.¡± She really needed supporters now. It was because¡­ she was afraid that she might waver. And she might give in once more. It was almost five years and she had enough. Su Yue grinned and said, ¡°Ming Ansheng wanted to fetch Lu Yinan. But I stopped him from going. So, Lu Yinan had to take a taxi instead. He even wanted to stay with Uncle Ming, but I asked Uncle Ming to chase him away.¡± But that wasn¡¯t her original intentions. She was merely grumbling. When did she ask him to chase Lu Yinan away? Ming Ansheng gazed at Su Yue, and he couldn¡¯t read her mind. Zhou Shuang turned to him and smirked. ¡°I thought your friendships come before women? You and Yan Rusheng are really the same. You can dump your friends for women.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s tone hinted sarcasm. Ming Ansheng was rendered speechless again¡­ He glanced at Su Yue, and she was grinning slyly to herself. It dawned on him. This lass was up to no good. She knew Zhou Shuang too well, and hence she said that on purpose. Ming Ansheng deliberated for a moment before he raised his eyebrows. ¡°Are you standing up for Lu Yinan?¡± Zhou Shuang smugly raised her chin and coldly snorted. ¡°I despise men like you who betray friends. I don¡¯t care who the other party is.¡± Ming Ansheng wore a thought-provoking smile. ¡°Lu Yinan said that he will camp outside your house. You might want to take a look before he freezes to death,¡± replied Ming Ansheng casually. ¡°Both of you are back together?¡± Zhou Shuang changed the topic. She glanced at Ming Ansheng before her eyes darted to Su Yue. ¡°You¡¯re too soft-hearted. How can you forgive him so easily!¡± A flush crept from Su Yue¡¯s neck to her cheeks. She hastily changed the topic as well. ¡°Where are the two children?¡± She surveyed the surroundings. From the moment they stepped in, she hadn¡¯t spotted her children. ¡°They are upstairs. I¡¯ll get them.¡± Zhou Shuang stood up and walked to the staircase landing. ¡°Children! Aunt Su Yue and Xiaojiao are here!¡± Chapter 1717. Even God is Helping (part Three) Her voice rang loud and clear. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng frowned at Zhou Shuang with a disapproving look. First Lu and Third Lu responded immediately when they heard Zhou Shuang. ¡°Coming!¡± They appeared at the landing of the staircase. Lu Huanyan had short and shiny black hair and bangs that covered her eyebrows. Her hair framed her chubby face and she looked adorable. She resembled Lu Yinan, especially her long almond-shaped eyes. Her eyes were feminine and seductive. Although this wasn¡¯t an appropriate adjective to describe a child. ¡°Mommy, who is here?¡± Lu Huanyan grabbed the railing as she walked down the stairs. She glanced at her mommy from time to time. She glanced at the living room towards the couch. Su Yue beckoned to Lu Huanyan with a wave. ¡°Yanyan, do you remember me?¡± ¡°Uncle Ming!¡± Lu Huanyan ignored Su Yue and her eyes lit up when she caught a glimpse of Ming Ansheng. She hastened her footsteps. She bolted for Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng stroked her head affectionately. ¡°Are you having holidays?¡± Lu Huanyan shook her head and replied, ¡°No. Mommy doesn¡¯t want my sister and my daddy. She only wants my brother and me.¡± Su Yue, Ming Ansheng, and Zhou Shuang were dumbfounded. Something seemed to clench their hearts. A child would always be the biggest victim during a divorce. Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart ached when she saw her daughter¡¯s eyes turning red. She was about to explain when Ming Ansheng cut across her. ¡°Yanyan, it¡¯s not true. Both you and your sister are your mommy¡¯s daughters. Mommy wants her too. Mommy brought you and your brother here to visit your grandmother.¡± He smiled as he reassured Yanyan. His eyes were full of affection and concern for the little girl. Su Yue saw him and warmth washed over her heart. She curled her lips unconsciously. Lu Huanyan pursed her lips and gazed at Ming Ansheng with teary eyes. ¡°Uncle Ming, I miss my daddy. Where is my daddy?¡± The girl¡¯s eyes were glistening, and her tears were threatening to spill out at any moment. No one could bear the sight of this. Ming Ansheng whipped out his phone and said, ¡°Daddy is also here. Let me call him alright?¡± He was trying to help Lu Yinan. When Yanyan heard that he was calling her daddy, she nodded vigorously. Her tears streamed down. Ming Ansheng stretched his hand to wipe her tears away. He dialed Lu Yinan¡¯s number with another hand. Zhou Shuang became anxious, and she glared at him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, what are you doing?¡± Lu Huanyan interjected and pleaded with her mother. ¡°Mommy, I miss Daddy. Let me call Daddy please.¡± Ming Ansheng heard her and he grinned. ¡°Zhou Shuang, look how sensible your daughter is.¡± The line got through and Ming Ansheng pressed the loudspeaker function. Lu Yinan¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°What?¡± He sounded impatient and annoyed. He was in a bad mood. Zhou Shuang bit her lips and swallowed the words she wanted to utter. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Lu Huanyan heard Lu Yinan¡¯s voice and snatched the phone from Ming Ansheng. She quickly walked to the couch. Chapter 1718. Even God is Helping (part Four) Yanyan was ready to have a long conversation with her daddy. ¡°Yanyan?¡± Lu Yinan was startled to hear Lu Huanyan¡¯s voice. Yanyan sounded as if she had just cried. ¡°Daddy, can you come and fetch Mommy and me? Yanyan misses you.¡± She really started sobbing. Although Lu Yinan didn¡¯t really spend much time or effort on the triplets, blood tie was a fascinating thing. After all, they were his blood. Just an occasional hug would spark love and attachment. Lu Yinan heard Lu Huanyan crying and his heart seemed to break. ¡°Yanyan, don¡¯t cry. Daddy is near grandmother¡¯s place. If you miss me, I will come and find you tonight.¡± Lu Huanyan nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She mopped her tears away with her palm and glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Mommy, Daddy is coming.¡± Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows in silence. ¡°Alright, your daddy is coming later. Stop crying.¡± Ming Ansheng scooped Yanyan and placed her on his lap. He dabbed her tears with some tissues. Lu Huanyan may be mischievous, but she was cheerful and smart. So, she was really likable. Ming Ansheng especially adored her. Before he knew of Xiaojiao¡¯s existence, he would always play with her. Lu Huanyan finally stopped crying and she sniffed heavily. ¡°Mm.¡± Ming Ansheng took back his phone and said, ¡°Look at how sensible your daughter is.¡± ¡°Are you with Zhou Shuang now?¡± asked Lu Yinan. ¡°Obviously.¡± Ming Ansheng sounded testy. Lu Yinan ignored Ming Ansheng¡¯s attitude and he asked, ¡°You went to Zhou Shuang¡¯s house?¡± ¡°Carry on asking dumb questions.¡± Ming Ansheng hung up and placed Lu Huanyan on the floor. He pointed at Xiaojiao and said to Lu Huanyan, ¡°Yanyan, go play with Xiaojiao. Your daddy is coming later.¡± Lu Huanyan obediently nodded before surveying Xiaojiao from top to toe. Hostility was blazing in her eyes as she recalled how Xiaojiao had clung to her mommy. ¡°I remember Xiaojiao.¡± First Lu ran over and abruptly sat beside Xiaojiao. He pressed his palms against the couch as he swung his legs to and fro. He glanced askew at Xiaojiao with a smile. Lu Huanyan glared angrily at First Lu. ¡°Brother! You can¡¯t look at her!¡± First Lu replied, ¡°I want to play with Xiaojiao.¡± Lu Huanyan asked, ¡°Brother, you don¡¯t like Meowmeow anymore?¡± First Lu said, ¡°I like Meowmeow and Xiaojiao.¡± Lu Huanyan frowned and pouted. ¡°You cannot have two wives.¡± ¡­ Why can¡¯t a friendship exist between a boy and a girl? Even a child had this mindset. This was enough! Su Yue and Ming Ansheng furrowed their eyebrows, feeling puzzled by Third Lu¡¯s mindset. ¡­ Lu Yinan came shortly after the phone call. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t forbid him from entering the house because of Lu Huanyan. He kissed both of his children before Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother announced that dinner was ready. They entered the dining room and Lu Yinan strode quickly over to Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother. ¡°Mom, let me help you.¡± He took the cutlery from her and began to arrange them on the table. After Zhou Shuang gave birth to the children, Lu Yinan began to address Zhou Shuang¡¯s parents as Dad and Mom. What was missing was just a marriage certificate. ¡°Sit down and have a drink with your dad and Young Master Ming. Drink some liquor to warm your body.¡± Chapter 1719. Even God is Helping (part Five) Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother threw a meaningful glance at her husband. Zhou Shuang¡¯s father caught her eye, and he softened his attitude. His daughter was his precious darling, and he always supported her decisions. So, he always argued with his wife regarding Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan. The most important thing that his son-in-law must do was to dote and love his daughter. But evidently, Lu Yinan didn¡¯t live up to his expectations. Hence, he had opposed to them being together from the beginning. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother made several trips back to visit Zhou Shuang and her grandchildren during the last few years. However, he only went to visit Zhou Shuang once when she gave birth. He disliked Lu Yinan. To put it plainly, he disliked his attitude towards his daughter. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother steered Lu Yinan to a chair next to Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang sat in grumpy silence, so he glanced at Zhou Shuang¡¯s father. Zhou Shuang¡¯s father was rather cold too so Lu Yinan was a little awkward. He rubbed his hands together before he raised the glass to toast him. ¡°Dad, let me give you a toast.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s father picked up a slice of beef and popped it inside his mouth. He savored it slowly, completely ignoring Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan¡¯s hand hovered in midair awkwardly. ¡°Ahem!¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother came out of the kitchen and witnessed the scene. She frowned at her husband and cleared her throat. With a warning. Zhou Shuang¡¯s father put down his chopsticks and raised his glass. Their glasses chinked and he took a sip. But he didn¡¯t glance at Lu Yinan at all. The liquor burned his throat as it flowed down to his stomach. The aftertaste was bitter and horrible. ¡°Yinan, eat more,¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother said. She had a warm smile on her face. Lu Yinan felt much better and comforted. He picked up his chopsticks and ate. ¡°Uncle, let me toast you.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his glass to toast Zhou Shuang¡¯s father. He nodded in acknowledgment and raised his glass. He finished an entire glass in a gulp. He was telling everyone how much he detested Lu Yinan through his actions. Even if he didn¡¯t show it, Lu Yinan knew how much Zhou Shuang¡¯s father disliked him. But he felt like he did nothing wrong. He couldn¡¯t understand why both father and daughter loathed him so much. Lu Yinan was in low spirits as he raised his glass. He gulped down everything swiftly. He was like an untamed horse who ran freely in the wild. He always did what he wanted and liked. When had he ever been this depressed? Ming Ansheng pressed his lips as he glanced at Lu Yinan with a half-smirk. It was as though he was trying to hide his glee. Su Yue noticed him and threw him a scathing look. His best friend was in trouble, yet he was gloating over his predicament. Yan Rusheng had truly influenced him. Who are all these people? Tsk. If she didn¡¯t know them personally, she would have doubted their character. But they weren¡¯t really nice people to begin with. ¡°Uncle Ming, have a prawn. It looks really fresh.¡± Su Yue placed a prawn in Ming Ansheng¡¯s bowl and blinked innocently at him. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 1720. Even God is Helping (part Six) He immediately picked up the prawn that Su Yue had put in his bowl. He slowly peeled the prawn and gave it to Su Yue. ¡°Eat more, too.¡± Both of them displayed their affection for each other, disregarding the rest of them. Lu Yinan who sat across was glum. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± He cleared his throat to signal them to stop, while he glared at Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng casually glanced back at Lu Yinan and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Is your throat itchy?¡± Lu Yinan stroked his throat and cleared it once more. ¡°N City is too cold so I¡¯m not feeling well,¡± hissed Lu Yinan in menace. He had finally seen this fellow¡¯s true colors. He even rubbed salt into his wounds and gloated at his predicament. ¡°Yanyan, do you want to sleep with Daddy tonight?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother suddenly spoke up as she smiled at Lu Huanyan. She continued as she held the little girl¡¯s hand. ¡°Daddy is coughing so Yanyan needs to take care of him. If Daddy has a fever, you must give him water, okay?¡± The girl missed her daddy so much. Of course, she would grasp this opportunity to be with him. ¡°Okay!¡± Lu Huanyan nodded like a little chick pecking for grains. So, the two of them confirmed that Lu Yinan was staying at their place for the night. They acted without seeking permission from the rest of them. Especially the most important person¡ªZhou Shuang. ¡°Yanyan is a good girl.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother gave Yanyan a peck on her forehead. Zhou Shuang kicked her mother under the table. Her mother threw her a sharp question. ¡°Why did you kick me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m full. You guys can continue eating.¡± Zhou Shuang was infuriated with her mother, so she slammed her chopsticks on the table. She stomped off in a huff. Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother got anxious, and she opened her mouth. She had barely uttered a word when Lu Yinan interjected gloomily, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s alright. I won¡¯t stay here.¡± He stole a glance at that prideful-looking figure. He raised his glass and gulped down the remains of his liquor. He stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m done. Please continue. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Lu Yinan bade them goodbye and turned around without another word. He soon vanished from everyone¡¯s sight. ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s father slammed his chopsticks as he frowned at Lu Yinan. His lack of manners and respect had upset him. Ming Ansheng got a little anxious so he rose and said, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯ll talk to him.¡± He turned around and left the dining room. After Ming Ansheng left, Zhou Shuang¡¯s father snorted coldly. ¡°Why is he so stuck-up? Does he really think that he is that capable?¡± Su Yue hurriedly put on a smile. ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t be angry. My third brother said that Lu Yinan always did what he liked since he was a boy. He needs time to change. Actually, he is a nice guy.¡± She could only help Lu Yinan now. Although she didn¡¯t really approve of the way he treated Zhou Shuang. Chapter 1721. Even God is Helping (part Seven) But deep inside, Su Yue still hoped that they could end up together. At least for the sake of the triplets. She knew how important it was for a child to have a complete family. If the parents could stay together, they should try their best to. Just like what her third sister-in-law had said: unless they really had no feelings for each other, it was meaningless for them to be together for long. Ming Ansheng ran out of the house and saw Lu Yinan in the distance. He was lighting up a cigarette as he leaned against a tree in the courtyard. The flame from the lighter illuminated Lu Yinan¡¯s seductive-looking face. He took a puff and blew smoke out from his mouth. Ming Ansheng strolled towards Lu Yinan with a stiff smile. ¡°You really do have a temper.¡± Lu Yinan was livid, and he exploded as he pointed to the house. ¡°Why does she have to be so proud! Does she have extra eyes or nose?!¡± He had cast his pride aside countless times and even came to Country M to look for her. Who knew how much he had spent on air tickets? And now she was acting up again. He hissed angrily. ¡°All because I allowed her to.¡± Ming Ansheng stood before Lu Yinan as he stowed his hands inside his pockets. He calmly said, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have extra things that you¡¯ve mentioned. But you should ask yourself if you still want to be with her.¡± He paused for a second. ¡°If you want to, then talk to her calmly. Both of you are still so hot-tempered despite these years.¡± Lu Yinan clenched his teeth in anger. ¡°And she was the one who always started the fight.¡± Every time he wanted to talk to her nicely, she would reply with snide or harsh remarks. There wasn¡¯t a trace of gentleness in her tone. Sometimes, he came home after a few drinks and he wanted to be with her. But it was harder than touching the sky. She always acted as though he owed her millions. He offered to bring her out, but she always declined. And she would always reply with sarcasm. She really had a load of shortcomings. Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°But you are a man. Can¡¯t you just give in to her?¡± He always gave in to Su Yue. Lu Yinan sneered coldly. ¡°I¡¯m a man. But that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that she is a woman.¡± She always faced him with a sulky and cold expression. Was she really a woman? What kind of woman was she? Hmph! ¡°She is not a woman?¡± Ming Ansheng raised her eyebrows in amusement. ¡°Then you gave birth to the triplets by yourself?¡± Actually, if Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t open her mouth, she really looked like a woman, alright! Lu Yinan got impatient and he didn¡¯t want to listen to Ming Ansheng any longer. He waved his hands to dismiss him. ¡°Ming Ansheng, stop dishing advice. I will never be like you and Yan Rusheng.¡± He gloomily took another puff. Wisps of smoke came out of his mouth, along with his warm breath. It enveloped his gorgeous face. A crease appeared in the middle of his eyebrows. ¡°You deserve this!¡± Ming Ansheng prodded Lu Yinan¡¯s head. Lu Yinan raised his leg and aimed a kick at him. ¡°Go away!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. If you carry on being this prideful, you¡¯re the one who should scram.¡± Ming Ansheng sneered coldly and turned around. Chapter 1722. Even God is Helping (part Eight) The towering figure entered the house. Lu Yinan glanced at him with a deep frown. After Ming Ansheng completely vanished from sight, a massive rock had seemed to weigh down his heart. ¡°Damn you Zhou Shuang,¡± Lu Yinan muttered under his breath and kicked the ground as he did so. His kick contained a considerable amount of strength that the snow scattered into the air. ¡°Daddy!¡± Lu Yinan was about to leave when a familiar cute voice made him halt. His eyes lit up as he glanced at the courtyard. The tiny Lu Huanyan was running towards him. He spread his arms. ¡°Yanyan.¡± Lu Yinan bent his back to scoop Lu Huanyan up and gave her two affectionate kisses on her cheeks. He didn¡¯t spend much time with them usually, but they were after all his children. Fatherly love was innate and it naturally came bursting out of him. ¡°Daddy, can you sleep at grandmother¡¯s house? I miss you.¡± Lu Huanyan wrapped her arms tightly around Lu Yinan¡¯s neck as she pleaded pitifully. Lu Yinan saw that her eyes had glistened, and so he hugged her tightly. ¡°Yanyan, come with Daddy. Daddy will bring you back home to look for your sister, grandmother, and great grandfather.¡± Yanyan pursed her lips. ¡°But Yanyan wants to stay with Mommy.¡± She turned her head to gaze at the brightly lit house beyond the distance. Expectation, longing, and affection were swimming in her eyes. This was probably something that could be easily achieved for other children; to be together with their daddy and mommy. And their daddy and mommy not bickering every day. The girl¡¯s eyelashes were heavy with tears and it made Lu Yinan¡¯s heart soften. He gently coaxed her, ¡°I¡¯ll buy the entire set of Barbie dolls for you. Just tell Daddy what you want. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring you to ski and there will be many children there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She was, after all, a child. Once her interest was piqued, it diverted her attention. She beamed. Lu Yinan was relieved. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± He turned around to leave. Lu Huanyan quipped, ¡°Daddy, I want to tell Mommy.¡± Lu Yinan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Are you afraid to leave with Daddy?¡± How would he be able to bring her away if she told her mommy? Zhou Shuang had used the children against him, thinking that she could control him with them. ¡®Hmph! Let¡¯s see what can she do without them?¡¯ If she really loved their daughters, then she would definitely look for Jiaojiao and Yanyan. Lu Yinan thought to himself as he marched off with Yanyan in his arms. ¡°Lu Yinan, why are you so shameless!¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s shouts rang behind him. Lu Yinan halted his footsteps and turned around. He coldly said, ¡°Why am I shameless when I¡¯m taking my daughter away?¡± His good-looking face had a cold expression as he stood under a lamp. Zhou Shuang felt a knife had stabbed through her heart. She curled her lips coldly too. ¡°Your daughter? I gave birth to her. What right do you have to take her away?¡± Lu Yinan retorted, ¡°Zhou Shuang, don¡¯t be so shameless. Without me, how can you give birth to them? How?!¡± His sarcastic and mean tone revealed his true nature once more. Zhou Shuang flared up and screamed, ¡°Lu Yinan! Take note of your words. You¡¯re outside my house, and I can call for the police!¡± Lu Yinan replied coldly, ¡°Go ahead and see if they will arrest me.¡± Chapter 1723. Even God is Helping (part Nine) Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth. ¡°Of course they wouldn¡¯t arrest you. They only catch criminals and not shameless people.¡± She raised her chin and looked haughty. This was how she was like. She never yielded or softened her tone and was always mean and hostile to him. Her heart seemed to have toughened as though she was determined to trample on him. She looked as though the only thing she wanted was for him to beg her for forgiveness. Lu Yinan glared at her with anger boiling in the pit of his stomach. But his expression remained cold. He had an arrogant smile on his face. ¡°You really should curb your temper. If not, your children wouldn¡¯t be able to stand you, let alone other men.¡± Zhou Shuang snapped, ¡°Why should I think for others? I just need to think of myself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m bringing Yanyan with me today.¡± Lu Yinan concluded their argument by turning around abruptly. Zhou Shuang darted forward. ¡°No way!¡± She grabbed Lu Yinan¡¯s elbow in a panic and almost tore Lu Huanyan away from his arm. The girl bawled at the top of her lungs. She stammered as she sobbed. ¡°Daddy¡­ Mommy. Don¡¯t fight. Daddy¡­ Mommy¡­¡± Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan froze when they realized what was happening. The expression on their faces froze as well. ¡°Go away!¡± Lu Yinan flung Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm away with force. He exerted too much strength and it caught Zhou Shuang off guard. She stumbled and slipped before falling to the ground. They were standing on the road, and the snow was all cleared to allow the vehicles to travel safely. So, she fell on the cold hard ground. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± She let out a shriek of pain but quickly stopped herself. She clenched her teeth as she lay flat on the ground. Her hands and knees had bumped against the hard ground, and pain prevented her from reacting. ¡°Mommy! Mommy¡­¡± Lu Huanyan saw Zhou Shuang fell to the ground, and she shouted amidst her cries. She flailed her arms towards Zhou Shuang. Lu Yinan snapped to his senses and placed Yanyan on the ground. He darted to Zhou Shuang and bent to hold her arm. He tried to hoist her up as he asked, ¡°Where is it hurting?¡± Zhou Shuang refused to let him touch her. But how could she win him in terms of strength? He slowly lifted her up despite her unwillingness. Lu Yinan supported Zhou Shuang as his eyes anxiously scrutinized her body. Zhou Shuang shoved him away. Lu Yinan stumbled a few steps backward and their eyes met. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes glistened with tears, and she had clenched her fists. She bit her lips as she glared at Lu Yinan. She then snapped, ¡°Lu Yinan, let¡¯s make a clean break. The three children stay with me. If you do not agree, I¡¯ll see you in court.¡± She was, after all, a woman. She could no longer hold back her tears as they gushed out. She raised her hand and carelessly wiped them off. She rarely cried, at least not in front of Lu Yinan. In these five years, he had hardly seen her cry. But tears were a woman¡¯s best weapon. Guilt and remorse engulfed Lu Yinan when he saw her weeping silently. He hung his hands by his side as he clenched his fists. He was at a loss for words. ¡°Bad daddy! Bad daddy!¡± Lu Huanyan ran to Lu Yinan and hit him on his thighs with her fists. She ran to Zhou Shuang and pulled her hand. She sobbed and said, ¡°I want Mommy. I don¡¯t want Daddy anymore.¡± Chapter 1724. Even God is Helping (part Ten) In the eyes of the girl, Lu Yinan had pushed Zhou Shuang and he had done it on purpose. ¡°What is happening here?¡± Ming Ansheng and Su Yue rushed towards them when they heard Yanyan¡¯s yells. Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan glanced swiftly at each other as they clammed up. Su Yue¡¯s eyes darted to Yanyan. ¡°Yanyan, what happened?¡± Yanyan replied in between sobs. ¡°Daddy pushed Mommy and Mommy fell.¡± Su Yue¡¯s face darkened when she heard that. With a fiery gleam in her eyes, she raised her voice in an accusing tone. ¡°Lu Yinan! How can you do that?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Lu Yinan was about to explain when Ming Ansheng grabbed him by his collar. He pulled him along and hissed, ¡°Come with me!¡± Ming Ansheng dragged Lu Yinan away, and Su Yue glanced at Zhou Shuang. She softly consoled, ¡°Sister Hooligan, don¡¯t be so sad. I think he didn¡¯t push you on purpose.¡± Lu Yinan was highly educated and furthermore, he was a refined and elegant man. It was unlikely for him to use violence on women. Besides, his child was around. Zhou Shuang bent and silently peered at the ground. Thick and fat tears fell fast and furious on the ground. She always appeared to be strong and tenacious. It was as though she would never cry or feel pain. Even if she cried, others still find it amusing. It was the first time Su Yue had seen her weeping silently. Her heart went out to her. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t cry anymore. If you cry, Yanyan will cry too. It¡¯s getting late, don¡¯t scare the child.¡± She coaxed Zhou Shuang gently and gripped her arm to steer her back into the courtyard. Zhou Shuang knew that Su Yue was right. So, she wiped her tears and replied, ¡°Yanyan, don¡¯t cry anymore. Let¡¯s go and play with Xiaojiao.¡± ¡­ Ming Ansheng dragged Lu Yinan into the distance and pinned him against a huge tree. ¡°Lu Yinan, are you still a man!¡± It frustrated Lu Yinan. ¡°Do I look like I would hit a woman?¡± He could accept if Su Yue didn¡¯t believe him. But Ming Ansheng grew up with him, how could he doubt his character? No matter how horrible he was, he would never lay hands on a woman. Ming Ansheng sneered with contempt. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you look like one or not. It¡¯s a fact.¡± Ming Ansheng certainly knew him since they grew up together. Zhou Shuang¡¯s fall must be an accident. He merely wanted to use this opportunity to teach him a good lesson. He couldn¡¯t just sit on the fence and watch his and Zhou Shuang¡¯s relationship deteriorate. For the sake of their own children, Ming Ansheng felt that they needed to work things out. ¡°Ming Ansheng, I don¡¯t feel like talking to you.¡± Lu Yinan pressed his palms against Ming Ansheng¡¯s chest and pushed him away. Ming Ansheng pointed at Lu Yinan. ¡°Go ahead and do whatever you want.¡± Lu Yinan was in too foul of a mood to listen to any advice. ¡°Just go.¡± Lu Yinan slumped against the tree and took out his cigarette case. He lit one up. Ming Ansheng nodded and said, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go. I¡¯m waiting for you to feel a sense of regret when the day comes.¡± He turned around and stormed off. Regret? He had enough, and he needed a clean break! Lu Yinan watched as Ming Ansheng disappeared. He narrowed his eyes as he took puff after puff, lost in his own thoughts. ¡­ After a hectic month, the young masters finally had time to take a breather. Chapter 1725. Even God is Helping (part Eleven) As per their yearly tradition, the three best friends would go to a bar for drinks after the reunion dinner. In a luxurious private room, the trio sat in a row on the couch. Young Master Yan sat in between Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng. His long-fingered hand held a wine glass, he then lazily swirled it. He inhaled the smell of the wine as though he was savoring it. His eyes darted to the left and right as he quipped, ¡°Ming Ansheng, Lu Yinan, both of you are alone again this year?¡± He was asking the obvious. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why are you being so smug all day long?¡± Ming Ansheng cast a scathing look at Yan Rusheng as he continued, ¡°It¡¯s as if the world revolves around only one woman. And she is Wen Xuxu.¡± Why did he have to be so snobbish and acted as though he was far superior to everyone else? That was enough! Yan Rusheng shrugged with his shoulders. ¡°But to you fellows, it is the truth. Both of you will witness how loving my wife and I are and be tortured to death.¡± His vile tongue was more lethal than poison. ¡°Your mouth should be taped, especially on a festive occasion like this.¡± Lu Yinan angrily pointed at Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth. Yan Rusheng raised his glass once more as he swirled the contents. He eyed the glass lazily and spoke in a drawl. ¡°No point being jealous of me. There are plenty of women around, but it¡¯s hard to be with your childhood sweetheart. And a gentle and outstanding woman like my Xuxu is a priceless precious gem.¡± Lu Yinan balled his fists and punched Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Get lost!¡± He glanced at Ming Ansheng and said, ¡°Drive this jerk away. He is like an irritating housefly.¡± Ming Ansheng sneered coldly. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it since my situation differs from yours. Are you hoping that I would console and coax you?¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ F*ck! His situation was even worse than Ming Ansheng? Oh right. He had reconciled with Su Yue. Ming Ansheng saw how Lu Yinan¡¯s face turned from black to crimson, and he felt a sense of superiority. He raised his hand and glanced at the time on his watch. ¡°Sorry, my flight is at 11:30 p.m., so I need to go to the airport now.¡± He rose, picked up his coat, and after a moment of hesitation, he patted Lu Yinan¡¯s shoulders. Lu Yinan glared at him. ¡°Get out of my sight. I don¡¯t want to see your annoying face.¡± ¡°Bye.¡± Ming Ansheng waved at Yan Rusheng, and he stopped after a few steps. He glanced at Lu Yinan and smiled. ¡°I heard from Su Yue that she is going to Zhou Shuang¡¯s place today for a reunion dinner. I¡¯m going to fetch Su Yue and my daughter. Do you have anything to pass to Zhou Shuang?¡± He looked so smug that Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t contain his anger any longer. He grabbed a slice of apple from the fruit platter and hurled it at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng! Out of Yan Rusheng¡¯s strengths, why did you emulate his worst trait!¡± Ming Ansheng dodged it effortlessly and whistled as he left the room. The way he sauntered and how he swung the coat was about to make Lu Yinan erupt. ¡°Look at him!¡± Lu Yinan pointed at Ming Ansheng, looking incensed. He was about to speak again when his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen and answered the call. He widened his eyes as he sprang to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll go back now.¡± Chapter 1726. Even God is Helping (part Twelve) After Lu Yinan hung up, he hastily informed Yan Rusheng, ¡°Jiaojiao is having a high fever. I need to go back.¡± Yan Rusheng got anxious when he heard him. ¡°Hurry up then.¡± ¡°Bye.¡± Lu Yinan ran out, leaving his coat behind. ¡­ ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Yinan reached home and simply ran up the stairs without taking off his shoes. Jiaojiao was resting on the bed, and her cheeks were red. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother sat beside her with a wet towel on her hand. She turned and glanced at Lu Yinan. ¡°I don¡¯t know why her fever spiked so suddenly.¡± ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Lu Yinan came to the bed and sat down on the edge. He carried Jiaojiao and placed her on his lap. The girl was burning hot and it broke Lu Yinan¡¯s heart. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Jiaojiao clung to Lu Yinan¡¯s arm, and she sobbed. Her voice was husky and she sounded weak. Hot and fat tears rolled down her face that she looked so pitiful. Lu Yinan felt as if his heart was being squeezed. He patted her back and gently coaxed, ¡°Darling, don¡¯t cry anymore. Daddy will bring you to the hospital.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want. I don¡¯t want medicine and injections. I want Mommy.¡± Jiaojiao gripped Lu Yinan¡¯s arm tightly. More tears streamed down her face. Lu Yinan was at a loss when she threw a tantrum. He only nodded and hurriedly said, ¡°Alright, alright. Mommy will be here. But we need to treat your fever first.¡± He put Jiaojiao on the bed as he wrung the wet towel in the basin. Then he placed it gently on her forehead. Jiaojiao shook her head furiously. ¡°I don¡¯t want medicine. I want Mommy to hug me. I want Mommy to sleep with me.¡± Her face was flushed, and Lu Yinan used his palm to touch her. She was really burning up. He lifted her up and softly said, ¡°Daddy will hug you and tell you a story.¡± He began to tell her favorite story which Zhou Shuang used to read to them before bedtime. He quickly finished the story. The room fell silent and Jiaojiao suddenly gazed at Lu Yinan. ¡°Mommy rubs my tummy. She sings a song.¡± Lu Yinan was a little helpless, and he flashed her a weak smile. ¡°Okay, Daddy will sing for you.¡± It¡¯s just a song. Everybody knew how to sing. And he knew quite a few. Jiaojiao said, ¡°I want the little red hat song.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Yinan nodded and he stroked her head. He began, ¡°I¡¯m walking¡­¡± After the song, Lu Yinan peered at Jiaojiao and waited for her response. ¡°Not as nice as Mommy. I want Mommy.¡± She started clamoring for her mommy again. ¡°Stop crying. I will rub your tummy.¡± Lu Yinan placed his huge hand on her tummy and massaged it. ¡°No. I want Mommy.¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t massage Jiaojiao the way Zhou Shuang did, so she whined for her mommy. Lu Yinan tried again by using lesser strength, but the girl still wasn¡¯t pleased with him. So, she rejected him. Tears leaked out from the corners of her eyes. And he couldn¡¯t coax her, anymore. Lu Yinan was getting impatient, so he took out his phone to call Zhou Shuang. It got through, but Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t answer. Lu Yinan sent her a text. ¡®Jiaojiao is having a high fever. She is crying and looking for you.¡¯ His phone immediately rang after he sent the text. He knew Zhou Shuang deliberately refused to answer his call earlier on. Fuming, he snarled, ¡°Jiaojiao is looking for you.¡± Chapter 1727. Even God is Helping (part Thirteen) ¡°Pass the phone to Jiaojiao.¡± Zhou Shuang kept her words brief, and she requested to talk to her daughter. Worry was laced in her tone and this gave Lu Yinan an idea. His eyes lit up for a moment. ¡°She¡¯s been running a fever of 40 degrees the entire day,¡± Lu Yinan explained. He did not pass the phone to Jiaojiao. He was hoping that Zhou Shuang would fly back in a panic. He had just taken Second Lu¡¯s temperature¡ªit was only 39-degrees. How shameless! ¡°That¡¯s so high. She didn¡¯t see a doctor?¡± Zhou Shuang became anxious when she heard that Jiaojiao was running a 40-degree fever. Lu Yinan imagined what Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression was: Her eyes bulging, and her face paled. Everything was going according to his plan. His eyes flashed craftily, and he helplessly said, ¡°She refused to go to the hospital or eat medication. She keeps asking for you.¡± Then he looked at Jiaojiao. Her face was flushed. He gently caressed her face with the back of his hand. Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice wavered as she said, ¡°Pass the phone to Jiaojiao. Let me talk to her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yinan passed Jiaojiao the phone. ¡°Jiaojiao, it¡¯s Mommy.¡± Jiaojiao eagerly snatched the phone. ¡°Mommy. I want Mommy.¡± Tears fell down her face once more. Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart ached when she heard her crying. She started tearing as well as she said, ¡°Jiaojiao, this is Mommy. Listen to Daddy, go to the hospital and take your medicine. Be a good girl, alright?¡± Not once did all three of her children leave her side since they were born. Although there were many people at home who helped her, she basically was the one who raised the kids. Having left without Second Lu for so many days, Zhou Shuang also felt heartbroken. She often cried in secret at night. How she wished that she could teleport back to her daughter¡¯s side, as though she was in a game. ¡°I miss Mommy. Mommy doesn¡¯t want Jiaojiao anymore. You only want Brother and Sister, right?¡± Jiaojiao choked as tears flowed uncontrollably down her face. Although she was a few minutes older than Yanyan, she was an obedient and thoughtful older sister. She was very thoughtful towards Yanyan, her great grandfather, and also her parents. All the elders at home loved her. Naturally, she thought more about things as well. Zhou Shuang denied, ¡°No, of course not. Jiaojiao is Mommy¡¯s obedient baby.¡± ¡°Brother Nuoxing said that Mommy doesn¡¯t want me anymore¡­¡± Jiaojiao started sobbing. Zhou Shuang covered her mouth and took a moment to compose herself before saying, ¡°Mommy wants Jiaojiao. Mommy loves Jiaojiao very much. Jiaojiao, be a good girl and eat your medicine, alright?¡± Jiaojiao¡¯s voice sounded strangled as she asked, ¡°Will Mommy come home if I eat my medicine?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry, darling.¡± Lu Yinan helped Jiaojiao wipe away her tears, but it was a never-ending stream. His heart ached, so he decided to carry her in his arms. Jiaojiao was still holding the phone, asking for her Mommy. Zhou Shuang was heartbroken that she couldn¡¯t speak. Both of them had long pauses after every sentence in their conversation. ¡°Mommy will go over in a few days to take you to Country M, okay?¡± ¡°No¡­ Don¡¯t want¡­¡± Jiaojiao cried and shook her head. ¡°Jiaojiao wants Daddy and Mommy to be together. I want Mommy and Daddy.¡± Chapter 1728. Even God is Helping (part Fourteen) She sobbed into Lu Yinan¡¯s chest. Her heart-wrenching cries broke both Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan¡¯s hearts. He snatched the phone out of her hand and yelled into it, ¡°Zhou Shuang, quit being so stubborn. Even if you¡¯re not planning on returning, bring First Lu and Third Lu back!¡± Then he immediately ended the call, lifted his arm, and prepared to throw the phone at the wall in anger. But he decided against it. He clenched his phone tightly and gritted his teeth in menace. He didn¡¯t know how to vent out his frustration. Suddenly, his phone rang again. He answered it without looking. Zhou Shuang¡¯s name flashed across his eyes. He angrily picked up the phone, but his voice suddenly softened. ¡°Come home. Jiaojiao misses you. I¡¯ll bring her to the hospital immediately.¡± ¡°Pass the phone to Jiaojiao.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice was hoarse. But her voice wasn¡¯t as strangled. ¡°I¡­¡± Lu Yinan started. But he couldn¡¯t get the words ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ out of his mouth. ¡°Lu Yinan, pass the phone to Jiaojiao,¡± Zhou Shuang raised her voice and repeated. She seemed to have run out of patience. ¡°Don¡¯t get angry. I¡¯ll pass it to her now.¡± Lu Yinan immediately did as he had said. ¡°Jiaojiao, Mommy wants to talk to you.¡± Jiaojiao was still sobbing in his arms. Lu Yinan placed the phone to her ear, and Jiaojiao greeted her. Zhou Shuang hurriedly coaxed, ¡°Jiaojiao, don¡¯t cry. Mommy will be back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiaojiao nodded and immediately wriggled out of Lu Yinan¡¯s arms. She haphazardly wiped her tears, and she said, ¡°Pinky promise. Adults must keep their word.¡± ¡°Pinky promise,¡± Zhou Shuang choked. She paused and said, ¡°So¡­ Jiaojiao be a good girl and listen to Daddy and Grandma. Go to the hospital and take your medicine, alright?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiaojiao lifted her head and said to Lu Yinan, ¡°Daddy, let¡¯s go to the hospital. Jiaojiao will be a good girl. Then Mommy will come home.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s heart clenched. ¡­ N City. Su Yue stared at the photograph on the wall. It was a photo of her, Xiaojiao, and Jiao Chen. She was holding a glass of red wine. She smiled when her gaze landed on Jiao Chen¡¯s gentle and loving eyes. He was smiling, and he seemed so life-like. ¡°Jiaojiao, it¡¯s been a year. Xiaojiao has grown so much taller the past half a year. She can reach the lights switch now.¡± Su Yue smiled, and her eyes glimmered with tears. She paused and rubbed her eyes before looking up at the photo and smiling. ¡°Are you¡­ doing good over there?¡± She could only hear her heartbeat. ¡°Will you blame me if I don¡¯t spend New Year¡¯s with you next year?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have a drink.¡± Su Yue lifted her glass high and placed it to her lips. ¡°You can¡¯t take your liquor, so drink less. Or your face will turn red again.¡± Her eyes turned red as she stared at the handsome boy. Her eyes were filled with longing. ¡®Why is your face so red?¡¯ ¡®Susu, can I hug you?¡¯ Jiaojiao, if¡­ Chapter 1729. Even God is Helping (part Fifteen) But there were no ¡®ifs¡¯ in this world. If there were so many ¡®ifs¡¯, would people still have regrets? However, what was life without regrets? Su Yue was wearing a white shirt and black leather pants. She had been standing in front of the photograph for almost an hour. Xiaojiao stared at her. She then tilted her head to the side in confusion as she sat at the dining table. ¡°Mommy, you miss Daddy, too?¡± The little lass couldn¡¯t keep her curiosity in any longer. ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue nodded and took a deep breath. Then she looked over and smiled. ¡°Mommy misses Daddy, just like Xiaojiao.¡± ¡®I really really miss him.¡¯ Only time could heal her. She knew that deep in her heart. ¡°Daddy is in heaven. It¡¯s very pretty.¡± Xiaojiao comforted, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be sad.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and lowered her head. She mumbled, ¡°Yes, Jiao Chen is such a good person. He¡¯ll definitely be in heaven, and God will take care of him.¡± ¡°Mommy, cheers.¡± Xiaojiao raised her cup and slid off the chair. She jogged to Su Yue. She peered up at her and smiled innocently. Su Yue was touched. She felt grateful and comforted. She rubbed her head and stretched her glass out and clinked it against Xiaojiao¡¯s. ¡°Cheers.¡± Su Yue finished her wine in one swift motion. Xiaojiao also gulped down her drink. Then she lifted her glass and turned it over before she showed it to Su Yue. ¡°Not a drop left.¡± Su Yue chuckled and stared at her adorable face. This little lass learned fast. Or rather, Lu Huanyan was too influential. Every time Xiaojiao met her, she would learn something new. ¡°Miss Su Xiaojiao, let¡¯s go for our reunion dinner.¡± Su Yue bent over and carried her. She had grown taller and heavier as well, so she had to use more strength. Su Yue gritted her teeth, and it took her some effort to stand up. Xiaojiao asked, ¡°Mommy, my new Daddy is not having reunion dinner with us?¡± Su Yue was startled. ¡°What?¡± New Daddy? What the heck! Then she realized: Ming Ansheng. But this was the first time she heard of the phrase ¡®New Daddy¡¯. It was new to her. Xiaojiao said, ¡°Sister Yanyan said that if Lying Uncle becomes my Daddy, then he¡¯s my new Daddy. He¡¯s Little Daddy.¡± As expected, she learned it from ¡®Teacher Lu¡¯. Su Yue smiled and carried her to the dining table, picking up her phone. She turned on the screen and saw a message. It was short that she could read the entire message without unlocking her screen. ¡®I miss my little darling, but I miss my big darling more.¡¯ ¡®Sender: Ming Ansheng.¡¯ ¡°Mommy, who is New Daddy¡¯s big darling?¡± Xiaojiao suddenly asked out of curiosity. She recognized the name, and she knew who Ming Ansheng was. ¡°No one.¡± Su Yue hurriedly turned off the screen and smiled. She changed the topic. ¡°Let¡¯s give Aunt Hooligan and Sister Yanyan a call, alright?¡± Chapter 1730. Even God is Helping (part Sixteen) Xiaojiao nodded and said, ¡°Okay!¡± Su Yue dialed Zhou Shuang¡¯s number and pressed the speaker function. She placed her phone on the dining table. Both mother and daughter peered at the phone and waited for Zhou Shuang to pick up. ¡®Sorry, the number you have called is unavailable¡­¡¯ Su Yue frowned when she heard that. She switched off her phone? That woman needed a power bank for her phone whenever she went out. Yet, she had switched off her phone? It was unusual. Su Yue decided to try again, but her phone remained switched off. ¡°Mommy, Aunt Hooligan switched off her phone,¡± said Xiaojiao as she glanced at Su Yue. ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue nodded. She was about to lock her screen when her phone rang. Su Yue instinctively thought that it must be Zhou Shuang. She pressed her lips when she saw the caller. It was Ming Ansheng. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s Little Daddy.¡± Xiaojiao snatched Su Yue¡¯s phone away and answered the call. ¡°Hello, Little Daddy.¡± Su Yue was speechless¡­ Su Yue tried picturing Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression when he heard the little imp addressing him in that way. She wanted to see if it would badly affect him. He was such a prideful man, and yet his own daughter addressed him as ¡®Little Daddy¡¯. Su Yue thought of it, and she guffawed. ¡°Big darling, put your hand down so that I can see your smile.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his voice, and Su Yue could hear every word he said. She was shocked. She froze with her hand over her mouth, and her eyes warily wandered around. How could he be here! She sprang to her feet and sprinted to the windows. A towering figure stood in the courtyard with a hand deep inside his pocket. He held his phone to his ear with his free hand, and he smiled at her. Su Yue was dumbstruck as though he had cast a spell on her. She stared at the man without even blinking. It was just like a dream. ¡°Big darling, I miss you too much. What should I do?¡± The man spoke in a deep voice. His voice was a little hoarse, probably due to the long flight or maybe he was choked with emotion. It tugged at her heartstrings. Su Yue still held hel phone, and she tightened her grip. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest and she warned, ¡°You cannot come in.¡± The man¡¯s face fell and he fell silent. He spoke softly again, ¡°Then I¡¯ll stand here to watch you. Can you just stand there and not move?¡± ¡­ Su Yue didn¡¯t answer Ming Ansheng, and she turned around and vanished. Ming Ansheng was startled that she left so abruptly. His hand fell limply beside his body, and he turned around¡­ She said she wanted to stay here for a year. He was too impatient and he couldn¡¯t contain his longing for her. ¡°Uncle Ming, where are you going?¡± A familiar voice sounded, and it was pleasant and lovely. Ming Ansheng halted his footsteps, and before he could turn around, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around his waist. At that moment, it seemed as though spring had replaced winter and everything else turned vibrant and alive. Chapter 1731. Even God is Helping (part Seventeen) Ming Ansheng was so overwhelmed with emotions that his hands hovered in midair. After some time, he grasped Su Yue¡¯s hands and wrapped them tightly with his. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same if I come out to look for you?¡± Su Yue¡¯s voice rang behind him, and Ming Ansheng took some time to comprehend what she meant. His good-looking face seemed like a flower blossoming in spring. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± He grinned to himself before he burst out into laughter. His laughter reverberated and rang pleasantly around them. It was as if he put everything behind him. Su Yue tightened her arms around Ming Ansheng¡¯s waist, and she pressed her face to his back. She could hear his heart beating. His heartbeat was erratic; he must be feeling overwhelmed and excited. She deliberately teased him. ¡°Su Xiaojiao said you¡¯re her little daddy.¡± Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows and turned around. With a solemn voice, he corrected, ¡°Tell her I¡¯m her real father.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips and said, ¡°Children are honest and innocent. I can¡¯t force her to change.¡± Currently¡­ no one would be able to usurp Jiao Chen¡¯s position in Xiaojiao¡¯s heart. After all, Jiao Chen was the one who taught her to say her first word. And he was the one who held her hand as she took her first step. ¡°Yueyue,¡± said Ming Ansheng with an intense and steadfast gaze. Su Yue raised her head and watched him intently. ¡°I won¡¯t lose to him,¡± promised Ming Ansheng. He tucked some strands of Su Yue¡¯s hair behind her ear. Su Yue pressed her lips and nodded quietly. Unconsciously, they held hands together. ¡°Mommy, Little Daddy. I want to eat. Then I want to go to Sister Yanyan¡¯s house.¡± Xiaojiao came bouncing out of the house. She wore a set of thick and furry pajamas with a cat on her chest. She stood a distance away as she beckoned to Ming Ansheng and Su Yue. Su Yue thought of something and glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°I told Sister Hooligan that I would look for her later.¡± The sky was getting dark. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Why?¡± asked Su Yue. She looked puzzled. Ming Ansheng smiled and said, ¡°She should be somewhere in the China skies by now.¡± It startled Su Yue. ¡°You mean she went back?¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°She is really soft-hearted. Didn¡¯t she swore that she would never go back?¡± Su Yue mocked Zhou Shuang with a disapproving look. ¡°She said she would rather die than go back. It has only been such a short period of time. She has disappointed me!¡± They frequently met for tea or to bring the children out to play during this period. They became very close. Ming Ansheng chuckled when he saw that Su Yue was annoyed. He affectionately stroked her nose and said, ¡°You little lass. Are you hoping that they will split up? How about the triplets?¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes in response. ¡°She would be better off without Lu Yinan since his attitude is horrible.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for the triplets, she would have advised Sister Hooligan to never talk to Lu Yinan again. But without the triplets, what was left between Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang? ¡®Sigh!¡¯ Everyone could tell that Sister Hooligan liked Lu Yinan. Why couldn¡¯t Lu Yinan feel it? Or perhaps he didn¡¯t like Sister Hooligan, that was why he tried to act as though he didn¡¯t know anything. Was he intending to make her stay by his side without marrying her? Then after the triplets grow up, he would kick her away? Chapter 1732. Even God is Helping (part Eighteen) ¡°Lu Yinan isn¡¯t as horrible as you¡¯ve pictured him to be. Both of them refuse to give in because they want to gain the upper hand in their relationship. This is why their relationship is so strained.¡± Ming Ansheng still defended Lu Yinan. It was because he was sure of Lu Yinan¡¯s character. They played together when they were children and they were closer than real brothers. Certainly, he would know him very well. Su Yue retorted, ¡°But women cannot give in so easily!¡± Women cannot give in so easily¡­ Ming Ansheng helplessly grinned. He shared the same sentiment as Su Yue. In a relationship or marriage, he believed that a woman sacrifices much more than a man. Men could never be able to imagine. He stretched his hand and gently patted Su Yue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Give Lu Yinan some time. I have faith in him.¡± Su Yue softly sneered. ¡°Of course, you would help out your friend.¡± ¡°All right. I will always be by your side and support your decisions.¡± Ming Ansheng wound his arm around her waist before kissing the top of her head. Su Yue raised her chin as she peered at Ming Ansheng. She pointed at him and quipped, ¡°Not for me. But for Sister Hooligan.¡± Ming Ansheng solemnly nodded as though he was a warrior on the battlefield. ¡°Alright, I will support Hooligan Zhou.¡± Fortunately, Yan Rusheng and Lu Yinan weren¡¯t around. If they were, they would certainly mock him. ¡°Uncle Ming, you¡¯re the best.¡± Su Yue beamed at him, and her eyes twinkled. She clung tightly to Ming Ansheng¡¯s arm and pressed her head against his muscular arm. Women were really superficial at times. Even if she was aware that a man was just coaxing her, she would still be happy. If a man lied just to coax a woman, provided that he didn¡¯t break his principles or commit a mistake, it would show that he loved that woman. ¡­ ¡°Change your shoes.¡± Su Yue led Ming Ansheng into the house and opened the shoe cabinet. She hesitated before retrieving her slippers and placing it on the floor for him. ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded before he bent to peer at the slippers. That small pair of furry white slippers had a cartoon design on it. He was afraid that he could only stuff half his foot in. But he didn¡¯t hesitate and removed his shoes. Just as he had expected, half of his feet were still exposed. But the house was warm. He followed Su Yue to the dining table. Xiaojiao sat across Su Yue. There was a bowl of rice, a pair of chopsticks, and a wine glass. It was as though¡­ someone was sitting there. ¡°Have a seat.¡± Su Yue pulled the chair for Ming Ansheng. ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded, and he withdrew his gaze from the empty seat next to Xiaojiao. He bent to sit beside Su Yue. ¡°I cooked everything. Try them.¡± Su Yue put some food into Ming Ansheng¡¯s bowl. She was enthusiastic. As though she couldn¡¯t wait for Ming Ansheng to try her cooking. Ming Ansheng frowned when he heard her. ¡°Where is your helper?¡± Su Yue smiled. ¡°Since we are going back soon, this place¡­¡± She paused and bowed her head. Something had stirred in her heart, and she whispered, ¡°I asked her to go back for Chinese New Year.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Chapter 1733. Even God is Helping (part Nineteen) In the depths of his eyes, there was a tiny spark of excitement swirling in the calmness. The day had finally arrived. ¡°To Little Daddy.¡± Xiaojiao raised the glass and smiled at Ming Ansheng. Her voice was as sweet and as cute as her face. Ming Ansheng raised his glass to give a toast to Xiaojiao. ¡°Thank you, darling Xiaojiao. Happy Chinese New Year. May you grow prettier and lovelier with each passing day.¡± He placed the glass to his lips and took a sip. He had placed the glass on the table when Xiaojiao interjected, ¡°Little Daddy is more handsome now.¡± Ming Ansheng stretched his hand and lightly pinched Xiaojiao¡¯s chubby cheeks. ¡°What a sweet girl.¡± ¡°Xiaojiao will get prettier but you won¡¯t become more good-looking.¡± Su Yue cut across, and she glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°You will only become older with more wrinkles,¡± said Su Yue unceremoniously. She gently poked the corner of Ming Ansheng¡¯s eye. ¡°This is the charm of a man in his prime,¡± proclaimed Ming Ansheng in dramatic fashion. He then raised his chin. ¡°Tch.¡± Su Yue cast him a contemptuous look and continued to eat. Ming Ansheng glanced at Su Yue and unconsciously, he stroked the corners of his eyes. Wrinkles¡­ Would he look old if he had many wrinkles? Young Master Ming stole a glance at Su Yue¡¯s beautiful and youthful face. He began to doubt his attractiveness. ¡°Wrinkled old man.¡± Su Yue suddenly turned and peered at him. Ming Ansheng was taken aback, and he hastily stowed his hand away. He casually picked up his chopsticks and popped vegetables into his mouth. Su Yue chuckled quietly and ignored Ming Ansheng. After they finished their meal, Xiaojiao went to play with her toys. Su Yue stood on her feet to clean up. Ming Ansheng offered, ¡°Let me help you.¡± He stacked all the plates and bowls with quick and nimble hands. Su Yue nudged him. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Go and accompany Xiaojiao.¡± Ming Ansheng continued to clear the dishes, so Su Yue had no choice but to stand aside. Su Yue brought the dishes to the kitchen with Ming Ansheng trailing behind her. Su Yue entered the kitchen and Ming Ansheng stopped and leaned against the door. He glanced at Su Yue and said, ¡°Yueyue, let¡¯s go for a walk later. I¡¯m too full.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°When you go back later, wouldn¡¯t you be able to take a stroll?¡± ¡°You and Xiaojiao need a walk, too. And she ate so much,¡± said Ming Ansheng. Su Yue glanced out of the windows. Taking a walk sounded like a good idea since the weather wasn¡¯t too cold tonight. She nodded and said, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Ming Ansheng punched his fists in the air. Su Yue frowned and glanced at him. ¡°Why are you so excited?¡± ¡°I promised Xiaojiao to build a snowman together with her.¡± Ming Ansheng resumed his usual expression in a split second. He leaned against the door once more. It was as though that person a second ago wasn¡¯t him. ¡°The snow is melting. How do you build a snowman?¡± Su Yue grinned as she continued to wash the dishes. ¡­ The family of three took a walk around the neighborhood for about an hour. She glanced at Ming Ansheng and said, ¡°Uncle Ming, let¡¯s go back.¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°Just a while more.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m so tired.¡± Su Yue shook her head reluctantly. She was about to leave when Ming Ansheng grabbed her arm. ¡°I want to play with Xiaojiao. Let¡¯s go to my place.¡± Chapter 1734. Even God is Helping (part Twenty) Su Yue turned to Xiaojiao and waited for her to respond. She wanted to know what Xiaojiao would say. Ming Ansheng immediately lifted Xiaojiao and sweetly said, ¡°Xiaojiao, Daddy bought lots of candies for you. Do you want them?¡± He certainly knew the way to a glutton¡¯s heart. Xiaojiao nodded without hesitation. ¡°I want! Little Daddy is the best.¡± She wrapped her arms around Ming Ansheng¡¯s neck. Ming Ansheng frowned and stiffly corrected, ¡°It¡¯s not Little Daddy. It¡¯s Daddy.¡± It sounded as though he was her stepfather. Xiaojiao pouted and looked a bit reluctant. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t want her to throw a tantrum so he didn¡¯t press on. He turned around and walked in the direction of his place. He raised her up so that she could sit on his shoulders. Su Yue hastened her footsteps and said, ¡°She is already so big¡­¡± And she was quite heavy too. Su Yue stopped when she heard their tinkling laughter. She pressed her lips together and retracted her hands. Their shadows cast on the ground¡ªlong and narrow under the lamps. Ming Ansheng walked in curves so their shadows seemed to dance. Su Yue stowed her hands inside the pockets of her coat and trailed after them. A blissful smile drifted across her face as she watched them. ¡°Mommy, faster!¡± Xiaojiao shouted ahead. Su Yue nodded and hastened her footsteps. She took out her hands from the pockets and strode quickly. ¡°Little Daddy, faster! Mommy is going to catch us!¡± urged Xiaojiao as she prodded Ming Ansheng¡¯s head. Her expression had excitement mingled with anxiety as she waited for Su Yue to catch them. Was this girl slapping his head now? Ming Ansheng frowned in amusement. Even if his daughter wanted to pluck all his hair, he would still allow her to do so. With a tender expression in his eyes, he held Xiaojiao¡¯s legs tightly. ¡°Hold on!¡± Then he sprinted forward. Xiaojiao held tightly to Ming Ansheng¡¯s head, and her laughter pierced through the wintery air. Ming Ansheng and Su Yue smiled when they heard her. The joy and warmth shattered the cold and icy night. ¡­ They reached home and took out the key to unlock the door. Ming Ansheng put Xiaojiao on the couch before presenting her with the snacks and candies. ¡°All for Xiaojiao.¡± It had taken up most of the space in his huge suitcase. His clothes only occupied a small corner. ¡°So many!¡± Xiaojiao leaped off the couch and began to rummage through the food. She loved all of them. How she wished she could try all of them. Su Yue stood at the front porch with a frown. ¡°Why are you so excited? It¡¯s just junk food.¡± It sounded as though she was chiding Xiaojiao for being too easily satisfied. Chapter 1735. Even God is Helping (part Twenty One) But Ming Ansheng interpreted her words and bitter tone in a different light. He looked over at her and flashed a wicked smile. ¡°You¡¯re jealous?¡± Su Yue frowned and coldly smiled. ¡°Why would I be?¡± She blushed. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°I only bought gifts for Xiaojiao. I didn¡¯t buy any for you, so you¡¯re jealous.¡± He sounded certain. ¡°Tch.¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m not a child. Who cares about gifts?¡± Then she straightened up and walked to the sofa as though it didn¡¯t bother her. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and continued, ¡°I knew that a regular gift wouldn¡¯t be able to satisfy you¡­¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Su Yue suddenly snorted, and it had interrupted him. She sounded cold and arrogant. She seemed to suggest: ¡®You¡¯re right.¡¯ Su Yue walked over and sat down beside him¡ªshe appeared calm. Ming Ansheng flashed a gentle smiled. ¡°Seems like I was right. So, do you like this New Year¡¯s gift?¡± He raised his eyebrows at her. Su Yue looked at him in confusion. ¡°What gift?¡± Where was it? As she asked that, she looked around. There were only a few things in the huge box. She could see its entire contents with just one glance. ¡°It¡¯s right beside you,¡± Ming Ansheng whispered in her ear. His warm breath seductively fanned her ear. Huh? Su Yue stared at him for quite a while before it dawned on her. But she wasn¡¯t certain. ¡°Is it¡­ you?¡± They stared into each other¡¯s eyes, faces mere inches apart. They could clearly feel each other¡¯s breath. Su Yue¡¯s heart started beating wildly, and she blushed. She swallowed her saliva. The man¡¯s gaze was so heated that it seemed to ignite her entire body. She couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and so she inched backward. However, the man leaned in closer to her. In a way, the distance between them remained the same. ¡°Uncle¡­ Uncle Ming¡­¡± Su Yue finally tore herself away from his piercing gaze and evaded eye contact. ¡°Hmm?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice sounded slightly nasal, and it was exceptionally charming. He leaned in even closer and closed the gap between them even more. The tips of their noses or their lips would come into contact if Su Yue made the slightest movement. Her heart started beating even faster. She clenched and released her fists repeatedly. Her palms were sweaty, even her back was sweating. She bit her lip, and she was frustrated that she had forgotten to remove her outer coat when she entered earlier. But it didn¡¯t seem like a matter that would be solved had she taken her coat off¡­ Ming Ansheng stared at her and remained silent. He pressed his lips and smiled faintly. There was a wicked gleam in his eye. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Su Yue¡¯s elbow was getting numb, and she wanted to move it slightly. But unfortunately, she fell back the moment she bent her elbow. ¡°Be careful,¡± Ming Ansheng reminded her gently as he caught her by the waist. He caught her just before her back came into contact with the sofa. Chapter 1736. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Two) He leaned his body against hers. Their bodies were tightly pressed against each others¡¯ and were merely separated by a few layers of clothes. They could feel the intense heat between their bodies. They could clearly feel each other¡¯s heartbeat. Badump¡­ Badump¡­ ¡°I should go. You can send Xiaojiao home later.¡± Su Yue pushed him away with force. It had caught Ming Ansheng off-guard, so he fell backward. Su Yue took this opportunity to escape. She stood up and tidied her hair and clothes. She didn¡¯t dare to look at him or even meet his heated gaze. ¡°Xiaojiao, Mommy is going home first. Afterward¡­¡± Su Yue glanced at Ming Ansheng, then looked at Xiaojiao and continued, ¡°Afterwards, Uncle will send you home.¡± Then she turned around and walked to the main door. Suddenly, Ming Ansheng hugged her waist from behind. ¡°Yueyue.¡± He hugged her tightly and pulled her back, making her sit on his lap. He whispered in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t go tonight.¡± The sexual tension in the air had slowly engulfed her. Su Yue clenched her fists and bit her lip. She dared not look at him. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know if she wanted to take his offer. She stayed in his embrace and did not want to move. But she felt like she shouldn¡¯t keep too still, as well. ¡°I won¡¯t touch you,¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s voice became hoarse. ¡®I¡¯ll just hug you and kiss you,¡¯ he thought. His hands wound around her waist and showed no signs of wanting to wander over her body. As though he really wasn¡¯t going to touch her. Su Yue hesitated but became at ease. The atmosphere stilled. Ming Ansheng hugged her and buried his nose in her neck. He took in her unique scent. He thought selfishly, ¡®I¡¯m the only one who can treat her right.¡¯ Su Yue closed her eyes. Her heart was slowly being filled, and she craved such feeling. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly called her and placed his hands around her waist. He slowly moved them up and down. Su Yue opened her eyes, and the first person she saw was Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao¡¯s asleep.¡± The little lass leaned her head on the coffee table, and there was a lollipop in her mouth. Su Yu hurriedly removed Ming Ansheng¡¯s hands from her waist and went over to Xiaojiao, carefully retrieving the lollipop from her mouth. She casually stuffed the remains of the lollipop into her mouth. By then, it had become a habit for her. Ming Ansheng walked over as well. ¡°I¡¯ll carry her to the bed.¡± Then he carried her and carefully stood up. Xiaojiao had followed them on their one-hour stroll. She played hard in the daytime as well, so she slept like a log. She didn¡¯t flinch when she was being carried. There was still some sticky sweet substance on her lips, and it made Su Yue frown. ¡°She¡¯s dirty and hasn¡¯t taken her shower.¡± It was impossible to wake her up for a shower now. She took two pieces of tissue paper and wet them, and she used them to clean her mouth. She mumbled, ¡°What a dirty girl. Her teeth are going to decay soon.¡± Ming Ansheng softly replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright, she can shower tomorrow. A few times is fine.¡± Su Yue looked at Ming Ansheng. ¡°She¡¯ll become a spoiled brat if you continue spoiling her like that.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter. Who else am I supposed to spoil?¡± Chapter 1737. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Three) Su Yue pressed her lips together. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll spoil you even more,¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly added. Su Yue peered up and met his mischievous gaze. She blushed. She hurriedly looked downwards and murmured, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to.¡± Ming Ansheng decided not to tease her any longer. ¡°Do you want to shower?¡± Shower? She couldn¡¯t help but think of the phrase in a seductive way. She kept her head bowed and said, ¡°I¡¯m going back. I¡¯ll leave Xiaojiao here.¡± Then she turned to leave. Ming Ansheng hurriedly grabbed her arm. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on it?¡± He frowned. He tried so hard to persuade her. How could she change her mind so easily? ¡°Since when did I agree?¡± Su Yue pressed her lips in denial. ¡°Mommy¡­ So noisy¡­¡± Ming Ansheng was still carrying Xiaojiao with one arm. The little girl suddenly complained about the noise, though her eyes were still closed. Her eyebrows knitted together, and she looked impatient. ¡°Stop talking,¡± Su Yue warned Ming Ansheng coupled with a glare. Then she moved closer to Xiaojiao and gently patted her chest. Ming Ansheng playfully said, ¡°Mm. I won¡¯t talk and I¡¯ll kiss you instead, alright?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t know what to say¡­ She looked askew at the man, speechless. This fellow was almost thirty but he was still so frivolous. Afraid of disturbing Xiaojiao, Su Yue ignored Ming Ansheng and walked with him into the room. The room was neat and tidy. Ming Ansheng was carrying Xiaojiao, and Su Yue went forward to lift the covers. After Ming Ansheng placed Xiaojiao onto the bed, Su Yue sat down beside her. Then she laid down sideways, propping her head up with one arm and patting Xiaojiao with her other hand. Putting her to sleep. Her actions were gentle and affectionate, full of¡­ motherly love. At that moment, she was breathtakingly beautiful. She exuded a womanly charm from head to toe. Ming Ansheng tucked his hands into his pockets and lazily stared at her¡ªhe had entered a reverie. The corners of his lips subconsciously lifted. Su Yue¡¯s actions became gentler and slower. After ensuring that Xiaojiao was in a deep sleep, she stopped and retracted her arm, and she prepared to get off the bed. She turned around and met Ming Ansheng¡¯s gaze. She was lost in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat in that split second. Ming Ansheng loved seeing her blush. After staring into each other¡¯s eyes for a while, he asked, ¡°Do you want to shower?¡± Before Su Yue could reply, Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Don¡¯t mention anything about heading home anymore. Xiaojiao hasn¡¯t spent the night with me before. What if she wakes up in the middle of the night and asks for you? What should I do then?¡± He made sense. Xiaojiao had never left her side before. She couldn¡¯t guarantee that Xiaojiao wouldn¡¯t make a fuss if she didn¡¯t see Su Yue when she woke up. Su Yue thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll watch television in the living room.¡± Then she stood up and walked out of the room with soft steps. Ming Ansheng followed after her. ¡°I¡¯ll join you.¡± Su Yue lowered her head and didn¡¯t meet his gaze. ¡°You should rest. You should be tired after your flight earlier today.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not tired at all. I especially took a nap on the plane, so I¡¯m rejuvenated¡­¡± He purposely dragged out his last word, the corner of his lips had curled upwards. She couldn¡¯t help but let her mind wander¡­ He intentionally ensured that he was energized¡­ Tsk tsk! What did he need all that energy for? Chapter 1738. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Four) Su Yue wasn¡¯t stupid. A blush crept onto her ears and neck. ¡°I¡¯m going outside.¡± She hurriedly walked to the sofa. After she sat down, she picked up the remote and turned on the television. The living room was instantly filled with the sounds from the television. Although she was in no mood to watch anything, it made things less awkward. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Ming Ansheng walked over and sat down beside her. He looked at her from head to toe. Then he smiled gently. ¡°Why are you nervous?¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and denied, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t miss me?¡± Ming Ansheng inched closer to her. ¡°I do¡­¡± Su Yue casually replied before she came to her senses. She hurriedly shook her head and added, ¡°¡­ not.¡± She was nervous and shy, and she looked too cute. He wanted to swallow her up. Ming Ansheng stared at her, and it made his heart beat wildly. He grabbed her intertwined hands. It startled Su Yue. She instinctively broke out of his grasp and asked, ¡°Uncle Ming, what are you doing?¡± Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t mind her doing that. He scooted closer and said, ¡°Yueyue, I just want to hug you. I won¡¯t touch you.¡± He stretched out his arms again and proceeded to hug her. She was soft and smelled good. He missed her so much. So many times he tossed and turned all night, wishing he could see her. It was worse than death. Su Yue frowned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you touching me if we hug?¡± What warped logic was that? Ming Ansheng smiled foolishly. ¡°Just one hug. I won¡¯t touch you.¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± This lie only worked on three-year-old girls. Actually, it wouldn¡¯t even work on Xiaojiao. But she didn¡¯t resist this time. She looked back at the television. The corner of her lips curled upwards, and the skin around her eyes crinkled as she smiled. She pressed her lips to try to not make it too obvious. ¡°You bewitching woman.¡± Ming Ansheng saw the tinge of a smile on her face and tightened his hold on her. He dipped his head and bit her neck and forcefully sucked. It was ticklish, so Su Yue retracted her neck. She wanted to push him away, but her arms seemed numb, she didn¡¯t have the strength to move them. Ming Ansheng hugged her tightly and his kiss of punishment had turned into a passionate and intense one. ¡°Yueyue¡­¡± His breathing became hurried and deeper. Su Yue started breathing heavily as well, and she tilted her head upwards to hug him back. She couldn¡¯t help it. ¡­ ¡°Yueyue¡­ I miss you so much. I really miss you.¡± The man sincerely said as they lay on the soft sofa. Su Yue was resting her head on his broad and muscular shoulders. She closed her eyes and she was smiling blissfully. His words reached her ears, and she murmured a soft reply. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you to the shower.¡± After resting for a while, Ming Ansheng draped his shirt over his shoulder and bent over to carry Su Yue. Su Yue pushed him away and shook her head lethargically. ¡°No, I¡¯m dead beat.¡± Ming Ansheng gloomily raised his eyebrow. In the past, she wasn¡¯t satisfied although they did it until daybreak. She looked down on him a couple of times and it made him feel so inferior. And he even went to drink the disgusting¡­ soft-shelled turtle soup. It almost disgusted him to the brink of death. That was only four years ago. She was only twenty-three now. Why did her stamina decrease so much? The past four years did she and Jiao Chen¡­ Chapter 1739. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Five) There was a blanket on Su Yue¡¯s body. Ming Ansheng looked her up and down. ¡®It hurts¡­¡¯ He suddenly recalled Su Yue¡¯s reaction earlier. Does it hurt? It wasn¡¯t her first time. Why would it hurt? ¡°I¡¯m really tired.¡± Su Yue suddenly waved him off and rolled over, with her back-facing Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng¡¯s train of thought was disrupted. He looked at her small frame before him. He finally had her again. The bitterness in his heart disappeared instantly. She loved him and she was his again. What more did he want? He smiled, bent over, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Big darling, I¡¯ll carry you over.¡± ¡°Uncle Ming, I don¡¯t want to move.¡± Su Yue shook her head and waved her hand. She was really dead beat. ¡°You didn¡¯t move at all,¡± Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but complain. He was the one doing all the work from start to end! Su Yue blushed and turned to look at him. She pouted and asked, ¡°So do you feel wronged?¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head and denied, ¡°No.¡± He wouldn¡¯t dare. Su Yue initially felt sleepy, but after he had said that, she became energized again. She scratched her head and looked at her phone on the coffee table. ¡°Give Sister Hooligan a call. Ask if she¡¯s reached.¡± Ming Ansheng frowned. ¡°At this time¡­¡± How could she be thinking about that at such a time and situation? Su Yue interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s daytime in China.¡± ¡°Aish.¡± Ming Ansheng reluctantly picked up the phone and passed it to Su Yue. Then he laid down beside her before wrapping his arms around her. ¡°Uncle Ming, don¡¯t make me wear you out until you can¡¯t get out of bed tomorrow.¡± Ming Ansheng was about to place his hand on her breast when Su Yue turned to look at him and barked a warning. Ming Ansheng pouted, his hand hung in mid-air. He didn¡¯t know whether he should continue with his plan. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! Shouldn¡¯t the man be saying that instead? He came to his senses and Young Master Ming felt like she had insulted his male dignity. He pinched her breast without hesitation. Su Yue frowned in pain, but the call had gotten through. She gave him a look that said: ¡®You¡¯re dead meat.¡¯ Then she said into the phone with concern, ¡°Sister Hooligan, are you at the capital city already?¡± Zhou Shuang said, ¡°I just alighted from the plane and got onto the car. How did you know that I returned to the capital city?¡± Her voice was hoarse like she had just cried. Su Yue¡¯s heart ached and she didn¡¯t expose her. She didn¡¯t question her and replied casually, ¡°Ming Ansheng told me.¡± ¡°Jiaojiao is sick. I left in a hurry so I didn¡¯t have the chance to tell you.¡± ¡°What happened to Jiaojiao?¡± ¡°She¡¯s caught a flu and is running a fever. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°Oh. Then you should rush home quickly. A child will miss their Mommy when they¡¯re sick.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded, and after they said their goodbyes, she hung up. The skies were barely clear during winter in the capital city. That day, the sky was covered in fog as usual. Zhou Shuang rested her elbow on the side of the car window and stared beyond. The two little fellows beside her were energetic during the plane ride but were now sleeping. Classical music was playing in the car. ¡®Deep in my heart sprouts a lonely flower, eager in bud to emit her fragrance. Day in and out, she¡¯s been yearning and pining for a willing heart to color her dreams¡­ A single woman, drifting in the world of mortals; A lonely flower, wavering softly when the wind blows¡­¡¯ The song had ended but she was still immersed in it. The chauffeur called out to her after he stopped the car. She broke out of her reverie and realized that her face was strewn with tears. Lu yinan and zhou pls dont be prideful, youre children are suffering much ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Shuang replied. She turned her head and wiped away her tears haphazardly. She was feeling a baffling sense of sorrow. She looked at the mansion before her. New year scrolls were hung on every floor. There were red remnants of lit firecrackers at the doorstep. A chill hit her. She leaned against the car window, her eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears. ¡®Zhou Shuang, even if you¡¯re not planning on returning, you¡¯d better send First Lu and Third Lu back¡­¡¯ At the end of the day, she didn¡¯t have a place in his heart. He could do without her. ¡°Grandmother, Great Grandfather.¡± The little fellows eagerly got out of the car and ran happily to Lu Yinan¡¯s mother and Old Master Lu. Their bright voices interrupted her thoughts. She broke out of her reverie and hurriedly dried her tears with a few pieces of tissue paper. She took a deep breath and pressed her lips. She composed herself before she got off the car. ¡®Slam!¡¯ She casually closed the door and walked into the house with eager steps as well. Jiaojiao was still sick and she didn¡¯t know if her fever had subsided. ¡°My little darlings, I¡¯ve missed you so.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother squatted down to embrace her two grandchildren. She hadn¡¯t seen them in days, and she didn¡¯t know how else to express her affection for them. She kissed them on their forehead repeatedly. Old Master Lu was holding onto a walking stick, only briefly looking at the two kids before his gaze landed on Zhou Shuang, who was walking over. When he glanced at Lu Yinan¡¯s mother, he frowned momentarily, as though he was displeased with her actions. ¡°Xiaoshuang, you must be tired. Come on in.¡± He looked benevolently at her as he took a few steps forward. Zhou Shuang smiled. ¡°Grandfather.¡± He nodded kindly and asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I ate some food on the plane,¡± Zhou Shuang replied simply. Worried, she then asked, ¡°How¡¯s Jiaojiao?¡± She had already stepped into the house. Old Master Lu turned around and followed after her with the aid of his walking stick. He said, ¡°In the hospital. Her fever has subsided but she has pneumonia. She has to stay in the hospital for a few days.¡± Zhou Shuang halted in her tracks. She turned around and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital.¡± She immediately started walking back to the main door. Old Master grabbed her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Have some water and take a short rest before going over. Yinan has been taking care of Jiaojiao all day and night. Don¡¯t worry.¡± How could she not worry? The little lass¡¯ cries over the phone had left her heartbroken. How she wished she could teleport over to see her precious daughter. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes turned red, but with determination, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to see Jiaojiao. I¡¯ll leave First Lu and Third Lu here.¡± Then she glanced at the children who were still in Lu Yinan¡¯s mother¡¯s embrace. Then her gaze shifted onto Lu Yinan¡¯s mother. She lifted her head to look at Zhou Shuang. ¡°I just came back from the hospital. Jiaojiao¡¯s fever subsided in the morning and she was put on a drip. She was asleep when I was there. Her father is taking care of her. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Her tone was indifferent. Her attitude towards Zhou Shuang was the same. Both of them had different views on a child¡¯s upbringing, so they quarreled often. Chapter 1740. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Six) ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Shuang replied. She turned her head and wiped away her tears haphazardly. She was feeling a baffling sense of sorrow. She looked at the mansion before her. New year scrolls were hung on every floor. There were red remnants of lit firecrackers at the doorstep. A chill hit her. She leaned against the car window, her eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears. ¡®Zhou Shuang, even if you¡¯re not planning on returning, you¡¯d better send First Lu and Third Lu back¡­¡¯ At the end of the day, she didn¡¯t have a place in his heart. He could do without her. ¡°Grandmother, Great Grandfather.¡± The little fellows eagerly got out of the car and ran happily to Lu Yinan¡¯s mother and Old Master Lu. Their bright voices interrupted her thoughts. She broke out of her reverie and hurriedly dried her tears with a few pieces of tissue paper. She took a deep breath and pressed her lips. She composed herself before she got off the car. ¡®Slam!¡¯ She casually closed the door and walked into the house with eager steps as well. Jiaojiao was still sick and she didn¡¯t know if her fever had subsided. ¡°My little darlings, I¡¯ve missed you so.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother squatted down to embrace her two grandchildren. She hadn¡¯t seen them in days, and she didn¡¯t know how else to express her affection for them. She kissed them on their forehead repeatedly. Old Master Lu was holding onto a walking stick, only briefly looking at the two kids before his gaze landed on Zhou Shuang, who was walking over. When he glanced at Lu Yinan¡¯s mother, he frowned momentarily, as though he was displeased with her actions. ¡°Xiaoshuang, you must be tired. Come on in.¡± He looked benevolently at her as he took a few steps forward. Zhou Shuang smiled. ¡°Grandfather.¡± He nodded kindly and asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I ate some food on the plane,¡± Zhou Shuang replied simply. Worried, she then asked, ¡°How¡¯s Jiaojiao?¡± She had already stepped into the house. Old Master Lu turned around and followed after her with the aid of his walking stick. He said, ¡°In the hospital. Her fever has subsided but she has pneumonia. She has to stay in the hospital for a few days.¡± Zhou Shuang halted in her tracks. She turned around and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital.¡± She immediately started walking back to the main door. Old Master grabbed her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Have some water and take a short rest before going over. Yinan has been taking care of Jiaojiao all day and night. Don¡¯t worry.¡± How could she not worry? The little lass¡¯ cries over the phone had left her heartbroken. How she wished she could teleport over to see her precious daughter. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes turned red, but with determination, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to see Jiaojiao. I¡¯ll leave First Lu and Third Lu here.¡± Then she glanced at the children who were still in Lu Yinan¡¯s mother¡¯s embrace. Then her gaze shifted onto Lu Yinan¡¯s mother. She lifted her head to look at Zhou Shuang. ¡°I just came back from the hospital. Jiaojiao¡¯s fever subsided in the morning and she was put on a drip. She was asleep when I was there. Her father is taking care of her. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Her tone was indifferent. Her attitude towards Zhou Shuang was the same. Both of them had different views on a child¡¯s upbringing, so they quarreled often. Chapter 1741. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Seven) Zhou Shuang was a carefree and casual individual who spoke her mind, whereas Lu Yinan¡¯s mother was a gentle and refined woman. Inevitably, the latter did not have a good impression of Zhou Shuang. Especially this time, Zhou Shuang brought the two kids back to Country M and didn¡¯t even return for New Year¡¯s. She had implicated Lu Yinan, for Old Master Lu had chased him out on New Year¡¯s Eve. All the more, she was displeased with Zhou Shuang. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on her.¡± Zhou Shuang looked away from her and walked down the steps. Her footsteps were hurried. After Zhou Shuang got onto the car, she drove out of the courtyard. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother coldly commented, ¡°If she cared so much for her children, why did she leave in the first place?¡± Old Master Lu replied in a sarcastic tone, ¡°And your son is a good man?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Old Master Lu snorted as well and turned around. H walked into the house with the aid of his walking stick. ¡°Dad,¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother called out unhappily. ¡°Lu Yinan has changed quite a bit, alright? You shouldn¡¯t keep commenting on his flaws. If Zhou Shuang were more gentle, they wouldn¡¯t be where they are today.¡± Which woman pulled a long face whenever she saw her man, as though he was her enemy? She was always hollering, not once talking softly. She had never cooked for Yinan either. She only knew how to torture Yinan. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother became even more displeased when she thought about all the things Zhou Shuang did to him. Her son was such a good catch. There were countless rich and eligible ladies with attractive figures who wished they could marry him. Even with his current situation of having three children, many were still hoping for a chance to be with him! Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t know where she stood. Hmph! ¡°Why should she be gentle, given your son¡¯s shameful behavior?¡± Old Master mocked in front of her. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother became worried. She frowned and glared at him unhappily. ¡°Dad, Yinan is your biological grandson. How could you say that of him?¡± Old Master raised his eyebrows coldly. ¡°This maiden came into our family and gave birth to three children. Instead of treating her nicely, you¡¯re still hoping that she will fawn on you and your son?¡± Without waiting for her reply, he turned around and walked to the sofa. ¡°I¡­¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother started, but she was at a loss for words. ¡°You¡¯re too protective.¡± The Old Master called from the sofa. She pressed her lips, and although she still looked displeased, her heart had softened. She was a mother as well. She knew how hard it was. She ignored him and turned to look at the two little fellows. She smiled and asked, ¡°Did Daddy go to grandma¡¯s house when he went to Country M?¡± First Lu nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Huanyan pressed her lips and said, ¡°Mommy chased Daddy away.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother became furious. ¡®I knew this was going to happen!¡¯ Her son must¡¯ve been through torture every time he went to Country M. First Lu continued, ¡°Daddy pushed Mommy and she fell. Mommy cried.¡± The little fellow gritted his teeth in fury. Did he hit her? Lu Yinan¡¯s mother frowned and gritted her teeth. ¡°That rascal.¡± No matter what happened, he shouldn¡¯t have hit a woman! ¡°Hmph! They¡¯re too nice.¡± Old Master Lu snorted. ¡°If I were in the shoes of Zhou Shuang¡¯s parents, I would call the police to catch that rascal on the spot!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother knew better than to talk back. Chapter 1742. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Eight She looked at the two fellows and said, ¡°You guys should go rest. Grandma will bring you to visit Jiaojiao later. I¡¯m going to cook some delicious food for her.¡± ¡­ Zhou Shuang opened the door to the ward without knocking. Lu Yinan was holding a bowl and feeding Jiaojiao. The little lass was leaning against the head of the bed, looking very frail. She had lost a considerable amount of weight. Zhou Shuang rushed forward. ¡°Jiaojiao.¡± Jiaojiao was engrossed in eating so she didn¡¯t notice when Zhou Shuang had entered the ward. When she heard Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice, her eyes¡ªwhich resembled Lu Yinan¡¯s¡ªlit up. She looked up and her eyes gleamed with tears. ¡°Mommy.¡± Zhou Shuang was quickly by her side. ¡°Precious darling, let Mommy hug you.¡± She ran past Lu Yinan. Excitement overcame him as well when he heard Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice. He wanted to turn to look at her, but she had already rushed past him as fast as the wind. She didn¡¯t even look at him. It immediately dampened his mood. Zhou Shuang hugged Jiaojiao in one swift motion. Jiaojiao wrapped her arms around her as well. The mother and daughter were caught in a tight embrace. Jiaojiao cried, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t leave. Don¡¯t leave Jiaojiao.¡± Zhou Shuang gently pushed her away and smiled as she shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not true that Mommy doesn¡¯t want Jiaojiao. Don¡¯t let your mind run wild.¡± She said that while wiping Jiaojiao¡¯s tears. The little lass¡¯s eyelashes were studded with tears and it made one¡¯s heart ache. Zhou Shuang¡¯s words were a reassurance to her, and it instantly made her stop crying. She wiped away her own tears and choked, ¡°Daddy is exhausted from taking care of Jiaojiao. Mommy, can you hug Daddy too?¡± Then she grabbed Lu Yinan¡¯s wrist with one hand and reached for Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand with the other. She wanted them to hold hands. ¡°Daddy is an adult, he doesn¡¯t need Mommy¡¯s hug.¡± Zhou Shuang forcefully retracted her hand just before their hands came into contact. She smiled and coaxed, ¡°Mommy will hug Jiaojiao, alright?¡± She smiled and hugged Jiaojiao. ¡°Who said so?¡± Lu Yinan suddenly spoke in a drawl. His voice was hoarse, and it had revealed his exhaustion. Zhou Shuang stilled and glanced backward at him. She remained silent and continued hugging Jiaojiao tighter. Lu Yinan saw that Zhou Shuang had deliberately ignored him, so he looked at Jiaojiao instead. He pouted and gave a pitiful look. ¡°Jiaojiao, Daddy needs Mommy¡¯s hug.¡± Then he winked at her. Jiaojiao immediately pushed Zhou Shuang towards Lu Yinan. ¡°Mommy, give Daddy a hug. Daddy read me a story and sang for me at night. He even rubbed my tummy.¡± Out of her three kids, this little lass was the most obedient. She was a girl of few words but she was smart. Seeing the hopeful look on her face, Zhou Shuang frowned and pressed her lips before she had bowed her head. ¡°Mommy, give Daddy a hug. It¡¯s been tough on Daddy because he had to take care of me. And he is terrible at singing The Little Red Riding Hood.¡± Then she grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand and pushed it towards Lu Yinan. She winked back at him. Lu Yinan immediately understood and refused to let Zhou Shuang run away this time. He grabbed her hand. Zhou Shuang wanted to break free from his grasp, but he held on tighter. Chapter 1743. Even God is Helping (part Twenty Nine) Zhou Shuang continued to struggle, so he pulled her into his arms. ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you doing?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned in frustration as she glared at him. She gritted her teeth but kept her voice low in fear of scaring Jiaojiao. She used her glare to convey her frustration. Lu Yinan ignored her and continued, ¡°I want to apologize and patch things up with you. Don¡¯t you get it?¡± What? Apologize? Apologizing wasn¡¯t something Lu Yinan would do. Zhou Shuang snorted coldly in her heart. She kept her face stoic, and she said, ¡°Let go of me.¡± She exerted all her might in her struggle. But Lu Yinan was a man. He was tall and¡­ muscular. She wouldn¡¯t be able to break free from his grasp unless he allowed her to. ¡°Are you letting go or not?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s face turned red, and she flashed him a glare as a warning. ¡°Stop causing a scene. Can¡¯t we just live peacefully?¡± Lu Yinan frowned before looking at Jiaojiao. His voice softened as he said, ¡°Look how much weight she¡¯s lost because she¡¯s been missing you.¡± Zhou Shuang snarled, ¡°I will bring her along this time.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to leave this time.¡± Then he hugged her tighter that Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t even move. She bit his thumb in exasperation. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lu Yinan yelped and instinctively let go of her. Zhou Shuang took this opportunity to push him away. ¡°Lu Yinan, stop being such a jerk.¡± Lu Yinan swung his bitten hand up and down and the pain quickly subsided. He looked at her and frowned. ¡°We¡¯re almost in our thirties. Can¡¯t we get along?¡± Zhou Shuang replied coldly, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I¡¯m almost thirty. I don¡¯t want to drag this any longer. I don¡¯t have much time to waste.¡± A cold gleam flashed across Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes. He raised his eyebrow at her and asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying that you¡¯re wasting your time staying with my family?¡± Zhou Shuang tilted her chin up and looked at him fearlessly. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my family? Who doesn¡¯t treat you well?¡± Lu Yinan reached out to grab her wrist and gritted his teeth as he drew closer to her. She actually said that staying by his side was a waste of time. This woman simply didn¡¯t know what she¡¯s in for. Seeing the cold look on his face as he drew closer, Zhou Shuang became slightly frightened. She wasn¡¯t afraid of what he was going to do to her. She was afraid of what he was going to do to her in Jiaojiao¡¯s presence. She didn¡¯t want him to scare her child. She supported her weight on the bed and she slowly leaned backward. As Lu Yinan inched closer, she inched backwards. ¡°That¡¯s not the life I want.¡± ¡°Then enlighten me. What is the life that you want?¡± Lu Yinan smiled ambiguously as he moved closer. They were in close proximity. ¡°The life I want has nothing to do with you.¡± Zhou Shuang hit the head of the bed, and she pushed him away with force. Pushing him back to where he was at the start. Then she shifted herself and leaned against the head of the bed, shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiaojiao. Lu Yinan didn¡¯t lean in anymore. He sat straight up and looked at her seriously. ¡°Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re already a mother of three. Why are you still dreaming like a teenage girl? You¡¯re hoping for a fresh start with someone new?¡± Why can¡¯t this overbearing woman settle down and live a peaceful life? Chapter 1744. Even God is Helping (part Thirty) Life was so short. Why should she be so hard on herself? ¡°So what if I¡¯m a mother of three children?¡± Zhou Shuang coldly smirked and pressed on. ¡°Did the law state that I can¡¯t date someone else and start a new relationship?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lu Yinan expressed disbelief as though she had just cracked a ridiculous joke. ¡°A new relationship? Dating?¡± Zhou Shuang sensed that he was ridiculing her. She coldly snapped, ¡°So what? Even if you have children, other women are still interested in you. Why can¡¯t the same apply to me?¡± Lu Yinan gazed down at this prideful woman and her eyes were bright with tears. He didn¡¯t have the heart to mock her anymore. Wiping off the smile on his face, he gazed solemnly at her. ¡°Zhou Shuang, be honest. Did I treat you badly all these years?¡± Zhou Shuang managed a bitter smile. ¡°We did it for the children. You have no obligation to be nice to me. Neither do I.¡± ¡°I thought we¡­ have grown closer,¡± Lu Yinan blurted and then paused, as though he had difficulty talking. He reduced his voice to a whisper. ¡°Something should have sprouted between us. Or was it just wishful thinking on my part?¡± His eyes seemed to bore a hole right through Zhou Shuang as he earnestly waited for her reply. Zhou Shuang¡¯s hands, which were under the blanket, balled tightly into fists. Her fingernails pierced to her palms. She clammed up. Lu Yinan fixed his eyes on Zhou Shuang¡¯s face and asked, ¡°Do you really want to¡­ leave? Is this your wish for the past four years?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Shuang replied determinedly and raised her head to meet Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes. Lu Yinan¡¯s heart felt as if she had just punched him hard. ¡°Zhou Shuang, what is the reason?¡± asked Lu Yinan. It puzzled Zhou Shuang. ¡°Why did you ask why?¡± Lu Yinan asked, ¡°Why have you changed?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± muttered Zhou Shuang as she shook her head. She purposely avoided his gaze. Lu Yinan furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Is there anything that can¡¯t be said? Do you have to be like Wen Xuxu?¡± He pressed on immediately. ¡°I¡¯m not Yan Rusheng.¡± He was calm and composed. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought of being like anyone else. And besides¡­¡± Zhou Shuang raised her head, and her expression was stoic. ¡°I¡¯ve never yearned for a love like theirs,¡± said Zhou Shuang with a poignant smile. She continued with a smile. ¡°This society is teeming with temptations and choices. The love between childhood sweethearts is just a fairytale. How many pairs truly exist?¡± ¡°After you gave birth,¡± Lu Yinan blurted suddenly. His sudden statement took Zhou Shuang aback. She peered at him and she looked rather bewildered. Lu Yinan pressed on. ¡°Your attitude towards me changed after you gave birth.¡± Zhou Shuang bit her lips and calmly replied, ¡°We have always been like this.¡± She bent and peered at Jiaojiao. Jiaojiao was staring at both of them. Zhou Shuang smiled at her. ¡°Jiaojiao, are you tired? Close your eyes and sleep.¡± She gently patted Jiaojiao¡¯s chest as she said that. Chapter 1745. Even God is Helping (part Thirty One) Jiaojiao shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not tired. I slept just now. Mommy, don¡¯t go.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes were fixated on Zhou Shuang, as though her mommy might run away at any time. ¡°Mommy isn¡¯t leaving.¡± Zhou Shuang held tightly on Jiaojiao¡¯s hand. She consoled her and smiled. ¡°I will bring Jiaojiao wherever I go in the future. I won¡¯t leave Jiaojiao behind.¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s determined and confident voice interrupted their conversation. ¡°After you gave birth. Our relationship was progressing before that.¡± Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows, and she was getting impatient. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss that. Jiaojiao needs rest.¡± Lu Yinan glanced at Jiaojiao, indeed she still looked pale. He swallowed the words he wanted to say. Stowing his hands inside his pockets, he turned around. Jiaojiao spoke again. ¡°Mommy sleep beside me. Daddy sleep here. Okay?¡± She patted the two spaces on her left and right. The space across Zhou Shuang was empty. Lu Yinan turned around and gazed at his daughter. He had wanted to find an excuse to leave the room but he didn¡¯t have the heart to. He rounded the bed and slowly sat down. It overjoyed Jiaojiao. ¡°Daddy and Mommy together.¡± She held Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan with her left and right hand, respectively. She was trying to pull their hands towards each other. How many couples had maintained their marriage because of their children? And some lasted for the rest of their lives. When a couple argued, the victim who had to endure would be their child who was beginning to understand. Just like how Jiaojiao was trying her utmost effort to make them reconcile. Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang felt uncomfortable. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes were stinging with tears. Lu Yinan laid on the bed as he stared at the ceiling soundlessly. Jiaojiao¡¯s hand on his hand seemed to tug at his heart too. How he wished he could rip Zhou Shuang to pieces. Why did he, Lu Yinan, have to get entangled with Zhou Shuang? Since it can¡¯t be unraveled, shouldn¡¯t they continue to stay entangled? He was going bonkers. Zhou Shuang forgot when she had fallen asleep. She only knew that she woke up because she heard First and Third Lu¡¯s voices. They advanced towards the bed as they yelled ¡®Jiaojiao¡¯ and ¡®Sister¡¯. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes fluttered open as she glanced toward the voices. First and Third Lu right in front of her, while Lu Yinan¡¯s mother stood behind them. She was smiling benignly at them. Zhou Shuang hastily straightened her back. Lu Yinan was sleeping across her. She glanced instinctively at the couch and saw the tall man lying there. He had curled up with a coat over his face. ¡°I boiled some soup. Have some.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother placed the container of soup on the table as she glanced at Zhou Shuang. She opened the cover and Zhou Shuang caught a fragrant whiff. It was only then when Zhou Shuang realized that she was hungry. Her stomach was rumbling. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± she replied to Lu Yinan¡¯s mother as she shook her head. She pulled the blanket off of her and then walked towards the bathroom. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother nagged, ¡°You will be left with skin and bones if you continue to go on a diet.¡± Chapter 1746. Even God is Helping (part Thirty-Two) Zhou Shuang could sense her concern, and a streak of surprise shot across her eyes. But she didn¡¯t stop. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother stared at Zhou Shuang¡¯s back and she softly muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t understand the minds of the young people these days. Why is being as skinny as a monkey considered pretty?¡± Lu Huanyan overheard her grandmother, and she quipped, ¡°It¡¯s ugly when you¡¯re fat.¡± ¡­ Lu Yinan¡¯s mother disregarded Yanyan¡¯s remarks and poured soup into a bowl. She bent and sat on the edge of the bed and scooped some with a spoon. ¡°Jiaojiao, drink some,¡± said Lu Yinan¡¯s mother as she blew on the soup. Jiaojiao drank it and she asked, ¡°Grandmother, where is Daddy?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother pointed in the couch¡¯s direction. ¡°He is sleeping there. Be quiet.¡± ¡°Mommy and Daddy are together,¡± Jiaojiao proclaimed happily. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother¡¯s widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Really?¡± Jiaojiao nodded ferociously. ¡°They slept together just now.¡± Just now? Lu Yinan¡¯s mother sized up Lu Yinan, who was still sleeping on the couch. She pressed her lips silently. It didn¡¯t seem as though they¡¯ve reconciled. They were just putting on a show for the child. She averted her gaze and her eyes darted to the triplets. She whispered, ¡°Mommy is still angry with Daddy. All of you must help Daddy, understand? If not, Daddy will not be together with Mommy. Then all three of you will be poor little things.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The triplets nodded earnestly at the same time. They looked solemn and eager. As though they truly understood the seriousness of the situation. Zhou Shuang washed up and came out of the bathroom as she flung droplets of water on the floor. She walked towards the bed and Lu Yinan¡¯s mother stood up with a bowl of soup. ¡°Have some. You like pork ribs and corn soup, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Zhou the bowl of steaming soup startled Shuang. The corn was swimming enticingly in the bowl. Was she dreaming? Why was this old lady so nice to her? Every time she quarreled with Lu Yinan, she always treated her coldly. Why was she¡­ being so nice to her? Lu Yinan¡¯s mother became annoyed when Zhou Shuang froze. ¡°If you skip meals, how can you be a role model for the triplets?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned and quipped, ¡°I didn¡¯t skip meals.¡± She lost weight by exercising alright. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t lose any more weight.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother sized her up from top to toe and pushed the bowl towards her. Zhou Shuang had exercised daily in the morning and at night for the past six months. She ate lesser and lost a substantial amount of weight. She had reverted to her pre-pregnancy weight. Since she became a mother, she appeared to be more feminine and mature. Her hair was longer. And indeed, her looks and temperament seemed to have improved¡­ Lu Yinan¡¯s mother scrutinized her carefully. ¡°Madam Chen, why are you scrutinizing my children¡¯s mother?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s lazy and sleepy voice sounded with a hint of amusement. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother turned and peered at her son, who was yawning away. ¡°Rascal. Wake up and drink some soup.¡± Lu Yinan put down his hand and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t the soup for your granddaughter and daughter-in-law? You cooked my share too?¡± He had blurted ¡®daughter-in-law¡¯ so casually and naturally that it seemed as though there was nothing wrong. But indeed, Zhou Shuang was the rightful daughter-in-law of the Lu family. Chapter 1747. Even God is Helping (part Thirty-Three) Without waiting for his mother to reply, Lu Yinan raised his eyebrows at her. ¡°Or am I just a rubbish bin for them to dump the excess soup?¡± He pressed his palms against the couch and straightened his back before standing up. With lazy strides, he went closer to the bed. ¡°Just drink instead of talking so much,¡± Chen Anyun snapped. She used the same bowl that Jiaojiao had just used. She glowered at him before she turned to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Xiaoshuang, there is more in the container. Go ahead and have another serving.¡± Zhou Shuang merely smiled in response. She scooped the soup with a spoon and drank it slowly. Chen Anyun stole a glance at her son and smiled. ¡°Both of you go back home and rest tonight. I will stay with Jiaojiao.¡± Then she turned to Zhou Shuang. After the old master¡¯s lecture, she became fearful that Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang would really go their separate ways. So, she needed to make them reconcile. But it was no easy feat as they had been constantly bickering for the past four years. But she knew that the triplets needed their parents¡ªa complete family with both their father and mother. Deep down, she knew that Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang had feelings for each other. If they didn¡¯t, there was no way they would endure these four years. ¡°Mother, you should go back home.¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head and smiled. ¡°I will stay here to take care of Jiaojiao.¡± Madam Chen Anyun replied, ¡°You had such a long flight so you need to rest properly. Jiaojiao is merely having a flu and pneumonia. She is recovering so you don¡¯t have to worry. Since you¡¯re back, you can be with her every day. So, one night doesn¡¯t really matter.¡± She cast Lu Yinan a meaningful glance to give him a reminder. A short separation usually evoked longing. Hopefully, this rascal would seize the opportunity to pacify his wife. ¡°I want to stay and accompany Jiaojiao,¡± insisted Zhou Shuang firmly. Jiaojiao chimed in. ¡°I want Mommy.¡± The girl tugged at Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm and gazed at her longingly. She was afraid that she would leave. Zhou Shuang turned and smiled at her. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°I want Daddy too.¡± Jiaojiao beamed widely. She stretched her hand and grabbed Lu Yinan. She pulled him to Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°I want Daddy and Mommy to be together and stay with me.¡± Lu Yinan, Zhou Shuang, and even Lu Yinan¡¯s mother were momentarily startled. After getting over her shock, she gave an approving look and flashed a smile at Jiaojiao. This girl was too sensible and thoughtful. Even God was on their side. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother interjected before Zhou Shuang could object. ¡°Alright then. Daddy and Mommy will stay with you.¡± She was sure that Zhou Shuang wouldn¡¯t decline. Her daughter was sick, and she had abandoned her for so many days. Zhou Shuang would definitely give in to all her pleas. If both of them were together tonight, Lu Yinan would have a chance to remedy the situation. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother thought quietly to herself. Jiaojiao nodded furiously. ¡°Daddy and Mommy stay with me.¡± She grabbed their hands firmly. Chapter 1748. Even God is Helping (part Thirty Four) Zhou Shuang planned to persuade Jiaojiao by coaxing her. But she saw the anticipation and yearning in her eyes, and so she gave up. When Zhou Shuang nodded, Lu Yinan¡¯s mother gave Jiaojiao a thumbs up. Jiaojiao giggled happily as she shrunk her neck. Zhou Shuang bowed her head and was lost in thoughts. She took a long time to finish the soup. After they had finished their soup, Lu Yinan¡¯s mother kept everything. She said, ¡°First Lu, Third Lu, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± First Lu jumped to his feet and walked to his grandmother. Yanyan ran to Jiaojiao and tugged at her elbow. ¡°Sister, when are you coming home?¡± Jiaojiao gently caressed Yanyan¡¯s hair. ¡°I will come home soon. You must listen to Grandmother, understand?¡± This little imp was acting like an adult. Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan chuckled when they gazed at Jiaojiao. They were merely a few minutes apart, yet it was easy to tell who the older sister was. Jiaojiao always acted more sensibly and mature when her younger sister was around. She really acted like an older sister. ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Huanyan stared at her sister and nodded. ¡°Sister, you must drink water and sleep.¡± Jiaojiao stroked Yanyan¡¯s hair. ¡°Yanyan is a good girl.¡± ¡°These two rascals.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother shook her head as she grinned. She carried Yanyan. She waved at Jiaojiao and said, ¡°Grandmother is going back with your brother and sister. We will come tomorrow.¡± ¡°Bye-bye, Grandmother.¡± Jiaojiao waved goodbye to Chen Anyun. Zhou Shuang walked them out of the ward and to the corridor. She retracted her gaze and turned around slowly. At that moment, she saw Lu Yinan. She avoided his gaze and turned to Jiaojiao. ¡°Shall we go for a walk?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Jiaojiao exclaimed happily, and she pulled Lu Yinan¡¯s hand. She smiled at Zhou Shuang. ¡°I want Daddy too.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. This lass was seizing any opportunity in sight. ¡®Did Lu Yinan teach her these tricks?¡¯ she thought to herself. ¡°It¡¯s cold and foggy outside. Let¡¯s walk indoors.¡± Lu Yinan spoke to them. He immediately rose and carried Jiaojiao before he strode towards Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang mumbled, ¡°You bring her out then.¡± She sounded cold and unfeeling. Lu Yinan felt a little lost and defeated. He had been so initiative, even if she was unwilling, she should still think of their child. How could she refuse the request of such a sensible child? The more Lu Yinan thought about it, the angrier he became. He hastened his footsteps and marched past Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang turned and smiled reassuringly at Jiaojiao. Jiaojiao¡¯s disappointment faded a little. After they vanished out of sight, Zhou Shuang sighed helplessly and sadly. ¡®Sigh!¡¯ ¡­ Lu Yinan stood at the end of the corridor with Jiaojiao in her arms. They peered beyond the windows. A thick fog had covered the entire capital city and nothing could be seen. Chapter 1749. Even God is Helping (part Thirty-Five) ¡°Jiaojiao,¡± said Lu Yinan all of a sudden. Jiaojiao nodded as she turned and blinked at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan whispered to Jiaojiao, ¡°When we get back later, ask Mommy to kiss Daddy, alright?¡± Jiaojiao beamed brightly at him. ¡°Okay!¡± It would be great to see Daddy kissing Mommy! ¡°Good girl!¡± Lu Yinan gave her a peck on her cheek and smiled again. ¡°At night, can you let Mommy and Daddy sleep together with you?¡± Jiaojiao smiled happily and nodded ferociously. ¡°I want!¡± Sister Wenxin and Brother Nuoxing said that if Daddy and Mommy slept together, then they would get married. She wanted Mommy and Daddy to sleep together. Then they would get married. ¡°Truly my good daughter.¡± Lu Yinan squeezed her a little tighter and planted a few kisses on her cheeks. He turned around and strode eagerly back to the ward. He wanted Zhou Shuang to kiss him now. ¡°Tomorrow, I will bring Wenxin and Nuoxing here. Wenxin misses Lu Mischief.¡± Lu Yinan was greeted with a familiar woman¡¯s voice. It was Wen Xuxu. Lu Huanyan was too mischievous, so Wen Xuxu gave her a nickname; Lu Mischief. So, she was referring to Lu Huanyan. Lu Yinan stood on the spot dumbfounded. He took a careful step forward and saw Zhou Shuang and Wen Xuxu sitting on the couch. On another couch was Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng held his phone in his hand and seemed engrossed with it. ¡°Aunt Xuxu.¡± Jiaojiao saw Wen Xuxu, and she happily waved. Wen Xuxu heard Jiaojiao and smiled at her. ¡°Jiaojiao!¡± Lu Yinan entered with Jiaojiao and walked towards the couch. Wen Xuxu rose and walked towards Lu Yinan. She spread her arms for Jiaojiao. With Jiaojiao in her arms, she frowned and looked a little sad. ¡°You lost weight. Did you eat your meals?¡± ¡°Aunt Xuxu, I¡¯m not picky,¡± Jiaojiao replied as she blinked her innocent-looking eyes. Xuxu smiled and quipped, ¡°I know Jiaojiao is very obedient.¡± She carried Jiaojiao to the couch and sat down next to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Uncle Third Yan,¡± said Jiaojiao with a smile. Everyone loved this sweet lovely girl. Yan Rusheng turned and glanced at her with an affectionate smile. He turned to his phone once again. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me before coming?¡± Lu Yinan glanced at Yan Rusheng as he sat down. Yan Rusheng frowned at him. ¡°I¡¯m not here for you. Why should I call?¡± He winked at Jiaojiao quietly. Jiaojiao blinked at him. Suddenly, the little girl thought of something, and she turned to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Mommy, Daddy asked you to kiss him.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ Oh, dear god. Those were his exact words! Lu Yinan¡¯s face registered nothing else but awkwardness. He cast a furtive glance at Jiaojiao with a deep frown. He looked displeased and frustrated. This girl was usually very shrewd and bright. Young Master Yan wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity to tease Young Master Lu. He taunted, ¡°Lu Yinan, are you still a man? She is the mother of your children, don¡¯t be such a wimp!¡± Chapter 1750. Even God is Helping (part Thirty-Six) He suddenly straightened his back and shuffled towards Xuxu. With an arm around her waist, he stretched his neck and kissed Xuxu on her cheek. That wasn¡¯t passionate enough. He kissed Xuxu once again. In the end, it turned into an intense kiss. Xuxu frowned and his childishness had rendered her speechless. She shoved him away brusquely, before giving him a murderous stare. Yan Rusheng wiped his mouth, and he glanced at Lu Yinan. ¡°I can kiss my woman any time and anywhere I like.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Lu Yinan glared at Yan Rusheng with a murderous look. His face was red and darkened. Zhou Shuang sat there, looking utterly awkward too. She was like a frozen statue. Jiaojiao turned to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Mommy, can you sleep with Daddy tonight?¡± Yan Rusheng cut across before Zhou Shuang could reply. ¡°Jiaojiao, did your Daddy ask you to say this?¡± He raised his eyebrows paired with a bright smile at Jiaojiao. Jiaojiao honestly replied, ¡°Yes. Daddy told me to tell Mommy.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ She betrayed him! ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Young Master Yan exploded with peals of laughter. He pointed at Lu Yinan as he guffawed. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re such a disgrace! You even use your child to get your way!¡± It sounded as if he didn¡¯t resort to such tricks. Just two nights ago, someone had lured his son out from their room with the latest Transformer toy. Wen Xuxu threw Yan Rusheng a dirty look of contempt. Lu Yinan was so heated that he could bite off his own teeth if he wanted to. He glared and spat at Yan Rusheng, ¡°Can you scram!¡± He clenched his fists, and his veins bulged out. He really wanted to beat this guy up. Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°Certainly not.¡± He smiled at Lu Yinan. ¡°Zhou Shuang hasn¡¯t kissed you yet. How can I leave?¡± ¡°Do you want to kiss him?¡± Yan Rusheng threw a glance at Zhou Shuang. ¡°If not he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold his head up high.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes and snarled, ¡°If you carry on, Wen Xuxu might punish you by sending you to another room to sleep.¡± Yan Rusheng was the evilest and meanest friend anyone could have. Yan Rusheng¡¯s confidence cracked, and he threw a glance at Xuxu. It was as though he was trying to question her. Xuxu ignored him and carried on playing with Jiaojiao. Wen Xuxu had sent him to another room to sleep, and it happened several times indeed. How did this Hooligan Zhou know? Hooligan Zhou had completely shamed him. In the future, she would definitely use this to mock him. Who leaked it out?! ¡°Yan Rusheng, so you were sent to another room?¡± Lu Yinan seized the opportunity and raised his eyebrows. His words were dripping with sarcasm. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Go home.¡± He stood up as he barked a command at Xuxu. He stiffly strode out without a second look. ¡°Look at him.¡± Lu Yinan shook his head as he stared at Yan Rusheng. Xuxu turned to him and snapped, ¡°Look at yourself first.¡± She slung her bag over her shoulders and waved at Zhou Shuang. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. I¡¯ll bring the kids with us tomorrow.¡± Chapter 1751. Don’t Ever Appear in Front of the Children (part One) Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Drive safe.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu continued, ¡°After Jiaojiao has recovered, let¡¯s catch up over a meal.¡± She waved at Jiaojiao and said, ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring Wenxin and Nuoxing along to play with you.¡± Jiaojiao smiled happily. Lu Yinan watched as Xuxu left the ward and furrowed his eyebrows rather gloomily. ¡°This couple is seriously protective of each other.¡± He had to praise Xuxu to the skies with Yan Rusheng around. He had to say how talented, smart, gentle, and virtuous she was. No shortcomings were to be mentioned. To his surprise, he couldn¡¯t criticize Yan Rusheng in front of Wen Xuxu too. How could this couple be so defensive, and yet so¡­ loving? Young Master Lu crossed his arms. There was a crease in the middle of his eyebrows. Xuxu and Yan Rusheng had left him fuming. He impatiently tugged at his collar as he threw a glance at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang was peering at Jiaojiao who lay in her arms. She exuded motherly love, which was also a woman¡¯s innate charm. Lu Yinan¡¯s heart softened, and he walked over. He bent and sat down next to Zhou Shuang as he pretended to shower Jiaojiao with concern. ¡°Jiaojiao, are you hungry? What do you want to eat?¡± As he spoke, he stroked Jiaojiao¡¯s cheeks. At the same time, he inched his head nearer to Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest. His hair almost pricked Zhou Shuang¡¯s chin. Zhou Shuang furrowed her eyebrows and leaned her body backward. Lu Yinan slyly moved together with her and naturally, and it was hard to detect that he was doing it on purpose. The light scent of his shampoo had assailed Zhou Shuang¡¯s nostrils. It tickled her heart like a feather. She gazed at his hair and forgot to move. Or perhaps she didn¡¯t bear to leave him or maybe something else had clouded her senses. Jiaojiao¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°I want to eat dumplings. Dumplings with vegetables and meat.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Lu Yinan nodded and noticed that Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t avoid him. He decided to be bolder, so he pressed his head lightly against Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest. He smiled and asked, ¡°Jiaojiao, ask Mommy what she wants to eat.¡± He stole a glance at Zhou Shuang. A sly smile flitted across his face. Jiaojiao nodded and raised her head. ¡°Mommy, Daddy asks you what do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Mommy is not hungry. Jiaojiao should eat.¡± Zhou Shuang eyed Lu Yinan and a cold smile appeared on her face. She placed Jiaojiao on the couch and brushed her hair. ¡°Mommy will buy the dumplings.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it, it¡¯s cold outside.¡± Lu Yinan hurriedly rose and he turned to Zhou Shuang. ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± He added, ¡°If you don¡¯t feel like eating now, then I will buy for you later again.¡± Zhou Shuang bowed her head in silence. Lu Yinan pressed his lips and the atmosphere turned awkward. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t reply. ¡°Daddy is so good.¡± The door closed and Jiaojiao raised her head at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re so lucky to have a good husband.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. She suspected that it was either Lu Yinan or Madam Chen Anyun who had taught this lass. Chapter 1752. Don’t Ever Appear in Front of the Children (part Two) She was barely five, how could she be so sensible? She glanced at Jiaojiao and asked, ¡°Do you like Daddy or Mommy more?¡± Jiaojiao replied with no hesitation. ¡°Both Mommy and Daddy.¡± This little lass! She had often asked Yanyan the same question. But Yanyan was easily tempted. When she asked Yanyan who she liked more, she would always say Mommy. There was a time that she chanced upon her grandmother asking her the same question with Mommy and Grandmother as her options. The girl replied Grandmother. But Jiaojiao would always say both. ¡°I want Daddy and Mommy to be together forever.¡± Jiaojiao sat up and hugged Zhou Shuang. She put on a fawning and a sweet smile. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t go. Daddy is such a poor thing. He got beaten by Great Grandfather. It¡¯s so painful.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless when she heard that. She stretched her hand to stroke the lass. ¡°Darling.¡± She couldn¡¯t promise her, nor give her the answer she wanted. Only God knew how much she wanted to stay with him, and how much her heart ached for him. But what does it mean to stay with him? She was merely just the mother of his children? Or the woman he was forced to stay together for the rest of his life? To Lu Yinan, she wasn¡¯t anyone important. Neither was she indispensable. He would choose to sacrifice her if he needed to. All these are words she could never tell Jiaojiao. ¡­ Lu Yinan bought the dumplings and held a huge bulging shopping bag in his other hand. He placed the bag on the table and said to Zhou Shuang, ¡°All your favorite snacks are inside. If you¡¯re bored, you can eat them.¡± It pleasantly surprised Zhou Shuang. And as she glanced at the bag, she was in disbelief. She saw a few items poking out of the bag. There were chocolates, candies¡­ She didn¡¯t imagine that Lu Yinan would know what she liked to eat. His mother had most probably told him that she liked to snack while watching TV. Lu Yinan had to work and entertain clients, so he was rarely at home. But she was home most of the time with his mother. And other than sleeping, she spent her time with his mother. It had been four years, and no matter how unobservant someone was, they were bound to notice each other¡¯s habits. So¡­ there was nothing surprising. Zhou Shuang¡­ stop being delusional. Those were merely insignificant fragments of affection. This cycle would never end. Everything was destined and love can¡¯t be forced. Not everything would be worth the wait. She should have understood this. After that incident, she should have known that she held no place in his heart. She was merely his children¡¯s mother. Without the children, what else was left between them? They were just old classmates. So, she hated herself for being so foolish for she had clung on to the slightest bit of hope. Zhou Shuang bent her head, and she sighed to herself. ¡°Daddy doesn¡¯t love me. You only buy for Mommy.¡± Jiaojiao ran to the table and took a peek at the contents of the bag. She pouted and glanced at Lu Yinan. ¡°I only have dumplings. I don¡¯t have snacks to eat.¡± It rendered Lu Yinan speechless, and in turn, he affectionately rubbed her head. ¡°Jiaojiao is not well so you can¡¯t eat junk food. When you recover, Daddy will buy for you, alright?¡± Chapter 1753. Don’t Ever Appear in Front of the Children (part Three) Jiaojiao still looked grumpy. ¡°You must keep your word.¡± Lu Yinan promised her solemnly. ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Good Daddy.¡± Jiaojiao tip-toed and gave him a peck on his cheek. She turned towards the dumplings. She opened the container of dumplings and picked up one with her chopsticks. Zhou Shuang hurriedly said, ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not hot.¡± Jiaojiao shook her head. She looked ravenous as she devoured another one. Zhou Shuang dabbed her mouth with a tissue. ¡°Mommy, for you.¡± Jiaojiao sent a dumpling to Zhou Shuang¡¯s mouth. Zhou Shuang was startled, and she shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Jiaojiao can have it all.¡± Jiaojiao frowned and pouted. ¡°You eat one.¡± Zhou Shuang had no choice but to relent. She took a small bite. She awkwardly chewed the soft and springy dumpling. ¡°Daddy eat.¡± Jiaojiao sent the dumpling that Zhou Shuang had taken a bite to Lu Yinan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Only Daddy can eat Mommy¡¯s dumpling.¡± This girl¡­ really made use of every opportunity. Even if there wasn¡¯t any opportunity, she would create one. She really tried her best to bring them together. Zhou Shuang felt a little dejected. She assumed that the separation wouldn¡¯t affect the children too much since they were still so young. Furthermore, they didn¡¯t spend much time with Lu Yinan. She thought that after a period of separation, they would forget about it soon. But their maturity and sensibility had surpassed her expectations. Her son and youngest daughter were delighted when they first went to Country M to visit their grandmother. But as time went by, they began to say that they missed the capital city and wanted to go back to their great grandfather, grandmother, and their daddy. Blood ties were fascinating. Lu Yinan really didn¡¯t spend much time with them. But to the triplets, Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan were dearest to them. Not even their grandmother, who took care of them all day long. Without any hesitation, Lu Yinan swallowed the dumpling. He gave the girl a thumb up to express his approval. She was really such a sweet darling. ¡°On account of our daughter¡¯s effort, stop making a fuss.¡± Lu Yinan sat down next to Zhou Shuang and put his arm around her waist. Zhou Shuang instantly shoved him away, and he warned, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± She rose and left without another glance or word. Lu Yinan was taken aback. By the time he realized it, Zhou Shuang was gone. His face hardened, and he clenched his fists. The sky turned dark and foggy. Zhou Shuang stood by the windows as she peered out into the darkness. A blast of cold wind attacked her. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face felt icy. Her nose and eyes started to become red. ¡°What do you want?¡± Lu Yinan spoke coldly behind her, and he sounded impatient. Zhou Shuang felt as though her heart was being tugged. She turned around and glanced at the man walking towards her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to live like this anymore. I want to leave you.¡± She spoke calmly and it drove Lu Yinan mad. He had never felt this defeated in his life. Chapter 1754. Don’t Ever Appear in Front of the Children (part Four) He stepped in front and drew closer to her. ¡°Zhou Shuang, is your heart made of metal or stone? You want to leave just like that, after living together for four to five years?¡± He towered over her. His angry and indignant air engulfed Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang peered up at him, smirking coldly. ¡°You mean, you¡¯ll miss something about me?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s heart clenched and his eyes turned blazing cold. In an icy tone, he replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing you¡¯ll miss about me?¡± Starting from her pregnancy, they had been together for five years. Did not a single aspect of him give her a reason to stay? There¡¯s nothing she¡¯d miss about him? He stared at her as he waited for her reply. Zhou Shuang shook her head without hesitation. ¡°No!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s heart plunged to the depths of the sea. He moved his hands behind his back and clenched his fists. He gritted his teeth and glared at her, his expression hardening. ¡°Fine. Then let¡¯s go our separate ways as you wish. But you can¡¯t have any of the children.¡± Then he mocked himself internally. He would actually miss this hooligan, but he had used such a low, despicable method to try to keep her. He didn¡¯t mind turning into a jerk if he could make her stay. Zhou Shuang peered up at him, her eyes turning red. ¡°I gave birth to the children. Why can¡¯t I have any of them?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s fists remained clenched. His nails dug into his flesh as he stared at her coldly. He emphasized every word. ¡°Because their surnames are Lu.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, their surnames are Lu.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded and a cold smile formed on her face. ¡°Their surnames are Lu¡­¡± She repeated before turning around and looking out of the window. Her cold smile unfaltering. She gave birth to three children official status, and their surnames were Lu. At the end of the day, she was just a woman who bore him three children. She could leave, but her children had to stay. Zhou Shuang clenched her fists and tried hard not to let her tears fall. Because she felt that tearing was of no use. Crying won¡¯t relieve pain. Crying won¡¯t improve situations. Crying won¡¯t make one feel better. She composed herself and nodded gently. ¡°Alright. The children will stay.¡± Lu Yinan almost puked blood. He gritted his teeth and nodded. ¡°Alright, since it has come to this, don¡¯t ever appear in front of the children again.¡± Then he angrily turned around and stormed towards Jiaojiao¡¯s ward. ¡®Lu Yinan, even if things end up like this, you will still miss her. ¡®Do you really have a thing for her? ¡®Have you really fallen for her?¡¯ No. How could he be involved in something like that? Love was a troublesome thing! He had once sworn that he wouldn¡¯t fall in love. That¡¯s why he had countless women and dated many girls. But never had a girl entered his heart. He thought that it was the same for Zhou Shuang. Furthermore, she was merely ordinary¡­ With every step he took, he seemed to trample on Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart. It hurt until she couldn¡¯t breathe. After a long while, she let out a long shaky breath. ¡°Mommy.¡± Suddenly, Jiaojiao¡¯s anxious voice sounded from behind her. Chapter 1755. Don’t Ever Appear in Front of the Children (part Five) Zhou Shuang immediately put on a smile and turned around. The little lass was wearing a knitted pullover and a pink down coat. She was running towards her and Zhou Shuang went forward. ¡°Jiaojiao, why did you run out?¡± She bent over to carry her and hugged her tightly. She closed her eyes and stuck her face to hers. ¡®If that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t ever appear in front of the children again¡­¡¯ Lu Yinan¡¯s words reverberated in her ears. She sniffed and her eyes welled up with tears. She didn¡¯t dare to open her eyes. She didn¡¯t dare to look at the little girl in her arms. Now, she had two choices: continue living that kind of life for the sake of the kids, or leave and be alone. Of course, she had another option: fight for the kids in court. But without a doubt, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Even if she did, she could only have one child, at most. But that way, the three children would be separated. That was more cruel. ¡°Mommy will carry you into your room. Time to sleep.¡± She took a while to compose herself and sucked back her tears. She kissed Jiaojiao¡¯s cheek and carried her back into the room. When she pushed the door open, Lu Yinan was about to leave as well. He was wearing a white gown. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t even glance at him. She nonchalantly shifted her gaze away and walked straight to the bed. ¡°I¡¯m working an overnight shift today. Take care of Jiaojiao. I¡¯ll be back after midnight.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s words rang coolly. She halted in response. Lu Yinan walked out of the room and closed the door. Although it wasn¡¯t a slam, it revealed his emotions. Zhou Shuang placed Jiaojiao on the bed and covered her with the blanket. Jiaojiao stared at her and blinked. ¡°Mommy, is Daddy angry?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head and smiled. She comforted, ¡°Daddy is running late so he¡¯s anxious.¡± Jiaojiao believed her words and nodded. Zhou Shuang lay on her side as she read her a story. She read it vividly and even rubbed the little lass¡¯ tummy as she did. Her gentleness and patience were all given to the children¡ªonly her children. Lu Yinan retracted his gaze and slowly closed the door. Then he turned around and left without turning back. ¡­ ¡®It¡¯s in the middle of the night. Are you nuts?¡¯ Lu Yinan posted a message in a group chat with Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng, but nobody replied to him. Young Master Yan was snatching red packets with his wife and children. He got irritated with Young Master Lu¡¯s message and scolded him in response. Someone had finally answered him and Lu Yinan replied, ¡®Let¡¯s go for a drink.¡¯ Young Master Yan gave him a one-word reply: ¡®Scram.¡¯ Ming Ansheng¡¯s reply followed. ¡®You¡¯re single but I have a wife and children. How can I match up to you?¡¯ Every word was flaunting and smug. Lu Yinan smirked coldly and his fingers flew over the keyboard. ¡®You¡¯re sounding as if I have no children. I have three, what about you?¡¯ Luckily, he had children, or else the other two would have played him around. Ming Ansheng immediately replied, ¡®It¡¯s not about the number of children. It¡¯s all about the sperms.¡¯ Chapter 1756. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part One) Lu Yinan was indignant. ¡®In what way are my three children worse than your brats?¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®I¡¯m having breakfast with my wife and children. We¡¯re going shopping later and having a candlelit dinner.¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®Ha ha. Wife?¡¯ Before Ming Ansheng could reply, he added, ¡®Yan Rusheng, when did your sister get married?¡¯ Yan Rusheng answered, ¡®Leave me alone. If you have feelings for her, find her. If not, shut it.¡¯ He had originally thought that Young Master Yan would attack Ming Ansheng with him, but he was wrong. Young Master Lu suffered a harsh blow instead. He typed, ¡®I¡¯m so annoyed. Why are women so troublesome? Are your women so troublesome?¡¯ ¡®What does she want? She¡¯s not happy if treat her good nor bad,¡¯ he thought. Young Master Yan immediately refuted, ¡®Your woman is different from mine.¡¯ In his eyes, Wen Xuxu was perfect and incapable of doing wrong. Women were like clothes and his friends were like arms and legs. If the arms and legs were to touch his clothes, he¡¯d chop them off. Lu Yinan was indignant. ¡®Does your woman have an extra nose or eye? Why can¡¯t they be compared?¡¯ Immediately after he sent the message, he became even more indignant. He sent another message, ¡®Your women are affectionate but my hooligan isn¡¯t arrogant and pretentious. She¡¯s candid and is gentle when she should be. She can withstand hardship and has a good figure. Her looks aren¡¯t too bad either, so what¡¯s wrong with my woman?¡¯ ¡®Tch tch tch¡­¡¯ ¡®Tch tch tch¡­¡¯ Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng replied the same thing at the same time. Lu Yinan could sense the teasing in their words. Ming Ansheng immediately sent another message. ¡®Look what we have here! Lu Yinan, aren¡¯t you always complaining about Zhou Shuang¡¯s flaws? Didn¡¯t you say that she¡¯s like a man and not the least feminine? Didn¡¯t you say that she looks like an auntie in her loungewear?¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied soon after, ¡®Ha ha. Someone complained to me recently about how he was unlucky to have met Zhou Shuang, a woman with absolutely no taste and not the least feminine.¡¯ Did he say those words? Lu Yinan frowned and pressed his lips. He didn¡¯t want to admit that he had complained about so many of her flaws. He interrupted, ¡®Quit being sarcastic. Have a drink with me at the hospital.¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I just finished exercising and I¡¯m hugging my wife to sleep.¡¯ When Lu Yinan read his message, one word came to mind: ¡®Despicable!¡¯ The word was written all over his face. This despicable scum¡­ It made him furious. Ming Ansheng replied as well, ¡®I¡¯m sorry but I¡¯m still in Country M. It¡¯s snowing and I¡¯m going to bring my wife and child out for a stroll soon.¡¯ ¡®This is the end of our friendship!¡¯ Lu Yinan gritted his teeth and closed the chat. He closed WeChat. He grabbed the corners of the table and pushed it forcefully. The comfortable office chair retreated one or two meters. He tiptoed and spun the chair around. He ignored it and rested his elbow on the armrest of the chair. He placed his palm to his forehead, incredibly frustrated. Chapter 1757. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Two) He swore and curse inwardly. In his spacious office, it was dead quiet. And the silence was stifling him. He pulled his chair and pulled out an exquisite metal case from his drawer. He opened it and retrieved a cigarette. After lighting it up, he took a deep puff. The smoke enveloped his face and he looked exceedingly gloomy. ¡®If that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t ever appear in front of the children again¡­¡¯ ¡®Alright.¡¯ Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice rang inside Lu Yinan¡¯s mind. That cold-looking figure. Her response was like a knife stabbing right through his heart. Why would there be such a callous woman alive? Was her love for the children all fake? She should at least have hesitated because of the children. What compelling reason did she have for her to insist on leaving? Did she meet a new guy? Or the Lu family had ill-treated her? Or perhaps she bore a grudge against him for forcing himself upon her? No, no, no. That was merely a trigger. In these four years, she was already nonchalant towards him with hardly any affection. When he brought her back with him when she was pregnant, their relationship had visibly improved during that period. They watched movies, went shopping, and even had meals together. Sleeping together at night was common, too. When she was bored, she would make her way to the hospital to wait for him to end work. Sometimes, she would bring along some food as well. ¡°These are the dumplings from the famous restaurant. I waited a long time for it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so oily and greasy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s for you. If you don¡¯t like it, then don¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°I thought these are for me? Why are you eating?¡± ¡°Stop nagging. I shall not bring food for you in the future.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a woman. Stop eating so much. You will be fat and clumsy after you give birth.¡± ¡°That has nothing to do with you!¡± ¡°If you aren¡¯t the mother of my children, I wouldn¡¯t even have bothered.¡± ¡°Tch!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the last one. Do you want it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat half each.¡± It was as though he had opened the box of memories by accident. Lu Yinan smiled gently to himself¡ªunknowingly¡ªas his eyes turned tender. After the children were born, her attitude took a drastic change. It was sudden and unfathomable. She didn¡¯t talk to him at all for the entire month. She seemed gloomy all day long and didn¡¯t respond to him at all. Only when Wen Xuxu came to visit her would she look slightly happier. Initially, he thought that she had postnatal depression. But judging from her other actions and behavior, she seemed normal. She was perfectly normal towards the children and Wen Xuxu. She was only cold to his mother and himself. She was at least polite to his mother and grandfather. But she treated him as a total stranger. The triplets were a handful. They had to hire two nannies and roped in their grandmother, Chen Anyun, to help. They all slept together in the nursery. Zhou Shuang moved out from their room to the room she had stayed when she first arrived at their place. When he went to look for her, she had rejected her. Then he got busy that he didn¡¯t pay much attention to her. And their relationship did improve slightly, but she never came to the hospital ever again. She merely stayed in her room. Every time he tried to look for her, she would deliberately avoid him. Until now, he still couldn¡¯t understand why. He assumed that her heart wasn¡¯t with him. If it was, why did she avoid him? Chapter 1758. Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Three) It seemed as if Zhou Shuang had no intention of spending the rest of her life with him. She had been planning to leave all along. Lu Yinan entered a deep reverie with the cigarette in his hand. When the last bit of his cigarette burned his hand, he instinctively released it and it fell to the floor. He bent at the floor and hastily picked it up. He snuffed it out before throwing it into the ashtray. Whenever he was in a bad mood, time seemed to crawl. It felt like hours to Lu Yinan since he left Jiaojiao¡¯s ward. But a glance at his watch told him otherwise. It was barely 11 p.m. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Someone knocked on the door. He cast his thoughts aside and responded. ¡°Enter.¡± It was the nurse on duty. ¡°Doctor Lu, there is an emergency case.¡± And the next second, Lu Yinan heard a scream of agonizing pain. It belonged to a child. A woman came in with a boy who looked like he was about 10 years old. The boy was tottering unsteadily. He pressed his tummy with his hand, and he was pale. He looked as though he was in great pain. Lu Yinan diverted all his attention to this boy and pulled a chair for him. He began his diagnosis. ¡°Is it painful here?¡± He pressed the boy¡¯s tummy with his finger. The boy winced and nodded. ¡°Painful.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t press it?¡± Lu Yinan withdrew his hand. The boy grimaced with pain and replied, ¡°It is still painful.¡± Lu Yinan stretched his hand and pressed another part of his tummy. ¡°How about this part?¡± ¡°Ouch¡­¡± The boy cried out in pain. ¡°It¡¯s painful!¡± He pushed away Lu Yinan¡¯s hand and twisted his body in discomfort. Lu Yinan glanced at the boy and said, ¡°It really seems painful. It¡¯s painful enough for a brave boy to cry.¡± The boy stopped his wails immediately and gazed at Lu Yinan. ¡°I didn¡¯t cry. Who says I¡¯m crying?¡± He used his sleeve to wipe his tears. Lu Yinan smiled and said, ¡°Sorry, my mistake. That was sweat.¡± The boy snorted loudly. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of pain. I¡¯m a brave boy.¡± Lu Yinan grinned. ¡°Then surely you wouldn¡¯t be afraid of injections.¡± ¡°Certainly¡­ I¡¯m not.¡± The boy revealed his fear but he still pretended otherwise. ¡°You¡¯re the most courageous boy I¡¯ve ever met.¡± Lu Yinan stroked the boy¡¯s head. The boy smiled proudly. And gradually, his fear and anxiety vanished. Lu Yinan gave his mother a prescription and instructed her, ¡°He ate too much and he had indigestion. It¡¯s not very serious. He will be fine after an injection.¡± The woman thanked Lu Yinan and supported the boy by holding his arm. ¡°Mommy, Daddy said that the boy is the most courageous child he had ever met. Am I not courageous?¡± Jiaojiao was disappointed and sad when she overheard Lu Yinan. She always thought that she was really brave. She never cried when she needed an injection. But why didn¡¯t Daddy praise her? She pursed her lips and Zhou Shuang could see right through her. She gently stroked her hair and smiled. ¡°Jiaojiao is very brave. Daddy is just encouraging the boy since he was crying.¡± Chapter 1759. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Four) She glanced towards Lu Yinan¡¯s office. As it was an urgent case, the nurse didn¡¯t shut the door properly when she came out. So, when Zhou Shuang arrived, the door was ajar. Jiaojiao had taken a short nap. When she woke up, she started whining for her daddy. She had no choice but to bring her to him. Since he was attending to a patient, she stood outside quietly. She witnessed how Lu Yinan had treated the little boy. She realized that Lu Yinan had practiced patience, and he had a way to deal with cranky children too. In the past, when she came to visit him, he would merely do his job and ignored all the tantrums. After diagnosis, he would send the patient out. It made her feel that he was a doctor who focused solely on his job. Recently, she noticed that he had been putting more effort and time with the children. They always say that when a man reaches 30, he will grow to like children and be more mature and stable. Was it true for him? ¡°The doctor says I just need an injection. And I cannot cry later.¡± Zhou Shuang was still mulling over when the little boy came out. The office door swung open and she got a shock. She pulled Jiaojiao towards her and retreated to a dark corner. After the boy left, Jiaojiao tugged at Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. She dragged her along and said, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go in.¡± Zhou Shuang gently pushed Jiaojiao¡¯s hand away. ¡°Jiaojiao you go in by yourself. I¡¯ll wait outside.¡± Jiaojiao frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t want! I want Mommy to come with me.¡± She stretched her hand to grab Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. As she pulled her along, she shouted, ¡°Daddy, Mommy and I are here!¡± It startled Lu Yinan to hear Jiaojiao. He glanced at the door and saw Jiaojiao and Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. He put his pen down and stood up quickly. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± asked Lu Yinan in a slightly disapproving tone. Jiaojiao pouted sweetly. ¡°I just woke up.¡± Since Lu Yinan was already at the door, Zhou Shuang had no choice but to take a step forward. She glanced at Lu Yinan and said, ¡°Jiaojiao slept for two hours. She woke up, saying that she wants to look for you. I¡¯ll let her stay here for a while. When she gets tired, bring her back to the ward.¡± She pulled Jiaojiao¡¯s hand away and pushed her gently towards Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan bent and peered at Jiaojiao before glancing at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Come in and have a seat.¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can be with her.¡± ¡°Even if you have no intention to stay with me, you don¡¯t have to avoid me,¡± Lu Yinan said coldly, and he stared at her. ¡°We have three children and this isn¡¯t something that you can get rid of easily. Or you are planning not to see them ever again? If you wish to, we can¡¯t possibly be like strangers. Come inside for a cup of tea. That is very normal right?¡± Lu Yinan had left Zhou Shuang speechless. She bent and pressed her lips in hesitation. Suddenly, Lu Yinan stretched his hand to grab her wrist. He pulled her inside without a word. He beckoned to Jiaojiao and said, ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Jiaojiao glanced at Lu Yinan who held Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. She closed the door after her. Chapter 1760. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Five) Zhou Shuang tried to shake Lu Yinan¡¯s hand away, but she didn¡¯t succeed. She gave up after a few futile attempts. She dragged her feet after him. ¡°What do you want to drink?¡± Lu Yinan dragged Zhou Shuang to his swivel chair and pushed her down. Before she could answer, he said, ¡°Water is better. It¡¯s not good to drink coffee or tea at night.¡± He turned around and walked towards the water dispenser. The white robes elongated his lean frame, and he seemed even more dashing and suave. Zhou Shuang stared at him that she couldn¡¯t utter a word. Jiaojiao inched towards her. ¡°Daddy is so biased. He didn¡¯t ask me.¡± Zhou Shuang frowned at the sight of the little cheeky expression. She prodded her head and chided softly, ¡°You little imp.¡± Her brain was full of tricks. ¡°Did Jiaojiao badmouthed me?¡± Lu Yinan turned around with a cup of water. He caught a glimpse of Jiaojiao¡¯s grin and he smiled. Jiaojiao shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t! I told Mommy good things about you.¡± Lu Yinan gave her a satisfied smile and kissed her cheek. ¡°Truly my good daughter.¡± Jiaojiao grinned brightly. ¡°Daddy, Mommy. You can talk to each other. I want to play games.¡± She waved her hands at them and picked up Lu Yinan¡¯s phone on his desk. She eagerly walked to the couch. Zhou Shuang watched her and said, ¡°Jiaojiao, you can¡¯t use the phone. You¡¯ll spoil your eyes.¡± Jiaojiao replied, ¡°For a while.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡ª¡± Zhou Shuang was about to go to Jiaojiao when Lu Yinan interjected. ¡°Shuang.¡± Zhou Shuang was stunned. This was the first time he had called her with this affectionate term. No. This was the first time he sounded so solemn and serious. He didn¡¯t tease nor mock her. Instinctively, she glanced at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan was peering at her at the same time. He mumbled, ¡°Your parents will be here next month. Let¡¯s go hiking. Didn¡¯t you say you want to go?¡± A brief smile flitted across Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m starting work once Jiaojiao is discharged. I won¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°Work?¡± Lu Yinan frowned and pressed on. ¡°Where? What kind of job?¡± Where was her workplace? Why was he completely unaware? Zhou Shuang nodded and casually replied, ¡°Yeah, I found a job.¡± This woman really found a job. Lu Yinan¡¯s frown turned deeper. ¡°What job?¡± She kept this from him and didn¡¯t seem to have the intention of informing him. How long has this hooligan been planning all these? She even found a job. Lu Yinan was dejected and frustrated. Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°I will be working at Su Yan¡¯s work studio.¡± Lu Yinan blurted out without thinking. ¡°F*ck! His work studio is still surviving?¡± Excuse me¡­ his company was a well-known one, and he had opened studios all over the world. How could it go bust? Without waiting for Zhou Shuang to answer, he asked, ¡°Is his studio a shelter for women who fell out with their men?¡± When Wen Xuxu wanted a divorce with Yan Rusheng, she had escaped to his work studio, too. So did Su Yan open his work studio to protect women and deal with the men? Zhou Shuang ignored Lu Yinan and calmly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve found an apartment too. After Jiaojiao is discharged, I¡¯ll move out.¡± Chapter 1761. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Six) ¡°Zhou Shuang, what have I done wrong? Can you just tell me?¡± Lu Yinan peered at Zhou Shuang with a weary expression. He stared at her face without blinking, as though he wanted to catch all her expressions. He waited with bated breath for her response. Zhou Shuang shook her head and smiled. ¡°You did nothing wrong. You¡¯re already very good.¡± Women loved to say things that weren¡¯t how they feel. If they claimed that they were fine, then something must be wrong with them. Young Master Lu had many experiences handling women, and he was absolutely certain that Zhou Shuang was hiding something from him. He said, ¡°I always thought that you were a direct and blunt person. Don¡¯t you always speak what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head to deny. ¡°There is nothing wrong. You think too much.¡± Lu Yinan was very serious right now. ¡°I kept reflecting on the things that I¡¯ve done. I don¡¯t understand why your attitude changed completely.¡± Zhou Shuang pressed her lips, with her smile unfaltering. ¡°You really think too much.¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°Our time together isn¡¯t considered too short. It¡¯s almost been five years since we had the triplets. From a rational and mature point of view, what we should do is to build and maintain our relationship. We shouldn¡¯t be staying together just because it¡¯s perfunctory.¡± He raised his eyebrows at Zhou Shuang. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡®What we should do is to build and maintain our relationship. We shouldn¡¯t be staying together just because it¡¯s perfunctory¡­¡¯ What relationship did they have? If she couldn¡¯t control her heart and suppressed her desires, she might already shatter to pieces. Zhou Shuang was getting impatient, so she frowned at Lu Yinan. ¡°It¡¯s late and Jiaojiao is here. Can we stop talking about this?¡± Lu Yinan nodded and said, ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s discuss the next question.¡± Zhou Shuang put on a puzzled expression. ¡°What is it?¡± Lu Yinan slowly straightened his back and leaned against the desk. With his arms folded across his chest, he eyed her solemnly. ¡°Zhou Shuang, from the day I brought you back to my family, I¡¯ve been serious about us.¡± Zhou Shuang glanced at him, and she looked confused. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± He had already spelled everything so clearly and yet she was still asking why. Was she feigning ignorance? Lu Yinan felt like punching the wall. In the end, he grabbed his hair and messed it up. Forget it. How could he possibly tell her now¡­ it was impossible. He shook his head and gave up. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go play with Jiaojiao.¡± He turned around and walked towards Jiaojiao. Zhou Shuang gazed at Lu Yinan intently with her fingers intertwined. Her palms were covered in cold sweat. ¡­ Jiaojiao was discharged after three days. The triplets were reunited and they almost tore the whole house down. In the morning, their laughter and chatter had filled the whole house. Zhou Shuang came out from her room, dressed in a tight white shirt and a long black skirt that hugged her curves. She put on a wine red jacket to complete her outfit. She looked gorgeous. Especially her long silky black hair which tussled past her shoulders. Her face lit up with a smile when she heard the children¡¯s laughter. Lu Yinan came out at this moment and his room was opposite, adjacent to hers. The moment he lifted his head, he saw Zhou Shuang¡¯s smile. Astonishment and wonder filled his eyes. Chapter 1762. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Seven) Zhou Shuang heard Lu Yinan opening the door, and she glanced at him. Their eyes met and she froze for a moment. She tightened her grip on the doorknob. She pressed her lips and was about to walk away when Lu Yinan spoke. ¡°You¡¯re dressed formally. Are you going to work?¡± It was the seventh day of the new year and most people went back to work. He spoke casually with a tinge of coldness and sarcasm. His heart was billowing with emotions. The Zhou Shuang that he saw seemed unaffected and cold. It scared him. Zhou Shuang nodded and replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± She relinquished her grip on the doorknob and walked to the staircase. Lu Yinan closely trailed after her, and he wanted to grab her arm¡ªbut he just couldn¡¯t do it. It wasn¡¯t that he was scared, but rather, he couldn¡¯t cast his pride aside. He felt that he couldn¡¯t do that just to appease Zhou Shuang and win her back. He definitely developed feelings for her after all these years. Even if it might not be love, it could still be affection for her. So, it was normal for him to miss her. Lu Yinan persuaded himself and came to that conclusion. So, he withdrew his outstretched hand. He placed his hands into his pockets, resuming his air of refined dignity. He wore a pair of soft bedroom slippers, and he trod softly a few steps behind her. He made sure that he maintained a distance behind her when they went down the stairs. Zhou Shuang held a handbag with one hand, with the other hand in her pocket. Her footsteps were determined and at ease. She didn¡¯t seem reluctant to leave. Lu Yinan gazed quietly at her and unconsciously clenched his fists tightly. He had been restraining himself ever since he got together with Zhou Shuang. He dug his fingernails into his palms. Old Master Lu was playing chess with Jiaojiao, while First Lu and Third Lu sat beside them. Third Lu was clueless about chess, so she cheered both of them. ¡°Mommy!¡± Third Lu sprinted to both Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan when she saw them. Zhou Shuang strode to the couch with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s so early. Why are all of you so noisy?¡± She hugged Yanyan and stroked her hair. She held the girl¡¯s hand and continued walking forward. ¡°Great Grandfather is playing chess with Jiaojiao. He lost the game. Jiaojiao is better!¡± First Lu glanced at Old Master Lu with a look of disdain. His great grandfather was over 80 years old. But he lost to a child. Wasn¡¯t that embarrassing? That was what he was trying to convey with his expression. Zhou Shuang chuckled. ¡°Great Grandfather must have lost on purpose.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do that,¡± Old Master Lu interjected sternly. Zhou Shuang realized that Old Master Lu was being serious. He suddenly stretched his hand and stroked Jiaojiao¡¯s hair. With a benign and gentle smile, he said, ¡°You are truly a descendant of the Lu family. You possess both courage and wit. You will go far.¡± Jiaojiao smiled at the old man and humbly replied, ¡°Thank you Great Grandfather for teaching me. And you went easy on me. If not, I wouldn¡¯t have won the game.¡± She was so sensible, and her voice was sweet and lovely. Chen Anyun came out of the dining room and hastened her footsteps. ¡°Look at this girl! What a sweet-talker she is.¡± Chapter 1763. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Eight) She walked to Jiaojiao and pinched her lightly on her cheek. Lu Yinan¡¯s voice rang again. ¡°Didn¡¯t she learn all these from the dramas that you watch?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother furrowed her eyebrows at him. ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡± She spun around and smiled brightly at the triplets. Young Master Lu peered at Chen Anyun, and he looked upset and hurt. ¡°Can¡¯t you preserve my pride when my children are around?¡± ¡°Time for breakfast.¡± Chen Anyun ignored her son¡¯s protests and scooped Third Lu up. She beckoned to First and Second Lu. ¡°Come on, time to eat.¡± Old Master Lu gripped his walking stick tightly and slowly got up. His health was still good for a man of his age. He just had a little difficulty getting up after sitting for a long time. Zhou Shuang saw him and instinctively walked over to support him. ¡°My granddaughter-in-law is still the best.¡± Old Master Lu raised a wrinkled hand and patted Zhou Shuang¡¯s back. He was immensely proud and pleased with his granddaughter-in-law. And his liking for her couldn¡¯t be concealed in his eyes. Zhou Shuang had always enjoyed favoritism in this family, and she had the old man¡¯s backing and support. But Zhou Shuang was very respectful and filial to him too, and she did everything willingly. There wasn¡¯t any motive behind it. Zhou Shuang pressed her lips and smiled. She bent her head and walked with the old man to the dining room. ¡°Would you have your granddaughter-in-law without me?¡± Lu Yinan grinned as he approached them. He put on a cheeky grin as he faced his grandfather. He stretched his hand and grabbed his other arm. Zhou Shuang stood on the other side. Old Master Lu frowned in disapproval at Lu Yinan. ¡°Go away. I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± As he said that, he tried to pull his arm away from Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan grabbed on to his arm tightly and said, ¡°The Lu family has to count on me to carry on the line. Don¡¯t pretend to say otherwise.¡± The old man smirked coldly. ¡°You¡¯re not indispensable anymore. I have the triplets and Xiaoshuang. Your existence in this family is no longer important.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ He really didn¡¯t have much say in this family. But he wasn¡¯t upset about it as Yan Rusheng faced the same problem too. Whenever he felt disgruntled, he would think of how Yan Rusheng was being ¡®bullied¡¯ at home by his wife and children. It would cheer him up immediately. It was still the festive period, and Zhou Shuang just came back. So breakfast was a sumptuous spread. The triplets sat in a row wearing the same clothes. They held cutlery in their hands, looking like miniature adults. The triplets always compete to see who was the most obedient. So Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t have trouble getting them to finish their food. They were always trying to see who would be the first to finish their meals. Occasionally, Yanyan might throw a tantrum and someone would need to feed her. During breakfast today, they focused on their food, trying to see who could finish first. It was a pleasant and happy morning. But for Lu Yinan, the atmosphere was stifling. He raised his glass to drink his milk and stole furtive glances at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Xiaoshuang, eat more. You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight.¡± Chapter 1764. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Nine) The old master suddenly spoke as he glanced at Zhou Shuang. He smiled benignly at her¡­ Zhou Shuang raised her head and smiled back at him. ¡°This is the effect I wanted.¡± Old Master Lu furrowed his eyebrows tightly. ¡°Young people these days keep dieting. The wind will blow you away at any time.¡± ¡°If Mommy is fat, Daddy won¡¯t like her,¡± Yanyan blurted out in interruption. This lass kept saying inappropriate stuff, and it made Zhou Shuang awkward. She knitted her eyebrows and chided, ¡°Nonsense, eat your food.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother interjected, ¡°Why would Daddy dislike Mommy? Mommy is Daddy¡¯s wife. Daddy will like her no matter what she looks like.¡± She smiled at Yanyan. Yanyan disregarded her statement. ¡°It¡¯s all lies. No one would believe it.¡± It had all of them speechless. Dramas had such a powerful effect on children. The atmosphere became lighter because of Third Lu. A smile could be seen on everyone¡¯s faces. They chatted as they ate breakfast. ¡°I finished my food. I¡¯m first!¡± Third Lu had incredibly won despite talking. She raised her hand in victory. First Lu finished seconds later and Jiaojiao, too. The triplets waved at the rest of them and jumped off the chairs. They dashed out of the dining room. The spacious dining room fell silent and cold after they left. When the children were around, they always created a noisy ruckus. But once they were gone, it would seem as though a tornado had swept past, and everything fell silent. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother smiled at the old man. ¡°The three of them will wreak havoc again.¡± He replied, ¡°Children who don¡¯t do that are fools.¡± He glanced at the entrance of the dining room with an affectionate smile. The atmosphere hadn¡¯t been this light-hearted in a while. ¡°Grandfather.¡± Zhou Shuang interrupted the silence as she glanced at the old man. Then she turned to Chen Anyun. ¡°Aunt.¡± Everyone fell silent and solemn. Chen Anyun was still in the midst of chewing her bread when her eyes darted nervously to Zhou Shuang. She had an inkling of what Zhou Shuang was about to announce. Zhou Shuang placed her cutlery on the table and took a deep breath. After a pause, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve found a job and today is my first day. In the future, I need to trouble you to take care of them.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Xiaoshuang, why did you suddenly find a job? What are you working as? Won¡¯t you get tired?¡± With their family wealth, it was unnecessary for her daughter-in-law to look for a job. Besides, the children were still so young. How could their mother not stay with them? Even if she really wanted a job, their company had many positions available for her. The young madam of the Lu family had to look for a job. What would others think? Before she could say another word, the old man cut across. ¡°It¡¯s good for young people to gain experience. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s tiring.¡± He frowned at Lu Yinan¡¯s mother for a moment. His face softened when he turned to Zhou Shuang. ¡°As long as you like it and you do what is right. I will always support you.¡± Zhou Shuang smiled gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Grandfather.¡± Chapter 1765. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Ten) If she didn¡¯t have the support of this kind and considerate grandfather, she wouldn¡¯t be able to last for four years. On hindsight, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to enter the Lu family without the old man in the first place. Old Master Lu exerted pressure on Lu Yinan to bring her back to their family. Old Master Lu nodded. ¡°Eat.¡± Zhou Shuang hung her head, and she hesitated for a while. She raised her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ve found an apartment and it¡¯s near my workplace. I will move out in the next two days.¡± The old man was taken aback. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother shrilly exclaimed, ¡°You want to move out?!¡± A deep crease appeared in the middle of her eyebrows, and she looked exceedingly angry and annoyed. The old man¡¯s voice rang calmly across her. ¡°Xiaoshuang, I¡¯m not sure what happened between you and Yinan. But if you don¡¯t want to see him, I can chase him away.¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that, Grandfather.¡± ¡°Then why do you have to move out? What about the children?¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother frowned at Zhou Shuang as she threw her a question. Zhou Shuang managed a tiny smile. ¡°With Aunt taking care of them, I won¡¯t have to worry.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother finally realized that Zhou Shuang had changed the way she addressed her. When she first arrived, she kept calling her aunt. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother sternly corrected her and she finally called her ¡®Mom¡¯. At that time, she really wanted to be part of the family. So, she addressed her as a mom and she got used to it. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother put her cutlery down and grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. ¡°Xiaoshuang, you should talk it out if you have any differences in opinions. There are not unforgivable mistakes right? If you are angry or unhappy, you can vent it out on Yinan. If you leave like this, what would happen to the children?¡± Although she didn¡¯t entirely approve Zhou Shuang, especially about her lifestyle and habits. Neither did she want her to leave. Putting aside the bond they had built over the years, she was still the mother of her grandchildren, how could she let her leave? Zhou Shuang glanced at her with an unfaltering smile. ¡°I¡¯m not worried since you will take good care of them.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother frowned. ¡°Of course, we will take good care of them. But there is no way we can replace you as their mother¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Yinan flung his cutlery aside and it fell with a clang. ¡°Enough. If she wants to leave, then let her. Why should you force her to stay?¡± He cast Zhou Shuang a cold look and stood up. He stormed out of the dining room in a huff. Old Master Lu yelled, ¡°Lu Yinan, what¡¯s that attitude!¡± He hastily got up to chase after Lu Yinan. ¡°Father, don¡¯t be angry. Simmer down.¡± The old man¡¯s health had worried Lu Yinan¡¯s mother. Although he was healthy and strong, he was indeed getting on in age. Zhou Shuang was worried so she got up and chased after them. Lu Yinan left the dining room and went up the stairs. The old man couldn¡¯t catch up, so he stood at the staircase landing and bellowed. ¡°Are you getting rebellious?! Didn¡¯t I ask you to stop!¡± Lu Yinan ignored him and turned around without a word. The next moment, he vanished out of sight. The old man was turning red with anger. He turned around and glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Xiaoshuang, I will support your decision,¡± said the old man as he patted her. Chapter 1766. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Eleven) He had agreed to allow Zhou Shuang to leave the family. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother glared at the old man. ¡°Father¡­¡± But the old man silenced her with a sharp glare before she could finish. ¡°If you have time, go and educate your son. He thinks too highly of himself and he is getting more arrogant.¡± No one dared to defy the old man¡¯s orders in the family. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother pursed her lips and she hung her head. She had lost all her courage to stand up against the old master. She glanced at Zhou Shuang with a desperate look. ¡°Xiaoshuang, what did Yinan do wrong? I¡¯ll get him to apologize to you. You can carry on working and I will take care of the children. But there is no need for you to move out.¡± Zhou Shuang smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve found my apartment. You can bring the children to my place to visit me.¡± As she said this, her heart seemed as though a pair of hands was squeezing it painfully. The triplets had never left her side ever since they were born. But things had come to this and she had to face reality. She didn¡¯t want to split up the three of them, and she couldn¡¯t fight Lu Yinan. So, she could only endure this pain in silence. She wanted to minimize the pain and loss of the triplets. If she left quietly, she could tell them that she went out to work. And she planned to meet them occasionally. Seeing how determined Zhou Shuang was, Lu Yinan¡¯s mother teared up a little. ¡°Are you thinking of abandoning your children?¡± She bowed her head as she tried to hold back her tears. ¡°Aunt, I need to go. I can¡¯t be late on my first day.¡± She waved goodbye and turned around. Then she strode quickly towards the entrance. The triplets were playing on the couch. Zhou Shuang stood at a distance as she watched them. Her eyes were welling up with tears. ¡°Xiaoshuang¡­¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother called her and Zhou Shuang hurriedly rubbed her eyes. She sprinted to the doors and put on her shoes. Then she ran to her car and started the engine. The butler opened the courtyard gates for her, and Zhou Shuang stepped on the accelerator. Her car vanished out of sight in no time. She didn¡¯t like to cry so she was trying hard to fight back her tears. On her first day of work, she didn¡¯t have much to do. She spent most of her time familiarizing herself with the studio and departments. Su Yan initially started a photography studio, but it looked more like a design and fashion studio. There were a couple of designers, a few of them from overseas. Posters of models in dramatic and stylish clothing decorated the walls. Time flew past and before Zhou Shuang knew it, the sky turned dark. It was time to end work and everyone knocked off on time as it wasn¡¯t the peak period. Everyone bade goodbye to Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang waved and smiled as everyone left one by one¡­ ¡°Aren¡¯t you ending work?¡± A pleasant and familiar voice rang from the entrance. Zhou Shuang glanced at her with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re early.¡± Wen Xuxu wore a black floral coat paired with red leggings. She smiled and strode towards Zhou Shuang. ¡°How can I be late when you¡¯re giving me a treat?¡± Chapter 1767. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Twelve) Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes darted behind Wen Xuxu. She frowned as she asked, ¡°That pretentious one isn¡¯t here right?¡± ¡°Does my presence affect you so much?¡± Speak of the devil. Young Master Yan¡¯s pleasant and deep voice traveled from the door. The next moment, he appeared. He towered over them as he stood against the setting sun with his hands in his pockets. From top to toe, he exuded the dignified air and elegance he always possessed. Zhou Shuang glanced at Yan Rusheng, and her lips curled into a mischievous grin. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Why do you keep on torturing Lu Yinan?¡± Yan Rusheng studied Zhou Shuang with a frown. ¡°He is going crazy at this rate. He keeps pestering me to drink with him every night. It¡¯s disrupting my life.¡± Indeed, he pestered him every day. The same thing happened to Ming Ansheng as well. So, the two men had to take turns to accompany him as he vented his frustrations. He always repeated the same old frustrations. So, they just needed to drink with him. To be precise, they watched Lu Yinan drink. They had enough. Zhou Shuang raised her eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s not my damn problem.¡± Yan Rusheng pointed an accusing finger at Zhou Shuang, and he snarled, ¡°You¡¯re such a rough and unfeminine woman!¡± No wonder Lu Yinan dissed her frequently. His Wen Xuxu was the best. She was gentle, talented, smart, and capable. Hmph! Only his wife was perfect and the best. Zhou Shuang smiled and hissed, ¡°Even if I¡¯m feminine, I wouldn¡¯t show you that.¡± Having said that, she rolled her eyes at Young Master Yan. Yan Rusheng nodded and smirked. ¡°That¡¯s true. It¡¯s only for Lu Yinan.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s face fell. She raised her head and was ready to retaliate again when Xuxu cut across. ¡°Will both of you die if you don¡¯t bicker with each other?¡± She frowned at Yan Rusheng to warn him. Then she glanced at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t take it lying down, so she spat out, ¡°Your man really deserves a good beating.¡± Yan Rusheng ignored the fact that she was a woman. He retorted, ¡°You mean yourself?¡± He snorted coldly. Xuxu pressed her palm to her forehead. These two still acted like enemies after all these years. She was really exasperated. She raised her voice and interjected, ¡°Are we still eating? Or are we not?¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Zhou Shuang tidied her desk and then slung her bag over her shoulders. She wound her arm around Xuxu¡¯s arm and pulled her towards the entrance. Zhou Shuang cast Yan Rusheng a dirty look as they walked past him. Yan Rusheng stretched his hand with an urge to hit Zhou Shuang. But he decided not to and used his hand to rub his temples. Forget it. This hooligan was having a hard time recently. He shall not take it to heart. Yan Rusheng trailed behind them as they exited the studio. The work studio had a major renovation, and Su Yan insisted on his unique style as usual. Yan Rusheng took out his keys and opened the car door. He drove a Porsche, which was flamboyant and trendy. Xuxu felt that he was getting more showy the older he got. Chapter 1768. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Thirteen) After he had opened the door, the headlights flickered as he stood by the car to wait for Xuxu. Zhou Shuang let go of Xuxu¡¯s arm and pointed to a red Audi behind. ¡°I drove here, so I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± A black Mercedes drove towards them and stopped behind Zhou Shuang¡¯s car. Xuxu glanced at the car plate and surprise flickered in her eyes. She beamed brightly the next moment. She glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°It¡¯s Su Yan.¡± Yan Rusheng looked over his shoulders and took a brief glance. His expression remained impassive. On the contrary, he was rather annoyed with Xuxu. The Mercedes stopped and the man alighted from the car. He straightened his back and closed the door. The good-looking man glanced at Xuxu, and he warmly smiled at her. He wore a gray suit with a white shirt. He looked absolutely dashing and perfect. The weak sunlight cast a golden glow on him and it made him sparkle. He emanated elegance and nobility from head to toe. Xuxu gazed at Su Yan with a slight frown, and she entered a daze. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t know why she looked so worried. He was unhappy and jealous when he noticed her expression. He turned around and took a step towards Xuxu. He put his hand on Xuxu¡¯s waist. He glanced at Su Yan and coldly asked, ¡°When did you come back?¡± Su Yan casually replied, ¡°I just landed.¡± Their conversation interrupted Xuxu¡¯s thoughts. She watched Su Yan with a frown. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take a rest first?¡± Flourish & Prosper had been expanding rapidly these past few years and it had attained remarkable achievements. It was largely because of Su Yan¡¯s effort since he spent most of his time abroad. He brought in new investments too. The young man who used to be free-spirited and cheerful had turned into a shrewd businessman. He was efficient, capable, and decisive. And he made a name for himself in the industry. Su Yan glanced at Xuxu and he smiled again. ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Shuang¡¯s first day of work. How can I not take a look?¡± softly replied Su Yan. Zhou Shuang strolled over and raised her eyebrows. ¡°Big boss, are you worried about my abilities?¡± Su Yan chuckled softly. ¡°Certainly not.¡± He glanced at Xuxu. ¡°Where are you guys going?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Dinner. Join us?¡± She casually invited Su Yan. Su Yan nodded without hesitation. ¡°Sure.¡± Yan Rusheng eyed Su Yan sharply. ¡°How is the progress?¡± asked Yan Rusheng in a rather solemn tone of voice. Su Yan nodded. ¡°Progressing well.¡± Yan Rusheng grunted in reply. Xuxu thought of something and smiled. ¡°Yueyue is coming back in a few days¡¯ time.¡± She sounded and looked excited. Su Yan nodded and smiled. ¡°I know. Xiaojiao will start school here.¡± Affection filled Xuxu¡¯s eyes at the mention of Xiaojiao. ¡°That little imp is getting chubbier. She is so adorable.¡± Su Yan asked, ¡°She sent you photos?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Yueyue sent me a video. I really feel like pinching that girl¡¯s cheeks.¡± Chapter 1769. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Fourteen) Su Yan grinned and replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen that video yet.¡± ¡°She only sent it to me,¡± proclaimed Xuxu proudly. Su Yan¡¯s eyes sparkled as he said, ¡°Let me see.¡± The two of them chatted happily, completely ignoring everyone else¡­ Young Master Yan was glum and he was about to express his unhappiness. Suddenly, Xuxu said to Su Yan, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. I can show you in the car.¡± What? She had blatantly chatted happily with a man and even ignored his presence. And now she wanted to ride in his car! It seemed like he didn¡¯t discipline her well enough. Yan Rusheng clenched his fist tightly in his pocket as he glared at Xuxu with a murderous gleam. After a few seconds, his glare shifted to Su Yan. It was as though he was trying to tell him; take her if you dare. Su Yan noticed Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression, and he grinned playfully. He glanced at Xuxu and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He grabbed Xuxu¡¯s sleeve and tugged at it. How could he reject her when Xuxu had initiated to take his car? This was a rare opportunity to spite Yan Rusheng. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng finally spoke in his low and deep tone. It was as though he was warning her. Xuxu halted her footsteps and turned around. ¡°Why?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face darkened and he looked livid. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°I want to show Su Yan Xiaojiao¡¯s video. So I¡¯ll go with him. Meet you at the hotel later.¡± Yan Rusheng smirked coldly and said in a drawl, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Call me when you¡¯re there.¡± Xuxu smiled at Yan Rusheng. She turned around and strode quickly towards Su Yan. She got in and closed the car door, without even a second look at Yan Rusheng. After fastening his seatbelt, Su Yan ignited the engine and sped off. Zhou Shuang laughed when she witnessed this scene. ¡°Yan Rusheng, your wife left with your brother.¡± Yan Rusheng glared fiercely at her. ¡°I have eyes to see.¡± He turned around and got in the car. He ignited the engine and sped off. After some time, he slammed the wheel with his palm. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! ¡®Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re dead!¡¯ Zhou Shuang watched as Yan Rusheng drove off. She shook her head in amusement at the sight of the petty man. Shouldn¡¯t women be the ones who get jealous easily? When a woman sees her husband with another woman behaving intimately, she would throw a tantrum or get upset¡­ Her smile vanished gradually as she stood in a reverie. A breeze ruffled her hair and it made her snap out of her reverie. She sighed deeply to herself. She walked to her own car and got in. ¡­ Zhou Shuang had reserved a table at a five-star hotel, which was located in the most expensive district in the capital city. It was the peak hour after work and the busiest time in the capital city. Roads were congested with vehicles everywhere. At a traffic light before a bridge, cars gradually came to a halt as the light turned red. Chapter 1770. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Fifteen) Xuxu turned and glanced at Su Yan. She deliberated for a moment and said, ¡°Su Yan, you should get an assistant. You need someone to help you both in your life and at work.¡± Su Yan smiled at her. ¡°I can manage.¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°Your third brother and I don¡¯t want you to be so tired. You spend most of your time overseas, and you have no one to take care of you.¡± Su Yan maintained his smile. ¡°I¡¯m already used to it. So, it¡¯s not that tiring anymore.¡± Other than the dark circles under his eyes, he looked pretty energetic and cheerful. Xuxu smiled and said, ¡°I took the liberty of choosing a few candidates to be your assistant. You can take a look when you¡¯re free.¡± Su Yan didn¡¯t object and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± He had usually respected Xuxu, and he hardly said no to her. The traffic light turned green and the vehicles came roaring back to life again. Xuxu pressed on, ¡°They¡¯re all men and they all had experience.¡± Su Yan chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re very thoughtful.¡± ¡°You are still laughing.¡± Xuxu frowned at Su Yan, and she snapped, ¡°I¡¯m worried about you.¡± Su Yan raised his eyebrows as he pretended to look confused. ¡°Why?¡± Xuxu said, ¡°Your marriage.¡± Su Yan grinned as he replied, ¡°The oldest sister-in-law is like a mother. But you¡¯re not the oldest.¡± His smile was cheerful and chirpy, but he only showed the jaunty side of him only to Xuxu. To Xuxu, he didn¡¯t have any reservations. He couldn¡¯t describe his feelings towards Xuxu. Xuxu was the ideal girl who possessed the qualities he was looking for. To put it plainly, she was his goddess. But that special someone didn¡¯t have to be Xuxu. He didn¡¯t have any desire towards her too. Perhaps he had a hidden knot in his heart. And he had no idea when he would be able to untie it. But he didn¡¯t think that it was a problem. ¡°Cheeky fellow.¡± Xuxu chuckled quietly. ¡°You used to be so free-spirited and carefree. Although it seemed like you didn¡¯t change, you can¡¯t do whatever you like as you did in the past. Thanks to you, your third brother and I can have more time for our family. I don¡¯t even know if I should apologize or say thank you.¡± Because of Su Yan, Yan Rusheng could free up more time to spend with her and the children. And that was the most precious and most important thing to her. Su Yan puffed up his cheeks as he sized up Xuxu. ¡°Why are you so sentimental today?¡± Xuxu joked, ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to be so tired. There are so many girls that you meet. Don¡¯t you have someone in mind?¡± Su Yan dismissed her concerns and said, ¡°I¡¯m only 27 this year. I don¡¯t want to get married so early, so I don¡¯t think about it at all.¡± He always looked so free-spirited and laid back. Xuxu eyed him shrewdly before bowing her head. ¡°I also feel that I nag too much,¡± said Xuxu with a sigh. ¡°Xuxu, thank you,¡± Su Yan earnestly thanked as he glanced at Xuxu. Xuxu raised her head and peered at him. ¡°Why are you thanking me?¡± Su Yan quietly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. It¡¯s not because of Xin Yanting.¡± How would he not know what Xuxu was worried about? She had used Xiaojiao as an excuse so that she could have a private conversation with him. ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Xuxu stammered, apparently at a loss for words. Chapter 1771. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Sixteen) The cars continued to move slowly. Yan Rusheng spotted Su Yan¡¯s car from a distance. He felt irked and frustrated by the sight of it. His phone rang at the moment and he glanced at it. It was from Lu Yinan. He answered, ¡°Speak.¡± He had conveyed how annoyed he was feeling at the moment. Lu Yinan replied, ¡°Did you eat explosives?¡± Yan Rusheng smugly curled his lips as he spoke, ¡°Not explosives, but I¡¯m headed for dinner with your hooligan.¡± Lu Yinan sat up when he heard that Yan Rusheng was eating with Zhou Shuang. ¡°Where?¡± Yan Rusheng replied coldly, ¡°But you¡¯re not invited.¡± Lu Yinan pressed on, ¡°Are you still my friend?¡± ¡°I¡¯m driving, stop bothering me.¡± Yan Rusheng got impatient and he wanted to end the call. Lu Yinan refused to back off. ¡°So where are you going?¡± Yan Rusheng hissed, ¡°Why do you ask so much? Xuxu reminded me not to invite you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a slave to your wife.¡± Lu Yinan clenched his teeth as he snarled. Yan Rusheng snorted coldly as he replied, ¡°I know you¡¯re envious. But it can¡¯t be helped.¡± On hindsight, it was a blessing to be a slave to his wife. Who would refuse to be cared for by the one he loved? Or who wouldn¡¯t want to be with the person he loved? Would Ming Ansheng refuse? Or Lu Yinan? But the point was that it was useless. Even if they begged on their knees, their women wouldn¡¯t even bat an eyelid. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Young Master Yan suddenly felt much better. Wen Xuxu loved and cared for him¡ªthe woman he loved for many years. ¡°I¡¯m not envious!¡± Lu Yinan hissed and hung up. He was still at work, but he was in no mood to carry on working anymore. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu went out for dinner with Zhou Shuang. How many of them? Where were they? He suddenly felt abandoned and ostracized by the entire world. He suddenly felt fearful, so he picked up his phone to call Ming Ansheng. A pleasant and soothing tune traveled to his ears. He snorted with contempt and eyed the screen. He cursed quietly to himself. This fellow had hankered after a young girl. Did he really think that he was getting younger? And this song was so childish! Young Master Lu cursed at Young Master Ming until his voice lazily sounded over the phone. ¡°It¡¯s evening right now. Don¡¯t tell me you need a drink?¡± Lu Yinan asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°Office.¡± He was at work? Lu Yinan questioned him sharply. ¡°Didn¡¯t you meet Third Yan for dinner?¡± Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°Why should I go for dinner with Third Yan?¡± Lu Yinan felt slightly consoled and he exhaled deeply. His features relaxed and he said, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Ming Ansheng was bewildered by him. Young Master Lu snapped back, ¡°That should be you.¡± ¡°Then why did you call me for no reason? And you sound so paranoid.¡± Ming Ansheng raised his voice and he sounded annoyed. Lu Yinan was about to lash out when suddenly Young Master Ming hung up. He cast his phone aside and muttered, ¡°All of you have no loyalty.¡± He adjusted his collar as he grumbled. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Chapter 1772. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Seventeen) Someone knocked on the door and a nurse appeared the next moment. She politely said to Lu Yinan, ¡°Doctor Lu, there are two more patients.¡± Lu Yinan was feeling disgruntled and he wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk to anyone. And certainly, he wouldn¡¯t be able to attend to any patients. He glanced at the nurse. ¡°Is Doctor Jiang still around?¡± The nurse replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°Pass them to him. I¡¯m not feeling well.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± the nurse answered politely and left the room. Lu Yinan propped his elbow on the desk with his palm against his forehead. He tapped the desk absent mindedly with the other hand. Earlier on, he felt abandoned by the world. Now, rage and gloom had consumed him. Zhou Shuang was such a callous woman. He had been yearning and thinking about her, to the extent that he had lost weight. He couldn¡¯t sleep at night. But she went out happily for dinner. He had met countless women in his entire life. With just a meaningful glance, women would eagerly flock to him. That hooligan had given birth to his children and lived with him for years. How could she not have any feelings towards him? Lu Yinan mulled over this question as he peered at himself. He tugged at his collar and peeked inside. He frowned to himself. She had despised him because he was too fair and skinny in the past. Hence, he worked out vigorously these years. He had deliberately flaunted his muscles in front of her many times. Yet, she could ignore his presence and didn¡¯t even look interested. He could overlook the fact that she didn¡¯t fall in love with him. But she wasn¡¯t even interested to have any intimate contact with him! That wasn¡¯t logical at all! His thoughts wandered back to the times he had pretended to be drunk as he barged into Zhou Shuang¡¯s room. Young Master Lu was exasperated as he failed to get his way every time. They always condemned him and blamed him for not having any initiative. How could he be if she always acted in that way? Even if he presented a massive diamond ring with 999 red roses and proposed to her, she wouldn¡¯t even bat an eyelid. The more he mulled over, the more infuriated he was. He put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it up. His phone vibrated suddenly. Yan Rusheng had sent him a video. Lu Yinan eagerly picked his phone up and clicked on the text. Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes glimmered excitedly when he saw a five-star hotel in the video. He snubbed the cigarette and threw it away. He picked up his coat and bolted for the door. ¡­ The interior of the private room was exquisite and lavish. Soft carpets covered the floor. Waiters were outside to welcome them. Zhou Shuang turned to one of them and said, ¡°You may serve the dishes.¡± She had ordered the dishes when she made the reservation. The waiter nodded and said, ¡°Right away.¡± Yan Rusheng pulled a chair for Xuxu and she sat down. Then he removed his blazer. The waiter hurried towards him and hung up his blazer. Yan Rusheng sat down next to Xuxu and glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°I reckon that this meal is equivalent to two months of your salary.¡± Zhou Shuang sarcastically retorted, ¡°Yeah. Maybe you should treat.¡± ¡°Fine with me,¡± Yan Rusheng replied with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ll claim it from Lu Yinan later.¡± Chapter 1773. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Eighteen) Xuxu sensed that they might clash once more, so she hurriedly passed a glass to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Keep quiet.¡± Yan Rusheng opened his mouth and took a sip. He grinned at Xuxu and said, ¡°My wife is the best.¡± The smile and tone hinted at how smug he was. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t take it lying down and she cast him a disdainful look. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you stop being so obvious?¡± She picked up the spoon and banged it against her bowl to make her point. The sound of the porcelain bowl against the spoon was pleasant. But she exerted more strength, and it became an unwanted noise. Yan Rusheng frowned and snarled, ¡°Female hooligan, can you behave properly in public?¡± ¡°Stop arguing the moment you see each other!¡± Xuxu hastily interjected to prevent them from snapping each other¡¯s heads off. She raised her voice at both of them and glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°You¡¯re a man. Why must you be so petty? You¡¯re really calculating towards a woman.¡± He was a man of few words. But every time he met Zhou Shuang, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from bickering with her. As though they had been enemies for centuries. They always give Xuxu a headache when they bickered. Yan Rusheng stole a glance at Xuxu and smiled deviously. ¡°You are aware that I¡¯m petty.¡± He cast a meaningful glance at Su Yan. She was fully aware, yet she took Su Yan¡¯s car and ignored his warning. Although he was his younger brother, he was, after all, still a man. Furthermore, he had always admired Xuxu. When she got in Su Yan¡¯s car, it had slipped her mind how petty he could be? This woman really deserved¡­ to be disciplined. Fury coursed through Young Master Yan¡¯s body. How he wished that he could drag Madam Yan back home right now and throw her onto the bed. He would make sure she would beg him for forgiveness. Su Yan noticed Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression and he put his cup down. He explained, ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law had something to tell me. That¡¯s why she took my car. Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned at Su Yan¡¯s words. Instinctively, he glanced at Xuxu as he studied her. She had something to say to him? What did she say? Were they keeping secrets from him? Su Yan watched Yan Rusheng quietly and a tiny grin flitted across his face. He took a sip of tea. His knuckles were clearly defined. He looked graceful and elegant as he held the exquisite porcelain cup in his hand. Yan Rusheng caught Su Yan¡¯s furtive grin and he knew that Su Yan had deliberately said that. He clenched his fists under the table. He was about to cast his anger aside when Zhou Shuang spoke in a lazy drawl. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re really quite dumb. Your brain stops working at the mention of Wen Xuxu.¡± Zhou Shuang eyed Yan Rusheng with contempt and mockery. Young Master Yan had just realized he had fallen into Su Yan¡¯s trap. And now Zhou Shuang was shooting words of sarcasm at him, rubbing salt into his wounds. Yan Rusheng sneered coldly. ¡°How can an idiot call another person dumb?¡± Zhou Shuang snorted coldly, too. She didn¡¯t bicker with Yan Rusheng and instead took a sip of her tea. She looked elegant and proud. Chapter 1774. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart (part Nineteen She even curled her last finger upward as she held the cup. Yan Rusheng saw her and quietly picked up his phone. He sneakily took a photo of Zhou Shuang and sent it to Lu Yinan. ¡®Your hooligan is really pretentious. She is affecting my appetite.¡¯ Young Master Lu was caught in a jam and the red lights deterred him from moving off. He was getting impatient and annoyed. His phone vibrated and he saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s text. He clicked on the WeChat message and glanced at the photo first. Then his eyes darted down to the content. Young Master Lu was indignant, and he quickly typed a reply while the traffic light was still red. ¡®This is enough to affect your appetite? Every time you behave intimately with your Wen Xuxu as though we are all invisible. Have you considered our feelings?¡¯ He gazed at the photo once again after sending the text. Zhou Shuang propped her hand against her cheek with a cup in her other hand. Her long black hair cascaded down in front of her chest. She exuded elegance and gracefulness from top to toe. She was so natural. In what way was she pretentious? Unconsciously, Lu Yinan also propped his elbow against the window as he smiled at the photo. He had totally forgotten that he was on the road. He was jarred back to reality when the vehicles honked at him. He realized that the road was empty ahead of him. He glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the drivers bellowing as they stuck their heads out of the windows. Everyone looked as though they wanted to snap his head off. He hurriedly stepped on the accelerator. But when he got nearer, the light turned red once more. He had to stop. The cars began to honk as the drivers showed their displeasure and rage towards Lu Yinan. Young Master Lu ignored them and turned on the radio. A melodious tune started playing, and he calmly adjusted his clothes. He peered at his reflection using the mirror to check his appearance. He frowned and stretched his neck to inch nearer to the mirror. He touched his eyes. He had been losing sleep recently and he looked rather haggard. He pulled the cabinet and took out a pair of customized spectacles. This pair of customized spectacles was one of its kind. It had a gold rim and the lens was specially designed to block UV rays. He looked instantly more refined. He checked his appearance once again and noticed some bumps on his skin. It was time for him to put on a mask. Recently, he wasn¡¯t interested in anything because of that hooligan¡ªhe even forgot his beauty regime. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Young Master Lu was dwelling in his own thoughts when someone knocked on his car window. Then he remembered that he was at the traffic junction. He glanced ahead and the lights were still red. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Someone knocked on the window again. He turned around and peered out. A willowy woman was standing beside his car with her hands pressed against her waist. She seemed intimidating. Chapter 1775 The drivers kept honking at him. Lu Yinan felt guilty, but he didn¡¯t show it. The woman outside the car looked as though she wouldn¡¯t budge unless he winds down the windows. Lu Yinan had no choice but to oblige. ¡°F*ck! You are an assh*le!¡± He opened his window halfway. The woman stuffed her fist right through as she aimed it at Lu Yinan¡¯s face. Lu Yinan instantly backed away, but he didn¡¯t manage to dodge her fist completely. His spectacles fell and it scratched his right eye. It instantly formed a cut. He was fair and so the cut was obvious. He frowned in pain and instinctively used his hand to cover his eye. Suddenly, the woman bent and put her head in. She grabbed Lu Yinan¡¯s collar and clenched her other fist. But this time, Lu Yinan didn¡¯t let her succeed. He caught her fist in mid-air. ¡°Crazy woman! How dare you hit me!¡± This was the first time that the gentleman and elegant Young Master Lu had lashed out at a woman. Of course, other than Zhou Shuang. The woman was slim and frail-looking. And as a woman, there was no way she would win against Lu Yinan¡¯s strength. Lu Yinan tightened his grip on her wrist as he glared menacingly at the pretty face in front of him. But he couldn¡¯t be bothered with how pretty she was. All he wanted was to smash this woman to pieces right now. The woman swept her hair aside and she screamed shrilly. ¡°Why did you stop in the middle of the road! Are you trying to die!¡± ¡°Get lost, crazy woman!¡± Lu Yinan shoved her away. He looked cold and malicious. The woman stumbled and faltered because of his strength. Before she could gain a footing, she slipped and fell. They had blocked the rest of the vehicles. And the jam got worse. Lu Yinan ignored the woman and he got ready to drive off. ¡®Slam!¡¯ There was a deafening slam and his car jerked forward. He lunged forward too and he almost hit his head on the wheel. It was evident that someone had deliberately bumped his car from the back. ¡°Today is really shitty!¡± Young Master Lu unfastened his seatbelt in a huff and opened the door. He was wearing a black Armani jacket with a white shirt, paired with black pants. When he straightened his back, he looked dashing and suave. He glanced at the red Mercedes behind him. There was a woman with long curls and she was dressed fashionably. Lu Yinan strolled towards the car, looking calm. But beneath this facade, anger was surging inside of him. He saw the terrible dent in his car¡ªthe exhaust pipe was damaged and hanging from his car. Not to mention, the taillights or trunk. It was beyond recognition. He suppressed the rage inside of him as he sharply eyed the car. The red Mercedes was in bad shape too. He massaged his temples and inhaled deeply. ¡°Are you still a man? You are at fault and you even hit a woman.¡± The woman alighted from the Mercedes. She wore a biker jacket paired with leather pants and a pair of stilettos. She glared at Lu Yinan as she yelled. Chapter 1776. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-One The woman who had fallen got back up on her feet. They stood together, opposite of Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan studied them and sharply asked, ¡°Are you two together?¡± He may appear unruffled but it was the calm before the storm. The short-haired woman crossed her arms and glanced at him coldly. ¡°Yes¡­ so what?¡± She sized up Lu Yinan from head to toe as she spoke. She started from scorning him to looking slightly interested. Lu Yinan bit his lips and hissed, ¡°So you deliberately bumped my car?¡± ¡°Sorry, I stepped on the accelerator by accident,¡± she lazily answered and brushed her hair to the side. The other woman smirked coldly as she sized up Lu Yinan too. When she had a good look at his face, her eyes gleamed and sparkled. ¡°Good.¡± Lu Yinan nodded and sneered coldly. His eyes seemed cold and murderous and it sent chills down the women¡¯s spines. They trembled with fear. But they still tried to remain composed. Lu Yinan¡¯s phone rang. He remembered that he was supposed to meet Zhou Shuang and the rest for dinner. He pointed at the two women and snarled, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare move.¡± He darted back to his car and extended his hand inside. He picked up his phone. It was indeed Yan Rusheng. ¡°I¡¯m on my way. Something cropped up but I will be there after I settled it. Buy some time for me,¡± Lu Yinan spoke as he walked back to the women. His eyes were still blazing with rage. Yan Rusheng heard Lu Yinan and deliberately asked, ¡°You met with a car accident?¡± There wasn¡¯t any hint of worry, in fact, he seemed to gloat. ¡°Can¡¯t you say something nice for once?¡± Lu Yinan grumbled gloomily and he added, ¡°Something like that. Someone bumped me from the back.¡± ¡°Car accident! Where are you!¡± Yan Rusheng raised his voice. Lu Yinan frowned in frustration. Why was he so worked up? He would never believe that Yan Rusheng was worried about him. Anyway, he didn¡¯t have time to bother with him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t make such a huge fuss. I¡¯ll be there after two more junctions. Talk later.¡± Lu Yinan hung up and marched towards the women. Over at Yan Rusheng¡¯s side, the rest got a shock when they heard him. Xuxu gazed at him nervously. ¡°What happened? Who was in a car accident?¡± She watched Yan Rusheng intently with bated breath. Her heart seemed to have stopped. Yan Rusheng looked so nervous and worried. It must be someone close to him. Yan Rusheng stared blankly ahead before turning to Xuxu. ¡°It¡¯s Lu Yinan.¡± ¡°What!¡± Xuxu sprang to her feet and her sudden actions made her chair fall back. She grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm and anxiously blurted, ¡°Where is he? Is he injured?!¡± Chapter 1777. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Two She glanced at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang was pale with shock and she too stood up. She gripped the edge of the table, looking as though she had lost her soul. One could imagine how worried she was. Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°It¡¯s quite serious and he couldn¡¯t speak properly. I can hear the police sirens too. He is nearby.¡± He took a furtive glance at Zhou Shuang and slyness flickered in his eyes. It was fleeting. Su Yan, who sat next to Xuxu, regained his composure. ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡± Xuxu tugged at Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm in a bid to pull him up. Suddenly, Zhou Shuang flew past her and when Xuxu looked up, she was already at the door. She fumbled for the doorknob and sprinted away. Xuxu retracted her hands and she was about to follow Zhou Shuang. Yan Rusheng¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡°As expected. Women don¡¯t speak from their hearts. She loved him deeply and yet, she was trying to ditch him.¡± He sounded as though he was mocking her. By then, his anxiety had vanished. Xuxu halted her footsteps and turned around. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what do you mean?¡± asked Xuxu with a frown. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Yan Rusheng held Xuxu¡¯s hand and stood up. Xuxu finally realized that Yan Rusheng had tricked them. She heaved a sigh of relief and punched him on his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re horrible. If Zhou Shuang knew about this, you¡¯re dead.¡± She flung his hand away and bolted for the door. ¡°Shuang! Wait for me!¡± ¡­ Lu Yinan¡¯s car was in the middle of the road and just before a zebra crossing. There was heavy congestion and the vehicles couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Can you all go to one side to resolve your conflict? Don¡¯t block the road!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Angry jeers and grumbles could be heard. The cut near Lu Yinan¡¯s eye was painful, and he was shivering with rage. Other than Zhou Shuang, no other woman had touched his face. Rather, no one dared to. These two women had touched his taboo. He towered over them, and he looked malicious and overbearing. The women retreated and fear was etched on their faces. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°You stepped on the accelerator by accident¡­¡± Lu Yinan gritted his teeth as he watched the woman. He suddenly stretched his hand to pull the woman¡¯s arm. Then he opened her car door. He had absolutely no qualms about hurting this woman. The woman shrieked. ¡°You¡¯re such a jerk! What do you want? Are you trying to hit a woman? Everyone is watching you!¡± Lu Yinan ignored the woman¡¯s warnings and he stuffed her into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°You need to practice until you know which is the brake and accelerator.¡± He forcefully slammed the door. The woman outside the car trembled badly. ¡°Crazy man! Open the door!¡± Lu Yinan used his leg to stop her from opening the door. The woman yelled hysterically from inside the car. Lu Yinan raised his chin and ignored her. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Two traffic police officers arrived at the scene. They had blasted the sirens along the way. Chapter 1778. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-three The long-haired woman saw the traffic police officers and her eyes gleamed with hope. She immediately walked to them. ¡°Mr. Officers, this man refused to drive away and he had blocked the roads. He caused all the cars to stop and even hit a woman.¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t listen to the woman¡¯s accusations and merely focused on the short-haired woman in the car. The traffic police officers heard her accusation and nodded to acknowledge it. He walked to Lu Yinan and took a glimpse of his car. ¡°Please drive the car to the side.¡± ¡°This woman said she bumped into my car because she stepped on the accelerator by accident. I need to let her practice her driving.¡± The traffic police officers were also slightly alarmed by how cold and menacing this man was. The long-haired woman shook her head and pointed at Lu Yinan. ¡°This man is crazy.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± Wen Xuxu and the rest arrived. Zhou Shuang and Xuxu were ahead of Yan Rusheng, who strolled slowly behind. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face finally regained color when she saw Lu Yinan standing there. She marched quickly to Lu Yinan as she scrutinized his face. Lu Yinan had always been taking care of his appearance, especially his face. And his skincare regime was as extensive as hers. His face¡­ had never been injured before. There was an obvious cut on his face and it seemed as though it was cut across by fingernails. Zhou Shuang watched him quietly. She frowned at him. When Lu Yinan saw Zhou Shuang, he was overjoyed. He withdrew his leg, which was pressed against the car door. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t answer so Xuxu stepped forward. ¡°Lu Yinan, what happened?¡± ¡°Just like what you are seeing now.¡± Lu Yinan pointed at his car and shrugged. He didn¡¯t even care about the state of his car at this moment. Xuxu nodded as she glanced at the two cars. She pretended to feign ignorance. ¡°This is the traffic junction, so all vehicles should be slow. Why is the back of the car so heavily damaged?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Lu Yinan smirked coldly. ¡°Someone claimed that she stepped on the accelerator by accident.¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly turned around before he finished his sentence. Zhou Shuang walked to the back of Lu Yinan¡¯s car and opened the car trunk. Everyone was curious to see what she was looking for. In the next second, she took out a metal pole. Everyone was shocked. Xuxu stared at Zhou Shuang in horror and she hurried towards her. ¡°Shuang, what are you doing?!¡± Zhou Shuang ignored her question. She held the pole in her hand and walked to the Mercedes. The woman in the car had gotten off from her car. Zhou Shuang stood beside the car as she surveyed the Mercedes. ¡°Miss, what are you trying to do?¡± The traffic police officer darted forward and prepared to snatch the pole from her. Zhou Shuang raised her hand with the pole and smashed the front of the car. The glass shattered to pieces. Then she aimed for the car door. In the blink of an eye, and with everyone watching, the Mercedes was destroyed. After she had finished smashing, she threw the pole on the ground. The Mercedes owner mustered her courage and interrogated Zhou Shuang. ¡°What are you doing? Why did you smash my car?!¡± Zhou Shuang sharply turned to eye her. ¡°If you can¡¯t drive properly, why do you need a car?¡± Chapter 1779. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Four 1779 A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Four She cast a long, scornful look at the long-haired woman and turned around without another word. Her actions had shocked everyone, including Yan Rusheng. ¡°What the!¡± Yan Rusheng stared speechlessly at Zhou Shuang¡¯s back. This hooligan was way too cool and aggressive. He was beginning to admire her. Lu Yinan cast everything aside and sprinted after Zhou Shuang. ¡°Shuang¡­¡± One of the traffic police officers immediately stopped him. ¡°Sir, we are not done yet.¡± ¡°Help me settle it.¡± Lu Yinan turned to Yan Rusheng and pointed towards his car. Before Yan Rusheng could say a word, Lu Yinan was long gone. He anxiously ran after Zhou Shuang and caught up with her. Zhou Shuang hastened her footsteps, and so did Lu Yinan. Zhou Shuang exuded aloofness and hostility. She ignored him and kept walking in silence. Lu Yinan didn¡¯t know where she wanted to go. But he knew that she wouldn¡¯t talk to him, so he merely trailed after her quietly. It was evening, so the sky was dark and gloomy. The city lights were a brilliant red and purple from a distance. The bustling night view of the capital city didn¡¯t seem affected by the haze, nor someone¡¯s bad mood. People could admire the beautiful scenery in its entirety from a higher elevation. Yan Rusheng frowned in disbelief as he wondered if Lu Yinan had simply left with Zhou Shuang and dumped everything to him. He glanced at Xuxu and apprehensively asked, ¡°Is that fellow insane?¡± How could he asked him to settle matters like this! He was the famous Third Young Master¡­ and yet he had to settle some petty accident? ¡®Lu Yinan, you must be seeking death,¡¯ Yan Rusheng thought to himself. Xuxu was secretly gloating. ¡°Don¡¯t talk so much. You need to settle this.¡± She tugged at Yan Rusheng¡¯s sleeve and pulled him nearer to the scene. ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t pull me¡­¡± Yan Rusheng was reluctant to, but Xuxu insisted. So, he had no choice but to be dragged along. ¡°Stop pulling me. Call his family now. Or get Lu Yishan. She is the perfect person to handle this.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s sister was an amazing and capable attorney. She could win any court case with ease. Wen Xuxu ignored his suggestion and dragged him to the traffic police officers. Yan Rusheng had hit the headlines countless times and appeared on the covers of magazines too. His face was just like a famous luxury brand. Not just the capital city, the people in the entire country would know him unless they had been living under a rock. His presence caused a commotion in the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s Third Young Master¡­¡± ¡°Oh yeah! That¡¯s Third Madam Yan. No wonder she looked so familiar!¡± ¡°How I envy Third Madam Yan.¡± ¡°What a perfect couple. And they were childhood sweethearts. Can¡¯t believe they are still so loving after these years.¡± People kept exclaiming with envy as they peered at them curiously. The ladies were all envious of Xuxu for snagging Third Young Master. It pleased Young Master Yan when he heard them. He smiled to himself. He felt better and puffed up his chest. He adjusted his clothes. Chapter 1780. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Five Yan Rusheng¡¯s casual actions had caused a ripple among the ladies. Those who had always fantasized about him were gushing about how handsome he was. He radiated a glow from head to toe and it was impossible to conceal his aura. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Third Young Master and Third Madam Yan.¡± Both traffic police officers were stunned to see both of them. They were at a loss of what they should do next. Young Master Yan rarely spoke on such occasions. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and stood there, looking pompous and aloof. Xuxu smiled at the officers. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just do whatever you need to.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The traffic police officer smiled and nodded eagerly. He extended his hand and pointed at Lu Yinan¡¯s car. He smiled at Yan Rusheng and Xuxu. ¡°May we trouble Third Young Master to move the car to the side so that the cars behind can move?¡± Xuxu nodded politely. ¡°Sure.¡± She pulled Yan Rusheng along with her to Lu Yinan¡¯s car. She pushed him into the back seat before getting into the driver¡¯s seat. She peered at Yan Rusheng through the rearview mirror. He sat there looking like a stuck-up young master. Xuxu mouthed the words silently; Pretentious! She ignited the engine and drove the car away from the scene. The Mercedes, which Zhou Shuang had smashed, followed after them. The two women were with one of the traffic police officers. Xuxu knew that Yan Rusheng wouldn¡¯t get down. She didn¡¯t want him to settle it personally too, as he might invite reporters. So, she parked the car and got down. ¡°Wife, you¡¯re the best.¡± Xuxu halted when she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s drawl. He sounded seductive and sly. Xuxu turned to glare at him with gritted her teeth. Everyone knew that Third Young Master doted on his wife ever so dearly. So, the women all hated and were jealous of Xuxu. Who knew that she had a hard time too? She had to deal with a pretentious husband who always launched sneak attacks in bed while she was fast asleep. And her husband was always so shameless and mean towards his friends¡­ She led a tiring life too, alright? ¡°I¡¯m not sure of the situation. Ladies, would you please explain?¡± Xuxu politely asked as she walked towards the women. The women began to talk eagerly and even dramatized the whole situation. Xuxu quietly caught the main gist. The long-haired woman hit Lu Yinan, while the short-haired woman bumped Lu Yinan¡¯s car. Her smile remained unwavering as she glanced at the traffic police officers. ¡°Mr. Officer, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard them clearly. My friend has blocked the road indeed, and it caused inconvenience to the cars behind. I apologize for that. But this is merely immoral behavior. There is a possibility of my friend being distracted in the car or he had something urgent to attend to. If not, he wouldn¡¯t have blocked the road on purpose.¡± ¡°This lady didn¡¯t get the facts right and hit my friend. She is too rash.¡± ¡°And this lady. No matter how rich you are, there is no reason for you to bump someone else¡¯s car. We are all civilized people, not barbarians.¡± Chapter 1781. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Six ¡°No wonder my friend was so furious. She smashed your car because you bullied her husband. Why did you do that?¡± Xuxu spoke relentlessly and patiently, but she didn¡¯t give anyone the opportunity to interject. ¡°Especially women. And two pretty ones to boot.¡± She glanced at Yan Rusheng before she eyed them sharply. ¡°If any woman bullies my husband, I would do the same too.¡± The two women were dumbstruck and they failed to utter a word. Xuxu maintained a polite smile throughout the entire time, and she looked humble. Her argument was sharp and keen, but it was rational. That was the reason the women couldn¡¯t butt in at all. She referred to them as pretty ladies and this tactic was brilliant. ¡°In that case¡­¡± Xuxu noticed that they had clammed up. She glanced at the traffic police officers and spoke, ¡°My friend smashed your car and we will definitely be responsible. But you too, have bumped into my friend¡¯s car too¡­ So we will¡­¡± One of them quickly interjected, ¡°It¡¯s fine! We don¡¯t need you to compensate us. Let¡¯s just forget about this.¡± Xuxu feigned surprise and she quipped, ¡°How can we do that? Your car is at least two million yuan.¡± She tried to conceal an impish smile. The woman violently shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that serious.¡± Xuxu frowned and probed, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The woman seemed to get impatient. Xuxu¡¯s smile remained unfaltered. She peered at the traffic police officers. ¡°Then¡­¡± The traffic police officer replied, ¡°If both parties don¡¯t want to pursue this matter, then this matter is resolved.¡± Both women nodded to show their assent. Xuxu put on an apologetic smile. ¡°Actually, we can compensate you with a new car.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, we don¡¯t need it,¡± the woman replied, and she looked miffed. She looked as though she couldn¡¯t take this lying down, but she was forced to. She turned to the traffic police officers and implored, ¡°We are in a rush. Is there anything you need from us?¡± The traffic police officer replied, ¡°I need to record your driver license details.¡± He glanced at Xuxu. ¡°I need the car owner¡¯s driver¡¯s license, too.¡± Xuxu walked to the car and spoke to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Call Lu Yinan.¡± But Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t call Lu Yinan. Instead, he pulled the cabinet and found the driver license and passed it to Xuxu. To the bystanders, it may seem like a serious accident. But they resolved the whole incident in less than half an hour. Xuxu called someone to tow Lu Yinan¡¯s car away. She got in their own car with Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng curiously glanced at Xuxu. ¡°How did you know that the woman hit Lu Yinan? I didn¡¯t recall her confessing that.¡± Xuxu grinned. ¡°She said she went to confront Lu Yinan. I noticed that her right hand had a cut and her pants was dirty. Obviously, she fell just now. And Lu Yinan had a cut near his eye too. So, I merely tricked her into telling the truth. And indeed, she didn¡¯t refute what I¡¯ve said. So it means that my conjecture was right.¡± Chapter 1782. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Seven She peered up at Yan Rusheng and gave him a gentle yet haughty look. Shock flashed across his eyes and then he smiled. ¡°It¡¯s the country¡¯s loss that you¡¯re not a police officer.¡± She could still observe such details in that situation? ¡°Yan Rusheng!¡± Xuxu suddenly yelled at him fiercely. Yan Rusheng looked at her in confusion. ¡°What?¡± Xuxu frowned and interrogated, ¡°Are you still a man for getting your wife to do all the dirty work?¡± She pouted and continued angrily. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯ll protect me in any situation?¡± Yan Rusheng refuted, ¡°Do you want those two women to stare at your husband¡¯s face?¡± Xuxu was slightly speechless. ¡®This fellow is too much. He is being narcissistic again.¡¯ She smiled coldly and replied, ¡°How do you know that they would stare at you?¡± Yan Rusheng pointed at his face and stared ahead. Brimming with confidence, he said, ¡°Given this face, it¡¯s an obvious matter.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. She threw him a dirty look but he couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter the next second. She stared out the window. A blissful and affectionate smile flitted across her face as she thought about it. They were right: After all these years, her Ah Sheng hadn¡¯t changed one bit. He was so adorable whenever he was being overbearing and narcissistic. He was so lovable even when he was being crude. ¡°Wen Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly called her and she turned her head in confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I envy Lu Yinan.¡± Yan Rusheng pouted like a child. He only showed this side of him to Xuxu. Xuxu guessed the reason, but she feigned ignorance and raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°Weren¡¯t you dissing him in the morning? Why are you envious of him now?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°You¡¯ve never bashed up someone else¡¯s car for me.¡± As she had expected¡­ This fellow just wanted her to placate him with some sweet-talking. She peered up at him and said, ¡°Someone delivered some peach blossoms and I rejected them on your behalf.¡± Young Master Yan¡¯s face lit up instantly. He bade her over and commanded, ¡°Come here.¡± Xuxu looked at him cautiously but she didn¡¯t move over, inching backward instead. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I asked you to come here,¡± Yan Rusheng said, grabbing her collar. He pulled her towards him and he tilted his body. Her lips met his. An intoxicating feeling erupted within them. A romantic English song played in the background. The atmosphere was filled with bliss¡­ ¡­ ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± She made a turning whenever she met a junction. She didn¡¯t cross any roads but she couldn¡¯t find her way back. She suddenly stopped in her tracks and stared nonchalantly at him. Lu Yinan halted in his steps. ¡°Shuang.¡± He stared at her. He had so many things to say to her, but the words got stuck in his throat. He opened his mouth but no words came out. Zhou Shuang stared at Lu Yinan for two seconds before retracting her gaze and looking downwards. She said plainly, ¡°Stop following me.¡± Her nonchalance made him anxious. Chapter 1783. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Eigh Suddenly, he had a sudden surge of courage. He stepped forward and hugged her tightly. ¡°Zhou Shuang, you care about me.¡± He had always thought that she didn¡¯t care about him and that he didn¡¯t matter to her. He hated her callousness. But today¡­ He finally realized that she cared about him. ¡°So what?¡± Zhou Shuang pushed him away with force. She took a huge step back and stared at him. She coldly raised her eyebrows. ¡°Caring for you doesn¡¯t mean that I have to be with you.¡± It had been almost five years. He finally realized that she cared for him. She didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Lu Yinan wanted to step forward, but her cold glare held him in place. He looked at her in confusion. ¡°If you care about me, and I care about you, why can¡¯t we be together?¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡± Zhou Shuang chuckled sarcastically. Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t comprehend. He frowned as he stared at her. He said in a serious tone, ¡°What is it about me that you¡¯re unhappy with? Can you tell me if I hurt you unintentionally? Even if I deserve the death penalty, don¡¯t I deserve to know what I¡¯ve done wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not taking the kids. Aren¡¯t they all you want? I let you have your way. What more do you want?¡± Zhou Shuang asked, her voice near a roar. She was unleashing her pent-up anger. He thought, ¡®Let her vent her anger. At least I¡¯ll know what I did wrong, and why she¡¯s angry.¡¯ However, Zhou Shuang suddenly turned around and continued walking. Lu Yinan chased after her. ¡°Zhou Shuang.¡± Zhou Shuang ignored him and quickened her pace. ¡°I want you too.¡± Lu Yinan declared loudly, and all the passers-by turned to look at him. He was stunned when he realized what he had just said. What¡­ did he say just now? He wasn¡¯t planning on saying that to her. But after the words left his mouth, he realized that those were his thoughts all along. Did Zhou Shuang really¡­ have a special place in his heart? Had he really fallen for her? Zhou Shuang halted in her tracks. His words replayed in her mind. ¡®I want you too.¡¯ They were less than 10 meters apart, but Lu Yinan felt that a thousand miles separated them. He was afraid. He stretched out his hand, but could not reach out to her. Zhou Shuang continued walking, not turning back. She disappeared into the distance. Lu Yinan suddenly lost his courage. He didn¡¯t want to face her nonchalant and cold attitude. He didn¡¯t want to accept the fact that this time, she wanted to leave him for good. He suddenly realized that for the past few years, there was a woman who bore him three children and stayed by his side without an official status like a fool. Although he brought up marriage a couple of times, she didn¡¯t agree¡­ No, it wasn¡¯t that she refused. But rather, he was all talk and no action. He never proposed to her once. Ming Ansheng and that little lass were right. He never once put in an effort to chase her. Indeed, one only knew what was valuable after they¡¯ve lost it. ¡­ ¡°Shuang is at Peace Street. I¡¯m going to find her,¡± Xuxu helplessly said to Yan Rusheng. She just ended her call with Zhou Shuang. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with these two?¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°I just received a message from Lu Yinan. He¡¯s at The First Wealth and wants me to go over.¡± Chapter 1784. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Twenty-Nine Xuxu sighed. ¡°Aish. Foes.¡± Then she moved to unbuckle her seatbelt. Yan Rusheng asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°You find Lu Yinan. I¡¯ll take a cab to find Zhou Shuang.¡± Yan Rusheng grabbed her arm and held her back. ¡°I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Then he started the car and complained, ¡°These two fellows, they have no qualms about troubling others.¡± Xuxu looked at him with contempt. ¡°It¡¯s their misfortune to have a friend like you.¡± Yan Rusheng smirked wickedly. ¡°Countless people in the entire country want to be my friend.¡± ¡°Stop being narcissistic. Drive.¡± Xuxu leaned against her seat and looked ahead. She was looking forward to having a good meal after a long day at work, but¡­ Aish! It was silent for a moment before she looked at him again. ¡°Do you know what is on Lu Yinan¡¯s mind? What exactly does he want?¡± He didn¡¯t want Zhou Shuang to leave and clung onto her shamelessly, but he continued living so carefree and unrestrained? He didn¡¯t take things seriously. Who knows what he was thinking? Did he really want Shuang to live at his house without an official status? Just so that the children could have a complete and happy family? Although they¡¯re her children too, it was too heartless. Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°Without a doubt, he must¡¯ve lost to that manly hooligan.¡± He paused and added, ¡°I used to think that there was nothing good about that hooligan, but today I finally realized that she is¡­ gutsy.¡± Then he nodded in confirmation. ¡°Yes. She has the guts of a man.¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t know what to say. She didn¡¯t want to discuss such a serious matter with him anymore. Other than work matters, he never once spoke appropriately. Then she turned to look out the window and when she thought about the circumstance Zhou Shuang was in, she became livid. ¡°Can¡¯t he give in to a woman? What¡¯s wrong with a man being soft?¡± Xuxu mumbled unhappily. She dissed Lu Yinan. Yan Rusheng frowned and replied sternly, ¡°How can a man be soft? He¡¯ll be useless then.¡± Xuxu turned and looked at him. She was speechless. ¡°Yan Rusheng, can you stop being so inappropriate! Can¡¯t you be more serious?¡± Yan Rusheng looked at her innocently. ¡°I¡¯m serious. How am I being inappropriate? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s got their mind in the gutter.¡± His eyes were filled with innocence. Xuxu was speechless. She ended the conversation and waved him off impatiently. ¡°Please hurry. Or I¡¯ll get off and take a cab instead.¡± If she didn¡¯t grow up with them, she would really question his loyalty to Lu Yinan as a brother. His good friend was waiting for him at a pub so that he could pour out his heart to him, but he was taking his own sweet time. He didn¡¯t seem worried at all. When he heard that, Yan Rusheng stepped on the accelerator and the car speed doubled. Xuxu grabbed the car safety handle. Yan Rusheng sent Xuxu to the bar Zhou Shuang was at on Peace Street. The car stopped and Xuxu unbuckled her seatbelt. She was about to close the door but she thought against it and peeked her head into the car. Chapter 1785. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Thirty She instructed Yan Rusheng, ¡°Remember to teach Lu Yinan a lesson. Tell him to stop acting as if he likes her and truly wants to be with her.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes lit up. He smiled smugly. ¡°As expected.¡± ¡®As expected?¡¯ It confused Xuxu. ¡°What?¡± Then she immediately waved at him. ¡°On second thought, don¡¯t tell me.¡± The wicked smile on his face showed that it was definitely something inappropriate. She was better off not hearing what he had to say. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°As expected, you like how I chased you. You don¡¯t mean what you say.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes and stood up. She forcefully closed the door. The car shook with her slam. She had wanted to show some concern for him. But seeing that look on his face, she decided not to. ¡°This stupid woman!¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and stared as Xuxu rushed into the pub. He loved and¡­ loved her. He only drove off when Xuxu had disappeared from his view. Xuxu retreated two steps and looked outside to see Yan Rusheng¡¯s car leave. She smiled. ¡°What a fool.¡± The pub was situated on Peace Street, in the heart of the capital city. The pub was situated in the middle of the street so it was high class. Those who entered were only the rich and wealthy. The environment was better than usual too. Men and women alike, all of them looked gentle, refined, and polite. They sat together in two¡¯s and three¡¯s, talking jovially. Xuxu scanned the area but it was too dark. There were bright lights shining everywhere too, so it took her some time before she could eventually find Zhou Shuang in the corner. She was sitting alone at a space meant for six. Xuxu walked over. There were two bottles of strong alcohol on the table. One bottle was opened and half empty. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t see her. She finished a glass and stretched out her hand to pour herself a second glass when Xuxu caught her arm. ¡°Zhou Shuang, enough. Why are you drinking so much?¡± ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re here.¡± Zhou Shuang peered up at her drunkenly. She smiled foolishly and said, ¡°Just in time. Sit down and drink with me.¡± Then she grabbed her arm and pulled her down to sit beside her. She picked up the bottle of alcohol and poured some into an empty glass. Xuxu pushed the glass further away and frowned at her. ¡°I didn¡¯t come to drink with you.¡± ¡°But I asked you here to drink with me,¡± Zhou Shuang said, lifting her glass and stuffing it into Xuxu¡¯s hands. F*ck. She didn¡¯t have a high tolerance for alcohol. Why did Zhou Shuang ask her to drink with her? The fellow was drunk now and there was no point in telling her all this. Xuxu took the glass from her and stared at her. ¡°What are you doing? All because of a man?¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t a man,¡± Zhou Shuang mumbled. She looked up at the dim yellow lights on the ceiling and smiled. ¡°Would a man let a woman scratch his face? Would a man be unable to handle two women?¡± Xuxu realized that she had been drinking too much and snatched her glass away. ¡°Enough. Stop drinking. If you have anything else to say, tell me now.¡± Zhou Shuang immediately snatched the glass back from her. ¡°Let me drink.¡± Chapter 1786. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Thirty-One Xuxu was helpless and had no choice but to let her. Zhou Shuang rested her elbows on the table and took a drink. She stared at the brown liquid in her cup, her eyes revealing a tinge of sorrow and gleaming with tears. She thoughtfully said, ¡°It¡¯s been almost five years since I last drank to my heart¡¯s content at a pub. It feels like just yesterday when I would drink until dawn and wake up in the afternoon the next day.¡± She smiled. But that was five years ago. It ended so quickly. She often thought, how did she end up like this? Living like a housewife, taking care of three kids every day, but ridiculously living in someone else¡¯s home. Xuxu became lost in her thoughts. She had been by Yan Rusheng¡¯s side since she was of a young age, so she didn¡¯t find it difficult to move on from her singlehood. She didn¡¯t have much to miss from being single. Although she couldn¡¯t empathize with Zhou Shuang, she still could imagine. Her heart ached for her. Xuxu¡¯s eyes turned red and she grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm. She smiled and encouraged, ¡°Isn¡¯t it much more meaningful to spend time with the three little imps?¡± Zhou Shuang smiled. ¡°Indeed. Those three imps.¡± She lifted her glass and clanked it against Xuxu¡¯s. She put the glass to her lips and finished the last of the alcohol in her glass. Xuxu didn¡¯t stop herself this time. She tasted the alcohol with the tip of her tongue. A mere lick and she already felt herself burning up. ¡°Shuang,¡± Xuxu said in a serious tone. ¡°You do love Lu Yinan, right?¡± Zhou Shuang smirked. ¡°You¡¯re so smart. Couldn¡¯t you tell long ago?¡± This was the first time she admitted her feelings for Lu Yinan so promptly and without hesitation. Xuxu grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm. Probably the alcohol¡¯s effect, her hand was burning to the touch. She stared at her and held her hand tightly. Confused, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s bothering you? I can tell that Lu Yinan likes you too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Shuang lifted her head to look at her. Then she looked downwards again and mocked, ¡°Ha, what could he possibly see in me?¡± Then she drank another gulp of alcohol. Xuxu sighed. ¡°Aish. Since he was of a young age, countless girls flocked around him. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, never once experiencing stress or pressure. He did whatever he wanted, so he probably doesn¡¯t have the courage to put a stop to his carefree lifestyle.¡± Just like her back then, where she couldn¡¯t take the step to confess to Ah Sheng. Because once she did it, it was irreversible. She could understand what Lu Yinan was feeling, but she didn¡¯t agree with his actions. ¡°He only wants the kids.¡± Zhou Shuang removed her hand out of Xuxu¡¯s grasp and looked up sadly. She looked at all the couples in the pub. Her eyes were filled with sorrow. Xuxu frowned and started to become anxious. ¡°What exactly is bothering you? The fact that you guys came together only because of the kids?¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time Zhou Shuang had said these words to her. She said Lu Yinan only wanted the kids. But there always has to be a reason why couples get together. Their reason was a common one. She can¡¯t possibly stuff the children back into her belly and find another reason to get together with him! Chapter 1787. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Thirty-Two Zhou Shuang sighed heavily and shook her head. She dismissed Xuxu¡¯s questions with a wave of her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this anymore. Let¡¯s drink.¡± She raised her glass for a toast with Xuxu. Xuxu took a tiny sip, just to savor the taste. She licked her lips. Zhou Shuang drank glass after glass. And in the midst of their conversation, she had finished an entire bottle. She immediately got a new bottle and poured herself more. She was so drunk that she was seeing illusions. The wine spilled onto the table and on Xuxu too. Xuxu hurriedly stopped her and said, ¡°It¡¯s enough. Nothing will change even if you get yourself drunk. Say whatever you feel like saying. Why do you have to hide your feelings?¡± She knew that if she didn¡¯t coerce Zhou Shuang in this way, the woman wouldn¡¯t be honest about her true feelings. ¡°Xuxu, I love him. I don¡¯t know why I fell for him.¡± Indeed, Zhou Shuang put her glass down. She pulled Xuxu in for a tight embrace and sobbed. Xuxu¡¯s heart ached for her as she cried. She gently patted Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°It would be fine if you just say it. It¡¯s not embarrassing to confess your feelings.¡± It¡¯s not embarrassing to confess your feelings¡­ This statement sounded so familiar. ¡°No. It¡¯s not fine.¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head like a stubborn child. She was crying badly now as she pressed on, ¡°He said he wanted the children. His mother and he said they wanted the children with no hesitation.¡± What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Xuxu gently pushed Zhou Shuang away and surveyed her. ¡°When did this happen?¡± This probably happened when she was giving birth. ¡°I would have chosen the children too. But I was still affected when he said that. It hurts when Lu Yinan doesn¡¯t care about me. He didn¡¯t want me¡­¡± Zhou Shuang punched her chest with her fist. She grabbed Xuxu and sobbed harder. ¡°I thought that if I die on the operating table, Lu Yinan would rejoice.¡± Zhou Shuang had a row with Lu Yinan and it had her agitated. Hence, she had premature labor as a result. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu were away on a work trip overseas. When she came back, she heard that Zhou Shuang was supposed to give birth in a natural way. But there were complications and she was bleeding heavily. In the end, she had a Cesarean operation. She was in a critical condition, but fortunately, both mother and children were safe. This was the first time she had heard what had happened exactly. Anger boiled inside of Xuxu. How could Lu Yinan do this? So, this was the knot in Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart all these years. Indeed. How can anyone not be affected by this statement? Even if Lu Yinan didn¡¯t love Zhou Shuang, he can¡¯t be so selfish. He had chosen to give up on a person¡¯s life. Not just anyone, but the woman who gave birth to his children. She had a premature labor. So, Zhou Shuang¡¯s mother couldn¡¯t make it back in time too. Xuxu couldn¡¯t imagine how hurt and despondent Zhou Shuang must have felt at that time. She had always felt like a stranger staying with the Lu family. And she needed someone on her side. She really didn¡¯t know how to console Zhou Shuang right now. So, she raised her glass and said, ¡°I¡¯ll drink with you.¡± She gulped down the entire glass. Zhou Shuang chuckled as she collapsed on the table. Xuxu sulked at her. ¡°Why are you laughing at me?¡± Zhou Shuang pointed at her as she laughed. ¡°Wen Xuxu, did you forget that you collapse after one glass?¡± Chapter 1788. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Thirty-Three Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyelashes were still heavy with tears. Under the dim light, it sparkled and glimmered. Xuxu stretched her hand and dabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s tears away. She poured another glass for herself. ¡°Since I get drunk after a glass, I shall drink more.¡± This was what Zhou Shuang wanted. She raised her glass and toasted Xuxu. ¡°Yay.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan is inhuman,¡± Xuxu blurted in anger. She peered at Zhou Shuang after she chided him. What Zhou Shuang needed was a friend to stand on her side. And lash out together with her. So, Xuxu¡¯s job was to make her feel better. So that she could unleash all her unhappiness. Zhou Shuang nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, he is inhuman.¡± They chided him enthusiastically as they clinked glasses. It drew attention from the rest of the patrons. But they ignored everyone else. ¡°Other than being handsome, he is useless.¡± ¡°I second that. Sissy Lu.¡± Xuxu reproached Lu Yinan incessantly and Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Other than his superior genes, he has no strengths.¡± Zhou Shuang frowned and disagreed. ¡°Who said that? He is a doctor and he can coax children.¡± She recalled something, and a blissful and gentle smile flitted across her face. Xuxu curled her lips and looked inquisitively at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Did you watch him when he is with his patients?¡± Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Yeah. He is getting more patient now. To both children and patients.¡± Xuxu exclaimed loudly, ¡°Really? I remember that he had always behaved like a child.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°He has changed so much, to be frank.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Xuxu burst into laughter. Sometimes, horoscope readings can be quite accurate. Zhou Shuang¡¯s horoscope was a Gemini. The traits of the Gemini sign were: loyal, faithful and devoted in love. If she fell in love with a person, she wouldn¡¯t allow others to criticize him at all, no matter how horrible the man was. Only she was allowed to. If someone had bullied the person she loved, she would defend and seek revenge. Just like what happened earlier that afternoon. She smashed the woman¡¯s car without a care. Zhou Shuang pulled Xuxu¡¯s arm. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re drunk.¡± But she continued to raise her glass and drank glass after glass. Xuxu lazily waved her hands. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can sleep after I¡¯m drunk.¡± Zhou Shuang pouted. ¡°Your Yan Rusheng will scold me.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right¡­¡± Xuxu grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm and said excitedly, ¡°I tell you. Yan Rusheng praised you today.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s rare.¡± Zhou Shuang glanced at Xuxu and pressed on. ¡°What did he say?¡± She was really curious about what Yan Rusheng had said. He had detested her for so many years. ¡°He said that you were gutsy, just like a man.¡± She extended her hand and patted Zhou Shuang. ¡°Tsk.¡± Zhou Shuang spat droplets of wine on Xuxu¡¯s face. ¡°I knew it. How could Yan Rusheng have nice things to say about me? He deserves to be lectured.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± The two ladies were laughing like fools. Evidently, they were drunk. The singer on stage ended the song and the crowd erupted with applause. The singer was a tall and willowy woman. Some guys even sent her flowers. Chapter 1789. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Thirty-Four Zhou Shuang nudged Xuxu when she realized that the stage was empty. ¡°Wen Xuxu, go and perform.¡± Xuxu shook her head. ¡°No way. You go.¡± ¡°Together. Let¡¯s see if any handsome guys would send us flowers.¡± Zhou Shuang grabbed Xuxu and pulled her along towards the stage. The two drunk women clumsily tottered with their arms around each other. People around them were so afraid that they might fall. So, they watched them apprehensively. They finally reached the stage with each other¡¯s help. The manager walked to them and smiled politely. ¡°Ladies, what do you have in mind?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned and she looked annoyed. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m here to sing,¡± snapped Zhou Shuang in her loud voice. She pointed at the piano at the corner and said to Xuxu, ¡°Xuxu¡­ there is¡­¡± Xuxu¡¯s eyes darted to her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Piano. Go and play a song.¡± Zhou Shuang shoved Xuxu towards the piano. Xuxu blinked her eyes and nodded after some time. ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡± They were both drunk and their cheeks were flushed. They acted as though they were the only ones in the room. To everyone else, they interpreted their actions as two drunk women behaving crazily. Xuxu turned around but she stopped when she thought of something. She turned around, back to Zhou Shuang. ¡°What song do you want?¡± Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°Twinkle twinkle little stars.¡± But she instantly changed her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t want twinkle twinkle little stars. I want another.¡± She began to sing at the top of her voice. ¡°The sun is shining bright. The flower smiles at me. The bird says good morning. Why are you carrying a schoolbag? I don¡¯t want to go to school¡­¡± The manager decided to intervene and tapped Zhou Shuang¡¯s arm. ¡°Ladies, you¡¯re drunk. Can you get your friends to pick you up?¡± He tried to lead them down the stage. It annoyed Zhou Shuang, and so she flung his hand away. ¡°What do you mean? Are you afraid that we don¡¯t have money?¡± Xuxu rambled on, ¡°Yeah¡­ I have money.¡± Zhou Shuang turned to correct her. ¡°Your husband has money.¡± Xuxu agreed and nodded. ¡°Yeah. My husband has money.¡± ¡°Her husband is Yan Rusheng. Third Madam Yan. Third Young Master. Do you know them?!¡± Zhou Shuang proclaimed as she pointed at Xuxu¡¯s face. ¡°Oh!¡± The manager was dumbfounded. He felt as though he was drunk right now. ¡°The drinks are on Third Madam Yan today.¡± Zhou Shuang pulled Xuxu to the edge of the stage and she waved her hands wildly. Xuxu was already in a drunken state so she merely nodded. ¡°Okay. On me.¡± She guffawed like a cheeky child as she swayed unsteadily. Under the light, she seemed so happy and innocent. And it dispelled the man¡¯s anger. Yan Rusheng shook his head helplessly and strode towards the stage. He walked to Xuxu and held her hand. His expression was tender as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Ah Sheng¡­¡± Xuxu collapsed in his embrace when she saw Yan Rusheng. She snuggled closer to him. ¡°Ah Sheng, I love you so much.¡± Yan Rusheng caressed her face gently with a smile. ¡°I know.¡± Everyone whipped out their phones to snap a phone of this blissful scene. Chapter 1790. A Drunk Mind Speaks a Sober Heart Part Thirty-Five ¡°Yan Rusheng, why are you here? I want to sing with Xuxu.¡± Zhou Shuang tried to pry Xuxu away from Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng prevented her from doing so and smiled. ¡°Carry on singing. We will be your audience.¡± ¡°I will sing.¡± Zhou Shuang pouted and she began. ¡°Twinkle twinkle little star¡­¡± ¡°Our Jiaojiao loves little red hat.¡± Zhou Shuang chuckled sheepishly to herself and immediately changed the tune. ¡°I¡¯m walking¡­¡± After starting a family, most women¡¯s lives revolve around their husbands and children. Clearly, Zhou Shuang was one of them. Xuxu was nestled comfortably in Yan Rusheng¡¯s arms as she listened to Zhou Shuang singing. She felt sorrowful instead of being cheered up. ¡°Stop this. We¡¯re going home.¡± Suddenly, a towering figure appeared in front of Zhou Shuang. He held her hand and spoke tenderly to her. Although, he wasn¡¯t as natural or as comfortable as Yan Rusheng. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home with you. I want to see Yanyan. Did Yanyan finish her milk?¡± Zhou Shuang flung the man¡¯s hand away as she stumbled down the steps. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re going home.¡± Young Master Lu quickly gripped Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand again with a frown. It was exactly the same situation. But why was his treatment so different from Yan Rusheng? Perplexed and frustrated, he glanced at Yan Rusheng. Young Master Yan stood with his chin held high, with a smug smile. He bent and landed a kiss on Xuxu¡¯s forehead. He spoke in a manner that almost made Young Master Lu puke. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s go home and get busy.¡± He put his arms under Xuxu and scooped her up effortlessly. Before he left, he cast a contemptuous glance at Lu Yinan. As though he was trying to say: Don¡¯t be jealous of my happiness. You can¡¯t be me. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ It drove him mad with anger. He bent to look at Zhou Shuang. He hesitated for a moment before bending to carry her. He almost lost his footing when he carried her. He glanced at the drunk woman and swore under his breath. ¡°F*ck! You looked so skinny.¡± Dear Young Master Lu, training is needed for you to carry a woman. Young Master Yan has been training for years. ¡­ Zhou Shuang¡¯s sleepily eyelids fluttered and her whole world seemed to spin. The curtains were drawn tightly that barely any sunlight streamed in from the narrow gap. She stretched her hand to turn on the light. Was this¡­ Lu Yinan¡¯s apartment in the hospital? When Lu Yinan had to perform surgeries, he wouldn¡¯t go home for days. She brought Yanyan to visit him before. But why was she here? Zhou Shuang slumped on the bed as she tried to recall the previous night. She only remembered that Xuxu drank with her. And they had chided Lu Yinan. She couldn¡¯t remember anything afterward. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Zhou Shuang was still feeling puzzled when the door swung open. A familiar man¡¯s voice sounded. Zhou Shuang glanced at Lu Yinan who was wearing bathrobes. He strolled towards her. Only then did she remember to check herself. When she peered down, she was stunned. She wasn¡¯t wearing the clothes she wore yesterday. The white shirt she wore obviously belonged to Lu Yinan. She lifted the blanket. F*ck. She wasn¡¯t wearing anything below. Chapter 1791. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part One Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t even stop to think as she bellowed at Lu Yinan. ¡°Sissy Lu! What did you do last night?¡± ¡°You were dead drunk, so what can I possibly do?¡± ¡°Why am I here!¡± This question was a little stupid. Of course, he had brought her here. Damn it, Wen Xuxu. How could she give her to this fellow? But Xuxu was drunk too. ¡®Drink.¡¯ ¡®Just sleep after we get drunk.¡¯ Zhou Shuang recalled what had happened last night as she pressed her palm on her forehead. Xuxu was in a worse state than her. So, it couldn¡¯t be Xuxu who handed her to this fellow. She warily glanced at Lu Yinan as her eyes darted up and down his face. She couldn¡¯t believe him entirely as she was completely unconscious. She couldn¡¯t recall anything. She moved her body a little, trying to check if there was any weird sensation she felt. But she felt normal. Perhaps he was telling the truth? Lu Yinan read Zhou Shuang¡¯s mind and he grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. I didn¡¯t touch you.¡± He walked towards the center of the room. Zhou Shuang studied his expression and concluded that he didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. She pursed her lips and peered down. She muttered under her breath, ¡°Sissy Lu.¡± After Lu Yinan came to the bed, he put his hands inside the pockets. He stood before Zhou Shuang with a mysterious smile. ¡°You look a little disappointed.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she furiously glanced at Lu Yinan. ¡°I¡¯m not! Get out of my sight now.¡± She looked furious. ¡°You weren¡¯t so feisty last night.¡± Lu Yinan bent and inched nearer to Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. He grinned slyly at her and his eyes were so seductive. Zhou Shuang avoided his gaze and hissed, ¡°Stop trying to lie to me. I have nothing more to say to you. Get out, I want to change.¡± She glanced at the surroundings, looking for her clothes. But they were nowhere to be seen. She eyed Lu Yinan fiercely and snapped, ¡°Lu Yinan, where are my clothes!¡± Lu Yinan said in a drawl, ¡°You puked everywhere. I sent the clothes for cleaning.¡± She puked everywhere¡­ She believed that. She drank too much yesterday and it would be a surprise if she didn¡¯t. Zhou Shuang gripped the blanket and tightened it around her. ¡°Then¡­.¡± She wanted to ask but stopped herself by biting her lips. They were the only ones in the apartment. She was wearing his clothes, so there wasn¡¯t any doubt that he had changed her clothes. They had slept together before and it wasn¡¯t strange for him to change her clothes. Zhou Shuang clammed up and Lu Yinan interjected. ¡°If you want to leave now, you can. I don¡¯t mind.¡± He knew for sure that she wouldn¡¯t leave in her current state. Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth in anger as she grabbed a pillow. The next moment, she hurled it at the man. ¡°Go out!¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t dodge and simply caught the pillow. He put on an innocent expression as he hugged the pillow. ¡°I did nothing to you. But why are you still so angry? If you continue to behave in this way, I will assume that you¡¯re deliberately provoking me as a man.¡± Chapter 1792. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Two ¡°Ha¡­¡± Zhou Shuang coldly sneered and cast him a long, scornful look. ¡°You¡¯re not even a man. What are you talking about?¡± She adjusted the blanket and wrapped herself tightly once more. She even covered her shoulders. ¡°I really think that you¡¯re trying to provoke me into doing something.¡± Lu Yinan inched nearer to Zhou Shuang as he bent down. His breath smelled of mint and it assailed Zhou Shuang¡¯s nostrils. His lips were seducing her again. His face was perfect and his features were so gorgeous. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face flushed crimson and her embarrassment was transformed into anger. She clenched her fists and punched Lu Yinan with her strength. ¡°Lu Yinan, get out!¡± Her punch carried determination and a half of her usual strength. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Young Master Lu yelled in pain as the corners of his mouth began to bleed. The stench of blood lingered in his mouth. He used his thumb to wipe off the blood, and he glared at Zhou Shuang with fury radiating from his eyes. ¡°You really are heartless.¡± Zhou Shuang stole a glance at him and averted her eyes. ¡°I asked you to scram, but you refused to. So you had this coming.¡± Actually, she got a shock when she realized that he was bleeding. She merely wanted to teach him a lesson, but she didn¡¯t note her strength earlier on. Hence her impulses got the better of her. In her heart, she wasn¡¯t guilty. She just felt a little¡­ a little¡­ Zhou Shuang bent her head and mocked herself quietly. Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re so useless. Why do you have to feel sorry for a man like him? You should exert more strength. Lu Yinan¡¯s grumbles sounded. ¡°You were so aggressive towards others when they bully me. But you hit me so forcefully.¡± He pulled some tissues from the bedside drawer and dabbed them in his mouth. He gazed at Zhou Shuang as he reproached her. But deep down, he didn¡¯t blame her at all. He had no idea what he had done wrong, neither did he know what was on her mind. As long as they could talk things out and that she wouldn¡¯t be angry anymore, he would do anything. As long as¡­ she doesn¡¯t leave. He had gotten used to her presence after all these years. He felt lonely and bored when she wasn¡¯t around. The world turned dreary without her. So, this was what love was about. Love was so magical. No wonder Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng had suffered so much in the past. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face turned red, and she warned Lu Yinan with a glare. ¡°Lu Yinan, if you keep chattering like a woman, I will throw you out of the window!¡± She was concerned about him, and she was really worried when she heard that he was in an accident. At that moment, she even forgot all about the pain he had caused her. She forgot that he didn¡¯t care about her at all. All she wanted to do was to rush to him. When she saw him safe and sound at the scene, she heaved a sigh of relief. When she saw the cut on his face, she wanted to pounce on the two women and beat them up into a pulp. ¡®Zhou Shuang, you¡¯re a fool,¡¯ she thought to herself. Zhou Shuang peered at her hands and fell solemn. Lu Yinan quickly coaxed her, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be angry anymore. I won¡¯t blame you.¡± He used his hand to stroke his bleeding lips. It was really painful. Chapter 1793. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Three Lu Yinan smelled nice after a shower and his scent traveled to Zhou Shuang¡¯s nostrils. It was confusing and making her flustered. Especially his gentle expression and soft attitude. She had never seen this side of him before. The thing they did the most for the past four years was to bicker. He had never really conceded defeat or let her have her way. If not, she wouldn¡¯t have gone into premature labor and suffered for so many years. ¡°I¡¯ll leave since you¡¯re not.¡± Zhou Shuang struggled to get herself up. Instantly, she felt bare and empty below. Then she recalled that she wasn¡¯t wearing anything below. She widened her eyes and pressed her hand against her body. Wasn¡¯t that action done by a man after his groin was hurt? Lu Yinan grinned in amusement at Zhou Shuang. He lightly shook his head and walked towards her. His eyes wandered to the part where Zhou Shuang was pressing. Zhou Shuang glanced at him and yelled, ¡°Lu Yinan get lost! Don¡¯t you dare look at me!¡± The more she forbade him to, the more Lu Yinan wanted to look. His eyes darted upwards as he admired her figure under his white shirt. The top two buttons were unbuttoned and she had bent her body. Lu Yinan could see her chest if he shifted himself. He merely wanted to tease Zhou Shuang for a bit. But at the sight of her chest, he swallowed his saliva and something was erecting. He hastily averted his gaze, but he still trudged on. ¡°I¡¯ve touched and used your body. Why can¡¯t I look at it now?¡± He curled his lips seductively as he glanced at Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. Her cheeks were burning red. On hindsight, she was adorable and hilarious. She could boast and be tough on the outside, but in reality, she was soft-hearted and kind. It was his fault for overlooking her strengths in the past and not paying any attention to her. He didn¡¯t try to get to know her at all. ¡°Hooligan! Scram!¡± Lu Yinan grinned to himself. But the next second, Zhou Shuang aimed a lethal kick at him. He stumbled backward for several steps and almost lost his footing. ¡°If you want to vent your anger by hitting or scolding me, do so.¡± Lu Yinan walked bravely to her again and stood before her. ¡°I will go.¡± Zhou Shuang grabbed the blanket and got ready to jump down. Lu Yinan quickly stopped her. ¡°Alright, alright. I won¡¯t tease you anymore.¡± His lips brushed against her cheek as he coaxed her gently. ¡°Don¡¯t flare up and tell me what you want to eat. I¡¯ll cook it for you.¡± His tone was gentle and his breath was warm. Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t used to this new Lu Yinan. She could feel her cheeks boiling. Her heart raced rapidly against her chest. She shoved him away and hissed, ¡°I don¡¯t want.¡± She sat down and wrapped the blanket around her once more. She hid her face from Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan wanted to embrace her but he hesitated. His hands hovered in mid-air for a while before he retracted them. It was unwise to keep provoking her. Third Yan said that she wouldn¡¯t be so easy to handle. And Ming Ansheng reminded him to be patient. They had gone through similar experiences, so he would be stupid to ignore their advice. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t respond, so Lu Yinan pressed his lips. ¡°You drank too much yesterday. I¡¯ve cooked porridge for you. I¡¯ll cook two more dishes for you now.¡± Chapter 1794. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Four Zhou Shuang ignored his offer and hung his head helplessly. He turned around and left. Hmph! Suddenly he was fawning on her! Zhou Shuang quietly rolled her eyes at Lu Yinan. She collapsed back on the bed after the towering figure left. Her gaze swiveled around all corners of the room. It was clean and tidy and there was a lingering scent in the air. It was Lu Yinan¡¯s perfume. The door was ajar. The sounds of bowls scrapping against a surface and food being cooked in a pan were heard. Zhou Shuang widened her eyes in astonishment. She glanced at the door and wondered to herself, ¡®Was that fellow really cooking for her?¡¯ He had always prioritized his appearance and his hands were perfect like an exquisite creation. He was really cooking? And something surprised her even more. He could cook? Curiosity killed the cat. Zhou Shuang trod barefooted across the room quietly¡­ She carefully placed her hands on the door frame and peeked her head inside. This was an apartment in the hospital. There was a bedroom and a living room. The kitchen was an open concept, so she could see Lu Yinan standing in front of the stove. He wore an apron around his waist. He held his phone with his hand and a ladle with the other. Was he cooking¡­ was a recipe? Zhou Shuang pursed her lips and entered a reverie. Lu Yinan put the phone down and began to search for seasoning. He obviously wasn¡¯t familiar at all. Zhou Shuang caught a whiff of the food and she inhaled deeply. She blinked and asked, ¡°Are those braised intestines?¡± She loved that dish and she used to order it whenever she ate out with Lu Yinan at restaurants. He would always scorn her choices. Yet, this fellow was making this dish for her. What was wrong with him? Zhou Shuang glanced at Lu Yinan. He looked flustered and lost as he glimpsed at the contents in the pan. He hastily switched off the fire. This was his first time cooking. He assumed that it would be an easy dish to cook. He frowned as perspiration covered his forehead. Zhou Shuang stole glances at him as she leaned against the door. Lu Yinan was engrossed in trying to salvage the dish. He looked as though he was at a loss. She crossed her arms across her chest and peered at him lazily. ¡°Have you washed up? Food is ready.¡± Lu Yinan suddenly raised his head and glanced at Zhou Shuang. He didn¡¯t seem surprised nor startled to see her. Did he already sense her presence? Zhou Shuang was taken aback and she replied, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± She turned around and strode quickly back to the bed. Lu Yinan chased after her and quipped, ¡°Try some. It wasn¡¯t easy to cook the dishes.¡± Zhou Shuang smirked coldly. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been hard on you.¡± Looking at recipes as he cooked, she had done this before. She had never cooked in her life before. For the sake of the children and him¡­ she could whip up a table of delicious food now. She had really changed drastically as well without even realizing it. Lu Yinan caught up with Zhou Shuang. She struggled so he lifted her up and put her on his shoulder. He turned around and walked out. He said, ¡°You puked everything out last night. You have to eat.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan! Put me down now! I¡¯m not wearing clothes!¡± Zhou Shuang anxiously gripped the shirt as she tried to cover herself. Chapter 1795. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Five Fortunately, Lu Yinan¡¯s shirt was big and long enough for her to cover her thighs. But she still wasn¡¯t properly dressed, and she felt ashamed. Lu Yinan casually replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s only us here.¡± ¡°Let me go! Let me down now!¡± Zhou Shuang freed one of her hands and punched Lu Yinan¡¯s back. She was really agitated. Lu Yinan wanted to tease her so he lightly slapped her buttocks. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get you clothes to wear.¡± He turned around and walked to the wardrobe. He opened it, and after scanning his clothes, he picked up a pair of shorts. He put her down and said, ¡°Wear this.¡± Zhou Shuang grabbed it and turned around. She bolted for the bathroom and slammed the door after her. Shortly, the sounds of gushing water were heard. It made Lu Yinan chuckle to himself. He walked towards the dining table. He had stayed here for several months in a year. Even if he didn¡¯t need to cook, he would still have the necessary stuff in the kitchen. His mother would occasionally pop by to cook for him too. Lu Yinan got the table ready with two bowls of porridge and the dishes. When he turned his head towards the bathroom, the door swung open. Zhou Shuang came out wearing his shorts. It was too loose for her, so she tried to stuff her shirt in. But it was still loose, so she gripped the side of the shorts. The shorts were supposed to end at Lu Yinan¡¯s knees. But when she put it on, it ended at her calves. Lu Yinan pressed his lips to conceal a grin. He beckoned to Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°Come and eat. The porridge is getting cold.¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t protest anymore. She bit her lip and strode over to the dining table. There was a plate of braised intestines which had blackened and felt mushy. It didn¡¯t look appetizing at all. There was a cucumber salad with dressing. It looked rather good. Lu Yinan pulled the chair for Zhou Shuang and pressed her shoulders to make her sit down. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed it to her. His service was impeccable. Zhou Shuang glanced at the chopsticks in her hand and hesitated. She stretched her hand towards the cucumber dish. Lu Yinan settled down, and he glanced at Zhou Shuang in anticipation. He waited eagerly and his eyes sparkled quietly. He waited for Zhou Shuang to give her reviews. To be exact, he was waiting for her to praise him. Zhou Shuang picked up a slice of a cucumber and stuffed it right inside her mouth. The next second, she made a series of expressions. Lu Yinan grinned sheepishly and explained, ¡°It¡¯s my first time cooking. Please pardon me. I will try again in the future and improve.¡± He looked like a proud and confident child. Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression remained stoic and she withdrew her gaze. She started on the porridge. She had given up on Young Master Lu¡¯s dishes. ¡°Try the braised intestines. You¡¯ll like it.¡± Lu Yinan scraped off the top layer of the intestines. ¡°Don¡¯t eat the blackened ones. I accidentally burnt them earlier on.¡± He carefully selected a piece and offered it to Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang apprehensively watched him and her lips remained clammed. Lu Yinan was helpless and he put it inside her bowl. ¡°Try it. The taste should be good.¡± Chapter 1796. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Six He wasn¡¯t so sure of himself. Zhou Shuang peered warily at her bowl and hesitated. She gingerly picked up the piece of intestine and popped it inside her mouth. After chewing a few times, her face turned red. Spicy! She instantly swallowed it down and hurriedly ate her porridge. Lu Yinan nervously watched her and asked, ¡°How was it?¡± Zhou Shuang ignored him and gulped the rest of the porridge. She placed the bowl down and wiped her mouth with tissues. ¡°If my clothes are dry, send them to me. I have to go to work.¡± Zhou Shuang glanced coldly at Lu Yinan. She rose and walked back to the bedroom. She couldn¡¯t cling on to this insignificant gesture, nor the spontaneous gentleness. Zhou Shuang walked quietly and carefully, just like how careful she was with her heart. She had to constantly remind herself not to waver or relent. She can¡¯t go back to those days where there wasn¡¯t any future. ¡®The children¡­ they must be saved.¡¯ He said it without hesitation and she had lost all hope and faith in him when she heard it. Despite that, she still stayed by him for years They had argued frequently these past few years. To each other, they didn¡¯t seem as though they had yielded to each other. But deep down, she felt inferior and tiny. It should have ended long ago. Long ago¡­ Zhou Shuang went back to the room and she laid down. She pulled the blanket over her as she tried to look for her phone. At this moment, she didn¡¯t want to see Lu Yinan at all. She would rather lie here and stare at the ceiling. She heard him clearing the dishes. Soon, the sounds of water were heard. After some time, Lu Yinan spoke, ¡°There is a convenience store downstairs. I¡¯ll get you snacks.¡± Zhou Shuang turned sideways and remained quiet. She heard his footsteps fading away and the door swung open and close. ¡­ Lu Yinan¡¯s phone rang in his pockets and he took it out. It was Ming Ansheng. He answered the call, ¡°Hey. Why did you call me so early?¡± He spoke as he walked towards the elevator. Ming Ansheng grinned and cheekily asked, ¡°How was it? Any progress last night?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t remind me,¡± answered Lu Yinan in a gloomy tone. He pressed the elevator button. Ming Ansheng sneered coldly. ¡°You¡¯re really useless. She is already drunk.¡± ¡°Exactly. She is already drunk and she doesn¡¯t have any response. What can I do?¡± Lu Yinan rolled his eyes. He had been busy for the entire morning and he was already feeling vexed. This jerk still called to rub salt into his wounds. And he kept asking him to be patient. How immoral of him. ¡°How about now?¡± asked Ming Ansheng. Lu Yinan sighed deeply. ¡°I¡¯ve cooked and provided the queen with quality service. Going to get snacks for her now.¡± ¡°Zhou Shuang accepted you?!¡± Ming Ansheng got a little excited. ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re really useless! If your woman wants to know the gossip, why can¡¯t she call and ask me herself!?¡± Lu Yinan frowned and raised his voice. Chapter 1797. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Seven Then he crudely asked, ¡°Is that little lass glad that she hasn¡¯t accepted me?¡± Definitely. That lass had been displeased with him because of Zhou Shuang. She¡¯d definitely tell her bad things about him. Hoping that Zhou Shuang wouldn¡¯t forgive him so easily. ¡°Indeed. She¡¯s ecstatic and is cheering Zhou Shuang on,¡± Ming Ansheng replied without hesitation. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ He gritted his teeth and ended the call immediately. The lift arrived and he entered. ¡­ Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t fall asleep, and she couldn¡¯t find her phone. She tossed around in the bed before sitting up and walking out of the room. Lu Yinan had gone out and she was alone at home. The silence was suffocating her. She was wearing soft slippers and she intentionally walked lightly so she wouldn¡¯t make a sound. She was bafflingly nervous. It wasn¡¯t the first time she was here, but everything felt new. She was curious about everything but was afraid that the owner of the house would find out. It sent her heart racing. Zhou Shuang walked to the open-concept kitchen. It wasn¡¯t huge but was well-designed. Lu Yinan had just cooked so there were obvious splotches of oil on the stove. The few bowls that Lu Yinan washed were still placed there. He didn¡¯t keep them. He hung his apron over the tap. It was messy. He wasn¡¯t househusband material. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the only heir of the family, pampered from young¡­ She knew all this about him. She was clear about what kind of person he was. But she still had expectations of him. She wanted him to care for her and change for her. Aish. She had created unnecessary trouble and agony for herself and wasted five years in the process. She shook her head and rid her mind of her thoughts. She raised her head and walked towards the balcony. There was a small corner on the balcony, akin to a small study room. There was a small shelf and a table for his laptop. It was neat and tidy and it looked comfortable. She slowly walked over and scanned the entire balcony. Her gaze landed on the laptop on the table. After some hesitation, she made up her mind and opened the laptop. She shouldn¡¯t be able to leave the house today, or for the next few days, probably. She¡¯d better ask Xuxu to send some clothes over. She turned on the laptop and was stuck when she was prompted for the password. She frowned and stared at the screen. She racked her brain with what his password could be. His birthday? Zhou Shuang keyed it in but a pop-up showed that it was incorrect. It wasn¡¯t his birthday? Then what could it be? Her head ached. Could it be¡­ the children¡¯s birthdays? Zhou Shuang keyed in the kids¡¯ birthday, but it was still incorrect. She became frustrated. What could it be? What secrets did he hide in that laptop? He had a password for it and it was so complicated. Her passwords were usually 123456 or birthday of someone important. Or else she might forget it. Zhou Shuang keyed in the birthdays of his mother and grandfather. They had been staying in the same house for five years, so she knew all the birthdays of everyone in the house. But all the passwords were wrong. She became increasingly frustrated, and so she smashed her hand on the keyboard heavily, almost breaking it. Chapter 1798. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Eigh ¡°Seriously, what huge secret is hidden in here?¡± she mumbled to herself. It couldn¡¯t be her birthday, right? The thought flashed through her mind and she immediately mocked herself. Zhou Shuang, what are you thinking? Why would Lu Yinan set your birthday as his password? The children are so important to him and yet he didn¡¯t even use their birthdays. Why would he use yours? What a joke! She took a deep breath and looked outside. The weather was good. She only went for one day of work. It was her first job, too. But because she didn¡¯t have clothes, she had to take leave on her second day¡­ Zhou Shuang stared at the laptop and entered 123456. This was her password. She just tried it for fun and she didn¡¯t have any hopes of it working. However, to her surprise, it worked. ¡°This fellow!¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. She didn¡¯t expect Lu Yinan to use such a simple password. Hmph! He always mocked her for having low intelligence and anyone could guess her password without even thinking. But he was the same! Zhou Shuang immediately pulled out the chair and sat down. She clicked on WeChat and opened it. She glanced at his chats. There were many, but he had no messages. She was about to log out of his account and log into hers when a thought crossed her mind¡ªto look at who he chatted with and what they chatted about. She didn¡¯t have very high morals, and her curiosity must¡¯ve killed dozens of cats. The first chat was with the nickname ¡®Cat and Mouse¡¯. There was one message: ¡®Young Master Lu, have you been busy? Why haven¡¯t you been to The First Wealth?¡¯ It was sent on the 3rd of the previous month. Lu Yinan didn¡¯t reply. That must¡¯ve been a woman from The First Wealth. Lu Yinan was so ¡®low¡¯. He had no standards at all. Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at the laptop before looking at the next chat. It was a woman as well. The last message was sent a month ago. It must¡¯ve been a long time since Lu Yinan was on WeChat. Classic Act said, ¡®Lu Yinan, I saw the mother of your children. Her looks and disposition seem average. I don¡¯t know what you see in her.¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®Yes, but you don¡¯t even have a disposition of average standard.¡¯ Classic Act replied, ¡®You¡¯ll regret this. Hmph!¡¯ Classic Act added, ¡®Your family isn¡¯t that mighty. Aren¡¯t they just lawyers? What future do you have as a doctor? Given my qualities, I can find better.¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever stopped you from finding a better man.¡¯ Classic Act replied, ¡®Lu Yinan, go to hell¡­ Go to hell! Go to hell!¡¯ The last message infuriated Zhou Shuang. She replied, ¡®You go to hell!¡¯ Oh, my god! What did she do? She actually replied?! Zhou Shuang panicked and tried to delete the message, but the web-version of WeChat didn¡¯t seem to have that function. Indeed, spoken words are like spilled water¡ªthey can¡¯t be gathered again¡­ Chapter 1799. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Nine She didn¡¯t know if Lu Yinan had WeChat logged in on his phone. If he was logged in, he could definitely see her reply to Classic Act. That woman must be the pampered daughter of the boss of the largest outdoor bathing space in the capital city. She forgot her name other than her surname, but she knew she was five years younger than Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan attended to her at the hospital when she was sick once, and it was love at first sight for her. She had been bugging him ever since. She even called his home number a number of times to contact him. She was subjected to his grandfather¡¯s sarcasm for that. Even so, this lass didn¡¯t give up as she remained rather persistent and patient. Zhou Shuang clutched the sides of her head and stared in dismay at the message she had just sent to Classic Act. What should she do? Third Yan said, ¡®I drank some alcohol and I had two climaxes today.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®I had two as well, with the help of my five fingers.¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®Can you be more promising?¡¯ Ming Ansheng answered, ¡®If you¡¯re so promising, go and find a woman!¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®I¡¯m not as weak as you. I forced myself onto her today and my Shuang praised me for my skills.¡¯ Zhou Shuang immediately blushed, and then her expression turned dark. Since when did she praise his skills? He only forced himself on her once. She remembered being distressed and disheartened and she didn¡¯t pant at all throughout! This group of men was really very good at bragging. She didn¡¯t understand what was so glamorous about these matters. Each and every one of them were afraid of being called ¡®incapable¡¯. She continued reading the messages. Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Continue bragging, it¡¯s not like it costs you any money, anyway. We can¡¯t possibly verify this with Zhou Shuang, right?¡¯ Lu Yinan answered, ¡®I have still have marks on my back from when she scratched me during her climax yesterday. Do you want me to take a photo for you for verification?¡¯ The scratching was true. She was very angry and her heart ached, so she had scratched him a few times. She didn¡¯t expect this to become his bragging right. Ridiculous! Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®How would we know which woman did that to you, huh? It could be anyone!¡¯ Chapter 1800. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Ten Lu Yinan answered, ¡®Don¡¯t spew nonsense. Since I have got a woman at home, I won¡¯t go out looking for one. I¡¯m a man of principles.¡¯ Third Yan replied, ¡®Both of you are failures. I¡¯ve tried the bathroom, balcony, and even the rooftop. It was a pleasure doing it while admiring the night skies. Can you guys do it?¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Scram! Let¡¯s chase him away.¡¯ Third Yan replied, ¡®I shall not talk to you guys anymore. I need to hug my wife to sleep now.¡¯ ¡­ Even if Zhou Shuang was an open-minded and liberal woman, she couldn¡¯t believe what she had just read. Her cheeks were burning red at the thought of the lewd content. They were really dirty-minded and atrocious. How could they speak of such stuff so freely! These three guys¡¯ conversations had revolved around¡­ It felt so embarrassing! To think that Ming Ansheng had seemed like such a mature and quiet guy on the surface. But he had joined the lewd conversation. Looks were truly deceiving. Zhou Shuang patted her cheeks with her hands and shook her head to dispel those lewd conversations she had seen earlier on. She exited WeChat and logged in to hers. But she needed to scan her QR code using her phone. So, she gave up. ¡°Are you playing games?¡± Zhou Shuang was about to log in to QQ when Lu Yinan interrupted her. She jumped in shock, and her hands trembled. She turned around to look at him. Lu Yinan was removing his shoes as he held a bag in his hand. Those messages popped into Zhou Shuang¡¯s mind again and it made her flush hard. She quickly rose and said to Lu Yinan, ¡°I just wanted to log in to my account to get Xuxu to send me some clothes.¡± Lu Yinan quietly scrutinized her anxious and nervous expression. He grinned to himself. He leisurely strode towards her and said, ¡°Your clothes will be ready soon. Why are you in a rush?¡± Zhou Shuang raised her voice. ¡°I need to go to work. It¡¯s my second day of work. Can¡¯t you just get me a new set?¡± She frowned at Lu Yinan and marched towards him. She stretched her hand and said, ¡°If not, return to me my phone. I¡¯ll call Xuxu.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my off day today. Can¡¯t you keep me company for today?¡± Lu Yinan spoke softly. There was a bright smile on his face. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face fell. ¡°Lu Yinan, can you stop being so selfish?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Lu Yinan opened his mouth to explain, but in the end, he pressed his lips. After a while, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll call the laundry service and check if your clothes are ready.¡± It could be a lack of experience or courage. He was helpless. After Lu Yinan made the call, someone sent Zhou Shuang¡¯s clothes in no time. Zhou Shuang changed into her clothes and left for work. Just like yesterday, she followed the senior colleagues around to learn. She tried to understand more about her job scope, too. She didn¡¯t do much, but she still felt drained after a long day. She played a sorrowful and melancholic song in her car. Her phone rang and the screen showed ¡®Home¡¯. Zhou Shuang guessed that it must be Yanyan. As expected, she was right. ¡°Mommy, where are you?¡± asked Yanyan in her sweet tone of voice. Chapter 1801. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Eleven Zhou Shuang felt a stinging sensation in her eyes when she heard her daughter¡¯s sweet voice. Her heart literally melted. ¡°Mommy is working,¡± she lied. She was afraid that Yanyan would pester her to go back home. She needed a reason to coax her. Yanyan asked sweetly again, ¡°Mommy, when will you finish your work? When are you coming back?¡± ¡°Mommy will go home once I¡¯m done.¡± Zhou Shuang hesitated before pressing on, ¡°Yanyan, sleep early with your sister alright?¡± Yanyan obeyed. ¡°Okay. Mommy, come back soon.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Shuang softly replied in a choked voice. She managed a tiny smile and said, ¡°Mommy will go back soon.¡± ¡°Bye-bye Mommy.¡± ¡°Bye-bye¡­¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s smile disappeared as the call ended. She glanced ahead and her eyes seemed empty and lonely. She was sad and lost¡­ In the future, the children wouldn¡¯t be with her. She won¡¯t hear them calling her ¡®mommy¡¯. Her eyes welled up with tears, and the bright, brilliant city lights reflected in her eyes. It sparkled like stars in the sky. As the children might come over to stay with her in the future, she rented an apartment with three rooms. It was near her workplace. The facilities were good and there was a huge playground. She knew that she wouldn¡¯t have many opportunities to meet them in the future. But when she saw this apartment and the facilities it had, she just knew that the children would love it. She stood in front of the windows and peered out. There were children below playing slides and chasing each other. They looked so happy. Zhou Shuang thought of the triplets and her face lit up with a smile. She finished a cup of water and she turned around. The spacious living room was fully furnished with furniture and decorations, but it still felt empty and lonely. Zhou Shuang knew that the problem lies with her heart. The children had never left her side since the day that they were born. She had toyed with the idea of going on a vacation by herself. But she abandoned that idea because she couldn¡¯t bear to leave them behind. She knew that she loved them too much. And the children were all that she had in the Lu family. The children were the only thing holding both of them together. He didn¡¯t love or care about her, but they had the children. She had never thought that she would end up like this one day. She might not be pretty, nor did she come from an influential background, but she was clear about what she wanted. She thought that she would never change for a man, nor hanker for something that wasn¡¯t hers. But¡­ how ridiculous¡­ The first time she was upset and furious, it was because a jerk had jilted her. But how about Lu Yinan? It was easy to enter a reverie when one was troubled. Zhou Shuang¡¯s phone interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at her phone lying on the coffee table. It was Xuxu on the other line. ¡°Hello,¡± Zhou Shuang answered and sat down on the couch. Xuxu asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t go home today?¡± Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m at my apartment.¡± Xuxu became agitated. ¡°Shuang, are you insane? You don¡¯t want the children anymore?¡± Zhou Shuang softly replied, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about something else.¡± Chapter 1802. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twelve Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t want to think about it at all. If she did, even for one second, she wouldn¡¯t have the courage to embark on her new life at all. Xuxu decided to rest her case. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°Not yet. I will, soon.¡± Zhou Shuang pursed her lips and glanced at the kitchen. If Xuxu didn¡¯t ask, dinner would have slipped her mind. Now that she had mentioned it, she felt hungry. ¡°What are you eating? You didn¡¯t cook right?¡± ¡°Remember to order food.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really worried that you would starve to death if you stay alone by yourself.¡± Xuxu continued, ¡°I¡¯ll go over tomorrow and accompany you for a few nights.¡± Zhou Shuang chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not that dumb. If you stay with me, I reckon that Yan Rusheng would go crazy after one night. Forget it. I¡¯m really fearful of his vicious tongue.¡± She was really glad and relieved that she still had a true friend like Xuxu. She was all alone in this city. Xuxu was all that she had, and her gesture had touched her heart. Xuxu grinned and said, ¡°Go order food now. I¡¯ll come over after work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Suddenly, a thought struck her. ¡°You and Yan Rusheng are really shameless and disgusting!¡± said Zhou Shuang with contempt. She pictured them at a balcony and a rooftop¡ªthey were really too bold! ¡°What did we¡­¡± Xuxu was cut across by Zhou Shuang hanging up on the other line. She furrowed her eyebrows and muttered, ¡°This fellow merely said that without a reason. Tch.¡± Yan Rusheng came out of the office and he walked towards her. He narrowed a suspicious gaze at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Zhou Shuang suddenly said that we are really shameless and disgusting. Then she hung up.¡± Xuxu raised her head and peered at Yan Rusheng. ¡°What have you done recently?¡± questioned Xuxu in a stern voice. Why would Zhou Shuang throw such remarks if Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t do or say something recently? ¡°Even if I did something, there is no way I would do anything to her,¡± quipped Yan Rusheng. He sounded full of scorn. It dumbfounded Xuxu. She didn¡¯t pay attention to him anymore as she began to mull over Zhou Shuang¡¯s words. She felt that she was a really reserved woman. At public appearances or at work, she would express her disapproval if Yan Rusheng did anything inappropriate. If Zhou Shuang said that Yan Rusheng was shameless and disgusting, she would raise both hands in agreement. But Zhou Shuang had included her! How could someone use this to describe her? She couldn¡¯t accept it. She was so upright and innocent. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yan Rusheng wound his arm around Xuxu. Xuxu pushed him away. ¡°Don¡¯t hug me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Yan Rusheng. Xuxu pointed to his gorgeous face and issued a stern warning. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I¡¯m warning you. In the future, act appropriately in public.¡± Young Master Yan was disgruntled. ¡°Why do you have to be so uptight just because of that hooligan?¡± That damned hooligan. He was just beginning to have a better impression of her. The next time he saw her, he would question how he and his wife had disgusted her. Xuxu glared at him and she looked livid. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! You have tainted my reputation and image.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned and said, ¡°Third Madam Yan is the image you have. Just like last night¡­¡± Xuxu covered his mouth with her hand. ¡°Yan Rusheng! I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t you dare talk about it again.¡± Yan Rusheng feigned innocence. ¡°Yesterday, I spent a few hundred thousand yuan because of your drunken words.¡± Chapter 1803. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Thirteen Yan Rusheng acted as though he was really pitiful and heartbroken over the loss of the money. Xuxu ignored his pretense and sneered coldly. ¡°Deduct it from my salary then. If I hear this from you again, I will move to Zhou Shuang¡¯s place.¡± She turned around with her chin held high. She marched towards the door. ¡®What? She wants to move to that hooligan¡¯s place!¡¯ And she didn¡¯t seem like she was joking. Young Master Yan began to get anxious and he caught up with Xuxu. He hugged her from the back and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s not leave the office today. I will make sure you don¡¯t have any strength to walk later.¡± He clenched his teeth and ignored Xuxu¡¯s struggles. He scooped her up and turned around. Xuxu protested and writhed against him, but Yan Rusheng completely ignored her. He walked into his office and to the bedroom. Xuxu yelled, ¡°Yan Rusheng! Are you crazy! We didn¡¯t even have dinner. I¡¯m starving.¡± She tried to pull Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands away from her. Her strength wasn¡¯t even for her to massage him. Yan Rusheng carried her and continued walking effortlessly. He bent and gazed at her. Under the light, he had a very seductive smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to remind me. I know that I¡¯m too busy recently to feed you properly. Aren¡¯t you hungry? I will make sure you are satisfied tonight.¡± Xuxu was red with anger and embarrassment. She punched Yan Rusheng¡¯s chest with all her mind and bellowed, ¡°You are a scum! Shameless and gross jerk!¡± ¡°Indeed. Even Hooligan Zhou knows that.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and candidly admitted to it. He raised his eyebrows at Xuxu and whispered, ¡°We know each other for over two decades. Shouldn¡¯t you know this already?¡± And only Xuxu could understand the hidden meaning of his statement. He had deliberately mentioned Zhou Shuang. What he was trying to tell her was that Zhou Shuang was the one who caused this to happen. She was the one to blame. Xuxu believed that he was being serious right now. Once they entered the room, he would never let her leave for the next two to three hours. She had been feeling hungry and Meowmeow had called her earlier on. She said that she baked a cake with her grandmother and she wanted her to try it. She had finally finished her work for the day and was eagerly waiting to go back home to try the cake. She couldn¡¯t let any other matters delay her. Xuxu mulled over and pleaded with him. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m wrong. I won¡¯t move to Zhou Shuang¡¯s place. Let go of me now.¡± As the saying goes, a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him. However, Yan Rusheng had no intention of letting her go. ¡°It¡¯s too late to beg for forgiveness. I¡¯ve already warned you not to provoke me when we¡¯re alone. I will always make sure that I¡¯ll carry out the law on the spot. But you don¡¯t heed my warning at all.¡± He made his way to the couch and stopped. He turned to glance at the desk and he smiled slyly. ¡°Wife, it has been some time since we tried it in the office.¡± He suddenly turned around and walked to the desk. It dumbfounded Xuxu. These words¡­ Their staff was still outside and those who heard it quietly blushed. The President and his wife were still so ¡®loving¡¯ after all these years. It made them envious. Chapter 1804. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Fourteen ¡°Yan Rusheng, there are people outside,¡± hissed Xuxu. She remembered that the department next door was all working overtime when she saw the lights outside. She even bumped into some colleagues earlier on and she had chatted with them. Yan Rusheng calmly replied, ¡°Our department is empty. We are the last ones left.¡± As he answered her, he carried on with what he was supposed to do. He put Xuxu on the luxurious swivel chair and pushed it towards the French windows. The night scenery of the capital city unfolded before their eyes. He bent and inched nearer to Xuxu¡¯s lips. ¡°Wife, it has been many days.¡± When she was alone with him, he had never once behaved appropriately. This man had rendered Xuxu speechless and helpless. She knew that it would be futile to protest. She glanced at the door of the office and noticed that it wasn¡¯t properly shut. She was worried so she said, ¡°There are others in the department next door. They might come in.¡± Yan Rusheng replied lazily, ¡°They know that I¡¯m working ¡®overtime¡¯. Who would dare to come in?¡± He emphasized the word ¡®overtime¡¯ and he deliberately raised his voice. He was doing it on purpose to remind the rest. It dumbfounded Xuxu. ¡°Wife, turn around. I want you to admire the capital city¡¯s beautiful scenery as we continue.¡± He was really too gross and shameless! Zhou Shuang was right. He had implicated and coerced her. Yan Rusheng moved Xuxu like a puppet. Initially, she sat down, then he made her kneel on the chair as she faced the window with her back facing him. This posture¡­ really was too much. It made her heart pound, and she flushed. Young Master Yan was excited and his heart was racing. He bent and embraced Xuxu. Then he caressed her with his hands. His hands wandered beneath her clothes. His breathing became rapid, and she was also groaning slightly at his touch. He pressed his lips against her ear. In a hoarse and seductive voice, he whispered, ¡°Xuxu, I love you so much.¡± He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Young Master Yan hastily removed their clothes. Foreplay¡­ the mood and touches¡­ were all leading up. Yet, someone had to be so untactful and so immoral to interrupt. Yan Rusheng¡¯s phone rang at that moment. He felt that even dramas or movies wouldn¡¯t have such perfect timings. He frowned when he heard his phone. He was ready and he had to. So, he intended to ignore his phone and continued with what he wanted to do. But Xuxu couldn¡¯t and she slowly regained her senses. She reminded Yan Rusheng, ¡°Ah Sheng, your phone is ringing. Go and answer it. It might be Mother.¡± She spun her head to glance at Yan Rusheng¡¯s phone. But she couldn¡¯t see the screen. Yan Rusheng held Xuxu¡¯s head and steered it back again to face the window. ¡°After we¡¯re done.¡± He bent and bit Xuxu¡¯s ear, and his warm breath tickled her. Chapter 1805. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Fifteen Xuxu¡¯s whole body and senses went numb as the ring tone died down. But once or twice in a lifetime, there would be a friend who had to sabotage at such crucial timings. These people were usually indiscreet or untactful. If a person didn¡¯t answer at the first ring, it was evident that the person was busy or away. But he was persistent and so the phone rang again. Xuxu became alert and conscious once more, and she shoved Yan Rusheng away. She adjusted her clothes and went to pick up the phone¡ªthe culprit was Lu Yinan. The first thought that came to Xuxu¡¯s mind was that; Young Master Lu is in trouble. She passed the phone to Yan Rusheng. ¡°Lu Yinan.¡± As expected, Young Master Yan was furious as he snatched the phone from Xuxu. He angrily spat, ¡°Lu Yinan, I¡¯m telling you! You better have something urgent, if not I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Young Master Lu replied in a drawl, ¡°I¡¯m right outside your office. I heard that you are currently making an R-rated production with Wen Xuxu. So, I¡¯m not sure if I should wait or not. Is this considered urgent?¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. Xuxu couldn¡¯t hear the words that Lu Yinan had said, but she caught the words ¡®outside your office¡¯. Her mind started working. She widened her eyes and nervously glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Is Lu Yinan here?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded and calmly replied, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what he said.¡± ¡°Oh, my god!¡± Xuxu jumped to her feet. ¡°He probably knows that we were¡­¡± If not, Young Master Lu would have barged into the office like what he usually did whenever he visited Yan Rusheng. He wouldn¡¯t have called him first. She was dying of shame! A blush crept up from her neck to her face. All she wanted was to find a place to hide. There was no way she could let Young Master Lu see her right now. Xuxu picked up her coat and fled inside the room. She left Young Master Yan behind with his shirt unbuttoned. Yan Rusheng gazed at his wife, who had fled like a cute little bunny. And his handsome features softened. He smiled affectionately at her and walked to the office door. He began to button his shirt languidly, looking unconcerned. When he reached the door, he hadn¡¯t finished his shirt. He ignored the remaining buttons and stuffed his hands inside his pockets. He glared fiercely at Young Master Lu, who was grinning outside. His tone was even colder than his expression. ¡°This better be as important as someone trying to harm your wife.¡± Young Master Lu¡¯s face darkened, and he glared disapprovingly at Yan Rusheng. ¡°What a vicious tongue you have.¡± He walked to Yan Rusheng since it didn¡¯t seem that he wanted to invite him in. Yan Rusheng interjected, ¡°Say whatever you want now.¡± His body was still burning and a certain part still proudly erected. He could still continue with whatever he was doing just now. ¡°It¡¯s indeed spring. This room is filled with the scent that makes a person blush.¡± Young Master Lu entered unabashedly and he brushed past Young Master Yan. He deliberately sniffed the air deeply. That lewd smile infuriated Yan Rusheng. He gritted his teeth and hissed, ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± Chapter 1806. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Sixteen ¡°Let¡¯s go for a drink. Ming Ansheng is finally free tonight.¡± Young Master Lu went directly to the point. That was his reason for finding Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng raised his chin and haughtily replied, ¡°But I¡¯m not free.¡± ¡°You are such a lustful person!¡± Lu Yinan was aware of why Yan Rusheng had rejected him. He sized up Yan Rusheng and sneered coldly. ¡°Distance makes the heart grow fonder. You closely stick to Wen Xuxu every single day. Even if you¡¯re not tired of her, she will eventually be.¡± He grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s neck and attempted to pull him along. ¡°Come. Let¡¯s drink.¡± Yan Rusheng shoved him away. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯ve ruined my night. If you are here just to ask me out for a drink, then I¡¯m sorry to let you know¡­¡± He deliberately paused as he emphasized every word. ¡°You are dead.¡± Lu Yinan frowned in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yan Rusheng drawled, ¡°Wen Xuxu said she wanted to move in with Hooligan Zhou. She wanted to advise Hooligan Zhou not to accept and forgive you. You¡¯re a pampered young master who had countless flings. And you¡¯re someone who can¡¯t be trusted and depended on.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s face registered shock and horror. He widened his eyes as he anxiously watched Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Yan, don¡¯t scare me.¡± The hooligan had always trusted and listened to Xuxu. If Wen Xuxu really said all those, he wouldn¡¯t have a chance to win Zhou Shuang back. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m scaring you right now?¡± Young Master Yan raised his eyebrows, looking nonchalant and cold. Lu Yinan nodded. ¡°Yes, you are. You¡¯re just trying to scare me now.¡± But he felt nervous and guilt started to envelop him. ¡°Oh yeah. Where is your Wen Xuxu? I was about to invite her to dinner. Let¡¯s go together.¡± His eyes swiveled around the room as he searched for Wen Xuxu. ¡°If you have the time to drink, you might as well invest them on Hooligan Zhou.¡± Yan Rusheng threw a long and scornful look at Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan¡¯s face turned glum and he replied, ¡°She moved out. I don¡¯t even know where her address is. I tried calling her, but she didn¡¯t answer.¡± If he knew where Zhou Shuang was, would he even be here? ¡°Lu Yinan, you embarrass me.¡± Yan Rusheng sneered with disdain. Young Master Lu blinked in confusion. ¡°Third Yan, what do you mean?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s disdainful look deepened as he mocked Lu Yinan. ¡°No wonder Hooligan Zhou despises you and kept saying that you are not a man. I second that.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°If my wife goes shopping, I would even know the brand of the lingerie that she bought.¡± Lu Yinan finally understood Yan Rusheng. He pursed his lips and exhaled deeply. ¡°She is hiding from me on purpose. What can I do?¡± ¡°Address me as Master and I¡¯ll find out her address right now.¡± Yan Rusheng glanced at Lu Yinan and curled his lips. Lu Yinan grinned and casually answered, ¡°I¡¯m lacking one. Do you want to be?¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. Even Xuxu burst into laughter inside the room. Lu Yinan was quite humorous at times. So, was he teasing Yan Rusheng right now? ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Chapter 1807. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Seventeen Xuxu wanted to see how Yan Rusheng looked like right now. His expression must be ugly. Young Master Yan¡¯s face fell as Xuxu had expected. This was one of the few times that Young Master Lu had gained the upper hand when ¡®sparring verbally¡¯. But he wasn¡¯t too gleeful about it. All he was thinking about was Zhou Shuang. ¡°Alright, enough of nonsense. If you treat me as your friend, get Zhou Shuang¡¯s address for me.¡± Yan Rusheng coldly snorted. ¡°How about I help you woo her too?¡± Lu Yinan pressed his lips and shrugged. ¡°If you want to share your experiences, that would be great.¡± Yan Rusheng rolled his eyes. ¡°Lu Yinan, over my dead body!¡± How could he share his experience? It was so embarrassing! Young Master Lu usually had a retort so he rolled his eyes too. ¡°But you¡¯re not dead yet.¡± ¡°Get out of my sight.¡± Yan Rusheng threw him a disdainful look and turned around. He was adamant about not helping him. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you where Shuang is.¡± Suddenly, Xuxu came out of the room. Her crystal clear voice made Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes sparkle. He eagerly stepped forward and said, ¡°Xuxu, you¡¯re the most virtuous and wonderful woman I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Xuxu grinned and raised her eyebrows. ¡°How about Shuang?¡± If he dared to say otherwise, she would beat him up. No, she would let Yan Rusheng do that. Lu Yinan suppressed a smile and nodded. ¡°Alright, both of you are wonderful. Tell me where she is.¡± He walked to Xuxu and waited for her to respond. How he wished he could fly there right now. Other than him, the children were clamoring to see their mommy. ¡°She is alone now and I¡¯m worried. I hope you can be sincere and put in an effort to win her back.¡± Xuxu gazed solemnly at Lu Yinan as she spoke. It surprised Lu Yinan to see the trust she had in her eyes. Everyone knew that it was hard to gain Xuxu¡¯s approval and acknowledgment. Amongst their friends, there was hardly any. Perhaps she was born aloof and reticent, so she didn¡¯t express her feelings more vividly. She merely kept it deep down. Lu Yinan may be innocent and simple, but he wasn¡¯t dumb. He knew that Wen Xuxu was warning him. And she used a tactful way to make him feel guilty. But this, in turn, made him more determined and hopeful. No matter how hard it was, he wouldn¡¯t give up. He would try everything to get Zhou Shuang back. Lu Yinan nodded gratefully at Xuxu. ¡°I will. I promise to be good to her.¡± Yan Rusheng spun around as he observed Lu Yinan. ¡°Look at how useless you are.¡± Xuxu glanced at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, go and tidy your desk.¡± Young Master Yan immediately adjusted his expression and turned away from Young Master Lu. ¡°Okay,¡± answered Young Master Yan as he walked to his desk. There wasn¡¯t anything much to be tidied, merely his clothes. Young Master Lu seized the opportunity to seek revenge. He yelled at Yan Rusheng, ¡°Useless!¡± There was silence. Xuxu informed Lu Yinan of Zhou Shuang¡¯s address. Lu Yinan was grateful, and he sped towards Zhou Shuang¡¯s apartment. Feeling both anxious and nervous, he reached Zhou Shuang¡¯s apartment. Chapter 1808. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Eighteen Lu Yinan paced back and forth outside the apartment. He anxiously rubbed his hands as he tried to muster his courage. But he couldn¡¯t do it. At this time, the elevator door opened. Lu Yinan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as though he had done something wrong. He turned around and saw a man in a dark-colored poncho. He was holding a white plastic bag as he walked towards him. To be exact, he was walking towards Zhou Shuang¡¯s apartment. Lu Yinan sized the man up and guessed that he must be a delivery man. ¡°Food delivery?¡± The man nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Give me that.¡± Lu Yinan extended his hands. He stood outside the customer¡¯s apartment and the door was shut. Naturally, the delivery man didn¡¯t hand him the food that easily. ¡°You are?¡± The deliveryman warily scrutinized Lu Yinan from head to toe. F*ck. Does he look like someone who wanted to steal food? Lu Yinan wasn¡¯t pleased with the delivery man¡¯s attitude. He straightened his back and spoke haughtily, ¡°Can¡¯t you tell?¡± The deliveryman shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± If the delivery man couldn¡¯t tell who he was, he must be a poor delivery man making rounds to make a living. Lu Yinan replied, ¡°I¡¯m the customer¡¯s husband.¡± It startled the deliveryman. ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Zhou¡¯s husband?¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t listen carefully to what he said. He merely nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m her husband.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The delivery man was really stumped. He bent his head and fumbled for his phone to check the customer¡¯s details. Then he glanced at Lu Yinan once more. ¡°Earlier on, the person who called was a man.¡± ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®It was a man?!¡¯ ¡®There is a man in the house!¡¯ ¡®Did Wen Xuxu tell him the wrong address?¡¯ Lu Yinan glanced at the unit number. It was unit 1606 indeed. He glanced at the delivery man and asked uncertainly, ¡°You said it was a man who called earlier?¡± Zhou Shuang doesn¡¯t have that many friends in the capital city. So, who could the man be? ¡°Mister, I will ring the bell.¡± The delivery man pressed the doorbell before Lu Yinan could utter a word. The door swung open shortly. Zhou Shuang was wearing comfortable lounge wear. He hadn¡¯t seen her for a day, yet he felt that she had lost a considerable amount of weight. Without waiting for the delivery man to speak, he pushed his way forward. He beamed at Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°Shuang, why did you order your food so late?¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s face darkened the moment she saw Lu Yinan. ¡°Why are you here?¡± The delivery man raised the plastic bag and asked, ¡°Is Mr. Zhou here? This was what he ordered.¡± ¡°Oh, okay. Thank you.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded and received the bag. The delivery man flashed a smile and said, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± He turned around and strode to the elevator. ¡°Is your dad here?¡± Lu Yinan still couldn¡¯t figure out who the mysterious guy was, and he was still brooding over it. ¡®Could it be his father-in-law?¡¯ ¡°No.¡± Zhou Shuang shook her head as she blocked the door. She clearly didn¡¯t want Lu Yinan to enter. Lu Yinan was anxious. ¡°Then who is the man inside the house?¡± The deliveryman who was still waiting for the elevator overheard their conversation. It roused his curiosity, and he stole a glance at them. Chapter 1809. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Nineteen There was a man in the house and this man claimed to be her husband. So, he was here to catch the adulterer. Fortunately, he was smart enough not to pass the food to him. Confusion flashed past Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes, but she remained aloof. She sharply watched Lu Yinan and asked, ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± She stole a glance at the deliveryman and understood instantly. She concealed a grin. Lu Yinan got anxious. ¡°Of course, it has something to do with me! You¡¯re the mother of my children and you¡¯re my woman. You have a man inside your house. Why wouldn¡¯t it have nothing to do with me?¡± He was vexed and anxious, and he tried to barge inside. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face hardened as she shoved him away. With a glare, she fiercely warned him, ¡°Lu Yinan. We¡¯re not legally married. So, if you trespass my property, I¡¯ll call the police.¡± Lu Yinan realized that he was too rash, so he hastily coaxed her. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry! I just wanted to know who the man is.¡± He smiled and continued, ¡°Is it the plumber?¡± Plumber? He really could come up with such ingenious ideas. This was her first day staying here, what could possibly go wrong? Zhou Shuang was amused and exasperated at the same time. But she suppressed her feelings with a stoic expression. ¡°No.¡± Lu Yinan asked, ¡°Electrician?¡± He mumbled to himself, ¡°You can change a light bulb faster than me. I doubt it.¡± Zhou Shuang was supposed to remain solemn and serious, but what he had said rendered her speechless. Why didn¡¯t she realize how hilarious this guy could be? But, so what? Zhou Shuang quietly pressed her lips and fell silent. ¡°Lu Yinan, go back,¡± said Zhou Shuang in a soft voice. She sounded as though she was drained and defeated. Lu Yinan was terrified by how detached she appeared. He darted forward to embrace her, disregarding her protests altogether. ¡°Shuang, I really can¡¯t live without you. I didn¡¯t treasure you in the past. But can you give me another chance?¡± ¡°Go home if you have nothing else to say. I want to eat.¡± Zhou Shuang writhed away from him as she said that. Lu Yinan refused to loosen his arms around her. ¡°Shuang, don¡¯t push me away. Give me one more chance. I will treasure it.¡± He sounded earnest and sincere. After he spoke, his swiftly eyes darted around, looking for the mysterious man. He wanted to know who the man was. It couldn¡¯t be Ming Ansheng, neither could it be her new boss Su Yan. And it definitely couldn¡¯t be Third Yan. ¡®Who could it be?¡¯ ¡®Who?¡¯ It was so late and a man was inside. How could he be calm about this? Young Master Lu still felt frustrated when Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°You already took the children. And I said that I won¡¯t appear again. I can¡¯t do it, so please let me go now.¡± She released the plastic bag and used both her hands to grab Lu Yinan¡¯s shoulders. She was determined to push him away. Lu Yinan refused to and was adamant. ¡°No! I won¡¯t let go.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± The sound of the elevator interrupted Zhou Shuang. She glanced in the direction of the elevator and saw a man walking out. It was the delivery man. He momentarily froze when he saw Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang hugging. He put on an apologetic smile and said, ¡°Sorry, I forgot to give you your change. The vegetables you ordered weren¡¯t available so there is a refund.¡± Chapter 1810. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twenty ¡°Oh¡­¡± Zhou Shuang nodded with a blank look on her face. She awkwardly stretched her hand and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Lu Yinan tightened his arms around her and refused to budge. It didn¡¯t affect him at all when the delivery man interrupted them. He continued to do whatever he wanted to do. Zhou Shuang and the delivery man awkwardly eyed each other. He stood on the spot, apparently dumbfounded. Of course, he might be doing it on purpose. Zhou Shuang sharply asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡®Why is he standing here?¡±Is he watching a drama?¡¯ ¡®If you continue to gawk at us, I¡¯m going to gouge out your eyes.¡¯ ¡°Nothing. Nothing else!¡± The delivery man shook his head awkwardly. ¡°Sorry to disturb you. Please continue on.¡± He hastily turned around. Fortunately, the elevator was still on their level, so he pressed the button and ran inside. ¡°Hey! We¡­¡± Zhou Shuang wanted to explain, but he had vanished. Forget it. Why should she explain their relationship to a stranger? After the elevator shut its doors, Zhou Shuang¡¯s face hardened once more. She glanced at the man who still clung onto her. ¡°Lu Yinan, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯m calling the police if you don¡¯t let me go right now.¡± This fellow was prideful and egoistic. But what was he doing now? Wasn¡¯t he afraid of others¡¯ judging him and getting his reputation tarnished? ¡°I won¡¯t. If you don¡¯t let me in, I won¡¯t let go.¡± Young Master Lu had made up his mind. He had to be thick-skinned and he would cling onto her no matter how she hit or threaten him. He had decided to cast his ego and pride aside. Nothing was more important than his children¡¯s mother. These were what he had learned from Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng. And he had spent quite some effort and time emulating them. Zhou Shuang was already drained, Lu Yinan¡¯s persistence had long worn out her patience. She gritted her teeth and threatened Lu Yinan. ¡°This is what you deserve. Don¡¯t blame me for being cruel.¡± Young Master Lu shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can do anything¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, he groped his private part and yelped in pain. ¡°Ouch!¡±Read more at L isnovel Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t feel sorry for Lu Yinan at all. And she seized the opportunity to shove him away. She then retreated inside with the food and swiftly slammed the door. Young Master Lu was left outside. He continued to groan in pain as loudly as he could. She had really used her strength earlier on. ¡°Hmph! You deserve it!¡± Zhou Shuang glared at the door and yelled. She strolled back to her couch. She was watching an entertainment program where there were gorgeous celebrities doing hilarious antics. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t sit on the couch. Instead, she sat cross-legged on the carpet. She eagerly opened the food container and sniffed the scent of the food. She was famished. To Zhou Shuang, food could temporarily make her forget her troubles. And she had ordered her favorite dishes. She picked up the chopsticks and picked up a piece of meat. She chewed and savored it. Knock, knock, knock. Someone was knocking on the door. And only a fool wouldn¡¯t know who could be on the other side. It could only be Lu Yinan. Chapter 1811. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twenty One Zhou Shuang ignored the incessant knocking. She stared at the TV, looking absorbed as she gobbled her dinner. She knew that if she opened the door and allowed Lu Yinan to come in, then the first day of her new life would also be her last day. She had to be firm and determined. She can¡¯t let her determination or heart waver. ¡°Shuang, I need the toilet. Can you just let me borrow your bathroom?¡± Lu Yinan yelled again. No matter what he said, Zhou Shuang remained nonchalant. But she had overestimated Lu Yinan¡¯s arrogance. When he went to look for her in Country M, even when she was pregnant, he wasn¡¯t even this patient and determined. They bickered after exchanging a few words and they would both leave in anger. Although he would always return to look for her after some time, this was the first time he had been so patient. After dinner, Zhou Shuang drank two bottles of beer and began to feel tipsy. So, she didn¡¯t continue on. After taking a shower, she changed into her pajamas and went into the room. She closed the door and Lu Yinan¡¯s voice became muffled and softer. Zhou Shuang picked up her phone as she collapsed on her bed. Her eyes glistened when the screen lit up with the triplets¡¯ smiling faces. She immediately changed her phone wallpaper. Just like how a child would stop relying on his mother for breast milk, the triplets would be fine after some time. As long as they got used to not seeing her. She wanted the children. But she also wanted to look for the real Zhou Shuang. She wanted to exude confidence and be able to accomplish something for herself. She didn¡¯t want to pretend to be confident every day. If she were truly capable and confident, she would set a good example for the children. She had originally wanted to watch the news, but she seemed to have lost all interest. She picked up a book she brought back from the work studio earlier on. It was about photography and design. If she wanted to set her mind on this career path, she needed to understand this field. That was how she would learn quickly. She didn¡¯t want to while her days away at work. Even though Xuxu had introduced her to this job so she could have a change of environment, it didn¡¯t mean that she should take it lightly. Zhou Shuang started reading the book as she made notes at the same time. And soon, an hour went by. When she closed the book, she realized that she could still hear the knocking sounds. It startled her. Was Lu Yinan insane? There must be something wrong with his brain. Zhou Shuang cast her blanket aside and opened her door. Then she stepped into the living room. She peeked through the peephole and saw Lu Yinan standing outside. He stuffed a hand inside his pocket while he knocked and pressed the doorbell with the other. Zhou Shuang could tell that he was bent on getting her to open the door. This fellow was really¡­ It rendered Zhou Shuang speechless. Weren¡¯t her neighbors around? Why didn¡¯t anyone step out to stop him? She ignored him and turned around. She switched off the lights and pulled her blanket over her. With the door closed and with a blanket over her head, Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t hear Lu Yinan¡¯s voice or knocks anymore. ¡­ After knocking for nearly two hours, it exhausted Lu Yinan. He turned around and slumped against the door. The corners of his mouth sank that he looked depressed. Chapter 1812. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twenty Two How could this hooligan be this heartless? How could she bear to leave him outside? Lu Yinan chided Zhou Shuang under his breath. At this time, the phone inside his pocket rang. His eyes gleamed in excitement. ¡®Could it be Shuang? Did she call to shower concerns?¡¯ Lu Yinan wondered to himself. Young Master Lu whipped out his phone, but the next moment, disappointment streaked past his eyes. It was Ming Ansheng. He answered brusquely, ¡°What?¡± He sounded impatient and unhappy. Young Master Ming further rubbed salt into his wounds. ¡°Why? You failed despite harassing her?¡± He was quite certain. Lu Yinan snapped in an annoyed tone. ¡°Yeah, I failed. Your woman must be gloating.¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°My Yueyue empathizes with you.¡± Lu Yinan sneered coldly. ¡°Your Yueyue? Aren¡¯t you shameless! Have you registered your marriage or held a wedding? Did she acknowledge you?¡± Young Master Ming sighed to himself, and in an understanding manner, he replied, ¡°If it makes you feel better, then the answer is no.¡± He sounded as though he was boasting and it made Lu Yinan even more frustrated. ¡°If there is nothing else, hang up now.¡± His frustration didn¡¯t deter Ming Ansheng¡¯s mood and interest. Ming Ansheng quipped, ¡°I called to check on your progress and to shower you with concern.¡± Who asked Lu Yinan to mock and tease him when he kept flying to Country M every week? He would make condescending remarks and mock him. And it was true that karma goes around. Ming Ansheng was merely paying him back in his own coin. And it left Lu Yinan speechless. He bluntly replied, ¡°No progress at all. I¡¯ve stood outside her house for two hours and she didn¡¯t even bother. I think she is asleep now.¡± He hurriedly added, ¡°This isn¡¯t the most vexing thing right now.¡± It piqued Ming Ansheng¡¯s inquisitiveness. ¡°What is it?¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°There is a man inside her house.¡± Night had fallen and there was a man inside. Even if he ate sleeping pills, he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep in peace. ¡°What?! A man?¡± Ming Ansheng was shocked. Lu Yinan frowned and replied, ¡°Yeah. How could I leave in this situation?¡± Ming Ansheng asked, ¡°Do you know this man?¡± ¡°I have no idea,¡± Lu Yinan replied gloomily. ¡°She refused to let me in. If this building wasn¡¯t so tall, I would have climbed in through the window.¡± When he mentioned climbing through the windows, Ming Ansheng turned serious. He warned him, ¡°Don¡¯t joke with your life. Think wisely.¡± Irritated, Lu Yinan replied, ¡°Alright got it. I¡¯m hanging up. I need a cigarette before I continue to knock.¡± ¡°All right then.¡± Young Master Ming ceased his mocking. After hanging up, Lu Yinan stowed his phone in his pocket. He felt for his cigarette case, but he had left it inside his car. He was really feeling despondent right now. If he didn¡¯t take a puff, he might really climb through the window. He decided to go to his car. When the elevator came, he entered and it stopped at the basement carpark. His car was parked right across the opposite of the elevator. He strode over and opened his car door. He sat in the driver¡¯s seat and fumbled for his cigarettes. He lit one up and took a puff. Chapter 1813. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twenty Three The white wisps of smoke blew out from his mouth and nose. It enveloped him, heightening his gloominess. He slightly opened the window and blew the smoke outward. He retracted his gaze and a crease appeared in the middle of his eyebrows. He turned to glance warily in the direction of the elevator. The elevator door opened and a man wearing a cap exited. He was wearing a mask and had concealed most of his features. Why did this man behave so sneakily? He even wore a mask at night? Was he a celebrity? But it was still too much! Was he here to commit adultery? Adultery! It was as if someone had cast a spell on Lu Yinan. He pushed the door open and got down. As swift as lightning, he bolted for the man and blocked his way. The man suspiciously glanced at Lu Yinan. ¡°Mister, what are you doing?¡± It was late at night and the carpark was deserted. This stranger came out of nowhere and blocked his way. He felt a little afraid. Lu Yinan warily scrutinized the man as he studied his face. ¡°Which apartment unit do you stay in?¡± He questioned him in an authoritative tone. His hostility took the man in a surprise. He shot back, ¡°What¡ªdoes this have to do with you?¡± This man behaved so sneakily and it was indeed suspicious. He might be the man in Zhou Shuang¡¯s house. Lu Yinan really yearned to rip the mask off his face or pull his collar to teach him a good lesson. He haughtily replied, ¡°It has everything to do with me. What is your unit number?¡± The man snapped at him. ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Hey! This man seemed so cunning and sly, and he avoided his question. Young Master Lu lost his patience and cut across. ¡°Did you come out of unit 1606?¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± The man threw him a long and scathing look before marching past Lu Yinan. ¡®He was crazy? This man spewed out an insult?¡¯ Lu Yinan turned around and stretched his hand to pull his elbow. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Crazy.¡± The man tried to fling his hand away and he marched off. Lu Yinan caught up with him once more and grabbed him. He pulled both the man¡¯s arms and pinned them behind his back. He inched to the man and hissed, ¡°Repeat yourself.¡± The man wasn¡¯t intimidated by him. ¡°Crazy.¡± Lu Yinan sneered coldly. ¡°How obedient of you to listen to my commands.¡± The man was speechless. ¡®F*ck. He thought that he would beat him up.¡¯ So, he didn¡¯t resort to violence in the end. ¡°Let go of me,¡± the man spoke in a cold voice. ¡°If you don¡¯t, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± Lu Yinan snorted. ¡°Please don¡¯t go easy on me. Because I won¡¯t.¡± He stretched his hands and grabbed the man¡¯s collar and met his eyes. Lu Yinan glared at him and interrogated him. ¡°What is your unit number?¡± The man raised his chin. ¡°Hmph. I won¡¯t tell you.¡± This man was really stubborn. This man was indeed obstinate, and he refused to answer his question. Something was wrong. Chapter 1814. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twenty Four Lu Yinan was certain that his hunch was right. And confidence surged within him. ¡°Are you talking or not?¡± The man bravely snapped, ¡°No way!¡± ¡°This is for being tight-lipped!¡± Lu Yinan began to land punches on his face with no mercy. ¡°This is for being so stubborn and immoral! Who asked you to keep quiet?¡± Mister, who was the immoral one? You punched a person for no reason. Lu Yinan was vexed, but he needed something to vent out his anger. This was a good opportunity and perhaps he might get something out of this¡­ Lu Yinan¡¯s punches had made the man dizzy. His mask fell off and his mouth was bleeding. He wiped his blood away with his palm. Lu Yinan caught a glimpse of the man¡¯s face and jealousy instantly consumed him. He raised his fist once more. The man shouted, ¡°Brother! If you hit me again, I¡¯m going to retaliate.¡± But his threats didn¡¯t deter Lu Yinan at all. He continued to hit him mercilessly. He bellowed as he hit him. ¡°How dare you retaliate! You¡¯re a shameless and reckless fool! Look at your pretty boy looks. You can use your looks to make a living, yet you had to do shameless things!¡± Mister, the man really needed his face alright? The man was incensed and he hit Lu Yinan back. ¡°Why am I shameless? Did I sleep with your woman?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still being so insolent! You assh*le!¡± Lu Yinan effortlessly restrained the man. He was proud that he could pin this man down. It was all thanks to his Zhou Shuang who had ¡®encouraged¡¯ him to be a tougher man. If he was his old self, he would probably be on par with this pretty boy. ¡°You! I¡¯m going to sue you!¡± the man yelled in pain. He clutched the sides of his face as though it was precious to him. Lu Yinan was even more certain that he must be a gigolo. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The security guards came rushing to them with torches. They must have noticed them fighting through the surveillance cameras since the three of them ran towards them with anxiousness painted over their faces. The man, who Lu Yinan had pinned down, looked at the security guards as though they were his life saviors. He pointed at Lu Yinan and shouted, ¡°Just in time! This crazy man hit me! I don¡¯t even know him!¡± The security guards glanced at the man before glancing at Lu Yinan. ¡°What¡¯s the situation? Who are you? Which unit do you stay in?¡± ¡°1606. This fellow doesn¡¯t look like a decent guy.¡± Lu Yinan shoved him forward. ¡°Not a decent guy?¡± The security guard asked Lu Yinan, ¡°Is he telling the truth? He doesn¡¯t know you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lu Yinan nodded and continued, ¡°But we will soon.¡± The security guards and the man looked confused while Lu Yinan grinned. ¡°An exchange of blows will lead to friendship.¡± It had all of them speechless. ¡°Both of you come to the office with us,¡± the security guards instructed. The man shook his head weakly and said, ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll consider myself unlucky to have bumped into him. I¡¯m rushing for time.¡± Guilt was written all over his face. And Lu Yinan was shrewd enough to notice it. Chapter 1815. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twenty Five There was indeed something up with this fellow. How could he let him go without clearing the air? The security guard could tell that the man was afraid. He encouraged, ¡°Sir, don¡¯t worry. With us around, he won¡¯t be able to hit you anymore.¡± The man waved him off. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I¡¯m really in a hurry, so I¡¯ll let this go. I¡¯ll pay my own medical bills.¡± Lu Yinan coldly smiled. ¡°How can you do that? You should call the police immediately.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t want to trouble them with such a small matter,¡± the man said. He was glaring at Lu Yinan. Then he smiled at the security guards. ¡°I should turn myself in for a lenient sentence.¡± Lu Yinan whipped out his phone and dialed 110. Then he put the phone to his ear. The man suddenly stretched his arm towards Lu Yinan¡¯s phone, saying, ¡°I said, there¡¯s no need to.¡± He tried to snatch the phone out of his hands, but Lu Yinan dodged successfully. Lu Yinan feigned confusion and asked, ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± The call went through and he immediately answered, ¡°Hello, 110? We¡¯re at¡­¡± He exaggerated the situation. The security guards were in shock and looked at him as though he had a screw loose. After he ended the call, Young Master Lu smiled and declared, ¡°The police will be here immediately.¡± ¡­ Zhou Shuang tossed and turned in bed. She was just starting to fall asleep when her phone started ringing. She stretched her hand out from under the covers and groped around for her phone. She answered the call and placed it to her ear. ¡°Hello.¡± An unfamiliar male voice answered. ¡°Hello, is this Miss Zhou?¡± ¡®Who is this?¡¯ she thought. Zhou Shuang sobered up and looked at the caller ID. It was from a telephone in the capital city. She was confused for a few seconds before she nodded and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°This is the XX District Police Station. Your husband is being detained here for voluntarily causing hurt.¡± Zhou Shuang knitted her eyebrows. ¡°What? My husband?¡± Lu Yinan came to mind. Who else would claim to be her husband other than him? ¡®Police station? Voluntarily causing hurt?¡¯ It confused Zhou Shuang. ¡°How could he? Did you get it wrong?¡± ¡®Lu Yinan is as proud as a peacock. He cares so much about his image. Why would he pick up a fight?¡¯ ¡®Why would he risk tarnishing his reputation?¡¯ ¡°We haven¡¯t gotten it wrong. It¡¯s Lu Yinan. Your husband is Lu Yinan, right?¡± ¡®Your husband is Lu Yinan, right?¡¯ His words repeated in her mind and she didn¡¯t answer. She changed the topic instead and asked, ¡°Is it serious?¡± ¡°Very.¡± The police officer was getting slightly impatient. ¡°He¡¯s at the police station now. Please come over.¡± Zhou Shuang panicked when she heard that it was serious. As she pulled the covers off her, she said, ¡°Alright I¡¯ll immediately¡­¡± She halted in her movements when she placed her foot on the floor. Then she leaned back against her bed and said, ¡°Call his family.¡± The other end remained silent for a moment before he spoke up, ¡°He said that it¡¯ll disturb the children at this time of the night.¡± ¡®That¡¯s true¡­ It¡¯s already so late at night. If the police were to call the Lu family and tell them that he was caught for voluntarily causing hurt, they¡¯d definitely be alarmed. His grandfather would be in a fit of rage and it will definitely affect the kids.¡¯ Zhou Shuang decided to head over herself. ¡°I¡¯ll make my way there now.¡± Chapter 1816. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife Part Twenty Six She ended the call and got off the bed. She changed her clothes. Wasn¡¯t that fellow knocking relentlessly on her door earlier? How did he get sent to the police station? And it was serious too. Did he kill someone? Commit an arson? Or did he molest someone? Zhou Shuang anxiously made her way to the police station. The moment she entered, she saw Lu Yinan sitting in the lobby. Young Master Lu never changed. He leaned comfortably in the rotating armchair with his legs crossed. There was a cigarette between his fair and slender fingers, a trail of smoke billowing from it. He looked calm and unperturbed. Zhou Shuang frowned. Didn¡¯t the police officer say that this fellow had voluntarily caused hurt, and she needed to go over because it was serious? By the looks of it, it wasn¡¯t serious at all. She walked towards him and stared at his face for two seconds before speaking. ¡°What happened? It¡¯s the middle of the night. Have you gone nuts?¡± Her tone was icy cold. Suddenly, an unfamiliar man opposite her spoke up. ¡°Sister, you think that he¡¯s gone nuts too?¡± Zhou Shuang turned her head and saw a man with a face full of injuries. It startled her. His face was bruised black and blue, and one side of his face was extremely swollen. Was Lu Yinan behind all this? Lu Yinan heard him call her ¡®Sister¡¯ and he took into account her startled reaction. He bitterly said, ¡°So you two do know each other!¡± At the same time, Zhou Shuang frowned and angrily asked the man, ¡°Who are you calling ¡®Sister¡¯?¡± Before he could reply, she added, ¡°You¡¯re the victim?¡± Her tone sounded sincere. ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded and touched the corner of his mouth. ¡°Your husband assaulted me for no reason.¡± Then he pointed at his head and asked Zhou Shuang, ¡°Is your husband not as bright up here?¡± He thought that he had put it quite¡­ subtly. ¡°Rascal, who are you talking about?¡± Lu Yinan picked up a book on the table and threw it at him without hesitation. It was too sudden and it caught the man off guard. The book hit him straight in the head. He held his head in pain and pointed at Lu Yinan. He said to Zhou Shuang, ¡°Look how violent your husband is. You must¡¯ve suffered as well. How can he do this?¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes and ignored him. She looked at Lu Yinan and said, ¡°Lu Yinan, care to explain what happened?¡± ¡°Is he the man you¡¯ve hidden in the house?¡± Lu Yinan pointed at him in anger. Zhou Shuang smiled coldly. ¡°Lu Yinan, I think there¡¯s something wrong with your brain.¡± ¡°I saw him sneaking out of the lift, and he covered himself up. One look and I knew that there was something amiss.¡± Lu Yinan glared at him and chided, ¡°Pretty boy.¡± The man retaliated, ¡°If it were based on looks, you seem more like a pretty boy than me. You¡¯re a grown man with fair and glowing skin and red lips, just like a hussy. You¡¯re a naturally pretty face.¡± His words were irrefutable. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. She covered her mouth hurriedly. Indeed, if it were based on looks, nobody seemed more like a pretty boy than Sissy Lu. Chapter 1817. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife (part Twenty Seven) If he hadn¡¯t met her, he probably would¡¯ve turned gay a long time ago. He would¡¯ve been the last descendant of the Lu¡¯s. Seeing Zhou Shuang laugh, the man became smug. ¡°See, even your wife is laughing at you.¡± He looked at him mockingly. Lu Yinan was speechless in his anger. He looked up at Zhou Shuang and caught the smile on her face. His expression darkened and he suddenly stood up. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her towards the entrance. ¡°Zhou Shuang, come with me.¡± Of course, Zhou Shuang was no match for him, so she could only follow. After they exited the police station, Lu Yinan pushed her into a hidden corner. He drew closer to her and asked, ¡°Who is the man you¡¯re hiding in the house? The delivery man told me that a man picked up his call.¡± He racked his brains but he couldn¡¯t think of who it was. Jealousy blazed within him. His furious aura engulfed her as he drew closer to her. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t shun away. She stared at him with a cold smirk. ¡°So what if I have a man in the house? So what if I¡¯m dating a pretty face? What does that have to do with you? Who are you to me?¡± ¡°Who am I to you?¡± Lu Yinan raised his eyebrows. A dangerous smile flitted across his face. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know today, who I am to you.¡± Zhou Shuang knew what he was going to do, but she didn¡¯t have the capability to defend herself. She could only let him smash his lips onto hers. He had sealed their lips tight. She grabbed his shoulder and pushed him forcefully, but he didn¡¯t move. However, she didn¡¯t give up. Since she had already moved out of the Lu¡¯s house, she should make a clean break with him. Other than the children, she had nothing to do with him. She couldn¡¯t let herself dwindle into despair just because she could not defend herself. Her cries were muffled as she shook her head and tried to break free from his grasp. But Lu Yinan gripped her waist tightly and held her still. His kiss became fiery and he reveled in the feeling of her soft lips against his. Her resistance especially heightened his desire for her. Zhou Shuang kept pushing him away and obstructing him, so he grabbed her wrists with one hand and pinned them above her head. Then he leaned his forehead against hers and stared straight into her eyes. ¡°The past few years, I remained chaste for you. Do you want to push me away? Not a chance.¡± His eyes blazed with maliciousness. Zhou Shuang was startled to hear what he said. He remained chaste the past few years, for her? Countless women chatted him up on WeChat, but he remained chaste? She was rather surprised that he chose to lie to her about this matter. The past few years, he came home whenever he wanted and partied around. He treated her like thin air. He never once cared about her feelings. She believed that he had no qualms about lying to her about this, too. This was the first time. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. When Lu Yinan lowered his head to kiss her, she bit his lips with force. She didn¡¯t let go until she smelled blood and heard Lu Yinan yelp in pain. She glared at him and said, ¡°Lu Yinan, let¡¯s leave it at this. Other than the three children we had by accident, I have nothing to do with you.¡± Chapter 1818. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife (part Twenty Eight) ¡®Other than the three children we had by accident?¡¯ A cold gleam flashed across his eyes when he heard it. ¡°Okay. So our relationship is an accident, right?¡± He had emanated a dangerous aura and panic struck her. ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Shuangshuang.¡± He suddenly changed his attitude and smiled. ¡°I know I¡¯m a jerk. I haven¡¯t been putting in effort when it comes to you. Can you give me another chance?¡± Lu Yinan hugged her waist and shifted his hips as he tried to gain her affection. Zhou Shuang was speechless. It was still the first month of the lunar year. During the nighttime, the temperature drops to around -10 degrees Celsius. Zhou Shuang had left the house in a hurry and she wasn¡¯t able to take the necessary precautions to keep herself warm. She shivered in the cold. She didn¡¯t want to waste time with him any longer. She asked, ¡°Are you leaving or not? If you¡¯re leaving, I¡¯ll bail you out. If not, I¡¯m leaving. Don¡¯t alert the family at this time of the night, you¡¯ll scare the children.¡± Lu Yinan grinned and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll go wherever you bring me.¡± Zhou Shuang pretended to puke and almost did. Was this really the Lu Yinan she knows? He was a sissy indeed. Disgusting! With Zhou Shuang and the police¡¯s intervention, the case was settled in private and was not recorded officially. The man said nothing and readily agreed to her solution: a compensation of 10 thousand dollars for his medical bills. ¡°Shuangshuang, let¡¯s go to Chengdong for supper.¡± Lu Yinan hugged her elbow as they walked out of the police station. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t fling his hand away. ¡°Scram. Don¡¯t follow me.¡± No matter how she scolded or humiliated him, Young Master Lu refused to let go. ¡°You bailed me out. I¡¯ll follow you forever.¡± His shamelessness had surpassed Yan Rusheng¡¯s by a mile. ¡°Lu Yinan, can you revert back to normal?¡± Zhou Shuang stopped in her tracks and frowned at him. She was feeling weary. How did things come to this? It was different from what she had imagined. She thought that the arrogant Lu Yinan wouldn¡¯t be able to cast his pride aside.Read more new novels on Listnovel.com He despised how Ming Ansheng doted on Su Yue and how Yan Rusheng acted inappropriately with Xuxu in public. But what was he doing now? Teasing her? Lu Yinan hugged her elbow tighter and rested his chin on her shoulder. ¡°As long as you change your mind, I¡¯m willing to be abnormal forever.¡± F*ck. Change her mind and end up having to take care of a lunatic? She tried to shrug him off a few more times but to no avail. She gave up and continued walking towards her car. Lu Yinan secretly smiled. Indeed, Third Yan was experienced in this area. His tips were effective. He continued coquettishly, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten my dinner and I bet you didn¡¯t eat much either. Let¡¯s go for supper.¡± Zhou Shuang ignored him and stopped beside her car. She took out her car keys and didn¡¯t move to open the door. She turned to throw him a cold look. ¡°Lu Yinan, stop following me. Let¡¯s go our separate ways: You hit the demon¡¯s path while I cross the log bridge.¡± Lu Yinan pouted. ¡°If you can find a log bridge immediately, I won¡¯t cling onto you anymore.¡± The corners of her mouth twitched. She didn¡¯t want to waste her saliva on him. She moved her leg to knee him in a particular area. Chapter 1819. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife (part Twenty Nine) This time, Young Master Lu was quick to dodge her attack. He looked up at her and grinned. ¡°Shuangshuang¡­¡± ¡°Scram, scram, scram!¡± Zhou Shuang bellowed at him. ¡°Lu Yinan, just scram. I really don¡¯t want to be with you anymore. Can we just break up peacefully and harmoniously? I¡¯m begging you.¡± Then she couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears. She cried as she pushed him away. ¡°Lu Yinan, scram. The further the better. I don¡¯t want to have anything to do with you anymore. Please let me go.¡± This time, Zhou Shuang was grieving. She didn¡¯t cry when the person she loved gave up on her while she was on the operating table, neither did she cry during the fights they had for the past five years. In front of him, she turned into a porcupine¡ªstabbing him everywhere and covering herself in blood in the process. This lifestyle constantly drained her. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that I put you through so much¡­ agony,¡± Lu Yinan said. He stared blankly at her. Zhou Shuang remained silent as she continued crying to her heart¡¯s content. Lu Yinan slowly squatted and rubbed her head gently. With a voice full of heartache, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore. I won¡¯t cling onto you any further. But I¡¯m really serious about spending the rest of my life with you. I know I haven¡¯t told you before, but¡­ I love you. I just realized it.¡± ¡®I love you¡­¡¯ Zhou Shuang stopped crying for a mere second before she continued sobbing again. She cried even harder. She waited for so many years. She waited for him to love her. She didn¡¯t want to give up on him even when he had already given up on her. But now that she had given up on him, he told her that he loved her. Suddenly, she laughed. She was going nuts. Lu Yinan was driving her insane. Her sudden change in mood frightened Lu Yinan. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I promise I won¡¯t pester you anymore. I will wait for you to change your mind.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Shuang lifted her head and wiped her tears. Then she grabbed the car handle and stood up. The interior of the car lit up and Zhou Shuang forcefully pulled the door open. She got into the car, closed the door, and started the engine. A rev of the engine and she was off. Leaving Lu Yinan all alone, standing frozen to the spot. Only when Zhou Shuang¡¯s car disappeared from his sight did he retract his gaze. He came to his senses and sighed helplessly. Indeed, love was one¡¯s soft spot. In the past, whenever they quarreled, he was always focused on winning. He wished that he could step on her head and make her cry. But now that he saw her sobbing, his heart ached for her. Perhaps he had fallen for her after all this time together. It was an irrefutable fact: He was in love with Zhou Shuang. ¡®So¡­ Shuangshuang, I won¡¯t give up on you.¡¯ The man gazed into the distance of the boundless darkness. His eyes gleamed with determination and a seductive smile framed his face, even brighter than a flower that had just blossomed. ¡­ Lu Yinan kept his word. He didn¡¯t look for her from then onwards. The days flew by quickly and peacefully, and Zhou Shuang was now more efficient at her job. She told the three imps that she was away on a work trip and would not be back for a long time. The three kids were very obedient and mature. When they heard that she was away for work, they agreed to wait patiently for their Mommy to come back home. Chapter 1820. Young Master Lu is Busy Courting His Wife (part Thirty) Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t know how long she could go on before they saw through her lie. The only thing on her heart right now was her children. She had let them down. It was summer and the prime season for wedding photoshoots, so the company was extremely busy. Everyone came to work half an hour earlier than usual. ¡°Sister Zhou Shuang, you don¡¯t have a boyfriend?¡± Zhou Shuang was looking at the design sketch that the designer had just sent her. The designer¡¯s assistant, who was sitting opposite to her, suddenly dropped the question. She had been working at the office for almost two months. She had always been an outgoing person, so she knew her colleagues well by now. Previously, Su Yan had specially introduced her to the rest, so all the workers¡ªyounger and older¡ªcalled her Sister Zhou. Just like when Xuxu was in Flourish & Prosper back then. Zhou Shuang smiled and raised her eyebrow at the girl who had just graduated from university. ¡°Why? You want to introduce me to someone?¡± Usually, those who asked her this question had this motive. The assistant smiled and didn¡¯t deny. ¡°I have an older cousin who just came back from overseas. He¡¯s not bad.¡± Zhou Shuang smiled. ¡°My children are already in kindergarten.¡± For now, she was focused on making her life meaningful. She didn¡¯t want to think about other matters. She wouldn¡¯t forget that she was a mother of three as well. She wouldn¡¯t forget about her three little imps either. When the assistant heard it, her mouth widened in shock. ¡°Huh? You have children?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded. She smiled and asked, ¡°I look very young. You can¡¯t tell right?¡± Although she had gotten to know all of her colleagues, none of them had asked her about her personal life before. So nobody knew about her three children except the boss, Su Yan. The assistant nodded. ¡°Mm. You look super young. I can¡¯t believe that you already have children.¡± Then she pressed her lips and frowned. Seeing her disappointed look, Zhou Shuang smiled and said, ¡°Little lass, you have such a sweet tongue¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, the door to the office opened. A long-haired man with a beard entered. He had a domineering presence. The word ¡®literature¡¯ was written all over his face. He must be in the arts. He stood at the doorway and stared at everyone in the office. His tone was anxious as he asked, ¡°Ai Ruili is reaching the photography venue soon. We should leave too. Where¡¯s Xiaowang?¡± He asked as he scanned the office. The assistant sitting opposite to Zhou Shuang stood up and respectfully said, ¡°Director Zhuang, Sister Xiaowang hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± The bearded man was the Director of Photography of the ¡®Xuxu Rusheng¡¯ photography company. Everyone respected him. Director Zhuang¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What? What¡¯s up with her? Doesn¡¯t she know that we have an outdoor shoot today?¡± He was enraged and the assistant hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯ll call her.¡± She picked up her phone and dialed a number. She placed it to her ear but immediately placed it down again. She shook her head and said to him, ¡°I can¡¯t get through.¡± Director Zhuang was even more furious. He was about to say something when his phone rang. He whipped it out of his pocket and looked at the caller ID before turning around to pick up the call. ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll definitely arrive on time. We won¡¯t delay your schedule.¡± They heard him assure Miss Ai as he returned into their field of vision. Chapter 1821. You’re My Darling (part One) He turned livid again and he ordered, ¡°Call her again. She has no sense of time at all.¡± The assistant did as she was told, but after a while, she shook her head again. ¡°I still can¡¯t get through. Something must¡¯ve happened. Xiaowang hasn¡¯t done this before.¡± Director Zhuang glared at her. The atmosphere tensed. Zhou Shuang thought for a while before standing up. She said to Director Zhuang, ¡°Xiaowang is in charge of the outfits for our clients and I¡¯ve been learning from her these past few days. I can fill in for her.¡± Director Zhuang frowned, his gaze landed on her. He sized her up before asking, ¡°Are you up to it?¡± He was doubtful of her capabilities. Zhou Shuang resolutely nodded without hesitation. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± For the past month, she had been learning from the sidelines in the studio. She had never joined them on an outdoor shoot before. Director Zhuang looked at the rest of the faces in the office and realized that there was no better candidate. He nodded and said, ¡°Alright then. Hurry up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Shuang was elated that she could finally join them for an outdoor shoot. She hurriedly packed her things. Fortunately, she had been helping Xiaowang for the past few days, so she knew how the latter had arranged the required outfits and accessories for their client, Ai Ruili. The company worked for high-end clients, so naturally, the crew made their way to the venue in a luxurious vehicle. How else would they show that their company was high end? Zhou Shuang scanned the entire interior of the luxurious and comfortable caravan. The company owned multiple of such. Zhou Shuang had insufficient rest the past few nights, so she began to feel tired. Her eyelids began to droop. Just as she was about to fall into a slumber, Director Zhuang, who was sitting beside her, suddenly piped up. ¡°Ensure that all the props are ready. Time is money to Ai Ruili. She hates it when people waste her time, so you have to do everything quickly,¡± Director Zhuang said to Zhou Shuang in a stern voice. Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± He said it as though everyone else¡¯s time was dog shit. Whose time wasn¡¯t money? She had heard of this Ai Ruili before. She won countless awards last year. She even walked down the red carpet for starring in a Hollywood movie earlier this year. She was a rising star, but there were often reports on how she was a fussy person. Director Zhuang thought for a moment before adding, ¡°Start preparing in a while. The first set requires the period costume.¡± They were filming at a village surrounded by mountains and seas in the neighboring city. They were here mainly for the field mustards and peach blossoms. Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Remember, you can¡¯t take your own sweet time. You have to be quick,¡± Director Zhuang reiterated. Zhou Shuang secretly rolled her eyes. Weren¡¯t those in the arts usually men of few words? ¡®Why was he so long-winded?¡¯ She nodded and replied, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Is that impatience I hear in your tone?¡± Director Zhuang asked her with a frown. Zhou Shuang hurriedly denied. ¡°No.¡± ¡®Seriously? How long-winded could he be? He¡¯s been telling me about Ai Ruili¡¯s working style and her dislikes since we got onto the car.¡¯ After Director Zhuang kept rushing the chauffeur, they eventually reached the filming location at the same time as Ai Ruili. The two luxurious vehicles parked together and had caught the eyes of those around. Chapter 1822. You’re My Darling (part Two) Zhou Shuang alighted from the caravan carrying bags of varying sizes. The scent of the fresh field mustards engulfed them. She subconsciously closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then opened her eyes and took in the scenery before her, and she felt much more refreshed. ¡°Hurry up. Put the clothes in Ai Ruili¡¯s car. Work with her makeup artist and stylist.¡± Director Zhuang commanded before she could even properly admire the scenic views and fresh air. Zhou Shuang hurriedly nodded. ¡°Okay, got it.¡± She carried two large bags of clothes and accessories. They weighed a ton and both her shoulders were on the brink of collapsing. Zhou Shuang walked over to the caravan opposite theirs. There was a rather small-built man in the car, but he looked rather intelligent. He was pointing around and assigning roles to a girl who looked around 20. A woman in a dark green shirt was sitting in front of the dressing table. She was back-facing the door and Zhou Shuang could only see half of her face through the reflection in the mirror. She was flanked by a man and a woman, one helping her with her makeup and the other styling her hair. Without a doubt, she must be Ai Ruili. The moment she stepped in, Zhou Shuang could tell that the atmosphere was very tense. ¡°Who are you? Who let you in?¡± the man, who was assigning roles to everyone in the car, asked menacingly. Taking in his bossy attitude, Zhou Shuang recalled how celebrities in a drama series had managers. Could he be Ai Ruili¡¯s manager? Zhou Shuang sized him up before smiling. She replied, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m from Xuxurusheng work studio. I¡¯m in charge of the props.¡± The man frowned and pointed at her. ¡°You guys are lacking in time management. Over the phone, you guys agreed to arrive early to make the necessary preparations. Ai Ruili is almost done with her makeup.¡± Zhou Shuang bowed apologetically. ¡°We sincerely apologize.¡± She didn¡¯t bother to explain why they were late. There was no point. Seeing that she had a good attitude, he decided not to make things difficult for her. ¡°Quickly take the clothes out so that Ai Ruili can try them on. Don¡¯t you know that her time is precious?¡± Tsk, tsk, tsk. All of them were acting as though everyone else¡¯s time was dog shit. Zhou Shuang carried the bags toward Ai Ruili. Through the reflection in the mirror, Zhou Shuang was mesmerized by the woman. ¡°Are you new?¡± Zhou Shuang was sizing her up when the beauty suddenly asked her a question. She was looking at her through the mirror as well¡ªher gaze cold. Zhou Shuang kept away her scrutinizing gaze and smiled. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m in charge of your outfits and props for this shoot.¡± She wasn¡¯t in the least frightened or pressured by her. She was a normal person who couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued whether a celebrity looked better on the television or in real life. Ai Ruili frowned. ¡°I remember that Xiaowang was given this role. She was the one who took my measurements, and she was with me when I tried the clothes on.¡± Chapter 1823. You’re My Darling (part Three) Then she slowly turned around. She sized Zhou Shuang up with a cold gaze. Then, remaining stoic, she turned back around. Her expression didn¡¯t reveal her thoughts on Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang smiled and explained, ¡°Xiaowang had something urgent to attend to, so I¡¯m filling in for her.¡± Ai Ruili furrowed her eyebrows, displeasure flashed past across her eyes. But she didn¡¯t explode in a fit of anger. Instead, she waved her off. ¡°Alright. Place the things here. You can leave.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Zhou Shuang started but was impatiently interrupted by the short and scrawny man. ¡°If you¡¯re asked to leave, just leave. Go and set up the venue. We don¡¯t need you here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded helplessly. She pressed her lips and got off the vehicle. This was way better than staying by her side and treating her like a queen. The rumors were indeed true. This Ai Ruili was snobbish. ¡°I asked you to assist Ai Ruili¡¯s makeup artist and stylist. Why did you get off?¡± Zhou Shuang bumped into Director Zhuang the moment she stepped out of the vehicle. His long hair was swaying in the wind. Zhou Shuang explained, ¡°Miss Ai Ruili said that she doesn¡¯t need my help.¡± Upon hearing that, Director Zhuang glanced at the caravan Ai Ruili was in. He then barked out an order. ¡°Then you should stay here, just in case they need your help.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± She walked to the front of their vehicle and leaned against it. She whipped out her phone and waited for Ai Ruili to come down after her makeup was done. Director Zhuang returned to the shooting venue to allocate some work. When he came back, Ai Ruili was already done with her makeup and was getting off the vehicle in her period costume. She was wearing a Qing Dynasty Imperial costume. The golden threads on her collar and sleeves shimmered under the sunlight. A few simple pearl hairpins perfected her neat hairstyle. The moment she stepped out of the vehicle, someone held an umbrella out for her, like a queen. ¡°Director Zhuang,¡± Ai Ruili greeted plainly when she saw him. A polite smile framed her face. Director Zhuang smiled and nodded in return. ¡°Miss Ai.¡± Then he looked her up and down before praising, ¡°Absolutely perfect. Miss Ai, you¡¯re really a piece of art skillfully crafted by God himself. Even the trees and plants around are in awe of your beauty.¡± ¡®F*ck. What a bootlicker!¡¯ Zhou Shuang gave him a dirty look. She began to wonder why Su Yan, with that cool personality of his, would hire a bootlicker like Director Zhuang. He even made him the chief photographer. Alright, she¡¯d give it to him that Director Zhuang had an abundance of experience in the field of photography. Everyone enjoyed being praised, especially beauties. Ai Ruili began to blush and she smiled. ¡°Director Zhuang, you flatter me.¡± ¡®Tsk. She was still giggling in happiness when someone called her a piece of literary art?¡¯ Zhou Shuang mumbled to herself. After exchanging their greetings, Director Zhuang pointed at the shooting venue not too far off. ¡°We have prepared the first shooting venue.¡± Ai Ruili nodded gently. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± She started walking in the direction that he pointed. Director Zhuang followed after her. He suddenly recalled something and turned around. He said to Zhou Shuang, ¡°Bring a few bottles of water.¡± Chapter 1824. You’re My Darling (part Four) ¡°Alright,¡± Zhou Shuang replied, before turning around and returning to the vehicle. Ai Ruili turned to look at Zhou Shuang before she asked Director Zhuang, ¡°Is she newly hired?¡± Her tone revealed a tinge of arrogance. She was his subordinate, so Director Zhuang had to paint her in a good light in front of their clients. He explained, ¡°Although she¡¯s new, she has great skills and she¡¯s President Su¡¯s friend.¡± He could tell that Ai Ruili was slightly unhappy with Zhou Shuang, so he intentionally brought up Su Yan. This way, her job would be much smoother. Shock flashed across her eyes and she turned her head to look at Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang was carrying a few bottles of water down the vehicle. Ai Ruili pointed at her and asked, ¡°She can¡¯t possibly be the one whom Su Yan personally recommended, right?¡± Although her acting skills were not bad, she wasn¡¯t able to hide the jealousy in her tone. Director Zhuang smiled and nodded. ¡°She is.¡± ¡°She looks ordinary,¡± Ai Ruili replied as she unhappily glanced at her. The jealousy laced in her tone was more obvious this time. When Zhou Shuang neared them, she swung her hips and continued walking forward. They were filming beside a small lake at the bottom of a mountain. The waters were a dazzling blue and fresh grass, studded with small wildflowers, surrounded it. The female lead Ai Ruili was sitting on a huge stone, staring into the lake. A gorgeous smile on her face. This woman was indeed breathtaking. Men always went for this kind of woman, especially Sissy Lu. ¡°Okay, perfect,¡± Director Zhuang praised after a few consecutive presses on the shutter. Ai Ruili was an actress, so the photographer didn¡¯t need to guide her. She knew which expression or action to do. ¡°Okay, next set.¡± Director Zhuang did an ¡®OK¡¯ sign with his fingers. Relief broke out on everyone¡¯s faces at the same time. The atmosphere became more relaxed. The crew began to put away their photography equipment to prepare for the next scene. Ai Ruili¡¯s assistant and makeup artist went up to her, offering her water and tissue papers. Zhou Shuang was about to give them a bottle of water, but when she looked over, she pressed her lips and unscrewed the cap, choosing to take it for herself. ¡°You can change into your next outfit and do your styling on the car,¡± Ai Ruili¡¯s manager, the short man said. The personal assistant carried her umbrella and followed after Ai Ruili. They had an overbearing presence as they walked towards the road. Suddenly, Ai Ruili stopped in her tracks and turned around. She pointed at Zhou Shuang and coldly ordered, ¡°You come, too. Help me arrange my clothes later.¡± Zhou Shuang was stunned for a moment. She looked around. Everyone was buried in their work and she was the only one standing there. She looked back at Ai Ruili and pointed at herself. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ai Ruili nodded in confirmation. Then she raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you in charge of all my clothes and props?¡± Zhou Shuang could sense the animosity in her voice. She frowned as she thought about what had happened earlier. They didn¡¯t have much interaction. So, why the sudden change in her attitude? Although Ai Ruili wasn¡¯t the nicest to her earlier, Zhou Shuang had a feeling that she was going to make things difficult for her later. Chapter 1825. You’re My Darling (part Five) Zhou Shuang followed Ai Ruili quietly. ¡°It¡¯s too hard to unbutton this shirt. You help me.¡± Ai Ruili spread her arms and instructed Zhou Shuang. It was supposedly a part of her job today, so Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t read too much into it. She began to unbutton Ai Ruili¡¯s clothes. She had previously helped Xiaowang to undress the models before, so she was quite experienced. ¡°How did you get to know President Su?¡± Zhou Shuang was focused on unbuttoning when Ai Ruili suddenly threw her a sharp stare. ¡°Huh?¡± How did she get to know President Su? Zhou Shuang gawked at Ai Ruili with a confused look. Then she thought of Su Yan. ¡°You mean Su Yan?¡± Zhou Shuang glanced at Ai Ruili without feeling inferior and it made Ai Ruili annoyed. She raised her chin, as though she wanted to look more imposing. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is there anyone else?¡± Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°I¡¯m classmates with his third brother and third sister-in-law.¡± This woman had drastically changed her attitude towards her. Could it be because of Su Yan? Even if Ai Ruili liked Su Yan, she had nothing to do with Su Yan. Was there a need for hostility? Ai Ruili continued to question her. ¡°Third Master Yan and Third Madam Yan?¡± Zhou Shuang nodded her head. ¡°Mmm.¡± Actually, she didn¡¯t want everyone to know her relationship with Su Yan and Xuxu. She wanted to work hard and depend on herself. She wanted to prove her ability to everyone else. Since she started this job, the only people who knew of her relationship with Xuxu were the top management. She would never initiate to reveal it to anyone else. But Ai Ruili seemed to interrogate her as though as she was Su Yan¡¯s rightful girlfriend. If she had a relationship with Su Yan, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be afraid of Ai Ruili. But she was merely acquaintances with Su Yan and this was her workplace. There wasn¡¯t any need for unnecessary misunderstandings. ¡°I see.¡± Ai Ruili nodded casually as the expression in her eyes softened towards Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang withdrew her hands and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m done unbuttoning.¡± Ai Ruili grunted in response and she shrugged her shoulders. The clothes fell off her. The process was swift, fluid in motion, and most importantly¡­ sexy. She was one of those seductive and beautiful women. Zhou Shuang pressed her lips and turned around. Suddenly, Ai Ruili¡¯s voice sounded again. ¡°Red goes better with black. It looks tacky with white.¡± ¡®Red and white? Was she talking about her?¡¯ Zhou Shuang peered at her clothes. White¡­ red¡­ F*ck. Was she dissing her style? Forget it. To a fashionable and gorgeous celebrity, it¡¯s normal for her to look tacky next to her. Zhou Shuang ignored her and retrieved the second set of outfits from the rack. She smoothed it out before handing it to Ai Ruili¡¯s assistant. She stood at the door to wait. Ai Ruili came out of the dressing room. She wore a long white dress which revealed her cleavage. Her skin was fair and supple and it was a treat for the eyes. Her assistant held the hems of her dress, making her look like an elegant and regal princess. As though she had walked out from a fairytale. Ai Ruili sat before the dressing table as the stylist and makeup artist began their job. Chapter 1826. You’re My Darling (part Six) Zhou Shuang waited patiently as Director Zhuang and the rest of the staff began their preparations. She was left alone. ¡°I¡¯m going to wear the Dreamy Fantasy crystal earrings.¡± Ai Ruili took out a black box in a form a square from her bag after her makeup was done. She opened it and there was a pair of dazzling purple crystal earrings. The stylist glanced at the earrings and smiled. ¡°It really complements this dress.¡± He took the earrings and helped Ai Ruili to put it on. Ai Ruili haughtily curled her lips and proclaimed, ¡°I flew to Europe just to buy this pair of earrings. I bought it especially for this dress.¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± the stylist exclaimed after he put it on her. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ai Ruili rose and she adjusted her dress. She turned around and glanced coldly at Zhou Shuang. She slowly sauntered towards her. Suddenly, her phone rang in her bag, which her assistant was carrying for her. Ai Ruili halted her footsteps and instructed, ¡°Check who is the caller.¡± Her assistant rummaged for her phone and glanced at the screen before passing it to Ai Ruili. ¡°It¡¯s President Su.¡± Ai Ruili¡¯s eyes lit up, and she hastily snatched the phone. She sweetly answered, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m having a photoshoot at Longjing Mountain. We¡¯ll end by nighttime.¡± ¡°You want to come over?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t know what Su Yan had said to Ai Ruili, but she looked ecstatic and excited. Her haughtiness and arrogance had vanished. Ai Ruili hung up and she seemed like an entirely different person. She had a blissful smile on her face, and she looked more cheerful. Her happiness flowed from within. The photoshoot was on top of a mountain. Ai Ruili stood on a flat rock against the wind. Her dress, along with her luscious black locks, billowed in the wind. She looked like a beautiful and ethereal fairy from another realm. ¡°Okay.¡± After the photographer gave her a thumbs up, everyone looked relieved. They pressed the crew for time, so they rushed to keep the equipment ready for the next shoot. Ai Ruili¡¯s staff was also packing up to leave. ¡°Go with me to the ladies.¡± Ai Ruili pulled her assistant along. ¡®There is a ladies here?¡¯ Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes wandered around as she too had been looking for the ladies. But she asked her colleagues and they said that there wasn¡¯t any. This mountain was pretty secluded, except for a winding road for villagers to pick wild mushrooms. It was just like a primitive and natural habitat¡­ Natural habitat... The corners of Zhou Shuang¡¯s mouth twitched when she glanced in the direction that Ai Ruili was headed to. So those rumors about celebrities taking a leak in the wild were true. The crew and Ai Ruili¡¯s staff had finished unpacking and they were all ready to head down. Director Zhuang came to Zhou Shuang and said, ¡°Ai Ruili went to the ladies. Wait here for her.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Ai Ruili¡¯s stylist and makeup artist went down the mountain first. So, Zhou Shuang was left to wait for Ai Ruili¡¯s manager. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Ai Ruili and her assistant came back. Zhou Shuang quietly surveyed the beautiful woman. She didn¡¯t seem so aloof and haughty anymore. She suppressed a snigger as she visualized her using the ¡®ladies¡¯ in the middle of the forest. Ai Ruili walked to Zhou Shuang and her manager. ¡°Hurry up and let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 1827. You’re My Precious Darling (part Seven) Ai Ruili¡¯s manager gave a curt nod and suddenly he stared at her ear. ¡°Ai Ruili, where is your earring?¡± ¡°Earring?!¡± Ai Ruili felt her ear and asked shrilly, ¡°Why is it gone!¡± Her eyes darted around, looking for her earring. Her manager asked, ¡°Did you drop it when you were relieving yourself?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ai Ruili answered with a vacant look in her eyes. It was as if she couldn¡¯t remember anything at all. ¡°I need to look for it.¡± She picked up the hems of her dress and turned around. She looked anxious. Her manager grabbed her arm. ¡°We don¡¯t have time. We still have a dinner appointment at 8 p.m. with Director Liu.¡± ¡°No way! I flew to Europe just to get the earrings. It¡¯s 180,000 yuan! I need to find it.¡± Ai Ruili insisted on her way and she tugged her arm away. Her manager grabbed her and she had no choice but to stop. He turned to Zhou Shuang. ¡°Go and help Ai Ruili find her earring. We will help you with your job.¡± ¡°I¡­.¡± Zhou Shuang looked conflicted. She was a staff from Xuxurusheng work studio. She wasn¡¯t Ai Ruili¡¯s assistant alright? Shouldn¡¯t she send her assistant to look for her lost belongings? Or perhaps her manager could do it? Why was her manager ordering her around? Zhou Shuang was indignant but she didn¡¯t want to affect the work progress by causing any unhappiness. After weighing her priorities, she nodded reluctantly. ¡°Alright.¡± She smiled at Ai Ruili and said, ¡°I would need to trouble you to inform Director Zhuang.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ai Ruili casually brushed her hair before she turned around. The moment she turned around, a cold smile appeared on her face. Smugness flashed across her eyes. Zhou Shuang smiled helplessly. She finally understood that sometimes you can¡¯t do whatever you liked. She glanced in the direction where Ai Ruili and her assistant had come back from. A thought struck her and she turned around to the winding road. She yelled at Ai Ruili and her entourage, ¡°Ai¡­ Miss¡­¡± She needed Ai Ruili to tell her a specific place in the forest. It was filled with trees and grass, and furthermore, she wasn¡¯t a dog. How was she supposed to track down where the celebrity had relieved herself? She had no idea of the specific spot and her earring was so tiny. It would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. But Ai Ruili departed in a rush, so she gave up trying to get her attention. She would most probably point vaguely in a direction. And it would waste time too if she ran to get her back. She wanted to end work earlier, too. Ai Ruili and her assistant left some tracks when they came out. So Zhou Shuang followed the trail into the forest. She searched along the tracks that Ai Ruili had left. She continued walking¡­ ¡°This woman walked so far in. Is she afraid of anyone peeping at her as she relieved herself?¡± A face can be different in terms of appearance. But don¡¯t all buttocks look the same? Zhou Shuang grew impatient as she grumbled under her breath. The forest was covered with plants and grass. Luckily, she could still see some tracks on the ground as some grassed had withered. ¡°There isn¡¯t any road ahead.¡± Zhou Shuang followed Ai Ruili¡¯s tracks and came to what seemed like the edge of the mountain. Chapter 1828. You’re My Precious Darling (part Eight) This mountain wasn¡¯t that tall, so she peered down from the edge. Suddenly, she realized that there was a rock below and it was wet. The corners of her mouth twitched in silence. This woman might be fearful of others peeking at her, but still, she shouldn¡¯t risk her life. How could she climb down to pee even though the rock was flat? What if she lost her footing? Then her insurance company would be doomed. Zhou Shuang spotted a clean rock and sat down. She stretched her neck to search for the earring. She wondered if the earring had dropped below. She carefully scrutinized the area but spotted nothing. She stood up and turned around. Suddenly, something sparkling caught her eye. She turned and peered below once more. ¡°There it is!¡± It was Ai Ruili¡¯s earring and it was lying next to the wet rock. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t stop to hesitate and immediately removed her shoes. Barefooted, she climbed down carefully and slowly. It didn¡¯t feel so high when she looked down earlier on. But as she was trying to descend, cold sweat had covered her hand. She was terrified. Zhou Shuang bit her lip and finally, she could feel the rock. She kneeled down and retrieved the earring from the gap in between the rocks. She heaved a huge sigh of relief. ¡°How did she manage to drop her earring here?¡± She muttered to herself as she stood up to leave. Suddenly, she remembered that she needed to pee too. She peered at her feet and it felt wet. After realizing it, she jumped away in disgust. ¡°F*ck! So disgusting!¡± She surveyed the surroundings and made sure that no one was around. She stowed the earring in her pocket and unzipped her pants. She moved backward to avoid the spot that Ai Ruili had used earlier on. ¡®Ssss.¡¯ Zhou Shuang was about to bend to remove her pants when she turned stark white. Her face registered horror as she stared ahead. A black and red cobra was right in front of her and it was hissing at her. It was at least a meter long. Zhou Shuang felt her hair on her body stand up. She held her breath and attempted to take a step backward. She had only moved a little when the cobra hissed loudly and moved its head. It seemed to threaten to attack her. She broke out in cold sweat as she pleaded with the cobra. ¡°Mr cobra, you¡¯re the king. Humans and snakes are friends. Please don¡¯t be rash.¡± ¡®Ssss.¡¯ The cobra hissed at Zhou Shuang once more. Zhou Shuang¡¯s legs had turned soft and she was trembling. It felt like her legs were giving away soon. ¡°I know this is your territory. I didn¡¯t pee here. This pee belongs to Ai Ruili, the celebrity. It¡¯s not mine.¡± The snake began to slither, and Zhou Shuang¡¯s legs wobbled shakily. She stumbled a few steps backward and she shook so badly. ¡°Don¡¯t come near me. Can I leave in peace?¡± The snake slithered towards her in an unhurried fashion. Zhou Shuang was certain that if she were to turn and flee, it would pick up speed too. If the snake caught up with her and wind itself around her, she wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you. Don¡¯t come near me.¡± She pointed at the snake with a hand and held her pants with the other. But the snake didn¡¯t listen to her pleas. It increased speed and reached Zhou Shuang at the speed of lightning. Chapter 1829. You’re My Precious Darling (part Nine) ¡°Ahhh!¡± Zhou Shuang stumbled backward, lost her footing, and fell off the mountain. As she fell, she was consumed with strong willpower and determination to survive. She thought of the triplets, her parents, and¡­ Lu Yinan. She cannot die and she will not die here. This was death without a good reason. If she was destined to suffer an unhappy fate, then she should die after taking risks or challenges. As she rolled down the slope, she blindly stretched her hands and managed to grab hold on the edge of the rock. All this while, she moved her legs as she tried to find something to stand on. The rock she held on to was sharp and jagged. Her palms began to bleed, but she had no choice but to endure the pain. If she fell, she would die. After a while, she still couldn¡¯t find anything stable to rest on. The rocks her feet brushed against crumbled and fell down. Her arms were getting tired as well. ¡°Damn you Ai Ruili!¡± Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth as she cursed Ai Ruili. ¡°If I don¡¯t die here, I will make sure you die a horrible death.¡± Why did that damned woman have to pee here! ¡°You jinxed me!¡± She screamed as though she could regain her strength by yelling and cursing. ¡­ In front of the luxurious vans was another black Audi Q7. Two men stood beside the car and it added a touch of extravagance to this small and secluded village. Ai Ruili sat inside the car while the stylist did her hair and the makeup artist touched up her makeup. She was chatting with the refined-looking man beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve freed up my time. How is the preparation on your side?¡± Ai Ruili fixed her eyes on Su Yan, and they had never left his face ever since he got here. Su Yan smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m ready any time.¡± His good-looking face looked perfect, even when viewed from all angles. He wore a black suit with a white shirt underneath. He seemed to shimmer under the light. He was too gorgeous for words. A swinging bachelor who was good-looking, capable, and wealthy was naturally in high demand in the capital city. All the single ladies from wealthy families in the capital city had their eyes on Su Yan, the pillar of Flourish & Prosper right now. Actresses were also interested in him too. Ai Ruili was one of them. ¡°I¡¯m hoping we will have a good working relationship.¡± Ai Ruili raised her head to gaze at Su Yan with a pleasant smile. Su Yan stretched his hand and shook hers. He slowly retracted his hand. He turned around and asked the man beside him. ¡°Lu Yinan, why isn¡¯t Zhou Shuang here yet?¡± ¡°Exactly. That silly fool is always so clumsy and careless.¡± Lu Yinan stared at the summit and he was getting anxious. When Su Yan asked him, he couldn¡¯t suppress his anxiety any longer. His legs darted forward towards the mountain. He dashed on the path that the villagers usually took. ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± Lu Yinan sprinted up the mountain and he reached the summit in no time. As he searched, he yelled for Zhou Shuang. But there wasn¡¯t any response. He saw some tracks on the grass and he followed it with no hesitation. He shouted as he walked. ¡°Zhou Shuang!¡± The exhausted Zhou Shuang heard his voice getting louder, and she blinked her eyes in disbelief. Was it an illusion? The voice belonged to Lu Yinan. But was he here? ¡°Shuangshuang!¡± Chapter 1830. You’re My Precious Darling (part Ten) ¡®Shuangshuang? It¡¯s really him!¡¯ The voice got louder and nearer to her. His voice filled Zhou Shuang with hope and cast away her doubts. She was determined to stay alive so she tried her best to yell as loud as she could. ¡°Lu Yinan! I¡¯m here!¡± It was the loudest she could yell at the moment. But it wasn¡¯t loud enough that it didn¡¯t reach the top. It wasn¡¯t loud enough for Lu Yinan to hear her. She clutched tightly to the rock for her dear life, trying her best not to slip and fall. She had no idea how long she could hold on. Lu Yinan¡¯s voice got nearer, but she couldn¡¯t see him. Zhou Shuang knew that he was somewhere around. ¡°Lu Yinan! Come nearer. Nearer!¡± Zhou Shuang gritted her teeth, and she attempted to hoist herself up once more. Beads of perspiration rolled down from her forehead. Her palms were covered with a mixture of blood and open flesh. She couldn¡¯t find anything to support her legs and weight. She stretched her legs desperately to the side. ¡®Eh?¡¯ It seemed like she finally found a sturdy rock. Surprise filled her eyes and she felt less anxious. Zhou Shuang heaved a sigh of relief as she took a rest. After a while, she tried to climb up, with her feet still on the rock. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± She had placed her entire weight on that rock. Unfortunately, the rock slipped and moved and she screamed in fear. Flustered and terrified, she gripped the rock tightly once more. Pain was no longer her concern. All she wanted was to stay alive. She had exhausted all her energy and her hands began to slip off the rock. ¡°Zhou Shuang! Shuangshuang!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s frantic yells came from above once more. Zhou Shuang sensed that he was just right on top of her. If he bent and peered down, he could spot her. She raised her head to search for him. The sunlight blinded her eyes and she squinted uncomfortably. ¡®Lu Yinan, if you appear before me at the next moment, I¡¯ll go back with you,¡¯ Zhou Shuang thought silently to herself. Perhaps it was the sunlight, Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes glistened and turned red. She had never yearned to see him so much. All she wanted was to hug and dive into his embrace¡ªto get his love and concern. A moment happened in the blink of an eye. How could he possibly appear at the next moment? ¡°Shuangshuang!¡± Zhou Shuang bowed her head in despair and disappointment as her fingers began to lose grip. Lu Yinan¡¯s anxious and worried voice sounded right above her. Her eyes gleamed with hope and she raised her head. Happiness was etched all over her filthy face. ¡°Lu Yinan, do you want to die? Why do you keep shouting?¡± ¡°If I die, who would save you?¡± He darted down like an arrow, and it terrified Zhou Shuang. ¡°Be careful¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when the rock that Lu Yinan stepped on shifted. Lu Yinan slipped a little and fell backward. Zhou Shuang was terrified and she began to climb upward with an unknown source of strength again. ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll come to you.¡± Lu Yinan merely slipped, but he found his balance once again. He saw that Zhou Shuang was trying to climb up on her own. He spotted her bleeding hands and his heart ached terribly. He hastened his speed towards her. As he climbed down, the climb became more treacherous and dangerous. How he wished he could fly to her right now. Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart trembled with fear with every step he took. Her shirt was soaked with perspiration, and tears streamed down her face. Chapter 1831. You’re My Darling (part Eleven) At the most precipitous point, Lu Yinan squatted and moved downward with his hands. Zhou Shuang was terrified for him as she watched him intently. She warned him fiercely, ¡°Lu Yinan, if you fall here, I will not carry you back.¡± Lu Yinan frowned at her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be more gentle right now? At least act like you are afraid and say, ¡®hubby, I¡¯m scared!¡¯¡± Or she should just remain quiet and wait for him to rescue her. She was like a tough and fearless man. He couldn¡¯t have a sense of accomplishment that a man should get after rescuing the woman he loved. Zhou Shuang sneered coldly. ¡°All the gentle women you want are below the mountain.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just say something nice and sweet for once with your mouth?¡± grumbled Lu Yinan. As he spoke, he continued climbing down. Lu Yinan got nearer to her and Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart pounded rapidly. Only God knew how frightened she was and how badly she wished that he could grab her hand right now. All she wanted was for him to console her. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Finally, Lu Yinan reached a point where he could grab Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand. He gazed at Zhou Shuang with gleaming eyes as he extended his hand to her. Zhou Shuang extended her hand and Lu Yinan grabbed her wrist. His grip was like a tight lock and it gave her a sense of security. She heaved a sense of relief and her mouth curled with a warm and gentle smile. But¡­ Lu Yinan was too focused on saving her that he didn¡¯t catch it. ¡°You¡¯re a heartless woman. How could you gain weight during this period when you broke up with me?¡± Lu Yinan pulled Zhou Shuang up with all his strength. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t find anything to step on, so she relied entirely on him. He bit his lips and concentrated. He deliberately teased and joked with Zhou Shuang to make her feel less afraid. Zhou Shuang instantly snapped at Lu Yinan. ¡°Nonsense! I lost three kilos!¡± She rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Sissy Lu, you truly live up to your name. As a man, you have no strength at all.¡± Lu Yinan was used to ¡®insults¡¯ from her. He curled his lips slyly and remarked, ¡°So you missed me to the extent that you lost weight?¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. She only knew that he had a mean tongue. Who knew that he was such a glib talker too. Perhaps this was the way he spoke to other women. Lu Yinan assumed that she was afraid when he noticed her expression darkening. He raised his head and groaned as he hoisted her up with all his might. Zhou Shuang complemented his efforts and climbed up too. Finally, Zhou Shuang reached safety and she slumped against a rock. She gasped for breath and her body was limp. She hardly had any strength left. She couldn¡¯t even stand up. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid anymore.¡± Lu Yinan stretched his hands and carried her. With her in his embrace, he gently patted her back to console her. Zhou Shuang shoved him away and raised her eyebrows. ¡°Who says that I¡¯m afraid?¡± She stretched her hand to wipe off the dirt on her face. Her actions weren¡¯t demure or ladylike¡­ at all. Young Master Lu was disappointed and he grudgingly said, ¡°Can¡¯t you just pretend that you¡¯re afraid so that I can console you?¡± Other than forcing himself on her in bed, she didn¡¯t give him an opportunity to act like a man. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m afraid.¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly wound her arms around Lu Yinan and hugged him. Chapter 1832. You’re My Darling (part Twelve) She transformed from a tough guy to a docile woman in a split second. Happiness and a sense of accomplishment dawned too quickly. Lu Yinan was startled and he took some time to recover himself. He bent to look at Zhou Shuang, who was nestled against his chest. He couldn¡¯t see her expression. He thought that she was pretending so he pursed his lips. ¡°How insincere.¡± What he wanted was for her to truly treat him like a man. He wanted her to rely and depend on him wholeheartedly. ¡°Lu Yinan, I was terrified just now. Before you came, I was really afraid.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s constricted voice sounded in his embrace. And it sounded as though she was crying. Lu Yinan was startled as he bent his head. Zhou Shuang raised her head, and her eyes were red. ¡°I was so afraid that I wouldn¡¯t be able to see you again,¡± said Zhou Shuang as she heaved a deep breath. It wasn¡¯t easy to forget a person. She couldn¡¯t do it. At a point of time when it was a matter of life and death, she had a thought. If she could just see Lu Yinan for one last time, even if he didn¡¯t love or care about her¡­ She still couldn¡¯t forget him. Zhou Shuang was a headstrong and fierce woman. So Lu Yinan wasn¡¯t used to seeing this weak and soft side of her. ¡°Really?¡± Lu Yinan asked rather apprehensively. What if she mocked him for embracing and consoling her¡­ Zhou Shuang frowned in anger when she was being doubted. ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Lu Yinan pulled Zhou Shuang back into his embrace and patted her shoulders. Contentment and bliss filled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s good that you know how to be afraid.¡± Contentment was so simple. As long as this hooligan needed and relied on him. Sometimes, a man really needed to be sly and devious. He seemed to have an inkling why Yan Rusheng was so sly. The feeling of being relied on and depended on by the woman he loved was awesome. ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± Zhou Shuang muttered and Lu Yinan answered, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Zhou Shuang stretched and pointed at her right ankle. Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes followed her hand. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Those two holes. What is that?¡± Zhou Shuang retreated from Lu Yinan¡¯s embrace and she pointed at the red spots on her ankle. She unconsciously clutched Lu Yinan¡¯s arm. She was really nervous. Lu Yinan studied the wounds on her ankle and noticed that it was turning slightly purple. ¡°Why does it look like a snake¡¯s bite?¡± He let go of Zhou Shuang and crouched to have a closer look. ¡°Snake¡­¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s face turned starkly white. She had suspected that the snake had bitten her earlier on, but she was unsure. When the snake lunged at her earlier on, she had lost her footing and fell off. So she couldn¡¯t remember if she got bitten. When she heard Lu Yinan, she became unsettled. Lu Yinan noticed her going pale and he became nervous too. ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Shuang said in a trembling voice, ¡°Just now I fell off the mountain because a snake attacked me.¡± ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Lu Yinan raised Zhou Shuang¡¯s leg and studied her wounds carefully. Suddenly, he bowed his head and sucked at the wound. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. ¡°Lu Yinan! What are you doing?!¡± She tried to pull her leg away from Lu Yinan. But he grabbed her leg and continued to suck at her wounds. After a while, he spat out the residue. Chapter 1833. You’re My Darling (part Thirteen) He continued to suck at her wound. Were they filming a drama right now? This scene was a clich¨¦! Zhou Shuang stared in worry at Lu Yinan who had focused on sucking at her wound. ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you doing? Stop it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move, there is poison.¡± Lu Yinan warned Zhou Shuang in his deep voice, after which he spat out again. Zhou Shuang was anxious and she shrilly said, ¡°Why are you still sucking at it when there is poison! Are you dumb!¡± Lu Yinan was, after all, a doctor. If he said that there was poison, he must be right. She began to yell when he didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Let go of me! Stop it! Lu Yinan, I¡¯m asking you to stop!¡± But he didn¡¯t stop. So, she lashed out once more. ¡°I¡¯m asking you to stop right now!¡± He didn¡¯t listen to her regardless of how she protested. Zhou Shuang shoved him to the ground and sat on top of him. The next second, she used her lips to seal his. And she sucked his lips. Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes were wide with shock. He spread his arms and they hovered in mid-air. He was too stunned to move. What¡ªwhat¡¯s happening? Zhou Shuang used her tongue to open up Lu Yinan¡¯s mouth. Then she dove deeper into his mouth until the very end. Lu Yinan felt that she was sucking his entire tongue out. He slightly frowned. This woman was way too ferocious¡­ Even if she loved him¡­ she shouldn¡¯t be so impatient and crazy. Young Master Lu was blushing as he gazed at the blue skies. Gradually, he closed his eyes to savor the moment. Suddenly, Zhou Shuang retreated from his lips and spat on the ground. She carelessly wiped her mouth as she glared at Lu Yinan. ¡°You need a good lesson.¡± She got ready to bend down once more. Lu Yinan pointed to Zhou Shuang, and he looked perplexed. ¡°Why are your pants unzipped?¡± Although their kiss was passionate and intense, he was sure that he didn¡¯t remove her pants unconsciously. Zhou Shuang bent and she instantly flushed. She spluttered as she tried to explain, ¡°I¡­¡± She had no idea how she should explain it to him. He would definitely tease her if he knew that she wanted to pee in the wild. Lu Yinan noticed Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression and he could hazard a guess. He asked with a finger pointing at the rock above. ¡°That rock is wet. Did you pee there?¡± He tightly pressed his lips to suppress a giggle. Zhou Shuang shook her head and denied vehemently. ¡°It¡¯s not me! It¡¯s Ai Ruili, the celebrity.¡± She blushed even harder while Lu Yinan guffawed. ¡°Pfft.¡± Zhou Shuang glared at him and hissed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! Why are you still laughing?¡± It really wasn¡¯t her who peed! Does she look like a liar? Zhou Shuang pursed her lips tightly as she used her hand to strangle him by the neck. Then she tickled his armpit with the other hand. Lu Yinan rolled on the floor as he pleaded for mercy. ¡°Alright, alright! I believe it wasn¡¯t you. Stop it, darling.¡± He wound his arm around Zhou Shuang¡¯s waist and pulled her by the neck with the other. Then he kissed her filthy face. There were traces of tears at the corners of her eyes. So, his lips trailed to her eyes. His soft lips landed everywhere on her face, gentle and tender. This was the first time Zhou Shuang had experienced this tenderness from Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan deepened his kisses and his hands began to roam around from her waist and downward. Chapter 1834. You’re My Darling (part Fourteen) It ignited his passion and desire. Zhou Shuang suddenly frowned. ¡°But I really want to¡­¡± Lu Yinan had sealed her lips, so her words were muffled. Lu Yinan raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡± A flush rose from Zhou Shuang¡¯s neck to her cheeks. She seemed to be embarrassed, yet tormented at the same time. Lu Yinan raised his eyebrows and teased her. ¡°Why? Do you want me now?¡± His hand wandered to Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest and he pinched her hard. ¡°Ouch!¡± Zhou Shuang let out a scream and shoved Lu Yinan away. ¡°I want to pee. I unzipped my pants because I wanted to pee just now. Who knew that a snake would appear and I almost wet my pants as a result.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ It was such a wonderful and intimate moment. Yet she ruined it in an instant. But this was the real Zhou Shuang. If she had played by the rules, it wouldn¡¯t be her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that your bladder might burst at any moment?¡± asked Lu Yinan as he bit back a laugh. Zhou Shuang bowed her head. Her face turned scarlet. Her expression amused Lu Yinan. ¡°You just need to relieve yourself. Why do you have to feel embarrassed?¡± She always behaved like a guy, yet she felt embarrassed and shy just because she needed to relieve herself. Her reaction was quite baffling. Or was it just a facade she had usually put on? ¡°You turn around.¡± Zhou Shuang awkwardly moved away from Lu Yinan¡¯s body as she glanced at him. She really needed to relieve herself right now. She was impressed by herself when she didn¡¯t pee in her pants in that dangerous situation earlier on. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ In his mind, he formed his reply to her. ¡®Which part of your body haven¡¯t I seen or touched before?¡¯ But he really didn¡¯t see her relieving herself before. Forget it. Her bladder might burst at any moment if he continued to tease her. He sat up and faced Zhou Shuang with his back. Zhou Shuang stole furtive and wary glances at Lu Yinan as she relieved herself. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Zhou Shuang announced in a bashful voice and Lu Yinan suppressed his grin. ¡°Yeah, I heard it.¡± Blood rushed to Zhou Shuang¡¯s cheeks, but she ignored Lu Yinan. She began to climb up the mountain. ¡°Be careful!¡± Lu Yinan followed Zhou Shuang, and he caught a glimpse of Zhou Shuang¡¯s hands. His heart ached for her and he hastened his footsteps. Without a word, he held her wrist and led the way. Zhou Shuang pressed her lips as she gazed at Lu Yinan. His hands felt warm and soft against hers. This was the first time she realized how tall and strong he was. She couldn¡¯t help but recall how Lu Yinan had sucked the poison out for her. A slow and blissful smile drifted across her face unknowingly. He didn¡¯t give up on her this time and her safety had worried him. So¡­ he really cared about her right? Zhou Shuang¡¯s smile widened as she gazed at the man beside her. Her face, albeit dirty, was shining brilliantly in the sunlight. Lu Yinan turned his head and noticed her smiling. ¡°Do you think that I¡¯m very good-looking?¡± asked Lu Yinan, with a narcissist smirk plastered on his face. Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes. She asked with a worried expression, ¡°You sucked out the poison just now. Do you feel unwell now?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lu Yinan nodded and he looked grave. Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart plummeted and she clutched Lu Yinan¡¯s shoulders. She studied him from head to toe. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?! Which part of your body do you feel unwell?¡± Chapter 1836. The Truth is Revealed (part One) ¡°Sister Hooligan, you¡¯ve lost so much weight. Lu Yinan must have made you suffered,¡± remarked Su Yue with a pair of doe-looking eyes. This lass was deliberately sowing discord with every word! Lu Yinan glared at Su Yue as he gnashed his teeth. But the lass didn¡¯t even glance at him. He had to turn to Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng was playing with Xiaojiao and he noticed nothing. He was rendered speechless. ¡°I still feel that I¡¯m too fat,¡± Zhou Shuang replied with a smile. ¡°Wow, look at Xiaojiao. She is getting chubbier.¡± Zhou Shuang glanced at Xiaojiao who was nestled in Ming Ansheng¡¯s arms. She walked to Xiaojiao and pinched her cheeks. Xiaojiao stared at Zhou Shuang and pondered for some time. She finally said, ¡°Hello Aunt.¡± Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°Try to think harder.¡± It had only been a few months and this lass had forgotten all about her. Xiaojiao was still trying to remember Zhou Shuang when Lu Yinan shot her a bright smile. ¡°Good girl. She is your aunt and I¡¯m your uncle.¡± He put his arm around Zhou Shuang¡¯s waist and pulled her closer. It was as though he was trying to prove to Xiaojiao that they were a married couple. Zhou Shuang threw him a suspicious look. ¡°Lu Yinan, why are you Xiaojiao¡¯s uncle?¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°I grew up with Third Yan and we are best friends. Third Yan is her uncle so naturally, I am too.¡± What warped logic was that? Zhou Shuang raised her eyebrows. ¡°Aren¡¯t you best friends with Ming Ansheng too? Why didn¡¯t you mention that?¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ Was this topic even worth a debate? Su Yue was dumbfounded as she glanced at Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang. She hurriedly said, ¡°Aren¡¯t we eating? Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± They trooped towards the elevator and waited. Zhou Shuang thought of something and she turned to Su Yue. ¡°Did you get us any gifts from Country M?¡± Su Yue snorted. ¡°You disappointed me. So I have no gifts for you.¡± She studied Zhou Shuang with a scathing look. Zhou Shuang clammed up as she knew that Su Yue was referring to her reconciliation with Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan was indignant and he frowned at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, how did you educate her?¡± ¡°Sorry, I only love and dote on her. I have no idea how I should educate her.¡± Ming Ansheng flashed a weak smile at him and put his arm around Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. He did it naturally and elegantly. Lu Yinan hissed, ¡°Worthless guy!¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and he continued on, ¡°How about you? Does Zhou Shuang treasure you like a precious gem or a fragile flower? Does she shelter you from the storms?¡± Lu Yinan pressed his lips and he conceded defeat. F*ck! He had to get rid of the nickname ¡®Sissy Lu¡¯ and be awe-inspiring once more! ¡®Ding.¡¯ The elevator doors opened. There were two men and a woman inside. When the doors opened, they came out. Su Yue raised her head and was shocked to see the woman. Her expression was too obvious and the woman seemed to notice Su Yue staring at her. The lined but beautiful face registered shock as well. Ming Ansheng glanced at the woman and his eyes gleamed coldly. He nudged Su Yue and said, ¡°Yueyue, go in.¡± Chapter 1837. The Truth is Revealed (part Two) ¡°Uncle Ming, she is Bai Jing¡¯s mother.¡± Su Yue gestured to the woman and introduced her to Ming Ansheng. She smiled and walked to her. ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m Su Yue. Do you remember me?¡± It had been five years since she last saw Bai Jing. So, she was visibly emotional when she saw Zhang Lihong. Despite everything, Bai Jing had been her first friend. Until now, she was the only confidante and friend she had ever trusted. Although Bai Jing shouldn¡¯t have ulterior motives towards her third brother, their friendship was pure and wonderful when it started. Since it was such a rare opportunity for her to bump into Bai Jing¡¯s mother, she wanted to ask about Bai Jing¡¯s whereabouts and how was she doing. Zhang Lihong widened her eyes and stared at Su Yue. Her expression registered shock and confusion. She appeared stumped for quite some time and didn¡¯t respond. Su Yue assumed that she had forgotten about her so she smiled. ¡°I¡¯m Bai Jing¡¯s classmate. I used to be her roommate. I¡¯m Su Yue and my brother is Yan Rusheng. Do you remember?¡± She expounded, for fear that Zhang Lihong had forgotten her. And she realized that time washes away hatred and feuds. And it makes a person grow up too. She used to hate Bai Jing¡¯s mother for not caring about Bai Jing. She even had half a mind to splash acid at her. It even surprised her that she was so calm and composed when she saw Bai Jing¡¯s mother once more after years. After she gave birth to Xiaojiao, she began to understand and that blood tie was something that couldn¡¯t be undermined. Blood ties was a fascinating thing. Just like Xiaojiao and Ming Ansheng. When Xiaojiao was a baby, Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t by her side. But when Ming Ansheng appeared in her life, she naturally became close to him in a short span of time. To Bai Jing, she hated her mother for abandoning her. But at the same time, she must have yearned for her mother¡¯s care and love too. When her birth mother appeared, their blood ties would still triumph over her hatred. At first, Su Yue couldn¡¯t understand why Bai Jing stuck to her mother despite being bullied at home. Now she could. The reason was simply that she was her mother. ¡°Yeah, I remember.¡± Zhang Lihong nodded as she stared at Su Yue. She looked confused and her face was pale. Su Yue overlooked Zhang Lihong¡¯s expression as she was eager to ask about Bai Jing. ¡°Aunt, is Bai Jing¡­ doing well?¡± All she wanted to know if Bai Jing was leading a good life right now. Zhang Lihong looked extremely shocked as she studied Su Yue intently. ¡°What? Bai Jing?¡± Ming Ansheng suddenly stretched his hand to grab Su Yue¡¯s arm. ¡°Yueyue, the elevator is closing. Let¡¯s talk again.¡± He glanced at Zhang Lihong with a meaningful look. ¡°Madam Lei is busy.¡± Zhang Lihong nodded fervently after she snapped out of her daze. ¡°Yeah, someone is waiting for me. We¡¯ll talk again in the future.¡± She turned on her heel and scurried away. Su Yue frowned as Zhang Lihong vanished before her. ¡°What happened to Bai Jing¡¯s mother? It has been a few years, but she seems to act abnormally. Is there something wrong with her?¡± She sounded as though she was asking Ming Ansheng and muttering to herself at the same time. Chapter 1838. The Truth is Revealed (part Three) Ming Ansheng¡¯s eyes darted to Zhang Lihong and he looked cold and unfeeling. He glanced at Su Yue and frowned. ¡°Why are you so concerned? Your third brother will reprimand us if we¡¯re late.¡± Su Yue grunted and followed Ming Ansheng. When she was inside the elevator, she scanned the main hall again. She pursed her lips when she couldn¡¯t spot Zhang Lihong in sight. The elevator doors closed. And it shot up. Su Yue heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°I wonder if Bai Jing is doing well these years.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression turned grave and solemn. He wound his arm around Su Yue and pulled her towards him. ¡°She should be fine. You didn¡¯t stay in contact with her for so many years. Forget about her.¡± He clenched his teeth and his eyes glinted malevolently. ¡°How can I forget her?¡± Su Yue raised her head and gazed at him with a sorrowful expression. ¡°She is my first and only friend,¡± lamented Su Yue. Although they didn¡¯t stay in contact, Bai Jing still held an important place in her heart. Until now, she hadn¡¯t mentioned that matter to anyone. Bai Jing should be doing well and had already completed her studies abroad. She was so smart and hardworking. Ming Ansheng gazed at Su Yue, looking melancholic and worried. ¡®Ding.¡¯ The elevator doors opened. Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan went out first, with Su Yue and Ming Ansheng behind. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± Su Yue tugged at Ming Ansheng¡¯s sleeve when they exited. Ming Ansheng glanced and he looked rather puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Yue peered at him intently. ¡°Can we go to¡­ Country Y in July?¡± She was rather hesitant at first but she had made up her mind. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t hesitate and merely nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Su Yue was delighted and she gripped his hand tightly. ¡°Silly girl.¡± Ming Ansheng caressed Su Yue¡¯s hair affectionately, complete with a blissful smile on his face. Su Yue snuggled against his chest like a little child. Zhou Shuang, who was a distance ahead of them, turned to glance at them. She pursed her lips and sneered. ¡°Pfft. I really can¡¯t stand this pair of siblings. This is bright daylight! Are they trying to irritate and annoy those who are unattached?¡± She really couldn¡¯t stand them being so mushy and intimate. And they didn¡¯t care if it was day or night. They were inseparable day and night. Don¡¯t they understand that distance makes the heart grow fonder? Zhou Shuang had barely ended her sentence when a man slid towards her. Lu Yinan¡¯s warm breath landed on her ear and teased her. ¡°You can snuggle against my chest too.¡± Zhou Shuang glared at him with a scathing look. She warned, ¡°Lu Yinan, don¡¯t be so gross. If you dare emulate Yan Rusheng¡¯s behavior, I will cripple you.¡± No way would she want to behave so intimately like them. It was too mushy! They were behaving inappropriately in a public place. Lu Yinan pouted, looking as though he had a grievance. ¡°I won¡¯t emulate him. But could you come to my room at night?¡± They had been hostile to each other for quite some time. Although she had finally forgiven him, why did she still refuse to share a bed with him? Then he relented and pressed on, ¡°Or I can go to your room. If that part of my body isn¡¯t crippled, my hand would be soon.¡± If he doesn¡¯t have a woman, it would render his hand crippled, eventually. Chapter 1839. The Truth is Revealed (part Four) Zhou Shuang¡¯s face turned scarlet, and she stomped on Lu Yinan¡¯s foot mercilessly. ¡°Scram! Disgusting lecher!¡± She even shoved him away to vent her anger. Lu Yinan stumbled a step backward as he furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°We¡¯re a couple, and this will naturally occur. Why am I a lecher? Which couple doesn¡¯t make love?¡± He wants a woman¡­ he wants a woman¡­ a woman¡­ It had almost been five years. And he was a young, hot-blooded man with needs. To think he only succeeded only once. This dry spell had tormented him badly. Every time Yan Rusheng taunted and ridiculed him, he would always fight back through words. But he would always calm himself down by chanting; I shall suffer in silence. Ming Ansheng and Su Yue were getting closer and Zhou Shuang hissed at Lu Yinan. ¡°Lu Yinan, shut up.¡± For fear that he didn¡¯t get the message, she raised her fists to threaten him. ¡®Why did he fall in love with such a violent, rough and tomboyish woman? He must have offended his ancestors!¡¯ But he didn¡¯t have a choice. He had already fallen in love with her. Lu Yinan ranted to himself before he darted forward. He wound his arm around Zhou Shuang¡¯s waist and squeezed her. He bent and landed a kiss on Zhou Shuang¡¯s cheek loudly. There were surveillance cameras around, and Ming Ansheng and Su Yue were behind them. This fellow¡­ Zhou Shuang jabbed Lu Yinan and shoved him away. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re so disgusting! You, Yan Rusheng, and Ming Ansheng are all so disgusting! Wretched lecherous men!¡± Images of the conversations she saw between Lu Yinan, Ming Ansheng, and Yan Rusheng popped into her mind all of a sudden. Her face was crimson and burning. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Yinan gazed at Zhou Shuang and he looked bewildered. ¡°Why do you keep repeating that we¡¯re disgusting? And not just me. How would you know if they are lecherous and wretched?¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time she had chided them. ¡°You¡­ all of you!¡± Zhou Shuang spluttered and she couldn¡¯t get the rest of the words out. Her entire face was flushed as she spoke. ¡°What are all of you talking about?¡± Su Yue strode towards them and stared at them. She looked mildly interested. Ming Ansheng glanced at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Yeah, why did you say that we¡¯re wretched?¡± He had overheard snippets of Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang¡¯s conversation. And he had caught the words ¡®lecherous¡¯ and ¡®wretched¡¯ clearly. He couldn¡¯t understand. Why was he wretched and lecherous? Even if that was true, he did nothing to Zhou Shuang. It dumbfounded him. Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at Ming Ansheng and stormed away. She yelled across her shoulders. ¡°Stop talking and let¡¯s hurry up. I¡¯m famished.¡± Looking at how Zhou Shuang had walked away in a huff, Su Yue blinked innocently. ¡°Did the three of you did something wrong and Sister Hooligan caught wind of it?¡± Ming Ansheng shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. Su Yue eyed Lu Yinan sharply, but Lu Yinan¡¯s expression remained bewildered. If only he knew. He had a nagging hunch that the reason Zhou Shuang refused to sleep with him was that she labeled the three of them as lechers. Chapter 1840. The Truth is Revealed (part Five) What had happened? ¡°Mommy, what is wretched?¡± Xiaojiao suddenly popped her head and stared at Su Yue. ¡°Errr¡­.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and it stumped her. She glanced at Ming Ansheng for help. She should leave this difficult question for him. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t even contemplate for a second and he bent down to face Xiaojiao. ¡°It means awesome.¡± All of them were speechless. Xiaojiao looked as though she was enlightened and she nodded promptly. So it means awesome. They had taken their time and blocked the caused a traffic block along the corridor. Zhou Shuang finally realized it, so she rushed everyone into the room. ¡°Look at this person. Wow.¡± Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu were sitting side by side, sharing a phone together. They seemed to be watching a video with full intent, and both didn¡¯t notice them entering. The video appeared to be fascinating. They sat with their backs facing the door. Su Yue called Wen Xuxu in excitement. ¡°Third sister-in-law!¡± She bolted for Xuxu and hugged her tightly. ¡°I miss you so much that I almost died!¡± She always behaved like a pampered child around Wen Xuxu. Ming Ansheng shook his head in amusement. ¡°Always behaving like a child.¡± Zhou Shuang heard it and snorted coldly. ¡°You¡¯re jealous.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. ¡°Alright, alright. I don¡¯t think you really missed me to that extent.¡± Wen Xuxu eyed Su Yue and sneered softly. ¡°You already have someone else. I don¡¯t think it matters even if you stay overseas forever.¡± ¡°No, no! I really miss you very much!¡± Su Yue refused to budge and clung to Xuxu¡¯s neck. She continued to whine and pout pitifully. ¡°Alright, sit down.¡± Xuxu ceased her teasing and pulled a chair next to her. Su Yue sat down promptly. She turned around and glanced at Xiaojiao and Ming Ansheng. ¡°Xiaojiao, come to Aunt.¡± Xuxu rose and smiled at Xiaojiao. She bent to lift her up. She gave her a watery kiss on both of her chubby cheeks. ¡°Hello, Aunt.¡± Xiaojiao recognized Xuxu immediately. She squeezed Xuxu¡¯s face and kissed her as well. Wen Xuxu hugged her tightly, and she said, ¡°Such a sweet girl. I miss you so much.¡± She carried Xiaojiao back to her seat. Yan Rusheng sat with a hand propped against the table and his cheek, while the other pinched Xiaojiao¡¯s chubby cheek. He stroked her nose and asked, ¡°Xiaojiao, who am I?¡± Xiaojiao shook her head and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xuxu went to visit Su Yue a couple of times when she was in Country M. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t tag along. And Xiaojiao always chatted with Xuxu via video calls. So it was no surprise that she remembered only Xuxu. His niece had forgotten all about him and it annoyed Young Master Yan. ¡°Think again.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xiaojiao snorted loudly and turned away from him when she noticed his face darkening. ¡°Hey! You little imp!¡± Yan Rusheng squeezed Xiaojiao¡¯s cheeks again. Xiaojiao shoved him away angrily. ¡°You can¡¯t touch my face. You¡¯re a boy.¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. Xiaojiao pouted and she looked so adorable. She peered down and blinked quietly. She looked as though she was about to cry. Chapter 1841. The Truth is Revealed (part Six) Wen Xuxu acted swiftly and threw Yan Rusheng a warning look. ¡°Stop teasing her. Why do you have to make her angry? Do you feel good about it?¡± It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. Couldn¡¯t she tell that he was just joking? Wen Xuxu bent to console Xiaojiao. ¡°Xiaojiao is attending kindergarten, right? What did you learn in school?¡± She gripped Xiaojiao¡¯s hands tightly with hers. She loved her soft little hands. Xiaojiao replied softly, ¡°I learned to sing and dance. And hugs.¡± She eagerly jumped off Xuxu¡¯s lap and landed on the floor. She couldn¡¯t wait to show her what she had learned in school. She put her hand on her waist and twisted her waist as she sang. The school that she attended in Country M only taught her English, so she only knew English songs. Her voice was sweet and pleasant and she looked adorable. Everyone turned their attention to Xiaojiao¡¯s impromptu performance. A sudden thought struck Su Yue. She inched closer to Xiaojiao and whispered, ¡°Third sister-in-law, guess who I bumped into in the elevator just now.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Wen Xuxu spun around, curious. Su Yue replied, ¡°I saw Bai Jing¡¯s mother.¡± The expression in Xuxu¡¯s eyes turned cold without her realizing it. Her hands, which were on her lap, unconsciously balled into fists. However, Su Yue wasn¡¯t able to observe her reaction since she was looking at Xiaojiao. She sighed deeply and lamented, ¡°It has been five years. She lost weight and she looked older now. Other than that, she didn¡¯t look too different. I wonder how is Bai Jing doing.¡± Now that she thought of Bai Jing, she couldn¡¯t help but ponder. Wen Xuxu glanced at Ming Ansheng. But he, along with the rest of them, was engrossed with Xiaojiao¡¯s performance. No one overheard their conversation. She retracted her gaze and turned to Su Yue. She sounded slightly nervous as she probed, ¡°Did¡­ you talk to her?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Yeah. But she didn¡¯t really remember me and she seemed shocked to see me.¡± But it had been so many years, and furthermore, they had only met on a few occasions. In hindsight, it should be normal for her not to remember Su Yue. She sighed once again. ¡°I asked her about Bai Jing, but she was in a rush. So we didn¡¯t get to talk.¡± Wen Xuxu stared into Su Yue¡¯s eyes and studied her expression. She was still so innocent and na?ve. She pressed her lips and suppressed the billowing emotions inside of her and the secret she had kept from her. ¡°She should be fine. You have your own life and it¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t harp too much on it.¡± Xuxu sounded aloof and unfeeling and it made Su Yue suspicious. She straightened her back and stared at Xuxu. ¡°Third sister-in-law¡­¡± She sounded and looked as if she was trying to probe. Xuxu was startled when Su Yue looked at her intensely. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Do you know anything?¡± Su Yue eyed Xuxu and sized her up. She was trying to observe the changes in her expression. Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows, looking perplexed. ¡°What should I know?¡± This lass was so unfathomable. ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Su Yue shook her head and retracted her gaze. She peered at her hands and hid her face. Chapter 1842. The Truth is Revealed (part Seven) No one could tell what was on her mind. Su Yue thought to herself. ¡®Judging from her third sister-in-law¡¯s expression, she should still be in the dark. She still doesn¡¯t know that Bai Jing was secretly in love with Third Brother and even hatched a scheme to sleep with him. And she almost succeeded¡­¡¯ But Third sister-in-law sounded so cold and aloof when she mentioned about Bai Jing. In the past, Xuxu cared and doted on Bai Jing. Seeing how Su Yue sat there looking as though she was lost in thought, Xuxu gently prodded her head with a grin. ¡°Lass, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± With her head tilted, she gazed quietly at Su Yue. Su Yue met Xuxu¡¯s eyes and she stowed away her thoughts. She smiled quietly. Then she glanced at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Brother arranged for Bai Jing to study in Country M right? Which university was that?¡± Not only did Wen Xuxu become wary when Su Yue was trying to ask about Bai Jing¡¯s whereabouts, the rest of them became alert too. Yan Rusheng glanced at Su Yue with a fleeting look of heightened caution. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± He remained nonchalant and unruffled. Su Yue pouted. ¡°I¡¯m just asking. I wonder if she is still using the same QQ account.¡± She had a sudden whim to contact Bai Jing. It had been so many years and she suddenly missed her. Xuxu seemed to read Su Yue¡¯s mind and she interrupted. ¡°You should settle the paperwork for Xiaojiao¡¯s school first.¡± She succeeded in steering Su Yue¡¯s thoughts away. She glanced at Xuxu. ¡°I thought we have decided on the school?¡± She turned to Ming Ansheng. Ming Ansheng naturally knew that Wen Xuxu was diverting Su Yue¡¯s attention. He smiled at Su Yue. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s settled. It¡¯s the same school as Wenxin and the rest. Tomorrow I¡¯ll bring you there.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and took a sip of water. His eyebrows were furrowed tightly and he looked worried. After dinner, everyone went back home with their wives. It was after peak hour and the roads were clear. The car window was slightly rolled down and a cool breeze entered the car. It was comfortable and cool. Wen Xuxu sat in the front passenger seat, looking somber and thoughtful. The car was dead quiet and only their breathing could be heard. ¡°She would know the truth sooner or later. Why are you so worried?¡± Yan Rusheng kept stealing glances at Xuxu and he finally blurted out. He knew what was on Xuxu¡¯s mind since her troubles and worries were written all over her face. Xuxu turned and looked down at her hands. She sighed quietly to herself and answered, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that she wouldn¡¯t be able to take it. She might be badly affected.¡± She had always placed Su Yue¡¯s happiness as a top priority and always treated her like a little girl. Xuxu just couldn¡¯t stop worrying about her. Yan Rusheng watched her helplessly and quipped, ¡°Xuxu, you should believe that she could do it.¡± She would have to face the fact one day. In the past, she was too young and too fragile to accept the truth. They were all afraid that she would take it badly. But after all these years, she had matured and became more resilient. It was a secret that concerned her. She had the right to know the truth one day. But he knew Xuxu¡¯s concerns and worries. So he had always respected and supported her decisions. If she really felt that hiding the truth from Su Yue would act in her best interests, he wouldn¡¯t interfere. Chapter 1843. The Truth is Revealed (part Eight) He knew that Ming Ansheng would be the one who would be more desperate to hide the truth from Su Yue. ¡°I know that I ought to believe in her. I wish I could.¡± Xuxu gazed into Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes and her eyes flickered with emotions. ¡°But Ah Sheng, you know that Jiao Chen¡­¡± At the mention of Jiao Chen, Xuxu¡¯s voice became constricted that she couldn¡¯t continue. It ached Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart. He nodded and said, ¡°I know. Ming Ansheng and I both knew. We all concealed the truth from her because we were worried she couldn¡¯t take it.¡± He reckoned that Jiao Chen, who had passed away, would rather that Su Yue be kept in the dark forever. Whenever he thought of what Jiao Chen had done and sacrificed for Su Yue, he would consider what he had done as inadequate. Yan Rusheng plodded on solemnly after a long pause. ¡°But have you thought of this? She still misses Bai Jing and wonders if she is doing well. She still treats her as her best friend. If the truth comes to light one day, will she hate us and herself? She might think that she had let Jiao Chen down.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s every word gripped Xuxu¡¯s heart with a painful twist. She softly replied, ¡°She said that Bai Jing was her first and only friend.¡± She was so pure and innocent and she really cared for her friend. If she were to know that her friend was the one who plotted the car accident, how would she take it? How cruel would the truth be for her? And Jiao Chen eventually died because he saved her life. ¡°Then don¡¯t put yourself in anguish over this. Just let nature take its own course. If she finds out, so be it.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s words greatly consoled Xuxu. She sighed deeply and decided to come out of her distress. She nodded and smiled at him. Yan Rusheng managed a feeble smile and turned his attention back on the road. The car sped towards a traffic junction, and the traffic lights turned red. He gradually reduced his speed and stopped. He smiled brightly at Xuxu. ¡°Wife, let¡¯s go to the apartment tonight.¡± The apartment belonged to both of them and it was quiet. He could do whatever he wished. Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Go home!¡± Her tone was unyielding. It dumbfounded Yan Rusheng. ¡­ ¡°Uncle Ming, shall we go visit my brother first?¡± As the car sped, the thought of meeting Ming Ansheng¡¯s mother made Su Yue anxious and jittery. After all, she was her future mother-in-law. Her heart was pounding against her chest. Ming Ansheng turned and grinned at Su Yue. ¡°Why are you so nervous? As the saying goes, no matter what, the ugly daughter-in-law will eventually meet the in-laws, anyway.¡± Su Yue glared at him in disapproval. ¡°You¡¯re the ugly one. How dare you say I am?¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a saying, why do you have to take it to heart?¡± He reassured Su Yue softly, ¡°My mother likes you very much, and you know it. Weren¡¯t you close to her in the past? She has been nagging at me to bring you back. If you refuse to, she will migrate to Country M instead.¡± It was the truth. His mother had been nagging at him incessantly and bombarding him with questions about her granddaughter. They worried her that her granddaughter wouldn¡¯t be eating well there. If she didn¡¯t have to take care of her grandson back at home, she would have flown there. Su Yue frowned quietly to herself. She got a little impatient as she was nervous. ¡°But, that was all in the past. Everything is different now.¡± Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t comprehend her words. ¡°Why is it different?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Our identities have all changed.¡± Chapter 1844. The Truth is Revealed (part Nine) They have all changed? Ming Ansheng roared with laughter. ¡°From her future daughter-in-law, you have transformed into her granddaughter¡¯s mother?¡± Wasn¡¯t this the change in identity? To put it frankly, their relationship had advanced and solidified. Why was she still anxious? ¡°You¡¯re so hateful.¡± Su Yue bashfully glared at Ming Ansheng, and then she turned away. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that you¡­¡± Suddenly, Ming Ansheng stepped on the brakes. With safety as his top consideration, he swiftly stopped the car. ¡°What happened?¡± Su Yue raised her head and peered ahead. They had reached the traffic junction. Ming Ansheng glanced askew at Su Yue and grabbed her hand. Su Yue¡¯s fingers were cold and he tightened his grip. He gazed at her with a reassuring and comforting smile. Ming Ansheng¡¯s actions puzzled Su Yue. They were waiting for the traffic light and the lights would change in seconds. She glanced across the road and the traffic light had changed. She hastily said, ¡°Uncle Ming, the lights will turn green soon.¡± If they blocked the rest of the vehicles, they would cause a congestion. The other drivers were bound to curse at them. ¡°Yueyue, my grandfather is no longer around. We don¡¯t blame you for his passing,¡± consoled Ming Ansheng in a soft voice. Su Yue¡¯s face registered surprise and shock. He had incredibly read her mind¡­ Ming Ansheng relinquished his grip on Su Yue¡¯s hand and patted her gently. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. The ugly daughter-in-law will have to meet the family, eventually.¡± The traffic light was green, yet their car remained stationary. The vehicles behind them began to honk. The honking sounds dispelled Su Yue¡¯s overwhelming feelings. She stopped her train of thoughts and urged Ming Ansheng, ¡°Let¡¯s go. The cars are honking at us.¡± Just some time ago, she heard that Lu Yinan had met an accident because he stopped at the traffic junction without moving. Ming Ansheng smiled as he retracted his hand. He turned his face away from her and sped off. They traveled towards the Ming¡¯s mansion. Su Yue fell silent, but she didn¡¯t show any hints of her getting cold feet. The car traveled smoothly towards the courtyard of the luxurious and huge mansion. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. ¡®Su Yue, don¡¯t be afraid. Your future mother-in-law likes you very much.¡¯ Ming Ansheng stopped the car outside the mansion and unfastened his seatbelt. He turned around to Su Yue and grinned. ¡°Do you need more time to prepare yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Although Su Yue shook her head, her voice was reduced to a whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t need to prepare myself. I don¡¯t need.¡± Anxiety was etched on her face. Ming Ansheng slumped back comfortably on his seat and studied the jittery-looking woman. He couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of teasing her once more. ¡°I¡¯m serious. You should prepare yourself. I¡¯ll wait.¡± Su Yue stared at Ming Ansheng unblinkingly, under the dim light in the car. She pressed her lips and whispered, ¡°How many of your family members are here today?¡± Her eyes darted furtively towards the door. The mansion was brightly lit and it seemed as though it was crowded with people. ¡®Did his whole family hear about her bringing Xiaojiao over? Perhaps his cousins, uncles, and aunts would all be inside.¡¯ Chapter 1845. The Truth is Revealed (part Ten) Ming Ansheng pressed his lips as he pondered. ¡°I think my oldest brother and sister-in-law are around. And Xiaomei.¡± Su Yue was relieved when she heard that it was just the three of them. She exhaled deeply and a thought struck her. ¡°Where is my luggage?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°It¡¯s inside.¡± Su Yue said, ¡°Get it for me.¡± ¡®Why would she need her luggage now?¡¯ Ming Ansheng stared at her, confused. ¡°Why do you need it?¡± ¡°The gift I got for your mom is inside.¡± Su Yue nudged Ming Ansheng to make him alight the car. She had taken a long time to choose the gift. Ming Ansheng chuckled. ¡°Can¡¯t we go in first before getting the gift for her?¡± He pursed his lips and he looked displeased. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you get me anything?¡± Su Yue ignored him and asked, ¡°This is my first visit. I can¡¯t go in empty-handed right?¡± Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Who says you came empty-handed?¡± ¡°I have nothing with me.¡± Su Yue gazed at Ming Ansheng. Someone came to pick up all her belongings and luggage at the airport. So, she had nothing with her when she went to meet Xuxu and the rest. She glanced at her surroundings and saw only her bag. Indeed, there was nothing else. ¡°Silly girl, the most precious gift is here.¡± Ming Ansheng gestured at the chubby girl sound asleep on her lap. Su Yue grinned sheepishly at him. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± What gift could be more precious than this girl? She was the most wonderful gift. ¡°Yueyue.¡± Su Yue was admiring Xiaojiao¡¯s face quietly when Wang Yuexiang¡¯s excited voice sounded from outside. Su Yue raised her head and the lady was beside the car. Without waiting for her to respond, Wang Yuexiang pulled the door. ¡°Where is Xiaojiao? Where is my granddaughter?¡± Her eyes darted everywhere looking for her granddaughter. Her precious darling Xiaojiao. She immediately lifted her up and carried her. ¡°Oh dear, finally my little chubby darling is here. Grandmother misses you dearly.¡± Madam Wang Yuexiang missed her granddaughter too much. And she could finally express her longing. Ming Ansheng stared at both of them and the corners of his mouth twitched. His mother had become more cheerful and lively as she aged. She was from a wealthy family and she was known to be refined, dignified, and elegant. His memories of her mother were always her elegant postures and refined manners. She had changed these past few years. She was so cheerful and seemed to have transformed into another person. But¡­ this was good. This was what he had always wanted. His family was finally reunited. After a long flight and journey back to the mansion, Xiaojiao was totally drained. Despite Wang Yuexiang pinching her cheeks, she didn¡¯t wake up. She merely muttered something under her breath. Ming Ansheng frowned when he saw that. ¡°Mother, Xiaojiao is sleeping, don¡¯t disturb her,¡± whispered Ming Ansheng to his mother. He stretched his hands to carry Xiaojiao. Su Yue stopped him and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. She should wake up soon because of jet lag.¡± Ming Ansheng retracted his hands and wound them around her waist. With a hint of jealousy, he protested, ¡°This isn¡¯t fair. You just want to make my mother happy. Usually, when Xiaojiao is asleep, you don¡¯t even allow me to wear slippers and walk around in the house.¡± Chapter 1846. The Truth is Revealed (part Eleven) ¡°When did I stop you from walking around in your slippers?¡± Su Yue raised her face and glared at Ming Ansheng. She blushed and her cheeks became hot. Afraid that Ming Ansheng would blurt something embarrassing again, she pinched him hard on his thigh as a warning. ¡°No¡­¡± Ming Ansheng paused dramatically as he grinned at Su Yue. Su Yue gritted her teeth and glowered at him. Her expression seemed to say: ¡®Continue if you dare.¡¯ ¡°Didn¡¯t you? I must have remembered it wrong.¡± Ming Ansheng chortled quietly. His laughter was so pretentious. Su Yue rolled her eyes and refused to talk to him. ¡°This lass is heavy.¡± Wang Yuexiang muttered as she peered at Xiaojiao in her arms. It had been a long while since she last carried a child, and the child¡¯s weight was a little too much for her. But she had no intention of putting her down for she still wanted to kiss her. She strode ahead as she touched Xiaojiao¡¯s buttocks and legs. She kept pecking Xiaojiao¡¯s cheeks with brimming affection. ¡°Such an adorable girl. Fair and tender.¡± She muttered under her breath about how much she adored this granddaughter of hers. She was absolutely unabashed and open about her fondness. ¡°Grandmother, do you not like me anymore now that you have my sister?¡± A green-eyed monster instantly appeared before her. Wang Yuexiang entered with Xiaojiao in her arms. Ming Beichen stormed towards her, looking angry. Wang Yuexiang was momentarily stunned, but she was quick to shake her head. ¡°No, I still like you.¡± She turned around and passed Xiaojiao to Ming Ansheng. She bent and fondly stroked Beibei¡¯s face. ¡°Your sister is still young. You need to protect and take care of her alright?¡± This was what little Ming Beichen wanted to hear. He puffed up his chest and nodded fervently. ¡°I got it. I will protect my sister in the future.¡± He was a boy and he was her older brother. He should be responsible for protecting his younger sister. ¡°Good.¡± Wang Yuexiang kissed Beibei¡¯s forehead before changing into her slippers. She took Xiaojiao back from Ming Ansheng. She walked towards the living room. Ming Ansheng opened the shoe cabinet and retrieved a pair of pink slippers. He placed it in front of Su Yue¡¯s feet. ¡°There you go.¡± Su Yue nodded, and she was just about to remove her shoes. Ming Beichen appeared in front of her as he waved happily at Su Yue. With a cheeky grin he said, ¡°Stepmother, it has been some time.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t know what to say¡­ ¡°Cheeky fellow. What did you call her?¡± Ming Ansheng jabbed Beibei¡¯s head gently and gave him an admonishing look. This fellow was doing it on purpose. ¡°Alright, I got it. You forgot about your son now that you have your wife. Hmph!¡± Beibei stuck out his tongue at Ming Ansheng before glancing at Su Yue. ¡°Mommy!¡± exclaimed Beibei cheekily. Su Yue flushed crimson as she gawked at Beibei¡¯s face. He reminded her of Meiduo. She was reminded of how Meiduo had pleaded with her to accept Beibei. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue muttered something inaudible in response. She flushed crimson again. ¡°In the future, you¡¯re my mommy.¡± Beibei wound his arms and hugged Su Yue. He was genuinely happy. This time, Su Yue knew that he was serious. She stretched her hand and tapped his back. Chapter 1847. The Truth is Revealed (part Twelve) Su Yue bent and gazed at him tenderly. This scene was what Ming Ansheng had been looking forward to seeing. He had been yearning for this day to arrive. His wishes and dreams had all come true. He was contented and thankful. ¡°In the future, you have to listen to your mommy,¡± Ming Ansheng instructed. He then gently stroked Beibei¡¯s head. He gazed into Beibei¡¯s eyes affectionately. ¡°I shall follow your order!¡± declared Beibei as he let go of Su Yue to straighten his back. He then bowed before Ming Ansheng. After changing into slippers, they entered the living room. Ming Beichen eagerly grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand. He rocked her hand back and forth and said, ¡°Mommy, there is a parent-teacher conference tomorrow. Grandmother will definitely be with my sister and Daddy is so busy at work. Can you attend?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t know what to say¡­ Was she back to attend his parent-teacher conference? This fellow really knew how to use ¡®resources¡¯ effectively. He already had something planned for her the minute she became his mother. Su Yue furrowed her eyebrows and was about to reject Ming Beichen when a man¡¯s voice interrupted her. ¡°Beibei, you have another parent-teacher conference?¡± Su Yue raised her head and saw a man wearing a blue shirt strolling towards them. He wore a pair of spectacles, and he had flashed a benign smile at Beibei. This man resembled someone familiar. She didn¡¯t even need to guess. Uncle Ming¡¯s older brother, Ming Anyu. Su Yue¡¯s face hardened and she tightened her grip on Beibei¡¯s hand. ¡°Yeah!¡± Beibei nodded and he boasted loudly, ¡°This parent-teacher conference is only for the top ten students in class.¡± Ming Anyu¡¯s eyes flickered happily as he walked to Beibei. He caressed his face and praised him. ¡°Beibei is really awesome. I¡¯m proud of you.¡± His eyes swept past Su Yue and he said to Beibei, ¡°Your mommy just got back. She should rest. If your daddy isn¡¯t free, I can go on his behalf.¡± Su Yue blurted before he could even form a sentence. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t need to rest. I can attend the parent-teacher conference. We don¡¯t want to trouble you,¡± said Su Yue as she smiled at Ming Anyu. She pulled Beibei closer to her quietly, with no one noticing. Her eyes gleamed with hostility as she looked at Ming Anyu. A streak of surprise flashed across Ming Anyu¡¯s eyes when he heard Su Yue. He peered at her and smiled. ¡°Su Yue, I am Beibei¡¯s¡­¡± Before he could finish his introduction, Su Yue interjected, ¡°I know. You¡¯re Beibei¡¯s uncle.¡± She pressed her lips and smiled brightly. Ming Anyu was startled but he nodded. ¡°Yeah, his uncle.¡± He looked away to hide his awkwardness. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I was thinking of visiting Beibei¡¯s school as well. I should familiarize myself with the directions, as I need to fetch him in the future,¡± Su Yue put her arm around Beibei, as though a deep bond between them had been forged. Ming Anyu smiled at her. ¡°Sure.¡± There was a subtle trace of disappointment in his tone. Su Yue flashed a fleeting smile and steered Beibei towards the couch. Xiaojiao was finally awake. Wang Yuexiang presented a tray of snacks to win her favor. She knew Xiaojiao well since all types of snacks were her favorites. Chapter 1848. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirteen) ¡°Look at this candy. You can blow the whistle to make a sound.¡± Wang Yuexiang waved a candy and showed it to Xiaojiao. The whistle made a shrill sound and it pierced through the silence. The toy thrilled Xiaojiao and she loved it. She extended her chubby hands and took the whistle candy from her grandmother. She blew on it first before popping the candy inside her mouth. They sat side by side on the couch. Xiaojiao¡¯s cheek was bulging with the candy inside her mouth, and she dangled her feet happily. Su Yue came forward and frowned when she saw the snacks and candies. ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s late and she can¡¯t eat too much.¡± Wang Yuexiang waved her hands to dismiss her concerns. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take note. Later I¡¯ll get her to brush her teeth. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Ming Ansheng, why is your wife still addressing me as Aunt?¡± Madam Wang frowned at Ming Ansheng as she threw him a question. Ming Ansheng bowed with an apologetic smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t teach her well. Tonight I will make sure to teach her properly.¡± He emphasized the word ¡®tonight¡¯ loudly. Su Yue¡¯s pretty little face instantly and literally turned crimson. She bowed her head and stole a glance at Ming Ansheng. She thought to herself, ¡®There is no way I¡¯m sleeping with him tonight.¡¯ The next moment, Ming Ansheng held her hand. He gripped it tightly as though he knew that Su Yue would struggle. He glanced at Wang Yuexiang and said, ¡°Mother, can you take care of Xiaojiao tonight?¡± Wang Yuexiang nodded casually. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then we will head upstairs.¡± Without further ado, Ming Ansheng immediately dragged Su Yue towards the staircase. Wang Yuexiang turned and yelled across the living room. ¡°Give me Xiaojiao¡¯s belongings. She can sleep with me from tonight onwards.¡± Su Yue halted her footsteps and cast Ming Ansheng¡¯s hand away. ¡°Xiaojiao won¡¯t be used to it,¡± protested Su Yue with a frown on her face. She had barely ended her sentence when Xiaojiao cried out, ¡°I want to sleep with Mommy!¡± ¡°Xiaojiao, I¡­¡± Wang Yuexiang hastily carried Xiaojiao and whispered in her ear. Xiaojiao suddenly changed her mind after her grandmother whispered to her. ¡°I sleep with grandmother.¡± She rubbed her eyes and smiled brightly. Su Yue insisted no more and clammed up. Someone was coming down from the staircase. Su Yue raised her head and saw a tiny figure rushing down. The girl was about Beibei¡¯s age, and she was tanned and lean. She had pretty features with long black hair. She wore a bright red t-shirt with a pair of white pants. She seemed to come down in a rush. She must be Uncle Ming¡¯s niece. Ming Anyu¡¯s daughter, Xiaomei. Su Yue gazed at the girl as she swept past them like a gust of wind. She didn¡¯t even pause to look at them. She had a target in sight and bolted for the couch. ¡°Grandmother! Is she our little sister?¡± The girl went to Wang Yuexiang and pointed at Xiaojiao. ¡°Yeah.¡± Wang Yuexiang smiled and pulled Xiaomei towards her. ¡°You have to play with her in the future, alright?¡± Chapter 1849. The Truth is Revealed (part Fourteen) The old lady gazed at Xiaomei with an affectionate smile. ¡°Hmph!¡± Xiaomei snorted loudly and threw Xiaojiao a scornful look. She haughtily raised her chin and quipped, ¡°I don¡¯t want to play with her.¡± Wang Yuexiang studied her expression, but her benign smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Why not?¡± Xiaomei replied, ¡°Grandmother won¡¯t love me anymore now that she is here. You will give everything to her.¡± The gleam in Wang Yuexiang¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment but she continued to smile at Xiaomei. She gently said, ¡°I won¡¯t. Grandmother will love you and your sister.¡± Xiaomei refused to believe her and she raised her voice. ¡°You¡¯re lying. I don¡¯t want her to stay in our house!¡± Su Yue was afraid that Xiaojiao might get affected, so she darted forward. But Ming Ansheng stopped her. She looked at Ming Ansheng with a puzzled look. Ming Ansheng smiled and consoled her, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Su Yue pressed her lips tightly and hung her head. Xiaomei was so young, and certainly she wouldn¡¯t bear a grudge against her. But obviously, someone had taught her to say that. ¡°Xiaomei, what are you doing?¡± Ming Anyu took a step forward as he stared at his daughter. He chided her softly. Xiaomei pursed her lips and her eyes glistened. ¡°Daddy, I don¡¯t want a sister. This is our house and I don¡¯t want her here.¡± Ming Anyu sternly lectured her, ¡°You are her older sister and we are a family. You have to take care of your younger sister.¡± She felt aggrieved. And it seemed as though her father didn¡¯t take her side. She rubbed her eyes and wailed loudly. She ran towards the stairs and shouted, ¡°All of you like her! No one likes me anymore!¡± Ming Ansheng tried to grab her, but he wasn¡¯t fast enough. After Xiaomei stormed up the stairs, Wang Yuexiang¡¯s face hardened. She glanced at Ming Anyu and spoke sternly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to reprimand you, but your wife is getting out of hand.¡± ¡°Mother, this matter¡­¡± Ming Anyu wanted to explain, but Wang Yuexiang cut across. ¡°Enough. We are not dumb. Tell her that our family is very simple. To me, three grandchildren aren¡¯t enough, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I am biased towards anyone. Tell her to stop creating trouble. If she continues, then both of you shouldn¡¯t come back that often. Leave Xiaomei with me.¡± Ming Anyu stepped forward with a smile and clung to Wang Yuexiang¡¯s arm. He mumbled, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be angry. I will tell her.¡± ¡°Alright, go and rest.¡± Wang Yuexiang threw Ming Anyu a disapproving look and nudged him. Su Yue studied Wang Yuexiang quietly and she was rather surprised. She was known to be gentle and refined and she was soft-spoken too. She didn¡¯t really raise her voice even when she was angry. Although she didn¡¯t exactly raise her voice earlier on, she sounded so stern and imposing. She was far more authoritative than what she had expected. She inched nearer to Ming Ansheng and whispered, ¡°Your mother is shrewd.¡± Ming Ansheng grinned. ¡°Even you could tell, how could she possibly not?¡± Was he implying that she was dumb? Su Yue glared at Ming Ansheng. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ming Ansheng shook his head and chuckled. ¡°Nothing. It means we should go up and rest soon.¡± He wound his arm around Su Yue¡¯s waist and led her upstairs. ¡­ After a shower, Ming Ansheng came out of the bathroom, with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Chapter 1850. The Truth is Revealed (part Fifteen) He rubbed his hair with a towel in his hand as he walked to the bed. Su Yue had already showered, and she wore a set of flowery pajamas. She was looking intently at her phone on the bed. Ming Ansheng walked to her and glanced at her phone. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Su Yue casually replied, ¡°I logged in to my QQ account to leave Bai Jing a message. I wonder if she is still using the same account.¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s expression instantly froze. He cast his towel aside and bent to take Su Yue¡¯s phone, before putting it on top of the bedside drawers. He pressed his palms on the bed, confining Su Yue between his arms. He teased her with a seductive grin. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be thinking of me right now?¡± Su Yue frowned. She looked sombre and forlorn. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, ¡°Uncle Ming. If your best friend¡ªmaybe my third brother¡ªdid something to disappoint you, will you forgive him and give him a chance?¡± ¡°It depends on the severity.¡± Ming Ansheng sat down next to Su Yue and wrapped his arms around her. Su Yue carried on, ¡°For example, he tried to steal your woman?¡± Ming Ansheng frowned and jabbed her head gently. ¡°Nonsense. My woman is his sister.¡± Su Yue also felt that her example was inappropriate. She shook her head and corrected herself. ¡°Lu Yinan then. What if he tries to steal your woman?¡± Ming Ansheng replied airily, ¡°I will definitely fall out with him.¡± He immediately turned and fell on top of Su Yue. He chided her lightly with a frown, ¡°It¡¯s late at night. Why are you harping on such trivial matters?¡± She knew that he was about to kiss her, so she hastily shoved him away. ¡°Stop it. Xiaojiao might come over at any time.¡± She glanced nervously at the door. Besides, they weren¡¯t the only ones in the house. Ming Ansheng ignored her protests and kissed her firmly. His kisses were gentle, passionate, and lingering. Suddenly, his phone rang and vibrated, and Su Yue received a rude shock. She pushed him with her might. ¡°Uncle Ming, your phone!¡± ¡®Who¡¯s that!¡¯ Young Master Ming, who was already submerged in this heated passion and desire, had an urge to bellow at the caller. He picked up his phone. The name on the screen¡­ Lu Yinan. He gnashed his teeth as he answered. ¡°It¡¯s late at night. Why aren¡¯t you sleeping with your hooligan! Why did you call to disturb me?¡± Young Master Ming¡¯s temper was much more mellow than Young Master Yan. If it was Young Master Yan, he would either mock at him or curse and swear. ¡°I¡¯m asking you. What have you all done to Zhou Shuang?¡± Young Master Lu interrogated him and he sounded vexed. His question puzzled Ming Ansheng. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What did I do to Zhou Shuang?¡± ¡°Why does she keep repeating that we are disgusting and wretched? She refused to sleep with me.¡± ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± Young Master Ming couldn¡¯t make head or tail of this situation. ¡°What did Yan Rusheng or you do to her?¡± ¡°Then you should call Yan Rusheng.¡± ¡°If I call that fellow at this time, wouldn¡¯t I be looking for trouble?¡± ¡°Lu Yinan, scram!¡± Ming Ansheng hung up in a huff and flung his phone away. F*ck! Lu Yinan chose to harass him because he had a better temper than Yan Rusheng. ¡­ Young Master Lu was irritated and annoyed when Ming Ansheng abruptly hung up. He opened the bathroom door. Zhou Shuang was lying in bed with her back facing her. He trod carefully across the room. Chapter 1851. The Truth is Revealed (part Sixteen) Lu Yinan stretched his neck to peek at Zhou Shuang¡¯s face. Zhou Shuang laid motionless, and she was breathing deeply. Lu Yinan bent and lowered his body. ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly turned her head and threw a murderous glare towards Lu Yinan. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes gleamed slyly and he collapsed on Zhou Shuang, crushing her with all his weight. He looked as though he had no intention of getting up. ¡°You scared me and my legs turned wobbly.¡± ¡°Lu Yinan, stop acting.¡± Zhou Shuang glared at Lu Yinan. She knew she couldn¡¯t push him away, so she balled her fists. And waved her fists threateningly. ¡°Shuang, what¡¯s the matter. Can you just tell me?¡± Despite Zhou Shuang¡¯s threats and protests, Lu Yinan refused to budge. He hugged her and coaxed her gently, ¡°Let¡¯s have a good talk. If you continue like this, I would be crippled soon.¡± He deliberately squirmed a little and pressed his body against her. A lewd and sly smile danced at the corners of his mouth. Zhou Shuang flushed and she averted her eyes from Lu Yinan. ¡°There is nothing to be said. I¡¯m rejecting pre-marital s*x.¡± She sounded unrelenting. She was blushing, obviously because of embarrassment. Her cheeks were rosy, and her pouty lips made her look adorable. Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t resist himself and landed a kiss on Zhou Shuang¡¯s cheek. He affectionately gazed at her and tucked her hair behind her ear. Then he brushed her hair tenderly and chuckled. ¡°We already have three children. What do you mean by pre-marital s*x? We are almost hitting the seven-year itch stage.¡± He sounded so gentle that it was bewitching her senses. His warm breath smelled of toothpaste and it tickled Zhou Shuang. She began to writhe uneasily, but she was determined to avoid Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s true. You must have had a hard time these years.¡± Were the last four years even counted? Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart pounded, and she clenched the bedsheets nervously. Lu Yinan nodded with a pitiful expression. ¡°Exactly. You tormented me and made me suffer.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyelashes trembled and her expression hardened. Lu Yinan grabbed her hand and hissed, ¡°I have a woman at home, but I couldn¡¯t use her to satisfy my needs. How callous and heartless of you.¡± He brought Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand and led it down his body. ¡°Help me pacify him.¡± Zhou Shuang touched something hard and rigid, and it made her body stiffen. Instinctively she wanted to retract her hand but Lu Yinan refused to let go of her hand. He clenched her hand and forced her to hold on to it. Zhou Shuang couldn¡¯t throw his hand off so she roared, ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re so gross! You¡¯re disgusting and lewd! All of you are perverts!¡± ¡®She said them again! It¡¯s enough!¡¯ Lu Yinan finally loosened his grip and sat up. He sat on top of Zhou Shuang¡¯s thighs and questioned her, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Without waiting for Zhou Shuang to answer, he pointed at her and snarled. ¡°Zhou Shuang, make yourself clear! Did anything happen between you, Ming Ansheng or Yan Rusheng? What happened exactly! Did you do something behind my back?¡± He had no choice but to coerce her. If he didn¡¯t resort to this, he had no idea when she would open up to him. ¡®Slap!¡¯ Lu Yinan had barely finished his last word when a loud and ringing slap landed on his face. Chapter 1852. The Truth is Revealed (part Seventeen) Lu Yinan was aware that Zhou Shuang would fly into a rage. But this was far from what he had expected¡­ it was more serious than he thought. ¡®F*ck, f*ck, f*ck!¡¯ His face was burning and a tight crease appeared in the middle of his eyebrows. ¡°Why did you slap me?¡± Although he used his palm to cover the side of his face, Zhou Shuang could still see the red finger marks on his face. Even her hand was stinging with pain, she could imagine his face¡­ Her heart ached for him and she chided herself for being so harsh. But it was already too late for her to feel sorry or to regret her actions. So she spun her face away from him. ¡°You deserved it for spewing nonsense.¡± Her voice grew soft because of guilt. It was clear that she knew she was wrong. She stole a glance at Lu Yinan. He covered the side of his face looking impassive. He eyed her silently. There was a trace of resentment in his eyes. Zhou Shuang¡¯s heart softened once more and she pouted. ¡°Hmph! I saw that,¡± softly muttered Zhou Shuang. ¡®She saw that?¡¯ Lu Yinan frowned in confusion. ¡°What did you see?¡± ¡°The obscene and dirty conversation you had with Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng.¡± Zhou Shuang puffed her cheeks in anger and she involuntarily flushed. ¡®Huh? Obscene and dirty conversation?¡¯ Young Master Lu continued to press his palm against his cheek as he mulled over quietly. He deliberated before asking carefully, ¡°Was it WeChat or¡­?¡± ¡®When did she see that conversation?¡¯ ¡®Oh yeah! That time!¡¯ Lu Yinan recalled that Zhou Shuang and Wen Xuxu were drunk that night. He went to the bar to look for her and brought her back to his apartment in the hospital. He went downstairs to get snacks for her and that was the time she used his laptop. She must have logged in to his WeChat account at that time. ¡°So all of you talked about it at other times too? How could you all discuss such stuff? All of you are¡­¡± Zhou Shuang pointed and spat at Lu Yinan. She couldn¡¯t find a word to describe them at that moment. ¡°You guys are wretched and lecherous and I¡¯m sure no one can surpass all of you. All of you will incur the Gods¡¯ wrath one day!¡± How could they share intimate experiences that belonged to a couple? And they discussed it so openly and competed against each other. All of them were bragging. So the reason was that she saw their conversation. Lu Yinan grinned cheekily at Zhou Shuang when he finally got the answer. Weren¡¯t they wretched and despicable? Zhou Shuang prodded Lu Yinan¡¯s head with all her strength. ¡°How dare you claim that I praised you? When did I ever say anything like that!¡± She couldn¡¯t take it lying down and she hissed. ¡°Huh? Lu Yinan, tell me. That time you forced yourself on me. When did I praise you? That day I was just like a log. I laid there¡­ motionless¡­¡± Oh, dear. Every time she began to blurt, she would spill everything that was on her mind¡ªand she spared nothing. Zhou Shuang covered her mouth and hung her head low. Lu Yinan teased her and prompted her. ¡°You laid there waiting for me?¡± He raised his eyebrows and his eyes sparkled in mischief. All the blood seemed to rush to Zhou Shuang¡¯s face in that split second. She waved her fists and landed punches on Lu Yinan¡¯s chest wildly. ¡°Lu Yinan, you¡¯re so atrocious and rotten. You¡¯re shameless!¡± She was bashful and she couldn¡¯t look him in the eye. Lu Yinan sat there and allowed Zhou Shuang to hit him. After some time, he raised his arms slowly and grabbed her wrists to stop her. The next moment, he pounced himself on her. When he was inches away from Zhou Shuang¡¯s lips, he gazed into her eyes with a tender and affectionate expression. Chapter 1853. The Truth is Revealed (part Eighteen) ¡°Alright, fine. I admit that I¡¯m shameless.¡± He grabbed Zhou Shuang¡¯s hand and slapped himself. He continued, ¡°Shuangshuang, then let¡¯s just chat under the blanket and do nothing else. Alright?¡± To get started, he needed to be in bed with her. If not, he wouldn¡¯t have any chance of getting what he wanted. ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Zhou Shuang sneered coldly, blatantly displaying her mistrust. Only a fool would believe him. How could she believe a man¡ªwho was consumed by desires¡ªthat he only wanted to chat with her in bed? Only Lu Yinan would use this bullshit to try to deceive her. ¡°I¡¯m serious. I swear.¡± Lu Yinan swore with three fingers as he stared intently at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Just a chat and nothing else,¡± repeated Lu Yinan solemnly. But his body began to stir once more. ¡°Lu Yinan, before I flare up, get out of my sight. Otherwise, I might cripple you by accident.¡± Zhou Shuang used her knee to bump against Lu Yinan¡¯s lower body as a warning. If he continued not to budge, she would exert her strength. ¡°Damn it. You rejected me when I¡¯m trying to be nice.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s patience was running thin, but his desires surged inside of him. He bit his lip and forced himself onto her. He crushed his lips against hers the next moment. Zhou Shuang tried to avoid him by pressing her hands against his chest. ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you doing!¡± Lu Yinan slyly grinned and hissed, ¡°Of course, you¡¯re my target. Can¡¯t you tell?¡± The bathrobes he was wearing came loose amidst their struggles. His muscular and sturdy chest was exposed, and he shrugged his shoulders. His bathrobe slipped off, and it had revealed a wonderful view for Zhou Shuang. Zhou Shuang glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare try anything¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when Lu Yinan bent his head. A thin layer of her pajamas separated them. He didn¡¯t use much strength and merely used his lips and teeth to brush against her skin. How could Zhou Shuang resist his advances? Her body seemed to have melted into a puddle. Lu Yinan used his teeth to tug at her collar and pulled it down. He patiently pulled it down until it exposed her chest. He was like a hungry beast who had starved for a long time. Zhou Shuang was startled to see how savage his expression was. ¡°No! Lu Yinan, you shameless fellow! Don¡¯t do this¡­¡± She was a little afraid and intimidated by him. When he forced himself on her before, he had tormented her the entire night. Until now, she still gets the shivers whenever she recalled such a memory. Lu Yinan gazed at Zhou Shuang¡¯s flushed cheeks and he smirked. ¡°You might resist me verbally, but your body is being truthful.¡± He used his fingers to pinch Zhou Shuang¡¯s chest. Then he raised his eyebrows, as though he had issued her a challenge. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Zhou Shuang let out a shriek since it was painful. ¡°Mommy! Mommy, what happened?¡± Someone pounded on the door. It was Yanyan and she yelled frantically from outside the room. ¡°Hurry¡ª¡± Zhou Shuang opened her mouth to answer, but Lu Yinan silenced her swiftly with his hand. She glared at him and protested with muffled sounds. Lu Yinan smiled at her before turning his head. He yelled, ¡°Yanyan, Daddy is putting a younger brother or sister into Mommy¡¯s belly.¡± Zhou Shuang was anxious and frustrated. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± This atrocious fellow could spew such nonsense to his daughter. Chapter 1854. The Truth is Revealed (part Nineteen) Outside the door. Yanyan heard Lu Yinan and she instantly stopped pounding. She turned around and saw First Lu walking towards her with his favorite Thomas the Train toy. Yanyan whispered in his ear, ¡°Brother, Daddy said that he is putting a baby inside Mommy¡¯s belly. Don¡¯t disturb them, okay?¡± Little Young Master Lu frowned. ¡°But why did Mommy scream?¡± Jiaojiao joined them at this moment. Their room was just next to Zhou Shuang¡¯s room. She overheard her siblings¡¯ conversation. ¡°Is Mommy in pain?¡± asked Jiaojiao anxiously. She continued and asked, ¡°Will she bleed?¡± ¡°When the baby comes out, it is very painful. Just like what we saw on TV.¡± Yanyan pouted and deliberated. ¡°But Mommy¡¯s belly isn¡¯t so big. I think the baby won¡¯t come so soon. So she shouldn¡¯t be in pain.¡± The little girl rattled on like a professor. Her siblings agreed with her and nodded. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother was in their room earlier on since she tried to put the girls to sleep. She trailed after them when they left the room. She heard snippets of their conversation, so she hastened her footsteps. She frowned at the triplets. ¡°What are the three of you rambling about?¡± She walked towards them and held the girls¡¯ hands. She led them away from Zhou Shuang¡¯s room. ¡°Shhh¡­¡± Yanyan hushed her with a finger as she tip-toed. She whispered, ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t be so loud. Daddy is putting a baby inside Mommy¡¯s belly.¡± As though they might frighten the baby off if they were too loud. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother furrowed her eyebrows and her face registered awkwardness. She glanced at Zhou Shuang¡¯s room. ¡°These two fellows are so careless. The children are at home.¡± She didn¡¯t deliberately raise her voice but Zhou Shuang, who was inside the room, heard her loud and clear. She shoved Lu Yinan. ¡°Your mother is reprimanding us. Get up now.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother was right. There were others in the family so they should be more discreet and careful. Zhou Shuang attempted to hoist herself up but was weighed down by the towering figure, who was nearly 1.9 meters. She had no chance of overpowering him. Lu Yinan pinned down her limbs, leaving only her head free. ¡°The old madam is actually overjoyed that this house would overflow with her grandchildren in no time.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless¡­ But he was actually right. His mother had often hinted them to have more children. She had already born three children. Shouldn¡¯t they be enough? ¡°Alright, stop resisting me. I swear that I will never discuss with Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng about our affairs ever again.¡± Lu Yinan bent and whispered in Zhou Shuang¡¯s ear. They were hardly gentle with each other. So his gentleness was exceedingly effective at this moment. Zhou Shuang retracted all her defenses and pursed her lips. She rolled her eyes and mumbled, ¡°That fellow, Yan Rusheng even told you all about the location and the positions he used.¡± The kitchen¡­ couch¡­ even the rooftop¡­ If she were to make love with him tonight, would he brag and boast about it to the rest of them? Lu Yinan sneered with contempt. ¡°I¡¯m not as shameless as him.¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes once more. ¡°Do you think you are a good man?¡± ¡°I swear in the name of my ¡®little brother¡¯. From today onwards, I will never divulge anything that happened in our bedroom.¡± Young Master Lu swore and promised her solemnly. Chapter 1855. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty) He looked so serious and solemn! ¡°Pfft!¡± Finally, Zhou Shuang burst into laughter and she covered her mouth. Lu Yinan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Funny?¡± ¡°Is it painful?¡± Zhou Shuang was sorry for slapping Lu Yinan as she stroked his face softly. It was still slightly red and swollen. She regretted her actions and her heart ached for him. Lu Yinan wrapped his hand with hers and shook his head gently. ¡°It¡¯s not painful. The slap isn¡¯t painful at all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already swollen.¡± Zhou Shuang put her arms around Lu Yinan¡¯s neck and pecked his cheek tenderly. This kiss was as sweet as honey and it seeped into Young Master Lu¡¯s heart. He beamed with a devious grin. ¡°Another part of my body is even more swollen.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Shuang chuckled with a playful grin. ¡°Then let me inspect it!¡± She put her arms around Lu Yinan¡¯s body and used all her might to flip around. She succeeded in lying on top of him. She straightened her back and sat on him. Her eyes wandered around his body, admiring his toned muscles and ripped arms. Her eyes shone with a hungry gleam that surpassed Lu Yinan¡¯s expression earlier on. She looked as though she wanted to devour him right now. She studied him from head to toe and finally reached what she was looking for. She scrutinized it closely and breathed, ¡°Hmmm, it is indeed quite swollen.¡± ¡°Shuangshuang¡­¡± Young Master Lu laid on the bed as he watched Zhou Shuang intently. His face was flushed and he bit his lip. He looked really seductive and provocative right now. It aroused Zhou Shuang¡¯s desires and she laid on top of him. ¡°You¡¯re such a seductive and coquettish fellow,¡± said Zhou Shuang as she gritted her teeth. ¡°Shuang!¡± Lu Yinan licked his lips and narrowed his eyes to bewitch and seduce her. Zhou Shuang¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Lu Yinan, what did you say?¡± She caressed Lu Yinan¡¯s body with her hand. ¡°It¡¯s so comfortable¡­¡± Young Master Lu exclaimed dramatically. His yells could cause a person¡¯s imagination to run wild if they stood outside the room. Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression darkened and Lu Yinan arched his back. He continued to exclaim, ¡°Shuang! Shuang! It can¡¯t get any more pleasurable than this.¡± He was literally an actor. Zhou Shuang glared at him, livid. ¡°Lu Yinan, don¡¯t be so despicable!¡± Lu Yinan grabbed her hand. ¡°Shuang, it¡¯s really comfortable. Don¡¯t stop.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. She hated his father for naming her Zhou Shuang! Why did he have to name her Shuang? [2. Shuang when read in Chinese means pleasurable or comfortable.] ¡®Shuang, shuang, shuang. She isn¡¯t comfortable at all, alright!¡¯ ¡­ Yan Rusheng had just sat down on the comfortable couch with a glass of wine. His phone lit up with a WeChat message. It was from the group chat with Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan. He had silenced the rest of the group chats. He glanced at the screen and saw a photo that Lu Yinan had sent. He clicked the screen and tapped on it. Lu Yinan sent a photo of a starry night sky. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®Are you planning to jump off the roof in the middle of the night?¡¯ He had indeed lived up to his reputation of being vicious and mean. Lu Yinan typed, ¡®I just finished making love. Taking a break now with a cigarette, as I stand against the breeze. Will try it again later.¡¯ Braggart! Yan Rusheng rolled his eyes at his phone. He was just about to reply when he received another message. ¡®Did you make love with yourself?¡¯ It was from Ming Ansheng. Lu Yinan sent another photo promptly. In the photo, he was wearing a bathrobe, with his chest exposed. There were dark and light marks on his chest. Chapter 1856. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty One) He typed, ¡®Did you see that?¡¯ Ming Ansheng asked, ¡®Is Zhou Shuang a woman? She is way too crazy.¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®I have never treated her as a woman.¡¯ He clicked on the photo to enlarge it, and he scrutinized the photo again. He was envious¡­ when he saw the marks on Lu Yinan¡¯s body. When would Wen Xuxu be able to go wild and do that to him one day? Young Master Yan felt a mixture of jealousy and envy when Young Master Lu replied with another message. ¡®You have no idea how initiative and passionate she was. I almost couldn¡¯t take it.¡¯ ¡®But the feeling is great.¡¯ Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered to reply to him. Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t help but retort. ¡®Don¡¯t be so gross and stop boasting. Who called me two hours ago, whining about how his woman refuses to sleep with him. Who was that? Who was that person?¡¯ Young Master Lu fell silent. After some time, he sent a message and changed the topic. ¡®Tomorrow night, meet at The First Wealth.¡¯ Yan Rusheng asked, ¡®Why? Are you missing Lulu from The First Wealth?¡¯ Lu Yinan typed, ¡®Change the venue to Beautiful Metropolis then.¡¯ Ming Ansheng asked, ¡®Treating us again?¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®Yeah, I¡¯m giving a treat tomorrow night.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Young Master Lu is feeling good these few days.¡¯ Lu Yinan replied, ¡®I have my Shuang with me, so I¡¯m feeling good every day.¡¯ Young Master Ming and Young Master Yan were too lazy to bother with him anymore. And the group chat fell silent. The cool breeze ruffled his hair and Lu Yinan felt a little chilly. He glanced at his phone, but there weren¡¯t any messages. ¡°These fellows are all jealous of me.¡± He muttered under his breath and was about to turn around. A familiar voice stopped him from moving. ¡°Really? Why should they be jealous of you?¡± She spoke in an eerie and intimidating tone. The smile on Lu Yinan¡¯s face froze and he met her eyes. It sent shivers down his spine and his body was rooted to the ground. ¡­ It was Flourish & Splendor¡¯s parent-teacher conference for the top ten students today. There was a meeting room allocated for every level. This was how wealthy the school was. It was Friday and there were only two lessons in the afternoon. The students could choose to do whatever they want after that. The parents arrived in groups. Those who came to attend the parent-teacher conference looked proud of their child¡¯s achievement. Almost all parents came today, instead of sending their butlers or housekeepers. Luxurious and branded cars filled the school car park in no time. The children recognized their parents¡¯ car as they rushed forward. For some, it had been a long time since they had last seen their parents. Beibei was waiting at the ground level, near the staircase. He quietly leaned against a marble pillar as he watched the students enter the school with their parents. His eyes darted to the car park, waiting in anticipation. ¡°Ming Beichen, didn¡¯t you say that your mommy is coming?¡± Suddenly, a girl of his age stood next to him. She asked with her chin raised smugly. Beibei lazily turned his face and threw her a long look. ¡°Yeah, my mommy will be here. Anyway, it isn¡¯t time for the parent-teacher conference yet.¡± He bent to peer at his watch. There were fifteen more minutes before the parent-teacher conference. ¡®Mommy said that she would come. So she definitely would.¡¯ Chapter 1857. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Two) He glanced ahead towards the school entrance. Branded cars in a variety of colors streamed in slowly. Most of the parents had arrived in the past five minutes. Beibei peered at his feet, looking despondent. He stole a quick glance at his watch and the corners of his mouth sank. Ten more minutes to the parent-teacher conference. Would she be here? ¡°Ming Beichen, you¡¯re a liar. How could you possibly have a mother?¡± The girl interrupted his thoughts again. Even though most of his classmates¡¯ parents didn¡¯t attend the previous parent-teacher conferences, they would personally at least send their children to school during the first week. At a prestigious school like this, the children would secretly compete with their friends by comparing their parents. On the first day of school, it was a spectacular scene when all the branded cars convened. Ming Ansheng¡¯s schedule was usually pretty hectic. Although he came on the first day, he left after going to the office. He had only attended one parent-teacher conference. He was thrust into the limelight since everyone recognized him. He had appeared on TV and magazines. And it soon traveled to the entire school that Ming Beichen didn¡¯t have a mother. Although he feigned nonchalance whenever others gossiped behind his back, he felt inferior and dejected deep down. He turned his head and glared at the girl. ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I don¡¯t care even if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± He turned around and marched towards the staircase. His back was straight and stiff as he walked. When he reached the staircase, he rushed into the elevator. The girl yelled after him, ¡°Liar! You don¡¯t have a mother! How can you lie to us that you have a mother? We have never seen her before!¡± Beibei was unhappy when he heard her, and he covered his ears. He turned around and bolted for the toilets. ¡®Su Yue is a liar! She is a bad stepmother! She broke her promise!¡¯ He entered a cubicle and locked it after squatting down. ¡­ ¡°Ming Beichen, is that really your mother?¡± Beibei finally came out of the toilet after a long time. He splashed his face with water and his face was still dripping with droplets when he came out. As he walked, he wiped the water away with his sleeves. His eyes were red and puffy. The girl who had labeled him as a liar earlier on ran towards him. She gestured to the upper level as she spoke. ¡®His mother?¡¯ Beibei was confounded for a moment that he couldn¡¯t comprehend what she was saying. The girl eyed the dazed-looking Ming Beichen with suspicion. ¡°That pretty sister said that she is your mommy. Is that true?¡± Pretty sister? Beibei¡¯s eyes literally sparkled at that moment. ¡°Yeah, she is my mommy!¡± He strode eagerly towards the third level. The parent-teacher conference was held on the third level. He gripped the railing as he climbed the stairs. The girl yelled as she tried to catch her breath. ¡°Ming Beichen! Wait for me! Why are you running so quickly?¡± Beibei ran upstairs without stopping at all. He ran to the meeting room and stopped outside the entrance. He saw some of his friends from his class and the rest were from the other classes. Everyone turned their attention to Ming Beichen and they smiled at him. Someone spoke up. ¡°Ming Beichen, is that really your mother?¡± A boy pointed to a pretty woman with a long ponytail wearing a red-checkered coat. Beibei didn¡¯t answer and simply parted the crowd. He caught a glimpse of Su Yue and exclaimed, ¡°Mommy!¡± His voice echoed clearly around the room. He was visibly emotional and excited at the sight of her. Chapter 1858. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Three) All the parents in the meeting room turned to Beibei before looking at Su Yue. Su Yue slightly blushed as she gazed at Beibei. After a second, she nodded slowly. Beibei beamed brightly at her and turned around with a smug grin at his classmates. He sounded confident. ¡°How could I lie about my mommy?¡± He may have admitted that Su Yue was his mother, but his classmates were still rather doubtful. ¡°Are you lying? Your mommy is so pretty.¡± Beibei frowned and pointed to his own face. ¡°Am I not good-looking?¡± There was silence. Indeed, Beibei was known for being good-looking and no one could deny it. He may not be the most good-looking one in school, but he was definitely the most handsome among his peers. He was well-known and popular among his peers because of his outstanding grades and looks. ¡°I don¡¯t believe she is your mommy. She looks more like your sister.¡± Suddenly, someone expressed her doubt. Her voice cut across, bright and sharp. It belonged to the girl who had followed Beibei earlier on. The girl¡¯s face was perfectly oval-shaped, and she had pretty almond-shaped eyes. She looked exceedingly bright and shrewd. ¡°My mommy maintains herself well.¡± Beibei haughtily raised his chin as he sneered at the girl. ¡°Xia Qingluo, your mommy is not as pretty as mine. Are you jealous?¡± He surveyed all the mothers and indeed, Su Yue was the prettiest and youngest among them all. Finally, he could walk with his head held high. Xia Qingluo retorted, ¡°Who said that! My mommy is beautiful and she is a famous director! What does your mommy work as?¡± She snorted coldly and her eyes darted around the meeting room. Her eyes landed on the lady in a white shirt who stood next to Su Yue. She seemed to be in her late twenties and she looked delicate and refined. Xia Qingluo and the lady looked alike. Their argument caught the attention of everyone in the meeting room. So everyone averted their gaze to Beibei, Xia Qingluo, Su Yue, and Xia Qingluo¡¯s mother. Su Yue turned to glance at the lady beside her. She was startled when she saw her face. The lady turned her face at that moment too and their eyes met. She smiled and said, ¡°She is just spewing nonsense.¡± Her voice matched her looks, gentle and soft. Su Yue pressed her lips and shook her head. ¡°No, you¡¯re indeed very beautiful,¡± replied Su Yue truthfully with a smile. The lady smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Any woman would pale in comparison next to you.¡± She sounded earnest and honest too. Su Yue felt awkward, so she changed the topic. ¡°I love the movie ¡®Childhood Lovers¡¯ that you directed.¡± It startled the woman. ¡°You watched it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the famous director Xia Zimo,¡± said Su Yue softly. ¡°Other than the movie you adapted based on your mother¡¯s book, I read the book as well.¡± Xia Zimo nodded curtly. ¡°It¡¯s my honor.¡± Both of them smiled. Most of the attendees were mothers. Only a handful of the fathers came. The rest of the women were clad in branded clothing and they carried expensive handbags. But these two mothers sitting in the front row had beat them hands down, based on looks. After an hour, the parent-teacher conference ended. As all the students were the top scorers, the teachers only focused on their successes and achievements. After the meeting ended, the parents streamed out of the room one after another. Su Yue trailed behind slowly. Chapter 1859. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Four) Beibei rushed forward. ¡°Mommy!¡± He spread his arms and embraced Su Yue excitedly. Su Yue couldn¡¯t bear to reject his hug, so she hugged his shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Both of them followed the crowd towards the exit. Suddenly, a tiny figure sprang out and blocked their path. ¡°Pretty sister, are you really Ming Beichen¡¯s mother?¡± Xia Qingluo raised her head as she studied Su Yue. Her eyes gleamed brightly and innocently. ¡°Qingluo, don¡¯t be so rude,¡± admonished Xia Zimo in a soft tone of voice before she hurried forward to pull her daughter away. Su Yue gently shook her head as she bent her back. With a smile, she asked, ¡°Do you think otherwise?¡± ¡°How can Ming Beichen¡¯s mommy be younger than my mommy?¡± Xia Qingluo peered at Su Yue in disbelief. Her eyes were full of innocence and purity. So no matter how blunt or direct she was, her remarks didn¡¯t offend anyone. Su Yue smiled. ¡°Your mommy is very young too.¡± Xia Zimo glanced at Xia Qingluo. ¡°Is mommy very old?¡± Xia Qingluo denied it. ¡°No, you¡¯re just a little older than Ming Beichen¡¯s mommy.¡± Su Yue and Xia Zimo chortled when they heard the girl¡¯s response. The rest of the parents were still at the door. Some of them hadn¡¯t seen their child in a long time and they were all busy chatting. Beibei and Xia Qingluo had attracted attention since they were the top two students in their year. To top it off, their mothers were so beautiful and young. It made the rest of their classmates green with envy. When they heard them laughing and chatting, the rest of them secretly rolled their eyes. ¡°Ming Beichen, she must be your stepmother.¡± Suddenly, a boy strode to Beibei and jeered loudly. Beibei straightened his back and snapped, ¡°She is my birth mother.¡± He didn¡¯t even flinch when he told a lie, as though he wasn¡¯t guilty at all. The boy sneered. ¡°Continue to brag. Your birth mother is already dead.¡± Su Yue went pale. Even Xia Zimo¡¯s expression hardened. This boy was too rude and insulting. ¡°How could you say something so rude?¡± Su Yue glared at the boy as she lectured him. She pulled Beibei towards her and put her arms around him to protect him. The boy¡¯s mother stepped forward. She was in her mid-thirties, and she had long voluminous curls. She reached her son and put her hand on her son¡¯s shoulder. With a fake smile, she said, ¡°Sorry. Children speak without thinking, but they always speak the truth.¡± There wasn¡¯t an ounce of sincerity in her apology at all. ¡®Children always speak the truth, what a scheming woman!¡¯ Su Yue sneered quietly to herself, and she retaliated with sarcasm. ¡°That¡¯s true. He had learned all this under your excellent guidance.¡± The boy¡¯s mother was seething with anger when she heard this. She pulled her son and snapped, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She turned around and was about to leave with her son. The boy took a step but then halted. He taunted Ming Beichen once more. ¡°She must be your stepmother. Your father found a young mistress.¡± Anger leapt inside of Beibei and he clenched his fists. He stepped forward to punch the boy. Before he could punch him, a tiny figure blocked his way. ¡°Xiaojun, if you dare to say another word, I will punch you.¡± Xia Qingluo pointed at the boy¡¯s nose as she glared at him. Chapter 1860. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Five) Xia Zimo stood there gazing at her daughter, and she looked as though she had no intention of holding her back. The boy¡¯s mother was livid when she heard what Xia Qingluo said. But she glanced at Su Yue and Xia Zimo and remained mum. She pulled her son and nudged him. ¡°Apologize to your classmate and his mother.¡± The boy was reluctant to, and he dragged his feet unwillingly. Before he could speak, Su Yue cut across and graciously said, ¡°Forget it, he is just a child who speaks his mind.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± The boy¡¯s mother looked apologetic. Although she was rather unwilling, she couldn¡¯t put off the apology any longer. Su Yue smiled and put her arm lightly around Beibei¡¯s shoulders. She exuded elegance and graciousness. The way Su Yue carried herself had already beaten the woman hands down. The boy¡¯s mother was angry and embarrassed. However, she still needed to present herself well as she was from a prestigious family. In a public place like where they were, she needed to act refined and presentable. What she could do now was to contain her anger. She held her son¡¯s hand and marched off stiffly. Su Yue spoke to Beibei, ¡°Beibei, say goodbye to your classmate. We need to go.¡± Beibei refused. ¡°I don¡¯t want to say bye to Xia Qingluo.¡± Su Yue frowned and chided him softly. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude.¡± Beibei pouted and mumbled reluctantly to Xia Qingluo. Then he turned to Xia Zimo and politely bowed his head. Xia Zimo smiled at him and waved. ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°Hello, Aunt. My name is Xia Qingluo. I am Ming Beichen¡¯s classmate and I sit beside him in class.¡± Xia Qingluo raised her head as she introduced herself to Su Yue. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, and she sounded confident. Su Yue smiled as she asked, ¡°You must be very smart too?¡± Although she was asking, her tone was certain. She knew that the school had arranged their seats according to their grades. Beibei was the top student, so for her to sit next to him, would mean that she was one of the top students too. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m only a little behind Ming Beichen.¡± Xia Qingluo stretched her hand and used two fingers to express herself too. This girl was bright, cheerful, and pleasant. Su Yue smiled and Xia Qingluo interjected, ¡°But my daddy said that a woman¡¯s virtue is to have no talent. So I need to be less intelligent than Ming Beichen.¡± Su Yue casually probed, ¡°Why?¡± Xia Qingluo rattled on, ¡°In the future, I¡¯m going to marry Ming Beichen. My grandmother says that a woman cannot be more capable than her husband. A woman has to consider a man¡¯s ego and pride.¡± She looked and sounded serious. Su Yue couldn¡¯t suppress a grin. She was so young, and yet she had planned so far ahead. She had already decided who she wanted to marry. Wow¡­ She pressed her lips and was at a loss for words. Xia Zimo hurriedly pulled her daughter away and prodded her head. ¡°Xia Qingluo, can you be any more brazen?¡± Beibei, who had turned red, chimed in. ¡°Yeah! Who wants to marry you!¡± He turned even redder, and he avoided Xia Qingluo¡¯s exquisite little face. Xia Qingluo raised her chin and replied smugly, ¡°You are first and I¡¯m the second top student. I¡¯m the only one who is worthy of you alright?¡± Ming Beichen sneered coldly and muttered under his breath, ¡°If you can stay second forever.¡± Chapter 1861. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Six) He hung his head and unconsciously kicked the ground as he muttered. Xia Qingluo overheard him and took him for his word. She replied confidently, ¡°If you stay in the first place forever, I will be the second.¡± Ming Beichen raised his head. ¡°Whoever who can¡¯t do that will be a dog.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Xia Qingluo nodded and she stared right into Beibei¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you can do that, you can be my boyfriend.¡± She extended her right hand and raised her little finger. ¡°Pinky promise. You can¡¯t renege on the promise.¡± Su Yue and Xia Zimo watched the two little fellows promising each other and their mouths curled with a smile. How wonderful and touching¡­ ¡°It¡¯s settled.¡± Xia Qingluo retracted her hand and smiled at Su Yue and her mother. ¡°Both my mommy and mother-in-law are so pretty.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t know what to say¡­ It rendered Xia Zimo speechless¡­ Were these two fellows acting out a drama about childhood sweethearts? After bidding Xia Qingluo goodbye, Su Yue and Beibei went to the car. Ming Ansheng bought a new Porsche for Su Yue and hired a chauffeur for her. ¡°Su Yue stepmom, from today onwards, you will be my real mommy. Ignore the rude fellow just now.¡± After the car left the school, Beibei inched nearer to Su Yue and hugged her tightly. ¡°He is just jealous that you are prettier than his mother.¡± Su Yue almost forgot all about the incident. What harsh or unkind words hasn¡¯t she heard before? She had weathered storms of all kinds. Why would she take a child¡¯s words to heart? She stretched her hand and gently caressed Beibei¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯ve learned how to console others.¡± She bent and studied his face intently as he snuggled close to her. He looked so innocent and had beautiful features. He really inherited Meiduo¡¯s looks. Su Yue joked, ¡°I think I can¡¯t treat you as a child anymore. You already have a girlfriend.¡± Beibei flushed crimson and he furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! Xia Qingluo is not my girlfriend. She is so noisy and irritating.¡± Su Yue ceased her jokes and smiled. ¡°She follows her mother¡¯s surname?¡± Beibei nodded. ¡°Yeah. Her brother follows her dad¡¯s surname.¡± At the mention of Xia Qingluo, Beibei rambled on, ¡°Her grandfather is an extraordinary and amazing man. He is a high-ranking military general. Her dad is a lieutenant commander and he wears the army uniform. He is very handsome and cool.¡± Beibei¡¯s eyes sparkled as he talked about soldiers. He seemed fascinated and in awe. Su Yue gazed at him and raised her eyebrows. ¡°Is he more handsome than your daddy?¡± Beibei beamed sheepishly. ¡°Daddy is still a little more handsome.¡± To him, his daddy was the world¡¯s most handsome man. No one else could win him. The car sped on the roads and after a while, Beibei glanced out of the window. He didn¡¯t recognize the roads and he looked puzzled. ¡°Mommy, aren¡¯t we going home?¡± ¡°Nope. Your Uncle Lu is giving us a treat later,¡± answered Su Yue. ¡°How about Xiaojiao?¡± He didn¡¯t forget about his sister. He reminded Su Yue of her brother Su Yan. For the first time, she felt that having such a sensible and grown-up son was a blessing. Most importantly, he doted on Xiaojiao. It was blissful to have a brother who loved his younger sister. Chapter 1862. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Seven) Su Yue couldn¡¯t help but put her arms around Beibei. ¡°Your daddy will bring her there.¡± From now on, he would be her and Uncle Ming¡¯s son. ¡­ Young Master Lu, who had just given everyone a treat yesterday, had yet again invited everyone to Beautiful Metropolis Hotel. As he requested for all the children to be present, everyone sensed that it was going to be a special occasion. As though something special was happening today. Outside the hotel was a huge and spectacular fountain. Everyone drove there and stopped outside the hotel premise where the valets were waiting. Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu got down the car with their twins. A black car stopped behind them. A towering figure got off and opened the car door. He bent to unfasten the seatbelt of the baby seat before carrying the little girl. ¡°Xiaojiao!¡± Xuxu held Yan Wenxin¡¯s hand as she strode towards Xiaojiao. ¡°Aunt,¡± Xiaojiao called Xuxu sweetly. She then turned her attention to Wenxin. ¡°Sister.¡± She struggled to get down on her feet. Ming Ansheng had to put her down. Yan Wenxin immediately held her hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and find my brother.¡± Ming Ansheng withdrew his gaze when he saw Wenxin holding Xiaojiao¡¯s hand. ¡°What is Lu Yinan up to?¡± asked Ming Ansheng as he glanced at Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng shrugged, looking nonchalant. ¡°Who knows?¡± Ming Ansheng furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°Could it be his wedding?¡± Xuxu exclaimed, ¡°How could he plan it so half-heartedly! If it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll take Shuang away.¡± That fellow hurt Zhou Shuang so badly. If he didn¡¯t hold a proper wedding and ceremony for her, she would never forgive him. How could she let him off so easily? She still hasn¡¯t forgiven him for what happened during Zhou Shuang¡¯s harrowing and life-threatening childbirth. Ming Ansheng smiled at Xuxu. ¡°Don¡¯t be so harsh on Lu Yinan. He doesn¡¯t have it easy either.¡± The few of them chatted away when a brand new Porsche came to a gradual halt next to them. Su Yue and Beibei got off. ¡°Uncle Yan, Aunt Xuxu.¡± Beibei addressed them politely with a warm smile. Xuxu acknowledged him with a smile. ¡°You came after school ended?¡± Beibei and Su Yue strolled towards them. A woman and a boy, with just a small difference in height. But they seemed so harmonious and close. Xuxu was relieved. ¡°Brother.¡± Xiaojiao saw Beibei and happily waved at him. ¡°Xiaojiao!¡± Beibei ran towards her. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± They had already attracted the attention of the hotel guests, so Xuxu suggested for them to head inside. The children ran around in the spacious and luxurious lobby. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng strode towards the reception area with couches. ¡°Third Brother, Third sister-in-law. Brother Ansheng.¡± A familiar voice belonging to a woman stopped them in their tracks. ¡°Yishan.¡± Xuxu saw Yishan and she smiled and waved. Lu Yishan glanced at Xuxu before she swiftly sized up Su Yue. ¡°Is this Brother Ansheng¡¯s wife?¡± Su Yue blushed crimson and nodded bashfully. Lu Yishan grinned and glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°Brother Ansheng, your wife is very shy.¡± Chapter 1863. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Eight) Ming Ansheng smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s good that you know. Stop teasing her.¡± He frowned and glanced at Lu Yishan. ¡°What is your brother up to?¡± Lu Yishan casually shrugged her shoulders too. ¡°I have no idea. He informed the entire family.¡± It seemed like she was kept in the dark as well.¡± ¡°What plot is that fellow hatching?¡± Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng eyed each other for they were baffled as well. This was intriguing. Lu Yinan always called both of them whenever he was troubled or feeling upset, even if it meant disturbing them late in the night. Lu Yinan was someone who couldn¡¯t keep secrets to himself. So what was he up to this time around? Xuxu saw the rest of the Lu family ambling in and she gazed at them absentmindedly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that he is thinking of marrying Zhou Shuang today by inviting everyone here?¡± If that was the case, Zhou Shuang would be kept in the dark as well. There was no way she would hide it from her. Zhou Shuang had never ever hidden anything from her, and definitely not today, not her wedding. And her parents were still in Country M, how could they not attend their daughter¡¯s wedding? Lu Yishan pressed her lips and frowned to herself. ¡°No way. If he plans his wedding so sloppily, and in such a slipshod manner, I won¡¯t let my sister-in-law marry him.¡± Wen Xuxu grinned at her in approval. ¡°Excellent words from you. Same sentiments.¡± Lu Yinan¡¯s mother entered through the revolving doors with the triplets in tow. The triplets¡¯ eyes sparkled when they saw Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing. The next second, they bolted for their respective targets. ¡°Brother Nuoxing!¡± Yanyan yelled as she sprinted towards him. Jiaojiao ran towards Yan Nuoxing as well. But she was more reserved and bashful as compared to Yanyan. Yanyan halted her footsteps when she was a few steps from Nuoxing. She grabbed Jiaojiao and said, ¡°Brother Nuoxing is my boyfriend. You can¡¯t play with him.¡± She raised her chin and eyed Jiaojiao with animosity. Jiaojiao wasn¡¯t as loud as her sister. She inflated her cheeks and quipped, ¡°But I want to play with Brother Nuoxing too.¡± Tsk. Were they acting a drama about how a pair of sisters were torn apart by a guy they liked? Everyone watched the sisters in amusement, waiting to see how the story would unfold. At the same time, they were ready to pull them apart if they were to fight. Yanyan continued with her overbearing attitude. ¡°Brother Nuoxing is mine. I am going to marry him in the future. You cannot play with him.¡± She pulled Jiaojiao back and stood in between her and Yan Nuoxing. But before she could utter another word, Yan Nuoxing reached for Jiaojiao. ¡°Jiaojiao, let¡¯s play together.¡± Third Lu was louder and bossier. So, little Young Master Yan preferred to play with Second Lu. The aloof and arrogant young master paired with the quiet and docile maiden. What a harmonious combination. Everyone anxiously eyed them when Yan Nuoxing chose Jiaojiao. Was little Young Master Yan trying to turn the sisters against each other? Everyone glanced at Yanyan with bated breath. She seemed dazed and stunned, and she was quiet. The next moment, the hall erupted with her piercing shrieks and wails. ¡°Wahhh¡­¡± Third Lu howled at the top of her lungs as she yelled, ¡°Bad sister! Bad brother!¡± Chapter 1864. The Truth is Revealed (part Twenty Nine) All of them were speechless. ¡°Yanyan, don¡¯t cry.¡± Her grandmother darted forward to coax her. She couldn¡¯t blame any of them, as it wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s fault. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother bent and squatted in front of Yanyan. She took out tissues to wipe Yanyan¡¯s tears away but Yanyan snatched it away. Then she clumsily mopped her entire face. She crushed the tissues in her hands, and she glared at Jiaojiao and little Young Master Yan, whose heads were bowed as they played games on a tablet. Her older sister snatched her future husband. Yanyan was furious! How could she take it lying down? The youngest mistress of the Lu family was prideful and loved by everyone. She was disgruntled and peeved. ¡°Hmph! I shall look for Brother Beibei.¡± Third Lu snorted loudly to get their attention. She stormed towards Beibei in a huff. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if Yan Nuoxing doesn¡¯t like me. So many people love me!¡¯ thought Third Lu to herself. The rest of the children were playing with some magnetic blocks that Xiaojiao had brought. Beibei put Xiaojiao on his lap, while Yan Wenxin sat next to him. Little Young Master Lu sat next to Wenxin and they seemed engrossed. Yanyan walked to them and sat down across Beibei. ¡°Brother Beibei.¡± Beibei threw a fleeting glance at her and muttered in response. Then he continued to build and stack blocks with Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao glanced at Yanyan and her eyes wandered to Jiaojiao. ¡°Sister Yanyan, that girl looks like you.¡± She pointed to Jiaojiao as she told Yanyan. ¡°My brother and Jiaojiao and I are triplets. Naturally, we look the same.¡± Yanyan rested her chin on her hands and stuck out her tongue. She watched little Young Master Yan with Second Lu and her eyes blazed with jealousy. ¡°I don¡¯t want to look the same as her,¡± Yanyan angrily hissed. ¡®What kind of sister is she! How could she steal my boyfriend?¡¯ Xiaojiao overlooked Yanyan¡¯s remarks and blinked. ¡°What is triplets?¡± asked Xiaojiao, puzzled. She knew about twins, but no one told her about triplets. Without waiting for Yanyan to reply, Beibei smiled and replied, ¡°Triplets means there is one more than twins. Mommy¡¯s belly has three babies.¡± ¡°Three?¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s mouth hung wide open as she stared at Yanyan. ¡°Your mommy has three babies?¡± She only met the Lu triplets a few times, and she was still very young at that time. Furthermore, she was in Country M for the past few months, so she didn¡¯t have any recollection of the triplets. She made many new friends in her school, and so many things had happened. She couldn¡¯t really remember any of this. She could only remember Yanyan because she played with her. ¡°Yeah. My mommy is awesome, right?¡± Yanyan smirked proudly. Xiaojiao nodded vigorously. ¡°She is awesome. My mommy only has me.¡± She looked at little Young Master Lu and her eyes darted to Jiaojiao again. Then she turned to Yanyan with envy in her eyes. They all looked alike and they were brother and sisters. How awesome. Third Lu sneered in disdain and contempt. ¡°Your daddy is too weak.¡± Young Master Ming overheard Third Lu¡¯s scathing remarks and his expression froze. He maliciously eyed Yanyan. This lass had the same personality as Lu Yinan. Every time they opened their mouths, he felt like punching them. Chapter 1865. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty) But the little lass couldn¡¯t have come up with this herself. Lu Yinan must¡¯ve planted the thought in her. How else would the girl¡ªwho couldn¡¯t even pronounce her words properly¡ªcome up with such logic? Kids these days only knew that they were born out of their mother¡¯s womb. Most of them didn¡¯t know that their fathers had a part to play as well. Xiaojiao was one of them. She shook her head naively. She sincerely said to Yanyan, ¡°No, my mommy gave birth to me.¡± Yanyan pouted and replied, ¡°My daddy said that your daddy is too weak.¡± ¡®As expected!¡¯ ¡®Lu Yinan, you imbecile!¡¯ Ming Ansheng clenched his fists, wishing he could rush over to the little girl and swoop her up. He interrogated, ¡°How could your Daddy say that?¡± ¡°Lu Yinan was too mean. How could he bad-mouth you in front of a child?¡± Yan Rusheng commented, although there was hidden mockery in his tone. He seemed to chide Lu Yinan, but in actual fact, he was on Lu Yinan¡¯s side. He was mocking him! Ming Ansheng turned around and looked at him with a cold gleam in his eyes. Before he could say anything, Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°In Yanyan¡¯s eyes, you¡¯ve always been tall and strong.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He was about to blow up when Young Master Yan continued, ¡°My First Uncle knows that Yueyue is back in town and is planning on coming to the capital city. He wants to bring her to stay at Su Yan¡¯s place.¡± His tone was casual with underlying malicious intent. Ming Ansheng sighed. He hurriedly greeted, ¡°Third Brother.¡± He refused to look at Yan Rusheng, in fear that he wouldn¡¯t be able to refrain from punching him in the face. Yan Rusheng frowned. He drew closer to Ming Ansheng and asked, ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Third Brother!¡± Ming Ansheng yelled into his ear. His words reverberated throughout the room and attracted the attention of those around. Wen Xuxu and Su Yue could guess what had happened the moment they saw the blush on Ming Ansheng¡¯s face. Yan Rusheng must¡¯ve threatened him. He would only call Yan Rusheng ¡®Third Brother¡¯ when the latter threatened him with something regarding Su Yue. He was so clear in his greeting earlier. Obviously, he was threatened. It didn¡¯t surprise Wen Xuxu, but Su Yue¡¯s heart ached for her husband. She glared at Yan Rusheng, and she complained to Xuxu, ¡°My third brother is too much. He¡¯s always deriving his happiness from someone else¡¯s misery.¡± Wen Xuxu knocked her head. ¡°You lass, you¡¯re siding with him before you even get married.¡± Although, she must admit that Yan Rusheng went overboard sometimes. But she loved his despicable nature and his smug look whenever he got the better of someone. Then she looked at Su Yue and chided, ¡°He¡¯s your third brother¡ªthat¡¯s a fact. No matter who you marry, or who your husband is, he will have to call him ¡®third brother¡¯.¡± Su Yue stuck out her tongue at her. ¡°You still love my third brother the most. You¡¯re biased.¡± Wen Xuxu snorted and tilted her chin upwards. ¡°You love your husband the most, too.¡± Then she glanced at Yan Rusheng. He was smiling from ear to ear. She felt contented whenever she saw that smug look on his face. Chapter 1866. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-One) Su Yue denied, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± She pouted and glanced at Ming Ansheng. ¡°What was that for? You almost burst my eardrums.¡± Yan Rusheng rubbed his ear. Unhappiness was painted all over his face. Ming Ansheng was speechless. ¡®Fine, Yan Rusheng. Be that way. Just you wait till your sister becomes my official spouse.¡¯ Yan Rusheng smiled. ¡°We don¡¯t need too many betrothal gifts. I heard that Bright Vision just won the bid for a piece of land, that is¡­¡± He paused and pretended to be deep in thought, before continuing, ¡°¡­ that is, a piece of land in the Jinghe development district. The land you bought with a hundred million dollars. Su Yan and I have our eyes on that piece of land. Flourish & Prosper has been planning on building a new factory, but we haven¡¯t been able to find a suitable piece of land.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Ming Ansheng clenched his fists. ¡®Endure. A little impatience will spoil great plans.¡¯ He sincerely believed that Yan Rusheng had ways to make Su Yue move out of their house. Because of Grandmother Wang¡¯s death, the two elders in the Yan family were not very contented with him being their son-in-law. If Yan Rusheng were to make matters worse, things would not end well for him, especially if he looped in Su Yan. He had no choice but to swallow his pride. His fingers were on the brink of snapping and his teeth were chipping off. He glared at Yan Rusheng and nodded. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re so capable.¡± Young Master Yan smiled modestly. ¡°I¡¯m not as capable as you, to clinch such a precious piece of land just to gain my favor.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. ¡®F*ck. How shameless could he get? First, he wants to possess my land worth a hundred million dollars, then claims that I bought it for him, to gain his favor?¡¯ Bright Vision only bought that piece of land in hopes of its worth would increase in the future or until they had better investment opportunities. However, he was willing to give up the hundred million¡ªor even a trillion dollars¡ªfor Su Yue. Heck, he¡¯d even sell Bright Vision for her. But after Yan Rusheng¡¯s shameless threats, and his smug look, he really wanted to punch him. He needed some time alone before he puked blood. ¡°I need some air.¡± Ming Ansheng brushed past him coldly. After a few steps, Yan Rusheng called, ¡°It¡¯s cold at night. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Ming Ansheng was speechless. Ming Ansheng trudged to the hotel entrance. ¡°How could my third brother anger someone this much?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t hear the last part of their conversation, but she saw Ming Ansheng leaving in a hurry. She rushed after him. ¡°Uncle Ming.¡± She grabbed his arm. ¡°Uncle Ming, what¡¯s wrong? What did my third brother say?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled when he saw the anxiousness on her face. ¡°Silly girl. I came out for a smoke.¡± Su Yue frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not mad at my third brother?¡± ¡°If I were mad at him, my corpse would¡¯ve turned to ashes long ago.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced in Yan Rusheng¡¯s direction and smiled helplessly. He had such a mean tongue. If he were to be angry at him, he would have been driven to his grave a long time ago. He just realized that he was similar to Wen Xuxu in some aspects¡ªone of it was how they treated Yan Rusheng. Since they were of a young age until now¡ªhow did they manage to stand him? Young Master Ming felt gloomy. He held her hand and prepared to go for a stroll. When they reached the rotating door, a familiar figure exited from it. It startled both of them. Chapter 1867. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Two) ¡°Ah Heng?¡± What was Lu Yinan up to? He even called Ah Heng over. It must be a big event. ¡°Ansheng,¡± Jiang Zhuoheng greeted before nodding at Su Yue. Su Yue smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Ming Ansheng let go of Su Yue¡¯s hand and patted his shoulder. They had been close since they were young. But because of a love triangle between him, Yan Rusheng, and Wen Xuxu, he slowly retreated out of their inner circle. It was probably for Wen Xuxu¡¯s sake. But the brotherhood was still there. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s been quite a while.¡± He then unconsciously glanced at the sofa area, but quickly retracted his gaze. Ming Ansheng caught him glancing at Wen Xuxu and pressed his lips helplessly. Then he asked, ¡°Lu Yinan asked you over?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded. ¡°I was still in Jincheng this afternoon, but he said I had to be present.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled. ¡°It seems that he¡¯s indeed having his wedding.¡± Such a large-scale event¡ªif it wasn¡¯t his wedding, then he must¡¯ve gone nuts. ¡°What?!¡± It startled Jiang Zhuoheng. A wedding? Was he serious? He came in a hurry and he didn¡¯t prepare any gifts. ¡°Look.¡± Ming Ansheng pointed at all the familiar faces in the main hall. ¡°He invited so many people to Beautiful Metropolis. It¡¯s such a huge occasion. Even if it isn¡¯t his wedding, then it must be his engagement.¡± Then something crossed his mind and he glanced outside the entrance. He asked, ¡°Why are you alone? Where¡¯s Hu Xiaoxiao?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng plainly replied, ¡°She¡¯s gone to Australia.¡± ¡°When do you plan on getting married?¡± Ming Ansheng asked, trying to catch his expression. Jiang Zhuoheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°You already have children but aren¡¯t married yet. What¡¯s there to hurry?¡± His reaction was calmer than he had expected. But when he glanced at Wen Xuxu earlier, there was obviously still yearning in his gaze. This¡­ had to be the highest state of love. The powerful could control many things, but not their feelings. Love can¡¯t be forced. They were childhood sweethearts. For as long as he could remember, other than during mealtimes at home and bedtime, Wen Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng were inseparable. Their innocent friendship blossomed into love. And there could only be one outcome: being led to a point of no redemption. Jiang Zhuoheng was such a person. He thought, ¡®Even if he were to marry someone else in the future, the most important person in his heart would still be Wen Xuxu.¡¯ Perhaps his heart would change after a year or two. So choosing to be with him despite knowing all this was a gamble. Given Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s qualities, the woman couldn¡¯t be too scheming, but neither could she be a fool. She needed to be patient. However, being with him wasn¡¯t all doom and gloom. At least, he was loyal. Ming Ansheng sighed deeply and stared at Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°You worry me the most.¡± Then he pointed at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Look, that fellow¡­¡± ¡°¡­ has a tongue more vicious than before. You¡¯re better off keeping away from him.¡± Chapter 1868. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Three) Jiang Zhuoheng smiled. He casually replied, ¡°Whenever I¡¯m around, he¡¯s always the one who loses his cool.¡± Ming Ansheng froze. Then he burst out in laughter. Indeed, it seemed so. Whenever Jiang Zhuoheng was around, Yan Rusheng would do all sorts of things. Especially back then when he himself didn¡¯t realize that he liked Xuxu. Back then, whenever the gang went out, whether it was on an excursion or just a meal, Yan Rusheng would always have a bone to pick with Wen Xuxu. When they were young, Wen Xuxu was very hostile towards Yan Rusheng. She punched him whenever she was unhappy with him. But eventually¡ªhe didn¡¯t know when it started, but¡ªit became Yan Rusheng¡¯s turn to nitpick at Wen Xuxu. Every time, she would be at the end of her tether and leave without throwing a tantrum. Then Yan Rusheng, as though he had achieved his goal, would leave not long after her. And they didn¡¯t suspect a thing. Yan Rusheng as well. Who knew, perhaps both of them went home together after¡­ Ming Ansheng thought for a while before grabbing Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s hand and pulling him towards Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu. ¡°It¡¯s been long since we met up. Let¡¯s catch up.¡± There was a malicious smile in his voice. ¡°Yan Rusheng, Xuxu. Ah Heng is here,¡± Ming Ansheng called from afar. He waited eagerly for Yan Rusheng¡¯s reaction. Wen Xuxu looked over first. A beautiful smile broke out on her face. ¡°Ah Heng.¡± Kind and natural. She walked over to greet him. She peered up at him and said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± He was wearing a white top with ash gray tuxedo pants. Her gaze was ever so¡­ gentle. Jiang Zhuoheng broke out of his thoughts before he smiled. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve been busy recently.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°You¡¯re the busy one. I heard that you¡¯ve expanded to Jincheng.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded lightly. ¡°Mm. It¡¯s our new investment.¡± ¡°The Jiang Corporation has been blooming under your leadership,¡± Xuxu praised sincerely. Indeed, The Jiang Corporation has become more successful year after year. Jiang Zhuoheng invested his heart and soul in his work for the past few years. Word has been spreading in the industry about his outstanding achievements. Jiang Zhuoheng smiled. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Be more low-key. Stealing the limelight isn¡¯t a good thing,¡± Xuxu warned as she patted his shoulder. It was a very ¡®brotherly¡¯ action. Jealousy bubbled within Young Master Yan. First, she ignored him and went to talk to Jiang Zhuoheng, then she even touched him! He stepped forward and stood in front of Xuxu. He asked Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°What did Lu Yinan say when he invited you?¡± He interrupted their conversation rather abruptly, and his question was direct. Everyone was curious as to what Lu Yinan was trying to do. Perhaps Lu Yinan told him¡­ Jiang Zhuoheng replied, ¡°He said that he¡¯s organizing a very important dinner and I have to attend. Or else, he¡¯d cut ties with me.¡± F*ck. What on earth was he doing? He even wanted to cut ties? Xuxu frowned and observed Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s weary expression. ¡°Where did you rush over from?¡± Chapter 1869. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Four) By his looks, he must¡¯ve rushed from somewhere. Jiang Zhuoheng replied, ¡°I have to rush back to Jincheng first thing tomorrow morning.¡± She had expected it. ¡°Only you would listen to him and go through all the trouble to attend this dinner of his.¡± She didn¡¯t bother concealing the concern in her voice. As though he was the only one whom Lu Yinan had ordered over. What trouble? How long did it take to travel from Jincheng to the capital city? How far was it? It was a less than 2-hour car journey¡ªa half-hour journey on the high-speed rail. ¡®In this peak period, he spent one hour stuck in a traffic jam when he drove here from the office.¡¯ Foolish woman. Showing concern to his love rival so blatantly. Young Master Yan grumbled to himself but didn¡¯t dare to speak. Previously, he had a few tiffs with Xuxu over Jiang Zhuoheng, so he knew better. He didn¡¯t dare to repeat his mistakes. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Hu Xiaoxiao here?¡± Xuxu glanced at the entrance and didn¡¯t see her anywhere. Lu Yinan asked them to bring the kids over, so he must¡¯ve asked Jiang Zhuoheng to bring Hu Xiaoxiao along as well. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s marriage was something she couldn¡¯t stop worrying about. She felt uneasy as long as he didn¡¯t settle down. It didn¡¯t affect her, but her uneasiness was still there. ¡°She¡¯s in Australia.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng said plainly. He flashed a faint smile. ¡°When will you get married?¡± Yan Rusheng interjected. As usual, he was direct. Jiang Zhuoheng looked at him and smiled. ¡°When the time comes, you¡¯ll definitely be invited.¡± What was the meaning of this? He didn¡¯t plan on getting married? He was almost thirty, but he doesn¡¯t want to settle down? What does he want? Had he really been unable to get over his Xuxu? The thought irked him. Even though she was now his wife and forever would be. Furthermore, this rascal was almost thirty. The Jiang family was still waiting for him to have children to carry on the family name. Grandfather Jiang¡¯s health was deteriorating by the day. How unfilial! ¡®Cough, cough, Young Master Yan, what a good love rival you are.¡¯ How he wished Jiang Zhuoheng could get married and grant him his wish. But instead, he said, ¡°But I have to give you a big present during your wedding. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and replied, ¡°Then¡­ I won¡¯t get married.¡± By the look on his face, he wasn¡¯t joking. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Actually, you should get married quickly. You guys are almost thirty. Even if you¡¯re not eager, Hu Xiaoxiao is.¡± Not just Jiang Zhuoheng, even Wen Xuxu and Su Yue burst out laughing. His intentions were way too obvious. Jiang Zhuoheng said to him, ¡°No, she¡¯s not as eager as you.¡± Of course, Young Master Ming couldn¡¯t let such a good opportunity slip him by. He held Yan Rusheng¡¯s shoulder and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Indeed. Third Yan, why do I feel like you¡¯re more eager than Hu Xiaoxiao?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darkened and he gave him a look which said: Mind your own business. Jiang Zhuoheng watched the exchange between them and smiled. He turned his head. Chapter 1870. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Five) He gazed at the sofa where a few children gathered. An affectionate smile flitted across his face. Xuxu followed his gaze and saw Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing. She waved at them and yelled, ¡°Nuoxing, Wenxin, Uncle Ah Heng is here.¡± Yan Wenxin and Yan Nuoxing looked over immediately. When they saw Jiang Zhuoheng, they scrambled to run towards him. ¡°Uncle Ah Heng.¡± Second Lu and Third Lu followed them. Jiang Zhuoheng was very approachable. Although he didn¡¯t meet the kids much, they loved spending time with him. ¡°You promised to bring me to ride the Ferris wheel in Jincheng. When are you bringing me?¡± Yan Wenxin asked, peering up at him as she tugged at his arm. Jiang Zhuoheng pressed his lips. He replied, ¡°During your holidays.¡± ¡°Okay. Pinkie promise,¡± Yan Wenxin replied and nodded. She wrapped her pinkie around his. Yan Rusheng¡¯s face fell. Did he allow him to bring his daughter out? Who gave him permission? This fellow was outrageous. First, he is affectionate to his wife, and now he¡¯s gaining the favor of his children? Unbelievable! Young Master Yan thought angrily. Yanyan suddenly grabbed his other arm. ¡°Uncle Ah Heng, we want to go too.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± He was like a children magnet. Young Master Yan paled in comparison. Third Lu didn¡¯t like Uncle Third Yan. He was cold and aloof, just like a crook in drama serials. Yan Rusheng was about to comment that he already had arrangements for the children during the holidays, but when he saw Yanyan chime in, he decided against it. So, Jiang Zhuoheng wasn¡¯t purely trying to gain his daughter¡¯s affection. ¡°All of you are here.¡± The long-awaited person finally spoke up from the entrance. He was the one who called all of them here. They didn¡¯t know what was about to happen. Lu Yinan was wearing a tailor-made black tuxedo and a white shirt underneath. He had tucked his hands into his pockets and exuded a refined air. A smile framed his face. Zhou Shuang was holding his arm. She was wearing a black blouse with an orange coat. It made her look energetic. Finally, they were here. All the gazes shifted to the entrance. ¡°Young Master Lu, what happened to your face?¡± When Lu Yinan drew nearer, Yan Rusheng observed bruises at the corner of his right lip and eye. He pressed them, and he had an evil smirk on his face. Lu Yinan stepped away from him and rolled his eyes. He replied, ¡°I was too excited yesterday. I knocked into something by accident.¡± Ming Ansheng glanced at his bruised areas. He smiled and said, ¡°If you didn¡¯t say that you knocked into something, I would¡¯ve thought that Zhou Shuang hit you!¡± Lu Yinan glared at him. ¡°Even if you remain silent, no one would think that you¡¯re mute.¡± These fellows. Did they have to say it out loud? Embarrass him in front of so many people? Then he sneakily glared at the woman beside him. Stupid woman! Why was she so vicious! Chapter 1871. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Six) He wanted to change the topic, but Young Master Ming and Young Master Yan didn¡¯t. Young Master Ming had just suffered the wrath of Young Master Yan¡¯s tongue earlier. He couldn¡¯t find a way to vent, so he wanted to make use of this opportunity to avenge himself. He asked Zhou Shuang, ¡°Zhou Shuang, did your house have a blackout yesterday?¡± Zhou Shuang wasn¡¯t dumb. How could she bruise her husband¡¯s ego in this setting? She nodded and replied, ¡°Yes. There was a blackout and it was pitch dark. Isn¡¯t it normal to knock into things?¡± A man had to be strictly disciplined at home, but she had to reserve him some pride in front of the public eye. Lu Yinan smiled satisfactorily. Good woman. He didn¡¯t waste his love on her. ¡°I see¡­¡± Ming Ansheng nodded. ¡°He really must¡¯ve knocked something, then.¡± As if! The conversation should have ended but Yanyan suddenly piped up. ¡°Uncle Ming, there wasn¡¯t a blackout in our house yesterday.¡± She peered up at him with a face full of innocence. Jiaojiao nodded. ¡°I was watching Legend of Miyue with grandmother yesterday.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ He frowned and glared at his two daughters. Then he pressed his lips and said, ¡°Cut the crap. Let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± Then he pushed Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng, before looking at Jiang Zhuoheng. He frowned. ¡°Ah Heng, where¡¯s Hu Xiaoxiao?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng replied, ¡°She went to Australia for a business trip.¡± Lu Yinan said nothing more. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Everyone upstairs.¡± He walked in front and Lu Yishan followed beside him. ¡°Brother, what are you trying to do?¡± Lu Yishan turned to look at her and smiled mysteriously. ¡°Something very important.¡± Lu Yishan asked, ¡°Marriage?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Lu Yinan shook his head. Afraid that she would question him further, he added, ¡°Stop asking. You¡¯ll know soon.¡± There was a huge group, and Lu Yinan hastily led the pack. Yan Rusheng and the rest followed at the back of the crowd. Zhou Shuang got rid of Lu Yinan and walked with Xuxu and Su Yue. ¡°What¡¯s Lu Yinan doing?¡± Xuxu stared after him and asked curiously. Zhou Shuang shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She was equally shocked when she saw so many people in the main lobby. Who knew what tricks he had up his sleeve. He went to pick her up from work early and even bought her new clothes. The leather jacket and boots she was wearing, they had bought earlier. He even personally helped her put on her boots. Truth be told, she was in shock from his sudden pampering treatment. Such an arrogant Young Master bent down to help her put on her shoes? Compared to helping her suck snake venom, this was more shocking. The lift couldn¡¯t fit so many people. The first batch went first. Lu Yinan¡¯s mother and Lu Yishan brought the kids up. Wen Xuxu, Yan Rusheng, Ming Ansheng and the rest remained. The lift worked swiftly and efficiently. In the blink of an eye, they entered the lift. When they reached the stipulated floor, the lift doors opened. Yan Rusheng and Xuxu stepped out first. Ming Ansheng and Su Yue followed. This was the ballroom where wedding ceremonies and various banquets were held. This made everyone wonder if Lu Yinan had planned a wedding ceremony or an engagement party. Chapter 1872. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Seven) ¡°Is Lu Yinan really holding a wedding ceremony?¡± Xuxu frowned and whispered to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng tucked his hands into his pockets. His footsteps were light, as though he wasn¡¯t that curious anymore. The answer will be revealed soon, anyway. He only had one thought in his mind: Lu Yinan, you better not let me down. If he really was holding a surprise wedding ceremony, he¡¯d term him a true man in the future. There were many banquet halls on this floor. Lu Yinan booked a small one. The door was open and there weren¡¯t many decorations. When they reached the entrance, they looked around. It was decorated like a party, with food, drinks, and champagne¡­ There were even busy waiters walking around. Those who arrived first were already basking in the atmosphere. The few children were playing around. Yan Rusheng frowned. He walked over and frowned in uncertainty. ¡°You booked a banquet hall to give us a buffet?¡± Lu Yinan rolled his eyes at him. ¡°Your buffets are like this?¡± Yan Rusheng glanced around. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between this and a buffet?¡± ¡°Just eat your food.¡± Lu Yinan lifted a glass of red wine and stuffed it into Yan Rusheng¡¯s hands. Then he walked over to Ming Ansheng and Jiang Zhuoheng. Dinnertime was long over. After all that waiting, everyone was famished. All of them placed their curiosity aside and gobbled down the food. Wen Xuxu, Su Yue, and Zhou Shuang sat together, chatting as they ate. Su Yue drank a mouthful of red wine before looking at Lu Yinan. She shook her head and commented, ¡°I still don¡¯t believe that it¡¯s this simple.¡± Zhou Shuang added, ¡°Definitely. There¡¯s obviously something going on.¡± Xuxu was no longer curious. She smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. The answer is about to be revealed.¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Su Yue pointed behind her, a face of shock. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Xuxu observed that the color of the lights changed. She turned around. ¡°Third sister-in-law, is that you?¡± Su Yue pointed at a picture shown on the screen. ¡°Is that Sister Hooligan beside you?¡± There were two girls clad in their uniforms in the photo. They were holding hands. One of them had a ponytail, the other had hair that reached her shoulders. Xuxu stared at the photo in shock. ¡°This photo¡­¡± The photo gradually changed. There was a caption too but they were too engrossed in the photo and didn¡¯t take note of it. ¡°Third sister-in-law, is that your high school graduation photo?¡± Next, a group picture was shown on screen. There were rows of girls and boys wearing the same uniform. Xuxu nodded. Then she turned to look at Zhou Shuang in confusion. ¡°Where did these come from?¡± Zhou Shuang was equally shocked. Obviously, she had no clue what was going on. Xuxu didn¡¯t wait for her reply. She continued watching the video. The pictures changed from five years ago, to four years ago¡­ to one year ago, one month ago, and one week ago¡­ Reminding them of the times they spent together. ¡°Marry me, you alluring hooligan!¡± The last row of words appeared in a pink fluorescent font. Chapter 1873. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Eight) Before she could even process what was happening, young ladies wearing the same dresses orderly entered the hall with pure white roses. They walked toward her and surrounded her in a heart shape. That was not all¡­ Suddenly, rose petals started raining from the ceiling. The smell of fresh roses engulfed the entire room. At this moment, a man wearing a black tuxedo entered. He was holding a bouquet of red roses and he walked toward her slowly. Zhou Shuang was shocked and touched. She didn¡¯t know how to react. In a daze, she stared at the man walking towards her. Flower petals landed before her eyes, some even landed on her hair and shoulders. They landed on the devilishly charming man himself. In that moment, time seemed to come to a standstill. The hall was so quiet, everyone could hear their racing hearts. The entire scene confused the children. They didn¡¯t know what had just happened. They stared at each other, at a loss. ¡°Zhou Shuang, marry me.¡± The man got down on one knee before her. He raised the bouquet of roses toward her. He peered up at her slightly, a face of sincerity. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She almost burst out crying. Because she had been waiting for this moment for a long time. She had been waiting until she lost all hope and felt like giving up¡­ She stared at the flowers in his hand. There was a diamond ring among the flowers and it shimmered under the light. Roses represented love. Diamonds represented eternity. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes and nose turned red. She gazed at Lu Yinan, her eyes covered with a layer of tears. Without hesitation, she bit her lip and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Her voice was choked. Then she stuck out her right hand. Lu Yinan retrieved the diamond ring from the roses and placed them down. He held her hand and helped her put the ring on. The ballroom erupted in applause. Applauding his successful proposal and applauding her for finally becoming a daughter-in-law. Giving them their blessings! The applause stopped and Yan Rusheng lifted his glass of red wine. He looked at Zhou Shuang and Lu Yinan in disdain. ¡°She didn¡¯t even hesitate.¡± Xuxu turned to look at him. ¡°Why should she hesitate?¡± Before he could reply, Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Lu Yinan spent so much effort planning all this, of course, she has to make things more dramatic.¡± Suddenly, Su Yue commented, ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Lu Yinan was so romantic.¡± She leaned against the table and smiled as she gazed at them longingly. Just longingly. Xuxu nodded. ¡°Indeed. Such a thoughtful man. Lu Yinan really went all out this time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just flashy without substance,¡± Young Master Yan commented unhappily. Xuxu tilted her chin up at him. ¡°But women love this feeling.¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know that women are so hypocritical.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m hypocritical.¡± Xuxu stuck her tongue out at him and rolled her eyes. Then she grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go congratulate Zhou Shuang. Give her a toast.¡± Yan Rusheng hurriedly went forward to explain, ¡°Wife, you¡¯ve got me wrong. I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡± Xuxu ignored him and dragged Su Yue over to Zhou Shuang. They clanked their glasses against hers. Chapter 1874. The Truth is Revealed (part Thirty-Nine) ¡°Shuang, congratulations.¡± ¡°Sister Hooligan, I wish you a blissful marriage.¡± The three women stood together, giving him no chance to interject. ¡°Lu Yinan, come here. We need to talk.¡± Lu Yinan held a glass of wine and was walking past Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng when Yan Rusheng pulled his elbow. Yan Rusheng gave Ming Ansheng a meaningful look. Ming Ansheng immediately understood. He walked over and grabbed Lu Yinan¡¯s other arm. Although Lu Yinan was tall and pretty well-built, he stood no chance against the two other men of similar builds. Furthermore, they were stronger than him. So Young Master Ming and Young Master Yan dragged Young Master Lu out of the hall. Sensing the dangerous atmosphere, Lu Yinan looked warily at them. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked, revealing his pearly-white teeth. ¡°About how you managed to come up with such a romantic proposal.¡± Ming Ansheng continued, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about where you bought that ring from. It¡¯s beautiful and Miss Su likes it very much.¡± They had already made their way out of the banquet hall. Lu Yinan felt that they were becoming more forceful with their actions. They were basically digging their nails into his flesh. He writhed in pain. ¡°Yan Rusheng, Ming Ansheng, you can¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his arm. Lu Yinan felt like his bones shifted out of position. He yelped in pain. He hurriedly turned his head back and yelled in the direction of the ballroom. ¡°Shuangshuang, save me¡­¡± ¡°Weak!¡± Yan Rusheng gave him a contemptuous look. Then he smiled and moved closer to his ear. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. We just want to ask you how to win a woman over. You seem more experienced than us in this aspect.¡± His every word was dripping with sarcasm and malicious hatred. Especially that smile. It sent shivers down his spine. He said to Yan Rusheng, voice trembling, ¡°Yan Rusheng, quit being sarcastic.¡± He wanted to break free from their grasps. At this moment, a familiar figure walked towards them. Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Ah Heng.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was holding his phone. He must¡¯ve just finished a call. He looked at the three and noticed their disposition, he then curiously asked, ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and replied, ¡°Having a talk with Young Master Lu. Do you want to join us?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Jiang Zhuoheng paused as he glanced at Lu Yinan. Then he casually continued, ¡°¡­ don¡¯t want to take part.¡± ¡°Ah Heng is still the best.¡± Lu Yinan smiled. Since he was no match for Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng, he hoped that Jiang Zhuoheng could help him. Before Lu Yinan could finish his sentence, Jiang Zhuoheng added, ¡°But I don¡¯t mind spectating.¡± His tone was serious. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ ¡°Pfft!¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled that his shoulders shook. ¡°Ah Heng, you¡¯ve changed.¡± Lu Yinan gritted his teeth and his furious gaze swept over them. ¡°If anything happens to me, my Zhou Shuang will never let you off.¡± Given Zhou Shuang¡¯s protectiveness, if something really happened to Young Master Lu, she¡¯d definitely come after them. Yan Rusheng looked at him disdainfully. ¡°You¡¯re so useless.¡± Chapter 1875. The Truth is Revealed (part Forty) To make things worse, he added, ¡°She¡¯ll be riding on your shoulders your entire life.¡± This sentence made Lu Yinan furious. He hollered, ¡°Nonsense. I even rode her last night.¡± How dare they think that he was less capable than a woman! He was just being a gentleman and a doting husband. After Young Master Lu¡¯s outburst, the atmosphere stilled. Jiang Zhuoheng awkwardly pressed his lips as he glanced at their varying expressions. After a long while, he coughed awkwardly. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± As a reminder that Lu Yinan was too direct and over the top. Yan Rusheng glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng before giving Lu Yinan a dirty look. He reminded, ¡°There is still an unwed man here. Please mind your language.¡± His tone sounded rather sarcastic and smug. All men needed their pride. Jiang Zhuoheng immediately and casually shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re all adults.¡± He meant: he was fine with their dirty and lewd jokes. ¡°Ah Heng, are you still a virgin?¡± Lu Yinan asked out of curiosity. He had wanted to ask this a long time ago. Jiang Zhuoheng blushed, but he remained calm. He blinked. ¡°Aren¡¯t we here to talk to Lu Yinan?¡± Why was he suddenly diverting the topic of discussion? Lu Yinan pressed his lips. ¡°It¡¯s just a casual question. You don¡¯t have to reply if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and he chose not to reply. Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°There¡¯s nothing embarrassing about being a virgin these days.¡± His tone was dripping with mockery. Jiang Zhuoheng immediately puffed out his chest. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± And so the discussion continued. Ming Ansheng asked him eagerly, ¡°Who did you give your first to?¡± Yan Rusheng wanted to know, too. He stared into Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s skull as he waited for his reply. Xuxu said that he was the only man she ever had. So his first couldn¡¯t have been Xuxu, but someone else. So, he was curious. ¡®Self-restraint¡¯ was written all over Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s entire body, so who could awaken his desires, other than someone he truly admired? ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan asked at the same time when they saw the look on his face. Yan Rusheng frowned and denied, ¡°What makes you think that I¡¯m nervous?¡± He had nothing to be nervous about. He believed every word Xuxu said. Xuxu said that she had given her first to him, and he was the only man she ever had. So nothing could have happened between her and Jiang Zhuoheng. So why would he be nervous? ¡°You¡¯re sweating,¡± Lu Yinan said in a mock as he pointed at his forehead. Yan Rusheng was in disbelief. ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡± Though his actions betrayed his thoughts when he extended his hand to touch his forehead. It was smooth. What sweat? ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Ming Ansheng and Lu Yinan burst into a fit of laughter. Both of them pointed at Yan Rusheng who was unable to talk. Young Master Yan was furious and frustrated. How could he fall for their ruse so easily! Chapter 1876. The Truth is Revealed (part Forty-One) After being carried out of the banquet hall like a criminal, Lu Yinan¡¯s opportunity for revenge finally came. He mocked, ¡°Yan Rusheng, whenever it comes to Xuxu, your IQ and EQ becomes negative.¡± ¡°Enough of your nonsense. Scram!¡± Young Master Yan hollered in frustration. The main reason for his frustration was Jiang Zhuoheng. How could he be so foolish and embarrassed in front of his love rival? Lu Yinan nodded obediently. ¡°I¡¯ll scram then.¡± He then turned to leave, but Yan Rusheng grabbed his arm and pulled him back. ¡°Lu Yinan, come back here.¡± He pulled him forcefully and yanked him back. He pinned him against the wall and faced him. To onlookers, it seemed like a passionate scene. Young Master Lu stared at the three fellows surrounding him. He felt like he was back in school, pinned to a wall by stronger students for protection fees. They outnumbered him, and he couldn¡¯t beat them with strength. He leaned against the wall and stared at Yan Rusheng impatiently. ¡°What exactly do you want? I still have many guests to greet.¡± Before Yan Rusheng could reply, Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Why are you acting? All of them are your family members. Why do you need to greet them?¡± Yan Rusheng added, ¡°You mobilized all of us to watch you propose?¡± Even Young Master Jiang, who preferred standing by the sidelines, piped up. ¡°Speaking about this, I¡¯m the one who should be the most annoyed.¡± He was buried in work, working through the night in Jincheng, yet this Lu Yinan called him back to watch him propose? He even threatened to cut off all ties with him! He thought that something huge had happened so he rushed all the way back. Young Master Lu became disheartened when he saw their faces. He frowned. ¡°How is proposing a small matter?¡± The more people that attended showcased his sincerity. Besides, Zhou Shuang wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for him in front of so many guests. She¡¯d definitely agree. In actual fact, he just wanted them to witness his successful proposal. Ming Ansheng rolled his eyes. ¡°What proposal? You made it seem like a wedding. When the time comes, how are you going to stir up a bigger sensation than this?¡± Lu Yinan replied, ¡°I want to be on the international headlines when I get married.¡± ¡°Shameless! You¡¯re ruining our male reputation,¡± Yan Rusheng scolded. ¡°You¡¯ve been subdued by that hooligan.¡± Lu Yinan smirked. ¡°Ha ha. What right do you have to say that about me? Who was the one who hated Wen Xuxu at a young age? Who said that her nose and eyebrows were ugly?¡± Then he turned to Ming Ansheng with a mocking smile. ¡°And you, even worse. We¡¯re not even on the same level.¡± These fellows, which of them wasn¡¯t their wife¡¯s slave? How dare they look down on him? Unbelievable! Yan Rusheng tilted his chin up. ¡°Can your Hooligan be compared to my Wen Xuxu?¡± Wen Xuxu was his goddess, his queen, his princess, his one and only¡­ Lu Yinan became indignant. ¡°Does your Wen Xuxu have an extra eyebrow or an extra eye? Huh?¡± Chapter 1877. The Truth is Revealed (part Forty-Two) All men were protective by nature. To them, women were like clothes and his friends were like limbs. If the limbs were to touch his clothes, he¡¯d chop them off. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my Zhou Shuang? She can be refined, she can fight, and she can give birth.¡± The words left Young Master Lu¡¯s mouth uncontrollably. ¡°She can give birth to three at once. Can your Wen Xuxu do that?¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless at his outburst. Then he smugly turned to Ming Ansheng. ¡°And you. You only have one child. All the more you should have nothing to say.¡± Then his gaze shifted to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°You have none. So you better keep quiet.¡± All of them were speechless. Although he gained the upper hand momentarily, he still felt like they cornered him. These fellows wouldn¡¯t let him off so easily. He hatched a plan in his mind. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s play mahjong.¡± If they were playing mahjong, Wen Xuxu and the rest would definitely want to tag along. He won¡¯t be in danger then. If not, he didn¡¯t know how these rascals would finish him off tonight. Though this wouldn¡¯t be the first time, he was dragged into a room before and¡­ it was so terrifying, he couldn¡¯t bear to think about it. Ming Ansheng nodded in agreement. ¡°Good idea. We haven¡¯t played mahjong together in a long time.¡± Then he looked at Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng, awaiting their opinion. Yan Rusheng shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I have no objections.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded as well. ¡°Sure.¡± Lu Yinan heaved a sigh of relief. He said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and bid goodbye to my guests. You can go up first.¡± He took a few steps before Yan Rusheng pulled him back. ¡°Let¡¯s not play with money today.¡± A chill went down his spine. ¡°What will we bet on then?¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Drinking. The loser shall drink.¡± Ming Ansheng smiled and said, ¡°For all we know, Young Master Lu will get three or four more sons tonight.¡± Lu Yinan gave him a dirty look. ¡°Scram.¡± But he burst into laughter. Indeed, all thanks to their previous game, with drinking as stakes, he and Zhou Shuang were where they are at today, and they even had three cute kids. He nodded and said, ¡°Sure. If I really get three more sons, I¡¯ll give each of you a huge present.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s play truth or dare.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng changed the stakes. Everyone looked at him, awaiting his explanation. ¡°The winner will make the loser drink, and can also ask him a question. The loser has to tell the truth.¡± It was silent for a few seconds before Ming Ansheng chuckled. Lu Yinan couldn¡¯t fathom why Ming Ansheng was laughing. Ming Ansheng said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, just how narrow-minded are you?¡± Then he said to Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°Ah Heng, just tell him who you gave your first to.¡± Lu Yinan came to a realization and burst into laughter as well. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± ¡°What are all of you talking about? You¡¯re laughing so happily.¡± Wen Xuxu, Zhou Shuang, and Su Yue happened to walk over, with arms linked. They walked towards the men. Chapter 1878. The Truth is Revealed (part Forty-Three Their gazes shifted over and Ming Ansheng only noticed Su Yue. He walked over and asked, ¡°We will play mahjong. Do you want to join?¡± Su Yue became excited. ¡°Sure, I¡¯m feeling bored.¡± Then she turned to Xuxu and Zhou Shuang, awaiting their replies. Of course, Zhou Shuang wouldn¡¯t reject such an opportunity. She rolled up her sleeves and said, ¡°Let¡¯s raise the stakes today.¡± ¡°How high?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows at her. ¡°The Lu¡¯s family mansion as the stake?¡± Zhou Shuang rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Scram.¡± Then she walked to Lu Yinan and held his elbow. Young Master Lu felt his heart calming down, as though he had just gotten a tranquilizer. He relaxed and tightened his grip on her arm, afraid that she would leave him. ¡°We¡¯ve already agreed. We¡¯re playing truth or dare. The winner can ask the other players a question. The losers can choose to drink instead of answering.¡± Yan Rusheng said. He smiled as his gaze swept over the entire congregation. As though he would definitely win. Zhou Shuang smirked. ¡°Ha. Then we might as well play truth or dare by itself. Why play mahjong? It¡¯s a waste of brain cells.¡± She had no problem with playing truth or dare. Yan Rusheng looked at her in disdain. ¡°You have no standards at all.¡± Zhou Shuang¡¯s tongue has always been vicious, especially when it came to Yan Rusheng. She asked, ¡°Will you feel terrible if you don¡¯t act pretentious for just one day?¡± It exasperated Xuxu. ¡°Here they go again.¡± The two would always end up squabbling over a small matter. Annoying! Yan Rusheng was about to bite back when Lu Yinan interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t quarrel here. Let¡¯s head upstairs. Let¡¯s play mahjong as Third Yan suggested. Tonight, I¡¯ll make sure he admits the color of his wife¡¯s lingerie.¡± Then he held Zhou Shuang shoulder and tilted his chin up at Yan Rusheng. His stance was clear: He was on his wife¡¯s side. ¡®Slap!¡¯ But before he could finish his sentence, he felt a slap on his head. Zhou Shuang glared at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? What are you saying?¡± Lu Yinan realized that he had gone overboard. He chuckled and explained, ¡°I was joking.¡± Of course, he was joking. Unless he really wanted to know the color of Wen Xuxu¡¯s lingerie? She¡¯d beat him to a pulp! Zhou Shuang frowned. ¡°You joke about everything.¡± Now that Zhou Shuang was pacified, Young Master Lu felt at ease. All of them stood at the corridor, unmoving. He rushed. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Stop standing here. We should play while it¡¯s early. I don¡¯t want to play when it¡¯s late.¡± He said as he dragged Jiang Zhuoheng before glancing at Yan Rusheng. When he saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression, he was startled. After he had calmed his racing heart, he frowned. ¡°Why¡¯s your expression so dark?¡± Yan Rusheng gritted his teeth. He enunciated every word as he replied, ¡°I want to f*ck you over.¡± This fellow was tired of living. How dare he joked about his Xuxu! What did he say? He asked what the color of his wife¡¯s lingerie was? Chapter 1879. The Truth is Revealed (part Forty-Four) He was itching for a beating! Lu Yinan pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. ¡°My apologies. I¡¯m a straight man.¡± Then he pulled Zhou Shuang towards the lift. Yan Rusheng was still furious. Xuxu nudged his arm and whispered, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop quarreling.¡± Suddenly, Ming Ansheng¡ªwho was walking in front of them¡ªturned around to look at Xuxu. A malicious gleam flashed across his eyes and he said, ¡°Out of all of those here, only you and Ah Heng belong in the same category: quiet as though you¡¯re invisible.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhou Shuang chuckled and burst into laughter. She said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°Ming Ansheng, just how gutsy are you? You dare to insult him?¡± He was obviously going against Yan Rusheng by categorizing Wen Xuxu and Jiang Zhuoheng together. Lu Yinan said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°He¡¯s so petty, aren¡¯t you afraid that he¡¯d make you suffer?¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled. He thought, ¡®He already has.¡¯ A piece of land worth a hundred million¡­ his heart ached at the thought of it. The lift doors opened quickly. Su Yue suddenly clutched her stomach and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the washroom. Which room will you guys be at? I¡¯ll join you later.¡± She drank too many cold drinks earlier, and her stomach was hurting. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ming Ansheng asked her in concern. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± He held her arm in support. Su Yue shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You guys can start first. They¡¯ll be missing one person if you¡¯re not there.¡± She pushed him and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go find Beibei later, and ask him to take care of Xiaojiao.¡± Xuxu came out of the lift when she heard it. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the kids upstairs, so they can play in the room.¡± She almost completely had forgotten about the children. Then she turned to wave at those in the lift. ¡°Head upstairs first. I¡¯ll bring the children up soon.¡± Zhou Shuang nodded and closed the lift doors. They had many family members around, so they didn¡¯t have to worry about the three little imps. After the doors closed, Su Yue said to Xuxu as she clutched her tummy, ¡°Third sister-in-law, I¡¯ll go to the washroom. Let¡¯s go up together later.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± ¡­ There was a public restroom on this floor. Su Yue found it and rushed into it immediately. Her stomach was hurting but she felt much better after she came out. She sightly rolled her sleeves up and walked to the sink. She washed her hands. After she was done, she flung her hands dry and took a piece of paper towel to dry her hands. ¡°I really have something on later. I really have to go. I apologize.¡± Su Yue had just thrown the paper towel into the dustbin when she heard a familiar voice. She looked in the reflection of the mirror. A woman wearing a purple gown was on the phone as she walked into the washroom. Su Yue was startled. She turned around and greeted, ¡°Auntie.¡± Zhang Lihong was on the phone and she didn¡¯t notice Su Yue. When she heard her voice, she turned to face her. Chapter 1880. The Truth is Revealed Part Forty-Five Her face registered shock. ¡°Miss Su?¡± She sized her up, her gaze revealed a tinge of sorrow and complex emotions. Su Yue stepped forward and walked closer to her. She smiled and asked, ¡°Auntie, what are you doing here?¡± Zhang Lihong retracted her thoughts and ended the call. She replied, ¡°My friend¡¯s son is getting married. I¡¯m attending his wedding.¡± Her attitude was casual, almost cold. Su Yue didn¡¯t hate her as much as she did before. But the reason she initiated the greeting was entirely because of Bai Jing. Otherwise, there was no need for greetings between them. So, she didn¡¯t mind Zhang Lihong¡¯s attitude towards her. She asked, ¡°Auntie, how is Bai Jing doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­¡± Hatred flashed across her eyes. She was about to speak when a thought ran through her mind, and so she kept her mouth shut. She coldly said, ¡°She¡¯s doing well.¡± This time, Su Yue noticed her attitude. She was suspicious. Bai Jing was neither friendly nor aloof towards her back then. Did their mother-daughter relationship worsen since then? Su Yue guessed before she asked, ¡°Is she still in Country M?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Zhang Lihong replied coldly. She refused to meet Su Yue¡¯s gaze. Su Yue deliberated before asking, ¡°Auntie, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Zhang Lihong shook her head, and she was becoming slightly impatient. ¡°I have something on and I need to go after this. Until next time.¡± Then she turned around and prepared to enter a cubicle. ¡°Auntie,¡± Su Yue called out to her. She stopped in her tracks. Su Yue tilted her head to the side and observed her side-view. ¡°Did something happen to Bai Jing?¡± She felt that there was something off about Zhang Lihong¡¯s attitude. She seemed to be hiding something. ¡°No.¡± Zhang Lihong straightened up and kept silent for a few seconds before she gave her answer. Her voice was stiff and it didn¡¯t seem to come from her heart. Su Yue started to worry. She walked over and asked, ¡°Auntie, if Bai Jing¡¯s in any trouble, you can tell me.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you to blame for what happened to her?¡± Zhang Lihong exploded in a rage. Her entire body, even her voice, was trembling. Su Yue retreated in fright. ¡°What¡­ do you mean?¡± ¡®Aren¡¯t you to blame for what happened to her?¡¯ What happened to Bai Jing? What did she have to do with it? Su Yue clenched her fists and awaited Zhang Lihong¡¯s reply. She swallowed her saliva to alleviate her nervousness. ¡°She¡¯s being tortured in jail. She¡¯s better off dead than alive. Is your family happy now?¡± Zhang Lihong hollered as she took a step towards Su Yue. Her cold and dangerous aura made Su Yue retreat in fear. Her back eventually hit the wall. She was startled, confused, and bewildered. Chapter 1881. The Truth is Revealed Part Forty-Six ¡°What?¡± Su Yue observed the look of anger on Zhang Lihong¡¯s face. ¡°Why¡­ Why did she go to jail?¡± She asked¡­ if her family was happy? Her family? Who was she referring to? What did she mean? Her heart was beating wildly and she felt that the truth was going to be revealed soon. She felt uneasy and she suddenly didn¡¯t want to know the answer anymore. Zhang Lihong saw the look of confusion on her face and drew closer to her. She gritted her teeth and glared at her. ¡°Our Xiaojing is the same age as you. Why do you get treated like a princess but our Xiaojing has to suffer so much? Why?¡± Her tone was dripping with jealousy and hatred, as well as indignance. It baffled Su Yue. Suddenly, a cold voice sounded from outside the door. ¡°Because she was the one who brought it upon herself. Who else is to blame?¡± A slender figure walked into the washroom and Su Yue turned to look at her. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± She felt much more at ease with Wen Xuxu around. She turned around and walked towards Xuxu. She grabbed her arm and asked, ¡°Third sister-in-law, what¡¯s all this about? What does Bai Jing¡¯s mother mean?¡± Why did she say that Bai Jing was in jail? Why did she say that it was her fault? Zhang Lihong heard Xuxu¡¯s words and smirked. ¡°Yes. Then why did the princess of your family ask about our Xiaojing? She wants to know if she¡¯s being tortured enough?¡± She gritted her teeth. Every word of hers was filled with hatred. ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± Su Yue shook Xuxu¡¯s arm. What happened the few years she was in Country M? What exactly did Bai Jing do? By the looks of it, it was either her third sister-in-law or third brother who sent her to jail. ¡°Miss Su, forget it. I know our Xiaojing had it coming. So stop showing concern for her.¡± Zhang Lihong¡¯s cold gaze swept over her. Then she turned and exited the washroom. Her high heels knocked against the floor, every step of hers seemed to trudge on Su Yue¡¯s heart. It made her uneasy and anxious. Zhang Lihong finally disappeared from their view. Su Yue retracted her gaze and asked Xuxu, ¡°Third sister-in-law, what exactly happened?¡± Wen Xuxu gave Su Yue a solemn look. The look she gave her made Su Yue even more anxious. ¡°Third sister-in-law, tell me.¡± ¡°Aish!¡± Xuxu sighed helplessly. Then she grabbed Su Yue¡¯s shoulders and said to her in a serious tone, ¡°Yueyue, that woman who loved your brother and wanted you dead, she wasn¡¯t a stranger.¡± It stunned Su Yue. She fell backwards and leaned against the wall. ¡®Have you found out the reason behind the car crash? Who was behind it?¡¯ ¡®Someone who loves your third brother. You do know that many women are pining after your third brother¡­¡¯ ¡®She knew that we dote on you the most, so she wanted to finish you off to take revenge on us¡­¡¯ She recalled the words that Xuxu told her back then when she had inquired about the car accident. It was a long while before she could finally get words out of her mouth. She stared at Xuxu and was still apparently stunned. ¡°That woman is¡­ Bai Jing?¡± She had already confirmed it in her heart, but she still wanted to hear Xuxu¡¯s answer. She didn¡¯t want to¡ªshe couldn¡¯t¡ªaccept it. Chapter 1882. The Truth is Revealed (part Forty-Seven) Wen Xuxu pressed her lips, indirectly admitting it. ¡°No¡­¡± Su Yue shook her head and was in a daze. She hugged her head and stooped down slowly. ¡°No way¡­ How could Bai Jing try to kill me?¡± Snippets of her first meeting with Bai Jing flashed through her mind. That pure girl who smiled with innocence. It was the same sincere and kind smile her third sister-in-law gave her when they first met. It made her want to draw closer to her¡ªto rely on and trust her. Before she met her third sister-in-law and Bai Jing, no one else smiled at her without a tinge of mockery or disdain. Through her gaze, she felt her sincerity. Her heart was pure and she befriended her without hesitation. She even shared her innermost feelings with her. Only to be told that the person who wanted her dead¡ªthe person who indirectly killed the amazing Jiao Chen who loved her so much¡ªwas the only friend she ever had. She never hated Bai Jing. She had broken her heart, but at the end of the day, Bai Jing was still in her heart. Even when Bai Jing had let her third sister-in-law down, she wanted to give her a second chance. She wanted her to be able to keep her head held high in the future. Did she do the wrong thing? Did she do the wrong thing? Did she do the wrong thing? Su Yue hugged her head in agony and was slightly hysterical. Xuxu squatted down and gently patted her shoulder. She comforted, ¡°Yueyue, the scariest thing in this world is a person¡¯s heart because you don¡¯t know what it could turn into. Sometimes, we ourselves cannot control or change our own hearts.¡± Su Yue lifted her head to look at Xuxu, her face studded with tears. ¡°But why did she want to kill me? Just because she liked third brother? Was she angry because she didn¡¯t get her way?¡± Su Yue witnessed it back then, but would rather have guilt towards her third sister-in-law than betray her friend and send her to her doom. But why didn¡¯t she let her off? Su Yue was baffled. She choked. ¡°I knew that she liked third brother. I was upset and heartbroken. I even hated her before. But I truly treated her as my friend. I know that she sincerely treated me as a friend since the start¡­¡± The words got stuck in her throat. Xuxu¡¯s eyes turned red and she hugged her tightly. She patted her back in an attempt to comfort her. ¡°I know¡­ I know¡­ I¡¯m glad that you have a forgiving heart and the will to give her a second chance. I¡¯m glad that you are so kind-hearted. You did nothing wrong.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Su Yue pushed her away. Heartbroken, she yelled, ¡°I was wrong. I let her off, but she ended up wanting me dead.¡± And most importantly, her benevolence cost Jiao Chen his life. ¡°I let her off¡­ Then she killed Jiao Chen¡­¡± She was too foolish. She even misunderstood Ming Ansheng¡¯s grandfather and indirectly killed him. Su Yue was wallowing in self-blame. She repeatedly knocked her head against the wall. She closed her eyes, but tears still flowed down her face in an endless stream. Snippets of Jiao Chen lying in a pool of blood, to his ice-cold, scrawny body in the mortuary filled her mind. If she had exposed Bai Jing¡¯s thoughts and actions back then, could she still have harmed her? If her third brother knew that Bai Jing harbored such thoughts and even acted on them, how would he let her off? He would definitely make her disappear from the capital city. Then she wouldn¡¯t have the chance, or even dare to think of harming her. Chapter 1883. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part One) Xuxu let her cry for a while before pulling her into her embrace. She consoled, ¡°All right. Don¡¯t cry anymore.¡± She patted her back gently, consoling her. Ah Sheng was right. She was bound to find out one day. And all along, this was what she was most worried about. She was afraid that Su Yue could not let go, would be heartbroken, and would hate herself. But she was fortunate that she met a boy named Jiao Chen in her lifetime. He protected her during her crucial growing-up years. He showered her with love and protected her well. It made up for her cold and lonely childhood. She was also fortunate to have a Ming Ansheng who could continue to love and adore her. Let the past stay in the past¡­ Xuxu looked faraway and gently patted her on back. After a long time, Su Yue stopped sobbing. She broke out of Xuxu¡¯s embrace, her eyes puffy. Xuxu stared at her. She then used the pads of her thumbs to wipe away Su Yue¡¯s tears. ¡°Stop crying. Xiaojiao will be worried if she sees you like this.¡± At the mention of Xiaojiao, Su Yue immediately stopped crying. She wiped her tears haphazardly before standing up and walking to the sink. She turned on the tap and splashed her face with water. She kept splashing her face, trying to wash away the traces of tears on her face. She wished that she could give Xiaojiao only happiness. How else would she make it up for all the times Jiao Chen pampered Xiaojiao when he was around? How else would she make it up to Jiao Chen, who never once scolded her? How could she make it up to him for his consideration? He even wanted to leave this world in silence so that she wouldn¡¯t be upset. ¡°That¡¯s enough. The water is cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Su Yue shook her head. She turned off the tap and rested her arms on the edge of the sink. She stared at herself. Her eyes were red and swollen. She continued staring, allowing the water droplets to drip down her face and to her chin. Forget her. From now on, forget that Bai Jing ever existed. Forget her¡­ ¡­ After washing her face repeatedly, it was still evident that she had been crying. Su Yue decided to forget it. She smiled and said to Xuxu, ¡°Third sister-in-law, let¡¯s go.¡± Xuxu smiled in return and held her arm as they walked towards the ballroom. Just as they arrived at the ballroom, a group of children came running out. Ming Beichen was the oldest. He was like a prince who walked in front. He and Su Xiaojiao, who was in the middle of the group, turned their heads when they saw them coming. Xiaojiao smiled and ran up to Su Yue. She lifted her lollipop to her. ¡°Mommy, eat candy.¡± Su Yue bent over and carried her. Then she licked her lollipop and commented, ¡°It¡¯s so sweet.¡± Xiaojiao grinned and stuffed the lollipop in her mouth. Xuxu was already walking in front of the children, bringing them towards the lift. Su Yue carried Xiaojiao and followed behind them. When they entered the lift, Beibei kept glancing at Su Yue. He wanted to speak but decided not to. In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at their floor. The little fellows eagerly rushed out, chasing each other and laughing happily. When Xiaojiao saw it, she wanted to join in the fun too. She wriggled in Su Yue¡¯s arms and wanted to get onto the floor. Chapter 1884. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Two) Su Yue bent over to place her down. Her short legs carried her faster than a rabbit as she chased after Yan Wenxin and the rest. Beibei casually walked beside Su Yue. When they got outside their room door, Xuxu opened it and all the little fellows squirmed into it. Beibei suddenly grabbed Su Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°Mommy, who bullied you?¡± He peered up at her. Although he was still young and wasn¡¯t good at expressing anything, she could feel the concern and love he had for her. Su Yue was stunned. She stared down at him. Before she could reply, with righteous indignation, he added loudly, ¡°Tell me and I¡¯ll teach him a good lesson.¡± Su Yue knew he could tell that she had been crying. She bent over and smiled as she shook her head. ¡°No one.¡± Then she gently caressed his face. Her actions and gaze were brimming with affection. She felt comforted and touched. The little fellow was only nine. Why was he so obedient? Beibei didn¡¯t believe Su Yue. ¡°Did Daddy bully you?¡± Then he looked into the room and saw Ming Ansheng¡¯s side view. Then he frowned and shook his head. ¡°No way. Daddy wouldn¡¯t bully you.¡± Su Yue rubbed his head gently. ¡°No one did. Stop making wild guesses. The water went into my eyes when I was washing my face earlier. Go and play with Xiaojiao and the rest.¡± Beibei pouted and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Okay then.¡± He obediently turned around and sprinted towards the group of children. Xuxu, who had been observing them silently, smiled comfortingly as she stared after him. ¡°Having such a big son is not a bad thing. He¡¯s a good boy.¡± The words were from the bottom of her heart. Su Yue smiled and chided, ¡°What¡¯s so good about it? He¡¯s all glib-tongued.¡± Those were her true thoughts. She was apprehensive at first, but she was starting doting on him. ¡®Su Yue, one day, you¡¯ll be like me¡­¡¯ She finally understood what Jiao Chen meant back then. One day, she would be like him. What he could accept, she would be able to, too. At the thought of Jiao Chen, Su Yue¡¯s heart clenched. Wen Xuxu said, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s unlike Ming Ansheng in this aspect.¡± It was a tone of resignation, with a hint of mockery. Then she turned and smiled at Su Yue. ¡°It¡¯s not like he¡¯s his son.¡± Xuxu knew it, but she still said it on purpose. Su Yue rolled her eyes and looked at Beibei solemnly. ¡°Aish. But I don¡¯t think he resembles Sister Meiduo either.¡± Xuxu pressed her lips and gazed at Beibei¡¯s small back view. She smiled and continued, ¡°Girls always envy those who have an older brother. Xiaojiao managed to get a ready-made one.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Indeed. The little fellow is good at sweet-talking.¡± ¡°Have you thought about the future? Do you want to continue taking care of him?¡± Xuxu turned to look at her in all seriousness. Su Yue raised her eyebrows. ¡°If not?¡± When she accepted Ming Ansheng back into her life, she had accepted everything about him. So no matter whose son Beibei was, from now on, Beibei was her and Uncle Ming¡¯s child. She never thought of pushing him away. Then she pouted. ¡°There¡¯s no way I will give him to that Ming Anyu. From now on, he¡¯s mine and Uncle Ming¡¯s child.¡± Chapter 1885. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Three) ¡°Then will he call you Sister or Mommy?¡± Wen Xuxu smiled at her wickedly as she raised her eyebrows. Su Yue blushed. She glared at her and said, ¡°Third sister-in-law, you¡¯re so mean. You¡¯re always teasing me now.¡± She once fretted over this question! She suddenly had such a big son, and she was only 14 years older than him. When she attended his parent-teacher conference earlier, his classmates were already questioning it. ¡°All right.¡± Xuxu smiled and held Su Yue¡¯s shoulders. She pushed her into the room. ¡°Let¡¯s go in to see who¡¯s winning or losing.¡± Su Yue walked as she said, ¡°I really want my third brother to lose. I want to see how Brother Ah Heng will make things difficult for him.¡± Xuxu snorted. ¡°Ah Heng wouldn¡¯t do that. He¡¯s not that mean.¡± She was obviously protecting Jiang Zhuoheng. Su Yue turned her head and gave her a warning look. ¡°If I tell my third brother what you just said, he¡¯d definitely be jealous.¡± Xuxu shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m already used to his jealousy. He¡¯d be jealous if a random man glances at me for more than a second.¡± Her tone was smug. In actual fact, she was bragging. Su Yue glanced askew at her. ¡°Do you know what I see on your face?¡± Xuxu knew that it wasn¡¯t anything good. She waved her off and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to say it out.¡± ¡°Smugness!¡± But Su Yue still said it. She chuckled. Xuxu laughed along with her and both of them walked to the ¡®battlefield¡¯. Yan Rusheng was sitting on Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s right side, and Ming Ansheng was sitting to the latter¡¯s left. Sitting opposite Yan Rusheng was¡­ Zhou Shuang. The poor Young Master Lu was sitting beside her, serving her tea and being at her beck and call. When Xuxu saw this, she couldn¡¯t help but think of Lu Yinan¡¯s nickname: Sissy Lu. ¡°How¡¯s the battle going?¡± Su Yue walked over to Ming Ansheng and wrapped her arms around his neck. As though there was no one around. Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t feel awkward about it, but Yan Rusheng found it extremely awkward. One was her sister, the other was his childhood brother. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck. Although he felt very pleased whenever he heard Ming Ansheng call him third brother so reluctantly, he really wanted to flip the table when he saw them showing affection. How he wanted to grab a handful of mahjong tiles and smash this fellow to death. If looks could kill, he would have killed Young Master Ming countless times over. Yan Rusheng threw him a menacing glance. With Su Yue by his side, Ming Ansheng couldn¡¯t be bothered to look at Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression. He smiled and replied, ¡°Zhou Shuang won by her own draw earlier[1] .¡± Zhou Shuang, who was sitting on his left, picked up a mahjong tile and threatened to smash it onto him. ¡°Scram! You are the one who touched yourself.¡± Ming Ansheng shunned away instinctively. He asked in amusement, ¡°Didn¡¯t you win by your own draw just now?¡± ¡°Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re becoming as foul-mouthed as Yan Rusheng,¡± Zhou Shuang chided before reminding Su Yue. ¡°Young lady, you¡¯re already getting the shorter end of the stick by being with an old man. Watch him closely. This man is indecent.¡± Then she discarded the mahjong tile onto the table in one swift motion. [1] Winning by one¡¯s own draw in Chinese also means to touch oneself Chapter 1886. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Four) It was a ¡®seven dots¡¯ tile. ¡°Pong!¡± When Jiang Zhuoheng saw this, he swiftly revealed two identical ¡®seven dots¡¯ tiles from his deck. Zhou Shuang looked over and realized which tile she had discarded. Her eyes bulged and she shook her head. ¡°No, no, no. I discarded the wrong tile. I wasn¡¯t going to discard this.¡± She said as she tried to take the tile back, but Jiang Zhuoheng was swifter than her. Jiang Zhuoheng held the ¡®seven dots¡¯ tile in his hand. Zhou Shuang frowned. She looked at him and pleaded. ¡°Ah Heng, you¡¯re the best.¡± Afraid that Jiang Zhuoheng would return the tile to Zhou Shuang, Yan Rusheng interjected. ¡°Zhou Shuang, don¡¯t be shameless.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you.¡± Zhou Shuang glared at him before shifting her gaze back to Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Ah Heng, I really discarded the wrong tile. I have an ¡®eight dots¡¯ tile and a ¡®nine dots¡¯ tile. Why would I discard my ¡®seven dots¡¯ tile?¡± Then she showed him her ¡®eight dots¡¯ and ¡®nine dots¡¯ tiles. Jiang Zhuoheng remained stoic, and he replied, ¡°But you discarded it and I so needed it. Besides, everyone now knows that I have two ¡®seven dots¡¯ tiles. It won¡¯t be fair if you take it back.¡± His eyes slyly gleamed. Then he placed her ¡®seven dots¡¯ tile together with his, his stance obvious. Zhou Shuang gave up and glared at him. ¡°Ah Heng, you¡¯ve changed for the worse.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°He didn¡¯t give in to your shamelessness, so you¡¯re calling him mean?¡± Zhou Shuang frowned at her. ¡°I was talking about Jiang Zhuoheng. Why are you siding with him?¡± Her intentions to sow discord were evident. ¡°You¡­¡± Xuxu noticed the change in Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression and gritted her teeth as she glared at Zhou Shuang. ¡°Just you wait. When Ah Heng wins later, you¡¯ll see how I will make things difficult for you.¡± She had seen Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s tiles and was confident, so she casually let the words slip out of her mouth. Who knew that her casual statement would turn into an opportunity for Zhou Shuang to sow discord? ¡°If Ah Heng wins, how would you be able to make things difficult for me? It¡¯s not like your Yan Rusheng won.¡± She raised her eyebrows at her, extremely smug. Lu Yinan added, ¡°Everyone knows that they¡¯ve been close ever since they were young.¡± Xuxu was speechless. This couple was bent on creating havoc. Xuxu decided to remain silent when she saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression. She knew Yan Rusheng too well. She was afraid that he would embarrass Jiang Zhuoheng in front of everyone. Indeed, she was protective of Jiang Zhuoheng in this sort of setting. Because he was too nice and was easily taken advantage of. She always felt that in Ah Sheng¡¯s presence, Ah Heng was a little lamb. He had always bullied him from a young age. Zhou Shuang raised her eyebrows at Xuxu. ¡°Furthermore, your husband is also playing. Why are you hoping that another man will win, instead of him?¡± F*ck. In order to win, he had to have good tiles first. But her husband¡¯s tiles were all over the place. He didn¡¯t stand a chance unless he had four more good tiles. Ah Heng was already waiting for his winning tile, and he had a high chance of getting it. That was why she had casually said it. Yan Rusheng looked at his own tiles, his expression hardening. He was cursing incessantly in his heart. Chapter 1887. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Five) What lousy tiles were this? What the heck! He had no consecutive tiles at all. The atmosphere stilled and Lu Yinan found it unusual. He patted Zhou Shuang¡¯s shoulder and reminded softly, ¡°Wife, let¡¯s end it here. The volcano is about to erupt.¡± If they went overboard, they would suffer the brunt of his wrath. Zhou Shuang felt the same way. She gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek to break the silence. ¡°Tsk. Sister Hooligan, you¡¯re so unreserved,¡± Su Yue commented. Zhou Shuang blushed slightly, but she still held her head high. ¡°Please continue.¡± She waved at them. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression was still hard. But he ignored the couple¡¯s intentions to sow discord and let Xuxu off the hook temporarily. He had plenty of time in the future¡­ and at night¡­ Yan Rusheng drew a tile that he didn¡¯t need, so he discarded it. ¡°What did you ask them?¡± Su Yue inquired as she slumped on Ming Ansheng¡¯s shoulders. Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°They chose to drink. Look at your man. His face is red.¡± She smugly pointed at the three men. Evidently, she was on a winning streak. Young Master Yan gave her a dirty look. ¡°Leave and let Lu Yinan play.¡± Ming Ansheng added, ¡°Lu Yinan, are you a man?¡± However, this tactic didn¡¯t work on Young Master Lu. He smiled coldly. ¡°Ha, you don¡¯t need to know if I¡¯m a man, and I have no obligation to prove it to you.¡± Then he hugged Zhou Shuang¡¯s waist, which seemed to say: As long as my wife knows and admits that I¡¯m a man. Ming Ansheng gave him a dirty look. ¡°Useless!¡± ¡°My apologies, I¡¯ve won.¡± During their exchange, they had completed one round of turns. Jiang Zhuoheng placed the tile which he had just drawn onto the table and declared his victory. He casually revealed his tiles. Zhou Shuang shrieked. ¡°Oh, my goodness!¡± Then she looked at the other two and said, ¡°Everyone has to answer a question, and drink one glass.¡± As if she was the only one who knew the game rules. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng rolled their eyes at her and ignored her. ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled as he asked Xuxu. This fellow, why was he asking his wife? Yan Rusheng frowned in frustration and pulled Xuxu to his side. He replied, ¡°Nothing.¡± He looked at him with a face of hostility. ¡°Zhou Shuang, do you think that Lu Yinan is a man?¡± Xuxu asked on behalf of Jiang Zhuoheng. Zhou Shuang replied without hesitation. ¡°Of course he is.¡± Then she was about to pick up the glass of alcohol when Lu Yinan snatched it from her. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± He tilted his head up and finished it in one gulp. ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡±. Ming Ansheng shook his head and mocked, ¡°The power of love.¡± Xuxu added, ¡°If it were poison instead, I wonder if you¡¯d fight to drink it on her behalf.¡± She paused as she glanced at Lu Yinan. Then she smiled and continued, ¡°I predict that in such a situation, you¡¯d choose to give up your wife¡¯s life to spare your own.¡± Her words were filled with hidden meaning, but only Zhou Shuang understood. Chapter 1888. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Six) Her eyes bulged and she gave Xuxu a look, begging her not to continue. But Xuxu was looking at Lu Yinan, her mocking smile unchanging. Zhou Shuang was afraid that she¡¯d mention that matter, and so she interjected, ¡°Of course, he will. That day, he risked his life to suck the snake venom for me.¡± Then she hugged Lu Yinan and blinked at Xuxu. Trying to convey a message. Xuxu chuckled and rolled her eyes. ¡°And in the end, the snake wasn¡¯t venomous¡­¡± When they heard it, the others burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± After Zhou Shuang came down the hill with Lu Yinan, they immediately rushed to the hospital. The rest of them gathered too. Lu Yinan exaggerated the entire story. The funniest part was that he sucked the venom out of Zhou Shuang¡¯s leg. They even exchanged their last words on the way to the hospital. And when they finally reached, the doctor said that the snake wasn¡¯t venomous. This matter itself was enough for Yan Rusheng to mock them for more than half a month. Young Master Lu was very indignant that he had become the brunt of their joke. Frustrated, he said to Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°All right. We¡¯ve answered the question and drank the alcohol. Next question.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and turned to look at Xuxu. Without hesitation, Xuxu asked Ming Ansheng. ¡°Ming Ansheng, do you wish to have more kids?¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t know what to say¡­ She frowned at Xuxu in embarrassment. How was he supposed to answer this question, in front of her third brother, too? However, Ming Ansheng wasn¡¯t stumped by this question. He smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Let nature take its course.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°Let nature take its course? So you want many more children then?¡± They were still young, especially Su Yue. If they were to continue letting nature take its course, how many children would they have? This made Ming Ansheng blush. Su Yue covered her flushed face and complained, ¡°Which sister-in-law asks her brother-in-law such questions?¡± Yan Rusheng immediately gave her a chiding look. ¡°Children should not interrupt when adults are talking.¡± Su Yue didn¡¯t know what to say¡­ Just then, Young Master Lu spoke up. ¡°Actually, I understand if you want more children. After all, my one shot is equivalent to three of yours.¡± His tone was casual and ¡®harmonious¡¯. Then he gave a smile that asked for a beating. Ming Ansheng glared at him. He lifted his glass and finished the alcohol. He placed the glass down and smiled smugly. ¡°Indeed, Yueyue and I want more children. After all, Yueyue is still young, she¡¯s only 23. And males my age are at their prime. Women below 25 are at the prime age for child-bearing, so of course, we can¡¯t waste such a great opportunity.¡± Then he gave Su Yue a peck on her cheek. She purposely threw a look at Yan Rusheng and tilted his chin up at him. His smug face was full of provocation. Not only Yan Rusheng, but even the others also had no words to say. Seeing that they remained silent, Ming Ansheng was even smugger. He smiled and raised his eyebrows. ¡°So? Do you still have questions to ask?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Continue.¡± Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t want to discuss the topic further. He waved his hand dismissively. Chapter 1889. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Seven) It wasn¡¯t because he had nothing to ask Ming Ansheng, but because Su Yue was his sister and the topic would definitely link to her. He gathered the mahjong tiles towards himself and arranged them. ¡°Yan Rusheng hasn¡¯t answered yet.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng, who had been keeping silent, suddenly piped up. He grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand and grinned at him. His smile, in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes, was malicious, sly, scheming and vengeful¡­ He was definitely planning something. Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Ask.¡± As though he had thought of what to ask a long time ago, Jiang Zhuoheng asked without hesitation, ¡°Did you eat the chocolate that I bought for Xuxu before?¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s gaze faltered before shook his head in denial. ¡°What chocolate? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s smile remained unchanged. ¡°Third Yan, we¡¯re playing truth or dare here. I hope that you can obey the game rules.¡± F*ck. What did this guy mean by that? That he was shameless and couldn¡¯t lose? Young Master Yan felt his male ego being targeted. He puffed out his chest and admitted, ¡°Yes. I ate it.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded, but he wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°When?¡± Xuxu was confused and didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. What chocolate? Why wasn¡¯t she aware? She looked at Yan Rusheng first. His chest was puffed out, but he refused to meet her gaze. So she turned to Jiang Zhuoheng and blinked at him in confusion. ¡°When was this? Why haven¡¯t you told me before?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was about to answer when Yan Rusheng suddenly pushed the mahjong tiles. ¡°Are we still playing?¡± The tiles crashed onto the table. Lu Yinan, Zhou Shuang, Ming Ansheng, and the rest were not surprised at his sudden outburst. ¡°Yan Rusheng, I didn¡¯t think that you¡¯d steal food to eat,¡± Lu Yinan mocked. ¡°Nonsense,¡± Yan Rusheng hollered. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t stand him fawning over my wife all day long!¡± Jiang Zhuoheng rubbed his temples and pretended to recall. ¡°I remember that it was during the revision period in our third year of high school. I made a small chocolate cake for Xuxu¡¯s 18th birthday and I even placed two movie tickets for titanic inside the box.¡± Xuxu was extremely shocked. She had no idea about it at all. She turned to look at Yan Rusheng interrogatively. Yan Rusheng felt very awkward. He didn¡¯t dare to look at Xuxu¡¯s face, but he was still very indignant towards Jiang Zhuoheng. He glared at him and said, ¡°The teachers showed us that movie during middle school. Old-fashioned.¡± Xuxu frowned and asked, ¡°Then who did you give the tickets to?¡± He stole the love letter that Zhao Zheng wrote for her, as well as the chocolates and movie tickets Ah Heng gave her¡­ What else did this fellow do behind her back? Yan Rusheng chuckled and glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng coldly. ¡°I gave them to secretary-general Zhang¡¯s daughter and Ye Xiaojia. They were thrilled when they heard that the movie tickets were from you.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s expression turned darker than coal. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Lu Yinan said to Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°No wonder Fatty Zhang and Ye Xiaojia suddenly claimed that you liked them. They even fell out and became enemies because of you.¡± Chapter 1890. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Eight) This sounded familiar¡­ Xuxu held in her smile as she stared at the man beside her. He was absolutely vicious and mean since he was in his teens! It broadened her perspective. What happened to being cold and aloof? What was his motive for doing those things back then? Lu Yinan and the others were still laughing at Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s expense, even Su Yue. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s expression was darker than coal, and he maliciously glared at Yan Rusheng as he gritted his teeth. He only knew that Yan Rusheng had gotten rid of the cake and movie tickets he had gotten for her. He didn¡¯t know that Yan Rusheng was the one who started the rumor that he liked those two annoying girls. One of them was the daughter of the secretary-general of the capital city. She was worse than average-looking. The other girl was the daughter of the principal of their secondary school. One of them was extremely fat while the other, extremely skinny. They were on exceptionally good terms at first, but they fought over him and became enemies. Yan Rusheng sure knew how to torture someone. This was the first time Young Master Jiang detested Young Master Yan so much. There was no person in this world who was more immoral than Yan Rusheng. Over this matter, Jiang Zhuoheng¡ªthe top student and role model¡ªwas called to the teacher¡¯s office and was given a scolding. It was only understandable that he wanted to rip Yan Rusheng to shreds. Seeing the look of anger on his face, Xuxu pitied him. After some thought, she rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re so lame!¡± Young Master Yan was unhappy that she had scolded him. He pushed the mahjong tiles. ¡°Are we still playing or not?¡± He stared at Ming Ansheng in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything. I can sleep well if I left now,¡± Ming Ansheng said as he lazily yawned. By the looks of it, he¡¯d be able to sleep well if they let him sleep right now. Lu Yinan shrugged his shoulders, showing that he had no opinions. Yan Rusheng panicked. He hurriedly started arranging the tiles. ¡°No, let¡¯s continue.¡± He hadn¡¯t achieved his goal yet. ¡°Then cut the crap.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng glared coldly at Yan Rusheng. His glare seemed to suggest: Yan Rusheng, our feud has just gotten bigger. ¡°Ah Heng, I heard that Secretary Zhang¡¯s daughter¡­ that Fatty Zhang, has had a 180-degree change. She¡¯s become more good-looking now. If you weren¡¯t engaged to Hu Xiaoxiao, you could consider her.¡± They were all prepared to start the game when Lu Yinan suddenly brought that topic back again. ¡°Pfft!¡± As the saying went, ¡®a wife sings her husband¡¯s tune.¡¯ Zhou Shuang chuckled at Lu Yinan¡¯s joke. ¡°Hahaha. And I heard that she¡¯s working in the town hall. She¡¯s really much better looking now. She¡¯s skinnier and fairer, and her eyes have grown in size¡­¡± F*ck. She might also say that she had undergone plastic surgery. Su Yue and Ming Ansheng covered their mouths and bowed their heads, their shoulders trembling with laughter. Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s expression darkened. Xuxu picked up the sweet that Yan Wenxin had passed to her earlier and threw it at Zhou Shuang. ¡°That¡¯s enough. What¡¯s so funny?¡± Chapter 1891. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Nine) She sternly glared at them. Zhou Shuang shifted her head and dodged it easily. Lu Yinan caught the sweet in one swift motion. He smiled and said, ¡°Xuxu, you can¡¯t keep protecting Ah Heng. We¡¯ll get jealous.¡± Zhou Shuang corrected, ¡°We won¡¯t get jealous, but someone will.¡± ¡°All right, if we¡¯re not playing, then I¡¯m leaving. It¡¯s late anyway.¡± Ah Heng suddenly stood up to leave. ¡°No.¡± Yan Rusheng hurriedly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. ¡°Continue.¡± They reshuffled the tiles. Yan Rusheng glanced at his tiles and smirked. Victory was within his reach. Xuxu glanced at his tiles and her eyes bulged in shock. ¡°Yan Rusheng, did you cheat?¡± His tiles were way too good. Cheat? It infuriated Young Master Yan. He glared at Xuxu. ¡°Stupid woman, what do you mean?¡± Xuxu stared at him in shock. Yan Rusheng realized that he had overreacted and frowned. He said to her, ¡°Sit down.¡± It was an order, although his tone was soft. Xuxu hadn¡¯t gotten over Yan Rusheng¡¯s sudden outburst and her heart was still racing. She replied with an ¡®oh¡¯ and obediently sat down beside him. She watched and remained silent. Now, Yan Rusheng was waiting for his winning tile. He smirked smugly. Judging by the look on his face, it was evident that he was waiting for a winning tile. So, all of them were trying hard to stop him from winning. They would rather sacrifice their own chances and let someone else¡ªother than Yan Rusheng¡ªwin. They couldn¡¯t stand the smug look on his face. But alas, luck wasn¡¯t on their side. After two rounds, Young Master Yan drew his winning tile. He smacked the table so loudly, they wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he broke a hole in it. ¡°I won.¡± And the same rules applied: One question and one glass for the losers. He showed them his tiles in pure smugness. Lu Yinan and the rest quickly gazed over it and pressed their lips, awaiting their doom. ¡°Ask away.¡± Lu Yinan prodded. Yan Rusheng immediately asked Lu Yinan. ¡°Lu Yinan, who pleasures you more: Rina Ishihara or Nana Komatsu?¡± He pressed his lips and his eyes maliciously gleamed. Lu Yinan¡¯s expression darkened, and he glared at her. ¡°Yan¡­ Ru¡­ Sheng!¡± he said with gritted teeth. He had enunciated every syllable. Nana Komatsu? Rina Ishihara? What the heck! ¡®Sounds Japanese,¡¯ Xuxu thought. She glanced at Lu Yinan, and he looked like he wanted to rip him to shreds. She immediately came to a realization and she glanced back at Yan Rusheng in amusement and annoyance. He was beyond control. Xuxu then looked at Zhou Shuang. She looked bewildered and hadn¡¯t seemed to get it. Xuxu smiled. Yan Rusheng added, ¡°We¡¯re playing truth or dare. I hope that you can obey the game rules.¡± Chapter 1892. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Ten) He repeated the words that Jiang Zhuoheng said to him earlier. Lu Yinan gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. Then he shook his head and said, ¡°Both of them don¡¯t.¡± Yan Rusheng immediately refuted, ¡°You liar!¡± Lu Yinan frowned. He glared at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Third Yan, can¡¯t we have a peaceful game?¡± That was so many years ago. A joke was a joke, but he had to have his limits! He asked him such a question in front of his wife. Why did he have to mention those women whom he¡¯d never met before? Wasn¡¯t he just sowing discord between the couple? Seeing Lu Yinan¡¯s nervousness, Young Master Yan was at ease. He smiled. ¡°You said that Nana Komatsu is cuter and she¡¯s a 36D, just nice for you. Alright, I¡¯ll just take it that Nana Komatsu pleasures you more.¡± Then he waved at him dismissively and said, ¡°Drink up.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember this,¡± Lu Yinan warned as he gritted his teeth. He gulped down the alcohol. Yan Rusheng¡¯s smile remained unchanged. ¡°I¡­ will remember your merciless, mocking laughter.¡± Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang always laughed the loudest. They loved gloating over another¡¯s misfortune. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ He hurriedly glanced at Zhou Shuang, and she happened to glance at him at the same time. The look she gave him sent a shiver down his spine. He was doomed¡­ Young Master Ming was trying to guess what Yan Rusheng was going to ask him. He thought that since Su Yue was around, Young Master Yan wouldn¡¯t ask him questions that were too inappropriate or would affect his relationship with his sister. Yan Rusheng suddenly started, ¡°Ming Ansheng¡­¡± His voice was small, and Ming Ansheng became nervous. Before he met Su Yue, he had had a few¡­ experiences. This fellow wouldn¡¯t bring them up at this juncture, right? If he really did, then he had wasted all his years being Yan Rusheng¡¯s friend. Young Master Ming was on tenterhooks. He looked over at Yan Rusheng and said, ¡°Ask away.¡± Either way, he¡¯d get bruised. Yan Rusheng grinned at him in amusement. ¡°Are you really that reluctant to call me third brother?¡± Is there a need to ask? No one wants to call him third brother! But how could he give that answer? He had offended him once, and it cost him a piece of land worth a hundred million¡­ Young Master Ming felt that this question was harder than asking about his previous experiences with women, of which at least he could lie with. He wanted to tell the truth: Indeed, he didn¡¯t want to call him third brother. But¡­ Ming Ansheng shook his head. ¡°No.¡± His answer was clear and his voice was bright. But his expression was reluctant. He immediately picked up his glass and finished its contents. He didn¡¯t want to give Yan Rusheng the opportunity to make things difficult for him. Finally¡­ he was about to achieve his goal. Yan Rusheng smiled and turned to Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng rested his arms on the table and tilted his chin up at him coolly. He wasn¡¯t in the least worried about what question he was going to ask. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, did you give your first to Hu Xiaoxiao?¡± he asked directly. Chapter 1893. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Eleven) Xuxu spat out the tea that she just drank. She had spat on the entire table and the tea must have landed on most of them too. Yan Rusheng suffered the most of it. He took a piece of tissue paper, not for himself, but to wipe Xuxu¡¯s mouth. He helped her wipe her mouth and frowned at her. He chided, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you so excited? What if you choke?¡± His display of affection was so intentional. Out of 100, she¡¯d give him only 60 marks. Xuxu realized that she had lost control and snatched the tissue from Yan Rusheng. She waved at him and said, ¡°Nothing much. You continue.¡± Did he have to be so immoral? How could he ask that in this setting? And his sister was around, too! However, she was indeed curious as to which stage Ah Heng and Hu Xiaoxiao had progressed to. Xuxu glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng, like the rest of them, eagerly awaiting his answer. Jiang Zhuoheng appeared calm and composed, and there was even a faint smile on his face. He remained silent for a while before shaking his head. ¡°No.¡± His tone was casual. Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°Who did you give it to then?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smiled and replied nonchalantly, ¡°You can only ask one question. My apologies.¡± Then he lifted his glass and drank. And placed his glass down gracefully. It frustrated Young Master Yan. He clenched his fists but he didn¡¯t pound the table in anger. He had been too anxious that he didn¡¯t think it through. The rascal found a loophole. Suddenly, he stood up and declared, ¡°All right, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s go home.¡± He rose and left without another glance or word. The kids were playing in the living room. He walked over to Wenxin and scooped her up. He then planted a kiss on her cheek. ¡°Princess Wenxin, let¡¯s go home.¡± Whenever they went out, Yan Wenxin was always the one being carried. The poor young master Yan, he¡¯d have to walk the entire journey if Xuxu was too tired. All of them stared after him in shock. They came to their senses and realized that there was nothing unusual about it. Whenever they went out, Yan Rusheng was always the one who decided when to start and end a game. He was like the big boss. He wouldn¡¯t give suggestions when deciding where to go, but he would leave whenever he wanted and wouldn¡¯t allow anyone else a say. Why did they always give in to him? ¡­ ¡°Lu Yinan, who¡¯s that Nana something and that Rina person?¡± On the way home, the three fellows had finally fallen asleep, so Zhou Shuang began to throw questions at Lu Yinan. Her bright eyes gleamed in the darkness and she stared at him inquisitively. Lu Yinan saw this coming, so he had already thought of an answer. ¡°Nobody. It¡¯s obvious that Yan Rusheng made up some non-existent people to sow discord between us. If you believe him, you¡¯ll be falling for his trap.¡± ¡°Non-existent?¡± Zhou Shuang smiled coldly. ¡°I searched online just now. They¡¯re famous Japanese women, am I right?¡± Chapter 1894. I’m Sorry, You’re the Only One I Will Love in This Lifetime (part Twelve) Lu Yinan pursed his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of interest.¡± Zhou Shuang ignored and continued. ¡°Which part of them do you like?¡± Lu Yinan denied promptly. ¡°I don¡¯t like them at all.¡± To escape from this situation, all he had to do was to deny all the way. Zhou Shuang pressed on impatiently. ¡°Their voluptuous figures? Fair skin? Huge eyes? Good techniques?¡± These should be all of their appealing qualities. ¡°How would I know about their techniques?¡± Lu Yinan began to falter under Zhou Shuang¡¯s intense gaze. He pursed his lips and said in a hushed voice, ¡°I only looked at them whenever I¡­ need to.¡± He was being truthful. He glanced ahead and his cheeks were crimson and burning. His body temperature rose as well. He swallowed his saliva and his throat suddenly felt parched. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you look for a girlfriend?¡± asked Zhou Shuang abruptly. She gazed at Lu Yinan intently and quietly. She wasn¡¯t angry, neither was she being malicious or mad. ¡°I already have you and the children. Why would I find a girlfriend?¡± Lu Yinan coughed to clear his throat and muttered, ¡°You refused to sleep with me, so I had to¡­ help myself.¡± All the blood seemed to rush to Zhou Shuang¡¯s face in an instant. She averted her gaze from Lu Yinan and rubbed her palms to ease the awkward atmosphere between them. She softly asked, ¡°Lu Yinan, do you have a girl that you liked before?¡± She had never asked him this question before. Did he have someone he liked before? Did he fall in love? He didn¡¯t tell her anything about his past relationships as well. Despite staying together for four or five years, he had revealed nothing to her. So she wondered if Lu Yinan had someone in his heart? Perhaps his first love had left an indelible impact in his life? ¡°Never. I have never fallen for anyone.¡± Lu Yinan shook his head firmly, with no hesitation. The car came to a gradual halt as they approached a traffic junction. The expression in his peach blossom-shaped eyes was earnest and pure. And he was serious and solemn too. Surprise crashed over Zhou Shuang in waves. Lu Yinan¡¯s answer had her dumbfounded. Even if he really didn¡¯t have any woman for the last five years, how about way before that? He really didn¡¯t like anyone in the past? Not even a single woman? Zhou Shuang fixed her eyes on Lu Yinan¡¯s face. Even though he looked so serious and earnest, she still couldn¡¯t quite believe what she had just heard. Lu Yinan chuckled and said, ¡°I always felt that love was a troublesome thing.¡± He paused before glancing at her. ¡°Truthfully¡­ everyone should only make love instead, as it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°Hooligan.¡± Zhou Shuang hung her head bashfully. Lu Yinan called her once more. He sounded serious once more. ¡°Zhou Shuang.¡± Zhou Shuang gazed up and she looked confused. ¡°What?¡± Their eyes met and there was complete silence. As she waited for his response, the atmosphere made Zhou Shuang even more nervous. ¡°Sorry,¡± apologized Lu Yinan all of a sudden. It puzzled Zhou Shuang. ¡°Why?¡± Lu Yinan stretched his hand and tenderly held hers with his. ¡°I think you will be the only one that I will love for the rest of my life.¡± A warm sensation coursed through Zhou Shuang¡¯s body and to her heart. Her eyes stung bitterly with tears, and she bit her lips to compose herself. She raised her head and looked at Lu Yinan. ¡°Who else do you want to love?¡± Chapter 1895. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part One) ¡°If Jiaojiao and Yanyan fight for my affection, it could be a little tricky.¡± Lu Yinan nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, looking helpless. Zhou Shuang burst into laughter. ¡°Narcissist. They will love me more.¡± She suddenly grabbed Lu Yinan¡¯s hand and bit him as hard as he could. Lu Yinan yelled in pain. ¡°Ahh! You¡¯re murdering your husband!¡± He retracted his hand and realized that the traffic lights were changing. He hurriedly ignited the engine. ¡°Lu Yinan!¡± Zhou Shuang suddenly glanced at Lu Yinan. ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Yinan raised his eyebrows and turned around to glance at Zhou Shuang for a moment. Then he turned his attention to the road ahead. His wife and children were on board, so he was extra cautious. Zhou Shuang slumped comfortably on her seat as she grinned at Lu Yinan. ¡°So between Rina Ishihara or Nana Komatsu, who do you prefer?¡± Why hasn¡¯t this topic ended? Why was it back again? With a sullen look on his face, Lu Yinan frowned and immediately replied, ¡°Their bo*bs are too big. I don¡¯t like women whom I can¡¯t control.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. She paused and deliberated. ¡°Are they very good at crying out in bed?¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ It seemed that this woman was very concerned about this matter. Lu Yinan smirked smugly to himself as he pondered how he should erase Zhou Shuang¡¯s worries. Zhou Shuang interrupted and said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at them anymore. I will work hard and learn.¡± ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± Young Master Lu choked on his own saliva and instinctively, he stepped on the brakes. The car came to a violent stop. His head hit the steering wheel hard as a result. The triplets were sound asleep, and two of them rolled off their seats. Even then, none of them woke up. ¡°What happened? Why did you brake so suddenly?¡± Zhou Shuang helped to move the triplets back on their seats as she chided Lu Yinan. Suddenly, she thought of something so she nudged Lu Yinan. ¡°You drank earlier on. I should drive.¡± It had completely slipped her mind earlier on. Lu Yinan still insisted on driving, so Zhou Shuang had to drag him off the car. Young Master Lu was left with no choice but to sit on the front passenger seat. ¡°Ready?¡± Zhou Shuang fastened her seatbelt and eyed Lu Yinan. When she saw that he was ready, she ignited the engine. ¡°Then tonight, you have to work hard and learn.¡± Lu Yinan exhaled into her ear and his breath smelled of alcohol. He had a seductive grin as he gazed at her. She shrunk her neck and pushed him away shyly. ¡°Annoying.¡± ¡°Wife, you¡¯re more direct and honest than Wen Xuxu and the rest.¡± Young Master Lu gave her a peck on her cheek. He was evidently in high spirits. He turned on the radio and it played a song called ¡®Simple Love.¡¯ Surprisingly, it befitted the current scene in the car. Lu Yinan hummed to the song as he settled himself comfortably. ¡­ Wenxin and Nuoxing fell asleep in the car and didn¡¯t even wake up when they reached home. Yan Rusheng carried both of them back to their rooms. He returned to his bedroom and saw Xuxu resting on the bed. She was frowning to herself. He asked gently, ¡°What is on your mind?¡± ¡°Ah Sheng.¡± Wen Xuxu halted her train of thoughts and peered at Yan Rusheng. He took a step forward and she sighed deeply. ¡°Su Yue met Zhang Lihong at the hotel today.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. He looked unsurprised at all. Chapter 1896. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Two) As though he had expected it. ¡°She knows everything.¡± Xuxu lounged back in bed and slipped further down. She stared at the VCR in her hands. She was worried and inconsolable. Yan Rusheng sat down next to her and caressed her face. ¡°She has proven to be tougher than you thought.¡± Xuxu exhaled deeply. ¡°Yeah, for Jiao Chen, she had to.¡± She kept her head down and stared at the VCR. Her eyes glistened and turned red. To her, Su Yue may still be innocent, but she had blossomed into a mature woman. She raised her head and held the VCR in her hands. In a constricted voice, she said, ¡°Ah Sheng, this¡­ Jiao Chen had left this behind. I¡¯m hesitant to give it to Yueyue.¡± Yan Rusheng extended his hand and pushed it gently back to her. ¡°Just keep it.¡± Xuxu pressed her lips and managed a feeble smile. ¡°I thought so, too.¡± They often shared the same views and opinions, but she needed his reassurance and confirmation. And gradually, as time passed by, it became a habit. Xuxu cast the blanket aside and stowed the VCR away in the drawer. She peered at it for some time before closing it. She locked it with the key before pulling it out. She sighed ruefully to herself. Then she turned around. A pair of hands enveloped her by her waist. It startled Xuxu, so she turned to glare at Yan Rusheng. ¡°Why were you so quiet? You gave me a shock.¡± She bowed and glanced at his feet. He was barefooted. She glanced at his face, and his cheeks were flushed under the warm light because of alcohol. With a tender and thought-provoking smile, his lips seemed to gleam in the light. He slipped his hands under her clothes, and his fingers lightly danced across her belly. His eyes met Xuxu¡¯s and he bent his head. He brushed his lips lightly across her neck and he breathed. ¡°You would have realized if I made any sound.¡± His breath tingled her skin like feathers, and he smelled of alcohol. It heightened her senses, and so she shrunk her neck unconsciously. ¡°Ah Sheng, stop it. I¡¯m tired, let¡¯s sleep,¡± whined Xuxu in a sweet voice. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep because I drank just now.¡± Yan Rusheng tightened his grip around Xuxu and turned her around. He bent and his forehead touched hers. He licked her eyelashes, tenderly and slowly. As though she was helping a kitten to wash her face. A strong whiff of alcohol assailed Xuxu¡¯s nostrils. She can¡¯t drink, and she disliked the pungent smell of drunk people. But if that drunk person was the man in front of her, it was another story. Instead of wrinkling her nose in disgust, she would instead¡­ be infatuated with it. She stretched her hands and embraced him. ¡°Who asked you to drink so much? The whole car stinks of alcohol and even the children are affected.¡± Yan Rusheng was annoyed at the mention of it. ¡°It¡¯s all Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s fault!¡± He tugged at his tie and gazed into the depths of Xuxu¡¯s eyes. Then his gaze traveled to her alluring and rosy lips. All the blood seemed to course through him at that moment, and he yanked his tie away. Then he bent to pull Xuxu in for a passionate kiss. He slowly pushed her to the wardrobe and tightened his hands around her waist. Chapter 1897. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Three) Because of the effects of alcohol, his desires overwhelmed him. Xuxu felt a little suffocated as his grip on her was too tight. She couldn¡¯t quite follow his tempo. She pressed her palms against his shoulders, but she couldn¡¯t muster any strength. In the end, she allowed his passionate and intense kisses to swallow her. After some time, Yan Rusheng stopped to catch his breath and he finally let her go. He breathed deeply and rested his head on Xuxu¡¯s shoulders. Xuxu¡¯s hands were wrapped around his body, and she too breathed deeply as she listened to his heartbeat. ¡°It¡¯s all that Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s fault. You weren¡¯t on my side.¡± Suddenly, Yan Rusheng grumbled in his deep voice. He brushed his lips against her neck as he nestled closer to her. He sounded like a pitiful bullied child. Incredibly, Xuxu¡¯s heart ached and softened. She knew that he was faking it, as he would always refuse to admit that he had received a benefit. But she couldn¡¯t do anything to him at all. She frowned and asked, ¡°What has it got to do with Ah Heng? You were the despicable one and you lost. How can you be a sore loser? Even Zhou Shuang took her losses better than you.¡± Although it sounded as though she was lecturing him, her voice and tone were soft and gentle. She rubbed her hands against his back and only his shirt had separated their skins. Yan Rusheng¡¯s body stiffened and he bit Xuxu¡¯s neck. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you defended Jiang Zhuoheng openly today. And you¡¯re still doing it now.¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± Xuxu protested and twitched. She stared at the man who was still feigning. ¡°How did I defend him?¡± asked Xuxu, sounding amused. Every time, he never failed to bully Ah Heng. He had bullied Ah Heng all his life. He even ate the cake that Ah Heng had baked for her. He was really heartless to steal it from her, even to the point of preventing her from knowing about it. He had done something so sneaky and despicable, and yet, he was so adorable. He was a man, yet he would often throw tantrums. He got jealous easily and would leave in a huff. He was really petty at times. Yan Rusheng frowned and glared at Xuxu. ¡°If you carry on defending him, Hu Xiaoxiao will be jealous.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Xuxu roared in laughter. She had expected him to ¡®reprimand her severely¡¯, instead he merely said this. This fellow was way too adorable. She embraced him tightly and snuggled against his chest. ¡°Yan Rusheng, sounds like you¡¯re quite concerned about Hu Xiaoxiao. I¡¯m getting jealous.¡± Xuxu rarely initiated any intimacy with him, and this was why Yan Rusheng was envious of Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan had always ¡®complained¡¯ how passionate Zhou Shuang was and that he couldn¡¯t handle her advances. On hindsight, he was the one who always had to coax and lure his wife to bed. Sometimes he even had to coerce her in order for him to get what he wanted. This time, Xuxu had initiated, and his body stiffened involuntarily. He couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer. He bent and scooped her up. ¡°Wife, let¡¯s go to bed. I will coax you properly.¡± Xuxu wound her arms around his neck and she blushed. ¡°Tell me all the despicable things that you¡¯ve done.¡± She suspected that other than Ah Heng¡¯s cake and love letter, there were others. He looked as though he was a repeat offender. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t reply and Xuxu raised her chin smugly. ¡°I knew something was amiss. I¡¯m so pretty, so there shouldn¡¯t be so few guys who wanted to woo me.¡± Chapter 1898. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Four) Yan Rusheng rolled his eyes. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you think too highly of yourself.¡± ¡°Are you implying that I¡¯m not pretty?¡± Wen Xuxu pouted as she frowned at him. Yan Rusheng was momentarily stumped before breaking into a smile. His hand, which was on her waist, traveled to her chest before he pinched her. He bent to glare at her with malice in his eyes. ¡°You¡­ sly and stupid woman.¡± He hastened his footsteps and walked to the bed. Throwing his gentleness to the wind, he threw Xuxu on the bed. Then he removed his shirt impatiently. After removing his belt and every other clothing on him, he pounced on Xuxu. He was rough and acting on his whims. He gazed into the depths of Xuxu¡¯s eyes and her heartbeat raced rapidly. After all these years, her heart would still pound and race whenever she looked into his eyes. She would always feel bashful and shy. Perhaps she was too familiar with him. Hence she found it embarrassing. It was true that a rabbit shouldn¡¯t eat the grass by its own burrow. And never to target your close ones. He watched as Xuxu¡¯s face turned red, and he was consumed with excitement and a twinge of annoyance. He was excited because of hormones and his surging desires, and yet he was annoyed by how she acted. Although he liked how bashful and shy she was, he didn¡¯t like how reserved and aloof she was. She never took the initiative. ¡°What else do you want to know? I¡¯ll tell you everything. Look at me.¡± Yan Rusheng pressed his hands against the sides of Xuxu¡¯s face as he forced her to look into his eyes. Xuxu turned crimson once more, and her eyes flickered back and forth. She said, ¡°Then say it. Did you steal any other love letters?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s face crumpled with concentration. ¡°Other than Zhao Zheng¡¯s love letter and Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s chocolate and movie tickets, there was one more. Hao Bang, the son of the public security bureau chief, who was one grade above us. He gave you a rainbow-colored candy.¡± Xuxu was startled. ¡°What? Hao Bang?¡± The top scorer for Sciences in the college entrance exams? All the students tend to wordplay on his name and coupled with his reputation, everyone addressed him as Awesome. When she first heard of this name, she remembered him instantly. But wasn¡¯t he a nerd? Why would he send her a gift? ¡°Exactly, I hated his name. And whoever gave him that name.¡± Yan Rusheng hissed menacingly. ¡°Luckily, I ate the candy. It was filled with food coloring that it stained my entire tongue with all the colors. It¡¯s a rubbish food. And miserly!¡± Xuxu was speechless. So, according to him, she should be thankful that he ate the candy on her behalf? Xuxu bit back a laugh while feeling annoyed too. Her eyes roved over his face and she jabbed him hard in his forehead. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re really atrocious!¡± He had gotten what he wanted, and yet he was still pretending. This was really his forte. Amused, she probed, ¡°So because of his son, you disliked bureau chief?¡± She may have posed him a question, but she sounded assertive. Yan Rusheng pressed his lips quietly to admit it. Xuxu accidentally met his eyes once more and her face turned red. She hurriedly averted her gaze. She asked, ¡°How did you manage to do all these? Why wasn¡¯t I aware at all?¡± She pouted. Her mind raced for other things to say. Chapter 1899. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Five) Yan Rusheng took in her bashful appearance and smiled as he lay down beside her. He propped his head up on one elbow and stared into her eyes. There was a wicked smile on his face. He blinked and replied, ¡°Because I¡¯m handsome and good with the ladies.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°What does this have to do with you being handsome or good with the ladies?¡± As though everyone didn¡¯t know about his affinity with the ladies. He was always attracting unnecessary attention! ¡°Those fellows are indescribably foolish. None of them even have the guts to hand you their gifts or letters personally. And they want to woo you?¡± Young Master Yan commented on contemptuously. He didn¡¯t bother concealing his arrogance and narcissism. He tilted his chin up pompously. ¡°What right do they have to fight with me for my woman?¡± Xuxu stared at him speechlessly. When he was done being narcissistic, she complained, ¡°I wasn¡¯t even your woman at that time. And you weren¡¯t chasing me either. How could you say that they were fighting with you?¡± She sounded upset. Yan Rusheng smiled and continued casually. ¡°With such a perfect man by your side, of course, all your attention would be on me. Why would you fall for those intolerable and dim-witted fellows?¡± Then he tilted her chin up and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Am I right?¡± Seeing Xuxu¡¯s plump and rosy cheeks, he couldn¡¯t help but kiss her. He meant: The reason he didn¡¯t chase her back then was because he was extremely confident in himself and was certain that she wouldn¡¯t fall for anyone else. Trying to cover up the fact that his EQ was negative? What an easy thing to say. Xuxu thought for a while before pushing him away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re not a typical narcissist.¡± She rolled her eyes at him. Before he could reply, she asked, ¡°So they asked you to pass the gifts to me?¡± ¡°If you want to know the details, it¡¯ll take an entire day,¡± Yan Rusheng replied, caressing her face. He reveled in the feeling of her soft, delicate face at his fingertips. Things had been going smoothly the past few years, and besides her skincare routines, she didn¡¯t seem to have aged. Whenever they lay in bed, Yan Rusheng would always let his hands roam over her body. She was used to it. His hand roamed wherever it pleased. She looked at his face and said, ¡°Then give the main points. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head. Xuxu frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re too narcissistic. Do you really think that so many people liked you?¡± Yan Rusheng suddenly flipped himself over and pinned her under his body. He raised his eyebrows mischievously. ¡°Or are you feeling embarrassed because I had so many suitors, and you only have a few?¡± Xuxu was speechless. This fellow was an expert at twisting one¡¯s words. Where did he get all his self-confidence? Even though he was Yan Rusheng¡ªThird Young Master¡ªhe couldn¡¯t be so narcissistic and shameless! Chapter 1900. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Six) Xuxu thought about it and began to feel indignant. She raised her eyebrows and appeared brimming with confidence. ¡°Those who liked me were top students, comparable to tons of your bimbos! Why should I be embarrassed?¡± She had said it in a fit of anger, but when she thought about it, it seemed true. Zhao Zheng was one of the top students, and Hao Bang was the top scorer for science in the college entrance examinations. Xuxu couldn¡¯t conceal her grin as she thought of it. Hmph. She wanted to wipe the smug look off his face. ¡°Zhao Zheng?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Where is he now? He broke the school rules and was fired for having inappropriate behaviors with a female student among other charges. He¡¯s still in jail¡­¡± He paused and pretended to be deep in thought. ¡°Oh, wasn¡¯t he sentenced to two years in jail? He should have been released by now.¡± Xuxu knocked his head when she saw his smug look. ¡°Will you become pregnant if you stopped pretending?¡± He knew why Zhao Zheng was imprisoned and haven¡¯t been released. ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°I forgot. He had a fight with a fellow inmate¡ªa drug dealer¡ªand made him blind in his right eye. So they sentenced him to another five years¡­¡± When the words left his mouth, he couldn¡¯t take his joke any longer. The corners of his eyes and mouth crinkled with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re so mean.¡± Xuxu bit his shoulder. Yan Rusheng jumped in pain. Of course, he didn¡¯t exact his revenge. When she moved away, he immediately swooped down and bit her lips. With her lips still in his mouth, he said, ¡°Those men only liked you because of your decent looks. I¡¯m the only foolish man who fully accepts you.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been tough on you, Young Master.¡± ¡°Good that you know. You¡¯d better repay me.¡± Yan Rusheng bit her lip gently, reminding her of how to do just that. Xuxu feigned ignorance. ¡°How do you want me to repay you?¡± She held in her shyness and stared into Yan Rusheng¡¯s malicious eyes. Suddenly, her warmth left his back and Xuxu suddenly stretched her hand down his body, grabbing his crotch in one swift motion. She smiled mischievously and raised her eyebrows. ¡°Do you want me to break it off or burst your balls?¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless¡­ This stupid woman made him crazily frustrated whenever she acted coy. But now that she was acting so unrestrained and unreserved¡­ he couldn¡¯t take it! She mentioned breaking his d*ck or bursting his balls so directly. But¡­ He loved it. He was incredibly excited. ¡°Wife, burst them!¡± Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t hold in his desires any longer. He passionately kissed her lips. ¡­ Xuxu lay in Yan Rusheng¡¯s embrace. She was completely worn out. But she wasn¡¯t tired in the least. The television was on and an old Country Y romance film was playing. They listened. Hearing the English conversation between the protagonists, Xuxu suddenly thought of Su Yue. She lifted her head and said, ¡°Yueyue told me that she wants to go to Country Y next month.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned at her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she be discussing this with Ming Ansheng?¡± Chapter 1901. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Seven) She was of mature age and was already attached. Why did she still bother her sister-in-law with small matters? Did she really need to report and gain approval for her whereabouts? ¡°I was just telling you.¡± Xuxu pursed her lips. ¡°She¡¯s going with Ming Ansheng.¡± Then she recalled something. She gazed suspiciously at Yan Rusheng. ¡°What did you do to Ming Ansheng today? He seems to have a deep hatred for you.¡± Ming Ansheng was obviously targeting him today. He even used Ah Heng. Out of all of them, Ming Ansheng and Ah Heng were the most matured and reserved. They weren¡¯t sharp-tongued and always spoke tactfully. This was the first time he had used Ah Heng to annoy Yan Rusheng. What exactly did the fellow do to drive Ming Ansheng over the edge? Yan Rusheng breezily shook his head. ¡°Nothing much. He merely gave me a piece of land.¡± Gave him a piece of land? Xuxu frowned in confusion. ¡°He gave you a piece of land? Where?¡± She asked as she thought about it. Something flashed in her mind and it startled her. It can¡¯t be that piece¡­ Xuxu had a guess in her mind. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°The piece that Bright Vision gained during the recent bid.¡± Xuxu widened her mouth in shock. She asked in uncertainty, ¡°The land worth a hundred million?¡± Yan Rusheng nodded. ¡°Mm,¡± he replied casually. Xuxu smiled and looked contemptuously at him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, why are you so immoral?¡± How was he capable of something so immoral? He claimed someone else¡¯s piece of land worth a hundred million. ¡°He gave it to me,¡± Yan Rusheng said without batting an eyelid. He said it so naturally as if it were the truth. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Xuxu chuckled coldly in disbelief. Ming Ansheng was glaring murderously at him the entire night. Why else would he have so much hatred for Yan Rusheng? Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Why did you laugh? I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°As if!¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°Ming Ansheng must¡¯ve suffered a great misfortune to have such a shameless and merciless brother-in-law.¡± Young Master Yan unabashedly continued, ¡°He knew that Su Yan and I had our eyes on that land, so he made a bid for it to make his brothers-in-law happy.¡± It was bad enough that he was being shameless and despicable, but he even dragged Su Yan down with him! Xuxu helplessly said, ¡°Yan Rusheng, I really pity them for having a friend like you. They¡¯re not foolish, but why did they choose to mingle with a bad company like yourself?¡± ¡°Do you want me to take you again?¡± As usual, Young Master Yan had a limit to his patience. Being ¡®physical¡¯ was his way to conquer his woman. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes and covered herself with the blanket. She rolled away from him and closed her eyes, with her back facing him. It ended their night of interaction. ¡­ A black Mercedes was parked outside the entrance to the Little Sun Orphanage. The car window was down and Xiaojiao rested her arms on it, propping her chin up with her hands. She watched the kids as they played happily in the courtyard. Laughter erupted from within the compound, and she gazed at it longingly. ¡°Mommy, so many kids.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Su Yue was gazing at it as well. She was looking at a thin, white-haired woman standing in the midst of the children. Chapter 1902. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Eight) It had only been a few years, but she looked like she had aged by decades. She loomed over the children, her hair pinned up neatly. Her eyebrows were thick and her eyes were as big as ever. But she had lost her elegance and noble air. She was like a beautiful flower that suffered a huge storm. She was no longer as gorgeous as before. Su Yue¡¯s eyes reddened and her eyes brimmed with tears. She bit her lip and tried to control her emotions as she stared at her. ¡°Is that granny the matron?¡± Xiaojiao suddenly asked Su Yue innocently. Su Yue nodded, her voice choked. She could no longer hold back her tears. Fortunately, Xiaojiao was sitting in the back row and she could only see her side-view. She hurriedly sat up straight and wiped away her tears. She started the car and drove away from the orphanage. Seeing Su Yue drive away, Xiaojiao asked in confusion, ¡°Mommy, are we not going in?¡± Su Yue sniffed and shook her head. She pressed her lips in a tight smile. ¡°Nope, Mommy only came to take a look at Grandmother.¡± Xiaojiao asked curiously, ¡°Was that Grandmother Mommy¡¯s friend?¡± Su Yue wanted to nod to prevent her from asking more questions. But after some thought, she told her the truth. ¡°That grandmother was Daddy¡¯s mommy.¡± She turned around to glance at Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao blinked in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t Daddy¡¯s mommy Brother Beibei¡¯s grandmother?¡± Looking at Xiaojiao¡¯s bright eyes, Su Yue forced a smile. She gently explained, ¡°That grandmother is Daddy Jiao Chen¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xiaojiao nodded in understanding. But she asked, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t Mommy go in?¡± Without hesitation, Su Yue gave her an excuse. ¡°Mommy just remembered that she didn¡¯t bring a gift. I¡¯ll go in next time when I have one.¡± This excuse was enough to convince the innocent Xiaojiao. Xiaojiao also felt that it was rude to visit without a gift. She nodded. ¡°Okay, next time bring Xiaojiao along.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue smiled and turned away. She wiped her tears with the back of her palm. When they reached the capital city, it was teatime. Su Yue originally wanted to find Ming Ansheng, but she unknowingly drove to Flourish & Prosper. Perhaps it was because she had been wanting to visit Su Yan since last night. It had been a few days since he returned, but she had only seen him twice. He was busier than Ming Ansheng every day, and it worried her that he¡¯d be overworked. ¡°Miss Su.¡± ¡°Miss Su.¡± Su Yue had been to the office several times. Those working at the counter were elderly staff, so they recognized her and greeted her. Su Yue smiled and nodded, walking towards the lift. She pressed the button and the doors immediately opened. Holding Xiaojiao¡¯s hand, she walked into the lift and pressed the button. In the blink of an eye, she had reached her floor and the doors opened. She was about to bring Xiaojiao out when she saw a pretty woman dressed in a trendy outfit standing at the entrance to the lift. She was clad in luxury brands and smelled of expensive perfume. Although Su Yue wasn¡¯t a fan of luxury items, she liked to read up on them and she could thus recognize them. But she didn¡¯t just recognize the limited-edition luxury items she was wearing for she recognized her face as well. Chapter 1903. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Nine) This face had appeared at bus stops, in advertisements for various websites, as well as on the big screen at the main entrance of Wealth Shopping Mall. She was the ambassador of a milk brand. She was unbelievably hot¡­ Ai Ruili! Su Yue suddenly recalled her name. She stared at her in shock. What was this celebrity doing at Flourish & Prosper? Did Flourish & Prosper release a new product and was looking for spokespersons? Or had the contract for their previous endorsement ended, and they were changing ambassadors? Su Yue held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand as they exited the lift. She sized Ai Ruili up in confusion. Ai Ruili kept her chin up and didn¡¯t even look at her. She walked into the lift and put on her sunglasses. Her stiletto heels were extremely high and her heels looked only slightly thicker than chopsticks. She created thudding sounds and the lift doors closed, leaving only her trace of perfume. Su Yue took a few steps and looked back towards the lift. ¡°Uncle.¡± Xiaojiao suddenly let go of her hand and sprinted forward. Su Yue looked over. A tall man in a tuxedo smiled as he walked over. She smiled. ¡°Brother.¡± She quickened her pace and greeted him. When Xiaojiao was only a meter away from Su Yan, he squatted down and stretched out his arms. ¡°Xiaojiao, come here.¡± Xiaojiao drew nearer and he hugged her. He couldn¡¯t help but squeeze her soft and chubby body. His actions were filled with affection. Then he carried her and Su Yue reached them at the same time. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Su Yan plainly said to Su Yue as he turned to walk into his office. It had been half a year since she was last at Flourish & Prosper. It didn¡¯t seem to have changed much. It was dead silent and everyone was buried in their own work. Most of them looked listless and wanted to catch a shuteye. When they walked past the staff¡¯s office, the same faint perfume lingered. Su Yue recalled something and asked, ¡°Brother, was that Ai Ruili, the actress who just received some award, whom I just saw?¡± She was so well known; she shouldn¡¯t have gotten it wrong. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan nodded. Su Yue curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s she doing at Flourish & Prosper? Is there a new collaboration?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°We¡¯re releasing our fifth batch of products and we invited her to be our guest at the product launch. And it so happened that her contract for our previous endorsement deal has ended too, so we¡¯re discussing it.¡± ¡®So it was for work.¡¯ Su Yue pressed her lips. Still confused, she asked, ¡°But don¡¯t those stars always bring their managers or personal assistants along for business appointments?¡± That was how it was portrayed in those drama series as well as tabloid magazines. Famous stars even brought their personal assistants along when they went shopping. Why did she come here alone? Su Yan frowned. ¡°Why do care about this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious. It¡¯s my first time being in such close proximity with a star.¡± Su Yue joked, ¡°It was such a good opportunity. I should have asked for a photo and an autograph so that I can brag to my friends.¡± In actual fact, she had no interest in celebrities. She tagged along when Xuxu and Ming Ansheng attended some high-profile events. Which celebrity has she not seen before? Chapter 1904. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Ten) She was surrounded by people who were no less good-looking than those celebrities. And her partner was one of them. He was already a feast for her eyes, so why would she still fawn over others? Su Yan knew that she was joking, too. He raised his eyebrows and asked in amusement, ¡°You only have a few friends. Who do you want to brag to? Who would be jealous?¡± Su Yue stuck her tongue out at him, and her gaze swept over the office. She changed the topic. ¡°It¡¯s been long.¡± She walked to the sofa and sat down lazily. Seeing the documents on the coffee table and his desk, her eyes were filled with heartache. ¡°Brother, have you been very busy lately?¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°The product is launching next month, so I¡¯ve been busier.¡± He said as he poured her a glass of water. He placed it on the table in front of her and asked, ¡°Is anything the matter?¡± ¡°Urm¡­¡± Su Yue pressed her lips and looked around. She didn¡¯t meet his gaze. Evidently, she had something to say. Su Yan quietly sat down beside her and waited for her to speak. Su Yue bit her lip and hesitated before speaking. ¡°I¡¯m going to Country Y with Ming Ansheng next month. I wanted to ask you along.¡± Su Yan smiled. ¡°I already went there during Qingming[1].¡± Then he affectionately rubbed her head, his smile filled with tenderness. He was extremely comforted and glad. Their Yueyue had finally grown up. Her heart had become bigger and she had become more forgiving. Su Yue was shocked at his reply. She thought of something and became awkward. She was too embarrassed to meet his gaze. ¡°R-really?¡± How did Brother know what she was going to do in Country Y? Aish. She once told him that the person she hated most in this world was her mother. The person who was once her everything, but whom she eventually didn¡¯t even want to see anymore. She used to hate her to the core. But through Bai Jing¡¯s interaction with her mother Zhang Lihong, as well as the love that Jiao Chen and Ming Ansheng showered her with, along with the care and concern from her third sister-in-law and the rest, she learned to let go. She even felt fortunate that she was born into this world. So her hatred towards her mother gradually faded away. No matter what her initial motive was when she gave birth to her, she had given her life¡ªthat was the truth. When she passed, Su Yue didn¡¯t even visit her. She didn¡¯t regret it, neither did she feel sad. She purely just wanted to visit her. She wanted to take a look at the photograph and name on the gravestone. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan nodded gently. He smiled and said to her, ¡°You guys go ahead. Country Y is great for a vacation at this time as well. You two can go have fun. You don¡¯t have to bring Xiaojiao along.¡± Then he looked at Xiaojiao. She was sitting in his office chair, biting the large apple that he had given her. She was engrossed in a cartoon. His gaze was filled with affection and tenderness. ¡°Brother, you want to take care of her for me?¡± Su Yue casually asked. She wasn¡¯t planning on bringing Xiaojiao along. The little lass had just returned from Country M and needed to adapt to the lifestyle in the capital city. So it was best not to bring her far away for the time being. Furthermore, the little lass got along well with her grandmother. [1] Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival where families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray to their ancestors, and make ritual offerings Chapter 1905. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Eleven) In a matter of a few days, the grandmother and grandchild had gotten much closer. So, she wasn¡¯t worried about leaving the little lass with her grandmother. But of course, she¡¯d miss her. Su Yan was still gazing at Xiaojiao with a tender smile. ¡°I can use this opportunity to bond with her.¡± He sounded certain. The past few years, he had been swarmed with work that he wasn¡¯t able to take proper care of Su Yue and Xiaojiao especially. The number of times he spent time with Xiaojiao could be counted with his fingers. Su Yue turned to Su Yan and mocked, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be bonding with Xiaojiao, but my future sister-in-law.¡± Then she feigned being deep in thought. ¡°Oh, I forgot. You don¡¯t even have a girlfriend.¡± She didn¡¯t even bother hiding her mocking expression. Su Yan knocked her head gently. ¡°How dare you laugh at me?¡± Su Yue denied, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± But the smile on her face gave her away. She was obviously mocking him. Mocking his singlehood. Su Yan smiled and remained silent. He looked at Xiaojiao, complex emotion started to fill in his gaze. Su Yue placed her cup down and held Su Yan¡¯s arm. She asked sweetly, ¡°Brother, when are you planning to find me a sister-in-law and an aunt for Xiaojiao? I¡¯m already attached and I have Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°So, you should move back in. You can move back to the Ming¡¯s after I get married,¡± Su Yan suggested, thinking that his idea was brilliant. He nodded in determination. ¡°Mm. It¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ll tell Ming Ansheng later.¡± Su Yue stuck her tongue out at him and rolled her eyes. She knew that Uncle Ming would go mad. Furthermore, if he doesn¡¯t eventually get married, doesn¡¯t that mean that she has to stay there forever? Su Yue hugged his arm tightly and pouted. She shook her head, saying, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. You¡¯re just trying to make me join you in your singlehood.¡± Su Yan smiled. ¡°Then stop worrying over nothing.¡± He looked askew at her, his affectionate smile hinting some solemness. He fell into a reverie. Suddenly, Su Yue peered up at him. ¡°How have I been worrying over nothing? You¡¯ve always been single. Don¡¯t you feel tortured seeing third brother and third sister-in-law acting so lovingly all day at the office?¡± When Uncle Ming had gotten together with her in secret back then, her third brother had tortured him badly. Furthermore, he used to like third sister-in-law. Even if he had gotten over her, he should feel terrible whenever he saw them together. Su Yan shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. He shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything about it.¡± His attitude was indeed nonchalant and didn¡¯t seem unusual. Su Yue sized him up and suspiciously gazed at him. ¡°Have you not gotten over third sister-in-law?¡± Although she didn¡¯t understand Su Yan very well, she knew that he was always rational and calm in his actions. He had superb self-control. When it came to emotions or feelings, he remained rational about it. He never once did anything on impulse when it came to love or anything else. This also had to do with his family background and the environment he grew up in. His circumstances forced him to be calm and collected. It forced him to be matured and reserved. If he acted on impulse, he would be at the losing end. Chapter 1906. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twelve) At the thought of this, Su Yue¡¯s heart ached for Su Yan. She unconsciously gripped his arm tightly. She pouted and carried on, ¡°Brother, I really hope that you can get me a sister-in-law soon. I want a little niece or nephew too. And you need someone to take care of you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about all these.¡± A smile danced across Su Yan¡¯s face as he pinched Su Yue¡¯s cheeks. Affectionately and tenderly. He was eager to end this topic, and Su Yue wasn¡¯t dumb. So she decided to stop and straightened her back. She sighed heavily to herself. ¡°Alright, I shall stop nagging. I get worried the minute I start.¡± She continued to cling onto his arm intimately. Su Yan grinned and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m such an outstanding man. I won¡¯t be a bachelor forever.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes at him. ¡°So narcissistic. You must have learned it from Third Brother.¡± Su Yan chortled as he casually shrugged his shoulders. As though he didn¡¯t deny it. Su Yue took a sip of the tea. It had cooled down for a bit, and the temperature was just right. She gulped the tea in seconds, as though she was really thirsty. Su Yan watched her and asked, ¡°Where did you go?¡± Su Yue finished her tea and answered Su Yan. ¡°I went to visit Jiao Chen¡¯s mother. Then without realizing it, I came over here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Su Yuan nodded. ¡°Did you bring Xiaojiao along?¡± He glanced at Xiaojiao who was still munching on an apple. She swung her legs back and forth, looking contented and blissful. He just had a natural instinct to protect the innocent and pure girl from any harm. Su Yue didn¡¯t have a good childhood, so Su Yan really wished for Xiaojiao to get the best of everything. He wanted her to be surrounded by happiness, warmth, and love every day. Just when he made up his mind to take care of his sister, Jiao Chen appeared. The man who sacrificed his life to save Su Yue. He thought that Jiao Chen was the savior that the heavens had sent to Su Yue to compensate her for her miserable childhood. He thought that Jiao Chen would be Su Yue¡¯s¡­ husband and home in this lifetime. He never imagined that the best and kindest man wouldn¡¯t be able to stay with his sister. Jiao Chen would occasionally pop up in his mind and dreams even until now. So, Xiaojiao should never forget him. He hoped that Ming Ansheng would be as good as Jiao Chen, along with his love for Su Yue. This was what he, as Su Yue¡¯s brother, hoped for. A very selfish thought and wish. ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Yue steeled herself as she spoke. ¡°But we didn¡¯t go in. We stood outside as I was afraid that if she were to see me, I would remind her of Jiao Chen. I don¡¯t want her to feel sad.¡± Su Yan managed a weak smile and interjected, ¡°How is Xiaojiao doing in school?¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°She has Yanyan and the rest to take care of her. They play together well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Su Yan looked at his sister. ¡°Bring Xiaojiao along for the upcoming conference.¡± Su Yue beamed. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll bring Ming Ansheng along.¡± ¡°Does he need you to?¡± Su Yan raised his eyebrows, looking doubtful. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the other way?¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°From Flourish & Prosper¡¯s perspective, I¡¯m considered the host alright!¡± In the midst of their conversation, Su Yan¡¯s office door flew open. Su Yue spun her head in surprise. Who would be so rude to enter without knocking? She assumed it would be her third brother. But¡­ it was a slender and pretty woman. Chapter 1907. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirteen) Su Yue stared at the woman who sauntered in. Wasn¡¯t she¡­ the celebrity Ai Ruili? ¡®Why was she back again?¡¯ No¡­ why was she looking for her brother? The most pressing question was, why didn¡¯t she knock? This woman was way too rude. Su Yue watched and scrutinized the way Ai Ruili entered, and she felt a twinge of annoyance. She couldn¡¯t exactly describe how she felt, but in a nutshell, she didn¡¯t like her. Ai Ruili held a light green Hermes handbag in her hand while she held her sunglasses in the other. Her high heels thudded against the floor and it amplified her impending presence. Her eyes wandered around Su Yan¡¯s office. Her pretty face registered shock when she caught a glimpse of Xiaojiao. Then she studied Xiaojiao from head to toe with a trace of confusion in her eyes. Xiaojiao, who was engrossed with her cartoons, didn¡¯t notice her at all. Her eyes were glued to the screen, and she didn¡¯t even blink. Ai Ruili watched Xiaojiao for some time before she averted her gaze. Su Yan called her, ¡°Miss Ai.¡± He stood up to welcome her. Su Yue rose as well, but she still clung onto him tightly. Ai Ruili heard Su Yan¡¯s voice and she smiled. But when she saw Su Yue, the smile on her face froze. ¡°President Su,¡± she greeted Su Yan. Her eyes roved over Su Yue, as though she was investigating her. A plethora of emotions in her eyes could be seen. Su Yue quietly observed Ai Ruili¡¯s expressions and how she scrutinized her. He deliberately gripped Su Yue¡¯s arm with more force and put her head on his shoulders. Her brother was a man of outstanding qualities. Even a famous celebrity like Ai Ruili wouldn¡¯t be able to resist his charms. This woman obviously had fallen for him. But she couldn¡¯t explain why, but she felt a surge of explicable hostility and dislike for her. Perhaps she felt that her brother was a composed and easy-going guy. Celebrities wouldn¡¯t be a good match for him. Especially this woman, who looked so domineering and possessive. That was her own opinions and she couldn¡¯t speak for anyone else, including her brother. ¡°President Su, who is she?¡± Su Yue was still mulling over quietly in her head when Ai Ruili popped the question. She pointed at Su Yue. Su Yan introduced her and said, ¡°She is my sister, Su Yue.¡± A simple explanation literally lit up Ai Ruili¡¯s face. It was as though spring dawned and she was revived from the dreary ashes. Her expression was too obvious. And Su Yue smirked at how lousy her acting was. So much for being an award-winning actress. But this also meant that her brother was a charming and outstanding man. Even a beautiful and famous actress fell for him. Su Yue¡¯s heart swelled with pride as Ai Ruili sauntered over. ¡°Hello.¡± Ai Ruili extended her hand to Su Yue for a handshake. In the past, Su Yue wouldn¡¯t even look at the person she disliked, regardless of the person¡¯s identity. However, after all these years, she understood the ways of the world and how to get along with others. She shook Ai Ruili¡¯s hand and smiled. ¡°Hi, Miss Ai.¡± She retracted her hand naturally. Ai Ruili felt nothing and retracted her hand too. ¡°I realized that I left my scarf with you,¡± said Ai Ruili as she glanced at Su Yan. Chapter 1908. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fourteen) She scanned the surroundings before her gaze landed at the corner of the couch. Her seductive-looking almond-shaped eyes sparkled and she pointed in the direction. ¡°It¡¯s there. I am really careless and I keep leaving my stuff everywhere.¡± She smiled to herself and strode over to retrieve her scarf. The whole scarf was covered with flowery patterns, and the design was sophisticated and modern. It was from an international brand designed by a famous designer. Su Yue¡¯s eyes trailed to the scarf, and she stood deep in thought. ¡®She came to discuss work with her brother, and yet she left her scarf. Her assistant didn¡¯t accompany her either. Did she really misplace her scarf accidentally?¡¯ Perhaps it was her scheme to get close to her brother. ¡®Su Yue, why are you so narrow-minded? You must have read too many novels.¡¯ She vanquished those possibilities and pursed her lips quietly. She stared at Ai Ruili, looking pensive and doubtful. She wanted her brother to get married quickly, but she felt so wary of this woman trying to get near her brother. She continued to hug Su Yan¡¯s arm and deliberately tightened her grip. It was as if she was trying to declare to Ai Ruili that Su Yan was hers. Or perhaps, signaling to Ai Ruili that she didn¡¯t like her. Ai Ruili got the scarf and walked back to the Su siblings. Su Yan glanced at her and politely said, ¡°You could have called. I can send someone down to pass it to you.¡± Ai Ruili casually replied, ¡°Anyway, I have nothing on later, so I came up.¡± She was so popular and she won awards, so Su Yue reckoned she must have her charms. And she realized that when Ai Ruili smiled, her dimples were really attractive. Especially her features, which were almost flawless. She looked refreshing and unique as compared to those actresses who had surgeries to fix their appearances. Su Yue sized up Ai Ruili once again without her realizing it. Ai Ruili suddenly turned to her with a bright smile. She turned to Su Yan and blurted, ¡°President Su, your sister is very pretty.¡± Before he could respond, she added, ¡°She looks like you.¡± Su Yan managed a weak smile and remained silent. Su Yue heard her praise and mentally dissed her. Tch. She should have praised her brother directly for being good-looking. Why did she have to use her? Su Yue repeatedly sneered with disdain in her heart. She knew the latter was very popular and attractive, and she was stylish too, but she just couldn¡¯t like her. Instinctively, she just didn¡¯t like her and she couldn¡¯t explain why. Ai Ruili seemed as though she had no intention of leaving as she kept striking up a conversation with Su Yan. She began to talk about trivial and random stuff, and eventually, Su Yue got bored. She relinquished her grip on Su Yan and went to Xiaojiao. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Suddenly, someone knocked and the person entered. ¡°Su Yan, your third brother and I are leaving.¡± Wen Xuxu rushed in as she spoke. She was rather startled to see Ai Ruili, and she clammed up. ¡°Third sister-in-law.¡± Su Yue saw Wen Xuxu and walked towards her instead. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Xuxu forced a smile at Su Yue. Su Yan realized something was amiss and he asked, ¡°What happened? Did anything happen?¡± He asked as he walked towards Xuxu. Xuxu peered down and somberly replied, ¡°Ah Heng¡¯s grandfather passed away in the hospital. Your third brother and I are rushing there right now.¡± Chapter 1909. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifteen) Jiang Zhuoheng and Xuxu were really close friends. Besides, Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s grandfather and his entire family were really nice to her. Although Grandfather Jiang had lived to a ripe old age, she still felt shocked and sad about his sudden passing. Su Yan¡¯s face registered shock. ¡°Hurry along then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xuxu nodded and turned around to Su Yue. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± She scurried back to the door when Xiaojiao called out. ¡°Aunt!¡± Xuxu paused and turned around. ¡°Xiaojiao, I have something to attend to. I can¡¯t play with you right now, be good.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Xiaojiao nodded vigorously as she waved at Xuxu. ¡°Bye bye, Aunt.¡± ¡°Bye.¡± Xuxu scurried off and Su Yan stared at the door, looking absorbed. ¡°Brother, Brother Ah Heng¡¯s grandfather is Xin Yanting¡¯s grandfather as well, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Oh, aren¡¯t you going over?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a busybody.¡± ¡°Tch. You¡¯re so mean.¡± ¡°President Su, I shall take my leave.¡± ¡°Miss Ai, take care.¡± Su Yan bowed slightly at Ai Ruili and turned to the door. ¡°Mixiao.¡± Su Yue asked, ¡°Who is Mixiao?¡± The office door swung open and a petite girl entered. She looked professional, wearing a white shirt paired with black pants. She wore a pair of black spectacles and she should be around her age. Or perhaps she could be younger than her. She looked like an ordinary girl. Su Yue sized up the girl quietly as the latter adjusted her spectacles. She glanced at Su Yan. ¡°President Su.¡± Su Yan instructed her, ¡°Send Miss Ai.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mixiao nodded and she glanced at Ai Ruili. She seemed nervous and jittery, or perhaps she was new to this job. ¡°Miss Ai, this way, please.¡± Mixiao bowed politely as she waited for Ai Ruili to walk first. She trailed behind her and closed the door after. ¡°Brother, who is that?¡± Su Yue turned to ask Su Yan. ¡°Isn¡¯t your secretary supposed to send your guests?¡± Usually, that was supposed to be part of a secretary¡¯s duties. ¡°That¡¯s right. She is my secretary,¡± Su Yan replied Su Yue airily as he strode towards Xiaojiao. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking relaxed and nonchalant. Secretary? Su Yue¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. ¡°Hey!¡± She stared at the towering figure and darted after him the next second. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Su Yan drawled as he glanced at Su Yue lazily. He was too shrewd and could easily guess why Su Yue was so shocked. Su Yue nodded like a little chick pecking for grains on the ground. ¡°There is a huge problem.¡± She pressed on determinedly, ¡°I thought you never hire female secretaries? I remember that you brought your secretary to Country M previously. He was a very good-looking guy.¡± Su Yan chuckled and quipped, ¡°Don¡¯t make such a fuss. I didn¡¯t hire females because I didn¡¯t find any suitable ones.¡± He stretched his hand and jabbed Su Yue¡¯s forehead. Su Yue yelped in pain as she rubbed her forehead. ¡°So painful! But your current secretary looks so normal.¡± She grinned cheekily as she said, ¡°Or perhaps you have straightened out your thinking. You finally allow women to get close to you. Now I don¡¯t have to worry anymore. I was so concerned that you always choose to get a handsome man to accompany you on your work trips. Then you might accidentally do something wrong on impulse.¡± Chapter 1910. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Sixteen) ¡°What?¡± A crease appeared between Su Yan¡¯s eyebrows and his eyes gleamed with malice. He pulled out his hand from his pocket. Su Yue hurriedly shrunk her neck and shielded her head with her hand. She gave Su Yan a fawning smile. ¡°My mistake, my mistake.¡± She realized that she had gone overboard with this joke. Su Yan¡¯s eyes stared unblinkingly at her, even though she had already pleaded for his forgiveness. Su Yue pressed on cautiously. ¡°Why? Why are you looking at me in this way?¡± Su Yan curled his lips into a devilish smile. ¡°Come to think of it, you seem rather free and bored at home. Come and work for me, then I don¡¯t have to hire someone else.¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t tell if he was joking or being serious. Regardless of what, Su Yue defied him without hesitation. ¡°No way!¡± She pouted and defensively said, ¡°Who says I¡¯m bored? My online store is doing well!¡± In fact, her business was really good. She must be mad to abandon her own business where she could call the shots and come to his company to work five days a week. ¡°Besides, even if I want to work, I should be Ming Ansheng¡¯s secretary. Why would I come to Flourish & Prosper?¡± Su Yan nodded as though he had fully understood her. ¡°A married daughter is like spilled water. But¡­¡± He paused dramatically before grinning at her. ¡°You¡¯re still not married.¡± ¡°Annoying!¡± Su Yue flushed and prodded his shoulders. Su Yan chuckled and ceased his jokes. ¡°I have work to do. Go and accompany Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll bring Xiaojiao for a tour and wait for you to end work.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡­ ¡°It¡¯s really congested at this time every single day¡­¡± It was 6 in the evening and the vehicles were literally crawling on the roads. Su Yue grumbled impatiently to herself. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Su Yan pointed to the cabinet and said, ¡°There are some snacks inside.¡± Su Yue shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, but I¡¯m restless.¡± They had to wait for the traffic lights at each junction for a long time. And it didn¡¯t help when the rest of the cars were crawling. Su Yan studied Su Yue¡¯s expression and he smiled affectionately. ¡°Still a kid.¡± Su Yue¡¯s phone rang and she looked at the screen. It was Ming Ansheng. She answered the call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go over.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± After chatting with Ming Ansheng, Su Yue hung up. ¡°Brother, I don¡¯t think I can make it to dinner with you. Brother Ah Heng¡¯s grandfather passed away and Ming Ansheng is there to help. I need to go over.¡± Although she wasn¡¯t close to Jiang Zhuoheng, Ming Ansheng was his close friend, and she was Ming Ansheng¡¯s¡­ wife. She was staying with him and they even have a daughter. So they should consider her his wife. Hence she felt that she needed to drop by. Su Yan merely said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yue nodded and she glanced at Xiaojiao, who was admiring the scenery outside. She turned to Su Yan and said, ¡°Can you take care of Xiaojiao? If not, help me send her home.¡± It wasn¡¯t such an appropriate event for a child to attend. Besides, it was already nighttime. Chapter 1911. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Seventeen) Su Yan nodded readily. ¡°I¡¯ll bring her for dinner.¡± He changed direction when they reached the next traffic light. The Jiang¡¯s mansion was in the capital city. Jiang Shaomei had connections in Paramount, so the news of Old Master Jiang¡¯s passing spread quickly. In a matter of hours, respectable individuals and those whom they had collaborated with before came to his funeral. Old Master Jiang was a highly respected man. The Jiang family had a unanimous decision to hold the funeral in their home. The entrance to the Jiang¡¯s mansion looked like a mall¡¯s parking lot¡ªcars lined up all the way to the main road. But fortunately, there was still space for cars to drive through. Su Yan dropped Su Yue off at the entrance of their home. ¡°Xiaojiao, have dinner with Uncle. Mommy will fetch you later.¡± Su Yue rubbed Xiaojiao¡¯s head. She opened the door and said, ¡°Brother, drive safely.¡± Then she shut the door. She looked up and froze. A black Cadillac stopped behind theirs. The door to the driver¡¯s seat opened and a woman wearing casual clothes stepped out. She had short hair tied into a ponytail. She was carrying a black handbag and her eyes were red and puffy. ¡°Xin Yanting.¡± The words left her mouth before she even realized. Xin Yanting froze when she heard Su Yue call out to her. Shock flashed across her eyes. Then she instinctively looked at the driver¡¯s seat and saw Su Yan¡¯s side view. Her grip on her handbag tightened. Suddenly, she looked downwards and walked past his car. ¡°Behind, you should leave.¡± Su Yue closed the car door and hurriedly followed behind her. She wanted to talk to her, but she didn¡¯t know what to talk about. She must be devastated about her grandfather¡¯s death. After some thought, she decided against it and slowed her pace. When she was about to reach the entrance, she looked back. She pouted and sighed helplessly when she saw that Su Yan¡¯s car was no longer there. If you like her, then you like her. If you don¡¯t, then you don¡¯t. Her brother wasn¡¯t just calm and composed. He might as well be heartless! ¡®Aish. Su Yue, how could you say such a thing? He¡¯s your biological brother!¡¯ She found Xin Yanting pitiful. She was innocent. She had always felt guilty about Xin Yanting. ¡°What are you thinking of?¡± Su Yue was deep in thought when a familiar voice sounded from in front of her. It was Ming Ansheng. She retracted from her thoughts and looked over. He shook his head gently. ¡°Nothing.¡± She walked over to him. ¡­ ¡°Xiaojiao, are you still hungry?¡± After dinner, it was already past eight. The traffic was much smoother. Su Yan drove Xiaojiao around the bustling city. Colorful blinking lights decorated the city. Su Yan slowed down when he reached the traffic light. Xiaojiao commented, ¡°I want to eat ice-cream.¡± Su Yan retracted his gaze and smiled as he looked at Xiaojiao. ¡°Ice cream again?¡± Xiaojiao pursed her lips and remained silent. ¡®Is there really a need to ask? I really want to eat ice-cream. Doesn¡¯t everyone love ice cream?¡¯ Chapter 1912. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Eighteen) Su Yan couldn¡¯t bear to say no to her. ¡°You can only have a small portion.¡± Xiaojiao happily nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She looked absolutely adorable when she grinned. As Su Yan drove past two traffic lights, he looked out for ice cream shops by the roadside. He seldom went shopping and he didn¡¯t like to eat outside food. He was on a blind search. Finally, they passed a shopping mall. There was a huge sign that read ¡®H?agen-Daz¡¯. His eyes brightened and he pointed at it. ¡°Are you okay with H?agen-Daz?¡± Xiaojiao nodded. She didn¡¯t care about the brand of ice cream as long as she could have some of it. She had low expectations. Su Yan parked by the roadside and carried her into the shop. It was after dinnertime so there were many people walking around the mall. It wasn¡¯t a scorching nor chilly day, so there were many teens in the shop. Most of them were girls and they sat in groups of twos and threes. Almost all the seats were filled. ¡°Xiaojiao, what flavor do you want?¡± Su Yan carried her to the counter and let her take a look at the flavors available. Xiaojiao glanced at it and pointed at a particular flavor without hesitation. ¡°I want vanilla and strawberry.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yan pointed at the two flavors that Xiaojiao wanted. He said to the staff, ¡°I¡¯ll have two scoops, one vanilla, and the other, strawberry.¡± The staff smiled and said, ¡°Our branch is having a collaboration with XX Cinema. For every three scoops purchased in a single receipt, we¡¯ll give you two free tickets to The Little Starfish.¡± Then she looked at Xiaojiao. ¡®The Little Starfish¡¯ was a children¡¯s movie. So, she wanted to gain her interest. Xiaojiao blinked. ¡°Is it nice?¡± ¡°The poster is there. It¡¯s about a starfish and its underwater friends,¡± the staff explained as she pointed at the poster. There were various underwater creatures on it. There was a burst of colors and it looked dreamlike. It immediately piqued Xiaojiao¡¯s interest. She looked at Su Yan and pouted. She sweetly said, ¡°Uncle, I want to watch The Little Starfish.¡± Although Su Yan had always pampered her, they haven¡¯t spent too much time together and the little lass was afraid of acting like a spoiled child in front of him. Su Yan couldn¡¯t bear to say no to her. He tapped her nose and said, ¡°But you can only have a little ice-cream.¡± Xiaojiao knew that he had agreed, and she nodded. ¡°Mm. Just a little. This little,¡± she said as she gesticulated with her chubby hands. ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing that Su Yan had agreed, Xiaojiao hugged his neck and kissed him forcefully on his lips. Su Yan froze when he felt her soft lips on his. He came to his senses and hugged the little lass tightly. How he wished he could pamper her all day. He felt satisfied and accomplished at having his childhood dream come true. When he was of a young age, he saw his sister being sent to the orphanage, crying and shouting. He really wished he could hug her and take her home. Chapter 1913. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Nineteen) He bought her three scoops of ice cream in different colors. Su Yan carried her with a hand while he held the cup for her with the other. Xiaojiao happily ate the ice cream as they walked in the crowd. In no time, she had smeared her mouth with ice cream. They took the elevator in the shopping mall since the movie theater was at the top level. The elevator stopped at every level, and the adults were all anxious. Xiaojiao was focused on her ice cream and was completely in her own world. ¡°Sorry, the movie slot is full. The next show is at 9:40 p.m.¡± When they reached the ticketing counter, the staff informed them that the next available screening time was nearly two hours away. Su Yan glanced at his watch and said to Xiaojiao, ¡°If we watch the movie at 9:40 p.m., it would end at 11:30 p.m. It¡¯s too late for Xiaojiao.¡± He pressed his lips as she waited for the lass to respond. Xiaojiao heard him and the corners of her mouth sunk. ¡°But I want to watch.¡± She was really excited to watch a movie and now suddenly she couldn¡¯t? It felt as though someone had drenched her in cold water. ¡°But it¡¯s late. If Xiaojiao doesn¡¯t have enough sleep, you can¡¯t grow taller.¡± Su Yan gently stroked her hair to coax her. Xiaojiao understood so she didn¡¯t whine or protest. But she bowed her head, looking disappointed and sad. Her expression made Su Yan¡¯s heart ache. Su Yan couldn¡¯t bear to see her in such a state, so he glanced around. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a long queue across the theater. Instinctively, he raised his head and saw a banner. ¡®National ice skating champion coach¡­¡¯ His eyes gleamed as he pointed in the direction ahead. ¡°Xiaojiao, there is an ice skating rink ahead. I¡¯ll bring you there to ice skate alright?¡± Xiaojiao followed his finger and turned in that direction. There were throngs of people crowded around the rink and it looked exciting. She blinked and pouted since she still wanted to watch the movie. But Uncle said that it was too late to watch a movie. She should ice skate instead, she didn¡¯t want to go home, anyway. Xiaojiao deliberated for a while before nodding. ¡°Okay, ice skate.¡± As if she was forced to. Su Yan caressed her chubby cheeks and promised, ¡°During the weekend, I¡¯ll bring you out to watch the movie.¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s eyes sparkled and she offered her little finger to Su Yan. ¡°Promise!¡± Su Yan did the same and promised her with his finger as well. He was wearing a formal suit, and his height and manners already thrust him in the limelight. And to top it off, his gorgeous looks had caused ladies of all ages to cast him additional glances. When all the ladies saw how he interacted with Xiaojiao, their eyes overflowed with envy. How they wished that they were the little girl in his arms. Su Yan had decided to ice skate on an impulse, so naturally, they didn¡¯t bring any equipment along. But that wasn¡¯t a problem for the rich, so he purchased the full set without hesitation. The storekeeper passed him two complete sets of equipment after he paid. ¡°Mister, our coaches here are all from the national teams. And we even have a champion coach who specializes in teaching children.¡± The storekeeper promoted the lessons that they provided to Su Yan. Chapter 1914. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty) Su Yan patiently listened to him and then politely rejected his offer. ¡°It¡¯s fine, thank you.¡± He picked up the equipment and held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand. He went to the changing area and began to change their shoes. ¡­ ¡°We¡¯re ready. Are you afraid?¡± Su Yan stood up after he was ready. Then he slowly held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and got up. They walked carefully together towards the skating rink. There was a thin layer of ice in the rink and the air was chilly with gusts of wind from the sides. Xiaojiao sneezed, and she raised her head apprehensively. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± replied Xiaojiao softly. She had forgotten all about the movie when she saw other children squealing and laughing happily. A bright smile framed her chubby face and she looked delighted. ¡°Xiaojiao is so brave. Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t let go of your hands later.¡± Su Yan slowly led her to the entrance of the rink. He gripped her hands tightly and turned her body to face him. Su Yan skated backward with agile movements and it surprised Xiaojiao. ¡°Uncle, you know how to ice skate?¡± Su Yan blinked and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll know later.¡± He carefully let go of Xiaojiao¡¯s hands and slowly moved away from her. Suddenly, he made a rapid turn in the blink of an eye. Xiaojiao widened her eyes in disbelief and adoration. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re awesome! That was wonderful!¡± ¡°Do you believe that I won¡¯t let you fall?¡± Su Yan skated effortlessly back to Xiaojiao and stopped right in front of her. He held her hand and guided her slowly towards the middle of the rink. He spoke to her in a soft and patient voice. He didn¡¯t change his clothes, neither did he put on any protective equipment. All he changed was his shoes. But he had bought all the necessary protective equipment, such as a helmet, knee and elbow guard for Xiaojiao. ¡°Yeah.¡± Xiaojiao trusted and idolized him completely after he made that turn earlier on. Even if her uncle wanted to sell her away right now, she would be willing to count the money with him. ¡°Teacher, you¡¯re fantastic!¡± The pair of uncle and niece were enjoying themselves when the crowd erupted with cheers a short distance away. Xiaojiao glanced at them and she grabbed Su Yan¡¯s hand tightly. She pointed in the direction of the commotion and remarked, ¡°Uncle, that sister is so awesome.¡± Su Yan heard her and turned in the direction too. He looked rather impassive as though he wasn¡¯t interested at all. The children were standing diagonally opposite, and they were still clapping loudly. A girl who looked as though she was in her early twenties was dressed in all white. A knot of children surrounded her. Su Yan directed his attention to her. She was making several non-stop turns, just like the one Su Yan had shown earlier on. The girl was spinning swiftly and he couldn¡¯t see her face. She was probably the coach, and it was normal for her to know these techniques. Su Yan was about to avert his gaze. Suddenly, the girl¡¯s ponytail came loose and her hair cascaded down. Accompanied by her elegant turns, her hair seemed to dance as well. It was as though she had planned this, but it happened so abruptly and naturally. This accident took the breaths of the spectators. However, the girl didn¡¯t expect that her ponytail would come loose. She immediately stopped spinning, but she lost her footing. Chapter 1915. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-One) Instinctively, Su Yan stretched his hand forward. By nature, he loved to render help to those in need. But he must have been in a daze earlier on, for he had forgotten about the distance between them. ¡°Teacher! Teacher!¡± The girl lost her balance and fell forward. Fortunately, her students hastily held her to prevent her from falling. With their help, she managed to gain her balance. The girl straightened her back and bowed her head. She stuck out her tongue at the children. ¡°This is so embarrassing. I almost fell down.¡± She should have been awkward with those parents and spectators standing around the rink. But she wasn¡¯t, and instead, she was natural and unruffled. Her reaction and tough mentality surprised Su Yan, and he couldn¡¯t peel his eyes off her. The girl kept her head bowed, and her hair tumbled across her shoulders and hid her face from view. This girl seemed to exude¡­ serenity. Incredibly, that was what he had been looking for¡­ serenity, peace, and tranquility. ¡°Teacher, you are so beautiful!¡± ¡°Teacher, you¡¯re like a fairy!¡± The little boys crowded around her and eagerly clamored for her attention. They lavished her with generous praise. The teacher gently stroked the heads of two little boys. ¡°Why are you all so sweet?¡± ¡®Why did her voice sound vaguely¡­ familiar?¡¯ Su Yan thought to himself, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had heard the voice before. He frowned as he surveyed the girl intently. Xiaojiao suddenly tugged at his clothes. ¡°Uncle, do you also think that the sister is very pretty?¡± Xiaojiao¡¯s voice jolted Su Yan back to his senses and he smiled. ¡°She is not as pretty as Xiaojiao.¡± Every girl loved compliments, including little girls like Xiaojiao. She beamed brightly at Su Yan. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re the best!¡± Su Yan grinned at her before he turned around. His eyes wandered back to the teacher, but she had vanished, leaving only the children in sight. He pressed his lips and withdrew his gaze. The ice skating rink closed at 9 p.m., and they managed to play for about an hour. Su Yan helped Xiaojiao to remove all her protective gear. Then he led Xiaojiao towards the exit. He glanced at her and asked, ¡°Xiaojiao, did you have fun?¡± Xiaojiao nodded excitedly. ¡°Yes!¡± After replying to Su Yan, she turned back to cast a longing glance at the skating rink. Su Yan noticed the longing in her eyes. He bent to ask, ¡°Do you like to ice skate?¡± ¡°I like it. Can we come again?¡± Xiaojiao peered at him with anticipation. Su Yan readily nodded. ¡°Sure, I will be your teacher.¡± Xiaojiao clung at Su Yan¡¯s leg and she was ecstatic. ¡°Uncle is the best!¡± ¡°Shall we go home and sleep now?¡± Su Yan bent to carry Xiaojiao. He strode out of the skating rink. Her clothes weren¡¯t warm enough and she was cold. Even the tip of her nose was slightly red. Su Yan held her hands together and rubbed them as he walked to the elevator. ¡°Bye-bye Teacher!¡± ¡°Bye!¡± The children bid the teacher goodbye, and Su Yan still felt an indescribable sense of familiarity when he heard her voice. Although it was quite subtle. Chapter 1916. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-Two) Su Yan directed his gaze at her but he could only glimpse a slender and petite figure. Her long hair was like black silk, and it seemed to hide her entire body. This feeling was like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Just like years ago in Country Y, on an old street in N City¡­ Unbelievably, this girl had given him the same feeling as before. The girl took the escalators and soon vanished from Su Yan¡¯s sight. It was as though he had been transported to the mountains¡ªstanding there and admiring a river as the water calmly flowed by. That tranquil and peaceful feeling seemed to travel to his heart. ¡°Uncle, what are you looking at?¡± Xiaojiao stared at Su Yan, and she puzzled. Su Yan snapped back to reality and he peered at Xiaojiao with a smile. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go home.¡± He held her hand and walked to the elevator. ¡­ Although death was inevitable, Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s grandfather¡¯s passing still affected Jiang Zhuoheng tremendously. Not just him, but the entire family was grieving. Even though one had expected something to happen, it would still take the heart some time to recover. Jiang Zhuoheng grew up together with Yan Rusheng, Ming Ansheng, and the rest. So they stayed with him until past midnight. Most of the visitors had left or gone to take a rest. Only a handful of the Jiang family members and Xin Yanting stayed behind, other than Yan Rusheng and the rest. Xin Yanting and Jiang Zhuoheng knelt down in the funeral hall. She had been sobbing the whole day. She had stayed with the Jiang family when she was still a baby, and her grandfather doted on her immensely. When she went abroad for four years, she always called her grandfather at least once a day. The longest period she had gone without speaking to him was two days. Sometimes, she called to just greet him. Yesterday, she had rushed back immediately when she received the news of her grandfather¡¯s passing. However, she was still too late. And this was the reason she insisted on kneeling the whole day. It was because of guilt and remorse. Jiang Zhuoheng and a few of his family members were assigned to keep watch overnight. Yan Rusheng saw that most of them had left, and he was about to take his leave too. Xuxu went to Jiang Zhuoheng whispered, ¡°Ah Heng, we¡¯re leaving.¡± She squatted next to Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng stood up and replied, ¡°Okay, be careful on your way back.¡± He glanced at Yan Rusheng, Ming Ansheng, and the rest, and he nodded curtly. Xuxu gazed at Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s face and she pressed her lips. After some time, she mumbled, ¡°You¡­ have to take care. My condolences once more.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded gently and said, ¡°Hurry and go. It¡¯s late.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°We will come back tomorrow.¡± She glanced at Xin Yanting who was subdued and quiet. The girl who used to be so loud and arrogant had transformed into this other person. She couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for her. Sigh! Love could change a person, but it could also destroy a person. She hadn¡¯t seen Xin Yanting in the past four years. She had attempted to ask Jiang Zhuoheng about her, but she didn¡¯t manage to. Guilt lingered in her heart. Although Su Yan had merely given them a taste of their own medicine and only took back the shares that belonged to Flourish & Prosper. But from a woman¡¯s perspective and logic, Xin Yanting was innocent. Chapter 1917. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-Three) Xuxu just wanted to stand from a woman¡¯s perspective, and empathized with her, setting grudges aside. In the business world, where everyone tries to outwit the other¡­ it was inevitable to resort to despicable methods. Xuxu threw a long glance at Xin Yanting as she stood rooted to the ground. She tried to convey her condolences to Xin Yanting, but the words were stuck in her throat. She sighed to herself before turning around. She spoke to Yan Rusheng and Su Yue. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± muttered Su Yue softly as she followed closely behind Ming Ansheng. She stole a furtive glance at Xin Yanting before departing. Just like Xuxu, she empathized with Xin Yanting from a woman¡¯s perspective. And similarly, the words seemed choked in her throat as she clammed up. She quietly left with Ming Ansheng. ¡­ ¡°I feel that Xin Yanting is quite pitiful.¡± Su Yue suddenly remarked as she sat in the front passenger seat. She settled herself against the seat, feeling drained. Ming Ansheng turned to her with his eyebrows raised. ¡°Didn¡¯t you used to dislike her?¡± He gazed at her tenderly and he felt consoled. He knew how kind she was, and that¡¯s why she felt terrible. Earlier on, she kept glancing at Xin Yanting and the expression in her eyes was filled with guilt. But to them, Su Yan and Xin Yanting weren¡¯t even considered anything serious. Gaining the other party¡¯s trust was one strategy and tactic. Su Yue sighed heavily to herself. ¡°I don¡¯t like her. But that doesn¡¯t mean that I don¡¯t empathize with her as we are both women.¡± Ming Ansheng smirked playfully as he quipped, ¡°Woman? Are you sure?¡± He glanced at her face, which was crumpled with worries. He wondered how best to embark on what to say and decided to tease her. ¡°Tch.¡± Su Yue glared at Ming Ansheng before grinning. Ming Ansheng felt relieved when she grinned. ¡°Isn¡¯t this all your brother¡¯s fault?¡± said Ming Ansheng in a casual tone. Su Yue snapped instantly. ¡°But my brother isn¡¯t wrong either. He just wanted to get back the shares that originally belonged to Flourish & Prosper. Xin Yanting likes him, but he didn¡¯t promise her anything. She assumed that my brother was in love with her too.¡± That was the truth, but why did she feel so sorrowful when she met Xin Yanting? Why did she feel guilty? Su Yue questioned herself, while Ming Ansheng asked her aloud. ¡°Then why do you feel so bad for her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why.¡± Su Yue yanked at her hair in frustration. ¡°I heard that Xin Yanting went to get a tattoo for my brother¡¯s sake. How much did she love him to get a tattoo?¡± She heard it from Third sister-in-law that Xin Yanting got a tattoo, and it was a rose with her brother¡¯s name on it. She felt terrible when she heard it. When a woman falls in love with a man, she would be exceedingly silly and na?ve. How she would wish she could proclaim to the world and to give everything to the man that she loves. And there would be no turning back. She could only imagine how much she must have loved her brother to get a tattoo with his name. It must have never crossed her mind that to her brother she was just a pawn. Perhaps she had a similar traumatic experience before. When Tang Feiling burned her tattoo, she felt as though her heart was being dug out. If that tattoo had nothing to do with Ming Ansheng, she would only suffer physical pain. Chapter 1918. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-Four) She wondered if Xin Yanting¡¯s tattoo was still on her body. If it was, would she feel pained every time she saw it? If it wasn¡¯t, then how did she feel when she removed it? Su Yue¡¯s eyebrows knitted closely as she stared out of the window. Ming Ansheng smiled gently and said, ¡°Actually, a tattoo is considered art. There are people who tattooed themselves because it¡¯s art.¡± Su Yue knew that Ming Ansheng was teasing her and she smiled. The next moment, she threw him a long and menacing look. She breathed, ¡°Then did you get your tattoo because of art or the tattoo was to mourn over your forbidden love with Sister Meiduo?¡± Ming Ansheng pressed his lips. ¡°Let¡¯s continue to talk about your brother and Xin Yanting.¡± He had no idea that the gun would point to himself so abruptly. He didn¡¯t want to die, so he should wallow in this misery with her. Meiduo was no longer around, so Su Yue had no intention of using her to lecture Ming Ansheng. She had just casually mentioned her name. Besides, she didn¡¯t care about their past any more. She peered at the buildings and trees in silence. The roads were peaceful and all the shops had closed for the day. Her heart felt as though it had sunk to the bottom of the sea, and she reckoned it was also probably because of the funeral earlier on. The silence stretched between them since both of them had clammed up. The car traveled smoothly on and Su Yue began to feel sleepy. They went past a housing district and it became distinctly brighter. Su Yue widened her eyes and caught a fleeting glimpse of a hospital. It should be a private hospital. There was a huge screen on the building and it played an advertisement. She sighed to herself. ¡°I even heard that Xin Yanting tried to kill herself by taking pills after she found out the truth. She used to despise Tang Feiling who used to pester you. By the looks of it, she should be someone who could put things behind her easily. But she had tried to commit suicide because of a man.¡± She had heard it from Mu Li during a casual conversation some time back. Mu Li had, in turn, heard the rumors from another acquaintance. ¡°So you¡¯re implying that your brother is just another man.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded wisely, deliberately twisting her words. Su Yue knew that he had done it deliberately and she frowned at him. ¡°Stop misinterpreting my words. I¡¯m talking about this matter. Cast those qualities, strengths, and abilities aside. My brother is just an ordinary man after all¡­¡± ¡®Cast those qualities, strengths, and abilities aside. My brother is just an ordinary man after all¡­¡¯ ¡®What logic was that?¡¯ Ming Ansheng grinned at Su Yue and shook his head, unable to fathom her thoughts. He raised his eyebrows after some time. ¡°So did you come to a conclusion?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡± Su Yue shook her head vigorously in despair. ¡°Forget it. This is getting nowhere. I can¡¯t possibly get my brother to like her. How can I force him to like her?¡± Ming Ansheng steered the topic. ¡°Hungry?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°Nope, let¡¯s go fetch Xiaojiao.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡­ They reached Su Yan¡¯s apartment and knocked on his door. Su Yan stood there in a dark gray pajamas as he rubbed his eyes sleepily. He knew that the couple was here to fetch Xiaojiao. ¡°She is asleep, just let her sleep here tonight.¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°But she has to go to school tomorrow.¡± She had just started school, and she had already missed one day. During this transition period, she shouldn¡¯t miss school that frequently. Chapter 1919. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-Five) ¡°I can send her to school.¡± Su Yan stifled a yawn as he answered. He turned around and pointed to the shoe cabinet. He drawled, ¡°The slippers are inside. Help yourselves.¡± He dragged his feet across the room and collapsed on the couch. Su Yue changed the slippers and she surveyed the house. ¡°Which room is Xiaojiao in?¡± Su Yan pointed to a room and Su Yue strode towards it. She stopped at the door and peered inside. There was a dim light inside, and the door was half-closed. She watched Xiaojiao quietly and saw how sound asleep she was. She couldn¡¯t bear to wake her up right now. She turned around and walked back to the couch. Ming Ansheng had settled himself down next to Su Yan. ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay here tonight. You can go home and rest.¡± Su Yan interjected, ¡°Both of you can stay here tonight. It¡¯s a long drive from my place to yours.¡± Anyway, he had moved to a bigger apartment with more rooms. They lived at opposite ends of the city. Su Yue nodded promptly. ¡°Great.¡± She bent to discuss with Ming Ansheng. ¡°Shall we stay here tonight? Then we can send Xiaojiao to school tomorrow.¡± Ming Ansheng pursed his lips and deliberated. He smiled and replied, ¡°You stay here. I have a morning meeting tomorrow, so I shall head back.¡± Other than hotels, he had never stayed at someone¡¯s place before. Especially that this was his brother-in-law¡¯s place, and he was younger than him. He felt uncomfortable, alright?? He would rather drive for 40 minutes to go back to his own house. Su Yue didn¡¯t insist when he said that he had a meeting tomorrow. ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± Ming Ansheng nodded and said, ¡°Got it, rest early.¡± He stood up and glanced at Su Yan. ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± Although he didn¡¯t address him, he still sounded awkward. It was so obvious that even Su Yue could tell. She bit back a laugh and sent Ming Ansheng to the door. After reminding him to drive safely, she headed back after he entered the elevator. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± After she closed the door, she roared with laughter. She walked towards Su Yan, giggling. Su Yan was amused when he saw her. ¡°Did you find money on the floor?¡± ¡°I feel that Ming Ansheng feels aggrieved.¡± Su Yue sat down next to Su Yan. She was still giggling to herself. Su Yan frowned. ¡°Are you turning into a fool?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°He is too shy to call you Brother.¡± Su Yan rolled his eyes at her. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who insists. It¡¯s someone else.¡± He closed his eyes and yawned. ¡°Oh yeah! Third Brother!¡± Su Yue chuckled and said, ¡°Third Brother is so mean and he always teases him.¡± Su Yan blinked and turned to frown at her. ¡°Why is this considering teasing? Shouldn¡¯t he call him Third Brother? Am I not considered his brother-in-law?¡± ¡°Alright, he should. You win.¡± Su Yue stuck her tongue at Su Yan. ¡°Brother.¡± She suddenly turned solemn and grave. Su Yan glanced at her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Tell me honestly. Did something happen between you and Xin Yanting?¡± Su Yue watched Su Yan intently, as though she was trying to detect if he was lying. Chapter 1920. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-Six) Su Yan feigned ignorance. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± Su Yue frowned and pouted. ¡°I hope that you are not a horrible jerk.¡± Su Yan chortled and jabbed Su Yue¡¯s head. ¡°Stop letting your thoughts run wild. Go shower and sleep.¡± He rose and strolled back to his room. Su Yue grinned as she watched him. ¡°So you didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a Virgo,¡± Su Yan replied in a lazy drawl. The next moment, he had disappeared into his room. ¡®I¡¯m a Virgo¡­¡¯ The corners of Su Yue¡¯s mouth twitched. Other than being a little obsessed with perfection when pursuing relationships and his career, he didn¡¯t seem to exhibit the traits of a Virgo at all. He had no expectations of the people around him and he was reticent and mysterious. He was always so laid-back and appeared as though nothing could provoke him. But at least it meant that he didn¡¯t sleep with Xin Yanting. At least she felt better. Su Yue exhaled deeply, put the cushion aside, and stood up. ¡­ Yan Rusheng and Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t spend much time at work these few days. They left most of their workload to Su Yan. Su Yan reached the office early in the morning. He began working the moment he stepped into his office. After some time, the employees began to stream in. After settling some urgent matters, he glanced at his watch. It was merely 9 a.m. He looked out of the frosted glass door and saw people moving around. Every morning, all the staff seemed absorbed with work. He picked up his porcelain cup and realized that there was water left from yesterday. He rose and strode to the water dispenser. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Su Yan was taken aback when the office door burst open. His new secretary¡ªMixiao¡ªrushed in. Mixiao was dumbfounded to see Su Yan. She seemed flustered and terrified too. She froze for a moment or so, before apologizing profusely. ¡°Sorry President Su! I didn¡¯t know you would be here so early. Sorry!¡± She was about to take a step forward. Su Yan shook his head nonchalantly. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He continued to walk towards the water dispenser. He always arrived early and it wasn¡¯t a big deal. His secretary was new, so she didn¡¯t realize it yet. Mixiao eyed Su Yan to verify that he wasn¡¯t angry. She adjusted her spectacles and stepped into the office. She had two green folders in her arms. She walked gingerly towards Su Yan and glanced at him cautiously. Su Yan drank from his cup as he walked back to his desk. If there wasn¡¯t any board or management meetings, he would prefer not to wear ties or blazers. The top two buttons on his white shirt were left unbuttoned with his sleeves casually rolled up. Coupled with his trademark stoic expression, he presented a delightful and pleasing view for the eyes. He walked to Mixiao and bent his head to peer at her. ¡°Anything to update?¡± She had just started work two weeks ago, and this was the first time they stood in such close proximity. Only then did he realize how short and petite she was. He needed to bend his head further to have a good look at her face. Her spectacles were black and huge, and it framed more than half her face. She had neat and tidy bangs that covered her eyebrows. She looked like an average-looking girl at a glimpse. Su Yan unconsciously scrutinized Mixiao from head to toe. Chapter 1921. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable Part Twenty-Seven He mocked himself inwardly about how he had seemed to have passed the prime age to get married. His family kept nagging at him to get to know more ladies, and they seemed more anxious than him. Actually, he was merely 28 this year. But Xuxu and Yueyue were apparently getting worried. So he decided to simply hire a female secretary this time round. But who was he kidding? Mixiao didn¡¯t realize that Su Yan was sizing her up, as he was really smooth and discreet. She handed him the two documents in her hands. ¡°President Su, these documents need your approval and signature.¡± Su Yan grunted in response and received them. He placed the documents on his desk and perused them swiftly before signing. Mixiao continued to speak as he signed. ¡°This afternoon, you have a lunch appointment with Director Wang.¡± ¡°Okay, got it. Any other appointments?¡± Su Yan nodded as he passed those documents back to Mixiao. She received it and shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± Something struck her and she pressed on. ¡°Earlier on, Miss Ai Ruili called and asked if you are free tonight.¡± Su Yan froze for a moment when he heard Ai Ruili¡¯s name. He sat deep in thought for a few seconds before nodding at Mixiao. ¡°I got it.¡± He didn¡¯t answer Mixiao¡¯s question about his schedule for the evening. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Mixiao hugged the documents against her chest before she offered a polite bow towards Su Yan. She turned around and strode across the room. The pair of black pumps on her feet, which was about two inches tall, elongated her legs and made them look longer and slender. As she walked, her pumps thudded softly against the floor. Just like how careful and quiet she was. Her style and disposition had a glaring contrast from Ai Ruili. Su Yan couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and watch her. He gazed at the petite figure as her ponytail danced lightly. He felt a sense of quiet contentment as he watched Mixiao. She opened the door and Su Yan suddenly called her. ¡°Mixiao, brew a cup of red tea for me.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mixiao halted and turned around to acknowledge his instructions. Su Yan settled himself back on his swivel chair. Minutes later, someone knocked on his door. Then Mixiao pushed the door when he allowed her to enter. She used her knuckles to push her spectacles as she walked. This should be her habit, but to Su Yan, she didn¡¯t seem natural at all. It was as though she wasn¡¯t used to wearing spectacles. But there was nothing strange about this. Perhaps she had just gotten a new pair of spectacles, or his hunch was simply wrong. Su Yan didn¡¯t read too much into it and threw a swift glance at Mixiao. Then he bowed his head once more. ¡°President Su, the red tea is ready.¡± Mixiao stood before Su Yan, ¡°Put it down.¡± Su Yan nodded without looking at her. ¡°Okay.¡± Mixiao placed the cup down. When she was about to withdraw her hands, Su Yan raised his head and caught a glimpse of her hands. Her hands were tiny and fair. But her joints seemed to protrude a little, as though they had been through hardship. He wasn¡¯t around to oversee the hiring process. He left it entirely to the Human Resource department. So he only knew her name and the university she went to. He knew that she was about to graduate and she applied for this job as an intern. He didn¡¯t inquire about the rest of her background, including the city she came from or her prior experiences. He knew nothing about her. Chapter 1922. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-Eight) Su Yan pondered quietly as he studied Mixiao. He merely had to raise his head a little as Mixiao wasn¡¯t much taller, despite him being seated. But from this angle, it was a refreshing view. This girl had an oval-shaped face and she looked demure and bashful. Her skin was really fair and tender. Her bangs and spectacles made her look rather tacky. But to Su Yan, she exuded serenity and warmth, just like a spring breeze. It seemed like there was a need to look at women from various angles. No wonder women usually liked to take photos from a certain angle. That must be their best angle, Su Yan thought all of this to himself. On Weibo and Facebook, those photos seemed identical with similar poses. Su Yan chuckled to himself, lost in his own thoughts. He had forgotten that his secretary was still around. Mixiao looked bewildered as she stared at Su Yan. She couldn¡¯t understand why Su Yan was grinning to himself. Su Yan sensed Mixiao¡¯s gaze and he met her puzzled-looking eyes. The grin on his face faded away and he resumed his nonchalance. He was amazed that he had pondered about women when he stared at his ordinary-looking secretary. This was weird. Mixiao got anxious when his smile vanished. ¡°President Su, is there anything else?¡± Su Yan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s all, you may leave now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mixiao nodded and she turned around. Su Yan had a sudden whim and he cut across. ¡°Reply Ai Ruili and say that I¡¯m free tonight.¡± ¡°Noted.¡± Mixiao gave him a curt nod, sounding rather sullen. Anyone else would be sullen too. Ai Ruili and her boss obviously seemed really close. She could enter his office freely, and everyone in the office knew that they weren¡¯t just friends. Why didn¡¯t she contact him privately, and instead, she had to call the office? In the afternoon, Su Yan received a call from Mixiao. Ai Ruili had called to confirm their dinner date tonight. ¡­ ¡°President Su. If there is nothing else, may I leave first?¡± It was ten minutes past five. Mixiao carefully knocked on Su Yan¡¯s door and stood there. Although she seemed rather soft and delicate, she was a capable and efficient person. Su Yan assumed that she would make blunders at work. To his surprise, she had made no mistakes yet. It was just like how an adult would expect a child to fall when he just started to walk. But she didn¡¯t seem to falter at all. Su Yan mulled over it and grinned to himself. This feeling was strangely familiar, but he couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Mixiao waited quietly for his response. He said, ¡°Help me brew coffee.¡± He still had work to finish, and he needed to stay awake. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Mixiao strode quickly to his desk, looking as though she was in a rush. She picked up his cup and asked uncertainly, ¡°President Su, you want brewed coffee?¡± Her expression seemed to imply that, ¡®It¡¯s so late, why do you still want to drink brewed coffee?¡¯ Su Yan bit back a laugh and he said, ¡°If you¡¯re in a rush, then make instant one for me.¡± He guessed that Mixiao seemed to rush for time. It was after all past the time she was supposed to get off work. He didn¡¯t have urgent matters for her, so there wasn¡¯t a need to stop her from leaving. Chapter 1923. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Twenty-Nine) ¡°I have nothing after work.¡± Mixiao shook her head and her bangs shook along as well. Under the light, her hair seemed extra sleek and soft. But her clear-looking eyes had revealed her true emotions. And Su Yan knew that she wasn¡¯t telling the truth. She was obviously in a rush. He pretended not to have noticed, and he waved his hand. ¡°Then brew me some coffee without sugar.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Mixiao nodded as she clenched the cup. When she turned around, Su Yan saw that she was frowning. Su Yan grinned to himself. He must have been tired after a long day to find joy in teasing a little girl. The coffee machine was inside his office. Mixiao fiddled with the machine with her back against Su Yan. While waiting, he browsed through his phone. Soon, the aroma of the coffee permeated the air. He put his phone down and glanced in the direction. The girl stood before the coffee machine without moving at all. She seemed to be in a daze as she waited for the coffee. Su Yan gazed quietly at her. He really enjoyed and yearned for a quiet presence like her at work. She would be around him, but at the same time, she wouldn¡¯t affect him at all. Unlike¡­ Xin Yanting. She would always make her presence known. ¡°Su Yan, I bought a new bag today. It¡¯s the latest bag from Burberry. Don¡¯t you think it matches my white skirt?¡± ¡°Su Yan. Look at the color of the lipstick that I¡¯m wearing today. Is this nicer, or the one I wore yesterday?¡± ¡°Su Yan, do you want to drink bubble tea?¡± ¡°Su Yan, can you bring me along on your trip?¡± ¡°Su Yan, you¡­¡± At the thought of Xin Yanting and how she always chattered to him endlessly, he sneered quietly at himself. He had no idea how he tolerated her for so long. In hindsight, he was indeed not much different from other men. He wasn¡¯t that noble nor unique after all. ¡°President Su, the coffee is ready.¡± As Su Yan reminisced about the past, Mixiao came tottering with the cup of coffee in her hands. The freshly brewed coffee was steaming hot, and the aroma assailed his nostrils. Su Yan bent and stole a glance at her hands, which were slightly rough. Casually, he offered, ¡°You can have some too.¡± His offer startled Mixiao. After a few seconds, she said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± She shook her head gently and didn¡¯t look too overwhelmed with joy that her boss had invited her to join him for coffee. She remained composed. Su Yan raised his eyebrows. ¡°Are you in a rush?¡± Mixiao denied. ¡°Nope.¡± He obviously could tell. Why was he still asking? Tsk. She was getting impatient, but she didn¡¯t seem to realize. Su Yan smiled and decided to stop his teasing. ¡°If there is nothing else, you may leave first.¡± He raised the cup and took a sip. He turned his attention back to the pile of documents. He had quite a bit of work to finish. Mixiao looked as though she had been relieved of her burden. The impatience and annoyance on her face vanished. ¡°I shall leave first.¡± She bowed at Su Yan and reminded Su Yan, ¡°President Su, don¡¯t forget that you have a dinner appointment with Miss Ai Ruili at 7 p.m.¡± Su Yue nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± After Mixiao left his office, Su Yan glanced at his watch. It was already 6 p.m. He picked up his phone and gazed at it. Suddenly, someone knocked on his door. He could glimpse a slender and tall silhouette through the frosted door. Chapter 1924. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty) ¡°Come in.¡± He abandoned all his musings and answered. Then he tidied the pile of documents on his desk. The door swung open, and a stylish and beautiful woman entered. He wasn¡¯t in the least surprised to see his guest. He addressed her politely as ¡®Miss Ai¡¯ with a faint smile. Ai Ruili wore a pastel green floral shirt paired with a pair of skin-tight pants. Her outfit complemented her curves and elongated her legs. She put on light makeup after work, showing her flawless skin. Ai Ruili wore a pair of beige stilettos and her whole appearance was refreshing and vibrant. She strode elegantly towards Su Yan and smiled brightly. ¡°President Su, I was afraid that you might be busy. So I came up to wait for you.¡± Su Yan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m just finishing up. We can leave at any time.¡± He switched off his laptop and rose. He retrieved his coat from the clothes rack and slung it on his arm. Ai Ruili glanced at the huge pile of documents on his desk and earnestly said, ¡°President Su. I have nothing on tonight and I¡¯m not hungry. You don¡¯t have to rush.¡± She had finally snagged this rare opportunity to be alone with him. This was better than having a date at a restaurant. Even if she were to stay here the entire night, just to watch him quietly, she would be contented. Ai Ruili stared at Su Yan¡¯s gorgeous face and fell into a deep reverie. ¡°Let¡¯s head there early. Our reservation is at 7 p.m,¡± Su Yan replied softly as he marched towards the office door. Ai Ruili had no reason to insist, as he had already walked off. She scurried after him. On their way there, she kept trying to keep the conversation going with Su Yan. But she was very natural and subtle in her attempts. Unlike some others who kept rattling on without stopping. Su Yan clenched the steering wheel as he looked ahead. The sun was setting, and the roadside stalls were coming alive. The colorful lights flickered and it suddenly distracted him for no reason. ¡°President Su, red light!¡± Ai Ruili shrieked loudly to warn him. It jolted Su Yan awake, and the car had already shot past the traffic junction. Pedestrians were starting to cross the road, and he couldn¡¯t continue driving. So he made an abrupt stop. The car screeched loudly because of friction. But they were alert, so they weren¡¯t hurt. After a moment, Ai Ruili turned to glance at Su Yan after regaining her composure. ¡°President Su, are you alright? What was on your mind?¡± ¡°I was thinking of work,¡± Su Yan answered lightly before putting on an apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry. I must have given you a terrible shock.¡± Ai Ruili shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± After the traffic light turned green, he moved off once more. Su Yan was trying his best to suppress his emotions and to prevent his mind from wandering off. He had no idea what he was preoccupied with just now. He was clearly listening to Ai Ruili talking about the recent stock market. Then he got distracted. In the fine-dining restaurant, all the tables were fully occupied. They made a reservation earlier on, so they went directly to it. Their table was at a comfortable corner with pearl curtains acting as a partition. It was relatively quiet. Chapter 1925. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-One) The food arrived shortly after they ordered. Both of them ordered the signature steaks and the chef¡¯s recommended dish. Ai Ruili ordered a bottle of red wine. A tall and slim waiter served the food and uncorked the bottle of wine. He was about to pour the wine when Ai Ruili raised her head with a smile. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll do it ourselves later.¡± The waiter bowed politely and placed the bottle down. They were left alone, and Su Yan removed his coat. He unclipped his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeves. He began to cut his steak quietly and elegantly. ¡°President Su, have some wine.¡± Ai Ruili raised the bottle as she offered to pour it into Su Yan¡¯s glass. Su Yan glanced at her and opened his mouth. Ai Ruili noticed it and she halted her movements and stared at Su Yan. Su Yan didn¡¯t utter a word and continued to cut his steak in silence. As the saying goes, silence means consent. Ai Ruili smiled and tipped the bottle. Then she poured some for herself. She placed the bottle on the table and raised her glass to give Su Yan a toast. ¡°President Su, let¡¯s have a toast. To a pleasant working relationship.¡± Su Yan put his cutlery down and raised his glass. He clinked his glass with her, and said, ¡°To a pleasant working relationship.¡± Both took a sip of their wine. Ai Ruili glanced at Su Yan and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m surprised.¡± Su Yan raised his eyebrow and waited for Ai Ruili to continue. Ai Ruili replied, ¡°I was surprised that you agreed to have dinner with me today. I know that you are a busy man. Every time I meet you, we don¡¯t even have time to talk.¡± Su Yan curled his lips and apologized. ¡°Sorry, I wasn¡¯t considerate enough.¡± Ai Ruili waved her hands to dismiss his apology. ¡°It¡¯s fine. All successful businessmen are busy.¡± She took another sip of the wine. Her seductive red lips sparkled under the light, and the wine on her lips made her exceedingly attractive. Any man would find it hard to resist her charm. No one knew if she was deliberate or not, but she didn¡¯t use a napkin to dab at her lips. She smiled invitingly at Su Yan. However, Su Yan¡¯s attention didn¡¯t linger on her at all. After a fleeting glance, he continued to eat his steak. He had a long day, and he had to discuss work during lunch. He had nothing for teatime, and he was famished by now. Ai Ruili was a little disheartened when she saw how engrossed Su Yan was in the food. She picked up the napkin to wipe her mouth. She too picked up her cutlery and began to eat. She was a famous celebrity and had lots of fans. Even if she was interested in a man, she wouldn¡¯t act like a smitten fool. The silence stretched between them throughout the entire dinner. After paying the bill, Su Yan and Ai Ruili left the restaurant. As Ai Ruili walked, she put on a pair of sunglasses. ¡°Be careful!¡± They exited through the revolving doors, and a plump woman entered with a little girl. Ai Ruili recalled something, and she glanced at Su Yan. ¡°President Su, the girl in your office the other day. Is she your niece?¡± Chapter 1926. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Two) Su Yan nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°She is really cute and chubby.¡± Ai Ruili smiled brightly at Su Yan as she complimented Xiaojiao. She felt like pinching the girl¡¯s cheek. She seemed to have finally gotten his attention. Su Yan smiled and agreed readily. ¡°I think so, too.¡± She was so adorable with her chubby cheeks. All his fatigue and troubles would vanish at the sight of her. ¡°It¡¯s Ai Ruili!¡± They walked down the steps and bumped into two young girls. They immediately recognized Ai Ruili the moment they saw her. They exclaimed in excitement. ¡°Miss Ai!¡± ¡°Oh no, someone recognized me.¡± Ai Ruili darted behind Su Yan. Su Yan merely stared at the girls, looking as though he had no intention of bringing Ai Ruili away or being her shield. It was evening, and there were throngs of people entering and exiting the restaurant. Everyone turned their heads when they heard Ai Ruili¡¯s name. Ai Ruili was like a magnet that could attract everyone¡¯s attention. Even those who didn¡¯t know her began to crowd around her. Humans were curious by nature, and soon, they were surrounded. ¡°Miss Ai, I want your signature.¡± ¡°Sister Ai Ruili, can we take a photo with you?¡± Everyone clamored for a photo with Ai Ruili, and she was pushed nearer to Su Yan. Su Yan remained motionless as he stared at the crowd. ¡°Miss Ai, is this good-looking guy your boyfriend?¡± ¡°He is President Su from Flourish & Prosper! He was on the cover page of a financial magazine last week.¡± Someone in the crowd recognized Su Yan. Seconds later, they began to whip out their phones. Su Yan frowned slightly, expressing his impatience. But he still had an unfaltering expression on his face. ¡°Miss Ai Ruili, are you dating President Su?¡± Suddenly, a reporter with a professional camera and microphone squeezed his way to the front. This was a high-class restaurant, and it was no surprise that the patrons here include celebrities. Hence, there would always be a reporter or two lurking around. It began to get chaotic, and the entrance of the restaurant was blocked. Security guards were deployed to disperse the crowd. But the crowd wasn¡¯t that easy to deal with. They continued to push their way forward, nearer to Ai Ruili and Su Yan. ¡°No. We¡¯re just friends. We have a business collaboration,¡± Ai Ruili replied to the reporter in a calm tone of voice. This was the default reply from the celebrities¡­ regardless of who they were with when asked if they were dating or not. It was also a politically correct answer. All celebrities had the same boring answers. So the reporters pressed on with determination. ¡°According to reliable sources, you¡¯re going to be the ambassador for Flourish & Prosper¡¯s upcoming product. Is it true?¡± This situation was gearing up to evolve into an interview. Ai Ruili had ample experience dealing with reporters, so she politely replied, ¡°I can¡¯t reveal details regarding work.¡± ¡°Miss Ai. Do you know President Su personally before working together?¡± ¡°We got to know each other after working together. We are merely ordinary friends.¡± ¡°Miss Ai, you are single. So is President Su. Both of you make an ideal couple. Have you thought of getting together with President Su?¡± ¡°Sorry, I have something on. Can we go now?¡± Su Yan finally broke his silence and spoke with irritation lacing his voice. Chapter 1927. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Three) He put his arm on Ai Ruili¡¯s shoulders and used the other to part the crowd. Although he wasn¡¯t blatantly being protective of Ai Ruili, at least he was shielding her. The reporters clicked the cameras away, and the crowd snapped away furiously. With the help of the security guards, Su Yan and Ai Ruili finally reached their car. And they shook off the reporters and the crowd. Su Yan peered ahead, looking aloof and impassive under the dim light. Ai Ruili had a hunch that he was felt irritated and upset. So she cleared her throat and said, ¡°President Su, I¡¯m so sorry. I dragged you into this.¡± Su Yan nodded curtly. ¡°I understand, as you¡¯re a celebrity.¡± His tone had a hint of mockery¡­ and Ai Ruili¡¯s expression flinched. She clenched her fists and wanted to clear the air. But she didn¡¯t dare to. Finally, she pressed her lips and pointed ahead. ¡°President Su, please stop at the junction ahead. I¡¯ll get a taxi.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Yan nodded, and he really did as she requested. Ai Ruili got down and Su Yan interjected before she could close the door. ¡°Next week, you need to go to Shanghai for a publicity shoot. Get ready.¡± Ai Ruili¡¯s face registered surprise and she took some time to recover from it. She smiled and replied, ¡°Okay. President Su, travel safe.¡± Su Yan didn¡¯t reply and turned his face away. After Ai Ruili closed the door, he stepped on the accelerator and sped off. Without a doubt, Su Yan and Ai Ruili hit the headlines the next morning. Photos of them outside the restaurant circulated like wildfire online, and everyone was speculating about their relationship. ¡°Brother, are you really dating Ai Ruili?¡± Su Yan put down the newspapers, and the door burst open. There were only two people in this world who would dare to barge in without his permission. He grinned at Su Yue, who charged at him angrily. ¡°You came here just to ask me this?¡± Su Yue stood before Su Yan and frowned at his nonchalance and grin. ¡°Is this a trivial matter?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Su Yan shook his head. ¡°Exactly.¡± Su Yue pursed her lips. ¡°Tell me. Are you dating Ai Ruili?¡± Su Yan shook his head promptly. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why did you protect her?¡± Su Yue glanced at Su Yan, and she looked indignant. She seemed displeased and annoyed by how he protected Ai Ruili yesterday. She didn¡¯t know why she was so jealous, but she attributed it to the fact that she didn¡¯t like Ai Ruili. Su Yan raised a brow. ¡°So you think that your brother isn¡¯t a gentleman?¡± Su Yue rolled her eyes. ¡°Tch. How could I believe that a man who broke a woman¡¯s heart before would be gentlemanly enough to protect a scheming woman?¡± She knew about how Ai Ruili had tricked Zhou Shuang and almost caused her to fall off a mountain. Her impression of her got worse. In her heart, Ai Ruili was the kind of woman who would resort to underhand methods to achieve what she wanted. She hated her. ¡­ At the Jiang¡¯s house. After the old master¡¯s funeral, everyone looked hollowed and somber. The family, which used to be lively and bustling, seemed to have gloominess cast over them like a dark cloud. Chapter 1928. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Four) ¡°It¡¯s about time you marry Xiaoxiao. Your grandfather¡¯s biggest regret must¡¯ve been being unable to carry grandchildren.¡± Jiang Shaomei was carrying a large bag and she was wearing casual clothes. She turned her head to talk to Jiang Zhuoheng as they walked down the stairs. ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng looked at his feet and muttered a reply. He didn¡¯t sleep a wink these few days. He looked haggard and Jiang Shaomei¡¯s heart ached when she looked at him. ¡°Ah Heng, Xiaoxiao is a good girl. You need a partner too, so why don¡¯t you accept it wholeheartedly.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded slightly, but his mind was elsewhere. Jiang Shaomei pressed her lips and remained silent. She turned to look at the sofa area, where Xin Yanting was sitting. She was wearing a white loungewear and she had tied up her black hair in a bun. She had lost a significant amount of weight in the past few days. She sat there, bent over, appearing engrossed in something. Jiang Shaomei drew nearer and asked softly, ¡°Yanting, what are you looking at?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Xin Yanting retracted her thoughts and hurriedly flipped the newspapers over. She turned to Jiang Shaomei and shook her head. ¡°Mother, are we leaving?¡± She asked as she stood up and walked towards her. Jiang Shaomei glanced at the newspaper Xin Yanting was looking at earlier. She immediately came to a realization and her face fell. Her tone was much colder as she asked, ¡°Why are you still paying attention to that boy?¡± Jiang Shaomei had the habit of reading the newspapers every morning. She had already browsed through the entire newspaper during breakfast. How could she have missed the headlines in the entertainment section? President Su from Flourish & Prosper and the movie queen Ai Ruili were in the headlines of various forums and news articles. She hated Su Yan to the core. It would infuriate her at the mere mention of him. She didn¡¯t care about the 30 percent of shares they lost to Flourish & Prosper. The most important thing was her daughter. Xin Yanting was once an arrogant and bubbly girl. But she had matured in an instant. Of course, she was glad that her daughter was more mature now, but it was forced out of her. She had changed overnight and it broke her heart. ¡°I¡¯m not. I just happened to see it.¡± Xin Yanting smiled and shook her head. Then she took the large bag from Jiang Shaomei. It was bulky and heavy. She joked, ¡°Grandfather really dotes on us. He left us so many things.¡± Her smile was forced and deliberate. Jiang Shaomei watched her with red eyes. She looked downwards and sighed helplessly. ¡°Miss, a man outside claims that he¡¯s your friend.¡± The butler suddenly came in and said that someone was looking for Xin Yanting. Xin Yanting frowned in confusion. ¡°My friend?¡± She had many friends in the capital city, but they hadn¡¯t met in years. Who would look for her all the way here?¡± Jiang Shaomei was confused as well. ¡°Yanting, who is it?¡± Xin Yanting pressed her lips and shook her head. She didn¡¯t know either. Confused, she walked to the entrance. She exited and looked outside the gate. A man was standing outside the metal gate. The man had blond hair. He had blue eyes and he was wearing a dark blue sports attire. He was tall and muscular and looked very fit. Chapter 1929. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Five) Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Her mouth was agape and she blinked to ensure that her eyes were not playing tricks on her. ¡°Jesse.¡± She immediately sprinted outside the gate. ¡°Ting.¡± Jesse opened his arms and walked towards her. Both of them hugged politely. Xin Yanting took a step back and peered up at him. She was still in shock. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Jesse smiled and replied, ¡°I came to China for a holiday. You¡¯re the only friend I have here so you¡¯re the only person I could look for.¡± He sounded rather helpless but his smile couldn¡¯t hide his joy. Xin Yanting smiled. ¡°How did you get this address?¡± Jesse replied, ¡°This address is written in your school records.¡± Indeed, this was the China address in her school records in Country M. Xin Yanting nodded and grabbed Jesse¡¯s arm. She pulled him into the house and said, ¡°Come on in.¡± Then something flashed across her mind and she turned around. She barked an ordered at the butler who was standing at the gate. ¡°Uncle Li, please bring my friend¡¯s luggage inside.¡± ¡°Yanting, who is this?¡± Jiang Shaomei asked as she pointed at Jesse. ¡°He¡¯s my classmate in Country M, Jesse.¡± Xin Yanting introduced him to Jiang Shaomei before introducing her to Jesse. ¡°Jesse, this is my mother.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Jesse smiled as he stepped forward. He bowed politely to Jiang Shaomei. Jiang Shaomei knew that it was etiquette back in Country M. She smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m glad to meet you, too.¡± Then she sized him up and was deep in thought before saying to Jesse, ¡°Come in and have a seat.¡± Jiang Shaomei led the way while Xin Yanting and Jesse followed. The few of them chatted as they walked. ¡°You¡¯re quite amazing. You managed to find me all the way here.¡± Xin Yanting found a pair of slippers for him when they entered. Jesse raised his eyebrows as he changed out of his shoes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you pleasantly surprised?¡± ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± This time, Xin Yanting replied in Chinese. Jesse was stunned since he didn¡¯t know what she meant. Seeing his stunned look, Xin Yanting and Jiang Shaomei chuckled. He blinked and shrugged his shoulders before following them into the house. He didn¡¯t understand, anyway. As they entered the hall, Jesse looked around the living room. He gasped in awe. He turned and looked at Xin Yanting and gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Ting, your house is amazing.¡± Xin Yanting shrugged her shoulders. ¡°This isn¡¯t my house. It¡¯s my grandfather¡¯s.¡± She walked to the sofa and they sat down. Both of them were still chatting about their classmates back in Country M. Jesse was humorous and he made Xin Yanting burst into laughter every now and then. It had been a while since she had last seen her daughter laugh like that. Jiang Shaomei watched them from afar and observed Jesse. She was deep in thought. Suddenly, the phone in her bag started ringing and interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Mother, your phone is ringing,¡± Xin Yanting called. She took the phone out of the bag and walked over. She passed it to her. Jiang Shaomei looked at the caller ID before picking up the call. ¡°Hello.¡± Chapter 1930. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Six) She turned and walked towards the main door. After she ended the call, Jiang Shaomei hastily returned. She said to Xin Yanting, ¡°Yanting since your friend is here, you should stay in the capital city for two more days. I¡¯ll head back first. There are tons of work waiting to be done at the office. I have to rush or I¡¯ll miss the flight.¡± She walked to the sofa and picked up the large bag she was carrying earlier. She smiled and said to Jesse, ¡°Jesse, you can stay here for two more days. I¡¯ll make a move.¡± Jesse stood up and bowed at Jiang Shaomei. ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°Mother.¡± Xin Yanting stood up and followed her to the main door. Jiang Shaomei turned around and looked into the house. Jesse was still standing at the sofa area. She retracted her gaze and smiled and Xin Yanting. ¡°Bring your friend around the capital city and enjoy yourself. I¡¯ll get someone to fetch you after.¡± Her smile had a hidden meaning behind it. Even the most foolish of people could tell. Xin Yanting pressed her lips but she didn¡¯t bother explaining. She replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I can head back myself, you don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± It had been a long time since she returned home. She hadn¡¯t had a meal with her father and mother in a long time. She was originally eager to head home and have a good reunion with her parents. But Jesse turned up all of a sudden and she couldn¡¯t ditch him in the capital city. The capital city! She didn¡¯t want to stay in this city. Its air and¡­ people were toxic. The car she left at the Jiangs¡¯ four years ago was no longer working. Xin Yanting drove Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s car and brought Jesse around the capital city. Their plan was to visit the scenic spots and historical sites in the capital city. After visiting three locations, it had already turned dark. After a whole day of sightseeing and driving, Xin Yanting was tired and hungry. She saw a newly opened shopping mall from afar. It looked popular and an advertisement that read ¡®Food Haven at B1¡¯ caught her eye. It was as though her wish had come true. Her eyes brightened and she turned to Jesse. ¡°Jesse, let¡¯s go for a meal.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Jesse agreed as he nodded, showing her an ¡®OK¡¯ sign with his fingers. Xin Yanting had already driven in the direction of the mall. Jesse knew that she had already chosen a location and his gaze swept over the advertisement as well. His eyes brightened. ¡°There¡¯s a cinema and a skating rink too.¡± Jesse pointed at another advertisement and said to Xin Yanting excitedly. Xin Yanting glanced in the direction he was pointing and smiled. ¡°The skating rink there is meant for kids. You definitely won¡¯t like it. Let¡¯s not waste our time there.¡± She was dead beat. She just wanted to eat and return home, so she could have a good sleep. Jesse¡¯s spirit was dampened. Indeed, he wasn¡¯t interested in a small skating rink. He thought for a while and said, ¡°Let¡¯s watch a movie then.¡± Xin Yanting frowned. ¡°Energetic, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jesse smiled and replied, ¡°When in Rome, do as the Romans do. The men in China like to take girls out on movie dates.¡± Xin Yanting smiled. She didn¡¯t nod or reject his request. After all, he had traveled all the way here. She had to be a good host. The good thing about watching a movie was that it didn¡¯t require much energy¡ªshe just had to sit there. Besides, if she didn¡¯t like it, she could sleep as well. Chapter 1931. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Seven) The mall was more crowded than expected. The capital city was known for its roast duck. There was a well-known roast duck shop in Food Haven. There was a long queue and they waited for a long time before they were eventually given a seat. ¡°Go ahead and order.¡± Xin Yanting passed the menu to Jesse. There were English names on the menu so Jesse could understand it. ¡°You can book movie tickets.¡± Jesse took the menu from her and asked her to book the tickets. Xin Yanting pressed her lips helplessly. This fellow was really energetic. ¡°This cinema doesn¡¯t have any movies that you¡¯d understand. They are all Chinese romance movies. Unless you¡¯d like to watch a cartoon?¡± Xin Yanting scrolled through the entire list of movies and saw that the only English movie available was a cartoon. She passed the phone to him. Jesse glanced at it and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything, as long as I¡¯m watching it with you.¡± She¡¯d originally thought that he would have given up on the idea of watching a movie. She didn¡¯t expect him to be so persistent. Xin Yanting replied helplessly, ¡°Alright¡­ We¡¯ll watch this then. The Little Starfish.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Jesse replied as he nodded. He raised the menu and pointed at the roast duck on the first page. ¡°Can we order two of this?¡± Xin Yanting was speechless. People were always eager when it came to something they haven¡¯t gotten before. Just like how Jesse was eager to have his¡­ roast duck. Back in Country M, he claimed that he¡¯d definitely try the roast duck when he came to China. Now that he was finally here, he wanted to order two. Xin Yanting thought that Jesse wouldn¡¯t fancy the crispy skin of the duck, coupled with the sweet sauce, but he ended up finishing the two ducks until what was left was the bones. ¡°It¡¯s simply delicious.¡± Jesse was still praising the flavor of the roast duck when they reached the cinema. Xin Yanting thought he was exaggerating. She remained silent and walked to the vending machine. She bought two bottled drinks. She passed the first to Jesse. ¡°It¡¯s too oily. Have some pomelo tea.¡± Jesse took the bottle from her, uncapped it, and began drinking. Xin Yanting bought orange juice for herself. She tilted her head up and took a small sip. Then she leaned lazily against the vending machine and stared at the floor. She wasn¡¯t wearing makeup, so she looked haggard. Her eyelashes covered her eyes and he couldn¡¯t tell what was on her mind. But by the crease between her eyebrows, she looked sad. Jesse stared at her for a while before asking in a serious tone, ¡°Ting, when are you coming back to Country M?¡± Xin Yanting retracted her thoughts and plainly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll probably be staying at home for some time, to spend some time with my parents.¡± She didn¡¯t lift her head. Her gaze remained fixed on the floor. Jesse turned and leaned against the vending machine, his shoulders next to hers. He looked askew at her and his gaze was deep when he said, ¡°I wish that you¡¯d come back soon. I really miss you.¡± Xin Yanting pressed her lips and lifted her head. She took a deep breath and grinned at Jesse. ¡°China is my home. I have to return one day.¡± ¡°I really like you. Everyone knows that I¡¯m chasing you,¡± Jesse said to her in a serious tone. It stunned Xin Yanting. ¡®Now checking tickets for the English version of The Little Starfish, showing at 8:25 p.m.¡¯ Chapter 1932. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Eight) At this moment, a broadcaster announced that they were starting to check tickets. Xin Yanting recovered from her stupor and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go. They¡¯re checking tickets now.¡± She bowed her head. Without looking at his reaction, she walked towards the cinema. Jesse gazed at her deeply and pressed his lips bitterly. He shook his head and gave himself an encouraging smile. ¡°Ting!¡± He caught up with her in three steps. He slowed his pace when he reached her, his hands tucked into his pockets as he followed beside her in silence. ¡®The Little Starfish¡¯ just came to the theaters, so many people were watching it. Majority brought their kids along for the movie. It was noisy. There was a long queue at the ticket-checking counter. The neighboring lane was for exiting. A movie had just ended and a congregation of people was walking toward the exit, discussing the plot of the movie they just watched. Laughter filled the air. ¡°Oh, I forgot to get popcorn.¡± Jesse smelled a waft of popcorn that a girl in front of them was carrying. ¡°I¡¯ll go buy some.¡± He prepared to leave but Xin Yanting grabbed his arm and pulled him back. She frowned and asked, ¡°We just ate. Are you still hungry?¡± She had zero interest in food right now. Curious, Jesse frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t you Chinese girls like eating popcorn during movies?¡± He didn¡¯t understand girls from China at all. He based everything from what he had seen and jumped to conclusions. ¡°No, I don¡¯t like it.¡± Xin Yanting shook her head gently and let go of his arm. She continued walking toward the cinema. ¡°Uncle, can you bring me to watch it next time?¡± Suddenly, a girl beside her spoke in English and Xin Yanting turned her head in curiosity. A tall man was carrying a cute little girl in a white dress. He brushed past her and shock flashed across her eyes. Her heart clenched. She turned to look at them and was apparently stunned. The man took two steps before suddenly halting and turning around. His gaze met hers and shock was etched onto his handsome face. Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes glistened. The man¡¯s eyes seemed to have a strong magnetic force that sucked her in. She hated him. She found him annoying. She shouldn¡¯t think about him or give him a second glance. ¡°Are you moving or not?¡± The person queuing behind her saw that she was unmoving and impatiently rushed her. Her thoughts were interrupted and she retracted her gaze. She bowed her head and was about to continue walking when Jesse suddenly put his arm around her shoulder in a protective stance. He protected her as she walked forward through the counter. After getting their 3D spectacles, Jesse moved his arm to her waist. Just as they were about to turn the corner, he looked backward. The tall, handsome, and charismatic man holding that little girl¡¯s hand earlier gradually disappeared from his sight. ¡­ Su Yan held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand. After walking a few steps, he looked backward. His pace slowed. Xiaojiao peered up at him for a long while before asking, ¡°Uncle, what are you looking at?¡± Su Yan smiled at her and truthfully replied, ¡°I saw a close¡ªsomeone I know.¡± Chapter 1933. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Thirty-Nine) He was about to say a close friend, but he changed his mind. Were they really close? It had been five years since they last contacted each other. Could they be considered still close friends if they no longer kept in contact? Su Yan shook his head to prevent himself from thinking further. He refused to let himself be troubled by meaningless thoughts. He held Xiaojiao¡¯s hand and led her to the skating rink. ¡®We no longer keep in contact, And I hope you don¡¯t mind; We can only blame ourselves for not getting together back then. You seem happier now, So there¡¯s no point in me staying. We¡¯ve cut all ties, But that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t miss you; You¡¯re still on my mind wherever I go. And I¡¯m trying to forget, To erase whatever we had, which we chose to give up on.¡¯ ¡­ It was a Friday and there were many people in the skating rink. There was even a queue at the payment counter. He didn¡¯t know the name of the song that was playing in the mall. But it made him fall into a reverie. He gazed afar. The slender girl was like a little elf that emerged from a forest. She looked so pure, energetic, and beautiful. She spun in circles on one foot, like a dancing butterfly. Xiaojiao enjoyed observing people. When she saw Su Yan staring at the girl who was figure skating, she said, ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s that beautiful sister skating.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan nodded, his gaze still fixed on her. He liked the feeling in his heart right now. His heart was at ease as he watched her skating so breezily. She started to slow. When she stopped, Su Yan happened to be facing her side-view. She seemed mysterious to him. He wanted to walk over and remove her mysterious veil. Or perhaps he had this feeling because he couldn¡¯t see her front-view, so he only had a vague impression of her. ¡°Yay!¡± Xiaojiao cheered as she clapped. Su Yan was curious about her reaction. He frowned at her in confusion. ¡°Why are you so happy?¡± Xiaojiao pressed her lips and replied, ¡°Mommy said that Uncle doesn¡¯t like women. She¡¯s worried that Uncle wouldn¡¯t find Xiaojiao an aunt.¡± Su Yan¡¯s expression darkened. Su Yue was bad-mouthing him at home? ¡°Can we find that Sister later?¡± Su Yan laughed and didn¡¯t answer her. They bought ice-skating equipment the previous time but they didn¡¯t bring it today. Actually, they could rent a set, but Young Master Su was slightly mysophobic. He refused to wear a set that someone else had used before. Besides, money was not a problem for him. So he bought a new set of skating equipment. There were many kids in the rink today. Xiaojiao was excited and she envied the kids who could skate by themselves and skate well, too. How she wished she could instantly learn how to skate. ¡°Uncle, hold my hand. Teach me quickly.¡± She grabbed Su Yan¡¯s hand and pulled him further into the rink. She had just returned from Country M so she was used to speaking in English. Whenever she was anxious, she would speak in English. Su Yan smiled affectionately when he saw her anxious figure. ¡°Xiaojiao, Uncle will teach you how to fly.¡± Then he quickly skated a few rounds around Xiaojiao. Suddenly, while she was unaware, he bent over and scooped her up. He grabbed the area under her armpits and lifted her high above the ground. He carried her and quickly skated to the center of the rink. Chapter 1934. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty) ¡°Ah¡­¡± Xiaojiao was frightened at first, but eventually, she became eager and excited. Quickly, they attracted the attention of those around. ¡°Look, that uncle can skate so fast.¡± ¡°Amazing! He can actually carry a person while skating.¡± ¡°How I wish my father was as good at skating as him.¡± Many kids stopped and looked at Xiaojiao in envy. ¡°Teacher, that uncle is so good at skating.¡± The female teacher was patiently guiding two small kids. A girl behind her suddenly pulled at her shirt excitedly, as she pointed at Su Yan, who was showcasing his skills in the center of the rink. ¡°Oh¡­¡± She straightened up and turned around. She was about to look over. Suddenly, a tall figure appeared before her at lightning speed and stopped in front of her. She froze and her eyes bulged in shock. After two seconds, she came to her senses and hurriedly bowed her head in anxiousness. She turned away from him. Xiaojiao was sitting on his shoulders. He suspiciously sized her up. ¡°Have we met?¡± He barely managed to glance at her face. But he was sure that she was hiding from him. So they knew each other. ¡°Wh-What? You¡¯ve got the wrong person,¡± she stammered. This confirmed his suspicions. He frowned and bent lower to look at her face. ¡°Really?¡± The girl had a mole under her right ear. Su Yan smiled when he saw it. ¡°Yes.¡± She nodded and said to the kids, ¡°I¡¯m going for a break. You guys can practice on your own.¡± The kids nodded in obedience. Their teacher had already skated a few meters away. Seeing her retreating figure, Su Yan shook his head in amusement. The world was so big, yet so small. ¡°Uncle, that sister has left. Why aren¡¯t you chasing after her?¡± The pretty sister was gone and Xiaojiao patted Su Yan¡¯s head as a reminder. Su Yan smiled. ¡°There¡¯s no need to. Uncle will see her on Monday.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Xiaojiao looked down at him in confusion. ¡°You have her number?¡± How else would he be able to see her on Monday? Su Yan nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± Xiaojiao clapped excitedly when she heard that Su Yan had the pretty sister¡¯s number. Her uncle must have incredible superpowers to be able to find out her number with a single glance. ¡®Amazing!¡¯ Su Yan was speechless. ¡­ On Monday morning, the staff was rushing around the office. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ ¡°Come in.¡± Su Yan had just sat down when someone knocked on his door. He opened his laptop and didn¡¯t lift his head. The door opened and Mixiao walked in. She was carrying a memorandum book. As she walked in, she said, ¡°President Su, I¡¯m reporting your schedule for the day.¡± She stopped before him. She glanced at him before hurriedly bowing her head and adjusting the spectacles on her nose. Her gaze swept around the room, not landing on Su Yan. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you continuing?¡± Su Yan lifted his head and frowned in confusion. Chapter 1935. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-One) ¡°Oh.¡± Mixiao recovered and nodded. Flustered, she flipped the book open and reported his schedule for the day. ¡°This afternoon at three, you have an appointment with President Zhou regarding the product investment. At seven p.m.¡ª¡± Su Yan interrupted. ¡°Next time, you¡¯re not allowed to wear spectacles when working.¡± Huh? Not allowed to wear spectacles when working? Mixiao blinked at him in confusion. ¡°Why?¡± The words left her mouth without her knowing. She definitely wouldn¡¯t have said it if she could. The boss¡¯ rules were the company¡¯s rules. How could she question him? Either she would wear contacts or leave the company. But what stupid rule was this? Why did the boss care if she wore spectacles or not? She was just a secretary. She wasn¡¯t in public relations, so why did she need to watch her image? Why couldn¡¯t she wear spectacles? Su Yan continued, ¡°You¡¯ve been interning for almost a month now. Join us for the dinner banquet tonight.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Mixiao started, before swallowing her words. She bowed her head and agreed. She hugged the book tighter and adjusted her spectacles. ¡°I said no wearing spectacles¡­¡± Su Yan suddenly said after a while. Mixiao trembled and looked pleadingly at him. ¡°But can I wear it for today? I¡¯ll wear contacts tomorrow.¡± It revealed her pretty and delicate face. Su Yan smiled and nodded nonchalantly. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°President Su, I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± Mixiao said and prepared to leave. Su Yan suddenly called out to her. ¡°Mixiao.¡± Mixiao trembled and she halted in her steps. She smiled and asked, ¡°President Su, is there anything else?¡± If one observed closely, they¡¯d find that she was gritting her teeth. ¡°Brew me a cup of coffee,¡± he ordered, his gaze shifting back to his computer screen. Seeing that he was no longer looking at her, Mixiao heaved a sigh of relief. She nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± She placed the book on his desk. She picked up his cup and walked towards the coffee machine. When Mixiao took a few steps, Su Yan looked at her in interest. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Su Yan¡¯s thoughts were interrupted. He shifted his gaze away from her. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened. ¡°Su Yan.¡± Xuxu walked into the office in work attire. She must¡¯ve just arrived. Su Yan stopped working and walked towards her. ¡°Is anything the matter?¡± She seldom came into his office during working hours. ¡°The coastal county holiday resort is celebrating their fifth anniversary. Your third brother and I were planning to go,¡± Xuxu said but she started blushing. Her voice was softer as she continued, ¡°But your third brother sprained his back yesterday.¡± ¡°Is it serious?¡± Su Yan asked in concern. Then he observed that Xuxu was blushing. Given his intellect, he immediately knew what happened. He also blushed awkwardly. He coughed and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I¡¯ll arrange my schedule. Let him recuperate.¡± Chapter 1936. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Two) Then he observed that Xuxu was blushing. Given his intellect, he immediately knew what happened. He also blushed awkwardly. He coughed and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I¡¯ll arrange my schedule. Let him recuperate.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Xuxu nodded in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ head upstairs.¡± She and Yan Rusheng worked in the president¡¯s office, whereas Su Yan was still working in the general manager¡¯s office. Su Yan nodded calmly, still feeling slightly awkward. He averted his gaze and his gaze landed on Mixiao, who was brewing the coffee. She was engrossed in it, and it seemed like she didn¡¯t notice that Xuxu was there. But was she really focused on brewing the coffee, or was she silently scolding him in her mind? Su Yan stared at her and fell into a reverie. He smiled unconsciously. It was a smile from the bottom of his heart. Xuxu followed his gaze and saw Mixiao. She raised her eyebrows and smiled. She retracted her gaze and asked, ¡°Is she your new secretary?¡± She already knew the answer. She already noticed Mixiao the moment the staff started gossiping about how President Su hired a female secretary. She was equally shocked when she heard the news. So, she knew of Mixiao. Su Yan nodded. He casually shifted his gaze away from her. Even if he was caught observing a girl, he still acted calm and composed. He wasn¡¯t one to cover up his thoughts or hide his feelings. He did whatever he wanted. ¡°Oh.¡± Xuxu nodded in understanding and shifted her gaze towards Mixiao. The moment she did, Su Yan called out to Mixiao. ¡°Mixiao.¡± ¡°President Su.¡± Mixiao heard Su Yan calling her and she took a while to react. She turned to look at him. He asked, ¡°Is the coffee done?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The coffee was done a long time ago. She nodded and hastily poured the coffee into a cup. She carried it with two hands and walked over to Su Yan. ¡°This is the President¡¯s wife. You¡¯ve seen her, right?¡± Su Yan pointed at Xuxu and introduced. Then he took the cup of coffee from her and ordered, ¡°Give the lady boss a cup, too.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Xuxu shook her head to reject his offer. She didn¡¯t have time to drink coffee! But Su Yan interrupted, ¡°You brew amazing coffee. Try it and give her some tips.¡± Then he placed the cup to his mouth and he smiled in amusement. His eyes gleamed craftily. He took a sip of coffee. Xuxu was startled and looked at him in bewilderment. Mixiao had already gone to pour her the coffee. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± Su Yan raised his eyebrows at Xuxu. The smile on his face was growing. Xuxu recovered and smiled. ¡°Nothing.¡± She shook her head. She wanted to turn down the offer earlier but now she agreed readily. ¡°Let me try it then. For all we know, I could learn a thing or two from her.¡± Then she smiled ambiguously at Su Yan. Su Yan pointed at the sofa. ¡°Let¡¯s sit over there.¡± ¡°Madam, your coffee.¡± Wen Xuxu and Su Yan had just sat down when Mixiao brought the coffee over. She placed it in front of Xuxu. She straightened up and took two steps back, waiting to see if Su Yan had any other instructions. ¡°Smells good.¡± Xuxu smelled the coffee and smiled in satisfaction. She was sincere. This coffee was comparable to her ¡®professional coffee¡¯. She had been Yan Rusheng¡¯s secretary for over seven years. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t like instant coffee so basically, she had to brew coffee at least once a day whenever they came to the office. Chapter 1937. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Three) She had been making coffee for over seven years. She took a sip. It tasted as good as it smelled. She lifted her head to look at Mixiao. She sized her up in the quickest way possible. Her black-framed spectacles seemed to cover half of her face. In addition to her fringe which reached her eyebrows, she couldn¡¯t tell what she looked like. Xuxu frowned in confusion. Weren¡¯t girls these days good at dressing up? Take Yueyue, for example. She always dressed in bright and beautiful colors, which made one¡¯s eyes brighten. Although she was born with good looks, she¡¯d still look old-fashioned if she didn¡¯t dress well. Mixiao kept her head bowed and Xuxu wanted to make her lookup. She thought for a while and said, ¡°Have a taste yourself.¡± As expected, Mixiao lifted her head and shook it. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± She shook her head as she adjusted the spectacles on her nose bridge. Xuxu¡¯s sharp gaze scrutinized the girl¡¯s features and smiled in satisfaction. This girl wasn¡¯t ugly. She had delicate features and her eyes were bright, like a fresh spring. She placed her cup down and smiled warmly at her. ¡°No need to be so formal. President Su is a very easy-going person.¡± Mixiao nodded awkwardly. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± But she complained in silence. ¡®How is he an easy-going superior? He doesn¡¯t even allow spectacles!¡¯ Then she shifted her gaze to Su Yan. ¡°President Su, I¡¯ll get back to¡ª¡± Seeing that Su Yan had no other instructions for her, she wanted to take her leave. Suddenly, Xuxu asked, ¡°You¡¯re Mixiao, right?¡± Mixiao nodded. ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± She intertwined her fingers and seemed very reserved. After all, not only was she facing her direct superior, but the boss¡¯ wife¡ªthe lady boss¡ªas well. Xuxu smiled warmly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me that. We have the same job in the company¡ªI¡¯m the President¡¯s secretary. You can call me Sister Xuxu like the others do.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Mixiao nodded. She immediately bowed slightly. ¡°Sister Xuxu.¡± Indeed, all the other staff called her Sister Xuxu as well, so there was nothing to be cautious about. Then Mixiao looked at Su Yan. ¡°President Su, I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yan nodded lightly. Mixiao looked as though a huge burden was lifted off her shoulders. She turned and walked towards the door, her pace quickening. After she closed the door, Xuxu faced Su Yan. She grinned and asked, ¡°President Su, is there anything special about this secretary of yours?¡± Her tone was obviously one of ridicule. Su Yan raised his eyebrows in feigned ignorance. ¡°Why did you ask?¡± Xuxu smiled. ¡°There must be something special about her since she has a special treatment from you.¡± ¡°Third sister-in-law, is that a compliment? Or an insult?¡± Su Yan placed his cup down and leaned back lazily. After finding a comfortable position, he placed the cup to his lips and sipped on the aromatic coffee. Savoring it. He was reveling in this feeling. He was incredibly cheerful. ¡°You know what I mean.¡± Xuxu side-glanced him and smiled ambiguously. Her smile deepened when she saw his blissful state. ¡°The coffee is not bad. It suits your taste?¡± Su Yan shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It just feels good overall.¡± He had always been sure about his likes and dislikes. And he was always truthful to Xuxu. He didn¡¯t hide anything from her. They were like friends who could talk about anything. But because she was his sister-in-law, he couldn¡¯t call her his bosom friend. He could only call her a friend. ¡°Are you comparing them?¡± Xuxu asked in a serious tone. She stared at his handsome face, scrutinizing him. ¡°What?¡± Su Yan was stunned. Xuxu smiled and shook her head. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll head upstairs. Your third brother is not coming today and I have lots to do.¡± Then she tested the temperature of the coffee and finished the rest of it in one gulp. Chapter 1938. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Four) His secretary made coffee. She couldn¡¯t waste it. Xuxu finished the coffee and placed the cup down. She stood up to leave. Su Yan stood up after her, his cup not leaving his hand. He followed after her and said, ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Xuxu suddenly recalled something. She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Su Yan frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Are you going to bring your secretary along to the coastal county holiday resort?¡± Xuxu asked slyly. She gave him an ambiguous smile. Of course, Su Yan knew what she was getting at. ¡°Third sister-in-law, are you teasing me?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Xuxu shook her head and walked towards the exit. After Xuxu left, Su Yan stood at his door, watching the girl seated to the right. Her board was filled with post-its. She was staring at the screen, completely engrossed. Her slightly rough hands were on the keyboard, typing. She looked serious. From this angle, she looked quiet and reserved. It was pleasing to the eye. Su Yan unknowingly leaned against the door frame, one hand tucked into his pants. With the coffee mug in his other hand, he took a sip once in a while. He was about to finish his coffee. He didn¡¯t seem to notice that he was smiling faintly at Mixiao, who was engrossed in her work. Did third brother often look at Xuxu this way as well? Did he feel the same way as he was feeling now? Su Yan fell into a reverie and didn¡¯t realize that Mixiao had already caught him staring. She turned to him in confusion. Su Yan frowned. ¡°Focus!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Mixiao hurriedly turned back and continued staring at the computer. But her actions weren¡¯t as smooth as before. How could she focus when the boss was staring at her¡ªand only her? She felt chills down her back. She retracted her neck and slouched slightly. Su Yan smirked in amusement and didn¡¯t want to disrupt her further. He went back to his work. He finished his coffee and straightened up before returning to his office. He recalled something and turned to her. ¡°Mixiao, follow me to have a meal with a client tonight. Change your clothes.¡± It was only a meal with a client. Why did she need to change her clothes? Mixiao was bewildered. She frowned in indignance as she stared after the man as he entered the office. She was originally just looking for a nine-to-five job, so she could do whatever she wanted with the remaining of her time. But now she had to work overtime and follow the boss for his meal with a client. This was a huge disparity from what she wanted. ¡­ After working hours were over, everyone left one after another. All of them said goodbye to Mixiao. She watched them with envy. ¡°Mixiao, I¡¯m leaving. See you tomorrow.¡± Finally, the last colleague left too, waving to her from afar. Mixiao smiled politely, but she felt bitter inside. She stared at the time at the bottom corner of her computer screen. It was already 5:30 p.m. The latest she had ever left the office was 5:30 p.m. Suddenly, a man¡¯s voice sounded from behind her. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to change?¡± Mixiao stood up and the man was already towering over her. She replied, ¡°President Su, time is tight. I don¡¯t have enough time to go home to change my clothes.¡± Su Yan sized her up and decided not to make things difficult for her. He said plainly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He led the way. Mixiao couldn¡¯t keep up with him. She didn¡¯t have time to shut down her computer properly, so she forced it to shut down. Then she grabbed her bag and chased after him. The lift happened to arrive and they entered one after the other. Chapter 1939. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Five) After entering the lift, Mixiao was about to press the button, but Su Yan was one step ahead of her. He pressed the B2 button and leisurely retracted his hand. Mixiao bowed her head. After much deliberation, she looked up at Su Yan and asked, ¡°President Su, it¡¯s just a meal, right? There won¡¯t be drinking?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my secretary. You have to drink on my behalf when the need arises.¡± The lift reached their floor quickly. Su Yan replied to her as he exited the lift. His legs were long and Mixiao had a hard time keeping up with him. She wanted to object to drinking, but in the end, she bit her lip and kept to herself. Their dining venue was a high-class clubhouse in the city area. There was even a hot spring. A man-made one. It was well-furnished and the staff was good-looking. It was said that all of them had at least an undergraduate degree. By her reaction, Su Yan guessed that Mixiao couldn¡¯t hold her liquor. But he didn¡¯t expect her to have such a low tolerance¡ªshe collapsed after three glasses of red wine. She couldn¡¯t even tell left from right anymore. She lay on the table and mumbled something softly. He wanted to move closer and hear what she was saying. Was she scolding him for taking up her after-working hours? Was she worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to go to the skating rink tonight, and would be fired by the boss? Su Yan fixed his gaze on her. The two men sitting in front of him observed Su Yan for a while. They seemed to realize something and they had a silent conversation before nodding. One of them smiled and asked Su Yan, ¡°President Su, Secretary Mi seems a little¡­ tipsy?¡± Su Yan replied with an ¡°Mm.¡° Then he shifted his gaze away from her. ¡°Then¡ª¡± the man was about to say something, but Su Yan interrupted him apologetically. ¡°So, President Xiang, please excuse me. My apologies.¡± President Xiang gave a smile and nodded. ¡°I understand. Please send Secretary Mi back.¡± Su Yan smiled. ¡°My apologies.¡± Then he stood up and grabbed Mixiao¡¯s elbow. He lifted her up easily. She was petite and furthermore, she was drunk. Her footsteps were light. ¡°President Su, I¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ can¡¯t drink.¡± Su Yan finally managed to pull her out of the room. Her body twisted to the side, and although he towered over her, he had a hard time controlling her movements. She stumbled and drunkenly revealed her¡­ innermost thoughts. Her face was flushed and her lips were exceptionally red under the light. Su Yan removed her spectacles and observed her delicate face. Her face was no longer covered. To think that there were girls who tried to cover up their beauty! ¡°President Su, I can¡¯t drink anymore.¡± Mixiao was still mumbling and she was waving her arms around. Su Yan nodded in amusement. ¡°Yes, I know. No more drinking.¡± His voice unconsciously turned affectionate. He was having an extremely hard time trying to control her. He thought for a while before deciding to carry her. Mixiao wrapped her arms instinctively around his neck. She quietened down. Su Yan felt her small face press against his back. He could feel the smoothness of her skin. She was so noisy earlier. Why did she suddenly become quiet? He wasn¡¯t used to it. Su Yan frowned in confusion as he carried her. ¡°We can only go for the man-made hot spring. My cousin and I will send you to the hotel after dinner.¡± Su Yan carried Mixiao out the doors to the clubhouse. As he walked towards his car, he saw two¡ªno, three¡ªfamiliar faces walking towards them. Chapter 1940. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Six) Su Yan stared at them wordlessly. ¡°President Su¡­ you took up my time after work. And you forced me to drink. I don¡¯t want to be your secretary anymore¡­.¡± They stood facing each other, and Mixiao suddenly yelled. Although she was drunk and couldn¡¯t think properly, safety was still an instinct. She waved a hand wildly in the air while clinging firmly onto Su Yan¡¯s arm with the other hand. As though she was afraid of falling off. Her drunk antics weren¡¯t detestable, but adorable and rather bold. Xin Yanting stared at Su Yan and Mixiao. Tears were glistening in her eyes. It was chilly at night in the capital city. A gust of wind blew at her, and she shivered. Her memories were all interrupted. She snapped to and sniffed heavily. Peering at the ground, she spoke to Jiang Zhuoheng and Jesse, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She sounded casual and calm. She straightened her back and strode past Su Yan with her chin raised. He was carrying a girl, and she could catch a whiff of alcohol. It broke her heart. Su Yan once appeared on a television program, and the host asked him about his ideal girl. He said that he didn¡¯t like girls who were too clingy or noisy. And he didn¡¯t like girls who talk too loudly. His ideal girl was worlds apart from her personality, and she was so touched and overjoyed at that time. Xin Yanting thought that Su Yan had really fallen for her, and he was able to accept all her traits that he didn¡¯t like. So she kept reminding herself that Su Yan loved cleanliness. He didn¡¯t like untidiness, and he wasn¡¯t fond of girls who were too loud. So she made up her mind to change herself. She had to be the type of girl that Su Yan would like. Su Yan indeed liked quiet girls who wouldn¡¯t pester him all day long. He didn¡¯t like girls who were too clingy or ask him questions about lip color or the clothes that she wore. And he didn¡¯t like dumb girls who couldn¡¯t even differentiate between a truth and a lie. She was exactly the type of girl that he disliked. So how would he possibly like her? She was a joke. A clown. ¡°Su Yan, I made you a bento set all by myself!¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Then you try it now.¡± ¡°I just had breakfast.¡± ¡°Oh, then you must eat it for lunch!¡± ¡°Place it there first.¡± ¡­ ¡°Su Yan, is my lip color nice today?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Su Yan, do you like my dress?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡­ In hindsight, he would always reply to her with the same answer. He wasn¡¯t the one to blame. She was so stupid that she realized nothing. Other than rattling on an entire day and throwing tantrums, she knew nothing. He was obviously mocking and ridiculing her, but she still foolishly believed everything. She strode past Su Yan and overheard Mixiao whining and complaining. Xin Yanting dug her fingernails into her flesh unconsciously. ¡®Xin Yanting, that¡¯s the difference between you and that girl. He likes her and he doesn¡¯t like you.¡¯ ¡°Ting!¡± Jesse saw Xin Yanting walking away, and he hastily averted his gaze from Su Yan. He scurried after her. After Xin Yanting and Jesse walked past him, Su Yan glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng. Both of them pressed their lips and didn¡¯t acknowledge each other. A moment later, both of them walked away in different directions. Chapter 1941. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Seven) Jiang Zhuoheng turned around and glanced at Su Yan and the girl he was carrying on his back. After Su Yan found his car and turned on the lights, Jiang Zhuoheng sighed heavily to himself. Sigh! That¡¯s the difference between a girl that he liked and a girl that he didn¡¯t. It didn¡¯t matter who came first. ¡®I could move the heavens and Earth, but I can¡¯t touch you.¡¯ Jiang Zhuoheng suddenly recalled the lyrics of a song, and he pressed his lips in bitterness. Su Yan placed Mixiao in the back seat. The girl curled up immediately. She didn¡¯t move afterward and simply continued to mumble to herself. It sounded as if she was still complaining about Su Yan. Su Yan stood beside the car with his back bent. He peered and watched Mixiao with a gentle smile. This was the feeling that he was looking for. He felt at ease and comfortable. No matter how reluctant or resentful she was, she knew that it was part of her job. And she would do it. She knew her priorities and commitment. He took time to research her work progress at Flourish & Prosper for the past month. Basically, he didn¡¯t really have to, as the amount of effort was evident from her thick notebook and the pile of post-it-notes on her desk which she changed every day. She was humble, hardworking, and modest. He couldn¡¯t pinpoint his feelings right now and had no idea what he wanted. He thought that it was best to let nature take its own course. Yeah, he should let nature take its own course. As though he had just solved a complicated question, Su Yan¡¯s spirits soared. He moved away and shut the door. Then he opened the driver¡¯s seat door. He got in, ignited the engine, and drove off. The wind was bitter, but the heart was even more so. Xin Yanting watched as the car sped out of sight and into the darkness. She stood outside the entrance, and her body trembled. There seemed to be a void in her eyes, and she had no idea where she was looking at. He wasn¡¯t there anymore. He had left with another girl. ¡°Is he the guy you are in love with?¡± Jesse, who stood behind Xin Yanting, finally shattered the silence after careful deliberation. Xin Yanting pressed her lips, with her eyes still staring into the direction that Su Yan had driven off in. ¡°Yeah. I have always been in love with him. I can¡¯t stop myself from loving him.¡± She confessed her feelings in all honesty. She really liked Su Yan. The man with an intense look in his eyes, his beautiful features, his slightly wavy black hair, thick and curly eyelashes¡­ He seemed to have bribed the sunlight to follow him wherever he went. His charms were irresistible. Jesse was hardly surprised at all when he heard Xin Yanting¡¯s reply. ¡°You can choose to move forward.¡± ¡°I tried. But I can¡¯t see the light at the end of the tunnel. It¡¯s dark and bleary.¡± Xin Yanting turned to Jesse with a sorrowful smile. It had been five years. She had constantly reminded herself that Su Yan didn¡¯t love her at all. Su Yan will never belong to her in this lifetime. But her heart no longer belonged to her. She couldn¡¯t control her own heart. ¡°Look again.¡± Jesse suddenly stretched his hands to grab Xin Yanting¡¯s shoulders. He steered her to face forward once again. At the same time, he stepped forward to stand before her. In doing so, he entered her line of vision. ¡°Huh?¡± Xin Yanting raised her head and was confused. Jesse smiled at her. ¡°Love is just like a journey in life. In the beginning, you might feel that the road you¡¯ve chosen is too long, and you can¡¯t see an end to it. But you can choose to take other roads, and the scenery wouldn¡¯t be too shabby.¡± Chapter 1942. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Eight) His piercing blue eyes met Xin Yanting¡¯s eyes, and he was filled with expectation. Xin Yanting continued to gaze at him with her head raised. She was still mulling over what Jesse had advised her. Jesse paused briefly before continuing. ¡°Do you wish to waste your time and youth on that endless road?¡± Endless road¡­ She knew clearly that the road had no end to it. She was aware. Sigh! Xin Yanting exhaled helplessly to herself. She muttered softly. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat.¡± She turned around and walked ahead. Jesse followed after her closely. ¡°Ting, I really want you to be happy. Putting aside the question of you falling in love with me or not. Five years ago before you returned, you weren¡¯t like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known you for nearly ten years. Before you came back to China, you were cheerful, optimistic, and lively. You were so confident. But now, I only see gloom and misery in you.¡± Xin Yanting continued to walk as she listened. ¡°He caused you unhappiness and he didn¡¯t make you more beautiful or a better version of yourself. So he doesn¡¯t deserve the love you¡¯ve given him.¡± Jesse halted his footsteps, and Xin Yanting followed suit. She paused and slowly raised her hands to feel her face. He didn¡¯t make you more beautiful¡­ How was she like now? She didn¡¯t look in the mirror that often now. Even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t scrutinize her appearance like how she did before. She didn¡¯t make the effort to dress herself up as well. In the last five years, she finished her Masters, then her Ph.D. She worked while she studied at the same time. She tried so hard to transform herself into someone knowledgeable, hardworking, and wise¡­ But that didn¡¯t make her into a better person. Suddenly, she smiled at Jesse. ¡°Let¡¯s go and have dinner. We can go to the hot spring later.¡± Jesse¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Great!¡± This place was famous for the delicacies. Xin Yanting stuffed herself to the brim and she really enjoyed the dinner. Jesse saw that she tried to use her fingers to wipe her mouth. So, he pulled some tissues and handed them to her. ¡°Wipe your mouth.¡± Xin Yanting dabbed at her mouth and said, ¡°The fish stew is even better than the one made by my mom.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was relieved to see her in high spirits. ¡°We can come again.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hot spring.¡± Xin Yanting threw the tissues away and picked up her bag. She seemed eager and excited. Jiang Zhuoheng replied, ¡°You and Jesse can go ahead. I¡¯ll skip.¡± He rose as he spoke. Xin Yanting pursed her lips and eyed Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°You¡¯re such a spoilsport.¡± She deliberately glared at him and stiffly marched away. Jiang Zhuoheng helplessly stared at Xin Yanting, and he blinked in confusion. Jesse strode past him with a grin, and Jiang Zhuoheng grinned too. ¡­ They didn¡¯t bring any swimsuits, so they had to buy. Xin Yanting chose a rather sexy one, yet it wasn¡¯t too revealing. No matter how exhausted or haggard she looked, she maintained her voluptuous figure. She wore a leopard-print swimsuit, and her long back hair casually tumbled around her shoulders and back. Her hair seemed to dance as she walked. As she walked, she attracted the attention of the men and incurred the jealousy of the ladies. Chapter 1943. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Forty-Nine) ¡°Hey.¡± Jesse had changed and was waiting at the counter with a beer in his hand. He saw Xin Yanting and he beckoned to her. Xin Yanting raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°How do I look in this swimsuit?¡± Jesse lavished generous praises. ¡°Very sexy and attractive.¡± Xin Yanting curled her lips in satisfaction before she glanced at the staff. ¡°I want the herbal hot spring for nourishment.¡± There were public hot springs available here and private ones where the patrons specify the herbs they want. The staff nodded. ¡°Please hold on.¡± Xin Yanting quipped, ¡°And two glasses of orange juice.¡± Jesse glanced at her and added, ¡°I don¡¯t want¡­¡± Xin Yanting glanced askew at him. ¡°It¡¯s not for you. It¡¯s for me to replenish vitamin C.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Jesse laughed, amused. But his eyes were swirling with complex emotions. ¡­ ¡°Xuxu!¡± Xuxu had just bid Qi Lei goodbye and she turned towards her car. Suddenly, someone called her name. A pleasant and familiar voice. She spun around in surprise when she saw the towering figure approaching her. ¡°Ah Heng! Why are you here?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng hastened his footsteps towards Xuxu. He beamed brightly. ¡°I took a spin around the vicinity.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xuxu pressed her lips. ¡°It¡¯s so late.¡± When her grandfather was still around, she knew that he dropped by often. To think that her grandfather was no longer around, he would still come here often. Perhaps it had become his habit. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded, his smile unwavering. ¡°Why are you here at this time?¡± Xuxu raised her hand to show him a bag of medical ointment. She replied, ¡°Yan Rusheng sprained his waist. So I came to get some ointment for him. Qi Lei just made dinner and I couldn¡¯t resist his cooking. So, I stayed for dinner.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng asked, looking concerned. ¡°How did he sprain his waist? Is it serious?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Xuxu dismissed his worries with her hands. ¡°Nothing serious.¡± Fortunately, it was dark and the lights were dim. He couldn¡¯t see her blushing. She glanced at Jiang Zhuoheng to steer the conversation away. ¡°It¡¯s cold at night. Why didn¡¯t you wear something warmer?¡± Jiang Zhuoheng bent to peer at his clothes and he shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t feel cold.¡± He only had a shirt on and left his coat in the car. When he caught a glimpse of Xuxu from a distance talking to Qi Lei, he got off too hastily to remember his coat. They stood across from each other on the roadside. Both of them didn¡¯t have the intention of parting even if they met by coincidence. After several quiet moments, Xuxu took out her phone to check the time. It was almost ten. She contemplated for a moment before asking Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°Qi Lei¡¯s chess skills are on par with my grandfather. Do you want to play with him?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng nodded curtly. His heart, which he usually had a good rein over, began to pound. He wore a gentle smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± Xuxu turned around to walk ahead. Jiang Zhuoheng trailed behind her after she stepped forward. He seemed nonchalant and casual, but deep down, he couldn¡¯t bear to walk so quickly. He still treasured how he still had the chance to watch her from afar and to be near her. ¡­ ¡°Why are you so late?¡± After accompanying Jiang Zhuoheng and Qi Lei for two rounds of chess, Wen Xuxu reached home before midnight. She was afraid that Yan Rusheng would be asleep, so she treaded softly across the room. But a pair of alert-looking eyes were staring at her. He questioned her when she entered. Chapter 1944. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty) The rest of the family was asleep, and the house was quiet. Xuxu gently shut the door behind her before answering his question. ¡°I met Ah Heng earlier on since he went to the clinic, too. Then I stayed as he played chess with Qi Lei.¡± It was late and she drove home, so she was exhausted. She sounded rather nonchalant as she replied. As if it was no big deal. Yan Rusheng¡¯s emotions stirred at the mention of Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s name. He raised his eyebrows. ¡°How could you bump into Jiang Zhuoheng when you go to the clinic? Did you plan to meet him?¡± He sounded hostile and wary. Xuxu heard him, and her exhaustion seemed to evaporate instantly. She marched to the bed and glared at Yan Rusheng. She hissed in an attempt to threaten him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you still want the ointment? If you let your imagination run wild, I shall let you lie in bed forever.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine with me. I can lie down,¡± answered Yan Rusheng, as he propped his head with his hands behind. He casually glanced at the lower part of his body and replied with a meaningful smirk. ¡°As long as that one is working, you can do it.¡± Xuxu was speechless. This fellow was really hopeless. She ignored Yan Rusheng and cast the bag on top of the bedside drawer. She turned around towards the bathroom. She took off her coat and yawned repeatedly. ¡°Wife.¡± Yan Rusheng called her and she halted her footsteps. She turned around lazily and drawled, ¡°What?¡± She stifled a yawn as she asked. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. Get me a glass of water.¡± Whenever he tried to ask her to do something, he would always act like a child getting the parent to do as he wishes. He would always act coy when he requested her to do something. This had become his habit, or perhaps it had always been innate. ¡°Okay, later.¡± Wen Xuxu nodded in response. She turned around and continued to remove her coat as she walked to the bathroom. Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyebrows were closely knitted when he saw her ignoring him. He raised his voice. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I want water.¡± He was upset and frustrated. ¡®Didn¡¯t this stupid woman hear that he was thirsty?¡¯ ¡°Why do you keep repeating yourself?¡± Xuxu glared at him and snarled. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to wait? I want to shower first.¡± Hey! This stupid woman was taking advantage of his sprained waist. Was she trying to give him a hard time on purpose? Yan Rusheng became more annoyed, and then he raised his voice. ¡°Are you trying to let me die of thirst?¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to wait, you can get it yourself.¡± She didn¡¯t intend to reply to him anymore and went to the bathroom. She didn¡¯t close the door, as he couldn¡¯t really move. She removed all her clothes and closed the glass door inside. Yan Rusheng spoke again. ¡°Wen Xuxu, I¡¯m not even old yet right now. If I¡¯m already old, you would definitely leave me to die. Then you can accompany that Jiang Zhuoheng to play chess every day. No one would be able to bother you.¡± Xuxu roared with laughter when she heard Yan Rusheng¡¯s sarcasm. This guy was really¡­ he had exasperated and amused Xuxu. She shook her head helplessly. And she began to shower. She remembered that Yan Rusheng was thirsty, so she took a quick one. After putting on her bathrobes, she went out. She was barefooted as she walked to the bed. Yan Rusheng was lying on the bed with his back facing her. Chapter 1945. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-One) She grinned at him. ¡°Young Master, are you asleep?¡± The man didn¡¯t even stir. Of course, Xuxu knew that he wasn¡¯t asleep. She peered at him and asked, ¡°I thought you were thirsty? Do you still want water?¡± She asked as she bent to get closer to Yan Rusheng¡¯s face. Her scent and breath tickled Young Master Yan¡¯s skin and heart. He waved his hand and snapped, ¡°I don¡¯t want.¡± ¡°Oh¡­.¡± Xuxu yawned once more. ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t get water for you. I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± She was really tired after a long day, and all she wanted to do was to collapse on the bed. She turned around to get her pajamas and then took off her bathrobe. She then strode back to the bed and pulled the blanket. She was about to slide underneath it. Yan Rusheng suddenly turned to look at her. ¡°Unless you feed me using your mouth.¡± Xuxu rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to drink. Besides, I¡¯m too tired to get you water now.¡± He really loved to pester her and it annoyed her. Yan Rusheng glanced at her and their eyes met. Her heart melted a little as she thought to herself. ¡®If you whine a little more, I will¡­ pour water for you.¡¯ But¡­ Young Master Yan¡¯s face fell and he pushed Xuxu. ¡°Wen Xuxu, get going. I¡¯m dying of thirst.¡± He had reverted to throwing tantrums as the pampered young master. Xuxu was speechless. ¡®Persistence! Persist! Why can¡¯t you do it?¡¯ ¡®I shall not get water for him!¡¯ Wen Xuxu sat down, disregarding his tantrum. She pulled the blanket over and flipped over. Hey! Was this stupid woman really so heartless? Was she really not going to get water for him? Yan Rusheng was glum and sullen. She even forgot to apply ointment for him. He was enraged. He pinched Xuxu¡¯s waist and hissed menacingly. ¡°Wen Xuxu! Are you deliberately trying to provoke me when I¡¯m unwell?¡± He increased his force along with the volume of his voice. Xuxu was tickled and in pain at the same time. She shuffled away to avoid Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand. She glanced at him and sounded smug as she said, ¡°Yeah, I have to seize this rare opportunity.¡± She looked so conceited that Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t take it lying down. A man could be submissive at any time, except¡­ in bed. If not, he would end up like this! He was being mocked and ridiculed by this woman. He clenched his teeth to suppress his pain. He turned and pounced on Xuxu. It took less than a second. Xuxu even heard him groaning in pain. She chided him anxiously. ¡°Yan Rusheng! Are you courting death?¡± She rubbed his waist gently with her hands and massaged it softly. Her heart was aching for him. However, Young Master Yan didn¡¯t let the pain deter him. At that moment, all he wanted was to prove that he was a man, at all times, in all situations. He bit and hissed into Xuxu¡¯s ear. ¡°Did you come home late because you played chess with him? Or did you eat supper with him?¡± He raised his head and inhaled deeply, trying to catch if she smelled of food. Xuxu was speechless. She eyed Yan Rusheng wordlessly for some time before shoving him away. ¡°Yan Rusheng, that¡¯s enough!¡± Chapter 1946. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Two) How petty could this man be? If she knew that this would happen, she wouldn¡¯t have confessed. He could accuse her of meeting Ah Heng at every opportunity. Did Ah Heng really affect him so much? Other than the scent of her skincare product and toothpaste, he smelled nothing else. Yan Rusheng brushed against Xuxu¡¯s lips with his. He was enjoying himself. ¡°Get off me. I¡¯ll go get water.¡± Xuxu frowned and carefully nudged Yan Rusheng. She flung the blanket off. She picked up Yan Rusheng¡¯s cup and poured some water in it. She returned to the bed and passed it to him. ¡°Yan Rusheng, your water. Drink it.¡± Yan Rusheng was slumped comfortably on the bed as he sweetly replied, ¡°My waist hurts. I can¡¯t get up. You feed me.¡± Xuxu pressed her palm to her forehead in deep exasperation. She took a deep breath. Forget it. If she could satisfy his requests, then she could sleep earlier. She still needed to work the next day and there were some urgent matters to settle. She bent her back and slid a hand behind Yan Rusheng¡¯s neck. With all her strength, she pulled him up a little. Actually, she knew that his injury wasn¡¯t that bad. But if he insisted on pretending and forcing her to comply, she really had no choice but to abide. Yan Rusheng smugly curled his lips. ¡°Wife, you¡¯re indeed the best. Seems like I would be well-taken care off in my old age.¡± He opened his mouth slightly and Xuxu fed him using her mouth. As she fed him, she dissed him. ¡°Yeah. I had to wait upon you when you were a boy and when you grow old. I really owe you a debt in my previous lifetime.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°When did I get you to wait upon me when I was a boy?¡± He peered at Xuxu, and he grumbled, ¡°You were the one who bullied me.¡± He had his fair share of being bullied by her when he was young. ¡°You deny it?¡± Xuxu placed the cup down and narrowed her eyes. She glanced at Yan Rusheng and reminisced. ¡°There was one time you went to the skating rink to ice skate. But you sprained your leg. Afraid that Grandfather would lecture you, you hid your injury from everyone else. Didn¡¯t I take care of you every day? I had to carry you on my back to the classroom and buy food for you.¡± Yan Rusheng recalled it and he pressed his lips. ¡°This was such an insignificant matter and you still remembered it.¡± ¡°How dare you say it¡¯s insignificant!¡± Xuxu pointed to Yan Rusheng as she hissed maliciously. Yan Rusheng nodded hastily. ¡°Alright, alright! It¡¯s huge and significant. I remember that you even fed me.¡± Did she feed him? Xuxu frowned, looking confused. ¡°Why can¡¯t I recall that?¡± She hated him so much when he was a boy. He would always throw tantrums and acted like a spoiled young master. How could she possibly feed him? They were both really young at that time, and their love hadn¡¯t sprouted yet. A devious gleam sparkled in Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes. ¡°You said that the braised meat was tasty, then I said I wanted to try. So you stuffed it inside my mouth with your chopsticks.¡± Xuxu finally recalled it and grinned. ¡°Seems like you are better at recalling the details.¡± It really happened before. They always brought their lunch from home and ate in school. Their lunches were always packed with healthy food. They didn¡¯t eat together in school but because he sprained his leg, he couldn¡¯t even move properly. So she sat beside him and fed him. ¡°Of course. Because I did it deliberately.¡± Young Master Yan grinned triumphantly. Chapter 1947. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Three) Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his chin, looking immensely pleased. ¡°I deliberately said that so you could feed me. I feel a sense of achievement when I could command you.¡± There was a long pause. Xuxu rolled her eyes at Yan Rusheng and switched off the light. She plunged on the bed and buried herself with the blanket. She was totally drained. Yan Rusheng rested too much in the day, so he was wide awake. He couldn¡¯t sleep, so his hands began to roam around Xuxu¡¯s body. His fingers seemed to dance here and there. He was restless and fidgety. ¡°Yan Rusheng, stop it.¡± Xuxu couldn¡¯t restrain her anger anymore, so she shoved him hard. She yawned once more and her eyelids started to feel so heavy. Yan Rusheng blew into her ear. ¡°If you and I don¡¯t move, what excitement do we have left?¡± His movements and breaths tormented Xuxu, and she couldn¡¯t sleep in peace. She spun her head and hissed, ¡°Your waist is injured. What excitement do you want?!¡± She should have just tied him with ropes so that he could be still. Yan Rusheng pouted. ¡°Wife, I wish that you could ride me tonight.¡± There was a long pause. Xuxu was already irritated and fuming right, so she barked a warning at Yan Rusheng. ¡°If you dare to touch me again, you¡¯re dead meat.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned from ear to ear. ¡°How should I die? Will you ¡®finish¡¯ me off?¡± He deliberately emphasized the word. He allowed his hand to venture to Xuxu¡¯s chest and he fondled it tenderly. Xuxu was getting helpless, so she flipped around. Putting her hands around his neck, she pleaded, ¡°My dear hubby, my darling. Please stop moving. Su Yan has to go to the coastal county tomorrow afternoon. And you can¡¯t go to work. I¡¯m the only one left to manage everything. Spare me alright?¡± She gave him a peck on his lips as a reward. This tactic usually worked on Young Master Yan, and it aroused his attention. He frowned and asked, ¡°He is going to the coastal county?¡± ¡°Yeah, of course he has to go.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Can you go in this state?¡± She recalled something and pressed on. ¡°Oh. And he might bring his little secretary along.¡± Su Yan had frequently traveled for work in the past few years. Occasionally, he would bring his secretary along. But usually, he preferred to go alone, especially when it was a long trip. He enjoyed taking photos as he worked, stopping wherever he liked. This was his way of relieving his stress. So he didn¡¯t like company. It puzzled Yan Rusheng. ¡°His little secretary?¡± He wasn¡¯t too worried about his marriage, so he wasn¡¯t too concerned about personal life. He had heard of his secretary, Mixiao, but he didn¡¯t really remember her. Xuxu expounded, ¡°The female secretary he recruited.¡± Yan Rusheng recalled and he frowned. ¡°I thought she was still under probation? He is bringing her on the work trip?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xuxu had a mysterious smile on her face as she said, ¡°Young Master Su treats this little secretary of his differently. She is special.¡± Yan Rusheng scoffed coldly. ¡°Trying to impersonate, but he is making a fool out of himself.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xuxu was confused. With a conceited look on his face, Young Master Yan explained, ¡°He is mimicking my role as an overbearing President who has designs on his female secretary.¡± Xuxu was speechless. She had no retorts left for this guy. Chapter 1948. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Four) ¡°Yan Rusheng, why are you so hateful!¡± She glanced at Yan Rusheng looking half-irked and half-amused at the same time. Other than hateful, she couldn¡¯t think of a word to describe him right now. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t let it bother him. Instead, he looked pleased and conceited. ¡°I¡¯m indeed unparalleled when it comes to being hateful and despicable.¡± Xuxu bit back a laugh. ¡°Exactly. Thank god you are aware.¡± She mused deeply for a moment before commenting, ¡°At least Su Yan as an overbearing President is more romantic when he is trying to charm his secretary.¡± Yan Rusheng scoffed with contempt and disdain. Other than Yan Rusheng, who could fully embody the term of an overbearing President? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s sleep now. Stop moving.¡± Xuxu yawned widely and decided to stop responding. She flipped over, with her back against Yan Rusheng. She was determined to sleep now and her eyelids felt like boulders weighing down. However, Young Master Yan had other thoughts. He couldn¡¯t move his waist, so he stretched his neck to snuggle against Xuxu. ¡°Wife, I want milk.¡± Xuxu was speechless. She laid there fuming quietly for a while to restrain herself from exploding. She grabbed her pillow and moved to the further end of the bed. She needed to be as far away from him as possible. If not, sleep wouldn¡¯t be possible judging from how energetic he looked at the moment. Seriously, did she think that she would be safe from the monster¡¯s claws in this way? Young Master Yan flashed a toothy grin as he shut his eyes. He propped a leg on Xuxu¡¯s chest and gently nudged her. She couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and she will not! Wen Xuxu suddenly sat up and lashed out furiously. ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you want to die!? Or do you want to be confined to the bed for a month?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t want to leave the bed.¡± Yan Rusheng pulled the blanket to cover a part of his face. He feigned bashfulness. How dare he pretend to be bashful right now? Xuxu really yearned to kick him off the bed as she threw him a murderous look. The more she stared at his grin, the more she wanted to strangle him. This man was so shameless, atrocious, and he appeared so nonchalant. She was really going nuts. How she wished she could bite him. After an intense struggle, Xuxu sighed sadly to herself. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot and she knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. She scanned the room, looking resigned, and accidentally caught sight of the ointment. It struck her that she had forgotten to apply it for Yan Rusheng. She shuffled towards the bedside drawer and stood by the bed. Looking impatient, she quipped, ¡°Sleep after I¡¯ve applied the ointment for you.¡± Yan Rusheng smiled flirtatiously at her, and he winked with a mischievous gleam. ¡°You can sleep on me anytime.¡± He sounded so inviting and beguiling. Xuxu was speechless. ¡®God, can you subdue this evildoer? He is so hateful!¡¯ She gritted her teeth and roughly flung the blanket away. She pressed Yan Rusheng and pushed him down. ¡°Ouch¡­ Wife, be gentle.¡± Yan Rusheng yelped out in pain. He had sprained his waist and it was really hurting, although he did sound a little dramatic. ¡°I¡¯ll let you die of pain!¡± Xuxu¡¯s heart thought otherwise and she tipped some ointment on her palm. Softly and gently, she rubbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s back. She massaged him with his soft fingers. He reckoned that this feeling would be better than being in heaven. Yan Rusheng closed his eyes and smiled contentedly to himself. Chapter 1949. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Five) ¡°Wen Xuxu. If I knew you would end up as my wife, I would have slept with you a long time ago.¡± ¡°Speak another word and I¡¯m going to twist your waist!¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± Yan Rusheng spun his neck to look at Xuxu. ¡°Haven¡¯t you thought of sleeping with me?¡± He suddenly stretched his hand to pull Xuxu towards him. She collapsed next to him, and he propped his head with a hand. He gently stroked Xuxu¡¯s nose, and he had a tender expression in his eyes. ¡°Haven¡¯t you thought of giving me your first kiss? Or peeking at me while I shower? Or perhaps, sneak in when I¡¯m sleeping and admire me in silence?¡± Xuxu snorted in disdain. ¡°You think too highly of yourself.¡± But deep down, she really thought of doing all these before. ¡®How would his lips feel like?¡±How does it feel to kiss him?¡¯ She had a whim to sneak into his room on many occasions. At that time, she felt that she would be contented to just watch him as he slept. The reason being, they bickered and fought whenever their eyes met. But it had never crossed her mind to peek at him while he was in the bathroom. Xuxu thought of it and she scoffed haughtily. ¡°I reckon you¡¯re the one who wants to peek at me.¡± Yan Rusheng snorted and quipped, ¡°Do I still need to peek at you while you shower?¡± It bewildered Xuxu. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I chanced upon you showering on many occasions.¡± Young Master Yan smirked with a victorious grin. Xuxu frowned and pressed on doubtfully, ¡°Many occasions? When did you see me?¡± Did he really saw her showering? He didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. Yan Rusheng confessed honestly. ¡°The first time I sneaked into your room to steal that damned love letter from Zhao Zheng. Subsequently, I went in to steal your exam papers and homework.¡± Xuxu¡¯s face fell and she furrowed her eyebrows sternly. ¡°No wonder my homework vanished mysteriously so many times. You were the culprit!¡± She had kept her stuff in her bag every night. But she wouldn¡¯t be able to find it in school the next day. Fortunately, she was a model student with excellent grades. So the teachers always believed her and overlooked her mistakes. ¡®How many times did this guy try to get her into trouble?¡¯ ¡°Wen Xuxu, don¡¯t you lock the bathroom door when you shower? Are you trying to seduce me?¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows as he threw her a sharp question. Xuxu threw him a long and contemptuous look. ¡°Who wants to seduce you? I already locked the door to my room. You were the one who barged in without my consent. If you don¡¯t enter, how could I possibly seduce you?¡± Something illuminated in her mind and she asked, ¡°Besides, how did you enter my room?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°There are spare keys at home.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really immoral.¡± Xuxu cast him a dirty look and asked, ¡°Why did you try to steal my papers and homework. How unscrupulous of you!¡± If she really wanted to settle scores with this horrible jerk, the list could go on. Xuxu pouted indignantly and she looked so adorable. Yan Rusheng placed her hand around her and gazed into her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that I loved it when you get anxious and panicky?¡± He bent to kiss her gently. Xuxu protested. ¡°Your heart doesn¡¯t ache whenever you torment me?¡± ¡°Pretentious.¡± Yan Rusheng tightened his arm around Xuxu, and he wished he could bury her inside of him at that instance. ¡°Hmph!¡± Xuxu sneered and she was upset. Chapter 1950. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Six) Yan Rusheng smiled. In a gentle voice, he said, ¡°Dumb woman, my heart was completely yours by then. Shouldn¡¯t you be glad?¡± Indeed, he didn¡¯t understand what feeling it was back then. In reality, his heart was already hers. During class, he purposely passed her notes and intentionally got caught by the teachers. After class, he would always disturb her when she saw playing rubber band skipping or skipping rope with her friends. When he saw that she was on duty after school and that she had just swept the floor, he would mess it up again. When she locked herself up in the room without coming out for a long time, he threw rocks to break her window. Of course, he would never tell her these things. Or rather, he wouldn¡¯t tell her all at once. He wanted to share them with her slowly¡ªshare with her what he had done in the past. ¡°Sleep.¡± Xuxu closed her eyes and pulled the blanket over her head. Actually, her heart felt sweeter than honey. ¡°Xuxu.¡± Yan Rusheng hugged her arm and rubbed her tummy. Xuxu coldly said, ¡°Sleep.¡± ¡°Wife.¡± ¡°Sleep.¡± ¡°Ouch, ouch!¡± Xuxu chuckled. The room was filled with bliss. ¡­ The coastal county holiday resort was very important to Xuxu and Yan Rusheng. Every year, they personally went over to arrange the entire event. They had promised to go every year. They¡¯d even retire there. But this year, unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t. Su Yan and Mixiao stood beside each other, one towering over the other. When she saw them, Xuxu felt that at least, there was a silver lining to this. Xuxu followed them out of the office. Then she said to Mixiao, ¡°Mixiao, don¡¯t be so formal. President Su is a gentleman, especially towards girls.¡± Mixiao pressed her lips. ¡°Thank you, Sister Xuxu.¡± Xuxu smiled at her bashful figure and said, ¡°When you go there, eat what you want and drink what you need. Don¡¯t be so courteous with President Su.¡± Mixiao chuckled. She didn¡¯t know how to reply. She didn¡¯t find President Su very gentlemanly, anyway. Would a gentleman let a secretary¡ªwho has a low tolerance for alcohol¡ªdrink on his behalf? Mixiao picked up her luggage. ¡°Sister Xuxu, I¡¯ll go keep the luggages.¡± Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm. Go ahead.¡± After she walked away, Su Yan moved closer to Xuxu. ¡°Weren¡¯t you a little too obvious?¡± Xuxu looked at him contemptuously. ¡°You¡¯re no match for your third brother in this aspect.¡± Su Yan knew which aspect she was referring to. But he still asked, ¡°Which aspect?¡± ¡°Last night, he said that you were merely copying his methods.¡± Xuxu betrayed her husband. ¡°Haha.¡± Young Master Su laughed¡ªa rare sight. His laughter was as pleasant as the spring breeze. He smiled and glanced at Mixiao, who was placing her luggage in the trunk. His smile faded as he watched her. When it came to women¡ªa woman that he liked¡ªhe was unlike his third brother. After all, he wasn¡¯t him. He wasn¡¯t him. ¡­ The first-class cabin was comfortable and spacious. It was quiet and peaceful as well. After settling down, Su Yan said to Mixiao, ¡°Pass me the event proposal.¡± Chapter 1951. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Seven) Mixiao retrieved the blue folder from the large briefcase she was carrying. She opened it and brought it closer to him. ¡°President Su, these are the coastal county holiday resort¡¯s anniversary proposals for the past four years. I have marked out the segments that you need to take note of and their respective timings.¡± She said as she pointed at the red markings on the folder. Her words were neat and legible. Mixiao was rather efficient. Su Yan stared at her and entered a reverie. He had a weird feeling toward girls with a desire to improve and those who didn¡¯t cause him to worry. Countless traits of hers were attractive to him. He thought, maybe fate was on his side. God finally sent his dream girl to his side. If this was really a gift from Heaven, he was eager to open it up and see what was inside. Su Yan¡¯s thoughts drifted far away. Mixiao saw that he was lost in his thoughts. He was staring at her without blinking. She frowned in confusion. ¡°President Su?¡± Of course, she didn¡¯t know what Su Yan was thinking about. And she didn¡¯t know that it had something to do with her. Su Yan¡¯s thoughts were interrupted. He broke out of his reverie and nodded. ¡°I got it. Keep it.¡± Then he lazily leaned back into the comfortable sofa. He was tired. He suddenly felt exhausted. Mixiao kept the folder and took a book out of her bag. She flipped it open and started reading. She was engrossed in her book. The sunlight shone through the window and it illuminated her face. Her pursed lips looked exceptionally moist and plump. In Su Yan¡¯s eyes, this girl was elegant and refined. Su Yan stared at Mixiao for a while. Then his gaze shifted to the book in her hands. He suddenly extended his arm and held her hand. Mixiao was in shock. She instinctively flung his hand away and looked at him with a face of warning. ¡°President Su, what are you doing?¡± Su Yan realized that he had lost control, but he remained calm. He retracted his hand and stared at the book in her hand. ¡°What are you reading?¡± Her guard against him was let down immediately. She raised it and said, ¡°The figure skating world champion¡¯s autobiography.¡± ¡°You like figure skating a lot?¡± Su Yan raised his eyebrows, his voice determined. Mixiao bowed her head and remained silent for a few seconds before replying. ¡°I used to.¡± Then she closed the book in her hands and stuffed it back into her bag. Su Yan pressed further. ¡°You don¡¯t like it anymore?¡± Mixiao bowed her head in silence. The answer was written all over her face. Su Yan thought, perhaps it was because Mixiao was close to his ideal girl and that he was interested in her, and so his curiosity piqued. He asked, ¡°You¡¯re still young. Why did you leave the national team?¡± Mixiao¡¯s mouth widened and she stared at him in shock. Her expression seemed to ask: How did you know? Su Yan smiled. ¡°I found out the moment I searched your name online.¡± He was really shocked that his secretary was the country¡¯s figure skating champion. He was in pure shock when he found this information. ¡°Erm¡­¡± She pursed her lips. He didn¡¯t know if she didn¡¯t want to reply or she didn¡¯t know how to. Su Yan rephrased the question. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you continue doing what you love?¡± Chapter 1952. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Eight) ¡°I got tired,¡± Mixiao replied softly with her head still bowed. ¡°Is it?¡± Su Yan replied. She couldn¡¯t tell if he believed her or not. He closed his eyes and remained silent. The girl beside him also quietened down, as though she was non-existent. Flourish & Prosper built a holiday resort as well as an airport in the coastal county. Planes could now fly directly to the island. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± As the plane landed, she could see the clear blue waters. Mixiao couldn¡¯t help but exclaim as she glued herself to the window, in awe of the beautiful sight. She picked up her camera and started taking photos. A smile was etched onto her delicate face. ¡°Mixiao,¡± Su Yan called uncontrollably as he watched her. He wanted her to look over, so he could see her face. He wanted to see the excited gleam in her eyes. ¡°President Su.¡± Mixiao turned around and asked in confusion. ¡°Is there something for me to do?¡± She thought that he had some work for her. ¡°You¡ª¡± Are you dating? Do you have a boyfriend? He wanted to ask her this, but the words got stuck in his throat. He pressed his lips and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll enjoy yourself for the next two days. You don¡¯t have to be so excited.¡± Once the words left his mouth, it would be irreversible. Some things could end up hurting both of them when it ended. So he suddenly hesitated. This was the first time he was so hesitant about asking someone a question. Perhaps it was because of his age; he was more careful and deliberate about things. Or perhaps, after being in this position of power, his personality had changed. Had he changed? Su Yan stared at her face and was deep in thought. This was the second time. The second time he was staring at her face. She didn¡¯t know what he was thinking. She blinked at him in confusion. Even though he was staring at her in a daze, she didn¡¯t think that his thoughts were about her. After some time, she asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we heading back tomorrow night?¡± This was a last-minute arrangement, and they would have to return to the capital city after tomorrow¡¯s activities ended. How could she enjoy it for the next two days? ¡®Aish. The views are so beautiful. If only we could stay here longer.¡¯ Mixiao thought as she turned to look at the clear blue waters. It made one yearn to live here for the rest of their lives. Su Yan continued, ¡°It¡¯s rare that we¡¯re able to come here. We can stay for two more days.¡± He stared at the back of her head, thoughts racing in his mind. They shall stay for two more days and let nature take its course. ¡°Alright.¡± Mixiao nodded happily. She sat up straight and thought for a moment before turning to him. ¡°Thank you, President Su.¡± She couldn¡¯t contain her happiness and excitement. She looked like a flower that just bloomed. Su Yan placed his hands behind his head and smiled contentedly. His smile remained etched on his face for a long while. ¡­ After they got off the plane, they went to the event venue for the next day to check on things. Those who met them at the airport had already taken their luggage to the hotel room. The head of the holiday resort brought Su Yan on a tour. He smiled as he said, ¡°President Su, we have arranged and decorated the venue according to President Yan¡¯s proposal. There are definitely no errors.¡± Su Yan pressed his lips and remained silent. He gazed at the stage. The words ¡®Xuxurusheng¡¯ caught his attention. It looked harmonious. Chapter 1953. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Fifty-Nine) For the first time, he realized that Xuxu was Yan Rusheng¡¯s. They were a match made in heaven. ¡°Yeah.¡± After a long while, Su Yan retracted his gaze from the stage. He mumbled a reply to the head of the resort before walking towards the exit. As he walked, he asked the man beside him. ¡°Manager Zhang, how¡¯s the weather recently?¡± Manager Zhang replied, ¡°A few days ago, it kept raining. But thankfully, the weather has been good for the past two days.¡± Su Yan smiled and said nothing. The restaurant in the hotel of the holiday resort had Chinese and Western cuisine. Su Yan chose the former. Su Yan and Manager Zhang walked in front, whereas Mixiao walked silently at the back. The restaurant was beside the beach and the building wasn¡¯t tall. The hotel segment comprised many villas, and if one entered the main gate, they would find the restaurant at the first villa. The sky finally darkened and the holiday resort lit up. Rows of coconut trees were decorated with colorful lights. It was colorful and mesmerizing. Many visitors were having an evening stroll after dinner. There were couples and families of three. It was a warm, peaceful sight to behold. Mixiao was in awe of the picturesque views. Her expression seemed to say: How could such a beautiful place exist? ¡°Mixiao?¡± Su Yan had already entered the glass doors. He saw her standing like a fool outside and so he called out to her. ¡°Coming,¡± Mixiao replied, retracting her gaze and running into the restaurant. The restaurant was lavishly furnished. It was a huge hall and it was divided into a few areas. Every area had a unique name. The areas were named after the large cities in China. Each area served specialty dishes from the city they were named after. Su Yan and the rest entered. The manager immediately welcomed them. ¡°Manager Zhang.¡± She was a woman in her thirties. She was wearing a holiday resort uniform and had a tall figure. She greeted Manager Zhang first, then she looked at Su Yan. Manager Zhang quickly introduced, ¡°Manager Mao, this is President Su from the head office in the capital city.¡± When she heard it, she bowed. ¡°Nice to meet you, President Su.¡± Su Yan nodded. Then he turned to Mixiao. ¡°Which city¡¯s dishes do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mixiao¡¯s eyes bulged and she stared at him. What did he mean? Wasn¡¯t he¡ªthe boss¡ªsupposed to choose where to eat? Why would he ask for her¡ªa small secretary¡¯s¡ªopinion? Of course, she couldn¡¯t decide. She smiled and replied, ¡°President Su, I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± She was only a small secretary. She was fortunate that the boss decided to bring her along on his trip. She wouldn¡¯t dare to be picky! Su Yan saw through her and pressed his lips. He said to the manager, ¡°City C, then.¡± ¡°Alright, please come this way,¡± the manager replied and led the way. When Mixiao heard Su Yan say City C, her eyes brightened. It was her hometown. She actually really wanted to choose it earlier. ¡°This is a private room facing the sea.¡± The manager opened the windows and the sea breeze blew in. Chapter 1954. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Sixty) Su Yan and Mixiao sat down. They sat opposite each other but they fixed their gazes on the windows to enjoy the night scenery. Manager Zhang looked at them. He originally wanted to sit beside Su Yan. But when he saw both of them being so quiet and well-coordinated, he thought for a moment before retreating a few steps. He bowed slightly and said to Su Yan, ¡°President Su, I have some things to settle. You and your secretary can eat first. I¡¯ll bring both of you to the hotel later.¡± Su Yan nodded. He didn¡¯t want him to eat with them either. Sitting there quietly¡ªjust the two of them¡ªwas an enjoyment. Su Yan gazed at Mixiao, a contented smile on his face. ¡°President Su, here¡¯s the menu.¡± The manager passed him an electronic menu. Su Yan passed it to Mixiao. ¡°Order.¡± She froze and hesitated before replying. ¡°President Su, you should order.¡± Why was he so courteous and thoughtful? It made her uncomfortable! He frowned. ¡°Before we came, didn¡¯t the President¡¯s wife tell you not to be so courteous? Eat and drink whatever you want.¡± Mixiao didn¡¯t object any further. ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll order.¡± She took the menu from him and flipped it open. Her eyes brightened when she saw the names of the dishes and their respective photographs. She looked like she was glowing. Had he exposed her gluttony? But it seemed that most girls couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of good food. Be it Mixiao, Su Yue or even Xuxu, they wouldn¡¯t say no to good food. When they went to Europe on a business trip, Xin Yanting walked past a dessert shop but she didn¡¯t have time to eat it in the day because of her tight schedule. However, at night, she made a half-hour journey to the shop just to buy it and brought it back to the hotel. He was about to go to bed when he heard knocking on the door. He opened the door to see her standing there wrapped in a thick coat, happily showing off two plastic bags from the dessert shop. It was as though she had just been to war and was carrying her spoils. She was incredibly smug. Why did his thoughts shift to her? Su Yan hurriedly retracted his thoughts and gazed at Mixiao. ¡°This, this, this, this, and this¡­¡± Mixiao glanced through the menu, as though she had a goal in mind. She couldn¡¯t decide on which dishes to order. She ordered eight dishes. She only realized when she scrolled to the last page. She looked at the electronic menu in her hands. She blushed and in her embarrassment, she asked, ¡°Did I order too much?¡± The manager smiled and shook her head. ¡°No. Only eight dishes.¡± How were eight dishes enough when she was eating with the big boss? ¡°Uh¡­¡± Mixiao blushed even harder when she heard that she had ordered eight dishes. She bit her lip and looked at Su Yan. Su Yan smiled. ¡°That¡¯s all for now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The manager bowed and left with the menu. Mixiao was ecstatic. She gazed out the window and rested her face on her palms. The sounds of the waves made her lips curl into a smile. Suddenly, someone blew a conch from afar. It reminded her of the classic nursery rhyme ¡®The Little Conch¡¯. Mixiao¡¯s gaze turned swirled with complex emotions and her smile faltered slightly. She gazed afar, the crease between her eyebrows hinting at her melancholy. Chapter 1955. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Sixty-One) The waiter began to serve the dishes one by one. Su Yan quietly studied Mixiao¡¯s face as he tried to read her mind. What could possibly make her look so sorrowful and melancholic? ¡°Mixiao, do you still want to eat?¡± Su Yan saw Mixiao falling deeper into her reverie as she sat completely still. Mixiao heard Su Yan¡¯s voice, and she hastily snapped to. She murmured something inaudible in response. She stretched her hand towards the chopsticks, but Su Yan¡¯s hand intercepted her. He removed the cover and passed the chopsticks to her. ¡°Who else do you have in your family?¡± Mixiao was startled as she stared unblinkingly at Su Yan. After some time, she spoke softly, ¡°My mom, and my¡­ brother.¡± She hesitated when she mentioned her brother. She received the chopsticks from Su Yan and thanked him. Then she hung her head as she began eating. She was hungry when she was ordering the food earlier on, but suddenly, she lost her appetite. ¡°Eat more.¡± Su Yan placed two huge prawns in Mixiao¡¯s bowl. ¡°Thank you, President Su.¡± His manners and gestures overwhelmed Mixiao, and she nodded furiously. To Su Yan, the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. But Mixiao was feeling rather pressured and burdened. ¡®Why was President Su so nice today? As the saying goes, one who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions.¡¯ But she was just a mere secretary, what could this big boss possibly want from her? Mixiao sat deep in thought about Su Yan¡¯s intentions when he suddenly smiled at her. ¡°Our Xiaojiao likes you very much. We¡¯ll sign her up for your class and you can teach her.¡± Mixiao heaved a sigh of relief and smiled sheepishly at him. ¡°But President Su, you skate well enough to teach her.¡± So he was nice to her because of his niece. Mixiao saw Xiaojiao in the office several times, and she knew that Xiaojiao was Su Yan¡¯s niece. So, he merely wanted her to teach his niece. But that shouldn¡¯t be the reason he was so nice and attentive. With his family¡¯s status and background, they could even choose to hire a private coach for his niece. He didn¡¯t really need her. A crease appeared between Mixiao¡¯s eyebrows, and she was utterly perplexed by Su Yan¡¯s change in attitude towards her. Su Yan quipped, ¡°But she likes you very much.¡± ¡°President Su, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Mixiao suddenly apologized. It confused Su Yan. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°My part-time job,¡± Mixiao whispered as she hung her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Su Yan shook his head to dispel her worries. ¡°You used the time outside of work. I¡¯m fine with it, as long as you don¡¯t let it affect your work.¡± Mixiao was relieved and she realized how understanding and reasonable her boss was. She had misunderstood him all along. She eyed Su Yan gratefully. ¡°Thank you, President Su.¡± Su Yan smiled at her. ¡°Hurry up and eat. Let¡¯s go to the beach for a stroll later.¡± Mixiao beamed at him without reading too much into it. ¡°Okay!¡± She really wanted to go to the beach and her heart had long flown away. Su Yan gazed at Mixiao as she stuffed her mouth with food. He pressed his lips quietly before he began to tuck in. He slowly chewed on a piece of leafy vegetable looking stoic. His gorgeous face, coupled with his natural aura of elegance and grace, was a delightful treat for the eyes. Mixiao seized the chance when Su Yan was busy eating and studied him quietly. Doubt and bewilderment were swirling in her eyes. Su Yan and Mixiao took off their shoes when they got to the beach. The winds were strong as they strolled barefooted. Mixiao threw furtive glances at Su Yan, as the words were lost in her throat. Su Yan suddenly interjected, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Mixiao was thrown off by his sudden question. She pondered for some time before wording her question carefully. ¡°President Su. Did you fight with your girlfriend?¡± Su Yan frowned and looked puzzled. ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Chapter 1956. Don’t Even Consider, It’s Unforgettable (part Sixty-Two) Mixiao scratched the back of her head, regretting her question immediately. But it was too late, so she trudged on bravely. ¡°Last week you asked me to get a document from your drawer in the office. I saw your girlfriend¡¯s photo. She has such a good figure.¡± ¡°Photo?¡± Su Yan frowned as he pondered. ¡°Su Yan, I straightened my hair and dyed it back to black. Do I look nice?¡± ¡°I put two photos on your desk, alright?¡± ¡°Look at this. Do I look pretty from this angle?¡±¡±I didn¡¯t put on any makeup. I¡¯m bare-faced.¡± He recalled the owner of the photo and he smiled weakly. He avoided answering her by asking her, ¡°Why did you apply for the job of a secretary?¡± He didn¡¯t bother to explain and he wasn¡¯t too worried about it for the person in the photo wasn¡¯t his girlfriend. This was how he was like. He wouldn¡¯t choose to clarify or explain as the truth would come to light, anyway. Mixiao didn¡¯t insist on getting her answer, so she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily need to be a secretary. I just want a normal desk job, to try my hand at being a white-collar worker.¡± She raised her head, and her smile was so pure and innocent in the pale moonlight. She was like a little bunny who was unbothered by worldly affairs. Yet, her capabilities had surprised him. Su Yan gazed at Mixiao and he unconsciously entered a daze. He still felt an indescribable sense of tranquility when he was around her. This was what he was looking for, and she was right before him. Yet, he didn¡¯t make any move, or perhaps he couldn¡¯t muster the courage to venture forward. ¡°So you went to night school to study?¡± He broke into a tiny smile and strode ahead. Night had dawned, and it was getting chilly. Mixiao shuddered because of the wind. She raised her head in surprise. ¡°President Su, did you inspect my background?¡± He even knew that she went to night school. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a curriculum vitae?¡± Su Yan replied casually with a mere sentence. Little did she know that he had spent an entire night trying to understand and know her more. Enthusiasm and interest engulfed him when he tried to know more about her. It was exactly like how he had finally laid his hands on his dream camera, which he had been yearning for a long time. He had used an entire day to fiddle with the functions. He wanted to understand and know everything completely. During his research, his heart went out to her. At a tender age, she had to endure tough training for long hours. She was part of the national team, and one could imagine how much she had suffered before she could stand on the podium. ¡°President Su, do you know how to swim?¡± Mixiao suddenly asked Su Yan. It startled Su Yan. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s compete to see who can swim there first.¡± Mixiao pointed to a marker floating in the water. She glanced at Su Yan with a playful smile. She seemed like a little child. Swim? Su Yan followed her finger, and his eyes landed on the marker. Without waiting for him to respond, the tiny figure ran towards the sea. ¡°Mixiao¡­¡± Su Yan yelled after Mixiao, but she ignored him and sprinted towards the sea. This was a designated area for the resort¡¯s guests to swim. There were markers to prohibit anyone from swimming past the area. Few would swim at night. Furthermore, it was such a chilly night; the beach was almost deserted. Su Yan eyed Mixiao as she plunged herself into the water. He traipsed after her. ¡°President Su! If I win, could I be exempted from working overtime in the future?¡± Mixiao¡¯s body submerged in the water as she yelled. Chapter 1957. - Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Sixty-Three) There was a long pause. This was an unreasonable request, which most bosses wouldn¡¯t agree to. But Su Yan chuckled and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Perhaps she merely wanted to try this job, or she was compelled to. To her, ice-skating would always remain as her dream and goal. Just like how he loved photography, and how Xuxu was interested in design. Even though they may be bound to their jobs, both of them still didn¡¯t give up on their dreams or interests. Regardless of where he went, his camera would always be with him. He continued to snap photos of what caught his eye and was constantly producing new work. Xuxu was just like him. She would make time to go to the studio to work on her designs. Even if her work didn¡¯t get produced, she still trudged on. Mixiao, a cheerful and determined girl, should chase her dreams bravely as well. The reason she didn¡¯t want to work overtime was that she wanted to ice-skate. She wanted to do what she liked. He always felt good to help others fulfill their dreams or wishes. Mixiao heard that Su Yan agreed to her request, and she beckoned to him in excitement. ¡°Come here! Let¡¯s compete!¡± From yesterday until that very moment, she had been fretting over the fact that she needed to accompany her boss after work to attend social dinners. If that continued on, she would need to quit her coaching job. So she had to make full use of this opportunity. Su Yan shook his head and chuckled softly. ¡°We don¡¯t need to compete. If you manage to swim back in ten minutes, I¡¯ll consider that as a victory.¡± He whipped out his phone and glanced at the time. Mixiao frowned as she peered at him. ¡°President Su, you are always so aloof and indifferent. Anyone would feel that you are a dull person.¡± ¡°Hmph! Su Yan, you¡¯re so boring!¡± Su Yan suddenly thought of the same remark someone had made before. He smiled widely and quipped, ¡°You¡¯re not the first person to say that.¡± Mixiao pursed her lips as her mind raced. She didn¡¯t have to compete with him, all she wanted was to get what she wanted. She said, ¡°Alright, ten minutes. You have to keep your word if I swim back in ten minutes. No overtime for me, unless there is an important occasion.¡± Without waiting for Su Yan to respond, she disappeared into the waters. Su Yan caught a glimpse of her and he grinned to himself. Even if she were a slow swimmer, five minutes would have been enough. Those who could swim well would know that. She was a good swimmer, but she remained humble when she heard him. This showed how mature and down-to-earth she was. If it was someone else¡­ ¡°President Su, it should be less than ten minutes right?¡± Mixiao¡¯s return interrupted Su Yan¡¯s train of thoughts. She shook her body, as she walked back dripping all the way. She looked slightly smug as she eyed Su Yan. Su Yan peered with his head slightly bent down. ¡°Yup. You succeeded.¡± ¡°President Su, you are such a wonderful person.¡± Mixiao looked at him. There were droplets of water on her face. She shivered as a gust of wind blew. Su Yan swiftly removed his blazer and placed it on her. He smiled and asked, ¡°When did I appear to be a bad person?¡± Probably she assumed so when he forced her to drink yesterday. Chapter 1958. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Sixty-Four) He grinned and chuckled quietly to himself. Mixiao gripped the blazer and wrapped herself up. She bowed her head and didn¡¯t answer him. Su Yan quipped, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the hotel.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Mixiao nodded. Su Yan strolled leisurely but Mixiao strode rather quickly. She was totally drenched, and the winds that were attacking her body was icy. All she wanted was to take a hot bath at that instance. She hastened her footsteps. The distance increased between both of them, and Su Yan continued to gaze at her. He didn¡¯t hasten his footsteps to catch up with her. He was used to adapting to any circumstances. He always felt that it was wonderful to admire something or a person he liked from afar. But this mentality¡­ Su Yan paused and remained rooted to the spot. He watched as Mixiao ran further ahead. A plethora of emotions whirled in his eyes. They returned to the hotel and Mixiao went back to her room. It was quiet for a long time. Su Yan read a book for the meantime, and when he raised his head, it was more than an hour later. He glanced at the closed door. What was he waiting for? His lips curled into a tiny smile. He shook his head, placed a bookmark in between the pages, and went to the bathroom. ¡­ Yesterday, Su Yan gave himself a day of rest. So he slept well. The next day, it was the fourth anniversary of the resort. The guests include the local authorities and a TV host. The resort held a special promotion with discounted rates for all the guests. Everyone applauded and cheered. ¡°Let¡¯s invite our President Su from Flourish & Prosper for a speech.¡± The TV host invited Su Yan up on stage after some activities. Su Yan had been waiting for him to be cued on stage. He strode leisurely up the stage when his name was mentioned. Under the spotlights, and with everyone watching him, he got on stage. He wore a white shirt with black pants. His gorgeous looks were perfect as he towered at nearly 1.9 meters in height. He seemed to have bribed the sunlight as usual. Everyone marveled at how gorgeous he was. He looked calm and composed on stage. After receiving the microphone, the reporters furiously snapped away. ¡°Thank you for being present here today. On behalf of Xuxurusheng resort, I would like to thank everyone for your support. We will continue to innovate and improve to provide quality service and facilities.¡± ¡°Thank you once more. Please enjoy the rest of the activities.¡± After a succinct speech, Su Yan bowed to the audience and turned around to pass the microphone back to the host. Mixiao frowned, looking glum as she watched Su Yan descend the steps. As Su Yan approached her, she ran towards him. ¡°President Su, yesterday I¡­¡± Su Yan knew what she was about to say and he interjected, ¡°You don¡¯t have to follow the script in real life. Follow your heart instead.¡± He had a full script of rhetoric content for his speech today. He didn¡¯t stop and swept past her. He strode to his seat and sat down. Mixiao spun around, looking dumbfounded. Suddenly, her phone in her pocket vibrated. She turned her back against the crowd and took out her phone. Her expression hardened a little. She glanced swiftly at Su Yan and whispered as she picked up the call. ¡°Brother.¡± Chapter 1959. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Sixty-Five) She answered the call and walked to a quiet area. After Su Yan sat down, he accidentally caught a glimpse of Mixiao walking away in quick strides. He stared after her with a frown. He thought quietly to himself with a mixture of doubt and a puzzled look in his eyes. ¡°There are plenty of couples present today! Great! Our first activity would be Hugs and Love.¡± After the government officials had finished their speeches, the host began to explain the activity rules and prizes. ¡°Regardless of whether the guy hugs the girl or vice versa, one party must lift their feet off the ground. You can choose your own method and the winner will be the pair who can hug each other until the very end. The prize would be a diamond ring from the Ocean celebrity series and a complimentary one week stay at our resort!¡± Diamond ring and a one-week stay! These two prizes were enough to stir the crowd. Almost all the guests who were present, including couples, friends, and families, wanted to vie for the prizes. ¡°The prizes are really enticing.¡± A familiar voice rang beside him and Su Yan glanced at her. Mixiao had appeared silently beside him. He was momentarily stumped before he asked, ¡°Do you want it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Mixiao blinked in confusion as she stared at Su Yan. A smile drifted across Su Yan¡¯s face. ¡°Shall we participate?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Mixiao furrowed her eyebrows and asked apprehensively, ¡°President Su, did I hear you wrongly? You want to participate in the activity with me?¡± They had to hug and the participants were mostly couples. It didn¡¯t seem too appropriate for them to participate. But she was tempted by the prizes as they were too attractive. Su Yan replied, ¡°You heard me.¡± Mixiao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Who is going to get the prizes?¡± Su Yan grinned in amusement. ¡°Do you think I would be interested in those?¡± That was true. Even if he were to give the diamond ring to his girlfriend, she might not even want it. As for the complimentary resort stay, this resort belonged to his family. Why would he want it? Mixiao pressed her lips as she smiled brightly at Su Yan. ¡°If we win, the diamond ring is yours, and I take the resort voucher. Okay?¡± Su Yan noticed how enthusiastic and thrilled she looked, he quipped, ¡°Who do you plan to bring for the resort stay?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± His question stumped Mixiao, and she blinked several times. It hadn¡¯t crossed her mind. Su Yan had already expected her reaction. He shook his head with a chuckle and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s give it a try first. You can sell it at a low price.¡± He rose and strode towards the stage. Mixiao trailed after him and asked, ¡°President Su, are you confident of winning?¡± She sounded excited as she glanced at the tourists who were squeezing their way up on the stage. She pondered quietly and said, ¡°But you¡¯re the boss and it¡¯s not really nice to fight with the guests.¡± Su Yan suddenly halted his footsteps and nodded. ¡°In hindsight, that¡¯s true¡­ let¡¯s forget it.¡± He glanced at Mixiao with a devious and sly grin. Mixiao got anxious when he had second thoughts. She smiled sheepishly and added, ¡°But if you have the capability, no one would criticize you.¡± ¡°Do you have someone in mind to bring here for the resort stay?¡± asked Su Yan as he peered at Mixiao. He may sound like he was asking, but he sounded firm. Chapter 1960. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Sixty-Six) Without waiting for Mixiao to reply, he reminded her of the harsh reality. ¡°Anyway, you don¡¯t have any leave to take.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ right.¡± Mixiao hung her head and looked like a deflated balloon. Her lips sunk and she had lost all her fighting spirit. She had second thoughts about entering the contest. That was true. Even if he helped her win the complimentary voucher, what was the use? She had no time to stay on this beautiful island. She seemed dejected when Su Yan cut across, ¡°But you can sell it at a discounted price.¡± Mixiao heard him and raised her head. She stared at Su Yan, looking puzzled by suggestions. ¡°That¡¯s not very nice, isn¡¯t it?¡± She glanced at the stage that was packed with contestants. All of them looked determined to win. She mumbled, ¡°I think we should let the real couples have a chance. They deserve the resort stay and the diamond ring.¡± She still looked as if she was a little reluctant and sad. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Su Yan suddenly grabbed Mixiao¡¯s wrist and pulled her towards the stage. Mixiao was an athlete, so she was quite strong for a girl. It took Su Yan a considerable amount of effort to pull her along as she resisted. He glanced back at her and said, ¡°Give it a try. If you don¡¯t want the prizes, you can give it to me.¡± Mixiao frowned and protested. ¡°President Su, the resort belongs to your family, right?¡± Why would he need a complimentary stay? ¡°If you have a travel partner in mind, I can consider giving you a week of leave.¡± Su Yan stopped in his tracks when they got to the stage. He relinquished his grip on her hand and grinned at her. He quietly observed the changes in her expression. From shock, it changed to surprise, then evolved into excitement. The transition was what he had anticipated and what he wanted to see. ¡°Really!?¡± Mixiao peered at him with a twinkle in her eyes. She looked thrilled. Su Yan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Do I look like a liar?¡± A breeze ruffled Mixiao¡¯s hair and blew some of her hair across her face. Su Yan couldn¡¯t help himself and unconsciously tucked her hair behind her ear. He was very gentle, as though she was something that he cherished. His actions had shocked Mixiao. Her mouth widened as she blankly stared at him. ¡®What was President Su¡­ trying to do? What was he doing?¡¯ ¡°A penny for your thoughts?¡± Su Yan broke into a captivating smile. ¡°President Su¡­?¡± Mixiao spluttered as she retreated backward. Su Yan¡¯s hand hovered in mid-air as he peered at Mixiao. She looked wary and cautious and it made him chuckle. His gorgeous face seemed to glitter brilliantly in the sunlight. Mixiao frowned with disapproval and hostility. ¡°President Su, what are you doing? Why are you so nice to me?¡± She finally realized that something was amiss. He gave in to her during dinner, and deliberately let her win so that she wouldn¡¯t need to work overtime in the future. Now, he suggested that they join the contest and even agreed to allow her to go on leave. Now¡­ he even tidied her hair. Su Yan merely maintained a smile in response. Mixiao pursed her lips when he didn¡¯t respond. She stiffly said, ¡°President Su, I reckon we shouldn¡¯t join the contest. There is no reason for us to.¡± She suspected that he, like other bosses, wanted to have a fling with his secretary¡­ Su Yan was really the epitome of being tall, wealthy, and handsome, and women would be at his beck and call. Chapter 1961. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Sixty-Seven) She was such an ordinary woman, and there was no way he would fall for her. But his actions spoke otherwise. What was he up to since yesterday? She couldn¡¯t understand. Mixiao mulled over it quietly in her head while Su Yan interrupted. ¡°I don¡¯t mean it that way.¡± As though Mixiao couldn¡¯t understand him, he expounded, ¡°I have no reason or need to have a fling with my secretary.¡± His smile was unwavering. Mixiao was speechless. ¡®Is President Su just like what Sister Xuxu described him to be? A real gentleman?¡¯ No, she doesn¡¯t believe it! Su Yan knew that she was still doubtful of his intentions, and he gave a low chuckle. With a stoic expression, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I assume you still want the prizes.¡± He turned around and strode towards the stage. Mixiao stared at Su Yan, before glancing at the screen which had flashed the prizes. She bit her lip and hesitated for several seconds. She gritted her teeth and began walking. The moment Su Yan and Mixiao stood on stage, the cameras began to snap away relentlessly. Mixiao felt a little uncomfortable and she averted her face to avoid the cameras. Everyone including the host, reporters, and guests were shocked to see Su Yan enter the contest. Although he was the boss of the resort, he still had to rely on his capability to win the contest. So no one had any objection, and they were merely curious about who Mixiao was. ¡°The contest is about to begin. Everyone, please get ready. We will start the timing at any moment.¡± The host glanced at the time as he spoke. With a stopwatch in his hand and several tense moments later, he shouted, ¡°Start!¡± Everyone hoisted, lifted, or carried their partners immediately. Mixiao was still wondering how Su Yan would carry her when she was lifted off her feet in an abrupt manner. He placed his hands under her thighs and behind her back, and then he lifted her up. But Su Yan didn¡¯t carry her so intimately like the rest of the couples. He stood straight and didn¡¯t look at Mixiao at all. Mixiao didn¡¯t put her arms around Su Yan¡¯s neck and merely held on to his sturdy-looking shoulders. She eyed his chin quietly. Most of the other contestants used this method, while some tried different ways. As time flew by, many contestants started dropping out. Gradually, only a handful of their rivals remained. The event was held outdoors and it was almost noon. The sun shone over their heads, and the contestants started to perspire. Both Su Yan and Mixiao perspired as well¡ªmostly because of the pressure and temperature. Su Yan¡¯s sweat dripped from his face down to his chin and Mixiao¡¯s forehead. ¡°President Su, should we give up?¡± Mixiao surveyed her surroundings as she counted the pairs. There were six more and all the men looked buff and stout. Su Yan was the skinniest amongst them, and she was worried that they would lose, eventually. And as they were the few remaining ones left, the spectators were all watching and talking about them in hushed whispers. She had a hunch that they would hit the headlines tomorrow. Mixiao began to get worried and she wanted to give up. Su Yan displayed no intention of giving up, so she whispered, ¡°President Su, let me down. I don¡¯t want the prizes anymore.¡± ¡°Mixiao, is this how you gave up your dream?¡± Su Yan bent and studied Mixiao. He looked solemn. Mixiao heard him and bowed her head. Chapter 1962. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Sixty-Eight) ¡°If you don¡¯t persevere until the end, don¡¯t mention wasting your effort. How would you know if you have thrown away the goal that you have almost achieved?¡± Su Yan¡¯s voice rang above her, and Mixiao blinked quietly to herself. ¡°One more pair eliminated! Four pairs left!¡± The host¡¯s voice echoed around. Mixiao¡¯s soul was drawn back and she studied her surroundings. The pair behind them had dropped out. She pressed her lips as she glanced at Su Yan. Her palm-sized face looked determined. Su Yan smiled as droplets of sweat rolled down his face. They persevered all the way until they were declared the winners. Mixiao received the prizes and the reporters frantically snapped away. As requested by the resort management, they needed her to stand with her prizes for a photo. She faced the cameras with a proud smile. It was as though she had left her fear behind, and she was standing on the podium to receive her trophy. Confidence overflowed from within and she looked exceedingly beautiful. ¡­ ¡°President Su, thank you! This diamond ring is yours.¡± Su Yan and Mixiao exited the venue. Mixiao quickly stuffed the diamond ring in Su Yan¡¯s hands. She held the complimentary voucher in her hands carefully. ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± Su Yan gently shook his head and rejected her offer. But Mixiao insisted that he should have it. ¡°I know you can afford dozens of diamond rings, but these prizes belong to us. We should divide them since we worked together.¡± She stuffed the ring into Su Yan¡¯s hand. Su Yan bent as he examined the heart-shaped ring box with a faint smile. He received the ring quietly. He raised his head and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken to the manager here. If you need anything for the next few days, you can ask him for help.¡± Mixiao widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°President Su, are you going back?¡± Su Yan nodded. ¡°My flight is in the afternoon.¡± Mixiao frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to stay for two more days?¡± ¡°No matter how wonderful or beautiful the scenery is, one will get fatigued if it¡¯s too excessive.¡± Su Yan glanced afar at the clear blue waters. After a while, he turned towards her and smiled. ¡°I should just keep it in my heart, and think about it from time to time.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Mixiao couldn¡¯t quite comprehend Su Yan¡¯s analogy. ¡°Thank you, President Su.¡± Su Yan smiled and pressed on. ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. You put in the effort to achieve what you wanted.¡± Mixiao grinned and earnestly said, ¡°President Su, I feel like I¡¯ve learned ten years worth of lessons from you in a day.¡± Su Yan raised his eyebrows. ¡°Fawning on me?¡± ¡°No, I am not!¡± Mixiao waved her hands frantically as she grinned at Su Yan. ¡°Then can I hitch a ride from you to the airport?¡± Su Yan surveyed her quietly with his brows raised. Mixiao suddenly blushed bashfully. ¡°I want to go back home.¡± Su Yan nodded and didn¡¯t probe further. ¡°My flight is at 3:30 p.m., so we have to leave at 2:40 p.m.¡± ¡°Okay, sure!¡± Mixiao smiled happily. They fell quiet, and yet he still felt comfortable and relaxed around her. Just as he was about to achieve his goal of tranquility and peace, he had the thought that perhaps he needed some excitement in his life. If not, it would be too boring or lethargic. Chapter 1963. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Sixty-Nine) Su Yan watched as Mixiao she walked away, and he smiled quietly to himself. She said that she had learned ten years¡¯ worth of lessons from him in a day. He shared the same sentiment as well. After being with her for more than twenty-four hours, he had walked out of the fantasy and understood the essence of love and life. ¡­ Su Yan¡¯s flight landed in the capital city in the evening. As he exited the airport, he raised his head to peer at the sky. There was no clear water, nor blue skies. He pulled his luggage as he left the VIP exit. There seemed to be a celebrity behind him. Numerous young girls were waiting with signboards and posters. ¡°Ah Zhe!¡± A huge crowd suddenly swarmed Su Yan as they ran towards him.. He was pushed back and the noise had made him frown in annoyance. His shirt got slightly crumpled because of the commotion, and so he smoothed the creases as he walked. When he raised his head, he spotted someone familiar. It left him rooted to the spot. The woman was wearing full makeup, and she seemed astonished and shocked to see him as well. She froze and shock was etched on her face. After getting over the initial shock, they quickly averted their gazes. Su Yan continued to march away in big strides. The woman stiffly walked away with her heels thudding against the floor. His heart unconsciously stirred when he heard it. He halted for a moment when she walked past him. He was about to turn around when a towering figure bolted in his direction. ¡°Ting, they ran out of orange juice. They only have watermelon juice left.¡± The muscular and buff man held a glass in his hand as he approached the woman. Su Yan continued on his way out. The setting sun cast a glow on his face and illuminated his gorgeous features. He sat and admired the fleeting scenery as he dwelled in the depths of his thoughts. Perhaps the scenery at the next junction or stop would be more beautiful. ¡­ Half a year later. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Su Yan was buried in work as usual when someone interrupted him. He answered without raising his head. ¡°Enter.¡± The door opened and a dainty girl walked in. She looked rather odd in her work attire, perhaps it was because of her youthful face. But overall, she looked clean and tidy. She held a white envelope in her hands as she strode towards Su Yan. ¡°President Su.¡± Mixiao stopped before the desk and stretched her hands to pass him the envelope. Su Yan glanced at the envelope and he was momentarily taken aback. And with a smile, he casually asked Mixiao, ¡°What is this?¡± In a crisp and clear voice, Mixiao replied, ¡°I started an ice-skating rink in my hometown.¡± ¡°You are a boss now.¡± Su Yan put his pen down and lazily slumped back on his chair. He gazed at Mixiao with a gentle smile. He looked rather placid. Mixiao smiled. ¡°I want to do something I like.¡± ¡°I will go and support you if I have the chance.¡± Su Yan extended his hand to receive the resignation letter. Mixiao bowed, looking grateful. ¡°Thank you, President Su.¡± Su Yan pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned this before. You did this with your own effort.¡± ¡°President Su, all the best in your future endeavors and may your life be smooth-sailing.¡± Mixiao gave him a thumbs up. They didn¡¯t exchange too many pleasantries, and they bade each other goodbye. ¡­ It was Chinese New Year, and the sounds of firecrackers filled the air. After reunion dinner, Ming Ansheng¡¯s family came over to visit the Yan¡¯s. Xuxu and the rest were making dumplings as they watched a variety show. Chapter 1964. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Seventy) ¡°Uncle, Aunt, I wish you prosperity. My red packet, please.¡± Xiaojiao was wearing a red coat. She had grown much taller. The moment she entered, she walked to the sofa to ask for red packets. Su Yan heard Xiaojiao and shifted his gaze away from the television. He placed down the dumpling he was wrapping and patted the flour off his hands before making his way towards her with a smile. When he was a few steps away from her, he bent over and extended his arms. She flew into his embrace and he carried her up. ¡°Give Uncle a kiss,¡± Su Yan said as he pointed at his face. Xiaojiao snorted in disdain. She pouted and said, ¡°Not kissing you. Men and women shouldn¡¯t get too close.¡± This made the congregation erupt in laughter. Only Su Yue was stunned. Then she smiled and said, ¡°You must have learned that from Yanyan, that little devil.¡± Xiaojiao ignored their laughter as though it had nothing to do with her. She extended her hands towards him and said, ¡°Uncle, my red packet.¡± Su Yan frowned. ¡°You didn¡¯t kiss me and you¡¯re still asking for a red packet?¡± ¡°Only Uncle¡¯s wife can kiss Uncle,¡± Xiaojiao said as she pouted. She tilted her chin away from him. Su Yan smiled and asked, ¡°Who said so?¡± Without a doubt, she must¡¯ve learned it from her mother. ¡°Mommy said so.¡± Xiaojiao replied truthfully as she pointed at Su Yue. Su Yue pressed her lips and blinked. ¡°Yes. You have no wife so no one will kiss you for the rest of your life.¡± She was enjoying life right now. The only thing on her mind was a sister-in-law. When would she be getting a sister-in-law? Su Yan turned around in amusement. He looked at Yan Wenxin, who was kneeling by the coffee table and engrossed in wrapping her dumpling. He called out to her. ¡°Wenxin, come give uncle a kiss.¡± Yan Wenxin looked up and rolled her eyes. ¡°No way. The master will get jealous.¡± The master she was referring to was Little Master Lu. They were a couple. She had a boyfriend now. She wouldn¡¯t kiss anyone else. This was the first time in five years that Su Yue brought Xiaojiao home for the new year. Su Yue saw Xuxu and the rest wrapping dumplings and she wanted to try too. She washed her hands and emerged from the kitchen. She eagerly picked up a piece of dumpling skin and started wrapping. Su Yan was among them. Yan Rusheng was playing in the corner with Xiaojiao and Yan Wenxin. He willingly let them ride him like a horse. The poor Yan Nuoxing could only watch from the side. He¡¯d never experienced the love from his father. ¡°Ah Heng got married without telling us?¡± Suddenly, Ming Ansheng, who was playing on his phone on the sofa, exclaimed in shock. Likewise, the shock was etched onto everyone else¡¯s faces. ¡°What?¡± Xuxu didn¡¯t even place the dumpling she was wrapping down and rushed over to his side. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Wen Xuxu, why are you so worked up?¡± Yan Rusheng was very unhappy with her reaction. Although he was very shocked himself, his thoughts were: ¡®Great! That fellow has finally gotten married.¡¯ Xuxu ignored him and her eyes remained glued to Ming Ansheng¡¯s phone screen. ¡°He posted this. He¡¯s in Country M.¡± Ming Ansheng clicked on a photo Jiang Zhuoheng posted on WeChat. It was a photo of a woman in a wedding gown. He showed it to Xuxu. ¡°He captioned it*: ¡®A very blissful day.¡¯* He must¡¯ve gotten married!¡± Chapter 1965. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Seventy-One) Xuxu took the phone from him and scrutinized the photo. It only showed the back view of the bride. Everyone was still reeling in shock from the news of Young Master Jiang¡¯s sudden marriage. Nobody noticed the look of delight on Young Master Yan¡¯s face. ¡°This bride is¡­ Xin Yanting?¡± Xuxu stared at the photo for a moment before returning it to Ming Ansheng. ¡°Look, this looks like Xin Yanting, not Hu Xiaoxiao.¡± The group of them huddled together to study the woman in the photo. It was hard to tell because it was only a picture of her back view. Furthermore, her hair was down and she was wearing a wedding gown. Su Yue stared at it for a while, but she couldn¡¯t come to a conclusion. She pressed her lips and her gaze swept past Yan Rusheng. There was a malicious gleam in her eye. Then she left the group and continued wrapping the dumplings. She said, ¡°It can¡¯t be Jiang Zhuoheng. He¡¯s not marrying my third sister-in-law, so how can it be a blissful day?¡± Everyone knew that Xuxu was buried deep inside Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s heart. All of them were speechless. Young Master Yan¡¯s expression turned darker than coal. He gritted his teeth and glared maliciously at Su Yue. Su Yue pressed her lips and pretended that nothing happened. She continued wrapping her dumplings. The atmosphere became tense. Ming Ansheng pressed his lips. He felt lowly compared to Yan Rusheng, so he didn¡¯t dare to laugh at him. Mainly because he hadn¡¯t married Su Yue yet. If not, he wouldn¡¯t even care a hoot about him! Xuxu pressed her lips and glanced at Yan Rusheng. Then she studied Su Yue. She was acting ignorant and she was doing quite well. Mu Li, who had been wrapping dumplings since the start, observed the situation and knocked Su Yue¡¯s head. ¡°This lass, how could you joke about this? Not afraid that your Third Brother will punch you?¡± In reality, she was enjoying it the most. More than Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng, she wanted to see Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression darken. Su Yue stuck her tongue out at her. ¡°Can¡¯t I even say the truth now? I was stating a fact.¡± Although it wasn¡¯t suitable in this setting, it was indeed the truth. If Ah Heng was getting married, but he wasn¡¯t marrying Xuxu, then he couldn¡¯t have captioned it as blissful. So Su Yue¡¯s words rang true. Just that she probably shouldn¡¯t have said it in front of her third brother. ¡°You guys can head back,¡± Yan Rusheng said in a sinister voice. ¡°Why?¡± Su Yue pouted. ¡°I¡¯m not going back. I invited Sister Hooligan to play mahjong. They¡¯re reaching soon.¡± It was New Year¡¯s Eve and she came to join in the bustling atmosphere. How could she go back so early? Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Did I agree?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t ask you to play. You think too highly of yourself.¡± Su Yue side-glanced him and rolled her eyes at him. In indignance and contempt. Ming Ansheng was secretly delighted. Every time Yan Rusheng lost to Su Yue¡¯s vicious tongue, he felt incredibly pleased. It was a good thing. Rather, it was pretty exciting. He lost to Yan Rusheng, but his wife helped him take revenge. Only Ming Ansheng was capable of having such reasoning. Yan Rusheng was speechless. He gritted his teeth and knocked her head. ¡°Even Xin Yanting is getting married. Yet you¡¯re not concerned about someone else¡¯s singlehood.¡± Chapter 1966. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Seventy-Two) It was obvious who he was referring to. Everyone turned to Su Yan. He was looking at his phone screen, but his screen was black. They couldn¡¯t see his face, so they didn¡¯t know what he was thinking of. Su Yue looked at Su Yan before asking Yan Rusheng. ¡°We haven¡¯t confirmed the identity of the person in the photo. How do you know if she¡¯s Xin Yanting?¡± Actually, up until now, she didn¡¯t know how her brother felt towards her. She felt that he wasn¡¯t completely devoid of feelings towards her, but she didn¡¯t have proof. He always appeared so calm and cool. It was hard to see through him. ¡°Wenxin, Wenxin.¡± ¡°Brother Nuoxing.¡± Suddenly, children¡¯s voices sounded from the front door. They were calling for Yan Nuoxing and Yan Wenxin. Lu Yinan¡¯s family had arrived. The three kids ran into the house without even taking off their shoes. Little Master Lu was wearing a green coat and it complemented his fair skin. Yan Wenxin rushed towards him excitedly. ¡°First Lu.¡± They acted as though they met once a year. They held hands and swung their hands back and forth. The adults found it ridiculous. Jiaojiao and Yanyan ran towards Yan Nuoxing. Yanyan, who Yan Nuoxing often neglected, had forgotten about the countless times he hurt her feelings. Whenever she was angry, she would always start chasing him again within 10 minutes, calling out his name as she did. Even if Brother Nuoxing hurt her feelings a million times, she¡¯d still treat him as her first love! ¡°Brother Nuoxing.¡± Jiaojiao and Yanyan enjoyed playing with Yan Nuoxing. As usual, Yanyan would possessively grab Yan Nuoxing with both arms, not giving Jiaojiao a chance. She didn¡¯t ask for his permission either. As long as she liked it. The living room instantly became much livelier. The children¡¯s voices were bright. Yan Rusheng frowned and looked contemptuously at the children. ¡°All of you, go upstairs to the children¡¯s room. Stop making a din.¡± Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t take it any longer and chased them away. The children immediately rushed upstairs. ¡°Come, let me show you the drawing in my room. I drew it during the summer holidays.¡± Yan Wenxin held First Lu¡¯s hand and brought him upstairs. ¡°I drew many pictures too. I was going to give them to you, but I forgot to bring them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. You can pass them to me when I go to your house next time.¡± Both of them chatted happily as they walked hand-in-hand up the stairs. Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t take it. He rushed forward. ¡°You rascal. What are you doing?¡± He bent over and broke them apart. Then he gave First Lu a warning glare. In his eyes, First Lu was a human trafficker and would kidnap his daughter any time. Yan Rusheng¡¯s outburst had stunned First Lu. He glared at him, confused as to why he was so livid. All the other adults watched from the sidelines. Zhou Shuang looked contemptuously at Yan Rusheng. ¡°A true petty man.¡± He was protecting his daughter at all costs, devoid of all morals. Seeing that her father had scolded her boyfriend, Yan Wenxin was furious. She snorted and said, ¡°Annoying Daddy.¡± Then she grabbed First Lu¡¯s hand and brought him upstairs stubbornly. Chapter 1967. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Seventy-Three) Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Zhou Shuang laughed at his expense. ¡°Yan Rusheng, just you wait. Your darling daughter which you so painstakingly brought up will end up moving into my house one day.¡± It was simply delightful to see the pretentious one get humiliated. Yan Rusheng retracted his gaze and turned to her. With a cold smile, he said, ¡°Ha, what ¡®your house¡¯? You¡¯re an intruder yourself.¡± Zhou Shuang was speechless. ¡°Both of you, stop quarreling. I¡¯ve had enough!¡± Wen Xuxu spoke up to clear the air. Then she patted the flour off her hands and stood up. ¡°Aren¡¯t we playing mahjong? Hurry up. We need to sleep soon.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s playing?¡± ¡°Me.¡± ¡°Me.¡± Zhou Shuang and Su Yue raised their hands eagerly, as though they were afraid that they wouldn¡¯t get the opportunity to play. In reality, there were only so few of them. Who was going to snatch their places? ¡°Including me, we have three players. We need one more,¡± Xuxu said, her gaze swept across the congregation. Her gaze finally landed on Su Yan. ¡°Su Yan, you play.¡± Su Yan lifted his head and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m tired. You guys go ahead.¡± His smile seemed forced. Xuxu pressed her lips and didn¡¯t force him. Then she shifted her gaze onto the other three men. Just as she was about to ask which of them wanted to play, Mu Li said from behind them, ¡°I¡¯ll play.¡± She said as she placed the dumpling down and stood up. She took off her apron and rolled it up. She threw it to Yan Rusheng. ¡°We¡¯re going to play mahjong. You can finish wrapping the dumplings.¡± Yan Rusheng instinctively caught the apron. He stared at her in bewilderment. Was she serious? She wanted him to finish wrapping the dumplings? He frowned and was about to object when Xuxu pointed at him. ¡°Finish wrapping them before we finish mahjong. Or else, don¡¯t sleep tonight.¡± Then she asked the rest of them to head into the room. Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Young Master Lu laughed exaggeratedly at Young Master Yan, who didn¡¯t dare to refute his wife. His laughter reverberated around the hall. Ming Ansheng stared at Lu Yinan in envy. How he wished he could laugh at Yan Rusheng so openly as well. Then he looked at the dumplings on the coffee table and decided to leave first. He stood up hurriedly and prepared to follow after them. But¡­ ¡°Ming Ansheng, let¡¯s talk about our partnership.¡± Yan Rusheng¡¯s sinister voice sounded from behind him. Young Master Ming halted in his steps indignantly, but he didn¡¯t dare to step forward. He had already discussed his wedding date with Yan Rusheng. If it were to be postponed because of some dumplings¡­ Young Master Ming did some calculations and in the end, he turned around and walked back towards him. Without a word, he walked to the coffee table, squatted, and started wrapping. ¡°Can we eat that if you don¡¯t wash your hands?¡± Young Master Ming had just picked up a dumpling skin when Yan Rusheng complained. Even Su Yan laughed when he saw this. Su Yan looked at the clock in the living room. He stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± He bade goodbye to the rest of them before walking towards the door. It was chilly outside. The temperature was below zero degrees and Su Yan was only wearing thin casual wear. He walked on the pitch-black road. It was New Years¡¯ Eve and fireworks were set off in the sky from all directions. Unknowingly, he faced the building and lifted his head into the darkness. The words ¡®Flourish & Prosper¡¯ reflected the moonlight. Chapter 1968. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Seventy-Four) ¡®Aish!¡¯ He sighed sorrowfully into the thick layer of mist. He walked towards the steps. Suddenly, snowflakes started drifting from the sky. He paused, turned around, and looked upwards. A cold gust of wind hit him and pierced through his bones. A snowflake landed on his eyelashes. Before he could even wipe it away, it melted. In the pitch-black office, he didn¡¯t turn on the heater although it was icy cold. He found the light switch skillfully, and the office brightened up. The spacious office was empty. He walked towards his desk and pulled out the chair. He sat on it. Smoking wasn¡¯t a habit of his, and he didn¡¯t know how to do it either. But he had a pack of cigarettes in his drawer which he needed sometimes whenever he went on business engagements. He pulled the drawer open and the first thing he saw was a metallic cigarette box. He picked it up, then he shivered. There was a wooden photo frame under the cigarette box. It was face-down. Unconsciously, he removed his hand from the cigarette box and picked up the frame. The girl in the photo was wearing a red dress. Her smile was radiant. ¡®Su Yan, whatever you wanted¡ªbe it Flourish & Prosper¡¯s shares or anything else¡ªas long as you say the word, I¡¯ll give it to you no matter what it cost. But how could you not like me? How could you not love me? How could you¡­ lie to me?¡¯ Xin Yanting¡¯s trembling voice rang in his head. He took a deep, shaky breath. After staring at the photo for a while, he smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wish you happiness. You deserve better.¡± The person in the photo was too far away to receive his late apology. But he seemed to see her reply through her radiant smile. He wished that she would be blissful. She would be better off. ¡®Aish!¡¯ He sighed and placed the photo back into the drawer, face-down. He took out the cigarette box and retrieved a cigarette. He didn¡¯t light it. He held it in front of his nose, smelling it as he entered a reverie. ¡­ One year later¡­ Flourish & Splendor offered night tuition lessons. It was eight p.m. by the time it ended. Su Yue brought Xiaojiao along to fetch Beibei. From afar, they saw him talking to a girl who was around his height. She didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. Su Yue stopped in her tracks. Xiaojiao looked over and peered up at Su Yue in confusion. ¡°Mommy, who¡¯s that girl?¡± Su Yue replied, ¡°She¡¯s Brother¡¯s classmate.¡± Xiaojiao raised her eyebrows. ¡°Brother¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Su Yue looked at her in amusement. ¡°Do you know what a girlfriend means?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± Xiaojiao pouted. ¡°She¡¯s Brother¡¯s wife-to-be.¡± Su Yue laughed and patted her head. ¡°Little one, who taught you that?¡± Beibei had already walked over to them in the midst of their conversation. ¡°Ming Beichen, remember to attend my birthday party tomorrow. Don¡¯t forget,¡± Zhao Qingluo reminded him before bowing slightly at Su Yue. ¡°Hello, Auntie.¡± Su Yue felt helpless at seeing a girl who was almost her height greet her as ¡®Auntie¡¯. She smiled and nodded. She watched her get onto a car and retracted her gaze. She turned to Beibei. The fellow was frowning impatiently at the leaving car. She smiled and said, ¡°Hey. She took the initiative to approach you and yet you¡¯re being all haughty.¡± Chapter 1969. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Seventy-Five) ¡°She¡¯s so annoying. Women are so troublesome,¡± Ming Beichen complained as he retracted his gaze. When he met Su Yue¡¯s gaze, he immediately grinned and added, ¡°Other than you, Stepmother.¡± Then he hugged her arm obsequiously. He cooed, ¡°My pretty and kind stepmother, did you bring me any food? I¡¯m starving.¡± He rubbed his tummy as he acted pitifully. Su Yue knocked his head. ¡°Let¡¯s go home to eat, then sleep early. Uncle is coming back tomorrow. I¡¯m bringing you and Xiaojiao to the airport to fetch him.¡± Beibei was elated. ¡°Great, I can finally see Uncle again! I wonder if he bought me the Transformers toy and the entire Avengers series.¡± Su Yue couldn¡¯t stand him any longer. His sugar-coated words instantly bribed her. She rubbed his head affectionately and said, ¡°As long as you say the word, I¡¯m sure he will get it for you.¡± Three of them got into the car. Xiaojiao and Beibei sat in the back row while Su Yue drove. Just after she finished buckling her seatbelt and was about to start the car, Xiaojiao suddenly said, ¡°Mommy, I want to eat ice-cream.¡± Su Yue turned back and glanced at her. ¡°There¡¯s some at home. We¡¯ll eat at home.¡± Xiaojiao was ecstatic. She nodded obediently. ¡°Mm.¡± Su Yue glanced at her through the rearview mirror and shook her head helplessly. This little lass¡¯ loyalty towards ice-cream surpassed even Xuxu¡¯s loyalty towards Yan Rusheng. ¡°Daddy!¡± The moment she entered the house, she saw Ming Ansheng sitting on the sofa. Without taking off her shoes, Xiaojiao eagerly ran into the house and jumped into his embrace. ¡°Xiaojiao, did you accompany Mommy to fetch Brother?¡± Ming Ansheng asked. He then carried her and kissed her cheek affectionately. Xiaojiao nodded. ¡°Mm. Mommy agreed to let me eat ice-cream.¡± She could forget everything, but she wouldn¡¯t forget about her ice-cream. ¡°You only remember something when it comes to eating.¡± Su Yue walked over after changing out of her shoes. She gave her a dirty look before walking straight to the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± She came out after a while, holding an ice-cream in one hand and a small cake in the other. She walked towards the sofa. ¡°Eat.¡± Su Yue passed the ice-cream to Xiaojiao and the cake to Beibei. Beibei placed his bag down. He took the cake from her and scooped some. He was about to stuff it into his mouth when he thought of something and looked up at Su Yue. ¡°Stepmother, have some.¡± Then he stood up and raised his arm, sending the spoon towards her mouth. Su Yue didn¡¯t reject his thoughtfulness. She opened her mouth and ate a mouthful of cream. ¡°Blergh¡­¡± When she cream entered her mouth, she suddenly felt the urge to puke. She hurriedly squatted and faced the trash can. ¡°Blergh¡­¡± Ming Ansheng hurriedly placed Xiaojiao down and went over to her. He patted her back and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I feel sick¡­¡± Su Yue replied before she continued vomiting. ¡°What happened?¡± Wang Yuexiang was climbing down the steps and she quickened her pace when she saw Su Yue puking. Su Yue replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. The cake made me feel sick.¡± Wang Yuexiang asked Su Yue in excitement. ¡°How long has it been since your period was due?¡± ¡°Erm¡­¡± Su Yue hesitated. After some thought, she replied, ¡°I think it¡¯s been¡­ quite a few days.¡± ¡°Silly girl. How could you forget about this?¡± Wang Yuexiang bent down to support her as she smiled. Su Yue was still in a daze. But Ming Ansheng had recovered from his shock. He carried Su Yue saying, ¡°My darling wife.¡± After spinning her for two rounds, he placed her down after Wang Yuexiang chided him. Then he picked up his phone excitedly and said, ¡°I have to share this on WeChat.¡± Chapter 1970. Dont Even Consider, Its Unforgettable (part Seventy-Six) ¡­ The Yan mansion. Wen Xuxu had just finished her shower. Habitually, she scrolled through her WeChat before bed. The first post she clicked on was Ming Ansheng¡¯s. ¡®The Heavens indeed reward those who are hardworking. I¡¯m grateful and thankful. Thankful to our Yueyue. I¡¯m so excited!¡¯ He even attached his wedding photo with Su Yue. Wen Xuxu read it over and over again, but she didn¡¯t understand what he was trying to say. But she knew that it must¡¯ve been something worth celebrating. She felt his smugness through his caption. ¡°Who are you talking to? You¡¯re so engrossed.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what Ming Ansheng¡¯s bragging about in the middle of the night. What nonsense about gratefulness and thankfulness?¡± Yan Rusheng quickened his pace and walked to the bed. He bent over and read Ming Ansheng¡¯s post. Then he added, ¡°He¡¯s becoming a father once again. He¡¯s already in his thirties. I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s so smug.¡± ¡°Yueyue¡¯s pregnant?¡± Xuxu asked excitedly. Then she continued, ¡°I have to call her.¡± She dialed Su Yue¡¯s number immediately. Su Yue picked up on the first ring. Xuxu eagerly asked, ¡°Yueyue, you¡¯re pregnant again?¡± Her direct question embarrassed Su Yue. ¡°This Ming Ansheng. We don¡¯t know anything for sure yet. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s bragging about.¡± Xuxu became even more excited. ¡°Tell me what happened. I¡¯ll know.¡± Su Yue told her what happened and Xuxu clapped her thigh in excitement. ¡°It must be, without a doubt. This is great!¡± Yan Rusheng frowned at his wife¡¯s eagerness. Ming Ansheng was going to be a father, but she seemed more excited than him. It made him unhappy. ¡°Then you should have a good rest. I¡¯ll accompany you to the checkup tomorrow.¡± Xuxu told her some things that she needed to take note of. Su Yue already had a husband. Shouldn¡¯t the husband accompany her instead? Why was she being so extra? She wasn¡¯t needed! After Xuxu ended the call, Yan Rusheng removed the towel that was wrapped around his body. He pinned her down and said, ¡°Wen Xuxu, I think you¡¯re too bored. You¡¯re too energetic and you need another pregnancy.¡± He said as he peeled off her clothes domineeringly. Xuxu was speechless. Yan Rusheng ignored her protests. He was burning with desire. Xuxu gritted her teeth. She pounded on his shoulder and reminded, ¡°Yan Rusheng, condom.¡± Yan Rusheng pouted and started throwing a tantrum. ¡°I don¡¯t want the condom. I want more children.¡± Xuxu frowned. ¡°We already have two, and you want more?¡± Yan Rusheng smiled lecherously. ¡­ In the VIP waiting area, a man in a tuxedo was reading his documents. His legs were crossed gracefully. An equally handsome male secretary walked over and reminded softly, ¡°President Su, 10 minutes to boarding.¡± Su Yan glanced at his wristwatch. Then he closed his documents and stuffed them into his briefcase. He stood up. He walked towards the exit of the waiting area. ¡°Dear passengers, the flight to the capital city¡­¡± The broadcaster announced that the boarding for his flight had commenced, indicating that boarding for the economy class had commenced too. Su Yan increased his pace and he walked toward the boarding counter. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I¡¯ll call you when I arrive.¡± Suddenly, a familiar female voice sounded near him. He stopped and stared at the woman who just brushed past him. She was tall and slender, and she was wearing a red coat. She was walking as she talked on the phone. Her black stiletto heels made loud thuds as she walked. Every thud from her heels hitting the floor reverberated in Su Yan¡¯s heart. He stared after her in a daze. Suddenly, the thudding stopped as well. The female figure froze. She turned around. Time seemed to come to a standstill. Su Yan smiled at her beautiful face. This smile, he owed her. Chapter 1971. Men Without Rights (part One) Yan Rusheng returned from the study room. Xuxu was sitting cross-legged on the sofa. In front of her was a pile of documents. She was engrossed in her work. She had already showered and was wearing a nightgown. Sitting cross-legged, she revealed her fair legs and subtly revealed her chest area. It fanned Young Master Yan¡¯s desire. He walked over lecherously. ¡°Wife.¡± He didn¡¯t sit down beside her. She lifted her head to give him a warning look. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me. I haven¡¯t finished preparing the documents for tomorrow¡¯s meeting. You can sleep first.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to prepare,¡± Yan Rusheng replied. He bent over and tried to take the documents out of her hands. Xuxu grabbed it tightly and pointed at him. She raised her eyebrows threateningly. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you leaving or not?¡± Yan Rusheng pouted in dissatisfaction. ¡°Am I more important, or your work is?¡± Xuxu looked at him contemptuously. ¡°Yan Rusheng, do you feel ashamed of making Su Yan go for all the business trips? He¡¯s handling all the overseas projects alone.¡± ¡°How¡¯s he doing it alone? Isn¡¯t someone else with him?¡± Yan Rusheng continued, ¡°Hmph, I envy him, even. His business trip is akin to a honeymoon. Now that he¡¯s the one going, it¡¯s saving us some funds. In the past, we needed to book two rooms, and now, only one. How great is that?¡± He was imagining how novel and exciting it must be, to spend time with someone in different places. ¡°Go, go, go.¡± Wen Xuxu didn¡¯t want to hear his nonsense any longer. She pushed him away. Although he was unwilling, Young Master Yan didn¡¯t dare to refuse. He dejectedly said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll play some games in the study room. I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± ¡­ The Lu mansion. Zhou Shuang was lying in bed after her shower. She was massaging her face with essential oil. She closed her eyes in bliss. The other side of the bed slumped and she knew that Lu Yinan was on the bed as well. She shifted away, seemingly avoiding him. Lu Yinan moved closer to her. He hugged her waist and grinned. ¡°Shuang, The country rolled out a two-child policy. Look, Ming Ansheng and Su Yue were smart enough to make use of it. Let¡¯s do the same.¡± Zhou Shuang turned around and rolled her eyes. ¡°Lu Yinan, don¡¯t bite off more than you can chew. More children?¡± Then she closed her eyes and continued massaging. Lu Yinan smiled and continued, ¡°Although we already have three children, they¡¯re from your first pregnancy. Since the government came up with this policy, everyone has the right to benefit. Wouldn¡¯t it be a shame if we waste it?¡± Zhou Shuang knew that his main objective was s*x. But if another child was created from it, it would be a plus. She didn¡¯t want to give birth again. Pregnancy was torture. ¡°What warped logic? I just finished yoga, I¡¯m dead beat. Leave me alone.¡± Then she pushed him away contemptuously. The man held her arm tightly and had refused to let go. ¡°But I want more children.¡± Zhou Shuang continued pushing him away. ¡°Take care of those three imps first. They annoy me to death every day.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yinan nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go to an island for our honeymoon tomorrow. The rooms there have been vacant for a long time.¡± Zhou Shuang turned and frowned at him. ¡°Lu Yinan, are you human? You want to ditch the three kids at home and enjoy a vacation by ourselves?¡± Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ Chapter 1972. Men Without Rights (part Two) He just wanted some action tonight. Zhou Shuang had extinguished Young Master Lu¡¯s heated desire. He flipped over and got off the bed from the other side. Zhou Shuang kept her eyes closed, continuing with her facial massage. Young Master Lu¡¯s confidence was crushed. He pointed at her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t regret it when I leave the room.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t open her eyes once. Young Master Lu frowned bitterly, but he didn¡¯t say a word. He turned around and trudged out of the door. He walked straight into the study room. He logged in to WeChat and opened the group with Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng. ¡®Let¡¯s go out for a drink.¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied immediately. ¡®Zhou Shuang kicked you off the bed again?¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied after. ¡®She must¡¯ve chased him into the study again.¡¯ The word ¡®again¡¯ pierced through Young Master Lu¡¯s heart. He didn¡¯t have much power at home. He was often bossed around by his wife. His morale was just crushed by his wife, and he refused to be a laughingstock for his friends. After some thought, he replied, ¡®Won¡¯t one lose their beauty if you see them for prolonged periods of time?¡¯ Without waiting for their replies, he added, ¡®Yan Rusheng, you can¡¯t be smug when Wen Xuxu is around. You have to change the children¡¯s diapers and wrap dumplings¡­ I understand why you don¡¯t dare to even glance at another woman when you go out.¡¯ ¡®Ming Ansheng, you¡¯re even worse. Your princess is pregnant and I predict that you have the least say at home now. I won¡¯t laugh at you if you guys can¡¯t leave the house.¡¯ In reality, he knew that the other two were bored out of their minds. They replied immediately after he sent the message. They must¡¯ve been playing on their phones or reading the news and scrolling through WeChat. Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®Sure, let¡¯s go out. You¡¯re on.¡¯ Young Master Lu was shocked. Such a low taunting tactic actually worked on Yan Rusheng?! Then Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Don¡¯t blame us if Zhou Shuang disciplines you.¡¯ Did both of them just agree? Lu Yinan¡¯s eyes brightened. He rubbed his hands and grinned at the keyboard. He replied, ¡®There are some mixed-blood beauties at The First Wealth. They arrived yesterday.¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®You¡¯re so well-informed. Young Master Lu is indeed the most popular one there.¡¯ Young Master Lu felt embarrassed. ¡®That¡¯s true. I¡¯m their super VVVIP.¡¯ Who didn¡¯t know Young Master Lu at The First Wealth? Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®Let¡¯s go then. I¡¯m bored out of my mind at home.¡¯ Lu Yinan finally felt more at ease. He wasn¡¯t the only one being neglected by his wife. He replied, ¡®Let¡¯s go!¡¯ Ming Ansheng added, ¡®Invite Ah Heng as well.¡¯ Yan Rusheng replied, ¡®Ha, he acts all refined and noble, and his alcohol tolerance is so low. Why should he come?¡¯ Ming Ansheng replied, ¡®Just you wait. I¡¯ll definitely make him come.¡¯ ¡­ The First Wealth was filled with bright neon lights and the entire bar exuded an extravagant and flourishing sight. Young Master Lu wasn¡¯t bragging. He was indeed a VVVIP of The First Wealth. Just one call and the biggest private room was cleared out for him. Chapter 1973. Men Without Rights (part Three) The pretty service attendants entered the room in a row. They were each carrying different things: wine, fruit platters, various snacks¡­ The three men sat on the sofa. The service attendants walked over to the coffee table and squatted, placing their items on the table. The way they squatted made the three men on the sofa seem more distinguished. ¡°Hope the Young Masters have an enjoyable time.¡± The row of service attendants bowed orderly, and their voices sounded exceptionally sweet. Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng had their heads bowed as they scrolled on their phones. Lu Yinan cleared his throat, trying to give himself confidence. He said to the attendants, ¡°The mixed-blooded princesses that arrived yesterday, send them here.¡± Through the second half of his sentence, he began to lose his confidence. The service attendant at the front of the row smiled and nodded. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll arrange for it now.¡± After the service attendants left, Ming Ansheng doubtfully looked at Lu Yinan. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lu Yinan raised his eyebrows. ¡°You guys are afraid?¡± F*ck. He was afraid too! If they were caught, they would be in a cold war with their wives, and they¡¯d be tortured with abstinence. Yan Rusheng smiled coldly. ¡°Nonsense. Aren¡¯t we just singing and drinking? What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Then he puffed out his chest, seemingly brimming with confidence. Ming Ansheng burst into laughter. As he stared at Yan Rusheng, he said, ¡°Why is ¡®I¡¯m so scared¡¯ written all over your face?¡± ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡± asked Yan Rusheng with a frown. He couldn¡¯t help but touch his face. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng laughed at his action. At that moment, the door to the VIP room flung open. A tall figure strolled in. Ming Ansheng looked over. ¡°Ah Heng is here.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng was wearing black casual wear. It made his figure look slim and perfect. He smiled and walked towards them. Yan Rusheng was shocked to see him. He coldly said, ¡°He actually came? Did the sun rose from the west today?¡± Ming Ansheng replied, ¡°I only told him what you said. He agreed readily.¡± Young Master Yan frowned. ¡°F*ck. This fellow isn¡¯t going to admit he¡¯s weaker than me?¡± If he agreed readily, it proved that he wasn¡¯t afraid of him. He glanced at the stuff on the table: beer and various kinds of hard liquor. Tonight, he¡¯d make sure Jiang Zhuoheng admitted defeat. Not just in love, but in terms of alcohol tolerance and strength as well. He was inferior to him in every way. Jiang Zhuoheng had already walked to the sofa. Ming Ansheng made him sit beside him. ¡°Hu Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t stop you from coming?¡± Lu Yinan asked Jiang Zhuoheng. Jiang Zhuoheng pressed his lips. He breezily replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for a man to have social gatherings, drink, and sing with his friends?¡± His sentence pierced through the hearts of Young Master Ming, Young Master Yan, and Young Master Lu. ¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Knocks sounded from the door. Lu Yinan gave a reply. The door opened and the service attendant from earlier came in. This time, she brought with her a row of slender, long-haired beauties. The pretty women had different colored hair, but they wore the same thing: pink tube mini dresses which revealed their slender, fair legs. Chapter 1975. Men Without Rights (part Five) Young Master Ming was frustrated. Not because he couldn¡¯t get the company of those beauties, but because Young Master Yan was always controlling him. He bore with it because Su Yue wasn¡¯t married to him at that time. But the fellow seemed to get used to it. What right did he have? What right did Yan Rusheng have to order him around like an elder? Young Master Ming became even more indignant. He waved two girls over. ¡°Two of you, come here. Sit with me.¡± ¡°Ming Ansheng, if you dare, I¡¯ll call Su Yue right now,¡± Yan Rusheng said as he took out his phone from his pocket in an attempt to threaten him. ¡°I¡¯ll call Xuxu right away,¡± Ming Ansheng said as he whipped out his phone as well. He was about to call her. Lu Yinan was speechless¡­ Jiang Zhuoheng didn¡¯t know what to say. But more speechless than both of them was Yan Rusheng. He wasn¡¯t just speechless. He couldn¡¯t accept it. The obedient brother-in-law was striking back. He was threatening his dignity! ¡°Enough, both of you. If you can¡¯t afford to play, then don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Do you believe that I¡¯ll send Zhou Shuang a photo of you?¡± Then he opened the camera function on his phone and started taking photos of Lu Yinan. Lu Yinan covered his face¡ªhiding his face that was better looking than the two women beside him. Ming Ansheng grabbed Lu Yinan¡¯s arms and he tried to pry them away to reveal his face. Chaos ensued on the sofa. The beautiful women, seeing that the men were playing around, decided to join in the fun to gain their attention. One of them hugged Lu Yinan¡¯s waist, while the other hugged Ming Ansheng passionately. When he saw this, Yan Rusheng¡¯s face turned darker than coal. He violently pried the woman¡¯s arms away from Ming Ansheng. He didn¡¯t care that she was a woman. ¡°Let me go.¡± Lu Yinan realized that a woman was hugging him and he jumped in fright. He pushed her away, as though she was a hot potato. If Yan Rusheng had captured that moment, he¡¯d definitely send it to Zhou Shuang. It was definitely something Yan Rusheng would do. ¡°You guys look like you¡¯re having fun.¡± Young Master Jiang, who observed by the sidelines, aimed his phone at them. He smiled as he videoed the scene. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± He replayed the video and the chaotic noises sounded from his phone. Yan Rusheng finally caught onto him and turned to him in panic. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, what did you just do?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng shrugged his shoulders. He casually said, ¡°You guys are enjoying yourselves so much, so I posted a short video on my WeChat, to let our old classmates know that the four of us are still so close. And that you guys are so unrestrained even after marriage, that you can have so much fun at an entertainment outlet.¡± Their expressions immediately turned dark. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, delete it immediately,¡± Yan Rusheng warned as he flew towards him. He tried to snatch the phone out of his hands. Jiang Zhuoheng dodged his attack. Yan Rusheng didn¡¯t give up and gave chase. Ming Ansheng turned stark white in fear. He asked Jiang Zhuoheng, ¡°Ah Heng, did you really do that?¡± Chapter 1974. Men Without Rights (part Four) All of them had numbers pasted on their chests. They walked in front of the four men, letting them take their pick. There were a total of 10 of them. Yan Rusheng coughed as he glanced at all of them. Then he modestly said to Lu Yinan, ¡°You go first.¡± Lu Yinan waved him off. ¡°No way. Today is my treat. You guys choose first.¡± Then he said to Ming Ansheng, ¡°Ming Ansheng, you choose first.¡± Before Ming Ansheng could reply, Yan Rusheng warned, ¡°Ming Ansheng, try and choose one if you dare. Where are you looking at? Turn away.¡± All of them were speechless. Lu Yinan frowned at Yan Rusheng. ¡°You can¡¯t do this. He¡¯s not your brother-in-law when he¡¯s here.¡± Young Master Yan glared at him. ¡°Nonsense. Su Yue still has an unborn child inside of her.¡± All of them were speechless. Then Jiang Zhuoheng coldly said, ¡°You said it as though you can find random women behind Xuxu¡¯s back. Yan Rusheng was speechless. Seeing that Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng didn¡¯t dare to act, Young Master Lu found his opportunity to taunt them. ¡°Haha. Seems like I¡¯m the only one who will enjoy.¡± He smiled as he grabbed two random women and made them sit beside him. But, he only made them sit down. There was still a substantial gap between them. In reality, he was on tenterhooks as well. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°Who said so?¡± No matter what, he couldn¡¯t lose face in front of Lu Yinan that weakling. He pulled two women to his side. The sofa was barely long enough to accommodate so many people. Jiang Zhuoheng stood up, giving them some extra space. Lu Yinan smiled at Yan Rusheng in disdain. ¡°Yan Rusheng, are you sure? Don¡¯t force yourself. Or Wen Xuxu might just banish you to the study room.¡± Yan Rusheng raised his eyebrows. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not talking about yourself?¡± Then he wrapped his arms around the women¡¯s¡¯ waists, but in actual fact, he didn¡¯t touch them. But from the front, it seemed like he was hugging their waists. Lu Yinan found it amusing. He smiled maliciously. ¡°We all agreed to come here. If you don¡¯t dare to play, don¡¯t threaten those that want to. These women shall be mine, but next time, please don¡¯t act all boastful. Furthermore, don¡¯t say that I¡¯m afraid of my wife.¡± Today, he was going to prove that he was manlier than all of them. Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°Lu Yinan, all these women are for you? How ridiculous can you get?¡± Then he turned to Jiang Zhuoheng who was sitting on the sofa. He warned, ¡°If you tell Wen Xuxu, you¡¯re dead meat.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng smirked. ¡°Why are you afraid if you already did it?¡± ¡°What did I do?¡± Yan Rusheng extended his neck to debate with Jiang Zhuoheng. ¡°I merely called a few women over to chat, and tell me how to get into a woman¡¯s good books. That way, I can please my wife when I get home!¡± All of them were speechless. Third Brother, where¡¯s your integrity? ¡°Ming Ansheng, you choose two as well.¡± Only a few women were left. Before Ming Ansheng could decide, Yan Rusheng refuted, ¡°No. Su Yue is still pregnant. You shall stand at that corner. You¡¯re not allowed to look at other women.¡± F*ck. He forbade Ming Ansheng from looking at other women when he himself was doing just that! Chapter 1976. Men Without Rights (part Six) Jiang Zhuoheng breezily replied, ¡°Mm. Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Ming Ansheng pointed at Jiang Zhuoheng and before he could finish his sentence, Lu Yinan¡¯s phone rang. Lu Yinan saw the caller ID and his heart fell. He shushed them and picked up the call. ¡°Wife, are you missing me? It was a little hot, so I came out for a stroll.¡± All of them were speechless. By the look on his face, he lied often. ¡°Lu Yinan, do wildflowers smell good? Are you looking for death?¡± Zhou Shuang howled at him until even Ming Ansheng¡ªwho was standing near him¡ªcould hear her. Lu Yinan frowned. He instinctively moved the phone slightly away from his ear. After Zhou Shuang was done, he placed it back to his ear and explained with a grin. ¡°Shuang, listen to me. I wasn¡¯t willing. Yan Rusheng and Ming Ansheng were the ones who forced me here. You know how they¡¯re always calling me weak and saying that I have no human rights. They¡¯re always taunting me.¡± Where was his integrity? Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng eyed him in disdain. But at the same time, they were afraid as to how they were going to explain themselves when they got home. Were they supposed to say that the other few instigated them to it? ¡°They taunted you and you went? Are you stupid? Do you think I¡¯m a three-year-old kid?¡± Zhou Shuang bellowed. Lu Yinan was confused by her string of questions. He nodded to her questions. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. I¡¯m stupid. I¡¯m a three-year-old kid¡­¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Ming Ansheng chuckled when he heard it. Just as he was about to take a video of him, the phone in his pocket rang as well. His heart started racing. He whipped out his phone and glanced at the screen. It was from home. He heaved a sigh of relief. If the call was from home, it was usually either his mother or Xiaojiao. He answered the call. ¡°Hello.¡± But Su Yue¡¯s sinister voice sounded from the other end of the phone. ¡°Mother said that you should move to the apartment alone. She¡¯s already sent your things over. She said that you don¡¯t have to return until I¡¯ve given birth, so you can enjoy yourself out there.¡± It startled Ming Ansheng. ¡°Yueyue, listen. I was forced to,¡± he explained in panic. He paused and tried thinking of how to clear his name. Suddenly, his eyes brightened. He continued, ¡°You know how your third brother always taunts me. He asked me over and I couldn¡¯t say no.¡± Young Master Ming¡¯s tone sounded as if he had suffered a grave injustice. He was on tenterhooks but he was secretly pleased with his genius idea. He was used to being bullied by Yan Rusheng to the point that he even gave him a piece of land worth a hundred million. How could he say no when Yan Rusheng asked him over to drink? ¡®What?¡¯ What did he have to do with it? Since when did he use Su Yue to threaten him? Yan Rusheng felt betrayed. He finally understood the saying that friends could put their lives on the line for one another, but could also take each other¡¯s lives for a woman. This was a real-life example. His expression darkened and he stared at Ming Ansheng with a malicious gaze. He gritted his teeth, waiting for him to end the call so that he could get even with him. Chapter 1977. Men Without Rights (part Seven) After all, they were still good friends. He didn¡¯t want to expose him immediately while he was still on the phone for it might cause greater trouble. ¡°Don¡¯t push the blame to my third brother. My third brother is so afraid of his wife. He sticks to my third sister-in-law like glue every day. Why would he drink with you guys if you and Lu Yinan didn¡¯t entice him?¡± The music in the room was turned off, and Lu Yinan had already chased the pretty women out of the room, and so the room was dead quiet. Su Yue¡¯s voice was very loud, so all of them heard what she said. ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s my biological sister.¡± Yan Rusheng grinned smugly at Ming Ansheng. Young Master Ming felt a pang of hurt in his heart. She was already married, why wasn¡¯t she helping him? They shared the same pillow and bed. How was he no match for her immoral and mindless brother? But he couldn¡¯t help it. She was indeed telling the truth. He replied patiently, ¡°Really. I¡¯ll head home now and explain it to you in person. I¡¯ll tell you the whole story. Don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ll let you hit me or scold me if you want.¡± Without waiting for her reply, he ended the call and stood up. Without saying a word to anyone, he rushed out of the door. When he was about to exit, he recalled something. He turned around and glared at Jiang Zhuoheng who was lazing on the sofa. He pointed at him and gritted his teeth. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, just you wait. If I have to stay in the apartment tonight, you¡¯d better make your Hu Xiaoxiao accompany me.¡± Then he left in fury. Lu Yinan stood up to leave as well. When he passed Jiang Zhuoheng, he thought for a moment and stopped. He pointed at him and said, ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, you¡¯ve crossed the line.¡± The fellow looked so well-behaved and trustworthy. He didn¡¯t expect him to be so malicious. He dug a grave for them. Only Yan Rusheng and Jiang Zhuoheng were left in the room. It was dead quiet. Yan Rusheng lazily tucked his hands into his pockets. He stared at Jiang Zhuoheng with his lips pressed. He smirked, exuding his usual elegant and graceful aura. He had to have a stronger, imposing stance than his love rival. Even if he was on tenterhooks, he couldn¡¯t show it or else he would lose. Their gazes met and Jiang Zhuoheng spoke after a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± Then he stood up lazily. Yan Rusheng smugly spoke, ¡°Sorry to disappoint you. Xuxu believes in me.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng halted in his steps and nodded. ¡°Mm. I hope so.¡± In an ambiguous tone. Yan Rusheng frowned. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Jiang Zhuoheng shrugged his shoulders and turned to him. He casually added, ¡°Xuxu has always been gentle and unflustered. She doesn¡¯t do rash things. What good would it do if she were to yell at you over the phone?¡± Was he implying that his outcome would be worse than Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng? He¡­ thought so as well. Indeed, calling for interrogation wasn¡¯t Xuxu¡¯s style. She wouldn¡¯t holler or scream at you. But her calmness was unbearable. ¡­ Young Master Yan went home with a racing heart. He kept looking at his phone as he drove on the road, hoping that Xuxu would give him a call. Chapter 1978. Men Without Rights (part Eight) They all had the habit of checking WeChat updates before turning in for the night. So he believed that Xuxu had already seen Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s update. Yet, she didn¡¯t call him at all. She must have chosen the silent treatment to punish him. The butler saw Yan Rusheng¡¯s car and hurriedly opened the courtyard gates. The car entered the courtyard, and Yan Rusheng simply stopped the car without parking it inside the garage. He darted swiftly towards the house. The house was brightly lit, and it increased his foreboding. At this time, all of them should be asleep. ¡®Why were the lights in the living room still on?¡¯ Yan Rusheng entered the living room and he felt jittery. He stole furtive glances around. There were two men sitting on the couch. He was startled and asked, ¡°When did you come back?¡± Su Yan was having a conversation with Yan Weihong as they watched TV. ¡°Just landed,¡± Su Yan replied curtly and he directed his attention back on Yan Weihong. Yan Rusheng changed into his slippers as he glanced at Su Yan. ¡°Why did you come over at this time of the night?¡± ¡°Su Yan came to discuss his plans of getting married while touring the world.¡± Yan Weihong answered on Su Yan¡¯s behalf. His reply stumped Yan Rusheng for a second. He grinned as he sized up Su Yan. ¡°Wow. Why the sudden whim to get married?¡± He sounded as though he was doubtful. Su Yan smirked and replied, ¡°Third Brother, I think you should be more concerned about what you should do. Xuxu has decided to go on a strike.¡± He was gloating over his misfortune and he sounded gleeful. Yan Rusheng¡¯s heart seemed to plunge to the bottom. ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡± ¡®Wen Xuxu is on a strike?¡¯ What¡¯s that supposed to mean? ¡°Third Yan. It slipped my mind. Xuxu and your mother are on their way to take a vacation now,¡± Yan Weihong casually quipped, looking cool. ¡®What? A vacation? Now?¡¯ Yan Rusheng¡¯s eyes were huge with shock. ¡°Just now!?¡± He turned towards the windows and it was pitch-dark. That stupid woman really had a hundred methods to punish him! Yan Weihong nodded firmly. ¡°Yup. Half an hour ago.¡± Yan Rusheng frowned, looking annoyed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me?¡± Yan Weihong chortled. ¡°Xuxu said she wanted an impromptu trip.¡± ¡°F*ck!¡± Yan Rusheng erupted as he snarled, ¡°Wen Xuxu, this stupid woman. You¡¯re dead.¡± He leaped to his feet and suddenly remembered the trip to The First Wealth earlier on. Suddenly, all his rage vanished. He had no reason to flare up right now. He contemplated for a second before asking Yan Weihong, ¡°Did she say where she was going to?¡± ¡°No.¡± Yan Weihong shook his head. ¡°She said that the world is huge and she wanted to explore.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. The corners of his mouth twitched and he said, ¡°Help me call mother. Ask her where they are right now.¡± Yan Weihong declined without hesitation. ¡°Your mother said that she would call me. And she banned me from calling her.¡± ¡°Wife¡¯s slave!¡± Young Master Yan threw him a long contemptuous look and he stormed towards the staircase. He fumbled for his phone in his pocket. But he had expected it. Her phone was already switched off. Chapter 1979. Men Without Rights (part Nine) ¡°F*ck!¡± Young Master Yan erupted in rage and almost smashed his phone. It was that damned Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s fault! He had set up a trap for him. He may have bullied Jiang Zhuoheng ever since they were boys, but this trap of his had brought the most devastating consequence of all. The more he mulled over it, the more incensed he was. If he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get his wife back right now, he would have walloped that fellow to a pulp. He had a sudden inspiration and dialed Su Yue¡¯s number. She answered after a few rings and he hastily asked, ¡°Su Yue, did your third sister-in-law call you?¡± Su Yue snorted coldly. ¡°Third Brother. Is third sister-in-law missing?¡± Yan Rusheng immediately knew that she was aware, judging from her response. He hastily softened his tone, ¡°Your third sister-in-law misunderstood me because I was trying to help you.¡± ¡°No idea. Don¡¯t ask me.¡± Su Yue immediately hung up. Yan Rusheng narrowed his eyes maliciously on the phone. He really wanted to slam the phone against the floor right now. He scurried back to his room and headed for the bed. It was slightly messy and he deduced that Xuxu must have slept in it earlier on. Then he visualized how she would use her phone in bed. ¡®F*ck f*ck f*ck!¡¯ Young Master Yan aimed a kick at the bed out of frustration. ¡°Ouch!¡± He exerted too much force that he hurt his toes. He groaned deeply in pain. ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng, just you wait!¡± Even at this moment, he didn¡¯t dare to berate Wen Xuxu at all, although she wasn¡¯t even around. He limped slowly to the wardrobe and opened the doors. He inspected her clothes. ¡®Damn it. How long is this stupid woman planning to go for her trip? Is she planning to stay overseas long-term?¡¯ She had packed so many clothes. After a painful realization, Young Master Yan knew that his dear wife and his mother had left home. He walked to the couch and collapsed on it. He tugged at his collar out of annoyance. Suddenly, he received a WeChat notification. He hastily picked up his phone, but was crestfallen the next moment. Jiang Zhuoheng had sent a photo to the group chat. Yan Rusheng was boiling with anger the moment he saw Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s name. He was about to fling his phone aside when he had a sudden whim to read the message. He clicked on it and almost died of rage when he saw Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s photo. There was a round table with two glasses of wine. A slender woman in loose bathrobes, with her tousled silky hair falling across her shoulders, sat across the table. The scene looked romantic and lovely. Yan Rusheng squeezed his phone hard as he typed, ¡®Jiang Zhuoheng, the scenery is wonderful outside. Why don¡¯t you jump off and take a look?¡¯ Jiang Zhuoheng sent a reply. ¡®I¡¯m living a blissful and contented life. Why should I jump off?¡¯ He followed up with another message. ¡®Or are you the one who is thinking of jumping off right now?¡¯ Yan Rusheng was speechless. ¡®Oh yeah. Xuxu just called me to say that she is going on a trip. If I want to join her, I can contact her.¡¯ Young Master Yan exploded with rage at his message. That stupid woman called Jiang Zhuoheng and informed him?! This was a pure insult and a slap on his face! ¡®Jiang Zhuoheng, you¡¯re too much!¡¯ He typed quickly, as he breathed heavily. ¡®If you tell me about Xuxu¡¯s whereabouts right now, I will treat it as you¡¯re making amends.¡¯ Jiang Zhuoheng replied, ¡®She is your wife. Shouldn¡¯t you know instead of me?¡¯ It infuriated Young Master Yan. Chapter 1980. Men Without Rights (part Ten) If he knew, why would he still ask? But even if he knew that Jiang Zhuoheng had deliberately provoked him, what else could he do? Young Master Yan was anxious and he decided to dump all his clothes on the bed. He went to look for a suitcase and simply stuffed the clothes inside. Then he dragged the suitcase out. He would look for Wen Xuxu to the ends of the earth if needed. He was sure he would be able to locate her. If he didn¡¯t manage to, then he could just roam around and wait for her to contact him. ¡°Daddy, where are you going?¡± Suddenly, a little girl¡¯s voice jolted his thoughts. Yan Rusheng paused and turned around. Yan Wenxin was in a set of pink pajamas, holding a teddy bear in her hands. She looked confused and sleepy. He smiled and answered, ¡°Daddy is going out.¡± ¡°Why did you bring your suitcase?¡± Wenxin glanced at the suitcase in his hand and pressed on, ¡°Did you fight with Mommy? You don¡¯t want me and brother anymore?¡± The girl looked like she was on the verge of crying. Yan Rusheng was speechless. He always treated his daughter as his cherished princess and showered her with plenty of love. Why did she feel so insecure? He bent and squatted as he stretched his hands. He stroked Wenxin¡¯s hair and patiently explained, ¡°Of course, I want both you and your brother. Daddy just wants to go on a short trip. Okay?¡± At the mention of a trip, Yan Wenxin¡¯s eyes sparkled. She broke into a smile instantly. ¡°I want to go too! Can you bring me?¡± She grabbed Yan Rusheng¡¯s hand and pleaded sweetly. Yan Rusheng was speechless. F*ck. Why didn¡¯t she tag along with her mommy just now? He continued to caress her head and coaxed her. ¡°Daddy is going to the office now. Go back and sleep first.¡± If it were Yan Nuoxing, he would have sternly commanded him. There was no way his son would disobey him. Yan Wenxin lost all her enthusiasm and she pouted. ¡°Where is mommy? I want to sleep with mommy.¡± She turned around and walked towards Yan Rusheng¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Wenxin¡­¡± Yan Rusheng cast his suitcase aside and lifted her off her feet. ¡°Be good. Let¡¯s go back to your room.¡± It seemed like this girl was still clueless about the fact that her mommy had left home. If she noticed her mommy was missing, she would definitely throw a tantrum. ¡°Daddy, I want to marry First Lu when I grow up. You cannot be so fierce to him,¡± Yan Wenxin suddenly blurted out. Why did she tell him this? Yan Rusheng¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°There are many other boys who are better than First Lu. Wenxin, be patient and choose wisely.¡± ¡®What is so good about that boy? He is just like his father, and he looks like a jinx.¡¯ That boy¡¯s father had caused him to be punished tonight! Yan Wenxin quipped, ¡°Are you and mommy going to give us younger siblings?¡± ¡°No, we have you and your brother. It¡¯s enough.¡± Yan Rusheng shook his head firmly. He and Xuxu really didn¡¯t think of having more. A boy and a girl, how wonderful was that? It was what most people had dreamt of having. ¡°I love Daddy so much.¡± Yan Wenxin wrapped her arms around Yan Rusheng¡¯s neck. She tenderly rubbed her face against him. Young Master Yan¡¯s heart swelled with affection for his daughter. He kissed her on her cheek. ¡°Daddy loves you too.¡± ¡°Daddy, I want to drink water.¡± After putting Wenxin on the bed, she said she wanted water. ¡°I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± Yan Rusheng rushed down the stairs to get water for her. The girl drank the water and passed the cup back to Yan Rusheng. Yan Rusheng received the cup and the girl said, ¡°Daddy, tell me a story.¡± ¡­ F*ck. He wouldn¡¯t be able to leave. Chapter 1981. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part One) After a story, she said she wanted to relieve herself. It was two hours later when he finally managed to settle the girl. He was exhausted after a long day that he didn¡¯t feel like moving at all. He glanced at Wenxin who was sound asleep. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyelashes were long and thick, and her lips were plump. It melted his heart and he decided to accompany her. He wrapped his daughter carefully with his arms and shut his eyes. As a form of consolation, he still had his little lover at home. Young Master Yan consoled himself and fell fast asleep in no time. ¡­ ¡°Shuang, can¡¯t you just trust me?¡± Young Master Lu sat on the edge of the bed as he tried explaining to Zhou Shuang. His attempts were futile as she remained hostile, with her back facing him. All she said was for him to scram. There was only a night lamp casting a dim flow in the room. Lu Yinan stared at Zhou Shuang¡¯s back quietly all this while. Zhou Shuang ignored him and so he tried to sneak his hand beneath the blanket. But Zhou Shuang immediately realized it, and she hissed, ¡°Stop this nonsense and get out of the room.¡± Zhou Shuang angrily cast Young Master Lu¡¯s hand away and spoke rather impatiently. Lu Yinan frowned, looking aggrieved. ¡°Where else can I go?¡± Zhou Shuang replied brusquely, ¡°This world is huge, you can decide where you want to go.¡± She refused to look at him at all. Lu Yinan replied, ¡°This world is huge, but home is wherever you are.¡± Zhou Shuang bit back a laugh as her heart softened. It was so cliche and mushy. Of course, she didn¡¯t let Young Master Lu know that she was no longer angry. She continued to speak coldly. ¡°Stop using these tricks. I won¡¯t fall for it. There are so many women, how can one woman satisfy you?¡± ¡°No, no, no! It¡¯s enough! You mean the world to me.¡± Lu Yinan seized the opportunity to embrace Zhou Shuang from the back. Zhou Shuang frowned and nudged him. ¡°Lu Yinan, don¡¯t cling onto me. Get out of my sight now!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Zhou Shuang had regretted how harsh she was to Lu Yinan when he obediently nodded. Her heart was aching. But Lu Yinan didn¡¯t leave the room, and he started to unbutton his shirt. He did it looking unruffled and calm. Zhou Shuang stared blankly at him, looking wary at the same time. ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Changing before I get into bed,¡± answered Young Master airily. He seemed to question her instead. What else could he do besides sleeping after undressing? Zhou Shuang heard him and sat up. ¡°Who allowed you to sleep here?¡± ¡°Where should I sleep besides my own bed?¡± Lu Yinan grinned devilishly as he removed his pants. He was almost naked with just his underwear left. He dived under the blanket and hugged Zhou Shuang tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t frighten my weak little heart by asking me to scram.¡± He snuggled himself against Zhou Shuang¡¯s back. Zhou Shuang was speechless. She knew it. There was no way he would leave so obediently and easily. But still, she shouldn¡¯t forgive him so easily. She wondered if Wen Xuxu had forgiven Yan Rusheng. She guessed that Su Yue must be still furious with Ming Ansheng right now. If she forgives Lu Yinan so easily, would they look down on her? Chapter 1982. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Two) No! She shouldn¡¯t forgive him so easily. Xuxu and Su Yue would definitely blame her for setting a bad example. She understood them too well. There was no way they would forgive their husbands so quickly. Especially Wen Xuxu, who had snagged such a wonderful opportunity to teach Yan Rusheng a good lesson. She struggled and pushed Lu Yinan away with all her strength. She roared, ¡°Lu Yinan! Get out of my sight now! Do you hear me?¡± She pointed at the door and lashed out at him again. ¡°Out! Get out of my sight this instant. If you don¡¯t, I will bring the children back to Country M for a period of time.¡± She didn¡¯t stop shoving Lu Yinan away as she yelled. Lu Yinan heard her and frowned as he inched closer. ¡°You alluring little hooligan. The kids are supposed to go to school. How could they go to Country M?¡± He gritted his teeth, looking as though he couldn¡¯t wait to swallow her. Perhaps he didn¡¯t understand, but his intense desire was another form of passionate love. Zhou Shuang studied Lu Yinan¡¯s face. He still looked so good-looking despite all these years. His eyelashes were long and thick and his eyes were always so charming. There was a voice inside of her warning him to stop looking at her. But her determination was wavering. She couldn¡¯t but she had to make him leave. Zhou Shuang was afraid that she might succumb to any moment. She threatened him, ¡°Then go out now. Before I forgive you, you¡¯re not allowed to step inside of this room at all. If not, I will bring the children with me.¡± This heartless woman used his children to threaten him! But he was in no position to protest. The children missing school wasn¡¯t as serious as him sleeping alone for the next few months if he infuriated her. Young Master Lu contemplated to himself and decided to cease for the day. He shall begin his advances tomorrow. He cast the blanket aside and picked up his clothes. Then he strode slowly across the room. He looked so desolate and lonely. Zhou Shuang pressed her lips as she hugged her pillow. Her eyes were rippling with bliss. ¡®I believe that this is your true self.¡¯ He loved and doted on her. He would put her priorities and feelings above his. Lu Yinan entered his study, fully dressed as he sat on his swivel chair. He switched on his laptop and then glanced at his phone. He received a WeChat notification. ¡®F*ck. I moved back to my apartment. You guys?¡¯ It was from Ming Ansheng. Lu Yinan felt comforted when he saw the message. He even felt a sense of tiny achievement. At least his wife didn¡¯t chase him out of the house. He replied to Ming Ansheng, ¡®I can¡¯t sleep right now, so I¡¯m playing games in my study. I will go back to my room and sleep later.¡¯ This was a wonderful opportunity for him to brag and boast. ¡®Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t make things difficult for you?¡¯ Ming Ansheng was doubtful when he read it. He followed up with another text. ¡®I heard that Wen Xuxu brought Aunt Mu Li on a trip. Third Yan must be searching for her frantically right now.¡¯ He was trying to derive some consolation from Yan Rusheng¡¯s predicament. Young Master Lu heard that Wen Xuxu had left home and it made his spirits soar. He rejoiced gleefully. ¡®For sure, he deserves it. He is just like a kid who can¡¯t live without Wen Xuxu. He must be going bonkers right now.¡¯ Lu Yinan sent the message. Yan Rusheng replied instead of Ming Ansheng. ¡®Annoying fellows! I was just about to fall asleep and your messages woke me up. Scram, both of you useless guys!¡¯ Chapter 1983. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Three) ¡®Hur. Sleeping? Yan Rusheng, you¡¯re really good at pretending.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re just like a baby. How can you sleep without Wen Xuxu?¡¯ Lu Yinan and Ming Ansheng hurled sarcastic insults. ¡®These two fellows didn¡¯t believe him?¡¯ Young Master Yan frowned and he stretched his hand to switch on the lights. He raised his phone to snap a photo of his darling Wenxin. He kissed her rosy cheeks and snapped a photo. Then he quickly typed a message. ¡®I have my little lover in my arms. Don¡¯t be envious.¡¯ He was gloating. Lu Yinan replied. ¡®It¡¯s not as if we don¡¯t have any daughters. I have two and I will hug one with each arm.¡¯ Yan Rusheng was speechless. Ming Ansheng typed. ¡®Haha. Bragging blindly without checking your facts.¡¯ Young Master Yan was insulted once more, and he exploded. ¡®Get out of my sight if you want to continue talking. Don¡¯t disturb my sleep.¡¯ He was about to cast his phone aside when Ming Ansheng swiftly replied. ¡®You¡¯re really at home. Don¡¯t you know that your Wen Xuxu has left home?¡¯ They were discussing earlier with Jiang Zhuoheng about Wen Xuxu leaving home. So these fellows obviously knew that he was already aware. They had done it on purpose. Young Master Yan thought, ¡®I don¡¯t care if she left. As the saying goes, spare the rod, and you will spoil the child.¡¯ Anyway, there was no way he would be able to leave Wenxin tonight. So he should seize this rare opportunity to brag to the rest of these fellows. Neither Ming Ansheng nor Lu Yinan believed him at all. They replied sarcastically once more. ¡®Will you die if you don¡¯t boast?¡¯ ¡®I bet he has no idea of Xuxu¡¯s whereabouts. And he must be so anxious right now.¡¯ Yan Rusheng¡¯s pulse quickened at their replies and anger leaped inside of him. He flung his phone away. He stared at the ceiling as he blinked his eyes. He wasn¡¯t sleepy anymore. He turned his body and shut his eyes. After a few seconds, he flipped once more and shut his eyes¡­ He repeatedly tossed and turned and he finally cast the blanket away. ¡°Wen Xuxu, you stupid woman! Where did you bring my mom to?¡± ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± His actions woke Wenxin up and she stared at him, looking afraid. ¡®What is wrong with Daddy? Is he going mad?¡¯ It struck Yan Rusheng at that moment that Wenxin was sleeping next to him. He abandoned his frustration and anger and smiled at her. ¡°Wenxin, be a good girl. Go to sleep. Daddy is sleepwalking.¡± He slumped back on the bed and closed his eyes as he pretended to sleep. He wanted to act as if he was really sleepwalking. ¡°Daddy has nightmares. Don¡¯t be scared.¡± The girl thought that he had a bad nightmare and she turned sideways. She patted his chest gently to calm him down. Yan Rusheng felt as if there was a warm current coursing through his body right now. He didn¡¯t open his eyes and murmured, ¡°Darling Wenxin is the best. Daddy is fine. Let¡¯s sleep.¡± He embraced the girl tightly with his arms. And his heart quietened down by her gentleness and love. ¡­ After a long night, Young Master Yan woke up feeling lethargic. He had the thought of looking for Wen Xuxu in the morning. He returned to his room and saw the documents that Xuxu had prepared for an important meeting. Chapter 1984. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Four) Most importantly, Wen Xuxu had painstakingly prepared all of these documents. He couldn¡¯t bear to waste her efforts. So he had to suit up and head to work as usual. The elevators were all packed with employees in the morning. The moment they saw Yan Rusheng, they quietly parted a way for him. ¡°President Su.¡± ¡®Su Yan is here?¡¯ Yan Rusheng spun his head and saw Su Yan approaching him in a pair of smoky gray pants and a pale pink shirt. He looked cheerful and energetic. Everyone greeted him and he nodded politely in response. Su Yan stopped next to Yan Rusheng as they waited for the elevator. They were the only ones who entered the elevator. Yan Rusheng pressed the elevator button and pressed for Su Yan as well. He glanced at Su Yan and casually asked, ¡°When are you getting married?¡± Su Yan shrugged his shoulders coolly. ¡°Haven¡¯t thought of it. But I¡¯m ready.¡± He looked so relaxed and nonchalant¡­ It was indeed Su Yan¡¯s trademark style. Yan Rusheng quipped, ¡°I thought you wanted to have a wedding during your travels? Where do you intend to go?¡± Su Yan shook his head and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. He frowned and pressed on. ¡°Then do you know where your third sister-in-law is right now?¡± Finally, he had stopped beating around the bush. Su Yan¡¯s intense black eyes curled like crescents. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Nonetheless, he denied it again. ¡°No idea.¡± He definitely knew. Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth. ¡°Su Yan. Do you know the consequences of lying to me?¡± Young Master Su continued bravely. ¡°No idea.¡± The elevator reached his office. He bowed at Yan Rusheng curtly. ¡°President Yan, I¡¯m off.¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. Su Yan left and the elevator doors closed. Suddenly, a thunderous slam was heard inside the elevator. He turned around and stared at the elevator. Wasn¡¯t he afraid of being trapped inside the elevator? He shook his head exasperatedly, and then his phone vibrated. He took it out and glanced at the screen. It was Xuxu. His lips curled up into an ambiguous grin. ¡°Su Yan, don¡¯t forget about the morning meeting.¡± ¡®Can¡¯t this woman be more firm or heartless?¡¯ She had already left home, and yet here she was, still worrying about work! Su Yan shook his head in amusement. ¡°Alright got it. Have you landed?¡± Wen Xuxu stood at the exit as she gazed into the distance. She was on the lookout for a taxi. ¡°I¡¯m leaving the airport now.¡± Su Yan chuckled and said, ¡°Have a good trip.¡± ¡°Okay, I need to go. The taxi is here.¡± Wen Xuxu stretched her hand to flag a taxi. She sternly said, ¡°Remind him to work hard.¡± Su Yan was speechless. ¡­ ¡°Xuxu, there is a really handsome guy there.¡± Madam Mu Li came back after taking a walk. She smiled sweetly at Wen Xuxu as she pointed to their right. There was a man standing next to a black Maserati. She was already a grandmother, and yet she was still gushing over handsome guys. Xuxu was a little speechless but intrigued at the same time. Who was this guy who was able to excite her? ¡°More good-looking than your son?¡± Mu Li replied, ¡°On par.¡± The young and handsome man seemed quiet and mature. ¡°Miss, do you still want to get in?¡± Both of them had forgotten all about the taxi, and the driver was getting impatient. Chapter 1985. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Five) Mu Li shook her head without hesitation. ¡°No, thank you.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± The taxi driver grumbled before speeding off. Xuxu watched as the taxi she had tried to hail for some time sped away. She sulked as she glanced at Madam Mu Li. ¡°Mother, why did you reject the taxi driver?¡± Mu Li knitted her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m a legendary goddess. How can I take a taxi?¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ She was truly Yan Rusheng¡¯s birth mother, without a doubt. Both of them were equally haughty and pampered, without giving a care about anybody at all. She softly muttered, ¡°But we don¡¯t have a chauffeur. How do we leave?¡± Mu Li snorted softly and replied, ¡°We should hire a car and a chauffeur for the next few days.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Wen Xuxu frowned, looking thoughtful. She suddenly beamed and said, ¡°Okay.¡± She took out her phone. ¡­ ¡°Young Master, the Chairman sent me to fetch you.¡± A dashing and gorgeous man in a spiffy suit seemed to have walked out from a painting. He was perfect from top to toe. He pointed at the exit where there was a young and middle-aged woman with their suitcases. He instructed the chauffeur, ¡°Invite the two ladies over there.¡± The chauffeur¡¯s eyes darted along in that direction and he stared at them. After a moment, he bowed politely. ¡°Yes.¡± The chauffeur turned around and walked away. The man looked stern and the expression in his eyes was cold. He turned around and got in the car. His series of actions displayed how elegant and graceful he was. Xuxu was looking at her phone when a middle-aged man came marching towards them. He politely spoke, ¡°Ladies, my young master invites you to ride with us.¡± ¡°Your young master?¡± Wen Xuxu and Mu Li glanced at each other, looking perplexed and wary. After all, she had often been featured in magazines and on television. And her identity wasn¡¯t a secret. She couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility that someone had ulterior motives for getting close to them. ¡°My young master is inside the car.¡± The middle-aged man pointed at the black Maserati. ¡°Oh, that handsome guy!¡± Mu Li widened her eyes in surprise as she shot the middle-aged man a hostile look. ¡°Who is he? Why should we meet your young master?¡± The middle-aged man smiled. ¡°My young master is Ji Chicheng.¡± Wen Xuxu was astonished when she heard his name. ¡°The Ji family? The most influential aristocratic family in Shanghai?¡± ¡°Spot on.¡± The middle-aged man nodded. Wen Xuxu glanced at him looking confused. ¡°But I don¡¯t know him.¡± She had heard of the Ji family in Shanghai. They owned a beautiful island next to the coastal county where their resort was. But it was simply left deserted for decades. They were known to be exceedingly wealthy and extravagant spenders. There was once Yan Rusheng couldn¡¯t take it lying down, and he suggested shutting down Xuxurusheng resort. He wanted to show the Ji family that they would do it too. But Xuxu gave him a good lecture. The middle-aged politely replied, ¡°But my young master seems to know both of you.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Xuxu pursed her lips as she stole a glance at the Maserati. She couldn¡¯t just trust this stranger entirely. After all, they were foreigners in this city. Chapter 1986. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Six) She smiled politely at the middle-aged man. ¡°So sorry, but our car is arriving soon. We hope to meet your young master some other time.¡± And at that moment, their car arrived. Wen Xuxu instructed the chauffeur to put their suitcases into the car trunk. The middle-aged man knew that she was firm, and he had to leave. His young master grunted in response after his chauffeur informed him. He waved his hands and indicated him to drive off. ¡­ Mu Li and Xuxu got in the car and left before the black Maserati. Mu Li turned to glance at it before inching nearer to Xuxu¡¯s ear. ¡°Xuxu, do you know the young master from that aristocratic family?¡± Xuxu asked her instead, ¡°Mother, perhaps the man knows you instead.¡± Mu Li rolled her eyes at Xuxu. ¡°Impossible. I¡¯m already so old, and he is such a young and handsome guy. How could we possibly know each other?¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ Earlier on, she was still describing herself as a ¡®goddess¡¯. The next minute, she changed her tune. She was really fickle-minded. Xuxu shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know him, why would he ask to meet us?¡± Mu Li frowned as she stared at Wen Xuxu in a suspecting way. ¡°How would I know?¡± Wen Xuxu replied as she frowned at Mu Li. ¡°Mother, are you implying that I¡¯m cheating with another man behind your son¡¯s back?¡± Mu Li rolled her eyes at her again. ¡°My son is so handsome and rich. Besides, you¡¯re not a fool.¡± Wen Xuxu was speechless¡­ So she meant that if her son wasn¡¯t handsome and rich, she would cheat on him? She raised her chin smugly. ¡°Hmph. If your son wasn¡¯t rich and handsome, I wouldn¡¯t even have married him.¡± ¡°Since he is my son, how would it be possible that he isn¡¯t handsome?¡± Madam Mu Li flicked her hair dramatically as she replied. She looked so haughty and snobbish. Wen Xuxu was a little worried and she warned her, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m telling you. Don¡¯t you dare tell your son about our whereabouts. If not, I¡¯m leaving you behind.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Madam Mu Li shook her head and vowed. ¡°That wretched son of mine went out to flirt. I won¡¯t forgive him as well.¡± Tch. This old lady always breaks her promises. Xuxu sternly warned, ¡°If your son finds us here, you will be the culprit.¡± ¡°B*llshit!¡± Madam Mu Li swore and cursed. Wen Xuxu frowned and threw her a disdainful look. ¡°Mother, you are a university professor. How could you be so vulgar?¡± Mu Li realized her improper behavior and she breathed, ¡°You told both Su Yan and Su Yue, and even Ah Heng. Any one of them could be the suspect too.¡± ¡­ They chatted all the way until they reached the hotel. In the afternoon. Young Master Yan had hit the headlines of most entertainment sites. ¡®According to sources, Flourish & Prosper¡¯s President went to the nightclub to look for ladies. Young Madam Yan had left overnight to Shanghai for a vacation¡­¡¯ Photos of Wen Xuxu and Mu Li on the way to the airport were attached. The online sites included information about President Yan, Young Master Ming, Young Master Lu, and Young Master Jiang as well. Comments such as ¡®How I envy those ladies.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m so envious.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m jealous.¡¯ ¡­ Chapter 1987. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Seven) Yan Rusheng was half-furious and half-elated when he saw those articles. He finally knew Xuxu¡¯s whereabouts, yet those articles cast him in a bad light. When did he look for ladies? He vowed to make these reporters and tabloids pay someday. Young Master Yan¡¯s phone interrupted the silent rage swirling inside of him. He retracted his thoughts and glanced at his phone. It was from Lu Yinan. He must have called because of those articles. Yan Rusheng answered the call. ¡°Third Yan, who is that? Who exposed us?¡± And he was right about Lu Yinan¡¯s call. His tone sounded as if Lu Yinan was more outraged than him. He must have suffered his wife¡¯s wrath. Young Master Yan who was frustrated as well snapped impatiently. ¡°How would I know? Speak your piece and skip the nonsense.¡± ¡°I know. You must be rushing to Shanghai to look for Wen Xuxu.¡± Lu Yinan scoffed coldly at him. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Rusheng sneered haughtily as he replied, ¡°She is just a woman. I would never leave work because of her.¡± He hung up without waiting for Lu Yinan¡¯s response. He scrolled for Xuxu¡¯s number and dialed it. Her phone was still switched off and he heard the automated mailbox reply. He frowned and decided to send her a message. ¡°Wife, it¡¯s merely a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯t ask for those ladies. Jiang Zhuoheng set me up.¡± That fellow really set a trap for him. He needed to vent his anger. Yan Rusheng dialed Mu Li¡¯s number after sending the message. To his surprise, her phone was switched on. He straightened his back excitedly when it began to ring. ¡­ ¡°Mother, is that your phone ringing?¡± Wen Xuxu was in the bathroom when she heard Mu Li¡¯s phone. She interrogated her warily. Mu Li replied, ¡°It¡¯s your father. I just need to inform him that we¡¯re safe.¡± Then her phone stopped ringing. Wen Xuxu was still suspicious. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not Yan Rusheng?¡± ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± Mu Li answered firmly without any hesitation or guilt. Wen Xuxu cast away her suspicions and continued to undress. Mu Li heaved a sigh of relief when she heard the sounds of water. She scurried to the balcony and returned Yan Rusheng¡¯s call. ¡°Mother, where is Xuxu?¡± Young Master Yan only asked about his wife the minute she picked up. Mu Li was upset and jealous. ¡°She is having tea with a rich young master.¡± Young Master Yan became agitated when he heard it. ¡°What? Who?¡± Mu Li succeeded and her eyes gleamed with a devilish spark. ¡°I think his surname is Ji. He is from the wealthiest family in Shanghai.¡± ¡®Hmph! Serves you right for thinking only about your wife!¡¯ Poor Young Master Ji was targeted for no reason. ¡°The Ji family.¡± Yan Rusheng gnashed his teeth in frustration. ¡°When did they get to know each other?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± Mu Li bit back a laugh and maintained an aloof tone. ¡°I need to hang up soon. If Xuxu knew that I answered your call, I will be in trouble.¡± Yan Rusheng replied, ¡°Mother, our neighbor next door, Aunt Liang came to look for your husband.¡± Chapter 1988. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Eight) Mu Li leaped to her feet and cried, ¡°Why is that vixen looking for your father?!¡± Yan Rusheng drawled, ¡°Sounds like they are organizing a charity function. So she came to invite him.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Professor Mu Li got really worked up and she swore. ¡°Vixen! She is trying to seduce your father. Tell him that I¡¯m not coming home if he agrees to attend the charity function with her.¡± She really sounded serious and asked Yan Rusheng to convey her message. ¡°Tell Xuxu I miss her.¡± They were making a deal. Madam Mu Li felt a pang of pain in her heart. He was her son, and yet, here he was cutting a deal with him. ¡°Remember this. You¡¯re not helping me to keep an eye on my husband. You¡¯re keeping an eye on your father. If that vixen seduces him, then she will be your stepmother. A happy family will be destroyed.¡± Yan Rusheng chuckled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m already a grown-up, and these won¡¯t be able to affect me at all. So a happy and complete family wouldn¡¯t be that important.¡± So what he was trying to say was that it wouldn¡¯t affect him at all. Madam Mu Li almost spat out blood. Although she knew that he didn¡¯t really mean it, he had deliberately said all these to infuriate his own mother. How could a son do that to his mother? ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You¡¯re lying to me. She just went back to Country Y two days ago to look for her daughter. How could she be back so soon?¡± Mu Li¡¯s mind suddenly became clear in an instant. That vixen had always dressed so sexily. She told them that she was going to stay with her daughter for some time, and she left two days ago. After she left, she and her close friends really felt like celebrating with champagne and fireworks. Mu Li felt as if a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She immediately abandoned the thought of getting an air ticket to fly back. Young Master Yan¡¯s plan had failed and he had to coax her. ¡°Mother, get Xuxu to call me and help me explain to her as well. I didn¡¯t do anything to let her down. I didn¡¯t even touch their hands!¡± ¡°B*llshit!¡± Mu Li yelled, ¡°Wretched son! How dare you lie to me! You were hugging a woman in Ah Heng¡¯s video. What do you mean by you didn¡¯t even touch her hand?¡± It was that damned Ming Ansheng¡¯s fault. If he didn¡¯t get entangled with those women, why would he render his help? And that fellow, Jiang Zhuoheng. He was a scheming and cunning guy. He continued to plead sweetly, ¡°Jiang Zhuoheng¡¯s motive was to sow discord between Xuxu and me. Are you taking his side?¡± Mu Li smirked coldly. ¡°Ha! Don¡¯t use this on me. I¡¯m not that dumb.¡± She had almost fallen for his trap earlier on. This son of hers was way too sly. How could she trust him? Without waiting for him to speak, she cut across, ¡°Take care of my darlings at home. And remember to accompany your father for a checkup on Monday.¡± Yan Rusheng said, ¡°I will go with your husband. Have fun with Xuxu and send me some photos.¡± ¡°You really are attached to Xuxu!¡± Mu Li sneered coldly and was about to hang up the call. She yelled, ¡°Useless fellow!¡± His wife had been missing for less than 24 hours. And he was already panicking. Chapter 1989. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Nine) She hung up the phone without further ado. ¡°Useless son.¡± Mu Li muttered under her breath as she eyed the phone with contempt. ¡°Mother, where is the trust between us?¡± Wen Xuxu interrogated her coldly and sharply. Mu Li froze on the spot. Crap, she was caught! She was too engrossed in the conversation, and it had slipped her mind that she was supposed to keep this call a secret. She had just sworn that she wouldn¡¯t contact Third Yan. The next second, she had already called him. Was their relationship so fragile? Wen Xuxu was enraged when she saw how nervous Mu Li was. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m going out alone later. You have fun by yourself.¡± She rubbed her hair as she spoke. ¡°Xuxu, I really didn¡¯t call him.¡± Mu Li spluttered as she explained, ¡°He¡­¡± Xuxu interjected, ¡°Trying to explain means you are hiding something. You can¡¯t be trusted at all. How could our bond be so fragile?¡± Madam Mu Li was rendered speechless¡­ Was she really going to travel alone in this unfamiliar city? Her son had landed her in deep trouble. Xuxu changed into a new outfit and informed Mu Li coldly. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m heading out. Please get another chauffeur and enjoy yourself.¡± She smiled and waved at her before walking to the door. ¡°Oh yeah.¡± Suddenly, a thought struck her. She turned around and beamed at Mu Li. ¡°There is a public line dance near the beach organized for the elderly. You can go there if you are bored.¡± Line dance for the elderly? This lass asked her to join those old ladies! Mu Li bellowed at Xuxu when comprehension dawned. ¡°Wretched lass! Come back now!¡± She wasn¡¯t an old lady. She wasn¡¯t an old lady¡­ She was a goddess. A goddess, a goddess! She had to recite it thrice to herself. Xuxu bit back a laugh as she strode towards the elevator. She knew that Madam Mu Li couldn¡¯t take it when she was being labeled as an elderly. She had never once admitted that she was old. In reality, she really looked like Xuxu¡¯s sister. She really maintained herself well and those who didn¡¯t know her, couldn¡¯t really tell her age at all. She really was youthful-looking. ¡­ ¡°He seems like a big shot.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know him? The young master of the Ji family. The wealthiest aristocratic family in Shanghai.¡± Wen Xuxu got down and entered the hotel lobby. She saw some staff huddled together as they glanced in the direction of the reception area. She glanced at the reception area and saw a gorgeous and elegant-looking man sitting on the couch. He looked so dignified, just sitting there quietly. That man turned and glanced at Xuxu seconds later. There was a piercing gleam radiating from his eyes, and it made him sparkle. Wen Xuxu recognized him instantly. He was that man in the black Maserati this afternoon. The young master from the Ji family. She smiled politely at him in return. The man gave a curt nod and rose gracefully. He strode towards her, looking unhurried. Wen Xuxu stepped forward. ¡°Young Master Ji.¡± She had been wary of the man¡¯s mysterious identity this afternoon. So she checked his background and photos earlier on. And he looked exactly the same. He nodded politely once more as he spoke. ¡°Young Madam Yan, it¡¯s such an honor.¡± Chapter 1990. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Ten) Xuxu smiled back at him. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you too.¡± ¡­ What happened? Mu Li hastily changed her clothes and hurried down after Xuxu. She saw her standing together with a vaguely familiar-looking man. They seemed to have a pleasant conversation. She retraced her steps and eyed them with hostility. Throwing caution to the wind, she whipped out her phone without hesitation. She snapped photos of Wen Xuxu and that Young Master Ji with determination. And she sent them to Yan Rusheng right away. She glanced at Wen Xuxu and realized that they had just sat down once more. She snapped away once again. Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder and she got a shock. A pleasant and sweet voice cut across before she could respond. ¡°Aunt, why are you taking photos of my uncle?¡± Mu Li spun around and a young girl of about 20 years of age met her eyes. She had clear and beautiful eyes and she was curiously gawking at her. Mu Li sized up the girl before pointing at the man. ¡°That man is your uncle?¡± The girl nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That woman is my daughter-in-law.¡± Mu Li pointed at Wen Xuxu as she explained. She just wanted to clarify that she wasn¡¯t a weird stalker. ¡°Oh.¡± The girl nodded as she glanced at the direction. Her eyes darted from Wen Xuxu to Young Master Ji. A smile flitted across the corners of her mouth. ¡°Does your uncle have a girlfriend?¡± Mu Li asked in a whisper. Although she had absolute trust in Xuxu, the man¡¯s motives were dubious. He had already invited them at the airport, and now he came looking for Xuxu at the hotel. He must have ulterior motives. ¡°Nope.¡± The girl shook her head as her eyes sparkled playfully. Mu Li frowned. ¡°He is so good-looking. Why doesn¡¯t he have a girlfriend?¡± The girl replied, ¡°He said his expectations are too high. He doesn¡¯t like ordinary women.¡± ¡®He doesn¡¯t like ordinary women?¡¯ Xuxu wasn¡¯t an ordinary woman. Could he¡­ Mu Li cast him a calculating look before she glanced at the girl. ¡°What type of woman does he fancy?¡± ¡°Aunt, are you suspecting that your daughter-in-law is seeing my uncle?¡± The girl grinned as she raised her eyebrows. ¡°Tch.¡± Mu Li snorted as she raised her chin proudly. ¡°Of course not. My son is much better looking than your uncle. He is rich too.¡± There were three iconic and simple words to describe her son. The girl seemed intrigued as she quipped, ¡°Wow. More good-looking than my uncle?¡± Mu Li nodded smugly. ¡°Certainly.¡± The girl grinned quietly. She strode over in the direction of the reception area and she stared at Young Master Ji. ¡°Uncle, this lady says her son is more handsome.¡± She pointed at Madam Mu Li, who trailed behind her. Wen Xuxu and Young Master Ji turned their heads at the same time. Wen Xuxu furrowed her eyebrows when she saw Mu Li. She thought to herself, ¡®When did this old lady¡­¡¯ The girl had settled herself next to Young Master Ji. She seemed to address him as uncle¡­ ¡°Hello. I¡¯m his niece.¡± Wen Xuxu surveyed her quietly. The girl suddenly stretched her hand towards Xuxu as she introduced herself. ¡°Hello.¡± Wen Xuxu extended her hand and shook her hand. She introduced herself as his niece. What a unique introduction. Suddenly, Mu Li¡¯s phone rang and disrupted their conversation and diverted Xuxu¡¯s attention. Mu Li glanced at the screen before casting a furtive glance at Xuxu. Xuxu threw Mu Li a sharp look as she knew who the caller was. Chapter 1992. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Twelve) ¡°Get lost!¡± Young Master Lu felt insulted and he hung up. Then he slammed his phone on his desk and tugged at his tie. He felt warm. Really warm! Why was he feeling so hot? He removed his spectacles and rubbed his temples. ¡°Xiaowu!¡± yelled Young Master Lu. A nurse came rushing in and greeted him politely. ¡°Doctor Lu.¡± ¡°Why is it so hot? Is the air-conditioning working?¡± Lu Yinan frowned as he asked out of frustration. ¡°Oh¡­¡± The nurse was stumped for words and she didn¡¯t know how to reply. The temperature was just right and the weather was cold. ¡®What is wrong with Doctor Lu? He seems to be perspiring. Is he having a fever?¡¯ The nurse was about to ask if he was sick when Lu Yinan glared at her coldly. ¡°Why are you still standing there? Turn it on.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± She didn¡¯t dare to dawdle any longer and nodded firmly. She turned on her heel and ran out. Because of Young Master Lu¡¯s demands, the staff had to turn on the central air-conditioning. What else could they do, but accede to his demands? He was after all the biggest shareholder of the hospital. He could afford to waste electricity. Young Master Lu felt much better after a while. He sat down on the swivel chair and picked up his phone to dial Ming Ansheng¡¯s number. Ming Ansheng answered after a few rings. ¡°Lend me money,¡± said Lu Yinan. Young Master Ming asked, ¡°How much.¡± Lu Yinan contemplated briefly before replying, ¡°50 thousand yuan.¡± Yan Rusheng had scorned him earlier, so he decided to borrow more. It should be enough to tide him for the next few days. Zhou Shuang¡¯s anger should have dissipated by then. ¡°50 thousand yuan? Young Master Lu wants to borrow 50 thousand yuan? You must be a swindler. Did you steal Lu Yinan¡¯s phone?¡± Ming Ansheng¡¯s doubts left Young Master Lu speechless. He pressed his palm against his forehead and took a deep breath. Suppressing his annoyance and impatience, he explained, ¡°It¡¯s me, not a swindler. Can¡¯t you recognize my voice?¡± They were fooling around with him! ¡°Then why are you borrowing 50 thousand yuan? Did you go bankrupt?¡± Young Master Ming still had his doubts. Young Master Lu felt that his head was about to split at any moment. He massaged his temples as he sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Zhou Shuang didn¡¯t cut off my finances. Someone stole my wallet.¡± He had barely finished his sentence when the call ended. ¡°Hello¡­ hello!¡± After he realized that Ming Ansheng had indeed hung up, he slammed his phone on the desk. ¡°F*ck!¡± Did they ever treat him as a friend? Young Master Lu felt that all hope was lost. Friendships were so fragile. He slumped back on his swivel chair to rest when his phone rang. He straightened his back and picked up his phone. His eyes immediately lit up when he saw the caller. ¡°Shuang!¡± He sounded so sweet and gentle. Zhou Shuang questioned him sharply. ¡°I heard that you went around to borrow money?¡± Zhou Shuang rattled on without stopping. ¡°The hospital called to say that you got them to turn on the air-cons?¡± Damn it, who was this person who betrayed him? Young Master Lu felt frustrated as he spluttered. ¡°I¡­¡± He was about to speak when Zhou Shuang yelled across the phone. ¡°It¡¯s not even hot today! Why did you waste electricity? Are you wasting money!¡± Young Master Lu pouted and muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll get them to switch it off.¡± Chapter 1991. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Eleven) Mu Li understood Xuxu¡¯s expression, and she gave her a reassuring one back. She answered the call right on the spot. ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± She was fierce and stern to show that she was on Xuxu¡¯s side. Xuxu curled her lips in satisfaction as she glanced at Madam Mu Li. She was waiting to see how she would reply to her son. She couldn¡¯t hear what Yan Rusheng said. Mu Li glanced askew at Young Master Ji before replying, ¡°What are you talking about. He is taller, richer, and more good-looking than you.¡± She scanned the pretty girl next to Young Master Ji. ¡°Most importantly, he has a pretty niece.¡± ¡°Alas. It¡¯s a pity both you and Su Yan are already attached. I could have introduced her to both of you.¡± Xuxu frowned and her face darkened. Young Master Ji¡¯s face had already darkened as he glared at Mu Li. ¡®This aunt isn¡¯t really too smart, isn¡¯t she?¡¯ ¡®Has she ever met an uncle who was so intimate with his niece?¡¯ ¡°If there is nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Are you coming to look for us?¡± Madam Mu Li was totally engrossed in the conversation with her son. ¡°Don¡¯t! We might go to another place tomorrow. Your priority should be on work and not love and relationships. Don¡¯t be so useless.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hanging up. The data roaming is expensive.¡± Mu Li abruptly ended the call within a minute without any hesitation. Xuxu was dumbfounded. This lady had riches that would last her for her next few lifetimes. And yet she was complaining about how expensive her phone bill would be. ¡­ The capital city. Young Master Yan¡¯s mouth hung open as the call ended. He glanced at the screen and it had turned black. He was annoyed and upset. He was about to slam his phone when it rang again. He thought that it was Mu Li, so he glanced at it eagerly. He was disappointed to see that it was Lu Yinan. Young Master Yan picked up the call as he hissed, ¡°If there isn¡¯t a life and death matter, do not talk to me.¡± ¡°Lend me money.¡± Young Master Lu spoke right away and Yan Rusheng was puzzled. ¡°How much? For what? Are you planning to buy an entire building or you have to support a train of mistresses?¡± Why would Lu Yinan need to borrow money? ¡°Scram!¡± Young Master Lu snarled in response. He paused and said, ¡°20 thousand yuan.¡± The corners of Yan Rusheng¡¯s mouth twitched and he made a shrewd guess. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Zhou Shuang stopped all your cards and finances?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like this¡­¡± Yan Rusheng cut across as Lu Yinan stammered. ¡°Stop making excuses. Look at how worthless you are. You will hide under a woman¡¯s wings forever.¡± He sounded as though he wasn¡¯t upset by how his wife had refused to talk to him. Talk is indeed cheap. ¡°Stop your nonsense and send me the money now.¡± Young Master Lu seemed to be enraged because of embarrassment. Yan Rusheng smirked. ¡°What is the use? Didn¡¯t Zhou Shuang confiscate all your cards? You should try seeking help from those ladies instead. You should be attractive enough to get the amount you need.¡± Chapter 1993. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Thirteen) After he ended the call, Young Master Lu got the staff to turn the aircon off. He gritted his teeth and opened WeChat. He opened the chat group he had with Ming Ansheng and Yan Rusheng. ¡®Just you wait, you¡¯ll come begging me one day.¡¯ Since when did he go around borrowing money? He only borrowed from the two of them! These bad friends betrayed him whenever it came to women. They didn¡¯t lend him money, and furthermore, they made things worse. Once he sent the message, someone replied quickly. ¡®Think about how you¡¯re going to survive the next few days first.¡¯ It was from Ming Ansheng. Young Master Lu was filled with resentment. He flung his phone onto the table. He rested his head on his palm. He felt indignant. He picked up his phone and dialed Zhou Shuang¡¯s number. This hooligan was becoming more arrogant. She cut off his finances and now he didn¡¯t even have money to top-up the petrol in his car. She had confiscated his fuel card. He couldn¡¯t take it any longer¡ªand he refused to! After he dialed the number, he first heard a familiar ringback tone, followed by Zhou Shuang¡¯s voice. ¡°What?¡± She sounded impatient and unhappy. ¡°What do you want to eat for dinner? I¡¯ll go buy the ingredients and prepare it for you.¡± He was about to say something arrogant, but he decided against it. Young Master Lu became frustrated. He was determined to show her his sense of authority in his next sentence. ¡°Do you have money?¡± Zhou Shuang smirked. Lu Yinan whipped out his wallet. He opened it and smiled as he replied, ¡°I have some spare cash. It¡¯s enough to buy whatever you want to eat.¡± Young Master Lu, what happened to being arrogant? Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°I¡¯m not eating. Use the money to buy dog food for yourself.¡± Dog food? Young Master Lu blinked and asked in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Why would he need dog food? Zhou Shuang replied, ¡°I sent your things to your previous apartment. On account of our relationship, I even bought you a dog as a companion. Remember to buy some dog food for it.¡± When he heard it, Young Master Lu almost spat blood. He asked pitifully, ¡°Shuang, how could you do this to me?¡± ¡°When you were enjoying yourself at the nightclub, did you think about how I would feel when you did that to me?¡± Zhou Shuang bellowed, anger rising. Lu Yinan moved the phone away from his ear. He sincerely said, ¡°I really didn¡¯t do anything to betray you. Ming Ansheng and Third Yan dragged me into this.¡± Friends were meant to be shields when the need arose. ¡°Go and stay in your apartment. If you can make the dog gain five kilograms within a week, I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± Zhou Shuang finally relented and gave her terms for forgiveness. But, these terms¡­ Make the dog gain five kilograms within a week? Lu Yinan frowned. Was his fate in the hands of a dog now? ¡°What dog?¡± Although his chances were slim, Young Master Lu still wanted to grasp this opportunity. When he was of a young age, his teachers always taught him to seize every opportunity. ¡°A pure white Pomeranian. It¡¯s very cute. You¡¯ll love it for sure.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless. He could imagine what Zhou Shuang¡¯s expression was at this moment. She must be grinning smugly, thinking about how smart she was. Indeed, he had to give it to her for being able to come up with such a challenge. Make such a small dog gain five kilograms within a week? Wasn¡¯t this woman trying to make things difficult for him? Chapter 1994. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Fourteen) And in reality, she was making things difficult for him. But what could he do? One false step brings everlasting grief! He swore to never step into The First Wealth ever again. If he did, he would chop off his legs. He didn¡¯t want to continue talking to her. He said a few words before ending the call. He opened the drawer and retrieved a box of cigarettes, which had been opened for a long time. He took a cigarette and lighted it. He took a puff and stopped. He let the cigarette burn as he frowned. He was thinking of ways to make the Pomeranian gain five kilograms. Inject it with growth hormones? He was a doctor. He couldn¡¯t be so cruel to such a cute dog. He thought about it and shook his head. He pulled the chair closer towards the table and held his computer mouse. He logged into his QQ account that he hadn¡¯t used in a long time. He scrolled for a long time before finding the person he was looking for. ¡®Old Beast, are you there? I need your professional advice. It¡¯s urgent. I¡¯ll be waiting here for your reply.¡¯ It showed that the person he was messaging was online. But Young Master Lu wasn¡¯t sure if he would reply immediately after he saw his message, so he followed up with another message. As he waited anxiously, he took a deep puff of the cigarette. White smoke billowed from his mouth and he drowned in his sorrows. He didn¡¯t want to move into the apartment alone. And he didn¡¯t want to leave the house without money to even top-up his car petrol. After a while, Old Beast replied, ¡®Why is a doctor like you asking for my¡ªa veterinarian¡¯s¡ªprofessional advice? You¡¯ve become a veterinarian yourself?¡¯ Lu Yinan ignored his sarcasm. He asked directly, ¡®How do I make a Pomeranian gain five kilograms in seven days?¡¯ Old Beast replied, ¡®Is your brain fried?¡¯ He knew it! It was simply an impossible task. Darned Hooligan, how could she come up with such a ridiculous challenge? Old Beast was a world-renowned veterinarian. If he didn¡¯t have a clue, then it must be impossible. Lu Yinan vented in frustration, ¡®Aish. It¡¯s a long story. I just need to know how to make a Pomeranian gain five kilograms in a week.¡¯ Old Beast replied, ¡®Unless you bring it for surgery, it¡¯s an impossible task.¡¯ Before Young Master Lu could reply, he immediately added, ¡®But why do you want to make a Pomeranian gain five kilograms in a week? Are you planning a big project? Are you doing experiments? Are you doing chemical research?¡¯ Lu Yinan was speechless. This was some high-level sarcasm! Young Master Lu almost spat blood. He closed the chat with Old Beast and placed the cigarette into his mouth. F*ck. He had to find a way to make the Pomeranian gain five kilograms in a week. ¡­ He found the keys to the apartment in his office desk drawer. When he returned to the apartment, he opened the door to see a familiar figure. He smiled in comfort. ¡°Aunt Wu.¡± It was their helper back at the Lu mansion. She took care of him since he was of a young age. He entered happily and changed out of his shoes. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Aunt Wu smiled benevolently at him. Lu Yinan asked in excitement, ¡°Aunt Wu, did Zhou Shuang ask you to come here to take care of me?¡± He knew it! That hooligan couldn¡¯t bear to let him suffer alone outside. Aunt Wu smiled and shook her head. ¡°No. Madam stewed some bones and sent me here to feed Little Sissy.¡± Young Master Lu¡¯s smile instantly disappeared. He frowned. ¡°Little Sissy?¡± Who could it be? ¡°That¡¯s him! Isn¡¯t he cute?¡± Aunt Wu pointed at a white dog sitting beside the coffee table. Lu Yinan was speechless. Chapter 1995. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Fifteen) He felt a million stabs in his heart. He felt envious as he watched the dog gnaw on the bones with relish. He frowned and asked her, ¡°Madam stewed those bones herself?¡± ¡°Yes. She even added extra flavor.¡± Aunt Wu nodded as she watched the dog. She praised, ¡°Madam is so kind. She¡¯s nice to the helpers at home and she¡¯s even so loving towards animals. She even especially reminded me to put Little Sissy¡¯s food for the next few days in the fridge.¡± Then she recalled something. She turned to Lu Yinan and said, ¡°Young Master, Madam told me to inform you to microwave the dog food kept in the fridge before you feed it to Little Sissy.¡± Lu Yinan was speechless. He was already being kind if he didn¡¯t kill that dog. She still wanted him to microwave his food?! Aunt Wu continued telling him things he should take note of, but he didn¡¯t jot down a single one. He only remembered that Little Sissy was a million times better off than him¡ªhis wife personally stewed pork ribs for it! And there was even dog food for it in the fridge. Madam was kind to the helpers at home and even a dog, but she was especially mean to him. Young Master Lu felt incredibly hurt. He angrily walked into the kitchen and he felt empty as he stared at the clean and tidy kitchen counter. He glanced around the open concept kitchen. Because it had been inhabited for a long time, he didn¡¯t even have salt or oil. He walked to the fridge and opened it. There were many Tupperware in the fridge, and they were stacked neatly. He took one and uncovered the lid. A delicious aroma assaulted his nose. It was pork ribs stewed with corn. He picked up a cob of corn and studied it. Without thinking, he began gnawing on it. Mm. It didn¡¯t taste too bad. The corn was sweet and Young Master Lu ate it with relish. It completely slipped his mind that he was eating dog food. Because he was anxious about how to make the Pomeranian gain five kilograms in a week, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to eat dinner and now, he was starving. After some time, the container was empty. He leaned against the fridge and rubbed his tummy. He burped in satisfaction and placed the container down before walking out. The cute Pomeranian was still lying obediently beside the coffee table. Lu Yinan walked over and frowned at it. He looked at it as though it was his love rival. ¡°I hope that you have the sense to go back to where you came from.¡± The Pomeranian ignored him. It lay there, unmoving. Hey! What an arrogant dog. He was its owner, for goodness sake! Young Master Lu gritted his teeth and rubbed the Pomeranian¡¯s body. ¡°Woof, woof, woof¡­¡± The Pomeranian suddenly jumped and started barking. Lu Yinan reeled in shock from its sudden reaction. He retreated a few steps. ¡°You darned dog. I am your master. How dare you bark at me? Get out now.¡± He pointed at the Pomeranian and scolded. Then he turned around and walked towards the main door in frustration. When he passed the shoe cabinet, he picked up the car keys and left the house. ¡­ After Zhou Shuang finished telling stories to Yanyan and Jiaojiao, she left the room and bumped into Lu Yinan, who had just come upstairs. His expression was cold and he had a domineering air about him. Zhou Shuang stopped in her tracks. She warily watched him walk over. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I have something to say to you. Come here.¡± Lu Yinan grabbed her wrist and dragged her into their room. Zhou Shuang yelled, ¡°Lu Yinan, what are you doing?¡± Lu Yinan didn¡¯t reply her. He closed the door and locked it. Then he pinned Zhou Shuang against the wall. ¡°I¡¯m going to f*ck you until you beg me to stop.¡± Then he lowered his head and kissed her ferociously on the lips. He masterfully slipped one hand into her clothes and invaded her territory. Zhou Shuang¡¯s eyes widened and she pressed her palms against his chest. But she couldn¡¯t push him away. He slowly lifted her skirt. Within the shortest time possible, he penetrated her in the simplest and roughest way possible. Once wasn¡¯t enough. Twice wasn¡¯t either. He changed positions again and again. He moved them around the room as well. After a long torture, Zhou Shuang finally begged for mercy. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m in the wrong. Stop.¡± Though she asked him to stop, she was still hugging Lu Yinan tightly. Under the warm lighting, Young Master Lu smirked devilishly, feeling incredibly smug. Indeed, the bed was the best place to work things out after a fight. The past few hours of exercise were much more effective than sweet-talking or kneeling down to beg for forgiveness. He was even able to satisfy his sexual desires for the past few days. Chapter 1996. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Sixteen) Three days later. Young Master Yan had buried himself in a mountain of work when the office door burst open. The person didn¡¯t knock and simply barged in. He frowned, looking annoyed. When he raised his head, he looked dumbstruck. ¡°Wen Xuxu, why are you suddenly back?¡± After a few seconds, he stood up with a bright smile. Wen Xuxu lifted her eyebrows. ¡°Why? Do you have a woman hiding in the office?¡± Her eyes wandered around the office as she scrutinized every corner. She seemed alert and sharp. Yan Rusheng shook his head. ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, anyway. You can do whatever you want. I came back to work.¡± Xuxu raised her chin like a proud queen. She strode to Yan Rusheng¡¯s desk, pulled his chair, and sat down. Young Master Yan instantly poured her a cup of water and placed it on the desk. He rounded the desk and stood behind to massage her. ¡°Wife, why didn¡¯t you call me? I could have fetched you.¡± Xuxu suppressed a grin as she watched him. In a cold tone, she spoke, ¡°Yan Rusheng. Don¡¯t fawn about me. I won¡¯t fall for it.¡± Yan Rusheng diverted the topic. ¡°Where is my mother?¡± Although he wasn¡¯t good at massaging, it still felt good. Xuxu closed her eyes to enjoy it. Young Master Yan chuckled. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± Xuxu curled her lips and nodded. ¡°Of course. I got to know the handsome and poised Young Master Ji.¡± ¡°Just a young punk who is still growing.¡± Young Master Yan furrowed his eyebrows and he halted his movements. Xuxu slowly turned her chair around to face Yan Rusheng. With a smile, she glanced at him. ¡°How do you know that he is still growing?¡± He was insulting a stranger that he didn¡¯t know, and it sounded a little lewd. Yan Rusheng was frustrated. ¡°Wen Xuxu! Are you still a woman?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you know if I¡¯m a woman or not?¡± Xuxu¡¯s batted her eyelashes and she winked at him. Hey! This stupid woman had transformed after a trip. She became thick-skinned and even learned how to seduce a man? Young Master Yan¡¯s heart was successfully tickled, and he hissed, ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure. Let me inspect.¡± He bent and scooped Xuxu off the chair before marching towards the room. Xuxu¡¯s heart skipped a beat and she punched his chest to protest. ¡°Yan Rusheng, what are you doing? Let me down.¡± She kept landing light punches on his chests. He knew that she was pretending to protest. Young Master Yan couldn¡¯t restrain his desire any longer, and he kissed Xuxu¡¯s forehead. ¡°I need to check if you¡¯re still a woman.¡± He had already reached the room, and he didn¡¯t even bother to shut the door. He threw her on the bed and immediately pounced on her. He lifted her skirt swiftly. ¡°Ahh¡­ So ticklish.¡± Xuxu writhed under his body as her tinkling laughter echoed around the room. Yan Rusheng halted his movement as he gazed at her gently. ¡°Did you miss me? Huh?¡± She would be a fool to say otherwise, and Xuxu was a wise woman. She nodded fervently and said, ¡°I miss you. Very much.¡± Young Master Yan grinned happily. ¡°Am I the most good-looking?¡± ¡°Yes. My Ah Sheng is the most good-looking man in the world.¡± Xuxu caressed his face and kissed him. Chapter 1997. The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Seventeen) Her actions aroused the suspicions of Young Master Yan. ¡°Wen Xuxu, did you do something wrong?¡± ¡®Slap!¡¯ He deserved a slap for doubting his wife. Xuxu¡¯s slap landed hard and firm on his gorgeous face. ¡°Damn you.¡± She angrily shoved him away and shunned her face. Yan Rusheng frowned as he studied Xuxu¡¯s face. She was usually so docile and quiet, and she didn¡¯t seem like her usual self. ¡®Who cares about that right now? Making love is more important right now.¡¯ Young Master Yan was ready to coax Xuxu when she turned around. ¡°Ah Sheng, I want to discuss something with you.¡± She blinked with an innocent expression on her face. Yan Rusheng sneered coldly as he watched Wen Xuxu. ¡°Say it. I knew you have a request.¡± He had never seen her taking the initiative before. ¡°I met and had a meal with President Ji in Shanghai.¡± Wen Xuxu continued to act sweetly. Yan Rusheng raised an eyebrow. ¡°So?¡± That damn Ji Chicheng. How dare he ask his woman out for dinner? He vowed to meet him someday. ¡°He gave an excellent proposal,¡± replied Xuxu, looking excited. Proposal? What proposal? Yan Rusheng frowned as he snapped impatiently. ¡°Be clear.¡± ¡°They want to build a holiday resort on their island. But their focus is on couples and weddings. He wants to work with Flourish & Prosper to build a bridge to connect both islands.¡± Xuxu tugged at Yan Rusheng¡¯s arm as she stroked him. She was very obvious in her attempt to pander to him. ¡°Bridge?¡± Yan Rusheng smirked coldly. He seemed to mock the idea. Wen Xuxu nodded. ¡°Mm.¡± Yan Rusheng snorted once more as he raised his eyebrows. He was annoyed. ¡°Did he purchase the sea area? Does he think that he could build a bridge at any time?¡± Xuxu replied, ¡°His company has bought it.¡± Yan Rusheng was startled. ¡°When?¡± ¡°The beginning of this year.¡± ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I aware at all?¡± His island and Ji Chicheng were just next to each other. How could he be unaware that he had bought that sea area? Xuxu blinked in confusion. ¡°Su Yan and I both know. Didn¡¯t Su Yan inform you before?¡± Yan Rusheng was speechless. Su Yan informed him? Why didn¡¯t he have any recollection? Yan Rusheng decided not to dwell on that matter any longer. He raised his eyebrows and scowled at Xuxu. ¡°I assumed you have already decided, and you¡¯re just informing me right now.¡± Xuxu denied it furiously. ¡°No! I invited Su Yan so that we can discuss it together.¡± She suddenly thought of him and she widened her eyes in horror. ¡°Oh no! Su Yan!¡± She pushed Yan Rusheng away and straightened her back. After swiftly adjusting her clothes, she ran out. ¡°Su Yan, you¡¯re here.¡± Xuxu spotted Su Yan sitting on the couch with a magazine. She wondered how much of their conversation had he overheard. She walked over awkwardly. ¡°How long have you been sitting here?¡± Su Yan grinned. ¡°Not too long. When you said that it was ticklish.¡± Xuxu blushed red and she felt her body heating up. She bowed her head and cursed at Yan Rusheng under her breath. She had regretted her question. She should have just asked about work. She diverted the topic hastily. ¡°Why isn¡¯t your Xiaomi here?¡± Chapter 1998. (END) - The World is Huge, But Home is Wherever You Are (part Eighteen) Su Yan smiled at the mention of Xiaomi. ¡°She said she liked a yacht and she went to take a look.¡± His tone and smile could hardly hide his affection for the girl. Xuxu smiled and praised him. ¡°President Su is really generous.¡± She sighed and continued. ¡°All women want to look for a husband who would allow her to buy anything she wants. Or a man who would swipe his card for her any time.¡± She sounded as though she couldn¡¯t buy anything she wanted and didn¡¯t have a husband to swipe his card for her. Young Master Yan looked exceedingly angry when he heard that. ¡°I built the resort for you and now you want a bridge to connect the islands. I¡¯m entirely yours too. Is this not enough to satisfy you?¡± This stupid woman had deliberately provoked him. ¡°I¡¯m just saying. Why are you taking it to heart?¡± Xuxu glanced at Yan Rusheng and she looked frustrated. Young Master Yan sneered. ¡°You forget that I¡¯m very petty.¡± He rolled her eyes at Xuxu and strode towards them. He settled himself in between them. Although Su Yan was already attached, and they were passionately in love, he would still refuse to allow Xuxu to be close to Su Yan. He remembered that this guy had a crush on her before. Xuxu was speechless and she rolled her eyes. ¡°Work comes first.¡± Then she suddenly hugged him and snuggled against his chest. Ignoring the surprised look on Yan Rusheng¡¯s face, she glanced at Su Yan. ¡°Both of you have decided not to hold a wedding? Does it mean we can save some money?¡± Su Yan chuckled. ¡°You can decide.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xuxu nodded as she suggested, ¡°We should give you all of Flourish & Prosper.¡± She sounded half-serious and half-joking. Su Yan waved his hands to reject her. ¡°No way! If I take over, both of you can just sit back and relax?¡± He glanced at Yan Rusheng as he spoke, ¡°I have already helped out for the past few years. It¡¯s time for me to take a trip around the world. There are so many places I need to explore and there are beautiful sceneries waiting for me.¡± His passion for photography had never died down. He had been looking forward to traveling around the world to continue his passion. ¡°How I envy you. Sounds so wonderful.¡± Xuxu gazed at Su Yan, looking wistful. Unconsciously, she tightened her arms around Yan Rusheng. But she envied herself more, for she had gotten the entire world. In the end, everyone got what they wanted, along with additional surprises. Ming Ansheng had a new little lover and he was happily taking care of his princesses. Lu Yinan and Zhou Shuang were expecting their child. But they were still debating whether it was still considered Zhou Shuang¡¯s second pregnancy. Zhou Shuang¡¯s status in the family had elevated and Young Master Lu was just like her personal assistant. He took such good care of her and was at her beck and call. But it was both a happy and tormenting period for him as bedroom affairs were banned. Young Master Jiang was going to be a father soon and there would be a new successor for the expanding Jiang empire. As for Young Master Su, he was off to achieve his dreams. ¡­